Is It Fair?

"My daughter strictly instructed me to not eat alone, that's why I had to come here to mooch off some food," Shui Koshing told Grandfather Xiang and Mu Chenyan.

"We already know that," replied Mu Chenyan. "Elle has already told us that you'd be having dinner with us. I've asked the cook to prepare food accordingly."

"Oh, my daughter is indeed thoughtful," said Shui Koshing.

"That she sure is," Mu Chenyan couldn't help feeling proud. Whenever Raelle was mentioned, she'd instinctively feel proud. Especially if someone complimented her baby girl.

The three of them gathered together at dinner and chatted harmoniously.

"Shing, do you not plan on introducing your daughter to Raelle?" asked Grandfather Xiang and Shui Koshing's face stiffened slightly.

"Right! Ge, where is Shui Sying?" Mu Chenyan also inquired curiously.

"Wherever she is, let her stay there," responded Shui Koshing. "I'm sure she already holds prejudice against Raelle."

"Huh? Why?" Mu Chenyan looked confused. "She didn't even meet our Raelle. How can she be resentful towards her? Maybe you're overthinking on your own."

Shui Koshing shook his head saying, "She always had problems with my decisions because apparently, I was always the cruel and controlling father to her."

Mu Chenyan gave him a look, "You? Cruel and controlling?" She snorted, "And here I thought you strictly abided by that proverb, 'Let each child follow his own path even if takes him to the edge of a cliff.'"

Sadness flickered through Shui Koshing's eyes as he remained silent. He did follow that proverb. Why else would he have to see his son breaking apart right before his eyes?

In an attempt to change the topic of the conversation, Shui Koshing blurted out, "Does Elle really not know who her parents are?"

Mu Chenyan glared at Shui Koshing before she looked at Grandfather Xiang cautiously. She lowered her voice and asked, "Shing Ge, do you have a death wish? Why are you bringing that up right now?"

Shui Koshing looked at Grandfather Xiang and pressed his lips together.

"She doesn't want to know," replied Grandfather Xiang. "And it's better if she doesn't know them either." Saying that Grandfather Xiang maneuvered his wheelchair and left.

Mu Chenyan looked at retreating back and sighed out, "That's a taboo topic in this house."

"Oh, I thought it was a taboo topic for Raelle," said Shui Koshing. He took a pause and added, "By the way, does Raelle really not want to know about her parents? Or is it Uncle Yu who doesn't want her to know about them?"

Mu Chenyan's eyes narrowed at him, "Ge, what kind of a person do you think our Elder Xiang is? Why would he not want Elle to know about her own parents? When she was young, we repeatedly tried to tell her. But it's like 'parents' have no place in her life. For some reason, she had always been resistant towards the idea of having parents." She took a pause and added, "Don't ask why because I don't know either."

"But doesn't all kids yearn for their parents' attention and love?" he couldn't help saying.

"She wasn't like other kids. She never needed anyone's attention or love. If anything, she even used to find me and Elder Xiang quite troublesome. Whether we tried to love her, give her attention or take care of her, either way, she always tried to keep some distance between us." She took a sip of the water and said, "It took us years to make her accept that she needed to give other people some space in her life as well. But even till now, that space is very limited. She won't be randomly adding anyone into her life."

Shui Koshing thought it would take him a while to understand his daughter-in-law completely. "I actually thought only I noticed her similarity with her father because I know who her father is. But I guess others can also see that similarity."

"What do you mean?" Mu Chenyan's brows furrowed up. "Someone else pointed it out?"

Shui Koshing nodded his head, "In the morning, Zhai Yanjun pointed out how she looked similar to someone he knew."

Mu Chenyan's frown deepened, "How did he notice it? Is he familiar with Ge?"

Shui Koshing nodded his head, "He is a captain of one the biggest military bases in our country. Do you really think he won't be familiar with your Ge?"

Mu Chenyan made a face at him, "Well, he is still a captain. My Ge is actually is a General!"

"The way you feel so proud talking about your Ge, it really makes me wonder why he hasn't been able to fix his relationship with his father in all these years."

She sighed out as she said, "Maybe because Elder Xiang values his granddaughter a lot more than his son." She looked at Shui Koshing and continued, "He can forgive Ge for whatever he did to him but he can't forgive him for what he did to Raelle."

Shui Koshing pressed his lips and contemplated her words before nodding his head. It did seem like Elder Xiang loved Raelle a lot more than he loved his own son.

"But does it not bother him that Raelle is not the only granddaughter he has?"

Mu Chenyan's expressions froze for a split second before her shoulders slackened, "Don't bring that up. No one can take our Elle's place in Elder Xiang's life. Even if that person is Elle's blood-related sibling!"

"Isn't it unfair to her siblings?" asked Shui Koshing.

Mu Chenyan was incensed as she retorted, "And what her parents did to her was fair? Her siblings got their parents, what did she get?!" Shui Koshing was taken aback by the sudden change in Mu Chenyan. She was always very gentle and kind but it seemed he ended up poking where he wasn't supposed to. Taking a deep breath, Mu Chenyan went on, "I'm sorry, Shing Ge. But please, don't bring it up again."

"I won't," replied Shui Koshing without hesitation. He didn't feel like mentioning it anymore either.