By Zephyria 
Father Jing froze on the spot.
His hands gripped the edges of his chair, tightening. Within seconds, he regained his composure, forcing a polite smile toward President Wei as if suppressing shock and anger. He lowered his voice, saying, “What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? Why are you throwing a tantrum like this?”
“Must be something bothering him at school. He was complaining about failing a course this morning…” Father Jing tried to smooth things over, quickly shooting Jing Mian a meaningful look. He chuckled, “Failing isn’t the end of the world, you can always retake it. I’m not blaming you. Sometimes, being too hard on yourself isn’t good either.”
“You’re a married man now. How can you still act as spoiled as you did at home? Stop this nonsense, or your Uncle Wei will laugh at you.”
President Wei, observing the increasingly tense atmosphere at the table, let out an awkward laugh. “We’re all family here, no need to worry about being laughed at. I’ve always known Mr. Jing was outstanding, holding himself to high standards. No wonder he’s President Ren’s beloved.”
Jing Luo noticed the pallor on Jing Mian’s face.
He opened his mouth slightly, whispering, “Brother…”
“Is that so?”
Jing Mian suddenly let out a soft laugh, the sound faint and tinged with hoarse dryness. “Dad, so you actually know what marriage means?”
Jing Guozhen’s expression stiffened.
The young man didn’t stop there. His voice remained gentle, even as it chilled to its core, each word enunciated clearly:
“Responsibility, loyalty, and companionship.”
He lifted his gaze to meet the father he had idolized since childhood, murmuring,
“Did you uphold even one of those when you married Mom?”
…
Father Jing’s pupils constricted in shock. It took him a long moment to register President Wei’s bewildered stare before he snapped back to reality, stammering, “Y-You, what kind of nonsense are you spouting right now!?”
President Wei, well aware of the complicated dynamics within the Jing family, and given Jing Mian’s status as President Ren’s beloved, knew better than to involve himself as an outsider. He picked up his phone, smiling as he stood. “Apologies, but I’ve just received a call. There’s some urgent business at the company I need to attend to. I’ll take my leave now.”
Jing Guozhen also stood, attempting to stop him. “President Wei?”
“Wait just a moment, President Wei…”
The man with the briefcase waved dismissively, signaling Father Jing not to bother seeing him out, and left the restaurant without looking back.
In an instant, the warmth at the table vanished.
A waiter wheeled over the last dessert, but the spread of steaming dishes remained untouched.
Father Jing, having failed to catch President Wei, stormed back toward Jing Mian, his steps heavy with fury, veins bulging at his temples.
“You ungrateful brat! Have you lost your mind!?”
“Do you know what day this is!? Did I not warn you to watch your mouth!? You heartless, unfilial wretch, what the hell are you trying to pull here!?”
Jing Mian’s voice was eerily calm, matching the stillness of his lowered lashes.
“…Did you really invite me here to celebrate Luo Luo’s birthday?”
“Or was it because I’m ‘Ren Xingwan’s’ beloved?” Jing Mian murmured softly. “Because this identity makes it easier for you to close a deal?”
His lips pressed together briefly before he lifted his gaze, the words catching painfully in his throat as he forced out the last sentence:
“Just like the ‘deal’ you were discussing with Li Qiao the night Mom died?”
…
Jing Guozhen’s breath hitched.
At that moment, even Li Qiao’s eyes filled with panic as she abruptly stood up from her seat.
The restaurant fell dead silent.
Not just their table, but even nearby diners who had heard the commotion turned their gazes toward them.
After a long pause, Father Jing finally spoke: “Who told you that?”
Jing Mian replied, “Is that what you want to know?”
Jing Guozhen was momentarily speechless.
“Dad.”
Jing Mian suddenly called out this way. He seemed lost in thought, as if he had much to say, but all those words condensed into one sentence. The young man asked hoarsely, “Didn’t you love Mom very much?”
“Loving just one person for a lifetime—”
“Is that so difficult?”
Jing Guozhen trembled with rage, his chest heaving.
Straightening his back, he raised his hand as if to strike someone.
A nearby waiter reacted swiftly, rushing over to restrain him. As Father Jing’s arm was held back, his fury intensified. He overturned a plate beside him, his voice rising several decibels as he roared, “Who are you to lecture me?!”
“I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
“You want to pin all this blame on your old man.”
“You want to wash your hands of this unforgivable sin, to stop feeling guilty about your mother, about that car accident, you don’t want to bear a shred of responsibility!”
As if this night couldn’t get any worse, with all pretense of civility now shattered, Father Jing pointed a trembling finger at Jing Mian: “You love the truth so much?”
“Then let me give you a truth.”
“Your mother had cancer before that car accident ever happened!”
…
The beautiful pupils reflecting Father Jing’s image slowly constricted at that moment.
“Does that make you feel better now?! Your mother was doomed to die, her death had absolutely nothing to do with you this time!”
“No more guilty conscience, right? Feeling relieved?”
Jing Guozhen’s veins bulged: “If it’s all my fault, what do you want? To cut ties with me? Fine, I’ll grant your wish!”
“From this day forward, you’re forbidden to set foot in the Jing household.”
“Whether we prosper or struggle, celebrate or mourn, none of it has anything to do with you, Jing Mian!”
Jing Mian heard his own breath, distant and drawn-out.
He parted his lips: “Fine.”
The manager arrived just then to intervene and separate the diners.
The waiter had rushed to fetch the manager earlier, who appeared promptly, mediating while signaling staff to restrain Jing Guozhen before things escalated further.
The dinner party ended in discord.
Tears welled in Jing Luo’s eyes as he surveyed the wreckage of their table and the overturned cake.
Before leaving, Brother had whispered “I’m sorry” to him.
Though barely audible, Jing Luo detected the restrained emotion in that voice.
Their deceased mother had cancer before the accident took her from Brother.
Brother’s phone lay forgotten on the table.
Suddenly, Li Qiao circled around the chairs and hurried after Jing Mian in her high heels.
She caught up with him on the landing before the first floor.
The woman called out to Jing Mian, but when he ignored her completely, she stopped and declared loudly:
“Loving just one person for a lifetime… What childish nonsense. Hah, Jing Mian, don’t tell me you actually think your arranged marriage is some enviable fairy tale?”
She was satisfied to see the young man’s figure pause and glance sideways at her.
“Do you think your husband loves you too?”
“Why would he love you? Because you’re a jinx? Because you only bring misfortune to others?”
Li Qiao trembled with laughter, her shoulders shaking with near-hysterical intensity, but she soon stopped, looking at him as if seriously: “You’re not that naive, are you, MianMian?”
“Before your marriage, the Ren family showed signs of wanting to break off the engagement.”
Her crimson-painted lips moved slightly as Li Qiao leaned close to Jing Mian’s ear, whispering softly: “In fact, it was Ren Xingwan’s own instruction.”
“In other words.”
The woman chuckled lowly: “Your Mr. Ren will abandon you sooner or later.”
“No one wants you. Even your own mother didn’t want you. Why do you still exist in this world?”
As Li Qiao leaned in, her voice carried a vicious edge. Her slender hand rested lightly on Jing Mian’s shoulder, the touch gentle yet bearing down like a crushing weight: “…If I were you, hated by so many people, I would have found a way to end it long ago.”
She knew Jing Mian’s suffering and weaknesses, knew exactly how to easily destroy that unwanted child, and now was the perfect opportunity.
Yet, just when she expected the young man to crumble at her words, she caught an unexpected glimpse of Jing Mian’s slightly stunned profile, his sharp features outlined by the soft hall lights, his long lashes casting delicate shadows.
After a long silence, she heard Jing Mian speak:
“My life was saved by Mr. Ren.”
The young man turned around, backlit so that even his hair seemed bathed in light.
“I didn’t get to thank my husband back then.”
“But from that moment on, I’ve cherished each new day.”
Jing Mian said softly: “I will live very hard.”
…
“I know no one wants me. But even if no one wants me, I will keep living.”