After properly bandaging An Sicheng, it was already deep into the night, and An Sicheng, worried about letting An Ran go alone, made her stay at the hotel.
It just so happened that he had booked a standard room with two beds.
An Ran also felt that it was very inconvenient to return to the Mu family mansion at this time, so she simply called Mu Wanxin.
Mu Wanxin had already learned from Shen Wenxuan that the teenager An Ran saved today was her adopted father’s son.
"Ran, do you really not need the Mu family to step in for your brother’s issue?"
Mu Wanxin was still worried. With Mu Xingfeng not in the Imperial City and this delicate little sister-in-law left alone at home, if she were to suffer any grievance, how would her younger brother bear it when he returned?
"No need, sis, it’s already been resolved. My brother will return to Pingxi in a few days."
She understood An Sicheng fairly well, knowing that he wouldn’t go back on his word. He wasn’t the type of kid to lose his sanity during a rebellious phase.
From their conversation earlier, she could tell that he truly had a change of heart.
"Alright then, Ran, remember, even though the Su family may have deep connections, the Mu family’s background is even deeper. As the Mu family’s daughter-in-law, you don’t need to hold back in what you do, and don’t ever compromise yourself. Not only Xingfeng wouldn’t agree, I, your sister, wouldn’t either."
Her little sister-in-law was good in every way, except for being too kind and always thinking of others. This made her endearing at home but inevitably prone to grievances and losses outside.
An Ran knew that Mu Wanxin was looking out for her. Although her tone seemed scolding, every word was a reminder not to allow herself to be wronged, assuring her that they had her back.
A warm flow surged in her heart, "Sis, I know. Thank you, sis." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novelꜰire.net
"Silly girl, there’s no need for thanks among family."
After hanging up, An Ran returned to the room to see that An Sicheng was already asleep. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, she knew he hadn’t rested well these few days, undoubtedly always thinking about how to meet Su Jingyan.
Lying in bed, An Ran couldn’t fall asleep.
The words spoken to An Sicheng today were also meant for herself.
She loved Mu Xingfeng but didn’t dare to face these feelings, perhaps due to feeling insignificant and undeserving of someone so outstanding.
Now that she has come to understand her own feelings and decided to face them, she is determined to work hard to improve herself. Even if she can’t match Mu Xingfeng, she wants to become an excellent version of herself.
The next morning, An Ran woke up to the sound of rustling nearby, seeing An Sicheng packing his things, momentarily disoriented about her surroundings.
An Sicheng turned around and saw An Ran looking at him with her bewildered big eyes, knowing that his sister always felt groggy when she just woke up.
"Sis, did I wake you up?"
An Ran didn’t reply immediately but just smiled at him.
In that instant, she felt as if she had returned to the early days in the An family, when Sun Xuehui would give her a hard time every day, and An Sijia would mock her. Only this younger brother would smile and call her sister, secretly bringing her food when Sun Xuehui made things difficult, and standing up to defend her when An Sijia mocked her.
That was the only ray of warmth during her toughest days in the An family.
Later, An Sicheng went to an elite boarding school, and his visits home became limited each term. Even so, whenever he came back, he would always bring her gifts and still call her "sis" with that childish voice.
Now, she hadn’t seen him for over half a year. The boy from those days had grown into a handsome teenager, even his voice had changed somewhat.