“I’m not referring to your wife’s sister, Fang Liyin. I’m referring to your wife, Fang Lilan…” The reporter was about to continue when Fang Xinxin quickly spoke up. “I’m sorry. We will not answer any questions relating to this topic.”
Long Xuan, however, grew nervous. “This reporter, what did you say happened to my wife, Lilan?”
When the reporters heard Fang Xinxin’s words, they immediately understood that the Long family was concealing Fang Lilan’s death from Long Xuan. They fell silent and did not respond.
“My apologies, everyone.” Long Jingyuan rushed to speak up. “Today’s press conference will end right now.”
Fang Xinxin quickly pushed Long Xuan’s wheelchair out of the venue.
Long Jingyuan also rushed to follow.
The three of them headed to the thirtieth storey of the Long Group’s building and entered the break room inside the director’s office.
The break room connected to the office was an apartment with a room and a living room.
Long Xuan sat on his wheelchair and stared past the ceiling-to-floor windows to take in the view of the city. “Both of you already knew that Lilan is dead, didn’t you?”
His tone was certain.
“Dad…” Fang Xinxin approached his side. “We didn’t mean to hide this from you. Your body was still recovering and we were afraid that you wouldn’t be able to take the news.”
These words were akin to a confirmation of Fang Lilan’s death.
Long Xuan appeared to have aged by ten years in an instant. His eyes began to tear up. “Lilan is dead. She is really dead…”
Despair and misery filled his gaze. His whole being appeared to have been swallowed by misery.
“Dad.” Fang Xinxin knelt down by his feet and leaned against his legs. “Mom really isn’t around anymore. So, you have to live well. I’ve already lost my mother. I can’t lose you, too!”
Long Xuan’s gaze turned guilty. “All these years, Dad has never taken good care of you.”
He took in his daughter’s heartbroken expression with a loving gaze. Hope seemed to be growing in his withered heart. “Xinxin, don’t worry. No matter how heartbroken I am, I don’t wish to leave you.”
He spoke with some difficulty. “My daughter, did you know? In fact, over the years of Fang Liyin pretending to be your mother, I had also noticed things amiss here and there. However, I chose to neglect them. At times, I even lied to myself that she was Lilan. That was because I had the feeling that your mom was no longer around. Furthermore, Fang Liyin truly knew some things that were meant to be kept between your mother and I. I regret that I didn’t look into this sooner.”
“What kind of a bastard am I? I actually couldn’t tell that my own wife had been replaced.” His gaze shifted to his father. “Father, this son of yours has too many flaws. Over the past twenty years, I’ve actually visited you many times. I’ve also seen the poster you published in the newspapers to look for me. I immediately headed to the Long home when I saw it. However, you weren’t at home at the time. My second brother, Long Guo, was home and he told me to never return as he feared it would interfere with his succession rights. In order to not compete with him, I only dared to look at you from afar.”
Long Jingyuan was deeply moved. “Xuan Er, I never knew Guo Dong did such a thing while he was alive. You’re not unfilial. I was the one who raised your second brother poorly.”
“Lilan was a good woman.” Long Xuan sighed. “Xinxin told me that you have some misunderstandings about Lilan’s character and believed she was after the Long family’s inheritance. In fact, Lilan truly did not care about my identity as the Long family’s third son when she was alive. After I left the Long family, her feelings for me did not waver. At the time, she said that it was fine to leave the Long family’s inheritance to my second brother if he wished to have it all. She only mentioned that I needed to remind my brother to take good care of you. After all, both Lilan and I were unable to care for you.”