Chapter 3: who are you?

Letting her mother prepare the breakfast, she finally had some time to think. Does she even have to join the Ning family again? No, she doesn't have to, nor does she want either. Though she can't link any of her misfortunes to them, she can't shake this gut feeling. Maybe she was sent 10 years ago to the same day she joined the Ning family so she won't repeat the same mistake… but, would she really be able to avoid that destiny if she stayed away from them?

She shook her head, though she was inclined to think that her misfortune has something to do with moving there, she doesn't even know why she was targeted. She didn't do anything particular to make such a strong enmity, nor did she have anything she knows of that arouses such greed. Whatever that reason was, it can still find itself at her doorsteps without her knowing like the past. She needs to enter the tiger's den, and dig out the truth.

Making up her mind, Lanru was sad looking at her mother, she had to leave her again. She couldn't stop herself from finding her way to her mother's back, she hugged her again. Mayin wasn't surprised this time, she was aware of her. She continued working with her daughter stuck to her like a baby, she was amused, "silly girl, what is all this about, are you feeling guilty to leave your mother."

"Mom, it's just this sudden development made me realize how much I love you."

Mayin's hands froze for a few moments before they resumed their work, "My dear child, don't think too much, there nothing that would make me happier than to see you having a better life, I feel guilty that I let you suffer with me all this time, maybe I should have sent you earlier."

Lanru, wished she could tell her mother, had it not been to investigate who set them up, she would never leave again. How she wished to help her mother right now, how she wished she could share her burden, it was a joy in and of itself just thinking about it. She wouldn't understand her, though, it would just worry her mother.

"Don't worry mom, I will came back after high school, and maybe even sooner, I will visit often, that you would get tired of me," Lanru's hand tightened a bit.

Mayin chuckled tearfully, "I'm already satisfied that you think of me this way, I really thought that you hated this useless mother of yours."

Lanru's hands tightened even more, "Mom, please, don't say such things again, I'm really regretting that I gave you a hard time. Having you is the best thing that would ever happen in my life," she won't hold back, she would tell her how she feels about her, it was the least she can do right now. If she could ease her heart by just a bit, it was all worth it, the awkwardness.

Mayin teared again, her eyes a mix of sorrow and happiness "Do you know... today is the happiest day of my life."

"Me as well, mom," happiness was an insufficient for what this day meant for her.

Mayin wiped her tears with her wrist, her daughter was set on torturing her today, but she liked it. She started to have second thoughts on sending her to her father, she shook her head soon, clearing her selfish thoughts, "Are you that happy to leave your mother, you almost deceived me."

Lanru chuckled, "Busted," she grinned, "like mother like daughter, you're also happy to get ride of me, huh."

Mayin rolled her eyes at Lanru, before she could say anything, Lanru putting her cheek on her mother's back, "I'm really happy that I found the courage to reconcile with you, mom."

"You're right, I'm glad that you're gonna leave, if you keep at me with your sweet talk, you're gonna give me diabetes, I never knew you had it in you silly girl."

"Don't worry mom, I will take care of the medication," she wore a warm smile, and buried her face on her mother's back, "I love you, mom." Lanru's heart felt at peace, she showed Mayin she loved her many times today, but it was the first time she said it directly, it was as if a huge weight lifted off her chest.

"This girl…" Mayin couldn't take it anymore; she let go of whatever she was doing, turned to her daughter, and hugged her again, "I love you too, my dear."

With a look of horror on his face, a 12 years old chubby boy stood in front of a room's door for a while before he couldn't take it anymore, "am I dreaming," his big eyes wide open moving between them, he slapped his face hard, it's painful, but he could still see them hugging each other. His eyes fluttered suddenly, his eyes lost in his thoughts, before he rushed to the windows and looked out. He let a deep breath out and put his hand on his chest, "goodness gracious, I thought it was the end of the world, just what is happening."

A sandal came flying but the boy avoided it skillfully to the side as it wasn't going for the kill. "Stinky boy, where did you learn to be so dramatic, you just have to ruin our moment," Mayin stomped toward him, while her brother, Bolin, went behind the door leaving only his head sticking out, "Yeah, that's definitely my mom. Identity confirmed, you can go… ouch ch ch ch"

Lanru couldn't help but chuckle and shook her head, looking at her Mother bringing her brother out by his ear. This could have been her past life if only she was a bit mature, alas, she was young and insensitive. In fact, her mother tried many times to be intimate from time to time, but all Lanru thought about was the empty side of the cup, she was always temperamental or cold until her mother lost hope in making their relationship better.

"Careful, mom, the food…" Lanru winked at her brother, while Mayin rushed back to the kitchen, "so that was your aim, huh, you keep sweet talking me to waste food, huh."

"Busted," they laughed together. While the boy kept shaking his head with horror. These two people weren't his family, they were either possessed, or he was crazy. Especially this one, she definitely wasn't his sister, "Get out devil, in the name of the father, and the spirits," he moved his hand like throwing salt at her, and doing other weird gestures.

Looking at her brother still in denial, she couldn't help but break into laughter. It's not like she doesn't understand him, in fact, it makes it even funnier, it was for him like passing by a feral cat and rat harmoniously relaxing together under the sun, or something.

Lanru stood up and went toward Bolin, he crossed his hand in front of him, his sister often smacked him whenever he provoked her, but what welcomed him was a hug. Like his mother his hands froze awkwardly like a kitty carried by it's mother, and his eyes bulged. Lanru on the other hand fought the tears and the memories of her brother's dead body, they tried to resurface in her mind, she said, "little brother, I'm sorry, I was nasty, wasn't I," she didn't treat this brother of hers nicely, their life got harder after he was born especially after her step father left, she had to shoulder a bit of responsibility in rising him, it wasn't a pleasant burden for a child. Beside her mother, she blamed him for their hardship, and she always associated him her scumbag of a stepfather.

Bolin gave her a sidelong glance, "So, you do know," she gave him a glance of her own, to which he looked at the roof. She smacked him gently, "no more, I would take care of you from now on," unlike his mother he didn't break into tears, instead after struggling for a bit, he hugged her back with a wide smile, his chubby cheeks blushing. This was the first time he felt the warmth of his sister, but suddenly his smile wiped out, he grumbled in a low voice, his face turned away "you're just saying this because you're leaving."

A short laugh escaped her mouth. She released him and caught his shoulders instead, "how about this, in a month at most, I will buy you a good smartphone," she grinned at him.

"Really," both his eyes and mouth widened.

"Lanru, don't burden yourself, I will take care of your brother, just make sure you take care of yourself there." Bolin shot his mother a resentful glance, but he soon looked down when she rebuked him with a glare of her own. He could only look stealthy at Lanru.

Mayin looked at Lanru as well, with worry. It Looks like her daughter has high expectations for her father, she wasn't as optimistic as her, though. After all, she was going to her stepmom's house. It would be good enough if they didn't trouble her, let alone spoil her. Her daughter would be ashamed if she couldn't keep her promise. She didn't want anything to make her burdened, and avoid visiting them, but her daughter was just so sweet right now. She didn't want anything that might change it, and she didn't want to hurt her daughter's pride. She thought of another excuse, "Besides, those smartphones are no good, all kids do nowadays is tilting their heads on them like the street lamps, it would just affect his studies."

Lanru laughed inwardly, she could guess her mothers thoughts from the worried look on her face. She faced her brother, "how about this, brother, I will buy you a smartphone but you have to study well, if you score low on your tests, you would have to hand it back until you score well again."

Without hesitation Bolin said, "deal."

She grinned at him, "great," she looked at her mother, "don't look down on smartphones, mom, it all depend how you use it. There's a lot of fantastic apps that can help his studies instead. I will take care of my brother from now on, please trust and let me help you this way."

"Still…"

"Mom, don't worry, I know what you're worried about, my stepmom and father's family," Mayin hurried and caught her hand, "if they treat you badly, come back at once. Don't take it laying low. I will work even harder to make it up for you," she caressed Lanru's hair, her eyes fixed on her.

"Don't worry mom, I'm your daughter, I want let anyone bully me."

"Ok, just don't force yourself," Mayin caressed her before she went back to the kitchen, not long after they set the table together. Lanru pulled her chair next to her mother, and leaned her head on her mother's shoulder.

They ate their breakfast cheerfully under Bolin scrutiny, 'this is not my family, this got to be the matrix.'