After turning on the stove, Lin Xinyan prepared another bowl for Zong Jinghao to serve.
In the afternoon, Aunt Yu and Zhuang Zijin had prepared a feast for dinner. However, the food was barely touched as no one had any appetite.
This time, Zong Qifeng only ate two of the dumplings that Zong Jinghao brought in. He requested, “Ask… Yuwen to come in.”
Zong Jinghao told Cheng Yuwen that his father wanted to see him.
With reddened and misty eyes, Cheng Yuwen sat by the bedside. “Whatever instructions you have, just tell me.”
Zong Qifeng said, “I have something to tell you… once I’m gone, you will have to take care of them.”
Cheng Yuwen knew who he was talking about and replied, “Don’t worry. After all, isn’t your son Yuxiu’s son too? Your daughter-in-law and her children are also my relatives. As long as I’m around, I will definitely watch over them for you.”
Zong Qifeng nodded slightly to signal his satisfaction.
“I… am likely going to see her soon.”
His voice had lost its strength.
Cheng Yuwen held his hand. For some unknown reason, he began to tremble and seemed to have something to say. However, tears flowed in place of his words.
Zong Qifeng smiled faintly. “What are you crying for?”
Cheng Yuwen wiped his face. Despite his advanced age, he still wasn’t able to control his emotions. He replied, “I don’t want to but I just can’t help myself.”
Zong Qifeng could feel it coming and he was ready. “Won’t everyone reach this stage one day?”
Life and death is part of nature. No one can change it.
As his breathing became heavy and his gaze turned cloudy, his mind was still fully present. He mumbled, “Jinghao…”
Cheng Yuwen immediately understood and quickly called Zong Jinghao over.
When Zong Jinghao approached him, Zong Qifeng seemed to be in a daze. He asked, “Am I feeling tired?”
He mumbled without any reason.
Zong Jinghao didn’t answer and he watched his father’s eyes gradually become bloodshot.
Ever since Cheng Yuxiu came back, his relationship with Zong Qifeng began to deteriorate. After he left home, he seldom returned and both father and son rarely spent time together.
Throughout his life, it was filled with hatred, which was what broke his heart the most.
Furthermore, he felt that had missed out on a lot. Too much in fact.
“I know that you’re lonely…” Suddenly, Zong Qifeng raised his hand while his fingers seem to be grabbing something. Zong Jinghao bent down, caught his hand, and held it tight.
Zong Qifeng continued in a soft and broken voice. “It was my fault that your childhood wasn’t happy. I shouldn’t have kept the secret from you and caused you to miss out on so much, especially the warmth of a happy family.”
If I told him about the truth from the very beginning, wouldn’t it be nice for the three of us to live together as a family?
It was my fault for causing both Cheng Yuxiu and Zong Jinghao to have regrets.
I too have my regrets.
Letting out a gentle sigh, he was overwhelmed with sadness.
Zong Jinghao could feel the tightness in his throat.
Zong Qifeng blinked and waved his hand. “Tell Yan to come. I have something to say to her.”
Zong Jinghao called for Lin Xinyan to enter.
When he saw Lin Xinyan, Zong Qifeng smiled. He liked her as a daughter-in-law a lot and was confident in her. “Yan, you have to take care of Jinghao.”
Standing beside Zong Jinghao, she nodded. “I will.”
“You’re very responsible which puts my mind at ease. It’s just that I regret not giving him a happy family before he married you…”
In a blink of an eye, Lin Xinyan’s tears gushed out. Wiping them quickly, she looked at Zong Jinghao and replied, “He is my husband and the father of my children. We are a family. I will care for him and provide him with a family to rely on.”
‘Good, very good…” Zong Qifeng looked as if he was breathless. When he began to heave, Lin Xinyan feared for the worst. “Dad…”
She thought she had managed to maintain her composure. However, she choked the moment she tried to say something.
Although Zong Jinghao wasn’t feeling as emotional as Lin Xinyan, his body still trembled nervously.
After two minutes of catching his breath, Zong Qifeng reassured them, “I’m alright…”
“Where’s Ruixi and Xichen? Why aren’t they here?” One of his regrets relates to his three grandchildren.
They were young, energetic, and loved to accompany him. When Zong Jinghao was little, they were never close. Hence, he tried to make up for the lost opportunity in Zong Jinghao’s childhood through his grandchildren instead.
Given how Zong Yanchen resembled Zong Jinghao when he was young, Zong Qifeng loved him as a young Zong Jinghao and tried to redeem himself for his past mistakes.
Lin Xinyan called the children over. She knelt beside them and instructed. “Grandpa wants to see both of you. Whatever Grandpa says later, you must agree to it, understand?”
Zong Yanchen was cognizant of what was expected of him. While Zong Yanxi who became especially sensible under the grim atmosphere nodded obediently.
Lin Xinyan stood up and led the children into the room. After which, she put them by the bed.
When he saw the two children, Zong Qifeng’s eyes lit up.
“Xichen.”
He reached out to caress Zong Yanchen’s forehead and remarked, “You resemble your father.”
Zong Yanchen sprawled himself on the bed. “I also look like you.”
Zong Qifeng grinned in response.
Zong Yanxi too lay on the bed and put Grandpa’s hand on her face. “Grandpa, I look like you too.”
Zong Qifeng replied, “Both of you are my grandchildren…. naturally, you will resemble me.”
She reached out her hand to touch Grandpa’s face. However, all she felt were bones as he lost a lot of weight when he was sick.
“You have to study hard and always obey Mom and Dad.”
“We will,” Both children answered at the same time.
