459 The Secret About the Past 77 (1/2)
”Daddy, Mommy said that I can't sleep naked anymore and that I'd have to put on some clothes when I sleep now that I'm five years old,” said Jin Bao'er.
”Did your Mommy say that you have to sleep alone in your own room too?” Shi Shaochuan asked.
”Yes.”
”You're only five years old. You're still so young, aren't you afraid to sleep by yourself in your own room? Isn't it not scary anymore with Daddy around to accompany you to sleep? Don't listen to Mommy, Daddy's here. Just listen to me, okay?” said Shi Shaochuan, caressing her hair.
Jin Bao'er nodded and exclaimed, ”Daddy, must I really take my clothes off to sleep!?!”
Shi Shaochuan nodded before answering, ”The weather is so warm. It'd be so much more comfortable to sleep without clothes on.”
Shi Shaochuan did not find it much of a big deal since she was his own daughter.
Jin Bao'er removed her clothes and lay down beside him under the duvet. ”Daddy, why did you divorce Mommy?” she asked.
”Your Mommy was the one who wanted a divorce, not me. Your Mommy even caused me to be locked up in a tiny room and stopped me from coming out to see you. If not for her, Daddy would have been by your side long ago,” Shi Shaochuan explained.
”Why did Mommy want to divorce you then?” Jin Bao'er asked.
After thinking it through for a while, Shi Shaochuan answered, ”Because your Mommy stopped fancying me. Bao'er, tell Daddy, has Mommy ever brought any other men home in the past few years?”
”No, but Mommy brought Uncle Ciye along to attend the parent-teacher meeting at my school previously.”
”Then, who do you think is more handsome, Daddy or Uncle Ciye?”
Jin Bao'er chuckled and said, ”Daddy, of course.”
Shi Shaochuan gave her a peck on her cheek and complimented her, ”Bao'er is so obedient.”
”Daddy, your stubble is poking me,” Jin Bao'er complained with a look of disdain.
”Shall I shave my beard tomorrow then?”
”Yes, you must shave. Daddy, I want to be with you every day. May I return to Mommy only when school reopens?”
”What if your Mommy disapproves?” Shi Shaochuan asked softly.
”Mommy will agree for sure. Can she say no if I refuse to go home with her? Daddy, I want to watch some cartoons,” said Jin Bao'er, who could not fall asleep.
”There aren't any more cartoons being aired on TV at this hour. There is a pile of video discs there, pick one that you like and place it inside the DVD player.”
”Okay.” Completely naked, Jin Bao'er got out of bed and ran towards the end of the bed. She kneeled onto the ground and began browsing through the discs to find one she preferred.
Shi Shaochuan took a look at the time to find that it was already past nine o'clock in the evening. He put on his home slippers and said, ”Daddy's going to take a shower now.”
”Okay,” Jin Bao'er acknowledged without even looking at him.
To his astonishment, Shi Shaochuan heard strange noises coming from the television when he came out of the shower in a bathrobe.
He took a look at the LED display, only to realize that a film unsuitable for children was playing.
He got the chills all of a sudden. As soon as she saw him, Jin Bao'er exclaimed, ”Daddy, look at what they're doing. So shameful!”
Just as he was about to switch off the television, Jin Bao'er grabbed his arm to stop him, ”Daddy, don't switch it off. I still want to continue watching.”
Shi Shaochuan switched it off anyway and said, ”These films are meant for adults. Children aren't allowed to watch them.”
Jin Bao'er climbed onto the bed grumpily and lay down before asking, ”Why can't I watch them?”
”No particular reason. It's solely because you're a child.”
Jin Bao'er expressed assent. Noticing that Shi Shaochuan had lain down too, she hugged his waist and said, ”Daddy, marry Mommy again.”
”You want us to get married again?”
”Yes.”