IF Storyline • High School (First Part) – If Shang An died earlier
A sudden accident occurred.
As in previous years, her Father, before the anniversary of her Mother’s death, would go in advance to spend time at the place where they once loved each other.
However, this time, the private plane he was on had an accident just before reaching the destination, leaving only a corpse.
In simple terms, he died.
On the day the news came back, the servants of the Shang family were all in tears.
Shang Lu sat on the sofa, looking strangely at them crying. She vaguely remembered hearing them talking behind her Father’s back a few days ago. Now, why were they all so sad, so hypocritical?
Shang Mu also rushed back from school, accompanied by Ruan Yin.
Shang Lu looked at them, blinked her eyes, tears falling down, and shouted, “Brother, Sister Ah Yin.”
Ruan Yin hurriedly wiped away the tears for Shang Lu, sitting beside her and gently embracing her, comforting her, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be sad. Both your Brother and I are here.”
Ruan Yin’s embrace was warm, giving a reassuring feeling.
So much so that Shang Lu found it hard to express herself. Her tears were not because of sadness; rather, she felt happy.
Perhaps she was the most malicious daughter in the world, as she was constantly hoping that her Father would die sooner.
Miraculously, her wish was granted.
That night.
Shang Lu’s high fever wouldn’t subside. After the private doctor prescribed medicine and left, it was Ruan Yin who took care of Shang Lu.
Naturally, Shang Mu felt distressed for his girlfriend. After handling company documents, he came to persuade Ruan Yin to rest, but she didn’t agree.
Ruan Yin wiped Shang Lu’s arm with a towel, saying helplessly, “I don’t trust your household servants to take care of Little Sister. I can’t relax if they are the ones looking after her.”
Shang Mu walked over and said, “You go rest. I… I’ll take care of her.”
Hearing this, Ruan Yin finished wiping Shang Lu’s arm, placed Shang Lu’s hand under the blanket, and said, “If you say so, you must follow through. Someone must be with Little Sister at all times.”
“I understand.” Shang Mu picked up another towel and began wiping Shang Lu’s face and neck, saying, “Are you reassured now? I’ve taken care of you when you were sick before.”
“I’m reassured.” Ruan Yin smiled and said, “Little Sister will be very happy when she opens her eyes and sees you.”
Ruan Yin soon went to rest in Shang Mu’s room, not wanting to disturb the siblings’ time together.
Shang Mu sat at Shang Lu’s bedside, his gaze falling on the girl whose face was reddened by illness.
In fact, he was somewhat lost.
His Father’s sudden death was too abrupt. He had already arranged to suspend his studies, and the news wouldn’t stay hidden for long. When he went to the company, he would have to face countless cunning foxes eager to divide the Shang family’s wealth.
Could he handle it?
Could he really preserve the family’s properties?
On the way back, his girlfriend held his hand and told him not to be afraid. His sister was still underage, and now, he was the only one she could rely on.
He was the older brother, and he had to protect his sister.
Just as Shang Mu was lost in his thoughts, the girl lying on the bed, delirious from the fever, suddenly burst into tears.
She alternately called out “Mom” and “Brother.”
Tears continuously flowed from Shang Lu’s tightly closed eyes as she murmured, “Brother… I’m scared, Brother… save me…”
Shang Mu felt a pang of discomfort.
He had never seen Shang Lu cry so sadly, let alone that she was still ill at the moment, looking extremely uncomfortable.
Shang Mu asked her, “What are you afraid of?”
Upon hearing a response, the drowsy Shang Lu opened her eyes.
Shang Mu sat at her bedside, she thought that she must be dreaming.
She can’t worry about that now.
The grievances that had accumulated earlier found an outbreak point at this moment. Shang Lu cried until she choked, “I’m afraid of the cousins. They always bully me. I’m scared to watch horror movies, but they force me to watch. I’m also afraid of Dad. He locks me in a room where I can’t see anything. It’s so dark, and I’m so scared…”
Next, Shang Lu’s speech lost its logic. She cried for a while in a daze and then fell into a deep sleep again.
Shang Mu stared blankly at the person in front of him.
He suddenly remembered that before their cousins came to their home, Shang Lu seemed to want to tell him something.
But because he was scolded by his Father for not learning the piano piece, he rushed to his lesson with the teacher and didn’t have the patience to listen to her.
So… was she asking for his help back then?
His girlfriend taught him to protect his sister, yet he was completely unaware when outsiders bullied her at home.
He had done so poorly.
Shang Mu wiped away the tears on Shang Lu’s face with a towel and murmured, “I’m sorry.”
Shang Lu had a long dream, but upon waking up, she didn’t remember anything. She just felt relaxed, as if many restraints had suddenly disappeared.
The sun had been up for a long time, warm rays shining through the window, making Shang Lu squint comfortably.
The door was pushed open.
Seeing that Shang Lu was awake, Ruan Yin held a bowl of porridge and said, “Do you have the strength to sit up? Do you want to eat something?”
“Um.” Shang Lu obediently replied and sat up from the bed.
Ruan Yin sat on the chair beside the bed, feeding Shang Lu spoon by spoon.
As Shang Lu ate, Ruan Yin helped wipe her mouth. Finally, Shang Lu whispered, “Sister Ah Yin, you’re really kind.”
“Am I?” Ruan Yin placed the empty bowl aside and smiled, “Your Brother stayed with you all night yesterday and left only half an hour ago for some work at the company. I persuaded him to take a break, but he said he couldn’t leave you alone and insisted on staying here.”
Shang Lu was slightly stunned.
Ruan Yin measured Shang Lu’s temperature again, sighed in relief, and said, “The fever has finally gone, but you still need to rest well. Lie down quickly.”
Shang Lu obediently lay down, looking at Ruan Yin, she asked, “Is Sister leaving?”
Ruan Yin touched her face and said, “Your Brother has been busy with the company these days. Sister is bored alone, so I’ll stay here these days. Can you accompany Sister?”
Shang Lu smiled and said, “Today, I’ll accompany Sister to watch a movie. I’ve seen a lot of movies, so I can recommend something similar to whatever Sister likes.”
Ruan Yin naturally agreed and said, “You need more rest. Just obediently go to sleep. I’ll bring lunch to your Brother at noon, and in the afternoon, we can watch a movie, okay?”
When Ruan Yin returned in the afternoon, she brought popcorn and cola for Shang Lu, saying, “Movies and popcorn are the perfect match. I didn’t know your taste, so I bought a mixed flavor, a bit of everything.”
Shang Lu had a very happy day.
She and Ruan Yin laughed heartily while watching a comedy, sharing a large bucket of popcorn.
Until the evening, when the maid looked at them with an ‘uncomprehending’ expression, Shang Lu still avoided her gaze.
Ruan Yin noticed Shang Lu’s change in mood, held her hand, and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”
Summoning her courage, Shang Lu asked, “Sister Ah Yin, I’m not sad at all. Do you think I’m scary?”
The moment she said it, Shang Lu regretted it. A normal person wouldn’t understand how a daughter could laugh heartily at a comedy the day after her Father’s death.
“I know our Lulu is warm and kind. It’s just that some people aren’t worth our sadness, right?” Ruan Yin said, pinching Shang Lu’s cheek and pulling her up, “Okay, no crying, come with me.”
Upstairs, in Shang Mu’s room.
Shang Lu saw a bag containing various fireworks, even firecrackers.
Ruan Yin told Shang Lu, “I know your situation. I understand, and Shang Mu does too. He even joked this morning that he wanted to set off fireworks to celebrate.”
Because of Shang Mu’s joke, Ruan Yin bought these fireworks and firecrackers, then sent the maid away, holding the beautiful fireworks with Shang Lu in the courtyard.
Ruan Yin lit a match, ignited the fireworks, and held the match in the air. The fireworks sparkled in the wind.
Shang Lu looked at the fireworks in her hand and chose to ignite them.
The fireworks soared into the sky, leaving behind beautiful traces.
Ruan Yin clapped her hands, “Congratulations, Little Sister. You don’t need to be afraid anymore. A new life is coming.”
“Okay.” Shang Lu nodded vigorously, raising the fireworks higher, looking up at the sky.
A new life was indeed coming.
This is so sad 🙁 both Shang Mu and Shang Lu’s lives were destroyed. I especially feel sad for Shang mu. Shang Lu at least has her friends and Chi Yan at the end of all her suffering, but Shang Mu lost everything. His only sister is now a stranger and he is the only one all alone 🙁 all because of their disgusting excuse for a father
I hope mother Shang gives him hell in the afterlife
If only…