Chapter 38

The night scene used as the profile picture looked exceptionally glaring beneath the three words “Cen Anning.”

The stars broke free from the cage of night and stabbed toward Shang Jinyue.

The instant she saw Cen Anning’s name, Shang Jinyue furrowed her brows.

Emotionally, she disliked this person, but rationally, she still accepted her friend request.

A system-generated greeting appeared in the chat box.

Shang Jinyue glanced at that line and tossed her phone onto the desk—she had no obligation to take the initiative and speak to Cen Anning.

But the other party clearly had something to say to her.

Very quickly, Shang Jinyue saw “The other party is typing…” appear at the top of the chat box.

[Cen Anning: Let’s talk.]

Shang Jinyue quietly looked at those two words.

There was nothing much for her and Cen Anning to talk about. The only thing they could discuss was something related to Shi Xiu.

During the banquet just now, Shi Xiu had not stated her stance. She had only smiled and changed the subject with Shang Xiunian. Shang Jinyue also very much wanted to know Shi Xiu’s attitude right now.

[Okay.]

Cen Anning’s phone lit up. The message from the other side was even more sparing with words than hers.

Dissatisfied, she shifted her shoulders as she curled up on the bed, her head resting against the wall behind her.

On the other side of this wall was Shi Xiu’s room.

The studio had a holiday for Mid-Autumn, so Shi Xiu had rarely returned home today.

It was just that she had quarreled fiercely with Shi Wendong again just now over the matter of going to Italy. Cen Anning had originally wanted to follow her and comfort her, but she had been shut outside by Shi Xiu’s door closing with a bang.

[A-Xiu’s dad is dead set on sending A-Xiu to Italy now. My mom too,] Cen Anning told Shang Jinyue.

Shang Jinyue looked at this line, her gaze calm, as if she had expected it.

Shi Wendong, this kind of dad-flavored parent, was used to being domineering toward his child. After she and Shi Xiu got married, whenever there was a need to meet Shi Wendong, Shang Jinyue had accompanied Shi Xiu. Every time, Shi Wendong had to suffer a long bout of frustration.

This was the current situation…

[I want to ask you, what does your grandma mean?]

Just as Shang Jinyue was thinking this, Cen Anning sent another message.

She thought there was nothing worth hiding about Grandmother’s thoughts either, so she answered truthfully: [Grandmother appreciates Shi—]

Only, just as this line was halfway typed, Shang Jinyue paused.

She lifted her eyes and looked at Cen Anning’s sentence above, then changed “Shi” to “A”: [Grandmother appreciates A-Xiu’s talent and can’t bear to see a bright pearl cast into darkness.]

Looking at Shang Jinyue’s sentence, Cen Anning furrowed her brows for no reason.

Because of “A-Xiu,” and also because of “bright pearl cast into darkness.”

[Domestic universities aren’t necessarily worse than foreign ones. A-Xiu’s future is still going to be back in China,] [bailiantales.com]Cen Anning refused to accept this, typing until the screen tapped loudly.

But Shang Jinyue only asked Cen Anning a very faint question: [Did A-Xiu tell you this herself?]

The person who had just been so self-righteous froze.

From the end of the banquet until now, according to Shi Xiu’s past personality, Cen Anning should have heard her declare firmly, “I’m not going,” countless times.

But unfortunately, there had been nothing.

Cen Anning was even more nervous than Cen Yuan and Shi Wendong.

If Shi Xiu truly chose to accept the Shang Old Madam’s kindness, then she and Shi Xiu would not see each other for at least a year.

Too many things could happen in a year.

Not to mention, by then, Shi Xiu would already be an adult. In an environment free enough, it was difficult to stop someone unattached from being moved by someone.

This situation made Cen Anning feel even more uneasy than Shang Jinyue’s existence.

The silence from the other side lasted only a few short seconds, but it had already interrupted the fast-paced conversation from just now.

Shang Jinyue looked at the “The other party is typing…” that appeared and disappeared above the chat box, and she understood. [A-Xiu is still conflicted. You’re the one who wants to keep her here.]

These words were too direct, directly exposing Cen Anning’s thoughts.

Whether in the previous life or now, Cen Anning had always had a personality that could not hold back her emotions. After Shang Jinyue provoked her with two sentences, she revealed herself. [So what if I do? Don’t you want to?]

[If A-Xiu wants to go, I won’t keep her here.] Shang Jinyue’s expression was calm as she lightly typed this line.

Moonlight fell on the young girl’s side profile, and her dense lashes cast a shadow.

There was a loss in her heart that could not be spoken to anyone. Contrary to the light words she typed, her feelings had nowhere to land.

She remembered the bird she had locked in a cage.

She also remembered that when she had just been reborn, she had so desperately not wanted Shi Xiu to pick up the paintbrush again.

In her previous life, Shang Jinyue had lived a life where wind and rain came when she wanted them, yet she still could not control anyone’s life trajectory.

Every person belonged only to themselves.

Especially Shi Xiu.

Looking at what Shang Jinyue said, Cen Anning seemed to feel something fall empty, and she quickly typed on the keyboard. [Have you never thought about the things you did with A-Xiu before? Can you still tutor her? If A-Xiu leaves, won’t all that have been for nothing?]

[Forget a week. Maybe you won’t even see her once in a month.]

This last sentence was something Cen Anning had experienced before.

In her previous life, after she had been sent abroad by Cen Yuan, she had looked at the photos Shi Xiu posted of herself and Shang Jinyue. They had been exceptionally glaring, yet there was nothing she could do.

She had tapped the little red heart, wanting to wish them white hair until old age, while her heart also seemed hollowed out.

She had thought Shi Xiu and Shang Jinyue’s relationship was very good. After all, every time Cen Yuan mentioned it, she could not stop praising Shang Jinyue, this daughter-in-law.

Who knew that the next time she saw Shi Xiu would be at Shi Xiu’s funeral?

Holding Shi Xiu’s phone, which her friend had repaired, she had seen line after line of regret in the notes app.

Cen Anning felt as if her head had been blown open.

From that moment on, she understood that handing Shi Xiu to someone else and wishing her happiness was a wrong decision.

Now that she had regained what she had lost, she no longer wanted to hand Shi Xiu to someone else.

She did not want to, yet this time, although she herself was not leaving the country, Shi Xiu was about to leave here instead.

And she also did not believe that Shang Jinyue would be able to bear it any better than herself when the time came.

The sunk cost Shang Jinyue had put in now was even higher than hers.

[Indeed.]

Very soon, Shang Jinyue replied with an answer Cen Anning wanted.

But immediately after, Cen Anning saw Shang Jinyue continue: [But I don’t want to use this sort of thing to measure matters between me and A-Xiu, or ask A-Xiu for anything. As long as she can happily do what she wants, even if what I’ve done for her is overturned and redone ten thousand times, I don’t care.]

Cen Anning furrowed her brows.

She did not think Shang Jinyue was speaking from the heart. She only felt unauthorized copy this person was being high-sounding. […]

Across the screen, Shang Jinyue also sensed Cen Anning’s speechlessness.

She thought for a moment and was unwilling to let this love rival of hers make the same choice she herself had made back then, so she advised her: [Cen Anning, whatever A-Xiu chooses to do is her freedom. You’re also afraid of losing her, but otherwise, it will have the opposite effect.]

In the past and now, they had both, to different degrees, regarded separation as too important, as if once Shi Xiu left, everything would end.

But Shi Xiu was only pursuing a better life for herself. Why would that be the end?

Granted, Grandmother sending Shi Xiu abroad to study had selfish motives.

But no one could deny that this also pointed out a very good road for Shi Xiu.

[Shang Jinyue: The regrets from her previous life should not repeat themselves in this one.]

The other person’s words were like a resounding slap, striking Cen Anning awake.

What was she doing?

Cen Anning once again remembered the notes app of Shi Xiu’s that she had seen.

Later, Shi Xiu had owned several galleries and earned tremendous wealth.

But standing before those paintings, she had only felt ashamed of her own inferiority.

Cen Anning no longer felt that what Shang Jinyue had said just now was “performative.” Awkwardly, she typed a line: [Do I need you to teach me?]

[Then why did you come find me?] Shang Jinyue asked back.

Cen Anning felt guilty and refused to accept that she had been surpassed by Shang Jinyue. Even without reason, her momentum was still strong. [Of course I came to warn you. If A-Xiu wants to go to Italy, you’d better not stop her,]

Looking at how this person had not even checked the punctuation of her sentence, Shang Jinyue smiled faintly and typed two words: [Don’t worry.]

And one more sentence: [A-Xiu did this for me in the past, so now I will do the same for her.]

Looking at this sentence, a burst of anger immediately surged in Cen Anning’s chest, and she flung her phone away.

As if Shang Jinyue and Shi Xiu were the only ones who had memories together.

What did the past count for?

The present was what mattered.

Thinking this, Cen Anning took out the gift she had bought long ago and had wanted to give Shi Xiu from the cabinet, then strode toward Shi Xiu’s room.

Knock, knock.

A knocking sound rang in the quiet corridor. After Cen Anning knocked on Shi Xiu’s door, she quietly waited for Shi Xiu to open it for her.

Then she heard a voice come from inside. “I’m asleep!”

“It’s me,” Cen Anning said.

She had this confidence: Shi Xiu would definitely open the door for her.

And immediately after, she did indeed hear footsteps inside.

The door was opened.

Under the bright light inside the room was Shi Xiu’s half-drooping-eyed face. “What is it?”

“Here.” Cen Anning looked casual as she spoke, taking out from behind her the game cartridge she had just prepared.

Shi Xiu’s eyes instantly widened. “How did you know!”

“I just knew.” Cen Anning spoke the same words as she had at the starry sky restaurant. Then she looked toward Shi Xiu’s bedroom. “So can I come in now?”

Shi Xiu accepted the cartridge and had no reason to refuse Cen Anning. “Come in.”

Cen Anning followed Shi Xiu into her room one after the other, only to see that the person who had claimed to be asleep just now had her game console on.

The console was connected to the display screen, and Link, wearing a strange outfit, was carrying a royal claymore.

Cen Anning consciously sat down beside Shi Xiu’s spot and asked her, “Bad mood?”

Cen Anning asked, but she was certain.

This was practically Shi Xiu’s habit. When she was angry, she would play games to vent.

Sometimes, if she achieved very good results, she [bailiantales.com]would even write it into her notes app to commemorate it.

“Mm.”

So Shi Xiu’s admission did not surprise Cen Anning either.

“I just don’t understand why they have to force me to make a decision right now.” As Shi Xiu spoke, she picked up the controller again and stared at the Lynel rushing toward her on the screen.

Her expression was focused, and her mouth bypassed her brain. “What’s there to be anxious about? Applications over there don’t start until February, even later than the joint exam. There’s still plenty of time.”

Listening, Cen Anning caught some details. “You already checked the study abroad process over there.”

“I checked.” Shi Xiu killed the golden Lynel charging at her, then turned to look at Cen Anning. “I never said I wasn’t going to Italy. If Shi Wendong keeps forcing me, then I really won’t go.”

Hearing this, Cen Anning’s heart abruptly dropped.

Shi Xiu’s threat was not spoken with that much confidence. It seemed she also did not want to give up this opportunity.

It was just that Shi Wendong had been unreasonable all the way, almost issuing orders, which made Shi Xiu feel awkward inside.

Cen Anning inhaled lightly and said to Shi Xiu, “Don’t act out of spite.”

“I’m not acting out of spite,” Shi Xiu denied. “I’m just very conflicted about this matter.”

“Then why not stay? Sister Xinyang definitely won’t bear to see you leave either.”

Although she had guessed Shi Xiu’s thoughts, Cen Anning still wanted Shi Xiu to stay.

When Shi Xiu heard this sentence, she glanced at Cen Anning.

She did not go looking for trouble with Lynels again. Holding the controller, she lay down on the floor. “Anning, but this is my own life.”

This was almost the same meaning as what Shang Jinyue had said to Cen Anning just now.

And she extremely disliked noticing certain similarities between Shi Xiu and Shang Jinyue, as if they were a red thread the heavens had not cut off for them.

Thinking this, Cen Anning lowered her eyes and simply lay down on the floor too, lying together with Shi Xiu. “Then what does A-Xiu want to do in your life?”

In the silent night sky, the round moon hung high.

The bright moonlight was even more dazzling than the lamplight, quietly falling into Shi Read on BaiLianTalesXiu’s vision and behind Cen Anning.

Their eyes met. In the small area at the foot of the bed, the sound of human breathing rang.

Shi Xiu saw a different kind of emotion in Cen Anning’s eyes. She could not distinguish what it was. She only watched as it silently wrapped around the version of herself reflected in Cen Anning’s eyes.

“No matter what A-Xiu wants, I’ll always stay by your side.”

Cen Anning’s flamboyant voice softened. As she spoke, she held Shi Xiu’s hand.

This person’s hand was not as cold as Shang Jinyue’s. It was warm, and it seemed to carry a layer of dampness.

This was very good comfort, as if it also gave someone support.

Shi Xiu felt the same.

Only, she blinked and froze in Cen Anning’s eyes.

Her subconscious believed this was a very invasive action.

So the hand that was held wanted to pull away and escape.

Buzz.

Shi Xiu’s phone lay horizontally between the two of them and suddenly vibrated.

“Sorry.” Shi Xiu hurriedly withdrew the hand Cen Anning was holding and, as if grabbing a lifeline, took out her phone.

Cen Anning shook her head, waiting for Shi Xiu to finish reading the message and continue chatting with her late into the night.

Unexpectedly, she saw Shi Xiu’s gaze abruptly change.

“What’s wrong?” Cen Anning asked.

“The studio teacher wants to talk to me about last week’s color homework.” Shi Xiu was somewhat helpless.

Cen Anning immediately understood that they would not be able to continue their conversation tonight and sensibly stood up. “Then I’ll go.”

“Bye-bye.” Shi Xiu waved and watched Cen Anning open the door.

At the doorway, Cen Anning said to her, “Good night.”

As the guest left, the door slowly closed.

In the bedroom, the sound of someone letting out a long breath rang.

Shi Xiu lowered her head and looked at her phone.

The message just now was not from Xu Ran at all.

It was Shang Jinyue.