“Miss, things will gradually get better,” Butler Liu said directly.
He felt that Miss did not think like an ordinary child.
Precocious and sensible, she would certainly understand what he meant.
Sure enough, Lu Yinghan nodded, quickly rubbed her eyes, and looked back at Butler Liu with a beaming smile.
Seeing her like this made Butler Liu’s heart ache even more.
He let out a long sigh.
He couldn't resist reaching out to pat Lu Yinghan's head gently.
“Miss, I'll go fetch your lunch. Feel free to browse through these for now.”
Composing his emotions and returning to his usual professional demeanor, Butler Liu gave Lu Yinghan a respectful, slight bow before turning to leave and get her lunch.
Lu Yinghan immediately turned her attention to the phone and laptop.
She rummaged through the shopping bag, looking for the receipt inside.
Just as she expected, there was no receipt at all.
Lu Jiansen had anticipated her move.
The receipt had been handed directly to Lu Jiansen right after purchase.
Lu Yinghan stared blankly for a moment.
She hurriedly picked up the phone, downloaded the Peach app, and scanned the laptop with it.
Leaning close to the screen, she squinted and carefully counted the digits.
Hiss!—
Upon seeing the price clearly, Lu Yinghan recoiled.
Uncertain, she counted the zeros once more...
Well then.
At such a young age, she was already tens of thousands in debt.
A sudden wave of gloom washed over Lu Yinghan's heart.
Dejectedly opening the laptop, she downloaded a short-video editing software.
Despite her gloomy mood, she adjusted her mindset, opened the software, and began exploring its features.
On her phone, she also downloaded the app that would later explode in popularity across the globe.
Lu Yinghan set a firm goal in her heart.
Squinting like a little old man, she diligently fumbled through the apps.
...
The next morning, Lu Yinghan opened her eyes groggily.
She had been awakened by the sound of Butler Liu knocking on the door.
“Miss! Eldest Young Master said he is taking you to the school, so you need to get up and wash up right away.”
“Mm... I understand.”
Struggling out of bed, Lu Yinghan rubbed her face to force herself awake.
She quickly found the cleanest, most presentable clothes in the wardrobe and put them on.
After tying her hair into a ponytail, she appeared in the dining room, looking neat and tidy.
Lu Jiansen was sipping coffee while browsing work messages on his phone.
Hearing Lu Yinghan's footsteps, he didn't even lift his head.
“Hurry up and eat. Once you're done, we leave. I don't have much time—just enough to meet with the principal. Then you'll be spending the day at school. Your backpack and stationery have already been prepared for you; go get them yourself.”
“Okay, understood.”
Their exchange was distant and brief.
With just these few words, the atmosphere in the dining room turned excruciatingly awkward.
From time to time, the servants in the kitchen poked their heads out toward the dining room, their eyes filled with confusion.
“What's going on? Why does the tension between Miss and Eldest Young Master keep getting worse?”
“I heard from someone on the morning shift yesterday that Miss had an argument with Master and Eldest Young Master in the dining room yesterday morning. That's why it's so awkward today.”
“Huh?! Miss argued with Eldest Young Master? You couldn't pay me to believe that!”
“It's not impossible, though! When I was clearing the trash from Miss's room yesterday, I saw the sachet she was making for Eldest Young Master in the trash can! It was thrown away before she even finished it!”
This news left the servants utterly slack-jawed.
Everything Miss had done for this family—and for them—had been plain for everyone to see.
They felt for her, so they always helped her out whenever they could.
What was happening now?
Had Miss given up on trying to build a good relationship with her family?
Some of the softer-hearted maids' eyes turned red with sympathy.
Lifting their sleeves to dab at their eyes, they muttered under their breath, “What a sin... what a sheer sin!...”
To Lu Yinghan, breakfast tasted like sawdust. She only ate one egg and drank a glass of milk before hopping down from the chair to fetch her backpack from the living room.
Lu Jiansen also finished his last sip of coffee.
Setting the cup down, he walked straight toward the front door.
Lu Yinghan followed behind him and climbed into the car with some difficulty.
Seeing that the door wasn't closed yet, Lu Jiansen turned toward Lu Yinghan with a hint of irritation.
What met his eyes was the top of her head—she had just clambered up and had not even seated herself properly yet.
The scolding words caught in his throat all at once.
Stuck in his throat, they made him feel particularly uncomfortable.
“Move faster! Do you think time is meant for you to waste like this?”
Lu Yinghan couldn't be bothered to argue with him. After sitting up straight, she reached out her short little arms and slammed the car door shut with all her might.
By the time she finished, she was thoroughly exhausted...
She truly lacked the energy to talk back to Lu Jiansen right now.
The moment the door shut, Lu Jiansen signaled the driver to start the car.
The furrow between his brows remained tightly creased.
Faint dark circles were visible under his eyes.
Throbbing pangs shot through his head straight toward his temples.
Squinting uncomfortably, he put down his phone and closed his eyes for a short nap.
Beside him, a faint scent of cheap shampoo drifted from Lu Yinghan.
She had asked Grandpa Butler for it.
Yet it was precisely this subtle fragrance that gradually soothed Lu Jiansen’s irritability that had lingered throughout the night.
It even eased his headache slightly.
In the past, amidst this very scent, Lu Yinghan would gently massage his acupoints.
Back then, her eyes would be filled with concern, and her touch was gentle.
Even when her hands grew sore, she would persevere until he fell asleep...
Asleep?
Lu Jiansen’s half-closed eyes snapped open in an instant.
He looked at Lu Yinghan sitting quietly beside him.
Emaciated beyond reason, she clutched her backpack and leaned quietly against the back of the seat, gazing out the window at the passing scenery.
Her clothes seemed to be an old, worn outfit that Yaoyao hadn't wanted anymore a while back.
Her hair, yellowed and withered from malnutrition, appeared nearly translucent in the sunlight.
A sharp, unprecedented pang tore through Lu Jiansen’s heart.
When had this little girl stopped acting spoiled around him?
Back then, she would also act cutesy with a sweet, soft voice, asking for the things she wanted.
Later, she had suddenly grown sensible, serving him tea and bringing him water. Because of his insomnia, she had even developed a sleep-aid tea tailored just for him and learned acupressure massage.
Lu Jiansen felt a lump in his throat!
Beside him, Lu Yinghan gazed at the scenery outside.
The sunlight was wonderful today.
Just like in her past life when she had lain on that mountain with its breathtaking view.
The azure sky, the warm sunshine.
She couldn't resist lifting a hand.
Opening her palm, she reached out as if to touch the pure white clouds drifting across the blue sky, reminiscing about the fond memories just before her death.
“Yinghan...”
The moment Lu Yinghan raised her hand, panic seized Lu Jiansen. With every breath, he could feel his heart hammering so hard it felt like it would leap out of his throat.
He called Lu Yinghan's name with a trembling voice.
At this moment, Lu Yinghan felt so distant.
And so heartbreakingly fragile.
She was clearly right before his eyes, yet why did she feel so unreal?
Lu Jiansen's breathing grew ragged. Just as he reached out his hand to touch this younger sister of his—
The car came to a sudden halt.
“Young Master, we have arrived.”
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