"Who are you?"
Gazing at Ling Xi, who, despite sharing her exact features, seemed much more mature, Xixi asked curiously.
"Ling Xi."
"Ling Xi!" Xixi's eyes widened slightly, "You're also called Ling Xi?"
"Also?" Ling Xi's brows creased slightly, puzzled by the implication of 'also'.
"I'm called Ling Xi too!" Xixi said with a radiant smile, completely forgetting what she had done before.
Hearing Xixi's words, the crease in Ling Xi's brows tightened.
Could it be that this was the reason why her soul had uncontrollably wandered to this place?
But!
What was the meaning behind such an arrangement by the heavens?
While Ling Xi was still pondering, Xixi suddenly drew closer, a hint of pleading surfacing in her eyes.
"Sister Xi, could I ask a favor of you?"
"What favor?" asked Ling Xi.
Confronted with such clear eyes, she felt as though she couldn't refuse.
Perhaps it was because of their shared name, or maybe it was because of their nearly identical appearance, but she... couldn't say no!
"Sister Xi, I can't and don't want to stay here anymore; so, could you please live on in my place, and take good care of the family I love?"
She was acutely aware of how heartbroken her daddy and mommy would be if she just left like this, and how much it would sadden her grandparents.
But! But she really didn't want to stay here anymore! She didn't want to see that man she had loved for so many years, who had hurt her so deeply, ever again.
Forgive her cowardice and weakness, but she truly had neither the face nor the confidence to go on living!
She really... didn't want to continue to bring shame upon her family!
So, when someone who could replace her appeared, her last bit of worry seemed to be relieved.
Sister Xi, perhaps you really could be my sister! After all, we look so much alike!
"To give up your own family for a man who doesn't love you, do you have no regrets?" Ling Xi didn't respond to Xixi's request but instead asked softly.
"Regrets." Xixi laughed through her tears, "That's why I'm scared to continue staying here, to keep bringing them disgrace."
He had mocked her in front of so many classmates, insulted her, and Qi Ge just stood there indifferently watching. Her heart ached; yet, she had no regrets, no regrets for falling in love with Qi Ge. Ever since Qi Ge fearlessly saved her from drowning when she was seven, she had enshrined him in her heart, unable to let go.
This time, she truly understood that Qi Ge would never love her, that he even detested her persistence; yet, she couldn't help but seek him out. If that was the case, what was the point of her continuing to live in this world, except to keep bringing shame upon her family?
Since he said he never wanted to see her again, then she would vanish from his sight completely; that way, she would no longer be a bother to him, and her heart would also stop aching.
"Sister Xi, my family, I'll trouble you with them! I'm sorry." As her voice faded, Xixi gradually disappeared from Ling Xi's sight. Ling Xi didn't even have time to call her back, or perhaps she, in reality, didn't want to call her back!
Staring at the lifeless body before her, Ling Xi didn't hesitate; she began to merge with it gradually.
Actually, the moment Xixi asked her to live on in her place, she was already tempted, because she truly longed to have a warm and caring family of her own!
So!
Xixi, rest assured, from now on, I will live well, I will certainly take care of all the family members you love on your behalf! Because! From now on, they... will be the one and only family to me, Ling Xi!
Even at the cost of my life; I will protect them to the very end!
Xixi, you truly are an innocent and foolish girl! In your next life, I hope you find someone right for you, someone who loves you!
In the instant when the soul and body merged, a sharp pain overwhelmed her; in just a moment, Ling Xi's consciousness faded into darkness.