Chapter 81 A Lucky Draw: Parallel Universe 24

Parallel universes

She cried softly, tears streaming down her cheeks onto the back of the boy's hand and into his palm, scalding his coldness with a sharp, burning sensation into his heart.

"Didn't you make me promise to wait for you for five years? It's been less than a year. I was able to hold on even when my dad was going through such a big thing, how come you can't handle it now?"

"Xingmian, do you still remember when we climbed Xue'an Mountain together? Back then, I didn't understand why we had to persevere even when we were so tired. Why we had to reach the summit? Now I understand a little better than I did then. Facing such immense pain, I am truly exhausted. My body is tired, my mind is tired, my eyes are tired from crying, and my heart is the most exhausted. But I have to persevere. I can't give up... There are many reasons why I can't give up. I have to live because I still have my mother, you, my friends, and Huainan Lane. As long as I live, those who love me will have something to look forward to. I must persevere and get through this so that I can see you again one day..."

"But why? Honey, you always encouraged me to persevere until I succeeded when we were climbing the mountain, so why are you giving up halfway now?"

"My baby, I know you are the best baby in the world. I know you must have suffered a lot of injustices and hardships, but life is still long and the world is still big. My happiness is already incomplete. If you are not by my side in the days to come, how can I persevere to the top of the mountain?"

Xu Zhiyu felt like she was having trouble breathing. Sadness, like countless tiny fragments, pierced her body. She even wished that she was the one lying in bed. She wanted to become a vegetable in place of her father, and to die in place of Xingmian, but she didn't want to see the person she loved lying lifelessly in bed like this.

Xingmian returned to Mushui City, where it was still deep autumn.

He was born into an ordinary family in Xingbei Alley, east of Mushui City. His parents had a small fruit shop in the alley, and he grew up there. He attended Mushui No. 1 Middle School, where his grades were average and not particularly outstanding.

This time, Lin Xingmian, like the other students, had a happy and wonderful childhood. His parents loved each other and cared for him a lot. He went to school happily every day, and after school, he would go home to do his homework while helping his parents watch the shop.

My parents' biggest hobby is playing mahjong at Suying's house. The three of them live a very happy and fulfilling life.

There's a restaurant called Longfeng Chengxiang at the entrance of Huainan Alley. On weekends, my parents would occasionally take Xingmian there for a nice meal, as they knew the food there was to his liking.

There are many stray cats and dogs in Huainan Lane. When Xingmian goes to and from school, he often sees the skinny stray cats squatting on the big locust tree by the street, meowing at him. Whenever he has money left over, he will go to Haojia Supermarket or Duoyouquan Convenience Store to buy some treats for the cats.

There's a cake shop next to the school gate, and next to that is another shop he can't quite make out. This shop seems to have been closed for a long time; it's surrounded by a red line for renovation, but it's dilapidated and broken, and he's never seen it renovated and open for business.

However, he often went to Aunt Wang's stationery store next to this decoration store.

The small restaurant across the street was also a place that Xingmian and her classmates frequented.

He lived happily like this, and as the days went by, he grew up day by day.

Sometimes at school, Xingmian would hear classmates recounting their family misfortunes. At these moments, he would be deeply moved and realize how fortunate he was to have such a happy life.

He would occasionally stroll to the playground and stare blankly at the red water chestnuts on the camphor trees.

Lin Xingmian felt a strong throbbing and sadness in his heart. He was very scared. He felt that he was living a very happy life. He was afraid that all of this might be a dream.

I don't think so.

But why does he always feel that his current stable life is hard-won?

He always felt... that his life hadn't been this good before?

But after thinking about it carefully, he realized that this was indeed how he had lived since he was a child.

So why does he always cherish every minute and second of the present moment?

And...my wrist hurts so much...

Lin Xingmian lowered her head and raised her left wrist, on which she wore a beautiful black bracelet with eye-catching sugar cube gold.

"Huh?" Why is it on my left wrist?

He remembered that he always wore this bracelet on his right hand.

Is it because the bracelet is too tight on your wrist and hurts too much?

Then I'll wear it on the other hand.

He tried to remove the bracelet, but miraculously, he couldn't get it off no matter what he did.

As soon as I loosened my grip a little, it shrank back again.

The bracelet wasn't actually worn tightly, but his left wrist was in a lot of pain, so he didn't want to continue wearing it.

Just then, a person came from the front.

"Do you want me to help you take it down?" The speaker was a sweet and charming girl.

Xingmian smiled at her and said cheerfully, "Okay."

Chi Xiaoyan easily helped him take off the bracelet.

The girl held the delicate bracelet up to the sunlight to admire it, and couldn't help but exclaim, "It's so beautiful! I've never seen such an exquisite bracelet before!"

After removing the bracelet, Lin Xingmian was surprised to see a hideous scar on his left wrist. He then realized that it wasn't the bracelet that was too tight, but rather the scar that was causing him pain.

He had worn this black bracelet since birth and had never taken it off, so he was unaware that he had a scar on his wrist.

But I've never been injured here before, so why is there a scar?

Could it be a birthmark?

Chi Xiaoyan happily took the boy's hand, blushing and coaxing, "Can I ask you for a favor?"

Xingmian smiled and looked at her: "Hmm?"

If he remembered correctly, this cute girl was from another class in the same grade. She must like him, otherwise why would he always feel like she was stalking him?

Chi Xiaoyan said, "I really like this bracelet. Can you give it to me?"

"I will also prepare another gift for you."

Upon hearing this question, Lin Xingmian's heart skipped a beat.

He was stunned.

"I'm sorry, no," he said.

Chi Xiaoyan: "Why? Is this bracelet very expensive? Then I can pay for it."

Lin Xingmian shook her head: "This bracelet was given to me by a very important person, and I like it very much. It is very important to me, and I can't lose it."

Chi Xiaoyan pouted: "Who's the most important person? I've never heard you mention them before..."

"Yes, there is. A very, very important person."

Very important...

He turned to look at the camphor tree and suddenly realized that he seemed to have forgotten someone.

There must be such a person, Xingmian remembers. She was very kind, good-hearted, and eloquent. She would cook a lot of delicious food for him and would take every little thing about him to heart.

In his heart, she was the best, even better than his parents, better than all his classmates, better than everyone else. And she said that the person she cared about most in the world was Xingmian…

But why can't he remember?

who is she?

"Mianmian...Mianmian..."

"Star Sleep... Waaaaah..."

Lin Xingmian shuddered—who's calling me?

Is that the camphor tree calling?

He walked a little closer to the camphor tree and looked down to find that the bracelet was back on his left wrist.

He stroked the thick trunk of the camphor tree and said to it, "Don't cry, don't cry..."

The wind picked up, and the red water chestnuts tied to the tree branches were scattered by the wind, all blowing in one direction—

Xingmian felt a bit cold, his skin was covered in goosebumps, and the pain in his wrist intensified. He looked in the direction where Hongling was floating.

The red water chestnuts floated in mid-air, went to a balcony in the distance, and then landed on the potted plants there.

I don't know why so many small flowers that usually bloom in spring are still blooming in autumn.

A girl was standing on the balcony. She was wearing a light purple cardigan and loose dark blue jeans. She was stretching with her head tilted back, and a pair of semi-transparent wings on her back were fluttering gently, like the wings of a dragonfly.

Lin Xingmian stared intently; he was certain that she was the most important person in his heart.

This time, the girl felt the intense gaze from under the camphor tree, and she turned around to meet the boy's eyes.

Lin Xingmian was surprised: Wasn't she just laughing? Why is she crying?

My wrist is getting more and more painful.

The girl looked at him sadly, tears streaming down her face.

Xingmian felt a pain in his chest and wanted to pull her into his arms.

He said, "Sister, don't cry."

The girl said, "Mianmian, hug me, I'm so tired."

Lin Xingmian stretched out her hands.

The girl shook her head: "Mianmian, don't leave me. I'm sorry, I didn't understand you before. I didn't know the pain and pressure you were going through. I underestimated the hardships that were tormenting you more and more. You are living a happy and joyful life here. If you want to stay here forever, I will respect your decision. But please think about all the wonderful things we've experienced together. I know you're suffering. I shouldn't have selfishly kept trying to keep you, but I've realized what love is. I like you, I love you, and I can't live without you."

"I can't help but miss you every day and night without you."

Please give me a chance to cherish you.

The girl clasped her hands together, her eyes brimming with tears, looking utterly pitiful.

Transparent wings hung down behind them, and the star-like white light on them was gradually dissipating.

A perfectly intact pink dewdrop adorned her neck, emitting a faint, shimmering pink glow that drifted slowly and laboriously into the wind, gently touching the black rope on the boy's wrist.

The hair strands inside the black rope were glowing.

Lin Xingmian suddenly felt a sharp pain in her wrist, unbearable stomach cramps, and difficulty breathing.

With his hair flying in the wind, he said to the weeping girl, "Where there is no you, there is no happiness."

He smiled.

Xu Zhiyu, who had cried herself into a deep sleep, felt a large hand stroking her head. She opened her blurry, tearful eyes and met a pair of bright, moonlit eyes. The boy had already removed his oxygen mask and gently wiped away the tear stains from the corners of her eyes.

"Sister, don't cry."

"Xingmian?" Ayu sat up abruptly, looking at the awakened boy with surprise. "Xingmian! Xingmian, Xingmian! You're finally awake!"

After the initial joy, she frowned in grievance, barely able to suppress the sadness in her eyes.

The boy opened his arms, and she suddenly threw herself into his embrace, bursting into tears.

He caught his precious treasure tightly, his eyes filled with remorse: "I'm sorry for making you so sad."