Chapter 82 ☆ I’m leaving (Part 1)

Xie Zhao immediately grabbed Cheng Yaoyao’s hand and said in a deep voice, “Don’t worry. Does the letter say what kind of illness it is?”

Cheng Yaoyao shook her head. “No, it just says that Dad fell ill before his transfer. Why did he have to be transferred when he was fine? Could it be…”

The more Cheng Yaoyao thought about it, the more confused she became. At that moment, she clearly realized that Father Cheng was a very important support for her in this world, and she had unknowingly started thinking of him as her father.

Xie Zhao held her hand tightly and said, “Don’t let your imagination run wild. If it was really serious, they would have sent a telegram instead of a letter.”

Xie Zhao’s hand was warm, like it was giving off a steady flow of strength. Cheng Yaoyao regained some clarity. “Yes… yes.”

Cheng Yaoyao forced herself to calm down and read the letter again. The letter was from Father Cheng. He said he was supposed to be transferred to the northwest but fell ill while handling the transfer. He mentioned it briefly and then changed the topic, explaining in detail that he had opened three bank accounts for her. These accounts held the money left by her mother and the money Father Cheng had saved for her since she was a child. His words felt like he was entrusting her to someone else, which scared Cheng Yaoyao and made her cry when she first read it.

Xie Zhao picked up the envelope and looked at the date. “This letter was sent half a month ago.”

Grandma Xie quickly said, “Yaoyao, don’t worry. It’s been half a month; maybe your father’s illness has already been cured.”

With red eyes, Cheng Yaoyao said, “I want to go home.”

Xie Zhao stared at Cheng Yaoyao suddenly, his lips moved, but he was speechless for a moment.

Grandma Xie hugged Cheng Yaoyao with concern. “Poor thing, don’t worry, don’t worry.”

Cheng Yaoyao lay listlessly in Grandma Xie’s arms, fear and helplessness in her eyes. She looked so beautiful that it made people want to hold her tightly and never let go.

If something really happened to her father, he would be her only support in this world… Xie Zhao was so frightened by his own dark thoughts that he broke out in a cold sweat and felt ashamed of himself for being so selfish.

Xie Zhao suddenly stood up, picked up his coat, and put it on. Grandma Xie looked up and asked, “Yaoyao is already like this, and you still want to go out?”

Xie Zhao said, “I’ll take Sister into the city to make a call home.”

Cheng Yaoyao came back to her senses and said, “Yes, we can make a phone call!”

Grandma Xie said, “Okay, go now!”

Cheng Yaoyao changed her clothes and quickly packed a small bag. Xie Zhao looked at the bag in her hand, and Cheng Yaoyao explained, “If my father is in trouble, I will go straight to the train station!”

Xie Zhao said nothing, took the bag from her hand, and they set off immediately.

Grandma Xie chased them to the door and said, “It rained yesterday, so be careful on the road. Yaoyao, no matter what the situation is, you must not worry, okay?!”

Even after they walked away, Grandma Xie and Xiao Fei were still standing at the door, watching them from a distance.

It rained heavily yesterday. The tractor rumbled along the mountain road, splashing mud and water everywhere. The tires were covered with a thick layer of yellow mud.

When they arrived at Lin’an, the rain was getting heavier. Xie Zhao held an umbrella for Cheng Yaoyao, but he got soaked. Cheng Yaoyao was protected by Xie Zhao, so she stayed dry.

The rain was pouring, and the light in the post office was dim. The staff member with long braids was dozing off. Suddenly, two people rushed in, dripping wet and windblown, startling her.

The braided woman said unhappily, “Do you want to make a call or send a telegram? The prices are listed on the wall!”

Cheng Yaoyao said anxiously, “I want to make a call!”

Because of the heavy rain, there was no one else in the post office today. Usually, there would be a line to make a phone call. Cheng Yaoyao picked up the phone and told the operator on the other end, “Cheng Zheng from the Research Institute!”

After a long wait, a middle-aged man’s voice finally came through. “Hello? Is this Yaoyao?”

The voice came from thousands of miles away, mixed with the sound of static, but it still couldn’t hide the love in it. When Cheng Yaoyao heard this voice, her nose tingled, and she started to sob. “…”

Father Cheng on the other end laughed softly. “Yaoyao, why don’t you say anything? Are you still angry with Dad? It was Dad’s fault last time. It was your first time leaving home and going so far, but Dad scolded you and didn’t see you off. Can you forgive Dad?”

I don’t know if it’s because I inherited the memories and emotions of the original owner, but Cheng Yaoyao burst into tears. It was clearly my stubbornness and willfulness that let my father’s efforts go to waste, but instead of blaming me, he took all the blame on himself and asked me to forgive him.

Xie Zhao reached out and wiped the tears from Cheng Yaoyao’s face, holding her drooping fingertips. He asked her with his eyes, “Sister?”

Cheng Yaoyao shook her head, moved her lips, and finally broke down, shouting, “Dad…”

“Hey, my dear daughter, don’t cry.” Father Cheng’s voice was also a little excited, and he smiled. “Daddy’s little princess doesn’t look pretty when she cries.”

Cheng Yaoyao chuckled through her tears, making Xie Zhao even more confused. She said to the person on the phone, “Dad, aren’t you sick? What? Are you well? I don’t believe it. I want to go back to Shanghai to see you!”

Cheng Yaoyao felt a pain in her fingers. Xie Zhao was squeezing her fingers so hard it seemed like he might break them. She pressed the phone to her chest and angrily asked Xie Zhao, “What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” Xie Zhao’s voice was a little hoarse. “Is your father okay?”

“Yes, my father said he was discharged from the hospital.” Cheng Yaoyao showed a bright smile and said, “I won’t tell you yet!”

Cheng Yaoyao picked up the phone again, talking to Father Cheng. After saying the first word, “Dad,” Cheng Yaoyao had no more emotional barriers. Father Cheng spoke lovingly, every word filled with affection and concern, quickly making Cheng Yaoyao feel comforted.

Father Cheng said, “Dad is really fine. I applied for the transfer myself, but I fell ill a while ago, so it’s been delayed. The earliest it will happen is next year.”

Cheng Yaoyao said angrily, “You shouldn’t have gone in the first place! You just got out of the hospital; how could you run off to such a far place right away? You should stay here and recover. Did you eat the mushroom jam and dried bayberry I sent you?”

Father Cheng listened to his daughter’s gentle yet caring words and said cheerfully, “Okay, okay, Dad will listen to you. I’ve eaten all the things you sent me, and I’ve also quit smoking as you asked. But when it comes to drinking, Dad can’t quit!”

Cheng Yaoyao smiled and said, “Alright, since you’ve been so good, I won’t make you quit drinking. I’ve brewed a few bottles of wine, and I’ll send them to you.”

Father Cheng replied, “Daddy’s little princess is getting more and more capable!”

The father and daughter talked for a long time. Father Cheng then reminded her, “Dad is really fine now, so you don’t have to rush back. Shen Yan will return to Shanghai at the end of the year. Then, you and Nuonuo can come back with him, and we can have a good New Year together.”

It seemed this was Father Cheng’s plan. If Cheng Yaoyao asked for leave now, she wouldn’t be able to stay long. It would be better to save it for the New Year so she could stay longer. But she had already agreed to spend the New Year with Xie Zhao this year…

Thinking about this, Cheng Yaoyao just hummed in response. Father Cheng then said gently, “Yaoyao, no matter what, Nuonuo is still your half-sister. During the, families should always be together.”

Here it was again, the same phrase! Whether in this life or the previous one, her father always liked to use this line to pressure her. She wanted to treat Cheng Nuonuo like a sister, but did Cheng Nuonuo feel the same?

Cheng Yaoyao raised her eyebrows but swallowed a bunch of harsh words because her father had just been ill. She simply said, “Okay, I get it.”

Father Cheng asked again, “Yaoyao, do you have enough money? Is there anything you want? Dad will send it to you from Shanghai.”

Cheng Yaoyao replied bluntly, “I want a radio. It’s too boring in the countryside.”

Father Cheng smiled and said, “Alright, if the little princess wants it, Dad will definitely get it for you!”