My Youth Began With Him

“I’ve been following the news for the last few days… Song Qingguo has been traveling three folds less than before abroad… This is a strange phenomenon… Sometimes the media would do a close-up on him and they’re all showing that he’s in a rush. I’m guessing he’s in some sort of trouble right now… Also, he went to Lingling’s wedding and did nothing. One reason might be that he was too scared to take action in public since he might leave behind some sort of evidence that could be traced back to him. Another reason may be that he can’t even protect himself anymore so he doesn’t have time for me… You need to know that last time I got into trouble, it was midnight. It was dark and no one was around. We’re going in broad daylight this time. There’s going to be cameras everywhere and we’ll be on the highway. Do you think the mayor of the city can do anything outrageous?” Huo Mian said confidently.

“Your analysis seems to make sense but it’s all based on assumptions…” Su Yu still didn’t want Huo Mian to go out…

“Su Yu, I beg you…” Huo Mian said softly but with puppy eyes.

Su Yu could not say no to Huo Mian like this.

He would give in immediately when seeing those puppy eyes.

“You don’t need to beg me… I don’t want you to go because I’m worried about your safety, but if you really want to go, I’ll go with you…”

“Thank you,” Huo Mian responded with a gentle smile.

“Oh yeah, don’t tell Mrs. Su. I don’t want them to worry,” Huo Mian said.

“I understand. When do you want to go?”

“Let’s go early tomorrow. As soon as the sun rises, we set off. Is that alright?”

“Yeah. I’ll come and pick you up tomorrow morning then.”

He then left the room and went downstairs.

Huo Mian gently stroked her belly and said, “Be good my babies… Mommy will show you guys the wish your daddy wrote before.”

Huo Mian stared into some distant place…

It seemed like yesterday. She remembered everything about the time she went to the temple with Qin Chu.

She had three wishes. She would kowtow every three steps.

Qin Chu was an atheist but he would do the same with her.

The couple was very pious: they climbed up to the top of the mountain and wrote down their wishes. Then, they tied their wishes to a tree.

Huo Mian didn’t see what Qin Chu wrote. She firmly believed that his wish would one day come true.

They decided that when their wishes were fulfilled, they would come back again together.

Qin Chu now vanished and Huo Mian did not know when he would come back.

Seasons past by and the babies were soon to be born. Yet, there was no news of Qin Chu at all.

Huo Mian drowned into slight despair.

She didn’t know what to do when she was in despair. She could only put hope in God.

Huo Mian wished for a child last time she went and she was now pregnant. Her wish was fulfilled.

This time, she was going to beg God to return Qin Chu to her.

She could sacrifice anything, including the children and her own life… She only wanted Qin Chu to return.

Huo Mian once again couldn’t sleep…

She picked up her diary from the drawer and a pen and started writing in it:

It’s been six months and five days since I got pregnant. The twins have been moving a lot more. I feel movements on both sides so I can tell they’re very outgoing children. Chu, if you were home, you would tell me to be patient, and that in a few months, I could drop these two little things… I’ve also been doing prenatal teaching on them too. I was listening to the background music from Hayao Miyazaki’s movies but then it suddenly changed to the song from “You Are the Apple in My Eye”. I started recalling the times we spent together at the 2nd High School… Those innocent and beautiful days… When are you going to come back? The twins and I are waiting for you…

Huo Mian’s diary was blotted with tears now…