"It’s my fault, I didn’t protect you." Pei Yicheng couldn’t bear to see Xu Nianhua blame himself any longer. He stepped forward and said, looking at the white hair by Pei Guozhong’s temples and his reddened eyes, "Dad, I’m sorry."
Pei Yicheng stood in front of him, sincerely apologizing to Pei Guozhong for the first time.
"We are family, there’s nothing to be sorry for." Pei Guozhong reached out and patted his arm, knowing how much effort Wan Hongxing had put into trying to mend their father-son relationship. What did a bit of pride matter in comparison?
"Yicheng, I was wrong too. Back then, if it weren’t for me, your... mother wouldn’t have died." Pei Guozhong’s eyes reddened, recalling his first wife, and his heart was filled with guilt. But this guilt had never been expressed to his son. He took a deep breath and said, "I’m sorry."
These words had always been on the tip of his tongue but never spoken. Now that they were out, he realized that pride was truly insignificant.
Although Du Ya’s death was caused by someone else’s drunk driving, if he hadn’t been so busy with work, she wouldn’t have had the accident while bringing him food, leaving their underage son and daughter behind.
Back then, he was just a ten-year-old boy. It was only natural for him to resent his father. Their relationship hadn’t even started to improve when he married Wan Hongxing.
At fifteen, Pei Yicheng was in his rebellious phase, and the father-son relationship deteriorated further.
"Dad." This time, Pei Yicheng called him ’Dad’ with more sincerity than ever before. He had waited a long time for this apology.
"That’s great!" Pei Yining excitedly pulled Pei Yicheng and Pei Guozhong’s hands together. Soon, their family would be reunited.
The light in the emergency room went out. Wan Hongxing had multiple fractures and had been kicked so hard that it caused gastric bleeding.
Every word from the doctor made the Su Family and Pei Family grind their teeth in hatred.
In the evening, Xu Nianhua wanted to stay and keep watch, but Pei Guozhong disagreed. He drove them all away, insisting on staying awake alone.
Xu Nianhua could only agree to come back the next day.
Returning to the Su household, Xu Nianhua took a refreshing shower and finally felt clean again. Thinking about everything that had happened today, her heart still trembled with fear.
"Nianhua, have you finished your shower?"
Su Xi called from the doorway, knocking after a while, worried that Xu Nianhua might be scared.
"Almost."
Xu Nianhua looked at her bruised belly in the mirror. She pulled down her pajama top to cover it before opening the door.
"Nianhua, why did you take so long in the shower? Let me see, are you hurt?" Su Xi reached to lift her pajama top, but Xu Nianhua dodged. Su Xi pursed her lips and said, "No, I have to see!"
"It’s just a little bruise on my stomach." Xu Nianhua couldn’t resist Su Xi. When she lifted her pajama top, Su Xi exclaimed, "Nianhua, this is just a little bruise?"
"Did you get checked at the hospital? You aren’t hurt internally?" Su Xi asked anxiously.
Outside the door, Jiang Wanru couldn’t hold back any longer. She walked into the room, insisting on seeing Xu Nianhua’s stomach.
"Mom, don’t listen to Xiaoxi’s exaggerations. It’s really nothing. The doctor at the hospital checked it too, and it’s not serious. I just need a few days to recover." Xu Nianhua said nonchalantly, "It doesn’t hurt, and the doctor already rubbed some medicated oil on it."
"Mom, why don’t we sleep together tonight?" Xu Nianhua couldn’t bear to see Jiang Wanru’s guilty expression.
Su Xi immediately said, "Then I’ll go home to sleep. My mom misses me too."
With that, Su Xi quickly ran off, as Xu Nianhua had never slept with her aunt before.