Roses in Flames

Xiao Lin clutched his head with both hands, his nails digging into his scalp. He was overwhelmed by pain and self-blame, becoming somewhat paranoid and extreme.

"If I hadn't been naughty and run away from home when I was little, I wouldn't have been kidnapped, and Ah Lin's father wouldn't have lost his life. If Ah Lin hadn't met me, he wouldn't have gone to the island. I'm Ah Lin's family's jinx. Why wasn't it me who got into trouble? Ah Lin and his father were so close, why did they have to die?"

Xiao Lin bent his knees and knelt before A Lin's tombstone, his forehead pressed against the cold stone, his shoulders trembling violently.

The guilt, self-blame, regret... all the emotions that had been hidden in my heart over the years surged out like a tide.

"I owe Ah Lin's family, and I really don't know how to repay them."

Ye Yuntang had never seen Xiao Lin like this before, and her heart clenched uncontrollably.

In her mind, he had always been resolute and composed, possessing an inner strength that no one else could match; he could hold the sky down even if it collapsed.

But at this moment, he took off his armor, like a lost child, revealing the most vulnerable scars in his heart.

She suddenly regretted coming here with him.

To explain his relationship with Bai Chuwei clearly, he had to lay bare his excruciating pain for her to see.

Looking at his hunched back, Ye Yuntang gently put her arm around him. "Xiao Lin, don't say that. No one can predict what will happen when you're a child. You were just a child back then. The fear and injuries you suffered when you were kidnapped, weren't those injuries too?"

She pursed her lips and looked at Ah Lin's photo on the tombstone. "Ah Lin, and his father, were both upright people who couldn't bear to see others in danger, which is why they risked their lives. As public servants, if we encountered someone in distress on the street, wouldn't we rush forward without hesitation? These are acts of kindness ingrained in our bones. Ah Lin's father risked his life to save you when you were little; he certainly didn't want you to live with guilt."

Ye Yuntang grasped Xiao Lin's arm, her eyes reddening yet filled with unwavering determination as she looked at him. "If you live, carry on A-Lin's ideals, be a good police officer, and protect more people. That's the best way to repay them. Stop blaming yourself for being a jinx, okay?"

Xiao Lin looked at Ye Yuntang, his face tense, and remained silent for a long time.

After an unknown amount of time, he spoke again in a hoarse voice, "A-Lin has always liked Bai Chuwei. They were from the same village when they were young, but A-Lin moved away and they lost contact."

"When they got to college, they met on social media. After getting her contact information, A-Lin kept writing to her. A-Lin told me everything. He said that when he returned to Yecheng to work, he would save money to buy a house, give Bai Chuwei a home, and let her live a peaceful and happy life."

"Originally, he planned to meet Bai Chuwei offline after celebrating my birthday on the island, but... Later, I came to Yecheng to see Grandma Alin. Bai Chuwei happened to be visiting Grandma Alin that day as well. She thought I was Alin, and I didn't dare to explain in front of Grandma Alin."

"Over the years, I have never told Grandma Lin that he had an accident. I was afraid that she would not be able to bear the shock. Every time I visited her, I would pretend to be Lin. I also never told Bai Chuwei my real identity. I was afraid that she would tell Grandma Lin."

"After graduation, I got a job here. I save my salary and bonuses every month, thinking of fulfilling A-Lin's promise to buy Bai Chuwei an apartment."

"Last year I finally saved enough money to buy a house and renovate it. I originally planned to explain things to Bai Chuwei after handing the house over, but I didn't expect her to get together with your ex-husband."

"I still gave the house to her, as a way of fulfilling one of A-Lin's wishes before he died. I never liked her, and all the care I gave her was based on my debt to A-Lin."

"Now that she's cheated on me, it's also hurting Ah Lin. I won't care about anything she does anymore."

Ye Yuntang nodded. "I understand. I will never doubt that there is any connection between you and Bai Chuwei again. I understand the pain in your heart and your feelings for A-Lin."

After a pause, she continued, "Shall I go with you to see Ah Lin's grandmother?"

Xiao Lin nodded in a deep, hoarse voice, "Okay."

……

Grandma Alin refused to live in the city, so Xiao Lin bought her a bungalow with a small yard in the town. It had blue bricks and gray tiles, where she could grow some vegetables and flowers.

Since the elderly woman had difficulty seeing and hearing, Xiao Lin hired an older woman to take care of her.

Ye Yuntang and Xiao Lin bought fruit in town and then went to the courtyard.

It was already past nine o'clock at night. The old man didn't sleep much, so he was still sitting on a recliner in the yard enjoying the cool air.

Hearing the courtyard gate being pushed open, the aunt sitting next to Grandma A-Lin looked up.

"Oh! It's Grandma, your grandson is back!" The aunt quickly patted Grandma Lin's hand and whispered in her ear, "Your eldest grandson is back."

A smile spread across Grandma Alin's kind face. She put down the palm-leaf fan in her hand, stood up, and stretched out her hand towards the courtyard gate, "My eldest grandson!"

Xiao Lin strode forward, put down the fruit he was holding, grasped the old woman's hand, and called out in a louder voice, "Grandma."

Grandma Alin's smile deepened.

"Your eldest grandson has brought you a granddaughter-in-law back!" The aunt greeted Ye Yuntang with a beaming smile as she entered the house.

Ye Yuntang knew that the aunt had misunderstood; she and Xiao Lin were not in that kind of relationship yet, but she didn't explain.

After greeting the older woman, she walked up to Grandma A-Lin and called out in a louder voice, "Hello, Grandma."

Grandma Alin wasn't born deaf and mute. She damaged her hearing due to an illness years ago. She's not completely deaf, but she needs someone to speak loudly in her ear for her to barely hear anything.

When Grandma Alin heard Ye Yuntang call her, a kind smile immediately bloomed on her face. She reached out and took Ye Yuntang's hand, saying, "Okay, okay."

Seeing the old man's reaction, Xiao Lin's eyes flashed with suspicion.

The old lady had never been this enthusiastic when Bai Chuwei visited her before.

"Grandma likes you a lot." Xiao Lin glanced at Ye Yuntang.

Ye Yuntang raised an eyebrow. "Of course, I'm as beautiful as a flower, who wouldn't like me?"

The two spoke very softly, and Grandma A-Lin couldn't hear them.

"You've come so late, don't leave tonight, stay with Grandma for the night."

Xiao Lin whispered in Grandma A-Lin's ear, "There are only three rooms in the house, not enough for everyone."

Grandma and Auntie each have a room, so there's only one room left, unless he sleeps on the sofa.

The woman brought out two cups of tea. "Give me your room. I'll sleep with your grandma tonight."

After taking the tea, Xiao Lin looked at Ye Yuntang and asked, "Are you going to stay?"

Ye Yuntang also wanted Xiao Lin to spend more time with Grandma A-Lin, so she nodded, "Okay."

After Xiao Lin chatted with the old man for a while, the old man urged him to make the bed, "Take good care of the young lady."

Xiao Lin hummed in agreement.

Xiao Lin led Ye Yuntang to one of the rooms, saying, "I usually sleep in this room when I come back to see Grandma. You can sleep here for a while."

He took out the four-piece bedding set that the aunt had washed from the cabinet.

Ye Yuntang leaned against the wall and watched him make the bed.

The habits he developed at the police academy were ingrained in his bones. Even when making a bed on the spot, his movements were neat and efficient. He pulled the sheets flat and tucked in the corners tightly. Finally, he picked up the quilt, folded the edges, pressed the corners, and shaped it. In just a few moments, he had folded it into a square, angular block.

Ye Yuntang smiled, "Didn't you always come in first place in the dormitory housekeeping competitions at your police academy?"

Xiao Lin turned to look at Ye Yuntang, "That's right, how did you know?"

"Judging from your movements just now, you were still so efficient. Do you have a bit of a germaphobia or obsessive-compulsive disorder?"

Xiao Lin pursed his thin lips. "It's alright. If you want to be more casual when you're with me, I'll respect that."

Looking into the man's dark and deep eyes, Ye Yuntang walked up to him, took a deep breath, and said, "You told me something so important today, and I also have a secret I want to tell you."

Xiao Lin immediately stood up straight. "What is it?"

Ye Yuntang met his gaze for a moment, then quickly looked away. Her long eyelashes drooped, and she appeared slightly nervous. "It's just—"