Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?
Chapter 293: Mother-Daughter Night Talk

Chapter 293: Chapter 293: Mother-Daughter Night Talk

Shen Siyuan carried Duoduo back home, turned on the light, and saw Xiao Yue still standing on the balcony.

He walked over and asked, "Have you been staying home reading all day?"

Xiao Yue nodded.

Shen Siyuan said, "Don’t always stay at home, you can go out for a walk. If you don’t want to go out by yourself, you can take Duoduo with you."

Xiao Yue nodded again.

"Try to make some more friends. Other than Grandpa Liu, do you know anyone else?"

This time Xiao Yue retorted, "That’s not all, there’s also Principal Wei."

"Principal Wei?" Shen Siyuan remembered, it seemed to have been mentioned before.

"Yes, my former school’s principal. He’s a very nice person," said Xiao Yue.

Shen Siyuan recalled that it was he who helped Zhao Xuerong find her murderer.

"Does the old principal have any last wishes?" Shen Siyuan asked with some curiosity.

"He’s taking care of Grandma Principal. The old grandma has Alzheimer’s," Xiao Yue said.

Upon hearing this, Shen Siyuan was somewhat enlightened but also curious.

"Has he ever inquired about me with you?"

"Yes," Xiao Yue nodded.

Then she asked, "Do you want me to bring Principal Wei to meet you?"

"No need, if he wishes to see me, he will naturally come find me," said Shen Siyuan.

Shen Siyuan put Duoduo down and took a few steps forward, the orange street light illuminating the beach, with twinkling stars on the distant sea surface. The breeze blew across the ocean, stirring waves that lapped against the beach.

Xiao Yue walked next to Shen Siyuan, and together they quietly watched the sea.

Duoduo, holding on to the railing, hung herself over the rail, half her body revealed, and suddenly yelled out "aohooo..." loudly.

"Hey hey hey..."

"Duoduo, come back, don’t disturb brother’s rest," Lin Jianming, hearing the noise, walked out to the balcony from his home.

"No, I want to play here with brother," Duoduo let go of the railing and ran into the house.

Lin Jianming showed a helpless expression.

Shen Siyuan laughed and said, "Let her be, as long as she’s happy. And here, Xiao Yue is with her."

Lin Jianming nodded in agreement. They needed to rest at night, and Duoduo alone at home was actually very lonely. Having some company among the "people" was good.

So he said, "Then I’ll trouble Mr. Shen."

"I’ve told you to call me Xiao Shen––no need to be so formal," Shen Siyuan said.

He had said it many times, but Lin Jianming still subconsciously addressed him as Mr. Shen, out of respect for Shen Siyuan.

As they spoke, a Yin Wind suddenly descended onto the balcony and Dou Dou appeared, full of energy.

"I’m here oh," Dou Dou said, hands on hips.

She was then pulled into the house by Xiao Yue.

Before leaving, Dou Dou didn’t forget to wave goodbye to Shen Siyuan and Lin Jianming.

"This little one is really lively; it would be great if Duoduo could be like her."

Lin Jianming chatted with Shen Siyuan across the balcony.

"Duoduo is quite good as she is," Shen Siyuan didn’t think otherwise.

Lin Jianming, however, shook his head and said, "You don’t understand. Duoduo has actually changed a lot since she came back. She used to be very mischievous and lively. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to take the bus alone on a rainy day to find her brother..."

It seems the past events have actually had a significant impact on Duoduo.

-----------------

"Mom, why aren’t you sleeping yet?"

Ruan Hongzhuang, who woke up thirsty and came out for water in the middle of the night, was startled by Jiang Yingxue sitting in the living room.

"I can’t sleep, so I decided to sit up for a while," Jiang Yingxue said.

Ruan Hongzhuang said doubtfully, "Mom, you’re not still thinking about Aunt Huang’s matter, are you? You don’t really have a grudge with her, which is why you can’t sleep, right?"

"What are you talking about?" Jiang Yingxue poked her in the belly discontentedly.

Then she pulled her along and continued, "Since you can’t sleep either, keep me company and chat."

"I can sleep just fine, I was just thirsty," Ruan Hongzhuang said.

But she still sat down beside her.

"But indeed, I was thinking about your Aunt Huang. Those were such good times, carefree and simple, unlike now where people’s hearts are so complicated. Your Aunt Huang was very immature. Who knows how she has been all these years, whether she has suffered a lot..."

"That’s not true. From what Si Yuan told me, his dad really spoils his mom. He treats her like a daughter, and they are incredibly affectionate..." Ruan Hongzhuang said.

"Little Seagull is also very blessed. Although her family was average back then, her parents spoiled her too. Otherwise, how could a girl like her have attended college in that era?"

"It’s obvious that she leads a happy life. I’ve even seen her act coy with your uncle, and his face is always full of indulgence..." Ruan Hongzhuang wore a smile on her face.

She was full of anticipation for her own future. Decades later, if Shen Siyuan could still treat her the same way, she would be content.

Sensing her daughter’s thoughts, Jiang Yingxue patted the back of her hand and said, "Don’t worry, those who have grown up in love know how to love."

But then she changed the subject abruptly, "However, you must never lose yourself in the process of your mutual love."

"What do you mean?" Ruan Hongzhuang asked in confusion.

Actually, even though she asked this, she vaguely understood the meaning behind Jiang Yingxue’s words.

Indeed, Jiang Yingxue’s next words were just as she suspected.

"You’re getting a bit carried away now, or as you young people say, lovesick. Do you know when you’re most attractive?"

Ruan Hongzhuang shook her head in bewilderment, then added, "Isn’t it any time?"

Jiang Yingxue gently tapped her forehead with a finger.

"You... "

"You are most charming when you are working. Even I, your mother, was enthralled by you, let alone men. So never become a mere attachment to someone else, that’s when you are the most attractive."

"A flower, no matter how beautiful and delicate, can lose appeal if one looks at it for too long. After all, the world is never short of beautiful flowers. Why would one always prefer your flower alone? Only the soul is irreplaceable and is the cornerstone of sustaining a relationship for a long time."

"The difference between people is not because of their looks, but because of their souls. This world is so vast that you can find two people who look exactly the same, but you will never find two souls that are identical..."

"So maintain your individuality. It is what makes you unique, what makes you the one Xiao Shen likes most..."

...

Ruan Hongzhuan listened quietly. In fact, she understood all these principles, but hearing them from her mother’s mouth brought on a different feeling.

Also, if Jiang Yingxue hadn’t brought it up, even if she knew this principle, she wouldn’t have reflected on herself.

She understood why Jiang Yingxue was sharing these thoughts with her. Because of Shen Siyuan’s special identity, during the time they had been together, she began to lose herself, gradually becoming a vassal to him.

What she was looking for was a partner to accompany her throughout her life, not a strong figure to depend on.

Love is not about one-sided sacrifice but mutual support, achieving each other’s goals, and living out one’s individuality.

It is definitely not about erasing one’s own personality to assimilate to the other.

"Mom, I understand what you mean."

"I think, Xiao Shen would also prefer you that way," Jiang Yingxue said.

Ruan Hongzhuang was not only beautiful and from a good family, but her capabilities were undeniable. Such a woman was definitely proud and extremely confident.

And that is where the charm of her type of woman lies.

But as Shen Siyuan’s identity was slowly revealed, it made her feel like she could only look up to him. Therefore, in front of him, Ruan Hongzhuang gradually lost that pride and confidence.

That’s why Jiang Yingxue, as an observer, took the initiative to remind her.

"Mom, I’m going to sleep now," said Ruan Hongzhuang as she got up and yawned.

"Hold on, I haven’t finished talking," Jiang Yingxue held her back.

"What else is there to say?"

"It’s about Taozi..."

Hearing this, Ruan Hongzhuang fell silent, and it was a long while before she said:

"Mom, I don’t want to, but I would die..."

At this time, Shen Siyuan was also not asleep, sitting on the balcony practicing his dharma, waiting for the first ray of sunlight in the early morning. He would become stronger...

PS: Also~, what’s a good remedy for back pain? It’s really unbearable, I barely got any sleep last night. I’ll go to the hospital today and have a look~