Chapter 34.2
Compared to Ah Xiu, who struggled as she was dragged out, trying to beg Xie Shuyun for mercy, Ah Hua was much quieter.
But the venom flickering in her eyes was impossible to ignore. Qin Yu saw it clearly and marked her as a key surveillance target.
At the Xie family’s main gate, the two maids were pushed out in a wretched state. Soon after, their luggage was thrown out as well. Their phones had been confiscated to inspect those messages.
Ah Hua did not even glance at Ah Xiu, who was pounding on the gate and crying. She ran to a nearby convenience store and used her remaining change to dial the number she remembered.
However, only this message sounded from the other end:
“The number you have dialed is not in service. Please check the number and dial again. Thank you.”
Although it was not unexpected, thinking of a certain possibility, Ah Hua rushed to an ATM. She pushed away the people in line and, ignoring the curses of others, began checking the balance on her card.
5.24 million.
Seeing the number on the screen, Ah Hua let out a breath of relief.
But at that moment, the ATM seemed to suffer some kind of attack. The numbers blurred slightly, shaking and flickering several times.
In Ah Hua’s eyes, the 5 in the million’s place in 5.24 million gradually faded under this effect. A faint golden color invisible to her naked eye slowly drifted out from the ATM screen. When the golden color completely dispersed, that 5 disappeared.
“Impossible… impossible… There must be a system error…”
Ah Hua muttered to herself. One hand rubbed her eyes, while the other kept rubbing the ATM screen, producing an ear-piercing scraping sound.
She did not care.
But when she looked at the transfer records, there was no outgoing transfer information at all. There was even…
The record of the five-million transfer from back then had disappeared too.
Her face became paler and paler. If she had not experienced it herself, Ah Hua would have thought she had merely had a dream.
She also wished that she was dreaming right now.
When she woke up later, all of this would disappear. She would still be herself—the maid employed by the Xie family, the one everyone envied.
“It’s gone… it’s all gone…”
Ah Hua cried and screamed. The convenience store staff, thinking she was causing trouble, pulled her away and asked her to leave.
Just like that, she stood there swaying unsteadily.
Looking at the blazing sun overhead, she felt no warmth at all. Instead, a chill pierced straight through her heart.
What happened outside had no effect on the Xie family.
The bodyguards and maids all dispersed to carry out their respective duties. As for whether there would be personnel changes afterward, that would depend on Qin Yu’s investigation results.
However, none of this had anything to do with the two young girls on the sofa.
For now, their work was already finished, and they were sitting on the sofa resting.
“Pai Pai… later, I’ll have someone look up a pet recipe and make bone soup for you. You need to nourish yourself well. Don’t leave behind any aftereffects, okay?”
Lightly tapping Pai Pai’s nose, Xie Shuyun’s tone carried a trace of heartache.
The little golden retriever, who had always been lively and active, could now only lie on a cushion wrapped in gauze. It made people feel even more sorry for what he had gone through.
“Aow… aow aow…”
Hearing Xie Shuyun’s words, Pai Pai’s eyes immediately lit up. His little tail wagged nonstop as he barked happily.
“Really… That’s for nourishing your body. Don’t forget you’re injured, little glutton.”
Xie Shuyun helplessly pinched Pai Pai’s ears.
Staring at his innocent eyes, she eventually shook her head and gave in.
Fine, fine. Injured little ones were all little ancestors. It was more practical to quickly have someone make bone soup.
From the corner of her eye, she secretly glanced at the cold young girl sitting not far away.
At this moment, the girl was lowering her head, her fingertips lightly tapping on her phone. She seemed to be messaging someone. Her brows and eyes were full of solemn emotion, making Xie Shuyun afraid to disturb her.
But perhaps because she sensed Xie Shuyun’s furtive gaze, the young girl lifted her head.
Her black eyes met Xie Shuyun’s gaze. Inside, there was no joy that the matter was over, nor the intense emotions from earlier. There was only calm.
And…
hesitation?
Before Xie Shuyun could feel confused, the hesitation in the young girl’s eyes disappeared. She took a deep breath and slowly said,
“Can you accompany me somewhere during the holiday?”
“Eh?”
Xie Shuyun’s eyes widened slightly, somewhat stunned.
She had not expected to actually receive an invitation from the other girl. This was something she had never dared imagine.
“You… have something to do…?”
Cheng Lingxue’s words paused. As she looked at Xie Shuyun, a trace of confusion and disappointment appeared in her eyes.
That appearance made it seem as though if Xie Shuyun nodded, the rare light that had appeared in the girl’s eyes would shatter because of it.
“No, I don’t!”
Xie Shuyun quickly shook her head. Blinking, she asked curiously,
“Where are we going?”
The cold young girl did not answer.
Her gaze grew somewhat distant, as if she were looking at something unknown, and her tone was faint.
“It’s a very important place.”
===
On the holiday, Xie Shuyun and Cheng Lingxue got into the car together.
She was somewhat surprised that the cold young girl was wearing a black dress. Moreover, today’s atmosphere around her seemed a little strange. It carried emotions like sorrow and longing.
Propping her cheek on her hand, Cheng Lingxue quietly looked at the scenery outside the car window, as if thinking about something.
Xie Shuyun scratched her head.
She did not know how to break this atmosphere. She kept feeling that no matter what she said, it would be inappropriate, so she could only quietly keep her mouth shut.
Aside from the sound of breathing, the atmosphere in the car was extremely quiet, until they arrived at their destination.
After getting out of the car, Xie Shuyun opened the door for Cheng Lingxue. Only then did she look toward the building that was their destination.
It had a simple, ancient aura. At a glance, one could tell the gate had a long history, yet it had been well maintained.
Outside were many people patrolling. It looked like a very important place.
Her gaze moved upward.
Above the gate was a plaque that seemed to have been carved by a famous calligrapher.
Cheng Family Ancestral Hall
……?
Huh?
Looking at the four large characters in front of her in disbelief, Xie Shuyun turned back and looked at Cheng Lingxue’s clothes.
No wonder the other girl was wearing black.
So they had come to pay respects.
“Lingxue… why didn’t you tell me we were coming here? I… I’m dressed inappropriately, aren’t I?”
Uneasily moving closer to Cheng Lingxue, Xie Shuyun tugged at her own clothes and spoke quietly.
The patrolling people around them had solemn expressions, and even Cheng Lingxue was wearing black. Only she was wearing a casual white shirt.
Fortunately, she had not worn red. Otherwise, she would have looked like she had come to cause trouble.
“What you’re wearing is enough.”
Cheng Lingxue swept a glance over Xie Shuyun and spoke softly. Then she brushed past Xie Shuyun and walked toward the gate.
The bodyguard guarding the entrance clearly recognized Cheng Lingxue’s identity. He bowed respectfully to Cheng Lingxue.
“Miss, you’re here. Third Young Master has already informed us that you would be coming here today. May I ask, this person is…”
The bodyguard’s gaze landed on Xie Shuyun, carrying scrutiny.
“She came with me. No need to mind her. I won’t let her run around.”
“This…”
He hesitated a little. But looking at Cheng Lingxue’s calm yet unquestionable gaze and thinking of her identity, the bodyguard ultimately compromised and had someone open the gate.
Following Cheng Lingxue through the gate, Xie Shuyun was somewhat surprised by the style inside.
She had originally thought that according to the gate’s style, she would see rows of old-fashioned low houses. But what entered her view were very modern buildings.
Walking all the way inside, they came to a neatly trimmed green lawn. There were actually small tombstones standing there one by one.
Cheng Lingxue’s gaze fell on one of them. Her footsteps shifted lightly, and she soon arrived before the tombstone.
Words were engraved on the tombstone.
Xie Shuyun looked carefully.
Tomb of Hou Shiliu, beloved wife of Cheng Wenying, the 27th Family Head
They were the names of Cheng Lingxue’s parents, as well as the destination of this trip.
Watching Cheng Lingxue enter a small room nearby and take out several sticks of incense, Xie Shuyun saw her stand before her and separate half of them, handing them to Xie Shuyun.
“Will you pay your respects?”
The white smoke rising from the burning incense tip made the young girl’s face look hazy. It also made Xie Shuyun unable to clearly see her current expression.
But after spending several months together, Xie Shuyun could clearly feel the turmoil in the girl’s heart.
“Of course.”
Reaching out to take the incense from the young girl’s hand, she followed the young girl and bowed toward the tombstone. Then she inserted the incense into the small golden incense burner embedded in front of the tombstone.
Unlike Xie Shuyun, who stood up directly, Cheng Lingxue still crouched on the ground, both arms hugging her own legs.
At this moment, her gaze was basically level with the tombstone.
Standing behind her, Xie Shuyun could not see her expression clearly. But without even thinking, Cheng Lingxue must have felt sorrowful.
She could not help taking out her phone and quickly typing, replying to the person on the other end.
Only here, truly here, could Cheng Lingxue most clearly remember the moments from the past.
It was as if her mother and mama had come to accompany her, allowing her tense heart to relax slightly and imagine her parents’ warm hands, their warm embraces.
At the same time, this was also the greatest regret in her heart.
If she could have come back a little earlier…
Her fingertips tightened around her skirt. Cheng Lingxue’s breathing grew slightly heavier. Her gaze toward the tombstone became somewhat blurry and sour.
She lowered her eyes, suppressing the faint wetness that had surfaced.
But then she thought—
If she had returned earlier, would she still have met the current Xie Shuyun?
People were this contradictory.
They held what they already had while fantasizing about obtaining what they had lost. They wanted everything, but reality could not be so beautiful.
What was lost was permanently lost.
Perhaps fate would give an opportunity, but it would absolutely not allow everything to return to the starting point one wished for.
Time that had passed would never turn back.
She was already an exception among exceptions.
At this moment, a bodyguard quickly walked over.
“Miss, the flower shop has delivered the flowers. Would you like to choose first? Or should it be the same as usual?”
Interrupted by the bodyguard, Cheng Lingxue did not get angry. She slowly stood up.
Because she had crouched for too long, her legs were somewhat numb, making her a little unsteady. Seeing this, Xie Shuyun quickly stepped forward and supported her.
“Careful. Are you okay?”
“…Mm…”
Cheng Lingxue steadied herself, then left Xie Shuyun’s hand and straightened her clothes. Only then did she speak to the bodyguard.
“Take me to see them.”
As she spoke, her tone paused. Then she said to Xie Shuyun,
“Just wait here. I’ll be back soon.”
Xie Shuyun watched the two leave. Then she cautiously approached the tombstone and took Cheng Lingxue’s earlier position.
Unlike Cheng Lingxue’s restraint and endurance, she chattered to the tombstone about the things that had happened to Cheng Lingxue recently.
Naturally, the tombstone could not respond to Xie Shuyun.
But she did not mind.
She only hoped that the Cheng couple would know that Cheng Lingxue, their child, was doing alright in the Xie family…
Was she really doing alright?
Only these few months, perhaps.
The previous few years could be said to have been a life of suffering…
Thinking this, a pained expression appeared on Xie Shuyun’s face. She lowered her head and said softly,
“I’m sorry. When Lingxue first came to the Xie family, she had a bad experience. But I’ll work hard to make up for it. In the days to come, I’ll protect her properly. I hope she can happily finish university and enter society. The Xie family will always be her backing.”
The heroic young girl’s voice went from apologetic at first to firm when she made her promise.
A brilliant smile appeared on her face.
Xie Shuyun, who was focused on the tombstone, did not notice that behind a tree not far away, a young girl dressed in black was holding a bouquet of flowers and listening to what she said.
Her lips lightly pressed together. Her lowered eyes flickered with a strange color.
In the end, she let out a long breath, opened her mouth, and silently murmured to herself,
Xie Shuyun…
You really are…
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