Daddy, Mommy Ran Away

An Ruoxi stumbled into the narrow alley ahead, guided only by the faint cries of her children. Her heart pounded wildly, and her vision blurred with tears. She relied solely on a mother’s instinct, weaving through the crisscrossing shadows of the alley, desperately searching for those small, familiar figures.

Finally, under the dim golden sunlight, she saw them-three children huddled tightly together, with a tall man standing beside them. In that instant, it felt as though lightning had struck her. She froze mid-step, a torrent of complex emotions surging through her like a tidal wave. Forcing herself to stay calm, she lifted her head, her face returning to its usual composure, though her trembling fingertips betrayed her inner turmoil.

She rushed to the children, her voice tinged with both worry and anger as she scolded them softly, “Mommy told you before, never go with strangers. Why didn’t you listen?”

Xiaobei lowered her head, a hint of grievance flashing in her eyes. “But he said he’s not a stranger…”

An Ruoxi frowned, her tone growing sharper. “How do you know he’s not a stranger? You don’t even know him! You must never do this again, understand?”

“But…” Xiaobei tried to explain, only to be silenced by her mother’s stern gaze.

“No buts! This must never happen again!” she said firmly. Squatting down, she carefully checked each child for injuries. Only after confirming they were unharmed did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Grasping the hands of all three children, she turned to leave without sparing the man another glance. Her coldness and detachment were like sharp blades, cutting into Ouyang Pei’s heart without a sound.

Ouyang Pei watched helplessly as his daughter walked away with the children. His throat felt as though it was blocked by a stone. Finally, unable to hold back, he called out softly, “Daughter…”

His voice carried an unmistakable pain and sorrow, the weight of a father’s belated love and guilt laid bare under the sunlight. The words between them were carried away by the wind, leaving only his lonely figure in the empty alley, stretched long by the dappled sunlight.

An Ruoxi glanced back and saw Ouyang Pei still standing there, his expression desolate. A sudden pang of pain struck her heart. She wanted to ignore him, but deep down, a sense of gratitude began to rise. If not for his intervention, who knows how things might have turned out?

She stopped in her tracks, turned back, and said softly, “Thank you.” Her voice was hoarse, as if the words were a lump in her throat, hard to swallow or spit out. She was genuinely grateful, but to accept him as family and forgive him wholeheartedly-that was a step she wasn’t ready to take.

Ouyang Pei froze for a moment upon hearing her words, then broke into a rare smile. His voice trembled as he replied, “Silly girl, what’s there to thank? We’re family. I’m your dad…” As he spoke, his voice grew increasingly choked, and the decades of longing and regret finally spilled over in silent tears.

Before dawn the next day, the three children excitedly ran to An Ruoxi’s bedside, clamoring to go lotus picking with Uncle Yang. An Ruoxi initially wanted to decline, but unable to resist their pleading, she donned a large baseball cap and took them out.

The lake was shrouded in morning mist, with lotus leaves swaying gently. Uncle Yang paddled a bamboo raft, bringing the children to the lakeside. The three little ones chased dragonflies and caught small fish by the shore, their laughter echoing across the water. Uncle Yang slowly paddled toward the center of the lake to pick the freshest lotus pods.

Just as everyone was immersed in the beauty of nature, an unexpected incident occurred. A water buffalo, startled for some unknown reason, bolted wildly toward the lakeshore. The three children, playing right at the edge, were directly in its path.

“Watch out!” An Ruoxi screamed, running toward them with all her might. But the buffalo had already knocked the children into the lake, sending up a huge splash.

In that moment, An Ruoxi was on the verge of collapse. She couldn’t swim and could only watch helplessly as the children flailed in the water. Her heart felt like it was shattering. Uncle Yang was too far out in the lake to return in time.

Just then, three dark figures dashed from the shore and plunged into the water. Ouyang Pei and two of his men dove in without hesitation, struggling against the current to pull the children out.

When the children were finally brought ashore, An Ruoxi rushed over, hugging each of them tightly as tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Ouyang Pei stood nearby, drenched and panting, his eyes filled with worry and affection. Water droplets clung to his temples, glinting in the sunlight, making him appear both aged and resolute.

An Ruoxi looked up at him, her emotions a whirlwind. She finally understood that no matter the misunderstandings of the past, this man had always been silently protecting her and the children in his own way. His love, though heavy and unspoken, was deeply moving.

When Uncle Yang returned with the raft, he immediately greeted Ouyang Pei warmly. It turned out the two were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in years. Uncle Yang enthusiastically invited him to the house as a guest, and the atmosphere suddenly became lively.

Though puzzled, An Ruoxi didn’t ask further. She quietly handed Ouyang Pei a towel, watching his disheveled yet gentle demeanor, her heart rippling with mixed emotions.

During lunch, An Ruoxi helped Aunt Yang prepare the vegetables, and the two chatted. Aunt Yang recounted stories from the village’s past. It turned out that Ouyang Pei and An Ruoxi’s mother had been childhood sweethearts, growing up together with a deep bond. Twenty-eight years ago, just as they were planning to marry, Ouyang Pei suddenly left the village. Her mother left three years later, returning five years after that with a child and a man-An Guoqiang.

“No one in the village knows what happened during those years your mother was away. When she came back, she was a different person, always gloomy. Later, she took you all to the city,” Aunt Yang sighed. “Some things, who knows if it’s fate or destiny.”

Listening to this, An Ruoxi couldn’t help but glance out at the lotus pond. She finally understood why Ouyang Pei had decorated “Heaven on Earth” with such traditional charm-it was his way of holding onto those unforgettable youthful memories.

Lunch was unusually lively. The three children chattered happily, Uncle Yang was in high spirits, and even the usually reserved Ouyang Pei couldn’t hide his joy, chatting animatedly with Uncle Yang as if time had turned back.

After the meal, while the children watched TV in the living room, An Ruoxi stood alone by the wooden railing of the pavilion, breathing in the fragrance of lotus seeds and gazing at the distant stone bridge. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, her heart a mix of emotions.

Ouyang Pei quietly ascended the stairs and saw her standing there, her figure blending with a memory of someone from long ago. The breeze played with her hair, and the sunlight bathed her delicate profile, making her seem both distant and tender.

He approached slowly, wanting to speak but unsure of what to say, choosing instead to stand silently by her side. An Ruoxi felt his gaze and turned to meet his eyes, her expression carrying a newfound sense of acceptance and faint gratitude.

Meanwhile, far away in City X, the bidding war for the Golden Triangle property was heating up, with the outside world completely unaware of the tranquil life An Ruoxi was living in the Jiangnan water town.

Three days later, the Golden Triangle bidding officially commenced in City X, drawing widespread media attention. Surprisingly, Leng Corporation’s president, Leng Haoyin, was absent, as was Global’s Ouyang Pei. In the end, Zuo Corporation’s new president, Zuo Junchen, secured the property with a bid of 8.31 billion yuan, just one million higher than Leng Corporation’s offer. The decision sparked endless speculation and debate among the public and media.

Just as the dust seemed to settle, shocking news suddenly broke from Leng Corporation…