Chapter 178 - 176: Close Yet Unfamiliar

Chapter 178: Chapter 176: Close Yet Unfamiliar

After their visit to the doctor and a day of shopping, they returned to Weiyang Palace.

Shen Yanzhou dropped all the bags, big and small. "I’m just a pack mule."

"What else?" Shen Shilan said, taking a tissue to wipe the sweat from his face. "Why else would we bring you shopping?"

Shen Yanzhou sighed. "I’ll go down for another load."

Shen Shilan and Su Miaoyi went into the apartment.

Su Miaoyi went to the kitchen to get something to drink.

Shen Shilan didn’t stay idle for a moment. She took out everything they had bought, putting the items that needed washing to one side.

The ones that didn’t need washing, she took out and folded neatly.

"I can do it," Su Miaoyi said, coming out of the kitchen and seeing her tidying up.

"I’ll take care of it all so you don’t have to," Shen Shilan said as she organized. "As for the herbal medicine, they’ll brew it at the clinic. Have Yan Zhou pick it up tomorrow. You just drink one packet in the morning and one at night."

"Okay." Su Miaoyi followed her.

She wanted to help but felt like she was just in the way.

Shen Shilan put the clothes that didn’t need washing directly into the closet.

The ones that needed to be washed, she sorted by color and put into the washing machine.

She also changed the four-piece bedding set on Su Miaoyi’s bed.

They had bought it at the store, then washed and dried it before bringing it back.

Su Miaoyi just trailed after her, back and forth.

"Go find a place to sit for a bit," Shen Shilan said.

But Su Miaoyi insisted on following her.

Shen Shilan didn’t say anything more about it.

In just over an hour, even the vases were filled with fresh flowers.

Shen Yanzhou had also brought over a litter box, cat food, canned food, cat treats, toys, and a whole assortment of other supplies.

For the first time, Su Miaoyi felt that this three-bedroom apartment wasn’t all that big after all.

Once everything was put away, it was getting late, and Shen Shilan prepared to leave.

"There are still a few things in the washing machine, remember to take them out."

"Okay."

"When you’re at work, there’s not much to be done. But on your days off, you must eat well. Yan Zhou is right next door, so you should go to his place to eat. The family chef will come over; just tell him whatever you’re in the mood for."

"Okay," Su Miaoyi agreed.

"Drink more hot water and fewer cold drinks. I packed the clothes you need for the station in that blue bag. There are underclothes and outer layers—two sets of everything—plus a jacket. I left it on the cabinet by the entrance, so you’ll see it on your way out."

"Okay."

"When you don’t have work, don’t stay up late. I’ve put food in the fridge, and there’s a snack cabinet in the kitchen. Even if you’re really short on time, you have to eat something."

"Okay."

"Once the medicine arrives, make sure you take it on time." Shen Shilan was still giving instructions all the way from the apartment down to the parking garage.

Shen Yanzhou said, "Auntie, I’ll keep an eye on her."

Shen Shilan glanced at him. "I’d be thankful enough if you could just keep an eye on yourself."

Shen Yanzhou: "..."

"You too. Work never ends, so make sure you rest," Shen Shilan said. "Even if you became a total spendthrift, you couldn’t burn through the family’s money in ten lifetimes. Don’t work yourself too hard."

Su Miaoyi choked again.

’Is casually flexing their wealth just a normal thing for this family?’

’Was I... like this before, too?’

"Auntie, why does that sound so harsh?" Shen Yanzhou asked.

"Is it harsher than the things your father says?" Shen Shilan retorted.

Su Miaoyi looked at Shen Yanzhou.

Shen Yanzhou suddenly fell silent, then slowly let out a sigh.

"Alright, head back up." Shen Shilan got in her car. "Get to bed early tonight. Let me know if you need anything."

"Okay."

They watched Shen Shilan’s car drive away.

Shen Yanzhou and Su Miaoyi started walking back together.

They entered the elevator in silence. Shen Yanzhou looked at her. "You have something to say."

Su Miaoyi opened her mouth, but before any sound could come out...

Shen Yanzhou suddenly added, "If it’s about money, then don’t bother."

Su Miaoyi: "..."

She looked at him.

Shen Shilan had paid for everything today.

She had wanted to pay, but Shen Yanzhou had held her back.

Of course, she also knew that Shen Shilan had been happy to spend the money, so she hadn’t pressed the issue.

It was just that she truly felt a little uneasy.

Shen Yanzhou looked back at her.

Neither of them spoke, but he understood the look in her eyes.

The elevator doors opened.

Shen Yanzhou raised a hand and placed it on her head, guiding her out of the elevator and straight toward her apartment.

"Open the door."

Su Miaoyi opened the door.

The two of them entered the living room and sat facing each other on the sofa.

Then they just looked at each other again.

After a moment, Shen Yanzhou thought for a bit and said, "Feeling awkward about all this, aren’t you?"

Su Miaoyi looked at him without speaking.

"My aunt... It’s been a long time since she last saw you. She’s been wanting to visit, but she was worried it would be a burden or have a negative effect on you, so she stayed away," Shen Yanzhou said. "But... in the end, she couldn’t hold back."

Su Miaoyi nodded.

"Do you resent us?" After some thought, Shen Yanzhou finally asked.

Su Miaoyi immediately shook her head. "Of course not."

Hearing her answer, Shen Yanzhou breathed a sigh of relief.

"It’s just... I..." Su Miaoyi paused, unsure how to put it into words. "Deep down, I feel close to you all. When I’m with you, I feel a great sense of security, of belonging. But... at the same time, it all feels very foreign."

"I..." Su Miaoyi didn’t know what to say. After all, she couldn’t even clearly explain her own muddled feelings, which made her miserable. "Ninety-eight percent of the time, I feel like I am Su Miaoyi."

Shen Yanzhou listened to her words.

Zhuang Yanzheng had guessed correctly; she only saw herself as Su Miaoyi.

"So when... you, all of you, spend money on me, it feels like I’m taking money from another family," Su Miaoyi said, then suddenly added, "Besides... are you all that sure that I’m Qin Le..."

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning tore a gash in the night sky.

Through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, the flash of lightning in the darkness was incredibly distinct.

Su Miaoyi jumped, startled.

She looked out at the dark night.

’Is this some kind of omen?’

’Am I not allowed to say it?’

"You are," Shen Yanzhou said with absolute certainty.

Su Miaoyi glanced at him, then looked back out the window. "But what if I’m not?"

Outside, there was no more lightning or thunder.

"You are. I wouldn’t be mistaken. My aunt wouldn’t be mistaken either," Shen Yanzhou said.

Su Miaoyi looked at him. "Because I look like her?"

After learning she wasn’t Su Miaoyi, all her speculation about her true identity had come from Shen Yanzhou, Shen Shilan, and Qin Chengyuan.

Shen Yanzhou shook his head. "The first time I saw you, at that pet boarding place, you really resembled her. But we didn’t interact, so I didn’t think much of it."

Su Miaoyi remembered that time. Shen Yanzhou had indeed been very cold.

The next few times they met, he was just as cold.

But after that... his words had started probing, hinting at something more.

"I don’t know how I knew, but anyway... I would never mistake my own sister," Shen Yanzhou said, looking at her.

Su Miaoyi looked back at him, blinking. After a moment, she said, "I’m suddenly a little touched."

"Are you going to cry?" Shen Yanzhou asked.

"I’m not *that* touched," Su Miaoyi said.

Shen Yanzhou sighed with a hint of regret. "What a shame."

"Huh?" Su Miaoyi was confused.

"I haven’t seen you cry in years," Shen Yanzhou said. "I kind of miss it."

Su Miaoyi shot him another glare.

Shen Yanzhou said, "So, can I ask what happened?"

K-CRACK—

Another exceptionally long bolt of lightning flashed outside the window.

This one came with sound. The noise was so loud it felt like it could split the building in two; it was incredibly loud.

Shen Yanzhou looked out the window.

He remembered the first bolt of lightning, then looked back at Su Miaoyi.

Su Miaoyi looked out the window and said tentatively, "I’m not Su Miao—"

Before she could finish her sentence, four or five bolts of lightning branched out across the sky.

It was a massive strike.

The thunder was deafening.

Shen Yanzhou immediately clamped a hand over her mouth, stopping her from speaking.

Su Miaoyi pulled his hand away and said to the window, "Okay, okay, I won’t say it! You can call off your divine powers now."

And sure enough, the thunder and lightning stopped after that.

It didn’t even rain.

Su Miaoyi stared out the window.

’If this hadn’t happened to her personally, she never would have believed such a thing was possible...’