"Because Jiang Zemin and another Underworld group feared their power. Lu clan was a powerful martial arts clan, and they weren't on Jiang Zemin's side. Then there was this other group who had some personal grudge with them. So, they joined hands together to end them. I was hiding my involvement in his overthrow because I couldn't afford to let him throw me out of his aide. Remember, I was just a servant under him. I was silently leading and supporting the Lu and Cheng clans. But even without his overthrow plan, Lu clan was already doomed."

  Lu Bojing pursed his lips. "B-because of the other group…?"

  Zhao Weisheng nodded. "Even I don't know why they hated your clan so much. But there was a deep grudge. The Lu clan was very uptight about this, and Lu Geming said that they would handle this on their own. It was their personal matter. I didn't intrude any further."

  Lihua felt a knot in her heart listening to this. For the entire clan to be annihilated, and Lu Bojiing was left alone…
She hugged him and patted his head. "You don't have to feel alone because I treat you as my little brother. We are family!"

  He stared at her with tears stinging in his eyes and guilt engulfing his heart.

  She was being so kind to him, yet what was he doing? Hiding Jia's truth from her…
Even though Lihua was devastated by Jia's loss and mourning her death when Jia was fully alive made Lu Bojing lower his head in shame. Lihua had no need to suffer such grievances and sorrow, yet he was keeping him in the dark.

  But what can I do…?

  Song Jia isn't going to be alive for l-long. Once the transplant is over, she would be no more…
He anxiously pursed his lips.

  For the first time in his life, he wished for a miracle to happen such that the surgery would never take place.

  But he wondered…
Just what kind of a miracle would stop Mingshen from doing the heart transplant?

  "……Bojing?"

  He broke out of his stupor and looked at her. "Y-Yes?"

  "What were you thinking?"

  He stiffened and clenched his fist. "……Nothing."

  Qingqing narrowed her eyes at him.

  Sneaky human.

  She sighed. She glanced back at Zhao Weisheng. "What happened then?"

  He softly smiled.

  She curiously asked, "Why are you smiling, Grandpa?"

  "Nothing," he shook his head in deep thought, "It felt nice seeing you two like that. Somehow, it felt familiar to me. However, I really cannot recollect how…Anyway, coming back to your question. We were working in the shadows to weaken Jiang Zemin's position. It became even more important when he 'killed' Jiang Shan and usurped the throne. There was nobody to challenge him. We were close to bringing him down. But then, the tragedy with the Lu clan happened. The whole family was burned down to ashes…"

  They froze.

  "Jiang Zemin got the wind of it that something was happening behind his back. To be honest, I still don't know how. We were very cautious in all the steps we were taking. It was impossible for a mole to be between us either. The Lu and the Cheng families were very particular about the people they kept by their side, especially more so when we wanted to overthrow Jiang Zemin."

  Lu Bojing was shocked. "B-Burned down?"

  Zhao Weisheng had a solemn expression. "It was truly tragic and cruel. Jiang Zemin then confessed to me in his arrogance that the other group killed the entire clan in fire. They knew a direct physical confrontation with them was useless. But their strength wasn't supposed to help protect them from a fire disaster. The whole residence was locked in, and nobody was able to escape the fire…"

  At the end, his voice turned bitter and remorseful.

  "I don't know how Lu Bojing got out. If I am correct, you were just a baby at that time, and you were supposed to be in the residence," he looked at him and smiled. "But I am so glad that you survived. Nothing makes me happier to know that the Lu clan is alive thanks to you."

  Lu Bojing was quiet.

  He had least expected to learn anything about his family. But now that he knew, he really didn't know what to feel.

  "……Did my family love me?"

  Zhao Weisheng was taken aback. "Of course. You were the apple of their eye. Especially your mother's. When I used to meet Lu Quan, he would often complain how she ignored him ever since you were born. He would cry in a corner. You had completely taken over her world. Even a stern and vicious man like Lu Geming was helpless before his grandson. Your mother would sing endless praises about how beautiful and cute her son looked. You would even outshine a woman in beauty when you grow up, and she was very proud of it."

  Lu Bojing trembled.

  'Tsk. Your mother would be so ashamed of you! Look how girly you look!'

  'Yes, it's disgusting!'

  'You are a boy, but you look so pretty like a girl. Boys should look strong, not cute! Bleh!'

  The mocking voices of those children rang in his ears. Those times when he was bullied and beaten for his looks flashed before his eyes.

  Lihua beamed. "See? I told you, right? Your mother would have definitely felt so proud of you. What do others understand?" She fumed. "Bullies only know how to hurt us."

  Lu Bojing burst into soft sobs. "E-En…"

  Even though he didn't realize it, he felt as if something heavy and burdensome was taken off his shoulders. At the very least, he was satisfied to know that his family never hated him. If they had been still alive, his life would have been so different.

  Knowing about his family's love for him made him feel pained about their gruesome death. At first, he wasn't affected to know about his clan's annihilation.

  But now, he felt a faint sense of loss tugging his heartstrings.