“Are you saying that my dad won’t hate me even if he knows the truth?” Pei Zichen was hesitant for a while. Then, he asked her about his doubt. He was afraid that his father might hate him. But, he found that it was quite exhausting for her to be kneeling there the entire night. What if his great-grandmother did not allow her to get up?
“He might be angry but he’ll never hate you,” Lu Man replied honestly.
Pei Zichen sighed.
“Why do you have to be sad at such a young age?”
“I feel that I’m a very kind person!”
Lu Man did not know how to respond to that.
She did not understand his point here.
“That’s enough. I’m going to sleep now. Keep up your hard work!” Pei Zichen went to sleep soon after.
“You naughty boy!”
Although she was rather annoyed at him for sleeping comfortably in front of her when she was kneeling there, it was comforting to have him there with him. The atmosphere became less frightening.
But, the time crawled on so slowly. It was exhausting!
She started to count the sheep and she soon fell asleep.
Lu Man was indeed one of a kind. She could sleep so soundly even while she was kneeling. One was sleeping soundly on the floor while another was sleeping soundly while kneeling there.
Pei Xiuyuan came back to the ancestral hall and he took in the view in front of him. He did not know how to respond to that. He was unsure of whether to take pity on her or admire her ability to sleep so soundly while kneeling there. She did not even notice him when he entered.
Why was Xiao Chen there too?
He wanted to hug Lu Man so that she could sleep soundly. But, she had woken up before he even touched her.
“Is Grandma feeling better?” She was worried about the old lady.
“She’s feeling much better now.”
“That’s good.”
Pei Xiuyuan lifted her up.
“What are you doing?”
“Take a break.” He put her on his legs.
“Can I take a break?”
“It’s been almost midnight now. Do you plan to kneel here forever?” Pei Xiuyuan just felt that she was too honest and stubborn. She had promised to kneel there and he could not stop her from doing that. But, why did she not take a break when no one else was watching her?
Lu Man wanted to say something more but soreness soon engulfed her legs.
Pei Xiuyuan’s hands were large and strong. He helped to massage her legs. She could feel her legs now. It was a comfortable feeling. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment. Being able to have a great feast was the best enjoyment for hungry people. Being able to have a leg massage when one’s legs were sore was the best enjoyment to her now. She felt that there was nothing quite like that in the world!
***
Pei Zichen woke up the minute his father entered the ancestral hall. He did not know what to say so he pretended to be asleep still. But, he soon felt that there was something wrong with his father and Lu Man. So, he opened his eyes secretly and peeked at them. His father was massaging her legs. He was jealous. His father had never done that for him!
Then, he saw his father rocking Lu Man in his embrace. He frowned. What was his father doing?
Suddenly, he remembered seeing something quite like that on TV. The grownups lifted the children in their arms and rocked them in order to coax them.
He felt more jealous now. His father never hugged him like that when he was young.
In the end, he saw his father hugging Lu Man tightly. He felt that he must make a noise now. He could not be ignored like that!
“Dad…” He made a sound.
Pei Xiuyuan recovered his senses.
Then, he hugged Lu Man tightly again before letting go of her. He remained calm and cool. He turned to look at his son. “Why did you come here? Why aren’t you sleeping in your room?”
“I came here…” Pei Zichen lowered his head. He could not bring himself to say what he wanted to say.
“He’s worried about me. He thought that I might be afraid to stay here on my own. So, he came out to accompany me!” Lu Man said that. Although she knew very well that she should be educating Pei Zichen now for he should learn to admit his mistakes, she still did not want him to be scolded by Pei Xiuyuan when she saw him like that.
Both Pei Xiuyuan and his son were shocked. They were surprised that she would say something like that.
Pei Zichen was even more surprised. He thought that she might tell on him because of what he had said before. Who knew that she would say something nice about him?
“Is he that good?” Pei Xiuyuan did not have that much faith in his son. He knew his son too well. How would he come all the way to accompany Lu Man when he hated her so much?
Lu Man wanted to say something to retort that but Pei Zichen spoke first.
“I’m not as nice as how she said. I came here not to accompany her. I came here because I feel guilty for what I’ve done. I couldn’t sleep,” Pei Zichen replied honestly.
Both Lu Man and Pei Xiuyuan were stunned by his honesty.
“Why are you feeling guilty? Why can’t you sleep?” Pei Xiuyuan asked calmly.
“It’s because I did something to the vase so that she would break that vase when she went to pick up the ball.” Pei Zichen felt that the large mountain that was pressing onto his heart lifted the minute he admitted his mistake. He felt that it was fine even if his father wanted to scold and punish him.
He understood now what it meant to be as light as a feather!
Pei Xiuyuan remained calm. “Did you do it all on your own?”
Pei Zichen thought for a while. “Yes.”
He should take the responsibility all by himself!
“Stand up.” Pei Xiuyuan’s voice became colder now.
Pei Zichen stood up quickly.
“Go and kneel down there.”
Pei Zichen kneeled down without another word.
Pei Xiuyuan lifted Lu Man and was about to leave.
“Where are you going?” Lu Man was blurred.
“Now that the true culprit is here, why do you have to stay here?”
“He’s just a kid.” Lu Man never thought that he would ask a kid to kneel down there and leave soon after.
“So what if he’s only a kid? He’s not a three-year-old who does not know right from wrong,” Pei Xiuyuan replied coldly.
“He’s your own son.”
“I know.”
“He’s only six years old. Aren’t you a little too harsh on him?” Lu Man asked softly. She was afraid of annoying Pei Zichen if he heard that.