One Life, One Incarnation, Beautiful Bones

52

Chapter 16.3 - The Roles People Play (3)

The two of them did not take a vehicle for their return from the cemetery to the old manor.

Walking up the mountain, along the road, about an hour later, they saw the familiar sight of tall, decorated stone archways.

The trees here were even more towering, and fallen leaves blanketed the entire road.

Without the dense covering of leaves, the sun easily passed through the high branches and fell upon the ground, scattering shadows outwards.

"Your mother said... it is your grandmother's ninetieth birthday in a few days, and the celebration is going to be held here."

With a light "mm," he answered, "Grandmother's physical and mental health as well as energy levels are not very good. None of us have told her about Wenxing yet." Shi Yi nodded, indicating that she understood what he meant.

"Tong Jiaren will be coming, too." He thought of something and told her, "Grandmother likes her very much."

Shi Yi once again nodded.

Prior to coming to Zhenjiang, Zhousheng Chen had informed her that Tong Jiaren and Zhou Wenchuan were already in the midst of filing for divorce.

The two did not have too many entanglements between them, and their divorce was one of mutual consent. Furthermore, Zhou Wenchuan was not insistent on the custody of his child with Tong Jiaren. Whether it was because he was being plagued by the investigations or for Wang Man's sake, he had very readily agreed that after the baby was born, the child would be under the care of and raised by the mother and had not forced her to leave the baby with the Zhou family.

"Back then, you and her..." She wanted to speak but held back her words, not entirely certain herself what it was she wanted to ask.

Tong Jiaren's relationship with the Zhou family was very interwoven and complex.

She seemed to have some sort of relationship with each person: with Zhousheng Chen, the engagement between two playmates from childhood innocence; with Zhou Wenchuan, the relationship of husband and wife; and with Zhousheng Ren, a blood relation...

"She and I are just like what I once told you. That simple."

Shi Yi smiled, "I know."

She trusted Zhousheng Chen's character. If there really had been a romantic relationship between them, he would certainly have told her.

In regards to Tong Jiaren breaking off the engagement of her own accord, Shi Yi more or less could infer the reason why.

After all, since Zhousheng Chen entered university at the age of fourteen, he had all along demonstrated a passion for research. If, in a family, there were two sisters and one liked the uncle who held the control of the entire Zhou family while the other liked Zhousheng Chen, who had nothing but name and empty power, then that family would unquestionably choose to ingratiate itself with the uncle who already had true power and authority.

Zhousheng Chen removed his coat and draped it over his arm. He could sense her gaze on him. "Shi Yi."

"Hmm?"

"All along, I've felt very guilty towards you." Zhousheng Chen was suddenly at a loss for words. "Perhaps you can say, it was not just guilt. I want to tell you some truths."

"Mm. Tell me."

"After you met me, there were many times when you were in danger, to the point where they were even life-threatening." He quietly exhaled a long breath. "My close family members all, to some extent, have done things to hurt you, for example, those several 'accidents' you encountered."