Chapter 56: Do Not Give to Others

However, the reality turned out much better than Hua Man had imagined. At the very least, Yang Zhao did not expose her explanation of “girlfriend,” and Hua Man could even sense that Yang Zhao’s mood had improved significantly.

At least it was nothing like when she had first entered, with that face full of dark clouds.

But Hua Man still felt like she was a ticking time bomb, so she did not want her to have too much contact with Hua Xi. After helping Hua Xi lie down properly on the bed, she turned to Yang Zhao. “Let’s go.”

“Go?” Yang Zhao raised an eyebrow. “Go where? I just got here and now I have to leave?”

“Didn’t you come to find me for something?” Hua Man asked her.

“I don’t have anything.” With that, Yang Zhao pulled out a stool nearby. “As your girlfriend, I’m here to check on your sister.”

“I don’t want you to check on me.” Hua Xi suddenly spoke up, her tone far from polite. “You’ve already seen me anyway, so you can leave now.”

“Hua Xi.” Hua Man’s face darkened, her voice stern. “You can’t speak to others like that. Apologize.”

Seeing this, Yang Zhao blinked, watching the stern-faced Hua Man with great interest, the amusement in her eyes deepening.

Hua Man looked so sexy when she was stern.

She loved it.

“I know what a girlfriend means now.” But Hua Xi pouted, looking very unhappy. “It’s the same kind of relationship as Mommy and Daddy, right?”

Before Hua Man could respond, Yang Zhao nodded. “Right.”

Hua Xi was about to say more, but Hua Man interrupted her again. “Hua Xi, are you not going to listen?”

Feeling her anger, Hua Xi fell silent this time, biting her lip aggrievedly, looking particularly pitiful.

Yang Zhao was quite interested in this little kid for the moment, so she looked at Hua Man in a tone that brooked no refusal. “Go buy me a bottle of water from outside.”

“Why do you need my sister to buy it for you if you want water?” Hua Xi retorted, unwilling to back down.

“Because I’m your sister’s girlfriend, so of course she has to buy it for me.” Yang Zhao declared righteously.

“There’s water here.” With that, Hua Man took a bottle of mineral water from the ones in the ward and handed it to Yang Zhao.

But Yang Zhao did not take it.

She crossed her arms. “I want iced water, and I don’t drink this brand. It’s gross.”

Hua Man: “…”

Wasn’t it all just mineral water?

In her mind, mineral water was just tasteless water. How could Yang Zhao even tell the difference between good and bad?

Hua Man never considered that Yang Zhao might be deliberately sending her away—after all, in her impression, Yang Zhao never cared about others when she wanted to do something, so there was no need to send her away.

She had no choice but to agree.

Once Hua Man left, Hua Xi’s courage visibly grew.

“I’ll tell you, if you like my sister and want her to marry you, you have to listen to me.” Hua Xi put on a serious face, her small features somehow resembling Hua Man’s.

Yang Zhao narrowed her eyes.

Marry Hua Man to her…

She actually hadn’t thought about that yet.

But now that she considered it, it seemed pretty interesting. If she married her, then Hua Man would belong solely to her, both physically and legally.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t get married yet. Yang Zhao looked at Hua Xi with a half-smile. “Why should I listen to you?”

“I’m the most, most, most, most important person to my sister. If I don’t like you, she won’t be with you.” Hua Xi said smugly, though her arrogant expression hid her inner insecurity.

She was scared.

Afraid that once her sister had a girlfriend, she wouldn’t like her anymore and would abandon her.

Mommy often told Daddy that a stepmom meant a stepdad too, and she worried that once her sister had a girlfriend, she’d become a pitiful child no one cared for.

She wanted this person to know that she was her sister’s favorite, that they were the best in the world together, and to make her back off.

But she never expected that after saying such intimidating words, the other party remained completely unfazed, merely tossing out two skeptical words: “You?”

Hua Xi: “…”

Instantly pierced, Hua Xi burst into wails.

She was truly heartbroken, scared and sad, crying her heart out.

At first, Yang Zhao just found her crying annoying.

She wasn’t soft-hearted, nor did she like kids. Let her cry if she wanted—even though she was the culprit, she had no intention of coaxing her.

Soon, Hua Xi’s face turned red from crying, and just as her complexion started looking off, a nurse heard the commotion and rushed in to soothe her.

But an emotionally worked-up Hua Xi was not easy to console.

When the nurse learned that Yang Zhao was the one who made Hua Xi cry, Yang Zhao successfully received a condemning glare from her.

Yang Zhao’s face darkened.

No one had ever dared to look at her like that.

But before she could react, Hua Man returned from outside. She must have sweated quite a bit; the hair on her forehead was damp and stuck to her skin, and her face was flushed from the heat.

Yang Zhao glanced out the window.

The weather was great today, blazing sun everywhere. She could imagine how hot it was outside just from being in the room.

She pursed her lips, suddenly feeling a bit regretful.

With Hua Man there, Hua Xi’s emotions quickly stabilized. But as soon as she stopped her loud sobs, she began accusing Yang Zhao. “Sis, don’t be with her. She bullied Xi Xi, wuwu.”

As she spoke, she grew aggrieved again, shedding a few golden beans.

Her eyes had just undergone surgery and were still in recovery; tears and emotional agitation weren’t good for her.

Especially since before the nurse arrived, Hua Xi had rubbed her eyes while crying, increasing the risk of infection.

Soon, a doctor came to check.

Hua Man stepped aside. Seeing the bag still in her hand, she furrowed her brows and handed it to Yang Zhao with an expressionless face. “Your water.”

Yang Zhao frowned unhappily. Hua Man didn’t even glance at her, her tone flat, as if she were angry.

Angry with her over a little kid?

Yang Zhao didn’t take the water. She let out a fake laugh and scoffed arrogantly. “Open it.”

Hua Man pursed her lips, silent for a moment, but ultimately took the water from the bag and twisted off the cap as Yang Zhao wanted before handing it to her.

But Yang Zhao still wasn’t satisfied. She simply lifted her chin. “Feed me.”

Hua Man: “…”

Yang Zhao was far too self-centered. There was still Hua Xi nearby, sniffling as she underwent the doctor’s checkup, yet she said something like that.

Hua Man didn’t move, and Yang Zhao stubbornly stared at her. As time passed, her expression grew increasingly unpleasant.

Deep breath. Hua Man brought the bottle to Yang Zhao’s lips, not pouring too quickly, feeding her carefully.

After Yang Zhao took two sips, she asked, “More?”

Yang Zhao stepped back, her tone softening a bit. “No.”

The doctor spoke up then. “No major issues, but still, be careful not to let the patient get too agitated.”

“Okay, thank you.” Hua Man thanked her hurriedly.

After the doctor left, Hua Man thought for a moment, then reached out to touch Hua Xi’s head. “Don’t cry anymore. Be good, and next time I’ll buy you some candy.”

As a child not yet six, Hua Xi’s favorite treat was candy, especially from Hua Man.

So upon hearing this, she immediately widened her sightless eyes. “Really?”

“Really.” Hua Man nodded.

Just as she finished, Yang Zhao suddenly spoke from behind. “You’ve never bought me candy.”

Hua Man replied good-naturedly, “Okay, I’ll buy two portions—one for each of you.”

But Yang Zhao still wasn’t satisfied.

Her Hua Man could only give things to her—how could she give them to others?

Not even to a little kid.

Moreover, Hua Man had just touched Hua Xi’s head; that sight was too glaring. The more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt.

Her Hua Man, being so intimate with others and giving them candy—a treatment she herself didn’t get. Why should others have it?

Her gaze fell on Hua Xi, jealousy surging suddenly and fiercely.

But within seconds, her view was blocked.

She looked up, meeting Hua Man’s eyes.

The atmosphere grew tense. Hua Man yielded first. Here, she was clearly at a disadvantage and could only lower her head, whispering, “Don’t be mad. Whatever you want, I can listen to you.”

“No giving her candy.”

Yang Zhao didn’t lower her voice.

Hua Xi’s eyes widened in disbelief at those words. She immediately shouted, “You bad woman! I want candy, I want candy…”

Tears threatened to fall again.

Before they did, Yang Zhao spoke. “I’ll give you the candy.”

But Hua Xi wouldn’t have it. “I want Sis to buy it for me.”

“How much candy do you think your sister can give you? One piece? Two? Little kid, do you know how much I can give you?” Yang Zhao snorted a laugh. “I can give you a truckload of candy. How about it? Want it?”

“I don’t believe you.” Hua Xi refused to take the bait. “I want Sis to buy it.”

Yang Zhao harrumphed coldly. “I can also give you pretty dolls. Don’t you want any?”

Hua Xi’s expression began to waver.

“Do you like dresses? I have super pretty princess dresses too—whatever color you like, it’s yours. Put it on, and you’ll be the prettiest little kid in the world.”

After all, she was just a child not yet six. Faced with such temptation, Hua Xi ultimately set her sister aside and asked eagerly, “Really?”

Yang Zhao nodded arrogantly. “Of course.”

With arms crossed, she added, “I’m the richest person here. What could I not get?”

And so, Hua Xi was successfully bought off, even asking eagerly, “Then you take all of Sis’s candy. When will you give me the pretty dresses and dolls?”

Yang Zhao was pleased. “Soon.”

“No need.” Hua Man stepped forward. “She’s still preparing for surgery and staying in the hospital every day. She doesn’t need dresses, and she can’t eat too much candy…”

Before she finished, Yang Zhao raised her hand.

Her cheek was pinched.

“Kid, look at your sister—how fierce.” She hooked her lips, pinching and tugging Hua Man’s face while sighing. “I’m even scared.”

Hua Xi actually thought her sister was a bit fierce too, but this was her sister. Even though this person promised her tons of candy and dresses, this was still her sister.

So she put on a stern face. “This is Sis’s love for me. You outsider wouldn’t understand!”

Yang Zhao tsked.

Her previously pleasant mood soured again.

Before she could react, her wrist was gripped. Yang Zhao’s gaze flickered as she looked steadily at Hua Man.

A damp touch came to her hand.

Hua Man kissed her hand, then said a popular online phrase: “She’s still just a child. Don’t hold it against her, okay?”

Using the beauty trap?

Yang Zhao raised an eyebrow. “That’s it?”

A hint of discomfort appeared on Hua Man’s face. “Tonight… whatever you want.”

With those four words, Yang Zhao’s mood brightened instantly. She curved her lips. “True, she’s just a child. How could I hold it against a kid?”

Unaware of the concessions her sister had made for her sake, Hua Xi asked both expectantly and suspiciously, “Will there really be? You’re not tricking me, are you?”

Yang Zhao was fully patient this time. “No, soon.”

And soon was truly soon. After one phone call, someone arrived at the ward with things shortly after.

The once spacious ward suddenly felt cramped, filled with the sweet scent of candy. Hua Xi hugged a doll bigger than herself, tears still clinging to her lashes, but her mouth grinned wider than ever.

One hand on the doll, the other feeling the fluffy skirts hanging from the IV stand beside the bed, her tone carried disbelief. “All this is mine?”

Seeing her worldly innocence, Yang Zhao curved her lips. “Of course.”

Hua Xi beamed, joy lighting up her face.

Seeing how happy she was, Hua Man lowered her gaze and swallowed her words.

It was rare for Hua Xi to be this delighted; she couldn’t always be the buzzkill parent.

The kid was already pitiful enough—no need to snuff out her joy.

But there were too many things; they couldn’t stay in the ward forever. And Hua Man had no fixed place yet; she couldn’t put them in a hotel either.

After Hua Xi had touched all the clothes and dolls thoroughly, she tentatively asked, “Xi Xi, you have so much candy now. If it doesn’t get eaten for a long time, it’ll go bad. What do you think we should do?”

She tossed the question to Hua Xi, who thought seriously, looking troubled.

She knew she couldn’t eat too many candies. Even if she weren’t sick, she still couldn’t eat too many—too much would cause cavities, and then bugs would appear in her teeth. Eating them every day would be so scary.

Finally, she thought of the two friends she had met today, so she said generously, “Sister, Xiao Xi is a good child who loves sharing. Can we give some to Ke Ke and the others?”

No sooner had she spoken than she regretted it a little and quickly added, “Only a little bit, though—not too much.”

She thought of those pretty dresses—so many pretty dresses—but right now, she could only wear her patient gown, so she continued, “We can give them one of the dresses too. Then we can all wear princess dresses together.”

She hugged the doll in her arms tightly. “But I like this doll the most. This one can’t be given away.”

She wasn’t upset about it, but Yang Zhao was the first to voice her dissatisfaction. “These are gifts from me to her. They can’t be given to others.”

Hua Man’s expression stiffened.

Yes, she had forgotten that Yang Zhao was such a possessive person.

Mindful of Yang Zhao’s temper and status, she didn’t dare say anything more. But Hua Xi was young and knew nothing, so she spoke freely.

She said earnestly, “Yang-jiejie, good children learn to share.”

“I’m not a good child,” Yang Zhao replied without hesitation.

From childhood to now, she had never been a good child, much less a good person. Being a good person was so exhausting—she had no interest in wronging herself just to benefit others.

She had always been a selfish bad person.

She instructed Hua Xi, “If the candies go bad, they go bad. If the clothes can’t be worn, they can’t be worn. What’s yours is yours—no one can take it away from you, and you shouldn’t let anyone take it.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than she heard Hua Man call her name. “Yang Zhao.”

She turned around and saw that Hua Man’s expression wasn’t good. She raised an eyebrow. “Do you think I’m wrong?”

Hua Man furrowed her brows. “Don’t teach bad habits to children.”