"Now, now, Miss Moyu. You don't have to blame everything on Mr. Feng. I was also at fault. It's also been a very long time ago. I would have forgotten about it if Feng Tianyi hadn't shown up today. I wouldn't cooperate with him even if he presented me with a chance to work with him. You see, Miss Moyu, I run my business with an iron fist. I also understand why Feng Tianyi had to do what he needed to do back then." Jia Yuntao laughed, trying to ease the awkwardness in the atmosphere.

  "But that's impossible. You are one of the kindest men I ever met, Mr. Jia." Tang Moyu said in confusion. This man was one of those people who had a big heart to help anyone, even strangers he'd never met before without asking for anything in return.

  "You think so? I'm really honored to hear such words from you, Miss Moyu. You see, I was a different man back then. I didn't care what people thought or felt, as long as I could get what I wanted." Jia Yuntao glanced at Feng Tianyi and smiled. "I'm sure Mr. Feng understands what I am saying."

  "Yes." Feng Tianyi muttered but was loud enough to be heard by Tang Moyu and Jia Yuntao.

  "I was hungry for power and wealth. I was a neglectful father and husband to my family. It might sound absurd, but I think Mr. Feng saved my life."

  The old man's words left the couple bewildered. How could he say something like that? Feng Tianyi had literally taken everything from him, reducing him into a homeless man.

  "I don't understand…" Tang Moyu voiced their confusion.

  "Feng Tianyi might have taken over my company, but do you know what I did next, Miss Moyu?" Jia Yuntao washed his hands clean at the sink before he wiped it dry.

  Tang Moyu shook her head in response.

  "After I lost my business to the devil, I indulged myself in alcohol and gambling." Seeing the frown on Tang Moyu's face, he scratched his cheek, a little ashamed.

  "I spent lavishly on the things I don't need. It was out of addiction. It was hard to stop, but it didn't take long because I don't have a source of income anymore. Before I knew it, I was drowning in debt. I was evicted from my mansion, my wife divorced me and everything that I owned was seized by the bank and people I owe." Jia Yuntao spoke as if it didn't bother him anymore. If it happened to other people, they would surely blame others for their misfortune.

  "Do you understand now what I'm saying, Miss Moyu? Feng Tianyi might have taken over my business, but he didn't ruin my life. I did." He said the last words with emphasis.

  "I don't understand. How can you speak of it as if it was a good thing? Where's the silver lining if you've lost everything?" Tang Moyu asked.

  "You should already know the answer by now, Miss Moyu. Considering that you've also lost everything in the past, right?" The old man said in return. The empress had no words to refute that because, in all honesty, when the Tang family kicked her out and she severed her relationship with Feng Tianhua, she learned so many things she never knew before.

  "One might not be able to understand at first why you have to lose everything." Jia Yuntao looked at Tang Moyu, then turned to the devil who caused his world to crumble. The three of them had experienced a great loss in their lives.

  "You feel anger, resentment, and fear, but eventually, you would realize why you have to lose everything to gain a better one. By losing everything, I learned humility, and through it, I was able to find the purpose of my life. It might have been too late for me to understand, but I wanted to use my remaining years to serve and help people as much as I can."

  The couple was left speechless by his words.

  For Tang Moyu who lost a family, what had she gained after it? A pair of twins who loved her unconditionally and a husband who adored her more than anyone else.

  As for Feng Tianyi, why did he have to lose Feng Conglomerate to his younger brother and lose the ability to walk, reducing him to a crippled man that never wants to get involved with anyone ever again? What had he gained after that?

  He gained a lovely wife through the help of his little buns, mended his relationship with his mother, and gained a friendship that was more valuable than his brotherhood with Feng Tianhua. Now, he had started a very promising company with his wife. It would surely give him a better future compared to what Feng Conglomerate could offer.

  As per the lesson in Jia Yuntao's life, how could they miss what the old man was teaching them? Even Confucius had once said, "our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

  "My choices are what brought me to this kind of life that I have now. It wasn't solely because of Feng Tianyi. It was my indecisiveness to rise again after that fall. If I took a better approach, I won't be here now. Anyway, regret always comes too late."

  "The point of life is to never fall down or make mistakes, but instead, like a phoenix rising out of the ashes, you have turned into something stronger and better. You might be down right now, but don't stay there forever. Rise again. It might take a while to muster the strength, but rise again. That's what I'm trying to say." He laughed and eyed the long line of patrons waiting to be served lunch. "I hope this old man didn't bore you with his words."

  The couple shook their heads and smiled. No, they didn't mind his reminder at all.