Chapter Thirty-Eight

“So you’ve been hiding this from me for so long? Does this girl often come to your room?” Zhang Yi’s mother asked.

Zhang Yi shook his head. “It’s not like that, Mom. She’s only been here twice and then didn’t come again. I promise I haven’t done anything to her.”

“What else did you want to do to her? You’re a boy with ideas, aren’t you?”

“Mom, stop teasing me. Do you really think your son would do something like that?”

His mother snorted. “Back in the day, your dad tricked me and that’s how you were born. Like father, like son.”

Zhang Yi didn’t quite understand what his mother meant—did his father chase his mother only after she was pregnant, or was it some other trick? Sometimes he felt as if he was actually the son of Old Wang from next door.

“Mom, are you saying I’m the son you had with Old Wang from next door?” Zhang Yi asked, not noticing how his mother’s expression had grown terrifying. He didn’t hear her respond, but when he looked into her eyes, he was instantly frozen, as if an invisible force bound him.

His mother smacked his backside, making him yelp and roll on the floor. She didn’t know how to describe her own predicament. “You even know about Old Wang next door? You’re your father’s son. Do you think I’d ever do something like that? Say that again and I’ll make sure your bottom blossoms.”

“Mom, I wouldn’t dare.” Zhang Yi clutched his stinging backside, caught between tears and laughter, as his mother headed into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Turning back to his room’s door, Zhang Yi noticed Li Li had been secretly watching their conversation. Hearing the commotion outside, curiosity got the better of her and she cracked the door open to peek out, just in time to see Zhang Yi getting his bottom smacked and crying out.

“Your mother is really amusing,” Li Li commented, smiling.

“Of course. My mom is the spark of joy in our family. She just takes jokes too far sometimes—like just now.”

“Have you ever hated your parents?” Li Li asked.

Zhang Yi answered calmly, “Hate? Why would I hate them? Parents are our safe harbor. Whenever there’s trouble, they’re the ones who help us out. I used to always try to solve things myself, but later realized I couldn’t do everything alone. That’s when I turned to them for help. I have no reason to hate them. If you hate your parents over trivial things, that’s just childish.”

Li Li was taken aback. Zhang Yi’s understanding of family was good, she thought. Memories surged in her heart—she had grown up without parents and had never known what fatherly or motherly love was. All she felt towards her parents was resentment. Where were they now? She wished she could grab them and ask why they abandoned her. Was it because she was a girl?

If she returned to the era when she was born, those days were still steeped in feudal thinking and the preference for boys over girls was severe. Having a boy was a blessing; a girl, a misfortune.

Li Li had been abandoned by her parents, then taken in by an orphanage. When she grew older, someone told her that her parents had died in a car accident. Li Li didn’t believe it and escaped the orphanage to search for them.

Now, she had given up on searching for her parents and had no motivation left. Even if she found them, what if they refused to acknowledge her as their daughter?

She cut her long hair and started posing as a boy, fooling many into believing she was male. She survived by stealing, living off whatever she could snatch.

If not for certain circumstances, she wouldn’t have ended up in the hospital, nor would she have met Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi waved his hand in front of her face. “Hey! Hey!”

“What are you doing?” Li Li snapped.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if you’re willing, you can be part of my family. I’ll talk to Mom and Dad and see if they agree.” Zhang Yi took her right hand.

“I don’t need your pity.” Li Li pulled her left hand away, her demeanor turning icy.

Just a moment ago, Li Li had been warm, but now she was cold. Zhang Yi realized he’d said something wrong again. It wasn’t really his fault; Li Li simply harbored deep resentment for the word “family.” She envied others for their happy families—why couldn’t she have one?

Without another word, Li Li left the Zhang household, pausing for a glance at Zhang Yi before going. Her eyes were already moist.

After Li Li left, Zhang Yi sighed. He hadn’t even given her the clothes he’d bought, and wondered if she’d be cold.

His mother asked where Li Li had gone. Zhang Yi answered honestly that she’d left. His mother tapped his head—how could he be so foolish? Li Li was still weak; letting her leave was as good as sending her to her death. His mother hurried out to search for her. Zhang Yi sat down on the sofa and sighed, his breath fogging up the air.

...

That morning, Yang Shuting woke Yu Xingyue early, saying there was something important. Yu Xingyue thought it was another broken water pipe, but it wasn’t. Sun Yao was bringing his daughter to meet them. Yang Shuting had already told Yu Xingyue that Sun Yao’s daughter was in sixth grade; if they were to live together, there wouldn’t be enough rooms.

The two got dressed and headed out. They didn’t wear masks—though the television said things had improved, Xingyue brought a box of disposable masks just in case.

The meeting place was five kilometers from their home. They rode the bus for five stops and got off near a restaurant—their destination.

“This feels like a matchmaking session,” Yu Xingyue exclaimed.

“It’s not matchmaking. Your Uncle Sun and I have already confirmed our relationship. We’re just meeting his daughter. Be gentle and don’t lose your temper,” Yang Shuting advised.

“Will Sun Uncle’s daughter make me angry? How bad is her attitude?” Yu Xingyue wondered.

“It’s not about attitude—her character’s just a bit… well, you’ll see.”

They found a quiet spot in the restaurant and sat down. Yang Shuting messaged Sun Yao to say they’d arrived; he was still on his way and would take a while.

To pass the time, they played on their phones. Yu Xingyue played games; Yang Shuting read the news.

About twenty minutes later, Yang Shuting saw Sun Yao approaching with a young girl. She nudged Yu Xingyue, who put away her phone as Sun Yao and the girl sat down.

Sun Yao apologized, “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“It’s fine, as long as you’re here,” Yang Shuting smiled.

“Honestly, Uncle Sun, the food you made yesterday was amazing. I can’t stop thinking about it,” Yu Xingyue praised Sun Yao’s cooking.

“Thank you for the compliment. By the way, this is my daughter, Sun Ying.” Sun Yao patted his daughter’s shoulder.

Yu Xingyue’s first impression of Sun Ying was that she was petite and pretty, with perfect features and a standard height. If she hadn’t looked closely, she might have thought Sun Ying was a porcelain doll, ready to shatter at a touch.

“Sun Ying, say hello to your aunt,” Sun Yao prompted.

“Um… I…” Sun Ying stammered, then fell silent.

Yu Xingyue quickly realized this girl was introverted, much like that Wu Guanzhong from before. Speaking halfway and stopping was certainly frustrating, which was why Yang Shuting had warned her to be gentle. But gentleness was not Yu Xingyue’s strong suit; it only made others cringe.

Yu Xingyue said, “If she doesn’t want to talk, don’t force her. Clearly, she’s not comfortable.”

Sun Ying kept her eyes on the floor, not daring to look at Yang Shuting or Yu Xingyue. She was only comfortable around Sun Yao; anyone else made her timid.

“Sorry, Sun Ying is quite shy. You’ll get used to it,” Sun Yao explained.

“No worries. Once we’re familiar, she won’t be so afraid. Right?” Yang Shuting nudged Yu Xingyue.

“Absolutely. Let’s just get to know each other first,” Yu Xingyue agreed.

Perhaps influenced by Sun Ying’s shyness, the atmosphere grew awkward and silent. No one spoke until Sun Ying finally said she was hungry, breaking the tension. Yu Xingyue almost couldn’t stand it.

During the meal, Yu Xingyue learned that Yang Shuting had remarried when Xingyue was in eighth grade. In her heart, a thousand wild llamas raced by—her mother was now someone else’s wife.

Seeing Yu Xingyue’s odd mood, Sun Yao guessed her thoughts and reassured, “Xingyue, don’t be upset. After we’re married, we’ll bring you both to live with us, and you’ll still see your mom.”

“If that’s the case, won’t I have to call Uncle Sun ‘Dad’?” Yu Xingyue asked.

“If you don’t want to, you can still call me Uncle Sun. That’s perfectly fine.”