" Mother, why – "Mr. Xu was ripped apart by Mrs. Xu'saction like a torrential storm from the sound made by Li Na's little, broken voice. He'd never heard his wife slap their daughter, and despite the dread in Li Na's eyes whenever she saw him and her mother, Li Na's voice had never sounded so sad and broken.
"Meilin, get away from my daughter now. Move away from her right now!!" Li Na's father growled, to Li Na's complete shock, her father frowned in annoyance and shot her mother a filthy and angry look.
It was so at odds with the way her father always remain silent when her mother was correcting her, her father's action freaked her out a little, even now that her father mention 'my daughter'.
Her father stared at her mother for a moment before turning back to Li Na. "Li Na, I want you to come today because…well… We as your parents never want to harass you." he rubbed the back of his neck for a moment, looking uncharacteristically lost. "It's just I realize the error of my mistake with Chen Yinan and I want to tell you that I am taking steps to gather enough evidence to put him in jail."
"What do mean by that, Hàoyǔ?" Li Na's mother screeched at her husband as she looked as if she was betrayed. "How can you do that to Yinnan. I'm not going to stay here and listen to your foolish talk" Mrs. Xu said as she glared at her husband and daughter, turning towards the stairs in a huff and slammed the door shut.
Not minding her, Mr. Xu continued as he pulled Li Na's hand and grasped it in his thin hands. Li Na flinched and was astonished at how frail her father's hand felt.
"I know that I have neglected you and I have never taken care of you as a father should but I'm going to correct my ways by putting Chen Yinann to prison."
Li Na stared at him for a moment. "I appreciate it, father," she said, her voice soft despite the sting from her mother's slap.
"I don't know what relationship you are having with your student but I know that he's an adult and he is in postgraduate school. Li Na, I know he is the son of the Lu family because I sent Mr. Gu, my secretary, to check it out but you have to be careful if you are not ready to make it known to the world."
"I don't know what to say but I'm grateful for your support father. Thank you,' she looked up at her father's solemn smile as tears threatened to fall from her tear duct.
Her father breathed. 'Oh well, it's okay. I don't want you to get angry with your mother, She experienced some things when she gave birth to you.' Her father continued as he rubbed Li Na's stinging cheek with gentleness. " Your mother was supposed to give birth to twins when she was pregnant with you but your other one died during the birth, he was a boy but you lived."
Li Na's father drops his hands on his knees as he started rubbing them in a nervous attempt."Hàoyǔ, was devasted and she later fell into severe post Partum depression and since then she has been harsh with you."
When Li Na heard her father's explanation for her mother's behavior toward her, she was taken aback. The fact that she had a twin was never mentioned or implied to her. All she remembers is her mother's anger and loathing.
"I have not been around in some time past and that also caused her aggression. I was at fault. I never cared about it, since what was in my mind is that whatever she did to you was right. And I realize after my accident that I was wrong. So I want you to forgive us for whatever actions we might have done to you" Li Na's father said as sorrow filled his glistening eyes and his face was red as he stared at the floor in embarrassment.
"Why, don't you go ahead and take your bath and rest. I will be in the study, if you need anything" Her father turned to the large room at the right-hand side of the living room, Li Na extended a hand to him so as to push his wheelchair but Mr. Xu waved her off." Don't worry, just rest and feel at home. I will be here to protect you"
"Okay, Father," Li Na said quietly, unshed tears sparkling in her eyes. Her father hung his head as he pushed himself to the room and Li Na watched him as her feeling towards her father complicated and stunning. Her father's back looks so small and tired.