Tom stared at the disconnected call, sighing deeply. His daughter had been missing for five years, and she had changed completely, no longer returning home. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Just as he was thinking, Tom’s father came back holding Xingxing.

"Xingxing has fallen asleep. Lift up the quilt on the bed, so I can put her down to sleep," Tom’s father whispered urgently, afraid of waking the child.

Tom’s mother hurried to the room to lift the quilt and placed Xingxing on the bed. Then, they both tiptoed out of the room.

"Xiaoling just called home."

Tom’s mother shared the news of Tang Ling’s call, and Tom’s father’s eyes lit up, "What did Xiaoling say? Where is she, and why isn’t she coming back?"

"She doesn’t plan to come back now," said Tom’s mother with a sigh. "Xiaoling has changed a lot, and I don’t know what’s on her mind. She doesn’t want to come back on her own, and moreover, when she heard Xingxing was here, she actually asked me to send Xingxing to an orphanage. Can you believe it? Xiaoling must be out of her mind; that’s her own daughter."

Upon hearing this, Tom’s father’s face turned grim.

"Is Xingxing really her biological daughter?" he asked.

"She is her daughter," Tom’s mother replied. "But not He Nan’s. I’ve asked Xiaoling for confirmation. As for the child’s father, she won’t say. We don’t know what happened in these five years, and Xiaoling seems to be in a very bad state now. I think she’s having mental issues."

As a mother, she knew exactly what Tang Ling used to be like. Now her daughter spoke in extremes, and it sounded all wrong.

"Don’t overthink it," Tom’s father said. "Call Xiaoling again, I want to talk to her for a bit."

Though he said this, Tom’s father was actually more worried than Tom’s mother. As a man, he understood the nature of men all too well. Five years on an island with one woman, he could only imagine what Tang Ling must have faced.

Tang Ling refused to talk about the child’s father and was resistant towards Xingxing. There must be some unspeakable reasons behind this. His daughter must be in a very bad place now. He wouldn’t feel at ease until she was back with them. After waiting five years and finally hoping for his daughter’s return, the old couple got excited about life again. They couldn’t afford another disappointment.

"Okay."

Tom called Tang Ling, and before long, her voice came through from the other end of the phone.

Her tone was a bit impatient, "Mom, why are you calling me again?"

"Xiaoling, your dad wants to talk to you for a bit."

No sooner had Tom’s mother finished speaking than Tom’s father took the phone.

"Xiaoling, it’s Dad."

Hearing Tom’s father’s voice, Tang Ling’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. As a university professor, he had always adored Tang Ling and took pride in her. Tang Ling knew how much her father loved her and felt that she had let him down.

"Dad, I’m sorry, I’ve embarrassed you and disappointed you."

"Why talk about those things?" Tom’s father said. "Xiaoling, whatever it is, come home and let’s face it together. Don’t be alone out there; we are very worried about you. Whatever happened on the island is in the past. You’re still young, you need to look forward."

Hearing him mention the island, Tang Ling’s emotions began to crumble, "Dad, I don’t want to talk about the island anymore. As for Xingxing, I’ve already talked to Mom. If you want to keep her, keep her. If you don’t, send her to the orphanage. I have no objections. I won’t be coming back; I have my own matters to take care of."