With Mr. Zhang and Zhang Xin diating, the al went on until the dishes were nearly empty, and with everyone sated with food and drink, the atmosphere remained harmonious and joyful.
Zhang Xin chose this private restaurant because it was near the hospital, and its dishes were mainly light and nourishing.
Qu Chaozong, used to eating spicy, greasy, and heavily flavored food, found the change to light dishes refreshing.
At the table, since Mr. Zhang couldn’t drink due to his health, Qu Chaozong had to accompany Mr. Zhang in drinking.
After a couple of drinks, Mr. Zhang pointed his chopsticks at soone and said, "Chaozi, I really didn’t expect it. You’re quite capable, even more so than I imagined. You’re particularly beyond my expectations."
Qu Chaozong’s eyes were glistening with the effects of alcohol, but he said nothing, knowing Mr. Zhang was looking for an argunt.
Mr. Zhang said, "You managed to win over my Zhang Xin, which shows you have charm and capability. But the roundabout way you did it is truly sothing else. To be able to go through our Mr. Zhang, you saved him in our community while managing not to know his identity from beginning to end. That’s really sothing that even I have to admire..."
"Chaozi, you really did this beautifully!"
Those two sentences made everyone else uneasy, and the previously cheerful atmosphere instantly turned awkward and tense.
Mr. Zhang endured for a while, then heavily slamd the table with his hand and hoarsely said, "Can we eat in peace or not? Why did we co here?"
Mr. Zhang knew this was directed at him. Already filled with pent-up anger, he finally couldn’t hold back anymore. He slamd his glass on the table and said, "Dad, you’ve only t him a few tis, and just because he saved you, you think he’s good? Back then, didn’t I do even more than he did? And what happened afterward?"
The old man was montarily stunned, not expecting Mr. Zhang to suddenly say that.
This was a complete act of Mr. Zhang using himself as an example to warn Mr. Zhang about judging people at face value, as he was a typical failure.
Back in the day, Mr. Zhang was the epito of a "phoenix man." His family conditions were poor, with several siblings. He was the eldest and finally made it out of the countryside, having to manage his own life while also taking on the burden of caring for his family.
In his youth, Mr. Zhang was tall and handso, attracting many girls. He initially chose Zhang Xin’s mother because he thought she, despite her domineering temper, was simple and easy to handle due to her lack of experience, and also because he was attracted to the Zhang family’s financial and influential background.
If it weren’t for Mr. Zhang’s support and guidance back then, paving the way, he wouldn’t have his current assets.
This was all thanks to Zhang Xin’s mom, as everyone knew, including Mr. Zhang himself. So, he always felt oppressed and restricted. When Mr. Zhang got involved with Zhang Zhao’s mother, Zhang Xin’s mom wasn’t ill yet, and he kept this affair tightly under wraps.
Later, Zhang Xin’s mom suddenly fell ill and passed away within just half a month. Although Mr. Zhang believed her death had nothing to do with his affair, both Mr. Zhang and Zhang Xin remained resentful of this matter.
A couple of years after Mrs. Zhang passed, Mr. Zhang moved Zhang Zhao’s mother and son into the house. That was when Zhang Xin fell into depression, leading to several conflicts with Zhang Zhao’s mother, worsening her condition. Mr. Zhang decided to send her to the provincial city for two years of recovery before moving back, on the condition that Zhang Zhao’s mother must move out of the old house.
This incident was a deeply buried thorn in Mr. Zhang’s heart, evoking intense pain whenever touched.
Mr. Zhang was forcing Mr. Zhang to face the facts, even at the cost of dredging up his own past as a negative example.
Earlier, four or five years wouldn’t have been enough for Mr. Zhang to do this for the sake of his dignity. But now, things were different. With Zhang Zhao and his mother abroad, leaving him alone at ho, his heart filled only with Zhang Xin. The fatherly love accumulated over the years suddenly erupted.
He hoped Zhang Xin would find happiness and feared she would walk the sa old path as her mother.
Mr. Zhang said, "Dad, all these years, I’ve never contradicted you, let alone spoken harshly to you. Why? Because my conscience is guilty, and I feel I’ve wronged Zhang Xin and her mother. But her mother is no longer here, so what can I say? I don’t want to bring up things from the past, but I must because I can’t sit by and watch my daughter repeat the sa mistake."
It was this sentence that suddenly changed Zhang Xin’s expression. She snapped at the table, grabbed the plate in front of her, and smashed it to the ground.
The crisp sound shocked everyone.
Zhang Xin scread, "What can you say? What can you say? Will it ever end? What do you want?"
Her shout left Mr. Zhang dumbfounded.
Zhang Xin’s expression was so hurt, her eyes instantly reddened as if she couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. Suddenly, she exploded, grabbed the tablecloth, and pulled all the dishes onto the ground, sending soup and water splattering everywhere.
"Can’t we stop bringing those things up? Are they so kind of glorious deeds? Can we not talk about them? Can you shut up! What do you want!! Aren’t you ashad? If you’re not, I am!!!!"
Before Mr. Zhang and Mr. Zhang could react, Qu Chaozong imdiately rushed to Zhang Xin’s side, wrapping her in his arms, softly comforting, "XinXin! It’s okay, it’s okay now, let’s talk things out."
Zhang Xin buried her face in Qu Chaozong’s chest, her shoulders shaking violently, feeling extrely upset.
Qu Chaozong gently patted her back to soothe her, "It’s okay now, I’m here. We can work everything out together, you don’t need to worry."
Zhang Xin was the apple of the eye for the three n at the table. Regardless of whether they got along, they all loved her.
With Zhang Xin’s outburst, smashing the table, the three n imdiately cald down, and no one could continue arguing or speak up.
A perfectly good dinner ended unhappily.
Mr. Zhang was the first to slam the door and leave, with Mr. Zhang’s voice trailing behind, "Why co back? No one wants to see you!"
Mr. Zhang, with a livid face, went to the register to compensate for the damages and pay for the al.
Qu Chaozong and Zhang Xin helped the old man back to the hospital, settled him down, and once sure Zhang Xin’s emotions were stable and that she wasn’t seriously upset, Qu Chaozong left.
Actually, he really wanted to stay with Zhang Xin for a while more, worried about her, but he knew Mr. Zhang would definitely co by later. After all, for now, they were a family. With him being an outsider around, it wasn’t convenient to speak, and the atmosphere could easily spiral out of control again.
Qu Chaozong didn’t go ho but turned around and went to Zhao Dazhuang’s ward, feeling troubled and wanting to find Shi Yang for a drink to drown his sorrows.
Qu Chaozong climbed the stairs with a solemn expression. He was no longer the young, penniless guy trailing behind Shi Yang with a briefcase and a pocketful of docunts. He had a company, a career, and a promising future. This ti, having endured Mr. Zhang’s pointed insults and scorn, could he really stand it?
Reviews
All reviews (0)