Chapter 148: Kindness, Destroyed
Liang Hui held back his tears as he gently scolded his daughter, his voice tinged with both love and sorrow. "Xiaoluo, why did you come here? You shouldn't have come. This place is filthy, and I'm filthy, too. You'll only get dirty staying here." He paused, then pushed her away gently. "Leave, quickly. Don't tell anyone that I'm your father."
From the day she was born, he had given her everything he could. He had promised his late wife that he would protect their daughter at all costs.
But now, seeing her suffer such humiliation, how could he face her with any dignity?
"No! You're my father, and you'll always be my father," Liang Xiaoluo cried as she hugged him tightly, refusing to let go.
She had never imagined that her father would end up like this. She had called home a few times before, and every time, Liang Hui reassured her that everything was fine. But now, seeing what "fine" really meant, she regretted not returning sooner. She had no excuse for her absence.
"Xiaoluo… what am I supposed to do with you?" Liang Hui gave in, gently patting her head as tears finally streamed down his face.
"Dad, tell me, why did it come to this?" she asked, her voice choked with emotion. Their family had always been poor, but never to such an extent. Her father still had a small job at a company—not well-paying, but enough to keep the family fed. How had things deteriorated so badly?
"I've grown old, Xiaoluo. The company laid me off," Liang Hui replied with a faint smile, his eyes flashing with hidden pain.
Deep wrinkles lined his face, speaking of the toll that time and hardship had taken on him.
"Laid off?" Xiaoluo's voice broke, her pupils dilating in shock.
"Yes, the company laid me off, and I couldn't find another job. This hotel owner was kind enough to give me work. Without them, I wouldn't even be able to keep the family fed," Liang Hui said lightly, as if it were no big deal, trying to put her at ease.
He couldn't let her bear any more pain. The accident years ago had already robbed her of precious memories of family love. He couldn't bring himself to strike another blow.
"Is that true?" Xiaoluo felt a nagging doubt—something didn't feel right about his story.
Lin Xue, who had been holding back, suddenly shouted, "It's all lies! Everything he said is fake. He's just trying to fool you!"
Her voice, filled with resentment and sorrow, echoed in the small space. Tears streamed down her face as she finally broke down.
She knew she had done terrible things in the past, including betraying her sister, but she had been trying to atone for her mistakes. Yet the world's notion that "those who admit their wrongs will be forgiven" felt like utter nonsense to her.
Xiaoluo turned to face Lin Xue, stunned. The once arrogant and unruly sister now seemed utterly defeated.
"Xue!" Liang Hui hurriedly pulled Lin Xue aside, trying to stop her from revealing the truth. "Don't listen to her, Xiaoluo. You know how your sister is—she always talks nonsense."
"I'm not lying!" Lin Xue yelled, her voice raw with emotion. "It's all because of you, sister. You offended Ye Tianlin, and he had our home destroyed! He even had mom beaten up. He blacklisted Dad and me, making sure no company in the city would hire us. That's why Dad ended up here, and why I had to sell myself just to pay for mom's medical bills. It's all because of you!"
Her outburst was filled with anger and bitterness. She had tried to change, to be better, but life had only made things worse. If being good brought no rewards, why not embrace the role of the villain?
"Xue!" Liang Hui's attempt to stop Lin Xue was in vain.
Xiaoluo froze as Lin Xue's words echoed in her mind. Her thoughts were flooded with memories of Ye Tianlin—the man who had warned her again and again:
"Liang Xiaoluo, without my permission, you're not allowed to leave my side. You're not allowed to seek another man's comfort. Otherwise, I'll make you regret it."
Was this what he had meant by making her regret it?
"Dad, is what Xue said true?" Xiaoluo asked, her voice trembling. Somewhere deep inside, she still clung to a sliver of hope, a faint belief that Ye Tianlin wouldn't have gone this far.
Liang Hui lowered his head, unable to meet her gaze.
The memory of those men ransacking their home and beating Meiling was still fresh. The bruises on his own body were constant reminders of that day. Every time he recalled it, he trembled with anger and helplessness.
But how could he blame his daughter? She wasn't the one at fault. If Meiling hadn't betrayed her back then, none of this would have happened. They wouldn't have crossed paths with someone as cruel as Ye Tianlin.
"It's true," Liang Xiaoluo whispered as tears filled her eyes. "It was Ye Tianlin who did this to you."
The betrayal hit her harder than she could have imagined. She could endure his cruelty towards her, but not towards her family. That was something she couldn't forgive.
Clenching her fists tightly, she turned and stormed out.
"Xiaoluo, where are you going? Xiaoluo!" Liang Hui called after her, but his injured legs made it impossible for him to catch up.
"Don't worry, sir. I won't let anything happen to Xiaoluo," Hilo assured Liang Hui before running after her.
"Xiaoluo!" he called out, catching up to her.
Her usual sadness had been replaced by something far more volatile—an intense, burning anger. He feared what might happen if she faced Ye Tianlin again. Would she have the strength to leave him this time?
"I'm going to find him," she said, her voice devoid of warmth. Her lifeless eyes met his. "He hurt my family. He hurt the people I love most. How could he do this? How dare he?"
Hilo pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her trembling body. Her fury and pain seeped into him, and all he wanted was to ease her suffering. But how?
"I'll go with you," he said after a moment of hesitation.
"You will?" she looked up at him, tears spilling over. His words gave her strength.
"Thank you, Hilo. Thank you…"
Together, they headed toward the Ye family estate. The scenery along the way remained unchanged, but their hearts were heavier than ever.