Xia Jiandang, like a walking corpse, his face as pale as paper, slowly left the Xia family without any expression.

At this moment, he felt as if an invisible pressure was pressing down on him, making it hard for him to breathe.

Recalling everything that had just happened, the pain in his heart deepened. That seemingly ordinary bowl of mixed grain noodles had now become a lingering shadow in his mind.

There was no doubt that there was something wrong with the bowl of noodles, and it was this discovery that made him fully realize the reality.

It turns out that I am so insignificant in my parents' eyes, that I can be easily used as a shield.

He had already decided to separate the family after an argument at the dinner table a few days ago.

However, because his father was hospitalized, this matter had to be put on hold for the time being.

He had intended to bring it up today, but before he could even utter the words about dividing the family property, his father's words today melted his already icy heart like a warm current.

For a moment, he was moved, and even felt a little dizzy and disoriented.

Unfortunately, in the end, all these so-called genuine expressions of emotion were nothing more than an elaborate deception.

Xia Jiandang gave a bitter smile and shook his head self-deprecatingly.

Only someone as utterly foolish as him would easily believe such hypocritical words.

"You're back. Did you get all the answers?" As this question rang out, Xia Jiandang suddenly looked up.

Only then did he realize with a start that he was standing in front of Xia Jianguo's door again.

At this moment, he looked completely dazed, as if he had lost his soul, and muttered to himself, "Second...Second Brother, how did you know there was something wrong with that bowl of noodles with minced meat sauce?"

Xia Jianguo smiled slightly, a faint curve appearing at the corner of his mouth, and said softly, "Third brother, I've always been self-aware and know that I'm not well-liked. Judging from your reaction, you probably already believe what I said, but you still seem a little unwilling, right?"

Looking at his younger brother, who had been ruthlessly abandoned by his biological parents and appeared so lost and dejected, where was the slightest trace of a man who was almost forty years old?

Xia Jianguo couldn't help but purse his lips, thinking to himself, "Fine, since I've decided to be a good person, I might as well play this so-called 'saintly father' role to the very end!"

Thinking of this, he turned to his daughter beside him and softly instructed, "Xiao Wan, go and bring out that bowl of mixed grain noodles. Since none of us want to eat it, we might as well feed it to the kitten you just picked up."

After saying that, he gave his daughter a meaningful look, and his gaze fell on the thin, pitiful, and sick kitten at her feet, and a pang of regret welled up in his heart.

I wonder if his daughter's mysterious "golden touch" will be able to save this sickly kitten?

"Okay." Xia Wan replied helplessly. Even though she was extremely unwilling, her father had spoken, so she had to give him face.

She swayed as she stood up from the small stool and walked toward the kitchen.

It has to be said that the kitten they just picked up was incredibly well-behaved. It followed Xia Wan like a little tail, all the way into the kitchen, and then followed her back to the same spot. It was as if it wouldn't leave Xia Wan's side for even a moment.

Looking at the adorable and obedient kitten, Xia Wan couldn't help but waver, and her original thought of harming it vanished instantly.

Although Xia Wan herself didn't have the ability to cure the cat's illness, as long as it didn't eat the bowl of noodles in front of it, perhaps it could live a few more days.

Thinking of this, Xia Wan picked up the bowl of mixed grain noodles that had clumped together with both hands, carefully walked out of the kitchen, and placed it directly on the ground in the center of the yard.

At this moment, the entire courtyard was unusually quiet; not even the slightest breeze could be heard.

Only the occasional meows of the kitten broke the tranquility.

Surprisingly, despite the kitten meowing all the while, when it came to the bowl, it merely lowered its head to sniff the noodles before turning away, showing no intention of eating them.

Upon seeing this, a fleeting, almost imperceptible smile flashed across Xia Wan's eyes.

"Third Uncle, you see, it's not that I'm unwilling to help. It's just such a pity that even this little cat doesn't want to eat these noodles."

Then, she deliberately feigned a regretful look and said to Xia Jianguo sitting next to her, "But cats and dogs have the most sensitive noses. Maybe it smelled something and that's why it didn't eat it."

Hearing this, Xia Jianguo couldn't help but roll his eyes and glance at his daughter speechlessly.

He knew perfectly well that the reason the kitten wasn't eating was because it was already full after being fed so much food!

Seeing Xia Jiandang still standing there in a daze, I was about to say something more when I heard the other person speak: "I know, what Second Brother said is true. You didn't see how harshly Father spoke to me just now..."

His voice was hoarse, as if it had been sanded, and his eyes, which should have been sparkling, were now like two dry wells, empty and lifeless.

And so he recounted his conversation with Old Man Xia in detail, as if the words flowed from his mouth uncontrollably.

However, he didn't seem to know who he wanted to talk to, and just kept talking to himself.

As time went on, his voice grew softer and softer, like a candle flickering in the wind, weak and trembling; the hoarseness became increasingly severe, until it was almost impossible to understand what he was muttering.

Seeing this, Xia Wan curled her lips dismissively and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Third Uncle, didn't you swear before that you would separate the family? Since you've known all along that your parents don't care about you or love you, why are you putting on this act now?"

At this moment, Xia Jianguo, who had been silent all along, coughed lightly and slowly said, "Ahem... Third brother, although what Xiaowan said is unpleasant to hear, it is not without reason. People, after all, have to move on with their lives."

Now that the truth has been revealed, it's time to stop and focus on living a good life with your wife and children.

As Xia Jianguo spoke, he observed Xia Jiandang, unsure whether the other party would listen to him.