Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

“Mommy is not old. She is the most beautiful mommy.” Rainy answered honestly, and Gao Yi smiled. A child naturally had her own unique thinking. At times, it might be weird; but nonetheless, they need to be respected, too.

...

Rainy’s little feet landed on the ground, and she held Xia Ruoxin’s hand. Xia Ruoxin asked her, perplexed.

“Rainy, why are you not letting me carry you?”

Rainy’s feet continued to step forward. “Uncle said you are tired. He also said that I have grown up, and I should walk on my own.” She looked up, and her eyes had curled into a pair of crescents on her little face. She was an obedient child, and she must listen to what Uncle had told her.

Xia Ruoxin gripped her daughter’s hand tightly. Her baby had indeed grown up. She flexed her left elbow. It was true that Rainy was much heavier now, and she was having trouble coping. If Rainy was to put on more weight, she wouldn’t be able to carry her anymore.

Gao Yi must have noticed this. He was surprisingly a really considerate and observant man. She felt warmth inside her as though a ray of sunlight was slowly healing her badly damaged heart. It made her believed that happiness was within her grasp.

“Ruoxin. Isn’t this Ruoxin?” A voice called out in shock. Xia Ruoxin looked up, and she could recognize the owner of the voice. It was Mrs. Li who had been giving her family’s clothes to Xia Ruoxin for laundering. Mrs. Li and the neighbors had been very accommodating and always took care of Xia Ruoxin and Rainy. Even though she did not have the need to send her clothes for laundering, she would still give them to Xia Ruoxin.

“Mrs. Li, it’s me.” Xia Ruoxin smiled, moved and sad at the same time. To think that someone here still remembered her. These were strangers who had helped her when she had been driven to a corner.

“You’re back. It’s good that you’re both back.” Mrs. Li wiped her eyes. Look at her. She was already an elderly, and yet she could not control her tears. People would tease her.

“Rainy.” Mrs. Li looked down and called out to the little one who was holding Xia Ruoxin’s hand. The child had gained some weight, and she looked so much better. This was good news. Both of them were fine. It’s too good to be true. If something were to really happen to this pitiful mother and daughter, things would be too pathetic for them.

Mrs. Li approached them. She bent down and carried Rainy, crying as she reached out to caress Rainy’s cheek. The child’s face had too much of Xia Ruoxin’s features.

“Has the child’s illness been cured?” she asked with some difficulty. Rainy had been so young, and she had to stay in the hospital because of her illness. How was her body taking it? Mrs. Li vaguely knew that the child was sick, and Xia Ruoxin had not returned to this place for a few months.

“Yes, she’s alright now.” Xia Ruoxin nodded. No one knew the extent of her sacrifice in order for her to be able to say this. However, everything was worth it. She had a healthy daughter in return.

“That’s good. That’s good.” Mrs. Li let Rainy down and rubbed her head. She had always been fond of the clear distinction between black and white in Rainy’s big, round eyes.

“Rainy, remember to love your mother more when you grow up. It has been tough for her. Do you understand?”

“Mmm, I understand.” Rainy remembered Mrs. Li’s words. She walked back to Xia Ruoxin and took her hand. She would love her mother very, very much.

After they bid their farewell to Mrs. Li, Xia Ruoxin took Rainy’s hand and made their way to their rented apartment. This time, they were checking out of the apartment. It might have been small, but someone else would have a need for it.

Xia Ruoxin opened the door to the unit. They had not been back for a long time because they were always at the hospital. Everything inside was covered in a layer of thick dust. The huge basin that she had used to do the laundry was still there. So was the small bed which they had slept in. Everything was left as though they had never left.

“Rainy, wait for Mommy here. I will go and pack up.” She bent down at her waist and told her daughter. “Remember not to touch anything here because it will dirty your hands.”

Rainy nodded her head and stood aside obediently. She stared at her mother’s actions with wide eyes.

Xia Ruoxin opened the cabinet and took out their things—some old clothing which weren’t too many.

After packing it, she took out her sketchbook from another cabinet. In the book were sketches of her daughter since the child was born. Her daughter had no photographs, but these were much more precious.

Gao Yi had been against the idea of them returning to the apartment. However, there were some things that she must retrieve. The sketchbook was one of them.

She packed everything and held the small bag in her hand. It wasn’t much. In fact, she wished she could’ve taken everything with her. In the end, she realized there was nothing that she could have taken with her.

The things she had here compared to the things in Gao Yi’s house would not match. They would clash and look out of place.

“Let’s go.” She took Rainy’s hand as the little girl turned around for one last look as though she could not bear to leave this place—the home she had stayed since she was old enough to remember things. She grabbed Xia Ruoxin’s hand, and tears began to fall continuously from her eyes.

“Rainy, don’t cry.” Xia Ruoxin’s eyes were red, too. Actually, she couldn’t bear to leave, too. After all, they had stayed here for three years. Humans were full of emotions, and this wasn’t any place. It was a home, their home.

“Mommy, don’t cry. We have a new home now.” She put her tiny hand on Xia Ruoxin’s face, wiping her mother’s eyes clumsily while she sniffed.

“Okay, I won’t cry. Rainy, you shouldn’t cry too because we have a new home.” She repeated her daughter’s words and stood up with Rainy’s hand in hers. They left and kept walking without a backward glance. Step by step, they walked further and further away from the place where they had lived for the past three years. This place contained their sadness and happiness, Xia Ruoxin’s sweat and tears, their most precious memories... as well as every bit of Rainy’s life since her birth.

Gao Yi was leaning against his car, waiting. He straightened his body when he saw the two silhouettes approaching him. The expectation of waiting finally diminished from his eyes gradually.

However, when he saw their similarly red eyes, he found it both funny and annoying.

They were truly mother and daughter. Even the way they cried was the same.

The car door opened. Gao Yi carried Rainy in first before he asked Xia Ruoxin, “Have you taken everything?” He looked down and took over the bag from her. Once he opened it, he saw there were only a few pieces of old clothing and something that resembled a book. It wasn’t much, but he could imagine that there wasn’t much in the apartment. He had not forgotten how simple and humble the place had looked. It was just like Xia Ruoxin had told him. They had been very poor.

“Yes, all done.” Xia Ruoxin nodded. Gao Yi sighed, and his fingers rested lightly on the bangs at her forehead. Naturally, that was fake. It was a wig which she had worn out of convenience.