When Meng Sheng arrived at the ward, Meng Chengli had just been fed some water by the nurse, and his body seemed to have breathed a sigh of relief. He became exhausted and weak, unable to move.
"dad."
She walked over quickly and asked, "What's wrong? Is your heart aching again?"
"It's okay, it's okay." Meng Chengli comforted him, "Don't be nervous, it's much better now, not as uncomfortable as last night. Didn't A Chen also say that it was all normal after surgery? Don't worry."
Meng Sheng breathed a sigh of relief and pulled up a chair next to him to sit down. "That's good. Are you hungry? I've got some porridge warming up in the microwave. Can I bring it to you?"
"Not hungry."
Meng Chengli looked at her and said, "Shengsheng, while Dad is in good spirits and seems fine, why don't we have a talk?"
Meng Sheng raised his head to look at him and replied softly, "Okay."
"When did you and Pei Sui get together?"
Meng Sheng held his hand and said calmly, without hiding anything, "A few months ago."
"He's chasing you?"
"Yeah." Meng Sheng lowered his eyes and pursed his lips. "I originally wanted to tell you last time when I brought him some cakes to visit you. But I just tried to ask you a question and you reacted strongly. Your blood pressure soared, so I don't dare to say it anymore."
"I should have thought of that." Meng Chengli shook his head. "Are you with him because you like him, or are you just trying it out?"
Hearing this, Meng Sheng looked up and met his gaze. Without hesitation, he said directly, "Yes, because I like you."
"Are you happy being with him?"
Meng Sheng was suddenly stunned. He didn't expect him to ask this.
Are you happy?
Thinking of those little things, I am naturally happy.
The ward was silent for a long time. After a while, she opened her mouth and replied truthfully, "Well, I'm happy. Being with him... I feel very relaxed.
Sometimes, I feel like a small boat on the vast ocean, but with him, I’m back at the harbor.”
Meng Chengli was also a little surprised. The depth of her feelings for Pei Sui was indeed beyond his imagination.
As a father, all he expected of his daughter was that she would be happy and content.
He was even more afraid and worried than she was that she would meet another hypocrite like Shang Boyu or a vicious but smiling tiger like Yu Qionghua.
The smile in Meng Sheng's eyes slowly spread, mixed with a hint of worry, but it quickly turned into a pool of crystal.
"But... you are also my harbor, the biggest one, Dad. I want you to be safe and healthy, live a long life, and never leave me."
Meng Chengli looked at her small and pretty face and suddenly laughed.
He wanted to raise his hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, but his hand was not strong enough and could not be raised that high.
Perhaps it was the premise of cancer, or perhaps it was Cui Xueheng's insight and insult to Meng Sheng that made him feel even more furious, which made him more accepting of the fact that he had a stroke.
But now I feel a little ashamed of my own uselessness.
But he didn't force himself. He just lifted it up slightly and tried it, then put it down, for fear that she would see it and feel even more guilty.
While comforting her, he said, "Silly girl, in this world, how long a person can live is fixed.
I have never dreamed of living a hundred years. I just want to see you and your brother have a stable home and a child. That's enough.
I have studied history for so many years and have come to understand one thing: people should not be too greedy, otherwise, things will backfire.
Before your grandfather passed away, he always said that after he turned seventy, he had been waiting for death to come. Death is not a scary thing, so he passed away very peacefully. He also said that your grandmother was waiting for him down there, and he couldn't let her wait alone on the Naihe Bridge for too long.
He thought so too.
After Xu Li's accidental death, he became indifferent to life and death and decided to live as long as he could.
But because of these two brothers and sisters, he felt more worried.
If he really dies one day, he will be reluctant, nostalgic, and worried, but he will also face it calmly.
Finally, he added, "So, don't blame yourself and take everything on yourself. You're small and thin, and you can't bear so much. You need to be more open-minded and don't push yourself too hard."
Take it easy?
How to be more open-minded?
She didn't even dare to think about her mother's death. Whenever she thought about it, she felt as if her soul was being gnawed by something dirty and would not let go.
It only left her with endless pain and despair, as well as self-blame and guilt.
Meng Sheng lowered his head and pulled the corners of his lips in self-mockery.
The pair of eyes that were always calm and lively now seemed to be filled with even more mist.
He laid so much groundwork just to introduce the last sentence.
In order to prevent her from feeling guilty, from being confused, and from having her spine crushed by these two things, the real thing is to prevent her from falling into the abyss.
She suddenly smiled, "Dad, you talk like I'm still a three-year-old. I know everything, but I just want you to...stay with me and my brother for a little longer."
As she spoke, she lowered her head, the smile on her face disappearing, staring at the white sheet on the hospital bed. "I don't want you to be tarnished by Cui Xueheng because of me...I am unfilial after all. I have tarnished your admired life. I'm...I'm sorry, Dad, I..."
Meng Chengli sighed and interrupted her self-blame. "Shengsheng, this is not your fault. Dad doesn't blame you. You don't have to blame yourself."
He actually discovered that since her divorce from Shang Boyu, this girl has become different from before. No matter what she does, she is always too calm and self-controlled.
There is no trace of the innocence and brightness of youth.
It is good to have such growth, which enables you to better protect yourself, love yourself, analyze the pros and cons, and choose the best direction for yourself.
It may sound a bit selfish, but in life, only selfish people can live freely and not be so tired.
Nor will it carry too much.
Unfortunately, Meng Sheng is not selfish enough. The principles taught to her by the Meng family since she was a child do not allow her to be selfish and lose her original heart.
But the process of forcing her to grow up was something he didn't want to see.
Moreover, beneath her calm and sober appearance, she now hides a knife that can drag her into the abyss at any time.
He didn't know what had happened, he just thought that she had suffered such a great blow in the Shang Boyu incident that caused her to change so much.
He was really worried that her self-blame and overly clear mind at this moment would lead her down a path of no return.
He thought about it and decided that since they were having a heart-to-heart talk today, he should just speak out. At his age, he wasn't the type to be shy or picky.
After sighing, he slowly said, "Old Madam Pei promised me a lot today. I have a prejudice against the Pei family, but I can see that he really likes you, but I'm afraid he can't protect you.
Dad feels that his judgment of people is not very accurate, otherwise he would not have agreed to you marrying Shang Boyu, that heartless guy.
I won't help you make a decision, nor am I forcing you, but I still have to tell you what's in my heart. I'm worried about you marrying into a family like the Pei family.
The old lady of the Pei family and that Pei Yu are both sensible and good people, but as long as Cui Xueheng is not dead, she will always be your mother-in-law, and you will suffer some losses and grievances.
She won't stay abroad all her life. She will definitely come back when her children get married.
What's more, behind her is the Cui family. Now they are under the pressure of the old lady, so they can't cause any trouble. But what about after the old lady passes away?
By then, after treatment, Cui Xueheng had recovered. Wouldn't she hold a grudge against you for these things? There was no chance of reconciliation between you and her.
You are the daughter who was pampered by me, your mother, and your brother. Dad doesn't want you to suffer any injustice. Your mother, if she is in heaven, certainly doesn't want to see you compromise.
Our Meng family has a century-old heritage. We are worthy of heaven and worthy of respect from people. For generations, we have never bowed to the world or flattered the public, and we have lived with integrity.
My daughter, Meng Chengli, deserves honor and glory, and is my pride."
The tears that were held back in her eyes could not be completely held back, and they fell drop by drop onto the white bed sheet, soaking it.
Meng Sheng suddenly burst into laughter and jokingly said, "Dad, you taught me and my brother to be low-key and have a clear conscience."
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