Chapter 63: Mother (1)
Cheng Qingrong’s head ached. After all the trouble of adopting two children with the same age as his own, why did it turn out like this? He didn’t want these two kids anymore, they had to be sent back to the orphanage. But, before he sent them back, he had to educate them. Especially the older Lin Xinyu.
He closed the door and said to the people outside, “The brother and sister duo made a mess at home. I’ll tidy up first, please wait outside for a while.”
The people outside the door replied with an agreeing hum and then said, “Don’t beat them.”
“I won’t, Xiao Fang, you push Aunt Hui down for a walk and come back later.”
Xiao Fang, supposedly a nurse outside the door, agreed. When Cheng Qingrong heard that the people outside the door were gone, he picked up the bamboo back scratcher from the shoe cabinet and went to Lin Xin and Lin Xinyu.
Lin Xin was still thinking about how to explain the misunderstanding when Cheng Qingrong took the bamboo back scratcher and stood in front of them.
He was tall and thin, usually looking like a kindly old man. However, at this time, his eyes shone with a stern light: “Xiao Yu, come here.”
Lin Xin was about to come forward to protect Lin Xinyu. Unexpectedly, Lin Xinyu took the lead in protecting her behind him.
He looked up and asked, “What’s the matter?”
Cheng Qingrong, giving no chance to explain, grabbed Lin Xinyu’s hand, raised the back scratcher on his hand and swung it towards the center of his palm. Lin Xinyu, used to meekly submitting under oppression since he was small, momentarily could not think of dodging, and the bamboo back scratcher ruthlessly fell on Lin Xinyu’s palm.
As Lin Xin saw Lin Xinyu being beaten, it was as if her flesh had been cut in pieces.
She sprang forward and pushed Cheng Qingrong hard. These past six months, she had been exercising, so her strength and explosive power were much greater than those of her peers.
The unguarded Cheng Qingrong took two steps back and sat on the coffee table.
Lin Xin protected Lin Xinyu and beratingly questioned Cheng Qingrong, “For what reason did you hit him?” That manner was like saying: Who do you think you are? She was not one bit conscientious of being dependent on him for a living.
Cheng Qingrong looked at Lin Xin, who was acting as though her fur had been brushed the wrong way, and thought to himself: This child was not yet an adult who had their own views on the world, but she had plans of her own. It’s strange, very strange. A twelve year old could be willful and aware of what they wanted. They could also be calm and rational, but they couldn’t lack innocence. Lin Xin was missing precisely that, the naivety every twelve year old kid ought to have.
It frightened him, as if he had attracted a monster.
At this time, Lin Xin felt that just now, she was too overly impulsive with her actions and questioning. Cheng Qingrong most probably saw her and Lin Xinyu rolling on the sofa, and must have wanted to educate him. Once she saw Lin Xinyu being beaten, she impulsively jumped out to protect him, without taking everything into consideration, it was really…
Lin Xin bowed her head sheepishly and said, “Uncle Cheng, I-I’m sorry.”
Cheng Qingrong sighed.
Lin Xin embarra.s.sedly smiled to Cheng Qingrong, however, she herself was aware that what she pulled out was an unsightly smile, so Lin Xin figured she might as well not smile. Even then she still watched Cheng Qingrong attentively to see what he would say.
Cheng Qingrong said to Lin Xinyu, “Xiao Yu, you are older than her, and furthermore, you are a boy. There are some things you can’t fool around with, you have to behave yourself. The rules can’t be messed with and neither can you play around as you please. If there’s a next time, uncle’s going to send you back to the orphanage.” Cheng Qingrong honestly did not want to adopt them anymore, but he had a soft heart. Besides, no matter how strange Lin Xin was, she was only twelve years old. Both of them were only half-sized children. He could not do something so cruel like turning them away as soon as he brought them here.
Lin Xin, hearing him say this, knew how big this misunderstanding had gotten and hurriedly opened her mouth to explain. At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
“Qingrong ah, Qingrong, even if you have something to say, explain it gently, don’t hit the children.”
Cheng Qingrong felt his heart tighten and said to the two children, “Keep your talking to a minimum for a little while.”
Lin Xin nodded and whispered to Lin Xinyu, “It should be his wife outside, all we have to do is be well behaved. Does your hand hurt?” she asked as she picked up his hand.
Lin Xinyu shook his head with a smile and said, “No, it doesn’t.”
The door opened from the outside and a thin woman in her early fifties was pushed inside, sitting in a wheelchair and wearing a sky-blue dress. Her beautiful eyes adorned with refined eyebrows shone brightly when she saw Lin Xin and Lin Xinyu.
“Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yin, you’re back.” She hurriedly let Xiao Fang, the nurse behind her, push herself to the two children. She held Lin Xinyu on one hand and Lin Xin on the other.