STT – Chapter 79

Traces of my love for you

After graduating from graduate school, Lu Zizheng chose to stay at the university and work as a junior lecturer at the School of Foreign Languages. While the pay was not as good as it used to be when working at the translation agency, the advantage was having a relaxed job with weekends off and even summer and winter vacations.

Once Father Jiang completely retired, Jiang Huaichuan took over the company entirely. Jiang Huaixi continued to assist as she had in the past, willingly taking on the role of the company’s second-in-command. Due to their combined efforts and unity, Father Jiang’s retirement didn’t bring too much turbulence to the company. During extraordinary times, the transition was exceptionally smooth.

Summer vacation for kindergartens always arrives earlier than for universities. In mid-June, 6 year old Lu Xinmian began her summer break, but because Lu Zizheng had not started her summer vacation yet, the family’s planned summer trip had to be postponed. Lu Xinmian could only stay at home, spending time with her grandparents, going for walks, watching birds, playing golf with Jiang Yikai, and occasionally going out to visit exhibitions.

It was a Friday, and due to not feeling well, Jiang Huaixi stayed home from work to rest. After the family had breakfast together, Lu Zizheng, as usual, went to school for her classes. This was the last class of the semester, and rescheduling was not an option. Otherwise, Jiang Huaixi, who was unwell, would undoubtedly not let Lu Zizheng leave home alone. After confirming multiple times that Jiang Huaixi was not seriously ill and enduring some complaints from Jiang Huaixi about her mother-in-law, Lu Zizheng finally left home reluctantly.

Jiang Wang, at this point, had become the Vice Director of Xu Family Hospital but continued to serve as Jiang Huaixi’s personal physician. Whether due to the gratitude of the Jiang family or her personal friendship with Jiang Huaixi, she took on this responsibility without hesitation.

She had the day off today, and after having breakfast, she realized she hadn’t contacted Jiang Huaixi in several days. So, she decided to call Jiang Huaixi to inquire about her recent health. Upon hearing a few uncontrollable coughs from Jiang Huaixi on the other end of the phone, Jiang Wang couldn’t help but furrow her brows. Although Jiang Huaixi insisted she was fine, Jiang Wang still couldn’t rest easy and decided to visit the Jiangs’ home a few days earlier than usual to conduct a checkup for Jiang Huaixi.

She hung up the phone and walked towards her daughter’s playroom to inform Xu Baihan. At this moment, Xu Baihan was casually sitting on the big bed, leaning over with a gentle smile as she played with LEGO blocks alongside their little princess, Xu Zhiqian.

Jiang Wang gently placed her hands on Xu Baihan’s shoulders, leaned down, and gave a soft kiss to the top of her head. She gently told her beloved, “I’m going to visit the Jiangs for a moment. It seems like Huaixi has caught a cold.”

Before Xu Baihan could react, Xu Zhiqian immediately stood up in one swift motion, abandoning the LEGO bricks in her hands. She dashed towards Jiang Wang with her little short legs, making a “thud, thud, thud” sound, and hugged Jiang Wang’s waist. With a soft, sweet voice, she coquettishly said, “Mommy, take me with you. I want to go too. You’ll be bored alone, and Zizi can keep you company.” Zizi was Xu Zhiqian’s nickname.

Jiang Wang lowered her head and locked eyes with Xu Baihan, unable to suppress a slight smile. She bent down, picked up their mischievous daughter, and didn’t hold back as she pierced through her intentions, saying, “You’re not afraid I’ll be bored; you want to go play with Xinmian, don’t you?”

Xu Zhiqian was caught off guard, and she giggled with a hint of embarrassment, burying her face in Jiang Wang’s embrace and softly nuzzling, “Mommy, just take me with you…”

Xu Baihan stood up, tucked her long hair behind her ears, and reached out to take Xu Zhiqian from Jiang Wang’s arms. She smiled gently at Jiang Wang and said, “She plays at home anyway, so take her with you. I’ll go change her clothes.”

Jiang Wang gently pinched Xu Zhiqian’s dainty little nose and said with a hint of playfulness, “Well, your mommy has given the order, so I guess I have to obey. Remember, no mischief at Aunt Jiang’s house, okay?”

Xu Zhiqian, upon receiving approval, immediately beamed with a joyful smile. “Mwa…” She gave several kisses to Xu Baihan, and her saliva ended up on Xu Baihan’s face. “Mommy, I love you…”

Then she turned her head and blew a flying kiss to Jiang Wang before playfully responding, “I know.”

After that, she couldn’t wait and urged Xu Baihan, “Mommy, let’s go change clothes quickly. I want to wear the little dress you bought for me a few days ago. Xinmian told me that I look prettier in dresses…”

Jiang Wang and Xu Baihan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Xu Zhiqian, who is a year and a half younger than Lu Xinmian, is mischievous at home and has a somewhat delicate temperament. However, as soon as she is in front of Lu Xinmian, she becomes incredibly obedient. She always remembers to share anything delicious or fun with Lu Xinmian, which often leaves Jiang Wang and Xu Baihan both amused and touched.

Once, while Xu Baihan was playfully teasing her daughter, she asked Xu Zhiqian, “Why do you like Xinmian so much?”

Xu Zhiqian tilted her head and answered with an air of certainty, “Because Xinmian is very beautiful, exceptionally beautiful.”

Lu Xinmian shared a resemblance to Lu Zizheng but possessed an even greater beauty. At the age of six, her future radiance was already apparent. Her small face was like finely crafted porcelain, fair and delicate, resembling a porcelain doll. Her ink-like peach blossom eyes were captivating, and a small, charming mole added to her allure, making her even more captivating. Her temperament, influenced by Jiang Huaixi, made her stand out with an inherent aura of elegance and composure. Among her peers, she stood out.

So, when her daughter said that Xinmian was beautiful, Xu Baihan had no objections. However, it was not enough to make her daughter willingly accommodate and please Xinmian for this reason alone. With her adult perspective, Xu Baihan could sense that Xinmian’s attitude toward her daughter was somewhat unpredictable. Zizi was a sensitive child, and there was no reason she couldn’t feel Xinmian’s occasional ambivalence.

So she continued to gently inquire, “Well, Yikai is also very handsome, cute, and lovely. Why don’t you like Yikai as much as you like Xinmian?” Jiang Yikai was Jiang Huaichuan’s son, and he was the same age as Xu Zhiqian.

Xu Zhiqian seemed to be caught in thought, and this time, she pondered seriously for a while before answering Xu Baihan, “Because Xinmian rarely smiles at me.” In reality, what she wanted to convey was that Xinmian rarely smiled at her, but when Xinmian did smile, it looked beautiful. So she wished Xinmian would smile at her more often. Moreover, she found her mommy strange. She simply liked Xinmian, wanted to play with Xinmian, and when she saw Xinmian happy, it made her happy too. Why did her mommy need to ask why?

Her ability to express herself was limited, and she didn’t know how to clarify further, so she left it at this somewhat perplexing statement.

Upon hearing her daughter’s response, both Jiang Wang and Xu Baihan couldn’t help but chuckle and feel a bit perplexed. It seemed that their daughter had a penchant for being teased.

After Jiang Wang brought Xu Zhiqian to the Jiang family’s residence, she entrusted Xu Zhiqian to Mother Jiang, who was taking care of Lu Xinmian and Jiang Yikai. She then proceeded upstairs to find Jiang Huaixi.

About twenty minutes after going upstairs, Jiang Wang had just finished examining Jiang Huaixi when suddenly, she heard a loud crash followed by a commotion from the living room. The sound made Jiang Wang’s hand, which was holding the stethoscope, tremble involuntarily.

During the examination, Jiang Huaixi and Jiang Wang had been chatting casually. Her usually cool demeanor was accompanied by a faint smile. However, upon hearing the noise, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she immediately stood up, hastily heading towards the room’s exit. She was worried that something had happened while Xinmian, Yikai, and Zizi were playing.

As she reached the corridor outside the second-floor room, she heard the youthful voice of Jiang Yikai in a panicked tone, “Sister, what should we do? You broke the vase, and Grandpa really likes that vase…”

Jiang Huaixi took a few more steps forward and looked down, spotting Lu Xinmian’s tiny figure crouching amidst the scattered vase fragments, looking somewhat bewildered. Jiang Yikai and Xu Zhiqian stood a few steps behind her.

Mother Jiang had gone to the kitchen to check on how the breakfast prepared by the housekeeper for the children was coming along, leaving the three kids to play in the living room on their own, getting ready to eat in a while. Little did she expect that shortly after her departure, Xu Zhiqian would coax Lu Xinmian into playing a game with her, and Jiang Yikai would eagerly join in. Lu Xinmian couldn’t resist the two of them, so she reluctantly agreed to play along. However, as they played and got rowdy, Lu Xinmian accidentally knocked over the vase, causing it to shatter.

Jiang Huaixi first carefully examined Xinmian from head to toe, and then earnestly scrutinized Yikai and Zhiqian, ensuring that the children were all uninjured. Only then did she feel relieved and decided not to go downstairs yet, choosing to watch how things unfolded from above.

Xu Zhiqian took a few steps forward, gently lifted Lu Xinmian, and despite her young age, displayed unexpected composure. With a soft and reassuring tone, she comforted Lu Xinmian, saying, “Xinmian, don’t worry. I’ll tell Grandpa Jiang that I broke it, and he won’t scold you.”

Mother Jiang finally rushed back upon hearing the commotion. When she saw the broken pieces on the floor, her face paled in shock. She immediately took the hands of the three children and inspected them thoroughly to ensure they weren’t injured. After confirming their safety, she inquired about what had happened.

Before she could finish her question, Xu Zhiqian, just as she had said to Lu Xinmian earlier, quickly replied, “Grandma Jiang, it was me who accidentally broke the vase. It has nothing to do with Xinmian.”

Although Jiang Yikai was a bit afraid of being scolded for misbehaving, he bravely chimed in, “Grandma, it was me being naughty. Xinmian and my sister had nothing to do with it.”

Meanwhile, Lu Xinmian, who was protected by the two of them, tightly clutched the sides of her dress with her hands. Despite her attempts to speak several times, she eventually lowered her head, hiding her face in her dark, flowing hair, remaining silent.

Jiang Wang stood beside Jiang Huaixi and couldn’t help but sigh, saying, “Zizi really has been completely outmaneuvered by your daughter.”

However, Jiang Huaixi remained silent. Her delicate brows furrowed even more tightly, and as she looked at her daughter’s persistent silence, she suddenly felt very disappointed. Ever since Xinmian was born, perhaps due to the influence of her own body during pregnancy, her health had been fragile. She had suffered from frequent minor illnesses before the age of three, which had caused the family great worry. It wasn’t until after she turned four that her health gradually improved. The entire family doted on and protected her endlessly. Even her younger brother^cousin, Yikai, learned to accommodate and protect his older sister.

Although Jiang Huaixi didn’t voice it, she also felt heartache for the suffering her child endured in her early years. Consequently, when it came to issues of discipline and education, despite her initial strictness, she ultimately compromised with the family’s indulgent approach. She turned a blind eye to certain things. Little did she expect that, under such leniency, Xinmian had grown into this timid, spineless appearance, always hiding behind others.

Jiang Huaixi narrowed her eyes and pressed her pale lips tightly together. She turned away and descended the stairs step by step, walking heavily until she reached Lu Xinmian.

Seeing Jiang Huaixi coming downstairs, Jiang Mama asked with concern, “Did we disturb you? Is everything okay now? There’s nothing serious downstairs. Don’t worry too much. You should go and rest.”

She gently patted Xu Zhiqian’s head and said in a warm tone, “Good child, your mother has come down too.” Afterward, she turned her face slightly and used her eyes to signal Jiang Wang. Jiang Wang intuitively pulled her daughter closer to herself.

Jiang Huaixi looked steadily at Lu Xinmian, who was now standing alone. Once again, she asked, “Lu Xinmian, look at me. Tell me, who broke the vase?”

Lu Xinmian keenly noticed that her mother only used her full name when she was angry. She finally raised her head and looked at Jiang Huaixi. As her gaze met Jiang Huaixi’s cold, ice-like eyes, her eyes welled up with tears, and her gaze became uncertain. Tears swirled in her eyes, but she bit her lip and remained silent, too afraid to respond to Jiang Huaixi’s question.

She didn’t want to lie, but she also didn’t dare to admit it.

Jiang Huaixi’s heart gradually cooled as Lu Xinmian remained silent. She averted her gaze, no longer looking at Lu Xinmian, and instead turned to the study where she used to teach Lu Xinmian how to read and write. Her voice was faint as she said, “Xinmian, you’ve disappointed Mom today. Go to the study and write the words ‘responsibility’ one thousand times. Reflect on where you went wrong. You’re not allowed to come out until you’ve finished, and you won’t have dinner either.” She was Jiang Yikai’s and Xu Zhiqian’s sister, and she believed that when she made a mistake, instead of protecting her younger siblings, they should learn responsibility from her.

Although Mother Jiang felt sorry for her, she could see that Jiang Huaixi was truly upset and had turned cold, so she didn’t dare to offer any advice.

Jiang Huaixi turned around to go back upstairs. As she passed by Jiang Yikai and Xu Zhiqian, she gently touched their heads and spoke in a calm voice, “It’s good for good friends to show mutual love, but remember, when you make a mistake, you must take responsibility for it yourself. Helping each other should not be used in situations like this.”

Lu Xinmian bit her lower lip and stared unwaveringly at Jiang Huaixi’s retreating figure. Her eyes, as big as beans, finally welled up with tears, yet she dared not make a sound.

She rarely smiled at Xu Zhiqian because she secretly envied her. Her mother was always gentle with Xu Zhiqian and Yikai, freely praising and teaching them, but seldom did she offer such praise or guidance to herself. Even when her mother occasionally read bedtime stories to her at night, her voice was always cold and distant, unlike the warmth she showed to Xu Zhiqian and Yikai.

When Lu Zizheng returned home from school at noon, she immediately sensed that something was amiss in the atmosphere at home. It felt unusually solemn.

Seeing her return, Mother Jiang appeared relieved, as if she had found a savior. Nobody could stand up to Jiang Huaixi, except for one exception: Lu Zizheng. Mother Jiang quickly pulled her aside and recounted everything that had happened that morning. Her words couldn’t help but reveal a hint of dissatisfaction, feeling that Jiang Huaixi was too harsh on Xinmian. Children were still young, and even if they made mistakes, they should be taught and corrected gently. How could they be subjected to such cold and violent words in just a few sentences? It was causing Xinmian to become more and more distant from her.

Lu Zizheng sighed and, of course, had to speak up for her beloved. She comforted Mother Jiang, saying, “Mom, Huaixi is doing it for Xinmian’s good. You also know her temperament; she often keeps many things in her heart without speaking them out. I’ll talk to her. However, today Xinmian did make a mistake, so it’s only natural for Huaixi to be upset.” She said this, but when she heard Mother Jiang’s words and saw Xinmian crying with red eyes while looking at Jiang Huaixi’s back, she couldn’t help but feel heartbroken herself.

After comforting Mother Jiang for a while, Lu Zizheng went to check on her daughter.

Hearing a knock at the door, Xinmian raised her head and, upon seeing Lu Zizheng, her tears began to flow uncontrollably. She put down the brush in her hand, hopped off the stool, and rushed into Lu Zizheng’s arms. She sobbed aloud, and her tears wet Lu Zizheng’s blouse.

Lu Zizheng embraced her daughter’s small, delicate body, her heart instantly melting. She couldn’t bear to scold her any further. Instead, she gently patted her back, comforting her, “Don’t cry, sweetheart, don’t cry…”

In Lu Zizheng’s warm and comforting embrace, Lu Xinmian gradually stopped crying. She lifted her tearful eyes, looking pitiful, and asked Lu Zizheng, “Mom, does she not like me?”

Lu Zizheng paused for a moment, feeling a shock in her heart. She hadn’t expected her daughter to have such a deep misunderstanding about Huaixi. She was both heartbroken and regretful. She gently patted her daughter’s hand and asked in disbelief, “How could that be? You are the person she cherishes the most, she loves you more than herself. How could she not like you?” She created a bit of distance between them, locking eyes with her daughter’s glistening ones, and explained with sincerity, “Mommy’s health wasn’t good, and during her pregnancy with you, she went through a lot of hardship. But no matter how troublesome you were inside her belly, she couldn’t bear to give you up. If it wasn’t for her determination, you might not have been able to come into our lives.”

She reached out and took a Maitreya jade pendant hanging from a red cord around Lu Xinmian’s neck and said gently, “Look, this precious charm you’re wearing around your neck, your mommy got it for you when you were two years old. You were constantly sick, so she personally went up the mountain to fast and pray to the monks for a month. Do you remember the zodiac animal plush toys you receive every New Year? From the little tiger when you turned one to the subsequent rabbit, snake, horse… each one was handmade by your mommy, stitch by stitch. You have no idea, but she pricked her fingers countless times making those little plushies just for you. Xinmian, with all this, would you still think that mommy doesn’t like you?”

Tears still clung to Lu Xinmian’s long eyelashes, uncertain if they would fall or not. Hearing Lu Zizheng’s words, she was momentarily speechless. She had never known that Jiang Huaixi had done so much for her behind the scenes. Even those New Year plush toy gifts that Lu Zizheng mentioned, Jiang Huaixi always casually handed to her during the New Year celebrations, saying with indifference, “This is for you, Happy New Year.”

Lu Zizheng kissed her daughter’s little hand and gently coaxed, “Xinmian, mommy is just not good at expressing herself. She has always done more than she has said. In her eyes, she only wants you to become a better person. Xinmian, do you want to become a better person?” In fact, everything she told Xinmian was just a glimpse of what Jiang Huaixi had done over the years. She didn’t tell Lu Xinmian that Jiang Huaixi had established a charity foundation in her name, or how many things Jiang Huaixi had prepared in her name. She didn’t tell Lu Xinmian that Jiang Huaixi had even bought a piece of land, designed blueprints, and was planning to build a house that Xinmian wouldn’t need for another ten or twenty years… She knew Xinmian was still young, and explaining these things wouldn’t make her understand. She just wanted Xinmian to know that Jiang Huaixi, like her, loved her very, very much.

Lu Xinmian nodded, her voice still a bit hoarse from crying but determined as she replied, “Xinmian wants to become a better person.”

Lu Zizheng smiled with relief and finally asked, “So, tell mommy, why didn’t you admit that you broke the vase today? Were you afraid of being scolded by grandma and mommy?”

Lu Xinmian hesitated for a moment before honestly answering Lu Zizheng, “No, it’s not that. I… I was because I knew mommy wasn’t going to work today, and I was afraid… afraid that if she found out I did something naughty and wrong, she would like me even less.” As she spoke, her voice became lower and more plaintive.

Lu Zizheng’s heart ached as she listened, and she kissed her daughter’s forehead, reassuring her gently, “That won’t happen. Xinmian, you must remember, no matter what mistakes you make, you will always be mommy’s precious one. We will never stop loving you. We love you very, very much.”

Lu Xinmian finally smiled through her tears, nodding firmly. “Okay, I’ll remember.”

Lu Zizheng rubbed her head, sighed with relief, and then remembered something, asking Lu Xinmian, “So, what will you say to Zizi the next time you see her?”

Lu Xinmian turned her round, bright eyes and pressed her lips together, revealing a charming smile. She said earnestly, “I should say sorry to Zizi and also thank her.”

Lu Zizheng, delighted, kissed her daughter’s smiling face again and praised her, “That’s right, my baby is very clever.”

After comforting her daughter and writing “擔當” (dāndāng, meaning “responsibility”) several times with her hand guiding the brush, Lu Zizheng went upstairs to her room.

Upon entering the room, she saw Jiang Huaixi standing by the window with her back turned, lost in thought as she gazed outside.

Lu Zizheng quickly approached, reached her arms around Jiang Huaixi from behind, rested her chin on Jiang Huaixi’s shoulder, and softly asked by her ear, “Why are you standing here, feeling the breeze? Has your headache gotten better?”

Jiang Huaixi instinctively turned around and extended her arms to embrace Lu Zizheng, pulling her close. She nodded and replied, “Much better.” After a brief pause, she asked softly, “Did you go see Xinmian?”

Lu Zizheng nestled in her arms and made a soft, contented sound, “Mm-hmm.”

Jiang Huaixi’s voice carried a hint of weariness as she spoke, “Zizheng, did I not do well? Xinmian isn’t growing up the way I thought she would. She always seems a little afraid of me, a bit timid, not brave enough, and lacking in responsibility.”

Lu Zizheng gently shook her head and lifted her head to plant a tender kiss on Jiang Huaixi’s jawline. She spoke in a soothing tone, saying, “No, you’re doing great. You’re just feeling a bit anxious. Xinmian is still very young, and no matter how well-behaved and sensible she is, she’s still a child. Huaixi, you need to give her time to grow up. We have plenty of time, so please be patient, okay?”

Jiang Huaixi tightened her grip ever so slightly on Lu Zizheng’s hand, and her eyes dimmed. She wasn’t sure if they really had plenty of time to wait for Xinmian to grow up. That’s why she always felt a bit anxious and fearful, fearing that she might not be around long enough to see Xinmian mature. She was afraid that Xinmian might not become the support Lu Zizheng needed and even more afraid that Xinmian might not be responsible and sensible enough, leaving Lu Zizheng to worry and fret in her later years.

But was it fair to think this way about Xinmian?

Jiang Huaixi lowered her head and gently kissed Lu Zizheng’s forehead. She sighed almost in a whisper, “It’s my fault. We… we still have a very long time…”

She smiled gently, like the thawing of winter ice in an instant, leaving only a tender warmth. Her tone reverted to the familiar self-assuredness Lu Zizheng knew, as she teasingly accused Lu Zizheng, “It must be you corrupting my excellent genes. When I was Xinmian’s age, I was so obedient, clever, sensible, and responsible…”

Jiang Huaixi hadn’t finished her sentence with “so…” when Lu Zizheng couldn’t bear it anymore. She chuckled and interrupted, “Jiang Huaixi, you’ve got to be kidding…”

Jiang Huaixi raised Lu Zizheng’s chin, and her clear, ink-like eyes coldly locked onto Lu Zizheng. Her tone carried a hint of threat, “Zizheng, say it again…”

Lu Zizheng wasn’t afraid of her at all. She smiled tenderly, moved closer, and sealed Jiang Huaixi’s lips—known for their intimidating words—with a passionate kiss.

It was only after a long time, until Jiang Huaixi’s breath became uneven, and her hand around Lu Zizheng’s neck began to gently push back against her, that Lu Zizheng released her lips and tongue with reluctance.

Jiang Huaixi’s always fair and cool face was covered with a crimson peach color, which made her look very attractive. Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but press against her reddish ear and teased her with a smile, “Huaixi, did you just get so weak that you can’t stand up?”

Jiang Huaixi gently grabbed Lu Zizheng’s shoulder with both hands, delicately calming her breath. Upon hearing this, her eyebrows gently raised, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips. She turned her face to look at Lu Zizheng with her eyes downcast, and then she came close to her, gently blowing a mouthful of air. Afterwards, she kissed Lu Zizheng’s pretty ear and bit it with her teeth.

Lu Zizheng was taken by surprise and quickly exclaimed with a hint of playfulness, “Ah, that hurts, Huaixi, it hurts…”

In reality, Jiang Huaixi wasn’t inclined towards anything too intense, but Lu Zizheng was willing to play along, and they indulged in their little act.

The door was slightly ajar, and although it had good soundproofing, faint sounds from the room could still be heard from outside. The housekeeper, who had come to call them downstairs for lunch, raised her hand to knock on the door but froze in place.

Her face reddened slightly, and she didn’t dare to disturb them. She turned away and headed downstairs, murmuring to herself, “So, Huaixi is upstairs. I wonder if she’s tired. Oh, I mistakenly prepared the tonic for Miss Zizheng earlier. I should discreetly inform Madam…”

At lunchtime, when everyone in the family was gathered at the table, they were only missing Lu Xinmian, who was still in the study, completing her writing assignment.

Lu Zizheng gently patted Jiang Huaixi’s arm and playfully urged her, “You’ve reflected long enough. Xinmian must know she was wrong. Skipping meals isn’t good for her health. Huaixi, why don’t you go and call Xinmian out to eat?”

The entire family cast hopeful, pleading looks at Jiang Huaixi. She pursed her lips, glanced at the study, and sighed softly. Uncharacteristically, she relented and got up, responding in a soft voice, “Alright…”

Lu Xinmian, who had diligently copied the word “擔當” 678 times, hesitated for a moment when she saw Jiang Huaixi. However, she remembered her mother’s words from earlier and lowered her defenses. She offered a meek smile and softly called out, “Mom…”

Standing at the doorway, Jiang Huaixi looked at her petite figure. Xinmian sat earnestly at the large study desk, gripping a brush even thicker than her fingers, creating an image of solitude. Seeing her like this melted Jiang Huaixi’s heart, and she softened her tone. She said quietly, “You don’t have to copy anymore. Let’s go eat.”

Surprisingly, Lu Xinmian gently shook her head and refused, “No.”

Jiang Huaixi furrowed her brows, somewhat surprised.

Lu Xinmian arched her eyebrows, looking at Jiang Huaixi with a radiant and warm smile, like the first rays of morning sunlight. Her soft voice was filled with determination as she said, “Let me finish copying, Mom. I don’t want to disappoint you again.”

Jiang Huaixi felt as if her heart had been struck, not in pain, but trembling strongly. She looked at her daughter’s smile and gradually relaxed her expression, revealing a warm and radiant smile.

Zizheng, you’re right. I should be more patient…

Xinmian is still young. We have time to accompany her as she grows up slowly…

We cannot control the length of life, but we can choose our attitude towards life.

If I were a river that would run dry tomorrow, then before that day comes, I am willing to exhaust the last drops of my life to embrace all of you who nourish the banks.

The flowing water may dry up, but it will leave behind the vivid flowers on both shores.

Gentle winds and whispered words, faint smiles on flowers – those are the traces of my love for you.

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