The Original Owner was sick.
Literally.
Su Ling was well aware of this.
When she transmigrated one month ago, Su Ling found a message left behind by the Original Owner.
The message was in her diary; by flipping through the earlier pages, she could see glimpses of the Original Owner’s past.
This was also why Su Ling had adapted to her new identity so quickly.
The previous entries in the diary were frantic, abstract, and certainly didn’t look like the work of someone with a sane mind.
Su Ling could still remember a specific passage the Original Owner had written.
“Witch Era 6067, May 22. The debt collectors came to the door again. Why! Why! It’s clearly that woman’s fault! Damn it, I don’t have any money, so why are they making me pay? And that blind money-loser! All she knows is how to eat, eat, and eat. By the Original, why am I in this family? Ahhhh, I’m going crazy! No, if that bunch comes again, I’ll sell that blind money-loser. Hahaha! She’s that woman’s daughter anyway. Why should I pay back the debt she owes?”
Su Ling was deeply struck by those words. The Original Owner had actually intended to sell her own younger sister!
No wonder Miao Miao had been so terrified and disgusted by her when she first transmigrated.
Fortunately, after one month of hard work, Miao Miao’s attitude toward her seemed to have improved.
After all, she was just a child.
Later, Su Ling found a large pile of empty medicine boxes in the Original Owner’s bedroom.
They were almost all medications for psychiatric disorders, which made her realize that the Original Owner indeed suffered from mental illness.
Then again, in a house like this, it would be strange not to go crazy.
‘Besides, the Original Owner was sick. What does that have to do with me?’
Su Ling looked at Su Yao, who had finally regained consciousness, and rolled her eyes.
“I’m better now. I don’t need medicine.”
“Ling Ling…”
“Mom, Sister is doing great now. She doesn’t need medicine.”
Su Yao wanted to say something else, but she was unexpectedly interrupted by Bai Miao.
Bai Miao had finished her meal and was currently looking at Su Ling with a complicated expression.
Seeing this, Su Ling’s gaze softened.
She reached out and rubbed Bai Miao’s small head.
“That’s right. I’m already better. Don’t worry, Miao Miao.”
“Mhm.”
Bai Miao hugged Su Ling tightly, as if she were terrified that this gentle sister would leave her at any moment.
Su Yao stared at her two daughters.
Even though it was a heartwarming scene, it made her skin crawl.
*Glug, glug!*
She downed several gulps of strong liquor, making her delicate face turn even redder.
This type of liquor was of very poor quality, costing only a few dollars a bottle, and it went to one’s head easily.
“Ling Ling… *hic*! Promise me… go see Doctor Li tomorrow… *hic*!” Su Yao said drunkenly.
Doctor Li was the community doctor for this area, which was part of a government institution.
Although the Lower City was the filthiest and lowest-ranking district in the Witch Empire, it still provided basic welfare.
Compulsory education, free medical care, and free water and electricity were all guaranteed.
The Original Owner’s previous medication had been obtained from Doctor Li.
Of course, it was all low-quality medicine.
After Su Yao finished speaking, she passed out drunk.
Su Ling’s vision went dark at the sight.
‘If you’re really worried about her, then take her yourself. Who are you putting on this act for?’
It was no wonder the Original Owner had gone mad.
Su Ling sighed and decided to ignore the woman.
After cleaning the food containers on the dining table, Su Ling prepared to take a bath with Bai Miao.
Fortunately, the Witch Empire possessed nearly infinite energy.
Even the most primitive form of electricity was free.
They could still afford to take a hot bath.
—
In the small bathroom, steam filled the air.
The two sisters, one big and one small, lay in the bathtub, hugging each other and feeling one another’s heartbeats.
“Sister…”
Little Bai Miao curled up in Su Ling’s soft embrace and whispered softly.
“Tomorrow… can we please not go to Doctor Li’s…”
Bai Miao’s tiny body trembled slightly as if she were afraid of something.
Su Ling scooped up some warm water and gently poured it over Bai Miao’s fair back.
However, that back, which looked like a work of art, was marred by several hideous scars that stood out prominently.
Su Ling’s heart ached as she looked at them.
She knew exactly who had done this.
Su Yao was drunk all day and barely had the energy to stay awake; it was almost impossible for her to have done such a thing.
Their mother, Bai Wei, had disappeared one year ago.
The answer was obvious.
“Is Miao Miao afraid she’ll come back?”
Su Ling asked, making her voice as gentle as possible.
One month ago, to get Bai Miao to accept her, she had told her about her transmigration.
She explained that she wasn’t the Original Owner and that she would never hurt her.
Bai Miao fell silent. “Sister…”
Bai Miao bit her lip hard.
She knew that her sister’s illness had only gotten worse.
But… she didn’t want her sister to get better at all.
This sister, the one who claimed to have transmigrated here, was the sister she loved the most.
Those previous versions of her sister were too terrifying.
They were all lunatics.
As if remembering something, Bai Miao’s face turned pale instantly.
Fortunately, under the thick veil of steam, Su Ling didn’t notice.
“Haha, don’t worry, Miao Miao. I’ll always be by your side.”
Sensing the unease in the girl’s heart, Su Ling hugged her tightly.
Had she not sacrificed her dignity for the sake of the person in her arms?
How could she ever hurt her?
—
The next day, warm sunlight streamed into the room.
It was a clear day, and the pleasant sunshine seemed to breathe a bit of life into the dark and filthy Lower City.
Su Ling’s long eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes.
The girl in her arms was sleeping soundly.
Looking at Miao Miao’s cute sleeping face, Su Ling’s heart nearly melted.
Seriously, with such a cute younger sister, that lunatic Original Owner still chose to abuse her.
Luckily, Su Ling had been an only child before she transmigrated.
Otherwise, she couldn’t imagine what kind of havoc the Original Owner would have wreaked if she had taken over her old body.
She shook her head, tossing the stray thoughts aside.
She got out of bed quietly and prepared breakfast for Miao Miao.
Naturally, she also left a portion for the woman on the sofa, though she didn’t know if the woman would have the strength to eat it.
“Ling Ling…”
Just as she was about to head out, Su Yao unexpectedly woke up.
She grabbed Su Ling’s wrist, causing Su Ling to raise an eyebrow.
‘Oh? Look at you. You actually have the strength to grab me?’
Su Yao’s stunning face was currently filled with worry.
“Ling Ling, your illness can’t be delayed any longer… have you already stopped taking your medicine?”
‘I suppose so,’ Su Ling thought for a moment.
Ever since she transmigrated, she hadn’t touched that so-called medicine.
Even if she wanted to, there was none left; the Original Owner had consumed every last bit of it.
“Tch, don’t I know better than anyone whether I’m sick or not?”
Su Ling pulled her hand away.
Su Yao tried to stand up to stop her, but her body had long since deteriorated due to her daily alcoholism.
She didn’t even have the strength to stand. Her legs buckled almost immediately, but Su Ling was quick enough to catch her.
Say what you will about Su Yao being a drunkard, but she was truly a peerless beauty.
Even among high-tier Witches, she would be considered top-tier.
Simply standing up left Su Yao breathless.
Her face was pale, and her messy white hair fell over her face, giving her a sort of sickly beauty.
“Go to Doctor Li, all right? Just consider it a mother’s plea.”
Su Yao’s voice was full of entreaty.
Su Ling quickly turned her head away.
She couldn’t stand that look, especially when it came from her own mother.
“Fine, fine. I’ll go, okay?”
Su Ling sighed and answered dismissively.
“Breakfast is on the table. Eat it if you have the strength.”
After helping Su Yao settle back onto the sofa, Su Ling ignored her.
Looking at Su Ling’s departing figure, a few tears escaped Su Yao’s eyes.
She tilted her head back and sobbed silently.
“Xiao Wei… where are you? Ling Ling… she’s completely lost it…”
—
Once she was downstairs, the bright sunlight made Su Ling squint.
Ever since she had sold her dignity, she disliked sunny days more and more.
She was already a rat in the shadows… the sunlight no longer suited her.
Su Yao’s pleading voice echoed in her ears, and Su Ling pursed her rosy lips.
“Sigh.” She let out a soft breath.
Whatever. It wouldn’t take much time anyway.
With that thought, she pulled out her phone with its cracked screen and found Sister Jing’s KouKou account.
Su Ling: “Sister Jing, can I come in the afternoon? I have some things to take care of.”
Sister Jing’s real name was Jing Jie, but she preferred people to call her Sister Jing.
She was Su Ling’s class monitor and came from a relatively well-off family in the Lower City.
She had always taken good care of Su Ling.
Sister Jing’s reply came quickly.
Sister Jing: “Oh, it’s fine. You can come whenever you want.”
Su Ling: “Thanks then.”
Su Ling breathed a sigh of relief.
She tucked her phone away and started walking toward the community clinic.
But this sunlight… it was really blinding…