Part 8
“All you ever wanted was fame and fortune. It was all for yourself. You probably wanted your elder brother dead long ago!”
Secretary Zhou was fuming. His usually composed face was filled with visible anger. “A cripple? Short-lived? Do you have any idea why the eldest Young Master of the Si family—”
“Zhou Xiang.” Si Zheng’s voice was heavy as he stopped Secretary Zhou, grabbing his arm. “Let her speak.”
“Have you never wondered why Jiang Qingran died? What kind of medical dispute couldn’t be settled by asking the Lu family for help? It was you and Lu Feng who, in the name of love, hounded her to death bit by bit. You never believed her!”
“Lu Feng’s parents couldn’t stand the scandal of a foster brother and sister being involved, so they discarded her to save face. And you didn’t trust her then! Now that she’s been dead for twenty years, who are you putting on this hypocritical show of eternal love for?”
“I saw her before our wedding. She was in Jiangcheng. How could you not find her? I truly feel her life wasn’t worth it for you… hahahaha!”
Her laughter grew louder and more shrill, accompanied by the blood she coughed up. It was terrifying.
As if waking from a dream, Si Jinyan slowly lifted his head. His dull, empty eyes lit up. Like a drowning man catching a straw, he grabbed the hem of Si Zheng’s clothes. “Save her. Let your doctor save her… I beg you, save her.”
Si Zheng said nothing, which was as good as consent.
“With this much blood, it’s not just a shoulder injury. We can’t rule out gastrointestinal bleeding. With limited facilities and medicine spent, I can only stop the bleeding for now. That’s all I can do, I’m sorry.”
As the doctor spoke, he opened a disposable syringe and broke open an ampoule of Etamsylate.
“I don’t need your charity!”
Fu Lan’s eyes moved past the doctor to stare intently at Si Zheng’s expressionless face. The medicine bottle she slapped away hit the ground by Lu Xunye’s feet. The liquid inside instantly soaked into the dust.
“You!” The doctor, clearly shocked, snapped angrily, “Do you know that was the last bottle? Do you not want to live?!”
“Are you alright?”
Si Jinyan watched as Si Zheng’s gaze shifted from cold to soft. His heart skipped a beat, only to realize the man was looking at someone else.
Seeing Lu Xunye approach, Si Zheng’s eyes softened unconsciously. He stepped forward with concern, about to check Lu Xunye for injuries. “Does it still hurt? Are you bruised?”
Lu Xunye was stunned. He took a step back, dodging the hand. “You knew about my relationship with Jiang Qingran from the start, didn’t you?”
Si Zheng’s hand froze in mid-air. He lowered his gaze to avoid Lu Xunye’s sharp look. After a long time, he managed to choke out: “…Yes.”
Lu Xunye asked again, “What is our relationship?”
He had almost guessed it. The suspicion in his mind overlapped with Si Zheng’s words: “I am your father.”
“A few years ago, the Lu family…” Lu Xunye opened his mouth, unable to use the term “I” to naturally and comfortably claim a past he hadn’t experienced.
“I’m sorry for the suffering you’ve endured.” Si Zheng closed his eyes in pain.
“I’ve been looking for you all these years. It wasn’t until you bought your mother’s bracelet at that auction that I was certain of your identity. It seems Lu Feng knew about you all along, and knew I was alive.”
The man promised hurriedly. “From now on, you can rest easy. As long as I am here, you will always be safe and worry-free to do whatever you wish. Your father is here for you.”
In all these years, it was the first time Secretary Zhou had seen his steady, experienced, and somber Master so anxious for acceptance. Having gained a new identity in life, he was like a newcomer to the workforce—anxious and awkward.
Looking at Lu Xunye, Secretary Zhou thought that if the investigation were true, and having lost the support of the Lu family, the youth should be thrilled. He should be afraid of accepting too slowly, lest this new umbrella of protection disappear.
But—
“You’ve apologized to the wrong person.”
It’s already too late, Lu Xunye added in his heart. The person who should have accepted the apology was gone. What was the point of apologizing now?
“Regardless, although the Lu family’s motive for using me as a pawn was aimed at you, you did save me at that banquet. You can tell me anytime how you want me to repay you. As long as I have the ability, I will do it. As for… compensation in terms of family affection, it isn’t necessary.”
“…I… understand.”
“Master!” Secretary Zhou quickly supported Si Zheng’s swaying body.
Who would have thought that the young Si Zheng had once been carefree? Since that incident, he had locked away his feelings and become a Master who only spoke of profit and lacked human warmth.
In all these years, when had Zhou Xiang ever seen him beg someone like this?
He looked toward Lu Xunye, his heart a mess of emotions. “Young Master, to be honest, the Master has always—”
“Zhou Xiang.” Si Zheng cut him off.
Secretary Zhou gritted his teeth and let go. “Yes.”
Si Zheng said to Lu Xunye, “I won’t force you to recognize me. If you have difficulties in the future, you can find me. I will always be your kin. What I just said to you will remain valid for the rest of my life.”
Lu Xunye’s lips curved into a smile, though he didn’t completely shut the door. After all, if the original owner ever came back and found he’d cut off their family ties, he’d truly be at fault.
“Xiao Shen.”
Si Zheng suddenly called out to the youth standing not far behind Lu Xunye.
Shen Yunqian stiffened. His thumb slid aimlessly over his index finger. He didn’t answer immediately, until the man spoke again.
“Thank you for taking care of him during this time.”
Only then did Lu Xunye turn around to find the youth standing behind him, his lips pressed thin and looking quite unwell.
He wanted to walk over to the youth, but the other man approached him first and held his arm. The first thing he said was: “Don’t move around. I’m fine.”
Lu Xunye, about to ask, was stunned for a second before swallowing his words. “Okay.”
Shen Yunqian pondered for a moment, then looked up at Si Zheng. “Speak plainly.”
Lu Xunye realized quickly, looking at Si Zheng with a defensive gaze. “What deal did you make with him?”
“…” Si Zheng felt a bit helpless. He wasn’t some kind of monster, but he was at fault. “Don’t be nervous.”
“I just have some things to say to Xiao Shen.”
Before Lu Xunye could flare up, Shen Yunqian said, “Go ahead.”
“A-Xun hasn’t had many friends growing up. With you by his side to take care of him, I truly am grateful. I can see that he is very important to you, and he cares for you deeply as well.”
“Selfishly, I hope you can always stay by his side. Ever since his mother passed, I’ve realized that a person’s life is but a few decades. Don’t do things against your heart and leave yourself with regrets for a lifetime.”
Seeing the middle-aged man show such sorrowful emotions…
Perhaps it was the strange blood connection, but Lu Xunye felt a flicker of emotion. “You…”
“Jiang Siheng,” Si Zheng said suddenly.
Lu Xunye was shaken. “What?”
“Your mother and I decided on names for our future children before she was pregnant. A boy was to be named Jiang Siheng, and a girl, Jiang Siyin. I didn’t expect that in the end, neither would be used.”
The man gave a self-deprecating shake of his head.
“Mom!” A sudden cry cut through the air, drawing everyone’s attention.
Si Jinyan was holding Fu Lan, who was vomiting blood uncontrollably. His look of utter despair was pitiable.
Secretary Zhou looked at Si Zheng. “Master?”
Si Zheng turned and walked past him. “Go see.”
While everyone was surrounding the mother and son, Shen Yunqian was the first to notice Lu Xunye’s abnormality.
Worry filled his eyes. He hurried to support Lu Xunye’s swaying body, slowly helping him sit on the ground. “Where do you feel unwell?”
He reached out to touch Lu Xunye’s forehead but was grabbed by a powerful palm. He couldn’t move, only watching as the back of his hand grew congested and purple.
Lu Xunye’s chaotic mind felt as if it were being violently hammered by a rusty tool. Amidst the deafening ringing in his ears, an indistinct male voice filtered through.
It seemed to be calling out to someone. The voice was unfamiliar, yet his subconscious felt close to it.
Lu Xunye’s vision flickered.
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