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nTranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

nSu Yue stared at Jiao Chen’s number and hesitated briefly before calling him.

nJiao Chen’s gentle voice sounded over the phone. “Su Yue?”

nHe kept addressing her as Su Yue even when she insisted for him to call her Yueyue. Su Yue also suggested that he should call her by another nickname. But he merely smiled and brushed it off every single time.

nSu Yue felt that Jiao Chen was a very simple and innocent person. Yet he was mysterious and complicated at times, too.

nShe asked softly, “Jiaojiao, when are you coming back to school?”

nShe had just cried and her nose was blocked. So her voice sounded a little nasal, but it wasn’t that obvious.

nHowever, Jiao Chen was observant enough to notice it. Sounding concerned, he asked softly, “What happened? Did you cry or are you having a cold?”

n“I’m fine.” Su Yue shook her head and smiled. “I just woke up and wanted to ask when you will be back. If you are coming back early, we can eat together. If not, I’ll just go out and buy food back.”

nActually, she had no idea why she called Jiao Chen. Usually, he was the one who called to inform her if he was coming back or not.

nBut Bai Jing had just left and she felt strangely lonely now that she was alone.

nWhen she stayed in the orphanage in Country Y, she was always alone. She would often sit alone and listen to others laughing away.

nBut humans are greedy by nature.

nShe had adapted to a comfortable life and so many people loved her. Her brother, Third Brother, Third sister-in-law, Jiao Chen and her friends…

nBut she felt like something was still missing, and she was yearning for more.

nJiao Chen replied, “I should be back by 6 p.m., I’ll bring you out for dinner tonight.”

nHe sounded as if he had made prior arrangements. Su Yue asked, “Where are we going?”

n“Wait for me to pick you up.” Jiao Chen pressed on, “If you are hungry, eat some snacks first. I’ll call you again later.”

nSu Yue nodded. “Okay.”

nShe hung up. She then unconsciously clicked on the news article once more—she felt dejected again.

n‘Why are you being so stubborn? Stop this!’ Su Yue chided herself.

nUncle Ming’s concern, gentleness, thoughtfulness, and care for her was because she was his best friend’s sister.

nHe only treated her as a younger sister…

nSu Yue averted her gaze from her phone.

nSu Yue spent the next hour doing something useful instead of dwelling on unhappy thoughts.

nShe was determined to keep herself occupied.

nShe brought out all her dirty laundry and even her bedsheets and began to wash them.

nShe wanted to wash everything.

nWhen she was younger, she used to wash clothes almost every day. The people at the orphanage gave her plenty of chores to do, and she would always do it her way.

nShe rolled up her sleeves and stepped on the clothes.

nSoap bubbles were all over the floor and it amused her. She started playing with it and momentarily forgot about her troubles.

nSuddenly, someone was knocking on the door.

nIt halted her fun and she yelled, “Who’s that?”

nWho would knock on their door?

nCould it be Bai Jing?

n“Su Yue, I’m staying one level below.”

nAn unfamiliar voice sounded and it puzzled Su Yue. Why would she look for her?

nShe slipped on a pair of slippers and opened the door.

nA girl she didn’t know was standing outside and Su Yue sized up the girl from head to toe.

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