Zhou Yushen nodded expressionlessly.
Tan Qi suddenly said again, “I heard the Zhou Corporation has been taken over by that woman Han Ping. Since you’ve abandoned the Zhou family, then come back and live with your grandparents.”
The elderly couple from the Tan family immediately lit up with hope and looked at Zhou Yushen expectantly.
“Maybe after some time. Grandfather has always treated me well.”
Zhou Yushen looked at the two elders.
“Grandpa, Grandma, I brought gifts back from Fengcheng for you both. I’ll give them to you after dinner.”
“This child, always bringing things every time he comes back.”
Although his grandmother sounded reproachful, her face was filled with joy.
Tan Qi glanced at Zhou Yushen but said nothing more.
“I also prepared gifts for Uncle and Auntie. I’ll give them together later.”
Zhou Yushen added.
Wu Jinshu smiled at him.
“Ah Shen, next time you come back, don’t buy anything anymore. Remember, you’re coming home, not visiting as a guest.”
“I understand, Auntie.”
After dinner, Tan Qi called Zhou Yushen into the study.
“What are you planning to do? Are you still thinking about avenging your mother?”
The uncle and nephew sat facing each other.
Tan Qi poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Zhou Yushen.
On the only desk in the study sat a framed family photograph.
In the picture were the elderly Tan couple, Tan Qi, and his younger sister Tan Zhixia—Zhou Yushen’s mother.
Tan Zhixia wore a simple dress and smiled brightly at the camera while making a peace sign.
Zhou Yushen remained silent while Tan Qi’s gaze swept across the photo.
There was a scar about the length of a little finger on the upper right side of Tan Qi’s forehead.
It was a scar left behind from the time he tried to take revenge on Zhou Sinian for his sister.
That madman Zhou Sinian had schemed during a banquet to force himself into a relationship with Tan Zhixia.
Tan Qi had wanted to avenge his sister.
But in the end, Zhou Sinian turned the tables on him.
He had nearly been killed by Zhou Sinian, and it was Tan Zhixia who saved him.
Afterward, the Tan family was suppressed by the Zhou family.
Zhou Sinian was ruthless and intelligent.
Under his leadership, the Zhou family flourished more and more while relentlessly crushing the Tan family.
A family once equal to the Zhous gradually declined in the capital.
As for Tan Zhixia, she was forced by Zhou Sinian to become his mistress.
Even though Zhou Sinian had already married into the Han family by then.
Tan Qi’s eyes reddened as he let out a deep sigh.
“The person I’ve wronged the most in this life is your mother.”
If he hadn’t acted impulsively and sought revenge against Zhou Sinian back then, Tan Zhixia would never have been threatened by him, and perhaps the Tan family would not have fallen into such decline.
Now that he was older, fear had begun to creep into his heart.
Regarding Tan Zhixia’s death, he no longer dared to investigate further.
Zhou Yushen comforted him.
“Uncle, victims never need to speak on behalf of their abuser.”
Zhou Yushen’s memories of Zhou Sinian consisted only of the man repeatedly hurling vicious insults at his mother.
Even if Zhou Sinian had ultimately died for love alongside her, Zhou Yushen would never consider him devoted.
On the contrary, he only feared that if his mother met Zhou Sinian again in the underworld, it would be unbearably unfortunate for her.
Tan Qi looked seriously at Zhou Yushen.
“Ah Shen, your mother wouldn’t want you to keep trapping yourself in her death forever. Promise your uncle—stop obsessing over it, alright?”
Stop obsessing over avenging his mother’s death.
Stop obsessing over the truth.
Zhou Yushen curved his lips slightly.
Following the direction of Tan Qi’s gaze, his eyes landed on the family photograph.
“Uncle, if I can’t find the truth, then I’d be the one failing her.”
He had to find those people!
Tan Qi wanted to say something but stopped himself.
He understood Zhou Yushen’s stubbornness, so he said nothing more.
He was only worried that Zhou Yushen’s obsession would someday cause him to hurt the people most important to him.
And by then, Zhou Yushen might end up just like him— Living the rest of his life in regret.
The uncle and nephew chatted about family matters for a while longer before Zhou Yushen finally got up and left the Tan residence.
He did not return to the Zhou family home.
Instead, he went to another villa he owned in the capital.
The villa was empty, though someone regularly came to clean it.
Without turning on the lights, he walked straight to the sofa and let himself sink into it, closing his eyes in thought.
At times, his mind replayed the tragic death of his mother.
At times, it replayed the mockery from the Chen family.
At times, it replayed the place where those people had disappeared—Fengcheng.
And finally, what remained in his mind was Shen Nanyue’s shy and pure smile on the Ferris wheel that day.
…..
Ten days later.
Shen An’an’s follow-up examination results were very good.
The burned areas had already recovered significantly.
The doctor said that after one more rehabilitation treatment, she would make a complete recovery.
Li Che was overjoyed and insisted on celebrating for Shen An’an by personally cooking a meal.
Shen An’an looked at him with disdain and told him to make sure the food actually tasted good.
Just then, Shen Nanyue walked in from outside, her face filled with hesitation as she looked at Shen An’an.
It had already been ten days, yet she had completely forgotten to tell Shen An’an about Bai Youwei.
If Bai Youwei hadn’t reminded her, she probably would have forgotten even longer.
“An’an, come here. I have something to tell you, but don’t get too emotional after hearing it. And try not to make any big facial movements.”
She gave Shen An’an a warning first.
Shen An’an nodded.
Only then did Shen Nanyue tell her about her biological mother.
Shen An’an was utterly shocked.
Her biological mother was actually Bai Youwei— The only idol she had ever truly admired since she started painting.
“An’an, I’ve already spoken with Madam Bai. If you want to meet her, I can arrange for you two to meet…”
“Sister.”
Shen An’an spoke hoarsely before taking out her phone.
‘Sister, let me process this for a while.’
Shen Nanyue said nothing more.
She sat beside her, watching the silent Shen An’an, unable to tell whether she was happy or upset.
Though that “Sister” just now seemed to be suppressing excitement and joy.
Several minutes passed in silence before Shen An’an suddenly took out her phone and started typing.
When she held the screen in front of Shen Nanyue, Shen Nanyue was slightly surprised by the words displayed on it.
‘Sister, I don’t want to meet her right now. Can you give me a little more time?’
“Of course. But can I ask why?”
From the way An’an looked, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to acknowledge her biological mother.
Rather, it seemed as though she had some kind of concern.
Shen Nanyue frowned slightly.
Had An’an encountered some sort of problem?
‘I just don’t want to meet her looking like this.’
Shen Nanyue looked at Shen An’an.
White bandages covered most of her face.
Even in the Shen family home—a place that was absolutely safe for her—she still wore a large black hat to hide her scars.
Not to mention that Bai Youwei was the idol she had admired since childhood.
Shen Nanyue understood immediately and smiled as she gently patted her head.
“I understand. I’ll pass your message along to her.”
Seeing that Shen An’an still looked like she had more to say, Shen Nanyue continued, “I’ll tell Madam Bai that it’s not that you don’t want to acknowledge her. It’s just that you’re not ready yet. I won’t let her misunderstand.”
Smiling, Shen An’an threw herself into Shen Nanyue’s arms to thank her.
Shen Nanyue hugged her back.
Though she wore a smile on her face, her heart felt bittersweet.
An’an had finally found her family.
Shen Nanyue was genuinely happy for her, but at the same time, she couldn’t bear to let go.
From the dining room, Li Che called out that dinner was ready.
Shen An’an immediately pulled away from Shen Nanyue’s embrace and rushed toward the dining room.
Watching Shen An’an’s retreating figure, Shen Nanyue tilted her head thoughtfully.
It seemed An’an now had choices to make.
— The end of the Chapter–
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