Chapter 271

She struggled alone, relying on herself little by little. People have self-awareness, and Xia Fen knew deeply that her carefree life was only possible because of her good family and parents. If she were in Xia Yan's situation, she knew she couldn't possibly persevere. Xia Fen lay on her bed, somewhat bored, looking at her WeChat Moments, at photos of her friends' evening outings, or at young boys, emboldened by alcohol or encouragement, confessing their feelings to her. She pursed her lips, and without a moment's hesitation, quickly deleted and blocked the boy. It wasn't that Xia Fen didn't care about friendship... but who was this guy??? When did Xia Fen even add this person on WeChat? She had absolutely no recollection of him. As for accepting his confession... please, is he even a tenth as outstanding as my brother? (sigh) It seems like young boys these days get carried away and start having the three great illusions of life as soon as they think they're good-looking and from wealthy families. Xia Fen even tried to recall if she had ever seen this person before, leaving her with the thought, "She looked at me, does she like me?" Well, she still couldn't remember anything. Her fingers flew across the iPad, replying to photos and well wishes from a few friends. Then, Xia Fen leaned back on the headboard, lost in thought, waiting for the person who hadn't yet messaged her. Friends are friends, sisters are sisters, best friends are best friends, family is family. They're not the same. Although they'd only reconnected and been in touch for a few years, Xia Fen felt that in that time, they should have made up for the awkwardness of not knowing each other before, right?... He's a brother who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, after all. He can't have forgotten his own sister's college entrance exam day, can he? He really does forget his sister once he gets a girlfriend... But judging by the dates, Xia Yan and Sister Xin Hua are probably just finishing their final exams, or maybe they're still taking them, right? In the six months she was away, things seemed to have progressed rapidly, at least in terms of their relationship. Judging from her social media posts, that seemed to be the case. They even went on a trip together; surely they weren't still in the awkward, respectful early stages of a relationship? They should at least be kissing, hugging, and playing together! Xia Fen didn't think much about what would happen next, because as her younger sister, she knew Xia Yan's personality all too well. He was both reserved and indecisive, unwilling to say what was on his mind, always wearing a smiling face while remaining silent—incredibly annoying, but there was nothing she could do about it. In the end, she could only give a dismissive "You're just a kid, you wouldn't understand," and then go back to her room to live with her dumbbells and eggs. For a man like that to find a girl like Sister Xin Hua was a miracle. "Sigh..." Xia Fen sighed, opening a shopping app with a look of seven parts helplessness and three parts disdain. Since Xia Yan doesn't remember her, she has to remember Sister Xin Hua. After all, when Xia Yan suddenly fainted last time, she knowingly let Xin Hua... no, Sister Hua Xin? take so much money at the hospital. Although her wages from working at the cat cafe were probably all sent back through Sister Li Xue in another way, it wasn't like she was being clever, was it? Whether it was well-intentioned or bad-intentioned, this little thing, which she neither told Xia Yan nor let Sister Xin Hua "fall into the trap," was all due to her own actions. If she has the chance, she should admit her mistake, regardless of whether the result improved their relationship... So when she goes to Shanghai for school in September, she definitely has to bring a lot of things! Dresses? Clothes? Cosmetics? Lipsticks? Plush toys? Anime merchandise? Sister Xin Hua is always so simple and frugal... Xia Fen doesn't know what she likes at all. Thinking of this, Xia Fen couldn't help but feel guilty and heartbroken. Some things might not feel like much when you're doing them, but once you've actually done them, you'll realize things you couldn't see at the time. What if Sister Xin Hua really needed that money back then? And Xia Yan and she wouldn't care about the amount at all. "Knock, knock, knock." A soft knock on the door instantly calmed Xia Fen. Not pushing the door open gave her ample time to assess whether her current state was appropriate for meeting the parents. "Come in!" It was Xia Zhongshan. "What's wrong, Dad?" Xia Fen asked, still leaning against the headboard, somewhat puzzled. Wearing pajamas, she didn't need to worry about anything; the summer heat felt particularly oppressive against the air conditioning. Hadn't they just eaten? Could there be something he forgot to mention? "I came to chat with you. What, you're not welcoming me?" "Tch, talk, talk..." Xia Zhongshan was completely different when facing Xia Fen than when facing Xia Yan. If their first meeting after a long separation at the hospital, where they had been like strangers in conversation and daily life, was different, then when facing Xia Fen Xia Yan, his face, bearing the marks of age, always carried a faint smile. Even his tone held a playful undertone. This kind of interaction could generally be described as doting. But now, after greeting Xia Zhongshan Xia Fen, Xia Zhongshan's smile and doting expression vanished, his thoughts becoming heavy as he slowly sat down in the swivel chair in front of the computer. "The college entrance exam is over..." "Mhm." Xia Fen gave him a "say what you want to say" look, but didn't urge him further, simply waiting quietly for him to continue. Being influenced by what one hears, not interrupting others is one of the essential skills of becoming a good adult. After a brief silence, Xia Zhongshan seemed to decide against further delay and said softly, "Your grandfather is sick."... Xia Fen was stunned, a huge question mark appearing in her mind. What did that mean? She had just visited her grandfather in February; he was so healthy, he didn't seem like someone in his seventies at all. How could he be sick? "A cold or rheumatism... The probability of elderly people getting these diseases is quite high..." "I'll go visit Grandpa in a couple of days, otherwise I won't have anything to do during my holiday." Xia Fen was slightly nervous, her hands gripping the blanket tightly, her voice trembling without her even realizing it. From childhood to adulthood, her grandfather had always been very good to her. Unlike her maternal grandparents, who, although still loving, didn't reject her because she wasn't part of the family. Sometimes, people don't want to believe even things they've already suspected. "It's late-stage liver cancer." As he said these words, Xia Zhongshan's face showed some emotion. Even if the old man didn't like him, he was still his father, even if he himself wasn't a good father. Cancer. No amount of money could change anything. Xia Fen stared at him in disbelief. "There's still..." "Less than a year left." 209. Where to find your own mother's electricity?