Whether it was the small potted flowers on the windowsill or the mug on the table.
"Those are slippers. Change into them."
As she spoke, Qi Lin carried something into the kitchen. Before long, she came out step by step with a small birthday cake in her hands.
"Happy birthday to you."
"Happy birthday to you."
She sang as she placed the birthday cake on the dining table.
Qi Lin had taken Lin Yan to a small cake shop to buy it. It was a fruit-and-cream cake. Number "15" candles were stuck into it, a small cluster of flames burning atop them.
"Sit down."
Qi Lin pulled Lin Yan over to the table.
She placed a birthday hat on his head, then looked him over with satisfaction. His face was so exquisite that it was impossible to look away.
"Make a wish, Xiao Yan."
Lin Yan looked at the birthday cake. That tiny, flickering flame was reflected in his blue eyes.
But he shook his head.
"Then I'll make one for you. I hope Lin Yan will always be happy and joyful."
"Blow out the candles."
"Together?"
Seeing that Lin Yan still had no reaction, Qi Lin felt another pang of heartache.
He had lost his foster parents at the age of ten and had lived alone ever since. He must have suffered through countless hardships and experienced all the coldness and warmth life had to offer.
The candles were blown out.
Qi Lin cut Lin Yan a slice with the most fruit on it. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she looked at the boy before her with determined eyes.
"Xiao Yan, from now on, I, Qi Lin, am your older sister. Your family."
Lin Yan's body stirred slightly.
Ever since he was ten, he had never had a fixed home. Relying only on memories from his previous life, he had struggled to earn enough to feed himself in this cruel world, yet he was often exploited and bullied.
He had constantly been fired and forced to look for new jobs.
This world was realistic. It would not pity you just because you were still a child.
Lin Yan had grown used to it.
This Qi Lin was somewhat interesting. Perhaps the maternal instinct within her had been stirred, but it was probably only a passing whim.
The corners of Lin Yan's lips lifted into a smile.
Yet that smile was so cold.
Qi Lin's heart clenched. She abruptly stood up and said somewhat excitedly,
"Xiao Yan, my place may be ordinary, and the conditions aren't great, but..."
"Move in with me. From now on, your sister and you will live together. We'll rely on each other as siblings and keep living in this world."
A moment of impulse?
Maybe.
Qi Lin did not care about any of that. She could not simply leave the boy before her alone.
The smile on Lin Yan's lips gradually faded. At last, he raised his head and looked at Qi Lin. It was the first time he had truly looked at her.
Then there came a knock at the door.
"Excuse me, is Comrade Qi Lin home?"
"I'll get it."
Qi Lin's expression turned stern, and all the gentleness in her eyes vanished. Her movements were graceful and sharp.
Who would come visiting at this hour?
Qi Lin grumbled inwardly.
The door opened only a crack, with the latch still secured. Standing outside were two men in suits, both wearing black sunglasses.
One of them had slicked-back hair.
"Are you Comrade Qi Lin?"
asked the other man with a crew cut.
"Hello, we're from the Super Seminary. These are our credentials. My name is Ge Xiaolun, and he's Zhao Xin. We were sent here on General Dukao's orders... Um... may we come in and talk?"
Ge Xiaolun gave an honest smile.
He did not even dare to let his gaze fall on Qi Lin.
Qi Lin took one look at Ge Xiaolun. With her formal police academy training, she instantly judged that his timid manner was not an act.
He posed no threat.
"Come in."
Ge Xiaolun saw a pair of blue eyes the moment he entered. In an instant, everything around him seemed to turn into an inky black void, leaving only those eyes before him. The shock was indescribable.
He froze.
"Xiaolun."
Zhao Xin called out, and only then did Ge Xiaolun come back to his senses.
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