Li Qing let out a disdainful “Hmph~” and cast a fleeting glance at Li Xin, who stood behind Father Li.
“Sister? Dad, what are you talking about? Isn’t my sister sitting right here beside me?”
With that, he raised his hand and ruffled Li Ran’s hair. Li Ran put on a deliberately delicate and fragile expression, shooting Li Qing a reproachful look.
“Brother, don’t say that. You’ll make Dad sad.”
Seeing his sister’s soft and adorable demeanor, Li Qing felt even more displeased with Li Xin. He took Li Ran’s hand and headed upstairs.
Only Father Li and Li Xin remained in the living room. Father Li couldn’t help but grumble inwardly—how could this mother and her two children leave him alone here!
He couldn’t bring himself to blame his wife, nor could he bear to blame his daughter. He could only direct his frustration toward his disobedient, unlucky son. He would have to dock his allowance to soothe the hurt he felt at this moment.
Seeing the gentle and refined middle-aged man before her, Li Xin’s resentment toward Li Ran grew even stronger.
A man like this should have been her father. How could someone who only knew how to gamble, beat his wife, and abuse his daughter be worthy of being her father!
She stepped forward, her voice choked with emotion. “Dad, I’ve waited for you for sixteen years. I’ve finally come home.”
Father Li turned to look at this daughter he had just reclaimed and sighed, reaching out to pat the girl’s shoulder.
“Good child, you’ve suffered all these years. It’s good that you’re home now. From now on, let our family live in harmony. A harmonious home brings prosperity!”
Father Li seemed to imply something in his words, but Li Xin appeared not to understand, blinking her small eyes as she looked at him.
“Dad, where will I stay? Should I take my suitcase upstairs and unpack?”
“Huh? Don’t you know where you’re staying? You’ll be right next to Xiao Ran. I clearly told your brother to get you settled. That kid! What’s going on!”
Father Li picked up Li Xin’s suitcase and headed upstairs, with Li Xin following behind, unconsciously clenching her fingers.
“It’s not Brother’s fault. He got a call and went out—probably busy with something. Dad, about Xiao Ran…”
Father Li seemed to know what Li Xin wanted to say and interrupted her with a chuckle. “Right, right. Xiao Ran is probably about ten minutes older than you, so you can call her sister.
Don’t overthink things. Next week, you’ll go to school with Xiao Ran. Studying is still very important!
This is your room. Let me know if there’s anything you need to add, okay?”
After giving his instructions, Father Li prepared to return to his room to check on his wife, but Li Xin tugged at the hem of his shirt from behind.
“Dad, about going to school… should I change my name?”
Father Li suddenly realized that changing her name would indeed be most appropriate before school registration. He nodded.
“Of course you should change it. After all, you’re a daughter of the Li family. How can you keep a different surname? Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it in the next few days.”
Satisfied with the answer, Li Xin let Father Li go and turned to enter the room that now belonged to her.
The room was enormous—the bedroom alone was larger than the tiny house her entire family had lived in before, not to mention the walk-in closet and private bathroom.
Li Xin set down her suitcase and walked into the closet.
Inside the over-ten-square-meter closet, two wardrobes were filled with clothes and dresses. She didn’t question why the closet wasn’t fully stocked.
Because just the clothes in these two closets were already the most numerous and beautiful she had ever seen in her life.
The Li family’s financial situation was poor, and both parents were addicted to gambling. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say their home was bare and destitute. She remembered often wearing patched clothes as a child.
In recent years, with the rise of online shopping platforms like Taobao, she had started buying very cheap but poor-quality clothes online.
Li Xin casually picked up a champagne-colored dress and put it on.
She was somewhat dark-skinned, and her complexion wasn’t particularly smooth, but the dress still looked much better than the clothes she had been wearing.
Li Xin walked over to the mirror in the dress, looked at her reflection, and suddenly sat on the floor, wailing loudly.
The more she cried, the more resentful she felt. Such a good family! Such a nice house! Such beautiful clothes! All of this should have been hers long ago!
She should have been the one born with a silver spoon in her mouth, the one called the little princess of the Li family.
She had already returned, so why hadn’t that little bitch named Li Ran gotten out of her home yet?
She absolutely had to make her get out of her home. After occupying everything that didn’t belong to her for so long, she had to return it all!
She had to return it all, with interest!
Meanwhile, Li Ran was in Li Qing’s room, playing Switch with him.
Li Qing was very worried that his precious younger sister might be upset, so he wasn’t fully focused on the game. Instead, he kept glancing sideways at Li Ran’s expression.
“Brother, why do you keep staring at me? You’ve already lost several rounds.”
Caught red-handed, Li Qing rubbed his nose. “Sis, are you okay? Don’t overthink it. You’ll always be my sister. Wherever you are, I’ll be there.”
Li Ran felt a lump in her throat at Li Qing’s words. “Brother, I’m fine. Thank you, brother.”
Seeing his sister putting on a brave face made Li Qing feel even more heartbroken.
“Ah, about this matter… I don’t really know what to say either. After all, she is our parents’ flesh and blood. If you asked me to pack her up and throw her out, Mom and Dad would definitely throw me out instead.
As long as she doesn’t cause trouble, let’s just pretend she doesn’t exist, okay? I’m not asking you to accept her right away. Let’s take it slow, okay?
I talked with Dad this morning, and he already promised me that you’ll always be the little princess of our family. Sis, can you also promise me one thing?”
Li Ran turned her head to look at Li Qing. She didn’t know what he wanted to say, but she knew he would never harm her.
“Brother, go ahead,” she replied softly. Over the years, she had gone further and further down the path of pretending to be an innocent, delicate flower, almost forgetting her former willful and spoiled self.
Li Qing rubbed his fingers together and spoke to Li Ran with great seriousness.
“Li Ran, no matter what happens, whether or not we are related by blood, can you always treat Mom and Dad as your parents, treat me as your brother, and treat the Li family as your home? Just as if nothing has changed, okay?”
Li Ran hadn’t expected Li Qing to say such words. Even though she had always known how much the Li family cared for her in this life, hearing this
truly moved her deeply.
Li Ran threw herself into Li Qing’s arms. This was the first time since her Rebirth that she had cried so unrestrainedly, weeping as if the world were ending.
She cried until Li Qing was at a loss, and she cried until the Li parents rushed into the room.
Mother Li hurried over, crouched down to hug Li Ran, and pushed Li Qing away.
“You rascal! Did you bully your sister? Why is Xiao Ran crying so hard?”