Wen Ran was stunned.
She hadn’t expected that Xie Yunli would deliberately stay overnight just to have breakfast with her. Since this place was far from his company, except for staying a night or two during New Year’s, he had never spent the night here before.
Was it because he didn’t come back for dinner yesterday?
Wen Ran wanted to turn around and look at him, but after hesitating, she turned her head back. Under her sweater sleeves, her hands twisted together. “But I… I haven’t washed my face yet. It’s impolite.”
Aunt Zhu smiled. “Then go quickly. Mr. Xie won’t blame you.”
Ten minutes later, Wen Ran sat at the dining table with her head down. Xie Yunli sat beside her, with one seat between them.
At the dining table, the two ate quietly.
Wen Ran ate everything on her plate clean. After finishing, she wiped her mouth with a napkin and gazed longingly at the coffee in front of Xie Yunli.
Xie Yunli noticed her gaze and said, “Today, I won’t work on an empty stomach.”
Wen Ran said, “But there’s still lunch and dinner. If you’re busy with work, will you forget to eat again?”
“I’ll try not to go hungry.”
Xie Yunli paused and said, “So, you also shouldn’t go to bed hungry anymore. Eat your meals on time, okay?”
Wen Ran nodded. “I’ll eat on time.”
Xie Yunli looked at her lowered eyebrows, feeling slightly moved. “Have you… wanted anything lately?”
Wen Ran looked puzzled. “Wanted anything?”
“For example, art supplies for your painting, things you want to play with, things you want to eat.”
Wen Ran shook her head. “I don’t want anything.”
She had always known that she already possessed many things.
Xie Yunli said, “Then… what about pets?”
Upon hearing the word “pets,” Wen Ran reflexively spoke: “Kaka isn’t a pet. Kaka is my friend.”
Xie Yunli was somewhat surprised.
Aunt Zhu also stopped clearing the dishes and looked at her with astonishment.
[Internal narrative about autism] People with autism have neurological structures, that is, brain neural networks that work differently, so their thinking patterns also differ from ordinary people. Sometimes they suddenly voice language that doesn’t fit the current environment and sounds unreasonable. However, for them, that seemingly unreasonable language is part of their thinking pattern and a reflexive behavioral response to the current situation. Behind all seemingly unreasonable language, there are reasons. To understand these reasons requires careful listening and observation, along with enough patience to understand their thinking patterns. Of course, this is difficult for those around them.
“Who is Kaka?”
Xie Yunli asked patiently, “Can you introduce him to me?”
If a certain word in his inquiry had triggered some memory in Wen Ran’s subconscious, causing her to blurt out that sentence, then the word “pet” must be special to her. And the most special thing should be the name “Kaka.”
Wen Ran’s expression became uneasy. She seemed to realize she had said something wrong and looked helplessly at Aunt Zhu.
Aunt Zhu gave her an encouraging look, telling her: It’s okay, Mr. Xie will understand you.
“Kaka…”
After murmuring the name, tears suddenly flowed from her eyes.
She remembered her Kaka, the one who had accompanied her for many years, who would always protect her with his warm, furry body whenever she felt uncomfortable.
She remembered the day Kaka was gone, when her ears were filled with deafening sounds and her eyes saw nothing but bright red blood.
She remembered Kaka’s death, and immediately after, her mother…
She couldn’t control her thoughts, and thoughts connected to emotions. She completely broke down.
Seeing Wen Ran crying helplessly, Aunt Zhu quickly held her in her arms, constantly comforting: “It’s okay, it’s okay, Ranran. It’s over, don’t think about it anymore…”
Wen Ran vigorously wiped the tears from her face. She desperately wanted to control herself, but the more she tried, the more she sobbed uncontrollably. She could only keep saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
Xie Yunli stood up and walked to her side, kneeling on one knee in front of her. Looking at Wen Ran’s trembling appearance, he hesitated for a moment, then reached out to hold her constantly shaking hands. “Wen Ran…”
Wen Ran tried hard to suppress her sobs, but it was difficult for her to control herself. Controlling emotions was too hard for her. She could only try to open her eyes wide to look at Xie Yunli, saying in a hoarse, weak voice while choking back tears, “I’m sorry… Xie Yunli.”
“It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”
Xie Yunli used the back of his hand to wipe away the tears on her face. “Cry if you want to. Don’t try to control yourself. It’s okay.”
She cried for a long time. Finally, when she was tired from crying, Xie Yunli stood up and lifted her into his arms.
“I’ll take her upstairs to rest for a while.”
Aunt Zhu quickly nodded. “Yes, yes. Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Xie.”
Xie Yunli said nothing and silently carried Wen Ran upstairs. After placing her on the bed, he gently stroked her forehead. “Rest for a while.”
Wen Ran closed her eyes, nodded, and curled herself up under the covers.
Seeing Xie Yunli come downstairs, Aunt Zhu hurried over: “Mr. Xie, Zhou Wei is here, waiting for you outside.”
Xie Yunli nodded. “I know.”
Aunt Zhu said with difficulty, “About Kaka… Originally, Ranran wanted to tell you herself. But as you can see, whenever Kaka is mentioned, her emotions become uncontrollable…”
“Kaka was a dog she used to have?”
Aunt Zhu nodded. Xie Yunli had indeed guessed correctly.
“I’ve heard about this. That dog… died in an accident?”
“Yes, it was in a car accident when she was seventeen. And it happened right in front of her. She watched Kaka die with her own eyes.”
Aunt Zhu sighed sadly. “That golden retriever was originally a therapy dog given to her by Ranran’s mother. Every time Ranran’s emotions got out of control, Kaka could calm her down. He stayed with her every day for several years. To Ranran, he was family, as well as her companion and friend.”
Xie Yunli was silent for a moment. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned the word ‘pet.'”
“It’s okay. I understand what you were thinking.”
Aunt Zhu said, “Actually, Ranran has always supported stray animals. Most of the money she earns from painting each month is donated to stray animal rescue organizations. There was once an abused puppy that happened to be named Kaka too, so Ranran has always cared about it and wanted to adopt it, but she was afraid you wouldn’t agree.”
So that was it.
Xie Yunli immediately understood that the reason Wen Ran had mustered the courage to go out was for that stray dog named Kaka.
“How could I disagree?”
Xie Yunli said quietly, “I said I would give her the greatest freedom.”
However, what Wen Ran needed might not just be freedom.
She also needed companionship.
Like every child of the stars, although they find it difficult to communicate with the outside world and integrate into society, they equally need others’ understanding and family companionship. They need someone to guide them in slowly understanding and connecting with this world.
“Aunt Zhu, you don’t need to feel embarrassed, and you don’t need to apologize to me on Wen Ran’s behalf or thank me.”
Xie Yunli said calmly, “Taking care of her is my responsibility. No matter what she does, whether right or wrong, I won’t blame her. From the day I decided to marry her, I was already prepared for everything. Whatever I do for her is what I should do. So you don’t need to worry about troubling me.”
“Like you, I also hope she can overcome her psychological trauma soon.”
Aunt Zhu understood his meaning.
Xie Yunli was a person with deep thoughts. How could he not see what Aunt Zhu was worried about?
Yes, she worried that one day Xie Yunli would regret marrying Wen Ran, a wife with autism, thinking that caring for her was too troublesome and that he couldn’t receive what a normal wife could give her husband.
She was afraid that one day Xie Yunli would abandon this poor girl like Wen Ran’s father had.
After all, in modern society, even ordinary couples readily seek divorce when encountering problems, let alone with someone like Wen Ran who was different from ordinary people.
Suddenly hearing Xie Yunli say this, Aunt Zhu felt much more at ease.
No matter what, at least Xie Yunli was a responsible person.
Whether he loved Wen Ran or not, regardless of romantic love between spouses, at least he wouldn’t easily abandon Wen Ran.
Until noon, Wen Ran still felt guilty about ruining breakfast.
Everything had been going well during the meal, but she had suddenly burst into tears and couldn’t control herself at all.
She felt very guilty and was absent-minded while painting.
At noon, Aunt Zhu knocked and entered, mysteriously hiding both hands behind her back. “Ranran, may Auntie disturb you for a moment?”
Wen Ran nodded. “Yes, Aunt Zhu. What’s the matter?”
Aunt Zhu pulled out her phone from behind her back. “It’s not me, it’s Mr. Xie. He sent you a message. Look.”
The message was a photo of a dining table set with steak and vegetables.
Xie Yunli said, “Wen Ran, are you eating lunch properly like me?”
Wen Ran’s eyes widened.
This was the first time Xie Yunli had sent her a message like this.
He was also telling her that he didn’t mind her suddenly crying during breakfast, and that he cared about whether she was eating well today.
Wen Ran looked up. Her eyes still shimmered with moisture from crying for so long, looking bright and glistening. “Aunt Zhu, is my lunch ready? Can… can I take a photo?”
In the restaurant, Xie Yunli received a message from Wen Ran.
Just a photo, without any words.
The same plate, the same food, the same dining table and utensils.
It was her response, showing that she too was eating properly.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
Liang Zeqi across from him asked while cutting his steak, “Suddenly asking me out for steak at noon, you’ve really learned how to live, Mr. Xie.”
Usually, Xie Yunli would have business meals at the company during lunch, finishing in ten minutes.
Going out to find a proper Western restaurant for lunch like this would only happen when entertaining clients.
Liang Zeqi cut his steak methodically, talking while eating. After chatting for a while, he looked up to find that Xie Yunli hadn’t responded to anything he’d said from beginning to end, just eating silently, and the food in front of him was almost finished.
Liang Zeqi looked at his own plate. He’d been too busy talking and had barely taken two bites.
So he really was just called here to accompany someone for a meal?
Sure enough, Xie Yunli soon picked up his napkin and said, “I’m finished. Take your time. I’ll go pay the bill.”
“You’ve got to be kidding, bro.”
Seeing him get up and leave, Liang Zeqi almost threw his knife and fork. “You called me out from the company at noon just to eat a meal? Nothing else?”
Xie Yunli glanced at his watch. “If you’re free, you can accompany me to buy something, but I only have half an hour left. Are you sure you’re not eating?”
Liang Zeqi picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. “Not eating. Let’s go.”
Xie Yunli seemed to be timing everything precisely, buying what he needed in twenty minutes before returning to the company. Liang Zeqi wandered around with him, chatted with two young women for a bit, and when he turned around, found that Xie Yunli had already finished shopping.
“By the way, have you decided about what we discussed last time? Are you still going to buy your wife a pet?”
Hearing the word “pet,” Xie Yunli paused. “No need.”
“Ah? Really no need?”
Liang Zeqi said, “Then do you still need me to ask about the doctor? This can’t go on forever…”
“You don’t need to worry about my family affairs. I’m going back.”
Xie Yunli waved his hand without looking back. “Go worry about your own business instead.”
Looking at Xie Yunli’s retreating figure and what he was carrying, Liang Zeqi was dumbfounded.
Called out for lunch at noon, didn’t really eat, then was dragged shopping, and then just left behind in the mall while he went back to work…
But what exactly did Xie Yunli buy?
He had been curious, but even after Xie Yunli left, he hadn’t seen what he bought.
Liang Zeqi stroked his chin, thinking. So mysterious and so rushed, it definitely wasn’t simple. Could this guy have suddenly come to his senses when he wasn’t paying attention, no longer obsessing over that marriage in name only, and gotten a girlfriend?