Chapter 647 - Last Words (II)
Chapter 647 - Last Words (II)
"Grandpa... Please don't say that..."
The two grandchildren trembled.
The old man suddenly remembered his promise with Guan Gao Huan.
He looked at his two grandsons.
One was silently crying in grief while the other was still pale in blank disbelief.
Old Guan was dying. Now that the old man was on his death bed, he realized that he could be so calm to face death, but the heavy worries of how the living would continue to live on burdened his mind.
He was mostly worried about his second grandson's and his third grandson's relationship.
And he still had that promise.
If Guan Xixin came to learn it, the old man was worried that there would be an internal fight.
Thus, Old Guan wanted to explain his decision to Guan Xixin personally. Hopefully, he could understand...
He was truly such a useless and selfish grandfather....
"Gu Ri... May I speak with Xixin for a moment...?"
Tha blank Guan Xixin had not uttered a word ever since he saw the old man, so the old man decided to speak to him first.
Guan Gu Ri, who previously became aware of the old man's sickness and was in a more sober mentality between the two brothers, still wanted to stay, but he nodded and stood up.
He needed to stay strong and calm as his brothers' pillar, and for his grandfather's relief as well.
He took a deep breath and wiped his tears, yet his heart was still pained and his steps were heavy. "Alright, Grandfather. I'll be at the door." His voice choked but he braced himself.
He was the elder brother.
When Guan Gu Ri left, the old man reached out his wrinkled hand and patted Guan Xixin's head.
In his eyes was the young boy who looked exactly like his daughter, constantly telling him to not leave his third grandson abroad. As the day passed, the disappointed look in his second grandson's eyes became colder and detached, turning to hate as years passed.
His second grandson might not even think of him as a family anymore. This truly made Old Guan's heart filled with many regrets.
"Xixin..." His aged voice broke. "You are still angry at me, aren't you? I cannot blame you... I, too, am mad at myself. I wasn't able to take care of the three of you....and made you, my second grandson, feel hurt because of my actions... I can't ask for anything else, I have sinned against you and your brothers so much that you might not be able to forgive me... I only hope that you three will not fight so terribly.... We are still family..."
Due to his previous habitual evasion and deep-rooted rebellion and disappointment, Guan Xixin almost instinctively slapped the hand away. But when he saw the old bones and dried skin, he stopped and his tears finally started to come out.
He was mad. Furious.
"Why are you saying things that are so unlike you? Are you going to die?! I haven't forgiven you yet. I haven't proven the fake Gao Huan's identity yet! And we haven't found where my real third bother is yet! Are you just going to leave and die?!" Guan Xixin's bottled-up emotion bursted out.
It was so unfair!
The old man had not even made up for his sins yet, but now he was telling him about family and whatnot?! On his deathbed?! How could he--!
Saying sorry then patting off one's hands and leaving, could the past be so easily overwritten?!
Guan Xixin stood up tremblingly. His eyes were red and his lips were shaking.
"If you really want to be forgiven, then live for another day! It is so unfair! Are you just going to die after leaving such words?! What am I going to do to all the injustices that I experienced, that my real third brother experienced, then?!"
Old Guan's heart ached, seeing his second grandson crying aloud. His murky eyes also shed tears. It was all his fault. All his fault. He truly had sinned.
Guan Xixin yelled and yelled until his throat began to hurt and his voice became hoarse.
He then collapsed beside the bed.
For a moment, the collapsed man just sobbed loudly beside Old Guan's bed like a child. He still had many things to explain to his grandfather. He could not let him leave yet.
Guan Xixin reached for his grandfather's old hand, tightly held it, and begged while sobbing.
"Don't leave yet, Grandpa. You haven't believed me yet... You still need to live another day... Please..."
Guan Xixin cried like a child. He could not let his grandpa go.
Not yet...
Not like this...!
"...Huk!" Old Guan's c.h.e.s.t hurt so much that his heart felt like it was being torn to pieces. He had difficulty in breathing.
"Grandpa? Grandpa?! Doctor--!"
Alarmed, Guan Xixin immediately helped the old man and patted his back gently while he called out frantically towards the closed doors.
"I-i's fine..." Old Guan's breathing relaxed. The familiar pain subsided a bit. The pain acted up when he was emotionally unstable. This was already a normal occurrence to him in the past two months. He still wanted to stay with his grandchildren and spent his remaining time with them.
The doctors and Guan Gu Ri rushed in.
Despite the commotion, Old Guan did not let go of his second grandson's hands. He murmured to Guan Xixin weakly, "My grandson... You know I am very proud of you... Please look out for your brothers... I will leave the business overseas to you..."
Guan Xixin heard the old man's words, but he was more worried about the old man's health. He kept a tight hold on the old man as he stared at the doctor with bloodshot eyes. He could hear his heart pounding on his ears.
The doctor solemnly checked the old man's state and took a deep breath.
He was still hanging by a thread.
At this time, the door opened again.
Guan Gao Huan came rushing in.
"Grandpa!"