Chapter 82

Chapter 82: My Mother Must Understand Your Feelings (Second update of the day, please support with a first subscription and votes!)

At the end of the year, during the Winter Solstice, compared to that summer when he accompanied Lin You Xi in the rain, there were many more people visiting the cemetery this time. Although he had only come once before with You Xi, Mei Fang remembered the location of You Xi’s mother very clearly.

The third row forward from the overturned stone lion… I wonder if it’s still there.

Oh, so the stone lion hasn’t been moved after all. The cemetery management staff must be too lazy.

Or is there some feng shui reasoning behind it?

Memories of the past began to flood his mind. Mei Fang took a deep breath and started walking forward.

In the direction his eyes could see, he saw the familiar little green plum sitting on the ground in front of her beloved mother’s grave, bowing her head silently without a word.

She occasionally sniffled or rubbed her eyes.

Mei Fang did not rush to disturb her but stood quietly not far away, guarding her.

After catching sight of Mei Fang’s familiar figure out of the corner of her eye, You Xi’s dim and hazy eyes flashed with a glimmer of light. Clearly, she was unprepared for Mei Fang’s appearance.

“How… how did you get here?”

“I said we would play Monopoly together, but you ran so far away… It’s lucky I found you.”

Mei Fang slowly walked to Lin You Xi’s side and handed her the fruits he had bought.

“You came to visit your mother, probably forgot to bring something to offer her, right? I’m more considerate, look at me—”

“I bought them.”

Lin You Xi pointed at the apples placed in front of her mother’s grave. “I’m not a child anymore. I have money now, I know how much apples cost per pound.”

“Oh, like that.”

“You’ve really grown up…”

Mei Fang felt a bit awkward, not knowing where to place the fruits he had bought. However, You Xi took them from him.

“Why take them away, my mom wouldn’t mind having more food.”

“…”

Mei Fang watched as You Xi carefully took out the apples and arranged them in front of her mother’s grave.

While arranging the fruits, she asked Mei Fang, “Did you go to my house?”

“Um…”

“Then… did you see that aunt?”

Mei Fang nodded.

“You see, adults… are all liars.”

After saying that, You Xi sniffed, tightly biting her lip to hold back tears welling up in her eyes.

Mei Fang was about to say something when he noticed a tear in the knee of You Xi’s pants, with faint red bloodstains seeping through.

“Did you hurt your knee, You Xi?”

“No problem.”

“Let me see, if it gets infected—”

“It’s fine! Don’t bother!”

You Xi pushed Mei Fang away, but he remained firm, showing no intention of backing down.

“Don’t bother with me, who else would?”

“I thought you weren’t a child anymore, but why do you still act so unreasonable?”

You Xi didn’t respond to Mei Fang, instead hitting him repeatedly, determined to push him away. But seemingly due to the pain in her knee or her emotions building up, she suddenly stopped.

When she spoke again, her voice was completely broken.

“My father… he doesn’t love my mother anymore.”

“He wants to forget her, so he always brings that aunt home.”

“Grandpa and Grandma passed away.”

“Uncle is a heartless scoundrel.”

“Now, only I am left… only I remember Mom.”

“Look at the grave next door, the grandmother’s grave was dismantled because no one visited.”

“If I don’t come to keep Mom company… Mom will truly be alone forever.”

With teary eyes, You Xi gently touched her mother’s slightly yellowed photo on the tombstone. Beside her, Mei Fang said nothing but habitually took out a tissue from his pocket and offered one to You Xi to wipe away her tears.

Before he could wipe a few tears, You Xi grabbed his hand holding the tissue and used it to blow her nose forcefully.

One tissue after another.

When You Xi’s emotions calmed down and her sobs became weaker, Mei Fang finally bent down to check her knee wound.

“How did you fall?”

“After arguing with Dad, I ran out of the house and fell.”

“Why didn’t you come find us? Yuan Yuan and I were both at home.”

“I… just fell while running to your house.”

“Oh.”

You Xi rubbed her red nose. “When I fell, I felt very sad. Thinking about Dad abandoning Mom, I thought at least I still had you guys, but Mom is even more pitiful. So I felt I should come to comfort her. You see, the grandma who was always by her side is no longer here.”

Mei Fang looked at the nearby tombstone and shook his head.

“The grandmother’s grave might not have been handled. It’s possible it was just relocated somewhere else.”

“How do you know?”

“Tombstones usually have a preservation period of over 20 years. Clearing costs are much higher than leaving them untouched. This grandmother’s grave definitely isn’t 20 years old.”

You Xi half-believed Mei Fang, looking at him skeptically. “How do you know so much…”

“Hmph, do you think your childhood friend is just anyone?”

Actually, Mei Fang was just guessing based on vague memories.

“You can’t leave that wound untreated. If you don’t treat it early, it will scar, and if it gets infected, they’ll have to cut off your leg.”

“Cut it off then, since my dad doesn’t care anyway.”

“How could he not care? The matter isn’t settled yet, he wants to discuss it with you…”

“It’s impossible to discuss with him.”

You Xi bit her lip. “I only have one mother, and she’s right here. Dad doesn’t care about Mom, so he naturally won’t care about me either.”

“Fine, if you insist your dad doesn’t care about you. Then what about me? What about Yuan Yuan? Wouldn’t we worry about you?”

“…”

You Xi didn’t respond directly, but lowered her head silently without speaking.

Seeing she was willing to listen, Mei Fang quickly approached to help her stand up.

“Ouch—”

You Xi showed a very painful expression struggling to stand.

“Can’t stand up?”

“My leg is numb.”

“How long have you been kneeling here…”

So Mei Fang squatted down, turning his back to You Xi.

“Come on, I’ll carry you to the roadside to catch a taxi home.”

“…”

After a brief hesitation, You Xi leaned against Mei Fang’s back, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I’ll go slow… if I accidentally hurt you, just tell me.”

“Okay.”

Feeling You Xi’s weight pressing on him, Mei Fang carefully stood up, planning to carry her forward, but her foot was still on the ground.

“Breathe… lift your leg a bit, how can I carry you like this.”

It’s almost mocking me.

“Sorry… I haven’t been carried much before. How should I do it, like this?”

Mei Fang supported You Xi’s thighs with both hands, and You Xi also tried to bend her legs to hug his waist. She was tall but not heavy.

Just as Mei Fang was about to stand up, he paused in front of You Xi’s mother’s grave.

“Do you want to kneel down again? I’m already here, how could I forget to pay respects to your mother?”

“No need.”

You Xi leaned on Mei Fang’s shoulder, her voice soft and gentle.

“My mother… she must understand your feelings.”

(End of Chapter)