Chapter 291: Chapter 289: Like My Sister
Xu Jiang stared at the little girl on the paper, her heart filled with indescribable emotions. Everything that was happening was beyond her comprehension, and she had no idea how to explain any of it.
’Why has the little girl from my dream suddenly appeared on paper?’
’Where did this paper come from?’
’Why did it appear before me?’
’What on earth does this mean?’
Standing with the little girl wasn’t the childhood version of herself from the Xu Family, but the version of herself from the dream. The clothes she wore were old and cheap—the kind that would never be seen in the Xu Family.
To say Xu Jiang’s current mood was complex would be an understatement; she was utterly lost.
’Why is this series of events happening right in front of me?’
*
Xu Jiali looked at the paper Wen Ying handed her. Drawn on it were two little girls.
When she saw the two little girls’ faces clearly, Xu Jiali broke down, tears streaming down her face.
’My childhood self and my sister... I had almost forgotten our young faces.’
But now, looking at the paper before her, she lowered her head and was silent for a full ten minutes.
Then, she put it away. "Sister Yingying, thank you. I love this gift so, so much."
"What gift? Can I see?"
Zhao Qi, who happened to be passing by, heard this and came closer.
But when he saw Xu Jiali’s tear-filled eyes and pale face, he stopped short, flustered. "On second thought, I don’t need to see. I’ll just go back to stargazing with Song Jiayan."
Watching Zhao Qi beat a hasty retreat, Xu Jiali remained lost in her emotions.
Wen Ying didn’t disturb her, gazing at the starry sky alone.
Her hand, however, was gently tugged.
Kong Jian looked at Wen Ying, his big, moist eyes seeming to speak for themselves.
Shh.
Wen Ying turned her hand over, grasped Kong Jian’s, and led him to a spot a little farther away.
There was a large rock nearby with a surface so flat you could even lie down on it.
Wen Ying and Kong Jian sat on the large rock. In a rare moment of speech, Kong Jian asked, "Liger, is that big sister sad?"
Wen Ying nodded but didn’t explain why.
"Liger, are you sad?"
’So that’s what the little guy was getting at.’
Wen Ying looked at Kong Jian seriously. "You don’t want me to be sad, do you?"
Kong Jian nodded, his soft little hand holding Wen Ying’s big one. "Liger has to be happy."
"Then what would you do if I were sad?"
"I’d cheer Liger up."
"And if you couldn’t cheer me up?"
"Then Kong Jian..."
’...I’d kill the person who bullied Liger.’
But Kong Jian didn’t say the words out loud.
Wen Ying laughed and pinched Kong Jian’s little cheek. "You don’t understand what Liger is talking about, do you? You’re still so young. How could Liger ask you such profound questions?"
Having come to this world alone, Wen Ying, as capable as she was, still felt lonely in her heart.
It was an emotion any normal person would have.
Later, there was Little White, and now it seemed she had Kong Jian, too.
Her empty life was gradually being filled, bit by bit.
’Things are getting better, aren’t they?’
That night, Xu Jiali had a dream.
In the dream, her sister Xu Jiang was the daughter of a billionaire. Her sister was beautiful, wore expensive clothes, and looked like a finely sculpted princess.
A chauffeur drove her to school, and when she went out shopping, bodyguards would secretly protect her.
Her sister had a childhood sweetheart for a boyfriend—or rather, a fiancé. He was the son of one of the Xu Family’s business partners. The Head of the Lu Family was also an old friend of Xu Jiang’s father, and his son’s name was Lu Jian.
Lu Jian was handsome and charismatic, the campus heartthrob of their school.
But everyone knew Lu Jian was Xu Jiang’s fiancé, and Xu Jiang was Lu Jian’s fiancée.
They were the perfect couple: well-matched in status, talent, and looks.
Xu Jiang and Lu Jian’s relationship was just like the childhood sweethearts in a young adult school romance novel—incredibly sweet.
This all seemed to be the life Xu Jiali had always wanted for Xu Jiang.
A life of happiness—no, supreme happiness. A perfect life.
Then, Xu Jiali suddenly realized that Xu Jiang was walking toward her.
Standing before Xu Jiali, Xu Jiang didn’t seem to look down on this girl in cheap clothes at all.
"Hello, I’m Xu Jiang. And you are?"
Although she didn’t know why Xu Jiang was talking to her, Xu Jiali still gave a sweet smile. "Xu Jiali."
"I don’t know why, but I feel a connection to you." Xu Jiang looked at Xu Jiali curiously. A voice in her heart seemed to be telling her that it was okay to get close to Xu Jiali.
"Sister Jiang, she’s just a commoner. She’s not one of us."
A girl with exquisite makeup shot Xu Jiali a look of displeasure.
She was also the daughter of a rich family and part of Xu Jiang’s entourage at the same school.
Every one of them was born into wealth.
So when they saw Xu Jiali, they were completely disdainful.
They didn’t understand why Xu Jiang was treating this commoner’s daughter so differently.
"Yeah, Sister Jiang. If anyone found out we were hanging out with a commoner’s daughter like this, they’d definitely make fun of us."
Although the two were displeased, their tone was still cautious.
Xu Jiang shot them a single glance, and the two froze. They had never seen this side of Xu Jiang before.
"Then you can go. Don’t follow me around anymore, and then no one will laugh at you."
The two girls didn’t understand what Xu Jiang was doing.
’Is she really going to abandon us for a commoner?’
’This is ridiculous!’
But seeing the serious, resolute look on Xu Jiang’s face, neither of them could say a word.
"Why are you still here? Are you waiting for me to escort you out?" Xu Jiang’s voice was colder than it had ever been.
After saying this, she paid them no more mind.
"Xu Jiali, I really like you. Can we be friends?"
Xu Jiali fought back her tears and nodded.
"I’ll take you to the amusement park, okay?"
"Okay." Xu Jiali’s voice was thick with emotion.
"I don’t know why, but I like you a lot. The moment I saw you, I felt happy and just... liked you. I hope you don’t think this is too forward."
’How could I possibly think this is forward?’
It had been so many years since she had seen her sister.
This time, even knowing it was a dream, her happiness soared to the heavens.
Sister Wen Ying was right. No matter where her sister had gone, her feelings for her were etched into her very bones.
’To be liked at first sight.’
To Xu Jiali, these were the most beautiful words of love in the world.
Xu Jiang took her to the amusement park. They rode the carousel, the roller coaster, the bumper cars, the go-karts, and the pirate ship—in the dream, they basically tried every single ride in the park.
The amusement park was filled with her and her sister’s joyful laughter, as well as their terrified screams.
It seemed to make up for all the regrets of the past ten-plus years.
Xu Jiali saw the people following behind her sister. It seemed that whenever she went out, she was protected.
She wasn’t jealous; she just felt happy for her.
Partway through, Lu Jian called. Xu Jiang told him she had met a new friend she felt a special connection with and was hanging out with her, so she didn’t have time to meet him.
After explaining, Xu Jiang hung up the phone.
"Jiali, I don’t know why, but I feel like you’re my little sister. But I don’t have a little sister."
