I’ll Hold Your Hand And Promise You A Lifetime - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Porridge House Gathering

For three consecutive days, Yi Luo hadn’t come looking for Yue Xi. Yue Xi kept thinking about the way Yi Luo had looked at her that night when she ran after her. That look had made it hard for Yue Xi to breathe—it was filled with confusion, doubt, questions, and a feeling she couldn’t quite name but that made her uncomfortable. Even so, after chasing her down, Yue Xi still insisted on helping the two younger girls find a taxi. Before leaving, Yi Luo seemed like she wanted to say something—but in the end, she just gave her a long look.

Lying in bed with her hands folded behind her head, Yue Xi let out a long sigh. She was home alone. Ning Ran and Sarah had gone out with Tiffany’s family for a stroll. Yue Xi had claimed she was tired and wanted some peace and quiet before school started again, so she stayed behind.

She closed her eyes, but her mind was still full of thoughts of Yi Luo—Yi Luo, who used to follow her around like a little shadow. Suddenly, Yue Xi saw a small child locked inside a pitch-black room, trembling in fear, curled up into a ball. The child’s hands and feet were chained. At the doorway, where a faint light shone through, stood a woman with long hair wearing a white nightgown. She said, “Xiao Ling, my child, no one can take you away.” Then, the scene shifted to Ning Ran sitting beside her bed, gently stroking her head, saying she was her sister.

Yue Xi jolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat. Was that a dream? Or something she had actually experienced before? But why didn’t she remember any of it? Ning Ran had told her that she’d had a severe fever as a child, one so bad that she forgot even who she was. She didn’t speak a word, just stared blankly ahead. The nurses at the hospital even knew about the five-year-old girl who was unusually quiet, never cried or made a fuss. But did she really forget all of that just because of a fever?

Meanwhile, at home, Yi Luo was feeling restless and bored. The day after tomorrow was the start of school, and she still wasn’t in the right mindset. Sitting on the couch didn’t feel right, lying down didn’t help, and nothing on TV was interesting. She flipped through a novel but quickly tossed it aside. Her mother, Yu Xiao Hua, saw how agitated her daughter looked and brought over a plate of fruit. “If you want to go out, then go out. Look at you squirming around on the couch like that.”

Yu Xiao Hua had always been satisfied with her daughter. She was sensible and independent—never the kind of child that needed constant supervision. So, she usually didn’t meddle too much.

“I just went out last night with the others to Ning Ran-Jie’s party. I don’t feel like going out again.” Yi Luo rested her head on her mom’s lap, acting spoiled.

“Ning Ran—was that the one whose place you stayed at last time?” Yu Xiao Hua still felt a little awkward about it. “Why don’t we invite them over for dinner sometime?”

“She’s Yue Xi’s older sister. No need.” Yi Luo pouted a bit when she mentioned Yue Xi.

“You were so close with her when you were little. After they moved away, you cried your eyes out.” Yu Xiao Hua chuckled, teasing her daughter.

“That was ages ago, and besides, they’re back now.”

“You stayed at their house for quite a few days last time. As parents, we should at least show some gratitude. Besides, you used to go over there all the time when you were younger.”

“I wasn’t a bother. Ning Ran-Jie and Yue Xi loved having me over.” Yi Luo sat up and hugged her mother’s arm.

“You’re something else.” Yu Xiao Hua made up her mind. “Go on, call them and say we’d like to invite them to dinner—see if they’re free sometime in the next few days.”

“Okay.” Yi Luo couldn’t argue with her mom, so she picked up her phone and called Ning Ran.

After chatting a bit, Yi Luo explained why she was calling. On the other end, Ning Ran asked quietly, “Would your mom mind if I brought Sarah along?”

“She shouldn’t.” Yi Luo covered the phone and asked, “Mom, Ning Ran-Jie wants to know if she can bring one more person?”

“No problem at all!” Yu Xiao Hua responded cheerfully.

“My mom says it’s fine. You can talk to Sarah-Jie and see if she wants to come.” Yi Luo lowered her voice as she said the last part.

“What are you mumbling about?” Yu Xiao Hua gave her daughter a curious look.

“Nothing. Ning Ran-Jie said anytime is fine. You can pick a date.”

“Let’s make it tonight. Your dad’s always away on business anyway,” Yu Xiao Hua said decisively. “Let’s go to that porridge place you like.”

“Ning Ran-Jie, is tonight okay?”

“No problem. I’ll drag Yue Xi along with me.”

After setting the time and place, Yi Luo ended the call politely.

Once she hung up, Ning Ran turned to Sarah. “Sarah, Yi Luo’s mom invited us to dinner to thank us for letting her stay over last time,” she said hesitantly.

“What are you trying to say?” Sarah immediately knew Ning Ran had more to say.

“I just… I don’t know if her mom will be okay with us… I mean, you know, us.”

“What are you worried about?”

“This is China, not M Country. My classmates don’t care, but maybe her mom might have a hard time accepting it. And I don’t want her to think badly of Yue Xi because of me.” In the end, Ning Ran was worried about Yue Xi.

“Alright then, just say I’m Yue Xi’s other older sister. I mean, I am her other sister,” Sarah said, after thinking it over. “But I won’t hide who I am for anyone.”

“I’m not asking you to hide anything! You’re amazing!” Ning Ran hugged Sarah tightly and showered her with kisses. Tiffany’s whole family watched nearby, thoroughly entertained.

That night, Ning Ran, Sarah, and Yue Xi arrived at the porridge restaurant Yi Luo liked. Yi Luo and her mom were already seated in a private room with a table full of side dishes. Yue Xi looked around as they walked in—although it was just a porridge place, the decor was refined, traditional, and elegant. The service was warm and attentive. Though it had only just reached dinnertime, the main hall was already full of customers, creating a lively atmosphere.

“Hello, Auntie,” Yue Xi and Ning Ran greeted politely.

“Hello, hello! Come, have a seat, no need to be shy.” Yu Xiao Hua’s eyes fell on the beautiful mixed-race woman standing beside Ning Ran. “And this young lady is?”

Sarah flashed the charming smile she had practiced countless times. “Hello, Auntie. I’m Yue Xi’s god-sister.”

“You’re so beautiful,” Yu Xiao Hua said sincerely. Few people weren’t stunned by Sarah’s looks.

“You flatter me.”

“Your Chinese is excellent.”

“Thank you, Auntie. Yue Xi taught me everything,” Sarah replied, throwing Yue Xi a flirtatious glance. Yue Xi quickly pulled Ning Ran over to shield herself.

“Haha, you young people are so fun. Come, look at the menu—order anything you like.” Then Yu Xiao Hua noticed her daughter hadn’t said a word. “Luor, why are you so quiet?”

“Ning Ran-Jie, Sarah-Jie,” Yi Luo paused, “and… Yue Xi.”

Sarah noticed the awkward tension between the two younger girls and burst out laughing. “Did you two have a fight?”

“No,” they answered in unison, then exchanged a quick glance and fell silent again.

“It’s normal for kids to bicker. You wouldn’t believe it, but when Yue Xi’s family moved away, Luor cried even harder than when she lost her teddy bear. She sobbed and told me she’d never speak to Yue Xi again,” Yu Xiao Hua said with a laugh. “But as soon as they moved back, she was the first to go looking for her.”

“They had such a close bond. Even after years apart, they still click—that’s fate,” Ning Ran added. “When we first moved here, it was thanks to Luor. Yue Xi was shy as a kid, afraid of strangers. If I hadn’t dragged her to school, she would’ve never gone. But one day, she suddenly picked up her backpack and cheerfully told me she wanted to go—then I realized it was because she’d become good friends with Luor.”

“I still remember that birthday photo they took together. Both kids were smiling so happily. Luor still has that photo in her room,” Yu Xiao Hua said wistfully. “You two really had it tough. It was just the two of you, and you were so young, yet you managed to raise another child.”

“Well, I am the older sister,” Ning Ran smiled at Yue Xi. “She’s very mature. I didn’t have to worry much.”

“Xiao Ning,” Yu Xiao Hua said fondly, “are you seeing anyone?”

“Um…” Ning Ran hadn’t expected that question.

“She’s already engaged,” Sarah said cheerfully, holding up Ning Ran’s hand to show off the ring.

“Oh, how wonderful! Someone who loves you—that means you won’t have to work so hard anymore.” One look at the ring told Yu Xiao Hua that the fiancé must be well-off.

“Yes. The two of us take care of Yue Xi together—it’s not hard at all,” Ning Ran said, squeezing Sarah’s hand.

As the conversation flowed, everyone relaxed. They chatted and ate happily. Even Yue Xi joined in occasionally. But Yi Luo stayed uncharacteristically quiet all night, not her usual bubbly self. Sarah and Ning Ran couldn’t quite figure out what had happened between the two of them, but they had a great time talking with Yu Xiao Hua.

They walked home together, chatting, and said their goodbyes at the residential complex.

“Luor,” Yu Xiao Hua said, frowning, “there’s something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?” Yi Luo wondered if her mom had noticed something was off.

“Ning Ran and Yue Xi’s god-sister… they seem very… Or maybe I’m just overthinking it.”

“Huh?” Yi Luo hadn’t expected her mom to pick up on that. Maybe because she accepted it and thought they looked happy, she didn’t think much of it.

“The way they looked at each other—it really seemed like they were a couple. But isn’t Ning Ran engaged?”

“Mom, why are you so concerned about other people’s business?”

“I just think Ning Ran’s a nice girl. I hope things go smoothly for her. But Yue Xi… that child, she seems…”

“Seems what?”

“She just seems like a boy!”

“Pfft—hahaha!”

“You don’t think so?” Yu Xiao Hua looked at her daughter, now doubled over laughing.

“She just has short hair, Mom. She’s still a girl.”

“I didn’t say she wasn’t. But if she were a boy, she’d be a great match for you.”

Yi Luo shook her head and flopped down on the sofa. “Mom, do you even hear yourself?”

Yu Xiao Hua nodded, “I do. But if Yue Xi were a boy—and knowing her background—I’d totally be okay with marrying you off to her.”

“Mom, I’m not even old enough to get married…” Yi Luo covered her face.

Back at home, Sarah gently pulled Yue Xi aside. “What’s going on with you two?”

Yue Xi told her everything that had happened and then opened her hands helplessly. “That’s it. Maybe Yi Luo just can’t accept it.”

“Give it time. Don’t lose hope,” Ning Ran said, patting her on the shoulder.

“Mhm,” Yue Xi nodded.