————————————
When Nuo Nuo heard Wen Zhang Yi’s question, she immediately lowered her head and hid behind Tang Tang. She was not willing to answer his question.
In response, Ji Xiao Zhuo pulled on her hand to appease her, “Don’t be scared, Nuo Nuo, I won’t let anyone hurt you again! Let’s go home.”
Once Ji Xiao Zhuo finished speaking, he simply pulled Wen Nuo with him and ran towards the main entrance.
Tang Tang watched them and didn’t stop the two children. Since she also didn’t want to speak to the other two, she followed the children from behind.
However, Wen Zhang Yi couldn’t understand why so he stopped Tang Tang and asked, “What’s going on? Why would Wen Nuo show up here? If you brought her here, why didn’t you notify us first?”
Tang Tang was baffled when she saw the confusion on his face was real. She turned to look at Liu Zi Xuan and saw her biting on her lips. There was a little anxiousness and guilt that Liu Zi Xuan couldn’t hide from her face. She pulled on Wen Zhang Yi’s arm and said, “Zhang Yi, let’s go up first, I suddenly feel a bit cold. I want to go up and rest. Since Nuo Nuo is also here, we can find her later.”
Wen Zhang Yi covered her hand with his, “Just a bit longer. I’m just asking about the situation.”
Liu Zi Xuan bit her lips harder. Her palms started sweating from nervousness. She was regretting coming out for some sunshine today.
Seeing her expression, Tang Tang got enlightened. Could it be that Liu Zi Xuan hadn’t told Wen Zhang Yi about Nuo Nuo’s matter? If that was true, Wen Zhang Yi’s response was reasonable.
Tang Tang was certain that her assumption was true. It appeared that Liu Zi Xuan didn’t dare to tell Wen Zhang Yi of her actions. Was she afraid that he would blame her?
At the moment, Liu Zi Xuan was Tang Tang’s most hated person. She could be kind to anyone, but she just couldn’t be kind to her. Since Liu Zi Xuan concealed the matter from Wen Zhang Yi on purpose, Tang Tang would insist on telling him. Since his daughter had been wronged, he, as the father, could not stay out of the matter. He should do something for his daughter.
As a result, Tang Tang didn’t leave. Instead, she replied to Wen Zhang Yi with a cold expression, “Battalion commander Wen, shouldn’t you ask your wife instead? Why didn’t she tell you that Nuo Nuo became unconscious when she hit her and then refused to take her to the hospital. While you’re at it, why not ask her why she brought her mother with her to threaten us after finding out Nuo Nuo had a concussion and lost her hearing from the hit. Now, do you finally understand why Nuo Nuo is here with us? If I didn’t take Nuo Nuo to the hospital, do you think your wife would?”
“Concussion? Lost of hearing?” Wen Zhang Yi widened his eyes in disbelief. After a second, he turned to look at Liu Zi Xuan who was beside him, “Didn’t you say Nuo Nuo was at home and attending nursery, and that your mother was looking after Nuo Nuo and Rui Rui?”
Liu Zi Xuan’s face paled and her fingernails sunk into her palm. She knew the matter could not be hidden anymore and the best solution now was to admit she was wrong herself, so she held on his hand and explained, “Zhang Yi, listen to me, I … I didn’t do it on purpose. I wasn’t being careful enough and accidentally hurt Nuo Nuo. I thought she was fine. I didn’t tell you about it because I didn’t want you to worry. You’re injured and need to focus on recovering. I was planning on telling you after you leave the hospital.”
Wen Zhang Yi pursed his lips. His expression was unexplainably dark.
Seeing his reaction, Liu Zi Xuan felt scared. Tears fell from her eyes, “Why won’t you believe me? Even though I don’t like Nuo Nuo, have I ever gone this far before? If I really wanted to hurt her, do I need to wait until today? Others may not believe me, but surely you would, right?”
Wen Zhang Yi’s lips twitched as he asked after a while, “What exactly happened?”
Seeing he was asking for an explanation, Liu Zi Xuan relaxed. As long as he was still asking for an explanation, that meant he still believed her. So she immediately explained what happened that day, “Nuo Nuo brought a toy tiger back and Rui Rui wanted to play with it when he saw it. Nuo Nuo didn’t give it to him so he couldn’t help but snatch it from her. The two children got into a disagreement and Nuo Nuo directly pushed over Rui Rui. Then Rui Rui cried so heartbreakingly. I saw Nuo Nuo, as the elder sister, actually hit her younger brother so I got angry and slapped her once. I didn’t expect Nuo Nuo to lose her footing and hit her head against the wall before falling unconscious. I really didn’t do it on purpose. At the time, I thought Nuo Nuo would just be unconscious for a moment and would wake up soon. I didn’t think it would be so serious. You also know my temper has always been rushed.”
Tang Tang listened to Liu Zi Xuan playing down the matter in her explanation. She said it like she really just slapped the child once in a fit of anger but could one slap cause a child to go partially deaf?
Tang Tang felt her anger build and angrily said, “How can you have the nerve to say it so lightly? Can one slap make Nuo Nuo’s face so swollen? Also, because of your slap, Nuo Nuo has lost all hearing in her left ear while her right has been severely impacted. She has to wear a hearing aid to live now. Which parent can slap a child once and make them have a disability? Do you know what it’s like for a child who is not even four years old to have a disability? Would you be willing to hit your own child like that?”
“You!” Liu Zi Xuan hated Tang Tang for being a busybody but she could not refute because she didn’t just slap the girl once. At that time, she slapped the girl many times. She only realized what she had done when it was too late to be regretful but she was determined not to tell the whole truth.
When Wen Zhang Yi finished listening to Tang Tang, his expression became worse. He was not stupid. He knew Zi Xuan’s explanation had missed certain details.
Even though he didn’t like Nuo Nuo much, she was still his flesh and blood. He still loved her in his heart. He knew Zi Xuan had always minded Nuo Nuo’s existence but he never thought she would hit a child. Also, she caused the child to have a disability! Maybe she didn’t do it deliberately but it definitely wasn’t as simple as one slap.
The child had a disability. What will happen to her life?
Wen Zhang Yi took a deep breath. He didn’t want to be laughing stock and let outsiders watch them quarrel so he clenched his fist and walked away.
Liu Zi Xuan couldn’t be bothered to deal with Tang Tang. She quickly chased him from behind and attempted to explain.
Tang Tang only left when the two figures could no longer be seen. No matter how they resolved the issue, Tang Tang felt she finally got back at Liu Zi Xuan. Tang Tang really didn’t want to forgive Liu Zi Xuan.
When Tang Tang rushed home, she saw the children, who didn’t have keys to the door, crouching pitifully at the entrance. Nuo Nuo had shrunk herself as small as possible while Ji Xiao Zhuo spread wide to hug her. He patted on her back in an attempt to comfort her so she wouldn’t be afraid.
Seeing such a scene, Tang Tang felt warm.
No matter what, didn’t Nuo Nuo still have them to love her?
Tang Tang went and hugged both of them. Then she gave them a kiss each, “Good Bao Baos, let’s have a seafood feast for lunch, ok? It will have your favourite prawns and crabs.”
Instantly, Ji Xiao Zhuo poked on Nuo Nuo’s cheek and repeated the words loudly to her right ear, “Nuo Nuo, did you hear, we’re having crabs and prawns for lunch.”
Looking up with red eyes, Nuo Nuo who was pursing her lips suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around Tang Tang’s neck. Then, she buried her face into Tang Tang’s neck and rubbed coquettishly.
Nuo Nuo rarely acted like this. It seemed she was really broken-hearted this time. Tang Tang’s heart ached for her. Supporting Nuo Nuo’s bottom, Tang Tang lifted her up and carried her inside. She spoke loudly to her right ear, “Our little princess, Nuo Nuo, is so cute and needs to be happy every day. If you’re not happy, you won’t be as pretty and adorable, ok?”
After a long time, the little girl in her embrace nodded lightly.
Tang Tang gave Nuo Nuo another kiss, “Nuo Nuo, look, auntie and uncle love you. Xiao Zhuo loves you. and Great-grandpa loves you too. There are so many people who love you. You’re already blessed compared to many other children. It doesn’t matter if some people don’t love you, because you have us, alright? Little children shouldn’t be greedy.”
Nuo Nuo paused before nodding again. This time, she nodded harder.
Tang Tang placed the little girl on the sofa. Then she took a plane model that Ji Yan bought for Nuo Nuo to build, “Look at this, uncle recently bought this for you but he didn’t have time to give it to you. Auntie is going to give it to you first. Build it quickly then we can take it and show it to uncle. He’ll definitely praise our Nuo Nuo.”
Instantly, Nuo Nuo’s eyes brightened. She stretched her arms out to take the model and looked at it carefully. The sadness from before had disappeared. Whenever the little girl started building, she would get immersed and forget about all the unhappy feelings. It was indeed a blessing.
After three minutes of deep observation, she swiftly passed the model to Ji Xiao Zhuo, “Brother Xiao Zhuo, help me to break it.”
Ji Xiao Zhuo accepted the model readily and used his own special dismantling tool and started to dismantle the model. Then, the two children started building the model again.
Seeing their mood had recovered, Tang Tang was finally relieved and turned to enter the kitchen to cook.
————————————
When Tang Tang delivered the food to Ji Yan’s ward in the hospital with the children, they saw the scene of grandpa Ji reading the newspaper while sitting by the bed and Ji Yan was peeling an apple on the bed. The two did not interact. They were acting like they were strangers. But when Ji Yan finished peeling the apple, he did not eat it by himself. Instead, he cut the apple into pieces and placed it on the tray while grandpa Ji would take a piece to eat every now and then.
One was peeling while the other was eating. It was surprisingly harmonious.
Tang Tang smiled. She entered with the two children. Grandpa Ji saw them enter and glared at the three of them with a displeased expression, but none of them was afraid of him. They were still smiling happily because they knew he was just a paper tiger.
Tang Tang set the dishes on the table. Since Ji Yan had surgery recently, he could not eat most seafood so Tang Tang prepared a fish just for him. At least that was something from the sea.
Tang Tang removed the bones in the fish. After confirming there were no bones, she placed it into a bowl. She only started feeding Ji Yan food when the bowl was mostly full.
Grandpa Ji carried on staring at his grandson who was being served like he suffered from learning difficulties and could not look after himself. Grandpa Ji couldn’t hold it in anymore. His grandson was clearly just peeling an apple before. Why did he become so weak whenever his wife arrived?
Why would a man, who was perfectly fine, need their wife to serve him? Also, there were children present. Didn’t they know their actions would influence the children as parents? What should they do if the children start dating early?
In the future, Ji Xiao Zhuo, who just entered junior high, would hold Nuo Nuo’s hand as they returned home. When he openly announced Nuo Nuo to be his wife, Grandpa Ji got so angry he almost beat Ji Yan up with a belt because it was Ji Yan and Tang Tang’s affectionate actions that corrupted the children!
Of course, that would be in the future.
Currently, Grandpa Ji couldn’t watch any longer and slammed his chopsticks down with a bang. He glowered at Ji Yan, “Is your arm broken? Or is it your hand that is broken so you need your wife to feed you? As a man, do you not feel embarrassed doing this? Can’t you eat by yourself?”
Tang Tang was taken aback by Grandpa Ji’s volume. She didn’t move her hand and watched him flip out. She was afraid the grandfather and grandson would get into an argument before they even made up. Tang Tang quickly explained while trembling, “Grandpa, don’t scold Ji Yan. It’s me who isn’t sensible and insisted on feeding him.”
Steading his expression, Grandpa Ji waved his hand, “Don’t speak. If you have done something wrong, it’s still his fault for not raising it up. Could it be that men now need their wife to take the blame?”
Tang Tang still wanted to explain but Ji Yan stopped her by pulling on her hand. He took the bowl and chopsticks from her other hand and obediently admitted his wrong, “Sorry, grandpa, I know I’m wrong. I will eat by myself from now on.”
Ji Yan did not look unhappy after being lectured. If one looked carefully, they would see the happiness concealed in his eyes. Ji Yan was feeling joy inside because grandpa scolded him after so many years. This meant Grandpa Ji was willing to start making up with him. If he didn’t, Grandpa Ji wouldn’t have criticised Ji Yan even if he had to force himself to hold back from scolding.
Since Ji Yan admitted his mistake so quickly, grandpa Ji, who originally had a lot to lecture, could not say anything. He could only give in and carry on eating his meal with his head down.
Secretly, Ji Yan kneaded Tang Tang’s under the table and said, “I can eat by myself. You should eat too. Don’t wait till the food turns cold.”
Even with reassurance, Tang Tang still watched him eat with worry. After confirming he could hold the bowl and use the chopsticks steadily, Tang Tang relaxed and started to eat as well. Tang Tang didn’t dare to feed Ji Yan anymore whenever Grandpa Ji was present.
Grandpa was really strict. Tang Tang finally understood why Ji Yan was so serious and didn’t smile often. It must have been taught by his grandpa.
Luckily, Ji Xiao Zhuo’s personality was different to his father and grandfather. Otherwise, their family would have three males who didn’t talk much and a little girl who naturally didn’t enjoy talking either. It was scary just by imagining it.
Sun Yi, who had been watching silently from the side, was bursting with happiness inside. He gave grandpa Ji countless praises from his mind. Ji Yan deserved getting scolded like that. His arms and legs weren’t broken but he still required his wife to feed him! It was too unreasonable! Let’s see if Ji Yan dares to feed him dog food from now on! Hahaha.
Sun Yi felt he could eat another bowl of rice today for lunch.
During the meal, Tang Tang mentioned meeting Wen Zhang Yi and Liu Zi Xuan to Ji Yan. She wrinkled her nose and said, “It turns out Wen Zhang Yi is not aware of the matter. Liu Zi Xuan has been hiding it from him but told him everything just now. I won’t let Liu Zi Xuan get away with it so easily.”
It was rare for Tang Tang to have malicious thoughts but, in Ji Yan’s eyes, it was very cute.
Tang Tang stroked Nuo Nuo’s ear and purposely spoke in a volume that the little girl couldn’t hear, “Who knows if Nuo Nuo’s father can get reparation for Nuo Nuo.”
Ji Yan pursed his lips and he also responded quietly, “No matter if he would get reparation. I will make the Liu family compensate. Nuo Nuo can’t just suffer an injury like this. I have already entrusted this matter to someone to handle it. The Liu family won’t get away with it so easily. At the very least, we need to strive for the most favourable compensation for Nuo Nuo.”
Tang Tang didn’t even know when he got someone else to deal with the matter. It turned out that he remembered this issue in his heart.
When Ji Xiao Zhuo heard this, his eyes brightened as he quietly asked, “Daddy, can the compensation not be money? Maybe have Nuo Nuo’s daddy give Nuo Nuo to us? If they don’t treat Nuo Nuo well, then we will treat Nuo Nuo well.”
Ji Yan stroked Ji Xiao Zhuo’s head and spoke apologetically, “That is something daddy can’t do for the time being.”
Ji Xiao Zhuo was disappointed but he was brimming with confidence a second later, “It doesn’t matter. I will think of a way. There will be a day where Nuo Nuo will be in our family.”
The little one always wanted Nuo Nuo to be part of their family but that wish was too difficult to achieve. However, Ji Yan and Tang Tang didn’t have the heart to end his wish. They would just let him ponder the matter again and again.
As Grandpa Ji listened to their conversation, he gradually realized something was wrong, “That little girl’s ears weren’t born like this?”
He knew the little girl’s ears weren’t good but he thought it was something she was born with so he didn’t question it. He didn’t expect that was not the case. It appeared her affliction was man-made, but who would actually hit a little girl?
Seeing that his great-grandpa had asked, Ji Xiao Zhuo replied before anyone else could. Immediately, Ji Xiao Zhuo expressed his anger, “You don’t know this, great-grandpa, but Nuo Nuo’s stepmother is bad. She constantly didn’t give Nuo Nuo breakfast and let her starve every morning, and she didn’t buy any good clothes or toys for Nuo Nuo. She even hit Nuo Nuo and hurt her. Uncle doctors said Nuo Nuo’s left ear can’t hear anymore and her right ear can only hear a little bit. She is bad bad!”
Grandpa Ji frowned. Seeing Nuo Nuo so well- behaved and loveable, he couldn’t even eat anymore. He put his bowl and chopsticks down and asked, “Tang Tang, is it true? The little girl’s ears really became like this because someone hit her?”
A big thank you to everyone for supporting our translations. Although this will be a selfish decision, we’ll be keeping the last 10 chapters of the novel locked. Permanently locked chapters will begin from Chapter 72. All funds will be rechanneled into our other projects, so unlocking even a single chapter on the site will help keep us going!
– Vesper from Creative Novels
