The Sickly Fake Daughter, But a Beloved Darling of All - Chapter 112

“Xiaojin.”

After class, Jin Xi was still a bit uneasy about what Xu Chengjin had just said. She lowered her voice and asked, “Will doing this invite negative rumors?”

“If we don’t clarify our identities, then those slanderous rumors will always surround you,” Xu Chengjin said, a flash of worry in her eyes. “They’ll say you’re clinging to the Xu family, using any means necessary for money. Since your family’s conditions weren’t great before, it would only take a little guidance for people to start spreading rumors about you.”

Xu Chengjin thought for a moment and added, “I think it’s better to tell the truth. At least then those people won’t insult me to my face; what they say behind my back is their business.”

“But I’m also afraid of you getting hurt.”

Jin Xi had considered this possibility, but after weighing the options, she hoped Xu Chengjin would feel a bit better.

Xu Chengjin stopped in her tracks. She turned her head and looked seriously at Jin Xi for a few seconds. After a long while, she narrowed her eyes and asked with some confusion, “Are you some kind of masochist?”

“I don’t need this kind of selfless sacrifice, and I’m not as fragile as you imagine. Since I’m willing to propose such a plan, I’ve already prepared myself.”

Xu Chengjin raised her hand and gave Jin Xi a punch, though the force was very light. She gave an arrogant “hump” and said, “Don’t look down on me.”

Jin Xi smiled. She gave an “mm” and looked at Xu Chengjin with lingering affection: “I won’t in the future.”

“Then let’s go eat.”

Noticing the emotion in Jin Xi’s eyes, Xu Chengjin immediately looked away. “We still have classes in the afternoon.”

Jin Xi nodded, her tone gentle: “Okay.”

“Whatever you say.”

Regarding Jin Xi’s identity, it was eventually decided to reveal the truth of their situation. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be right to let Jin Xi bear so many years of suffering only to be attacked by others later.

Si Yu also said that their relationship would be made public later on to prevent malicious people from stirring up trouble.

Xu Chengjin had no objections. She wasn’t a hesitant person. Since she and Si Yu were now of one mind, they should announce it to the world—tell everyone they were together!

“Are you really going back to the Xu house today?” Si Yu was lying on Xu Chengjin’s lap, her eyes closed as she let Xu Chengjin massage her head. “Can’t I accompany you?”

“Why would you accompany me?”

Xu Chengjin found it funny. “My family didn’t like you much to begin with.”

Si Yu became unhappy. “I’m worried you’ll be bullied.”

She said this, but in her heart, she knew that if another ugly scene broke out, Xu Chengjin would surely distance herself from them completely.

They had lived together for twenty years; those feelings couldn’t just be cut off. In the end, it would only lead to both sides being hurt.

“I won’t be. If I’m bullied, I’ll come find you immediately.” Xu Chengjin leaned down and kissed Si Yu’s lips, looking at her with a smile. “Will you miss me?”

“I’ll miss you the very second you leave.”

Si Yu also began to laugh. She took Xu Chengjin’s fingers and squeezed them. “Isn’t this mushy?”

Xu Chengjin pretended to shiver and made a sound of disgust: “Ugh, how cheesy.”

“Remember to reply to my messages,” Si Yu said, hugging Xu Chengjin’s waist and speaking in a muffled voice. “Video calls are fine too.”

Xu Chengjin stroked Si Yu’s hair. “Okay. Anyway, we’re meeting tomorrow.”

“Hmph.”

Si Yu was still unhappy, so Xu Chengjin had to coax her for a while longer before going downstairs.

Mother Xu had been waiting for her for a long time. Seeing that only Xu Chengjin came out, she was somewhat confused. “Si Yu didn’t come out to see you off?”

“I told her not to.”

Xu Chengjin felt there was no need for the extra trip. She opened the passenger door and sat inside. “Is the location set?”

“It’s set. We’ve invited everyone we could.”

Mother Xu started the car, her aura much gentler now. “Are you still sleeping at home tomorrow?”

Xu Chengjin took a bottle of yogurt from the car and took a sip. “Si Yu is picking me up after it’s over tomorrow.”

“Mama knows she was wrong. Now I only hope you can be happy.”

Mother Xu let out a deep sigh. “Blame me if you want; I accept it all.”

“Of course I resent you,” Xu Chengjin replied quickly. She looked out at the greenery flashing by the window, but her eyes reflected her own image in the glass. “But I also love you very much.”

“Mama, I have never for a single moment stopped loving you.”

Xu Chengjin truly liked Mother Xu, and Mother Xu had been very good to her. Although there were conflicts and awkwardness between them, love and resentment were not mutually exclusive.

She still loved Mother Xu.

Her mother.

Mother Xu pursed her lips and didn’t speak until the moment the car stopped. Tears finally fell as she choked out, “Xiaojin, Mama is sorry.”

Xu Chengjin sat in the passenger seat without saying a word. She lowered her eyes and waited quietly for Mother Xu to compose herself.

“Let’s go.”

Mother Xu calmed down for a good while. After making sure there were no signs of her breakdown, she led Xu Chengjin inside. “Jin Xi, Xu Jing, your sister is back.”

She opened the front door and Xu Chengjin followed her in. This was the home where she had lived for twenty years, yet for the first time, she felt a sense of nervousness stepping through the door.

Father Xu was still leaning on a cane, waiting anxiously. Jin Xi was with him, looking relatively relaxed. At the very back was Xu Jing, standing at a distance, watching Xu Chengjin quietly with an expressionless face.

“The food is ready, we were just waiting for you.” Jin Xi was the first to break the silence. She stepped forward and tugged at the corner of Xu Chengjin’s clothes. “Dad and Sister missed you very much too.”

“Dad.”

Xu Chengjin greeted Father Xu first. His eyes reddened instantly. “I wanted to cook for you myself, but my body isn’t up to it.”

“It’s fine.”

After saying that, Xu Chengjin looked at Xu Jing. She stopped walking, and both saw complex emotions in each other’s eyes.

Would Xu Jing regret it?

Probably not.

“Sister.”

Xu Chengjin’s voice was very soft, but the old intimacy was gone. How could Xu Jing not hear it?

It was precisely because she heard it that she felt a knife in her heart. Xu Jing’s smile was faint: “Let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

Xu Chengjin helped Father Xu to his seat. The lunch was very lavish, and most of it consisted of dishes she liked. It was clear the whole family had put a lot of preparation into her return.

“Don’t make so many dishes next time.” Xu Chengjin served a bowl of soup to Mother Xu. Feeling the gazes of the others, she continued unperturbed, “It’s not like I’m never coming back. It only takes an hour to get here; why make it so grand?”

Jin Xi reacted immediately and teased, “We were afraid you wouldn’t even say hello to me when we meet in the future.”

Xu Chengjin glared at Jin Xi and took a deep breath. “By the way, who was invited for tomorrow? Is there a list?”

“Yes.”

Xu Jing passed the list to Xu Chengjin. “Most of these people have good social status. There aren’t many, but it’s enough.”

Xu Chengjin scanned the names roughly; she needed to have an idea of who was coming, otherwise, it would be impolite to need introductions for everyone.

Though she wasn’t familiar with most of them.

“Who is this Xu Lihua?”

Seeing the name for the first time, Xu Chengjin was bewildered. “Is she a relative?”

Mother Xu nodded. “My younger sister. She went abroad the year you were born. With such a big event this year, I naturally wanted her to come back.”

“Back then, your aunt and I had some conflicts. Over the years, I wasn’t willing to lose face to apologize. I want to take this opportunity to clear up the misunderstandings.”

“Aunt…”

Xu Chengjin repeated the name “Xu Lihua” several times, feeling like she must have seen it somewhere before.

“Hiss.”

Xu Chengjin suddenly felt a sharp, needle-like pain in her head. The pain was so intense that she immediately held her head, stars appearing before her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Jin Xi, sitting next to her, was so startled she nearly knocked over her chair. “Where does it hurt?”

“Nowhere.”

Xu Chengjin stopped Jin Xi just in time. A fragment of memory flashed through her mind, but she couldn’t see it clearly. “I’m fine.”

She slowly sat up straight and looked at the other three. “It’s a side effect. The medication has some side effects; the doctor said it’s normal. Plus, with the temperature changes lately, I might get occasional headaches.”

Xu Chengjin made up an excuse and smiled. “I’ll take responsibility for my own body, don’t worry.”

Since she put it that way, the others couldn’t say much and returned to their seats. But only Xu Chengjin knew that this Xu Lihua might not be simple.

Since the name triggered a new memory, it definitely had something to do with her and Jin Xi.

The entire plot was based on the identity swap between her and Jin Xi. Now that the plot was such a mess, she hadn’t had any reaction until she encountered the name Xu Lihua, which caused headaches and memory flashes that didn’t belong to her… It seemed that this time, the person responsible for the swap was going to be dealt with.

“I’m full.”

Xu Chengjin finished the last sip of soup in her bowl and specifically showed it to Mother Xu. “I’m going to take my medicine now, and then I want to nap for a bit.”

Mother Xu naturally wouldn’t stop her; Xu Chengjin was already eating more than before. “Don’t sleep too long. Mama will wake you up if it’s too long.”

“Okay, I’ll set an alarm.”

Xu Chengjin went upstairs. The layout of her room hadn’t changed, and it was kept very clean. As soon as she entered, she double-locked the door and immediately called Si Yu. The other side picked up quickly: “Xiaojin?”

“Were you sleeping?”

Xu Chengjin heard the sleepiness in Si Yu’s voice. “Have you eaten?”

Si Yu was so tired she couldn’t fully open her eyes. She gave a muffled “mm” and asked, “How about you?”

“I’ve eaten.”

Xu Chengjin felt Si Yu was too tired and didn’t want to disturb her, thinking it would be better to call back later. “Go back to sleep. Call me when you wake up.”

Si Yu had already opened her eyes and cleared her head. “No, tell me.”

“Okay.” Xu Chengjin didn’t hold back. She lay flat on the bed, frowning seriously. “I just asked Xu Jing for the guest list for the banquet, and I saw a name: Xu Lihua.”

“Xu Lihua?”

Si Yu yawned. “Also surnamed Xu? A family member?”

“Yes, my aunt.”

Xu Chengjin became more certain as she spoke. “My mom said she went abroad the year I was born and hasn’t returned until now. Didn’t you check before that the person sending money to Chen Fang was using a foreign account? Do you think it’s possible that Xu Lihua was the one who swapped me and Jin Xi?”

Si Yu sounded a bit confused. “But how can you be sure it’s your aunt? Maybe she just intended to develop her career abroad?”

“Because after seeing Xu Lihua’s name, I suddenly saw a memory that doesn’t belong to me. How should I put it… it’s too surreal. I can’t see clearly what that memory says, but it only happened after I learned about Xu Lihua.”

“I told you before about those dreams I had. The basis of those stories was the identity swap. Now that you aren’t the villain bullying me and the story has changed completely, it should be time for the truth behind that basic setting to come to light, right?”

Xu Chengjin wasn’t entirely sure either. She hugged her pillow in frustration. “But maybe I’m overthinking. Maybe she’s a good person too.”

Si Yu smiled and comforted her. “I’ll have someone look into it. Don’t think too much. It’s time for your nap.”

“I planned to sleep after telling you.”

Xu Chengjin’s tone rose, sounding somewhat like she was acting spoiled. Just as she was about to continue speaking, there was a knock on the door. She looked up, and a second later, she heard Jin Xi’s voice: “Xiaojin.”

“Can we talk?”