Perhaps we are all just the ones who can’t express our gentleness.

Zhang Zhentian hears his son questioning him again and again, he reflects a bit on himself; is it possible that this time he really made a wrong decision? Should he really leave this family, abandon his child, and let his child be alone there? Why does everything he does seem wrong? Why, no matter what, can he never make his family feel satisfied with him? What kind of achievements should he attain in this life? What kind of accomplishments would make his family see him in a new light, rather than just look down on him repeatedly?

In fact, deep down in his heart, he doesn’t really understand that it’s not that his family looks down on him, but that everything he does goes too far. He no longer knows what he should do; he’s numb to everything he’s done. He doesn’t know if he’s doing this for his own selfish interests or for his family. He claims to be considering his family, but in the end, only he knows what his true intentions are.

Zhang Yichen believes that since he has already spoken to this extent, there is no need to continue. If his father decides to stay in this family, then he will definitely treat them well, no matter what decisions they have made or what words they’ve spoken in the past; he will not make things difficult for them. But if they choose to leave again decisively, then he will never forgive them in this lifetime. No one can keep committing mistakes and always receive forgiveness from others.

"I’ve already spoken to this point, you should really think about whether to stay or leave. If you leave, you should understand the consequences I’m going to describe. If you really leave, we will no longer be father and son in this lifetime. No matter where you go afterward, please don’t say you’re my father, because I don’t have a father like you. My father chose to leave me, which proves that he didn’t regard me as a son in his heart. Since that’s the case, why should I desperately try to keep my father?

Many times, I really don’t understand how you can harden your heart to abandon us again and again. In your eyes, are we as children so unworthy for you to stay? To sacrifice a little bit for us? You always prioritize your personal desires, always feeling that every decision you make is correct, but have you ever thought? Are those decisions truly correct? You hurt us repeatedly, pushing us to the edge time after time. We have never said anything because I know that no matter what, I should be happy, because you are my father. No matter what harm you inflict on me as your son, I should understand. I have no reason to hate you because you gave me life; even if you haven’t raised me, the grace of giving life is great like rain. I must still regard you as my closest kin, but the things you’ve done have disappointed me time and time again. That kind of disappointment is something no one can understand."

Zhang Zhentian doesn’t know how to explain to his son that this matter is indeed his own fault. Despite all that he has sacrificed, it ultimately led to this outcome. He never thought that one day he would find himself in such a situation with his son. Is this truly the ending he once desired? It’s completely different, but now that he has ended up in this situation, what should he do? Time and time again, he can only allow his child to criticize him, the elder, while he remains speechless, unable even to have a chance to counter-argue, let alone any reasons to refute.

Sometimes, he wonders what the real purpose of these acts is. Time and time again, he hurt his family, indeed treating them as his own life’s biggest blunder, yet he forgot that family also needs care. But once he repeatedly betrayed his family, heartlessly abandoning them, he should have foreseen such an outcome, but why, when faced with this outcome, is he still a bit unwilling? No matter how little difference there might be in an alternative outcome, he longs fervently for this not to be the final consequence, but why does it always turn out to be an unchangeable fact?

Old Master Zhang understands that his grandson has already made the biggest concession. His willingness to try to keep his father is already an enormous concession, but why do they still stubbornly refuse to see reason; each decision really causes every member of the family to suffer with sadness and pain? Time and time again, abandoning the person they deeply love most in their hearts for their own desires—is it truly right or wrong? Clearly they want to stay in this family, yet they have to choose to leave just because their daughter-in-law has developed depression. For such a reason, they heartlessly leave again, or maybe they can’t stay at home anymore and use this as an excuse to leave?

"Although I really don’t want to intervene in this matter, I still have to tell you that since your child has managed to make it this far, to back away to this position, it proves that he sincerely hopes you can come back. But if you make a wrong decision and choose to leave again, then you will truly lose your child in this life. Whether to live with your child is up to your own decision; whatever you decide, it will bring corresponding consequences.

These words have been said not less than a hundred times, yet you still should think this through carefully. As an elder, I don’t want to waste words on this matter anymore. No matter how I try to persuade you, it may not lead to a good result in the end, but I hope you understand that your child truly hopes you can return to his side. He is your child, and as a child, he only hopes his parents can stay with him, even if they do nothing else. He also hopes his parents can stay by his side. If you truly feel even a little guilty for him deep in your hearts, please make the most correct decision. Don’t regret it later, and beg others to forgive you then. There’s no such good thing in the world, and there’s no medicine for regret that can be sold repeatedly!"

Who can know the feeling of a broken heart? The feeling of heartache is unknown to everyone.