My Alleged Husband

Chapter 2327: Chapter 2160: Respect

The days passed one by one, and I waited day by day for you to come back, but it felt as if all light had already gone.

Today Zhang Yichen felt that no matter what, he ought to properly thank his son. If his own son hadn’t read the look in his eyes, stood up, and spoken on behalf of his father, then maybe, as a father, he truly would have had no way to bring his own parents back home so easily today. Even though this time they had come prepared to return, the moment he saw Grandfather’s attitude, his heart still panicked a little. He knew that his grandfather had no ill will in his heart. He also knew what Grandfather was doing it for, but still, he just couldn’t manage it.

What Zhang Ni did wasn’t just to help his father; at the same time, it was also to help himself, and to give Old Master Zhang a way to step down. He knew Old Master Zhang was always up there putting on that lofty, high-minded act. He knew the old man couldn’t put down his pride, knew that face was the thing he cared about most. So he had to help his great-grandfather out. His great-grandfather treated him so well—if he himself were ungrateful and refused to give him a step down, how could he live with himself?

”Nai’er, today Dad is really grateful to you. Thank you for standing up in time to speak for Dad. If you hadn’t, your grandpa and grandma really wouldn’t have been able to come back to this home so easily. You know, too, that your great-grandfather is the type who’d rather die than lose face and suffer for it. For the sake of his pride, he’d rather stew alone in private, bit by bit, than open up in front of everyone. I know sometimes he takes face way too seriously. But today, I’m truly thankful to you—without you, how could he possibly have followed that step down so smoothly?”

”All these years, the training you’ve gone through, all that persistence hasn’t been in vain. Even though you’ve suffered a lot these years, going through hellish training every single day, always dealing with death, but you know what? Having a son like you makes Dad really proud. I never imagined my son would be so outstanding, and even more, I never thought that after all the pain I once suffered, my son would have to go through it again. Yet you still made it through yourself. You’ve made your father look at you in a whole new light. Only a son like this is truly my son, is truly the one who can inherit my conglomerate in the future!”

When Zhang Ni heard his father say these words, he couldn’t understand why, deep down, he didn’t feel happy. Maybe it was because he simply didn’t want to take over his father’s company at all. He just wanted to live steadily and peacefully, had never thought about fighting others for anything, because he knew that no matter how much he won, no matter how far he pushed things, in the end all of it ultimately would not belong to him. If something isn’t truly yours, what’s the point of having it in your hands?

”Dad, to be honest, I don’t care at all whether I can smoothly take over your company, because money isn’t what I care about. I only hope that our family can live together in harmony, all in one piece—that’s enough. You know, too, that as a child I also long to receive my grandparents’ love. I’m just as envious of other kids who have a complete family. You’re clearer than anyone about the environment and state I grew up in from childhood.

But all these years I’ve never complained, because I know no matter how much you complain, in the end nothing gets solved. There’s simply no way out. Complaining again and again only makes your own heart narrower and narrower. Why would I want to turn myself into that kind of person? I only want my family to be safe and stay by my side. I only want my grandparents to wake up every day and say good morning to me, to be able to see them every day—that’s already enough for me. I’m not like the others, always greedily craving things that were never meant to be mine in the first place.

Besides, Dad, you were able to rely on your own strength alone to build up something so big today. Step by step, with your own effort, you climbed to the pinnacle of life. I’m your son—why can’t I do the same? As the saying goes, ’blue surpasses indigo.’ If I can only spend my whole life living under your protection, then do you think that kind of growth is any good for me? If you shield me perfectly all my life and keep me from any harm, then one day when I step into society, all I’ll meet will be other people’s mockery and schemes. I’ll just be helping others count their money while they take advantage of me. Do you think that kind of person is truly your son?

Don’t you think your son should be a smart person, someone who can calculate everything for his own path ahead? If I have to stand behind you forever, then I’d rather not put in any effort at all from the start, just stand behind you, idling my life away. Since I’ve chosen to walk this road, then one day I must surpass you. I want to rely on my own effort to climb to a point above you. You’re already standing at the peak of the world, and your career has already taken off tremendously. Maybe one day I’ll surpass you, stand at a height even you have to look up to. At that moment, I’ll truly be your son; at that moment, I’ll truly be worthy of being a member of the Zhang Family!”

Zhang Yichen had never imagined his son could say such things, nor had he ever thought his son’s resolve would be so strong. As a father, hearing his child say this was moving, but it also made him anxious. Who doesn’t hope their child can live out this life safely? Who doesn’t hope their child can spend their best years in calm simplicity? Why must he go take part in killing and fighting, in all that contention and struggle? Is that kind of life really happy? Truly joyful? In fact, it isn’t.

”Son, you’re a good boy. Since you’ve already made this decision, then no matter what, I have no right to interfere. You’re growing up, little by little. You have your own agency now, your own right to decide your life. Since you’re the one arranging it, we as your parents can only respect you and support you. Whatever you run into, you must tell me, your father. Whatever I can help you with, I’ll do my utmost. If you’re wronged, don’t bury it in your heart alone. And as for today, the way you spoke up—Dad is very impressed!”

Father and son looked at each other and smiled. Each of them knew exactly what the other needed most. They didn’t interfere with one another, and gradually, they lived happily. The life this family had always wanted—now that the family members who had been drifting outside had returned, it was time for the family to truly be reunited.

But where is that true reunion now?