Chapter 6 I won't live at home anymore

Si Yuan wore a gray cardigan over her white dress, pulling the cuffs up to her wrists to ensure the scars were completely covered.

The doorbell rang suddenly, and Si Yuan hurriedly went to open the door.

Song Yan stood outside the door dressed in white. Sunlight shone in from behind him, but not a single ray could pass through him and enter the room.

He was like an impenetrable wall, blocking out all the light.

When Jiang Wang came to find her just now, Si Yuan felt that the sky in Haicheng was actually very blue.

Now it's all gray again.

Song Yan's voice was gentle, but his gaze swept over her from behind before he asked, "Are you all packed?"

Si Yuan unconsciously took a step back and nodded.

Song Yan frowned, his gaze sweeping over her heavily bundled-up attire: "It's very hot today, you'll be hot wearing so much."

"I'm used to it," Si Yuan replied softly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

“Alright, let’s go.” Song Yan stepped aside to make way for them.

Si Yuan carefully walked around him, afraid of any physical contact.

Song Yan smelled a cool, minty scent on her.

It doesn't taste like her.

It smells more like men's perfume.

Recalling the man's voice on the phone, Song Yan unconsciously tightened his grip on the doorknob.

Si Yuan had already gotten into the car, and Song Yan helped her close the door.

With just a loud "bang," the door slammed shut, and Si Yuan's shoulders jerked violently.

She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly with her fingers, looking uneasy for a few seconds.

Seeing her like this, Song Yan helplessly let go of the doorknob.

He got into the car from the other side, fastened his seatbelt, and then turned to look at her.

"Xiaoyuan, tell your brother, did something happen to you abroad?"

Si Yuan shook her head, her long hair falling down to cover half of her face: "No, everything is fine."

Her voice seemed to come from a very far place, light and weightless.

After the question and answer, silence fell over the car.

Song Yan didn't ask any more questions and started the car.

In fact, Song Yan realized that Si Yuan was avoiding him.

Not just physically, but also psychologically.

Actually, before that incident in high school, Si Yuan was very talkative.

Even though she might have already fallen victim to Lin Shuangyu's bullying at that time, she would still smile whenever she saw Song Yan and talk endlessly about many things.

Song Yan listened with a blank expression, occasionally responding with an "um".

But at some point, this one-sided dialogue became a tacit understanding between them, even a habit.

Now, only silence remains inside the car.

Song Yan suddenly spoke up: "You've changed a lot."

Si Yuan's fingers unconsciously rubbed the scars on her wrist, and she could feel the uneven texture even through the fabric: "Brother, people change."

"You used to talk a lot."

Si Yuan's heart suddenly clenched with pain.

Yes, no matter how painful it was before, she could still force a smile whenever she saw Song Yan.

She always thought she had hidden her feelings well, and that Song Yan's indulgence of her was special.

Song Yan seemed to want to say something, but in the end he remained silent.

As the car entered the driveway of the Song family villa, Si Yuan's breathing became involuntarily rapid.

It's been five years; she hasn't been back here for five years.

Back then, Song's parents sent her abroad to study, which was called studying abroad, but it was more like an exile.

"Mom and Dad are still at the company, they'll be back soon, let's wait for them together."

Song Yan walked around the front of the car to open the door for her, but Si Yuan had already opened the door and gotten out.

Song Yan hesitated for a moment, then said nothing.

Si Yuan used to be independent of everyone, but she was exceptionally dependent on him, and would wait for him to drive her out of the car.

Si Yuan walked towards the villa. The garden was still the same, but the cherry blossom tree under which she used to hide and read had grown even taller.

"Your room has been kept exactly as it is. Shall we go take a look?"

Si Yuan shook her head: "No need."

She silently added in her mind: Anyway, I won't be coming back to live here in the future.

Song Yan paused for a moment, but ultimately said nothing.

Si Yuan walked away.

The butler came out of the villa and respectfully said to Song Yan, "Young Master, the gift prepared for Miss has been placed in her room."

Song Yan nodded and replied, "Okay."

"Why didn't she go see her?"

Song Yan paused, lowered his eyes, and said with some disappointment, "Her temper is getting weirder and weirder. I don't know what she's been learning."

...

Si Yuan wandered around the courtyard. She had once considered this place her real home, her only home.

But... after five years, she had gotten used to living alone.

She also knew that she was meant to have a home by herself.

"Xiao Yuan".

Si Yuan suddenly stopped, turned around, and saw Song's mother standing not far away, her eyes red.

Song's father stood beside her and smiled at her.

"Dad, Mom."

Si Yuan tentatively opened his mouth.

She didn't know if her parents would still like her, after all, they had discovered those shameful secrets.

She stood there, unsure whether she should go forward.

Unexpectedly, Song's mother quickly stepped forward and pulled her into her arms.

Song's mother's voice trembled: "My child, you have suffered all these years."

Upon hearing these words, Si Yuan could no longer hold back, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"sorry……"

"Silly child, don't say sorry." Song's mother wiped away her tears. "Sigh, it's good that you're home."

Mr. Song patted her head and said, "Yes, Xiaoyuan has lost weight."

Si Yuan nestled in their arms, tears welling up in her eyes.

She won't do it again; she will never like someone she shouldn't like again.

From now on, Song Yan... will be her biological brother.

She's learned her lesson; she won't have any more inappropriate thoughts.

Song Yan walked over, patted his mother's hand, and said, "You're scaring Xiao Yuan by doing this."

Looking at Si Yuan, Song's mother suddenly raised her eyebrows: "If A Yan hadn't said he saw you at the class reunion, your father and I wouldn't have known you were back. What, were you planning to keep it from us forever?"

"I……"

Suddenly, someone appeared at the door, interrupting Si Yuan's words.

Several people turned around to look.

Lin Shuangyu stood at the door, carrying an exquisite gift box in her hand. She was wearing a crimson cheongsam, looking elegant, dignified, and radiant.

"Hello, Uncle and Aunt." Lin Shuangyu greeted them warmly, then turned to Song Yan, "Yan, I brought Aunt's favorite bird's nest."

Song's mother immediately smiled and introduced Si Yuan, "Xiao Yuan, this is your brother's fiancée. They got engaged last year and will be getting married at the end of this year. Come and meet her."

Song Yan's fingers tightened slightly, and he subconsciously looked at Si Yuan.

“No need,” Si Yuan heard herself say, her voice unusually calm. “We’ve met before.”

"You've seen him before?"

Lin Shuangyu's red lips froze slightly, afraid that Si Yuan would bring up past grievances and expose her shortcomings in front of her future in-laws.

Unexpectedly, Si Yuan simply said, "High school classmate."

Song's mother was a little surprised: "You're classmates? Then don't just stand there, come inside and we can have dinner together."

Lin Shuangyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At the dining table, Si Yuan sat opposite Song Yan.

She chewed the food mechanically, though it tasted bland and she couldn't taste anything.

Song's mother kept putting food on her plate and asking her about her life abroad.

Si Yuan answered each question softly, but her eyes always avoided Song Yan's direction.

"Xiao Yuan, what are your plans this time you're back?" Song's father asked.

Si Yuan put down her chopsticks: "I just received an offer from TY Design headquarters."

Lin Shuangyu raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly: "TY is a well-known art installation company in the industry. Little Yuan can join them right after graduation?"

Si Yuan tilted her head: "Yes, sister-in-law is so curious, does she want to go in too?"

"No, I didn't study this major."

"Since you're so concerned about my work, I thought you weren't satisfied with just going to school with me, you also wanted to work with me."

Lin Shuangyu's expression hardened. He hadn't expected Si Yuan to turn the tables so close to him. He smiled awkwardly and gritted his teeth inwardly.

Song's mother didn't see the subtle conflict between the two, but was somewhat surprised: "But Xiaoyuan, I heard that's quite far from home, isn't it?"

Si Yuan replied, "It's quite close to the villa you bought for me, so I'll live there."

Song Yan suddenly frowned, "The house is so big, why are you living outside?"

Lin Shuangyu and Song's mother were both stunned for a moment, and looked at Song Yan at the same time.

They probably didn't expect Song Yan's reaction to be so strong.