Although Yun Sisi kept feeling something was off, she couldn't find a way to resolve it for the time being.
She couldn't take back the words she had already spoken, so she could only stew in her own frustration.
After sending off Mu Chengzhu and Mu Jiayu, Yun Sisi went to Yun Shifei's room and said to Yun Shifei, "Sister, why don't you forget about hiring a tutor? If you have any questions in the future, just ask me."
She always felt that Yun Shifei was starting to head in a direction beyond her control.
First, her personality suddenly changed and became obedient.
Now, she was studious.
This wasn't a good thing.
She didn't want Yun Shifei to improve at all.
If Yun Shifei improved, who would serve as her contrast?
Her charm and intelligence had always become more striking against Yun Shifei's backdrop.
Yun Shifei still looked calm, cautiously saying, "But my foundation is too weak. To really build it properly, it seems better to have a professional teacher."
"No, I'm the one who understands your weak points best. Let me teach you," Yun Sisi suggested.
"But you also have to study. This would take away so much of your time."
Yun Sisi frowned, showing a rare bleak expression: "Sister, hiring a tutor isn't good. The tuition fees are expensive, and they might teach poorly. Besides, he could even look down on you—can you handle that?"
Yun Shifei had a strong sense of pride. When she heard Yun Sisi casually mention her background in the past, she'd gotten upset.
She probably wouldn't be able to accept being looked down on by a tutor either.
Just as Yun Sisi finished speaking, she noticed Yun Shifei had a slightly odd expression and was staring behind her.
Yun Sisi turned her head and saw Xu Ya standing behind her without her noticing.
Xu Ya was holding two glasses of milk, her face calm and devoid of her usual smile.
"Sisi, what were you just talking about?"
Xu Ya had overheard her!
Yun Sisi's face turned pale, and she froze mid-breath.
She looked as fragile as paper, about to collapse at any moment.
Yun Shifei even wondered if Yun Sisi might faint in the next second.
However, in the blink of an eye, Yun Sisi had already adjusted herself.
She said to Xu Ya, "Mom, I was just thinking it would be better if I taught my sister instead. Hiring a tutor—who knows what their qualifications are? What if their teaching makes things worse instead?"
Upon hearing Yun Sisi's explanation, Xu Ya's expression softened somewhat. She had almost misunderstood Yun Sisi earlier: "I'll look into it more thoroughly."
"That's good. We've never hired a tutor in our family; we worry about being deceived."
Yun Sisi had always excelled academically, and naturally, she hadn't needed tutors.
Thinking of this, a hint of pride appeared on Xu Ya's face.
That proud smile a mother shows when her daughter is outstanding.
Yun Shifei pressed her lips together.
And she, on the other hand, was useless, unpresentable.
Even so, even surviving in the cracks, she wanted to rely on her own efforts to improve a little bit every day.
Even if it's just a tiny bit, she would take it.
...
The weather during this time of year always fluctuated.
It had been sunny the day before, but by the morning, it was already drizzling.
Wet and humid.
Yun Shifei got up early.
Yun Sisi was going to the city center today to compete in a dance contest held in South City.
Thus, she didn't need to wake up so early.
Yun Shifei had just finished breakfast when Yun Sisi leisurely came downstairs.
She was wearing the outfit Xu Ya had made her try on the other day.
She was very slender, with a delicate figure, and wearing that dress, she looked unbelievably beautiful—a princess out of a fairytale.
The rhinestone-embellished hem of the dress swayed as she walked, flashing in the light.
Radiating brilliance.
Yun Shifei glanced at her once before averting her gaze.
Xu Ya approached to straighten Yun Sisi's dress.
"Let me braid your hair, dear. It'll make your dance look even better."
Xu Ya gently gathered Yun Sisi's hair.
When Yun Shifei finished her breakfast and walked out, she saw Xu Ya and Yun Sisi sitting on the sofa, with Xu Ya seriously braiding Yun Sisi's hair.
"Mom, what if I get nervous and can't dance well later?"
"Don't worry, Mom will be watching you from below."
"If I win first place, can Mom give me a reward?"
"Of course. What do you want?"
"I'll decide then—I haven't thought of anything yet."
Yun Sisi's sweet, coquettish voice was full of girlish innocence and charm, utterly endearing.
And Xu Ya pampered Yun Sisi immensely.
Yun Shifei always felt she was like an outsider, completely out of place.
She changed her shoes, grabbed her umbrella, and headed out the door, saying to them, "Mom, Sisi, I'm leaving now."
"Be careful on the road."
Xu Ya turned to glance at Yun Shifei briefly before quickly returning to her conversation with Yun Sisi.
Yun Shifei stepped outside.
Outside, the rain dripped steadily from the eaves, forming a silver curtain—cold and pure.
The chilly wind brushed against Yun Shifei's face, causing an ache.
She wasn't sure if her face was hurting or her heart.
Well, it must bother her at least a little.
The school wasn't far from their home—just a ten-minute walk.
The Yun Family owned a car, but unlike the Cheng Family, they didn't shuttle them back and forth to school.
Actually, most kids in their neighborhood walked to school.
Parents weren't overly worried.
After all, the area was full of acquaintances, and the local community was more trusting in this era.
Yun Shifei followed the path forward.
Who would have thought the rainfall would intensify halfway there?
The raindrops pelted her umbrella like tiny stones.
How could such a small umbrella shield her?
Soon, swept by the wind and rain, Yun Shifei found herself soaked.
She quickened her pace toward school, but in her haste, she tripped on something and fell hard to the ground.
Ouch—
Tears welled up in Yun Shifei's eyes as she clutched her nose and scrambled to her feet, feeling a warm sensation at its tip. When she released her hand, blood trickled down.
It mixed with the rain as it dripped onto her uniform.
Utterly miserable.
A nearby car sped past her.
The splashing water from its tires struck her.
Instinctively, she looked up at the car, stunned.
That car license plate—wasn't it theirs?
At this moment, Xu Ya must be driving Yun Sisi to the dance competition.
Had she not noticed Yun Shifei as she sped by?
Yun Shifei watched the car disappear into the distance, dazed.
Her mind was blank, filled only with a strange sense of sorrow.
Disappointment seeped in slowly, consuming her bit by bit. Even if she tried her hardest, was it all futile?
She picked up her umbrella and stood.
Her elbow and knee stung sharply—the aftermath of her fall.
Should she still go to school?
As Yun Shifei was debating whether to go home or continue to school, a car pulled up beside her.
Yun Shifei turned and met the quiet, deep gaze of a young boy.
Like an unfathomable pool.
It was Cheng Lie.
What a coincidence—meeting him now.