Ning Mu’s hair was very smooth and silky, the same silver-gray as Ning Chuxue’s.
The only difference was that one of her eyes was always half-closed, and Mu Wannuo had never seen her with both eyes fully open.
The car sped along without hitting any traffic along the way.
After driving for a while, it slowly came to a stop in front of a villa.
This was Ning Chuxue’s home.
Compared to many years later, this place wasn’t nearly as flashy now.
At this time, the back garden was nothing more than a barren vegetable patch, usually tended to by dedicated staff.
Fifteen-year-old Mu Wannuo followed Ning Mu out of the car and walked toward the building in the center.
There were no streetlights on either side, no warehouses, and the walls were just plain cement color without any paint coating.
Mu Wannuo carefully followed behind Ning Mu, observing everything here like a curious little kid.
This long and narrow estate—she had only ever dared to look at it from afar, never daring to approach.
She never expected that one day, she too would be living here.
Subconsciously, a deep sense of guilt welled up inside Mu Wannuo’s heart.
She wasn’t sure why she had proposed following Ning Mu back then.
It was just a moment of impulsive heat, a thought that crossed her mind, and in the end, she blurted it out without thinking.
Now that she saw this estate, she instantly labeled that thought as “gold-digging.”
Because Ning Mu had money, and she herself was just a “gold-digger” who chose to follow Ning Mu for a better life.
She worried others would think that way, and even she herself thought so now.
“Chuxue?”
Walking up to the entrance of the house, Ning Mu called out toward the second floor.
“Mommy—”
A little girl, only three years old, appeared behind the railing on the second floor.
Standing at her full height, she wasn’t even half as tall as that railing.
Her long silver-white hair spilled across the floor, her knees were pale with a hint of pink, and her legs were short and small.
Her gray eyes sparkled with a lively glow, bright and shimmering.
Seeming curious that there was an unfamiliar big sister next to Ning Mu, Ning Chuxue became intrigued.
She walked over to the nearby staircase and carefully made her way down step by step.
Because she was afraid of falling, her little hand gripping the handrail was especially firm.
Like an angel.
With just one glance, Mu Wannuo fell in love with this three-year-old little girl.
Not the kind of “romantic” love, but something more complex, more profound.
So complex that Mu Wannuo couldn’t even name the emotion.
Want to possess her? Or want to hold her in the palm of her hand and cherish her forever?
Mu Wannuo didn’t know.
This tangled thread of thoughts didn’t dissipate until Ning Chuxue ran down the stairs and came to her side.
Ning Chuxue grabbed her hands tightly, her eyes blinking as she looked up at her with curiosity.
“Chuxue, this will be your big sister from now on.”
Ning Mu crouched down and scooped Ning Chuxue up.
With her feet off the ground, Ning Chuxue’s hair hung down to about two inches from the floor.
“Big sister?”
Confusion flickered across Ning Chuxue’s innocent face, then something occurred to her: “Is it like Sister Wen Ya?”
“That’s right, from now on Mu Wannuo is Chuxue’s big sister too.”
Ning Mu affectionately planted a small kiss on Ning Chuxue’s cheek.
Hearing their conversation, Mu Wannuo’s heart grew extremely anxious.
“Sister Wen Ya?”
Mu Wannuo was clever, and she immediately latched onto the key information: “So Ning Mu didn’t just adopt me?”
A sense of panic spread through her entire body, and she instinctively felt afraid.
Afraid she would be labeled as a “gold-digger,” then ostracized, and fail to fit into this big family.
“Oh? We have a guest today?”
From the kitchen, a girl around Mu Wannuo’s age poked her head out.
“Yasheng, you’re home after all? Come here, come here.”
Seeing Wen Yasheng who had only revealed her little head, Ning Mu quickly called her over.
Hearing this, the latter obediently trotted over.
Her features were delicate and refined, and her light pink hair was strikingly vivid.
Mu Wannuo looked at this “senior” and felt a strong sense of familiarity.
Ning Chuxue wriggled free from Ning Mu’s grip, hopped steadily to the ground, and enthusiastically ran over to greet Wen Yasheng.
“Sister Wen Ya, guess what! Today we’re welcoming a new member!”
“Really?”
Wen Yasheng slowed her steps, smiling as she glanced at Mu Wannuo standing by the door.
The latter instinctively shrank back a little, but outwardly she forced herself to stay calm, not letting any crack show.
Never let anyone see you flinch—that was what Mu Wannuo’s father had always taught her.
Although Mu Wannuo hated her father, this method was indeed quite useful.
It saved her a lot of trouble.
Contrary to what she had expected—completely different, in fact—
After observing her, Wen Yasheng showed no sign of dislike, only warmth on her face.
She pinched Ning Chuxue’s cheek and reassured her: “Chuxue, wait right here, okay? Big sister is going to check out the new member.”
Ning Chuxue obediently nodded.
Seeing this, Wen Yasheng walked over to Ning Mu and Mu Wannuo with peace of mind.
When she reached them, Ning Mu was the first to take Wen Yasheng’s hand: “This is Wen Yasheng, one year older than little Wannuo. From now on, you can call her Sister Wen Ya, just like Chuxue does.”
Ning Mu’s tone was gentle and meticulous, and Mu Wannuo found it soothing, without any discomfort.
But when she heard Ning Mu introduce the name, that familiar feeling instantly had its veil lifted.
She stared in disbelief at the girl with light pink hair, then looked at Ning Mu: “She’s really Wen Yasheng… no, Sister Wen Ya?”
Realizing she had gotten too excited and misspoken, Mu Wannuo quickly corrected herself.
“Do you know her?”
Ning Mu’s mouth parted slightly, looking at Mu Wannuo in surprise.
Wen Yasheng’s expression matched Ning Mu’s, clearly not expecting this situation either.
“I do!”
Mu Wannuo said excitedly: “I saw her on the TV at the orphanage!”
She remembered where that familiar feeling came from.
The orphanage played some programs every day at noon, and she had seen Wen Yasheng on them.
It was a show about poverty relief and rescue work, and Wen Yasheng was just one of the supporting cast—no different from a background extra, with only about five seconds of screen time.
But even those five seconds of footage had captured Mu Wannuo’s attention.
In the scene, Wen Yasheng’s expression was serious and solemn, unlike the other contestants who joked around and fooled about.
“Is that so?”
Ning Mu was the first to snap out of it, and after the surprise faded, only warmth remained: “Well, that saves me the time of introducing her.”
Afterward, she turned to Wen Yasheng, who still hadn’t figured out what was going on.
She gave a light cough to snap Wen Yasheng out of her daze: “Anyway, we’re all family now. This is Mu Wannuo, and from now on, she’ll be your second little sister.”
“Sec… second little sister, hello…”
Wen Yasheng slowly extended her hand to greet Mu Wannuo.
The latter naturally shook her outstretched hand with great excitement.
“I still need to go somewhere else, so I’ll leave it to you, Yasheng, to take care of your second little sister’s room and toiletries.”
“I understand, please take care, ma’am.”