CHAPTER 898: CHAPTER 898: THE FALL

The sound of footsteps outside the door grew distant, Sun Qing and her sister Sun Rou exchanged a glance and finally decided to open the door.

Outside the door, there was no shadow of a person left, just a box at the entrance.

The box was not large, slightly bigger than a pair of shoes.

"Xiao Rou, let’s take the stuff back home first." Sun Qing stood at the doorway and peered around into the alley, not a single person was in sight. Sun Qing felt a bit frightened, so she quickly pulled the box inside, closed the door, secured the latch, and hastily brought Sun Rou into the room.

Sun Qing closed all the doors inside the room before her pounding heart slowly calmed down, and she said, "Xiao Rou, since this thing is from your real dad, you should take a look. I’ll go back to reading my book."

"Sister, I’m not hiding anything from you." Sun Rou clutched Sun Qing’s hand, her head bowed, saying, "Sister, no matter what, my last name is Sun, I’m a daughter of the Sun Family."

"Sister, I’m too scared to look, will you help me?"

Sun Rou pushed the box towards Sun Qing, her thoughts still pondering why Shen Jing ended up in prison; did he commit some serious crime?

"Should I really look?" Sun Qing examined Sun Rou, seeing her sincerity, took a deep breath and opened the box.

The box was light, its contents few, just a bankbook, a few sheets of paper, a set of keys, and a letter.

"Xiao Rou." Sun Qing glanced at the bankbook and those sheets of paper; in it were US$ 100,000 and a property in Jing City. This letter was likely penned by Shen Jing.

"Here, take a look."

Sun Qing pushed the items in front of Sun Rou, unsure what to say about Sun Rou’s real dad.

Her emotions were mixed; she had grown up with Sun Rou as sisters, sharing everything with her, treating Sun Rou as her own sister. In her heart, Sun Rou was Daddy and Mom’s child.

But now, the truth was apparent; Sun Rou wasn’t Daddy and Mom’s child—she also had a real dad.

Sun Rou glanced at the bankbook and the keys representing a house, her gaze lingering on the letter, feeling torn about whether to read it.

"Sister." Sun Rou hesitated, holding the letter, concerned that Sun Qing might misunderstand, yet unsure how to explain.

"Xiao Rou, you’re grown up now. If he really wants to make amends as a father and doesn’t intend to take you away, I don’t mind having someone else care for you." Sun Qing spoke sincerely.

As long as no one takes Sun Rou away, Sun Qing feels there’s nothing wrong with having another person show Sun Rou love.

Sun Rou was premature and lacked adequate care, her health has always been poor, especially after undergoing a surgery recently; now in Sun Qing’s eyes, Sun Rou was like a porcelain doll, and she feared any harm might come to her.

Sun Family’s means were limited; it wouldn’t be right to turn away Shen Jing. If, by any chance, Sun Rou needed help, this money might be life-saving.

"Sister, no one can take me away." Sun Rou made up her mind, her hands eager to open the letter.

The letter was not long, yet it expressed Shen Jing’s regrets as a father to his daughter, saying: perhaps he might spend his life behind bars, but this US$ 100,000 is clean, and the house had long been transferred to Sun Rou’s name.

Even if Sun Rou chooses to refuse, she should consider it for Sun Family’s sake, and for her own health.

In the end, Shen Jing urged her to take care of herself and to forget about him, her real father, and live well.

Even though the letter was short, Sun Rou’s heart felt empty reading it through. She reread the letter, glancing at the items in the box, feeling a weight in her heart.

"Xiao Rou." Sun Qing held her hand.

Sun Rou’s eyes started to sting, she threw herself into Sun Qing’s arms: "Sister."

Her voice carried a hint of choking, saying, "Sister, I, I don’t know what to do."

"Xiao Rou." Sun Qing’s voice was softer than usual, saying, "No matter what decision you make, I’ll support you."

*

"Lian Qingyang, are the photos printed?" Jin Yan came early every day to Tang Yue’s house, just to catch Lian Qingyang.

After returning home that day, Jin Yan hugged her lyric book, kissing it again and again; after all, it was signed and blessed by her favorite star!

Jin Yan was too excited to sleep, but soon enough, her attention shifted entirely to the photos.

Her photo with her favorite star made her feel so expectant.

"Jin Yan, call me brother and I’ll tell you." Lian Qingyang said deliberately.

Upon hearing ’gold,’ Jin Yan, like a cat with its fur bristled, reacted the opposite of her gentle appearance, her heart was like firecrackers, ready to ignite.

"Lian Qingyang, if you don’t tell me, I’ll find Sister Xiao Yue." Jin Yan puffed her cheeks in anger, her eyes turning, unable to beat or snatch from Lian Qingyang, but why did she have to fight him?

Being a girl, losing a fight is expected; she’ll go find Sister Xiao Yue, who would surely help her.

"Acting like an elementary school kid, complaining to the teacher?"

Lian Qingyang was speechless at Jin Yan’s tattling demeanor.

"Can’t blame you for withholding what’s mine." Jin Yan demanded, reaching out her hand, "Where’s the photo? I want the photo."

"Not giving." Lian Qingyang took a photo from the nearby drawer, waving it briefly before Jin Yan.

Jin Yan instinctively reached out to snatch.

Lian Qingyang held it high, "Get it and it’s yours."

"I..." Jin Yan was naturally shorter than Lian Qingyang, who held the photo way above his head; even at full stretch, Jin Yan couldn’t reach.

Frustrated, Jin Yan tugged on Lian Qingyang’s clothes, using his strength to leap upwards.

"Can’t reach!" Lian Qingyang looked down at her, seeing her unable to grab it, finding her utterly endearing.

"Sister Xiao Yue!"

Jin Yan suddenly shouted out loud.

Lian Qingyang wished he could cover her mouth as Tang Yue approached; of course, he’d have to hand over the photo willingly.

Taking advantage of Lian Qingyang’s pause, Jin Yan suddenly leapt towards him, pressing a hand on his shoulder for leverage and snatched the photo during his moment of distraction.

"Haha, I got it!"

Jin Yan was overjoyed, not noticing as she bumped Lian Qingyang against the sofa foot. With Jin Yan’s weight added to his, he fell back; instinctively he reached for something, but grabbed onto Jin Yan’s arm instead.

Hadn’t yet stable from borrowing Lian Qingyang’s strength, Jin Yan was pulled along as Lian Qingyang fell.