Chapter 32
In Ye Hongchang's study.
The aunt served warm tea to Ye Hongchang and Ye Yan respectively, then gently closed the door and left.
The celadon tea lid touched the rim of the cup, making a soft, crisp sound. Ye Hongchang took a sip of tea to soothe his throat.
“You’ve changed a lot since you came back.” He carefully chose his words. “It’s somewhat beyond my expectations.”
Not long after Ye Yan came of age, he moved out of the Ye family's old house and lived alone outside.
Although he often comes back for meals and occasionally stays for a while, he is generally taciturn and rarely shows any emotional fluctuations.
While other people's children at this age have a boyfriend or a rumored romance, Ye Yan's life consists only of work.
When Ye Hongchang suggested that he date, he chose a partner according to the standards for arranged marriage, without any personal feelings whatsoever.
Ye Hongchang once suspected that Ye Yan had some hidden illness.
He probed indirectly, but Ye Yan replied calmly, "Isn't that what marriage and love are all about? As long as it brings benefits to each other, that's enough."
Ye Hongchang was taken aback.
He suddenly realized that his attitude towards Ye Yan's mother and marriage when he was young had caused Ye Yan to develop a serious distrust of relationships.
He had noticed the estrangement between Ye Yan and himself before this, but he kept comforting himself, saying that the relationship between father and son is like this.
No matter how close a child is to their father when they are young, they will gradually lose communication with their father as they grow up.
If there were a mother present to mediate, people could still have a chat, but given the Ye family's situation, Ye Yan couldn't possibly treat Ye Hongchang's fourth wife as his mother.
So it's not surprising that fathers and sons have nothing to say to each other except about work.
However, after that, he finally discovered that the past had caused Ye Yan a much more serious emotional knot than he had imagined.
He was like a block of ice, completely encased in it, refusing to explore the outside world or allow anyone to approach.
Ye Hongchang felt anxious and guilty, but he was at a loss.
But today is different.
Ye Hongchang was pleasantly surprised to find that Ye Yan had become much more vivid in ways he had never known.
He no longer wore a stern face, a detached expression, or seemed indifferent to everything around him.
His attention was always partly on Qin Su, and he would subtly take care of Qin Su's dietary preferences.
Even when he speaks to Qin Su, his eyebrows and eyes unconsciously relax and soften.
Just as ice melts, grass and trees sprout, and the breath of spring breaks through the soil.
Ye Hongchang actually sensed a touch of gentleness in Ye Yan.
His heart was filled with emotion, and some of the tender expectations that come with old age welled up inside him.
Perhaps in his lifetime, he will be able to get even closer to Ye Yan?
However, a bucket of cold water was soon poured over him.
When Ye Yan faced him, his expression remained indifferent, and his words were as polite and distant as ever: "People change, you don't need to be surprised."
He didn't want to talk to Ye Hongchang about Qin Su, so he casually brought up a company matter to change the subject.
The conversation between father and son suddenly turned into a familiar work report.
Ye Hongchang could not hide his disappointment.
He was indeed a womanizer in his younger years, but now that he's older, he only longs for the joys of family life.
Ye Yan was his youngest son, and he poured the most emotion and effort into him.
Ye Yan used to be indifferent to everyone, and no one received special treatment, so he didn't ask for anything.
Now that he has finally seen the change in Ye Yan's personality, he can't help but feel uncomfortable when facing Ye Yan's attitude.
As their conversation drew to a close, Ye Hongchang couldn't help but ask, "Are you still blaming me because of your mother?"
The room suddenly fell silent.
Ye Yan rested his fingers on the side of the teacup.
The tea had long since gone cold, and he didn't intend to drink it anymore. He simply lowered his eyes to conceal the expression in them.
He paused for a few seconds, not answering Ye Hongchang's question, but instead said, "It's getting late, you should rest."
Sometimes, avoiding the question is also a form of answer.
Ye Hongchang paused for a moment, then understood Ye Yan's answer.
He felt a dull ache in his heart and sighed deeply: "I've had a vague feeling about it all these years, but I couldn't be sure. It turns out you really are blaming me."
Ye Yan remained silent and did not speak.
Ye Hongchang said in a complicated tone, "Actually, back then..."
Ye Yan looked up at him, his deep eyes calm as still as an ancient well.
Ye Hongchang paused, unable to finish his sentence.
Actually what?
What could he say?
The mistake has been made, the person is gone, and we are separated by life and death. There is no way to undo or make amends.
Ye Yan's inner conflict didn't form overnight.
Saying anything is futile.
Ye Hongchang's back bent inch by inch in the silent air, as if he had aged several years in an instant.
After a long pause, he said wearily, "You should go back."
Ye Yan stood up, bowed slightly, and left.
The study door was closed, leaving Ye Hongchang alone sitting there.
Wrinkled hands fumbled to open a drawer next to him. The light illuminated a beautiful smiling face in a photograph, whose features bore a resemblance to Ye Yan's, and whose features were young and pretty.
That was when she had just married into the family...
She remains forever in her prime, while I have grown old and unrecognizable.
Ye Hongchang stared blankly for a moment, then murmured, "He looks a lot like you..."
Time flies, years pass, and many feelings only emerge belatedly after regret.
But at his age, with his chin practically buried in the earth, he has no right to talk about love, hate, or regret anymore.
Ye Hongchang's wrinkles trembled for a few seconds.
He closed the drawer again.
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