Chapter 294: Borrowing High-Interest Loans from You

Not a single penny was missing.

Shi Youxuan hadn't touched anything, and only then did Zhu Yiwen's anger subside slightly.

He even suspected he was overthinking it; perhaps she had just taken the child out to play and would return by evening. Was it really appropriate to make such a big fuss looking for her?

Then he received a call from Shi Youxuan: "Sir, I have taken the child back to Jiangzhou to see my father. I will return after some time."

She had actually returned to Jiangzhou?

Zhu Yiwen's expression turned terrifyingly gloomy, and his tone cooled: "Why did you suddenly think of going back? You didn't even tell me before leaving."

Shi Youxuan thought to herself, if I had told you before I left, would I have been able to leave at all?

Just as Jian Yining could not easily enter L Country after leaving it, Zhu Yiwen had also notified the relevant departments in L Country not to sell plane tickets to Shi Youxuan.

It was simply impossible for her to return through normal channels.

But Jian Yining had other ways—smuggling!

Using proper procedures to return to one's own country, yet having to return by smuggling.

That was what Shi Youxuan thought in her heart, but she could not say it to him like that; after all, the two were still legally husband and wife, and now was not the time to tear off the mask.

She said: "Dad is not doing very well. The caregiver there called, and I was worried, so I went back to check on him. Dad hasn't seen Xiaozhu yet; if he sees the child, perhaps his mood will improve and his health will get better."

This was human nature, and Zhu Yiwen had no reason to object.

Besides, it would be useless to object now; the person had already returned. It was better to say something pleasant and not tear through the thin layer of paper remaining between them.

"Alright, spend more time with the old man after you get back. No need to rush back. If you lack anything, call me. I will go to keep you company once I finish the matters at hand in a few days."

"Alright."

After hanging up the phone, Zhu Yiwen called back everyone he had sent out.

Don't make a fool of yourself; the fewer people who know about this, the better.

……

Jiangzhou.

Ginza Building restaurant.

"Cheers! Celebrating your successful escape from the devil's den." Jian Yining was as excited as a child; since arriving, he had been the one talking the most.

Shi Youxuan smiled and corrected him: "Don't talk nonsense. What devil's den? After all, he saved my life back then. It's not kind of you to speak like that."

Sheng Zerong said: "Sister-in-law... no, Sister Xuanxuan, I think A Ning makes sense. You were in danger back then because of him. Besides, you've helped him earn a lot of money over these years; we're even!"

Yun Zhe Hao also chimed in: "Right, right, we're even. What plans do you have now that you're back?"

Finally getting to the main topic, the expressions of the few became a bit serious.

There were only three people there to welcome Shi Youxuan back: Jian Yining, Sheng Zerong, and Yun Zhe Hao.

Sheng Hanyu had not yet returned from A Country. Once he finished his business in A Country, he would still have to go to L Country to stall Zhu Yiwen so he couldn't come to Jiangzhou to cause trouble for Shi Youxuan.

This plan had been set by the group before Zhu Yiwen went to A Country. They had set up a massive game of chess for Zhu Yiwen, and each of them was playing against him from different positions!

Now the plan was half successful.

Once the other half succeeded, Shi Youxuan would be completely free, and even if Zhu Yiwen realized what happened, he would have no way to voice his grievances.

And even if he could, he would have no power to retaliate.

Now that Shi Youxuan had returned safely, bringing the child with her, they would not be going back.

Jiangzhou was not L Country; Zhu Yiwen didn't call the shots here, and his reach didn't extend that far!

It was only natural for Yun Zhe Hao to ask about Shi Youxuan's future plans now.

After all, with her capabilities, it would be a pity to do nothing.

But it seemed she really intended to do nothing!

Shi Youxuan said: "No plans. I want to come back and spend more time with my father. I haven't seen him for five years and he has aged so much. Then I'll send Shi Ran to the United States to study, and I'll travel the world."

The plan was very carefree, and her plan didn't mention a single word about Sheng Hanyu.

Yun Zhe Hao cleared his throat: "Ahem..."

"You are still young, don't you consider..."

"Cheers!" Shi Youxuan raised her glass, clearly not wanting to discuss this topic.

Sheng Zerong said: "Eat something. I'll take you and the child out to look around tomorrow. Jiangzhou has changed quite a bit in these few years..." and he steered the conversation away.

After the gathering broke up, Jian Yining took Shi Youxuan home.

She lived with the child in the apartment she had bought previously.

During the years she was away, Jian Yixin had been cleaning and maintaining the apartment for her, keeping it in excellent condition!

Shi Youxuan never expected that everyone would have changed so much after she left.

The one who had changed the most was Jian Yixin.

Over these years, Jian Yixin had been filled with guilt toward Shi Youxuan, and for the first few years, she was the one who took care of Shi Yucheng.

If not for her meticulous care, hiring doctors to visit regularly to check on Shi Yucheng's health, and helping him take care of Shi Yuke... perhaps Shi Yucheng would not have lived until now.

But for this welcome party for Shi Youxuan, Jian Yixin did not come.

Jian Yixin didn't know how to face her; it would probably be very awkward for the two women to meet, right?

So it was better not to meet; for some people, not meeting is better than meeting.

When she arrived home, Shi Ran was already asleep. Sheng Hanyu's aunt was keeping her company. Seeing Shi Youxuan return, she handed her a cup of Sobering Soup: "Drink the Sobering Soup I made; I guarantee you'll have a good night's sleep and no headache."

Jian Yining said: "Aunt, where is mine?"

"There is some, wait for me to pour you a bowl."

The aunt went to the kitchen, poured another bowl, and brought it to him; Shi Youxuan had already finished hers.

It was still the taste from back then; it tasted very good.

"Alright, you all rest, I'm heading back." The aunt stood up, preparing to leave.

Is this a misunderstanding?

Sheng Hanyu's aunt Wang Yinghao and his mother Wang Yingzhi are biological sisters, yet their temperaments are worlds apart.

The aunt is gentle, kind, understanding, and very intelligent.

Wang Yingzhi... it is better not to mention her.

Jian Yining stood up: "Aunt, wait for me, I will go with you."

"Alright."

She did not ask questions like "Why go together?" or "Don't you live here?"

The two left, Shi Youxuan closed the main gate, and after washing up, she fell asleep beside her daughter.

A good night's sleep.

Shi Youxuan discovered that upon returning to Jiangzhou, her insomnia vanished immediately.

Sleeping well meant being in good spirits; when she woke up, Shi Ran was still asleep.

The little girl's cute face was like a pink apple, her long eyelashes casting a shadow under her eyelids; this child was not restless while sleeping either, her body twisted into an S-shape.

But she is so cute.

When they were at Zhu Zhai, Zhu Yiwen required that she not share a room with the child, because that is the custom among the nobility of L Country.

Children must be raised by dedicated servants; if a mother raises the child herself, she will be looked down upon by the servants in the house, because if you do the work of a servant, the servants will not view you as a high and mighty master.

Thus, Shi Ran had never slept by her side since she was little, which is a regret for Shi Youxuan.

But in other aspects, Shi Youxuan did not listen to everything Zhu Yiwen said; every day she would play with her daughter and raise the child herself, so her daughter had always been close to her.

She kissed her daughter's pretty little face; it smelled strongly of milk and was very pleasant.

The little one wiped her cheek with her small hand in annoyance, frowned, and turned away.

Shi Youxuan nudged her daughter's small body: "Ranran, wake up, stop sleeping, the sun is shining on your bottom."

"Annoying, get away!"

The little one reached out to push her, looking very displeased.

Shi Ran was just like her, having a very serious case of morning grumpiness, and did not like being disturbed before she was fully awake.

However, just as her small hand pushed over, it suddenly stopped.

She suddenly widened her eyes, sat up all at once, and stared at Mommy in shock.

"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"