Chapter 12 (2/2)

His actions of personally coming to pick up Zhao Yuan was a habit formed from a small promise between him and Zhao Yuan. He wanted Zhao Yuan to know that he favored her by using his actions to tell her that she was still very important to this family.

As for Zhao Yuning and Zhao Mingxi, for the past two years they were driven home by the Zhao family’s driver.

Zhao Zhanhuai didn’t think that anything was amiss. Since Yuning would be together with Mingxi and their ages were close to each other, this might even help Mingxi to blend in with the family quicker.

But this week, maybe it was because Zhao Zhanhuai felt guilty about what happened, his attention had obviously been more focused on Mingxi.

Mingxi had actually refused to come home for a week and a half.

Not only did she not reply to his apology text, after the incident, when everyone in the family including him called her, they realized that she had actually blocked them.

Even the lady who always cooked for them at home had her number blocked.

It seemed as if Mingxi wanted to sever all ties with them.

At home, Madam Zhao was so angry that a migraine appeared. She clamoured that if Zhao Mingxi did not come back, she would no longer be welcomed home. However, Madam Zhao had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, she did not truly mean that she would forbid Mingxi from coming home.

Therefore, Zhao Zhanhuai could only step in personally.

As the eldest brother, he planned to first bring Mingxi out for hotpot in order to appease her. Then, he would find a suitable opportunity to bring her home.

Because the classes of the International Class ended quite early, everyone was pretty much gone by the time they arrived.

Zhao Zhanhuai and Zhao Yuning were rather handsome young men, hence quite a few girls were observing them on their way there.

Someone took the initiative to ask, “Who are you looking for?”

Zhao Zhanhuai said, “I am the guardian of Zhao Mingxi from the International Class. Is she here?”

“She went to the office to submit the application form for the Hundred School Tournament.”

Zhao Zhanhuai and Zhao Yuning looked at each other. They were astonished. They knew about the Hundred School Tournament. Why would Mingxi register with her results? Aside from the fact that the requirement for entry was very strict, there was a limited number of students who could join, so they had no idea if she would be able to get through that preliminary stage— Even if she did get through it, she would probably be eliminated at the first round, rendering her unqualified to join the finals.

Zhao Zhanhuai said to Zhao Yuning, “But it’s good that she is motivated. It isn’t easy for Mingxi to adapt from her studies in the countryside.”

Zhao Yuning nodded.

Then the two of them walked toward the office.

Mingxi had just submitted the application form. The moment she looked up, she saw Zhao Zhanhuai and Zhao Yuning who were going to bring her home.

“Mingxi.” Zhao Zhanhuai walked over while examining Zhao Mingxi. Despite it having been a week and a half since they last saw each other, Mingxi unexpectedly did not show any emotion of anger or frustration toward their family— Her eyes were not bloodshot and she didn’t lose any weight. In fact, it seemed like her hair had become even shinier and the look in her eyes had become clearer.

Zhao Zhanhuai felt like something was off. He opened his mouth and was about to say something.

But before he could speak, Mingxi furrowed her brows.

“Why are you here again?”

Mingxi’s emotionless words almost made Zhao Zhanhuai choke.

Zhao Zhanhuai thought that the moment Mingxi saw him, she would express an emotion of ‘why did you just come?’, but what he absolutely did not expect was this kind of distasteful expression on her face.

He stabilized his emotions and decided not to be so nitpicky with a child. He continued, “Are you still going back to class? If not, let’s talk while we walk. I’ll bring you out for hotpot.”

Mingxi said, “That’s what Zhao Yuan likes to eat. I don’t like to eat hotpot.”

“Then we’ll eat something else.” Zhao Zhanhuai was still very patient as he tried to please her. “Also, it’s going to be Mom and Zhao Yuan’s birthdays next week. You must be home by then. Stop being difficult, Mingxi.”

Mingxi looked at Zhao Yuning. “Looks like you didn’t tell them what I said.”

Zhao Zhanhuai looked at Zhao Yuning who was behind him. “What did she say?”

Zhao Yuning’s face instantly fell. He thought that since their eldest brother was here Mingxi would change her attitude, but why was she still acting this way? Why was she still so cold and stiff toward them?

Suddenly, Mingxi unzipped her bag and pulled out a photo.

Zhao Zhanhuai remembered it. This was a family photo that they gave Mingxi when she first came back to them. She printed two of it so that she could frame one and keep it on her bedside while the other would be kept in her school bag.

This morning, he saw that she didn’t take the photo on her bedside with her.

As for this one—

“You should keep the photo well. Why did you take it out?” Zhao Zhanhuai stared at Zhao Mingxi. It was only at this moment that he noticed that Mingxi was acting out of the ordinary.

Mingxi walked over and gave the photo to Zhao Zhanhuai.

Zhao Zhanhuai furrowed his brows and refused to take it.

Thus, Mingxi could only crumple it into a ball and throw it into the nearby trash can.

When she did this, she didn’t even raise her eyelids, it was as if she was merely throwing trash.

Zhao Zhanhuai and Zhao Yuning were stunned. They looked at Zhao Mingxi in shock.

Mingxi continued to rummage through her bag. After confirming with her own eyes, she said, “Aside from this photo, I don’t think I have anything else from your family. The school bag and clothes that I took were all the ones I brought when I first came two years ago.”

Zhao Yuning furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”

“This means that I don’t have anything from the Zhao family on me, so please stop approaching me. Whatever I want to say I’ve already said to Zhao Yuning.”

No matter how gentle Zhao Zhanhuai was, he couldn’t just stand there and take this. He looked at the trash can which was full of fruit peels and lowered the tone of his voice, “How could you just crumple up our family photo and toss it in the trash? What do you take our family for?”

Mingxi looked at him as if she was a curious child. “Isn’t it just a copy of a photo? Do you have to get so mad over it?”

“…”

Zhao Zhanhuai instantly felt that this line was familiar. He abruptly recalled when Mingxi first came to the Zhao family home, she had a few photos of when she was living in the small town with her grandmother.

Mingxi was only willing to let them see one photo. After they were done, they didn’t know if it ended up in the hands of Zhao Yuan or Zhao Yuning, but in the end they forgot to return it to Mingxi and it was lost ever since.

That was the first time Mingxi cried as she fought with them.

They said the same thing, “Isn’t it just a copy of a photo? You still have a lot. Do you have to get so mad over it?”

Zhao Zhanhuai paled. He felt a sharp stab in his heart, yet he said nothing.

He looked toward Zhao Mingxi, but she had already turned and went downstairs.

It was only at this moment that Zhao Zhanhuai and Zhao Yuning found out why they felt that something was off the instant they saw Mingxi at the hallway.

Mingxi had changed her school bag.

What she took with her was her own bag that her grandmother had gifted her.

Mingxi had also changed her hair tie.

She had tied her ponytail up with a simple black hair tie.

She did not bring a single thing Madam Zhao got her when she was in a good mood and brought her out shopping.

Furthermore, the teddy bear ornament that Zhao Zhanhuai got her which she used to treasure so much was no longer there.