Chapter 13 — The Scales Are Finally Balanced

“Tieu Dao!” Tan Hao finally reacted and immediately rushed in front of me. "What are you doing? It's my dad!"

“Tan Hao.” I raised my head to look at him. "My father used your grandfather's money to build the Qin family's business, then the debt went on for forty years without paying."

“You know what the funniest thing is?”

"The villa your father lives in, the car he drives, the subsidiary company you manage..." I said each word slowly. "From the beginning, everything was supported by my grandfather's thirty-five thousand."

“He called me an outsider.” I laughed coldly. “But if it weren't for my grandfather, he wouldn't even have the status of being an 'outsider'.”

Tan Hao unconsciously took a step back. The eldest uncle turned to look at Tan Duc Hau.

“Dad… what are you going to say?”

Tan Duc Hau slowly sat down on the chair. One of his hands tightened on the handrail until it turned white. The whole room looked at him, waiting for him to speak. After a long time, he finally spoke.

“I…” The voice was hoarse. “It's true that we owe the Co family.”

“It's not just about money.” I said.

He raised his head to look at me.

“Dad still owes you an apology.” I stood straight in the middle of the living room. “A real apology.”

“It's not like 'Dad, you said something harsh'.”

“It's about seriously admitting that calling you an outsider is wrong.”

“Admit that I saw what you spent the past seven years.”

"Admit that dad hid it from everyone... because he felt guilty."

Tan Duc Hau's lips trembled. The room was so quiet that you could clearly hear the clock hands. The eldest uncle said softly:

“Dad… people aren't too mean.”

The second uncle also nodded. The eldest uncle-in-law wiped away his tears.

"The frustrations Tieu Dao has suffered over the years... are all real."

Tan Hao stood next to him, his lips pressed tightly, saying nothing from beginning to end. Finally, Tan Duc Hau slowly stood up from his chair. He was seventy-two years old. The back is also bent. The movement of standing up was very slow, as if every joint was aching. He faced me, opened his mouth twice but made no sound. The third time, the voice really rang out.

“Tieu Dao…”

“I heard.”

"For the past seven years... I've endured the pain."

Tears fell from his eyes. This is the second time I've seen this man cry.

“I'm not an outsider.” His voice choked. “Never before.”

"It's a confused father." He bowed his head. "Because I was guilty, I pushed you away."

"That year your grandfather gave me a helping hand. I still remember that kindness."

“But dad is too proud.” He smiled bitterly. "I didn't dare to face her, so I pretended like I didn't know your mother."

"After you married into the Qin family, dad was even more afraid. Afraid that you would find out the truth, that's why he pushed you out over and over again."

He turned to Tan Hao, his eldest uncle and his second uncle.

"The Co family's debt... paid."

“It's the way it should be calculated.”

“The will is also for the lawyer to amend.”

“Tieu Dao and Noan Noan's share... must not be lacking.”

The eldest uncle immediately nodded.

“That's how it should be.”

The second uncle also spoke in a low voice:

“Dad, you did it right this time.”

Tan Hao looked at me, his lips moved for a long time, and in the end he could only say one sentence:

“Dao Dao… I'm sorry.”

I stood still, not immediately responding. Seven years of self-pity... It's not like a simple "sorry" can erase it. But looking at the old man standing in front of him, his back bent, tears streaming down his face, trembling supporting every breath... His forty years of guilt, torment and self-deception... Finally completely collapsed.

"Three." I spoke softly. “I accept this apology.”

“But trust… takes time to rebuild.”

He kept nodding.

“Yes… yes…”

“What about the debt?” I continued calmly. "Let the lawyers from both sides work together. I will not take advantage of the Qin family, but I will also not let anyone take advantage of my mother."

“Yes… yes…” Tan Duc Hau nodded continuously.

“As for the group chat…”