Chapter Eighteen: No One Asked for Your Fake Kindness—Get Out

“I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant...”

For the first time, Luo Shicheng took the initiative to apologize, but Hua Li was unmoved.

“You’re right. Since we’re getting a divorce, it’s really not appropriate for me to stay in your house anymore. Don’t worry, I’ll find a place and move out as soon as possible.”

“Hua Li!” Luo Shicheng’s voice tightened. “You know I was just angry in the moment...”

Hua Li cut him off. “Angry words often reveal what’s truly in one’s heart.”

The gentle Hua Li of the past was nowhere to be found; the woman before him was sharp and unyielding. Luo Shicheng ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

“You’re completely unreasonable.”

Hua Li didn’t want to argue. “If I’m unreasonable, why don’t you just stay out of my way?”

Seeing Hua Li rolling her eyes at him so blatantly, Luo Shicheng suddenly found her quite endearing.

Had he lost his mind? Luo Shicheng despised this side of himself but couldn’t help recalling their first meeting.

The girl wore a faded homespun cloth dress, her hair braided into two shiny plaits. Her plain face held a pair of large, anxious eyes like a startled fawn—innocent and delicate as a flower touched by morning dew.

Hua Li had moved into his home, caring for his daily needs with grace and propriety, never crossing any boundaries.

Everything changed two years later, on the night of their wedding...

Suppressing his inner turmoil, Luo Shicheng pulled up a chair and sat opposite Hua Li.

“Let’s talk this through properly.”

Hua Li was already weary of him. “There’s nothing to talk about between us.”

She had confirmed that the one who forced himself on her that day was Luo Shicheng. He should remember too, but because of the fifty yuan slipped into the envelope and a mention from Liu Jingqiu about a man with yellow teeth having a red mole on his chest, he still doubted her—and doubted Luo Yan’s identity.

A man who made mistakes but refused to make amends, instead choosing to enable evil—no matter how weak she was, Hua Li would never accept such a man.

“I know you’re angry. I admit I haven’t treated you well these past five years, but actually... I’ve suffered too...”

If he truly didn’t care about Hua Li, he wouldn’t have deliberately ignored her out of spite, completely overlooking her hardships.

“Stop talking. I don’t want to hear it.”

Every bit of pain she endured was real—it couldn’t be erased by a simple apology.

“If I forgive you just because you say sorry, then all the injustice I suffered before and the hardships little Yan endured would be deserved.”

Luo Shicheng scratched his head. “Give me time. I’ll get to the bottom of everything. If it’s my fault, I won’t have the face to ask for your forgiveness, but please give me a chance to make it up to you and Yan.”

“No,” Hua Li looked away, refusing to meet his eyes. “Please leave. I want to rest.”

Hua Li had become impervious to reason. Luo Shicheng was at a loss, but when he saw Luo Yan lying weakly in bed, an idea struck him.

---

Holding a lunchbox, Luo Shicheng knelt by Luo Yan’s bedside, picking up a dumpling with chopsticks and offering it to her.

“Daddy will feed you dumplings, okay?”

Even though her father had been unreliable before, now that he was showing care, Luo Yan wouldn’t refuse.

She bit into the dumpling, savoring its delicious aroma.

Seeing Luo Yan’s cooperation, Luo Shicheng was overjoyed. He pulled her into his arms and patiently fed her one dumpling after another.

No matter how much Hua Li disliked Luo Shicheng, once he played on Luo Yan’s soft spot, she could only endure it.

After a few dumplings, Luo Yan felt full and stronger and called out to Hua Li.

“Mommy, eat.”

Luo Shicheng had brought two more boxes of dumplings, with one still on the table, but Hua Li wasn’t hungry.

Luo Yan kept insisting, and Luo Shicheng urged Hua Li.

“You won’t have the strength to care for the child if you don’t eat. Come on, eat.”

Reluctantly, Hua Li got up and picked up her chopsticks, accidentally finishing an entire box of dumplings.

Luo Shicheng breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

After feeding Luo Yan, Luo Shicheng packed up the lunchboxes and was about to leave. Before he went, he spoke to Hua Li.

“I’ll bring meals again tomorrow morning. Is there anything you or Yan want to eat?”

Hua Li snapped irritably, “No need. It’d be better if you didn’t come.”

A shadow of sadness flickered in Luo Shicheng’s eyes, but he said nothing more and left.

Hearing the door close, Hua Li turned to the closed hospital room door, tears slipping down uncontrollably.

When he’s here, you scowl; when he’s gone, you cry—truly...

Full and content, Luo Yan pretended not to notice and closed her eyes to rest.

Not long after, the door opened again; Luo Shicheng had returned. Hua Li bristled.

“What are you doing back here?”

Luo Shicheng placed brown sugar, malted milk powder, traditional steamed cakes, oily tea noodles, luncheon meat, and apples on the table.

“Make some brown sugar water for Yan to help with her blood. These are for you—eat whenever you’re hungry. If you finish them, I’ll buy more.”

Tears still staining her face, Hua Li, embarrassed and angry, told him off, “Who asked you to pretend to be kind? Get out.”

Even when angry, her tone was soft and tender, almost like a whisper of coaxing, nowhere near as fierce as when they argued. Luo Shicheng wanted to laugh but held back, nodding as he headed for the door.

“I’m leaving. Lock the door when you sleep tonight. Stay safe.”

---

Hua Li snorted but said nothing.

Once she was sure Luo Shicheng had truly left, she got up and locked the door.

After a moment’s thought, she reopened it, filled the thermos with hot water, and made a bowl of brown sugar water for Luo Yan, letting it cool before feeding her.

Luo Yan drank half but insisted Hua Li drink the rest.

Unable to refuse, Hua Li drank it and then poured some cool boiled water for Luo Yan to rinse her mouth.

After washing up, Hua Li gently coaxed Luo Yan to sleep, then locked the door again and returned to her own bed.

Tossing and turning until the middle of the night, Hua Li finally fell asleep through tears.

---

The next morning, Hua Li was woken by a knock. Groggy, she opened the door to find Luo Shicheng holding a lunchbox, brows furrowed deeply.

“I told you, it’s not necessary...”

Ignoring her protests, Luo Shicheng came in, set down the lunchbox, then lifted Luo Yan from the bed, dressed her, and took her to wash up.

Luo Yan was well rested and obediently went through the motions of washing her face and brushing her teeth, then sat at the table eating soy milk and fried dough sticks.

Luo Shicheng sat beside her, peeling a boiled egg. Seeing Hua Li still standing there, sulking, he smiled subtly.

“You’re a mother now. How can you be less sensible than your daughter? Do you need someone to invite you to eat?”

Hua Li wanted nothing more than to throw the shameless Luo Shicheng out, but she lacked the strength.

After standing there, fuming for a while, her stomach growled. Unable to resist any longer, she grabbed her toiletries and went to wash up.

When she returned, Luo Yan was happily eating her boiled egg and smiled at her.

“Eggs are yummy, Mommy, eat.”

Luo Shicheng’s face darkened as Hua Li remained still.

“If the child doesn’t eat, how will she get better? You can’t keep sulking at me, not when it affects her. Come on, eat.”

“Mind your own business.”

Hua Li pushed Luo Shicheng aside and sat down next to Luo Yan.

Luo Shicheng was speechless...