Chapter 436 Fairness

Xu Nian hugged her, rubbed her head, and forced a smile, but her heart was heavy.

Xiaoxi's life story is so pitiful. Now that she can get rid of the pain and become a normal, healthy girl, reunite with him, and live happily ever after, is what he longs for most.

But this happiness was built on the self-sacrifice and silent sacrifice of another equally pitiful girl.

Is this fair to Xu Xi?

She gave so much, yet she ended up like this; it's utterly unfair.

But in this world, fairness is a utopian concept that exists only in people's expectations.

Thinking of this, he gently shook his head, suppressing the strange emotions in his heart.

Xiaoxi has finally recovered and is a healthy girl again. He should be happy.

"I missed you too." He cupped the girl's face and gently kissed her forehead.

The two sat hand in hand on the hospital bed, chatting about their experiences, interesting stories, and the longing they had accumulated during this time.

Although Xu Xi had already seen everything through Xu Xi's memories in her sleep, she still laughed uncontrollably and covered her mouth, unable to straighten up, when she heard her brother talk about how he outwitted and outmaneuvered Prince Sauron in Hawaii.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and the two seemed to have endless things to talk about.

Xu Xi's phone buzzed twice, and when she looked down, she saw it was a message from Leng Huaqiu.

"Hey you two, if you want to show off your love, go home! Why are you so blatantly displaying your affection in my neighborhood? Have you even considered how I, a single person, feel???"

Xu Xi could almost see Leng Huaqiu's resentful face as she typed, all through the screen.

She chuckled, took the man's hand, and led him out of the clinic: "Brother, let's go home. I really want to eat your cooking."

"Okay." Xu Nian nodded, the gloom in his eyes dissipating slightly. He took her hand, walked out of the sanatorium, and drove home.

The two continued chatting away the whole way.

......

"Hey bro, I heard you got your eight-pack abs back? Come on, let me touch them."

"Stop fooling around, we're driving."

......

When she got home, Xu Xi didn't even have time to change her shoes before she picked up Mai Mai, who was guarding the door, and buried her head in its round belly: "Mmm~ Mai Mai, it's been so long, I missed you so much."

Mai Mai meowed twice in confusion, her two jewel-like eyes filled with question marks.

Why is it that this owner hasn't come home for a day, and seems like a completely different person, unlike the previous owner?

Its little head was filled with big questions.

After a moment of intimacy, Xu Xi suddenly adopted a fierce expression, pinched Mai Mai's chubby cheeks with her fingers, and said menacingly.

"MaiMai, you've gone too far! Only six months have passed, and you've gained even more weight. Did you sneak in lots of snacks while I wasn't looking?"

Mai Mai meowed pitifully, her little face scrunched up, looking utterly innocent.

Xu Xi also dotes on this furry little guy, and has been feeding it snacks and extra meals ever since they returned from Hawaii.

It's just a little cat, it doesn't know anything about controlling its weight or restricting its diet, it eats everything that comes its way.

You're the one who fattened me up, and now you're complaining that I'm fat? Listen to what you're saying, is that even human?

Xu Xi completely ignored its "explanation," grabbing its neck fiercely and commanding, "Starting tomorrow, when your brother goes out to train, you'll come with him. You're not allowed to come home or eat until you've run at least 20 kilometers!"

"Meow meow!" Mai Mai panicked instantly, struggling desperately in her arms, waving her little paws wildly, her face full of resistance.

Even when Xu Nian ran 20 kilometers for the first time, she was chased by a Tibetan mastiff that hadn't eaten for several days, and she barely managed to finish the run driven by her survival instinct.

How could such a naive little creature withstand such torment?

It broke free from Xu Xi's restraints, jumped to the ground, turned its head and began to breathe on Xu Xi.

"Hey, you've gone too far!" Xu Xi pouted angrily, rolled up her sleeves, and pretended to grab it.

A hint of panic flashed in Mai Mai's eyes. She quickly waved her little paws, pounced, and landed heavily in Xu Nian's arms. She raised her little head and meowed pitifully at him, her little eyes full of pleading, hoping that he would intercede for her.

Fortunately, Xu Nian had been exercising regularly and her physical condition had improved a lot. Otherwise, if it had hit her so hard, she would have been covered in bruises.

He pinched Mai Mai's little bottom, both amused and exasperated, and said helplessly, "Have you forgotten, Mai Mai? In this family, I don't have the final say. You have to listen to your sister."

"Meow~" Mai Mai drooped her little head listlessly, her ears also drooping, looking dejected.

......

Soon it was dinnertime. Xu Nian went to the storage room and carried the bag of chili powder into the kitchen.

He looked at the various sweet seasonings laid out beside the stove and sighed silently.

The sadness I thought I had been hiding came back at me once more.

The little girl who loved sweets is gone; I guess we won't need these things anymore.

He silently put the seasonings into the cupboard, then took out the spicy seasonings from the cupboard and arranged them one by one.

He ate absentmindedly during the meal, and his appetite shrank considerably. After only a few bites, he put down his chopsticks and hurriedly left the table.

Xu Xi saw his expression, pouted, and sighed softly.

That night, the two lay in bed, embracing and talking.

"Brother, do you know?" Xu Xi pulled out the exquisite little figurine from under her pillow, "Actually, Sister Xi really likes it, but she just doesn't want to show it in front of you."

"I know." Xu Nian looked at the figurine, and Xu Xi's cold face appeared in her mind again.

How could he not see that Xu Xi adored the little figurine? It was just that she was proud and aloof, and even if she liked it, she wouldn't say it outright.

Xu Xi pouted, feigning a sour expression, and poked the man's chest. "Brother, you made a figurine for Sister Xi, what about mine? I want one too."

Xu Nian gently stroked her hair and said affectionately, "I'll make it for you tomorrow."

Hearing this, Xu Xi immediately beamed, leaned close to his cheek, and kissed him: "Hehe, brother is so good, mua!"

As she spoke, her small hand restlessly slipped inside Xu Nian's clothes, her eyes gleaming with ambiguous desire.

Xu Nian's mind was in turmoil at the moment, and she really couldn't muster any interest in that.

He gently took Xu Xi's hand and pulled it out of his clothes: "I'm sorry, Xiao Xi, let's do it tomorrow. I'm tired today."

Seeing his reaction, Xu Xi wasn't angry. She just hummed softly, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "Brother, do you believe me? If I just change my clothes, you won't be tired anymore."