Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1202: The butterfly feelings

The silence stretched on for a long, painful spell. Though Zhong Heng wanted to be understanding of his mother, he just couldn’t. He couldn’t fathom her changing feelings and betrayal. He accepted that Zhong Yuhang might not be a perfect husband and father, yet...

"I need some time alone," he quietly said.

His wife tried to talk to him, but he refused any conversation, including from Ru Yi. He couldn’t look into Zhong Anrui’s eyes without feeling ashamed and embarrassed, more so Zhong Sihan’s whom he sent to prison indirectly. It pricked more because his father’s last letter was the only thing left of him. But even that had turned out to be a hoax.

Zhong Heng quietly left. His wife stood at a crossroads but Zhong Anrui said, "Go. He needs you the most now."

Ru Yi’s brother’s situation was similar to Zhong Heng who couldn’t believe that his grandmother would even dream of doing something like this. Their entire family was united with the hatred sentiment toward Zhong Sihan. Naturally, he had a lot to say, but Zhong Sihan was standing right there. He was already royally pissed off by today’s events. The brother sensed the danger that he would only get slapped in the face now if he raised his voice. But he did make a point of sending a silent glare toward her before making his exit.

Which only left Ru Yi in the circle. With the atmosphere becoming really strange and odd, Zhong Sihan have had enough. Naturally, his displeasure directed to Shui, toward whom he stomped and approached.

"Are you happy now? Who gave you the right to interfere in my affairs?"

Lin frowned. "You started the whole thing by clashing with Miss. Ru Yi overlooking the simple drawing."

"Don’t take her side."

"It’s because she is right."

"She is not! She had no business investigating the past!"

"Only because you were too stubborn to let go of Blooming. Once again, you challenged Miss. Han. She only did what was necessary to win it."

His gaze darkened. "What kind of a son would keep going against his father!"

"I’m not your son," he stated it like a plain fact.

"The adoption process is not far away."

"I don’t think so."

Han Tian pulled his shoulder back and sighed. "That’s enough, Sihan. Let it go. Let’s go back."

"I lost my interest in the paintings now," his expression was extremely bitter thanks to Shui’s stunt.

"Not even mine?"

Zhong Sihan paused and looked at him. "What? You withering man has also put up a painting here?"

"You’re the one who is withering away, you bastard. Who was the one to get hospitalized so miserably?"

Zhong Sihan made a face.

"Fine. Let me also see it and curse the hell out of you."

He glanced at Zhong Anrui once, but he had nothing to say to her. He could only watch her shed tears with a trembling body in silence. He moved to leave when she asked, "Why didn’t you expose me then?"

He stopped.

"You should have," her cheeks ached. "I deserved it."

Zhong Sihan didn’t respond for a long time.

"My brother didn’t have the strength to overcome his wife’s betrayal. Was death too lucrative of an option to choose rather than parting ways from you and keep living? I still don’t know. Sure, it hurts but I never understood how one person could hold so much control over someone’s will to live. In that sense, Yuhang had greatly disappointed me. I didn’t want to see your son doing the same bullshit. He has Yuhang’s blood. I couldn’t be too sure."

Zhong Anrui paled slightly. He clearly meant that there were high chances for Zhong Heng taking an extreme step too just like his father. Who knew?

But now he had a wife, his children were grown up, older and probably wiser than ten years ago. They could stand by Zhong Heng’s side in a way he couldn’t stand by his father’s side at merely five years old.

Zhong Anrui’s breath hitched. Her fingers curled into her shawl. "You stayed silent...to protect Heng?"

Zhong Sihan’s eyes didn’t change much. "Don’t get too dramatic or your grandson’s pea-sized brain would accuse me of having feelings for you. I couldn’t save my brother. But I wouldn’t push my nephew down the same cliff. He is an idiot and I hate him, but he is still Yuhang’s son."

She smiled faintly and thought to herself.

Why did she get drawn to Zhong Sihan all those years ago? Was it only his confidence that had affected her?

No.

It was the fact that despite claiming to be the most ruthless businessman and declaring that he had no real need for a family, Zhong Sihan, in his own way, was incredibly human. He never showed it, which was why a normal person had to use a magnifying glass to detect if any trace of sympathy remained in that cold heart. But there was. There was a lot of love hidden within that tough heart.

It was hard not to like a man like that. Which was one of the reasons she did what she did. It was true that Zhong Sihan was interfering with Zhong Heng in the company, and he needed to be away. But he needed to be away for her own sanity too. Life was harsh and lonely after Zhong Yuhang’s death. And with Zhong Sihan still in the picture, and with her feelings not really going anywhere, she was simply losing her mind every passing day.

Zhong Anrui staggered slightly, and Ru Yi instinctively moved toward her, but the older woman raised a weak hand. "I...I need to be alone as well, dear."

She turned, her shoulders shaking as she walked away, a fragile figure swallowed by the dim hallway light and the burden of the past.

Silence loomed after her departure.

Only Ru Yi remained, her gaze conflicted as she bowed slightly to Shui and Lin and Zhong Sihan. "I’m... sorry. For all of this."

Her voice was small, as if the weight of the family’s sins pressed down on her too.

Zhong Sihan ran a hand through his hair with a grimace. "This is why I didn’t want children or family drama. It always rots from within." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Han Tian snorted. "Oh, stop pretending you are the only victim in the world. Come curse my art already."

Despite himself, the corner of Zhong Sihan’s mouth twitched. "Oh I thoroughly intend to. Just like the old days."