I’ll Hold Your Hand And Promise You A Lifetime - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: One Wave Has Not Yet Subsided, Another Wave Has Risen

Yi Luo went straight home after school, her mind constantly thinking of how she could clearly explain everything.

Yu Xiaohua had already prepared dinner. The atmosphere at the table was heavy; the only sounds were the clinks of chopsticks against dishes.

After a rushed meal, Yu Xiaohua didn’t bother cleaning up the leftovers. She finally drank the last sip of soup, smoothed her hair, and looked at Yi Luo with a calm but firm tone.
“Luo’er, was your day okay today?”

“Mm, it was fine. I paid close attention in class.” Yi Luo put down her chopsticks, giving herself mental encouragement.

“I mean, you didn’t go see Yue Xi today, did you?” Yu Xiaohua looked at her worriedly.

“Not yet. I came straight home after school.” Yi Luo responded truthfully as usual.

“What do you mean, ‘not yet’? Are you planning to go see her later? Did you just completely ignore what we talked about last night? Are you trying to drive me to my grave?” Yu Xiaohua was angered by Yi Luo’s casual tone, pressing a hand against her chest as she tried to calm her breathing.

“Mom, you asked, and I told you the truth. I didn’t hide anything. Isn’t that enough? If I’d known you’d react like this, I wouldn’t have told you at all. I never intended to upset you or make you uncomfortable.” Yi Luo stayed calm, but her tone clearly carried frustration.

Yi Dad looked at the two of them, silently staring at the table. Just one night had left a stubble on his chin, making him appear noticeably older.

“Don’t you realize something like this would upset your parents? You must know! You must know that what you two are doing is wrong! I gave you time to reflect, but clearly, you’ve thought it over and still turned out like this. Wonderful!” Yu Xiaohua gave Yi Dad a quick glance. “You need to break it off with Yue Xi immediately. Don’t see her again. What you two are doing is just… deeply disappointing!”

“Mom, do you even know what you’re talking about? What exactly about us is so disappointing? What have we done that’s so unforgivable to the country or society? We’re not villains—we just like each other. And that’s wrong?” Yi Luo shot back like a rapid-fire cannon.

“Luo’er, speak to your mom properly,” Yi Dad stepped in, sensing things were getting out of hand.

Yu Xiaohua tried to soften her tone. “Yes, what you’re doing is wrong—deeply wrong. Everyone else is normal, so why must you be the exception? Everyone has responsibilities. You’re not living in this world just for yourself. You still have your parents. You have obligations to fulfill.”

“I never said I’d abandon my responsibilities or ignore my duties. Yue Xi and I are doing just fine and I can still live up to my obligations. Besides, what exactly makes me so different from everyone else? Do I have an extra eye or am I missing a nose?”

“Don’t argue with me. Since ancient times, it’s always been man and woman. That’s what’s natural and right! You being with Yue Xi is completely against social norms. It’s sick, it’s a twisted orientation! Homosexuality is not normal—it’s disgraceful!” Yu Xiaohua’s voice grew louder, her tone more severe.

“Then your thinking is just too outdated.” Yi Luo’s face turned cold. She never expected her mother to view her and Yue Xi like this.

“This has nothing to do with being outdated. We’ve always thought we raised you with open-mindedness. But this is about ethics and tradition—right is right, and wrong is wrong! I really can’t understand how you ended up on such a twisted path.” Yu Xiaohua covered her face.

“If that’s how you feel, then we have no way to continue this conversation. I’m done eating.” Yi Luo stood up, but then turned back as if remembering something. “I never expected you to accept it all at once. But the fact that it exists means it’s reasonable. I just wanted you to try and understand. I just want to love someone. Is that so hard for you?”

“Yes, it is hard. It’s very humiliating, because the person you love is a girl. We’re both normal people. I don’t know when you changed into someone like this.” Yu Xiaohua crossed her arms, her eyes full of hurt.

“I only love Yue Xi. It’s not like I’m into every girl.” Yi Luo lowered her head. In the light, there was a quiet strength in her expression.

“I don’t care who it is. From now on, you are not to see her again. I’ve already spoken with Ning Ran. You’re grounded this weekend. After school tomorrow, you come straight home.” Yu Xiaohua declared, laying down her restrictions.

Yi Luo took a deep breath, turned, and walked to her room. After a while, she opened her laptop and sent a broken heart emoji to Yue Xi.

Yue Xi was watching a movie but caught a glimpse of Yi Luo’s blinking icon on her screen and quickly clicked it open.

Yue Xi: “What’s wrong?”

Yi Luo: “Just had that talk with my parents.”

Yue Xi: “What did they say?”

Yi Luo: “My dad didn’t say much, but my mom looked like she was ready to eat me alive. It was terrifying.”

Yue Xi: “My sister told me… Your mom came to our house today. She asked my sister to keep an eye on me and not let us meet.”

Yi Luo: “What did Ning Ran say?”

Yue Xi: “Of course she’s on our side. Take it slow. One day your parents will accept us.”

Yi Luo: “Yeah. If the resistance lasted eight years, so can we. We’ll win this.”

Yue Xi: “^^”

Yi Luo: “But I miss you.”

As soon as Yi Luo sent that, Yue Xi initiated a video call.

Yue Xi: “See me now?”

She looked at Yi Luo with a radiant smile.

Yi Luo nodded, her eyes slightly red.

Yue Xi: “I’ll pick you up from school tomorrow.”

She could tell Yi Luo was feeling down—her tired look said everything.

Yi Luo: “Okay. I’ll return your jacket.”

Yue Xi: “Great. It’s a date. Don’t be sad. I’m here.”

Yi Luo: “Mm.”

Her gentle smile made her look like an angel.

Late at night, Yu Xiaohua sat in bed, brows furrowed. “I saw Yue Xi with an elderly man today.”

“Hm?” Yi Dad was reading and hadn’t realized she was talking to him.

“I just have this feeling that Yue Xi’s family isn’t as simple as they seem. That old man looked very dignified.”

“Ugh, stop worrying about other people’s families.”

Yu Xiaohua shot him a look. “You don’t even care about your own!”

“Oh right, I’ll be going on a business trip tomorrow. I won’t be back for a few days,” Yi Dad said, a little worried. “Don’t be too harsh. Talk to Luo’er properly. Hasn’t she always been a good kid?”

“Oh sure, whenever something happens, you just run away. Do you even care about your daughter? You’re barely ever home. Does your salary even match what you do?”

“Enough already. This isn’t something we can rush.” Yi Dad put down his book, unable to focus.

“Is Luo’er even your biological daughter? You act like nothing’s wrong! I’m stuck dealing with everything alone. Just seeing you makes me annoyed!” Yu Xiaohua stormed out, slamming the door.

“Sigh.” Yi Dad had no choice. He followed her out to the living room and gently brought her back. “Don’t make a scene, the kid’s asleep.”

Yu Xiaohua pushed his hand away and sat angrily on a chair in the bedroom, turning on the TV. “You sleep. I’m not tired.”

Yi Dad turned off the lights, lay on his side, and closed his eyes.

—

“Yue Xi?” Her classmates were surprised to see her at the door. It had been a while. No one knew where she had gone.

Yue Xi smiled and greeted everyone, then walked over and took Yi Luo’s bag, gently ruffling her hair. “Let’s go.”

“Master!” Lu Man called out excitedly. “When are you coming back to class?”

“Soon. Just a few more days.” Yue Xi was genuinely happy to see her innocent classmates again.

“You two must have a lot to catch up on. Go, go!” Lu Man playfully pushed them out. Ji Yi sat at her desk, watching them with a faint, knowing smile.

Yue Xi, carrying Yi Luo’s bag, looked a little helpless but naturally reached out and took Yi Luo’s hand, pulling her along.

They walked to a small coffee shop near the school. Quiet and cozy, the smell of coffee filled the air.

“What do you want to drink?” After they sat down, Yue Xi passed the menu to Yi Luo.

“Hmm… this one.” Yi Luo pointed to the colorful image of an iced cappuccino.

Yue Xi rang the bell on the table and ordered Yi Luo’s drink, a fruit juice for herself, and a slice of brownie cheesecake.

The food came quickly. Both the coffee and cake looked delicious.

“Haha…” Yue Xi chuckled as she watched Yi Luo’s satisfied expression.

“What are you laughing at?” Yi Luo pouted.

“Come closer. Let me clean that.” Yue Xi beckoned her with a finger. Yi Luo still had milk foam on her lips—it looked ridiculously cute, though she didn’t know it.

Yi Luo leaned in. “What is it?”

Yue Xi swiftly kissed her on the lips, then licked her own. “Milk foam.”

Yi Luo’s face turned crimson. “You’re terrible…”

Yue Xi tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. “All clean now.”

Yi Luo touched her burning cheeks, then picked up a piece of cake and offered it to Yue Xi.

Yue Xi beamed, eyes nearly closed with joy, and opened her mouth to accept it.

The little booth overflowed with warmth and happiness.

—

When Yi Luo got home, only Yu Xiaohua was there. Neither of them spoke much, the air awkward and heavy. They spent the evening silently doing their own things, neither breaking the tension.

—

The next day was Saturday. In the morning, Yu Xiaohua heard a knock and went to open the door. But no one was there. Just as she was about to close it, she glanced down and saw a white envelope on the ground.

Puzzled, she picked it up. Inside was a photo. As she pulled it out, she nearly bit her tongue from shock. Staring at the photo, she trembled all over, her hands and feet going cold. Her first instinct was to tear it up right there.

Taking several deep breaths, she slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

“Yi Luo!” Her voice was stern and cold, calling Yi Luo by her full name. “Come here!”

Yi Luo had been up for a while, lazily dragging her feet out of the bedroom. She had never seen her mother like this and obediently sat down.

“Look at this!” Yu Xiaohua’s hands shook with anger as she slapped the photo down onto the table.

In the picture were two people kissing—Yue Xi and Yi Luo, clearly photographed the day before in that café booth.