The roomful of people were less Ding Ding's friends than people Little Bai had brought together.
Except, of course, for Ding Ding's older sisters.
They ate and chatted in a lively atmosphere. In front of Ding Ding was the food from Cao's that he and Little Bai had brought back, now a little cold.
"Why are you eating this?"
While Bai Congming was off talking to Zheng Xixi, who had called him over, Eldest Older Sister sat down beside Ding Ding.
"Didn't you used to avoid spicy food?"
Even though they had come to celebrate his birthday, sitting beside her still made Ding Ding feel ashamed.
Countless questions welled up inside him.
Were you really happy that I was born?
After all, my birth took most of your resources away from you.
Did you ever think your lives would have been easier without me?
Though, being born into a family like that, it wasn't necessarily true.
Were you good to me because of my sex?
After years of indoctrination, were you forced to take care of me and love me because I was a son, without even realizing it yourselves?
Perhaps because he knew what answers he would get, Ding Ding did not ask. He glanced at the round back of Little Bai's head, and his heart inexplicably settled.
With a smile, Ding Ding answered her, "Little Bai won't let me waste food."
He added, "Spicy food makes you sweat. When I first left, I wasn't in good health and kept catching colds. Someone told me eating something spicy would do the trick."
Eldest Older Sister said nothing. After a long while, she sighed.
"It was my fault. Back then, I..."
"Eldest Older Sister," Ding Ding interrupted her, "what did any of that have to do with you?"
Ding Ding