Watching Ye Qiu leave resolutely, Fang Bingwen felt a stabbing pain in his heart.

She still refuses to believe in me; she still hasn’t forgiven me!

Of course, Fang Bingwen chuckled bitterly to himself; he had done so many things to wrong her, how could she possibly forgive him? Who could let themselves not know how to cherish? No wonder those people called him an idiot, saying he was ungrateful.

"Dad, I’m sorry." Fang Xu bowed his head in apology, "I didn’t manage to persuade Aunt Ye." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"It’s not your fault." Fang Bingwen reached for his son’s shoulder, realizing suddenly how tall he had grown, almost reaching his own shoulder.

Thinking back on his life, he didn’t keep his first wife, betrayed his second wife, even failed to educate his son properly. Once classmates and colleagues said he was smart, but now besides having an associate professor title and earning a meager salary, he had achieved nothing else.

Ridiculously, at that time, he genuinely thought he was outstanding. What had Ye Qiu ever seen in him? His good looks?

It was all his own doing; he couldn’t blame anyone else. Was he going to vent at his son? What fault did Xiao Xu have?

Ye Qiu married him when Xiao Xu was just over four years old. What could he understand? All his actions were influenced by Fang Bingwen; if he had treated Ye Qiu better back then, if he had educated Xiao Xu more when he picked on Ye Qiu, Xiao Xu wouldn’t have acted wrongfully.

Moreover, when Xiao Xu was incited by Song Qing to slander Ye Qiu, Fang Bingwen hadn’t taken any action. Looking back now, he realized how awful he had been. Even though the proof was right before his eyes, he hadn’t wanted to believe her, feeling sorry at Song Qing’s tears instead. What had possessed him back then?

If he had sincerely apologized back then, if he had believed her and exposed Song Qing’s true character, maybe she wouldn’t have lost hope in him.

The ancients were right: people only realize regret after losing something. What a pity there is no medicine for regret in this world.

What’s more, back then, besides unconditionally defending Song Qing, he selfishly deprived Ye Qiu of her right to motherhood, a crime truly unforgivable.

"Let’s go home!" Fang Bingwen chuckled bitterly, realizing just how much he doesn’t care for Ye Qiu now air, as much as he once disregarded her.

He was used to the warm light left for him at the front door, used to dropping his bag and having hot, delicious meals ready. He had become accustomed to Ye Qiu’s love and care for him.

Especially when the house was silent and empty, he would seem to see her figure in a daze, realizing that Ye Qiu had already entered his heart. He had intentionally neglected this realization up until then.

Turns out, he had already fallen for her; he just hadn’t wanted to admit it. Even knowing that his love, at that time, was merely dependency and gratitude.

If it had been true selfless love, then how could he not even know what she liked to eat or use?

Recalling now, the dishes appearing most often in the house were ones he and Xiao Xu liked. Back then, how selfish he had been! His selfishness still brought bouts of shame.

"Dad, will Aunt Ye truly never come back again?" Fang Xu asked, with overwhelming self-blame in his eyes.

"Probably. After all, it was I who wronged her."

"From now on, I’ll be very obedient, can we go plead Aunt Ye to return?"

"Xiao Xu, why do you want her to come back? Didn’t you always dislike her?" Fang Bingwen asked as they walked.

"She treated me better than Mom."

"Just because of that?"

Facing Fang Bingwen’s questioning, he raised his head in confusion. If not for that, then what?

Fang Bingwen sighed deeply: "That kind of thinking is wrong. Do you want her simply because she was good to you, for what she gave you? What you miss are the dishes she cooked for you and the gifts she gave you, right!"

"No." Fang Xu shook his head, "I also don’t like seeing Dad sad."

Fang Bingwen chuckled softly: "See, your reasons are either about you or about me; this is a selfish way of thinking. If, hypothetically, she actually would come back but not cook, do housework, or accommodate the two of us, would you still want her back?"

This question puzzled Fang Xu, though he didn’t overthink it and confidently replied: "Aunt Ye is a good person; she wouldn’t be like Mom."

Fang Bingwen couldn’t help but sigh; his son’s thinking was very dangerous. If one truly likes and misses someone, how could one bear seeing her work so hard?

"Xiao Xu, don’t say such things anymore. Also, don’t seek out Aunt Ye again. Dad doesn’t deserve her."

"But..."

"Let’s go home; you still haven’t done your homework today."

Inside the car, Ye Qiu’s gaze carried a touch of mockery. This father and son were indeed interesting. Now that Song Qing had run away, realizing she was the best for them, they urged her to return?

Fang Bingwen even unexpectedly confessed to her? What do they take her for? Do they think she still cares about them?

But looking at the remorseful appearance of the father and son, and their less than satisfactory lives, she knew her one or two years of pretense had been successful.

She had intentionally treated them well, deliberately nurtured them into a dependent disposition, believing that without enough financial backing they couldn’t stay with Song Qing.

As expected, after they separated, Song Qing was the first to climb onto another high branch.

This family of three was quite loving in their past life — now, turning to such a state, wasn’t it more ironic about their earth-shattering "love"?

In the past life, Fang Bingwen exhausted his money for Song Qing; his wedding with her was extravagant compared with her own marriage which was miserably poor. Though he achieved fame and success,her Ye Family and Dong Family faced setbacks, not to mention how she had fallen out with her eldest sister and second brother for his sake.

Everyone mocked her at the time, calling her a toad wanting to eat swan meat, claiming she coerced him, celebrating how he and Song Qing finally became lovebirds who consummated their feelings, and they even accused her of abusing Fang Xu, labeling her a vicious stepmother...

Back then, Fang Bingwen was illustrious and shiny; had he even looked back once to see her helplessness?

Now, his reputation plummeted, his career failed, even Song Qing abandoned him, thinking he’s suddenly realizing her worth, admitting his mistakes, seeking her forgiveness?

How could there be such easy feats in the world? She hadn’t even fully tarnished his reputation yet, doing just enough without pressing him further.

As for Fang Xu, without esteemed guidance now and financial support from herself, who knows if he could reach the same heights as his past life using his intelligence?

And Song Qing, don’t assume climbing to high branches is that simple!