Chapter Thirty-Seven

It was after they got to know each other that Sun Yao personally cooked for the mother and son. He did this to win Yu Xingyue’s favor; if she was not satisfied, life afterward would become very awkward. Yu Xingyue also understood why Sun Yao was cooking. The thought that she would have to call Uncle Sun “Dad” in the future felt strange to her, but Sun Yao wasn’t a bad man. Yu Xingyue believed he would bring happiness to Yang Shuting.

Mother and daughter sat chatting on the sofa. Yang Shuting was telling Yu Xingyue about Sun Yao. “Yuhuo, do you really like Uncle Sun?”

Yu Xingyue replied calmly, “All in all, he’s not a bad person. This is your choice, Mom, and I have no right to interfere. If you love him, don’t let go, and don’t dwell on the past.”

“Good child,” Yang Shuting said, hugging Yu Xingyue.

“Mom, don’t get carried away—I can’t breathe,” Yu Xingyue said, suffocated in her mother’s embrace. It was the first time she’d seen Yang Shuting cry tears of joy; before, she had only ever seen her mother cry in pain. Seeing Yang Shuting cry with happiness moved Yu Xingyue as well, and tears slid from the corners of her eyes, though hidden within her mother’s arms. Gradually, both calmed down, quietly savoring the moment.

Sun Yao, overhearing their conversation from the living room, felt comforted. He admired how Yu Xingyue and Yang Shuting had weathered so much hardship together, and resolved never to let Yang Shuting down, to love her well.

...

No one had come to the window, nor left any food. Zhang Yi waited a long, long time, but never saw a trace of Li Li. Was she too afraid to come because of what happened before? Or did she not know how to face Zhang Yi?

Zhang Yi remained patient, waiting for Li Li to appear—he wanted to set her straight. He hadn’t wanted her to end up in the police station because he pitied her. If Li Li were here now, she’d probably say she didn’t need his concern.

He opened a drawer and took out a piece of clothing he’d bought for Li Li. He’d meant to give it to her, worried that she’d suffer in the thin clothes she wore in this cold weather.

Half an hour passed and Li Li still hadn’t come. Zhang Yi, dejected, refused to believe that someone like Li Li would shrink from a minor setback. By her nature, if she came, she’d just apologize—she would never run away.

He thought, Could something have happened to her? I should go out and look.

Putting on his coat, Zhang Yi prepared to leave. Since it was late, his mother asked where he was going. He lied, saying he was going out to buy some school supplies. Seeing her son so eager to study, his mother didn’t stop him.

Sorry, Mom, he thought. Forgive me for lying this once. He hurried downstairs to search for Li Li. By then, heavy snow had started to fall, piling up on the roads. Zhang Yi’s right arm was still injured; each gust of wind sent a sharp pain through it.

The biting wind cut at him, but he ignored it, determined to find Li Li. The snow and slippery streets made him stumble and fall repeatedly, always bracing himself with his left hand. The snow cushioned his falls, so his left hand was unhurt.

His left hand was soon red from the cold, while his right arm, still bandaged, felt little pain.

Without his phone, Zhang Yi checked his watch—ten minutes had passed. He worried his mother would grow suspicious. The supermarket was right across from their building; a trip should take no more than four or five minutes. Why was he gone so long? He quickened his search.

He came to a park, deserted and quiet, the streetlights illuminating his way. The snow was falling harder now, piling thick on the ground and making every step an ordeal. Finally, on a long bench, he spotted Li Li, who seemed to be asleep.

Zhang Yi staggered over and turned Li Li over with his left hand. Her face was pale, her breathing weak. With only his left arm usable, and the snow making it impossible for cars to drive in, he had no choice but to carry her himself.

Gritting his teeth, Zhang Yi made a difficult decision: he would carry Li Li home, no matter what. He tore off the bandage on his right arm and lifted her.

Pain shot through his arm, but the cold had numbed him enough that he barely felt it. Carrying Li Li, he spoke to her, “Li Li, even though we’ve only met twice, I’ve already considered you a friend. You’re an interesting person.”

His words shook with shivers, his speech uneven. Ten minutes later, he finally reached his front door. With both arms holding Li Li, he gently kicked at the door. His mother quickly opened up.

Seeing the bandage gone from his right arm, she was about to scold him, but then noticed the girl in his arms and exclaimed, “Zhang Yi, who is this…?”

Zhang Yi looked unwell. His mother took Li Li from him, and his expression improved, though his right arm began to swell.

Catching his breath, he explained, “I went out to buy something, but the store was closed. On the way back, I found someone lying in the snow. I forgot my phone, and the roads were impassable for cars, so I carried her home.”

After understanding the situation, his mother sighed. “Saving someone is a good deed, but you must take care of yourself, too.”

“Let’s worry about her first, Mom. Please help her.”

Zhang Yi’s mother carried Li Li into Zhang Yi’s bedroom. Since her own room was now Zhang Yi’s father’s study, she had no choice but to use his room.

Zhang Yi collapsed on the living room sofa to rest, the pain in his right arm making it impossible to relax. Even a light touch felt like a dozen knives slashing at him, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

After a while, his mother came out. Luckily, she had once worked as a doctor and was well equipped to handle emergencies.

“How is she, Mom?” Zhang Yi asked.

“Luckily you brought her back when you did, or she’d have frozen out there. Now, let me look at your right arm.” She brought out the medical kit and re-bandaged his arm. Soon, Zhang Yi’s color returned.

“You’ll have to sleep in the attic tonight. I don’t know when she’ll wake up,” his mother said.

“A real man isn’t afraid of an attic! I’m not scared,” Zhang Yi replied confidently.

His mother warned, “And don’t use your right arm again. This time it was to save someone, but if it happens again, you’ll risk losing it altogether.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t let it happen again.”

That night, Zhang Yi slept in the attic, giving his room to Li Li. Until she woke up, no one was allowed in. Zhang Yi quickly fell asleep, and after confirming Li Li was out of danger, his mother returned to her own room to rest.

When Li Li finally woke, it was already morning. Snow still fell outside, as it had the night before, and no one had gone out.

Li Li looked around and found the room familiar—this was Zhang Yi’s room. She remembered lying on a park bench; how had she ended up here?

Zhang Yi came in to check on her, delighted to find her awake. “Are you alright?” he asked.

Li Li took a moment to compose herself, then demanded, “Why? Why did you save me?”

“Hey! Is that how you talk to your savior? If I hadn’t rescued you, you’d have frozen to death out there,” Zhang Yi replied, angry that she didn’t value her own life.

“I didn’t ask you to save me!” Li Li snapped, her eyes filling with tears.

Zhang Yi said nothing, letting her vent all the feelings she’d kept bottled up.

Tears streaming down her face, Li Li choked out, “I’m not worth saving. I harassed your friend just to steal from him. Now that you’ve seen who I really am, do you think I’d come back here? I decided not to see you again, to leave you with a bad impression of me. That’s why I chose to leave…”

She said no more. Outwardly, Li Li acted like a tomboy, but in her most vulnerable moments, she was just a girl in need of comfort.

Zhang Yi immediately sat by her side and, with his only good arm, gently wrapped it around her shoulders. “There you go. Now I know how you really feel. Just be yourself—just don’t do those things that hurt others. I hope you’ll turn over a new leaf, stop being a thief, and live as an ordinary person.”

Li Li didn’t answer, but threw herself into Zhang Yi’s arms, sobbing so hard her tears soaked his collar. Zhang Yi let her cry it out, knowing she’d feel better afterward.

Given Li Li’s situation, sending her to a juvenile detention center was out of the question. With her personality, she’d never submit to anyone there and would only be bullied. If she was willing, he could treat her as part of the family, but Li Li had grown used to life on her own, and whether she’d accept such an offer remained to be seen.

Zhang Yi kept these thoughts to himself.

Later, Zhang Yi’s mother came in to check on Li Li, relieved that she was out of danger. She scolded her, “What’s a boy doing wandering around at night—don’t you know your parents would worry?”

Her words seemed to strike a chord in Li Li. Noticing her reaction, Zhang Yi asked his mother to leave, then stepped outside himself and explained everything to her. After hearing the story, his mother understood: Li Li was a girl, a tomboy, and she had no family—she was all alone.

His mother became curious. “How do you know so much about this girl? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Having already shared Li Li’s story, Zhang Yi saw no point in hiding anything further. He told his mother everything about Li Li and himself. Suddenly, his mother understood it all. She recalled hearing noises from Zhang Yi’s room earlier, assuming he’d just gotten up to use the restroom, not realizing it was the girl he’d rescued making those sounds.