Chapter 18
Edward Quan ·
“Cousin Siyu.”
She pushed a glass of orange juice toward me.
“I remember you like this.”
I was stunned.
“You remember?”
She laughed.
“Baozi talks about it all the time.”
I smiled too.
But then Xia Siyu suddenly became serious.
“Ruoxi, I want to ask you something.”
I immediately sat up straight.
“Yes?”
“Has Mingzhe said anything to you?”
I paused.
An alarm immediately went off in my head.
Oh no.
Did she know about the confession?
I hurriedly waved my hands.
“Please, I didn’t do anything!”
Xia Siyu: “…”
I continued:
“I already turned him down!”
“I even told him he wasn’t divorced!”
“I absolutely have no intention of breaking up your family!”
Xia Siyu looked at me.
Then burst out laughing.
She laughed so hard she had to wipe away her tears with a tissue.
Me: “???”
She wasn’t angry?
Only after a long while did she say:
“Ruoxi, I know.”
I was stunned.
“You know?”
She nodded.
“Mingzhe told me.”
I immediately lowered my head.
“I’m sorry…”
Xia Siyu shook her head.
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
I looked up.
She gazed out the window.
Only after a long time did she say:
“Actually, Mingzhe and I have decided to divorce.”
I was stunned.
“What?”
She smiled sadly.
“Our relationship had problems even before my accident.”
I fell silent.
She continued:
“We once loved each other.”
“But after we got married, too many things happened.”
“Family.”
“Work.”
“Pressure.”
“And secrets we didn’t know how to face.”
I looked at her.
“But Baozi…”
Xia Siyu nodded.
“I know.”
“That’s why we’ll raise him together.”
“Divorce doesn’t mean giving up our responsibility as parents.”
I was silent.
She looked at me.
Then said gently:
“Ruoxi, I didn’t come here to tell you that you have to accept Mingzhe.”
I looked up.
“Then…”
She smiled.
“I only want you to know that you don’t have to feel guilty about someone else’s feelings.”
I looked at her.
Only after a long while did I quietly answer:
“I understand.”
Xia Siyu reached out and took my hand.
“And I also want to thank you.”
I shook my head.
“You don’t have to say that.”
She smiled.
“If it weren’t for you, I might not be sitting here now.”
My eyes began to sting.
But just then, my phone vibrated.
It was Dad.
I answered.
“Dad!”
He asked:
“Where are you?”
“Having coffee with Cousin Siyu.”
There was silence on the other end.
Then Dad asked:
“Have you said anything ridiculous?”
Me: “…”
I looked at Xia Siyu.
She was trying to hold back her laughter.
I sighed.
“Dad.”
“What?”
“I think you should trust me more.”
He answered at once:
“I do trust you.”
I was touched.
But he immediately added:
“I just don’t trust your mouth.”
Me: “…”
He really was my dad at heart.
No one understood me better.
Chapter 27: I Don’t Need to Be a Heiress
One year later.
The Gu family’s asset dispute was largely resolved.
The rightful claims were determined through legal proceedings and agreements among the parties.
I received a substantial share of the assets.
Enough that I’d never have to worry about food or clothes again.
But I didn’t quit my job.
After a year at Tiansheng, I had truly grown to love my work.
I liked earning my own money.
I liked having lunch with my coworkers.
I liked finishing projects.
And I even liked getting paid at the end of the month.
One day, Ye Manqing asked me:
“Ruoxi, would you like to come manage the company?”
I immediately shook my head.
“No.”
She was surprised.
“Why?”
I thought about it.
Then answered seriously:
“Because I don’t know how to manage a company.”
She laughed.
“You can learn.”
I shook my head.
“But I don’t want to.”
Ye Manqing looked at me.
I smiled.
“It took me a long time to find a job I like.”
“I don’t want to live a life someone else chose just because I have money.”
She fell silent.
Then gently nodded.
“I understand.”
I looked at her.
Our relationship still wasn’t entirely natural.
But it was better than before.
Sometimes we had a meal together.
Sometimes we went for a walk.
Sometimes we talked.
No rush.
No pressure.
We were learning how to become family.
As for the parents who raised me—
After they found out I had assets, Dad made one request.
I thought he wanted to buy a house.
Or replace his car.
Or go on a trip.
But all he said was:
“Ruoxi.”
I nodded at once.
“Yes?”
“You have money now.”
“Yes!”
“Then can you take a communication course?”
Me: “…”
DAD!
I HAVE MONEY, NOT A DISEASE!
My mother laughed until tears ran down her face.
Dad remained serious.
“I think it’s necessary.”
I was annoyed.
“What’s wrong with the way I talk?”
He looked at me.
Then asked slowly:
“Do you want me to remind you about what happened when you were twelve?”
I immediately fell silent.
Fine.
I wouldn’t argue about that anymore.
Chapter 28: A Sausage, a Promise, and an Unexpected Ending
Two years later.
I was twenty-five.
My job was stable.
My life was peaceful.
Baozi was seven.
He still liked sausages.
And he still called me Sausage Sis.
Even though I’d objected more than a thousand times.
One weekend afternoon.
I took Baozi to Wanhe Mall.
The very place where we’d met for the first time.
The boy stood in front of the bakery.
Then suddenly looked up and asked:
“Big Sis.”
“What?”
“What if you hadn’t found me that day?”
I thought about it.
Then answered:
“I probably would’ve made it to work on time.”
Baozi: “…”
I continued:
“I wouldn’t have been surrounded by police.”
“I wouldn’t have been in the news.”
“I wouldn’t have met your dad.”
“I wouldn’t have discovered I had another biological mother.”
“And I wouldn’t have suddenly inherited a fortune.”
The boy looked at me.
Then asked seriously:
“Would you regret it?”
I paused.
I looked at the little face in front of me.
I smiled.
“No.”
Baozi looked up.
“Why not?”
I patted his head.
“Because if I hadn’t met you, I wouldn’t have known I could help so many people.”
The boy immediately broke into a radiant smile.
“Then I’m your lucky star!”
I nodded.
“That’s right.”
He thought about it.
Then raised his hand.
“Then buy me two sausages!”