I retracted my gaze and immediately said to them, "Take care of things for a moment, I'll be right back."

Pei Xianglong quickly looked up at me and said, "I have to leave soon, my client is still waiting."

"Just outside, I'll be right there," I said anxiously.

I immediately went outside, even jogging a little, afraid that Lin Hai would leave. But as soon as I got out, I saw him.

He looked restless, pacing back and forth in the corridor. I went straight up to him, and before I could say anything, he said, "Don't get angry, it was definitely my fault today."

I changed my usual attitude and just looked at him calmly. He probably knew he had caused trouble, so he looked a little panicked. After all, this was a matter of life and death. But at this moment, Lin Hai even made me feel a little sorry for him, because he didn't want me to call Lao Wang "Dad," but his impulsive behavior had cost me my unborn child.

I pointed to the chair next to us and said, "Sit down."

I sat down first. To be honest, I still didn't want to reconcile with him in my heart, but I had listened to what Pei Xianglong and Pei Shi Yu had said, and I understood their good intentions. If I argued with him in front of them again, then I would be the one failing in my duty. Pei Shi Yu would probably lose patience with me, and I didn't want to lose the tolerance a man should have for the sake of my relationship with Lin Hai.

"A'Che, I was impulsive today, because I've always been wary of Lao Wang, and I heard those words again this morning, and I just lost my temper. And your mother, at least she should consider my feelings, right?"

I listened patiently to him, and then said calmly, "In the past, it was your fault. You don't reflect on yourself, but you still dwell on these things. Besides, whether I call Lao Wang 'Dad' or not is my own decision. Compared to you, he's more approachable and has always been good to me. Looking at you, if Lin Yang hadn't died, your focus wouldn't be on me. Or, if the person I was with wasn't Pei Shi Yu, would you care so much?"

After speaking, I looked at Lin Hai and raised the corners of my mouth slightly. I don't think I can explain the situation between us in a few words, but at least I want to ease the current atmosphere, which will help improve his view of my mother and Lao Wang.

At this time, Lin Hai also changed his usual appearance and listened very seriously. After a long while, he finally said, "I did make some mistakes when I was younger, but your mother is the same. She married Lao Wang not long after divorcing me, which makes me suspect that they were already together back then, and that's what makes me the most angry..."

I immediately interrupted him, "I'm not in a position to comment on what happened between you in the past, but there's something wrong with your thinking. You cheated first and brought Lin Yang's mother back to the village. You didn't behave yourself, and you can't stand the fact that my mother is doing well. You're getting old now, and you still care about this. What reason do you have to talk about them? My mother isn't as narrow-minded as you think. You're the one who's narrow-minded. You even used me to get back at her when I was a kid, otherwise my relationship with you wouldn't be like this now."

This was the first time I had said these words to him. Maybe I had hit the nail on the head, or maybe he realized the problem himself, so he didn't refute me. I continued, "Your impulsiveness today makes me very angry. You murdered my child with Pei Shi Yu. If you've become unbalanced because you lost Lin Yang, then I feel the same way today, but I won't blame others like you did. From today on, I won't argue with you anymore. If you need anything in the future, just call me. Let's start improving our relationship from this moment on."

Lin Hai raised his head and looked at me in a daze, and then, for some reason, I added, "This is also what Pei Shi Yu and her father asked me to do."

Lin Hai suddenly stood up, patted his pockets, as if he wanted to smoke, and then looked at the hospital environment and gave up the action of taking out a cigarette. After sitting back in the chair, he said very sincerely, "I actually came here today to tell you something..."

"Speak, you can say anything now."

"Lin Yang's mother has a terminal illness. The doctor said she has at most half a year to live. I've worked hard for so many years and I've achieved something. I still have a stone company in the suburbs. I don't have the energy to manage it anymore. I'll hand over all the future business and operations to you. There are also several properties, and after Lin Yang's mother passes away, I'll transfer them all to your name. As for me, I'll live in the nursing home with your grandfather. That's my purpose for coming here today."

This was quite unexpected. My first feeling was that the man in front of me was old, at least in terms of his mentality. He had lost his motivation. It had only been a few months since the end of last year and the beginning of this year, but so many things had happened to him. It was as if God had taken away all the people and things he loved.

I didn't answer him. Taking over his stone company would only be a responsibility and a burden to me. Without a certain amount of energy invested, it would be difficult to manage well, and I wasn't prepared at all.

While I was silent, I suddenly remembered what Pei Shi Yu had said to me yesterday, that my roots were in the Lin family, implying that I should prop it up. If his wife was gone, would that mean that the atmosphere of the Lin family would change? I was the rightful descendant of the Lin family, and the only one left.

"We'll talk about this later. I plan to work at Pei Shi Yu's company. I've already talked to her father about it. Besides, your wife is still alive. Don't take any rash actions for now. Let her spend her last days in peace."

"That's what I think too, but there's no one to manage the stone company now. Since I had a falling out with the Pei family, business hasn't been very good. After I hand it over to you, you can manage it well through cooperation with the Pei family."

I understood why Lin Hai had always tried to curry favor with Pei Xianglong, and I suddenly understood his actions. I thought for a while and said, "You continue to run it now, and I'll bring business to you. From now on, let's forget about the past grievances. You're still young, you should pull yourself together. The future is still long. And stop being jealous of my mother. It's her blessing that she found a man like Lao Wang. With me here, you'll meet each other in the future. Wouldn't it be better if everyone was polite?"

After I finished speaking, Lin Hai fell silent instead. Perhaps my sudden change of attitude was hard to digest. After a while, he said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. Go ahead and get busy now, I'll go back first."

I didn't get up, but watched him leave. Looking at his back, I had an indescribable feeling. From this moment on, I had to convince myself not to dwell on his past actions. Letting go of my prejudices was the decision I had to make now, and it was also the task that Pei Shi Yu had given me.