Chapter 10: Summer Ii (2/2)

She had no energy left. She was extremely weak.

Lixia brought her home and took out some medicines meant to help with heat strokes.

”Drink these while I prepare some food. Then, we'll head to the hospital and go to the beach when we return,” Lixia told her.

Xiaoyue smiled. ”Okay.”

That gentle voice of hers could shatter hearts.

In twenty minutes, a bowl of fried rice and egg soup were laid out on the table.

He made sure Xiaoyue finished all of them.

As Xiaoyue ate her rice, she asked, ”Wanna hear a story, darling?”

”Don't talk when you eat. Tell me when you're done.”

Her smile widened and six white teeth were revealed again.

After finis.h.i.+ng her meal, Xiaoyue started on her story.

”Five years ago, when I was eleven years old, my parents left the island to work. I foolishly thought that they didn't want me anymore. I waited by the beach in hopes that they would return.”

”Is that why you've been going to the beach every day for five years now?” Lixia interrupted.

”No, that's not it. The wind was so strong one day that I started hallucinating. I saw my father on the beach and I ran to the water without thinking. The waves swept me up and I thought I was going to die.”

Lixia was stunned. She had never mentioned anything like this.

”As I was about to pa.s.s out I heard a man's voice. He told me to hang in there. I saw him. He was trying hard to save me, telling me not to be afraid. He managed to get me on the boat but because the wind that day was so strong, the boat capsized shortly after. That uncle rea.s.sured me and supported me as he swam on and on. The last thing he said was that I must live on well and that he would return, but the next thing I knew, I was in the hospital.

”You've been waiting for that uncle all along?” Lixia asked.

”Yes. Recently I've been dreaming about him and what he said about returning. He asked me to wait,” Xiaoyue explained.

”When did it start?” Lixia followed his question with another.

”After I met you. Before that, I seldom go to the beach. Perhaps once a month, which must be the reason why he's come to look for me. Wait with me for his return, will you darling?” Xiaoyue said.

”He won't come back. He's dead.”

”But he's been appearing in my dreams. He said he'll come back,” Xiaoyue insisted.

”Wait. In your dreams? Do you remember what he looks like?” Lixia questioned.

”Not when I woke up, but in my dreams, I could see him clearly,” Xiaoyue answered.

Lixia fell into deep thought.

”Uncle said he'll return. Perhaps he's still alive. Will you wait with me, darling?” Xiaoyue asked again.

Five years ago? Lixia smiled bitterly. ”That uncle's already back.”

Xiaoyue looked at him doubtfully.

Lixia explained slowly, ”That uncle is my father and I've returned to you for him. You've been dreaming of him because you see me a lot in the day. My father and I look strikingly similar.”

Xiaoyue stared at him blankly.

He wasn't sure if this was the time to say 'I love you' but he knew that he had to get her to the hospital as soon as possible.

She was severely malnourished and suffering from a heat stroke.

After receiving some medicines prescribed by the doctor, Lixia brought Xiaoyu to see his mom.

Xiaoyue told the story to Lixia's mother and she started crying.

Caringly, Lixia's mother spoke, ”Li, you're the only man Grandma and I can rely on now… and Xiaoyue.”

Lixia ran up to the attic to retrieve a photo alb.u.m.

In it were the photos of his deceased father.

Upon seeing them, Xiaoyue nodded. ”Yes, that's him.”

Lixia took a photo out from the alb.u.m and held it beside his face.

They had an 80 percent resemblance, save for the spa.r.s.e stubble his father had.

Lixia smiled. ”I'm back.”

Xiaoyue smiled widely, exposing her six white teeth.

These were the two men Xiaoyu remembered: the man who rescued her from the violent sea... and the man who rescued her from the summer that kept her prisoner for five whole years.

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