Font Size:
In my previous life,
Shen Siyan treated her and Xu Zhijia about the same.
Their families were neighbors, and for various reasons, there were always interactions.
Shen Siyan knew Xu Zhijia much earlier than he knew her, and they were childhood friends.
Generally, Shen’s mother would tell Shen Siyan to be nice to both younger sisters.
Shen Siyan didn’t pay much attention, but he treated them equally.
After all, in terms of time, Xu Zhilu was the newcomer.
One instance left a deep impression on her, from when she first returned home.
Xu Zhijia was hostile towards her, refusing to acknowledge her as her sister and even asking her to leave.
Back then, Xu Zhilu was just a child, standing in the living room with her backpack, her lips tightly pressed together.
Later, Xu’s father scolded Xu Zhijia, who threw a tantrum, reluctantly letting her stay but treating her poorly.
At that time, Xu Zhilu felt like an outsider, not belonging to the family.
Shen Siyan and his mother had been on a trip, and when they returned, the two families had a meal together, introducing Xu Zhilu to them.
When Shen Siyan appeared, Xu Zhijia ran over, calling him and asking if he had brought her a gift.
They were all children, and even if Shen Siyan didn’t buy anything, Shen’s mother would have arranged something.
Shen Siyan took out a gift and handed it to her—a Barbie doll she liked.
Xu Zhilu sat quietly in her seat, unmoving but with a look of envy in her eyes.
As Xu Zhijia joyfully unwrapped her gift, a pale, slender hand appeared in front of Xu Zhilu.
She looked up to see Shen Siyan’s youthful face.
The two of them silently stared at each other for a moment. It was the first time Xu Zhilu had seen such a handsome boy. She didn’t know how to hide her emotions, so she just stared at him curiously with her almond-shaped eyes.
Shen Siyan chuckled lightly. “Are you Xu Zhilu?”
She nodded.
Shen Siyan responded lazily and somehow produced a beautifully wrapped gift box, holding it out to her.
“Do you know me?”
Xu Zhilu nodded again. “Mm-hmm.”
Shen Siyan, who was not yet eight years old at the time, still had a hint of mischievousness, “Then why didn’t you greet me?”
He tapped the gift and said, “Call me brother, and I’ll give you the gift.”
Xu Zhilu’s eyes widened as she looked at him, her lips slightly parted in disbelief, “Is this for me?”
Shen Siyan glanced at her and asked, “Who else would my brother have prepared it for?”
Xu Zhilu looked at him and honestly said, “For my sister.”
Shen Siyan pointed at Xu Zhijia, not far away, and said, “She already has one.”
Xu Zhilu blinks, still not quite believing it. “Is this really for me?”
Shen Siyan nodded.
She smiled and took the gift from Shen Siyan’s hand. “Thank you, brother.”
Shen Siyan, seeing her happy expression, asked, “Why are you so happy? It’s just a cheap trinket.”
Xu Zhilu shook her head, holding it reverently. “This is the first gift I’ve ever received.”
Shen Siyan seemed surprised and looked at her in astonishment, “Uncle and Auntie never gave you any gifts?”
Xu Zhilu shook her head. At that time, she didn’t understand the concept of being overly candid and said plainly, “Mom never buys things for me, she only buys for my sister.”
…
The ringing of the school bell pulled Xu Zhilu back from her thoughts.
She laid her head on her desk, recalling what Shen Siyan had said back then.
Shen Siyan had looked at her for a while and then patted her head, saying, “Then brother will buy them for you from now on.”
She obediently nodded, beaming with joy. “Thank you, brother.”
From then on, whenever Shen Siyan went on a trip or attended summer camp, he would bring back gifts for her.
And they were always double portions.
Whatever Xu Zhijia got, she would get too. Sometimes, when she opened a gift box, it would contain two gifts for her.
She didn’t dare discuss it with Xu Zhijia because she knew Xu Zhijia didn’t receive double portions.
Every time Shen Siyan gave her a gift, Xu Zhijia would immediately open hers and show it off to her.
But Xu Zhilu liked to hide everything related to him.
***
Also, don’t forget to check out Vyl’s other projects!
Vyl[Translator]
Hey, I'm Vyl! I share translations of some really captivating stories for you all to enjoy. If you like any of my uploads, kindly show your support on my Ko-fi page. Thanks!