After the Early-Deceased White Moonlight of a Wealthy Family Returns (GL) - Chapter 29

“Schoolbag, breakfast, watch, phone…”

Shen You’an obediently checked the items she was supposed to bring, following Su Wu’s instructions.

She was dressed in an American-style school uniform: a dark green blazer over a white shirt, with a diagonal-striped tie that complemented the look perfectly.

“The school badge.” Su Wu looked at the empty spot on her chest, remembering this crucial item.

Shen You’an quickly took the metal badge out from the side pocket of her schoolbag.

She raised her hand to pin it on herself but couldn’t seem to find the right position. Su Wu stepped forward, leaning down to pin the badge on for her.

You An.

Those letters were engraved onto the badge alongside the school emblem.

“First day of school—are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

“A-jie, didn’t you already arrange for Meng Dongdong to accompany me? She and her driver are already waiting downstairs.”

“I know.” Mentioning Meng Dongdong reminded Su Wu of something. “At home is one thing, but at school, don’t let her teach you whatever she dares to, and don’t you dare learn everything she offers.”

Meng Dongdong was just like Meng Xi—unpredictable and prone to acting on a whim.

Shen You’an’s cheeks grew hot.

During this period, she had been well-nourished by Su Wu. Her face, which had once been so thin only the bone structure remained, had filled out with soft flesh. She finally looked the way someone her age should—barely eighteen, full of collagen, like a plump, juicy peach.

Now, the peach was ripe, glowing with a soft pink hue.

“Didn’t we agree not to mention that anymore?”

Last time, Su Wu had asked her if she had started acting spoiled, being stubborn, and saying those things because something had happened.

Shen You’an was thin-skinned and couldn’t hold out against Su Wu; as soon as she was asked, she told the truth in a soft voice. From Meng Dongdong pulling her aside in the lounge to give her tips, to her subsequent behavior—she confessed everything in meticulous detail.

Su Wu had been stunned for a long while before letting out a laugh that lasted quite some time.

“A-jie, do you not like it like that?” Shen You’an had asked then.

Su Wu said, “I don’t dislike it.”

Shen You’an tilted her head in thought, speculating, “Then, do you like it?”

Su Wu didn’t answer directly, only saying, “Meng Dongdong certainly knows how to give you ideas all day long.”

Filled with shame, Shen You’an said, “She didn’t mean anything by it; she just enjoys being helpful.”

“Do I look like someone who bullies people easily?” Su Wu asked.

Shen You’an waved her hands repeatedly. “Not at all!”

In front of others, Su Wu was cold and difficult to talk to, standing there like an iceberg that kept everyone at a distance. But once you got close, you realized she was the most meticulous and careful person; if she chose to look after someone, she would do so flawlessly.

“But you don’t need to go to all that trouble.”

“Whether you do those things or not, I will take good care of you.”

“You’an, when you’re with me, you only need to do things in whatever way makes you comfortable.”

Su Wu was very serious when she said these things, but her expression remained faint. It was as if, to her, these words weren’t a promise or a way to get something from another; she was simply stating her heart and thoughts truthfully, with no intent to entice, yet making the listener feel genuinely warmed.

Her kindness always came calmly and silently.

Shen You’an’s heart was once again enveloped by this tenderness.

Yet, the better Su Wu treated her, the more the guilt and shame in her heart surged like a tide.

She actually had those kinds of thoughts about A-jie and had such bad dreams.

Su Wu was so honest with her, telling her everything.

And her? She hid her secrets again and again, finding them impossible to voice.

She really shouldn’t.

At the same time, a hard-to-detect fear was quietly growing in her heart.

If Su Wu ever found out about these things, realized she was an outlier, saw through her dirty desires, or if the inevitable departure finally arrived…

Shen You’an didn’t dare think about what would happen then.

On one hand, she was melting in the dense, tender web Su Wu had woven; on the other, she was constantly stepping on the sharp blade of being a monster, forced to face many problems related to it.

Taking the opportunity of her deep conversation with Su Wu that day, Shen You’an also told her about her worries regarding the current state of the Shen family.

“You ran into Shen Yanchen?”

Shen You’an gave an “mhm.” “I can’t imagine Uncle having a child like that.”

Su Wu gestured for her to sit on the sofa and told her things related to Shen Yanchen.

Shen Run had stayed abroad back then and married a woman from a wealthy family. Later, when trouble hit the Shen family, Shen Run returned to take over the company. A few years later, his wife passed away.

“From what I know, Shen Run has been busy with work all these years, and his son’s education has mostly been left to others.”

“He didn’t recognize you?” Su Wu asked.

Shen You’an shook her head. “I didn’t meet him many times before; he was very young back then and shouldn’t have much of an impression of me.”

“A-jie, don’t worry. I’ll avoid him in the future.”

“Talking nonsense again.” Su Wu raised her hand and tapped her forehead with the back of her finger. “You haven’t done anything wrong, why avoid them?”

“But—”

“Shen Yanchen acts arrogantly. If you encounter him again, you don’t need to have any reservations. In short, you must not let yourself be bullied. As for your worries, You’an, I understand perfectly.”

Su Wu confided in her, “All these years, I’ve been investigating something. Of course, there are no leads; the only reason is my intuition. Don’t look at me like that—I can’t tell you what I’m investigating yet, but I can promise you that if Shen Run has ulterior motives, he won’t have a good ending.”

“You don’t need to worry about these things; you have me.” Su Wu’s thumb smoothed the brow Shen You’an had instinctively furrowed. “Shen You’an, what you should do most right now is enjoy your life.”

Shen You’an could tell that Su Wu really cared about this.

To set her mind at ease and to continue her previous lie, she told Su Wu she wanted to go to Beichen International.

Su Wu said, “That’s no problem, but Shen Zhirou is also at that school. Are you prepared to meet her?”

Shen You’an bit her slightly dry lip.

Su Wu handed her a water glass.

“I actually knew from the start,” Shen You’an said. “Meng Dongdong told me.”

Holding the glass, she carefully peeked at Su Wu’s expression. “A-jie, I did it on purpose. I want to see with my own eyes how the person staying by Mom’s side is doing now.”

“Of course, I’m also a bit worried she’ll recognize me.”

“A-jie, am I very bad?”

Su Wu: “Why do you say that?”

“On one hand, I clearly and rationally feel that not going near anyone related to the Shen family is the best choice in the current situation. Keeping the status quo is good for everyone. But on the other hand, I really want to confirm things again and again…”

After seeing Shen Yanchen, she felt an unease in her heart, yet she couldn’t clearly explain where it came from. It was like a messy ball of yarn; she couldn’t find the end of the thread. To try and disturb someone else’s life just out of this unease…

She had to admit, she still couldn’t let go of Mom, and she couldn’t let go of Shen Huaijin.

She even suspected these thoughts were just excuses born of that attachment. It was as if with this excuse, she could rationally convince herself to get close to her past family.

Wanting it both ways.

Shen You’an, you’re neither human nor ghost—what kind of thing are you? You have a pile of your own troubles, you’re trapped, and you want to drag everyone down with you? Su Wu is already being affected; do you want to involve others too?

“True villains don’t think they’re bad; they don’t understand guilt or shame. They only find excuses to feel at ease with themselves over and over again.” Su Wu used her fingertip to lift the corners of Shen You’an’s downturned mouth. “Xiao An is not a villain at all.”

“Even if you were a villain, it wouldn’t matter.”

“Don’t make that face again.” Su Wu let out a soft sigh. “Whenever you do that, I feel like turning the world upside down.”

“You’an, don’t think about things like ‘keeping the status quo is good for everyone’.”

“With me, you only ever need to consider what’s better for you.”

“It’s just going to school. Are you going to avoid them in everything you do in the future?”

Su Wu arranged it for her, making her a classmate of Meng Dongdong.

Class 12-7—Beichen International’s notorious class for wealthy slackers.

Meng Dongdong woke up a bit early specifically to pick her up.

“Did you bring your water bottle?” Su Wu asked.

Shen You’an patted the side pocket of her schoolbag. “It’s a thermos; I’ve already steeped snow pear and lily. A-jie, you said the autumn air is dry and I should drink more water.” Shen You’an wasn’t fond of drinking water, so Su Wu had to watch her every day.

“I also made a cup for you. Remember to take it with you to the office today.”

Su Wu nodded, her gaze sweeping over Shen You’an again, observing her backpack.

She added, “I heard from Meng Xi that phones are collected during class, but if you have an emergency, use your watch to call me, okay?”

“I don’t know if you’ve been to school in the past ten years. If you’re not used to being in a classroom after so long, tell Teacher Guo. I’ve spoken to her in advance; she’ll let you leave early to come home.”

“Also…”

Shen You’an let out a giggle, stepped forward to take Su Wu’s hand, and squeezed her palm. “A-jie, I’m the one going to school—why do you seem more nervous than I am?”

Su Wu: “Think A-jie talks too much?”

Shen You’an: “Not at all!”

“A-jie, I’m going to school, not some dangerous place. I’ll let you know when school is out and I’ll come straight home. Don’t worry, okay?”

Su Wu gave an “mhm,” accompanied her downstairs, and saw her into Meng Dongdong’s family car.

Meng Xi was also in the car.

She gave up her seat to Shen You’an and got out.

Watching the car drive into the distance, Meng Xi looked at her friend, who hadn’t looked away yet. “Can you tone down that expression a little?”

Su Wu: “What?”

Meng Xi: “It’s just school. Is all this necessary?”

She teased, “Other people feel relieved when they send their kids to school—one less thing to worry about. But look at you, acting all reluctant to part.”

“Anyone who didn’t know would think you’re sending your dog to pet daycare. The dog is clearly having a blast, yet the owner is worried sick. Sigh, I’ve seen people online say that it’s not the dog who can’t leave the owner, but the owner who can’t leave the dog.”

“Have you said enough?” Su Wu smiled. “That plot of land in the south—have you resolved it?”

Meng Xi: “Ah, well…”

“And the matter of Meng Zhouxi not letting go of Ji Lan—have you resolved that too?”

Meng Xi said dryly, “Children have their own fortunes.”

Su Wu: “Then, do you know that Dr. Tang is going on a blind date?”

Meng Xi turned into a total mute.

She was stunned for a long while, her eyes wide, asking in disbelief, “My junior is going on a blind date?!”

“I heard her assistant say it when I went to her office last time.”

Meng Xi: “…Shit, how did I not know?”

Su Wu smiled. “Do you know what you look like right now? Like a stray dog abandoned by its owner.”

Meng Xi: “…”

She was wrong.

She shouldn’t have tried to make fun of Su Wu.

In this woman’s dictionary, the phrase “taking a loss” simply didn’t exist.