Mr. Fang never mentioned his final thought concerning being with Zhang Liling to anyone.
As time passed, he continued work on his perfume experiment to try and get her scent.
During weekend, Zhang Liling took permission from him and went back to the Zhang family to pick up her things.
Like promised, Zhang Renshu was around when she returned.
The man was sitting in the living room waiting for her to come around, until she appeared before him.
"Hello, Dad!" Zhang Liling greeted as she wore her shoes into the living room.
Zhang Renshu raised his gaze from the newspapers in his hands, as he slowly closed it before keeping it beaide him.
Glancing at his daughter who had already sat comfortably on one couch, he noticed some changes from her.
Her face seemed to glow, and she looked like she had added a little weight.
Zhang Renshu ended up being confused because he couldn't pinpoint if his eyes were playing tricks on him.
He normally didn't stare at his daughter, so he couldn't really tell if there was any changes to her, or that she was looking a bit different because it's been a while since he last saw her.
Regardless, he still replied to her greeting. "You look like you have been taking care of yourself."
Zhang Liling flashed him a smile. "I indeed have been taking care of myself. I didn't know how peaceful it was to live with someone that loves you until now. Dad, you should try it,"
Zhang Liling didn't look too happy, but there was no anger on his face. Initially, he had been unhappy by what she meant by that, but he ended up contemplating on it.
'Was it really peaceful living alone with people that like you?'
"Are you that happy to be living apart from your father?" Zhang Renshu asked her instead of voicing his thoughts.
She nodded and crossed her leg over the other one and stared at him with a smile. "Why not? It's not my fault that living outside is more peaceful than living in your house. Dad, you should listen to me and try it. It's peaceful and heartwarming to only stay with people that genuinely love and care for you."
Zhang Liling's tone was persuasive, and her facial expression looked serious. Too bad that she couldn't continue to play with her father's head because the angry looking Shi Wenqian stepped in to interrupt their conversation.
"Zhang Liling, what nonsense are your insinuating?!"
Shi Wenqian was so angry while facing her step daughter.
She had no idea that she was coming over, and had just learned of her presence from the housekeeper and came out to see her, only to hear her trying to poison Zhang Renshu's mind.
Zhang Liling glanced at her and sighed before shifting her gaze back to her father. "Dad, it's a pity that we can't continue our conversation. Anyway, you can see that I am very happy where I am."
Zhang Renshu glared at Shi Wenqian at her entrance before nodding at Zhang Liling.
Shi Wenqian refused to be ignored by the father and daughter, not after she heard a bit of her conversation.
"Zhang Liling, I heard you saying something, what did you mean by that?" She asked in a grimancing tone as she stepped closer to stand beside an empty sofa.
Zhang Liling had an amused expression on her face and she looked to her to reply. "Mrs. Zhang, you heard me saying something because I was talking to my Dad. Don't worry, it has nothing to do with you."
'How dare her talk back to me like that?! She has only been away from the house for a few weeks but it looks like she has forgotten her place!'
"Zhang Liling, have you forgotten your manners, or did your mother not teach you any?"
Zhang Liling looked down to play with her fingers while muttering under her breath, "My stepmother also did not teach me anything."
"You..." Shi Wenqian pointed a trembling finger at her. She was so angry that she was tempted to hit her, but Zhang Renshu who was annoyed with her interference scolded her.
"Shi Wenqian! Stay away from Zhang Liling! What has the conversation we were having got to do with you?"
Shi Wenqian was not expecting him to side her, but raising his voice on her in his daughter's presence? She couldn't take that.
She was ready to start a fight, but Zhang Liling who was too lazy to watch it, interrupted.
"Dad, I'm going to my room."
Zhang Renshu finally moved his angry gaze away from Shi Wenqian to face her. "Go, and don't waste other people's time."
His tone sounded impatient, not that Zhang Liling cared, for she knew who he was far more angry with.
Shi Wenqian watched her leave her sight and turned to face Zhang Renshu angrily.
*******
Zhang Xiaoling stepped out of her bedroom and heard the loud shrieks of her mother and frowned slightly.
"Are they having another fight?" She mumbled to herself and was about to go back to her bedroom when she heard the sound of footsteps.
Turning to her right, she saw Zhang Mingyu coming up with his ears blocked with a headset.
Zhang Mingyu saw her and pulled down his headset to his neck and asked, "Did you come out because of her loud voice?"
"Can I say that you blocked your ears because of her too?" Zhang Xiaoling said whilst rolling her eyes.
Zhang Mingyu shrugged. "I heard that Zhang Liling is here. I didn't get the time to go check on her. She should be in her bedroom."
"Now I know what they are fighting about..." Zhang Xiaoling said in wonder.
So the fight right now, has something to do with Zhang Liling?
"I can't deal with this anymore. I should start thinking about moving out soon." Zhang Mingyu said with a frown as he walked past her to go to his bedroom.
Zhang Xiaoling chuckled loudly and went back inside her room.
What was she laughing for? That was something Zhang Mingyu had no idea about.
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