Do You Really Not Blame Me?

A little after four, Ming Jiu and Ming Rong finally finished putting away all the delivered packages. The kitchen and storage cabinets for daily necessities were packed to the brim.

Ming Jiu stuffed the curtains into the washing machine and selected the quick-wash setting. The full set of curtains for the house would need to be washed in at least three batches.

After ordering takeout with Ming Rong, they stayed busy until six before finally finishing the curtains and tossing them into the dryer.

Ming Jiu said, "Let's go see the psychologist now. We can come back and hang the curtains afterward, okay?"

Ming Rong nodded, raising both hands in agreement.

All along the way, Ming Jiu watched her sister closely. Only when she saw that Ming Rong had no obvious resistance did she relax.

At 6:50, they arrived punctually beneath the building where the clinic was located and met with the highly respected psychological specialist.

When Ming Jiu had made the appointment, she had already bundled up and sent Ming Rong's previous diagnostic reports to the doctor. After the sisters spent a few minutes filling out the initial consultation forms, Ming Rong's session began.

Ming Jiu waited outside for an hour. When the consultation ended, Ming Rong came out of the examination room with slightly red eyes. Still, she smiled at her sister and shook her head, indicating that she was fine.

Ming Jiu gave her a hug before entering the consultation room.

The doctor's surname was Hao. She was in her fifties, with a gentle, calm expression.

The consultation room was arranged comfortably. Dr. Hao gestured for Ming Jiu to sit wherever she liked while lowering her head to record something on her tablet.

Ming Jiu asked, "Doctor, how is my sister's condition?"

"Don't worry. It isn't serious." Dr. Hao gave Ming Jiu a reassuring smile. "I reviewed her case history. There are no organic lesions, and after speaking with her, I have basically ruled out the possibility that post-traumatic stress disorder is causing her mutism."

"The patient is very resistant to counseling, but she hides it well. She's a very intelligent, sensitive, and kind child."

Ming Jiu thought for a moment. "It's not caused by stress disorder?"

The psychologists in City G had all diagnosed it as stress disorder. Healing trauma took time, and Ming Rong had resisted psychological consultations, so Ming Jiu had agreed to pause treatment and planned to slowly help her sister emerge from the shadows.

"She is stronger than you imagine. I suspect there is a more hidden, more direct reason why she doesn't want to speak. You can continue bringing her to see me, but I don't think it's necessary."

"You are the kind of family member we psychologists like best. Do you understand what I mean? You have love, enough patience, and sufficient understanding and respect for the patient. More than a doctor, Xiao Rong needs you."

When they left the clinic, it was already fully dark. The city lights had just come on, and it was rush hour, with people streaming along the streets.

Ming Jiu held her sister's hand as they slowly headed toward the parking lot.

"We'll only come this one time. The doctor said you're doing very well, so you won't need any more consultations. With me by your side, getting better is only a matter of time."

Ming Rong stopped and reached into her backpack for her tablet. Ming Jiu squeezed her fluffy gloves.

"It's too cold outside. Let's talk in the car."

Once they got in and turned on the heater, the temperature gradually rose. Only then did Ming Rong take off her hat and gloves and lower her head to type on the tablet.

[Sis, if I can never speak again, will you stay with me forever?]

Ming Jiu said, "Of course. You're my only younger sister and my only family. It's not just that you need me—I need you even more. We'll never be apart."

For a long while, Ming Rong did nothing but look at her sister's face.

[Sis, do you really not blame me?]

[If I hadn't wanted to eat at that farmhouse restaurant, Mom and Dad wouldn't have gotten into an accident.]

Looking into her sister's eyes, Ming Jiu felt her throat ache as tears slowly welled in her eyes.

She turned toward Ming Rong and looked at her seriously, asking each word distinctly.

"What if it had been me?"

"What if I had been the one in the car that day? What if I had been the one who wanted to eat at that farmhouse restaurant? What if I had been the one Mom protected with her life? Xiao Rong, tell me honestly—would you blame me?"

Ming Rong shook her head hard.

"Then I don't blame you either. I have never blamed you. It was an accident."

The car was very quiet on the way home. Ming Jiu chose a soothing piano piece and drove attentively while Ming Rong sat quietly in the passenger seat, tears occasionally rolling down her face.

By the time they drove into the hotel parking lot, Ming Rong had mostly calmed down. She tugged Ming Jiu toward the residential complex at a run, intent only on hanging the curtains as quickly as possible.

After the curtains were up, Ming Rong took a disposable anti-static dusting wand and wandered around the house with it. Satisfied, she returned to the living room and sat down beside her sister on the sofa.

[Sis, do you still have to be busy tomorrow?]

Ming Jiu set down her phone. She really did have work to do. Five logistics orders would be delivered tomorrow, and she had to go to the old factory building to oversee the unloading, then squeeze in trips to the wholesale market and farmers' market to place orders.

"Yes. I have to go to City L tomorrow. You're coming with me."

Ming Rong shook her head. [I want to stay home. I can't really help with anything if I follow you around, but I can take care of the house.]

[The bedding will arrive tomorrow. I want to wash the four-piece sets, quilts, and everything else.]

Ming Jiu was a little worried. "Will you be all right at home by yourself?"

Ming Rong patted her chest, looking utterly reliable.

[I know how to do lots of chores, and I can order takeout. I'll have the delivery people leave things at the door, and I won't go out to get them myself. I'll watch the camera at the main entrance too. I absolutely won't open the door for strangers!]

[Sis, don't worry about me. Go take care of your own work. I can do it!]

Ming Jiu hugged her sister's head and showered her with kisses.

"Okay, then I'll leave it to you. I might check the home cameras at any time tomorrow. If anything happens, message me directly. Don't push yourself too hard, understand?"

Ming Rong nodded seriously in agreement.

[I'll only do the washing. I'll wait for you to come back before making the beds!]

"Keep the air purifier running. The new furniture has formaldehyde..."

Ming Jiu nagged out a few more instructions. The sisters chatted until after nine before dragging a huge stack of delivery boxes downstairs.

Back at the hotel, Ming Rong, exhausted after a whole day of activity, quickly fell asleep after washing up.

Ming Jiu once again reviewed the supply lists for the wholesale market and the factory. Tomorrow, the official large-scale offline shopping spree would begin.

After reviewing the lists, Ming Jiu opened the various shopping apps to check the delivery information and several types of supplies she particularly cared about.

Weapons and self-defense gear—

Multifunction entrenching shovels, expandable batons of all kinds...

High-voltage stun batons were difficult to buy online, but Ming Jiu and the system found another way, buying plenty of pig prods and livestock electric prods.

These were originally used by large-scale livestock farmers to herd animals. Their destructive power was average, after all—their purpose was to drive pigs, not slaughter them.

But that was not a problem. She could have the system modify them. Their length, size, and voltage could all be altered. When the time came, she would equip Xiao Rong with several more.

Besides that, Ming Jiu bought the most decorative swords and knives. The system helped her select quite a few shops with qualified products that were not only durable but also attractive.

Ming Jiu simply could not stop herself. She bought four or five hundred common and uncommon weapons in one go, directly clearing out their inventory.

The decorative swords and knives had neither sharpened edges nor fuller grooves, but that was not a problem. She could hand them all over to the system to be transformed into peerless blades. Several hundred would be enough for her and Xiao Rong to use until the end of time.

Protective gear was much simpler. All she could buy were stab-resistant vests, cut-resistant gloves, gas masks, goggles, and the like. They were enough for everyday use, and if they encountered extreme circumstances, the system could modify them into reinforced versions.

All of these items had already been shipped and were on their way. They would arrive in another two or three days. Looking at the tracking information, Ming Jiu felt especially reassured.