novelraw Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Chapter 44
A few days later, the long summer break was already half gone.
Little Xia Ying's mom and dad arrived wearing long faces after Grandpa summoned them, but this time Xia Ying refused to stay on the sidelines. She stepped forward and told them exactly what she wanted.
Her parents were stunned that their quiet child could string so many words together at once. Because she had run away the last time, her father kept silent, leaving her mother to question her.
"Xia Ying, do you really think you can take care of Grandpa by yourself? Are you sure you can live with him?"
Xia Ying looked up at her mother's sharp tone. A flutter of fear crossed her heart, yet she nodded firmly. "I can, Mom. I've grown up a lot, and I'll keep trying even harder."
Her mother studied her, wondering if the months apart had changed the girl more than she realized. At last the two parents exchanged glances and voiced no further objections. Taking Xia Ying back with them would be a headache anyway, so they agreed to send Grandpa a fixed allowance each month and called it their duty done.
The next morning warm sunlight once again spilled across the earth. Outside the estate a peddler's rare call rang out from a three-wheeled cart: "Buying hair—long hair! Top prices for old phones and watches! Buying hair—long hair—"
Liu Wenjie sat cross-legged on his bed, poring over an elementary-school workbook. The problems were child's play, but this life was no longer the last. To become the perfect, all-round top student he could not stop once he had "finished" the material; he had to master every scrap of astronomy, geography, classical literature, and mathematical logic appropriate to this age. Anything less would waste the snowballing Intelligence stat points he had been granted. In this life he intended to be the ultimate winner.
From the living room came his mother's cheerful voice: "Coming, I'll open the door."
Wenjie didn't need to think twice to know who was visiting.
Half a minute later a soft knock sounded on the bedroom door, followed by a sweet yet irksome voice: "Older Brother Wenjie, I'm here to play!"
Wenjie's gaze was frosty. "Enter."
Little Xia Ying eased the door open, peeking her wide-eyed head inside. Seeing Wenjie reading, she tiptoed in and closed the door behind her.
She loved sharing the tiny details of her life with him, though she used to avoid mentioning her parents. Today was different.
"Older Brother Wenjie, are you reading?"
"Say what you came to say."
"Yesterday my mom and dad came. I told them I'm going to live with Grandpa from now on. They agreed. When they miss me they'll visit."
Wenjie glanced sideways at the obedient girl standing by the bed. The corner of his mouth lifted before he caught himself. He coughed and snapped his expression back to cold indifference. "Not bad. Looks like you actually listened to me. How did it feel—easier than you expected?"
Xia Ying gazed up at him, eyes shining, and nodded eagerly. "Much happier than I thought! Grandpa was so glad. He cooked something delicious last night. I wanted to bring some for you, but you weren't home."
Wenjie's face stayed impassive. "Dad took Mom and me to the supermarket to buy clothes yesterday. We were out."
"I see." Xia Ying blinked, sensing something odd. "Older Brother Wenjie, what's wrong with you today? Your face looks funny, like you ate something sour." She copied his deadpan scowl, scrunching up her own face. "Like this."
A vein twitched at Wenjie's temple. He hugged his book and gave a soft snort. "Silly little brat, what would you know? This is called being cool. Ever since I went out looking for you in the rain the other night my back's been cold and I've had nightmares. I've decided to speak less nonsense to you from now on—otherwise we'll get too familiar and future trouble will be endless."
"You're having nightmares?" Xia Ying's worry showed at once. "What kind?"
Wenjie rolled his eyes. "I dreamed I was playing with you."
After several seconds of silence she prompted, "And then?"
"That was it. That was the nightmare."
She whispered, confused, "How is that a nightmare, Older Brother Wenjie? It sounds like a nice dream. I dream about playing with you all the time, but I've never felt a cold back."
Suddenly she straightened. "Could it be a cold from the rain? You're talking nonsense! Let me check." She reached toward his forehead.
Wenjie clicked his tongue and shot her a glare. "What are you doing?"
She froze, arm still outstretched. "I'm checking for fever. If you're sick you need medicine, Older Brother Wenjie, or it could get serious. I'd be really worried."
Wenjie's look turned scornful. "I'm not sick. After all this time do you really think a puny cold would dare come near me?" Realizing he had lost his composure again, he coughed once more and resumed his chill tone. "Forget it."
But the cough made Xia Ying's eyes brim. "Two coughs! That's definitely a cold. Wait here—I'll get medicine from home!" She spun and scampered away.
Wenjie reached out, exasperated. "Hey, silly Xia Ying, I said I'm not sick!"
She was already racing home; nothing must happen to her dearest Older Brother Wenjie.
Wenjie wiped away imaginary sweat. "How could she tell I'm different today? I'm usually cool enough. Has the change really been that obvious?"
In the kitchen Lin Xiaoli, rinsing fruit, looked up. "Xiaojie, where did little Xia Ying go?"
Wenjie dropped his hand. "Who knows what she's thinking? Probably fetching poison to finish me off."
The words had barely left his mouth when a knock sounded. Wenjie figured the brat had already been quick on her feet. Lin Xiaoli hurried to open the door, calling cheerfully, "Coming, coming. Xia Ying, Auntie's washed the fruit for you—"
But it wasn't Xia Ying on the threshold. Four people stood there: Liu Yingjun, Boss Xu, Boss Xu's wife, and a shy young lady in a yellow dress clutching her father's hand—Xu Feifei, the future heiress.
Lin Xiaoli's face lit up. "Honey, you're back! And Boss Xu, what brings you here?"
Boss Xu greeted her politely. "Good day, Madam. My family came especially to visit. We contacted Mr. Liu earlier."
Liu Yingjun added, "I cleared it with work so we could discuss a few things with Boss Xu."
Boss Xu's wife and Xu Feifei also greeted her.
"Hello, sorry to disturb you."
"Good afternoon, Auntie."
Lin Xiaoli beamed at the pretty girl. "Feifei, I remember you—you were in the same kindergarten as Xiaojie! You're even cuter now. So many lovely young girls in this world." She bent to pat Xu Feifei's twin ponytails.
Xu Feifei, already nervous, blushed at the praise. "Thank you, Auntie. You're beautiful too."
Lin Xiaoli laughed, covering her face. "Such a sweet talker."
Liu Yingjun said, "All right, Boss Xu, please come in and sit. Hon, bring out the good tea."
Lin Xiaoli nodded. "Right away." She turned toward the bedroom. "Xiaojie, we have guests—one of your little classmates. Come out and say hello."