Chapter 5 Return to 18 - Part 1

However, how great would it be if she could relive her life before the age of six? That way, she wouldn't have been kidnapped by human traffickers when she left the house because she wanted to play.

With a sigh, He Zhilan accepted her circumstances, thinking, "Now is okay."

He Zhilan recalled that at this point, she had only been married to He Teng for a few days. She had never wanted to marry him in the first place. On their wedding day, He Teng forcibly took her virginity, deepening her hatred for him. Hence, in the days following their wedding, she would create havoc in the house, to the point where it was in complete chaos. During this time, He Teng forbid her from attending university, which intensified her hatred for him to the point where she even attacked him.

In her past life, her hatred for He Teng and the He Family lingered during the rare month when He Teng was home. A month after their wedding, He Teng returned to his unit. Shortly after, she took all the money from the house and ran away.

"Zhilan, where are you still not feeling well? The doctor said that the wound on your forehead is not serious. It will heal, and it won't leave a scar. But, your fever is quite high." He Zhongguo's worry was genuine. Although Zhilan had given him many worries since she came into the He Family, she was still his child, and he couldn't bring himself to berate her.

"Dad, I'm fine, my throat is probably sore from the fever." He Zhilan touched the wound on her forehead. She knew it wouldn't leave a scar. As she braced herself against He Zhongguo's worried eyes, a wave of sourness swept over her heart. Biting her lip, she finally said the words she wished to have said in her previous life, but never had the chance to. "Dad, I'm sorry for making you worry."

He Zhongguo was taken aback. It took quite some time before he could recover. This was the first time in the dozen years he had raised Zhilan, that he heard her speak gently, and also the first time she apologized.

He Zhilan was the He Family's adopted daughter in name, but she lived a more carefree life than any other child in the family. The laborious tasks were done by He Zhongguo, the toughest jobs done by He Zhongguo's second son, He Da, and the dirtiest ones handled by He Dongxue, who was two months younger than her. Yet, Zhilan only did the easiest tasks and had the worst temper, to the extent that even Dongxue had to put up with her.

He Zhilan realized that in reality, the He Family didn't owe her anything. Since she came to the He Family, He Zhongguo never hit her or yelled at her, and always treated her well.

Zhilan might hold a grudge against the human traffickers, but this had nothing to do with the He Family.

The He Family was never aware that she was kidnapped by human traffickers; they had been lied to, and believed that she was a child that a poverty-stricken family couldn't afford to raise. Therefore, in the end, the He Family was not connected to the human traffickers in any way. In her past life, her hate-blinded eyes regarded everyone in the village as the enemy, viewing the He Family as accomplices to the traffickers, and dismissively looked down on the people of the He Family.

There was always a bit of a "she's finally growing up" mentality in He Zhongguo. He always thought that children, once they grew up, would eventually understand. As a result, he never punished or scolded Zhilan. Her earlier apology genuinely made him happy, he felt that He Zhilan, who had learned to apologize, was slowly maturing, and that she would grow up fast.

He Zhongguo personally poured a cup of water for Zhilan and asked her to rest well. He then left the room with He Teng, who was standing at the door. Once in the yard, He Zhongguo let out a sigh. Hearing this, He Dongxue came and expressed her discontent directly, "Dad, did she anger you again? I really don't understand, Dad why do you indulge her so much? Look at her, acting so high and mighty all the time, as if we owe her something, like treating her as Buddha. It's so annoying!"