Chapter 16: Chapter 16 She Was Left Behind Chapter 16: Chapter 16 She Was Left Behind Bai Zhi walked briskly and failed to notice someone approaching her.
“Xingxing, what are you doing here?”
Suddenly hearing someone call Xingxing, and it wasn’t her grandfather, Bai Zhi blankly raised her head only to see a pair of worried eyes.
It was a woman, not particularly beautiful but still quite graceful. She wore old clothes, yet they were very clean, clearly, a woman skilled in household management.
The woman was carrying a lot of things, including food and fruit. Seeing the injury on Bai Zhi’s forehead, she immediately set down her items and reached out tenderly to touch it!
Bai Zhi instinctively stepped back and also remembered who this person was, Ye Xiu, the original owner’s mother, the Ye Xiu who was once called ‘Mother Ye’ by many students.
Her life could actually be considered great, having led many children out of the mountains. It’s just she never paid attention to her own daughter, was her heart too big, embracing so many students but not enough room for Bai Zhi?
Perhaps there was room, it’s just she cared more about her students.
“I… I’m fine,” Bai Zhi said stiffly, her tone even carrying a hint of coldness.
Ye Xiu’s mind was fixated on Bai Zhi’s wound, and naturally, she didn’t notice this. She wanted to touch the wound but was afraid of hurting the original owner.
Bai Zhi kept watching and saw the concern and pain in Ye Xiu’s eyes which didn’t seem fake, but why couldn’t she feel any of this in the original owner’s memories?
And the books mentioned, Bai Zhi’s head began to throb slightly.
She finally understood that saying, what was it?
What you read in books and what you experience yourself are completely different.
When reading, it’s just text, pale words that can’t compare at all with personal experience.
What a hassle!
“Xingxing, tell Mom, how did this happen?”
Ye Xiu’s voice was choked with sobs, filled with immense sympathy. It had only been a month, and her daughter had lost much weight and was now having a thick bandage on her head, making guilt surge in her heart.
What exactly had she missed!
“Xingxing, does it hurt?”
Tears glistened in Ye Xiu’s eyes as she gazed at Bai Zhi with compassion.
At that moment, Bai Zhi suddenly couldn’t tell.
She didn’t know if it was genuine or pretense to want to know the lifetime of experiences she had, experiences that had hardly any memories belonging to her, or rather, it was like… they were deliberately forgotten, making Bai Zhi feel passive.
“It’s nothing serious. I slipped and fell on a rock; Grandpa took me to get stitches!”
Bai Zhi offered a smile, casually touching her forehead as she spoke, still carrying a subtle, nearly imperceptible detachment.
“Does it hurt, you silly girl? Be more careful from now on! Come, let’s go home with Mom, I made you something delicious today, okay?”
Ye Xiu, heartbroken, picked up her items and started guiding Bai Zhi towards home.
Bai Zhi initially wanted to say no, but then she suddenly wanted to know what delicious food she had made.
Actually, Ye Xiu was someone who often avoided the main issue. Like now, she mentioned Grandpa had taken her for stitches and didn’t inquire further.
Was this really concern?
Bai Zhi didn’t know. She didn’t understand why her mind had been foggy lately, as if there was something baffling her, perhaps due to the after-effects of a concussion?
They had not gone far when Bai Yu and Bai Ye came over, and they were taken aback upon seeing Bai Zhi next to Ye Xiu.
They thought that Bai Zhi must have told on them.
Worried that Ye Xiu might misunderstand, Bai Ye quickly went to take the fruits and cookies from Ye Xiu’s hands.
“Mom, let me carry them!”
They always put away the food that Ye Xiu brought back, claiming they were going to eat it together, but actually, they secretly fed it all to the group pet.
They always felt the group pet needed nutrition. Of course, the group pet would share with them and Bai Zhi.
They would say that Bai Zhi had already eaten, but in reality, that was hardly the case! How could it be possible!
The original owner was always left out unless she made a fuss about wanting to eat; only then would they give her some. That was the real reason Bai Da saw the original owner as greedy!
But some people only see the surface and never asked why.
Sometimes, Bai Zhi couldn’t understand how two people, who could be so kind to someone who wasn’t their biological child, could be so cruel to their own sister.
Maybe that was just the author’s setup, or perhaps they were sick?
Wasn’t their biological sister good enough?
Or was she not good enough for them?
Either way, Bai Zhi couldn’t understand and now, she wouldn’t care about them at all.
Bai Yu’s obedience naturally made Ye Xiu happy, but she didn’t show it overtly. Boys, after all, can’t be praised too much.
Bai Ye walked over, holding Xixi’s hand. Upon seeing Ye Xiu, Xixi immediately rushed over and hugged Ye Xiu with a sweet voice.
“Mommy, I missed you so much, did you miss Xixi?”
As it was known, Ye Xiu could devote everything to her students and, naturally, she also favored the group pet.
She squatted down, pinched Xixi’s little face, and smiled gently,
“I missed Xixi too. Were you well-behaved this month?”
The affection was evident to anyone.
Yes, although the original owner took care of everything, she wasn’t sweet-mouthed.
A crying child gets the sweet; a child who acts cute is particularly loved!
Naturally, it was reasonable for Ye Xiu to like the group pet, but from the young original owner’s point of view,
how should she feel?
She was just a child. Described as ten years old, she was actually only nine, a time when children deeply need their parents’ care.
It was bad enough that they never praised her, but they also pampered the group pet who had nothing to do. How should she feel?
Just like now, she was the one injured, yet the affection was all for the group pet, no wonder the original owner was upset!
Furthermore, what the original owner did was merely minor mischief, like children playing house, but in Bai Ye’s eyes, it was as if the group pet was being bullied — how excessive!
Bai Zhi discovered now that her emotions weren’t right, seemingly very easy to anger. Was it because of the original owner’s feelings?
Even in anger, she had to keep her own feelings hidden.
Besides, even if they couldn’t see us, grandfather could! We still have grandfather!
That’s what Bai Zhi told herself; after a long time, the oppressive feeling eased a lot.
“Mom, can I eat the food you make?”
Xixi tugged on Ye Xiu’s hand, heading towards the house.
Ye Xiu’s heart felt warm; the little girl’s coyness was really adorable. After walking a few steps, she suddenly remembered something. Turning around, she saw Bai Zhi still standing there, the bandage on her forehead so obvious.
Ye Xiu felt as if needles were pricking her heart. She had forgotten about Xingxing…
Swiftly, Ye Xiu let go of Xixi’s hand and walked back.
The moment she was released, the group pet froze, her eyes suddenly tearing up, her heart aching, feeling left behind.
The fleeting hurt in the group pet’s eyes was caught by Bai Yu, who looked displeasedly at Bai Zhi.