Chapter 24: Alone Together-Filho biológico não é tão bom quanto o filho adotado? Se você se arrepender, não me procure!(O sonho solitário do garoto de rua)

In the hospital room, Lin Tian lay on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Xiao Ruoli felt a deep ache in her heart. Putting aside the fact that Lin Tian was a member of the Xiao family who had been cast out to suffer and struggle, the very life-threatening ordeal he had just faced was caused by the Xiao family themselves. How could he not harbor resentment toward them?

Thinking of this, Xiao Ruoli pursed her lips and said as gently as she could, "Xiao Tian, are you hungry? I’ll go order you some food."

Having been in a coma for several days, Lin Tian was indeed hungry. He replied weakly, "Thank you."

Those two words stung Xiao Ruoli slightly. Her eyes dimmed, but she forced a strained smile and made a call.

"Master Wang, please prepare a nutritious and easily digestible meal and deliver it to Room XX, Floor X, Building X at the city hospital. Sorry for the trouble."

After hanging up, she whispered softly, "The chef is preparing it now. Your second sister would like to chat with you, may I?"

Lin Tian looked at her, offered a bitter smile, and rasped, "Please go ahead, Second Sister."

Xiao Ruoli hesitated for a moment before saying, "What happened this time was your eldest sister's fault. Regardless of anything else, you are a member of the Xiao family; how could she let outsiders hurt you like that..."

Lin Tian listened in silence.

"Furthermore, there was another group that intended to harm you that night. Your eldest sister has already gone to handle it personally. She will definitely give you an explanation!"

Lin Tian remained silent.

Xiao Ruoli grew anxious. "Xiao Tian, why aren't you saying anything?"

"What do you want me to say?" Lin Tian fell silent for a moment before saying, his emotions stirring, "My so-called eldest sister—my own flesh and blood—actually let others take my life!"

Xiao Ruoli’s face turned pale, as if something were lodged in her throat. Distressed, she hurried to explain, "No, that’s not it! She never intended to take your life! Although she truly doesn't like or appreciate you, you are, after all, her younger brother, and we share the same blood!"

"Younger brother..."

Lin Tian repeated the words, letting out a self-deprecating laugh that made his shoulders shake uncontrollably. When had Xiao Caiyue ever looked at him as a brother, even for a single day?

"Forget it, Second Sister, don't say any more. I don't want to hold a grudge against her, it's just..."

"Just what?" Xiao Ruoli asked.

Lin Tian took a deep breath to steady his turbulent emotions and asked, "That man who nearly choked me to death—how do you plan to deal with him?"

"This..." Xiao Ruoli found it difficult to answer. Given her current influence, how could she possibly handle a young master from the Li family, who possessed such a prominent status and deep-rooted background?

Seeing her expression, Lin Tian guessed the outcome. He gave a cold, hollow laugh and stopped speaking.

Knowing the Xiao family was in the wrong, Xiao Ruoli did not mind Lin Tian’s cold shoulder. She walked out of the room without a word and hurried down the hallway, where she began to sob. If she had known it would come to this, she truly shouldn't have returned for the New Year.

Lin Tian’s senses were sharp; even though Xiao Ruoli had moved far away, he could still hear her crying. He simply closed his eyes in frustration. After this incident, he couldn't help but view the Xiao family through a biased lens; it was difficult to trust them again. Perhaps... this was merely a pathetic performance meant to win his sympathy.

Ten minutes later, Xiao Ruoli returned with red-rimmed eyes, forcing a smile at Lin Tian.

"Xiao Tian, after you eat, would you like to play with the clay dolls with your second sister?"

"No thanks, I'm not a child." Lin Tian’s tone was neither warm nor cold, carrying an indescribable sense of distance.

Xiao Ruoli reached into her bag and pulled out a lifelike clay doll with a small braid and a "patch" on its body. She murmured, "Look, this sister is looking for her brother here."

Lin Tian glanced at it, and his heart stirred. It was a gift he had made for Xiao Ruoli years ago. He had made one for himself, and this was the one for her. He clearly remembered that the doll had been broken in the attic of the Xiao estate; when had she repaired it?

"Where is my brother... brother."

The clay doll in Xiao Ruoli's hand had a crack on its face—whether from the passage of time or some strange resonance, it looked as if the doll were shedding tears. Especially under the weight of her mournful voice, the sense of sorrow felt overwhelmingly real.

Lin Tian felt a pang in his heart. His own doll had also been broken in the attic that day. The difference was that he hadn't repaired his. Just like the fractured relationship between them, it seemed beyond repair.

"Second Sister, can you give her to me?"

"She was yours to begin with." Xiao Ruoli offered a bitter smile at his request.

Taking the doll back, Lin Tian ignored her protests and sat up, examining it carefully.

In an instant, it felt as if every little memory from the past was replaying before his eyes. Xiao Ruoli pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on his pale face and slightly blue lips; she seemed to want to say something but held back.

Soon, Master Wang arrived with the meal.

"Second Miss Xiao, these dishes were prepared exactly to your specifications..."

"That's enough, you may leave."

Xiao Ruoli waved him away. The chef exited steadily and closed the door.

"Xiao Tian, hurry and taste this. I specifically asked the doctor what you could eat before telling the chef to make it. It will help your recovery."

"Mm."

Lin Tian did not reject her kindness; he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat slowly. Xiao Ruoli had wanted to feed him, but she thought better of it, knowing he wouldn't agree. She watched him, an involuntary, knowing smile appearing on her face.

When Lin Tian had finished most of his meal, she picked up a pair of unopened chopsticks and ate what was left. Lin Tian said nothing.

Night fell, and the hospital room's heating was turned on. Although Xiao Ruoli was wearing thin clothing, the high-quality material provided excellent warmth, and she soon felt sweat beading on her back. Lin Tian, conversely, was not wearing much, but he was already sweating from being tucked under the covers.

Xiao Ruoli couldn't help but shed her outer layer, revealing her slender, fair arms and the pale skin where her bones had been shattered. She glanced at Lin Tian, thought for a moment, and swallowed the words that came to her lips.

"Second Sister, are you hot?"

"A little." Xiao Ruoli used her hand to fan the heat rising from her shoulders.

Lin Tian said nothing more. He had intended to tell her to put her coat back on.

By ten o'clock that night, once she was sure Lin Tian was asleep, Xiao Ruoli had a nurse bring in another bed so she could rest. That night, both of them—who usually suffered from insomnia—slept surprisingly soundly and peacefully.