Chapter 344 - Dad-wife

"Mom, are you not getting back with dad because you think you'd be doing wrong to me? Or are you blaming dad for whatever happened?" Si Han couldn't lift her heavy eyelids to look into Suyin's eyes. And Suyin knew exactly why she wasn't. "How could you? Whatever happened has nothing to do with dad. I bet, he would have killed Wren had he knew about it. Every father would have to save their daughters. Mom, dad loves me! He loves me with all his life! I'm his little Yiny! His favorite! And when I have forgotten everything, why couldn't you?"

Si Han opened her mouth, but Suyin put her finger on her lips. "I'm not done yet. You have just drowned me in a forever guilt for being the reason my parents couldn't be together. My presence is the very reason you aren't together even now! How am I supposed to live with it?"

"Aren't you doing the same, Yiny?" Zhao Shu said. Catching Suyin and Si Han's attention as both looked, confused. "Honey. Isn't he the biggest reason why aren't you getting with Wang Shi?" 

"T-That's different, dad."

"Only the circ.u.mstances are different." A sideways step, and now he was standing facing Suyin. "Tell me, aren't your reasons all related to Honey, just like your mom's related to you? People will talk, question your love, conflict between siblings, uncertain future, blah blah blah....."

Suyin's heart shook. "H-How did you know?"

"Next time don't give your phone to James to transfer data. Especially when you speak your mind and record it as your personal diary." Suyin's gaze moved, and James tucked behind Evan. "But it's good at least we know what's stopping you. Like mother, like daughter. Anyway, have you ever thought about how the little boy will live with the guilt that you and Wang Shi aren't together because of him? His existence is the very reason that's making you think of uncertain fears. Can his little heart take the blow?"

Fear crept. Honey must never know. 

"Child, answer my one question with all honesty." he touched Suyin's cheeks. "Do you love that man?" and tears poured from her eyes. "I know the answer, but want to hear it from you. Tell me, do you love him?"

Her lips trembled. The answer on her tongue.....

She slowly nodded.

"Say it."

"Y-Yes."

"How much?"

She gulped. Never looking away from her father's face.

"I-I can't put it in words. But every time I push him away, it burns a part of me. And the pain always stays, gripping me in its clutches, reminding me of its presence every second. I think of death without him." Tears sprang free like a waterfall, and she hugged her father. This was the first time she had poured her heart out to a living soul instead of talking to her phone. "Dad, I can't. Why is it so difficult?"

She felt him rubbing his chin on her head, soothing her with soft strokes on her back. "Silly child. You are making it difficult. The man is head over heels for you. He loves you madly. I have never seen a love like him and as a father, I couldn't be more assured to give my precious pearl to a man like him."

"I know he's best. But people will--"

"To hell with people and their talks. They can do whatever they please, none of us give a damn about them. You just follow your path and move on. Don't forget they will forever talk, even if you do or not do something. So isn't it better to let them have a topic to talk about?"

"Our life would be difficult--"

"When was life not difficult? We all have challenges. But only the warriors face it headstrong. And grooms from it. Trust me, after some point in life, you will just look back and laugh at these challenges. I fought for your mom, and look what I have today-- you and Zeng. My best reward."

"But our future--"

"Learn to live in present, forget about the past, and don't worry about the future. Future is forever uncertain, and its uncertainty is the very heart of the human creativity so you can paint your own canvas." he cupped her teary face, wiping them by strokes of thumb, "Yiny, brace the unknown and have faith in yourself and the man you have chosen. Things will fall back in their place. And if it didn't-- that's the life throwing a lemon, and your dad has a very good lemonade recipe."

Suyin felt a touch of another warm hand on her head as her mother came to stand with her. "Mom!" she hugged her. "Your dad is right. Go my little bird, your happiness lies with him. Knowing my blockhead daughter so well, I know she'd forever regret this decision and be a cry sulky baby. It's best you face the challenges with him, and complete this beautiful love story of yours."

Suyin gazed at the two. "Was this all your planning?" Her mother shook her head.

"Mine!" Everyone looked when Zeng's voice came from the altar, but none could find him there. "Here--here---I'm here." The bride lifted her wedding gown way above her knees, displaying a sight of her long hairy legs, and jumped in front of the family. She yanked off the veil off of her head. Zeng! "Mine and James. And we pitched in dad. Evan was a supporting character. Mom was the prop."

Mother slapped the back of Zeng's head. "Rascal. You were marrying your dad?"

The priest was horrified and kneeled in front of the Buddha statue. "Oh, lord buddha! Forgive me for my sins. I was about to tie a father and son in the sacred thread of matrimony? Forgive me. Forgive me."

"Hey, but you didn't. Thankfully. Mom's slipper saved us." Zeng patted his beating heart. "For a second I thought I'm really getting a dad-wife. Thinking about the honeymoon between us gave me goosebumps."

This time Si Han's slap came stronger. "Shut up, you cheeky monkey."