Chapter 49: My Dad is a Hero
After a moment, he sighed in resignation. He held out his hand and spoke in a low voice.
"Mom... forget it. I’ll take her."
Only then did Ding Qin let go, leaning in to plant a kiss on Shanshan’s little cheek.
Then, she carefully passed Shanshan from her arms to his.
"Alright, alright, stop crying. Your eyes will get all swollen if you keep this up."
Ling Anxun looked down at the little, sniffling girl in his arms, his tone finally softening.
"I’ll go with you to buy a dress, alright?"
"Really?"
Shanshan’s head shot up, her big, wet eyes wide and round.
Aside from the red rims of her eyes, you couldn’t even tell she had just been crying.
Ding Qin stood frozen, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.
Ye Ruoling suppressed a laugh, leaned close to the two elders, and whispered an explanation.
After hearing her out, the old couple first looked at each other, then realization dawned on them.
’So, the child wasn’t really crying at all.’
’She was just using this method to force her dad to agree to her request.’
But hidden within this little scheme was a deep attachment to her family.
Back then, the entire family had hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing to let Ling Anxun adopt this child.
But looking at it now, that decision couldn’t have been more right.
Even if Ling Anxun’s leg never healed, as long as Shanshan was by his side, he would never be alone.
"Big Bro, look at this!"
Ling Zhiyan suddenly spoke up with a laugh.
"This little girl of ours really sticks to her guns. So young, yet more determined than anyone!"
Shanshan was bubbling with joy. She tilted her little face up and grinned at Ling Zhiyan.
She even raised a chubby little hand, waiting for a high-five.
’Crap!’
Ling Zhiyan’s heart suddenly clenched.
He snuck a glance at Ling Anxun, his eyes filled with panic.
How could Ling Anxun not know that his brother had surely put her up to this?
"What are you still standing there for?"
He lowered his voice, his heavy gaze falling on Ling Zhiyan.
"Can’t you see Shanshan is waiting for her high-five? From the one who deserves most of the credit?"
Ye Ruoling covered her mouth, snickering on the side.
Ding Qin and her husband simply turned around and walked away without looking back.
"Let me explain! I really didn’t mean anything by it..."
Ling Zhiyan had a miserable look on his face, his tone pitiful.
"I just wanted to make Shanshan happy, I didn’t mean to throw you under the bus!"
He slowly extended his hand.
Finally, his fingertips met Shanshan’s little hand with a soft SLAP.
"I’ll settle the score with you when I get back," Ling Anxun tossed out coldly.
Ling Zhiyan buried his head in Ye Ruoling’s shoulder, one hand clutching his lower back, crying "Ouch, ouch" nonstop.
"It hurts... gently, gently... my old injury is acting up..."
But Ye Ruoling had no time to coddle him.
She gently pushed him away, her tone calm.
"Stop faking it. It’s not like you don’t know your brother won’t actually do anything. Get up and stop wasting time."
A silver-gray minivan was parked quietly at the entrance.
Xiao Zhou was the one driving.
He deftly handled the wheelchair, slowly helping Ling Anxun into the back seat.
Ding Qin had wanted to call another person to accompany them, but Ling Anxun stopped her.
"Too many people will attract attention. It’s inconvenient."
His tone was steady.
"We’re just going to buy a few clothes, no need to make a big deal out of it."
"Alright then... be back soon, and be careful on the road!"
Ding Qin stood on the front steps, waving as she gave her instructions.
"Come home early for dinner tonight. I’m making soup. I’ll be waiting for you."
The car started slowly and drove out of the courtyard.
Ding Qin watched eagerly as the car’s silhouette receded into the distance.
The moment she turned around, she saw her husband standing by the door, though she hadn’t noticed when he got there.
The couple exchanged a look.
In that instant, all their worry, pride, and relief melted into a silent smile.
「Meanwhile.」
Shanshan squirmed with delight in Ling Anxun’s arms.
Her eyes, bright as stars, reflected the fleeting shadows of the trees outside the window.
The moment they arrived at the shopping district, she shot up from her seat with a WHOOSH.
"We’re here, we’re here! Dad, let’s get out!"
If Ye Ruoling hadn’t grabbed her little arm, she would have already charged into the nearest children’s clothing store.
Afraid she would run off, Ling Anxun simply held her little hand firmly.
Ye Ruoling was in charge of picking out clothes.
She held up a few little dresses, comparing them, her brow furrowing and then smoothing out.
She muttered under her breath.
"This one’s pattern is too busy, that one’s collar is too high..."
Meanwhile, Xiao Zhou quietly pushed the wheelchair, his gaze constantly scanning their surroundings with vigilance.
And Shanshan?
She had her hands on her hips, her little head bobbing back and forth.
One moment, she’d throw herself against Ye Ruoling’s legs to act cute.
"Auntie, I want to wear the sparkly one!"
The next, she’d turn her head and wink at Ling Anxun.
"Daddy, what do you think? Is it pretty?"
Her cute, spoiled act made even Xiao Zhou’s lips curve into a smile.
Ye Ruoling was practically doubled over with laughter.
Even the stern expression on Ling Anxun’s face softened ever so slightly.
The four of them had only taken a few steps when many people on the street started glancing their way.
Some people started whispering.
"Isn’t that the one from the Ling family? The one in the wheelchair..."
"Hey, who’s that little girl in his arms? She’s so cute."
"Looks like his daughter?"
Ling Anxun’s grip on Shanshan’s hand tightened, his palm growing sweaty.
Shanshan sensed his nervousness and suddenly slowed her pace.
She turned back, stood on her tiptoes, and gently touched Ling Anxun’s cheek.
Then she gave him a sweet smile.
"Don’t be scared, Daddy. Shanshan is here."
In that instant, Ling Anxun’s heart trembled violently.
His throat bobbed, and he finally responded with a low sound.
"Mm."
Inside the store, she tried on one outfit after another.
With each change, she would PITTER-PATTER back out, tilt up her little face, and ask with sparkling eyes.
"Daddy, is this one pretty?"
For every single one, Ling Anxun said.
"It’s pretty. Buy it."
"This one is pretty. Buy it!"
Three outfits were held steadily in Ling Anxun’s grasp.
He looked up at another children’s outfit on the rack and was about to move forward to pick out another one.
Shanshan immediately stuck out her chubby little hand, blocking his arm.
"No, Daddy! I don’t like it!"
She tilted her little face up, her brow slightly furrowed.
Standing to the side, Ye Ruoling couldn’t help but cover her mouth, her shoulders shaking slightly with suppressed laughter.
The atmosphere on their side was warm and sweet.
But just a few steps away, a father and son stood rooted to the spot, their faces grim.
"Hmph, pretending to be some rich guy?"
The man sneered in a low voice.
"What’s the use of a cripple dressing up all fancy? Where’d he get the money? Who knows if he stole it!"
His son shrank back and didn’t dare to respond.
The smile was still on Shanshan’s face.
Suddenly, those harsh words bored into her ears.
She froze for a second, then turned her head, her gaze fixed squarely on the man who had spoken.
"What did you just say?"
She suddenly spoke up.
’Dad rarely goes out. He only agreed to come out today to go shopping with me.’
’How could she just stand by and watch someone bully him?’
Before Ye Ruoling and Ling Anxun could react, Shanshan had already started her little legs moving, PITTER-PATTERING over to them.
"My daddy is a hero!"
She yelled, her head held high.
"He’s not a cripple! He was injured protecting us! His leg... it’s like this because of an explosion! What gives you the right to talk about him like that? Apologize to him right now!"
The surrounding crowd, once bustling, fell silent.