Zhou Bingwen watched the old woman's terrified expression, his smile filled with an unbridled joy.
"What, are you only scared now that I've revealed the secret in your heart? Since you've already abandoned me, why have you been pretending to treat me like a son all these years? Though I was born of you, in your eyes, I have always been merely a substitute. If Zhou Nianqing hadn't died, you wouldn't have even noticed me, and Zhou Nianqing would have been your only. Every year, I tried to convince myself that even tigers don't eat their cubs, but seeing your detestable faces makes me sick!"
Zhou Bingwen's words were laden with intense emotion.
"No... no..." The old woman's face contorted in pain, tears blurring her eyes. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
The old woman's response stunned everyone present, their gazes filled with confusion.
"Grandmother, what exactly happened back then?" Zhou Jinbai asked the old woman. While he knew of many secrets she had kept over the years, this particular one was entirely new to him.
Zhou Bingwen remained silent, his gaze fixed mockingly on the elder before him. This was his mother, and he wanted her to confess the most brutal truth herself. It was her punishment, a burden he would carry forever.
Everyone awaited the old woman's answer. She knew that concealing it further was futile. Finally, composing herself, she spoke in a voice heavy with sorrow, "Back then, Bingwen and Nianqing were both kidnapped by criminals. They gave us a choice: save one. The Dongfang family chose Bingwen, for he was their eldest grandson. But in the end, we rescued Nianqing..."
After speaking, the old woman explained further, "I thought Nianqing was younger, so I'd rescue him first and then go for Bingwen. I truly... I truly don't know what to say. I wished I could have died in their place, but I could only choose one... just one! I am a mother, and I know what happens to the one left behind, but I truly had no choice..."
Tears streamed down the old woman's face. The others fell silent, absorbing her words. In many families, the younger child receives more attention, while the elder is destined to be the sacrifice.
Zhou Jinbai, not one for sentimentality, was still deeply shocked. Even though he no longer had siblings, the imagined despair of being abandoned by loved ones was unbearable. Yet, he couldn't fault his grandmother; he knew he wouldn't have handled it any better in her position. To save one meant the inevitable sacrifice of the other.
"You still don't know where you went wrong. For years, I've waited for an explanation, for the truth of that day, but you chose to let it fester in your heart rather than tell me. You even used your motherly status to condemn me. Hahahaha, how ridiculous." Zhou Bingwen's laughter was piercing, yet the old woman still tried to explain.
"I didn't think that much at the time. I just thought Nianqing was young. I am truly sorry to you, Bingwen, but I have been atoning all these years." The old woman felt that only her own suicide could truly express her sincerity. Little did she know, Zhou Bingwen had been waiting for her apology all this time. But in the end, from initial hope to ultimate despair, Zhou Bingwen received no explanation or apology from the old woman, leading him to his current state.
"The events of that year were a conflict between your generation, but what about our deceased relatives in the Dongfang family these past few days? Do you owe them nothing?" Zhou Jinbai, though sympathetic to Zhou Bingwen's plight, did not see it as justification for his indiscriminate killing. "If you felt someone stole what was yours, why didn't you fight for it instead of resorting to such despicable means? The title of Dongfang Junze is not yours simply because you are the eldest son. As a member of the Dongfang family, you know better than anyone how that title was earned! I don't deny your capabilities, but my father was more capable than you. If you truly believed he took everything from you, why didn't you openly compete with him? Why accept what was given to you, as if charity were more precious?"
Zhou Jinbai's words jolted the others awake from Zhou Bingwen's narrative. While Zhou Bingwen had painted a tragic picture of himself, Zhou Jinbai's reasoning seemed more sound. Zhou Bingwen had been told from childhood that the title of Dongfang Junze was his. When the Dongfang family bestowed it upon Zhou Nianqing, Zhou Bingwen felt his own brother had stolen it. Regarding his romantic troubles, love is a matter of mutual affection. If Meng Chuzheng didn't love Zhou Bingwen, she wouldn't have been with him even if he'd risked his life. Yet, Zhou Bingwen believed Zhou Nianqing had used his identity to court Meng Chuzheng successfully, a conclusion that seemed far-fetched. As for the kidnapping, the old woman's actions were wrong, but Zhou Bingwen used it as an excuse to slaughter his own family. This was clearly a strained justification.
Zhou Bingwen stared at Zhou Jinbai, a mix of resentment churning within him, yet he found himself speechless. "If you believe the world is unfair, then become strong and change its laws. If you believe this family is unfair, then win everyone's support and become its leader! Instead of lamenting your fate here. I rarely meddle in family affairs, entrusting you with management precisely because I knew you harbored resentment over my father's position. I had no desire for the Dongfang family's wealth, hoping to show your strength to everyone, proving you were the most suitable to be the patriarch! But you have disappointed me! The position you've always pursued, haven't you held it since childhood?"
Zhou Jinbai's words rendered Zhou Bingwen stunned. Though not the true Dongfang Junze, he had been living the life of one. "But all these years, you've only resented the Dongfang family; you never wished for its betterment. Look at the companies I entrusted to you, the core industries of the Dongfang family. What became of them? They were riddled with problems, problems you tacitly allowed!" Each of Zhou Jinbai's words was a dagger piercing Zhou Bingwen's chest. "You were like this twenty years ago, and you are like this now. Heaven has given you many chances, but you've never recognized your shortcomings. You always believed yourself superior, and even in failure, you blamed others for stealing what was yours. This is why you've never succeeded; you always make excuses for yourself, excuses for failure!"
Zhou Jinbai's final words ignited Zhou Bingwen's emotions. "No, I'm not! I didn't! You stole what was mine! It was all of you! I did nothing wrong, it's all your fault!" A searing pain shot through Zhou Bingwen's head. He clutched his temples, appearing like a madman. He began to mutter to himself, "Who made my brother so outstanding? How could I surpass him? I studied diligently from childhood, wanting to be a role model for everyone, but my brother effortlessly grasped knowledge that took me all-nighters to learn. He remembered textbook material after a single read. I envied him! I feared he would snatch the title of Dongfang Junze, I was truly afraid..."
"Why is it that everything I desired, my brother obtained so easily? Be it family, friendship, or love! I was merely a humble beggar, while my brother stood before me like a king. Even things he didn't want were brought to him!" Zhou Bingwen's face contorted with malice. "So I killed Zhou Nianqing. Only when Zhou Nianqing died could everything return to its rightful place. Hahaha, Zhou Nianqing had to die... even though he begged me not to, I killed him. Watching him suffer brought me such joy."
Meng Chuzheng approached Zhou Jinbai and whispered, "Don't you think Zhou Bingwen seems a bit unstable?" Zhou Jinbai lowered his gaze. "He's trapped in his own delusion; how could he be stable?" He then addressed his subordinate, "Take him away and administer the family's punishment." With that, Zhou Jinbai turned and left without looking back. For him, Zhou Bingwen's scheme was insufficient to undo his years of work within the Dongfang family. Moreover, being the Dongfang Junze was never an easy role. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. Zhou Jinbai couldn't understand why so many desired such a position.
The babbling, disoriented Zhou Bingwen was finally led away. The old woman, however, did not follow Zhou Jinbai. Instead, she walked towards Zhou Bingwen. As she approached, the subordinates halted. They still restrained Zhou Bingwen, but despite his injuries, the elderly woman was no match for him. If Zhou Bingwen harbored any malicious intent, the old woman would be in grave danger.
"Bingwen..." The old woman's voice was choked, as if something were stuck in her throat, impossible to swallow or expel. Zhou Bingwen ignored her, continuing to mutter or laugh maniacally. Finally, tears streaming down her face, the old woman knelt before Zhou Bingwen in front of everyone. At that moment, Zhou Bingwen abruptly looked up, his eyes wide with surprise.
"I'm sorry, Mother didn't choose to save you back then. No matter what excuses I used to deceive others, as you said, I could never deceive myself. I haven't made many mistakes in my life, but this one has tormented me like a demon. I favored your younger brother, and I've lived with guilt all these years. I'm sorry, Bingwen, I was wrong." The old woman's words stunned everyone present, especially Zhou Bingwen. In that instant, the obsessions that had tormented him seemed to vanish without a trace with his mother's confession. Zhou Bingwen's bloodshot eyes held a childlike confusion and helplessness. He opened his mouth to speak but found himself at a loss for words. Though he had received the apology he craved, it had come too late, far too late. If the apology had come twenty years ago, before any tragedy unfolded, then all would have been well.
"But... what's the point of you saying this now?" Zhou Bingwen's voice was barely a whisper, yet each word struck the old woman's heart like a boulder. "I killed my own brother, I killed so many people in the Dongfang family. Only after my hands were stained with blood do you tell me this? It's too late, far too late." Zhou Bingwen lowered his head as the bodyguards led him away. The old woman finally sobbed uncontrollably.
Seeing this, Zhou Jinbai felt his grandmother had suffered too much. Jia Yanzhen, unable to bear it, said to Zhou Jinbai, "Big Brother, please go and comfort Grandmother. She's already old, and if this incident angers her and harms her health, it won't be worth it." Jia Yanzhen, who had merely come to observe, was now privy to such a dramatic revelation. However, Zhou Bingwen was a pitiable figure with a hateful past. Yet, Zhou Jinbai uttered words that shocked everyone once again.