Chapter 21: Change
The human heart is made of flesh. Thinking back now, Yun Shifei was only a teenager, and she had never felt warmth from her parents. She had barely begun to believe she might be cherished by them, only to discover that the love she received was distant, polite, and heartbreakingly fake.
Xu Ya thought about it more and more, and her heart felt increasingly uneasy.
After a while, she said, "I understand... From now on, I’ll treat both Shifei and Sisi equally, without favoritism."
Upon hearing Xu Ya’s promise, Yun Tiancheng said nothing further.
This was the best outcome.
He was busy with work, spending most of his time at the company, and occasionally needing to travel.
Xu Ya interacted with the children more often. Only if she listened to what he said could Shifei have a better life.
He thought of the scene just now when he helped Yun Shifei apply medicine and couldn’t help sighing deeply: "This child is too sensible—so sensible that it makes my heart ache. I feel like I wronged her terribly back then."
Xu Ya heard his words, lowered her gaze, and remained silent for a long time.
After that day, Yun Shifei noticed that the people and things around her seemed to be changing.
In the morning, Xu Ya helped Yun Sisi tie her hair as usual—two exquisite braids pinned to either side, making Yun Sisi look pure and lovely.
"Shifei, come here. Mom will help you comb your hair," Xu Ya gestured toward Yun Shifei.
Yun Shifei froze for a moment. freёwebnoѵel.com
Her hair was shoulder-length and didn’t need to be tied up; she always brushed it casually in the morning by herself.
Xu Ya had never helped her comb her hair before.
But she still walked over to Xu Ya.
Xu Ya carefully combed her hair, adjusted the collar of her school uniform, and straightened it.
"Shifei, the driver uncle will take you to school later. Study hard in class, and don’t hesitate to ask your teacher questions. Mom will arrange for a tutor for you in the coming days," Xu Ya instructed word by word.
Yun Shifei nodded blankly, unable to understand why Xu Ya had suddenly changed.
Last night, Yun Sisi was obviously at fault, but she couldn’t bring herself to scold her.
So now, was she trying to make up for what she did wrong yesterday?
Just like the last time, when Yun Shifei caught Xu Ya buying clothes for Yun Sisi but not for her. Feeling guilty, Xu Ya promised to take her shopping over the weekend.
Yun Shifei didn’t know how to handle such situations and could only instinctively nod.
She noticed a resentful gaze and glanced up, locking eyes with Yun Sisi for a brief moment.
Yun Sisi seemed as if she had been pricked by a needle and quickly looked away.
In the afternoon, Yun Shifei returned from school and found a furry teddy bear in her room—half as tall as her, placed in the corner of her bed.
The bear looked familiar.
Yun Shifei remembered that she had seen a beautiful teddy bear in Yun Sisi’s room before and wanted one just like it. But Xu Ya refused to buy it for her.
And now it had been bought for her? And it was even bigger than Yun Sisi’s? This had never happened even in her past life.
What was going on?
Her curtains had also been changed from their past gray-blue color to pink, with an intricately detailed lace overlay—beautiful and elegant.
This was something she had mentioned liking a long time ago: her love for pink.
Unexpectedly, all these wishes from a while ago were now being fulfilled one by one.
"Shifei." At some unknown point, Xu Ya had entered her room.
"Mom went shopping today and bought everything you had mentioned before. Do you like them?"
Yun Shifei blinked and gazed at Xu Ya.
Xu Ya’s behavior throughout the day made her feel a bit unsettled.
She had rarely seen Xu Ya smile so warmly, like a spring breeze brushing past.
Actually, Xu Ya came from a scholarly family. Having received a good education, her appearance was both elegant and graceful. When she wasn’t angry, she carried herself like a refined, gentle noblewoman.
But in Yun Shifei’s memory, Xu Ya was mostly wearing an angry expression when facing her.
Being this close and tender felt unnatural for her.
She smiled lightly. "I like them."
Since being reborn, she hadn’t made such requests anymore.
Her goal was simply to live well, better than her previous life.
Whether she liked these things or not didn’t matter to her at all.
Xu Ya originally thought that bringing back these items would make Yun Shifei happy and surprised.
Unexpectedly, her expression was so indifferent. Even though she said she liked them, it didn’t seem like she liked them that much.
Increasingly overwhelmed by guilt, Xu Ya felt terrible.
It was all her fault—back then when Yun Shifei wanted them, she had refused.
And now she hoped to use these to let Yun Shifei feel maternal love.
Yun Shifei, however, no longer cared.
Only someone deeply hurt would become like this, wouldn’t they?
Growing anxious, Xu Ya couldn’t help but hold Yun Shifei’s hand: "Shifei, Mom knows. Mom used to favor Sisi too much and hurt your feelings. I’m sorry. From now on, Mom won’t do that anymore. Can you forgive Mom?"
Yun Shifei was startled by Xu Ya.
So today’s change in Xu Ya was because of this.
Was she truly determined to treat her and Yun Sisi fairly?
She didn’t know what had happened last night; perhaps Yun Tiancheng had said something to Xu Ya.
She was delighted.
She hadn’t expected Xu Ya to accept her so quickly in this lifetime.
"Mom, you’re my biological mother—we don’t hold grudges overnight," she said.
Upon hearing Yun Shifei say this, the heavy weight in Xu Ya’s heart lifted completely.
She knew it—Yun Shifei was her flesh and blood; she wouldn’t hold a grudge against her.
She gently patted Yun Shifei’s hair. "Shifei, does your leg still hurt?"
Yun Shifei shook her head.
"Clean up and come downstairs for dinner. Mom made your favorite braised prawns today."
"Okay."
Xu Ya couldn’t help but marvel at how obedient Yun Shifei had become.
She was much better now than when she had first arrived—with deep resentment and an air of grievance against everything.
If Yun Shifei had been this obedient at the start, maybe she would have treated her well from the beginning.
Xu Ya remained unaware that even at this very moment, she still regarded Yun Shifei as an "outsider."
Only outsiders would measure things like this.
Downstairs.
Yun Sisi sat at the dining table, restless ever since Xu Ya had gone upstairs with Yun Shifei.
Five entire minutes passed, and Xu Ya and Yun Shifei still hadn’t come downstairs. What were they doing up there?
She wanted to go up and see, but Xu Ya had told her that she needed to talk to Yun Shifei. If she went upstairs now, what would Xu Ya think of her?
Still, curiosity consumed her. What were they talking about?
Yun Sisi’s heart felt like it was crawling with countless ants, itching unbearably while offering no relief. The feeling was excruciating.
Seven minutes and five seconds passed, and at last, she saw Xu Ya and Yun Shifei descend the stairs together.
Judging by their expressions, their interaction upstairs seemed to have gone well.
Yun Sisi bit down on her lip tightly, almost to the point of drawing blood.
Still, she managed to press out a smile. "Mom, Sis, finally, I’ve been waiting for you so we can eat."
"Let’s eat and not keep Sisi waiting too long," Xu Ya said.
Yun Tiancheng had called earlier to say he’d be dining out, so the three of them didn’t need to wait for him.
At that moment, Yun Shifei’s gaze fell on the dishes arranged on the table.
A lavish spread, several of which were her favorites.
She instinctively looked up at Xu Ya.
Xu Ya was also looking at her and placed a shrimp on her plate. "Eat up."
Yun Shifei nodded.
Yun Sisi was about to give Yun Shifei a hateful glare when a piece of rib landed in her bowl.
This forced her to restrain her expression and turn her anger into a sweet smile directed at Xu Ya, "Thanks, Mom. Love you the most."