I Will Fall Madly In Love With - Chapter 5

Sunlight streamed through the hospital window, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the pristine white hospital bed.

I leaned back quietly against the pillows, fixing my gaze on the television screen as I tried to immerse myself in the fictional world and momentarily forget the discomfort in my body.

Suddenly, the door of the hospital room was pushed open gently, and a figure appeared in the entryway. Looking up, I saw Mom walking in slowly, arm-in-arm with a man.

The man was tall and broad-shouldered, with a stern expression and deep, piercing eyes. In an instant, I realized he must be my father.

Yet, for reasons unknown, as I stared at him, an indescribable sense of alienation welled up inside me.

Even though I couldn’t recall the memories I had shared with Mom over the years, whenever she drew near, I could genuinely feel a primal, instinctive sense of warmth. Her smile and her gaze invariably brought me comfort and peace of mind.

Yet facing this man introduced as my “Dad,” I couldn’t find a single shred of similar emotional resonance.

I couldn’t help wondering where this strange feeling came from. Had my prolonged illness dulled my perception of the people around me?

“Dad” walked to the side of my bed, a hint of concern and tension flashing through his gaze. He fell silent for a moment before speaking up, “Daughter, do you remember Dad?”

I gave my head a gentle shake.

“It’s alright, sweetheart. How are you feeling physically right now?” He and Mom sat down together by my bed, taking hold of my hand as he asked.

I gave a slight nod, offering a stiff, “Pretty good.”

Immediately afterward, Mom turned her gaze toward me, speaking with gentle warmth, “Momo, Dad is a soldier. He’s been away on an important military mission for quite some time. The moment his mission wrapped up and he heard about your injury, he rushed right back.”

“Dad, I’m sorry, I forgot you,” I apologized guiltily, looking at the unfamiliar man before me. He was the person I called “Dad,” yet right at this moment, I knew nothing about him.

The man sat quietly by my bed, replying in a warm, steadfast voice, “It’s fine, child. What’s forgotten is in the past; Dad just hopes you can start fresh and embrace a brand-new life of your own.”

Hearing Dad’s words, a wave of emotion stirred in my chest. I lifted my head, looking at him intently as I tried to trace any familiar traces in his eyes.

“Dad, can you tell me about the things we used to do? I’d love to learn more about the stories between us,” I murmured softly.

Dad smiled and reached out to pat my shoulder. “Of course, Momo. We’ve shared plenty of wonderful memories; Dad will tell you all about them, piece by piece.”

I nodded, my heart brimming with anticipation. Perhaps through these recollections, I could gradually piece together those lost segments of time.

Dad began recounting our past stories. His voice was deep and gentle, rendering every single detail with vivid realism. I listened in silence, as though transported right back into those idyllic scenes.

“I remember once, when you were still very little, we went to the park to fly a kite. You ran like the wind, your laughter ringing out as crisp as silver bells. The kite soared high in the sky, and your eyes flickered with the radiance of pure joy…”

“And another time, when you were learning to ride a bicycle and accidentally took a spill. But you didn’t cry—you stood right back up bravely and kept practicing. You made me so proud back then…”

…

Dad’s narration gradually stirred a sense of familiarity within my chest. Vague fragments of scenes surfaced in my mind, yet whenever I tried to look closer at the person in those visions, the images dissolved back into blurry darkness.

“Momo, look how brave you were when you were little,” Mom chimed in, her eyes overflowing with maternal affection. “You need to stay just as strong from now on, alright?”

I smiled and nodded, a surge of warmth flooding the depths of my heart. Though my memories remained hazy, I could clearly feel the profound love my parents held for me.

“Big Sis~”

A familiar, sweet voice drifted in from outside the door.

Unlike her usual flowing Hanfu attire, she was dressed in a novel, chic new-Chinese casual outfit.

The ensemble was simple yet elegant, boasting a unique sense of design; the upper piece was a pale green crossover-collar long tunic, paired with a pair of loose black trousers embellished with exquisite embroidery along the cuffs.

The only flaw was that the trousers seemed to have picked up a few smudges of dust, looking somewhat soiled. Judging by the appearance, she had evidently rushed straight to the hospital the moment she wrapped up her work.

Reaching my bedside, Mimi’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the man seated beside me. The moment her eyes locked with his, time seemed to freeze in place.

“Mimi, this is Momo’s dad.” Spotting her, Mom stood up quickly, walked over to Mimi, took her hand, and introduced them.

Hearing Mom’s words, Mimi’s body gave a sharp jolt. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, though she regained her composure almost instantly.

The corners of her mouth ticked upward into a sweet smile as she greeted him politely, “Oh! So you’re Uncle! The last time I saw you was when I was very little. Time flies by so fast, I almost forgot you. I’m Momo’s good friend, Xi Yumi.”

The man stood up, smiling in response. “Ah, yes, I never imagined Mimi would have grown up this much.” His voice was deep and mild, carrying an innate amiability.

“Uncle, will you be staying for a while now that you’re back?” Mimi asked, tilting her head up to look at the tall, upright, resolute-looking man.

The man shook his head with a look of genuine regret. “I only managed to get a two-day leave from the military, so I have to head back and report tomorrow afternoon. I’ll have to leave Momo in your capable hands.”

Mimi nodded vigorously, her expression earnest. “Uncle, you’re being too polite! I’ll definitely take good care of Big Sis!”

“Then I’ll trouble you.” The man cast a grateful glance at Mimi before turning to me. “Daughter, you and Mimi go ahead and chat. Dad’s going home to pack up some things and will come back to keep you company later.”

I watched him, the corners of my mouth curving up in a slight nod of acknowledgment. Soon after, he turned and walked out of the hospital room alongside Mom.

Mimi sat down beside me, asking softly, “Big Sis, after chatting with Uncle, did any past memories come back to you?”

I nodded slightly, as if intending to affirm her question. Yet a momentary hesitation caused me to shake my head gently instead, my eyes betraying a hint of confusion and bewilderment.

Watching my bewildered expression, Mimi grew terrified that I might be grieving over the brevity of my father’s visit.

Consequently, she grasped my hand tightly, offering gentle reassurance: “Don’t worry too much! At least for these next two days, Uncle will be right here keeping you company.”

I smiled and nodded in response to Mimi’s care.

However, she had no way of knowing that what truly troubled me wasn’t the briefness of Dad’s stay, nor was it any reluctance to part with him. Rather, what baffled me was why he could recount so many stories of our past together, yet I remained utterly incapable of generating any emotional resonance toward him.

Perhaps it was simply due to our sparse time together over the years, I comforted myself.

Easter Egg

(Xi Yumi’s Bedroom)

“I almost blew my cover today,” Xi Yumi muttered to herself under her breath. “I wonder if Big Sis noticed anything.”