Chapter 33 Part 2: Ruyi Still Cries at Night

Wu Li was still in the same position as before, holding the doll protectively in her arms, looking warily at Xixi’s father.

Old Zhao took the phone and held it up in front of Wu Li.

Only then did everyone realize that her wary gaze wasn’t directed at Xixi’s father, but at Qianyang on the phone screen.

“Wu Li, let me see your child,” Qianyang said calmly.

“No… no…”

Wu Li responded almost instantly.

– Wh-what’s happening?

– She seems very afraid of the streamer.

– Huh?

Wasn’t she afraid of Xixi’s father?

– Holy crap?!

Qianyang’s voice grew firmer.

“You’re holding her too tight.

She’s uncomfortable.”

Hearing this, Wu Li indeed looked down at the doll in her arms and loosened her grip.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Mommy hurt you.”

Wu Li kissed the doll’s face affectionately.

Qianyang said, “Ruyi is very cute.”

Wu Li’s eyes widened in innocence, and she actually broke into a smile.

“Yes!

Ruyi… Ruyi… is very cute!”

– Hiss…

– Is she coaxing her?

– The thing with Mi Hamster almost fooled us!

– Probably no one else treats the doll like Ruyi, so she doesn’t respond.

– Heh, I won’t be fooled by the streamer anymore.

Qianyang looked at the doll in her arms and continued, “She seems a bit sleepy.

Why don’t you put her back in her crib?”

Hearing this, Wu Li immediately became nervous again.

“No… you, you want to take Ruyi away…”

Qianyang said patiently, “I promise, I won’t take her away.”

“Really?”

Wu Li said, half-believing.

“Yes.

I just want to talk with you.”

Hearing this, Wu Li gently placed the doll back in the crib and covered it with a blanket.

Old Zhao hadn’t expected his wife to respond to Qianyang’s words.

He was too nervous to speak.

Wu Li hadn’t had such a clear conversation with anyone in a long time.

“Sit up straight,” Qianyang said.

Wu Li, like a child in kindergarten, obeyed immediately, sat up straight, smoothed her hair and clothes, and looked eagerly at Qianyang on the screen.

“I… I am a good mother…

Please, please don’t take Ruyi away…

She’s been crying ever since she saw you…”

Qianyang nodded.

“I won’t take her away.

But are you really a good mother?”

The woman froze.

Her hands flailed helplessly in the air.

“I am… I am… I didn’t mean to… I just wanted to be with, with Ruyi…”

– Holy shit?

– What does she mean?!!

– What does she mean, ‘she’s been crying ever since she saw you’!

– I swear!

Is it what I think it is?!

– Choking… goosebumps.

– Haha, no one’s scared, right?

– Haha, I’m not scared at all.

I need to go to the bathroom, but I’m too lazy to get up.

I’ll just wet the bed.

Qianyang pressed her lips.

“Ruyi is not your biological daughter.”

As soon as she said it, everyone in the room was stunned.

They hadn’t expected her to say it so bluntly.

Wu Li’s expression visibly dulled.

“I… know.”

Her agitation gradually subsided.

Old Zhao gasped in disbelief.

“Wu Li, you knew?!”

Wu Li slowly turned her gaze to her husband’s face, as if suddenly becoming much more lucid.

She opened her mouth and whispered, “Ruyi’s… blood type… didn’t match…”

– Holy shit?!!

– She knew?!!

– Oh my god… she knew all along that Ruyi wasn’t her biological child?!!

– Even so, she still went mad over Ruyi…

– AHHHHHHH, it hurts so much.

How could this be?

Old Zhao was completely stunned.

Wu Li knew?

She had known all along?

She had known during the time Ruyi was in the ICU?

Why hadn’t she said anything?

If she knew Ruyi wasn’t their child, why had she ended up like this?

…Why?

Wu Li lowered her eyes, leaned over the crib, looked at the doll inside, and murmured, “Ruyi, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.”

Qianyang was silent for a few seconds, then continued, “Don’t you want to see your biological child?”

Wu Li’s body visibly paused.

She understood.

“Ruyi… Ruyi…”

Even so, Wu Li didn’t react otherwise.

“Give her the photo of Xixi,” Qianyang said.

After discovering that Wu Li would respond to Qianyang’s words, Old Zhao felt a glimmer of hope.

Ruyi had been gone for so many years.

He only hoped that he and Wu Li could return to a normal life, instead of living like this—neither fully alive nor dead.

There had been times when he wanted to give up, to end it all.

Old Zhao silently took out the photo of Xixi and placed it in front of Wu Li.

Wu Li’s gaze flickered over the photo, then she continued rocking the crib.

Qianyang said nothing.

The other two in the room said nothing.

The only sound in the stream was the rhythmic creaking of the crib.

Two minutes passed slowly.

Finally, Wu Li stopped rocking the crib.

She sat up a bit straighter, and her gaze slowly shifted to the photo of Xixi.

Looking at the princess-like little girl in the photo, the muscles in Wu Li’s face trembled.

Her lips pressed together, and two tears fell without warning.

She stared at the photo, letting out sounds like wails, one after another, both hands clutching the clothes over her chest.

“I… I… I don’t know her… I don’t know her…” Wu Li shook her head violently.

“I don’t know her… She is not my Ruyi… She, she is called… what is she called…”

“Xixi,” Qianyang said softly.

“She’s called Xixi.”

Xixi’s father added, “Her nickname is Xixi.

Her full name is Li Cunxi.”

“Xixi?”

Wu Li’s shaking slowed.

She seemed calmed again.

She took the photo from her husband’s hands.

“Xixi… Li Cunxi…”

She reached out a finger to gently stroke the face of Xixi in the photo, softly calling her name.

Just then, as if hearing something, Wu Li bent sharply over the crib, patting the doll’s chest soothingly.

“Ruyi is good… Ruyi don’t cry…”

– AHHHHHHHH!

– That’s so scary!

Is Ruyi’s soul attached to the doll?

– Damn!

My room is full of dolls.

That really scared me!

– (Wrapping myself in a blanket) Scared, but I can’t stop watching.

– Streamer, just give me a quick answer!

“Wu Li, you should let this child go,” Qianyang said, almost sighing.

In this world, besides souls that couldn’t enter reincarnation due to their own obsessions, there were also those who remained because of the intense obsession of others, which prevented them from severing their ties to life.

Ruyi’s soul was the second kind.

That doll in the shape of a girl was not just an ordinary doll in Qianyang’s eyes.

Because of the mother’s obsession, Ruyi had been forcibly bound to the doll, possessing it.

Wu Li didn’t just treat the doll as Ruyi—the doll had become Ruyi.

When Xixi’s father had entered this room, Qianyang had already sensed it.

Wu Li soothed the doll softly, her speech becoming more normal, her expression gradually calming.

Xixi’s father sensed something and asked, “Master, do you mean… Ruyi is… still here?”

“Yes,” Qianyang replied.

– AHHH, I knew it!

I knew it!!!

– I’ve completely figured out the streamer’s style.

The way she was silent since entering, I knew it wasn’t simple.

– Me too…

– Everyone, I tried opening my yin eye.

There really is something on that doll…

– I… I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I think I’ve improved.

I heard a faint crying sound.

– AHHH, stop!

I’m really scared!!!

– Comments protect me!

– Streamer protect me!!

Xixi’s father walked to the crib.

With trembling hands, he reached for the girl-shaped doll and picked it up from the crib.

Wu Li just watched him without any other reaction.

“…Ruyi?”

Xixi’s father called out cautiously.

“It’s listening,” Qianyang reminded.

Xixi’s father froze.

Tears immediately welled up.

“I’m sorry… I came too late…”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

Wu Li’s expression suddenly became extremely calm, as if she had instantly regained her senses.

“…Is she sick?”

After a moment, Wu Li spoke.

Her tone was so much more normal than usual.

Old Zhao’s eyes filled with tears.

“She’s sick… she’s sick…”

“What illness?”

Wu Li asked.

“Hereditary acute leukemia.

Don’t worry, I’ll get tested.

If there’s a suitable stem cell, just like with my mother, she can get better!”

Wu Li said, “I’ll go with you.

I want to be tested too.”

“Can we bring Ruyi along?”

Xixi’s father asked.

Qianyang: “?”

– Streamer: Are you okay?

I just said Ruyi is a ghost!

– Streamer: I literally just told her to let the child go, and you want to bring her along?

– Streamer: Moment of speechlessness.

– Streamer: Can anyone relate?

Too speechless!

– I still prefer these lively comments.

– …

– Sigh.

Can’t laugh anymore.

– Too bitter.

“Ruyi will affect Wu Li’s mental state.

I suggest you let her go to reincarnation as soon as possible,” Qianyang said.

Xixi’s father explained, “I just wanted Suhuai to see her…”

Xixi’s father placed the doll back into Wu Li’s arms.

Wu Li didn’t speak again.

She held the doll gently, rocking it as if lulling a baby to sleep, murmuring, “Ruyi… Ruyi…”

“Ruyi… Ruyi… my daughter…”

She seemed to have returned to her usual state.

Old Zhao sighed and went back to the storage cabinet area with Xixi’s father.

“…Where is she?”

Old Zhao asked.

Xixi’s father said, “In New York.”

“And the test…”

Xixi’s father said, “The test can be done at a domestic hospital.

In the meantime, you can apply for passports.

Regardless of the outcome, I believe you will want to see her.”

Old Zhao didn’t speak, which was as good as consent.

After a long moment, Old Zhao spoke again.

“You know our circumstances.

I can see you love her very much, willing to spend ten million for us to be tested.

If possible, I hope you will continue to love her as your own daughter.”

“I’m sorry about Ruyi.

But we did everything we could.”

Xixi’s father shook his head.

“Brother Zhao, don’t say that.

Ruyi’s death wasn’t your fault.”

– Sigh.

– Brother Zhao really thinks that way.

– Ruyi’s death isn’t anyone’s fault.

– Now I just hope that after Xixi is cured, Brother Zhao and Sister Wu can have better lives and not remain trapped in the past.

– Ruyi surely wouldn’t want to see her parents like this either.

– The streamer said Ruyi affects Sister Wu’s mental state.

Let go of yourself, and let go of Ruyi.

Old Zhao continued, “Regardless of whether the match succeeds, I beg you, don’t let her know the truth.

Our child is already gone.

She is your child.”

“If, one day, you feel a rift and no longer want to treat her as your own, then please send her back.”

Xixi’s father held his trembling hands and said solemnly, “Brother Zhao, I understand what you mean, and I respect your wishes.

From the time we left the hospital until today, Xixi has been my own daughter.

No matter what happens, that will never change.”

“But I also understand your concerns.

I want Xixi to grow up carefree, safe and healthy.

So if you have no intention of taking Xixi back, I also agree not to let her know the truth.”

Old Zhao looked at his dark, mottled hands covered by the other man’s palms and felt his sincerity and goodwill.

If he didn’t despise him—a man covered in grime from collecting scrap—how could he despise the daughter he had watched grow up?

…She was luckier than Ruyi.

She had met parents who loved her and had the means to save her.

– Watching this makes my heart ache.

– Ruyi, AHHHHH!

– I don’t know what to say.

Xixi’s father keeps Xixi, but his biological daughter died.

Brother Zhao lost Ruyi, but his biological daughter is still alive.

– Sob sob, Ruyi!

Why couldn’t things go as you wished, like your name suggests?

– Both families are unfortunate, yet there is some luck.

– Please… Brother Zhao and Sister Wu must move on!

– Even though Xixi’s father is comforting Brother Zhao, he must be hurting inside too, right?

– Sob sob, if you’re going to hurt me, don’t use the knife of family love!

Qianyang listened to their heartfelt conversation.

“Let me remind you: whether you like it or not, I will force Ruyi to enter reincarnation.”

Hearing this, both fell into silence.

“For those souls that linger because of their own obsessions, I can turn a blind eye.

But Ruyi couldn’t move on because of Wu Li’s obsession.

That is against the rules.

It is not good for Wu Li, nor for Ruyi.”

– No wonder Wu Li was so afraid of the streamer.

– The streamer is right.

Ruyi is still so young.

She should go on to her next life, not be trapped inside a small cloth doll.

– Sister Wu, let go of Ruyi, and let go of yourself.

– Stop tormenting yourself.

Move on.

– Honestly, all these years, Brother Zhao’s family of three has been suffering.

– …

– The streamer has no empathy.

– They finally found their biological daughter.

Even though she’s dead, knowing her soul is attached to the doll, can’t they spend a little more time together?

– The person above is an idiot.

Have you forgotten how Sister Wu went mad?

– What if, in the future, seeing the doll reminds them of Ruyi?

“However…” Qianyang shifted her tone.

“I can give you a little more time.”

– Streamer is soft-hearted!

– But can Principal Grandpa handle it?

– Putting myself in their shoes, being able to experience their child, their grandchild, a bit more would make things a little better.

– Yes, otherwise, they’d never be able to let go for a lifetime.

Qianyang hadn’t thought that far.

She simply sensed that the wandering soul on that cloth doll seemed to desperately want to see the mother who had given her life.

So Qianyang was willing to give them some extra time.

That was all.

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