Translated by newbienoona
Edited by anks
When Han Qilu walks into the room, everyone but An Chuxia is surprised. Meng Xiaonan blinks her eyes to ensure she’s not hallucinating.
When she realizes he’s not an apparition, she looks back at An Chuxia. She leans over and whispers in her ear, “If he doesn’t remember you, why is he visiting?”
An Chuxia can’t give Xiaonan an answer. Maybe he was asked to visit? She shakes her head in reply to the question.
“Why are you here?” Han Qilu asks Liu Dongyu. For someone wearing designer clothes, he seemed out of place carrying a large watermelon.
Suddenly, An Chuxia feels uncomfortable. Does the Han family know that Liu Dongyu is steward Han’s [step] son? Does Qilu know Dongyu?
It’s noticeable that Liu Dongyu is distressed that Han Qilu seems to know him. He almost never appears in front of Qilu. As he recalls his past [encounters], he starts to feel claustrophobic.
“I won’t be able to pick you up after school. Once you get home, go to the restaurant across the street when you’re hungry.” A much younger version of steward Han faces the lad.
The little boy has big, docile eyes. He stares pitifully at steward Han. He fears the man, but he doesn’t know why.
“Why won’t you pick me up?” Liu Dongyu glares at him courageously. “Doesn’t father want Dongyu?”
“How can I not want Dongyu?” Steward Han smiles bitterly. “I am busy and have a lot of work. I have to pick up young master Qilu. Go home by yourself, it’s not that far. Go home, and finish homework. Once you’re done, you can play. If you need anything, go to Wang ayi next door.”
Liu Dongyu quiets down as he tightens his grip on the backpack. “When will I see you?”
Steward Han squats down and looks at Dongyu. “If I have time, I’ll come see you. Remember not to tell your classmates I am the Han’s butler. Otherwise, it will bring you unnecessary trouble.”
“I know.” Liu Dongyu nods like a stray cat. However, steward Han can’t linger any longer.
Once steward Han gets in the car, he looks back at Dongyu. “If you need money. Get some from the bank. Do you remember the password?”
“I remember,” Dongyu responds but the car has already left. He stands in the field as he watches steward Han drive away to a point that he can no longer see it. He quickly chases after it, but how can he find the car?
The elementary school boy, Liu Dongyu, walks alone to the rented room, carrying his big bag. The lit street lamp casts a long shadow from his figure, making him look like a freaky circus troupe member.
He ends up in the fast food restaurant across from his residence where steward Han has already paid for his meal. Liu Dongyu ate and was about to leave when the restaurant owner chased him down with a box of milk. “Your father told me to remind you to finish your homework before playing… and go to bed early.”
“I know. Thank you, uncle.” Liu Dongyu politely took the milk and headed back home. He heard the staff talk about him being a pitiful soul. He didn’t want to hear about it.
He did what he was told, he did his homework on the sofa while he watched TV. Although there was a funny cartoon on, he wasn’t watching it.
Eventually, he looks at the darkened sky outside the window, and wished he was Qilu so his father would be with him all day. But since that young age, he knew this wasn’t his destiny.
Destiny brought him to this bustling city to see things he has never seen before. It was also what got him to live in this small and extremely deserted rented room.
There’s a reason why Han Qilu recognizes Liu Dongyu, and it’s not because he knew who he was, but for the reason he’s seen Dongyu spying at school. He used to take every opportunity to sneak a peek at his stepfather. Steward Han may not have shown him much affection, but it was his stepfather who gave him the stability his gambling father didn’t.
The opportunity to see steward Han was few and far between since his school and Han Qilu’s are far from each other. Dongyu ran breathlessly to the other primary school despite the closed gates.
This was how he developed the bad habit of skipping school.
He’d secretly skip out of his last class so he can be at Han Qilu’s school gate. He’d hide in a corner to see the young master get into an expensive car.
What Dongyu didn’t know is that Han Qilu watched him grow, too. He once witnessed him crying and being consoled by steward Han some time before his high school years.
Qilu saw him less and less after that, but he can still recognize the boy despite the three ear studs on each of Dongyu’s ears, or the colorful hair dye.
Liu Dongyu is shocked. He’s unable to explain why the young master recognizes him. Dongyu extends his index finger and points to himself. “You know me?”
“I’ve seen you before,” Han Qilu responds. He realizes his response is quite arrogant, so he adds, “A few times.”
“He’s steward Han’s son,” An Chuxia quickly diffuses the tension by making the introduction.
Han Qilu isn’t impressed by the news. He enters the ward and mutters, “Is this revelation part of my lost memories?”
An Chuxia feels frustrated and tells, “No, we all just found out today!”
Meng Xiaonan feels awkward as she witnesses the argument from the sidelines. To ease the tension in the room, she quickly changes the subject by pointing to the watermelon. “Young master Han, why are you carrying a watermelon?”
Han Qilu suddenly remembers why he came to the hospital. He was bored, but he didn’t want to stay at home despite the fact that it has been a while since he’s been back home. He drove around, all alone. Then he saw someone selling watermelon and decided he should buy the biggest one to bring to the hospital. He wanted to cut it up and give her a treat, but his eyes darken when he sees slices of watermelon on her small table. He lays the fruit on the floor. “I picked this up from the side of the road.”
The truth is, he bought the fruit half an hour away from the hospital, but with the bad traffic, he spent more than an hour on the road just to see An Chuxia. He just didn’t want confess the truth.
“Thank you… .” An Chuxia thanks him formally. She never thought that her response would make her feel the distance between them.
“Ah, young master Qilu, you just caught us by surprise. Come, sit. I bet it is warm outside. We can leave in a little while.” Meng Xiaonan moves toward him and ushers him to a bedside stool.
He’s not surprised that Meng Xiaonan knows him. He recognizes the Stein uniform before taking a seat. He asks politely, “You’re An Chuxia’s friend?”
An Chuxia wishes him to just leave; she realizes that they’re not together anymore. His question cements the fact that his amnesia is permanent.
“An Chuxia is my meimei. I hope you take care of her in the future,” he states unconsciously to Meng Xiaonan. His voice suddenly drops and his facial expression changes.
Xiaonan has always been afraid of Han Qilu, but she suddenly found the courage to speak up for An Chuxia. “How can you be so cold to call Chuxia your meimei when you were with her before you left for the United States? She saved you! She almost died trying to find you in Snake Mountain!”
Meng Xiaonan’s accusation suddenly makes him recall the photo he saw on Jiang Yuan’s tablet when he was scouring the news regarding An Chuxia. The close up photo of seeing her exhausted while she cradled him in her arms shocks him. He seems to have removed that memory when he was in recovery overseas.
Damn it, how can he think of someone other than Mankuai? Qilu wants to slap himself. He coldly raises his eyes to Xiaonan. “I’m grateful to her; she is my sister, and that [memory] is from the past.”
… From the past… .
The sentence echoes in Chuxia’s mind. But this time, she doesn’t cry. She frowns in frustration.
“Meng Xiaonan, don’t just blurt out what you believe is true… it’s not easy for young master Qilu to come to the hospital as it is. Don’t make it any harder for him by saying things he wouldn’t like to hear.”
Her statement sounds sarcastic, and it leaves him dumbfounded. Unconsciously, he feels like he owes An Chuxia; he feels strange, and he doesn’t know what to do about it.
Translated by newbienoona
Edited by anks
When Han Qilu walks into the room, everyone but An Chuxia is surprised. Meng Xiaonan blinks her eyes to ensure she’s not hallucinating.
When she realizes he’s not an apparition, she looks back at An Chuxia. She leans over and whispers in her ear, “If he doesn’t remember you, why is he visiting?”
An Chuxia can’t give Xiaonan an answer. Maybe he was asked to visit? She shakes her head in reply to the question.
“Why are you here?” Han Qilu asks Liu Dongyu. For someone wearing designer clothes, he seemed out of place carrying a large watermelon.
Suddenly, An Chuxia feels uncomfortable. Does the Han family know that Liu Dongyu is steward Han’s [step] son? Does Qilu know Dongyu?
It’s noticeable that Liu Dongyu is distressed that Han Qilu seems to know him. He almost never appears in front of Qilu. As he recalls his past [encounters], he starts to feel claustrophobic.
“I won’t be able to pick you up after school. Once you get home, go to the restaurant across the street when you’re hungry.” A much younger version of steward Han faces the lad.
The little boy has big, docile eyes. He stares pitifully at steward Han. He fears the man, but he doesn’t know why.
“Why won’t you pick me up?” Liu Dongyu glares at him courageously. “Doesn’t father want Dongyu?”
“How can I not want Dongyu?” Steward Han smiles bitterly. “I am busy and have a lot of work. I have to pick up young master Qilu. Go home by yourself, it’s not that far. Go home, and finish homework. Once you’re done, you can play. If you need anything, go to Wang ayi next door.”
Liu Dongyu quiets down as he tightens his grip on the backpack. “When will I see you?”
Steward Han squats down and looks at Dongyu. “If I have time, I’ll come see you. Remember not to tell your classmates I am the Han’s butler. Otherwise, it will bring you unnecessary trouble.”
“I know.” Liu Dongyu nods like a stray cat. However, steward Han can’t linger any longer.
Once steward Han gets in the car, he looks back at Dongyu. “If you need money. Get some from the bank. Do you remember the password?”
“I remember,” Dongyu responds but the car has already left. He stands in the field as he watches steward Han drive away to a point that he can no longer see it. He quickly chases after it, but how can he find the car?
The elementary school boy, Liu Dongyu, walks alone to the rented room, carrying his big bag. The lit street lamp casts a long shadow from his figure, making him look like a freaky circus troupe member.
He ends up in the fast food restaurant across from his residence where steward Han has already paid for his meal. Liu Dongyu ate and was about to leave when the restaurant owner chased him down with a box of milk. “Your father told me to remind you to finish your homework before playing… and go to bed early.”
“I know. Thank you, uncle.” Liu Dongyu politely took the milk and headed back home. He heard the staff talk about him being a pitiful soul. He didn’t want to hear about it.
He did what he was told, he did his homework on the sofa while he watched TV. Although there was a funny cartoon on, he wasn’t watching it.
Eventually, he looks at the darkened sky outside the window, and wished he was Qilu so his father would be with him all day. But since that young age, he knew this wasn’t his destiny.
Destiny brought him to this bustling city to see things he has never seen before. It was also what got him to live in this small and extremely deserted rented room.
There’s a reason why Han Qilu recognizes Liu Dongyu, and it’s not because he knew who he was, but for the reason he’s seen Dongyu spying at school. He used to take every opportunity to sneak a peek at his stepfather. Steward Han may not have shown him much affection, but it was his stepfather who gave him the stability his gambling father didn’t.
The opportunity to see steward Han was few and far between since his school and Han Qilu’s are far from each other. Dongyu ran breathlessly to the other primary school despite the closed gates.
This was how he developed the bad habit of skipping school.
He’d secretly skip out of his last class so he can be at Han Qilu’s school gate. He’d hide in a corner to see the young master get into an expensive car.
What Dongyu didn’t know is that Han Qilu watched him grow, too. He once witnessed him crying and being consoled by steward Han some time before his high school years.
Qilu saw him less and less after that, but he can still recognize the boy despite the three ear studs on each of Dongyu’s ears, or the colorful hair dye.
Liu Dongyu is shocked. He’s unable to explain why the young master recognizes him. Dongyu extends his index finger and points to himself. “You know me?”
“I’ve seen you before,” Han Qilu responds. He realizes his response is quite arrogant, so he adds, “A few times.”
“He’s steward Han’s son,” An Chuxia quickly diffuses the tension by making the introduction.
Han Qilu isn’t impressed by the news. He enters the ward and mutters, “Is this revelation part of my lost memories?”
An Chuxia feels frustrated and tells, “No, we all just found out today!”
Meng Xiaonan feels awkward as she witnesses the argument from the sidelines. To ease the tension in the room, she quickly changes the subject by pointing to the watermelon. “Young master Han, why are you carrying a watermelon?”
Han Qilu suddenly remembers why he came to the hospital. He was bored, but he didn’t want to stay at home despite the fact that it has been a while since he’s been back home. He drove around, all alone. Then he saw someone selling watermelon and decided he should buy the biggest one to bring to the hospital. He wanted to cut it up and give her a treat, but his eyes darken when he sees slices of watermelon on her small table. He lays the fruit on the floor. “I picked this up from the side of the road.”
The truth is, he bought the fruit half an hour away from the hospital, but with the bad traffic, he spent more than an hour on the road just to see An Chuxia. He just didn’t want confess the truth.
“Thank you… .” An Chuxia thanks him formally. She never thought that her response would make her feel the distance between them.
“Ah, young master Qilu, you just caught us by surprise. Come, sit. I bet it is warm outside. We can leave in a little while.” Meng Xiaonan moves toward him and ushers him to a bedside stool.
He’s not surprised that Meng Xiaonan knows him. He recognizes the Stein uniform before taking a seat. He asks politely, “You’re An Chuxia’s friend?”
An Chuxia wishes him to just leave; she realizes that they’re not together anymore. His question cements the fact that his amnesia is permanent.
“An Chuxia is my meimei. I hope you take care of her in the future,” he states unconsciously to Meng Xiaonan. His voice suddenly drops and his facial expression changes.
Xiaonan has always been afraid of Han Qilu, but she suddenly found the courage to speak up for An Chuxia. “How can you be so cold to call Chuxia your meimei when you were with her before you left for the United States? She saved you! She almost died trying to find you in Snake Mountain!”
Meng Xiaonan’s accusation suddenly makes him recall the photo he saw on Jiang Yuan’s tablet when he was scouring the news regarding An Chuxia. The close up photo of seeing her exhausted while she cradled him in her arms shocks him. He seems to have removed that memory when he was in recovery overseas.
Damn it, how can he think of someone other than Mankuai? Qilu wants to slap himself. He coldly raises his eyes to Xiaonan. “I’m grateful to her; she is my sister, and that [memory] is from the past.”
… From the past… .
The sentence echoes in Chuxia’s mind. But this time, she doesn’t cry. She frowns in frustration.
“Meng Xiaonan, don’t just blurt out what you believe is true… it’s not easy for young master Qilu to come to the hospital as it is. Don’t make it any harder for him by saying things he wouldn’t like to hear.”
Her statement sounds sarcastic, and it leaves him dumbfounded. Unconsciously, he feels like he owes An Chuxia; he feels strange, and he doesn’t know what to do about it.
