Chapter 48: Does Daddy Not Want Me Anymore?
She didn’t understand anything about his "condition."
In her tiny world, Daddy had just been a little pale recently, and his voice had gotten a little softer.
’So what?’
’As long as she was with him, Daddy would definitely get better.’
"Then you have to go! I’ll make you your medicine when we get back. Once you drink it, you won’t feel sick anymore..."
She began to throw a fit, stomping her little foot while keeping a death grip on his arm.
"Come on, let’s go! There are butterflies and Huahua outside, and Shanshan wants to see them with Daddy!"
Ye Ruoling felt a pang of guilt as she watched her uncle looking so torn.
’If I had known, I wouldn’t have brought it up.’
Now, Ling Anxun was in a bind, and Shanshan was on the verge of tears.
"Shanshan, your uncle has been a little weak lately. Why don’t the two of us go first? We can bring him back something nice, how does that sound?"
Ye Ruoling bent down, her voice gentle as she tried to coax the little girl.
She reached for Shanshan’s hand, but the little girl deftly pulled away.
Shanshan tilted her face up to stare at Ling Anxun, her little mouth set in a pout. She was clearly displeased.
"No! I want Daddy to come with us! If he won’t go, then I won’t go either!"
’Daddy hadn’t gone out in forever.’
’He just stayed cooped up in his room every day, refusing to go anywhere.’
’How was he ever going to get better like this?’
Ling Anxun wasn’t a child.
He had his pride, and he had his reservations.
Forcing him to go out would only make him dig his heels in further.
Just as Shanshan was growing desperate, Ling Zhiyan happened to pass by and heard their conversation.
He paused, stopping in his tracks.
He and his uncle were close in age and had played together as children.
They seemed less like an uncle and nephew and more like twin brothers.
But ever since his uncle’s accident, he had retreated into a shell.
He refused to see anyone or say a word, just spacing out by himself all day long.
From that day on, Ling Zhiyan had changed as well.
He no longer smiled or joked around, as if he had become an adult overnight.
Seeing Shanshan’s determined little face, Ling Zhiyan suddenly felt a warmth spread through his chest.
He crouched down and gently patted Shanshan on the shoulder.
"Shanshan, it’s not that your dad doesn’t want to go out. He just doesn’t want other people to see him in a wheelchair."
"But holing up at home like this isn’t the answer. Do you think you can get him to go out for a walk with you?"
"Uh-huh! I can definitely do it!"
She nodded vigorously.
"I’ll push Daddy’s chair, tell him stories, and pick the biggest, most fragrant flower to give him!"
Shanshan looked back at her father and saw him smiling at her.
She dashed to Ling Anxun’s side and clutched his slightly cold hand.
"Daddy, I love you the most!"
Her voice was as clear as a bell.
"Will you come with me to buy a little dress? Please? The other kids at my new school all have pretty clothes. They wear colorful dresses to dance and do exercises, and they look so proud! I want one too—a pink one, with a bow on it. Can you take me? Just this once, okay?"
Ling Anxun kept his eyes downcast, looking at her shining eyes.
His throat suddenly constricted, as if something was lodged there.
He gently shook his head.
His fingers curled for a moment before relaxing.
’He was afraid to go out.’
’It wasn’t the crowds he was afraid of, but the looks of pity.’
The light in Shanshan’s eyes went out in a flash.
She slowly released her little hand, and her heart sank bit by bit.
Ling Anxun’s heart clenched painfully.
He instinctively reached out to stroke her hair.
But even then, he didn’t relent.
To his surprise, Shanshan didn’t make a fuss.
Instead, she lifted her little face and cautiously reached out to touch him.
"Daddy, I know what you’re afraid of."
Her voice was soft and carried a slight tremble.
"I know the people outside look at you differently. But they don’t understand. Don’t feel like you’re less than them. You’re a hero; you were injured for our country. The doctors all said your injuries were really bad, but you’re still alive. You’re still here with me. That in itself is the bravest thing you could do."
"When I grow up, I’ll study hard and become a great doctor so I can cure you with my own two hands and help you walk again. I’ll always stay with you. I’ll never leave. So... please don’t be sad, okay?"
As she spoke, the rims of her eyes slowly turned red.
But Ling Anxun’s heart was set. He didn’t even turn his head.
He knew how sincere her words were.
In fact, it was her sincerity that made it so hard for him to answer.
"Ruoling, take Shanshan out. I’m tired and want to rest."
With that, he slowly turned his wheelchair.
The wheels rolled across the floor, carrying him slowly away from the tiny figure still staring at his back.
Shanshan’s attempt had failed.
Tears instantly welled up in her eyes. She squatted on the floor, her shoulders trembling violently.
"SOB... Daddy, don’t you want me anymore? Do you hate me now? Was it wrong to ask for a dress? But... but I really wanted to wear a pretty dress for you... You always used to say I was your little princess... Am I... am I not anymore?"
This was how she had been crying the last time she was sent away.
Back then, her mother had held her at the hospital entrance, saying over and over, "Be a good girl, I’ll be back for you soon."
But in the end, she had never returned to that home.
Ling Anxun’s hands suddenly clenched the armrests, the veins on them standing out.
’I want to rush over, scoop her into my arms, and tell her, Daddy would never leave you.’
But he was afraid.
He was afraid that if he softened, she would learn that a single tear was enough to make everyone give in.
He remained frozen in place, utterly conflicted.
Just then, the living room door was thrown open with a BANG.
Seeing this, Ding Qin hurried over and pulled Shanshan into her embrace.
"Oh, my sweet little dear, why are you crying so hard? Who’s been picking on you? Grandma’s here now. Don’t be afraid, don’t cry now..."
She said, patting Shanshan’s back with an aching heart.
Ling Zhenkang stood to the side, his face grim. His cold gaze swept over everyone present.
"Wasn’t everything fine just a moment ago? How did she end up in this state all of a sudden? What happened?"
Ye Ruoling’s eyes darted away, her expression a little embarrassed.
She looked at Ling Zhiyan first.
Seeing him standing there expressionlessly, she shot a quick glance at her uncle’s back.
Just as she was about to explain, Ling Zhiyan took a step forward and said in a calm voice.
"Shanshan wanted Uncle to go with her to pick out a new dress. He was busy with something else at the time and couldn’t go. She... she thought he didn’t want her anymore, so she got sad and started to cry."
The moment Ding Qin heard that, her eyes reddened.
She turned, smacking Ling Anxun on the shoulder. Her voice was a mixture of anger and heartache.
"You foolish boy! How can your heart be so hard? How could you stand there and let a little girl cry her eyes out like this? She’s your daughter, not some stranger! Do you have any idea how scared she must be?"
She said this while holding Shanshan, rocking her gently.
"There, there, Shanshan, don’t be afraid. Grandma just gave him a good smack for you, let’s see if he dares to bully you again! Don’t be sad, okay? You’re our family’s little princess. Who would ever not want you? Grandma would be the first to say no to that!"
Shanshan kept her head bowed, her small shoulders hitching with sobs.
She said nothing, only continuing to rub her eyes with her sleeve.
Ling Anxun’s shoulder stung from the blow, but he didn’t know how to react, so he could only sit there, stiff and awkward.