Chapter Thirty-Five: Let the Mystery Remain a Mystery Forever

  Returning to the Shen family's old mansion, I was surprised to find that both Shen Rukuan and Shen Lan were there. Their faces were calm and expressionless.

  They stared at me until I felt a chill in my heart. I coughed and smiled, saying, "Uncle Shen, it's rare to see you so relaxed, waiting for me to come back."

  Shen Rukuan's face was gloomy and he said coldly: "Did you go to Mei Mountain today? Did you find those two isolated graves?"

  I was startled in my heart, and it turned out that he had been waiting for me because of this matter. I had many questions to ask him in my mind, and it was rare for him to bring it up on his own initiative.

  "I replied: 'Yes, I found those two solitary graves.'"

  Shen Rukuan sighed and said, "They were also a pair of ill-fated lovers. Now they're done for - one's spirit has scattered, the other has been reincarnated as a human, and they'll never be able to see each other again for all eternity..."

  Huh? How did he know that Ruo Wu's soul had scattered and Shen Ye's ghost was taken away by Tian Lao Dao? I'm shocked!

  It seems Shen Rukuan is very clear about their story between them.

  I asked: "Uncle Shen, I only know a little about their affairs, can you tell me?"

  Shen Rukuan's eyes suddenly became very sad, and he said: "It has been nearly half a century since the incident, I didn't expect them to end up like this in the end. It's all because of their own doing, retribution for their actions..."

  "Shen Ye is your paternal grandfather's younger brother, the second young master of the Shen family. He was wrong from the start for liking your grandmother Mei Ruo Wu... The two of them did something shameful. Your grandfather, in a fit of rage, locked up your grandmother... But this still couldn't stop the longing between the two. One night, the Shen family garden suddenly caught fire, and Shen Ye was burned to death. Mei Ruo Wu went mad and was hospitalized, but soon died as well. How the fire started has been forgotten for nearly half a century, no one knows the truth... It's really tragic, your paternal grandfather Shen Ye was only 21 when he died, unmarried, and a life in its prime just disappeared..."

  "But there's one thing that's strange, you look exactly like your uncle Shen Xie, when you came back that day, I thought I saw his ghost..."

  Shen Ruokuan said this, my heart jumped, damn it, my old man wouldn't be the one who had an affair with Grandma Mei Ruo Wu and Uncle Shen Xie, would he?

  I recall that Grandma Mei was killed by Tian Lao Dao with a peach wood rosary, and my heart is filled with sorrow, tears streaming down my face.

  I gently wiped away the tears from the corner of my eyes and said, "Uncle Shen, it seems that our Shen family did indeed experience such a thing half a century ago. But as juniors, we are powerless to do anything about it. I also feel miserable..."

  "With a deep and heavy sigh, Shen Ru said: 'The two of them relied on a strong resentment to barely hold on in this garden for nearly half a century. Your grandmother Mei Ruo was a peerless beauty, singing every night, while your uncle Shen Xie turned into a fierce ghost, rekindling old dreams with your grandmother Mei Ruo here, only to end up like this...'"

  Shen Ruokuan spoke with tears falling down, it can be seen that he was very sympathetic to Shen Xie and Ruo Wu.

  Things have come to this, and it's too late to turn back. I suppose you could say it's fate? Destiny is predetermined, and no one can change it.

  I was lost in thought when Shen Lan suddenly said, "Yu Ge, I've already discussed it with Father. Starting tomorrow, we're moving out of the Shen family garden. Father wants to take me to a very faraway place and who knows, maybe we'll never see each other again..."

  "What Shen Lan said sounded like a farewell, I was shocked and asked: "Shen Lan, where are you going?""

  Shen Lan looked at me with both eyes and replied softly: "I don't know either, Dad said to go where I'll go."

  My eyes were fixed on Shen Rukuan.

  Shen Rukuan's expression turned cold again, and he replied, "There's no need to tell you this. Although we are servants of the Shen family, we also have our own secrets. Young Master Shen, from now on, this old mansion will be peaceful, so you can rest assured and live here..."

  Having said that, he took Shen Lan and left.

  It's so late, and you're leaving so soon. I'm a bit reluctant to part with you. Holding onto Shen Lan's icy hand, I asked: "Are you really going? Can't you stay here with me instead?"

  I'm telling the truth, it's been a while since I got back, and although I haven't spent much time with Shen Lan, I have to admit that I've grown somewhat fond of him despite his mysterious ways.

  Shen Lan broke free from my grasp and said something inexplicable: "Yu Ge, after all, we are people from different worlds. You have your own sky and earth, I have my own world. All banquets in the world must come to an end, when it's time to part ways, one must part ways..." He then whispered in my ear: "Yu Ge, I must remind you, be careful when interacting with women..."

  I didn't have any suspicions, perhaps we were indeed people from two different worlds. I had a glorious old man, while he was just the descendant of a servant in my old Shen family.

  Be careful when dealing with women, is he referring to Qin Suer? That little ghost can advance and retreat with me in the face of danger, and be gentle as water, what's there to be careful about?

  I couldn't bear Shen Lan's good intentions, so I forced a smile and said: "Shen Lan, I understand, thank you..."

  Shen Lan took my phone number and under the leadership of his father Shen Rukuan, walked out of the hall and disappeared into the night.

  They really are a weird couple, they just left like that, I let out a sigh and went up to the second floor, into the room.

  I lit a cigarette and found that notebook from half a century ago on the bookshelf, ignited it with a lighter, and the notebook turned to ashes in the flames.

  Everything has come to an end, and in this world or the next reincarnation, there will never be a person named Mei Ruo Wu again. However, Shen Ye, after you are reborn, you will still wander through the mortal world. At that time, will you still remember Mei Ruo Wu, who loved you deeply in your past life?

  I won't remember it anymore, let what's supposed to end come to an end, just like that big fire many years ago, even if it was a mystery, then let it remain a mystery forever...

  I'll find that phonograph and burn it too, I didn't want to see any more remnants of Shen Ye and Mei Ruo Wu's life, afraid of triggering my painful memories.

  But I left something behind, that is Shen Ye's photo. The Shen Ye in the photo was in his prime, and indeed my eyebrows and eyes were very similar to his.

  It was Shen Rukuan's words that made me keep this photo.

  After doing all this, it was almost midnight. Just as I was about to go to bed, I suddenly received a message from Qin Su'er.

  "Yu Ge, I've already spoken with Ma Gu Po and we're moving out to the rental place in Mei Shan tomorrow. Also, I have some news about Yu Er's death that I want to tell you."

  What's wrong with this line? This Qin Su'er is simply a hangover.

  "Suer, what's going on? If you don't tell me, I won't be able to sleep tonight?"

  Qin Suer sent another text message: "I heard that Yu'er saw something he shouldn't have seen before his death and was killed by someone who chased him. There is an eyewitness, a man named Liu Xia'Er, a vagrant who lives in the bridge cave under Hongqiao Bridge."

  "Alright, I'll start investigating tomorrow and try to figure out the cause of Yu'er's death as soon as possible."

  "Thanks, Yu Ge! See you tomorrow night at the rental place at Mei Mountain foot! Missing you, Su Er."

  For Pete's sake, what good am I? Can't even follow you. Thinking of the scene in the rental house tonight, I'm still a bit angry inside.

  But whenever I think of Qin Suer's charm, I still get a little excited and my body reacts. I don't want to think about her, otherwise I'll be suffocated again tonight.

  It's really as Shen Ruoqian said, the laughter and singing in the old mansion have disappeared. All of this left with Mei Youwu's death and Shen Ye's capture, far away from the old mansion.

  It's strange to say, but I have a faint sense of loss in my heart.

  As soon as it's daylight, I get up...

  Got out of bed and prepared to go under the bridge at Hongqiao to find a vagrant named Liu Xiao'er, to figure out what Qin Yuer had seen that she shouldn't have seen and was being pursued for.

  I made a phone call to Tianji, and on the other end of the line came Tianji's voice: "Hey, buddy, what's up?"

  It seems like he's already recovered from his illness.

  "You're still alive, you rascal?"

  "Which is so easy to die, I have eight lives, go one still seven..."

  To be honest, Tianji is a cheap person with a dirty mouth, but when it comes to my feelings, she's actually not bad.

  I said: "You're just bragging... I've told you serious things before. I'm investigating a case and want to ask you to go with me, are you interested?"

  "Whatever, bro," replied the pheasant. "This is your business as cops, what does it have to do with me? I'm not going..."

  I originally thought Tianji would agree readily, but unexpectedly he refused me outright.

  I didn't give up and continued to persuade him: "Are you afraid? You've been studying at the police academy for a year, don't you want to be a hero and have a chance to use your skills?"

  "Alright! I'm no hero, what's the use of having a place to show off? Sorry buddy, I really can't help you with this one, go by yourself, okay?" The frog remained completely unmoved.

  I suddenly laughed and said: "Tianji, do you know that Guan Tingting will also go with me, why don't you join us?"

  "This... this...", Tian Ji hesitated and replied: "Let me think about it for a moment!"

  Haha, this girl's obsession with Guan Tingting is really something. As soon as I moved out of that fierce woman Guan Tingting's place, my tone softened.

  I smiled smugly to myself, and on the other end of the phone came Tianji's response: "Alright, buddy, for our friendship, let's go all out! I'll be waiting for you at 9:30 at the Xiangxi Memories Bar, treat me to breakfast!"

  "Alright! I snapped my fingers and replied, 'No problem, see you at the bar!' Then I hung up the phone."

  If I really told Guan Tingting, would she go? I'm not sure. That woman is fierce and unpredictable, a rose with thorns, and I really don't dare to offend her.

  But Dianji and Lin Jie, these two men were enchanted by her.