Chapter 165
Sui Yan opened her eyes blankly: "Mom..."
Liu Hua hugged her daughter and gently patted her back: "What's the matter, Sui Yan?"
Sui Yan gently rubbed against her mother: "Mom, don't leave me alone."
Liu Hua's heart tightened, she stroked Sui Yan's face: "Sui Yan, Mom will never leave you."
Sui Yan's eyes became moist: "Mom is lying."
Why did she have to recall those things... Can't she just remain oblivious forever?
Liu Hua and Sui Yan were both agonized, and in the neighboring villa, Sui Yu and the others were even more desperate.
Qi Linhan lowered his eyes, gazing tenderly at a pocket watch in his hand.
It was a gift from Sui Yan a few days ago, with their photo printed on the watch cover.
The others remained silent as well, the oppressive atmosphere making it difficult to breathe.
Ye Anning smiled bitterly, finally breaking the suffocating silence: "We should have expected this, right?"
Shen Nian's face was pale as she trembled and exhaled: "Yes..."
Sui Zhi's gaze was vacant: "For now, I just hope Sui Yan doesn't cut us off completely."
As long as their sister was willing to see them, they would strive to help her gradually accept them.
Qiao Ze didn't say anything, just recalling the past days spent with his sister.
Come to think of it, the decade or so since their rebirth had already been quite fulfilling, so no matter what happened next, they could endure it.
Sui Yu's gaze was somber: "Let's wait here for now, and hope Sui Yan doesn't torment herself."
Qi Linhan glanced toward Liu Hua's home, his angle allowing a view of Sui Yan's bedroom window.
The window that had always been open was now tightly shut, even the curtains drawn.
They waited, only to receive news of Sui Yan's departure.
Sui Yu lost his composure and grabbed Sui Jinhong's arm: "Dad, where did Sui Yan go?"
Sui Jinhong's expression was grave: "Did you bully your sister?"
Ye Anning looked haggard: "Dad, how is Sui Yan doing?"
For once, Sui Jinhong didn't spare his daughter: "Sui Yan didn't look too good. After the banquet that night, she developed a fever. She only just recovered this morning before insisting on returning to where she lived as a child."
Qi Linhan clenched his fist, feeling a slight relief.
At least Sui Yan had given them a chance to find her.
He looked into Sui Jinhong's eyes: "Uncle Sui, can we go see Sui Yan now?"
Sui Jinhong's tone was mocking: "What for? To make her feel worse?"
Sui Jinhong didn't mean to treat his sons and daughters this way, but ever since that banquet night, he'd been having strange dreams.
Just like the one he had about Ye Wan's miscarriage long ago.
In the dreams, his sons and daughters completely neglected their sister, even using cruel words to hurt her under Lu Yunling's influence.
And in the dreams, he wasn't a good father either. So now Sui Jinhong had complicated feelings about himself, feelings that nearly prevented him from facing Sui Yan.
Hearing Sui Jinhong's words, Qi Linhan fell silent for a moment: "I'll go see her in a few days."
Sui Jinhong felt he had no grounds to stop Qi Linhan, so he angrily turned and left.
Meanwhile, Sui Yan and Liu Hua had returned to their original residence, that villa.
Sui Yan stood by her bedroom window, her cold gaze fixed on the falling snow outside.
"Sis, I baked some cookies for you. Would you like to have some?" Xu Mo cautiously approached with a plate.
Sui Yan's slender fingers gently traced the windowsill, watching the snowflakes on her fingertips as she lowered her eyes: "Just leave them there."
Xu Mo walked up to his sister and gently hugged her: "Sis, although I don't know what happened, I'll always support you no matter what."
Xu Mo was much taller than Sui Yan now, always feeling like he could shelter his sister from wind and rain.
Sui Yan's eyes moistened as she pursed her lips stiffly: "Okay."
Xu Mo seemed to want to say more, but seeing his sister's pale face, he could only sigh.
He quietly left Sui Yan's room, only to find their parents anxiously waiting outside.
"Xu Mo, how is your sister doing?" Liu Hua also looked unwell.
Xu Yi supported his wife, not asking much, but his gaze inquired the same.
Xu Mo shook his head helplessly: "Sis still hasn't said anything."
Liu Hua froze, leaning weakly against Xu Yi.
The three of them sat listlessly in the living room, occasionally glancing toward Sui Yan's tightly shut door.
After who knows how long, that door finally opened slowly from the inside.
Sui Yan stood at the doorway, quietly watching the three people in the living room.
Liu Hua froze, then rushed over to hug her daughter, even lightly tapping her head: "You naughty Sui Yan, never hide away by yourself again!"
Sui Yan was caught off guard by her mother's embrace, hugging her back familiarly yet distantly: "Mom, I'm sorry."
Liu Hua laughed through tears: "You silly child, what are you apologizing to Mom for?"
Sui Yan looked at her mother and lightly pursed her lips: "Mom, I promise I won't do that again."
Liu Hua wiped her tears and pulled Sui Yan to the couch. She gently squeezed her daughter's hand: "Sui Yan, tell Mom what happened."
Sui Yan instinctively gripped her mother's hand tighter but didn't say anything.
She didn't really want to talk about it, because her mother wasn't just her mother – she was also... their mother.
And she didn't want her mother to be sad either.
The less Sui Yan said, the more apprehensive Liu Hua became.
Finally, Xu Mo couldn't hold back: "Sis, did your brothers do something? They still haven't come to see you."
Sui Yan instinctively objected: "No..."
Liu Hua's gaze turned cold: "Did they bully you?"
Her beloved daughter was so naive, and her reaction so slow. The usual little tiffs and squabbles could never upset the little girl.
But this time, something major must have happened.
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