Scars

Ling Jin really wanted to cook them a decent meal, but because he'd been busy finding ways to save them, all the ingredients had gone bad. Moreover, their financial situation was not enough to fulfill his grand imagination of a welcoming feast.

With a heavy heart, he gathered what was left that didn't go bad and cooked a pot of noodles for his family.

When Pei Xin was in the Lu family, she never had a warm hearty meal. When she saw the steaming bowl of noodles in front of her, her stomach grumbled in a way she never knew. She picked up a pair of chopsticks and gobbled it all down.

Ling Jin watched Pei Xin's actions nervously and paid attention to her expression, afraid that the food he made would not be to her liking.

To his surprise, Pei Xin finished the bowl of noodles in a short amount of time. Not a single strand was left behind! She put down the bowl in her hand. "This meal is the most delicious meal I have had so far! This is the best noodles I've eaten in years!"

She was not spouting nonsense. Before she went to prison, she had eaten plenty of types of delicacies, but she could not remember the taste of most of them. Later on, she often could not stomach prison food and chose to starve instead. All of that changed with this bowl of noodles; it was enough for her to remember for the rest of her life.

"If you like it, you can have another bowl!" When Ling Jin heard Pei Xin's words, he smiled happily and immediately got up to fill Pei Xin's bowl again.

"I can't eat anymore!" Pei Xin quickly stopped him. "Besides, it's getting late. It's not good to eat too much before you go to bed."

She had been in prison for five years, and the feeling of hunger had grown on her for five years. Perhaps it was because she had been starving all year round, but her appetite had shrunk. Now, her limit was only a small bowl of noodles.

Ling Jin looked at her skinny figure and could not help but sigh. "You're too skinny. You should eat more."

After some thought, he added, "Forget it, you should take it slow. You can't fatten up with one meal."

After the meal, Pei Xin ignored Ling Jin's attempts to stop her and went to wash the dishes. Ling Jin was then tasked to put Ling Lin to sleep.

Once she was alone, Pei Xin took the opportunity to look past the windows to gaze at the stars. The cool water slowly flowed on her fingertips as she processed all that happened. Today had been wonderful, there were no demons coming after her.

Ling Jin had unknowingly walked to her side and accompanied her to look at the stars in the sky.

The place they lived in was far away from the city. The best thing about it was that they could see the bright stars in the dead of night.

"Pei Xin." After an unknown amount of time, Ling Jin hesitantly spoke.

Pei Xin turned to look into Ling Jin's eyes. "Yeah?"

Ling Jin did not know what to say as he looked at those eyes that shined like the galaxy. He did not want to personally open his sister's wound… But some matters had to be clarified…

"Do… Do you really not remember anything from six years ago?"

Pei Xin's whole body stiffened as the night breeze blew her long hair. At that moment, Ling Jin felt as if she had turned into fragile glass and might crack from the breezy wind.

"I-It's okay! I didn't ask! Forget about it!" Ling Jin turned around and entered the house. "You and Ling Lin can sleep in the room. I'll take the blanket and sleep in the living room."

"Wait." Pei Xin called out to Ling Jin, who was ready to flee.

She could tell that Ling Jin had something to ask her ever since dinner was over. Although she had not known Ling Jin for long, she could feel the man's sincere love for her. If it wasn't for him, she would not have a place to come home to.

"What's wrong? What you're asking must be related to Ling Lin, right?"

Ling Jin turned his back to Pei Xin and let out a breath. "Well… I think Lu Li is using his connections to stop Ling Lin from being accepted into any school."

Pei Xin almost lost her balance. How pathetic, Lu Li was killing her!

"I know. It sounds like a nightmare, but we have no other choice. We have to find Ling Lin's father. Only dignitaries go to that hotel. If we can find Ling Lin's father, he might have the capital to negotiate with the Lu family."

Ling Jin squatted on the ground in despair and held his head with both hands. He hated himself, he hated his own incompetence, and he hated how other people were treating them. He hated it with every fiber in his body.

Pei Xin walked over and squatted down, her hand gently resting on Ling Jin's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I don't remember a single thing. They made me drink a lot that night, and the room was dark. I only remember scattered fragments, but I can't recall any faces."

That night, Pei Xin was sent to the hotel by Ling Xue. She kindly helped her book a room and sent her in. Then, when she left, she left the door slightly ajar.

In a daze, a tall man came in and entered the bedroom. Her consciousness was blurry, and she could only struggle and beg for mercy instinctively. However, everything she did was useless. After that, she fainted from the shock and lost all her memories of that night.

She didn't know when the intruder left, or when Ling Xue and Lu Li came in. Even when Lu Li was rightfully throwing a fit, she could only see his mouth opening and closing, but she couldn't hear anything that was coming out of it.

Even after going through the painful past, she inhaled a deep breath and spoke up.

"But, for Ling Lin, I will try my best to find that person."

It was not only for Ling Lin to attend school like other children, but also for someone to protect Ling Lin after she was gone.