Chapter 5: A Promise Made

Spring had blossomed into summer, painting the city with warmth and vibrant hues. In the Song family's cozy home, Liu Wei and Xiaoyu sat cross-legged on Xiaoyu's bedroom floor, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the afternoon sun filtering through the window.

Xiaoyu held the crescent moon pendant in her hand, tracing its intricate design with her finger. The silver pendant gleamed in the sunlight, casting delicate shadows on the wooden floorboards.

"Liu Wei," Xiaoyu began softly, her voice tinged with sincerity, "do you remember when we found these pendants?"

Liu Wei nodded, his gaze fixed on the pendant in Xiaoyu's hand. "Yes," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "It feels like a lifetime ago."

"It was the day we met," Xiaoyu continued, a wistful smile playing on her lips. "I remember thinking that you needed something to remember me by, so I gave you one half of the pendant."

Liu Wei reached up and touched the pendant around his own neck, feeling the cool metal against his skin. "It's kept me going all these years," he admitted, his voice filled with gratitude. "It's reminded me that I'm not alone."

Xiaoyu's eyes softened with understanding. "Me too," she said quietly. "Whenever I felt scared or lonely, I would hold onto this pendant and think of you."

Silence settled between them, broken only by the distant hum of the city outside. Liu Wei glanced around Xiaoyu's room, taking in the familiar surroundings—the shelves filled with books, the colorful drawings taped to the walls, and the cozy bed adorned with a quilt sewn by Mrs. Song.

"Xiaoyu," Liu Wei began, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "do you ever wonder about your family? About where you came from?"

Xiaoyu's expression turned thoughtful. "Sometimes," she admitted. "But Mama and Papa have always been my family. They found me when I was just a baby, abandoned on their doorstep. They've loved me and taken care of me ever since."

Liu Wei nodded, understanding the depth of Xiaoyu's bond with the Songs. "They're wonderful parents," he agreed softly.

"They are," Xiaoyu replied with a smile. "And now you're part of our family too, Liu Wei."

A surge of warmth filled Liu Wei's chest at Xiaoyu's words. The Songs had given him a second chance at life, a chance to belong and to find happiness amidst the turmoil of his past. And Xiaoyu, with her unwavering friendship and boundless optimism, had become his anchor in this new life.

"Xiaoyu," Liu Wei began again, his voice steady this time, "I want to make you a promise."

Xiaoyu looked up, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What promise?" she asked softly.

Liu Wei took a deep breath, his fingers tightening around his half of the pendant. "I promise to always be there for you," he said earnestly. "To protect you, to support you, and to cherish our friendship forever."

A smile bloomed on Xiaoyu's face, illuminating her features with joy. "I promise too," she replied without hesitation. "I promise to always be by your side, no matter what."

With that, Liu Wei held out his hand, palm open and facing up. Xiaoyu placed her hand in his, their fingers intertwining like the delicate strands of a spider's web.

"We seal this promise with our pendants," Liu Wei said solemnly, holding up his half of the crescent moon pendant.

Xiaoyu nodded, mirroring his gesture with her own pendant. The two halves of the pendant glimmered in the sunlight, fitting together perfectly like pieces of a puzzle.

"Forever friends," Xiaoyu whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

"Forever friends," Liu Wei echoed, his heart swelling with gratitude and love.

In that moment, beneath the warmth of the summer sun and the comforting embrace of their friendship, Liu Wei and Xiaoyu knew that they had found something rare and precious. It was more than just a promise—they had forged a bond that would endure the trials of time and distance.

As they sat together on Xiaoyu's bedroom floor, basking in the glow of their shared promise, the world outside faded away. In the safety and security of the Song family's home, Liu Wei and Xiaoyu found solace and companionship, knowing that they were never truly alone as long as they had each other and the crescent moon pendants that bound them together.