nucmednet Chapter 138 Rift
Chapter 138 Rift
Chapter 138 Rift
Time passed by like this.
Shen Zixin, Lu Yue, and Su Qingyuan gradually became a "three-person group".
They usually hang out in groups of three. It's normal for children to form small groups like this. It's just that their trio is particularly eye-catching.
"Shen Zixin and Sister Lu Yue seem to be quite close. It looks like they have a really good relationship."
"Ahhh, there was only one boy, and Lu Yue snatched him away."
"Isn't it normal for them to be close to Sister Lu Yue? It's more like that gloomy woman next to them is the one who seems out of place."
Occasionally, such gossip would reach Su Qingyuan's ears.
Su Qingyuan, who was already used to other people's malice, originally didn't take it to heart.
However, she also discovered an intimate relationship between Lu Yue and Shen Zixin that she could not enter into. That closeness even surpassed the feelings Su Qingyuan had when she was with either of them.
Of course she was happy for them. The two most important people in her life having such a deep bond should be the most beautiful thing in the world.
However, whenever Su Qingyuan saw Lu Yue affectionately holding her younger brother Zixin in her arms, and the two of them getting along so warmly, she would offer her sincerest blessings to this scene in her heart.
But after the blessings, what welled up in my heart was an indescribable sense of loss and loneliness.
She felt that her existence was irrelevant.
She began subconsciously seeking opportunities to be alone with her younger brother, Zixin, wanting to relive that afternoon when it was just the two of them. However, most of the time, it would turn into a trio where Lu Yue was also present.
What terrified her even more was that it seemed like her younger brother no longer needed her.
Ah, thinking about it, that makes sense. Ever since Lu Yue joined us, my younger brother Zixin has rarely asked me to read stories anymore; Lu Yue usually does it for him. And whenever he encounters any other difficulties, the first thing he thinks of is to seek help from Lu Yue.
Even if the two of them meant no harm, a rift had unknowingly formed in Su Qingyuan's heart.
—It didn't fully erupt until that day.
One afternoon, a child suddenly and without warning experienced a "mental outburst." Normally, a "mental outburst" only occurs during experiments when someone transforms into a magical girl. However, it also has an extremely low probability of happening in a human body.
In an instant, a violent storm arose, turning the entire lounge into a chaotic mess. Tables, chairs, benches—everything was swept into the air and flung around.
The moment the storm hit, Lu Yue almost instinctively pulled the still-dazed Shen Zixin into her arms, then turned her back to the storm, shielding him beneath her.
The raging storm blinded everyone. In the chaos, a chair that had been flipped into the air struck Lu Yue squarely on the back. "Ugh—!"
She groaned softly, but still held her younger brother tightly in her arms, bearing the entire burden on her back.
The storm came quickly and went quickly.
When everything returned to calm, the lounge was a mess. The child who had triggered the rampage was already unconscious, and the other children had also been affected, suffering numerous injuries. However, Shen Zixin was unharmed under Lu Yue's protection.
The chaos was only barely quelled after the adults in the laboratory arrived.
?
That evening, Lu Yue returned to her room.
The injury doesn't seem serious, but he still needs to rest for a few days.
Lu Yue lay on the bed, looking at Shen Zixin sitting beside her with red, swollen eyes from crying, and gave her her usual gentle smile—
"—You've been crying all afternoon. I just got hit by a chair, it's not that serious." Lu Yue reached out and gently ruffled his hair.
"But—but sister, you got hurt protecting me—" Shen Zixin raised his head, his face filled with guilt and self-blame. "If it weren't for me—sister, you wouldn't have—"
"Pfft—" Lu Yue couldn't help but laugh.
Shen Zixin was stunned when she saw her sister's appearance.
"What are you saying, little brother Zixin? We're family, right? Isn't it normal for me, as your older sister, to protect you, your younger brother?"
"Hmm—" Shen Zixin wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, and said defiantly, "But I've also read in books that boys should protect girls!"
"Oh? Well then, I'm really looking forward to when my little brother Zixin grows up and can protect me!" Lu Yue slowly extended her little finger. "Pinky promise! We made a deal!"
"Um!"
Shen Zixin nodded heavily, then extended her little finger and hooked it tightly with hers.
"As a family—even after we leave this lab, can we continue to be siblings and live together?"
"Okay—it's a deal."
Outside the door, Su Qingyuan stood quietly.
She also came to visit Lu Yue.
However, when she reached the door and heard the conversation coming from inside, she froze, unable to move.
At that moment, she felt as if she had become an unwanted person.
?
Although they considered themselves family, the two were bound together by a stronger bond called "siblings." There was absolutely no room for her to interfere.
Su Qingyuan could actually have done that.
She also regarded Shen Zixin as a younger brother, and Shen Zixin's dependence on her made her very happy.
However, she was never able to take that step, and in the end, Shen Zixin only regarded her as an ordinary family member.
Why did it turn out this way?
No one stipulated that Shen Zixin could only have one older sister, right? You brought this upon yourself by being complacent and letting Lu Yue surpass you.
Can you blame anyone else? If you want to change this, join them!
An encouraging voice echoed in my mind.
Su Qingyuan shook her head.
Even if I were to shamelessly force my way in now, it wouldn't compare to their current relationship, would it? Ultimately, Lu Yue is a popular and universally admired woman, while Zi Xin's younger brother is the center of everyone's attention—
And I am nothing.
I was here first!
But now—Shen Zixin's younger brother no longer relies on her, and even the sister he wants to protect has become someone else.
In an instant, I felt like I had lost all meaning in my existence.
—But—Isn't it already a blessing in my life that someone treats me like family? Why should I ask others to be any better to me?
Yes, that's it.
As long as they still consider me family, what's wrong with me silently blessing them from the sidelines?
Tears of regret flowed uncontrollably.
Su Qingyuan leaned against the wall, covered her mouth, and tried her best not to cry.