Moved to A New House (II)

Fu Ting raised her head and met Fu Pei's gaze. The evening sunlight fell into her eyes, and her soft fair face looked considerably puzzled. "Why do you say it doesn't belong to you? They're your parents, legally. They have legal obligations to you, so it's your right to have financial support from them."

"I don't need that." Fu Pei lazily shifted on his feet and glared at the distant darkening sky. Tight-lipped, his sharp eyes flared. "A man must have his dignity and live proudly," he simply answered. "I'd feel disgusted if I beg for help. I'd rather have nothing."

He left the Fu family without turning back, and he was ready to experience worldly human sufferings.

Nothing mattered to him. 

He had a firm and unyielding body, and this asset of his enabled him to fight against the Fu family and his fate with his back straight.

The young Fu Pei had the pride and stubbornness that every other teenager had. He was as stubborn as a cow.

"Dignity? What dignity?" Fu Ting's soft voice was laced with slight dejection. She licked her juicy red lips apprehensively, and her eyes looked very bright. "You're living in a damp and broken basement, and you overwork yourself in the holidays to cover your cost of living. You even worry your grandmother who's staying in the hospital," she remarked. "Is that the dignity you mean?"

Fu Pei's pupils contracted abruptly, and his breathing became heavy.

His reddened eyes flashed with impatience and suppressed anger.

"Dad, you can't be self-centered and ditch everything other than what you believe in," Fu Ting continued her assertion and did not stop there. "You're worrying and troubling your grandmother who had raised you. She's already so old, and she should be enjoying peace and happiness in her later life. Instead, she has to worry about her grandson day and night, not being able to eat and sleep well."

The air around Fu Pei seemingly turned ice-cold.

He had never thought about these problems. He was a rascal who did not have a girl's thoughtful mind. When he heard everything Fu Ting had said, he realized that his beliefs seemed to be problematic.

Troubled with this unsettling feeling, his Adam's Apple bobbed.

He did not speak.

"Do you think your parents will think highly of you if you didn't take the child support money?" What Fu Ting said was harsh, but it was very realistic. "They'll only laugh behind you, think that you're stupid and a pushover, and degrade you even more!"

His muscles became taut, but he remained silent.

He tilted his head. The already darkened sky overcast his face, thus his expression could not be seen clearly.

Fu Ting sniffed and dispiritedly reasoned, "Dad, I just don't want you to regret this in the future. You'll regret it if you lose the house your grandmother gives you, just because of your childish self at this moment."

Fu Ting tilted her head to look at him and balled her fists. "True dignity is when you can keep your belongings and live a decent life!"​​

Fu Pei's eyes widened, and all the anger he had disappeared in an instant.

He quietly glanced at the little girl sideways and recalled his inconsiderate reaction toward her just a moment ago.

He wanted to apologize but could not do so due to his ego.

Inexplicably, he felt irritated.

His expression became colder as he looked at her, and his jawline became taut.

Fu Ting, on the other hand, grinned and merely offered him a soft smile. Her eyes gleamed brighter than the stars.

What a fool! He was being so fierce to her. How could she still smile?

Fu Pei squinted, but he could still see Fu Ting's outstretched fist.

Her delicate fingers stretched out slowly and revealed a citrus-flavored candy in her hand.

His facade dropped in an instant. He felt rather helpless; like a child caught making a mistake and thought he would be punished but was instead treated kindly.

He was taken by surprise.

Fu Ting waved her palm and showed her neat and white teeth. "Dad, eat this!"