When Tang Wu was still alive, Bai Yuejie often visited the Tang Family.
Granny Tang often held Bai Yuejie’s hand and lamented how thin she was, comparing her to Xiao Wu from their family who just got plumper the more she ate.
Tang Wu would always laugh merrily, hugging Granny Tang’s arm shamelessly as she said it was all because of her feeding.
Later, Tang Wu passed away.
Granny Tang, with white hair, sent off a person with black hair and seemed to age more than a decade overnight.
Especially after Xiao Wu’s heart was d to Bai Yuejie,, Granny Tang no longer looked at her with the same affection as before.
Bai Yuejie clearly saw the pain in the eyes of Granny Tang and Grandpa Tang, she lowered her gaze and her voice choked up as she said, "Yes, Xiao Wu was so healthy back then. If it weren’t for that car accident, she would surely be reaching new heights now. It would have been nice if she were still alive..."
"If she were still alive, she would have led a brilliant, carefree life. She was confident and impeccable," Bai Yuejie said as tears started rolling down, "How I wish it was me in the accident that year. Living the way I do now, I’m merely clinging to a wretched existence. I often dream of Xiao Wu. She asks me to take good care of Granny and Grandpa for her and also take care of Brother Ling Yan. She wants me to shoulder the responsibility of her life, but... but I..."
Granny Tang’s aged eyes also reddened, and she turned her head away slightly.
Grandpa Tang gently patted his spouse’s hand and said sternly to Bai Yuejie, "Enough, so many years have passed."
"Grandpa Tang, Granny Tang," Bai Yuejie wiped her tears, looked up, seemingly trying to smile, but her expression was uglier than crying, "Please let me finish. These past years I’ve always felt too ashamed to face you. Using Xiao Wu’s vibrant heart on a sickly person like me, I’ve truly wasted it..."
"What are you talking about?" Grandpa Tang’s aged eyes reddened slightly as he shook his head and sighed, "It’s just fate playing tricks. Xiao Wu was meant to go . When she was found, she was already breathing her last, and by the time she was brought to the hospital, she had passed away. No one could have foreseen that. Furthermore, if you hadn’t heard of Xiao Wu’s death, you wouldn’t have fallen so ill suddenly. If Xiao Wu’s soul knew that her body could save the life of her best friend, I think she would have been willing."
"But I’m not worthy. Xiao Wu’s life, her achievements, I can never envy them enough. I also want to take good care of you and Brother Ling Yan for her, but I... I..."
As she spoke, she broke down completely.
Granny Tang wiped her eyes and Grandpa Tang waved his hand, "Alright, alright, today is Qian Jiao’s birthday, look at you, making my spouse cry."
Bai Yuejie managed a tearful laugh, wiped her eyes, and glanced at Shi Yuanyuan.
That single look shifted everyone’s attention back onto Shi Yuanyuan.
Only now, the looks were not of unfamiliarity and distance, but of disgust and disdain.
"What kind of person is this, making others so upset on a birthday celebration?"
"Hey, don’t some people know what should and shouldn’t be said? Haven’t their families taught them anything?"
"It’s a matter of family influence, after all."
That remark spoke volumes.
Though not explicitly stated, it alluded to her humble background.
The glances cast at Shi Yuanyuan by everyone became increasingly alienated and disdainful.