When Fang Yuan expected some sort of retort, he instead saw Fang Mei step forward and wrap her father in a hug, one hand gently patting his head.
"Dad, don't cry. Don't cry," she said softly. " I'm sure you have your reasons for it. You're the person I love the most, please don't cry."
She smiled as she spoke, but that only made Fang Chen's tears spill faster.
""A-Ah… m-my… d-daughter… I—love… you. I l-love you… the… m-most…" Fang Chen's voice splintered between gasps, every word dragged out as though it cut him to speak.
His breath hitched, shuddering in her ear as he pressed his face into her shoulder, clinging as if afraid she might vanish.
Fang Yuan realized he had never truly seen his uncle break down like this before.
For a man of Fang Chen's temperament to weep so openly… this had to be the heaviest knot in his heart.
