Chapter 986 — Tang Zhi's Decision

"Wei Zhao, hear me out first — this is exactly why I asked you to bring your girlfriend along!" Feng Tianlong said. "I know it is unfair to her, but as a father, I only hope that before my daughter's life runs out, she can be as happy as possible, with no regrets! Of course, I am not asking you to break up with your girlfriend. All I ask is that you pretend, put on a show, and fool Xiaoxiao so that she can leave this world without regret! This is a father's dearest wish! I hope you will agree!"

As he spoke, Feng Tianlong rose to his feet and made to bow to Wei Zhao.

Startled, Wei Zhao hurriedly stood and stopped him, smiling wryly. "Uncle Feng, what are you doing? Whatever it is, we can talk it over and decide together. There is no need for this."

"Uncle Feng, I agree!" Before Wei Zhao could answer, Tang Zhi spoke up from beside him. "I will work with Wei Zhao and play my part well, so that Xiaoxiao can walk her final stretch of road without regret..."

Tang Zhi was truly moved. Besides, Feng Tianlong had made himself perfectly clear: he only wanted Wei Zhao to pretend to be Feng Xiaoxiao's boyfriend. In Tang Zhi's eyes, so what if it were real? What was there to fight over with a dying girl?

Even if she were to yield Wei Zhao to Feng Xiaoxiao for a year, Tang Zhi could just about accept it. After all, she and Wei Zhao had a long road ahead of them, while Feng Xiaoxiao had less than a year of life left. Fate was unjust. Tang Zhi pitied her, and so she had agreed to Feng Tianlong's request without the slightest hesitation.

Feng Tianlong had assumed Tang Zhi would be the greatest obstacle in this matter, never imagining that she would be the first to agree. Beyond being moved, he found himself deeply fond of this kind-hearted girl. Such a spirit of self-sacrifice was not something every young woman possessed.

"Tang Zhi, thank you!" Feng Tianlong thanked her solemnly.

"Do not say that. Xiaoxiao is my classmate too. Making her happy is what I want as well," Tang Zhi said with a shake of her head.

"Thank you! Wei Zhao, will you agree to my request?" Feng Tianlong knew Wei Zhao had yet to say anything. Tang Zhi had agreed, but Wei Zhao was the one who would have to carry this out.

"Yunyun has already agreed, so what is there left for me to say?" Wei Zhao smiled wryly. "Does this count as being licensed to chase girls?"

"Haha!" Feng Tianlong could not help but laugh at that. "When you are together day to day, you can be a little bolder in your conduct. I am not afraid my daughter will be taken advantage of, nor do I need you to take responsibility. Better yet, have a child or two — then I will not be so lonely in my old age!"

"Huh?" Wei Zhao's eyes went wide, badly startled by Feng Tianlong's words.

Tang Zhi's expression shifted slightly as well... Have Wei Zhao and Feng Xiaoxiao produce a child? She pitied Feng Xiaoxiao deeply and was willing to let Wei Zhao pretend to be her boyfriend, but the idea of Feng Xiaoxiao bearing Wei Zhao a child struck Tang Zhi as strange in every possible way.

If a child were born, what would become of it afterward? If Feng Xiaoxiao truly died, would Wei Zhao be left with a child, and she with a stepchild?

Tang Zhi felt she could not quite accept this — at least not now. She was so young, and she was supposed to become someone's stepmother? How absurd!

"Uncle Feng, that request is one I am afraid I truly cannot agree to..." After a moment of stunned silence, Wei Zhao smiled wryly and shook his head.

"Wei Zhao, I know you are worried about what will become of the child. But I can promise you both that I will never hold you responsible, nor ask you to raise it!" Feng Tianlong said. "I will raise the child myself. And if you are unwilling, I do not even have to tell the child who its father is!"

"Uncle Feng, can we set this matter aside for now? Leaving aside whether Xiaoxiao would agree, even between her and me, our feelings have not run that deep. So would it not be better to wait until such a thing truly comes to pass?" Wei Zhao waved a hand. "Besides, if it ever did come to that, I would acknowledge the child. I could never let a child be without a mother and without a father!"

"This... very well!" Feng Tianlong sighed. Wei Zhao might have phrased it nicely, but Feng Tianlong understood that it was merely a roundabout refusal. Between Wei Zhao and his daughter, that step would likely never be taken in the little time that remained — and with his daughter's life so near its end, there would be no time left at all.

"Since Yunyun has agreed, I will not make a fuss about it. I can only say I will do my best. But I will not abandon Yunyun either. If Xiaoxiao can accept Yunyun, then naturally there is no problem. If she still rejects Yunyun, then I will not let Yunyun suffer any indignity!" Wei Zhao pitied Feng Xiaoxiao and could not bear to refuse him outright, but equally he would not let Tang Zhi be wronged for nothing.

"Wei Zhao, I am fine. Do not worry about me — it is only a year. I... I can endure it," Tang Zhi said hurriedly, shaking her head. She had already made her decision; how could she possibly go back on it now?

"Then we will deal with it when the time comes," Wei Zhao said, and let the matter drop.

"Wei Zhao, Tang Zhi, I have one more request: please do not tell Xiaoxiao the truth, and do not let her know that you know she has this terminal illness. Xiaoxiao is a proud girl, and I fear that if she learns the truth, she will reject your kindness..." Feng Tianlong cautioned.

"Rest assured, Uncle Feng. I know where to draw the line, and we will not speak carelessly," Wei Zhao said with a nod.

"Then I can rest easy!" Feng Tianlong said. "There is nothing else to worry about, then. Have you two got any free time? Let me treat you to a meal, as a way of expressing my thanks."

"Uncle Feng, there is no need for a meal!" Wei Zhao waved a hand. "Tang Zhi and I still have to get back to school for class. And you need not be so formal with me, Uncle Feng. You ask me to court your daughter, and then you want to buy me dinner — it all feels rather awkward to me."

"Ha ha!" Feng Tianlong was amused by Wei Zhao's words. "Very well, then — next time, when you come back together with Xiaoxiao, we will go and have that meal!"

Wei Zhao nodded, took his leave of Feng Tianlong, and departed from the Pengzhan Business Hotel with Tang Zhi.

In the car, Wei Zhao turned his head to look at Tang Zhi. "Yunyun, do not force yourself to put up with this on my account."

"Keep your eyes on the road!" Tang Zhi said instead. "I am not forcing myself. I feel great sympathy for Xiaoxiao too. I think this is a good deed."