I'm In Love With the Guy I Grew Up With

Chapter 450: You Are My Sister 2

"Gong Xiu, please, can you stop acting as if you’re my brother? My mom only has Song Weiyang, I don’t have any siblings!"

Ning Xixi’s voice carried a sobbing tone, she couldn’t trust anyone now.

After the way Lu Qinghe treated her and Gong Xiu coming to her aid, she couldn’t clearly tell if his intentions were genuine or fake.

Instead of guessing his motives, it’s better to keep a distance from him.

However, Gong Xiu was steadfast, "When I say you’re my sister, you are my sister! Now, I’ll give you two choices, first, I’ll accompany you to search, or second, I’ll take you home. Choose for yourself!"

Ning Xixi’s eyes widened, moist and filled with innocence and helplessness.

She couldn’t go home, or else when the sanitation workers came to collect the trash, she would not be able to find her mother’s painting!

"Some oil paintings... my mother’s belongings..." she murmured.

Gong Xiu nodded, "I understand."

He rolled up his sleeves, condescending to assist Ning Xixi personally.

Opening one black trash bag after another, enduring the gag reflex and nausea, Gong Xiu checked each one.

With his help, they finally found Song Weiyang’s paintings in the bottommost trash bag!

Ning Xixi’s shoulders shook as she desperately suppressed the tears that were about to spill.

Found them... finally found them...

"If you want to cry, just cry, don’t hold it back," Gong Xiu said compassionately.

He didn’t want to see Ning Xixi in a state where even crying seems forbidden.

Ning Xixi shook her head, she wouldn’t easily cry, she had promised Song Weiyang when she died—to keep living with a smile, otherwise, if she cried, her mother would feel sad seeing her from heaven.

Both their hands were dirty, Gong decided to take off his shirt and wrapped the several paintings, holding them in his arms, "Let’s go, let’s go clean up."

Ning Xixi silently followed behind him.

Gong Xiu placed the paintings in her room, his upper body bare, bangs damp with sweat sticking to his forehead, lacking his usual frivolous demeanor, yet his smile was cleaner than ever.

"Go take a shower, you look like a patchy cat right now. I’ll bring you a glass of milk later."

Ning Xixi’s lips moved slightly, "Thank you..."

Regardless, Gong Xiu had indeed helped her.

"What thank you to your brother?" Gong Xiu smirked charmingly, perhaps thinking of his current rumpled state, he didn’t linger longer, closed the door behind him and planned to go clean himself as well.

Passing by the study, a voice coming from inside stopped Gong Xiu in his tracks—

Lu Qinghe was on the phone, laughing coquettishly, "You did well with this task, where did you get so much trash from? ...Hmm, let that girl suffer a bit, she won’t dare to defy me anymore..."

Bang!

Gong Xiu kicked the door open, witnessing Lu Qinghe’s startled and panicked expression, he began tiredly, "Why are you doing this to Xixi?"

"Why? Why are you doing this to her!"

Lu Qinghe was not lightly frightened, her son had always shown her respect, this was the first time he yelled at her, and it was for that little wretch Ning Xixi!

"Close the door." Lu Qinghe ordered, "What has gotten you so disheveled? Could it be..." A thought crossed her mind, "You helped that wretched girl?"

Gong Xiu clenched his fists resentfully, "She is my sister, how can I remain indifferent?"

"She isn’t!" Lu Qinghe interrupted sharply, "Gong Xiu, you know better than anyone, she isn’t your sister! So, please, don’t do something to disappoint mom, alright?"