Shi Mei pouted, her face clearly showing her unhappiness, "But it’s so uncomfortable without my hair tied up!"
Her voice was tender and childlike, unique in its youthfulness, sounding very much like the soft tones of a little girl.
Jian Yun watched Shi Mei with a sense of curiosity and asked, "How old are you?"
Shi Mei gestured with her hands, one for two and the other for three, her little face full of pride as if this fact was something to be very proud of.
Her rosy cheeks were filled with smiles, her long black hair draped over her shoulders, and her dark eyes looked round and shiny. Jian Yun felt her heart melting.
Grandma Shi explained, "You might not know, but Shi Mei had an accident while saving Ling Yan. She suffered a head injury and now has the mental capacity of a five-year-old child."
As she spoke, Grandma Shi stepped forward to take Shi Mei by the hand, "She’s got the mind of a child now, she doesn’t understand things. That’s why I’ve brought her out to play."
When Shi Mei heard Grandma Shi, she objected, "That’s not true, I’ve grown up. Last time the doctor said Shi Mei is now an eight-year-old little cutie!"
"Alright, alright," Grandma Shi said with a resigned expression, reaching for the hair elastic in her palm, "Give it to me, I’ll tie your hair up for you."
"Ying," Shi Mei turned to Jian Yun, "I want the beautiful aunt’s hair."
Jian Yun’s hair was very long; for convenience and travel, she had used a wooden hairpin to twist it into a bun, with a pretty jeweled leaf embedded among the strands, looking both simple and luxurious.
"That won’t do, I can’t manage that."
"Hmph, Grandma isn’t impressive at all." Shi Mei’s face was full of disdain.
Grandma Shi couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation, "Next time I won’t take you out to play."
Jian Yun couldn’t help but smile and said, "Aunt Qin, let me do it. I don’t have much else to do anyway."
Shi Mei jumped up happily, "Yay, that’s great!"
Then, she quickly left Grandma Shi and hopped over to Jian Yun, spreading out the hair elastic again, "Here!"
Grandma Shi was both irritated and amused, "You sure do make yourself at home!"
"Humph!" Shi Mei ignored her and said to Jian Yun, "I want a pretty and beautiful hairstyle like Auntie’s."
"That’s not a good idea, that style wouldn’t suit you," Jian Yun took Shi Mei by the hand and sat down on a stone bench in the backyard, "I’ll make you something cute."
"Okay!" Shi Mei complied, sitting obediently in front of Jian Yun.
Jian Yun took a comb out of her bag and began to comb Shi Mei’s hair.
The black strands were smooth and shiny, long and straight.
As Jian Yun combed her hair, she found herself thinking about the past.
When Xiao Wu was little, she would always nag Jian Yun to braid her hair.
At that time, Sailor Moon was particularly popular, and Xiao Wu would hop and skip over holding a picture, pointing and saying, "Mom, I want this hairstyle."
But Jian Yun was busy with work and often just replied perfunctorily before neglecting her request.
As Xiao Wu grew older, she became more independent and busier.
So much so that Jian Yun hardly saw her daughter a few times throughout the year.
It was only after Xiao Wu had an accident that Jian Yun realized what she had missed over all those years.
In the silence of the night, she couldn’t help but feel regret.
If only she had spent more time with her daughter, how wonderful that would have been.
Stroking the shiny black hair, Jian Yun combed earnestly, bowed her head.
Suddenly, Shi Mei picked up a cellphone and asked, "Auntie, can I have this hairstyle?"