My Alleged Husband

Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Going Home_1

Zhang Zhentian rushed out of the airport, running while looking back to see if Li Jiayuan was following him. He glanced back several times, and upon seeing that Li Jiayuan wasn’t chasing after him, his heart relaxed. He was now ready to return to the Zhang Family, travel-worn and in his slippers.

When Zhang Zhentian arrived at his family’s doorstep, his eyes brimmed with tears as he gazed at the front door and thought, ”After running around, no one followed me, and I’ve come back here alone. Looking at this door, my heart is a little uneasy. I wonder if my dad, seeing me return alone without Xia Jing, will feel deeply disappointed in me.”

Zhang Zhentian stood at the doorway, pondering over and over, until he finally pushed the door open and entered. Upon entering, he saw his father sitting on the sofa; he dropped his luggage and ran toward Old Master Zhang.

”Dad, I’m back!” Zhang Zhentian looked tearfully at Old Master Zhang. He knelt before Old Master Zhang with a thump, ”Dad, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have treated you that way for Xia Jing’s sake. I shouldn’t have scalded you with boiling water, nor should I have stolen wine to drink. Dad, I truly made a mistake. Can you forgive me?”

Zhang Zhentian knelt on the ground, begging his father’s forgiveness.

Old Master Zhang, seeing his son return, stood up at once. Old Master Zhang walked past Zhang Zhentian, not sparing a glance at his kneeling son. He looked past him, hoping to see Xia Jing return.

”Dad, what are you looking for? Aren’t I right here in front of you? Why do you keep looking behind me without giving me a single glance?” Zhang Zhentian hadn’t intended to ask, but with that question, Old Master Zhang’s anger flared up.

Without a word, Old Master Zhang walked over and slapped Zhang Zhentian. Stunned by his father’s sudden action, Zhang Zhentian reacted and asked, ”Dad, why did you hit me? What did I do wrong again?”

”You did nothing wrong. I asked you, where is Xia Jing? Didn’t you go to the UK to find Xia Jing? Why have you returned alone? Have you forgotten your promise to bring Xia Jing back with you?” Old Master Zhang asked clearly. Hearing this, Zhang Zhentian suddenly understood his father’s anger stemmed from his failure to bring Xia Jing back.

”Dad, I don’t understand something. Didn’t you dislike Xia Jing before? How come now you’re so angry that I didn’t bring her back that you hit me? You wouldn’t have done that in the past. I want to know if Xia Jing has become more important to you now than your own son?” Zhang Zhentian looked pitifully at Old Master Zhang, hoping at least for some consolation for his sorrow, but to his surprise, his father did not comfort him and instead started to laugh.

”Zhentian, you really are a fool. I slapped you because you didn’t bring Xia Jing back. So, tell me, who is more important in my heart?”

Hearing Old Master Zhang say this, Zhang Zhentian didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad. He was pleased that his father finally accepted Xia Jing as one of their own, but was saddened that he seemed to have lost his status in his father’s heart to Xia Jing.

”Dad, can you at least listen to my explanation first?” Zhang Zhentian asked, his face full of grievance as he looked up at his father.

”Of course, go ahead!” Old Master Zhang said before sitting back on the sofa, crossing his legs and waiting to hear Zhang Zhentian speak.

”Dad, I really tried my best. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to bring Xia Jing back; I too wished she would come back with me, but who could have known...” Zhang Zhentian recounted everything that had happened in the UK, but Old Master Zhang’s face was unreadable.

”It’s cold on the floor; there’s no need for you to kneel there. Get up. Since things turned out this way, there’s nothing more to be said!” Old Master Zhang said, looking dejected, ”I just hope Xia Jing will keep her promise to come and see this wretched old man.”

Seeing his father like this, Zhang Zhentian’s heart ached. He was filled with self-loathing, regretting that he wasn’t a good son or a good boyfriend.

Aunt Xu had finished making dinner and called Old Master Zhang and Zhang Zhentian to eat, but Old Master Zhang, without even lifting his head, simply said, ”I’m not eating, you go ahead!”

Zhang Zhentian knew his father was upset because of the Xia Jing incident and felt that as a son, it would be improper to eat knowing his father hadn’t. So he also said to Aunt Xu, ”Aunt Xu, I’m not eating either, please go ahead, I’m going upstairs!”

Zhang Zhentian went straight upstairs without waiting for Aunt Xu to respond. Upon entering his bedroom, he immediately turned on his computer and sent an email to Xia Jing.

”Xia Jing, I’ve thought it through, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said those words to anger you, I beg your forgiveness, please come back soon. When I got home, dad saw there was no sign of you behind me and slapped me, because I failed to bring you back! This evening, dad didn’t even eat, he’s waiting for you to return. Can you come back quickly?”

Xia Jing couldn’t use her computer on the plane, so she didn’t see the message Zhang Zhentian had sent until after she got off the plane and returned to where she had been staying. She read Zhang Zhentian’s email over and over slowly. Xia Jing thought to herself, ”I never imagined Uncle’s fondness for me was so deep; because I didn’t return, not only did he hit Zhentian, but he even skipped his meal, alas!”

Xia Jing did not reply to Zhang Zhentian; instead, she made a direct call to Old Master Zhang.

”Hello, this is Zhang Mo, whom are you looking for?” Old Master Zhang answered the phone.

Hearing Old Master Zhang’s aged voice, Xia Jing couldn’t help but sob softly. Old Master Zhang immediately asked, ”Xia Jing, is that you?”

”It’s me, Uncle. How have you been lately?” Xia Jing answered.

”Ah, Uncle has been very well, how about you? Why didn’t you come back with Zhentian? Did Zhentian do something wrong again? Don’t worry, Uncle will discipline him for you. When are you coming back?” bombarded Old Master Zhang in rapid succession.

”Uncle, Zhentian didn’t do anything wrong, it’s just my prideful nature that caused this. Please don’t blame Zhentian.”

”Alright, alright, Uncle will listen to you. So when are you coming back to see Uncle? Uncle is still waiting to hold his grandchild, come back soon.”

Hearing Old Master Zhang say ”still waiting to hold his grandchild,” Xia Jing felt even more regretful. If only she hadn’t been so willful, none of this would have happened.

”Uncle, I’ll come back soon, but please don’t tell Zhentian that I’m returning, I want to surprise him,” Xia Jing said to Old Master Zhang.

Upon hearing Xia Jing would return, Old Master Zhang readily agreed without a second thought, ”Okay, Uncle won’t tell Zhentian, but remember to come back soon!”

”No problem!”

Xia Jing turned off her phone immediately; she was waiting for the right moment to see Zhang Zhentian. Meanwhile, Zhang Zhentian had no idea that Xia Jing had already returned to the country, and he was still pondering how to get her forgiveness.