Yan Renzhong wanted to answer on Shen Jingwei’s behalf, but Shen Jingwei was faster than him.
"I was. But my turn arrived and you guys didn’t. The gatekeeper told to either get in or leave. It would be a waste to leave, so I got inside. Yan Renzhong happened to arrive at the last second. But look, I brought so souvenirs from the shop..."
Shen Jingwei extended his hands and showed the Song sisters the colorful accessories and keychains he just bought.
Song Yaya widened her eyes in delight.
But Song Xiaoling slapped Shen Jingwei’s hands ruthlessly, sending the items clattering on the floor.
"What Yaya wanted was to get into the fountain blast!" She cried out full of indignation. "Don’t try to coax us with these cheap items!"
"Song Xiaoling!" Yan Renzhong called out in anger.
Shen Jingwei wanted to pick up the fallen items, but Yan Renzhong grabbed his elbow and pulled him up.
"Apologize for your rude behavior and pick up the stuff from the ground!" Yan Renzhong hollered at Song Xiaoling, who rely rolled her eyes and scoffed in disdain.
She folded her arms and glared at Yan Renzhong in a challenging posture.
"Why should I?" she demanded to know. "I only slapped his hands a little and he dropped everything. Stop being so dramatic!"
"Song Xiaoling, you are going overboard!!!"
"It’s alright," Shen Jingwei said placatingly while patting Yan Renzhong’s upper arm with his free hand. "It’s fine."
He then turned to look at Song Xiaoling.
"If you still want to line up for fountain blast, go ahead. Otherwise, the line will get longer and you will need to wait for a long ti before getting in."
Shen Jingwei then proceeded to pick up the items on the floor. Song Yaya too squatted and began helping Shen Jingwei.
"Uncle, sorry," she murmured in a voice so low it was barely audible. "Sorry, Uncle..."
The little girl looked distraught. After they collected all the items in Shen Jingwei’s bag, she extended the glazed apple in her hand in his direction.
"Uncle, do you want a bite?"
It was ironic how Song Xiaoling only bought three glazed apples -- one for Yan Renzhong, Song Yaya, and her each. None for Shen Jingwei, as if Shen Jingwei were not part of their group at all.
It was rather petty and childish, Shen Jingwei thought to himself. But then again, they were not in high school anymore, so what’s the point of lowering himself to stoop to Song Xiaoling’s level?
Shen Jingwei shook his head with a smile. He then reached out and gave Song Yaya good girl pats on the head.
"No, Yaya. You should eat it. It’s your birthday."
Song Yaya silently retracted her hand and took a small bite from the glazed apple. Her gloomy expression did not make her look like a birthday girl at all.
anwhile, Yan Renzhong and Song Xiaoling had already gone to a secluded corner to continue arguing.
And yet, even from this distance, Shen Jingwei could hear every word they said.
"Always, you always took his side!" Song Xiaoling wailed. "It’s like you don’t want your sisters anymore!"
"I don’t know what you are talking about. Why are you making choose between my family and my lover? I can take care of all of you just fine!"
"No, you can’t!" Song Xiaoling broke into sobs. "You obviously can’t! Ever since you started dating him, you abandoned us!"
"Describe ’abandoned’!" Yan Renzhong snapped. "I provided for you and Yaya just as always! I show up whenever I am needed! I never fail to play a parental role in Yaya’s life!"
"Do you think it’s all about the money, Yan Renzhong???"
"Listen to what people tell you! Did I even talk about money? I don’t understand what you are complaining about. Between us, the ones dissatisfied with this situation are my boyfriend and I. Why must you make things difficult for Shen Jingwei?"
Shen Jingwei’s mouth fell open as he listened to their quarrel. it quickly escalated for the worse. If he did not know better, he might think that Song Xiaoling saw Yan Renzhong as more than just a brother...
In his daze, Shen Jingwei almost did not notice the little girl next to him, who was shaking from head to toe.
"Mama," she mumbled.
"Mama, Papa, don’t fight..."
Horrified, Shen Jingwei pulled Song Yaya into his arms. He could prevent the little girl from looking at her arguing siblings, but he could not stop the stream of voices flowing into her ears.
"Wuwuwuwuwu..."
Song Yaya broke into tears.
Dark mories from the deepest recess of her trauma resurfaced and she began babbling about things that happened many, many years ago.
"Mama, Papa, don’t fight..." she repeated again and again.
"Papa, don’t hit Mama..."
"Mama, Mama, wake up..."
"So much blood... Mama, don’t die... Wuwuwuwu..."
Shen Jingwei covered Song Yaya’s ears before he turned to shout at Yan Renzhong and Song Xiaoling.
"HEY! YOU TWO! Can you two stop arguing??? Sothing is happening to Yaya!"
The two adults stopped at once and rushed over to take a look at Song Yaya.
The little girl was crying non-stop.
"Wahhhh, Mama, Mama..."
Song Xiaoling dragged Song Yaya into her arms.
"I am here. Look at , Yaya."
But unexpectedly, Song Yaya pushed Song Xiaoling away.
"Noooo, you are not my Mama. Wuwuwuwu, I want my Mama...!!!"
That was the last thing she said before she fell unconscious and crashed into Song Xiaoling’s arms.
"Yaya...!!!" All three adults scread in unison.
--------------------
Author’s note :
Mini theater!
Princess Yaya fell sick on her birthday after hearing the adults quarrel over her. Even then, the adults did not know when to stop.
Eldest Princess Song : "This is all your fault, stupid Empress! You gave Yaya a lot of grief! (ᗒᗩᗕ)"
Emperor Yan : "Do not bla my Empress! He is pregnant with my twins! If he loses the babies, I will personally punish you! ʕಠ_ಠʔ"
Empress Shen : "Shut up, all of you! Focus on the princess! (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻"
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