Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Qin Du, happy birthday.

Uncle Li was sweating profusely after tinkering with it, and finally he dug out an old-fashioned laptop from the storage room that could insert CDs. After taking it apart and tinkering with it for a long time, he managed to turn it on and finally inserted the CD.

Turning her head, Liu Jingheng narrowed her eyes into slits, with an expression that said, "If things don't go well, I'll fall asleep right now in front of you."

"Okay, okay." Uncle Li clapped his hands, ran to sit next to Liu Jingheng, shook his shoulders and woke him up.

Liu Jingheng yawned. He didn't really want to know why the father and son had become so embroiled in such a heated argument over a disc. Having been at the Qin family for so long, he'd come to realize that wealthy people all had their own quirks and emotional outbursts that were difficult for ordinary people to understand.

The computer was connected to the projector, and the screen flashed for a moment before a line of specially designed jelly font popped up:

September 12, 2005.

Old, cheerful music played, and a few blue jelly letters popped like bubbles, followed by a new line of colorful jelly letters:

Today, I am ten years old.

The small characters are surrounded by a very old-fashioned cake effect, which is in line with people's appreciation level in those years.

Liu Jingheng glanced at her phone, then turned to Uncle Li and said:

"What a coincidence! Today is also September 12th."

Uncle Li opened his mouth, but was speechless.

On the electronic screen, the scene changed and a group of people appeared. The background looked like the hall of the Qin family mansion, but it had a more old-fashioned feel than now. Many of the furniture had never been seen before, and it was also a style that people of that era would like.

There was a lot of noise in the camera. The middle-aged Mr. Qin was holding a three or four-year-old child and smiled at the camera:

"Chu Yao, look, Uncle Li is recording you, come on and say hello to Uncle~"

The child stretched out his hand towards the camera: "Yes, yes!"

Liu Jingheng closed her eyes: I’m so annoyed.

Uncle Li's youthful voice came from behind the camera:

"Young Master Chu Yao, today is your uncle's tenth birthday. Go and tell him happy birthday and wish him a happy birthday every year."

Little Qin Chuyao: "Yes! Yes!"

Liu Jingheng looked away: ...

The camera kept moving forward, pushing aside the crowd, and Liu Jingheng's sight was also captured again.

He saw a familiar yet unfamiliar little boy wearing a tailor-made suit. Although he was only ten years old, still a baby, his eyebrows and eyes were extremely handsome, as white and tender as tofu, with the innocence unique to children in his eyes.

Sitting next to him was a plain-looking middle-aged woman, who looked about 80% similar to the child in her features. She was wearing a plain cheongsam and seemed a little nervous in front of so many people. She clutched her knees tightly with both hands and rubbed them nervously.

"Young Master Qin Du, congratulations on growing another year older." Uncle Li's voice came from off-screen, "You're almost as tall as your wife."

Liu Jingheng was stunned for a long time, then pointed at the child in the camera and asked:

"Is this Qin Du?"

Uncle Li nodded and said with emotion:

"Yeah, in the blink of an eye, Mr. Qin is already thirty years old. Look at him when he was a kid, he still had a little baby fat on his face, so cute."

Liu Jingheng thought about it and nodded.

Yes, Qin Du was the most handsome ten-year-old he had ever seen.

Back then, Qin Du's mother and brother and sister-in-law were still alive. The old man was no more than forty or fifty, with a head of shiny black hair. Qin Chuyao spoke less fluently and wasn't so annoying anymore. Qin Du's face still held the innocence of a child. 2005 was truly the best year.

Liu Jingheng hugged her knees, breathed a sigh of relief, and her eyes were deeply attracted by the beautiful little boy.

Suddenly, Qin Du's mother stood up, her face a little pale, as if she was not feeling well. She took little Qin Du's hand and gave him a few words of advice, then told Uncle Li that she wanted to go upstairs to rest first.

Uncle Li explained:

"My wife has never been in good health. She had a serious illness a few years ago and it left her with a chronic illness. She gets a headache when there are a lot of people around."

In the camera, little Qin Du considerately took his mother's hand and sent her upstairs to rest. When he came down again, there was an uninvited guest in the crowd.

"Qin Du." The middle-aged old man waved at the child, "Come over and say hello. This is my new secretary. Her last name is Xu. She's only about ten years older than you. Just call her sister."

As the old man introduced her, a slender young figure appeared in the camera. Her snow-white body was wrapped in a deep red strapless satin dress. The extremely bright red and extremely plain white almost broke through the camera.

A face so gorgeous that it makes one's back chilled smiled at the camera. The camera shook noticeably, and it was obvious that Uncle Li, who was in charge of the filming, was uneasy.

"Your name is Qin Du, right?" The young woman leaned forward and extended her hand towards Qin Du. "I've often heard Director Qin mention you before. Seeing is believing. I finally understand why Director Qin likes to show off his son so much."

Qin Du stared at her coldly for a long time, then extended his hand: "Hello."

The woman held his hand and rubbed it, then freed one hand and took out a velvet gift box from her luxury bag, smiling sweetly:

"This is the birthday gift I picked for you. I didn't know what you like, so I just followed my taste. I hope you don't dislike it~"

Her voice is thin and crisp, and the ending tone of each sentence is gentle and melodious, and most of the ending interjections are "ne" and "ya", which sound as delicate and crispy as puffed biscuits.

Qin Du looked at the small box without moving, and only said "thank you" symbolically.

The woman worked tirelessly, blinking her big eyes:

"Why don't you answer it? Don't you like it? Why don't you open it and take a look first~"

Qin Du looked away, his tone cold and indifferent, not like a ten-year-old child:

"You're worrying too much. Many guests are here to celebrate my birthday today, so I won't be here to keep them company. I'll be leaving first."

After saying that, he turned and left.

The embarrassment on the woman's face disappeared in an instant. She looked at Mr. Qin while holding the small box, and the corners of her rosy lips drooped.

"Mr. Qin, it seems the child doesn't like the gift I bought. I'm sorry, I came from a small place and haven't seen the world. I'm embarrassed for you."

The old man patted her shoulder and smiled kindly:

"Don't think too much about it. That's just how the kid is. He's spoiled by his mother."

The woman smiled with a smile that was insincere and not in line with her age:

"Thank you, Mr. Qin, for your comfort. I'll leave the gift on the table. I'll continue to learn more from Mr. Qin and see more of the world. Next year, for the young master's birthday, I will definitely be able to buy him a gift that will impress him."

Old Man Qin in the camera looked at the woman, his eyes blurred as he smiled, and he nodded continuously.

Uncle Li suddenly asked Liu Jingheng: "Do you know this woman?"

Liu Jingheng shook her head again and again.

"She's the master's second wife. She came into the family about three months after the mistress passed away." Uncle Li chuckled, his meaning unclear. "Boss Qin's brother and sister-in-law are quite perceptive. They call her 'Mom' so fluently."

Uncle Li dragged the mouse to fast forward the video. After it stopped, the words "Today, I am eleven years old" appeared on the screen.

Qin Du is different from ordinary people in many aspects, the most prominent of which is his height.

But in just one year, he was already as tall as many adults. The childishness on his face had faded a little, the baby fat was gone, and he vaguely had some of the sharpness he has now.

This time, the camera didn't show the plain-looking wife. Old Master Qin appeared holding Qin Chuyao, who was one year older than him. He held a beautiful rose in his right hand and introduced him generously to everyone's gaze:

"This is my wife, Xu Wenzhi. Originally, this year, my eldest son, daughter-in-law, and my ex-wife passed away for various reasons, so it was not convenient for me to hold a grand celebration for Qin Du's birthday."

"But I heard that I wanted to take this opportunity to meet and get to know everyone. It just so happens that Qin Du won the National Mathematical Olympiad gold medal, so let's celebrate for him."

Liu Jingheng scratched her head outside the camera.

Is that the truth? Even if it is just to take advantage of the topic, the sentence order should put Qin Du's award first.

At the same time, he also admired the old man. His son, daughter-in-law and ex-wife passed away in the same year, but he still had the mood to marry a new wife. Should he be said that he was not particular about details or that he had no heart at all.

But at the birthday party held for Qin Du, the protagonist did not show up for a long time.

The camera followed Uncle Li's gaze as he circled the crowd, and finally found Qin Du in a very hidden corner.

He was still wearing a custom-made suit, which seemed a little too small, with his wrists and ankles exposed. The child sat silently behind the water dispenser, his figure blocked.

Liu Jingheng thought about it carefully and suddenly realized that Qin Du was wearing the same clothes he wore to his birthday party last year. After a year, the clothes would not change with the child's body.

It's not like you're short of money, so can't you get him a new one?

Xu Wenzhi's dress this year has changed from bright crimson to vibrant and passionate orange-yellow. The overall design is like a ginkgo leaf with clear veins. When she stands in the crowd, she is the most eye-catching.

Many guests, considering the Qin family's situation this year, chose dresses in plain and dark colors. Only Xu Wenzhi was like a ball of fire, burning through every corner of the banquet and finally burning beside Qin Du.

She took out a card directly from her handbag and said with a smile:

"Qin Du, I've thought about it and I feel that you're not young anymore, so it's time to give you the right to choose. The card contains the money I've saved over the years. You can use it to buy whatever you like. If it's not enough, I'll think of a way, okay~"

Qin Du didn't even look at her, his voice was cold and deep:

"Need not."

Mr. Qin tried to smooth things over:

"We are a family from now on. Mom and Dad's money is yours. Don't be polite to Mom."

Xu Wenzhi winked at the old man, put his arm around him, and said in a soft voice:

"If mom isn't enough, then ask dad, don't you think?"

Qin Du didn't even glance at the two of them from beginning to end, and just stood up and left.

Xu Wenzhi pretended to be aggrieved: "Did I say something wrong to make the child unhappy?"

Old man: "Ignore him, it's all because of Tang Shanping."

At the birthday party in 2006, the protagonist Qin Du only appeared for a few minutes. After that, he was not seen again in the three-hour video. Instead, it recorded how a woman who had nothing to do with the birthday danced gracefully in this high-society party and made everyone smile.

Liu Jingheng watched for a few minutes and didn't want to watch anymore.

He suddenly understood why Qin Du hated others acting like a spoiled brat.

This woman named Xu Wenzhi, whether she was born that way or had superb acting skills, could speak to anyone in the most playful tone and say anything flawless, making everyone confused. Even Liu Jingheng had a terrifying thought while watching the video, "She is quite cute."

Liu Jingheng rested her chin on her hand and pondered.

It turned out that it was not because Qin Du was born bad that he took off his mother's oxygen mask, but when everyone pushed that simple and taciturn woman to a dead end, Qin Du could not bear to watch his mother suffer.

At that time, the elementary school students believed that they were unable to help their mothers with their worries and difficulties, and death was the only relief.

After experiencing the most painful experiences in the world, his heart began to gradually become twisted, and he eventually embarked on the rebellious path that only villains can take.

Liu Jingheng finally sorted out her thoughts:

"Is today Qin Du's birthday?"

Uncle Li was moved to tears: "You finally figured it out."

Liu Jingheng was puzzled: "Then why didn't anyone celebrate his birthday?"

Even these children without parents would receive a small cake made by the dean’s father on their birthday.

Uncle Li smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I'm never happy on my birthday every year, so I just don't care."

He raised his head and looked at the ceiling: "But who doesn't want to receive a blessing on their birthday?"

On Qin Du's twelfth birthday, he was about to enter junior high school. For any child of this age, it was a great journey into a new life, let alone a young man who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, so of course a grand celebration was inevitable.

The aristocratic private school Qin Du attends organizes a European study tour for children entering junior high school every year. The departure time is September 12, Qin Du’s birthday.

He and Old Man Qin proposed to go to Europe for study tour, but Old Man Qin told Qin Du not to run around and to stay on standby at home because Xu Wenzhi was undergoing tumor surgery in the hospital.

Can a primary school student cut a tumor or is he more professional than a nurse? Qin Du didn't know, but he knew that his existence was only to provide emotional value to Xu Wenzhi.

Look, although you are the second wife who came into the family later, the whole family treats you as a treasure. If you are a little unwell, everyone will be on standby for you at any time.

The twelve-year-old child read the People's Daily over and over again by himself the night before other classmates happily set off for Europe.

When the head teacher called to persuade the old man, the child quietly peeked out from the newspaper, his heart hanging in the air with anticipation.

Finally, when the old man resolutely said, "Qin Du will not participate, I will take him there when I have time," the young heart fell into the abyss again.

He read the newspaper all night, but he had no idea what the newspaper said. He just didn't know what else to do.

Liu Jingheng listened quietly to Uncle Li reminiscing about the past. An image emerged in her mind of a young child holding a newspaper that was not suitable for his age, looking at a certain word all night long, quietly, trying to maintain his last dignity in this way.

Liu Jingheng just felt a sour feeling at the root of her nose.

He didn't like Mr. Qin very much anymore.

Liu Jingheng suddenly stood up and went downstairs under Uncle Li's surprised gaze.

After a while, he came back and asked, "Where is Qin Du?"

"He went to the company and said he had an important meeting today."

Liu Jingheng nodded, ejected the CD from the computer, and told Uncle Li that he had to go out for something.

Uncle Li nodded with relief, tears in his eyes.

Liu Jingheng was sitting in a wheelchair passing by the landfill, throwing the CD in, then finding a stick to pick up the garbage next to it to cover the CD, and then nodded with satisfaction.

Then he asked along the way and finally entered a watch store.

He remembered that Qin Du had many, many watches, and there was an entire wall in the cloakroom dedicated to displaying watches.

Well, he doesn’t need to buy a watch this year, I, Liu Jingheng, will take care of it.

Liu Jingheng walked around the store and pointed at one of the models and asked the price.

The teller said, "This is priced at 1.28 million. Do you need me to take it out for you to try on?"

Liu Jingheng hesitated for a moment: "How much???"

He cleared his throat and said, "I don't like this."

I looked around and saw an extremely simple and plain watch that had "I'm cheap" written all over it. I asked, "What about this one?"

"This one, 820,000, is one of the more affordable models in the store."

Liu Jingheng took a deep breath slowly.

Are you close to Li Shimin?

After leaving the watch store, he went to the handbag store. After a few rounds, Liu Jingheng came out with his mobile phone with a balance of 6,000 yuan.

After sitting under the clear blue sky for half an hour, Liu Jingheng finally saw through it:

I am really poor.

When I was thinking fruitlessly, I suddenly heard laughter behind me. I turned around and saw a little boy, about eight or nine years old, walking out of the store with a water cup in his hand. He was grinning from ear to ear and said to his mother:

"Thank you, Mom. I love this birthday present!"

He held up the small box in his hand, and inside was a water cup with messy little figures painted on the surface, which was obviously made by a child.

Liu Jingheng slowly raised her eyes and saw the sign at the door of the shop that read "XX Ceramics, creating unique gifts in the world."

Liu Jingheng went in, with half of her body hanging outside the door, to check the price first.

*

Qin Du ended the meeting and the sky darkened.

He sat alone in his office, with September 12th showing on his electronic calendar.

The pale window frames were inlaid with ice-like glass, reflecting the rusty red sea outside.

The weather was getting a little cooler and the days were getting shorter. After sitting for a while, the sky turned a deep blue-black.

Qin Du didn't want to go home. Every birthday seemed like a curse. Whenever he saw the old man's face, all kinds of problems would arise.

The other side.

Liu Jingheng came to the company panting, carrying several large bags.

When I arrived at the floor where Qin Du’s office was located, I ran into the secretary who was about to leave work.

"Mr. Liu? Why are you here when it's almost time to get off work?" asked the secretary.

Liu Jingheng finally caught her breath and said, "A gift, a birthday gift."

Secretary: "Today is not my birthday. I'm sorry for the expense. I'm really flattered that you still remember me."

Liu Jingheng was silent for a moment: "You should go home first."

The secretary nodded, took two steps, and then turned back, a look of horror on her face: "Today can't be Mr. Qin's birthday."

Liu Jingheng sighed and nodded.

"Ah, what gift did you buy for Mr. Qin? Let me take a look. I'll go down and buy it now."

Liu Jingheng said: "Cup, cake."

"Cup?" The secretary fell into deep thought. "Normally, cups aren't given as gifts, because 'cup' and 'sad' sound the same."

Liu Jingheng: "Yes."

"Hmm?" There is also such a saying.

Oh no, with Qin Du's extremely sensitive personality, would he think I was cursing him if I gave him a cup?

"Secretary brother..." Liu Jingheng raised her head, "If you go downstairs, can you take me with you..."

The secretary had just opened his mouth, and before the first syllable came out, the double armored doors in front of him suddenly opened -

Liu Jingheng was holding two boxes, with her mouth slightly open, and met Qin Du's gaze as he came out from behind the door.

His rusty reflexes didn't allow him to quickly hide the "tragedy" and pretend nothing happened like a normal person.

Qin Du held up the water cup and glanced at his secretary: "Hasn't he finished get off work yet?"

The secretary said, "I'll go now," and then winked at Liu Jingheng - Brother can't help you, you're on your own.

After the secretary disappeared, Qin Du's voice softened and he asked:

"Why are you here?"

Liu Jingheng exclaimed "Ah", not knowing how to answer for a moment.

After realizing it, I quickly hid the box containing "tragedy" and only handed over the box containing the cake:

"Happy birthday."

Qin Du smiled, not seeming too surprised. Even if he hadn't proactively told Liu Jingheng about his birthday, Uncle Li would have used all his skills to whisper it into his ear until Liu Jingheng would never forget it.

"Thank you." Qin Du took the cake box and pushed Liu Jingheng into the office in a wheelchair.

After pouring a cup of scented tea for Liu Jingheng, Qin Du sat back at the table, turning the cake box and examining it.

"Birthday cake, it's great, do you want to eat it together?"

Liu Jingheng nodded very quickly this time.

He had been coveting the cake for a long time, just waiting for Qin Du to say this.

"No." Qin Du said again, "The sugar content exceeds the limit. Uncle Li won't allow it."

Liu Jingheng's face suddenly fell.

"However, since Uncle Li is not here, I can make an exception and give you a small piece to try." Qin Du said with a smile.

Liu Jingheng nodded vigorously: "Yes, try it."

Qin Du pulled out the ribbon from the box, his expression remained indifferent and no emotion could be seen.

Liu Jingheng came back to her senses and quietly observed his expression. Wouldn't it be too shabby to have only one cake? The only gift I could give was also not good enough.

Will Qin Du think he is perfunctory?

Liu Jingheng thought for a moment, and her attention was soon attracted by the opened box, and she subconsciously leaned over.

A rich aroma hit her face, but the cake, which represented the symbol of sweetness, did not bring a smile to Liu Jingheng's face. Instead, after a brief moment of stunned silence, a hint of embarrassment and annoyance covered her face.

The cake in the box was already rotten beyond recognition. The mirror-blue surface of the cake was like lake water caught in a whirlpool, slowly flowing down the wall of the box.

Qin Du raised his eyes and asked Liu Jingheng:

"Is this the abstract battle-damaged cake you picked out especially for me?"

He knew that Liu Jingheng must have been the one who bumped into the car while making a noise on the way here, but he had to give her a way out.

Liu Jingheng was more honest than he thought: "No... I accidentally dropped it on the way here. I picked it up wrong, and when I got into the elevator, the door slammed and squeezed..."

Qin Du: "..."

Liu Jingheng looked at the tattered cake and felt a little embarrassed:

"I don't think I can eat anymore... I'm sorry..."

Qin Du held up the cake box with one hand, turned it around to observe, and asked casually: "Why do you say sorry?"

"I ruined your birthday..."

Liu Jingheng didn't know what Qin Du would think, but he put himself in his shoes and recalled his childhood in the welfare home. He had finally waited for his birthday and got a cake made by the director's father, but he accidentally dropped the cake on the ground. He squatted on the ground and looked at the cake in silence for a long time. In the middle of the night, he hid in his quilt and secretly wiped away his tears.

Qin Du put down the cake: "It's a bit of a pity. I haven't eaten a birthday cake in many years."

Liu Jingheng raced her brain, actively trying to think of a solution: "Then, then..."

I thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure it out.

"Snap!" Someone suddenly grabbed his wrist, holding him, and pushed the wheelchair forward a few inches, while his knees were tightly lifted up Qin Du's thighs.

Qin Du leaned over, grabbed his hand and put it on his cheek, with a half-smile on the corner of his lips:

"You broke my gift, give me another one."

When Liu Jingheng heard this, she began to seriously consider: If she brings up the "tragedy" at this time, will she be beaten?

While he was thinking, he suddenly heard a rustling sound above his head. He looked up and saw that Qin Du's hand was still tightly holding his wrist. Looking up again, Qin Du's other hand was fastening the tie knot. He swiped it down, and the loosened tie was untied and flew through the air, and then came to his hand.

Liu Jingheng's wrists were folded together, but they were still thin enough for Qin Du to hold in one hand. The gray-green satin tie was wrapped around her wrists and tied into a beautiful bow.

Qin Du let go of his hand and admired his masterpiece.

Liu Jingheng's eyes lost focus for a moment, and she tried to explain:

"Eating one's own kind can lead to prion infection..."

"It would be better if you don't eat the brain." Qin Du leaned over, holding his wheelchair with both hands to prevent him from escaping, his eyes slightly raised with a smile.

Liu Jingheng gasped. Why would he really want to eat someone? Although he was a villain, even a villain had to have a basic bottom line.

He looked at Qin Du's hand gradually reaching out to him in horror, his eyes widening.

My mind was suddenly filled with thoughts of pouring some soul sauce on it, eating the skin first and then the eyeballs...

"No, no, no!" Three consecutive words showed his verbal resistance.

The big hand came in front of him, and Liu Jingheng trembled and closed her eyes. I really misjudged you! I won't celebrate your birthday again.

A cool and fragrant breeze passed through his nose, and a warm touch suddenly fell on his back. Then, under Liu Jingheng's keen senses, the hand groped on his back for a long time, and finally picked up something and rubbed it across his back.

Liu Jingheng opened her eyes cautiously and saw a familiar box in Qin Du's hand.

Qin Du looked at the small square box and asked, "Is this for me too?"

"right."

"wrong."

Qin Du chuckled and scratched his chin lightly with his fingers:

"Whether it's right or not, anything that appears before my eyes on my birthday is mine."

Liu Jingheng closed her eyes in despair.

The cake was already rotten beyond recognition, and when Qin Du saw the gift that represented "tragedy", perhaps his birthday, which he had been looking forward to, was completely ruined by himself.

He finally realized that he should grab the things back to prevent the situation from escalating, but his hands were tied up at head height and he had no other choice.

So Liu Jingheng could only watch Qin Du open the box and take out a single-handled water cup from it.

He quietly observed the changes in Qin Du's eyes, and his Adam's apple slid.

Qin Du looked at the water cup in his hand, an ordinary cup that was very common on the market, and its shape was not even as novel as those sold online.

There were also some elementary school student-style graffiti on the surface, vaguely resembling three people standing in a lush green lawn, with stiffly shaped clouds and the sun painted above their heads.

Qin Du held the cup and gently rubbed the face of one of the little men with his thumb.

The little figure is wearing a plain cheongsam and has her hair neatly tied up. Under the hands of the author who has no styling ability, her limbs are stretched out stiffly, her ten fingers are of different thicknesses, her facial features are also very simple line symbols, and she has a big smiling face.

The three little men had smiling faces, and the sun above them also had a smiling face.

Qin Du was lost in thought until he heard the sound of nervous swallowing next to him. He came back to his senses and glanced at the cup again, only to find that beneath the graffiti were five strokes of small regular script, written in a flowing yet rigorous style:

【Happy Family】

Qin Du's fingers kept closing and tightening around the water cup.

This linen cheongsam was my mother's favorite dress when she was alive. It was simple and plain, and she said it was very suitable for an ordinary woman like her who didn't like to show off.

The last time I saw her wearing this dress was on her tenth birthday.

Qin Du could tell that the tall little figure on his mother's left was himself. He lowered his cup, pointed at the short and thin little figure on his mother's right and asked:

"Who is this?"

Liu Jingheng held the wheelchair armrests tightly with both hands and said timidly:

"I……"

Qin Du stared at him for a long time, then smiled for no apparent reason. He sat back at the table, casually picked up the cup of red tea and brought it to his lips:

"Why are you so selfish that you only paint yourself so delicately?"

The hand holding the red teacup lifted slightly, and the rim of the cup covered half of his eyes.

Just like when I was twelve years old and learned that I could not study in Europe with my classmates, I covered my face with newspapers to block the tears that I couldn't hold back in my eyes, leaving others with the last bit of dignity.

At this moment, the round teacup just covered the water that was accumulating in the eyes, but it neglected the fingers exposed outside, which were trembling slightly from the knuckles to the fingertips.

It just so happened that Liu Jingheng, who was usually slow-witted, was sharp for once:

"I'm sorry, please don't cry. I'll draw you better next time."

Qin Du put down the teacup, and his slightly red eyes took in the sadness between Liu Jingheng's brows.

In the twenty years since my mother passed away, I once again felt the surge of my heart like the tide, the huge waves pushing against all the strong emotions rushing into my head.

In this "Happy Family" painting at the elementary school student level, there is no old man, no Uncle Li, and no Qin Chuyao. There is only the regret of being powerless in childhood, and the future that one wants to keep as an adult.

Liu Jingheng actually knows everything.

"Liu Jingheng." Qin Du suddenly said, "Call Uncle Li and tell him you won't be back for dinner tonight."

Although Liu Jingheng didn't know why, she obediently did as she was told.

The sky outside the window was already dark, but the neon lights in the city center made it as bright as day.