After the Early-Deceased White Moonlight of a Wealthy Family Returns (GL) - Chapter 3

“Sister Su, this is—” Shen You’an’s mind went blank.

“Keep looking.”

Shen You’an pursed her lips and scanned the screen quickly. The news report was concise, summarizing that ‘A’ was originally an art student sketching near Jiuying Mountain. She unexpectedly went up the mountain and encountered a little girl being chased. While protecting the girl, she was shot. She then led the villains away alone, but was never seen again.

According to the police investigation, the little girl was a victim of trafficking and those chasing her were villagers from a mountain village in the next town. The villagers admitted they had a hunting rifle and seemed to have hit someone.

“But definitely not in a vital spot,” the villager said. “I was afraid she would run out and tell others about it, so I kept chasing her, but she disappeared halfway. She might have fallen off the mountain.”

The police searched the mountain for many days but found no body. Villagers said there were wolves in the mountains nearby, and in the past, when people died and couldn’t be found, they were likely carried off by wolves.

“You don’t remember?” Su Wu observed Shen You’an’s reaction.

Shen You’an shook her head, her face pale: “I have absolutely no recollection.”

“So, Sister Shen, are you saying… I died?”

Su Wu took back the phone: “To be precise, you were reported missing.”

However, over ten years, the nearby mountains had been searched back and forth dozens of times by Su Wu. The longer the time passed, the closer the word ‘missing’ was to ‘dead.’

Even though Su Wu didn’t say it, Shen You’an understood.

“Therefore, I think it is more appropriate for you to stay with me for now.”

Shen You’an lowered her head and acknowledged with a sound.

Su Wu was right. If she were to blatantly take a car or plane, leaving aside the issue of identity, if anyone who knew her saw her, it would be a live horror event. Furthermore, given such a major incident, rashly showing up to see her family without preparation, she didn’t know what the reaction would be.

Something like this definitely needed preparation, and it would be best to have someone present to help explain the situation.

“No wonder,” Shen You’an suddenly realized something. “Sister Su, when I called your name the first time just now, did you actually hear it? And you were afraid it was a ghost, so you didn’t dare turn back?”

Su Wu: “Perhaps.”

Shen You’an raised her hands in surrender: “Sister Su, please don’t be afraid. I am human, not a ghost, and I don’t eat people. Really, if you don’t believe me, touch me.”

She pulled Su Wu’s cuff to let her feel her pulse. “See, it’s beating. And here!”

She led the woman’s hand to her chest, actively inviting Su Wu to press harder.

Su Wu reacted as if she had been burned, quickly withdrawing her hand and giving Shen You’an a cold look.

“No need to touch again. I can see that you are very clearly alive.”

She paused, then added: “And don’t let anyone else do that, either.”

The car bypassed the town from the highway and went to the other side, where a hot spring hotel built against the mountain was quietly situated. Su Wu led Shen You’an back to the room.

The room featured a private hot spring tub, a separate courtyard, a wooden-style decor, and a soft, cloud-like large bed that instantly made one want to lie down.

Shen You’an: “Wow—”

Su Wu: “It’s the film festival, the hotel is busy, and there are no other vacant rooms. I apologize for having to share with me temporarily.”

Shen You’an shook her head repeatedly: “Not at all! Sister Su, your room smells so good, I really like it.”

Su Wu: “…”

The little girl was completely unaware that there was anything wrong with her words, her eyes shining like a puppy’s: “Sister Su, it’s already so kind of you to take me in for these few days. Nothing is an inconvenience for me, please don’t say that. I am very grateful to you.”

Su Wu shifted away from the intense gaze: “Mhm, go take a shower.”

“There are new toiletries inside. You go first, and I’ll find someone to send another set. Put your changed clothes in the laundry basket. Tell me your size, and I will have someone buy new ones and send them over.”

“One size fits all is fine!” How thoughtful of Su Wu! I didn’t expect this person, who looks so cold, to be so warm-hearted in action.

“What about underwear?” Su Wu asked as usual.

Shen You’an was speechless: “…”

Su Wu: “What size?”

Shen You’an: “…I don’t know.” She couldn’t remember. How many years had it been since she wore underwear after crossing into the apocalypse? Her mind wasn’t that sharp to begin with, and she hadn’t retained much. Where would she find the time to remember that? Wait. She seemed to be wearing some now.

After returning, Shen You’an’s clothes were exactly as they were ten years ago.

“Sister Su, wait for me.”

Shen You’an ran into the bathroom, tore off her inner hoodie layer, unhooked her vest bra, and turned it over to check.

The bathroom door was pushed open, and a small head peeked out.

“80A—”

Su Wu: “Understood. I’ll buy 75A.”

Shen You’an: “80!”

Su Wu: “You’ve lost weight.”

Well, she couldn’t deny that.

Shen You’an blushed and closed the door, scolding herself for being so thin-skinned. It was something everyone had, just a bit of flesh. Why was she shy in front of Su Wu?

However—

Shen You’an looked down. Well, there wasn’t much there. There was still a big gap compared to Su Wu.

She looked up, her gaze inevitably meeting the mirror. With just one glance, she froze in place.

From the time she crossed over until now, Shen You’an hadn’t looked in a mirror. She hadn’t paid attention when others called her “little girl.” Only now did she realize that ten years had passed, yet she had returned still looking like she was seventeen.

A pale, bloodless complexion, a body so thin it was just bones, and unkempt, messy long hair.

Shen You’an suddenly had a bad feeling.

She quickly took off her clothes and stood in front of the mirror, examining her body carefully. It was intact, with no scars. The gunshot mentioned in the report had left no mark on her.

She lowered her head, looking at her right hand. With a thought, her pale, bloodless nails instantly turned bright crimson, sharply extending into blade-like points with a shhh sound.

Shen You’an frowned.

Sure enough, all these problems came back with her?

She gritted her teeth, retracted the blades on her fingertips, lowered her head, and acted as if nothing had happened.

She took a long-awaited hot shower. The bathroom space was occupied by hot white steam, and the smooth mirror surface from a moment ago was covered with a layer of fog.

Shen You’an let the excessively hot water burn her skin. The sensation of redness and stinging made her feel awake. After giving herself a thorough scrub, she grabbed a bath towel, dried the water from her body, and then rubbed her hair.

“Knock, knock.”

The door was lightly tapped twice.

Su Wu: “The clothes are by the door. I’ll be in the living room.”

Her overly sensitive hearing picked up the sound of the woman leaving. Shen You’an pushed the door open, poked her head out, glanced left and right, and like a thief, snatched the clothing neatly placed on the chair by the door.

Hmm, are today’s disposable underwear so cute now? With little bear patterns?

“Sister Su, I’m done.”

Looking up at the sound, Su Wu saw a girl wearing cream-colored loungewear. Her long hair was half-dry, not completely blown out. The ends weren’t dripping, just stuck together damply. Her deer-like apricot eyes looked at Su Wu, her hands clutching the hem of her clothes, extremely embarrassed.

Su Wu explained: “The new underwear has been washed and is currently drying. If you need it, you can put it on when you go out.”

Shen You’an’s face was flushed: “Mhm.”

She couldn’t help but wonder, washed? How was it washed? Did Su Wu wash it by hand? Since she became capable of doing such things herself, her personal clothes had never been handled by anyone else.

I’m causing trouble for Su Wu again.

“Sister Su, I—”

“If you intend to thank me, don’t bother.” The woman’s expression was cold. She raised her hand to look at her wristwatch. “I have a meeting in two hours and need to leave first. Will you be alright alone?”

“Mhm-mhm.” Shen You’an nodded. Just as she was about to speak, she heard her stomach rumble, the sound more exaggerated than Nezha stirring up the sea.

A trace of an elusive smile flashed in Su Wu’s eyes.

Shen You’an covered her stomach, silently thinking, Why are you so embarrassing!

“I ordered food. Want to eat together?”

Shen You’an nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, I do.”

The hotel staff soon pushed a small cart and delivered the meal. Elegant tableware was set fully on the wooden table in the suite.

Shen You’an couldn’t help but swallow.

It smells good.

So good.

Her little eyes kept darting towards Su Wu, like a kitten that had been brought home, unsure whether to start eating the canned food.

Su Wu put down her phone and said to Shen You’an: “You eat.”

Shen You’an felt she had been granted a reprieve and picked up her chopsticks. She had already planned it: the first bite would be the potato from the braised spare ribs, followed by the ribs. The ribs were soft and tender, falling off the bone with a slurp, leaving only the soft, well-seasoned meat. The second bite would be a little bit of rice, followed by quick-fried baby cabbage, to neutralize the taste.

Clay pot beef short ribs, steamed sea bass, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, century egg and tofu soup, hand-shredded cabbage, taro braised chicken…

Eat, eat, eat.

Eat fiercely, eat fiercely, eat fiercely.

Delicious, delicious, delicious.

After eating unappetizing things and flavorless nutrient fluid for so long in the apocalypse, Shen You’an deeply realized how precious it was to have a normal, hot meal.

Eating every meal well was what Shen You’an wanted to do now.

She immersed herself, finishing a bowl of rice with her head down. When she looked up, Su Wu was sitting across from her, her bowl and chopsticks set, seemingly untouched. Only the pair of eyes looking at her were black and deep, so profound they seemed capable of devouring everything. Perhaps it was her illusion, Shen You’an thought, because when she tried to reconfirm the emotion in Su Wu’s eyes, it was like the wind scattering the fog; everything vanished.

Shen You’an: “Sister Su, why aren’t you eating?”

Su Wu: “Not hungry.”

Shen You’an quickly wiped her mouth with a tissue: “Then I’m not hungry either.”

Su Wu: “Full?”

Shen You’an: “Mhm-mhm.”

She nodded like a pounding garlic mortar, yet her eyes scanned the dishes on the table.

The child’s eyes were too easy to read.

Su Wu sighed lightly: “I’m a little hungry now.”

Shen You’an’s lips curved up: “Then I am too, a little.”

Su Wu picked up the serving spoon on the table to serve both of them. Shen You’an obediently held up her bowl with both hands, ready. Considering the child had already eaten a lot, Su Wu added one medium scoop to her bowl.

Shen You’an didn’t put her bowl down, her clear eyes looking at her.

Su Wu: “…”

She hesitated and added another scoop.

Shen You’an’s eyes lit up.

Su Wu: “Do you want more?”

Shen You’an: “Can I?”

Su Wu simply handed the spoon to the child, and watching her take it, she stuffed the bowl full of densely packed rice.

Shen You’an used to be very picky about food. She always heard Shen You’an’s sister complain that her younger sister had a small appetite, couldn’t eat much, was particular about dishes, and disliked staple foods. This had been a family pain point since childhood.

Now—

She looked at Shen You’an’s face, which was noticeably thinner than in her memory, and the thin little arms under the cotton linen pajamas.

What exactly had the other party experienced during those missing years?

“Shen You’an.”

“Mmm?” She was busy eating, her eyes round and puzzled.

Su Wu finally refrained from asking her question and instead served her a bowl of soup.

“The soup is delicious, drink it while it’s hot.” She added, “Remember to dry your hair after you finish eating. It’s cold, and you might catch a cold.”