Chapter 21: What is True Image?

  Dusk has arrived, that deadbeat Shen Lan still hasn't returned, I ate a box of instant noodles as dinner, and went downstairs.

  If curiosity makes one's heart uneasy, then the past events in my old house are like a shadow that makes me shudder. Although I have made up my mind not to investigate things that happened half a century ago, I have to admit that as soon as I return to the garden, these things attract me.

  I walked to the small wooden building by the artificial lake and saw Shen Lan with his father Shen Rukuan from afar, it's been almost a month since I came back, this is still my third time seeing Shen Rukuan.

  Shen Lan returned to his old mansion, but why didn't he go inside? Instead, he was with his father. Did they have some secret?

  I tiptoed past, afraid of being discovered, and didn't dare get too close, secretly watching from a distance.

  I couldn't quite make out what they were saying, but judging from the expressions on their faces, it seemed like they were arguing. Shen Rukuan's face was no longer just black, but had a dark blue-green tint to it, his complexion reminded me of the white-clad vengeful spirits on Mei Mountain. Shen Lan's expression was very strange, her pale face looked as if she was in a lot of pain.

  It's really strange, how did these father and son end up like this? I was puzzled in my heart, continuing to hide behind some flowers and grass to sneak a peek.

  I saw Shen Rukuan slap Shen Lan, and Shen Lan covered his face with his hand, seemingly saying someone's name in his mouth. Although I couldn't hear it, judging from the shape of his mouth, he was saying my name.

  Why did they mention my name when they were arguing? Is the content of their argument related to me? I'm thinking wildly but can't come up with an answer.

  After a while, I saw Shen Lan hastily walking towards the main house.

  I walked out from behind a clump of flowers and came to Shen Rukuan's side.

  "Shen Shao Ye, how long have you been hiding there?" Shen Rukuan gave me a cold glance, as if he had known I was hiding there all along.

  "It's been a long time, I've seen it since you and Shen Lan had a fight." I replied with a smile.

  I know that this old man in front of me is mysterious, but he is loyal to my family, and I don't care about the coldness in his words.

  Shen Rukuan was tending to the flowers and grass while coldly asking me, "I heard from Shen Lan that you're investigating your family's old mansion's past?"

  "I replied: 'Yes, there are some questions I was just about to ask you...'"

  I didn't expect Shen Rukuan not only interrupted my words, but also seemed to get excited in his tone, shouting at me: "Young Master Shen, I have a word of warning for you, some things are better left unknown! Also, don't wander around this mansion at midnight!"

  After finishing speaking, she picked up a watering can and turned around to leave.

  Seeing Shen Rukuan's attitude, a surge of nameless anger suddenly burst out in my heart: "Shen Rukuan, you used to be just a servant in my family, do you need to talk to me like this? If you have something to say, say it clearly, don't beat around the bush with me!"

  The night had already fallen, and under the cover of darkness, Shen Ruo's calm and unhurried voice replied: "Young Master Shen, I'm doing this for your own good! You should take care of yourself!" After finishing speaking, his figure vanished into thin air.

  I returned to the room, feeling that time was particularly hard to bear. I got up and poured a glass of brandy, lit a cigarette, took out the notebook from half a century ago from the bookshelf, and started flipping through it again.

  I have read this notebook many times, but I couldn't find any clues.

  The only thing that can be confirmed is that this woman named Ruo Wu deeply loves a man named Shen Ye.

  One is a sister-in-law, the other is a younger brother-in-law, and they love each other deeply. The one who was imprisoned without reason would not be this younger brother-in-law she loves, that is to say, it would not be Shen Ye. Who could it be then? Is it Shen Ye's older brother or Shen Ye's father? Or someone else?

  I recall that news from the old newspaper, saying that if there was no red apricot coming out of the wall, because of love and hatred, setting fire to kill Shen Xie, is this possible? Most likely it's not true. Reasonably speaking, Yu Wu who deeply loved Shen Xie wouldn't become so twisted, although sometimes a woman's madness can surpass that of a man.

  Thinking of these two people having a great connection with me, my back felt a chill, I sighed and gently closed the notebook, putting it back on the bookshelf.

  I sat on the sofa, drinking white wine, with a sense of peeping at evil. Damn it, it seems that this old house of mine is not only strange, but also full of evil.

  Outside the window, the night wind blows with a rustling sound, and the leaves respond with a soft murmur. In my daze, I seem to hear again the mournful cry of that man named Shen Ye in the sea of fire, like a plaintive whisper at midnight...

  To be honest, I'm still a little scared of the ghost that occasionally appears in this garden, but at this moment my greater fear comes from deep within, what is the truth?

  I dare not imagine what kind of helplessness it was at that time, and I couldn't guess whether Shen Ye's feelings for Ruo Wu were ever truly sincere. Perhaps curiosity is the most deadly temptation - how many secrets are still hidden in this garden that I don't know about? I don't know.

  There was a knock at the door outside, it was Shen Lan: "Yu Ge, are you asleep?"

  In the quiet of the night, I suddenly heard Shen Lan's voice. My heart felt warm: "I'm still awake! Is there something?"

  "Outside the door came Shen Lan's reply: 'I've made some midnight snacks, would you like some?'"

  For dinner, he only had a box of instant noodles. Shen Lan said, "He's really hungry", and that guy was indeed a timely rain.

  I opened the door and Shen Lan walked in with two plates of cold dishes and a bowl of steaming noodles, then turned around to leave.

  I grabbed him. His hands were icy cold and his face was very pale.

  I smiled at him and said: "Why don't you sit down and have a meal with me? Will you keep me company for a drink?"

  Shen Lan's face squeezed out a faint smile: "Yu Ge, you forgot what I told you, I usually don't eat dinner."

  I just remembered, he did say so indeed.

  I reluctantly let go of his hand and said, "Then keep me company and chat with me?"

  Shen Lan sat down in my room. To be honest, I hadn't really taken a close look at him even after meeting him for so long.

  Strictly speaking, Shen Lan is still a beautiful young man. A fair face, delicate features, and a pair of lively sparkling eyes. It's just that he has a shy and timid attitude like a daughter, not enough to be a man!

  Shen Lan saw me staring at him and seemed a bit flustered.

  I asked him, "Shen Lan, I see that your face is pale and your hands and feet are cold. Are you ill? If you're ill, you should go to the hospital for a check-up. Don't worry about money, just let me know."

  Shen Lan's face was uncertain, and he replied to me: "Yu Ge, thank you for your concern, my body is fine. According to my dad, I had a lot of yin energy since birth, so my hands and feet are always cold. After all these years, I've been healthy and free from disasters."

  I suddenly remembered that night in the rental house at the foot of Mei Mountain, Shen Lan saw Qin Su'er's strange scene.

  I asked him: "Shen Lan, there is something that has been stuck in my heart for a long time, I hope you can answer me truthfully."

  Shen Lan saw how serious I was, and didn't know what I wanted to ask. A hint of panic flashed in his eyes, but it quickly passed. He replied: "Yu Ge, go ahead and ask."

  I stared at him and asked, "I'm asking you, do you know Qin Su'er or not?"

  "Qin Su'er?" Shen Lan was somewhat surprised: "You're talking about that girl I met in front of your rental house that night?"

  "Yes!" I replied.

  Shen Lan hesitated and said: "Yu Ge, I really don't know her, that night was absolutely the first time we met".

  I didn't let him off and asked again: "Then why did you say I should stay away from her when you left?"

  Shen Lan's eyes widened in surprise: "Yu Ge, have I ever said that? I don't remember..."

  I can tell that Shen Lan is not telling the truth, but he won't say it, and I have no way to force him, after all, I couldn't use torture to extort a confession from him.

  I didn't ask him anything else and waved my hand, saying to him: "You go back to your room and rest, I've had a late night snack and am going to sleep too."

  Shen Lan seemed to have let out a sigh of relief, and when leaving my house, he said: "Yu Ge, you can rest assured and sleep peacefully for the next few nights, nothing will disturb you."

  Shen Lan's words were extremely strange. Why did he say that? And why was he so sure I wouldn't hear the midnight singing and laughter in this old mansion for several nights?

  I was just about to call out to him when he shut the door and left.

  They are really a weird father and son! I sighed, shaking my head. After finishing the wine in the cup and sweeping away the noodles, I simply washed up and went to bed.

  Just as Shen Lan said, I slept exceptionally well that night, without even a dream.

  When I got up in the morning, it was already very late. I took a look at my phone and it was 8:30? I just remembered that the three-day holiday given to me by Captain Zhou had passed, and I should go to the team for work.

  I rushed downstairs and started the car. Shen Lan heard the car downstairs and stretched out a face from the window, shouting: "Yu Ge, I've prepared breakfast, eat it before going to work?"

  "I loudly replied to him: 'No way, didn't I tell you that I don't eat breakfast at home? You go ahead and eat by yourself!'"

  Shen Lan scratched his head and smiled shyly: "I forgot..."

  His words had barely fallen when I drove out of the Shen family's old mansion.

  I arrived at the team just in time for sign-in. After signing in, I walked into the office and felt a very oppressive atmosphere. What's wrong with them? Haven't they escaped from the fear of being chased by the white-robed fierce ghost on Mei Mountain that night yet?

  I put the document bag on the office desk and smiled casually: "Hey, everyone!"

  Liu Er Mao, Lin Jie and Duan Juan enthusiastically responded to me, while Guan Tingting only reluctantly replied with a "Hi!".

  Is Guan Tingting having a cold or something? Why is her attitude towards me so vastly different? I'm baffled.

  I saw Guan Tingting staring at the computer, busy as can be. I walked over and said, "Tingting, about that night... actually it wasn't...", but before I could finish speaking, she cut me off with a "shh".

  Guān Tíngtíng pointed at Liù èrmao and Duàn Jū with her hand, indicating for me to be quiet.