Chapter 6: Why Do You Hate Bai Shuangshuang?

Bai Tongsheng was stumped by the question. She only knew that she really disliked Bai Shuangshuang—from the very first glance, she had hated everything about her. What she hated most was how Bai Shuangshuang couldn’t read her mood and kept sticking close, like a piece of taffy that she couldn’t peel off no matter how hard she tried!

Yu Xichi broke the question down further. “If Sister did something wrong somewhere along the way, it would be perfectly normal for Shengsheng not to like her. But both Shengsheng and Mommy know that Sister hasn’t done anything wrong. On the contrary, she’s done everything very well. And if it’s because Sister came from somewhere else, then why can Shengsheng give her toys to Huanhuan from Aunt Lu’s house but refuse to be even a little nicer to Sister?”

Without a second thought, she shot back, “I don’t like that little snot-nosed brat at all. I only gave her those toys so she would stop bugging me. If she weren’t a guest, I would’ve kicked her out the door ages ago.”

Bai Tongsheng might have been spoiled rotten, but she only acted out like that in front of people close to her.

The moment an outsider entered her little circle, she wouldn’t carry on like some pampered brat anymore.

Yu Xichi knew this about her all too well, so she pressed on. “Then can Mommy take that to mean Shengsheng held back from doing it out of consideration for Daddy and Mommy?”

“Interpret it however you want!”

“If that’s the case, then Shengsheng should know how much Daddy and Mommy like Sister. Why can’t Shengsheng try being nice to her, just for Daddy and Mommy’s sake?”

“It’s not the same!”

With endless patience, she said, “Then tell Mommy—what’s the difference?”

Bai Tongsheng couldn’t put it into words. She stewed over it for ages before finally blurting out, “It’s just different, okay? I hate her!”

“Shengsheng!”

Bai Tongsheng hated it most when Yu Xichi wore that serious expression. She turned her face away and grumbled, “Why are you even asking me about this?”

Yu Xichi wasn’t entirely sure herself why she’d brought up the topic today. But remembering how Bai Shuangshuang had deliberately steered their earlier conversation away from Bai Tongsheng, she had a pretty good idea.

“Does Shengsheng think Sister will keep clinging to you forever? What if one day Sister decides she doesn’t want to get close to you anymore—would Shengsheng really not care one bit?”

She hoped the two sisters could get along without any walls between them. If they could grow even closer, like true sisters, that would be ideal.

All this time, it had been Bai Shuangshuang doing all the giving. As Bai Tongsheng’s mother, Yu Xichi couldn’t claim to be completely selfless—she knew she had her own selfish hopes, and that knowledge made her feel guilty whenever she faced Bai Shuangshuang.

Now, she had a feeling that Bai Shuangshuang’s heart had finally turned cold.

She wasn’t surprised, and she had no intention of trying to stop it. Doing so would be far too cruel—and deeply unfair to Bai Shuangshuang.

Better late than never to mend the fold after losing a sheep.

The most crucial part of that mending hinged on Bai Tongsheng.

Before today, even if she’d known about Bai Shuangshuang’s private intentions, Yu Xichi wouldn’t have said a word.

She understood that pushing Bai Tongsheng when she insisted she didn’t like her would be pointless. It would be a shame, but she’d have had to accept it.

That scene from the afternoon, though, had planted a seed of hope. Could Bai Tongsheng’s harsh attitude toward Bai Shuangshuang be nothing more than force of habit? Had she already, without realizing it, come to care for her? If that was true, then—

With that thought, Yu Xichi delivered another heavy blow. “Mommy hopes Shengsheng can get along well with Sister. She’s a wonderful person. If Sister truly ends up with a broken heart, I can promise you this: Shengsheng will be the first to feel the loss. You’re still too young to grasp how important siblings can be. Sister may have been adopted by Uncle, but the moment she stepped through our door, she became family.

“So to Shengsheng, Shuangshuang is your closest sister. Daddy and Uncle have always been thick as thieves, helping each other through the years to reach where they are now. To be perfectly frank, Mommy doesn’t know what twists life might throw at us. If the absolute worst were to happen someday, the ones left to stand by Shengsheng would be Uncle and Sister.

“Uncle’s a man, and Grandma’s not getting any younger. When you think about it from every angle, Sister’s the one best suited to be there for Shengsheng. Does that help you understand why Mommy wants you two to get along?”

Bai Tongsheng clearly couldn’t take it all in at once. She stared at her mother in bewilderment for a long moment before muttering, “She’s older than me. Taking care of me is her job!”

Yu Xichi pinched her cheek punitively. “Who taught you to talk like that! Bai Tongsheng, we all spoil you because we love you. Truth be told, even in a family, no one has to go to the extremes we do. Your sister is still just a kid herself. Even if she’s older than you, she ought to be a child first and your sister second.

“Why we take such good care of you—what’s really in your sister’s heart—Mom has always understood that. But Mom can’t say it to her face; we can only wait for her to figure it out on her own. You’re still too young. Even if Mom explained it, you wouldn’t get it. So here’s what Mom will tell you: your sister doesn’t owe you a thing. Everything she’s done goes way beyond what she ever had to do. She has no duty to look after you like some second mother.

“So the care you’re getting right now? You should be grateful for it every single day. Mom never said a word because I figured you’d come around eventually. But things are different now, so Mom hopes you’ll change your attitude toward your sister. Keep treating her this way, and one day she’ll really wash her hands of you. Mom won’t be able to help then—you’ll be on your own with your tears. Someone loves you this much, and you don’t even cherish it. If I were you, I’d wake up grinning from ear to ear every night.”

Yu Xichi grew more incensed as she went on. She let go and jabbed a finger at her forehead. “I have no idea whose brains you got. Your dad and I aren’t anywhere near as dense as you.”

Bai Tongsheng clapped one hand over her cheek and the other over her forehead, the pose looking faintly ridiculous. “No need to tell me! She’s already ditched me!”

Yu Xichi blinked. “What?”

“Back at Grandma’s, she said she’d never coax me again! If she stops babying me, good riddance. And if she stops clinging, I’ll be thrilled!”

Yu Xichi’s face grew complicated for a moment. At last, she sighed. “On second thought, it’s been so long. She’s really put up with a lot.”

“What did you say?”

All the fight went out of her as she gazed at Bai Tongsheng, who looked positively relieved to shake off the burden. Suddenly, her daughter seemed pitiful.

“Oh, never mind. Your sister has made up her mind, so what can Mom say? If you’re this happy about it, then keep being happy. One day, when you regret it, I hope there’s still a way to fix things.”

Yu Xichi knew there wouldn’t be. A heart gone truly cold was like water spilled on the ground—impossible to gather up again, unless they could start completely over.

“Why can’t I understand what you’re talking about?”

She ruffled her hair. “Best if you don’t. Then you never will.”

Don’t come crying later when it’s too late to take back. That would be the real agony.

~~~

Because school started the next day, Bai Shuangshuang politely turned down Yu Xichi’s invitation to spend the night.

Yu Xichi understood and watched the car pull away before heading back inside.

Bai Bingyang sat on the sofa waiting for her. When she walked in, he asked, “She left?”

“Mm-hm.”

She lifted her teacup for a sip. “You brought up that matter today, didn’t you?”

Bai Bingyang finished shelling the walnuts, extracted the meat, and popped a piece into her mouth. “Yeah. Binghan said Shengsheng and Shuangshuang could just room together. If Shengsheng really hates the idea, we can fix up another room. Why bring it up out of the blue? Wasn’t everything settled?”

She fell silent for several seconds, then made up her mind. “Shengsheng should stay here at home. We’ll hire an auntie to look after her. Next year when she starts school and needs rides, the auntie can handle that too.”

Bai Bingyang’s company was pushing into overseas markets. Once summer break ended, he planned to head abroad and stay for a few years until operations stabilized, then return.

As part of upper management, Yu Xichi would go along. That would leave Bai Tongsheng alone in the house.

They had wanted to bring her, but she refused, and they were still searching for a solution when Bai Shuangshuang entered the picture.

Suddenly, they had one.

—Send Bai Tongsheng to live with Bai Binghan.

He lived alone before, and with her prickly temper, it hadn’t felt right to ask. But adding another child changed that.

Bai Tongsheng’s attitude had given them pause, but with no better options, they figured kids were straightforward. If she could sense his kindness and they spent time together, their relationship would thaw eventually.

Conveniently, Bai Binghan had stopped by today, so Bai Bingyang asked.

He was more than happy to help and welcomed her anytime.

Everything seemed set—until Yu Xichi changed her mind.

Bai Bingyang couldn’t read her. “Did something happen?”

“I had a talk with Shengsheng today. Shuangshuang must have been worn out.”

“Tired” said it all without needing elaboration. Bai Bingyang got the picture.

His first words were much the same as what Yu Xichi had said at the time: “Shuangshuang is a good child. It’s Shengsheng who’s too immature.”

Bai Shuangshuang had given up entirely by then, so forcing the two of them to live together would undoubtedly be a torment for both sides.

“Then let’s go with what you suggested for now. If Shengsheng can’t adjust, we’ll think of something else later.”

“Mm.”

Unexpectedly, Bai Shuangshuang ended up living with Bai Tongsheng after all.

The only difference was that Bai Shuangshuang had moved in on her own.