Chapter 34: Pale and Weak

  At night, an unusual silence fell. Bai Qi Ya lay on the bed, while Bai Qi Shao was punching a quilt beside the bed. It was already late at night and both of them were wide awake with their eyes open. The lights were off, so neither could see the other, only faintly hearing each other's breathing sounds.

  Bai Liya was still thinking about the evening's events, she and Bai Lishao were fighting over a big bowl of instant noodles to eat. It was quite funny, two people actually competing with each other, and in an instant, they finished off the whole bowl of instant noodles. She really had never thought that instant noodles could be so delicious, before this, she had never discovered it. A long time ago, she had heard a saying "with emotions, even plain water is satisfying". It seems this phrase is not false at all, being with Bai Lishao, everything feels especially fragrant.

  Time slowly passed, but Bai Liya couldn't sleep. Although she felt extremely at ease, why couldn't she fall asleep? She didn't dare to turn over, afraid of disturbing the person sleeping on the bed.

  "Xiao Ya, are you asleep?" Bai Lian Shao's voice came over softly, gentle but reassuring.

  Bai Liya didn't respond, she just lay quietly, closed her eyes and pretended to fall asleep. In fact, she didn't mind the two of them chatting at night, but considering that they still had class tomorrow, she didn't want to disturb him. She hadn't been to school for several days and didn't know what was going on there. Suddenly, she remembered that she hadn't returned her homeroom teacher's call, nor had she replied to Chen Yanqiu and Ji Ningning's messages. It really is a happy thing to be thought of and cared about by others. Bai Liya suddenly felt that she liked the animation club, liking those classmates who seemed to have endless things to say every day. Although she was always silent, she listened carefully to them every time, knowing their personalities and enjoying the feeling of being with them. Although, the silent her, had never been understood by others.

  Bai Rui Shao didn't hear Bai Rui Ya's response, thinking she must have fallen asleep. He smiled faintly, turned over, lay flat on his back with his hands clasped behind his head, staring at the dark ceiling, but he didn't feel suffocated. After careful consideration, he still couldn't figure out what was right or wrong, whether today's decision was correct. His grandfather was still in the hospital, and his mother was worried, but he had run away. He didn't know how to face tomorrow. In fact, at this age, one is often too impulsive and emotional. It wasn't until later that Bai Rui Shao understood this principle.

  The next day, two people got up, no, not woke up, but got up, because neither of them had slept, a sleepless night.

  "Good morning!" Bai Lian smiled faintly, "I'll go make breakfast!"

  "I'll do it too!" Bai Lian stood up, put away the bedding, and felt his eyelids starting to fight. He turned around, only to see Bai Lian Ya opening the gas stove. He smiled faintly, didn't say anything else, and quickly tidied up the bedding and folded the quilt.

  Bai Ruoyi turned on the gas water heater and went to brush her teeth and wash her face. After Bai Ruo finished making the bed, she came over to help. The two of them quickly cooked another big bowl of instant noodles. However, the flavor of the instant noodles was completely different from yesterday's, not as delicious as before, a bit spicy and salty.

  "Brother, from now on... let's go to school together, and also... come home together..." Bai Ruoya ate her instant noodles, feeling a bad taste in her heart. Two people who couldn't even support themselves, how could they possibly make a living? Even if they wanted to, it was likely that their families would find them today anyway.

  Bai Lian smiled faintly and replied with a single word, "Good."

  Bai Liya suddenly couldn't eat anymore, not that she was disgusted with instant noodles, but rather disgusted with herself. She had no ability whatsoever, so why should her brother suffer together with her? She put down her chopsticks, paused for a moment, and smiled: "I'm not talking about this house, I mean we should go back to where we belong."

  Upon hearing this, Bai Lian did not show any surprise, but instead slightly raised her head and gazed deeply at Bai Lian Ya, saying: "Good."

  Two "good" words, yet Bai Yaya couldn't help but feel sad. It seemed like she had always been hearing him say good, never refusing her, whatever she said, he agreed to, all saying good. Sometimes, was it really good?

  Two people had breakfast and went to school together, Bai Ruo Shao walked on the left side of Bai Ruo Ya, it was unclear whether it was intentional or unintentional. Bai Ruo Ya once heard some gossiping girls in her class say that walking on the left side means something, and walking on the right side means something else. However, she didn't remember because at that time she wasn't paying attention to these things.

  Two people walked like this, originally two people with a lot of topics, unexpectedly fell silent.

  It wasn't until much later that Bai Li Shao suddenly said, "Xiao Ya, let's hold hands!"

  "Ah?" Bai Liya raised her head in surprise, her eyes meeting Bai Lishao's bright gaze. She felt a little nervous, even though they had just held hands yesterday, and now she was inexplicably tense.

  Bai Li ignored Shao's astonishment, pulled up her hand, smiled slightly, and continued walking forward without saying a word.

  Bai Liya kept her head down, her heart racing like a small deer running wildly and uncontrollably.

  Two people just kept walking like this, not speaking. Bai Lian Shao looked ahead while Bai Lian Ya kept her head down. It's also unknown what their classmates would think if they saw them on the road. Bai Lian Ya naturally wouldn't care about it; if she cared about other people's opinions, she would have died countless times already.

  Bai Lian was young and arrogant, so he wouldn't care about other people's opinions. Of course, he also didn't consider the situation of the two people, not knowing that Bai Liya was a girl who would face a lot of pressure. The pointing and staring of others is such an unbearable thing for a girl, he didn't know and forgot to consider.

  Walking through the long campus path, on such a morning, the path was filled with students from Qing Xia Academy. When they saw Bai Lian and Bai Lianya holding hands, they couldn't help but look over, whispering to each other in hushed tones. However, the two individuals involved didn't pay any attention to them at all.

  Bai Lian and Shao Bai Lian, the two siblings, were originally one of the gossips in the entire college. Wherever they went, their classmates would notice them. Now that they are holding hands so openly and brazenly, it's only natural that people would be shocked by this scene that makes one wonder if there's something more to it.

  The two continued walking and passed by the school path. They saw the entrance of the college. Suddenly, Bai Qi Shaostopped in her tracks.

  Bai Lianya, who had been walking with her head down the whole time, didn't know what was ahead of her. The person beside her suddenly stopped moving, and she took two more steps before raising her head in surprise. Ahead of her, there was a gaze that pierced straight into her heart. Bai Lianya didn't hesitate, quickly shaking off Bai Lian Shao's hand, muttering "Mom..."

  Yes, Zhou Caishi was in front of the school gate, and her car was also nearby. She didn't know where the two children had gone and couldn't find them after searching for a whole night. She was worried and afraid, and didn't sleep all night. So early this morning, she came to the school to wait, originally worrying that the two children wouldn't come to school, and she would have to leave her job and abandon Old Man Bai, waiting here instead. Fortunately, she saw them, but it was a scene that pained her heart the most.

  Bai Rui Shao and Bai Rui Ya stood still, staring at their mother in front of them, not moving forward or speaking, just quietly watching for half a minute.

  Zhou Caisheng was also motionless, standing beside the car, staring at the two children for a full minute, with disappointment in his eyes. No, it should be despair. Nobody knew what had happened yesterday, and the two children didn't come back overnight, she could imagine what might happen. So she suddenly didn't know what to do. The classmates on the school road looked like they were watching a show, curious glances kept coming over. Such curious glances are actually sad, you're always laughing at others, but you don't know that others never mind you. Even if you mock the whole world, the whole world won't bother with you.

  Without a word, without expression, Zhou Caisheng turned around and opened the car door, got in and drove away. This time, she was not calm, but desperate, sitting in the car, didn't even look at the two children again.

  The car whizzed past Bai Lao's side, bringing a gust of cool wind that instantly invaded his body and made him shiver. Growing up, his mother had never hit him or scolded him, nor had she set high expectations for him. His mother had always tried her best to be a good mother, and he had also tried his best to be a good son. But still, he had disappointed his mother.

  Her eyes didn't dare to blink, nor did she dare to look at the people beside her. She knew they must be in a terrible state now. Without any expression, her feet suddenly moved forward, ignoring the people around her, and just kept walking ahead.

  Bai Li stared at Bai Liya's back for a long time, unable to snap out of it.