Chapter 19: Plans

Shen Qingli furrowed her brows. It sounded ridiculous, but the plot that appeared in novels and films had actually happened in real life.

“You don’t believe me either, do you?” Xu Chunian asked cautiously.

“Niannian, I believe you.” Shen Qingli said earnestly. “I thought it was a prank before, but your transformation was too drastic.”

“But I really am the 18-year-old Xu Chunian.”

“When you suddenly became like that, we all thought you had postpartum depression. Jiang Huaixu followed you almost all the time, but you seemed to get worse. Later…”

“What happened later?”

“Later, you repeatedly showed us with your actions that you didn’t love Jiang Huaixu and didn’t like Zhuzhu. Even the doctor said you were fine.” Shen Qingli chose her words carefully.

“The more you say, the more curious I get.” Xu Chunian clicked her tongue.

“Niannian, I don’t know how to describe these past few years. Anyway, I think you really seemed possessed. Do you remember those novels we used to read? Like being possessed, but it’s so absurd.” Shen Qingli continued.

Xu Chunian was silent for a moment. “Only the 24-year-old me knows the answer to that question.”

The waiter pushed open the door, holding a rabbit-shaped pudding on a tray. “Good evening. Your dessert.”

“Thank you.”

Xu Chunian fed the little rabbit pudding to Zhuzhu. “Whatever the reason, at least it’s me now.”

Zhuzhu finished one, licked her lips, and looked at her.

“You can’t eat anymore. Zhuzhu was so good today. This is a reward. If you eat too much, your tummy will hurt, okay?”

Zhuzhu nodded and turned back around.

“Ali.” Xu Chunian put the things on the table. “What’s Zhuzhu’s full name?”

“Jiang Yu Chu.”

Zhuzhu, who was watching TV intently, heard her name and peeked her head out to look at Shen Qingli.

Shen Qingli was charmed and pinched her chubby cheeks.

“Jiang Yu Chu…” A frame flashed through Xu Chunian’s mind, too fast for her to grasp.

“Sizzle.” Her temple felt like it had been pricked by a needle.

“What’s wrong, Niannian?” Shen Qingli looked at her with concern.

“Nothing.” Xu Chunian waved her hand after she recovered. Her temple had felt like it was being pricked by a needle before, but it had been happening more frequently these past few days.

After dinner, they took Zhuzhu to a nearby mall. They found a small children’s area on the upper floor. Zhuzhu liked LEGO, and she sat in a corner building blocks. The other children ran around, and she stayed far away. Because one of her arms was in a cast, many children didn’t approach her.

The two of them ordered milk tea and leaned against the railing, chatting about everything under the sun.

“Ali, what are your plans with that guy from the Huo family?”

Shen Qingli paused. “We’re in a business marriage. We don’t interfere with each other.”

“How could Uncle Shen bear to do that?” Xu Chunian was surprised. Shen Qingli’s father and brother treated her like a treasure. How could they bear to send their daughter into a marriage of convenience?

A marriage without love is simply using a daughter’s happiness to exchange for benefits.

“They asked for my opinion.”

“You…”

Shen Qingli chuckled. “Maybe the other party isn’t willing.”

“Ali…” Xu Chunian pursed her lips.

Shen Qingli had always been a non-confrontational person. These past few days, she had also been paying attention to the guy from the Huo family. He had been rumored to be involved with a female celebrity. Although there was no concrete evidence, there was no smoke without fire, so Xu Chunian didn’t have a good impression of him.