Mama's Princess is Daddy's Beloved

"Ohh, dear! I didn't mean it that way." Chen Rui said, not aware that a girl would be so strict with the relationship. How could she even guess that when she has seen her accepting her as a mother all readily. 

Li Xue shook her head with a smile before taking her seat on the chair. "I know. Sorry, I didn't mean to exaggerate but I believe relations should be built on one's emotions and feelings. Neither blood nor interest will make them stay by your side when you need them the most, but the emotional attachment will always help". 

Shin Tinming felt a twitching pain in his heart when heard the girl's rejection and her reasons behind it. But still, he could not bring himself to blame her, knowing well that she doesn't deserve his blame. A sad smile crept over his lips but it soon got erased in the way like it has never been there. Holding back on his composure, he put a welcoming smile over his lips and asked. 

"Is that so? It's good to hear that you follow it that way. Relations built on strong confidences stay long, otherwise, they remain fragile enough to break off anytime" He said and Li Xue nodded in agreement. "And seeing you so protective over the title of your father. I am sure your father must be treating you too well." He added more with a softened expression that hid the things well behind the façade. 

Li Xue turned to look at him and smiled. But didn't say anything and even with her expressions nothing was visible. 

Chen Rui looked at her holding back her feelings and pursed her lips, feeling bad for her. She has learned all too well the history the girl had with her parents. That was quite sympathetic but pity was the last thing she wanted to show to her. In her eyes, the girl was too good and deserving to be shown any pity. 

Moving her hands, she held the girl's hands with love, before saying with a consoling smile. "Oo oh! What heavy stuff we are discussing early in the morning. The morning should be cheerful and melodious so that we could enjoy our meal well. Come on! Have a seat already, the maid is here with the dish".

Li Xue nodded with a smile before looking at the small portion of salad served on her plate. She smiled, then turning to look back at the maid, she said, "Thank you!"

Chen Rui smiled at her attitude and shared a glance with her husband. But Shin Tinming's eyes were already at the girl, with a smile over his lips. Seeing her husband like that, the woman was satisfied. "By the way, Tinming, I know you must have already realized who Xiao Xue is but still let me introduce her once more to you since when she has last seen you, you were unconscious". 

The man left the cutlery in his hands at once on the plate as he gave all his attention to his wife and nodded. "Sure. I was really eager to meet her. Finally, today is the day." 

He said, keeping a warm smile over his lips, before turning to Li Xue and continuing, "Thank you, child, for helping me out that day. It would be too typical to say but being the royal administrator of the country, I have to include. Saving me that day, you saved the country. We are really grateful to you".

Li Xue dropped her head down as her lips curled  with a smile of mockery. She didn't want anyone else to see that mock on her expression, that's why, before anyone could see her like that. She dipped her head down. "I am honored to help a human out of a severe situation. But that help of mine never meant to save the country. I am not that kind, Your Majesty."

At her words, Shin Tinming paused. His eyes grew keen to read the girl's expressions that were telling other tales. "You seem to hold a grudge against people''. It was not too hard for him to guess why the girl's words turned out that way. Though earlier he has never been interested to know her, he still has done a good investigation on her personality, her past, and also her present. 

Li Xue looked at him and without any hesitation nodded. 

"I know the people have done wrong to you, but there was a time when they loved you. Do you think holding a grudge against them for their wrong is justifiable?" Shin Tinming asked while Chen Rui decided to enjoy the show. She was sure the girl was capable of justifying her stance on her own. 

Li Xue smiled, she was not surprised to hear that the king and queen have run an investigation on her. She was already expecting it given the way she has gotten entangled with them. 

"Your Majesty, if the scorching heat of the fire has burnt you, you will tend to remember the prickly burning pain it has caused you, not the warmth that it has once provided you. So, I don't think that holding a grudge against them is any wrong". 

Though his ideologies were different from the girl's, with the reasons she presented to him, he could not call her thoughts to be wrong. She was wrong in a way but at the same time quite right in her own way. 

Shin Tinming's lips curled up as he nodded. As always, his wife was not wrong. The girl has also got the habit of giving a straight forwards shot. "Mhmm. I see. Though I don't agree with your words, I also don't completely disagree with them."

"I won't complain, Your Highness. Perceptions vary. It's already good if people respect each other's thoughts". Li Xue said, glancing down on the table. Her eyes got stuck at something on his plate. 

Seeing her gaze like that, the king also squinted his eyes before following it. "Is there something wrong with my plate?" He asked, not understanding her gaze quite well. 

Li Xue didn't detail much, rather simply said, "After having a health condition, one shouldn't be a picky eater, Your Majesty!