Chapter 16: Is It Okay?
Yifu originally thought the little one would hesitate, or perhaps even subconsciously refuse, after all, in her heart, that mother who left her early must hold a very important position, right?
So Yifu dared not look at her expression, just pretending to casually survey the surroundings.
But she knew very well that her eyes couldn’t really focus; all she was thinking about was this little one beside her.
After waiting for a while, Yifu didn’t hear a response from her. When she slowly turned to look at her, she saw the big eyes brimming with tears were already full of brightness.
Before Yifu could speak, she cautiously asked, “Is it okay?”
This sentence carried a slight tremor, with some fragility and a hint of hope for the future, making Yifu’s heart tremble.
“Of course it’s okay! Do you want to?”
“I want to! I want to… Mom.”
Once Leia confirmed that what Yifu said was real, she couldn’t help but break into a smile, a smile that couldn’t be hidden.
Maybe due to nervousness, she appeared slightly awkward, as if she didn’t know where to place her hands and feet.
“Alright, then let’s go. It’s getting late; let’s go home.”
“Mm!”
Leia didn’t know where Yifu’s so-called home was, but she knew Yifu was by her side, and as long as Yifu was there, anywhere could be home.
Leia followed in Yifu’s footsteps, one hand holding the basket of bread and snacks, carefully cradling the recommendation letter in her arms, while deliberately raising one hand, somewhat awkwardly, beside her.
She wanted to hold Yifu’s hand, but she felt hesitant to do so.
Just when she was in a dilemma, Yifu gently took her small hand. The warm feeling in Yifu’s palm made Leia’s lips unconsciously lift into a smile.
Against the gradually setting sun, the two of them cast long shadows, a moment Leia might never forget in her entire life.
“So, Mom, what were you worried about just now?”
“Nothing, just thinking… if it were you, what would you say in the speech as the Outstanding Graduate Representative?”
Yifu smiled; she didn’t tell Leia about the worries in her heart.
To be honest, it wouldn’t be a big deal if Leia didn’t receive the Outstanding Graduate title; they could always work together to repay the student loans.
This money had to be repaid; they couldn’t just move away from this empire to escape the loan.
It wasn’t that Yifu had deep feelings for this empire, nor was she still acting like a lapdog to the church or anything…
It was because the amount of loans the church granted to impoverished students was limited; if someone didn’t repay, then future students in need would have no loans to use.
This loan was originally established by Yifu to help more children like Leia.
The church’s student loan program was one of the few humane actions that the church had, so Yifu didn’t want to ruin it.
“For me… I probably won’t be able to become the Outstanding Graduate Representative, right?”
Leia lowered her head and said softly, but it was clear that she felt somewhat unwilling.
She certainly knew who controlled the spots for Outstanding Graduate and understood the significance of being the Outstanding Graduate Representative.
She also knew how deserving she was of this title…
“So if, I mean, if… if I become the Outstanding Graduate Representative, would you come to my graduation ceremony?”
Leia’s gaze carried a hint of shyness.
“Because I want to prove to those who bullied me that I am not the wild child they say, I am the child loved by a mother.”
And my mom, she is the gentlest and kindest mom in the world!
