My Alleged Husband

Chapter 653 - 632 Still Not Back?_1

Time swiftly fades, and in the blink of an eye, the New Year arrives. Old Master Zhang only knows that the new year is upon him, yet his son and daughter-in-law have ultimately chosen not to return to his side on this day, to spend the end of the year with him.

For Old Master Zhang, this is a wound in his heart. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t fathom why his son would be so heartless as to not spend the New Year with him. Is it really that difficult? Why isn’t anyone willing to take the first step, even if it’s just for the sake of their father? Who knew the stances they had against each other, who could understand the misunderstandings, the pain between them, who knew the torment they had put each other through? They always felt that everything they did was insignificant, but who knew that all of it was just an illusion in their hearts.

Zhang Yichen saw Old Master Zhang standing at the door every day as the New Year approached, foolishly waiting for his father to return home. How could his heart not ache? That was his grandfather, who had always been so good to him and had given him his accomplishments today. No matter what, he should fulfill his grandfather’s simple wish. But where could he find his father? The world is so vast; his father had not contacted him for over half a year, and now he had no way to reach him. Where could he even begin to look for traces of his father?

Ran Zhihan also knew the worries in her husband’s heart. She could see how much his grandfather cared about his own son, whether he would come home to spend the New Year with her. For any elder, this was a significant matter, symbolizing a harmonious and united family. But if one person was missing, could her family truly be considered harmonious? Were they truly reunited as a family?

As her family was worried about Zhang Zhentian, Zhang Zhentian was just as worried about his own family. He too wanted to return home to spend the New Year with them.

But Zhang Zhentian knew that no matter what, he could not go back this time. He had taken so many measures, and if he went back now, where would that leave his father? He had given so much just to be with the woman he loved, but in the end, he didn’t win her heart, and he lost his love. Meanwhile, his father waited foolishly on his own for his unfilial son to return. As a younger generation, how could he bear it?

"Yichen, why doesn’t your dad want to come home?" asked Old Master Zhang. "Did his grandfather wrong him? I never had any malice. I only wanted your father to grow up happy and carefree. I’ve worked so hard to ensure his well-being. Why won’t he give me a single chance to explain? Am I really so contemptible in his heart? Everything I have done was for his good, but ultimately, my actions hurt my dear son. I never thought there would come a day when we would be at such an impasse. I care about him so much. He’s the continuation of my life, yet he sees me, his father, as an enemy.

"This is the greatest sorrow of a father’s heart, a sorrow that nothing can change. Do you know how agonizing it is for me? Just because of one careless statement, he has to treat me this way. In his heart, his father can never compare with his mother. How does he view his kin? Are we really so insignificant in his eyes? I don’t ask for much now. I know my time is limited. I just hoped he could return home in peace and spend just one New Year with me happily, but all of that has turned to naught. He will never come back.

"Since he has chosen to hate me, he will never return to me in this lifetime. No matter how I treat him, he can ignore it. Not to mention my desperate pleas. I am a person of dignity. As an elder, as the founder of Zhang Corporation, how can I humble myself for such a small matter? Besides, the fault does not lie with me. No matter what I do, I can never regain his trust. If that’s the case, why should I forcefully demand it? The world is so vast, and he’s not worth the effort of me painstakingly walking into a dead end to find him!"

Zhang Yichen knew in her heart that these were her grandfather’s heartfelt words, his pain. For whatever reason, she truly hoped her grandfather could live peacefully. She understood he had suffered too much in his life, and ultimately received no reward. As a junior, how could her heart bear it?

But she also understood that the world is cruel. Heaven doesn’t change for anyone, no matter what they give. The path that must be walked cannot be avoided, the trials and tribulations are inescapable, no matter how much you beg heaven for mercy. Heaven will not forgive you for your repeated pleas but will become even more severe. It will only allow you to repeatedly survive from desperation, because it wants to tell you in its way that only by living tenaciously in this world can you truly become strong. No one loves the weak.

"Grandfather, no matter when and where, no matter what happens, trust me, my parents’ souls are aware. They just don’t know how to come back and face you after so many years have passed. They’ve been drifting outside, without a stable home. They can’t settle down and be happy because you are forever in their thoughts. You are their concern!"