Sorn, who just had her shower, was drying her hair with a towel while standing in the living hall.
Her eyes widened when she saw Zong Yanxi coming into the house. She then looked at the door and noticed Tawan was following right behind.
His shirt was also wet and stuck to his body, revealing his six-pack abs and his masculine charm.
It was not an unusual sight for Sorn as she was used to seeing him half-naked all the time.
She was more concerned about something else.
“Daddy.” Sorn stopped him from leaving, “That’s it? Why didn’t you spend more time with her?”
I made this happen, yet you let this chance slip by?
Tawan was speechless.
What? You expect the two of us to splash water at each other?
“Look, Daddy. She’s going to leave anytime soon. You won’t get another chance anymore!” Sorn warned.
She continued, “There wouldn’t be anyone to dine with us once she leaves. Can you imagine how lonely we’d become?”
“You don’t want her to leave just because you’re afraid of eating alone?” Tawan frowned.
I thought you wanted her to stay because you like her?
“Of course that’s just one of the many reasons. She’s pretty, she tells me stories, and coaxes me to sleep. She’s doing exactly what a mom does! So if you two get together then we’ll have a complete family!” Sorn threw out all sorts of reasons, but she did not seem to have answered his question.
“You want her to stay because you like her, right?” Tawan asked.
“I like her, of course! Don’t you?” Sorn threw the question back at him.
Tawan did not know how to answer that.
Do I like her?
Well, I don’t detest her. In fact, I enjoy spending time with her.
But does this mean I like her?
“Daddy, grab this one final opportunity while you can,” Sorn said in a serious tone.
Tawan gently patted the back of her head. “Mind your own business, kiddo.”
Sorn pouted her lips. “I can’t. Without me, you’re going to spend the rest of your life alone.”
Touché.
This kid is definitely going places!
Tawan went out after lunch, leaving Zong Yanxi and Sorn at home.
Sorn could not understand how her Daddy could still be so chilled when they all knew Zong Yanxi was about to leave them soon. Instead of thinking ways of winning her heart, he chose to go out at this time?
Zong Yanxi curled up on the couch and was about to book herself a flight.
She planned to leave tomorrow after attending the event with Tawan tonight.
Sorn went up and checked on her. “Hey, what are you doing?”
Zong Yanxi had successfully bought her plane ticket. She put down her mobile phone and hugged Sorn in her arms. I’m going to miss this cheeky little girl.
Sorn looked at her and blinked, “What do you think of my Daddy?”
Zong Yanxi answered right away, “He’s a very nice man.”
Sorn was waiting for her to say more about Tawan, but Zong Yanxi just kept mum after that.
“Don’t you like my Daddy?” Sorn asked, anticipating a positive answer from her. Just to make sure Zong Yanxi understood her question, she reiterated, “As in the kind of feelings between a man and a woman.”
Zong Yanxi was taken aback by the question.
Why is she asking me this…
‘Feelings between a man and a woman’?
“Say something.” Sorn was eager to know what was on Zong Yanxi’s mind.
Tawan, who was walking into the house with a box in his hands, overheard their conversation and stopped walking. He was actually interested to know how she thought of him.
He stood still and wanted to know Zong Yanxi’s answer.
Zong Yanxi shook her head. “Your Daddy is great man, but I don’t have feelings for him.”
Sorn asked persistently, “Why not?”
Tawan was a little disappointed with the answer.
“I’m afraid I can’t give you an answer.” Just when Zong Yanxi was about to leave, Sorn pulled her hand. “Tell me why, please.”
Though Sorn was just a child, she was persistent and had a strong character.
After all that she had been through with Jiang Mohan, she did not have the courage to fall in love again.
At this point, she just wanted to take revenge on Jiang Mohan. That was what she had been focusing on after being away from this man for nearly a year.
Zong Yanxi did not want to get herself hurt once again.
She used to dream of a blissful marriage, but the reality hit her hard.
The reality hit her so hard that she no longer had the courage to think of the future.
Love and marriage were the least significant matters in her life now. She did not want to risk getting herself hurt all over again.
Yet, Zong Yanxi could not be telling a little child all this. She thought about it and gave her a simpler answer, “Your Daddy and I are not suitable for each other.”
“What does that even mean? You’re pretty, and my Daddy is handsome. You two look good together!”
Zong Yanxi rubbed her head and explained further, “It has nothing to do with looks. You know, there’s this saying in my home country – beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. If we truly like someone, no matter how ugly the person is, we’ll still think he or she is beautiful.”
“What does the beholder mean?” Sorn pressed on.
“It means a person who sees or observes someone or something,” Zong Yanxi explained patiently.
“I don’t know whoever this ‘beholder’ is. It’s none of my business,” Sorn said.
Zong Yanxi was dumbfounded by her remark.
Oh well. It seems like she doesn’t understand a thing I said.
“All I know you’re pretty.” Sorn grinned and said, “Why don’t you like my Daddy?”
Here we go again…
She thought about it and tried to simplify her explanation. “Sorn, your Daddy and I are meant for each other because we come from different backgrounds. He has not been in a relationship before, but I have. I was in love with someone.”
Sorn stood up and asked, “You like someone else?”
Initially, Zong Yanxi wanted to tell Sorn that she had fallen in love with someone in the past.
But she decided to give an absolute answer that would put an end to all this, “Yes, I like someone.”
Like a balloon that has lost its air, Sorn instantly became dispirited.
Tawan, who was still standing by the door, also turned grim-faced.
“Sir,” Sally greeted Tawan as she walked past him with a plate of fruits.
Sorn and Zong Yanxi turned around simultaneously and looked in his direction.
Tawan responded to Sally’s greeting and walked into the living hall.
“Daddy,” Sorn called.
Tawan placed the box on the table, carried Sorn in his arms, and gave her a peck on the cheek. “The sweetsops in the backyard are ripe. Go with Sally and pluck a few fruits for us, okay?
Sorn nodded, “Sure.”
Sally came over and brought Sorn to the backyard.
“Let’s go and get a basket,” Sorn turned to Sally and said.
Sally then grabbed a bamboo basket and accompanied Sorn to the backyard.
Tawan sat on the couch in front of Zong Yanxi.
He wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in his throat.
An awkward silence filled the living room.
Zong Yanxi tried to initiate the conversation with him. “What is in the box?”
“It’s a gown.”
She raised her head and looked at him.
“It’s for you,” Tawan said.
Zong Yanxi suddenly remembered she needed a gown for tonight’s event.
“Ehm…” Tawan opened his mouth but still could not quite verbalize his thoughts.
He wanted to comfort her, but he did not know how to begin with.
Upon seeing how awkward he was, Zong Yanxi tried her best the control her laughter.
“Just go ahead and tell me what you have in mind,” she said.
