The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

Xu Xi took it and looked at it, her face showing joy.

This dark brown suit is very stylish, and the fabric feels very comfortable.

She imagined what her brother would look like wearing that suit.

It's perfect; it's practically tailor-made for Xu Nian.

But when she saw the price tag, Xu Xi's expression froze.

399 yuan is beyond what she can afford.

Do you have any slightly cheaper options?

"This set is already the cheapest one; other styles will cost at least 500-600 or more."

The shop assistant glanced at Xu Xi's dejected expression, then at the cashier where a customer had just paid, and suddenly remembered something.

"However, if you're sure you want to buy this set now, since you're the 100th customer to check out today, you can get a discount of 100 off for purchases over 299."

With the discount of 100 yuan, it's exactly 299 yuan, the same price as the suit I had my eye on before.

Xu Xi nodded in delight: "Great, this is the one."

After paying 299 yuan, Xu Xi happily carried the suit out of the store.

Seeing Xu Xi walk away, the shop assistant smiled, took out 100 yuan from his wallet and put it into the cash register.

There was no such thing as a perfect deal; he simply admired the brother Xu Xi had mentioned.

He picked up his phone and sent a message to the person in the contact list whose nickname was "Two Years Younger Ancestor".

"I'll invite you out for dinner tonight after I get off work."

A moment later, a question mark appeared on the other end.

"¿"

"Are you really my brother? Who's possessing you?"

......

"Phew~ It's so hot!"

Xu Xi, dressed beautifully, placed the freshly cooked soup on the table and nodded in satisfaction after looking at the dishes.

She, who usually avoids buying meat, bought a pound of pork ribs today, which was unusual for her, and made a delicious braised pork rib dish.

"It feels like something's missing..."

Xu Xi lightly touched her lips with her little finger, tilting her head as she pondered.

"Oh, right, the cake!"

Xu Xi remembers that there was always a cake on her birthday.

Perfect timing! I still have some money left over from my earnings; it should be enough to buy a small cake.

Thinking of this, Xu Xi covered the dishes with a plate and went out.

As Xu Xi walked out of the residential area, a furtive figure followed her.

"Hehehe, I've finally got my chance..."

......

There's still half an hour before my brother gets home, so we'll make it in time.

Thankfully, there's still a cake shop open this late.

Welcome!

The shop assistant was a girl who was playing on her phone while leaning on the counter. When she saw Xu Xi enter the store, she quickly got up.

"Hello, do you still have birthday cake?"

"Yes, but there aren't many styles left. Who are you buying them for?"

"For my brother."

The shop assistant glanced at Xu Xi's age and brought out a cake featuring a bespectacled scholar sitting on a cake, holding a book, symbolizing academic progress.

"How about this one? It's perfect as a gift for your brother."

Xu Xi looked at it and shook her head.

Putting aside the fact that its price is beyond acceptable limits, my brother started working at a very young age and hardly went to school.

Buying this cake is an insult to my brother.

"What other styles are there? Let me choose."

The shop assistant led Xu Xi to a row of shelves.

"These are the styles we still have available for sale. Please take a look."

Xu Xi stood in front of the shelf, her eyes wandering over each cake.

Her gaze finally settled on a piece of chocolate cake.

"Mommy, Xiaoxi's head hurts so much..."

Blood was streaming down Xu Xi's head. She cried as she hugged her mother, whose face was bruised and swollen.

Mom gently patted Xu Xi's back, took out a nearly melted chocolate from her pocket, and carefully tore open the wrapper.

"Little Xi, have a piece of chocolate, it will make you feel better."

Xu Xi wiped away her tears and choked back sobs as she put the food in her mouth.

The spot on my head where my dad hit me still hurts, but my mouth tastes sweet.

......

"Please pack this up for me."

Xu Xi pointed to the chocolate cake.

My brother's life is too hard; he needs a piece of sweet chocolate.

"OK."

The shop assistant quickly packed the cake up and handed it to Xu Xi.

"That's 32 yuan in total, thank you for your patronage."

After paying, Xu Xi carried the cake and left the cake shop.

"Phew, finally I can go home!"

The shop assistant stretched as she watched Xu Xi leave.

"I finally got a chance to rip off my brother, I'd better hurry over there."

......

Xu Xi walked happily on her way home, carefully holding the small cake.

With these, my brother will definitely be very happy tonight.

I must give my brother an unforgettable birthday.

As she thought this, her steps became lighter.

As Xu Xi passed through a dark alley, she inexplicably felt a strange wind blowing by.

She nervously looked back, but there was nothing there except for the flickering streetlights at the end of the alley.

Xu Xi reassured herself that she must have misread the image.

She quickened her pace, intending to leave this place as soon as possible.

Suddenly, a bottle smashed on the back of her head with a loud "bang".

Xu Xi didn't have time to make a sound before she fainted.

The cake fell to the ground, and a huge footprint stepped on it.

In an instant, cream was smeared all over the floor tiles...

"I'm back."

Xu Nian entered the room, which was dark and unlit.

"A stream?"

He turned on the light switch and searched the room, but couldn't find Xu Xi.

"Not at home?"

Xu Nian murmured.

He felt something was strange. Although Xu Xi had been going out a lot these days, she would always be waiting for him at home whenever he returned.

Xu Nian looked at the dishes laid out on the table and frowned.

The food is already prepared, why isn't she home at this time?

Could it be that we're out of seasonings?

He went to the kitchen and saw that the pots and pans were washed clean and hung on the wall.

Ingredients that were not properly chopped and not yet cooked.

Xu Nian felt a sense of unease.

"Little Xu? What brings you to see Grandpa Deng so late?"

"Your sister? She's not here. Why don't you go look for her in the gazebo downstairs? I remember seeing her playing with those kids yesterday."

"Big brother, we didn't see Sister Xiaoxi today. She said it's a very important day and she can't play with us."

......

"Xu girl? I don't know. I just started my night shift a few minutes ago and haven't seen Xu girl come to my post."

"Maybe they went out to throw out the trash? Don't worry, go home and check again, they might already be home."

Xu Nian walked out of the security room in a daze, her heart growing increasingly panicked.

I searched the neighborhood but couldn't find Xu Xi anywhere.

Neighbors who usually get along well with Xu Xi didn't see her either.

He returned home, clinging to his last glimmer of hope, and checked again to see if his sister had arrived.

But inside the empty house, he was still all alone.

Has something happened?