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"Your mother is really strange. She clearly knows her son is married, yet she keeps calling you 'Brother Liu,'" Zhang Xiaoxiao complained.
"She's used to it," Zhao Guangcai replied.
"Oh." Zhang Xiaoxiao pouted and continued reading the letter.
[Brother Liu, I know you care about Miss Zhang Xiaoxiao, but I hope you can come home. I have something very important to discuss with you. Also, Xiao Tau misses you a lot. Ever since you left, she has been gloomy. Please come back and see her.]
"Who is this Xiao Tau?" Zhang Xiaoxiao asked, her tone tinged with jealousy.
"My sister," Zhao Guangcai said.
"Your sister? When did you get a sister?" Zhang Xiaoxiao was surprised.
"My mom adopted her," Zhao Guangcai explained.
"Oh." Zhang Xiaoxiao nodded.
Zhang Xiaoxiao continued reading the letter.
[Brother Liu, I know you've always been obedient and listened to me, but this time, I hope you can listen to me just once and break up with Miss Zhang Xiaoxiao. You don't know, Miss Zhang Xiaoxiao is a woman of unknown background; she doesn't deserve to enter our Zhao Family's door. I hope you can separate from Miss Zhang Xiaoxiao and marry Xiao Tau instead. You two have been childhood friends and share a deep bond; I hope you can get married and have a few children together.]
The more Zhang Xiaoxiao read, the angrier she became.
She straightened up; what was once a cozy position next to Zhao Guangcai turned into sitting far away while reading the letter, and the paper in her hands was crumpled from her grip.
"I grew up with you; why didn't your mom suggest I marry you?" Zhang Xiaoxiao said sarcastically.
"I consider Xiao Tau my sister," Zhao Guangcai replied.
"But you're not biological siblings," Zhang Xiaoxiao muttered.
"I treat her like a sister," Zhao Guangcai insisted.
"Who knows?" Zhang Xiaoxiao scoffed.
"I really only see her as a sister," Zhao Guangcai emphasized.
"Hmph!" Zhang Xiaoxiao snorted coldly and continued reading the letter.
[Brother Liu, I know you don't like Xiao Tau, but she really loves you; she can't live without you. Please come back; both Xiao Tau and I are waiting for you.]
"Oh, you're quite popular, huh? First it's Xiao Tau, then your mom calling you Brother Liu," Zhang Xiaoxiao mocked.
"Don't talk nonsense," Zhao Guangcai frowned.
"I'm not talking nonsense! Isn't it all written in this letter?" Zhang Xiaoxiao said.
"Just ignore her," Zhao Guangcai said.
"Hmph! I want to pay attention to her," Zhang Xiaoxiao replied.
"What do you plan to do then?" Zhao Guangcai asked.
"I..." Zhang Xiaoxiao suddenly fell silent.
She didn't even know what she wanted. She wasn't the real Zhang Xiaoxiao, and she and Zhao Guangcai weren't truly a couple. What could she do?
"You can't really divorce me, can you?" Zhao Guangcai said.
"I..." Zhang Xiaoxiao fell silent again.
Of course, she couldn't really divorce Zhao Guangcai; she wasn't the real Zhang Xiaoxiao.
"Then that's settled," Zhao Guangcai said.
"But..." Zhang Xiaoxiao wanted to say something more.
"No buts, let's go to sleep," Zhao Guangcai said.
"I can't sleep," Zhang Xiaoxiao replied.
"What do you want to do then?" Zhao Guangcai asked.
"I..." Zhang Xiaoxiao fell silent once more.
She didn't know what she wanted to do.
"Then let's sleep," Zhao Guangcai suggested.
"I'm not sleeping," Zhang Xiaoxiao stated.
"Not sleeping? What do you want to do?" Zhao Guangcai asked.
"I..." Zhang Xiaoxiao fell silent again.
Suddenly, she turned over and got out of bed, took a blanket from the wardrobe, threw it on the bed, then pulled the blanket from Zhao Guangcai's side over to herself and placed a pillow between them.
"What are you doing?" Zhao Guangcai asked, confused.
"We're sleeping separately tonight. You mustn't cross the line; otherwise, I won't be polite," Zhang Xiaoxiao said fiercely.
"Why?" Zhao Guangcai asked.
"No reason. I just don't want to sleep with you," Zhang Xiaoxiao replied.
"Why?" Zhao Guangcai asked.
"Don't ask, just sleep," Zhang Xiaoxiao replied.
"Just remember to cover yourself with the blanket and don't kick it off again," Zhao Guangcai said.
Zhang Xiaoxiao had a habit of kicking off the blanket, so Zhao Guangcai would always cover her up again after she did, to prevent her from catching a cold.
"I won't kick the blanket off," Zhang Xiaoxiao insisted stubbornly.
"Just remember to cover yourself well," Zhao Guangcai reiterated.
"Got it, stop nagging," Zhang Xiaoxiao complained.
Zhang Xiaoxiao lay down, pulling the blanket over her head.
Zhao Guangcai also lay down.
They each had a blanket, separated by a pillow in between.
Zhang Xiaoxiao was actually not asleep; she just didn't want Zhao Guangcai to know that she was awake.
She closed her eyes, trying to keep herself calm.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Xiaoxiao heard Zhao Guangcai's steady breathing.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and turned to look at Zhao Guangcai.
He was already asleep, his face peaceful, with distinct facial features—thick eyebrows, a high nose bridge, moderately thick lips, and fair skin—making him look clean and fresh.
As Zhang Xiaoxiao gazed at Zhao Guangcai's sleeping face, a strange feeling rose in her heart.
She quickly turned away and closed her eyes again, trying hard to calm herself down.
But the more she tried, the more chaotic her thoughts became.
Her mind was filled with images of Zhao Guangcai—his smile, his voice, his gentleness...
She felt like she was going crazy.
"Ah—" Zhang Xiaoxiao irritably ran her fingers through her hair and let out a low growl.
In frustration, she sat up against the headboard, hugging her knees and staring blankly ahead.
Zhao Guangcai opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Zhang Xiaoxiao.
His gaze was gentle and filled with affection.
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