We are destined.Let me pamper you - Chapter 487

“End of the discussion? W-What does that mean?” Xiu Mei alternated her gaze between Mo Zhichan and Zian. “Why you two are mute? Say something, look mom is bullying me. How can she end the topic without returning my bracelet?”

Mo Zhichan: “Welcome to the family, Qinqin.”

Zian: “Welcome to the kingdom ruled by the mom, squirrel.”

Xiu Mei “…”

Inwardly Xiu Mei was happy seeing Zeng Ruo’s reaction, but she acted to feel wrong and stomp her foot. “Let me meet the grandpa, I’ll complain.”

Zeng Ruo looked at her with an expressionless face. “Sure, but you can’t do it anytime sooner as it’s winters going on and because of dad… cough…. your grandfather’s severe asthma he prefers staying at the Island, away from the mainland country. Till then keep complaining, I won’t give it back.”

Xiu Mei “….”

‘Just wait, mom…thanks to Jianyu’s herbal medicines grandpa’s condition is in control. This year he didn’t go back to the Island but is staying in the mansion…. Let me see how you’ll escape.’

*****

At Zeng Shihong’s mansion, the car pulled over in front of the huge mansion. Zeng Ruo frowned seeing it’s the ancestral property. Does Xiu Mei live here?

She noticed the property has been through a lot of changes over two decades, it’s expanded further, security points had been installed, earlier the golf course was just a simple garden but now it’s professionally built again and just beside the mansion, a huge greenhouse was newly constructed.

But there are few things that remind her of her father’s hobbies, like the use of exotic cactus, adenium, and succulents, the marble canopy was still the same, and the main mansion built on the concept of ancient china with a touch of modern architecture….

Xiu Mei: “What happened, mom?”

“Do you live here?” Zeng Ruo ran her eyes around the place. She strokes the forty-two-year-old sedum burrito plant placed at the entrance. Suddenly she turned to Xiu Mei. “Do you like succulents and cactus?”

“Uh huh! They are my favorite. You’ll find them all over.”

The servants of the house welcomed them but no one talked about Zeng Shihong as per Xiu Mei’s prior instruction to Wu Shen. But looking at Zeng Ruo they were all shocked. Isn’t she the lady of the house? Master’s daughter!

As per their job, the servants escorted everyone to their rooms. However, as soon as Zeng Ruo and Mo Zhichan were out of the sight, everyone ran back to the living room and formed a group, striding towards a certain direction muffling the sound of their footsteps till they reached at end of the corridor where Mo Zhichan and Zeng Ruo were standing in front of the room.

Zeng Ruo looked at the adjacent room that belonged to her father. Suddenly she realized a strange closeness with Zeng Shihong. Though she knows he was not here, yet she felt a different feeling in her heart as if he is somewhere around.

Call it her intuition or her body’s reflex action, in the past, she used to run towards the door sensing her father’s arrival. Even today she felt the same when she stepped in the mansion as if it’s full of his presence.

She bites her lips; she wanted to go inside and for once feel herself to be closer to her father, no matter if it’s through the lifeless things, maybe a table, chair, books or whatever. Don’t know when she will get the opportunity to come here again…

Mo Zhichan looked at the trio looking at him, peeking from the wall. Acted nonchalant he opened the door of the room and called his wife. “Ru….”

“Huh?” Zeng Ruo snapped out from his reverie, “Umm…. Zhi, I-I forgot my phone in the car. You carry on, I’ll get it first.” She looked guilty as the phone was in the handbag, hanging on her arm.

“Okay….” He hides his smile.

*****

Zeng Ruo’s steps automatically moved towards her father’s room, she turned the knob and step in.

Zeng Shihong: “Wu Shen, good you came, tell me does this look good?” He showed a perfectly wrapped jewelry box. “My little munchkin will like…” Words freeze in his mouth, the person standing at the door was not Wu Shen but…..

Zeng Ruo’s condition did not differ from Zeng Shihong’s. She just remained silent, because no words can explain the internal battle between her heart and mind. Her heart wanted to touch the man, hug him, complain, cry, but her brain warned of her past with the same man.

Zeng Shihong got up from the chair, dazed. Sometimes he cocks his head to the right and then to the left… He could not make it if it was a dream, hallucination, or is it the time to bid adieu to the world, maybe that’s why he is able to see the person he wanted to see badly.

It’s a saying- during the last moments the person’s karma appears in front of his eyes, reminding of the bad deeds. It’s God’s way to show you your own true face.

Thinking it as his last time, Zeng Shihong gets down to his knees, tears sting his eyes, his breathing got heavy. His only last wish was to get an apology from his daughter….

“Ruo…. I’m sorry…..”

“The first man in a daughter’s life is her father, and she needs his support and trust more than anything, I’m sorry I deny you that from day one…. I was never there for you, not even when I was supposed to be. I was messed up, I’m messed up, I’m sorry it is my fault….. Instead of calling you daddy’s little princess, daddy’s little girl, I hurt you from the time you were born by handing you over to the maids, letting them tuck you in the night, I’m sorry for not holding you in my embrace….”

“When you looked at me hopefully, extended your tiny finger towards me, looked for a hug when you were scared, I mercilessly broke your tiny heart into pieces, stomping it over every time. I’m sorry…. Instead of making you feel secure by my presence, I haunt you. The world outside is cruel and heartless, instead of protecting you from them I became the most horrifying demon of your life, I’m sorry….”

“I failed to tie your heartstrings with me, I failed to guide you, nourish you, help you take your first step and grow, I was not there when the world beats you down, I was not there in sorrow and happiness, I never tied the ribbons on your hair, I missed your accomplishments, I never complimented you you’re beautiful and brought the smile on your face, I was not there when you found the life partner, I was not there when you gave birth to my munchkin, I never held your hand and said I’m there for you…

“…..All I did was to criticize you, left you alone, and blamed you for something that you have never done… Instead of becoming the father I become the king of the underworld for my daughter as well, I walked away from you…. When I realized your importance it was too late, you were already gone… forever…”

“And now… I’ve become a father who has no daughter to stay, who is alone in this world, selfishly holding on to the little angel sent to me by the heavens hoping to become a father and a grandfather to pay for my sins and don’t die a lonely death. I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I deserve this death to never see my daughter and my munchkin again…..I’m a bad person….” Zeng Shihong touched his head on the floor, crying his heart out.