121 Held Back

Even though her daughter had been traumatized by the accident and her health had suffered, Xie Fanghua felt a strange sense of relief. In the past, her daughter’s temperament was such that as long as they, the elders, were around, they could shield her. But if one day she and Old Chen were gone, Zimo wouldn’t always be able to protect his younger sister. If she remained that way, how could a mother ever rest easy? Though she had suffered, in the long run, the experience was more beneficial than harmful. Still, the lesson had been a heavy price to pay. At this thought, Xie Fanghua’s eyes grew moist.

"Haha, you're still being stubborn..." Faint laughter drifted from Xie Xitong’s room into the kitchen. Xie Fanghua felt a little better. It was fortunate that Xia Xia was there to keep Tongtong company; otherwise, she wouldn't have recovered from the shadow of the car accident so quickly.

However, thinking of what her eldest brother had discovered, her mood darkened again. While the incident looked like an ordinary car accident, her father, the head of the Xie family, did not think so. How could it be such a coincidence? That the drunk driver happened to pass by, and that the guardrail happened to be loose, leading to the injury of Xie Xitong as she walked on the sidewalk. A single event could be a coincidence, but a series of them was something else entirely. Xie Fanghua bit her lower lip. Tongtong was still so young; who could be so deranged as to target a little girl?

"Auntie, I’m leaving. I’ll come to see Tongtong again tomorrow."

"Let me walk you out."

"It’s alright, Auntie, outsiders can’t easily get into this neighborhood anyway." Lin Xia politely declined. Xie Fanghua checked the time—it was only eight in the evening, a time when many elderly residents were still out for their evening walks, so she wasn't too worried. She gave a few final instructions and watched as Lin Xia entered the elevator.

Once outside the building, Lin Xia walked along a gravel path. The tall trees overhead rustled like falling rain. She found a bench, leaned back with her hands clasped behind her head, and looked up at the lush canopy, listening to the strange yet ethereal sound. It was like being in a paradise of rain. The night was thick with darkness.

Soft footsteps approached from the distance. Lin Xia tilted her head as a tall, slender figure slowly emerged from the shadows. The breeze dispersed, carrying the scent of flowers from an unknown source. It was You Xin.

Lin Xia was slightly startled. She had never realized he was so tall. Feeling that her posture was a bit unrefined, she lowered her arms, sat up straight, and smiled. "What are you doing here?"

You Xin smiled faintly but didn't answer. Would he tell her that he had been following her home every night for days? But she had never looked back, and he had never mentioned it.

"It’s so late, why are you sitting here alone?"

"I was just visiting Tongtong, and the moonlight looked lovely tonight, so I decided to sit for a while." Lin Xia looked up; the moonlight spilled slowly over the treetops, mixing with the flowing wind like a silent sigh. It was such a beautiful night.

"It's truly beautiful."

"What?" Lin Xia hadn't heard him clearly.

"How is Tongtong?"

"She’s in good spirits today; we laughed and played for a long time. Are you going to visit her?"

"No, it’s too late now. I’m afraid she’s already asleep. I’ll go see her tomorrow."

Lin Xia nodded. Now that You Xin was there, even though she thought of him as a child, the late hour and their solitude made things feel a bit awkward. She stood up and said with a smile, "It’s getting late, let’s go."

As they reached a turn, moving from the light of the streetlamp into the darkness, the young girl squinted slightly, watching the path. You Xin’s hand, hanging by his side in a half-clenched fist, tightened and then relaxed. After those few hesitant moments, he ultimately didn't place his hand on her shoulder.

They turned the corner and walked a dozen more steps until they reached the base of Lin Xia’s building.

"I’m home. You should head back early to rest; you have school tomorrow."

"Right. That book you lent me was excellent. I was in a rush today and forgot to bring it, but I’ll return it next time."

"It’s fine, I’ve already finished it, there’s no rush. I have a few new Agatha Christie books here—would you like to read them?"

"Never mind, it’s late. I’ll come find you early tomorrow night, and we can go see Tongtong together."

Lin Xia nodded and agreed. She watched him walk away after she reached her floor and the lights in her living room flickered on. The Lin family elders usually didn't return until after ten; he could have gone up with her.

*Forget it,* You Xin shook his head. There was plenty of time ahead; there was no need to rush.

With the help of Zhao Xin’s spiritual liquids and fruits, the care from Lin Xia and her friends, and Xie Xitong’s own cooperation, she was finally nearly fully recovered as the third year of middle school drew to a close and the entrance exams approached. Although she would always walk with a slight limp, being able to stand again was far better than being confined to a wheelchair.

"Tongtong, you should listen to your mother and repeat the grade. Even though you’re talented, you’ve missed an entire year of school. You can’t make up for that gap just by reading books at home," Xie Fanghua urged her daughter. Seeing that she wouldn't budge, she turned to an ally. "Xia Xia, please help me talk to her. This girl is being stubborn again. She won't listen to me, and she won't listen to Zimo either. Maybe she’ll listen to you."

"Mom, please don't try to persuade me. I know my own level. Even though I was at home, I didn't fall behind on what I needed to learn. Xia Xia and my brother helped me tutor regularly. I have the strength to pass; why should I waste another year?"

This past year had been enough for Xie Xitong to understand this world. When she learned that girls here didn't have to worry about getting married and embroidering dowries at fifteen, and could actually attend school alongside boys, she was beyond astonished.

The reason she had arrived in this world was because she had been fifteen, and her wedding date was approaching. Before her mother passed away, she had arranged a good match for her with the young master of the Earl’s mansion. He was not only handsome and elegant but also highly educated and gentle—the dream of many young ladies in Jinling. Within the Xie family alone, several girls admired him, and her death was linked to this very engagement. If she were dead, one of them could take her place, enjoying a life of luxury and a wonderful husband. She hadn't been without hatred before she died, but now, she felt a strange sense of gratitude toward them.

After the initial shock, Xie Xitong spent that period in a state of extreme excitement and wonder. That women could attend school and even become government officials was truly unheard of. As the third daughter of the Xie family, she had always been proud and naturally disdained the idea of becoming a mediocre bureaucrat. However, the prospect of women entering schools to study alongside men truly piqued her curiosity.

In her past life, the infighting between sisters had been constant. Since coming here, she had stayed at the Chen house and rarely went out, and the only people she felt she could trust were Lin Xia and her friends. If she repeated a grade, wouldn't she be separated from them and left alone in that unfamiliar school environment? She didn't know the others, and if there were malicious people among them, what would she do? There were no maids or guards here to protect her. Because of this worry, and because she couldn't bear to leave her few friends, Xie Xitong firmly refused to repeat the grade.