A Former Police Officer Who Died And Get A Second Life!

Chapter 337: Thank You for Loving Me

"Next time, I’ll bring everyone with me. I want you both to meet my precious family. Thank you for giving birth to me. Thank you for raising me. Thank you... for loving me."

Now he could finally say it with confidence.

"I am happy."

After promising that he would bring everyone next time, Qiong Xing and Mayo headed home together, back to the family waiting for them.

...

When asked about his favorite color, the first thing that came to Qiong Xing’s mind was yellow.

More accurately, it was probably gold.

But when he was little, he had not known the difference and had always called it yellow.

"Mama, this one too."

"Thank you. It’s yellow, your favorite color, Cari. I’m sure they’ll be happy."

Today, they were planning to visit the graves of Qiong Xing’s parents.

Since it would feel lonely to leave the graves bare, they had come to pick flowers to decorate the area around them.

The younger children did not seem to fully understand what a grave was. Rather than gathering flowers, they were happily running around and playing.

"Lian likes this one."

"That sounds lovely. Let’s put Lian’s favorite red flowers there too."

"Okay!"

His little sister sat beside him, picking flowers together with him.

Out of all their siblings, she was especially attached to him.

Cari loved the way she smiled with a face so much like Mama’s as she admired the flowers and called them pretty.

Of course, Mama was still his favorite person.

"Will they not be lonely anymore?"

"Yes. I’m sure they’ll be happy. Mama’s mama loved flowers very much."

Cari did not completely understand what a grave was either.

But he had been told that Mama’s mama was resting there, and that alone made him want to help.

"Oh, that’s right. Why don’t we make flower crowns too? It’s been a while."

Since they were bringing flowers anyway, Cari thought flower crowns would make a nice addition.

Lian immediately announced that she wanted to make one as well, so he began teaching her while working on his own.

"Mmm... I don’t get it."

His little sister looked ready to cry because it was too difficult.

Seeing that, Cari did what Mama had once done for him.

He gently lifted her onto his lap.

Then he guided her hands and slowly showed her each step.

Even if she could not do it, Mama would never get angry.

Still, since she wanted to learn, Cari wanted to help.

"Take this part and do it like this..."

"Like this?"

"That’s right."

He had not been good at it at first either.

He had failed over and over again.

Yet Mama had never become angry or frustrated.

He had patiently taught him until Cari eventually became so skilled that making flower crowns could now be considered one of his special talents.

Although it took quite a while, they finally finished.

Lian beamed with excitement and proudly showed the completed flower crown to Mama.

"You did a wonderful job. And thank you for teaching Lian, Big Brother."

"A... I only know because Mama taught me."

"That’s true. I’m happy you remembered."

When Qiong Xing opened his arms and called him over, Cari immediately ran into them.

He was pulled into a tight embrace.

He had younger brothers and sisters now, and he knew he should do his best as the older brother.

Even so, being held in those warm arms still felt wonderful.

It was comforting.

"Not fair! Lian too!"

"Yue too!"

"Rui too."

One after another, his younger siblings piled onto them.

Unable to withstand the combined weight, they all toppled over.

Mama burst out laughing, and soon everyone else was laughing too.

These happy days felt almost unreal.

Sometimes it seemed impossible that he had once been trapped inside that cold cage.

Now he lived in a warm home surrounded by a large family.

Every day was filled with happiness.

Occasionally, he still wondered if this was all a dream and if he was actually still trapped in that cage.

But every time someone hugged him like this, he felt reassured that it was real.

Mama laughed every day and told him he was loved.

The fear of being abandoned had long since disappeared.

Even after his younger siblings were born, Mama still told him he was precious family.

"Hey, you lot. Are you trying to crush Mama?"

"Papa!"

As Cari and the others clung to Qiong Xing while sprawled across him, Joa and Elias laughed and scooped the children up into their arms.

Leander helped Qiong Xing back to his feet.

"Did you gather enough flowers?"

"Yes, plenty. The children worked very hard."

When Qiong Xing looked at them and said, "Right?"

Cari nodded.

Immediately, a hand ruffled his hair.

"Good job."

Just like always, they treated him no differently from their own children.

"So, how about we eat first? It’s hard to get anything done on an empty stomach."

"Yay!"

Cari did not know much about other people’s cooking.

But as far as he was concerned, Mama had never made anything that tasted bad.

The tastes he had grown up with remained undefeated today as well.

After everyone finished eating, they headed to the graves and decorated them with the flowers they had picked.

"What does a grave even mean?"

Albe, his older brother, asked the question.

Rather than getting upset, Qiong Xing calmly began explaining.

Since Cari did not fully understand either, he quietly listened in as well.

"Generally speaking, graves are built to honor and remember those who have passed away. But in my case... well, if I’m being honest, I wanted reassurance. And I wanted them to feel reassured too."

"Reassured?"

Cari tilted his head, wondering what there was to be anxious about.

Qiong Xing smiled softly.

"I never had the chance to properly say goodbye to the two people who loved me. It doesn’t have to be everything, but I wanted them to know. Even though it’s lonely that I can never see them again, I’m doing well. I’m healthy, and I’m happy. Maybe it’s just self-satisfaction, but I hoped they could understand that."