I’ll Hold Your Hand And Promise You A Lifetime - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Lost Year

“You must be hungry.” Ning Ran walked into the hospital room carrying dinner. She glanced around. “Where’s Xiao Luo?”

“Oh, I let Yi Luo go home first. She’s been in classes all day and must be tired. I’m feeling much better too.” Yue Xi juggled the apple in her hand. “Sis, I want to go home.”

“It’s been just me at home these days—so quiet I’m going crazy. I’ll ask the doctor now. You start eating.” Ning Ran laid out the dinner and went out.

While Yue Xi was happily eating, Ning Ran returned dragging Old Mao in with her.

“Yue Xi, you can be discharged,” Old Mao said. “Just be careful not to lift anything heavy or walk long distances. Take care of your leg, no intense activities for now—light walks are okay, but keep it moderate.” After saying that, he turned to Ning Ran and spread his hands. “All good?”

“Thanks. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime,” Ning Ran grinned.

“Sure. Call me when I’m off duty. She’s still growing, so as long as she eats well, there shouldn’t be any major issues.” Old Mao adjusted his glasses. “Go do the paperwork.”

“Pack up. I’ll be right back.” Ning Ran picked up her wallet and left with Old Mao.

Yue Xi quickly finished her dinner and started packing. Suddenly remembering something, she pulled out her phone and checked the calendar, smiling to herself. A plan was quietly forming in her mind.

After they got home, Ning Ran insisted on video-calling Sarah with Yue Xi.

“What did you tell your parents?” Ning Ran had been feeling lonely these days. Sarah was halfway across the world—visible but untouchable. How long would this last?

“They weren’t too happy about it—mostly my dad. He thinks it’s too far,” Sarah said, dragging out her voice. “But I miss you~”

“Should I come over and talk to them?” Ning Ran could understand how parents felt. “I’ll explain, or we can bring them here for a few days to see what it’s like?”

“What about Yue Xi? She just got discharged. Who’s going to take care of her?” Sarah took a sip of coffee.

“I can cook for myself. Just finish up and come back soon,” Yue Xi said from the couch, sketching in a notebook.

“If it’s really necessary, I’ll ask Scarface to come stay for a few days. I’d feel more at ease knowing someone’s here.” Ning Ran reached for her phone.

“I’m not a kid anymore,” Yue Xi muttered.

“There’s no rush. Grandpa will be staying for a while too.” Ning Ran really wanted to rush to the airport, but she couldn’t leave Yue Xi alone.

“Grandpa?” Sarah raised an eyebrow, confused.

“That’s a long story—I’ll make it short.” Ning Ran explained everything in one breath and then stood up. “I’m getting a drink.”

“Ohhh~~~ that complicated?” Sarah covered her mouth.

Yue Xi took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah. It’s complicated. I still haven’t fully accepted it.”

“So you’re the one with the dramatic backstory, not Ning Ran,” Sarah said, resting her chin in her hands.

“Yeah.” Yue Xi stared at the ceiling. Her story was pretty exhausting.

“I always thought both you and Ning Ran had mysterious backgrounds. Wow~ it’s like a drama.”

Yue Xi covered her face with the notebook. “Yeah, I think so too. But it doesn’t change anything—my sister is still my sister. No one can change that.”

Hearing this, Ning Ran rushed out of the kitchen and hugged Yue Xi tightly, planting a kiss on her cheek. “That’s my girl!”

“Louise!!” Sarah slammed the table so hard her coffee cup shook.

“Ah…” Yue Xi pushed Ning Ran away and quickly wiped her face.

“What? Why can’t I kiss my own sister?” Ning Ran grinned smugly, shooting a look at Sarah.

“You win.” Yue Xi raised her hands to the camera. “I’m out. You two chat.”

“Okay.” Sarah nodded, her voice rising dramatically. “I never even got to kiss Yue Xi, and you stole the first one! You beat me to it!”

“Uh?” Ning Ran froze, her beautiful face turning into a stunned expression.

“As her big sis, this hurts. I have to come back soon. I can’t let you steal all the firsts!” Sarah declared.

“Hey! I’m the real sister! She’s my sister because of me! She’s my girl!” Ning Ran argued, refusing to back down.

“I don’t care. Yue Xi just called me ‘sis,’ not you!”

“You…”

The two kept bickering sweetly, not noticing Yue Xi sighing and shaking her head as she entered her room.

Yue Xi gently caressed Shen Shao’s notebook, then put it back in the drawer. She stared blankly at her phone for a while before texting Yi Luo to say she’d been discharged and was home. Then she picked up the notebook again.

Elegant handwriting appeared before her eyes—Shen Shao had beautiful penmanship, just like his warm and graceful personality.

“Child, maybe I should call you Yue Xi. That was the name your mother and I once talked about giving our child. But because of me, your name became Qing Ling.

I’m sorry I never took you to the park, never saw you off to school, never took proper care of you… I was selfish, bringing you into this world thinking we’d be a happy family forever. But I broke that promise…”

Yue Xi suddenly felt drained. Everything in the notebook was what Grandpa had already told her. She tossed it aside, and a photo slipped out—a pair of smiling young people embracing in the sunlight. On the back were delicate words: “At the park.”

It was likely her dad and Meng Qingling. Yue Xi looked at Meng Qingling’s smiling face—it felt familiar, but she couldn’t place who it reminded her of. She tucked the photo back in.

“Look, Xiao Ling, look at this woman—she’s the one who killed your father. If it weren’t for her, your dad wouldn’t be dead…”

Suddenly, an anguished woman’s voice echoed in Yue Xi’s mind. The woman held a photo in one hand and pointed with the other. A four-year-old Yue Xi shrank back in fear, but the woman kept shoving the photo in her face.

It was Su Nian.

A spark lit up in Yue Xi’s mind, and fragments of that year began to resurface.

“You’re a bad person… a bad person…” Little Yue Xi huddled on the couch, arms around her knees. She’d just woken up and was speaking softly. The house was small and plain, nothing noticeable from the outside.

“I’m your mom. Look at me, I’m your mom,” Su Nian said gently. When calm, she had a gentle look, but she was clearly obsessive. “See? I have a photo of your dad.”

“Daddy’s not coming back,” Yue Xi pointed to the photo. “He won’t take me to buy toys anymore.”

“Mommy will buy you toys. Mommy will take you out,” Su Nian said, lowering the photo and reaching to hug her.

“I want Grandma,” Yue Xi pouted.

“Mommy will take you to Grandma in a few days,” Su Nian said patiently, still reaching out as Yue Xi kept her guard up.

“They’ll be sad if they can’t find me,” Yue Xi clutched her clothes.

“They know I took you. They won’t be sad,” Su Nian smiled awkwardly and took out a bag of fruit candy.

“Grandma said not to take things from strangers.” Yue Xi raised her little face and spoke with conviction.

“I’m not a stranger—I’m your mom. Here.” Su Nian peeled a candy and gently placed it in Yue Xi’s mouth.

Yue Xi frowned, remembered what happened before, and spat it out. “I don’t like you. You scared me. You gave me a shot.”

“Mommy’s sorry. Mommy was wrong.” Su Nian took Yue Xi’s hand and placed it on her cheek. “Mommy loves you. I just want to hug you. Can you forgive me?”

Yue Xi stared at the gentle woman before her, tilted her head, and said clearly, “You’re not my mom. I’ve seen my mom.”

Su Nian froze, speechless.

Yue Xi swung her legs. “My mom went far away. She’s with Daddy.”

Su Nian’s eyes welled with tears. She pulled Yue Xi into her arms. “I am your mom. She’s not. Not…”

Yue Xi’s eyes widened. This aunt was clearly lying. She had been scary before, now she was nice—it was too strange. She needed to find Grandpa and Grandma.

Su Nian wiped her tears and noticed Yue Xi staring at her quietly. “Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? Mommy will cook for you.”

Yue Xi shook her head. “I want to go outside.”

“It’s dark. Let’s play inside,” Su Nian said softly, stroking her face.

Yue Xi pouted. “I miss Grandpa and Grandma.”

Su Nian kept trying to be patient, tightening her hug. “Mommy’s here. Let’s play. What game do you want?”

“I…” Yue Xi had just started speaking when Su Nian suddenly heard footsteps and quickly clamped her hand over Yue Xi’s mouth, motioning for her to be quiet.

Yue Xi heard the knocking too and struggled, kicking and squirming, trying to get free.

Su Nian held her tightly, muffling her screams. Yue Xi’s face turned red as she struggled to breathe.

Finally, Su Nian sighed and let go.

Yue Xi ran to the window, trying to pull open the curtains.

Su Nian grabbed her back and turned on the TV. “Look, what’s this?”

“You’re a bad person…” Yue Xi wailed.

The small room echoed with her cries. Su Nian’s patience snapped.

“Shut up! Stop crying! Yes, I’m a bad person! I took you from your grandparents! You were always mine! No one can change that! They tricked you! I’m your real mother! Not Meng Qingling! Look at me!”

“Waaah…” Yue Xi cried even harder, rubbing her eyes with her small hands.

Yue Xi rubbed her forehead. It was after Su Nian gave her the shot that she was taken from kindergarten. Her memories after that were hazy—probably due to the drug. She was often unconscious, only waking for short periods. She didn’t know where she was. She was always locked in that room.

What she remembered most was how Su Nian would stare at her in a trance, then cry. Su Nian’s emotions had grown more unstable—sometimes feeding her with gentle care, unlocking the chains; sometimes screaming and wailing like a madwoman.

What Su Nian said most often was:

“You are my child. No one can take you away.”

Yue Xi closed her eyes. Even after remembering all of that, she found that she couldn’t bring herself to hate Su Nian.