Chapter 59: Boundless Happiness

Returning to the reception parlor, only three of the original four people remained: myself, Goddess Su, and a bewildered Little Ya. Yes, Luo Qing had left.

I sat on the bench, head bowed, not uttering a word. The considerate Su Xuefei did not ask me any questions at that moment, choosing instead to quietly stay by my side.

Over and over, I replayed Luo Qing’s parting words in my mind. Perhaps only in that final moment did I truly comprehend the depth of Luo Qing's feelings for me. The instant she turned and walked away, I felt a heart-rending pain, as if all previous sorrows had compounded and rushed into my chest.

For the first time, I came this close to Luo Qing's inner world, feeling her emotions and understanding her thoughts. Yet now, what meaning did all of this hold?

In the face of love, Luo Qing had been far braver than I. I had been too childish, constantly worrying over a relationship that felt unstable, failing to cherish it, and lacking the knowledge of how to maintain it. Whenever I felt lonely, I would endlessly question whether the bond between us could truly be called love. Yet this very behavior had made me lose, in my confusion, the most precious thing in love.

I once read that everyone who appears in your life is never without meaning—whether good or bad, they are all there to teach you a lesson. Only now did I truly feel the weight of those words. I longed to add a sentence of my own: by the time you finally understand certain truths, the person who taught them to you has already departed.

"Big Brother."

I was abruptly pulled back to the present, looking rather dazedly at Little Ya.

"What's wrong? Where is the red-haired sister?" Little Ya's childish voice made my heart ache all over again.

"Sister had something to attend to at home, so she left first," I forced an awkward smile, reaching out to gently stroke Little Ya's soft, long hair. "Little Ya, what kind of person is your mother?"

"What kind of person?" Little Ya seemed still too young to fully grasp the question.

"I mean... is your mother gentle? Does she usually treat you very well?" When I found myself at a loss for how to explain, Su Xuefei stepped in to rephrase for me.

"Mhm, Mom treats Little Ya very well." Mentioning her mother actually seemed to make Little Ya happy, as if she had no awareness whatsoever of the connection between her own recent plight and her mother.

Hearing Little Ya's cheerful reply, Su Xuefei and I exchanged glances, nodding in tacit agreement. I made a firm decision in my heart: I would return Little Ya to her mother, rather than her rough and brutal father. Perhaps the mother and child would still face many difficulties in the future, but as long as I and Goddess Su were around, we would ensure a better quality of life for Little Ya—at the very least, she would no longer have to rely on scavenging.

Seeing that my mood seemed to have improved somewhat, Su Xuefei took the initiative to chat with me about lighter topics. Time slipped quietly away amidst our conversation.

At a gesture from the police officer, Goddess Su and I led Little Ya out of the reception room. At the entrance of the police station, however, we did not see Little Ya's father. In his place stood a woman of about thirty years old. Her attire was somewhat fashionable overall, though to my eyes it felt a bit too deliberate, as if she were trying a little too hard to put on a show.

"Mom!" The moment I was sizing up the woman before us, Little Ya cried out joyfully and threw herself into the woman's embrace.

I stared in startled disbelief, while Su Xuefei cast a slightly suspicious glance at my way, as if feeling that everything was proceeding far too smoothly.

"My little darling, Mom has searched so hard for you. Where have you been all these days?" The woman squatted down, wrapping her arms around Little Ya's soft body, her voice laden with lingering anxiety.

I carefully observed the woman's actions, while Su Xuefei walked over to the nearby police officers to inquire about the sequence of events.

"Mom, I've been staying with Big Sister and Big Brother. Look, this dress was a gift from Big Sister!" Little Ya turned her head with a smile and pointed in our direction. I offered a somewhat stiff smile and waved at the woman by way of greeting.

"It's so pretty. Hurry up and thank Big Sister." Taking Little Ya's hand, the woman walked up to Su Xuefei and me, smiling amiably. "Thank you both so much these past few days. If not for you, I truly wouldn't have known what to do. It's all my fault for being momentarily careless and letting Little Ya wander off. Thank you so much."

"It was only right; there's no need to thank us." I shook my head. In truth, human relationships should naturally be this way. We helped Little Ya, and Little Ya's arrival had likewise changed our lives. Kindness and harmony should forever be the most fundamental bonds between people in this society.

"You two must be a couple. What a loving young pair. Little Ya was only able to return to my side thanks to your care." Little Ya's mother reached out and gently pinched Little Ya's cheek.

"Still, Auntie, there are a few things I'd like to say to you." I paused for a moment, meeting her eyes squarely. "No matter what you've been through, or what's on your mind, Little Ya should be the most important person in your life. You must protect her well, love her with all that you have, rather than letting her slip away carelessly or..." I swallowed back the words I had originally intended to say, because such truths were far too cruel for Little Ya.

"I know... I definitely won't let something like this happen again," the woman promised earnestly.

"I hope so... Where are you planning to take Little Ya now? Are you returning to your previous home?" I could not simply place my trust in a complete stranger, for this time, the choice I made was not a mere transaction; I was considering a young girl's future. I had no choice but to think deeply and carefully.

Hearing my words, the woman froze slightly, then lowered her gaze to look at Little Ya, who guiltily cast her eyes down, not daring to meet her mother's look.

"From what we understand, Little Ya's father—your husband—seems to have rather poor living habits. We're afraid Little Ya won't be able to grow up healthily in that kind of environment." I voiced my concerns directly.

"My husband... his temper is indeed a bit foul, but he isn't entirely heartless. He usually likes to drink and play cards, and there really isn't much worth boasting about at home... But you must believe me, I've already found a stable job outside, and I will definitely take good care of Little Ya." At this, the mother's emotions stirred somewhat, her tone turning involuntarily urgent.

"I hope you will fulfill your responsibilities as a mother and not let Little Ya's life sink back into the quagmire. She is still young and cannot withstand any harm." While I had no right to meddle excessively in another family's affairs, these words had to be said. "If in the days to come I hear that Little Ya suffers from domestic violence or any other violations of her human rights, we will notify the police immediately to handle the matter. And things won't be so easily resolved then."

At that moment, I could only resort to a mixture of reassurance and warnings, hoping that these measures would secure a better life for Little Ya.

"Mhm, rest assured, it definitely won't happen. If Little Ya is ever in danger, as her mother, I will certainly stand in front of her."

"It's not about standing in front of her when danger arises; it's about making sure danger never arises in the first place." I shook my head, crouched down, and beckoned to Little Ya.

Little Ya trotted obediently over to me, and I gently stroked her hair. Without realizing it, she had woven her own colors into my life. Now that she was leaving, a genuine reluctance tugged at my heart.

"Be a good girl when you get home. If you miss Big Brother, give me a call." Borrowing a ballpoint pen from the police officer, I gently wrote my phone number into the palm of Little Ya's hand. "Remember the ice cream shop Big Sister took you to? Have your mom bring you there to play whenever you have time. It's free."

As I spoke, I felt a prickle of sourness in my nose. Looking at the obediently nodding Little Ya, I felt that everything we had done was ultimately worth it.

"Little Ya, let Big Sister give you a hug." Su Xuefei also came over to my side, squatting down to gently embrace Little Ya, burying the child's head against her chest. I caught sight of Su Xuefei's tears—crystal-clear and beautiful, yet carrying a heavy trace of sorrow.

"Big Sister!" Cradled in Su Xuefei's arms, Little Ya burst into loud sobs. Stirred by the sound of her crying, I quickly turned my head away.

"Sister will come visit you whenever she has time, and buy you lots and lots of new clothes and snacks you like." Su Xuefei's voice trembled uncontrollably. Through days of living and playing together, Su Xuefei had truly come to regard Little Ya as her own younger sister. Sharing meals, lodging, and laughter, she was now enduring a parting far more painful than my own.

Little Ya wept aloud, nodding vigorously, while her mother stood quietly behind her, not knowing what to do.

"Grow up fast, Little Ya, and come find Big Brother and Big Sister to play when you're older." I gently pulled Su Xuefei up to her feet, looked toward Little Ya's mother, and hesitated a long while before finally speaking. "You must make Little Ya happy."

After signing the necessary documents at the police station, Little Ya's mother led the reluctant child away. Goddess Su and I had no reason to linger either; after signing out, we hurried away as well.

On the pristine pedestrian walkway, Su Xuefei and I walked shoulder to shoulder in silence. Perhaps neither of us was truly prepared to say goodbye to Little Ya, leaving a desolate atmosphere lingering between us.

"Yang Chen, Little Ya will be happy, won't she?" Su Xuefei looked at me, asking with earnest eyes.

"Of course, she definitely will."

After escorting Goddess Su back to her hotel, just as we were parting ways, I spoke up once more: "Cheer up, Goddess Su. Little Ya returning to her mother's side is the most perfect ending, isn't it?"

Su Xuefei paused at the hotel entrance, turning to look at me in silence. After a moment, she suddenly rushed forward and gave me a hug. Her signature fragrance instantly filled my senses, and I heard her whisper softly in my ear: "We still have Little Ya, and we'll both be happy, right?"

"Mhm... absolutely."