The night was deep, and the villa was quiet.
In the third-floor living room, the lights were off, and i Xiang and ng Wanning sat opposite each other, both in pajamas, with a hint of fatigue and helplessness on their faces.
"Thank you for teaching how to swim this afternoon," ng Wanning broke the silence first. "If it weren’t for you, I might have just sat there all the ti."
i Xiang smiled faintly, but there was a touch of bitterness in her eyes. "Actually, I just wanted to find soone to talk to. Seeing you sitting there alone, I felt like you were like , out of place."
ng Wanning nodded, deeply understanding, "Yes, I seem to never fit into their world. This ti out, I’ve really learned a lot. Whether it’s Wen Shulin or Li Ya, theirs is a life of luxury, and they know and can do everything. And I..."
She paused, smiling self-mockingly, "I’m just a girl from an ordinary family, not rich or powerful, knowing nothing, unable to do anything."
i Xiang held ng Wanning’s hand, comforting her, "Don’t say that, Xiao Ning. You’re already very good. You’re kind, gentle, and hardworking. Unlike ..."
Her eyelids fell, her tone disheartened, "I seem to have truly lost everything."
ng Wanning grasped i Xiang’s hand back, "i Xiang, don’t think like that. Everyone has their strengths. You’re beautiful, lively, and clearly liked by everyone."
i Xiang looked up at her, "You know, Xiao Ning."
"Both of us lived in the courtyard house,"
She opened up, "Even though at that ti we lived under the sa roof with Brother Cheng and Sister Xiao Er, at least I could still fool myself into thinking that Sister Xiao Er and I were equals."
"But now..."
i Xiang looked toward the stairs leading to the fourth floor, "Now, they live upstairs, and these feelings... really hurt."
ng Wanning’s eyes also reddened; she shared the sa feeling.
Back in the courtyard house, although she and i Xiang lived under the sa roof, the yard was fortunately big enough.
But now, this sense of distance had been infinitely reduced, down to the distance of climbing a flight of stairs, making her clearly aware of the gap between herself and Xiao ier, which not even Chen Cheng’s "unique" could level out.
"i Xiang..." ng Wanning asked uncertainly, "What should we... do now?"
i Xiang shook her head as tears finally rolled down, "I don’t know... I don’t know what to do... I... I miss him..."
ng Wanning couldn’t help but cry too, and i Xiang leaned directly on her shoulder, covering her mouth, sobbing ceaselessly.
"You two..."
Chen Cheng whispered, intending to say more, but seeing the two like this, he understood the situation.
ng Wanning and i Xiang stopped crying, both looking up in surprise as they saw him.
Faces still wet with tears were filled with panic.
"What are you talking about?" Chen Cheng sat down between them.
In the lamp-free environnt, only the moonlight shone into the living room.
i Xiang hurriedly wiped her tears, turned her face away, and said in a low voice, "Nothing... we were just... chatting..."
ng Wanning also lowered her head, not daring to look at him, "I... we..."
She changed the topic, "Is Sister asleep?"
"After swimming in the afternoon and drinking in the evening, she fell asleep." Chen Cheng replied.
He glanced at the two girls at his side, "I know you’re feeling uneasy, so I ca down to check on you."
"No... it’s nothing..."
"Xiao Ning and I were just..."
Before they could finish, Chen Cheng opened his arms and embraced both of them.
ng Wanning and i Xiang stiffened simultaneously, feeling the warmth from Chen Cheng’s embrace, both of them a bit at a loss.
"I know what you’re thinking," Chen Cheng continued, "and I know the bitterness in your hearts."
"But there are so things beyond my control."
i Xiang and ng Wanning remained silent, tears once again blurring their eyes.
They understood that Chen Cheng was speaking the truth. In this mont, they were no longer love rivals, but sisters comforting each other.
"Sorry..." i Xiang choked up, "I... shouldn’t have caused you trouble..."
ng Wanning also spoke haltingly, "Sorry, I shouldn’t have thought so much."
Chen Cheng tightened his arms, holding them closer, "Why are you both apologizing to ?"
"I ca into your lives, brought you close to , and gave you this uncertain future."
"i Xiang, you left your hotown to co to this unfamiliar place just to get closer to , I know." Chen Cheng looked deeply at i Xiang.
He then turned to et ng Wanning’s eyes, "And Wan Wan, you went against your teacher, bearing so much pressure for . It’s who owes you."
i Xiang raised her head, her eyes swollen from crying, "Brother Cheng, we’ve never blad you. We just feel sad seeing Xiao Er with you..."
Wan Ning nodded along, "Yes, Grandpa, we know you care for us, but this complex feeling truly tortures us."
Chen Cheng took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "I understand your feelings, and I’ve been trying to keep a balance, not wanting any of you to get hurt."
"If you’re not happy, I can send you away from this villa, to Sanya, book a room for you." he said.
ng Wanning and i Xiang both shook their heads. i Xiang said, "Last ti, I left, but this ti, I won’t."
ng Wanning also nodded heavily, "If we just leave like this, you’ll have to lie to Sister again. I don’t like you doing that."
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