Chapter 52: Crying

Xia Yehe burst into tears instantly.

The dam of self-esteem and tenacity she had built in her heart collapsed at this moment, and the accumulated grief and sorrow poured out like a flood.

She wept loudly, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. For many days, she had wanted to cry like this, but reality had made even her crying feel suppressed.

Until this very moment, she finally relaxed. She was finally able to release everything to her heart's content.

Although it was just a dream, Xia Yehe felt she was satisfied.

Crying like this, she ran forward quickly. One of her shoes fell off, but she didn't even pause. She had to seize every second, because perhaps in the next instant, this dream would wake up.

Xia Yehe almost threw herself into Chen Nuo's arms.

But she was too thin, and Chen Nuo didn't even budge.

She cried loudly in his arms, smearing tears and snot unsparingly onto his chest. Chen Nuo opened his arms to embrace her, but when he closed them, he found he couldn't even feel her presence.

Chen Nuo sighed.

The crying suddenly quieted. Xia Yehe opened her eyes, which were blurred with tears, and looked up blankly. With a voice so hoarse it was barely audible, she said, "... Can you say something?"

Chen Nuo said softly, "Alright. If there's anything I can help with, just tell me."

Xia Yehe closed her eyes, satisfied. Even if the dream woke up now, she felt it was worth it.

Come to think of it, what she regretted most now was that on New Year's Eve, when there was so much she wanted to say, why was the text message she sent so short?

Sometimes Xia Yehe really couldn't understand herself. Just like how she had clearly given him the most precious thing she had kept for over 20 years, yet she had to be stubborn and call it a one-night stand?

She had scolded herself for being a fool countless times, yet in the end, she still chose to be a fool.

The young girl didn't know that love was just like that. No one could possess wisdom while possessing love.

In the warm embrace, with the steady heartbeat that made her feel secure, Xia Yehe realized for the first time that even in a dream, a person's heartbeat could go *thump-thump*.

"Sister, is this your friend?" A confused and bewildered voice came from behind. Xia Yehe was muddled at the moment and didn't hear it very clearly.

The voice grew a little louder: "Sister, are they your friends?"

Xia Yehe thought, why does that sound like my brother's voice?

"Sister?"

It really was her brother.

She really didn't want to leave that embrace, but Xia Yehe still tried to separate from him a little and looked back.

Xia Bing looked at her and asked again, "Sister, is this your friend?"

Xia Yehe realized something was wrong. Why did the physical touch feel so real? Why was the scene exactly the same as in reality? Why was her brother in the dream?

Xia Yehe didn't speak, but Chen Nuo felt he had to say something, so he opened his mouth: "Hello, I'm Xia Yehe's friend. My name is Chen Nuo. Are you Xia Yehe's brother?"

"I am. You're her friend? What kind of friend?" Xia Bing scrutinized him vigilantly.

Chen Nuo was a bit awkward. "A good friend, I suppose." "Wait..." Xia Yehe suddenly pushed Chen Nuo, her body bouncing out of his arms. Her large eyes were wide open, staring at Chen Nuo's face without blinking, her mouth repeating like a broken record, "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait..."

"What's wrong?" Chen Nuo asked.

Xia Yehe's voice suddenly became very loud. "Don't speak yet!" Then she turned around and said to Xia Bing, "Brother, are you my brother?"

Xia Bing asked in confusion, "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

"You are my brother, Xia Bing." Xia Yehe nodded as if confirming, then suddenly turned her head again, staring at Chen Nuo: "So, you are Chen Nuo?"

Chen Nuo nodded. "Yes, I am Chen Nuo."

Xia Yehe's expression became very strange, as if she were confused, yet also as if she had realized something. "Where did you come from?"

"Shanghai."

"How did you find me?"

"Uh... it was..."

"It was me." Qi Yuntian had long since stepped out of the driver's seat. He had been watching with his arms crossed, but now he interjected: "I went to ask the people in your troupe, and they told me your home was here. Then we drove for over six hours and came here~"

Xia Yehe rubbed her face hard with both hands, looking at Chen Nuo through her fingers, murmuring, "I'm not dreaming?"

Qi Yuntian laughed. "You couldn't dream of a beauty like me."

Just then, a harsh, gong-like female voice came from afar: "Xia Yehe, what are you doing! Who is that! Did you greet your second uncle?"

After this sentence, the driver's door of the Mazda that had been parked on the side suddenly opened a crack. A middle-aged man revealed his face through the crack and said somewhat awkwardly, "Uh, Xia Bing and Xiao He, right? I'm your second uncle."

Xia Yehe and Xia Bing kowtowed to the man. The man and his wife also got out of the car, hugged the two siblings, comforted them with a few words, and then went to the mourning hall, leaving the four young people staring at each other.

"Sister, I'm going over first," Xia Bing said.

Qi Yuntian said, "Uh... brother, take me to where you're keeping the accounts."

Xia Bing rubbed his head and said honestly, "Is that necessary?"

"Yes, why wouldn't it be~ Come on, come on, take me there."

Qi Yuntian and Xia Bing left. Chen Nuo looked at Xia Yehe's thin body and said, "Are you tired from standing? Do you want to go sit in the car?"

Xia Yehe stood there like a silent statue, her gaze staring blankly at the ground, emitting a low "Mm."

Chen Nuo opened the back door for her. Xia Yehe stepped on the side step of the vehicle and climbed inside.

Chen Nuo walked around to the other side of the car, opened the door, and sat in the back seat as well.

As soon as the car door closed, Chen Nuo felt a pair of soft hands wrap around his neck.

Immediately after, two warm and soft lips pressed tightly against his.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 53 =====