Chapter 17: The Lost Past

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When Lu Yansen heard the word “child,” he suddenly blurted out, “What, you and Young Master Ao already have a child?!” Naturally, this earned him another flick on the forehead from Dou Dou. “Can’t you listen properly when someone’s talking? Rumors are all spread by idiots like you. If it’s none of your business, just keep quiet!”

Lu Yansen clutched his aching head, not daring to say another word. Women—he couldn’t afford to offend them!

Xianyu Jing didn’t want to discuss these baseless rumors with them; she was only concerned about one thing.

“I’ll try to come back as often as I can, but when I’m not here, could you both help look after my mother?”

Dou Dou and Lu Yansen were attending South City Academy of Arts, where Ning Wenyen worked as a librarian. Originally, Xianyu Jing had planned to enroll in the same academy, but she hadn’t even taken the entrance exam. Now, arranged by the Nangong family, she was entering Liyang Academy—a new opportunity for her, she supposed.

“Don’t worry. If Aunt Ning needs anything, we’ll be there to help right away!” Dou Dou said, tapping her chest in a show of loyalty.

Beside her, Lu Yansen’s ears suddenly turned red and he twisted away.

Dou Dou, noticing this, kicked him with annoyance. “Why aren’t you saying anything? What are you hiding for at a time like this?”

Lu Yansen looked aggrieved. “You told me not to talk, didn’t you?”

Besides, he wasn’t avoiding Xianyu Jing. He just didn’t have the guts to admit where his eyes had wandered just now.

Good times are always fleeting. After a bout of laughter and play, afternoon arrived.

Xianyu Jing had to return to the Nangong residence, though she was reluctant to leave.

Ning Wenyen comforted her, “It’s not like you won’t see us again. Come back when you have time.”

Though Ning Wenyen said this, Xianyu Jing understood she was even more reluctant to part.

But what choice was there?

Her illness was still not cured, she had to attend school, and her biological mother remained in a poisoned slumber. Despite her reluctance, Xianyu Jing could only follow Su Cha back to the residence.

Before she left, Dou Dou mentioned that her old rival from South City No. 5 High School—who often plotted against her—had managed to get into Liyang Academy through connections, so she should be careful.

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The road back was a little congested.

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Xianyu Jing sat in the back seat, recalling what Ning Wenyen had told her that morning, feeling somewhat downcast.

When she was six, just after Xianyu Feng had found her, the only things she had were a black ring and a handkerchief; the handkerchief bore strange writing, as obscure and unreadable as the inscriptions on the ring.

Ning Wenyen had made her wear the ring around her neck, and the handkerchief was kept at the bottom of a storage box, but during an unexpected house fire, it was burned along with the house.

Ning Wenyen guessed the handkerchief might have been left by her biological mother.

If the handkerchief had survived, perhaps showing it to Madam Nangong would have helped uncover some of the mysteries surrounding her mother and herself.

Last time, Madam Nangong spoke of her biological mother’s poisoning, but it was only in vague detail.

Years ago, her grandmother moved south after marrying, and Madam Nangong had only met her mother once.

Later, when news arrived that her family was being hunted by enemies, Madam Nangong rushed to rescue them, only to find her mother alone, gravely poisoned and near death.

Before slipping into a poisoned slumber, her mother told Madam Nangong two things: first, her family had been destroyed by Nangong’s old enemies; second, she begged Madam Nangong to find and care for her daughter.

Xianyu Jing had no memory of her life before age six. During that period, she still experienced auditory hallucinations. Each time she regained consciousness, she remembered nothing except dizziness.

She felt instinctively that these matters could only be confided to her closest brother. But now, he could not come back…

Lost in thought, she was startled when the car door suddenly opened.

It turned out Su Cha had received a call from Cui Hao, instructing her to drive to a department store owned by the Nangong family: Young Master Ao wanted Xianyu Jing to pick up some supplies.

Xianyu Jing had been so absorbed in her thoughts she hadn’t heard Su Cha’s report. She only realized they were at the parking lot when Su Cha got out to open her door.

She didn’t feel she needed anything, but Cui Hao had already sent over a list, specifying what was to be bought.

She was surprised—her elder brother was so meticulous? He even knew what she needed?

Of course, Nangong Ao had no idea what she needed, nor would he bother to find out. He simply assigned the task to Bai Luomei, and everything was arranged accordingly.

Bai Luomei was Nangong Ao’s most capable assistant. She didn’t handle company affairs, but dealt with his personal matters.

For example: investigating the background of this young lady, giving her etiquette lessons, drafting shopping lists… but these were trivial tasks.

Bai Luomei and Cui Hao were sitting in a booth at Heart’s Ease Teahouse. Not far away, Nangong Ao and Xiao Zhiyun sat across from each other, chatting over tea.

Cui Hao didn’t like tea—it kept him awake at night. Seeing Bai Luomei quietly scrolling on her phone, he couldn’t help but ask, “Sister Bai, you don’t need to teach the young lady anymore, right?”

“Mmm.” Bai Luomei replied absentmindedly.

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“So, can I give back the work you handed to me before…?”

Before he could finish, Bai Luomei looked up, puzzled. “You haven’t finished that little bit of work yet?”

Her tone wasn’t reproachful, but it still stung Cui Hao.

He had plenty of work himself, after all, and he was responsible for everything at home, from the elders to the children!

Seeing Cui Hao’s aggrieved expression, Bai Luomei let out a resigned laugh. “Once things settle down in the next few days, I’ll suggest to the boss that we hire another assistant.”

Cui Hao’s eyes immediately lit up. “Really?”

He’d hinted at this for a long time, but the boss seemed oblivious and never agreed. Maybe his words carried little weight, but if Sister Bai spoke up, the boss might finally approve! Cui Hao thought happily.

Bai Luomei glanced toward Nangong Ao and Xiao Zhiyun.

After Nangong Ao was rescued by Xiao Zhiyun, he soon began seeing her. Yet, every time Bai Luomei watched the two meet and simply chat, she felt an inexplicable strangeness.

On the top floor of the teahouse, only she and Cui Hao were present as observers. Those two, as a couple, didn’t need to be so reserved, did they?

But Bai Luomei’s opinion didn’t matter. What mattered was that Young Master Ao found nothing amiss. He rarely had leisure to meet Xiao Zhiyun, and even if it was only to sit across from her and listen to her talk about trifles, he cherished it.

Xiao Zhiyun was unlike other heiresses of wealthy families; her temperament was gentle and serene, reminiscent of the daughters of scholarly households in ancient times. Her words were always warm and soft, soothing to the ear.

Perhaps, that was why Nangong Ao was so enamored with her.

“Ziyu, my family wants me to study abroad in Country A. They say the medical technology there is better…”

The Nangong family was a traditional scholarly clan. Ziyu was the courtesy name given to him by his mother, used only by his closest family and Xiao Zhiyun.

This matter had troubled Xiao Zhiyun for some time; she hadn’t dared tell Nangong Ao, fearing it would worry him. Now, unable to resist her family’s wishes, she could only seek his help.

Nangong Ao frowned at once. “Your family thinks Angel Hospital can’t cure your illness?”