Tan Linyuan returned to Jiangcheng again because of his father, Tan Siqi.
Even though Tan Linyuan had repeatedly told the doctor not to let Tan Jinxian know about the downfall of the Tan family, someone accidentally let it slip.
It was said that upon hearing the news, Tan Siqi hyperventilated on the spot and fainted from anger. He was almost unable to be rescued.
After regaining consciousness, he launched a barrage of scolding at Tan Linyuan.
Moreover, he threw a tantrum in the hospital and demanded that Tan Linyuan be brought back so that he could see him.
The director of the mental hospital was at his wits' end and had to tactfully ask Tan Linyuan if he had the time to visit the hospital to see his father.
According to Tan Linyuan's usual style, he wouldn't go back.
After all, it had nothing to do with him.
When Nan Yu heard about this, she had a different opinion.
"I think you should go back and see him."
Tan Linyuan said coldly, "Yu Yu, you know I've always been indifferent to family affection."
Nan Yu nodded. Of course, she understood him.
"But don't you want to clear your name for your younger self?"
No one in the entire Tan family was certain that he was of the Tan family's bloodline.
Back then, Tan Linyuan hadn't told anyone about the paternity test.
Especially his father, because he thought his father didn't deserve to know.
A man who had doubted his wife and never believed in his own son, why should he prove the truth to him?
Seeing that he was determined to refuse, Nan Yu didn't try to persuade him anymore.
Then the director called Tan Linyuan again.
"Mr. Tan, we did a physical examination on Mr. Tan yesterday, and it was found that he is now in the late stage of lung cancer."
The implication was still to persuade him to go back and see his father.
Maybe it would be their last meeting.
...
Nan Yu went back with Tan Linyuan. When they arrived at the hospital gate, Tan Linyuan told her to wait.
There was worry in Nan Yu's eyes. "Don't you want me to go with you?"
"No." Tan Linyuan pursed his lips. "I want to talk to him alone."
The matter between father and son should be resolved between them.
As soon as he reached the door of the ward, he heard the sound of things being thrown inside.
It was obvious that Tan Siqi's emotions had been more out of control than before during this period.
Tan Linyuan remained expressionless and pushed the door open.
Sure enough, the room was in a complete mess, with hardly any place to step.
The old man on the bed was coughing and gasping for breath. His eyes had lost their luster and were now just yellow and cloudy.
Tan Linyuan stared coldly, remaining silent all the while.
"Call... call that brute Tan Linyuan back!" Tan Siqi's eyes were dim, and he had no idea who had come in.
He thought the person in the room was a nurse from the hospital. His voice was hoarse, but he was still persistent. "Tan Linyuan! I want to see Tan Linyuan!"
After shouting, there was another fit of violent coughing.
It was obvious that he was being tortured by the illness, and he was at his last gasp.
Tan Linyuan stood there for a while before saying calmly, "Dad, stop shouting. I'm here."
Hearing his voice, Tan Siqi trembled and slowly raised his head. It took him a long time for his eyes to focus. "You... You still have the nerve to come back!"
Tan Linyuan remained unmoved. "Didn't you want to see me?"
"You... You mad dog!" Tan Siqi wanted to pick up something to throw at him, but there was nothing left on the bedside table.
He had to retract his hand. The arm that was exposed looked like a dry and blackened branch.
"You're still scolding as nastily as ever." Tan Linyuan said expressionlessly.
Tan Siqi was breathing with difficulty, and his words were hardly distinguishable. "You ruined the Tan family. You're really a bastard..."
"You're just a... mole!" His bony finger pointed straight at Tan Linyuan, his eyes full of hatred.
These harsh words had always haunted every moment of Tan Linyuan's life.
When he was young, when he became an adult, and when he was in his prime.
"I'm surprised that you still have the strength to scold me even when you're at your last breath." Tan Linyuan sneered. "It seems that you're really hoping that I'm the illegitimate son of Master Wen Jing."
"However, I'm afraid I'll disappoint you."
Tan Siqi didn't know what he was talking about.
Tan Linyuan took out a paternity test that he always carried with him and walked over to put it on Tan Siqi's bed.
"You really don't want me to be your son." He paused, his voice unchanged. "I'm sorry to say that the blood flowing in my body has always been yours."
Tan Siqi seemed to be stunned for a moment. His breathing became rapid, and he lowered his head to look at the words on the paper.
His eyes were dim, and it was very hard for him to make out the words.
After reading it word by word, he began to breathe heavily again. "You... You..."
"You've called me a brute for most of my life. Now that you know this brute is your own flesh and blood, how do you feel?"
Tan Siqi's breathing became more and more rapid, and his chest rose and fell more and more frequently.
Tan Linyuan said calmly, "I don't need your guilt, nor do I need any empty words. But I want to tell you that you've misunderstood mother for thirty years."
"She only had friendship for Lin Jing'an, not love." His tone was cold. "She only loved one person."
"And the man she loved suspected her loyalty until the day she died."
In the ward, the old man's coughing stopped.
Tan Linyuan looked up at the old man on the bed who had lost all his strength. His heart was very calm.
Actually, he had known for a long time.
The night before Master Wen Jing passed away, he had been called to his meditation room.
The master looked worried. When he saw Tan Linyuan, there was only regret and sadness in his eyes.
That night, the master said that Tan Linyuan had grown up. Some things didn't need to be mentioned, but he should know.
So, Tan Linyuan finally learned about the love and hatred of his parents' generation.
Master Wen Jing said that your mother loved this man. Even if you feel wronged, that was your mother's choice.
He is your father.
"Over the years, after you were hospitalized, I've always been thinking about when would be the right time to tell you." Tan Linyuan said calmly. "But I think no matter when, you would never believe mother."
Tan Siqi gasped for breath. "How could I not believe..."
"If you really believed, you would never have shown me a good face for a single day."
The old man stared at Tan Linyuan. After a long time, he let out a breath.
It was a long breath, as if he had sighed out half his life.
"Are you telling me this now to clear your own name or..."
Tan Linyuan was silent for a long time before saying, "I hope that when you meet mother again, you won't say bad things to her."
This was the whole reason why he finally decided to tell him the truth.
---
Three days later, Tan Linyuan received a notice from the hospital that Tan Siqi had passed away at three o'clock in the morning.
That night, the first autumn rain of Jiangcheng fell.