novelraw Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Scorched by the sun, the lotus leaf finally became completely unusable.
Liu Wenjie had meant to throw it away, but when he saw that Xia Ying had grown oddly attached to it, they found a small mound of earth and buried the leaf instead.
Wenjie pressed his palms together, eyes closed, as though sending the leaf's spirit onward. Little Xia Ying copied him, her soft childish voice earnest: "Thank you, Mr. Lotus Leaf, for shading Wenjie-gege and me from the sun. I hope you're happy in your next life."
Wenjie struck a solemn pose. "Amen."
Then they walked home together.
At the gate of the estate, little Xia Ying waved happily. "Bye-bye, Wenjie-gege! See you tomorrow!"
Wenjie rapped on his own door. "About tomorrow—don't count on me for another outing. Staying in with my books and the air-conditioning sounds perfect."
Xia Ying beamed. "Mm! Okay!"
From inside, Lin Xiaoli opened the door. "Oh, Xiaojie and little Xia Ying are back. Are you heading straight home, sweetheart? You're not coming in to sit with Auntie?"
Xia Ying shook her head with a shy laugh. "No, thank you, Auntie. Grandpa will be home soon."
Lin Xiaoli studied the child's face—every time she played with Xiaojie, the girl glowed.
After a quick goodbye, Xia Ying fished her key from her pocket and let herself in.
Inside, she kicked off her sandals, slipped into her slippers, and padded to the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her cheeks and stared at her reflection—dull, clumsy eyes, nothing like Wenjie-gege's bright, clever ones.
"Why does Wenjie-gege always look so smart, and I always look so dumb..."
His words from that afternoon echoed in her ears. Her small rosy lips pressed tight; a decision formed.
She dashed to the bedroom, snatched the family photo from the bedside table. The picture showed Mom, Dad, and her on an outing years ago.
Head bowed, Xia Ying squeezed her eyes shut, fist raised high the way they did in kindergarten drills. "I'm going to be happy! I'm going to be strong! I'll do what I want! No more being scared!"
She was alone, yet it felt as though Wenjie-gege stood beside her, hands on hips, urging, "Louder! Put some spirit into it! Didn't you say you wanted to be amazing?"
Xia Ying raised her voice, throwing uppercuts at the air. "Be happy! Be strong! Be happy! Be strong!"
She kept shouting, long past the point of knowing how long.
When Grandpa came home, Xia Ying hurried to greet him. The old man's weary face lit at the sight of his granddaughter. "I'm home, my precious girl. Did you have fun with Wenjie this afternoon?"
His smile froze when he noticed the photo frame clutched in her hands. He knew that picture by heart.
Xia Ying screwed up her courage, lifting the frame high. "Grandpa, I want to see Mom and Dad. I want to see Mom and Dad!"
Grandpa paused, hand on the doorknob, momentarily dazed.
Since the divorce, Xia Ying had rarely mentioned her parents, let alone asked to see them. His lips trembled into a smile; he knew what those simple words had cost her.
How much courage must a child muster to face the truth that her parents no longer loved each other—yet still dare to meet them?
He crouched, stroking her head, voice thick. "Xia Ying's growing up—becoming a big girl. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Good. Your dad mentioned wanting to visit. Shall I ask him to come tomorrow? Just Dad first?"
Xia Ying's small fingers tightened on the frame. She nodded slowly. "Mm."
Next morning she rose early, nerves jangling. She dug through the wardrobe for her prettiest dress, then hunted for white socks and new slippers. After bathing, she fixed her hair with painstaking care.
From the living-room sofa Grandpa watched every move. "Need any help, Xia Ying?"
"I'm fine, Grandpa. I can do it myself."
"Dad will be here in about an hour. We'll all have breakfast together."
"Mm."
Grandpa glanced at the weather report: rain looked likely.
Finally Xia Ying ran back to the bedroom and drew a small box from the drawer. Inside lay her most precious possession—a cracked strawberry hair clip, carefully mended. She opened the lid with reverence and fastened the clip in her hair.
Hands pressed to her racing heart, eyes closed, she whispered a prayer: "Wenjie-gege, wish me luck. I'll succeed. I can do this."
One last fist pump. "Be strong! Be happy!"
An hour later she stood at the door, Grandpa's hand in hers, waiting. When the knock came—three firm raps—she jumped.
"Dad? It's me. Open the door."
Trembling, Xia Ying's small fist hovered in the air. That was Dad's voice...
Grandpa threw her a worried glance, but this time Xia Ying's resolve held; she didn't bolt.
"Coming!" Grandpa called, opening the door.
A man in a white shirt and suit pants, short hair neat, stepped inside—holding the hand of a boy who looked just like him, sturdy and clearly a few years older than Xia Ying.
Dad greeted Grandpa, then turned to his daughter and froze. "Xia Ying... you've grown so much."
Xia Ying's voice shook. "D-Dad... hello."
Dad smiled and pulled the boy forward. "This is your older brother."
She stared at the boy, a flicker of Wenjie's face in her mind. The word "brother" stuck in her throat.
Dad sighed. "Still the quiet one, I see. Just like before." He nudged the boy. "Say hello."
"Hi, little sister," the boy said at once.
Xia Ying's hands twisted in front of her, head down.
"I-I'm sorry..."
Grandpa bristled. "What do you know? Xia Ying's changed a lot these years. How can you say she's the same?"
Dad blinked, nonplussed. "What's the problem? I walked in and said one sentence—why the fireworks?"
Grandpa glanced at Xia Ying, fearing hurt, then lowered his voice. "Let me tell you—if Xia Ying didn't want to see you, you wouldn't have got past that door."
He led Xia Ying to the table. "Didn't you bring breakfast? Lay it out. We're hungry."
"Oh—right. I got huoshao and stuffed-bun soup."
Soon they were seated. Xia Ying sat stiffly, taking tiny nervous breaths, while the unfamiliar boy ate with gusto and no worries.
Dad handed her a steamed bun. "Eat up. Kids do shoot up. I see the photos now and then, but seeing you in person is something else."
"Thank you, Dad," Xia Ying whispered.
Dad turned to Grandpa. "We've talked it over. She's agreed to have Xia Ying come live with us. The paperwork for switching schools might be tricky, though."
Grandpa buttered a huoshao. "What are you thinking? I only asked you to visit. No one said she's moving in. Besides, how would she live there? Can the two of you look after her? Did you even ask her? If your wife really cared for Xia Ying, why isn't she here today?"
"She's busy at work—why so many questions at once?"
Xia Ying found her voice. "D-Dad... I don't want to live there..."
Dad cut her off with a placating smile. "It'll be great. Your aunt will love you, and your brother will look after you."
"No—"
Grandpa bit back a curse, glancing at Xia Ying. "When Xia Ying wants to see you, she'll let you know. We're fine here. I've got company."
"But Dad, long-term—she needs to get used to—"
Xia Ying nibbled her bun. The boy beside her moved, accidentally brushing her arm—not hard, but enough to jostle her. The strawberry clip, already loose, slipped from her hair and shattered on the floor.
The crisp crack seemed to suck every sound from the room; Xia Ying's eyes widened.
"Sorry," the boy muttered.
Xia Ying dropped her food and scrambled after the pieces, eyes reddening.
Dad frowned. "What happened?"
The boy swallowed. "I broke her hair clip."
"It's just a clip," Dad said. "We'll buy another. There's a supermarket downstairs—go pick one for your sister."
Xia Ying stared at the broken pieces, tears finally spilling onto the strawberry ornament.
She ran, sobbing, out the door and down the stairs before the adults could move.