I Want Her to See Only Me - Chapter 14

Xia Yu had been feeling drowsy these past two mornings, taking longer than usual to wake up when Xia Xiuyin called her.

Though she remained docile, obediently getting dressed and going to wash her face with Xia Xiuyin, her spirit was visibly diminished.

“A’Yu…” Xia Xiuyin cradled Xia Yu’s chin in her hand.

Xia Yu rubbed her eyes, her entire face resting in Xia Xiuyin’s palm. She almost bumped her head against the sink—she had fallen asleep standing up.

In the half-length mirror, the girl knelt before Xia Yu, wrist slightly raised, silk sleeves sliding past her pale elbows. One hand held Xia Yu’s jaw, while the other gently brushed her brow.

“A’Yu… did you not sleep well last night?”

Xia Xiuyin’s features were pristine, her dark-brown eyes fixed attentively on Xia Yu as she wiped Xia Yu’s face with a towel, her soft lips parting slightly.

Xia Yu’s mind, which had seemed to regain some clarity, once again devolved into disordered chaos. She shook her head subconsciously.

Xia Xiuyin examined her for a moment, then picked up the toothbrush from the ground and placed it on the counter. “Click.”

Xia Yu’s face turned bright red. “Sister…sorry.”

It seemed she hadn’t even brushed her teeth properly. As she spoke, she belatedly noticed the minty foam in her mouth.

Panicking, she covered her mouth with a hand, worried that she might accidentally spit the foam onto her sister.

“A’Yu, wait for me here,” Xia Xiuyin said, patting her head and helping her relax. “I’ll get a new toothbrush for you.”

Xia Yu guiltily nodded.

After washing up, Xia Xiuyin dabbed some moisturizer onto Xia Yu’s forehead and cheeks, then slowly spread it across her skin.

Xia Yu’s lashes quivered, as if she was feeling anxious.

Xia Xiuyin smiled. “Little ones don’t seem to like putting this on very much.”

Little ones…don’t…

“Are there other kids you don’t like?”

Who was her sister talking about?

Xia Yu’s eyes, hidden behind thin eyelids, shifted slightly beneath the surface.

“Sister… I like…” Xia Yu opened his eyes and hurriedly grabbed Xia Xiuyin’s two fingers.

“Hm?”

“Sister, I like putting on the fragrance.” Children often liked to repeat words, and the soft syllables felt like sweet cotton candy in Xia Yu’s mouth.

Xia Xiuyin turned her hand over and held Xia Yu’s in her palm, a smile blooming on her face, her eyes curving into crescents. “Then A’Yu should put the fragrance on her own hands.”

She imitated the child’s tone, her voice honey-sweet with a hint of teasing.

Xia Yu recognized it. Holding in her embarrassment, she placed her palms against Xia Xiuyin’s, applying the fragrance just as her sister did.

Before breakfast, Xia Xiuyin brought up that Xia Yu had been rather absentminded lately.

Aunt Chen placed a mint leaf on top of the steamed egg with scallop, then turned to glance at Xia Yu, who was earnestly carrying her bowl to set the table.

“The children are just tired from staying up late last night,” Aunt Chen said. “Young mistress, you don’t know; nowadays, many children won’t wake up before nine or ten in the morning. Our little darling is already quite punctual.”

Xia Xiuyin had a habit of waking up early to study, and only after finishing her own routine would she go wake Xia Yu. Even so, Xia Yu had already descended the stairs by half past five.

“Really?” Xia Xiuyin asked, perplexed. She was a disciplined child, and her habits often influenced Xia Yu, who would also follow suit and go to bed early.

Aunt Chen chuckled at the rare sight of Xia Xiuyin’s confusion. “In truth, it’s because they’re addicted to their phones and television screens, staying up late into the night like little night owls. That’s why they can’t wake up in the mornings. I’m guessing our little darling is just growing up, and this is just a temporary phase.”

Xia Xiuyin nodded. “Of course A’Yu is different; she turns off her light and goes to bed before eight every night…”

Aunt Chen thought to herself, Isn’t it because the child is too obedient? Whatever Xia Xiuyin said, Xia Yu would do; she never dared to act out of line.

“Sister, time to eat…” Xia Yu walked over and tugged on Xia Xiuyin’s finger.

“Mm-hmm, let’s go.”

“Paper towel, health insurance card…” Xia Yu read the list aloud to her sister.

She carried a small cloth pouch over her shoulder, and now she held it with one hand to allow Xia Xiuyin to place the items inside.

“The last one, medical mask.” She checked the list quickly, “Sister…”

Xia Xiuyin zipped up the pouch and adjusted the hair clip on Xia Yu’s head. “A’Yu is so amazing.”

The words on the list were not spelled out, yet Xia Yu still managed to recognize all the characters.

“There were two words I didn’t know,” Xia Yu said softly, “so I had to guess.”

Xia Xiuyin knelt before her and playfully tapped her on the nose. “That’s even more amazing.”

Xia Yu opened her mouth, a little shocked; she hadn’t expected praise for simply doing what she thought was ordinary.

Liu Zhi stood beside the car. Earlier, Xia Xiuyin had asked him to make an appointment with a renowned pediatric specialist, scheduled for this morning.

He didn’t wait long before a servant opened the door, and Xia Xiuyin walked Xia Yu down the short flight of steps toward him along a small cobblestone path.

The slender girl wore simple, casual clothes, her white skin faintly glowing from the sunlight that filtered through the leaves on the side. Her gaze remained fixed on the child beside her, her expression gentle and features warmly affectionate.

Liu Zhi was momentarily stunned.

“Uncle Liu…” the child greeted him shyly.

Xia Yu clung to the strap of her cloth pouch, half of her small body leaning against Xia Xiuyin.

“Hey there,” he responded.

Perhaps it was because the girl truly did look different each day, but the Xia Yu before him now was fair and clean, her eyes large and clear as she peered at him, pure and innocent.

Liu Zhi almost forgot the first time he’d seen her, when she had been dirty and pitiful.

“Come, get in the car. I’m afraid the road is going to be a bit congested.” Liu Zhi opened the door, his hand resting on the top of the car, protecting the children from bumping their heads.

Xia Yu placed her bag down, shuffling over to give her sister more space. Xia Xiuyin sat down, fixing her niece’s hair.

“Miss, would you like to listen to some music?” The car’s internal storage mostly contained light music, which Xia Xiuyin preferred.

Xia Xiuyin glanced at Xia Yu, noticing her still slightly drowsy eyes, and nodded. “Mm, Uncle Liu can play the songs I usually listen to.”

Her little niece always complained that her aunt was mean, as she would always sing these songs to lull her to sleep.

As expected, not long after the car drove off, Xia Yu’s head began to droop, her eyelashes also slowly closing.

Her body swayed slightly, jolting her back to consciousness, and she instinctively reached out to Xia Xiuyin.

Upon discovering Xia Xiuyin sitting beside her, she grabbed the corner of her sister’s clothes, lowering her head with an embarrassed smile.

Xia Xiuyin watched, her heart melting at the sight.

Xia Yu’s small head hung almost to her knees. Before the girl woke, Xia Xiuyin had carefully cradled her head in her lap.

“Sister…” Xia Yu called out softly.

Xia Xiuyin covered Xia Yu’s eyes with her hand. “A’Yu, rest for a bit. When we get to the hospital, Sister will wake you up.”

“Mm…” Xia Yu responded in a soft voice, nuzzling against Xia Xiuyin’s palm before falling into deep slumber.

Liu Zhi lowered the music volume; the gentle melody filled the car like a layer of mist.

“There might be sick children in the hospital carrying germs, so we need to protect ourselves.” Xia Xiuyin helped Xia Yu put on a surgical mask. “A’Yu, don’t take off your mask.”

More than half of Xia Yu’s small face was covered, leaving only a pair of black eyes visible. Her long eyelashes flickered as she looked at Xia Xiuyin, clearly anxious.

Xia Xiuyin ripped open a new pack of masks and covered herself with one, then gently nudged Xia Yu’s cheek with her own, the two masks rubbing against each other with a soft rustling sound.

“There’s no need… to be this concerned.” A faint smile spread from behind the fabric, reaching Xia Yu’s ears and causing rumbling sounds to echo in her chest.

Liu Zhi followed behind the two girls, ready to assist if Xia Xiuyin needed.

“Move it up a little.”

After carefully studying how others used the machine, Xia Yu pressed the card up toward the sensor, but there was no beep, nor did any confirmation pop up.

Xia Xiuyin placed her hand over Xia Yu’s, warmth enveloping Xia Yu’s cold fingers as they moved upward together.

“Beep.”

Specialist Clinic xxx Xia Yu 01

Xia Yu’s eyes lit up.

“Let’s go inside.” Xia Xiuyin grabbed Xia Yu’s hand, including the card, into her own.

Upon learning Xia Yu was eight years old, the doctor removed her glasses and studied Xia Yu carefully.

The child held her body stiffly, not moving an inch as she suppressed her fear.

“According to normal rate of child development, it’s not uncommon for eight-year-old girls to have started to developed.”

The doctor asked Xia Yu to lift her shirt and felt around with gloved hands.

“This child…”

The doctor paused when she noticed the scar on Xia Yu’s abdomen.

Xia Yu wore a medium-sleeved shirt, and during the movement, faint scars became visible. Perhaps due to the doctor’s direct gaze, Xia Yu began trembling.

Before the doctor could question Xia Xiuyin, the latter quickly explained, “It’s not my Sister… It was a bad person.”

Xia Xiuyin pressed her lips together, eyebrows pressed down, and her eyes dimmed.

She pulled Xia Yu into a hug, fixed the girl’s shirt, and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, those glistening orbs.

“A’Yu, it’s okay.”

“Is there anything else that needs to be done?” she asked softly.

The doctor observed the interaction between the two and adjusted her glasses. She printed out a medical report on the computer and wrote a few lines for Xia Xiuyin.

“Because we haven’t done a thorough examination, we need to run all the tests. The ones marked can be completed today, but the MRI scan has already been scheduled for next week, so you can go ahead and make an appointment.”

Xia Yu was completely hidden behind Xia Xiuyin, his head buried in her waist.

The doctor added, “Before noon, I’d like to see the results of the tests that have been completed.”

“Thank you.” Xia Xiuyin patted Xia Yu’s hair. “A’Yu, say goodbye to the doctor.”

Xia Yu lifted her eyes, the panic in them still lingering. She looked trustingly at Xia Xiuyin and, after seeing her sister encourage her, mustered up some courage. “Good… bye.”

The doctor pulled down her mask, exposing the wrinkles by her eyes from smiling warmly at Xia Yu. “Goodbye, my dear.”

Xia Yu’s eyes widened slightly. The doctor seemed like a kind person too.

While Liu Zhi went to the other medical building to prepare for the appointment, Xia Yu and her sister sat on the bench outside the examination office, waiting to be called for their blood test.

A young boy near Xia Yu was crying in his mother’s arms, his body shaking violently and his small legs kicking as she held him.

“It doesn’t hurt, it really doesn’t,” his mother coaxed him. “Look, Haohao, that little girl over there isn’t crying.”

The woman was pointing in Xia Yu’s direction.

The little boy, snot bubbles hanging from his nose, sniffled and looked toward Xia Yu. His round face and big eyes made him look quite adorable.

Xia Yu met the boy’s gaze, hand held by Xia Xiuyin.

“Sis…sis…” The boy stopped crying, sniffled, and reached out a hand to grab Xia Yu.

Xia Yu still wore her mask, but her eyes were truly pretty, and her quiet demeanor made even the youngest children like her.

“Sister…” Xia Yu called Xia Xiuyin softly.

“A’Yu, what do you want to do?” Xia Xiuyin’s voice was also quiet.

Xia Yu blinked, then reached out a hand for the little boy to hold.

“Don’t cry,” she said.

The boy grinned, revealing two rows of small white teeth. “Sis…sis…”

Xia Yu’s eyes curved as she smiled.

During the blood test, the little boy had been standing behind Xia Yu. Xia Yu extended her arm through the window, and her sister covered her eyes, her eyelashes brushing against the soft palm.

The medical staff wiped her finger with a cotton swab and held her hand. Xia Yu leaned into Xia Xiuyin’s embrace, listening to the heartbeat within her sister’s chest, feeling comforted.

The thin end of the tube was pressed against her finger.

“Does it hurt?” the little boy asked, staring at Xia Yu’s finger.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Xia Yu replied after a moment’s thought.

Even though his eyes brimmed with tears, the little boy didn’t cry after getting his blood drawn.

“You’re so brave.” Xia Yu waved goodbye to the little boy as she left with her sister’s hand in hers.

She waved at him, saying, “Goodbye.”

“The majority of the test results are just above the lowest acceptable scores… The malnutrition is quite severe,” the doctor said, glancing at the report. “The most important issue right now is whether or not this child’s growth and development are normal.”

“My suggestion would be to observe her for three months first. If there’s no improvement during that time, I hope you can consider hormone therapy.”

“Hormone therapy?”

“A monthly injection for two to three years. If there’s no significant change even after that, then there’s no need to try further in increasing height.” The doctor measured Xia Xiuyin with his eyes. “Hormone treatment is expensive, but you shouldn’t have to worry about the cost.”

Xia Yu was outside the examination room with Liu Zhi, holding the door shut so Xia Xiuyin couldn’t hear their conversation.

“Okay.” Xia Xiuyin watched the doctor place Xia Yu’s information into a file folder and write down the name and account number on the front with a marker.

“I only work half a day, so for the rest of the examination results, you’ll need to schedule another appointment… Um, next Wednesday.” The doctor looked exhausted as well. “If anything urgent comes up during this time, you can contact me.”

“Thank you.”

“So, that’s all for today’s appointment. You…” The doctor pondered briefly. “What’s your relationship with that child?”

Xia Xiuyin shifted her gaze to those kind eyes.

———–

“Uncle Liu, you aren’t wearing a mask.” Xia Yu, suppressing his own embarrassment, couldn’t help but remind Liu Zhi.

Liu Zhi felt compelled to wipe his face under those clear, clean eyes.

“Sister said we have to wear masks so the germs won’t harm us,” she said, her voice tinged with concern, as if she were an adult speaking to another.

“Uncle Liu, you have to protect yourself too.”

As soon as she finished, she realized she had spoken too much and quickly covered her mouth with her hands, leaving soft tears in her bright eyes.

Liu Zhi was a little surprised but soon smiled. “Thank you, I’ll be more careful next time.”

Xia Yu’s eyes curved into crescents, seeming relieved.

Xia Xiuyin walked out from the door.

“Big Sister!” Xia Yu jumped up from her chair, excitedly flinging herself into Xia Xiuyin’s arms like a little dove.

Realizing they were in the presence of others, she withdrew sheepishly, then reached up high with her hands, calling, “Big Sister…”

Xia Xiuyin took her hand, captivated by the girl’s rosy cheeks and glistening eyes. “A’Yu, let’s go home.”

Xia Yu leaned comfortably by her side.

Liu Zhi grabbed a bag of medication and the medical report, then took out his car keys from his pocket, following behind the two girls.

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