Shao Hongyuan had been working overtime at the company until late at night, already exhausted.
When he received Shao Jia’s call, he thought his daughter was simply missing him.
Who would have thought that, on the other end of the line, Shao Jia was sobbing uncontrollably, crying her heart out so much that Shao Hongyuan felt his head pounding.
Shao Jia desperately explained to him that she hadn’t meant to steal her brother’s things, that she had only wanted to take a look. But her brother had gotten furious…
With his head already throbbing from stress and weighed down by work matters, Shao Hongyuan only caught bits and pieces of what she said.
But that didn’t stop him from angrily calling Shao Yuye.
“Jiajia said you came back tonight?
“Why are you quibbling with a little girl? She just wanted to look at something, and you called her a thief?!
“After all these years, isn’t her affection for you enough? Jiajia truly treats you as her brother…”
On the other end, Shao Yuye’s voice was icy.
“Are you done with the nonsense?”
That should have been the last conversation between him and Shao Hongyuan.
From that day on, Shao Hongyuan and that troublesome family would no longer have any place in his life.
Shao Hongyuan froze.
He could clearly sense the shift in Shao Yuye’s attitude.
But tonight he was too furious, too desperate for a vent.
“Is that how you talk to your father?! Believe it or not, one day I’ll throw away all of your sister’s things!”
This time, Shao Yuye’s reaction wasn’t as sharp as before.
On the phone, he replied flatly with just one sound, “Go ahead.”
That made Shao Hongyuan explode in his office.
Good heavens!
Good heavens!
Good heavens!
The boy had really grown wings!
Fuming, he stormed back home and immediately decided to toss out everything in that room.
But when he opened the door—
Damn it.
The room was spotless.
Not even a strand of hair left behind.
Shao Hongyuan was completely dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, Shao Yuye’s car pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex.
He had temporarily left Shen Wanwan’s belongings in the car.
It was already very late, and he was worried that moving them in would wake her up.
By the time he got home, Shen Wanwan was already asleep. The house was quiet.
But the living room light was still on.
It was left on for him.
He stood there, pupils flickering slightly.
At last, he drew in a deep breath, feeling lighter than ever before.
From now on, the road home would no longer feel lonely and cold.
Because somewhere in this world, there would always be a light left on for him.
The next morning, after breakfast, Shao Yuye told her he was going to record a talent show. He was one of the initiators, serving as senior mentor and host, encouraging young dreamers.
After Brother Li picked him up, Shen Wanwan went back home for a bit.
The TV was showing the first season <One Pick> which Shao Yuye participated in.
Shen Mingzhen was sitting in front of the TV, tears streaming down her face.
Even she didn’t know what had come over her.
Perhaps, just as her daughter had said, this really was her biological son. And yet, for all these years, she had completely forgotten him, leaving him alone in Shao Hongyuan’s house, while she herself lived a carefree life here…
The mere thought of it filled her with crushing sorrow.
And yet her heart was blank.
She knew why she was crying, but she couldn’t reconcile herself with the grief enough to truly feel it.
Turning her head, through tear-filled eyes she saw her daughter.
“Wanwan…
“That child… has he been doing well all these years?”
Shen Wanwan handed her a tissue and sat down beside her, wiping her tears away.
“No.”
Shen Mingzhen broke down in sobs.
“How could I have forgotten him…”
What was even more unbearable was—
The harder she tried to remember the past, the less she could recall.
Shen Wanwan gently stroked her back.
“There’s still plenty of time.”
As long as there is love in her heart—
One day, those deleted memories will come back, bit by bit.
After soothing her weeping mother, Shen Wanwan shared another piece of shocking news.
She told her about her upcoming marriage to Qi Luozhou.
Shen Mingzhen was stunned, “Wanwan… why the sudden decision to marry?”
Shen Wanwan replied, “It just feels right.”
“Marriage is a serious matter, it can’t be taken lightly.” Shen Mingzhen said solemnly, “You’re still young, there’s no rush for this kind of thing.”
She was afraid Wanwan was only saying this out of spite for Su Tingxuan, acting on impulse.
But Shen Wanwan’s attitude was firm, “Mom, I’ve already decided.”
From a very young age, Wanwan knew she was the kind of person who absolutely needed material support.
That awareness reached its peak after Mingzhen married Shen Rong.
Her stepfather held a very high status among the wealthy circles of the capital, something even many old-money families could not compare with.
Wanwan enjoyed all the conveniences that came with money and status.
At parties, she had to stand in the center. At shows, she had her exclusive VIP seat. And every day, endless global limited editions would be delivered to her doorstep…
Of course, around her there was also always a circle of so-called ‘plastic sisters,’ smiling eagerly when they met, but ready to trample her underfoot at the slightest bit of gossip.
Yet Wanwan didn’t feel trouble. In fact, she relished it.
She had no desire to live as an ordinary person.
Nor did she ever want to live an ordinary life.
Even if Shen Mingzhen and Shen Rong had no expectations for her, she was determined to marry into a family of equal standing.
Marriage might not be necessary for her right now, but it was still one more jewel in her crown of vanity. In this circle, people compared everything. Sometimes she found it tedious, but most of the time she enjoyed watching others burn with envy.
Qi Luozhou was an excellent choice.
An affluent family background, a glamorous profession, and a handsome face.
Each quality was enough to completely crush ordinary men.
Shen Mingzhen stayed silent.
When Shen Wanwan was little, she had almost no opinions of her own, likely because her mother and brother always had everything arranged for her.
Only after Shen Mingzhen divorced Shao Hongyuan did Shen Wanwan’s strong-willed nature fully emerge.
So if she said “I’ve already decided,” it meant she had thought it through.
Shen Mingzhen’s own marriage had been a mess. She knew she couldn’t give her daughter any truly good advice, so she could only sigh softly.
“As long as you don’t regret it yourself.”
“Mm.” Shen Wanwan reassured her mother, “He’s a good man.”
Although she hadn’t had much contact with Qi Luozhou, Shen Wanwan could clearly sense that he was someone with a very definite sense of purpose.
His goals aligned with hers.
Both of them needed a marriage partner as a social tool.
And according to what 001 had told her, as the ‘male lead,’ Qi Luozhou possessed all the best qualities imaginable. Shen Wanwan wasn’t worried about unexpected complications.
Of course, if something did happen—the kind of thing Shen Mingzhen was worried about—
She was willing to take responsibility for her own mistakes.