Chapter 606: A Wish of a Thousand Paper Cranes
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Recalling the past, her voice gradually lowered.
It was like the fists and swearing of the past came back again. They mocked her for being a pig, shameless and breaking the rules when she fought with the older children over a meat bun. They scolded her for being rubbish and told her to die…
Every word pierced her heart.
Suddenly, she only felt that her shoulders were slightly warm. A man took her into a warm embrace. “Xiao Ling.” Li Lei kissed her hairline and said tenderly, “You’ve suffered.”
Her eyes were red. She turned her head around to look at the fully bloomed flowers in the garden.
That year, it happened here on this very road. They forced her to kneel and eat the soil on the ground. The children were crueler than adults. They pulled her hair, slapped her, and even more abusive teenage boys forced her seven-year-old self to undress for everyone to see.
Luckily, she fought back and was as fierce as a pack of wolves.
Although they were not really able to force her to take off her clothes, it was common for them to hit her, make her eat soil, and throw stones at her.
Every time she delivered the meat buns to her sister’s ward covered in injuries, she always paused for a moment outside the door to sort out her clothes and long hair. She would wipe the blood off her face and cover the palm print on her face.
After that, she would smile as if nothing happened and give Xiao Yu the meat buns.
Sometimes, Xia Yu would doubt her and stare at her sister’s body or face. “Sister, did you fight with someone?”
“No.” Xia Ling always said. “I’m so awesome, who would dare to bully me? Are you talking about the bruise on my wrist? That’s nothing. I accidentally fell down the stairs.”
After that, Xia Yu would nod. “That’s true. My sister is so awesome.” She would then laugh heartily. “I love eating meat buns. Sister, can you deliver meat buns to me every day?”
Looking at the bed in the ward, Xia Ling nodded solemnly. It was rare to see her sister so happy.
Later, both of them were adopted by Pei Ziheng. Xia Ling fell out with that man and was imprisoned.
Xia Yu looked at her with eyes sparkling in jealousy and eagerness. “Sister, you know…”
The garden in the orphanage.
Below the corridor.
Xia Ling looked up from Li Lei’s arms. She raised her hand to point at the building not far away. “Li Lei, do you see that building… It was that window…”
Li Lei looked at the direction her finger was pointing at. It was a small and old building. There was a closed window. It was dark so he could not see what was inside.
“That was Xia Yu’s ward.” Xia Ling said. “She was able to lie by the window and look at the older children hit me. In fact, she was able to see it every day. This was the entertainment that she looked forward to every day.” As she recalled her sister’s vicious words when she was imprisoned, she still felt the sting in her heart. “Xia Yu did not like meat buns at all. She wanted me to bring meat buns to her every morning because… she…”
She choked a little and could not continue.
However, Li Lei already understood what she meant. Xiao Ling worked so hard to steal meat buns for her sister, but that vicious sister only hoped to watch her get beaten up!
How scary was that?
Li Lei’s expression tightened. He only hated himself for not knowing Xia Ling then and was unable to help her overcome her troubles. “Just wait.” He said to Xia Ling. “Those people who hurt you. Those debts. I will get payback one by one.”
Xia Ling shook her head and grabbed his hand. “It’s enough that you’re by my side.”
She once doubted her life and wondered if she were treating people too kindly in exchange for suffering. It was like with Xia Yu and Pei Ziheng…
She did not understand what she had done wrong.
Just when she was disillusioned by life, luckily, she met Li Lei.
He was her salvation.
“I only need you by my side.” She whispered again.
“I will always be there.” Li Lei’s voice was very gentle and made her relaxed. He held her hand tightly and really wished that he did not have to let her go forever.
The sunlight was bright in the orphanage, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and buzzing sounds of insects.
Both of them walked slowly from the porch to the room that she used to live in. The brick tiles inside were still the same. There was a gla.s.s of water on the table with a very old “17” on it. That was her cup. It could be seen that people cleaned this area every day and there was no stain.
There were still two more things—
A booklet that chronicled her life. Inside it, there was a large number of stories and photographs of her in the orphanage.
A very large gla.s.s jar with lots of colorful paper cranes.
Li Lei took out the booklet and flipped through it. “After reading what is written here, many fans will place a paper crane in the jar. On the paper crane, they will write their wishes and blessings.”
After hearing him, Xia Ling took out a blue paper crane and carefully opened it. Sure enough, there was a row of words on it written with a black pen: Xiao Ling, you have to be happy in heaven.
She opened a few more, and all of them were well wishes. There were also a few of them written by children who stayed in the same orphanage as her. They hoped that she would bless them so that they would be adopted by a good family soon. Looking at their hopeful words, she smiled bitterly. Even she did not join a good family. The Pei Family looked extravagant, but only she was aware of the turbulent times, hards.h.i.+p, and humiliation she suffered.
Li Lei looked at her as she stared at the wishes and misunderstood her.
“In the future, when we are married, let’s adopt a few children.” He said gently. Xiao Ling looked like she really loved children. Was it very difficult for her since she could not get pregnant?
Slightly startled, she said, “Ok.” Li Lei… you must really like children. This was not the first time he brought up the subject of adoption. Xia Ling was hurting in her heart because she could not become pregnant but still selfishly remained by his side. He was the more disadvantaged one.
With this thought, her heart became heavy, and she let go of the paper cranes.
Li Lei carefully folded the paper cranes and put them back into the gla.s.s jar. The two of them stayed in the room for a while before leaving.
The orphanage was very old. After many repairs, it looked like it endured the test of time but had a sort of old beauty to it. Due to Xia Ling and Xia Yu’s fame, a sightseeing route opened up in the yard. From time to time, there would be signs written with words like “Where Xia Ling was On Duty” and “The Place Xia Ling Used to Practice Singing.”
They walked to a small garden.
Under a cl.u.s.ter of irises, there was a light colored sign engraved with a beautiful gold font—[The Place Xia Ling and Pei Ziheng First Met]
She stood still with complex emotions.
Li Lei also stood there and suddenly felt that his heart was being p.r.i.c.ked. He slightly lowered his eyes to prevent her from seeing his dismay. After some time, he finally asked in a low voice, “At that time, was it here?”