Chapter 148: Deceiving Da Yizi Again

Her water‑green dress had been torn off a section, exposing her delicate shoulders and the black lace trim, a pair of high, firm breasts rising and falling with her rapid breathing, her beautiful eyes drifting as she looked at the ceiling.

A nude high‑heel slipped off halfway, perched on the toe encased in stockings.

Xu Yuexin, upon seeing such a beautiful sight, instantly felt a surge of agitation, and without a word bent his body, then sank his waist.

"Um…"

With Da Yizi's soft call, her Jade Ear Pendant began to sway rapidly…

……

The next morning, Xu Yuexin and Da Yizi arrived early at Kai Tak Airport.

Seeing that it was still early, Xu Yuexin handed his luggage to Da Yizi and watched, then went to a Standard Chartered Bank branch near Kai Tak Airport and transferred 150,000 Hong Kong Dollars—equivalent to 30,000 US dollars—into Shen Qingru's account.

Shen Qingru said she wasn't lacking anything, but in reality she might still be a bit tight on cash over there.

Sending her this money was a small token of goodwill.

"Where did you go?"

Xu Yuexin took a long time before returning to Da Yizi's side, and then Da Yizi asked, a little oddly.

"I called a familiar person; it took several tries to get through."

Xu Yuexin's face remained unchanged and his heart did not race as he presented the lie he had prepared long ago.

Since the relationship between Da Yizi and the daughter‑in‑law hasn't been clarified, there's no need to create further complications.

It's also for Da Yizi's own good, to prevent her from falling into depression again.

A short while later, boarding began; Xu Yuexin and Da Yizi boarded the plane and, after a two‑and‑a‑half‑hour flight, returned to Jingcheng.

Xu Yuexin took Da Yizi back to Tuanjie Lake, then delivered the gifts separately to his parents, his sister, and to Zhu Chen, Gong Ruxue and others.

After the gifts were all given away, the money in Xiangjiang was also fully invested.

Xu Yuexin felt immensely relaxed, lying on the bed and sleeping a deep, long sleep.

For the following period, Xu Yuexin, besides staying close with Chen Qiaoqiao, took her out to have fun and truly relax for a while.

Then one day, he received an overseas letter from Shen Qingru.

In the letter, Shen Qingru said she had returned the 30,000 US dollars she had sent him, asking him to check his account.

Alright, Shen Qingru didn't want his money.

Xu Yuexin thought to himself.

Perhaps it's the pride of a distinguished lady, unwilling to accept unsolicited favors.

After reading the letter, Xu Yuexin replied to Shen Qingru, not mentioning money at all, only asking how her doctoral studies were going and whether she had reconsidered returning.

But this time, he waited a long while and never received a reply from Shen Qingru.

Could it be that…

She has decided to stay in the United States?

Xu Yuexin guessed, but wasn't entirely sure.

When school resumed soon after, he got busy, and aside from that he spent all his time writing the Heavy Case Six Group series.

Spring Equinox Grain Rain, Summer Solstice Lesser Fullness.

For a full two months, Xu Yuexin still didn't receive any news from Shen Qingru.

Strange, go ask her.

Xu Yuexin mused, deciding to go to the Dianxinju to place an overseas call to Shen Qingru, to clarify what had happened.

When the call connected, Xu Yuexin heard a sorrowful voice.

"Hello, may I ask who's calling?"

"I'm Xiao Xu, Shen aunt, are you at home?"

"Hmm… I'm at home, what's the matter?"

"Nothing much, just saw you haven't replied to my letter, a bit worried."

"I… have some family matters, got delayed; once I'm done with this period I'll get back to you."

Did Shen Qingru's family have an incident?

Xu Yuexin frowned, taking a deep breath.

There were others nearby, so Xu Yuexin didn't ask further, only offered a soft reassurance.

"Then take good care of yourself; while you labor for the family, you must also look after yourself."

"If you have any difficulty, tell me later." "Thanks for the concern…"

After hanging up, Xu Yuexin returned home, pondering what trouble Shen Qingru's family was facing.

Failed investments, family discord…

None of those seem quite right.

Wait, Shen Qingru once said her parents were late‑born daughters, which is why she exists.

Then the answer to the problem is revealed; it's likely her parents who are the issue.

To confirm the hypothesis and to aid Shen Qingru, Xu Yuexin went to the Dianbao Fang the next day and sent her a telegram asking what exactly had happened.

Shen Qingru's reply confirmed Xu Yuexin's deduction.

Not long ago, her parents died sequentially from illness, and she was alone abroad handling the funeral affairs.

After receiving the reply, Xu Yuexin sent another telegram asking whether Shen Qingru's parents had purchased health insurance.

Medical care in the United States is extremely expensive, costly beyond imagination; even a wealthy estate might not withstand it.

Moreover, the Shen family's assets had already been significantly depleted beforehand.

This time, Shen Qingru did not reply again.

Xu Yuexin understood that Shen Qingru didn't want to expose her hardships before him.

Xu Yuexin said nothing, and directly sent a Telegram to Lin Qingxia, who was far away in Xiangjiang, asking her to do a favor—transfer 500,000 US dollars into Shen Qingru's account.

When he next goes to Xiangjiang, he will return the money to Lin Qingxia.

Soon, Lin Qingxia sent a reply Telegram to Xu Yuexin.

The reply contained only one character: "OK."

Hope this money can resolve Aunt Shen's urgent need.

After receiving Lin Qingxia's reply, Xu Yuexin silently prayed.

Ten days after sending the money to Shen Qingru, Xu Yuexin was staying at home when the bedroom phone rang.

Xu Yuexin went in to answer, and found it was Shen Qingru calling.

"I've arrived in Jingcheng."

"The last sum of money, you sent it to me, right…"

"Yeah, is it enough?"

"Enough… thank you."

In the phone, Shen Qingru's voice was full of gratitude, with a hint of sorrow.

"You're at that house in the East Third Ring, right?"

"Yeah…"

"I'm coming to see you."

After Xu Yuexin finished speaking and hung up, he pushed his motorcycle out of the courtyard gate, throttled the engine, and rode a cloud of dust toward the alley entrance.

Soon, he arrived at the gate of the small courtyard that Shen Qingru had purchased.

The courtyard gate was open; Xu Yuexin pushed it open, entered, rolled his motorcycle into the yard, and strode toward the main courtyard.

At this moment, inside the Guogong Mansion Main Hall of the main courtyard.

Shen Qingru was sitting on a huanghuali wood armchair, her gaze blankly fixed beside her.

Beside her, in a wall niche, her parents' spirit tablets were placed, with white paper flowers and daisies piled together, looking desolate and bleak.

At that moment, Xu Yuexin walked into the main hall and immediately saw the nearby spirit tablets.

He bowed to the spirit tablets, then returned to Aunt Shen's side, took her hand and said, "Aunt Shen, my condolences."

Aunt Shen was dressed in an all‑white dress today, her jet‑black hair wrapped in white cloth, her red‑rimmed eyes especially mournful and moving.

"Wuwuwu…"

Aunt Shen stood up, threw herself into Xu Yuexin's arms, and sobbed loudly on his broad, solid shoulders.

Xu Yuexin held Aunt Shen, gently patting her back, and said, "The departed has already passed, and both elders lived long lives…"

"Yeah, I know…"

Aunt Shen sniffled, crying for a long while before lifting her face, looking sorrowfully at Xu Yuexin.

(End of chapter)