Chapter 136 - It's none of our business

While Kai Xin was on the way to the meeting, she thought about the times she used to spend with Alyssa when they were young.

She recalled that before her parents' divorce, they went to the same primary school and that Alyssa joined them when it was nearly the end of the school term.

Before the teacher introduced her to the class, she explained that because the new kid had lost her mother, they should be nicer to her.

However, she was still ostracized by the others. Even Kai Xin ignored her at first.

However, somehow they became good friends after that.

...

17 years ago, Little Kai An took his little sister out to play with the other children from the neighbouring villages.

It was almost Lunar New Year and the adults were too busy to pay any attention to them.

On the way, they bumped into Little Alyssa who was sitting alone at the small village playground with a half eaten bun in her hands.

"Aren't you going to say hi? She's from your school right?" nudged Little Kai An.

Little Kai Xin shrugged as she replied, "I don't know. We have never talked before."

"Go and talk to her then."

With a sigh, she dragged her feet over and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Little Alyssa was stunned when Little Kai Xin talked to her. All the children ignored her when she tried to talk to them.

So when Little Kai Xin, one of the popular kids talked to her, she felt extremely happy.

She smile and replied, "Eating my dinner."

When she saw that Little Alyssa was talking about the bun, Little Kai Xin frowned, "That's not dinner! That's snack!"

Embarrassed, Little Alyssa looked down at her feet.

Little Kai Xin saw the marks on her hands, but when she was about to ask, Little Kai An stopped her by covering her mouth.

With a smile, he asked Little Alyssa, "Do you want to join us? We are going to the temple to play with the kids. There would be food there."

Little Alyssa nodded excitedly.

Letting go of his sister, he introduced, "By the way, I'm Zhen Kai An. This is my bratty younger sister, Kai Xin. Don't let her scare you. She's just a little rough."

Little Kai Xin folded her arms and stuck her tongue out at her brother. Then she turned to Little Alyssa, "Your name is Ali something right?"

"Alyssa Min."

"OK, Alyssa Min. Let's go."

As they walked in front of Little Alyssa, Little Kai Xin whispered to her brother, "Why did you stop me?"

Little Kai An hushed her. When he was sure that Little Alyssa was distracted, in a soft voice, he replied, "It's none of our business."

He saw the marks on Little Alyssa's hands. Those were marks made by canes.

From the looks of it, the marks were freshly made and the one who inflicted it did not held back.

Not just her hands, Little Kai An saw that her feet were covered with cane marks as well.

Little Kai An had overheard the adults talking about Little Alyssa's father and his grandparents had warned them to stay away from their house.

Mr. Min had a drinking problem and whenever he was drunk, he would take it out on his family member.

He glanced at Little Alyssa who was still nibbling on the bun. In such a cold night, she was wearing nothing but a tattered T-shirt and shorts.

Feeling sad for the kid, Little Kai An took off his jacket and passed it to Little Alyssa.

However, to avoid embarrassing her, he tried to disguise his intention.

"Do you mind wearing it for me? It's a little stuffy and I don't want Kai Xin to hold it. She always drops my stuff or get dirt on it."

Little Kai Xin glared at him over the accusation, "I did not! You idiot brother!"

Little Alyssa nodded and took the jacket.

As she was holding it, she noticed the bright red marks on her hand and after a moment of hesitation, she put it on.

She knew that Little Kai An was trying to help her hide the scars.

The kids at school had been making fun of her because of the marks and the scars.

With a choked up voice, she thanked him.

He smiled and ruffled her hair, "No problem, kid."

At the temple, when the kids saw the siblings, they ran over and surrounded them.

"Hey, you guys are late!" shouted one of their friends.

"Shut up!"

Little Kai An introduced Little Alyssa to everyone and they started to surround her.

Having been left alone for most of her life, she felt overwhelmed by the attention as she shyly greeted them,

"H-Hi..."

A boy with spiky black hair walked one round around Little Alyssa before turning to Little Kai An, "She's kind of cute. Can she climb a tree?"

"Leave her alone, Ki Hong. She's not like the monkey here."

Just as he was done speaking, he realized that his sister was missing.

"Shit! Where's the brat now?"

Little Ki Hong raised his hand, "If by brat, you meant Kai Xin, then she's there..."

He pointed at the table of food before continuing, "...Stealing from the Earth God again."

"Argh!" groaned Little Kai An as he rushed forward.

Little Kai Xin was eating a small cake that was given to the Earth God as offering.

He grabbed her hand but not before she stuffed the mochi into her mouth.

"Zhen Kai Xin!"

With her mouth full of food, she mumbled an inaudible, "Whuf?"

He frowned as he dragged her away from the table, "Did we starve you or something? You just ate!"

She wanted to argue but it was hard to argue with mochi inside her mouth. So she quickly chewed and swallowed before defending herself,

"Mum said we can eat the food!"

"After the Earth God has eaten! Not when he is eating."

He pointed to the single josstick that was still burning before knocking her on the head.

'DAK!'