Perhaps at that time, I still wouldn't agree.
But now, having experienced it myself, I know that what was said was absolutely correct.
This is unlike the previous life, where there were various ways to stay in touch. Now, besides meeting in person, the only way is through letters.
But if we live together, wouldn't writing letters be ridiculous?
Zheng Wei had already entered the Shian Courtyard. As he turned his head, he discovered Shen Xiaoyan was still walking slowly behind him. Seeing Shen Xiaoyan deep in thought, he asked curiously, "What's wrong with Mǐmǐ today? Why is she suddenly so melancholic?"
Shen Xiaoyan looked up at Zheng Wei. "Have I changed? Am I no longer a good sister? I haven't seen Xiaoming for several days."
Zheng Wei was startled at first, then seemed to flinch away.
Shen Xiaoyan hadn't paid much attention initially, but seeing Zheng Wei's expression, she couldn't help but feel curious.
She said she hadn't seen Xiaoming for several days, so why was Zheng Wei avoiding her gaze?
"Are you hiding something from me?"
Although she asked as a question, Shen Xiaoyan had a strong feeling that Zheng Wei was definitely hiding something from her.
And this matter must be related to Shen Xiaoming.
The thought that Shen Xiaoming might have gotten into trouble due to her carelessness made Shen Xiaoyan feel utterly miserable.
She had been reborn into Shen Xiaoyan's body and had sworn to take good care of her original body's only younger brother.
But as life became better, she gradually forgot this promise.
She thought that being well-fed and clothed was enough.
Thinking about it now, she was truly a scoundrel.
In what way was she different from those parents in her previous life who only knew how to give their children money?
How could she still happily dote on her own three children every day with a clear conscience?
She couldn't even be a good sister.
Shen Xiaoyan felt immense grief, but what was more important now was to know what had happened to Shen Xiaoming.
Looking up into Zheng Wei's eyes, Shen Xiaoyan spoke with an unyielding tone.
"Tell me, where did Xiaoming go?"
Yes, she was certain that Shen Xiaoming would not have gone to school as scheduled.
Even if he were busy with his studies, he wouldn't have failed to come and see her.
Zheng Wei sighed inwardly at Shen Xiaoyan's demeanor, realizing he couldn't keep it from her any longer.
In fact, if he had wanted to, there were many ways to hide it from Shen Xiaoyan.
But he didn't want to deceive Shen Xiaoyan, nor did he want to use more lies to cover up one. That's why he didn't hide anything when Shen Xiaoyan asked.
"Xiaoming, he's gone."
Zheng Wei's four concise words made Shen Xiaoyan instinctively clutch her chest.
"Where did he go?"
She looked at Zheng Wei, afraid he would say something she couldn't or wouldn't accept. However, reality left her no room to escape.
"Xiaoming said that he had learned everything he needed to learn. He wants to travel alone, to experience the vast world. When he returns, he will surely surprise you. And he hopes you will be happy for his growth."
Hearing Zheng Wei's words, Shen Xiaoyan wished she could rush to Shen Xiaoming immediately and yell at him. His actions now were already a huge surprise to her.
"Mǐmǐ, you don't need to worry too much. Xiaoming has grown up now. He's no longer the frail little boy he used to be. Long before you knew, he had already grown into a man."
Zheng Wei's words of comfort had very little effect on Shen Xiaoyan.
She understood that everyone grows up.
But she couldn't accept him leaving without saying goodbye.
"Why didn't he tell me he was leaving?"
Shen Xiaoyan fell silent for a long time before finally managing to utter these words with difficulty.
Zheng Wei looked at Shen Xiaoyan's suppressed pain and felt great pity, but still said, "Xiaoming has his own matters to attend to. You can't always hold him back."
"What matters?"
Shen Xiaoyan asked, looking intently into Zheng Wei's eyes.
What matter was it that she, as his sister, couldn't be involved in?
Zheng Wei closed his eyes briefly and said with difficulty, "He's going to find his parents."
Shen Xiaoyan was shocked and instinctively replied, "His parents are my parents, aren't they? This is something between the two of us..."
Shen Xiaoyan didn't finish her sentence because she suddenly felt she understood the meaning behind Zheng Wei's words.
"You mean, Xiaoming knows that I..."
Zheng Wei nodded. Shen Xiaoyan immediately staggered, almost falling to the ground.
Seeing this, Zheng Wei quickly stepped forward to support her. "Mǐmǐ, don't be like this."
Shen Xiaoyan clutched her chest tightly, feeling as if her heart would leap out of her chest the next second.
In her mind, only one sentence echoed repeatedly:
Xiaoming knows. He no longer recognizes me as his sister.
"He knows. How did he find out?"
Shen Xiaoyan kept repeating the same question, truly not understanding how, after so long, he had suddenly found out now.
Zheng Wei looked at Shen Xiaoyan's state and felt an unspeakable heartache.
"Mǐmǐ, even though Xiaoming knows, he said you are still his sister, and that will never change. It's just that you have too many ties now, so he wants to go out and see for himself first."
"If he can't find them, he will come back to find you."
Shen Xiaoyan listened to Zheng Wei's comforting words, unable to breathe from the pain.
Tears streamed down from her eyes.
This was her little brother.
He left like this, without even saying goodbye.
Was it because she wasn't his real sister?
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan weeping uncontrollably, Zheng Wei scooped her up and quickly walked into the Shian Courtyard, into the main room.
She couldn't just cry by the door. If everyone saw, who knew what explanations would be needed.
Once inside the room, Zheng Wei didn't put Shen Xiaoyan down but carried her to sit on the couch.
Shen Xiaoyan leaned her head on Zheng Wei's shoulder, letting her tears fall. Her heart was not only filled with sadness and pain, but more so with guilt.
Shen Xiaoming was right. She had too many ties now, too many things to deal with.
Not only that, but instinctively, she had cast aside those parents who had abandoned them, her brother and her, and had been indifferent to them for so many years.
If it weren't for Shen Cheng, whether they, a brother and sister, could have survived to grow up was a question.
Even though Shen Xiaoming was a scoundrel, at least he hadn't let them die like that.
And those parents?
She didn't want to look for them. She had intended to live a good life with Shen Xiaoming in Da Chu, and later find him a wife who was compatible with him. That would have been enough.
But she hadn't expected this sudden change to catch her completely off guard.
Shen Xiaoming knew the truth and had guessed her thoughts.
Therefore, Shen Xiaoming left.
Yes, she should have realized it. If Shen Xiaoming knew the truth, he would definitely leave.
Ancient people had an innate sense of dependence on their birth parents. Sooner or later, he would seek his roots.
Understanding this, Shen Xiaoyan gradually stopped crying.
It wasn't that she accepted it, but rather that crying wouldn't solve anything.
She now needed to quickly resolve matters in Di Jing and then go with Zheng Wei to find Shen Xiaoming.
No matter what Shen Xiaoming thought, she had to go.