Chapter 50
On the last day of the college entrance exam, the air was filled with a tense atmosphere.
The chirping of the cicadas grew more and more urgent, a constant reminder of the grand finale to come.
For the first time ever, Lin Lan wore a qipao.
The deep blue silk flowed like water on her body, perfectly outlining her cold and elegant figure.
The retro style softened the sharpness between her brows, and when her gaze fell on Lin Shuxing’s back, it was as if a beam of light gently spread with her gaze.
This was a purely handmade, old-fashioned qipao, with a few pure and flawless East pearls as buttons.
Shui Wuding had seen this kind of pearl before, on Wen Qianxue’s necklace. It was priceless, and one of the ordinary love tokens that Lin Lan had given her.
Shui Wuding’s expression became a little complicated.
These past few days, Lin Lan had pushed aside all her schedules. She had let Lin Qingwan handle all the company’s affairs, and had concentrated on accompanying Lin Shuxing for the exam.
She didn’t even look at her phone much, only occasionally carefully flipping through a page of yellowed letter paper.
That was Wen Qianxue’s suicide note, the suicide note she had left for Lin Lan.
In the last days of Wen Qianxue’s life, the doctor had proposed a bone marrow transplant and stem cell extraction. Her daughter, as a direct relative, had become her most likely lifesaver.
It was also at that time that Lin Lan had learned that the child had been swapped.
She had not told Wen Qianxue, only ordered a city-wide search for that child.
But even with the forces of both the light and dark sides, they had not found any clues.
The information of the other pregnant woman seemed to have been erased from thin air.
Shui Wuding had been in seclusion at that time. She had forcefully broken through her shackles but had only managed to see Wen Qianxue one last time.
The Wen family’s ancestors had also been prominent at one time. Two hundred years ago, an immortal had appeared, and it was properly recorded in the Jade Emperor’s book.
Shui Wuding had always believed that Wen Qianxue also had an immortal fate. Otherwise, how could she have so easily overcome her own life calamity?
But the curse of a short life followed them like a shadow. They always withered at the most brilliant moment of their lives, fleeting.
“Shui Wuding, no matter what, please protect her…” she had held her hand and instructed.
Before Shui Wuding had agreed, Wen Qianxue’s strength was surprisingly great. A fire burned under her calm skin.
Before she died, Wen Qianxue had written many, many letters. Except for the only one for Lin Lan, the rest were in an iron box, prepared for her daughter.
She had too many things she had not said to her. She had not had time to watch her grow up.
Later, when Lin Qingwan was found by Shui Wuding, this iron box was also handed over to her by Lin Lan.
Shui Wuding was one of the few people who knew the inside story back then.
Lin Lan’s attitude towards Lin Shuxing was so bad, a large part of the reason was that she felt that if her biological daughter had been there at that time, Wen Qianxue might not have died.
This assumption almost drove her crazy.
Even after she had thought it through and realized that Lin Shuxing was also innocent, Lin Lan was even more unable to face her.
—You personally sent this child who called you “Mom” to her death.
She had to repeat those baseless accusations over and over again to offset the guilt surging in her heart.
Lin Lan had never been a morally upright person. To climb to the top, which path was not paved with a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood?
However, the more distant she was from the little Lin Shuxing, the more that child tried everything to get close.
Lin Shuxing was very beautiful when she was a child, as if carved from pink jade, like an angel. She didn’t cry or make a fuss, just smiled quietly at others with a pair of clear eyes.
At first, she had just accidentally taken the place of the Wen family’s bloodline. When she occasionally got sick, Wen Qianxue would be heartbroken and would hold her in her arms day and night to take care of her.
After Wen Qianxue passed away, Lin Qingwan was found. The secret method was implemented, and Lin Shuxing officially took over her destined early death.
Under the torment of illness, Lin Shuxing slowly became irritable. She was in too much pain, unable to relieve it, and had no one to talk to.
The act of revealing her wounds was too private, like holding out her bloody heart, begging for a little pity.
Lin Shuxing’s pride did not allow her to do so.
Mom, is it because I’m often sick that you don’t like me?
Mom, I’m not a qualified heir. Have I disappointed you?
Mom…
There were too many questions that could not be answered.
She had once naively thought that all problems would be solved when she grew up, but after searching for eighteen years, she found that the problem itself was wrong.
She no longer smiled at people, nor did she call Lin Lan “Mom.”
Before the whole truth was revealed, whether it was out of pique or the hint of a dull ache in her heart, she had long since changed her address for Lin Lan to “Ms. Lin.”
She had not expected it to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Their relationship should have remained at this distant level.
“…”
There was no medicine for regret in life.
Once a step was taken, even if it was a bottomless abyss in front, one had to continue walking.
Shui Wuding looked at the woman’s lonely, distant back and murmured softly, “You regret it.”
This time, it was a statement.
But what was the use of regretting it now?
Fang Yi could only transfer her illness this one time. The destined fate could no longer be changed.
Ding ling ling!
The bell pierced the sky. The main door opened. The reporters had been waiting at the school gate for a long time. From a dead silence to a bustling crowd, it only took a moment—
The college entrance exam was over!
Countless cheers and laughter were wrapped in the young faces. They surged towards the future like a tide.
“Hey, here, here!”
Parents craned their necks, struggling to find their own children in the crowd.
They hugged excitedly, loudly venting their joy after being liberated. Some also flicked their wrists and tore the heavy past to shreds on the spot.
The small exam site was filled with the purest joys, sorrows, and angers. There would never be a more relaxed moment than this.
Lin Lan took the flowers from the butler, held them carefully in her arms, and shared this subtle feeling with the ordinary people.
A young lady with a star hairpin appeared in her line of sight.
From a distance, Lin Lan saw her at a glance.
She was holding a transparent file bag, her lips slightly pursed, holding her phone with one hand, her deep and indifferent expression out of place with the surrounding joy.
Their eyes met.
Lin Lan saw the corner of Lin Shuxing’s lips clearly rise a little. It was a subconscious action, but it was immediately suppressed, and the entire angle of her face tensed into a line.
The butler and the bodyguards went up to them with concern and brought their dazzling star back to the sun.
Shui Wuding held down the restless Jiang Wan and warned her to be quiet, or she would burn her whiskers with a fire.
Jiang Wan turned her back, recited the actor’s self-cultivation a thousand times, and finally managed to hold back her tears.
She could feel that Fang Yi’s aura was still continuing, but Lin Lan and Shui Wuding’s reactions were too scary.
They were preparing funeral objects on one side, and on the other, they were offering her a large sum of money to play Fang Yi for a while longer.
The remuneration offered by the Lin family was undoubtedly very generous. As a local power that had been entrenched for a hundred years, their family’s connections and treasury reserves were astonishing.
What they should have, what they shouldn’t have. Even Jiang Wan, who had seen many treasures, was very surprised.
No wonder they could afford to keep a bad snake.
But, but, why do this? What on earth happened to Fang Yi?
Jiang Wan held it in and held it in, but still couldn’t help but secretly wipe her tears behind Shui Wuding’s back.
Before she could let out a wail and cry, Shui Wuding quickly stuffed a few grapes into her mouth.
…
Lin Shuxing walked closer, her cold gaze sweeping around. She lowered her head, not knowing who she was messaging. The screen was filled with dense text.
Lin Lan handed her the bouquet, a rare smile on her lips. “It’s over.”
The young lady took the flowers and nodded. “Yes.”
She lowered her eyes and no longer followed her with her gaze as she used to.
This detail made Lin Lan’s heart tighten, and her brow furrowed unconsciously.
She couldn’t help but raise her hand and place it on Lin Shuxing’s shoulder, just as all elders would do to their children, and asked, “Is there anything you want?”
This intimate action made Lin Shuxing take a step back, leaving the woman’s hand awkwardly in the air.
The butler bowed slightly and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Young lady, the head of the house has been waiting for you to come out. You’ve worked hard. Would you like to eat first, or go to the amusement park to play?”
Lin Lan had booked the largest amusement park in the area, just to make Lin Shuxing happy.
Lin Qingwan had originally wanted to see Lin Shuxing, but was also mercilessly rejected by Lin Lan.
This was the first time she had rejected Lin Qingwan’s request.
Lin Lan had completely given her three precious days to Lin Shuxing, trying to make up for eighteen years of regret with her belated companionship.
Lin Shuxing said nothing, calmly confronting Lin Lan. The arrogance on their lips was three-tenths similar.
Equally noble, equally indifferent, equally with the condescending arrogance of a superior.
The sun was scorching. In a daze, a gust of wind passed through time, making one’s ears ring and eyes dizzy. It was as if the person standing here was Lin Lan and her former self.
Never giving in, never reconciling, vowing to stir up the silent mortal world.
What a familiar unwillingness, what a familiar anger.
Lin Shuxing asked, “Where’s Fang Yi?”
Shui Wuding turned sideways and let out Jiang Wan, who was crying so hard she was almost not human.
“I…” Jiang Wan didn’t want to be so embarrassing in Fang Yi’s image, but when she met the young lady’s cold eyes, her sadness was instantly ignited.
Her fan’s life is in danger. Why is her fiancée still so cold!
The black-haired woman cried her heart out, her tail almost popping out. Shui Wuding could only hold her tightly and threaten in a low voice, “Shut up!”
Too absurd.
Lin Shuxing looked at Lin Lan and repeated, word by word, “Where is Fang Yi?”
Amidst the woman’s hesitation, Lin Shuxing said coldly, “Don’t lie to me, Ms. Lin.”
She tried her best to appear mature and indifferent, but in the crying of the fake Fang Yi, two lines of tears still couldn’t help but slide down from the corners of her eyes.
Lin Shuxing stubbornly bit her lip, her face expressionless, but her tears flowed more and more, hitting the ground and becoming the smallest sea.
They had an agreement. Fang Yi would come and pick her up.
They would hold hands, their ten fingers intertwined, and never be separated again.
Lin Lan silently took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Lin Shuxing.
She embraced the deep sorrow and grievance in her eyes, and gently patted her trembling back, one by one.
Lin Lan’s voice was dry, and the knuckles on the back of the young lady’s fingers turned slightly white from the force.
“I will give you the best of everything. From now on, I will not let you suffer any more harm.”
The belated warmth was like boiling water poured down her throat. The young lady struggled violently in the embrace she had once dreamed of.
She pounded on Lin Lan’s chest, and the grievances that had accumulated for eighteen years finally erupted at this moment.
“I don’t want it!!”
“I only want Fang Yi. I want her—give her back to me!!!”
Lin Lan closed her eyes, feeling the pain of her pounding on her body, and deepened the embrace.
“Fang Yi is gone,” Lin Lan said in a low voice. “I was the one who let her leave.”
She accepted all of her out-of-control emotions, even if she hated her.
The young lady in her arms trembled, and she bit down hard on Lin Lan’s shoulder, her whimper turning into a painful, muffled grunt.
The butler leaned over nervously, but was stopped by Lin Lan’s restrained hand.
Lin Lan stroked the young lady’s long hair, her eyes lowered, and her own eyes also turned red.
…
“No.”
The ends of her cascading hair were blown by the wind, and a gentle force suddenly descended.
Fang Yi opened her arms and awkwardly hugged the mother and daughter, one in each hand, and patted them soothingly one by one. Her voice was confused and clear:
“I didn’t leave. I was just late.”
Heck yeah *punchingair