Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 3018 The Weight of Responsibility

Yang Geyong stood outside Zhao Ling'er's apartment complex for a long time. The June evening breeze, which should have been warm, felt icy cold to him. Zhao Ling'er's calm voice echoed repeatedly in his mind: "Breast cancer, stage two."

The woman who was once as hard as steel and always in control has now calmly announced that she has cancer.

There were no tears, no pleas, not even a trace of weakness. She simply told him she was going to have surgery and asked him to take care of the children should anything happen to them.

"If anything happens..." These few words, spoken so casually, struck Yang Geyong's heart like a heavy hammer.

He sat back in the car, not starting the engine immediately. His hands on the steering wheel trembled slightly. His phone screen was lit up, displaying a message from Song Qingyun: "Are you done with your work? I'm waiting for you."

Those few simple words were filled with anticipation and tenderness. Just hours before, he had been happily planning their future, thinking about how to make their relationship public and how to protect her from gossip. But now…

He closed his eyes, and images from decades ago flashed through his mind. In the simple regimental headquarters, Zhao Ling'er held her eldest son, who had a high fever, and stayed by his side all night without sleep.

The sacrifices he once took for granted now surged back like a tidal wave, bringing with them belated guilt.

Yes, Zhao Ling'er was assertive and controlling, making him feel suffocated. But she also supported the family and his career in her own way.

She stood by him through his most difficult years, helped him build his business from scratch, and accompanied him on his journeys around the world. In those years, he could indulge in extravagance and do whatever he pleased, because he knew that with her by his side, the family would not fall apart and his career would not collapse.

And what has he given her all these years? Besides endless arguments, indifference, and the final betrayal, what else?
Yang Geyong suddenly opened his eyes and slammed his fist on the steering wheel. The car horn blared piercingly, sounding particularly jarring in the quiet night.

He took out his phone and texted Song Qingyun: "Something came up, I might be a little late. You can rest now, don't wait for me."

After sending the message, he started his car, but instead of returning to Xishan or going to his studio, he drove aimlessly through the streets, like a lost boat adrift at sea.

Finally, he arrived at Ye Yuze's courtyard house.

It was already past eleven o'clock at night, but the gate of the courtyard was still open. Ye Yuze, wearing pajamas, sat on a rattan chair under the eaves reading a book, with a pot of tea brewing on the stone table next to him, as if he had expected him to come.

"You're here." Ye Yuze put down his book. "Sit down."

Yang Geyong sat down opposite him, his face pale and his eyes vacant.

"I know about Ling'er's matter." Ye Yuze poured him a cup of tea. "She called me this afternoon."

Yang Geyong looked up sharply: "What...what did she say to you?"

"He told me about his illness, that he was going to the United States for treatment, and he also..." Ye Yuze paused, "and told me to persuade you to stay with Song Qingyun and not let her situation affect you."

Yang Geyong's eyes instantly reddened: "Why...why did she do this?"

“Because she understands you,” Ye Yuze said calmly. “She knows you are sentimental, she knows you will feel guilty, she knows you will be in a difficult position. So she said what needed to be said and did what needed to be done first.”

"What should I do?" Yang Geyong's voice choked with emotion. "Old Ye, tell me, what should I do? Qingyun is still waiting for me. We agreed to go public with our relationship and face the future together. But Ling'er... she has cancer, and she has to go to America alone for surgery. How can I..."

Ye Yuze silently drank his tea, not answering immediately. The night breeze blew through the courtyard, bringing with it the faint chirping of insects in the distance.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "Ge Yong, do you remember when we were young, in the Production and Construction Corps, there was a time when you had a high fever, reaching 40 degrees Celsius, and it was Ling'er who braved the heavy snow and walked more than ten miles to the medical team to get you medicine?"

Yang Geyong nodded, tears finally falling: "I remember. When she came back, her hands were frozen and her shoes were soaked."

"Do you remember when we were short of money in our business, Ling'er took out her dowry money that she had saved for several years to help us get through the crisis?"

"remember."

"Do you remember when the children were young, you were traveling all over the world, and who was taking care of the children and helping you manage things back home all by themselves?"

Ye Yuze's barrage of questions cut into Yang Geyong's heart like a knife. Each question made him feel even more ashamed.

"I remember everything, Lao Ye, I remember everything." Yang Geyong wiped his face.

"So I feel guilty, I feel terrible. But Qingyun... Qingyun did nothing wrong. She's so pure, so good, she shouldn't have to suffer like this. I finally managed to get into her heart, how could I..."

"So now you face a choice." Ye Yuze looked directly into his eyes. "Choose love or responsibility. Choose the future or the past."

Yang Geyong clutched his head in anguish: "I don't know... I really don't know. I feel like I'm letting the other down no matter which one I choose."

"Then ask your heart." Ye Yuze's voice was very soft. "Ask yourself, if it were Song Qingyun lying in the hospital bed today, what would you do? If it were her going to America alone for surgery today, what would you choose?"

This question struck Yang Geyong like a bolt of lightning.

If it were Song Qingyun...

He would stay by her side without hesitation, taking care of her, protecting her, and never leaving her side. He would give up everything, only wishing for her safety.

So why did he hesitate with Zhao Ling'er? Was it because they were divorced? Because he no longer loved her? Or was it because... he felt Zhao Ling'er was strong enough to face things alone?

“Old Ye,” Yang Geyong raised his head, his eyes filled with pain, “I no longer have romantic love for Ling’er. But that feeling… it’s different. It’s kinship, gratitude, and the bond of decades of sharing joys and sorrows. I can’t bear to watch her face cancer alone.”

"What about Song Qingyun? You love her, don't you?"

“I love her.” Yang Geyong said without hesitation, “But love… shouldn’t love be selfish? I divorced Ling’er for Qingyun, changed myself, and waited for her. I’ve done so much, am I supposed to tell her now, ‘I’m sorry, I have to go accompany my ex-wife to her medical treatment, and our matter… let’s talk about it later?’”

Ye Yuze sighed: "Ge Yong, love can be selfish, but people can't. You're fifty-eight this year, not eighteen. Love at this age isn't just about romance; it's about responsibility and making choices."

He stood up, walked into the courtyard, and looked up at the stars in the night sky.

“I’m telling you my thoughts, but the decision is yours to make.” Ye Yuze said with his back to him, “If you choose to stay with Ling’er and take care of her while she gets treatment, it’s a responsibility, it’s a duty, and I will support you.”

"But you need to think this through. It might mean you lose Song Qingyun. Not because she doesn't love you, but because of her pride and her clear-headedness. She won't allow herself to be anyone's second choice."

“If you choose to stay and be with Song Qingyun, I won’t blame you. After all, you and Ling’er are divorced, and you have the right to pursue your own happiness. But you need to think carefully about whether you can live a peaceful life. In the quiet of the night, will you think of Ling’er on the other side of the ocean, and will you feel guilty?”

Yang Geyong sat there, like a stone sculpture.

“If you go to be with Ling’er, you’ll be letting Qingyun down. If you stay, you’ll be letting Ling’er down, and you’ll be letting down your own conscience.” Ye Yuze turned to look at him. “This is the adult world. There are no perfect choices, only trade-offs and consequences.”

"Old Ye, if it were you, what would you choose?" Yang Geyong's voice was hoarse.

Ye Yuze remained silent for a long time, so long that Yang Geyong thought he wouldn't answer.

"I don't know." Finally, Ye Yuze said, "Everyone's situation is different. But I do know one thing—if a woman has been with you for most of her life, given birth to your children, supported your family, and stayed by your side during your most difficult times, then you shouldn't leave her alone when she's sick or when she needs someone the most."

These words were like the last straw, breaking Yang Geyong's spirits.

He slowly stood up, his face ashen: "I understand."

"Do you really understand?"

“I understand.” Yang Geyong smiled bitterly. “Love is beautiful, but life is not just about love. There is also responsibility, gratitude, and… those unforgettable past experiences.”

Ye Yuze walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Whatever decision you make, I will support you. But remember, once you've made a decision, don't regret it."

Yang Geyong nodded and turned to leave. His figure appeared particularly heavy in the night.

Ye Yuze watched his figure disappear through the door and sighed softly. He took out his phone and dialed a number.

"He just left," Ye Yuze said into the phone. "He probably went to look for you."

A calm voice came from the other end of the phone: "Thank you, Brother Ye."

"Qingyun, are you really sure?"

"I've thought it through." Song Qingyun's voice was soft but firm. "If this is his choice, I respect it."

"And what about you? What will you do?" There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Song Qingyun laughed, a laugh tinged with bitterness, but mostly with relief:
"Me? I have so much to do. My research, my students, my books... Love is just a part of life, isn't it?"

Ye Yuze smiled and said, "I'm relieved that you think that way."

"Brother Ye, thank you for taking care of me for the past year."

"Silly child, no need for thanks. Come for tea often in the future."

"must."

Hanging up the phone, Ye Yuze returned to the corridor and picked up the book again. Moonlight, like water, bathed the courtyard. This night would change the fate of three people.

At that moment, Yang Geyong was driving to Song Qingyun's studio. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. He knew that what he was about to say would hurt the woman he loved deeply, and he might lose her forever.

But he had no choice.

Some responsibilities are heavier than love. Some choices are heart-wrenching, yet must be made.

The car stopped downstairs at the studio. Yang Geyong looked up and saw that the familiar window was still lit. He knew that Song Qingyun was still waiting for him.

He sat in the car for a long time, not getting out. He needed time, courage, and the preparation to face her eyes and say those cruel words.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Song Qingyun: "I saw your car. Come on in, the tea is still warm."

Those few simple words, brimming with tenderness and trust, instantly brought tears to Yang Geyong's eyes. He slumped over the steering wheel, weeping silently. For the love he was about to lose, for the choices he had to make, and for the cruelty of life.

He cried for a long time before finally raising his head, wiping away his tears, and composing himself. He looked at himself in the rearview mirror—his eyes were red and swollen, his face haggard, but his gaze was resolute.

He opened the car door and walked towards the door with the light on. Every step felt like walking on a knife's edge.

Inside the studio, Song Qingyun sat at the tea table, quietly brewing tea. Her expression was calm, but her slightly trembling fingers betrayed the turmoil within her.

She had a premonition of something.

From Yang Geyong's failure to show up in the afternoon, from his brief message, from Ye Yuze's phone call... as clever as she is, she has already pieced together the truth.

But she still brewed the tea and waited there. She wanted to hear him speak with her own ears and look into his eyes. This was her final act of respect for their relationship.

A knock sounded on the door, very soft, with hesitation.

Song Qingyun took a deep breath: "Come in."

The door opened, and Yang Geyong stood in the doorway. His appearance made her heart clench—he looked so haggard, so pained, as if he had aged ten years overnight.

“Qingyun…” he began, his voice hoarse.

"Come in and have a seat," Song Qingyun said, gesturing to the table opposite her. "The tea is just right."

Yang Geyong walked in and sat down opposite her. He looked at the woman he loved so deeply, at her calm face, at her clear eyes, and suddenly couldn't utter a single word of what he had prepared.

Song Qingyun poured him a cup of tea and pushed it in front of him: "Have a sip of tea first, then tell me slowly."

Yang Geyong picked up the teacup, his hands trembling. He took a sip; the warm tea flowed down his throat, but it couldn't warm his cold heart.

“Qingyun,” he finally spoke, “I have something to tell you.”

“I’m listening.” Song Qingyun looked at him calmly.

Yang Geyong took a deep breath and recounted Zhao Ling'er's illness, his struggles, and his choices in detail. He didn't hide anything, nor did he embellish anything; he simply stated the facts. By the end, his voice had choked with emotion.

“So,” he looked up at Song Qingyun, his eyes filled with pain and guilt, “I have to go to America to be with her while she gets treatment. I can’t let her face all this alone. Qingyun, I’m sorry… I…”

“You don’t need to apologize,” Song Qingyun interrupted him, her voice still calm. “It’s your choice, and I respect it.”

Yang Geyong was stunned. He had anticipated her anger, her sadness, and her questioning, but he hadn't expected her to accept it so calmly.

"You...you don't blame me?" he asked incredulously.

"Why should I blame you?" Song Qingyun smiled faintly. "Yang Geyong, I love you because I love you as a person, including your loyalty and sense of responsibility. If you told me today that you were going to abandon your sick ex-wife just to be with me, I would look down on you."

"But...but we..."

“What’s wrong with us?” Song Qingyun looked at him. “Our feelings are real, and everything that has happened over the past year is real. That’s enough.”

She stood up, walked to the window, and turned her back to him: "Yang Geyong, do you know why I love you?"

"……Why?"

"Because you showed me a man's growth, and the most beautiful form of love." Song Qingyun's voice was soft. "You taught me that love is not just about taking, but also about giving; not just about passion, but also about responsibility. Now, you've proven that with your actions, and I'm proud of you."

Yang Geyong's tears welled up again: "Qingyun...I..."

“Go.” Song Qingyun turned around, looked at him, tears glistening in her eyes, yet still smiling. “Go do what you should do. Accompany her to her treatment, take care of her—that’s what you should do. As for us…”

She paused for a moment, then said firmly, "If we're meant to meet again, we will. If not... at least we had some wonderful times together, and that's enough."

Yang Geyong stood up, walked up to her, and wanted to hug her, but stopped halfway through his outstretched hand.

Song Qingyun took the initiative to step forward and gently embraced him. The embrace was light and brief, yet it felt like a farewell for a lifetime.

"Take care," she whispered in her ear.

"You too." Yang Geyong's voice choked with emotion. "Qingyun, I..."

"There's no need to say anything more." Song Qingyun released him, took a step back, tears streaming down her face, yet still smiling. "Let's go. Remember, wherever you are, take good care of yourself."

Yang Geyong looked at her, staring intently, as if trying to etch her image into his heart. Then, he turned and strode away. He didn't look back.

Because he knew that once he turned back, he wouldn't be able to leave.

The door closed. Song Qingyun stood there, listening to the footsteps fading away on the stairs, and finally, tears streamed down her face.

She slowly slid to the ground, hugging her knees, and wept silently. For this love that was ending before it even began, for the man she deeply loved but had to let go of, and for her own strength and pride.

After crying for a long time, she finally raised her head and wiped away her tears. She walked to the tea table, picked up the teacup that Yang Geyong had just used, and gently stroked the rim of the cup.

The tea is still warm, but the person has already gone far away.

But life goes on. Her research, her students, her books… love is just a part of life, isn’t it?

She walked to the guzheng, sat down, and gently plucked the strings. A piece called "Yangguan Sandie" flowed out slowly, ancient and desolate, carrying the reluctance of parting and the courage to move forward.

The night was deep, and the sound of a piano filled the air. On this night, some made difficult choices, some accepted harsh realities, but everyone chose to take responsibility and to grow.

Perhaps this is what adult love is like—not just romantic moments under the moon, but also weathering storms together; not just sweet nothings, but mutual support and fulfillment.

Outside the window, the moonlight shone like water. Inside, the sound of a zither drifted on. This night would forever be etched in their memories, becoming an indelible mark on their lives.

And who knows what the future holds? Perhaps one day, fate will bring them together again. Or perhaps not.

But at least they truly loved each other, and that's enough.

Thank you for the votes, everyone! Thank you for the bookworm's chest! My new book got banned again, what should I do?