Chapter 199 The person has changed, and so has the heart.

He wanted to say that he was fleeing for his life, that he was being chased, that he was hiding everywhere, and that he had been searching for her for more than ten years.

But when the words reached his lips, he couldn't utter a single one.

"Don't say anything more."

She turned her face away, not daring to look at him again.

"I'm doing well, and my life is peaceful. I don't need you to make amends for anything, and I don't want to reopen those old wounds. Just leave and don't show your face again."

No sooner had he finished speaking than footsteps sounded at the door.

A little boy carrying a slightly heavy blue schoolbag pushed open the door and walked in.

"Mom! The cafeteria has braised pork today, it smells so good! I specially got an extra portion and saved two pieces in your lunchbox, you can heat it up and eat it later!"

He was halfway through his sentence when his gaze suddenly swept across the living room.

Upon seeing the man and woman sitting on the sofa, he froze for a moment.

Who are you? What are you doing in my house?

Li Huachen hurriedly raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye and tried to force a smile.

"Xiao Jun, don't be afraid, these are... relatives from Yu Xin. This is Uncle Zhou, and this is Aunt Zhou. Quickly greet them."

Li Rongkai did not respond.

His body unconsciously took half a step forward and stood in front of his mother.

Zhou Yufan felt a lump in his throat and a tightness in his chest.

"Xiao Jun, right?"

Seeing the awkward silence, Zhou Shufen quickly smiled and took over the conversation.

She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a piece of milk candy wrapped in a candy wrapper, then handed it over.

"Auntie brought some sweets, would you like to try some?"

Li Rongkai did not reach out to take it, but stared at her coldly.

"My mom said I shouldn't accept things from strangers."

Li Huachen glared at him immediately.

"Rong Kai! How can you talk to your elders like that! It's so rude!"

"Mom, who are they?"

Li Rongkai remained unyielding, asking each question carefully, word by word.

“I’ve never met them, nor have you ever mentioned any relatives of Yu Xin. They don’t seem like good people to me; their origins and motives are unclear.”

Zhou Yufan's heart clenched suddenly.

“Child…we…we really are your mother’s relatives. We’re not lying to you.”

“My mother has never mentioned any of Yu Xin’s relatives.”

Li Rongkai gritted his teeth.

"If you don't leave, I'll really call for help! The neighbors are all upstairs; I can call them with just one shout!"

"Rong Kai!"

Li Huachen suddenly raised her voice, and her eyes instantly reddened.

"What nonsense are you talking about! Don't spout nonsense! They are...they are..."

She couldn't continue; tears welled up in her eyes.

Seeing this scene, Zhou Shufen immediately realized that there was no point in trying to reason with them today.

She quickly stood up, a smile plastered on her face.

"Sister Huachen, it's getting dark, so we won't bother you any longer. Let's find a place to stay first, and we'll come to see you again tomorrow. Please don't stay up late, and don't argue with the children; it's bad for your health."

Zhou Yufan also stood up, his gaze fixed intently on Li Huachen.

"Hua Chen, let's come again tomorrow."

The two walked out of courtyard number 12 one after the other.

Zhou Yufan had just reached the alley entrance when he suddenly stopped and couldn't help but look back.

In that instant, he saw Li Huachen with her back to the courtyard gate, quietly raising her hand to wipe away the tears from the corner of her eyes.

Li Rongkai stood beside her, his little face full of confusion and bewilderment.

"Second brother, don't be too upset."

Zhou Shufen walked quietly behind him and patted his back.

“Sister Hua Chen has been holding back her anger for so many years. All that grievance, resentment, and heartache can’t be dispelled in just a day or two. Besides, Rong Kai has always protected Mom. He’s been influenced by her since he was a child, and he doesn’t know anything about your situation. We need to give him some time and not rush things.”

Zhou Yufan nodded slowly.

“I know… but when I think about how she’s carried all these years alone, through wind and rain, with no one to care when she was sick, no one to understand her suffering, and how she raised her child single-handedly… I just…”

He ultimately couldn't bring himself to say the second half of the sentence.

They found a cheap guesthouse to spend the night.

The room was small and dark, with peeling paint on the walls.

But Zhou Yufan couldn't care less about any of that; he tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

My mind was filled with memories of the past.

He recalled many years ago, in that deep cave in the mountains.

"Brother Yu Fan, in my whole life, I will only marry you and never look at anyone else again."

He recalled that cold night when the Zhou family's home was ransacked.

With wind and snow raging, no one in the neighborhood dared to go out.

But Li Huachen secretly climbed over the wall and, in the last moments before he was taken away, tremblingly handed him a coarse cloth bag.

He later opened it and found that it contained twenty jin of nationally valid grain coupons, neatly arranged inside.

There was also a stack of yellowed banknotes.

That was her secret stash of money, saved up little by little over three whole years through frugality.

He also recalled a letter he had asked someone to send back to him when he was working in a mine far away.

"Hua Chen, wait for me to come back. I will definitely marry you and bring you home in style. I will never let you suffer a single day of grievance again."

But……

More than ten years have passed, people have changed, and hearts have changed.

Over the years, Zhou Yufan worked odd jobs at construction sites, mines, and docks while inquiring about her whereabouts.

Finally, following a vague clue, he found his way to Qishun Lane.

But the scene of their reunion was a thousand times more difficult than he had imagined in his dreams.

"Little sister, you mean Rong Kai, he..."

At night, Zhou Yufan suddenly spoke.

Are you afraid he won't acknowledge you as his father?

Zhou Shufen took over the conversation.

“Second brother, we can’t just look at the child. Rong Kai is still young and doesn’t understand adult grudges. The key is Sister Hua Chen. If she’s willing to forgive you and let our family start over, then you can slowly coax and teach him. One day, Rong Kai will recognize you, kiss you, and call you ‘Dad.’ But if she’s not willing…”

The meaning was already clearly stated even before the words were finished.

If Li Huachen insists on not forgiving, then the road to father and son recognizing each other will be harder than climbing to heaven.

Zhou Yufan's heart sank.

He knew all too well that the scar in Li Huachen's heart could not be easily healed with a few apologies.

the next day.

As soon as it was dawn, they got up and went to the market.

I bought some fresh apples and bananas, a box of nutritional supplements, and several packets of snacks that kids love.

Carrying these items, they returned to No. 12 Qishun Lane.

This time, Li Huachen neither blocked the door nor uttered any harsh words.

Li Rongkai had already gone to school, leaving her alone in the house.

She sat on a small bamboo chair, head down, intently sewing shoe soles.

They tiptoed into the house.

"Sister Huachen, we brought some things for you and your daughter to help you recover."

Zhou Shufen carefully placed the fruit and snacks on the table.

"Please don't think it's too meager; it's nothing expensive, just a small token of my appreciation."

Li Huachen still didn't look at those things, nor did she look at her.

After a long silence, she finally spoke softly.

"You can leave now. I told you, I don't care about these things."

"Hua Chen, you still resent me."

Zhou Yufan slowly sat down opposite her.

"But it wasn't that I didn't want to go to you back then. The Zhou family was under immense pressure and couldn't hold their heads up. The entire family collapsed overnight, and even their ancestral home was seized. I didn't even dare to leave the house, afraid that if I showed my face, I would be targeted and implicated."