Chapter 68: Confrontation (Part 2)

Ming Jiayao’s words left Ming Jingxing somewhat shattered.

Ming Jingxing remained silent for a long time.

Ming Jiayao grew anxious. “Say something! What happened to my biological parents? Where is my father? How did my mother… really die?”

“Speak!” Ming Jiayao’s voice rose several notches.

Ming Jingxing seemed moved.

“How do you know your father is still alive?” he asked Ming Jiayao hoarsely.

Ming Jiayao sneered. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Only if he’s alive does Liu Rong still have value to be used.”

“If he were already dead, why would you still tolerate Liu Rong?”

Hearing this, Ming Jingxing stared blankly at Ming Jiayao. “You’re as clever as your father.”

He closed his eyes briefly and said to Ming Jiayao, “Let’s go.”

“What?” Ming Jiayao was bewildered.

Ming Jingxing said calmly, “Don’t you want to see your father? I’ll take you to him…”

“What did you say?” Ming Jiayao’s eyes widened. “My father… he’s really still alive?”

Ming Jingxing’s eyes reddened at the corners. “If you don’t leave now, you might miss his final moments.”

With that, Ming Jingxing turned and walked away.

Ming Jiayao stood stunned for a moment before hurriedly following.

Soon, the grandfather and grandson got into a car.

The car headed toward an even more secluded and remote area.

Ming Jiayao was frantic with worry, desperate to know his father’s current condition.

But then it occurred to him—

He was about to meet his biological father!

So…

“What about my mother? She… she…” At that moment, Ming Jiayao wished more than anything that Xu Wenli were still alive!

It would be best if Xu Wenli and Ming Zhixuan were together.

Yet reason told him—Xu Wenli was surely no longer in this world.

If she were still alive,

even if the Xu Family and Chen Family were keeping her confined, they would only claim publicly that she was frail and needed quiet rest.

But Xu Wenli’s tombstone had already been erected in Qingling Cemetery.

So,

she truly was no longer in this world.

After a long silence, Ming Jingxing began recounting the fate of Xu Wenli all those years ago:

Xu Wenli had just given birth to her son, Ming Jiayao, and before the child could even reach one month old, she called back to Hong Kong City to inquire about Ming Zhixuan’s situation. It was then she was told—Ming Zhixuan had actually married her younger sister, Xu Wenrui?

At that, Xu Wenli could no longer hold back.

Carrying her newborn son, she hurried back to Hong Kong City.

Upon returning, Xu Wenli discovered not only had Ming Zhixuan married Xu Wenrui, but she herself, Xu Wenli, had already been “married” to Chen Shen several years earlier!

Xu Wenli remained remarkably composed and calm.

First, she absolutely trusted Ming Zhixuan’s character and knew he would never betray her;

Second, since even she herself had no idea how she had “married” Chen Shen, she naturally understood how Ming Zhixuan had “married” Xu Wenrui.

Thus, Xu Wenli, holding her newborn child, sought out Ming Jingxing and explained her purpose.

Without a word, Ming Jingxing arranged accommodation for Xu Wenli and her son elsewhere and had her placed under house arrest.

At this point, Ming Jingxing explained to Ming Jiayao:

“At that time, I had her guarded, firstly because I hoped she could properly rest during her postpartum period and recover her health before anything else. No matter how much I disliked her, she was the woman my son loved, and more importantly, the mother of my grandson. My relationship with Zhixuan was already strained, and I didn’t want him to blame me for not taking care of his wife and child when he woke up.”

“Secondly, I didn’t want Xu Wenli to appear at the Xu Family or the Chen Family… because she was Zhixuan’s weakness. Whether she fell into the hands of the Chen Family or the Xu Family, I would inevitably be controlled by them.”

But what Ming Jingxing never expected was,

Xu Wenli’s stubbornness was just like Ming Zhixuan’s!

—Since Ming Jingxing wouldn’t let her go find Ming Zhixuan, she would rely on herself to do so.

After a brief period of rest, Xu Wenli took advantage of the lax supervision by the bodyguards and quietly slipped out of her residence.

She was going to find Xu Wenrui.

Because—

Xu Wenli had no idea that the real Ming Zhixuan was lying in a nursing home, having undergone amputation and become a vegetative patient.

All she knew was that “Ming Zhixuan” had married Xu Wenrui and was currently living in the Ming Family’s countryside villa in Qingtang Bay!

As it turned out, when Xu Wenli arrived at the Ming Family villa,

She happened to run into Chen Shen, who had brought his child to visit Xu Wenrui…

Just like that, Xu Wenli unexpectedly encountered her “husband” and her “son” at her boyfriend’s home.

In shock,

Xu Wenli began arguing and confronting Chen Shen and Xu Wenrui.

At that very moment, Chen Shuojie, who was only a little over three years old and didn’t understand what was happening, toddled up to the third floor and leaned over the terrace, waving cheerfully at the adults arguing in the courtyard below…

Then, the little boy lost his balance and fell from the terrace!

At the time, Xu Wenrui was so frightened she could only scream, collapsing weakly against Chen Shen;

Chen Shen was also panicking, shouting for help…

Only Xu Wenli, despite being furious and angry at the time, rushed forward without a second thought upon seeing what happened, spreading her arms to catch the falling Chen Shuojie.

The tremendous impact made Xu Wenli a human cushion for Chen Shuojie.

She was knocked unconscious on the spot, bleeding heavily from her lower body.

After being rushed to the hospital,

Xu Wenli’s condition was critical.

Having just given birth and traveled a long distance, her body had not yet recovered before she acted as a cushion for Chen Shuojie. The heavy impact caused her uterus and internal organs to rupture…

Xu Wenli underwent sixteen surgeries in one month,

And Ming Jingxing signed nearly fifty critical surgery consent forms.

But in the end, after struggling to survive for over a month…

Xu Wenli still couldn’t hold on.

At this point,

Ming Jingxing’s eyes were red at the corners, and his lips trembled uncontrollably.

“My son and daughter-in-law were both noble and kind-hearted people. But they… received no good in return for their kindness! It was the Xu Family! The Chen Family! They are the ones who killed my son and daughter-in-law!” Ming Jingxing roared in anger.

Ming Jiayao had never imagined that the true cause of Xu Wenli’s death was actually saving Chen Shuojie!

At this moment, it would be a lie to say he didn’t resent Chen Shuojie.

Even though Chen Shuojie was just a child back then, completely unaware…

Ming Jiayao clenched his fists tightly.

Just then, the car turned into an extremely secluded nursing home.

Ming Jiayao suddenly realized,

He was about to meet his biological father!

So, Ming Jiayao, who was on the verge of unleashing a string of classic curses, forcefully held himself back.

After the car came to a stop,

Ming Jingxing led Ming Jiayao into the main building of the sanatorium.

After several twists and turns,

what appeared before Ming Jiayao was a spacious glass room.

This glass room was not arranged like a hospital ward.

The bed was European-style, covered with deep blue sheets and duvet sets printed with light gray fine checks;

Green potted plants were placed beside the bed, next to which was a reading lamp emitting soft and comfortable light. A large abstract floral oil painting hung on the wall, and a vase on the table held blooming seasonal flowers…

The room was both bright and cozy.

On the large bed in the center lay a tall man quietly.

At this moment, two South Asian men dressed in nursing uniforms, one crouching at the foot of the bed and the other at the head, were diligently massaging the limbs of the bedridden man.

Several medical machines were also placed by the bed.

Among them was an electrocardiogram monitor, likely monitoring the man’s heartbeat.

Ming Jiayao first stared at the electrocardiogram monitor for a while, noticing that the man’s heartbeat was very weak and the rhythm was slow.

Then, Ming Jiayao turned his gaze to the two nursing assistants massaging the man’s limbs.

Ming Jingxing explained to Ming Jiayao, “I was afraid that prolonged bed rest would cause muscle atrophy, so I have people massage him several times a day… This way, as soon as he wakes up, he can walk immediately.”

The old man’s voice trembled and carried a sob.

Ming Jiayao examined the man lying quietly in bed.

In his heart, he thought of Bai Yuanzhi’s sister, Zhou Sier.

—Zhou Sier had been in a vegetative state for seven months but fortunately woke up in the end.

However, after she regained consciousness, she still underwent a week of rehabilitation before she could slowly start walking.

So—

Ming Jingxing was indeed attentive to his son in a vegetative state.

Even through the glass, Ming Jiayao could see that the man lying in bed, Ming Zhixuan, bore at least an eighty percent resemblance to himself.

Only, Ming Zhixuan’s skin was unusually pale.

“Does he have any reactions?” Ming Jiayao asked.

He hoped so.

When Zhou Sier was in a vegetative state, she had stress responses—though she couldn’t speak or move, whenever she heard Ah Zhi’s voice, her heart monitor would alarm.

He hoped Ming Zhixuan was the same.

However,

Ming Jingxing said, “I searched for a very long time before I found a woman… whose voice sounded particularly like your mother’s. I hired her to come every week and speak to your father in your mother’s tone for about ten sentences…”

“I didn’t dare let her say too much, afraid your father would notice something off.”

“But—” Ming Jingxing shook his head repeatedly.

Ming Jiayao’s heart slowly sank.

Ming Jingxing sighed deeply, “Go in and see him.”

Ming Jiayao stood silently before the glass wall for a moment before slowly walking into the glass room.

The two nursing assistants had already been dismissed by the manager.

Ming Jiayao walked with great difficulty.

From the entrance to the bedside,

it was visually less than ten meters.

But Ming Jiayao’s legs felt extremely weak.

Every step he took drained all his strength and energy…

Ming Jiayao stared intently at Ming Zhixuan’s face,

afraid of missing even the slightest change in his expression.

He even thought:

—Ming Zhixuan is pretending, right? He’s doing this just to anger Ming Jingxing! As soon as he knows his son has grown up and come to visit him, he won’t be able to resist waking up…

Though it was only about ten steps, Ming Jiayao took nearly a minute to walk them.

When he finally reached the bedside,

Tears blurred his vision.

But Ming Jiayao finally saw his father’s face clearly.

So, he was just a youthful, white-haired version of Ming Jiayao!

Seeing Ming Jiayao staring intently at Ming Zhixuan’s white hair, Ming Jingxing, standing nearby, explained softly, “I’ve tried everything to get him to take in more nutrients. But the doctors say his body is very weak, some of his organs have lost function and no longer absorb nutrients. That’s why his hair…”

At this point, Ming Jingxing couldn’t go on.

“Hello, Daddy,” Ming Jiayao said softly, “I’m your son, Ming Jiayao…”

Seeing this, a pained groan escaped Ming Jingxing’s throat.

He covered his face with both hands, and the sound of suppressed sobs seeped through his fingers, broken and sorrowful.

Ming Jiayao paid no attention to Ming Jingxing.

He sat on the chair by Ming Zhixuan’s bed and took his father’s cold hand.

“Daddy, do you… not believe I’m your son?”

“Then open your eyes and look at me,”

“We look so much alike, so much that if you just glance at me, you’ll surely believe I am your son.”

“I am the son of you and Xu Wenli…”

At this, Ming Jiayao couldn’t hold back either. He gripped his father’s hand, buried his face in his father’s broad palm, and wept uncontrollably.

In truth, as early as the first day Bai Yuanzhi arrived in Hong Kong,

Ming Jiayao had already been redeemed by Bai Yuanzhi.

What she saved was not just his life;

she even gave him boundless courage, enabling him to face his dark and painful childhood.

Yet now,

facing the person in this world who… should love him the most,

Ming Jiayao still couldn’t hold back.

Like a newborn chick, he nestled against his father and cried until the world seemed to fade away.

A long, long time later,

only when Ming Jiayao’s voice was completely hoarse did he slowly stop.

Then, Ming Jiayao began to speak.

He first talked about his childhood.

—Never receiving the love and attention of his parents and grandfather, he always blamed himself, thinking it was because he wasn’t good enough that they didn’t love him;

He told Ming Zhixuan how Xu Wenrui repeatedly tried to kill him, how Liu Rong stood by and even added insult to injury, and how his grandfather condoned their actions;

He also told Ming Zhixuan that he had long been prepared to cut ties with his parents and grandfather;

He said he had met a very, very good person, and under this person’s influence, he was now working hard and striving to improve. One day soon, he would establish his own household…

After recounting his own experiences,

Ming Jiayao, his voice still hoarse, told Ming Zhixuan what kind of person Liu Rong, the imposter pretending to be Ming Zhixuan, was,

and,

that Ming Jiayao’s mother, Ming Zhixuan’s beloved Xu Wenli… had long since passed away!

Hearing this, Ming Jingxing grew anxious. “Jiayao, why must you say this!”

“Don’t you understand my good intentions?”

“In your father’s condition, he’s still fighting to live because… he thinks the woman I hired is your mother!”

“He desperately wants to wake up and be with your mother and you!”

“But now you’re doing this…”

“Aren’t you afraid he… might never wake up again?” Ming Jingxing said, flustered and exasperated.

Ming Jiayao paid no attention to Ming Jingxing.

He held his father’s hand tightly, softening his voice, “Daddy, I know… you’ve tried so hard. All these years, you must have wanted to wake up quickly, to take good care of Mommy, and to take care of me too, right?”

“You’ve worked so hard.”

“But… I’m really sorry. Mommy… actually passed away a long time ago.”

“Daddy, if you’re too tired, then… just let go. Go with Mommy…”

“Once you’re in heaven, this body won’t be able to hold you back anymore.”

“When you come back to the mortal world to see me…”

“Give me a little hint when you visit, so I’ll know you’re here…”

“Daddy, don’t worry too much about me. I’ve always been strong.”

“As for Grandfather, you don’t need to worry about him either… Daddy, after you see Mommy, make sure to take her far away. Never encounter Grandfather again… Leave him! Only by leaving him can you find happiness.” As he spoke, Ming Jiayao couldn’t help but burst into tears again.

Beside him, Ming Jingxing listened, his heart aching as if it were being carved out with a blunt knife. He cried until he nearly fainted.

Seeing Ming Jingxing’s pale face and labored breathing, the steward was terrified and quickly called for a nurse. They helped Ming Jingxing up and took him to the next room, summoning a doctor for emergency care.

Ming Jiayao paid no attention to Ming Jingxing.

He only gazed affectionately at Ming Zhixuan and whispered, “Daddy, go now. Don’t force yourself to hold on any longer.”

…

It was unclear how much time had passed.

In any case, Ming Jiayao, exhausted from crying at his father’s bedside, drifted into a heavy, drowsy sleep.

In his haze,

a gentle, cool breeze blew in through the window, lifting the soft curtains and letting them flutter lightly against Ming Jiayao.

Startled, Ming Jiayao sat up straight.

He turned to look at the window,

where the gently billowing white curtains rippled like soft waves, as if… bidding him farewell.

Tears streamed down Ming Jiayao’s face once more.

He realized something,

then slowly lowered his head to look at his father, lying peacefully in bed.

Ming Zhixuan still appeared to be in a deep slumber.

But his expression seemed to carry a hint of relief and joy.

A few seconds later,

the heart monitor at the bedside emitted a rapid, urgent alarm.

Ming Zhixuan’s once weak, slow-beating heart rhythm finally stilled…

Eventually flattening into a straight line.

Ming Jiayao clutched his father’s hand tightly and broke into sobs again.

“Daddy, goodbye!”