The Young Miss Refuse To Love
Chapter 41: Reconciled

Chapter 41: Reconciled

Mrs. Qi waited patiently by her husband’s side, watching as he slowly emerged from his melancholy state. They were about to enter the mansion—his father’s home—after five long years.

She was relieved, sensing that her husband was finally willing to relent, to set aside his stubborn pride. This visit had been a source of tension for so long, and now there seemed to be a chance for reconciliation.

Though Mrs. Qi knew that what had transpired five years ago was never truly her husband’s fault, the thought of severing the bond between father and son had always troubled her. She had tried to persuade him many times before but had only been met with sharp reprimands.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice laced with concern as her eyes sought his.

Mr. Qi took a deep breath, offering a faint smile, though the strain in his face was still apparent. "I’m fine. Just a little nervous."

"It’ll be alright," she murmured, gently clasping his hand. "Dad won’t embarrass you."

Behind them, their three children stood quietly, observing their parents in silence. None of them knew the full story behind the rift between their grandfather and father, but they could tell it had taken immense courage for their father to finally lower his head and return.

Qi Jianyi stole a glance at her parents, whom she hadn’t seen in a week. There was still a lingering resentment in her heart, a bitterness born from their previous neglect. However, today, she decided to put it aside.

After all, her feelings had shifted after she discovered the truth—that their daughter had stolen her life. The resentment she once harboured toward Mr. and Mrs. Qi paled in comparison to the fury she now felt toward the original Qi Jianyi.

Mr. Qi stepped forward, leading the way into the mansion. As they crossed the threshold, all eyes in the house turned toward them. He maintained a composed and serious exterior, but only Mrs. Qi could feel the tremor in his hand as he gripped hers tightly.

"Second—Second Young Master, you’re here?!" Butler Zhang exclaimed in bewilderment, his eyes wide with surprise at the unexpected appearance of Mr. Qi.

"Butler Zhang, you’ve worked hard," Mr. Qi greeted him briefly, maintaining a calm composure despite the nervousness tightening in his chest.

Hearing Mr. Qi’s words of gratitude, Butler Zhang smiled kindly. "It’s not hard work, this is my duty. Second Young Master, it’s been so long since you came home. Master will be delighted." He gestured for them to follow him, his tone warm and welcoming as he led them deeper into the house.

Butler Zhang wasn’t exaggerating entirely. Having served Grandpa Qi for decades, he knew the old man better than anyone. Despite Grandpa Qi’s stubborn silence, Butler Zhang was well aware that he had been thinking about his estranged son for years, too proud to reach out.

’Master will be overjoyed to see the Second Young Master return with his family today,’ Butler Zhang thought with satisfaction.

Mr. Qi and his family followed quietly, exchanging polite smiles and greetings with the other guests as they passed. Butler Zhang swiftly guided them to the living room, where Grandpa Qi sat, surrounded by old friends, as the central figure of today’s banquet.

"Master Qi, look who’s come to see you!" Butler Zhang called out, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. His announcement caught the attention of everyone in the room.

Grandpa Qi, deep in conversation, turned, curiosity flickering in his eyes. But the moment his gaze landed on his youngest son’s face, he froze, caught off guard by the sight of him.

Mr. Qi, too, was momentarily at a loss for words. As he looked at his father’s wrinkled face and slightly hunched posture, a pang of regret hit him hard. Why had he been so obstinate? Why had he let their relationship deteriorate into years of silence?

At that time, his father had been grieving the loss of his beloved wife, emotionally fragile, and instead of offering support or understanding, Mr. Qi had clung to his pride.

"Dad, I’m back," Mr. Qi greeted, his voice low and trembling, heavy with unspoken remorse.

Grandpa Qi said nothing at first, still processing the scene before him. His old friends, including Grandpa He and Grandpa Song, exchanged knowing glances and quietly stepped aside, giving father and son the space they needed.

"Why are you here? I thought you no longer considered this your home," Grandpa Qi finally spoke, his voice gruff. But the moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. That wasn’t what he meant to say, yet his stubborn pride betrayed him.

This time, however, Mr. Qi didn’t take offense. He knew his father’s harsh words were never a reflection of his true feelings. It was the same tone Mr. Qi used when speaking to his children—sharp on the surface but with a deep undercurrent of love.

"Dad, I’m sorry," Mr. Qi began, his voice trembling as he knelt before his father, head bowed. "I was too hot-headed back then, too proud to admit I was wrong. I should have come home sooner, but my pride kept me away. Now, five years have passed, and my children don’t even know how their grandfather has been. I brought them here today to see you, to make things right."

Grandpa Qi was taken aback, startled by the sight of his son on his knees. His youngest, the most stubborn of all his children, was finally bowing his head. For the first time, it seemed, his son had truly grown up.

"Why should you apologise?" Grandpa Qi’s voice softened as he reached down, pulling Mr. Qi to his feet. "It’s my fault for what happened five years ago. Don’t blame yourself—I never did."

He had never held a grudge against his youngest son, only regret. Regret for lashing out before knowing the full truth, for letting pride come between them.

"I should be the one apologising," Grandpa Qi continued, swallowing the sadness rising in his chest. "Jingxuan, dad is old and has made so many mistakes. I shouldn’t lash out at you like I did years ago. I wasn’t in my right mind and drove you away. If your mother was still here, she would hate me. Please, forgive your old man. And thank you... for coming back."

Mr. Qi could no longer hold back his emotions. Tears welled in his eyes as he embraced his father, the man who had once seemed so unshakable. Now, that strong shoulder was smaller, frailer. The father Mr. Qi had once idolised, was no longer the imposing figure of his youth, and the realisation broke him.

A deep regret surged in his heart. If only he lowered his ego and listened to his wife...

"I’ve missed you, Dad," Mr. Qi whispered between quiet sobs, clinging to his father like the child he had once been.

Grandpa Qi gently rubbed his son’s back, just as he had when Mr.Qi was seven years old, crying because someone had stolen his candy. The memory of his once-crybaby son—now a serious, grown man—came rushing back, filling him with a bittersweet sorrow.

"Dad missed you too," Grandpa Qi said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "It’s good you’re here. Let’s celebrate my birthday together."

It wouldn’t be a lie to say that Mr. Qi was undeniably Grandpa Qi’s favourite child. Among his three children, it was Mr. Qi, the youngest, who held a special place in the old man’s heart. His elder son and daughter were born during the most turbulent years of Grandpa Qi’s life, a time when he was still struggling to build and stabilize his company.

His attention was often divided between work and family. By the time Mr. Qi was born, however, the business had already taken root and flourished, allowing Grandpa Qi to shift his focus. The old man, now freed from the constant pressures of his career, lavished all the attention and affection on his youngest son that he couldn’t give to the older siblings.

Mr. Qi became the apple of his father’s eye, the one who received the softest words, the warmest gestures, and the most guidance. Yet, this favouritism wasn’t without consequence. His elder brother and sister, left to fend for themselves during their father’s busiest years, harboured unspoken resentment toward Mr. Qi, though they never openly displayed it.

But the bond between father and son wasn’t impervious to the strain that came later. The day Mr. Qi chose to cut ties with his father was a devastating blow to Grandpa Qi—perhaps the most painful moment in his life. The timing of it all made the heartbreak that much worse.

Just a week after burying his beloved wife, the grief-stricken old man faced another loss—his youngest son. In Mr. Qi’s eyes, leaving was the only option. He couldn’t bear the weight of his father’s accusations, the harsh words that had branded him as an ungrateful child, a "white-eyed wolf" who had turned his back on the very family that had nurtured him.

Grandpa Qi had hurled those words in a moment of fury, unaware of the deep wound they would leave. His anger stemmed from disappointment and a misunderstanding he never tried to clarify. In his frustration, he had failed to see the pressure his youngest son was under, both from the family legacy and from the weight of expectations that came with being the favoured child. And now, those reckless words echoed in the silence that followed Mr. Qi’s departure.

As days turned into months and then years, the rift between father and son deepened. Though Grandpa Qi never spoke about it to anyone, his heart bore the silent burden of regret. He knew, with painful clarity, that his harsh words were the catalyst for their estrangement.

This unspoken regret, this loss of his favourite child, gnawed away at him, and over time, it began to take its toll. Grandpa Qi’s health, once robust, started to deteriorate. The vibrant, commanding man who had once built an empire now found himself weakened by the very thing he had always prided himself on—family. The weight of his regret pressed down on him, and though no one said it aloud, everyone knew that Mr. Qi’s absence was the reason behind Grandpa Qi’s declining health.

After a while, Mr. Qi pulled himself together, embarrassed by the many eyes watching them. He wiped his tear-streaked face, turning to face his family.

"Come greet your grandpa," Mr. Qi said, motioning for his wife and children to step forward.

Mrs. Qi quickly stepped up, sensing the moment. "Father, it’s been a long time. Please forgive me for my shortcomings. I should have persuaded him to come back sooner," she murmured, bowing her head slightly, her voice laced with guilt.

"No, no," Grandpa Qi waved her off, shaking his head. "Why are you apologising, Xiao Ling? This was never your fault."

Mrs. Qi smiled gently at his response, then turned to their children, who stood awkwardly in the background. "What are you standing there like fools for? Hurry up and greet your grandpa!" she urged, her eyes pushing them forward.