Luo Xiaowei laughed and laughed, then broke into sobs.
Luo Xiaowei turned to look at Shen Yinnan, who still had her head lowered and showed no reaction.
Seeing her daughter like this tore Luo Xiaowei's heart apart.
She threw her arms around Shen Yinnan and said:
"My darling, I'm sorry! My darling, I'm sorry! It was all my fault!"
Shen Yinnan struggled fiercely, trying to break free of Luo Xiaowei's embrace. In all her life, no one had ever held her like this.
Being embraced so suddenly felt utterly unfamiliar to Shen Yinnan!
The harder Shen Yinnan struggled, the tighter Luo Xiaowei held her, as if terrified she would run away. It seemed only by clinging to her like this could Luo Xiaowei find even a moment's peace in her heart!
In the end, Shen Yinnan broke free of Luo Xiaowei's embrace. She immediately backed away several steps, putting some distance between them, then knelt there quietly again.
Pushed away, Luo Xiaowei fell awkwardly to the floor.
Ignoring the pain, Luo Xiaowei tried to embrace Shen Yinnan again, only to discover that the girl was already some distance away. Even when she stretched out her hand, she could not reach her.
Luo Xiaowei said bitterly:
"Yinyin, I know I did wrong. I'm not asking you to forgive me. I just want to hold you. May I?"
Shen Yinnan finally raised her head and stared at Luo Xiaowei. Only after a moment did she say, enunciating every word:
"Didn't you always call me Cao'er, or a vile little bastard?
You said a lowborn wretch like me didn't deserve a good name, only a lowly name like that.
Why aren't you calling me that today?"
Luo Xiaowei shook her head fiercely and said:
"Yinyin, you're not a bastard or a lowborn wretch.