Chapter 22 022 The puppy only has one owner (Xiu)...
Shen Yi was a little confused, but seeing Shen Yu's serious expression, she gave Song Yang a wink.
Song Yang had always been dissatisfied with Shen Yi's attitude of summoning him at will and dismissing him at will, but he could sense that the atmosphere in the air seemed more serious than he had expected. He vaguely realized that what was about to be said might not be something he should hear, so he obediently got up and walked towards the door.
With his hand on the doorknob, Song Yang glanced back at Shen Yi, his eyes telling her to call him if she needed anything.
He nodded silently to show that he understood.
Watching the interaction between the two, Shen Yu's feelings were somewhat complicated. He was clearly Shen Yi's older brother, so why did this guy seem to trust Song Yang more?
Although it had always been like this since he was a child, the two of them always conspired to harm him.
Thinking of this, Shen Yu was furious, but he still relied on reason to ignore Song Yang's presence just now and tried to bring the focus back.
Shen Yu looked at Shen Yi. Her face was still a little pale. The wounds, which weren't actually that serious, looked so shocking on her pampered, fair face. The question that was about to come out of his mouth turned into a question: "Does it still hurt?"
Shen Yi: "?"
Was it necessary to specifically send Song Yang away to ask such a question? Was it really necessary?
Shen Yi didn't say anything, but her expression silently criticized everything.
In the end, Shen Yu could only awkwardly withdraw his hand, which was halfway raised, and was forced to stop the tender moment that had not yet begun.
Shen Yi felt a little embarrassed by the sweet talk and touched her arm directly: "What are you doing? You know perfectly well what happened."
Shen Yu countered with, "So?"
"You know perfectly well that we are not related by blood, and we are not siblings, so why are you here asking if I live or die?"
At this point, Shen Yi felt a lump in her throat.
I said things I shouldn't have said; they were very willful.
She was blaming Shen Yu for only coming to see her now.
Even though the nurse said when changing her dressing that Shen Yu had been watching over her until she woke up yesterday, it doesn't count because she couldn't see or know what happened before she woke up.
Even though I know I have no right or standing to say such things, I still habitually utter these blaming and complaining words, which are clearly meant to be coquettish. This is something I only do with people I'm close to.
The girl's eyes reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes, but after realizing she had said something inappropriate, she turned her face away from him.
Shen Yu first apologized to her: "I'm sorry, this happened so suddenly, everything is in a mess. Dad said that Song Yang is with you, so he's temporarily entrusting you to him."
Shen Yu raised his hand to wipe away Shen Yi's tears, then chuckled and said with a touch of emotion, "What are you saying? No matter what happens, I'll always be your brother. But you've never really called me brother before, always just Shen Yu Shen Yu, always so disrespectful. Now you're holding a grudge."
Shen Yi also retorted in the same manner: "How disgusting. Stop with the mushy stuff and just say what you mean."
The brother and sister have known each other for so many years that they understand each other very well.
So much so that when Shen Yi recalled Shen Yu's serious expression when she first entered the ward, she knew that he must have something to say to her, which was why he came here and deliberately sent Song Yang away.
"I do have something to say."
Shen Yu's expression revealed a hint of helplessness, and he covered his eyes with one hand, clearly feeling powerless. He said, "But the moment I saw you, I realized I was overthinking things."
These words piqued Shen Yi's curiosity. As a patient, she forcefully pulled Shen Yu's hand away, forcing him to look directly at her, and urged, "Say it, don't keep me in suspense."
That day.
That nonsensical line, "If I weren't your sister," coupled with Shen Yi's various abnormal behaviors afterward, all pointed to the same answer: from the moment the truth was revealed, it tormented Shen Yu.
He needs an answer.
But when I saw her vulnerable state, I couldn't bear it.
Isn't it the best outcome if he doesn't ask and acts as if nothing happened?
Shen Yi seemed to empathize with Shen Yu's dilemma and asked, "What are you afraid of?"
"No."
Shen Yu denied it, but his expression clearly said otherwise. Under Shen Yi's burning gaze, he felt he had nowhere to escape, so he forced himself to ask the question that had been bothering him: "When did you find out about this?"
Shen Yi was slightly taken aback.
She doesn't like lying, and she doesn't know where she slipped up so that Shen Yu could see through her lie, but the current situation is what she has to face.
She answered with some difficulty, "A little earlier than you."
The answer was as expected.
Shen Yu's pupils trembled slightly as he continued, "How did you know?"
Shen Yi replied, "I cannot say."
It's impossible to say, that's the truth.
Using excuses like dreaming won't work either. Based on Shen Yi's understanding of Shen Yu, he is a staunch atheist who doesn't believe in anything that goes against science and thinks that 90% of the amazing coincidences online are just an act.
Someone like that wouldn't believe her absurd explanation; it would be better for her to refuse to answer from the start.
Shen Yu continued, "Then why didn't you tell us?"
Shen Yi also remained calm and replied, "I can't say. Besides, this is bound to happen, so there's no need for me to say it."
Shen Yu didn't understand what she was talking about: "Why are you so sure?"
Thinking about this...
Shen Yi smiled slightly: "Because the decision is mine. Even without that car accident, I could easily have cut my wrists or jumped off a building to create a scene where I need a blood transfusion."
[...]
It even began to feel fortunate that it hadn't managed to prevent the car accident, otherwise, what if Shen Yi regretted it one day and decided to slit its wrists? That would be too bloody!
Shen Yi's words surprised Shen Yu, but at the same time, he realized something more important—
She not only knew about it, but also knew how it happened?
Is this reasonable?
Shen Yu remained silent, staring intently at Shen Yi, trying to find the answer in his face. Finally, he understood and retorted, "...You broke down because you couldn't accept the truth, so you went crazy and took all the blame on yourself? Why don't you just say you're actually a wizard who can divine and know the fate and future of all of us?"
Shen Yi: "..."
Although there were some discrepancies, she really did know them all.
Shen Yu was speechless.
How could he possibly think Shen Yi had that kind of brain? Her? She has that kind of ability? Knowing this, could she really keep it a secret? Her? ???
Since Shen Yu had asked, Shen Yi really didn't want to lie, so she simply said, "Anyway, I do know some things that you don't know, but I can't tell you the specific reasons, and it's no use asking me."
"Mmm mmm mmm mmm."
Shen Yu nodded perfunctorily: "Yes, yes, you know everything, you're amazing! Wow, Lady Witch, we're saved!"
Shen Yi: "...?"
What kind of attitude is that?
Shen Yu's gaze fell on Shen Yi's face, and his expression softened even more.
That was his younger sister whom he had watched grow up.
When he was little, Shen Yu often boasted to his friends that his younger sister was beautiful and cute, and the cutest little angel in the world.
Although Shen Yi's arrogance became uncontrollable after she grew up, Shen Yu was often so angry with her that he said he wished he didn't have a sister like her eight hundred times, but not a single word of it was sincere.
She is so vulnerable right now.
This made him feel even more guilty. Shen Yi was also a victim, so how could he think of her like that, be so harsh on her, and say such things?
Look! She's so angry she's spouting nonsense here!
Shen Yu shook his head, inwardly lamenting that he was truly inhuman.
Right now.
Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Shen's parents arrived together, followed by Song Yang.
Finally, Chen's mother was no longer looking sad. She said, "Yiyi, your father and mother have come to see you. Your sister will also come to pick you up from the hospital tomorrow. How about we have a meal together as a family?"
Seeing her daughter, whom she had cherished for so many years, looking so haggard in the hospital bed, how could she not feel heartbroken? She tried to coax Shenyi into accepting the situation in a tone as if she were talking to a child.
We still have to face this moment.
Shen Yi forced a smile and replied, "The doctor said it's just superficial injuries and nothing serious. Also, I don't plan to go back."
Compared to the surprise of Shen Yu and Shen's mother, Shen's father only found it somewhat amusing to look at Shen Yi.
What is she doing now? Daughters are such fussy and troublesome creatures.
Thinking this way.
Mr. Shen's tone was somewhat impatient: "We'll buy you whatever you want. You just have a younger sister now. Your treatment at home won't change. Are you at ease now?"
Shen Yi was somewhat puzzled.
What did he mean by that?
Shen Yu stood up to stop them, but Song Yang scratched his head first, afraid that they would start arguing at any moment. With a headache-like expression, he interjected, "Uncle and Aunt, I know you are my elders, and it's not my place to say such things. But can you please not argue when this guy has just escaped death and barely survived?"
Although Song Yang usually seems unreliable, what he said this time was really reasonable.
"Yiyi, get some rest. We'll come pick you up tomorrow." As he said this, Mr. Shen put his arm around his wife's shoulder and was about to leave, clearly not caring about what Shen Yu had just said.
Song Yang grabbed Shen Yu's shoulder.
In front of Shen's parents, the blond boy's previously feigned relaxed expression vanished without a trace. He said, "Shen Yu, I'll see you downstairs."
Shen Yu was baffled: "When did I say I was leaving?"
Song Yang put his arm around Shen Yu's shoulder and forcibly pulled him outside, leaving Shen Yi with only the words, "Send me what kind of books you want to read, and I'll go to the bookstore and find some for you. I'll be right back."
＊
Song Yang made a slip of the tongue.
He didn't return for a full two hours, carrying several shoujo manga in his hand, and there was a bruise under his eye that was impossible to ignore at a glance.
Shen Yi, who had been half-lying down and dozing, immediately sat up upon seeing this and asked with concern, "What's wrong with you?"
"I bumped into a wall while walking." Song Yang told an outrageous lie and placed the comic book in his hand on the bedside table: "The shopkeeper said these are all the latest ones, you probably haven't seen them before, so I bought them all."
"Thank you, Song Yang."
Shen Yi said this, but then disagreed, saying, "But you shouldn't fight with Shen Yu."
Song Yang: "...?"
How did she know?
Thinking about Shen Yu's attitude when it was just the two of them left, Song Yang still felt annoyed.
Actually, he just wanted to ask Shen Yu what he had said to get rid of him, but Shen Yu suddenly got angry and insisted that it was his fault that Shen Yi refused to go home, and that he had brainwashed Shen Yi last night! He also said that he would definitely bring Shen Yi back to the Shen family!
Good heavens.
Song Yang didn't understand. What did it have to do with him?
Just because he often ran away from home with Shen Yi when he was a child, did Shen Yu suspect him? Those were all things from when he was a child, how could he still remember them? Shen Yu is such a petty person.
Song Yang did not agree to Shen Yi's request. He simply lay on the quilt at the foot of the bed, raised his head and gave Shen Yi a bright smile: "Whatever choice you make, I will support you."
No matter what happens, no matter what anyone says, he only listens to her.
So if Shen Yu says something she doesn't want to hear, she'll chase him away.
Without any reason or logic.
Because the puppy only has one owner.
*
The next afternoon.
Perhaps because of Shen Yu's obstruction, or perhaps because of Shen Yi's insistence, the driver who came last from the Shen family told Shen Yi that he would take her to live with the Jiang family.
Compared to the astonishment on Song Yang's face, Shen Yi breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, thank you for your hard work."
In the original storyline, the Jiang family was unwilling to take Shen Yi back as their daughter, and she herself wanted to stay. Since no one strongly refused, the Shen family naturally kept her in the end.
The situation is different now; she can really leave.
Upon seeing the old alleyway, Song Yang could no longer remain silent. He even regretted driving Shen Yu away yesterday and not letting him try to persuade Shen Yi again. He started to back down on Shen Yi's behalf: "Do you really want to live in a place like this?"
Shen Yi didn't object and got out of the car first: "I should have been born here."
She had carefully examined both the Jiang family's and Xu Qingzhe's families.
Although it's an old and dilapidated apartment, it has all the necessary living facilities. You won't have to boil water many times to take a shower or have to leave the house to use the toilet.
so.
There is no problem with living a normal life.
If she can't get along well with her family, she can always go to the dormitory, but the dormitory fees at the school are a bit high. Unless it's a last resort, Shenyi still won't consider this path.
Even if the Jiang family can't provide her with living expenses, she still has 20,000 yuan left in her bank account. If she's frugal, it'll be enough for her to live on, and she can even get a scholarship when she's in her senior year of high school.
In any case, there is no situation where one must return to the Shen family to live.
The only thing that's bothering me is...
It's probably the food.
Shenyi doesn't like to eat vegetables, but even an ordinary family can't eat meat to their heart's content every meal, right?
never mind.
Just treat it as a way to lose weight.
Shen Yi walked ahead; she still remembered the way to the Jiang family's house.
Song Yang followed behind her, carrying some luggage in his hands.
last night.
Song Yang also went to the Shen family on Shen Yi's behalf and took some things that originally belonged to her.
Aside from her schoolbag, Shen Yi only asked Song Yang to help her get her school uniform and a few sets of clothes and shoes to change into; nothing else.
This is a necessity.
Other things are optional.
certainly.
Song Yang threw the bank card that Shen Yu had forced on him back. He had money too! He didn't need it!
Walking along the alleyway, Shen Yi suddenly looked up at the sky: "Song Yang, I think I've become a little more independent."
It's not just about leaving "home" alone; life will soon depend on oneself.
It also deviated from the plot.
If she hadn't stayed with the Shen family as the plot would have unfolded, would some of the "plot points" have been avoided, and would her ending have been different?
Thinking about this...
Shen Yi felt increasingly relaxed and even a little expectant.
Song Yang naturally didn't understand what she meant, and simply said, "Of course, just tell me what you need, and I'll have the money to buy it for you. You don't need to ask them for it."
Shen Yi wanted to say, "Relying on you doesn't make you independent," but in the end, she felt it was unnecessary to say it and instead said, "Okay, thank you."
Song Yang delivered the suitcase to the Jiang family's door and left in a very unpleasant manner under Shen Yi's urging.
He worked hard for Shen Yi like a slave, only to be driven away when she arrived at her destination.
That's outrageous! That's absolutely outrageous!
Song Yang hailed a taxi on the roadside, feeling annoyed, and went home, thinking about discussing with his mother whether it was feasible to let Shen Yi stay at their house.
＊
The gate of the Jiang family's courtyard.
Last time, Shen Yi was a guest; she never expected that she would be returning home now.
Shen Yi raised her head, reached out and gripped her suitcase tightly, mustered her courage and pushed open the door to go inside.
Shen Yi was mentally prepared that the Jiang family probably wouldn't welcome her very much.
But it doesn't matter, as long as she has a place to sleep and food to eat, that's enough.
Coincidentally.
The moment Shen Yi pulled her suitcase through the door, she was met with the figure of a man walking out of the house.
This is……
Her father.
Their eyes met.
Shen Yi swallowed nervously and said, "...Dad, Dad."
The man's face looked more weathered than before, his stubble hadn't been shaved for days, and his hair had grown so long that it was partially obscuring his eyes.
The moment he saw Shen Yi, he seemed stunned, his gaze lingering on her for a long time. Finally, he raised his hand to wipe away his tears and said, "Good girl... good girl."
He muttered to himself as he limped over to help Shen Yi with her luggage, saying, "The room is over here. I'll take you there. The house is small, so please don't mind."
The thought of living here in the future, leaving behind her previous luxurious life, would inevitably leave Shen Yi feeling a sense of loss.
But when she heard her father say such humble words, she felt a lump in her throat and couldn't think about anything else.
"Dad, please don't say that. It wasn't your fault. Neither Jiang Yue nor I will hold a grudge against you."
Shen Yi followed her father into the room, glancing around at her surroundings.
Although the room was small, it was tidy and spotless.
Although the tables and chairs were old, they were well-preserved, clearly showing that Jiang Yue had taken good care of them. The four-piece bedding set on the bed was brand new, obviously bought specifically for her.
The man's deep gaze lingered for a while, making the honest and taciturn man lick his lips somewhat awkwardly: "...You're not used to living here, are you? It's okay, have your mother talk to the Shen family again in a couple of days and ask them to let you stay."
Jiang's father also didn't understand why the Shen family's attitude had changed so quickly.
Originally, when they sent their secretary to discuss the aftermath, they were willing to offer a high compensation fee, on the condition that Shen Yi and Jiang Yue both stay in the Shen family.
But suddenly.
They sent someone to tell them that Shenyi would be returning and that they should prepare.
In the meantime...
What exactly happened?
"Need not."
Shen Yi gave her father a bright smile and said, "Dad, I want to live in my own home. I also want to spend more time with Mom, Dad, and my brother. Don't you miss me?"
Even if we are poor, even if we have arguments, even if the future is uncertain.
Both are better than living under someone else's roof.
She was smiling, but her eyes were filled with sadness, and her tone carried a hint of grievance that she herself was unaware of.
After a while.
Jiang's father stroked Shenyi's head, looking at the unhealed wound on her face with immense pity, and then said in a coaxing tone, "Thank them. Dad knows you're a good child, and they've raised you very well. Dad was wrong, and Dad won't mention it again. Please don't cry, okay?"
Shen Yi sniffed and nodded: "Okay."
Jiang's father continued, "Then Dad will go cook first. You get some rest. Your mother will pick up your younger brother tonight, and we'll all have a nice meal together as a family."
＊
After Jiang's father left, Shen Yi quickly packed her luggage.
Actually, there wasn't much involved, and it was done very quickly.
As soon as I sat down at my desk, my focused gaze was drawn to the windowsill in front of me.
There were many small potted plants on the windowsill, including cacti and some small flowers that she didn't recognize.
They were probably all raised by Jiang Yue.
As Shen Yi looked at the small potted plants, she unexpectedly noticed a small arrow drawn in chalk on the edge of the windowsill, pointing towards a book.
Shen Yi picked up the book and, sure enough, found an envelope inside.
Realizing what it was, Shen Yi hesitated for a long time before finally mustering the courage to open it.
[Yiyi, are you feeling alright? You need to rest, I'm very worried about you.]
I left you some pork floss and taro sandwiches in the freezer. I was worried you might not like the food and go hungry, so I prepared extra.
My feelings are indeed mixed right now, and I think you are too, which is why you're reluctant to come back so soon. Let's both take some time to adjust, but please remember, I'm waiting for you to come back.
Shen Yi didn't know what Shen Yu had said to Jiang Yue, but it seemed that Jiang Yue still thought her departure was only temporary.
The more Jiang Yue treated her this way, the more determined she became.
She was determined never to return to the Shen family and to prevent the beautiful life that belonged to Jiang Yue from being disrupted.
She just didn't expect Jiang Yue to leave her such a letter as well. So she hoped that Jiang Yue would see and use the notebook that she had Song Yang send over.
＊
The Shen family.
Not understanding how to use the ice maker in front of her, Jiang Yue returned to her desk and took out a small notebook.
The cover is a pink, fluffy notebook with a very somber style. Each page describes how to use each appliance/furniture. The back is filled with scattered notes about the Shen family, including some of their regular family dinners, the appearances and personalities of the families they visit most often, and the living habits and preferences of the parents and Shen Yu.
This notebook was a great help to Jiang Yue.
In her opinion, Shen Yi was as amazing as a prophet, who had guessed what kind of "trouble" she would encounter after arriving at the Shen family. He had written down the usage of every item she needed but was not very familiar with, making him practically an "encyclopedia".
The new maid saw this and curled her lip in disdain: "Miss, I think she's just provoking you by sending you something like this. She wants to show off that she knows this house better than you do!"
She had only been in the Shen family for a short time, but compared to Shen Yi's imperious young lady attitude, Jiang Yue was much gentler and more respectful to each of the servants, treating them like friends. This had already won Jiang Yue over completely in a short period of time.
Even if Shen Yi comes back, she won't treat her with the respect due to a master! She's not even worth a single finger of Miss Jiang Yue!
Jiang Yue's originally gentle expression instantly turned serious upon hearing these words. She closed her notebook and said, "You can't say that about Shen Yi. She's not that kind of person."
The maid was slightly taken aback.
She had never seen such an expression on Miss Jiang Yue's face before, but unfortunately, her mouth worked faster than her brain: "Miss, it's because you're too kind that you can't see through her low-level tricks. I said she just has a genetic problem, what's that word again, 'inherent inferiority'..."
"I've already told you to stop talking."
Jiang Yue's tone unconsciously became stronger as she spoke. She put down her notebook, stood up, and walked outside, saying sternly, "I will talk to my parents about this and tell them that I want to fire you."
Her voice remained as gentle as ever, yet at this moment it sounded so cold and unfamiliar.
The maid stood there for a long time before realizing that the person who had just said she was going to be fired was actually the gentle and easy-going Miss Jiang.
Are you crazy?
She was clearly standing up for Miss Jiang and worried about her! Why did she treat her like this?
Jiang Yue walked to the corridor, reached out and grasped the handrail, and looked down at the empty main hall.
She had to project an authoritative aura to shut these people up.
Otherwise, even if Shen Yi returns to the Shen family, she won't be happy.
only……
When will Chen Yi be able to return?
＊
Lunch.
The feast was even more lavish than the last time Jiang's father celebrated his birthday. In front of Shen Yi was a large pot of braised beef brisket with tomatoes.
Jiang's father put some beef into her bowl: "I remember you liked this dish last time."
Shen Yi was engrossed in eating when she heard this and was surprised. She didn't expect that Jiang's father would still remember her preferences.
Realizing what Shen Yi was thinking, Jiang's father explained, "After all, you were the first friend Yueyue brought home, but I just didn't expect..."
At this point, his voice lowered, and he realized a beat later that this was a topic that should not be brought up again.
"Indeed, it's quite a coincidence."
As Shen Yi spoke, she also put a piece of beef into Jiang's father's bowl, trying to change the subject, and looked at Jiang's mother with some nervousness.
She remembered Jiang Yue saying that Jiang's mother favored her younger brother and wasn't very kind to Jiang Yue.
Meeting Shen Yi's gaze, Jiang's mother put down her chopsticks somewhat awkwardly and said, "Why are you looking at me? Am I not letting you eat or drink? Don't make it sound like I'm abusing my child."
She complained, not giving Shen Yi much of a look, and turned to peel shrimp for Jiang Pangbao.
At this moment, the only person eating in silence at this table is Jiang Pangbao.
For a child, such a dramatic change is hard to accept.
What do you mean by saying his sister isn't his sister? The beautiful lady who came to visit last time is his sister.
Jiang Pangbao became more and more upset. He was usually very enthusiastic at mealtimes, but now he just kept his head down and ate his rice, tears falling into his rice.
He doesn't understand these things.
He just wants his sister to come back.
Although his older sister often scolded and berated him every day, treating him like a servant, she would also make him delicious little cakes, telling him that they were specially made for him with reduced sugar content so that he wouldn't gain weight. She would patiently teach him how to do problems again and again until he had completely mastered them, and she never mocked him as a stupid pig like his classmates did.
Finally, after his mother scolded him for eating so slowly, he exploded.
The boy stood up abruptly and cried out to Shen Yi, "I want my sister! I want my sister back! Give my sister back to me!"
He was so emotional that he slammed the chopsticks in his hand onto the ground.
"Jiang Jiabao!"
Jiang's father angrily rebuked him and slapped Jiang Jiabao across the face. He then got up and searched for tools in the yard, grabbing a clothes hanger to continue.
What are you doing?!
Jiang's mother immediately shielded her son in her arms and said, "He's just a child who doesn't know any better. He'll be fine after a little discipline. You dare to lay a hand on him!"
The parents were facing off.
Jiang Pangbao glared at Chen Yi, but said, "You're not allowed to call me Jiang Pangbao! That's the name my sister gave me! You're not allowed to call me that!"
After saying that, Jiang Pangbao pushed his mother's hand away and broke free from her embrace. He didn't seem to do it on purpose, but because of his weight, he overturned the dining table with too much force. He paused for a moment, then turned around and ran outside.
It was already dark.
Jiang's mother hurriedly put down her chopsticks, got up, and anxiously chased after him.
Jiang's father looked at the wound on Shen Yi's face with remorse: "Yi Yi, Dad is sorry. Please don't take what he said to heart..."
"fine."
Shen Yi interrupted Jiang's father first, trying her best to act as if nothing was wrong: "You should go and take a look too. It's not safe so late. I'll take care of things here."
Although Jiang's father has difficulty walking, Jiang Pangbao's physical strength is limited and she probably can't run too far. If she were to search for her, she might get lost in the winding alleys, which would only make the situation more complicated.
It's too late now, and we can't leave a child out alone.
Jiang's father also understood this principle. Although he felt sorry for Shen Yi, he could only say, "I'll give him a good beating when I get back," before rushing out to look for him.
Shen Yi squatted down on the ground.
Looking at the mess on the ground, she grabbed a trash can and silently began to clean up.
Although I can't use my left hand very well yet, it doesn't affect doing this kind of thing with only one hand.
until--
A shard of ceramic cut Shenyi's finger.
Fresh blood dripped onto the ground.
She had countless wounds like these after the car accident, so they were nothing special.
But Shen Yi couldn't help himself.
She buried her face in her knees and wept silently.
Shenyi used to be very mischievous and made a lot of noise. Even her cries were louder than others since she was a child.
I don't know when it started, but she actually learned to cry quietly like this.
She understood Jiang Jiabao and didn't blame him.
It's normal for him to be so sad and heartbroken when his older sister, with whom he's lived since childhood, suddenly leaves. She even feels happy that someone is so reluctant to part with Jiang Yue.
Shen Yi raised her hand and wiped her face with her wrist. She tilted her head back, trying to stop her tears so she could continue tidying up, but through the half-open door, she met the boy's dark eyes.
as always.
It is sinister and profound, yet carries even more obscure emotions.
＊
Chen Yi sat down on a chair to the side.
After entering the room, Xu Qingzhe worked quickly and soon cleaned up the mess on the floor. He even went inside and found a mop, making the floor even cleaner than before.
Chen Yi stared at the ground.
The water stains on the ground were still wet, and at this moment they were shiny black, even with faint light and shadow, as if reflecting the moon.
Xu Qingzhe washed the mop clean and put it back in its place. He then washed his hands carefully and came out of the house. He saw Shen Yi still staring blankly, with a hint of worry between his brows.
“Deep in thought.”
He called her name and walked quickly over.
"...Eh."
Shen Yi reacted a beat late, and after seeing Xu Qingzhe standing in front of her, she finally realized what she should say: "Thank you for helping me."
Xu Qingzhe didn't respond, but instead asked, "Want to go for a walk?"
＊
For some reason, the destination of the walk was Xu Qingzhe's house.
Shen Yi didn't want to talk, she just sat quietly in the chair, raised her head and let Xu Qingzhe help her change the dressing on her wound.
The moment the cotton swab dipped in iodine was applied to the wound, she couldn't help but reach out and grab Xu Qingzhe's wrist because of the pain, wanting to stop him from continuing.
"Sorry, I'll be gentler."
As Xu Qingzhe said this, he saw that Shen Yi still showed no intention of letting go.
Too.
From the moment he met her today, she had been in this somewhat dazed state, always a beat slow to react.
Xu Qingzhe didn't say anything more, but simply switched the cotton swab to his other hand and ended the disinfection before Shen Yi could react and stop him again.
He found some gauze, used medical tape to secure it to Shen Yi's forehead, and said, "All done."
Shen Yi's gaze, however, had somehow bypassed Xu Qingzhe and gone to the medical kit behind him, before returning to him.
She didn't say anything, but her meaning was clear.
How could he have such a thing? His stockpile is so complete.
Xu Qingzhe didn't want to explain too much about himself to her, so he simply said, "I used to get into fights a lot, and I always got hurt."
Fortunately, Shen Yi simply nodded and didn't seem inclined to ask any further questions.
There was a moment of silence.
Shen Yi spoke up first: "I thought you would ask me what happened."
Xu Qingzhe was packing up the first-aid kit: "Although it's not very polite to say it like that, I actually witnessed the whole thing."
He had only heard that Shen Yi had moved in and wanted to go see her, but he didn't expect to stumble upon that awkward scene, unsure whether to go in or leave.
Therefore, he felt even more sorry for Shen Yi. Although he was not good at comforting people, he still said fiercely, "That kid is just being unreasonable. If you need me, I can go and beat him up for you."
Shen Yi felt a slight headache.
She couldn't help but think of Song Yang's arrogant remarks, which made her wonder why there were so many people around her who resorted to violence to solve problems.
Would beating up Jiang Pangbao have been effective?
It might work, after all, Jiang Yue beat him into submission.
But the two things are completely different in nature.
If you beat Jiang Pangbao into submission, he will only resent her more. It's pointless to truly be angry but dare not speak out.
Shen Yi felt a headache coming on, but was still worried about Jiang Pangbao's safety. She stood up and said, "I should go home now. Thank you for today too."
"Okay." Xu Qingzhe had no reason to stop her, and stood up, saying, "I'll take you back."
On the way back, it was as silent as it had been on the way there.
The silence made Xu Qingzhe feel uncomfortable, recalling how she used to chatter away.
She and he lived in different worlds, so she was curious about everything here.
Tofu for one yuan a piece, an old-fashioned sewing machine at the alley entrance, and groups of small dogs by the roadside.
She can be interested in any ordinary matter and will talk about it endlessly.
Although he didn't pay much attention to her, his gaze never left her.
She would always ask him, "What is this?" "How do I use this?" "Wow, this is amazing!" Xu Qingzhe used to think she was very noisy and the most troublesome person in the world.
But now...
Her silence, which was exactly what he had hoped for, now made him feel strangely uneasy.
Xu Qingzhe also knew that too many things had happened to Shen Yi in the past two days, and it was too much to ask her to immediately return to her previous state.
When they arrived at the Jiang family's door, he finally spoke up: "...The desk arrived, it's very useful."
Shen Yi seemed to be stunned for a moment before realizing what he was talking about, and then said, "That's good."
“The desk is big enough for two people to sit comfortably. I moved the bed in the room before I finally found a suitable spot.” Xu Qingzhe said, but his gaze was somewhat unfocused and he dared not look into Shen Yi’s eyes. He continued, “Your home doesn’t seem to be very suitable for studying. If you’d like, you can come to my place anytime… staying overnight is also fine.”
"Thank you for your kind offer, but I don't think it's appropriate."
As Shen Yi said this, she looked up with some surprise. This was the first time today that she had looked at Xu Qingzhe's face so seriously, trying hard to find the reason for his current abnormality.
Is it because you witnessed her being rejected and driven away by Jiang Jiabao that you felt sympathy for her?
Xu Qingzhe didn't understand his own stubbornness at this moment. He impulsively grabbed Shen Yi's wrist to stop her from entering the house and pressed her for an answer: "What's inappropriate?"
Shen Yi struggled to break free from Xu Qingzhe's grasp, but after failing, she could only ponder, finally asking, "What reason do I have to go to your house?"
All that remained in her eyes was indifference.
Just like him that day.
Is it because he harbors resentment over what happened that day, and deliberately said such things to retaliate against Xu Qingzhe?
That's not the case.
Shen Yi is genuinely perplexed by this.
She didn't understand why Xu Qingzhe's attitude had changed so drastically in such a short time.
She couldn't think of any other answer besides sympathy.
Shen Yi didn't like this.
She hasn't ended up with the tragic fate depicted in the story. She's simply returned to her normal life. Although dealing with some troubles is difficult, she's far from needing anyone's sympathy.
Why should you wallow in self-pity over something like this?
What will happen after that?
To Shen Yi, any pity she felt for her was like a mockery of her, saying, "You can't even handle this little thing after leaving the Shen family."
Shen Yi knew it wasn't good to think this way, but she had no choice; this was what they called being hampered by pride.
So when she saw the obvious hurt on Xu Qingzhe's face, she finally had a chance to break free from his hand and said, "I'm going in. You should go back early too, and be careful on the way."
After saying that, she went inside without looking back at Xu Qingzhe.
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