“The Yangs have yet to get over that incident. I don’t think they’ll let that kid solidify his roots here at Yenching, not under their watch,” said Ling Jinhua to his son with a hearty laughter. “Ruonan is acting too anxious about this matter it seems.”
“Pa, you’ve got to understand how hard this is on Ruonan. For the past two decades, she’s been suffering this terrible dilemma that no mother should face.”
In the end, Ling Ruonan was still his beloved daughter. Although it was true that she committed the worst sin she could have ever committed back then, his love for his daughter remained unwavering. “She’s faced too many hardships!”
Ling Ruonan was a capable woman, no doubt. But because of the guilt both her father and grandfather felt, they had arranged for their largest family-owned asset, which was Northern Group, to come under her leadership. Naturally, she did not fail their expectations. In fact, she did a brilliant job in growing the company into the corporate behemoth that it was today.
Northern Group was a well-respected member of the nation’s own “Fortune 500” list and Ling Ruonan was the queen bee of said company.
Hearing Ling Mingrui’s emotional speech, Ling Jinhua remained silent. Gently, he closed his eyes to rest his mind.
“Pa, would it be fine if I get Mister Luo to come check on your health?” whispered Ling Mingrui to his father. “To be honest, I think he’s the only one who’s capable of putting you on the track toward a full recovery.”
This idea wasn’t a fresh one. However, due to concerns about their own safety as well as a ton of other interconnected issues, he didn’t have the chance to make the suggestion.
“He’ll never come here!” Ling Jinhua responded as he shook his head.
“Do you think he’s still holding a grudge against our family?” asked Ling Mingrui with furrowed brows. “But I don’t think he’s such a person.”
“He has allowed his grandson to return to Yenching after all,” said Ling Jinhua with a smile.
Realisation set in for Ling Mingrui. “So he’s planning to send the kid back to us in such a discreet manner?”
“If that boy proves himself to be capable enough, there should be no problem in allowing him back to our home.”
“Pa, I understand now.” Ling Mingrui sighed in relief. Then, cautiously, he asked, “How about I let the boy himself come check on your health? Perhaps there would be a surprise waiting for us!”
“That will have to wait.” Ling Jinhua did not turn down his son’s proposition. But he wasn’t planning on giving his reply soon either. “I’m telling you, I won’t be dying so soon.”
“Alright. If he could successfully treat your illness, I doubt that many would stand against him returning to our family.”
The old man was the bedrock of the Ling family. Not only that, he was also an important figure in their nation.
His very presence brought together all of the Ling family’s children and he was a man who lots of high-ranking officials respected and cared deeply for. Whoever managed to treat the old man’s illness and subsequently allow him to make a full recovery would not only make the powerful Ling family indebted to the person, he would also be hailed as a national hero.
“Your daughter will soon come to understand this.” Ling Jinhua smiled brightly but his eyes remained shut.
“I hope that she doesn’t come up with another reckless plan that would only make things worse for us.” Ling Mingrui sighed. “I fear that she won’t be able to control her urge to see her son any longer. The Yangs would surely emerge from the shadows once she does that.”
“No, I don’t think she’d do that. I have faith in our precious Ruonan,” Ling Jinhua reassured him.
The old man then sighed. “She’s no longer the little girl you make her out to be. Need I remind you that she’s already in her forties and her son’s already 20. Heh heh.”
“Even till this day, she has never regretted what she did back then.”
“If she did that, she’d no longer be my granddaughter. She’ll only be your daughter!”
Ling Mingrui sunk into his thoughts for a while before posing a question to his father. “Pa, what sort of person do you think that kid is?”
“Well, a grandson of Mister Luo wouldn’t be too bad, would he?” Ling Jinhua’s eyes suddenly peeled open, revealing a glimmer in his eyes. “Luo Liansheng is one of the three men who I have the utmost respect for. As such, I trust in his ability to raise a fine young man.”
“I agree.” Ling Mingrui nodded. “Well then, I should get some men to look over him. We’ll see how he performs in the real world.”
“I think the Yangs will pick up on this very soon.” Ling Jinhua chuckled. “Still, I don’t think there’s much for us to worry about. If that kid actually falters against such a gentle breeze, I think he’ll be the laughing stock for everyone that knows of his identity.”
Ling Mingrui was caught off guard by the old man’s words.
“Back then, it was his father’s first time coming here to Yenching. Be that as it may, he still managed to steal the heart of your daughter, who, despite being already engaged to another man, bore his child. I trust that the kid’s genes are of the good kind. If he doesn’t even possess his father’s traits, then I doubt that he would be worthy of our concern,” said Ling Jinhua before closing his eyes.
“Pa, you should really take a rest now. I’m gonna head out soon.” Without saying a word more, Ling Mingrui left the room with light footsteps.
Ling Ruonan had already left quite a while ago by the time Ling Mingrui exited the room.
Xie Enhua came over to greet him.
“Aren’t you pretty cold-blooded for not allowing them to meet, even after so many years?” she asked in a whisper. “I understand why he isn’t allowed to return to his family. But considering that you all are living in the same city, I’m certain that she must be heart-broken from being restrained like this.”
“This is for the good of both mother and child.” Ling Minrui sighed. “I know that Ruonan will understand my decision.”
“As a woman, I don’t understand just what you men are thinking sometimes.” Suddenly, Xie Enhua sounded a bit riled up. “I pity my own daughter, who has lived through the past 20 years in complete isolation. To not be able to see her own man or her son, I understand just how much pain she is going through. I, too, would like to meet my son-in-law as well as my beloved grandchild. Oh, how I wish to hear that child congratulate his great-grandfather on his 90th birthday.”
“Stop meddling in our matters.” Ling Mingrui now sounded angry himself. However, upon seeing how her eyes started reddening, he couldn’t help but deflate like a balloon. “This was the old man’s decision. You shouldn’t worry too much about it yourself. It’ll work itself out, I promise.”
Xie Enhua sighed in relief upon hearing Ling Mingrui’s optimistic reply.
Luo Ziling of course, was completely oblivious to the chain reaction that had started from today’s event.
While Ouyang Feifei was meeting up with Ling Ruonan, he had already returned to his dormitory.
His dorm room tonight was surprisingly lively; a couple of other boys had come over from the other rooms and were gathered round at the center, enjoying the moment.
Plates of snacks and beer were piled onto the table, around which sat a bunch of boys chewing the fat.
“Oh, you’ve finally come home, big boss. And here I thought you had been taken away as a hostage.” Cao Jianhui, whose face was now flushed from all the alcohol, slung his arm over Luo Ziling’s shoulders the moment he stepped into the room. “C’mon! Drink up, my man! We’ve been talkin’ about you, y’know?”
“About what, if I may ask?” Luo Ziling accepted the bottle of beer Cao Jianhui passed over. Sitting on the edge of his own bed, he asked, “What were you guys talking about?”
“Why’d Ouyang Huihui call you over just now?” asked Cao Jianhui curiously.
“My grandfather had once treated her grandfather’s illness. She knows that I study here and her old man wanted to meet me. I came straight back here afterward.” Luo Ziling wasn’t prepared to tell them too much about her or what had happened. In fact, he deliberately tried to change the topic over to something unrelated, which was quickly picked up on by his semi-drunk friends.
“What in the world are you guys talking about?”
“Oh ho, why you little runt!”
Cao Jianhui glanced at him with a mischievous look on his face but thankfully, he decided to let his friend slip this time.