After the Sickly Child Differentiates into A - Chapter 38

It was the third month since Lin Li had been transferred to the general ward. Her condition had improved significantly, she no longer needed a wheelchair, and her eyes were recovering well. Su Yue decided it was time for the second restorative surgery on her left eye.

The surgery went smoothly, and after another week of observation, Lin Li met the criteria for discharge.

The entire Wen family came to pick up the young girl from the hospital.

After completing the discharge procedures, they carried the silent child into the car, but the destination was not the old family estate.

After Lin Li was moved to the general ward, Wen Xize and Wen Xihe, the siblings, had personally scouted properties near Jing Yi High School.

After all, Lin Li was not related to them by blood. As a future Omega, it would be inappropriate for her to continue living in the old estate with a group of Alphas.

In the end, the youngest member of the Wen family made the decision and purchased two large four-bedroom apartments on the top two floors of the Eryue residential complex.

Located in the prime, high-priced central district of the capital, the complex boasted excellent security and a pleasant environment, inhabited mostly by wealthy families or celebrities.

It wasn’t too far from the school either, a 40-minute drive without traffic, and even with congestion, it would take no more than an hour.

The car drove into the complex’s garage, and Wen Jingzhi carried Lin Li as the family made their way to the 42nd floor.

Each floor had only one unit. Stepping out of the elevator, they were greeted by an entryway, and beyond that lay the interior of the home.

The living room was spacious, with large floor-to-ceiling windows and soft carpets. To the left was an open bar counter, and the furniture was complete, with every corner cushioned with anti-collision foam.

Old Master Wen took a look around and nodded slightly in approval.

Wen Jingzhi placed the young girl on the sofa and exchanged a glance with Wen Xihe. The latter pursed her lips, somewhat reluctantly, and spoke up, “Let’s leave it at that for today. Let Xiao You familiarize herself and settle in.”

The old master and Wen Xize agreed. Wen Jingzhi escorted them to the elevator, swiped the card to select the floor, and stepped back out.

She still had a secondary access card. The old master and the others hadn’t asked for it, and she had no intention of giving it to them after all, this was the residence of two Omegas.

Turning back into the apartment, Wen Jingzhi stood at the boundary between the entryway and the living room, silently gazing toward the sofa.

The midday sunlight streamed through the large windows, scattering specks of light over the small figure sitting motionless on the sofa. Yet, it failed to dispel the thick gloom that enveloped her.

Wen Jingzhi watched for a moment, then stepped forward.

Her gaze fell on the soft hair.

It had grown quite a bit, now reaching the shoulders. She could ask the child if she liked long hair. If not, it would be time for a trim.

Her eyes drifted to the bandaged eye.

The hollow right eye socket flashed in her mind.

Better not tell the child just yet.

She stopped beside the sofa, her gaze finally settling on Lin Li’s tightly pressed, pale lips.

What was she thinking?

So tormented and pained.

“Are you hungry?” Wen Jingzhi spoke first, letting Lin Li know she was there before sitting down beside her. She pulled the girl into her arms and gently stroked the back of her head. “What would you like to eat?”

Even though Wen Jingzhi had given a warning, Lin Li still flinched uncontrollably when touched.

Her inability to see left her in a constant state of panic and fear.

She didn’t know if she would ever recover, nor did she know if the reassurances from her sister and the others were merely meant to comfort her. In this inescapable darkness, she felt herself sinking bit by bit.

More and more often, she began to regret.

Regretting that she hadn’t left with her grandmother.*

Still not speaking.

A sigh flickered in Wen Jingzhi’s eyes. “Why won’t you say anything?”

“I’m not hungry.” Lin Li, feeling insecure, gripped Wen Jingzhi’s arm and shook her head lightly. “I don’t want to eat.”

“You can’t skip meals.”

I just don’t want to eat! I can’t eat at all! I’d rather starve to death!

What’s the point of living like this?

She couldn’t do anything, she was nothing but a burden!

In a few years, she would die anyway, so why not just end it now.

“How about a piece of candy first?” Wen Jingzhi bent down and took a fruit candy from the box under the coffee table. After hesitating for a moment, she decided not to unwrap it and placed it directly into Lin Li’s palm.

The thin, frail fingers suddenly clenched tightly, crumpling the candy wrapper with a rustling sound.

“Don’t squeeze it so hard.” Wen Jingzhi stood up and placed Lin Li on the carpet. “I’m going to make dinner.”

She hadn’t found a suitable nanny yet, so for now, she planned to cook herself. If she still hadn’t found one by next year, she would transfer Aunt Li from the old house.

Wen Jingzhi let go and walked toward the kitchen. When she reached the doorway, she turned back to look, her gaze trembling fiercely.

The sickly girl, so thin she was practically skin and bones, stood in the bright living room, her feet on the soft carpet, yet her back was rigidly straight, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She looked so fragile, lost, and helpless.

As if abandoned by the entire world.

Her red lips parted slightly, then pressed tightly together.

Wen Jingzhi closed her eyes for a moment, saying nothing, and simply stood at the kitchen door, watching her.

After what felt like an eternity, the frail child tilted her head slightly, as if wondering why there was no sound of her sister cooking.

Wen Jingzhi pinched the bridge of her nose, the ache and sting in her heart threatening to overwhelm her.

With a silent sigh, she turned and entered the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, selected some ingredients that Lin Li could eat, and began preparing the meal.

Hearing the sounds, Lin Li suddenly trembled, her lips pressed into a straight line.

Her sister hadn’t been cooking earlier.

So what had she been doing?

Watching me?

Why was she watching me?

Worried that I might bump into something and fall because I can’t see?

So, if I never get better, I’ll always be watched, always be a source of worry, always wasting my sister’s time and making them sad?

Then why did I choose to survive?

While Wen Jingzhi was cooking, Lin Li didn’t move an inch since moving around would only worry her sister, she decided not to move at all.

Half an hour later, Wen Jingzhi came out with a bowl of porridge containing minced meat and vegetables. Seeing Lin Li still in the same spot, she felt a pang of genuine sorrow.

“Lin Li.” She spoke first, then scooped the girl into her arms with one arm.

Carrying her to the dining table, she set her down on a chair, placed the porridge in front of her, and pulled out the adjacent chair to sit. Looking at the silent child, she suppressed the lump in her throat and said calmly, “Do you want to eat by yourself?”

If she tried to eat on her own, she’d probably make a mess everywhere.

Lin Li suddenly curved her lips into a smile. “No, sister, you feed me.”

Wen Jingzhi closed her eyes, her chest heaving heavily twice, then lifted her eyelids and picked up the bowl.

She didn’t want a young child to constantly worry about being a burden to her family, suppressing herself out of fear.

Afraid to move, afraid to eat on her own.

She shouldn’t be like this.

It seemed she would have to push this child a little harder.

After the meal, Wen Jingzhi brought over medicine and fed it to her. Once everything was done, she carried Lin Li to the sofa before returning to the kitchen to bring out her own meal to eat.

After finishing lunch and cleaning the kitchen, Wen Jingzhi sat down beside Lin Li, took out her phone to send a message to her assistant, then went to the study to fetch a book. She settled next to Lin Li and silently flipped through the pages.

Lin Li listened to the rustling of the pages, her hands on her lap clenching tightly.

Can’t she leave for a while?

Can’t she just ignore her?

Two hours later, Wen Jingzhi received a call from the security booth and provided them with a random passcode.

Soon, the assistant arrived, breaking the silence in the room.

“Ms. Wen, should I take the gowns and such upstairs?”

Wen Jingzhi nodded. “Yes, put the work-related items upstairs and the everyday ones over here.”

All the daily necessities, gowns, and jewelry from the downtown residence had been packed and brought over.

The assistant nodded and went back downstairs, guiding the movers to carry the items upstairs and arrange them properly.

By the time everything was done, another three hours had passed. She then dragged two large suitcases downstairs and placed them in the walk-in closet.

Organizing everything took another hour.

When she emerged, the assistant let out a sigh. Wen Jingzhi handed her a glass of warm water.

“Thank you, Ms. Wen.” The assistant gulped down half the glass, then cautiously glanced at the child on the sofa, who was as still as a statue. Noticing the gauze over her eyes, she frowned sympathetically.

Remembering the matter at hand, she turned her attention back to Wen Jingzhi and suggested, “Ms. Wen, would you consider doing a live stream?”

“It’s been several months since the awards ceremony incident, and you haven’t given any explanation. With your recent activities canceled, your fans haven’t seen you and are worried something might have happened to you.”

“Although the public opinion has been managed, they keep asking under the studio’s posts. Lately, they’ve grown anxious and are even talking about organizing a visit to the company.”

Wen Jingzhi glanced at Lin Li, her expression unchanged. “Wasn’t an announcement made?”

“Yes, and we explained that you’re fine, but they don’t believe it.”

“Mm.” Wen Jingzhi pressed her lips together. “I don’t have time lately.”

She kept her eyes on Lin Li, clearly noticing the slight tension that stiffened the child’s frail frame after she spoke.

She had said it deliberately for the child to hear.

In truth, she could go live anytime; even if Lin Li accidentally appeared in the frame, it wouldn’t matter anymore.

Although Old Master Wen hadn’t explicitly said it, he seemed to imply, “Since the other party already knows, there’s no need to hide it.”

She simply thought that since the child tended to overthink and put pressure on herself, she might as well add fuel to the fire until the pressure reached its peak.

No destruction, no construction.

The assistant noticed Wen Jingzhi’s gaze and understood. She didn’t bring it up again, finished her water, washed the glass, put it away, and then took her leave.

Dinner ended once again in a silence so heavy it felt suffocating.

When they returned to the sofa, Lin Li suddenly spoke up, asking, “If I never regain my sight, will you never be able to go back to work?”

How should she answer?

Wen Jingzhi was actually a bit worried about not handling the situation well, but the child’s lifeless appearance pained her deeply.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she decided to keep up the pressure and replied, “Yes.”

Lin Li fell silent.

That night, Wen Jingzhi waited outside the bathroom, listening to the slightly clumsy sounds from within, and closed her eyes.

Once the child had finished, she carried her to the large bed in the guest room, tucked her in, and left without a word.

As the night deepened, Wen Jingzhi remained unable to sleep. Standing by the bedroom window, her thoughts were in disarray.

Thud!

The muffled sound of something hitting the carpet drifted into the bedroom.

Wen Jingzhi furrowed her brow slightly, a thought crossing her mind. She moved quietly, pressed down the door handle without making a sound, and opened the door.

By the moonlight streaming through the window, she saw a small, frail figure collapsed on the carpet near the coffee table.

The fragile little one was slowly pushing herself up from the floor.

Her slender arms stretched out, fumbling helplessly and confusedly around her, her back trembling uncontrollably.

She bumped into the leg of the sofa again, fell, got up, and then stood still with her arms hanging limply.

“Sigh.”

A low, hoarse, yet childish sigh echoed in the darkness, striking Wen Jingzhi’s heart like a heavy hammer, instantly reddening the corners of her eyes.

Support