Jian Mubai had entered and exited the Shen family's home for so many years, yet this was the first time he was walking in not as Shen Keqin's bodyguard, but as Shen Keqin's future boyfriend.
It was hard to say he wasn't nervous. He had expected Shen Zhengcheng and Xi Ruxue to not greet him with pleasant expressions. Unexpectedly, Xi Ruxue welcomed him with a smile, just as she always did.
The household servants, upon seeing him, took the items from his hands, their faces beaming with smiles.
This made him feel even more guilty.
He knelt on the floor with a thud, "Uncle Shen, Auntie, I'm sorry..."
Shen Keqin hadn't expected Jian Mubai to suddenly kneel. Torn between the man she loved and her parents, she was incredibly anxious.
Xi Ruxue sighed and helped Jian Mubai up, "Get up first."
Compared to Xi Ruxue, Shen Zhengcheng's expression was quite stern.
Shen Keqin's heart skipped a beat. It was over; her father was indeed angry.
Suddenly, Shen Zhengcheng coldly left Jian Mubai with a single sentence, "You, come with me to the study," and then went upstairs.
Seeing the worry in Shen Keqin's eyes, he gave her a reassuring look.
In the study.
After Jian Mubai entered, he gently closed the door.
Seeing Shen Zhengcheng pick up his brush, Jian Mubai immediately walked over to grind ink for him.
In the past, when Shen Keqin was napping or playing, Jian Mubai would come to the study to grind ink for Shen Zhengcheng. He admitted that at the time, his intentions were impure; he wanted to find evidence of Shen Zhengcheng's crimes.
However, the more he interacted with Shen Zhengcheng, the more he felt that Shen Zhengcheng was an upright gentleman. Yet, he also feared that Shen Zhengcheng was faking it, leaving him in great inner turmoil.
Neither of them spoke at first. It wasn't until Shen Zhengcheng began to write that he finally asked, "Do you truly like Qinqin?"
Jian Mubai, expecting Shen Zhengcheng to bring up the past, was stunned for a few seconds before replying seriously, "Yes, I love her."
"Is that so? If you love her, why did you make her suffer for so long?"
Jian Mubai pursed his lips. Some mistakes, once made, are made. He wouldn't make excuses. "I will love her with my entire life, make amends, and ensure she only remembers my love and kindness towards her."
"Make amends?"
Shen Zhengcheng's dark eyes cast a chilling glance at Jian Mubai. "With what can you make amends? If I'm not mistaken, you've applied to several law firms and were rejected by all of them. Or perhaps, you intend to develop your career in places like Jinse to support Qinqin?"
Jian Mubai's face turned pale. He truly hadn't expected Shen Zhengcheng to know about his visit to Jinse.
Given Shen Zhengcheng's character, who detested evil, he likely wouldn't forgive him.
No, for Qinqin's sake, he had to find a way to gain the forgiveness of the Shen family.
"Uncle Shen, I know that whatever I say now will sound like empty words to you, but I swear on my life, I will overcome this current difficulty and give Qinqin a beautiful future."
Jian Mubai had come to the Shen family at eighteen and had stayed for ten years. Shen Zhengcheng couldn't possibly not understand his character.
He remained silent until he finished writing and stopped. He picked up the calligraphy and handed it to Jian Mubai.
Jian Mubai respectfully accepted it.
Upon seeing the words, his expression grew even more somber, and his heart filled with immense guilt.
"Inalienable human rights."
Shen Zhengcheng looked at him and said calmly, "When you wanted to study law, I told you that in our profession, whether defending victims or criminals, defending human rights is our duty."
Previously, Jian Mubai had asked Shen Zhengcheng a question: "Why should a lawyer with a strong sense of justice defend bad people?"
Shen Zhengcheng replied, "Defending the basic rights of bad people can be difficult to accept emotionally, but as a fundamental principle of modern society, basic human rights should encompass all citizens, unless their civic rights have been revoked by legal judgment due to their crimes."
Jian Mubai understood this, but he didn't agree with the practice. It was only later, after studying law, that he grasped the underlying logic.
However, understanding was one thing, and revenge was another. Moreover, he had firmly believed at the time that Shen Zhengcheng had accepted illicit money.
Now, these four words were like a slap to Jian Mubai's face, making his cheeks burn.
"I can understand that you were used and wanted revenge on me. The one thing you shouldn't have done was, after entering Chang Mingde's club, use your lawyer's identity to frame your peers. In essence, there's no difference between you and Chang Mingde."
Jian Mubai clenched his fists tightly, his eyes turning red with shame. His voice was hoarse, filled with self-reproach and pain. "Uncle Shen, I'm sorry. I have failed your expectations, and I have wronged you..."
"No! You haven't wronged me. You have wronged yourself. You have wronged the you who studied late into the night for exams, who read case files until dawn to defend others, who gave everything for justice!"
As the heavy memories surged back, Jian Mubai could no longer hold back his tears.
"A man's tears are not shed lightly. Wipe your eyes."
Jian Mubai said another "I'm sorry," and quickly wiped away his tears.
Shen Zhengcheng took a document from his drawer and handed it to Jian Mubai.
Jian Mubai stared blankly at Shen Zhengcheng.
"Open it!"
Jian Mubai opened it and saw that it was an employment contract.
He looked at Shen Zhengcheng in disbelief. "Uncle Shen, this..."
"Don't misunderstand. I am merely offering you a partnership. What the future holds can only be created by your own hands."
Jian Mubai's heart was filled with complex emotions. He had a thousand words to say but didn't know where to begin.
If the Lin family incident hadn't happened, he might already have been an outstanding lawyer. After so many years of wandering, he had lost much, but he had also gained much.
He didn't want to cry in front of Shen Zhengcheng, didn't want him to think he was a coward.
"Thank you... Uncle Shen, thank you..."
Shen Zhengcheng sighed. He had ultimately softened. He walked over and patted Jian Mubai's shoulder. "Mubai, from the first moment I met you, I knew you were not someone who would settle for mediocrity. You would surely shine in your own field. When you said you wanted to study law, I was very happy."
Everyone at the top of their profession hopes their son will inherit their legacy, and Shen Zhengcheng was no exception.
However, Shen Liubai had no interest in the legal profession; he only enjoyed research.
When Jian Mubai expressed his desire to study law, Shen Zhengcheng had hoped to groom him as his successor and even wanted Jian Mubai to join his law firm and eventually take over his position. Who knew Jian Mubai would refuse.
But that was all in the past. Now, he only wished for his children to be happy.
Qinqin's love for Jian Mubai was evident. If not for anything else, for his daughter's happiness, he hoped Jian Mubai could turn his life around.
"I'm sorry, Uncle. I have disappointed your expectations..."
"Hey, why can't you understand? I don't want to hear you apologize. Let the past be the past. Tell Zhuyin I have never blamed either of you. You two have worked hard all these years."
How could one not suffer when burdened by hatred?
The more magnanimous Shen Zhengcheng was, the more Jian Mubai felt his heart ache.