What was joyful was the possibility that his mother might not have died.
But what was confusing was…
If his mother hadn’t died, then why had the old man claimed she was dead and even brought back ashes back then?
What was the reason behind it all?
Or was there more to the story?
Also, if his mother really hadn’t died, then why hadn’t she returned or come to see him in over a decade?
Could she have abandoned her husband?
Could she have abandoned her child as well?
“I’ll go ask Xingxing again.” After calming down, Sheng Zexi felt he needed to ask Xingxing for more details.
“Alright.”
Soon, Xingxing was called into the room.
He recounted what had happened during the day again.
When Sheng Zexi heard that the woman had called herself A Wan, his heart couldn’t help but race.
Just then, Xingxing seemed to remember something and said, “Oh, right, Dad, Mom, I remember—Grandma called that foreign man Henry.”
Henry?
Sheng Zexi murmured the name.
This Henry seemed to be a key figure.
What he didn’t know was what relationship Henry had with the woman who might be his mother.
From Xingxing’s description, they appeared to be very close.
“Dad, I’m sure I wasn’t mistaken. That was Grandma.” Xingxing tugged at Sheng Zexi’s hand, his eyes full of certainty.
Sheng Zexi ruffled Xingxing’s hair and said, “Dad believes you, but there are still some things that need to be verified.”
“So, Xingxing, keep this a secret for now. Don’t tell Great-Grandpa or Great-Grandma, okay?”
If his mother really was alive, then it would be a cause for joy.
But if it turned out to be a mistake,
and his grandparents found out prematurely, wouldn’t it set them up for disappointment?
They were getting on in years and might not be able to handle such a huge emotional swing.
Xingxing nodded. “Dad, I understand.”
“Good boy. Go play.”
Once Xingxing left, Sheng Zexi made a decision.
“Ningning, let’s go to the old Sheng residence now.”
“I think I need to ask him directly about this.”
“He’s the only one who knows the truth.”
Gu Jianing knew that the “him” Sheng Zexi was referring to was his father, Sheng Xinhao.
She stepped forward, took Sheng Zexi’s hand, and said, “Alright, I’ll go with you.”
When Grandmother Sang heard that Gu Jianing and Sheng Zexi were going out, she was quite surprised.
“It’s so late. Where are you two going?” Grandmother Sang asked, puzzled.
“Nothing special. We just feel like going out for a bit,” Sheng Zexi replied, not revealing the real reason.
Grandmother Sang could tell he wasn’t being entirely truthful, but she didn’t press further.
“Alright, but be careful driving this late at night. Come back soon.”
“Okay.”
Sheng Zexi looked at his grandmother for a few seconds, then suddenly stepped forward and embraced her.
Startled, Grandmother Sang paused for a moment before chuckling softly. She patted his back and asked, “What’s this about?”
Sheng Zexi shook his head without explaining.
Then, he took Gu Jianing’s hand, and they got into the car, driving toward the old Sheng residence.
The Sheng family’s old house was located in the military compound.
At the entrance, the guard immediately recognized Sheng Zexi.
The guard was an elderly man who had served at the compound for many years, having watched Sheng Zexi grow up.
He was also vaguely aware of the rift between Sheng Zexi and Sheng Xinhao.
Of course, he also knew that Sheng Zexi hadn’t returned for many years.
Now, seeing Sheng Zexi come back, especially late at night, he was very surprised.
“It’s Zexi. You’re back.”
“Yes, Grandpa Zhou, I’m back.”
“It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back. There’s no overnight grudge between father and son. Your father has been talking about you.”
“Now that you’re back, he’ll be very happy.”
“He’s at home right now. Go on in.”
“Alright, thank you, Grandpa Zhou.”
With that, the car entered the compound.
Getting out of the car, Sheng Zexi looked at the familiar surroundings, his heart filled with emotion.
Gu Jianing, on the other hand, was visiting for the first time. Xingxing and Yueyue, however, had been brought here several times by Sheng Xinhao.
Although Sheng Xinhao had previously invited them to visit the old residence, they had never come.
Now, this was their first time.
Sheng Zexi took Gu Jianing’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Mm.”
At that moment, inside the old Sheng residence.
Sheng Xinhao sat alone in the living room. The television was playing, so the room wasn’t completely quiet.
Yet, strangely, Sheng Xinhao felt an emptiness, a sense of loneliness.
Orphaned as a child, widowed in his youth, and now estranged from his son in his later years.
Sheng Xinhao thought that while he had achieved a high position in life,
he had no one truly close to him. It felt rather tragic.
“That kid Axi is as stubborn as a mule. How many times have I told him he can come home and visit? But he just never comes back.”
Muttering to himself, Sheng Xinhao felt a little aggrieved.
He knew he had made mistakes back then.
He had tried to make amends, but some things could not be undone.
He still remembered that Axi had once said that if he wanted forgiveness, his mother would have to come back to life.
Sheng Xinhao lowered his gaze to the photo album resting on his knees.
The album held pictures of their family of three from years past.
He gently traced the image of the beautiful woman in the photo with his fingertip.
He murmured, “A Wan, I wish you could come back to life too.”
If, if A Wan hadn’t passed away back then, would everything have been different?
When Sheng Zexi walked in, this was the scene that greeted him.
The elderly man sat on the sofa, the cold white light catching the silver strands at his temples. The back that had once been straight enough to carry him while running was now slightly hunched. Even the shoulders that had once seemed capable of holding up the sky now appeared slumped with weariness.
There was an inexplicable air of loneliness and desolation about him.
A sense of fading youth, the frailty and powerlessness of advancing age.
For some reason, Sheng Zexi felt a sharp pang in his heart.
Just then, Sheng Xinhao, lost in thought as he touched the photos, suddenly heard a sound.
He looked up.
And saw Sheng Zexi and Gu Jianing walking in hand in hand. He was momentarily stunned, then a look of joy spread across his face.
“Why are you here?” His tone was filled with surprise. He set down the photo album and stood up at once, a broad smile appearing on his face.
Sheng Zexi raised an eyebrow and instinctively retorted, “What, you don’t want us here?”
Gu Jianing:?
She patted his hand.
This man, his tongue was always sharp.
He had been like that ever since she first met him.
Later, after they got married, he never spoke sharply to her, but he certainly did to others.
With Gu Jianing’s pat, Sheng Zexi pressed his lips together and fell silent.
“Of course not. You’re welcome anytime.” In the past, if Sheng Zexi had talked back like that, Sheng Xinhao would have felt his paternal authority was being challenged and would have gotten angry.
But now, he didn’t feel upset at all.
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