Aunt Wendy’s words made Leslie flinch. She unconsciously tensed up, wondering how should she greet Irene as soon as they t.
This would be the very first ti Leslie interacted with Charlene’s family mbers, the people who shared the sa blood as her.
Would she do a good job playing Charlene?
"Rember, don’t feel guilty."
At that particular mont, Charlene’s words[1] during their farewell echoed in Leslie’s mind. They brought along the peacefulness lying in the forr’s voice.
"Don’t feel guilty."
Leslie clenched her hands together, unaware of what she was doing. Her gaze was blank as if she was caught in a trance.
Noticing the change in Leslie’s expression, Calix silently gestured at Aunt Wendy to leave. He reached out for his wife’s right hand, gently patting the back of her palm.
"I’ll go and bring her in," Calix lowered his voice, trying to soothe Leslie’s nervousness, "Do you need ti for that?"
Calix’s warm touch woke Leslie up from her stupor. Colliding her eyes into his, she answered him with a shake of her head.
"I’m fine... just bring her in..."
Wouldn’t it be better if she faced this matter head-on instead of delaying it?
Calix simply thought Leslie was concerned about eting her younger sister after so long. Seeing that she was firm with her decision, he stopped from saying any words of worry.
"Okay. I’ll go now. Wait here."
Calix squeezed Leslie’s hand before rising to his feet, heading to the main entryway. Each of his footsteps reverberated in the hallway, they continued until he stepped out of the front door.
An unfamiliar navy blue car ca from the direction of the main gate. Pausing his steps, Calix waited for the car to pull up on the front porch.
Once the car stopped right opposite him, Calix saw the passenger door on the left side opening. Irene poked out her head before fully erging from the car. She didn’t wait for the driver to open the door for her.
"Brother-in-law, morning!"
The chirpy Irene appeared so excited, her eyes sparkling in delight. Waving one hand energetically at Calix, she closed the car door behind her.
The driver got out of the car. He bowed at Calix before telling Irene that he would return to get her later. She just needed to contact him.
"It’s fine. You don’t have to do that," Calix gestured at the driver with one hand, "I’ll send her back ho. Tell my parents-in-law that."
"Understand, Young Master Xu."
Once again the driver bowed at Calix and Irene before getting inside the car. The teenager ran to the young man, there were springs in her step.
"Brother-in-law, your house is good ah."
This was Irene’s first ti coming to Mapleview Hills. She knew that this gated neighborhood was among the wealthiest in the country.
Irene’s words spilled a chuckle from Calix’s mouth. Raising his brows, he pointed out, "Shouldn’t your new house look better than mine? Are you happy moving there?"
"Oh? Of course! There are no Grandmother and Second Uncle’s family. I feel freer to do whatever I want."
Irene’s straightforward answer enticed Calix to laugh more. Amused by her bluntness, he shook his head in helplessness.
"When I’m not busy, I’ll visit your new house. Co in," turning around, Calix gestured to the door with a tilt of his chin, "Didn’t you say you wanna et your sister? Before that, there’s a surprise waiting for you."
"A surprise?"
Intrigued by Calix’s words, Irene quickly followed the young man into the house. She changed from her outdoor shoes to indoor slippers at the entryway.
"Your sister’s bedroom is upstairs," said Calix while putting both hands into the pocket of his loose pants, "But, I’ll bring you to the lounge first."
Irene’s eyes expressed her questions but, Calix explained nothing further. He continued walking down the hallway, followed by the teenager who was brimming with curiosity.
Before they reached the lounge, Calix paused, turning to look at Irene. No words ca out of his mouth yet but, he stared at her as if she was a different species than him.
"...what? Is there sothing on my face?"
Irene frowned, wondering why her brother-in-law kept staring at her without saying a word. She had a hunch nothing good was going on in his mind.
"Hehe," chuckling with mischief glinting in his eyes, Calix grinned like a Cheshire cat, "I think you’ll cry out of joy soon. But, don’t cry buckets, okay? I don’t want my house to be flooded ah."
"...huh?"
Frowning, Irene wondered what made her brother-in-law say that. His look indicated that he would make fun of her soon. Was this related to the surprise?
Calix ignored the scowl on Irene’s face. He resud walking, leaving the teenager confused by his action before she continued following him.
Was what that?
Did her brother-in-law want to prank her or sothing?
Tsk, she would report him to her parents if he did that.
If this wasn’t her first ti coming here, she would straightaway head to her elder sister’s bedroom.
Irene’s mind brimd with more questions as she tailed Calix from behind. Soon, they entered the lounge.
Catching a glimpse of sothing—or soone—from the corner of her eyes, Irene shifted her gaze away from the back of Calix’s head. Her body froze out of surprise.
"B-big... Big Sister?"
Bewildered by who she was seeing, Irene’s eyes widened. She didn’t move even an inch from the spot where her feet were rooted.
"Irene... hello..."
Leslie slightly lifted her right hand, waving at Irene with a nervous smile plastered on her lips.
Irene blinked, unable to pull herself out of her astonishnt. Her mouth parted open yet, no words ca out of it.
Wait... were her eyes playing tricks on her?
Why did she see soone perfectly resembled her elder sister sitting on the couch?
"Hey, your jaw almost rolls to the floor. Pick it up," Calix casually nudged Irene’s upper arm with his elbow, "Are you that surprised? You’re not seeing a ghost ah. That’s your sister."
Irene blinked. Stiffly moving her neck, she stared at the smirking Calix. Her eyes were still expressing her puzzlent.
"Irene... it’s ... your sister..."
Leslie’s slightly hoarse voice traveled in the air, reaching Irene who couldn’t get out of her shock yet.
Chuckling, Calix pushed Irene from the back, bringing her closer to where Leslie was sitting. He felt how tensed the teenager was by this surprise.
Once Irene stood right opposite Leslie, she forced herself to speak, "Big Sister... is that... is that really you?"
Was she dreaming?
This... this dream felt too vivid not to be reality.
Why did her elder sister who should be in a coma... sit here as if she was waiting for her?
Leslie’s lips curled into a smile, staring at Irene with warmth flaring out to her entire body.
Her worries about replacing Charlene’s spot without anyone knowing dissipated by the ti she saw Irene. Her heart was stirred by sothing, perhaps the lingering emotions left by Charlene.
"Yes, it is ..." Leslie’s eyes glazed with tears, almost choking on her sob, "Irene... your sister... has returned..."
Leslie was not the teenager’s real sister but, she would shower Irene with the love Charlene left behind.
A drop of tears trickled down Irene’s face.
"Big Sister! Waaa!"
Irene jumped toward Leslie, shocking Calix. Blinking, he watched the teenager hugging her elder sister, tears and snot running down her face.
’Hurm... this is good.’
Amused by the heartwarming mont, Calix smiled in helplessness.
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Reference:
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