When the final exam bell rang, the college entrance exam was over.
Su Baixue walked out of the school with light steps. Looking around, she immediately spotted Su Cui waving at her. A big smile spread across her small face, and she happily ran to her grandma's side.
"Grandma, I'm done with the exam!" Su Baixue said coquettishly. "So tired~"
Su Cui patted Su Baixue's arm and said with a smile, "How did you do?"
"No problem." Su Baixue was quite confident in her studies. After two years of peaceful life, her smile had grown a little more each day. With the support of her friends and Su Cui, she had changed a lot compared to two years ago.
During the two years of holiday training, Su Baixue had also learned to swim. She had even reached the yellow belt in the taekwondo class Su Cui had signed her up for.
Unfortunately, after reaching yellow belt, she made little progress. Su Baixue was a textbook case of "all show and no substance" in martial arts. But learning martial arts for a while had clearly made her braver.
So after the college entrance exam, Su Cui came up with the idea of traveling.
For Su Baixue, who had never left A City in her eighteen years, this was a very attractive proposal.
The grandmother and granddaughter embarked on a domestic free trip. Su Cui let Su Baixue research the attractions and activities of each place on her own. They planned a route along the Yangtze River, heading north from the south.
Along the way, they traveled by plane, train, and rickety buses. They encountered thugs and swindlers, and even had their bag snatched, but Su Cui and Su Baixue worked together to get it back.
Under the colorful clouds, they took care of each other through quiet mornings and noisy afternoons. Their footsteps crossed sandy beaches covered with shells and gravel, then moved on to endless fields and grasslands. Finally, they stopped at a nature reserve in the north, preparing to return.
The day before the return trip, Su Cui stretched lazily, watching flocks of red-crowned cranes elegantly take off against the rosy sky. She was lost in thought when, in the soft red light, Su Baixue took out two identical silver bracelets from her bag and handed them to her.
Looking at Su Baixue's expression, Su Cui knew she was ready.
In the silent wait,
her heart was so calm.
Su Cui took the bracelet, put one on, and was the first to speak with a smile: "This year, our Baixue has become an adult."
"Grandma Su Cui..." Su Baixue suddenly hugged Su Cui tightly.
This year, Su Baixue had grown taller, half a head taller than Su Cui. Her slender arms tightly embraced the somewhat plump old lady. Through tearful eyes, she smelled the faint scent of ginger in Su Cui's hair and tried to control herself as she asked in a low voice, "Grandma Su Cui... did my real grandma really die?"
Su Cui, the grandma, was not the real grandma.
Su Cui patted Su Baixue's back gently, knowing the child had wanted to ask this question for a long time.
For a child accustomed to escaping, how much courage it took to face the reality of losing her only relative? Su Cui felt happy for her.
"I can't give you a definite answer. Three years ago, when I woke up, I was already in your grandma's body. At that time, I found it absurd. I even fell from a tall building, trying to return to my own body, but I didn't die." Su Cui narrated calmly. "Later... I found that I had become very strong. I think you have noticed too—the muscles on my body should not belong to an old woman who has been paralyzed for years."
"I can't explain why I ended up in your grandma's body, nor can I confirm whether your grandma really passed away. These are also puzzling questions to me. Maybe you'll think I... I have ill intentions and occupied your grandma's body..."
"No!" Su Baixue said excitedly. "In this world, there are so many young and healthy people. Who would have ill intentions to occupy a paralyzed old woman's body? An old, sickly body... And you have taken meticulous care of me and loved me for several years!" At this point, Su Baixue was full of shame. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry!"
"I always craved your care and love. I am a despicable person. I let down my grandma, and I let down your kindness to me. I dared not face the fact that my grandma had passed away. I dared not ask, dared not speak, and even didn't burn incense for her..."
"Knowing you aren't my real grandma, I shamelessly enjoyed your kindness. I—!"
"Baixue... Baixue!" Su Cui sighed inwardly and comforted her. "Don't be afraid... I treat you well because I want to. If I, Su Cui, treat someone well, I don't do it for any return. I do it simply because I want to. And you are a child worthy of kindness. Don't put so much pressure on yourself... In the time I spent with you, I have also gained a lot."
Su Cui held Su Baixue's shoulders, letting her see her eyes clearly.
"These three years, Grandma has felt fulfilled and happy."
Su Baixue hadn't expected such an answer from Su Cui.
No blame, no distance—just the sincerest gaze telling her:
These three years have been fulfilling and happy.
"Me too!" Passion surged from the bottom of her heart. Tears overflowed from Su Baixue's eyes. "The time I spent with you has been the happiest of my life! Fulfilling and very happy!"
So happy she couldn't bear to see through it.
So happy she was afraid.
Truth, sometimes, is undoubtedly cruel.
Su Baixue thought that if she saw through it, she would have to face the fact that her only grandma had long passed away and that Grandma Su Cui might leave her. She was terrified. Whenever she thought that one day she would open the door to an empty house with no Su Cui smiling and saying, "You're back," she was scared.
Whenever she thought of spending the New Year alone in the future,
with thousands of lights and festivities while only her home was cold,
she shrank back.
She had always been a very timid girl.
Cowardly and timid—was she really worthy of Grandma Su Cui's kindness? The awakened grandma was like a pie falling from the sky, so sweet...
Too selfish.
She had been suffering from inner guilt. As she grew older, the self-condemnation increased. Torment! Every day, even in her dreams, she was filled with anxiety.
This trip was coming to an end, and it was time to go home.
She could no longer fool herself and run away!
Wiping her tears, Su Baixue said seriously to Su Cui, "Let me help you return to your own body."
Su Cui frowned and said nothing.
After a moment, under Su Baixue's anxious gaze,