After the Early-Deceased White Moonlight of a Wealthy Family Returns (GL) - Chapter 27

“All done?” Meng Xi asked, watching Meng Dongdong and Shen You’an emerge from the lounge.

Meng Dongdong hummed twice in affirmation, clinging to Shen You’an’s arm as she told her sister, “Picked them, picked them! I picked some for Xiao An, too.”

The manager, Sister Liu, followed behind them and looked toward Meng Xi.

“Sister Liu, put it on my tab,” Meng Xi said.

Sister Liu gave a quick nod of acknowledgment.

Meng Dongdong’s nose twitched a couple of times, like a puppy, and her eyes lit up. “Sis, did you buy milk tea?”

“Mm-hm.” Meng Xi lifted the milk tea bag sitting beside her. “Didn’t you howl for days about wanting this collaboration drink? Here, they’re all in here—the magnets are inside, too.”

With a “wow,” Meng Dongdong let go of Shen You’an and stuck close to Meng Xi, burying her head in the bag to rummage through it.

“An-jie, you drink this one,” Meng Dongdong offered like it was a precious treasure. “I super love this ‘Spring Mountain Green Peach’; it’s so delicious!”

“Thank you.” Shen You’an took it. The milk tea was warm, perfect for autumn.

Meng Xi looked at her sister as if she were seeing a ghost. “Meng Dongdong, you’re acting strange.”

“How am I strange?” Meng Dongdong was still busy comparing which of the remaining three cups would taste better.

Meng Xi remarked, “Do you know what you looked like just now? Like a corrupt official in a historical drama, trying to curry favor with the ‘Dog Emperor’ after causing a huge mess.”

Meng Dongdong’s eyes went round. “Pah! Who are you calling a corrupt official!”

“Wait!” Meng Dongdong grew angry again. “Who are you calling a ‘Dog Emperor’!”

Shen You’an was innocently caught in the crossfire. Facing the look Meng Dongdong threw her way, she blinked her eyelashes.

Meng Dongdong quickly used a small gesture to remind her, nudging Shen You’an’s waist with a hand hidden behind her back.

Shen You’an looked back, confused. Meng Dongdong glanced at Su Wu, who was standing quietly to the side, and winked at her.

Shen You’an understood.

Meng Dongdong wanted her to do a live demonstration.

Just now in the lounge, Meng Dongdong had passionately imparted her “Three Moves of the Little Sister”: act spoiled, act stubborn, and say “Sister, you’re the best.”

Meng Dongdong said her sister privately called her a “money-grubbing brat,” but what did that matter? These moves worked every time. Whether she needed a favor or was being bullied, this was the way to go.

Shen You’an actually understood the principles Meng Dongdong was talking about. Back when she was a little sister herself, Meng Dongdong was probably just an egg. It was just that ten years had passed, and many things had worn down Shen You’an’s original personality. Furthermore, she and Su Wu weren’t even sisters bound by blood…

Her waist was being poked quite hard by Meng Dongdong.

Shen You’an sighed in her heart, shifted her steps toward Su Wu’s side, and reached out to tug on the corner of Su Wu’s coat.

Su Wu tilted her head to look at her. “What is it?”

“Would A-jie like some milk tea?” Shen You’an asked. She held up her cup; the straw had just been snapped in with a pa-ji, and Shen You’an hadn’t even touched it.

Meng Xi let out a huff. “Xiao An, don’t even ask. She never touches these things. I asked her if she wanted any earlier and she—fine, forget I said anything.”

Su Wu lowered her head, her red lips parted slightly, and she took the paper straw in her mouth for a small sip.

Spring Mountain Green Peach—green tea paired with peaches. It was refreshing with a hint of sweetness.

“The taste is not bad,” Su Wu said.

Meng Dongdong was triumphant. “Told you! It’s my favorite flavor.”

She shot a look toward her sister. “Well? Still want to talk about Dog Emperors and corrupt officials?”

Su Wu: “Dog Emperor?”

Meng Xi: “…Just drink your milk tea!”

She took an extra straw out of the bag and handed it to Su Wu. “You two share one. Serves you right for saying no earlier.”

Meng Dongdong shook her head and swayed from side to side in victory.

Meng Xi turned to glare at her, but she wasn’t afraid. She ran to Shen You’an’s side and stuck her tongue out at her sister. Using someone else’s momentum to strike back—now that felt good.

“An-jie, I know a Japanese restaurant nearby that’s super delicious. I’ll take you there!”

Meng Xi saw right through her. “You just want to use Xiao An as an excuse to get free food and drinks.”

Meng Dongdong clung to Shen You’an’s arm. “Not at all!”

Su Wu walked behind the two of them, watching the overlapping fabric of the girls’ clothes.

Shen You’an turned back and looked at the milk tea in her hand; Su Wu calmly handed the tea back to her.

“Huh…”

How was there only one straw left? Didn’t Meng Xi just give her an extra one?

“That one was broken,” Su Wu said without blinking. “Should I go back and ask for another?”

“No need.” Shen You’an took the milk tea cup—a pink and green cup printed with a spring landscape of peach blossoms. It wasn’t as if she’d never shared a straw with her sister before. Shen You’an lowered her head, inevitably overlapping with the mark on the straw.

Meng Dongdong was oblivious, her mind entirely on finding the Japanese restaurant.

When they arrived at the shop, the trendy crowd had already occupied the entire waiting area. Meng Dongdong squeezed forward to get a number.

“What now?” Meng Dongdong stared at the small paper ticket in her hand. “Are we still eating this Japanese food?”

Meng Xi complained, “I think buying a plane ticket to fly next door might be faster.”

“But this place is really delicious,” Meng Dongdong whimpered.

“Are you hungry now?” Su Wu asked.

Shen You’an shook her head. Meng Dongdong had just finished a cup of milk tea with taro paste at the bottom in two or three gulps; it was like eating porridge. It was a miracle her stomach wasn’t bloated.

Meng Dongdong said, “Not hungry.”

Meng Xi suggested, “Then let’s go play something else first. If we get hungry later and the table still isn’t ready, we’ll switch to another place.”

“That’s a good idea.” Meng Dongdong stuffed the paper ticket into her sister’s hand.

Meng Xi was confused. “Why give it to me?”

Meng Dongdong said righteously, “I’ll definitely lose it later.”

Meng Xi: “You’ve lived with me for over ten years; who gave you the courage to think it won’t get lost if you hand it to me?”

Meng Dongdong had no choice but to grab the ticket back and hand it to Shen You’an. Shen You’an took it and looked down, wondering where to put it, when Su Wu reached out and naturally took the ticket, slipping it into her trench coat pocket.

“Why is everyone looking at me?” Su Wu said. “Didn’t we want to play something else?”

“Right, right, right.” Meng Dongdong snapped out of it and checked her phone, saw a post on Xiaohongshu, let out a “holy crap,” and raised her phone high. “I want to go here!”

Meng Xi took a look. “Billiards competition? Winner gets a J-brand limited edition Birkin bag?”

“Mm-hm!” Meng Dongdong nodded like a woodpecker. “Let’s go play this!” She enthusiastically pulled Shen You’an along. “Xiao An, do you know how to play? I’ll teach you in a bit.”

Shen You’an shook her head; she had never played billiards.

Once they entered the shop and heard the rules, Meng Dongdong let go of Shen You’an’s hand without hesitation. A second of hesitation was a sign of disrespect to a limited edition Birkin.

One cue could be used alternately by two people, and their scores would be combined. Both people had to play at least once, or the score would be void. The pair with the highest overall score would win the prize.

“Sister~” Meng Dongdong softened her tone quickly, pleading with Meng Xi. “Carry me. My destiny with this bag depends on you.”

Meng Xi: “Heh, this young lady should remain drifting in the ‘Jianghu’.”

Meng Dongdong: “If you don’t carry me, I’ll tell Mom and Dad you went out to chase girls again.”

Meng Xi: “I’ll carry you.”

She smiled while gritting her teeth. “Having you as a sister is truly the ‘luck’ of my life.”

Meng Dongdong: “You’re welcome~”

Meng Xi: “Old Su, you in? We haven’t sparred in a long time; let’s have a match.”

Su Wu said, “I’ll pass.”

“It’s a place for kids; why are you joining in the fun?”

Meng Xi: “…”

She couldn’t be bothered with this person!

The Meng sisters formed a team, while Shen You’an and Su Wu watched from the sidelines.

“Do you want it?” Su Wu noticed the girl beside her looking toward one spot, indicating the Birkin bag sitting not far away with her gaze. “Do you like that bag?”

Shen You’an quickly shook her head.

She had never been very interested in bags; a ten-yuan canvas bag was convenient and comfortable for carrying art supplies and brushes.

Su Wu understood. “Do you like that headphone case charm?”

Shen You’an nodded with a slight blush. “A little.”

The iconic J-brand logo was paired with a small bag shaped like a hamburger, with a crystal hanging from the chain, sparkling under the billiards shop lights.

Su Wu said with a smile, “And you say you’re not a child; your tastes are so cute.”

Shen You’an would never admit she was actually looking at it because she was a bit hungry.

Shen You’an: “No one can refuse a hamburger.”

Su Wu: “I can.”

Shen You’an grew a bit competitive and said, “Sister Meng Xi even said you could refuse milk tea.”

Su Wu: “Because you were the one who handed it over.”

Shen You’an: “…”

She felt the restless K-pop music in the shop go silent.

She instinctively wanted to ask, What about the hamburger? If I handed it to you, A-jie, would you refuse?

“What, are you hot?” Meng Dongdong held a cue in one hand and blue chalk in the other, rubbing the tip of the cue.

Shen You’an: “Not hot.”

Meng Dongdong muttered, “Then why is your face so red? Weird.”

She got ready, bracing herself to battle the experts in the room for the sake of that little bag.

Meng Dongdong was quite good at billiards.

Even though Shen You’an didn’t understand the game, she could tell what the cheers from the crowd were for.

Until a flash of silver-blue appeared in the venue.

Meng Xi greeted her, “Auntie Lan.”

Ji Lan gave a smile. “What a coincidence.”

Meng Xi: “Here to play?”

Ji Lan looked behind her. Meng Dongdong recognized her at a glance—it was the woman who had tried to kiss Ji Lan at the boxing ring that day.

Ji Lan said, “Just playing around.”

Hearing their conversation, Meng Dongdong’s hand trembled, and she missed her shot entirely. She shouted, “Sis! Help me!”

Meng Xi walked over. “I thought you didn’t need me.”

Meng Dongdong looked at the table. “Sis, I want to win. You have to help me.”

Meng Xi hadn’t seen her sister speak to her in such a serious tone in a long time. She glanced at Ji Lan and said, “I can’t beat Auntie Lan; you’ll have to ask that ‘Great Buddha’ over there.”

Meng Xi looked toward the spectator seats.

Meng Dongdong scampered over. She wanted to ask Su Wu, but seeing her on the phone outside the shop, she didn’t have the nerve to speak. Her eyes darted around and landed on Shen You’an.

“An-jie, help me.”

Shen You’an let out a “huh,” pointing her finger at herself. “Me? I don’t know how to play.”

“Sister Su Wu is here,” Meng Dongdong said. “You have her take one shot with you, and you can leave the rest alone. That still fits the rules.”

While Shen You’an was still hesitating, Meng Dongdong nudged her again and leaned in to whisper, “Please, An-jie! If we win, I’ll do anything for you. From now on, if you point east, I won’t dare go west. I don’t even want the bag. We just can’t let it fall into anyone else’s hands.”

“But…”

“No ‘buts’! Xiao An! Remember the secret I taught you!”

Shen You’an was pushed in front of Su Wu.

The latter heard the noise, held her phone in one hand, and turned her head. With a tilt of her head, she showed her confusion, as if asking Shen You’an what was wrong.

Shen You’an pursed her lips, stepped forward, and whispered, “A-jie…”

Meng Dongdong hid to the side, winking at Shen You’an.

Shen You’an sighed in her heart, moved a bit closer, and tugged at Su Wu’s coat, shaking it slightly. “Can we join the competition?”

The child clearly had many secrets, yet when she looked at people, her eyes were transparent and bright, with stars drowning within them.

Su Wu was silent for a moment.

Shen You’an thought she didn’t want to and quickly said, “I was just asking.”

She made a move to let go.

In the next instant, a cool hand grasped the back of her hand, enveloping it along with the corner of her coat.

Su Wu spoke into the phone, “Send it to my email later. I’m hanging up now; I have important business to attend to.”