"I want to take on an advertisement," Xiao Shujing said.
Su Minghan wasn't surprised at all. He could even guess her intention.
"Why?"
"No particular reason. I just think studying has been a bit dull lately, and I want to change my mood," Xiao Shujing made up an excuse casually.
"The small - scale ads have all been signed by other artists. There are only two left. One is being filmed by Tian Danni, and the other is still available."
Her eyes lit up with excitement. "I'll take it!"
"Are you sure? This one won't bring in much profit."
Su Minghan was skeptical and even considered her personal image.
"It's okay. I'll take it."
"Alright. See you at the entrance of Yancheng Psychiatric Hospital at 2 p.m. tomorrow."
The call ended with a series of beeps.
Xiao Shujing stood still as if frozen, maintaining her posture.
"What's wrong with you? What did he say?" Yan Yueyue looked at her dull expression, not even a blink in her eyes.
"He agreed to let me take the advertisement."
"That's great, isn't it?"
"It's a public - service advertisement for a psychiatric hospital."
"..."
At the Eastern Suburb Villa.
"Miss An, it's time for us to leave," Aunt Yang had been standing in the bedroom, trying to persuade the girl for over half an hour. But the child on the bed, hugging a teddy bear, stubbornly showed only her back and kept silent.
"Miss An..."
"I don't want to! I don't want to! I don't want to!" An Ruo covered her ears impatiently.
The sense of loneliness that had accumulated in the basement came rushing back. It was as if she were just an object, being passed around.
"If there's a chance in the future, Second... Mrs. Shen will bring you here to play," Aunt Yang's eyes flashed with regret when she said this, and she quickly corrected herself.
"I don't want to leave. I want to live here!"
An Ruo sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "Does brother not want me anymore?"
"This..."
"They didn't come to my birthday party that day!"
"Did they quarrel?"
"Can't they make up?"
These consecutive questions left Aunt Yang speechless.
Shen Ximan couldn't bear to listen anymore and opened the door directly.
"Are you coming or not?"
"...... Sister?"
An Ruo stared blankly at Shen Ximan's changed appearance, hardly believing her eyes.
Even Aunt Yang standing beside was shocked.
Although Shen Ximan was wearing a mask, her short, neat shoulder - length hair and aura were completely different from before.
Her clothes seemed ordinary, but one could vaguely observe her slender waistline. Her almond - shaped eyes, with the dark - gray eye shadow, made her look just like a secret agent on TV.
"An Ruo, you're already grown up. You can't throw tantrums like a child anymore."
"But..."
Shen Ximan stared at her sharply. "I'll make it up to you on your birthday."
"What about brother? Will he be with us too?"
An Ruo really liked Bo Jingyu from the bottom of her heart and especially hoped that they could be together.
"He has his own life. From now on, it has nothing to do with us."
Shen Ximan squinted her eyes and said calmly.
It was as if these experiences had nothing to do with her, just like a story told by someone else.
An Ruo bit her lower lip, trying hard to hold back her urge to cry. But her sister's cold eyes scared her, so she had to agree first.
"Okay, I'll go with you."
Only then did Shen Ximan's expression soften a bit. She walked forward, picked up An Ruo, and then took out a card she had prepared in advance from her pocket and handed it to Aunt Yang.
"Thank you for your trouble these days."
"No, no, no. I can't accept this!"
"An Ruo has always been close to me as her sister. You're the first person she's been closest to besides me. I'm really grateful that you made her start talking again. Please take it."
Aunt Yang's eyes were filled with tears. "Miss Shen, in my heart, you'll always be the Second Lady. You're always welcome here in the Eastern Suburb."
Shen Ximan smiled. "Let's meet privately. Bo Jingyu's place probably won't allow a suspect like me to enter."
With that, she left gracefully.
Aunt Yang stood on the upper floor, sobbing. This was the most heart - wrenching moment for her since the Second Lady left.
She couldn't say that she completely believed Shen Ximan, but at least she wouldn't doubt that it was Shen Ximan who pushed the old master. There must be a conspiracy behind it.
Before that, the Second Young Master and Shen Ximan could only end up in the most tragic way, blaming each other, hating each other, and even cutting off all contact.
Shen Ximan put a mask on An Ruo and got into a taxi.
"Hello, where would you like to go?" the driver asked enthusiastically.
"West Reef Sea."
"Sure. To... West Reef Sea?"
He turned his head in surprise and looked at her in disbelief.
"What's wrong?"
"Miss, West Reef Sea is quite far from the urban area. If we go by the meter, it'll cost at least a thousand. What are you going there for..."
Shen Ximan raised her eyebrows. "Do I need to explain my reasons for taking a taxi to you? If you're not willing to take me, I'll get off right now."
"No, no, no. I didn't mean that," the driver scratched his head, with a sly look in his eyes. "I mean, people living in that affluent area never take taxis. And the cost of coming back..."
An Ruo grabbed Shen Ximan's collar and shook her head. "Sister, it's so expensive."
"If you think it's too expensive, you can take the bus. It comes once an hour!"
The driver's tone changed immediately, sneering with a snobbish look.
"Hello? Transportation Management Department? I'd like to file a complaint."
Shen Ximan took out her phone and said calmly.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" the driver was so scared that his voice cracked.
"He refused to take me as a passenger and even verbally abused me. The license plate number is xxx32. Please solve this problem immediately. I'm really angry."
After hanging up the phone, she shrugged at his stunned expression.
An Ruo giggled. "Uncle, your expression is so funny."
"You!"
Just as the driver was about to blurt out a curse word, he received a call from the relevant department. He quickly answered it nervously.
"Hello, comrade."
"It's not my fault. It's this woman! No, it's this female passenger who is deliberately causing trouble," he said anxiously, sweating profusely.
Shen Ximan waved her phone. "Don't argue. I have a recording."
"..." The driver was stunned again.
He had checked his almanac today and it said it was not a good day to go out, but he didn't believe it! After hanging up the phone dejectedly, he started the car.
"Miss, I guarantee I'll take you there safely."
"You should have had this attitude earlier. You've been fined a lot, haven't you?"
Shen Ximan looked like she was enjoying the situation and deliberately rubbed salt into his wounds.
"...... I was fined two thousand yuan. I'll even waive your fare today. Please stop talking to me," the driver said regretfully, tears streaming down his face. He regretted it so much that he could chew his own intestines.
The taxi stopped in front of the overpass railing.
"We're here. Please watch your step."
Shen Ximan got out of the car with An Ruo in her arms and waved cheerfully at the taxi's rear, which was eager to leave.
"Sister, you're so naughty."
She stroked An Ruo's head. "We should deal with bad people in a proper way. You should learn this in the future and not be taken advantage of by bad people."
"Was brother mean to you too?"
An Ruo looked at Shen Ximan innocently and voiced her thoughts. Although she didn't understand why there had been so many changes, she knew that her sister had always been the best to her, and that was undeniable.