Wang Meili was helpless with anger, but Gu Juan didn’t say anything. She had no reason to cause trouble for Gu Lingling even if she wanted to.
That night, Gu Juan had a fever and drifted in and out of delirium, alternately calling for help and for mercy, nearly giving Old Mrs. Gu and Wang Meili a heart attack.
After a night of tossing and turning, she finally slept soundly at dawn.
Wang Meili was a temporary worker and had just started her job for a few days. She dared not ask for leave and went to work early the next morning with dark circles under her eyes, giving a fierce glare as she passed by Gu Lingling’s room.
But inside, Gu Lingling was sleeping soundly, completely unaware of the situation.
Gu Juan lay on the kang bed for three days before she recovered. After getting better, she was gloomy, and the first thing she did was ask Wang Meili to help her cut her hair a bit shorter.
Since then, Gu Juan never mentioned that day’s incident again, and she treated Gu Lingling as if she were air, indifferent.
When Gu Lingling wasn’t paying attention, she watched her viciously.
Wang Meili also acted as if she knew nothing, continuing to fuss over Gu Lingling every day. Only Old Mrs. Gu still shot her looks as sharp as knives, wishing she could bite her to vent her resentment.
Gu Lingling was even more alert.
This continued until Gu Haojun unexpectedly came home on leave from the army.
One morning, while Gu Lingling was pouring water to wash her face, she was startled to find someone standing at the door. It turned out to be Gu Haojun.
"Brother, you’re back," Gu Lingling exclaimed happily.
Gu Haojun was Gu Juan’s biological brother. When Uncle Gu passed away, Gu Haojun was almost ten years old. If Gu Juan bullied her when they were kids, Gu Haojun would definitely stand by her and beat Gu Juan soundly.
This was why Gu Juan had resented Gu Lingling from a young age.
Evidently, Gu Haojun was Gu Juan’s biological brother but ended up treating Gu Lingling more like a real sister.
"Are you Lingling?" Gu Haojun was somewhat shocked.
It had been years, and Gu Lingling had changed so much.
"Brother, come inside quickly," Gu Lingling still revered her older brother as she took his luggage with a smile, "You returned without saying anything so I could come to pick you up."
"Why bother picking me up early in the morning? It’s not like I don’t know my way home," Gu Haojun said with a smile.
If this sister were met on the street, he definitely wouldn’t have recognized her.
Thinking about how she had recently sent him a letter, for the first time since he started working, he received a letter from Gu Lingling, and his heart was filled with excitement.
Although Gu Juan also wrote to him, every letter was filled with demands for clothes or money. After so many times, he grew impatient.
Thinking of the handwriting of both, Gu Haojun glanced at Gu Lingling again, "Lingling, are you still studying? You must keep at it."
"Yes, Dad has promised to let me continue my studies," Gu Lingling said with a smile. Then she cheerfully called towards the side room, "Grandpa, look who’s back?"
"Grandpa." Old Man Gu hadn’t reacted yet, but caught sight of his handsome grandson standing in the doorway in a Zhongshan suit.
"Jun!" Old Man Gu had been listening to the conversation, but due to old age, his hearing wasn’t clear. Now that he could actually see his grandson standing right in front of him, he was overwhelmed with tears.
"Good lad! You’ve gotten taller and stronger."
"Grandpa, how’s your health? Are your legs okay?" Gu Haojun asked.
"Good, everything is fine," Old Man Gu replied with a smile, "Lingling got me something she calls a sandbox, so now every day I don’t just wait around to die."
Life seemed to have a new goal.
Gu Haojun glanced at Gu Lingling who stood silently beside him; his sister’s change was indeed significant.