In the blink of an eye, three years have passed, yet you still haven’t returned. Has everything stopped like smoke in the old school yard? Watching spring go by and autumn come, all thoughts of longing now seem futile.

"Yichen, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had dreams. Over the years, it’s been my failure as a father that has let you down so much. I didn’t even know that my own son had to give up his dreams because of me. Perhaps I’m really not suited to be your father; I barely deserve it. There are too many people in the world better than me, more suited to be your father. I don’t even know how unbelievably lucky I was to have you become my son!

Right now, I don’t want to do anything or say anything; I just want to thank the heavens for giving you to me. You are the greatest blessing and pride of my life. No matter how wrong your actions might be, I would still feel proud as a father. Let alone, your actions have exceeded everything. How could I not know what you’ve done deep down in my heart? It’s just that I’ve never tried to understand you. I always thought you were a strong child who didn’t need care from your parents. You could always succeed with your own efforts time and again, but I often forgot that you needed my care, my help, and my protection too." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Xia Jing also felt regret towards her son. Her son had endured so much pain alone over the years, while she lived freely outside, forgetting that at home, her son was waiting for his mother to return. Time after time, how much despair must have been in his heart? Every hope shattered again and again, leaving him only with deep painful memories and the bitter wait. He waited and waited, yet his mother never came back home. Even when she saw him grow, she refused to return and acknowledge him.

"My son, I am sorry. If back then, I hadn’t stubbornly left with your father, if I hadn’t been so filled with fantasies of the outside world, thinking I could make a name for myself and then proudly reunite with you, but I forgot, at that time, you needed the companionship of your parents, especially your mother’s love and dedication. But I avoided all the responsibilities a mother should bear. Your heart must hate me. Why is it that everything I do turns out to be no good? Why does everything I do bring sorrow to everyone?

Do you really hate me as a mother? If I hadn’t treated you this way, how could you have ended up here? How could you have borne so much pain alone? Why would your childhood be so dark? How could your dreams be shattered, and your goals remain unachieved?

No matter whether you hate me or not, the guilt I feel for you will never diminish. I will use all my remaining time to make it up to you, to make up for my failure as a mother who lost so many years of qualification. I will give back all the love you’ve lost over these years. I want the whole world to know my son is not at fault; he was right in what he did. It was me as a mother, my hard-heartedness at the start, that led my son to become what he is now. No matter how harsh he becomes, or how unkind or injustice it seems, he is right, and all the wrongs should be borne by me as his mother!"

"Dad, Mom, deep down, I don’t blame anyone for what happened. The decision was made by me long ago. I will not blame anyone because it is reasonable to give up some of my own desires to protect this family. I cannot be selfish and allow the hundred-year legacy my grandfather built to fall apart. I cannot stand idly by while those I wish to protect are hurt, and I stand powerless.

This current outcome is what I truly wanted; I have the ability to protect those I most wish to protect, to bring everything back to life. I can protect my grandfather from harm, allow my wife to happily enjoy life by my side, allow my son to live carefree, and pave the way, making his journey smoother. For me, this is the greatest wealth in life."

Zhang Zhentian felt deeply guilty as well. After all, this is his son. Why, as a father, had he never fulfilled his responsibilities all these years? Why did his actions always harm his child and even break his father’s heart? What good is there in having raised his son this far?

Yichen, your mother is right. No matter what, we should compensate you for all the harm we’ve caused over the years. There are no mistakes in what you’ve done because our family has sacrificed too much. Now it is time for me, as your father, to make amends and protect you and this family!

I now regret every decision I’ve made in the past. I shouldn’t have been selfish, thinking of leaving this family. I shouldn’t have thought of flying solo and venturing into a new world. Staying at home, honestly, was the right choice; home is my eternal refuge!"

"Honestly, hearing your thoughts like this is enough for me. You’ve finally realized that home is your eternal haven. Without family, you can lose everything. What use is the world if you lose your family? Family warmth cannot be bought with money or replaced with anything because if you truly lose your loved ones, what use is everything else? Do you really think that losing everything can truly be compensated?

But no matter what, I sincerely thank you. When you spoke those words, I believed that you truly came back to this home with sincerity, that you as parents genuinely wanted to be good to me, and contribute to this family. This, to me, is the greatest gain of my life!"

Watching the petals fall like rain, the autumn moon remains full. When will you return?