"I have parents, I wasn't born from a rock!"
For years, she had held back, wanting to say these words for a long time.
Finally, she could say them with righteous indignation.
Tang Xiaomin had never told the Tang family about her suffering and hardships.
Fearing her adoptive parents would worry, she had never uttered a word to them, swallowing all her pain alone, as a small child.
As the words spilled out, an unprecedented sense of grievance washed over her, and tears again fell uncontrollably, unable to be held back.
"Child..."
This time, Tang Zhongcheng could no longer suppress the urge within him. He stopped caring about anything else, spun around, and rushed back to Tang Xiaomin's side, embracing her tightly.
"Child. You've suffered, it's all my fault, Dad is so sorry for you."
"I'm sorry, truly sorry... I'm sorry..."
Tang Xiaomin wept silently, releasing all her long-held grievances in Tang Zhongcheng's arms like a child.
Father and daughter cried together, the belated warmth lasting for a long, long time.
For them, time seemed to slow down, very, very slowly.
After an unknown period, as if all tears and sorrow had been shed, Tang Xiaomin finally pulled away from Tang Zhongcheng's embrace.
"Really, you're leaving now, and you still make me cry. I told you not to come back, but you didn't listen."
Tang Zhongcheng remained silent, gazing at Tang Xiaomin with an expression full of reluctance.
This time, Tang Xiaomin did not urge him, but simply stood still.
After a long while, Tang Zhongcheng finally spoke.
"You told me not to come back, it seems you were lying to me, weren't you?"
Tang Xiaomin met his gaze with an "Exactly, what are you going to do about it?" look.
"Sigh..."
Tang Zhongcheng sighed and smiled helplessly.
"Child, Dad is really leaving this time."
The atmosphere became unprecedentedly light, as if Tang Zhongcheng were simply saying he was going out for a meal. Su Dan Novel Network
This farewell marked the end of their connection.
Good times were always fleeting, and no feast lasted forever.
Tang Xiaomin nodded with a relaxed expression.
"Go, I'll be here watching you."
Tang Zhongcheng had many words he wanted to say, but when they reached his lips, he didn't know where to start, so in the end, he said nothing.
"Alright, I'm leaving then. You should go back soon too."
"Mm."
He paused, then added.
"Goodbye."
Tang Zhongcheng nodded, turned, and with unhurried steps, began to walk the path he was meant to take.
His receding figure gradually disappeared into the red mist, growing fainter and fainter, until he vanished completely.
Tang Zhongcheng was gone, truly gone this time, and would never return.
At some point, she had countless times wished for him to leave, to experience the taste of death.
As if destiny had willed it, it was she who sent him on his way to the underworld.
There was no exhilaration she had once imagined, only a profound sense of desolation.
A man's hand quietly fell on Tang Xiaomin's shoulder, and a deep, magnetic voice said.
"Minmin, even if he's your dad, I still want to beat him to death."
Coldness flickered in his eyes, and he clenched his jaw, grinding his back teeth.
So what if he was her biological father? He was enraged that he dared to hug his girl.
If it weren't for considering Tang Xiaomin's feelings, he would have rushed out long ago to teach Tang Zhongcheng a harsh lesson.
"You're even jealous of your father-in-law? Do you have paranoia?"
This was utterly ridiculous. What kind of person was he?
"As long as it's a man, from eighty-year-old grandpas to three-year-old children, they are all defenseless against beautiful women."
"Especially your brothers, you'll have to be careful with them in the future."