SFS Chapter 189 Friendship
Chapter 189 Friendship
"I was struck by this and asked the child why he was looking for someone. He said he was looking for someone for his sister, and that the person he was looking for was very close to his sister."
"I took the opportunity to ask around, and the child told me a lot more. All the signs made me think it was you, but I'm not sure. I'm afraid it was a trap set by Shen Linfeng."
"So, I secretly followed the child back. After I saw your figure from a distance, I dared to confirm it completely. Later, I thought that there would be fewer people at night and it would be less likely to attract attention, so I took advantage of the darkness to knock on your door."
After hearing this, Cheng Yuntao immediately realized that the child Shen Shulan was talking about should be Shaobing.
"It must be that God couldn't bear to see us get separated, so he let Shaobing meet you." Cheng Yuntao was filled with emotion, and her voice was filled with excitement and relief that was difficult to conceal.
Soon, she seemed to recall something, and her expression became serious again. "Not long ago, I went to the Ji Mansion to cook and met Shen Linfeng. When he was looking for information about you, he followed the clues and found me. He knew that I had a close relationship with you, so he made things difficult for me and hinted at me to inform him as soon as I had any news about you."
"I wouldn't bother with him, but there's no guarantee he wouldn't have spies around to monitor us. That's why I was so anxious just now. It was precisely because of this concern."
Shen Shulan listened quietly, a bitter smile of understanding appearing on his face.
"That's just the way my second brother is," Shen Shulan said, a deep sense of powerlessness evident in his words. "He's been so deeply entangled in the power struggle within the City Lord's Mansion that he's only focused on his own power and ambition, and won't tolerate even the slightest bit of disobedience."
"Over the years, I've seen him become more and more ruthless in his efforts to consolidate his position. Family and friendship are no longer a thing in his heart." She raised her head slightly and looked out the window, as if she could see through the window the past that was too painful to recall.
"I'm really tired," Shen Shulan said, his voice choking. "Every day in the City Lord's Mansion, I'm either scheming against others or trying to be schemed against. I don't want to go through that kind of scheming for even a single day. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this kind of fratricidal fighting."
"If you don't want to fight, you can't win."
She raised her head and looked at Cheng Yuntao tenderly: "I came here this time just to see you, to let you know that I'm fine, and to put my mind at ease."
Cheng Yuntao's eyes welled up. She knew Shen Shulan's difficult situation and the pain that cold home had brought her. She slowly raised her hand and gently touched the scar on Shen Shulan's face. Her voice choked with sobs, "It must be very painful, right?"
Shen Shulan smiled faintly and nonchalantly, then shook his head. "It's all in the past. I'm lucky to be able to survive unscathed. I wouldn't dare ask for more."
A trace of loneliness flashed across her eyes: "This scar is too deep and can't be removed, but it doesn't matter, I'll just cover it up so as not to scare others." As she spoke, she skillfully picked up the veil, put it back on, stood up, and prepared to say goodbye.
"I have to go. If I don't leave now, if Shen Linfeng finds out, you will be implicated." Shen Shulan's voice came through the veil.
When Cheng Yuntao heard this, her heart tightened and she subconsciously grabbed Shen Shulan's hand. When she was about to speak to keep him, she suddenly remembered Xu Ranyuan who was staying at home, and her eyes lit up instantly.
"Sister Shen, don't leave so quickly!" Cheng Yuntao spoke quickly, as if she was afraid that Shen Shulan would disappear in the next second. "I have a friend living at my house. His name is Xu Ranyuan. He is a very skilled doctor. You can stay for one night and let him check you out tomorrow. Maybe there is a chance of recovery!"
Shen Shulan paused, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes. She knew very well the consequences of being discovered by Shen Linfeng, but the earnestness in Cheng Yuntao's eyes made it impossible for her to refuse.
"Just stay and keep me company, okay?"
"How long has it been since we last met? I really, really, really missed you, okay!"
"I can make a lot of breakfasts. Fried dough sticks and soy milk with steamed dumplings, rice noodle rolls and wontons with fried buns, sesame balls, pot cakes and spicy soup, pancakes and tofu pudding... Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll make it for you tomorrow morning."
As Cheng Yuntao spoke, she counted on her fingers, trying to keep Shen Shulan with delicious food.
"Please~Sister Shen——" Her voice rose slightly at the end, with a coquettish tone that made it impossible to refuse.
Cheng Yuntao tried to persuade Shen Shulan to stay again and again, using all her tricks, and finally made him agree: "Okay, then I'll bother you for one night."
"Great! You can sleep with me tonight, so I don't have to make another bed."
Shen Shulan looked at the smiling face in front of him, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.
It is human nature to seek good fortune and avoid danger. Shen Shulan knew very well that the best thing for Cheng Yuntao to do at this moment was to hand her over to Shen Linfeng in order to get a generous reward; or to completely sever ties with her to avoid getting into trouble.
But Cheng Yuntao didn't do that. She chose to maintain the pure feelings between them and even thought of ways to heal the scars on her face. This friendship, after Shen Shulan had experienced countless betrayals and calculations, seemed even more precious.
After washing up, the two of them lay side by side on the soft bed, wrapped in warm bedding.
Cheng Yuntao turned sideways, facing Shen Shulan, and started talking enthusiastically, describing every little thing that had happened since she first arrived in Junhua City until now when she has completely settled down.
Most of the time, Shen Shulan would listen quietly, occasionally responding. This kind of unreserved, relaxed and comfortable moment of interaction was something she had never experienced before, amidst the intrigues of the City Lord's Mansion.
Shen Shulan completely let down his guard in front of Cheng Yuntao, showing his soft side.
As Cheng Yuntao spoke, her eyelids became heavier and heavier, and her voice became increasingly unclear. Unconsciously, her breathing became even and steady.
Shen Shulan listened to the light breathing beside him, slowly turned his head, and looked at Cheng Yuntao's sleeping face quietly in the moonlight.
At this moment, she felt extremely at ease.
Shen Shulan stood up, pinched the corner of the quilt, pulled it up, and tucked it in for Cheng Yuntao. After doing all this, she slowly lay down, her body sinking into the soft bed, and let out a very light, almost inaudible sigh.
His gaze slowly moved upwards, settling on the curtains above the bed. In the moonlight, the curtains vaguely outlined some fuzzy patterns. Staring at the patterns, his thoughts drifted away.
In this long-lost warmth, Shen Shulan's breathing gradually became even and slow, the expression on his face became more and more peaceful, and finally he fell into a deep sleep.