The sound of high heels resonated with each step as Yue Ling walked towards Liu Peng. She could see that he was suffering from Lin Hui's kick.
"I always envied those who had parents. Whether they had one or both parents, I still envied them."
She stares down at Liu Peng, who was trying to catch his breath after vomiting.
"You are supposed to be a father. A father who is supposed to protect his children. A father who will move heaven and earth for his children. A father who will never put his children in danger. A father, who is a hero in his children's eyes."
Her steps came to a stop about three feet away from him..
"Not a father who sells off his children to pay off his debt. Not a father who inflicts pain on his children. Not a father who takes away all hope in his children. Not a father who makes his children wish death was better than being alive."
Liu Peng finally caught his breath. Every word Yue Ling spoke was like mountains are dropping on him, one after another.
The air around him became harder to breathe, and he clenched his fists.
His eyes that turned red from his struggle to vomit glares up at the woman in front of him.
"Shut up! Your luxurious way of living doesn't give you rights to lecture me!"
Yue Ling sighed inside at how stubborn Liu Peng was being. She slightly shook her head like she was disappointed in him.
"Rich or poor, it is common sense to be human. Not act like a monster."
She hated parents who mistreat their children—especially the ones who blame their children for their misfortune.
Yes, she was born into a good family that loves and cares about her.
However, she lost her parents when she was young.
She had to grow up without her father and mother's love.
Every day she watched other children brag about what their mother cooked for them and what their father bought. She envied them for having someone to call mother or father.
How she long to utter those words again…
As her thoughts go further into the distance, she recalls Liu Ye's reaction when she patted his head on the day they met.
It was unnoticeable, but she saw him flinch when she raised her hand.
He was afraid like an abused kitten.
He was afraid of her, thinking she was going to hit him.
"Without the love of a mother or father, a child will feel an emptiness in their heart that someone can never fill."
Liu Peng listened to her words, and shame poured over him. He was twice Yue Ling's age, yet a little girl is lecturing him.
He scoffs a chuckle and pushes himself up from the ground.
"Everything you said is true. But do you know how much I struggled to feed those ungrateful kids since my wife died? I rather sell them than waste my life on brats like them."
Yue Ling's eyes slowly blink at the man. Her expression was so calm that no one could read what she was thinking.
After a long second passes by, she parts her lips to answer Liu Peng's question.
"You are right. I do not know the struggle."
'That's because my chance was taken from me.'
She spoke the remaining sentence in her mind. Her eyes turned soft as she couldn't help but think about her and Lu Tian's unborn child.
However, she was quick to gather herself together, and the softness in her eyes disappears.
"But children are not objects. Weren't you once a child? Didn't you have parents? Were they so bad that you turned out the way you are now?"
She turns her head and looks in the direction of the car Liu Ye and Jianan were sitting.
"Children shouldn't be sacrificed so the parents can have the life they want."
She looked back at Liu Peng, who was standing not too far from her.
"I am here to take them away. You will never see them again unless they want to see you. If you, so close as to set a foot near them, I will make sure your life is far worse than it is now."
She said all that she wanted and turned away from the man. She didn't come here to beat the father but to make him suffer.
And that is by taking his children away.
She wants to take them to a better life that has nothing to do with a despicable father.
She wants to give these children hope again.
Watching Yue Ling leave, Liu Peng was in disbelief. He needed his children.
Without them, his income will be cut short, and he won't have anyone to take his anger on anymore.
With this mindset, he runs after Yue Ling but suddenly stops himself.
He remembers Lin Hui, who was watching his every move. He swallowed a hard gulp when he made eye contact with the man who had kicked him.
Knowing he could not go after Yue Ling, he remained in place. However, he doesn't forget to roar after her.
"You're going to regret taking them, especially ye. He was sold off to Red Moon, and they'll come after you."
He could only use Red Moon to threaten Yue Ling as he knows the mention of Tao Meng will scare anyone.
"No matter how rich you are, you will not be able to escape from them."
Lin Hui had yet to leave when he almost stumbled. He looks at Liu Peng with a frown but doesn't say anything.
Liu Peng's head grew more prominent upon seeing Lin Hui's stumble, and he thought he had scared them with Red Moon.
He grins from ear to ear on the inside but keeps a calm composer. He only needs to say a few more words, and he'll get those brats back.
Once he has them back in his hands, he can keep his head.
"Ye is now a property of Red Moon. You might not know this, but Red Moon will never let anyone off so easily. so I suggest you bring my sons back this instant."
His head raises like he was a man with power, and his words continue.
"One phone call, and they will come after you to take back their own."
The corner of Lin Hui's mouth began to Twitch. He stares at Liu Peng then walks over to Yue Ling at a fast pace.
"Boss, I'm begging you. I will do whatever you want. Please."
Hearing Lin Hui's words full of pleading, Liu Peng knew he had made a point.
If he knew the mention of Red Moon would terrify Lin Hui this much, he should have threatened them sooner.
He could already see his children back inside the house, and he could teach them a lesson for trying to run away or telling on him.
However, as good as it sounded for him, Lin Hui's following words struck him like lightning on a stormy day.
"Please let me punch him. Just one punch. One punch is all I need."
All the colors on Liu Peng's face drained of life. He had thought he finally scared Yue Ling and Lin Hui, but that wasn't it.
Remembering the strength of Lin Hui's kick, his legs turned weak.
He would have fallen to the ground, but he stood in place due to his frozen state of mind.
If Lin Hui's kick almost killed him, who knows how he (Liu Peng) would be after getting punched.
Yue Ling didn't need to turn around to know what was Liu Peng's reaction. She stares at the car ahead and sighs.
"Where is his sister?"
Hearing his plead dismissed, Lin Hui could only pout. He heaves a long sigh and scratches his head as if to get rid of his frustration.
"She's at school."
Yue Ling ponders for a long minute. Once she comes to a decision, she walks away after giving an order.
"Send someone to pick her up."
Walking a few steps, she stops and turns back to look at Liu Peng. She knew what he was trying to do by mentioning Red Moon.
If it had been someone else, maybe they would be afraid. However, she is not someone else.
"I meant every word I said. One false move, and your fate will be collected."
She leaves her last warning and continues with her way towards the car.
Lin Hui was slightly disappointed that he couldn't give Liu Peng a good beating. However, never one to go against his boss's orders, he sends the man a deathly glare before following Yue Ling.
After all, he knows that this will not be the last time he'll encounter Liu Peng. If his guess is correct, he assumes the man will probably try to seek help from Tao Meng.
Liu Peng was at a loss by what had happened. He remained in place and watched as the woman and man walked away.
In the distance, Lin Hui caught up to his boss. He places his hands behind his head and glances at her.
"You alright, boss?"
He remembered every word she said to Liu Peng. Others who heard would find her irrelevant for lecturing a man twice her age on how to be a father.
However, he knew she wasn't being irrelevant.
Her words were for every child who didn't have the voice to express their pain.
Yue Ling's steps ceased when she heard the question. Her bluish-green eyes look at the rear of the car like she could see Liu Ye and Jianan.
"I'm fine as long as they'll be fine."
She knows that she cannot save every abused child, but she will do everything to help if she can save one.
Giving her answer, she doesn't walk to the rear door but makes her way to the passenger side of the car. She opens the door, and before entering, she glances back at the sight of Liu Peng.
Disappointment washed inside her again, and she got inside the car.
'Every child deserves a home, but not every home deserves children.'
