novelraw Chapter 212 Nightmare
Chapter 212 Nightmare
Chapter 212 Nightmare
As the sun rose, Bai Yuzhe was awakened by the energetic Bai Youqing.
He said he was going to climb a mountain to watch the sunrise and pay respects to his parents, which truly shows his strong filial piety.
The mountains in the village aren't very high; it takes about 30 to 40 minutes to climb to the top.
Today, Bai Yuze wore the clothes his sister had bought him a few days ago and got a neat haircut, a stark contrast to his previous lazy style.
Compared to the temperament of salted fish,
At this moment, Bai Yuze seemed like a completely different person.
He looked very dignified and serious.
Behind him followed a girl in a light white dress, her eyes lowered, the corners of her eyes slightly red and swollen, silently following behind in a daze.
The two set off early in the morning. Recalling the location in his mind, Bai Yuze's gaze slowly swept through the woods.
From afar,
Bai Yuze saw photos of Bai Xingjian and his wife, with clusters of yellow and white bougainvillea planted next to their grave.
This photo was taken when my parents were thirty years old. They both look very young. My adoptive father, Bai Xingjian, has a square face, thick eyebrows, a bit of a beard on his chin, and a wide grin that makes him look simple and honest.
Qin Li, the adoptive mother, had her long, jet-black hair tied in a bun and wore a light blue cheongsam, giving her an elegant and refined appearance.
His parents had a very deep bond and treated him like their own son. Every time his father came back from a business trip, he would bring back a lot of fun and delicious things.
Even after Xiaoqing was born, he could still feel his parents' favoritism towards him.
This incident once made Bai Youqing doubt whether she was her biological child.
Originally, he had already decided that he would make a name for himself after graduating from high school, get into a good university, and find a good job.
This would allow the adoptive parents to retire early and take Xiaoqing on trips around the world.
Unexpectedly, on the very day they sent him to the exam hall, his parents were involved in a car accident on their way home.
"If I don't let my parents come to see me off for the college entrance exam..."
"If I were to continue boarding at school during my senior year of high school...."
"if."
Memories flashed through his mind, and Bai Yuze's heart, which had been calm for a long time, suddenly ached.
"elder brother"
Noticing her brother trembling slightly, Bai Youqing looked up and saw a fleeting look of pain and regret in his eyes.
"It's okay, I just got some rainwater in my eyes. Don't worry, you didn't cry, so why would I cry first?"
Bai Yuze wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and smiled.
After placing the newly bought wreaths and paying their respects, the two went home.
On the way home,
Bai Youqing's eyes darted around the woods like a little elf, looking at this plant and that flower, asking Bai Yuze about any plants she didn't understand.
Until I got a little tired later,
She then moved closer to Bai Yuze and asked, "Brother, who are Bai Jie and Bai Yangcheng?"
"Forehead"
Upon hearing these two names, Bai Yuze paused for a moment, then smiled. "They live not too far from us, just across the street. When you were little, you actually really enjoyed playing with Sister Bai Jie. But after you moved to the city, you two drifted apart."
"Brother, I feel like you remember everything so clearly, that's amazing! Can you tell me their love story?" Bai Youqing asked curiously.
...Let's change the subject.
Bai Yuze didn't want to say much about this matter.
"Alas..."
Bai Youqing frowned slightly as she looked at her brother, whose expression seemed a little off. Could it be that Bai Jie was her brother's first love? That shouldn't be the case.
I have never seen my brother mention anyone's name.
Snapped!
What are you thinking?
Bai Yuze slapped his sister on the head with a chopstick. "I'm not really that familiar with her. We've only met a few times."
"Just say it, why hit me? If you knock me out of my mind, you'll have to take care of me for the rest of your life."
Bai Youqing covered her head and protested coquettishly, her voice carrying a hint of pouting.
"That won't do. You still have to learn to take care of yourself." Bai Yuze shook his head slightly and smiled helplessly.
The relationship between Bai Jie and Bai Yangcheng is actually very similar to his relationship with Bai Youqing.
Bai Jie and he were both adopted, the only difference being their gender; the other person was a girl.
Bai Yuze had spoken with her a long time ago. Although she had dropped out of school early, Bai Yuze could sense that she was quite intelligent and quick-witted. He thought she had many ways to leave, but she did not choose to leave.
Bai Yuze didn't quite understand.
Because the other party's adoptive parents were different from Bai Xingjian and his wife; their personalities were extremely bad, and they liked to beat and scold people at the drop of a hat.
The other party didn't say much.
When he returned, he heard the news that the other party was getting married.
The elder brother's words,
Bai Youqing clearly didn't listen; her mind was entirely focused on the wedding she was about to attend.
This was her first time attending a wedding.
I said it out of curiosity.
Bai Yuzhe knew from his sister's expression that her mind was already elsewhere, so he didn't say anything more.
Not long after they returned home,
A pretty woman arrived at their house with a rather reserved-looking young man. Upon seeing Bai Yuzhe and Bai Youqing, the woman smiled somewhat shyly and said, "Brother Yuzhe, I've been quite busy these past few days. I was actually planning to send you an invitation via WeChat tonight, but I heard that you and Bai Youqing are back, so I'll send the invitation over right away."
"Haha, congratulations! I'll bring Bai Youqing with me then," Bai Yuze said with a smile as he accepted the wedding invitation.
"Okay, then we won't bother you any longer."
The woman spoke a few more words with Bai Yuzhe, then left with the young man beside her.
"Brother, these must be Bai Jie and Bai Yangcheng, right? Why do I feel like the groom doesn't look that old, but the bride looks older?" Bai Youqing asked curiously as she took the exquisitely designed wedding invitation from her brother.
Just now, while Bai Yuzhe was talking to the woman,
Bai Youqing had been secretly observing the bride and groom who were about to enter the hall of marriage.
The groom didn't look much older than her, appearing as a fresh-faced high school graduate. In comparison, Bai Jie looked much more mature. Based on the girl's intuition, she was certain that Bai Jie was older than Bai Yangcheng.
And they were only five or six years old.
A relationship between an older woman and a younger man?
"What are you thinking about?"
"Brother, if they get married, should we prepare anything?"
"Just preparing some money, what else could you be preparing? What are you planning to eat today?"
"It will be all right."
Bai Youqing shook her head, deciding to stop thinking about it.
The appointed day arrived quickly, and the wedding held in the countryside looked particularly lively, with seats filling the entire courtyard.
Bai Yuze was wearing a clean white shirt with the cuffs slightly rolled up.
His younger sister, Bai Youqing, was wearing a pink floral dress, her hair styled into two cute ponytails, and her face beaming with a curious smile.
Along the way, neighbors and villagers greeted them warmly, some even stopping to exchange pleasantries, inquiring about Bai Youqing's studies or Bai Yuzhe's work progress. Bai Yuzhe always responded with a smile, while Bai Youqing shyly hid behind her brother, occasionally peeking out to answer the adults' questions.
The open space in front of the door was already filled with tables and chairs, each covered with a red tablecloth and decorated with all kinds of dishes, emitting an enticing aroma.
The sound of firecrackers rose and fell, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air. Villagers sat together, their laughter and blessings blending together.
Bai Yuzhe led Bai Youqing to a children's seat. The aunt next to them enthusiastically served them food, saying, "Xiaoze, eat more. I heard you're a teacher at Qiuyuan No. 1 Middle School. My child is taking the high school entrance exam today. His scores are usually around 600. Do you think there's any hope of getting in?"
Bai Yuze nodded politely in thanks. "I've watched Yu Sheng grow up. To be honest, his grades are pretty good, but it will still be a bit difficult for him to get in. However, he will definitely have no problem getting into Changya High School. Of course, if there are any changes to the school's cut-off scores, I will notify you as soon as possible."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Ozawa."
While Bai Yuzhe was talking with the others, Bai Youqing carefully picked up a slice of meat with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and her eyes immediately lit up, clearly captivated by the delicious taste.
then,
They immediately went into "eat, eat, eat" mode.
She and her brother each gave 300 yuan as a gift, which broke her heart.
But as she ate, Bai Youqing's ears perked up because she heard people talking about her and her brother.
"I remember Bai Jie and Bai Yuze were both adopted orphans, right?"
"Yes, back then, Bai Xingjian brought a boy back from the city, and coincidentally, Yang Cheng's family also found an unwanted girl while working in the fields. I remember they were both very young then."
I can't believe it's already past twenty, almost time to settle down and start a family.
"But if you ask me, the Yang family was much smarter back then. It would have been so much better if they had picked up a little girl. She could have been Yang Cheng's wife when she grew up."
"It's all the same. The boy that Bai Xingjian adopted is also filial. He comes to pay respects to his adoptive parents every year and takes good care of his sister who has no relatives. He's a good kid."
"Hehe, if you ask me, now that Bai Jie is married to Bai Yangcheng, when will Bai Yuzhe marry Bai Youqing? They'll all be family anyway."
"Go away, you've had too much to drink. This is the modern world; child brides and grooms aren't popular anymore. Let's not talk about that. I heard things haven't been very peaceful over at Camel Island lately..."
.
"Child bride? Child husband?"
Two unfamiliar words suddenly appeared in Bai Youqing's mind. After searching on her phone for a while, she turned off the screen and continued to eat her food in large mouthfuls without saying a word.
She recalled her childhood,
Could it be that her parents forced her to learn martial arts and fighting skills because of this consideration?
Honestly, if parents have these kinds of thoughts, they should say so sooner rather than later.
Now it's all too late.
My older brother has already been given to Hoshino-sensei.
Should I go to Hoshino-sensei and ask her to return my brother to me?
Bai Youqing bit her chopsticks.
He fell into deep thought.
Then, her brother tapped her on the head again and warned her, "When you eat out, be mindful of your behavior. You're not a child anymore."
"oh."
Hmph, she doesn't want an older brother who's always interfering with her in this and that!
After attending the wedding at noon,
Bai Yuzhe and Bai Youqing then embarked on their journey back to Yeqiu City.
The senior high school students have finished their college entrance exams, but other high school students still need to study. Bai Yuze had promised the students before the exams that they would go on a field trip together.
On the bus,
The summer afternoon sun blazed down on the earth like a raging fire, creating a stark contrast between the cool air from the air conditioner inside the train car and the heat outside.
Bai Youqing looked at the colorful flowers outside the window. At first, it was nice and felt quite novel, but after a while, she got tired of looking at them.
She simply tilted her head to the side and fell asleep again, resting her head on her brother's shoulder.
In my sleep,
She was at the boarding station, surrounded by blurry shadows, and felt a strange sense of oppression.
But because her brother was standing next to her,
Although she was afraid, she was not too panicked.
quickly,
The bus is here.
She followed her brother into the car, and as soon as she got in, she instantly relaxed.
Unlike the endless dark forest outside, the world inside the car is full of life. Each passenger is immersed in their own world, either looking down at their phone or closing their eyes to rest, seeking a moment of tranquility.
however,
To Bai Youqing's surprise, just as the car was about to depart, her brother got off the car alone and stood there waving in the direction she had left.
Her head popped out of the window as if she wanted to shout something.
But he couldn't utter a sound.
Suddenly, a streak of pale purple light pierced the silence, and she watched in horror as the mist in the darkness surged toward her brother.
Just then, the bus made a smooth turn, and Bai Youqing's body swayed. Her eyelids trembled slightly, and the boundary between dream and reality began to blur. She seemed to hear her brother's gentle call and feel the warmth of his strong shoulders.
The darkness in the dream gradually dissipated, replaced by the brother's concerned gaze.
Bai Youqing slowly lifted her eyelids, her vision clearing as she saw her brother Bai Yuze's worried face.
"What's wrong with you?"
"It's nothing, I just had a nightmare."
Bai Youqing let out a soft breath, as if she had escaped from a nightmare.
In the past few days, she has been having nightmares more and more frequently.
But these nightmares were different from her previous dreams; she felt they were all too real.
Bai Yuzhe sensed his sister's unease, and he gently wrapped his arms around her slender shoulders, trying to offer her some comfort.
"It's okay, I've always been here."
The elder brother's words were gentle and caring.
But Bai Youqing became even more frightened after hearing this!
Don't do that!
I can no longer rely on my brother's protection. I have become a proper magical girl, and it is my turn to protect my brother.