Zong Yanchen knew what that box was and he had pledged never to touch stuff like that in the future because he had been severely admonished by Mommy the last time he took it.
However, his sister had no clue about the nature of the pretty box. She was mesmerized by the attractive packaging of the box that was placed on the shelf just next to the checkout counter. She wanted to buy it many times but was stopped by Mommy. This time, however, she was sure Daddy would buy it for her because he doted on her a lot.
Therefore, she decided to take a few of the pretty boxes and put them into the shopping trolley.
When she noticed the way her father was staring at her, she asked him curiously, “Is there anything wrong?”
At that juncture, the cashier pushed his spectacles upward on his nose and glanced at the boxes of condoms Zong Jinghao was holding. “Sir, would you please hurry up? There’s a long line behind you.”
The cashier secretly complained in his mind, wondering why Zong Jinghao hesitated about paying for them after having already put them into his trolley.
Ignoring the cashier’s reminder and his impatient glance, Zong Jinghao put the boxes of condoms back onto the shelf.
All this while, the little girl had always been given everything she desired by her father, who had never rejected her requests.
“Daddy, I want this.” Zong Yanxi pointed at the boxes of condoms placed on the shelf.
It was the first time Zong Jinghao did not respond to his daughter’s coquettish act with a smile and a hug. Silently, he took out all the remaining stuff in the trolley and placed them on the counter. After making payment, he put everything back into the trolley. Carrying the little girl with one arm, he pushed the trolley with the other. They then took the elevator to the parking lot on the top floor.
All this while, Zong Yanchen followed them obediently.
Zong Yanxi felt restless and apprehensive. Her bright and sparkling eyes were now covered with a sheen of moisture but she dared not shed a tear.
Deep down inside she was seized by an intense fear; it was the first time her father ever showed her such a cold expression.
She was worried he might start hating her.
When they arrived at the parking lot, Zong Jinghao carried his daughter into his car and loaded all the groceries into the trunk. Zong Yanchen got into the car and glanced at his sister, letting out a barely audible sigh.
Why doesn’t she learn from her mistakes? The little girl’s hands had been smacked by Lin Xinyan several times before, as she tried to take those pretty boxes from the shelf. From then on, she was deterred from touching them.
Why did she make the same mistakes when she’s supposed to know better than to do it?
After pushing the trolley back to the designated place, Zong Jinghao stood beside his car for a while, trying to figure out a proper way to deal with the matter.
His daughter was too young to be given sex education.
He had never felt so challenged in his life before. Only then did he realize it was one of the issues he would have to face while raising a child.
In his opinion, it was slightly easier to talk about stuff like that with a boy, but when it came to a girl, he couldn’t come up with a suitable way to explain the purpose of condoms.
At the same time, he thought it was about time he started reading up on child education because he really lacked the knowledge in that area.
“Daddy,” Zong Yanxi spoke timidly, not daring to put on her usual coquettish act again. “I’d like to go home.”
As children were able to gauge the moods of adults from their expressions, Zong Yanxi knew her father was in a foul mood.
In fact, Zong Jinghao was not angry at his daughter. He knew it was perfectly normal for her to be curious at her age. He was actually mad at himself because he didn’t have a clue as to how to deal with matters like this.
“I won’t take the pretty boxes anymore in the future. Daddy, please don’t be angry.” Her father’s reaction taught the little girl a better lesson than all the times she was punished by her mother.
Since even her father, who had always doted on her and indulged in her, was angry, she realized that that pretty box must be something she was not supposed to have.
Therefore, she made up her mind not to take it anymore in the future.
After a while of staring at the little girl through the car window, Zong Jinghao pulled open the door and took the driver’s seat.
In a collected voice, he said to his daughter, “I’m not mad at you but myself.”
Zong Yanxi blinked her eyes in confusion; she couldn’t understand what her father said.
However, she had finally learned her lesson because the last thing she wanted to see was the cold expression on her father’s face.
“It’s getting late. Let’s send the two of you back home.” He revved up the engine.
Halfway through the journey, his phone rang. It was from an unknown caller. He pulled up by the road to answer it and found it was from Cheng Yuwen. “Your father was sent to the hospital because he’s been feeling unwell.”
Ever since Zong Qifeng went to Baicheng, the father and son had never met.
Zong Qifeng’s health had deteriorated from the day Cheng Yuxiu died. The discomfort he had been experiencing was mostly of a mental nature: there were no major issues with his body. In fact, Cheng Yuwen only made this call to Zong Jinghao because Zong Qifeng missed him.
“Which hospital is he at?” Zong Jinghao asked.
He supposed his father was admitted into one of the hospitals in Baicheng.
Baicheng was a small town with a small population, and it did not have an airport. Hence, Zong Jinghao reckoned he would have to drive his way there.
He could set off once he had the address of the hospital.
“I’ll send you the location of the hospital.”
Zong Jinghao mumbled a response before ending the call.
Even though he knew Cheng Yuwen was his uncle, he did not feel any closeness with the man because they had never spent much time together.
Therefore, the way they spoke to each other was cold and distant.
“Is Grandpa sick?” asked Zong Yanchen. The little boy had lived with his grandparents for a period of time before and grieved over his grandmother’s death for quite some time. Now that his grandfather was sick, Zong Yanchen wanted to pay him a visit.
“I miss Grandpa. I’d like to visit him.”
Before Zong Jinghao could answer his son, his daughter chimed in, “Daddy, can Yanchen and I go visit Grandpa with you?”
He would, of course, love to bring the kids with him, but he was not sure whether Lin Xinyan would find it a good idea.
He was sure his father would be delighted to see the kids because he had been lacking company for quite some time. Perhaps his health could even be improved by the kids’ company.
After a moment of contemplation, he agreed, “Okay.”
The two kids grinned joyfully. It had been a long time since they last visited their grandfather and Uncle Shen. They couldn’t wait to visit the house they used to stay at for some time because they had made many friends in that area.
When the car arrived at the neighborhood where the kids were staying, he instructed, “Go home first. I’ll ask Su Zhan to pick you two up later.”
The kids accepted his instruction obediently.
When he pulled up his car by the road, Qin Ya made her way over to them. She had just enjoyed a relaxing time at the park and felt serene.
With a smile, she went on to carry Zong Yanxi out of the car.
In the meantime, Zong Jinghao also stepped out of his car. “I’m going to take the kids on a trip. I’ll ask Su Zhan to pick them up later.”
Qin Ya was stunned; she was taken aback by what he said.
Does it mean he’s going to meet Lin Xinyan?
“You may go inside now,” she responded.
Zong Jinghao heaved out all the shopping bags from the trunk and handed them to Qin Ya. “When Su Zhan comes to pick up the kids, he will tell her that he’s fetching the kids to me because I miss them.”
He would then tell Lin Xinyan that he only tracked her down because he missed the kids.
That would explain why Su Zhan knew where she stayed.
Seeing that he already had a plan, Qin Ya did not comment any further. She held the shopping bags in one hand and Zong Yanxi’s hand in the other when she said, “Well, I’m bringing them back to the house now.”
