All through the process of making tofu pudding, Xiang Hulin looked at Xiang Wai intermittently and even opened his mouth as if to speak. But in the end, he just couldn't bring himself to say anything. It wasn't like Xiang Wai couldn't see his dilemma and it was also not like she couldn't tell what this dilemma was all about. But she wanted him to speak it out.
She wanted him to ask her straightforwardly rather than keeping it all inside of him.
"Papa, why don't you just ask?"
Xiang Hulin pressed his lips together and tried to straighten his thoughts. In the end, he could only ask, "How is she?"
"She seemed fine to me," answered Xiang Wai.
"How does she look like?" Even though he had heard from people how Raelle looked like, he still wanted to hear the answer from this daughter of his who never minced her words.
"She..." Xiang Wai thought back before nodding her head to herself, "She is beautiful."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Beautiful?" repeated Xiang Hulin as he put the bowl of tofu pudding in front of her and sat beside her. "Even more beautiful than you?"
Xiang Wai didn't even think for a second before nodding her head, "Definitely more beautiful."
Xiang Hulin was taken aback to hear such a response from Xiang Wai. It was kind of unexpected. At the end of the day, it was almost an impossible task to receive a compliment from Xiang Wai of any kind whatsoever. She rarely had any compliments for people. That's why he was so happy earlier when she actually said something good about him.
Seeing the particular look in her father's eyes, she sighed out, "Papa, why are you looking at me like that?" She took a brief pause to add, "In fact, she definitely looks like your daughter."
Xiang Hulin's brows knitted up, "What do you mean?"
Xiang Wai looked closely at her father's face and gave him a nod, "Yup! She definitely looks like your daughter." She took another bite of the tofu pudding before telling him, "Although Ge is the closest to you in looks, she isn't that far behind. It isn't obvious at first but she definitely has a subtle hint of resemblance with you and Ge. Especially, her eyes."
"It seems you paid close attention to her," commented Xiang Hulin.
"I couldn't help it," answered Xiang Wai. "She has a certain presence that demands attention. Even if you don't want to pay her any attention, you wouldn't be able to look away. That blank look in her eyes is particularly attractive and disturbing at the same time."
"Disturbing?"
Xiang Wai nodded her head, "Disturbing because her eyes were truly blank. Void of every single emotion. Hate, love, sadness, disgust, or even the feeling of being bored. There wasn't even impatience. It almost felt like there was nothing in her eyes. And that nothingness was truly disturbing."
Xiang Hulin sighed out heavily, "I've heard before that she doesn't have the concept of emotions." He shook his head to shake off this heavy feeling taking deep root in his heart. "So, how did you recognize her?"
"I didn't," answered Xiang Wai. "She did." Xiang Hulin's brow quirked up a little. "She recognized me instantly. It was my first time meeting her and it was the same for her as well. But I felt really weird when she seemed to know me and I didn't know anything at all." She looked at her father and added, "Papa, you've always been regretful that your daughter doesn't know you at all. But from my meeting, I have a feeling that she knows all about you."
Xiang Hulin had a thoughtful look on his face as he pondered over her words. He had a lot on his mind right now and he didn't know how to sort it out.
"Continue eating," said Xiang Hulin. "And tell me if you need anything."
"You should eat something yourself," said Xiang Wai. "Aren't you tired of running around me?"
"As I said earlier, it's not every day that my daughter would come home. It's the least I can do for you." While Xiang Wai shook her head at him, he continued, "Oh, did you accompany your brother yesterday to Zhai House?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Yes," answered Xiang Wai. "I helped him pack his stuff in the hospital and brought him to the Zhai House. I even unpacked his stuff and made sure everything the room was according to my brother's preferences."
"I told him that he should go over to stay at your mother's place to recuperate but he decisively refused."
Xiang Wai lifted her head and looked straight into his eyes, "You actually suggested him, to go over to mom's place?" She snorted, "As if Ge would do that."
"Well, I thought she'd be able to take care of Weimin better."
Xiang Wai laughed out, "Papa, did you forget why you two got the divorce? She is still the same woman she was. She still loves her research more than anything or anyone. Even if Ge went to her place, he won't even be seeing her shadow. I believe Uncle Zhai's family can take better care of Ge."
Xiang Hulin pulled her ear lightly, "Daughter, aren't you very close to your mother? How come you still have nothing good to say about her?"
"That's because she is my mother," replied Xiang Wai. "It's because she is my mother that I am familiar with all her shortcomings. Just because I got used to how she is doesn't mean everyone else will as well. I grew up with her. Ge can't handle her attitude at all. I know my brother well." She took a deep breath and added, "Most of all, Ge won't be willing to deal with mom's other family. Before the end of the day, he might murder everyone there silently."
"Your brother isn't that bad."
"I'm a loud troublemaker but Ge is more dangerous. He is like a silent killer. It's not like you don't know that."
Xiang Hulin rubbed his forehead, "I don't know if I'm blessed or unfortunate to have such amazing kids."
"Definitely blessed!" commented Xiang Wai making him laugh at her.