Chapter Seventy-Four: Little Sister

  The next day, Meng Er woke up on the couch and saw Yu Er sitting in front of the dresser, her unfocused eyes staring out the window, lost in thought. Meng Er didn't know how to greet her, so she followed her gaze outside and saw Yan Yi and Xiao Niang standing in the courtyard, chatting about something.

  "Has Meng'er woken up?" The soft voice from the bed made Yu'er's gaze turn back to the direction of the bed, and asked gently.

  "Uh-huh!" Meng Er replied!

  "Don't you think it's strange that I knew you woke up?" Yuer asked softly, not waiting for Meng'er to respond, she continued: "Maybe it's the heavens' sympathy, I lost my sight, but my hearing is super good!"

  Meng'er looked at the pale face that had been staying in the room for a long time, feeling somewhat sympathetic. Yu'er started living in darkness at a young age and couldn't play with her peers; after seeing the colorful world, only lonely blackness remained, which was cruel for a little girl!

  "So, last night, what you and Yan Gege said on the rooftop, I heard it all!" Meng Er felt a bit embarrassed when she heard this. "But don't pity me! I think I'm doing pretty well now, it's just..."

  Meng'er heard the pause in her words and guessed what she was about to say, estimating that it was something she didn't want to hear. However, she remembered that last night before falling asleep, Yan Yi had said a sentence: Meng'er, I will be good to Yu'er, but that's just brotherly love, I hope you can understand!

  "It's just that Brother Yan has never brought a girl here before! I know you hold a very important position in his heart, but I want to know if you understand Brother Yan? Has he told you about his past?" Yuer said to herself as Meng'er remained silent.

  "Will what you said affect our relationship?" Understand? Past? Meng'er felt very repelled by Yu'er's words, and even the expression on her face made her feel like she was pretending. So, the words that came out were also unconsciously emphasized. "If not understood, we can slowly get to know each other; as for the past, who doesn't have a history? Must we know everything about each other's past in order to be together? If so, I reckon Yan Yi's girlfriend wouldn't be able to handle it either!"

  Meng'er meant to say that probably only you can take on this role. She didn't want to be so sharp, but her words still made Yu'er feel a little embarrassed as if she had been seen through, and she quickly explained: "Meng'er, I didn't mean it that way!"

  "What do you mean?"

  Yu'er stared blankly with her eyes open, not responding to Meng'er. Her hands kept fidgeting there. Meng'er looked at her like that and felt she had been too pushy, maybe Yu'er really didn't have any other intentions. Just as she was about to speak up, a knock on the door came!

  "Meng'er, are you up? Hurry up and get dressed, I'm taking you out to play today!"

  Yan's words dispelled the eerie atmosphere in the room and also made Meng'er swallow back her apology. "Then, I'll go wash up first!" Without waiting for Yu'er's response, Meng'er hastily retreated from the room!

  After having breakfast, Yan Yi took Meng Er's hand and walked out the door. At this time, a timid voice came: "Brother Yan, can I go with you?"

  Meng'er furrowed her brow, looking at Yan Yi when he was also looking at her, his eyes full of inquiry. Meng'er nodded slightly, as if in agreement.

  "Alright, let's go together!" Their interaction was invisible to Yuer, but Xiao Yi, who stood at the gate of the hall and saw them off, noticed it. As she watched their figures disappear from the doorway, she let out a faint sigh!

  "Yan big brother, where are we going?" Yu'er, who was sitting in the back seat, heard that everyone was silent and started a conversation.

  "Go pick strawberries!" Yan Yi replied, but after hearing this, Yu'er let out a soft "oh" and sat quietly. Yan Yi saw Yu'er's disappointed expression in the rearview mirror and felt a pang of sympathy. "Yu'er can be in charge of eating the strawberries later!"

  Upon hearing Yan's words, a smile reappeared on Yu'er's face.

  They arrived at the orchard and Meng Er and the others entered with baskets to pick strawberries, while Yu Er sat beside a small shed that had been temporarily set up.

  Bursts of discussion, bursts of laughter, came from the strawberry field. The woman's voice was like a warm fire in the cold winter, warming people's hearts; the man's voice was like a deep drum in the mountains, thick and powerful, piercing through people's hearts; passersby frequently cast envious glances at the loving couple.

  Looking at Yuer sitting alone, the desolation and loneliness of her back; passersby all knew she was blind, fortunately Yuer couldn't see, otherwise she would have seen the difference in people's eyes towards her and Meng'er, and she would definitely be heartbroken...

  Meng'er rarely gets to run wild in nature, of course, there's no time to care about other people's opinions; while Yan Yi himself is a person living under the spotlight and focal point, these gazes are simply not worth mentioning to him!

  Just as they were getting further and further away, a cry of surprise came from the direction of the small shed. They turned their heads to see Yu'er falling into the water ditch for irrigation. Yan Yi hastily threw down the basket in his hand and rushed over...

  Meng'er saw the strawberries scattered on the ground, big and red, with some morning dew still clinging to their surface. Meng'er squatted down and picked them up one by one into her basket, but some of them had stuck to the mud, losing their original luster.

  "Meng'er, Yu'er has twisted her ankle, let's go back!" Yan Yi's voice came from over there.

  Meng'er walked into the small shed and handed the money to the old man who was taking care of the strawberry garden. As she came out, she saw Yu'er being held in Yan's arms, while she herself had two bags of strawberries in her own arms. Meng'er thought that at that moment, she looked a bit comical, but no one would have noticed her then.

  Then, looking at Yan Yijiang holding Yu'er to the front passenger seat: "Meng'er, you sit in the back!" Meng'er obediently followed the arrangement and sat in the back!

  All the way, Yu'er kept saying sorry, and at first, Meng'er could still respond with a few comforting words. But in the end, her gaze was fixed on the scenery outside the window that kept retreating backwards. Because she felt that some words were better left unsaid, or they would sound insincere!

  Meng'er watched as Yan Yiwu busied himself with Yu'er, making her feel like an extra presence. They were the ones who were a loving family. Gradually, she withdrew from the hall and returned to her room. An entire afternoon passed without anyone disturbing her, as if they had already forgotten that someone like her existed.

  Meng'er climbed up to the rooftop alone again, watching as the sun gradually hid below the endless horizon. She felt empty inside and couldn't quite understand why she had followed Yan Yi here.