I’ll Hold Your Hand And Promise You A Lifetime - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Everything Has A Story

When Yue Xi said she wanted to visit Shen Shao, Shen Wei asked Ning Ran to drive. The group first went to have lunch, and then brought Yue Xi to the cemetery. In the car, Shen Wei spoke to Yue Xi again, telling her more about what had happened over the years, including things like how her name had been changed.

“Jie, stop the car,” Yue Xi said when she saw a flower shop by the road. She opened the door and got out with the help of her crutch.

Shen Wei smiled slightly at the sight. “Xiao Ning, and Qiangzi too—when Xiao Ling turns eighteen, you two can go live your own lives. I’ve held you back for so many years. I won’t let you be shortchanged.”

“Old…” Ning Ran was about to speak, but Shen Wei cleared his throat in the back seat, and she quickly corrected herself, “Grandpa, what are you saying? I’ve always been doing what I wanted to do. Taking care of Xiao Xi is something I promised you long ago.”

“Old Chief, are you trying to kick us out now? Are we bothering you that much…” Ding Qiang said sourly.

“Haha, you…” Shen Wei was amused by Ding Qiang’s expression.

“Exactly, Grandpa. Since we’re all here for Xiao Xi, you don’t need to be so polite with us. It’s all part of our responsibility. The four of us got to go to school safely and live a decent life thanks to your help. Let us repay the favor.” Ning Ran rested her hand on the steering wheel.

“Alright, alright. No more of this—any more and we’d be strangers. The past is past. We’re family. When I bring my wife here, we’ll have a big reunion.”

“Great! I’ll let Da Mei and Lao En know. Haven’t seen them in forever,” Ding Qiang rubbed his hands together excitedly.

“Yeah, I sent Da Mei overseas, and Lao En into the military. Qiangzi looks all proper, but he can handle both the light and dark sides. And Xiao Fireball—our only girl—I had her become a full-time nanny,” Shen Wei called them all by their nicknames.

“Me? Handle both sides? At most, I’m just loafing around trying to get by,” Ding Qiang chuckled honestly.

As they talked, Yue Xi returned with the flowers. Soon, they arrived at the cemetery. Since Qingming Festival hadn’t arrived yet, the place was empty.

Yue Xi placed a bouquet in front of Shen Shao and Meng Qingling’s graves. Their photos were already slightly yellowed. She stood quietly in front of the headstones, silently wishing them peace and happiness in the afterlife.

On the way back, Yue Xi remembered to message Yi Luo. After a moment’s thought, she sent him a smiling emoji. She knew he’d understand.

Yi Luo replied quickly, saying he was waiting for her in the hospital room, followed by a mischievous emoji. Yue Xi smiled at her screen and sent another smiley face before putting her phone away.

Shen Wei looked at the familiar expression on Yue Xi’s face and fell into memories of Shen Shao.

“Grandpa, would you like to come upstairs for a while?” Yue Xi asked after getting out of the car and leaning on her crutch.

“No, I’ll head back to where I’m staying. You’ve been out all day and haven’t even taken your meds yet.”

“Okay. You must be tired too. Rest well.” Yue Xi gently closed the car door.

“I’ll take Grandpa back first, then come to keep you company,” Ning Ran turned around and winked with her left eye at Yue Xi.

“Okay. Stay safe. Grandpa, Brother Qiangzi, goodbye,” Yue Xi waved.

She hobbled into the inpatient building. Just as she pushed open the hospital room door, Yi Luo’s voice rang out, “Where did you go today? The nurse said you left this morning and haven’t even taken your medicine.”

“How did you know I was back?” Yue Xi entered and poured herself a glass of water.

“I could tell by the sound of your footsteps,” Yi Luo said without looking up, still flipping through his notebook.

“Something really good happened today. Guess what~” Yue Xi sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Ning Ran jie took you out to have fun?” Yi Luo lifted his head.

“Nope. Try again.” Yue Xi’s eyes curved like a little fox.

“Hmph, how could I possibly guess?” Yi Luo pouted.

“Here’s a hint—it has to do with my dad.” Yue Xi pulled out the notebook Shen Shao had left her from her bag.

“Ah, your dad came to see you?” Yi Luo himself didn’t even believe what he said.

“Uh… my dad passed away a long time ago,” Yue Xi said softly. “I can’t even remember what he looked like anymore.”

“Oh, sorry. So what happened?” Yi Luo put down his notebook and pinched Yue Xi’s nose, “I can’t guess~”

“If you can’t guess, I’m not telling you.” Yue Xi flopped onto the bed. “I’m so tired. I’ll nap a bit. Wake me when my jie comes.”

“No way, you can’t sleep! Tell me already. I hate being left hanging!” Yi Luo tried to pull her up from the bed.

“Here, in my hand.” Yue Xi raised the notebook.

“Wow, isn’t this the kind of notebook our parents used back in the day?” Yi Luo took it from her. She had seen similar ones at home before—the paper tinted yellow from age.

“Mm, my dad left it for me,” Yue Xi said, turning her head to look at Yi Luo.

“You better keep it safe,” Yi Luo didn’t open it and handed it back to Yue Xi.

Yue Xi nodded and pulled Yi Luo’s hand over her eyes. Thinking of her father’s complicated and tragic past, she murmured, “Someday, I’ll tell you my dad’s story. The fact that I can sit here, hold your hand, see your face, and talk to you—this is my greatest happiness.”

Meanwhile, Ding Qiang noticed that Ning Ran had been driving for a long time and offered to take over, driving Shen Wei back to the hotel.

“Xiao Ning, have you ever thought about going back for a visit?”

“Not really,” Ning Ran replied truthfully. “I hate them. They never once considered accepting me. In that remote little mountain village, they didn’t understand anything…”

“Have you tried to find out how they’re doing now?”

“No. I don’t want to know. My childhood was full of beatings and shouting. I pity my mom, but she was too weak—she couldn’t even protect herself, let alone care for me. Just because I’m a girl, I had to endure inhumane treatment? Do all the housework beyond my limits? Obey even the filthiest, most absurd things the elders said?!” Ning Ran’s voice dripped with hatred as painful images flashed before her eyes. “Back then, I dreamed of running far away and never returning. I never wanted to see any of them again.”

Shen Wei handed her a thick envelope without a word, sighed, and patted her shoulder before getting out of the car.

“Ning Ran, you okay?” Ding Qiang nudged her.

“I’m fine.” Ning Ran held the envelope to her forehead. “Just remembered the past, got a bit annoyed. I hate those people who take superstition as faith, who cause trouble for no reason, who make it their mission to meddle. Domestic violence is ‘natural’ to them. Abuse is routine. What I don’t get is how they can live so at ease after seeing others suffer.”

“I understand.” Ding Qiang handed her a cigarette and a lighter. “In the orphanage, I was bullied by the older kids. Everyone laughed at me. I knew fighting back meant nothing. That feeling of being abandoned by the whole world is the coldest thing ever—colder than snowmelt. No one to rely on, and no one willing to let you rely on them. You can only rely on yourself. That’s the only way to survive.”

“Ignorance and backwardness have destroyed so many lives. The saddest thing is when the victims don’t even know they’re victims—and even help the abusers, thinking they’ve earned approval. But all they’ve done is push themselves deeper into the abyss.” Ning Ran thought of her mother.

“They don’t even realize they’re stuck in a swamp. The more they struggle, the deeper they sink.”

Ning Ran nodded and lit the cigarette, exhaling the hatred that had built up inside her. “I really can’t imagine—if I hadn’t escaped that mountain, would I have slowly grown numb, cold, and become just like them?”

“You? No way. You’ve got this fierce, fearless energy in your bones. Even Lao En, the king of brawls, didn’t dare take you head-on,” Ding Qiang recalled their first meeting.

“I didn’t know you guys were sent by Grandpa back then. I thought you were a couple of gangsters.” Ning Ran laughed too.

“Right? Lao En was so thuggy. Now that he’s in the military, he’s even tougher. No idea why the Old Chief wanted him in the army.”

“Lao En’s a bit wild, yeah, but he always dreamed of joining the military. Plus, he’s the only martyr’s child among us. Grandpa’s just helping him out.”

“Yeah, at least he had a goal and that soldier’s spine. Not like Da Mei, that fake girl with long hair and a face white as snow, like it was painted with layers of powder. If he didn’t talk, I wouldn’t have guessed he was a guy.”

“Haha, back then Da Mei was an ice cube. Anyone who got close got frostbite. One glare could pin you to the wall,” Ning Ran added.

“You were the only one who could melt that walking iceberg. Even Lao En and I were impressed. We used to praise you in our sleep.”

“Da Mei and I just have pure sibling love—family. He’s my big brother. Of course he loves me. Don’t project your dirty thoughts on us or I’ll get the Ice King to freeze you.”

“I’m scared, I’m scared. You two together are like fire and ice. When your temper flares, not even the sea could douse it. Life now is something I never even dared to dream of. Never thought I’d live like this.” Ding Qiang stroked the long scar on his right hand—an old childhood wound. The pain was long forgotten, but the scar remained as a constant reminder of abandonment.

“Yeah,” Ning Ran exhaled a long puff, letting go of the hate in her chest. “Let’s go. Xiao Xi is still at the hospital.”