Once all the visitors left, Hong Ling Wei and Hong Hao Yu walked over to Shu Ya and Ci En.
"Mom, are we ready to go?" Ling Wei asked. "We need to take care of a few things first, honey," Shu Ya replied.
"It's okay, Mom," Ling Wei insisted. "The staff can handle everything. You and Mama need some rest. We should head home now."
"Yeah, Mom," Hao Yu chimed in. "There are already reporters crowding around the memorial. It'll be a nightmare if we stay." He gestured to the staff, telling them to finish cleaning up.
"A-Yi," Shu Ya said, turning towards Hong Yi, "come home with us, son." "I'll be there soon, Mom," Hong Yi reassured her, patting her hand. "You guys go ahead." The last car carrying Hong Ling Wei and the others pulled away from the venue.
Then, a swarm of paparazzi appeared. They hoped to get a juicy quote or photo from the grieving family. But the security detail did an excellent job of keeping them at bay.Hong Yi, but, had chosen to follow in his own sleek sports car. He wasn't used to all the fuss and attention, and , it felt suffocating. His mind raced with a million thoughts. He was still grappling with his father's death.
He was also grappling with his new family and the weight of his inheritance. Suddenly, a magnificent mansion loomed into view, its grandeur stealing his breath away. Could this be where his family lived? He'd never seen anything like it.The house was huge. It had sprawling grounds. Its design seemed to blend elegance with a touch of mystery.
As he stepped out of his car, a woman in a crisp uniform approached him. "Welcome home, Master Hong Yi," she said with a gentle bow. "Would you like me to take your car?"
Hong Yi, still a little overwhelmed, simply nodded and handed her the keys.
He took a deep breath and walked toward the grand double doors. He felt both nervous and curious.
The doors swung open silently as he approached, revealing a vast, luxurious interior. Marble floors gleamed under the soft lighting, and expensive artwork adorned the walls. The air held a faint scent of flowers. It also held something comforting. It reminded him of home. As he hesitantly stepped inside, another woman, older than the first and with a warm smile, greeted him.
"Master Hong Yi, it's wonderful to have you here. Your mother, Madam Shu Ya, is waiting for you in her room. Would you like me to show you the way?" Hong Yi, relieved to have a familiar face, nodded gratefully.
"Yes, please. And where are my siblings and mother Ci En?"The woman smiled kindly. "Your siblings, Master Hao Yu and Miss Ling Wei, are resting in their rooms after the long day. As for your stepmother, Madam Ci En, she is also taking some time to herself. Let me show you to Madam Shu Ya's room first." She led him through a maze of hallways, each one more impressive than the last. They finally arrived at a beautifully decorated door.
"Here you are, Master Hong Yi," she announced softly. "Your mother eagerly awaits you. "Hong Yi took another deep breath, his stomach churning with a mix of emotions.
He thanked the woman and gently knocked on the door. "Come in," a familiar voice called out. Hong Yi pushed open the door, his heart still heavy. Inside, bathed in soft light, sat Shu Ya. Her back was to him, and she clutched a photo frame in her hands. As he entered, a choked sob escaped her lips. The photo frame slipped from her grasp, clattering silently on the plush carpet.
Hong Yi froze for a moment. He'd seen Shu Ya as a pillar of strength, holding things together for the family. But here, in the privacy of her room, the dam had broken. Grief, raw and unfiltered, washed over her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sank into a nearby chair, the photo frame forgotten at her feet.
Hesitantly, Hong Yi walked towards her. He wasn't sure what to do, how to comfort this woman he barely knew but who was now his mother. It all felt so sudden, so overwhelming.
Suddenly, Shu Ya looked up, her eyes filled with a thousand unspoken emotions. She reached out a trembling hand, and before Hong Yi could react, she pulled him into a tight embrace. Her sobs intensified, soaking through his shirt.
Instinctively, Hong Yi wrapped his arms around her. He offered what little comfort he could. He may not have understood everything, but he knew she was in pain, and that was all that mattered.After a while, her sobs subsided, replaced by a shaky breath. She pulled back, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
"Mom," Hong Yi began, unsure of how to proceed. "You don't… you don't have to be strong all the time. It's okay to cry."Shu Ya gave a small, watery smile. "You know," she began, her voice catching slightly, "when I was about to marry your father, he told me something."
She pointed to the fallen picture frame. It showed a younger Shu Ya and Hong Shan on their wedding day, both smiling nervously. "He told me he already loved someone else."
Hong Yi's brow furrowed. This was new information, something he hadn't picked up from the system."I felt like the biggest fool," Shu Ya continued, her voice trembling slightly. "I thought I was walking into a loveless marriage, trapped forever."
"What did he say then?" Hong Yi asked gently.
"He promised me respect," Shu Ya said.
"He promised to fulfill his duties as a husband. He said I could ask for anything."A flicker of curiosity crossed Hong Yi's face. This didn't sound like the loving marriage he'd imagined. "And what did you ask for?" he inquired. Shu Ya's lips curved into a bittersweet smile.
"I asked him to promise me one thing – that after marrying me, he wouldn't marry anyone else besides the woman he loved."Hong Yi's heart lurched. This revelation painted a whole new picture of his father. "And he kept that promise?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Shu Ya nodded. "He did. After we were married, Ci En joined our family. It wasn't easy at first, jealousy gnawed at me. But your father… he had a way of making you feel loved, even if it wasn't the kind of love you craved at first.
"Her eyes softened as she looked into the distance, lost in a memory. "He saw my insecurities, my fear of being alone. He built a life with me, a life filled with respect, trust, and laughter. He supported my dreams, encouraged my independence. He made sure I was never alone, even when his heart belonged to someone else.
"A tear escaped her eye, landing on the picture frame. "He was a good man, Hong Yi. A kind and compassionate man who carried his burden silently. He loved Ci En deeply, but he never neglected his duties to me or you."
The arrangement was unconventional. But, it was clear that Hong Shan had tried to be a good husband and father. He took Shu Ya's hand, feeling its warmth and the faint tremor that ran through it.
"He sounds like a complex man," Hong Yi admitted. "But I understand why you loved him."Shu Ya squeezed his hand back, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes.
"He may not have loved me in the traditional sense, but he showed me love in his own way. He made sure I was never truly alone, and for that, I will always be grateful.
"Hong Yi picked up the fallen photo frame, his thumb tracing the smooth glass. The picture depicted a younger Shu Ya and Hong Shan on their wedding day, both radiating nervous smiles. A pang of curiosity shot through him as he looked up at Shu Ya.
"This must have been taken right before your wedding," he remarked, his voice soft. Shu Ya offered a sad smile, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "Yes," she confirmed, her voice thick with emotion. "We were both so young and unsure of what the future held."
"And the woman beside father, is that…?" Hong Yi trailed off, already knowing the answer.
Shu Ya nodded, a flicker of bittersweetness crossing her face. "Yes, that's Ci En. Your father loved her dearly."
Hong Yi studied the photo. Ci En, even in her youth, possessed a gentle beauty. Her eyes, filled with warmth and kindness, seemed to mirror the woman he'd encountered earlier that day. He recalled how she'd interacted with Shu Ya – the easy way they fell into conversation, the quiet understanding and unspoken support that flowed between them."It seems… unconventional," he ventured cautiously.
Shu Ya sighed, tracing the outline of Ci En's face in the photo. "It was," she admitted.
"At first, it was incredibly difficult. Jealousy gnawed at me for a long time. Ci En's kindness surprised me. She assured me of my place in the family, and over time, we built a strong bond. She supported me and celebrated my successes. Despite not being the love of his life, she made sure I wasn't alone."
A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the soft sniffles that still occasionally escaped Shu Ya's lips. Hong Yi knew there was more to the story, about his father's love for Ci En and the dynamic of their unique family. But for now, he was content to offer his mother comfort, to be the pillar she needed in her own moment of grief.
"I know you and your father had some issues. But, neither of you told us about them. You suddenly left home." As Shu Ya said this, He shifted uncomfortably. The warmth of his mother's embrace was replaced by a sudden chill.
"I know it's something you don't want to discuss. But, when you want to share, I will be there for you like you are for me," Shu Ya said. This made him sigh in relief. "Now go get some rest." she pushed him out of her room.
He turned back and looking visibly concerned "Don't worry about me and go to your room." saying so Shu Ya closed the door on his face.