Daddy, Mommy Ran Away - Chapter 197 - Heavy Rain

An Ruoxi’s face froze momentarily, feeling a bit awkward as she exchanged glances with Leng Haoyin. Her gaze then shifted to Zhan Tianxiang and Qiuling, clearly noticing the panic and the sudden blush on Qiuling’s dazed face.

Looking closely at Zhan Tianxiang, his sun-kissed cheeks also showed a hint of red, yet he was earnestly gazing at Leng Qiuling. “It doesn’t hurt. I could look at her forever without feeling any pain.”

Upon hearing his words, Leng Qiuling’s heart couldn’t help but race wildly, causing her to lower her head even more. Her nose tingled, and the deepest, softest part of her heart was touched, leaving a bitter taste.

If it were five years ago, just one more glance from him would have made her bloom with happiness. But now, as he looked at her, she chose to be a turtle hiding in its shell, licking her wounds alone.

Seeing her head bowed, Zhan Tianxiang’s face reddened further, his heart aching faintly.

“Wow, uncle, are you trying to woo my aunt?” Suddenly, Xuanhan exclaimed as if he had discovered a new continent.

“Uncle, that’s not how you woo a girl,” Xiaobei chimed in, her eyes rolling mischievously. “I’ve got it! You need to learn from my uncle. He’s shameless; he kissed Auntie at the airport, and then Auntie didn’t leave. She’s going to be our aunt soon. So, you need to be a bit shameless to win over aunt.”

“Xiaobei!” Hearing this, Leng Qiuling’s face turned even redder, and she lifted her head. “No talking during meals.”

Yet, she was secretly thinking that what he said earlier was already quite bold. For someone usually so serious, she had never heard him speak so casually.

“I’m not talking; I’m just helping uncle with strategies,” Xiaobei said innocently, oblivious to Qiuling’s embarrassment. “Teaching uncle how to woo aunt, haha!”

The innocent words left everyone momentarily stunned.

“Childish, why go through all that trouble? Just kidnap aunt, and that’s it,” An Xiaobao threw out another suggestion.

What?!

“Xiaobao, where did you hear such nonsense?” Leng Haoyin was so shocked his jaw nearly hit the floor.

“Isn’t that how it happens on TV? Old man, didn’t you kidnap mommy, and then she forgave you?” Xiaobao blinked his cat-like eyes innocently, looking romantically at Leng Haoyin.

“When did I ever kidnap mommy?” Leng Haoyin was flabbergasted. When had he ever done something so unscrupulous?

“Didn’t you? Last time at the airport, didn’t you just take mommy away?”

Being pointed out so clearly, Leng Haoyin was momentarily stunned, realizing it was indeed true. The words of rebuttal stuck in his throat like a fishbone, unable to come out. After a long while, he glared at Xiaobao, “No more watching TV from now on!”

These kids, so corrupted, how could they know so much?

From only being allowed to watch cartoons in the morning, it had now escalated to no TV at all.

Xiaobao cheekily stuck out his tongue, continuing to eat without paying any heed to his words.

The three children quieted down, and the atmosphere at the table grew colder.

The oppressive atmosphere suffocated her, making her feel unbearably uncomfortable. Leng Qiuling put down her chopsticks and stood up. “I’m full. You all take your time.”

She turned to leave, but in her haste, she forgot to move the chair out of the way. Her knee collided directly with the protruding edge of the dining chair. In an instant, pain shot through her like a bolt of lightning, spreading from her knee to her entire body. She bent over, her face contorted in agony, tears almost spilling from her eyes.

“Are you okay?” Zhan Tianxiang immediately rushed to her side, moved the chair away, and crouched down, reaching to lift her skirt slightly to check her knee for injuries.

“Ah-what are you doing?!” As the hem of her skirt was slightly lifted, Leng Qiuling let out a startled cry, slapping his hand away and quickly pulling her skirt back down. Her flushed face burned with embarrassment.

His hand froze in mid-air, and a flicker of hurt passed through Zhan Tianxiang’s eyes. In the next moment, he realized the mistake he had made.

Oh no!

He had acted too impulsively, without thinking. He had only wanted to check if her knee was injured. After all, colliding with a solid mahogany chair must have hurt; otherwise, she wouldn’t have reacted so painfully.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to see if you were hurt,” he said, standing up, his expression awkward and unsure.

“It’s getting late,” Leng Qiuling said, trying her best to maintain her composure. Her beautiful face was now cold and distant as she looked at him. “Mr. Zhan, you’ve had your fill, so you should head home early.”

If he stayed even a second longer, her heart might not be able to withstand the strain.

Zhan Tianxiang stared at her blankly, his gaze complicated, filled with hurt. His eyes lingered on her face for a few seconds. He parted his lips as if to say something but ultimately remained silent. Turning to Leng Chuyan, he said, “Dad, it’s getting late. I’ll head back now.”

Finally, Zhan Tianxiang left. But as he walked out the door, he glanced back at Leng Qiuling one last time. There were words he wanted to say, but in the end, they remained unspoken.

Once outside, he realized the sky had turned dark, and it had started to rain. Walking through the garden of the Leng Family’s old mansion, the earthy scent of the soil mixed with the fragrance of flowers, intoxicating yet melancholic. The chill in the air made him shiver, goosebumps rising on his skin.

He tugged at his shirt, a wave of sorrow washing over him in the dark, stormy night. The wind and rain seemed to mirror the turmoil in his heart.

His heart felt unbearably heavy. As he walked, his vision blurred, making it hard to see the path ahead. Tears began to silently slip from the corners of his eyes, mingling with the rain on his face, indistinguishable from one another.

What was happening? Why was he, a grown man, shedding tears for no apparent reason? But the truth was, he felt an overwhelming urge to cry.

He crouched in a corner by the wall, burying his face in his knees. His shoulders trembled violently, and muffled sobs escaped him.

Suddenly, a torrential downpour began, the rain cascading like strings of pearls, enveloping him in a secluded corner where no one could see.

Inside the brightly lit Leng Family mansion, the atmosphere was peculiar despite the warm glow of the lights.

The gentle drizzle outside abruptly turned into a heavy downpour, with no signs of letting up. The rain intensified, each droplet striking the glass windows with sharp, crackling sounds that pierced the silence.