Having secured Xia Chuyi’s consent, Mother Xia looked towards Xia Chengzong with a gentle touch on his hand and said, "It’s alright, we can go to your uncle’s house."
The tone was incredibly tender.
Xia Chengzong’s expression was complex as he nodded slightly.
Knowing that there was no turning back, Grandma Xia plopped down on the ground and began crying hysterically.
Xia Chuyi couldn’t be bothered with her and said to Mother Xia, "Pack your things, we’re leaving the Xia Family."
"Okay." Mother Xia now had her son and had settled the matter of their future graves. She no longer held any sentiment towards the Xia Family.
The people from the main branch of the Xia family heard the commotion, but they didn’t know exactly what was being said and did not show up.
Mother Xia originally wanted to pack many things, but Xia Chuyi was getting impatient. Xia Chengzong then persuaded her softly, "Mom, we don’t need these things. Just bring some clothes and such. In the future, once I’ve made money, we’ll replace everything one by one."
Upon hearing this, Mother Xia immediately wiped away her tears and said, "Okay, okay, our Chengzong is truly filial!"
Huo Shiqian couldn’t stand it anymore and, taking the little girl, said to Xia Chengzong, "You handle things here."
He then led them out of the room.
Huo Shiqian walked quickly.
Once away from the room, the anger he had been suppressing for her sake completely erupted.
Xia Chuyi looked down and chuckled softly.
She should feel sad, she should feel angry, but she felt neither.
Yet her Uncle Liberation Army was angrier than she was, his bone-chilling aura almost freezing her alive.
She reached out to touch Huo Shiqian’s hand to soothe him.
To her surprise, he grasped her entire hand, the force so strong she felt a slight pain.
"Brother Shiqian!" she uttered softly.
Huo Shiqian glanced at her, consequently easing the grip but still holding onto her, unwilling to let go.
His expression was freezing as he pulled her into his embrace.
"Come with me to the army," Huo Shiqian said.
The actions of the Xia family members had completely crossed his bottom line.
He gently stroked her cheek, finding it hard to imagine how she had survived in such a family!
Xia Chuyi knew that her Uncle Liberation Army felt sorry for her.
"Don’t worry, I’m alright," she assured softly.
Hearing this, Huo Shiqian’s brows remained furrowed as he said coldly, "They do not deserve to be your family."
She wrapped her arms around his waist, looking up at him with a slight smile and said, "Brother Shiqian, are you thinking of me as some poor little thing?"
"I’m not," she shook her head.
"When I was a kid, I had a temper. If someone bullied me, I would fight back."
"Even my grandparents, as long as they bullied me, I would tell my uncle!"
"As for my... mother, to tell the truth, I’ve never been very close to her since I was little."
"Compared to me, she’s always preferred Xia Lan, so I never expected her affection."
"But after all, she is my biological mother. I can’t just ignore her... however, it’s enough, a lifetime has been enough."
The last sentence was spoken very softly.
Huo Shiqian pursed his lips, his voice still cold: "That person does not deserve to be your mother."
"Yeah, I know," Xia Chuyi nodded obediently, "She gave birth to me, that’s all."
"Thank you, Brother Shiqian!" Xia Chuyi changed the subject.
Her eyes smiled as she said to him, "Thank you for believing that I could handle these things on my own."
Huo Shiqian’s response was to pull her tightly into his embrace: "But I really want to hide you away."
So that she would never again be bullied by anyone.