Xia Yang heard Lin Yu's words and still maintained her vigilance.
"You were my sister's boyfriend... ex-boyfriend?"
"Then I really shouldn't be unable to find any trace of you."
Although Xia Yang still maintained her vigilance, Lin Yu had relaxed considerably.
Her questioning like this precisely indicated she had taken the bait.
Although quite clever...
She was still too young.
He explained in a low voice: "It's precisely because I'm her ex-boyfriend that you can't find any traces."
"Our breakup at the time wasn't particularly pleasant."
"I thought I would have more opportunities to make it up to her in the future... but, but..."
Xia Yang pursed her lips.
The young girl believed most of it.
After all, Lin Yu's acting was truly superb.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking again: "I didn't even know my sister had been in a relationship."
"Over these past few years, I haven't had much contact with her."
Xia Yang spoke softly, her voice somewhat dejected.
Of course there was little contact!
Although Lin Yu had come up with this lie as an emergency response, it wasn't completely unconsidered.
Xia Yue's life trajectory over the past few years involved working at a pet shop while simultaneously continuing her university studies.
Her colleagues at the animal hospital spoke highly of her, and according to records, she seemed to be keeping up with her studies too.
So...
How could Xia Yue possibly have had time for prolonged interactions with her family!
Over these years, in her family's eyes, Xia Yue's experiences must have contained large, blank gaps.
Moreover, under such circumstances, Xia Yue would likely rarely discuss her life with her family, especially her younger sister.
Lin Yu understood this very well.
Because...
He also had an older sister who was much older than him.
This gave Lin Yu ample room to maneuver.
"Probably because I hadn't yet earned her approval," Lin Yu sighed softly. "I'm sorry, Xia Yang."
Lin Yu's sincere apology completely dismantled Xia Yang's defenses.
She slowly sat down on the chair by the dining table.
"It's alright... I should be the one apologizing for suspecting you."
"Not at all, it's my fault for not explaining clearly," Lin Yu waved his hand. "You should go back to your room and rest... I'll go make some pear soup for you."
"You're already not feeling well, and if you don't get proper rest because of my visit, then I'd really be letting your sister down."
As Lin Yu spoke, Xia Yang hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"Okay... but there's no need to trouble yourself with the pear soup. Please sit for a while, my mother will be home soon."
Saying this, Xia Yang slowly walked back to her room.
After Lin Yu went to the kitchen and busied himself for a while, he finished cutting the pears, turned on the heat, and then left the kitchen.
One shouldn't leave cooking unattended, so Lin Yu left Hannah there.
After all, this little octopus was professional—the pear soup she made might actually taste better and be more effective.
There were only two bedrooms in Xia Yue's home.
The room Xia Yang had just entered was the more spacious master bedroom.
So...
Lin Yu had reason to speculate...
"Do the two sisters share one bedroom, with the mother using the smaller one?"
He pondered this, then picked up one of the paper bags he had brought and gently pushed open the slightly ajar door to the master bedroom.
Xia Yang, who was lying on the bed still looking at her exercise book, turned around at the sound of the door opening.
"What is it?"
As she spoke, Lin Yu shook the paper bag in his hand.
"A gift I bought for you, I forgot to give it to you earlier."
Xia Yang looked pleasantly surprised and tried to sit up, but Lin Yu stopped her.
"Just stay lying down."
As he spoke, Lin Yu pulled up a stool and sat by Xia Yang's bedside.
He discreetly glanced around the room—sure enough, there were two single beds and two desks.
Xia Yang's bed was by the window, Xia Yue's by the door.
Between the sisters' beds was a simple partition curtain.
Currently, the curtain was tied back, and Xia Yue's side was neatly arranged.
Lin Yu slowly took out the gift he had prepared from the paper bag.
A new mobile phone.
When Xia Yang saw the phone box, she immediately sat up.
"This won't do, it's too expensive. Please take the phone back."
Lin Yu insisted on placing the phone box on her bedside table.
"You don't have a mobile phone, do you?"
Xia Yang said: "I don't, but this thing... it's not good for children to use these, it affects studying."
As she spoke, Lin Yu smiled.
"The fact that you can say something like that proves you're not the kind of child who would be affected."
Xia Yang remained stubborn: "It's still too expensive, no no, my mother wouldn't agree either."
"I'll convince your mother."
As Lin Yu spoke, Xia Yang quickly interjected: "If my sister were here, she wouldn't let me accept it either!"
"But your sister isn't here anymore."
Lin Yu interrupted her, his voice choking up.
"I... I can't make it up to her anymore, I've lost my chance."
Xia Yang looked at Lin Yu, whose eyes had instantly reddened, stared blankly for a moment, then her heart softened.
Her tone became gentler.
"I understand, I'll accept it then."
Xia Yang picked up the phone and opened the box.
"After I get into university, I'll work part-time to pay you back... please don't refuse this."
The small girl said softly, and Lin Yu nodded.
"Then I'll look forward to you getting into university and earning lots and lots of money."
Lin Yu smiled: "Okay, do your best."
After saying this, he continued: "I'll go check on the pear soup, it should be almost ready."
Lin Yu stood up and used the [Mind-Peeping Eyepiece] to glance at the young girl's emotions.
Trust, gratitude, sorrow, regret...
Excellent.
Just as Lin Yu stood up and was about to leave the room, Xia Yang called out to him.
"Wait a moment, Brother Lin."
Lin Yu turned back to look at the girl who was half-sitting on the bed, covered with a blanket.
She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"Brother Lin, I didn't mean to doubt you earlier."
"I know, you're just too sad..."
Lin Yu began to speak, but Xia Yang interrupted him.
"No, what I mean is, I always feel there's something suspicious about my sister's death," she pointed to her head. "Why did she suddenly die in an accident, and the manner of death is too coincidental... Although I really want to believe the police's conclusion, I always feel something isn't right."
"My sister... she shouldn't have died in such an absurd and simple way."
Listening to the young girl's words, Lin Yu originally wanted to tell her "the dead cannot return to life, don't overthink things."
But ultimately, the words reached his lips only to be swallowed back, replaced by another sentence.
"I understand."
"I'll try to investigate it."
After saying this, he went to the kitchen, ladled out a bowl of pear soup, let it cool slightly, then brought it to Xia Yang.
"Alright, it's getting late, I probably won't be able to wait for your mother to return, so I'll take my leave now."
"This is my phone number, please save it," Lin Yu picked up paper and pen from the desk and wrote down a string of numbers. "Call me if you need anything."
After saying this, Lin Yu looked at Xia Yang.
"Oh, by the way... I have a presumptuous request. Could I take a look at Xia Yue's phone?"