Chapter 323 - 321: Dream or Reality? (4)

Chapter 323: Chapter 321: Dream or Reality? (4)

His young daughter was in his arms, looking up at him with such a happy, trusting smile. For a moment, it left Luo Hongyi in a daze. His Nuannuan used to be just like this. Every time she looked at him, her gaze was filled with absolute devotion and trust. ’But when exactly did everything start to change?’

He gave a bitter smile. He had reflected on his actions countless times over the years. Only after deep and painful introspection did he realize that the fault wasn’t so much with others; the true root of the problem was, in fact, himself.

His behavior had been terrible. He had been completely one-sided, only listening to and believing certain people.

Even after so many years, the memory still left a bitter taste in Luo Hongyi’s heart.

’Why did Guan Yu lose Jingzhou through carelessness? Wasn’t it simply because of his pride and arrogance?’

’When you got down to it, what was the difference between him and Guan Yu?’

’Back then, he had been full of vigor, successful in both his family life and career. What reason did he have not to be proud, not to be supremely confident in his own judgment?’

He had always seen himself as a certain kind of man. ’A real man’s ambitions should lie out in the world. He shouldn’t waste his energy at home, getting tangled up in trivial household matters and the petty squabbles between women.’

He trusted and loved his family. He’d left home at a young age and hadn’t lived with them for a long time. In his mind, his parents and siblings remained simple and pure. His years of missing them had even led him to romanticize them. Despite this, he thought he had a clear grasp of the situation. He believed that loving his family—being a good son to his parents and helping his siblings—didn’t conflict with loving his wife.

He assumed she had always understood this core belief of his. He also believed that once married, his parents and siblings naturally took a step back. They became extended family, people you treated with a certain politeness. Meanwhile, he, she, and their children were now the *real* family. And with your own people, you could afford to be a little more casual...

He thought his devotion to her was perfectly clear.

’But she just didn’t know how to be considerate of him.’

His parents and siblings were constantly in his ear, even writing letters and calling him just to complain about her. Even when their accusations were at their most vicious, he only grew impatient with her. He never once thought about leaving her. ’Wasn’t that enough?’

He would feel a secret rage whenever he saw her open her mouth, only to fall silent, seemingly "admitting" to every accusation. He was furious that she was actually that kind of person. He was furious that while he was out working his fingers to the bone, desperately earning money to support them, she couldn’t show a shred of consideration for the guilt he felt toward his parents and siblings after being away for so many years. ’Why was it that on the rare occasions they went back to his hometown, she always had to stir up some kind of trouble...’

Back then, when he was vexed by all the petty trifles at home, it wasn’t that he didn’t make any effort. He’d invite friends over for drinks and subtly fish for solutions. He’d also carefully observe how his neighbors in the villa complex interacted with their families. From what he could tell, the simplest and most convenient way to solve problems was to just yell at your wife. An even more extreme method was to give her a beating, and then there would be peace and quiet.

Of course, he could never bring himself to yell at his wife, much less hit her. He despised men who hit women. But from his observations, he came to a realization: whenever a problem arose, as long as he could put his wife in her place, he could get some peace and quiet. ’That should be simple enough,’ he had thought. He managed countless people; the most stubborn old hands became meek and obedient under his command. ’Surely I can manage to rein in one woman without shouting or hitting her, can’t I?’

He thought there was nothing wrong with his reasoning or his methods.

He thought that as long as he loved her in his heart, that was enough.

The irony was, he never once imagined that the root of the problem wasn’t her at all. She had always been the one on the receiving end. He had trusted his parents and siblings too much, had been too blind to right and wrong. He ignored her suffering and chose the simplest, most brutish solution. The most ridiculous part was that he actually thought he was doing it for her own good. That was why, in the end, he lost his firstborn son, and why she finally lost all hope in him, never giving him a chance to make amends...

The thoughts flashed through his mind. He stroked his young daughter’s head and made a silent vow. This was the only child he and Nuannuan had left. Nuannuan was gone. In this life, he could never accept another woman, nor would he ever want children with anyone else. So, no matter what, he had to protect her. He could not let his daughter suffer the same injustices and disappointments that her mother had endured.

At this thought, his expression softened. His voice was earnest and resolute. "Shengnan, you never have to be afraid of anyone disliking you. If someone means you harm—even if that person is your grandparent—you don’t have to suffer in silence. Remember this: you are Luo Hongyi’s daughter, the only child I have left in this world. You have the right to live your life freely and do whatever makes you happy. And you must remember, now and forever, you will only ever have one mother. I will not bring a stepmother home for you, and I will certainly never let you have any half-siblings."

"Dad, is that all true? You really won’t get a new wife?" Hearing her father’s solemn promise, Luo Shengnan felt like she’d been struck by a pie falling from heaven. A wave of immense happiness washed over her, and her eyes sparkled like stars.

"Really." Luo Hongyi nodded, his expression serious.

"Hongyi—"

Zhang Minzhen looked at Luo Hongyi and hesitated. As much as she wanted to believe her son-in-law’s wonderful promise—and a part of her truly hoped he would keep it—she didn’t think he could really stay single forever. ’Sigh, five years is already long enough,’ she thought. ’In the old days, a man only had to remain unmarried for a year for his late wife. Those who waited three years were considered exceptionally devoted. My son-in-law has already done so for five years. What more can I possibly ask of him?’

She sighed internally, grieving for the daughter she had lost so young. ’Once you’re dead, it’s all over. But the living must go on living.’ Now, she asked for nothing more than for her granddaughter to grow up safe and sound, get married, and have children of her own. That would be enough.

Feeling a little down, she tried to persuade him, "It’s already been so many years, Hongyi. The sentiment is enough. You don’t have to force yourself to do that..."

"Mom, please don’t say any more. I won’t change my mind. After all, this is something I personally promised Nuannuan back then." An immense sadness filled Luo Hongyi’s eyes as he shook his head. "Even if she can’t see it anymore, I... I’m not willing to disappoint her again."

"But Shengnan will grow up and get married one day. You’ll be all alone then... Why must you put yourself through this?" Zhang Minzhen gave Luo Hongyi a complicated look and let out a long sigh.