Even as a "normie," I'm completely oblivious to it.

"How can it not hurt? Never mind... If I were really angry with you, I would have been driven crazy to death since we were kids."

She leaned back on the sofa, feeling a slight pain in her cheek, and asked Lu Yao, who was clearly feeling guilty.

"Sister, what should we say? Should we stick to the old ways, or should we move forward like the young ladies?"

40. Perhaps

"choose..."

Perhaps for Lu Yao, this problem is the real dilemma, even more so than for Lu Ling.

She's different from Aya...

Xiaoling is actually quite eloquent, but she has always been tongue-tied and has difficulty making expressions, so she always seems very boring.

The lack of facial expressions is not the main problem; the main issue lies in the ability to express oneself.

If she were to confess her feelings to the young master, or pursue him over a long period of time, could her words truly express her heart?

This is the most profound self-question from a girl with no money, no job, and no income...

Imagine standing in front of the young master, awkwardly and slowly uttering words like "like" and "love." Not only would you fail to express yourself clearly, but you'd probably also embarrass him...

She didn't want things to turn out that way...

Even if an expression doesn't change, it still depends on who's looking at it.

Lu Ling saw it very clearly; she noticed every subtle change in her sister's expression.

At this moment, his expression turned painful and solemn.

The living room was eerily quiet. Even though the television was on, the two sisters seemed not to hear it, lost in a vortex of inner turmoil.

I don't know how much time has passed...

Lu Yao looked directly into Lu Ling's eyes, her voice trembling as if she had no emotion, and asked helplessly.

"What... should I do... Aya...? I don't want... to grow old like this... watching them... together... while it's just you and me... lonely..."

"what..."

If I remember correctly, this is the first time my sister has ever spoken for such a long time in a row, right?

And there was almost no pause.

Actually... when Lu Ling was still able to remember things, Lu Yao could speak very fluently.

Because at that time she felt that she was no different from other children, and even took the initiative to protect her younger sister. In the orphanage, she would scold the children who tried to bully them.

But when did... my sister stop wanting to talk, and even gradually lose her fluency in speech?

Yes, that was one time when the two of them secretly slipped out of the orphanage's tightly closed fence and went to the nearby kindergarten to play with more children.

As it turned out that day... they saw that all the children were picked up by their parents.

The older sister asked her, "Where are our parents? Will they come to pick us up someday?"

Lu Ling said she didn't know.

Perhaps things should have ended there, and the two of them should have returned to the orphanage as usual.

But before leaving, a very naughty child from the kindergarten pointed at Lu Yao and said loudly.

"Look! I know them! They're from the orphanage next door! Oh, I heard they don't have parents, haha, that's hilarious! How did they even come to be without parents?!"

Perhaps there was no ill intent.

Perhaps there was malice involved.

However, those words, along with the brief bursts of laughter at the time, deeply wounded young Lu Yao's heart.

But as the older sister, she did not back down.

That day, in the afterglow of the setting sun, she covered Lu Ling's ears with both hands as she returned to the orphanage.

Even though those words had faded away and could no longer be heard, she was still worried that her sister might have overheard them.

In fact, Lu Ling

However, I heard it too.

But clearly, this matter had a greater impact on Lu Yao.

Seriously, you can never imagine the impact a seemingly insignificant remark can have on a child whose mind is still developing.

Just like a fall, sometimes falling from a height will normally only result in a scrape, but sometimes, under certain circumstances, a fall can cause a fracture.

In short, Lu Ling remembered that from that day on, the smile disappeared from her sister's face.

Just like the lonely sunset that accompanied the return to the orphanage that day, it faded into the sky and disappeared.

Lu Ling tried various methods, but to no avail. Even when she learned to tell jokes, perform stand-up comedy, and play all sorts of strange pranks, her sister still did not show her former smile.

Sometimes she would just stare blankly at herself and say, "Little Ling, it's okay... Big sister... will stay with you..."

At that moment, Lu Ling truly felt a moment of despair.

However, she gradually became more determined.

Even if my sister never smiles again, it doesn't matter. At least... I have to protect her.

From then on, their positions were reversed. Although Lu Yao was clearly the older sister, Lu Ling's protection during that period in the orphanage, along with her developed sharp tongue and ability to argue and reason, effectively protected Lu Yao.

Until... the time when the two of them slipped out of the orphanage again and were kidnapped by human traffickers on the street.

In the end, the two were rescued by Yu Zhe.

That day, it was also sunset.

The two sisters still remember what Young Master Yu Zhe said as he stroked their heads against the backdrop of a setting sun, with his long silver hair trailing behind him.

"You two... don't run around like that, your parents will worry. Hmm? What? You said you're orphans? Abandoned by your parents? Then you absolutely mustn't run around! You must cherish your lives, become stronger... live a carefree and happy life, and let your parents who abandoned you go to hell!"

Perhaps, at that time, Yu Zhe had just finished reading some action-packed comics.

Perhaps he just wanted to say something more heroic after he had truly accomplished what heroes do.

In fact, those words greatly shocked the two sisters at the time.

They... seemed to have seen light in the fog of life.

The afterglow of the setting sun is both melancholy and hope.

Because it is the same color as the rising sun.

What surprised Lu Ling the most was probably what happened after Young Master Yu Zhe left.

My sister smiled.

She stared blankly at Yu Zhe's retreating figure, smiling to herself, muttering to herself.

"Wow...that's amazing..."

Lu Ling didn't know what her sister meant by "amazing".

It must be really amazing.

Because Lu Ling herself felt the same way when she looked at Yu Zhe's back.

That day, Lu Yao became infatuated with that figure from behind.

That day, seeing her sister's long-lost smile, Lu Ling also began to chase after that departing figure.

Without realizing it, I became completely absorbed in it.

Perhaps, both sisters fell in love with the same person at the same time that day...

But all of this was telling Lu Ling one thing.

My sister's biggest fear is loneliness and losing her direction in life.

Recalling the details, Lu Ling's thoughts returned to reality, and she saw her sister's face, which looked like she was about to cry.

Lu Ling gently hugged her.

"Sister...don't worry." She gently patted Lu Yao's back, just like she used to do when they were in the orphanage. "I can be your voice. Don't worry about not being able to speak properly. I'll say whatever you want to say, whatever you can't say."

"So, please be my courage, okay... Sister, you have to encourage me so I can express to the young master... Our future still needs to be fought for by ourselves, doesn't it?"

Lu Yao lingered, feeling the warmth of this embrace from the depths of her memory. A reassuring smile curved her lips. She then hugged her only family member in the world and, mimicking Lu Ling's gesture, gently patted her back.

"Hmm...Aya...is also my...courage..."

Maybe.

If they were alone, they couldn't do anything.

But together, the two of them could accomplish what they shouldn't have been able to do...

But it's something I've always dreamed of.

We are not alone.

of course.

It won't just be two people anymore.

One day, we will truly stand shoulder to shoulder with the young master under the setting sun, watching flocks of geese flying in the sky, never alone.

What a blissful thing that would be...

41. Summer treatment?

Peaceful times are like a forest stream without any rocks obstructing its flow, allowing the water to flow smoothly.

Time is the same; in the peacefulness of daily life, it always feels like time flies by.

Especially during the preparation period for the college entrance examination, every month feels almost like a day.

Time has already moved from March to the beginning of June.

As the weather gets warmer, Yu Zhe is bringing out his little rocking chair, wearing a white tank top, and lazily enjoying the breeze on his balcony.

Hmm...this is so pleasant...

It's rare to have some peace and quiet.

Zixiao and Yun'er both went to school, and of course, Xiao Ruoke next door did the same; she was the one who prepared the most intensively for the college entrance examination.