Chapter 430 – No Forgiveness
Thinking that it was she who insisted on coming this time, Yao Shuimin decided to set aside her pride.
She slowly stood up and walked over to Xu Jinning. Under Xu Jinning’s puzzled gaze, Yao Shuimin slowly bowed deeply and said, “I’m sorry.”
After apologizing to Xu Jinning, she turned to the Xu family, especially Xu Aiguo and Zhang Ailian, and bowed deeply to them as well, repeating, “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ve owed you an apology for a long time, especially to Xu Jinning.”
“I’m sorry for my selfish act of swapping the children back then.”
“I’m sorry for not taking good care of Xu Jinning during those fifteen years, for nearly causing her death multiple times. I’m sorry, I…”
“Do you think that by saying sorry now, we will forgive you?” Zhang Ailian suddenly interrupted.
She, who had always been kind and gentle, now had a face full of coldness.
She slowly walked up to Yao Shuimin and, in a cold and loud voice, asked, “Are you saying sorry to make us forgive you, so you can feel better?”
“But I need to tell you, even if you say sorry a hundred times, a thousand times, even if you kneel before me and never get up, I will never forgive you.”
“Ningning will never forgive you either.”
Yao Shuimin hurriedly tried to explain, “No, that’s not what I mean, I just…”
Zhang Ailian stepped forward, grabbing her arms with both hands. “Do you know how much it hurt me as a mother when I realized my own daughter had been abused like that?”
“She’s my daughter, my flesh and blood.”
“When I was pregnant with her, I dreamed of giving her the best of everything I had.”
“I wanted her to always be well-fed, to wear the warmest, most beautiful clothes. I wanted to hold her and tell her, ‘My daughter, you are not just my child; you are my treasure. Whatever you want, I will do everything I can to get it for you.'”
“All I wished was for her to grow up safe, healthy, and happy.”
As he listened to his wife’s words, Xu Aiguo’s eyes also reddened.
Back then, his wife had truly felt this way.
When she was pregnant with Ningning, she just knew it was going to be a girl, her little daughter.
Although they already had Fanghua, their older daughter, Zhang Ailian had been full of anticipation for this little one.
“But what did you do? The daughter I was so looking forward to, who I hadn’t even met yet, you maliciously swapped her and took her away.”
“She was gone for fifteen years. If it weren’t for your ability to return to the city, who knows if my Ningning would have ever been able to come back.”
“Fifteen years—you separated me from my biological daughter for fifteen years, and even worse, you ab*sed her to the point where she almost died several times…”
“When I see you, it’s a miracle I don’t strangle you. How could you expect me to forgive you?”
“Let me tell you, I won’t forgive you. Even if I die, I still won’t forgive you!” Zhang Ailian declared emphatically.
By now, tears were streaming down her face, and her eyes were swollen and red.
The other members of the Xu family were also in tears, including Xu Jinning.
She stepped forward and gently supported her mother, softly patting her back.
Zhang Ailian grasped her daughter’s hand and, choking up, said, “Ningning, we won’t forgive. No one can force you to forgive.”
Xu Jinning squeezed her mother’s hand in return and said, “Mom, I know. Don’t worry.”
She helped Zhang Ailian to sit down and then walked back over to Yao Shuimin. She said, “Just like my mother said, if you’re here today to apologize, then I’ve heard you. But I won’t forgive you.”
Because it wasn’t she who was ab*sed for those fifteen years, who was separated from her parents and family for fifteen years.
It was the original owner of this body, even if there’s a possibility that the original owner was her in a past life.
But Xu Jinning still believed that she is herself, and the original owner is the original owner.
She couldn’t forgive on behalf of the original owner, nor did she want the original owner to forgive.
No one knows how desperate and painful it was for the original owner to be trapped in that endless cycle.
In the end, when she couldn’t take it anymore, she had no choice but to summon her modern self.
And the ones responsible for all of this were the three people from the Lin family standing before her.
The one who created this world, who made the original owner and the Xu family into collateral damage, were Lin Wangshu, the main character who never awakened.
The ones who maliciously swapped the children were the Lin family couple.
The ones who caused the tragic fate of the original owner and the Xu family were these three people in front of her.
Although, because of her arrival, those terrible things didn’t happen in this lifetime.
But the original owner experienced them countless times in reality.
So, how could forgiveness even be a consideration? How could she forgive?
This apology, this “I’m sorry,” is so hollow and powerless.
“Even if we set aside the question of whether we forgive or not, child-swapping is a crime.”
“Do you think that just because you didn’t go to jail and were only punished lightly, you’re innocent?”
“If we forgive you today, does that mean this kind of malicious child-swapping behavior is forgivable?”
“But it separated a child from their parents.”
“It could even have led to the destruction of a family.”
“Do you think this deserves forgiveness? Should this be forgiven?”
Xu Jinning’s words echoed, leaving Yao Shuimin feeling deeply ashamed.
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting forgiveness, I just…” Yao Shuimin trailed off, unable to continue.
She knew, deep down, that she was indeed despicable.
Whether it was the malicious act of swapping the children in the past or the apologies she was offering now.
Back then, it was to ensure that her child would have a better life, to avoid hardship with them.
And now, why was she saying sorry over and over again?
It was probably just to ease her own conscience.
Yes, she was that despicable, and admitting it didn’t change anything.
“I don’t think there’s anything left to say between our families, so please leave.”
“If you truly feel guilty, then go do some good deeds. Help those children who need it.”
In the end, Xu Jinning said.
“I will, I will, I’ll go do that, I’ll help them,” Yao Shuimin responded immediately, as if seeing a glimmer of hope.
Her face seemed to light up with that hope.
Lin Wangshu watched the entire time, and there were several moments when she wanted to speak up, but she held back.
Having spent time in the modern world, she understood more clearly what her mother’s act of child-swapping really meant.
On a larger scale, it could even be associated with child trafficking.
Child trafficking, regardless of the circumstances or reasons, was unforgivable.
And she, Lin Wangshu, as the beneficiary, had even less right to say anything.
Finally, Lin Wangshu slowly stepped forward, taking Yao Shuimin’s hand. “Mom, let’s go home.”
