Chapter 62: Wanxuetang Arrives

After work in the evening, Zhong Yuxiu walked out of the school gate alongside Professor Ding, parting ways at the South Gate. She lingered briefly outside, not seeing Yan Rushan but instead encountering an old acquaintance—Wan Xuetang.

Wan Xuetang approached, carrying several bags. "Yuxiu, you're finished with classes."

Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo hurried out from the shadows, but as they drew near, they heard Zhong Yuxiu speak coldly, stopping them in their tracks.

"Mr. Wan, congratulations on your exoneration." The former Yuxiu was gone; to her, both the Wan family and her biological parents, the Zhong family, were strangers. "I have urgent business to attend to at home, so I'll be leaving now."

She stepped past him and continued forward.

"Wait."

Zhong Yuxiu halted and looked back. "Is there something else, Mr. Wan?"

Wan Xuetang's gaze was gentle, filled with apology and guilt. "Yuxiu, can you forgive your father... me?"

"There’s nothing to forgive or not forgive. You raised Wan Yuxiu, and she owed you a debt of gratitude for that. When faced with a choice between your biological and adopted daughters, you chose your own blood, which is understandable. When Wan Yuxiu was renamed Zhong Yuxiu and sent to the countryside, she repaid your kindness; from now on, neither owes the other anything." Yuxiu remained unmoved. These pangs of remorse came too late; when the original Yuxiu died, did her foster father regret sending her away?

The Wan family’s wealth had been donated, but their foundation and connections remained, and they still had backing. At the time, arranging jobs for both daughters would not have been difficult, yet he chose to stand by and watch.

"Yuxiu, I know it’s too late to say anything now. I hurt you deeply."

Zhong Yuxiu smiled faintly. "Mr. Wan, as I said, we are even now. Please stop assuming the role of my father. Thank you."

Wan Xuetang's face stiffened; he clearly hadn’t expected such blunt and decisive rejection.

"Yuxiu, could we find somewhere private to talk?"

"That's unnecessary, Mr. Wan." Her smile did not waver. "Say what you must here. My time is valuable. Please don’t waste it."

Wan Xuetang’s lips quivered, his brows furrowed in distress. After a moment, he spoke, "Yuxiu, are we really to let our years as father and daughter end like this? I neglected Yu Tong before, which led me to treat you this way. I never wanted things to become so bitter between you, but..."

At the time, there was no room for compromise. Wan Yutong, because he kept the adopted daughter, became agitated and hostile toward her. He thought the adopted girl was sensible and accommodating, that a bit of patience would smooth things over, but he never imagined Wan Yutong would grow increasingly extreme, eventually abandoning all boundaries—even ruining reputations.

"There are no buts. Everyone must bear responsibility for their choices. If your decision was right, it benefited you. If not, you must pay the price." The original Yuxiu chose to trust her foster father and brother; the price she paid was her life.

"I am living well now. Please don’t disturb me. Isn’t it better if we each live in peace?" Why seek trouble for oneself?

With a cold expression, Zhong Yuxiu turned and left, leaving Wan Xuetang standing dazed, staring at her retreating figure. Not until she was out of sight did he, dispirited, head home.

Upon returning, the Wan family’s only son, Wan Yuneng, came forward to take his bags.

"Father, what’s wrong? Didn’t you see Yuxiu?" Wan Yuneng helped him to the main hall and soothed him, "Yuxiu didn’t want to see you?"

Wan Xuetang was silent for a long time. Just when Wan Yuneng thought he wouldn’t answer, he spoke. "I’d rather not have seen her."

At least then, he could still hope.

"It’s only natural that Yuxiu won’t forgive us. We really acted dishonorably back then." Wan Yuneng’s brows dimmed as he spoke.

Dishonorable was an understatement—it was downright heartless.

Father and son sat in silence.

After a long pause, Wan Yuneng asked, "Father, what did Yuxiu say?"

"She said we owe each other nothing and should live our lives separately." Wan Xuetang sighed deeply. There was no medicine for regret; mistreating his adopted daughter was the thing he regretted most.

"Don’t be upset. We’re all back now. There’s plenty of time ahead—we’ll surely find an opportunity to make it up to Yuxiu." Whether or not Yuxiu accepted, they must try. "Father, should I give it a try? Yuxiu used to rely on me the most."

Wan Xuetang glanced at his son and sighed again. "It’s useless."

"How would we know unless we try?" Wan Yuneng persisted. After a moment’s silence, Wan Xuetang said heavily, "You may try—do your best to seek Yuxiu’s forgiveness."

Wan Xuetang fell into memories. After his adopted daughter was sent to the countryside, Wan Yutong became increasingly flamboyant—her food, clothing, and lifestyle were all lavish; she permed her hair, kept up appearances, mingled closely with the Revolutionary Committee, and offended many. Worst of all, Wan Yutong became entangled with the leader of the Committee, a married man. This brought retaliation upon the Wan family, giving others leverage to persecute them ruthlessly.

That was bad enough, but what shocked him most was how Wan Yutong, at the critical moment, turned her back and severed ties with the family.

"Have you found out anything about Wan Yutong?" Wan Xuetang shook off his gloom and looked at his son.

Wan Yuneng’s face darkened. "I have. She got married."

"What sort of person did she marry?"

"The very same head of the Feng family she was entangled with." Wan Yuneng was ashamed to say it, but had to speak the truth. He gritted his teeth. "After we went to the countryside, she wrecked that man’s family and married into the Fengs."

"Bang!"

Wan Xuetang slapped the table and stood, "Shameless!"

"Father, from now on, don’t call Wan Yutong a daughter of our family. We have only Yuxiu, and I have only Yuxiu as a sister." When Yutong first returned, she was extreme and obstinate, prone to jealousy. He and his father indulged and advised her, spoiling her to the point where she could no longer distinguish right from wrong.

In contrast, they neglected Yuxiu, leading to the current situation.

The Wan family had always demanded strict discipline—a girl with no boundaries, morals, or principles was truly unacceptable to them.

There had been a mix-up at birth, and both father and son were at fault. They had done their best to guide Wan Yutong, but failed to bring her back; they had tried their utmost.

Wan Xuetang’s breathing grew labored, his mind dizzy; he abruptly sat down.

"Father?" Wan Yuneng knelt beside him in concern. "Are you alright?"

Wan Xuetang forced a wave of his hand, gritting his teeth, "I’m fine."

"You say you’re fine, but you’re barely breathing. Come, I’ll take you to the hospital." Wan Yuneng knelt down to loop his father’s arms around his neck, then carried him out.

"No need, let me rest."

Wan Xuetang weakly patted his son’s shoulder, his hand limp.

"We can’t risk it—your health matters most." Wan Yuneng refused to listen, carrying him all the way to the hospital, panting from exertion. He stopped beside a young nurse, "Nurse, my father isn’t feeling well. Which doctor should we see?"

The nurse glanced at him, then at his breathless father, her brow twitching. As she led them ahead, she asked, "Does your father have any heart conditions?"