Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

She brought her daughter into the room, took a wet towel from the bathroom, and wiped the girl’s feet gently. Rainy knitted her eyebrows in discomfort as she felt someone touched her feet.

Her knitted eyebrows and pursed lips truly resembled someone. Xia Ruoxin could not deny the blood relationship which seemed so magical. Rainy’s father might not know of her existence, and she had never seen her biological father. However, her temperament, habits, and even mannerisms at times were a shadow of that man’s.

Gao Yi was still sitting on the sofa with a stack of things when Xia Ruoxin came out of Rainy’s room. She tidied up her hair and tucked them behind her ears.

“Ruoxin, come over here and sit.” Gao Yi knew she was coming. He pointed to the space beside him without looking up. His attention was solely on the few paintings on his lap.

Xia Ruoxin walked over to him and sat down with both her hands resting on her lap. Her actions reflected her good upbringing.

She had stayed at the Xia household for over a decade, but she had not learned anything. However, she had no lack of good manners. After all, Xia Mingzheng had maintained a good facade, and Shen Yijun had ensured that the tool she had used to gain access into the Xia family had not been under any bad influence. Whatever Xia Ruoxin had to learn, she did so; and anything that she needed to pay attention to, she understood, too. Take her posture for example. She had not forgotten this throughout all these years of poverty.

Perhaps, it might also have become a habit or an instinct.

“Ruoxin, do you like to paint?”

Gao Yi organized the pieces of paintings on his lap. He closed them together and put them aside. His actions were gentle, unlike others who were in the habit of leaving their things everywhere. This showed that he was an extremely detailed man who respected both others and himself.

“Mmm, I like it.” Xia Ruoxin had not hidden her hobby. “I have loved it ever since I was young. I don’t recall much, but it seemed that my biological father loved to paint, too. Back then, he would hold my hand and teach me how to paint. I can’t really remember his looks. However, I can still recall this piece in my memory. This might as well be the love that my father has bestowed on me.

“In the end...” Her voice became slower and softer. One could easily hear the mockery in it. “After my mother married into the Xia family with me in tow, she took away my only hobby. However, I knew that it was the price to pay for joining the Xia household. My mother had to pay, and so did I. To put it plainly, who would treat a complete stranger well for no apparent reason?”

She had thought of it with an open mind—without hatred or anger, only some regrets.

“I see.” Gao Yi hugged his arms around his chest. Then, he reached out and placed his fingers on her forehead and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“Since you have the interest, might as well go and take some classes. It’s not such a bad thing being an art teacher.”

“Me?” Xia Ruoxin pointed at herself. She felt that Gao Yi always thought too highly of her. Besides, she had not majored in painting. Instead, she had learned how to play the piano. Compared to the music that Xia Yixuan had played, hers sounded like noise. She did not have much affinity in music, partly because she had no interest in it. What good was learning music? She didn’t even have the skills to earn a living. That’s why she and Rainy had to live in poverty all these years.

“No.” She shook her head. Gao Yi’s suggestion was good; however, she was not good enough. She was more worried about hampering the students’ progress.

“It’ll be fine.” Again, Gao Yi took the paintings done by Xia Ruoxin. His smile had been affectionate as though it had been basking under the warm sun, soundlessly and smooth.

“This business about painting actually needs talent. You are not bad at it. You should go to school and study. A big school may not be possible, but a small class will be sufficient. There are many small-scaled painting classes locally, and their foundation requirements are not high, but what you need is to understand. Your paintings, in this respect, must fit the requirements.”

When Xia Ruoxin wanted to say something, Gao Yi proceeded to interrupt her and dispel her doubts. “This can be considered as your dream. Don’t you want to fulfill it?”

“Of course.” Xia Ruoxin had many dreams. However, all these years of hardships had put them to a stop. Now, all she wanted to do was to find a nice-paying job with her own income. Gao Yi had been paying for all the expenses, and she felt bad. Even though he always said he didn’t mind, she still felt sorry.

She bit her lip. Needless to say, Gao Yi’s suggestion had indeed moved her. Moreover, the condition of one of her hands had made it tough for her to find a suitable job. She couldn’t possibly go back to work as a mover because that kind of work was not meant for a woman. The money wasn’t that great, too.

If she could really learn to paint, she could conduct small painting classes for children once she had graduated. She knew that there were numerous classes like that, and they had been doing well.

If only she could do that, it would be great.

“Okay, let’s stop thinking about it.” Gao Yi got up. He came in front of Xia Ruoxin and squatted to look her in the eyes. “Ruoxin, you can trust me. I’m not a stranger to you.”

“I...” Xia Ruoxin opened her mouth. She felt stupid, not knowing what to say.

She had already owed him so much. How was she going to repay him? She had spent over a decade to repay the Xia family and used half her life to repay Chu Lui. However, she had owed Gao Yi so much more. How was she going to repay him?

“What were you thinking?” Gao Yi suddenly moved closer. His nose was almost touching her face. He was so close that she could count the number of eyelashes and see her own reflections with her naturally curved lips in his eyes.

I see you with my eyes, but what do you see with yours?

She was stunned and embarrassed. She knew what he wanted, but she refused to give him an answer. Her evasion caused the light in Gao Yi’s eyes to dim slightly. Then, he got closer as though nothing had happened.

“Ruoxin, what is it that’s truly on your mind?” he asked again.

“I was thinking...” Xia Ruoxin lowered her eyes. When she looked up again, her eyes met Gao Yi’s with such simplicity. “I was thinking... I already owed you so much. How am I to repay you? I have repaid the others; the ones that I owed and those that I don’t. I could repay them all. However, I still owe you so much that they have piled up.”

“You can use a lifetime to repay me.” Gao Yi reached out and embraced her. Then, he pressed her head gently onto his shoulders. This was a little piece of heaven for Rainy and for her.