Her cold words caused the surrounding air to freeze for a moment, and An Wan stared at An Xin with wide eyes in disbelief.
An Xin said coldly, "Your parents have been worried day and night for you all these years, and they often cry. Do you think they are doing well if you are not doing well?"
An Wan's eyes suddenly reddened.
Upon seeing this, Xu Ruolan hurriedly said, "Xin'er, your sister has just returned. Don't scold her. She has suffered outside, and I understand if she has any grievances."
An Youwei also said, "Xin'er, you and your sister used to be very close. Why are you so distant this time? Our family is reunited, which is a joyous occasion. We shouldn't hold grudges over trivial matters."
An Xin naturally understood her parents' feelings, and after they said that, she didn't know what to say.
An Wan said softly, "Our daughter can't eat anymore and wants to rest."
Xu Ruolan hurriedly said, "You came back so suddenly that I didn't have time to tidy up the room. Why don't you sleep with your sister tonight?"
An Wan nodded obediently and looked at An Xin, saying, "Sister, is it okay?"
Xu Ruolan laughed and said, "Why is it bad? Why are you sisters distinguishing between yourselves? What's your sister's is yours."
An Wan then revealed a slight smile and followed Xu Ruolan into An Xin's room.
An Xin frowned slightly. Rather than saying she rejected this younger sister, she rejected a stranger. Perhaps she would be fine once they got to know each other better.
An Wan exclaimed "Wow!" as soon as she pushed open An Xin's room door. She looked at this and touched that. Before she left, An Youwei was just a minor official, and his family was really poor. Moreover, when she left, An Youwei had only been an official in the court for a little over half a year. To put it bluntly, she was originally a commoner living at the very bottom of society. Naturally, she was amazed to see An Xin's "luxurious" room!
An Wan exclaimed happily, "Mom, my sister's room is so beautiful!"
Xu Ruolan said sadly, "If Wan'er likes it, Mother will prepare an even prettier one for you."
An Wan said with a grin, "Mother is the best!"
Xu Ruolan sighed, "Silly child, you are my precious child. How could I not love you? I'll go prepare a bath tub for you. Shall we wash up and change your clothes in a bit?"
An Wan nodded immediately.
An Xin said, "Mother, I'll go."
Xu Ruolan patted An Xin's hand and said, "You've been busy all day and you must be tired. Get some rest. I'm going now."
An Xin paused, glanced at the dewdrop, and said, "Dewdrop, you go too."
"Yes!" Dewdrop happily ran after Xu Ruolan.
An Wan spun around excitedly, saying, "I won't have to live a hard life anymore, never again!"
---Aside---
I remembered something I wanted to say while writing, but I've already forgotten it, oh well. Never mind, I'll start writing as soon as I get off work, now I'm going to eat dinner.
Chapter Sixty-Eight: You're on Top, I'm on the Bottom
Chapter Title: Chapter Sixty-Eight: You're on Top, I'm on the Bottom
An Xin glanced at An Wan's adoring expression, then looked away. Even though she felt very distant from this younger sister, An Wan was, after all, her parents' biological daughter and, more importantly, her own sister in this body. She had to overcome this distance and get along well with her no matter what.
Thinking of this, An Xin casually pulled out the new clothes that An Youwei had specially bought for her. Actually, those new clothes were a bit too brightly colored, and An Xin didn't really like them. So, apart from the one she wore when she entered the palace, the rest were all brand new, and it wouldn't be inappropriate to give them to An Wan.
"Change your clothes." An Xin tossed the new clothes to An Wan, who hurriedly caught them. Upon seeing the fabric, An Wan's eyes widened with delight. "Sister, what beautiful clothes! This fabric is so nice..."
An Xin turned around and went to tidy up the bed. Thinking about having to spend the night with this younger sister, she couldn't help but frown. Apart from Yan Zhen, she had never had such intimate contact with anyone before.
"Wow! Sis, these pieces of jewelry are so beautiful, can I have them?" An Wan exclaimed excitedly as she opened An Xin's jewelry box.
An Xin said calmly, "Take it."
"Ah! These face powders smell so good! Sis, you don't like wearing makeup, can you give me these too?" An Wan hugged the powder boxes, unable to put them down.
An Xin gave a faint "hmm".
An Wan suddenly paused, put down her powder box, and approached An Xin with a grin, asking, "Sister, what is your relationship with that Left Prime Minister?"
An Xin had intended to ignore her question, but thinking of Xu Ruolan, she frowned slightly and said indifferently, "It's nothing."
An Wan said in disbelief, "Really? But the Left Prime Minister and my sister seem to be quite familiar with each other..."
An Xin raised her eyelashes and looked at her coldly, saying, "Have you asked enough?"
An Wan was startled. For some reason, An Xin in front of her always seemed to give her a sense of oppression... An Wan's eyes trembled, then her gaze sharpened and suddenly stopped on the hairpin in An Xin's hair. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she stood up abruptly and grabbed it.
An Xin instinctively looked away, her expression unfriendly, and asked, "What are you doing?"
An Wan flattered, "Sister, that hairpin in your hair is so pretty, and that bead is so beautiful. I've never seen such a beautiful hairpin before. Can I take a look?"
An Xin was startled, only then remembering that she was wearing a hairpin inlaid with a dust-repelling bead. The dust-repelling bead was no ordinary thing. If she walked around like this, she might attract a fatal disaster one day!
An Xin casually removed the hairpin, and the dust-repelling pearl seemed to have a spirit of its own, its light dimmed, but its inner brilliance and its unblemished clarity were still captivating!
An Wan couldn't wait to grab it and exclaimed, "So beautiful, sister, I love it!"
An Xin's gaze fell indifferently on the dust-avoiding bead, but she did not speak.
An Wan grabbed An Xin's arm and shook it, saying, "Sister, give it to me, I really like it."
An Xin stared at the hairpin for a long time before pausing and saying, "No." This younger sister could have anything else, but not this hairpin!
An Wan stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "Why?" In her memory, An Xin had never refused her; she would always give her whatever she asked for! Suddenly being rejected, An Wan immediately felt a surge of anger.
An Xin casually put the hairpin away and said indifferently, "No means no, why ask so many questions?!"