His Beloved Treasure

”What? Allergic to kiwifruit? Did you eat kiwifruit?”

”No, I ordered a fruit platter today, but I never liked sour things like that, so I didn’t eat any.”

Qin Mingzhu was puzzled, recalling that there had been no kiwifruit in her lunch at all.

”It must have been that fruit that caused your allergy, didn’t the doctor say?”

”The doctor only mentioned it was probably an allergy to something, but didn’t specify what.”

She had hung on an IV drip all afternoon in the hospital, and after coming out, she was still a bit groggy, completely unaware of how she suddenly became allergic.

Although her skin was very sensitive, she had always taken good care of it.

”It should be better in a couple of days; if not, go back to the hospital tomorrow for more shots.”

Because she and her father had nearly come to blows after an argument the day before, Qin Mingzhu obediently nodded her head today without daring to talk back.

Zhang Rujia was even more delighted to see Qin Haiming caring for his daughter and couldn’t help but sigh, ”Ah, our family really has been unlucky lately. I’ll go to the temple and burn some incense tomorrow; maybe that will help.”

”Burn what incense? It would be better if you and our daughter refrained from causing me any more trouble.”

Qin Haiming had never believed in those things, but he felt a headache coming on just thinking about the difficulty his wife and other daughter Qin Mu gave him. He just wanted to be nicer to Qin Mu because he truly felt guilty.

”You talk as if we’re jinxes. Haven’t you ever heard the saying ’it takes two to tango’?” Zhang Rujia muttered under her breath.

”It takes two to tango?”

Qin Haiming smiled, raised his hand, and lightly tapped on the back of Zhang Rujia’s hand, ”Does it make a sound or not?”

Zhang Rujia cried out indignantly and then looked at him with a pitiful expression, ”What are you doing?”

”I’m just showing you that it’s not true that one hand can’t make a noise. From now on, stop provoking Qin Mu, okay? When you see her, be polite, don’t be aggressive. After all, she never got much out of our family.”

Qin Haiming said.

”Mom, listen to Dad, he’s taking his eldest daughter’s side.” Qin Mingzhu whispered as she gripped Zhang Rujia’s arm.

”Taking her side? If I really were, would I not have made a big deal about all the things you’ve done to her?”

Qin Mingzhu thought about the slaps she had received and couldn’t believe her ears.

Qin Haiming sighed helplessly, ”I’m busy, and you don’t bother to discipline her properly. All she knows is to indulge herself outside. Isn’t it time for her to find a job?”

”What’s the big deal about her? She’s just a bit immature,” Zhang Rujia said, then turned to her daughter and whispered, ”If your father really took her side, you wouldn’t have had such an easy time. From now on, you’re not allowed to falsely accuse your father, got it?”

”Oh!”

Qin Mingzhu agreed, her heart almost bursting with glee.

She knew that Qin Haiming still favored her.

”It’s getting late. Since you’re not feeling well from the allergy, go take a bath and get some rest. Your mother and I will have some tea and then it’s off to bed for us too.”

”Okay, goodnight Mom and Dad.”

Qin Mingzhu got up cheerfully, kissed each of their faces, and then happily went upstairs.

Qin Haiming watched his daughter leave with a smile, always feeling she was still a child at heart.

”Mingzhu has grown up so fast, hasn’t she?” Zhang Rujia said softly to him.

”Yes!”

But he suddenly remembered the time when the mother and daughter first came to his home, and thinking of Qin Mu back then, he couldn’t help feeling guilty again.

”No matter the past, husband, from now on, can’t the three of us just live well together?”

Zhang Rujia’s hand was holding his, her eyes brimming with sincerity.

Qin Haiming looked up at her, ”One condition, take good care of Qin Mu. I owe her that. I don’t want you two to be enemies. Can you do that?”

”For you, even if it’s a great grievance, I’ll bear it. Didn’t I let it go when she pushed me down this time?” Zhang Rujia said softly.

”You let it go, but didn’t your daughter teach her a lesson for that?”

Qin Haiming recalled the incident, still feeling a bit of a headache.

”That’s just my daughter being filial. If she didn’t care for me, you’d be the one worried.” Zhang Rujia pushed his hand away and continued.

”True!” Qin Haiming scoffed, feeling there was some truth to it.

”Let’s go to bed, no more tea!” Zhang Rujia said, and Qin Mingzhu nodded. The two of them went upstairs together.

----

Mu Family.

Qin Mu waited until nearly half-past eleven, her eyelids fighting with each other, before she finally fell asleep cuddling her daughter without realizing it.

But the next morning, she awoke to find herself sleeping in her own bed without having opened her eyes.

The morning’s man had more vitality and tenderness, still dressed in comfortable pajamas and pants, his strong arms propping up his head as he lay on his side.