I See Murders Before They Happen

Chapter 270: Chapter 268: Mom’s Here

Su Miaoyi didn’t go back to the bedroom after waking from the dream. She sat on the sofa, thinking about everything she’d dreamt, trying to use it to remember something—anything—else.

But nothing came to her. She lay back down on the sofa, deciding to order some milk tea to calm her nerves.

In the end, she spent so long browsing that she fell asleep on the sofa without ever deciding which one to get.

And she slept right through until dawn.

The sun rises early in the summer. Su Miaoyi was first nudged awake by An’an. After sending him off to play, she found it was too bright to get any real rest.

She tossed and turned on the sofa, but the light was always in her eyes.

"Great Saint, bottle up the sky in your gourd," Su Miaoyi mumbled, rolling over again and pulling a throw pillow over her face.

The moment she covered her face, the doorbell rang.

She pulled the pillow away and glanced at the clock on the wall.

It was already past eight.

She got up and went to the door.

"Professor Shen?"

Shen Shilan looked into her eyes and set what she was carrying on the entryway cabinet. "Did you just wake up? Did I disturb you?"

"No," Su Miaoyi said, stepping aside to let her in. She struggled to keep her eyes open. "I was about to get up anyway."

Shen Shilan’s gaze fell on the injuries on her arms.

Su Miaoyi finally registered what was happening. ’She knows I’m hurt.’

’That Minister Qin... he’s not very reliable, is he?’

’Looks like he found out as soon as he got home yesterday.’

"Where are all your injuries?" Shen Shilan asked, taking her hand and looking at the gauze on her arms.

"It’s nothing. They’ve already healed."

"Healed? How could they be healed?" Shen Shilan said, her heart aching for her. "Your father and your cousin are still men, no matter how close you are. It’s not convenient for them to help you. Why wouldn’t you tell me about something like this? How are you supposed to shower or wash your hair by yourself?"

Su Miaoyi held out her hands. "My hands aren’t injured."

Shen Shilan gave her a light tap on the hand before taking it in her own. "Still acting so glib. With so many injuries, it must have been so painful."

"It doesn’t hurt anymore," Su Miaoyi said.

Shen Shilan looked at her arms, both almost completely wrapped in bandages. Her heart ached so much she was at a loss for words.

Su Miaoyi looked at her and gently hooked her mother’s finger with her own.

Shen Shilan snapped back to reality. Her eyes quivered as she fought back tears. She sniffled. "You haven’t eaten breakfast yet, have you?"

"I’m starving," Su Miaoyi said.

Shen Shilan tapped her hand again, then went to the entryway to retrieve the breakfast she’d brought. "It’s all your old favorites. Go wash up first."

Su Miaoyi went to wash up.

Shen Shilan followed her into the bathroom, worried her injured arms would make things difficult.

"Do you want to wash your hair? I can help you."

"No, it’s okay," Su Miaoyi said. "I can manage on my own."

She hadn’t washed her hair since the day she was injured. She had actually been planning to go to a salon to get it washed today.

"How are you going to wash it? The moment you lift your arms, water will run down them. If the wounds get wet, they’ll get infected," Shen Shilan insisted. "Let me wash it for you."

"I could also just go to a salon," Su Miaoyi suggested.

"It’s no trouble for me," Shen Shilan said. "I know what I’m doing. I used to wash your hair all the time when you were little."

Su Miaoyi felt a little awkward, but when Shen Shilan actually started washing her hair, the awkwardness vanished. Instead, she felt a warm, happy feeling spread through her heart.

After washing her hair, Shen Shilan dried it for her. "Alright, time to eat."

The two of them went to the dining area.

"I actually got up very early, thinking I’d cook something. But then I remembered... I was worried I’d make you sick, so I gave up on that idea," Shen Shilan said.

"It can’t be that bad, can it? I’m all grown up now," Su Miaoyi said, thinking her mother was exaggerating.

Shen Shilan looked at her, then paused. "This is when I suddenly think having no memory is a good thing. You’ve forgotten the time you told me my cooking was delicious while you were throwing it up."

Su Miaoyi’s mouth twitched. ’It was that bad, huh?’

"Before I was married, my family had plenty of housekeepers—one for Chinese food, one for Western food... so it was certainly never my turn to cook. After I got married, Qin Chengyuan wasn’t working in Jinghai yet. He was posted in another city, while my job was here. We were in a long-distance relationship for a long time. During that period, I still lived with the Shen family."

"Later, he was transferred back to Jinghai, and that’s when we moved into the house we live in now. We were concerned about appearances, so we didn’t hire a housekeeper. We both just ate at our respective workplace cafeterias—I ate at the university’s, and he ate at the city bureau’s."

Su Miaoyi listened as she ate.

"Then later, after we had you, we hired a housekeeper for a few years, so we were able to eat at home for a while. Once you got a little older, we let her go. Qin Chengyuan went back to eating at his cafeteria. In the mornings, I’d drop you off at your uncle’s house, and we’d all have breakfast together. Then I’d go to work, and your uncle would take you and Shen Yanzhou to school. You had lunch and dinner at your uncle’s house, too."

"I’ve never learned how to cook," Shen Shilan said. "I’d only make a meal once in a while, just to poison you and Qin Chengyuan."

"I still remember the first meal I made for you after you were old enough to form memories. You cried and called your uncle, telling him my cooking was terrible. Your uncle called and chewed me out for ages, and when that wasn’t satisfying enough, he actually came over to our house to yell at me in person," Shen Shilan recounted.

Su Miaoyi glanced at her mother, then lowered her head and continued eating without a word.

’As long as I can’t remember it, it wasn’t me.’

"He’s the only one who doesn’t know you’re hurt. Otherwise... you’d definitely get an earful from him," Shen Shilan said.

Su Miaoyi scratched her cheek. "I just got back. He wouldn’t yell at me, would he?"

"Want to test that theory?" Shen Shilan asked.

Su Miaoyi quickly shook her head.

Shen Shilan smiled.

After they finished eating, Shen Shilan had to leave for the university. She had a class a little after ten.

Since Su Miaoyi was injured, Zhuang Yanzheng had told her to rest at home for a few days. The city bureau would call her if they needed her.

So, with nothing else to do at home, she suddenly spoke up as Shen Shilan was about to leave. "Hey... can I come with you to your class? Would that be okay?"

Shen Shilan looked at her, then said, "Let’s go."

Su Miaoyi immediately went to change her clothes and headed to the university with Shen Shilan.

Shen Shilan drove, and Su Miaoyi sat in the passenger seat.

"Back when you were taking your college entrance exams, I hoped that if you were interested, you’d apply for my department at Jinghai University. That way, I could have been your advisor for your master’s and even your doctorate," Shen Shilan said. "Your uncle also wanted you to study economics so you could eventually take over the Shen family’s business. But in the end, you took after your father and chose his field. You’re nothing like me."

Shen Shilan’s tone held a hint of jealousy as she spoke.

"The Shen family’s business? *I* would inherit it?" Su Miaoyi asked in surprise.

"What’s wrong with that?" Shen Shilan said. "The Shen family business includes my shares and your shares. I have a stake, and so do you."

Su Miaoyi’s jaw dropped. ’Am I that rich?’

Money... Suddenly, all Su Miaoyi could see were dollar signs.

She shook her head to clear it. "Then what about Shen Yanzhou? It’s such tiring work, shouldn’t he be the one to do it?"

Shen Shilan smiled. "It depends on what you two want. Whoever is interested can take the reins."

"What if we both want to do it?" Su Miaoyi asked.

"Then whoever is more capable gets the job," Shen Shilan said.

"And what if neither of us are any good?"

Shen Shilan’s expression went blank for a moment. "Our family can’t be that unlucky, can we?"

Su Miaoyi laughed. "With Shen Yanzhou around, we won’t be."

...