Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Purpose

(Thank you all for your votes and support, thank you.)

“Oh! It’s Sister Ke’er! Why is Sister Ke’er crying?”

Wang Ke’er’s sobs finally drew the attention of the little ones ahead, and they swarmed over in a flurry.

“Mama, Mama, don’t cry. If you cry… if you cry, Nian Nian will cry too, wuwu—”

Before the adorable children could ask their Ke’er sister why she was crying, little Princess Nian Nian, holding hands with Xiao Xi’er and Xiao Bai, saw her mother’s tears and burst into sobs herself.

So, the little sweethearts quickly turned to comforting Nian Nian.

“Nian Nian, don’t cry, be a good girl, okay?”

Xiao Chun’er and Xiao Xia’er crouched in front of Nian Nian, wiping her tears with their tiny hands, speaking gently.

Little boy Ma Minghao seemed at a loss as he looked from his crying little sister to his weeping mother. In the next moment, he too burst into tears.

“Oh, come on! Why is he crying too?”

Xiao Bai was instantly flustered, anxiously scratching her bobbed haircut.

She found it incredible—this boy who had just wanted to fight her, how could he be crying as well!

“Xiao Bai... Xi’er wants to cry too,”

Xi’er, holding her hand, pressed her lips together and spoke in a trembling, childish voice.

“Hey! If you cry, your sister will spank your little bum!”

Xiao Bai shouted, disgruntled, and then, pulling Xi’er along, turned to look at Xiao Dong’er in Yang Qing’s arms, suddenly recalling a way to cheer Nian Nian up—Dong’er’s little treasure pouch!

Just then, Xi’er finally caught sight of her sister. In an instant, her urge to cry vanished; instead, she stared at her sister with wide, curious eyes.

“Whoosh!”

She shook off Xiao Bai’s hand, bounced over to her sister—who was still lost in sorrow and clinging to Yang Qing’s waist from behind—and looked up with her little face, exclaiming in wonder,

“Sis! Why are you hugging Brother Qing? Do you like Brother Qing? Are you going to marry him?”

“Swish!”

Xi’er’s loud question immediately drew two more little ones—Xiao Qiu’er and Xiao Bai.

Both stared at Tan Jin’er with wide, innocent eyes.

Startled by her little sister’s outburst, the young chef Jin’er snapped back to herself, hastily let go of Yang Qing’s waist, quickly wiped her eyes, her pretty face flushing as she stammered,

“No, I’m not! You’re talking nonsense!”

“Hi-hi-hi… Xi’er’s not making things up, Sis, your face is all red, hi-hi… Sis is shy… hi-hi… ah!”

Xi’er’s laughter was abruptly cut off as Tan Jin’er scooped her up, covering her mouth, fearing her silly sister might blurt out even more outrageous things.

Meanwhile, Xiao Qiu’er looked excited yet conflicted as she asked Yang Qing in a soft, childish voice, “Brother, do you like Sister Jin’er?”

“I do.”

Yang Qing, too, had emerged from the shadow of his memories. Composing himself, he looked at the little one before him and replied gently,

“Jin’er is just like you all, she’s my little sister too. Since I like you, of course I like her as well.”

“Mm-hmm!”

Xiao Qiu’er nodded happily, then grabbed Xiao Bai’s hand, exclaiming with delight, “Xiao Bai, let’s go cheer up Nian Nian again!”

“Alright!”

The two ran off to comfort little Princess Nian Nian once more. By now, Nian Nian had stopped crying, and, seemingly tired, nestled into her mother’s arms, eyes drooping.

“Hey! How can a boy like you still be crying—shame on you! Even I’m not crying!”

With Nian Nian comforted, Xiao Bai immediately shifted her attention to Ma Minghao, who was wiping away his tears nearby.

Xiao Bai was quite annoyed—how could her little rival, who dared to challenge her, be crying? It was an embarrassment for her!

“I’m not! I’m not crying at all!”

The little boy, flushed with indignation at being teased by a girl, glared back.

“Hey! You little crybaby, how dare you yell at me? Want to fight?”

Xiao Bai started rolling up her sleeves, but Xiao Qiu’er quickly grabbed her anxiously, reminding her, “He’s Nian Nian’s brother, we can’t bully him or Nian Nian will cry again.”

“Oh, right. Then I won’t hit him!”

Xiao Bai relented. She didn’t want Nian Nian to cry again—Nian Nian was just too adorable.

Wang Ke’er, having composed herself, gazed at Yang Qing with a hint of playful complaint, “It’s all your fault—now my makeup’s all ruined.”

“Hehe, blame me, blame me. Well… it’s getting late, why don’t we go eat at my place?”

Feeling somewhat embarrassed as the instigator, Yang Qing invited Wang Ke’er and Li Wanxiao.

“No, thanks. I didn’t tell Sister Ying I was coming out, so I should head back first,” Wang Ke’er replied with a smile. “I’ll come visit the little ones another day.”

Li Wanxiao also smiled and declined, “No, thanks. Nian Nian’s tired; I’ll take her home to rest.”

She paused, then looked at Yang Qing, “Tomorrow is Children’s Day. Are you taking the little ones out to play?”

“Uh…” Yang Qing hesitated, “I’ve thought about it, but I haven’t decided where to take them yet.”

Li Wanxiao’s eyes lit up, “You know about Nian Nian’s situation. Today has been her happiest day since her father left. So tomorrow, I’d like to invite your sisters to come keep her company again, if that’s alright?”

“Of course.”

Yang Qing nodded, then turned to the little ones and smiled, “Auntie wants to invite you all to play with Nian Nian tomorrow. Would you like to go?”

“Yes! Hee-hee… Brother, you’re coming too!” Xiao Qiu’er nodded eagerly.

Yang Qing nodded, then looked at quiet Xiao Bai with a smile, “Xiao Bai, don’t you want to go?”

“Hmph!”

Xiao Bai tilted her chin up haughtily and announced, “I have to protect the little ones!”

Yang Qing burst out laughing, “Haha… well then…”

“Brother Qing! Why didn’t you ask Xi’er? Aren’t you going to ask if Xi’er wants to go? Don’t you want Xi’er anymore?”

Yang Qing’s laughter was cut off by a little one running over in a panic.

“Ha ha, so Xi’er, do you want to go?” Yang Qing looked down at the anxious, bouncing child.

Xi’er immediately squealed with excitement, “Hee-hee… Xi’er wants to go! Hee-hee…”

Xiao Bai shot her a look, “Silly girl.”

Tan Jin’er covered her face, both loving and helpless toward her sister’s antics.

“Thank you, thank you all,”

With Yang Qing’s agreement, and the little ones’ too, Li Wanxiao was touched, “Then tomorrow I’ll have the driver come pick you up.”

Yang Qing nodded, “Alright.”

After bidding farewell to Li Wanxiao and Wang Ke’er, Yang Qing and Tan Jin’er led the little ones toward the shop.

“Brother Qing, Sister Li just said Nian Nian’s father is gone, does that mean…”

“He died in the line of duty. Nian Nian’s father was a firefighter. He gave his life to save a little girl during a fire.”

Yang Qing sighed, “It happened on Nian Nian’s birthday. She kept waiting for her father to come home, but he never did. It left a scar on her young heart. But actually…”

He paused, fell silent for a moment, then continued, “Actually, from talking to her, I can sense that it’s not just little Nian Nian who’s been hurt. Her mother has a knot in her heart too.”

Tan Jin’er’s eyes trembled, “So… so the real reason you asked Ke’er to do the livestream wasn’t just for Chun’er, but… for her?”

“Yes, and no.”

Yang Qing looked up at the darkening sky and said solemnly, “How many people in this world are willing to risk everything, like Nian Nian’s father, to save others? I just wanted to use this way to awaken more people’s remembrance and honor for them.”

“I just want to tell them—they are great, and they are heroes we will never forget!”

A smile tugged at his lips, “So far, it seems Chun’er’s song has had a good effect. Her mother’s heart seems to be opening up. As for the rest…”

Yang Qing glanced toward the direction of Hope Primary School.

The rest, I leave to you.