Ruan Jiandang’s hand paused, he took down the blueprints and placed them on the side drafting table, asking almost without any doubt, "Did you see your mom today?"
"Yeah," Ruan Wei nodded, his expression somewhat aggrieved, "Dad, I don’t want a stepmom. Stepmoms will mistreat us."
Ruan Jiandang sighed, beckoned to him, and as Ruan Wei walked over, he patted his head, "Dad and your mom can’t go on together anymore, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have this mom. She’s still your mom, and whenever you miss her, you can go see her anytime. Dad won’t find you a stepmother, no one will mistreat you."
He was no longer young, and with three children already, he had never considered divorce even when he felt discontent with Liao Zhaoji, but now Liao Zhaoji was becoming more and more unbearable, a disaster if kept at home.
Especially towards his eldest brother, he owed too much.
From the time this niece was born, Liao Zhaoji didn’t like her and often made sarcastic comments in front of him. Sometimes they were very sharp and mean. He would usually just stop her, but he had never really done anything about it, thinking that was all she would do.
But he hadn’t anticipated that she would take advantage of his inaction and become increasingly excessive.
He should have taken action when she first persuaded Ruan Jiaojiao!
Moreover, a woman who couldn’t even tolerate a little child... her heart was far from kind; it was even cruel. His niece had been lucky once or twice, with nothing serious happening, but what if there was a next time? Who could guarantee the consequences?
However, these things, he couldn’t talk to his kids about, didn’t want to shatter the image of Liao Zhaoji in their hearts.
He could only soothe Ruan Wei .
Ruan Wei’s eyes reddened as he looked at him, probably realizing Ruan Jiandang was not going to soften his stance, and could only nod, wiping his eyes as he went out.
Outside, Ruan Chi was waiting with his arms crossed. Seeing him come out, he snorted coldly and turned into the house.
Ruan Wei bit his lip and followed.
"Brother, are you mad?"
Ruan Chi climbed into his own bed without so much as glancing at him; Ruan Wei caught up and pulled on his blanket, only to be kicked away.
"Brother," Ruan Wei called out tentatively, nursing his sore stomach from the kick, his voice full of grievance.
"Don’t call me. I’m not your brother!" Ruan Chi’s voice came sarcastically from under the blanket. He knew why he had been so good today, helping dad with the hot water — he was waiting here for him!
"Brother, I didn’t mean to hide it from you, it was mom who said not to tell you."
"Then keep hiding it, because I’m not your brother. Don’t call me brother!" Ruan Chi pulled the blanket further up, covering even his head.
Ruan Wei called out a couple more times from behind, but Ruan Chi still didn’t respond, so he had to retreat to his own bed, full of sorrow.
The next morning, Ruan Chi got up early without waking Ruan Wei across the bed, and went to the Ruanlin family for breakfast. Seeing him come alone, the Ruanlin family asked in puzzlement, "Why did you come by yourself, Xiaowei?"
Ruan Chi snorted from his nose, not answering.
The Ruanlin family kicked him, and only then did he unwillingly recount yesterday’s events.
The Ruanlin family fell silent upon hearing it.
"Grandma, I don’t want my mom to come back," Ruan Chi said when the Ruanlin family didn’t speak, "She doesn’t really want to come back to be good to us. She won’t change for the better."
Ruan Chi saw this clearly.
If she truly wanted to return and apologize, she should have walked into the Ruan family openly, instead of sneaking around to find Ruan Wei and specifically telling him not to tell him!