After the Early-Deceased White Moonlight of a Wealthy Family Returns (GL) - Chapter 19

On the return trip after dinner, Meng Dongdong attempted to squeeze into Su Wu’s car, only to be grabbed by the back of her collar and hauled away by her own sister. “What are you doing, Meng Dongdong? Don’t want to go home? Want to sleep at someone else’s house?”

Meng Dongdong’s eyes lit up. “Can I? I’m very well-behaved when I sleep—I only snore, I don’t hit people. Xiao An, I’ll sleep with you!”

Su Wu shot a look over. Fearing her sister was about to be tossed into a pond without even realizing why, Meng Xi clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sleep, my foot. Come with me.”

Meng Dongdong’s resistance failed. Before being carted away, she desperately pried Meng Xi’s forearm back with her hands and shouted to the two of them, “Sister Su Wu, You’an! See you next time!”

She pointed at Shen You’an, then made a “six” gesture with her hand held to her ear, exaggerating her mouthing: Wait for my call!

Shen You’an was amused.

Su Wu glanced sideways at her smile. “You seem to get along quite well with the Meng sisters.”

Without thinking, Shen You’an said, “They’re both quite fun. Sister Meng Xi is great at taking care of people, even if she’s a bit scatterbrained sometimes. And Meng Dongdong… well, she has a child’s temper; her moods come and go quickly.”

Su Wu: “You are a child too.”

Shen You’an argued her case: “…That’s different. Sister Su, you clearly know that.”

Seeing that the thoughtful expression she wore when mentioning the Meng sisters had turned into a more intimate, spoiled pout, the corners of Su Wu’s mouth tugged slightly. She said to her, “Meng Dongdong isn’t bad at heart; it’s just that her parents dote on her excessively.”

Thinking she understood Su Wu’s meaning, Shen You’an nodded repeatedly. “Sister Su, don’t worry, I’ll get along with her well.”

Su Wu looked at the girl. “I am worried.”

Shen You’an: “Huh?”

Su Wu let out a soft sigh and said bluntly, “What I mean is, if Meng Dongdong has a ‘princess tantrum,’ you don’t need to indulge her just because of me or Meng Xi. When it comes to making friends, your own feelings should be the primary principle. What makes you feel comfortable is the most important thing.”

Shen You’an hadn’t expected Su Wu to speak this way. Her Bambi-like eyes went blank as she stared at Su Wu like a confused little deer.

Su Wu continued, “Before dinner today, when Meng Dongdong was throwing a fit, Meng Xi asked me to say sorry to you on her behalf.”

“It doesn’t need to be so serious.” Shen You’an waved her hands hurriedly. “We just had a tiny friction, and it’s already resolved.”

“That impressive?” Su Wu’s tone was like someone coaxing a child holding building blocks claiming they’d built an airplane.

Shen You’an lowered her head, kicking the tip of her shoe. “It was a very small thing, really nothing at all.”

The way Su Wu praised her made her feel like she didn’t deserve it.

“This is for you.” After they got into the car, Su Wu took a small gift box out of her bag.

Shen You’an pointed to herself, and after Su Wu nodded, she took the box and opened it. Inside was a phone identical to the one Meng Dongdong had held today—white casing, clean and beautiful.

There was no driver today. The woman sat in the driver’s seat, left hand resting on the steering wheel, a string of pale emerald jade beads on her slender wrist. Her long hair was loose, and as she spoke seriously, she looked steady and reliable.

“I’ve already put in the SIM card I got today; it’s in slot 1. If you want another one later, you can use slot 2. My number is saved in the contacts under ‘Su Wu’—call me if anything happens. Meng Xi’s number is in there too; if you can’t reach me, you can call her.”

“Also, these are the identity and residency permits I processed today. I have a flat in Chens City under my name that I’ve transferred to you. To the outside world, you’re the daughter of a friend of mine from abroad. Your current identity is foreign,” Su Wu said. “It’s easier to handle that way.”

“The rest of the paperwork will take a bit longer. It also depends on what you want to do later.”

“This supplementary card is for you; the password is your birthday. And—”

Su Wu leaned over and took a stack of neatly printed documents from a briefcase on the back seat. “Meng Xi mentioned to me today that, at your age, you should consider school. I remember you wanted to apply for the NYA Manga Department; I’ve had someone compile their recent admission criteria. Of course, there are other schools with similar majors, including domestic ones.”

“As for what you want to do in the future, it’s specifically—”

Before Su Wu could finish, Shen You’an lunged from the passenger seat and gave her a hug, saying in a muffled voice, “Sister Su, thank you.”

Su Wu froze in her seat, her hands raised in the air. “…No… No need.”

If Meng Xi were here, she would have definitely clicked her tongue, marveling that even someone as shrewd as Su Wu could have a day where her speech faltered.

In a heat of the moment, Shen You’an had hugged Su Wu, feeling a waist that was slender yet resilient. It wasn’t that soft; Su Wu had muscle on her waist and her back was firm, confirming what Meng Xi said about her always exercising. Of course, there were soft parts too; when not tensed, the belly with its abdominal lines was soft, and the two full curves were soft as well.

Only then did Shen You’an realize how presumptuous her action was. She scrambled back into her seat, waving her hands frantically in explanation. “Sister Su, I was just too excited. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Thinking about how someone had considered her needs so deeply, Shen You’an couldn’t help the surge of emotion.

Looking at the girl’s panicky, fluttering eyelashes, Su Wu gave a light chuckle and reached out to ruffle her hair. She saw the eyelashes flutter again as the girl looked up at her with a trace of uncertainty.

Su Wu said, “It’s just a hug. I’m not a tiger, what are you afraid of?”

Shen You’an said, “I’m not afraid—” She was just flustered, and she didn’t know why.

Su Wu added, “Have you never hugged Shen Huaijin?”

Shen You’an replied, “Of course I have. I was constantly clinging to my sister when I was little; she used to complain I was annoying back then.”

Su Wu’s fingertips gently brushed the soft, fine stray hairs on Shen You’an’s forehead. “Then it’s the same. You’an, you can just treat me as an older sister.”

Shen You’an’s ears turned a bit hot from being coaxed. She peeked at Su Wu’s expression; her movements were gentle, but her face was as calm as ever. In the past, she could never have imagined that this cold-faced friend of her sister, who ignored everyone all day, would one day say such things to her. If it weren’t for the lingering tingle on the skin where Su Wu’s fingers had touched, she would have thought she’d misheard.

She thought of the gossip Meng Dongdong told her.

How Su Wu had been ruthless over these ten years, rising from being ignored to gaining a firm foothold, and now having the final say in the Su family.

It’s lonely at the top—was she very lonely too?

“Okay, Sister Su,” Shen You’an called out obediently.

Su Wu tucked a lock of stray hair behind her ear. Seemingly by accident, her cool fingertips brushed against the burning earlobe.

Shen You’an shuddered.

“Too formal,” Su Wu said.

Shen You’an blinked, immediately covering her ear and pulling back. “A-jie (Big Sister), stop teasing me.”

Su Wu raised an eyebrow slightly, the corners of her mouth turning up in a satisfied curve. “This title is not bad.”

Shen You’an: “Huh?”

Su Wu: “Say it again.”

Shen You’an: “…” I’m not a dog!

Su Wu rested one hand casually on the steering wheel, turning her head to look at her, waiting quietly with a look of great patience.

For some reason, Shen You’an’s heart felt like it was on fire.

She didn’t feel this way when calling Shen Huaijin “Sister”!

To escape her current mood as quickly as possible, Shen You’an blurted out, “A-jie, A-jie, A-jie—!” As long as she shouted fast enough, the shyness couldn’t catch up to her.

“I’m hungry,” she said piteously, clutching her rumbling stomach. “Let’s hurry home and eat.”

“I just booked another restaurant nearby,” Su Wu said, withdrawing her gaze and starting the car. “I’m taking you there now.”

“Ah?”

“I knew you weren’t full,” Su Wu joked rarely. “The two of us will go have a private meal; we won’t bring Meng Xi and the others along. —Oh, and don’t tell Meng Dongdong, or Meng Xi will nag me incessantly the next time we meet.”

“This is our secret,” Su Wu said.

Shen You’an’s heart took a light, airy leap, like a butterfly fluttering in her chest. Thinking that the mature and rational Su Wu would one day call it “their secret” just to sneak her off for extra food… Shen You’an giggled to herself, finding the woman beside her quite adorable.

“I definitely won’t tell,” she said, her eyes shining. “Sister Su, you’re so good.”

Su Wu didn’t look over, focusing on the road ahead, but she dropped a seemingly casual remark: “What did you call me?”

“…”

Strange.

Clearly, it was just two ordinary syllables, and she had shouted the word “Sister” countless times since she was a child—when begging, when angry. But never before had these two syllables felt so awkward and difficult to utter.

While she was struggling with her inexplicable shyness, Su Wu’s fingertips tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel.

Shen You’an cleared her throat and whispered, “A-jie.”

The moment the two syllables left her lips, the butterfly in her chest took flight.