Shen Yanchi and I returned to the past together.
In my previous life, I was the adopted sister he personally brought home from the orphanage. Later, I became his wife. We grew old together, our love deep and profound.
In this life, when the Shen parents smiled and waved at me just like before, ready to take me home, the teenage Shen Yanchi suddenly stepped forward, blocking their view.
"Mom, Dad, don't choose her. I want the girl next to her to be my sister."
He grabbed the hand of the Xia family's adopted daughter standing beside me—the girl who, in our past life, had died of illness before she even turned ten. He turned to look at me, his eyes as cold as a winter knife.
"You stole Zhiwei's place and caused her to die young. In this life, it's your turn to suffer her fate."
I understood everything in an instant.
It turned out that this time, he wanted to be the hero. He wanted to save that fragile "princess."
"Are you willing to come with me?"
Mrs. Xia stood before me, her tone gentle.
I looked ahead at the person who had once held my hand for decades. He was leading another girl away without looking back.
I nodded lightly.
Fine.
In this life, I want to try a different path, too.
1
When I stepped out of the orphanage gates, the Shen family was still lingering there.
Upon seeing me, Shen Yanchi's face immediately tightened. Panic flashed across his expression as he shoved the girl into the back seat. Before the car door even closed properly, he roared at me:
"Shen Muxi, even if you kneel and beg me, I won't acknowledge you as my sister! There is no place for you in the Shen family!"
"A thief like you deserves to rot in that man-eating Xia family!"
As the words fell, he raised his hand and shoved me hard. I nearly collapsed.
Bang! The car door slammed shut.
My foot slipped. I swayed, unable to steady myself before several cars roared away into the distance.
The exhaust fumes churned up the dust from the ground, blowing it into my face and eyes, stinging them until I couldn't open them.
Just then, a pitch-black Maybach slowly pulled up in front of me.
The window rolled down silently, revealing Mrs. Xia's face, cold as ice. "Do you want to go to the Shen family?"
I shook my head, my voice quiet. "The Xia family is quite good."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over me obliquely. "What is your name?"
I whispered, "Muxi."
"From now on, you are not allowed to be called Shen Muxi," she stated indifferently. "You are Xia Muxi."
Few words, but I understood her meaning.
I opened the car door nimbly and climbed in, replying dutifully, "Okay, Mom."
Mrs. Xia raised her eyebrows slightly but said nothing. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. I didn't speak further either, sitting quietly.
The car drove into a luxurious villa district and stopped in front of the Xia family estate.
I followed her inside. I watched her put down her bag and look up casually, as if talking to herself, or perhaps introducing someone.
"Xia Yuheng, this is your new sister, Xia Muxi."
I was stunned.
Instinctively, I looked up.
Standing by the railing of the second-floor corridor was a young boy.
He was even more handsome than Shen Yanchi. His features were so clean he didn't look real, yet he was excessively cold and detached.
I didn't know how long he had been standing there; he hadn't made a sound.
My heart skipped a beat.
This is the Xia family's Xia Yuheng? He was so different from my impression...
In my past life, not long after I was taken back by the Shen family, he was sent abroad. When we met again, it was many years later.
By then, he was already in power, but his face was covered in scars, terrifyingly cold. His methods were ruthless and his appearance frightening; people in the circle secretly called him "Xia the Living Yama" behind his back.
I smiled at him and called out softly, "Brother."
But it was as if he hadn't heard. He continued to lean against the railing, his eyes as cold as stagnant water.
"Ignore him," Mrs. Xia said indifferently. "That's just his personality; he doesn't like dealing with people."
After speaking, she called a nanny to help me familiarize myself with the house, then left.
I lowered my head, about to step over the threshold.
For some reason, compelled by a strange force, I looked back.
My gaze collided straight into that boy's line of sight.
His eyes were dangerously dark, like a dry well devoid of any emotion.
My heart trembled violently.
I wanted to squeeze out a smile, but he looked away first, turning back into his room. The door closed silently.
2
I had been at the Xia family for over a month now.
Since seeing Mrs. Xia at the orphanage that day, she hadn't shown her face again.
Xia Yuheng, on the other hand, I would occasionally bump into at dinner. Every time I saw him, I would smile sweetly and call out, "Brother."
And him? He never paid me any attention, never even lifting an eyelid.
I wasn't angry, nor did I feel embarrassed. I simply didn't have time to dwell on such things.
Lately, my schedule was packed so full that even taking a breath felt like a luxury.
Mrs. Xia didn't appear in person, but her orders came in droves. From morning to night, it was either learning posture and etiquette or practicing dance and horse riding—she piled every kind of aristocratic lesson onto me.
It was summer vacation, a time that should have been relaxing, but it turned out to be more exhausting than school.
Even Auntie Tang, who cleaned the rooms, looked at my bruised and purple knees with a softened gaze. "Miss, won't you talk to the Madam? Take a day off?"
I lowered my head to put on my shoes, shaking it gently. "No need."
On the day I arrived, Mrs. Xia had laid down the law.
"Children of the Xia family have no right to be lazy. Even if you aren't biological, you cannot lose face for this family. Unlike that girl from the Shen family next door, playing wildly every day."
Auntie Tang sighed, handing me my schoolbag. "Isn't that the truth? They were making a racket early in the morning. I heard the whole family booked flight tickets to go abroad to escape the summer heat."
She said this to express injustice on my behalf, feeling that at my age, I shouldn't be locked indoors practicing these rules every day.
I stood up, took the bag, and smiled. "Auntie Tang, it's not bitter. I want to learn this myself."
Outsiders might think the Xia family's rules were terrifyingly numerous, like an ice cellar. But I knew this was an opportunity.
The Xia family was an old-money clan with deep foundations and vast connections. Any path here was something the nouveau riche Shen family couldn't reach even if they struggled for decades.
Here, I could learn things. I could stand higher.
Even if everyone in the Xia family treated me coldly, even if Mrs. Xia was harsh and unyielding, and even if Xia Yuheng wouldn't give me a direct look...
I was lost in thought when suddenly my foot felt cold, and a ball of snow-white fur rubbed against me.
Immediately after, an anxious and angry female voice rang out: "Aiyaya, Little Guai! You ran to the wrong person! Come back!"
"Brother! Hurry, help me catch it!"
"So silly."
I bent down, picked up the kitten, and stood up.
I came face to face with a young boy walking toward me. The corners of his mouth held a smile, his eyes filled with doting affection.
I recognized him at a glance—Shen Yanchi.
3
The moment Shen Yanchi saw me, the smile on his face collapsed instantly, his eyes full of disgust.
"How dare you still show up here? Truly impossible to shake off!"
His tone was mean, his words thorny. "Don't think blocking the way here will make me change my view of you. Keep dreaming!"
"Muxi?!"
Xia Zhiwei's voice suddenly popped up, both surprised and delighted. She trotted over holding her fluffy skirt, her eyes sparkling. "Wow, I really didn't expect to run into you after leaving the orphanage! What a coincidence!"
She took the kitten from my arms, turned to look at the black car parked behind me, and asked curiously, "That car... is it here to pick you up?"
The moment her gaze swept over it, her whole body froze, her expression changing. "Oh my god! Did you really get adopted by the Xia family next door?"
I was about to speak when my gaze inadvertently fell on her neck—that key pendant hanging there looked so familiar it made my heart tremble.
Xia Zhiwei sensed it. Subconsciously, she raised her hand, clutching the pendant tightly in her palm to cover it completely.
I pretended not to notice anything, only nodding indifferently. "Mm, living with the Xia family now."
"So, is your name Xia Muxi now?"
I glanced faintly at Shen Yanchi. He was standing there with a look of embarrassment as if he had misunderstood something just now.
"I suppose so."
"The Xia family are all pretty scary, right?" She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "I heard that young master in their family has brain problems and can't speak. Is it true?"
She secretly pointed toward the Xia family mansion, staring at me with a face full of gossip, firing questions like a cannon.
My brows furrowed, wanting to explain, but she continued speaking on her own. "Hey, these clothes on you... are for horse riding and archery? You're actually learning this?"
She tilted her head, looking me up and down.
"I have things to do, I'm leaving first."
I was just about to pull away when Shen Yanchi cut in coldly. "Zhiwei, why waste time with this kind of person? Let's go."
Xia Zhiwei responded, sticking her tongue out at me playfully. "Don't mind him, my brother is usually super gentle. He's probably just in a bad mood today..."
"Brother, wait for me!"
She lifted her skirt and chased after him.
I stood in place, silent for a second, then turned to leave as well.
The wind carried their words gently to me.
"Brother, isn't the Xia family too cruel? Muxi is about my age, yet she has classes scheduled every day. I saw bruises all over her arms; she must be practicing so hard."
"Heh, what's the use of learning that stuff? A girl messing with all those bells and whistles... she'll suffer for it sooner or later."
"Our Zhiwei doesn't need to eat that kind of bitterness. Just be beautiful and be a princess, that's enough."
"Mm-hm! Mom, Dad, and Brother love me the most!"
Suffering?
So in their eyes, this is called suffering?
My lips twitched, but I made no sound.
In my past life, the Shen family indeed poured their hearts out to me, providing me with good food and drink. But whenever I wanted to learn some real skills, I was blocked every time.
I wanted to practice riding and archery. They panicked: "What if you smash your face! How will you get married later!"
I was being stalked and wanted to sign up for a self-defense class. They immediately objected: "A daughter of our Shen family, learning to fight? Isn't that shameful? Aren't the bodyguards enough?"
Later, I wanted to learn business and how to read ledgers. They still shook their heads: "The family has your brother holding it up, what are you blindly worrying about?"
They mouthed words of love, but behind my back, they raised me into a flower that would fall at the slightest breeze.
But Mother Xia was different. She said only one sentence, which I remember to this day:
"In the Xia family, no one lives relying on others. Whatever you can learn, you must learn; whatever you can fight for, you must fight for."
4
Summer vacation passed in the blink of an eye.
In a flash, it was the first day of school.
My mom had already arranged for me to enter the international school where Xia Yuheng attended. It was also the place where Shen Yanchi and I studied in my past life.
On the first day of school, I sat in the car early.
When Xia Yuheng pulled open the door, I grinned and shouted at him, "Brother, morning! Mom said we'll go to and from school together from now on."
Xia Yuheng's hand paused. Then, without a word, he sat in the corner furthest from me.
The second day, I did the same.
The third day.
The fourth day...
I tormented him like this for almost two months.
In the end, I discovered that although Xia Yuheng never paid attention to me—ignoring me like air every time I spoke—sometimes when I ate breakfast slowly and rushed out of the courtyard, I found he was actually still carrying his schoolbag, leaning against the car waiting.
I suppressed the surprise in my heart and smiled. "Brother, you're a really nice person."
He glanced at me indifferently as usual, turned around, and drilled into the car, saying nothing.
However—this time when he got in the car, he stepped in with his right foot first!
The corners of my mouth couldn't help but curve up.
Interesting. He really has changed.
One day, after school, I waited at the school building entrance for ages, but there was no sign of Xia Yuheng, and I couldn't reach him on his phone.
Just as I was spinning around anxiously, suddenly, snap, something clicked in my brain.
I remembered.
In my past life, around this time, a sensational event happened at the school gate. Back then, I was desperately taking extra classes, trying to keep up with the school's pace. I only vaguely heard classmates whispering, saying someone from the Xia family came to cause trouble.
It seemed they mentioned that the child of that family had gotten into trouble.
Years later, I accidentally heard someone mention that the helmsman of the Xia family, Xia Yuheng, had his face intentionally slashed during high school.
Could it be... today is the day?
Damn it!
No time to think!
I immediately messaged the driver: "If you don't see me at the school gate, don't wait. Come directly to the alley behind the school to find me."
Then I took off running toward the back alley.
Xia Yuheng, please don't let anything happen to you!
5
When I arrived, the situation was already dire.
Xia Yuheng was cornered at the dead end of the alley by several thugs, unable to move.
"Yo, Young Master Xia isn't playing the big shot today? Mute now? Don't even know how to beg for mercy?"
"Cut the crap. Being mute saves trouble; saves him going back to tattle and causing issues."
"Damn, this kid's eyes are still pretty fierce!"
The leader, looking like a middle school student, sneered. He spat a mouthful of phlegm on the ground, then pulled out a utility knife and gestured it straight at Xia Yuheng's face!
My heart sank violently.
From the corner of my eye, I saw a baseball bat lying nearby.
I sucked in a sharp breath, gritted my teeth, and charged out, roaring as I ran, "The police will be here any second! I've already called the cops!"
I swung the bat and smashed it wildly, my movements relying entirely on instinct.
Luckily, I hadn't slacked off in physical education recently; my stamina held up.
The group hadn't expected a disruptor to burst in. Hearing me say I called the police, they instantly fell into disarray, dodging and hiding.
"Bad luck! This kid's luck is hard!"
Cursing, they turned and ran, their footsteps chaotic.
Once they were far away, I immediately rushed to Xia Yuheng's side.
There was a bloody cut on his face—not deep—but his arms and legs were black and blue; obviously, he had taken quite a beating.
"Brother, hang in there, I'll take you home!"
I helped him up, preparing to leave.
Suddenly, a massive force hit me from behind—I was kicked viciously to the ground!
"Hey, Brother Chen, I told you this little brat was bluffing you! Calling the cops? Who are you kidding!"
"Learning to lie at such a young age, truly no good!"
"One mute trash, one liar with a mouth full of trains... fitting together perfectly! Haha!"
The one nicknamed Brother Chen was furious, kicking my back violently, one blow after another.
Pain made me curl up, protecting my head, but my line of sight collided with Xia Yuheng's eyes, which were written full of panic.
My lips trembled, but I still managed to force out a smile, whispering, "Brother, don't be afraid."
Xia Yuheng's entire body shook violently.
He stared dead at me, and I blocked in front of him, not retreating a single step.
The fists and feet from behind became even more vicious.
Just then—the always silent Xia Yuheng suddenly lunged like a madman.
He bit down hard on the hand of the nearest person, his teeth sinking into the flesh, refusing to let go!
That ruthlessness actually scared the thugs, freezing them for a few seconds.
But after all, he was outnumbered and weak; he was quickly pinned to the ground.
Fists rained down on his head, his chest; someone even pulled out an iron rod...
Could it be... we really can't escape this calamity?
Through my blurring consciousness, the sound of voices and footsteps came from the mouth of the alley.
Is it the driver?
I desperately propped open my eyelids, looking over there.
In my vision, a pair of clean white sneakers slowly appeared...
6
Someone stood at the mouth of the alley, their shadow stretched long by the sunlight.
Brother Chen and his gang immediately glared, roaring ferociously. "Where did this greenhorn come from? What are you staring at!"
Greenhorn?
Not the driver?
I desperately forced my eyes open, trying to see the person's face clearly, but blood blurred my vision.
Just then, a crisp voice came from the distance.
"Yanchi Gege, why are you standing there like a dummy? The cake shop is this way!"
That person paused.
"Oh, coming."
I blinked, my throat dry, murmuring a single word: "Brother..."
His footsteps faltered slightly.
But in the end, he didn't turn around, leading the little girl slowly away.
The little girl couldn't resist turning her head to peek into the alley, screaming the next second.
"Brother! There seems to be someone lying over there, bleeding a lot! Did you see?"
As soon as the words fell, her vision went black—her eyes were covered by a hand.
"Don't look. It's dirty."
Shen Yanchi's voice was gentle, like coaxing a child.
From very, very far away, I seemed to hear him whisper a sentence:
"Little Zhiwei, this time I found you early. I won't let you suffer the slightest grievance again. The Xia family can never hurt you again, and don't you dare leave early like in the past life."
In my daze, I remembered when he was about to breathe his last in our previous life. He kept muttering: "It's all my fault... if only I could have found you sooner..."
Back then, I thought he regretted that I couldn't keep our baby and became infertile. I choked back tears to comfort him: "Old man, we'll still be together in the next life, and we'll have children too..."
Who knew, what he couldn't let go of in his heart wasn't me at all.
What stuck in his craw was that rainy day; he was accompanying me for an IV drip and didn't rush back to save Xia Zhiwei.
So in this life, he clutched her firmly by his side, protecting her tightly.
He came here today not to save me. He came just to see with his own eyes the state I—the thief who stole his beloved's position—was bullied into.
But in my past life, I vaguely heard people in the class discussing. After the accident in the Xia family, Xia Yuheng was sent abroad. Xia Zhiwei, however, didn't get to go with him. She stayed home, her days getting worse day by day.
A girl who knew the inside story whispered that during the escape, Xia Zhiwei ran first.
"Xia Yuheng took the knife for her, and she ran without looking back..."
But Shen Yanchi insisted on believing his little white flower was pure and flawless.
Heh.
Does he really think that girl he holds in the palm of his hand is so kind?
I grinned, wiping the blood and tears off my face.
Suddenly, I propped myself up, hugging one of the thug's legs tightly. Let them kick, let them curse—I refused to let go even if I died.
"Not allowed... you to hit my brother!"
My last breath exhausted.
Before my eyes, everything went pitch black.
7
When I opened my eyes, I saw a furry face lying by my bed.
The air smelled of choking antiseptic.
My brain slowly came back to its senses. I was in the hospital. It seemed that after the driver called the police, help arrived in time.
I tried to sit up. The movement might have been a bit heavy; the person beside me moved and lifted his head.
It was Xia Yuheng.
Those naturally charming peach-blossom eyes stared straight at me. He stared for a long time before slowly raising his hand, gently touching the bandage on my head.
"Sister... does it hurt?"
It had been too long since I heard his voice. It was a bit hoarse, as if unused for a long time, but it wasn't unpleasant; instead, it was low and reassuring.
But I was completely stunned.
Xia Yuheng... just spoke to me?
I wasn't the only one dumbfounded. Even Mother Xia, who had just walked in the door, froze abruptly, her eyes widening. "Was that... Xiao Yu talking?"
She had always been steady, but right now even her voice trembled. "Xiao Yu, call me Mom, okay?"
Xia Yuheng just glanced at her indifferently, turned his head back, stared at my wound again, and didn't utter another syllable.
I was a bit at a loss, wanting to smooth things over. "Mom, just now Brother he... actually..."
Mother Xia waved her hand, her eyes reddening instantly. "It's okay, no rush, Xiao Yu needs time..."
She didn't finish the rest of her sentence.
At this moment, Auntie Tang walked in carrying a lunch box. While serving us soup, she said the matter in the alley had been investigated clearly.
It was just a few street thugs who heard the Xia family had a good background and got crooked ideas. Even more ridiculous, one of them was actually a student from our school!
Those adults had already been caught; prison food was inescapable. That student was also expelled.
I hummed in acknowledgment, but my gaze unconsciously drifted to Xia Yuheng beside me.
Who could believe it? In the past life, just because of these rotten people's momentary evil thoughts, such a clean person was dragged forcibly into hell.
Fortunately, this time, he was sitting properly in front of me.
Seeing me staring into space with my chopsticks unmoving, Xia Yuheng frowned. "Sister, eat."
I started, quickly snapping back to reality, casually picking up a piece of spare rib and putting it in his bowl. "Brother, you eat more too."
Just as we finished eating, a nurse rushed in like the wind, pointing at Xia Yuheng and laughing. "Running around again! You know your own ward is on the third floor!"
Only then did I understand. He had sneaked over.
Before leaving, he stood by my bed, reached out, and rubbed my hair.
"Sister, get well soon."
Just these few words caused all the adults in the room to have red eyes. Auntie Tang turned her back to secretly wipe the corner of her eye.
After he left, Mother Xia didn't move. She stood there, watching his retreating figure for a long time.
Today she wore no makeup, her hair simply tied back, missing some sharpness and adding a rare softness.
"Xiao Yu wasn't like this before," she said softly. "He was obedient, polite, and smart beyond his years. Back then, everyone said the Xia family produced a prodigy, not... a mute, autistic boy who doesn't speak."
She sat beside me, her voice light as the wind. "The change started from that accident four years ago."
My heart shook; I froze in place.
8
Mom Xia opened up about the past.
Xia Yuheng used to have a sister named Xia Zhichu.
This child was the daughter of his dad's younger brother. Back then, Xia Yuheng's dad and his uncle's couple passed away early in an accident; half the sky of the family collapsed at once.
The entire burden of the Xia family fell on Mom Xia's shoulders alone. No one looked after Xia Zhichu, so Mom Xia simply took her into the house, raising her like her own daughter.
Those years, the Xia family had a hard time. The pillar fell; the family was like a money bag without a lock—everyone wanted to scoop a handful.
Mom Xia could only harden her heart, striking when necessary, becoming tougher in her dealings, and offending quite a few people because of it.
Four years ago, the two children of the family were hijacked.
The kidnappers laid hands on Xia Yuheng. Six-year-old Xia Zhichu, seeing this, lunged directly, biting that person's hand deathly tight, refusing to let go. The kidnapper went mad with rage, swinging a stick, smashing it onto her head again and again...
Xia Yuheng saw that whole scene.
After being rescued, he changed. He never smiled again, never said another word.
Mom Xia exhausted all methods, tried everything, but it was all useless.
With no other way, listening to an old friend's suggestion, she adopted another "sister" back, hoping to see if she could melt the ice in his heart a little.
Mom Xia stood up, walking slowly to the window. She said I actually wasn't the first girl to be taken into this home.
"Xiao Yu has never been this close to anyone. Toward you, he is truly different."
9
A week later, I returned to the Xia family from the hospital.
The atmosphere was noticeably different.
Before, everyone looked at me like a temporarily fostered outsider who could be sent away at any time; even calling me "Miss" carried reluctance. Now, the way they looked at me changed, as if they truly considered me blood of the Xia family.
But my lessons didn't decrease a bit; instead, there were more.
Mother Xia was direct: "You are going to enter the Xia Corporation in the future. Without some real skills, who will listen to you?"
Once these words came out, the faces of several Xia family members nearby changed. Gazes fell on me—some guarded, some sizing me up, some unconvinced.
I didn't have time to pay attention to these, instinctively turning to look for Xia Yuheng, afraid he might feel awkward.
Only to see him tilting his head, chin resting on his hand, eyes shining like stars, stammering out a few words:
"Si... Sister, don't fear, you are the best."
My nose soured, my eyes felt hot, and I nodded heavily. "Mm!"
Mother Xia smiled too, her tone gentle. "A-Yu, ah, you have to put in effort too. Don't let your sister leave you too far behind, or you'll need her to cover for you then."
"N-no!"
Xia Yuheng shot up with a whoosh, his face red with urgency.
"I... I protect Sister!"
After speaking, he actually assumed a stance on the spot, throwing a flurry of punches. Although the movements were clumsy, they were methodical and extremely serious.
Ever since that incident at school, he spent every day at the martial arts gym, practicing harder than anyone.
Mother Xia and I looked at each other, unable to hold back our laughter.
Watching his flushed face and waving limbs, the corners of my mouth slowly raised.
Mother Xia once said: "It is A-Yu's blessing to have a sister like you."
But this time, walking into the Xia family, wasn't it also me who found the light?
10
Time flew by in a flash.
Under the Xia family's full cultivation, I gradually became the "model student" in the neighbors' mouths.
In front of the school corridor's Honor Roll, my name could be seen hanging side by side with the upperclassman Xia Yuheng from time to time.
Meanwhile, Xia Zhiwei, who had top grades in the past life, was busy eating, drinking, and playing in this life, never squeezing onto the list once.
As for Shen Yanchi, he was dead last in every life; no one expected him to be on the list.
Plus, the Xia and Shen families didn't interact much to begin with. In this life, Shen Yanchi and I seemed destined to drift further apart, becoming strangers.
But there were a few times, when I was looking at the grade list, I caught a glimpse of Shen Yanchi standing at the outermost edge of the crowd, staring heavily at the list, his expression unclear.
"Brother, what are you looking at? Our names aren't on there anyway." Xia Zhiwei tilted her head and asked him.
"Nothing," I heard him reply casually.
When I looked back again, he was already dragging Xia Zhiwei far away.
Days pushed forward steadily. In the blink of an eye, I was eighteen, about to take the college entrance exam.
Xia Yuheng had accepted an offer from a prestigious overseas university three years ago and went abroad early. Now he was studying at a top institution in a foreign land.
On the day of the college entrance exam, even though I said repeatedly he didn't need to come back, he dropped his research project and flew back overnight just to accompany me into the exam hall.
"How can I miss Sister's big event?"
I couldn't sway him, so I had to let him be.
After the last subject was over, I walked out of the school gate. From a distance, I saw a person leaning against a car.
Dressed in black casual wear, tall and straight, his aura was overwhelming. Candidates and parents around kept glancing his way.
I wanted to slip away quietly, but that plan fell through completely. As long as Xia Yuheng was there, keeping a low profile was impossible.
Who still remembered the days when he was called "mute"? The current him brought his own halo; any passing girl would blush and have a racing heart.
I quickly took three steps in two, urging him to leave. "Brother, don't stand here, get in the car quickly."
Xia Yuheng looked puzzled but still took my schoolbag. "Came specially to pick you up, and you're not happy?"
I didn't have the mind to explain, only focusing on pushing him into the car. "Where's the unhappiness? Didn't we agree to meet old classmates? Any later, they'll be anxious."
The appointment was with friends we grew up with—to welcome Xia Yuheng back, and to celebrate finishing my exams.
11
After the gathering ended, everyone suggested we go play on the race track. Xia Yuheng and I were free, so we went along.
Arriving at the circuit, it was bustling inside, hosting a small-scale drag race.
"Who won this round?" A friend looked up at the big screen in the center of the venue, his tone a bit surprised.
"Shen Yanchi? Isn't he abroad? When did he get back? And he's racing cars now? Is he any good?"
Back in school, his grades were just average. He was in the same year as Xia Yuheng, but one went abroad for a diploma, and the other simply dropped out. But he was a Shen, the only seedling of the Shen family; his name still rang loud in the circle.
At this mention, everyone's eyes drifted to the screen.
As if responding specifically to this discussion, a bright red sports car roared its engine, crossing the line cleanly.
The door opened, and a man stepped out from the driver's seat, raising a hand to block the overhead light, the corner of his mouth hooked up as he listened to the cheers.
Not seen for a few years, the childishness on his face had completely faded. That demeanor was becoming more and more like him in the past life.
From the side of the stands, a little girl holding her skirt rushed down, plunging headfirst into his arms, planting a kiss on him. "Yanchi Ge, you're too cool!"
Hugging and embracing, anyone with eyes could see the relationship wasn't ordinary.
In the past life, I was the Shen family's rightful adopted daughter. Being with Shen Yanchi, I faced no shortage of obstructions; every step was like walking on knives.
But in this life, I don't know what tricks Shen Yanchi pulled, but the Shen parents didn't acknowledge me as a daughter, only telling outsiders I was a friend's child staying temporarily.
Heh. Thinking about it now, it was quite a thorough arrangement.
The scene of the handsome guy and beauty right now pushed the atmosphere to the peak.
My friend curled his lip. "Whatever, the Shens have taken over the place today. Let's withdraw, go play somewhere else."
Just as I planned to turn and follow the group, a noisy commotion suddenly came from the front.
Looking up, Shen Yanchi was holding Xia Zhiwei's hand, a crowd swarming around them as they walked over. Two groups of people bumped into each other face to face.
Shen Yanchi's gaze pierced through the gaps in the crowd, landing on me. His eyes clearly paused, as if poked by something.
He froze. Then, as if realizing something, he quickly let go of Xia Zhiwei's hand.
"Brother?"
Xia Zhiwei immediately became unhappy, whined, turned her head, and glared at me. "Xia Muxi, what are you doing here joining the fun?"
She looked me up and down, assuming a fault-finding stance. Haven't seen her for a while; the way she looked at me was actually like carrying thorns.
I was just wondering when she spoke again. "Could it be... you heard Yanchi Ge came back, so you came specially to watch him race?"
Hearing this beside her, Shen Yanchi stopped slightly, the corner of his eye sweeping over me faintly. That expression seemed to say: You are this kind of person too?
I'm truly convinced. Am I that idle?
Xia Yuheng also frowned, taking a step in front of me, tall and big, blocking me tightly.
Seeing this, Shen Yanchi's face darkened by half. He finally spoke, his tone flat without a ripple: "Muxi, Zhiwei speaks impulsively, don't take it to heart."
"Brother!" Xia Zhiwei got anxious, stomping her foot. "Why are you always so polite to her! Maybe she really followed us all the way..."
"Zhiwei, shut up." Shen Yanchi cut her off in a low voice, but his gaze couldn't help drifting behind Xia Yuheng's back again.
That look was a bit entranced.
A few years apart, she had actually become like this. That vibe in her gestures wasn't something a delicate young lady like Xia Zhiwei could compare to.
His heart skipped a beat. The Xia family, these years, had really raised her into somebody.
I sneered, my voice not loud, but clearly thrown over: "Young Master Shen, please keep your family's little princess on a leash. Don't let her bite everyone who shows their face!"
12
Some friends couldn't stand the Shen siblings' attitude and sneered, "Muxi came today to relax, to celebrate finishing the college entrance exam, not to spectate your little... cough, self-amusing street drag racing show."
There were thorns in the words; everyone could hear them.
"What do you mean by that?" Xia Zhiwei flipped instantly, her eyes widening. "My brother just took first place, and you actually say this is playing around?"
Shen Yanchi's face also turned cold. Being praised one moment and then having cold water thrown on him the next—naturally, he felt unpleasant.
He stopped paying attention to others, his gaze locking straight onto Xia Yuheng, throwing out a stiff sentence: "Young Master Xia, rare to meet. That warm-up just now wasn't satisfying. Want a real one?"
Xia Yuheng frowned. Just as he wanted to step forward, I reached out and grabbed him, shaking my head gently. I didn't want side issues on this matter.
Seeing this reaction, Shen Yanchi hooked the corner of his mouth, mocking, "If you don't dare, then forget it. Don't waste everyone's time."
Clearly provoking him.
The atmosphere on site froze instantly. My friends were red-faced with anger, but no one dared to accept the challenge for Xia Yuheng. After all, everyone knew—Xia Yuheng hadn't touched a racing car for many years...
My expression remained faint as I slowly let go of his hand.
Xia Yuheng looked down at me, raising a hand to rub my hair. "Want to watch Brother win?"
I looked up and smiled at him. "Yes. Go for it."
He turned and walked away, his steps crisp, not even giving Shen Yanchi a direct look.
When had Shen Yanchi ever been ignored like this? His face instantly turned black as the bottom of a pot.
"Pretending to be some big shot!" He squeezed a few words through his teeth, gritting his molars as he walked toward his car.
On the track. The gun sounded.
That bright red sports car was like an arrow leaving the string, leaving the black racer behind in the blink of an eye. Engines roared, making hearts numb with vibration.
Xia Zhiwei took the opportunity to mock me: "Some people, ah, study well, but can't drive cars. Why force it?"
She smiled triumphantly, her chin almost lifted to the sky. "Just the start, what are you rushing to celebrate for? Falling behind at the start, still hoping to overtake my brother? Keep dreaming!"
People around chimed in one after another; booing sounds were everywhere. My friend jumped with rage but couldn't speak.
I remained quiet, my gaze constantly following the track.
Until—a sharp turn. That black car, with a near-perfect delayed brake, drifted in hugging the inner line, overtook the red car, and crossed the finish line first!
The whole venue went silent instantly. Even Xia Zhiwei was dumbfounded, the smile on her face completely frozen.
Someone in the crowd whispered, "This cornering... why does it look a bit like last year's mysterious champion of the three major tournaments... God S?"
The voice was suppressed very low, as if afraid of losing face if wrong.
I remained expressionless, not speaking.
Actually, no one knew. Xia Yuheng had won the International Youth Championship at eleven, known back then as the "Little Car God." Although put aside for a few years in between, he had returned secretly long ago. Last year, he swept the three top tournaments, taking all the championships.
It's just that he never showed his face and never sought hype; few people remembered the name.
Xia Yuheng pushed open the car door, walked step by step to me, and reached out his hand.
"Sister, let's go. Home."
"Mm."
I smiled and took his arm.
Behind us, only Xia Zhiwei's flustered excuses remained. And Shen Yanchi's face, almost deformed by burning anger.
13
The day the college entrance exam results were released, I became the top scorer in the province.
Actually, nothing to be surprised about; after all, I did what needed to be done. It was Mom Xia and Xia Yuheng who were happy as if they won a lottery.
They said, as soon as the admission letter from the school arrived, we'd immediately arrange for the whole family to fly abroad for a vacation.
I just wanted to decline, saying there were still a few cram school sessions left.
Xia Yuheng immediately frowned. "Muxi, you're pushing too hard like this. You have to learn to take a breather."
Mom Xia also persuaded from the side, "If the sky falls, the Xia family is there to hold it up. You don't need to carry it alone, understand?"
I paused. Suddenly realized.
Since being reborn, I seemed to have pushed myself to the limit?
So... the matter of not being firmly chosen by Shen Yanchi had a deeper impact on me than I thought. So I worked desperately hard, just to gain a firm foothold in the Xia family.
Afraid of what? Afraid of being left behind again, ignored, treated as someone insignificant.
Looking at their sincere eyes right now, my heart suddenly softened.
Forget it, listen to them.
On the day of our departure, we happened to run into the Shen family at the airport. The atmosphere in their family was particularly stiff.
Shen Dad and Shen Mom looked terrible, not wanting to say a word. Shen Yanchi was expressionless, walking coldly in front. Xia Zhiwei followed beside him, drooping and listless, losing even her usual flamboyant energy.
"Heard about it? Xia Zhiwei copied answers in the exam; her scores were voided." Mom Xia glanced over, lowering her voice. "Now it's spread throughout the circle, utterly humiliating. So they're rushing to send her away before school starts, wanting to dodge the limelight."
Listening to this, I was stunned. Did water get into her brain? Wouldn't it have been fine just to steadily follow the study abroad route? Why did she have to play so big?
I shook my head, too lazy to ponder. It had not a half-cent to do with me.
Passing security, I suddenly felt someone watching me. I turned my head and collided with Shen Yanchi's gaze.
Caught red-handed by me, he clearly froze for a second, his eyes messy, a flavor I couldn't describe.
"You're quite amazing, first in the province."
"Thanks."
I replied calmly, turning to leave.
He seemed to react, just wanting to move. "Muxi!"
But before his foot could step out, he was grabbed deathly tight by Xia Zhiwei. She glared at me, her tone sour and hateful. "She doesn't want to see you at all, what are you chasing for!"
"Let go!" Shen Yanchi flung her hand away violently, using so much force that she fell sitting directly on the ground.
Xia Zhiwei's tears came down on the spot; grievances held back for so long finally exploded. She couldn't figure it out. The brother who used to be obedient to her in everything, why did he look at her like seeing the plague now?
"You regret it, don't you? But in the beginning, you were the one who didn't want her!"
This sentence was like a nail, pinning Shen Yanchi in place, unable to move a step.
It's my turn to clear the level.
I didn't look back. Holding Mom Xia's hand, following them into the boarding gate.
Let's go! Hawaii, wait for me!
14
Days slipped away one by one like this.
After getting into university, my life completely changed its appearance. I dove headfirst into books and laboratories, learning things while figuring out how to turn what I learned into usable resources.
In my sophomore year, I pulled up my own team. Not a playful club combination, but a serious team for research and projects. Everyone in the team was not simple; sharp brains, quick hands, each one could stand on their own.
The family didn't stay idle either. Mom Xia directly made the decision to hand over a startup company of the Xia family to me, letting me have the final say.
The first project landed and became a hit; funds multiplied several times, company scale shot up. Several subsequent results were even more fierce—leading technology, hot market—forcefully pushing this small company to the edge of the head office's vision; several times financial report data almost caught up.
People in the circle started discussing me, saying the Xia family produced a new noble, stirring up wind and clouds at a young age.
On graduation day, Xia Yuheng came back. Officially entering the Xia Corporation headquarters, taking the successor route.
Rumors outside rose immediately, all waiting for a good show of "sister and brother fighting for power." They felt that him coming back to sit in a high position while I only held a small company meant I must be holding fire inside.
But I didn't fuss. Instead, I actively paved the way—resources, connections, experience—sending them all his way. With me and Mom Xia backing him up, plus his own capability, Xia Yuheng stood firm.
Just then, the Xia family issued an announcement: The company in my hands officially split from the Xia Corporation, and the name changed too—Zhaohua Group.
That night, fireworks exploded all night on top of the group building; lights and shadows made the whole city bright.
Xia Yuheng and I stood side by side. He looked at the night view, his tone very serious. "Muxi, don't forget, the Xia Corporation is always your backing."
I tilted my head, smiling playfully. "Don't speak too early, Brother. Maybe one day, you'll turn back and rely on me."
He laughed loudly, rubbing my hair. "Okay, whatever you say is right. My sister is the most capable."
I turned my face, gazing at the flowing lights beneath my feet, and smiled gently.
Actually, all this was agreed upon long ago. Zhaohua belongs to me, clean and complete. In exchange, I have to protect Xia Yuheng as he walks his path.
Back then, Mom Xia asked me: "Just want a subsidiary? I thought you would want something else, like half the Xia family."
She narrowed her eyes, seemingly testing.
I shook my head, speaking clearly and firmly: "I don't care for what is distributed. What I want is something that completely and utterly belongs to me, Xia Muxi."
Living two lives, I understood better than anyone: Only the power grasped in one's own palm counts as truly held.
15
As the school's most presentable graduate, I was called back to participate in a horseback archery competition to fight on behalf of my alma mater.
This kind of activity, for me, was like drinking a cup of milk tea after work, just for relaxation. The result had no suspense; I crushed it all the way, the championship directly in hand.
Just coming down from the podium, school leaders surrounded me like flies seeing sugar, bootlicking circle after circle. Finally managing to squeeze out of the crowd, a voice sounded from behind again.
"Muxi."
It was Shen Yanchi.
He actually came too.
Speaking of which, this was our first meeting since he took over the Shen family business and returned to the country.
He didn't even look at Xia Zhiwei, who was grinding her teeth in anger beside him, and walked straight to me. His gaze fell on my competition outfit, his tone carrying surprise.
"You... are even more amazing than before."
His eyes were complex—amazement, loss, and a trace of indescribable regret hidden within.
In that instant, my heart skipped a beat. This look... I was too familiar with it.
In the past life, I attended a banquet with him. That adopted daughter of the Xia family, Xia Zhiwei, played a piano piece in public, the whole audience applauding. At that time, he looked at her with exactly this kind of gaze.
Now, it switched to me.
Funny, isn't it? A rebirth trip later, Shen Yanchi's taste still hasn't changed. He always cares about the things he can't grasp.
I nodded slightly to him, counting it as a greeting. My feet didn't stop for a moment, continuing forward.
But he wouldn't let me, striding a few steps in front of me, blocking the way, his expression cloudy.
"If I said, we could go back to the past, you still be my sister..."
I almost laughed out loud. Who does he think he is?
I interrupted with a cold face: "I don't understand what you're saying. If President Shen is truly free, might as well manage your own company."
His face instantly turned black.
I knew he hadn't been having a good time recently. Shen Corporation had capital chain problems; the stock price fell like jumping off a building.
It was like this in the past life too. Back then he wanted face to the death, begging no one. In the end, it was me who humbled myself, went to find Xia Yuheng, who was already called "Xia the Living Yama," relying on that bit of childhood sentiment to fish the Shen family out of the mud.
In this life, although he made some preparations in advance, the inside of the Shen family ship had long rotted through. Without the Xia family backing him, those few tricks of his couldn't withstand the wind and waves at all.
Shen Corporation, this time it's really finished.
16
I simply didn't want to waste words with him. Turned around preparing to leave.
"Xia Muxi, Yanchi and I are about to get engaged. Can you stop appearing? Stay away from us, okay?"
Xia Zhiwei, whom no one paid attention to, suddenly exploded, rushing up to block me.
Resulting in being shoved away by Shen Yanchi, his tone cold as ice: "Have you caused enough trouble?"
"I can't help you, can't you just behave? Must you find trouble for me here?"
Shen Yanchi's brows twisted into a knot, face full of impatience.
Xia Zhiwei fell directly to the ground, pathetic and wretched. She stared blankly at Shen Yanchi, seeing the undisguised disgust in his eyes; the last bit of hope shattered with a snap.
"I find trouble?" She suddenly laughed out loud, crying while laughing, pointing at Shen Yanchi, then shouting at me.
"Shen Yanchi! You regret it, don't you?!"
"You think she'll still want you? Who is she now? She is Xia Muxi! And what are you?"
"Back then you personally chose me, you pulled me away. Now you find me an eyesore? What right do you have to change your heart?!"
Only then did I realize.
So Xia Zhiwei traveled back too. No wonder she's so crazy.
"Shut up."
Shen Yanchi panicked, glancing at me quickly, yanking Xia Zhiwei up from the ground. "Sorry, my sister's emotions are unstable, made you see a joke."
"Sister? Sister?! We're getting married, and you call me sister in front of her?"
Xia Zhiwei completely lost control, questioning shrilly. Shen Yanchi's face turned green, still suppressing his anger to coax her in a low voice. But she didn't buy it at all.
The two argued more and more fiercely; the scene completely spiraled out of control.
I pretended not to understand what they were arguing about. Took advantage of the chaos to leave the venue quickly.
Not until I drilled into Xia Yuheng's car could I finally catch my breath.
He teased with a smile: "What, someone chasing to kill you behind? Running so fast."
I nodded solemnly: "Really there is, scared me to death."
Who can say otherwise? Attending an event perfectly fine, actually bumping into this pair of old acquaintances. Truly eight lifetimes of bad luck.
17
Zhaohua Group rose incredibly fast these few years. Plus a cross-industry alliance with the Xia family, the two giants tied together, the momentum was so fierce it couldn't be stopped.
Performance dazzling, naturally I was pushed onto the crest of the wave. People in the circle mentioning me no longer said "that girl adopted by the Shen family."
Now they all call me—Xia Muxi of Zhaohua Group.
On the contrary, the Shen family. Worse year by year, rumors outside spreading like wildfire, saying they sold land, dumped shares, the family foundation almost emptied.
Even though I remembered the little sentiment from childhood and ordered the Xia family and Zhaohua not to take the opportunity to suppress them, not following those forces to step on them, the Shen family barely kept up appearances. Gone was the former glory.
The next time I saw Shen Yanchi was at a project bid evaluation meeting.
I sat in the front row of the judge's seats, a prominent position. He was below, bringing Xia Zhiwei along, sitting in the bidder's area. He looked at me from afar, eyes dodging, quickly lowering his head.
The Shen family, once able to rank in the top ten in the business world, now could only sit side by side with other companies, waiting for a bid result.
I didn't look at him again, turning back to focus on the meeting.
During the halftime break, I went to the restroom. The tap water flowed with a whoosh, I was washing my hands.
Suddenly a voice came from behind: "Let's talk."
I looked up, seeing Xia Zhiwei standing behind me in the mirror. I glanced at her faintly, turned off the water, wiped my hands, and walked straight into the tea room next door.
She followed closely.
"You came back too, right?"
"Is this important?" I asked.
Her body stiffened, her voice suddenly rising high. "Shen Yanchi abandoned you for me back then, do you really not hate it at all?"
My expression didn't change, tone calm. "Ridiculous. He personally sent you into that Xia family, clearly knowing Mother Xia was pretending, Xia Yuheng had bad intentions... yet you, now you speak for them?"
"Stop talking."
"Heh, now it's your turn to talk about rules?" She sneered, staring at me. "I forgot, you are now the serious eldest miss of the Xia family. The Xia family worships you like an eyeball. You really are something."
"Hearts are reciprocal. How you treat people, people treat you back." I said softly.
"Don't pretend to be a saint here!" She suddenly shouted. "What I can't stand most is this look of yours! Why? In the past life you grew up in the Shen family, ate well, dressed well, and even married Brother Yanchi! What about this life? Clearly you went to that bone-eating Xia family, why do they genuinely love you instead?"
"Even Brother Yanchi's eyes still chase after you! Why! Where am I inferior to you? Say it!"
I watched her agitated almost to the point of losing control, quietly taking half a step back.
"You thought wrong. The person Shen Yanchi likes is you."
Aren't they getting engaged soon?
After listening, she suddenly threw her head back and laughed loudly. "Likes me?"
The laughter stopped abruptly; she stared at me fiercely, word by word: "But the White Moonlight he holds in his heart was never me... it was you—Xia Muxi!"
18
She yanked off the pendant hanging the key, squeezing out a smile on her face uglier than crying.
"Do you remember, when you were small, you saved a nearly drowned boy outside the orphanage? Dressed very expensively... Later his family came looking, you went to find the Director Auntie, so I impersonated you. They left a necklace for me, saying they would come back to find me one day."
"I kept waiting, but what came was him taking you back to the Shen family!"
"I just couldn't stand you living well, couldn't stand you being held up by everyone! So I quietly said a few words in front of Brother Yanchi, and he sure enough started noticing me... only pity later I..."
She gritted her teeth, her eyes full of hatred.
"I just accidentally leaked a little wind, and Madam Xia wanted to kick me out! That lunatic Xia Yuheng even wanted to beat me to death! He just holds a grudge, remembering I didn't care about him in the alley! If he hadn't gone crazy, how would I have run away? How would I have suffered that kind of sin!"
"Luckily, this time heaven gave me a chance..."
"But now, Brother Yanchi says he doesn't want to get engaged to me... clearly before, his eyes only had me alone..."
I stood there, my head suddenly clearing completely.
Finally understood what Shen Yanchi meant by "find you sooner" in the past life.
What a pity.
Xia Zhiwei is still too stupid.
What Shen Yanchi longed for was never me, Xia Muxi. What he truly wanted was that unreachable eldest miss of the Xia family. Regardless if that person was me or her.
In the past life, Xia Zhiwei held the title of Miss Xia. Even if out of favor, the treatment from childhood, the temperament, the style were all real. She was the "White Moonlight" everyone looked up to.
In this life, our identities swapped. His gazing look naturally fell on me.
I turned my head, seeing Shen Yanchi appearing behind her at some point, his face pale, lips trembling, as if struck by lightning.
I shook my head gently. "You got it wrong."
"Where am I wrong? What right do you have to look at me like that!"
"Xia Zhiwei!"
She was just about to speak when she was cut off by a roar from Shen Yanchi.
"You lied to me? You poisonous woman!"
"If not for you, how would I have become like this!"
His eyes bulged, breathing rapid, staring dead at Xia Zhiwei as if to see through her.
The sky darkened, wind and rain arrived suddenly.
I immediately walked out, casually closing the door to the break room.
Walking to the end of the corridor, Xia Yuheng stood in the backlight, motionless, as if he had waited for a long time, but his expression showed no urgency at all.
I walked over quickly. "Brother, let's go."
19
Xia Zhiwei secretly gave the Shen family's confidential data to a competitor! The Shen family almost capsized because of this!
The cause was Shen Yanchi refusing to marry her, and the family even planned to use her for a marriage alliance, talking heatedly with the in-laws.
This completely drove Xia Zhiwei crazy!
Hardening her heart, she simply smashed the broken jar and turned to defect to the enemy.
Less than two months from the project bid, I actually heard such explosive news.
Her stealing files... this matter, I wasn't surprised at all. Whether past life or this life, in her bones, she was just such a ruthless person.
Xia Yuheng told me this; I just smiled listening to it, didn't take it seriously. But unexpectedly, the Shen family had mishap after mishap.
Shen Yanchi was hospitalized. Stabbed by Xia Zhiwei with a knife.
I heard that day she didn't go far at all, caught on the spot by the Shen family. The Shen family, sentimental about old times, wanted to spare her once, persuading her nicely to turn back to shore.
Who expected she not only didn't appreciate it but suddenly pulled a knife from her bag, heading straight for Mother Shen who always doted on her!
"It's all you old thing! If not for you giving Shen Yanchi ideas, how would he have the heart to push me to others!"
Shen Yanchi lunged to block; the knife had already stabbed down.
Xia Zhiwei wanted to stop, but the person had already fallen.
Now Shen Yanchi lay in the ICU, life hanging by a thread.
The Shen family was completely chilled to the heart this time, calling the police directly, sending her in. Commercial secret leakage, plus intentional injury—she almost lost the headlines.
With Xia Zhiwei going in this time, I'm afraid she'd never think of coming out again.
20
One year later.
Zhaohua Group rang the bell to list overseas; once the news came out, it caused a sensation in the whole venue.
The Xia family specially organized a scenery-unlimited celebration banquet. Political and business celebrities filled the hall, champagne glasses clinked crisply, laughter rising one after another.
I stood in the center of the crowd, wearing a just-right smile, exchanging pleasantries, shaking hands, toasting with one big shot after another. Applause, compliments endless, lifting me higher and higher like the tide.
Corner of my eye sweeping the hall corner, I saw Shen Yanchi.
He shrank alone by the wall, figure constrained, suit tidy but an old style, cuffs slightly frayed, bow tie tied stiffly.
I only looked at him once. Then turned back, pretending not to see.
The Shen family could step into this door entirely relying on Mother Shen humbly begging for mercy. Mother Xia, remembering past neighborly sentiments, barely nodded to let them pass.
But who didn't know, the current Shen family was long past the glorious Shen family of back then. House gone, industry collapsed, even the place they lived changed to an old building in the old district.
After the dance started, quite a few people came to ask for a dance; I declined one by one. When the crowd thinned and the music slowed down, I slipped quietly to the terrace, wanting to blow in the wind quietly alone.
The night wind blew chilly on my face, making my brain a bit clearer.
I was lost in thought when suddenly light footsteps came from behind. Turning back, it was Shen Yanchi.
He stood not far away, eyes straight, as if he had walked for a long time before gathering the courage to approach.
"Muxi." His voice was light as if speaking in a dream. "You came back, didn't you? We grew up together; you have things in your heart, you can't hide from me."
The air suddenly quieted. As if the wind stopped too.
His voice trembled: "Back then at the orphanage... you clearly could acknowledge me, why didn't you say? Why... avoid me?"
I turned around, looking straight at him, my tone very faint.
"I just wanted to walk a path without you. But you? You walked away first long ago, didn't you?"
These words, once out, cut into his chest like a knife.
He jerked back a step violently, face terrifyingly white, lips shaking, opening his mouth, but unable to make a sound.
Yes.
It was him who let go first. It was him who turned first. What right does he have to stand here, asking me why I left?
He stood dazed for a few seconds, finally stumbling as he turned, head lowered and walking away, his back bent like a crushed withered branch, dragging step by step, as if he couldn't walk out of this night.
I watched him disappear at the door. Didn't move. Didn't call out either.
"Muxi?"
A low voice sounded from behind.
I turned back; it was Xia Yuheng.
He walked over, his gaze sweeping faintly over the direction Shen Yanchi left, saying nothing. Then he handed me a cup of steaming honey water.
"Tired?" He asked, his voice gentle as moonlight.
I took the cup, warmth spreading along my palm. I looked up at his cold yet gentle side profile, then through the glass, looked toward Mother Xia chatting and laughing in the banquet hall.
"Not tired." I smiled, shaking my head gently.
My head naturally leaned on his shoulder.
"Brother, do you know?"
"Mm?"
"In this life, I've lived really well."
I have a strict but never mistreating mom. I have a brother who blocks wind and rain for me no matter when.
The warmth before my eyes was real and substantial, touchable by reaching out. Those pains of the past, those betrayals, all turned the page.
This life... was worth it.