Xylira thought about how her grandfather and the others might be heartbroken and devastated when they saw her close her eyes. She also realized she might never see her beloved family again.
Her eyes already filled with tears, she could no longer hold back. She grabbed the quilt with both hands, pulled it over her head, her nose tingled, and tears started to pour as she cried softly in pain.
"Young master," Xiyan glanced coldly at the two people guarding the door. Hearing the sorrowful crying inside the room made his heart ache.
Pity, unwillingness, and hatred flashed through his eyes. He took a deep breath to calm the pain burning in his chest and the heavy weight on his heart, then pushed the door open and went inside.
He saw a lump on the bed slightly rising and falling with the sobs. He could imagine the person under the quilt curled up like a lonely kitten, her face covered in tears.
His heart ached even more. He forced down the bitterness in his mouth and the sting in his eyes, walked step by step to the bed, and sat down by her side.
He gently tugged at the quilt. "Xylira, your brother is back."
The unfamiliar, hoarse, low male voice made Xylira, who was drowning in grief, pause slightly. She didn't know whether parting in life or death hurt more, but that voice, despite holding back pain, carried a familiar tenderness and love.
It felt like a beam of light cutting through her darkness. "Xylira, come out, don't make yourself sick."
Xiyan was worried he might frighten or hurt the person under the quilt, so he moved slowly and gently, like coaxing a toddler. As expected, when her small face was slowly revealed, her swollen red eyes and tear-stained cheeks showed she'd cried for a long time and was still sobbing, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Xylira stared blankly at the young man sitting by the bed. He looked seventeen or eighteen, had delicate features, and his pale skin didn't match a healthy person.
Despite his young age, there was a trace of hardship and weariness between his brows. His slightly messy hair and tired eyes showed he had rushed back in a hurry.
She watched as he pulled out a blue handkerchief from his sleeve and gently wiped her tears. His expression and manner were just like her family's, as if she were a treasured child held dearly in his hands.
"Brother?" Xylira blinked. She suddenly realized her sister-in-law's advice was completely wrong.
She'd said most people would retain the body's memories after time-traveling, but she remembered nothing. She called out, testing the waters.
"Hm?" Xiyan paused, touched her forehead, and looked at her slightly swollen cheek. "Why didn't you apply medicine? Does it still hurt?"
"Hm?" Xylira was confused, then suddenly sat up straight. She remembered being slapped several times by a chubby man.
As the beloved daughter of her family, it was the first time someone had hit her. Her anger overpowered her sadness.
"Brother, someone hit me. You have to get revenge for me."
She naturally reached out and hugged Xiyan's arm, pouting and complaining like she used to. Xiyan was surprised for a moment, then smiled lightly.
"Alright, I'll get revenge for you. But Xylira, you can't scare me like this again."
He lowered his head to look at her resting on his shoulder. His cold face softened.
"I know you didn't want to marry Caelen, but you can't joke around with your life. Don't do anything silly again, understand?"
"Silly?" Xylira looked up, puzzled. Did she come here because this body had tried to take its own life?
Thinking about how little she understood, she said, "Brother," and pulled away slightly. She lowered her head and peeked at him while nervously twiddling her fingers.
"Xylira, is there something you can't tell me?" Xiyan looked at her cute expression, rubbed her head, and asked gently.
"Brother, I don't remember anything. I don't know who I am, where I am, or what happened to me."
"I don't even know why I got slapped. That chubby man hit me so hard my face still hurts."
Xylira felt more and more wronged as she spoke. She was overwhelmed by not knowing anything about the world around her.
Tears fell again, and she threw herself into Xiyan's arms. Being with him made her feel the comfort only family could bring.
Even in this moment, the Yue family's tendency to hold grudges showed through. She definitely wouldn't let that chubby man off the hook.
"Since I woke up, I've been so scared, waah!" Xylira cried her heart out, thinking about her lost family, the unknown world, and the uncertain future.
She let all her fear and sadness pour out. Her sobs were heartbreaking.
Xiyan held her, gently patting her back to calm her down. Thinking about what she had just said filled his heart with rage.
He could imagine how desperate she must have felt to jump into a well, and how frightening the last three days had been for her, hiding under the covers with no idea what to do.
When Xylira finally stopped crying, she pulled away from his arms, a little embarrassed. "Xylira, do you still remember me?"
Looking into his hopeful eyes, Xylira shook her head. She quickly added, "You just said you're my brother. I don't remember, but I still feel like I know you."
Yes, it was that familiar, comforting feeling that made her accept Xiyan even though she usually kept her distance from others. After crying it all out, she felt clear-minded.
Her family had spent eighteen years preparing her for a moment like this. If that's true, then what is there to be afraid of?
She had to be strong and never bring shame to the Yue family. "As long as you're okay."
Xiyan knew she was trying to comfort him. "Your name is Xylira. I'm Xiyan. We're siblings, same father and mother."
"Hm," Xylira nodded. "Brother, tell me about us."
Xiyan looked like someone with a story. And this girl named Xylira clearly had an extraordinary one too.
Even though Xiyan had just emphasized the words "same father and mother," which hinted that the family situation might be complicated, Xylira had mentally prepared herself. But after hearing the explanation, she still felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
Judging by the two people's clothing and the furnishings in her room, Xylira could tell this family did not lack wealth. But what shocked her was that the situation was not a husband with multiple wives, but rather a wife with three husbands, a backyard full of men.
Even after experiencing the strange event of time travel, Xylira was deeply shaken by this reality. Xiyan looked at her open-mouthed expression with no attempt to hide her shock.
He used to think his little sister was gentle and obedient, but now he found her utterly adorable. "Xylira, do you want to keep listening?" he asked, his expression calm as he pinched her delicate nose.
He could lie to anyone except the sister in front of him. "Yes," Xylira nodded firmly, letting the blow hit her harder if it must.
She leaned on Xiyan to show her resolve. Their father was Lady Mei Lin's second husband, and due to his extraordinary looks and graceful temperament, he had managed to marry into the prestigious Prime Minister's residence despite being a wealthy merchant.
That marriage caused quite a stir back in the day. From the tone of Xiyan's voice, which was full of dislike, it was clear he had no fondness for this place.
But the good times did not last. When Xiyan was three, their father went out to collect a debt and was killed by bandits.
Though little money was lost, his life was taken. That same year, Xylira was born, and Lady Mei Lin, who was also the emperor's full sister, nearly died in childbirth, almost losing both her life and the baby's.
So their mother hated the sight of Xylira. With no father around, even though Xiyan tried to spare her feelings and spoke gently, Xylira could imagine her life was likely not full of affection.
Even if she had enough food and clothing, she was probably treated like air or worse, always needing to please others. Compared to her modern life, this felt like heaven and hell.
"From what you're saying, I feel like I'm just a bringer of bad luck," Xylira said bitterly, trying to find humor in misery. "Nonsense," Xiyan replied coldly, his voice sharp and stern as he stared at her with a serious expression.
"I was only joking, you don't have to take it so seriously," she said, shrinking her neck when she saw how serious he looked. But the moment she said "brother," his face changed.
Could it be that there was something else he didn't want her to know? "Xylira, you are my sister. How could you be a bringer of bad luck? Never say that again, understand?"
Xiyan softened his tone, regretting his earlier harshness, worried he had frightened her. He rubbed her head to comfort her in his own way.
He never imagined that even though she had forgotten everything, the phrase "bringer of bad luck" had stuck with her. "Okay," Xylira nodded like a pecking chick.
She didn't care what the old Xylira was like. But the things she had to face now needed answers. "Brother, why did I do something so foolish?"
The hand on her head paused. His voice turned even sadder, with suppressed anger and a low, slow tone that felt dull yet heartbreaking.
To understand why Xylira tried to drown herself, they had to go back to the war three years ago. The nations of Dakang and Daqi had ruled the continent for hundreds of years, unable to conquer each other.
But war between them broke out often. Three years ago, Lord Edgar, head of the Prime Minister's residence, obtained the position of deputy general for his son, General Renyu.
He sent him off to battle with Marshal Han. The war lasted two years, with both sides pouring in massive forces, and in the end, Dakang narrowly won.
The two countries signed a ten-year peace treaty, and both sides were satisfied with the outcome. But Marshal Han died in battle.
Caelen was severely disfigured while saving General Renyu. Xiyan pointed from his left eyebrow down to his chin. "I've seen Caelen. The scar on his face will never heal."
"Hmm," Xylira nodded. In a time of cold weapons, even if Xiyan described it calmly, she could imagine how brutal the battlefield must have been.
In her mind, she pictured a tall, strong man covered in armor, soaked in blood, wielding a blade amidst a sea of enemies. It felt incredibly tragic and heroic.
"You have to understand that in both Dakang and Daqi, honor and loyalty mean everything," Xiyan said with a cold laugh. "Lord Edgar, as the head of all officials, how could he be ungrateful?"
"Although a man's ability matters most, looks cannot be ignored. With such a terrifying scar on Caelen's face, how could Lord Edgar be willing to marry his daughter to a disfigured man?"
"So," Xylira raised an eyebrow. She had not looked in a mirror since arriving, but her expression now looked remarkably similar to Xiyan's.
She pointed to her own nose. "He let me marry in her place? Was he not afraid people would say he was abusive?"
She hesitated. "After all, we're not his biological children. Isn't he worried enemies would call him selfish and intolerant?" "Xylira, you're clever," Xiyan said, both pleased and sad.
Through all of this, Xylira had grown. "Don't underestimate our dear Lord Edgar. That old fox thinks far ahead. If even a little girl like you can figure this out, how could he not?"
"How so?" Xylira asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Before the army even returned, he had already seen this coming. If Caelen couldn't marry because of the life debt he owed, and if he didn't marry off his daughter, people would talk.
So, very quickly, his daughter started getting close to the Third Prince, the one most likely to become emperor. Rumors of their mutual affection and perfect match started to spread."
An engagement was only a matter of time. Even though Xiyan hated it, he knew that in his current weak state, he was no match for that old fox.
He had no choice but to endure, but he would never give up his sister. Xylira nodded.
"So, that old fox Lord Edgar wanted to repay Caelen's life-saving favor while keeping a royal marriage alliance. By offering me instead, he solved everything.
One sacrifice, no one offended. Caelen had no other choice but to accept. Refusing would make him look petty and narrow-minded." "Yes," Xiyan nodded.
"So I didn't want to marry Caelen, and that's why I tried to kill myself," Xylira said with a mix of laughter and tears. But she hadn't forgotten about being slapped.
"I already tried to die, and that fat pig still slapped me!" she muttered angrily. That's not the point, is it?
Xiyan looked at Xylira's puffed-up face, full of anger. Now he truly believed that she had forgotten everything.
After thinking it over, he decided to share his thoughts with her. But then, "grrrr."
A loud stomach growl made both of them freeze. Xylira's face turned dark, then instantly bright red. "Hehe."
A low chuckle came from beside her. Embarrassed, Xylira covered her stomach and looked up to see Xiyan's bright smile, as dazzling as blooming flowers.
She was momentarily stunned. If only he wasn't laughing at her. "Brother, stop laughing. I haven't eaten all day. It's normal to be hungry."
"No more laughing," Xiyan said, wiping the smile from his face though the corner of his lips stayed curled. "I didn't know you were so cute."
He returned to his usual calm expression, but that curve on his lips was too attractive. "Get ready, we'll eat together. I'll have someone prepare it."
Thinking of how she remembered nothing, he added, "We'll eat in the outer room." "Alright," Xylira nodded, feeling much better.
She would never forget her loved ones from the modern world, their kindness and warmth forever etched in her heart.
And with a brother like Xiyan here, she believed that no matter how unknown this world was, she, Xylira, would live just fine.