Font Size:
This led to the subsequent events. The children were only a day apart, so it was impossible to tell outsiders that the child was not born by Xu’s mother. At that time, Xu’s father’s company was on the rise, and he needed a good reputation.
Thus, the theory of twin sisters was created.
This matter had been kept well secret, and the only reason Shen Guangyuan knew about it was because he met Xu’s father by chance in the hospital.
Xu Zhilu’s biological mother was ill, and she went to visit her in the hospital. Shen Guangyuan happened to be there for a check-up that day and accidentally overheard a conversation.
Later, while Shen Guangyuan was drinking with Xu’s father, he was told the whole story in bits and pieces.
After hearing this, the living room fell into silence.
Shen Siyan looked at Shen Guangyuan and asked, “Then… where is that person?”
“Dead,” Shen Guangyuan replied. “It seems she had some kind of cancer.”
Shen Siyan didn’t say anything more.
Shen Man was silent for a moment before she turned to Shen Guangyuan and asked, “What are you going to the hospital for?”
Shen Guangyuan became alert.
Shen Man narrowed her eyes and said, “Are you hiding something from us? Has your stomach problem come back?”
“…”
Shen Siyan gave Shen Guangyuan a look that seemed to say “Good luck” and stood up. “Mom and Dad, I’m going back to my room. You two can have your discussion.”
As soon as Shen Siyan left, Shen Man pointed to the sofa. “You’re sleeping on the sofa tonight.”
“Dear,” Shen Guangyuan protested, trying to play the victim.
Shen Man sneered. “You can lie to me for others, but don’t try it with me.”
She said firmly, “We’ll talk about this after you’ve calmed down.”
Shen Guangyuan sighed, watching her walk away.
Shen Siyan had just taken off his pajamas and was about to take a shower when Shen Man approached him.
The mother and son looked at each other. Shen Siyan raised his eyebrows. “Mom, what do you need?”
Shen Man was silent for a moment before speaking. “Please keep an eye on Zhilu.”
“I will.”
Shen Man continued, “Zhilu’s life experience isn’t her fault. She had no choice.”
Shen Siyan smiled and whispered, “Mom, I know that too.”
He added, “Can you please not think of me as so childish?”
Shen Man glared at him. “I’m just afraid you’ll see her as a child who is ashamed to be seen in public.” She added, “All the fault lies with the man next door!”
She didn’t even want to call him Mr. Xu anymore, angrily referring to him as a “scumbag.”
Shen Siyan: “…”
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so he patted her on the back. “Mom, calm down. You have such a good eye. My dad is not a scumbag.”
Shen Man looked at him and said, “I hope you’re not one either.”
“Okay.”
After Shen Man left, Shen Siyan sent a message to Xu Zhilu. When he came out of the shower, Xu Zhilu hadn’t replied.
Shen Siyan sighed and decided to talk to her at school the next day.
_
The next day, most students at the school had heard about the car accident.
The accident was reported in the news. It was said that the driver was a high school student from another school, known for his reckless behavior and bullying others despite his family’s limited resources.
Now that the driver was gone, his parents were causing trouble at the school. As for why Xu Zhijia had been involved with such people and gone out racing with them, it was unclear.
Classmates watched Xu Zhilu’s expression carefully as they talked about it.
Xu Zhilu appeared unfazed, her face blank.
Xin An’an, curious, asked, “Zhilu, is it true?”
Xu Zhilu nodded. “Yes, it’s true.”
Xin An’an said, “I can’t believe Xu Zhijia went racing with boys so late at night. She must have been bored.”
Xu Zhilu agreed. “Maybe.”
Xin An’an looked at her. “Then you…”
“I went to the hospital last night.”
Xin An’an’s eyes widened. “So they didn’t bully you?”
Xu Zhilu shook her head with a smile. “No.”
She reassured Xin An’an, “I’m fine. Really.”
Xin An’an wanted to say more, but Shen Siyan interrupted from behind.
“What?”
He lazily asked, “Xu Zhilu, what did you eat this morning?”
Xu Zhilu didn’t even look at him. “Didn’t you see just now?”
Shen Siyan: “No.”
Xu Zhilu was speechless and laid her head on the table to rest.
Shen Siyan glanced at her and then at Xin An’an. “Shall we switch seats for the next class?”
Xin An’an: “…Okay.”
Xu Zhilu had no objections to the seat swap. After all, they weren’t swapping seats with her, so she had no reason to refuse.
Shen Siyan sat next to her and poked her with his hand, like someone with ADHD.
Xu Zhilu glared at him.
Shen Siyan paused, then lowered his voice and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Mm.”
“Why are your eyes swollen?”
Xu Zhilu rolled her eyes and turned her head toward him.
Shen Siyan smiled softly. “Okay, I won’t ask you that.”
He added, “Do you want to know the full story?”
“Sure.”
Shen Siyan glanced around and said, “I’ll tell you later. There are too many people in the classroom right now.”
“Mm.”
After class, at noon, the two went out to eat.
Xin An’an, guessing they had something to discuss, didn’t follow them.
They found a quiet restaurant and sat down. While waiting for their food, Shen Siyan briefly explained what he knew.
He observed Xu Zhilu’s reaction.
She remained very calm, showing no signs of sadness or any other emotion.
Shen Siyan waved his hand in front of her. “Xu Zhilu.”
Xu Zhilu looked at him. “I heard you.”
She pursed her lips. “Where is the cemetery?”
“Ah?”
“Do you know where her grave is?”
Shen Siyan: “…I don’t know.”
Xu Zhilu nodded and said nothing more.
After a moment of silence, the waiter came over to serve their food.
Once they were alone again, Xu Zhilu suddenly asked, “Do you think I went too far last night?”
Shen Siyan was taken aback. “What do you mean, too far?”
Xu Zhilu pursed her lips. “Just… wanting a house.”
Later, Xu Zhilu wondered if her actions had been a bit excessive. But she reassured herself that since she was the biological daughter of the Xu family, it wasn’t too much to ask for a share.
She just didn’t want to give them an easy advantage. She felt that if they had the courage, they should have discarded her from the start. Instead, for the sake of their own image, they let her survive, but she was treated no better than an adopted child.
Despite being eighteen years old, Xu Zhilu didn’t want them to get away with it. She knew her feelings might not be entirely rational, but she couldn’t help but feel this way.
In fact, if Xu’s mother hadn’t pressured her into donating blood, she might not have acted this way. No amount of persuasion or begging would make her change her stance on the matter.
_
Shen Siyan listened and patted her head. “What’s excessive about that?”
He continued, “You’re asking for too little.”
Xu Zhilu: “…”
Shen Siyan twirled a pen in his hand and smirked. “If it were me, I’d be asking for shares in the company.”
Xu Zhilu: “…”
She hadn’t expected that.
“I’m eighteen.”
Hearing this, Shen Siyan curled his lips and said, “Your last name is Xu. Xu Zhijia got it, so why shouldn’t you?”
Xu Zhilu remained quiet.
Shen Siyan reached out, rubbed her hair, and comforted her. “Don’t overthink it. I don’t think you did anything wrong.”
Xu Zhilu responded with a simple “Hmm.”
Shen Siyan observed her for a moment and then whispered, “It’s time for class. Focus on that first, and we’ll talk more after the weekend?”
“Okay.”
Xu Zhilu could still hear gossip about Xu Zhijia around school, but she didn’t care and remained emotionally unaffected.
After everything settled down, she felt a sense of relief. With the college entrance examination less than a month away, Xu Zhilu focused more on her studies.
When she went home on weekends, Xu’s mother was still in the hospital, and Xu’s father was not at home either. Only Aunt Liu made daily trips between the hospital and their home to deliver things.
Xu Zhilu felt content and relaxed. She never visited Xu Zhijia and had no intention of doing so.
One week before the college entrance examination, she encountered Xu’s father at home.
They looked at each other. Xu’s father paused and said, “Good luck on the college entrance examination.”
Xu Zhilu responded coldly, “Thank you.”
As she was heading upstairs, she turned and asked, “Where is her grave?”
_
On the day of the college entrance examination, the weather was particularly sunny and bright, which made it quite dazzling.
Xu Zhilu and Shen Siyan went to the examination hall together. They were from the same school. Shen Man wanted to see them off personally, and Xu Zhilu didn’t refuse.
At the entrance of the examination room, Shen Man reminded them, “Don’t be nervous. Just treat it normally.”
She hugged Xu Zhilu and smiled, saying, “You’re amazing, Zhilu. Auntie believes in you.”
Xu Zhilu smiled back and said, “Thank you, Aunt Shen.”
“Auntie will be waiting for you outside. We’ll go out to eat after the exam.”
“Sounds good.”
She entered with Shen Siyan. They weren’t in the same examination room, and as they parted ways, Shen Siyan called out to her.
“Xu Zhilu.”
Xu Zhilu turned around and met his sharp eyebrows and starry eyes.
“Good luck.”
He paused and added, “I’ll tell you the rest after the exam.”
Xu Zhilu nodded. “You too, keep going.”
Two days passed quickly.
Xu Zhilu wasn’t nervous at all. Maybe because it was her second time taking the college entrance exam, she felt very calm.
Shen Siyan also appeared to be composed.
When Xu Zhilu returned to the playground after the last exam, she saw Shen Siyan waiting under a tree in the shade.
They exchanged silent glances.
Shen Siyan smiled suddenly and said, “Xu Zhilu, congratulations. Happy graduation.”
Xu Zhilu paused and replied, “Happy graduation.”
***
If you’d like to show your appreciation, consider buying me a coffee—it really helps me keep going! 𖹭
Don’t forget to check out more of Vyl’s projects! ۶ৎ
_
✨ For even more, click Vyl’s profile or this link! ⋆. 𐙚 ˚
↓↓↓
Vyl[Translator]
~Thank you soo much for the support! Love yaa~ ⋆.❤︎