Chapter 1176: Chapter 1175: Regret

The silence on the phone stretched on for so long that the study seemed almost suffocated, as if the air itself had frozen. Wei Fangyi’s hand holding the phone trembled incessantly until it shook so much he could no longer hold the receiver, and it dropped to the floor.

Wei Qin, on the other end of the line, heard the sound but said nothing, instead letting out a long sigh.

Wei Fangyi, frantic, picked up the phone again, his voice trembling as he spoke, “Son, is… is it true? Jiang Yang, he…” Wei Qin couldn’t finish his words; instead, he covered his face with his hands, tears soaking through his fingers and falling onto the desk.

Wei Fangyi had always been a pillar of strength, a man without regret, but in this moment, he was engulfed by endless pain. That pain was rife with countless self-reproaches, guilt, shame, unbearable memories… Despite they both being men of distinction and honor, at this moment, they didn’t even have the courage to face Jiang Yang.

“Uuu…” Wei Fangyi sobbed uncontrollably over the phone, crying like this for the first time in his life.

“Father.” Wei Qin sighed, “Please, don’t cry. Finding my brother is good news; you should be happy about that.” He finished with a self-deprecating laugh, unsure if he was mocking his father or himself.

Because he wanted to cry too. He had also secretly hidden away to wipe his tears.

When he listened to the stories of Jiang Yang’s childhood from Mr. and Mrs. Jiang Dechun, how he was called a fool, how he nearly died after falling into a river last year, his heart ached uncontrollably. Before coming here, he wavered, even regretting going out to find his brother.

In his heart, he had long regarded Jiang Yang as his own younger brother, but now that he had found him, he felt an immense sense of relief.

If he hadn’t come in person, how would he have learned about these past events?

How else could he understand the suffering and pain Jiang Yang endured from childhood? His heart ached for the injustice Jiang Yang faced when he followed Jiang Nanfei to the Imperial City for treatment. He felt sorrow for the behaviour of his own family members, so arrogant and unjust, but what saddened him even more was the Jiang Yang of his childhood.

All these emotions surged and churned until, as the storm quieted, only regret remained.

He had been absent in Jiang Yang’s time of greatest need…

Wei Qin asked himself, does Jiang Yang still need him now?

The answer was negative; Jiang Yang no longer needed him.

Jiang Nanfei and Huo Beijiang had already provided a refuge for him, and even his autism was something Jiang Yang overcame by himself thanks to Jiang Nanfei.

In reality, as an older brother, he had not given much help. On the contrary, what their kin had brought Jiang Yang was humiliation, indifference, and even cruelty…

In that moment, Wei Qin understood all too well why his father cried so bitterly.

After a while, Wei Fangyi’s sobs finally ceased. He pulled out a pale blue striped handkerchief and slowly wiped his tears away. If not for the slight redness around his eyes, no one would have known he had been crying so desperately.

“Father!” Wei Qin’s voice rose softly, like a gentle and graceful flowing stream, “I heard Wei An and Lu Dongxin paid a visit?”

“Mm!” A fierce light flashed in Wei Fangyi’s eyes as he cleared his throat with authority and solemnity, “They just came crying with a big group of old neighbors and comrades, thinking your mother is a pushover.”

He left unsaid that they were not content until they had taken advantage of all the benefits Wei Family could offer.

Indeed, over the years, Wei Shufen and Lu Dongxin had long treated everything belonging to the Wei Family as their own. Wei Fangyi had seen it all but never spoke up, he simply didn’t care.

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