The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

Zheng Xiaona silently considered it for a while, then nodded.

"Sister Xiaoxi, I promise you! I will go to school, I will study hard, and grow up to be a useful person, earn lots and lots of money, and repay Sister Xiaoxi many times over!"

"Good girl~ That's right." Xu Xi patted her little head with satisfaction.

"Little... Sister Xiaoxi." Zheng Xiaona's voice gradually softened. She looked at Xu Xi, her eyes full of pleading, and asked cautiously, "Can I... make a request?"

"you say."

Xu Xi blinked.

She wasn't afraid of Zheng Xiaona making demands of her. Once she left the mountain village and went to the city, she, with her vast assets, was practically omnipotent.

She was afraid that Zheng Xiaona would say nothing, preferring to suffer injustice in silence.

"I..." Zheng Xiaona looked at the little boy on the other hospital bed, her face showing a struggle.

"Can I... take Xiaoyi with me? If I leave, my old man will definitely be angry and take it out on Xiaoyi. He's still young and can't withstand my old man's beatings. I can't abandon him."

Xu Xi glanced at the sleeping Zheng Xiaoyi, then at Zhao Lin, raised an eyebrow at her, and signaled her question.

She didn't know much about the children in the village, so it would be better to ask Zhao Lin, who was more experienced, about these things.

Zhao Lin thought for a moment and responded with her eyes: "Although Xiaona is a bit naughty, she is kind-hearted and usually treats her sister very well."

"Or, let's send them all away together. That way, Xiaona will have someone to keep her company in this unfamiliar new environment."

After receiving the reply, Xu Xi held Zheng Xiaona's small hand and said gently.

"If Xiaoyi wakes up and is willing to go with you, I'll send you both there, okay?"

"Thank you... thank you so much, Sister Xiaoxi, thank you so much."

......

As expected, after waking up, Zheng Xiaoyi learned that her older sister was going to study far away from the village. Without hesitation, she agreed to go with her sister.

Therefore, Xu Xi instructed her assistant to arrange all the enrollment procedures for the two children.

Before parting, the two children held Xu Xi and Zhao Lin's hands and said goodbye with reluctance.

Zhao Lin hung two brand-new schoolbags on the children's backs, which were stuffed full of luggage.

She prepared everything her two children might need, including food, drinks, clothes, and other necessities.

Zheng Xiaoyi's share included roller skates, ping-pong paddles, and all sorts of small toys.

Zheng Xiaona's package contained some hair clips, hair ties, and other small items that little girls might use.

The list was so detailed that even Xu Xi, who prides herself on being meticulous and considerate, was impressed.

In recent years, Zhao Lin has been teaching here with Qi Yu. In addition to taking care of Qi Yu's daily life, she has also taken the initiative to become the children's life teacher.

Qi Yu taught the children to read and write, and to distinguish right from wrong, while Zhao Lin taught them how to wash their hands, dress themselves, and interact with others.

She has never been a mother, yet she knows better than most mothers how to take care of children.

She knelt down in front of Zheng Xiaoyi and gently gave him her instructions.

"Xiaoyi, you're a little man, you have to protect your sister from now on. She's older than you, but she's still a girl. If anyone bullies her, you must tell the teacher immediately, okay?"

Zheng Xiaoyi seemed to understand, but she nodded vigorously nonetheless, gripping her sister's hand even tighter, her little face full of seriousness: "I understand, I will protect you, sister!"

Zhao Lin turned her head, straightened Zheng Xiaona's collar, and gave her some instructions.

"Xiaona, you're the older sister, so you'll need to take care of your younger brother over there. He's still young, and sometimes he's playful and doesn't understand things. Please remind him to eat and sleep on time, and not to run around, okay?"

Zheng Xiaona bit her lip and nodded.

"Teacher Zhao, will you... come to visit us in the future?"

She asked, her eyes red-rimmed.

After her mother left, her father's beatings and scoldings became the norm. It was Teacher Zhao who was like a ray of light, shining into her dark life.

Teacher Zhao would not dislike or scold her just because she was a girl. She would gently comb her hair, take care of her when she was sick, and hug and comfort her when she was wronged.

In her heart, Teacher Zhao was like her second mother.

Zhao Lin gently hugged Zheng Xiaona, her eyes moist.

Although they were just students she was teaching in, she had developed a deep affection for these children over the years.

Every parting is filled with reluctance.

She wiped her eyes, trying not to let the children see the tears welling up in them.

"Xiao Na and Xiao Yi, study hard. If you get good grades, Teacher Zhao will come to see you."

The two children buried their heads in her arms, nodding vigorously, tears streaming down their faces, soaking Zhao Lin's clothes.

A moment later, Zheng Xiaona released Zhao Lin, turned around to look at Xu Xi, and bowed deeply.

"Sister Xiaoxi, I will definitely study hard in the future and repay you."

Xu Xi looked at her serious expression and couldn't help but smile. She stretched out her little finger and gently hooked it with her finger.

"Then it's a deal."

"I will definitely do it."

Zheng Xiaona nodded vigorously and said in a firm tone.

Xu Xi smiled, took out a business card from her bag, and placed it in Zheng Xiaona's palm.

"This is your older sister's phone number. If anyone bullies you or you encounter any problems you can't handle, just call me, and I'll stand up for you, okay?"

"Okay, I've got it."

Zheng Xiaona carefully put the card into her pocket and nodded vigorously.

Xu Nian carried the luggage that Zhao Lin had prepared for the children into the trunk of the car, closed the trunk lid, and nodded to Xu Xi to indicate that everything was ready.

Xu Xi patted the two children's heads and opened the car door.

"Go on, remember what your sister and Teacher Zhao said: study hard and take good care of yourself."

She knew that Zhao Lin had a deep bond with the two children and would be reluctant to part with them.

So, let her be the bad guy who sends the child away.

After putting the two children in the car, she walked to the driver's side and instructed the driver, "Report to me as soon as you get there."

"Yes, Mr. Xu."

The car slowly started moving and gradually drove away. The two children clung to the car window, waving their hands vigorously and shouting, "Teacher Zhao, Sister Xiaoxi, we'll miss you!"

......