Yue Xiye rolled his eyes in exasperation, “First, swallow those tears and let me see the ring!”
Seeing that Yue Xiye wasn’t angry, Yu Yelan slowly extended her left hand, letting Yue Xiye see the crystal ring.
“You’re such an idiot! If you can’t take it off, just keep wearing it. Why did you mess up your hand like this!”
“Yue Xiye held Yu Yelan’s wrist, pulling her hand close to examine it, focusing not on the ring but on her swollen, abraded middle finger.
“But… but… I wanted to return the ring to you,” Yu Yelan tried to pull her hand back but couldn’t, letting Yue Xiye hold it.
“Forget it. Since you can’t take it off, just wear it. It’s of no use to me anyway. At least until your finger heals, I’ll get some medicine to apply. You don’t want it to get infected.” Yue Xiye stood up to fetch the first aid kit.
Yu Yelan stared blankly at Yue Xiye’s back, tall and slender, radiating a sense of safety – a cold yet gentle boy.
Yu Yelan’s lips curved slightly. She raised her hand; the rose crystal ring on her middle finger reflected a captivating light in the sunshine.
They finished breakfast. The only thing that slightly relieved Yue Xiye these past days was that Yu Yelan’s appetite wasn’t as massive as before! Yue Xiye decided to familiarize her with the neighborhood during this midday break.
Walking downstairs with Yue Xiye, Yu Yelan secretly glanced at the shining chain around his neck. It was part of their agreement – a chain she’d always worn, supposedly left by her mother, now pledged to Yue Xiye as collateral for the ring.”
The pendant that split in half was now worn, looking as beautiful as original.
“Little rabbit, watch where you’re going! Don’t zone out on the stairs!” Yue Xiye reminded Yu Yelan. He rented the top floor of this old apartment building, sixth floor, no elevator, with narrow, dark stairs.
“Oh. Big brother Yue, can I hold onto your clothes? It’s so dark here, I’m scared!” Yu Yelan mumbled softly.
Yue Xiye helplessly extended his hand for Yu Yelan to hold his sleeve – he didn’t want to pay medical expenses if she got hurt!
Standing at the community’s intersection, Yue Xiye began explaining. Given Yu Yelan’s absent-mindedness, he could only hope for her safety.
“The bus stop is over there. Also, this community’s security isn’t great, don’t wander alone at night. Next to the community is a convenience store, and further ahead is the traditional market…” Yue Xiye explained, but his audience was completely uninterested.
Yu Yelan’s attention was captured by a small Chihuahua in a roadside flower bed. Two round eyes, with a chunk missing from its left ear, a thin, dirty yellow body, with moist eyes.
Though it looked dirty, Yu Yelan really wanted to hold it.
“Hey, are you even listening to me?” In just a day, Yue Xiye felt he’d completely entered the realm of nagging, talking endlessly to this little girl who wasn’t listening at all!
“Big brother Yue, can I hold that little dog?” Yu Yelan opened her big eyes, looking expectantly at Yue Xiye, “The puppy is so cute!”
“No, I’m taking you to the market to get familiar with the area!” Ignoring Yu Yelan’s reluctance, Yue Xiye pulled her along. He had no money or energy to find another trouble – he could barely support himself, let alone a pet!
“But… but…” Yu Yelan kept looking back. The dog followed a few steps, then stopped, looking at her pitifully, as if reproaching her heartlessness.
“I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to the dog. The poor little puppy!” Yu Yelan looked back compassionately, now unable to see it. “I’m sorry, little dog. I can’t even take care of myself, so I can’t take care of you!”
Yue Xiye gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the sadness and desolation in the little rabbit’s tone, knowing that if he didn’t steel his heart, he would definitely fall into hell!
Bringing Yu Yelan around to familiarize her with the environment, he bought some girls’ clothes for her at a street stall. Yue Xiye’s wallet had been bleeding dry these past few days. School was about to start, and he was still short on tuition fees.
“Little Blue, what grade are you in?”
“Hmm… I’ll be in second year of high school after the summer break,” Yu Yelan tilted her head and looked at Yue Xiye.
“Are you going to continue studying?”
“Is that okay?” Yu Yelan’s eyes lit up, as if stars were hidden inside.
Yue Xiye frowned, his voice without any fluctuation, “Of course.”
“Big Brother Yue, if… if… I don’t have to study, I can work to earn money and pay you back for the clothes you bought me!” Yu Yelan immediately noticed the change in Yue Xiye’s mood. However, she didn’t know the change was due to concerns about money.
“Just go to school. You’re only sixteen. What would you do if you didn’t study?” Yue Xiye interrupted Yu Yelan’s words. He really didn’t like seeing Yu Yelan compromise. She looked like a pampered rich girl, yet was so timid and perceptive.
“Thank you, Big Brother Yue. I’ll definitely work part-time during my free time at school. I promise I won’t cause you any trouble!” Yu Yelan smiled happily, assuring Yue Xiye.
Facing Yu Yelan’s pure, bright smile, Yue Xiye was momentarily stunned. He wondered if Yu Yelan was really almost seventeen? She was clearly just a child!
Yue Xiye came to his senses, realizing he was actually thinking about a young girl’s matters. This was simply unacceptable! He snorted, letting go of Yu Yelan’s wrist and stepping ahead, “Let’s go to the convenience store to buy some daily necessities.”
“Big Brother Yue!” Yu Yelan caught up and grabbed Yue Xiye’s sleeve, carefully avoiding people around, head down, following Yue Xiye into the convenience store without looking at the path.
“Get what you need yourself!” Yue Xiye stood at the store entrance, pushing Yu Yelan inside.
Yue Xiye stood almost growing mushrooms at the store entrance while the girl wandered between shelves, occasionally comparing items. The things she picked were all decorated with cartoon characters.
Yu Yelan’s light footsteps stopped in front of the community, staring blankly at a small corpse lying in the middle of the road. Her chewing of candy stopped, her eyes fixed directly on the center of the road, with mist gathering in her eyes.
Here is the edited article:
Yue Xiye walked into the community and found the tail missing. When he came out, he saw Yu Yelan looking like she was about to cry. “Little rabbit, let’s go back quickly. I still have to go to work this afternoon.”
Yu Yelan choked, unable to speak smoothly, and the mist finally condensed into water droplets and fell. Yue Xiye was stunned for a moment, unable to understand the meaning of Yu Yelan’s words until he followed her gaze and saw the deformed puppy’s corpse lying in the middle of the road.
Yue Xiye didn’t know how to comfort the continuously crying Yu Yelan, so he could only accompany her to bury the puppy in a roadside flower bed, and put up a small wooden marker as a tombstone. Although nothing was written on it, Yu Yelan insisted that the puppy, which had no home while alive, must have a warm home in death.
Taking the still-grieving Yu Yelan home, Yue Xiye couldn’t help but ask himself: if he knew the result would be like this, would he have taken in the puppy?
He didn’t know.
But he was glad he had momentarily taken in this little rabbit; otherwise, given her survival skills, she might have faced the same fate as the puppy.
Thinking this, Yue Xiye shivered solidly.
“Damn!” When Yue Xiye saw the time on the clock, he realized he was already two hours late. He hastily informed Yu Yelan and rushed downstairs.
Yu Yelan wrapped herself in a cotton quilt and cried for a long time. The puppy was just like her – homeless and ignored. She was lucky to have met Big Brother Yue, but the puppy died tragically!
