CHAPTER 487: CHAPTER 487: SORRY, MOM

Whenever Bai Yulan thinks of her deceased daughter, she is overwhelmed with grief.

Even though more than ten years have passed, she still hasn’t recovered from the pain of losing her daughter.

Bai Yulan is a dance teacher, who divorced early and lived alone with her daughter.

However, her ex-husband was still very good to her and gave her a significant sum of money during the divorce.

Money is a good thing; with it, she and her daughter could live the rest of their lives worry-free about food and clothing.

But money is also a bad thing; because of it, she and her husband eventually divorced.

In the beginning, their relationship was quite good; her husband was a worker at a machinery factory. Marrying the beautiful and talented Bai Yulan was considered reaching high.

So after marriage, her husband pampered her, taking care of the laundry and cooking, allowing Bai Yulan to live without having to lift a finger.

Later, her husband was laid off and had to carve his own path. It seemed like a dead-end, but unexpectedly, he seized an opportunity and soared to success, quickly becoming a well-known local millionaire.

However, due to his career, they spent less time together and eventually divorced for various reasons.

Feeling guilty, her husband left her and their child with a substantial fortune, including the villa that he gave her.

But because of money, her daughter was kidnapped and held for a ransom of eighty thousand.

Even after paying, the kidnappers killed her daughter, and since then, she never recovered, living like a walking corpse.

Her husband sought reconciliation, suggesting they could have another child, but would that still be her Xiao Bao?

Ultimately, she didn’t agree. Later, her husband remarried and had two children. She saw them from a distance; they were cute, but she felt her Xiao Bao was still the cutest.

Over the years, she kept searching for the murderer, but the perpetrator planned meticulously back then, and the police had no leads, let alone her, a woman.

But she was unwilling to give up.

Yet, what good is unwillingness? And her time is running out.

Two months ago, she was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer, with only a few months to live.

Her only regret now is not being able to find the killer and avenge her daughter.

If her daughter were still alive, she should be attending university now. If she suddenly lost me, it would surely be difficult, left alone without care, pitiful.

Well now, soon, maybe she can go accompany her daughter.

Bai Yulan’s mood slowly calmed down, and she gradually remembered the children on the beach today, and the previous wonder once again resurfaced.

Why would that little girl know her daughter’s appearance?

Has she seen her daughter in person?

But looking at her age, it’s definitely impossible.

So she must have seen photos or videos of her daughter.

And through what means did she see these? Thinking of this, her face suddenly turned pale, sprang to her feet, intending to find that little girl.

Yet, just when she turned, she felt her heart being sharply tugged, blood rushing upward, a bout of dizziness, as the world seemed to turn gray and white again.

The reason being, not far behind her, stood a timid-looking little girl, hands interlocked, fingers twiddling, seemingly wanting to call out to her, but also showing a bit of fear and appearing uneasy.

This kind of little movement, Bai Yulan knew all too well.

Every time her daughter did something wrong, it was that kind of timid manner, heart-wrenching.

"Mom... Mommy..." Lan Xinyi tentatively called.

This call was like her first cry the day she was born, stirring a feeling in Bai Yulan’s chest—a special sensation of excitement, fear, and some trepidation about the future experienced when becoming a mother. This feeling is complex and only those who are parents can understand it.

Also because of this call, Bai Yulan was awakened, adding color back to her gray world.

The gentle breeze, the warm sunlight, there seemed to be the scent of grass and wood from outside the window, making the whole world seem more beautiful.

"Xiao Bao?" Bai Yulan probed with a call.

"Mommy, I’m sorry." Lan Xinyi twisted her fingers, speaking with grievance.

"Xiao Bao..."

This time, Bai Yulan finally confirmed that the person in front of her was truly her daughter; thus, she rushed towards her.

In her haste, she struck her calf against the bed corner, wincing in pain, yet not slowing her pace.

Quickly reaching Lan Xinyi, stretching her arms to want to embrace her, but in mid-air, she hesitated for a long time, fearing everything before her was just a bubble. If she tried too hard, she’d burst that bubble, never to see her daughter again.

"Bao..."

The daughter before her was so vivid, so reachable, so real that she couldn’t detect any falsity.

Her throat moved, wanting to call out "baby," but the sound betrayed her, the tears quietly streaming down her cheeks.

"Mommy, did you hurt yourself? Are you okay?"

Seeing her mother cry, Lan Xinyi worriedly reached out to lift her pant leg.

Bai Yulan wore straight trousers, covered with a long coat.

And as Lan Xinyi lifted her coat, her small hand touched her pant leg, the sensation told her that everything before her was not a dream.

"Xiao Bao? Baby..."

Lan Xinyi murmured a call, her voice soft, but since she was close, Lan Xinyi still heard it.

Then she lifted her head and asked, "Mommy, what’s wrong?"

Bai Yulan’s stiff body finally relaxed, her raised palm gently fell, landing on her daughter’s fair little face, the warmth and softness unmistakably real.

She caressed her, tears blurry, voice choking as she said, "Baby... Mommy, Mommy missed you, really missed you. Did you know? Mommy thought she’d never see you again, didn’t expect, didn’t expect..."

"I know, Mommy, because I’ve always been following you, just sometimes you walk too fast..." Lan Xinyi spoke with some sorrow.

Many times she got herself lost, luckily she was already ten, knew her home, and returned if she couldn’t find her mother, waiting and waiting, eventually her mother would come back.

Upon hearing, Bai Yulan stared blankly at her daughter, pondering her words.

After the emotional ups and downs, she had calmed down, regained reasoning, revealing many unreasonable aspects in her mind.

But she didn’t immediately question her daughter; instead, gently lifted her to examine her closely, kiss her, hug her...

No matter how many unbelievable things occurred.

At least, at least now, with her daughter beside her, she can love her well.

Do other things matter?

Even if everything is a dream, she hopes the dream lasts longer.

Lan Xinyi also tightly hugged her mother’s neck, softly whispering in her ear again, "I’m sorry, Mommy."