Middle-aged tycoon: Twins come knocking on his door when he goes home for Chinese New Year

As the lid of the black leather suitcase was slowly opened.

Everyone craned their necks and stared wide-eyed, eager to see what this grand finale was—a priceless treasure.

However, when they saw what was inside, everyone's expressions froze instantly, turning into deep confusion and disappointment.

There were no dazzling gold or silver jewels in the box, nor bundles of banknotes.

Inside, there were just a few seemingly inconspicuous pieces of wood lying quietly:

A somewhat rough-looking wooden bowl, a small wooden house model about the size of two palms, and a hand-woven red concentric knot.

Next to these items, there was a thick stack of photos neatly arranged.

That's it? That's all?

The courtyard was quiet for a few seconds, then a murmur of sighs rippled through the air.

Geng Qi, the quick-witted one, couldn't hold back any longer. Pointing to the contents of the box, she asked incredulously:

"Li Ze, you...you just gave Ruoran this piece of broken wood?"

"During the New Year, you gave us jade bracelets and Chanel gifts, but when it comes to Ruoran, all you give us are these few wooden blocks?"

"Isn't this really inappropriate? Are you trying to treat Ruoran like a beggar?"

The eldest brother, Zhang Jianguo, also frowned and his face darkened.

He looked at Li Ze, his tone revealing dissatisfaction:

"Li Ze, what do you mean by this?"

"If you're ever short of money, just tell me, and I'll lend you some."

"You bought us such expensive things, but gave Ruoran these worthless trinkets. How can we accept them with peace of mind?"

"How about this, we'll return everything you gave me, and you can go buy Ruoran some decent jewelry!"

As he spoke, Zhang Jianguo reached to unbuckle his new belt, and his two sisters-in-law also took off their jade bracelets.

Even Li Menghan, who had been sitting silently in the corner, suddenly stood up.

He clutched the pile of new clothes in his arms and angrily tried to shove them into Li Ze's arms:

"I don't want your clothes! Take them all away! Don't try to fool my mom with this junk!"

Despite the doubts and excitement of the crowd, Li Ze remained unusually calm.

He reached out to stop everyone, a gentle smile on his face, and said softly:

"Everyone, please be patient and let me finish."

"These things may look worthless, but in my heart, they are more valuable than all the money in the world combined."

"The person I, Li Ze, will never mistreat in my life is Ruoran."

As he spoke, Li Ze took out a thick stack of photos from the box.

He pulled one out and held it up to Zhang Ruoran.

The background of the photo is the bustling New York Harbor, with the famous Statue of Liberty standing tall.

In the center of the photo is a young Li Ze, carefully holding a photograph in his hands.

The person in the photo was Zhang Ruoran, a smiling eighteen-year-old.

"This was taken in New York."

Li Ze said softly.

Then he took out another one.

The background is the towering Eiffel Tower in Paris, the same pose, and the same old photo of Ruoran.

"This is in Paris."

One after another.

The pristine white Taj Mahal in India, the magnificent Louvre Museum in France, the red and white Tokyo Tower, the weathered pyramids of Egypt…

The background of each photo is a world-famous landmark.

And in every photo, besides Li Ze himself, there is always that old photo of Ruoran.

Second sister-in-law Tang Dan leaned over for a look and asked, somewhat puzzled:

"Brother-in-law, why are you showing us these travel photos?"

"Are you trying to say you're having a great time abroad?"

Li Ze shook his head, looking tenderly at Zhang Ruoran, who had remained silent:

"When we first got married, I was so poor that I didn't even have money for a honeymoon."

"Back then, I promised Ruoran that when I became rich, I would definitely take her around the world to see the scenery."

"I made the same promise in my letter when I left."

"For the past eighteen years, I've been drifting alone outside."

"But I have never forgotten that promise."

"I have never forgotten Ruoran either."

"I take this photo with me whenever I go to a new city or visit a tourist attraction."

"It's like Ruoran has always been by my side, watching the sunrise and sunset with me, and seeing people come and go."

Li Mengli also came over at this moment. She pointed at the photo in Li Ze's hand and exclaimed in surprise:

"It really is! Look closely!"

"In every single photo, Dad is holding the same picture of Mom!"

"Even the creases on the corners of the photos are exactly the same!"

Upon hearing this, the relatives gathered around and took a closer look.

Sure enough, although the photo was well protected, the edges were yellowed and worn, clearly indicating that it had been handled countless times.

Zhang Ruoran stood there, her gaze fixed on the photos.

Her eyes widened slightly, as if something had struck her heart hard.

It turns out, he hadn't forgotten.

It turns out that in every moment he looked at the world, he was thinking about himself.

Second brother Zhang Jianjun sighed and stubbed out his cigarette.

"You're not so bad after all, you do have some sense of loyalty."

"It's kind of you to have kept this photo all these years."

"But... a photo is just a photo. You only traveled the world with a piece of paper, while Ruoran has been suffering at home all this time and has never been with you."

Li Ze nodded, looking at Ruoran with sincere eyes:

"Second brother is right."

"So this time I'm back."

"I want to fulfill the promise I made back then. I want to walk these roads again with the real Ruoran and see the world."

Zhang Ruoran pursed her lips and remained silent.

But a hint of tears was already welling up in the corners of her eyes.

Li Ze didn't stop; he took out the rough wooden bowl from the box again.

"I carved this bowl myself. My skills aren't very good, so please don't laugh at me."

Li Ze's fingers traced the rim of the bowl as he drifted into memories:

"I still remember when we first got married, we were dirt poor."

"Often, to save a dollar, two people would share a bowl of vegetarian noodles."

One night, Ruoran was so hungry she couldn't sleep, and she joked with me, "If only we had a treasure bowl given to us by a god."

"Even a wooden bowl will do, as long as it can produce braised pork and chicken legs every day."

At this point, Li Ze gave a wry smile:

"This sentence has been buried in my heart for eighteen years."

"When I was abroad, every time I ate, I would think of the vegetarian noodles from that night."

"How I wish Ruoran could eat such a feast every day as tonight!"

"But I wasn't capable back then, I couldn't do it."

"Now that I'm back, this wooden bowl is my promise."

"From now on, whatever she wants to eat, I will make it up for her. I will never let her go hungry or suffer poverty again."

Then, Li Ze picked up the small wooden house model.

When we got married, we didn't even have a decent new house.

"I was crammed into that drafty old house in Lijia Village, but Ruoran didn't mind."

"Later, I went to work in Han City and rented a tiny, old, run-down apartment that was only the size of a palm."

"Just when things were starting to look up, I was gone."

Li Ze gave a self-deprecating sneer:

"I really am a bastard."

"Ruoran and her child lived in a tin shed for six years."

"So, to make up for the fact that we didn't have a good place to live in the past."

"I bought a house near Seoul University."

As he spoke, Li Ze gently lifted the roof of the wooden house.

Inside lay a shiny key and a red property certificate.

"This is for Ruoran, and also for the children."

"It's close to the school and the environment is good. We won't have to squeeze into a rented room anymore."

A collective gasp rippled through the courtyard the moment the property certificate was seen.

The eldest sister-in-law and the second sister-in-law exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Houses next to Seoul University? That area is incredibly valuable!

This whole setup must cost at least several million!

Has he put all his savings of so many years into this?

This is far more valuable than Chanel or jade bracelets!

Finally, Li Ze picked up the red love knot.

Below the love knot hangs a crystal-clear, dazzling diamond.

It was a full two carats in size, and it shimmered brilliantly under the light.

"I wove this love knot myself."

"I hope that Ruoran's and my hearts can be reconnected like this knot, never to be separated again."

"As for this diamond..."

Li Ze looked at Zhang Ruoran, his eyes filled with guilt and deep affection:

"When I got married, I could only afford a silver ring that cost a few dozen yuan."

"I'm sorry you had to suffer."

"Today, I want to personally put this diamond ring on your finger, which is eighteen years overdue."

"If so, is that alright?"

At this moment, the courtyard was completely silent.

The only sound was the crackling of burning firewood.

After listening to Li Ze's words, Zhang Ruoran looked at the gifts in front of her, each one filled with memories and heartfelt sentiments.

She could no longer control her emotions.

She reached out and covered her mouth tightly, trying not to cry out loud.

But the tears fell like beads from a broken string.

That really touched me.

Each of these gifts struck the softest, most hidden corner of her heart with perfect precision.

Compared to those Chanel pieces, jade bracelets...

These things, containing fragments of memories from the past, are the truly priceless treasures.

Even the usually picky third sister-in-law, Geng Qi, had tears in her eyes and couldn't help but sigh:

"Oh dear... my brother-in-law, although he used to be a scoundrel, his heart is truly sincere."

"If it's just about throwing money at me, I definitely won't be satisfied."

"But he's both rich and dedicated, I'm truly impressed."

Zhang Jianguo, the brother-in-law, nodded, his voice slightly choked with emotion:

"Yes, they really put their heart into it."

Li Mengli was already crying her eyes out by now.

She sobbed as she wiped away her tears:

"Waaaah... Daddy's so romantic..."

"This is so touching..."

Even Li Menghan, who had always been like a hedgehog, was moved when she heard her father recount those difficult past experiences.

Before she knew it, her eyes welled up with tears. She quietly turned her head away and wiped away a tear that had fallen.

At this moment, Zhang Ruoran once again became the focus of the entire audience.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for her response.

Zhang Ruoran took a deep breath and wiped away her tears.

She slowly walked around the table and stepped in front of Li Ze.

As she approached, Li Ze felt both nervous and expectant, and a slight smile appeared on his face.

Zhang Ruoran looked at Li Ze, her expression a complex mix of tears and laughter.

"Li Ze".

Her voice had a heavy nasal tone:

"I've certainly seen your silver tongue today."

"He's really eloquent."

As she spoke, tears continued to stream down her face.

It was sadness, but also a sense of relief.

Suddenly, Zhang Ruoran's expression hardened, and her tone became somewhat harsh:

"However, don't think you can fool me with all those sweet words you've said today."

"I, Zhang Ruoran, am not stupid. I won't fall for it a second time."

These words abruptly ended the previously warm and touching atmosphere.

It's like pouring a bucket of cold water on a hot fire.

The eldest brother, Zhang Jianguo, sighed softly and shook his head.

that's true.

Those were eighteen years of hurt, eighteen years of loneliness and despair.

How could a few gifts and a few words today possibly smooth things over?

If they didn't kick him out, they had already done more than enough.

The eldest and second sisters-in-law also looked at Li Ze with sympathy, then at Ruoran, hesitating to speak.

The second brother-in-law silently took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

The third brother-in-law and his wife also frowned, feeling that the matter was likely to fall through again.

Zhang Yuan and Zhang Dan clenched their fists nervously.

Even Zhang Ziwang, who had been playing on his phone the whole time, put it away and focused on watching this side.

Li Menghan stared intently at her parents, her lips moved, but she didn't say anything.

Li Mengli cried even harder, her voice trembling with sobs as she cried out:

"Mom...you still can't forgive Dad?"

Li Ze pursed his slightly dry lips.

The flicker of hope in my heart, though not completely extinguished, has dimmed considerably.

He gave a wry smile, sighing inwardly:

Yes, a debt from eighteen years ago isn't so easy to pay off.

I was too hasty.

His hand trembled slightly as he prepared to put the love knot and the other items back into the box.

I was thinking of secretly passing it on to Ruoran through my daughter later, even if she doesn't wear it now, it would be nice to keep it as a memento.

However, just as he was about to put the love knot back into the box...

A slightly rough but incredibly warm hand suddenly reached out.

She grabbed his hand and pressed it down.

They stopped him from doing it.

Li Ze's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up in disbelief at Zhang Ruoran in front of him.

Zhang Ruoran's eyes were still filled with tears.

But within those tears, there shone an unprecedented light.

Her body trembled slightly, but a smile slowly appeared on her face.

It was a sense of relief, and also a sense of anticipation.

She looked at Li Ze and said in a firm yet gentle voice:

"Aze".

"I'll accept this gift."

"This is the best gift I have ever received in my life."

She paused here, her tone becoming serious:

"However, I cannot forgive you for the harm you have caused me over the past eighteen years today."

"The wound is too deep and will need time to heal."

"but……"

Zhang Ruoran grasped Li Ze's hand in return, holding it tightly:

I'm willing to give you a chance.

"A chance to pursue me again and win me back."