325 The Past
Zhang Lingzhen also looked at the other party with a face of disapproval.
For all the years that he left, he clearly had a child along the way.
It was fine if he didn’t want to raise him, but why didn’t he send the child back to the Zhang family? Instead, he casually gave the child to someone else.
He couldn’t even have a child even if he wanted one.
Why did some people not know how to cherish their children?
“How could you bear to let your son wander outside for so many years?”
“I didn’t let him wander outside,” Zhang Lingshen said with a serious face. “Zhao Wenbei and his wife treated him like their own son. Besides, it’s not like I didn’t give him money for it.”
“Own up to your mistake!”
Zhang Lingzhen looked left and right, then picked up a vine from the ground by the window and smacked Zhang Lingshen in the face.
“If you beat him he might run away!”
Zhang Lingzhen’s wife hurriedly followed to stop him.
The front yard was in a mess.
Zhang Lingshen held his bookcase and staggered, accidentally dropping it to the ground and scattering all the scrolls he had.
Zhao Zhan squatted down, picked up one, and opened it to take a look.
The picture on it looked familiar.
“Isn’t this…”
Fang Tianliu came forward, “Why does she look a little like your wife?”
Fang Tianliu had some ability to recognize people.
Zhao Zhan pulled Zhang Lingshen out and pointed at the painting with an unsightly expression. “Why did you have a painting of Jiaojiao when she was young?”
The portrait on the scroll looked to be around three years old.
Zhang Lingshen narrowed his eyes and sized it up for a moment. “Oh, that? Don’t you know?”
Zhao Zhan was dumbfounded by his question.
“Know what?”
“Forget it then. It’s been too long anyway, I can’t remember clearly.”
He had an indifferent expression.
Zhao Zhan felt suffocated.
Zhang Lingzhen reacted very quickly.
“The Jiaojiao you just mentioned, could it be your wife?”
Zhao Zhan nodded. “That’s right.”
“You already have a wife?” Zhang Lingzhen’s wife walked up to Zhao Zhan and looked at him lovingly. “How have you been all these years? What’s she like?”
“Hubby,” Zhang Lingzhen’s wife pushed him, “Zhao Zhan has a lot of grievances in his heart. Please take Lingshen in and ask him what’s been going on with his life. I’m going to talk to Zhao Zhan for a while.”
Zhang Lingshen’s body was weak.
Zhang Lingzhen grabbed his robe and brought him back to his room in a huff.
“Zhao Zhan…” Zhang Lingzhen’s wife’s eyes were filled with heartache. “Can you tell me how you’ve been living all these years? And how did you know about your background?”
The Zhang family had no known descendants.
Zhao Zhan was the only descendant of the Zhang family.
If it wasn’t for Zhao Zhan, Zhang Lingzhen’s wife would have already taken the Zhang family’s assets to help the orphans in the city.
However, now that Zhao Zhan had appeared, the Zhang family’s wealth would be left to Zhao Zhan to decide.
Zhao Zhan wasn’t used to her intimacy.
Ever since his parents passed away, the only warmth he had was from his lover.
Although he had a cold personality, he didn’t know how to respond to this kind of intimacy.
Fang Tianliu saw this and sneaked back to the backyard.
“Zhao Zhan…” Zhang Lingzhen’s wife’s eyes turned red, “Did you have a difficult life?”
Her mind was full of thoughts.
Perhaps it was because this child had a difficult life, the thought of his life made her feel sad and regretful.
“No.” Zhao Zhan’s lips tightened. With a few words, he recounted his past.
“I can tell.” Grandma Zhang had been crying for a while, and now her expression had eased a little. “That you love your wife very much.”
“It’s a pity that Jiaojiao didn’t come with you this time. I would have loved to see her. She must be a good wife if you love her this much.”
Zhao Zhan’s expression softened when she praised Yue Jiaojiao, the coldness in his eyes instantly softened. “Jiaojiao is the best woman in the world.”
“Okay, okay, okay.” Zhang Lingzhen’s wife covered her mouth with her hand. “When you go back, I’ll prepare a big gift for you. You can bring it back to her. Take it as a meeting gift from me as her aunt.”
Zhao Zhan was just about to decline when Zhang Lingzhen stomped out of the room in a huff.
Zhang Lingzhen’s wife stood up in surprise. “Where is your brother?”
Zhang Lingzhen didn’t sound too happy.
“He said he was too tired from the journey and wants to sleep now.”
This brother of his seemed to be born with no intention of being bothered by the trifles of life.
“Then?”
Zhang Lingzhen glanced at Zhao Zhan, flicked his sleeve, and sighed. “He found me annoying, so he told me everything.”
Zhao Zhan subconsciously looked at him.
“It’s a long story.” Zhang Lingzhen motioned for them to sit in the side hall, then called for a servant to bring some tea and snacks.
“Zhao Zhan really is his son.
“As for Zhao Zhan’s mother, he told me that he doesn’t know where his wife is now.
“Back then, when he was studying abroad, he did not have any money on him. He starved to death in a small town in Yang City. The person who saved him was Zhao Zhan’s mother.
“Later on, because that woman was pregnant, he restrained his temper for a period of time.
“But it’s not like you don’t know about his naturally dissolute personality. After reining himself in for a while, he went out to study and sell paintings everywhere.”
Zhang Lingzhen’s brows were furrowed into a knot.
“The child wasn’t born yet, so he didn’t dare to disappear as soon as he left.
“But because that woman met such a disappointing thing like him, she became depressed. The child had just turned one year old and she took the opportunity when he came home to leave both of them.”
Zhao Zhan’s hands clenched his thighs.
That tiny bit of admiration he had for Zhang Lingshen had completely disappeared after he found out the truth.
He didn’t blame his birth mother, for it was his misfortune to have met a man like Zhang Lingshen.
Perhaps he, Zhao Zhan, was fated to have such a father. He was born without the love of his parents.
Zhang Lingzhen’s wife’s tears had long since fallen like rain. “What happened after that?”
“After that, he had no choice but to bring Zhao Zhan out with him. However, he was still a child, and his body was not as healthy as an adult’s.
“So Zhao Zhan was often sick when he was young. When he was four years old, he had a high fever in the winter.
“Later, the Zhao family couldn’t stand it anymore, so they took Zhao Zhan in and raised him by her side. Lingzhen didn’t even stop them. After that, they told the public that Zhao Zhan was their kid.”
Zhang Lingzhen’s wife was furious. “That is sinful!” Zhang Lingzhen’s wife took some time to calm down. “I’m sorry that slipped out.” Zhang Lingzhen’s wife was usually very well-mannered, but today, she had to spit it out. “Your brother only clearly knows how to love himself! Those who don’t know would think that he went to travel and even made a name for himself. If it wasn’t for Mother missing him all day, I would have-!”
“Forget it!” How could Zhang Lingzhen not be angry? “His personality is hard to change, but Zhao Zhan…”