chapter 14

Chapter 14

In the last week of the first semester of junior high, Cheng Yubai celebrated his eighteenth birthday.

I have to say, his luck is truly remarkable.

Senior year is tight and demanding, and the school only gives them two days off each month. Originally, Dad planned to ask for leave for his birthday, but when we counted the days, we were pleasantly surprised to find that it coincided perfectly with the monthly break.

“Dad, what gift did you prepare for Cheng Yubai?”

I tried to hold back, but couldn’t resist. I caught Dad and pestered him endlessly, “Just tell me, Dad, I promise… I swear! I absolutely won’t tell anyone!”

Dad hunched over, glanced around, and beckoned me closer.

Full of anticipation, I leaned in, and the next second, he burst out laughing: “Not telling you!”

“Stingy!”

I muttered, turned around, and went back to my room to continue knitting my scarf.

Yes, the birthday gift I prepared for Cheng Yubai was a scarf I knitted myself. Originally, I planned to keep it a secret from everyone and surprise him, but, well, I just couldn’t hold it in.

-And honestly, my skills weren’t great.

During the month I spent knitting the scarf, Cheng Yubai helped out quite a bit. He’s dexterous and clever; the sections he knitted were tight, neat, and beautiful, while mine were loose and sloppy, embarrassingly ugly.

But no matter what, I still managed to finish it before his birthday.

“Happy birthday, Cheng Yubai.”

Like presenting an award, I put the scarf on him, then cupped his face and admired him from every angle. Fortunately, he has a handsome face, so even that ugly gray scarf looked rather stylish on him.

I secretly rejoiced, thinking maybe my skills weren’t so terrible after all.

Cheng Yubai lowered his head and gently stroked the scarf, his actions and expression full of care. He was giving me so much face that I felt a little embarrassed.

After all, the gift was simple and not much of a surprise.

After a month of tight-lipped secrecy, Dad finally revealed the birthday present he’d prepared. Smiling, he took out a delicate little box and handed it to Cheng Yubai.

Cheng Yubai accepted it with care, then cautiously opened it.

Inside lay an elegant and tasteful men’s wristwatch.

A flash of surprise crossed Cheng Yubai’s face, but the next moment, he closed the box and firmly declined: “…Dad, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it.”

“Kid, I bought it just for you! How could you refuse?”

Pretending to scold him, Dad picked up the box, took out the watch, and carefully put it on Cheng Yubai’s wrist.

After fastening it, Dad looked left and right, nodding in satisfaction: “I’ve got good taste… Xiao Cheng looks great wearing this watch!”

Cheng Yubai has very beautiful hands.

His skin is fair, fingers long and slender, the backs of his hands showing faint blue veins, with distinct joints and a hint of pink at the tips.

Whenever I was growing new teeth, my gums would itch inexplicably and I’d drool. After many experiments, we found the best solution was for Cheng Yubai to wash his hands and help me rub my teeth.

Because I often accidentally bit him, his fingers were always covered in bite marks, especially his index finger and the web between thumb and forefinger.

Thinking back, it was really tough for him.

I leaned in, admired his hand for a long time, then nodded in agreement: “It really does look good!”

Dad chuckled: “I knew you’d like it!”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a slightly smaller box. Inside was a ladies’ watch, clearly a matching pair with Cheng Yubai’s.

Dad looked very pleased with himself, beaming as he said, “Good girl, how could Dad forget you? Here, this one’s yours!”

I couldn’t wait to try it on.

The ladies’ watch was more delicate and petite, but it hung loosely on my wrist, the face always slipping around. Still, that didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for it.

“Does it look good? Does it look good?”

I kept asking Cheng Yubai, putting my chubby hand next to his beautiful one.

It was obvious I was in high spirits.

Cheng Yubai didn’t spoil the mood, nodding gently and saying seriously, “It looks good.”

I was even happier.

After enjoying it for a while, Dad coaxed me to put the watch away. He said I was still young, my wrist bones hadn’t fully developed, and wearing it would be tiring and hard to adjust the strap. I should wait until I was older to wear it.

I agreed, obediently watching Dad put it away.

“You have to buy a good brand for a watch. A good watch can last for years without breaking.”

Closing the box, Dad reminisced, “Back when your mom and I got married, the trend was the ‘three big items’: sewing machine, watch, and radio. Those things weren’t easy to get! Take the watch, for example-I carried salt over mountains for more than half a year to earn a watch coupon. When I finally saved enough money, I rushed to the city supply store and bought a watch for your mom-that was our token of love.”

I could recite his stories by heart. Ever since I was little, Dad loved telling me about his and Mom’s past.

In 1959, during the famine, Dad and his family trekked over mountains searching for a way to survive. Unexpectedly, an epidemic broke out on the road, and he showed signs of infection, burning with fever and talking nonsense.

Actually, Dad just had a severe cold, but his parents still cruelly left him by the roadside and took his younger brother away.

The one who gets chosen and favored is never him.

After surviving, Dad woke up in a pile of straw. On a moonlit night, his parents and brother were gone, and even the food in his pocket had been taken. He understood everything.

Gritting his teeth, Dad stood up and groped his way through the darkness toward the nearest village.

Alone, he walked to Pingan Ridge, exhausted and starving, and collapsed at the door of a household. When he finally woke up the next day and opened his eyes, he saw two black, grape-like eyes staring curiously at him.
“Your grandparents were kind-hearted and took me in.”

From that day on, Dad started using Grandpa and Grandma’s surname, Lu. He raised his hand and gestured roughly, “Back then, your mom was just over two years old, while I was almost thirteen. She used to sit on the doorstep, such a tiny little thing, not even as tall as my thigh.”

Later, Grandpa and Grandma passed away one after another, and Dad, through hardship and toil, raised Mom until she was eighteen, becoming a well-known bachelor in the area.

Originally, the two of them were engaged, but Dad felt he wasn’t good enough for Mom and told her to find someone else. Mom refused no matter what. After years of him running and her chasing, finally, when Mom turned twenty-one, they got their marriage certificate and tied the knot.

At that time, people in the village who were Dad’s age already had kids in middle school, while I was still bouncing around who knows where.

But Dad and Mom weren’t anxious. They believed that what was meant to come would come sooner or later.

Sure enough, three years later, I was born.

“Your mom and I both wanted a daughter. When you were born and turned out to be a girl, we were overjoyed! Especially your mom-she held you all day, never letting go, and could never get enough of loving you.

“Dad lives this life just for you and your mom.”

Dad gently stroked my face, his voice full of affection. “As for everything else, nothing matters.”

“…Dad.” I looked at him tenderly. “You’re so cheesy.”

The touching, tear-jerking atmosphere instantly dissipated. Dad choked up, then looked at me, feigning annoyance: “Can’t you just play along with your dad?”

“I’ll play along, I’ll play along!”

I grinned and scooted closer, bargaining with him, “But before we play along, let’s eat the cake first, okay?”

Dad sighed, turned around, and took the birthday cake out of the fridge.

The cake wasn’t big, but its colors were quite flashy. The shop was full of longevity peach designs, but I immediately picked out this one with embedded roses.

As soon as the candles were set, I started urging Cheng Yubai to make a wish.

Cheng Yubai closed his eyes. After a few seconds, he took out the candles and began to cut the cake.

Me: “That’s it?”

Cheng Yubai gave a simple “Mm,” concise as ever: “My wish is pretty short.”

So easy to satisfy.

If it were me, I’d wish for a hundred and eighty things.

Taking the paper plate Cheng Yubai handed me, I lowered my head and focused on tasting the cake. On my left, Dad started sighing again, “Time really flies. Before long, Xiao Cheng will be taking the college entrance exam.”

Hearing this, I licked the cream off my spoon, feeling a wave of melancholy.

There’s only half a year left until the college entrance exam.

Cheng Yubai’s grades are so good-he’ll definitely get into a really, really good university. That means he’ll leave us and go study in a faraway city. Only during winter and summer breaks will Dad and I get to see him.

This situation feels so familiar. It happened once when I was little.

Back then, I solved the problem by throwing a tantrum, but now I’m not a child anymore. I know that with Cheng Yubai’s talent, he absolutely has the ability-and deserves-to go to a better, bigger place, not be stuck in a small county deep in the mountains for life.

His future is bright, and I should be happy for him-and I truly am.

It’s just that… I can’t quite bear to let go.

After all, we’ve never been apart before. Suddenly being separated for so long, so far away, I know I won’t be able to get used to it.

The cake in my hand suddenly lost its flavor.

Sensing my sadness, Cheng Yubai comfortingly patted my head.

I looked up and met his gaze in silence.

In those calm eyes, there was a vast lake shimmering with gentle ripples. It was shallow enough for me to clearly see the tenderness and affection in his eyes, yet deep enough to hold all my willfulness and grievances.

I lowered my head, my lips slowly pouting.

Whenever he’s strict, I always sulk at him, but whenever he softens, I become gentle too. So even though I’m no longer that little child, at this moment, I still couldn’t help but wipe away my tears.

Day and night together, every morning and evening.

He has long since become an irreplaceable piece of my life.

I don’t want to think about what will happen after we’re apart, but the reality is, I have to accept that we’ll be separated for several years.

Realizing his words had made me cry, Dad seemed at a loss, and could only keep coaxing me: “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Ah, look at this mouth of mine! Dad didn’t mean it, sweetheart, let’s not cry, okay?”

“Dad, I don’t blame you.”

I sniffled and mumbled, “I’m just not used to it. You’re busy making money to support the family, and once Cheng Yubai leaves, it’ll just be me at home-there won’t even be anyone to talk to… I don’t want to be alone.”

“You won’t be.”

Cheng Yubai wiped away my tears, his tone gentle yet firm. “Manman won’t be alone. I’m not going anywhere-I’ll stay home and keep you company.”

“No way!”

Dad and I interrupted him in unison.

Educational resources in small counties are scarce. Many people don’t even finish middle school before going out to work. It’s not easy to have a college student. Cheng Yubai studies so hard, and our family can afford it-how could he just not go?

But then again, without someone to share my secrets with at home, how lonely would I be?

I pulled a long face, not even in the mood for cake.

“Alright, alright, no more being sad!”

Dad couldn’t stand it anymore. With a big wave of his hand, he took charge again: “…You two just do what you need to do. As for everything else, let Dad figure it out!”

As soon as he said that, my mood instantly brightened.

Dad is the most trustworthy-he always keeps his word. If he says he’ll find a way, then there will definitely be a way.

That’s the good thing about having a dad.

Bubbles fizzed in the orange Jianlibao in my cup. I happily leaned over and clinked glasses with Cheng Yubai.

“Hehe, happy birthday!”