Shi Xiao stared at his daughter. Next, he slowly opens his mouth.
The story begins.
"If I am not mistaken, you have a car accident at that time. Five years after your mother's missing. When you are eight years old, I cannot pick you up at your school because I have an urgent matter occurring at that time. Then I asked my closest friend to help pick you up; however, he said you were missing from the school. But it was my mistake. I am sorry, my daughter. After that, I panicked, trying to search for you at the entire school until a school guard said someone was riding you in a car. At that time, I swear that if something happens to you, I will kill myself if I can't save you."
Shi Xiao's face was serious when saying that. He was covering his mouth with his right hand.
When she heard his father say that, Shi Yan felt her eyes tear again. It was great to see a father's sacrifice for his daughter—such a big sacrifice, like when her mother saved her.
Shi Xiao continued his story. "Then, I realized that you were kidnapped. Someone kidnaps you. I immediately searched for you with contact with my intelligent hacker friends. Thank God I have his communication and connection to meet the kidnapper's location. Next, I chased the kidnapper using my car. When I was about to reach them, the kidnapper's car, which had you in it, was crashed by another vehicle. Knowing you were in that car, my heart was broken then."
Shi Xiao burst into tears again. He was sad.
"After that, I rushed to the back of the kidnapper's car and took you out. At that time, I saw two men and one woman wearing masks, but they passed out. One minute after I took you out, suddenly, the car exploded because of the oil that broke due to the accident. I was relieved that I could save you. But I was disappointed because I could not keep saving these culprits. I need them to clarify why they kidnap you, but they died first. I am not evil enough to let others die because they do cruel and wrong things. I still have a rational mind."
He took a heavy breath before exhaling it out.
Shi Xiao stared deeply into his daughter's eyes. He continued his speech. "Back then, you were seriously injured. Your body and head were full of blood. I was super worried about you. My hands trembled with fear as I held your body. I'm afraid anything bad happened to you, so I immediately took you to the nearby hospital. Then, the doctor said you are injured heavily. You have severe brain bleeding, and they immediately did the operation on you." His mouth trembled in fear as he said that.
Shi Yan was shocked. She made an unbelievable face. 'I was like that before? Why did I not remember anything?'
When seeing his daughter's shocked face, Shi Xiao directly explains. "Yes, because of that accident, you have some side effects of brain damage. Like Alzheimer's or Dementia, you have problems remembering your past before the accident. That explained to you that is why you have some headaches when trying to remember your past. Also, I have no idea what happened to you before that accident. I have investigated it as a case, but I didn't find any crucial information. Sigh..." He sighed again.
'I feel pity for my daughter…I cannot do anything for her…' He sobbed in his heart.
Shi Yan, who is hearing that, burst into cries. "Dad…" Only one word of her beloved father came out of her mouth.
Shi Xiao gives his daughter a sweet smile despite feeling sad. "That is why I must protect you from all costs after that day. I also promised your mother to care for you, my daughter."
Shi Yan is feeling tearful. She hugged her father while sobbing.
"Dad…Thank you very much. I feel grateful to have you, Dad. I'm sorry for all my doing to you. I'm sorry if I did something wrong on purpose or not. I love you very much, Dad. You are my superhero, you are my father, and you are my everything, Dad."
Shi Xiao returned his daughter's hug. He feels teary, too, in his eyes.
"You are welcome, my daughter. As a parent, it is my responsibility. I care for you, my little sunshine. I already forgive you. I'm sorry, too…I will do my best to protect you from now on." He makes a promise to his daughter.
Shi Yan gives him her best and most overwhelmed smile, revealing her facial face resembling her mother. "Yes, father."
Shi Xiao was stunned. He smiled bitterly.
'Oh, Xia Xia..if only you were here. If only you were alive, I hope you can see our daughter now. She shines brightly like you. She really resembles you a lot. I miss you, my wife…'
***********************************************
At night, in Shi Yan's bedroom.
"Dad, goodnight! Don't stay up late!"
Shi Yan wished a goodnight for her father before closing the bedroom door.
"Alright, goodnight, sweetheart."
Shi Xiao nodded quietly and smiled. It looks like he has a lot of thinking.
*** Click! ***
Shi Yan closed the door and went to her bed.
Upon she lay down on the bed. She hugged the teddy bear the size of a baby panda.
"Many things happened today, huh? I cannot believe it…" She mumbled to herself slowly as she stared at the white ceiling fan.
Shi Yan smiled. "But I'm grateful to have Dad in my life. Without him, how my life will be?"
She continued to speak and questioned herself.
"Am I able to meet my mother again? I believe she was still alive because her body had never been found. Also, can I meet that little boy again? What was his name? Why I cannot remember anything…Urgh, it hurts." She holds her forehead as she feels her head throbbed.
"Maybe, one day, time will reveal everything. I hope I can remember everything that happened in my life…"
As Shi Yan said that, her eyes slowly closed. She fell asleep.
She sleeps soundly with the blanket covering her body. Her whole body felt tired because of exhaustion.
However, she doesn't know what will happen tomorrow. What will wait for her?
The promise that she has made. Shi Yan totally forgot about that.