Chapter 531: Find the Thing So Mother Can Return
Chapter 531: Chapter 531: Find the Thing So Mother Can Return
New Year’s Eve arrived, and everyone from the Xie family hurried to Xiangyun Village to celebrate with Grandma Qin.
Gazing at her grandmother’s head of silver hair, Shen Ningning suddenly felt sad, despite the laughter and merriment filling the room.
She didn’t know how many more years she had with her grandmother.
The Spiritual Spring Water from the Immortal Realm had greatly improved the old woman’s health, allowing her to live a longer, healthier life.
But it wasn’t immortality, after all.
Later that night, unable to sleep in the quiet, Shen Ningning decided to enter the Immortal Realm.
This small Immortal Realm had stopped growing.
It no longer "devoured" any kind of Jade that was placed inside.
So, Shen Ningning guessed it must have reached its full size.
Master Gu had also said that the program her mother designed only went this far.
Ever since hearing Shen Siyi’s voice that one time, Shen Ningning had taken to visiting the Thunder Hall often.
Tonight was no exception.
She took out some peanuts and melon seeds she had pocketed during the New Year’s vigil, along with a Ruyi Knot.
She placed them on the ice-cold, blue-glowing instrument.
"Mother, it’s New Year’s Eve again. After the new year passes, I’ll be sixteen!"
"It was so lively today. Father and Second Uncle were talking about their youth. I heard that when they were young, the two of them were always bickering and fighting."
"And you would always grab them by the ears to make them behave. Father even had tears in his eyes when he talked about it today. He misses you so much, and I do too."
The girl spoke, then hugged her knees and leaned against the machine, sitting there for a while.
She hadn’t eaten her fill during dinner, so on her way from the kitchen just now, she had brought a lot of delicious food with her.
Grandma Qin’s braised chicken feet, some green plum water she’d steeped herself, and spicy chili oil skewers from Sister-in-law Liu.
Shen Ningning mumbled as she ate, "Father says my tastes are just like yours, Mother. We both love spicy food."
Just as she finished speaking, a burst of static crackled from behind her.
"Ningning."
The girl froze and quickly looked back. In the empty Thunder Hall, the lights on all the machines were flashing.
She shot to her feet, forgetting to wipe her greasy little mouth.
"Mother! I heard you! That was you calling me, right?"
Shen Ningning heard the crackling static. She had asked Master Gu about it before, and he had told her it was called a "signal," and if she couldn’t hear clearly, it meant the signal was weak.
’But how could she make the signal stronger?’
Shen Ningning frantically searched the hall for anything that might be useful.
Just then, Shen Siyi’s voice came through, accompanied by static like falling snow—
"Ningning, you have to help me find something. It’s the only way I can come back."
"What is it? Mother! Tell me, and I’ll go find it right now!" The girl was beyond excited.
However, the next few words Shen Siyi spoke were completely drowned out by a powerful burst of static.
Shen Ningning couldn’t hear anything, only a constant CRACKLE of static.
Suddenly, all the instruments in the Thunder Hall stopped flashing.
The girl panicked. "Mother? Mother!"
A long silence followed, and Shen Ningning gradually realized she had lost the connection with her mother again.
But her mother hadn’t been able to tell her what it was she needed to find.
For the next few days, Shen Ningning didn’t go anywhere.
She just sat in the Thunder Hall, waiting for Shen Siyi’s voice to return.
But no matter how long she waited, the instruments remained silent.
Shen Ningning went to visit Master Gu and asked for the reason.
Master Gu was puzzled as well. "Princess, this is the first I’ve heard of such a thing. Perhaps Captain Shen has found the secret to traveling through time and space, but a key component was left behind here?"
’What could it be?’
Shen Ningning racked her brain but couldn’t come up with an answer.
She could only hope her mother would contact her again soon and tell her where to find the object.
...
Shen Ningning had been feeling a little down recently, so Ye Shangyi dragged her out to admire the flowers.
It was almost the second month. The snow was melting, and the world was coming back to life.
Everywhere one looked, new green shoots were sprouting, and the Capital City was bathed in brilliant sunlight.
Shen Ningning happened to be out with Xu Jingxi that day, so Ye Shangyi invited them both to a restaurant for a meal.
During the meal, Shen Ningning noticed Ye Shangyi was wearing a bracelet made of seven different colored gemstones on her wrist.
"Huh? The craftsmanship on this is really exquisite."
Hearing this, Ye Shangyi immediately pulled up her sleeve, holding out her wrist for a closer look.
"Mr. Wu gave it to me. I hear it’s a family heirloom from his mother, only given to the daughter-in-law."
Shen Ningning was examining it. She was just about to say that the material of the gems seemed a little strange when, upon hearing that, she quickly let go of Ye Shangyi’s wrist.
She blinked her wide eyes. "What? You accepted it just like that? Does that mean the marriage arrangement with the Wu family is really settled?"
Ye Shangyi nodded, a bit nonchalantly.
"Mr. Wu is decent enough. My grandfather is quite satisfied with him, and I don’t have any major objections. He seems more patient than the other young masters I’ve met before."
Xu Jingxi glanced at her but said nothing, calmly continuing to eat.
Ye Shangyi continued sharing excitedly with Shen Ningning.
"Ningning, you have no idea! You know all those difficult conditions I made up? They were meant to scare off the suitors, but I never expected Mr. Wu to actually take them all seriously!"
"And he’s so mild-mannered. No matter how much I acted out or threw a fit, no matter how I tried to test him, he put up with my temper."
At this, Ye Shangyi propped her chin on her hand and said with a grin, "Sigh, since I have to get married sooner or later, I might as well choose him!"
Xu Jingxi put down his chopsticks. "Have you considered he might be putting on an act?" he said coolly.
He then glanced at the bracelet. "Even to my untrained eye, the quality of those gems looks terrible. Do you really believe it’s a family heirloom?"
Annoyed, Ye Shangyi snatched her hand back, hiding the bracelet.
"Xu Jingxi! Don’t think I won’t get angry just because you’re Ningning’s brother and you’re raining on my parade! You don’t understand him at all. Mr. Wu blushes if he says more than a few words. He’s very sincere; he wouldn’t lie."
Shen Ningning tried to smooth things over. "Alright, alright. Your happiness is what matters most! Just make sure to invite us to the wedding feast."
Under the table, the girl gave her third brother a gentle nudge.
’What’s gotten into him? Third Brother is never this outspoken. Why was he so blunt?’
Shen Ningning’s words had already soothed Ye Shangyi.
She smiled. "Of course! In about a month, we’re planning to formalize the engagement. Ningning, you have to come with me to pick out the fabrics and designs for my wedding attire."
"No problem," Shen Ningning agreed.
After the meal, Wu Ke surprisingly showed up to pick up Ye Shangyi.
When he saw her with Xu Jingxi and Shen Ningning, Wu Ke’s eyes flickered for a moment before he clasped his hands and bowed, appearing the very picture of politeness.
Ye Shangyi was pleasantly surprised. "Did you come just to get me?"
Wu Ke, dressed in a vibrant pink, smiled. "I just stopped by the Ye Mansion, and Aunt Ye told me you were out with the Princess. I noticed the wind was picking up, so I came to bring you a light cloak."
Ye Shangyi felt a rush of sweetness. "We’ve already finished our meal and were just about to head back. Let’s go together."
With that, she waved to Shen Ningning. "Ningning, we’re heading home now."
Likely still remembering Xu Jingxi’s bad-mouthing of Wu Ke, she shot a look at Xu Jingxi’s face and huffed.
"See you later!" Shen Ningning waved, watching Ye Shangyi and Wu Ke depart.
Once they were gone, the girl asked Xu Jingxi, "Third Brother, why did you have to say such a discouraging thing? You made Changyi upset."
Xu Jingxi’s handsome face was calm as he pursed his thin lips.
"Wu Ke is not a good person. She doesn’t believe it and won’t look into it herself. As her friends, I feel it’s necessary to give her a warning."
"Hmm... but I don’t know anything about Wu Ke. I’ll ask my brother to investigate him, then. Changyi can’t be allowed to marry the wrong man."
Unexpectedly.
「Three days later.」
Xu Jingxi ran right into Wu Ke.