Chapter 3 Reaching Out First
I asked for the real daughter's contact under the pretext of "building feelings."
Mom's face showed a loving smile that she could hardly contain.
"Yes, yes, build some feelings well. After all, you two will be together day and night from now on."
I searched for the real daughter's profile.
Then found her avatar was all black, without even a username or signature.
I suddenly gasped.
I didn't dare imagine.
How much hardship this girl had endured these years.
From her all-black avatar with no username or signature, I inferred that a girl in her prime had been forced into such a darkened, do-not-disturb, cold and emotionless appearance.
With immense guilt, I sent her a message: "Jian Xi, hello, I'm Lin Duo."
She replied instantly.
"I know, they told me."
Her reply seemed cold and distant to me, just as Mom had said.
Look.
Calling her own biological parents "they."
It seemed to me she had been hurt in terms of family affection.
So when facing people close to her, she seemed to keep a vigilant attitude.
I really felt heartbroken for her.
"Woo woo Baby, it's all my fault. I've been enjoying your identity for so many years..."
Jian Xi:
"No need to apologize."
"You were adopted, so there's no such thing as occupying my identity."
I couldn't help but pause.
Who said barren land couldn't bloom vibrant flowers?
To me, this fragile girl who had suffered so much showed no resentment but thoughtfully found reasons for me.
My eyes welled up.
"Baby, you're really kind."
"Baby, from today on, I'm your family. Don't worry, I'll definitely treat you well."
"Woo woo love you kiss mwah mwah..."
Jian Xi replied with six dots: "......"
After a while.
Another message popped up.
"Don't call me that."
I: "What? Call you what?"
This time.
Jian Xi was silent for a full ten minutes before replying.
"It's, it's Baby..."
I: "Why?"
Jian Xi: "Don't you think such a name is developing too fast?"
I immediately refuted.
"With our relationship, me calling you Baby is perfectly normal. Where is it fast?"
"Baby, you need to get used to it quickly. After all, I'll keep calling you that from now on."
"Call it for a lifetime."
Jian Xi: "......"
Jian Xi: "Actually, about what they said, I'm still considering, so you don't need to rush."
I wondered if she still held defenses against this home and me in it.
I anxiously comforted her.
"You mustn't overthink, and don't listen to outside gossip."
"Everyone at home loves you, especially me. I love you the most."
After these two messages were sent.
Jian Xi kept showing "typing" for a long time.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes... a full fifteen minutes passed.
Jian Xi then sent a slightly doubtful message.
"You, have you seen me?"
So she was worried about that.
Although I hadn't seen her.
This guilt and desire to make up for it, to protect her, were all real.
But to avoid her overthinking, I decided to tell a white lie.
"Of course, Mom showed me your photo."
"The moment I saw you, I felt you must be a really really good person."
"There's a term called love at first sight, you know? That's how I feel about you. I swear, I truly like you."
Jian Xi: "...... You're truly like me?"
I: "Of course!"
Jian Xi:
"...... Cough."
"Oh, whatever, it doesn't affect me anyway."
"Okay, no more chat. My chicken soup is still on the stove, need to go kill the pot first. Bye."
......
What he said didn't match front to back.
I listened in confusion.
Yet I precisely caught a key info—
Jian Xi actually had to cook for the family?
A nameless anger surged up instantly.
I exploded right then.