Daddy, Mommy Ran Away

The door opened a crack. Through the gap, she saw the object of her longing sitting steadily by his desk, his figure partly obscured by stacks of high-piled files. In one hand, he delicately flipped through a document, while the other held a pen, carefully making adjustments where their opinions strongly diverged. His entire demeanor radiated an arrogant regal aura mixed with the charm of a mature man.

Under the pallid light, the man’s handsome and imposing figure exuded a cold indifference, his thin lips tightly closed in a firm line. His entire being emitted a distant, regal air, noble yet aloof.

Her heartbeat suddenly quickened-not with excitement, but with a kind of panic.

Why, she wondered, feeling alarmed and afraid. She had only returned to the United States for a few days, yet upon her return, he seemed completely different-more mature and assertive than before. His demeanor was more authoritative, his aura grander and colder, making him feel like a stranger to her.

No, no, Brother Yin wouldn’t abandon her. He couldn’t.

She closed her eyes, clenched her teeth, and vigorously shook her head, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead. Her small hand gripping the door suddenly exerted more force, making a slight creaking noise.

This faint sound was enough to catch the attention of the man behind the desk. He furrowed his brow slightly and looked up to see a delicate figure standing by the window. In a flash, he stood up, causing the papers on the desk to scatter onto the floor.

“Xiaoqing,” he exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Brother Yin-” Her hands awkwardly clutched at her skirt, but seeing the joy on his face, her cheeks flushed with happiness, and she rushed into his arms, burying her face in his chest. “Brother Yin, I’ve missed you so much.”

Her soft body bumped into him, and Leng Haoyin stiffened, his large hands awkwardly unsure where to place them. His tone was a bit stiff: “Why are you back?”

She looked up at him, bewildered, her voice soft and broken: “Brother Yin, aren’t you happy to see me?”

A hint of confusion crossed his brow, his voice normal: “No, I’m happy, just surprised. How have you been all these years?”

Nuan Qianqing’s eyes became even more puzzled, and she tiptoed, gently touching his forehead, then burst into laughter: “Brother Yin, are you being silly? I was only in the United States for a month. Why are you talking about years? It’s like we’ve been apart forever.”

His expression instantly stiffened. He turned to Uncle Zeng standing by the door, his gaze questioning.

Uncle Zeng just shook his head, his aged face full of sorrow and pain.

“Xiaoqing, sit here. I need to step out for a moment, but I’ll come back and keep you company,” Leng Haoyin said, guiding her to sit on the sofa.

“No, no, Brother Yin, don’t leave me,” Nuan Qianqing quickly stood up, her hands gripping his arm tightly, her face filled with panic like a frightened little rabbit lost in the woods.

Leng Haoyin’s brows furrowed deeper, his heart filled with doubts and pain: “Dear, I’m not abandoning you. I’m just going to make you some tea, your favorite jasmine tea.”

“Okay, but come back quickly. I get scared alone,” she said obediently, her eyes filled with dependence.

“Okay, I will.” He patted her hand reassuringly and settled her on the sofa before he left.

“Hehe.” Like a porcelain doll, she sat motionless on the sofa, her eyes fixed on Leng Haoyin’s departing figure. Her hands rested together on her lap, her face wearing a serene smile. The black leather sofa made her white dress look even more like a doll placed in a high-end display window, beautiful yet untouchable.

“Uncle Zeng, what’s wrong with Xiaoqing? Wasn’t she treated in time? It seems her condition has worsened,” Leng Haoyin asked, his tone heavy with concern, his deep gaze fixed on her through the glass.

The past flooded back into his mind.

Five years ago, she disappeared from her wedding, and he thought she had left with the man she loved. Yet, she returned six months later, heavily pregnant and tearfully told him that the man had vanished the day before their wedding. She had searched the world to no avail. The simplicity of her mind didn’t even know the man’s real name.

From that time, he noticed Xiaoqing’s mental health fluctuating, but it wasn’t obvious until after she gave birth. One night, she tried to suffocate the child, but luckily a nurse intervened and saved Xuanhan. It was then that the doctor definitively diagnosed her with mild schizophrenia.

Hearing this, Uncle Zeng’s expression grew even more distressed: “Young Master Yin, you might not know, after you sent Miss back then, Master and Madam brought many authoritative psychiatrists to treat her. However, Miss appeared normal, and everyone thought she had recovered. But, three months ago, she took sleeping pills in the middle of the night. Thankfully, I found her the next morning when she didn’t come out for breakfast. After she was revived, she’s been like this, blocking out the last six years of memories, forgetting that scoundrel, forgetting Young Master, and only remembering the memories before she went to the United States six years ago. She’s still in a daze, constantly wanting to return to find you. Madam, distressed by Miss’s condition and unable to leave her business in the U.S., asked me to accompany her back.”

Every word from Uncle Zeng weighed heavily on him, his gaze lingering on her shadow, his heart aching.

They had grown up together, and she had always liked to follow him around, sweetly calling him Brother Yin. His feelings for her were more fraternal than romantic, so when she fell in love with another and wanted to cancel their wedding, although it pained him, he let her go.

Over these five years, his feelings for her had settled into nothing more than brotherly affection.

“Young Master Yin, I know Miss wronged you back then. Now, with her in this state, you have no obligation to care for her. But Miss constantly talks about you, fearing you will ignore her. You can’t just leave her,” Uncle Zeng implored, his voice filled with emotion.