Gu Xiaoxiao followed Old Madam Gu out of the house.
Outside, just as they were about to head to the fields, Grandpa Gu and Father Gu spotted her emerging from the room.
They immediately dropped what they were doing and hurried over.
“Xiaoxiao, you’re awake! Does your body still hurt?”
“Xiaoxiao, if you’re feeling uncomfortable, remember to tell Grandpa, alright?”
Gu Xiaoxiao could feel their genuine concern.
Smiling brightly, she nodded.
“Dad, Grandpa, I’m already feeling much better. My head doesn’t hurt anymore. Look, I’m perfectly fine!”
She even spun around in a circle in front of them.
The two men were so frightened by the display that they hurriedly waved their hands.
“Alright, alright, we know!”
The worry on their faces was unmistakably real.
Only after confirming that she truly looked much better did they finally feel relieved enough to leave for the fields.
Since she had only just arrived in this world, Gu Xiaoxiao had no idea what she was supposed to do.
So she simply followed behind Old Madam Gu.
Then again, according to the original owner’s memories, she had always been the type who opened her mouth to be fed and stretched out her hands to be dressed.
She never did any work.
Otherwise, there was no way she would still be so fair-skinned compared to the rest of the family.
Following Old Madam Gu into the backyard, she found herself in the family’s vegetable garden.
Rows of vegetables filled the plot.
Chinese cabbage.
Green onions.
Garlic chives.
Long beans.
Everything was lush and green, making it look incredibly appetizing.
It was obvious how carefully Old Madam Gu tended the garden.
The old woman skillfully picked up a bucket from the corner and prepared to water the vegetables.
When she noticed Gu Xiaoxiao trying to enter the garden as well, she immediately stopped her.
“Xiaoxiao, don’t come in. It’s dirty here. Your shoes will get dirty.”
Gu Xiaoxiao looked at the dry ground.
There wasn’t even any mud.
How could her shoes possibly get dirty?
“It won’t, Grandma. It’s not dirty at all. Let me help you.”
She stepped forward to take the ladle from Old Madam Gu’s hands.
Unfortunately, the old woman’s reaction was even faster.
The ladle disappeared behind her back in an instant.
Then she physically pushed Gu Xiaoxiao back out of the garden.
“Xiaoxiao, don’t. Grandma can handle this herself. Go play somewhere else, okay?”
After successfully coaxing her granddaughter away, Old Madam Gu returned to her vegetables.
Looking at the thriving green plants in the garden, she let out a huge sigh of relief.
Her vegetable patch had been saved!
The last time Gu Xiaoxiao had offered to help water the garden, Old Madam Gu had actually been touched.
She had thought her granddaughter was finally becoming sensible.
So she happily let her help.
When she returned later, she discovered water everywhere.
The previously dry soil had become a swamp of mud.
The vegetable seedlings had been flooded so badly that many had been uprooted entirely.
Old Madam Gu had nearly fainted on the spot.
More than half the garden had been destroyed.
Ever since that day, a deep psychological scar had formed in her heart.
She swore that Gu Xiaoxiao would never again be allowed to step foot in her vegetable patch.
Meanwhile, Gu Xiaoxiao had absolutely no idea she’d been permanently blacklisted from the garden.
She simply assumed that her grandmother was doting on her and didn’t want her to do any work.
At that moment, two young men emerged from a nearby house.
One was tall.
The other was shorter.
The taller one was her older brother, Gu Zhenzhong.
The shorter one was her younger brother, Gu Yanchen.
Her older brother adored her.
Her younger brother, on the other hand, had been bullied by the original owner so often that he was terrified of her.
The moment Gu Yanchen saw Gu Xiaoxiao, he immediately hid behind his older brother.
As though she were some kind of monster.
Seeing this, Gu Xiaoxiao couldn’t help twitching her lips.
What was that supposed to mean?
Was she some kind of terrifying beast?
Gu Zhenzhong, however, greeted her enthusiastically.
“Little sister, you’re up so early today? Usually you wake up later than the pigs in our house.”
Gu Xiaoxiao had originally intended to greet him politely.
But after hearing that comparison…
she changed her mind.
Comparing her to a pig right off the bat?
Was he serious?
No wonder the original owner always got annoyed with this brother.
Forget it.
She wasn’t in the mood to greet him anymore.
Turning around, she prepared to leave.
“Little sister, where are you going?”
Gu Xiaoxiao stopped.
Right.
Where was she going?
Then she asked,
“Where are you two going?”
The moment his sister responded to him, Gu Zhenzhong immediately straightened his back, trying his best to look reliable and impressive.
“We’re heading into the mountains to check the traps I set.”
The instant she heard that, Gu Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up.
She had almost forgotten.
Her older brother was actually a pretty capable hunter.
If they were going into the mountains…
then there must be plenty of good things there.
She wanted to go too!
“I want to come!”
Gu Zhenzhong froze.
Had he heard correctly?
Behind him, Gu Yanchen cautiously peeked his head out and stared at Gu Xiaoxiao with a strange expression.
Gu Xiaoxiao felt puzzled.
“What’s with those looks?”
Startled, Gu Yanchen immediately shrank back behind his brother like a frightened turtle retreating into its shell.
Scratching his head, Gu Zhenzhong said honestly,
“Didn’t you always hate going into the mountains? Last time I invited you, you scolded me and said mountain paths would dirty your shoes.”
Oh.
So that had happened.
The memory surfaced in her mind.
Not wanting them to notice anything strange, Gu Xiaoxiao deliberately copied the original owner’s arrogant tone.
“So what if I want to go now? Are you taking me or not?”
Gu Zhenzhong was overjoyed.
He had always wanted his little sister to spend more time with him.
“Of course! Of course! Let me go grab the ropes first.”
Gu Xiaoxiao nodded.
Gu Zhenzhong immediately ran off toward the storage shed.
The moment he left, Gu Yanchen was completely exposed.
The poor boy didn’t even have time to react.
He stood there blankly.
Watching his dazed expression, Gu Xiaoxiao found him unexpectedly adorable.
A smile appeared on her lips.
“Ah Chen, come here.”
To Gu Yanchen, her voice sounded like a demon’s whisper.
His legs trembled uncontrollably.
Yet he still found himself walking toward her.
By the time he regained his senses, he was already standing in front of her.
Seeing his bewildered face, Gu Xiaoxiao slowly reached out a hand.
Almost by reflex, Gu Yanchen lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut.
He didn’t even dare block her hand.
Because whenever he resisted…
he got beaten.
Her hand landed gently on top of his head.
The expected pain never came.
Instead, a warm palm rested there softly.
Gu Yanchen froze.
Several seconds passed before he dared look up.
What he saw left him stunned.
Gu Xiaoxiao was smiling.
Not her usual sinister smile.
Not the cruel grin he remembered.
It was a warm, gentle smile.
For a moment, he couldn’t process it.
Gu Xiaoxiao softly stroked his hair.
Then she spoke in a quiet voice.
“Ah Chen, I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you before.”
“I hurt you.”
“But I won’t be like that anymore.”
“Can you forgive your big sister?”