Chapter 8 Altering the Courtyard
Aniang was right. Men turned inhumane when a woman appeared.
In Yaoguang Courtyard, Xie Yunting acted like a peacock with ruffled feathers. He bustled around Shen Wanrong.
"Shen Wanrong, do you really want to chop this tree?"
He jumped down from the tree. He casually tossed the swing rope he had just untied.
"Why? Are you reluctant?" Shen Wanrong smiled brightly.
Xie Yunting's ear tips turned red. He waved his hands repeatedly.
"Of course not. It's just that this tree has lush branches and leaves. In the summer heat, it's the coolest shade. I worried about the scorching sun then..."
"No matter. You know, I don't like it. No need for shade."
Xie Yunting's eyes held a sparkle I had never seen. "That's natural."
He kicked away the scattered swing frame. "Come, chop it down quickly."
Then, he saw me at the courtyard gate. His face turned pale instantly.
"Yao, Yaohua, why did you come?"
I knew I shouldn't have harbored illusions. I shouldn't have come at all.
But I couldn't help it.
I forced a smile. "I worried Brother might be reckless and disturb Shen Wanrong. Now it seems I worried too much."
Seeing I held no blame, he scratched his head awkwardly. Then he got excited. "Yaohua, you don't know. Shen girl is that little sister from the border city I mentioned to you."
Xie Yunting had followed Xie Chengzong to the front lines as a child to supervise the army.
He stayed there for over a year. After returning, he kept thinking about a playmate.
So that was Shen Wanrong.
I smiled without speaking. I stepped forward and touched the big tree. I looked at the discarded swing frame.
The tree was planted by Aniang with Xie Yunting when I was born.
The swing frame he discarded like trash was one he personally built for me at ten years old.
As the plot unfolded, just like Aniang's "death," none of these things could remain.
No matter. He had his Shen Wanrong. How could he remember I was his real sister?
Men truly couldn't be relied on.