Chapter 45: The Red Dress and the White Moonlight Part 2

As the chosen parents followed the teacher to the office, Ming Li messaged Ming Xi to ask if she knew why she was being called.

Ming Xi was confused: [No idea. I did really well this time.]

Ming Li waited patiently. It was half an hour later when it was finally her turn. All the other parents had already left, their faces heavy with concern.

Ming Li felt a pang of nervousness, but the teacher immediately reassured her. “I just wanted to have a chat. Don’t be nervous.”

The teacher spent a few moments reminiscing, asking if she was married and what she was doing now. He mentioned that he remembered her being an extraordinary dancer and asked if she was still practicing.

Regarding her family’s bankruptcy, the teacher had naturally seen the news. Over the past three years, he had made sure to give Ming Xi every possible opportunity for financial aid.

Ming Li briefly explained her current situation. Seeing that she was doing reasonably well, the teacher’s face broke into a smile.

Only then did he slowly bring up Ming Xi.

Ming Xi’s situation was different from the other students. Some of the others were struggling with declining grades due to puppy love or poor mental resilience. The teacher had counseled them one by one. But Ming Xi’s problem was that she was pushing herself far too hard.

The teacher noted that Ming Xi never took naps during breaks, arrived at school very early, and completed more extracurricular exercises than anyone else. He assumed she was working just as hard at home.

Concerned for her health, the teacher asked Ming Li to keep an eye on her, fearing she might break her body before the college entrance exams even arrived.

Based on her current level, getting into Capital University was a certainty. In the last two mock exams, which were harder than the actual entrance exam, Ming Xi had scored over 700. As long as she stayed steady, there would be no problem.

The teacher also mentioned Shen Chang, warning her that the Shen family was not to be trifled with and to be on her guard. However, since Ming Xi and Shi Sui had been fine after the last incident while Shen Chang had been transferred to a different class, he guessed Ming Li had some connections. Regardless, a warning never hurt.

Ming Li thanked him and chatted for a few more minutes before leaving.

By now, the school was nearly empty of parents. Ming Li headed downstairs, but as she rounded a corner, she collided with someone. The impact was so sudden and forceful that it nearly sent the other person tumbling down the stairs. Ming Li reacted quickly, grabbing the woman’s arm just in time.

Ming Li had been lost in thought, wondering how to gently tell Ming Xi to rest more, and hadn’t noticed someone rushing up the stairs.

The other woman was also in a hurry, moving with frantic energy. Ming Li was unhurt and immediately began to apologize.

To her surprise, the woman called out in a low, heavy voice, “Ming Li?”

Ming Li looked up. The woman looked familiar, but she couldn’t quite place her.

“Hello.” Ming Li greeted her, refraining from asking who she was while her eyes searched for a clue.

“I’m Shen Chu.” The woman wore a pair of plain-glass spectacles that partially obscured her sharp, cold gaze. Her tone was flat. “Gu Qingshuang’s friend.”

Once she identified herself, Ming Li realized who she was. She was Shen Chang’s older sister—and the older sister of Shen Lideng.

Standing a step higher than her, Ming Li looked “down” at her. A flicker of distaste crossed her eyes, though she maintained a polite facade. “Miss Shen. It has been a long time. My apologies, I didn’t recognize you at first.”

She had only ever seen Shen Chu from a distance at various banquets. Gu Xueqiang had no interest in doing business with the Shen family; on the rare occasions she did, it was with Shen Chu’s father.

Of the three Shen siblings, Shen Chang took after their father the most—looking somewhat dim-witted and lacking any air of shrewdness. Shen Chu was entirely different. One look at her face told you that you could never guess what she was thinking. She looked every bit the natural-born businesswoman.

Shen Chu knew the greeting was mere social grace and let it slide. She gave a distant smile. “It’s fine. Are you here alone? Where is Gu Qingshuang?”

“I’m here for my sister’s parent-teacher conference,” Ming Li said. Remembering the vile things Shen Chang had done, she added, “Since she isn’t here to attend a conference for someone else’s brother today, she naturally didn’t come.”

“Still angry?” Shen Chu’s lips curled slightly. She remembered the overseas call Gu Qingshuang had made, asking her to deal with Shen Chang. It was clear that Gu Qingshuang wasn’t as indifferent toward her wife as she pretended to be. In fact, Gu Qingshuang had called her again just a few days ago to give Shen Chang another verbal lashing.

Shen Chu decided to offer a small favor to bridge the gap between the couple. “I’ve been so busy preparing for my wedding that I haven’t had time to manage that worthless brother of mine. I asked Qingshuang to step in on my behalf.”

“Oh,” Ming Li replied perfunctorily.

“The wedding is next week. If you don’t mind, Miss Ming, you can accompany Qingshuang to the banquet,” Shen Chu invited. “I just gave her the invitation today.”

Ming Li smiled warmly. “If I have the time, I’ll certainly be there.”

With the pleasantries exhausted, Ming Li had no interest in why Shen Chu was there. She made an excuse about having errands and brushed past her to head downstairs.

Shen Chu watched Ming Li’s face in silence for a moment before making way. Her fingers idly toyed with the ring on her fourth finger as she fell into thought.

Halfway down the stairs, Ming Li heard a muffled male voice, thick with embarrassment and fear. “Big Sister… why are you here?”

“To see what ‘good deeds’ my wonderful brother has been up to lately,” Shen Chu said coldly.

“Who were you talking to just now? Was that Ming Xi’s sister?” Shen Chang tried to change the subject. “Did you see her face? She looks just like Second Sister.”