Chapter 244: line with translation of title

The three sisters squeezed into the back seat of the taxi, and the car was heading toward the hotel where they were staying.

Su Jinru couldn't sit still, her hands tightly clasped together, she paced back and forth in the room, occasionally checking her watch, probably because the snowy roads were slippery, so she was much later than expected.

Youyou's two little legs dangled off the edge of the sofa, swinging as she sighed like a little adult: 'Brother, what's wrong with Grandma?'

Zi Heng was playing with a Rubik's cube; hearing that, he looked up at Su Jinru and said, 'Mom and Aunt have been out for a long time without coming back; Grandma must be worried about them.'

'What's there to worry about? They're adults.' Youyou propped her chin, eyelids drooping, 'Grandma's shaking made my head dizzy; I want to sleep.'

As she spoke, her body tilted and she fell onto the sofa.

Xia Ziheng patted her arm and handed her the Rubik's cube with all six sides solved: 'I solved it for you.'

Youyou sprang up: 'You're too amazing! You solved it in such a short while? Why can't I? Teach me.'

'No, I won't teach you; you don't have the patience to learn.'

'This time I'll study hard.'

Zi Heng wasn't fooled; his sister loses interest in anything after three minutes, except playing with Barbie dolls.

The room was filled with the children's chatter, so when the door was knocked, Su Jinru didn't hear it.

Xia Xi pushed the door open and walked in: 'Mom, we've brought Sister back.'

Su Jinru had her back to the door, then whipped around to see Xia Yue wrapped in a black down jacket; overjoyed, she teared up, and just as she took a step, Xia Yue rushed over and hugged her: 'Mom, after all these years, you've worried so much.'

'Just coming back is fine, just coming back is fine.' Su Jinru held her tightly.

The two children had never seen Xia Yue before; they had already jumped off the sofa, staring at her curiously.

Xia Yue stepped out of Su Jinru's embrace, lowered her head to look at the little girl with wide-open eyes, wearing a pink fuzzy-edged sweater, a gray wool pleated skirt, thick stockings, her face soft and white, a bit chubbier than in the photo, like a little princess.

Xia Yue crouched down and reached out to stroke her face.

Youyou was bold and never shy with strangers, but she found the adult's expression before her too strange, felt a little scared, timidly stepped back, avoided her hand, clung to Xia Xi's thigh, tilted her head to size up Xia Yue, still feeling Xia Yue's gaze a bit frightening, she looked up at Xia Xi and asked, 'Mom, who is this? I don't know her. She's weird.'

Xia Yue's hand grasped at air, a hollow feeling welled up in her heart, and tears blurred her vision.

Xia Xi, while giving her sister a soothing look, rubbed the little girl's head with her hand and said softly, 'Do you remember Mom telling you before that she has a sister you and Zi Heng have never met? This is Mom's sister.'

Youyou pursed her lips, her memory still good: 'Is she Xiao Yue?'

Xia Xi smiled and nodded, then turned to Xia Yue to explain: 'Once, Grandma mentioned you at the dinner table, and she remembered, knowing you're called Xiao Yue.'

Xia Yue broke into a smile through tears.

Youyou chattered on: 'I still remember Mom saying Xiao Yue did something wrong, was educated by the police uncle, put in confinement, and after she reflected, she could see us. Just like when I don't do my homework, Mom makes me face the wall to reflect.'

'That's right.' Xia Xi said, 'From now on she'll live with us.'

Five- or six-year-old children understand far more than adults imagine; often when they ask her questions, she doesn't want to answer with lies or deception, but tries to give them the truth they can comprehend.

Youyou asked: 'Mom's younger sister I call aunt; what should I call Mom's older sister?'

Xia Xi looked at Xia Yue, unwilling to hear Youyou call her aunt, for she is Youyou's real mother.

Xia Yue stood up, gripped Xia Xi's arm to signal her not to speak, then looked at the little girl with a blank expression, eyes wet but smiling, and said: 'Just call me Xiao Yue.'

'Xiao Yue?' Youyou was no longer timid, she let go of Xia Xi's thigh, ran over and took Xia Yue's hand.

'Mm.' Xia Yue felt the warmth of that small hand, her heart melted completely, she dared not squeeze hard, fearing she might break it.

Xia Yue wiped her eyes, glanced at Zi Heng, covered her mouth and turned away, then said to Xia Xi: 'You've raised the two children so well...'

Xia Xi knew she still had more to say, so she told Zi Heng to take Youyou to play by the sofa.

Having avoided the children, Xia Yue said seriously: 'Don't tell Youyou I'm her mother yet; I'm afraid she won't accept it. Let's wait until we're more familiar before saying anything. Just being able to see her, to touch her, already makes me content.' She gratefully gripped Xia Xi's hand, 'She's really grown up well, so adorable, so sensible—it's all thanks to you.'

Xia Xi respected her decision, believing Youyou would accept her.

On New Year's Eve, the family spent the night at the house in Nancheng.

Su Jinru had prepared the ingredients for the New Year's feast, rolled up her sleeves to knead dough, and was getting ready to make dumplings.

The three sisters helped her; Su Jinru glanced over and saw the three of them huddled together, discussing what filling to put in the dumplings, unable to agree for a while, finally deciding on three kinds of filling.

After they settled on the plan, the three sisters began to chat idly.

Xia Yue asked: 'Why didn't the brother-in-law come over?'

She wasn't familiar with Chen Songbai, had no prior contact; hearing Xia Xuan's description, he was an honest and considerate man.

Xia Yue herself had suffered greatly at the hands of men, so the word 'honest' needed scrutiny in her view. Of course, one couldn't condemn everyone with a single stroke; there are still many good people in the world.

Xia Xuan said: 'His parents are back in the hometown, he's their only son, so he has to return to keep them company for the New Year. Our family finally managed to reunite, I wanted to spend it with you, we discussed it, and in the end each went back to their own home.'

Not long after Grandma's passing, the house had no red decorations for a New Year atmosphere, making it a bit bleak, but with Xia Yue's arrival came added liveliness.

Many things in the world cannot be perfect; one can only console oneself and face them with an ordinary mind.

The two kids had had enough TV, came over to cause trouble; Su Jinru grabbed two lumps of dough, gave them to play with as playdough, waved her hand to shoo them away, telling them to go to the side so they wouldn't disrupt the dumpling meal later.

The Spring Festival Gala began, and the cooked dumplings and dish after dish were brought to the table.

The seat of honor was empty, that was Grandma's place; Su Jinru set out a set of chopsticks and bowl, gave a slight smile, and told the others: 'Go ahead, eat.'

Xia Yue sat beside Youyou, picking vegetables and ladling soup for her; the little girl hardly had to lift a finger, gradually grew familiar with Xia Yue, and dared to make a request: 'I want meat.'

'Okay, eat meat.'

Xia Yue picked up a piece of beef, fed it to her, also gave Zi Heng a piece; Zi Heng stared, looking at his mother. Xia Xi took the beef from his bowl: 'Zi Heng is allergic to beef.'

'This... I didn't know.' Xia Yue felt a bit nervous.

Xia Xi shook her head indifferently: 'No problem, he knows he can't eat it and won't.'

Just in case, Xia Yue asked: 'Does Youyou have anything she can't eat?'

'None.' Xia Xi smiled at the little girl whose cheeks were puffed out, 'Nothing she can't eat, though there are plenty she doesn't like—such as all kinds of vegetables.'

Youyou planted both hands on the chair arms, stuck out her tongue at Xia Xi, denying she was picky: 'I don't refuse anything.'

Zi Heng exposed her: 'Of course, because every time she doesn't eat vegetables, Mom gives her a warning look.'

Youyou pursed her lips, gave him a white eye, snatched a drumstick and tossed it into his bowl: 'Eat your rice, stop badmouthing me.'

Several adults laughed.

With the two kids acting as seasoning, this New Year's Eve dinner was actually pleasant, yet a faint sadness remained in my heart.

The dishwashing was left to the dishwasher, and the family sat together watching TV, eating fruit and chatting.

The two kids kept a regular schedule; soon they were dozing off. Xia Xi said a word, and they obediently went to wash up and sleep by themselves, leaving only the adults still keeping vigil in the living room.

Su Jinru took the hands of her three sisters and placed them together, her own hand on top: 'From now on, we must all take good care of ourselves.'

After midnight, each returned to their room to rest.

Xia Xi finished her shower, dried her hair, sat on the bed reviewing recent events, when the phone ring shattered her thoughts. Previously it had been just message notifications—New Year greetings from her coworkers—but this was the first call she received.

She picked it up, her eyelashes fluttering twice, and saw it was a call from Xu Yanfeng.

The last time they met was at the hotel in Qianlin; she was in poor shape then, refused to talk to him, and afterwards life got busy, she hardly had time for him, nearly forgetting the whole thing.

In the end, she couldn't avoid it.

Xia Xi got up, went to the window, opened a narrow slit; cold air rushed in, clearing her mind considerably, then she pressed the answer key.

Xu Yanfeng said lightly, 'I thought you wouldn't answer my call, that you'd keep avoiding me.'

Xia Xi denied it quickly: 'I haven't been avoiding you; I've just been busy lately.'

Xu Yanfeng knew she was busy, so he gave her ample time to handle things and settle down, without disturbing her. He also used the opportunity to think a lot, feeling it was time to talk with her.