Chapter 26
It must be said that Kaka was indeed being cared for very well by Wen Ran and Aunt Zhu. In just one short week, fine hair had already begun to grow back where it had fallen out, and the scabbed wounds had healed almost completely.
Because it had been abused before being rescued, Kaka had two teeth that were forcibly pulled out by someone, and it had also gone hungry for too long. So after being brought home, every time it ate, it would get food all over its mouth. Each time, Wen Ran would patiently help clean its mouth.
Although they indulged it greatly, Kaka was very well-behaved and intelligent. After being taught a few times, it learned where to relieve itself and never caused any trouble.
It just liked to follow cheerfully at Wen Ran’s feet. When Wen Ran went upstairs, it would follow along. When she went downstairs, it would follow too. Even when she went to the bathroom, it would wait by the bathroom door for her.
Wen Ran increasingly felt that the way Kaka looked at her was exactly like that Kaka that once belonged to her.
She truly loved it.
So she also increasingly felt that Xie Yunli helping her bring Kaka home was a very, very good thing.
She had always wanted to thank him, but didn’t know how to express this gratitude.
When they went to pick up Kaka, she could also sense that Xie Yunli liked Kaka too, only Kaka was a bit afraid of him and didn’t dare approach him yet.
Xie Yunli also cared about Kaka very much.
After listening to Zhou Wei’s words, Wen Ran decided to send Xie Yunli a message and send him photos of Kaka.
Although she had never used a phone to take photos before, she did have artistic talent after all. In just a few days she had mastered photography skills, and could even adjust filters in post-processing to make them more beautiful.
“They’re all beautiful.”
Aunt Zhu looked at the photos she had taken and couldn’t help but praise her: “You take such beautiful pictures. Someday let’s go take photos of other things too. This season, the maple trees along that road outside the residential complex are very beautiful. When the wind blows, fallen maple leaves are everywhere. We could take Kaka there for photos, how about it?”
Wen Ran hesitated for a moment, lowered her head to look at Kaka curled up by her feet, her eyes showing gentle emotion. “Mm, Kaka would also want to… go out to play. Let’s take Kaka.”
Seeing the smile overflowing from her eyes, Aunt Zhu was also genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart.
After all these years, she finally saw long-lost happiness on Wen Ran’s face again.
“But when should I send them to him? Would it… disturb his work?”
After finally selecting the photos, Wen Ran became conflicted again.
Aunt Zhu said: “That doesn’t matter. Although he won’t look at his phone when he’s busy, he’ll definitely check it after he’s done, so it doesn’t matter when you send them.”
Seeing her nervousness, Aunt Zhu encouraged her: “Last time when you used Auntie’s phone to send him a message, didn’t you do very well? Don’t be afraid. Even if you send something wrong, it doesn’t matter.”
Actually, Aunt Zhu could of course see that when Xie Yunli gave Wen Ran the phone, he had already saved his contact information in it, and had set up everything for her: the SIM card, various apps, silent mode functions.
He said it was for recording photos of Kaka, but how could Xie Yunli’s intentions be as simple as just taking photos of Kaka?
It’s just that Wen Ran didn’t understand Xie Yunli’s complex thoughts at all.
Half an hour later, Xie Yunli received three phone messages in the reception room.
Originally he hadn’t planned to open his phone, just casually glanced at the phone screen, but after that glance he froze for two seconds, his gaze returning to the phone screen.
The client across from him thought he had some important message, so he picked up his teacup for a sip while waiting for him.
On the phone screen was Wen Ran’s name, which he had already set up when he bought her the new phone.
Aside from last time when she used Aunt Zhu’s phone to send him a message, this was also the first time Wen Ran had actively sent him a message.
Given Wen Ran’s condition, having her actively communicate with others was almost impossible.
All three messages were photos of Kaka: one in the courtyard, one curled up on a cushion, and another lying by the piano in the living room.
Besides that, there were no other words in the messages.
“President Xie, what good news did you see?”
The client across from him joked.
Xie Yunli looked up, the smile in his eyes not yet completely faded. “Nothing, just suddenly remembered something.”
Wen Ran quickly received Xie Yunli’s reply.
He said: Very cute photos.
Wen Ran read it again, then bent down to pick up Kaka. “Kaka is very cute. Kaka, you really are very cute.”
Kaka tilted its fluffy little head, its clear eyes watery and full of dependence and trust in its owner.
“I will definitely… protect you well, Kaka.”
Wen Ran said to it firmly yet gently: “I will never… let you suffer again.”
In the evening, the little dog Kaka still slept by Wen Ran’s bed. A few days ago it had accidentally urinated and was so frightened it hid under the bed, and Wen Ran had to coax it for quite a while before it dared come out. Now it had learned to relieve itself in designated spots, never made noise at night, and was incredibly well-behaved, so Aunt Zhu tacitly allowed it to sleep in Wen Ran’s room.
“Aunt Zhu.”
Aunt Zhu, who was just about to turn off the lights for her, suddenly heard her call her name.
“What is it?”
Aunt Zhu returned to her bedside to ask.
Wen Ran clutched the blanket with both hands, only revealing half her small face, saying hesitantly: “Can I… say good night to Xie Yunli? By… sending a message?”
“Of course you can.”
Aunt Zhu smiled: “He’s your husband, your family. Whatever you want to say to him, you can.”
“But…”
Wen Ran lowered her eyes: “I know… other married couples do many, many things together, and they… are always, always together. But I can’t do anything… I still don’t know… why he would marry me as his wife. I know… I’m not suitable…”
“Silly girl, whether you’re suitable or not isn’t for others to decide. This is between you two.”
Aunt Zhu knew in her heart that although Wen Ran had a simple mind and hadn’t experienced much of society, she had read many books, and her knowledge was no less than any girl her age.
So when answering some of her questions, Aunt Zhu wouldn’t use that coaxing-a-child approach anymore, because no matter what, Wen Ran was an adult with her own independent thoughts.
“Look, Mr. Xie is such a capable person. He studied abroad from a young age, and after returning, he built his business from nothing with his own hands, managing so many employees. He’s so resilient, so brave. A man like that couldn’t possibly be forced by anyone to do things he doesn’t want to do, right? He proposed to you and wants to take care of you because that’s what he wants to do in his heart. His kindness to you has never been mixed with anything else.”
Aunt Zhu gently stroked her hair, speaking earnestly: “You must trust him, trust your husband, Ran Ran. If you want to say something to him, be brave and tell him. Don’t be afraid. No matter what, your relationship won’t change because you say something wrong. Mr. Xie isn’t that petty, and you know that, don’t you?”
Wen Ran nodded.
In her eyes, Xie Yunli was just as Aunt Zhu described: a very capable person, and moreover, he had always been very patient with her.
When she married him in confusion before, she used to think that perhaps he was an impatient person like her father.
But he wasn’t.
Because even when she did wrong things or said wrong words, Xie Yunli never criticized her, and each time would patiently wait for her to finish speaking word by word.
“Didn’t you used to practice speaking with his photo every day?”
Aunt Zhu picked up the phone and handed it to her: “Having a phone is much more convenient. Come on, say whatever you want to say to him.”
Wen Ran took a deep breath, took the phone, opened Xie Yunli’s message window, and began editing a message.
However, just as she had typed one character, a message suddenly appeared in the chat window: Good night, Wen Ran. Wishing you and Kaka sweet dreams together.
Wen Ran’s pupils dilated instantly.
Xie Yunli had sent her a message, and it was the same thing she wanted to say. Originally, she had also wanted to say good night to him.
But he said it to her first.
Aunt Zhu had already left, giving Wen Ran privacy, so only Kaka witnessed her surprise.
“Kaka, he… said good night to me first.”
Wen Ran looked at Kaka, who had raised its little head curiously from under the bed to stare at her, feeling somewhat regretful: “I originally wanted to… say it to him first.”
But she still needed to reply.
So Wen Ran typed character by character into the message box: Good night, Xie Yunli. Wishing you sweet dreams too.
Eleven o’clock was Wen Ran’s regular bedtime.
It was also the time when Xie Yunli had just returned to his apartment. Before he had even turned on the lights after entering, he received Wen Ran’s message.
In the darkness, he opened the phone message and saw those words.
Good night, Xie Yunli. Wishing you sweet dreams too.
He didn’t turn on the lights, but sat on the sofa with his phone, quietly looking at that sentence she had sent in the pitch-black room.
After an unknown amount of time, he turned on the lights, and the dark room suddenly revealed its true appearance in the light.
Spotless sofa, walls, tabletops, a wardrobe with neatly hung clothes.
Besides gray and white, there were no other colors, monotonous, cold and lonely, without the slightest decoration or ornament.
As if no one lived here at all.
The light from the phone seemed like the only warmth appearing in the darkness. He looked at those words over and over again for a long time.
Though they were just very simple words, it was as if he could never tire of reading them.
…
Outside the residential complex was a downhill road. Going down led to a street lined with maple trees on both sides. Since this road only led to the villa district, it avoided excessive vehicle traffic.
In this season, maple leaves had already fallen in abundance. The sides of the road were covered with beautiful maple leaves, and both the temperature and scenery were just right.
The scenery inside the residential complex was also quite nice, backed by mountains, with gardens full of greenery, and flowers blooming in certain seasons.
The security guards and property management staff were seeing Aunt Zhu and Wen Ran walking a dog for the first time, all staring in surprise with wide eyes.
One security guard who had been patrolling the complex for three years was quite familiar with Aunt Zhu. When he greeted Aunt Zhu, he also greeted Wen Ran. Wen Ran tugged at Aunt Zhu’s sleeve, so Aunt Zhu grabbed one of her hands and waved it toward the security guard, helping her return the greeting.
The security guard also waved his hand foolishly, thinking this young lady was quite interesting, probably had been cooped up at home too long and wasn’t used to seeing strangers.
Wen Ran nervously gripped Kaka’s leash.
Not only was Kaka experiencing being on a leash outside for the first time and feeling somewhat uncomfortable, but Wen Ran, who hadn’t been out for a walk in a long time, was also uncomfortable. Except for the last time when she went out to buy things at the supermarket and walked there, she really hadn’t been out for a walk in a very, very long time.
Fortunately, Kaka was well-behaved. When they put the leash on it, it only trembled a few times, then obediently stayed by Wen Ran’s side.
She had also dressed Kaka in little clothes, covering its scarred body, making it look much cuter.
Of course, the main purpose was to keep it warm.
But soon, Kaka was no longer so afraid. Once outside, it sniffed around curiously, and before long was bouncing and jumping on the maple leaves. It would turn back to look at Wen Ran from time to time, as if confirming her presence while wanting to tell her how happy it was.
“This little guy is so happy.”
Aunt Zhu laughed: “It seems little dogs still like to come out and play.”
Wen Ran took out her phone and took two photos of Kaka.
She didn’t dare loosen her grip on Kaka at all. Even though this road rarely had pedestrians or vehicles, even though the leash was securely fastened to her wrist and she was still holding it with her hand, she remained cautiously alert without the slightest relaxation.
She would not allow herself to let Kaka suffer even the tiniest bit of harm again.
“Ran Ran, shall Auntie take a photo of you and Kaka together?”
Aunt Zhu suggested.
Wen Ran shook her head: “I don’t want to… I don’t want to be photographed.”
“Okay, okay, then we won’t.”
Aunt Zhu only mentioned it casually, because seeing Wen Ran standing on the street covered with maple leaves, with a cute little dog beside her, the scene was truly too beautiful.
But Wen Ran definitely wouldn’t like being in front of her camera lens, because that feeling would be like having someone’s gaze staring at her.
“The weather is really nice today.”
Aunt Zhu sighed as she walked.
Wen Ran, leading Kaka, suddenly said: “Aunt Zhu… really likes being outside, doesn’t she?”
Aunt Zhu was startled.
Wen Ran slightly lowered her head, walking slowly ahead: “Actually, Aunt Zhu… should go outside more often… to have fun. You shouldn’t… always stay at home… keeping me company.”
Her tone was very slow. In order to clearly express her meaning, she tried to articulate each word very clearly.
Aunt Zhu had been with her for a very, very long time.
Especially in the past few years, for a long period she was unwilling to face the reality that her mother had passed away.
It was Aunt Zhu who helped wash her body every day, fed food into her mouth, and spoke to her tirelessly every day without getting tired.
It could be said that if Aunt Zhu hadn’t forcibly kept that breath of life in her, she very likely would have died in her sleep on some day during that time.
Later, she frequently suffered from insomnia, as if all the sleeping she had done in those two years was being paid back in the following two years.
It was Aunt Zhu who stayed with her all along.
Then, there was Xie Yunli who suddenly appeared one day, suddenly took her to another place, suddenly married her, suddenly became her family.
But actually, she had always known that without her, whether it was Xie Yunli or Aunt Zhu, they would both have better choices.
Aunt Zhu could accompany her own children to school, could do other more interesting work, or could peacefully retire at home.
And Xie Yunli… could also marry a wife who matched him.
At least not someone like her, who couldn’t even manage normal daily life.
So she had never known how to face him, nor what she could do for him.
“But Auntie likes staying home to keep you company.”
Aunt Zhu walked to her side, saying with a smile: “As the saying goes, happiness can’t be bought with a thousand gold pieces. How many people in this world can do work that makes them happy and fulfilled? Auntie feels very happy and joyful being with you, happier than going anywhere outside.”
“…Really? Being with me?”
“Yes, people who are willing to stay with you all the time must like being with you, that’s why they do it.”
Aunt Zhu looked up toward the black sedan that was slowly stopping not far away.
Wen Ran hadn’t noticed yet.
Of course she wouldn’t notice, because her attention was on what Aunt Zhu had just said, and on Kaka.
At this time on this road, aside from a small number of vehicles, there were basically no pedestrians, so she wasn’t paying much attention to her surroundings either.
She didn’t know that car had stopped not far away, with someone inside quietly watching her.