You Are My Pride

Xia Qiuzhi finally understood the original owner's love for her.

It's just that this realization came too late.

Recalling countless moments from the past, she could now comprehend just how much Zhou Yi must have loved her to have gone to such lengths.

Now, Xia Qiuzhi only wanted to cherish the time she had with Zhou Yi.

After all, her Yi-gege was now a star in the public eye, and the time he had for her was very, very little.

Her mood began to sink again, when suddenly she remembered that bright afternoon when Zhou Yi had said to her:

"Ah-Zhi, we'll be together forever."

Xia Qiuzhi sighed. Compared to Zhou Yi ignoring her, this outcome was already very good.

She lifted her eyes to look at Zhou Yi's broad back. Who would his 'forever' be?

It probably wouldn't be her anymore.

Noticing Xia Qiuzhi had fallen silent, Zhou Yi asked her: "Ah-Zhi, why so quiet? What are you thinking about?"

Xia Qiuzhi quickly smiled and said, "It's nothing. By the way, where are we going now?"

"To buy a gift for Matron Mama. Now that we have money, we can buy something nice. I'll get one for you too, Ah-Zhi. I must have hurt you by ignoring you for so long."

Xia Qiuzhi shook her head. "No, if Yi-gege hadn't done that, I wouldn't have understood... some things."

She bit her lip, still unable to say those words.

The girl then added softly, "Yi-gege, you don't need to buy me a gift. The fact that you're talking to me again makes me happier than any gift could."

Zhou Yi rode his bike, carrying Xia Qiuzhi through the streets and alleys.

Xia Qiuzhi leaned against his back, watching the familiar scenery, her mind filled with memories from the past.

She sighed with emotion, "Growing up isn't as great as I thought it would be."

As a child, she had longed to grow up quickly and leave the orphanage. She yearned for the outside world, but the older she got, the more she understood that the small orphanage was the place that had sheltered her from the wind and rain.

Because Zhou Yi was there. He was her umbrella, her knight who shielded her from the storms, allowing her to grow up carefree.

Xia Qiuzhi had come to understand many things. She had truly grown up.

Zhou Yi took Xia Qiuzhi to buy two large cakes, some carnations, nutritional supplements, a massage device, and more. Laden with bags big and small, they returned to the orphanage.

If they bought expensive jewelry, the Matron probably wouldn't wear it. Buying practical things meant she would actually use them.

The Matron was in the courtyard teaching the children how to cut paper window decorations.

She was slight of build, her back somewhat hunched, bent by years of hardship.

Zhou Yi and Xia Qiuzhi, each carrying an armful of packages, looked like a newlywed couple returning to the wife's family home.

As soon as the Matron saw them, she quickly put down her scissors and walked over.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I could have asked the kitchen to prepare more dishes."

Xia Qiuzhi happily placed the things on a nearby bench, hugged the Matron, and said, "Happy birthday, Matron Mama!"

Zhou Yi also smiled gently and said, "Happy birthday, Matron Mama."

A kind smile spread across the Matron's face. She wanted to pat their heads as she used to, but they had both grown too tall for her to reach.

She simply raised her hands to pat their shoulders, then took their hands, one on each side, and walked forward with them in tow.

Zhou Yi glanced down at the hands holding his. They were so thin the bones were faintly visible.

The Matron was just like before, fond of chattering at them, but every word was filled with care and love.

"You don't need to buy things when you come back. I don't need them. I know your hearts are in the right place. You should save your money. I'm old and don't have much to leave you. You must learn to take care of yourselves."

Thinking of the children from the orphanage always filled the Matron with endless emotion and a sense of guilt.

They were children without parents, their paths in life inherently more difficult than others'.

They had no parental love in childhood, and no parental harbor as adults. Of course, she wanted them to spend their money on themselves first.

Perhaps the most important thing she wanted to teach them was how to love themselves.

Watching them leave one by one, some able to come back to visit, others disappearing without a trace once they left...

To her, they were all her children. How could she not worry about them?

Every time one returned, it at least let her know they were living well somewhere, giving her a little peace of mind.

"Yi-gege always said he would repay you when he grew up. Now that he's finally made something of himself, of course he has to keep his promise," Xia Qiuzhi said.

After hearing this, the Matron suddenly stopped. She looked at Zhou Yi, and her eyes reddened.

The phrase "made something of himself" touched her heart deeply.

She looked at Zhou Yi with heartache and said softly, "Xiao Yi must have suffered a lot. You were such a quiet child before. To get to where you are today, the hardships you faced must be beyond our imagination. I couldn't help you much, and I always feel guilty. It's really..."

Her gaze held affection, guilt, and also pride.

Zhou Yi was also moved by the Matron's expression. Her love for the orphanage children surpassed that of some biological parents.

He comforted her, "It's not like that. Please don't worry about me. I'm doing fine."

The Matron just smiled sadly. "Don't lie to me. I know you. You used to blush after saying just a few extra words. If you hadn't suffered, how could you have changed into who you are now?"

She had raised the original owner herself and knew Zhou Yi well. He wasn't the slick, sociable type, but an honest, kind, and dependable child.

She used to worry his personality would lead him to be taken advantage of. Seeing him like this now, her heart ached more than anything.

A person doesn't change like that without going through something.

The Matron silently imagined scenes of Zhou Yi suffering setbacks and hardships outside, and her heart ached even more.

"Are your new parents treating you well? It must be somewhat uncomfortable adjusting to a new home. If you miss this place, you can always come back more often."

"They're fine, Matron. You take good care of yourself. We really are all doing well."

The Matron wiped her tears and finally smiled with relief. "That's good. I'm just an old woman who worries too much. Don't mind my nagging."

Zhou Yi smiled gently. "Not at all. We listen to everything you say. You do it for our own good. We're grateful, not annoyed."

The Matron led them to sit in the courtyard. The children immediately gathered around when they saw the cakes.

"Cake!"

The children's eyes lit up at the sight.

But as much as they wanted it, none dared to touch it.

A little girl with big eyes looked cautiously at Zhou Yi and Xia Qiuzhi and asked,

"Can... can we have some? Big brother, big sister?"

Xia Qiuzhi ruffled her hair, her own eyes curving into smiles. "Of course you can! Today is Matron Mama's birthday. Let's celebrate together, okay?"

With that, Xia Qiuzhi was surrounded by the children. She cut the cake for them on the stone table, finding their shining eyes utterly adorable.

"Eat slowly, don't choke. There's another one over there."

Xia Qiuzhi handed out the sliced cake pieces to them one by one.

"Thank you, pretty sister."

"She's Sister Qiuqiu, I've seen her many times!"

"I've seen Sister Qiuqiu too."

Zhou Yi and the headmistress sat on the other side, smiling as they watched the cheerful scene.

The headmistress said to Zhou Yi, "You two were just like this when you were little."

"Yes. They'll grow up too, and they'll come back to visit you and celebrate your birthday, just like we do."

"As long as you're all doing well, whether I celebrate my birthday or not doesn't matter."

Just then, a little child walked over carrying two plates of sliced cake.

"For Headmistress Mama, and for big brother too."

The headmistress shook her head. "Little Yezi, you have it. Mama doesn't like sweet things. Give that piece to big brother."

Little Yezi then looked at Zhou Yi, her large, glistening eyes softening anyone's heart.

"Zhou Yi... big brother, eat... eat cake."

The little girl was very young, her speech still slightly unclear, yet she was thoughtful, knowing to share right away.

Zhou Yi was surprised for a moment, then smiled and asked her, "You know me?"

Little Yezi first shook her head, then nodded, her two pigtails swaying adorably.

"I've seen you on TV, lots of times."

Zhou Yi was puzzled. "I've never been on TV. How could you have seen me on TV?"

Little Yezi pointed towards a classroom. "On the TV in the classroom. Zhou Yi big brother, Headmistress Mama says you are our role model."

Zhou Yi was taken aback and looked at the headmistress.

She smiled, gently urging Little Yezi to go eat cake with the other children, then said to Zhou Yi:

"I hoped you could inspire them. Children in orphanages mature early; they realize very young that they are different from other kids."

"I worry they might lose heart about the future, or become insecure. With you as a role model, they can at least hold onto hope for what's ahead."

"Xiao Yi, you are the pride of this orphanage, and my pride too."