After divorcing my ex – wife, I stayed abroad for eight years.
I married a woman I loved and had a lovely child.
But one day, my mother suddenly got in touch with me:
“They’re not doing well. The older one has severe depression.”
“The younger one… also has serious violent tendencies.”
“Can you come back and see them?”
1
This was the first time my mother applied to have a video chat with me. When she saw my face, she was instantly stunned:
“Zhou Cheng, your… your face has recovered?”
Hearing my mother’s surprised question, I shrugged and said nonchalantly, “Yeah, my wife did a skin graft for me.”
“Wife? You got married over there?” She stood there, dumbfounded.
But she quickly came to her senses and continued the previous topic: “So can you go back to China and see them, mother and daughter?”
I had been preparing to go back to China recently, but not for my ex – wife Xu Yan and our daughter Zhou Wei.
So even though my mother seemed very sincere, I refused her request without hesitation.
After hanging up the phone, I subconsciously thought of those unbearable past events.
Xu Yan and I were college classmates. After years of getting along and understanding each other, we finally confirmed our relationship on the day of graduation.
But two years later, due to a moment of drunken confusion, I accidentally got Xu Yan pregnant with my child.
Xu Yan was a strong – willed woman. She firmly refused to keep the child during her career – rising period, so I accompanied her to the hospital.
However, the doctor diagnosed her with severe uterine cold. If she had an abortion, there would be almost no possibility of getting pregnant again in the future.
She cried hysterically”. I solemnly swore to her that I was willing to be the man behind her.
I quit my stable job at that time and put all my thoughts and energy into taking care of Xu Yan.
She worked at an extremely high intensity every day, so I painstakingly boiled anti – abortion medicine and supplements for her.
She still stuck to her post the day before her due date, so I simply drove and waited downstairs at her company for her to go into labor.
She took weaning medicine right after giving birth, and I was responsible for feeding the baby formula, washing the milk bottles every two hours, and then coaxing the baby to sleep.
On the first day after she recovered from childbirth, she rushed back to the company, while I was at home, clumsily holding our daughter.
Actually, at that time, I felt quite a sense of accomplishment in being a house – husband. I could accompany the little one in my arms to grow up bit by bit.
When Zhou Wei was two and a half years old, I was teaching her to hold a paintbrush and practice drawing at home.
She just casually drew two circles and then angrily threw the brush on the ground: “I don’t want you to accompany me. I want mom!”
“Mom has gone to work. Dad will accompany you, okay?” I coaxed her patiently.
She looked at me with hatred in her eyes: “Why don’t you go to work? You can’t earn money. You’re the most useless person in the family.”
At that moment, I felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over my head from top to toe.
I felt extremely cold.
I educated her in a stern tone that staying at home also had its value.
Someone had to stay in a family, and no matter who it was, they did it because they loved her.
Zhou Wei pouted, and her beautiful big eyes were full of disdain.
When Xu Yan came back, Zhou Wei ran to tattle on me, crying with a runny nose and tears, saying that I had scolded and hit her.
I stood there helplessly: “Xiaowei, you can’t lie. When did dad…”
Before I could finish speaking, Zhou Wei was already pointing at me angrily: “It’s you, it’s you!”
In my opinion, this was just a little quarrel between father and daughter, but Xu Yan flew into a rage.
She looked at me frostily: “Zhou Cheng, leaving Xiaowei at home for you to take care of was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.”
After saying that, Xu Yan took Zhou Wei to my mother’s house.
My mother is a woman who admires the strong. After my father passed away early, she followed one capable boss after another.
So she was very disdainful and disappointed with my decision to stay at home to take care of the baby.
But she loved Zhou Wei very much. Every time she visited, she would surely bring a beautiful little dress and a new Elsa doll.
Zhou Wei was extremely happy when she knew she could go to grandma’s house.
Because she loved her mother the most, then her grandma, and thirdly, me.
But later I found out that I didn’t even rank third.
2
I always prevented Zhou Wei from eating candies, supervised the little girl not to touch cold water, and even timed her when she watched cartoons.
Zhou Wei became more and more dissatisfied with me. One day, she suddenly shouted, “Mom, I want Uncle Gu to hug me~”
“Who is Uncle Gu?” I asked Zhou Wei, but she ignored my question and just turned her back to me.
Seeing this, I sighed and asked Xu Yan, “Who is this Uncle Gu she mentioned?”
Unexpectedly, Xu Yan just glanced at me indifferently: “You don’t need to care. Just take good care of the child at home.”
I had been taking care of Zhou Wei every day since she was born. Only occasionally, Xu Yan would take Zhou Wei out alone under the pretext of a parent – child gathering.
“The husbands of my colleagues are all elite professionals or senior executives. If I take you there, how should I introduce you?”
I had mentioned that I also wanted to go, but Xu Yan would always ask me with a half – smile each time.
After several times, I understood what Xu Yan was thinking.
Unconsciously, she had looked down on me who could only ask for money.
Asking for money means depending on others. Indeed, neither men nor women can do without their own careers.
But I really couldn’t bear to send Zhou Wei to daycare too early.
My mother only liked to go shopping and dress up every day and was not willing to take on the task of taking care of the child.
So I had to grit my teeth and continue to stay at home to take care of the child.
Three years later, Zhou Wei was in the middle class of kindergarten.
Seeing that she was already a little girl who could take care of herself, I finally felt relieved.
The day I decided to pick up the knowledge I had left behind and start over, Zhou Wei suddenly had a high fever at home.
“Don’t be afraid. Dad is here.” I held her in my arms and wanted to take her temperature.
But she slapped the thermometer in my hand to the ground: “I don’t want you. I want Uncle Gu!”
It was “Uncle Gu” again. Zhou Wei had mentioned him all the time at home these years, but I didn’t even know who he was.
Finally, I endured my anger and coaxed her well, but she was relentless and even scratched my face hard with her fingertips: “I said I want Uncle Gu!”
When Xu Yan entered the door, she happened to see me in a embarrassed state, having no way to deal with Zhou Wei.
She walked straight over and hugged Zhou Wei in her arms: “You can’t earn money, and you can’t even take care of the child. Why did I marry someone like you back then?!”
Xu Yan took Zhou Wei away like this. She knew that such words would hurt me, but she still left without looking back.
I sat at home for a few minutes, then couldn’t help but chase out of the house.
Zhou Wei still had a high fever, and Xu Yan didn’t know how to take care of others.
As a father, although the child was ignorant, I couldn’t be.
When I rushed to the gate of the community, Xu Yan had already driven away at high speed.
I didn’t have a car, so I had to hail a taxi on the roadside and chase after them.
Later, Xu Yan’s car stopped in front of a high – end coffee shop.
When I went in, Zhou Wei was sitting obediently in the arms of a strange man: “Uncle Gu, when can you be my dad?”
“Don’t you already have your own dad?” The man glanced at Xu Yan with his peripheral vision and then asked Zhou Wei with a smile.
The little girl I had loved dearly for five whole years shook her head urgently: “I don’t want him!
And mom doesn’t want him either. Even my grandma said he’s a good – for – nothing!”
3
Hearing this, I smiled self – deprecatingly and turned around to walk out of the coffee shop.
My anxious rush there seemed like a joke in the eyes of others.
But I didn’t leave at that time. I sat alone not far away, lost in thought. So when the fire broke out, I realized it only later.
Everyone was running out, but I forced my way in against the crowd: “Xu Yan! Xiaowei!”
Someone around me pulled me back: “Brother, the fire is too big. Don’t go in.”
“My wife and daughter are still inside.” I roughly shook off that hand and rushed into the fire without hesitation.
I ran to the place where Xu Yan had been sitting just now, but it was already empty.
Just as I was about to look elsewhere, a weak call came from the corner: “Dad.”
It was Zhou Wei!
I ran over along the sound. Sure enough, it was my little girl.
Xu Yan and that “Uncle Gu” had gotten separated from her. Only she was curled up under the table.
“Baby, hold tight to Dad’s neck. Dad will take you out right away!”
I held Zhou Wei tightly in my arms, as if holding my whole world.
We were surrounded by raging flames. The blazing tongues of fire licked at all the buildings, interweaving with the falling sparks.
“Dad, I’m scared.” Zhou Wei was panicked by the scene in front of her. She held my arm tightly:
“Dad, can’t we get out?”
There was an instinctive fear of death in her soft voice.
“We can get out. You know what? Dad is Superman. So close your eyes obediently. We’re going to take off.”
I covered her eyes with my palm and rushed towards the entrance of the door with a burst of energy.
Several small pieces of the burned – off roof beam hit my back, face, and other exposed parts.
I felt like I was almost melting, but fortunately, Zhou Wei was safe in my arms.
Finally, after getting out of the fire, there were firefighters rushing in against the current at the door.
Seeing the reinforcements, the nerves I had been tensing suddenly collapsed. I only felt my eyes go black.
In the last second before fainting, I saw Xu Yan hiding safely in the crowd.
It’s good that my wife and child are okay.
I was awakened by the tearing pain.
What I saw was a white expanse, and my nose was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant.
There was a burning pain on my face and hands, mixed with a burst of coolness.
I propped myself up with my elbows and looked up, only to find that I was sent to the hospital for treatment.
But strangely, when I woke up, there was not a single person accompanying me.
I wondered how my little girl was and if she was injured.
Just as Zhou Wei’s sweet smile in the past appeared in my mind, her clear voice sounded outside the door:
“Mom, the doctor said Dad is disfigured, and Grandma also said he will be a disabled person in the future.
Can I let Uncle Gu be my dad then?”
“Of course. When he wakes up, Mom will mention divorce to him. That ugly guy won’t have the face to share the family property with me, and he doesn’t dare to ask for you either.”
Xu Yan replied casually.
I thought the conversation would end there, but unexpectedly, my mother’s voice sounded mmediately:
“Xiaoyan, whether it was before or in the future, Acheng doesn’t deserve you.
Since Nannan calls you mom, then you can still call me mom. Mom thinks you and Xiaogu are the most suitable~”
How ridiculous. If she’s not your daughter – in – law, why would she call you mom?
I only felt a big hand tightly squeezing my heart, and a severe sense of suffocation enveloped me.
Finally, I let out a few nauseous retches, but only spat out a few mouthfuls of acid water.
“Dad is awake…” Zhou Wei timidly followed Xu Yan and walked in.
I forced myself to sit up straight with difficulty and stared intently at the mother – daughter pair:
“Okay.”
4
Okay to divorce.
Okay to abandon my mother.
Okay to give up my wife and daughter.
Later, I went abroad and didn’t contact the three of them for eight years.
“Dad, Dad~ We’re back!”
The sweet consecutive calls pulled me back from the memories of the past to reality.
My five – year – old daughter, Zhou Tian, happily jumped from the living room into my arms:
“Dad, the aquarium Mom took me to today has so many dolphins!
They took pictures with me. Do you want to see? Kiss me and I’ll show you~”
My wife, Jiang Yun, followed her with a smiling face, walking in step by step.
“Why are your eyes red? Are you thinking about those past things again?” Jiang Yun noticed my vulnerability in the first place and quickly walked up to me.
I smiled softly and shook my head: “Those past events have gone with the wind. I was just a little emotional just now.”
Jiang Yun paused and then thoughtfully changed the topic: “Have you packed all the luggage?”
“Of course. You can totally trust me to do things.” After saying that, I hugged Jiang Yun into my arms.
Seeing this, Zhou Tian jumped up: “Me too, me too. I want to snuggle with Mom and Dad too!”
I quickly reached out my hands to catch her steadily: “Hey! Dad caught you! But sit still. Dad has something to tell you now.”
I was silent for about two minutes, hesitating how to tell her that one day after she returned to the motherland, she might meet her sister.
She sat obediently, looking at me with eyes full of trust and admiration.
“You have a sister. Dad had her in China before…” I told Zhou Tian about my past in detail.
She was about the same age as Zhou Wei was back then, but she was unexpectedly sensible.
After listening to my story, Zhou Tian’s eyes were filled with tears, and she stretched out her little hands to hold my face:
“Dad, did it hurt at that time?” Hearing this question, I burst into tears instantly.
In my mother’s video just now, although she was surprised to see my face restored at first sight.
But she still didn’t ask me if it hurt when I had the surgery and how I got through these eight years.
“Dad doesn’t hurt. Having you and Mom is the best reward for Dad.” I hugged Zhou Tian tightly in my arms.
“I’m sorry, Dad. If I had been there at that time, I could have protected you and given you hugs!”
She buried her head in my neck and said in a muffled voice.
After finally coaxing Zhou Tian to sleep, Jiang Yun shook her head with a smile and said, “Caring about men at such a young age. She’ll suffer a big loss in the future.”
“What are you talking about? Fathers and men are not the same thing at all.” I was almost amused by her.
She sighed and looked at me: “Did they come to you?”
This is the tacit understanding between Jiang Yun and me. We never mention our troubles in front of the child.
I nodded and truthfully told her what my mother said on the phone.
Jiang Yun looked at me with firm eyes: “It doesn’t matter. I’ll face it with you, just like we’ve always done.”
Eight years ago, I ran to a foreign country alone. I was in a strange place, not knowing anyone, and didn’t even have money.
I wore long – sleeved clothes all year round just to cover the scary scars on my body.
But the scars on my face burned by the fire couldn’t be covered. Wherever I went, I could hear people whispering.
I was a homeless person, a dishwasher, and a chef’s assistant.
One day, I got off work late at night. I heard a girl’s cry for help in a remote alley.
At first, I didn’t dare to get involved. I just called the police and wanted to leave.
But after the girl shouted “help” a few times, she suddenly shouted “HELP” in Chinese.
Since we were both Chinese, I couldn’t not save her. That day, I was stabbed several times by three black guys with knives.
Jiang Yun was tightly protected under me. Fortunately, the police came in time.
After that, Jiang Yun launched a fierce pursuit of me. She wasn’t afraid of my ugly face:
“One person’s beauty in our family is enough to support the whole family.”
5
Home? I didn’t have a home.
But Jiang Yun gave me a home.
Her words were enough to move me. I tried to get out of the shadow of the past.
Jiang Yun, like me, was a traveler in a foreign land.
She invested all the resources and connections she had accumulated over the years in me.
Fortunately, the knowledge I had learned before being a house – husband was never forgotten in my mind.
I started as a market salesperson, gradually became a middle – level leader, and finally opened my own company.
“Mr. Zhou, none of your company employees have ever seen you. Are you really that un presentable?” Jiang Yun teased me with a smile at that time.
As a plastic surgeon, she had always wanted to operate on my face over the years.
It was not until she painstakingly found a skin match for me that I finally agreed to her transplantation request.
Jiang Yun’s techniques were very professional. The skin on my face and arms was almost the same as before I was disfigured.
So after my company grew bigger and stronger, I gave Jiang Yun 50% of the shares. This was the only way I could express my gratitude.
Although the value of these shares was just a drop in the bucket compared to her net worth.
However, she had been tired of staying here over the years. I knew she had always wanted to settle back in China.
So I simply made the decision to shift the company’s focus to China.
After getting off the plane, although I had been mentally prepared to return to City A, I still felt that things had changed and people were different when looking at the scene in front of me.
“There seem to be several kindergartens near the company. I might as well take Tiantian to have a look around. I won’t stay here to cause you trouble.”
Jiang Yun held Tiantian’s little hand and waved to me: “Say goodbye to Dad.”
Tiantian obediently did as her mother said: “Goodbye, Dad~ I’ll be back soon.”
Just as I was watching the backs of the two of them leave, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind me:
“Acheng? Is that you? You’re back?”
This voice, tinged with surprise, made me turn my head subconsciously.
It was Xu Yan.
She was thinner than she was eight years ago. Standing there, her two legs seemed to be trembling.
There was almost no trace of blood on her face, and she looked as if she hadn’t seen the sun for a long time.
She was completely different from the image of a professional beauty I had imagined.
I smiled politely at her: “Long time no see.”
She stared straight at my face and said: “It really is you! Your face… has actually recovered?”
“I had a skin – grafting operation abroad. Judging by your reaction, the operation was very successful.”
After all, it was Jiang Yun who performed the operation herself. The effect was naturally perfect. A faint smile appeared on the corner of my mouth.
Xu Yan kept staring at my expression. She saw the smile on my face and also showed a satisfied look:
“That doctor is really excellent. It seems I have to go abroad to thank him in person on your behalf.
You know, you’ve never been good at handling interpersonal relationships. After all, I used to take care of all these things.”
Xu Yan’s words made my smile freeze instantly. The days when I stayed at home every day in the past quickly emerged in my mind.
I frowned and looked at her: “No need. She has returned to China with me…”
“Returned to China with you? Is it because your operation still needs a second phase?” Xu Yan couldn’t wait to interrupt my words.
“Hello, Mr. Zhou!” A girl full of youthful vitality ran up to us and shouted at me.
I quickly responded to her: “Hey! Have all the employees arrived?”
The girl replied crisply: “Yes, they have.”
“Xu Yan, that’s it for now. My company is newly established, and I don’t have time to chat with you.” I originally wanted to bid farewell gracefully.
But her eyes lit up, and she grabbed my sleeve: “I have time. Let me speak on stage for this occasion!”
The female employee and I looked at each other in dismay. She glanced at my expression and then suddenly said straightforwardly:
“Mr. Zhou’s wife will be here soon. If you really want to attend the ceremony, you can sit in our employee row!”
Xu Yan’s face visibly turned gloomy.
Looking at Xu Yan’s dejected back as she left, I silently decided to give the female employee two more months’ bonus after the meeting.
The clouds were thick.
6
After finally finishing the work of the company’s new opening, I took Tiantian to the amusement park that I often went to years ago:
“Tiantian, look. This is the place that Dad often said he would bring you to.”
Tiantian had been living abroad since she was born. But under the influence of Jiang Yun and me, she was very eager for everything in China.
“Dad, as long as it’s something you like, Tiantian will like it too.” She raised a small face with a bright smile.
“Who are you calling Dad!” An angry voice came from behind Tiantian.
Seeing the person stretching out their hands to push Tiantian, I quickly picked her up and held her in my arms: “What are you doing pushing my little girl?!”
In front of me was a girl about junior high school age. Her originally proud smile instantly froze on her face:
“Dad? Who are you calling little girl? Have you forgotten who I am?” There was disbelief in her eyes.
I stared intently at the girl’s facial features, and the more I looked, the more familiar she seemed. Finally, I exclaimed in surprise: “Are you Zhou Wei?”
The corners of Zhou Wei’s mouth curved up significantly. She looked at Tiantian in my arms with a disdainful look:
“Dad, I knew you wouldn’t forget me! Who is this little brat? She’s so ugly!”
Hearing this, my brows furrowed tightly. In foreign countries, children are raised outdoors in a free – range way.
So compared to her peers in China who are carefully nurtured, Tiantian’s skin color is slightly darker.
But in my heart, she is the best little girl.
Tiantian sensed that she was being mocked and immediately looked at me with tearful eyes: “Dad, is Tiantian ugly?”
“You’re not ugly. Tiantian is the most beautiful little angel.” I gave her a gentle smile.
Then I looked up at Zhou Wei: “First, you, being older, try to push my child.
Second, you use words to personally attack my daughter. Call your parents to deal with this matter.”
I stood there, waiting calmly.
As soon as I finished speaking, Zhou Wei was a little stunned. Then her eyes turned red, and she said to me:
“Dad, my parent is you. Don’t you love me anymore? You used to call only one person little girl.”
Tiantian, being smart for her age, immediately asked me after hearing this: “Dad, is this the sister you mentioned?”
“Who’s your sister? You shameless kid. Dad is my dad alone!” There was undisguised malice in Zhou Wei’s eyes.
This look of hers instantly reminded me of what she did eight years ago. I was disfigured by the fire for her, but she only cared about whether she could recognize someone else as her dad.
Thinking of this, I subconsciously smiled at her and said: “Your dad should be surnamed Gu.”
Zhou Wei’s face instantly turned pale. She trembled her lips and said in disbelief: “My dad is only you!”
I felt a little headache. After all, Zhou Wei was just a child. I could only say helplessly:
“Go call your mom to come and take you away.”
“I don’t have a dad, and I don’t have a mom either. No one wants me.”
7
I didn’t expect that it would be my mother who came in a hurry to pick up Zhou Wei.
She was surprised again to see that my face had returned to normal: “On my way here, Xu Yan told me that you’re now successful in your career and living a good life.”
My mother is a very open – minded person. Whether it was with my father or those bosses, she only indulged in pleasure.
She had never cared about me. During my growth, she always looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze.
So after I graduated and chose to be a house – husband at home, and even after I was severely burned later.
She treated me like a discarded object.
And she was overly admiring of the strong. So even though she knew that Xu Yan, as my wife, had an affair with that Mr. Gu during the marriage.
Just because both Xu Yan and Mr. Gu were outstanding, she unhesitatingly sided with them.
“Let’s find a place to have some tea. It’s time for us mother and son to catch up.”
My mother interrupted my thoughts. She took Zhou Wei’s hand and motioned for me and Tiantian to follow without asking.
I shrugged and gave Tiantian a helpless look.
The little girl showed a sweet smile: “Was that grandma just now?”
“Yeah, but there are grandmas everywhere. You can just call casually.” I replied casually.
My mother’s back stiffened a bit, but she probably didn’t have the face to turn around and correct me.
We found a coffee shop. As soon as we sat down, she immediately sent Zhou Wei and Tiantian out:
“Zhou Wei, you’re the older sister. Take your sister out to play. Don’t disturb grandma and your dad talking.”
Zhou Wei glanced at Tiantian reluctantly, with obvious reluctance on her face.
“No need. I don’t feel at ease if my daughter leaves my side.” I protected Tiantian firmly beside me.
Hearing my words, Zhou Wei suddenly lowered her head.
Seeing her like this, and thinking of what my mother said about her having a hard time these years, some inexplicable emotions suddenly welled up in my heart.
“There’s a children’s area over there. Why don’t we let the two sisters go and play?” My mother emphasized the word “sisters”.
I wanted to refuse again, but I looked at Tiantian beside me. She was looking at the children’s area with eager eyes.
That’s right. She loved all Chinese culture.
I glanced at Zhou Wei with my peripheral vision and saw that she didn’t show any signs of resistance. So I had to let Tiantian follow Zhou Wei there.
Seeing that I was still looking at Tiantian with worried eyes, my mother suddenly let out a long sigh and said to me:
“Acheng, mom has owed you an apology for all these years.
Today, mom wants to formally say to you: I’m sorry.”
8
My mother said that Xu Yan and Zhou Wei had had a very difficult time these years.
Since I completed the divorce procedures with Xu Yan eight years ago, I completely disappeared.
“If it weren’t for a boss that mom used to be with saying that he saw you abroad a few days ago, mom thought she would never find you in this lifetime.”
My mother started sighing.
After I left, Xu Yan quickly moved into Mr. Gu’s house with Zhou Wei.
“That guy is called Gu Chen.
Ever since Xu Yan was with him, he showed his true colors.” My mother continued.
In fact, when men are out in the world, there are always female partners around them. Sometimes we are also impressed by their charm.
Or, some men have a special desire to conquer women who are more noble and outstanding.
But most men, instead, hope that their wives will be good wives and mothers, taking care of the family.
Gu Chen was no exception.
Moreover, Xu Yan’s company prohibited office romances, especially since both she and Gu Chen were senior leaders.
One of them had to make the choice to leave.
Gu Chen was not like me. I was willing to stay at home and be a full – time house – husband.
He no longer allowed Xu Yan to have her own career, nor to walk around in the business world in high – heels and business suits.
“He said he could afford to support Xu Yan and Zhou Wei.” My mother sighed again.
Xu Yan and Zhou Wei stared at each other at home every day.
In the past, Zhou Wei always wanted to find her mother at home. But when her mother was at home every day, she suddenly found her mother annoying.
And when Gu Chen came home, he was no longer as gentle as before. He would often scold angrily.
At the age of five, Zhou Wei, who was spoiled by me, didn’t know how to read people’s expressions and couldn’t bear any hardship.
She quickly felt the difference between Gu Chen and me.
Zhou Wei started making a fuss about looking for her dad. When Gu Chen heard such words, she was beaten for the first time.
That day, she cried heartbreakingly. Not being able to find her dad, she cried and asked Xu Yan to take her to grandma’s house.
“You don’t even want your dad anymore. Where is there a grandma?” My mother tearfully repeated Gu Chen’s words to me.
Gu Chen didn’t allow Xu Yan to contact my mother anymore.
As a result, Zhou Wei couldn’t see grandma for a long time either.
In addition, Xu Yan first experienced the feeling of asking for money with her hand out.
She was used to spending money extravagantly. The hundreds of thousands she had saved over the years were quickly squandered.
My mother said resentfully: “That guy surnamed Gu’s face changed when he heard that he had to pay for Zhou Wei’s schooling.”
Trapped at home for several years, Xu Yan had long been out of touch with society.
She couldn’t do housework, nor could she take care of the child. All day long, she had nothing to do but monitor Gu Chen’s whereabouts at home.
This became the fuse for their separation.
9
Xu Yan accidentally discovered that Gu Chen was having an affair.
That day, the two had the biggest argument ever.
“You can’t do anything well. Every day when I come home, I see your daughter making my home a mess.
You’re suspicious all day long. If a woman is not confident, she can’t blame men for looking for others outside.”
Gu Chen’s words were like knives stabbing into Xu Yan’s heart.
She used to be such a strong and independent woman, but now she had made a mess of her life.
“Ah, in my opinion, a woman should find a rich man and just dress herself up beautifully every day.
She just couldn’t let go of her work, the child, and the man.
Trying to have everything, how could she be happy? She played a good hand of cards badly.” My mother showed a disdainful expression.
Hearing this, a strange smile appeared on the corner of my mouth: “But you don’t seem to be doing so well either.
Were you dumped by those bosses because you’re old and your looks have faded?”
My mother’s face instantly turned livid. She roared at me furiously: “What did you say? Are you still my son?”
“Didn’t you say that someone like Gu Chen was worthy of being your son back then?” I looked at her with a half – smile.
When my mother came to pick up Zhou Wei, I noticed.
The high – end luxury suit she was wearing was at least several years old. Even the brand of her high – heels had dropped several levels.
Not to mention the handbag she was carrying, which was covered with various transparent seals to prevent scratches and stains.
“Bags and high – heels are supposed to serve their owners. If you can’t afford them, you might as well not wear them.” This was my mother’s famous saying in the past.
But now she was doing the most unlikely thing she used to do.
The only possibility was that she had long been abandoned by those benefactors, but still had to maintain her dignity and face reluctantly.
Seeing that I mercilessly exposed her, my mother got angry and stood up, wanting to pick up her bag and leave.
Soon she sat down again, her face red: “Mom has no money. All the savings over the years have been used to support your wife and daughter.”
My mother was lying again.
When my mother found me abroad, I had already had someone look into her experiences over the years.
After being dumped by those bosses, my mother was also tired of the life of having to serve others.
So she imitated those rich women worth hundreds of millions and kept one young man after another.
My mother had hardly suffered any hardships in her life for decades. At her age, she still looked charming.
Unfortunately, she was cheated out of her money and love. The young man ran away with her money.
Now my mother was responsible for picking up and dropping off Zhou Wei at school every day, and the family’s financial burden fell on Xu Yan alone.
Although she was out of touch with society, Xu Yan was always a smart and capable woman.
She relied on her own abilities to return to the workplace, but the position was a market salesperson, which she would have looked down upon in the past.
So when I saw her at the company gate that day, she looked old and tired.
I looked down at the time. It was already the time I had agreed with Jiang Yun to have dinner:
“After all, Zhou Wei is my daughter. I will pay her alimony according to the law.
As for you, you haven’t lost your ability to work yet. If you’re really in difficulty, I suggest you find your daughter and son – in – law.”
“I… I only have you as my son. Where do I have a daughter or a son – in – law?” My mother stared at me blankly and murmured.
Yes, so you still know you only have one son.
A cold smile appeared on the corner of my mouth. I stood up and shouted in the direction of Tiantian: “Tiantian, let’s go home.”
Zhou Wei reacted faster than Tiantian. She rushed towards me like an arrow: “Dad, I took good care of my sister. Can you…”
I interrupted her expressionlessly: “Your dad’s surname is Gu, you know.”
10
Just as I was turning around, holding Tiantian’s hand and about to leave, Zhou Wei said timidly behind me:
“Dad, I’ve had something to say to you for all these years. Can you listen to me?”
Tiantian looked back at her sister, pursed her lips, and then quietly shook my hand.
I immediately understood that my little girl was too soft – hearted. But it didn’t matter. With Jiang Yun and me protecting her, we would make sure she was happy all her life.
I turned around, faced Zhou Wei, and nodded to her: “You can say.”
The coldness on my face was too obvious. Zhou Wei paused, but still continued:
“Dad, since you saved me from the fire eight years ago, I’ve been having the same nightmare every day…”
In the dream… Xu Yan and Gu Chen ran out hand in hand when the disaster came.
At that time, Zhou Wei was even sitting in Gu Chen’s arms, but was thrown to the ground immediately.
No wonder when I found Zhou Wei, she was the only one curled up under the table.
But the way I was disfigured by the fierce fire completely terrified her.
Without thinking much, she just wanted to get away from me at that moment.
“You’re a bad person! Dad was already so sad at that time, and you still left him!”
Tiantian’s delicate little face turned red with anger. She tightly hugged my arm, as if trying to tell me that she would never do such a thing.
Zhou Wei’s expression of sobbing stopped for a moment. She glanced at Tiantian expressionlessly, and then continued to say to me:
“Dad, you used to be tireless in braiding all kinds of hairstyles for me.
Every time I went to school, I was the most beautiful little girl in the class. They all envied me for having a dad who loved me so much.”
But later, after she was with Gu Chen, the other party never braided her hair again, thinking that a man’s hands were for making money.
Gu Chen also didn’t want to play the horse – riding game with her at home. “He said it would be embarrassing if it got out. A man’s shoulders are for fighting for the world…”
Zhou Wei stretched out her hand to wipe the tears on her face and said with a sob.
I didn’t comment on Gu Chen’s attitude.
I’m also a man, and I never gave up my dream of making a career.
It’s just that for me at that time, enabling Xu Yan to fulfill her dream without family worries and ensuring that Zhou Wei could have a childhood that would heal her for a lifetime were the most important things.
It’s just that the result was not satisfactory.
I stared at her intently: “Have you finished? If so, we’re leaving. I’ll transfer your alimony to your mom later.”
Zhou Wei’s originally excited expression instantly became downcast. She cautiously stretched out her hand, trying to grab my sleeve.
I bent down to pick Tiantian up in my arms, thus avoiding her reaching hand.
I walked forward with big strides, never looking back.
11
I thought things could end there.
Unexpectedly, Xu Yan came to me again. She barged straight into my office: “Zhou Cheng, let’s have a talk.”
The male secretary on duty stood behind her at a loss, standing at the door with an apologetic look.
I gave him a reassuring smile and said, “It’s okay. You can go out first.”
After seeing the secretary leave, Xu Yan sat down in front of my desk on her own:
“Zhou Cheng, I’m willing to treat Tiantian as my own daughter. Let’s remarry.”
I looked at her in shock. I could understand every word Xu Yan said, but why did they seem incomprehensible when put together?
Xu Yan glanced at me, with the arrogance I was familiar with on her face: “I’ve talked with Zhou Wei, and she herself is willing to have a sister…”
I quickly waved my hand to interrupt her words: “Wait. I appreciate that you’re willing to be kind to Tiantian.
But I don’t want to regard you as my family anymore. I have my own family that I want to protect. Please don’t disturb us.”
Xu Yan opened her mouth, eager to say something else, but I had already pressed the button to call the security guards.
When she was being escorted out, she shouted towards me, weeping:
“Zhou Cheng, I’m sorry. I’m really regretful in my heart, but I just can’t put down my pride in front of you.
I’m sorry. Can you forgive me? Let’s start over. Zhou Wei has always missed you as a dad.
I… I’ve always missed you too.”
I expressionlessly slammed the office door shut.
After being with Jiang Yun, she not only fully supported me in rebuilding my career, but also participated in our family life even after working overtime until late at night.
Although I always felt sorry for her and didn’t want her to be tired, she just told me gently and firmly:
“Life requires the efforts of every member of the family, and marriage also needs to be managed.
I don’t want you to live the way you did before. I hope our family of three can be happy.”
Jiang Yun cares so much about my feelings, and she has taught Tiantian well.
At such a young age, she is like a little grown – up, caring about our health and feeling sorry for our tiredness.
This is the family that I’m willing to fight to protect.
Since I drove Xu Yan out of the company, she seemed to understand my determination, and neither she nor Zhou Wei appeared in my world again.
Only my mother, relying on the fact that she gave birth to me and raised me, would always pop up and cause trouble from time to time:
“Mom has thought it through. Xu Yan, Gu Chen, and Zhou Wei are all outsiders to me. Only you are my son.
Mom is willing to accept your current wife and child. Let’s get the family together.”
…
I closed my eyes tiredly. Finally, I took out a sum of money and forced her to sign an IOU.
If she disturbed me again, I would sue her to pay back this huge sum of money.
My mother finally stopped.
“Mom and Dad, come quickly. We’re about to board the plane!” Tiantian, with a bouncing gait, pushed her small Disney suitcase and kept turning back to urge us.
I shouted, “Hey, coming!”
I tightly held Jiang Yun’s hand and ran towards Tiantian.
The next stop is Antarctica.
-End-
