Why did you provoke me?

"Little sister, if you don't tell the mayor about this and we do it ourselves, do you think our family will..." She paused for a moment, then continued, "That's why you're still my little sister, always so thoughtful." Dali said softly, lying on her back.

"Did the town mayor give my brother-in-law a reward?"

"They gave us a new house. We can move in after we get married."

"Your father-in-law is quite generous," Yu Meng exclaimed.

"Oh, right, some of those things belong to Li Yiqing, some to the mayor, and some to your brother-in-law and me. Take a look and keep whatever you like," Dali added. "They didn't mention you because they were afraid of retaliation from the human traffickers. But there's still a reward."

Yu Meng sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed), "As long as you don't resent me for giving the credit to someone else, that's fine."

Dali lay on her side on the kang (a heated brick bed). "How could that be? I know my own limitations."

Yu Meng looked at her silently. "You've absorbed all the lines from that book. What are you going to do now?"

Dali glanced at the doorway, then whispered in Yu Meng's ear, "Two lines are missing from my book. Can I have them like yours?"

Yu Meng shook her head. "You saw the two times I was unconscious. I don't know if you would have woken up if it were you."

Dali lay back down on the kang (a heated brick bed). "We have to try, don't we?"

"It's very dangerous. You might not wake up." Yu Meng's voice was low.

"Then I'll try too." Dali's eyes shone brightly. "I'm content when I don't have the chance, but if I have the chance and don't try, how can I be content?"

Yu Meng nodded and stopped trying to persuade her. Sometimes you may resent and be unwilling to walk the path that others have paved for you, but you might be able to crawl to the end of the path you chose, even if you had to crawl on your knees.

Dali saw that her younger sister had agreed. She chuckled and took something wrapped in blue cloth from her small handbag.

Yu Meng's eyes narrowed; she recognized the shape as that of a book.

"I found this at the flea market," Dali said in a very low voice, almost whispering in Yu Meng's ear.

Yu Meng quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) and closed the door. "You're incredibly bold."

"I knew my little sister wouldn't let me down. This book hasn't left my side these past few days." Dali's pride and arrogance were impossible to hide.

"How many days are you planning to stay home this time? I can't guarantee you'll wake up in a few days," Yu Meng asked a practical question. "And how are you going to explain to Mom and Dad that you're in a coma?"

"Let's use your previous reason. Didn't you say that if you have a lot of thoughts in your mind, you'll sleep for a few days?" Dali quickly came up with a reason.

"Let me see the physical manifestation of the lines in your mind."

Dali smiled, pursing her lips, and patted her handbag. "This is it."

Yu Meng blinked. Then she blinked hard again, realizing it was because she was naive.

"How about that, little sister? You didn't expect that, did you!" Dali said smugly. "I put all my valuables in this bag. No one can take it away, and no one can open it."

Yu Meng gave a thumbs-up in admiration. "As expected of the eldest sister, you're really amazing."

"Oh, don't flatter your older sister. She must have been tricked so many times before she came up with this method. In the very beginning of the Cai Group, my things would always mysteriously disappear, and I couldn't find anyone to help me."

Dali recalled, "I made a fuss a few times. But you know, silver coins are all the same, and gold coins don't have any markings. How can you claim someone else's gold coins as yours when you can't produce any evidence? After suffering in silence a few times, you have to find a way to deal with it."

Yu Meng looked at the book Dali had brought back. "This is a new book! How did you get it?"

Dali said softly, "Of course we'll buy it."

"Bought? Who would sell a book like this, especially a brand new one?"

"It was just a coincidence," Dali said, unwilling to admit it.

The book's number is 51. Yu Meng looked at Dali, "That's higher than your book's number. Are you sure you really want to try? Or, find a book with a lower number than yours; I'm really not confident about this one." Yu Meng stared intently at the number on the book. The book with a number so much lower than hers had kept her unconscious for days; she really wasn't sure. What would she do if something went wrong?

"Little sister, I would have been content with an ordinary life if I hadn't seen the sights outside, but now that I have, how can I be satisfied?" Dali's tone was firm.

"Have you talked to Jiang Mingfeng about this? Does he agree? What will you tell Mom and Dad?" Yu Meng didn't want Dali to take the risk. One crazy person like her was enough for this family; they didn't need another one.

"There's no need to tell Jiang Mingfeng. We're not married. If I really do fall asleep, he can just find someone else later."

As for Mom and Dad? I'll talk to Dad tomorrow. I'll keep it from Mom for now." Seeing that she couldn't persuade her, Yu Meng stopped trying.

She knew that when that desire arose, she wouldn't be able to suppress it. She had felt that way before, and it was incredibly strong. Could it be that everyone, after absorbing all the lines in their own number book, would develop a craving for other number books?

Judging from the eldest sister's expression, she seemed to be disregarding everything and couldn't wait any longer.

That night, Yu Meng did not return to her own room; she slept with her older sister.

Dali explained to Jiang Mingfeng that she would be staying home with her younger sister for a month and would not be going to the Cai Group for that month. She asked Jiang Mingfeng to go back and tell Li Yiqing.

Jiang Mingfeng readily agreed. He asked worriedly, "Little sister, is there something you need? If I can do it, please don't hide it from me."

Dali smiled and saw him off.

Dali told her father about it, and he stood up angrily, objecting outright. "Do you know how dangerous this is? You still want to try it. What if he doesn't wake up? What are your mother and me going to do?"

Dali looked at her younger sister, who was petting the cat in the yard, and said, "My little sister could do it when she was three. I'm all grown up now, why can't I?"

Mr. Yu looked dazed for a moment. "How did you know about this?"

"How could I not know? How could I not know how many lines there are in my book?" Dali's answer was impeccable.

"Dali, you're already doing very well. We don't expect you to be any more outstanding. Isn't it good for us to just live peacefully like this?" Yu's father's tone was full of persuasion.

Dali looked up, her eyes red. "Dad, you don't know how captivating this book is to me. I can't control myself. It's like when I was little, if I wanted to eat meat, even a plump white worm, I would eat it with relish."

"I have my younger sister's experience to help me. Dad, please support me a little longer, and I will definitely get through this." At this moment, Yu Li's eyes were filled with determination.

"Sigh, you should talk to your mom about this. If she agrees, I won't object." Having no other option, Mr. Yu had to pass the buck to Mrs. Yu.