My brother, Cheng and I were sitting in the ice cream shop waiting for Zhan and my father. Since my father can no longer drive himself, Zhan suggested picking him up from the hospital. From the looks of it, I don't think he will return home again and stay in the hospital until he takes his last breath.

Although I actually just hated my father for 7, almost 8 years, I found the thought of him dying soon horrible. Lung cancer and that as a non-smoker! I also found the thought of him dying, without us trying to talk it out first, horrible. Therefore, when Zhan told me about my father's condition, I didn't have to think long and immediately agreed to meet with my father.

I believe that even if I do not succeed in forgiving my father, it is better if he can die and go to the realm of the dead with a lightened soul and less burden on his heart.

When I saw Zhan's car pull up, I became really nervous. Even my brother was suddenly quite anxious. And, we both turned pale in the face when we saw our weak and disease-ridden father getting out of the car with Zhan's help. Zhan put him in a wheelchair and put an oxygen mask on him. I ran to the door, opened it, and helped Zhan carry the wheelchair up the two steps.

My father's hands were shaking incessantly. His face looked sunken, his eyes almost lifeless. Every time he inhaled, his lungs rattled. Zhan had warned me that he looked bad, but I did not expect such a sight.

My brother and I sat directly across to him. Next to me sat Zhan and next to my brother sat Cheng. My father smiled at Zhan and me and said to me, "You have really found a great boyfriend. Very attentive, loving and caring. Just right for you." I nodded with tears in my eyes.

"Unfortunately, I don't know much about you, but the way you look at my oldest son, so full of love and admiration, you must really love him a lot." He said to Cheng. Cheng nodded and burst into tears. My father smiled at my brother and my brother also had tears in his eyes.

We all ordered ice cream and when it came, we saw how much my father enjoyed it. On top of that, he said with a laugh, "The last time I had ice cream was when I was young, the same age as you are now Yibo, and I've already completely forgotten how good it tastes."

"We always have ice cream at home." I replied, looking at Zhan who smiled and confirmed it.

"Yibo likes to snack on ice cream in between, that's why it always has to be at home." Explained Zhan.

My father turned to my brother and said, "It's been a long time since we sat at the same table and I'm sorry for that. It should never have come to this. I should have just fought back instead of giving up on you and your little brother just because I was asked to. I know there's nothing to excuse it, but I'm afraid I can't say more than I'm incredibly sorry. I'm sorry Hai Kuan, really, really sorry."

My brother took a deep breath and replied, "After Zhan told us what happened and I had a few days to think about it, I understand. Of course, it doesn't undo anything and there are an incredible number of questions, but I'll save those for Mother and Grandfather. I can't say I forgive you, but I'll try, since you're obviously just a victim, too."

"That you try is enough for me Hai Kuan, I thank you." Said my father. Then he had a bad coughing fit. I saw that there was blood in the handkerchief he was holding in front of his mouth and swallowed hard. He must have been in a very bad state.

When my father recovered a little, he looked at me and he had this loving look on his face. "Yibo, I have to say you've really turned out great and it's all thanks to your brother and your boyfriend. Your brother took care of you from the beginning and was a better father and mother than anyone else could have been. Even as a baby, you were totally fixated on your big brother. And as soon as you could walk a few steps, you always ran after Hai Kuan. You often clung to his leg and hid behind him. He often scolded your mother when she gave you money instead of food for school. At some point, your brother bought this bento box for you and gave you a different meal in it every day, along with fruits and vegetables. Do you remember?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"Your brother did a great job with you. He raised you to be a kind, gentle and smart young man." Said my father.

"I know and I am very grateful to him for that. And thanks to Zhan, I've also become more confident and brave."

"Oh yes you have. I can really see it in your face. I have to say, I'm glad you found a man like him. Knowing that he will always take good care of you and provides well, I can also be more reassured when I die. But also Hai Kuan, I'm glad that you seem to have finally found the right one. A man you can love and mothered too, like Yibo. Haha. Don't take this the wrong way. I love what a caring man you are."

My brother and I had to smile when we heard that. I think we both just wanted to overhear the comment about dying at that moment. We had never seen our father laugh before. Never before had he had such a loving and warm look on his face. Did he have to get this terminal illness for us to know what kind of person our father really was?

Suddenly, my father seemed nervous and waved Zhan over. He whispered something in Zhan's ear and Zhan nodded. Then Zhan asked something, my father clapped his hands in joy and replied something. Unfortunately, we didn't understand a word.

And then... then Zhan came in front of me on his knee and held out a small navy blue box to me. He smiled and said, "Yibo, I already told you that I'll never let you go and plan to marry you within a year. An engagement is the first step in that, isn't it? That's why, my dear cutie, I'm on my knees right now to tell you that I love you in every possible way and can't imagine my life without you. Having met you is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you more and more every day. Wang Yibo, will you marry me?"

I jumped up from the chair and fell into Zhan's arms. "Yes, of course I want to marry you." I cheered as I hugged him.

My father laughed heartily and said, "Oh I can see how much you love Zhan. And that's why you two get my blessing too." I smiled and thanked him, then Zhan put the ring on my finger, which I immediately admired and showed to my brother.

But, my father also said to my brother, "If you two also want to get married someday, you will also get my blessing for that. Zhan told me a lot about your boyfriend and I'm absolutely okay with it if you two get married someday."

"Thanks Dad." Said my brother and suddenly started crying. He stood up, walked around the table to our father and hugged him. It was a scene where there was not a dry eye left. I too then stood up and hugged my father.

We both knelt beside his wheelchair and he held us both in his arms. The three of us cried, with joy and with sadness. Only after a few minutes did our tears dry.

Before us, there no longer sat the feared, terrible, ice-cold man. But a broken, dying man, with warm loving eyes, who had to maintain a façade for years, because he made a big mistake. His regret was clear to see.

We sat in the ice cream shop for over an hour before he got too tired and weak and had to go back to the hospital. My brother and Cheng went home. Zhan and I took my father back to the hospital.

At the hospital, he was connected to his machines again, just as he was connected to the drip and a professional oxygen machine. Zhan got some candy for me from the kiosk and I sat with my father and held his hand.

My brother texted me, "If you are still with our father, tell him I forgive him." I told my father and he looked at me happily and asked me several times if it was true. And I also told him that I forgave him. Which made my father cry.

And then my father said to me, "I regret so much that I could never be the father to you that I always wanted to be and that you needed. But I'm glad that at least Hai Kuan was always by your side, taking care of you. He told me quietly earlier that he loved raising you and taking care of you, so that makes me really happy. And Yibo, I am really incredibly proud of you. I'm glad you found the love of your life and I'm sure Zhan will never let you go. I remember when he came here and said to me that he wouldn't let anyone hurt you. And he said that with such sincerity that I knew right away how much he loves you. And it makes me happy and proud that from now on, this man will always be by your side watching over you."

"Zhan is great isn't he? I love him very much and I am grateful every day that I met him. He is just wonderful, great and my absolute dream man. When I am with him, I feel complete. I am blissfully happy." I replied.

When Zhan came back into the room, he gave me a kiss on my forehead and told me that we should slowly drive home now. My father was very tired and needed to rest. I hugged him again and my father said to me for the first time, "I love you my son. Come home safely. And thank you for fulfilling my last wish with your brother today. Now I can die in peace."

I then said, "I love you too Dad. And thank you, for your honest words today. And thank you for giving your blessing to Zhan and me."

Zhan and I went home after that, we cooked dinner together, ate in peace, and then sat down in the living room on our sofa. Around 10:15 pm, we received a call from the hospital. The doctor informed me that my father passed away at about 10 pm with a smile on his face. I was completely speechless.

Only 15 minutes later my brother came to us and we both held each other crying. I don't know how long we cried, I just know at some point Zhan took me in his arms and carried me upstairs to the bedroom where I fell asleep crying on his chest while Hai Kuan and Cheng stayed in our guest room.

In the morning, we all went to the hospital to take care of the funeral. My mother didn't even bother to show up there.