Early morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the window, casting a warm glow over the bed. The two people lying there woke up simultaneously. However, due to what happened last night, when their eyes met at the start of the new day, the atmosphere felt a bit awkward.
Last night, Xia Mengxi had acted out of frustration and resorted to a mean trick to bully Lin Xue’er. Now that her rational mind had returned, she felt a little embarrassed by her own behavior. So she became the one to break the silence.
โGood morning, Xue’erโฆโ
โGood morning, Xiao Xi. You go freshen up first; I’ll make breakfast.โ
โOkayโฆโ
Not wanting to make things awkward, the two exchanged greetings and tacitly agreed not to mention last nightโs incident, then each went about their own business.
When it was time for breakfast, Lin Xue’er asked Xia Mengxi, โXiao Xi, are you going to stay at my place for lunch?โ
โHuh? Sure.โ
โIn that case, Iโll need to go out and buy some ingredients since weโre running low on fresh food at home.โ
Hearing that Lin Xue’er was going out, Xia Mengxi straightened her back immediately. This golden opportunity was one she couldnโt miss!
But bluntly saying she would stay at Lin Xue’er’s house alone would seem rude no matter how you think about it, so she politely offered to help.
โThen how about I go with you, Xue’er? After all, your familyโs not home. Itโd feel a bit odd for me to stay alone.โ
โItโs okay, Xiao Xi. Youโre no stranger here. I wouldnโt mind at all.โ
Xia Mengxi feigned hesitation for a moment before continuing, โWill you be buying a lot? It might be easier if thereโs an extra person.โ
โNot much, even including tonightโs food. I just got a message from my parentsโthey had to extend their business trip unexpectedly, so I donโt need to buy for them.โ
Since Lin Xue’er said it so straightforwardly, Xia Mengxi naturally nodded in agreement. If she insisted further, she feared Lin Xue’er might genuinely drag her along.
At the same time, her understanding of Lin Xue’er’s parents was coming closer to her suspicions. Parents who were often away, focused only on work, were the type most likely to neglect their childโs upbringing and influence their personality. So, to truly unravel the signs of Lin Xue’er’s darkening, it wouldnโt be enough to just resolve Lin Xue’er’s Childhood Knotโsomething needed to be done about her parents as well.
โWell then, Iโm heading out now, Xiao Xi.โ
โOkay, be careful on the way.โ
After watching Lin Xue’er leave, Xia Mengxi stood in the courtyard waiting for a full ten minutes. When she saw no sign of Lin Xue’er looking back, she finally closed the gate and returned inside.
What Xia Mengxi didnโt know was that a pair of eyes were watching her through a small screen, tracking her from the courtyard back into the house, from the living room on the first floor up to Lin Xue’erโs room on the second floor.
While Xia Mengxi was staring at the bookshelf in Lin Xue’erโs room, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. Her intuition told her something was happeningโsomething she didnโt know about.
โWhatโs going onโฆ Why do I feel this ominous sense of wrongnessโฆ?โ
Xia Mengxi frowned. This sudden sensation was like walking alone late at night on a mountain pathโno people around, no barking dogs, no annoying insect sounds. The eerie silence unsettled her.
Could Lin Xue’er have pulled a surprise attack?
She hurried to the balcony on the second floor and looked out. There were no pedestrians on the nearby roads, let alone any sign of Lin Xue’er.
โThis feeling canโt be ignored. Somethingโs definitely wrongโฆโ
Since the time Xia Mengxi had been imprisoned before, she had become especially cautious. Even intangible things like intuition received her full attention.
But this time, she had no clue what was causing this uneasy feeling. With no leads, she decided to keep gathering information on Lin Xue’er.
โThis book with the Missing Diary Pages is actually part of a seriesโฆ So if thereโs no mistakeโฆโ
After searching on her phoneโs network, Xia Mengxiโs eyes returned to the bookshelf, where the entire series of books was not only present but complete.
So she took down one book after another and, after a burst of quantum speed-reading, she indeed found the remaining diary pages.
โJust as I thought!โ
After organizing the pieces, Xia Mengxi had already pieced together the story behind Lin Xue’er’s Childhood Knot from the Missing Diary Pages.
First came Lin Xue’erโs experiences before meeting โXiao Xiโ:
Today, Xue’er went to the park with Aunt Qin. There were many children in the park, all playing with their moms and dads. Xue’er wished she could play with her parents too.
โฆ
Mom and Dad didnโt have to work today, but I wanted to go out with them. They didnโt agree. (๏ธถ๏ธฟ๏ธถ)
โฆ
At school today, a classmate did very well on the exam. His dad bought him a new toy and took him out to eat and have fun. If I get good grades, will my mom and dad take me out too?
โฆ
I got first place in the whole class this timeโฆ but Mom and Dad didnโt smile or take me out. Am I still not trying hard enough?
โฆ
Why? Iโve really tried so hardโwhether studying or learning other things, Iโve done my best. So why wonโt my parents look at me more? Am I not a good child?
Why? Why is it like thisโฆ
โฆ
I understand now, I finally understand. Itโs not that Iโm not trying hard enough. There was never love between them. Without love, thereโs no warmth or affection. Iโฆ I must be extra, unnecessaryโฆ
โฆ
Wealthy, sleeping in separate rooms, and neither wanting the child they hadโall these signs pointed to Lin Xue’er’s parents having a โPolitical Marriageโ.
The following Missing Diary Pages all recorded matters concerning โXiao Xiโ.
Today, someone moved in next door. Aunt Qin said it was her sisterโs family. Aunt Qin introduced me to her niece, a child my age named Xu Xiao Xi.
โฆ
Xiao Xi is a very lively child. At first, I wasnโt used to it, but after becoming friends for a while, I was glad to know her. Because with her here, my life gained a bit of color.
โฆ
I keep feelingโฆ Xiao Xi has changed. Is that just my imagination?
โฆ
Itโs really just my imagination. Xiao Xi hasnโt changed; sheโs just pretending to be lively. But why?
โฆ
So thatโs it. Thatโs why Xiao Xi seemed reluctant to be friends but insisted on playing with me. It turns out she was following her parentsโ orders to befriend me.
But itโs okay. I donโt mind. Xiao Xi is the only one willing to be my friend, even if itโs all just an act.
โฆ
Why? Xiao Xi, didnโt you promise we would be friends forever? I promised to help your parents meet with mine, too. So why did you leave without a word? Why did you take Aunt Qin away?
Why did you betray our promise, you liar!