Chapter 46: The Mark on the Back

Ye Qingxu had once had a child, a girl, who died the moment she came crying into the world.

After carrying her for ten months, he only had time to catch a single glimpse before her body was hastily cremated and buried nearby.

Now that it was brought up, the pain of losing his daughter made it nearly impossible for him to stand. He staggered a few steps and almost crashed into the shelf beside him.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaoyu hurried over to support him. “Mr. Ye, what’s wrong?” The man’s face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with agony. Jiang Xiaoyu thought he’d suddenly been struck by some illness causing bodily pain.

It felt like a chunk of Ye Qingxu’s heart had been brutally gouged out. His lips trembled as, after a long moment, he finally straightened up and said, “It’s nothing. I just got a bit dizzy.”

The shopkeeper nearby was also badly startled. “Big bro, you gotta take care of yourself. Better go to the hospital and get it checked—this looks pretty serious.”

Ye Qingxu forced a smile. “I’m fine, it’ll pass in a bit.” He mustered his spirits, suppressing the grief in his heart, then picked up a decent value-for-money material from nearby and changed the subject. “Do you like this one? The quality isn’t top-notch, but it’s cheap.”

When Jiang Xiaoyu heard it was cheap, he didn’t even look closely before deciding it was good. “Then this one it is. It’s great.”

Ye Qingxu’s earlier mood had already faded. Seeing this, he couldn’t help but chuckle a bit—the kid’s personality was too casual. He didn’t seem to have any preferences of his own; as long as it was cheap, it was fine. He turned to the shopkeeper. “Boss, can you knock a bit off the price?”

Still shaken by Ye Qingxu’s earlier reaction, the boss was afraid something might happen in his shop and agreed to the discount without much hesitation. They arranged for the materials to be delivered to Jiang Xiaoyu’s home next week.

There were still some small garden decorations they hadn’t found anything suitable for, but by now Ye Qingxu had lost most of his interest. With a hint of apology, he looked at Jiang Xiaoyu. “If there’s nothing you particularly like, how about I come pick them out for you myself next week? I’ll watch the prices.”

Jiang Xiaoyu recalled how Ye Qingxu had just slashed the price in half with a single stroke and felt full of admiration. He nodded. “Then I’ll have to trouble you.”

“It’s no trouble.”

—

On the way back, Jiang Xiaoyu had Ye Qingxu drop him off at the roadside. “Just let me out here. We’re not going the same way—it’d be too much trouble.”

“It’s fine. It’s still early anyway.” Ye Qingxu turned the wheel. “Not quitting time yet, and there’s hardly any traffic. We’ll get there quick.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoyu stopped refusing. He gripped the seatbelt with both hands and pinched it. Why had the shopkeeper thought he was his dad? Mr. Ye was so cultured and capable—nothing like Li Shouping.

The car wasn’t going fast, and the window was open. It wasn’t hot, and the breeze on his face felt nice. As they neared Jiang Xiaoyu’s home, he suddenly sat up straight. “Stop the car.”

Ye Qingxu slowed down. “What’s up?”

“There’s a dog over there.”

Jiang Xiaoyu pointed to a spot by the road, his pupils bright with excitement—it even stunned Ye Qingxu for a moment. Following his gaze, Ye Qingxu didn’t see any dog in sight, but he still pulled over to the side. The moment he parked, Jiang Xiaoyu jumped out and ran off.

Ye Qingxu turned off the engine and followed in the direction he had gone.

Between the roadside hill and the road was a narrow, deep drainage ditch filled with sludge at the bottom, where a dog lay, letting out occasional pained whimpers from time to time.

It was that faint sound that had drawn Jiang Xiaoyu. He dashed to the edge of the ditch and leaned over to look down. “Don’t be scared. I’m coming right now.”

Without another word, he gripped the rough ditch wall and tried to jump in, but the ditch was too deep and narrow. If he couldn’t find a proper foothold, he’d probably break a bone. He shifted direction, probing with his foot as he carefully tried to climb down.

Ye Qingxu, who had caught up, grabbed his arm. His tone held some worry. “The ditch is too deep. Better call the fire department.”

Jiang Xiaoyu shook his head, his eyes clear and bright. “It’s not gonna make it.” It had still been whimpering earlier, but in these short few minutes, it had gradually gone silent.

The kid’s expression was resolute—completely different from the casual attitude Ye Qingxu had seen before. He didn’t try to dissuade him further. Instead, he bent down and gripped his wrist tightly. “I’ll pull you from up here. Be careful.”

Ye Qingxu kept holding Jiang Xiaoyu’s arm until he saw his foot fully touch the ground before letting go. Jiang Xiaoyu sidled slowly toward the little dog. The bottom was too narrow to turn around or even bend over, so he could only inch closer bit by bit.

As death approached, the little dog seemed to see its master arriving first. It used its last bit of strength for an almost inaudible bark: “Doggy hurts…”

Jiang Xiaoyu’s heart raced with anxiety and heartache. “I’m almost there.” He pressed his face to the wall, straining to twist his waist and reach out. Finally, he scooped up the little dog. Before he could even catch his breath, he had to climb back up.

Seeing his awkward movements, Ye Qingxu crouched down and reached out. “Hand me the dog first.”

Jiang Xiaoyu stood on tiptoe against the wall to pass the dog up to him, then braced both hands and leaped, climbing back onto solid ground. He took the dog and asked, “Could you trouble yourself to take me to the pet hospital?”

Ye Qingxu nodded. “I spotted one on the way here. Should be just two stops back.”

They took the dog to the hospital. It was wheeled into the operating room for examination, and Jiang Xiaoyu finally let out a breath of relief. Only then did he notice the burning pain on his arm from scraping against the wall.

Ye Qingxu had noticed it even earlier. He got some iodine and cotton from the doctor. “Come here. Let me clean it for you.”

Jiang Xiaoyu sat in a chair as Ye Qingxu took his arm and disinfected it. Glancing at the mud stains on Ye Qingxu’s shirt, he said a bit sheepishly, “Sorry, I got your clothes dirty.”

Ye Qingxu applied the iodine with gentle motions. “It’s fine. Just needs washing.” To help him relax, he teased, “You’re the one who stinks all over.”

Jiang Xiaoyu scratched his hair, a little embarrassed. “…’Cause the bottom of that ditch was really dirty.”

With the dog still in the operating room, once Jiang Xiaoyu’s arm was treated, the doctor told them to go home and change clothes. Jiang Xiaoyu left his number. “Call me when the dog is out.”

Back in the car, Jiang Xiaoyu noticed the stains smeared on the seat from his clothes. “Sorry, I’ll pay for the car wash.”

Ye Qingxu was about to say no need, but seeing how serious he looked, he just smiled. “Alright then.”

Once home, Jiang Xiaoyu pushed open the door and walked ahead without looking back. “Mr. Ye, you should wash up too. I’ll find you some clean clothes.”

Ye Qingxu was going to refuse, but after sniffing himself, he realized he really did smell bad, so he agreed.

Jiang Xiaoyu washed his hands and brought out a clean towel along with a new short-sleeved shirt and shorts. “These are new. I just bought them and haven’t worn them yet.” Their heights and builds were similar, so they should fit well.

Ye Qingxu took them with a thanks. “You go first. Be careful not to get your arm wet.”

Jiang Xiaoyu nodded. With no qualms about baring his body in front of a man, he grabbed the hem of his T-shirt with both hands and pulled it off.

Watching him, Ye Qingxu thought the kid was really fair-skinned—fair like the person in his memories. He casually glanced and was about to look away when Jiang Xiaoyu turned, revealing that mark on his shoulder blade. Ye Qingxu’s mind exploded with a boom, and he instantly lost his senses.

It was a three-leaf clover-shaped birthmark, bright red as blood, stark against Jiang Xiaoyu’s pale skin. Ye Qingxu would never mistake it, because he had an identical one on the inside of his own arm.

This was the unique mark of their clan, passed down through generations, appearing only on the male descendants of the direct Ye family bloodline.

Ye Qingxu subconsciously touched his own arm, where the birthmark seemed to be faintly warming. As Jiang Xiaoyu was about to head inside, Ye Qingxu snapped back and lunged forward in a panic. “Let me see it.”

The panic and disorientation in his eyes left Jiang Xiaoyu baffled. “What’s wrong?”

“Let me see, let me see.” His voice trembled as his shaking hand touched that patch of skin. “No mistake… no mistake.”

The man scrubbed at his skin with heavy force, making Jiang Xiaoyu flinch. “Mr. Ye… is there something on my back?” He couldn’t see his own back, and no one had ever told him about such a mark there.

Ye Qingxu’s mind buzzed loudly. Gripping his shoulders, he rapidly asked, “Officer Jiang, what are your parents’ names? Are you locals from Pine City?”

Jiang Xiaoyu recoiled at the mention of those two, but seeing Ye Qingxu so utterly lost, he said in confusion, “Li Shouping and Jia Muqin. Locals, I guess… I’m not really sure.”

“That’s it, that’s it…” Ye Qingxu murmured to himself. “I was such an idiot…”

Jiang Xiaoyu was utterly bewildered when Ye Qingxu suddenly regained his composure and said gently, “You go take a shower first…” He wanted to say ‘Dad will make you dinner,’ but how could he say that now? Suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, he continued, “I’ll go buy some food for you.”

“Ah? No need to trouble yourself.”

“It’s no trouble.” Ye Qingxu hurriedly said, then pushed him toward the bathroom. “You wash up first. I’ll be right back.”

Without waiting for a response, he shut the bathroom door and rushed out of the courtyard.

Tears streamed unchecked down his face. How could he have been so stupid as to so readily believe Li Shouhai’s words?

Back then, when he was pregnant with the child, he was blocked by people from the Wan Family right at the moment of labor in a small clinic, where he hastily gave birth to a child. He vaguely remembered the child crying loudly after birth, but at that time, he was not only in physical pain but also mentally collapsed. He couldn’t hold the child right away, and by the time he saw the child again, it was already a stillborn.

“Qingxu, please restrain your grief… The child was premature and too weak. It’s already gone.”

He believed it as soon as Li Shouhai said it. Because during his confusion over his relationship with Wan Keyao, it was Li Shouhai who had always supported and encouraged him. Because he and Li Shouhai had known each other since youth. Because after both their families met with misfortune and only the two of them remained, they were practically like brothers. But how could he! How could he have stolen his child!

“I’m Li Shouhai. This name sounds so rustic, right? Hahaha, our family uses the ‘Shou’ generation name, no helping it. This one’s still decent. I’ve got a cousin named Li Shouping—isn’t that even more rustic?”

“It’s too bizarre for a man to get pregnant. Don’t tell Wan Keyao for now. After all, with the Wan Family’s attitude… even if they knew it was Wan Keyao’s child, they might still force you to abort it…”

“Take another look… It’s a girl. It’s so hot out—bury her nearby…”

“Qingxu, you… don’t be too sad. You’re still young. You’ll have more children in the future…”

The past flashed before his eyes scene by scene. The hatred in Ye Qingxu’s heart could not be vented, but his rationality had already calmed down.

The most important thing right now was Little Yu.

“My child is still alive.” He murmured, crying and laughing at the same time. “Little Yu… what does Little Yu like to eat?”