His daughter, Jiang Jingxiu's daughter, deserved to be the happiest and most joyful girl in the world. Whatever she wanted to do, he would support her unconditionally.
"But, Daddy, you seem sad." Jiang Mianmian had been living with her father for over six years. They depended on each other, and their emotions were an open book to one another.
A slight change in expression from the other person was enough to tell if they were feeling comfortable or not.
"Silly girl, I am very happy your mother is back. I'm grateful she's alive, and grateful my daughter still has a mother." Jiang Jingxiu truly wished Jiang Mi were alive. His feelings for her had long since ceased to be pure. He was foolish not to have realized it earlier, only knowing that he always wanted to see her, but not understanding that he had already fallen for her.
He also admired Jiang Mi. For her daughter, she would fight with all her might to survive because she couldn't let her daughter be motherless. Yet his own mother had so easily given up her life. Had she never considered that even though he was an adult and capable of fending for himself, he still needed a mother?
A home exists with a mother. Without a mother, his home was gone.
This was why, after his mother's death, he never returned to the Jiang family's home. With his mother gone, it held no meaning for him.
"Thank you, Daddy. I really need Mom. I love her so much, and I love you too. I don't want either of you to leave me." Mianmian hugged her father tightly, pouring out her most sincere thoughts.
"Daddy will never leave you, my daughter. Daddy will take care of his health so he can love and accompany his daughter for a long, long time." Jiang Jingxiu meant it. Before he knew of his daughter's existence, he even disliked children, finding them troublesome. But after learning he had a biological daughter, he still disliked other people's children. As for his own daughter, he adored her to death, willing to give his life for her.
"Daddy, I will also take good care of myself for you and Mom." Mianmian always felt that her parents were the ones making sacrifices for her, and she was too useless, never having done anything for them.
"Go back quickly. Daddy will leave first and go accompany your mother." Jiang Jingxiu stroked his daughter's soft hair and kissed her forehead.
The elevator doors opened, and Jiang Jingxiu stepped out first, watching his daughter go up.
Mianmian pressed the button for the top floor. The elevator doors slowly closed. Jiang Jingxiu watched the doors until they were shut, his gaze fixed on the number that was jumping on the panel. He didn't turn away until the number stopped at 28.
Once in the car, he messaged his daughter again, asking if she had entered her room. Mianmian replied that she had, and he finally felt at ease.
Settling into the car, Jiang Jingxiu reclined the seat further, assuming a more relaxed posture. Now, he suddenly felt that perhaps his mother hadn't loved him that much, otherwise, why would she have chosen to give up treatment and wait for death to maintain her beauty in the end?
If it were him, he would have fought with all his might to stay alive, because his daughter couldn't live without a father.
When Mianmian returned, Jiang Mi was preparing dinner. Mianmian walked into the kitchen, and Jiang Mi smiled, greeting her daughter. "Sweetheart, you're back."
"Mom, are you angry?" Jiang Mianmian was now very afraid of either her father or mother being angry, as it would make her feel she had done something wrong.
"No, why would you think that? Things between your father and me are a bit complicated, but don't worry, Mom will be fine. Go wash your hands quickly, dinner is almost ready."