n

n

n

"Yan Ran! Yan Ran!

"

nThe woman was crying desperately as she watched the fire eat their car, the thought of their baby daughter inside. As the fire continued ablaze, it worried her that it might engulf their daughter to death.

n

"Yan Ran! Yan Ran!

"

nTears uncontrollably escaped her eyes as she wanted to escape from her husband's hold from the ambulance they are in, already on their way to the hospital. She snapped her head at her husband, not caring to show this side of her as she was worried desperately for her child.

n

"How dare you allow us to go without our daughter?!

"

nThe man didn't say a word. There were tears escaping his eyes, too, also looking at the fire from where they are as his heart ached, thinking that their daughter is inside the fire.

n

"Gu Shufen!

"

nThe woman snapped once more as she said her husband's full name, getting his attention as her husband looked at her with hurt in their eyes.

n

"Aren't we being irresponsible!? How can we let this thing happen? How can this—

"

n

"Meili…

"

nGu Shufen interrupted, already pulling his wife in a tight embrace as the ambulance rushed them to the hospital, Gu Meili, already wailing on his chest as he cried as well, his tears falling on the top of his wife's head.

nThey wanted so much to go back to their car—they wanted so much to save the baby inside!

nBut since the car had exploded and it had already started a fire, they were unable to get their baby, the fire already burning his wife so they prioritized her, too.

nThe firemen were only able to save the husband and wife, however, the baby, they couldn't seem to hear or see any signs of life already—the firemen already telling them that the child may have already been suffocated to death that is why the infant could no longer cry.

nWith that thought in mind, Gu Shufeng held his wife tight, already stifling his sobs as he made a promise to his wife, to his now-gone daughter, and to himself.

n

"I promise I'll let the person pay… I promise once I know something, I'll let the person pay with his or her life.

"

n***

n

"Ha!

"

nMeili abruptly sat up from her bedside, waking up her husband beside her as he turned to his side to face his wife, worry evident on his face.

n

"Meili, is something wrong?

"

nMeili didn't answer for a while. With her running her hand through her hair, she couldn't help but let out a single tear from the corner of her eye as she looked at her husband, remembering the event that had happened 19 years ago.

n

"Our Yan Ran… our dear Yan Ran… I—

"

n

"Oh, Meili…

"

nShufeng sat up from his bedside, pulling his wife in an embrace. She then cried against his shoulder, Shufeng, not saying a word as he understood how this has affected Meili.

nShufeng and Meili had been longing for a child and were blessed with Yan Ran. However, an unfortunate event happened, seemingly a planned car crash in an attempt to hurt them, failed.

nUntil now, Shufeng didn't give up in looking for the person who planned their deaths, wanting justice as well for the death of their poor, sweet daughter, Yan Ran.

n19 years may have passed, but still, Shufeng is still determined to know who this person is for causing harm on them, resulting in the loss of their child.

nAt the same time, they heard a knock on their door, snapping Shufeng out of his thoughts.

n

"Come in.

"

nKnowing that it's their daughter, he signaled for her entry, the door already opening to reveal her in her nightgown and with a glass of water in her hand.

n

"Wang Fang,

" Shufeng greeted her, Wang Fang already sitting beside her mother, the glass of water still in her hand.

n

"Mother's having those dreams again?

"

nShufeng didn't say a word. He nodded, Wang Fang already getting her mother's attention as she gave her a glass of water.

n

"Mother, father… I'm sorry, I can't help but check up on you guys recently these nights. With father updating me about mother frequently having bad dreams, I had to—

"

n

"It's alright,

" Meili interrupted, already wiping her tears away with the back of her palm.

"I'm glad you and Shufeng are here,

" she added, drinking the glass of water in one down before giving the glass back to Wang Fang.

n

"Want to go for a walk in the garden before going back to sleep, hmm?

"

n

"Yes…

" Meili immediately answered her daughter, a small smile appearing on her face as she stood up from the bed, walking towards the bathroom.

"Let me pee first,

" she added, Wang Fang, nodding as she was still seated on their bed.

nThe moment they heard the restroom's door closing, Wang Fang sighed, worriedly looking at Shufeng.

n

"Father… do you think we have to call for a counselor soon for her? These nightmares keep haunting her. I don't know what else to do but to worry,

" she asked said, Shufeng, sighing as he held Wang Fang's hand.

n

"The disappearance of your sister is too much for her. I don't mean to say this because you are not of my blood, but losing our child, it still breaks my heart until now. Sometimes, I couldn't sleep until I resort to my prescribed sleeping pills.

"

nWang Fang nodded, her eyes glassy with tears at well as she returned his hold of her hand with her other hand.

n

"Yan Ran may be my half-sister, and I may not have recalled much about her since I was seven at the time, but… it also saddened me—losing a part of our family.

"

nShufeng nodded, planting a soft kiss on Wang Fang's forehead. He then smiled at her as he held her face, Wang Fang, giving him a small smile as she loved the gesture Shufeng gave her as if she is his real child as well.

n

"Thank you for looking out for me and your mother. I'll try my best to find out about this person who dared harm our whole family. I promise.

"

nWith Meili already coming out from the restroom, Shufeng and Wang Fang looked at her, Meili already smiling as she got her shawl from the closet and wore it.

n

"Now, let's go have our midnight walk!

"

n

"Of course,

" Wang Fang said, already standing up from the bed then she looked at Shufeng.

"Thank you for the talk, father. I'll bring back mother in 15 minutes.

"

n

"En.

"

nWith that, both of them already went out of the room on their way to their private garden, Wang Fang grateful that her mother has met a great man after her husband died.

nRemarrying Shufeng, Wang Fang thought that she would suffer the same fate as the ones she watched in dramas—being abused by the stepfather.

nTurns out that she was not, even until now. She is lucky to meet a man who treated her as if she is his own.

n