“Before, I would use tea to boil the rice. It was inconvenient. This time I used the tea powders. It is better.”

Nell found that Rose did have talent at cooking. She couldn’t compare to Rose. So Nell just ate there.

Rose felt quite happy to see Nell eat.

Such warm scene, they hadn’t seen in a very long time.

Ever since their father were sent to prison, they all needed to pay for the debts of their father. And their mother Mary never cared about this. So they couldn’t expect that Mary would pay for the debts.

The creditor would come to their house and ask for payment of debt from Rose and her mother. So Rose would be easily affected by Mary’s annoying emotions. This time she came to Nell. Rose felt a bit released.

Though they still had heavy burdens of debts. But Mary wouldn’t affect Rose’s emotion anymore.

The meal ended under the cozy atmosphere. Both Nell and Rose asked for washing the dishes. Rose got the chance.

Rose pushed Nell to the room and force her to lie on the bed. She said to Nell with determination, “Sister, you are too tired today. So just rest in the room. I can handle all this. You have worked over time. I know you must be tired. I knew it when you came back.”

“But…”

Nell wanted to argue. But Rose directly stopped her, “Don’t say that I had a long journey today. I have rested enough this afternoon. It wouldn’t be a problem for me to wash dishes. Just let me do it.”

Rose insisted. Nell could only give in. She laughed and said, “You know me.”

“I am your sister. I should be.”

Rose said to Nell, then she went to the kitchen.

Nell lay on the bed. She was thinking of what happened today.

Not just about Rose, also the changing attitude of York, all these made Nell not know what course to take.

Before, Nell was close to York in the company. He would have a heart-to-heart talk with Nell. But he never had petty actions like he did today. He even touched Nell’s hair.

Nell always didn’t know how to express her emotion and feeling, unlike other women who were delicate about it. So Nell indeed didn’t know what to do.

Though she could told Rose about this. Still Nell didn’t know right now what relation she had with York. Did they have affections? Nell felt it hard to tell. If she directly told Rose about this, would it be too hasty?

Nell didn’t want to tell Rose now. Maybe she would come back home after some days. Now Rose could provide ideas for her. But when she came back or she went to other places. Nell was alone again. What would she do then?

Nell didn’t want to rely on others.

Some people might say that girl must be soft. She didn’t have to be like the hedgehog or be an able woman who could independently do everything.

When Nell heard such words, she disagreed.

First of all, everyone was born in different environments. One mustn’t easily judge a woman with prejudice.

Nell was an inner-directed woman. She was willing to be like this.

Nell only wanted to be the strong poplar.

It stood still in front of winds and rains. It didn’t need to attach to others. It was enough for Nell to live her own wonderful life.

When Nell thought of this, she laughed. Nell closed her eyes and sweetly had a dream.

Rose came back after washing dishes. She found that Nell hadn’t changed her clothes. She didn’t remove her makeup either. Rose didn’t want to wake Nell up. But for the sake of her skin, Rose woke Nell up and said, “Sister wake up…”

“What is the matter?” Nell was confused when she woke up. She found that Rose stood in front of her.

“You should remove your makeup first. It is not good for you face if you fell asleep like this.”

Rose worriedly opened her mouth and pointed at Nell’s makeup.

“Oh, yes…”

Nell remembered by Rose that she hadn’t removed her makeup and fell asleep. Nell awkwardly wanted to get by. She struggled. But she failed.

Rose felt sad to see that. She helped Nell get up and said with concerns, “How can you say that you are not tired? You don’t even have the strength to get up. Sister, aren’t you too cruel to yourself? You should take some rest…”

When Rose said this, she didn’t make it very clear. But when Rose stayed in the dormitory this afternoon. She saw the schedule on the calendar. Nell had many works to do. Rose felt fear about it.

Is sister so busy in daily time?

This was the biggest question Rose had after staying in the dormitory for a whole after. This was the only question Rose want to ask when Nell came back home.