After dropping Fang Miaomiao and the other person at their designated location, Wen Zhiyan had Da Chen drive the car back to Imperial Garden No. 2.
By now, Imperial Garden No. 2 was empty.
The vast estate felt incredibly deserted.
Wen Zhiyan pondered for a moment before making a call.
"Wen Zhiyan, are you out of your mind?"
"Your father."
"I don't have that father," Fang Zhihuan interrupted impatiently, "If you had any decency, you wouldn't be calling me."
Wen Zhiyan remained silent.
"What, not talking anymore?"
"I'm sorry."
"Damn it, will saying sorry bring my brother back? Our Fang family never wanted to be involved in your and your father's conflict, but you insisted on dragging my brother into it," Fang Zhihuan sneered, "And that brainless one. Go on, all of you, into it. They're all dead now, happy?"
"Wen Zhiyan, I know this isn't your fault, you're a victim too. But precisely because you're a victim, I'm asking you this: don't come looking for me anymore. He's dead, and it has nothing to do with me. You're the ones who should be mourning."
Wen Zhiyan heard the sound of things being thrown on the other end of the line, followed by Fang Zhihuan saying, "Oh, and I just remembered, please don't bury the old man next to my brother. I'm afraid he won't have the face to see his son down there."
"Fang Zhihuan, your brother died chasing a criminal."
"Bullshit! A criminal? That criminal is from your family! A bunch of dirty people. If it weren't for your Wen family, my brother wouldn't have died, and my family wouldn't be falling apart."
"I understand."
Wen Zhiyan hung up the phone, pushed his wheelchair into the living room, and went straight to the third floor.
The bedroom.
The old man lay peacefully on the floor, his head a little lower than Uncle Fang's.
Wen Zhiyan instinctively felt in his pockets, only remembering after a long while that he had quit smoking after discovering Miaomiao disliked the smell.
He took out his last piece of candy.
Tore it open.
And popped it into his mouth.
It was sweet, but it couldn't dispel the bitterness in his mouth.
"Uncle Fang, I'm sorry I didn't bring Zhihuan back. Sometimes I really don't understand you. Why did you endure so much hardship? Why didn't you tell Fang Zhihuan the truth?"
At least, so he wouldn't resent you.
Wen Zhiyan didn't know how long he had stayed in the bedroom until his phone rang.
"Master Wen, why haven't you come for practice today? You're usually more enthusiastic than anyone."
Wen Zhiyan's voice was a little hoarse, "Do you know anyone at the crematorium?"
"Crematorium?" Yuan Chao was taken aback. "Master Wen, don't. I promised your legs would definitely recover. Don't rush things, don't think about ending it just because you can't stand up right now."
"Yuan Chao."
"Did I… say something wrong?"
"Please arrange for some crematorium staff to come to Imperial Garden No. 2 to pick up a body."
"Did you commit a crime?"
"Yuan Chao, with your imagination, you're wasting your talent as a doctor."
"Cough, cough, just kidding, just kidding. I'll go contact them right away. But you want to take him straight to the crematorium?"
For rich people like them, wouldn't they usually display the body for people to pay respects after death? Why was it the opposite for Wen Zhiyan?
"It was the deceased's last wish."
"Okay, I understand. I'll send people over immediately."
The crematorium van arrived quickly.
Wen Renhe's call also came quickly.
Wen Zhiyan rubbed his temples, "Father, is something the matter?"
"Wen Zhiyan, you're getting more and more reckless. You didn't tell me about Old Fang's death, but you went and directly arranged for a car to take him to the crematorium? Are you crazy? Do you even know what you're doing? If the servants hadn't happened to see, how long were you going to keep it from me?"
"It's precisely because I know what I'm doing that I didn't choose to tell you. Father, listen to me on this matter. You don't need to interfere."
"You scoundrel, are you trying to anger me to death before you're satisfied?"
"Dad, don't raise your voice so much, it's giving me a headache. You should know that your own rash decisions caused the death of a life in the Fang family. It's merciful that the Fang family isn't seeking retribution from us."
"Then what do you want? Fang Zhiqing is dead, but my Zhi Mo is also dead. And Zhi Mo's wife miscarried and had a hemorrhage after hearing the news. Aren't two lives enough?"
Wen Zhiyan chuckled at this, "I suddenly understand why Uncle Fang only interacted with An'an in the end, and why Fang Zhihuan went abroad and never set foot in the country again."
"What? You want me to apologize to a junior like Fang Zhihuan?"
"Wrong, how could you be wrong?" Wen Zhiyan interrupted Wen Renhe.
Da Chen, seeing this, quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road and got out to wait.
"If you hadn't harbored any侥幸心理 (hope for a lucky outcome) back then, Elder Brother wouldn't have died, Fang Zhiqing wouldn't have died, and my legs wouldn't be broken."
"Wen Zhiyan."
Hearing the near-shattering voice on the other end of the phone, Wen Zhiyan felt a sliver of pleasure. "Father, it's been five years, over a thousand days and nights. When you wake up at night, do you dream of Elder Brother crawling out of the fire and crying to you, or do you see Fang Zhihuan crawling out of a car, dragging himself towards you?"
"Enough, enough, Wen Zhiyan, you are unfilial."
"I thought you always knew I was unfilial," Wen Zhiyan closed his eyes, hiding the deep emotions within, "We all live like this, just don't interfere with each other. You are still my father, and I am still your son. As for Uncle Fang, everything I am doing now has his recording."
Wen Renhe was silent for a long time before asking, "Did your Uncle Fang mention me in the recording?"
"Do you think that's possible?"
The events of five years ago were a pain for everyone in both families. But now, it seemed someone had forgotten this pain and was slowly starting to stir.
And this time, he would do his utmost to protect his family and send the murderer of five years ago to where they belonged.
"Father, is there anything else? If not, I'll hang up."
"Light an incense stick for Uncle Fang for me. Since he doesn't want to see me, there's no need for me to disturb him."
Wen Zhiyan's lips curved upwards, his eyes filled with unspeakable mockery. His dear father, even now, stubbornly believed he was not wrong.
Was there any need for him to say anything more?
No, one cannot wake up someone who is pretending to sleep.
He hung up the phone.
Da Chen started driving again.
They arrived at the funeral home.
He communicated with the staff to cremate Uncle Fang's body as quickly as possible.
It was very quiet around. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he thought he could still hear the sound of fire burning.
It must have hurt a lot to be consumed by the flames.
What would Elder Brother have thought at that time?
Elder Brother.
Wen Zhiyan slowly closed his eyes.
His phone vibrated.
It was a text from Miaomiao.
"Are you okay? Where are you now?"
"I'm fine, don't worry. I'm at the crematorium."
"Do you need me to come over?"
"No, you take good care of An'an and don't worry. I'm fine."