Unexpected Second Chance at Love

Yue Ling could no longer hold back the remaining tears gathering in her eyes.

One slipped down her cheek.

She quickly wiped it away, but another followed.

Grandfather Ji’s expression softened.

”Come here, child.”

She rose from her chair and walked around the desk, kneeling beside him.

The old man opened his arms.

The moment Yue Ling leaned into his embrace, the composure she had struggled to maintain finally crumbled.

”Yeye...”

Her voice broke.

Grandfather Ji wrapped his arms around her, gently patting her back as he held her close. His heart ached at the sight of his granddaughter breaking down, but all he could do was offer her the warmth and comfort of his embrace.

”My child.”

Yue Ling buried her face against his shoulder.

She had faced countless dangers without fear.

She had witnessed death, endured pain, and walked through situations that would have broken others.

Yet the thought of losing her grandfather left her feeling helpless.

He was one of the few people who had remained beside her through everything.

The thought of a world without him was unbearable.

”Why didn’t you let me know sooner?”

Her muffled voice trembled.

”I could have spent more time with you. I could have moved from City Z to be closer to you.”

Grandfather Ji closed his eyes.

”I know.”

He gently stroked her hair.

”And I’m sorry.”

Yue Ling tightened her arms around him.

She remembered the countless times she had been too busy to visit.

The phone calls she had promised to return later.

The meals she had postponed when she visited because of work.

At the time, she had believed there would always be another opportunity.

Another day.

Another dinner.

Another chance to sit beside him and listen to his familiar voice.

Now, every missed moment seemed unbearably precious.

”I should have come visit more often.”

Grandfather Ji gently shook his head.

”Don’t say that.”

”But—”

”Ah Ling, I never wanted you to live your life around me.”

He pulled back slightly and looked at her.

”Watching you grow into the woman you are today has been one of the greatest joys of my life.”

His thumb brushed away a tear from her cheek.

”You have your own life. Your own dreams. A man who loves you and people who depend on you.”

He smiled.

”That’s what I wanted for you.”

Yue Ling lowered her eyes. Her lips trembled.

”But I still want you here.”

The old man’s smile faltered.

He drew her back into his embrace.

”I know, child.”

After a long silence, Grandfather Ji spoke again.

”Ah Ling, I’ve lived a long life.”

Yue Ling slowly lifted her head.

He smiled faintly.

”Long enough to watch many of the people I love leave this world.”

His gaze drifted toward the window.

Outside, the afternoon sunlight glistened against the snow-covered branches.

”I watched my parents and brother pass away. I watched my wife die in my arms. I watched your harabeoji, my best friend, die before I could do anything. I buried friends and soldiers who had stood beside me for decades. I lost people I thought would grow old with me.”

His voice gradually grew quieter, the weight of old grief settling heavily in his chest.

”And I lost my daughter.”

The words caught in his throat. Even after all these years, speaking of her still brought an ache that time had never managed to heal.

”...along with your father.”

Yue Ling froze.

Grandfather Ji’s eyes filled with sorrow as memories he had long buried resurfaced.

Losing his daughter had been devastating enough, but losing her husband alongside her had left a young child without her parents.

He lowered his gaze, his hand trembling slightly around hers.

”No parent should ever have to bury their own child.”

His voice cracked.

”And no child should have to grow up without their mother and father.”

He swallowed.

”When your mother died, I thought there was nothing left in this world that could hurt me more.”

His hand tightened around hers.

”She was my little girl. My whole world. No matter how old she became, no matter that she had a family of her own, she was still the baby I once held in my arms.”

Yue Ling’s tears fell silently.

Grandfather Ji gave a bitter smile.

”I still remember the day she was born. She was so small that I was afraid to hold her.”

A faint chuckle escaped him.

”Your grandmother laughed at me. She said I looked as though someone had handed me the most fragile treasure in the world.”

His smile gradually faded.

”And perhaps she was right.”

He looked down at his hands.

”I watched her take her first steps. I watched her grow up, fall in love, and become a mother.”

His voice trembled.

”Then one day, she was gone.”

Yue Ling’s heart ached at the sorrow in his voice.

She reached out and held his hand more tightly, silently offering what little comfort she could.

Grandfather Ji stared at the photograph on his desk, his gaze lingering on the familiar faces of his daughter and son-in-law. A faint, sorrowful smile touched his lips as memories of happier days resurfaced.

For a moment, it was as though he could still hear their laughter filling the mansion.

But those days were long gone, leaving behind nothing more than photographs and memories he desperately wished he could relive.

”Do you know how difficult it is to wake up every morning knowing someone you love will never come home again?”

He shook his head.

”I’ve spent years learning to live with that emptiness.”

His gaze returned to her, his eyes carrying a sorrow she had rarely seen.

”You control Fate, and every time you went out there as its leader, all I could do was pray that you would return safely.”

His voice trembled.

”I know you are strong. That was how your harabeoji and I trained you, but every time you left, I feared receiving another call telling me someone I loved was never coming home.”

He paused, swallowing the heaviness in his throat.

”And then I nearly lost Jingxu.”

Yue Ling lowered her head, guilt tightening around her heart.

She had always known her grandfather worried about her, but she had never fully understood the fear he carried each time she stepped into danger.

To him, every departure was another possibility of losing someone he loved.

He was the General who understood and witnessed the dangers she faced.

The old man gently squeezed her hand making her look back at him.

”When I heard Jingxu had been kidnapped, I was terrified. Even though I knew you would bring him home, I couldn’t stop thinking that I might have to bury another child before my own time came.”

His voice trembled, the memory of those agonizing days still painfully fresh.

”I’ve already buried too many people I love, Ah Ling.”

He lowered his gaze, his fingers tightening around hers.

”I don’t think this old heart could have endured losing another.”

”Yeye...”

”But he’s home now.”

A genuine smile appeared on his face.

”He’s safe. You’re safe. That’s more than I could have asked for.”

He released a slow breath.

”I’m tired, Ah Ling.”

Yue Ling looked at him.

For the first time, she noticed just how old he had become.

The deep lines around his eyes.

The white hair.

The exhaustion hidden beneath his familiar, reassuring smile.

”I’ve spent my entire life fighting to protect this family. Fighting to keep everything together.”

He gently patted her hand.

”I think it’s time this old man finally rested.”

Yue Ling shook her head as fresh tears gathered in her eyes.

”Don’t say that.”

Grandfather Ji smiled sadly.

”Death is something none of us can escape, child.”

He placed a hand softly on her cheek.

”It is a natural part of life.”

He brushed a tear from her cheek.

”And when my time comes, I want you to continue living happily. Don’t spend your life mourning me. Let me go peacefully, as nature intended, knowing that I’ve lived a long life and that the people I love are safe and happy.”

Yue Ling could not answer.

She simply leaned forward and embraced him again.

Grandfather Ji held his granddaughter close.

As he rested his chin against her head, his gaze drifted toward the framed family photograph sitting on his desk.

It was a photograph taken many years ago in the garden.

His wife stood next to him. Their daughter stood beside her husband, smiling warmly at the camera.

A younger Yue Ling stood in front of them. She had the most beautiful smile despite missing a tooth.

His expression slowly changed.

There was something else he needed to tell her.

Something he had carried alone for far too many years.

Her parents...

His lips parted.

”Ah Ling.”

”Hm?”

He hesitated.

The truth about her parents’ deaths had remained buried for years.

Everyone believed they had died in a tragic car accident.

But Grandfather Ji knew better.

It had never been an accident.

He had wanted to tell her countless times.

Then the doctors diagnosed her with dissociative amnesia.

Her memories of that day became fragmented, remembered little beyond the accident itself.

Yet whenever he looked at her, he could never bring himself to reopen the wounds she had struggled so hard to survive.

Now, with his remaining time growing shorter, the truth weighed more heavily on him than ever.

”There’s something about your parents that I...”

Yue Ling lifted her head.

”What is it, Yeye?”

Grandfather Ji looked into her eyes.

For a moment, he almost told her everything.

But seeing the tears still clinging to her lashes, he stopped.

She had only just brought Ji Jingxu home.

She had spent weeks worrying about her brother’s life.

And now, she was learning that her grandfather did not have much time left.

How could he place another burden on her shoulders?

Especially one that might shatter what little peace she had finally regained.

He swallowed the words.

”Nothing.”

He forced a gentle smile.

”I was just thinking about how much you’ve grown.”

Yue Ling studied him.

”Yeye?”

He reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.

”Your mother would have been very proud of you.”

Yue Ling’s expression softened.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

”I miss her.”

Grandfather Ji’s heart ached.

”I know, child.”

He pulled her into another embrace.

’Forgive me, Ah Ling.’

His eyes returned to the family photograph.

’Just a little longer.’

He would find Choi Li Sun and put an end to the man.

He had to.

But not today.

Outside the study, Lu Tian stood near the hallway window.

He had already settled Ji Jingxu in his room and instructed the household staff to prepare something warm for him.

Although he knew Yue Ling and her grandfather needed privacy, he could not help worrying about his wife.

When the study door finally opened, he turned.

Yue Ling stepped out first.

Her eyes were slightly red.

Lu Tian’s expression softened the moment he saw her. He approached without asking questions, his gaze lingering on her reddened eyes.

”Finished?”

She nodded.

”Mm.”

He opened his arms and gave her a gentle, reassuring smile.

”Come here.”

For a moment, Yue Ling simply stared at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Then, without a word, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face against his chest.

Lu Tian immediately embraced her, one arm securing her against him while his other hand gently cradled the back of her head.

He held her close, offering the silent comfort she desperately needed.

He felt the slight tremble in her shoulders but said nothing.

He only held her tighter.

After a while, Yue Ling finally spoke.

”Tian.”

”Hm?”

She buried her face against his chest.

”Yeye doesn’t have much time left.”

His expression changed.

He lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss against her hair.

”I know.”

Her arms tightened around him.

”I don’t want to lose him.”

Lu Tian closed his eyes.

He wished there were words that could ease her pain.

But he knew there were none.

So he simply held her.

And for now, that was enough.