Chapter 5 — My Patron Is a Chatterbox

The first to step out of the lead car was Shen Chi Yi. She held a plane ticket high in the air, waving it at me. I rolled down my window. "Baby To To, how could you think of going on a trip without bringing your sister along?" The destination printed on the ticket in her hand was identical to the one I had chosen for myself. "Get out of the car, I will drive you to the airport." Ever since I had known Shen Chi Yi, she had been inseparable from me. Every few days, she would drag me out for a shopping spree. She would lead me to amusement parks, forcing me to eat ice cream in the freezing cold. In short, whenever there was something interesting, she insisted that I be by her side. And I, for my part, never found the heart to refuse her. So, I stepped out of the car.

The woman who stepped out of the second car was a middle-aged lady, possessing a refined and dignified air. Shen Chi Yi took my hand, greeting her with a bright smile: "Aunt Xu, Baby To To is out now, the rest is up to you." Immediately after, she pulled me into a hug, her expression apologetic: "Baby To To, I was more or less forced into this." She gestured toward the woman. "Let me introduce you, this is the mother of Xu Yao Yang—Aunt Xu."

In truth, I did not need an introduction. I had never forgotten the people who had shown me genuine kindness. I remembered the distinct scar on Xu Yao Yang’s left thumb. I noted the small, triangular mole positioned exactly two centimeters beneath the outer corner of Aunt Xu’s left eye. And as for Shen Chi Yi, I recalled how she always unconsciously lowered her pitch by half a tone at the end of every sentence.

"To To, could we speak for a moment?" Xu Meng Li took my hands, her voice sincere. I nodded. Xu Meng Li led me to the back of the car and opened the trunk. "After Yang found you, he told me he was afraid that surprising you by bringing you to meet the family so suddenly would overwhelm you or cause you undue pressure. So, I have been holding onto all these things I intended to give you."

She handed me a stack of property deeds, car keys, and a collection of exquisite jewelry. "These are the welcome gifts I wanted to present to you." She paused, her voice softening. "Even though I truly hope for you to become my daughter-in-law, if that were not to be, I would be just as happy to have you as my daughter. I have wished for a daughter like you for a very long time. To To, you are the sweetest girl I have ever met. You deserve everything beautiful in this world."

How could I not understand? Xu Meng Li wanted to wash away the anxieties buried deep within my heart. She saw right through my insecurities, yet in her eyes, I saw only love. In all my life, I had never been complimented or cherished in such a way. It was not until I reconnected with Xu Yao Yang that I realized: when you are with someone who is inherently good, the entire world around you begins to transform. They magnify your strengths. They gently whisper that you are wonderful, that you are worthy of the best life has to offer.

I didn't notice when Xu Yao Yang, who had stepped out of the third car, had made his way to my side. He knelt on one knee, holding a ring box in his hand. He asked me with profound seriousness: "To To, will you marry me?"

This time, I did not hesitate. "I will."

Xu Yao Yang was overcome with emotion as he lifted me off the ground. "To To, you have finally opened your heart again. Please, say my name. Tell me that you love me."

I glanced shyly at the two women standing nearby. They were tactful, quietly stepping back to give us space. Before leaving, Shen Chi Yi waved the plane ticket one last time, teasing, "Sister-in-law, I don't care, you owe me this trip! You have to make it up to me next time."

I bit my lip, smiling faintly. "I promise."

Xu Yao Yang did not seem surprised that I could speak. "So, you knew all along?"

He nodded, his gaze unwavering. "First, say my name."

"Xu Yao Yang."

"Good. And what else?"

"I love you."

After my grandmother passed away, I had locked myself in my room, sobbing through the night. I had whispered countless things into the darkness: "Grandma, please don't leave me. I have no family left now. Grandma, I will find a way to avenge you." Afterward, I gradually began to heal, yet I dared not speak to Xu Yao Yang. I felt I had failed his genuine devotion, so I chose the silence of avoidance.

Once the initial joy settled, Xu Yao Yang’s expression turned stern, feigning anger. "From now on, you are forbidden from leaving me. I have known for a long time that you recognized me. You don’t need to feel guilty for 'using' me. You are currently the lead designer of the Xu Corporation; if you were to quit, I would be the one at a loss. It seems I didn't punish you enough last night, since you had the energy to run away today. I’ll have to make sure to discipline you well tonight."

Tears streamed down my face, soaking my skin. Xu Yao Yang panicked, hurriedly wiping them away before speaking with earnest gravity: "My dear, you are not using me; I am doing this willingly. Besides, from now on, you will have family—a great deal of it."

My life had been filled with so much suffering. I hadn't wanted to burden others, so I had retreated again and again. Fortunately, I finally met someone as radiant as the sun—a person willing to pull me from the dark abyss. It turns out that not only pain is contagious, but happiness is as well.

Xu Yao Yang and I were married shortly thereafter, and before long, I gave birth to twins. Our son inherited my tendency to be talkative and prone to laughter, while our daughter mirrored the quiet, stoic nature Xu Yao Yang possessed in his youth. We named our daughter Xiao Xiao and our son Lac Lac, hoping that they would always be happy, their faces forever bright with joy.

After we were married, I stumbled upon one of Xu Yao Yang’s old journals.

March 7, 2025: Today is a beautiful day. The girl I have been searching for for over a decade finally came to my company to apply for a job. I recognized her the moment I saw her. However, in her resume, she noted that she suffered from aphasia. It took my assistant only thirty minutes to find out everything she had endured over the years. The little girl who used to chat and laugh all day has turned into a little bitter gourd. It’s okay. This time, I will be her little sun.

March 10, 2025: To To still hasn’t recognized me. I’ve noticed she seems afraid of the dark. I came up with a plan: I’m moving into her room. I also gave her a raise. I really am quite clever.

March 14, 2025: I didn’t actually mean to act like a chatterbox, but when I stand before the one I love, the urge to share every little thing becomes overwhelming. But To To remains unmoved. Today, I wanted to kiss her so badly that I recklessly acted the rogue. To my surprise, she blurted out a "No."

March 20, 2025: The doctor says To To’s condition requires a strong emotional stimulus to improve. I’ve been researching methods online. Some are too harsh, and I’m afraid of losing control of the situation. It’s alright; I have my whole life to be by her side.

July 20, 2025: Grandmother passed away, and To To’s irresponsible parents have found her again. For To To to fully recover, she must confront the shadows in her heart. So, I intentionally leaked my own information to those two pieces of scum.

July 25, 2025: Joyous news—To To finally wants to take revenge on those two. It seems my To To is capable of handling them on her own. I only need to stand quietly behind her as her support. P.S. I think To To can speak now, but she refuses to open her mouth to me. Why is that? Surely it is because I have not done well enough yet.

January 7, 2026: I proposed to To To. She agreed without a second of hesitation! The light of my youth has finally become the light of my future. To To, do you know? Back then, I didn't have a father, and my mother was always busy working. You were the one who chattered in my ear all day long, giving me the desire to speak. It turns out the human voice can be so beautiful. It turns out there are so many interesting things in this world worth sharing. In your stories, even the stray dog downstairs became adorable. Because of you, my world finally has color. My wife, I am so lucky it is you. I love you.