Chapter 49: Sunshine and Shadows Together

  An Yi shook her head, not understanding why her sister was so worked up. "I've been thinking about this all along," she said. "Why are you taking her side so seriously? It's fun to get entangled in other people's grudges for no reason?"

  Upon hearing this, An Yiran's face immediately turned stern and he said solemnly: "An Yi Jin, listen well. Without her, we would have starved to death on the streets long ago. Her kindness is something I will never be able to repay in my lifetime. As long as it's for her sake, even if it means giving up my life, I must see it through."

  At the age of seventeen, An Yijun didn't have such a strong sense of gratitude. Hearing his sister suddenly speak to him so seriously, he tilted his head and thought carefully. Favor? How old was he that year? And how old was she? Hmm... no... she seemed to be born in the same year as him?

  "Ugh... what a load of nonsense! An Yijun waved his hand randomly and turned back to continue playing his game."

  Jian Yi looked carefree, but An Yi couldn't help but feel anxious. He couldn't resist reminding him: "In the next few days, you must let your friends in Jiang City keep a close eye on things and not cause any trouble. You must make sure that Jiang Fengchen comes to find you willingly. Only by grasping the latest developments can we be confident of success."

  "Got it, sis. When have I ever messed up what you've entrusted me with?"

  Upon hearing An Yijun's guarantee, An Yiran finally put his mind at ease. "Alas, I didn't want you to get involved either. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let you study in Yin City earlier. I was afraid that you would be influenced and your mind would become twisted. It was a mistake that sent you to Jiang City, but now it's actually helpful. Is this the arrangement of heaven?"

  "Sister, I never believe in fate, our destiny is always in our own hands."

  "It's fine, then you'd better make a good life for yourself and let me enjoy some happiness too."

  After chatting for a while, An Yiran picked up her bag and walked out again.

  Arriving at the familiar small villa, An Yiran skillfully took out the key and opened the door, walking straight into the girl's room, but unexpectedly found that she was not in the room. The room was tidy, and there were still signs of someone having slept on the bed, looking like they had just left a short while ago.

  An Yiran furrowed her brow in confusion, but soon understood. Of course, she had already recovered physically and wouldn't continue to stay at home staring out the window every day; naturally, she would return to her normal life.

  Thinking so, An Yiran closed the door calmly and walked out.

  River City

  As soon as the class was over, Su Yisu received a strange call. She held her mobile phone and hesitated for a moment, looking at the unfamiliar number, wondering whether to answer it or not. It's said that... there are many scam calls these days, hmm... and those fee-absorbing calls...

  Li Shuoyan hadn't left yet, and seeing her tangled expression, she couldn't help but laugh, pushing her gently and saying: "What's wrong with you? Just answer it, thinking for so long, it must be a familiar person calling."

  Su Yisu thought for a moment before carefully pressing the call button, "Hello?"

  From over there came Shen Beiqiu's cheerful voice, "Yi Su, I thought you hadn't finished class yet, almost got left behind."

  "Huh? Shen Bei Qiu?" Hearing the familiar voice of Shen Bei Qiu, Su Yi Su's expression changed from being worried to one of surprise, "How did you change your number? I almost didn't want to pick up!"

  Shen Beiqiu smiled and said, "I changed the school's phone number, so I specifically called to tell you."

  "Really! You're already a university student!" Su Yisuo finally reacted, "How's life in Shuǐ Xiāng? It must be very beautiful and wonderful..." Just saying it made Su Yisuo feel intoxicated. That gentle Shuǐ Xiāng...

  "Yes, the scenery is great, suitable for writing from life."

  "Hey! You only have painting in your eyes? Not romantic at all." Su Yisu said, very unhappy, what kind of person is this, such a beautiful scenery, wasted...

  Shen Beiqiu couldn't help but laugh twice, but immediately afterwards he let out a melancholic sigh and said: "Even if I understand romance, romance doesn't come looking for me."

  "Shen Bei Qiu," Su Yi Su's face revealed a sly smile, "the girl you secretly love isn't with you?"

  "Yes, across mountains and rivers, I am worried."

  "You won't drag her along and make her report together with you?"

  "But she..."

  "What's wrong with her?"

  "Oh, never mind," Shen Beiqiu forced a couple of laughs and changed the subject, "You should go eat now, right?"

  Su Yisuo glanced out the window and saw Jiang Zhanlin and Lin Wan walking over, laughing and chatting. She replied, "Okay, Jiang Zhanlin and Lin Wan are coming to find me, let's talk next time."

  Jiang Zuo leaned against the window, smiling and looking at Su Yisou, saying: "Who are you chatting with so happily? You even hung up the phone as soon as you saw us coming."

  "Who else could it be besides Jiang Fengchen?" Lin Wan continued.

  Su Yi helplessly looked at her two good friends, "What's going on! It was Shen Beiqiu who called."

  "Oh..." The two of them let out a long sigh, and only then did they realize.

  "It's been a while since I've seen Jiang Fengchen, but it shouldn't be this annoying, right?"

  "Yes, yes." Lin Wan nodded in agreement with Jiang Zuo's words.

  "Lin Wan!" Su Yi Su angrily shouted in a low voice, "Are you going to pretend to be Sha Shixiong again?"

  Lin Wan wasn't afraid of her at all, and instead burst out laughing, saying: "Haha, someone's getting angry, why don't you just shut up obediently, haha."

  "Hmm..." Besides coldly snorting, Su Yisou was completely at a loss.

  Time is still advancing in an orderly manner.

  September 21st. This day was a bit special for Jiangcheng No.2 Middle School, as the school gave all teachers and students a one-day holiday, including the tortured third-year high school students. Because this day was the 100th anniversary of the founding of Jiangcheng No.2 Middle School. The school spared no expense in celebrating grandly, decorating the campus "in full bloom", holding various exhibitions, concerts, and inviting many local dignitaries, media friends, and for a time, the whole school celebrated together.

  Of course, when there is no rigid requirement for students to participate in these activities, naturally, not many people are willing to join in the fun. For them, how many years of school anniversaries have never had a day off, such as Su Yisu. Moreover, since the 22nd was Mid-Autumn Festival, from the moment the class teacher announced that classes would be suspended for one day on the afternoon of the 20th, she made preparations to return home without hesitation.

  "Ma!" As usual, Su Yisuo shouted loudly before reaching the door and then waited for Shen Xiulan to come out and give her a big hug.

  This time was a bit unusual, the courtyard was quiet, until Su Yisu rushed to the door, Shen Xiulan did not smile and come out to greet her, blaming her for being reckless. The iron gate in front of the yard was locked, looking through the iron gate, the interior decoration was still so familiar, still spotless, but... where's Mom?

  Su Yisu hesitantly took out the key from her bag and opened the door, standing in the yard looking around. Everything with a door was locked - the kitchen, the main gate... She walked into the small flowerbed in front of the house, where the flowers now hung their heads listlessly. The dry soil under the pots cracked open in the scorching sun, forming one fissure after another.

  How many days has it been since Mom last watered them……it's hard for them to hold on until now……Su Yisu muttered, putting down her bag, picking up the watering can and pouring some water, carefully opening the flower branches, watering the roots. After finishing, she ran to fetch another pot of water, gently washing each leaf to remove the heat and dust. Looking at the delicate flower leaves with dew drops shining in the evening sun, Su Yisu finally put down the watering can, picked up her bag and opened the door into the living room.

  Looking at the empty home, Su Yisuo felt a bit unaccustomed. Originally, when there were people at home, the feeling was completely different from when there was no one. When Ah Ma was alone at home, what kind of loneliness did she endure?

  Su Yisu wanted to give Shen Xiulan a call and ask where she was. But as soon as she picked up her phone, she remembered that Ah Ma didn't carry a mobile phone; whenever she looked for Ah Ma in the past, she would always call the landline at home. Before, Ah Ma had always been at home, so Su Yisu hadn't thought it was a problem that Ah Ma didn't use a mobile phone - until now, when she suddenly realized how important it was to have a phone on her person. At least then, when others wanted to find her, there would be some way to get in touch.

  Helpless, she had no choice but to call Su Yu. Wherever Ah Ma went, she would definitely tell Ah Ba.

  The mobile phone rang for a whole minute, but Su Yu did not answer the call.

  Su Yisu became increasingly puzzled, a feeling of unease rising in her heart. In the end, she couldn't help but comfort herself, maybe Dad is busy.

  After some thought, she walked out of her house, ran next door and knocked on Uncle Li's door.

  "Second Auntie, Second Auntie, are you at home?"

  After calling out for a while, someone finally responded from inside. The one who opened the door was Erniang's daughter, several years older than Suyisu, who had just graduated from university this year and hadn't found a job yet, so she was temporarily resting at home.

  "Hey, you're back! Anything up?"

  "Sister En, do you know where my mom went?"

  "LAN Auntie?" The girl who was called En Jie jie furrowed her brow and thought for a moment, "Yesterday I think I heard my mom say..." She said half of it then stopped, wrinkling her brow, not knowing what she was thinking about.

  Su Yisuo hastily asked: "What did you say?"

  Sister En shook her head, "At that time, I didn't listen carefully and forgot. But at this time, will she go out to buy vegetables?"

  Su Yisu also shook her head dejectedly, "Mom rarely goes out to buy vegetables, even if she does, she usually finishes buying them in the morning."

  "There might be special circumstances," Elder Sister En comforted her, "Don't think too much about it, maybe your mom will come back soon. You just got back, right? Your mom can't not be home all day, sometimes going out is normal, isn't it?"

  Upon hearing Auntie En say this, Su Yisuo's hanging heart finally put down, and her face gradually revealed a smile, saying: "I know, thank you Auntie En, then I'll be going back."

  "Goodbye for now."

  Back home, Su Yisuo glanced at the quiet living room where you could hear a pin drop, and then got up and walked into the kitchen to decide on making dinner for when her parents returned.