Chapter 6755
My daughter's affairs are none of your concern.
Upon hearing this, Yun Jingtian's already tense body instantly stiffened, and his hand gripping the thermos tightened involuntarily, as if he wanted to crush it.
His knuckles turned white from the force he exerted, and the plastic cup creaked under his pressure, sounding particularly jarring in the quiet and oppressive hospital corridor.
The pungent smell of disinfectant in the hospital was already unpleasant, but now it was mixed with the cloying sweetness of his sister-in-law Zhou Meilan's cheap perfume. The two smells intertwined like a tangled mess, rushing into his nostrils and making his stomach churn, almost causing him to vomit.
He frowned slightly, suppressing his discomfort, and slowly shifted his gaze to the other person.
Zhou Meilan, her hand painted with dark red nail polish, feignedly placed it on her daughter Yun Yuyan's wrist. The bright nail polish stood out starkly under the pale light, like drops of blood on the snow.
Her face was plastered with a fake smile, the curve of her lips perfectly placed, but the smile didn't reach her eyes at all; instead, it revealed a calculating and indifferent air.
Yun Jingtian knew perfectly well that this wasn't a help-making effort, but rather an attempt to push his daughter into a fire pit, sacrificing her happiness for the sake of so-called family interests.
This is clearly an attempt to force him to sell his daughter!
Once this thought surfaced in Yun Jingtian's mind, it was like a bomb exploding, instantly plunging his heart into despair.
His chest heaved violently, and his breathing became rapid, as if a ball of anger was burning fiercely in his chest.
The pale white incandescent light overhead buzzed, its sound like an annoying fly swirling around Yun Jingtian's ear. The light stung his eyes, making him see stars.
His vision began to blur, and his thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to that bitterly cold winter night eighteen years ago.
It was an unforgettable night. Snowflakes fluttered down from the sky, like a group of white elves dancing in the air, turning the whole world into a pure white world.
The streets were deserted, with only one or two pedestrians hurrying by, leaving a trail of deep footprints.
Yun Jingtian paced anxiously back and forth outside the delivery room, his steps hurried and heavy, each step feeling as if it were pounding on his own heart.
His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turned white from the force, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Inside the delivery room, the wife was going through a long and arduous labor.
Her cries occasionally drifted out from the delivery room, a sound of pain and helplessness that pierced Yun Jingtian's heart like sharp blades.
He prayed incessantly outside the delivery room, hoping that his wife and child would be safe and sound.
Ultimately, God helped, and the baby was born safely, as was his wife, but the little one was extremely weak at the time.
When the nurse brought Yun Yuyan to him, he looked at the little life in the swaddling clothes. Her little face was wrinkled, like a little old man, but her little hand was tightly gripping his little finger, as if she was searching for a sense of security.
Her cries were as faint as a kitten's, soft and helpless, which brought tears to the eyes of Yun Jingtian, a grown man.
He gently took his daughter, held her tightly to his chest, feeling her faint breath and warm little body, and secretly vowed to protect her and let her grow up healthy and happy.
But now, these people want to push his precious daughter into a fire pit. How can he agree to that?
A resolute glint flashed in Yun Jingtian's eyes. He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and prepared to fight for his daughter.
Over the years, the burden of life has been like an invisible mountain, weighing heavily on every member of this family, and their daughter, Yun Yuyan, has suffered greatly for the sake of the family.
In order to save the meager yet crucial bus fare for the family, Yun Yuyan had to get out of her warm bed before dawn every day.
It was still pitch black outside the window, with only the occasional flickering lights in the distance, like the eyes of the night peering at the world. She dressed quietly, afraid of waking her parents who had worked hard all day.
After a quick wash, I shouldered my somewhat worn-out backpack, which was filled with dreams, and embarked on a five-kilometer walk to school.
Even in the bitterly cold winter, the biting wind cut like a knife on her face, making her little face red and her hands and feet numb.
Even in the sweltering summer, with the sun scorching the earth like a giant fireball, and her clothes soaked with sweat, she never stopped working.
Over time, the hardships of this daily routine left their mark on her young body, causing her to develop chronic leg pain.
On rainy days or when the weather turns cold, her legs feel like they are being pricked by countless needles, causing her unbearable pain.
She always carries painkillers in her schoolbag; they are her only comfort when the pain is unbearable.
Yun Yuyan also loves beauty, and her dressing table should be filled with all kinds of cosmetics, but that is a luxury for her.
The only lipstick she owned was a sample given to her by a client. The tube was small and the color wasn't particularly vibrant, but it was incredibly precious to her.
However, her cousin Yunxi pointed at this lipstick and mocked it as "cheap stuff."
That day, Yunxi, dressed in gorgeous clothes and with exquisite makeup, came to Yunyuyan with an arrogant air. When she saw the lipstick, she let out a harsh laugh, her eyes full of disdain and mockery.
Yun Yuyan's face flushed instantly. She clutched the lipstick tightly, lowered her head, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back.
She suffered such injustice, but could only endure it in silence.
The day before the college entrance examination should have been a day full of hope and anticipation, but Yun Yuyan quietly locked the completed college application form into a drawer.
She sat quietly on the edge of the bed, staring blankly ahead. After a long while, she forced a smile and said to Yun Jingtian, "Working will earn you money sooner."
At that moment, Yun Jingtian clearly saw that the light that had been shining in his daughter's eyes dimmed instantly, like a candle that had been extinguished.
That light once held aspirations for the future and a thirst for knowledge, but now it is obscured by the helplessness of life.
Thinking of all this, Yun Jingtian felt as if his heart was being pierced by countless needles, the pain unbearable, each needle carrying the bitterness of life and guilt towards his daughter.
Later, the family's financial situation improved somewhat.
With some money, my daughter was able to return to school.
But Yun Jingtian knew that it was ultimately too late.
Those missed moments, those dreams abandoned due to the pressures of life, are like deep scars etched into my daughter's youth, indelible.
"Sister-in-law, you don't need to worry about Yun Yuyan's marriage."
Yun Jingtian stood there, his throat tight, as if he had swallowed a wad of cotton, each word uttered with immense difficulty. (End of Chapter)