After dinner, Song Qinian specially changed into a beautiful dress and put on light makeup.
She took a taxi to the prison hospital and, after passing through layers of checks, finally arrived at Song Guanliang's ward.
All the way, Song Qinian's heart was in her throat, afraid that something might happen on the way that would dash her hopes and prevent her from seeing Song Guanliang.
So, the moment she saw Song Guanliang, a series of emotions such as joy, excitement, grievance, and sadness converged, and tears immediately fell from Song Qinian's eyes.
Song Guanliang had lost a lot of weight. The man who used to have a bit of a beer belly was now skin and bones, which made Song Qinian feel both heartbroken and sad.
"Niannian?"
When Song Guanliang saw Song Qinian, he thought he was dreaming. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Before he could react, Song Qinian had rushed over and hugged him tightly.
Dad...
Dad...
She cried out silently, unable to hold back her tears.
When Song Guanliang truly felt Song Qinian, tears also flowed down his face. "Niannian, is it really you? How did you get here?"
Song Qinian was reluctant to let go of Song Guanliang; she cherished and depended on this embrace.
Before, she had always been afraid that she would never be able to hug her father again in this life. She hadn't expected providence to intervene.
Song Qinian's shoulders shook as she cried as heartbrokenly as possible. Song Guanliang patted her back and comforted her as he used to when she was a child, "Niannian, be good, don't cry anymore. Let Dad have a good look at you."
Only then did Song Qinian reluctantly let go of Song Guanliang. She quickly wiped the tears from her face and gave Song Guanliang a sobbing smile.
Song Guanliang affectionately touched her cheek, sighing with a mix of emotion and relief. "My Niannian is getting more and more beautiful. Are many boys chasing you?"
Song Qinian's body stiffened slightly. Her father didn't know Shen Chi Yan, and she had never told him about her marriage to Shen Chi Yan during her visits.
The main reason was that her marriage to Shen Chi Yan was not straightforward, and Shen Chi Yan didn't love her at all. They might get divorced any day, so there was no need for her father to know.
Moreover, if her father knew she was married, he would ask endless questions, and she didn't want to worry him too much, let alone weave a web of lies to deceive him.
Song Qinian shook her head and pointed to her throat.
Song Guanliang understood what she meant. With a mixture of heartache and seriousness, he said, "Niannian, being unable to speak has nothing to do with your goodness or excellence. Those who truly love you won't stop loving you because you can't speak; on the contrary, they will cherish and love you even more."
A hint of sadness flashed in Song Qinian's eyes as she suddenly thought of Shen Chi Yan.
"Niannian, you can't be so self-deprecating just because you can't speak. You have always been Dad's pride."
Hearing Song Guanliang comfort her, Song Qinian smiled and nodded. Thinking of something, she immediately gestured, "Dad, Jiashu's college entrance examination is in two days."
Song Guanliang looked surprised. "Jiashu is going to college already?"
Song Qinian nodded.
"That's right, three years have passed, and Jiashu is eighteen years old now."
Thinking of this, Song Guanliang felt a pang of regret. "Niannian, it's Dad's fault. When you needed me most, I..."
Song Qinian quickly waved her hands. "Jiashu and I have never blamed you."
Even so, how many three-year periods does one have in a lifetime? Song Guanliang felt regret and sadness.
"When Jiashu was fifteen, he was rebellious and disobedient, always at the bottom of his class. In the blink of an eye, he's going to college. Can he get in?"
Song Jiashu was mischievous and loved to play when he was young, often leading a group of boys to poke hornet nests and play pranks. Many people said he would amount to nothing when he grew up.
However, a boy's growth can happen in an instant. After Song Guanliang was arrested, he seemed to have a sudden realization. He threw away all his toys and broke off ties with those boys, starting to study diligently.
Although he wasn't as smart as Song Qinian, he was extremely hardworking. If others woke up at six to study, he would wake up at five.
No one knew the hardship and perseverance he endured.
With perseverance, he slowly climbed from the bottom to the top fifty in his school.
He also transformed from the "scoundrel kid" everyone talked about to a promising young man.
"Dad, don't worry. Jiashu's grades are very good. Even if he can't get into a top-tier university, he can definitely get into a good one."
"Is that so? That's great! I used to worry that if Jiashu continued to be a rascal, he wouldn't be able to find a wife when he grew up!"
Song Qinian couldn't help but smile. "He's tall and handsome now, and he receives many love letters from girls."
"You brat, you've really made something of yourself, haha... By the way, your mother... is she alright?"
Song Guanliang had been in prison for three years, and Liu Xiaohan had never visited him. Song Qinian didn't want Song Guanliang to know about those unpleasant things, so she smiled and gestured, "She's doing well and even found a good job."
Song Guanliang sighed heavily. "It's all my fault. After marrying me for so many years, I never gave her a few good days."
"Dad, don't say that. You've done your best and given her the best you have."
After they got married, Liu Xiaohan never worked. One reason was that Liu Xiaohan herself was lazy, and the other was that Song Guanliang couldn't bear to let her.
One person constantly took, and the other constantly gave, leading to an extreme imbalance in their relationship.
Liu Xiaohan often cursed Song Guanliang for being incompetent, while Song Guanliang, who loved Liu Xiaohan and his children, could only endure it silently.
Not wanting to dwell on those depressing matters, Song Qinian thought of something and immediately gestured, "Dad, about what happened three years ago, have you remembered anything? For example, after you took the porcupine and put it in the trunk, did you see anyone strange, or... after you got into the car, was there any strange smell inside?"
Song Guanliang shook his head. "There was no smell in the car. However, I vaguely remember that when I was groggy, I seemed to be sitting in the passenger seat, and there was a very young boy driving my car in the driver's seat. But I'm not sure if it was a dream or real."
"What did that boy look like?"
"I can't remember clearly. Ah, yes, he seemed to have a scar near his eye."
Song Qinian's mind instantly went to Shen Qiwen. "Was that scar from the corner of his eye to his cheekbone?"
"It seems so... You... How did you know?"
Song Guanliang's expression changed slightly. "Niannian, have you been investigating the events of that year?"
Song Qinian nodded. "Dad, I believe you. I will find a way to find out the truth and clear your name."
"No, it's too dangerous. What if they find out..."
Song Qinian patted Song Guanliang's hand and gestured resolutely, "Dad, you've already spent three years in prison. I won't let you waste another seven years. I want our family to be reunited sooner!"
"But..."
"No 'buts'. Don't worry, I'll protect myself."