Chapter 14: You've all embarked on a shamelessly happy life.
The clothes slowly slid off Qin Yi's body. When her cold face was finally revealed, her eyes, capable of swallowing people whole, shot straight at them.
Mu Xiaoxiao instinctively hugged herself, curling into a pitiful ball.
Grandma Qin was about to explode.
It was no surprise that Mu Xiaoxiao, an aspiring future psychologist, successfully applied the "triggering rage therapy." Not only did it make Qin Yi feel an overwhelming urge to curse, but it also made her want to stand up from her wheelchair and kick her.
In reality, Qiuqiu had never seen such a beautiful woman before. She stared blankly at Qin Yi's face. Qin Yi's features weren't of the soft or charming type, but the colder her expression, the more her natural aristocratic aura shone.
In that moment, the atmosphere shifted—her hair and clothes seemed to float.
Qiuqiu, unaware of her guest's obsessive cleanliness, had no idea what lengths her sister had gone to in order to bring her here. She simply thought this was another friend her sister had invited over. After all, Mu Xiaoxiao had never lacked friends. But seeing the look on this guest's face... Qiuqiu couldn't help but glance at her sister.
Mu Xiaoxiao was almost trembling, her expression reading, 'I'm weak, pitiful, and helpless'.
Seeing the grim look on the guest's face and sensing her sister's distress, Qiuqiu hesitated briefly, then bent down to pick up the clothes from the floor. She softly asked her sister, "Should I... just cover her up again?"
Qin Yi: ...
Mu Xiaoxiao: !!!
Oh heavens! What kind of sister is this? Just because she was busy working over the summer and hadn't seen her, did Qiuqiu really have to attack her twice in a row?
Qin Yi's expression had gone beyond cold—her face was now frozen solid. Her beautiful eyes burned with rage as she stared straight at Mu Xiaoxiao. The clash of fire and ice was about to begin.
Mu Xiaoxiao shivered. She knew this might be the last night she spent with the eldest miss. If so... perhaps they should make it a memorable one.
[What would you like to eat?]
With no way out, Mu Xiaoxiao raised her hand and asked nervously. At this point, she could only soldier on.
Qin Yi stared at her intensely, raising her delicate hand and making a gesture.
[Your heart.]
Mu Xiaoxiao: ...
Growing up in an orphanage, Qiuqiu had encountered many children with disabilities. But unlike her sister, she had never learned sign language. Struggling to interpret the gesture, she scratched her head and asked her sister, "Who is this beautiful sister?"
What a pity.
This lady was so beautiful, but she seemed to have countless disabilities.
There are different levels of disabilities, but this lady seemed to have the worst of them all—mute, deaf, and paralyzed. Apart from her looks, there wasn't a single part of her that was whole.
Qiuqiu's words gave Mu Xiaoxiao a brief moment of clarity from her stunned state. Desperately grasping the opportunity, she pointed at Qin Yi.
"This is—" She was about to say "Sister Qin" but suddenly remembered the confidentiality agreement she had signed with Liu Aiwen when she joined the household. Under no circumstances was she allowed to reveal the eldest miss' identity to outsiders.
Qin Yi sat calmly in her wheelchair, waiting for Mu Xiaoxiao to introduce her to the bold little girl.
Mu Xiaoxiao swallowed nervously, patted Qiuqiu on the head, and said, "This is an admirable lady with a tragic past."
Qin Yi: ...
Not giving the eldest miss the time to shoot daggers with her eyes, Mu Xiaoxiao pointed at her sister.
"And this is Qiuqiu, a simple-minded, young and chubby kid who's not great at studying but dreams of becoming a famous novelist in our country."
Qiuqiu wasn't offended by her sister's words. She shyly tucked her hair behind her ears and looked at Qin Yi: "Don't worry, admirable sister with a tragic past—I won't discriminate against you."
Qin Yi: !!!
If dynamite had levels, the eldest miss would have already exploded—on the spot—with the level of an atomic bomb. If she could, she would have blown Mu Xiaoxiao into tiny, unrecognizable pieces, with blood splattering everywhere to vent her rage.
Watching Qin Yi, Qiuqiu's mind, as an aspiring novelist, began filling with scenarios.
This poor sister must've been rescued by my sister again, right?
Could it be that during her time away from the orphanage, this sister was... Qiuqiu clasped her hand over her mouth. —Abandoned by her cruel parents because of her disabilities?
She pictured a stormy night, with owls perched upside down on branches, witnessing a heart-wrenching tragedy. The poor sister, wheelchair and all, had been thrown out of her home.
She reached out weakly, trying to say something, but rain mixed with her tears, blurring her vision.
Goodbye, cruel world...
She had no desire to live anymore.
She rolled her wheelchair toward the cliff's edge. Just as she was about to plunge into the abyss, a flash of lightning lit up the sky, and her sister appeared—
"What are you daydreaming about?" Mu Xiaoxiao yanked on Qiuqiu's face, glaring. "Go downstairs and buy groceries!"
This little brat! After causing so much trouble, she still had the nerve to stand there daydreaming.
Qiuqiu stuck out her tongue, slipped on her shoes, and headed out with the money her sister gave her. Before leaving, she threw one last sympathetic glance at the poor sister.
With a bang, the door closed.
Mu Xiaoxiao rubbed her arms awkwardly, exchanging glances with Qin Yi. This time, the look in Qin Yi's eyes wasn't just sharp—it was murderous.
"This... My sister isn't very bright. I've always meant to teach her a lesson." Mu Xiaoxiao tried to explain, but Qin Yi stared coldly, raising her hand slightly.
[I can help you.]
"No, no, no need!" Mu Xiaoxiao laughed nervously, her smile pitiful and desperate. "It's inconvenient to bathe here, but I can at least wash your hands now. When we get home, I'll make sure you have a proper bath right away."
Qin Yi: ...
It was meant to be a statement of determination, but as soon as Mu Xiaoxiao finished speaking, she couldn't help but mentally spit a few "puh puh"s at herself. What on earth was she saying? Such indecent words!
"No, what I mean is, I'll push you to go take a bath," she clarified.
Qin Yi: Push???
Mu Xiaoxiao: "Ah, no, I mean, I'll help you. Carrying you works too."
Qin Yi: ???
Mu Xiaoxiao: ...
She desperately needed a cold shower right now.
In the end, the eldest miss' declined Mu Xiaoxiao's "kind offer". Instead, she simply pulled out a tissue from here bag to wipe her hands, then sat there, glaring at her like a frostbitten empress.
As for her clothes, she has already decided that as soon as they got home, it would be thrown away—along with Mu Xiaoxiao.
Meanwhile, Qiuqiu, who was still thinking about her beautiful and pitiful older sister back home, hurried back with a big bag of things. As soon as she entered, she said to her sister, "Oh my, everything here is so expensive, way more expensive than at home!"
Mu Xiaoxiao glanced at her. "It's so expensive, yet you still bought yourself ice cream?"
Qiuqiu grinned cheekily. "Because you're the best, Sis! Young love me the most. I want cola chicken wings—I'm starving."
After speaking, she peaked at Qin Yi, who remained as still as an ice sculpture. Qiuqiu gasped inwardly. Could she also have a stroke or some other condition that keeps her from moving?
It was getting late, and Qin Yi hadn't eaten properly all day. Mu Xiaoxiao rolled up her sleeves, turned on the TV, and gave Qin Yi a warm look.
"Why don't you watch some TV? I'll cook."
Qin Yi responded with a blank expression.
Mu Xiaoxiao felt a pang in her heart. She kicked Qiuqiu, who was rummaging through snacks. "Behave yourself, or I'll smack that grin off your face!"
Clutching her backside, Qiuqiu nodded quickly. "Sis, don't worry, I'll behave."
After another round of stern warnings, Mu Xiaoxiao gave Qin Yi a little signal:
[If you need anything, come find me in the kitchen.]
She definitely couldn't bring the eldest miss in the kitchen with her.
Qin Yi, however, ignored her completely.
Mu Xiaoxiao glanced at Qiuqiu uneasily. "Don't bother her, okay?"
She hadn't told Qiuqiu anything about Qin Yi or her situation and had deliberately used sign language with the eldest miss to keep things discreet.
Qiuqiu sat properly on the sofa, holding a small notebook in her hand, looking like she was already deep in some creative work. "I'm busy."
Time was running out. Mu Xiaoxiao didn't linger and quickly got to work in the kitchen. This was her first time cooking for the eldest miss, so she was determined to make a good impression.
At first, Qiuqiu behaved cautiously. When her sister left, she didn't make any moves. Only when the sound of the kitchen's range hood turned on did she suddenly spring into action, plopping herself down right in front of Qin Yi's wheelchair.
"Sis, you're so pretty!" she blurted out.
"Can you really not hear or talk?"
Tentatively, Qiuqiu made a clumsy gesture in front of Qin Yi, who remained indifferent on the surface, but internally she was already stabbing her mental "Mu Xiaoxiao voodoo doll" with needles.
Qiuqiu sighed sincerely.
Qin Yi noticed the girl's emotions and realized she was genuinely sad for her supposed disabilities.
Though Qiuqiu knew only a bit of sign language, she still tried, moving her hands while speaking aloud. "Don't be too sad, big sister. With how advanced technology is, you'll definitely recover."
Qin Yi had heard such comforting words countless times and wasn't fazed.
Qiuqiu leaned in conspiratorially. "Most importantly, you still have my sister!"
The little rascal was being clever—when she said those words, she didn't use sign language but spoke them aloud instead.
Qiuqiu glanced at Qin Yi, still trying to confirm whether she was truly unable to hear. But how could someone like the eldest miss, with her sharp instincts, be seen through by a child?
Qin Yi remained composed, sitting quietly without giving anything away.
Qiuqiu sneaked a peek toward the kitchen and then asked, "What's your relationship with my sister? I've never seen her take care of someone so attentively before. Not only is she constantly fussing over you, but just one look from you makes her shiver in fear. Haha, what's that called? Oh, right—henpecked husband!"
Qin Yi: ...
Qiuqiu grew more excited, grabbing her notebook and scribbling as she mused aloud. "I never thought at the age of 13, I'd live to see the day my sister found true love. Now I can rest easy. Even if you can't move, you can rest easy, my sister's taken care of many people since she's was a child. She'll definitely do better."
Qin Yi: ......
Qiuqiu lifted her head again, propping her chin with one hand, and stared at Qin Yi: "Wow, I never thought I'd witness such a touching love story. Let me think, what would the opening of the story be?" She spoke to herself excitedly: "It's probably about a beautiful girl with a tragic past, abandoned by her family, pushed out of the house, introverted and lonely, even wanting to give up on herself, feeling as though God had shut all doors for her."
At that moment, Qin Yi's gaze shifted, and a chill ran down her spine, goosebumps rising all over her skin.
Immersed in her creative flow, Qiuqiu's inspiration poured out like a spring: "But just then, my sister appeared. She might not have had the money to ride a white horse, but she optimistically rode a little mule, using her smile and gentleness to move your heart. Day by day, she stayed by your side. Together, you crossed great forests, walked through deserts, and traveled to many places to find your lost heart. But in the end—"
"AAAAAHHH!!!" Qiuqiu's sudden shriek startled Qin Yi.
Laughing wildly, Qiuqiu collapsed onto the coffee table. "In the end, you realize the heart you were searching for was already hers! And then—bam! You two lived shamelessly ever after!"
Lost in her creative high, Qiuqiu didn't notice Qin Yi's growing discomfort.
Just then, Mu Xiaoxiao appeared with the food. Seeing her sister laughing so hard, she couldn't help but smile too. "What are you writing that's got you so happy?"
Mu Xiaoxiao always encouraged her sister's writing hobby.
Qiuqiu didn't hold back. "It's a touching story about you, sis! I even read it to the pretty big sister."
Mu Xiaoxiao chuckled. But when she glanced at Qin Yi's flushed and pale complexion, she frowned. "Looks like she's got complicated feelings about your story. Why is her face so red?"
"How should I know?" Qiuqiu said. Then, noticing something, she gasped loudly, her hands flying to her mouth. "Sis! She can hear! She can hear!"
Mu Xiaoxiao froze, setting down the steamed bass she was holding. She gave Qiuqiu a swift kick. "What nonsense are you spouting? Of course she can hear—"
She trailed off mid-sentence, her instincts kicking in. Something was definitely off.
Qiuqiu, quick as ever, clutched her notebook tightly to her chest. But Mu Xiaoxiao smirked and reached under her sister's arm, tickling her mercilessly. With a squeal, Qiuqiu let go, and the notebook was snatched away.
Mu Xiaoxiao flipped through it. At first, she smiled—Qiuqiu's handwriting had improved. But the more she read, the paler her face became, until she looked like a ghost.
With trembling hands, she glanced toward Qin Yi. The eldest miss' gaze was no longer merely cold; it was filled with murderous intent, as if she were calculating exactly how to carve the heart out of Mu Xiaoxiao's chest.
Ha.
How will I dig into it out?
Mu Xiaoxiao: ...
* * *
Author's Note:
Congratulations, Xiaoxiao, on your double KO.
* * *
Mini Side Story: Bonus Scene: A Sister's Secret
Years later, Qiuqiu fulfilled her dream of becoming a famous novelist, earning the affectionate nickname "The Modern Ma Liang" from her fans. In a playful interview, she once revealed:
"It's weird, but every story I ever wrote in my little notebook came true somehow."
Knowing this eerie ability of her sister's, Mu Xiaoxiao sneakily stole the notebook one day. After making sure no one was watching, she picked up a pen and scribbled a little wish:
That night, Qiuqiu eagerly brought the notebook to Qin Yi. "Big sister! Big sister!"
Qin Yi glanced up from her own notes, smiling softly. "Hmm?"
Patting Qiuqiu's head, she asked warmly, "What's got you so excited? Did you and Xiaoxiao have another fight?"
"No!" Qiuqiu exclaimed. She handed the notebook over. "You won't believe what my sister wrote! Look for yourself!"
Puzzled, Qin Yi opened the notebook. As she read, her cheeks flushed bright red.
The words were clear as day:
"One day, I hope Psychologist Mu Xiaoxiao can help Lady Qin find herself again. Daytime therapy, nighttime... physical therapy. Bind her hands, make her lose all control, and beg desperately, confessing what she truly wants..."
Qin Yi: ......