Chapter 671: The Meaning of Persistence
The rain outside the window had stopped at some point.
Sang Zhe’s sobs gradually quieted down. Sang Mom still rested her chin on her hand, gazing gently at his face.
After a long silence, Sang Zhe slowly wiped his face, finished the noodles in his bowl, and tilted his head back to drink the fish soup.
After putting down the bowl, he forced out a smile.
“Mom.”
“I’m full.”
“That’s good.” Sang Mom smiled and said, “Do you want me to sing you a birthday song?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Sang Zhe nodded vigorously.
In the messy rented apartment, the woman began to sing softly with a gentle rhythm, clapping her hands as she sang:
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you…
She paused and smiled at Sang Zhe.
“For the last line, let them sing it?”
Before Sang Zhe could react, voices suddenly rose around him:
“Happy birth~day~ to~ you~”
“Hubby, happy birthday!”
“Brother, happy birthday!”
“Happy birthday, Brother Sang Zhe!”
“Dad, happy birthday!”
Streams of data transformed into familiar figures. From Zhang Xiaoying and Bai Ming to Little Ying You and Little Lonely, all his loved ones appeared with smiles, clapping and singing in front of him.
The originally empty and lonely rented apartment suddenly became packed and lively, as if the lights in the room brightened a little.
“Happy birthday, Hubby.”
Zhang Xiaoying gently took Sang Zhe’s hand, her beautiful eyes filled with regret as she said, “I’m sorry… I thought you would be so happy to see your mother again…”
“I didn’t expect you would miss her so much…”
“I’ll go first.”
Yan Rouwan quickly clarified, “It was all Nian Nian’s idea! It has nothing to do with us!”
“Hey! You traitor!”
Before Nian Nian could retort, she shyly stepped in front of Sang Zhe, mumbling:
“Well… I-I had good intentions.”
“Since it’s rare to meet all conditions. With the Wheel of Time, we can perfectly replicate everything about your mother, so I thought maybe you could meet her again in the game world…”
“Aren’t you unhappy?” She tugged at Sang Zhe’s hand, blinking cautiously.
Sang Zhe shook his head: “No.”
“I really… am very happy.”
To see his mother in person.
To celebrate a family reunion birthday amidst everyone’s blessings.
Sang Zhe couldn’t think of a more romantic gift.
“Don’t dwell on sadness.”
At that moment, Huo Ningxue pushed a cart with a cake slowly approaching, while Bai Ming called others to join, “Let’s have a happy birthday!”
“Come, come, let’s cut the cake!”
“Wow!” Upon seeing the luxurious and tempting five-layer cake, Hua Jianglian salivated, “I want to eat the chocolate on top!”
“Leave some fruit for me!” Si Jingzhu anxiously stamped her feet beside her.
“Do you have any manners?” Long Huan scolded, giving them each a playful chop on the head, hands on hips, “Let Mom eat first.”
The two little girls instantly looked aggrieved.
“Come, come,” Sang Mom looked on at the girls with a smile, full of joy, “Let me cut the cake for you.”
“A big piece of chocolate… and the most fruit…”
“Thank you, Mom!” Hua Jianglian and Si Jingzhu’s eyes sparkled as they received the cake, unable to contain their drool.
Soon, once the cake was divided, the atmosphere in the room became even more lively and cheerful.
Sang Mom had the most people surrounding her.
Huo Ningxue sat right next to Sang Mom, listening to her reminders on pregnancy precautions.
Zhang Xiaoying and Bai Ming were seated on either side, each holding Little Ying You and Little Lonely.
Gu Yingmian was getting impatient on the other side, eagerly asking how to quickly conceive.
Tang Yubbing and Shi Qingyan rested on Sang Mom’s lap, waiting to hear embarrassing stories about Sang Zhe’s childhood. Meng Qiyan stood behind, massaging Sang Mom’s shoulders, looking very attentive.
Yu Xia was still weaving through everyone, serving tea, snacks, but her ears were always perked up, listening to Sang Mom tell stories.
Originally, Xu Hongyi was still arguing with the three little ones over leftover cake. Upon hearing Sang Mom was telling a story, she joined in.
Sang Zhe quietly sat beside, holding a plate of cake, watching his mother laugh and chat.
“Are you satisfied?”
Beside him, Yan Rouwan and Nian Nian also held two plates of cake, sitting next to him: “This gift is something we’ve planned for a long time.”
“I really like it.”
Sang Zhe smiled gratefully, “I truly… have been dreaming of seeing a scene like this.”
Yan Rouwan and Nian Nian exchanged glances.
“I checked with Causal Lotus. Your mother’s essence has been reincarnated several times already, so we couldn’t resurrect her spirit.”
“The ‘mother’ in front of you is just a personality we recreated based on everything your mother had in the Wheel of Time.”
“We know this isn’t really about reuniting you with your mother. It could possibly hurt you again even more.”
“So, we were torn for a long time about whether to do this.”
“Please don’t blame us.” Yan Rouwan quietly leaned on Sang Zhe’s shoulder.
Sang Zhe smiled lightly.
“Thank you for doing this for me.”
“This gift is really important to me.”
If he had to choose the biggest regret in his life.
It wasn’t about his parents’ divorce.
It wasn’t about his own cancer.
It was not being able to let his mother see him grow up.
“My mom was right.” Sang Zhe muttered to himself, “Her biggest regret should also be this.”
“I know my mom can no longer see me. This is merely self-deception for self-entertainment.”
“But.”
But this is really important to me.
Even if it’s just to hear my mother say, “I’m content just watching you grow up.”
That’s enough.
Now, his mother was surrounded by her daughters-in-law, being called ‘Mom’ so affectionately.
Holding her grandchildren, hearing them call her Grandma,
Sang Zhe could feel his mother was so happy that her eyes were getting moist.
He suddenly felt that everything he had done seemed meaningful.
There was a time when Sang Zhe thought being the First Deity/Demon was a joke.
As if everything was preordained, like everything was plotted by the First Deity/Demon.
Everything he worked hard for seemed destined.
But today, seeing everything before him.
Sang Zhe suddenly understood.
Even if he wasn’t the First Deity/Demon, he would still do the same.
Rolling on the floor in pain from stomach medication in the rental room.
Enduring bullying and ridicule from other disciples in the wilderness outside the sect.
In life and death situations. In countless schemes and calculations.
Having walked this path to become who he is today.
At the moment he saw his mother’s happy smile, it all had meaning.
…Even if he wasn’t the First Deity/Demon.
He should still be the great hero in his mother’s heart.
“Son, happy birthday.”
Sang Mom walked in front of Sang Zhe with the cake, smiling, “Open your mouth.”
Sang Zhe smiled and took a bite of the cake.
“Is it good?”
“Very good.”
“Well, after you finish, Mom will have to go.”
“…Mm.”
“If you miss Mom, just take a bite of the cake.”
“Mm.”
The streams of data scattered.
Sang Zhe continued to chew with a smile.
Tears forming at the corners of his eyes.
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