I’ll Hold Your Hand And Promise You A Lifetime - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Violent Battle

After receiving Yu Xiaohua’s call, Yi Tianyu immediately dropped his work and rushed to leave. His coworkers, who were on a business trip with him, found it baffling, but knowing the kind of man he was, they didn’t question or stop him.

On the flight, Yi Tianyu kept pondering how to deal with this tricky situation—it was more difficult than any work problem he’d ever faced. He wasn’t entirely against Yi Luo being with Yue Xi. As long as Yi Luo was happy, that was enough for him. His daughter deserved to be cherished. His greatest wish was for someone to love her wholeheartedly.

Although he didn’t have much faith in same-s3x relationships, he could understand what society saw as “outliers.” He sympathized with young people who fought for their happiness, even as he felt regret for those who, in doing so, lost their parents’ blessing—a sorrow that might stay with them forever.

“How’s Luo’er?” Yi Tianyu rushed home as soon as he landed, arriving just around dinnertime. The moment he stepped inside, he dashed to Yi Luo’s bedroom to check on her.

“She’s still asleep. She’s been sleeping for hours.” Yu Xiaohua wiped her tears nonstop. She had never expected that Yi Luo would harbor such thoughts. The memory of her earlier behavior terrified her.

“What did you say to her? She fainted twice. She even… even wanted to…” Yi Tianyu hadn’t gotten the full story over the phone. He unbuttoned his suit and walked to the living room, standing by the window to get some air.

Yu Xiaohua sat back down on the sofa, feeling miserable. She had only meant to make Yi Luo break up with Yue Xi. How could she have expected Yi Luo, with her stubborn streak—heaven knows from whom she inherited it—to be completely unmoved by either persuasion or pressure? She recounted every detail of her conversation with Yi Luo to Yi Tianyu.

“Luo’er…” Yi Tianyu sighed after listening, shaking his head, tired and helpless. “She’s just like me. Won’t turn back until she hits a wall.”

Looking at his back, Yu Xiaohua felt heartbroken and helpless. “What should we do then?”

“I think,” he said, walking over and sitting beside her, taking her hand, “this is her first relationship, after all. Maybe you should…”

“No way!” Yu Xiaohua pulled her hand back sharply, instantly rejecting what she knew he was about to say.

“Look at Luo’er. Look at the state she’s in!” Yi Tianyu was worried too, and his tone turned stern. “Are you going to keep pushing her? Do you really want her to go down that road?”

“She’s the one pushing me!!! Look at this photo—my heart feels like it’s being stabbed!” Yu Xiaohua’s tears over the past few days were more than she’d shed in decades.

Yi Tianyu held the photo tightly. He felt deeply conflicted. In it, his daughter looked so content—and he had the painful feeling that his precious girl was being taken away by someone else.

“Honey, what if we move? Transfer Luo’er to another school? Somewhere far away. That might be best for her,” Yu Xiaohua finally voiced her inner plan.

Yi Tianyu said nothing and gently set the photo down.

“Or… I’ll take her to a psychologist. She will get better!” Yu Xiaohua thought of another option.

“Xiaohua, stop putting her through this,” Yi Tianyu said, then stood and walked back to Yi Luo’s bedroom, leaving Yu Xiaohua alone in the living room to calm down.

By the time Yi Luo opened her eyes, night had fallen. She saw her father standing in front of the bookshelf, hands in his pockets, his back looking tired. Her eyes stung, and tears fell silently onto the pillow, still damp from earlier.

Yi Tianyu heard her soft sobs and walked over to turn on the light. He sat beside her, gently stroking her head with his warm, calloused hand.

“Dad…” Yi Luo bit her lip.

“Don’t cry. If you do, my Luo’er won’t be pretty anymore.” Yi Tianyu spoke gently, looking at her with love.

Yi Luo nodded, sat up in bed, and forced a small smile at him.

“You’re really stubborn—more than your mom.” Seeing his daughter so fragile tore at his heart. “I know everything now. Want to hear what your dad thinks?”

Yi Luo wiped away her tears and looked at him quietly.

Yi Tianyu helped wipe the ones still clinging to her cheeks. “I understand how you feel. You think we don’t get you, that we never cared about your true feelings, that we’ve been forcing our expectations onto you—am I right?” He smiled at her. “Your mom and I love you. No matter how you change, you’ll always be our daughter. It’s just that your mom can’t accept it right now. That’s why she said so many irrational things. She needs time to process. You need to understand her too. You’re our child—our legacy. She’s always had high hopes for you, so she’s reacting like this.”

“Me?” he continued, “I don’t have many expectations. I just want our family to be safe and happy. I want my Luo’er to smile brightly every day and be healthy.”

Yi Luo couldn’t stop the tears from falling again.

“I’m not optimistic about this kind of relationship, but I want you to do what makes you happy. I hope you live the life you want, with someone who loves you and whom you love. I don’t care what others think. As long as you’re happy, I’m satisfied.” Yi Tianyu rubbed his chin. “What, not touched yet? I said all that and you won’t even give me a hug?”

Yi Luo threw herself into his arms, crying as she said, “Dad…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I get it.” He patted her back gently. “Your mom’s been sitting alone in the living room for a long time. You really scared her earlier. Go get her and help her up.”

Yi Luo nodded obediently and went to the living room. When she saw how worn-out Yu Xiaohua looked, she couldn’t help but hug her.

Yu Xiaohua let her hold her, but the tears she’d barely held back now ran down her cheeks again. “You’re never allowed to think like that again, you hear me? You scared me to death.”

“Mm.” Yi Luo rested her head on her mother’s shoulder and answered softly.

“We’ll deal with everything else later. Right now, there’s just one thing I want you to do,” Yu Xiaohua said, pulling back and holding Yi Luo’s face with eyes full of hope.

“Mom!” Yi Luo frowned, jaw clenched.

“Tomorrow, you’re going to see a psychologist,” Yu Xiaohua said, letting go of her. “That’s my only condition now.”

The atmosphere, which had just started to ease, tensed up again. Yi Tianyu tried to calm it down. “Luo’er, listen to your mom.”

“I’m not sick! Why should I go?” Yi Luo couldn’t stay calm.

“Whether you’re sick or not, we’ll find out after you go!” Yu Xiaohua snapped, then stormed back to her bedroom.

“Luo’er…” Yi Tianyu wanted to reason with her, but Yi Luo pushed him away.

“No need to say more. I’ll go.” Yi Luo kicked open her bedroom door and flopped onto her bed.

Early the next morning, Yu Xiaohua prepared breakfast, ate by herself, changed clothes, and sat in the living room waiting for Yi Luo. Seeing how dark her face was, Yi Tianyu coaxed Yi Luo to eat, then drove both of them out.

At the counseling center, Yu Xiaohua watched as Yi Luo took a psychological test. She gave the counselor a brief summary of the situation, then pushed Yi Luo toward the consultation room.

Yi Luo walked in reluctantly and sat across from the psychologist, not saying a word for a long time.

“Well then, if you won’t talk, I’ll start,” the female doctor said, glancing at the test results. “You’re very smart. Look at this chart—high creativity, good memory, strong social skills. You have potential. Do you have any questions?”

Yi Luo hesitated, then muttered, “Not really. My mom made me come.”

“Hmm, why did your mom want you to come?” the counselor asked with a kind smile.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal. I just… became lovers with my best friend.” After last night’s long reflection, Yi Luo unexpectedly found herself lowering her guard in front of this woman. She began recounting everything from the beginning, letting it all out. She felt a lot lighter afterward.

“You’re doing just fine. From what you’ve said, I don’t see anything abnormal.” The psychologist closed her notebook and adjusted her glasses. “Loving someone you want to love is not abnormal.”

Yi Luo stared in disbelief. She had thought the psychologist would at least ask her to listen to her mother.

“No need to be surprised. I’ve met other cases like yours—parents bringing in children they think are ‘abnormal.’ I always say the same thing. Homosexuality is not some shameful thing. It stopped being classified as a mental illness long ago. It’s just a matter of personal orientation. Everyone has the right to choose who they love. From a human standpoint, there’s no difference between straight and gay.

“Besides, with women’s social status rising, lesbian communities are growing. Many have independent incomes and social standing. They boldly pursue the lives they want instead of hiding themselves or conforming to traditional marriages, only to live unhappily afterward.

“I’m not saying I encourage it,” she added, “Statistically, HIV infection rates are higher among same-s3x groups. But today, I’m just helping you analyze this from a scientific perspective.

“And besides, you’re not attracted to all girls. You just like her. I’ve seen this kind of bond before—childhood friends, deeply connected, with the courage to move forward. Sometimes, feelings can be confusing. You might mistake them for love, but your case seems different.

“And you know, parents aren’t always right. You need to think for yourself. They’re not perfect. I hope time will give you clarity—and happiness.”

She glanced at the clock, jotted a few final notes, then lifted her teacup. “Alright, time’s up. I don’t think we’ll need another session.”

Yi Luo nodded, smiled at the doctor, and walked out with light steps.

Sunlight poured through the windows outside, glinting off the glass.