Chapter 2: No One Here Expects Her Return

Shen Yu came from the company, wearing a sharp and expensive light gray suit.

Time had not left any marks on his handsome face, and the look he cast was still the same as in Shuangxu’s memory.

Gentle and reassuring.

Yet, even though Shen Yu visited her every year, she felt a sudden sense of strangeness.

Seeing that she didn’t get in the car for a long time, Shen Yu called her, “Xiao Jiu.”

As soon as this clear and deep voice sounded, Shuangxu’s nose was filled with a silent sourness.

She immediately lowered her eyes to the ground, bent down and got in the car, calling out, “Brother.”

The car drove smoothly through the evening rush hour traffic, the interior of the car was silent.

Shen Yu crossed his legs and asked her, “What time is your flight?”

“It lands at a little past two.”

“Why didn’t you ask me to pick you up?”

“I didn’t want to disturb your work,” Shuangxu said. “It’s easy to take a taxi from the airport.”

Shen Yu’s gaze shifted from the other side, looking at her with lowered eyes.

She used to be so cheerful, the child he spoiled, who loved him the most and depended on him the most, was lawless in front of him.

Now she was very well-behaved.

But too well-behaved, it lacked intimacy, even her sitting posture was unfamiliar.

Since being forced to go abroad, she hadn’t even come back for the Spring Festival, perhaps because she was sulking, or simply didn’t want to see these people in China.

The last time Shen Yu saw her was last year, on her birthday, she was sick with a high fever and was alone in her apartment abroad, Shen Yu flew over to see her.

She had changed a lot, compared to when she was still by his side.

The girl’s youthfulness had disappeared in the years of separation, replaced by the elegance of a mature woman.

Shen Yu looked at her for a while, and said, “Xiao Jiu, you’re being distant with your brother.”

“No, I just…”

I’m afraid of causing you trouble – that’s still being distant.

Shuangxu simply insisted, “I wanted to give you a surprise.”

A surprise from an adult has a 50% risk of becoming a fright.

When Shuangxu and Shen Yu returned to the Shen family, Shen Changyuan and his wife were already waiting.

As soon as they entered, Fu Yun was overjoyed and pulled her over, looking her up and down, back and forth, saying that she had grown taller, then that she hadn’t changed much, exactly the same as before.

“You’ve been video calling her every month, of course you can’t see the difference.” Shen Changyuan looked in a good mood, and asked Shuangxu, “Why didn’t you tell us in advance that you were coming back? We didn’t have time to prepare anything at home.”

“I had something urgent and came back,” Shuangxu explained. “I left in a hurry, I didn’t have time to tell you.”

“You came back so late, you must be starving,” Fu Yun said. “Tonight’s dishes are all your favorites, Mrs. Wang is so happy to know you’re back.”

The dinner table was full of Shuangxu’s favorite dishes from her childhood, East Star Grouper was placed in front of her, the chicken soup was stewed fresh and fragrant.

Fu Yun kept picking food for her, Shen Changyuan asked a few questions about her life abroad, talking about her work, inevitably mentioning her trip back to China.

“How long did you take off for this vacation?”

Shuangxu knew the minefield was coming, but she didn’t want to lie.

She put down her chopsticks, looked up, and said seriously, “I resigned.”

After she said this, the living room fell into a silence.

“You resigned?” Fu Yun’s chopsticks stopped, she looked at her in surprise, then at Shen Yu, “I didn’t hear you mention it, how come it’s so sudden.”

Resigning from her job abroad meant that she might not leave Yancheng this time.

The warmth and joy just now seemed like a layer of exquisite glass, beautiful but fragile.

“You quit your job at the airline company, are you planning to develop your career in China?”

Shuangxu didn’t answer, but asked, “Can I come back?”

Fu Yun hesitated, “You were doing well abroad, why do you suddenly want to come back?”

Why did she suddenly want to come back?

On the one hand, it was because Shu Yang was sick, on the other hand, and more importantly, she wanted to go home.

But Shuangxu knew they weren’t looking for a reason.

It was good abroad, but it couldn’t compare to her feelings for Yancheng.

Here, the summer was hot and humid, and the winter was long and cold, it was where she had grown up.

Unfortunately, no one here expected her to return.

At this moment, Shen Yu, who had been silent all along, placed a plate of deboned fish in front of Shuangxu.

The fish was crystal clear and soft, served on a white porcelain plate, landing on the table with a gentle “clink,” breaking the uncomfortable silence at the dinner table.

“How is your classmate?”

Shuangxu briefly mentioned Shu Yang’s condition.

Shen Yu asked, “Do you need my help?”

She shook her head, “The chemotherapy plan has been determined, the drugs used are the best, the specific effect depends on the result after chemotherapy.”

The topic was thus diverted.

After dinner, Fu Yun kept Shuangxu at home, not giving her a chance to refuse, and directly pulled her upstairs.

“Your room was just cleaned today, your old things are still there, it’s still the same. Look—” Fu Yun showed off, pointing to the brand new pink floral bed sheet, “I bought it specially for you, do you like it?”

Shuangxu said again, “Thank you, Mom.”

“What are you saying thank you for, you’re so polite with me.”

Fu Yun paused, holding her hand, “It’s good that you’re back. You’re alone in such a faraway place, you don’t know anyone, what if something happens and you don’t have anyone to take care of you, I can’t rest easy. Last time your brother went to see you, he said you had a fever so high you were delirious, you were lying alone at home, no one even brought you water, it made me so worried, I couldn’t sleep at night.”

She said this with tears in her eyes, Shuangxu quickly comforted her, “I’m fine, I’m an adult now, I can take care of myself.”

“She’s still a little girl, no matter how old she is.” Fu Yun stroked her cheek. “You’ve always had trouble sleeping on planes, you must be exhausted. Go take a hot shower and get some rest.”

After Fu Yun went downstairs, Shuangxu slowly walked around her room, her fingertips tracing the surface of the desk and the bookshelves against the wall.

This was the room she had lived in for ten years. The dust in the air held the familiar scent of home.

After showering, Shuangxu wanted to go downstairs and tell Wang Sao to make some soup for Shu Yang. As she reached the top of the stairs, her footsteps slowly stopped.

Through the gaps in the railing, she could see the living room. Shen Yu sat with his back to her, facing Shen Changyuan and his wife.

“A Yu, tell me the truth. Did you really not know about Shuangxu’s return beforehand?” Fu Yun asked. “Did you agree to this?”

Shen Yu crossed his legs, his voice flat. “If she wants to come back, she can come back. She doesn’t need anyone’s permission.”

“Then tell me, now that she’s back, what do you think?”

Shen Yu said, “When you and the Song family conspired to send her away, you didn’t ask for my opinion.”

“I did it for your own good.” Fu Yun said. “Those rumors almost drowned our family back then. If it wasn’t for her…”

Shuangxu leaned against the wall, feeling a chill creeping up her back.

Shen Yu interrupted her, his tone unwavering. “Children are careless with their words, and people believe them, even you.”

Fu Yun fell silent.

Shen Changyuan patted her hand. “Let’s not dwell on the past. She’s been unwilling to come back for years, she must have thought we didn’t want her back, and she was heartbroken. Now that she wants to come back, let’s not send her away again.”

“If she wants to come back, this will always be her home.” No matter what, Fu Yun truly loved her.

“But Ayu, Shuangxu is no longer a child. Even siblings should avoid suspicion, let alone you two.”

Shuangxu didn’t listen anymore. She turned and went back to her room.