After the Sickly Child Differentiates into A - Chapter 54

Old Master Wen was not at home. Wen Xize was in the art studio, while Wen Jingzhi, suppressing her anger, returned to her room and called Wen Xihe.

“What’s up, my dear sister? Missing me already after such a short time apart?”

Wen Jingzhi took a deep breath. “You’re arranging a blind date for Lin Li.”

Her tone was flat and declarative, devoid of any questioning or even the slightest hint of emotion, yet it made Wen Xihe on the other end of the line tremble.

Lin Yi, sitting across from her, looked over in confusion. Wen Xihe made a pained face and shook her head at her, then whispered into the phone, “No, it’s, well…” She gave up. “Yes.”

“But there’s a reason for it!”

“And it’s just to get to know each other. No dating before she comes of age!”

As she spoke, she grew more confident again. “I’m also Xiao You’s sister. Don’t you trust the people we’ve arranged for her?”

“Xiao You will be an adult in just a week, so it’s not exactly an early romance. With us keeping an eye on things, nothing will go wrong.”

“Most importantly…” Hesitating because Lin Yi was present, Wen Xihe didn’t elaborate. “Dr. Su also agreed.”

“Beep, beep, beep…”

The call was abruptly disconnected.

Wen Xihe put down her phone and let out a long sigh.

This is bad. She’s really angry this time.

Wen Jingzhi tossed her phone aside, closed her eyes, and tried to suppress the rage that threatened to consume her rationality. Her chest heaved heavily.

Even she didn’t understand why she was so angry.

She just couldn’t stand the thought of Lin Li carrying the scent of that Omega.

At five in the afternoon, Old Master Wen returned home. Qiao Xian greeted the old master before driving home, an Omega in their special period wasn’t suitable to dine with a group of adult Alphas.

However, since the next day was Sunday, she would come back to accompany Lin Li.

Old Master Wen spent some time downstairs playing with Lin Li and Xiao Xi before heading upstairs to his room. Not long after, Wen Jingzhi went downstairs and knocked on his door.

“Come in.”

“Grandfather.” Wen Jingzhi pushed the door open, her expression still icy. “I don’t agree.”

Old Master Wen found it amusing. “What don’t you agree with? You seem furious.”

“Lin Li is still too young.”

So that’s what this is about.

Keeping it from her did leave him feeling somewhat guilty. Old Master Wen cleared his throat and explained patiently, “With me personally overseeing this, are you still worried?”

“Arranging a blind date for Xiao You is for her future treatment. This was Dr. Su’s suggestion. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t interfere in you youngsters’ personal matters.”

Treatment?

Recalling the incident on the day of her differentiation, Wen Jingzhi frowned, pressed her lips together, and remained silent for a long moment before speaking coldly. “The one earlier, was she your choice?”

“Recommended by the military.” Old Master Wen explained what he could. “Only five people met the compatibility standards with Xiao You. They’ve been in contact recently, and Xiao You chose Qiao Xian herself.”

“Coincidentally, Qiao Xian is on leave these two days, so I asked her to come to the old residence to spend time with Xiao You and get to know her better.”

“Ahem.” Old Master Wen covered his mouth with a fist and coughed lightly. “It’s just about getting to know each other. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything will come of it. Xiao You is almost an adult now, so it’s not too early.”

“I understand how you feel, Jingzhi. When your mother started dating, I was furious too. I couldn’t sleep for days after she got engaged. But children grow up they become adults, fall in love, get married, and build their own lives.”

“Don’t hold on too tightly, Jingzhi.”

Wen Jingzhi’s face darkened. A low “Mm” escaped through her nose before she turned and left.

The door slammed shut. Old Master Wen gripped his cane, shaking his head with a sigh.

This child cares too much about Xiao You, too possessive.

I’m afraid she’s in for a world of hurt.

Wen Jingzhi descended the stairs with a grim expression. The young girl was curled up on the sofa with the fluffy large dog, watching the snow outside the window, her face youthful, frail, and delicate.

That stifling gloom still hadn’t dissipated.

She walked over to the girl, once again catching the scent of grass-like pheromones. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she gently nudged Xiao Xi aside and picked the girl up.

“Sister?” Lin Li gasped softly, wrapping her arms tightly around her sister’s neck. “What’s wrong?” Ever since she’d grown up, her sister had never held her like this. Why so suddenly?

“It’s almost dinner time.” Wen Jingzhi carried the girl up to the third floor and set her down in her room. “Take a bath first.”

Huh? Didn’t she usually bathe before bed?

And her sister had never cared about her bathing schedule before.

Lin Li looked up at her sister, pursed her lips. Though puzzled, she obediently replied, “Okay, I’ll go take a bath then.”

Wen Jingzhi responded indifferently and withdrew from the room.

During dinner, Wen Jingzhi remained silent. After the meal, she sat with Lin Li on the living room sofa for a while, her gaze fixed on the girl, her eyes filled with scrutiny and contemplation.

The next day, Qiao Xian arrived just after one in the afternoon. She took Lin Li to play in the snow on the estate grounds, though more often they just walked Xiao Xi around the snowy fields.

The two eventually made their way to the flower garden. Their laughter and chatter drifted upstairs. Wen Jingzhi stood by the window, looking down at the girl’s smiling face. She rubbed her fingertips together, then turned and closed the curtains before heading downstairs.

After waiting in the living room for a while, she heard Xiao Xi barking outside. She pushed the door open and stepped out. The young Omega was practicing martial arts in the snow, while Lin Li held Xiao Xi, watching with sparkling eyes.

“Sister.”

“Third Young Miss.”

Lin Li and Qiao Xian greeted Wen Jingzhi almost simultaneously. Her lips pressed tightly together as she walked over to Lin Li’s side and nodded slightly at Qiao Xian. “Don’t mind me.”

Qiao Xian scratched her head, grinned, and resumed her stance, continuing her practice.

After finishing her routine, Lin Li praised with a smile, “Sister Qiao, you’re amazing.”

“It’s nothing special. Everyone in the military knows this set.” Qiao Xian glanced at Wen Jingzhi and said modestly, “I’ve heard Third Young Miss trained under Old Master Wen for over a decade in martial arts. You must be far better than an amateur like me.”

Wen Jingzhi lifted her eyelids, suddenly took off her coat, and handed it to Lin Li. Once the other accepted it, she stepped forward, unhurriedly unbuttoned her cuffs, and rolled them up twice.

Standing firmly before Qiao Xian, she extended her slender, pale arm. “Let’s test it.”

“Sister?” Lin Li hugged the coat that carried the chill of frost, staring in surprise at her sister’s slender figure. “Are you going to spar with Sister Qiao?”

Wen Jingzhi remained silent, her cold eyes fixed on Qiao Xian.

Qiao Xian, being naturally competitive, was thrilled at the chance to spar with someone personally trained by Old Master Wen. She immediately rolled up her sleeves, took half a step back, bowed respectfully, clenched her fists, and assumed an offensive stance. “Please enlighten me, Third Young Miss!”

A breeze swept by as the two one in black, one in white engaged in combat.

Fists collided, and a swift whip kick sent snow flying from the ground.

Watching her sister’s clean, precise movements and agile form, Lin Li’s pupils slightly dilated, her heartbeat once again thrown off rhythm.

It was impossible to tell how much time had passed when both of them simultaneously retreated three steps, their ankles sinking into the snow.

Wen Jingzhi’s eyes were bloodshot as she subtly tensed her muscles, preparing to continue. Lin Li immediately ran over and hugged her: “Sis!”

“You’ll catch a cold. Let’s stop now.”

As the overcoat was draped over her shoulders, Wen Jingzhi slowly regulated her breathing and straightened up.

“Third Young Miss, you’re amazing!” Qiao Xian, having enjoyed the fight thoroughly, beamed brightly: “Let’s do this again sometime!”

The two had fought to a draw.

Wen Jingzhi gave her a cold glance, nodded slightly, put on her overcoat properly, and led Lin Li back inside.

Qiao Xian admired people with impressive skills. Though Wen Jingzhi remained cold-faced, Qiao Xian had already categorized her as one of the “good people.” Hugging Xiao Xi cheerfully, she followed the two back into the house.

Having vented some of her frustration, Wen Jingzhi felt slightly better, but she still didn’t like Qiao Xian. After sitting with Lin Li for a while, she went upstairs alone. Even after showering and changing clothes, she didn’t come back down. It wasn’t until after five o’clock when Qiao Xian had left that she leisurely descended.

In the evening, after having dinner with Old Master Wen, Wen Jingzhi drove Lin Li and Xiao Xi back to Eryue.

Lin Li could tell her sister had been in a bad mood these past couple of days. After returning home and bathing, she led her sister to the living room to sit for a while and picked a movie to watch.

The young girl vaguely guessed the reason for her sister’s unhappiness, but she couldn’t really explain it, so she could only “cheer her up.”

Sometimes she’d cling to her sister, leaning against her shoulder; other times she’d press Xiao Xi’s ball into her sister’s palm for her to throw. Wen Jingzhi quietly watched the young girl busily trying to comfort her. Only as bedtime approached did she “take pity” and show a faint smile, ruffling the girl’s hair.

“I’m not angry with you.” Wen Jingzhi was just upset that her grandfather and the others had acted without consulting her, and also annoyed by that Omega who had suddenly barged in.

“Then Sis, don’t be so cold anymore.” Lin Li grew a bit bolder, reaching out to gently trace her fingertip along Wen Jingzhi’s lips, lifting the corners upward. “Smile more. You look really beautiful when you smile.”

Wen Jingzhi caught the mischievous hand and pulled it down, letting out a soft chuckle. “So I’m not beautiful when I don’t smile?”

“You’re always beautiful!” the girl exclaimed excitedly. “Every moment, all the time.”

Wen Jingzhi lowered her gaze with a slight smile and ruffled the girl’s hair. “Time for bed.”

They bid each other goodnight and returned to their respective rooms.

The next day was Monday. Wen Jingzhi personally drove Lin Li to school, continuing to do so over the following days.

Lin Li’s birthday fell on a Friday, and she had already taken the day off.

The afternoon before the coming-of-age banquet, around three o’clock, Wen Jingzhi was at home preparing another birthday gift for the young girl when she suddenly received a call from the property management. They informed her that two express packages from abroad had arrived and required her signature.

Two?

After hanging up, Wen Jingzhi called her friend overseas, but no one answered.

She should have only been expecting one express package the restored photos she had asked her friend to work on.

Old Master Wen had several old film rolls from years ago containing many photos of Lin Li’s grandmother. Earlier in the year, she had asked her grandfather for them and mailed them to her professional friend.

She hadn’t followed up recently and only messaged her friend after returning to the country, asking her to mail the restored photos over.

She had already prepared the photo frames, waiting for the photos to arrive so she could place them on the young girl’s bedside on her birthday.

She went downstairs to the property management office to sign for the two packages and brought them home.

Both packages had the postal service’s standard outer wrapping, making it impossible to distinguish between them.

Maybe there were a lot of photos, so they were split into two packages?

Wen Jingzhi didn’t overthink it and picked up the top one to open.

She opened the outer cover to find an inner sleeve printed with foreign text and intricate patterns. Frowning slightly, she hesitated before carefully pulling it out.

The inner sleeve was small, about ten inches in size. She pinched and felt it, the contents had the texture of photographs, not completely filling the sleeve. The photos seemed to be around eight inches each, with a flat, hard object in the middle, likely a USB drive.

She flipped the inner sleeve over, her gaze turning serious.

The seal of the inner sleeve was stamped with wax an old-fashioned sealing wax and above it was a fiery red lip print.

It wasn’t printed; it had the texture of lipstick and carried a faint fragrance.

This wasn’t hers.

Her expression darkened slightly as she picked up the outer cover and turned it over. On the back was a line of printed text: “To: Lin Li.”

Her heart jolted heavily. She glanced at the time it was exactly during the class break and immediately dialed Lin Li’s number.

“Sis?”

“There’s a package for you, probably containing photos. I accidentally opened the outer cover.”

The girl on the other end laughed softly. “It might be from Zhou Cheng or the others. Sis, you can open it. I don’t mind.”

Just then, the class bell rang. The girl quickly added, “Really, it’s fine. Please open it for me.”

After hanging up, Wen Jingzhi set down her phone and stared intently at the lip print on the inner sleeve, her gaze deepening.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally opened it.

The wax seal cracked, and she reached inside to pull out the photos.

There weren’t many, only three.

Along with a black USB drive.

Ignoring the USB drive for now, she focused on the photos.

Her fingers tightened abruptly around one of the photos, creasing it.

In that photo, there was nothing but a pair of bloodied eyeballs.

On the back was a line of printed foreign text:

“Congratulations on coming of age, my dear little lion.”

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