"If both of you leave me, I don’t want to live either. You siblings are so heartless. Do you want to kill me, the old woman, is that it?!"
"Mom!" Zhou Xi knelt down again, crying so hard he couldn’t speak.
Seeing him soften, the old woman continued:
"Xizi, let go of the hate. Let’s just live our own lives. If you don’t listen to your mother, you’re forcing me to death. Promise me, let them go and never think of revenge again, will you?"
"Wuu... Mom, I promise you, I’ll agree to everything," Zhou Xi finally gave in.
The old woman smiled with relief. She walked in front of Lin Xinlan and Qiao Yiyang, suddenly knelt before them, and pleaded:
"Both of you, can I ask you for a favor? Please, for a mother who is truly sorry, and seeing that Xizi is remorseful for his past wrongs, could you not hold his mistakes against him?
If you can’t hold back your anger, you can arrest me and put me in jail instead. I’ll serve his time!
I’ve already lost one daughter; I cannot simply watch another son’s future get destroyed. I beg you, please, can you forgive him?"
"Mom, don’t do this. I did wrong, and I should face the consequences. Mom, please stand up, don’t kneel," Zhou Xi came over to pull her up.
The boy waiting outside heard their voices and said anxiously, "Brother, I’m young, let me serve the sentence! You cannot go to jail; the family still needs you, and your younger brothers and sisters need you to support them. Let me do it!"
"Shut your mouth. You’re not allowed in here, did you hear? Now go back. I’ve got this handled.
The kidnapping was my idea. Do you think the police will let it go if you take my place? Listen to me and leave immediately."
"I won’t leave, brother. I was part of the kidnapping too, just let me take the fall alone..."
"Aren’t you listening to me anymore?! Go back!" Zhou Xi shouted, and the boy outside immediately fell silent.
The old woman took Zhou Xi’s hand and said, "Xizi, you kneel down too, bow to them and apologize. They are good people. Please beg them to forgive you."
Zhou Xi looked at Lin Xinlan and the others, his lips pressed tightly together. He said nothing and would not kneel.
Though he had agreed to let them go, he didn’t want to apologize. He still harbored some resentment against them.
After watching for so long, it was time for Lin Xinlan to say something.
She smiled gently at the old woman and said softly, "Auntie, you are a good mother. It’s Xizi’s fortune to have you as his mother. I understand how a mother feels; every mother hopes her child will not be hurt. So I promise you, I won’t hold him accountable."
"Really?" The old woman was overjoyed and repeatedly thanked her.
Lin Xinlan turned to Qiao Yiyang, who also smiled, "I won’t hold him accountable either. But could he untie us first?"
"Of course! Xizi, quickly untie them. You need to thank them properly; it’s your good fortune they can forgive you."
Zhou Xi untied them, feeling very ashamed, and still couldn’t help but lower his head and apologize to them.
Qiao Yiyang rubbed his arm where he had been hurt and grinned, "Just remember not to do anything this dumb in the future. You are still young; there is a long road ahead of you. Don’t ruin it for yourself, you hear?"
"I understand, thank you... and I’m sorry I hurt you. Big brother, let me take you to the hospital. I’m really sorry; I will definitely compensate you."