Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The World’s Imperfection

"Maybe you should call your dad and ask," Wen Ying suggested.

Zhao Yu readily agreed. He pulled out his phone right there in front of Wen Ying and called Mr. Zhao. As soon as the call connected, he got straight to the point. "Dad, do I have an aunt?"

"Yu, what nonsense are you talking about? What aunt? Aren’t you supposed to be at work? Why the sudden call about something like this?"

"Dad, I just want you to tell me. Do I have an aunt?"

Sensing his son’s determination to know the truth, Mr. Zhao fell silent for a moment. "You did have an aunt once, but she was already gone by the time you were born, so nobody thought it was necessary to bring her up. What’s gotten into you, kid? Why are you saying such strange things today?"

"Then... why is she gone?"

"She had bad luck, I suppose. Not many people made it through those times. It was common. It’s nothing like now, with how fortunate you all are."

"Dad, I want the truth."

Perhaps sensing his son already knew something, he asked, "Where are you right now?"

"On a business trip in a small town. For work."

"Who did you meet?"

"Maybe. That’s why I want to know the truth. Why did Grandpa and Grandma send my aunt away?"

A brief silence followed, and then Zhao Yu couldn’t stop himself from telling his father everything that had happened. His voice gradually became choked with tears. More than twenty minutes later, Zhao Yu finally stopped talking.

Ten minutes later, Zhao Yu silently hung up the phone.

He had likely never imagined that the happy, perfect family he thought he had was built on a squalid past.

His childhood had been a happy one. He was the only son, doted on by his grandparents. In his presence, his family never argued, never even raised their voices. The neighbors all seemed to envy them. He grew up in a warm, harmonious, and happy home—the kind of family everyone else wished they had.

As a result, he had always held a beautiful, idealized image of family.

He felt the same way about his grandparents and parents, believing them to be the kindest people in the world.

But now, with this piece of the past laid bare before him, it was as if a hypocritical fig leaf had been ripped away, leaving him feeling exposed and ashamed. ’Was everything I believed just an illusion?’

’Then what, exactly, is real?’

’Even my own family showed me a false front. My poor aunt, sent away... and her daughter. A parent forced to bury their own child. And even though we’re family, we’re complete strangers.’

The phone kept ringing, but Zhao Yu didn’t answer. Instead, he turned it off.

He looked up at Wen Ying, his eyes unfocused, his voice filled with bitterness and confusion. "Doctor Wen, why is it that I can’t even trust the people closest to me anymore? What in this world is even worth believing in? I suddenly don’t know how to face..."

Zhao Yu trailed off, unable to name what he had to face.

’My grandparents have already passed away. As for how much my parents were involved... I feel like I have no right to blame them.’

’I just suddenly don’t know how to face myself, or how to face this happy little family of three.’

"Zhao Yu, is your parents’ love for you fake?"

"No."

"Was the way your grandparents doted on you fake?"

"No."

"Then what are you being so dramatic about? Do you think perfect, selfless people actually exist? Are you perfect? Are you selfless? What right do you have to demand that of others? Isn’t their unconditional love for you enough?"

"I..." Faced with Wen Ying’s barrage of questions, Zhao Yu was left speechless.

"You’re just upset that their image in your eyes is no longer perfect. You can’t accept the disparity. But have you ever stopped to consider why they should have to be perfect in the first place? Nobody’s perfect. Who doesn’t have a selfish side? Your grandparents were definitely in the wrong, but they’ve passed away. They never wronged you while they were alive. Do you really have the right to resent your father now?"

"I... I just feel it’s unfair. Unfair to my aunt, and unfair to her child."

"If you want fairness, then go and fight for it yourself instead of just sitting here complaining. Hasn’t this whole situation given you an opportunity to do just that?"

Perhaps it’s true that an outsider sees things most clearly.

Zhao Yu stood up straight and gave Wen Ying a deep, ninety-degree bow.

"Thank you, Doctor Wen! I think I know what I need to do now. I’ve already sent the previous contract to the company via express mail, and your contract is now in effect as well. I’m going to request a week of vacation to handle this."

"Wait!" Wen Ying called out as Zhao Yu turned to leave. "I suggest you buy a course of medicine before you go."