After the Early-Deceased White Moonlight of a Wealthy Family Returns (GL) - Chapter 20

After being taken by Su Wu to another nearby local restaurant for a pot of braised chicken, Shen You’an was finally full.

Returning home with a full stomach, the first thing Shen You’an did after cleaning up was research her phone.

Ten years had passed, and the world had developed faster than she imagined. All sorts of novel apps had sprung up, and the functions of original software had undergone countless iterations. She hadn’t registered for WeChat ten years ago, and after fiddling with it for a long while, she succeeded. Her first task: add Su Wu as a friend.

Su Wu’s profile picture was a distant mountain. Meng Dongdong later commented that this was a “rich woman’s profile pic,” implying it was chosen for good Feng Shui.

The second person she added was Meng Xi, whose profile picture was much younger—a selfie of herself smiling brightly.

Meng Dongdong was Shen You’an’s final friend addition.

As soon as they were connected, this person became incredibly chatty.

Dongdong the Great: Wow, Xiao An, your SIM card finally got processed?

Youan: Mhm-mhm.

Dongdong the Great: Why didn’t you change your profile pic? This default one is super tacky.

Youan: I don’t know what to change it to, so I’ll just leave it like this for now.

Dongdong the Great: Fair enough, it’s got a certain unique charm.

Dongdong the Great: It fits the current “mental state” of our generation perfectly!

Youan: What kind of “shen-ma” (what) mental state?

Dongdong the Great: …

Staring at that sentence, Meng Dongdong couldn’t help but complain: “Is this Xiao An from ten years ago?”

Nearby, Meng Xi was drinking juice. Hearing this, she choked, coughing violently until tears almost fell. Meng Dongdong, startled, put down her phone and patted her sister’s back: “Are you okay? What’s the deal?”

Meng Xi frantically grabbed several tissues to wipe her tears and mouth. After finally calming down, she turned and asked: “What… what did you just say?”

“Ah, nothing much. I just said Xiao An talks like she’s back from ten years ago. Her vocabulary is so ancient. I feel like I haven’t seen the phrase ‘Shen-ma are clouds’ in eight lifetimes.”

Meng Xi: “…”

Meng Dongdong: “Sis, you okay?”

Meng Xi’s head throbbed: “I’m not. Get away from me.”

Meng Dongdong: “…??”

Regarding the fact that her new friend might not be very “trendy,” Meng Dongdong accepted it quickly. She heard from Meng Xi that You’an grew up abroad—Canada, America, places like villages—so it made sense. She also thought about her being homeschooled and her pale complexion and thin frame; she must have had a hard life before.

After a round of mental “fan-fictioning,” Meng Dongdong felt a sudden surge of pity for Shen You’an. She invited her to come out and play tomorrow, promising to show her the world since it was the weekend.

Shen You’an refused.

Youan: Dongdong, thanks for the invite, but I won’t be going to the party.

Dongdong the Great: Why? Are you an ‘i’ person (introvert)?

Youan: Huh?

Dongdong the Great: MBTI, sixteen personalities, you don’t know this either?!

Shen You’an really didn’t.

When she died, the most popular thing was still the twelve zodiac signs. She didn’t expect that even in this area, the era would have advanced.

Dongdong the Great: Sometimes I feel like I’m chatting with my eldest aunt.

Youan: /covering-face-laugh emoji

Dongdong the Great: Even this emoji is the same style.

Shen You’an’s finger hesitated over the screen.

It was just a yellow face emoji; where exactly was the problem?!

Dongdong the Great: So why aren’t you going!

Dongdong the Great: Is it because I threw a tantrum today and you’re unhappy?

Dongdong the Great: I’ve thought it over, you were right. We just met, so I decided to work hard to get to know you better and boost our friendship.

Shen You’an didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She explained: I’m not unhappy.

Youan: I understand your emotions today~

Youan: I’ve been well taken care of by Sister Su lately, and I want to give her a gift. But I don’t have much money on me, so I’m thinking of looking for a part-time job.

Dongdong the Great: Is that all? How much do you need, I’ll lend it to you.

Youan: Around five thousand or so.

While fiddling with her phone, she discovered an online shop selling Australian white pearls. Combined with various handmade materials, it would take about five thousand to make a necklace.

She could buy one, of course, but Shen You’an felt that making it herself would be more meaningful.

Dongdong the Great: Was your allowance cut? Five thousand is nothing, I’ll transfer it to you.

Youan: No need, Dongdong. I want to save the money myself.

If she bought a gift using borrowed money, Shen You’an felt it would be somewhat strange. Five thousand was nothing compared to the kindness Su Wu had shown her, but this was about Shen You’an’s own sincerity.

Dongdong the Great: So, have you found a place to work?

This question hit Shen You’an’s sore spot.

It was also because of this that Shen You’an began to think seriously about what to do next. Her education from before she died was all void. Even if Su Wu used her influence to create a fake one, Shen You’an would feel guilty. With her current identity, she feared even the milk tea shop downstairs wouldn’t want her.

Zero education, a true illiterate.

Shen You’an couldn’t figure out how she had returned, wasn’t sure if she would suddenly disappear, and couldn’t guarantee when her body would have issues. But as the old saying goes, since I’m already here, she had to consider these things.

Even though Su Wu had picked her up and was taking care of her, she couldn’t just live with a clear conscience, let alone be supported by Su Wu for the rest of her life.

How to study, how to earn money—these were all problems.

The internet was developed now. Shen You’an found that some people could earn money through online commissions, but she didn’t have the tools or a computer. She was too embarrassed to ask Su Wu to buy more, and she wasn’t sure what she could produce after not touching a brush for ten years.

After thinking it over, she just didn’t have enough money.

If only she had a stable job that brought in cash, she could spend time practicing her art, work hard on commissions, and then find a way to get an education to continue earning money.

Shen You’an decided to crowd-source ideas. She asked Meng Dongdong if there were any ways to make money.

Dongdong the Great: You’ve got me there. I only know how to spend money, not make it.

Youan: /laugh-cry emoji

Dongdong the Great: Wait a sec, I’ll ask around.

Ten minutes later, Meng Dongdong forwarded a group chat.

Group members were offering tips: Earn money? For fast cash, just fly to Macau. So many casinos, just do a little something.

The more normal ones asked: What’s your education? Any skills? I’ll ask if my dad’s company needs interns.

Someone else said: Meng Dongdong, is your friend pretty? If she’s pretty, come sign with my family. Be an influencer model—you can make a lot in a day with photos and livestreams.

Dongdong the Great: Lots of options. Take your pick, and I’ll ask for you.

Dongdong the Great: I think you’re quite pretty. If you don’t want to do livestreams, being a model is fine too. You could make eight or nine hundred a day. How about it?

Youan: I’m afraid of the camera.

This was the truth. More importantly, she didn’t want to do work that required showing her face.

Youan: Can you help me ask your friends if there’s any work that doesn’t involve showing my face?

Meng Dongdong went to ask. After a while, she said: There is one that doesn’t involve showing your face, but I don’t think it’s okay. It’s very dangerous.

Youan: What kind of work is it?

Dongdong the Great: In the Lingang District of Chens City, there’s an underground boxing ring. Newcomers get eight hundred for a win, five hundred for a loss.

Dongdong the Great: I don’t even need to say it, you definitely wouldn’t go.

Just as that message was sent, a reply popped up from the other side: Dongdong, I want to go to this one. Can I trouble you to help me get in touch?

Meng Dongdong stared at her phone. For a moment, she felt like she no longer recognized Chinese characters.

“Is she crazy?”

Meng Xi was lying on the sofa nearby, chatting with a girl she was recently dating. Hearing this, she asked casually: “What’s wrong?”

Meng Dongdong hurriedly shook her head: “Nothing.”

Are you kidding? If Meng Xi knew Xiao An was trying to earn money to buy Sister Su Wu a gift, wouldn’t the surprise be ruined? Besides, this was a secret between them young people. Better for the “old people” not to get involved.

She quickly tapped on her keyboard.

Dongdong the Great: Which one do you want to go to?!?

Youan: The boxing ring.

Meng Dongdong collapsed onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling, thinking: This kid really is crazy for money.