"Mi... Miss... What are you doing here..."

The man's legs nearly gave out, almost causing him to fall. Ignoring his still-angry wife behind him, he took a step forward and hurriedly asked:

"Miss... where have you been these past four years?"

"Miss?" The man's wife was immediately puzzled, but seeing his fawning demeanor made her unhappy, and she grumbled on the side, "What nonsense about a 'miss,' even if she were the Queen Mother of the West, she'd still have to compensate our family for Xiaoshan today!"

Hearing this, the man immediately turned around and suddenly delivered a powerful slap, landing sharply on the woman's face.

A crisp, loud sound.

A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.

"Shut up! You shrew!"

The slap was real and left a bright red handprint. The woman was completely stunned, unable to understand why she was being hit when it was their child who got hurt. She pointed at her husband, too angry to speak, and turned to leave, crying.

Watching his wife's departing figure, the man showed no sign of pity. With difficulty, he forced a smile and turned to Bai Xi, saying slowly:

"Miss... you have no idea how much the master and madam have missed you these four years..."

"Missed me? Ha, I doubt it," Bai Xi sneered, her face showing an unfamiliar disgust, "More like they've gone crazy for money and power, right? Otherwise, how could they have married me off to some guy I've never met, whose age I don't even know, just for some ridiculous alliance?"

The man was at a loss for words and could only explain, "Miss... Mr. Chen is actually quite a talented young man, already..."

"What does that have to do with me?"

For the first time, Bai Xi swore in front of you, cutting him off sharply, "Uncle Zhao, did the old man promote you and feed you so well that your brain turned to mush? If this so-called Mr. Chen is so great, why don't you marry your wife to him?"

The man was speechless again and, after a long pause, sighed helplessly:

"Sigh... Miss, you're still the same as ever..."

Just then, his gaze suddenly shifted to you, noticing Bai Xi's instinctive protective gesture of shielding you behind her. His eyes lit up with a strange gleam, and he quickly smiled and asked:

"Miss... I haven't had the chance to ask, who is this behind you..."

"Don't ask what you shouldn't," Bai Xi hid you further behind her, like a mother hen guarding her chicks, "And, Zhao Gang, Bai Xi died four years ago. I don't want this name reaching the old man's ears again, do you understand?"

The man was taken aback, then quickly nodded and bowed, repeatedly saying, "Understood, understood... I understand..."

"If you understand, then get lost!"

"Yes, yes... Miss, you..."

"Get lost!"

The man left, leaving you and the homeroom teacher bewildered, while Bai Xi sighed, rubbing her forehead.

She didn't say much more, taking you by the hand and leaving the school directly.

The outside world was a bit chilly, with the temperature typical of late autumn. Shops along the street were putting up Mid-Autumn Festival posters, seemingly preparing in advance for the Fireworks Gala.

You walked along the road, holding her hand, drawing envious glances from passersby. It wasn't until you passed a bridge that she finally asked, "Why did you get into a fight? You broke someone's nose."

"He called you fat and ugly," you replied without hesitation.

"Pfft... hahaha..."

Bai Xi laughed, the sunset casting a golden veil over her face. Her blue and white dress shimmered faintly, a beauty that always left you in awe no matter how many times you saw it.

"So you hit him?" The young girl smiled, continuing, "He wasn't wrong, you know. I'm not exactly pretty..."

"Pretty!"

You immediately interrupted Bai Xi, declaring earnestly, "You're the most, most, most, most beautiful girl I've ever seen!"

She looked at your serious expression, slightly surprised, then smiled warmly, playfully scolding:

"Such a sweet talker! I wonder how many girls you'll charm in the future..."

"I... I won't..." you hurried to defend yourself, but what could a ten-year-old boy possibly say?

Fortunately, you didn't need to explain.

A warm hand ruffled your hair, and a lazy voice, with a hint of something you couldn't quite place, said:

"I believe you, I've always believed..."

She stopped, crouched down, and looked you in the eye, her eyes smiling:

"What do you want for dinner? I made over a hundred bucks today~"

"Tomato and egg stir-fry!" you exclaimed excitedly.

But she only gave you a disdainful look.

"Is that all you can think of?" Bai Xi rolled her eyes at you, then asked, "Can't you ask for something better?"

You shook your head, lifted your face to the sunset, and said with a smile:

"It doesn't matter, everything you make is delicious!"

"Alright, alright, I guess that's just how you are," Bai Xi sighed, her gaze turning determined as she pointed ahead, calling out in a playful tone, "Let's go! Home first, and tonight I'll make you beef sauce! It'll knock you out with its deliciousness!"

You didn't quite understand, but mimicked her, pointing ahead and shouting foolishly:

"Home! Home! Beef sauce! Beef sauce!"

...

Time passed quickly, but you didn't know why your sister seemed to be daydreaming a lot lately.

When you asked, she wouldn't say, always looking troubled, sometimes staring down from the balcony, sometimes sighing for no reason.

You thought she was unhappy with her job at the convenience store, so you mimicked her voice, saying, "Little guy, come make your sister laugh!" while showing your newly grown teeth, grinning like a little madman.

Every time, Bai Xi would laugh heartily, even though you didn't understand why your teeth made her so happy.

It's worth mentioning that Bai Xi had been muttering about wanting to move recently, packing your things, until you stood by curiously and asked:

"Will I have to change schools too?"

She was silent for a long time, then smiled and shook her head, telling you, "No, I was just joking..."