CM - 77

Outside the door, Shen Ting-wen stood before Si Wen, not daring to show any slack in his demeanor.

Si Wen was not pleased. “You never told me you wanted my daughter.”

Shen Ting-wen raised his hand and swore to Si Wen, “I’m sincere about Zhou Shu-rong, and I’m sincere about you, Teacher. I have no regrets about anything I’ve done for you. I’m even grateful to you for showing me another world.”

Si Wen didn’t listen to his oath. The more he looked at him, the more he wanted to kill him. “What makes you think I’ll give her to you?”

“Because no one can love her more than I do.”

Si Wen wasn’t buying it. “You fell in love with her just by looking at her? Do you even know what love is?”

Shen Ting-wen didn’t know, but he couldn’t live without Zhou Shu-rong. “I believe that I can take endless risks for her. That’s what love is.”

Risks? Si Wen grabbed his neck again. “Then I’d like to see how many risks you can take!”

________________________________________

In the bedroom, Zhou Yan looked at Zhou Shu-rong, her heart breaking. Angry at her for being so irresponsible, she deliberately told her the truth: “It was alright. A couple of years ago in Hong Kong, during the most chaotic days, he used himself as bait to be kidnapped. His spine was almost severed, his arm was useless, and his skin was all torn up. He was spitting up blood, and saying he had half a life left would be an overstatement. But it worked. With his help, your dad successfully infiltrated the largest gang in the Golden Triangle. And speaking of that, he was almost assaulted, too. Luckily, he was smart and was able to handle it. He’s also been through a lot in the U.S.-Mexico border, getting beaten up constantly, suffering gunshot wounds and injuries from clubs. He looks so skinny, but I never expected him to be so tough.”

No wonder he got a tattoo. Zhou Shu-rong suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest.

Zhou Yan wasn’t finished. “His foot was pierced, and only half of his liver is still functioning normally. He has many other injuries, too. He hasn’t been doing easy things all these years, but I don’t know the specifics.”

Zhou Shu-rong was a very perceptive person. She could figure anything out; it was just a matter of time. But that didn’t mean she could calmly accept this information.

How could she have known that Shen Ting-wen’s intentions were premeditated? How could she have known what he had put himself through to get to her?

She didn’t believe Shen Ting-wen’s father was unaware of what he was doing. Shen Cheng, whom even Si Wen would talk about, how could he not know? “His dad...”

A mother knows her daughter best. Zhou Yan saw her frown and knew what she was thinking. “If he could hide it from your dad and me, how could he not hide it from his parents? This child has too many ideas and is too cunning. I don’t recommend you be with him.”

Zhou Shu-rong’s seemingly calm expression was just to hide the emotional turmoil raging within her.

Zhou Yan and Si Wen never hid anything from her. She knew who her father was and her mother’s past. So why was this kept from her? “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Did you need to know who was risking his life for your dad? No. We didn’t tell you because his identity wasn’t important. We’re telling you now because he’s no longer just someone who’s risking his life for your dad.”

Zhou Yan’s last sentence was a bit resentful. “He actually set his sights on you. Isn’t he asking for a death wish?”

Zhou Shu-rong looked out the door. “My dad isn’t going to kill him, is he?”

Zhou Yan couldn’t stand to see her so worried. “My cabbage was stolen by a pig.”

“No matter how much of a jerk Shen Ting-wen is, he’s better than a pig. At least he’s good-looking.”

“Yes, good-looking. I lost to lust back in the day, and you’ve truly surpassed me.” Zhou Yan was disappointed in her.

Zhou Shu-rong knew that Si Wen was Zhou Yan’s client at the beginning. “Among all your clients, my dad was the best-looking, right?”

“That’s not the right question,” Zhou Yan said.

Zhou Shu-rong looked at her, waiting for the rest of the sentence.

“I only ever had your dad as a client.”

A warmth spread through Zhou Shu-rong’s heart. Her broken mood, which had been shattered by this shocking news, suddenly had a small turnaround. Her parents’ love story always fascinated her. She smiled, “Looking at the kick my dad gave today, he can probably fight for another thirty years. You should try to have a little brother for me. I want to be an older sister.”

“You want to be an older sister? You should be thinking about how you’re going to explain this to your dad. A girl bringing a man home without any shame?”

Zhou Yan’s words reminded Zhou Shu-rong of that scumbag, Shen Ting-wen. “How was I supposed to know he was so good at hiding things? That idiot, Shen Ting-wen, I’m going to kill him later.”

As they were talking, Si Wen came in. Zhou Shu-rong immediately stood up from Zhou Yan’s side and said, “Dad.”

Si Wen didn’t look at her. He touched Zhou Yan’s hand. It was alright; it wasn’t cold. Zhou Yan’s cold body constitution had gotten worse over the years, and her hands and feet were constantly cold, which worried him.

Zhou Shu-rong felt like she was in the way, but Si Wen hadn’t said anything, so she didn’t dare to leave.

Si Wen looked at Zhou Shu-rong and asked her, “You want him?”

Zhou Shu-rong didn’t know if she would change her mind in the future, but for now, this was how she felt. “Yes.”

Si Wen asked again, “What if I kill him?”

Zhou Shu-rong smiled and looked up at him. “Then you might as well kill me too. I don’t know about the future, but right now, I love him. I can’t let down the feelings he’s had for me for over a decade. You told me that I have to know what I should do, but I shouldn’t do anything immoral.”

“Get out.”

Zhou Shu-rong left the room.

Si Wen was very angry, but ever since he lost his temper and hurt Zhou Yan, he rarely showed his negative emotions. He was afraid of hurting her again, and he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.

Zhou Yan understood everything and tugged on his hand.

Si Wen sat down. “I said I didn’t want to have a child, but you insisted. Did you have a child just to make you angry?”

Zhou Yan smiled, “You’re all talk. Don’t you like her? If you didn’t like her, would you have sent her back to the country? You even found someone to protect her. You have to admit that you’re just not good at being a father; it doesn’t mean you don’t love her.”

Si Wen refused to talk about the topic. “I could have avoided direct contact with Shen Cheng, but now I can’t.”

Zhou Yan didn’t know Shen Cheng either, or the extent of Si Wen’s connections. “Then let’s talk about the two children.”

Si Wen was reluctant. “He’s too good at hiding things. Keeping him around is a risk.”

“Then what do you suggest? You kill him? Then, if Shen Cheng is as capable as you say, won’t he fight you? Do you want to make me worry even more?”

It had been years since Si Wen had been this furious. “Your daughter couldn’t have just had a little more sense.”

“Isn’t she your daughter too?”

Si Wen didn’t say anything, just sulked.

If Zhou Yan had known this old rascal could be so childish, she wouldn’t have been so afraid of him back then. When he first took her in, she hadn’t had many good days. “Mr. Si, it’s too late for regrets.”