My Beloved

After having dinner, the three of them went to the shopping mall. Han Sheng Ming started to choose dolls for Han Luo's dollhouse. They bought almost twenty dolls before being stopped by Han Luo. "No more!" She protested. Little Luo didn't want too many dolls.

When going back to the main house, Han Sheng Ming proposed, "Daddy, we should put the dolls in my cottage."

The Han Family's main area was immensely vast – so vast that the main house seemed like a speck from faraway. The entire area was filled with trees, flower gardens and vegetable gardens. They even had a playground, basketball court and a lake. Han Sheng Ming had his own personal wooden cottage right beside the lake. He enjoyed its peaceful solitude, as well as helping him to concentrate on his studies and games. Ever since he got two loud sisters, he moved to the cottage and spent most of his time there.

Han Changhong knew his son better than his other children. He asked, "Are you sure? If we put the dolls there, Luo'er will go and play there. Won't it disturb you?"

Han Sheng Ming shook his head. "Nope! Little Luo Luo doesn't make any sound when I read my storybooks."

Han Changhong recalled that his brother, Han Ying Wei, also liked to stay quiet when he would study. Han Ying Wei was really caring, sensible and understanding. Han Luo had become just like her father. He almost felt suffocated thinking about it. Han Changhong answered with a forced smile, "That's good."

Han Sheng Ming didn't notice his father's strained expression, and he instead suddenly thought of an idea. "Daddy, I think you should tell your people to build Luo Luo a dollhouse in my cottage. No one can go there without me, and Luilui won't be able to break little Luo Luo's dolls anymore!"

"Good idea, my son. I will call the carpenter when we're home." Han Changhong agreed, surprisingly fast. But after what he had seen earlier today, he didn't want anything bad to happen to little Luo again.

"Yay!" Han Sheng Ming cheerfully exclaimed. "Now we can play and study together!"

"Yay!" Han Luo mimicked her cousin and cheered with him.

Han Changhong chuckled. He admired their cheerfulness, realizing that the two of them could make the house festive all the time if they were given the chance.

Once they were home, Han Sheng Ming and Han Luo went to the wooden cottage, where they – with the help of his butler – briskly placed the newly bought dolls. Before leaving the cottage, responsible Han Sheng Ming checked whether he locked the door properly.

Meanwhile, Han Changhong had finished bathing and decided to rest on the couch. He then called the carpenter to build Luilui another dollhouse but also ordered another dollhouse for his son's cottage. He emphasized that the latter had to be larger than the first. After hanging up, Han Changhong turned off the light and laid down. Tiredness had consumed him, and what he wanted most was to sleep.

Unfortunately for him, his wife was awake, and the only thing that consumed her was anger. "Dear, why are you spending so much money on somebody else?"

Han Changhong heaved a heavy sigh. "What are you talking about? She is my younger brother's only daughter. His only child. Yet, my brother is in a coma! We don't know when he'll wake up, or whether he'll ever wake up." Han Changhong had begun to stand up. "Her mother just died a few days ago. The poor girl has no one else to take care of her – no one! How could I not do something for her? Han Luo is your niece too. Liu, how could you be so cruel to a two year old child; a child the same age as our Wanwan?"

Han Changhong felt a ray of joy with his niece and son that he hadn't felt for many days. It was the only light in the overcast cage that he was mentally imprisoned in. Yet now that he had come home, his wife shaded that light. His blood smoldered.

Du Liu noticed his discomfort but showed no remorse. "Have you forgotten that we have three children? We have to raise them right so that they go to the best school in China. You have to save money for the future, dear. You can't waste money on a dollhouse!"

"Why didn't you say that when I ordered a dollhouse for Luilui? Why didn't you think about saving money when you bought those luxurious clothes and that fancy jewelry? Luo'er is a Han. The blood that runs through her veins runs through my veins and our ancestors' veins. What my children deserve, she deserves." Han Changhong could no longer face his wife. His burning annoyance disturbed his chance to sleep. As he laid down again, he closed his eyes but lacked the energy to speak.

The next morning, when Du Liu woke up, her husband was nowhere to be found. She looked at the clock and it was only six-thirty in the morning. Her husband always wakes up at seven. Du Liu hurriedly got up and called for her maid.

The maid immediately came and answered, "Master has gone to his office, madam."

Du Liu was stunned, refusing to believe her ears. "What? Did he have breakfast?"

The maid shook her head. "No, the master said that he would eat at work. He didn't say anything else. He… um…" She hesitated to speak further and became silent.

Du Liu frowned. "What's the matter? What do you want to say?"

The maid lowered her voice and answered, "Master looked really mad."

Du Liu asked, "Do you know the reason?"

The maid denied. "No, he didn't say anything else."

Du Liu nodded. "All right, you can go."

After the maid had left, Du Liu's expression was unpleasantly distorted. 'Is it because of last night? Now I understand; it's all because of that girl. If it weren't for her, my husband wouldn't be angry. This is the first time he's ever left without having breakfast. Yesterday, Sheng Ming even pushed his own sister because of that wretched girl. Cursed thing.. If she weren't here, my husband wouldn't be mad at me. My family would be in peace!'

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