Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

She was a human being, not a thing or merchandise. One did not simply just cast a person aside or trample on her and decided to take her back only when one felt the need to do so, purely for the sake of proving one’s insight. At the very least, one could still recover those that one had lost.

However, once something was lost, it would remain so.

Not every ‘I’m sorry’ could be exchanged with an ‘it’s okay’.

Not every ‘it’s okay’ meant forgiveness.

She had taken Chu Lui’s apology as a promise.

However, his ‘sorry’ was the beginning of a lie.

Song Wan’s apology was hurtful to her...

While Shen Yijun’s apology was patronizing.

She knew now that ‘sorry’ could also be a means to an end.

Knock, knock. She knocked on the door and raised her eyes to look at the ward number. This should be the one.

The door opened abruptly. Xia Mingzheng stared at her and was speechless for a long time. Perhaps, her unexpected presence was both a shock and a surprise to him. This child had come. Did it mean that she had forgiven them?

“Mingzheng, who is it?” Shen Yijun couldn’t help herself from asking as she saw Xia Mingzheng standing at the door and speechless for a long time. “Was it Xinxin?” She had said this not from surprise or happiness, but rather, with long-awaited expectation. It seemed as though she had been waiting for a few seasons from spring to summer, and to the cold autumn and winter.

“Yijun, look who is here.”

Xia Mingzheng regained his senses and quickly moved out of the way. His expression was filled with both surprise and happiness. That’s right. He was pleasantly surprised.

“Is that my Xinxin?” Shen Yijun straightened herself and sat on her bed. She had aged significantly. In a man’s lifetime, the thing that one feared the most was insisting on something that one shouldn’t be insisting on; doing something that one shouldn’t have done; and wrong someone who shouldn’t be wronged.

These were all the things that Shen Yijun had done.

Xia Ruoxin stood at the doorway of the ward as she simply looked at Shen Yijun’s features which were both so familiar, and yet so strange. There was no emotion in her heart. Shen Yijun was so thrilled that tears had fallen from her eyes as she reached out for Xia Ruoxin.

“Xinxin, are you here to visit me? I knew you would be here to see me. Xinxin, it’s all my fault. I am to blame for everything. I have wronged you. Can you please forgive me and give me another chance?” Xia Mingzheng chimed in as he stood at the side. “That’s right, Ruoxin. It’s good that you have come. Once your mother has been discharged, you should move back with us. Then, we can be reunited as a family.”

Shen Yijun held her husband’s hand tightly while tears swirled in her eyes. “Mingzheng, I have finally found my Xinxin.”

“Yes, you’re right.” Xia Mingzheng was elated, too. However, he stopped himself at the thought of his trouble-making daughter. How could that child be so unscrupulous? How nice would it be if she was half as obedient as Xia Ruoxin? Then, he wouldn’t be so worried now. He was becoming bald from all the worrying.

Both of them continued with their lively conversation while Xia Ruoxin listened. She watched as they spoke and waited for them to finish fantasizing.

“Xinxin, come. Let me take a look at you.” Perhaps, Shen Yijun could sense the coldness from Xia Ruoxin. She felt sad, and yet, there was nothing she could do. It was all her fault that things between them had become so bad. It was all her and no one else. She was really wrong, and she was truly repentant.

She did not dare to allow herself to look away from her daughter. In the past, she had not paid her any attention. Now, she realized that she had really given birth to this woman who looked exactly as she had when she was younger.

Xia Ruoxin continued to stand at the doorway as though she wasn’t paying attention to what Shen Yijun was saying.

“Ruoxin, why don’t you come in first? Don’t keep standing at the door.” Xia Mingzheng said in a hurry as he was somewhat embarrassed. He was worried that Shen Yijun might overthink and caused herself to go into a frenzy. He had let both of them down—mother and daughter.

There were times when he could have stepped up and put things to a stop. However, due to his selfishness, things had become this bad. It was almost unsalvageable. Nonetheless, Ruoxin had always been a soft-hearted and filial child. She must have come to forgive them. Wasn’t that so? As for Shen Yijun and Xia Mingzheng, they would spend the rest of their lives treating this child well and giving her whatever they had owed her.

At last, Xia Ruoxin started to make her way into the ward and towards the bed. She was walking so slowly that with each step, Shen Yijun could feel her heartbeat and tension escalating.

She had been waiting and feeling remorseful for so long. It’s finally here, wasn’t it?

“Xinxin...” Shen Yijun’s lips were dry without her meticulous care. They parted and closed from time to time. All that came out from those lips were two words—Xinxin.

Xia Ruoxin continued to stare at her, unblinking. It made Shen Yijun so awkward that she lowered her head. She was honestly ashamed.

“Ruoxin.”

Xia Mingzheng was a businessman with a keen sense of sensitivity. His heart began to sink as he experienced an indescribable suppression and heaviness. Compared to Shen Yijun, he was so much better at observation. He was afraid that Xia Ruoxin’s motive this time by coming here was not reconciliation. In fact, he, too, knew that it wouldn’t be as simple as that. He couldn’t imagine himself in Xia Ruoxin’s shoes. His face started to feel hot. It was his sin for causing all this.

Xia Mingzheng wanted to say something, but he was interrupted by Xia Ruoxin.

“Mr. Xia, I have seen her. Please do not disturb me anymore. Okay?”

“Xinxin...” Shen Yijun’s voice cracked when she heard this. “Xinxin, how can you say this?” She clutched tightly at the front of her blouse. Her chest hurt badly. It was robbing her ability to breath.

Xia Ruoxin merely smiled. The sharpness in her eyes had lessened—like her heart.

She was calm. There was no anger, heartache, or sadness. It was like a flat terrain, without any slopes or potholes.

“Mrs. Xia, I believe I have made myself very clear to you. My mother passed away when I was four years old. Please take it that your daughter has also died when she was four years old. In fact, I have surpassed the age of needing a mother. I gave you and myself a chance when you robbed me of my amulet, shaved my head bald, deprived me of my dream, and chased me out of the house.

“I thought if you can save me and my daughter, I am willing to forgive anything. You are my mother till the end of time. Even if the Xia family doesn’t want you in the future, I will be willing to take care of you no matter how tough it will be for me. However, you don’t need me. You have a husband; you have money and status. Oh, yes. Your favorite daughter has returned. So what do you need me for?” Xia Ruoxin smiled, without anger or hatred. It was as though her heart had lightened up. If she had never owned anything, she had no need to be angry or sad.