As soon as Zhong Wanwan got home, she called Zhong Songbai into her room and got straight to the point:
"Songbai, I went to see Xia Ning today and told her about the situation of the three of us siblings. I think it's best to give the choice to Xia Ning now!"
"If you two break up because of this, I won't mind if you blame me or resent me!"
This is something we have to face. It's better to end it now than to suffer a long, drawn-out pain. Rather than being stuck together awkwardly, it's better to break it off completely.
If Zhong Songbai blames her for this, then it can only mean that she misjudged him and that they were ultimately not destined to be siblings!
Zhong Songbai suddenly looked up at Zhong Wanwan, and after a long while, he said in a hoarse voice:
"Sister, how could you say that? What if she tells everyone? What will happen to you and Xiaobaiyang?"
Zhong Wanwan countered with a question:
"You didn't tell because you were afraid she'd tell others, not because you were afraid she'd leave?"
Zhong Songbai smiled wryly:
"Does being afraid of her leaving mean she won't leave? I was so afraid of Dad leaving, and Mom leaving, but I couldn't stop them from wanting to die."
"There's nothing to be afraid of. I'm just afraid of dragging you all down with me, so I'd rather just let it go. It's no big deal if she hates me and blames me!"
Zhong Wanwan looked at the young man, who was only 18 years old after the New Year, with a pang of heartache.
If this were modern times, Zhong Songbai would still be in his rebellious phase, probably dyeing his hair all sorts of colors and doing things that he thinks are cool, but others would think are a bit silly.
But at the same age of 18, Zhong Songbai could only shoulder the responsibility of being the pillar of his family and restrain himself.
Zhong Wanwan sighed:
"I trust Xia Ning's character. Even if I'm wrong to trust her, I'll just lead you into the mountains. I refuse to believe that people can still judge a person solely by their social class!"
Zhong Wanwan had also considered this possibility. At worst, she would go into the mountains with Zhong Songbai and Xiaobaiyang.
It will only take 2-3 years for this to pass, and when they come out, they can simply resume their original identities.
The identities of Zhong Wanwan and her two siblings, who were sent to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution, will not affect them at all as long as they do not acknowledge them.
Zhong Songbai lowered his head in remorse and said:
"Sister, I'm sorry. I couldn't control myself and had expectations that I shouldn't have had, which has dragged you and Xiaobaiyang into this mess."
Zhong Songbai now deeply regrets his impulsive confession to Xia Ning.
If the two hadn't started dating, Xia Ning wouldn't be facing such a difficult choice now, and his sister and Xiao Baiyang wouldn't be in danger of being implicated.
Zhong Wanwan patted Zhong Songbai hard and said:
“What kind of behavior is this, a grown man looking so dejected? What have you dragged down? If anyone has dragged you down, it's me. If I hadn't told anyone, there wouldn't have been this danger…”
At this point, Zhong Wanwan slapped her lips hard and said:
"Hey, what nonsense are you talking about? You and I both know what kind of person Xia Ning is. For us to doubt her character like this is simply an insult to her!"
"Alright, alright, I'm just telling you this so you can be mentally prepared. If she chooses to distance herself from us, you'll have to face it calmly."
Zhong Songbai hummed in agreement.
"I was prepared for this. Now that you've said it for me, I feel relieved. Thank you, sister!"
Zhong Wanwan raised her left shoulder and said to Zhong Songbai:
"Don't hold it in, just cry if you want to!"
Zhong Songbai glanced at his sister's thin shoulders, forced a smile that looked less like a grimace, and said:
"Forget it, I'm afraid you won't be able to comfort me. I'll just bite the corner of the blanket and cry secretly tonight!"
Hearing Zhong Songbai say that, Zhong Wanwan breathed a huge sigh of relief. If he could still joke around, it meant that he was alright.
Sadness was inevitable, but she was afraid that Zhong Songbai would give up on himself and become despondent because of it.
Fortunately, Zhong Wanwan's younger brother is not a coward; no matter how difficult life gets, he maintains a resilient attitude.
Also, Zhong Wanwan glanced at Zhong Songbai's departing figure. Her brother would rather be misunderstood than bring any danger to her and Xiaobaiyang. Zhong Wanwan felt very touched.
Since she came to this era, she has truly treated Zhong Songbai and Xiao Baiyang as her younger brothers.
Although she said that she would not complain even if Zhong Songbai blamed her, she was not without anxiety. She was actually afraid that Zhong Songbai would blame her.
She was afraid that she had trusted the wrong person, and if that happened, it wouldn't be Zhong Songbai who would be heartbroken, but her!
Now, it's just a matter of waiting for Xia Ning's choice.
Hopefully, Zhong Songbai and Xia Ning are truly destined for each other and can withstand this test.
…………
Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.
After Zhong Wanwan left, Xia Ning just sat there, her mind a jumbled mess, unable to sort it out no matter what she did.
If the two people don't separate, how will they proceed in the future?
The Xia family not only has elderly Grandpa Xia and Grandma Xia, but the two of them gritted their teeth and took sick leave back then in order to protect their family.
In recent years, Grandpa Xia and Grandma Xia have mostly lived a secluded life in a sanatorium, detached from worldly affairs.
Xia Ning knew that her grandparents were people who had great faith in the organization, and that retiring like this must be a great torment for them.
Deep down, there must have been a feeling of "desertion".
During the war, it was so difficult and dangerous, but my grandparents never backed down and bravely marched forward with their comrades.
Gritting their teeth, Grandpa and Grandma both made it through the Long March, but even on the way, the youngest aunt didn't make it.
But for the sake of their father, third uncle, and youngest uncle, their grandparents became "deserters" in their hearts.
And then there's Xia's mother, who, despite feeling deeply guilty, had no choice but to publish a notice in the newspaper to sever ties with her maternal grandfather and maternal uncle in order to protect her family.
Because of this, Xia Ning, as the only girl in the Xia family, was sent to the Red Star Farm to take care of her maternal grandfather and maternal uncle nearby, and no one in the family objected.
Her father, Xia Jiefang, her eldest brother, Xia Weiguo, her second brother, Weimin, and her third brother, Weiqing, are all in the military; they cannot have such a stain on their record.
Her eldest uncle, second uncle, third uncle, and cousins should also not be implicated.
Xia Ning couldn't let her personal feelings disrupt this peace.
As dawn broke, after weighing the pros and cons, Xia Ning finally made her decision.
She wanted to hear what Zhong Songbai had to say; even if they were to separate, she wanted a clear and unambiguous separation.
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