Shi-Han was arranging the food on the table with a serious expression. Xiao-Tong was helping her.
There was a deep sense of resentment building inside Shi-Han's heart.
Jun-Yu had left home without even telling her.
And now that he had finally returned home, he was ignoring her.
What had she done wrong?
Why was Jun-Yu treating her like this?
His indifference was breaking Shi-Han apart from the inside.
Seeing Shi-Han's serious expression, Xiao-Tong said,
Xiao-Tong: "Time heals everything. How many times do I have to explain this to you? Can anyone change what has happened before its time?"
Shi-Han understood what Xiao-Tong was trying to tell her.
But she still asked,
Shi-Han: "Xiao-Tong, then can you explain to me why Jun-Yu is crying like this?"
Xiao-Tong smiled faintly and gently held Shi-Han's arm.
Xiao-Tong: "Shi-Han, this isn't simply crying. It's the sound of the pain in your heart."
"You're hurting because he's ignoring you."
"But you don't understand that everything Jun-Yu has gone through over the past few days isn't easy for anyone to handle."
"Do you know whom people trust the most?"
"A friend."
"Just like I trust you more than I trust myself, Jun-Yu is doing the same with Shu-Yang."
"He's telling Shu-Yang everything that's happened to him, and by doing so, he's finally letting some of the weight in his heart go."
The moment Xiao-Tong finished speaking, the seriousness on Shi-Han's face deepened.
---
Inside his room, with the door closed, Jun-Yu was talking to Shu-Yang.
Jun-Yu: "For the first time, I feel like what Dad has been doing to you was completely wrong."
"I don't know why you came to Lang-Ying-Ting."
"But after I left home and then came back again, how can I explain to you how unbearable the pain has been for me?"
Shu-Yang: "Look, brother, people only understand the value of something when they don't have it."
"For example, I don't have my parents anymore, so I understand the pain of not having a family."
The moment Shu-Yang said that, Jun-Yu interrupted him and spoke in a disappointed voice.
Jun-Yu: "So you're saying that I don't respect my parents? That I don't love them?"
Shu-Yang: "No."
"What I'm trying to make you understand is why I came to this house."
"And you're unnecessarily feeling humiliated about coming back home."
"Look, now that your laboratory has been destroyed, you finally understand the pain of losing something that meant so much to you."
"The reason I'm saying all this is because I came back to this house for Mom and for you."
"Jun-Yu, no matter what Uncle Jun-Kai does to me, he's still your father."
"He would never truly want anything bad to happen to you."
Jun-Yu: "My dreams, my future, everything I've worked for—Mr. Jun-Kai is destroying all of it."
"So how can you say that a father would never want anything bad to happen to his child?"
"After knowing everything Dad has done to me, how can you still say that he did all of this for my own good?"
Shu-Yang: "Oh, come on. Don't you understand what I'm trying to say?"
"Anyway, just remember this: what happened to you was terrible."
"But perhaps Uncle thought that this was the best path for your future."
"And I admit that what Uncle did to you wasn't right."
"But don't seek revenge over what happened."
"Now come on. I'm starving."
Jun-Yu: "You go. I'm not hungry. Give me some time."
Shu-Yang: "No. If I'm hungry, then you're hungry too. I won't give you any more time to sit around thinking about all this."
"If you keep dwelling on everything that has already happened, the future won't move forward."
"I am by your side. Start everything again from the beginning."
"Besides, I saw that Uncle Jun-Kai is ashamed of what he did. He isn't coming in front of you because he is ashamed of his mistake."
"And there's one more thing. Just as the laboratory is yours, Xin-Shing Company is also yours."
"Uncle has already received punishment for his wrongdoings from both sides."
"So don't hurt him mentally anymore."
As Shu-Yang said all of this, Jun-Yu's misunderstandings and mistakes gradually began to disappear.
Shu-Yang took Jun-Yu's hand with his left hand, brought him to the dining table, and sat down to eat.
Jun-Yu, Shu-Yang, and Xiao-Tong were eating, while Shi-Han was sitting in front of her food.
Jun-Yu put some food onto Shi-Han's plate and said,
Jun-Yu: "Miss Shakchunni, what happened? Did you have a fight with the food?"
At Jun-Yu's humorous words, Shu-Yang and Xiao-Tong quietly giggled.
But Shi-Han gave no reaction.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
In an instant, silence descended over the table.
As soon as Shi-Han answered the phone, a girl's voice came from the other end.
"Big Sister, can you come to the village tomorrow?"
Hearing the voice of the person on the other end of the phone, Shi-Han became worried.
This familiar voice belonged to none other than the elderly Xiao-Lin.
Shi-Han sensed something unusual in her grandmother's voice.
Shi-Han: "Grandma, what happened to you? Are you feeling alright?"
Xiao-Lin: "Yes, Big Sister. I've been a little unwell because of a few days of irregularities. There's nothing to worry about."
"I just felt like seeing you once."
Hearing the old woman's words, Shi-Han let out a slightly relieved breath and said again,
Shi-Han: "Oh, Grandma! How are you feeling now?"
Xiao-Lin: "Don't worry. I'm fine."
Shi-Han: "I also really want to see you. Alright, I'll come tomorrow. I'll bring Xiao-Tong with me."
Xiao-Lin: "Alright."
As soon as her conversation with the elderly Xiao-Lin ended, Shi-Han hung up the phone and remained sitting there.
Xiao-Tong: "What is it, Shi-Han? Is Grandma alright?"
Shi-Han said in a serious voice,
Shi-Han: "Yes."
Jun-Yu and Shu-Yang had stopped eating and were listening to Shi-Han and Xiao-Tong's conversation. Judging from the expressions on their faces, it seemed that something strange had happened because Shi-Han's grandmother had called. Or perhaps this was a strange new truth to them.
Xiao-Tong cleared his throat and broke the silence of the morning.
Xiao-Tong: "Jun-Yu, Shi-Han, if you two don't have any work tomorrow, can I say something?"
Jun-Yu put food into his mouth and said,
Jun-Yu: "Hmm, you can say it. Anyway, none of us has any work tomorrow. If you need any help, you can tell us."
Xiao-Tong: "No, no, we don't need any help. What I mean is that the past few days have been filled with various troubles in all of our lives."
"So, before we all start our lives anew, how about we go somewhere for a trip?"
Shi-Han: "That would be good. It will reduce the pressure on our minds and brains."
"But I'm going to the village tomorrow. Zombie will probably go to the university."
"Where are you thinking of going, and when will you go?"
At Shi-Han's words, Jun-Yu gripped his chopsticks tightly.
Judging from the expression on his face, it was clear that his blood was heating up with anger as it flowed through his veins.
Jun-Yu: "No, I won't go to the university tomorrow."
Seeing Jun-Yu's reaction clearly, Xiao-Tong and Shu-Yang smiled faintly.
Without letting Jun-Yu notice his smile, Shu-Yang put on a serious expression and said,
Shu-Yang: "Then go on a trip with them. You'll feel better."
Jun-Yu was about to say something to Shu-Yang, but—
Xiao-Tong: "Then where else will we go? We will all go to Qingshan together."
"Look, Shi-Han, no matter where we go in the city, we won't find the kind of peacefulness surrounded by pure, cool, clean greenery that we can find in the village."
"So please, don't object anymore."
Shi-Han: "Why would I object? You're going with me."
"But what if Jun-Yu and Brother don't want to go?"
Jun-Yu: "Miss Shakchunni, have you even once asked us to go with you?"
"You're the one who doesn't want to take us with you."
"So how can we go?"
Shu-Yang: "Jun-Yu, why are you saying it like that?"
"It's obvious that Sister doesn't have any objection to us going."
"Then why are you making the situation complicated?"
"If you want to go, just say yes. Otherwise, say no."
Jun-Yu: "I'm willing to go."
"Because I've never been to a village before."
"But why don't you want to go?"
Shu-Yang: "You can see what I'm like. If I go, all of your fun will be ruined."
Jun-Yu: "No, Mr. Police Officer. If you don't go, I won't go either."
Shu-Yang: "Why don't you understand? I am sick right now. Tell me, if I go, how will you have a good time?"
Jun-Yu said to Shu-Yang in a scolding tone,
Jun-Yu: "Shut up. I can't even imagine having a good time without you, not even in my nightmares. But I don't understand, what problem do you have with me being there? Have I ever avoided my responsibility toward you?"
Jun-Yu stopped after saying all the words in one breath.
After being scolded by Jun-Yu, Shu-Yang said in a soft voice,
Shu-Yang: "Alright, I will go. But don't regret it after I go with you."
Jun-Yu: "Be quiet. If you didn't go, I would have regretted it. And now that you're going, it's final."
---
The green-surrounded Qingshan Village had just seen the rice seedlings stand on their own. Some houses were blended together with the cultivated fields. And various flowers and vegetable plants were planted in the yards of all those houses.
But during spring, the greenery surrounding both sides of the roads and the cherry blossom trees planted around people's houses repeatedly caught the eye.
A car stopped near the road leading from the main road to Old Xiao-Lin's house.
There was no proper road for cars to go from here all the way to Xiao-Lin's house.
Shi-Han, Jun-Yu, Xiao-Tong, and Shu-Yang got out of the car and stood there.
They all took a deep breath of the pure village air.
They felt that the village was actually much more peaceful than the city.
As soon as they stepped into the village, it seemed as though they had forgotten all their sadness and suffering.
Shi-Han: "Xiao-Tong, bring Brother along slowly. I'll go ahead."
Jun-Yu: "We have to walk from here? But if we walk through these rice fields, won't the farmers get angry?"
Shi-Han frowned at Jun-Yu's words.
She was still upset with Jun-Yu.
Xiao-Tong: "Oh, why would they get angry with us? Do you think I'm going to walk around destroying the rice?"
With that, Xiao-Tong gave a slight smile.
Shu-Yang: "Fool, this rice field doesn't belong to just one farmer. And at the very end of each field, there is a thick barrier made of soil. People can easily walk along these barriers. That's where people and farmers walk."
Jun-Yu: "Oh, I see. Really, I'm asking such a foolish question. Alright, let's go. There's no point in standing here."
Meng-Yao: "Madam Xiao-Lin, your granddaughter Shi-Han has understood everything and is now heading toward destruction. And do you think we don't know why you live far away from the city in this village?"
At Shi-Han's aunt Meng-Yao's words, Xiao-Lin became startled. She swallowed dryly. Meng-Yao's words had left her completely speechless.
Meng-Yao and Cheng-Hao had suddenly come to meet the elderly Xiao-Lin today. There had been no fixed day or date for their visit.
The elderly Xiao-Lin remained silent for a few moments before finally composing herself and saying,
Xiao-Lin: "You two! What do you mean by 'destruction'? Why have you come here?"
Cheng-Hao: "Why? Didn't your granddaughter tell you about everything that has happened to her over the past few days?"
At Cheng-Hao's words, the elderly woman's heart trembled.
A question began circling through her mind.
Xiao-Lin: "What happened to Shi-Han? Why are you beating around the bush? What do you want from us? You two are Shi-Han's uncle and aunt. Just as Shi-Han is my granddaughter, she is also your niece."
Meng-Yao: "Oh, why are you worrying so much, Madam? I haven't even told you what happened yet... Your granddaughter, the Gaming Queen Shi-Han, has broken up with Chen-Yu."
Xiao-Ling: "That's a lie! Shi-Han could never do such a thing. Shi-Han herself loved Chen-Yu, so why would she break up with him?"
Meng-Yao: "That's not all, Madam. Shi-Han is dating the son of the CEO of Xin-Shing Company. But do you know what that boy's character is like?"
Because of Meng-Yao's words, Xiao-Lin believed them again.
This time, she became completely certain that Jun-Yu actually did not want what was best for Shi-Han.
Xiao-Lin: "You two can leave now. Everything is becoming confused in my mind. I need to think first."
"Besides, I need to talk to Shi-Han."
"Shi-Han is coming today. After hearing everything from her, I will let you know."
The moment the elderly Xiao-Lin finished speaking, Meng-Yao and Cheng-Hao looked at her and silently walked out of the room with distorted smiles on their faces.
After they had walked some distance, they came face-to-face with Shi-Han.
Shi-Han: "What are you two doing here?"
"Nowadays, I see that you two are following me like detectives."
"Whenever I come to the village, you two also come to the village."
Meng-Yao: "It's all just a coincidence."
"Besides, can't we come and meet Madam Xiao-Lin?"
Shi-Han: "You can."
"But you two aren't exactly well-intentioned people."
"Why do you keep coming to meet Grandma again and again?"
Cheng-Hao: "Shi-Han, don't forget that we are your elders."
"We have always wanted what is best for you. That's why we keep coming to see Madam Xiao-Lin."
Shi-Han ignored his words, curled her lips, and said,
Shi-Han: "How much you want what is best for me, I can understand by looking at the relationship between my parents."
"And today, I suppose I'll find out from Grandma herself."
"You can leave now."
The moment Shi-Han said that, Meng-Yao and Cheng-Hao's hearts trembled.
Without saying anything more, they walked away, avoiding the conversation.
As soon as Shi-Han reached home, she saw Xiao-Lin sitting there looking very gloomy and thinking deeply about something.
She slowly entered the room and said softly,
Shi-Han: "Grandma!"
It seemed as though the elderly woman hadn't heard Shi-Han.
Seeing no reaction from her, Shi-Han said again,
Shi-Han: "Grandma, what happened to you?"
"Look what I brought for you."
As she spoke, Shi-Han began showing Xiao-Lin some of the gifts she had brought for her.
Whenever Shi-Han came to visit, she always brought some kind of gift for her grandmother.
But today, Xiao-Lin showed no interest in the gifts.
Usually, whenever Shi-Han came, Xiao-Lin would leave the gifts aside and pull Shi-Han into her arms first.
But today, the elderly woman asked Shi-Han in a serious voice,
Xiao-Lin: "Who is Jun-Yu?"
"And what is your relationship with that boy?"