Chapter 11: Yan Yichen’s Memories (1)
A childish voice, tinged with tears, sounded behind him, and Yan Yichen stopped in his tracks.
He turned around, mustering his courage to look at the little girl.
She had stopped crying, wiped her tears, and her large, dark eyes rotated curiously as she gazed at him.
The house was very quiet—so quiet that Yan Yichen could hear both her heartbeat and his own. He looked carefully at the little girl in red, finally convinced she was a real person.
His tension gradually eased, and he managed a smile for her.
The girl, as if grasping a lifeline, became cheerful and walked up to Yan Yichen. Her cold little hand took hold of his.
“Big brother, are you here to take me to find my mom and dad?”
Yan Yichen stared at her in surprise. “Mom and dad?”
She nodded vigorously, as if seeing hope, her eyes full of anticipation.
“Have you lost your mom and dad?” Yan Yichen asked gently.
The girl lowered her long lashes, her expression forlorn.
“Mom left me here this morning. She said she’d come pick me up soon and told me not to wander, but it’s already dark—why hasn’t she come?”
Suddenly, she raised her head. “Big brother, do you think mom and dad don’t want me anymore? I’ve been good, really good—I’ve waited here and haven’t wandered off.”
Yan Yichen looked at her hopeful gaze, hesitant, unsure how to answer. “Well—”
The girl blinked her big eyes, quietly watching Yan Yichen, seeming to wait for a definite reply.
Seconds passed, but no answer came. Her eyes grew dim, filling with tears once more. Lost and dejected, she walked back to the bed, sat on the floor, and fixed her gaze steadily outside the window.
Yan Yichen saw her disappointed expression and suddenly felt a deep sadness. He walked over and sat beside her.
“How could that be? Your mom said she’d come for you, so she will. Maybe something delayed her. Little sister, I’ll wait here with you for her, okay?”
The girl turned to him in surprise. “Really?”
Yan Yichen smiled gently, smoothing her hair and nodding. “Of course it’s true.”
Seeing his confidence, she smiled brightly, her large eyes shining as she whispered, “Big brother, thank you for staying with me.”
The sky grew darker, and outside the window, every household was lit up.
Through the window, Yan Yichen could see his grandmother’s house, though the lights there remained off.
Looking at the pitiful little girl, Yan Yichen suddenly felt a sense of mission. He couldn’t leave; he had to stay and wait for her mother.
There was no light in this house either, but fortunately, it was a moonlit night.
The full moon hung in the sky, shining through the window and illuminating the room, giving the two children courage and comfort.
“Big brother, are you scared?” the girl suddenly asked.
“I’m not scared. You shouldn’t be either—I’ll stay with you,” Yan Yichen replied, sounding every bit the little gentleman, comforting her.
He had been afraid, but now, seeing the innocent, trusting look in her eyes, his fear vanished.
“What’s your name?” Yan Yichen suddenly asked.
“Big brother, my name is Meng Yi’er. My mom and dad call me Xiao Yi.”
“Meng Yi’er… Xiao Yi… Xiao Yi…” Yan Yichen repeated her name softly.
“And you—what’s your name?” she asked in return.
“Yan Yichen.”
…
…
Yan Yichen kept chatting with the little girl, telling her stories, and gradually, her worries faded.
“Big brother, you’re so nice. When I grow up, can I marry you?” her childish voice rang out, her large, bright eyes looking at Yan Yichen with sincerity.
He was taken aback. He was a few years older and knew what “marrying him” meant.
But seeing her adorable face and expectant gaze, Yan Yichen suddenly thought it was a wonderful idea.
“All right—it’s settled. When you grow up, you’ll marry me,” he said, looking deeply into her eyes.
They were both children, speaking in the way of children, but those words engraved themselves deeply in Yan Yichen’s memory, vivid to this day.
Later, who knows how much time passed. The little girl leaned on Yan Yichen’s shoulder, and together, they drifted into a deep sleep.