If You Are a Dodder Flower

Part 70

"You think too much," answered Xia Rou lightly. "If that's all, I'm going. Goodbye."

She turned away to go back up.

Xia Hongjun took another step forward to block her way back, sobbing slightly. "Xiao Rou, I know that you resent your father inside your heart. I am sorry to you... but I just want to look at you..."

Xia Rou wasn't swayed. "Now that you have seen me, you can see I'm doing fine. That's enough."

Xia Hongjun was stunned. Translated by The Novelst

Xia Rou looked at him. "What else do you want?"

He paused for a second before continuing, "Rou Rou, I know you can't forgive your father. But... I really want to make it up to you. You've been having a hard time all these years. I was thinking..."

"I said that you are thinking too much," Xia Rou interrupted expressionlessly. "I haven't had a hard time at all. These past few years there was someone protecting me and my mother. We have been living well. I don't need your compensation, either. Money, I have. Houses, I have. A home – I have that too."

In the past she was moved by these few actions by her father. She felt that materialistic compensation expressed there was still affection remaining.

In the name of family, she had tolerated over and over his endless greed.

She was looking forward to him becoming independent from the Liang Family so she could have more confidence when speaking up.

What a joke...

She glanced at Liang Ziheng.

In this life, Liang Ziheng had met her first and Xia Hongjun came to recognize her afterwards. It was likely... Xia Hongjun already knew everything about the Cao Family.

No wonder he appeared so guilty and deeply affectionate.

In the past, when hearing her name from her colleague, he immediately knew who she was. Only after his shock did he run away as though he had seen a ghost. Only long after that did he come to find her in secret.

Thinking back, his initial suggestion of compensating her with money and a house didn't look so affectionate. It seemed in retrospect to have been made in panic, to relieve the guilt and to... cover her mouth, huh?

If she hadn't defenselessly alerted him to the Cao Family's existence, would he still have been willing to pull her into the Liang Family and match her with Liang Ziheng?

Though she knew the answer... her body, her skin: they all came from him. No matter what, cutting blood ties would result in a ripping pain.

Xia Rou took a deep breath and said to Liang Ziheng, "Tell him."

She knew exactly how to persuade him, so she said, "Uncle Cao wouldn't like to see this kind of thing."

She brought out the Cao Family name and it moved Liang Ziheng.

The only reason he had given up on chasing Xia Rou so soon was because he planned to strike up a relationship with the Cao Family rather than start a feud.

He changed his mind quickly, pulling at Xia Hongjun and softly advising, "Uncle... give Xia Rou some time..."

Xia Rou wanted to return to her dorm, but her phone rang.

"Xia Rou, have you eaten yet? I'm at your school entrance, I'll come find you," Wei Qi said, sounding joyful.

He was like a beam of sunlight shoving away the haze before her.