After the Sickly Child Differentiates into A - Chapter 48

“On your neck.” The faint traces slowly receded into the skin. Wen Jingzhi frowned. “It’s nothing.”

She withdrew her gaze, took the medical kit from Lin Li’s hands, and instead led the young girl to the sofa.

Sitting down on the sofa and opening the medical kit, Wen Jingzhi was about to tend to her own wound when a slender hand reached out and took the iodine from her grasp.

“Let me do it, Sister.”

The pale, sickly girl knelt before her, holding a cotton swab with gentle movements.

The cut was somewhat long, requiring a bandage. Perhaps due to her experience years ago changing the bandages over her own eyes, she wrapped it surprisingly well neither too loose nor too tight, perfectly covering the wound as it circled her palm once.

Setting aside the medical supplies, her slender fingers lifted the pale knuckles, giving them a gentle shake as she looked up at Wen Jingzhi with a smile. “All done.”

The turbulent emotions instantly smoothed away. Wen Jingzhi lowered her gaze, suppressing a sigh, and raised her right hand to ruffle the hair of the person in front of her.

“Time to rest.”

“Okay.”

Lin Li stood up to put the medical kit away, drank a glass of milk in the kitchen, and walked to the bedroom door. Before entering, she didn’t forget to “remind” her sister: “Be careful not to get the wound wet, Sister.”

Wen Jingzhi shot her an amused glance. “Mm.”

As if it weren’t because of her.

“Goodnight, Sister.”

“Goodnight.”

Wen Jingzhi’s wound scabbed over after a day. Though it looked long, it wasn’t deep.

The bathroom’s glass door was also replaced the next day.

The repairman was quite surprised when he saw the broken lock.

The lock hadn’t been removed by brute force alone. At the very least, the person responsible had some understanding of its structure, using clever force first twisting the handle’s latch, then breaking the glass, and finally removing the entire lock.

But the person who did this certainly couldn’t have been weak.

The repairman was too curious and pulled Auntie Li aside to ask a few questions before leaving, though she wasn’t aware of the specifics.

After a week, the scab fell off, leaving only a faint pink mark. Lin Li, worried it might scar, asked Wen Jingzhi several times and only relaxed after receiving a definite “it won’t” from her.

During this time, Lin Li had two more nosebleeds and also noticed the bluish traces on her neck, finally understanding what her sister had been referring to that day. Still, she didn’t know the cause.

She took a photo and sent it to Dr. Su for advice but didn’t get a detailed answer.

The response was simply that it was a normal reaction.

After stopping the medication, Lin Li began to realize the effects of the drug.

In the past, she would always get a booster shot before it wore off, so she had never experienced the drug completely losing its effect. She had grown accustomed to the “normalcy” under its influence. Now, without the booster, the sensation of the drug gradually fading from her body was so clear it made her dizzy.

The pain intensified bit by bit dizziness, blurred vision. Her heightened sense of smell forced her to wear a mask.

Wherever she was, as long as there were people around, the mixed scents of pheromones would rush into her nostrils, churning her insides and making her nauseous.

That weekend, Shen Yuan’s mother had been back in the country for a few days, and the mother-daughter pair hosted a gathering for the Wen family. This time, Wen Jingzhi didn’t bring Lin Li along she was worried about the girl’s heightened sense of smell.

Even if the previous vomiting incident wasn’t entirely due to the pheromones on her sleeve, since there was a possibility it could make Lin Li uncomfortable, it was better to avoid it.

Lin Li agreed without hesitation.

Rather than watch her sister focus her attention on someone else and “neglect” her again, it was better to stay out of sight and out of mind.

That night, Wen Jingzhi returned quite late and had been drinking a little.

After showering and tidying up, she opened the door to the second bedroom, no one was on the bed.

The slight tipsiness in her eyes instantly vanished.

“Turn on the lights.”

As the lights flickered on, she stepped into the room and scanned the interior.

Click.

“Sister?”

The girl, holding the bathroom doorknob, looked puzzled at the figure by the bed. “Did you just get back?”

Wen Jingzhi turned to watch the girl approach, her gaze dark and unreadable. After a long pause, she spoke coldly, “Just finished showering?”

The girl’s originally pale skin was flushed pink from the steam.

“I was chatting with Sun Xiaoxiao and the others and lost track of time,” Lin Li said softly, giving Wen Jingzhi a light hug. “Sister, you should go rest now. I’m going to sleep too.”

The girl in her arms was slender and soft, carrying the warmth and fresh scent of a recent bath, making Wen Jingzhi’s heart tremble heavily. Hesitantly, she raised her hand and gently rested it on the girl’s slim waist, only to pull away immediately, her palm brushing against the slightly damp short hair.

“Dry your hair before sleeping.”

“Okay,” Lin Li stepped back, smiling with narrowed eyes.

Wen Jingzhi felt inexplicably unsettled. She ruffled the girl’s hair and turned to leave.

The door closed, and the sound of footsteps gradually faded.

Only when there was complete silence outside did the girl by the bed suddenly drop to one knee, leaning over the edge as she coughed violently, covering her mouth and trembling.

She tried to stand up, failing twice before finally succeeding. Supporting herself against the wall, she made her way to the bathroom.

She turned on the faucet, and steaming hot water gushed out. As she lowered the hand covering her mouth, her lips were stained with blood.

Her blood felt as if it were boiling, burning her bones and flesh from the inside out.

The pain brought tears to her eyes.

By the end of May, Wen Jingzhi had an event to attend in Country Y. Shen Yuan happened to have a business partner there as well, so the two decided to travel together.

After the event, Shen Yuan noticed Wen Jingzhi had been in a low mood lately and invited her to a private ski resort in the mountains to unwind. Wen Jingzhi agreed.

The mountain range had a consistently cold climate, and the ski resort was located halfway up the slope. Besides the endless expanse of snow, the hotel offered various hot springs, making it an ideal place for relaxation.

They arrived at the hotel in the evening and headed to the ski resort the next morning.

After changing into their ski gear separately and storing their phones and other belongings in lockers, they stepped onto the snow.

With her skis on and goggles in place, Wen Jingzhi glided out effortlessly.

Shen Yuan watched her graceful figure and shook his head with a wry smile.

She really has been in a bad mood lately.

Wen Jingzhi could sense her own recent emotional turmoil but couldn’t pinpoint the cause.

Perhaps it was Lin Li’s illness showing signs of becoming uncontrollable again, or perhaps it was the subtle distance the girl had been keeping from her over the past month.

Usually, whenever Wen Jingzhi was home, Lin Li would come to the study Wen Jingzhi handling work while the girl did her homework. Even if she didn’t go to the study, she would spend some time with her in the living room.

But lately, after returning from school and having dinner, Lin Li would only pat Xiao Xi before retreating to her bedroom.

Could it really be what Wen Xihe called the “rebellious phase of adolescence”?

Yet Wen Jingzhi hadn’t noticed any “rebellious” behavior from Lin Li only that she wasn’t as close to her as before.

Shen Yuan caught up to her and shouted, “Want to race?”

Wen Jingzhi pushed her thoughts aside and, without a word, picked up speed.

Shen Yuan laughed heartily and chased after her.

As the two raced through the snow, Lin Li, back home, was also playing in the snow though hers wasn’t the real kind.

In the CEO’s office of Sound Entertainment, Wen Xihe leaned against the desk with one hand propped on the surface, gently poking the white ball of fluff in front of the young girl. “How is it? Does it feel similar?”

Lin Li pinched the ball again it was cool to the touch, but not quite like snow; it felt more like a softer version of ice. She smiled at Wen Xihe. “Just a little.”

Lately, she had been experiencing frequent surges of heat in her blood, as if something were pounding inside her or burning her from within. Lin Li’s pale complexion had even taken on a rosy hue, making her look much “healthier.”

With that smile, she appeared even gentler and softer.

“Alright, it really is just a little,” Wen Xihe admitted, unable to resist pinching the tender cheek of the young girl. “Our little You is so beautiful.”

She had always dreamed of having such a sweet and soft Omega sister!

It was Saturday. Old Master Wen had taken Xiao Xi and Shen Yuan’s mother fishing, Wen Xize had gone to France, and Wen Jingzhi wasn’t home either. So, Wen Xihe had “claimed” Lin Li and brought her to the company.

Walking into the office with an aloof and elegant expression while holding Lin Li’s hand, she attracted a wave of attention from the employees. Though her face remained impassive, inwardly, she was preening with pride.

Previously, Wen Jingzhi had taken Lin Li out a few times, making headlines and leaving Wen Xihe green with envy.

She, too, wanted to show off her sweet and adorable Omega sister!

Finally, she had her chance!

But, the little one was growing up so fast.

She would come of age early next year.

Damn it, by then, even more Alphas would be eyeing her little sweetheart. She needed to discuss with the “ice block” how to “guard against them fiercely.”

Before leaving work, Wen Xihe took Lin Li on a tour around the company. Only after fully satisfying her desire to show off did she take her out for a meal.

By the time they finished dinner, it was already late. Wen Xihe drove Lin Li back to Eryue and, before leaving, “reserved” her time for the next day. “Come to the company again tomorrow?”

Lin Li chuckled. “I have homework to do, Sister Xihe.”

“Bring it to the company,” Wen Xihe declared with a wave of her hand. “My office is spacious, and if you run into any problems, I’ll have my secretary help you.”

Lin Li had no objections and agreed with a smile. “Alright, goodbye, Sister Xihe.”

“Bye, bye, bye!” Wen Xihe couldn’t stop grinning. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow!”

Lin Li nodded with a smile. “Okay.”

The door closed, and the sound of high heels faded into the distance.

After washing up, Lin Li lay down on the bed. Enduring a wave of intense dizziness, the burning sensation inside her surged again. Frowning, she curled up, gritting her teeth against the pain.

It had been like this for a while now. She didn’t dare let her sister notice, so she could only retreat to her room early to hide.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she drifted into a hazy sleep.

At four in the morning, a pain that felt as if every cell in her body were being crushed jolted Lin Li awake. Biting her lip, she couldn’t suppress a pained groan.

It hurt so much.

Even someone as pain-tolerant as her couldn’t hold back, gasping and letting out soft cries of agony.

Every cell, every piece of flesh, every bone in her body felt as if it were being pulverized.

The “box” had exploded.

Her vision blurred intermittently, as if flames were dancing before her eyes.

The pain tore at her nerves, making her hallucinate the scent of snow.

When the agony subsided slightly and her vision cleared, she found herself in her sister’s bedroom, lying on her sister’s bed.

The light in her left eye shattered instantly, her eye socket burning red.

The little rationality she had left allowed her to guess the reason, she was undergoing differentiation.

Her body, tormented by pain, was craving her sister’s pheromones.

The slender girl frantically scrambled up, stumbling out of the bedroom. Leaning against the wall, she endured another wave of scorching heat before staggering back into the room and lunging toward the bedside to grab her phone from the nightstand.

Sister, sister.

It hurts so much save me.

Her thin fingers trembled as she opened the contacts and dialed the first number.

Her sanity shattered with each unanswered ringtone.

When Lin Li regained consciousness, she found herself inside Wen Jingzhi’s bedroom closet.

It was filled with Wen Jingzhi’s everyday clothes and sleepwear, all carrying the scent of snow.

Clutching her chest, struggling to breathe, she took two heavy breaths before crawling out of the closet. Her vision blurred again as rationality rapidly faded. Lifting her right hand, she bit down hard on her wrist, using the pain to reclaim a sliver of clarity. Pushing up her trembling body, she stumbled back to her room, found the phone on the carpet, and with shaking fingertips, dialed the number etched in her memory once more.

Still no answer.

She bit her arm again, pressing her thumb firmly against the screen to scroll down, then dialed Wen Xihe’s number.

After three rings, her vision went dark, and she collapsed onto the carpet, losing consciousness.

In the silent night, within the dark room, the phone that had rolled to the foot of the bed glowed. After more than ten rings, the light flickered.

“Xiao You?”

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