Chapter 23

Wen Xihan remained silent for a moment, hesitating before speaking. “Sister, could it be that you’re overthinking this?”

Ruan Su let out a light laugh, her tone filled with helplessness. “Xihan, you don’t understand Ruan Ruan. That girl’s temperament…”

At this point, Ruan Su sighed and lowered her gaze toward the sunflower beside her. There was a hint of something unreadable in her expression—perhaps nostalgia or regret.

Wen Xihan pursed her lips, involuntarily recalling the scene a few nights ago when Ruan Xinyi had gotten out of the car, holding a bundle of orange bellflowers. The young girl was beautiful, her figure graceful and slender. Her delicate brows and eyes were filled with an unmistakable smile, making her appear even more delicate than the flowers she held.

Of course, Ruan Xinyi had also brought Ruan Su a bouquet of carnations. Wen Xihan didn’t doubt that this was something Ruan Xinyi could easily do.

She glanced at the bouquet of lisianthus leaning against the dark tombstone, her temples twitching slightly. After all, Ruan Xinyi truly was Ruan Su’s daughter—her personality was exactly the same.

Furrowing her brows slightly, Wen Xihan cast a questioning glance at the tombstone beside her, where roses had been placed.

The roses still looked fresh. It was clear who had placed them there.

“Sister, who’s this?” Wen Xihan tilted her head, trying to make out the black-and-white photo stuck on the tombstone.

Ruan Su’s gaze was downcast, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible. “An... old friend.”

When Wen Xihan saw the person in the photo, she froze for a moment. She looked at Ruan Su, parted her lips, but couldn’t find the words.

Ruan Su slid her hands into her coat pockets, her tone calm. “If you want to ask something, just ask.”

Wen Xihan hesitated for a long time but eventually shook her head, asking nothing.

Ruan Su let out a low laugh, half-jokingly saying, “If you don’t ask now, I might not answer later.”

Wen Xihan shook her head, whispering, “Actually, I have an idea of what it might be…”

The woman in the photo was very young, with a gentle and graceful appearance. Her delicate features and soft eyes were familiar, especially when she smiled—there was a playful charm, exuding warmth and friendliness. Compared to Ruan Xinyi’s youthful purity, she appeared more mature and natural.

Yes, she resembled Ruan Xinyi.

When Wen Xihan recognized Ruan Xinyi at Li Hai Group, she had realized that Ruan Xinyi didn’t look much like Ruan Su. And as she recalled further, Ruan Xinyi didn’t even resemble Ruan Su’s ex-husband, the man she had known before…

“Mm.” Ruan Su spoke softly to herself. “Ruan Ruan looks a lot like her, doesn’t she?”

“Very much so.” Wen Xihan replied with a complex look in her eyes.

“…”

Ruan Su didn’t speak any further. After a moment, she murmured in a hushed voice, “Xihan, I’ll head back now.”

“Alright.” Wen Xihan didn’t follow Ruan Su but instead watched her leave. After Ruan Su had walked far away, she stood at the cemetery for a long time before slowly heading back.

---

When Ruan Su got home, Ruan Xinyi was sitting in the living room, having breakfast.

Seeing Ruan Su, Ruan Xinyi quickly swallowed the milk in her mouth and asked cautiously, “Mom, so early? Where did you go?”

Taking off her coat, Ruan Su remained composed. “Something came up at the company.”

“Oh~” Ruan Xinyi nodded in realization, then dutifully poured Ruan Su a glass of milk. “Thanks for your hard work, Mom.”

Ruan Su sat down in front of Ruan Xinyi, her long fingers holding the glass. She lifted her eyelids slightly, her tone calm and unhurried. “Speak up, what is it?”

“Cough, cough.” Ruan Xinyi cleared her throat. “Well, my roommate invited me to go shopping, and maybe…”

As though she had already known what Ruan Xinyi was going to say, Ruan Su interrupted her unhurriedly. “Come back early this afternoon.”

“…” Ruan Xinyi’s smile froze for a moment but quickly turned flawless again. She spoke softly, “Got it, Mom.”

Ruan Su appeared not to have noticed, her brows slightly raised as she continued drinking her milk.

After finishing breakfast, Ruan Xinyi went upstairs to change clothes, grabbed her small bag, and headed out.

As she passed by Ruan Su, who was sitting on the sofa watching the financial news, she slowed her steps and said somewhat deliberately, “Mom, I’m going out~”

Ruan Su’s gaze moved slowly from the TV to Ruan Xinyi. The black tapered cargo pants and the dark gray printed shirt tucked halfway into the pants perfectly highlighted Ruan Xinyi’s figure, accentuating her long legs and slim waist. It also gave off a slightly lazy yet rebellious vibe.

However, the outfit didn’t quite match Ruan Xinyi’s expression at the moment. She looked like a child who hadn’t forgotten to ask for candy before leaving, making her seem a bit silly and clueless…

Thinking this, Ruan Su picked a milk candy from the fruit bowl on the coffee table and tossed it to Ruan Xinyi.

Ruan Xinyi, holding the candy: “???”

Ruan Xinyi looked down at the milk candy in her hand and then turned confusedly toward Ruan Su, who was still watching TV and ignoring her. Not giving up, she called out again, “Mom, I’m really going out now?”

Ruan Su grabbed a handful of milk candies and handed them to Ruan Xinyi.

Ruan Xinyi: “…”

Ruan Xinyi hadn’t made up the excuse that she was going shopping with her roommate just to go out.

Although, she felt that this was exactly what Ruan Su thought.

Wearing her sunglasses, Ruan Xinyi drove to the agreed-upon mall, bought some milk tea, and waited outside for a few minutes before seeing Cheng Yue and Jiang Yun getting out of a taxi.

“Xinyi!” Jiang Yun waved at Ruan Xinyi and quickly walked over with Cheng Yue.

“Here.” Ruan Xinyi handed them the milk tea, smiling as she asked, “Any plans for today?”

“I have to leave around five this afternoon. There’s something at home.”

Jiang Yun calculated the time and asked the two of them, “How about we shop first, then have lunch, and afterward go see a movie?”

“Sure.” Both Ruan Xinyi and Cheng Yue had no objections.

The three of them shopped from 10 AM until just past 1 PM. In the end, it was Cheng Yue who found a well-reviewed Japanese restaurant to settle their lunch.

Ruan Xinyi poured some soy sauce into the small dipping plate, just as Jiang Yun asked, “Cheng Yue, do you want some wasabi?”

“Just a little.”

Jiang Yun grabbed the wasabi and moved to help Cheng Yue add some.

“No need, I’ll do it myself.” Cheng Yue quickly stopped her, taking the wasabi and adding a small portion to the dipping plate, then silently handed it to Ruan Xinyi.

Jiang Yun said, “Cheng Yue, why don’t you add a little more? Otherwise, it won’t have any taste.”

Cheng Yue refused, saying, “This is enough. I can’t handle too much spice.”

Ruan Xinyi teased, “Cheng Yue, looks like you’ve been spiced before, huh?”

“Mm.” Cheng Yue took a big gulp of water, his tone nostalgic. “The first time I ate sushi, one of my sisters gave it to me. She didn’t know the taste of wasabi, so she spread the entire packet evenly on the sushi. I ate it… That feeling, I couldn’t spit it out in front of her, so I just had to swallow it.”

Jiang Yun patted Cheng Yue’s shoulder with an “I’ve been there” expression. “That sudden burn that rushes to the top of your head, I get it.”

Cheng Yue gave Jiang Yun a side-eye, pointing to the wasabi on the table. She asked lightly, “Want to try that feeling again today?”

Jiang Yun quickly changed the subject. “Xinyi, let’s check out what movies are playing later. Pick one that starts soon. I remember there’s a show called Edge Wall around 2 PM…”

“Mm, there is a show.” Ruan Xinyi looked at her phone and booked the tickets. “Let’s watch Edge Wall then?”

Jiang Yun cleared her throat and said, “What about you two? I’m fine with any movie, but I kind of want to go see Edge Wall to relive some of the details I found online.”

Ruan Xinyi leaned on her hand, raising an eyebrow at Cheng Yue.

Cheng Yue, looking resigned, said, “Let’s watch Edge Wall then.”

After lunch, the three of them timed it perfectly, picking up their tickets and entering the theater.

Though Edge Wall had been out for a while, many people were still coming to watch it again. The show nearly filled up half the seats.

Soon, the lights in the theater went out, and the two blurred ink-style characters on the "Wall Edge" appeared on the screen.

The opening of the "Wall Edge" was presented as a photo montage, offering a simple background introduction. One photograph after another replaced the previous one, progressing like a story, until it paused on a special photo.

It depicted the scene in an old, narrow alley where the two main characters "went their separate ways."

A few seconds later, the photo shifted to the next one. Beneath a gray wall, one of the protagonists, dressed in military uniform, forcefully tugged at his cloak, hiding his figure. In the blind spot of the view, the other protagonist was turning around, preparing to head back the way they came.

Before the photo faded into black-and-white, Ruan Xinyi took out her phone, snapped a quick photo, and lightly bit her lip. After a brief hesitation, she decided to send it to Wen Xihan.

After sending it, Ruan Xinyi put her phone away and focused on watching the movie.

However, during the film, Ruan Xinyi's attention remained partly diverted to her phone.

Halfway through the movie, the long-awaited notification sound finally rang from her phone, which was tucked in her bag.

Ruan Xinyi eagerly took out her phone, dimmed the brightness, and discreetly opened the newly received message.

It was indeed from Wen Xihan, but the only content in the message was a solitary question mark.

Ruan Xinyi reassured herself: no matter what, at least she had received a reply.

Ruan Xinyi: [Watching a movie with my roommate, sidewall.]

A few minutes later, Wen Xihan replied with a simple "Oh," a response that could shut down any conversation.

Taking a deep breath, Ruan Xinyi firmly locked her phone, then angrily drank a large gulp of ice-cold cola.

The movie at "Wall Edge" lasted over two hours, and when they left the theater, it was already 4:40 AM.

As they exited the theater, Jiang Yun gazed at the promotional posters for "Wall Edge" on the wall, feeling nostalgic. She said, "The first time I watched it, I thought the director had left a hint for a sequel, but now, knowing the details that have been revealed, not making a second part seems like the right choice."

"And not only is the movie good to watch, but the real-life relationship between these two leads is even better."

"That's true." Ruan Xinyi smiled indifferently, hooking her fingers around her sunglasses, and softly said, "Are you guys still planning to shop for a while? It's almost five o'clock; I have to go."

Cheng Yue looked at Jiang Yun, silently asking for her opinion.

Jiang Yun placed her hand on Cheng Yue's shoulder, saying, "Then let's walk around some more."

Pressing the button for the down elevator, Ruan Xinyi said, "Alright, I'll head out first. Let's meet up next time."

Taking the elevator to the basement parking lot, Ruan Xinyi found her car, followed the signs to the first-floor exit, and was about to queue up to pay for parking when she saw a familiar silver-gray Mercedes-Benz at the entrance.

Ruan Xinyi instantly recognized the car as Wen Xihan's.

She lightly pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth and glanced in the rearview mirror. There was plenty of space behind her, and no cars were coming out. Without hesitation, she backed into the nearest parking space, turned the steering wheel, and followed the Mercedes back into the underground parking lot.

Although the parking lot was dim, in order not to be noticed by Wen Xihan, Ruan Xinyi deliberately drove her car around to a blind spot in the back before parking.

Sitting in her car, she unhappily stared at the Mercedes-Benz in front of her.

About ten minutes later, Wen Xihan finally got out of the car, dressed casually with light makeup on her face, and held her phone to her ear, seemingly talking to someone.

"Mm-hmm, I'm here, in the underground parking lot, about to head up."

The underground parking lot was empty, which made Wen Xihan's clear, cold voice ring out especially loudly, and Ruan Xinyi could hear every word clearly.

Biting her lip, Ruan Xinyi rummaged through her car for a face mask and a baseball cap, then quietly opened the door, surveyed the surroundings, and sneakily followed her.

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