Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?-Chapter 1192 - 1188: Xiao Ya’s Courage

It’s often said that couples argue at the head of the bed but reconcile at the foot; the squabbles and scuffles between kids are not much different.

Just half an hour ago, the living room was filled with the screams and cries of two little ones.

Dou Dou, red-faced with anger, was chasing Tang Tang around with a toy for three laps, insisting on pulling her pigtails for revenge.

Tang Tang was not willing to be outdone, hiding behind the sofa, puffing up her cheeks and blowing at Dou Dou’s hair, while fiercely yet cutely yelling "han~hou~", until both little ones rolled onto the carpet, one pulling at the other’s clothes, the other tugging at the other’s apron, crying loudly, neither willing to back down first.

But now, the living room has long lost any signs of gunpowder, leaving only carefree laughter.

Dou Dou somehow found a long rainbow braided rope, tying one end tightly around her waist in a crooked bow, while the other end was tied around Tang Tang’s waist, and the two little ones started their little train amid the living room.

"Woo~ clank, clank, the little train is departing..."

Dou Dou stood at the front as the locomotive, her small hands atop her head making horns, trotting forward with little steps, imitating the sound of a train whistle from her mouth, like a little engine full of energy.

Tang Tang followed behind as the carriage, pulled along by the rope, her little legs scrambling swiftly, her round face wearing a broad smile that was about to become stiff, her mouth stretching almost to her ears, while she echoed Dou Dou’s rhythm, awkwardly chanting: "han~han~ clank~"

The two little ones ran circles around the coffee table and sofa, sometimes whistling "woo" to pretend the train was passing a tunnel, bending together to crawl beneath the coffee table.

Then suddenly they stopped, shouting "the station!" and jumping in unison before continuing their run.

When running, the rope stretched taut, their steps stumbling yet neither called to stop, laughing even more gleefully.

While running, Tang Tang slipped slightly, nearly falling on the carpet, causing Dou Dou ahead to promptly halt, turning to help her up like a little adult, patting the fluff stuck to her clothes, frowning and saying, "Run slower, the train is about to derail."

Tang Tang blinked her big round eyes, grabbed Dou Dou’s clothes gently, softly uttering "Oh", obediently nodding her head.

As Dou Dou turned back around to lead as the locomotive, Tang Tang promptly smiled again, the previous grievances and conflicts already cast far behind her.

Xiao Ya sat on a nearby chair, her small hands clasped together on her knees, eyes unwaveringly fixed on the two little companions running circles, her eyes full of unmistakable envy.

Her small body leaned slightly forward, fingers unconsciously picking at the sofa fabric patterns, her toes curling lightly inside her shoes, several times intending to stand and join, but each time her bottom would shyly settle back onto the sofa, lips pursing repeatedly, too timid to speak.

She wished to join the little train, to run and laugh with them, yet the shyness in her heart was like a small rope, firmly tying her to the sofa.

"It’s okay, you can just go ask Dou Dou directly and have her include you to play together."

Taozi sat on a nearby single sofa, long having perceived Xiao Ya’s thoughts, gently nudging her back forward.

Xiao Ya swayed slightly, her steps staggering a little, barely managing to stand steady.

She turned to look at Taozi, then at Dou Dou and Tang Tang running past her side, her little mouth opening, but the words "Can I play with you?" remained unsaid.

As Dou Dou and Tang Tang ran off laughing, Xiao Ya sulkily retreated again, her small shoulders slumping, lowering her head, staring at her shoe tips, the light in her eyes dimmed a bit.

Taozi watched beside her, eager to enthusiastically shout out for Xiao Ya herself.

She stood to go help Xiao Ya speak to Dou Dou but had just stepped forward when Ruan Hongzhuang gently pulled her arm.

"Don’t go."

Ruan Hongzhuang shook her head, her voice kept low, so only the two of them could hear,

"Let her try on her own, for only when she takes this first step will she dare to take countless ones later on; we cannot help her forever, saying and doing everything for her..."

Taozi hesitated for a moment, glanced at the head-lowered Xiao Ya, and pondered on Ruan Hongzhuang’s words, thoughtfully nodding, she returned to sitting on the sofa, silent again, merely her gaze remaining on Xiao Ya with encouragement.

Ruan Hongzhuang, seeing this, leaned forward slightly, looking at Xiao Ya in front of her, softly saying, "Xiao Ya, I know you are a brave little child; before we met you, you took care of yourself so well, so I believe you absolutely have the courage to speak..."

Xiao Ya lifted her head, looking at Ruan Hongzhuang, her eyes a bit surprised and somewhat at a loss.

Ruan Hongzhuang looked into her eyes, continuing to speak softly.

How could she forget when she first met Xiao Ya?

Back then, Xiao Ya was so thin, merely bones, dressed in ill-fitting old clothes, her face dirty yet her eyes shining brightly.

In that remote village, she went hungry, never having anyone properly care for her, yet stubbornly she endured, not letting herself starve.

She was never this timid then.

When a household cooked meal filled the air with aroma, she dared to crouch at their door, wide-eyed, even if chased away, would simply wait at another, her survival instinct overpowering any inner fears and cowardice.

And precisely this courage engrained in her bones let her, upon meeting them, raise her face to strangers and utter, "Will you raise me? I’m very well-behaved and easy to care for."

Now she does not worry about food or clothing, has a warm house, has caring people, no longer needing to show deference for a meal, yet her inner inferiority hides that courage away.

But Ruan Hongzhuang always believed that courage had never disappeared, only temporarily covered.

Xiao Ya listened to Ruan Hongzhuang’s words, her small body trembling slightly, her hands at her sides began slowly clenching into fists.

She recalled past times, days of daring to knock at doors for food, daring to voice her thoughts to strangers; she was fearless back then.

She took a deep breath, raising her head, her eyes firmly fixed on Dou Dou and Tang Tang running toward her, her small chest rising slightly, as though she were encouraging herself.

As Dou Dou held Tang Tang’s hand, once again running past her with laughter, Xiao Ya finally summoned all her courage, taking a step forward, arms outstretching, intercepting them.

Her body still trembling somewhat, her voice thin with barely noticeable tension, yet she spoke clearly: "C-can I play with you?"

The living room quieted momentarily.

Dou Dou halted, tilting her head to look at Xiao Ya, then at the rope behind her, without the slightest hesitation, grinning widely, immediately agreeing: "Sure, then our little train will be longer."

Xiao Ya froze where she stood, her eyes suddenly brightening, the heart she’d held up instantly settled, her face breaking into a large, sweet smile.

Ruan Hongzhuang seeing this exchanged a glance with Taozi, hinting for her to go help.

"You’re so good at bossing me around." Taozi pouted, complaining with her lips, yet her body truthfully rose quickly to her feet and strode over.

She untied the end of Tang Tang’s rope, and drew Xiao Ya closer, gently tying the rope around her waist, carefully adjusting the slack, knotting it as slip-knot so it wouldn’t squeeze the little one.

"All right, now the little train has three carriages~" Dou Dou excitedly shouted, standing once more at the front, "The locomotive is departing, woo... clank, clank..."

This time the little train was even livelier than before.

Dou Dou shouted the slogan, Tang Tang giggled in the middle, Xiao Ya following at the end, her pigtails bouncing as she ran, her smile never fading from her face.