0082 Encountering Stars (5)

I first encountered Lingling in the winter of 2004, when the story was about to end.

From then on, I had ten years of stolen time that saved me from danger several times.

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When I woke up at the He family home, I felt surrounded by warmth.

It was a warm and crowded place, unlike the huge but empty villa my father had arranged for me in J City. It made me feel like I was still dreaming and I didn't dare to wake up.

If love fills the surroundings, coldness will have nowhere to invade.

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a middle-aged woman dressed in home clothes. She had a gentle appearance and a kind and approachable demeanor.

She was leaning over my bedside, whispering, "Get up quickly," but not in my direction.

I turned my still-aching head slightly, and another sharp pain shot through my shoulder blade. I gritted my teeth and saw a furry head resting beside my face.

She was half-lying on my pillow, her pearly white cheeks flushed with a peachy pink, her eyelashes fluttering like a feather fan.

I held my breath for a moment; she was so beautiful that I didn't even realize I was blushing.

Fortunately, her slightly heaving body proved that she was fast asleep, and a glistening trace of drool clung to the corner of her mouth...

"You're awake?" The middle-aged woman suddenly turned to me and touched my forehead. "Your face is so red, are you still running a fever?"

I was incredibly embarrassed for a moment, but thankfully she didn't ask any further questions.

She touched the cup on the low table beside the bed; it contained a cold medicine.

As she tucked the blanket around me, she explained that she had found me in front of her house yesterday. She then said she would have her daughter come in to bring me medicine, but she was fast asleep by my bedside... She also said she would make me another cup of medicine and told me to wake her up quickly...

I've lived for over a decade and never done anything so reckless. I was just like that guy from the next class who skips class all the time to go to the bar, drunk and going crazy everywhere.

I realized I did something so ridiculous yesterday.

I quickly threw off the covers to leave, only to realize that I wasn't wearing my own clothes. Perhaps they had changed me because I was too dirty yesterday. But at that moment, I couldn't think too much; I just knew I had to leave as soon as possible.

My movements startled the girl who was sleeping soundly beside my bed. She was wearing a nightgown with light pink lace trim, rubbing her sleepy eyes and looking at me hazily.

I finally remembered what happened yesterday.

Just before I fainted, I saw a white skirt and someone said they would take me home.

It was her.

But soon I was about to find out that the person she was talking to was actually a dog, and I realized how ridiculous I had made a fool of myself.

Yes.

I squatted in front of the dining table, staring at the dirty little dog in the milk box, which made the He family burst into laughter.

That's the photo I later put on my desk, which Qi Le mistakenly thought was of my dog, "Xingxing".

I was annoyed, but looking back on that moment years later, I have to admit that I was as dirty and pathetic as the stars back then.

The He family couldn't believe that their daughter would one day bring home a puppy and a living person.

It was such a ridiculous yet adorable scene, but as a young child, I had no idea what I was going through.

Only when parting is imminent can one truly understand.

It turns out that she was my beloved who gave me ten years of warmth, and the star that helped me get through the long, cold night.

(End of the Encounter with Stars chapter)