After being kicked out of the wealthy family along with her yandere childhood friend

After getting up, Bai Tao casually tied her hair into a bun, loosely gathering it at the back of her head, with a few stray strands hanging down beside her ears.

She pulled a pair of shorts out of her suitcase and put them on, then grabbed a loose white T-shirt.

She sat down on the sofa, rested her chin on the pillow, closed her eyes, and continued to sleep.

The phone rang twice on the sofa. She didn't open her eyes immediately, but instead reached out and groped along the edge of the sofa several times before squinting at the caller ID.

Wang Jianguo.

"Feed?"

"Hey, sis, do you remember me?"

Wang Jianguo's voice came through the receiver.

"I remember~ What's wrong?"

"Sis, I just want to tell you, didn't we pay a deposit of one month's rent plus three months' rent in advance?"

"The three months are almost up. Are you still going to continue renting? If not, I need to find another place soon."

Bai Tao was stunned for a moment.

So fast...

Has it been three months already?

She looked down at her knees, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of her phone.

Whether to rent or not... If Pei Jin is leaving, she doesn't want to rent here anymore.

But if she's alone, she doesn't like moving around; it's too much of a hassle.

"Let me think about it."

"Okay, sis, but you have to write to me no later than three days later, any later and it will be too late."

"Okay, okay."

After hanging up the phone, Bai Tao rubbed her face with her hands.

How should I ask Pei Jin...?

If you simply tell him that the lease is about to expire and suggest moving to a place closer to his current workplace, would he be willing?

She opened the chat interface with "Brother Wang" and typed a line of text.

[Brother Wang, do you have any properties available around the science and technology innovation park?]

Wang Jianguo replied quickly.

Yes, sis, yes.

When are you free to take me to see it?

Okay, I'll get ready and then take you there.

Bai Tao sighed and put her phone on the coffee table.

The phone rang twice more.

She rubbed her hair, picked it up, and saw it was Bai Shen.

"Big brother?"

Her voice carried a hint of surprise.

"Are you free to have lunch together? I can give you the clothes while I'm at it."

Bai Shen's voice sounded somewhat tired. Bai Tao hesitated for a moment, then gripped her phone tightly before speaking softly.

"OK."

"I'll pick you up at eleven o'clock."

Bai Tao still put on light makeup, a thin layer of foundation, a little blush, and curled her eyelashes, without applying too much color.

As she left, she couldn't describe how she felt. It was as if something indescribable was stuck in her chest—not painful, but heavy and unsettling.

She walked slowly along the alley, and when she reached the door it was not yet 11 o'clock, but Bai Shen had already arrived.

Bai Shen drove himself there in a gray-blue BMW M8.

He was afraid Bai Tao wouldn't recognize him, so he deliberately parked under the shade of a tree and waited for her by the car door.

Bai Tao was somewhat surprised.

This was the first time she had eaten with Bai Shen privately since starting high school.

She quickened her pace and jogged over.

Hearing footsteps, Bai Shen straightened up, opened the passenger door for her, and gave her some instructions.

"Slow down, no rush."

"Thank you, brother."

Bai Tao bent down and got into the car, Bai Shen closed the door, and went around to the other side to get in.

He got into the driver's seat, started the car, and there was a moment of silence inside.

For a moment, the two of them found themselves at a loss for words.

Bai Tao pursed her lips and looked ahead, thinking for a long time before finally coming up with an answer.

Where should we eat?

Bai Shen glanced at her.

"Is it okay if I eat Omakase? I remember you really like it."

Bai Tao recalled the unpleasant memories of last night, but she still turned to look at him with some surprise.

How did you know?

Bai Shen smiled and said, "See? This is the kind of child the Bai family has raised. Even their own family members are surprised to know what they like to eat."

"Don't you often have a chef cook for you at night? I saw this in the trash can when I went to get a drink of water when I got back."

After listening, Bai Tao remained silent for a while. She then turned her gaze back to the car window and did not speak again.

She sighed, this time because she had found a glimmer of happiness.

Unfortunately, I found out too late.

My eyes are so sore.

To keep her tears from falling, she blinked, turned her head, held her breath, looked out the window, and said nothing more.

Perhaps because everyone knew that the two of them were in a relationship where every meeting would be one less time, when they got off the car, Bai Tao linked arms with Bai Shen, and the two walked and laughed, saying many things they had never said before.

She recounted how Bai Shen ruined her school when she was little, and she cried for an entire afternoon after that.

He said he did it on purpose that day because he wanted to use it as an excuse to hang out with her.

The two burst into laughter, as if all the conversations they had missed over the years were being gently made up for in this moment.

After finishing her meal, Bai Tao smiled and leaned back on the table, lounging lazily against the bar, her voice carrying a languid satisfaction.

"I'm so full, I'm going to faint from carbon monoxide poisoning, bro."

Bai Shen frowned, somewhat nervous.

"Carbosis? We didn't eat any carbs. Should we go to the hospital?"

Bai Tao paused for a second, then laughed until tears streamed down her face.

"Hahahaha, that's not what I meant, bro."

Before parting, Bai Shen drove Bai Tao to the entrance of the residential area.

He took out the clothes and shoes that Bai Tao had been wearing from the trunk.

Bai Tao reached into the bag and rummaged around, and sure enough, she found that hard little card again.

She took it out and, with a hint of reproach, stuffed it into Bai Shen's hand.

Bai Shen looked at her, then didn't insist further, simply remaining suspended in mid-air.

Is it worth it?

She stayed with Pei Jin, left the Bai family, refused the arranged marriage, and lived this poor life.

does it worth?

Bai Tao smiled and stood in the shade of the tree.

"I'm very happy, brother."

Bai Shen looked at her, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded and put the card back into his suit pocket.

All I strive for is so that my sister can be truly happy for herself.

"it is good."

Bai Tao took two steps back, then raised her hands high above her head, and turned around.

"Bye-bye, big brother!"

She could no longer hold back, and a tear slid down her cheek.

It's such a pity that they only had a brief moment of such a good, normal family atmosphere after they were no longer a family.

Bai Shen watched Bai Tao's retreating figure. Her silhouette was stretched for a moment by the afternoon light at the alley entrance, then turned a corner and disappeared.

He was filled with mixed emotions.

On this day, he finally had the normal sibling relationship he had always wanted, but they had both grown up and lost those feelings.

Today, the knowledge is full of sorrow, and I want to say something.

I wanted to say something but held back, and instead said, "What a fine autumn day!"

Bai Shen turned around, opened the car door, and got into the driver's seat.

Bai Zhongjing's admonitions in the study played back in his mind like scenes from a movie.

"Bai Tao was born for you; without you, she wouldn't exist."

"Stop your feigned compassion, or you'd better think carefully about whether you can hold onto your position. The Bai family can have two new children."

He clenched his fist, and when he opened his eyes again, he had made up his mind.

In the Bai family, only one person can have the final say.

Bai Tao turned into the alley, slowing her pace. She lowered her head, staring at the tips of her shoes as she moved forward step by step, feeling that the alley suddenly seemed much longer than usual.

She's strong, but she's just pretending.

Her phone vibrated twice in her palm. She stopped, stomped her foot in annoyance.

A small red dot appears next to the pinned contact.

Want to have dinner together tonight?

Bai Tao stared at that line of text for two seconds, then typed a question mark and sent it.

【? 】

Don't we eat together every day?

Pei Jin smiled at his phone outside the conference room.

He leaned against the wall in the corridor, holding his phone in his hand, his thumb pausing briefly at the edge of the screen.

He coughed lightly and cleared his throat.

"Okay. I wasn't clear. What I meant was, how about we go out for dinner together tonight?"

Bai Tao clicked on the voice message, and Pei Jin's voice rang out in the quiet alley, carrying a hint of suppressed laughter.

She stood in the middle of the alley, paused for a moment after listening, and then couldn't suppress the smile that followed.

【OK! 】

She listened to the voice message again, then stuffed her phone into her pocket and skipped back home.