After the Sickly Child Differentiates into A - Chapter 19

Perhaps it was that moment of surprise that caused the Omega, whose heat had just ended, to lose control of her pheromones, releasing a few faint traces.

The keen-nosed child instantly caught the scent of snow. Reacting strongly, she withdrew her intact finger from the puppy’s mouth, stood up, and turned around. When she saw Wen Jingzhi, the smile on her face visibly faded, reverting to her usual soft, squinting smile.

“Sister.” Why is Sister here?

Did she hear what I said just now?

Wen Jingzhi noticed the change in her smile and immediately dismissed her earlier doubt about whether she had misheard. She frowned slightly.

Looking at Lin Li’s smiling face now, Wen Jingzhi had never felt more clearly that this smile was “fake.”

Why?

Wen Jingzhi was rarely puzzled.

It had been almost a year since Lin Li came to the Wen family, and yet the smile she showed them every day was actually fake.

It was a disguise.

Why was there a need to pretend to be well-behaved?

Was she afraid of being kicked out if she didn’t obey?

That might have made sense at first, but now.

The atmosphere at home shouldn’t make a ten-year-old child feel constantly anxious about being thrown out.

“Sister?” Why hasn’t she said anything?

The questioning call brought Wen Jingzhi back to her senses. She collected her thoughts, exhaled almost imperceptibly, and stretched out her hand toward Lin Li from the entrance of the path. “Let’s go back.”

“Okay.” Lin Li no longer paid attention to the reluctant puppy behind her. She walked out of the path at a leisurely pace and took the offered hand.

The puppy didn’t bite Lin Li’s pant leg again but followed closely behind her.

Wen Jingzhi glanced at the puppy, then took Lin Li’s hand and headed toward the activity area. After a few steps, she asked, “Why were you there?”

She had been searching for a long time.

“I came to use the restroom and saw this puppy. I didn’t pay attention and ran in.” Lin Li offered an apologetic and ingratiating smile. “I’m sorry for making you worry, Sister.”

So she knew I would worry.

Wen Jingzhi lowered her gaze and said coolly, “Next time you need to leave, remember to tell me first.”

With her poor health, wandering off without a word, if something happened.

The thought sparked a flicker of anger in her. She frowned but, true to her nature, said nothing more.

“I understand, Sister.” Grandma had also said she should report when going out.

Lin Li’s steps were small and slow. Wen Jingzhi didn’t hurry her or pick her up, instead adjusting her pace to match.

They walked slowly, and the puppy ran a few steps before pausing occasionally, keeping up easily.

When they reached the center of the field, the puppy stumbled over something and bumped into Wen Jingzhi’s ankle. She paused slightly and looked down. “It really likes you.”

For some reason, Lin Li didn’t respond with her usual “fake” smile. Instead, she pressed her lips together and remained silent.

Wen Jingzhi couldn’t figure out the reason for her expression. She looked away and walked a little farther before asking casually, “Do you want to keep it?”

Here we go again.

This sister really liked asking questions sometimes.

Lin Li glanced at her sister several times, took a light breath, and finally answered, “No.”

She didn’t want to keep this puppy.

Huh?

Just moments ago, in the path, she had been laughing so unreservedly and happily, gently stroking the puppy.

And yet she didn’t want it.

Wen Jingzhi raised her right eyebrow in confusion. “Why?”

Lin Li stopped walking, lowered her head, and took another breath.

She really didn’t want to answer.

But this older sister had eased her pain several times before. Though reluctant, she understood the principle of “repaying kindness,” so she suppressed her rising impatience, lifted her face, narrowed her eyes, and masked her emotions with a smile: “I can’t raise it well, sister.”

I need someone to take care of me myself, how could I possibly raise a puppy?

I can’t even control my own body, can’t even take care of myself properly, how could I possibly care for this little life?

“You won’t raise it poorly.” Wen Jingzhi stopped walking, turned slightly, and looked down at that sickly smiling face. She half-lowered her gaze, concealing the scrutiny in her eyes, and said, “The people at home will help you.”

“As long as you want to, as long as you like it.”

For a moment, Lin Li felt tempted, but thinking of something, she shook her head again. “No,” she said, uttering a lie: “I don’t like it that much anyway.”

Little liar.

She clearly likes it.

Wen Jingzhi withdrew her gaze, turned around, and continued walking, leading the little liar by the hand.

Back in the activity area, Wen Jingzhi found a seat in the rest area and sat down with Lin Li. The puppy had followed them all the way, and a few children noticed it, pointing excitedly.

A teacher noticed and came over to ask about the situation. Upon hearing Wen Jingzhi say it wasn’t theirs, the teacher prepared to take the puppy away.

With so many children around, if someone got bitten, the teacher would have a hard time avoiding responsibility.

Hearing that the puppy was to be taken away, Lin Li, who had been bending over to pet it, withdrew her fingers. She didn’t stand up, nor did she try to stop it.

Wen Jingzhi noticed the reluctance in her petting motions and sighed inwardly, feeling helpless. She spoke up: “You can take it away when the activity ends. I’ll keep an eye on it.”

“Well!” Normally, the teacher wouldn’t dare agree to such a request, but this was the third young lady of the Wen family. After hesitating for a few seconds, she agreed: “Alright.”

The teacher had been gone for a while, but Lin Li remained in the same position, silent.

Such a quiet one.

“It must have sneaked in from outside the school,” Wen Jingzhi said, unable to bear the heavy atmosphere surrounding her. “If the teacher takes it away, it’ll likely be abandoned on the roadside.”

She clearly wants it, clearly likes it.

Why on earth won’t she agree to keep it?

Wen Jingzhi couldn’t understand.

The fingers stroking the puppy’s ears trembled noticeably.

Wen Jingzhi lightly averted her gaze and fell silent.

After a while, Lin Li still didn’t speak. Instead, she scooped up the puppy with both hands, intending to hold it in her arms. Wen Jingzhi noticed the puppy’s dirty fur and reached out to stop her: “Don’t hold it against you just yet.”

There could be bacteria getting infected and sick would be troublesome.

This little sickly one’s body was far too fragile.

“Wait here,” she said, leaving only after the child obediently set the puppy down.

Lin Li finally looked up, glanced at Wen Jingzhi’s retreating figure, then lowered her head again to look at the puppy wagging its tail and affectionately licking her fingers. A sorrowful expression crossed her face.

“I can’t keep you.”

“Go find someone else.”

The puppy didn’t understand and kept wagging its tail at her.

Lin Li rubbed its head, remained silent for a few seconds, and when she spoke again, her voice was weak. She said “I’m going to die soon.”

I’m going to die soon.

After I die, you’ll be homeless again.

Just like I was after Grandma died.

When you’re homeless, bad people will “eat” you.

Just like they did to me.

Perhaps because the emotions emanating from Lin Li were too heavy, the puppy stopped wagging its tail, sat down, and looked up at her intently.

“Use this.”

Wen Jingzhi returned with a clean towel and handed it to Lin Li.

Lin Li took the towel. “Thank you, sister.” She wrapped the puppy in the towel, wiped off the water on its fur, and cradled it in her arms.

The puppy resembled a towel roll, with only its tiny head peeking out. Lin Li rested her palm on its head, stroking it absentmindedly, but her eyes weren’t on the puppy. For the first time, she was earnestly gazing toward the activity area.

Wen Jingzhi sat back down beside her, pulled out her phone to reply to a few messages, and then put it away. When she turned to look at the girl next to her, her pupils trembled uncontrollably.

Why would a child watching the sports area wear such an expression?

Sorrowful and longing.

As if reminiscing about something, yet saddened by those memories. As if envying the peers laughing and running loudly on the track.

Envious, and yearning.

She was only ten years old.

What could a ten-year-old possibly be nostalgic for?

Her late grandmother?

The longer she observed, the more enigmatic the child seemed, and the more unanswered questions arose.

Wen Jingzhi closed her eyes briefly, then abruptly stood up. Without a word, she reached out, picked up Lin Li, and headed toward the registration area for the running event.

Why did she feel so heartbroken?

It was as if a hand had clenched her heart, making it hard to breathe.

“Sister?” Lin Li, still holding the puppy, looked puzzled. “Where are we going?”

Wen Jingzhi remained silent, her expression cold.

Turning her head and noticing the approaching registration desk, Lin Li widened her eyes. “Sister? Do you want to join the activity?”

“But I…”

“Mm.” Wen Jingzhi stopped at the registration table, set Lin Li down, and glanced at her with an unreadable expression. “I want to join.” She picked up the registration form with her left hand and slightly raised her right hand toward Lin Li. “Will you join me?”

Lin Li didn’t understand.

Her sister didn’t seem at all like someone who would want to participate in such an activity.

“Don’t want to?”

“I do.” For the first time, Lin Li showed a troubled expression. “But I’ll just hold you back.”

“It’s fine.” Wen Jingzhi didn’t reach for her hand but picked up a pen and wrote elegantly on the registration form.

Seeing that her sister had already signed up, Lin Li gave up on trying to dissuade her and reluctantly handed the puppy to a nearby teacher for safekeeping.

The teacher in charge of the event led the two to the starting line. Sun Xiaoxiao, who had been playing nearby, spotted them and ran over excitedly.

“Lin Li! Sister Jingzhi!” Sun Xiaoxiao stood outside the track, waving and smiling at them. “This is so much fun!”

“Good luck!”

Lin Li couldn’t see what was fun about it.

In this event, parents and children had to run together. There were colored blocks on the track that both had to step on to score points.

Though called a running race, it was more of a fun activity, the running pace couldn’t be very fast.

A new group was about to start. Wen Jingzhi led Lin Li to the starting line. She was dressed in a plain-colored shirt, tucked into casual trousers, with white sneakers on her feet hardly suitable attire for sports.

As the other participants gradually gathered, Wen Jingzhi leisurely unbuttoned her cuffs, rolled up her sleeves, revealing a slender, jade-white forearm. She glanced at the straight track ahead, quickly memorized the positions of the colored blocks, then turned her back to Lin Li and crouched down, hooking her hands behind her. “Come.”

Lin Li’s eyes widened in surprise. “Sister?”

What did this mean?

Was she going to carry her on her back?

Wen Jingzhi didn’t speak, just gestured impatiently with her hands. Hesitantly, Lin Li leaned onto her not-so-broad back and wrapped her arms around her slender neck.

“The next round of the race is about to begin parents and children, get ready.”

“You won’t hold me back.” Wen Jingzhi stood up with Lin Li on her back.

“What?” Lin Li’s soft murmur was nearly drowned out by the teacher’s announcement. She leaned closer to Wen Jingzhi and asked gently, “Sister, what did you just say?”

“Bang!”

Lin Li never got her sister’s reply.

The moment the starting signal sounded, Wen Jingzhi dashed forward.

Clutching onto her sister’s back, Lin Li’s body trembled with each stride. A cool breeze swept across her cheeks, roaring past her ears.

Slowly, she straightened up, her dark eyes gradually lighting up with a sparkle.

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