He gave a faint smile and muttered, "I don't want to inform you about it, but I was told that I didn't have much time. I became selfish and couldn't stop myself from calling you all."
He gave a soft, broken laugh, turning his eyes to the ceiling. "At the very least, you have responded to it. Your elder brothers… they didn't even ask for details. One told your uncle that he doesn't care, while the other told him to cremate me when it's time and then call him for the funeral."
She stared at him for a long moment. Then quietly, she said, "You really were a terrible father."
After a beat of silence, he nodded slowly, his eyes looking at the ceiling. "I know. I was the worst father one could ever ask for. I'm sorry to Tianzhu, more than anyone."
Xueli looked up too, as her eyes welled up in tears.
