Chapter 9

"Wendy, your Bellmire dialect is so fluent. Your grades must be excellent. What's your class ranking?" Moira adjusted her reading glasses. Even at over 70 years old, this veteran revolutionary, who had risen from the ashes of turmoil, spoke with a steady voice and sharp gaze. It was as if she were a mirror that could reveal one's true self in an instant. The original Wendy had done well in middle school, but once high school began, her focus shifted away from academics. Hence, her grades plummeted. As Wendy pondered her response, Sean handed over her transfer documents, which included not only her final exam scores but also comments from her homeroom teacher. Moira took a quick look and thought she might be mistaken. She removed her reading glasses and looked again. The report card displayed Xyla's results. "Mathematics: 9 Chemistry: 23 Language: 54 Foreign Language: 3" The remarks in the behavior section noted, "Lacks intrinsic motivation and self-discipline, poor time management, easily distracted, and shows a lack of commitment to studies. Was late 15 times and skipped class five times. Recommended for withdrawal." After reading it, Moira passed it to Jacob. He was usually unruffled, but his lips quivered slightly as he glanced at the grades. He quickly placed the report on the table. But it didn't matter. After all, Wendy wasn't really here to study, so her grades didn't matter much. It was fine as long as she could graduate from high school. Xyla looked at the report card with scorn and sarcasm, nearly laughing out loud. No matter how polite and eloquent Wendy had been before entering, this report card slapped her in the face. Xyla straightened her back, tilted her chin slightly, and pretended to speak for Wendy. "Mrs. Horton Senior, Mr. Horton, it's possible that Wendy was sick during that time, which affected her final exams. She usually does quite well in her studies." Xyla was right. The original Wendy had indeed been unwell at the time because she had deliberately caused Xyla to be trampled by a rampaging bull in an attempt to steal Sean. When the adults found out, they beat the original Wendy with a wooden stick, hitting her head in the process. For a while after that, she had been vomiting and feeling dizzy. This caused the original Wendy to suffer a mild concussion and lose her memory of that day. Wendy still had no idea what had happened, how the original Wendy had tied the red cloth to Xyla's back, or how she had provoked the bull. All she remembered were fragmented images of being beaten. Seeing Xyla's injured right leg, Moira and Jacob quickly understood what Xyla meant by Wendy's illness and looked at her with pity and affection. They felt that Xyla was such a thoughtful child. Despite nearly being harmed by her sister, she still stood up for her. "Xyla, I remember you and Wendy are only a year apart. How is it that she is in the second year of high school, while you just graduated middle school?" Moira asked, her stern gaze softening. "There was a lot of work at home, and my dad was having back problems, so I took two years off school to help the family," Xyla replied modestly. This made Moira and Jacob feel even more sympathetic. They looked at the tall, fair Wendy, contrasting sharply with Xyla, who appeared dark and thin. It was clear that Xyla had endured a lot at home. This confirmed that Wendy was lazy at home, leaving all the farm and household chores to the frail Xyla. For a moment, all attention shifted to Xyla. "To take two years off and still get into a vocational school is impressive," Moira said, breaking her usual serious demeanor with a rare smile. "What was your rank in the county?" In this era, vocational schools held more prestige than today's top-tier universities. Only the top 40 in the county could gain admission, followed by junior colleges and finally high school. "Thank you for the compliment, Mrs. Horton Senior. I didn't do very well and only ranked 29th in the county," Xyla replied while biting her lip in feigned modesty. With her back straightened, she no longer appeared nervous or awkward like when she first walked in. Instead, she casually glanced at Wendy with eyes sparkling with a hint of pride and triumph. "Getting 29th in the county after taking two years off school is quite an achievement." Jacob nodded appreciatively. Both the Stowell sisters were commendable—one clever and considerate, the other poised and confident. From Wendy's demeanor, she seemed the complete opposite of what Sean had described over the phone. Everything unfolded just as Wendy had anticipated. She quietly sat nearby and used the towel to wipe the rain from her face and neck. She just blinked as she listened to Moira and Jacob praise Xyla. The overhead fluorescent light illuminated her freshly wiped, youthful face, casting a soft glow that made her look innocent. She folded the towel neatly with her delicate, fair hands. Her fingers were slender and polished, with a faint hint of pink at the tips. Sean glanced down at her. His gaze lingered on her hands before he quickly averted his eyes. "Grandma, Dad, I need to report back to work. I'll take Xyla to the hospital tomorrow to treat her leg." After saying that, Sean took a long stride upstairs to grab something. When he returned, he held a brand-new, deep brown leather suitcase, elegantly packaged with aluminum strips and a lock. "Xyla, this suitcase is a gift for you as a back-to-school present." It was a truly exquisite item. Only affluent city students could afford such high-quality goods. Stunned, Xyla covered her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief. It felt like a dream to her. She quickly replied, "No, Sean. This is too precious. I can't accept it." "You can take this suitcase to the dorm when you move in. A backpack isn't as convenient. This one has a lock, so you can secure your belongings." Sean stepped past Wendy to place the suitcase in front of Xyla. Xyla couldn't help but caress the suitcase. Her cheeks flushed as she looked at Sean with shyness and delight. "Don't be shy, Xyla. Just accept it. You've earned it by getting into a vocational school. From now on, consider this place your home. Come back to stay on weekends during breaks." Jacob knew that Sean saw Xyla only as a sister. The way Sean looked at Xyla lacked the typical scrutiny a man would have for a woman. Otherwise, he wouldn't have just given her one gift. There should have been something more. Moreover, he felt the two were not suited for each other. Perhaps it was the way Wendy carried herself with such grace and poise when the Stowell sisters first entered that made him realize he should find Sean a partner from a cultured, well-educated background. One was tough, while the other was gentle. Together, they would complement each other perfectly.