REHC – Chapter 54

        With Ruan Tian’s invitation, Zhou Xiaoqiao walked into the hotel room and sat on the sofa with an uneasy expression.

        Ruan Tian’s voice a little strange, “Did you come to here to look for me”

        Zhou Xiaoqiao nodded her head, but at the same time her eyes reddened and she seemed to be too choked up to speak.

        Ruan Tian just asked: “So what are you looking for me for?”

        Was her WeChat connection bad or something? But no matter how bad it was, she could always just get in touch with a phone. Why would she come here in person? How awkward.

        Zhou Xiaoqiao opened her mouth as if to say something, but instead she just started crying silently.

        She was really the embodiment of the saying that ‘Women aren’t made of water, but made of tears’.

        Unfortunately, Ruan Tian wasn’t a man, so her heart wasn’t moved at all.

        She felt that her sister could just cry then, after all, it wasn’t like she would die from it. 

        Even if she cried until her eyes turned blind it wasn’t like Ruan Tian would have to compensate her. 

        When Zhou Xiaoqiao saw that Ruan Tian didn’t even mean to hand her a tissue, her crying gradually stopped.

        With wet tears still hanging on her face, she looked pure and fragile.

        Finally, she said in a choked voice, “Tiantian, I-I… I’ve been feeling really guilty. I can’t help but feel that I caused you and Shen Shu to divorce.”

        Ruan Tian didn’t move, too lazy to even lift her eyes, “You’re thinking too much.”

        Zhou Xiaoqiao was briefly stunned, but she quickly wiped her tears and continued: “Is it really not because of me? I’ve always known that you liked Shen She since we were young, so I never had the thought to rob him from you. You don’t blame me, right?”

        Ruan Tian smiled awkwardly, “Um, of course not, don’t think nonsense.”

        What she actually wanted to say was: There’s no need to put gold on your face! (tl note: no need to take credit for something that has nothing to do with her.)

        The divorce between her and Shen Shu was a no-brainer, and it really had nothing to do with Zhou Xiaoqiao.

        Zhou Xiaoqiao nodded and gave a soft but joyful exclamation, “It’s great if you don’t blame me.” Then she sniffled, and said, “I’ve heard that Brother Qin Yu has been coming here recently, you two didn’t fight, right?”

        Ruan Tian felt she could see through Zhou Xiaoqiao’s thoughts here.

        Something like: She wouldn’t deliberately try to harm her, but at the same time she was extremely possessive and couldn’t stand to see any of the men who loved her getting closer to Ruan Tian. 

        Ruan Tian really didn’t want to deal with Zhou Xiaoqiao, so after pondering for a long while she just said, “You’re not in good health, I’ll call a taxi to take you home.”

        Zhou Xiaoqiao bit her lower lip. She was reluctant to just leave like this.

        Originally, she had planned to stay with Ruan Tian for a night in the name of their ‘sisterly bonds’.

        However, Ruan Tian quickly pushed her out to the front of the hotel while at the same time calling for a taxi. Unfortunately, it was during peak hours, so they would have to wait a long while for the car to arrive. 

        Zhou Xiaoqiao stood at the entrance of the hotel and said hesitantly, “I-I… I can stay and accompany you for the night…”

        Ruan Tian: No way in hell.

        “That’s okay.”

        Zhou Xiaoqiao quickly pulled out her usual coquettish methods, and reached out to grab her sleeve. But Ruan Tian, who was facing her like she was a big enemy, subconsciously brushed her hand away. Who would have guessed that this person, her big sister, seemed to be even more fragile than glass and instantly began to lean back as if she were going to fall down the stairs.

        Fortunately, Ruan Tian had quick eyes and quick hands, so she caught her and dragged her back.

        Zhou Xiaoqiao’s turned another shade more pale, and she whispered: “Thank you.”

        Soon, the taxi Ruan Tian called arrived and she eagerly waved down the driver. Once the car stopped, she quickly pushed Zhou Xiaoqiao into the car without hesitation and said to the driver: “Thanks mister.”

        As Zhou Xiaoqiao sat in the car and stared at the figure of her sister getting smaller and smaller outside the window her hands clenched into fists. She told herself that she shouldn’t be jealous of her little sister for the umpteenth time.

        Her younger sister had been living outside for so many years, so as an elder sister she should care about and help her poor sister that had suffered for some many years. 

        But Zhou Xiaoqiao just couldn’t help herself. Every day, she felt afraid that her parents would start to like her sister more, or that the men who used to like and pamper her would begin to like her sister instead.

        —————-

        After Zhou Xiaoqiao went home, she fell ill with a high fever, and only after spending three days in the hospital were they barely able to get her raging temperature under control and discharge her back home.

        Mother Zhou was very anxious, and she circled around her constantly, “Qiaoqiao, where did you go!? Why did you come back so ill like this? Were you bullied by someone?”

        Zhou Xiaoqiao, who was lying sick in bed, could only softly reply in a weak voice, “Mother, it’s not like that. I really haven’t been bullied.” 

        But the more she denied it, the more Mother Zhou suspected something was wrong.

        Unfortunately, the child’s mouth was shut tight and she couldn’t pry anything out.

        Mother Zhou was resolute and determined to get to the bottom of things, so she immediately had someone to check on Zhou Xiaoqiao’s recent movements and look at the surveillance in the places she had gone. After watching the surveillance videos, she realized that Zhou Xiaoqiao had gone to find Ruan Tian the night before she fell ill.

        This moment she learned this information, a fire lit in Mother Zhou’s heart.

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