### Chapter 100: Still Wearing a Skirt?
After silently crying for five minutes, Xia Yu finally stopped shedding tears, as if she had calmed down.
At the same time, Xia Ling gently asked again, “What’s wrong with you? Can’t you tell your sister?”
Xia Yu looked at Xia Ling with eyes red from crying, hesitated for a moment, and then choked out reluctantly, “I’m afraid… I’m scared that my secret will be revealed, and then I’ll be kicked out, and if that happens… I won’t have a home anymore.”
Xia Yu sobbed, not realizing but tears started flowing again.
However, after finally unloading this long-held secret, Xia Yu felt a lot better.
Given that Xia Yu is only ten years old and still in fifth grade, keeping such a heavy secret was really tough on her.
“I thought it was something else, little sister,” Xia Ling said reassuringly. “Don’t worry, nothing’s going to happen if we keep it between us. Even if others know about it, I’ll still be on your side. Don’t worry.”
Xia Ling gently patted Xia Yu’s back for comfort, acting more and more like a big sister.
Time heals all wounds. After half an hour, Xia Yu sat back on her princess bed, staring blankly, wondering what she was thinking.
Xia Ling didn’t dare leave Xia Yu unattended during such a crucial moment, fearing Xia Yu might do something rash.
So she kept playing on her phone next to Xia Yu but remained alert; she would notice any slight move from Xia Yu.
Click
As the door opened, Wang Wenjuan came into Xia Ling’s room, accompanied by her eldest son Xia Le and Xia Yu’s father Xia Hong. Each held a bowl of noodles like they were called in to do some hard work.
Wang Wenjuan sat naturally on the other side of Xia Yu, unlike the men who looked awkward sitting in a girl’s room.
Then Wang Wenjuan fawned over Xia Yu, “Little Yu, are you hungry? Your mom cooked some noodles. Do you want to eat some?”
Xia Yu shook her head dully, showing she wasn’t interested in eating.
Since Xia Yu wasn’t eating, no one could force her. So Wang Wenjuan just patted Xia Yu’s head lightly and turned to Xia Ling, “Little Ling, the noodles are ready, even with an egg. If they get cold, they won’t taste as good.”
“Okay.”
Unlike Xia Yu, Xia Ling was very eager to eat. She set up a makeshift desk on her bed and started eating her noodles there.
With the delivery of the noodles done, Xia Hong and Xia Le quietly left the room, not wanting to disturb Xia Yu’s rest.
Wang Wenjuan also left, saying she had some matters to discuss with Xia Hong.
Thus, Xia Ling’s room was left with just her and Xia Yu again.
Seeing that everyone had left, Xia Ling sighed in relief and hugged Xia Yu from behind, “What are you thinking about, little sister? Steel is made from iron and food, so eat some noodles. Otherwise, do you want your big sister to feed you?”
She did not wait for Xia Yu’s reply and took Xia Yu’s noodles, pretending to feed her.
Xia Yu: “…”
Seeing Xia Ling trying to blow the noodles before feeding Xia Yu, Xia Yu had to react, “No need, I can do it myself.”
Although Xia Ling sensed something was off, she acted normal, cheerily handed the bowl and chopsticks to Xia Yu, “Perfect, now eat well. That way, you’ll get all the nutrients you need.”
Xia Yu: “…”
In the living room, Xia Hong, Xia Le, and Wang Wenjuan sat on the couch watching TV, though it was uncertain whether they were actually engaged in watching anything.
Wang Wenjuan said, “Xia Yu seems quite unstable lately. Shouldn’t we let her take a sick day at home to rest?”
“Hmm, let’s see how tomorrow goes. If Xia Yu doesn’t want to go to school, so be it. Her health comes first. We can’t stop her if she wants to go,” replied Xia Hong.
He then turned to his eldest son who was engrossed in TV, “Little Le, did Xia Yu have any trouble at school today?”
Xia Le quickly responded, “No, I didn’t see anyone bothering her. She’s in fifth grade, while I’m in sixth, so I don’t always run into her.”
“That’s good. No matter how you previously got along with her or what disagreements you had, you must help her now knowing her current condition, you understand?”
“I understand.”
Xia Le responded without missing a beat, though whether he truly took it seriously was unclear.
At nine thirty at night, under her mother Wang Wenjuan’s insistence, both Xia Yu and Xia Ling needed to go to bed early since it’s not good for kids to stay up late.
Despite what Xia Yu and Xia Yu may have wanted, they had to obediently lie in bed together.
But Xia Ling couldn’t fall asleep and didn’t play with her phone; instead, she chose to chat with Xia Yu, “Little sister, try to talk more often, okay? I heard people who don’t talk for a long time eventually forget how.”
Xia Yu: “…”
Seeing Xia Yu didn’t respond, Xia Ling got restless and started to get physical, messing around with Xia Yu.
So Xia Ling decided to use Xia Yu as a large toy to play with, since Xia Yu never talked much anyway.
Playing with Xia Yu’s hair and manipulating her fingers, Xia Ling found it boring and settled down by lying her leg on Xia Yu’s waist, embracing her like a giant doll, and closing her eyes to try to sleep.
She noticed little by little, she treated Xia Yu less like a potential threat and more like a close sibling.
Otherwise, if Xia Le tried this, Xia Ling was certain he wouldn’t last three seconds before being kicked out.
This was different treatment.
Night-long teasing from Xia Ling kept Xia Yu awake. She didn’t want to bother Xia Ling, but she had to deal with it quietly.
That night, as Xia Ling fell asleep, Xia Yu followed suit, unsure when she finally dozed off after staying up very late.
The next morning, the two sisters were awoken by their usual alarm clock and went through their routine of washing up and eating breakfast downstairs.
Perhaps due to the rest she had, Xia Yu seemed less listless than last night, which brought a bit of relief to the family who cared for her deeply.
Even so, necessary questions were still asked.
While Xia Yu ate breakfast, Wang Wenjuan leaned over and softly asked, “Xia Yu, how are you feeling now? If you don’t want to go to school, your dad and I can give you a sick day.”
Hearing this, Xia Ling and Xia Le, who were also eating breakfast, looked enviously and wished they had the same option.
Still, Xia Yu was different.
She knew staying home meant her parents would have to take care of her, which would hinder them from doing their own things outside.
So, Xia Yu rejected becoming a burden and shook her head before saying, “I’d rather go to school.”
“Alright, if that’s what you want, we won’t force you. Anything upsetting, just talk to us. That’s okay.”
Wang Wenjuan patted Xia Yu’s head and said.
Xia Yu nodded slightly.
After breakfast, they prepared to head to school. Since Xia Hong was home, the siblings didn’t need to walk.
But just as they were getting ready to leave for school in the car, Xia Yu suddenly recalled something, her face flushing. She promptly put down her book bag and went upstairs hurriedly.
She didn’t run to avoid attention, so her mother, Wang Wenjuan, caught up quickly, “Xia Yu, what happened?”
Finally, Xia Yu pulled at her skirt and replied, “I can’t wear this skirt.”
Yes, only then did Xia Yu realize she was still wearing a skirt.
Going to school dressed like that could be a laughingstock.
Luckily, she noticed in time.
Hearing that it was about clothing and not another issue, Wang Wenjuan and the family, who had been concerned about Xia Yu, breathed easily.
They had been worried when Xia Yu’s face flushed so abruptly.
Then, Wang Wenjuan helped Xia Yu gently upstairs, consoling her, “It’s fine to wear a skirt, Xia Yu. There are boys who wear skirts too, and since you’re cute, the school won’t say anything bad.”
However, Xia Yu ignored these reassurances. She desperately wanted to change into boy’s clothes; otherwise, she would be uncomfortable.
So, Xia Yu returned to her room to change into the boy’s outfit, coming out looking like a little sister stealing her brother’s clothes.
Seeing Xia Yu like this, Wang Wenjuan wondered if this androgynous look was the problem affecting the school atmosphere, though she conceded it was better than wearing a skirt.
But since Xia Yu enjoyed this look, Wang Wenjuan didn’t protest further, believing happiness was enough.
Together, Xia Yu and Wang Wenjuan went downstairs. It was time to head back to school.
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