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Li Huairou woke up.

 

She sighed, got up from the bed, found that the lower bed was empty, shook her head helplessly, and went to the living room.

 

The Li house was not actually big—it was sixty-five square meters, with two bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom. Having all functional areas was enough for the Li family.

 

But for Luo Xinyu, the Li family living room wasn’t even as big as her bedroom, and their bedroom wasn’t even as big as her bathroom.

 

Although it’d been three days since she’d come back, Luo Xinyu still hadn’t adapted to the Li family’s life. She’d begun to regret it. She regretted that she’d been so headstrong. She’d been provoked by her cousin’s words and ran away from the Luo house.

 

She wanted to go back, but she didn’t know how to face her honest parents and older sister, and her only option was to secretly go back in the middle of the night.

 

Li Huairou turned the light on with a snap. Luo Xinyu was startled and stood there, not daring to move.

 

Li Huairou deliberately pretended not to see Luo Xinyu, who was dressed neatly, as if wanting to leave. “Xinyu, are you hungry? I saw that you didn’t eat much for dinner.”

 

Luo Xinyu stiffly nodded.”Mm.”

 

“Sit down and I’ll make you a bowl of noodles!” Li Huairou yawned. “Next time you’re hungry, just tell your sister here, and I’ll cook you noodles.”

 

Fifteen minutes later, Luo Xinyu sat at the dining table, gobbling it all up.

 

Li Huairou sat opposite her, resting her chin and smiling. She looked at Luo Xinyu. “Slow down, don’t choke. A-Shan also loves my noodles the most.”

 

Luo Xinyu paused, then continued to eat.

 

“Xinyu, do you want to go back to the Luo house?” Li Huairou directly asked.

 

Luo Xinyu’s hands trembled, and her chopsticks fell onto the table. She hastily picked them up, then got up and wanted to get a tissue, but she overturned her bowl, and the noodle soup spilled all over the table. She wanted to clean it up, but couldn’t. It was too messy. She froze, not knowing what to do.

 

Li Huairou turned around and went to the kitchen. She picked up a rag and cleaned up the mess.

 

Then she washed her hands and took two bottles of beer from the refrigerator. “Let’s go. I’ll take you somewhere.”

 

Luo Xinyu silently followed Li Huairou, who was holding the beer, to the rooftop.

 

In the corner of the roof, there were two old reclining chairs, with a small table next to them. Li Huairou sat down. Luo Xinyu hesitated for a while, then sat down as well and laid down, following Li Huairou’s example.

 

She saw a sky full of stars.

 

“It’s so beautiful!” Luo Xinyu exclaimed in admiration.

 

“Beautiful, right? When I was young, my parents were scrambling to make a living. When A-shan and I were free, we’d come to the rooftop, drink, watch the stars in the sky, and chat. This is our secret base.” Li Huairou opened the bottle and took a sip.

 

Luo Xin didn’t move. She’d never had beer, only some red wine on occasion.

 

“In truth, no one expected this kind of thing to happen. The nurse’s negligence back then caused you and A-Shan to be swapped at birth. This mistake lasted for 16 years. Now, although the truth was revealed, you returned, but I know that you grew up in the Luo family, and your feelings toward the Luo family cannot be changed by blood or identity. If you want to go back, I can understand.” The rocking chair slowly swayed, and Li Huairou also slowly spoke.

 

However, although Luo Xinyu didn’t know why, there was some inexplicable guilt in her heart.

 

“Actually, after we found out the truth, Mrs. Luo came to us. She couldn’t let you go. She can’t let A-Shan go, either. She proposed to bring you and A-Shan back to the Luo house. At that time, I didn’t agree, because I thought that this was a matter between you and A-Shan—both of you should be the ones to decide. You know what happened next. At first, A-Shan didn’t want to go back, but the Luo family moved her in the end, so she went back. Now I want to ask you: do you want to go back?” Li Huairou continued to ask.

 

Luo Xinyu originally thought she’d be decisive and answer—yes! But she hesitated. After all, she was only sixteen years old, and she still couldn’t calmly face her inner thoughts in the open.

 

Li Huairou smiled. “If you want to go back, go back. After all, we wouldn’t be able to give you what the Luo family could for the rest of our lives.”

 

Luo Xinyu hurriedly shook her head. “That’s not what I meant, I…”

 

“I understand.” Li Huairou’s smile was full of tolerance. “This is human nature, nothing to be ashamed of.” Such a simple child; as expected, the environment and time were the most capable of changing people.

 

“Actually, I don’t really want you to go back. Do you want to hear my thoughts?” Li Huairou continued.

 

Luo Xinyu nodded.

 

“As far as I know, the Luo family is a big family. Your adoptive father is the third son of his generation, with two older brothers. Madam Luo likes to be lively, and the three families live together. There are usually many conflicts, right?” Li Huairou asked.

 

Luo Xinyu nodded hesitantly.

 

“It was fine for A-Shan. After all, she’s the Luo family’s own flesh and blood, and the only girl in their current generation, or the only one who was born from a legitimate wife. Madam Luo loves her granddaughter the most and values ​​rules, so no matter what A-Shan does, the Luo family won’t target her. But you are different. Madam Luo used to love you so much, more than her other grandchildren, and even more than your second uncle’s illegitimate daughter. At that time, they all thought you were the Luo family’s child. Even if they were unhappy, they wouldn’t show it in front of the madam. But now, after this?” Li Huairou said.

 

Luo Xinyu hadn’t thought about this before, but now that Li Huairou had reminded her, she realized it. Li Huairou didn’t need to elaborate; she could think of it herself.

 

Luo Xinyu lowered her head.

 

Li Huairou held her hand. “So, although the Li family’s situation is not as good as that of the Luo family, and even though I know about the relationship between you and the Luo family, I still hope that you won’t go back. In my opinion, material things are worse than spiritual happiness. You are my younger sister, and my parents and I will try our best to give you the best. Believe in me!”

 

Luo Xinyu looked at Li Huairou in a daze. She suddenly burst into tears.

 

She was only sixteen years old, and she was at a loss as to what to do in the face of such life changes. The Luo family was busy investigating the truth, having regrets, and looking for its own daughter. No one cared about her psychological state. No one thought about her.

 

Li Huairou pulled her onto her reclining chair, hugged her. Luo Xinyu curled up in her sister’s arms, silently shedding tears.

 

Li Huairou gently patted her on the back. “It’ll be fine. Everything will be fine.”

 

When Luo Xinyu fell asleep, Li Huairou carried her back with difficulty and put her on the bed.

 

After closing the door, the Li family parents listlessly sat on the sofa and looked at Li Huairou.

 

“Listen to me. Close the store, sell the house. Let’s go back to our hometown.” Li Huairou said, sitting down opposite her parents.

 

Her parents hesitated. “What about A-Shan?”

 

“A-Shan is good-tempered, well-behaved, and sensible. In the Luo family, she has biological parents and an elder brother. She’ll be fine. If you’re worried, I’ll try to ask A-Shan to come out to meet us tomorrow. But, for A-Shan’s sake, and for Xinyu’s sake, you must listen to me and go back to our hometown,” Li Huairou said firmly.

 

Li Huairou had held her own opinions since she was a child, and her parents were also used to listening to their eldest daughter. Although they were reluctant to separate from their adopted daughter, once she said it was for the sake of the two children, they had no objections.

 

The next afternoon, the two families met.

 

When Li Huaishan and Luo Xinyu saw their adoptive parents, they were a little excited and their eyes reddened, but since their biological parents were by their sides, they held back.

 

When Luo Xinyu’s adoptive parents and elder brother saw Luo Xinyu, they also became a little emotional. After all, they’d raised her for sixteen years as their own daughter. How could they have no feelings? But with their own daughter on the side, they couldn’t get too excited. Alas, it was all heaven’s scheme!

 

Neither party spoke. Li Huairou took a look and spoke first: “I’ll have to trouble Uncle Luo for A-Shan’s and Xinyu’s household registration and ID cards.”

 

Papa Luo glanced at his wife. “I think so—I want to adopt Xinyu. Please, agree. I promise that I will treat Xinyu well.”

 

Mama Luo also looked forward to it, while her son frowned slightly. Li Huaishan was very calm, but her gaze was at the Li family.

 

The Li family parents were a little surprised, but they didn’t say anything. They just looked at Li Huairou.

 

Seeing the expressions on everyone’s faces, Li Huairou asked, “Uncle Luo, have you mentioned this idea to the Luo family? Do they agree?”

 

Papa Luo frowned slightly.

 

“My idea is that, since they’ve returned to their place, let’s settle down. A-Shan and Xinyu are both my younger sisters. I hope that they’re both well. A-Shan has a good temper and wouldn’t speak out even if she was wronged, so please love her a little more and take good care of her in the future. As for Xinyu, although our family’s conditions are not as good, we will do our best to give her the best. Please rest assured,” Li Huairou said.

 

Papa Luo hadn’t said anything yet. Brother Luo stood up first and stretched out his right hand. “Okay!”

 

Li Huairou shook his hand.

 

Luo Xinyu lowered her head. So her elder brother really didn’t like her—then her other brothers must be the same way.

 

What happened after that was nothing more than a conversation about changing their household registration or something.

 

At the time of parting, Mama Luo held Li Huaishan in one arm and Luo Xinyu in the other. She cried and said, “This is breaking my heart!” Papa Luo’s eyes were rimmed with red as well. Brother Luo stood behind Li Huaishan with a concerned expression on his face.

 

The Li parents didn’t dare to go forward, but their eyes were red as well.

 

In the end, we still have to separate.

 

Brother Luo took a bag out from the car and handed it to Luo Xinyu. “It’s your stuff inside. You have to live well in the future.” After speaking, he rubbed Luo Xinyu’s head. Before Luo Xinyu could say anything, he turned around and left.

 

Luo Xinyu returned home with reddened eyes, sat on the bed, and opened the bag. Inside were all the things she’d liked. There was also a card and a note with a line written on it: The password is your birthday.

 

Luo Xinyu clutched the bag to her chest and burst into tears.

 

Outside the door, the Li parents and Li Huairou heard the crying and fell silent.

 

A month later—

 

Luo Xinyu’s and Li Huaishan’s new accounts were completed.

 

The Li family also sold all its houses and shops and prepared to return to the family hometown.

 

Before leaving, Li Huairou asked Li Xinyu, who had restored her original surname, “Do you want to go back and have a look?”

 

Li Xinyu shook her head. The events of the past few days had taught her that no one in the Luo family welcomed her back, except for her adoptive father and mother. She didn’t want to humiliate herself.

 

The Li family parents sighed. These days, Huaishan would call back every day, but every time she said a few words, someone would come looking for her. After a long time, the Li family parents also realized that the Luo family did not want Huaishan to have contact with them again. For the good of the child, stop it!

 

The family members set foot on the train back to their hometown.

 

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This translation is presented by Nocturne Translations.

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