"Today has been incredibly busy; I only managed to make a quick call to Dr. Lu to inquire about your condition." There was no time for idle gossip; all that mattered was knowing she was recovering well.
Sensing the concern in his voice, Yan Xiaono felt her cheeks flush as her heart raced.
He was busy with work, yet still thought of her!
"It's getting late; you should rest," Duan Shunchen said as he leaned over to tuck the thin blanket around her.
"Um, you should get some rest too," she replied, smiling foolishly.
"Goodnight."
He left, but Yan Xiaono found herself unable to sleep for a long time, her heart fluttering as his gentle, charming visage lingered in her mind.
She could feel that he truly cared about her!
Could it be that her good deeds had finally brought her a reward? Had fate allowed her to encounter her very own Prince Charming? Was she destined for a stroke of romantic luck?
If so, enduring the beating she had taken was indeed worth it—how amusing...
"What!? You want to... adopt me?"
Yan Xiaono's eyes widened in shock, momentarily taken aback by the Duan family's unexpected proposal.
During her hospitalization, the entire Duan family had rallied to care for her, and now they were offering to adopt her—such warmth truly moved her. But...
"Xiao Nuo, it's not just Rouyin who sees you as a sister; for some reason, I felt an immediate fondness for you the moment I met you," Duan's mother said gently. "I discussed it with your Uncle Duan, and we both hope you can become a part of our family. Xiao Nuo, would you be willing?"
"Yan Sister, please say yes!" Duan Rouyin exclaimed, eagerly grasping her hand.
"I—I am deeply grateful for your kindness, but..." Her mind went blank; everything was happening too quickly, leaving her bewildered.
"Xiao Nuo, come be my granddaughter! Look at you, so thin and pitiful; I promise to nurture you into a lovely young lady whom everyone adores..." Duan's grandmother chimed in.
"I will treat you as my own daughter, with equal love and care," Duan Hongtian said resolutely.
"Uncle Duan..." Yan Xiaono genuinely didn't know what to say.
She risked her life to save Rouyin and suffered injuries for her; the Duan family felt deeply indebted and wished to repay her.
Yet, Yan Xiaono believed she was merely doing what was right. She resolutely refused the check offered by Uncle Duan, convinced they owed her nothing.
However, she never imagined that the Duan family would wish to adopt her!
"The thought of you, a poor child without parents, all alone and forlorn, it nearly shatters my heart," Duan's mother said, her voice trembling as she dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief. "Xiao Nuo, we all care for you so much; let us be like a family, sharing our joys together..."
"I... I know how much you care for me, and I am truly touched! But... but..." She struggled to find the right words.
How was this so different from what she had hoped? If she were adopted by the Duan family, wouldn't Duan Shunchen become her brother?
"Well... I don't really live alone; the orphanage feels like a big family. The director is kind to all the children, and I have been quite happy there..." she stammered, trying to politely decline their generous offer. "Without parents, I... I have grown accustomed to it. Besides, I am already twenty years old..."
She was no longer a child! What she needed most now was a boyfriend!
Duan's grandmother gently patted her hand, saying with affection, "Xiao Nuo, even though you are an adult, you still need the warmth of a family..."
Duan Rouyin pleaded earnestly, "Yan Sister, please don't refuse! You promised to be my sister! You can't go back on your word!"
Yan Xiaono was both amused and overwhelmed by the family's enthusiasm.
"Just nod your head!"
The second son of the Duan family's unexpected comment left Yan Xiaono wide-eyed in astonishment. Surely this arrogant young man wasn't genuinely interested in the idea of having a sister!
"Wow, you agree too, little brother!?" Duan Rouyin exclaimed in surprise.
"I am one hundred percent on board!" Duan Mingsi, a year younger yet a head taller than her, winked playfully, "Grandma and Mom truly care for you; you can help shift their attention, and that would make things much easier for me!"
Yan Xiaono stuck out her tongue at him; so this rascal had ulterior motives!
"See? You all get along splendidly—what a relief! Then it's settled!" Duan's mother exclaimed with delight, urging the family head to handle the paperwork for her adoption.
"I think... I need to consider this further..."
"Consider what?" Duan Rouyin cheered, "Our whole family would be thrilled for you to become one of us! No need for second thoughts! Being my sister won't cost you anything!"
Really?
Yan Xiaono pondered gloomily. She had feelings for Duan Shunchen, and now the man she liked was suddenly her brother—wasn't her dream shattered, along with any hope for romance?
Sigh, how did things come to this?
She looked around at everyone; all the Duan family members, except for Duan Shunchen, surrounded her, eagerly waiting for her to nod. Yet, what concerned her most was—what did he think about all this?
Approval? Or opposition?
How she wished he would step forward to object, like a hero from a novel, dramatically declaring, "I don't want her as my sister, for I fell in love with her at first sight."
But—she slapped her forehead. Yan Xiaono, stop dreaming! Since the Duan family had made this suggestion, it was clear that Duan Shunchen was already aware and had not opposed it. What was she still hoping for?
Yan Xiaono rested her chin on her hand and, after voicing her troubles, let out a heavy sigh. "Ah, what do you think I should do?"
After two weeks, her injuries had mostly healed, leaving only a faint bruise at the corner of her eye. Yet now, she felt more dispirited than when she was injured.
The Duan family was urging her to agree to their offer of adoption, and she hadn't seen Duan Shunchen for three days. He had gone on a business trip to Japan, leaving her unable to gauge his feelings.
"This is a good thing! Who doesn't know that the Duan family is affluent and influential? You're about to soar like a phoenix; you should be pleased!"
"Shen Manjun, have you said enough?" Yan Xiaono shot a glare at her friend.
"I'm merely stating the facts."
"That's not true! The reality is—"
"The reality is you have feelings for Duan Shunchen, and being his sister means you can't pursue anything romantic with him," Ou Zhixuan interjected. This was indeed the root of Yan Xiaono's distress.
"You fool!"
"Hey, Shen Manjun..." This woman really knew how to provoke! Didn't she see that Yan Xiaono was troubled by matters of the heart? Not only did she offer no comfort, but she also seemed intent on teasing her!
Ou Zhixuan scolded playfully, "Jun Jun, don't be like that! Xiaono is adorably foolish enough as it is; we both know it. No need to shout it out loud; it wouldn't look good if it got out."
"Oh, my dear lady, thank you for your brave candor!" Yan Xiaono growled in frustration. Yet the two of them exchanged amused glances, nearly driving her to exasperation.
"You're welcome." Ou Zhixuan pretended not to notice her irritation.
Basically, they thought it was better for Yan Xiaono to be spirited in her anger than to remain in her previous listless state.
"You silly girl, I truly don't see what's so troubling about this!" Shen Manjun analyzed. "Even if you were adopted by the Duan family, so what? You share no blood relation with them. Calling Duan Shunchen your brother a thousand times won't change that; if you both fall in love, you can still be together..."
Yan Xiaono was momentarily taken aback.
Ou Zhixuan nodded vigorously, adding words that lifted Yan Xiaono's spirits further: "Moreover, being his sister in name grants you countless opportunities to be close to him!"
"Right! How could I not think of that?" Yan Xiaono beamed, completely forgetting her earlier worries. Yes! Her springtime was about to arrive.
"See, you're just silly!" Shen Manjun teased.
"Hehe—"
Feeling much better, Yan Xiaono let go of her grievances and began to daydream, imagining herself as the beloved younger sister, basking in Duan Shunchen's affection and care, eventually falling into a passionate romance...
"Your face is all red! What are you thinking about?" Ou Zhixuan raised an eyebrow with a smile. It was rare for the straightforward Yan Xiaono to blush like this; something must be amiss!
"How embarrassing!" Shen Manjun pinched her cheek. "Xiaono has turned naughty, thinking about boys now!"
Yan Xiaono stuck out her tongue. "Mind your own business! I'm twenty; starting to like boys now is hardly scandalous!"
Ou Zhixuan stopped teasing her and said seriously, "Do you remember... the wishing well? What Yan Xiaono wished for..."
Shen Manjun's eyes widened. "Oh right! Xiaono's wish came true!"
"Not at all!" Yan Xiaono waved her hands, feeling a mysterious atmosphere enveloping them, and wanted to dispel it. "You've misunderstood! I specifically stated I wanted a real family, not an adopted one. Therefore, my wish hasn't been fulfilled!"
"Phew!" Ou Zhixuan exhaled, her furrowed brow relaxing. "You startled me; I thought the wishing well really had granted a wish."
It wasn't even a real wishing well; if wishes made carelessly were granted, it would be terrifying!
At this thought, Ou Zhixuan felt a shiver run down her spine.
Shen Manjun, however, dismissed the notion with a wave of her hand. "You're mistaken! When we make a wish, it's only natural that we hope for it to come true!"
"Xiaono, don't you agree?"
"Huh?" Yan Xiaono, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Duan Shunchen, hardly registered their conversation.
"You! Where have you wandered off to this time?" Shen Manjun raised an eyebrow, tapping Yan Xiaono gently on the head.
"Tell me, if your wish were to come true, would you feel joy or sorrow?"
"Joy, of course..." Yan Xiaono responded almost dismissively, exasperated by Shen Manjun's relentless questioning.
To be honest, she found such discussions rather impractical. Her parents had passed away; death was final, and her wish could never be fulfilled!
"Alright, let me ask you this: if your wish truly came true and you woke up as part of the Duan family, with Duan Shunchen as your real brother, would you be happy?" Ou Zhixuan now took her turn to interrogate.
Yan Xiaono rolled her eyes.
"Ugh, please, don't be so ridiculous! Just stop talking!" She made a gesture to signify an end to the discussion. "That's entirely impossible! Our wishes won't come true! There isn't such a miraculous wishing well in this world! Besides, that little pond isn't even a real wishing well..."
"Who says...?"
Before Shen Manjun could continue, a tall and handsome boy rushed over, books in hand, and smiled at Yan Xiaono. "I've been looking for you everywhere; turns out you're here!"
"Duan Mingsi?" Yan Xiaono replied, somewhat surprised. "Is there something you need?"
She knew Duan Mingsi attended the same university and was her junior, but they had never met before, so she hadn't expected him to come looking for her.
"Come with me!" Duan Mingsi grabbed her hand, eager to whisk her away.
"Hey! Where are you taking me? I have class this afternoon..." Yan Xiaono was utterly bewildered by his sudden urgency.
Shen Manjun and Ou Zhixuan exchanged glances, equally puzzled.
"Hey, you," Shen Manjun pointed to herself and Ou Zhixuan. "Could you please look over here? We're not statues, you know!"
"The senior is a vivacious beauty; how could she be a statue?" Duan Mingsi exaggerated, thinking flattery would win over the lovely senior.
"Since you know we're not statues, are you prepared for the consequences of your actions?" Ou Zhixuan playfully queried.
"Huh?"
"Kidnapping someone in front of us, especially our friend, do you really think we wouldn't call the authorities?" Shen Manjun and Ou Zhixuan chimed in, their rapport evident.
The young man paused, then protested loudly, "No way! Why would seniors call the cops on me? Do I look like a villain?"
"Not exactly, but your behavior is certainly that of a rogue." Regardless of him being the most popular guy on campus, Shen Manjun showed him no mercy.
"Yikes!?" Duan Mingsi scratched his ear, bewildered. How did he come across as a rogue!?
"Alright, enough bickering." Yan Xiaono felt overwhelmed.
"Duan Mingsi, tell them who I am!" He insisted Yan Xiaono step in to defend him.
"You… who are you, anyway?" Did it even need stating? With his impressive reputation, who didn't know him? "You're the vice president of the student council, president of the martial arts club, and head of the scientific research association..."
"That's not what I meant!" His handsome face twitched.
"What else is there? Do you have some secret identity?" Yan Xiaono was utterly confused.
"Tell them I'm your brother!" Duan Mingsi was on the brink of madness, grinding his teeth as he spat out this line. "Why would I ever kidnap my own sister!?"
"Huh!?"
Seeing Ou Zhixuan and Shen Manjun wide-eyed in astonishment, Yan Xiaono suddenly recalled that she hadn't mentioned this boy to her friends at all. She hastily clarified, "He's... the second son of the Duan family."
"Duan Shunchen's younger brother?"
"Rouyin's older brother?"
These questions made Duan Mingsi's handsome brows furrow, and his expression turned displeased. "Yan Xiaono, please explain why your friends know about my brother and sister, yet have no clue who I am?"
"Uh..." Yan Xiaono chuckled awkwardly.
"Do I really need to say? It's because you..."
"Because you're too famous at school! I just wanted to keep a low profile!" Yan Xiaono quickly interjected to prevent Shen Manjun from saying something unflattering.
"Right!" Duan Mingsi nodded in understanding, acknowledging that he indeed was quite well-known around campus.
Seeing this, Ou Zhixuan and Shen Manjun exchanged amused glances.
How ridiculous that he believed such nonsense!
Yan Xiaono hadn't mentioned him simply because it had slipped her mind; her thoughts were likely consumed by Duan Shunchen.
"By the way, what do you need from me?" Yan Xiaono hurriedly shifted the focus of conversation. She hoped they wouldn't start arguing again in front of her.
"You need to come home with me. My brother is back from Japan, and we're having a family meeting."
"He's back!?" Yan Xiaono exclaimed with delight.
Ou Zhixuan and Shen Manjun exchanged glances once more and simultaneously stood up, preparing to leave.
"Wait..." Yan Xiaono swallowed nervously; for the first time in her life, the typically obedient student felt a fleeting urge to skip class, all to see her beloved Duan Shunchen...
"Don't worry, we'll help you sign in." Ou Zhixuan and Shen Manjun waved their hands without looking back, fully aware of her motivations.
Her heart had already flown to Duan Shunchen, making it pointless to stay in the classroom!
☆ www.xiting.org ☆ www.xiting.org ☆ www.xiting.org ☆
Yay! She would see him soon!
A broad smile illuminated Yan Xiaono's face, making her appear somewhat silly yet undeniably charming.
Duan Mingsi handed her a helmet. "Have you given it any thought?"
"Um..."
"With a brother like me, you should feel quite fortunate." Duan Mingsi donned a black helmet and mounted his motorcycle, exuding confidence as he spoke to her.
Yan Xiaono couldn't help but smile, finding his childishness endearing.
"Here, let me help you." Noticing her struggle with the helmet strap, he reached out to assist her.
"Thank you, Mingsi." She felt a warm flutter in her heart and sincerely added, "I truly wish I had a brother like you!"
Duan Mingsi beamed, patting his chest. "Well, here's one for you! Don't hesitate; my whole family adores you."
"I..."
"I should clarify: I'm not accustomed to calling you 'sister.' I think I'll stick with 'Xiaono.' But I promise to treat you like a real sister."
Was the sunlight too bright? She rubbed her eyes, appearing flustered. "Duan Mingsi, are you trying to make me cry on purpose!?"
"Not at all!" Duan Mingsi looked in his pockets, patting them down. "Oh no! I forgot my handkerchief."
Yan Xiaono rolled her eyes, adopting a resigned expression. "Save the handkerchief for your girlfriend. Sisters typically don't get such treatment!"
"Huh?" Duan Mingsi's eyes widened with excitement. "You... you agreed?!"
"Mm!" Yan Xiaono nodded, smiling.
"Yay! This is fantastic! Grandma will be overjoyed, and Mom will be thrilled... not to mention Rouyin! I think we should throw a celebration tonight..."
Beep! Beep!
A sudden honking interrupted Duan Mingsi's exuberant chatter.
Yan Xiaono turned to look, instantly frozen. How could Duan Shunchen be at their school gate?
"Elder brother?" Duan Mingsi's expression mirrored her shock.