Xia Wanyi and Xia Zhen lived here alone, and neither of them noticed anything unusual about the friend who frequently visited their neighbor.
When Xia Wanyi led Xia Zhen out, she saw the door next door and casually asked Xia Zhen, "I wonder if that young man you had a good chat with earlier came today? If you'd like, we could invite him to have a meal together."
Didn't he help you find the pen you dropped on the street before?
The fountain pen Xia Wanyi was a gift that Xia Zhiyi had specially prepared for Xia Zhen a month ago.
It wasn't on any special occasion that Xia Zhiyi gave her the pen; she had given the little girl quite a few gifts, basically without any reason. She would just suddenly remember what she wanted to buy for the little girl and buy it directly.
Or, if he suddenly feels that a little girl might like something, he'll just buy it for her.
The gifts she received covered a wide range of topics, and Xia Zhen cherished each and every one of them.
Xia Zhiyi saw a child pestering his parents to buy a fountain pen in a bookstore in the Imperial Capital. He happened to pass by and thought that Xia Zhen would like it, so he simply went up to the child and bought the only one on the counter.
Ah, he would never admit that he actually had a slightly mischievous sense of humor in teasing children, since the parents clearly didn't want to buy it for their kids, right?
He was helping others too.
In fact, Xia Zhen was very happy when she received the fountain pen. She even asked Xia Wanyi to buy some calligraphy practice books and started practicing her calligraphy on her own.
However, last time, the little girl was carrying calligraphy practice books and a fountain pen on her way to the library with Xia Wanyi when she was startled by a dog that suddenly rushed out and accidentally lost the pen.
Because the items were all in her small bag, and the zipper wasn't fully closed, she didn't realize they were missing until she went into the library and took them out.
Xia Zhen's eyes reddened at that moment, but she held back her tears—she was a child who rarely cried, which may be related to her past experiences.
Even though Xia Zhen didn't actually cry, but her eyes were red, Xia Wanyi very sorry for her. She couldn't care less about what she was originally planning to do, and took Xia Zhen back along the way.
They happened to run into Wan Mingming, and with Wan Mingming's help, they found the fountain pen, which was hidden in the grass and could not have been found at all without searching inch by inch.
Xia Wanyi didn't know if it was because of this incident that Xia Zhen was unusually friendly to Wan Mingming. Anyway, she thought it was a good thing that Xia Zhen had social skills, so she was happy to see Xia Zhen interacting and playing with Wan Mingming.
Although it was a small matter, and the pen Xia Zhiyi prepared for Xia Zhen wasn't particularly expensive, it was a big deal for the young girl.
Xia Wanyi had wanted to thank the other party before, but she hadn't found the opportunity. If the young lady wanted, she happened to be free today and could try asking her.
Hearing Xia Wanyi's words, Xia Zhen raised her head, her clear eyes looking at the door, then turned to Xia Wanyi and shook her head. "No, I just want to eat with my sister."
Although she didn't dislike Wan Mingming, it was clear that Wan Mingming's status in her eyes was far inferior to Xia Wanyi's.
She only wanted to eat with her sister and didn't want any third person involved.
Well, if it were her brother, that would be different; she likes her brother very much too.
My brother is different.
My older brother is also very important.
Thinking this, Xia Zhen missed Xia Zhiyi a little and whispered, "I miss my brother."
Brother... Brother seems very busy; he hasn't been video chatting with her every day lately.
Why is it that, even though they both go to school, the older sister sometimes doesn't have to go to class, while the older brother seems to be busy every day?
Xia Zhen's little head was filled with questions, as she hadn't officially enrolled yet and couldn't distinguish between undergraduates and graduate students.
The hallway was quiet. Xia Wanyi didn't miss Xia Zhen's words. She paused, then smiled helplessly, "Oh dear, if you put it that way, I also want to Zhiyi."
"He said before that filming for the TV series had wrapped up, and he wondered if he'd have more free time."
Because Xia Zhiyi seemed genuinely busy, even when Xia Wanyi had time, she didn't bring Xia Zhen to see him directly—wouldn't that be bothering her younger brother?
So, all things considered, the family hasn't seen each other for quite some time.
Online sources don't count.
Xia Zhen sighed softly.
The little girl was quite young, but her sighing sounded prematurely mature; I wonder who she learned it from.
Xia Zhen: "Does 'filming wrapped up' mean work is finished? Can we go to my brother's school to find him?"
Xia Wanyi hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's wait a bit longer. New Year's Day is coming soon, and there will be a few days off then. I'll take you there then."
Xia Zhen nodded obediently, "Okay."
However, the two sisters didn't have to wait until New Year's Day. While they were having dinner, they received news that Xia Zhiyi would arrive the next day.
Xia Wanyi quite surprised. "Why so suddenly? You're not busy anymore?"
On the other end of the phone, Xia Zhiyi chuckled and said, "It's alright. Didn't I tell you before that the job is basically over? I might be pulled in to film some reshoots later, but who knows?"
"After that, we'll see if they'll give me a chance to participate in the subsequent promotional activities."
"Haven't we not seen each other for a while? Xiao Zhen must miss me too."
Xia Zhen crawled out from under Xia Wanyi's arm, trying to squeeze herself into the video frame, and blinked. "Brother."
Xia Zhiyi's smile widened, "Good evening, Xiao Zhen. Did you eat well? Thank you for taking care of me!"
Xia Zhen unconsciously revealed a sweet smile, looking even more innocent than when she first arrived at the Xia family: "Yes, it's not hard at all, my sister is very good."
Xia Wanyi helplessly, "Really, how could you let Xiao Zhen take care of me? I'm clearly the older sister."
Xia Zhiyi smiled. The two of them were just saying that. In reality, when Xia Zhiyi asked Xia Zhen to supervise Xia Wanyi's meals, it was actually to give Xia Zhen a way to create a sense of self-worth.
If we don't say anything and just let Xia Zhen live at home, the little girl might feel even more insecure.
Xia Wanyi aware of this, but neither of them would show it in front of the young girl.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Xia Wanyi brought the topic back to the present. "So why did you suddenly say you wanted to come over? Did something happen?"
Everything else is fine, Xia Wanyi is worried that Xia Zhiyi is having some trouble at school, which is why she suddenly wanted to come here.
Xia Wanyi was happy to be her younger brother's safe haven, but she would still worry about things that needed to be worried about.
Xia Zhiyi smiled and said, "Ah, actually I originally wanted to surprise you when I arrived tomorrow, but then I thought that if there were suddenly more people at home, it might scare you, so I decided to tell you first."
Xia Wanyi: "..."
Xia Wanyi helplessly, "Fine."
Judging from the looks of it, it wasn't the younger brother who was bullied.