"Dad."

As soon as Yu Sangwan opened her mouth, tears started falling, and her throat choked up heavily.

Yu Zhiyuan struggled to lift his hand, and understanding his intention, Yu Sangwan helped press his palm against her cheek.

"Wanwan..."

"Dad."

Yu Zhiyuan smiled, but tears, cloudy and thick, rolled from his old and withered eyes. He moved his mouth and said, "Taotao..."

"..." Yu Sangwan was stunned. Although she knew this was her childhood nickname, her father had never called her that all these years! This filled her with panic... It’s said that those who are dying can feel it themselves. Did her father know his time was near?

"Dad." Yu Sangwan cried uncontrollably, her hot tears falling into Yu Zhiyuan’s palm.

Yu Zhiyuan’s expression improved slightly, and he smiled warmly, "Time flies! Before I knew it, Taotao had grown up... turned into such a beautiful young lady..."

At this moment, every word he spoke deepened the pain in Yu Sangwan’s heart.

"Ah..." Yu Zhiyuan sighed, "Why can’t you hate me? I’ve been so cruel to you! Even now, you’re crying for me! I... am not a good father..."

"No..." Yu Sangwan’s face was drenched in tears and she shook her head, "Don’t say that, Dad, Wanwan knows how hard you’ve worked..."

"Ah." Yu Zhiyuan sighed continuously, "If only I had known you were such a forgiving girl, I would’ve treated you a little better knowing you would grieve so much over my death... At least this way, you’d still remember my kindness. It’s too late, too late now..."

Yu Sangwan choked on her words, struck by her father’s words as if they cut her heart.

"Taotao." Yu Zhiyuan glanced toward the window, "Go open the window for me, I’d like some fresh air."

"...Alright." Yu Sangwan nodded, wiped her tears, and went to open the window, "Dad, is that better?"

A gentle breeze blew in, refreshing the air. Yu Zhiyuan replied, "Much better, I’d like to lean back a bit."

"Okay." Yu Sangwan fetched a pillow, helped Yu Zhiyuan sit up against the bed, he looked a bit better than the last few days.

"Taotao." Yu Zhiyuan held his daughter’s hand, "Dad wants to eat the abalone porridge you make."

"..."

After so many days, it was the first time her father had spoken to her and made a request. How could Yu Sangwan say no?

"Okay, this ward has a kitchen, I’ll go buy some ingredients and cook it for you right away..."

Yu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded, "Hurry along!"

Yu Sangwan agreed, carefully checked the tubes on her father’s body, and gave proper instructions to the caregivers before leaving the ward.

Outside the room, Lu Jinxuan arrived with Tang Yueze.

Seeing him, Yu Sangwan was delighted, "Jinxuan, my dad is a bit better, he just talked to me a lot."

Lu Jinxuan tugged at the corner of his mouth, "Is that so? That’s great."

"I won’t talk to you for now, my dad wants to drink the abalone porridge I make, I’m off to the store." Yu Sangwan walked a few steps, then turned back and held out her hand to Lu Jinxuan, "Give me your wallet, I don’t have any money."

Lu Jinxuan held her hand, "Let’s go together."

"..." Yu Sangwan smiled, "Alright."

Walking beside Yu Sangwan, Lu Jinxuan held back the words in his heart. Before coming to the ward, he had already seen the doctor. The doctor told him that Yu Zhiyuan’s condition was, to put it plainly... a final rally, a special sign that life is about to leave.

How could he tell Wanwan that?

In the ward, Yu Zhiyuan stared out of the window.

He had intentionally asked Wanwan to open it. He knew his time was up... he was waiting, waiting for someone to come.

Fu Xianlin, his master! The man he had fiercely devoted his life to!

He had not adequately cared for Fu Xianlin’s daughter, allowing her to endure much hardship... But at least, she was alive.

Fate truly is a wondrous thing.

Taotao had been promised to the eldest son of the Lu Family, Lu Jinxuan, at the age of two. Later, when Fu Xianlin fell from power... it seemed this childhood engagement would be nullified. Who could have thought, eighteen years later, Taotao would meet Lu Jinxuan again?

But was this matter a blessing or a curse?

Yu Zhiyuan couldn’t decide; he needed to ask Fu Xianlin’s opinion.

His time was running out; the final words needed to be said swiftly.

Yet the open window remained still, and Fu Xianlin... was yet to arrive.

Yu Sangwan quickly returned with the materials. She patted her father’s hair like coaxing a child, "Dad, don’t be greedy, I’ll cook for you right now..."

Yu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded, looking past her to ask, "Where is he?"

"..." Yu Sangwan paused; she knew her father didn’t like Lu Jinxuan. So, over the past few days, Lu Jinxuan hadn’t been inside.

"Silly girl." Yu Zhiyuan shook his head, "If not for him, could I be in a ward like this? Could I afford all these caregivers? Dad may be paralyzed, but my mind still works."

"Dad..." Yu Sangwan bit her lower lip; at this time, she did not want to argue with her father.

"Ah..." Yu Zhiyuan sighed, "Go call him in, I have something to say to him."

"Ah?" Yu Sangwan was stunned, she hadn’t expected her father to ask to see Lu Jinxuan.

"Go quickly!" Yu Zhiyuan smiled, "Dad won’t scold him, I promise you..."

As her father said this, Yu Sangwan had no choice but to leave. Lu Jinxuan hadn’t gone, and was with Tang Yueze in the living area outside. He had been spending time here with Yu Sangwan, and at such a crucial moment, he naturally couldn’t leave her side.

"What’s the matter?" Lu Jinxuan asked, frowning as he saw her come out, "Did you forget something?"

He said this as he got up, ready to put on his coat.

"It’s not that." Yu Sangwan shook her head hesitantly, "Jinxuan, my dad... wants to see you."

"..."

Lu Jinxuan and Tang Yueze were both stunned but quickly realized... Yu Zhiyuan’s behavior likely signaled a final farewell.

"Okay." Lu Jinxuan paused for two seconds before decisively agreeing.

Yu Sangwan’s eyes welled up with tears again, and she choked out, "Thank you, Jinxuan."

In fact, they had no engagement; Lu Jinxuan was just her boyfriend, and he had no obligation to meet her father now.

Lu Jinxuan felt a pang of heartache, and he gently wiped away her tears with his fingers, "Silly, it’s what I should do. We have to get married sometime; your father... is also my father."

"..." Yu Sangwan looked up at him, with only one thought in her mind.

She would never forget Lu Jinxuan at this moment, and she would remember his goodness today; no matter how difficult life becomes, she would never complain or retreat!

Lu Jinxuan straightened his suit jacket solemnly to meet his father-in-law; he had to pay attention to his demeanor.

"Let’s go in."