Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

Xia Ruoxin’s steps were swift. In the darkness, an emaciated woman could be seen forging ahead.

Her thoughts were with her daughter at home, the little girl who was currently sick.

At last, she made it to her doorstep. She took out her bunch of keys with shaking hands, hardly having time to catch her breath. The door opened. There she stood, under the dim light, unable to move her heavy feet all of a sudden.

She dropped her purse on the floor and walked gingerly towards her daughter who sprawled on the table.

On it were two bowls of cold noodles.

Did Rainy make these? She watched until her eyes became sore and even began to redden. The sting was unbearable.

She crouched her body and carried her daughter in one hand. Rainy awakened at this moment. She rubbed her eyes, and her lips curved into a smile.

“Mommy, I made noodles for you and for myself. Oh, I have not eaten yet. I was waiting for you to come back.” She embraced Xia Ruoxin’s neck. “Mommy, you are very late today. I am so hungry.” She rubbed her cheek against the nape of Xia Ruoxin’s neck, seemingly not fully conscious.

“Mommy knows. Rainy is so capable.” She sobbed as she told her daughter and carried her over to the bed.

“Mommy, I want to eat noodles. I want to eat the noodles that I have made. There’s also one for you.” She continued to rub her eyes to make sure that she woke up.

Soon, however, her long eyelashes started to close helplessly. The light shone on her little face only emphasized how pale her complexion was.

‘Mommy, I am hungry.” She put her thumb in her mouth and sucked. All the while, her hands were tightly around the doll buried in her chest.

“The noodles will be ready soon. Why don’t you take a nap first?” Xia Ruoxin patted her daughter’s back gently and watched over her for a long time. Finally, she got up and walked towards the kitchen, holding the two bowls in her hands. She leaned against the kitchen wall alone with one bowl of noodles in her hand and started eating the tasteless noodles even when it was under flavored and cold.

She continued to eat. Rainy had made this for her. How could she not eat it?

Once she finished eating, she covered her mouth to muffle her cries afraid to frighten her daughter. Finally, much later, she wiped her tears and took out another bowl and a packet of instant noodles.

Rainy was still sleeping when she came out of the kitchen bearing a bowl of noodles. However, her long eyelashes fluttered constantly while she suckled on her thumb. She did not have the habit of suckling her thumb. This behavior meant she was simply too hungry.

“Rainy, come and eat.” Xia Ruoxin sat by the bed and patted her daughter’s face gently. Rainy rubbed her eyes and climbed down the bed.

However, her eyes remained shut.

“Mommy, eat.”

She fought to open her eyes only to have her mouth opened frequently to allow Xia Ruoxin to feed her one mouthful after another. Her obedience made one ached for her. When she finished eating, she was already fully asleep.

Xia Ruoxin put her daughter to bed once more and placed Dolly in her arms. It was only after this, that she finally allowed herself to think and care for herself.