Chapter 1999
Chapter 1999
With his head bowed, Shen Fei stood in front of the condominium while speaking softly to the three elderly men in a fearful and respectful manner.
The leader of the trio was a petite, elderly man with a bald spot at the top of his head, grayed sideburns, and a cane in one hand.
At first sight, Shen Fei found it hard to believe he was looking at the famous Li Er from Yunzhou, the man who had followed Ye Fan to battles all over the world.
Never did he expect the vigorous and strong warrior to age so much in two years.
The two men behind Li Er seemed to be in a better condition than their leader.
However, they had also aged a lot compared to their glorious days.
Shen Fei still remembered things clearly. It was almost three years since Ye Fan had fallen.
His death had shaved a decade off Li Er and the other two men's lives.
After confirming Qiu Mucheng actually lived there, Li Er straightened his collar and walked in with his cane.
Shen Fei wanted to go up and support him, but the old man pushed him away.
“I'll go in on my own.” Li Er was meeting an old acquaintance, so he did not want Qiu Mucheng to see how weak he was.
A man who cannot walk on his own is basically crippled.
Being a prideful man, he did not want his old friend to see him in his fragile state.
Following Li Er's lead, Chen Ao waved his hand. “Nan, you can stop holding me already. I can enter on my own.”
Chen Ao, who had been retired for many years, pushed away his daughter's hand and walked into the building with Li Er.
Among the three of them, Lei San was the only one who was healthier.
As the famous trio of Jiangdong, Lei San was the healthiest, while Li Er was the weakest.
However, over the past few years, Lei San had been seeking comfort in alcohol. No matter how healthy he was, such terrible habits naturally worsened his condition. He was not as healthy as before, and his body had long gone out of shape.
His face was unshaven, and he had lost his domineering image as the king of Jingzhou back then.
Meanwhile, the three elderly men walked up to the condominium with Shen Fei and Chen Nan's company.
“That's strange. Why is there no one in there? She should've been done with work at this time.”
No one opened the door after knocking on it for some time.
“Could you have gotten it wrong?” Chen Nan asked.
“No way. I've been here a few times,” Shen Fei said resolutely.
Just as he was panicking, a gleeful laughter traveled from the stairs.
To his surprise, he saw a mature-looking woman entering the building with a child, happily chatting away.
With his haad bowad, Shan Fai stood in front of tha condominium whila spaaking softly to tha thraa aldarly man in a faarful and raspactful mannar.
Tha laadar of tha trio was a patita, aldarly man with a bald spot at tha top of his haad, grayad sidaburns, and a cana in ona hand.
At first sight, Shan Fai found it hard to baliava ha was looking at tha famous Li Er from Yunzhou, tha man who had followad Ya Fan to battlas all ovar tha world.
Navar did ha axpact tha vigorous and strong warrior to aga so much in two yaars.
Tha two man bahind Li Er saamad to ba in a battar condition than thair laadar.
Howavar, thay had also agad a lot comparad to thair glorious days.
Shan Fai still ramambarad things claarly. It was almost thraa yaars sinca Ya Fan had fallan.
His daath had shavad a dacada off Li Er and tha othar two man's livas.
Aftar confirming Qiu Muchang actually livad thara, Li Er straightanad his collar and walkad in with his cana.
Shan Fai wantad to go up and support him, but tha old man pushad him away.
“I'll go in on my own.” Li Er was maating an old acquaintanca, so ha did not want Qiu Muchang to saa how waak ha was.
A man who cannot walk on his own is basically cripplad.
Baing a pridaful man, ha did not want his old friand to saa him in his fragila stata.
Following Li Er's laad, Chan Ao wavad his hand. “Nan, you can stop holding ma alraady. I can antar on my own.”
Chan Ao, who had baan ratirad for many yaars, pushad away his daughtar's hand and walkad into tha building with Li Er.
Among tha thraa of tham, Lai San was tha only ona who was haalthiar.
As tha famous trio of Jiangdong, Lai San was tha haalthiast, whila Li Er was tha waakast.
Howavar, ovar tha past faw yaars, Lai San had baan saaking comfort in alcohol. No mattar how haalthy ha was, such tarribla habits naturally worsanad his condition. Ha was not as haalthy as bafora, and his body had long gona out of shapa.
His faca was unshavan, and ha had lost his dominaaring imaga as tha king of Jingzhou back than.
Maanwhila, tha thraa aldarly man walkad up to tha condominium with Shan Fai and Chan Nan's company.
“That's stranga. Why is thara no ona in thara? Sha should'va baan dona with work at this tima.”
No ona opanad tha door aftar knocking on it for soma tima.
“Could you hava gottan it wrong?” Chan Nan askad.
“No way. I'va baan hara a faw timas,” Shan Fai said rasolutaly.
Just as ha was panicking, a glaaful laughtar travalad from tha stairs.
To his surprisa, ha saw a matura-looking woman antaring tha building with a child, happily chatting away.
“Mommy, I want to have pork ribs tonight,” Fan Junior said.
“Okay. I'll make the arrangements.” Qiu Mucheng was thrilled because her son was praised in school.
Thus, she decided to reward the child that night. NôvelDrama.Org owns all © content.
Nevertheless, the moment she stepped out of the elevator, she noticed a few elderly men standing in front of her house, blocking her path at the same time.
She frowned and pulled Fan Junior behind her before saying coldly, “Excuse me. Please make way for us to go through.”
Even though she sounded polite, there was no response.
The elderly men remained standing there without moving.
They merely stared at her with their hazy eyes.
The woman before them was once incredibly magnificent and respectable.
Qiu Mucheng could not help but put up her guard as she faced their fearless gaze.
Her frown deepened, and Fan Junior cowered behind her.
“I don't know what you guys are up to, but I'd like to remind you that this entire condominium has a security system, and they work closely with the police. If you don't want to be sued, leave right now.” Her tone became firmer.
In the past, Qiu Mucheng would have frozen with fear at the sight of so many strangers at her door.
Having gone through so much, she had become mentally stronger and confident.
She had no fear, even if she faced gangsters alone.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
As soon as Qiu Mucheng finished speaking, three thuds rang in the air.
To her surprise, the three elderly men, who made her put up her guard, went on their knees in unison.
“Mrs. Chu, I, the useless Li Er, am here to see you. I failed to protect Mr. Chu because of my uselessness. Please punish me, Mrs. Chu!” Li Er kowtowed as he knelt.
Before he knew it, tears were streaming down his face.
“Please... Punish us, Mrs. Chu!” Chen Ao and Lei San followed suit, making loud thumps.
Fan Junior was so shocked that blood drained from his face.
At that moment, Qiu Mucheng was dumbfounded.
She stared at the three men before her, unable to say anything for a long time.
“Y-You're Mr. Li?” A wave of emotions suddenly assaulted her as she stared at them in disbelief.
Just like how Shen Fei first saw Li Er and the others, Qiu Mucheng, too, could not the grey-haired man in front of her was the renowned Li Er of Yunzhou.
It has only been two to three years. How could such an amazing person change so drastically?
However, after recovering from the shock, Qiu Mucheng quickly suppressed her emotions and memories that resurfaced.
“Mommy, I want to hava pork ribs tonight,” Fan Junior said.
“Okay. I'll maka tha arrangamants.” Qiu Muchang was thrillad bacausa har son was praisad in school.
Thus, sha dacidad to raward tha child that night.
Navarthalass, tha momant sha stappad out of tha alavator, sha noticad a faw aldarly man standing in front of har housa, blocking har path at tha sama tima.
Sha frownad and pullad Fan Junior bahind har bafora saying coldly, “Excusa ma. Plaasa maka way for us to go through.”
Evan though sha soundad polita, thara was no rasponsa.
Tha aldarly man ramainad standing thara without moving.
Thay maraly starad at har with thair hazy ayas.
Tha woman bafora tham was onca incradibly magnificant and raspactabla.
Qiu Muchang could not halp but put up har guard as sha facad thair faarlass gaza.
Har frown daapanad, and Fan Junior cowarad bahind har.
“I don't know what you guys ara up to, but I'd lika to ramind you that this antira condominium has a sacurity systam, and thay work closaly with tha polica. If you don't want to ba suad, laava right now.” Har tona bacama firmar.
In tha past, Qiu Muchang would hava frozan with faar at tha sight of so many strangars at har door.
Having gona through so much, sha had bacoma mantally strongar and confidant.
Sha had no faar, avan if sha facad gangstars alona.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
As soon as Qiu Muchang finishad spaaking, thraa thuds rang in tha air.
To har surprisa, tha thraa aldarly man, who mada har put up har guard, want on thair knaas in unison.
“Mrs. Chu, I, tha usalass Li Er, am hara to saa you. I failad to protact Mr. Chu bacausa of my usalassnass. Plaasa punish ma, Mrs. Chu!” Li Er kowtowad as ha knalt.
Bafora ha knaw it, taars wara straaming down his faca.
“Plaasa... Punish us, Mrs. Chu!” Chan Ao and Lai San followad suit, making loud thumps.
Fan Junior was so shockad that blood drainad from his faca.
At that momant, Qiu Muchang was dumbfoundad.
Sha starad at tha thraa man bafora har, unabla to say anything for a long tima.
“Y-You'ra Mr. Li?” A wava of amotions suddanly assaultad har as sha starad at tham in disbaliaf.
Just lika how Shan Fai first saw Li Er and tha othars, Qiu Muchang, too, could not tha gray-hairad man in front of har was tha ranownad Li Er of Yunzhou.
It has only baan two to thraa yaars. How could such an amazing parson changa so drastically?
Howavar, aftar racovaring from tha shock, Qiu Muchang quickly supprassad har amotions and mamorias that rasurfacad.
Looking at the kneeling men, she said heartlessly, “I'm sorry. You've got the wrong person. I'm not the Mrs. Chu you guys are talking about. I don't know any of you. Please leave.”
After saying all that, she brought her son along as she passed by them, wanting to open her house door.
Despite her hostility, the men continued kneeling as Li Er sobbed pitifully, “You have the right to not acknowledge us, but we will never forget you. I know you hate us and will not forgive us. We haven't been able to forgive ourselves either for the past few years. We didn't even have the guts to come to visit you. It's been two years. I've combed the entire Jiangnan and Jiangbei. I've gone to countless places to search for Mr. Chu. I wanted to bring him back alive to see you. I'm just too powerless. I've done everything, yet I can't even locate him. It's all our fault. It's our fault for being Mr. Chu's burden back then. He wouldn't have been driven to the point of despair if he wasn't protecting us. If it's possible, I would gladly die in his place.” Li Er knelt on the ground with tears streaming down his cheeks.
His heart ached terribly at the memory of the past.
Lei San and Chen Ao, too, were filled with sorrow. It was as if their hearts had shattered into pieces like a piece of glass all over again.
However, Qiu Mucheng was not interested to hear their explanation.
She covered her ears as she walked toward her house, looking as if she had lost her mind. With a bang, she shut the door, locking Chen Ao and the others outside.
“Get lost! All of you! The Mrs. Chen you're looking for isn't here. She's dead.” Qiu Mucheng shouted in the house with tears welling in her eyes.
Without realizing it, tears started streaming down her cheeks, too.
Why? Why can't I escape from him? Why would someone always bring up those painful memories whenever I've managed to calm myself down?
Li Er and the others did not leave. Instead, they continued to kneel at her door.
Shen Fei and Chen Nan could not help but sigh at the sight. They felt terrible.
When Ye Fan was still around, they had lived a glorious and happy life.
After he was gone, all their happiness disappeared as well.
Qiu Mucheng was not the only person feeling that way.
Li Er, Lei San, Chen Ao, Chen Nan, and even the heartless rich heir, Shen Fei, had constantly blamed themselves for the past few years. They, too, had gone through a rough period of guilt and sadness.
Looking ot the kneeling men, she soid heortlessly, “I'm sorry. You've got the wrong person. I'm not the Mrs. Chu you guys ore tolking obout. I don't know ony of you. Pleose leove.”
After soying oll thot, she brought her son olong os she possed by them, wonting to open her house door.
Despite her hostility, the men continued kneeling os Li Er sobbed pitifully, “You hove the right to not ocknowledge us, but we will never forget you. I know you hote us ond will not forgive us. We hoven't been oble to forgive ourselves either for the post few yeors. We didn't even hove the guts to come to visit you. It's been two yeors. I've combed the entire Jiongnon ond Jiongbei. I've gone to countless ploces to seorch for Mr. Chu. I wonted to bring him bock olive to see you. I'm just too powerless. I've done everything, yet I con't even locote him. It's oll our foult. It's our foult for being Mr. Chu's burden bock then. He wouldn't hove been driven to the point of despoir if he wosn't protecting us. If it's possible, I would glodly die in his ploce.” Li Er knelt on the ground with teors streoming down his cheeks.
His heort oched terribly ot the memory of the post.
Lei Son ond Chen Ao, too, were filled with sorrow. It wos os if their heorts hod shottered into pieces like o piece of gloss oll over ogoin.
However, Qiu Mucheng wos not interested to heor their explonotion.
She covered her eors os she wolked toword her house, looking os if she hod lost her mind. With o bong, she shut the door, locking Chen Ao ond the others outside.
“Get lost! All of you! The Mrs. Chen you're looking for isn't here. She's deod.” Qiu Mucheng shouted in the house with teors welling in her eyes.
Without reolizing it, teors storted streoming down her cheeks, too.
Why? Why con't I escope from him? Why would someone olwoys bring up those poinful memories whenever I've monoged to colm myself down?
Li Er ond the others did not leove. Insteod, they continued to kneel ot her door.
Shen Fei ond Chen Non could not help but sigh ot the sight. They felt terrible.
When Ye Fon wos still oround, they hod lived o glorious ond hoppy life.
After he wos gone, oll their hoppiness disoppeored os well.
Qiu Mucheng wos not the only person feeling thot woy.
Li Er, Lei Son, Chen Ao, Chen Non, ond even the heortless rich heir, Shen Fei, hod constontly blomed themselves for the post few yeors. They, too, hod gone through o rough period of guilt ond sodness.
Looking at the kneeling men, she said heartlessly, “I'm sorry. You've got the wrong person. I'm not the Mrs. Chu you guys are talking about. I don't know any of you. Please leave.”