After the Early-Deceased White Moonlight of a Wealthy Family Returns (GL) - Chapter 35

“Young Master Shen must be joking.” The girl in the veil laughed, her eyes shining like bright moons reflecting the dark sea and stars behind her, looking incredibly beautiful. “She is she, and I am me. I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

Shen Yanchen felt a bit flustered under her gaze. He thought to himself that if someone like her replaced Shen Zhirou in the Shen family, he might actually be able to accept it.

He spoke up: “This isn’t the place to talk. How about this: leave me your contact information, and I’ll find you later to discuss things in detail.”

Shen You’an smiled but said nothing. The look she gave Shen Yanchen seemed to say, ‘Alright, buddy, stop bragging.’

Shen Yanchen hated being looked down upon more than anything.

“I’m not lying to you,” he said, lowering his voice. “You’ve seen what Shen Zhirou is like. Let me give you the inside scoop—she’s not even my aunt’s biological daughter.”

“That can’t be true,” Shen You’an gasped. “I heard from Meng Dongdong that Auntie Shen dotes on her very much.”

“Dotes, my ass.” What Shen Yanchen hated most was hearing people praise Shen Zhirou in front of him. “A fake like her being able to stay in the Shen family… isn’t it all thanks to my dad?”

“What do you mean?”

Shen Yanchen was just about to spill everything when his phone rang. It was Shen Run calling.

“Where are you?” he asked.

Facing his father, Shen Yanchen always lacked a bit of confidence. “I’m… I’m just playing around.”

“Come up and find me,” Shen Run said.

Shen Yanchen glanced at the person in front of him, looking a bit hesitant. “Dad, we haven’t finished the game yet.”

“You think of nothing but playing all day long,” Shen Run said with suppressed anger. “Do you think this gala today was really just for you to play? Come upstairs, sixteenth floor. There are a few people I want you to meet.”

Shen Yanchen cursed the “old geezer” in his head, but fearing Shen Run would cut off his allowance, he had to give up. He stuffed a slip of paper with his phone number on it into the hand of the girl in front of him and turned to leave.

Shen You’an looked at the row of numbers in her hand. Every stroke seemed written with the intent of a conspiracy.

She memorized the numbers on the note, threw it into the trash can, and walked forward a few steps to face the sea breeze.

The night sea was dark and silent. The waves surged and struck the side of the ship, the violent sound like a monster swallowing. The moon hung coldly on the other side of the sea, seemingly within reach yet never touching the affairs of the world. It simply changed constantly, causing tides, watching the hustle and bustle of humanity below.

There was still some time before the game ended. Shen You’an went nowhere, submerging herself in the darkness.

“Sister Su.”

Si Qi arrived in front of Su Wu, accompanied by her parents.

Su Wu knew of her. She had had several business dealings with the Si family, and her parents would always mention their beloved daughter. Whenever they did, they wore expressions of pity and heartache.

“Xiao Qi almost got lost once. After she came back, she was frequently ill. A while ago, for some reason, her illness became more severe, and she was diagnosed with ALS. Sigh…”

Su Wu didn’t know what ALS was at first, but a later search revealed that it stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The most intuitive nickname for it is “The Frozen Disease.”

Si Qi sat in her wheelchair, her muscle-wasted calves hidden beneath the hem of a yellow-green patterned skirt. She called Su Wu “Sister” in a very gentle and obedient manner, appearing soft and harmless. Combined with her appearance and condition, it was almost impossible not to feel pity for her.

However, Su Wu’s heart, most of the time, was as cold as a stone ornament.

“We aren’t close,” she said. “Miss Si should probably not call me that.”

The Si parents’ faces turned slightly awkward, and they tried to soften the atmosphere. “Oh, Xiao Su, look at what you’re saying. Xiao Qi can be considered your junior; there’s nothing wrong with calling you ‘Sister.’ She has always admired you especially, and she specifically begged us to bring her to see you this time.”

“Based on what you two are saying, does it mean anyone younger than me can become my junior?”

“This…”

Si Qi tugged at her mother’s hand as her face suddenly changed. “It’s okay, Mom. Let me talk to Sister Su myself. You two go ahead.”

Mother Si doted on her daughter. Seeing Su Wu’s attitude, she let out a cold snort. As she was pulled away by her husband, she muttered, “The tables have turned indeed. Some people were once outcasts thrown out of Chens City who couldn’t see the light of day, and now they look down on us.”

“Keep it down,” Father Si frowned. “She has the means and the ability, what can you do? Don’t forget, our family is counting on getting a share of her next project.”

The noisy conversation drifted away.

Si Qi smiled bitterly. “I’m sorry, Sister Su. My mother isn’t a bad person; she just worries about me too much.”

“I haven’t bullied you, why should she worry about you for no reason?” Su Wu was unmoved by both soft and hard tactics. “Is there something you need? If not, I’ll be going.”

“Well…” Si Qi looked at a flash of purple on Su Wu’s fingertip. It was a silver ring with a shimmering purple gemstone forged into the silver. It wasn’t obvious, and only when noticed would it bloom with a subtle brilliance. “Ms. Su, we were just playing a game, and coincidentally, I drew this color.”

She held up the color card in her hand. “See? Could you be kind enough to help me out?”

“It’s not very convenient,” Su Wu left those four words behind nonchalantly and turned to walk away.

Watching her keep everyone at a distance, Si Qi lowered her head, her hands gripping the handles of her wheelchair tightly.

The game time was almost up. The children of various families all rushed back to the starting point.

Meng Dongdong was holding a high-heeled shoe—silver-blue and beautiful as a sea shell.

“Holy shit, where’d you get that?” those who knew her exclaimed in amazement.

Meng Dongdong said, “A kind-hearted beauty lent it to me.”

She glanced at Shen You’an and, seeing her hands were empty, grew worried. “An-jie, you didn’t find the item?”

Just as Shen You’an was about to speak, the silent Shen Zhirou walked over.

“Here.” She held out her hand, palm up, fingers open. In her fair palm, a shimmering purple butterfly hairclip lay quietly.

Meng Dongdong’s guard was fully up, her eyes saying ‘What are you doing? This is my friend.’ Yet she didn’t want to make the decision for Shen You’an, truly fearing her friend hadn’t found the item and would have to accept a punishment.

“No thanks.” Through her veil, Shen You’an calmly looked at the quiet girl in front of her who carried a hint of unconscious flattery.

Meng Dongdong let out an “aiyah” and whispered into Shen You’an’s ear, “An-jie, at a time like this, you don’t need to stay loyal to me. It’s better to finish the game and avoid the punishment. I heard they play really wild; we should just watch the show later rather than participating ourselves.”

“How did you know I was this color?” Shen You’an asked.

Shen Zhirou lowered her eyes and answered, “I saw it when you were drawing.”

Shen Zhirou had been watching her all along. This was within Shen You’an’s expectations; she could feel Shen Zhirou’s gaze. Regarding the person who had replaced her in the Shen family, Shen You’an’s emotions were very complex now. Especially with the premonition that there might be more to her mother’s accident than meets the eye, it was hard for Shen You’an to look at Shen Zhirou with purely rational eyes.

In this entire mystery, what role did Shen Zhirou play?

Shen You’an stared at her intensely. Shen Zhirou was also stubborn and did not retract her hand. She didn’t know why she wanted to do this either. Even though she knew the person in front of her couldn’t be that person from years ago, she still couldn’t help but keep her attention on her.

Shen Zhirou was famous in this circle of second-generation kids. Some worshiped her as a goddess, while others found her too proud and difficult to approach. Regardless, wherever she was, there was always something to talk about.

“Take it back, I said I don’t need it.” Meng Dongdong was startled by what she heard. she had almost never heard Shen You’an use such a serious and unquestionable tone. Well, she had heard it once before—the day Shen You’an decided to jump off the building.

Does Shen Zhirou have a conflict with An-jie?

“A-rou, give it to me.” A pair of hands reached over and took the hairclip from Shen Zhirou’s hand.

Si Qi smiled, her eyes curving. “I haven’t found mine yet either.”

Shen Zhirou was confused. “Didn’t you say you already had a target?”

“That person… wasn’t willing to give it to me.” She sighed softly and smiled at Shen Zhirou. “I suppose I just didn’t try hard enough.”

Shen Zhirou hurriedly took her hand and said, “You shouldn’t say that.”

It was the first time Shen Zhirou had seen Si Qi get the cold shoulder from anyone. Her desk mate seemed to be the type who could make anyone’s heart soften wherever she went.

“Alright, three minutes left! The game is about to end. Everyone can get ready to turn in your items. Our punishment game is also ready; it’s all in this box. Whatever you draw, you must do, no backing out.”

Meng Dongdong let out an “aiyah,” stamping her feet in anxiety. “An-jie, what are we going to do!” She looked around the venue but didn’t see anyone carrying the color Shen You’an was looking for.

Shen You’an comforted her: “I’m not even anxious, what are you afraid of?”

“I’m just a worrywart! I’m asking for trouble! Happy now?!” Meng Dongdong pouted.

“I’m going to get a drink of water,” Shen You’an said suddenly.

Meng Dongdong thought she was crazy. “You’re really not in a hurry? If you draw the punishment to go swimming in the sea later, You’an, I won’t save you.”

“Sister Su Wu!” Meng Dongdong saw her savior and hurried after Shen You’an to report. “Quickly think of something, You’an is in trouble.”

“What’s the matter?” Su Wu asked quite seriously.

Of course, if her hand at her side hadn’t reached out to grab Shen You’an’s while Meng Dongdong was looking up at her and not paying attention, she would have looked more serious.

The cool texture of metal. Shen You’an caught the gift.

There was still a bit of warmth on the inner band of the ring—the trace of the woman having worn it. She gripped the item tightly in her palm.

But the woman had to ask her: “Why aren’t you putting it on?”

Meng Dongdong was oblivious: “Huh? Putting what on?”

Su Wu gestured with her chin. Meng Dongdong looked at Shen You’an, who had no choice but to open her palm. A shimmering purple ring lay there quietly.

“When did you find that!” Meng Dongdong’s eyes widened. “You didn’t have it just now!”

“Wait—”

Meng Dongdong’s gaze fell on Su Wu’s hand. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like something was missing.

“Holy shit.” Meng Dongdong realized. “You had a way all along and didn’t tell me! An-jie! You’ve learned to be bad!”

“No,” Shen You’an explained in a low voice. “I thought this was a bit like cheating and didn’t plan to make a scene. Didn’t the rules say parents aren’t allowed to help?”

“So you recognize me as your parent now?” Su Wu teased.

Shen You’an thought to herself, ‘You already attended the parent-teacher conference, how could you not be?’

“Don’t worry, I have no blood relation to your family, nor am I your guardian. Strictly speaking, we can only be considered strangers.”

Su Wu stated this reality unhurriedly, her words seemingly meant to comfort Shen You’an that this act didn’t break the rules, while also explaining to Meng Dongdong. Even though Meng Dongdong didn’t care about the cheating.

But for some reason, Shen You’an felt a slightly different meaning behind Su Wu’s words. Her heart suddenly felt like a rising tide; water filled every space, leaving her only the breathing room of an autumn rain.

Strangers. She instinctively resisted those two words.

“A-jie, you’ve even given me your ring, how can we be strangers?” Shen You’an held Su Wu’s hand in return.

Aren’t they sisters? Didn’t she say she had always wanted a sister like her?

“Just teasing you.” Su Wu gently pinched her face, hiding her obscure emotions. “What’s the rush? As long as you still recognize me, I’ll always be here. Alright, time’s almost up. Go turn in your item, and incidentally, you can watch Shen Yanchen make a fool of himself.”

“What happened to him?”

Su Wu said without changing her expression, “Bad luck. Something happened, and his challenge is about to fail.”