Chapter 67 - 66: Care from the Elders

Chapter 67: Chapter 66: Care from the Elders

Perhaps the girl was too focused, and with the washing machine already making noise, she didn’t hear the door open.

Now, Xiao Ran’s sudden voice made her jump in fright.

When she looked at Xiao Ran, her eyes were filled with unconcealed panic.

’Brother Xiao Ran????’

’When did he get back?’

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Ran pursed his lips. "You... you aren’t just watching the laundry, are you?"

It was the only explanation he could think of.

’She’s sitting on the floor just fine, and she hasn’t fainted. If she isn’t watching the washing machine, then what is she doing?’

With that thought, he glanced into the washing machine. Other than suds, he couldn’t see anything interesting either.

At his words, the girl’s dewy face flushed red at a visible rate, her expression a mixture of shame and mortification.

’This is killing me!’

’How could I get caught red-handed just for daydreaming?’

"I... I was just..."

The guilt-ridden girl tried to come up with a reasonable explanation.

However, her intense nervousness made her mind go completely blank.

The already slow-to-react girl had no idea how to explain the perplexing sight of her sitting on the floor watching a washing machine.

She bit her lip, her beautiful eyes welling up with shimmering moisture.

Her face was also impossibly red.

She looked incredibly embarrassed.

Her appearance only made Xiao Ran even more curious.

’What on earth was she doing sitting on the floor?’

He looked quizzically at Yan Xici, who was still on the floor, and tried to think of a reasonable explanation for her. "Is it low blood sugar?"

"Or... or maybe you stood up too fast while doing the laundry?"

He wasn’t sure if his assessment was correct; he was just spitballing ideas.

The quick-witted girl immediately seized the excuse. "Yes, that’s it! I just felt a little dizzy, and I was afraid I’d fall, so I just sat down."

As soon as she said that, she quickly scrambled to her feet.

She desperately wanted this embarrassing scene to end immediately.

This whole sequence of events left Xiao Ran dumbfounded.

’What in the world is going on?’

Watching her flustered retreat, Xiao Ran asked uncertainly, "Um, do you want some water?"

Yan Xici didn’t need water; what she needed was a place to escape her embarrassment!

"N-no, I’m fine." After saying that, the girl hurried into her room.

She desperately needed to calm down right now, or else she was going to die of social embarrassment on the spot!

Once inside, the girl quickly locked her door.

Her face beet red, she threw herself onto her soft double bed.

Like an ostrich, she quickly buried her head in a Hello Kitty plushie, rubbing her head against it again and again.

Feeling her heart pound, she silently cursed herself for being so pathetic.

’Yan Xici, oh, Yan Xici, how could you have such a weird quirk!’

’And I was even discovered on the spot! If Brother Xiao Ran knew the truth, I would really die of shame!’

’What is wrong with me? I can absolutely never do this again!’

’Absolutely not!’

’Acting so strange will make people think you’re crazy!’

...

Watching the girl’s retreating back, Qiu Yuru, who was standing in the living room, couldn’t help but worry.

’Is the child not feeling well?’

With this in mind, she quietly changed her shoes, walked over to the dining table, poured the girl a glass of warm water, and went to her door, knocking softly.

"Xici, it’s Auntie. May I come in?"

Her tone was very gentle.

Inside, the girl who was still frantically seeking comfort from her Hello Kitty plushie froze when she heard it was Auntie, then shot up like a spring.

’What does Auntie want with me?’

Without time to think, the girl quickly smoothed her slightly messy hair with her small, fair hands.

Then she hurriedly sat up properly against the headboard, not forgetting to pull her small blanket over her legs. Only then did she manage to suppress her nervousness and say, "Auntie, please come in."

Although she had no idea why Auntie was coming in right now.

’But I can’t just leave her standing at the door. That would be very rude!’

Hearing the girl’s voice, Qiu Yuru turned the doorknob with her other hand and walked in unhurriedly, a smile on her face.

"If you’re not feeling well, don’t just tough it out. Tell Auntie, and I’ll take you to the hospital."

To be honest, Qiu Yuru was truly fond of Yan Xici. After all, the girl was pretty, well-behaved, and sensible.

On top of that, having made her own casual assumptions about her just now, she couldn’t help but want to be a little kinder to the girl—even kinder still.

Hearing this, the girl hurriedly shook her head.

"I’m fine, Auntie. I’ll be okay after a little rest."

She really was fine; she had just suffered a moment of social death when Brother Xiao Ran found her.

’I just need to calm down a little, that’s all.’

Seeing this, Qiu Yuru, still worried, sat down on the edge of her bed and reached out to feel her little forehead.

Her temperature felt completely normal, and Qiu Yuru’s worried heart finally settled a little.

She handed the glass over, looking at the girl on the bed with a loving expression.

"Here, drink some water."

The girl hadn’t expected Auntie to come in just to bring her water. Seeing the concerned look on her face, she felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.

’I’m really okay, but there’s no way to explain it.’

The girl felt especially apologetic about this.

"Okay, thank you, Auntie. I’m so sorry to trouble you. I’m really okay," she explained softly.

She hoped Auntie would stop worrying about her, which would lessen her own guilt.

"Silly child, it’s no trouble for Auntie. I’m just worried you’re not well. After all, when you’re sick, you’re the one who suffers."

Qiu Yuru’s heart truly ached for her, even though they had only known each other for a few short hours.

But she could clearly sense the girl’s kindness, and people, after all, respond to others in kind.

"By the way, what would you like to eat tomorrow? Auntie has nothing to do, so I’ll make breakfast for you both," Qiu Yuru asked.

Yan Xici had school tomorrow, and Xiao Ran had work. As a mother, getting up early to make them breakfast was her undeniable duty.

Hearing this, the girl frantically waved her hands.

"There’s no need, Auntie. I can do it tomorrow. I’m really okay."

’There’s nothing wrong with me; I can definitely make breakfast myself tomorrow.’

Qiu Yuru looked at her with a pained expression. ’She’s still thinking about making breakfast even when she’s sick. What a silly child!’

Her tone was firm. "Alright, it’s settled. Don’t you argue with me about it."

Since she had put it that way, the girl couldn’t refuse.

She nodded obediently. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Auntie."

"It’s no trouble at all. You’ve worked so hard taking care of Xiao Ran these past few days. While I’m here, I’ll take care of you both. You should get more rest."

After speaking, Qiu Yuru stood up.

"Alright, I won’t disturb your rest any longer. Remember to sleep early. Girls need to rest well for their skin to be better."

"I will, Auntie."

Seeing the girl nod, Qiu Yuru finally left with a beaming smile.

Sitting on the bed, the girl still held the glass of water she had just been given. Watching Qiu Yuru’s disappearing back, her heart was filled with warmth.

When Yan Xici was young, her family wasn’t well-off.

Because her father was in poor health, her mother managed the entire household alone. To earn money, her mom was always working from dawn till dusk and was rarely free at home.

The person she saw most often was her older sister, but her sister had a rather cold and distant personality.

That was why a gesture like Qiu Yuru’s made the girl feel incredibly warm inside. She even couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy toward Xiao Ran.

’If only I could have been born into his family. I’d probably wake up laughing in my sleep!’