Chapter 14: A High Five Oath_1

The father and daughter cried their hearts out together and gradually calmed down.

"Dad, have you really forgiven me? Have you forgiven your unfilial daughter? Have you forgiven my mistakes?" Qian Xiaoyun asked once again.

Ye Xiaofei nodded and gently stroked Qian Xiaoyun's head, just as he did when she was little, "Dad has forgiven you, and you have forgiven Dad, too. Now that we've cleared things up between us, I have no regrets. Xiaoyun, Dad doesn't have much time left, I feel the Underworld calling me, I'm about to go."

Ye Xiaofei nodded contentedly and shed two tears, "My daughter! After Dad leaves, I hope you won't blame yourself anymore. Go back! After you return, bring your mom back home, have the family reunite and live a good life. That would be the greatest filial piety and comfort to Dad. Dad will be watching over you all from heaven, blessing you."

"Dad, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!" Qian Xiaoyun grasped Ye Xiaofei's hand, unable to bear the thought of him leaving.

But behind Ye Xiaofei, a black hole began to form, its pulling force growing stronger and lifting Ye Xiaofei's body into the air.

"Dad, no, please don't go!" Qian Xiaoyun cried, pulling at her father's hand the same way she used to when she didn't want him to go to work as a child.

"My daughter, let go! There's no banquet in the world that doesn't end. Dad is leaving, and you must live happily from now on! This is Dad's final wish and instruction. You must remember it and keep your promise," he said.

"Yes, Dad, I will, I absolutely will!"

The pulling force grew stronger and Ye Xiaofei was absorbed by the black hole, leaving Qian Xiaoyun's Inner Realm, and a wisp of Spiritual Consciousness returned to its origin.

Ye Xiaofei supported Qian Xiaoyun nervously, watching as the empty look in her eyes gradually gained focus, and the fingers that clung to the cold refrigerator began to relax.

Ye Xiaofei was elated, it was a success.

"Ye Xiaofei?" Qian Xiaoyun recognized Ye Xiaofei but felt the presence of her own father on him.

But she was too tired to ponder it, and as she succumbed to exhaustion, she fell into Ye Xiaofei's arms and fell asleep.

"Sleep now, sleep now! Have a good rest, and when you wake up, everything will start to get better!"

Ye Xiaofei's lips curled into a relieved smile, holding her like a father cradling his daughter, his heart for once harboring no resentment or distractions.

"Xiao Fei, Xiao Fei, how is it going?"

Lin Qianxi's anxious voice came from outside the door. She didn't dare to interrupt, keeping her voice very low. If it hadn't been for Ye Xiaofei's enhanced hearing after acquiring the Soul-capturing Magic Pearl, he wouldn't have heard her at all.

Ye Xiaofei finally snapped back to reality, secretly relieved that this time he hadn't taken as long as when he had fought with the Soul-capturing Ancestor, otherwise it would have been difficult to explain the situation.

"It's okay, come in!" Ye Xiaofei smiled and beckoned Lin Qianxi over.

Lin Qianxi entered with tears of joy, covering her mouth and tiptoeing over. Seeing her own mother sleeping peacefully in Ye Xiaofei's arms, like a child, she finally felt at ease and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Xiao Fei, thank you! You've helped me out a lot again! I really don't know how to thank you," Lin Qianxi said with tears of joy, this time truly happy tears.

I offer you myself in return!

This sentence almost slipped out of Ye Xiaofei's mouth, but he restrained himself, which left him feeling extremely regretful inside.

"What's there to thank! We're good friends. I'm happy to help you. Look at you crying like a kitten. Now that Aunt Qian is herself again, you don't have to cry anymore," he said with a mournful face and "against his heart," but managed a forced smile and gently wiped away Lin Qianxi's tears. Lin Qianxi didn't avoid him and smiled as Ye Xiaofei tenderly caressed her face.

"Hmm!" Lin Qianxi nodded vigorously.

"Let's go, let's take Aunt Qian back to her room!"

They carefully helped Qian Xiaoyun onto Ye Xiaofei's back, and he carried her back to the hospital room.

This time, Qian Xiaoyun slept all afternoon, waking up only in the evening.

Mother and daughter cried together again, sharing their stories.

They also thanked Ye Xiaofei in the last two days and discussed picking up Grandma Song from the nursing home, where she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the next day.

At the thought, Qian Xiaoyun felt a fresh wave of heartache and self-reproach.

The next day, Qian Xiaoyun arranged for a car, and the three drove to a private nursing home for the elderly on the outskirts of Nan Shui City.

Professor Qian's financial situation was quite good. Since his wife had developed Alzheimer's disease and his work kept him busy, he had to have her stay at the nursing home.

The nursing home had a wonderful environment, located in the suburbs by the mountains and water, shaded with trees and fully equipped with comprehensive facilities. It was a professional nursing center for the elderly, obviously providing care at a substantial cost.

When the three of them asked the staff about Qian Xiaoyun's mother, Qian Xiaoyun revealed her identity. The nurse, confused, said she "never heard that Grandma Song had a daughter," and the strange look in her eyes made Qian Xiaoyun feel a surge of self-blame and shame.

After a long explanation and showing the household registration book, the nurse believed them and took the three to find Grandma Song.

Finally, on a sunlit bench, the three of them found Lin Qianxi's grandmother.

"Xiaoyun, Xiaoyun, why haven't you come to see Mom yet? Mom misses you to death."

"My daughter, it's all Mom's fault, it was Mom's idea that made your dad refuse, you must not blame your dad, okay?"

"Xiaoyun, old man, where have you gone? I am so lonely by myself."

…

Grandma Song sat there alone, mumbling these words non-stop.

"Ai, Grandma Song was sent here three years ago. Other than Professor Qian, no one else has come to see her. She kept mentioning Xiaoyun; I thought she was just rambling. It turns out she really has a daughter named Xiaoyun, huh!"

The nurse snorted coldly, glared at Qian Xiaoyun, and huffed, "If you want to take Grandma Song away, you have to find the director. Only if the director approves can you take her away."

With that, the nurse left.

Qian Xiaoyun couldn't hold back any longer, clutching her mother and crying her heart out, and so did Lin Qianxi. Three generations of grandmothers and daughters reunited after many years, yet it was a reunion marked by a tragic change of circumstances.

Ye Xiaofei shook his head helplessly. He had seen too many of these emotional and sorrowful scenes lately, and even he had started to become easily sentimental.

"Xiaoyun, are you Xiaoyun? Are you really my Xiaoyun, have you come to see Mom? Mom is sorry."

Grandma Song's cloudy eyes showed a glimmer of clarity. Despite her Alzheimer's, she recognized Qian Xiaoyun, revealing how deep that love and guilt went.

She had forgotten everything, but she had never forgotten her daughter and her guilt.

Clearly, that past mistake had been a lifelong torment for Grandma Song.

"Mom is sorry, so sorry. Your daughter has been unfilial, I've come too late, too late!" Qian Xiaoyun knelt on the ground, lying across the old woman's legs, and did not get up for a long time.

"Xiaoyun, you've come to see Mom. Mom is so happy, truly happy... By the way, where's your dad? Why didn't he come? It's almost time for dinner. He's always like this, so busy with work, really."

The old lady was confused again, her memories uncertain of the time they stopped.

How could Qian Xiaoyun dare to tell her that her father had passed away?

Wiping her tears away, she said, "Come on, Mom, let's go have a meal."

"Ah, okay!"

Qian Xiaoyun supported the old lady as they walked ahead, while Lin Qianxi followed behind, watching silently.

When Qian Xiaoyun had left, Lin Qianxi hadn't even been born yet; now it was impossible for her to explain to her grandmother who she was.

Ye Xiaofei took a few steps forward, tugged at Lin Qianxi's sleeve, and whispered mysteriously, "Lin Qianxi, do you want your grandmother's Alzheimer's to get better?"

"What? You can cure my grandmother's Alzheimer's? That's a very difficult disease to treat, do you really have a way?" Lin Qianxi was skeptical.

She deeply hoped that her grandmother's Alzheimer's could be cured, but after all, Ye Xiaofei was just a high school student, what could he possibly do?

"Ai, that's my secret, you shouldn't ask. Just tell me if you believe in me! If you do, help me create a miracle, and I'll return to you a healthy grandmother. If you don't, then there's nothing I can do." Ye Xiaofei said, and it was obvious he was a bit nervous.

Actually, Ye Xiaofei had a clear plan in mind: first, he had saved Lin Qianxi's mother, and now, if he could save her grandmother as well, that would be a huge favor. Even a goddess would be moved to tears and throw herself into his arms, right?

Lin Qianxi was considering refusing, but then she remembered that Ye Xiaofei had previously cured her mother in that condition. So why not let him try, it would be better than doing nothing at all.

Pus, for some reason, Lin Qianxi found herself inclined to trust Ye Xiaofei.

Maybe it was because of his constant companionship and care these past few days that made her trust him so much.

"Alright, I'll create the opportunity for you, distract my mom, and you find the chance to treat my grandmother. If you can really cure my grandmother this time, there will be a reward, you know!" Lin Qianxi blinked her eyes playfully and stuck out her tongue a bit.

Ye Xiaofei, momentarily stunned, quickly swallowed his saliva that had almost drooled out and asked curiously, "What reward? And can you use a better phrase? I can't believe you're a beauty and a top student! What's with 'make a move'? It sounds as if I'm scheming something nefarious, as if I'm going to commit robbery."

"Can you not fuss over these little details, please?" Lin Qianxi gathered her messy hair by her ears, revealing delicate small ears, "As for the reward! It's a secret that cannot be revealed; you'll find out when the time comes."

I really want to nibble on your ear!

Ye Xiaofei mumbled inwardly, stretching out his hand and saying, "Alright, let's make a promise with a high five! I can't wait to see what your secret gift is, so get it ready soon."

"Definitely!"

Lin Qianxi also reached out her little hand and high-fived Ye Xiaofei.

Ye Xiaofei couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but he thought he saw a faint blush on Lin Qianxi's face, like a bashful mimosa; she was extremely beautiful.