Arriving at the door of Xu Zhiqiang and his brother's room, Xu Niannian knocked.
Inside, neither Xu Zhicheng nor Xu Zhiqiang could sleep.
In the past few days, due to Xu Niannian's change, the two brothers had gradually let go of their former guard against her.
Actually, they hadn't intended to struggle with Xu Niannian about anything, but having their own mother guard against them like this left them both feeling somewhat upset.
Even though they were already accustomed to Yang Cuihua's attitude towards them, they still felt sad and disappointed deep down.
Hearing the knock, they didn't need to guess to know it must be Xu Niannian.
Because there were so few people in the house, Xu Duoyu would not knock when entering, and neither would Yang Cuihua or Xu Dawei.
Lying in bed, Xu Zhiqiang felt somewhat annoyed, and the knocking only increased his irritability, but he knew he had no reason to lash out at Xu Niannian.
Even if he had a reason, he wouldn't dare, not unless he didn't want to stay in this family anymore.
Seeing Xu Zhiqiang hesitating to get out of bed to open the door, Xu Zhicheng softly asked, "Brother, should we open the door?"
"Sleep your sleep," Xu Zhiqiang said and got up to open the door.
Xu Niannian stood awkwardly at the doorway.
"What is it?" Xu Zhiqiang asked directly.
Xu Niannian sighed, knowing that Xu Zhiqiang was feeling uncomfortable.
"Zhiqiang, don't take to heart what mom said earlier."
"Mm."
Xu Zhiqiang knew why she had come; it had to be about this issue, and he wasn't surprised.
The slender boy's face was tense, and he made no comment.
Xu Niannian felt helpless, unsure how to comfort him since Yang Cuihua and her husband's favoritism was a fact.
As the favored one, she truly enjoyed and felt comfortable with it, but being on the neglected side would certainly be uncomfortable.
"Don't worry, in the future, the money I earn won't shortchange you."
"You think what I want is money?" Xu Zhiqiang suddenly raised his voice, startling Xu Niannian.
His eyes reddening, he quickly lowered his head: "Sorry."
The young boy awkwardly hung his head down, and Xu Niannian saw his hands clenched tightly at his sides, veins bulging out.
Xu Niannian knew that comforting words coming from her might feel like she didn't understand the pain since she was the favored one and he the overlooked one.
Thinking this way, Xu Niannian suddenly felt a twinge of pain in her heart.
Perhaps it was because of the blood ties between the body she inhabited and the person before her, seeing Xu Zhiqiang clearly struggling but stubbornly pretending to be strong made her unexpectedly feel compassion.
Seemingly possessed, she pulled Xu Zhiqiang into a hug, her voice raspy: "You still have your sister, and I'll be good to you guys in the future."
Xu Zhicheng's mouth dropped open in surprise.
Suddenly pulled into a hug by Xu Niannian, Xu Zhiqiang stiffened for a moment, then his face turned red.
Listening to her gentle voice, Xu Zhiqiang, who initially wanted to push her away, hesitated.
Such a gentle and concerned manner made his eyes moisten unwittingly.
His family had always favored his elder sister, who would either hit or scold them, while his parents turned a blind eye.
Thus, even though he had both parents, he had never felt their love and concern.
Being older than Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu, he had always pretended to be strong, trying to show his younger brothers that it was okay, even if their parents were not affectionate, they still had him, their elder brother.
Yet, he overlooked the fact that he was only 15 years old.
But now, this sister he had hated to the core was actually telling him, "It's okay, you still have your sister, and I will be good to you in the future."
At that moment, Xu Zhiqiang's heart, which had long been feigning solidity, seemed to be singed by something, causing his chest to heat up.
A teenager is sensitive, and he could clearly feel Xu Niannian's sincerity.
The resentment and indignation he had felt before suddenly vanished without a trace.
"Sister..." Xu Zhiqiang's voice was hoarse, for the first time seriously acknowledging this sister: "I didn't want to take your money."
Xu Niannian felt a pang in her heart and released the youth who was even taller than she was, speaking gently, "Yes, sister knows."
Xu Niannian was not a gentle person; on the contrary, she was actually quite sharp-tongued.
But faced with these pitiable younger brothers, she found herself subconsciously wanting to treat them gently.
Perhaps it was the longing for familial affection in her past life, or some other reason, that Xu Niannian didn't even want to pretend anymore.
These young boys, so sensible, so obedient, clearly deserved to be treated with gentleness.
"Sister, it's getting late, you should go back to your room and sleep," Xu Zhiqiang was the first to break the silence.
After Xu Niannian had left, the warm feeling in Xu Zhiqiang's chest didn't disappear.
Holding the blanket, Xu Zhicheng stared up at the ceiling with puppy dog eyes and naively said, "Brother, I like the sister who can't remember things."
Xu Zhiqiang's throat moved, and he uttered a "Hmm," knowing what his brother meant.
He liked the sister they had now.
It was because Xu Niannian had become so much better after she stopped remembering the past that Xu Zhicheng would say such a thing.
He also liked the sister they had now.
*
When Xu Niannian returned to her room, Xu Duoyu was already asleep.
Looking at Xu Duoyu's innocent sleeping face, Xu Niannian couldn't help but reach out and touch his little face, thinking it was good, she had family too.
She had the love of her parents and several younger brothers who needed her love.
Xu Niannian suddenly became very attached to her current life, having long since lost the initial resistance she felt when she first crossed over.
Although their home was poor, it was filled with the familial affection she had always longed for.
On the surface, the three Xu brothers despised Xu Niannian, but in reality, they were so easily moved by her simply because they always craved familial love deep down.
She understood that feeling.
Because she understood, she wanted to be doubly good to her brothers.
With these thoughts, Xu Niannian inevitably fell asleep.
In her drowsy state, Xu Niannian suddenly had a dream where she inadvertently entered a vast white world.
Where was this?
Looking around at the world shrouded in mist, Xu Niannian felt confused and lost, wondering if this was a dream.
She reached out her hand instinctively, wanting to touch the fog before her eyes.
As soon as she stretched out her hand, it seemed as if a force from the opposite side pulled her over forcefully.
Xu Niannian let out a cry as she tumbled down.
The place where she fell was right by a small stream, and Xu Niannian, who couldn't swim, flailed and swallowed several mouthfuls of water.
Just when she thought she was going to drown, her body suddenly floated up.
Xu Niannian looked around in amazement.
She was now drifting in a small river.
The river was silvery and somewhat transparent.
The source of the river was a round stone pedestal, concave like a container, filled with a milky liquid to the brim.
On both sides of the river, there were four square patches of land.
Even with all her experience, Xu Niannian was stunned by the scene before her.
This, this, this... Is it a dream?
Had she wandered into a wonderland?
How could she have such a pointless dream, she thought, and told herself, "Just wake up and it'll be fine."
No sooner had this thought crossed her mind than Xu Niannian immediately awoke, opening her eyes to see her own room, and was even more astonished.
Why did she feel like she hadn't been asleep?
Was that just now really a dream?