Captain Song was so angry that his face turned red.
Song Yaxin couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Dad, I’m your daughter! How could you protect someone else instead? I’m your flesh and blood, not him!” screamed Song Yaxin as she pointed at Shen Peichuan. She still didn’t understand why her father did what he did.
Captain Song had his hand over his chest. He had never been that furious before. Why is she so stupid and stubborn?
“Are you trying to get my blood pressure so high that I die?” asked Captain Song between pants.
Tears fell from Song Yaxin’s eyes. “You have always protected him, but you have never been that attentive to me, your own daughter, before. Growing up, have you ever paid any attention to me? Isn’t it too late to teach me a lesson now?”
Captain Song stumbled backward and fell onto the sofa. He couldn’t deny it. He had always been busy, so his wife was the one who raised their daughter. As such, Song Yaxin’s attitude and beliefs were as unreasonable as his wife’s.
“This is my fault. This is all my fault,” murmured Captain Song with a broken heart.
He didn’t have the time to teach his daughter right from wrong when she was a kid, and everything was too late now because she had already grown up.
Captain Song regretted his decision.
He regretted not spending time with his daughter.
“Dad!” called Song Yaxin. She hurried over to stroke his back and soothe his breathing. Captain Song looked terrible, and it seemed like he might pass away at any given moment.
Captain Song was getting too old. He had been a police chief for years and had always been a responsible boss. As such, everyone respected him. His former subordinates would greet him warmly even after he had retired. However…
My daughter turns out to be so despicable, and I am ashamed of it!
Captain Song panted as he stared at his daughter. He agreed with her earlier words. “You are right. I am your father, but I have never taught you right from wrong. You have made a mistake, and that is all my fault. I am wrong.”
He continued, “I am your father, so I am partially responsible for your mistake. You won’t apologize for it, so I will do it in your place!” He turned to Shen Peichuan. “I didn’t teach her well…”
“Don’t apologize to him, Dad. He thinks he can disrespect you just because he got promoted at work? You helped him grow to be the man he is today, but he is so petty and goes up against you for something so minor! That proves that he does not know how to be grateful and is not an honorable man,” replied Song Yaxin.
“You…” muttered Captain Song. He was so angry that his features distorted, and he looked like he was on the verge of fainting.
Shen Peichuan sighed internally. He couldn’t be mean to his superior, who once helped him out. I hate that man’s daughter so much that my very soul burns, but I can’t let him suffer in her place.
“Captain Song, I’m not angry.”
Captain Song reached out to hold Shen Peichuan’s hand. The former’s breathing remained uneven. He took some time before he could say, “I’m so sorry. I wronged you.”
Captain Song knew that his daughter had made more than one mistake.
“Yaxin, we have to be reasonable. Be honest. When has Shen Peichuan ever wronged you? He can’t help it, nor can he force it, if he doesn’t love you. You’ve made so many mistakes, but I’ve always been reluctant to scold you. It’s like you said. I never paid much attention to you, so I have no right to scold you. I have pampered you too much and turned a blind eye to all your mistakes,” said Captain Song.
Captain Song then panted and stroked his chest to even his breathing.
He added, “They say that spoiling a child is equivalent to killing the child. The saying is true, and I was wrong. I should never have spoiled you.” He had always seemed strong and could handle any hardship, but now he had gotten to the point where he teared up. That showed just how heartbroken he was.
Song Yaxin was stunned. She had always seen her father as a powerful figure, but he had fallen to the point where he cried in front of the man who used to be his subordinate. The strong stance and aura he once exuded were long gone, and he no longer cared about his pride. Looking at Captain Song in that state, Song Yaxin’s heart shattered. She hugged her father and cried in his arms before she admitted, “I was wrong, Dad.”
Captain Song stroked his daughter’s head and said, “If you’re a good person, others will see that sooner or later. Likewise, if you’re evil, others will eventually figure that out too. You should lead a life as honorably as you can. Think back to your past. How many mistakes have you made since your divorce? Given Peichuan’s character, he would’ve done right by you if you had stayed loyal to him back then. You made a mistake and didn’t treasure what you had. You can’t blame others for that.”
Song Yaxin couldn’t refute that. Perhaps she had decided to finally listen to her father’s words.
Captain Song sighed and turned to Shen Peichuan. The former said, “If I have any credibility left at all, I’d like to cash it all in and ask that you do this old man a favor. Please forgive her this one last time. I promise that she will not come after you again.”
Captain Song had already lowered himself to that extent, so Shen Peichuan couldn’t be mean either. The latter promised, “I won’t go after her for this. I was at fault, too. I made a promise and backed out of it afterward. That is my fault. I’m sorry, Yaxin.”
Song Yaxin had made a lot of mistakes, and that was an undeniable fact. However, Shen Peichuan wasn’t completely innocent either. He admitted his mistake and hoped that Song Yaxin could learn from the whole ordeal. He hoped that she would stop focusing on others’ shortcomings and see that she was not perfect either.
In short, Shen Peichuan wished that Song Yaxin could see her own faults and learn to see the good in others.
Song Yaxin kept crying in her father’s arms. Between sobs, she replied, “I don’t need an apology from you. Leave, and never show up in front of me again!”
Sigh!
Captain Song sighed once more. “I suppose it’s true that children truly reflect their parents’ sins.”
Shen Peichuan stood up and said, “Take care, Captain Song. No one will spread any news about this. Please know that I am only doing this for your sake. I would not have been that merciful to others. After all, this incident truly affected me. The report came so soon after I got my promotion, and there are many who are making fun of me and questioning my authority.”
Shen Peichuan had given his promise because he respected Captain Song. That was also his way of showing Song Yaxin that he held no grudge against her. However, his words were clear. He had a limit, and the consequences would be dire if she crossed that line again.
Captain Song was a smart man, so naturally, he got Shen Peichuan’s implied message. The former promised, “Don’t worry…”
“We’re even now and we won’t ever have any interaction from now on! Go live your life, and I’ll live mine,” interrupted Song Yaxin, who cut her father’s words short. She glared at Shen Peichuan and shouted, “You’re not the only man in this world! In fact, you are nothing! There are plenty of better and more capable men out there.”
Shen Peichuan’s expression remained grim. He stared calmly at her and replied, “I truly wish you the best. After all, we’ve known each other for a long time, and I have always respected you.”
Song Yaxin was stunned. Compared to the calm and serenity in Shen Peichuan’s eyes, her screams seemed ridiculous and unreasonable. She couldn’t speak for a moment there.
“I’ll leave now. Take care, Captain Song,” said Shen Peichuan before he turned around and left.
A few minutes later, Shen Peichuan got out of the elevator and took a deep breath of the fresh air at the entrance. He exhaled and let go of all the stress and pressure on him while standing up straight. Then he took a step forward and walked away.
On the day of the mid-autumn festival, Shen Peichuan brought Sang Yu to the supermarket to buy a ton of stuff. That included the festival snack – mooncake.
They didn’t get it for themselves, though. They bought it as a gift because the festival was all about being close to family. There was no point in the two of them celebrating since they were the only ones at home. Hence, they brought the gift to Lin Xinyan’s.
Shen Peichuan and Sang Yu had just arrived at the entrance when they saw Dr. Jiang there. For some reason, the doctor had a grim expression on his face.
