Chapter 70 part1

If You Are a Dodder Flower Chapter 70 part1

“You think too much,” answered Xia Rou lightly. “If that’s all, I’m going. Goodbye.”

She turned away to go back up.

Xia Hongjun took another step forward to block her way back, sobbing slightly. “Xiao Rou, I know that you resent your father inside your heart. I am sorry to you… but I just want to look at you…”

Xia Rou wasn’t swayed. “Now that you have seen me, you can see I’m doing fine. That’s enough.”

Xia Hongjun was stunned. Translated by The Novelst

Xia Rou looked at him. “What else do you want?”

He paused for a second before continuing, “Rou Rou, I know you can’t forgive your father. But… I really want to make it up to you. You’ve been having a hard time all these years. I was thinking…”

“I said that you are thinking too much,” Xia Rou interrupted expressionlessly. “I haven’t had a hard time at all. These past few years there was someone protecting me and my mother. We have been living well. I don’t need your compensation, either. Money, I have. Houses, I have. A home – I have that too.”

In the past she was moved by these few actions by her father. She felt that materialistic compensation expressed there was still affection remaining.

In the name of family, she had tolerated over and over his endless greed.

She was looking forward to him becoming independent from the Liang Family so she could have more confidence when speaking up.

What a joke…

She glanced at Liang Ziheng.

In this life, Liang Ziheng had met her first and Xia Hongjun came to recognize her afterwards. It was likely… Xia Hongjun already knew everything about the Cao Family.

No wonder he appeared so guilty and deeply affectionate.

In the past, when hearing her name from her colleague, he immediately knew who she was. Only after his shock did he run away as though he had seen a ghost. Only long after that did he come to find her in secret.

Thinking back, his initial suggestion of compensating her with money and a house didn’t look so affectionate. It seemed in retrospect to have been made in panic, to relieve the guilt and to… cover her mouth, huh?

If she hadn’t defenselessly alerted him to the Cao Family’s existence, would he still have been willing to pull her into the Liang Family and match her with Liang Ziheng?

Though she knew the answer… her body, her skin: they all came from him. No matter what, cutting blood ties would result in a ripping pain.

Xia Rou took a deep breath and said to Liang Ziheng, “Tell him.”

She knew exactly how to persuade him, so she said, “Uncle Cao wouldn’t like to see this kind of thing.”

She brought out the Cao Family name and it moved Liang Ziheng.

The only reason he had given up on chasing Xia Rou so soon was because he planned to strike up a relationship with the Cao Family rather than start a feud.

He changed his mind quickly, pulling at Xia Hongjun and softly advising, “Uncle… give Xia Rou some time…”

Xia Rou wanted to return to her dorm, but her phone rang.

“Xia Rou, have you eaten yet? I’m at your school entrance, I’ll come find you,” Wei Qi said, sounding joyful.

He was like a beam of sunlight shoving away the haze before her.

“Stay there and don’t come over. Wait for me at the entrance, I’ll go to you,” Xia Rou said gently.

She put away her phone and leaned on the windowsill to speak to the hostel aunt. “Aunty, these people are not my family. Please don’t call me again if you see them in the future.”

The aunt had been watching the drama through the window with her wise eyes and keen sense of smell. She was aware there was a cliched drama going on, and she could recognize Xia Rou.

Not only was this girl beautiful, but also had a very handsome boyfriend and a brother in the army. Those two young fellows would always greet her with a bright smile whenever they come and would even chat with her.

So the aunt nodded and said, “Okay, I understand.”

As she finished her sentence, she looked at Xia Hongjun.

“Xiao Rou! You…” Seeing Xia Rou leave no room at all, Xia Hongjun couldn’t help but panic.

But she didn’t look at him again, turning around to walk away.

Liang Ziheng pulled him, speaking a few soft words to him and managed to stop him. Liang Ziheng went to chase her instead.

“Xia Rou…” he caught up to her.

She heard him and stopped walking, turning back to face him.

The wind in the early spring day was still cold. Xia Rou stood under a tree.

Liang Ziheng stopped in front of her, unconsciously gentling his voice.

“Xia Rou… I know that I shouldn’t meddle in your family business, but…” he said, “My uncle – no matter what, he’s still your biological father.”

In the past, that was what he said to her too.

Blood relative.

Of course blood relations were important.

But was it everything? Just because they were related by blood, all his ruthlessness could be forgiven? She should tolerate all his greed?

If so, what about those people that had no blood relation to her at all yet gave her everything she had, unconditionally?

Xia Rou with her pure eyes looking at Liang Ziheng made him feel an indescribable pressure.

He remembered that Cao Yang would let out a strong, inexplicable pressure as well whenever he looked at someone.

Xia Rou also had a slight hint of that manner.

In this life, Xia Rou could see the difference in Liang Ziheng’s attitude when compared to her past life. This was probably because she had pulled away from him; his attitude towards her seemed to be less fawning and more respectful.

She lowered her eyes.

“Him and I, we don’t really need each other,” she said. Lifting her gaze, she said, “I don’t want to see him again. Please help me convey that, even if I have to owe you a favor.”

Owing that favor… Eventually, no matter what, she would need to pay it back.

Liang Ziheng weighed her words in his heart and then promised, “Alright. I’ll try my best.”

Xia Rou nodded and turned away.

She walked to steps before stopping again.

“Liang Ziheng…” she turned back around to look at him.

Liang Ziheng was also looking at her.

“You…” Xia Rou found it hard to express. Translated by The Novelst

He was smart and capable. If it wasn’t that his aspirations were too big, the projects he took way too much for his company to handle… Then he wouldn’t have had so many problems that kept cropping up.

If he worked really hard, the Liang Family might even have a chance to get rid of their nouveau status among high society.

She let out a soft sigh and said, “He’s not that great. Don’t learn from him. Have your feet on the ground and don’t reach for what’s beyond your grasp.”

After she finished speaking she felt there was nothing left to say, so she turned around and walked away.

She left Liang Ziheng there to stand alone and watch her figure grow smaller, a slightly puzzled expression on his face.

Proofread by: Hannah