Chapter 182 Memories
It's a thick photo album.
Madam Jiang carried these items almost everywhere with her: at home, in her car, and on her desk.
She was still as decisive as she was in her youth, but she was getting old and her memory was not what it used to be.
"Feng Chun and Zhu Xing left a deep mark on this world. Besides me, there are also close friends, classmates, and even Jiang Peng, those in the Jiang family who dislike them will remember them."
Madam Jiang stroked the cover of the photo album, "...but my little grandsons are different."
Their time in this world was too short.
"Besides me, Li Qing, and Cormier, I don't know who else remembers them now..."
She looked up, tears welling in her eyes, "So I always think that in my limited time, I should look at them as much as possible, even if it's just for one more second."
The moment they opened the photo album, Tu Chaoxi and Nan Ke's eyes flashed.
A twenty-year-old's appearance may differ from that of a child.
However, the photos in these albums of three-year-olds and five-year-olds almost perfectly match their childhood memories.
...It seems that the appraisal is no longer needed.
Madam Jiang stared intently at the two brothers' expressions, trying her best to control the excitement in her heart. "...Eldest son, the second son has more photos."
The third child and the youngest sister were too young, so there are very few photos of them.
She has very few memories left.
Tu Chaoxi glanced at Tu Yao and Lin Yue, remained silent for a long time, and then suddenly spoke, "...We didn't take any photos when we were little, but...I remember them all."
Madam Jiang couldn't help but lean forward: "What do you remember?"
"The second child has always been obedient since he was a child."
Tu Chaoxi scoffed and casually tapped Tu Yao and Lin Yue on the head: "These two are more troublesome."
"One fights every day, and the other waits for her to fight every day."
They squatted down but didn't try to mediate or help; instead, they turned around and complained.
Since Tu Xiaomao learned to catch people and fight when he was three years old, Lin Yue has simultaneously learned to tattle.
Those two years were chaotic from the beginning to the end of the year.
Tu Yao squatted silently on the floor by the bedside, listening attentively.
Lin Yue sat beside him, looking completely bewildered.
Tu Chaoxi said irritably, "Third brother, it's fine if Tu Xiaomao has amnesia, but don't pretend to be stupid."
"Your second brother and I will remember this!"
Lin Yue lowered his head and mumbled an "Oh".
Madam Jiang wiped her eyes and asked with a smile, "After you complained, will your sister still be on your side?"
Lin Yue was taken aback, looked up, shook his head, and then nodded.
"...Second brother is good at mediating disputes."
Madam Jiang then looked at the gentle-looking young man beside her.
Nan Ke lowered her eyes and smiled helplessly: "...Actually, there's no need to persuade her. Tu Xiaomao will only be angry for ten minutes at most, and she'll forget about it after ten minutes."
"The third brother... he didn't really want to complain. I don't know why, but he can't tell a single lie."
He's incredibly honest.
Tu Chaoxi smiled too, "Yes, honest."
“They sometimes argue, but it doesn’t last long. Anyway, when they get annoyed by arguing, I just beat them both up.”
"They cry as soon as you hit them. It's funny how they cry. One cries silently, and the other wails loudly."
Then Nan Ke would get anxious and pace around in circles, but she couldn't resist her brother's insistence, so she could only stand by and watch with tears in her eyes.
At that time, one was four years old, one was five years old, one was seven years old, and the oldest, Tu Chaoxi, was only nine years old.
Both Lin Yue and Nan Ke need time to recall things little by little.
But Tu Chaoxi didn't need it. He seemed to have remembered everything. He spoke so vividly that it was as if the scenes were being replayed in everyone's minds.
Even Tu Yao, suddenly, had a blurry image flash through her mind for a moment.
She paused for a moment, then shook her head.
Tu Chaoxi talked more and more. He hadn't recalled the past for a long time, neither deliberately forgetting nor deliberately remembering it.
Those memories are deeply etched into his body, serving as the pillar that has supported him through the years.
Madam Jiang looked at him with kind eyes the whole time, then suddenly reached out and grasped his wrist.
"...Thank you for your hard work over the years."
Tu Chaoxi's body stiffened.
"you……"
Madam Jiang's gaze deepened, and she slowly and softly repeated, "You've worked hard, child."
Tu Chaoxi suddenly found herself speechless.
He has been the elder brother for more than 20 years, playing the role of an elder ever since he can remember.
When family members are separated, it grows tenaciously and resiliently like a weed, searching far and wide for its younger siblings who do not want to return home.
When they reunite, they never mention the hardships of the past.
He took on the responsibility of being an older brother, and had long been accustomed to giving and taking on responsibilities.
At the age of twenty-three, she unexpectedly received affection from an elder.
For him, it was sudden and unfamiliar.
But that gaze, those words, and the warmth from his wrist suddenly made his throat feel sore.
Tu Chaoxi twitched the corner of her mouth, and suddenly moved her other hand, mimicking Tu Yao's previous gesture, and grasped Madam Jiang's withered wrist.
"...It wasn't hard work, it was a happy thing."
...
Tu Chaoxi continued to tell Madam Jiang about those past events.
Tu Yao stared blankly at the sky, her head tilted back, seemingly lost in thought.
Nan Ke watched her for a while, then asked softly, "...What's wrong?"
Tu Yao snapped out of her daze, blinked, and suddenly smiled, whispering, "...Second Brother, I'm so happy."
The memories Tu Chaoxi had mentioned kept replaying in her mind.
Based on those memories, a series of vague scenes were constructed.
The repetition of these memories gave her the illusion that they belonged to her.
This illusion alone made her feel very happy.
Having more and more happiness seems to have given her more reasons and ties to stay in this world.
She seems to... understand what Koike said to her that night.
"Don't regret it, because we are all here."
Tu Yao smiled slightly: "...Second Brother, I suddenly really, really, really want to talk to Xiao Chi."
As soon as she finished speaking, her phone rang.
Upon taking it out and looking at it, Tu Yao's eyes lit up instantly, and she quickly answered the call: "Xiao Chi."
Before the other person could speak, she continued, "Xiao Chi, a lot has happened. Sang Sang, Xiao Bai, Sister Wen Yu, Brother Jiang Ye all know, and I want you to know too."
She paused for a second, then whispered, "...I want to talk to you."
A clear, cheerful voice came from the other end of the phone.
"...Perfect timing, I'd like to see you too."
A long, hollow echo.
Tu Yao was taken aback and quickly turned around. She saw Xu Chi rushing over outside the ward, looking at her with a light smile as he held a cell phone in his hand.
Tu Yao couldn't help but laugh.
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