Sui Yan gazed deeply at the indistinct figure beneath a certain tree, her gaze slowly becoming unfocused.
It was him again.
Why did he always appear at times like this? Every time, he came to help her when she was at her most miserable and desperate.
Yet he only helped her out of pity and sympathy, not because he liked her.
Sui Yan drew the curtains and returned to the bedside.
She still didn't want to see Qi Linhan, she didn't want to feel that she was always pitied by him.
Just like now, it was surely because of guilt again.
Qi Linhan stood beneath that tree, reluctant to look away from the window that had once again dimmed.
...
Liu Hua and Xu Yi left home early the next morning, but they left a note for Xu Mo, telling him to keep an eye on Sui Yu.
Sui Yan pretended that she hadn't seen anything last night and got up early in the morning.
Xu Mo was originally making breakfast for his sister downstairs, and was a little surprised to see her coming down: "Sister, why are you up so early today?"
Sui Yan responded indifferently and walked over slowly: "Don't make too much, just something simple will do."
Xu Mo's movements paused for a moment: "Okay."
Ti Zi followed proudly behind Sui Yan, looking at the slender girl in front of it with both nostalgia and heartache.
After Sui Yan sat on the couch, it raised its paw and placed it beside her: "Woof!"
Sui Yan, you should cheer up a bit.
Sui Yan gently grasped Ti Zi's wolf paw: "Ti Zi, do you know... who I really am?"
Was she the Sui Yan who committed suicide, or the Sui Yan who was doted on while growing up?
Ti Zi jumped onto the couch and lay beside Sui Yan, looking into her eyes.
It didn't make a sound, but Sui Yan knew what it meant to say.
Sui Yan, you are always you, always the person I must protect.
Sui Yan curled up into a small ball, still having difficulty accepting those memories.
Although in either life, those were things she had truly experienced.
But Sui Yan didn't dare dwell on them, because recalling the past decade or so of this life, she could clearly know: perhaps they were good to her out of guilt at first, but slowly it became a genuine affection.
Sui Yan didn't want to admit this thought, for fear that she would be unable to stop recalling their kindness towards her.
She was afraid she would forget the pain of her previous life.
Xu Mo placed a bowl of exquisite porridge in front of Sui Yan: "Sister, have something to eat first, I'll go out for a bit."
Sui Yan didn't think too much about it, she slowly stirred the porridge with a spoon, seeming a little absent-minded: "Mmm."
Xu Mo pursed his lips, then turned and went out the door.
As soon as he was out, he walked decisively in a certain direction: "What are you hiding here for?"
Sui Yu emerged from behind the tree: "Xu Mo."
Xu Mo was a little shocked to see his haggard and exhausted appearance, but he still kept a cold expression: "When you hurt my sister back then, what were you thinking? Was all your usual care for her fake? Are you putting on this act now to make her pity you?"
Sui Zhi raised his eyes: "We won't appear in front of Sui Yan, we just want to see her. Is she... doing okay?"
Xu Mo sneered: "Thanks to you, she's not doing well at all."
Qi Linhan, who had just come out, froze when he heard this, his fingers unconsciously clenching.
Before, Xu Mo had always disliked Qi Linhan, and it was only recently that he had finally accepted him as his future brother-in-law, but now this happened.
Of course, he wasn't going to be polite now: "And you, pretending to love and care so much for my sister. But look what happened."
Xu Mo looked at them coldly: "I don't know what you did to my sister, but unless she forgives you, please stay away from her."
Qiao Ze also walked over: "Don't worry, we'll be mindful of that. You..."
Xu Mo cut him off directly: "I know how to take care of my sister, no need for you to say more."
He said that and went straight back inside, not saying another word to Sui Yu and the others.
But as soon as he entered, Xu Mo saw his sister looking at him with a flat expression.
He felt a little guilty: "Sister, what's wrong?"
Sui Yan lowered her head to drink the porridge: "Nothing."
Xu Mo relaxed a little, but before he could fully unwind, he heard his sister's indifferent voice continue: "You don't need to bother with them, they'll be gone in a couple of days."
Xu Mo weakly agreed, hesitating for a while but ultimately deciding not to tell his sister about Sui Yu and the others' current state.
He had a hunch that in the end, his sister would definitely forgive them, so for now he might as well make things a little unpleasant for them.
Sui Yan didn't say much more about this matter. She took a couple sips of porridge, then suddenly asked: "Where did Mom and Uncle Xu go?"
This time, Xu Mo really didn't know: "Mom and Dad didn't say, they just said they'd be back before night."
Sui Yan had a vague guess in her heart, so she changed the subject: "Mmm, I have to go out to buy some things this afternoon, you'll come with me."
Xu Mo meekly reminded her: "Sister, I'm only fifteen, I don't have a driver's license. And none of our family drivers are here either..."
Sui Yan glanced at her foolish little brother: "I do."
Xu Mo's words stuck in his throat: "Huh? Sister, when did you get your driver's license?"
Sui Yan pushed him aside: "Don't worry about it so much, just come with me to buy some things this afternoon."
Xu Mo easily accepted his role as a tool, and was extraordinarily obedient: "Okay!"
Sui Yan's gaze unconsciously shifted towards the window for a moment, then silently returned. She pinched her fingertips, trying to shift her focus.
What was there to look at? Just a few people she didn't want to deal with at all.
Xu Mo had noticed his sister's abnormal behavior early on, but he didn't dare remind her, only secretly praying that she could hold on a little longer and not easily forgive them.
Before the afternoon arrived, Sui Yan had settled Ti Zi and dragged Xu Mo to prepare to go out.
Xu Mo frowned as he fastened his seatbelt, saying: "Sister, are you sure Lu Yunling won't come out to cause trouble again? For some reason, I feel a little uneasy."
Sui Yan seemed unconcerned, saying calmly, "Could it be that too many things have happened lately, and you're having delusions? She's nearly dead, how could she still cast any spells?"
Xu Mo, however, still could not put his mind at ease. He reluctantly agreed, "I suppose so."
Well, he'd just have to be more vigilant.
