100 years before Divorce - Chapter 240

Hu Che’s words left Xia Sha stunned. She felt a thousand more small needles are pricking her heart after Hu Che finish his monologue and turn to her for a hug.

Every tear that falls on her linen breaks a brick that protects the memories of her past. Xia Sha is holding Hu Che as well as her old self.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I am here with you. You are not alone,” Xia Sha murmured at Hu Che’s eyes repetitively.

She closed her eyes as she allows tears to make a stream on her cheek. Never Xia Sha felt this awful for someone. She is so sorry that Hu Che could relate to her story, yet she still didn’t know what she could do for Hu Che.

At that time, Xia Sha hopes someone told her that she is not alone. She hopes someone could’ve assured her that, “Everything might change, but I’ll stay with you through the changes and be with you through the dark time.”

That someone is absent from her life before, and so, she didn’t want Hu Che to face the same situations as her.

“Aunty, help me,” Hu Che cried in between his sob.

“I will. Of course, I will help you, Hu Che. You don’t have to face this alone. You have your uncle and me. We won’t leave you alone.”

It’s not just a word of consolation. Xia Sha meant every word she promises to Hu Che, literally. If Hu Che didn’t want to follow one of his parents, Xia Sha would gladly add him into her household. She promises not to let Hu Che felt the same pain she need to go through before.

“Don’t be afraid, okay?” Xia Sha asked Hu Che gently.

Xia Sha didn’t realize when did Xiao Zhan approach them, but when she opened her eyes and wiped Hu Che’s tears away, Xiao Zhan had squatted beside them with an awkward comforting smile.

“Hey, little one, sorry if I overheard your story. Uncle only wants to praise you for being such a good boy. You will grow up becoming a strong man in the future,” Xiao Zhan express his amusement for Hu Che.

There is something complicated inside Xiao Zhan’s eyes that Hu Che couldn’t foresee his true feeling. However, Hu Che felt a jolt of encouragement when Xiao Zhan patted his shoulder gently.

“The process might felt bitter and challenging right now, or even in the future, and you might face it alone sometime. Is it scary? Yes. If I could be honest with you, Hu Che, Uncle had a similar experience with you, and I wouldn’t lie to you only to make you stop crying right now. It’s scary and painful. But every time the world seems unfair to you, you only need to remember that their rainbow will appear after rain.”

Xiao Zhan stops his tirade after realizing that his sentences might be too complicated for Hu Che to understand. Weak smiles appeared before his face when he realized Xia Sha’s unfathomable gaze upon him.

“Did uncle talk too much? Sorry,” Xiao Zhan apologized before Hu Che could answer his question.

Xiao Zhan didn’t realize that his word had to stop Hu Che tears from falling. Hu Che felt a new determination and willpower when Xiao Zhan calls him a strong man.

“No, instead, your word makes some sense to me, Uncle,” Hu Che declared as he wipes trace of his tears.

Yes, Hu Che realized that every problem and hardship in his life would only make him stronger. And to be stronger, he needs to survive. And to survive, he needs to adapt to the situation. At least, that is what Great-Grandpa Guan told him every time Hu Che asked him to play Chinese chess.

“There are things that I could control and things that I couldn’t control. Uncle Guan once told me that I don’t have to worry about anything when I’ve done my best to try. Thank you, Uncle and Aunty, for reminding me that lesson,” Hu Che said as he pulled away from Xia Sha’s embrace.

Hu Che turned to the seaside with both hands on his back. At this moment, he does look like a wise man who tries to calm his mind by looking at nature. Xia Sha and Xiao Zhan look stupified by how fast Hu Che changed, but at the same time, they were happy upon watching Hu Che’s cheeky smile.

“See, I told you, screaming at the sea will make you feel exempt from any feeling,” Xia Sha boasted, raising her eyebrow at Hu Che.

“Come on, we both knew that you learn this trick from me,” Xiao Zhan rolls his eyes lazily.

Hu Che looks at two smug adults beside him with a stern face. He clicked his tongue and tilted his head, “Well, it felt nice but still, I recommend you two to do it on a private island only.”

“…”

Okay, Hu Che got a good point there.

Xia Sha didn’t know who starts the sharing session. But they end up talking about ‘coping with loneliness’ for two hours.

Xiao Zhan opens up to Hu Che. It makes Hu Che started to pour out his feeling along with his wise suggestion. For a moment, Xia Sha forgets that she is supposed to let Hu Che become a kid today instead of acting like an adult.

“I think you should stop running away from your problem, uncle. Like you said before, it might be scary to face our giant. But there is only two option in life, is to win or to learn.”

“That’s right, thank you for pointing that out. I will work on it,” Xiao Zhan murmured, but nodding along to Hu Che’s wise words.

Xia Sha doesn’t remember signing up for ted talk, but listening to Hu Che and Xiao Zhan’s conversation could make her reflect on her life?

As the day got darker, Xia Sha took Hu Che to eat dinner. And of course, Xiao Zhan tags along as he continued his life lesson with Hu Che. Xia Sha almost forgot that Guan Xian promised to come back after he finishes his business.

The situation leads to another awkward scenario of a future husband meet an ex-lover. Neither Guan Xian and Xiao Zhan expected this to happen, and the only person who could explain the situation didn’t seem to be bothered by the tension they create.

Guan Xian decided to be the one with a bigger heart to great Xiao Zhan first. Although he wasn’t in a mood to be friendly right now, he needs to set an example for Hu Che.

“Xiao Zhan didn’t expect to see you here,” Guan Xian raised his eyebrow slightly as he took Xia Sha’s glass and chugged it to finish.

Xiao Zhan didn’t felt comfortable with how casual Xia Sha react, as if it’s a natural thing to happen. However, he does realize they were in a serious relationship, and he didn’t have any right to object to their interaction.

“Well, it’s a coincidence, a good one to be exact,” Xiao Zhan replied, glancing at Hu Che on his side.

“Uh-huh, Uncle Xiao Zhan appears at the right time,” Hu Che nodded his head with an approving look at Xiao Zhan.

“Are you two best friends now?” Guan Xiao asked in a higher pitch, he felt a little bit betrayed by Hu Che.

“No, Not yet. Maybe after two more meetings,” Hu Che answer thoughtfully, as he put a fried shrimp into Xiao Zhan’s bowl.

“Eat up! We need a lot of energy to face this cruel world.”

Three adults on the table: “…”

This kid could be a famous philanthropist one day Guan Xian thought as he clicked his tongue and turn to Xia Sha in enthusiast.

“So, was the dolphin show fun?”

Xia Sha furrowed her eyebrow and frown in confusion, “Shouldn’t you ask Hu Che rather than me? And you still dare to ask after leaving us before the show even start?!”

Shouldn’t you have some guilt inside your thick skull?

“Sorry, something urgent comes,” Guan Xian put on his boyish grin as he offers peace.

“Don’t apologize to me,” Xia Sha mumbles in a low tone as she glances at Hu Che.

Guan Xian didn’t waste time and quickly apologized to his nephew as Xia Sha suggested.

“Hu Che, forgive uncle. I’ll bring you to a better show next week!” he promised with two-finger raised on the air.

Hu Che glance at Guan Xian with nonexistence interest as he shook his head firmly, “I’m busy next week, but I’ll let you know when I have free time. Uncle Xiao, why don’t I add you on WeChat so I could check on you every day?”

Guan Xian: “…”

Why does Guan Xian felt stress and pressure because of Hu Che? And should he is the one who needs to be checked on?

Watching Xiao Zhan nodding his head excitedly, Guan Xian was confused. Little did he knew, Xiao Zhan thought that he is getting closer to Xia Sha’s nephew.

Ah~ If only adult world is simpler, this kind of misunderstanding won’t happen~~~