Chapter 148: Unease
Little Linna, still young, was oblivious to the troubles brewing within the Huo family. She enjoyed her carefree life, happier than she had ever been, content with her comfortable existence, hoping it would last forever.
Aunt Wu had said she wanted to adopt her, a prospect she initially doubted, but now she believed her. If she was adopted, would she have to call her “Mommy”?
Having never called anyone “Mommy,” she wondered if it would feel strange.
“Foreign devil! Come out here!”
One day, an older boy came to her classroom, shouting her name. Yu Linna stepped outside.
“That’s me. What do you want?”
“You’re the foreign devil? Come with me. I need to talk to you.”
“Okay.”
What could a little kid possibly want? she thought, forgetting she was a little kid herself.
The boy was taller and larger than other kids his age, though not as big as an adult, still imposing among his peers.
What does he want? Yu Linna wondered.
“Alright, what did you want to say?”
She followed him to the school playground. The chubby boy, arms crossed, looked smug.
“You, foreign devil, though strange-looking, you’re pretty. Be my girl. It’ll make me look good. What do you say? Not bad, right?”
“…”
Is this kid an idiot?
So direct, so arrogant, thinking he was some hotshot. Even the president didn’t have this much confidence. Did he think she would just agree to be his girlfriend? In his dreams.
“Are you done? I’m leaving.”
“Wait! Foreign devil! You haven’t answered me!”
“The moment you called me ‘foreign devil,’ I knew I would never agree. If you want respect, learn to respect others first.”
Yu Linna disliked this arrogant child, especially his use of the derogatory term “foreign devil.” Though she considered herself Chinese, being called that still stung. It wasn’t her fault she looked different; she was born this way. Judging her based on her appearance was unfair.
“Hmph! I’m offering you my protection, and you dare refuse?!”
“How generous of you. I’m not worthy. Goodbye.”
“Don’t you get it? You’re living with Huo Ningning, but you’re not really part of their family! You’re an outsider! No matter how much you try to please them, you’ll never be a Huo!”
Rejected and frustrated, the boy lashed out, his childish insults revealing an unpleasant truth. Children often spoke without thinking, their words sometimes brutally honest.
“None of your business!”
Yu Linna, her temper flaring, retorted angrily.
“What? Am I wrong? Don’t think I don’t know. Huo Ningning’s family is struggling. Their business is failing. They’re almost bankrupt. If it weren’t for you, a jinx, they wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t know? No wonder they don’t treat you like family. It’s understandable you wouldn’t know. Let me tell you: Huo Ningning’s father lost a lot of money. His studio is about to close down. They’re all going to lose their jobs. It’s all your fault! Ever since you moved in, their family has been falling apart.”
“None of your business!”
Though her tone was sharp, Yu Linna felt a growing unease. Since she moved in, about two weeks ago, the Huo family seemed to be struggling. The food had become simpler, the house less tidy, and even Huo Qiulin, Ningning’s father, had started drinking, a constant frown on his face.
Could she really be a jinx?
That day, Yu Linna returned home, quietly investigating. Wu Siyu and Huo Qiulin were in the living room. She entered stealthily, unnoticed, her small backpack on her shoulders, hiding behind the door, eavesdropping.
“I’m sorry, Siyu. I lost it. All of it. The compensation you received for the orphanage… it’s all gone. I was planning to use that money to start a company.”
Huo Qiulin looked years older, his demeanor defeated, his spirit broken.
“It’s not your fault. That old woman scammed you! She was perfectly fine, but she insisted on suing! And we had no evidence, so her family extorted us.”
“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been so kind. It’s all my fault. Now the money is gone, and I’m not getting any clients. If this continues, I’m afraid the studio…”
“Don’t say that. This is just a temporary setback. We’re struggling now, but it doesn’t mean we’re hopeless. You have to be strong. We can start over.”
“Start over? Sigh… if only it were that easy. This family needs me. We have two children to support.”
Yu Linna, hiding behind the door, listened intently, understanding more than they realized. Aunt Wu and Uncle Huo were worried about money. And with the increasingly simple meals, their strained smiles… it all made sense.
“Honey, is it because of Nana?”
“I’ve told you countless times, it’s not the child’s fault. What difference does one extra mouth to feed make? Don’t bring this up again. I respect your decision.”
“But…”
“No buts. I’ll figure something out.”
At the mention of Nana, Huo Qiulin quickly changed the subject, afraid of making his wife feel guilty. They could do without many things, but not children. Even if she wasn’t his biological daughter, he had a responsibility to care for her.
Yu Linna, listening from behind the door, felt a pang of guilt. Since she moved in, Aunt Wu’s family seemed to be struggling even more. The best meal she had had was on her first day. After that, the food had become simpler, and they even turned off the lights and pretended not to be home when the electricity bill collector came.
The Huo family seemed to be falling apart.
And it all started when she moved in.
Was she really a jinx?
Returning to her room, Yu Linna’s mind raced, unsure what to do. As a child, she shouldn’t have to worry about such things, but she couldn’t ignore it. Just like that chubby boy had said, she was an outsider, not truly part of this family. She was a Yu, not a Huo.
Though Wu Siyu intended to adopt her, she wasn’t officially a Huo yet. She was still an outsider.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Huo Ningning entered. Yu Linna, having grown close to her during their time together, quickly brushed aside her worries, relieved to see her friend.
“Little Linna, Mommy and Daddy are fighting…”
“N-no way…” Yu Linna said weakly.
“It’s true! I heard them arguing downstairs. Daddy looked so angry! I’ve never seen him like that before! I’m scared…”
“…Ningning.”
“What… what’s going to happen to my family?”
Little Huo Ningning felt a growing unease. Her family wasn’t wealthy, their life comfortable but not extravagant. With her mother unemployed and Yu Linna’s arrival, their financial burden had increased. And Yu Linna must have noticed.
Her presence had made things worse.
“I don’t know…”
Yu Linna lowered her head, unable to answer. Huo Ningning, finally having her mother home, now faced a potential financial crisis. Even a child could sense the tension; their situation must be dire.
Aunt Wu still wanted to adopt her, but they were struggling. Taking on another child would only add to their burden. Why would she do that? Aunt Wu must understand the implications.
“I don’t want anything to happen to my family. Mommy is finally home; I don’t want her to leave again…”
Little Huo Ningning simply wanted her family to be together, safe and sound. She didn’t ask for much, just for her family to be whole. If money tore them apart, she wouldn’t be able to bear it.
The two girls peeked into the living room; the argument continued.
“Siyu, I told you, it’s not about the child. You brought her home, and I accepted her. Can we please not talk about this?”
“That’s not what I meant! I want you to rely on me! I’m your wife! You don’t have to shoulder everything yourself!”
“You’re unemployed; what can you do?”
“Qiulin!”
They were arguing about money. Every family faced financial challenges; without economic stability, a family couldn’t function.
Yu Linna’s expression darkened. Perhaps that chubby boy had been right. Her arrival had brought misfortune, like a jinx.
That day, Yu Linna had no appetite, picking at her food, then putting down her chopsticks after only a few bites. Her mind was in turmoil. She knew Aunt Wu cared about her, but she didn’t want to be a burden.
“What’s wrong, Nana? Are you feeling unwell? Why are you eating so little?”
Wu Siyu, worried, came to her room, her concern evident.
“No, I’m not hungry. I don’t want you to waste food.”
“Don’t say that. You’re part of our family, my child. There’s nothing wrong with me cooking for you.”
Those words made Yu Linna recoil. Though seemingly kind, she couldn’t accept them.
“No, I’m not your family. I can’t be your family. I can’t be a burden.”
She was afraid, afraid that her presence would destroy their family.
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