Daddy, Mommy Ran Away

The next morning.

“Ruoxi, Brother Leng hasn’t eaten anything. He’s been standing there all day and night. Even a body made of iron can’t withstand that,” Moli murmured softly after breakfast. She had learned the whole story from Qiuling and was naturally hoping Ruoxi and Leng Haoyin could reconcile soon.

“He hasn’t left yet?” An Ruoxi’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, a flicker of concern passing through her eyes like a crane skimming over a lake, vanishing in an instant. “Then go bring him something to eat.”

It wasn’t that she was heartless; she simply couldn’t bring herself to be with him. How could she face her parents in heaven otherwise?

“Ruoxi, do you think I haven’t tried? But Brother Leng won’t eat a bite or say a word. He just stands there like a puppet, his eyes fixed on this window, as if looking at it means he can see you.”

“If he wants to stand, let him. It has nothing to do with me,” An Ruoxi feigned indifference as she returned to the bed.

Her words made An Ruoxi’s breath catch, as if all her strength was being drained, yet her face remained cold and unfeeling. “Then let him be. It’s his choice. Moli, I’m tired. I want to sleep.” An Ruoxi didn’t want her emotions and reason to be disturbed, so she decisively closed her eyes.

“Yeah, right, let him stay there. If he gets sick, it’s his own doing,” Moli agreed, not believing Ruoxi could remain indifferent.

“Mommy, Mommy, open the door!” The sound of the lock turning was followed by Xiaobei’s childish voice. Leng Qiuling had deliberately brought the three children back from kindergarten, hoping their presence would persuade her sister-in-law to forgive her elder brother.

Xiaobao stood on tiptoe to unlock the door, and Xiaobei rushed in first, hugging her leg. “Mommy, Daddy said he made a mistake. He knows he’s wrong now. Can you forgive him?”

“Mommy, Daddy is really pitiful. Please forgive him,” Xuanhan’s little face was downcast, tears threatening to fall.

“Mommy, the teacher at kindergarten says that admitting mistakes and correcting them makes a good child. Daddy knows he’s wrong. Can you forgive him?” Xuanhan pleaded shyly.

“Mommy, did he really make an unforgivable mistake?” An Xiaobao coolly furrowed his brow, deep in thought. “If he did, then let him stand a little longer.”

“Xiaobao, do you blame Mommy?”

“No, Mommy. If he made a mistake, he should be punished. Just don’t punish yourself in the process.” His small hand touched her cheek, wiping away the tears. “Don’t cry, your eyes are all swollen.”

“Okay, Mommy won’t cry.”

An Ruoxi’s nose tingled with emotion as she tightly pressed her lips together, her eyes stinging. She crouched down, embracing all three children. “Be good, go and persuade Daddy to rest.”

“Mommy, if you won’t forgive Daddy, then I’ll go stand with him. Maybe then you’ll forgive him sooner.” An Xiaobei dashed out.

“Mommy, I’m going too,” Xuanhan followed.

Suddenly, a strong wind rose outside, followed by lightning striking down like a sword from the heavens, accompanied by the continuous rumble of thunder. Large raindrops pelted the window, turning into a downpour so quickly it was hard to react.

It was raining. An Ruoxi was startled and hurried to the window, seeing him quickly usher the children inside before returning to stand in the rain. The wind whipped his clothes, his hair was soaked, and his face was covered in rain. His clothes clung to him, revealing his strong, towering figure. Didn’t he know to take shelter? What if he got sick? An Ruoxi felt a surge of anger. Was he playing games with his own health? Who was he trying to prove a point to?

Leng Qiuling ran over with an umbrella, trying to shield him, but he knocked it away.

“Why torture yourself like this?” Leng Qiuling sighed, having tried to persuade him multiple times to no avail. “Stop blaming yourself. Your self-blame won’t change anything. Uncle An loved you so much. I believe if he had the choice again, he’d still make the same decision. Once sister-in-law comes around, she’ll forgive you. Don’t wear yourself out first.” Leng Qiuling didn’t want them both to be so stubborn.

“I caused her to lose her parents.” His voice was filled with guilt and pain, his face pale. Having lost his mother, he deeply understood that pain, and she had lost both parents because of him.

“Enough, you don’t need to say more. Go inside and take care of her.”

“Brother…” Leng Qiuling wanted to say more but was interrupted.

“Alright.” Leng Qiuling could only nod helplessly.

“Ruoxi, please talk to Brother Leng,” Moli entered the room, seeing An Ruoxi standing by the window, a hint of surprise in her eyes. Moli deliberately exaggerated the storm outside and left the umbrella on the table before leaving.

The sound of wind and rain, thunder and lightning, continued outside, and An Ruoxi’s heart couldn’t settle. Was he really planning to keep standing there?

An Ruoxi lay in bed, unable to stop thinking about Leng Haoyin standing outside. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and quietly got up to look out the window. She saw his lonely, desolate figure standing there, and her heart ached inexplicably. Had he been blaming himself like this for the past five years?

Time passed slowly, and An Ruoxi lay in bed, her eyes fixed on the window. Was he really not going to take shelter?

“I’ll keep standing out here until you’re willing to see me.”

“Haoyin has been feeling guilty all these years. Uncle An in heaven would want Haoyin to take care of you.”

“Ruoxi, it was just an accident. You can’t blame Brother Leng.”

The words echoed in her ears, causing her heart to ache sharply. She suddenly got up, grabbed the umbrella from the table, and rushed out. The rain quickly soaked her nightgown, and the wind was so cold.

Leng Haoyin suddenly felt something covering him. He thought it was Qiuling again and was about to get angry when he saw An Ruoxi slowly walking toward him.

Seeing his face full of rain, his clothes soaked through, tears couldn’t help but fall from her eyes.

“Ruoxi.” Leng Haoyin managed to utter her name, his dim eyes suddenly brighter than diamonds. Did she forgive him? Really forgive him? At that moment, tears of joy mixed with the rain, flowing down his face.