CHAPTER 439: CHAPTER 439: WRONG (PART 2)

Mo Siyu looked at Lian Qingyang, scrutinizing him closely. He bore no resemblance to Tang Yue, and his eyes, swollen like those of a giant panda, had robbed him of all his handsomeness. Yet his true-hearted protection of Xiao Yue was evident, even to the extent of compromising with Meng Yanzhi for her sake.

The fact that Meng Yanzhi had injured Xiao Yue could not simply be overlooked.

Mo Siyu lowered his head, his dark eyes murky and unclear.

*

"What do you want from me? I don’t have money to cover your medical expenses," Yu Zhaodi said, looking at Meng Yanzhi with a defensive face.

She had returned to school the day before, her hand wrapped up like a zongzi (sticky rice dumpling), making it quite inconvenient during meals, but having survived hardships from a young age, she wasn’t afraid of getting tired.

After finishing classes today, on her way back to the dormitory, she encountered Meng Yanzhi and instinctively glanced at his abdomen.

Meng Yanzhi wore casual clothes, and if Yu Zhaodi hadn’t seen with her own eyes, she would hardly believe he was injured.

"Here, this is for you." Meng Yanzhi handed her an envelope, saying, "I drank and drove, caused an accident, brought harm to your family. Afterwards..."

Meng Yanzhi’s words faltered, unable to continue. He then asked, "With this knife, have you vented all your anger?"

"Meng Yanzhi, what are you up to?" Yu Zhaodi gazed at Meng Yanzhi, shocked as if she had seen a ghost. Could this be the same Meng Yanzhi who wouldn’t deign to glance at others?

This envelope...

Yu Zhaodi didn’t dare to take it; he had harmed her father, and she wouldn’t let him get away with merely money.

Meng Yanzhi solemnly said, "I can’t undo the past, but now, I am sincerely offering you an apology."

"Your apology is useless. My father is gone; no matter how much money you give, can you bring my dad back?" Yu Zhaodi screamed at Meng Yanzhi, tears welling up involuntarily at the thought of her father.

Meng Yanzhi went silent, and after a long pause, finally said, "Inside here, there is a recommendation letter that can grant you an internship. You can earn a monthly wage of US$ 50 from it. It isn’t much, but it’s hard-earned money from your own efforts."

With those words, Meng Yanzhi didn’t stay a moment longer and turned to leave.

Yu Zhaodi looked at the envelope lying on the stone beside her, her eyes reddening as she opened it. Inside was indeed a recommendation letter, from a well-known law firm in Jing City. To intern at a law firm was to learn a lot.

Such an opportunity was something everyone wanted desperately.

Yu Zhaodi took a deep breath, tempted to throw the referral letter away.

The letter fluttered to the grass. She turned to leave but after just a couple of steps, Yu Zhaodi stopped, turned back, and quietly picked up the envelope again.

Meng Yanzhi was responsible for her father’s death, but now, even if he offered her a job, why shouldn’t she take it?

Her grandmother and brother at home needed money. Although Tang Yue and Zhang Tingyu had developed quite a few income sources, making life a bit better for grandma and brother, it still wasn’t enough.

She needed to earn even more money.

Yu Zhaodi clenched the referral letter tightly in her hand, thinking to herself: Even if he found her a job, she wouldn’t abandon her original goals.

*

Meng Family.

The day after tomorrow, Meng Yanzhi would be leaving the country. Mr. Meng sat in his room, silent throughout.

After packing his things, Meng Yanzhi had been yearning to see his grandfather. Alas, Grandpa Meng refused to come out, denying him even the chance to speak.

Meng Yanzhi settled at his grandfather’s door, pleading, "Grandpa, I’m leaving for abroad tomorrow, and I don’t know when I’ll be returning. Grandpa, please, see me."

"I want to see you, Grandpa," Meng Yanzhi’s voice carried with it a plea.

"Grandpa, do you really dislike me that much? So much so that you can’t even bear to face me?" Meng Yanzhi spoke softly, for usually, Grandpa Meng wouldn’t stand to see him this distressed, forgiving him after a while even when he caused trouble, out of pity for him being alone.

"Grandpa..." Meng Yanzhi murmured, "I truly know I was wrong."

Meng Yanzhi leaned against the door, his speech sporadic, but continuous.

Inside the room, Mr. Meng was staring at a family portrait, lost in thought.

It was a family portrait taken last year. Mr. Meng was smiling happily because both his son and grandson were with him. Meng Jin stood next to him, dressed in a white shirt, his expression stern and unsmiling, while Meng Yanzhi appeared joyous.

This three-person family portrait was something Mr. Meng always treasured, something he’d look at whenever he missed his son.

In his ears, were the soft murmurs of Meng Yanzhi admitting his wrongs, while Mr. Meng’s face was covered in tears.

What a sin.

Mr. Meng, with trembling hands and a frame of nothing but skin and bones, placed his hand upon Meng Jin’s face in the portrait. Then, with a tremor, he retracted his hand and closed his eyes, tears slipping from the corners.

Xiao Jin, was I really wrong?

Mr. Meng kept repeating this question to himself in his heart; his thoughts seemed to drift back to when Meng Yanzhi was seven years old.

He remembered, before Meng Yanzhi turned seven, while Xiao Jin was not particularly close to Yanzhi, he at least sincerely treated him like a foster son. Those were probably the happiest days for Mr. Meng, with his son Meng Jin finally picking himself up and his grandson Yanzhi gradually growing up. Though not his own flesh and blood, to Mr. Meng, after raising him for so many years, there was practically no difference.

It was in the year when Meng Yanzhi turned seven that Meng Jin became cold towards him. An aunt who worked in their home had a child, a little girl that was exceptionally cute, and Meng Yanzhi teased her on purpose, going as far as to pull down her pants. The little girl, proud as she was, fought back desperately against Meng Yanzhi, ending up bumping her head and cutting her face.

In the aftermath, Meng Yanzhi refused to admit wrongdoing. Moreover, he bluntly said that he merely laid hands on a little girl; he had done nothing else to her. He believed that the injuries the girl suffered were her own doing, not his fault.

Meng Jin, upon learning this, became angry.

Afterwards...

Mr. Meng took a deep breath. Back then, because of this incident, Meng Jin even argued with him, saying he had spoiled Meng Yanzhi too much, to the point where the boy could not discern right from wrong, nor understand the severity or scale of matters.

Meng Jin claimed that Meng Yanzhi was too cold and selfish and asked Mr. Meng to severely discipline him. But he couldn’t bear to punish his grandson. Because of this, Meng Jin left for the border defense forces, and from then on, many years passed. Even when he occasionally returned, he would ignore his foster son Meng Yanzhi, as if the boy was not Meng Jin’s foster son but Mr. Meng’s foster grandson.

That argument still oft-floated through his mind, especially in these past few days when Mr. Meng had recurring dreams. He wondered, if only he had agreed with Meng Jin’s views back then and strictly disciplined Meng Yanzhi, would they be spared of today’s disaster?