Swing.
‘Jiao Wu, I don’t want to go out today,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I want to stay home.’
‘Tan Yuan, are you feeling sick?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. He put his hand on Qiao Tan Yuan’s forehead. ‘You don’t have a fever. Where are hurt?’
‘I’m OK,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Can we stay home?’
‘Alright,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘We’ll stay home. We’ll have breakfast with Xiao Bao. After breakfast I’ll teach Xiao Bao new words. Xiao Bao is a fast learner. Yesterday I taught her many new words, and she memorised them.’
Qiao Tan Yuan nodded, and she went to wake up Xiao Bao.
After breakfast, Gu Jiao Wu taught Xiao Bao new words in the living room while Qiao Tan Yuan tidied the kitchen.
‘Xiao Bao, this is a motor bike,’ Gu Jiao Wu said and pointed at a flashcard of a motor bike.
‘Car,’ Xiao Bao said.
‘Motor bike,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Car,’ Xiao Bao said. ‘Dada, car, play.’
Gu Jiao Wu smiled. He patiently taught Xiao Bao new words all morning. But he understood Xiao Bao was a young child who loved to play. He took out the red electronic car model he bought for Xiao Bao’s birthday, and he moved the car around the living room. Xiao Bao clapped her hands, and she ran baby steps around the living room chasing the car.
In the afternoon, Gu Jiao Wu cooked lunch for Xiao Bao and Qiao Tan Yuan. Xiao Bao had an afternoon nap after lunch. Qiao Tan Yuan washed dishes, and he looked at the photos of Qiao Tan Yuan and Xiao Bao on his phone.
Qiao Tan Yuan dried her hands after she washed the dishes. She walked into the living room, and she saw Gu Jiao Wu looking at photos of her and Xiao Bao on his phone. She finally understood why he took so many photos of them.
‘Jiao Wu, do you think you’ve taken too many photos?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Too many?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘No. In the past months I wasn’t here with you and Xiao Bao. Now I want to make up for lost time.’
Qiao Tan Yuan sat on the sofa next to Gu Jiao Wu, and she held his hand.
‘Jiao Wu, why did you wait until now to see me?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Why did you let me be on my own for so long?’
‘Tan Yuan, you know about Jiao Mai’s accident and miscarriage,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Jiao Mai and Lei Xin had a misunderstanding after her accident. She didn’t want Lei Xin to help her after her leg surgery. So I wanted to help her walk again, and wait for her and Lei Xin to reconcile before I came here to see you and Xiao Bao.’
Gu Jiao Wu stroked Qiao Tan Yuan’s cheeks and he smiled shyly.
‘The main reason it took me so long to come see you and Xiao Bao is because I was learning to speak Danish,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I wanted to surprise you, by saying I love you in Danish. I also wanted to speak Danish so I can take better care of you and Xiao Bao in Denmark.’
‘Jiao Wu… you learned to speak Danish for me?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Yes,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Qiao Tan Yuan hugged Gu Jiao Wu.
‘Jiao Wu, I forgive you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I’m not angry at you anymore.’
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t expect Gu Jiao Wu would do so much for her like learning to speak Danish, because she loved living in Denmark.
‘Really?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘You’re not scared I’m lying to you?’
‘Not scared,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Jiao Wu, I love you.’
‘I love you too,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘The truth is I wanted to see you a lot sooner. But I was scared you wouldn’t want to see me. I waited until Xiao Bao’s birthday, because I knew you wouldn’t stop me spending time with you and Xiao Bao if it’s Xiao Bao’s birthday.’
‘Jiao Wu… don’t say anymore,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She cried on Gu Jiao Wu’s shoulders. ‘I’m sorry. That day I didn’t mean to say all those things to hurt you…’
‘Tan Yuan, you don’t have to explain,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He patted Qiao Tan Yuan’s back. ‘It’s my fault for not understanding how much you loved me. I shouldn’t have doubted you.’
‘Jiao Wu… the truth is I didn’t want Chu Da to die and I regret what I…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Tan Yuan, you don’t have to explain,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘The truth is if the situation was reverse, I would have done the same thing if I was you in order to be with the person I love. You, I and Chu Da need to take responsibility for what happened in the past. If Chu Da truly loved me, she should have faith in me and she wouldn’t have left me easily because you said some harsh words to her. She should have given me the chance to choose to stay by her side and take care of her before she died. Tan Yuan, let’s leave the past in the past. I want to spend my future with you and Xiao Bao.’
‘Jiao Wu, thank you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Dummy, you don’t have to thank me,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Tan Yuan, I can accept all of you. Your arrogance, impulsiveness, impatience and all your loveable traits.’
‘Jiao Wu, I love you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Do I only get to hear you say you love me?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. He carried Qiao Tan Yuan to the bedroom. ‘How do I know you’re sincere?’
‘You…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said and wrapped her arms around Gu Jiao Wu’s neck to stop herself from falling.
‘Tan Yuan, isn’t it enough you’ve starved me for months?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘If you’re sincere, shouldn’t you comfort me a little?’
‘Jiao Wu… what about Xiao Bao?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Xiao Bao’s sleeping,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Tan Yuan, shouldn’t you be paying attention to me?’
‘Jiao Wu…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu kissed Qiao Tan Yuan’s lips, he locked the bedroom door and laid her on the bed.
Later in the afternoon, Qiao Tan Yuan napped and Gu Jiao Wu went to wake up Xiao Bao. He knew if Xiao Bao had a long afternoon nap, Xiao Bao wouldn’t have a good night sleep.
‘Dada,’ Xiao Bao called and rubbed her eyes.
‘Xiao Bao, let’s go play,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu carried Xiao Bao to the living room. He listened to children’s songs with Xiao Bao. Then he held Xiao Bao in the air. Xiao Bao loved him holding her in the air.
‘Dada,’ Xiao Bao called and laughed in the air.
Qiao Tan Yuan woke up from her nap. When she saw Gu Jiao Wu and Xiao Bao happily playing together in the living room, she wished time would stop for the three of them.
‘Tan Yuan, you’re awake,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘It’s still sunny outside. Should we take Xiao Bao outside to play?’
‘Um, let’s take Xiao Bao to the children’s playground in the park,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu carried Xiao Bao and held Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand to the closest park.
‘Dada, mama, swing,’ Xiao Bao said and pointed at the baby swing.
Gu Jiao Wu buckled Xiao Bao on the baby swing, and he gently pushed the swing.
‘Dada, up, up,’ Xiao Bao said and laughed.
‘Tan Yuan, when we take Xiao Bao to see her grandparents, I’ll build a swing set for her at both her grandparents’ homes,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Jiao Wu, when do you want us to take Xiao Bao to see her grandparents?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘You can decide,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I’ll go wherever you and Xiao Bao want to go.’
‘Jiao Wu, let’s book tickets to go home tonight,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘There’s no rush,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I know you love living in Denmark.’
‘Jiao Wu, I want to fly home with you and Xiao Bao,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘You don’t need to hide the truth from me anymore.’
‘What?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan took out the medical report from the pocket of Gu Jiao Wu’s jacket.
‘Jiao Wu, why didn’t you tell me about this?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘How long did you plan to hide the truth from me?’
‘I thought I threw the medical report away,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I didn’t know it was still in my jacket.’
‘Jiao Wu, why didn’t you tell me sooner?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked and cried.
‘Tan Yuan, listen to me,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He let go of the swing, and hugged Qiao Tan Yuan. ‘It’s not what you’re thinking.’
‘Jiao Wu… why… if you told me sooner… I…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Tan Yuan, did you forgive me because you saw this medical report?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘Are you saying if I told you I’m dying sooner, you would forgive me and come home with me sooner?’
‘Jiao Wu… I don’t want you to sick,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I don’t want you to die. Let’s fly home. I believe you’ll recover after cancer treatments. Jiao Wu, I don’t want you to die…’
‘Tan Yuan, if I say I’m not sick, would you have forgiven me and believe I love you as easily?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Jiao Wu, the past doesn’t matter anymore,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I love you. I won’t let anything happen to you. Let’s fly home. I’ll find the best hospital, doctors and medicine for your cancer treatments. Let’s not delay your cancer treatments. I believe you’ll recover after your cancer treatments. Jiao Wu, nothing will happen to you.’
End of Chapter 146