558 Twisted Relationship

Earlier when Xin Zimen was unconscious, he was indeed feeling uncomfortable. But it wasn't the discomfort that the fever brought, it was a very familiar aching he felt in his own heart. This ache was the reason, he so suddenly got sick.

He could still recall every little detail about that little daughter of his. With her big black doe eyes, she used to look up at him ardently. Her smile was always the brightest with a hint of mischief and rebelliousness that mirrored her mother perfectly. 

Even now, he could hear her cute naive voice calling out to him, "Ah-Xinxin!"

He would always kneel down before her obediently to say, "Lin'er, call me dad."

She would shake her head like a rattle, "No!"

"Then you can call me Daddy? Papa? Pa? Father? Pick anything I won't mind."

The little tapped her chin with a thoughtful expression. She looked adorable with this expression. But her answer was still firm, "Then I pick, Ah-Xin."

Xin Zimen closed his eyes helplessly as he said, "Why? Why can't you just call me dad like you used to do?"

The little girl pouted, "Mommy also calls you Ah-Xin."

"You're mommy is crazy. Do you want to be like her?"

The little girl looked over where her mother was watering the plants with a calm expression and eyes brightened as she nodded, "Yes! I want to be just like mommy!"

Xin Zimen appeared to be sad as he held her small hands and asked, "Lin'er, who do you love more? Mommy or Daddy?"

Her big black eyes blinked repeatedly before she answered, "I love Ah-Xin. I only love Ah-Xin."

Xin Zimen was indeed happy to hear that as he said, "Then if you love me more, why do you want to be like mommy?"

The little girl lifted her hands to touch his face as if consoling him as she smiled and said, "Because if I'll be like mommy, daddy will always love me just like he loves mommy."

Hearing her innocent words both Xin Zimen and Wen Ai, who was keeping away from their conversation, were startled. They both shared a look before looking at their four-year-old daughter.

He couldn't help pinching her meaty cheeks as he said, "Daddy will always love you no matter what."

He didn't know whether the young girl really understood his sincerity back then or not but he still could feel the sensation of her arms wrapping around his neck to hug him. Uncontrollably, the memory made his nose feel sour.

He felt a hand on his shoulder as his sister-in-law's voice brought him back from his daze. "Xiao Zi, did you cry?"

Xin Zimen lowered his head to hide his eyes from her as he replied, "No, I did not. Do you think I'm that weak?"

Zhao Huan shook her head before pinching his arm in anger as she said, "Your brother is right about you. Whenever you're embarrassed you get angry. What's the use? If you want to act strong do it before the world. There is no need to put this act before me."

"Why? Can't I just come to see you?" she retorted.

Xin Zimen squinted his eyes at her and didn't say anything for a while. And when he opened his mouth, he asked, "Sister Huan, do you remember my Lin'er?"

Zhao Huan couldn't answer immediately. Even if she knew he was disturbed and looked so vulnerable because of his daughter. It was still difficult to accept that Xin Zimen was the one questioning about this matter so directly.

"Who doesn't remember her? She was the cutest little thing. I don't think there is anyone who could forget the radiance that she emitted." She chuckled softly at the memory as she added, "In fact, she had such a bright personality that it seemed like she'd shine brightest in the world. She could easily overshadow anyone."

"Then why was she in such a hurry to leave this world?"

Zhao Huan's words got stuck in her throat as she had no answer for that question. Xin Zimen wasn't really looking for an answer either.

He waved his hand saying, "You should leave now. I'm fine."

"Are you kicking me out?" 

"Never!" replied Xin Zimen. "I just want to be alone for now."

Understanding his meaning, she stood up to leave but his voice stopped her, "Don't forget your husband's shoes. If he stayed barefoot any longer, the one on the rest bed would be him and not me."

When those words entered Xin Zemin's mind who had been eavesdropping fervently, his eyes looked down to see that he was indeed not wearing his shoes. No wonder he felt like his feet were getting cold.

Inside the room. Zhao Huan pursed her lips and looked at Xin Zimen's knowing gaze before sighing and picking up the shoes to leave. "He didn't come to make you angry. He just wanted to see his little brother." As a wife, she didn't forget to speak up in favor of her own husband. 

Xin Zimen nodded his head slightly as he said, "I know."

Since he didn't look angry, Zhao Huan took this chance to leave the room. After she closed the door of his room, she looked at her own husband who was scratching his head sheepishly. "Sorry, I didn't realize that I forgot my shoes."

Zhao Huan shook her head and placed his shoes down saying, "Even if you didn't forget these, he'd still know you're here." She looked at her husband and added, "Just because you call him little brother, doesn't mean he is little. In fact, he is a very furtive person."

"Does it matter? Even if he is smarter than me, he is still my little brother." That was the simple reply of Xin Zemin as he descended the stairs with his wife.

"If that's the case then why didn't you stay inside the room when he woke up? Just accept it that you're scared of your own little brother."

Zhao Huan poked right where it hurt. But unexpectedly, he wasn't angry to hear that. In fact, he looked quite proud as he said, "Doesn't that prove that my Ah-Zi is actually a great person? Everyone is cautious around him. That shows the intensity of his might."

"Why are you boasting?"

Xin Zemin smiled widely as he answered, "As an elder brother, why wouldn't I feel proud? And if I'm feeling proud of my little brother then it's my right to boast about it as well."

Zhao Huan rubbed her forehead saying, "It's really a wonder why you both have such a twisted relationship."