Chapter 273: Doubt

Another week had passed, and the person who had been following Lin Fang on the day of the dance hadn’t reappeared.

Rou Qiu couldn’t stand staying on campus all the time. Barely half a month after the dance, early on a Saturday morning, he rushed to Lin Fang’s Caixing Foodie, wrote out a long shopping list, and had the staff buy him a pile of ingredients. Happily, he began experimenting with new dishes in the kitchen.

“Rou Qiu, make me a bowl of chicken wontons,” Ma Miao called out, poking her head into the kitchen just as he was stuffing chicken into a pig’s stomach.

“Busy. No time,” Rou Qiu snapped.

“No time?” Ma Miao strode into the kitchen, reached over his shoulder, and snatched what he was holding, lifting it high above her head. “How about now?”

Rou Qiu panicked and tried to grab it back. “Don’t push it! Give it back!”

Ma Miao raised it even higher. “Lin Fang said your chicken wontons are delicious. Make me some, and I’ll return it.”

“Dream on! Why should I make anything for you? I’m not your servant!” Rou Qiu jumped up and down, trying to reach it.

Ma Miao laughed. “Fine, don’t make it. I won’t force you. But if you can reach it, I’ll give it back.”

At just 1.6 meters tall and rather plump, Rou Qiu was no match for Ma Miao’s 1.78-meter frame, long limbs, and agility. After a few futile jumps, he was panting heavily, while the chef nearby burst into laughter.

“A real man doesn’t fight with women. If you won’t give it back, I don’t want it!” Rou Qiu plopped onto a stool, still defiant.

“Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Lin Fang messaged me to find you. Xiao Yapeng relayed a message from his brother, Dr. Xiao, saying there’s something urgent he needs Lin Fang’s help with at the hospital. She wants you to go with her. She still has one more class, so wait for her.” Ma Miao placed the item back on the counter.

Lin Fang only tutored Xiao Yapeng, but instead of going to his house, he came to her school on weekends.

“How did she know I was here? Wait, how did *you* know?” Rou Qiu was puzzled. Lin Fang had told him not to leave campus, yet he’d sneaked out. It made sense that she’d guess he’d come here—he’d never been able to hide anything from her since childhood—but how had Ma Miao found him?

Ma Miao scoffed. “Ask yourself. From the school gate, I heard students saying the food at Caixing tasted different today. The chef hasn’t changed, so who else could it be but you messing around?”

“Oh. Yeah, that makes sense.” Rou Qiu rubbed his head, making it shine.

With the hospital trip coming up, he wouldn’t have time to finish the pig stomach chicken dish. He washed his hands and made Ma Miao a bowl of chicken wontons using his own recipe.

Ma Miao, to his delight, finished one bowl and asked for another. He was thrilled—his cooking must be good. He didn’t consider that someone as tall as her could easily eat two bowls.

When Lin Fang finished her class, Ma Miao and Rou Qiu were speculating why Xiao Guanpeng wanted to see her. They concluded he was just making trouble for no reason.

“Want me to come? I’d be more intimidating,” Ma Miao offered. With her masculine features and close relationship with Lin Fang, strangers often mistook them for a couple.

“You? I’d rather not drown in someone’s complaints,” Lin Fang said, glancing at Rou Qiu.

“Tch. Well, if you wait a bit, I called Sister He. She’ll be back soon.”

Sister He, sent by Lin Guicheng as Lin Fang’s assistant and bodyguard, had gone to check out construction materials in the morning after confirming Lin Fang wouldn’t leave campus. She hadn’t returned yet.

“No, I’ll just go with Rou Qiu. I have a lot to do today—no time to wait.” Lin Fang headed out.

Of all the men pursuing her, Lin Fang disliked interacting with Xiao Guanpeng the most. Though he came from a good family, was a skilled doctor with a bright future, and was enthusiastic toward her, he was too self-absorbed and showy. He was fine as an acquaintance but unsuitable as a partner—not that Lin Fang had any interest in romance anyway.

Rou Qiu also disapproved of Lin Fang getting involved with Xiao Guanpeng, so he had no qualms about being the third wheel. In fact, he relished the idea of outshining Xiao Guanpeng.

But this time, Rou Qiu was wrong. Xiao Guanpeng had a real reason for summoning Lin Fang: Pi Xinhong had woken up last night.

Strangely, the revived Pi Xinhong was timid and curious about everything. When alone, she’d look around, touching whatever she could reach despite her weakened state. At the slightest noise, she’d burrow under the covers.

Though her throat was injured, she could now speak—albeit hoarsely. Oddly, the only word she’d said since waking was “hungry.” She refused to answer any other questions.

Xiao Guanpeng suspected she was feigning madness for self-preservation.

Yet her demeanor was so different from before that he wasn’t sure. Previously, whenever questioned about her injuries, her eyes had burned with resentment. Now, they held only childlike fear and curiosity, devoid of malice.

Since Lin Fang and Pi Xinhong had been high school classmates, Xiao Guanpeng hoped Lin Fang could communicate with her and figure out what was going on.

When Lin Fang and Rou Qiu arrived at Xiao Guanpeng’s office, another unfamiliar doctor was present. While Xiao Guanpeng explained the situation, the stranger’s expression remained blank, but his gaze lingered on Lin Fang.

This irritated Rou Qiu, who deliberately positioned himself between them, blocking the seated doctor’s view with his round frame.

Lin Fang, unfazed, had already guessed the situation but didn’t explain to Rou Qiu.

She followed Xiao Guanpeng and the stranger to Pi Xinhong’s room, peering through the window.

Inside, Pi Xinhong lay in bed, peeking around and cautiously touching nearby objects. At any sound, she’d retreat under the covers, only to reemerge later and repeat the process. Having exhausted nearby items, she stretched to reach farther ones.

Her behavior resembled that of a timid child exploring its surroundings. After observing, Lin Fang entered alone, leaving the others outside. Rou Qiu, who also knew Pi Xinhong, tried to follow but was stopped.

At the sound of the door, Pi Xinhong curled into a ball under the blankets—a comically large lump.

Lin Fang approached the bed and smiled. “Pi Xinhong, it’s Lin Fang. I came to see you. Why are you hiding like a dumpling?”

Slowly, the covers slid down, revealing Pi Xinhong’s eyes—clear and innocent, unlike the domineering girl Lin Fang remembered.

“Who are you? Say it again,” Pi Xinhong rasped, her voice barely audible but her tone eerily familiar to Lin Fang.

“I’m Lin Fang. Do you recognize me?” Lin Fang mirrored her speech pattern effortlessly—she’d once spoken like this for over a decade.

“Sixth Sister, why do you look like this?” Pi Xinhong’s voice rose slightly as she fully emerged.

The words stunned Lin Fang into silence.

From her angle, Lin Fang’s back blocked the window, hiding her reaction from the others. Pi Xinhong, however, saw it clearly and ducked back under the covers, muttering, “You’re not my Sixth Sister. She was beautiful, with a sweet voice and noble grace—a scholar. You share nothing with her.”

Though still dazed, Lin Fang now recognized who this was. She leaned in, shielding Pi Xinhong from view, and placed a hand on her wrist. Whispering, she said, “Yuan’er, don’t speak. I *am* your Sixth Sister. If you doubt me, let me tell you this:

“As a child, my face was covered in blood tumors. After moving to Lin Village, they faded. Your name is Lin Yuan. You once had bound feet, later freed. Your father is Lin Guicheng, your mother Dong Panyu. He took you both to seek your roots—I don’t know how you ended up here.

“My father is Lin Dalang, my mother Li Cuimei. Eldest Brother Lin Meng is impulsive. Second Brother Lin Wen is studious. Third Sister Lin Juan is obsessed with embroidery. Fourth Sister Lin Xia is mischievous. Fifth Brother Lin Wu loves sweets and martial arts.

“Second Grandmother is a skilled healer. Aunt Hong is a great cook. Second Uncle is quiet and loves blacksmithing. Sixth Uncle enjoys woodwork. Am I wrong?”

Pi Xinhong’s eyes widened. “Not at all. You’re really Sixth Sister?”

Lin Fang nodded. “Remember, this world is different from ours. You’re new here—don’t speak much. Only eat what I bring you. Once you’re better, I’ll take you away.”

Pi Xinhong nodded. “I’ll obey. But don’t lie to me.”

Lin Fang smiled. “When have I ever lied? Rest now. I’ll return by dinner.”