Dabao, I Understand

Gu Luo looked puzzled as he took the photo album from Luo Shuning’s hands, carefully examining it. After confirming that the awkward little boy in the photo was indeed himself, he asked in surprise, "...This is definitely me, but when was this taken?"

Hearing this, Luo Shuning, who was leaning against Gu Luo, felt her pupils constrict. Her heart began to race wildly, as if a thousand drumbeats were pounding inside her.

Because the little girl in the black dress, smiling quietly in the photo, wasn’t her—it was Luo Shuhe.

At that moment, fragments of the past surged over her like a tidal wave, drowning her in the depths of memory.

Now she finally understood why Shuhe had acted so strangely when she first met Gu Luo on the train—her usually composed and aloof younger sister had suddenly looked shattered, her eyes brimming with stubbornness and exhaustion, almost desperately asking for his contact information, as if afraid he would vanish like the wind.

Luo Shuning felt dizzy. Memories she had deliberately locked away were now ruthlessly torn open.

That summer, she had effortlessly won first place in the competition again, securing her chance to go abroad with her father to visit her mother.

Meanwhile, Luo Shuhe and Luo Shuling had been sent to their grandmother’s house in the countryside.

The memory was terrifyingly vivid—before leaving, she had deliberately flaunted her trip in front of Shuhe, waving the plane ticket in her sister’s face.

But Shuhe had remained indifferent, quietly flipping through a book without even lifting her gaze.

On the last day, she had finally lost control.

Under the sycamore tree in their neighborhood, she had shoved Shuhe hard.

Her sister, caught off guard, fell onto the muddy ground, her black dress instantly covered in dirt.

Yet even then, Shuhe had only gotten up slowly, gently brushing off her skirt before giving her a look she would never forget—one devoid of anger, filled only with deep, almost pitying sympathy.

Luo Shuning could never forget that gaze.

And she had regretted what she’d done to her sister that summer countless times.

But time couldn’t be rewound.

When she returned from abroad after the break, the lively Shuling had chattered around her like a little sparrow, recounting all the fun things that had happened in the countryside.

Most of those stories revolved around a particular little boy.

Luo Shuning tried to recall the details Shuling had mentioned, but it was too long ago—she couldn’t remember.

All she knew was that this boy had been incredibly important to Shuhe, and the two had even made a precious promise to each other.

But for some reason, they’d never gotten the chance to say a proper goodbye.

She wanted to remember more, but the river of time had long since washed those memories away.

Now, the situation was this: Shuhe had recognized Gu Luo at first glance, but Gu Luo hadn’t recognized her.

But—why had Shuhe never mentioned this?

And once Gu Luo figured it out, he’d surely want to know more about the photo. How should she answer?

Tell the truth?

That would mean pushing Gu Luo toward Shuhe.

Luo Shuning couldn’t afford even the slightest mishap before Sunday.

At that thought, she took a quiet breath, her nails unconsciously digging into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks on her delicate skin.

Before Gu Luo could ask, she forced composure and answered vaguely,

"Little Treasure, do you remember this photo?"

Gu Luo was still struggling to recall. Hearing her question, he replied sheepishly, "Ahem... sorry, I really can’t remember..."

After a pause, he quickly added, "Well... I was pretty cringey as a kid, and I was the leader of the pack, so I had lots of friends... But Little Man was sick a lot back then, so most of my attention went to her... I barely remember any childhood friends..."

"So, when was this taken? And who’s the little girl in it...?"

Hearing this, Luo Shuning felt her heart nearly leap out of her chest, but she suppressed the surge of emotion and looked up with a gentle smile.

"Little Treasure... long time no see."

Meanwhile, her mind was engulfed in a tsunami:

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

Each apology struck her conscience like a hammer.

But she couldn’t risk anything going wrong. Since Shuhe had chosen to stay silent, she’d just have to keep things steady for now.

Once Sunday came and she and Gu Luo officially confirmed their relationship, once everything fell into place, she’d apologize properly—claim she’d just been teasing him, that she’d planned to come clean in a couple of days.

For now... this was the only way.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

......

"It was you, Shuning?" Gu Luo’s heart swelled with delight, feeling like this was fate. He quickly asked, "I spent my childhood in Caixin County—when did you come? We even took a photo together."

"I don’t really remember either. It must’ve been when I visited my grandma’s place," Luo Shuning replied, her smile flawless, though her voice tightened slightly.

"Shuhe was probably there too, which is why she insisted on getting your contact info later—she must’ve thought it was fate running into a childhood friend."

"Sorry, Little Treasure, I didn’t recognize you back then. Shuhe was better at that than me."

She had to bring up Shuhe proactively and casually, because Gu Luo would inevitably make the connection.

"Oh... so that’s why... I get it now."

Gu Luo suddenly understood. No wonder Shuhe had acted so strangely at first.

But then, almost reflexively, he asked, "Why didn’t either of you tell me, though?"

"Well..."

Luo Shuning’s smile remained perfect, but her breathing hitched imperceptibly. Her mind raced without pause as she continued smoothly,

"You know now... I don’t like thinking about the past much, so neither of us brought it up..."

"I see..."

Gu Luo nodded, recalling that night last month when the three of them had played cards in his room. Afterward, Shuhe had accidentally mentioned something, and Shuning’s expression had darkened instantly.

Shuhe had even apologized afterward.

Everything made sense now.

Still, that little devil was truly a little devil—first tricking him with talk of past lives, then joking about marriage, only to admit later she’d just been teasing him.

Once he’d sorted it out, Gu Luo reached out and pinched Luo Shuning’s fair cheek gently, murmuring, "What’s past is past. What matters is that we’re happy now, right?"

"If you want to talk about the past, I’ll listen. If you’d rather forget, I won’t pry."

"Darling, I’ll stay by your side forever."

Hearing this, Luo Shuning was overwhelmed with emotion—and with towering guilt.

Guilt toward Gu Luo.

And toward Shuhe.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m so, so sorry.

Luo Shuning rubbed her slightly moist eyes, then turned over, looking down directly into Gu Luo's gaze.

The next second, the thin strap of her nightgown slipped from her smooth shoulder.

Her flawless youthful figure seemed like a divine gift in the dimly lit room.

Gu Luo's heartbeat instantly quickened, his eyes fixed on her, only to hear a trembling whisper that melted straight into his heart.

"Baby, take me."

Luo Shuning bit her lower lip, fighting back tears, her eyes red as she spoke again, her voice breaking:

"Take... take me..."

If possible, she truly didn’t want to use something as sacred as her first time to bind Gu Luo to her.

But right now, she had no choice.

Because she was too afraid of losing him.

So afraid that she was willing to add another layer of insurance, even if it meant resorting to this.

Gu Luo stared blankly at Luo Shuning, whose emotions had suddenly become so fragile. Without hesitation, he opened his arms and gently pulled her into an embrace, his hand soothingly stroking her smooth, delicate back.

"Shh, it's okay, don’t cry."

"Baby’s here. I’m here now, and I’ll be here in the future too."

"Don’t cry, don’t cry."

Yet, hearing these comforting words, Luo Shuning only broke down further. Tears spilled uncontrollably as she clung tightly to Gu Luo, burying her face against his chest.

Between sobs, she choked out her fears:

"B-Baby... if I’m a really... really bad girl... would you... would you still like me...?"

Feeling the warmth of her tears soaking through his shirt, Gu Luo didn’t hesitate for even a second, his voice firm and unwavering:

"Yes."

"W-What if I’m a... a liar...? Sob... What if... what if I’ve told so many lies...? Would you... sniff... still like me...?"

"Yes."

"Then... what if I’m not... sob... not gentle at all...? What if I’ve been... been pretending this whole time...? Cries... Would you... would you still like me...?"

"Yes."

"What if... what if I hurt you...? Sob... If I break... break your heart... would you still like me...?"

"Yes."

"Always."

Gu Luo gently cupped Luo Shuning’s tear-streaked face, his thumb tenderly wiping away the endless stream of tears.

Then he leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers, his voice soft yet resolute as he whispered:

"My love, I understand."

In matters of the heart, people often find themselves helpless.

They try to restrain their impulses with reason, only to lose again and again to the rawest desires of their hearts, caught between sweetness and pain, tasting every bittersweet flavor love has to offer.

To truly love someone, you must accept them as they are—flaws and all.

There are no perfect people in this world, nor is there such a thing as perfect love.

"Sob..." Hearing this, Luo Shuning let out a small, wounded sound, like a fragile animal, and clung to Gu Luo’s neck with all her strength, as if she could merge into him.

Why did he have to be so gentle?

She had just confessed to lying, yet here she was, being saved by the one she loved most.

Those two words—"I understand"—words she had said to Gu Luo so many times before, now shattered her defenses completely.

Luo Shuning knew then: she could never let go of Gu Luo.

Not in this lifetime.

............

............