Chapter 25

In the neighborhood, most of the people walking dogs had purebred ones, fluffy Samoyeds or Huskies, some Teddy dogs, and a few German Shepherds and Border Collies.
Mother Yu didn’t think much of it. She was walking two little puppies, moving slowly. The puppies were curious about everything outside, constantly looking around, so naturally, they walked slowly.
Xiao Yu and Shui Shui had already done two laps with Da Huang, who finally seemed to calm down. The two kids stood off to the side to rest, waiting for Mother Yu to catch up.
Mother Yu was in an excellent mood. She had been a child star, always in the spotlight, admired by many. She’d seen countless celebrities fall into obscurity and knew how miserable it could be. That’s why she had always worked hard, she didn’t want to be forgotten by the public.
Now that she had stepped back cleanly while still at the peak of her career, she surprisingly found life to be quite beautiful. No more waking up at 3 or 4 AM for filming, no more reporters bombarding her with questions, no more need to always be polite.
She had thought she wouldn’t be able to handle life away from the spotlight, but now she realized, this was actually pretty great.
Soon, she saw the two kids waiting for her.
Just then, a strong Husky nearby suddenly broke loose and dashed straight toward Xiao Yu and Shui Shui, who were already standing still.
Mother Yu was startled. That Husky looked big and strong, if it crashed into them, both kids would be knocked over. She shouted, “Xiao Yu! Shui Shui!”
But it was already too late.
Then, out of nowhere, Da Huang, who had been lying down from exhaustion, shot up and lunged forward without a word, straight into a fight.
Da Huang had gained some weight from good food and little exercise lately, and he was only about half the size of that Husky. Still, no one knew how he managed it, but with just a couple of moves, he had the other dog fleeing in panic.
He even had a huge clump of fur in his mouth.
Lin Miao quickly took the fur from Da Huang’s mouth so he wouldn’t swallow it, while the two puppies scrambled back to their mom’s side.
Mother Yu let out a breath of relief. Just then, the Husky’s owner came over.
She was still dragging her silly dog, probably planning to ask for an explanation. But the Husky refused to move closer and just kept howling, “Awooo! Awooo!”
Seeing they wouldn’t come over, Mother Yu walked up instead. Not using a leash while walking a big dog, completely unacceptable.
As she approached, she saw that the Husky now had a big bald patch on its head. It looked ridiculous.
While Mother Yu negotiated with the other dog owner, Yu Jingxuan squatted down and praised Da Huang with admiration, “Da Huang, you’re a genius. That’s how you should fight, don’t hurt the other dog, just pull off its fur!”
“Woof woof woof!” Da Huang barked back.
Yu Jingxuan could tell he was talking back, it was the exact same bark Da Huang gave whenever he was stopped from chewing on slippers at home. He clearly didn’t understand human words.
The two puppies barked along.
Lin Miao rubbed Da Huang’s head, saying, “Good boy!”
Da Huang nuzzled her palm affectionately.
Mother Yu soon finished talking and returned with the kids and three dogs.
As soon as they got home, Yu Jingxuan pulled Lin Miao aside to study.
He really enjoyed teaching her to read, write, and speak English.
Lin Miao was focused and earnest in her learning, while the three dogs lay nearby, fast asleep.
The days grew colder, from adding a light jacket to wearing down coats.
Da Huang grew more and more impressive. All the dogs in the neighborhood feared him, especially that Husky who had once tried to pounce. Now, at the mere sight of Da Huang, it would flee.
Lin Miao studied even harder with her big brother, because she’d be going home for the New Year, and she knew her mom would be happy to see her doing well.
No matter how much Yu Jingxuan wished New Year wouldn’t come, the twelfth lunar month arrived.
Lin Miao had already packed her small schoolbag, filled with her books and some of Yu Jingxuan’s old ones.
She had even set aside money for a taxi ride.
She was just waiting for the holiday break.
Father Yu, Mother Yu, and Yu Jingxuan all noticed how she grew happier by the day, bouncing around the house, and they couldn’t help but feel a little anxious.
On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth month, Mother Yu suddenly said, “Ah, Xiao Yu, Shui Shui, didn’t I say I’d take you to the Maldives? I totally forgot! Shui Shui, have you ever seen the ocean? It’s beautiful! Let’s go see the sea tomorrow, you can ride a boat and go fishing too!”
As she spoke, she pulled out her iPad and showed pictures of the bright blue ocean.
Lin Miao, having grown very close to Aunt Yu, looked on in amazement, but then said a little shyly, “Aunt Yu...you forgot I’m going home for New Year…”
Yu Jingxuan stood silently nearby, not knowing how to tell her.
Just then, Grandma said, “Xiao Yu, let’s go for a walk.”
In the garden, Grandma looked at Yu Jingxuan, healthy and full of energy, and asked, “If Shui Shui went home and never came back, would you let her go?”
Yu Jingxuan paused. Grandma had asked him this more than once.
He thought about it. If she had asked when Lin Miao had first arrived, he would’ve said yes without hesitation.
But now...
He thought of Lin Miao’s carefully packed schoolbag, the growing anticipation in her eyes.
Then he realized something else. “Grandma, what do you mean? Can you contact Shui Shui’s mom?”
Grandma sighed. “They don’t know where we are, but they’ve been asking the master for our address. The master is asking if we want to give it to them.”
Back then, nothing was clearly explained. They’d just given a large sum of money and asked him to find a child born on the same day, same month, same year to accompany Xiao Yu.
Yu Jingxuan didn’t know what to feel. He kept telling himself, they were the ones who gave up on Lin Miao first. She was doing better here. She might be sad for a while, but she had a long life ahead of her.
He would be there as she grew up.
But... he still couldn’t bear to see her upset. Couldn’t bear to see her New Year’s dream fall apart.
“Can I meet them?” he asked.
The next day, when Lin Miao woke up, her brother, Mother Yu, and Grandma were all gone.
She thought it was odd, then saw a note from her brother telling her to study hard. He’d be back in two or three hours.
Yu Jingxuan had heard Lin Miao mention her mom before, but this was the first time he met her.
She looked thin and worn out.
She didn’t cry. Her eyes were red, and her voice soft. “I’m sorry for the trouble. This is the money you gave back then, plus some interest.”
Grandma said, “Shui Shui’s mom, don’t worry. We just wanted to talk. Shui Shui is a wonderful child. She gets along well with us. We’d like to adopt her, send her to the best schools. It would be good for her.”
Lin Miao’s mother said gently, “I promised her, she’d go home for New Year. We’ve already rented a place in town, close to the school. She won’t have to walk over mountains anymore.”
Grandma went quiet.
Mother Yu sighed, thinking of the Shui Shui at home. “How about this, you take her home for the New Year, and then she comes back afterward, goes to school with my son? You wouldn’t have to pay for school or living expenses. What do you say?”
Lin Miao’s mother finally couldn’t hold back, “But what would she think when she grows up? I already let her down once, I can’t do it again. Here’s the money. Thank you for loving her these past few months…”
The entire time, it was only Mother Yu and Grandma speaking. Yu Jingxuan sat quietly, not saying a word.
Then he found out, Lin Miao’s younger brother had a heart condition and needed surgery.
When Yu Jingxuan returned home, Lin Miao was playing with the dogs. She ran up to him excitedly. “Gege! Where did you go?”
He patted her head, his heart heavy. “Shui Shui, if you go home, you won’t be able to study with me anymore. Are you still going back?”
Lin Miao said, “Then I’ll call you from the village chief’s house every day!”
So she was going back.
Yu Jingxuan felt a strange, unfamiliar ache in his chest. He looked at her and finally said, “Go pack your things. Your mom is coming to pick you up.”
Lin Miao lit up immediately, she remembered what her mom had said before she left: she’d come get her for New Year!
She was overjoyed. “Really? My mom is coming to get me?” She’d thought she’d have to take a taxi like the others. She hadn’t expected her mom would actually come!
She spun in circles with happiness, ran upstairs to grab her little schoolbag, then came back down and asked, “Gege, do you want to visit my house?”
Looking at her bright, joyful face, Yu Jingxuan turned away. “No.”
The three adults, Mother Yu, Father Yu, and Grandma, remained calm.
Lin Miao only took her schoolbag and some candies. Clothes, skirts, shoes, she didn’t think to pack them.
Mother Yu didn’t say anything. She hoped Lin Miao would come back, so she left it at that.
Yu Jingxuan sat on the balcony with the three dogs, watching Lin Miao run toward her mother, full of joy.
She didn’t even look back.