The Unwanted Doll and a Cruel Interrogation

“A doll?”

Lin Ziyan’s fingers, which had been idly scrolling on her phone, paused for a moment. She glanced up at the gift box in her mother’s hand.

Through the clear plastic film, she could discern the exquisitely crafted plush toy nestled within.

A frown of displeasure creased her brow.

“Why buy this kind of thing again?”

“Oh, come on, didn’t you like them?” Xu Ming asked, taking out the small bear and swaying it in her hand. Its brown paws swung back and forth with her movements, looking undeniably adorable.

“No, I don’t want it. How old am I? Besides, I already have too many; there’s hardly any room left.” Lin Ziyan refused with a clear note of disgust.

“Ah… is that so?”

Clearly not expecting such a response from her daughter, Xu Ming’s expression tightened, revealing a hint of distress.

“Well… it’s already bought, and it’ll be hard to return.”

Lin Cheng, standing nearby, stepped in to smooth things over.

“Hey, your mother meant well. Two hundred yuan isn’t easily earned, so just accept it, daughter.”

“I don’t want it.”

Lin Ziyan remained indifferent, her head bowed as she resumed fiddling with her phone.

“……”

Lin Cheng and Xu Ming exchanged a glance, both seeing a shared sense of helplessness in the other’s eyes.

Their daughter was growing up, and they felt increasingly powerless.

“Sigh, fine then, I’ll return it tomorrow—”

“Um…”

A faint voice suddenly broke the silence, interrupting Xu Ming mid-sentence. She turned her head towards the sound.

There stood a girl, her face partially obscured by a cascade of dark, long hair.

Her voice was barely a whisper, as if she were terrified, yet it carried an unexpected undertone of longing.

“If Ziyan doesn’t want it… could I have it?”

Her tone was laced with an almost primal fear and hesitation.

It must have taken immense courage for the girl to utter those words.

Frowning, Xu Ming dismissed the idea without a hint of politeness.

“Absolutely not. Who do you think you are? This is for Ziyan. What business does a boy like you have meddling?”

“I…”

Struck speechless, the girl instinctively looked up, her mouth opening, yet no words came out.

It seemed she had no choice but to give up.

Silently, she lowered her head, resigning herself to continue eating her meal.

“If *he* wants it, just give it to *him*.”

At that very moment, events took an unexpected turn. Ye Xingmian, unable to believe her ears, lifted her head to gaze at Lin Ziyan, who sat nearby.

“Huh?”

‘Why is she speaking up for me?’

There had never been such a precedent in her memory, and a flicker of surprise bloomed in the girl’s chest. However, as her eyes met Lin Ziyan’s dark, indifferent gaze, that spark of surprise quickly died.

“It’s just a broken doll, anyway. What’s the big deal about giving it to *him*? Doesn’t *he* do enough chores around here? Just consider it *his* payment.”

A profound emptiness settled within her, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. A strange feeling of injustice welled up in her chest.

The girl simply kept her head down, staring at her thin trouser legs, unable to utter a single word.

“That’s right! Our Ziyan always thinks things through. Xingmian, hurry up and thank Ziyan!”

The girl, called by her name, visibly trembled. She gently bit her lower lip, then reluctantly turned to Lin Ziyan, her voice a frail whisper.

“Th-thank you…”

Xu Ming didn’t go back on her word. After seeing the girl’s thanks, she casually tossed the small bear towards her, as if discarding trash.

The girl quickly caught it, her gaze blurry as she watched Xu Ming, who was already preparing to leave.

“My dear daughter, rest early once you’re done eating. You have class tomorrow.”

Having said that, she looked up again at Ye Xingmian, who was still lost in thought. Frowning, she instructed, “You eat faster. Finish your meal, wash the dishes, and then give Ziyan a shoulder massage. Don’t let her get tired.”

The girl remained in a daze, offering no reply.

“Did you hear me!”

The voice suddenly boomed, startling the girl, who shivered involuntarily.

“Y-yes… okay…”

****

The adoptive parents then departed.

Only the two girls remained in the spacious living room on the first floor. Ye Xingmian set the doll down and ate her meal distractedly.

Meanwhile, Lin Ziyan, after scrolling on her phone for a while, looked up, her gaze resting on Ye Xingmian with an amused interest.

The girl was slowly eating her meal, her rosy lips and fair, soft skin faintly visible.

‘How had she never noticed before?’ Lin Ziyan wondered.

She couldn’t pinpoint when it started, but her “brother” had become increasingly feminine, more beautiful, and softer in demeanor. She was like a stray kitten, easily bullied by anyone, never fighting back.

‘She would look stunning if she wore a dress, wouldn’t she?’

Lin Ziyan thought with a touch of mischievous pleasure.

“Come and give me a shoulder massage.”

Lin Ziyan suddenly commanded. She watched as the girl froze, then looked up at her with a troubled expression.

“Could I… wait a moment? I haven’t finished eating yet…”

“No. If you don’t come, I’ll tell Mom and Dad.”

Lin Ziyan knew that once she invoked their parents, the other girl wouldn’t be able to refuse. This knowledge made her bold.

“Alright then…”

As expected, however reluctant, the girl put down her chopsticks and obediently stood behind Lin Ziyan, her nimble, cool hands gently resting on her shoulders.

“Hmm… use some force. Are you even a boy? Why is your strength so weak?”

“I-I’m sorry…”

She was already pressing with considerable effort, yet through the thick layers of clothing, the strength of her fingers seemed unable to penetrate. A bitter expression crossed the girl’s face.

Her already heavy head felt overwhelmed by the ache in her fingers.

“Is ‘I’m sorry’ all you can say?”

Lin Ziyan sneered, questioning her.

“……”

The girl remained silent, facing the interrogation. She continued to massage Lin Ziyan’s shoulders without a word.

“Don’t just stay silent. Didn’t you want that piece of white cloth so badly? There’s no one else here now. Tell me what you use it for, and I’ll give it back to you.”

The girl’s massaging fingers paused for a fleeting moment, a hesitation Lin Ziyan swiftly caught.

“Hmph, so much hesitation. Could it be for something unspeakable?”

“N-no, it’s not…”

The girl instinctively denied it, but the increasingly light pressure of her massage betrayed her guilt.

“Then tell me what it’s for?”

“I…”

“Can’t say? Or perhaps I should help you figure out what to say?”

“……”

“Is it for binding wounds? Were you injured by Qin Haiyue today?”

“……”

“No answer? So it’s not that? Tsk, could it be for binding your chest? You’re a big man, you haven’t grown breasts, have you?”

“N-no… it’s not…”

Only at this question did the girl instinctively want to deny it. Her face paled slightly.

“Then tell me what it’s for?” Lin Ziyan pressed, relentless.

“I… I…”

Ye Xingmian was naturally slow-witted, and under pressure, she could barely utter a sound. She stammered for a long time without forming a single word.

Seeing this, Lin Ziyan let out a cold laugh.

“Can’t say? Then I’ll give it back to you once you’ve come up with a good reason.”

With that, she didn’t wait for the girl to react, pulled free from the weak, slender hands, and walked upstairs alone.

Only Ye Xingmian remained in the cold living room. She maintained her massaging posture, staring blankly ahead, motionless for a long time.

‘Did I fail? Was I… discovered?’