A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)

Chapter 2003

“I, Li Er, will not disappoint you and Mr. Chu. I promise to do my best to protect your son and bring him up. I swear on my life that I will do my utmost to shield him from any harm!” Li Er prostrated himself in front of Qiu Mucheng.

Lei San followed suit and swore, “I will do the same!”

Chen Ao, his reddened eyes still brimming with tears, similarly promised he would lay down his life for the task.

After that, all of them sat down and had a long talk.

“Won't you reconsider your decision and head back to Yunzhou with us, Mrs. Chu? In comparison, you will be safer going there with us than staying in Jiangbei. We are really worried Chu Sect will come after you.” Before they take their leave, the three men made one last attempt to persuade Qiu Mucheng to change her mind.

She gave them a small smile and stood her ground.

“Don't worry, Mr. Li. I am merely a small fry, a commoner who has no influence nor power. Chu Sect, being one of the superpowers in the world, will not waste their time and energy coming after an insignificant person like me. Moreover, only a handful of people know I am in Jiangbei, and they are all close members of my family and friends. So even if Chu Sect wants to come after me, it will not be easy for them to find me.” Again, she turned them down.

In the end, Id Erand his companions left for Yunzhou with only Fan Junior, while Qiu Mucheng remained in Jiangbei.

“Mommy, I will come back and visit you often...” Fan Junior promised, then gave his mother three respectful bows before getting into the car to head to Jiangdong with Li Er.

It was a common parting scene, with promises and hopes of meeting again. However, sometimes that could be the last goodbye.

As time flew by, memories would fade and promises would be forgotten. All things had to come to an end.

On the way to Jiangdong, the luxurious car sped on the expressway at full speed in the dark.

Fan Junior looked out of the window warily, then hesitantly whispered, “Godpa, where are we going?”

“We are going home,” Li Er replied.

“But I just left home!” The little fella was puzzled.

Li Er shook his head. “That is not your home! Jiangdong is your real home, the home that your daddy built for you.”

“Daddy? What is his name?” The little boy repeated that unfamiliar word. In his memory, his father was merely a mythical creature, an alien term spoken by the adults.

“His name is Chu Tianfan. Rememberthat, my boy. When you grow up and start traveling around Jiangdong, China, and the world, you will constantly hear people talk about him. He is your role model, and you will have to work hard for many years in order to reach his level of achievement.”

“However, we believe someday you will attain greater heights than him. You must do that, as you have to finish your dad's unfinished work. Only you can do that!” Li Er replied firmly, with a determined look in his eyes.

As he spoke, the old man's mind flashed back to that bloody evening, and those cold, evil faces.

Chu Sect, you caused Mr. Chu's death, but thankfully he left us his heir. Your glorious days will not last. Just wait and see. It may take ten years or even twenty years, but someday, his son will lead Dragon God Hall down the same path and fulfill his dad's dreams. Everyone in Jiangdong will be behind him!

Li Er clenched his fist so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh. His intense hatred for Chu Sect burned as he recalled the death of Ye Fan. He was determined to protect Ye Fan's son, come what may.

The boy was their last hope, the last spark that could set the world ablaze, just like what Ye Fan had envisioned in his Operation Ablaze.

By the lakeside of Westlake at Livingsfill, the beautiful scenery was the inspiration for many romance and legends. Its last legend was also about to unfold.

After Fan Junior left, Qiu Mucheng lost the will to survive. She stopped going to work and did not bother to cook or take interest in her normal activities.

She mindlessly roamed the street, her eyes dulled and her pretty face showing only sorrow and gloom.

The reason she refused to go back to Jiangdong was that she felt guilty. She could not face the elders in there, especially Ye Fan's parents.

She had never shared with the three men about what happened between Ye Fan and her during her chat with them earlier. She only updated them on what happened after his departure.

She did not breathe a word to them about her relationship with Ye Fan and the issues they faced in their marriage.

As the years passed by, she was getting disillusioned about their life together. She even suspected that Ye Fan had never loved her. Otherwise, he would not have left for Chu Sect so decisively. He did not discuss it with her beforehand and did not even bid her goodbye before traveling by himself to Mount Chumen. He knew fully well that it was a trip filled with danger and risk, and that he might not make it back alive. Yet he left without a word.

She was disappointed with him and felt he did not value herortheir relationship.

It was only after speaking to the three men and Chen Nan that she realized how wrong she was.

Without ever expecting any credits, her foolish husband had quietly done so much for her.

Just like what Chen Nan had said, he was her protector while he was alive, and continued to be her guardian angel even after death. What more could a wife ask for in a man?

She deserved to be called a selfish woman because she had never tried to understand her man nor give him any support in his career. After his death, she immediately left Jiangdong with no thoughts of staying on to guard his establishment and take care of his family, especially his mother.

She was neither a good wife nor a good daughter-in-law. She felt like a total failure. Ye Fan was constantly worried for her, but she had misunderstood him for so many years and bore grudges against him.

“I am sorry, Ye Fan...” Qiu Mucheng, dressed in white, stood by Westlake and sobbed.

The fiery red sun was a stark contrast against the calm waters. It was another evening and another sunset. She wondered if the scene was the same on that fateful day when Ye Fan died.

She looked up and looked straight at the setting sun. At that moment, the past flashed before her eyes.

She recalled how Ye Fan gave her a firm commitment at their cousin's engagement party, promising that he would not let her suffer any grievances. This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

She also remembered the time when she had knelt in front of the Shen residence in the rain, begging for forgiveness from Young Master Shen. Ye Fan went over furiously and chided her for her stupidity.

Alltheirtimes together played back in her mind like a slideshow and reminded her they had stuck together for richer and for poor, and through good and bad times. They had their fair share of laughter together but were also there to console each other during times of sorrow.

Alas, all the good and tough times were in the past, and her man was no longer there with her. She couldn't help but sob at that thought.

Lost in her memories and staring blankly into the distance, she murmured, “I miss you, Ye Fan...”

With that, she slowly closed her eyes and took a step forward, into the Westlake.

Whoosh...

Suddenly, a gust of wind came up...