Defeated By Love

Fang Wencheng said nothing more and just pretended as if he hadn’t said anything regarding that matter at all.

Xie Ruhe casually turned his head and lowered the window. The cold wind poured into the car in an instant and some moisture from the air came with it. He looked out of the window and appeared a little distracted. 

After a while, Xie Ruhe finally opened his mouth again and spoke in a light voice that carried a hint of amusement.

“When he dies, I’ll go to see him.” 

…

… 

In his memories, Xie Ruhe didn’t actually get beaten by his father, Xie Ji that many times.

Everyone gossiped and said that the Xie family was an alcoholic by nature. When they were drunk, they would lose their sanity and beat their wife and children. The little house at the end of the road was surrounded by rumours of a drunken man cursing, objects smashing onto the ground and stifled cries from a woman.

Xie Ruhe felt that everything they said was right, except for the “beating of wife and children”. 

Before he entered second grade, Xie Ji had never beaten him. 

Only when Xie Ji wasn’t there could there be a moment of peace at home. 

In addition, the atmosphere was always depressing and dull in the house, like they were trapped in a suffocating cage. His father’s decency could be compared to mud and his mother always had a gentle smile on her face but she would cry behind his back.

Growing up in such an environment, Xie Ruhe’s character naturally became gloomy and quiet. Except for Ji Xiangning, he didn’t care about anything else and didn’t think he would have a future either.

Because he felt like that he couldn’t escape from that hell. 

The first time Xie Ruhe found out Xie Ji had beaten Ji Xiangning was on the day he met Shu Nian and went home with her umbrella.

Through the recommendation of the uncle that lived next door, he skipped classes to deliver goods to Li Hong. After working for a very long time, he didn’t get anything at all in return but had encountered a strange girl instead. She was small with a baby face and looked like she could be bullied at first glance. However, it also seemed like she believed she could save the whole world as well.

He walked away from the residential area where there was only one street lamp on the abandoned path. The way was dark and quiet with no one else but him. He walked straight to the end of the road and saw a house with a faint light shining through the window. 

Xie Ruhe looked at the house and rummaged around his pockets as he walked but he only managed to take out a piece of candy. 

Only then did he remember that he didn’t bring his keys with him when he went out. 

Xie Ruhe put the candy back in his pocket and went to the door. He gently knocked on it three times. 

Immediately, a set of footsteps came from the inside. They were light and in a hurried manner.

The door opened. 

Ji Xiangning stood in the entryway, holding a dry towel in her hand. Her eyes were all red and her hair was a mess. Her body was tightly covered by a long shirt and trousers.

“Ah He, you’re back.” She muttered.

Xie Ruhe nodded and put the umbrella on top of the shoe rack as he silently took off his shoes. 

Ji Xiangning handed him the towel. Her voice was raspier than usual, sounding like it would be difficult for her to talk: “Go and take a shower first. Mum has something to say to you later.” 

Hearing her tone, Xie Ruhe’s eyelids moved. 

The house was very quiet, except for Xie Ji’s snores in the master bedroom. The warm yellow light didn’t make the old and small house feel homely at all.

Xie Ruhe looked at her as if he was thinking. 

A few seconds later, he took out the mango gummy in his pocket and gave it a wipe on his clothes before putting it in her hand. He looked into Ji Xiangning’s eyes and opened his mouth.  

His voice was deep and hoarse. It carried the natural teenage element and was very pleasant to listen to.  

“Have this candy.” 

When Xie Ruhe came out of the bathroom, Ji Xiangning was sitting on the sofa in the living room doing some needlework. 
 
Her head was hung down and her hair was scattered around. In the dim lighting, he could see a few grey hairs. She wore worn-out clothes and compared to a few years ago, she seemed to have aged 10 years.

There was also a freshly heated meal on the table. Xie Ruhe went over and sat down next to her. He was about to pick up the bowl and chopsticks when his eyes paused on Ji Xiangning’s neck. 

When he was in the hallway, Ji Xiangning was blocking the light and Xie Ruhe didn’t notice it but at that moment, as he sat close to her, although the light was dim, he could clearly see—— 

On Ji Xiangning’s neck was a red mark that looked like someone had strangled her. 

Xie Ruhe stared at her neck and whispered: “What happened to your neck?” 

Hearing those words, Ji Xiangning subconsciously covered her neck with her hand and forced herself to say. “It’s nothing, quickly eat. It won’t taste good once it gets cold.” 

Xie Ruhe lowered his head and the candlelight that was reflected in his dark eyes suddenly disappeared: “Did dad do that?” 

Ji Xiangning stiffly smiled: “Your father was just drunk…” 

“When is he ever not drunk?” 

“…” Ji Xiangning shook her head and covered for Xie Ji. “He just had some misunderstandings about me. I’ve already explained it to him so there won’t be a second time.” 

Xie Ruhe clenched his fists and didn’t believe in her statement. He got up and went back to his room. 

Soon, Ji Xiangning followed him in. She stood next to him, sighing: “Ah He, if you don’t want to stay here, I can contact your grandfather and have you stay with him.”

Xie Ruhe heard her mention Ji Xinghuai and looked at her: “Are you going with me?” 

“I have no face to go back.” Ji Xiangning smiled bitterly. “And your grandfather doesn’t like your father either. I can’t let your father live here all alone without anyone to take care of him.”

His mother had destroyed herself when she fell in love, becoming blind and stupid. 

She believed that Xie Ji would come to his senses, it was only a matter of time. She was as naive as a little girl. 

Xie Ruhe lay on the bed and covered his eyes with his arm: “Forget it.” 

“…”

“I have to take care of you.”