The middle-aged woman's gaze paused briefly, a hint of shock in her eyes. "You knew all along?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Sheng squatted down in anguish.
Rong Zhi's gaze lingered on the middle-aged woman, and he spoke coldly, "Isn't my presence here enough to explain everything?"
Bo Qingmei swayed slightly and murmured, "I thought I had fooled everyone, but I didn't expect that the Bo family would still find me."
Rong Zhi's expression was cold and stern. "Bo Yuanshan went to great lengths to ensure your child inherited everything, so why did you come back?"
The air inside the side room seemed to freeze, and time seemed to stretch out.
quiet.
A deathly silence.
Bo Qingmei frowned in pain, her gaze slowly falling on the bowl of stir-fried beef that Rong Zhi had just cooked. An indescribable emotion, like a surging tide, suddenly welled up in her eyes, gradually engulfing her pupils. Her vision blurred.
Seeing this, Xiao Sheng quickly stood up and helped her up, saying, "Don't get agitated..."
Seeing the close relationship between the two, Rong Zhi understood. He slightly furrowed his brow and said in a cool voice, "Uncle Xiao, I rarely come here, how about you treat me to a meal?"
Xiao Sheng was taken aback and said in surprise, "Second Young Master, I'm afraid you won't be used to the simple food from the countryside."
Rong Zhi was not angry when he heard this. Instead, he smiled and said, "I grew up in an orphanage. The food there was much worse than what you have here."
“This…” Xiao Sheng turned his head and looked at Bo Qingmei, as if seeking her opinion.
Bo Qingmei clenched her fists tightly, her fingertips icy cold. She pursed her lips and slowly said to Rong Zhi, "Since you don't mind, then just make do with this."
"Light eyebrows?" Xiao Sheng was surprised.
Rong Zhi smiled faintly, his tone slightly teasing, "How about I do it?"
Xiao Sheng hurriedly said, "How can I let you do it?" He paused, then added, "You all go sit in the living room, I'll cook the dishes."
Rong Zhi nodded slightly.
Xiao Sheng helped Bo Qingmei walk towards the main room.
Rong Zhi and the man in black followed closely behind.
Stepping over a wooden threshold that's neither too high nor too low, you enter the living room, which also serves as the dining room.
The interior furnishings are very rustic, but the materials used are anything but simple; they are all made of pear wood.
Rong Zhi knew perfectly well what was going on, but he didn't say anything.
He sat on a single sofa, his legs elegantly crossed.
Xiao Sheng glanced at him, said nothing, and went to the kitchen with a solemn expression.
Seeing him walk away, Bo Qingmei clenched her fists helplessly, trying her best to suppress the pain in her heart.
After a few minutes of silence, she finally spoke, her lips trembling, "Rong Zhi, how did you find this place?"
Rong Zhi said coldly, "The patriarch has found out that my elder brother is not the biological son of Old Madam Bo."
Bo Qingmei was taken aback. "Her? How could it be?"
When Sang Yuwan was mentioned, Rong Zhi's expression softened. "Her abilities and methods are no less than mine. Otherwise, Bo Yuanshan would not have entrusted the Bo family and the Bo Corporation to her."
Bo Qingmei was startled again, her heart clenching as if a sharp knife had sliced through her. "You mean, Bo Yuanshan never intended to entrust everything to Xingzhi?"
Rong Zhi's expression hardened. "If Bo Yuanshan didn't have this plan, why would he use the eldest brother to replace Ning Wanzhen's dead child?"
Bo Qingmei froze and fell silent.
Rong Zhi's heart sank, and he continued, "However, despite his meticulous planning, he did not anticipate that his elder brother would leave so soon."
Bo Qingmei's breath hitched, as if a sharp knife was twisting in her heart. Pain overwhelmed her, and tears slowly streamed down her face.
Seeing this, Rong Zhi handed her a tissue, saying, "If you want to cry, then cry."
Bo Qingmei took the tissue and shook her head weakly. Her phoenix eyes were brimming with tears, but she didn't cry out.
Rong Zhi remained expressionless. "In all these years, have you ever seen him with your own eyes?"
Bo Qingmei lowered her eyes slightly, her eyelashes trembled, and tears silently fell onto the back of her hand. After a full few minutes, she finally spoke with difficulty, "I went to see him when he graduated with his master's degree."
She sniffed and said, "I've only seen him this once in all these years."
Rong Zhi's eyes flickered slightly, and his cold and stern facial features softened a little. "If you want to go see him now, I can arrange it."
Bo Qingmei clenched the wet tissue in her hand, the veins on the back of her hand bulging. "They're gone. Seeing them will only make me more heartbroken."
Rong Zhi suddenly thought of his biological mother, and a surge of emotion welled up inside him. It felt like a heavy stone was pressing on his heart, making it hard to breathe.
I wonder what she felt when she abandoned me back then.
Xiao Sheng stood at the door and said nervously, "Qingmei, Second Young Master, let's eat."
Bo Qingmei's voice was slightly hoarse, "You guys eat, I'm not hungry."
Upon hearing this, Rong Zhi silently stood up, his eyelids slightly lowered. His expression remained unchanged. "Treat me as an older brother. Just think of it as having a meal with your son."
Bo Qingmei felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if shards of glass had pierced her chest again. Her eyes reddened, and she said emotionally, "Alright."
Xiao Sheng quickly walked over and helped her up from the sofa.
No one spoke during the meal.
Bo Qingmei took a few bites as a gesture, but spent most of the time quietly watching Rong Zhi.
When Bo Xingzhi graduated with her master's degree, she was still abroad. Bo Yuanshan specially arranged for her to attend the ceremony.
However, on that day, she was a relative of another child.
Because Ning Wanzhen also attended the ceremony.
She sat in a corner at the back of the auditorium, wearing a mask and a blonde wig, her makeup extremely heavy. Even if she stood right in front of Ning Wanzhen, the latter wouldn't recognize her.
After enduring agonizing torment, Bo Xingzhi finally made his appearance.
That was the son she longed for day and night.
He was wearing an academic gown and cap, walking with his head held high and full of vigor.
After the graduation ceremony, he slowly stepped down from the stage and opened his arms to Ning Wanzhen.
At that moment, she felt as if she had fallen into an abyss, her heart filled with despair.
She fled the school before the other ceremonies were over.
After returning to her residence, Bo Xingzhi became a scar on her heart that had never completely healed.
She wanted to get close to him and tell him that she was his biological mother.
So she bribed Xiao Sheng to find a way to return to China.
The two came here so that Bo Yuanshan wouldn't find out.
After settling in, perhaps out of a sense of trepidation at returning home, she mustered her courage countless times to go find Bo Xingzhi. But each time she reached the courtyard gate, she secretly stopped.
She looked at the apricot tree in the yard and silently thought to herself, "I can't go. If Xingzhi's true identity is exposed, he will not only lose his right to be the heir, but he will also be scorned by everyone."
Spring goes and winter comes.
Six years later, she heard the devastating news of Bo Yuanshan's death.
That day, she was utterly despondent and almost followed him in death.
A misguided love affair ultimately prevented the two from being together.
Bo Qingmei didn't hate Bo Yuanshan; she only hated herself.
Knowing it was a love affair like a moth drawn to a flame, she still went for it without hesitation.
In the four years since Bo Yuanshan's death, she has hardly left this courtyard.
He was in a daze most of the day until Bo Xingzhi passed away.
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