929 A Million Times for You 291 (2/2)
Tuoba Rui pushed her hand away in annoyance and hissed, ”Enough, you're afraid now, aren't you? If it weren't because of the sudden change in situation, you would've killed Xiaoning and Qingzhou, wouldn't you!?! I can't feel a tinge of sympathy for you at all.”
”Rui, you can't leave me and our children in the lurch. It won't be too bad if you become the president again, but think about it. If Shuo becomes the president, do you really think he won't ill-treat our children? He won't spare me either. Rui, you may be An Xiaoning's father, but you're also the father of my three children!”
Tuoba Rui took a deep breath and stared at Shi Xiaoyu before saying, ”I'd definitely make sure their lives are safe, you don't have to remind me. As for you, what has your life got to do with me? It won't be enough to atone for your sins even if you die ten times.”
He stormed off in a huff.
He slammed the door shut, after which Shi Xiaoyu stared blindly at a corner, feeling as if she had suffered a huge blow to her mental well-being.
How did things change so drastically in such a short time?
How… how…
—
After handling the matters about Lin Shishi, An Xiaoning proceeded to see Tuoba Rui.
Ever since she stepped foot inside the Autumn Palace, she had never once met him privately.
This time, she only decided to take the initiative to meet him after considering it carefully for a few days.
”Your Highness, he wants you to go in.”
”Alright.” She pushed the door open and entered.
Upon the sight of her, Tuoba Rui smiled widely and pointed at the couch. ”Have a seat.”
An Xiaoning took a seat on the couch while he sat down opposite her.
”Why did you come and see me? Do you have something to talk to me about?”
”Nothing much, I just wanted to have a chat with you. Actually, I'd like to thank you,” she said solemnly.
”Thank me? What for? I didn't do anything,” he said in a calm and gentle voice.
”That's exactly why I have to thank you. No matter what, we've more or less pulled through this ordeal. It's all the same to me regardless of whether you or my father becomes the next president.”
He gazed at her and said, ”I'm your father, too. I know I'm not fit to have you acknowledge me, but I still do hope that you'll one day call me your father.”
An Xiaoning looked down and kept silent for a while, after which she answered, ”You're still my biological father, regardless of whether I acknowledge you or not. That's a fact that cannot be changed. I don't feel ashamed about that, though. Instead, I'll just accept it with an open heart. I share the same thoughts and sentiments with my father about you. We're both very conflicted about the way we feel toward you. You may have saved my mother, but at the same time, you've also ruined her. Because of you, she had to suffer such great pain for decades. I'm heartened that you haven't been disturbing her lately. You turned out to be like just what I had expected.”
”She's the only woman I have ever loved. Even to this day, I still hope that she can follow her heart and pursue her own happiness. That's all I need to be contented,” Tuoba Rui said with a smile.