Chapter 9
Five years later, at Haishi Airport.
Sang Ke kept checking her phone to confirm the flight information. Finally, after confirming with customer service for what seemed like the umpteenth time that the flight was not delayed, she saw the person she hadn't seen for five years.
Sang Nian had grown taller and thinner. His wool coat hung loosely on his body, making him look as if a gust of wind could blow him away. His face, more mature than it had been five years ago, was even more flamboyant, unforgettable at first glance.
She waved excitedly at Sang Nian, who then dragged his suitcase toward her.
"aunt."
Sang Nian's tone was unreadable, but Sang Ke didn't care. She took Sang Nian's suitcase and led him towards the parking lot.
Sang Nian followed behind her, his hands in his pockets, his face expressionless.
Sang Wenhua finally retired, handing over everything in the Sang family to Sang Yu. After retiring, he seemed to start to cherish family ties, and after several sleepless nights, he sent someone to bring back his grandson who had been exiled to the United States.
The Sang family bloodline was thin; by Sang Wenhua's generation, he was the only son. He had two sons, but his younger son came out as gay years ago, so he had no hope for him. His elder son had twins, but the older one was in poor health and had been making do with recuperation over the years. Besides, he and the Wen family's son were about to get engaged, so he couldn't be relied on either. As for the younger one… Sang Wenhua would sigh whenever he thought about it. He had come to terms with it now; his physical disability wasn't really his fault. Remembering how badly he had treated him before, Sang Wenhua suddenly felt a desire to make amends.
He originally wanted to pick him up at the airport himself, but as people get older, their thoughts often go against their physical condition, so Sang Ke volunteered to go instead.
On the way back, Sang Ke kept talking. Perhaps it was because she got married a couple of years ago and had a new perspective on family and kinship. So when she saw her nephew, who had suffered a lot, her maternal love suddenly overflowed, and she always wanted to say something to make him happy.
She talked the whole way, but Sang Nian didn't even lift her eyelids.
As they approached the Sang family villa, Sang Ke let out a long sigh. "Sang Nian, do you still hate us?"
Sang Nian finally reacted. He turned his head to look at Sang Ke, his clear black and white eyes scrutinizing her closely.
Sang Ke felt a chill run down her spine from being stared at. She turned her head away with difficulty, no longer looking at Sang Nian, but then heard Sang Nian whisper something in her ear.
"Shouldn't we hate them?"
His tone was indifferent, devoid of any emotion, and Sang Ke couldn't help but feel a tremor in her heart.
"Of course," she heard her reply.
The car stopped outside the villa gate. After Sang Nian got out of the car, he found Sang Wenhua and the whole Sang family waiting outside. When they saw him, they showed a relieved smile.
This reminded Sang Nian of the scene when he first came here five years ago. At that time, none of them welcomed him, but they deceived themselves by arranging for the family's maids to stand outside the door to welcome him home. The grand gesture gave Sang Nian the illusion that he was being cared for.
Sang Nian twitched the corner of his mouth, refused the butler's offer to help him with his luggage, and carried it forward himself.
He stood in front of them, his gaze slowly shifting from Sang Wenhua to Sang Yu, then to Tao Wanru, and finally settling on Sang Ning.
Everyone's expressions were different. Tao Wanru's was resentful, Sang Yu's was a warning, Sang Jing's was indifferent, while Sang Ning was wearing headphones and looking down at her phone with a smile on her lips, but Sang Ning knew that the smile was not for him.
Only Sang Wenhua is playing the role of the caring grandfather.
Sang Nian suddenly laughed, his smile like sunlight breaking through the clouds, dazzling everyone present.
He smiled and greeted each person in front of him.
"grandfather."
"dad."
"Mother."
"Uncle."
"elder brother."
"I'm back."
Sang Wenhua nodded, saying repeatedly, "You're back, it's good that you're back." As she spoke, she reached out and took Sang Nian's hand, leading him into the house.
Sang Nian resisted the urge to pull his hand away, gritted his teeth, and let Sang Wenhua take his hand.
Not much had changed in the five years he was gone. Or perhaps some things had, but he couldn't see them. Because in that short period five years ago, he had never really observed this so-called home properly.
Sang Wenhua led him up to the second floor of the villa.
It was the same familiar bedroom, still decorated in sky blue. When Sang Nian saw it, he no longer tried to please her as before, but instead gave a disdainful laugh.
"I'm sorry, I don't like sky blue, I'm not used to this room." With that, she picked up her suitcase and prepared to leave.
Sang Yu was about to get angry, but Sang Wenhua stopped her and asked Sang Nian, "What color do you like? Grandpa will have them get you a new one."
Sang Nian glanced at Sang Wenhua, then crossed his arms defensively. To be honest, he didn't understand Sang Wenhua's purpose. Did he really think that after everything that had happened, he could calmly sit here and eat, drink, and chat with them?
He can't do it!
They can't do it either.
So he said, almost through gritted teeth, "I don't want to live here, and I don't want to see you."
After he finished speaking, he saw Sang Wenhua's face fall. As mentioned before, he was a traditional person; the whole family had to live and eat together. Apart from Sang Jing, who had never moved back after being kicked out by him for coming out, even Sang Ke, who was married, had to come back three days a week. So when he heard Sang Nian say that he didn't want to live here anymore, he almost instinctively wanted to pick up his cane and hit him.
But he finally sighed and asked in a conciliatory tone, "Then Grandpa will buy you an apartment, and you can decorate it however you like, okay?" Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone behind him changed. Tao Wanru looked at Sang Wenhua in disbelief, then exchanged a glance with Sang Yu, and finally glared fiercely at Sang Nian.
Sang Ning merely glanced at Sang Nian briefly, seemingly uninterested.
Sang Jing and Sang Ke, who were at the very back, truly didn't care anymore. Sang Jing's expression remained indifferent, while Sang Ke seemed to be deep in thought, but upon hearing Sang Nian's words, she immediately raised her head, her eyes revealing deep worry.
Seeing their intriguing expressions, Sang Nian raised an eyebrow and smiled. He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch, and the lesson from five years ago was enough for him to understand the truth. Therefore, he didn't think that Sang Wenhua's decision to bring him back and his repeated tolerance of his temper stemmed from a grandfather's love for his grandson.
He must have to pay a price to get all that Sang Wenhua said.
For example, five years ago, the key to his return to the Sang family was the kidney that Sang Ning needed.
So he immediately changed his mind, "It's okay, I was just joking. I'll stay in this room." With that, he pushed his suitcase inside.
Sang Ke breathed a sigh of relief after seeing him enter the room. Heaven knows how scared she was when Sang Nian said those words. No one had ever dared to disobey Sang Wenhua.
Sang Wenhua's attitude, however, was somewhat perplexing. Sang Ke naturally knew that the decisive Sang Wenhua wouldn't easily compromise, and there must be something she didn't know. So, taking advantage of everyone's inattention, she quietly approached Sang Jing and whispered in his ear, "What exactly is Dad's purpose in agreeing to Sang Nian's return?"
Sang Jing shrugged, nonchalantly saying, "Who knows? He probably had a change of heart." Then, seemingly unwilling to stay and watch the long-awaited reunion, she turned and went downstairs.
Sang Ke glanced at Sang Nian and the others who had already gone inside, and then caught up with Sang Jing.
“Brother, you really don’t know? Sang Nian has had a very hard time these past few years. I heard that Tao Wanru stopped sending him money after the second year. He was alone abroad for five years, and I don’t know how he managed to get through it. When I suddenly received the news that Sang Nian was coming back today, I didn’t even have time to react. I’m really afraid that Sang Yu and Tao Wanru will do something to this child again…”
"Sang Ke!" Sang Jing suddenly interrupted her in a deep voice, "You shouldn't interfere in Sang Nian's affairs. Have you forgotten who's in charge of the Sang family now?"
Sang Ke suddenly turned pale. She looked at Sang Jing, only to see his serious expression. Finally, she lowered her head and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"Yeah, I'll just mind my own business. I was too talkative today."
Sang Jing opened the car door, leaving behind the words "You know that's good," and then stepped on the gas. The black Cullinan flashed past Sang Ke like a black lightning bolt.
"Why aren't you staying for dinner again? Aren't you afraid Dad will be angry? Who's waiting for you at that house? They never allow me to go there. Really, am I not your own sister anymore..." Sang Ke muttered to herself as she looked in the direction Sang Jing had left.
"I don't want to stay either, damn it!" Thinking of this, she took out her phone and called Liang Hanyu: "Honey, I have to stay at the Sang family's house today and can't go back."
After Sang Nian entered the house, Sang Wenhua followed, followed by Sang Yu. Tao Wanru did not intend to enter the house, but smiled and apologized to Sang Wenhua before taking Sang Ning's hand and going up to the third floor.
"Sweetie, Mommy will take you to see Mommy's new painting."
Sang Nian's emotions were not greatly affected when he saw this. He didn't care at all whether Tao Wanru stayed here or not. He even hoped that Sang Wenhua and Sang Yu would leave together.
He was exhausted. He hadn't been able to get a good night's sleep since he received the notice to come back.
Seeing his tired expression, Sang Wenhua suddenly couldn't say what she was about to say. She could only awkwardly say, "You should rest well. Your father and I won't bother you any longer." After saying that, she left.
After they left, Sang Nian immediately closed the door and then lay down on the bed, exhausted. His mind was in turmoil. To be honest, he shouldn't have come back, because he knew Sang Wenhua had no good intentions in bringing him back. Even if life in the US was tough, it was still much better than being at the Sang family home.
But he had to come back.
He was going to find Qiu Yang.
For the past five years, he has been sending messages and calling Qiu Yang's phone every day, but Qiu Yang has never replied. He doesn't believe that something has really happened to him, even though he found online that a fire broke out in a residential area in Dingzhou during his hospitalization due to improper use of a heater.
Even though he saw Qiu Yang's name on the list of victims.
The Sang family gave Qiu Yang a house in the building where the fire occurred as a token of their gratitude for the eleven years of care he had received.
But he still couldn't believe that such a good Qiu Yang had left because of an accident, even though he didn't think the accident was a real accident.
He needed to confirm that if Qiu Yang was really dead... then he definitely wouldn't let Sang Yu off the hook!
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