Chương 360: Tang Yian’s Heart (4)

Lu Xiaoling's words were very rigid, yet very warm. She did not feel like she should be forgiven, let alone so easily... this was because Lu Xiaoling knew she had been wrong. But even so, despite all this, Lu Xiaoling was lucky to have people who loved her.

Lu AnLing had forgiven her mother for leaving her long ago, and so had Tang Yian, unconsciously, but since the two had left it so bad, Tang Yian had a lot of regrets.

In the past, he used to tell Lu AnLing to never fall in love and that love was bad but in truth, he didn't quite believe this. He was a hypocrite because he had never stopped loving Lu Xiaoling.

Now, seeing her clearly, many emotions came to his heart but realizing that Xu Shen was by her side as if for the first time, Tang Yian froze.

He felt his throat dry. Tang Yian was jealous, but as he slightly remembered how kind Xu Shen had been when they'd met and how Lu AnLing and Lu Xiaoling had spoken so highly of him, it was easy to see that Xu Shen was a better man than Tang Yian could ever be. And so, Tang Yian took a deep breath and said,

"I'm glad that you spent your days happy..."

Hearing this caused intense guilt to wash through Lu Xiaoling. She couldn't say she wasn't happy, she had been at times, but there was always something missing inside her...

Looking at Xu Shen, Lu Xiaoling struggled to speak. But then, Lu Xiaoling nodded.

The moment was bittersweet but it didn't last long due to the confusion of Elder Tang.

"Someone explain to me what the hell is going on!" Elder Tang said in complete confusion. He had somewhat understood what was going on but still, something felt off.

Tang Huian knew it was her time to speak, so she gulped and said, "This is my fault..."

After saying this, she explained what had happened so many years ago. Hearing this, Elder Tang's face paled.

Hearing this, even Tang Yian felt disgusted. His own sister had twisted his and his daughters lives...

For a moment, the room was quiet.

"Tang Huian get out." Elder Tang said simply. He didn't expel her from the family, but the decision was going to be one he wanted to ponder. A part of the man believed it was his fault that both of his sons had experienced so much strife and so, he wasn't sure if he wanted to do that to his daughter also...

Hearing this, Tang Huian didn't complain. Instead, she just left the house. Seeing this Elder Tang turned to Tang Luoyi and said, "Please go and take care of your mother."

Not wanting to anger the old man, Tang Luoyi left to do as Elder Tang said. Truly, he had wanted to leave for a while, the fact that Lu AnLing was his cousin shocked him but what was worse was that he had seen the look in Elder Tang's eyes when this had been revealed. Another granddaughter?! One who, in most aspects of her life, was probably more exceptional than Tang Bingyi!

Tang Luoyi now knew that he was screwed. Even if he could somehow beat Tang Bingyi, he could never beat Lu AnLing. He might as well live life quietly now... he didn't want to get killed by Kang Jun or expelled from the family by Elder Tang, after all.

After Tang Luoyi had left, Tang Bingyi, who knew that what would happen next would be explosive and wouldn't be any of her business, approached Lu AnLing and said, "I'm going to go check up on the kids..."

Lu AnLing smiled and nodded at the girl.

This left Lu AnLing, her parents, her grandparents from the Lu side of the family, Kang Jun, Elder Kang and Elder Tang alone together.

Noticing that everyone was just standing in the living room, Elder Tang sighed. "Everyone, please take a seat."

Despite being partially annoyed, partially overjoyed and partially confused Elder Tang still remained refined.

Hearing the man's words, the guests did as such.

Sitting down, Grandma Lu suddenly sighed and said,

"I'm still confused..." she then looked between Tang Yian and Lu Xiaoling who sat fairly close to one another, and said, "How did you two meet? Let alone begin dating..."

Lu Xiaoling didn't say anything she was just quiet, but then, Tang Yian spoke.

"A party." Tang Yian said calmly, as his eyes accidentally darted to Lu Xiaoling.

Hearing this, Lu Xiaoling froze before she snapped out of it and gaze Tang Yian with a slightly angry look. Everyone noticed this but they didn't say anything. Even Tang Yian noticed this, but he chose to ignore it, as he tried to stop himself from smirking.

"We started dated not too long after that and then we got married around the time I got expelled from the Tang family..." Tang Yian said as he touched his chin.

Hearing this, Grandma Lu frowned.

"Why didn't I know you were dating him?" Grandma Lu asked Lu Xiaoling calmly.

With those words said, Lu Xiaoling lifted her eyebrows and then Grandpa Lu froze.

"Well, you hated the Kang's and the Tang's were very close to the Kang's and so... you know..." Lu Xiaoling said just as calmly as Tang Yian did. "One day I asked dad what would happened if I dated someone close to the Kang's and he got angry at me, telling me that I can date anyone but not anyone close to the Kang family, and told me never to mention it to you because you'd be angry... so that's when I knew you wouldn't accept him and that was around the time I got married... I mean eloping."

Grandma Lu felt her heart stop. She couldn't deny what her husband had said to Lu Xiaoling back then. She would have surely thrown a fit back then... and if she'd know that her daughter was dating Tang Yian, she would have tried everything so that the two would break up. It was sad but true. The Tang's were too close to the Kang's and so, Grandma Lu had believed them all to be evil.

Hearing this, Elder Tang turned to his son and said, "And why didn't you tell me...?"

"We were in a rough patch. I told mom and she was going to help me explain it to you but then... you know what happened... and you know the rest." Tang Yian said slightly awkwardly.

It was hard to talk about his mother and about his expulsion from the Tang family, but talking about them at the same time was the most awkward thing Tang Yian had every experienced.

Understanding his son, not only by his words but by the look in his eyes, Elder Tang sighed.

"Yian, I'm sorry. For back then. I was wrong..." Elder Tang started but then, he turned his gaze to Lu Xiaoling and then once more to Lu AnLing. Looking at Lu AnLing, who very close to Kang Jun, Elder Tang felt his heart warm, "But I'm glad that you were all able to unite and reunite with those you love..."

Hearing this, Lu AnLing, Tang Yian and Lu Xiaoling felt strange. It was as if the old man thought that their family would fit back together again but that was not how life worked... there was too much, and in some cases, too little, between them.

It might be too late...

These thoughts stayed with the three of them for a while but suddenly, the conversation began to become easier.

There were moments when Lu Xiaoling's eyes lit up and when she looked sad and moments where Tang Yian's emotions matched hers. The two had really gone through a lot when they were dating and much much more when they had been married... it was like a tragic love story but was this love story over?

Watching them, Xu Shen felt something tug at his heart and so, he sighed and then he said, "Xiaoling, can I talk to you for a second."

Lu Xiaoling didn't know what to say or do at first, but she ended up following him anyways. For a second she looked back and right then, her eyes met Tang Yian's who looked straight into her with slight sadness.

Seeing this, her heart clenched but she still left with Xu Shen.

Once they were alone, Xu Shen took Lu Xiaoling's hands in his. He held them with warmth and gentle kindness, as if she was his treasure and then, he said,

"Tell me the truth; who do you love?"

Hearing this, Lu Xiaoling froze and she didn't speak.

Xu Shen: "You know me, I won't be angry, whatever your answer is. I just want you to be truthful with me... for once."

"Shen... I... you're a great man, but I..." Lu Xiaoling struggled with her words.

As she said this, his grip slightly tightened on her hands and as she felt this, Lu Xiaoling suddenly felt the wet tears on her cheeks. Shocked, Lu Xiaoling wiped them away with unnatural urgency.

Seeing this, Xu Shen's expression changed from one which was calm to one which was completely emotional. This the first time, Xu Shen saw Lu Xiaoling cry for him...

Lu Xiaoling: "Shen... I'm so sorry!"

Xu Shen held Lu Xiaoling's head straight as he wiped her tears with his thumbs. He then tucked a lock of hair gently behind her ear and said, "It's okay. I've always known... since that's your answer... then..."

Xu Shen slightly choked on his feeling here. He was trying his best to be strong but it was hard. He'd been with Lu Xiaoling for more than two decades and so, the thought of not having her by his side made him feel like a stake had been driven through his heart. It was as if he was feeling himself bleed out, but still, he spoke.

"Xiaoling, my darling, my love, I'm releasing you..." Xu Shen said slowly and then he leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. When he pulled away, the man's eyes were open and clear and Lu Xiaoling felt her heartbeat for him but even if this could turn into something more, Xu Shen wouldn't allow it, for both of their sakes, Xu Shen said, "Let's get a divorce."

This was not a recommendation. It was a statement and there was nothing Lu Xiaoling could do except accept.

Though, when the man said it, Lu Xiaoling felt her heartbreak. She didn't know if it was because she had secretly loved the man, or because she felt guilty, but no matter the reason, It shattered into a million pieces and it caused Lu Xiaoling to feel weak and short of breath.

To stop herself from collapsing, Lu Xiaoling hugged herself and dug her nails into her arms and said, "Shen... you deserve the whole damn world! I'm so lucky to have had you by my side."

Even if Lu Xiaoling got Tang Yian and Lu AnLing back, she promised she would still be there for Xu Shen, Lu Shuya and Lu Duyi. They were both her families and now, it was her turn to shower them with love and care and to be the mother, wife and friend, that she had always stunted herself from being.

Lu Xiaoling was going to atone.

Seeing the darkness that had always clouded her eyes subside and turn into brightness, Xu Shen smiled, and then he pulled Lu Xiaoling into an embrace and he rubbed her back as she burst into tears.

Xu Shen: "I know."

***

Without her mom and Xu Shen in the room, Lu AnLing felt a bit worried. She wondered what the two were talking about...

Lu AnLing worried about it for a small while but then, Lu AnLing's father spoke,

"I know you're married but, do you have to sit so close to your husband." Tang Yian said. He had been watching the two for a small while now, and at first, he didn't want to mention it, but since it felt strange seeing his little girl, who he hadn't seen since she was 15 years old, so close to a man, Tang Yian needed to state it.

Though, hearing this, Lu AnLing frowned.

"Dad. I'm married. I have kids. Please stop treating me like a five-year-old." Lu AnLing groaned.

Hearing this, Tang Yian was going to retort but because Lu AnLing had said kids, Tang Yian's eyes sharpened, "Kids? Are you talking about the adopted children of the Kang family?"

"Yes and no." Lu AnLing said simply, then she leaned closer to Kang Jun and gave a smile. "Actually, Mei Xue is my biological daughter... and Yuxi, who's been living with mom and father Shen, is also my daughter. They're twin. As for Mingyu, he will always be my son at heart so, that's that."

Lu AnLing was completely nonchalant about the bombs she had just dropped but, now, Elder Kang, who had been giving space to the Tang and Lu families to settle their issues and connect, opened his mouth, "What?"

Kang Jun, without looking at the old man said, "I'll explain the details later, but yes, biologically Mei Xue and Yuxi are twins between AnLing and me."

As he said this, Kang Jun pulled Lu AnLung closer to him.

Elder Kang, looked at the boy curiously, "Is that why you were so adamant about marrying her?"

Kang Jun shook his head. "No. I loved her before I knew about this."

With that said, Lu AnLing put her hand on Kang Jun's and leaned onto him more before they looked into each other's eyes lovingly. Seeing the unwavering love between the two, Tang Yian, Elder Kang or anyone, could not say anything. They just watched the couple bask in their love.