She changed into slippers at the door and placed her schoolbag on the sofa. A commotion came from the kitchen, and Shen Yue looked up, just in time to see the woman emerging from it.
The woman was very thin, almost emaciated, and her normally straight back was hunched. She was beautiful, but her face was distorted by her extreme thinness, making her almost unrecognizable.
Shen Yue watched her silently, her emotions unfelt.
Shen Jiayi hesitated, her smile stiff on her face, a timid attempt at appeasing. "Yueyue, you're back? Dinner will be ready soon, just wait a moment."
Her tone was like that of a kind mother.
But Shen Yue didn't want to look at her any longer, she simply said faintly, "I don't have money."
Shen Jiayi's expression grew even more rigid. She nervously clutched her clothes, feigning a relaxed air. "What are you saying? I just wanted to see you. Hurry and put your bag down, dinner will be ready soon."
As if afraid Shen Yue would say something else, she quickly retreated into the kitchen.
Shen Yue said nothing more. She took her schoolbag to the bedroom and laid out her homework.
Before long, Shen Jiayi's voice called from outside the door, "Yueyue, time to eat—"
Shen Yue finished tidying her things and went out.
Several dishes were laid out on the table, looking and smelling delicious, with a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.
Shen Yue sat down and took a bite. The taste was very good.
Shen Jiayi's eyes lit up. "Is it delicious?"
But upon seeing Shen Jiayi's expression, Shen Yue lost her appetite. She lowered her head and ate silently.
Without receiving an answer, Shen Jiayi felt a pang of disappointment but dared not say more, eating quietly.
In fact, Shen Jiayi feared Shen Yue.
She feared this girl who appeared so gentle, pure, and clean.
Shen Yue was not a good person. Growing up in such an environment, it was hard for her not to be twisted.
Shen Jiayi had developed a gambling addiction, squandering almost all her assets, and had even come close to selling their dilapidated house.
It was this seemingly harmless girl who had repaid Shen Jiayi's debts. Upon returning home, she had unceremoniously gone to the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, taken Shen Jiayi's hand, and made a move as if to chop it off.
Shen Jiayi would never forget Shen Yue's expression at that moment.
Her dark, lustrous eyes were as deep as an endless abyss. Her eyebrows were gently curved, and she smiled at Shen Jiayi.
Her voice was soft when she spoke.
"You can't control your hands. Shall I help you cut them off?"
Although she looked like a young girl, in that instant, Shen Jiayi felt her heart pound violently with fear, as if it would leap out of her chest.
The girl's expression didn't seem like a joke. The knife was held high, as if it would fall at any moment. For the first time, Shen Jiayi tasted the fear of death. She cried, sobbing and vowing never to gamble again. Only when she was almost breathless from crying did the girl finally relent.
After that, Shen Jiayi truly dared not gamble, but she also didn't dare go home.
Shen Yue knew Shen Jiayi feared her, so her return this time was certainly not out of good intentions.
Shen Yue wouldn't ask directly, and Shen Jiayi would definitely not dare to speak.
After dinner, Shen Yue returned to her bedroom to do her homework.
Shen Jiayi was trying to appease her, but Shen Yue seemed to pay it no mind.
As Shen Yue was about to leave for school, Shen Jiayi called out to her as she neared the door.
Shen Yue didn't turn around, remaining still.
Shen Jiayi walked over and tentatively took her arm.
Then Shen Yue felt something stiff and paper-like being pressed into her hand. She looked down and saw it was money.
"Take it. You need to buy what you need to buy. Don't deprive yourself."
Shen Yue felt the money in her hand inexplicably hot. She turned her head and stared at Shen Jiayi with a blank expression, "What exactly do you mean?"
She couldn't help but speak.
Shen Jiayi blinked, seemingly surprised and flustered by Shen Yue's speaking, and stammered, "I... I don't mean anything. I just... I just want you to live a better life..."
Shen Yue: "Why am I living like this?"
Shen Jiayi's face turned deathly pale. Her lips moved twice, and her eyes reddened.
But Shen Yue didn't want to see anymore. She pushed the money back into Shen Jiayi's hand and left without looking back.
"Shen Yue—"
Shen Jiayi behind her continued to call, but Shen Yue didn't listen, walking faster and faster.
"Yueyue—"
Shen Jiayi seemed flustered and chased after her.
Shen Yue walked faster and faster, eventually breaking into a run.
When she reached the bus stop, a bus was just arriving. Shen Yue got on.
There were few people on the bus. Shen Yue sat by the window in the back. The window was open, and she could still hear the woman calling.
Her fingers, clenched into fists, were bone-white.
—
At the school gate, Shen Yue saw Bai Qingzhen and Song Yan walking together, chatting and laughing.
Song Yan was smiling gently, a smile Shen Yue had never seen before.
Song Yan in this manner was exactly like the "Xiao Yan Ge Ge" from her memories.
She stared, mesmerized.
Song Yan seemed to sense something and turned his head to glance over.
The warmth in his eyes rapidly descended, leaving only coldness and disgust.
Shen Yue instantly came to her senses. She turned her head away, no longer looking.
A few people were scattered in the classroom, arriving one after another just in time.
Bai Qingzhen arrived a few minutes late.
Carrying breakfast, Bai Qingzhen nudged Shen Yue from in front. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?"
Shen Yue turned back. "I have."
Bai Qingzhen had bought too much breakfast. "Alright then. Song Yan is really something. I told him I can't eat this much, I'm not a pig."
After complaining, Bai Qingzhen was about to take out a bun to eat when the girl in front turned her head again, a faint smile appearing on her fair and beautiful face. "But I didn't eat enough this morning."
Hearing this, Bai Qingzhen divided half of the breakfast she was holding, as she couldn't finish it all herself anyway.
—
Bai Qingzhen's birthday was next week. Her birthday parties were usually grand affairs, and everyone in the class was invited.
Her family was wealthy; that was no secret.
This time, Bai Qingzhen's birthday banquet was held at a hotel, with an entire floor booked. Shen Yue was certainly expected to attend.
The gift was a cute, plush toy. Bai Qingzhen had a cold beauty but actually loved plush toys very much.
Bai Qingzhen had many friends, and Shen Yue was just one of them. After giving the gift, she sat aside and quietly ate.
Song Yan was also there. He was dressed formally, in a white suit, like flawless jade unstained by dust, or like the bright moon in the vast sky.
His demeanor was distinguished, standing out in the crowd.
He stood beside Bai Qingzhen, a golden boy and jade girl, a match made in heaven.
Shen Yue watched, her dark, moist eyes like a gloomy, lightless lake, their clarity gone.
System: [We're about to do something big.]