CHAPTER 67: CHAPTER 67: SHORT PAIN IS BETTER THAN LONG PAIN

At Wen Jishan’s house, the old man of the Wen Family had just finished lunch with Wen Jishan and his wife. The tableware hadn’t been cleaned up yet when Wen Jiliang and his group arrived.

Xu Hanzhi, Wen Jishan’s wife, saw them and quickly spoke up, "Shuyi, why are you here at this time? Have you eaten? I’ll have someone prepare some food for you..."

Zhou Shuyi quickly replied, "Sis-in-law, no need...

We came here for a reason..."

Wen Jiliang walked up to the old man of the Wen Family, "Dad, Brother, let’s go to the study to discuss in detail..."

The old man glanced at him, then got up and led a few people into the study, where they were joined by Wen Jiliang’s family doctor...

Xu Hanzhi, seeing this situation, hurriedly asked Zhou Shuyi, "Shuyi, what’s going on?"

Zhou Shuyi held Xu Hanzhi’s hand, "Let’s go to your room, and I’ll explain..."

As Zhou Shuyi spoke, she glanced at the servants serving in the villa...

Xu Hanzhi understood this was something important, afraid that speaking in the living room would lead to rumors spreading among the servants, so she quickly led Zhou Shuyi into the room...

In the study, after Wen Jiliang explained the situation, silence prevailed...

After a long while, the old man of the Wen Family finally reached out trembling to accept the documents from Wen Jiliang’s hand...

Upon seeing Wen Lan’s death certificate, he immediately burst into tears...

"Little Lan...

My little Lan!

How could you leave before Dad?

Why did you dare to leave before me...

Dad hasn’t even seen you again, hasn’t heard you call Dad once more...

How could you...

Ruqing! It’s my fault, I failed to protect you and your daughter. I caused you both grievance!

It’s me... I... I..."

The old man of the Wen Family cried and cried... then started gasping for air, Wen Jiliang, who was observing, immediately called the family doctor over...

The family doctor came up right away, performed some emergency measures, administered a sedative, and after the old man’s breathing calmed a bit, helped him back to his room to rest...

On the way back to the room, the noise stirred Xu Hanzhi and Zhou Shuyi, who were also chatting inside.

In the old man’s room, Wen Jishan, Wen Jiliang, their wives, and Wen Zelin all kept vigil by the bedside, while the old man of the Wen Family lay on the bed holding Bai Ruoqing’s portrait, staring off into the distance...

Seeing this, Wen Jishan looked at Wen Jiliang, "Couldn’t you have been a bit gentler in saying this? Even I’m having trouble taking such news, and you went straight to telling Dad like that, aren’t you afraid it’ll directly take Dad’s life?"

Wen Jiliang sighed softly, "I could have been gentler, but even with more gentleness, it wouldn’t change the reality that Little Sister is gone...

Dad thinks of her every day; it’s better to say it sooner than later...

Better a short, sharp pain than a long one..."

Wen Jishan shook his head, "You’re making it sound simple. Since Mom’s passing, Dad’s health has declined. The only thing keeping him going was the hope of seeing Little Sister...

Now that Little Sister is gone, what gives Dad any reason to live?"

Wen Jiliang nodded, "There is..."

Earlier, Wen Jiliang only spoke about Wen Lan, not about Xiao Li.

As he spoke, Wen Jiliang looked at Wen Zelin, who handed him the envelope and Wen Jiliang took out a photograph, presenting it to the old man’s eyes, "Dad, look at this."

The old man, whose eyes had been lifeless, finally showed movement upon seeing the photo in Wen Jiliang’s hand...

Upon seeing clearly, the old man trembled as he took the photo, "Who is this?"

Having lived with Bai Ruoqing for most of his life, the old man of the Wen Family naturally saw that the person in the photo wasn’t Bai Ruoqing.

Despite their similar looks, their temperaments were completely different...

Bai Ruoqing belonged to the Bai Family, known before going abroad as a distinguished family in Jiangnan, so Bai Ruoqing had a gentle and scholarly aura typical of Jiangnan women.

But Xiao Li’s temperament was different. Although gentle, her gentleness carried a hint of playfulness and assertiveness...

So the old man of the Wen Family knew right away that the person in the photo wasn’t Bai Ruoqing, yet she looked so similar...

Wen Jiliang said softly, "This is Little Lan’s daughter with that kid, named Xiao Li.

She’s married to the second son of the Qin Family, currently in B City too."

Upon hearing this, the old man’s eyes suddenly lit up, reaching out to take the photo, examining it closely, "You say she is Little Lan’s daughter..."

Wen Jiliang nodded, "Yes, she bears a strong resemblance to Mom.

Last time the Zhen Family came back from abroad and had a banquet, Zeyu saw Xiao Li at the banquet and mistakenly thought she was Mom.

Zeyu told me about this afterward, and with a curiosity to investigate, my son sent Zelin to check, unexpectedly discovering she was actually one of our own.

If it hadn’t been for seeing her, we wouldn’t have known when we might discover Little Sister’s situation, as we’ve been searching in the wrong direction all these years..."

The old man affectionately touched the photo, "You say she’s in B City and married to the Qin Family’s second son..."

Wen Jiliang nodded, "Yes, it was found that Little Sister arranged this marriage before she passed away, perhaps wanting her child to return to B City for us to see!"

The old man nodded, "Does this child know of our existence?"

Wen Jiliang shook his head, "Not entirely sure. Last time, at her and the Qin kid’s wedding, I went too. When she came to toast, she treated me the same as others, her attitude showed no special difference..."

Wen Jishan, curious, stepped forward to see the photo, and the old man, seeing this, handed it to him for a look.

Upon seeing the photo, Wen Jishan exclaimed repeatedly how alike they looked...

Xu Hanzhi also came up to see the photo, and was also surprised, "This is astonishingly similar."

Looking at Xiao Li’s photo brought some spirit back to the old man of the Wen Family, who tried to sit up, and Wen Jiliang quickly helped him.

Once seated, the old man finally spoke, "Aliang, I want to meet this child..."

Wen Jiliang shook his head in difficulty, "Dad, it’s not quite the right time yet!

Those two are still around, and if we meet, I’m afraid they would trouble the child..."

The old man slightly lifted an eyelid, "Didn’t you say she’s married to the Qin Family’s boy, wouldn’t the Qin Family be able to protect her?"

Wen Jiliang sighed, "With the Qin Family’s power, certainly they can protect the child. But whether they truly wish to oppose those two for the child, I can’t say.

The child is married into the Qin Family, but if the Qin Family chooses not to protect her, they could easily cast her out...

Her parents have both passed, with only her father’s small business to lean on, which pales in comparison to the Qin Family...

The child doesn’t have much backing in the Qin Family, and I don’t want our Wen Family’s presence to add to her burden because of those two. I hope our Wen Family can be her support..."