Entertainment: A song that brought his deceased wife back to life.

Xu Qing nodded.

He silently repeated it to himself.

I rub my stomach when I'm hungry.

They were scared and pulled at my sleeve.

Very simple.

But they were like two protective charms, stuck to him.

The two of them just sat there.

No one spoke.

The wall blocked most of the wind, but it was still cold.

That kind of coldness comes from underground.

Xu Qing couldn't help but shrink his neck.

He put his hands into the sleeves of the ill-fitting coat.

The whole person curled up into a ball.

He was looking at Jiang Yue.

By the moonlight, he could see Jiang Yue's profile clearly.

It's not very good-looking.

His skin was a bit dark, his eyebrows were thick, and he had some freckles on his nose.

Her hair was a complete mess.

But at this moment, Jiang Yue leaned there quietly.

It lacked its usual aggressive demeanor.

There was a hint of loneliness about it.

Xu Qing suddenly felt...

This is "Sister Jiang," who always rushed to the front to protect him.

Actually, she's only a few years older than him.

She was also an orphan.

No one cares about her.

In this cannibalistic welfare home, she fought her way out with her fists and sheer ruthlessness.

She must feel cold too, right?

She must be hungry too, right?

Is she afraid too?

Xu Qing looked at Jiang Yue's hands, which were covered in chilblains.

Those hands were casually resting on his knees.

The back of my hand is red and swollen, and several cracks have scabbed over.

It looks painful.

A strange emotion welled up in Xu Qing's heart.

That was something he had never done before.

Before the fire, he was the apple of his parents' eye.

After the fire, he became a mute and was bullied.

He was always the one being protected.

Or perhaps it's the one who gets rejected.

But right now.

Looking at Jiang Yue under the moonlight.

He suddenly felt like doing something.

Even if he is a useless person now.

Even though he couldn't even speak.

But he wanted to protect this person.

Just like when she stuffed the last piece of dried sweet potato into her mouth.

protect her.

Once the thought popped into my head, it took root in my mind.

It grew wildly.

Xu Qing moved slightly.

He reached his hand out from the sleeve of his coat.

That hand was very small.

It's also very cool.

But he still stretched it out.

He did not make the "touching his stomach" gesture.

He's not hungry right now.

Even if he's hungry, he can endure it.

His hand slowly moved closer to Jiang Yue's arm.

That's Jiang Yue's sleeve.

Xu Qing's fingers trembled slightly.

But he still held onto the piece of cloth.

Gently.

I tugged at it.

Jiang Yue was in a daze.

She was wondering where to get some firewood tomorrow; this awful weather looked like it was going to snow.

Suddenly I felt my sleeve move.

She was stunned.

Lower your head.

I saw that thin, bony little hand clutching my sleeve.

I tugged at it again.

It's very light.

But they were very determined.

Jiang Yue's heart skipped a beat.

She turned her head and looked at Xu Qing.

"What's wrong?"

"Is Erlei here?"

Jiang Yue instinctively tried to stand up, her hand already reaching for the half-brick beside her.

All the muscles in my body tensed up instantly.

We have entered combat mode.

She was looking around.

His gaze sharpened.

"Where?"

"Who's foolish enough to cause trouble at this time?"

But all around was quiet.

Only the shadows of withered branches swaying in the wind remain.

There wasn't even a ghost in sight.

Jiang Yue was somewhat puzzled.

She looked at Xu Qing again.

Xu Qing did not point to any particular place.

He did not show any fear.

His eyes were calm.

Even with a touch of...gentleness?

He just looked at Jiang Yue.

His hand was still clutching her sleeve.

Don't loosen it.

Jiang Yue looked into his eyes.

The moonlight reflected in those eyes, making them sparkle.

There was no fear inside.

There is only one kind of complete trust.

Jiang Yue suddenly understood.

This kid didn't see a bad guy.

It's not that I'm really afraid of anything specific.

He was just using this action to confirm something.

I confirmed she was still there.

This confirms that it is not just an action, but a commitment.

The tension that had been building up around Jiang Yue suddenly dissipated.

She threw away the brick in her hand.

Sit down again.

She looked at the small hand that was still stubbornly tugging at her sleeve.

Kind of funny.

I feel like crying again.

What an idiot.

Why are you making such a fuss over nothing?

scare someone to death.

But she didn't scold him.

He didn't pull his sleeves back either.

Jiang Yue stretched out her large hand, which was covered in chilblains.

He took Xu Qing's small hand in his own.

He held that cold hand tightly in his palm.

Her hands are rough.

The friction made Xu Qing's hand a little sore.

But it's very warm.

"Don't be afraid."

Jiang Yue's voice was very soft.

It scattered as soon as it was blown by the wind.

But Xu Qing heard it.

"I am here."

"As long as I don't die, no one in this courtyard can touch you."

"Even if the King of Hell came and wanted to take you away, he would have to ask me if I would agree first."

Jiang Yue gripped his hand tightly.

It felt like holding a lost treasure that had been found again.

"Silly blockhead."

She muttered something under her breath.

But the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

In the dead of night, when the wind was biting cold.

In the shadow of the mottled walls of the welfare home.

Two children abandoned by the world.

They held hands like that.

They made a contract that only they could understand.

No language is required.

No oath is required.

All it takes is a simple tug on the sleeve.

That way, two lonely souls can be bound together tightly.

...........

Days passed by like this.

Winters are especially long in the welfare home.

The wind lashes your face so hard it can rub off a layer of skin.

Xu Qing became Jiang Yue's little follower.

This is quite a novelty at the welfare home.

Jiang Yue used to be a lone wolf, always going her own way.

He ignored everyone.

Now there's a skinny, mute little guy behind me.

The key point is that this little mute is quite stubborn.

Er Lei and his gang sometimes tried to trip up Xu Qing when Jiang Yue wasn't around.

Xu Qing didn't dodge.

He stared intently at the other person.

If all else fails, just crouch down with your hands behind your head.

Anyway, as long as they don't die, those guys will be in trouble when Jiang Yue comes back.

Jiang Yue is a person of her word.

If I said I'd protect you, then I really will.

Even if it's just half a steamed bun, she'll break off a quarter of it and give it to Xu Qing.

No more.

She was growing and was so hungry she saw stars.

That afternoon.

The dean somehow managed to get a truckload of Chinese cabbages to last through the winter.

They're all the kind of clearance items with rotten sides.

The children in the yard were all called to move cabbages.

Xu Qing wasn't idle either.

He was small and weak, so he was responsible for picking off the rotten vegetable leaves and throwing them into the garbage heap on the side.

Jiang Yue was beside him.

This girl is very good at working.

He tucked two large cabbages under his armpits and walked with a powerful stride.

"Hurry up."

Jiang Yue threw a cabbage into the cellar and turned to shout at Xu Qing.

Whether we can have hot soup tonight depends on how much we can move right now.

Xu Qing nodded.

He quickened his pace.

Sudden.

A plume of black smoke rose from the incinerator in the corner of the yard.

That's Old Zhang from the boiler room burning trash.

There were quite a few plastic bags and rubber sheets mixed in.

Thick black smoke billowed out.

That smell was extremely pungent.

It smells burnt.

pungent.

A gust of wind blew, and the smoke rolled right towards Xu Qing.

Xu Qing's hand froze.

The cabbage, which had only been peeled halfway, fell to the ground.

It rolled away a long way.

His pupils suddenly contracted.

That smell.

too familiar.

That's the smell when the curtains in the house were on fire that night.

And there was the smell of my father's burnt leather jacket.

They were all mixed together.

It shot straight up to the top of the head.

Xu Qing felt as if the air around her had disappeared.

It was all fire.

It was all smoke.

He couldn't hear Jiang Yue's shouts.

You can't hear other children making noise either.

All I could hear was the crackling sound of the fire burning.

And that voice.

"Run! Xiaoqing, run!"

Xu Qing's legs began to feel weak.

He couldn't stand up anymore.

He slid down the wall.

He covered his head with his hands, curling his body into a small ball.

Trembling violently.

The shaking was so intense that even the teeth were chattering.

Hehehe.

The sound was eerie.

Jiang Yue just came back from moving.

I spotted Xu Qing squatting in the corner at a glance.

Her heart skipped a beat.

He threw the cabbage in his hand onto the ground.

He rushed over in two strides.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Yue grabbed Xu Qing's shoulder.

"Did Erlei hit you again?"

She subconsciously looked around.

His hand had already reached for the half-steel bar tucked into his waistband.

The children carrying cabbages nearby were startled and quickly moved far away.

But there was no one around.

Er Lei was slacking off on the other side and didn't even come over here.

Jiang Yue was a little puzzled.

She looked at Xu Qing again.

"Feed".

"say."

"Oh no, you can't speak."

Jiang Yue was a little impatient.

She reached out to pull away Xu Qing's hand that was covering her head.

"Tug on my sleeve!"

"Are you scared?"

"Then grab my sleeve! How will I know what you want to do if you don't grab it?"

Xu Qing did not react.

He clutched his head tightly, his fingernails digging into his flesh.

It took Jiang Yue a lot of effort to pry his hands open.

Upon closer inspection...

Jiang Yue was stunned.

Xu Qing's face was covered in tears.

That was the kind of silent, devastating crying.

Tears and snot covered his face.

His face was as white as a sheet of paper.

His lips turned purple.

But he remained silent.

There was a breath stuck in my throat, I couldn't breathe it up or down.

It looked like it could pull out at any moment.

Jiang Yue panicked now.

She thought Xu Qing had contracted some kind of sudden illness.

"Where does it hurt?"

Jiang Yue reached out and groped him all over.

"abdomen?"

"Stomach ache?"

Xu Qing shook his head.

"Your leg is broken?"

Xu Qing shook her head again.

He was panting heavily.

His eyes were unfocused and completely unfocused.

Jiang Yue was so anxious that sweat was pouring down her forehead.

"Then show me!"

"Didn't we teach you mute language?"

"When you're hungry, rub your stomach; when you're scared, tug at your sleeve."

"What kind of behavior is this, crying and trembling like that?"

Xu Qing heard Jiang Yue's voice.

The voice was loud, urgent, and carried a rough sense of anxiety.

The sound pulled me back a little from the illusion of that fire.

He looked at Jiang Yue.

Looking at that dirty but concerned face.

He wanted to speak.

I want to say that I miss my mom and dad.

I want to say I don't want to stay here.

I want to say that I'm heartbroken, heartbroken so much that I feel like I'm dying.

But open your mouth.

Only the whistling wind could be heard.

My tongue is like it's made of wood; it won't obey me at all.

That immense, unbearable sadness was stuck in my chest.

He's going to burst from being stuffed.

Xu Qing reached out her hand, trembling.

That hand was filthy, covered in dirt and vegetable juice.

He didn't touch his stomach.

He didn't tug at Jiang Yue's sleeve either.

His hand paused in mid-air for a moment.

Then slowly.

Very heavy.

He pressed it against his left chest.

That location.

It's the heart.

Jiang Yue was stunned.

She watched Xu Qing's movements.

"here?"

Jiang Yue pointed to her chest.

"Broken ribs?"

She still thought about the physical injuries.

In the orphanage, no one taught them what psychological trauma was.

An injury means bleeding, it means a fracture.

Xu Qing shook her head.

His hand was still pressed tightly against his chest.

Press down hard.

It was as if they wanted to hold down that beating heart to stop it from hurting so much.

He looked at Jiang Yue.

Tears streamed down my face.

That look in his eyes.

Jiang Yue had never met him in her life.

I feel so hopeless.

Too helpless.

That's not the look a child should have.

He's like an old man who's lived to be eighty and has endured all the hardships of his life.

It was filled with raging flames, charred ruins, and homes that could never be returned to.

He was saying:

It hurts here.

It's not that I feel the pinch.

It hurts inside.

The pain is so bad I can't go on living.

Jiang Yue felt as if her heart had been punched hard.

I feel so stuffy.

Although she had never been to school and didn't understand those grand principles.

But she was also an orphan.

That feeling of waking up in the middle of the night, not knowing who you are, and not knowing where you will be tomorrow.

She understands.

She just used to using her fists, cursing, and stealing to cover up her true feelings.

She lived her life like a hedgehog.

As long as you prick someone, you won't feel pain yourself.

But Xu Qing is an easy target.

He has no thorns.

He had to bear all the pain himself.

Jiang Yue's nose felt a little sore.

She looked at Xu Qing's gesture of pressing his hand to his chest.

This is a new move.

It wasn't in that rudimentary "mute language" textbook.

But Jiang Yue understood.

This is "sadness".

It's the kind of heartbreak that's deadly.

"Alright."

Jiang Yue's voice suddenly lowered.

Dull and hoarse.

She didn't care if anyone was watching.

They didn't care whether the ground was dirty or not.

Jiang Yue plopped down on the ground.

She stretched out her large hands, which were covered in mud, from the cabbages she had just moved.

He pulled Xu Qing into his arms.

Very hard.

The tightness was so great that Xu Qing's bones cracked slightly.

"Don't cry."

"It looks awful."

As Jiang Yue cursed, she wrapped Xu Qing in her tattered cotton-padded coat.

It smells like rotten cabbage.

Are you going to smear your snot all over me?

Xu Qing buried her head in Jiang Yue's shoulder.

It's not soft there either.

The bones are rock hard.

The clothes were stiff and unresponsive.

But that familiar heat has returned.

And there's that special scent on Jiang Yue.

It smelled of sweat, earth, and a vibrant, life-giving scent.

The smell of burnt smoke was kept out.

Xu Qing's trembling gradually stopped.

He was still very upset.

The hole in my heart can't be filled.

But at least.

There's something blocking the doorway now, preventing the cold wind from blowing in.

Jiang Yue patted his back.

a bit.

a bit.

There's no sense of rhythm.

It was quite powerful.

The filming almost made Xu Qing cough.

"Why."

Jiang Yue sighed.

She looked up at the gray sky above the orphanage.

And those crows that landed on the wall.

"This lousy place."

"This place is not fit for a human being."

"One day I will take you away from here."