Chapter 18

Sunlight shone in through the wooden window, and dust danced beneath the brand-new rays.

The autumn day was leisurely.

Footsteps came from the stairs, neither hurried nor slow.

Natural light fell over the young girl’s body. Her beautiful, fluffy long hair was like satin, outlining her delicate features together with the light, without a single flaw in sight.

Although Shang Xiunian had allowed Shang Jinyue to sleep in a little today, Shang Jinyue still came downstairs for breakfast according to her usual schedule.

And breakfast had already been prepared. A very simple sandwich and milk.

Shang Jinyue sat down at the dining table and saw the invitation the housekeeper had casually placed on the table. “Auntie Zhou, what is this?”

“This is what the Old Madam instructed us to send to the Shi family for the Mid-Autumn family banquet,” Auntie Zhou answered.

“The Shi family?” Shang Jinyue could not help feeling somewhat surprised.

The Shi family had no kinship with the Shang family.

Cen Yuan did.

She was the daughter of Shang Xiunian’s elder sister’s niece.

Strictly speaking, even if the Shang side was inviting people for the holiday, it should not reach them.

Auntie Zhou said, “Yes. I have to deliver it later.”

Shang Jinyue scented the flavor of opportunity and took the initiative to say, “Why don’t I go?”

Auntie Zhou could not help being somewhat surprised.

Shang Jinyue’s expression was faint as she placed the book she had just brought down from her room together with the invitation. “I have a review material book to return to the young lady of the Shi family. It’s on the way.”

“Auntie Zhou has to visit many read the original at bailiantales.com families today, doesn’t she? If I go to one for you, it’ll be easier for you too.”

“That would naturally be good.” Auntie Zhou had no objections anymore and even smiled in relief. “I’ll trouble you then, Miss.”

“It’s no trouble.” Shang Jinyue lightly curved the corners of her lips, her expression composed.

.

The car window reflected the bustling city district. The silent night had been replaced by fresh brightness.

Shang Jinyue looked at the familiar street view outside the window. Her mood was already different from yesterday’s.

The car had already registered when entering the villa district. After Shi Wendong received the news, he hurriedly went to prepare.

By the time Shang Jinyue’s car drove up in front of the Shi residence, Shi Wendong was already dressed in a suit and leather shoes, smiling as he waited at the front gate.

Shang Jinyue was far too familiar with this smile.

In the past, every time she came home together with Shi Xiu, she would see this scene.

The car stopped, and Shi Wendong took the initiative to step forward and open the door for Shang Jinyue. “Miss Shang, you’re here.”

Shang Jinyue heard the long-absent greeting and unhurriedly stepped out of the car. “Grandma is holding a family banquet for Mid-Autumn Festival. I came to deliver the invitation.”

Shi Wendong felt extremely flattered. “Aiya, I should have gone to pick it up myself. It’s been hard on Miss Shang to make the trip. Come, come sit inside.”

Shang Jinyue did not speak, only smiled faintly, and entered under Shi Wendong’s invitation.

The familiar courtyard, the familiar entryway.

Shang Jinyue stood in the foyer and looked inside with practiced ease, discovering that Shi Xiu did not seem to be there.

“Are you the only one home?” Shang Jinyue asked without leaving a trace.

Shi Wendong nodded. “Yes. They all went out. It’s Saturday, after all.”

Shang Jinyue also nodded.

Disappointment flashed through her eyes.

But if she did this while holding the hope that Shi Xiu would know, the purpose behind it would be far too obvious.

What right did she still have to ask anything of Shi Xiu?

Shang Jinyue lowered her eyes slightly. After sitting down in the living room, she took the Mid-Autumn family banquet invitation from her bag. “This is the invitation.”

“Thank you, Miss Shang.” Shi Wendong accepted it with both hands.

He looked again and again at this invitation patterned with osmanthus blossoms, while not forgetting to invite Shang Jinyue. “Would Miss Shang like to sit for a while longer? A few days ago, my wife brought back some fresh flower tea and flower cakes from Yunnan. They’re very delicious.”

Shang Jinyue still had something she had not done, so of course she nodded. “All right.”

While waiting for the flower tea, Shang Jinyue looked at Shi Xiu’s current home.

Her gaze was restrained and polite, so Shi Wendong would not feel she was being rude.

And very soon, by coincidence or not, Shang Jinyue’s gaze fell onto a corner of the cabinet nearby.

Onto a small painting that was almost covered in dust.

“Was this painted by Shi Xiu?” Shang Jinyue asked faintly.

Shi Wendong looked at that painting and did not take it seriously. “It was probably bought. How could she possibly draw this well?”

But Shang Jinyue stood and walked over to pick up the little painting, carefully looking at the writing in the bottom right corner of the picture. “But her name is written here.”

Shi Wendong instantly grew embarrassed.

He had never thought Shi Xiu could paint this well.

He had even forgotten that this was a Father’s Day gift Shi Xiu had given him when she was little.

But Shang Jinyue remembered.

She had no intention of putting this painting back where it had been. Holding it in her hand, she looked at it seriously. “Shi Xiu is very talented at painting.”

“What talent? A child’s thing, nothing that can be shown on a proper stage.” Shi Wendong smiled, somewhat disdainful.

A trace of disgust that was difficult to detect flashed through Shang Jinyue’s eyes. She restrained herself and said to Shi Wendong, “Uncle Shi, the blackboard newspaper Shi Xiu drew won first prize at school and has already been sent to the provincial competition.”

“Is that so?” Shi Wendong was somewhat embarrassed, yet also somewhat proud. “This child is indeed talented. Thinking about it, if we count back a few generations in our family, there was once an impressive painter too.”

Hearing this kind of statement, Shang Jinyue pulled the corners of her mouth into a smile.

She was contemptuous, and also disdainful. The hand holding the frame unhurriedly stroked over Shi Xiu’s painting.

She thought that Shi Xiu’s talent certainly did not come from Shi Wendong’s laughable X chromosome.

“I didn’t expect Uncle’s family to have produced such a figure.” Shang Jinyue spoke faintly, no emotion audible in her voice. “But with only talent, without nurturing it, it inevitably feels like a pity. When Grandma heard that Uncle did not agree to Shi Xiu taking this path, she also felt very regretful.”

In certain areas, Shi Wendong truly understood with the slightest hint.

For example, he very quickly connected whether the Mid-Autumn family banquet invitation had something to do with Shi Xiu.

For example, whether Shang Xiunian had seen Shi Xiu’s value.

Thinking of this, the little bell in Shi Wendong’s mind labeled “benefit” rang. “I heard the Shang family has several galleries and has invested in quite a few painters too.”

Without Shang Jinyue needing to spend much effort, Shi Wendong took the bait himself.

She did not want to do this. Linking Shi Xiu’s talent to money and profit was disrespectful to Shi Xiu.

But right now, the urgent priority was to let Shi Xiu go to the studio as soon as possible, was it not?

Shang Jinyue revealed, “The galleries have gradually gotten on track these past two years. There are plenty of painters whose works can sell for millions, even tens of millions.”

Shi Wendong’s eyes lit up. Under the influence of profit, he remembered that daughter of his. “I didn’t expect the Old Madam to care this much about our Shi Xiu.”

Shang Jinyue hinted, “Grandma is getting older now. There are very few people she remembers.”

Hearing this, Shi Wendong smelled the chance to attach himself to the Shang family and immediately expressed, “Then we certainly can’t disappoint the Old Madam.”

“Actually, it’s not that I disagreed with Shi Xiu learning painting. Who wants to see their child finish school and then have no way to support herself?” Shi Wendong put on the appearance of a good father, even carrying relief on his face. “But now that even the Old Madam has said this, I can be at ease.”

“Then Uncle should prepare the materials Shi Xiu needs as soon as possible,” Shang Jinyue reminded him.

“It isn’t complicated. Just a matter of me signing my name.” Shi Wendong said this with a hint of smug satisfaction, as if he had Shi Xiu in his grasp.

Her goal achieved, Shang Jinyue had no reason to stay any longer. “The invitation has been delivered, so I won’t stay any longer.”

Shi Wendong hurriedly tried to keep her. “Miss Shang, stay for lunch.”

“Thank you, Uncle. There are still matters at home.” Shang Jinyue politely refused, and as she spoke, she stood to leave.

And the door opened at that moment.

Beneath the gray sky outside stood someone wearing a hoodie.

The long wind blew indoors, sweeping past the newcomer with a rich floral fragrance stained with paint.

She seemed to be in a good mood. When she opened the door, she was even humming a little tune.

Shang Jinyue listened to this singing and looked toward Shi Xiu’s rarely relaxed brows and eyes.

She thought that in a while, Shi Xiu would definitely be even happier than she was now.

But when Shi Xiu saw the person standing before the foyer, the joy in her eyes turned into surprise, and she blurted out, “Why are you here?”

Facing his daughter’s rudeness, Shi Wendong opened his mouth and barked, “What kind of tone is that? Miss Shang came to deliver our family’s Mid-Autumn banquet invitation. You think she owes you something?”

Hearing Shi Wendong’s words, Shi Xiu’s face fell.

She hated Shi Wendong’s fawning expression toward the Shang family to the extreme. She only wanted to roll her eyes and return to her room for some peace.

Who knew that before Shi Xiu could lift her foot, an eager greeting came from behind her. “Miss Shang.”

Before the car had even parked properly, Cen Yuan got out.

When she heard Shang Jinyue had come, she stopped shopping immediately and dragged Cen Anning with her to change battlefields to the wet market.

Behind her was Cen Anning, carrying large and small bags for her.

Seeing that Shang Jinyue was about to leave, Cen Yuan glared fiercely at Shi Wendong, then piled her face full of smiles. Squeezing past Shi Xiu, she tried to keep Shang Jinyue. “You’ve only been here a short while. Why are you leaving already? I bought a lot of groceries. Today, I’ll cook personally. Let’s all have lunch together as one family.”

Shi Xiu had not been standing steadily in the first place. Pushed and squeezed by Cen Yuan’s disregard, she nearly stepped empty off the stairs…

“Careful.”

Just as Shi Xiu was about to mourn for her ill-fated ankle, a force steadily stopped her by the waist.

The scent of celery lightly drifted through the air, and Cen Anning’s figure appeared in the corner of Shi Xiu’s vision.

This person’s hands were clearly full of things, yet her movements were still quick and agile.

A “thank you” was still stuck in Shi Xiu’s throat when she noticed Shang Jinyue looking toward her, her gaze seeming to fall on the waist Cen Anning was supporting. “All right.”