Chapter 20: “Each On Their Own.”

A few hours before…

Wei Xiu had gone somewhere while Shen Xiaofan was studying at school. She approached a minimalist house with a black car on the side. Her expression was mellow as if she had a bittersweet memory here. When she entered the house, she found an old aunt wiping the table. It was her aunt, she's still the same as ever. With wrinkles on her soft face and a big fat body while wearing a slim-fit apron. Wei Xiu walked through the hallway and found an altar with her photo in it. At the very least, they still would pray for her. Later, a beautiful woman whose face resembled Wei Xiu entered the house with a 4 years old boy.

"Auntie, I'm home.",

The old aunt stopped what she's doing and headed to the entrance. The 4 years old boy ran towards the old aunt, and she picked him up.

"Look at you. Growing up everytime I see you, haha…",

"Auntie, can you play with Xiao Pei for a while?", the woman said.

The old aunt nodded her head and said, "It's a pity that Wei Xiu couldn't be with us. Even she didn't leave a generation to continue the bloodline.",

"Aunt, stop. Don't talk about it again, she's already dead.",

"Sheesh, you pamper her too much. Anyway, just go. Her altar is in that room.",

The woman walked towards the room at the corner, when she entered the room, she saw an incense and a picture of her beloved younger sister, Wei Xiu. The woman kneels before the altar and burns incense, then prays for her sister to have a good life after entering reincarnation. Wei Xiu saw the sincerity of her older sister, when she's still alive, her sister was the only one who has been good to her. When her aunt and uncle were being cynical to her, Wei Lingxian was the only one who treated her like how a family was supposed to be.

"Lingxian, come to the dining room. I have cooked your favorite spicy Tom Yam soup.",

Wei Lingxian paid respect to Wei Xiu's altar and went to the dining room. Wei Xiu looked at Wei Lingxian and her son, Hu Pei, in the dining room. The old auntie placed a pan of spicy Tom Yam soup in the middle of the table. Wei Xiu stood behind Wei Lingxian and whispered, "Happy birthday, ah-jie."

Wei Lingxian was taken aback and looked behind her. However, no one was there and Wei Xiu had already disappeared. Wei Lingxian shed tears on her face, the old aunt was confused and asked, "Lingxian, why are you crying?",

"...It's nothing.", I'm sorry Xiu'er… for being unable to protect you properly.

Wei Xiu stood in front of the house while leaning towards the gate. She wanted to cry but she couldn't, perhaps it's because spirits couldn't shed tears,

"I'm sorry for dying sooner… ah-jie.",

…

After finishing her business, Wei Xiu went back to school in the evening. She realized that there were only a few students left. Shen Xiaofan must have already left… she thought. In the end, Wei Xiu left the school and headed towards Shen Xiaofan's house. On the way, she found Shen Xiaofan walking alone and was about to greet her. However, Hou Yang suddenly ran past her and gave Shen Xiaofan a plushie.

"Xiaofan!",

Shen Xiaofan stopped walking and turned to Hou Yang. Suddenly, something soft and fluffy was pressed against her face, it was a white cat doll,

"You wanted this right? I was just bored, so I got it for you.",

"Thanks, Ah-Yang.",

"No, problem. Come on, I'll take you home.",

On the way, the two chatted happily about the past. Wei Xiu subconsciously hides her presence using her spiritual power and eavesdrops on them. With this, Wei Xiu found out that Shen Xiaofan was a miserable child, and often gets bullied by her classmates. Her only friends were Song Ehuang and Hou Yang. The two were actively protecting Shen Xiaofan from bullies and pranks. Wei Xiu couldn't imagine what Shen Xiaofan would become if it hadn't been for Song Ehuang and Hou Yang's protection.

When the two finally parted ways, Wei Xiu revealed herself by using her spiritual power.

"You kid.", she said.

Hou Yang who was about to enter his house turned his back and saw Wei Xiu. Hou Yang was surprised to see a beautiful girl with long white hair behind him.

"What do you know about a girl named Shen Xiaofan.",

At first, Hou Yang was nervous to talk to Wei Xiu. However, when she heard Wei Xiu mention Shen Xiaofan, he immediately became wary.

"Who are you?",

Wei Xiu smiled, she knew that Hou Yang was charmed by her, but once it involved Shen Xiaofan, he suddenly became suspicious. Truly a fine man…

"I'm Wei Xiu, her relatives. I care about her well-being more than her parents. But that kid is not used to be open, so I had to ask someone close to her.",

Hou Yang looked at Wei Xiu carefully, this woman is beautiful and wears a red fancy dress, she doesn't seem like a kidnapper or thief.

"Fine, I trust you. I'll tell you what I know about Shen Xiaofan. It will be long, are you going to visit my house?",

"Sure.",

Wei Xiu and Hou Yang entered the house, unlike Shen Xiaofan's mansion, Hou Yang's house is a commoner's house with 2 rooms and a single stair. Just like Shen Xiaofan, Hou Yang is an only child, his father worked as a salesman while his mother became a housewife.

"Mom, I'm home! And we have a guest!",

Hou Yang's mother immediately came to the entrance and saw Wei Xiu. She smiles happily and warmly welcomes Wei Xiu. Due to her spiritual power, no one knows that they're talking to a ghost. After sitting on the couch, Hou Yang began to tell Wei Xiu about Shen Xiaofan since they were little kids.

"Xiaofan is a quiet and smart girl. She had always liked being alone as if she was in her own world. Her presence as a silent girl made her become an easy target for bullying.", Hou Yang said.

Wei Xiu tilted her head and said, "You mean, she has been bullied since childhood?",

"Yes… at the kindergarten, she was the only child who was often getting pranked by others. Truth be told, at first, I didn't pay attention to her until the prank became too much.",

"What do you mean by too much?",

"A kid from the class purposely took Shen Xiaofan's textbook and tore it to the trash bin while Xiaofan was being held by another kid. Later, when the class was starting, the teacher asked why Xiaofan didn't bring the textbook. Xiaofan bravely told the teacher everything, and the kids who were bullying her got a punishment.",

"That's good.",

"Yes and no… when the class is over, the kids who were punished approached Shen Xiaofan with a scissor.",

Wei Xiu was surprised, "They wanted to harm her?!",

"Yes, they wanted to cut her hair, but Xiaofan was struggling too much and the scissor got into her neck. Seeing that Xiaofan was bleeding, the kids ran away. Luckily, I was there not far from them. I immediately helped her and offered to take her to the hospital. But there was something strange about her...",

"Strange? What do you mean?", Wei Xiu was confused.

Hou Yang drank a cup of tea before continuing, then he said, "Xiaofan was bleeding pretty badly since the cut was too deep. Her blood kept dripping from her nape, but… she didn't shed a single tear. I've never thought that a fragile girl like her could actually be so strong. Even when at the hospital, she remained calm and kept silent as if it was something trivial.",

"...Do you think it has anything to do with the way her parents raised her?",

Hou Yang propped his chin and nodded, "I don't know much about that, but I think the miss is right. I've visited her house several times, and her parents really emphasized her to be polite and formal. If I could describe Xiaofan's house, it's more like an office rather than home. Does the miss know that she had a piano lesson three times every week?",

"Yes, I know. Why? Did her parents force her to attend a piano lesson?",

"Yes. She did confess to me that she hates playing piano, because she wasn't into music. But her mother emphasized her to be a great pianist, she had no choice but to grant her mother's wishes. In my whole life, I've never seen her make her own choice or actually did something that she likes.",

Wei Xiu was taken aback, come to think of it, Shen Xiaofan was acting the same towards her. It was always her who pushed Shen Xiaofan to do this and that. Although Shen Xiaofan did all of it sincerely, however, Wei Xiu never asked if that's what Shen Xiaofan wanted. She had realized that she was actually no different than Shen Xiaofan's parents.

"Thank you for telling me this. Now, if you'll excuse me.",

"Hey, wait.", Hou Yang stood up and was about to stop Wei Xiu. However, his hand went past Wei Xiu's arm and she fled immediately.

Hou Yang was surprised and blinked twice, how could this happen?