My Alleged Husband

Chapter 77: Chapter 75 I Was Wrong_1

Li Jiayuan hurried out of Xia Jing’s home. She left without saying a word of goodbye, perhaps because Xia Jing knew why she had to leave so abruptly, or maybe because Li Jiayuan herself forgot to say anything to Xia Jing.

The Li Family.

Ever since Li Jiayuan left, Li Haixiao had been talking to himself in the bedroom as if there were someone else there.

”How wonderful it would be if you were still here,” he mused to himself. ”If it weren’t for that accident all those years ago, you wouldn’t have left. You would have been able to watch your daughter grow up. You would have seen how she repays the love of her father, though I didn’t raise her expecting anything in return. But I never imagined she would treat her own father this way for a man she’s not even engaged to. My dear wife, I miss you. You have no idea how I’ve struggled all these years on my own. And I have to admit, our daughter has a good eye. The boy she fancies, Xiao Wei, is a mercenary. I was against their relationship at first. But when Jiayuan became a mercenary for his sake, I knew I couldn’t stop her decision...”

The photograph that Li Haixiao held in the bedroom was of Li Jiayuan’s mother, who had passed away many years ago. Li Haixiao once loved her as much as life itself, but due to an accident over twenty years ago, the Li family had been torn apart, and as a tribute to his late wife, he had resolved to never remarry.

As Li Haixiao held the photograph of Li Jiayuan’s mother in the bedroom, a shiny silver tear fell upon it. Li Haixiao cried. At that moment, Li Jiayuan returned home. She looked around the house but saw no trace of Li Haixiao. Taking light steps toward his bedroom, she saw her father crying as she stood at the doorway. She had never seen her father, solid as a rock, cry before. Today was the first time she saw her father in tears, but she didn’t understand why. Could it be because of what she said that afternoon? Suddenly, Li Jiayuan felt a deep sorrow. She hadn’t meant to speak that way; she had been provoked by her father.

Just as Li Jiayuan was about to knock and enter, Li Haixiao continued to speak to the photograph of Jiayuan’s mother: ”My dear wife, I wish so much that you were here with me. You know, I wanted Jiayuan to find a boyfriend, so he could join the Li family. But now it seems impossible. Jiayuan will never agree to Xiao Wei joining our family. Once Jiayuan leaves to live her own life, I’ll truly be alone. Then, I can talk to you every day. Maybe it won’t be long until I come to join you. Are you still as beautiful as before? I wonder if you’ll even recognize this old man when I come to you. My hair is almost entirely white now, my body grows weaker by the day. I don’t even know if I’ll live to see Jiayuan’s children born... At first, I didn’t agree to their relationship because I was afraid that if something happened to me, Xiao Wei might mistreat Jiayuan. She’s my one and only precious daughter. I can’t even bear to scold or strike her myself, so how could I permit someone else to harm her? My dear wife, you must understand how I feel. But then, I realized what kind of person Xiao Wei is. He’s upright, kind-hearted, and responsible. I believe he truly cares for Jiayuan. With such a young man, I can rest assured leaving Jiayuan in his care for life!”

Li Haixiao did not know that Li Jiayuan had come. He was so engrossed in his own world that he didn’t notice Li Jiayuan standing at the door. Hearing what her father said, she felt a profound pain in her heart. She had never realized that her father was always considering her best interests. She felt like slapping herself, regretting deeply that her careless actions had hurt the father who had cherished her for over two decades.

Gently pushing the door open, Li Jiayuan walked in and embraced Li Haixiao from behind. She said, ”Dad, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have been antagonistic toward you. I thought you disapproved of Xiao Wei because he’s a mercenary, so I recklessly joined the training to defy you, leaving you worried sick at home. Dad, there’s something I’ve never told you: in my heart, you’re the best dad in the world. I won’t act this way again. I’ll ask Xiao Wei to join the Li family, and our first child will take the Li surname, while the second will take Xiao Wei’s...”

Li Haixiao’s body instantly stiffened when Li Jiayuan hugged him from behind, it was well known that Jiayuan seldom initiated hugs.

As Li Haixiao listened to Li Jiayuan’s choked words, he could hardly believe they were coming from her. He asked, ”Jiayuan, you’re back. Why are you suddenly saying these things to Dad? And how did you know that I wanted Xiao Wei to marry into the Li Family?”

”Dad, I know everything now. Everything you did was for my sake. It was my immaturity that made you sad, my failings as a daughter. A daughter shouldn’t selfishly leave you alone at home to go off training by herself. I realize my mistake now and I will never do that again. Dad, please don’t be angry with your daughter. I heard everything you said to Mom just now, so I hope you can be happy. And don’t worry, I will persuade Xiao Wei to marry into our family!” Li Jiayuan said as she wiped the tears from her face, her eyes red as she looked at Li Haixiao.

Even though Li Jiayuan had spoken harshly to Li Haixiao before, seeing her cry still made his heart ache. He couldn’t bear to see his daughter cry over something trivial; he wanted her to be strong...

”Jiayuan, don’t cry. Besides hearing about me wanting Xiao Wei to marry in, did you hear anything else?” Li Haixiao asked, staring at Li Jiayuan.

Li Jiayuan looked into Li Haixiao’s eyes and understood what her father was really worried about. He feared she had heard him say something like he might not live to see the day his grandchild is born. She also knew why her dad didn’t want her to hear those words—he didn’t want her to worry.

Feigning curiosity, Li Jiayuan looked at Li Haixiao and asked, ”Dad, what else did you say to Mom? Can you tell me?”

Hearing Li Jiayuan say this, Li Haixiao breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it was good she hadn’t heard, or else how heartbroken she would be!

It turned out that Li Haixiao had been diagnosed with kidney failure. He had not noticed it earlier, only feeling a pain in his back that grew worse over time. When the pain became unbearable, he finally went to the hospital and the tests revealed he had chronic kidney failure. When he received the lab results, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He couldn’t accept that the healthy body he was so proud of had succumbed to a terminal illness. His concern wasn’t for the loss of his own life, however, but for his beloved daughter—Li Jiayuan.