Chapter 263: The Theatrics of Life
Ning Xiyue saw the longing in the child’s eyes — when he mentioned “growing taller,” his eyes practically sparkled. He was so earnest about it that her heart softened; she couldn’t bear to turn him down.
She waved for Li Xiaodong to come closer. The boy shuffled over with tiny steps, stool and all, carrying a pencil and a notebook. His eyes were wide and attentive, ready to jot down whatever she said — and to put it into daily practice.
“I’ll tell you the best secret,” she began seriously. “Eat whatever your parents give you, don’t be picky. Run more, jump more. Find a rope and jump rope every day. Also, like me—stand on your tiptoes and jump upward whenever you have time. Keep jumping and you’ll grow taller. That’s called developing bounce — but don’t overdo it, moderation is key.”
Ning Xiyue spoke earnestly, even demonstrating the movements.
Although genetics play a huge role in determining height — and although this method is one many people in later generations know and dismiss as useless — at twelve, a child’s bones are still developing. Regular jumping truly can help stimulate bone growth and promote height.
If a child starts exercising regularly from age twelve and sticks to it, even if they can’t surpass their genetic ceiling, they’ll certainly be taller than if they’d done nothing at all. The main point is promoting healthy skeletal development.
Li Xiaodong believed every word. He carefully wrote down everything Ning Xiyue said, mimicking her jumps as she demonstrated. He secretly resolved to keep jumping every day — even to “jump while walking.”
When he finished writing, he quietly moved to the side and began bouncing by himself.
“This kid’s gone crazy about growing taller,” Shen Qingxia chuckled at the sight of her silly son. “Every day he’s thinking about how to grow.” Then she turned to Ning Xiyue and took her hand. “Xiyue, come with me into the room — I’m finally going to tell you that secret I mentioned this afternoon. You’ll be surprised.”
Ning Xiyue obediently followed her inside, curiosity piqued. What was this mysterious secret? Shen Qingxia had been teasing her about it since the afternoon, and now she was finally going to find out.
Once inside, Shen Qingxia let go of her hand. “Xiyue, wait here a moment.”
Ning Xiyue watched her walk to the wardrobe, open it, and rummage around. After a moment, she pulled a large box from under a pile of clothes and carried it over with a wide grin.
“The secret I’m going to tell you is in here. Wait till I open it — get ready, okay?”
Ning Xiyue playfully pressed a hand over her heart and exaggerated her expression.
“I’ve been ready for hours! You’ve been dangling this in front of me all afternoon. I’m dying of curiosity — please, Auntie Shen, have mercy on a young person’s eager heart and reveal the mystery already!”
“Alright, alright,” Shen Qingxia laughed. “No more suspense this time.”
She opened the box and took out a photo album.
Ning Xiyue grew even more confused — what could be so secret about an album? She leaned in curiously. It was indeed an album, but she didn’t recognize anyone in the photos.
Page by page, Shen Qingxia flipped through it, smiling faintly the whole time. Then she stopped halfway through and handed the album to Ning Xiyue, pointing to one particular photo.
“Xiyue, look at this person. Do they look familiar to you?”
Ning Xiyue’s pupils widened. Familiar? That was an understatement — wasn’t that Comrade Ji as a boy?! She recognized him instantly.
The brows and facial contours were exactly the same. The only difference was the bright, silly grin — so unlike his usual calm expression — as if he’d seen something amusing.
He looked about twelve or thirteen, still with a bit of baby fat. His smile was surprisingly endearing.
“And this one,” Shen Qingxia said, turning the page. She pointed to a photo of a little boy in split-crotch pants, squatting and staring intently at a ladybug.
Even from his brows and eyes, Ning Xiyue could tell — that was also Comrade Ji.
Aside from admiring the photographer’s skill, she was struck by how adorable he’d been as a child.
But as she stared at the two photos, thoughts churned in her head. She never imagined the first time she’d see Comrade Ji’s childhood pictures would be here — in a photo album at the home of an aunt she’d just met today.
What exactly was Auntie Shen’s relationship with Comrade Ji? Some kind of relative?
Ning Xiyue felt a sudden, inexplicable nervousness.
She turned to Shen Qingxia, who was smiling knowingly. “Auntie Shen, these photos are…?”
Shen Qingxia gently stroked the photos. “This is my nephew, Ji Yanming.”
Ning Xiyue froze. Completely unprepared — she’d just met the family without warning! And it seemed this elder had known all along. For a moment, she was utterly dazed.
“You… you already knew?”
Meeting a family member like this, on the very first encounter — she could only hope she hadn’t left a bad impression. Her mind quickly replayed all their interactions from earlier.
“Host,” her system chimed in, “this unit guarantees that this aunt’s impression of you is excellent — she even likes you a lot. Definitely no bad impression.”
That reassured her.
Shen Qingxia smiled kindly, taking Ning Xiyue’s hand and speaking warmly.
“The secret I wanted to tell you is this: I’m Ji Yanming’s aunt — not by blood, though. I’m the daughter of his grandfather’s comrade-in-arms. After my parents passed away, his grandparents adopted me as their daughter, so I became his aunt.
But our bond is as deep as if we were related by blood. When Amin was little, he always followed me everywhere. Later, after I returned to my hometown for work, we didn’t meet often, but we kept in touch through letters. Actually, I didn’t know about you two dating until recently.”
She then pulled a letter from the box and handed it to Ning Xiyue, signaling her to open it. As Ning Xiyue read, Shen Qingxia continued speaking.
“I only found out a day earlier than you did. Yesterday, I received this letter from that rascal — the one you’re holding now. He said his girlfriend and her younger brother were sent here for rural work and asked me to look after you two.”
At that, Shen Qingxia’s tone grew emotional.
“Can you believe it? When I saw the names, they sounded so familiar. Then I remembered — your Aunt Lin had written to me about two siblings coming here. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence. But when I compared the letters — the names matched exactly, even down to each character! That’s when I realized the people Amin mentioned were the same brother and sister I already knew. Isn’t that incredible?”
In her whole life, Shen Qingxia had never encountered such a coincidence. It was more dramatic than the stories told in old radio plays. Even during dinner earlier, when she learned of another coincidence, she’d been utterly astonished.
Who knew fate could weave connections like this?
After reading the letter, Ning Xiyue couldn’t help but agree — life truly was full of theatrics, dripping with dramatic irony. Everyone she met somehow turned out to be family!
She’d started out thinking she was visiting a family friend for help — only to discover the “aunt” was related to her boyfriend. What an absurd twist of fate — people with seemingly no connection at all ended up part of the same web.
What an utterly ridiculous turn of events.
No wonder Comrade Ji had said he was “passing through” when they first met — he must have been coming here to visit relatives, his aunt.
Thinking about it now, Ning Xiyue realized that today’s successful meeting probably owed a bit to him. And perhaps Auntie Shen’s affection for them included a touch of “love me, love my kin.”
She’d gained another precious connection here.
At the same time, she breathed a sigh of relief — thank goodness Auntie Shen wasn’t Comrade Ji’s mother. That would’ve been the most awkward of all dramas!
“I’m really so happy to have met you two siblings,” Shen Qingxia said sincerely. “I got the letter yesterday, and today I get to meet you in person — I’m overjoyed.”
Her affection and delight were genuine and unrestrained. The more she looked at Ning Xiyue, the more satisfied she felt, chatting enthusiastically as she held her hand.
“The more I get to know you, the more I like you. You’re smart, capable, and independent. You handle things so well that I hardly have to worry — you’re managing life wonderfully. As for the matter you came to see me about, I’ll handle it properly and fairly. Don’t feel pressured.”
“Thank you, Auntie Shen. I’m truly surprised — this secret was completely unexpected!” Ning Xiyue smiled, glancing down at the photo of young Comrade Ji in the album.
How could she possibly feel burdened? Even if the favor they’d asked had been helped along by Ji’s connection, she only felt grateful.
After all — connections are a kind of strength too.
And if fate offers a little convenience along the way, why not enjoy it? It’s not a bad thing at all.
