Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It was finally the weekend Shu Pan was waiting for. She woke up early and packed some gifts for her father and Auntie Lu.
She took the earliest bus back. She missed the little darling Joy too much.
She had not seen her for more than a month.
As soon as she stepped through the door, she heard the little girlâs childish voice. âGrandpa, is Mommy really coming back to pick me up today?â
âYes Little Joy, Grandpa wonât lie to you. Just wait obediently.â Shu Laide looked at Joy and his heart ached.
Because of him, Joy had lost fatherly love since she was young. He blamed himself all the time.
âGrandpa, does everyone have a father? Why donât I have a father? Hua said that a child without a father was born from a rock, is that right?â Hua was his neighbourâs child and Joyâs good friend.
âSilly child, everyone has a father. You have one too. You can ask your mommy.â Shu Laide did not know how to answer, so he pushed the issue to Shu
Pan.
âMommy said that Daddy went to work at a very faraway place. Why isnât he back yet? Is he lost?â Joy asked doubtfully: She wondered if someone as old as her father could get lost. Otherwise, why didnât he come home?
âBecause he has to work to earn a lot of money to buy you beautiful dolls and clothes.â Shu Laide coaxed her. The little girl was getting older, and it was not easy to fool her.
âI donât want dolls and clothes. I want Daddy, I want Daddy.â Joy suddenly became stubborn. In the past, she would not have wanted a father so strongly, but she saw that Huaâs father was very good to her. He carried her on his shoulder and even accompanied her to swim. They could do many fun things. She was very envious.
âThen wait for Mommy to come and tell her, okay?â Shulaide was at his witâs end.
Shu Pan, who was outside the door, heard this and felt a wave of sadness. She had never really understood Joy. She thought that the girl was still young and did not understand. In fact, childrenâs hearts longed for love, especially the love of their parents.
She suddenly reflected on herself. Was she too selfish?
If Gu Shaoting regained his memory and wanted to form a relationship with Joy, she would not stop him, because Joy would grow up and she would understand.
She tried her best to hold back the tears in her eyes. Then, she smiled and walked into the inner room.
âDarling Joy, mommy is back.â Shu Pan called out gently.
âWow, Mommy is really back. Thatâs great.â Joy ran into her arms.â Mommy, I miss you so much.â
Shu Pan hugged Joyâs little body tightly and picked her up.
âAye, did Joy eat too much? Mommy canât even carry you anymore.â Shu Pan said with a smile. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âMommy, put me down. Youâll be tired. Grandma went out to buy groceries. She said she wanted to cook something delicious for you.â Joy struggled to get down.
Shu Pan put her down and greeted Shu Laide.
Looking at the deep mother-daughter relationship, Shu Laide was also gratified. It was right to give birth to Joy back then. Look, she is now the joy of the family.
During dinner, Shu Laide and Lu Lifen brought up the old topic again. âPanpan, youâre not young anymore. Joy is also older now. You should also think about your marriage. â
âI understand.â Shu Pan nodded.
âSigh, itâs all my faultâ¦â Shu Pan interrupted Shu Laide before he could finish.
âDad, Iâm fine now. If thereâs someone suitable, Iâll consider it, okay?â Shu Pan didnât want him to blame himself..