Yun Shifei turned her head to look at Mu Chengzhu.
"Why are you avoiding ?"
If she can’t provoke him, does that an she can’t avoid him either? Yun Shifei thought.
Still, on the surface, she said, "Because you don’t like ."
This reason was really well thought out.
She might not like him either.
Mu Chengzhu looked at Yun Shifei. The girl quietly stared back at him, her expression unmoved, her gaze unruffled.
She genuinely didn’t like him anymore.
Seeing that Mu Chengzhu also remained silent, just staring at her, Yun Shifei started to feel a tingling discomfort on her scalp. She ignored him and turned to go downstairs.
Mu Chengzhu stayed where he was, his expression complicated, lost in thought.
After a while, Yun Sisi and the others woke up too.
Yun Shifei had already wandered around downstairs.
She was holding a bunch of small pink flowers, given to her by the gardener lady.
No idea what kind of flowers they were, but they looked quite pretty.
Yun Shifei placed them in a vase in her room.
"Let’s take a walk in the garden," Xu Ya suggested.
There was a well-maintained garden nearby.
"I’ll take so nice photos for you all," Yun Tiancheng said, holding up a cara.
"Mom, Dad, Jia Yu’s family should join us too," Yun Sisi quickly added. She didn’t want the four of them to be alone together; the more people, the better.
Yun Tiancheng and Xu Ya paused for a mont. They hadn’t planned to invite the Mu Family on today’s outing.
But since Yun Sisi had already brought it up, they couldn’t say otherwise.
Soon, the Mu Family joined them, and they headed to the garden together.
The sumr resort was expansive, and occasionally, they passed other visitors on the way.
Their interaction transford quickly: the older generation chatted in the front, while the four younger ones trailed behind.
Yun Sisi chatted away with Mu Jiayu, their conversation lively.
Yun Shifei deliberately lagged a step behind, walking at the end.
She didn’t want to get involved in their topics.
Unexpectedly, Mu Chengzhu wandered up beside her.
Yun Shifei thought Mu Chengzhu’s behavior over the past two days was outright bizarre.
But Mu Chengzhu didn’t say anything to her, only walked quietly, which helped Yun Shifei relax.
Mu Chengzhu caught a glimpse of Yun Shifei out of the corner of his eye. He noticed that the current Yun Shifei seed especially fearful of him now.
It was as if she thought he might devour her.
No, thinking back carefully, it was unclear when Yun Shifei had started acting this way.
She was no longer the sa as before, when just seeing him would make her nervous to the point of being speechless.
Now, Yun Shifei would keep as much distance from him as possible whenever she could.
Can a person’s changes really happen so suddenly?
Mu Chengzhu pursed his lips, unable to suppress his doubts.
After a while, he asked, "Are you afraid of ?"
The mont he finished speaking, Yun Shifei stepped sideways, creating a couple of paces between them again.
Then, as if realizing her behavior might not be appropriate, she moved a little closer again.
"No, you’re fine." The girl kept her eyes forward, refusing to et his gaze.
Was this expression anything but fear?
"You don’t need to act like this. I don’t like you either," Mu Chengzhu said.
"That’s good, that’s good. Let’s just stay out of each other’s way then," Yun Shifei said, visibly relieved, finally daring to look directly at him.
Stay out of each other’s way? Easier said than done.
"Brother, why are you falling behind? Co chat with us!" Mu Jiayu suddenly turned around and noticed Mu Chengzhu talking to Yun Shifei. She was startled.
Mu Jiayu was well aware of how much Mu Chengzhu disliked Yun Shifei. She quickly urged him to walk to the front.
"You go talk to Sisi," Mu Chengzhu replied, showing no intention of moving forward.
Yun Sisi felt a pang of disappointnt.
She realized even Mu Chengzhu had changed.
In the past, Mu Chengzhu had been so fond of her. A re smile from her could leave him completely srized.
But ever since that incident at school, Mu Chengzhu seed to have beco indifferent to her.
Even now, Yun Sisi was sowhat baffled by everything that had happened back then.
But the matter was already settled; no matter how much she tried to explain, no one believed her—except for Mu Jiayu.
Mu Jiayu idolized her and naturally trusted what she said.
Thinking about this, Yun Sisi’s hatred for Yun Shifei deepened.
If Yun Shifei had never appeared, everyone would still adore her, and she wouldn’t be troubled by these issues every day.
She was supposed to be the little princess.
But now, everything had changed.
A few days later, Yun Tiancheng drove them back to the Xu Family.
In the car, he repeatedly reminded Yun Sisi and Yun Shifei, "Being at your grandparents’ place isn’t the sa as being at ho. Take care of your own things and behave, okay?"
"Shifei, don’t be too shy; your cousins are all very nice."
Yun Shifei responded obediently.
When they arrived at the Xu Family, the atmosphere was noticeably different from before.
As soon as they entered, they heard lively chatter.
So many people!
Yun Shifei hadn’t even figured out how to greet them when a hearty voice rang out, "Girl, you must be Shifei, right?"
Very quickly, Yun Shifei was surrounded by a group of relatives.
Xu Ya began introducing her, and she greeted each one.
So many nas—it left her feeling a little overwheld. She’d have to take ti to rember them properly.
"Alright, alright, everyone don’t crowd the girl now. It’s too warm outside; let’s go into the house and rest," Old Mrs. Xu said.
After speaking, she added to Yun Shifei, "Grandma bought lots of popsicles. Pick whichever you want."
She hadn’t forgotten that Yun Shifei shared her love for sweets.
But Old Sir Xu didn’t like her having them. Now that Yun Shifei was visiting, she had an excuse.
Old Sir Xu gave Old Mrs. Xu a helpless glance.
Old Mrs. Xu called out to Yun Sisi too. Although they’d initially gathered around Yun Shifei, once the introductions were over, they also turned to chat with Yun Sisi.
One cousin, Xu Yi, got along particularly well with Yun Sisi.
"Sisi, it’s been ages since we’ve seen each other. You’ve gotten even prettier," Xu Yi said enviously, gazing at Yun Sisi.
Although Yun Sisi was an adopted child, she was undeniably the most beautiful among them all.
Her fair skin, delicate features, and gentle deanor—she was captivating not just to the boys, but even to Xu Yi herself.
And it wasn’t just her looks; Yun Sisi excelled academically too.
No one could understand how her aunt and uncle had raised her so well.
"Sis, how’s that guy you ntioned dating?" Xu Yi had called her recently, saying she was seeing soone.
Xu Yi waved her hand dismissively. "Don’t even bring it up. My parents don’t approve of us being together, so I’m secretly dating him for now."
Xu Yi had enrolled in a vocational college and was in her second year. Her boyfriend, however, was a troublemaker. Although they were from the sa area, Xu Yi’s parents strongly disapproved, believing he had no future.
"Your aunt and uncle are just looking out for you."
Xu Yi sighed and shifted her gaze to Yun Shifei, then back to Yun Sisi. "What about you? How are you doing?"
Yun Sisi lowered her gaze, looking sorrowful. "Does it even matter? I’m just a foster child. I stole soone else’s life for over a decade, and it’s only fair if they want it back now."
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