Chapter Seventy-Two: Words Left Unspoken

“Piggy Bei, what did my dad talk to you about?” As soon as we left the house, Lele couldn’t wait to ask me.

“Nothing much, just some everyday matters.” There were things I didn’t want to tell Lele, things I was afraid to say. Perhaps the question her father had just asked was too direct for me; I simply didn’t have the courage to face it.

“Really?” Lele’s face instantly betrayed her disbelief.

“Oh, come on, blockhead, why would I lie to you?” I quickly flashed Lele a grin; after all, sometimes a smile is the best disguise. Lele, I don’t even know why I’m lying to you. Some things can’t be avoided forever; what must be faced will have to be faced sooner or later.

“Xiao Bei, I…” Lele started to speak, but before she could finish, she stumbled and almost fell.

My heart clenched in alarm. Instinctively, I reached out and grabbed her. Regaining my composure, I couldn’t help but scold her, “Are you okay? Why don’t you watch where you’re going?”

Lele steadied herself, brushed her hair back, and gave me a faint smile. “Maybe I’m just getting old…” she said, her gaze fixed straight ahead, not looking at me as she spoke.

I found this odd, and couldn’t help but follow her gaze. Under a streetlamp not far ahead, an elderly couple was slowly making their way forward, step by step. The old man’s legs seemed weak, and the woman supported him at his side.

“What’s wrong? Feeling sentimental?” I slipped my arm around Lele’s shoulders and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.

“No…” Lele’s eyes were locked, and she let out a soft sigh. “I guess I’m envious.”

“Envious?” I repeated, puzzled.

“To hold your hand and grow old together. Maybe that’s what those words truly mean…” Lele suddenly looked up at me, serious, “Piggy Bei, do you think we’ll ever reach that day?”

“We definitely will! Lele, promise me…” I stopped and carefully wrapped my arms around her from behind. “Promise me, as soon as you graduate, come live with me at school… We’ll raise lots and lots of puppies, have lots and lots of children…” In my mind, a blissful vision of a large, happy family began to take shape.

“Don’t… don’t say any more, Xiao Bei…” Unexpectedly, Lele began to sob uncontrollably.

“Wh-what’s wrong, Lele?” I was caught off guard, and hurriedly turned her to face me.

“It’s nothing…” Lele buried herself in my arms, desperately wiping away her tears.

“Today, your dad told me that someday you might leave me and go to Spain…” In a rush of emotion, I blurted out the words I’d meant to keep hidden in my heart forever. “Tell me, is it true?”

“My dad said that to you?” Lele’s crying stopped abruptly. She gazed at me intently.

“Yes.” I nodded firmly.

Lele bit her lip, broke free from my embrace, and walked a few steps ahead before crouching down by herself. I didn’t know what she was doing, so I hurried after her and stood silently behind.

“I don’t want to go…” Her voice was resolute. “Piggy Bei, I just want to be with you forever.”

“But… but being abroad is better for you…” I said, though even I didn’t quite believe my own words. Still, I had to say it, for her sake. “I don’t want your future to be affected because of me…”

“My future?” Lele gave a strange little laugh. “Piggy Bei, do you know? My future doesn’t mean anything to me! If you’re not in it, I don’t want the whole world!”

“Lele, I…” For a moment, I was at a loss for how to comfort her.

“Don’t talk about this anymore, Piggy Bei! I don’t want to hear it!” Lele clamped her hands over her ears, shaking her head desperately as if to block out the world, her emotions spiraling out of control.

Even though there weren’t many people on the street at this hour, the scene was still a bit embarrassing. I hurriedly glanced around, then crouched down beside her, reaching out to help her up.

Lele ignored me, only murmuring softly the lines from Li Yu’s “Song of the Crow at Night”: “Wordless, I ascend the western tower alone. The moon hangs like a hook. In the silent courtyard, autumn is sealed by lonely parasol trees. Unraveling the threads of parting sorrow, they are tangled and endless. It is the bitterness of farewell, a taste unlike any other lingering in the heart…”

Hearing Lele recite those lines, a deep sadness suddenly surged within me.

“Summer break is almost over. I can’t bear the thought of you leaving…” After she finished reciting, Lele finally stood up. “Piggy Bei, come with me for a walk by West Lake.”

“Alright.” I had no reason to refuse her.

West Lake wasn’t far from Lele’s house; we reached it in less than ten minutes on foot. We strolled along the lakeshore for a while. Lele seemed to tire quickly, so we entered an ancient-looking corridor nearby and sat down.

I leaned against a pillar, and Lele nestled close to me. Neither of us spoke; only time slipped by in silence at our side.

I don’t know how long we sat there. Gradually, the people resting nearby began to drift away. I took out my phone and glanced at the time—it was already very late. “Let’s go home,” I nudged Lele gently.

“Okay.” She straightened up, preparing to stand. Just as I was about to take her hand, I saw her raise her hand to her forehead, her body swaying, and then, without warning, she collapsed backward. Luckily, I was right behind her and caught her just in time.

“Lele! What’s wrong…” I shook her gently, panic rising as she slumped limply in my arms.

Lele, please, don’t let anything happen to you!

Before long, Lele returned to herself. She slowly opened her eyes, stuck out her tongue at me, and, with my help, sat up. “I’ve been a little anemic lately. I didn’t expect… I didn’t expect to actually faint…”

I watched her every movement, afraid to move an inch, as if the slightest touch might harm her.

Seeing me frozen for so long, Lele turned and pinched my cheek hard. “Don’t stare at me like that, I’m fine.”

“You really scared me, Lele.” It took all my effort to squeeze out those words. Even though she said she was fine, I couldn’t calm my pounding heart.

“I’m sorry, Xiao Bei…” Lele pouted, looking utterly pitiful.

“Do you want to go to the hospital for a checkup?” I still couldn’t relax.

At the mention of the hospital, Lele reacted like a startled fawn, waving her hands in panic. “No… I don’t want to go! I hate that place… Just take me home…”

“Lele…” I could only hope it was nothing serious. The words caught in my throat, unspoken.