Chapter 55 Childhood Sweethearts

"Your...your sister?"

Xiaoping nervously gripped Xie Wei's clothes, a question forming in her mind. She stammered, "Who knows if she's your sister or your girlfriend?"

Wen Ni, a country girl, took Wen Cheng to the city. With no one to rely on, how could they possibly make a living in the bustling city if no one came to them?

Looking at how protective this middle-aged man was of Wen Ni, and the fact that he was with them on this trip, it's likely that he's the man behind Wen Ni...

“If you keep talking nonsense, I…” Li Yuanchang shrugged, angrily rolling up his sleeves.

"Xiaoping! Stop talking!"

Xie Wei suddenly spoke up, stopping Xiaoping's fabrication: "I don't believe Wen Ni is the way you describe her."

Upon hearing this, Wen Ni looked up again, her eyes meeting his gentle, watery gaze.

"Wen Ni, who grew up with me."

"She has always been kind, intelligent, filial, and righteous!"

The girl from the past would stand beside him in the sun-drenched fields, talking about their dreams and aspirations.

He would accompany him under the starlight at night, rescuing stray, injured, and homeless animals.

They grew up together and witnessed each other's most innocent youth.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were childhood sweethearts!

"But people always change; she's not the same Wen Ni she used to be!"

Seeing the way Xie Wei looked at Wen Ni, Xiao Ping was consumed by jealousy.

It's always been like this since I was little!

She chased after Xie Wei relentlessly, but Xie Wei always stayed by Wen Ni's side...

"Wen Ni is a heartless wretch and a jinx right now!"

"How could you say that about my sister!" Wen Cheng couldn't bear to hear another word.

"What's wrong with you? Your family's messy affairs have become the talk of the village and beyond, and you don't even want people to talk about them?"

Xiaoping hid behind Xie Wei, raising his voice slightly.

The other passengers all turned around and openly watched the spectacle!

"you!"

Before Wen Cheng could reply, Wen Ni, who had been silent all along, suddenly raised her hand to stop him!

Then she turned her gaze to Xiaoping, her tone cold and indifferent: "It seems that not only have I changed, but you have changed quite a bit as well, becoming sharp-tongued, mean, and vulgar!"

"No matter how messy or chaotic my family affairs are, they are ultimately just our family matters. When did it become anyone else's place to interfere?"

Xiaoping chuckled at her words and muttered under her breath, "It's not just me saying that, everyone says it!"

"If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place!" Xiaoping was unconvinced and added fuel to the fire by asking, "Putting everything else aside, can you explain who this middle-aged man is and what his relationship is with you? Can you explain it clearly?"

Who do you think you are?

"Huh?" Xiaoping was taken aback by the question.

"I said, who do you think you are, and who are you to me? Why should I explain myself to you?"

The sneer in Wen Ni's eyes and her sarcastic words left Xiaoping speechless.

A blush of shame and anger crept up from her face to her ears. Xiaoping lowered her head, and tears of shame and indignation welled up in her eyes.

Xie Wei, who was standing to the side, was clearly stunned for a while as he listened to their back-and-forth conversation!

In his memory, Wen Ni never argued with anyone, let alone confronted anyone so sharply.

When something happens, she always lets others say what they want, and at most she just laughs it off.

but,

She has always been sensitive and would often hide away to grieve alone...

"Wen Ni, Xiaoping, stop arguing!"

Xie Wei tried to mediate, shielding Xiaoping behind him and facing Wen Ni with a sincere expression, "Xiaoping was wrong today. She shouldn't have said those things! I apologize to you on her behalf!"

"You apologize for her? Doesn't she have a mouth?" Wen Ni tilted her head, her aura imposing.

"Wen Ni..."

Xie Wei was completely taken aback by her words.

“You’ve never been this aggressive before.”

"Young lady, they've already apologized on her behalf, so don't keep pushing them!" The onlookers chimed in with their own opinions.

"That's right, it's better to avoid trouble than to cause it!"

"This little girl is a bit too arrogant!"

Their words made the sarcastic smile on Wen Ni's lips even more pronounced.

"Am I aggressive and overbearing?"

"It was Zheng Xiaoping who spoke rudely and offended me first. When I asked her to apologize for her words and actions, it became that I was abusing my power and being unreasonable?"

Wen Ni sighed and looked at Xie Wei. Her smile vanished, replaced by a cold expression. "Xie Wei, if you want to be a good person, don't drag me into it!"

"Unless Zheng Xiaoping apologizes to me and my brother in person..."

"This matter is not over yet!"

“Wen Ni, that’s not what I meant! How could you think of me like that? You know I…” Xie Wei was about to explain when he heard Xiao Ping sitting beside him start to sob.

"Waaaaah~ Brother Xie Wei, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have said anything that made Wen Ni angry, causing you to argue with her because of me!" It seemed like an apology, but it was actually a sarcastic remark.

Seeing that she was crying, Xie Wei quickly took out a tissue and handed it to her, comforting her as he did so...

"Xiaoping, don't cry. It's not as serious as you think. Wen Ni was just angry for a moment. She's so kind and sensible, she won't blame you!"

"Xie Wei, Zheng Xiaoping is right about one thing."

Wen Ni crossed her arms and took over the conversation. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes slightly. "People do change. No one can stay in the past forever."

"In the past, Wen Ni may have been gentle and kind, and patient and tolerant."

"But nowadays, Wenni is unwilling to yield an inch of land and will fight for every single inch of territory!"

"..."

Xie Wei stared blankly, his hands tightening slightly on his knees.

When the bus reaches a midpoint station, it will make a temporary stop for about ten minutes to rest and use the restroom.

Wen Ni got off the bus to stretch her legs and bought a bag of snacks and drinks at a small supermarket.

"Give me your things, I'll help you carry them to the car. Don't use your left hand...!"

A figure approached from the side; it was Xie Wei.

Wen Ni easily dodged his outstretched hand.

"No need, my hand injury has long since healed." She didn't even glance at him, turning and brushing past him!

When Wen Ni was a child, she helped her mother with farm work and fractured her left wrist, requiring a long recovery period. During that time, Xie Wei would always follow behind her to school, carrying her bag, which eventually became a habit.

But now, the wounds have long since healed, and everything around me has changed!

"Wen Ni! Are you resenting me for leaving without saying goodbye after your mother passed away three years ago?"

"I suddenly moved away because I got into a university in the city, and my parents bought a house there. I came to find you to tell you about it, but my aunt had just passed away, and I didn't know how to tell you... that I also had to leave you..."

"I told you, what's past is past." Wen Ni had already walked to the car. "You don't need to explain so much to me. I'm nothing to you."

"But you are the most important person in my heart, Wen Ni..."