Although They're Mentally ill, They're Extremely Easy to Comfort - Chapter 84

Ling’s father carried little Ling Xi up the hill, breathing heavily as he looked at the small, low house.

The little girl pointed at the haystack and shouted loudly, “That’s it! That’s where I found it!”

A group of people scrambled towards the haystack, and quickly pulled out the skylight hidden underneath.

“My God! There really was a little girl locked up here!” Someone exclaimed, having discovered the emaciated little Pearl. He immediately grabbed an iron shovel lying nearby, attempting to pry open the sturdy skylight.

Another group of people directly entered the dusty old house. Someone found the secret passage leading to the dungeon, so they grouped together and walked into the depths, guided by the faint light of a lighter.

When little Pearl was carried out by the adults, her ankle still dangled the remnants of a broken shackle, and her terrified look evoked pity.

Little Ling Xi ran up to her, extending her hand: “See, I told you I would come and save you! Can I have my camera back now!”

It turned out that after all the commotion, all she could think about was her beloved camera.

Little Pearl’s golden eyes were watery, reflecting the tears of being rescued and a hint of gratitude. She placed the camera, which she had been clutching tightly, into little Ling Xi’s hand: “Thank you…”

The little girl was short and had a mushroom cut. Hearing the girl’s thanks, she awkwardly scratched her head, feeling a little embarrassed.

She grinned, revealing a gap between her teeth, which looked very funny: “Teacher says we should enjoy helping others!”

“Child, what is your name, and where are your family? Why were you locked up here?” Seeing the girl’s dirty face, Ling’s mother took off her vest, draped it over her shoulders, and asked softly, afraid of startling her.

“Pearl Josepha…” Mentioning her name, the little girl cried again. Her scared and sad demeanor moved the group of adults.

Little Ling Xi took a tissue from her trouser pocket and kindly wiped the girl’s face. Like a little adult, she patted her shoulder: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, you are safe now!”

To cheer her up, the little girl rubbed and kneaded the clean tissue, performing a magic trick to make a white rose which she slipped into her hand: “Little crybaby, this is a flower for you. Don’t cry, don’t cry…”

She was still a little girl herself, so why did she insist on acting like an adult to make her happy?

Little Pearl took the paper rose and laughed through her tears: “Thank you…”

During the few days they waited for Pearl’s family to arrive, Ling’s father and mother were busy with their usual academic research. The responsibility of looking after the little girl fell to little Ling Xi.

She would lovingly hold her cherished camera to document her new friend.

The afternoon was the happiest time. The little girl would get a double portion of pocket money from her dad, and she would hold little Pearl’s hand to go to the store to buy ice cream cones.

Although they didn’t dare go back up the hill, they would sit in the busiest part of the town, eating delicious ice cream.

“Will we see each other again in the future?” Little Pearl ate the crispy waffle cone, saving the best part—the chocolate bottom—for little Ling Xi.

Little Ling Xi had cream smeared all over her mouth. She casually wiped it clean with the back of her hand and patted her chest to guarantee: “We’ll definitely see each other again!”

Little Pearl leaned her head against little Ling Xi’s shoulder and murmured, asking: “Where is your home? I’ll come to visit you later…”

“My home is very far away in the East, a city called Xuancheng, a city completely different from here. You must remember to come and visit me!”

“Pinky promise…”

“Follow me!” Suddenly thinking of something, little Ling Xi placed the camera on the chair, set the timer, and led little Pearl a short distance away.

“Face the lens, you have to smile happily!” The little girl called out. Little Pearl stood behind her with her hands clasped behind her back, playfully showing half of her head.

With a click, they took the first photo together in their lives.

Hearing the sound of the camera film, the little girl took a box from her trouser pocket, quickly retrieved the film, and stored it.

She carefully presented the box to the girl. Although little Ling Xi was a little reluctant, she was generous: “I took a lot of beautiful scenery in here, and our photo is the last one. You are my good friend, so I’ll give it to you!”

Little Pearl held the box. She cried when she was scared, and she cried when she was sad, but the tears that suddenly streamed out were tears of happiness.

Seeing her cry again, the little girl yelled: “I told you you were a crybaby! Mom even scolded me not to call you names! Don’t cry, don’t cry…”

“Ling Xi, you are so good!”

“Look how pretty you are, pretty golden eyes, pretty golden hair, you are good too…”

The images in her mind stopped abruptly.

A silent, choking sob. Her throat was constricted, and she couldn’t exhale for a long time. Ling Xi could only gasp for breath through her nose.

Memories tinted yellow by time, revealing unknown fragments of her childhood, were so easily forgotten in the vast ocean of time.

“Pearl Josepha… You really came to find me as promised…”

In the early morning, seeing off the group of people was still somewhat melancholy.

Ji Nancen was pushing the wheelchair. As they passed a small store, Qiao Bo’er called out, “Wait a moment.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Help me buy an ice cream cone. You should try one too.”

Qiao Bo’er’s suggestion was a bit puzzling to Ji Nancen. She teased her, “I didn’t realize you liked ice cream? Don’t eat too much, be careful of the cold.”

“I didn’t realize you were so particular either,” Qiao Bo’er retorted.

Ji Nancen ran into the store to choose an ice cream cone. She picked out several, gestured to Qiao Bo’er from a distance, but Qiao Bo’er shook her head: “Not this brand, I want the cheapest one.”

“This one?”

“Mhm…”

After paying, Ji Nancen handed the ice cream cone to Qiao Bo’er, being very generous: “My treat.”

“It’s embarrassing to be treated by you, the one who won’t spare a single hair,” Qiao Bo’er was becoming more witty. Ji Nancen didn’t mind: “You’re telling me…”

Slowly walking towards the little house on the hill, Ji Nancen was confused: “I heard from Chu Xi… you were kidnapped before, and you were locked in the dungeon of that house… Are you not creeped out moving in now?”

Qiao Bo’er looked into the distance. The gentle breeze accompanied her relieved smile, and she shook her head: “But this is where everything began.”

Ji Nancen didn’t dig for details, but changed the subject: “My thoughts are the same as theirs. What if Ling Xi doesn’t come for a long time? Are you just going to keep waiting?”

“When she remembers who I am, she will naturally find this place.” Qiao Bo’er pointed to the old wooden chair not far away, her smile becoming even more relaxed: “On that chair, we made a pinky promise to definitely find each other. She won’t disappoint me.”

“You love her too much. Is this inexplicable deep love because of your childhood memories?”

“Undeniably, her appearance was mixed with too many beautiful filters. That’s why I developed the obsession to love her. When I truly entered her world, I discovered that love is inherently inexplicable, just like… what Alice said to the Mad Hatter: ‘I love you because a raven is like a writing desk.’”

“Is a raven like a writing desk?” This conversation was too profound. Ji Nancen mumbled, indicating she didn’t understand.

“You don’t understand, right? How can a raven be like a writing desk? Just like my love for her, it’s simply without any reason.”

“I see. Taking notes. When I fall in love, I’ll say that too!”

“You’re quite interesting.”

Ling Xi was in a daze, only returning to the hotel when dawn broke.

Even though her body was heavy, she couldn’t sleep. Looking at the unopened luggage, a frantic impulse rushed into her mind.

She didn’t hesitate to grab her luggage and hurriedly left the room.

With the help of the hotel service, she successfully rented a small car. She sat in the driver’s seat, wolfing down bread.

Go to Enfeir, the only ice cream cone that can redeem you must be waiting there!

The voice in her heart was screaming frantically. Ling Xi took a chance, pulling out her medicine and swallowing it dryly.

It had always been Pearl fiercely knocking on the door of her heart, regardless of the occasion or consequence, all for a promise. Why couldn’t she be crazy for once too?

The drive from Sinsinia to Enfield town was over ten hours.

Ling Xi pressed the accelerator and dared not relax. She found that the surge of adrenaline from wanting to see her beloved person brought a refreshing feeling, a strange kind of enchantment.

It was evening when she arrived at the town. Ling Xi parked the car below the hill, not even doubting her destination, firmly believing that this was the place for her reunion with Pearl.

The wind on the hill was particularly whistling today, like her younger self. Ling Xi’s feet sank into the deep wild grass.

The twilight of the small town remained the same, a paradise created by the collision of oil green and golden yellow, a richly colored stroke in that brief summer.

The closer she got to her destination, the more timid she became. Ling Xi’s steps grew slower and slower.

When she climbed to the top of the slope, the old house from her memory had been weathered by time, becoming even more mottled.

A solitary, slender figure was quietly sitting in a wheelchair, resting her eyes.

That thin profile came into view, making her heart ache.

Ling Xi choked up and her nose stung. She couldn’t bear to break her lover’s peaceful rest.

Ji Nancen was about to walk out of the house with a plate of fruit when the sudden appearance of a stranger made her stop. She leaned against the door, quietly melting into the darkness.

She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, It’s wonderful, the gentle Miss Bo’er finally welcomes the person she wanted to see.

Ling Xi’s steps were soft, slowly, slowly, walking into Qiao Bo’er’s world just like that.

A warm touch grazed her cheek, and something moist dropped onto Qiao Bo’er’s hand, gradually becoming hot, until it became uncontrollable.

They had only been apart for two months, so why did it feel like a lifetime ago? Perhaps this meeting was the true long-awaited reunion.

She finally recovered all the lost memories in the secret Qiao Bo’er kept for her. Those memories brought immense pain, but they were also intertwined with indelible happiness. This Ling Xi was finally complete.

Qiao Bo’er slowly opened her eyes, initially thinking it was Ji Nancen’s excessive prank.

It turned out that when they met again, having crossed over mountains of longing and endured great hardships, there was no exhilarating joy nor heartbreaking cries.

Everything was so peaceful.

The smile on Qiao Bo’er’s lips was more dazzling than the twilight crimson. She continuously stroked Ling Xi’s head: “Finally, you have become more real because of me. Thank goodness I didn’t give up, I never gave up.”

Ling Xi’s belt swung with the wind. She half-knelt, wearily resting her head on Qiao Bo’er’s lap.

She held Bo’er’s hand and pressed it to her face, gently rubbing it: “It turns out that your secret was completely filled with Ling Xi… I am honored to be loved so deeply by you.”

Yes, the secret hidden was entirely Ling Xi!

Ling Xi looked up, the red around her eyes was the color of happiness, just as certain as when she, as a child, had promised to rescue little Pearl: “That phrase, I remember wanting to say it to you too…”

With a mutual understanding, Qiao Bo’er knew what Ling Xi wanted to say. She mumbled with her lips: “I love you… I will…”

Ling Xi leaned over, supporting herself on the armrest of the wheelchair, and promised close to Pearl’s ear: “I will love you until ten thousand flowers wither, until the bones turn to ash, until the galaxy is shattered.”

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