The Sickly Fake Daughter, But a Beloved Darling of All - Chapter 72

Xu Chengjin had not expected Si Yu to appear here, but she quickly calmed down. She met Si Yu’s worried gaze directly, paused for a few seconds, and then slowly walked over. She stood slightly on her tiptoes, tilted her head up to Si Yu’s ear, and said word for word:

“Help me investigate these people thoroughly.”

Jin Xi was unable to make it back in time to participate in the afternoon sports meet. She communicated with her counselor promptly, and after explaining the situation and offering a very sincere apology, she was relieved that no major issues had arisen. The matter was brushed aside lightly.

Si Yu had long since departed, leaving only Xu Chengjin and Jin Xi inside the car.

“Xiaojing.” Jin Xi kept her head lowered, her face hidden from view. She had a faint inkling of the truth in her heart but had not dared to face it until now. “When are we going back?”

Those relatives had already left. Chen Fang hadn’t made a sound for a long time. It was unclear what Xu Chengjin had said to Chen Fang, but in any case, neither of their expressions looked good.

Xu Chengjin exhaled slowly. She cast a side-long glance at Jin Xi: “What are your thoughts on this?”

Jin Xi knew she could no longer avoid it. She turned toward Xu Chengjing, the corners of her eyes slightly red: “Take all that money back. Not a single cent can be left to them.”

When Chen Fang became paralyzed, Jin Xi was still in school; Chen Fang had arranged for her to be a day student. It was also in that same year that Chen Fang’s husband was beaten to death because of gambling debts. Initially, Jin Xi thought Chen Fang’s paralysis was a disability caused by a physical assault. She never expected that it was very likely caused by pregnancy and childbirth—

The turn of events left Jin Xi feeling utterly helpless. She had never imagined the truth would be so nakedly exposed; it felt like her heart was being gouged out, her own flesh and blood. How could it feel so heartbreaking?

Jin Xi’s tone changed. She desperately suppressed the sob in her voice: “Did she give birth to it?”

Xu Chengjin took a deep breath. Many words rushed to her lips but she found herself unable to say them; she felt only the cruelty of it all. After hesitating for a few seconds, Xu Chengjin finally spoke: “Yes. She said she was afraid you wouldn’t support her, so she simply sent the child away and had you pay the child support fees.”

How wicked. How could someone be so wicked?

Jin Xi didn’t have any massive emotional outburst; it was as if she had known all along. However, the tremor at the end of her voice betrayed her emotions: “Xiaojing.”

“I’m here.”

The moment Xu Chengjing’s words fell, she was pulled into a tight embrace in the next second. Her eyes trembled slightly. Jin Xi used a great deal of strength, as if she wanted to pull Xu Chengjin into her very bones. Was it painful? Not exactly, but the projection of the other woman’s emotions left Xu Chengjin feeling faintly suffocated.

Ever since Xu Chengjin learned the truth about her and Jin Xi’s identities, she would unconsciously project the other’s experiences onto herself. Self-reproach and sadness often overwhelmed her. Yet, the ones truly at fault were not them, but hardship had ground Jin Xi down to the point of collapse.

Xu Chengjin slowly raised her hand and patted Jin Xi’s back: “One day, they will pay the price.”

“Why are some mothers so wicked?”

Because she isn’t your mother. Your mother is very good… mhm, very good.

Xu Chengjin opened her mouth, but she couldn’t make a sound. In the next second, her face was cupped by Jin Xi’s hands. Tears fell from the corners of Jin Xi’s eyes, yet through the pupil blurred by water, Xu Chengjing’s face was still clearly reflected.

Lingering, deeply attached.

Jin Xi pressed her forehead against Xu Chengjing’s. She knelt halfway in front of the other woman, her breathing heavy:

“Can I stay by your side?”

Another plea. Xu Chengjing’s eyes trembled as she lowered her gaze. In her ears were the unavoidable sobs and a passionate emotion. Jin Xi liked her.

Jin Xi… liked Xu Chengjing.

dynamics between Xu Chengjin and Jin Xi?