“Yeah, it was him.” Su Luo nodded, puffing out her cheeks like an angry little steamed bun. “He not only hit Brother, but he also pinched Luo Luo’s cheek. It hurt so much, so much…”
The little girl sniffled, burying her face pitifully into her father’s chest to complain.
“Sī Yàng is so bad. Luo Luo doesn’t like him.” Su Luo clenched her small fists, saying indignantly. “Luo Luo hates Sī Yàng the most!”
This surprised Huò Tíngyǎn, and he glanced at her. The little girl’s temper was usually soft and gentle, like a docile little bunny; she had never disliked anyone before. Even when Huò Tiānlín was mean to her at first, though she said she didn’t like her brother, she hadn’t truly disliked him in her heart. It could be said that Sī Yàng was the first person she genuinely disliked.
“Yeah, yeah! Exactly!” Huò Tiānlín clenched his fists, chiming in with shared animosity. “Luo Luo’s right! Sī Yàng is a little bastard who only bullies kids!”
“Sī Yàng?” Huò Tíngyǎn rolled the name on his tongue. It sounded somewhat familiar. The crown prince of the Sī family in the capital? Sī Yàng? If he remembered correctly, wasn’t he the nephew of that rascal Fēng Zǐxiào?
“Oh, right, Third Uncle,” Huò Tiānlín added, sparing no effort in tattling, wishing he could stomp Sī Yàng flat. “Sī Yàng said he wants to snatch Luo Luo away and take her home.”
Huò Tíngyǎn’s face darkened instantly upon hearing this, a cold, sharp light flashing in his eyes. Truly, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Like uncle, like nephew. That shameless little punk actually dared to set his sights on his precious daughter.
“Oh? Is that so?” Huò Tíngyǎn lifted a corner of his thin lips, letting out a cold laugh. “Then let him come and try.” Trying to get his hands on my little cabbage? Does he believe I’ll break that brat’s dog legs!
“Daddy, I don’t want to go home with Sī Yàng.” Su Luo, remembering that fierce little young master, burrowed into her father’s embrace like a terrified little mouse. Sī Yàng was so fierce and had pinched Luo Luo’s face so hard it hurt. Recalling the viciousness in the young boy’s punches, Su Luo shivered all over, clinging tightly to Huò Tíngyǎn like sticky plaster, impossible to peel off. “Luo Luo wants to be with Daddy forever. Daddy, don’t chase me away.”
Seeing the little girl so frightened stirred anger in Huò Tíngyǎn’s expression. That little punk better hope I never run into him again!
“Don’t be afraid, Daddy won’t send you away.” Huò Tíngyǎn’s eyes softened with heartache as he reached out to stroke the little girl’s fluffy head. He had indeed thought about sending her away at first, but now… The mere thought of the little girl suffering somewhere unknown made his heart clench painfully.
This is my daughter. If I don’t want her, where else can she go? Besides, even if he could bear to send her away, his parents would never agree. Madam Qín Shū would probably be the first to come after him with a knife. Huò Tíngyǎn was certain that given his mother’s doting affection for the little girl, she was absolutely capable of such filial betrayal for her sake!
“Luo Luo, don’t be scared. If Third Uncle doesn’t want you, you can always come to my house!” Huò Tiānlín, sporting a black eye, leaned in with a grin. “My Mom and Dad both like you a lot, and your brother will treat you really, really well too.” He thumped his chest proudly. “In the future, if your brother has a bite of meat, you’ll get a sip of soup!”
The moment the words left his mouth, he instantly felt a chilling gaze land on him. Huò Tiānlín shivered involuntarily and instinctively looked up. There was his Third Uncle, staring at him with an ominous glint in his eyes.
Huò Tíngyǎn curled his lips into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Openly trying to steal my daughter? Does this kid think I’m dead?