Ru couldn't possibly forget that every time her father punished her for the sake of Clan Rules, he also punished himself along with her. He was strict and there was no doubt about that. She used to think that he was overreacting always.

However, staying out all these years made her realize what she had really left behind. That father always portrayed himself as the bad guy just to help her stand up on her own feet. Just to teach her that she wasn't supposed to depend on others. She only needed herself to stand tall.

Most importantly, if it wasn't because of the willpower that his father instilled in her soul, she really would have lost her life back then.

"That's how fathers are. They hide their love behind their stern and strong demeanor. They want to be strong for their child. And that's why they never dare to show their weakness before their own kid." Ji Yifeng commented after he learned of why Ru called her father weak.

But wasn't all fathers weak when it came to their own flesh and blood?

"We all are weak but yet we strive to become heroes for our kids."

"I agree with you. After I left my dad, I did realize what he was for me. He always acted like a villain just so I could become the hero of his life." Ru was still reminiscing. "I always thought he was biased when it came to me and my little brother. But now I know that I was the one he loved the most. Because he taught me how to face the storm rather than protecting me behind himself like my little brother."

Ji Yifeng could feel the love and respect in her voice and it really moved him. One could feel what her father meant to her.

"Your father is lucky to have a son like you," he couldn't help saying this.

'Son?' That one word made Ru want to scratch her head.

With a cough, she hid her emotions and said, "Mr. Ji, why don't you come clean with your sons?" She might not know what went wrong but she was certain that Ji Yifeng wasn't the villain in Xiao Zhiren's life.

"A lot of things will change if I repeated the story of those years. Some will be left heartbroken and others will be lost. I'm fine being an outsider as long as my children are together... And happy. I don't want to crumble their whole life just to prove my innocence." Ji Yifeng's answer wasn't much different than what she had originally expected.

Even as an outsider, she could tell that whatever happened in Ji Family wasn't as simple as people say it was. It was not just complicated. The truth could really alter their beliefs.

"See, this is why I said you are a strong father," Ru spoke again with resolute as if telling him she was right all along. "You are the kind of father who is ready to bear the scorn of his own sons just so that they don't end up breaking in this cruel world. But let me warn you, Xiao Zhiren is a very curious person and the way he is digging into past, I believe he'll soon come across it."

Ji Yifeng smiled back at her rather sadly as he said, "Thanks for your concern but it's not needed. Ji Family isn't the only one hiding the past. Unless one of us speak up, Zhiren won't be able to find anything."

Ru nodded understanding his point as well. Who else was hiding the past, she didn't know but she had a hunch about it.

"Thanks for the tea and for your precious time as well. It made me feel a lot better. Talking to you really is interesting." Ji Yifeng stood up to leave.

"This wasn't so bad for me either," Ru replied politely.

She was accompanying him to the door when he said, "Let me know if you need any help. Although I believe your background is peculiar than mine. But I can assure you that our Ji Family isn't shabby either."

"I don't think I need anything from Mr. Ji." Ru's response was in accordance with his understanding of her.

'You can ask for his son!' Her conscious reminded her making Ru want to pull that stupid conscious out and give it a good beating.

'I don't want his son!' She snapped back inwardly while waving Ji Yifeng goodbye.

'Well, not yet. But we never know... You might want him tomorrow.' Her conscious wasn't backing off.

'Don't talk about tomorrow when we are not even promised one.' Ru replied before banging the door close and shaking her head to get rid of this stupid monologue.