0074 Inferior Winter (4)
The child named Chen Yixu seemed to have been afraid of himself for a long time.
The source of this fear is clear.
Regardless of the person's character, it's hard for any father to fall for a boy who likes his daughter.
He Yundong was born quiet and possessed all the qualities of a northern man.
His wife, Tong Lingling, was his most tender part; they filled every corner of their home with laughter and love.
He still clearly remembers the excitement he felt when Lingling first called him "Daddy." Her sweet, childlike voice almost brought tears to his eyes, making him, a grown man of 1.8 meters tall, blush in front of his wife.
Throughout his life, his daughter, a treasure of a child, was always by his side, smoothing out every ripple in his heart.
How could he possibly allow Lingling to suffer even the slightest harm?
How could I possibly leave even the slightest scar on Lingling's heart?
So later, Chen Yixu didn't understand why He Yundong, who had always been pessimistic about her, suddenly changed his mind and didn't directly deny her desire to date Lingling. She didn't understand that it was the result of her daughter's starry eyes when she saw a boy and her cheerful tone when she talked about him.
Chen Yixu thought He Yundong had only met him three times, but little did he know that he saw him again and again in Lingling's eyes, in her heart, and in her smile.
Lingling would frequently mention this boy named "Chen Yixu" at the family dinner table, her eyes and heart filled with him.
His daughter would eventually fly away from him, and he would personally hold her hand and hand her over to another young man.
Even though it was too cruel for a father, he could still clearly see the happiness and contentment on his daughter's face.
When she was with the boy named "Chen Yixu", she was not only happy, but she was also getting better.
So good that Lingling, who never cared about her studies, was able to get into a university in the capital, and so good that she could have a place to live and a decent job in the distant city of B.
What troubled him most was the conversation the eighteen-year-old boy had with him alone.
The child sincerely told him about his unusual family background, and he finally understood where the feeling he had sensed from the boy during their first meeting—that "he didn't belong here"—came from.
He knew that the child's family background might cause a lot of trouble for the innocent Lingling. But what worried him even more was how he might hurt Lingling if he wasn't sincere towards her or if his interest in her was just temporary.
When filling out college applications after the college entrance examination, He Yundong had his first argument with Lingling.
He forbade Lingling from applying to schools in City B. But Lingling, who always liked to win his sympathy by acting cute, seemed to get angry and actually argued back loudly.
She filled in universities in City B for all of her choices.
They left themselves no way out.
His words, which he had been full of, turned to silence and frustration when he saw his daughter's red, aggrieved eyes.
What Lingling saw was blatant resistance and a resolute determination.
He Yundong hid on the balcony and smoked all night.
Later, when Lingling went to school, he personally took her there.
After getting off at the B City station, Chen Yixu was waiting outside.
That was the first time he placed Lingling's hand in Chen Yixu's.
He finally compromised with the boy and with himself as he brought his daughter back from City B year after year.
Because for seven years, he could see Chen Yixu's feelings for his daughter all the time.
Lingling was simple-minded and oblivious to worldly affairs. Yet, he clearly saw that every time he returned to D Province, the cars following behind Lingling's taxi would wait for her to get in for half an hour before quietly leaving.
He had to admit that the boy who used to stand silently by his side was indeed incredibly meticulous in everything he did. And he, too, had fallen in love with him over the years.
He couldn't provide his daughter with a comfortable life, but he also didn't want Lingling to suffer any injustice.
He had no choice but to resort to the most clumsy method a father could think of, spending half his life trying to find a small home for his daughter in D province.
Initially, it seemed he was trying to stand up for his stubborn daughter and leave her a way out. But gradually, without realizing it, his motivation shifted to wanting to create a small home for his two children in D province.
Unbeknownst to him, he also began to regard Yi Xu as his own child, just as he loved the gentle Zhao Mei.
This boy, despite his extraordinary wealth, remained humble and polite. He was incredibly kind to Lingling and to them, and his thoughtfulness was often even more delicate than that of his elders.
Lingling, that heartless girl, never knew that Yixu would come to see them every year after the New Year.
Yi Xu... would snatch the water basin from Zhao Mei's hand in the dead of winter, would clear the dishes before Zhao Mei put down his chopsticks, and would listen attentively like a student listening to a lecture when Zhao Mei talked about Lingling's childhood.
Several times, he didn't even know who he was angry with. At the dinner table with the three of them, he said to his wife, "Hmph, I don't know why, but everyone in the family is so close to you!"
That's so sour it's unbearable to hear.
After dinner, Yi Xu secretly struck up a conversation with him, who was smoking on the balcony. The two grown men remained silent, making the situation even more awkward.
Yi Xu scratched his head and said "sorry" to him. He suddenly chuckled to himself. He had always thought that Yi Xu was not like a child. At this moment, he felt a breath of relief.
He said he had always liked to make his father angry since he was a child.
He Yundong remembered that Chen Yixu had never mentioned his parents to them, so he asked him a question. It turned out that Chen Yixu's mother had passed away several years ago, and he then realized why this boy had always been so quiet.
Besides satisfaction, I also felt a pang of tenderness.
Fortunately, his daughter will be able to love him in the future, and they will become his family...
Daughter… He Yundong felt a dull ache in his heart.
He ultimately didn't hand over his key; it was originally intended as a dowry for his daughter. Even knowing that Yi Xu would never mistreat Lingling, he still chose the possibility of hurting Yi Xu, despite all the "buts."
He chose the harshest words to say to Lingling, which actually cut off Yixu's escape route.
Was he right to do it? He didn't know.
Because his daughter often displayed a courage and stubbornness beyond his imagination...
P.S.: While He Yundong was blaming himself, Lingling had already flown away... Don't worry, Lingling is Fuze's backup plan.
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