Cloud Girl Chapter Thirteen
Not wanting to be glossed over like this, Chen Nanyi looked directly at Chen Yiwen's expensive coat and bag, as well as the cell phone and car keys casually placed on the table, and said with difficulty, "My parents left us more than three million yuan. Yijing is already in pain, so it's only right that we give her more medical treatment... I, although I have spent money over the past four years, it hasn't been a lot. Give me 200,000 yuan for the surgery now, and I won't ask you for any more money after this..."
Chen Nanyi assured her.
Unexpectedly, Chen Yi turned off the stove and looked at her, then suddenly sneered, "Chen Nanyi, you've really gone too far! This isn't how you ask for money! Even if Mom and Dad left us a lot of money, it can't withstand this kind of spending. You only remember that Mom and Dad left so much money, but where did we get the money for food, drinks, and other necessities over the past four years? I live in the company dormitory, and I always have to think about saving money when buying things, figuring out what I can avoid. Everyone else dresses so nicely, unlike me, still wearing my mother's old clothes… It's all for others to see. You don't want me to be looked down upon by others, do you? If I'm like this at school, do you expect me to be like this forever?!"
Chen Yiwen seemed to be displeased with wearing those clothes, tugging at her own clothes. "Besides, you said you wouldn't take any more after taking 200,000. If you want it back then, how can I refuse? And if you take Yijing's money, how will I know?"
Chen Yiwen roughly knew that Chen Nanyi and her mother were the kind of people who wouldn't force things, and with this remark, Chen Nanyi would definitely stop throwing a tantrum and demanding money.
Sure enough, Chen Nanyi's eyes dimmed, she moved her lips, but ultimately remained silent.
Just when Chen Yiwen thought the matter was over and breathed a sigh of relief, she said only, "If there's nothing else, I'll go back to the company," before untying her apron and heading out of the kitchen.
Chen Nanyi reached out and stopped her, looking at her calmly—Chen Nanyi was already much taller than Chen Yiwen, and with this gesture, she looked down at him like an emperor.
Chen Yiwen used to think Chen Nanyi was like a child, but now, looking at her, she suddenly realized that this usually quiet third sister seemed to have grown up and had her own ideas.
It stands tall and profound, like a tree, possessing wisdom and joy that transcend its own limitations.
The thought flashed through her mind, and just looking into those emotionless eyes, she felt a sense of danger.
But considering that Chen Nanyi was currently powerless to suppress him, she adopted the air of an elder sister and said, "What are you doing? Are you trying to rebel?"
Chen Nanyi's throat bobbed, utterly helpless. "I didn't. But in the past four years, I've never spent more than 20,000 yuan a year. Nobody knows about our family's savings, so the subsidies you've made me take are quite substantial... I don't mean anything by it. I know not to waste money that shouldn't be spent, but Yijing is sick, and I'm sick too. Shouldn't I be able to fight for my own life? Since you don't believe me, we can go to the hospital..."
Chen Yi listened intently, her expression unreadable.
But upon hearing this, she raised her head and snorted, "What's wrong with you since you were a child? It's clearly your own perception that's wrong—you're too delicate, that's why you're like this. You used to complain about back pain too, but you're so young, you don't even have a back..."
"So," Chen Yiwen seemed unable to suppress rolling her eyes, "you called me all this way back just to inform me that after we already had one medicine-fed person, a new one has been born in our family? And then every year, you'll have to go for medication and checkups! And because of your weak health, I'll have to come back to take care of you all. In a few years, I won't dare ask you to find a job, I'll just have to support you all... Hmph, you've really played your cards well! If that's the case, then I'd rather be sick!"
Chen Yi chuckled ambiguously, but her expression was completely unfamiliar to Chen Nanyi.
"Anyway, I don't have any money to pay for your medical treatment," Chen Yi said, pushing away Chen Nanyi's hand and turning to leave.
Chen Nanyi's back was shoved against the wall, and she couldn't help but feel a chill.
“Don’t put it so nicely,” she paused, raising her eyes calmly, “Every time you come back, you make a big fuss about it, and everyone in the community praises you… but all you do is buy expired instant noodles and canned food to curry favor with others—and the return gift for the station chief was the same. You only bought such cheap stuff because I delivered it, right? As a result, everyone says I don’t know how to behave…”
Chen Nanyi bit her lip, trying her best to keep her tears from falling.
“That’s nothing, but you’re so kind to others—you even brought back gifts for your colleagues from your business trip to Hong Kong, like an 800-yuan bottle of perfume… You’re so wealthy, why won’t you pity me and Yijing? We’re your own sisters.”
Chen Nanyi couldn't hold back her tears and asked painfully.
Chen Yiwen initially listened with a frown, but then her face darkened, and she gritted her teeth, "You peeked at my phone?"
Chen Nanyi did not answer, but Chen Yiwen, who knew her personality well, understood that this meant she admitted it.
Unable to hold back any longer, I slapped him across the face.
Chen Nanyi's head was knocked to the side, then she turned back to look at her. Her eyes flickered slightly, and she held back the tears that were about to fall again, looking at her with dignity.
Chen Yiwen dared not meet that gaze, and became even more enraged. "You've always been like this since you were little, sharp-tongued and quick-witted. And your mother always liked people like you, and she still does now—it's my karma that you've become like that too, and now you're tormenting me!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Nanyi frowned. "Why are you saying that? If that's really the case, then doesn't Dad only love you? Besides, it's you who's not close to Mom... You can ignore me, but you can't ignore Yijing."
Chen Yiwen's eyes reddened, tears streaming down her face, yet her expression remained cold. "It's alright. If you insist on doing this, then I have nothing to say. I know you think I've spent all the money, but I can earn my own. If I weren't still so young, and Yijing wasn't sick, I wouldn't have to go through this... Over a decade of sisterhood, and it's all come to this. Do you think you're the most noble, the one who's had the hardest time? Every time I come back from a hard day's work, don't you still shove Yijing into my care? How are you any better?"
Chen Yi walked to the stairs, held onto the railing, and went upstairs, leaving Chen Nanyi with a resolute back view. "I'll give you the money. I hope you'll keep your word."
As soon as that figure disappeared, Chen Nanyi leaned against the wall, struggling to stay upright and not slip to the floor.
I slightly raised my eyes to look into the distance, where layers upon layers of mountains and forests cast a gray shadow.
As the last rays of the setting sun completely disappeared into the horizon.
Chen Nanyi finally slid down the wall, buried her head in her knees, and felt a wave of sorrow.
With her nose slightly lowered, Chen Nanyi inhaled the scent of wood carried into the living room by the west wind, while the cool, mottled white tiles on her back provided a sense of tranquility as time passed.
The pendulum clattered to the ground, then suddenly snapped with a sharp clang.
The piercing sound reached Chen Nanyi's ears, causing her to involuntarily raise her thin arm and place it across her chest.
I had to apply a little pressure to my palms to barely suppress the pain that was spreading endlessly in my chest.
Because of the abundance of forests in the Tulo Mountain area, development is difficult, and many buildings remain unchanged from years ago.
In her memory, her family had lived here for a few years when Chen Yijing was born.
Little Chen Nanyi quietly walked home through the neighborhoods that are now almost identical to those she used to walk through when she was in elementary school, without changing her routine.
For a long time, in Chen Nanyi's memory, her mother was always cooking in the kitchen at almost the same time and place every day, creating a warm and comforting scene.
The kitchen light bulb cast a warm glow, and hot food was laid out on the dining table.
When Chen Nanyi entered the room, she called out "Mom!" After her mother responded, she ran upstairs to see little Yijing.
When Chen Nanyi ran to the bottom of the stairs on the second floor, she would sometimes see Chen Yijing sitting blankly at the top of the stairs, just about to go up with a smile.
Suddenly, the tall father appeared.
He frowned slightly, nudged Yi Jing, who was sitting in the middle of the stairs, to the side like a puppy, and then slowly went downstairs.
Chen Nanyi stood to the side against the wall and timidly called out "Dad." Her father gave a curt "hmm," walked straight to the sofa, sat down, and picked up a newspaper.
Only then did Chen Nanyi dare to run up the stairs and sit with Chen Yijing, showing her the paper cranes she had made at school.
The landline phone in the living room rang, and Mr. Chen answered it. His usually stern voice suddenly softened considerably, "It's Yiwen. How are you? How have you been lately?"
"Oh, you're taking the postgraduate entrance exam... Is it difficult? Should I talk to your teacher about it...? No, it's not that I don't believe in your abilities. My daughter is so smart, she'll definitely impress those old fogies and they'll all be vying for you... Oh, Yiwen, wait a minute, I have an important call, wait until I finish this... Oh, okay, we can talk another time. Don't worry, I'll talk to your teacher. And you too, take care of yourself."
Chen's mother brought out the dishes, wiped her hands with a napkin, and asked, "Was that Yi Wen calling? Why didn't you let me talk to her?"
Mr. Chen answered another call, glanced at it coldly, and said nothing.
Chen's mother smiled gently and didn't press the matter further. She turned around and called upstairs, "Nan Yi, take Yi Jing and get ready quickly. Come down for dinner." After saying that, she turned around and went back inside to get the rice.
Chen's father's voice was somewhat cold as he spoke into the phone, "What? Lu's Enterprises wants to apply to build another high school? Hmph, even if they're rich, they can't afford to spend like this... They're probably afraid of having their past misdeeds brought up, so they're making a show of sincerity now, um... But even with a good reputation, it can't change their fundamentally corrupt nature... Oh well, our municipal government doesn't have that much money right now. If they want to build it, let them approve it. Just be careful not to let them use the opportunity to promote anything—anyway, you can just give them a little more money and collect more taxes... Okay, I'm hanging up."
A few minutes later, Chen Nanyi and the others were all sitting obediently at the dining table, waiting for their father to come and eat.
After finishing reading the newspaper, Mr. Chen finally came over and sat down.
So Chen's mother started holding Yi Jing and feeding her.
The dining table was silent. Chen Nanyi secretly glanced at her parents, who were not exchanging a word, and then lowered her head to eat her usual dull and uninteresting meal.
Mr. Chen ate a few bites and then put down his chopsticks.
Chen's mother asked curiously, "Why aren't you eating? Is the food not to your liking?"
"It's too salty," he said.
Chen's mother quickly got up. "Wait a moment, I'll go cook another dish." As she spoke, she put Chen Yijing aside and tied on her apron.
"No need, I'll eat out," Chen Shizhen stopped her, then casually added, "Tomorrow, pack your things and come with me to see Yi Wen's advisor. I have a meeting tonight, I won't be back."
After saying these words, Chen Shizhen stood up straight.
Chen's mother paused for a moment, then immediately got up to drape his coat over his shoulders, handed him his briefcase, and said with a gentle smile, "Then be careful on your way."
Mr. Chen hummed in response and left into the deep night without looking back.
After Chen Shizhen left, Chen's mother sat back down in her seat, seemingly lost in thought.
It wasn't until Chen Yijing patted her hand, saying "Food, food," while reaching out her hand, that Chen's mother realized what was happening.
She called out to Chen Nanyi, "Nanyi, feed your sister, I'll go check if the soup is ready," and then went into the kitchen.
Chen Nanyi then moved her younger sister closer while looking at her mother standing on the stove in the kitchen.
She knew that the poor woman was wiping away tears and crying, and wouldn't allow her pride to be trampled on... So she just stared at her for a few seconds, then pursed her lips and fed Chen Yijing without saying a word.
After dinner, Chen Nanyi usually does her homework, while Chen Yijing watches TV and plays in the living room.
After washing the dishes, Chen's mother would ask, "Nanyi, have you finished your homework?" -- This was after Chen's mother finished using the bathroom.
Chen Nanyi would shake her head, and her mother would say, "Then hurry up and write it, come in and take a shower later."
Chen Nanyi responded, but then stared blankly at the starry sky outside the window.
She wouldn't go into the bathroom until they were mostly ready—and then she would see Chen's mother drying Chen Yijing's hair and carefully dressing her… As for herself, she would only remind Chen Yijing when they were leaving, "You need to wash quickly, don't catch a cold."
Chen Nanyi knew perfectly well that having her mother help her take a bath was a luxury.
But Chen Yijing is already so old and can still enjoy this—even if it's due to her intelligence, it's impossible not to feel jealous. It's best to just ignore it.
When Chen Nanyi finished showering and went upstairs, she could see her mother sitting by the window in the second-floor living room, reading a book.
Upon hearing the sound, Chen's mother would look up at Chen Nanyi with a smile and say, "You're up here," before looking back down at her book.
Chen Nanyi would wear the same white pajamas as her mother, hide her pale face in the dark corner, and then say "Goodnight, Mom."
That "goodnight" always contained a lot of emotion, but that's all it is now.
As usual, Chen's mother smiled and nodded, saying, "Goodnight, Nanyi."
Chen Nanyi went back to her room and lay down, but she couldn't fall asleep.
At such a young age, it's useless to think too much.
What can she do now that Chen Yiwen refuses to give her money for medical treatment?
Countless days and nights of whispered arguments, silent beatings on rainy days, and the cold, somber life after those arguments flashed through Chen Nanyi's mind, forming a vivid and colorful chapter in her childhood understanding of the world.
Living in their world requires immense patience to survive, especially given Chen Nanyi's relatively wise nature.
Sometimes Chen Nanyi would get up to use the toilet in the middle of the night.
When she opened the door, she would find a white figure standing by the window, still awake, looking at the dark mountain path where she couldn't see where she had come from. Perhaps she was complaining that the darkness made it impossible for her husband to find his way home.
Chen Nanyi sometimes thinks that perhaps it was from that time that she started to hate white so much!
That white color probably represented something she could understand but found difficult to accept in this world from a very early age.
Small Theater
That day, the weather was fine and sunny.
Xu Xiaomeng stood excitedly at the finish line on the playground. The frustration of being pulled aside by the PE teacher he knew to record his stopwatch time had vanished—he was active in places where he might run into Chen Nanyi every day, but he never saw her.
This time, he finally found his soulmate. When he got to the preparatory class for the Chinese department, he called out Chen Nanyi's name, and she walked up to him and whispered her number of seconds...
Finally seeing the name, Xu Xiaomeng called out, "Chen Nanyi!" Excitedly looking up, she found herself facing a girl with a face full of pockmarks!
Xu Xiaomeng ⊙﹏⊙∥, “Chen Nanyi?!”
The girl (tsudo) said, "I, I'm Chen Nanyi!"
The physical education teacher, drawn by Xu Xiaomeng's surprised voice, learned the details of Chen Nanyi hiring a girl to take the exam for him and, in a fit of anger, reported it to the school.
The girl died suddenly.
Chen Nanyi (︶︿︶): "Hmph, get the hell out of my way! I only had someone take my place because I couldn't run anymore, and you still dared to tell everyone? Are you even human?"
Xu Xiaomeng said, "Sorry... don't be angry! Otherwise, I'll make up for it by giving myself to you, okay?"
Chen Nanyi: "What! How could you say such a heinous thing? I originally thought you were just bored and wanted to keep me company, but I never expected you to try to cling to me for the rest of your life! You shameless bastard!"
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