Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 99: It Turns Out She Couldn’t Say What She Wanted to Say
In the video,
Xiao Xi and Xiao Shu went outside for some fresh air.
Bai Han whispered to Zhou Gu, "But after that accident, she started making those strange paper rabbits."
Zhou Gu: "Paper rabbits?"
Bai Han: "That’s right, rabbits folded from paper."
Zhou Gu laughed. "Haha, I often fold paper rabbits for my daughter. What’s so strange about that?"
Bai Han shook his head. "I don’t think it’s the same thing."
With that, he sighed. "She does nothing but fold rabbits. Just folding, day after day."
"...It’s no exaggeration to say our house is completely filled with them."
Zhou Gu: "Didn’t Xiao Shu tell you this is a typical part of Xiao Xi’s daily routine?"
Bai Han: "It’s different. Whenever she folds the rabbits, her gaze becomes so deep... as if she’s trying to pry some information out of me."
"And the strange thing is... in response, I always feel like I owe her something."
...
Seeing this, Li Xu grew more and more curious about Bai Han and Xiao Xi’s story.
Even if it wasn’t for the sake of the cure, he wanted to keep investigating.
He took out an even earlier videotape.
After playing it, the screen showed Bai Han and Xiao Xi arriving in front of the lookout tower.
Xiao Xi asked, "Why was this lookout tower abandoned?"
Bai Han said, "Perhaps it’s just not needed anymore."
Xiao Xi was lost in thought. "’Not needed anymore...’"
Bai Han said, "Technology is getting more and more advanced. You don’t need primitive methods like this for forest fire prevention anymore."
At this point, Bai Han’s face lit up with a vision of the future. "Our lives are stable now. If we pinch our pennies for a few more years, it won’t be long before we have enough saved up to build a house here."
Xiao Xi was also very happy. "We’ll be able to see her from the house’s windows."
"Whether it’s morning or night, we can always be by her side."
"And... we can come for a walk whenever we want."
"Bai Han, she’ll never be lonely again."
"Because I’ll come visit her every day."
After saying this, Xiao Xi happily hugged Bai Han.
...
"I get it now."
Li Xu said suddenly, "Before, in the video, we heard Bai Han mention ’Xiao An.’ Xiao An isn’t a person or a pet—it’s this lookout tower."
"That’s right."
Song Sisi understood as well. "The lookout tower is Xiao An. It holds a special meaning for them."
Li Xu recalled the previous video clips he had watched.
In one of them, Bai Han had said, "Even though I may never understand, I will be faithful to your wish."
"Xiao An must be... grateful to you too."
Because Xiao Xi was buried at the foot of the lookout tower, she could stay with Xiao An forever.
Bai Han had also said, "But... after I leave this world, who will come and take care of us? Perhaps I should adopt a son or a daughter."
Song Sisi couldn’t hide the curiosity in her eyes. "What exactly does the lookout tower mean to Xiao Xi? Why did she always want to be with it?"
Li Xu didn’t know either.
’The answer to that question is probably in an earlier video.’
Li Xu played a new video.
As he continued to play them, the timeline moved further and further back.
They gradually began to see Bai Han and Xiao Xi in their middle-aged years.
A new video.
Xiao Xi was folding a rabbit.
Bai Han was clearly a bit confused.
Xiao Xi said, "Do you see this rabbit I folded? Describe it for me."
Bai Han: "Uh... It seems to be yellow."
Xiao Xi: "What else?"
Bai Han: "It’s a little chubby."
Xiao Xi: "What else?"
Bai Han: "...Alright, it’s just an ordinary paper rabbit. I don’t know how else to describe it."
Seeing this scene, Li Xu felt a sense of familiarity.
Thinking back, he had seen a similar conversation in one of the previous videotapes.
Xiao Xi kept pressing Bai Han about the rabbit.
Bai Han didn’t understand what Xiao Xi meant.
Moreover, in this video, Li Xu once again saw the platypus toy next to Xiao Xi.
"Let’s continue."
Li Xu took out an even earlier videotape.
In the video, Bai Han and Xiao Xi were discussing something.
Xiao Xi: "Is this the reason you got close to me?"
From this, it was clear that they had been talking about things from the past right before this.
Xiao Xi took out a sandbag and had Bai Han throw it at the lookout tower.
Then, Xiao Xi sat sullenly on a rock by herself.
Next to the rock was an old backpack.
This video clip was very short.
Though it was short, Li Xu had a hunch that the truth was about to be revealed.
...
An even earlier video.
Bai Han was telling Zhou Gu and Xiao Shu about Xiao Xi’s illness.
Through their conversation, Li Xu understood that Xiao Xi had a condition called Asperger’s syndrome.
To put it simply, it’s a social communication disorder.
The main characteristic of this condition is the inability to express one’s inner thoughts, to say what one truly wants to say.
And Xiao Shu had the same condition.
However, Xiao Shu worked hard to disguise it, allowing her to interact with everyone.
In reality, she was also tormented by this condition internally.
Xiao Shu gave a bitter smile. "...You know? While I pity Xiao Xi, I also envy her."
"I... I am forever an actor."
"Because I must play my part for my entire life."
"From the moment I step on stage to after the curtain falls..."
"Every minute, every second."
"I’ve gradually become good at it because it’s my only choice."
"It’s the only way for me to become ’normal’."
"But Xiao Xi is different..."
"She has always been like someone cast out and abandoned by society, and she refuses to learn how to compromise or shy away from it."
"I don’t know if the difference between us stems from different choices and abilities, or if it’s a true reflection of our own courage or cowardice."
"Sometimes, I hate this phony version of myself too, but it’s too late. I haven’t been ’me’ for a long time."
"But Xiao Xi is, and always will be, Xiao Xi."
...
At this point, Li Xu and Song Sisi both fell silent.
They hadn’t expected that Xiao Xi had suffered from a social communication disorder since childhood.
No wonder they had always lived in this remote mountain area.
And no wonder Xiao Xi kept pressing Bai Han with the paper rabbits; she must have been trying to say something.
And it must have been something very important.
But because of her social communication disorder, she couldn’t express her inner thoughts.
That’s why she was so anxious.
Bai Han knew this too.
He even knew that he must have forgotten something.
Which was why Xiao Xi kept asking him.
But, what had he forgotten? And what was Xiao Xi trying to say?
"Boss, Xiao Xi is so pitiful."
Song Sisi couldn’t hold back anymore, and tears streamed down her face.
Li Xu felt a sting in his nose. His heart ached as well.
He looked at the remaining videotapes.
Some were already very old.
But there weren’t many left.
"Soon... We’ll know the reason soon..."
Song Sisi wiped away her tears. "Will we be able to find the reason?"
Li Xu shook his head. "Who knows?"
...
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