Chapter 350: Happy birthday

Huian was taken aback by surprise. She stood frozen in Shin’s embrace. She blinked, her eyes continuously staring at his broad chest.

Shin raised his hand and softly put it on her head.

Huian widened her eyes with his gesture.

“It’s okay if you want to cry.” Shin softly whispered.

Huian cursed herself.

Damn, did he see that? It’s so embarrassing! I didn’t want to cry like this in front of anybody.

But even then, tears just gushed out no matter how hard she tried to stop them. She didn’t make a sound and just silently let them out.

At times, she indeed felt lonely. She felt so far away from everyone. And she didn’t know if…

“I know you don’t believe me, but I really don’t hate Nana anymore. And Jinhai too…I don’t want to interfere in their marriage anymore…I really want to move on,” she sniffled. “…and I don’t know if anybody will believe me ever again.”

She broke down.

Shin lowered his head and knitted his brows. The sincerity in her tears and helplessness in her gaze was all too evident.

Even he wanted to stay away from her but her confession and then risking her life for Nana, just a little bit…melted his heart.

He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know how to console her.

“It’s alright. I think everyone is slowly letting it go. What you did for her, and the twins have put you into a new light for all. Just…give some time.”

Huian stiffened. She abruptly shifted.

Suddenly, Shin felt as if he was zapped by a thousand volts of electricity. He realized what he just did.

They immediately took a step back. Shin panicked.

What do I say now? Damn, why did I hug her? What would she think of me?

Over at Huian’s side, her condition wasn’t any better. Her heart was thumping faster and faster in her chest.

So strange…

She felt as if she hadn’t felt this way for a long time. It reminded her of the similar feelings she held for Jinhai…

Wait, what? No! It’s not possible. It was just a bit sudden. That’s all.

She turned embarrassed and bit her lip.

Shin looked at the myriad of emotions on her face.

“Um…Eh…I just wanted to tell you that we don’t hate you.”

Surprised, Huian glanced at him.

“I mean, yes, I was angry for what you did to Nana, but she has forgiven you, and for me, you have done more than enough to atone for it.”

“Oh…” Huian didn’t know what else to say. But she felt strangely relaxed.

Shin remembered something and quickly asked to slow down his thudding heartbeat. “When did you meet Mu Shuchun?”

“Oh, that? She had the brand ambassador photo shoot for Le Feur. Xiang Corps was an investor, so I went to judge her performance.”

Shin never thought it would turn out to be like that.

“So she…”

“Failed.” Huian shrugged. “She may be a top international model, but I couldn’t see that anywhere while she was shooting. Actually, I am surprised that she didn’t complain to you about me.”

“What?” Shin looked confused.

“I mean…I thought she would come crying to you, saying that I bullied her on the set or that I liked you, so I purposely didn’t select her as the ambassador. I tarnished her reputation and all, and she would fill your ears against me.”

Shin suddenly broke out in a soft chuckle.

“Why did you think she would do that?”

Huian’s smile faltered. She felt awkward. “Honestly?”

“Yes.”

“Well…she gave me the feeling of a white lotus…like how I was in the past.” She feebly muttered the last sentence.

Don’t all white lotus act that way?

“And also well…she was giving excuses for um…the abortion…”

Shin stiffened a bit.

“So, I thought she is like those people who give excuses or reasons if they fail at something.”

Shin said nothing.

“But I think she admitted to herself that she didn’t perform well.”

Shin mildly hummed.

But she couldn’t admit how much she hurt me all those years back.

“I should leave.”

Huian was about to step out.

“Will you go before not completing today’s treatment session? Isn’t that why you came?”

Huian stopped.

Damn. I forgot about that. She coughed and looked back.

Shin sighed. “Come. You are close to full recovery now. We mustn’t miss any session and delay your recovery.”

—

Two days later.

Huo Xiao Fan was silently sitting in front of her second daughter’s grave. Her gaze was just vacantly, staring at her tombstone.

Tremblingly, she raised her hand towards it and put down some flowers on her grave. She caressed it with her hand, and soon, a drop of her tear plopped on top of it.

The images of her daughter dying in her arms and breathing her last came rushing in her mind. She didn’t want to remember the pain because every time it felt as if somebody stabbed her again and again.

“Happy birthday, dear. How are you? Are you happy in heaven? Mom really misses you a lot…”

Her lips threatened as tears threatened to come out.

Huo Xiao Fan lowered her head to see the two gifts in her hand.

She sadly chuckled.

One daughter is not alive to open the present, and the other…she wouldn’t even take this present from me.

Zhilan doesn’t even want to see me.

“Why will she accept my present?”

“You should ask that to your daughter yourself,” came a soft voice from behind.

Startled, Huo Xiao Fan looked back and was stunned to see Liang Xiao Dan and Liang Zou.

She wanted to fly into a rage on knowing that Liang Zou dared to show his face here. But somehow, she didn’t have the strength anymore to fight.

She felt tired.

She was exhausted.

Huo Xiao Fan just shut her eyes and gulped all the resentment.

Liang Xiao Dan and Liang Zou could see how hard she was trying, bottling her emotions.

She looked back at the grave and quietly said, “Leave.”

Liang Zou was silent for a long time. Then he slowly whispered to his wife. “I want to talk to her alone.”

She nodded in understanding and left.

Liang Zou kneeled beside Huo Xiao Fan in front of the grave.

She slightly twitched. “You don’t deserve to come here. Get out.”

He didn’t respond but kept the flowers he brought on the tombstone as well. He spoke after a long time.

“You are still the same. You haven’t changed at all.”