novelThe Secret About the Past (160)
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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
He remained silent. The day that he found out that she had died, he left home to live in that house and had never once asked for news about her.
If that child that looked so much like she did had not appeared, he would probably have died by himself in that house.
The child had taken the risk to go there herself to search for her family, giving him a huge source of strength.
To his knowledge, when Shi Qingzhou died, she did not have a child at all.
There was only one possibility — her death back then had been faked. She did not actually die and was possibly still alive.
"Where is Big Brother?"
"He's working. If you're going to find him, both of you brothers can have dinner together in the evening."
"Umm."
Shi Xiaoyu left after sitting for a while and especially made coffee to serve into Tuoba Rui's office.
"I just came over from Ah Shuo's place."
"What did you tell him?"
"I asked him if he wanted to see Mother and give Father a proper burial place. He refused. What a stubborn person, I think he's still not over it."
Shi Xiaoyu continued as she observed his expression, "He said he'll live here for some time and then leave this place to live his own life."
"Let him be then." Tuoba Rui displayed an indifferent attitude.
"Although you both have been living in the same place for so long, you've rarely ever seen each other. I'll make arrangements with the kitchen, why don't the two of you have dinner together in the evening?"
Tuoba Rui nodded."Umm. As long as he's willing to."
Shi Xiaoyu placed the coffee in front of him and tactfully stopped there without saying anything further. With that, she left.
The moment the door was closed shut, the pen grasped in Tuoba Rui's hands froze. He stared at the table, appearing to be deep in thought.
For the rest of the time, he seemed out of sorts. It appeared like he had gone extremely deep into his memories of the past.
Those memories that were originally very distant were still fresh when he recalled them.
That woman who wore a striking red dress always had that comfortable smile on her face.
He still remembered the first time he met her.
It was that moment that had made his gaze fix on her.
That petite figure and fluttering red dress, which had been raised by the wind, as well as her long hair, which overflowed onto her shoulders...
He had wondered who she was, only to find out later that she was not only the mentor of the priest but also his younger brother's girlfriend.
Tuoba Rui could still remember the moment when he found out she was his brother's girlfriend. His heart was wrenched tightly.
He had not seen such a slender woman with an aura like hers. It was the first time he had been that desperate to understand someone.
Through their interaction that had followed, he came to grow increasingly fond of her.
It was to the extent that things could have gone out of hand.
However, he had always abided by the rules his parents had set and knew clearly that there were some things he could not just simply go against.
Unexpectedly, while he did not go against those rules, his younger brother had done so.
In order to marry her, he did not hesitate on going all out against his parents. The result was as can be imagined.
She was secretly brought before a church altar to be burned to death, and he risked everything to join hands with her master to save her.
He had thought that everything would change for the better and, when he had taken over the reins, that she would be able to live openly and aboveboard.
However, she'd escaped. Through news that followed, it was known that she had been caught and killed on the spot.
The last sight he had of her was an image of her in a blood-stained red dress.
That scene had been deeply engraved on his mind for a very long time.
When Tuoba Rui came out of his trance, his eyes were glistening with tears as he gazed at some corner in a daze.
He continued to stay in a listless state, and time passed quickly like that.
Evening came.
The two brothers finally sat together on the same dining table.
Shi Xiaoyu had wanted to join them, but Tuoba Rui used his eyes to signal her against it. Thinking that they could have some things they wanted to talk about in private, she obediently left.
Tuoba Shuo said directly, "I'll be living here only for some time, then I will leave."
"Umm. You can do as you like." Tuoba Rui observed him seriously."You're still so skinny and energetic."
"I'm still the same old person. But I'm not as patient as you are. You listened to our parents, so you're the positive example. Meanwhile, I went against them, so I became the bad example." His tone was self-mocking."But so what?"
"All for the sake of Qingzhou. Is it worth it?"
"Of course it's worth it, " he responded bluntly as he watched his brother seated opposite him."Don't think I didn't know, you liked her too. Although you never said it."
Tuoba Rui's hand, which held his chopsticks, froze for a moment, and he did not deny it either."We can only be more compliant so that we won't suffer."
"Yes, Brother's very happy now and leading a smooth-sailing life. You have three children and have been the President for so many years. You have everything one could possibly want."
Tuoba Rui broke into a bitter smile."I'm just like you, we both lack one thing."
"How could you possibly be like me?"
"We're the same. Let's not talk about the past anymore. You didn't appear when Father died, I know you haven't forgiven him. But the dead are gone, and Mother is getting on in years too. You should console her, go and see her."
Tuoba Shuo did not answer. His eyes were bent fixedly before him, and his attitude was made quite clear.
Seeing him like that, Tuoba Rui could not say anything as well. After a few decades, the two brothers finally ate a meal together.
After the meal, Tuoba Shuo got up and muttered, "I'll go and see her."
Tuoba Rui nodded."Go, she'll be very happy."
Tuoba Shuo swiftly left the place and headed toward his mother's place.
In the blink of an eye, he arrived at her door.
The guard at the door was rather astonished to see that it was him and hurriedly welcomed him inside.
Old Madam Tuoba was getting ready to rest, but hearing footsteps approaching, she glanced up.
With her eyes full of longing for her son, she abruptly stood up, her hands trembling."Is it Ah Shuo?"
"It's me."
Old Madam Tuoba let out a scream of agitation and instantly hurried toward him, throwing herself on him as she burst into loud wails.
"You're finally willing to see me! Ah Shuo, Mother has let you down!"
Tuoba Shuo's eyes reddened, but he did not move or answer.
After the Old Madam was finally done crying, she pulled him to the bed to sit down, saying bitterly to him in tears, "Before your father died, he was still angry with you. But while he was angry, he was full of regret at the same time. Mother is regretful as well. I mean, this child, how can you be so stubborn? Aren't you torturing yourself and hurting your father's heart and mine as well?"
"Back then, when the two of you put my heart in misery, wasn't I in despair too?"
Old Madam Tuoba responded, "If I had known, I would've agreed to the two of you being together. Things wouldn't have landed in this state as well. But now, it's too late to say anything."
"Mother, don't talk about these things already." Every time Tuoba Shuo recalled those past memories, it was like a scar was being reopened, leaving a bloody mess.
Old Madam Tuoba's eyes reddened."Alright, let's not talk about it..."
The mother and son sat together and talked about a lot of things. Most of the time, it was Old Madam Tuoba talking while Tuoba Shuo did the listening.
Having not seen his own mother for a long time, he found that her beautiful looks had ultimately faded away with the passing of time, turning her into an old, gray-haired lady.
Tuoba Shuo could only sigh deeply in his heart at the sight of his mother.
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