If you were to ask how the little villain in the novel had gone down the crooked path, Lu Shaoyan would definitely be a character on that long, crooked path.
This person harbored evil intentions from that start. How could you have expectations that he would be a good role model?
On the side, Old Master Lu scolded while smiling, "Beichuan already has a child. Take a look at yourself. You're still single. When are you going to find a wife?"
Lu Shaoyan smiled. "I already have a great-nephew. Why would I need a wife?"
"Your brat!" His reply riled up Old Master Lu,
"Dad, don't be angry. Beichuan is successful in his career, and he has a perfect family. You should be content with that. I don't have Beichuan's good fortune. I'll just enjoy my life and live my life as I please." After saying that, he lowered his head to tease Zhouzhou.
Zhouzhuo seemed to like his great-uncle a lot. It didn't take long for him to laugh and move his hands and feet in joy.
Ye Zhen's eyelids twitched. She stepped forward to interrupt Lu Shaoyan. "Uncle, please give me Zhouzhou. It's his feeding time."
Lu Shaoyan glanced at Zhouzhou and made a funny face at him before handing him to Ye Zhen.
She said that it was Zhouzhou's feeding time, but it was only an excuse. Ye Zhen finally felt a bit more at ease after she got Zhouzhou back. Before she could figure out Lu Shaoyan's nature, it was best to be careful.
Before leaving the living room, Ye Zhen looked at Old Master Lu who never stopped laughing at his youngest son’s words, then she took a glance at Lu Beichuan. Seeing that his expression didn't look that relaxed, she was relieved.
Regardless of whether Lu Beichuan believed her or not, as long as he was guarded against Lu Shaoyan, it would no longer be easy for Lu Shaoyan to accomplish his goals.
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After smiling and chatting with the guests for a long time, Ye Zhen was exhausted. She slipped away to a small corridor that had many green plants to take a breather. The plant's dense green leaves provided concealment, and she could also see the lake behind the villa from here.
"Congratulations on becoming a mother."
A familiar voice came from behind her. Ye Zhen's heart jumped. She suddenly had a bad premonition. When she turned to look, sure enough, it was Lin Zhan.
"You... Why are you here?" Ye Zhen looked around.
Lin Zhan smiled. "That's not important. I just came over here to congratulate you."
Ye Zhen furrowed her brow and felt the beginnings of a bad headache. How could Lin Zhan not be clear about their current positions? There were so many people here and possible eyes looking in this direction. Why did he seek her out when she was alone? Was he really not worried about gossip?
However, seeing Lin Zhan again, Ye Zhen immediately thought of that blood jade bracelet.
"You were the one that sent me that jade bracelet, right? Wait here, I'll go get it and return it to you."
"No need," Lin Zhan said, "That jade bracelet was originally for you."
"Are you joking?"
Lin Zhan didn't look like he was joking at all. "I'm not. When you were taking my mom when she was in the hospital, she wanted to give you that bracelet. So, I'm just returning the bracelet to its intended owner."
Ye Zhen stood frozen in place. For a while, she said nothing.
This was too ambiguous. It was hard to respond.
She carefully considered her words before seriously saying to Lin Zhan, "Lin Zhan, did you know that "Ye Zhen" died the moment that you and my older sister ran off together? Since you chose Ye Qing back then, why bother looking for me now? You should give that bracelet to Ye Qing."
In the novel, "Ye Zhen" had always regarded Lin Zhan as her last hope. He was the only light in her dark and gray world. But in the moment that Lin Zhan and Ye Qing had run off together, that light was extinguished. Her life fell into complete darkness.
And so, Ye Zhen couldn't ask for this bracelet, nor was she qualified to ask for it.
Not far away, Lu Beichuan was holding a glass of red wine. Lurking in the shadows, he watched the two people in the corridor that provided concealment from most eyes as he silently finished his glass of wine.
At the mention of Ye Qing, Lin Zhan's expression broke down a lot. He seemed to not want to bring up Ye Qing in the current situation.
"Could we not talk about her for now?"
Ye Zhen looked at him with a fake smile. "What's wrong? You were dating Ye Qing for several years. You're not going to tell me now that you mistook us for each other, right? Or say that “Ye Zhen" is the one you really like and you don't have any feelings for Ye Qing? That you want to make a clean break from her?"
Lin Zhan remained silent.
"Lin Zhan, I know you're grateful to me, but there's no need. I voluntarily took care of your mother and I only got a part-time job to experience life. Meeting you there was just by chance. As for those love letters... " Ye Zhen smiled. "Who hasn't had a few crushes when they were young?"
"I'm a wife and a mother now. Regardless of what happened in the past, the past is the past. People have to learn how to let go of the past and look to the future. You're so outstanding. I'm sure you'll find an even better woman. What do you think?"
Having spoken so clearly, Ye Zhen was sure that Lin Zhan understood her meaning. It wouldn't be good for anyone if they continued this entanglement.
After hearing Ye Zhen's words, Lin Zhan wrly smiled. "You've already said everything. What else can I say? You're right. You're a wife and a mother now. I really shouldn't disturb you in your new life. But, I still feel I owe it to you to make things right for what happened in the past."
"Make things right? I don't think that's necessary,"
"No matter what, you took care of my mom back then. I owe you for that, so I need to make things right."
Back then, when Lin Zhan's mother had fallen seriously ill, Lin Zhan was in the final stage of studying for an entrance exam for a graduate program. So that Lin Zhan could study without being affected, his mother had gone to hospital by herself without telling him. "Ye Zhen" had only found out about Lin Zhan's mother's hospitalization by chance because she got a call from the hospital meant for Lin Zhan.
During the time when Lin Zhan was studying, "Ye Zhen" was taking care of his mother in the hospital.
Ye Zhen was silent for a moment before she looked at Lin Zhan and suddenly asked, "Lin Zhan, were you with Ye Qing because you mistook her for me?"
Lin Zhan didn't say anything. His lips slightly opened. He seemed to want to say something, and yet, he didn't dare to voice his thoughts.
"That must be it." Ye Zhen chuckled. "So all along, you don't even know who you love. You love the person that went through tribulations with you and wholeheartedly loved you, right?"
Now that Ye Zhen had exposed his secret thoughts, Lin Zhan was at a loss. "I... I don't know. I don't know why the two of you have suddenly changed. Ye Qing.... She's become completely unrecognizable from her previous self, and you..."
"So, that's why you want to make things right for me, as a way to relieve your guilt?" Ye Zhen faintly smiled. "I believe that you're a person that's willing to take responsibility, but I'm not the person you owe something to. I've already said that the past is the past. Everything that happened then, it was either voluntary or by chance. I never thought about getting something for it. And so, I don't need anything from you."
Ye Zhen didn't understand Lin Zhan. Perhaps, he was doing this because of stubbornness, low EQ, or maybe a desire for fairness. But regardless of Lin Zhan's reason, she wasn't "Ye Zhen". She didn't have the right to receive any compensation from him.