"Girl, how come you still have the leisure to do this?" Liu's mother grabbed Xiang Wan's wrist, stopping her. "People are asking me about it, how can you be so carefree?"
Xiang Wan looked up at Liu's mother, then at Liu's father, and pulled them to sit on the sofa. With a relaxed expression, she asked, "What do you want to ask? Your daughter married a good husband, so you're asking me how my life is?"
"You silly child, I'm talking to you seriously." Liu's mother looked at Xiang Wan with a relaxed expression and a hint of suspicion. "It's all over the internet, you really didn't know?"
"Oh dear, my dear parents, you actually believe those gossip stories online? I don't even believe them myself."
"real?"
Hearing Xiang Wan's words, Liu's mother felt a little relieved, and then said, "Then—the internet says about Zixi..."
"Oh, Mom, nothing of the sort. Don't worry about it. Some people are just trying to make me happy and are spreading rumors. You and Dad should just ignore them and let it go. If you take them to heart, you'll just make a fool of yourself. Why bother?"
“Go away, you’re never serious.”
"By the way, Mom, I'm going home to stay for a few days. You won't mind, will you?"
"Are you really alright?"
"It's alright, it's alright, I just missed you and Dad. I wanted to show my respect to you, is that not allowed?"
"Alright, alright, the child is back. We're overjoyed. Honey, hurry up and cook dinner, Wan'er's still hungry."
Mr. Liu hurriedly interrupted, and Mrs. Liu had no choice but to get up and go into the kitchen.
Xiang Wan knew that Liu's father had something to say, so she sat up straight on the sofa, looked at him, and waited for his question.
"Child, whether it's true or not, there's no smoke without fire. If it's Zixi's fault, I won't forgive him, and I certainly won't let Nangong Chen off the hook!"
Liu's father's eyes were burning with affection, and Xiang Wan felt a pang of sorrow, almost bringing tears to her eyes. How fortunate the original owner of this body was to have such loving parents, but sadly, they could no longer be there to enjoy their company.
Xiang Wan hugged Liu's father, blinked her slightly red eyes, and forced back the bitterness in her heart, saying in a light tone, "Dad, believe me, it's okay."
"…good!"
This was a contest between her and Nangong Chen and Liu Zixi, and no matter the outcome, it would hurt the two elders. During dinner that evening, Xiang Wan made a decision.
"Mom and Dad, I've booked plane tickets for a trip abroad. Why don't you two go on a vacation?"
"Why are you making us go out?"
Liu's mother looked disapproving, while Liu's father, seeing through everything, asked Xiang Wan, "When are you leaving?"
"I've already contacted the travel agency for tomorrow night, so I can stay as long as I want."
Liu's mother glanced at Liu's father, still somewhat disapproving. Liu's father patted her hand reassuringly, then turned to Xiang Wan and said, "I know you're filial. If we go out and aren't by your side, you'll have no one to talk to if something happens."
"Don't worry, Dad, what could possibly happen to me? Besides, I'm an adult now. Even if something does happen, I can handle it myself."
Xiang Wan acted quickly; after seeing Liu's parents off at the airport, it was still early when she returned to the villa.
Aunt Li was anxiously waiting at the door, fearing that Nangong Chen would return and discover that she had let Xiang Wan out without her permission.
"Sister Li, I'm back. I brought you a scarf, try it on and see if it fits."
With a big smile, Xiang Wan placed the gift box in Li Sao's hands, patted her arm, and said, "It's alright, Li Sao, don't worry!"
Xiang Wan walked into the villa's hall alone. Li Sao watched Xiang Wan's seemingly relaxed figure from behind, shook her head, sighed, and then went in to prepare dinner for Xiang Wan.
While they were eating, the doorbell rang. Li Sao glanced at Xiang Wan and turned to open the door.
Liu Zixi walked in looking disheveled and sat down on the sofa in the living room, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Xiang Wan didn't say anything, focused on finishing her meal, wiped her mouth, then poured two glasses of water, handed one to Liu Zixi, and sat down opposite him.
Liu Zixi seemed to have just come to her senses. She looked at Xiang Wan, then brought the water glass to her lips, took a sip, and lowered her head in silence.
Xiang Wan put down her water glass, sighed, and spoke first, "Zixi, what's wrong?"
The caring tone was as usual, but it left Liu Zixi momentarily stunned.
"Sis, tell me, am I a failure?"
Liu Zixi's voice was trembling with tears. Xiang Wan silently looked at the coffee table and did not respond.
Liu Zixi continued, "From childhood to adulthood, you've always been my role model, given me advice, and arranged everything for me. You've given me whatever I want."
After a pause, Liu Zixi seemed to remember something, gave a bitter smile, and said, "Remember when you tricked me into wearing a dress? Mom wouldn't buy it for me, so I stole your favorite one, but no matter how I wore it, I didn't look as good as you. Why can't I look better? I don't like how you look so good, everyone's eyes are drawn to you. I'm not bad either, they just can't see me. Remember that graduation ball? Your dress ripped and tore, hahaha, you wouldn't believe it, would you? It was me, hahahaha, your most well-behaved little brother did it, hahahahahaha."
Liu Zixi laughed until tears streamed down her face, her body trembled slightly, and finally turned into soft sobs.
“I know, Zixi, I know you did it.”
Xiang Wan's words silenced Liu Zixi, who asked in a hoarse voice, "You knew? Why didn't you blame me? You made such a fool of yourself, why didn't you say anything afterward?"
"Because you are my younger brother, the younger brother I raised and cherished. I want to protect you!"
Heaven knows how much effort Xiang Wan used to calm the original owner's anger. At this moment, she couldn't lose her temper; she needed to extract the truth from Liu Zixi—why did the younger brother the original owner cherished so much ultimately betray her?
"Hahaha, hahahaha."
Liu Zixi seemed to have heard something unbelievable, and burst into laughter. But as she laughed, she started to cry, covering her face with her hands and her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
"You know what? I've been jealous of you since I was little. I'm jealous that you can wear pretty dresses and have pretty braids. Why was I born a boy? I'm not reconciled. I also want to dress up beautifully every day and receive love letters. But all the boys who admire you only treat me like a younger brother, until I met Nangong Chen."
You don't know, I liked him from the very first moment I saw him. I've never liked anyone like this in my entire life, but he's going to marry you!
I was with him regardless of everything, giving up everything else, but he actually said he didn't want me anymore.
Hahaha, how could he do this? I gave him everything, and he actually called me disgusting?
"Sister, you've always given me everything since we were little. This time, please give me some too, okay? Let me have Nangong Chen, okay, sister?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com