nine
1
In this year, Xi 'er had gained the recognition of her teachers and classmates through her own efforts. They all praised her for being an outstanding child and that she would definitely be outstanding when she grew up. Wen Xuan didn't care about such an evaluation. He was very satisfied to see Xi 'er interact normally with so many people and grow up happily. At the same time, as Xi 'er grew up, he also felt that he had aged a lot. The attraction of the sea to him seemed to be increasing. While he allowed Xi 'er to interact more with other people, he also allowed himself to go out to sea more. He could only adapt to this change when facing the sea.
However, things changed one day.
That day, Wen Xuan did not go out to sea. Instead, he stayed at home to make a bookcase. Wooden planks were piled up on the porch. He held the tape measure and gestured back and forth, marking on the blueprint. He turned his head and saw Xi 'er pedaling her bicycle at high speed. The bicycle rushed into the courtyard. Xi 'er jumped down and almost fell off the car and ran away. He looked at the bicycle lying on the porch. The wheel was still rolling, raising the chimney. Xi 'er had already dropped her backpack and ran away.
Wen Xuan picked up his backpack, hung it on the door, and followed Xi 'er out of the courtyard. He came to the beach and stood by the side to watch. Xi 'er stood by the waves and picked up the shells on the beach. She turned her body sideways and threw them into the sea.
Wen Xuan smiled and walked forward, picking up a flat shell. He tossed the shell, bent down, and threw it into the sea. The shell glided through a few waves, circled in the water, and fell into the sea.
Xi 'er turned to look at him and threw the shell in her hand. The shells fell into the sea without circling.
Wen Xuan bent down again, picked up a few shells, and threw them into the sea.
The waves were very strong and kept rushing forward, almost reaching their feet. Xi 'er walked into the waves and stood there. She turned around and kicked, throwing the water onto Wen Xuan. Wen Xuan smiled. He understood what she wanted to do and rushed over. He picked Xi 'er up and threw her further into the sea. Xi 'er laughed and fell into the waves. She spat out the seawater in her mouth and swam back.
"Once is enough. I'm old and have no strength left." Wen Xuan turned around.
Xi 'er ran over and pinched his shoulders. She jumped to his waist and hugged him.
"Are you a monkey? Great Sage Sun?" Wen Xuan shook his body, trying to shake her off. She hugged him even tighter, unwilling to come down. Wen Xuan turned sideways and jumped into the sea, swimming forward. Sometimes, he would dive into the water and sway his body. She let go of her hand and stared at him with her mouth wide open. Seawater began to pour into her mouth. She waved her hands and grabbed the outstretched hand, pulling it out of the sea. She spat out the seawater and coughed.
"What's wrong?" Wen Xuan wiped the seawater off her face and said.
Xi 'er coughed a few times, spat out the bitter seawater, and began to giggle. Wen Xuan let go of her hand, threw her aside, and swam back.
"They said that I was a kidnapped wife.”Xi 'er said.
"Who is it?" Wen Xuan turned his head to look at her and asked.
The surging seawater climbed up her chin and then retreated.
Xi 'er swam over and approached him, saying,""Those classmates."
"What happened? I'll go to school with you tomorrow to make things clear.”Wen Xuan said.
Xi 'er turned away and shook her head.
"Didn't I already tell that girl last time? I am your father. Many people saw it and knew about it.”Wen Xuan said.
"They know who my parents are and where they live. She even said that my father had no ears. She said that I was abducted by someone else." Xi 'er said. "In the beginning, someone was talking about it in secret. Then, everyone started discussing it. Everyone knows."
"I see. How long has it been?" Wen Xuan asked.
Xi 'er turned her face away and did not answer.
"We can transfer schools. Transfer to the city. The environment there is better." Wen Xuan said.
"But then we'll have to leave this place.”Xi 'er said.
"There will be a new environment, new classmates, and even more new things.”Wen Xuan said.
"Will you leave?" Xi 'er said.
"You can stay there. It's better than here.”Wen Xuan said.
Xi 'er swam again and again, stepping on the sand layer underground and standing.
"Ignore what those people say.”Wen Xuan said.
"They said a lot of other things, that awful stuff.”Xi 'er said.
"Ignore them." Wen Xuan said.
"I told them that you're not my father. They called me a shameless bitch.”Xi 'er said.
"Which one? Which one said that? I'll go to school to look for the teacher tomorrow." Wen Xuan said.
Xi 'er shook her head and looked at the bright moon above the sea. The moonlight cast a long silver path on the sea.
"Why don't we transfer schools tomorrow? You stay at home. I'll help you do it." Wen Xuan said.
"I don't want to go. I don't want to go to school. It was boring there, and many people were bored.”Xi 'er said.
"When you were in school, you were so much happier. She could meet people of her age and make friends. At home, you only know how to seal yourself off. If it didn't work in the town, they would go to the city. There would be more interesting things there. What do you want? I'll buy it for you." Wen Xuan said.
"I'm not happy at all. I have to study hard to make others like me. If anything goes wrong, they'll laugh at you. The people around you will disperse and hate you.”Xi 'er said.
"What else did those people say?" Wen Xuan said.
"Those people are all idiots. They only know how to say stupid things. They don't know anything at all." Xi 'er cried.
"It's okay, child. Just leave that place." Wen Xuan said.
"I don't need friends. I don't want to leave this place." Xi 'er said.
She walked over in the water. His smooth chin was dripping with water, shining in the moonlight. There seemed to be a silver fish swaying in the water, stirring up the water. Wen Xuan took a step back and looked down at her. Her slender hand slid out of the water, dripping water, and touched his face.
"Wenxuan." Xi 'er looked up at him and whispered.
Wen Xuan was stunned. With a straight face, he swam away and said,""You should call me daddy, child. Besides, you should do what you should do. You still have to go to school. Don't waste your talent.”
Xi 'er gritted her teeth and turned to look at the dark sea.
"That's it. I'll go to school tomorrow and get it for you." Wen Xuan said.
"I won't go to school anymore." Xi 'er said.
"Alright then. You just need to rest. Child, you should stay at home and rest during this period of time. When you're better, you can go to school." Wen Xuan turned around and went ashore.
2
Xi 'er stayed at home for the next few days. Occasionally, she would follow Wen Xuan out to sea to fish. Time seemed to go back to when Xi 'er had just arrived. She did not want to leave Wen Xuan for even a moment and did many things with him. She tidied up the house, cut off many withered roses, and began to build fences for the rose garden.
"Didn't you say that you don't need it?" Wen Xuan stood on the porch and asked Xi 'er.
Xi 'er stabbed the wooden stake into the soil and hammered it down.
"Use more strength. You're a big girl now." Wen Xuan said.
Xi 'er turned to look at him and threw him a shovel.
Wen Xuan rubbed his hands and glanced at the shovel in his footsteps, saying,""Don't expect an old man like me to help. My bones won't do."
He twisted his waist and sat down, watching Xi 'er sweat profusely under the scorching sun. Xi 'er picked up another wooden stake and inserted it into the hole that had been dug in advance. She used the hammer to hammer the wooden stake and glared at Wen Xuan.
Wen Xuan smiled, took the straw hat hanging on the doorpost, and went down the porch. He put the straw hat on Xi 'er's head and said,""You should go to the side and rest."
"Let's do it together." Xi 'er said.
They put up a wooden fence outside the yard and surrounded the rose bushes. The straight path extended from the entrance to the courtyard, allowing people to enter and exit freely. Xi 'er sat beside him and poured him a cup of tea. She looked up at the blooming roses and smiled.
"Why are they suddenly surrounding us?" Wen Xuan asked.
"These are our roses. You can't let others touch it." Xi 'er said.
Wen Xuan smiled, shook his head, and drank the cup of tea.
Xi 'er raised her head and looked past the flowers to the sparkling sea. She said,"I want to go out to sea a few more times. The book said there would be whales."
"Do you want to go somewhere else?" Wen Xuan asked.
"I don't know. If there were whales, why not try?”Xi 'er said.
"You might be disappointed. There were no whales in this sea area. However, if he wanted to go somewhere else, he might not necessarily go to the sea. The city was a good choice. If you go to that place to study, you definitely won't want to come back to this place to see an old man.”Wen Xuan said.
"Child, when I was your age, I was also very curious about the outside world. I went out to sea a few times and then ran outside.”Wen Xuan said.
"How is it?" Xi 'er asked.
"In the end, I was in a mess. When he returned, he looked like a beggar. I really met you at that time. Then, she stayed behind and never wanted to go out again.”Wen Xuan said.
Xi 'er turned around and looked at the sea.
"You should still stay in school. It's not good to run outside." Wen Xuan said.
"What if it's a bad place?”Xi 'er said.
"That's where children should be.”Wen Xuan said.
"Can't we stay here?" Xi 'er said.
"There's nothing here, child.”Wen Xuan said.
"Don't call me child. I'm not a child anymore." Xi 'er said. "You won't leave this place, will you?”
Wen Xuan shook his head. He thought of the years he spent outside. Thinking about those bitter days now, it was like a dream. Sometimes, he even wondered how he had survived.
"And then you wanted to send me to school.”Xi 'er said.
"That would be the best outcome. Staying here is just a waste of time. Do you understand?" Wen Xuan said.
"So this is what you decided, what you thought.”Xi 'er said.
"Those questions about the rumors won't happen in the city. You can study in peace." Wen Xuan said.
"I don't want to learn." Xi 'er said," Those are all meaningless.”
"Do you think you're smart enough?”Wen Xuan asked.
"No." Xier said." What if I don't go to school?”
"Everyone has to do something at every stage.”Wen Xuan said.
"What if I don't do it?" Xi 'er said. "Just like you."
Wen Xuan turned to look at her and said,"You've grown up, child."”
The twilight deepened. The fragrance of roses filled the air. At a certain moment, Wen Xuan also felt that he was in a dream, and the little person beside him seemed to be getting further and further away from him.
3
In the next few days, Wen Xuan noticed that Xi 'er washed all his clothes and cleaned everything in the house. Vaguely, he felt that Xi 'er was about to leave. He didn't dare to imagine that moment. If she went to the city, she would have to stay in school and not be able to come back for a month. In addition, he also thought of something else. However, he tried his best not to think in that direction. Every time he saw Xi 'er sitting on the porch and staring at the sea for a long time, he could feel the reluctance. At this moment, he realized that Xi 'er had grown up. At the same time, he suddenly understood what his parents were facing at that time.
He handed a stack of money to Xi 'er and said,""Keep this money. If you go to school outside, you can keep it.”
Xi 'er pushed his hand away and looked at the sea.""I won't study anymore."
"I still remember that at the beginning, you also rejected it. But he still recovered after that. You'll get used to it soon.”Wen Xuan said.
"It's different this time." Xi 'er said.
"Alright then. We can go a little slower. Let's talk about it later." Wen Xuan said.
"Can't I stay here with you all the time?”Xi 'er crawled over and stared at his face.
Wen Xuan turned his face away and looked at the flickering sea surface, saying,""There is a kind of relationship in the world that is destined to be separated, and that is children and parents.”
"You're not my father, and I'm not your child.”Xi 'er said.
Then she got up, went down the porch, and walked away.
During this period of time, Wen Xuan's heart had also experienced an intense struggle. In terms of feelings, he hoped that this child would stay by his side. However, logically, he understood that doing so was selfish. He could not make a decision, nor could he face this child. Perhaps, there were other emotions mixed in. However, he did not notice this.
That night, Xi 'er entered his room, climbed into bed, and snuggled into his arms. Then, she hugged him tightly.
"Why don't you go back to your room?”Wen Xuan retreated a little and lowered his head to ask.
"I want to stay with you." Xi 'er said.
"You can't. You're all grown up now. You can't be like this anymore. Quickly return to your room." Wen Xuan sat up and said.
"Why not?" Xi 'er looked up at him and said.
"Didn't I say that there's a difference between men and women? Hurry up and go back to your room. Don't stay here." Wen Xuan said.
Xi 'er rushed over and hugged Wen Xuan.
"You're already so old. You can't hug anymore.”Wen Xuan pushed Xi 'er and hugged her even tighter. She leaned against him and wrapped her legs around his waist, not moving at all.
"No, Xi 'er." Wen Xuan shook his head and turned his face away." No, child." No matter what you think. We are still different. This was wrong. I don't know how to explain it to you. However, this was no longer the case.”
Xi 'er looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"You've grown up. These things are not allowed." Wen Xuan said.
"I know what you mean. You're not old. You're not." Xi 'er hugged him tightly and buried her head in his arms." I've grown up." I can do it."
"No! No!" Wen Xuan pushed her and said," Xi 'er, you're my child.”
"I'm not your child." Xi 'er burst into tears and trembled in his arms, almost fainting.
"I know what stage you're going through. But it would pass very quickly. You'll be fine." Wen Xuan said.
"They called me a whore. I said yes. What does it have to do with you? I like him. Do you understand what I mean? Wen Xuan. Those are all unimportant to me.”Xi 'er said.
"You can't. I really can't." Wen Xuan patted her back and said," Be good and go to school." There would be better people. Daddy just wants you to live a better life. I can promise you anything. However, this was not possible. We are father and daughter."
"That's not it. It wasn't like that. You like me too, right?" Xi 'er looked up at him, her face full of tears.
"Anything but this. It's because I like you, even more than I thought. I can't do that. I can't do it, child. Love was not like this. Perhaps the books you read and the people you came into contact with in school misled you. However, this was not love. Child." Wen Xuan said.
Xi 'er shook her head and said,"I wish I was yours."”
"You're already mine, child. You've always been mine." Wen Xuan said.
"Not that kind, not that meaning. I can be your wife.”Xi 'er said.
"You will always be my child. It had always been so. It can't be anything else." Wen Xuan said," Also, I don't need a wife. I never will.”
"Am I not good enough?" Xi 'er asked.
"You are the best." Wen Xuan said," You are my flesh and blood, child.”
Xi 'er smiled and moved closer to Wen Xuan's shoulder, opening her mouth and biting it hard. Wen Xuan felt his flesh tearing apart. Blood seeped out. He gritted his teeth and looked down at her. He endured the pain and touched her head. She bit off a piece of meat, spat it out, and looked up at him.
"Does it hurt?" Xi 'er looked up at him, her teeth bleeding.
Wen Xuan shook his head and wiped the blood off her chin. Xi 'er fell into his arms and began to cry softly, saying sorry over and over again.
"It's alright." Wen Xuan patted her back and hugged her tightly." It's okay." This is nothing, child."
Xi 'er couldn't hold back her tears. Wen Xuan endured the pain and hugged her, allowing her to continue crying. Gradually, she was exhausted and fainted.
When Wen Xuan woke up, there was nothing in his arms other than his own blood. He touched the crumpled sheets and knew that she had left. Not long ago, he saw himself in her eyes and knew that she would leave. Perhaps she would have stayed if he had agreed to it last night. However, he couldn't do that. He had never even thought of doing that.
His wound was purple and in pain. The puddle of blood on his clothes had already coagulated, emitting a faint fishy smell. He got up and left the room. When he saw the dishes on the table, he could not help but feel sad. Xi 'er's things were still there. But she had already left. Wen Xuan came to the porch and looked at the bicycle leaning against the door. He couldn't move his gaze away for a long time. After a while, he walked down the porch, past the fragrant rose bushes, and toward the beach. He wanted to go into the sea and swim until he was exhausted. Then, he climbed onto the beach and collapsed in front of his door.
He fainted under the scorching sun.
"Aiya! Brother, I thought you were dead.”Wen Gui approached him and looked down at his pale face." You've lived to this age." It was still the same. If her mother knew, she would definitely be very sad.”
Wen Xuan propped himself up on the beach and sat up to look at her.
"That girl asked me to come and find you, and then she left. I was wondering what was going on. How was it? You two quarreled." Wen Gui said.
Wen Xuan sat down and looked up at the rose garden, saying,""I just went out to swim a few laps. You can go back now."
"Brother, what happened to your shoulder? How did he get such a big wound?”Wen Gui asked.
"I'm fine. Go back quickly. Do you still need to take care of the two children?”Wen Xuan got up and walked into the house.
Wen Gui followed him and asked,"Did that girl leave?" I saw that she had grown up quite a bit, just like a big girl. You can't keep it. So be it. It was useless to keep such a heartless fellow. I can help you find a good one."
"Alright, you can go back. You are no longer needed here." Wen Xuan said.
"Brother, what's wrong with you? The more you're like this, the more I'm worried about you.”Wen Gui said," Why don't Yongnian get someone to capture her?"”
Wen Xuan smiled and said,"Sister, you're wrong." I finally got rid of a child. Don't come and cause trouble. Now, I'm free. I can do whatever I want.”
Wen Gui stared at him and said,"No." Big brother, you've never been like this."
"How much do you know about me? Silly sister, go home and take care of your Liu Yongnian! Don't let him escape." Wen Xuan held the wooden stake with one hand and looked down at Wen Gui.
"You can't fool me. Big brother." Wen Gui said," You're acting like a fool now. You should really look at yourself in the mirror and see how silly you look.”
Wen Xuan was stunned. He shook his head and did not speak.
"Everyone's time is different. Liu Yongnian and I both thought." Wen Gui patted Wen Xuan's shoulder and said," Forget it, I won't say it." Anyway, looking at you now, you're definitely not. I'll go back first. There's something in the basket, heat it up yourself. Also, if you need anything, you can come to me.”
Wen Xuan waved at her, turned around, and stared at the flickering sea.
"You should go and take a look at that wound. Wengui turned around.
Wen Xuan turned his head and watched as Wen Gui left the courtyard. After he left, he turned around and returned to his room.
4
The next day, his wound began to flow with pus. He felt unbearable pain and had to rush back to the clinic for a check-up.
"This injury can't be caused by a human bite, right?" The doctor removed the gauze and stared at the wound.
"I bumped into a bamboo board and got stabbed.”Wen Xuan said.
The edge of the wound turned purple. Blood seeped out and flowed down. The doctor held a cotton swab and pointed at a few clear teeth marks before turning to look at him.
"If it's bitten by a human, you have to get a vaccine. Human teeth carry germs." The doctor dabbed the pus on the wound to disinfect it and said.
Wen Xuan gritted his teeth and turned to look at the bruise on his shoulder. The edge of the wound seemed to have been severely injured, with specks of blood scattered everywhere.
"Also, don't let it get wet. Especially seawater. It will get infected." the doctor said.
The coldness of the metal stung his wound.
"What's wrong with Xi 'er? Shouldn't you be in high school?" the doctor asked.
"She left." Wen Xuan said.
"Gone? What happened?" The doctor stopped and looked at him.
The cold scalpel was pressed tightly against his wound.
"She left this place." Wen Xuan said," Hurry up and do it. That knife is so cold."
The doctor looked back and put down his hand. He took the medicine and placed it on the table. Sunlight shone in and hit the cold glass table. The metal utensils on the iron box emitted a cold light. He took one and put it down. Popping sounds came from the iron box.
"When?" The doctor turned around and raised the bottle of medicine.
"A few days ago." Wen Xuan said.
"This child! It's not time yet." the doctor said.
"Then when do you think it's time?”Wen Xuan turned his head and stared at the doctor." When is the right time?"”
The doctor looked at his pale face. His eyes were bloodshot. The Beard climbed up. He looked much older.
"You knew she was going to leave, didn't you?”the doctor asked.
"I knew it a long time ago." Wen Xuan said.
"When?" the doctor said.
"From the first time she stepped into the school.”Wen Xuan said.
"I see. You knew that she would leave, but you still did that?”the doctor said.
"I have no choice. That way, she can grow." Wen Xuan said.
"I'm afraid you didn't expect her to grow so quickly. In the end, she still left." The doctor took out a gauze and started to bandage the wound.
"I also want to keep her by my side, to always guard her and watch over her. Take her for yourself. But I can't." Wen Xuan suddenly clenched his fist and hammered the table hard. The scissors and gauze on it jumped. He hit the table hard again, turned his head, and said,"I can't. She is not anything, not completely mine. Do you understand? I can't do this. I can't do it."
The doctor stopped and looked down at his dark face.""She's just a girl. If she left, then forget it. Don't even think about it. You are still young. If you want a child, get married and have one of your own.”
Hearing him say this, Wen Xuan stood up, kicked the chair by his feet, and rushed out. He pushed open the clinic door and stood under the glaring sun. He felt dizzy and leaned against the door to slow down. He reached out and hammered the door. He couldn't stay away from the doctor for a while. Because tears were already falling. He lowered his head to wipe away a few drops of tears and looked at the row of fishing boats on the dock. The pain in his heart made him feel suffocated. He opened his mouth to breathe, trying to calm himself down.
The dog with half its nose broken ran over. It didn't get a reward from the fisherman and ran to the shade of the tree. It lay down and stuck out its dripping tongue.
Wen Xuan looked up at the blue sky. The white clouds broke into pieces and floated in the sky like floating ice.
All of a sudden, those days had become mirages, distant and unreachable.
A gust of wind blew from the sea.
Wen Xuan crossed his arms as if he was resisting the sudden cold wind. Then, he turned around and returned to the clinic. The doctor had been standing there waiting for him. When he saw him come in, he took out a new piece of gauze.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]