Returning - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Ji Sui

On Thursday afternoon, Zhao Yu went to Donghai City's Special Education School as a volunteer.

She had already been there several times, so she knew the association members organizing the event, and was also quite familiar with some of the students at the school.

They weren't professional teachers, so the volunteer activities were simple—bringing gifts for the children, giving them encouragement and care, accompanying them through a pleasant afternoon.

The concern and affection each volunteer showed when facing the children was naturally genuine, but the purpose for participating in this event wasn't necessarily pure for everyone.

Some were university students, aiming for extracurricular practice credits; some were civil servants and employees of public institutions, compelled to come because their work units required it.

And Zhao Yu, her purpose was a man.

"Sister Zhao Yu, are you also an art student? How come your drawing is so good?"

Hearing the exclamation from behind her, Zhao Yu looked back and smiled modestly: "Not at all, I just learned casually on my own. My drawing skills can't compare at all in front of real art students like you."

The one speaking to her was a female university student who had also come as a volunteer, named Qin Yi. Because she knew Zhao Yu worked at a famous jewelry company, Qin Yi, who studied jewelry design, especially loved clinging to her to ask about Huacan.

"What do you mean 'not at all'? I feel you're much better than me, don't you think, Xiao Xiao?" Only after speaking did Qin Yi realize something. She reached for the writing board and wrote the three characters for "Does it look good?" and handed it to the eight-year-old boy.

The boy immediately nodded repeatedly upon seeing it, smiling and giving Zhao Yu a thumbs-up.

His name was Qu Sixiao. He was severely deaf-mute from birth, untreatable all along, and even hearing aids were useless. The volunteers who didn't know sign language could only communicate with him this way. Fortunately, although his learning progress was slow, he already recognized quite a few simple words.

As school dismissal approached, parents arrived one after another to pick up their children, and Qu Sixiao was no exception. But this time, the person coming to get him wasn't his mother, but a tall, handsome young man.

Seeing that man from afar, Qin Yi immediately got excited, tugging Zhao Yu's sleeve and calling out in a low, thrilled voice: "Look, look, so handsome, so stylish!"

Zhao Yu glanced in the direction she indicated and teased: "Stop fangirling. He's here to pick up Qu Sixiao, so he must be his dad. You have no chance."

Qin Yi's head drooped instantly: "Oh right, a fine man already taken. Sigh!"

However, Zhao Yu knew that man wasn't Qu Sixiao's father, and he was still single—arguably a fine man unclaimed. It was just that his heart belonged to someone else.

His heart's desire was Zhuang Yiqing.

Zhao Yu had heard the name Ji Sui long ago. She knew his father had been the right-hand man of the late former Chairman of Lanxi, Zhuang Zhibo—Zhuang Yiqing's grandfather.

His father had died saving Zhuang Zhibo, and the five-year-old Ji Sui was then raised by Zhuang Zhibo like a biological grandson. Thus, Ji Sui and Zhuang Yiqing, who was the same age, were the classic childhood sweethearts. Zhuang Zhibo had even wanted to arrange their engagement while he was alive. But as the saying goes, the waters flow on, yet the fallen flower pines—Ji Sui was, to Zhuang Yiqing, more like a backup option.

But since this backup option had given his heart to Zhuang Yiqing, then Zhao Yu wanted to snatch it away too. She wanted to leave Zhuang Yiqing with no retreat at all.

Beside the car, Qu Sixiao was saying something to Ji Sui in sign language, happily showing him the drawing in his hands and pointing in the direction of Zhao Yu and Qin Yi. Ji Sui looked over, then slowly walked over, holding Qu Sixiao's hand.

"Xiao Xiao told me a Sister drew a picture for him, and insisted I come to thank you both as well."

Looking at the drawing in Ji Sui's hand, Zhao Yu looked embarrassed: "The teacher said Xiao Xiao has been unhappy lately. I looked at his drawings and guessed he misses his father. I didn't know what his father looked like, so I just drew randomly. It turned out not looking like you at all, and my drawing skills are so poor—maybe it's too abstract."

Ji Sui smiled: "I'm not his father, so there's no question of resemblance. This drawing is very beautiful; he likes it very much. Thank you."

"So you're not his dad, then are you marrie..." Qin Yi's eyes lit up, probably wanting to ask if he was married, but after starting, she felt it was inappropriate and immediately swallowed her words.

Ji Sui ignored Qin Yi's reaction and instead looked at Zhao Yu doubtfully: "Have we met before? You seem somewhat familiar."

Zhao Yu returned the same expression: "Now that you mention it, you look familiar to me too. It seems..."

After thinking hard for a long time, she finally asked: "Was it in the US? I was working in the US for several years. It's very likely I saw you over there."

Ji Sui said: "Perhaps. I do occasionally go there on business trips the past couple of years."

They indeed had met in the US—a chance encounter deliberately orchestrated by Zhao Yu to verify whether Ji Sui recognized her face.

Although she had never met Ji Sui before that, she couldn't be sure whether he might have seen her photo. If he could recognize her, then after returning to China, she would certainly have to avoid him.

After all, Ji Sui was different from Ling Jianyuan. The Ling family wouldn't willingly mention Zhao Yu, much less bring up the events of three years ago, so she could appear before Ling Jianyuan without any scruples. But if Ji Sui saw her, nine times out of ten, he would tell Zhuang Yiqing.

Qu Sixiao gestured something else in sign language. Zhao Yu couldn't understand, and Ji Sui translated: "Xiao Xiao says he likes you very much and asks when you'll come to see him again."

Zhao Yu shook her head apologetically: "I don't know either. I come with the association, so it depends on when they organize the next event. Plus, we don't only come here; we often go to orphanages and the like. Maybe next time..."

Meeting the little boy's hopeful eyes, Zhao Yu paused, then changed her words: "If Xiao Xiao likes it, then how about Auntie comes to see you when she has free time in the future, alright?"

Seeing Ji Sui's translation, Qu Sixiao was visibly delighted, nodding vigorously at Zhao Yu.

After the event ended, all the volunteers dispersed, each going home. Zhao Yu had deliberately not driven, arranging with Qin Yi to take a cab. Ji Sui naturally offered to drive them back.

Zhao Yu politely declined, but Qin Yi's mind was already wandering. Grabbing Zhao Yu's arm, she unceremoniously got into the car.

Zhao Yu gave Qin Yi an "I understand" look, consciously taking Qu Sixiao to sit in the back row, leaving the passenger seat for Qin Yi.

Ji Sui didn't seem like a talkative person, but for politeness' sake, he kept smiling and chatting with the two of them.

Qin Yi couldn't wait to ask about his situation: "You're not Xiao Xiao's father, so you are... his uncle?"

"Mm." Ji Sui answered simply, without elaborating.

Zhao Yu had had someone investigate. Qu Sixiao's father and Ji Sui had served together in a special forces unit. Unfortunately, the father had sacrificed his life during a mission. After Ji Sui was discharged early, he had been continuously helping Qu Sixiao and his mother. That was why she was able to find this most opportune moment to approach him.

Qin Yi had to go back to University City, so Zhao Yu got off the car first. Once she was gone, the inside of the car instantly fell silent again.

Probably feeling the atmosphere was awkward, after a moment of silence, Ji Sui spoke first: "Xiao Xiao's father has passed away. He misses his father very much. The picture you drew for him closely matches the image of his father, that's why he was so happy."

Zhao Yu smiled: "I looked through the drawings he usually makes and guessed his father was a soldier. What I drew was actually just a standard soldier portrait."

Pausing, she asked curiously: "Are you a soldier too? Your bearing seems very much like one."

"I was once. Not anymore."

Conversations between strangers don't go deep. The two chatted casually, polite and courteous, and soon arrived at the ground floor of Zhao Yu's apartment building.

After getting out and thanking him, she turned to leave. Taking a couple of steps, she looked back and smiled apologetically: "Sorry, I didn't bring my business card. Do you need my phone number? If Xiao Xiao wants to see me, you can contact me. But it's only because I've been on leave recently that I have time to do volunteer work everywhere with the association. Once I start working, I might only be free on weekends."

Seeing she had already taken out her phone and opened WeChat, Ji Sui also took his phone and added her as a friend: "On behalf of Xiao Xiao and his mother, I thank you."

"No need to be so polite. You can conveniently follow our association's public account. It posts charitable activities like fundraising drives. You can participate too."

"Alright."

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