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

Zixiao was confused: "But... I remember you took me back very quickly. If it was so hard to find, how come I was able to..."

"That's the crux of the matter."

Yang Qiuyun smiled and said, "You were only eight years old when I took you home, so it's understandable that you don't remember. Do you remember when we met for the second time, I gave you two pieces of candy?"

"This... seems to be the case?"

Did you eat the candy?

"I feel like eating... Uh, what was that about? I can't quite remember. I just remember there were definitely two pieces of candy..."

"Ha... I told you, now that I remember, you were holding those two candies in your hand, so tempted, but you didn't eat them. Instead, you gave them to the two children."

Ok?

Did Mom give everyone in the orphanage two candies to see their reaction?

Everyone else ate the candy directly, but Zixiao was the only one who shared it with her friends?

Hmm... Although this kind of test is a bit old-fashioned, if it really is like this, then Zixiao should really be glad she made that decision when she was a child.

However, what Yang Qiuyun said next was beyond Zixiao's expectations.

"Just like you thought, I gave each of them two candies. Many of them kept one for themselves and shared the other with their friends. Didn't I say that the orphanage you're in is very warm and the people are very united?"

"But you're different, Zixiao. Although you also shared the candy, you didn't give it to others. The two children you gave the candy to..."

"!"

Suddenly, a thought struck Zixiao.

It's been so long that my memory is a bit hazy.

But Yang Qiuyun's reminder...

Zixiao then remembered the direction she had handed the candy to back then.

The face in her memory gradually became clearer, and the silver hair seemed to brush past Zixiao's eyes.

That's right... Zixiao handed the candy to the two children...

They look almost exactly alike.

That was Yu Zhe and Yu Che, who had accompanied Yang Qiuyun to the orphanage when they were children, and who had only visited once.

puff.

Zixiao suddenly understood why Yuzhe's already gloomy face became even more gloomy after hearing her words.

"Sisters... why are you both so downcast? Are you feeling unwell...? Um, I have some candy here, would you like some...?"

34. True Guilt

Zixiao smiled wistfully, and Yang Qiuyun waited patiently for her to finish reminiscing before speaking softly.

"That's why I chose you in the first place. The child I need isn't someone who knows how to care for others; there are plenty of children like that. The adopted daughter I need to find must not only be kind-hearted but also care deeply about Yu Zhe and Yu Che. Haha... those conditions sound very demanding, right? Even I myself thought at the time that there might not be anyone in the world who met those conditions."

"It is indeed... quite demanding."

It's simple in a way; the mother only had one requirement: that the child "cares about Yu Zhe and Yu Che's children."

But if there really were such a person, it would be one in ten thousand, no, one in a billion.

Because none of us know each other...

Zixiao was the same, as were the other children in the orphanage. None of them knew Yuzhe or Yuche. Even if they cared about strangers, they wouldn't try to express it. Their own friends didn't even have candy yet, so why would they give it to a stranger with such fancy clothes?

However, that's exactly what Zixiao did at the time.

Thinking about this, Yang Qiuyun herself was actually quite curious.

She gazed at the distant horizon where the sea and sky met, and asked slowly.

"Back then, I didn't tell you that Yu Zhe and Yu Che were from wealthy families, nor did I tell you that my purpose was to adopt the children. Without any incentive, Zi Xiao, you still chose to give the candy to them. Can I hear what you were thinking back then?"

"Your sudden question... let me think..."

Zixiao pondered, trying to clear her mind and return to that afternoon ten years ago.

Memories began to surface, and Zixiao seemed to recall some of the feeling she had when she first saw those two "silver-haired girls."

"When I first saw my brother and Yu Che, I was amazed... I had never seen such beautiful children before. They looked like they had stepped out of a comic book. Of course, I hadn't read any comic books back then... I had just heard people say that people in comic books are very beautiful."

"That was the first time I saw them. After that, I noticed that they both seemed unhappy. The children in the orphanage all have playmates, and I also have a few girls to play with, but they both seemed so lonely. Even though they were holding hands, it still pained me to see them like that. How should I put it... I handed them the candy without even realizing it. I didn't think much about it at the time."

The morning sun was already casting a golden hue, and it seemed to be pushing further, hoping to break through the horizon.

Listening to Zixiao's description, Yang Qiuyun nodded repeatedly.

As a genius, Yang Qiuyun's memory is much better than Zixiao's.

Hmm... she remembered that time clearly.

What she saw.

Xiao Zixiao wanted to go over and give Yu Zhe and Yu Che candy, but some teachers from the orphanage stopped her. Yang Qiuyun could tell from the teachers' lip movements that they were saying, "Those two children are not ordinary people. Don't go over there and cause trouble."

Yang Qiuyun deliberately didn't stop her; she wanted to see what the black-haired little girl would do.

As expected, Xiao Zixiao found a time when none of the teachers were paying attention and quietly delivered the candy.

Her sincere and clear smile made Yang Qiuyun immediately recognize this child.

Well... although Xiao Zixiao was ignored by Yu Zhe and Yu Che at the time, and didn't give out the candy, that was a bit awkward.

Hehe, who would have thought that Zixiao, who was once ignored by Yuzhe, has now become the most important girl in his heart?

That's the beauty of life!

"Mother?"

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"No... we've finished this topic, right? It's almost dawn, and we haven't gotten to the main point yet. I think I roughly understand why you chose me. Tell me quickly, what exactly is your reason for wanting to adopt a child from the orphanage?"

"The reason... oh wait, what was it again?"

"Don't ask me that!"

"Haha, I was just kidding~ Listen to me."

Yang Qiuyun no longer needs to hide anything.

Moreover, the reason for adopting Zixiao was actually vaguely mentioned last night when I explained to Yuzhe and the others why I had to fake my death.

Zixiao is too incompetent, so Yang Qiuyun doesn't mind explaining it to this kind-hearted girl again.

"Do you remember what I told you last night about the Su family's situation ten years ago?"

"I remember... although things were thriving, there were internal and external troubles, mainly the threat from the various branch families, right?"

“Yes.” Yang Qiuyun was much more relaxed when she talked about this now. “When they adopted you, they hadn’t told me that I had to divorce Zhenfeng before the family split up. That was before that.”

She held a strand of silver hair in her palm, her eyes suddenly sharpening: "I had already anticipated the situation before the day the family issued me the ultimatum. I knew that soon they would go to great lengths to get rid of me, but could I just sit and wait to die? Of course not. I had to make some preparations within my power. Zixiao, you were the most important part of the preparations I made at that time."

"Me?" Zixiao pointed to herself. Hearing Yang Qiuyun's serious tone, she felt a sense of accomplishment and a little surprised.

Don't be surprised, you really are the most important.

Yang Qiuyun said with certainty.

"Yes, if I have no choice but to leave the Su family, the ones I'll be most worried about are Yu Zhe and Yu Che. They'll definitely break down if they leave me, so I have to find them a new pillar of support. Zi Xiao, now you can understand why I was so strict when I went to the orphanage to choose children, right? But luckily, I was very fortunate to meet you. I can only say that it was fate."

"really."

Zixiao is also grateful for this divine intervention.

"So that's how it is... Mom, you were just making a prediction."

"Yes, it was a prediction. It wasn't just because of that. I adopted you to divert the attention of the various branch families. Aren't they wary of me? I wanted to stir things up and put them in a difficult position."

Yang Qiuyun winked mischievously with her right eye: "Back then, they were particularly concerned about the succession of the next head of the Su family. After all, Yu Zhe and Yu Che are too smart. If I adopt you into the Su family at this time, they will be confused and unable to guess what this is for, and they will devote their energy to paying attention to this point."

At this point, she finally slumped her shoulders: "It's just that Xiao Zixiao, you were too honest... You didn't cause any trouble at all. In the Su family's main branch, you were like Yu Zhe's little maid, with little presence. As a result, I was still targeted. And what happened after that... you know."

So you mean... I should have caused a huge uproar back then? I should have made a big fuss about it?

So...that doesn't seem wrong...?

Zixiao suddenly realized that if she had made a scene back then and helped her mother draw the fire, could she have stayed with her brother and Yuche instead of leaving the Su family?

Zi Xiao's incredulous expression grew even more pronounced. Seeing this, Yang Qiuyun quickly waved her hand with a wry smile.

"Haha, don't get me wrong. If you could draw the fire for me, wouldn't that be great? Otherwise, you'd be in the same danger as Yun'er when she was little... Thank goodness you're honest, Zixiao, not saying or doing anything... That's really great..."

Yang Qiuyun...suddenly felt a wave of fear.

She, who had been all smiles, suddenly clenched her fists and her lips twitched twice.

Then, Zixiao opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Because she saw... Yang Qiuyun actually stand up and bow to her...

At the same time, Yang Qiuyun's tone revealed an undeniable sense of apology.

"I'm sorry, Zixiao... I must admit that I had selfish motives back then... I really wanted to stay by the children's side, I didn't want to leave, I didn't want to leave my home, and for that... I even dragged you into this mess in the Su family, I'm really... sorry...!"

After hesitating for a long time.

She finally apologized.

In fact, this is the matter that has truly troubled Yang Qiuyun for ten years.

—True guilt.

35. The greatest fortune

To be fair, Yang Qiuyun felt more sorry for Zixiao than for Yu Zhe and Yu Che.

For Yu Zhe and Yu Che, abandoning them was a desperate measure; if she didn't...

If she chooses to leave, the children's safety cannot be guaranteed. Even if Yang Qiuyun were to choose again, she would still resolutely leave without telling Yu Zhe and Yu Che. It's something she can't help but do.

But it was different for her towards Zixiao...

The most fundamental reason for bringing her to the Su family was, of course, to find companions for Yu Zhe and Yu Che, and to give them a new emotional support.

However... risks also exist. Zixiao, an outsider from outside the Su family, suddenly appeared in the main family. How could this not arouse the suspicion of the forces that split off from the family back then?