Chapter 2: They Had All Forgotten About It

Standing at the doorway, Si Yun’s mind flashed through the warm scenes she had once known in the Si household.

She drew a deep breath, forced the turmoil in her heart to settle, and stepped inside.

Before she even reached the living room, a strong floral fragrance drifted toward her.

The room was filled with beautiful bouquets and flower baskets placed everywhere.

Si Yun’s chest tightened. Almost reflexively, she lifted a hand to cover her mouth and nose, trying to keep the pollen from reaching her any further.

But it was too late. She was having an allergic reaction.

“Sis, you’re back?”

Ruan Tian came forward and forcibly pulled her along, shoving a vase packed full of flowers right up to Si Yun’s face with a bright smile. “Sis, look at these flowers. Aren’t they pretty? Mom and my friends sent them all.”

Si Yun only felt as though she could not breathe; her head was buzzing.

Instinctively, she pushed the vase away.

In the next instant, the vase crashed to the floor, and Ruan Tian fell with it.

A sharp crash rang out in the silent living room as the vase shattered, water and fresh flowers scattering everywhere.

“Ah!” Ruan Tian screamed.

Hearing the commotion, Si’s mother, Gao Yun, and Si’s father, Si Xiao, rushed over at once, only to see Si Yun scrambling up the stairs in a panic while Ruan Tian sat on the floor crying.

Gao Yun’s face flushed red with anger. She shouted furiously toward the stairs, “Xiao Yun, what do you think you’re doing? You’re becoming more and more outrageous!”

Si Xiao hurried to help Ruan Tian up, coaxing her with concern. “Sweetheart, don’t cry. Don’t cry. Did you hurt yourself when you fell?”

Ruan Tian sniffled pitifully. “Dad, I only wanted to show Sis the flowers. I don’t know why she acted like that.”

Gao Yun gritted her teeth. “That heartless girl. I’m going to teach her a proper lesson today!”

Si Yun ran back to her room, locked the door, and her body trembled without stop from both the allergy and the surge of emotion.

She hurriedly pulled open the medicine box and fumbled for her allergy medication.

By then, Gao Yun had already reached her door and was pounding on it hard. “Xiao Yun, open this door right now and apologize to Sweetheart!”

After swallowing the medicine with shaking hands and feeling slightly better, Si Yun finally opened the door.

Before she could explain, Gao Yun scolded her loudly. “Xiao Yun, why did you push Sweetheart? If those broken pieces had cut her, do you know how dangerous that would have been?”

Si Xiao stood nearby with a tight frown, adding his own rebuke. “Xiao Yun, what’s gotten into you? Why would you treat Sweetheart like this?”

At their words, Si Yun felt only indignation and sorrow. Her whole body trembled, tears brimming in her eyes as she said in a choked voice, “I’m allergic to pollen. Did you all forget?”

If it got any worse, she could die.

Hearing this, Gao Yun and Si Xiao froze at once, panic showing on their faces.

Gao Yun quickly stepped forward, her voice turning caring. “Oh dear, Xiao Yun, I was too flustered and forgot. How are you feeling now?”

As she spoke, she checked Si Yun over. Only after seeing that nothing seemed seriously wrong did she let out a breath of relief.

They had all forgotten about it.

At that moment, Ruan Tian at the side immediately began to cry again. “Sis, I really didn’t know you were allergic. I just wanted to make the house look prettier.”

Gao Yun at once gathered Ruan Tian into her arms and soothed her gently. “Sweetheart, don’t cry. This isn’t your fault.”

Then she turned to Si Yun, her expression conflicted. “Xiao Yun, Sweetheart didn’t mean it. These flowers were all sent by her friends. Don’t hold it against her.”

Si Xiao sighed. “We were careless. It has nothing to do with Sweetheart. Xiao Yun, next time say things clearly. Don’t just lash out.”

Si Yun pressed her lips together, the corners of her eyes reddening.

Even after all this, they still thought she had deliberately shoved Ruan Tian.

She had hardly used any force at all.

Ruan Tian had clearly thrown herself down on purpose.

After a long silence, Si Yun finally spoke. “I didn’t mean to push her. She was holding on to me and wouldn’t let go. I was in a hurry to go upstairs and take my medicine.”

Ruan Tian immediately retorted, “I didn’t. I only wanted to share the flowers with Sis. Who knew that she would—”

As she spoke, she sniffled again.

Gao Yun lightly patted Ruan Tian’s back, then said somewhat impatiently to Si Yun, “All right, all right. If you don’t feel well, rest properly. Call us if anything comes up.”

With that, she took Ruan Tian’s hand and left.

After they were gone, Si Yun closed the door, and only then did she realize that her room had already been completely taken over by Ruan Tian’s things.

Her own belongings had all been stuffed into the trash.

Right then, Ruan Tian pushed the door open and came in, smiling with innocent obliviousness. “Sis, I came in to tidy up a little. I stayed in this room last night and felt so comfortable that I couldn’t help putting all my things here. You don’t mind, do you?”

Si Yun knew perfectly well that she had come to stake her claim. She glanced at her faintly and said, “This is your home. Do whatever you like.”

Just then, Gao Yun walked in. Seeing the state of the room, she frowned and said softly to Ruan Tian, “Sweetheart, how did you make Xiao Yun’s room such a mess?”

Ruan Tian immediately pouted in feigned grievance. “Mom, I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to make this place feel like my own home so badly. I didn’t expect it to turn out like this.”

Gao Yun sighed helplessly and turned to Si Yun. “Xiao Yun, since your sister really likes this room, why don’t you pack up and move to the guest room later?”

Though her tone sounded like a question, the look in her eyes left no room for refusal.

At lunch, Gao Yun kept serving dishes to Ruan Tian as she said, “Sweetheart, eat more.”

Ruan Tian suddenly said, “Sis, you have to come to the welcome-home banquet tonight.”

Si Yun did not even lift her head. “I’m not interested.”

Ruan Tian’s mouth immediately drooped. Tears gathered in her eyes as she put on an utterly wronged expression, saying with a choked voice, “Sis, I finally made it back. Can’t you celebrate with me just this once?”

At that, Si Xiao’s face turned stern. “Xiao Yun, watch your attitude when you speak to Sweetheart. And you’re still a member of the Si family. If you skip it, who knows what others will say about us? What kind of behavior is that?”

Si Yun raised her eyes and looked quietly at Si Xiao. Her cool, composed face showed little expression, but her heart was full of bleakness.

They knew full well that such an occasion would only humiliate her.

After a brief silence, she pressed her lips together and softly said, “All right. I’ll go.”

The Si family had raised her. If they wanted to save face, she would give it to them.

A triumphant smile appeared on Ruan Tian’s face, though she quickly hid it.