In the car, Zhang Ran looked at He Yong and said, “Dayong, you don’t have to follow me around all day long anymore. When you have free time, go spend it with Xiaoqing. Build your relationship with your daughter.”
“You’re not expecting Xiaoqing to be the one to close the distance between you two, are you?”
“No matter what, you spent all those years in prison. You weren’t able to fulfill your responsibilities as a father. That’s something you owe her.”
“So don’t let your pride get in the way—especially when it comes to your own daughter.”
He Yong fell silent for a while before answering.
“Brother Zhang, I want to talk to her more too… but I just don’t know how.”
“The moment I face Xiaoqing, I don’t know what to say.”
Zhang Ran sighed.
“Then take it one step at a time.”
“Start by simply getting familiar with her.”
“Don’t immediately bring up emotional topics.”
“And don’t keep saying things like ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I let you down.'”
“Here’s what you should do.”
“When you have time, take Xiaoqing shopping.”
“At the very least, get her the modern electronics she should have.”
“A computer. A phone.”
“Has she ever told you what she’s missing?”
“And think about it carefully.”
“Given the financial situation your family was in all these years… do you really think she had everything a girl her age should have?”
Zhang Ran couldn’t stand watching this any longer.
Originally, he hadn’t intended to interfere in He Yong’s family affairs.
After all, his own family situation had only recently begun to untangle.
But seeing He Yong do nothing except follow him around every day made Zhang Ran anxious.
He didn’t know every detail of He Qing’s life.
Still, it didn’t take much imagination to realize that, given the family’s circumstances…
She probably hadn’t even owned a computer.
He Yong scratched his head.
“I don’t know what she needs.”
“And she never tells me.”
“When we first came to Shanghai, I asked her, but she wouldn’t say anything.”
Zhang Ran slapped his forehead.
He realized that if he didn’t step in, the relationship between father and daughter would likely remain frozen.
“Fine.”
“Three days from now, go find Xiaoqing.”
“It’ll be Sunday.”
“Take her shopping.”
“Buy her a computer.”
“A phone.”
“Everything she needs.”
“And remember this—”
“Whether she says she wants them or not, insist on buying them.”
“Don’t stop just because she says she doesn’t need them or already has something.”
He Yong nodded seriously.
“I’ll remember.”
“A phone.”
“A computer.”
Hearing that, Zhang Ran felt speechless.
“Forget it.”
“When the time comes, I’ll make you a shopping list.”
“You just buy everything on it.”
“Oh, and I’ll give you some more money.”
“She also needs clothes.”
“But don’t buy anything overly expensive yet.”
“Take it one step at a time.”
He Yong hurriedly waved his hands.
“Brother Zhang, I haven’t even spent all the money you already gave me.”
“You don’t need to give me any more.”
Zhang Ran smacked his own forehead.
This time, he’d overlooked something.
“You… didn’t send any money home to your parents, did you?”
Originally, part of the money Zhang Ran had given He Yong was meant for him to send back to his elderly parents as a way of repaying their years of hardship.
Zhang Ran could have simply handed the money to them himself when visiting their home.
But he hadn’t.
He wanted He Yong to personally fulfill his duty as a son.
Unfortunately…
Knowing He Yong’s personality…
Zhang Ran suddenly realized what had happened.
Aside from buying a few things for He Qing, the rest of the money had probably been spent on practical necessities like fuel and rent.
Because in He Yong’s mind…
Every cent belonged to Zhang Ran.
It was only supposed to be used on tasks Zhang Ran had entrusted to him.
He shouldn’t spend it on himself or his family.
Seeing He Yong’s expression confirmed Zhang Ran’s suspicion.
“Send some of that money to your parents.”
“Your father and mother are getting old.”
“Stop making them worry.”
“If they have money in their hands, they’ll at least have some peace of mind.”
He sighed.
“After all these years…”
“You still haven’t learned.”
“Where’s your brain?”
“No wonder someone managed to set you up back then.”
He Yong simply laughed sheepishly.
Even though he was being scolded, he felt strangely happy.
To him, Zhang Ran was still the same Zhang Ran.
As long as he carried out Zhang Ran’s instructions…
He never had to worry about anything else.
“And you’re still laughing!”
“Forget it. I can’t be bothered with you anymore.”
Zhang Ran couldn’t help laughing despite himself.
Of course…
Even if he said that, he knew he’d continue looking after He Yong.
At that moment, Zhang Ran suddenly realized something.
Having someone as loyal as He Yong wasn’t necessarily an easy thing.
Such a person trusted him completely.
He believed every word Zhang Ran said.
That kind of trust…
That kind of loyalty…
Was a heavy responsibility in itself.
If He Yong had been selfish, Zhang Ran could have simply left him to handle his own affairs.
But someone like He Yong…
Zhang Ran simply couldn’t ignore him.
He had no choice but to keep worrying about him.
Three Days Later, Zhang Siyan looked at her neatly dressed family with confusion.
The night before, Zhang Ran had called her and told her to take the day off and come over early because he had something important to discuss.
But…
What exactly was going on?
Actually, Zhang Sicheng and Liu Lu were equally puzzled.
Neither of them knew what Zhang Ran had planned.
Zhang Ran looked at everyone.
“Today, you’re all coming with me.”
“Just do as I say.”
“Don’t ask questions.”
“And don’t worry.”
“Tonight, I’ll explain everything.”
Today…
Zhang Ran had decided it was finally time to tell them part of the truth.
Not everything.
He still intended to reveal things gradually.
From the very beginning, his plan had been to let Zhang Sicheng and Zhang Siyan slowly adapt while giving them time to develop their own abilities.
Now…
The time had come.
He was ready to reveal some of his cards.
Originally, he’d planned to wait a while longer.
But Liu Lu’s earlier willingness to sell her necklace just to pay for renovations had changed his thinking.
Combined with the fact that Zhang Sicheng’s company was about to collapse…
He decided to move his plan forward.
There was also another reason.
Deep down…
He felt a lingering sense of urgency.
To everyone else, what had happened to the cruise ship could safely be dismissed as an accident.
But Zhang Ran couldn’t think that way.
Because he himself…
Was the result of an accident.
He couldn’t shake the fear that fate might play the same cruel trick on him again.
Hearing his words only made Zhang Sicheng and the others even more confused.
But since Zhang Ran had explicitly said not to ask and promised to explain everything that evening…
They obediently followed his arrangements.
Only little Taotao couldn’t stay quiet.
“Grandpa! Grandpa!”
“What are we going to do today?”
Raising his little hand high into the air, he eagerly waited for an answer.
Zhang Ran smiled.
“We’re going shopping today.”
“Yay!”
“I love shopping the most!”
The little boy immediately jumped up excitedly.
Zhang Sicheng and Zhang Siyan exchanged glances.
Was it really just shopping?
Did buying a few things require everyone to dress up and make such a big production?
Zhang Ran noticed their expressions.
Without saying another word, he picked up the two little ones and led everyone outside.
Zhang Ran had always believed in one saying:
“When virtue cannot support one’s position, disaster follows. When one’s character cannot match one’s wealth, that wealth will eventually be lost.”
To him, virtue didn’t refer only to morality.
It also included ability…
Judgment…
Vision…
Perhaps he didn’t literally believe the proverb.
Instead, he treated it as one of his guiding principles.
Everyone had values they chose to live by.
This happened to be one of his.
As a father…
He hoped his son and daughter could become people worthy of what they possessed.
He didn’t want wealth to turn them into the kind of people he despised.
He wasn’t asking them to make extraordinary contributions to society.
But at the very least…
He wanted them to uphold the most basic principles of decency and integrity.
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