At some point, Li Jichuan’s world went eerily quiet.
So this was why Su Pu had ended up like that—
because of him.
Because he wanted to protect him. Because he cared about him.
In truth, that day, after the group of punks had tipped his wheelchair over, he’d managed to haul himself back up using his own strength.
He’d gotten back into the chair, then thoroughly dealt with those guys, earning a round of cheers from the people waiting in line nearby.
The mall manager rushed over to restore order, recognized who he was, escorted him into the VIP lounge, and even gave him a teddy bear.
The manager also promised that both he personally and the mall would severely punish the troublemaking youths.
Li Jichuan hadn’t been seriously hurt. The only injury was a small scrape on the side of his left hand from bracing himself when he fell.
Thinking it was nothing worth mentioning, he hadn’t told Su Pu during their video call that night—he didn’t want him worrying for no reason.
But it was precisely in that moment of self-assured silence that the disaster took root.
If only he’d said one more sentence. Just one.
Then Su Pu wouldn’t have spiraled into emotional collapse out of worry for him, trying to stand up for him…
His fists clenched tight. But the person standing across from him was a woman—his aunt. How could he raise a fist against someone like that?
And yet, what did “family” even mean?
A license to do whatever they wanted without consequence?
Because they were family, they could humiliate without restraint, belittle without limits, hurt with self-righteous ease, and turn a blind eye afterward—was that how it worked?
Nowhere to direct his rage, he could only slam his fists helplessly against the armrests of his wheelchair, against his own legs…
In that moment, Li Jichuan finally understood why Su Pu had broken down.
Otherwise, where were all those emotions supposed to go? How were they meant to be released?
Could he hit a woman? Hit his aunt?
Weren’t they “family”?
Li Jichuan roared in despair, “What gives you the right—what gives you the right to treat him like that?!”
Li Shuwen looked at him strangely. “You’re serious about this? Wasn’t he married to you as a substitute for his little brother? Now that your dad’s gone, isn’t it about time to toss him aside?”
She peeled off her fake eyelashes. “Anyway, someone like him was loose to begin with…”
His emotions hit a breaking point. Li Jichuan grabbed the tissue box off the coffee table, lifted it, and swung it toward his aunt.
But his arm froze midair, unable to come down.
“Heh.” Li Shuwen frowned and theatrically rubbed her arms. “Xiaochuan, are you going to hit your aunt?”
“Auntie’s so scared.”
After saying that, she chuckled lightly and ascended the stairs, heading back to the second floor to continue her skincare routine.
After a long while, Li Jichuan let the tissue box drop from his hand.
It hit the floor with a dull thud.
The blood tie between them—what little “family bond” there had been—snapped completely.
He would grit his teeth and fight this battle to the end.
He would emerge cloaked in victory and mete out the punishment Li Shuwen truly deserved.
And yet, even so, his chest still felt unbearably tight.
Su Pu had been hurt, and he couldn’t retaliate.
That helpless pain stabbed straight through Li Jichuan’s heart. Thinking of Su Pu’s breakdown, he stayed in the living room for a long, long time.
A very long time.
…
Su Pu slept for a full day and night.
When he woke up, he was still clutching the teddy bear, refusing to let go.
His eyes were dull, as if he were seeing the world for the very first time—confused, with fear mixed in.
Only the teddy bear brought him any sense of peace.
Li Jichuan stayed by his side the entire time, never leaving. Halfway through, Uncle Wang brought food over. The moment he saw the two of them like this, his eyes immediately reddened.
“Time to eat…” the old man said, his voice low and hoarse.
“Mhm.” Li Jichuan nodded, setting up the small table for Su Pu.
Meanwhile, the little mute stared at Uncle Wang with clear wariness…
It was as if Su Pu had forgotten everyone.
The people who’d been good to him, the ones who hadn’t, those who made him happy or sad—he’d forgotten them all.
Now, Su Pu lived only in his own world. In that world, there was just himself and the plush teddy bear.
Uncle Wang finished setting out the food, then glanced again at the toy in Su Pu’s arms.
“Xiaochuan, didn’t you have this toy when you were little too?”
He reminisced. “Back then, you loved it so much—you even had to hold it while you slept.”
Li Jichuan’s mind went blank. Maybe he had liked it once, but his childhood and teenage years had been crammed full of endless schoolwork.
He couldn’t remember ever having a teddy bear like that.
“Did I lose it?” he asked.
Uncle Wang thought for a moment. “Probably not. You were always careful as a kid—no way you’d lose a toy without knowing. Oh—right. You might’ve given it away.”
He nodded, then remembered something else. “Yes, that’s right—you gave it away. You and your parents once rescued a little boy and took him to the hospital. You left the teddy bear with him.”
“The driver remembers it too,” Uncle Wang added. “He mentioned it once during some small talk before—didn’t expect it to line up like this.”
Li Jichuan’s scalp prickled. Right now, all his attention was on Su Pu; he had no energy left to dig into the past.
Whatever had happened before was already over. What mattered was moving forward.
He scooped up a spoonful of steamed egg custard and brought it to Su Pu’s lips.
“Xiao Pu, eat a little, okay…?”
But Su Pu acted as if he hadn’t heard him at all, hugging the teddy bear and curling deeper under the blanket.
Watching this, Uncle Wang couldn’t help but ache for him.
He reached out, wanting to touch Su Pu’s forehead, but Su Pu dodged away in alarm.
Uncle Wang froze, then hesitantly looked at Li Jichuan.
“Xiao Pu… what’s wrong with him?”
He’d only heard that Xiao Pu was in a bad mood—he hadn’t imagined it would be this serious. Xiao Pu didn’t recognize anyone anymore.
Li Jichuan, however, looked calm, as if he’d already accepted everything.
“Uncle Wang, I’ve been thinking these past few days… forgetting might actually be a good thing.”
Uncle Wang stared at him. “Xiaochuan…”
Li Jichuan curved his lips faintly and patiently took Su Pu’s hand again—only to have it flung away without mercy.
Used to it by now, he scooped up another spoonful of egg custard and held it to Su Pu’s mouth.
“It’s good. Try a bite…”
After a long ten-plus seconds, Su Pu finally reacted. He opened his mouth and swallowed that spoonful.
Li Jichuan was instantly satisfied. He scooped up some vegetables and offered them next.
His eyes stayed fixed on Su Pu, but he spoke to Uncle Wang.
“Forgetting is fine. Forgetting everything is fine…”
“It’s perfect, actually. I can raise Xiao Pu all over again.”
“This time, I’ll give him happy memories. I’ll make it so that when he looks back someday, his mind is full of nothing but happiness.”
Xiao Pu only needs to be happy.
This time, I’ll be the one to take care of him.
I’ll be the one to take his hand and pull him out into the sunlight—
to let him stand there openly, clearly, for a while.