Mute Beauty

Chapter 119: The Past of Ran Ling

In fact, at first, young Ran Ling didn't harbor much animosity toward her new sister, Ran Xue. She was filled with a curious affection, even fondness. As the older sister, she had a natural liking for her sibling.

Her sister was quite adorable, a conclusion Ran Ling reached when Ran Xue was still a tiny baby, lying in her crib, cooing and babbling.

With her round face and bright, clear eyes, Ran Xue would smile at Ran Ling while sucking on her pacifier. Back then, Ran Ling often played with toys to amuse her, just like teasing a kitten with a wand.

She disliked Ran Long and Zheng Qinyan, but she wouldn't vent her frustrations on such a cute, innocent little girl. Back then, she genuinely enjoyed sitting by the crib, curiously observing her sister.

Perhaps she could have been a good older sister; it might have been her nature.

However, most of the time, Ran Ling couldn't be with her sister. Ran Xue was well protected by their aunt, who treated her like an outsider—polite, gentle, but not close. Ran Ling found it difficult to reach out to her; they maintained a distance. This led to a situation where, despite living under the same roof, Ran Xue seemed to exist in a different world. Gradually, her sister grew into someone Ran Ling didn't like.

Willful, spiteful, filled with hostility and malice toward her.

Ran Ling could have tolerated these minor flaws; she understood that it was the adults who raised her that way. But later, an event occurred that made her realize that malice was part of Ran Xue's true nature.

When Ran Ling was eight, the family went to a nearby temple in the mountains to pray for their ill grandmother. To express their sincerity, the whole family was required to attend, so Ran Ling was taken along. On the way up the mountain, kids are full of energy, and Ran Ling climbed much faster than the adults, quickly disappearing from view.

While walking ahead, Ran Ling was distracted by a damaged manhole cover. The cover was tilted, and stepping on it could cause someone to fall in. She stood by the cover, looking around for any park staff nearby, when Ran Xue came over. Ran Ling told her, "Don't get too close."

"You might fall in."

Ran Xue didn't respond; she held her bunny doll tightly, her round eyes curiously peering into the dark hole of the manhole cover. After a moment, she turned to leave. Ran Ling paid no mind, but suddenly felt a push from behind—Ran Ling's eyes widened in shock, and before she could react, she fell into the hole.

What was worse, the originally tilted manhole cover, having been forced down, fell back into place with a dull thud, sealing perfectly shut, muffling the excited, shrill screams and claps of the child.

Ran Ling hit her head and, after a brief moment of unconsciousness, opened her eyes to see the cover above her. Only a small hole allowed a sliver of light to filter through. The well was dry, with no water, but her foot seemed trapped and hurt badly. Every movement caused pain, and she could feel several scrapes on her body. She vaguely sensed blood trickling down her skin. Unable to climb up, she looked up desperately, crying for help, but it felt as if no one was around.

"Where's your sister? Wasn't she with you?" Zheng Qinyan called after Ran Xue, looking around but not seeing Ran Ling.

Ran Xue said nothing, still fixated on the nearby monkeys, biting her lower lip and shaking her head, indicating she didn't know.

"This child, where could she have gone?" Zheng Qinyan searched around, while Ran Long said, "She wouldn't get lost; she probably went ahead."

"Did she go ahead?" Zheng Qinyan asked Ran Xue.