"Finally, you're smiling." Rou Si lifted the corner of her eye and saw A Heng's smiling face. She smiled too, her eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a rose petal.
I don't know what Siwan said to her, but she's been gloomy all day long, without a trace of a smile.
Ah Heng smiled – “Mary, when I’m seventy, I really want to lie in a rocking chair and not think about anything.”
Mary was completely confused—"What do you mean?"
Ah Heng spoke softly, closing her eyes, a gentle smile playing on her lips—"I've always wanted a home, a complete one, belonging only to me. Beside me, there's my husband, my children, the people closest to me. I will learn to be a good wife, a good mother, sharing their joy when they are happy, sharing their happiness when they are sad, and when I'm struggling and failing, seeing them will make me feel like I have the whole world. That's the kind of home I've always wanted."
Da Yi turned around, looked at her for a long time, raised his thick eyebrows, and spoke in a rough voice, "That's good."
Ah Heng suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze sharp yet calm—"Even if you have many grievances in your hearts, are you unable to question this kind of life? Just because it's my choice, you can't and are powerless to change it?"
Da Yi was stunned—"Isn't that right? How can anyone else make decisions for you about your life?"
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The weather is getting colder and colder, and it seems that winter is getting closer and closer. Siwan has been in college for a long time and has not been home for more than a few days. Mary told him that he had broken up with Lin Wanwan. The girl was so upset that she even came to his house to make a scene. When she saw Yanxi sitting next to his mother in the living room, she turned pale and left without saying a word.
As Ah Heng saw the guest out, Lin Wanwan looked at her with eyes full of doubt and embarrassment—Aren't you afraid of him?
Does he mean Yan hope?
Ah Heng laughed. What's there to be afraid of?
Lin Wanwan was furious—Wen Heng, didn't I warn you to stay away from Yan hope? If you get involved with him, your life will be ruined.
Ah Heng seemed to be deep in thought—Lin Wanwan, do you really like Siwan?
Lin Wanwan's face turned even paler—Siwan was handsome, gentle, considerate, and such an outstanding person...
Ah Heng smiled – If I were with him, there would be no more setbacks in my life, right?
In the blink of an eye, he concealed his smile, closed the door, and spoke softly—Miss Lin, goodbye, ah, no, never again.
Mrs. Wen shook her head—"A girl like that, running off to someone else's house so abruptly, doesn't seem like she has any manners. If you and Si'er do this again, I'll definitely scold you."
Ah Heng took her mother's arm and smiled—Mom, yesterday I took Yan hope to the hospital for a check-up. Dr. Zheng said that Yan hope might recover in the next second, or he might stay like this for the rest of his life.
Wen's mother sighed, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart—Aheng, you will be like your brother, attending the best university in the future.
Ah Heng nodded and replied gently, "I will."
Wen's mother stared at her for a long time, then glanced at Yan hope on the sofa—"With the Wen family here, you can find any kind of job you want in the future."
Ah Heng smiled—I know.
As a mother, she hardened her heart and spoke, reluctantly but firmly saying, "When you're a little older, your father and I will find you a child who is of similar appearance and character. What do you think?"
Ah Heng looked out the window. It was getting late. She got up and held Yan hope's hand tightly. He smiled at her, his eyes full of innocence.
"Mom, it's getting late, we should go home."
Wen's mother shook her head, disapproving of her escapist attitude—"Aheng, this is a problem you have to face, unless you are like Xiaoxi, held back by time and never grow up."
Ah Heng turned around, her eyes filled with tears—"Mom, when I grow up, will you marry Yan hope? I don't want a son, I don't want a daughter anymore, okay? I don't want a wheelchair anymore, okay?"
Is this okay?
Yan hope covered her eyes with his hands; her large, clear eyes held a hint of confusion.
Slowly, a warm, hot liquid scalded his palm, leaving it damp.
The scorching heat made him pull his hand back.
It hurts so much! It's not my nose, it's not my hand, it's not my foot, it's not my eye, where is it? Why does it hurt so much? Why does the puppet feel pain...?
She choked back tears, unsure whether it was joy or sorrow—"Yanxi, wait for me to grow up, let's get married together, okay?"
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Last year, there was no snow in City B. This year, however, the temperature dropped as soon as December arrived. Siwan called home and laughed, saying that the weather forecast predicted a significant drop in temperature in the next few days, and the first snow would fall the day after tomorrow, so everyone should hurry up and put on more cotton-padded clothes.
Ah Heng smiled at someone who had already dressed up as a little bear, and was full of confidence—Don't worry, Yan hope will definitely not catch a cold this year. He used to catch colds all the time because he was disobedient and didn't wear clothes properly.
Siwan remained silent for a long while before finally speaking – That's good.
He was reluctant to hang up the phone, and chatted on and on. Ah Heng laughed, pulled the bulky teddy bear to his side, and put the receiver to his ear.
Yan Xiping usually gets excited when he sees a phone, holding it happily. But then, hey, this person is right here. Then, his mind goes blank, and he can't understand what's going on. He just keeps rambling on and on in the other end of the line, so he pulls his scarf hard.
It's so tight, so tight, it hurts...
He was like a child, clutching the warm sunflower scarf. Ah Heng pretended not to see it. To prevent him from getting cold, it had been wrapped around so many times. Given Yan hope's current intelligence, trying to untangle it was simply a pipe dream.
The child strained until his face turned red, but still couldn't untie it. Then, he started biting it with his teeth...
Ah Heng was furious—"Hey Yan hope, don't you dare imitate Xiao Hui!"
He didn't know when, but when she wasn't looking, he and Little Gray had taken a liking to each other, and every day he would imitate Little Towel, rolling around on the carpet, always ending up covered in dog hair. Fortunately, he didn't have an allergic reaction.
Siwan was telling Yanxi to be good, wear more clothes, and listen to her, her words flowing smoothly, when she was suddenly startled by Aheng. Her hand trembled, and her phone fell to the ground with a thud.
The call has ended.
Ah Heng was puzzled as to why Si Wan hung up the phone without saying a word, but her attention was ultimately drawn to Yan Xi's drool dripping onto the scarf. Her face darkened, and she took a tissue to wipe the sunflower covered in drool.
Whether he is sick or not, this person always has a lot of saliva.
Then, years later, someone teased the baby, feigning disgust—"Hey, honey, look, he's drooling again. So much drool, I wonder who he takes after..." He turned around, heartbroken. Ah Heng was speechless and asked the heavens, "Yes, yes, I don't know whose good genes he has, but the baby goes through a whole towel every day, blowing bubbles just like a bubble dragon."
He didn't remember her name, and even though he had taught her "Yan Xi A Heng" a thousand times, he couldn't pronounce it aloud. It was like a code name, but in his heart, it held an irreplaceable significance.
Ah Heng was used to this state; she had prepared for it her whole life. Even if Si Wan came, she would definitely refuse to entrust her with this task.
Yan hope is a treasure. Even if he never grows up and is forever stuck in the past, he is still her treasure.
She seems to have drifted further and further away from her dream of becoming a virtuous wife and loving mother.
Ah Heng laughed, saying she had caught a cold and felt dizzy. Before taking cold medicine, she took Yan hope to the Wen family.
If it gets contagious, that would be terrible.
She smiled and patted his gloves—Yan hope, you stay here obediently for a few days, and I'll come pick you up when I'm better.
Yan hope imitated her, smiling broadly as well.
Wen's mother urged her to go back, telling her to lie down properly and take her medicine with warm water. In front of Aheng, she was becoming more and more like a real mother.
Ah Heng sniffed, feeling groggy, and smiled at his mother—"Mom, if I weren't sick, I would really like to hug you."
Then, he turned around, waved, and left in the cold wind.
Yan hope realized something and burst into tears. He tried to chase after Aheng, but Wen's mother stopped him, hugged him, and comforted him softly.
Sweetie, baby, be good. Ah Heng is just sick. If you stay with her, her illness will get worse.
Then, remembering her daughter's last words, her eyes welled up with tears, and she gently hugged the boy again.
Ah Heng, is it the same as me holding you when I'm holding Yan hope, whom you love so much?
Ah Heng, would this make things less tiring for you...?
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She slept soundly, curled up in bed, and coughed in her sleep. But the surroundings were so quiet and relaxing; she didn't want to wake up at all...
She was so tired, it felt like she was walking on cotton, her body completely drained and exhausted...
I just want to get a good night's sleep; even if there's a tornado, I don't want to wake up.
A tranquil peace prevailed in my sleep; this world felt warm and safe.
I relaxed all my strength, leaving only my fingers holding onto something, yet I dared not let go easily.
Heaven knows that once lost, with her limited abilities, she can never be found again.
That's her treasure, she can't lose it...
When she woke up, there was a person sitting in front of her bed, a solitary figure, wearing a purplish-red sweater, with black hair hanging down her forehead and bright, indifferent eyes.
It was him.
She struggled to her feet, then smiled and asked him, "Why did you run over here? Did you sneak away from your mother? You're being disobedient!"
He looked at her; her features were still clean and beautiful, but something seemed off about her.
Ah Heng gently tugged at his hand, only to find that he had forgotten to wear gloves and his fingertips were a little cold. She warmed them up, put them under the covers, and started to scare him—"You're not wearing a scarf or gloves again. If you get cold, you'll have to take very bitter medicine and get a shot with such a thick needle!"
She gestured to indicate the thickness of the syringe, while a gentle, mischievous smile appeared on the boy's lips.
Ah Heng rubbed her eyes, thinking she was seeing things, but he picked her up carefully.
Open the window, and you'll see a layer of icicles and frost flowers, all beautifully blooming.
When I looked up again, the world outside was already white.
The snowflakes, like goose feathers, drifted down gently.
That was the lingering echo of a year's fleeting beauty, the flowing time amidst the snow-covered landscape.
The first snow.
Ah Heng smiled, feeling somewhat uneasy in Yan hope's arms. She raised her head, but he slowly lowered his head, his cool half of his face gently pressing against hers. Slowly, tears soaked her entire face.
He hadn't spoken for a long time, but now his voice was hoarse and dry.
"Aheng, I'm back."
Ah Heng, I'm back.
Keeping my promise, I met you first.
Chapter 51
Ah Heng was stunned. After a long while, she came to her senses. Her heart was pounding, she was having trouble breathing, and she started coughing violently.
Yan hope put her down, fetched some hot water, and handed it to her with a big smile.
Ah Heng was confused. She pinched her cheek and muttered to herself, "It doesn't hurt. Looks like I was dreaming."
Knowing that she had a very bad cold, she was only thinking that Yan hope had entered her dream and she was looking at him, which made her inexplicably happy.
She took his hand, held it gently, and then stroked his soft cheeks.