Chapter 8 – Sui Xi’s Dreams Can’t Become Real (II)

"Mommy, there are two pieces of meat. We have one piece for each of us." Sui Xi childishly said while using her small hand to pass the meat to Lady Guan.

"Eh?" Lady Guan let out a surprised sound before laughing, reaching out to stroke her daughter's head. "Mommy has already had enough to eat, this is for Sui Xi."

With wide eyes, Sui Xi blinked at her mother before asking her again if she was sure. At her confirmation, Sui Xi happily ate the meat piece. Mommy's cooking is the best! Thank you, dad!

After finishing dinner, Lady Guan carried Xui Si and placed her onto the countertop near the sink. She had to wash the dishes but also wanted to accompany her daughter. It was a good thing that Sui Xi was an obedient and quiet child. Though, sometimes...

Sui Xi sat not far away, listening to the delicate sound of porcelain dishes and although she couldn't see it, she could feel her mother's happiness.

Although her father didn't love her mother, he was very kind to her. Every night after her mother finished her work, dad would massage her mother's back and tell her jokes.

I slept in a small room next to theirs, so I could hear everything clearly. Ah… Every time mother talks to me about some stories with her father, her voice was always accompanied by laughter. The smile on her face was so sweet.

Lady Guan was not from Xili city. Her maiden name is Luo and the Luo family was also a scholarly family with a reputation. Master Luo is a teacher in the Wuli city Academy. It is said that when First Master Guan met Madam Luo in Wuli city, he completely lost his mind and thus ran to Wuli city every day. Originally, Master Luo refused to give his daughter to Guan. It was when he saw that Guan was sincere and that his intentions were true that he finally agreed to it.

This story, full of sweetness in Lady Guan's memory, was deeply sealed in Sui Xi's ears. But it's just that, in the end, those were the young times. I don't know how much patience dad had in the beginning and how their promise of life and death changed into the current life they have now.

While Sui Xi was in a daze, Lady Guan washed all the dishes and put them back into the cabinet shelves. She dried her hands and helped Sui Xi down from the counter, holding her hand as she led her back to their rooms. She said to her daughter while carrying a smile, "Tomorrow will be a fine day. There are many stars in the sky tonight."

"Mommy, what are the stars like?" Sui Xi asked as she rubbed her eyes, her tender voice causing Lady Guan to smile for a fraction of a second before turning solemn.

Looking sadly into her daughter's still-closed eyes, Lady Guan tried to make her voice sound like she hadn't heard anything peculiar.

"Stars are like fireflies, they shine bright."

Sui Xi tilted her head, her eyebrows crinkling together. "But what does a firefly look like?"

I really want to open my eyes and see what the sun looks like. I want to see the sun that mommy always talks about. I want to know what color the sky is and how bright the stars are…

But every time Sui Xi forced herself to open her eyes, her head and the pit of her stomach would ache so badly as if something was blocked. After trying several times, she didn't dare to try it again.

"Well, it's late. Sui Xi must go to bed early. That way, maybe you can see the sun rising tomorrow." Lady Guan chided as she lifted Sui Xi off the ground and spun her around once, smiling when the child's bell-like laughter rang out once more. After that, Lady Guan carried Sui Xi in her arms until she reached her child's room. She went in and laid her down onto the bed, tucking her in while she gently hummed an old nursery rhyme.

"Sleep, sleep, my baby. The stars in the sky hang high, like countless winking stones. Every baby's dream is deeply buried in the mother's heart. Whether you cry, whether you smile, you will always be in my arms. Sleep tight, with a smile on the corner of your mouth. Mommy will accompany you to find those little dreams.”

“ Mother, Sui Xi's dreams can't become real…"

Sui Xi's breath gradually extended and evened. Lady Guan put down some yellow linen curtains, showed a gentle and loving smile, then blew out the candle that was flickering in a lamp by the side table. After leaving a quick kiss on her daughter's forehead, Lady Guan quietly walked out of the room, humming the same tune as she made her way to hers.

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