I finally realized my place in Bao Xi’s heart. I felt happiness, but quickly became dejected. If I weren’t in Ling Xiaohang’s body, still my ordinary self, would they still care for me?
Qing Ping covered his mouth with a faint smile, looked into the distance, and said, “No matter how you change, Bao Xi will still like you and remain as reckless as ever. I’ll return to the palace tomorrow, and the palace people will come to fetch me.”
Oh, and that child Bao Xi, he’s afraid of thunder.”
After Qing Ping finished speaking, he turned and left. I was confused by his mention of Bao Xi being afraid of something.
The next morning, before breakfast, Qing Ping was taken away by palace people. That night, I, who normally wouldn’t wake up during a thunderstorm, was stirred by a storm, recalling Qing Ping’s words: “That child Bao Xi, he’s afraid of thunder.”
Bao Xi was in the next room, always sleeping alone because the babies insisted on sleeping with me. I quickly dressed, covered the sleeping babies, and walked into the next room.
Opening the door, I saw Bao Xi curled up in a corner, trembling and crying. My heart softened. The door let in wind, extinguishing the nearly dead candle and plunging the room into darkness. I closed the door and crouched down, gently calling: “Bao Xi?”
He looked up, tears in his eyes. A lightning bolt flashed, momentarily brightening the room. In that instant, I saw Bao Xi’s pale face, tear tracks on his cheeks, hands hugging his knees, fingers gripping his sleeve.
Thunder roared after the lightning, and Bao Xi instinctively buried his head in his arms, trembling violently.
I went forward and held Bao Xi in my arms, tightly covering his ears. He buried himself deep in my embrace, curling into a ball, gently rubbing, his small hands gripping mine so hard it hurt, but I didn’t notice, only holding him tighter. He cried softly, tears falling continuously.
“Bao Xi, don’t cry, I’m here,” I comforted him. He nodded trustingly and soon fell asleep in my arms. His pale face gradually regained some color. I carried him to my room, and we four squeezed into one bed.
