“So you didn’t want me to come back after all?”
Shen Ruxue’s heart felt as cold as if it had fallen into an ice cave. She didn’t know what to do now, because the truth was exactly what her younger sister had said—she had come back far too late.
With modern transportation and communication being so convenient, if she had truly wanted to return, she could have announced everything as soon as she was able to act on her own. There was no need to wait until now. Shen Ruxue didn’t know how to explain this to her sister.
Should she say that her family’s strict discipline prevented her from leaving that city before she came of age? Or that she had never found the right opportunity?
No matter how she explained, Shen Ruxue knew those words would be pale and powerless in her sister’s eyes.
If she had really wanted to come back, she could have rushed home regardless of everything, even just to let them know she was still alive.
But she had done nothing. Even though she knew it was her fault, she still couldn’t bring herself to accept it reluctantly.
“Xiao Yu, listen to me… I can explain why I only came to find you now.”
Shen Ruxue’s eyes reddened, her voice trembling slightly. She took a step forward, but Chi Yingyu’s cold gaze froze her in place.
Chi Yingyu let out a cold laugh and turned her head away. She knew her words had been harsh, but what was she guilty of? She just wanted to protect the happy life she had finally managed to obtain.
“Explain? After all these years, what’s there to explain? I don’t know what you were thinking, sister, but after our whole family slowly got used to life without you, you suddenly appear in front of us…”
Chi Yingyu knew very well that after this incident, the relationship between her and her sister was completely shattered. But the person in front of her was, after all, her own sister.
“I know. I understand. Even if you only came back to this home nineteen years later, I believe that once Jiang Lai and Le Yi find out you’re back, they’ll only feel emotions and happiness.
They’ll be very happy that you returned, because you’re the true mistress of this home. But what about me? I’ve given so much to this family—where do I go from here?
For the past ten-plus years, I’ve always performed my duties. Even though I deeply like Jiang Lai, I had to suppress those feelings, because I knew it was impossible.
But then Jiang Lai changed. That almost impossible thing happened to me. In my eyes, it felt like heaven was helping me. So I don’t want you to come back, sister. Just stay as a thing of the past in our lives, okay?”
Every word Chi Yingyu said was like a sharp knife stabbing into Shen Ruxue’s heart.
Shen Ruxue’s lips trembled slightly as she struggled to form words. She understood very well why her sister didn’t want her to come back—and it was precisely because she understood that it was even harder to accept.
“I didn’t not want to come back. All these years I’ve been looking for an opportunity… Besides, I won’t take anything away from you. You can still stay in this home.”
Before she could finish, Chi Yingyu interrupted.
“Looking for opportunities? Eighteen years, and you couldn’t even send a single message! Jiang Lai’s phone number hasn’t changed for over a decade, just so he could keep your contact info, keep the call records and messages from your past.”
“As long as you had a phone, as long as you could send a message, you could explain why you came back so late. But you chose to appear right when I decided to confess my feelings and find happiness. I hate you. Even if you say you won’t take anything, do you think that’s possible?”
Chi Yingyu was emotionally stirred, her eyes flashing with anger and disappointment.
“As long as you come back, everything I’ve done will be overshadowed by you. Everything I have will passively transfer to you. And I know, I’m not a good person. I’m just a petty person, occupying your spot, trying to take everything from you—your position, your daughter.”
“But I deserve it! After you left, everything at home changed. Jiang Lai suffered so much to raise us, to support me and Le Yi’s education. You have no idea the hardship and exhaustion he went through! If it weren’t for me always being by Jiang Lai’s side, if it weren’t for us supporting each other, this family would never have made it this far.”
“I am the creator of this family! And now you suddenly come back. What right do you have to try to blend into our lives? What right do you have to take away what already belongs to me? I won’t allow it!”
“I won’t. I don’t want to do that either…”
Shen Ruxue’s tears burst forth. She slowly crouched down, holding her head with both hands, her voice filled with pain.
Shen Ruxue looked up, her eyes full of pleading: “Xiao Yu, I know I’ve missed too much. All these years I haven’t been by your side, I haven’t taken care of you—it’s my fault. But I really didn’t do it on purpose. Can you… can you give me one more chance? I want to stay by your side. I want to make it up to you all…”
Chi Yingyu watched Shen Ruxue’s pitiful state, and for a moment, her resolve wavered. But soon, thinking about everyone’s reactions once her sister returned, she immediately denied that hesitation.
Her sister was too dangerous.
Chi Yingyu knew very well that even if she was the pillar of this family, even if she had been by her brother-in-law’s side for nineteen years, she would never be able to surpass her sister.
Her sister was like the white moonlight buried deep in memory—just by standing there, she already surpassed everything Chi Yingyu had.
She had never wanted her sister to reveal her true identity because she knew that once her sister appeared in front of her brother-in-law, she herself would never be a match.
She also knew that what she was doing now was despicable—taking advantage of her sister’s soft spot for her family.
But only this way could she hold onto the happiness she had now.
Chi Yingyu gritted her teeth and hardened her heart.
“Your coming back now will only disrupt our lives, only make me hate you, hate everything about you.”
Shen Ruxue stood up, her body swaying as if all her strength had been drained. But she still clung to a sliver of hope.
“Ying Yu, I know I’ve failed you, and I’ve failed Jiang Lai. But I really want to make it up to you. I want to become a part of this family again. For now, treat me like a stranger, okay? It just so happens that I haven’t revealed my true identity. Give me a chance to take care of you, okay?”
Chi Yingyu was silent. She looked at Shen Ruxue, her heart a mix of emotions.
On one hand, she was filled with resentment and dissatisfaction toward her sister’s sudden return; on the other hand, the woman crying in front of her was still her own blood sister, a relative by blood.
After a long time, Chi Yingyu took a deep breath. She knew what she was doing now was too cruel, but if she wanted to get everything she desired, she had to be ruthless to the end.
They had her—that was enough. She had to play the villain to the very end.
Chi Yingyu knew these words would hurt deeply, but they had to be said.
“Sister, you already have your own life now. After your rebirth, you must have new parents, a new family. We old people won’t hold you back anymore. I hope you can forget us. After all, without you, we can still live well.”
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