章 5: THE CHILD LONGS FOR HER PARENTS

Han Changhong retaliated, "If we pressure them now, I fear that they would run away." He was speaking from experience. The same thing happened to him when he was a child. He ran away from his lessons, but he couldn't run away forever. Young Changhong had to face the light eventually. It was his mistake which led him to work hard to catch up to his brother.

"I will take it into my own hands to ensure that they will not become runaways." Assistant Tong had his agenda. He knew that he could come up with the easiest way of teaching children.

Han Changhong exhaled in defeat. "All right, I get what you're trying to say. I'll let you do as you please. Having said that, if they come crying to myself or my wife, you will have to change your teaching method."

Assistant Tong bowed in gratitude. "Thank you very much, Vice President Han." He swore to himself that he would not mess things up. He pledged to make his boss, Han Ying Wei, proud of his daughter. He believed that it was the best gift he could give President Han if he were to come out of his coma.

When Han Changhong returned home, little Han Luo greeted him first. "Hello uncle! Welcome uncle!" She stumbled her way to him as fast as she could. Little Luo was excited to see her uncle. She was waiting for him at the entrance thirty minutes straight.

Han Changhong hugged her and greeted her back. "I'm back, Luo'er! Were you a good girl?"

Han Luo was wearing a white dress making her look like an angel descended directly from heaven. She tugged his pants and said, "Yes, uncle!" Her bright face was suddenly covered by a wave of gloom. "Take me… home. Want to see… mommy and daddy."

She had been searching for her parents throughout the whole mansion all day long. Her cousin, Luilui, had told innocent Luo that her parents were playing hide and seek with her, but she couldn't find them anywhere. Han Luo still believed her cousin, thinking that Luilui wasn't able to say a joke like that to her. Han Luilui was her elder female cousin who was only three years old. She was the immediate child after Ge Sheng Ming. Luilui felt some jealousy toward Han Luo after Han Sheng Ming once said, "Little Luo Luo is the most beautiful sister I have!"

Han Changhong felt a sea of sorrow submerge his heart. "Luo'er…"

Han Luo looked at him with her pitiful eyes. "Uncle… Luo'er a good girl. Pretty please…" Her puppy eyes were hard to resist.

Her uncle decided that he needed to do something about it. He knew that she was going to find out eventually. Han Luo would never trust the Han Family again if that were to happen. Han Changhong didn't want to take advantage of her innocence anymore. He grabbed her small white hand and whispered, "Come with me. I'll take you to your parents."

Han Luo grinned with glee. "Yay! Mommy! Daddy!" Her uncle's guilt had begun to eat at him, but he knew this was better than hiding the truth in the dark.

Han Changhong took his niece to the military hospital and let her see Han Ying Wei. "Here's your daddy."

Han Luo's face brightened up. She skipped forward and clasped Han Ying Wei's cold hand. "Daddy! Daddy? Wake up! No sleep time! Luo'er… here! Daddy!"

Han Changhong endearingly patted her head. "Daddy won't wake up. He is sleeping."

Han Luo naively asked, "Why?"

Han Changhong tried to force out a smile. "If Luo'er comes to visit daddy every week, daddy might wake up!"

Han Luo pursed her lips. "Daddy… lazy!" She couldn't believe that her dad was sleeping here when she was looking for him everywhere. She was annoyed.

"Daddy is just tired. Let him sleep. I'll take you to your mother." After that, he took her to the Han family's cemetery to show her her mother's grave. Han Changhong felt his heart sink deeper into sorrow. But he knew there was no way to lie about this. "Mommy is inside the stone. She cannot meet you anymore. She is gone. She won't come back." Han Changhong clenched his teeth. He said too much. "Luo'er, your mommy and daddy cannot hug you anymore. They cannot play with you anymore. If you love your mommy and daddy, you have to visit them."

Despair had defeated hope. Han Luo's tears cascaded out of her watering eyes. Her cries came out like an uncontrollable torrent. "Did… I…. bad… mommy, daddy… Luo'er… sorry… I'll be… good girl… come back… mommy, daddy…"

Her clear white eyes had become bloodshot. Little Luo's tears of hail streamed down her flushed cheeks. The passers-by who had heard Han Luo could feel her heartbreak inside of them, just by hearing her wails. Their hearts were overpowered by her cry.

After returning home, Han Changhong, Han Sheng Ming and Tong tried to cheer poor Luo up. It was all in vain. For two days, Han Luo didn't eat. She couldn't eat. She could only cry herself awake and cry herself to sleep.

Han Luo's tears had soon dried out. She had lost the strength to do anything, causing her to lose consciousness. Han Luo was over exhausted and suffered from a high fever.

Her temperature rose quickly, and the burning heat she let off had no way of cooling down. Little Luo became so weak that Han Changhong had no option but to send her to the hospital. It was only after she was given saline and vitamins did she regain consciousness. Han Luo stayed at the hospital for four days before coming back to the main residence of the Han Family.

Han Luo's return to the mansion marked her journey to free herself from the shackles of seclusion, as though a miracle had happened. She had begun to speak with others, though she wasn't as cheerful as before. Everyone at the Han Family's residence felt relieved when little Luo started to eat again. The doctor who gave her frequent check-ups agreed that she was improving faster than expected.

The Han Family took further measures to make her happier; they took her to the amusement park and other places which served as a comforting distraction.

A week later, Han Luo's radiant smile had returned.