Chapter 149: Hard Times
“Nana, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Wu Siyu was taken aback. She had never heard Yu Linna speak like this before. How could she consider herself a burden?
This child…
“Don’t say that. We’re family…”
“No, we’re not!”
Yu Linna’s sharp denial made Wu Siyu’s heart ache, though she quickly masked her emotions. She knew, deep down, that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t replace Yu Linna’s real family, the missing link of blood.
But her desire to care for Yu Linna, to treat her as her own, was genuine.
However, Yu Linna couldn’t accept her kindness.
Though young, she understood they weren’t related, not truly family. And seeing their financial struggles, she couldn’t help but feel responsible, her presence adding to their burden.
“Nana, it might take time, but trust me, I’ll become your family. Just… wait a little longer, okay?”
No, no, Yu Linna’s heart screamed in protest. She was terrified.
She was alone, unburdened by attachments, but Wu Siyu’s kindness made her feel responsible. If her presence caused their family to fall apart, she would never forgive herself.
Yu Linna was unusually mature for her age, unlike other children who accepted things easily. She overthought everything, her mind burdened by adult concerns. Though she enjoyed taking advantage of others, accepting their generosity, she also avoided being a burden, especially to those she cared about.
Wu Siyu, puzzled by her behavior, left to attend to other matters. Her husband’s studio was struggling, and she had gone to help, her experience as an orphanage director proving useful. And with their financial difficulties, she needed to find a job.
Huo Ningning, still young, didn’t fully understand her parents’ struggles, but she sensed their worries, their constant frowns dampening her usual playful spirit. She had become unusually quiet and subdued. Yu Linna, meanwhile, was consumed by anxiety.
She had lived at the orphanage for less than three months before it was demolished. She had been at Aunt Wu’s house for less than a month, and now they were facing a financial crisis. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was a jinx. The thought made her even more anxious. Aunt Wu was the person she cared about most; she didn’t want to cause her any pain.
“Little Linna, what’s wrong? You seem unhappy.”
“Do I?”
“You’re not smiling. Smiling makes you happy! Come on, let’s play!”
Fortunately, Huo Ningning’s playful nature kept Yu Linna from completely succumbing to despair. Though initially resentful of Yu Linna for monopolizing her mother’s attention, she had grown fond of her, their initial friction forgotten.
But today, Yu Linna wasn’t in the mood to play, not just today, but for days now. She was distracted, her mind elsewhere, even during class, unable to focus, despite her intelligence and perfect test scores. Even her teachers noticed her lack of attention, reprimanding her in class.
“Why aren’t you playing? Do you not want to play with me…?”
“No… I just…”
Seeing Yu Linna’s constant distraction, Huo Ningning felt a pang of sadness. Her parents were struggling, and now Linna was too. Why was everyone so unhappy?
“Little Linna, my mommy said she brought you from an orphanage. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t have a mommy and daddy?”
“No.”
“And no home?”
“No.”
Children often asked blunt questions, questions an older Huo Ningning wouldn’t dare to ask.
“No wonder Mommy keeps saying she wants you to be part of our family.”
“…She really said that?”
“Yes! So, we’ll be a family soon! Everything will be alright. Just stay here. I’ll play with you.”
Yu Linna remained silent, her unease growing. So many things had gone wrong since she arrived; she couldn’t just stay here, carefree. She was an outsider, no matter how hard she tried, she would never truly belong.
The financial problems persisted, and Wu Siyu, desperate for money, started looking for a job. At thirty, her prime years were behind her, and few companies were interested in hiring her. Despite her best efforts, she only managed to secure a position in logistics, a menial job, but it was better than nothing, and the daily wages were crucial for their immediate needs.
And then, disaster struck.
Huo Qiulin, stressed and burdened, often drank to cope. One day, after drinking during the day, he received a call about a new project and rushed out, still slightly intoxicated. And then, it happened.
His judgment impaired by alcohol, he lost control of the car, crashing into a road sign. Though his injuries weren’t life-threatening, he had to be hospitalized for two weeks, and worse, he was charged with drunk driving, his license revoked.
The Huo family was plunged into crisis.
Their already precarious situation worsened.
Yu Linna and Huo Ningning visited him at the hospital. Huo Qiulin, his face pale, his spirit broken, looked defeated, his unshaven face adding to his haggard appearance.
“You’re here. Have some fruit. I’m fine. I just need some rest.”
He forced a smile, gesturing for them to come closer. Huo Ningning, still young and unable to comprehend the situation, burst into tears.
“Ningning, don’t cry. Everything will be alright. Don’t cry.”
“Daddy…”
“Siyu, take Ningning outside.”
Huo Qiulin, unable to bear his daughter’s tears, asked his wife to take her out of the ward, not wanting to disturb the other patients. Only Yu Linna remained.
“Little Linna, have something to eat. I’m sorry you have to go through this. I wanted to give you a better life.”
Seeing him trying to be strong, she couldn’t pretend to be oblivious. She wasn’t stupid; she could see his pain. But unlike Ningning, she didn’t cry.
“Uncle… is it because of me…? Is this all my fault…?”
“Don’t say that! What does this have to do with you?”
“I overheard. Is it because… because there’s one more mouth to feed now?”
“…”
Huo Qiulin was speechless.
Their financial situation was precarious, his income barely enough to support their family. Wu Siyu had often worked extra jobs, even while managing the orphanage, a clear sign of their financial struggles. Though their income wasn’t high before, it had been stable, enough for a small family.
But with Wu Siyu unemployed and Yu Linna’s arrival, they were struggling to make ends meet.
“What are you talking about, child…?”
Huo Qiulin tried to deflect.
“Uncle, I’m not stupid. I know you and Auntie could barely afford to raise Ningning.”
“…You’re… not like other children.”
Huo Qiulin’s forced smile couldn’t hide his despair.
Children were supposed to be oblivious, innocent. Why was this child so perceptive? Were orphans simply more attuned to such things?
Perhaps. Having no parents, having to rely on herself, Yu Linna was naturally more sensitive to such matters.
“Uncle, you just admitted it.”
“Don’t tell your Aunt Wu. She’ll think I told you. Listen, child, I love my wife, so when she brought you home, I respected her decision. She loves you, and I’ll try to love you too. It’s that simple.”
“Uncle, I don’t understand.”
“Of course, you don’t. You’re a child. It’s called love. You’ll understand when you’re older. Just… don’t overthink things. No matter how difficult things get, we’ll take care of you until you’re an adult. Your Aunt Wu and I, we both feel the same way.”
They were too kind.
No one had ever been so kind to her. Even struggling financially, they still wanted to care for her. What kind of people were they? Yu Linna was deeply touched.
And that was precisely why she couldn’t be a burden to them.
Their kindness made her feel like a burden. They were working so hard, while she, unable to contribute, only added to their struggles. If she were truly their family, it would be different, but she was just an outsider.
And they treated her so well, an outsider… would she ever meet such kind people again? Probably not. She would remember their kindness, but she couldn’t impose on them any longer.
Perhaps she shouldn’t have come here.
If she hadn’t, she would simply be in another orphanage, or waiting to be adopted, not burdening this family.
She finally understood. She didn’t belong here. No matter how kind they were, she would never truly be one of them.
“I want to leave…”
“Be careful on your way back.”
Huo Qiulin misunderstood, unable to comprehend such a thought from a child. A child, with no resources, no means of survival… where could she possibly go?
Yu Linna genuinely wanted to leave, but she wasn’t sure if she could bring herself to do it. Because in this house, besides Aunt Wu, there was also Huo Ningning, her friend.
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