Chapter 624: Chapter 622: The Kindhearted Father (Part 1)
"Didn’t we just get you a new phone? Why are you still using the old one?"
"Where did the new phone go?"
Ah Chen heard the question from the middle-aged woman across from her and couldn’t help but look up. Her gaze then fell on the phone in her hand. It had a phone case, even the case was new, and from the outside, it was impossible to tell if the phone was new or old. The phone case seemed to be hiding something. However, the phone was actually bought several years ago. Anyone familiar with the latest models could immediately see that this screen was indeed somewhat outdated. Newer screens are different now.
The middle-aged woman in front of her was very angry, her face dark as if she was about to erupt like a storm.
The middle-aged woman was the mother of this body, Zhuo Qiaoqing. She appeared fierce, although she wasn’t always like this.
Ah Chen was about to say something, but Zhuo Qiaoqing had already spoken, "I get it. Go do your homework."
Zhuo Qiaoqing took out her phone, dialed a number, and walked into a room, the door closing with a bang. Despite good soundproofing, Ah Chen could still hear the voice coming from inside the room.
The voice of the middle-aged woman was hysterical, like an unreasonable madwoman, "Ran Zhengfeng, where are you?"
"Did you take Chenchen’s phone? That was Chenchen’s birthday gift! Are you even human? Don’t you know how slow our daughter’s phone is?"
"Bring the phone back immediately. It’s the birthday gift I bought for Chenchen and has nothing to do with you! Over the years, you’ve given enough to that side, right? How can you not even spare your daughter’s birthday gift?"
Ran Zhengfeng’s resigned yet appeasing voice came from the phone, "Qiaoqing, things are complicated. I’ll talk to you when I get back, okay? It’s my fault this time. I’ll make it up to Chenchen later, and besides, Chenchen’s phone still works. High schoolers should focus on their studies, and as long as the phone can make calls, that’s enough. Moreover, cell phones aren’t allowed at school, so they’re not that useful. Both of us are teachers, so it’s easy to get in touch with Chenchen. Whether or not she uses a phone doesn’t matter."
"Alright, I have some things to handle here. I’ll talk to you when I get back."
Zhuo Qiaoqing didn’t have time to speak before the call was dropped.
She stared at the phone screen, her eyes red. What complex matter could cause Ran Zhengfeng to take his daughter’s birthday gift and give it to someone else? Zhuo Qiaoqing felt stifled. This kind of thing had happened many times before, and each time Ran Zhengfeng had a sufficient reason.
And this time, a phone costing several thousand dollars, something her daughter had been eagerly awaiting for her birthday, had been taken away by Ran Zhengfeng without a word or even a reason, let alone her consent. It made Zhuo Qiaoqing question whether marrying Ran Zhengfeng was the right choice.
But she chose Ran Zhengfeng because he was kind, wasn’t it? She admired his kindness. Now, ten or so years later, she found herself unable to tolerate Ran Zhengfeng’s kindness any longer.
The door to the room knocked, bringing Zhuo Qiaoqing back to reality. She opened the door, and there was Ah Chen standing.
Looking at her obedient daughter, Zhuo Qiaoqing felt a wave of helplessness. She had been preparing for a long time to set aside enough money to buy the phone for her daughter, hoping her daughter could have her wish granted on her birthday. Her daughter was obedient and sensible, academically outstanding, never worrying her. Having such a daughter, she must have done many good deeds in her past life.
In fact, both she and Ran Zhengfeng were high school teachers, theoretically, they shouldn’t lack money.
But from the beginning of their relationship, Ran Zhengfeng made it clear that he wanted to support the orphanage, which was where he grew up and a place he couldn’t let go of. Being with him, she might have to bear a lot. At that time, she was attracted by Ran Zhengfeng’s kindness, thinking she was also capable. Even if Ran Zhengfeng devoted all his efforts to the orphanage, she could still support the family and live a thriving life. Isn’t the world full of couples where one stays home while the other works, and they still live well?
Besides, she was a teacher, and apart from her regular income, it wasn’t hard to earn some extra money.
Yet she was naive, many things weren’t as easily handled as imagined.
In the beginning, she accepted Ran Zhengfeng’s entire focus on the orphanage, didn’t interfere with his money. Perhaps many people thought she was foolish, but she liked Ran Zhengfeng for who he was. But later... Ran Zhengfeng not only sent his share to the orphanage, but also needed to take money and goods from her, always thinking of the orphanage.
Gradually, he even set his sights on their daughter. Everything she bought for her daughter, Ran Zhengfeng took away.
He didn’t use them himself or out of greed but gave them to those needy children he mentioned. He said those kids without parents were the most pitiful, and only someone who had experienced it understood. Their daughter had a complete family, which already made her the happiest person in the world. People rich in spirit don’t actually need too much materially, lest they lose their way in indulgence.
She retreated step by step, while Ran Zhengfeng advanced relentlessly.
This time, the phone she bought her daughter was quite expensive. Her daughter was in her second year of high school, soon to be in her third. It was a birthday gift to encourage her to study hard. Her daughter was always sensible, not afraid of distractions from learning.
In the end... the phone didn’t even last a day in her daughter’s hands before Ran Zhengfeng coaxed it away.
"I’ll buy you another phone sometime soon. Maybe your dad really had some urgent need." Zhuo Qiaoqing took a deep breath, instinctively making excuses for Ran Zhengfeng in front of her daughter.
Ah Chen just stood at the doorway, neither responding obediently like the Commissioner nor blaming Zhuo Qiaoqing.
For over a decade, some of his behaviors had become habitual, like a frog being slowly boiled. It was hard to wake up from. Besides, Ran Zhengfeng truly was good to those orphanage children, gentle to outsiders, truly a good man. Even at home, he did all he could, seen as a good man by many.
His only flaw was his relentless dedication to looking after the orphanage, seemingly his only shortcoming.
Yet, behind his kindness were two collateral victims, supporting him heavily—his wife and daughter. Their sacrifices made him look even better.
Zhuo Qiaoqing never thought her choice in her youth would lead to separation from Ran Zhengfeng because of these, she lived with the contradiction, enduring. Whenever fury crept in as she bore it, the words Ran Zhengfeng said when they first got together echoed in her mind. That’s just how he was, wasn’t it? It was her choice back then, wasn’t she clear from the start? She even said it didn’t matter, just liked him that way. She promised she could support the family, didn’t she?
And so over the years, she endured painfully, subconsciously wanting to escape, yet not knowing how, continuing life with Ran Zhengfeng.
"What’s wrong?" Zhuo Qiaoqing asked, reaching out to stroke her daughter’s head, "Next time, whatever Mom buys you, don’t let your Dad take it. It’s yours, understand? Even if he’s your Dad, he shouldn’t just take it away."
