The Lu couple were harmonious, dignified, and elegant. Could parents who had given birth to Lu Tingzhou and Lu Siyu be ordinary-looking? But their clothing was luxurious and fancy, which reminded her of her stepmother and stepsister. Even though the couple treated her with all their hearts, young Cheng Buxi was still uncertain. It was her first time meeting them, and she was inevitably afraid.
Bai Shuqin noticed this. Not wanting to pressure the little girl, she simply said, "How about this: let the child choose for herself, okay?"
"Baby, who do you choose?"
Mrs. Bai gently coaxed: "Who do you like? Baby goes with that person, okay? Don't be afraid."
Logically, she shouldn't have understood what that meant, and indeed, she didn't really. But she knew what 'like' meant; her mother had taught her.
After hesitating for a moment, and then as if making some grand resolution, she suddenly let go of her father's pant leg and ran unerringly toward the person in the corner—the god-like brother.
And she hugged his leg tightly! She was so short that even standing upright she didn't reach his thigh. This little thing, who looked like she would fall over at a touch, clung to him stubbornly.
Lu Tingzhou's body stiffened noticeably, and his pupils trembled violently.
Mrs. Bai had spoken like an oracle: once chosen, you stay with that person. She chose him. Did she intend to go with him?
At that moment, her half-sister, Cheng Huanyi, hearing from the nanny that the little bastard was being sent away, ran downstairs excitedly to see her off.
But the moment she laid eyes on Lu Tingzhou—someone so handsome she had never seen before—and saw the detestable stepsister hugging him, her heart instantly twisted. She began to cry and fuss, claiming she wanted to be taken away too.
For the past half-year, Cheng Buxi had been frequently bullied by her and was terrified of her. Whenever Cheng Huanyi cried, it would always end badly for Cheng Buxi, no matter the reason. She would be blamed indiscriminately, with severe consequences.
Fear had become instinct. Seeing her cry suddenly, she thought she was going to be punished again. Startled, she quickly let go of Lu Tingzhou's leg.
Her eyes wide, she stared blankly at her sister from a distance, her expression full of fear and panic, as if she had committed a terrible mistake.
"I want the handsome brother too! I want him! Mom, I want him too!" Cheng Huanyi screeched.
Him? She wanted him too? Cheng Buxi's mind raced. In her young vocabulary, there was no possession, only concession and retreat. She didn't want him anymore; otherwise, she would be punished again.
With that command from her brain, her limbs moved, and she reached out to push the person beside her. Push whom? Lu Tingzhou.
Her strength was negligible, but Lu Tingzhou still sensed her intention. She was trying to push him toward that rough, wild girl.
"?"
Did she really think he was an object that could be taken and discarded at will?
He noticed her trembling. Her frightened expression struck a chord in him, and he roughly understood what had happened today, including his mother's motive. This wasn't just bringing home a sister; it was rescuing a pitiful child.
But her action displeased him greatly. He suddenly frowned and asked, "You don't want me anymore?"
Perhaps his tone was a bit harsh, making Cheng Buxi shiver. She stared blankly at the face so close to hers—such a handsome person she had never seen before.
"Kid, don't you want me anymore?" he asked again, his eyes calm.
Breaking from his usual aloof demeanor, he was actually taking the initiative to engage this cheeky little kid.
Sensing she was still very scared, her eyes fixed on the other side, he sighed and crouched down, taking both her small hands in his to reassure her: "Don't be afraid."
"Good child, will you come with your brother?"
His voice had a certain magic.
Cheng Buxi, looking at the enlarged, handsome face so close, was stunned again.
Seeing this, Cheng Huanyi grew more hysterical, almost rolling on the ground: "Mom, I want it too! I want to be taken away too!"
Lu Tingzhou acted as if he couldn't see her, his eyes only for the delicate little girl before him.
Mrs. Bai understood immediately. Bypassing the Chengs, she said directly to Cheng Baoshan, "We'll take this child. Rest assured."
What else could Father Cheng say? This was undoubtedly the best outcome. He expressed endless gratitude.
Bai Shuqin looked at the young girl, now half-enveloped by her handsome brother, and said regretfully, "When I was pregnant with Siyu and near my due date, I insisted on going out to see the cherry blossoms. I tripped and started bleeding. You and Xiaoxue rushed me to the hospital, and it was Xiaoxue who gave me so much life-saving blood..."
"Brother Hai... Madam..." This was his duty. The fact that the couple came personally was already a tremendous kindness. Father Cheng didn't know what to say.
Lu Kuanghai patted his shoulder and promised, "We will treat this child well. Rest assured."
"From now on, she will be the second miss of the Lu family."
-
Second miss.
The Lu family indeed kept their promise, doting on her as if she were their own daughter, even to the point where Lu Siyu, their biological daughter, sometimes sourly remarked that their parents were partial. And as for Lu Tingzhou—he would give her the stars if she asked. Cheng Buxi was raised under his care.
Besides, the Lu parents gave her the nickname 'Koukou.'
Why that name? On the way back, they learned from neighbors that when she was little, due to her grandmother's negligence—or perhaps intentional collusion—she had almost been sold by human traffickers. Only a vigilant neighbor aunt had foiled the attempt.
Not only that, she had also nearly drowned and had been force-fed unknown folk medicine when she had a cold, almost losing her life. The Lu adoptive parents cherished her and gave her the nickname 'Koukou.'
It meant buttoned up like a button on clothes, so she wouldn't be lost. To outsiders, it was an auspicious meaning. Cheng Buxi initially thought so too.
But people change. Greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. She had already received the Lu family's protection—an honor many could only dream of—yet she still dared to covet Lu Tingzhou. That was utterly wrong.
Silent all the way. "Brother, when did you start smoking?"
Her sudden question caught him off guard. Lu Tingzhou's expression froze momentarily, then he rubbed his temples: "You could smell it."
There had been a traffic jam earlier, the whole road gridlocked. He was agitated, so he got out and had half a cigarette. He thought the wind would blow away the smell, but she still picked it up.
In Cheng Buxi's memory, her brother rarely smoked, almost never. The only time she had seen it was on that New Year's Eve three years ago, when he left home, and a few burnt cigarette butts were scattered in the white porcelain ashtray.
Xin, the driver, drove cautiously ahead. With the experience from the earlier trip, he was now a top-tier veteran driver, well-versed in being deaf and blind.
Lu Tingzhou didn't bother to hide: "From the year you left home for college."
Cheng Buxi deflated like a punctured balloon but vowed, "Brother, let's pretend nothing happened. I really know I was wrong."
This time, Lu Tingzhou remained silent.
But Cheng Buxi knew he had heard her.
Good. From today on, she truly wouldn't like him anymore.
That was the end of it.
At that moment, all the taillights stretched into long red lines, like countless unhealed wounds, disappearing into the darkness at the edge of the rearview mirror.
She didn't expect a reply or a nod. She just understood in her heart.
With that, she turned back to look out the window, counting the orange streetlights as they flew by. The halo of each light was like a moon diluted by tears.
After so many consecutive days of bad weather, it was finally going to clear up.
She should let go too.
-----------------------
Author's note: End of Volume 1
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