Chapter 1231: TangNing Begging to be picked up (1/2)

Perhaps he was destined to be a child who wasn’t spoiled, who had to grow up early. But that didn’t prevent him from hugging or spoiling Rui’er. Because he had been a child himself, he understood what they wanted and hoped that he could provide the same.

When little Rui’er saw that his father wasn’t moving, his sobs intensified. He clutched at his father’s robes and tried his best to climb up his father. At last, Long Feiye recovered and plucked him up, pressing him tight against his chest. If possible, he’d absorb Rui’er completely.

Just how much did he love him?

“Father’s here! I’m not scared!”

“Good boy...father’s right here!”

Nobody saw that the corners of Long Feiye’s eyes were wet with tears. Little Rui’er had really stopped crying from fear. Instead, he wrapped his arms around his father’s neck and buried his head into his father’s chest. Gu Qishao watched wordlessly from the side and could only sigh. In the end, he’s someone else’s son, after all!

Little Rui’er had stopped crying, but soon enough Long Feiye sensed that he was trembling with fright. Although he wanted to hold him longer so his son could lean against him more, he was perfectly rational towards his son even as he remained cruel to himself. He immediately pried Rui’er off his chest. As the boy looked at him while biting his lips, fear was evident on his face.

Now Gu Qishao had discovered the abnormality as well. How can this be?

“Rui’er, what’s wrong? Tell your father, don’t be afraid,” Long Feiye said.

Rui’er looked at him with teary eyes and didn’t reply. He seemed sluggish, almost half-sleep.

“Good boy, tell father why? What are you afraid of?” Long Feiye asked.

Rui’er’s shivering got worse. His expression was one of abject terror, making Long Feiye’s heart seize with pain. Still, he patiently asked, “Rui’er, you’re afraid of father, right? Tell father, yes or no?”

Rui’er continued to grit his teeth in silence. Still, he didn’t hesitate to shake his head in the negative. Long Feiye tried asking a few more times, but Rui’er only continued to shake his head. Whether it was daylight or nighttime, awake or asleep, fussy or calm, he always shook his head. But it was clear that his body was reacting in fright!

Long Feiye knew he should be pushing Rui’er aside, but he couldn’t bear to. He held him longer, cradling the child in his arms as if he’d be there until the sky fell down. When Rui’er cried consciously at being carried, it was out of pure instinct. But now that he was fussing at night, his semi-conscious reactions were borne from his most sincere desires and reactions!

So it turned out Rui’er wanted him to carry him after all! How much of this unknown fear had he endured while conscious? How much had Long Feiye himself endured as a child while facing his icy, merciless mother? Enduring something like that was like being left to boil without ever slaking that thirst. Of course, he never expected as a child to lose both parents forever before growing up. Those left behind only acknowledged his identity as the East Qin crown prince. They treated him as someone who would never grieve or miss them and placed the burden of his parents’ responsibilities on his shoulders! From that day on, he began to live a lonely existence, cool and cold. All he had were subordinates, not family or relatives!

It had been over a decade since Long Feiye thought of these things. He rested his head on Rui’er’s shoulder and gave him a heavy kiss. “Xuanyuan Rui, don’t be afraid! Father isn’t leaving. Father will wait for you forever--until you stop feeling afraid anymore.”

So speaking, he pried Rui’er free and gave him to Zhao mama who had just arrived.