Chapter 193 - Telling The Truth

At the dining table, Shi Lian's concerns both her parents. She has her eyes downcast at the food and her hand is idly mixing the gravy with the help of a fork.

Sha Sha and Zheng Yuan shares concerned glances with each other. Since she is back from wherever she was, her mood has been like this. When asked, all she told was nothing. They told her about Evelyn but that didn't surprise her too. 

Sha Sha signals Zheng Yuan to break the ice and ask something to her something or else she will never finish her food. 

Clearing his throat, he asks his daughter, "Shi Lian, when are you going to the company? Ruxi called me, saying the works are trafficking."

Sha Sha slaps her forehead lightly, fed up with her husband who never stops with business even during dinner. 

Shi Lian, a little frazzled, looks up to meet her father's eyes. She hasn't heard what he told just now. "Sorry, father? What were you saying?"

"I was asking when you are resuming the works of the company. Ruxi is concerned and asked you to come soon" he repeats. 

"Oh" that's all she says and the response does not appeal to her father at all. His face twists into a frown and he needs to ask her now what is the matter. 

"Shi Lian," he says, putting down the fork and looking seriously at her. She cranes her head towards his direction, a disappointing look shades her face. 

"Tell me what is the thing that is troubling you."

Her body tenses and she takes a look at her mother who is also worried about her. Should she tell them? What if it badly affects her father's health? 

But on the other hand, she needs to tell him. She decides the other option.

Sucking in the air, she looks at her father with seriousness. What she is going to tell, might be heavy so she needs to say it at the least bit dramatic effect. 

"I went to meet with Tingyu Gu" she revealed as if lifting off a heavyweight from her chest. Both her parent's expressions are astonishing. 

"Why?" he asks with a small scowl on his face. He thought the matter is buried but yet again her daughter is set for some trouble. 

"I needed answers from him so I had to talk with him" she continues. Her worries and she is worried more what if Zheng Yuan gets angry again? It will not be good for his health at all. 

"I told you earlier not to meet him without my consent, daughter," he tells her firmly. "I don't want you in any trouble."

"I know your concern father but I couldn't sleep as long as I got the answers" she argues. 

His scowl deepens and anyone in the room can predict that he is going to get angry any time. 

"What happened when you met him today? Have you got your answers?" he asks instead. His tone hints as if he is taunting her which Shi Lian tries to ignore. She bobs her head. 

Sha Sha looks at her husband and then at her daughter, not knowing what to do in a situation like this. Even if she tries to stop her from spouting, Shi Lian will not stop. Sha Sha keeps her thoughts to herself and waits for aa Shi Lian to reveal for what reason she went today. 

She starts to speak, "Father, I know you have guilt for what you did that time but you don't have to feel it anymore. Chuanli wasn't killed by you, he was killed by Tingyu."

Pin drop silence blankets the room. No one speaks. Shi Lian can even hear her breathing as well as their heart rate which makes her nervous. She continues further, "Chuanli wasn't the one who tried to steal the ring the second time. It was Tingyu Gu. He made Chuanli the scapegoat and he also intended that he should die. "

Mo Zheng Yuan stares at her blankly, taking a moment to reciprocate what she just told him. "He told you all this?" 

She nods. She tells him all that he has told her and after hearing it, Mo Zheng Yuan is in shock. For years he and his brother thought what they did wasn't right but now after knowing the truth, it doesn't make it any less painful. They killed the innocent. Chuanli didn't steal the ring nor did he have any ill intention towards the members of Mo family but just because of what his third brother and servants told, he had no choice but to believe it. 

"Honey, are you okay?" Sha Sha asks with a somber expression as she puts her soft hand on Zheng Yuan's. 

Her heart is beating so very fast seeing him sitting like a lifeless creature. The slow steady rising and falling of his chest is the only thing that is ensuring her that he is alright. 

"Father.....I know everything is difficult and that I shouldn't have told you but I had to. You have been in the wrong for years and I couldn't just sit and watch it. Even the second uncle left the city just because of that guilt. "

Mo Zheng Yuan is having a hard time letting out what he is thinking. The mention of his second brother unfolds many memories, some of which are good and some are ugly. 

He remembers the day when they got into a fight. It was the day after that incident. They both felt guilty but it wasn't of any use. Their father wasn't going to listen to their thoughts and their third brother uttered what their father told. 

Seeing that the situation isn't in their favor, Zheng Yuan thought to just stop feeling guilty. This infuriated his second brother and one thing led to another. 

After a very long pause, Zheng Yuan utters, "I'll be in my room." With that he got up from his seat, leaving the half-eaten food the same as it is. Sha Sha helps him and leads him to their room. 

Now it is Shi Lian who feels bad. Maybe the choice of telling her father isn't right. She thought the outcome will be different and it is very different than what she had expected. 

She sighs heavily, having no mood to eat. Nanny Zhang is standing by the door, feeling upset for all of them. The house has never experienced such chaos before. It aches her heart to see them struggling. 

Walking up to Shi Lian, she asserts, trying to keep her cheery tone alive, "Young Miss, please eat something. Don't worry about them, I will make sure that they eat!" 

But the grave expression on Shi Lian's face remains the same. She shakes her head and rising from her seat, leaves the dining table going straight to her room. Nanny Zhang presses her lips together and her face twists into worry. 

**

In her room, she is now a different person. She grinds her teeth together and throws pillows with force while she cries. She is angry, infuriated, and exhausted. When will all this be over? 

She wants to cry out loud but she can't. Her emotions choke her making her madder and madder. 

She wants to see what her father is doing but right now it is better to give him some space. Right at that moment, a knock comes on the door making her flinch. She quickly wipes her ugly tears and adjusts her tone to normal. 

She walks up to the door and pushes it open, already seeing herself in the mirror before going to the door. Sha Sha stands by the door and gives her the smallest she ever received. 

The moment she sees Shi Lian's face, she frowns a little. No matter how much she tries to hide but Sha Sha can see through her. 

Shi Lian calls her in and closes the door for behind. "Is father okay?" she asks, her voice concerned and desperate. 

Sha Sha sighs and sits on the bed. "He is sleeping."

Shi Lian comes and sits beside her leave an inch gap between them.

For a moment they both are silent. She realizes how awkward it has become for them to even talk. She hates it. 

"Mother, do you think what I did was wrong?" Shi Lian asks, keeping her eyes downcast at the fur rug on the floor.. Her voice is low and mellow and there's a hint that shows she cried.