The corridor was like silk soaked in ink. Pei Yang looked toward Xile's bedroom door, hesitating over whether to go in and see him one last time. In the time he spent hesitating, he had already walked to the door without realizing it.
Gently turning the handle, Pei Yang slipped sideways into the room, felt his way to the bed in the dark, and switched on the star-shaped bedside lamp.
Light gradually spilled from the star's five points, illuminating Feng Chuxun, such a tiny figure wrapped in his quilt.
Feng Wanting had had Feng Chuxun's bed custom-made, with guardrails on both sides to keep him from falling out. Pei Yang leaned against the rail, reached out to brush the sweat-dampened wisps of hair off Feng Chuxun's forehead, and stroked his head.
"Xile." Looking at the tiny Feng Chuxun curled up in bed, Pei Yang managed a strained smile. The guilt in his heart grew even stronger.
...It was Pei Zhi who had robbed this child of his parents.
At that thought, Pei Yang wanted nothing more than to kill Pei Zhi with his own hands right then.
"Xile, I'm leaving. I'm sorry...for leaving without saying goodbye. I hope you and your dad can forgive me. It's okay if you can't. Just forget me."
He bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to Feng Chuxun's forehead.
"I hope the rest of your life will be just like your name,"
"Peaceful and full of joy."
Pei Yang wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. Just as he was about to leave, warmth touched his palm-the boy in bed had caught his hand.
His heart trembled. With his back to Feng Chuxun, he took a second to steady himself, then forced a smile and turned to look at him, trying to