Chapter 25: This Is My Room
Outside of Xu Nianshen’s room, Mrs. Xu listened to the muffled sobs coming from inside, her heart aching as if it would break.
Xu Nian put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s fine. Once she cries it out, she’ll feel better.”
“Yes,” Mrs. Xu agreed softly. “Once she cries it out, she’ll be fine.”
Through the crack in the door, she saw the young girl with her head buried in her arms, crying at the desk, while the boy leaned beside her, gently patting her back to comfort her. Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a soft glow over them both and blurring the edges of their figures.
Mrs. Xu withdrew her gaze, her tone brimming with anger. “Those people are too much! Even if Jiujiu isn’t their biological child, they can’t treat her like that!”
She turned to Xu Nian and added, “Be careful when working with them in the future.” Then, after a pause, “Actually, it’d be best if you didn’t work with them at all.”
Xu Nian nodded.
Inside, the sound of crying gradually subsided. Lin Yuejiu had cried herself to sleep. Her pale little face was still streaked with tears. Xu Nianshen gently wiped them away with a tissue, then bent over to lift her onto the bed. He took off her shoes, tucked her in, and after a glance, reached out to smooth the small frown on her brow.
“Sweet dreams,” he murmured.
He turned and left, closing the door quietly behind him.
Mrs. Xu whispered, “She’s asleep?”
“Mm.”
“Then let’s go, don’t disturb her rest.”
“Mm, let’s go.”
—
The Lin household was now silent. After Lin Yuejiu left, there was a brief stillness before Lin Yimo was the first to move. He said a few words to the old master and went back to his room.
Father and Mother Lin also felt they needed some quiet time. The old master waved them off, returning home himself. With such an incident happening on his birthday, no one was in the mood to continue the celebration.
Soon, only Lin Rumeng remained in the garden. She looked at the now-empty courtyard, gripping the candle in her hand so tightly that her nails dug into it, leaving marks. After a while, she loosened her hold.
She told herself to relax — Lin Yuejiu would never return to the Lin family again. She should be happy about that. Even though Yuejiu had said so much today, Rumeng believed that the sorrow she brought to Father and Mother Lin was only temporary. It wouldn’t be long before they moved on. She was sweeter-tongued than Yuejiu and better at winning their favor. There was no way Lin Yuejiu would hold a lasting place in their hearts.
—
Early the next morning, Lin Yuejiu had just woken up, her eyes still sore.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” she called.
She was startled by how hoarse her own voice sounded — her throat felt dry, itchy, and uncomfortable.
Xu Nianshen came in, holding a glass of water. Seeing her sit up slightly, he said, “Awake?” He walked over and handed her the cup. “Here, take a sip.”
She accepted the water and took a drink, instantly feeling relief in her throat.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“Mm. Now that you’re awake, you should get up. Are your eyes still sore?”
“A little,” she admitted honestly.
“Mm, get up first. Later, you can use a warm towel to soothe them.”
“Alright.” She thought he was about to leave, but when he didn’t move, she asked, “Why aren’t you going?”
He gave her a sidelong glance, amusement flickering in his eyes. “This is my room. Where would I go?”
“Your room?” Lin Yuejiu frowned instinctively. “Isn’t this the guest room Auntie Xu prepared for me?”
“Look down.”
She lowered her gaze and saw the blanket — it was a cool-toned one she remembered belonged to Xu Nianshen. Wait… did she go into the wrong room?
Her face instantly warmed. “Sorry, I didn’t realize. I’ll leave right now.”
Throwing back the covers, she jumped out of bed and hurriedly left the room like a puff of smoke.
Watching the rare sight of the girl fleeing in embarrassment, Xu Nianshen let out a low laugh. Sitting down on the bed, he could still feel the lingering warmth she had left in the blankets.
After running out of the room, Lin Yuejiu found the guest room Aunt Xu had prepared for her, slipped inside quickly, and went straight to the bathroom. She turned on the faucet, cupped water in her hands, and splashed it on her face. Then, bracing herself against the sink, she looked up into the mirror — her eyes were indeed a bit red and swollen.
Thinking about it just now, she realized she had slept in his room last night… so where had Xu Nianshen slept?
No wonder she had kept smelling a pleasant, cool scent around her nose when she woke up in the morning — it was exactly like him.
Lin Yuejiu quickly shook her head, patted her cheeks, turned on the hot water, wet a towel, wrung it out, and pressed it over her eyes.
Eight minutes later, she went downstairs.
Xu’s mother was busy preparing breakfast. When she saw her coming down, she immediately came over. “Jiujiu’s awake? Are you hungry? Come, eat breakfast.”
Lin Yuejiu nodded obediently and walked over. “Okay.”
Xu Nian and Xu Nianshen also came down from upstairs. Xu Nian greeted her, “Jiujiu, did you sleep well last night?”
Lin Yuejiu tilted her head to glance at Xu Nianshen beside her. His expression was calm as he nodded. Well… she had slept quite well, indeed.
“As long as you slept well.”
They finished breakfast quietly. Xu Nian said he would drive them to school. Xu Nianshen didn’t object, which counted as agreement, so Lin Yuejiu went along too.
Near the school, Xu Nian rested an arm on the car window and looked at her. “Jiujiu, you should come over to our house more often on weekends. You can also pick a place you want to go — if I’m free, I’ll take you out to play.”
Lin Yuejiu smiled. “Alright, I know, Brother Xu Nian.”
They walked toward the school side by side.
“How come you never call me ‘brother’?”
“??? What?”
“You call him so easily, but I’ve never heard you call me that.”
“He’s older than me.”
“I’m also older than you.”
Lin Yuejiu paused for a moment. “Even though you’re older, we’re still pretty close in age. Brother Xu Nian is different — he’s already working, and he’s several years older than both of us.”
Xu Nianshen didn’t reply and simply quickened his pace.
Lagging a few steps behind, Lin Yuejiu hugged her books and caught up, still not understanding why he asked that.
Once she entered the classroom and sat down, Chen Qianxi pounced on her.
“Jiujiu!”
Startled for a moment, Lin Yuejiu quickly returned the hug, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. “What’s wrong?”
Chen Qianxi released her, eyes full of mock resentment. “You didn’t send me a message yesterday.”
Lin Yuejiu froze. Yesterday? Right… she really hadn’t.
Seeing her silent, Chen Qianxi was about to say more when she noticed her eyes were a little swollen and red. She asked softly, in surprise, “You cried?”
Lin Yuejiu blinked, remembering what had happened yesterday.
She gave a light “Mm.”
Chen Qianxi immediately tensed up. “What happened? Why were you crying? Who bullied you? Was it Lan Qingqing and Lin Rumeng again? I knew it! I’ll go deal with them right now!”
Chen Qianxi was already about to get up when Lin Yuejiu pulled her back into her seat.
Chen Qianxi looked confused. “What’s going on?”
“I left the Lin family yesterday.”
“The Lin family? What were you doing there? Did you go on your own?”
