Xia Ling felt that her hand was held by a soft little hand.
She looked down and saw Shaohui's face in the dim light.
The small child looked up and said uneasily, "Mom, I don't want to go on stage."
"Why?" She knelt and asked gently.
The child's voice was very soft. "I don't want to call that person… great-grandfather."
Xia Ling's heart hurt. She knew her child best. He was always happy-go-lucky and did not mind when the servants offended him ocassionally. What kind of suffering did he endure such that he fully rejected a person?
She said, "Then don't call him that."
Shaohui's eyes sparkled. "Is that really ok?"
"When have I ever lied to you?" Xia Ling smiled and stroked her child's head in sympathy. "Rest assured, even if the world falls apart, your mom will be here for you."
Thus, the child sighed in relief.
