After the Sickly Child Differentiates into A - Chapter 3

“Lin Li.”

The icy voice startled Lin Li into looking up, freezing in place.

This older sister had a face that remained breathtaking no matter how many times you saw it.

What was her name? Wen Jingzhi?

Which characters for ‘Jing’ and ‘zhi’ exactly.

Wen Jingzhi approached, bending down to examine her face before frowning. “You’re running a fever.”

The flush on her sickly pale face stood out starkly.

“Did I… coughwake you?”

“It’s fine. cough! Just need water coughing fit and sleep. I’ll be fine.” As Lin Li lowered her hand, her collar slipped, revealing flecks of blood on the white fabric. Wen Jingzhi’s expression darkened. “You’re coughing up blood?”

“To the hospital.” Setting the cup on the sink, Wen Jingzhi lifted Lin Li with a stern face, her heart skipping a beat.

She was too light, the wool sweater Wen Jingzhi wore probably weighed more.

“No need! cough” Lin Li clutched Wen Jingzhi’s arm, trembling violently with each cough. “This is cough normal sleep will help.”

“Really, sister no need cough for hospital.”

Wen Jingzhi studied the frail girl in her arms silently before switching off the kitchen light and carrying her upstairs.

Strangely, she believed this child wasn’t lying.

Not out of politeness or fear of inconvenience she genuinely would recover with sleep.

Though the extent of that recovery remained to be seen.

It was too late to disturb Grandfather, and her eldest brother and second sister were likely asleep.

Yet leaving this sickly child alone in a room didn’t sit right with her.

Not for any particular reason just basic responsibility.

After all, she was technically part of the Wen family now.

Reaching the third floor, she glanced at the slightly ajar door nearby before pushing open her own bedroom door. “You’ll sleep with me tonight.”

Keeping her close felt safer.

Lin Li offered no further protest, muffling coughs into her hand as she was gently laid on the bed. Gazing up at that impossibly beautiful face, her bodily aches seemed to ease slightly.

Wen Jingzhi slid under the covers, immediately sensing the unfamiliar warmth beside her. The disruption to her usual solitude irritated her. After prolonged hesitation, she exhaled sharply and pulled Lin Li into her arms.

This way, she’d wake immediately if anything happened.

Lin Li had already succumbed to feverish unconsciousness, her burning body radiating abnormal warmth in the winter night. Wen Jingzhi frowned, exhaling another quiet sigh.

Dawn found Wen Jingzhi blinking awake, pale eyes heavy with exhaustion. As awareness returned, her movement caused something in her arms to tremble.

Looking down, she saw the frail girl curled against her, shivering slightly.

The sweater collar had slipped, revealing delicate blue veins standing out against the thin neck.

Those vessels seemed to pulse visibly beneath the skin.

“Sister, good morning.”

Wen Jingzhi’s contemplation of the veins was interrupted by the weak greeting. Dark eyes rimmed with feverish red gazed up at her steadily.

“Morning.” Her reply was cool as she checked the girl’s forehead, the fever had mostly subsided.

She lifted Lin Li from the bed, wrapping her in a blanket against the morning chill. Opening the door, she nearly collided with her hurrying eldest brother. “What’s wrong, Brother?”

Wen Xize’s footsteps halted when he saw the person in her arms. His anxious expression immediately softened as he let out a relieved sigh. “So Xiaoyou was in your room after all.”

When he went to check on Lin Li in the morning, neither the bed nor the living room had any trace of her. He’d nearly panicked enough to wake up their grandfather.

Wen Jingzhi glanced at the wall clock. “It’s only six.”

“She needs to take her medicine,” Wen Xize extended his arms, and Wen Jingzhi handed the child over. “She had a slight fever last night and even coughed up some blood.”

Wen Xize showed little reaction, merely nodding before carrying Lin Li downstairs. Resting on his shoulder, Lin Li blinked up at Wen Jingzhi with a sweet smile. “Thank you, sister.”

Her pale little face lit up with earnest warmth and obedience.

Wen Jingzhi’s brow twitched slightly. “Hmm.”

After an early meal of medicinal cuisine and a handful of pills, Lin Li sat wrapped in a blanket by the living room window, staring blankly at the thick snow outside.

This much snow would be perfect for a snowball fight.

Suddenly, Lin Li bit her lip, suppressing the urge to cough. Beneath her skin, blood vessels writhed and throbbed with pain.

Lifting her gaze, she stared absently at the falling snowflakes.

Would she even get the chance to have a snowball fight?

Her body was suddenly lifted into the air. Without resisting, she settled into the soft embrace of a woman, looking up with a gentle smile. “Sister Xihe.”

Wen Xihe’s heart melted at the child’s frail voice calling her ‘sister.’ She nuzzled Lin Li’s cheek affectionately. “So adorable. What are you looking at?”

“The snow.”

“This much would be perfect for a snowball fight,” Wen Xihe remarked, glancing outside. “When you’re better, I’ll build a snowman with you.”

Lin Li maintained her soft smile. “Okay, thank you, Sister Xihe.”

“Ah, you’re just too cute!” Wen Xihe nuzzled Lin Li’s cheek again, her heart turning to mush.

She’d always wanted a sweet little sister, but Wen Jingzhi had been cold and aloof since childhood too clever and mature for Wen Xihe to feel any sense of sisterly accomplishment. Before she knew it, her youngest sibling had grown into an even icier block.

Looking at Lin Li, she nodded to herself.

Having a sister like this wouldn’t be bad. Just one more mouth to feed Wen family assets could easily support Lin Li with just the scraps.

This child definitely wouldn’t turn out like her youngest sibling. Perfect. She would raise Lin Li into the sweetest, most adorable Omega, the kind who would call her ‘sister’ in that sugary voice!

When Wen Jingzhi came downstairs after a nap, Wen Xihe was holding Lin Li while teaching her characters. Noticing the obedient child in her second sister’s arms, Wen Jingzhi’s lips curled into a faint smirk.

Had she already ‘conquered’ her second sister?

“Xi… He. Look, this is how you write my name.”

Wen Jingzhi approached and glanced at the calligraphy sheets on the coffee table. The bold, sweeping strokes were unmistakably her second sister’s handwriting.

The paper displayed only a few characters, the names of their family members.

Xihe, Xize, Jingzhi.

Among them, ‘Xihe’ had been rewritten once more in shaky, childlike strokes not ugly, just painstakingly neat. Clearly, the child’s attempt.

“Awake?” Wen Xihe greeted Wen Jingzhi before resuming Lin Li’s writing lesson. Just then, Wen Chende descended the stairs and called from afar, “Xiaoyou.”

Lin Li glanced at Wen Xihe, who smiled and set her down. Taking a few steps forward, Lin Li’s body visibly trembled, her legs weakening as if she might collapse. Wen Jingzhi paused beside her, then reached out to grip the back collar of her sweater, steadying her with a detached expression: “Can’t even walk properly?”

How had she managed to walk to the kitchen last night?

Lin Li seemed to wear only one expression, no matter what happened, she’d squint her eyes and smile obediently: “I can walk, sister. Just a bit weak in the legs.”

“You shouldn’t just grab someone by the collar like that. Look at this sweater, it’s stretched out now,” Wen Xihe sighed, rubbing her forehead. “It was already too big. Now she really can’t wear it.”

Wen Jingzhi remained silent, her face impassive as she released her grip.

“Xiao You.” Wen Chende approached and lifted Lin Li into his arms. “Is the pain back?”

Lin Li shook her head. “No, I just sat too long. My legs went weak.”

Wen Chende studied her worriedly, carrying her to the sofa just as Wen Xize came downstairs. Calling everyone over, he said, “School starts after New Year’s. Xiao You should be in third grade. I plan to enroll her at Jingyi Primary. What do you all think?”

Wen Jingzhi eyed Lin Li’s pale, colorless face. “Is she physically fit for school?”

“She should recover significantly by then. The teachers can keep an eye on her,” Wen Xize agreed.

Jingyi Primary, short for Kyoto First Primary boasted elite faculty and students exclusively from wealthy or influential families. The Wens ranked among Kyoto’s top three families. Given how cliquish children could be, Lin Li entering as the Wen family’s youngest daughter should shield her from bullying.

“Jingyi Primary works,” Wen Xihe conceded, recognizing the same logic. With Lin Li’s frail health, an ordinary school would leave her vulnerable.

Wen Chende looked to Wen Jingzhi, who gave a slight nod. “Your decision.”

“Will the little one be added to our household registry?” Wen Xihe poked Lin Li’s cheek, earning a frail but sweet smile. With a quiet chuckle, she murmured, “No temper at all.”

“No.” Wen Chende adjusted his hold on Lin Li, picking up a calligraphy booklet from the table. “She’s Junyan’s child. No need for our registry or a name change.”

“But she’ll always be part of our family.”

The statement carried subtle warning. Wen Xize nodded with a smile, Wen Xihe stayed silent in tacit agreement, while Wen Jingzhi acknowledged with an indifferent hum, her gaze lingering on Lin Li’s ever-present smile.

After that day, Wen Xihe busied herself with company affairs, returning only on weekends. Wen Jingzhi left the estate a week after Lin Li’s arrival to film on location. Wen Xize had more leisure sometimes venturing out with his easel for inspiration, other times staying home with Lin Li.

The elder Wen hired tutors to teach Lin Li primary school subjects for three hours daily, Monday through Friday. He also summoned designers from “Child’s Delight” for custom fittings Wen Jingzhi’s childhood clothes still drowned Lin Li’s tiny frame.

Time flew. February arrived, the year’s end.

The cold persisted. On Lunar New Year’s Eve, heavy snow fell again.

After a grueling fortnight, Wen Jingzhi finally wrapped filming before the holiday.

She stood on set, clad in moonlit robes, her hair tied back, ethereal yet austere.

“Jingzhi, congratulations on wrapping up.” Chen Qing, dressed in costume and holding a bouquet of fiery red roses, approached Wen Jingzhi with a suggestive smile, offering her the flowers.

The dewy petals brushed against Wen Jingzhi’s slender swan-like neck.

She didn’t accept them. Instead, she lifted her gaze to the woman standing behind the camera, her expression dark, and pressed a finger against the wrapping, pushing the bouquet back into Chen Qing’s arms.

“Thanks, but no.”

At the director’s pointed cough, the onlookers swarmed forward to congratulate Wen Jingzhi, shoving Chen Qing aside. Unbothered, Chen Qing tucked the flowers behind her back, her eyes greedily fixed on the radiant woman at the center of the crowd.

The woman with the stormy expression stepped up behind Chen Qing and hissed, “She’s out of your league.”

“With your background, even being with me is a stretch. And you still aren’t satisfied?”

Chen Qing stiffened, shooting her a glare before warning in a low voice, “Don’t push it, Lin Ye!”

“You’re just obsessed with Wen Jingzhi’s face, aren’t you?”

“The untouchable ice queen, among all those who want to conquer her, you wouldn’t even make the waiting list.”

Lin Ye’s face melted into the shadows as she leaned in, whispering venomously into Chen Qing’s ear, “What does the daughter of a nouveau riche have to offer her?”

“Lin Ye!”

Wen Jingzhi suddenly glanced in their direction. After thanking the crowd, she turned and headed to the dressing room, quickly changing into casual clothes before leaving the set with her assistant.

Once in the car, she caught the lingering scent of roses on her neck and frowned in irritation.

Her delicate fingers tapped lightly against her thigh.

Chen Qing…

Just wait until the movie premieres.

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