Hua Manman looked at Hua Yusen, his eyes red with anger, and asked calmly.
"You’re having such a strong reaction to seeing Mom with another man. Don’t tell me you’re jealous?"
Hua Yusen scoffed as if he had just heard a ridiculous joke.
"What’s there to be jealous about? I just can’t stand her slutty behavior! I’m not even dead yet, and she’s already desperate to find my replacement."
It had been a long time since anyone had insulted Song Yixian like that. Tears of anger streamed down her face.
"Hua Yusen, what right do you have to say that to me? What right?!"
Hua Yusen: "Because I’m your husband!"
Song Yixian: "We’re already divorced!"
Hua Yusen: "I never agreed!"
In truth, when Song Yixian had her lawyer mail the divorce papers to Hua Yusen, he had refused to sign them.
But they had already been separated for over a decade, far exceeding the two-year period stipulated by law for a marriage to be considered factually over.
Song Yixian later went through legal channels to have the marriage officially dissolved.
With tears in her eyes, Song Yixian spoke, emphasizing each word.
"Whether you agreed or not, we are divorced. Who I’m with from now on is none of your business. Please stop meddling in my life."
Hua Manman pulled out a tissue and handed it to her.
"Wipe your tears. Go outside and calm down for a bit."
Song Yixian was actually quite embarrassed to be crying in front of her daughter.
She pressed the tissue to her eyes, turned, and walked out the door.
Hua Yusen was still fuming.
"Your mother is about to run off with another man, and you’re taking her side?!"
Hua Manman looked at him expressionlessly. "You didn’t treasure Mom when you were with her. Now that she has other options, you start making a scene. Don’t you think that’s despicable?"
Her words left Hua Yusen cornered and unable to save face.
He instinctively raised his voice. "I already apologized, didn’t I?!"
Hua Manman shot back, "If I shoved a pile of shit in your mouth and then apologized, would you forgive me?"
Hua Yusen was thoroughly disgusted by her analogy.
His face turned livid. "That’s not the same thing!"
Hua Manman: "But in my eyes and my mother’s, they’re basically the same."
Hua Yusen glared. "Are you calling me shit?!"
Hua Manman: "You’re far more disgusting than shit."
Hua Yusen’s fists clenched so tightly they cracked. The violent urge surged within him again.
He wanted to hit someone.
Hua Manman asked coldly, "Are you going to hit me again?"
Hua Yusen gritted his teeth and forced out the words.
"You’re the one provoking me."
Hua Manman: "Getting angry is normal, but not everyone resorts to violence. If you can’t control your emotions, it just proves you have terrible self-control. It means you’re pathetic."
Her taunts only made Hua Yusen angrier.
He was on the verge of losing control.
This time, Hua Manman didn’t leave. She just sat on the edge of the bed, watching him quietly.
Then, she suddenly brought up a memory.
"When my grandparents first took me back to the countryside, I was in a terrible state. I refused to talk to anyone and just holed up in my room all day. I was too scared to sleep, terrified that you’d burst in and hit me the moment I closed my eyes. At my lowest point, I even thought about ending it all."
Hua Yusen froze.
Hua Manman continued, "You probably thought it was just a few smacks. It’s not like you beat me to death, right? What kid doesn’t get a spanking now and then? I ate your food and lived under your roof, so what was the big deal if you hit me a few times when you were in a bad mood?"
As she finished, the corners of her mouth lifted into a sarcastic smile.
Her smile made Hua Yusen’s heart race with panic.
The anger inside him quickly dissipated, replaced by a deeply uncomfortable expression.
Although he didn’t want to admit it, that was exactly what he had thought back then.
He had been under so much pressure, with so many worries, and his wife and daughter at home were no help at all. They were just two useless burdens. The moment he saw them, he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to lash out.
It was the only way he could vent some of his anger.
Hua Manman: "You keep saying you’ve apologized. Do you really think a single, hollow ’sorry’ can make us forget that bone-deep pain?"
She brushed the bangs from her forehead, revealing a small scar near her hairline.
"Even if we both forget, this scar remembers what you did to me."
Hua Yusen looked away, not daring to meet the sight of the scar.
He asked haltingly.
"Then what do you want me to do?"
Hua Manman: "You don’t have to do anything. Just stop bothering us. That will be enough."
The color drained from Hua Yusen’s face.
Hua Manman said, "It doesn’t matter that you’re sick now. Even if you were perfectly healthy, there’s no chance for you and Mom anymore.
Mom gave up on you a long time ago. She’s not going to take you back.
So stop throwing these tantrums. Got it?"
A sliver of hope did indeed still exist in Hua Yusen’s heart.
He hoped Song Yixian would come back to him, hoped their family of three could be whole again, just like before.
"If your mom remarries, you’ll have a stepfather. No matter what, a stepdad is never as dependable as your real dad."
Hua Manman shot back, "And you think you’re dependable?"
Hua Yusen: "I’ll change."
Hua Manman didn’t mock him this time. Instead, she said calmly,
"Let’s make a bet. If you can go your entire hospital stay without hitting or cursing at anyone, I’ll consider cooking a meal for you myself. How about it?"
The offer was very tempting to Hua Yusen.
Even though he was sick and didn’t have much of an appetite, getting to eat a meal cooked by his daughter would mean their relationship had taken a huge step toward reconciliation.
Hua Yusen tried to haggle. "What if I’m in the hospital for a long time? We need to set a specific time frame."
Hua Manman thought for a moment. "One month, then."
Hua Yusen: "Fifteen days."
Hua Manman: "Twenty days."
Hua Yusen: "Fine. Deal."
He was confident. ’Just twenty days without hitting or cursing anyone. I can do that.’
Hua Manman stood up. "I’m stepping out for a bit. You get some rest."
She walked out of the hospital room and saw Song Yixian sitting on a chair in the hallway.
Song Yixian looked up at her. The tears were gone, but her eyes were still red-rimmed.
"How is he?"
Hua Manman: "He’s fine. I won’t be joining you for lunch."
Song Yixian asked hurriedly, "Why not? Do you also think that Doctor Wang and I..."
Hua Manman cut her off.
"You’re an adult. You don’t need to explain your private life to anyone."
Song Yixian stammered, "But you’re my daughter. I care about what you think."
Hua Manman: "My opinion is simple. All that matters is that you’re happy."
Song Yixian couldn’t hold back a fresh wave of tears.
She quickly wiped them away with a tissue and said through sobs,
"Doctor Wang did make his intentions clear. He wants to pursue me, but I haven’t said yes."
Her last marriage had hurt her too deeply. Even now, she was still afraid of the idea of marriage. She needed more time to heal.
Hua Manman: "It’s okay. There’s no rush. Take your time and think it through before you decide."