With the news of her dual spiritual roots spreading far and wide, Lin Qingwan had endured days of commotion. Now that things were finally settling down, her restless, childlike energy got the better of her. She eagerly discussed her plan with Lin Qingxu to visit the village and play with Hei Niu, their neighbor’s son.

Lin Qingxu had no reason to stop her. With a casual wave of her hand, she granted permission, effectively letting the mischievous monkey loose into the wilderness.

Left alone in the house, Lin Qingxu pondered briefly before retrieving her own little embroidery basket. Tugging out a slightly wrinkled piece of embroidery fabric, she settled under the eaves and began stitching awkwardly at her colorful bird design.

The bird’s pointy beak and vibrant wings were barely half-finished when a voice shattered her focus, making her shiver as if a cold breeze had swept through her.

“Sister Lin, are you there? Can I come in?”

The delicate, sugary voice drifted into Lin Qingxu’s ears on the breeze, making her shudder involuntarily. Without thinking, she blurted out her true feelings: “No!”

But when she spotted Cui Yuying hesitantly shuffling her feet at the gate, head lowered and staring at her toes, Lin Qingxu cursed inwardly.

Reluctantly, she set her embroidery basket aside and trudged toward the door. Without looking at Cui Yuying’s pitiful, aggrieved-little-flower expression, she tried to keep her tone as steady as possible. “My mother’s not home right now. She’s out.”

Her hidden meaning: Just leave already. Please.

But Cui Yuying didn’t catch the hint at all.

“Then can I talk to you, Sister Lin?” Cui Yuying tilted her chin ever so slightly, her doe-eyed face radiating timid sincerity.

Lin Qingxu, caught off guard, glanced at Cui Yuying’s textbook “delicate flower” expression and felt a wave of revulsion making her skin crawled.

“I’ve got things to do, no time to chat,” she replied bluntly, without the slightest bit of warmth.

Cui Yuying nervously peeked past Lin Qingxu toward the house. “Were you working on embroidery, Sister Lin? I won’t bother you—I could join you and we could work on it together?”

Lin Qingxu suppressed an overwhelming urge to roll her eyes so hard they might get stuck in the back of her head.

She had never met someone so completely lacking in self-awareness before. Truly, a first!

What an eye-opener.

“Do whatever you want,” Lin Qingxu finally said, spinning on her heel and striding back inside with the speed of someone trying to escape a stubborn piece of gum stuck to their shoe. Her chest felt inexplicably stifled, like she’d swallowed a heavy stone.

Seeing that she was no longer being rejected, Cui Yuying smiled subtly, gently pushing open the gate. Sunshine spilled over her pale, tilted face, her expression a mix of reserve and bashfulness.

When Lin Qingxu stopped and glanced back, she caught a full view of that demure smile and instantly regretted it. Why, oh why, didn’t I look away?

Dear heavens, please restore my innocent, untainted vision!

Meanwhile, Lin Qingwan spent the entire morning running around the village with Hei Niu and a few other kids. Just before lunchtime, she rushed back home—only to be greeted by an unbelievable sight.

Her sister was sitting peacefully under the eaves, embroidering… with Cui Yuying. The two looked as though they were getting along perfectly well.

Lin Qingwan rubbed her eyes furiously, convinced she was hallucinating.

Wait a minute—doesn’t Big Sis hate that Cui girl?

Lin Qingxu spotted Lin Qingwan standing dumbfounded at the doorway, and a wave of relief washed over her. She stood up quickly and waved enthusiastically.

“Ah-Wan, you’re back? Why are you standing outside? Come on in!”

After spending hours with the “little delicate flower,” Lin Qingxu felt like her entire body was stiff and uncomfortable. Now, finally having someone to help break the tension, she was positively overjoyed.

Understanding her sister’s unspoken plea, Lin Qingwan bounced into the courtyard, not forgetting to glance at A-Mao, who, surprisingly, was behaving and lounging quietly in its corner.

“Sis, I’m starving. Have you and Mom made lunch yet?” Lin Qingwan asked with a pointed tone that only Lin Qingxu would understand.

Lin Qingxu gave her a knowing look. “Mom’s not back yet, but if you’re hungry, your big sister can cook right now.” She spoke as if it were a casual offer but subtly gestured toward Cui Yuying.

Right on cue, Cui Yuying began packing up the belongings she’d brought, lowering her head as she softly said. “In that case, I shouldn’t intrude any longer. Please have lunch, Sister Lin, and Qingwan. I’ll take my leave now.”

Lin Qingxu, of course, was all too happy to see her off, cheerfully escorting her to the door.

As the low wooden door closed behind her, Lin Qingxu stood there with a bright smile, the golden sunlight accentuating her radiant face, like a water lotus in full bloom.

Meanwhile, Cui Yuying lowered her gaze and smiled faintly, though the subtle shadow of disappointment lingered in her delicate features. Combined with her refined, petite face that looked as if it had been painted with a fine brush and her slender, graceful figure, she unknowingly evoked an inexplicable sense of pity in anyone who saw her.

Lin Qingwan silently cradled her heart, nearly swayed by Cui Yuying’s delicate and pitiful demeanor… but her sister? Her sister was made of stone!

“Safe travels, no need for a send-off!” Lin Qingxu waved dismissively, already turning on her heel toward the kitchen. She grabbed the bewildered Lin Qingwan by the head as she passed, preventing any unnecessary chatter. When Lin Qingwan hesitated, opening her mouth to speak, Lin Qingxu shut her down with one sharp, intimidating glare.

Behind them, Cui Yuying quietly watched their retreating figures. The harmless smile at her lips slowly faded, vanishing completely.

Her gaze flickered to the huddled, shivering chickens in their nest, and in her calm eyes, a brief flash of crimson malice burned and disappeared as quickly as it came.

With the courtyard empty of its residents, a fleeting aura of cold hostility radiated from Cui Yuying, only to dissipate in an instant. She reverted seamlessly to her usual fragile and gentle demeanor, her lips curling into a faint smile as she gracefully turned and walked away.

This Lin Qingxu… doesn’t seem so easy to manipulate after all.

=^_^=