Cao Xiaoyu's words immediately stunned me, because in more than thirty years of living, no woman has ever said such words as "dependence" to me.
An Lan never said that she did not need to rely on me. In fact, her abilities in all aspects were superior to mine.
For a man, he is born with a desire for protection and instinctively likes to protect those who are weaker than himself, especially the opposite sex.
I don't know that I'm not that kind of person, maybe deep down.
Seeing that I was silent for a long time, Cao Xiaoyu asked me again: "Brother Chen, why don't you speak?"
I smiled and said, "No, I was thinking about something."
"What are you thinking about?"
I took a long breath and said, "Let me tell you a story!"
"Okay! I want to hear a story."
"When I was in college, I met a female classmate from the same department as me. Her name was Liang Jing. We had a very good relationship, to the point where we were more than friends but still lovers... She was a very outgoing girl.
She has a pair of big eyes and always likes to make me happy. It can also be said that she is a pistachio in the world."
Cao Xiaoyu listened very carefully and said to me: "What about now? Are you still in contact?"
"there is none left."
"Why? What caused your relationship to deteriorate?"
I lit a cigarette, took a deep puff, and then said, "Our relationship has not deteriorated, it's just that...she passed away."
"Ah?!" Cao Xiaoyu suddenly looked at me in shock.
"Yes, she died, and she died for me."
"Why?" she asked confused.
"It's a long story. In short, she died for me. I was unable to protect her. To this day, I still hate myself."
"What were you like at that time?"
"Too bad! If I had been half as good as I am now, maybe she wouldn't have died."
Cao Xiaoyu lowered his head as if a little sad.
I smiled again and said to her, "Do you know why I told you this?"
She shook her head and looked at me with a pair of big eyes in confusion.
I said: "Because you remind me of her."
"Am I similar to that sister?"
"It's not like that. Anyway, it just reminded me of her. If I had the ability, she wouldn't have died... So now, I will protect you and won't let anything happen to you."
Cao Xiaoyu suddenly had tears in his eyes, biting his lower lip and looked at me and said, "Brother Chen, why are you so nice to me? Do you also regard me as your best friend?"
"Yes," I smiled and touched her head and said, "I am somewhat capable now and I don't want any accidents to happen to any of my friends."
"It's so kind of you."
I looked at her again, smiled and said, "Okay, go to bed early! Don't worry, it's safe here."
"But brother... the story you just told me made me so sad. That sister must care about you, so she..."
"I don't want to think about that much anymore, and I don't want to recall that past anymore."
"Um."
"go to sleep!"
Cao Xiaoyu got on the bed obediently. She pulled up the quilt and asked me: "Brother, is this the quilt you covered yourself with?"
"Well, do you want me to change it for you? I haven't washed it in several days."
"It's okay. I won't bother you. It's good."
"It's not troublesome. If you need to replace it, there will be new ones in the cabinet."
"No need, but brother... well, can you tell me another story?"
"Want to hear a story?"
"Well, is that okay? I still can't sleep."
"Do you blame me for telling you that story just now?"
Cao Xiaoyu curled her lips and said, "I don't know, I just feel very sad."
"Okay then! I'll tell you another story about Cinderella."
Cao Xiaoyu suddenly laughed and said, "Brother, can you still tell the story of "Cinderella"?"
"Yes, I used to put my daughter to sleep and I learned a lot of fairy tales."
"Okay! Brother, tell me!"
Then I told this classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm in a tone that would put a child to sleep.
I thought she would fall asleep before I finished telling this story, but after I finished telling this fairy tale, she still didn't fall asleep.
She was still lying on her side facing me, blinked at me and said, "Do you think Cinderella can really marry Prince Charming?"
This question really stopped me.
Fairy tales were originally meant to coax children to sleep, but fortunately Cao Xiaoyu is an adult girl, so there is no need for deceptive things anymore.
I raised my hand to touch my nose and said with a smile: "Now the word 'Cinderella' has become a symbol. It is usually used to describe women who are not outstanding in appearance or born in poverty but have a kind heart and lovely personality."
After a short pause, I added: "Actually, such girls are more worthy of love. Therefore, in real society, there are many 'Cinderellas' who have found their own 'Prince Charming'."
"It would be great if I could live with my own Prince Charming." Cao Xiaoyu said softly.
I said: "You will definitely meet your Prince Charming, and maybe your Prince Charming has already appeared."
"I also think he appeared...but he definitely doesn't love me."
The "Prince Charming" I was talking about was of course Li Kun. I said tentatively: "How do you know he doesn't love you? Do you know who your Prince Charming is?"
"Of course, he will never love me."
I smiled and said, "How do you know he doesn't love you? Xiaoyu, have you ever thought about what if your Prince Charming is a boy who doesn't like to talk much?"
"Ah?" Cao Xiaoyu looked at me in surprise.
"So, I think you should take the initiative. Happiness must be achieved by yourself... Although you are a girl, have you ever heard of a saying that calls women to chase men?"
I don't know if Cao Xiaoyu likes Li Kun, and I can't tell her directly. It would be embarrassing if she rejected me.
So I wanted to use this method to let her know who I was talking about.
But she whispered to me: "Brother, I don't dare."
"Why don't you dare?"
"Because I am an ugly duckling..." After she finished speaking, she pulled up the quilt to cover her face.
I smiled and said: "Xiao Yu, you are a very cute and kind girl. How can you say that you are an ugly duckling?"
"Compared with those white swans, I am an ugly duckling." She emerged from the quilt and covered her face with the quilt after saying that.
I said to her again: "Every girl is a white swan. You must not be discouraged. Only confident girls will be more beautiful."
"But Prince Charming will fall in love with the white swan, and the ugly duckling can only get the sympathy of Prince Charming at most. The last thing you need in love is sympathy." She whispered.
Where does this go?
I had no choice but to say to her: "Anyway, you have to take the initiative, because the reason white swans are white swans is because they have the confidence to pursue their own happiness."
Cao Xiaoyu listened carefully, and then nodded to me: "Brother, I understand, and I will definitely fight for it... No matter whether my Prince Charming loves me or not, I have the right to love him."
"That's right, okay! Go to bed quickly, I'm already sleepy." I yawned and said.
Cao Xiaoyu said "Oh" and said, "Okay then. Good night! Brother."
"Good night."
I turned off the light for her and gently closed the door.
After I came out, I breathed a long sigh of relief. This girl is really clingy.
I don’t know why I did this to her, maybe it was just out of protectiveness!
Just as I was thinking about this, a voice suddenly appeared behind me...