Chapter 26: Disappearance

Yang Xuejiao stepped out of the bathroom, glanced at the clock on the wall—it was already 11:30—and her husband still hadn’t returned.

She looked back at the food left on the table, sighed, then walked into the side bedroom.

The side bedroom held a single bed, opposite which stood a large dressing table.

Since her daughter’s suicide, she had converted the original desk into a dressing table.

She picked up the hairdryer on the table to dry her hair, but noticed her daughter Yin Xingyue’s photo frame on the dressing table—the photo inside was of her daughter.

This photo had been taken last summer vacation during a family trip, by her “father.”

Dressed in a white dress, Yin Xingyue gazed straight ahead, her face wearing a faint smile—it was, in truth, a beautiful photo.

Yet for some reason, Yang Xuejiao always felt something strange about it; the smile seemed fake, and the girl’s fixed stare made her deeply uneasy.

So she flipped the frame face-down on the dressing table, turned on the hairdryer, and began drying her hair.

In the dressing mirror reflected a beautiful woman in a pale pink silk robe, her chest full, her skin fair; though no longer youthful and radiant like a girl, she exuded a mature allure.

When Yang Xuejiao was young, she was very beautiful, with many suitors, but she ultimately chose to marry Yin Xingyue’s father, Yin Mahayana.

She chose Yin Mahayana not because he was handsome or came from a good family, but because he was a scholar—in their era, scholars were highly valued, and Yang Xuejiao had married up.

But later she realized scholars were worthless; having culture meant nothing without money.

So after Yin Mahayana’s death, she married her current husband, Fang Yunlou, without hesitation.

She had known Fang Yunlou for many years—he had been one of her suitors back then. Though less educated than Yin Mahayana, his family was wealthy, and his business had thrived over the years, earning him great fortune.

But she was no longer young, and she had been married once; after the novelty wore off, Fang Yunlou treated her like trash, coming home less and less, especially after their daughter’s suicide…

Thinking of this, she picked up the photo frame and set it upright again.

“Useless thing, I raised you for nothing…”

A flash of fury and venom passed through Yang Xuejiao’s eyes—nothing like the gaze of a mother.

Yang Xuejiao put away the hairdryer; seeing Fang Yunlou still hadn’t returned, she got into bed and fell asleep.

But when she woke the next morning, Fang Yunlou still hadn’t come home.

Yang Xuejiao sat dazedly against the headboard, and after a long while, finally got up.

She put on a tight skirt that accentuated her curvaceous figure.

When she reached the dining room, the leftover food from last night remained untouched; she picked up the tray and dumped it all into the trash.

By the time she finished applying her makeup, slung her bag over her shoulder, and stepped out the door, it was already past ten.

At Fang Yunlou’s company, the receptionist girl immediately greeted her warmly and opened the door for her.

“Madam Fang, good morning.”

Though the girl’s beauty didn’t match hers, she radiated youthful vitality, especially her glowing skin, which made Yang Xuejiao feel a pang of envy—youth was truly wonderful.

“Morning. Is the boss in the office?” Yang Xuejiao asked casually, then walked inside.

“No, the boss hasn’t arrived yet,” the receptionist said.

Yang Xuejiao stopped in her tracks and turned back to look at the receptionist.

“Has he gone on a business trip?” Yang Xuejiao asked.

The receptionist thought: He’s your husband—don’t you know if he’s traveling?

But she replied aloud: “No, but Boss Fang hasn’t come to the office for two days.”

“Two days?”

Yang Xuejiao froze, a faint unease creeping over her.

Shen Siyuan was woken by his phone ringing; he picked it up—it was his mother calling.

“Son, where are you?”

As soon as he answered, his mother Huang Huijuan’s loud voice came through.

“Where?” Shen Siyuan mumbled, still half-asleep.

“Son, you haven’t gotten up yet, have you?”

“Yeah, it’s my day off—I finally got to sleep in. Why wake up so early?” Shen Siyuan checked the time—it was only 6:10—and now he was fully awake.

“Didn’t we agree you’d come home today? Are you ignoring me?” Huang Huijuan’s voice turned angry.

“Mom, I said I’d come back—I never said when.” Shen Siyuan sighed.

“Then when will you come back?” Huang Huijuan asked, forcing patience.

“I’ll come back this afternoon.”

“I went to the market and bought vegetables—I cooked your favorite green fish and braised chicken with edamame. Come home early…” Huang Huijuan switched to emotional appeal.

“Dinner’s fine too,” Shen Siyuan said.

Seeing Shen Siyuan wouldn’t budge, Huang Huijuan finally lost patience.

“You’re already awake—get your ass home right now. Dragging your feet, what good are you?” Huang Huijuan slammed the phone down.

Shen Siyuan stared at his phone and sighed helplessly.

His mother was such a nuisance. He tossed the phone aside, lay back down, but sleep was gone.

Since he was awake anyway, he got up and washed up.

Just as he stepped out of the bathroom after washing, his mother called again.

“Son, are you up yet?”

She acted as if she hadn’t been angry a moment ago.

“I’m up. Leaving now.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“When have I ever lied to you?”

“Pfft~—how many times have you lied to your old lady since you were a kid?”

“What did I lie about?” Shen Siyuan said, exasperated.

“Men lie to women about love or money. Your father only lied me about love. You? You lied me about both.”

Shen Siyuan had no reply—his mother spoke the truth.

Every time he wanted money, he first played the emotional card, then asked for cash.

“I’m leaving now. Don’t waste my time.”

“Hmph~”

From the other end came Huang Huijuan’s triumphant tone.

Knowing her son well, she understood that when he said that, he was already giving in.

“Can you make it back for lunch?”

“I’m leaving now—I’ll make it back before lunch, even breakfast.”

“Breakfast’s fine—I didn’t cook yours. Eat something outside. Don’t skip breakfast—it’s bad for your health…” His mother began lecturing again.

“Mom, I know. Bye.” Shen Siyuan snapped.

Only after hanging up did he realize—his mother never expected him to come home early; otherwise, she would’ve cooked him breakfast.

Her real goal was simply to wake him up so he’d get home before noon.

“Playing mind games with her own son.”

Shen Siyuan muttered under his breath, yet couldn’t suppress a smile.

Since childhood, Shen Siyuan and his mother had always gotten along exceptionally well, sharing a unique kind of maternal love.

He packed a few things and headed for the door, then suddenly remembered Yin Xingyue from last night.

He thought of her, activated the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, and released her.

Yin Xingyue materialized in the room as a wisp of smoke—once an ordinary girl, now bearing a faint aura of the uncanny.