After the Sickly Child Differentiates into A - Chapter 4

The van reached the end of the street, and the door opened. A tall woman in sunglasses stepped out, crossed the road, and opened the door of a black sedan before sliding into the back seat.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Third Miss.”

The car started, and the assistant glanced around, confirming no paparazzi were in sight before driving the van away.

The tires crunched over the snow as the phone in her pocket vibrated a few times. Wen Jingzhi took it out, opened Feishu, and scrolled through the family group chat, which already had 99+ unread messages.

[Glamorous Second Sister: I’m almost home! This year, I’m definitely not the last one!]

[Wen Xize: You changed your nickname again.]

[Glamorous Second Sister: What? Are you saying your little sister isn’t glamorous? Isn’t stunning?]

[Wen Xize: Fine, you’re glamorous. And stunning.]

[Glamorous Second Sister: That’s more like it. How’s Xiao You doing at home? Did she have a fever today?]

[Wen Xize: Low-grade fever all day, but nothing serious.]

[Glamorous Second Sister: My poor baby! She couldn’t even eat cake on her birthday last time. Does she like the plushie I sent? Has she been sleeping with it?]

[Wen Xize: Probably not.]

Her finger paused as she scrolled past these messages. Wen Jingzhi stared at the word “birthday” and finally remembered.

January 1st was Lin Li’s birthday. That day, she had been swamped with heavy filming and had completely forgotten about it after taking Wen Xihe’s call.

She hadn’t given the kid a gift or even a birthday wish.

Wen Jingzhi didn’t feel particularly guilty, the thought passed through her mind before being tucked away. Her expression remained indifferent as she continued scrolling.

[Glamorous Second Sister: Fine, no more plushies next year. Oh, I bought some mangoes, isn’t our youngest obsessed with them? Since she’s wrapped up filming and has a month off, she can indulge a little, right? @IceIceIceCube]

[Wen Xize: When did you change her ID to that? She’s going to be pissed.]

[Glamorous Second Sister: @WenFamily’sPrettiestYoungest, happy now?!]

[Wen Xize: Do what you want. It’s not me she’ll yell at.]

[Glamorous Second Sister: Ugh! Can Xiao You eat fruit now? I only ordered a box of mangoes Auntie Zhou probably got other fruits.]

[Wen Xize: Small amounts are fine.]

[Glamorous Second Sister: After New Year’s, before school starts, I’ll take Xiao You to the company for fun. She’s always cooped up at home, how boring is that?]

[Wen Xize: Isn’t the company even more boring?]

[Glamorous Second Sister: Shut up!]

Wen Xize’s nickname was swiftly changed to “Terminal Straight Alpha Cancer.”

Wen Jingzhi scrolled through the chat, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. She glanced out the window before typing.

[WenFamily’sPrettiestYoungest: I’ll be home in ten minutes.]

[Glamorous Second Sister: !! No way! How are you back from set so fast?! What time did you wrap?!]

[WenFamily’sPrettiestYoungest: 4 PM.]

[Glamorous Second Sister: I should’ve taken my sports car!!!]

[Terminal Straight Alpha Cancer: Congrats, you’re officially on door couplets and fireworks duty this year.]

[Glamorous Second Sister: I REFUSE!!!]

Wen Xihe urged Uncle Liu to speed up, then sprinted in her heels the moment the car stopped. By the time she burst through the door, Wen Jingzhi was already handing her coat to the butler.

“Just a few seconds too late!” she wailed.

Wen Jingzhi raised a brow, giving her a look that said, “Not my problem,” and turned to head upstairs to change. Just then, Wen Xize descended with Lin Li in his arms. She paused, taking in the child’s slightly fuller cheeks.

“Sis.” Lin Li remained the same, smiling softly with narrowed eyes.

Wen Jingzhi gave a quiet “Mm” and was about to head upstairs when Wen Xize suddenly pushed Lin Li into her arms. “Perfect timing. Watch Xiao You for me. I’ll check the kitchen and have the housekeeper cut some mangoes.”

Holding Lin Li, Wen Jingzhi hesitated for a moment before settling on the sofa instead of returning to her room. Cradling the child with one arm, she pulled out her phone to reply to a friend’s message.

Lin Li nestled against her, then suddenly wrinkled her nose at the overpowering scent of flowers.

The fragrance wasn’t unpleasant, but it made her uncomfortable each breath grew more labored. Frowning slightly, she sat up, covering her nose and gasping for air.

Yet, the suffocation only worsened.

A choked gasp escaped her.

Wen Jingzhi stiffened, glancing down at the girl in her arms. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” Lin Li let go, tilting her head back as she struggled to breathe, her vision blurring at the edges.

“Brother!” Wen Jingzhi, rarely flustered, hurried to the kitchen with Lin Li in her arms. Wen Xize turned, his expression darkening. “What happened?”

“She suddenly became like this.”

Dark spots danced before Lin Li’s eyes, her throat constricting. She weakly pushed at Wen Jingzhi’s shoulder, the floral scent clung stubbornly to her senses.

It must be, the smell causing this.

Her consciousness wavered as she felt herself being carried, frantic footsteps echoing around her.

“It’s asthma!”

“Does the house have any medicine?”

“She’s suffocating!”

“There’s a general-use inhaler, try it on Xiao You first!”

“Where’s the car? Why isn’t it here yet?”

Something pressed against her mouth and nose, fresh air flooding her lungs. Lin Li jolted awake, coughing violently as she shoved the mask away, gulping in air.

“You’re okay now, you’re okay.” A gentle embrace enveloped her.

Lin Li blinked, her vision clearing to reveal Wen Xihe’s face.

They seemed to be in a car.

Clutching Wen Xihe’s shoulders, she sat up and glanced at Wen Jingzhi, whose expression was icy, then toward the driver’s seat Wen Xize was at the wheel.

Covering her throat, she coughed a few times.

It seemed she was fine now.

“What’s on you?” Wen Xihe, pale from fright, asked Wen Jingzhi, “Did you wear perfume?”

Wen Jingzhi shook her head grimly. “No.”

“The medical report didn’t mention Xiao You having a history of asthma.” Wen Xize’s face was equally grim. They had rushed out without daring to inform their grandfather.

The car sped through the streets, arriving at Military District One Hospital half an hour later. Wen Xihe carried Lin Li, following Wen Xize as they dashed to the emergency room. Dr. Su, already waiting in the duty office, immediately took Lin Li for examination.

Wen Jingzhi watched the doctor’s tall figure retreat, frowning slightly.

This was Professor Su, a specialist in pheromone and glandular research.

She’d seen her in the news before.

Soon, Dr. Su returned with Lin Li and a report, handing it to Wen Xize. “No major issues now. The emergency response was handled well.”

“It’s allergic asthma, not congenital. The allergen has been identified roses and rose-scented pheromones.”

“Primarily triggered by the scent.”

“Roses?” Wen Jingzhi’s face instantly darkened. She touched her neck, then grabbed a disinfectant wipe from the medical cart, scrubbing fiercely at her throat until the pale skin flushed red.

Wen Xihe froze when she saw the red mark on her neck, grabbing her wrist to stop her. “Stop rubbing, you’re going to break the skin.”

“What happened?”

“I thought you didn’t like flowers with such strong scents?”

Wen Jingzhi’s face was cold. “Chen Qing gave them to me. The scent rubbed off.”

Just the lingering scent from a brief contact was enough to trigger the child’s asthma. Thank goodness she hadn’t accepted that bouquet.

“Dammit!” Wen Xihe’s expression darkened. “I should have made her leave for Huanguo before you started filming this drama.”

Lin Li’s already frail body couldn’t withstand the ordeal. She passed out during the examination, her breathing heavier than usual.

Dr. Su looked at Lin Li sleeping in her arms and handed her over to Wen Xihe before stepping aside. Wen Xize glanced at her two younger sisters and approached, asking quietly, “Is it serious?”

“Not too bad, but she can’t handle much more of this. Mainly, she’s extremely sensitive to smells even slight irritants can cause violent hormonal fluctuations. A few more episodes like this and her body will collapse.”

“We always keep medicine at home, but some allergens can’t be detected without prior exposure.”

Wen Xize sighed and nodded. “Thank you, Dr. Su.”

“Just doing my job.” Dr. Su waved her hand and left.

Wen Xize rubbed her face, forced a smile, and walked over. “Let’s go home. Everything’s fine now.”

When Lin Li woke up, she was in her own bed. She blinked dazedly, the pain in her body still present, and her stomach felt uncomfortable.

Probably from hunger.

Her hand on the blanket trembled slightly before being enveloped by a soft palm.

“Awake?”

It was Jingzhi’s voice.

She was lifted from the blankets and placed on Jingzhi’s lap. Wen Jingzhi hugged her and sighed softly. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, sister.” Lin Li wrapped her arms around Jingzhi’s neck, nuzzling her cheek lightly. “You don’t need to apologize.”

“My body is just too weak.”

Wen Jingzhi looked down at the small figure in her arms with complicated emotions, guilt weighing on her heart. Her attitude softened noticeably as she carried Lin Li downstairs. “Let’s eat first.”

Wen Xihe and Wen Xize were already downstairs, being lectured by Wen Chende. Both hung their heads in silence. At the sound of footsteps, the old man turned and saw Lin Li in Jingzhi’s arms. His anger immediately dissipated, though he still shot his grandchildren a reproachful look before taking Lin Li into his own arms.

The whole family watched over Lin Li as she ate her medicinal meal, took her medicine, and then joined her in watching cartoons before heading upstairs to bed.

Wen Xihe had been truly terrified. She insisted on having Lin Li sleep with her.

Earlier, Lin Li’s face had turned red from suffocation, her eyes rolling back, each breath a desperate gasp with no exhale.

Watching the frail little girl’s vitality visibly slipping away before her eyes, she had been terrified.

How could someone be so fragile?

A mere scent had nearly taken her life.

Were all children this delicate?

But she hadn’t been like this as a child, and the youngest had grown up healthy too.

Only then did she realize Lin Li was truly fragile.

Always pale, sickly, sitting weakly on the sofa, gazing out the window, lighter than the snow outside.

As if a single snowflake could crush her.

So easily broken.

Had she always been like this?

How had she survived to nine years old?

How had she wandered alone for two years before coming to the capital?

Wen Xihe didn’t dare think about it. The mere thought made her heart ache sharply.

After helping Lin Li wash up, Wen Xihe carried her to bed and held her close, only then realizing just how thin the girl was.

Every place she touched could clearly feel the protrusion of bones.

So small and fragile.

Even though she’d gained some weight over the past few months, she was still frighteningly gaunt.

That medicinal diet Lin Li took Wen Xihe had once curiously tried a bite out of curiosity. It was so bitter it could bring tears to one’s eyes. How could such a small child eat it three times a day without so much as a change in expression?

And the amount of medicine she took was enough to intimidate even an adult.

Wasn’t she tired? Wasn’t it painful?

“Xihe-jiejie is really warm,” Lin Li murmured with a smile, nuzzling against Wen Xihe’s shoulder in obvious comfort.

So well-mannered, yet constantly attuned to their emotions.

She must be afraid of being driven out.

Afraid of losing this last place she could call home.

Wen Xihe’s heart ached sharply. She tightened her arms around the girl and chuckled, “That’s right, your jiejie is like a little furnace. I heard from Eldest Brother that you’ve slept with Jingzhi before wasn’t he freezing?”

“Like a block of ice.”

Lin Li closed her eyes, smiling. “But it wasn’t cold. It was warm too.”

Grandma had been right, they were all warm people. She didn’t have to worry anymore.

Even if they didn’t love her, they wouldn’t cast her out.

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