My Alleged Husband

Chapter 2108: Chapter 1941: Hiding

No one willingly chooses to live a life of hiding and evasion all their life; everyone hopes they can live happily forever.

Zhang Yichen looked at his grandpa without much thought, because his parents came to discuss those matters with him, his heart finally found some relief. However, deeply, he still resented his parents for abandoning him, yet he hoped for nothing but safety for them. When he found out his parents were in a severe car accident, he had a slight desire to visit them, but the hatred surpassed the love he had for them in his heart. Whenever he thought of this, his heart ached. Rather than facing his parents without knowing what to say, it was better not to see them. Instead of saying hurtful things to them upon meeting, it was better not to care, not to ask after them; maybe that way his parents would feel somewhat better?

Old Master Zhang wasn’t aware of what the person in front of him was thinking. His mind was only on his great-grandson; he couldn’t be bothered with those things because they only caused him distress and didn’t bring him any relief.

Zhang Yichen sat alone on the living room sofa in a daze, contemplating the words of a stranger who informed him of his parents’ serious car accident in Los Angeles, United States, and hoped his relatives could take care of some paperwork. He didn’t know what to do; for the first time, he realized he also had moments of confusion and helplessness. He wished someone was by his side to offer advice, help him know what to do; but the only person who understood him, his beloved, wasn’t there. He glanced at the ceiling, and a scalding tear slipped down his cheek. Old Master Zhang saw it, and said nothing, knowing Yichen still cared for his parents in his heart. It’s just that he didn’t know whether to choose forgiveness or continue to hate, as forgiving might bring more hurt, while continuous hatred only causes harm. Even Old Master Zhang, having lived through many storms of life, didn’t know what choice to make in this situation. Perhaps, only those involved would know which choice is best for them.

”Yichen, it’s getting late, Grandpa won’t sit here and talk with you anymore. Grandpa hopes you understand, your parents have had an accident; no matter how they treated you, or even if they abandoned you, they are still your parents who brought you into this world. You should go see them regardless of your feelings; even if you don’t say a word, they’d be happy knowing you visited. I know you might think I’m meddling too much, but Grandpa hopes you understand what it means when they say ’The child desires care when the parent is no longer around!’” Old Master Zhang said to Zhang Yichen before preparing to leave. As he turned, Zhang Yichen called out to him.

”Grandpa, I understand the reasoning behind your words, but my heart is unwilling; I have pride too. Since they abandoned me in the first place, don’t expect me to forgive them; I don’t have the obligation to endure their hurt time and again. Did they ever think about what I would face after they abandoned me? Did they ever consider that I would hate them? When they left, did they think we’d ever lose contact entirely? Did they really think it through? Don’t tell me they did, because if they really did, they wouldn’t have resolutely left here, left the Zhang Family, left City A. Were it not for their departure, I wouldn’t have gone through so much; I wouldn’t have met the girl I love at first sight. In a way, I should thank them. Grandpa, I hope you can guide me on how to act to avoid disappointing you, to earn your acceptance. You know I’ve worked hard to gain your approval, so I don’t want to let you down. But aside from visiting them and calling them, I can do anything else!”

Old Master Zhang was delighted that his grandson reluctantly agreed to do something for his parents. As long as his grandson didn’t bear much hatred towards them, he felt he hadn’t entirely failed as a grandfather. He gently said to his grandson, ”Yichen, good child, you don’t need to do anything specific; even if you don’t wish to call them or visit them in person, you can make a phone call and leave a message with the caregiving staff there. Simply tell them you’re their son and want to check on their condition; that simple sentence would mean great happiness to your parents!”

Yichen laughed and said to Old Master Zhang, ”Grandpa, you must have thought this through already, right? Since you’ve already had a solution, why still say these things to me? Do you think this is fair to me? Why can’t you all see things from my perspective? I’m just a child, a merely ten-year-old boy, and this is how you treat me? When I was ten, my parents had their accident, and you tried all means to make me forgive them, forgive the fact they abandoned me. But Grandpa, do you really understand? Their abandonment is an indelible fact in my heart, like needles pricking endlessly reminding me of being a child abandoned by my parents, reminding me I am the child born but not cared for by them!”

Listening to his grandson, Old Master Zhang felt truly uncomfortable. He couldn’t help but reflect inwardly, wondering if he had indeed made a mistake? Did he really consider things from his grandson’s viewpoint? If he were abandoned by his parents, could he easily forgive just because of one incident? He likely couldn’t. So why force others? Alas, perhaps he truly erred.

”Yichen, I’m sorry, it was Grandpa’s mistake. I didn’t consider things from your perspective; now I realize, I won’t push you into any decision. If you want to know your parents’ condition, you can choose to inquire or choose to ignore, but I hope you understand, no parent fails to love their child. Even if your parents wronged you, we as children should fulfill our responsibilities. It’s not right to evade due responsibility just because of their mistakes; that’s cowardice, not the conduct of a true man!”

”Grandpa, I understand, you do these things for my good; I spoke excessively earlier, not considering your feelings. Maybe I’ve been too extreme; indeed everyone harbors envy, even me as a boy. Right now, I wish for nothing but to fulfill my imperial dream quickly, marry the girl I love, spend my life with her, and give you great-grandchildren; that would make me extremely happy. As for my parents, since they chose to abandon me, forgiveness might need more time to ponder. I’m not inclined to know their condition now, nor oppose you checking on them. In your heart, you never hated them, so I hope you follow your wishes without losing contact with them due to me!”

Old Master Zhang’s tears filled his eyes.

Zhang Yichen turned around and left; he didn’t want to continue the discussion, as it exhausted him and made him uncomfortable within.

Though truly uncomfortable inside, he had to feign indifference.