I’ll Hold Your Hand And Promise You A Lifetime - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Together

Dawn came early. In April, spring was the best time of the year—warm, and the sky outside the window was as deep blue as an endless sea, dotted with fluffy white clouds—a perfect natural landscape.

Yue Xi woke up feeling an extraordinary surge of energy. She threw off the blankets and sat up, propping herself against the pillow.

“Oh—oh—oh, what are you doing moving around?” A nurse walked in with Yue Xi’s medicine and was startled to see her restlessness. “You’re newly fixed—don’t rush. I’ll help you sit up. Where are your family? Why are you alone?”

Yue Xi was about to reply when Sarah entered through the doorway. “I just got breakfast,” she said, placing the food down and joining the nurse.

The nurse’s eyes lit up as she caught sight of Sarah. “Oh—next time don’t let her move on her own. A shift in bones would be a disaster. Here’s your medicine.”

“Thanks!” Sarah smiled.

“You’re welcome,” the nurse hurried out, quietly thinking, Wow, she’s gorgeous—too dazzling to stare at directly.

Sarah gently tapped Yue Xi’s forehead. “You have no idea how seriously hurt you are—rib’s broken, head injured. Yet you dare to move?”

“Be gentle, ok, sis,” Yue Xi teased.

Sarah saw through her. “Don’t sweet-talk me. Here—your milk!”

“Thanks, sis~” Yue Xi smiled.

“We’re family—that’s what’s up.”

“Even family needs to express feelings—for days you’ve been worried, and it shows: your jaw’s tense, and your eyes are bloodshot. Not pretty.”

Yue Xi looked radiant—a different person after waking, brighter and more talkative.

“Not pretty?” Sarah gave her a mock-frown.

“Oh no, you’ve always been gorgeous—rested, even more so.” Yue Xi added quickly.

“Look at you, getting sweet-tongued~” Sarah quipped, brushing up her improved Chinese from watching dramas.

“Sis, what Chinese drama are you watching? You’re giving straight-up urban family-mom vibes!” Yue Xi lightly touched her head, wincing.

“Xiao Xi, I always thought you were quiet, reserved—but today you’re like a chatterbox, breezing through sentences with no effort.” Sarah teased warmly.

“I can’t compare. Sis, your martial arts are real—otherwise how would you have won me over?”

“What?” Sarah laughed, clutching her stomach. “You’ve really changed.”

“I like me now.” Yue Xi grinned.

“Definitely more fun. Before, you’d sit and say nothing. Silent as a jade maiden.” Sarah teased, still smirking.

Yi Luo arrived early, finished breakfast, and breezily came to the hospital with her backpack. As soon as Yue Xi saw her, her already pale face brightened—it seemed she regained color in her cheeks. Holding her milk box out in both hands, she asked, “Where’s my surprise?”

Yi Luo pulled out a thick notebook from her bag, blushing. “Here—read it yourself. I wanted to read it to you, but now you’re awake.”

“Don’t go—stay and chat.” Yue Xi tugged at her sleeve as Yi Luo started to stand.

“I’ll stay. Unlike you, I haven’t even finished my weekend homework yet.” Yi Luo smiled at the sight of Yue Xi acting like a child wanting candy.

Sarah peeked in, covering her mouth with a laugh. “Xiao Luo’s here to keep you company. I’ll check on your soup with your sis.”

“I want fish soup! Yi Luo likes kung-pao chicken, boiled shrimp, and mapo tofu,” Yue Xi joked.

“I’ll tell your sis. We’ll come back at noon—call if needed,” Sarah said, then left.

The two sat together: one reading the notebook, the other doing homework. The room held a calm intimacy.

Yi Luo finished her homework, packed up, and didn’t disturb Yue Xi who was still reading—she just flipped through a magazine.

Yue Xi flipped through the notebook with a tender smile: childhood notes from Yi Luo—first entries were plaintive complaints like “Yue Xi, where did you go? I couldn’t find you…” School graduation entries with a cry drawing: “Yue Xi, I graduated—we were supposed to graduate together…” A middle school note: “Yue Xi, you big liar—have you forgotten me? I’m already in grade two.” One page had scribbled figures of two friends holding hands by a lake, and the line: “We watched the sunset together—I haven’t forgotten. Have you?” Later pages—her recent heartfelt notes: “Yue Xi, don’t let others’ words define you… you are you… when you look at me, I feel safe…” There was a quote: “I overturned my whole world just to correct your reflection.”

Yue Xi gently closed the notebook. “Yi Luo, I never thought I’d sit here and say this—remember the time we caught tadpoles by the stream?”

“Yes. I nearly fell in, and you pulled me back.”

“You remember I told you you were my lifebuoy?”

“I remember,” Yi Luo nodded.

“And that you were the closest person to me—besides sis?”

Yi Luo nodded again.

“Then—remember that night before I left, I asked you: ‘If we ever parted, would you forget me?’ We drew that symbol every time we missed each other until notebooks ran out…”

Yi Luo leaned in on Yue Xi’s shoulder. “I remember everything.”

“Do you recall the song I sang that night?” Yue Xi braced herself. “Everything I meant was in the lyrics…”

Yi Luo stood, met Yue Xi’s eyes, and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “I know. I understand. That’s my surprise.”

Yue Xi froze, electrified from head to toe. Her heart raced; the world blurred. Finally she blinked, lips parted dryly, voice trembling: “Would you—be with me?”

“Yes,” Yi Luo said, holding her hand. “I want to be with you. I like you as much as you like me.”

“Yi Luo,” Yue Xi whispered tightly hugging her. “I’ve liked you for so long…it’s you I always think of…your happiness is my happiness…my heart aches when you hurt… I want to protect you… just sitting with you makes me whole. But I was afraid that I’d scare you, that you’d reject me…”

Yi Luo gently stroked her back. “It’s okay. If I’d understood sooner, maybe you wouldn’t have been hurt. Maybe we’d already be together.”

Yue Xi’s joy overflowed. “I’m so happy…” Words couldn’t express the warmth filling her.

“Me too,” Yi Luo whispered. “I just want to be by your side—travel everywhere, go to the same university, grow old together, you pushing me along when I’m old, watching sunsets… I want you always.”

They held each other in silence, hearts beating as one.

“Is your arm tired?” Yi Luo finally asked, loosening her hold.

“Not at all—I could hug you forever.” Yue Xi smiled, gazing into Yi Luo’s eyes, overflowing with love.

“You and your silly ways,” Yi Luo teased, tracing her eyebrow gently.

“Because you love me,” Yue Xi replied with pride.

“Would you object?” Yi Luo leaned in again.

“No—never. From now on, your words are law, Miss Yi. I’ll be at your call, ready at any moment—no complaints.” She kissed Yi Luo tenderly.