Chapter 4

Summer only noticed me after eating several pieces of apple. He wiped his mouth and asked: "What are you doing here?"

He looked at me, his eyes cold.

I instinctively took two steps back.

This Summer felt so unfamiliar.

Of course, he had regained his memories and was no longer the simple-minded boy who would chase after me calling "Sister".

He was now Everett Pierce - the heir to the Pierce family.

I took a deep breath and opened the box.

"I haven't touched a cent of the money in here. I'm returning it to you."

Summer...

Everett's phoenix eyes curved slightly, but the smile didn't reach them: "Then what do you want?"

"The position of Mrs. Pierce?"

I was shocked that he would say such a thing and looked at him in disbelief.

"Do you think you're worthy?" he said coldly, laughing.

The room suddenly fell silent, with everyone's gaze focused on me.

I put down the box and fled the room.

I leaned against the staircase, gasping for air, tears falling uncontrollably.

"Crying?" came a familiar voice from behind.

I wiped my tears and mumbled: "No."

Everett looked me up and down, smiling as he stuffed a wad of cash into my hand.

He raised an eyebrow: "Eat more. Your curves have all but disappeared."

"Seduction requires capital too."

I stood frozen until his figure disappeared from sight before coming to my senses.

I ran out of the hospital crying, not knowing where to go.

I took out the money and stared at it for a long time.

In this city, it seemed I was alone again.

04

Back home, there were broken pieces on the floor, along with many paper stars.

I picked up a star and unfolded it. It read:

"Sister, be happy every day!"

This was the birthday gift Summer had given me.

After my parents passed away, I lost all hope in life and hadn't celebrated my birthday since.

When I found Summer, he was lying in an alley, covered in blood.

Out of sympathy, I brought him home.

When he woke up, I realized he was simple-minded.

But he was very obedient, sweetly calling me "Sister" and clinging to me.

He became like a pillar of support for me in this unfamiliar city.

Supporting me to keep living.

I named him Summer.

I had thought about sending him back to his family.

So I took him to the police station and registered his information.

He was well-behaved the whole way, until I was about to leave. He tugged at my sleeve, his eyes reddening:

"Sister, are you going to abandon me?"

I pulled my hand away, smiling as I said: "Sister's going to buy Summer some candy. Be good and wait for me, okay?"

He sat on the chair like an abandoned puppy, watching his owner leave with sad eyes.

I thought that would be our farewell.

But three days later, I ran into Summer rummaging through garbage bins on my way home from work.

"Summer?"

He froze for a moment before turning around, looking at me with tears in his eyes.

He reached out, wanting to touch me but not daring to come closer.

"Summer, why are you here?" I asked.

He looked at me with reddened eyes, his voice trembling: "Sister, I'll be very good."

"Can you... not abandon me?"

It turned out he had run away from the police station the night I left.

He thought I didn't want him anymore.

I hugged him, feeling both angry and heartbroken.

The winter night was cold, and we two homeless children hugged each other for warmth.

I once thought we would always be together.

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