After the Early-Deceased White Moonlight of a Wealthy Family Returns (GL) - Chapter 32

By the time Su Wu arrived, Teacher Guo was still a bit dazed.

She had originally intended to simply have a phone conversation with this figure from the tip of the social pyramid, but to her surprise, the other party had stated right away that she would make a trip to the school. This had forced Teacher Guo into an impromptu “parent-teacher meeting” mode. Before Su Wu arrived, she had tidied her small office three times, feeling less like she was inviting a student’s guardian and more like she was preparing for a surprise inspection from a high-level leader.

Of course, Teacher Guo had to admit that a face-to-face talk had its benefits.

After chatting for nearly half an hour in front of Shen You’an and Su Wu, Teacher Guo thought of the painting she had received from someone today. She hesitated for a moment, glancing at the girl who had been staring at her own toes ever since the topic shifted to Mathematics.

Su Wu: “Teacher Guo and I have some business to discuss. Why don’t you wait for me outside?”

Shen You’an let out a sigh of relief as if she’d been liberated. After saying goodbye to Teacher Guo, she turned and left the office to stand in the corridor, enjoying the breeze.

As the door closed, Su Wu asked, “Did something happen to her?”

Teacher Guo waved her hand, saying no, and opened her phone to pull up a picture.

“Ms. Su, this is what Xiao An painted today in her oil painting elective.” Teacher Guo chose her words carefully. “The style is very distinct and characteristic. The painting teacher said that Xiao An is not only talented but clearly has a solid foundation from the past. It’s just…”

She swiped her finger, and another photo appeared. It was the vase of flowers in the center of the classroom, bathed in sunlight.

Su Wu understood immediately.

She asked, “Teacher Guo, I see what you mean. Thank you for the heads-up. Where is the painting now?”

“The teacher asked, and Xiao An said she didn’t want it anymore. It’s still in the classroom drying.”

Su Wu: “Then I’ll trouble you to keep the painting for me.”

Teacher Guo: “That’s no problem.”

Su Wu: “Teacher Guo, is there anything else?”

Teacher Guo shook her head.

Su Wu expressed her thanks, took Shen You’an’s test papers, tucked them into a file folder, and walked out of the office.

Shen You’an was squatting by the wall at the corner, soaking in the sun. The setting sun traced a golden outline around her. Her gaze was distant, looking toward the crowd of students leaving school—or perhaps looking at nothing at all.

Thinking of the painting she had just seen, Su Wu lowered her eyes.

Shen Huaijin used to frequently show off her sister’s artwork. Among those countless pieces, Su Wu had never seen anything in the style of today’s work.

“You’an,” Su Wu called out.

The girl turned her head toward her at the sound of her voice.

“Let’s go home,” she said.

Shen You’an stood up hurriedly and moved to Su Wu’s side. “A-jie, did Teacher Guo say anything else?”

“No.” Su Wu shook her head. “Here are your papers.”

Shen You’an thanked her, took them, and put them in her schoolbag.

“How was your day?” Su Wu asked.

Shen You’an chattered away with many answers, saying the cafeteria food was good, the teachers were gentle, and Meng Dongdong had led her around the campus for a long time.

“Ah.” she mentioned the matter of Shen Yanchen and Shen Zhirou. “Meng Dongdong and I heard Shen Yanchen causing trouble for Shen Zhirou. He mentioned that if it weren’t for her uncle, Shen Zhirou wouldn’t be where she is today. Dongdong didn’t catch it, but I kept it in mind.”

“A-jie, is there some hidden story here?”

Su Wu was perfectly aware of these matters.

“Back then, after you left, Auntie’s state was poor. One day, your uncle brought Shen Zhirou to the house, saying it was to express thanks, but that was also the day Auntie mistook her for you.”

After saying this, Su Wu pursed her lips, her eyes flickering thoughtfully. For a long time, she had assumed this was a coincidence. Now, hearing Shen Yanchen’s tone, it seemed there were quite a few twists and turns involved.

Shen You’an guessed, “Maybe Shen Yanchen meant that if Uncle hadn’t brought her that day, none of the things that followed would have happened.”

Su Wu said, “But why was the person she misidentified necessarily Shen Zhirou?”

Shen You’an’s eyes widened. “Are you saying my uncle did this on purpose?”

Su Wu: “I’m not certain; it’s just my personal suspicion.”

“Shen Zhirou doesn’t even look like me,” Shen You’an recalled. “She must have recognized me today; she came specifically to test me.”

“What did you say?”

“I played dumb, of course,” Shen You’an replied righteously. “If she really has something to hide, she should be feeling guilty right now. I have to find a way to let Shen Yanchen recognize me and let Uncle know of my existence. If they really are birds of a feather, they’ll make a move.”

“You want to use yourself as bait?” Su Wu understood her intention.

Shen You’an smiled sweetly. “That depends on whether they bite.”

Su Wu raised her hand and tapped her on the head. “You are not allowed to do anything dangerous. I told you, you don’t need to worry about these things.”

Shen You’an pouted. “A-jie, I’ll leave the business stuff to you—I don’t understand the corporate world. But when it involves what happened back then and my mother, how can I not care? Besides, if you think these things are dangerous, how could I feel at ease letting you handle them alone?”

Su Wu looked at her with interest. “Some ‘little one’ spends one day at school and hasn’t learned much knowledge, but has certainly become very eloquent.”

Shen You’an’s ears turned hot. “I’m being serious!”

Su Wu patted the head she had successfully nursed back to a fluffy state. “If you’re going to do something, discuss it with me first.”

“A-jie, does that mean you agree?”

“Otherwise?” Su Wu said helplessly. “Do you look like the type who wouldn’t do it just because I said no?”

Shen You’an giggled, moved closer, and took Su Wu’s arm. “A-jie is the best.”

Su Wu raised an eyebrow. “Did you learn this move from Meng Dongdong too?”

Shen You’an felt wronged. “I did not.”

Her eyes went round, her dark pupils shining like those of a little puppy. Clinging to Su Wu’s arm, she leaned her body closer to emphasize her sincerity.

Su Wu avoided her gaze.

Shen You’an: “!!”

Shen You’an: “You don’t believe me.”

She looked aggrieved.

Su Wu: “I didn’t say that.”

Shen You’an: “I’ll keep holding you like this until you believe me!”

Su Wu: “…”

Good news: the “puppy” was finally familiar with her.

Bad news: the puppy was starting to push her luck.

Su Wu changed the subject: “About that plan just now, have you thought about how to do it?”

That stumped Shen You’an. “I met Shen Yanchen last time and he had no impression of me, so he really doesn’t remember me. I need to think about it.”

“The eyes.”

“What?”

Su Wu stopped walking, raised her hand, and used her palm to cover the lower half of Shen You’an’s face.

She said, “You have a pair of eyes exactly like Shen Huaijin’s and Auntie’s.”

“There’s a cruise gala this weekend—the annual coming-of-age party for Chens City’s new generation. This year’s theme happens to be ‘World Famous Paintings.’ Perhaps you can give it a try.”

“Will Shen Yanchen be there?”

Su Wu: “Shen Run will be there too.”

Such occasions were often moments for Chens City’s elite to socialize; Shen Run never missed them.

Shen You’an thought for a moment, a glint of cunning passing through her eyes. “Then I’ll go too.”

Meng Dongdong had mentioned this party to her today and even asked for advice on which painting to use for her outfit inspiration. At the time, Dongdong had asked her to go, but Shen You’an had no interest in such activities. Who would have thought that not long after, she’d be “slapping her own face” with a change of heart.

“A-jie, are you going too?”

Su Wu gazed at her. “You don’t want me to?”

Shen You’an shook her head repeatedly. “Not at all. You’ve been so busy lately; I was afraid you wouldn’t have time! But if you could go with me, that would be perfect.”

“Why?”

Shen You’an said honestly, “I never liked going to these parties before, and… I’ve never been to one. Suddenly participating in this kind of gala, I’m a bit unsure of what to do.”

“Won’t Meng Dongdong be there?”

“She’s not the same as you!” Shen You’an answered without thinking.

A trace of an undetectable smile appeared in Su Wu’s eyes. “How is she different?”

Shen You’an couldn’t quite put her finger on the difference herself. She muttered, “She just is.”

For some reason, she always felt that wherever Su Wu was, she would feel much more at ease. It felt like it was meant to be. Was this a sort of “suspension bridge effect” following a crisis? Since she was picked up by Su Wu.

Shen You’an didn’t understand. Among all the things she faced, the matters involving Su Wu were often the hardest to see clearly.

In the Shen family car on the way back.

Shen Zhiyu was peeling chestnuts one by one. The plump fruit rolled out from the pinched shells, lying neatly on a plate on the small table in the back seat.

“Mom…” Shen Zhirou suddenly called out.

The woman looked up, always responsive: “Xiao Man, what is it?”

Shen Zhirou looked at her gentle expression, and her voice suddenly went hoarse.

“Xiao Man?”

Shen Zhirou said, “Mom, the chestnuts are delicious.”

After receiving a smile in return, Shen Zhirou pushed all the words she had wanted to say back into her stomach.

“Did something upsetting happen at school?” the woman asked.

Shen Zhirou bit a chestnut and shook her head, suppressing the emotions that were almost overflowing.

“No,” she said. “Mom, everything is fine.”

On the other side of the globe.

Shen Huaijin had just completed a trekking challenge. She returned to her hotel to rest, and her phone finally got a signal. She didn’t actually care much; over the years, few people looked for her, and aside from the required regular safety check-ins, Shen Huaijin almost never chatted with anyone.

Today was an exception.

An anonymous message popped up on her phone. It looked like a scam text.

[Shen Huaijin, your sister is back.]

Shen Huaijin’s eyes were stung by two specific words in that sentence. Just as she was about to perform the “block and delete” maneuver, a new message popped up. The MMS image took a long time to load before revealing its full form.

A dark green school uniform set, the skirt swaying in the wind. A girl was tilting her head, talking to someone beside her, a smile at the corners of her mouth, her eyes gentle and full of trust.

Shen Huaijin’s breathing stopped abruptly.

She repeatedly enlarged the picture over a dozen times.

This face—it was her sister, without a doubt.

Looking to the side, the person walking next to the girl was someone she once could have called a friend.

Su Wu.

Shen Huaijin stared at the photo for a long time, then stood up quickly, packed her meager luggage, and started her off-roader parked in the snow, driving without hesitation toward the airport in the nearby small town.

For the first time, she hated how remote her current location was. To return home, she would have to transfer several times.

But no matter what, Shen Huaijin knew she had to go back now.

Regardless of whether the photo was fake or what the person behind it intended.

She had to go back.