I Want Her to See Only Me - Chapter 3

“Miss, we’re home.” Liu Zhi didn’t want to startle Xia Xiuyin, but after an hour-long drive and a restless night, Xia Xiuyin needed rest.

In the rearview mirror, Xia Xiuyin removed the towel, exposing a dirty child with reddened cheeks. Liu Zhi took great care of his car, so the interior was often scented with custom-made aromatherapy. Everything Xia Yu could see was pristine and luxurious, and the faint scent of luxury lingered in her nose; her toes curled tightly into the floor, afraid to move.

She was too dirty.

Xia Yu felt a little dismayed, then lowered her head to discover her palms were white, and she stared at them in surprise.

Feeling Xia Xiuyin’s gaze on her, her ears and neck turned red.

Her sister had wiped her down.

The little rabbit in her chest thumped wildly once again.

Her sister had said she’d take care of her.

It was true.

“Let’s go inside and take a look around.” Xia Xiuyin brushed aside some stray strands of hair from Xia Yu’s face. “Aunt Chen made congee. We’ll have a shower and warm up, then eat.”

Xia Yu quietly met her gaze, her clear eyes like a pool of water, untainted and pure.

Xia Xiuyin leaned in close, and Xia Yu could clearly see the concern and gentleness in her sister’s eyes. Xia Xiuyin’s lashes fluttered slightly with every blink, stirring the affection deep within her.

Liu Zhi opened the car door, extending his arm as if to receive the child.

Xia Yu instinctively leaned into Xia Xiuyin’s embrace, but her limbs stiffened the moment she moved. She had to listen to her sister, not cause her any trouble. With a little hesitation, she raised a small hand, allowing Liu Zhi to carry her.

“What a good little girl. So obedient,” Liu Zhi cooed as he skillfully settled Xia Yu in his arms.

Though she was a bit reserved and even a little shy, she was a lovable child. Her small face was fair and clean, her eyes large and round like black grapes, glistening and charming.

The man’s chest was firm and warm; Xia Yu felt a little uneasy at first, but she heard him praise her, thinking he must be a good person, someone she could grow fond of.

Xia Yu leaned against Liu Zhi’s chest, her eyes fixed on Xia Xiuyin.

The young girl had one foot out the door, exposing a slender ankle as delicate and smooth as jade, with a small and refined bone structure.

Xia Xiuyin folded the used wet towel and placed it inside her purse, then stepped out of the car.

She looked at Xia Yu, whose eyes were wide open, stiffly adhering to Liu Zhi’s embrace, her face slightly pale and uneasy. Despite her apprehension, the little girl remained calm, her gaze unwavering as she followed Xia Xiuyin.

Xia Yu instinctively rejected the approach of adult men, even if they usually brought her a sense of safety; right now, these feelings only instilled anxiety in her.

Thus, Xia Xiuyin gently patted Xia Yu’s hair. “Let Uncle Liu park the car. Your big sister will carry you.”

Xia Yu’s mouth parted slightly, and she reached out her small hands. Once she received confirmation, she carefully wrapped herself around Xia Xiuyin with delight.

Familiar scents enveloped her, the smell she had firmly engraved in her memory.

A slight sourness bloomed in Xia Xiuyin’s heart.

Xia Xiuyin walked slowly, the housekeeper trailing her with a handbag. The sound of her light footsteps on the cobblestone path leading to the stairs echoed in the air.

Xia Yu leaned her head against Xia Xiuyin’s slim shoulder, her ear pressed to the side of the young woman’s fair neck. As they walked, Xia Yu closed her eyes.

The meticulously manicured garden, spacious grounds, welcoming servants, and provided driver… Xia Yu began to realize that her sister led an extraordinary life. The unfamiliar and magnificent architecture loomed like a mountain before her eyes, and her grip around Xia Xiuyin’s waist tightened.

Noticing Xia Yu’s unease, Xia Xiuyin gently patted her on the back.

“This is our home,” she whispered.

The nearby servants heard her words clearly and exchanged glances.

Their mistress had said she was going to retrieve a pet, so why…why did she come back with a child?

It seemed that Xia Xiuyin intended to leave Xia Yu with her.

“Miss…” Aunt Chen stepped out, momentarily startled by the child’s appearance, but quickly recovered and offered Xia Yu a pair of slippers. “Come, let Auntie hold you,” she said, “and change your shoes.”

Xia Yu lifted her head from Xia Xiuyin’s shoulder, glanced at her sister, and, mustering her courage, allowed this aunt she’d never met to carry her.

“Aunt Chen, it’s all right,” Xia Xiuyin said, noticing the girl’s apprehension. “We can walk on our own, can’t we?”

“Aunt Chen, please help her get a pair of shoes. Thank you.”

Only then did Aunt Chen notice that the child was barefoot. Her face and hands were clean, but her feet were covered in dark grime. Her long-sleeved pantsuit, though ragged, had a hood.

Astonished, Aunt Chen wondered if this child really had been picked up from a trash bin.

“No trouble, no trouble at all.” Xia Xiuyin had a seven- or eight-year-old niece who often visited, so she kept a pair of children’s slippers at home.

Xia Yu’s dirty little feet slipped into the soft, clean shoes, and she stood obediently on the floor, lips pressed tightly together. Her fingers clutched the hem of her shirt as though to lessen the surging embarrassment.

She would make her aunt’s house dirty.

Xia Yu’s eyes reddened. Despite having clearly declined Aunt Chen’s embrace, the little girl’s mood still sank lower.

Xia Xiuyin wanted to say something, but when she looked up, she noticed Xia Yu’s gaze fixed on her own feet.

There was a small stain, a spot she hadn’t wiped clean with the towel.

This child, mature to a fault, possessed a sense of shame uncommon in others her age.

Xia Xiuyin felt her heart stir. Without offering comfort or anything else, she held her hand out to Xia Yu. A joy, untimely, welled up inside her.

“Come, let’s go take a bath.”

“Miss, allow me.” Aunt Chen followed her closely. “The congee needs a bit more time to simmer. You should eat some of these pastries first and fill your stomach. It’s not good for you to go out so early in the morning and spend so long on the road without eating.”

Xia Xiuyin was picking out a gentle shampoo and shower gel in the bathroom, carefully scanning the ingredient list.

Xia Yu, wearing slightly oversized slippers, tugged on the hem of her pants, hiding half her body behind Xia Xiuyin, and cautiously peeked at Aunt Chen.

“It’s fine.” Xia Xiuyin gently patted Xia Yu’s hand. “Aunt Chen, little ones like sweet food… Please make her an egg custard with a bit of honey.”

Meaning, she didn’t need to dirty her hands.

Xia Xiuyin was always kind to the servants in her house, speaking softly and never harshly. She rarely made requests, but when she did, she always began with “please” or “thanks.” Thus, when she gently declined a suggestion from Aunt Chen or Liu Zhi due to a difference in opinion, they never took it to heart.

But Aunt Chen and Liu Zhi never dared overstep their bounds. They knew, even though she still smiled, the young lady’s decisions were unquestionable. It was her inherent aloofness, but her gentle demeanor was merely a product of her years of refined upbringing.

“All right.” After adjusting the water temperature for Xia Xiuyin, Aunt Chen retreated to the first floor.

“Here you go.” Xia Xiuyin held up the bottles for Xia Yu, thinking carefully of what to say. Finally, a faint smile appeared on her face as she said, “Darling.”

As expected, the quiet child suddenly lifted her head, her clear black eyes bright despite her furrowed eyebrows, looking startled and confused.

Darling.

Xia Yu met with a pair of smiling eyes, the corners of her sister’s lips curved gently in the steam of the bathroom, appearing soft and dewy. Perhaps it was due to this endearing nickname or the sight before her eyes, but Xia Yu felt her face slowly redden once again. She lowered her head almost to her collarbone, shyly taking the bottles and hugging them close, glancing only at Xia Xiuyin’s ankles.

Xia Xiuyin led the little girl to the porcelain bathtub, where the latter obediently sat on a stool. Xia Xiuyin wrapped an arm around Xia Yu from behind, holding the showerhead in her hand and gently massaging Xia Yu’s hair.

“Close your eyes, and let me know if water gets in there.” The sound of running water softened Xia Xiuyin’s voice, making it even more gentle, each word worming its way into Xia Yu’s ears, dancing in her heart. Xia Yu’s hands, which had been placed neatly on her knees, clenched on the worn fabric, leaving deep creases.

“Lean forward just a bit.” Xia Yu had been sitting upright, so water from the showerhead flowed down her back.

Xia Xiuyin noticed Xia Yu shiver slightly, so she softened her tone, speaking with a hint of teasing. “Don’t be scared; I won’t let the showerhead bump you.”

The little girl relaxed, her ears turning red. Xia Xiuyin was very close to her, so Xia Yu could feel the slight vibrations of her chest as she laughed, each ripple spreading through her body until they permeated her skin and struck her heart.

Xia Yu’s heart pounded in her chest. Her sister’s warm breath, the steady heartbeat from her chest, the dancing fingers that landed on her hair, and…this long embrace, every single one stirred her heart.

“Good girl,” her sister praised her.

Xia Yu’s breath hitched. Overwhelmed by this immense happiness, Xia Yu’s fingers nearly cramped as they rested on her knees.

But when she sniffed the air for Xia Xiuyin’s scent, she was instead assaulted by the sour smell coming off of herself.

It came from her tangled hair, her old clothes, and…from her ruined body, spreading from her flesh outward.

“Did water get in?”

A soft, fragrant towel appeared over her nose and mouth, gently wiping her clean.

“I’m so clumsy.”

“Does this feel better?” The tone of voice was filled with both annoyance and worry.

Xia Yu nodded quietly, thinking to herself that her sister was not clumsy in the slightest.

After being rinsed four or five times, the water flowing from the child’s hair finally ran clear.

Xia Xiuyin wrapped the towel around Xia Yu’s hair. “Next, it’s bath time.”

Xia Yu’s small face, which had only just cooled, once again flushed with heat as she timidly raised her head.

Xia Xiuyin met a pair of teary eyes, brimming with vulnerability and embarrassment, so delicate and shallow that any harsh words would draw a beautiful tear. She fell silent for a moment, then patted Xia Yu’s nose, filled the bathtub, adjusted the temperature, and poured in thick bubbles.

Finally, she knelt before Xia Yu. “Can you take off your clothes yourself?”

“After that, slowly get into the bath. I’ll turn around and cover my eyes with my hands. Call me when you’re done.”

Xia Yu lowered her head and fiddled with her clothes, nodding gently.

Behind her came the soft sounds of clothes rustling, then the quiet splashing of water. Xia Xiuyin waited but a moment before a delicate voice called out, “Sis… Sister.”

Xia Xiuyin turned around and saw Xia Yu looking up at her, fully immersed in the pure white bubbles, as cute and innocent as a soft cotton candy.