Chapter 66: She’s His Daughter

“Ling Yao.”

Ji Yanting suddenly stood up, staring at Ling Yao excitedly, his voice trembling slightly, “You said your name is?”

His daughter’s name was Ling Yao. This girl’s name was also Ling Yao. Was it a coincidence? Or…?

If she really was his daughter, that would be great. But Qin Hai had clearly said that his daughter was dead.

Qin Hai wouldn’t lie to him, would he? But he hadn’t seen his wife and daughter’s grave.

He was still unwilling to give up. He still held a glimmer of hope.

Ji Yuanming was also shocked. It was such a coincidence.

Ling Yao looked at Ji Yanting with confusion, “Ling Yao. Ling in the early morning, Yao of ‘Yaolin Qiongshu’

(a poetic phrase meaning “beautiful trees and jade forests”).

” The other party was so excited to hear her name. Was her guess correct? Was he related to them?

“Then, were you born on September 28th? Is your mother named Ling Xuemei?”

Ji Yanting’s heart was filled with tension and anticipation. He even unconsciously lowered his breathing.

Ling Yao was startled. He knew her birthday and her mother’s name? It seemed her guess was right.

She looked deeply at Ji Yanting and nodded, “Yes, I was born on September 28th. My mother’s name is Ling Xuemei.”

Ji Yanting trembled violently. His eyes instantly welled up. He excitedly took two steps forward, reached out to touch Ling Yao’s head, but his hand trembled halfway and retracted, “Child, I finally found you. I’m your father!”

Ling Yao’s eyes widened in disbelief. Although she had guessed that Ji Yanting was related to them, she hadn’t expected him to be her long-lost father.

Thinking of the hardships her mother had endured over the years, and in her previous life, how her mother hadn’t seen this man until her death, Ling Yao’s expression turned cold,

 “Then tell me, why didn’t you come looking for us all these years?”

She yearned for fatherly love, especially when she was young. Seeing other children have fathers, she really longed to have a father too, to be able to ride on her father’s shoulders and act cute with him.

As she grew older, especially after experiencing her previous life, she no longer needed a father.

 A father was just a term to her. In this life, her mother was enough.

Ji Yanting’s voice choked, “Child… I didn’t come looking for you because I…” He was almost in tears.

Ji Yuanming stepped forward and patted Ji Yanting’s shoulder comfortingly. He looked at Ling Yao, “Sister, Dad didn’t come looking for you because he couldn’t.

When he went back, Grandpa arranged for him to join the army. Grandpa said that as long as he made a career for himself, he would let him take you and Aunt Ling back.

 For this, he took on any dangerous mission, no matter how dangerous. During one mission, he was seriously injured and remained in a coma for many years.

When he woke up, his legs were paralyzed. But he kept looking for you. Even when he received bad news, he never gave up.”

“He came to Yun City this time to find you. We went to Hongxing Village.

The news we got was that you and your mother had been dead for many years. Even your grave was washed away by the flood.”

“Yaoyao, it’s Dad who’s sorry. He made you and your mother suffer for so many years.

Dad will make it up to you in the future. Can you forgive Dad?” Ji Yanting looked at Ling Yao with longing.

Ling Yao took a deep breath and said calmly, “If Mom is willing to forgive you, then I will forgive you.”

The one who truly suffered was Mom. All these years, Mom had raised her alone, acting as both mother and father. She had endured a lot of hardship.

She couldn’t forgive him on her mother’s behalf. The suffering her mother had endured over the years could not be expressed in words.

“Can I wait here for your mother to come back?” Ji Yanting had already made up his mind.

 If he couldn’t get his wife’s forgiveness this time, he wouldn’t leave. He would stay here with them, mother and daughter, until they forgave him.

“Suit yourself.” Ling Yao said and turned to walk outside.

Ji Yanting wiped the tears from his face and looked at Ji Yuanming happily, “Yuanming, go buy some groceries, toiletries, clothes, and appliances. Bring them all back.”

Although his wife and daughter hadn’t forgiven him yet, he was still happy. They were not dead. He still had a chance to make it up to them.

“Okay.” Ji Yuanming nodded and went out.

Ji Yanting moved a chair and sat down at the entrance. His eyes were fixed on the door, eagerly waiting for his beloved to return.

Ling Yao walked out of the room. Seeing Ji Yanting sitting under the eaves, she glanced at him and went to the kitchen.

Ling Xuemei, carrying her medicine bag, looked tired. When she reached the entrance of her house, she stopped.

 He should have left by now, right? He shouldn’t know where she lived.

Then, she smiled bitterly. He had abandoned them, mother and daughter, for so many years. How could he still remember them?

But thinking of that man, her heart still ached, as if someone had squeezed it tightly, making it hard to breathe.

 She really hated him. She hated him for disappearing for so many years, for ignoring them, mother and daughter, for so many years.

And if it weren’t for him, would they have had to move so many times?

Her hand gripped the medicine bag tightly. Her knuckles turned white from the force.

 Even if that man really came looking for them, mother and daughter, she wouldn’t forgive him.

Taking a deep breath, Ling Xuemei stepped into the courtyard. When she saw the person sitting under the eaves, she was stunned.

She didn’t even notice the medicine bag falling to the ground. Why hadn’t he left yet?

Ji Yanting saw Ling Xuemei and stood up excitedly. He rushed towards her, “Xuemei, I finally found you.”

It all felt like a dream. He still felt a sense of unreality. He had finally found his wife and daughter. He wouldn’t be separated from them again.

“Who are you? I don’t know you.” Ling Xuemei took two steps back and then ran towards the house in a panic.

“Xuemei, don’t go. Let me explain.” Ji Yanting quickly chased after Ling Xuemei.

Ling Xuemei ran into the house and was about to close the door. She really didn’t want to have anything to do with this man anymore.

Ji Yanting pushed the door open and then closed it. His eyes were moist as he looked at Ling Xuemei.

Tears uncontrollably rolled down his cheeks, “Xuemei, let me explain. All these years, I…”

“I don’t want to hear it. Leave. I don’t want to see you ever again. Leave and don’t come back to bother me and Yaoyao.” Ling Xuemei covered her ears and cried, squatting down.

 Her whole body trembled uncontrollably. Why, after all these years, did he still barge into her life? Why wouldn’t he let her go? Why? Why?

“It’s my fault. It’s all my fault. You can hit me, you can scold me. As long as you can forgive me.”

Ji Yanting reached out to hug Ling Xuemei, but she pushed him away forcefully. He fell backward.