Su Ci accompanied Su Mother, drinking tea and chatting. Little Su Ning played by himself nearby.

Su Mother asked about Su Ci’s life during this period.

She had asked her son yesterday and learned that her daughter had been taken in by a young boy. Her son had told her about the boy’s situation.

While feeling sympathy, Su Mother was also very grateful to this boy who had taken her daughter in and cared for her for such a long time.

From her daughter’s complexion and smile, she could tell she hadn’t suffered.

“The young man who took you in is named Lu Zhe?” Su Mother asked her.

“Brother told you?” Su Ci was a little surprised.

Su Mother smiled. “Yes, your brother told me. He took you in and cared for you — he’s a benefactor of our Su family. I’m planning to thank him properly. Does he lack anything?”

Su Ci’s eyes brightened. “Mom, if you want to thank him, just give him some money. He’s short of money.”

She didn’t want Lu Zhe to take on so many errands just to earn money. The weather was hot and sunny now, and doing house calls to repair computers was very tiring.

Su Mother also knew that the young man was an orphan and had a terminal illness, so he indeed lacked money. “Alright, I understand.”

Su Ci prepared to send a message to Lu Zhe — if her family gave him money, he absolutely had to accept it and not be polite.

At this moment, Aunt Hua walked over and said to Su Mother, “Madam, Miss Qin is here.”

If it were before, Qin Shiyan’s father had only been the Su family’s driver. She would never have been able to come and go from the Su residence like this.

But now, thanks to the Su family, she was seen as “Miss Qin.” And relying on the Su family, she had entered the entertainment industry under the banner of being the Su family’s adopted daughter.

Anyone who could cling to the Su family was like touching gold. Being able to enter the Su residence and carry the title of their adopted daughter made people look at her differently.

Especially in the entertainment industry — knowing her backing was the Su family, no one dared cause her trouble. Even her company pushed many good resources to her. This was why she had shot to fame in less than half a year since her debut.

Having found her daughter again, Su Mother was in a great mood. “Xiao Qin is here? Let her come in.”

Su Mother’s complexion was rosy. With excellent maintenance and a naturally good foundation, even in middle age she still retained her beauty. Sitting beside her daughter, she looked more like an older sister.

Su Father had been a famous young noble when he was younger. Su Zhiyuan resembled Su Father, Su Ci resembled Su Mother, and little Su Ning also took after Su Mother’s looks — the entire family had extremely high appearance value.

When Qin Shiyan debuted, she was promoted as a “once-in-a-century beauty.” Her looks were considered top-tier in the entertainment circle, but compared to the Su family’s appearance, she instantly lost color and became like a passerby.

This was what always bothered her.

Qin Shiyan’s parents looked ordinary. She often thought that if her parents had been Su Father and Su Mother, she would have inherited superior genes and become even more beautiful.

Qin Shiyan walked into the house. The smile on her face froze in shock the moment she saw the person on the sofa. Her pupils tightened slightly.

Su Ci?

Why was Su Ci here?

When did she return to the Su family?

“Xiao Qin, you’re very shocked too, right?” Su Mother saw her stunned expression and smiled. “We found Cici. She’s alive and well.”

Suppressing the shock in her heart with all her strength, Qin Shiyan’s eyes reddened the next second, squeezing out tears. “Cici is really not dead.”

She quickly walked to Su Ci, arms spreading as if to hug her. “Cici, I missed you so much.”

“Cici?” Qin Shiyan stared at Su Ci’s hand blocking her. Her expression stiffened.

“Don’t hug me. I don’t know you.” Su Ci said coldly. The Su family was one thing, but who was this person crying so hideously and trying to hug her?

Besides the Su family, the only one she let hug her was Lu Zhe, okay!

“You… don’t know me?” Qin Shiyan awkwardly withdrew her hands. She looked at Su Mother in confusion. “Auntie Su, what’s wrong with Cici?”

“Xiao Qin, sit down first. Cici lost her memory. She doesn’t remember us for now.” Su Mother sighed. Although she was sad her daughter didn’t remember her, as long as her daughter was back, she had no other wish.

Qin Shiyan was even more shocked. Su Ci had lost her memory?

No wonder she never returned to the Su family — her previous speculation was correct.

Qin Shiyan sat on the sofa opposite them, her face filled with anxious concern. “How could she lose her memory? She even forgot all of us. How could Cici possibly forget us? Unless…”

“Unless I’m not Su Ci.” Su Ci leaned back on the sofa, her chin lifting slightly, her eyes curving at the ends. “Is that what you mean?”

Qin Shiyan froze, then hurriedly shook her head. “That’s not what I meant.”

The amnesiac Su Ci was even more infuriating than before.

“Zhiyuan already took Cici for a paternity test. Even without a test, would I ever mistake my own daughter?” Su Mother, gentle by nature and long used to being loved by her husband, could still be strong as a mother. “Xiao Qin, whether Cici is my daughter or not is not something you have the right to question. Remember your place.”

Qin Shiyan’s face went pale. She quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, Auntie Su. I’m sorry, Cici. I spoke wrongly for a moment. I was just too emotional. I’m really happy Cici came back. Cici, I’m Qin Shiyan — your childhood companion.”

This was the face of the wealthy. One wrong sentence and they could turn on you at any moment.

Her father had become crippled in one leg trying to save Su Father. The Su family had merely given a few million to settle their family. If her father hadn’t suggested making her Su Ci’s playmate, the Su family might have completely forgotten their life-saving debt.

“Really?” Su Ci replied lightly. She did not have any fondness for this so-called childhood companion.

Having spent time in the entertainment industry before, and with her sharp perception, Su Ci could easily distinguish whether someone was speaking human words or ghost words.

Clearly, everything coming out of Qin Shiyan’s mouth was ghost words.

“I know you’re worried about Cici,” Su Mother said firmly, “but even if Cici lost her memory, she is my daughter — that is indisputable. As Cici’s friend, in this situation, you should care for her, not question her the first moment.”

She would not allow anyone to say even half a bad word about her daughter.

Her daughter was the treasure of her heart.

Qin Shiyan’s face turned white again and again. “Auntie Su, I understand. It’s my fault. Cici, I’m sorry.” Her hand clenched at her side, fingertips turning pale.

“Yanyan-jie, for you.” At that moment, little Su Ning ran over to Qin Shiyan and handed her his favorite little pudding.

“Ningning is so good. Thank you for the gift, but Yanyan-jie isn’t hungry. Ningning should eat it — it’s your favorite pudding.” Qin Shiyan softened her gaze and patted Su Ning’s head.

Across from them, Su Ci watched her younger brother stick closely to Qin Shiyan, clearly liking her very much.

She remembered that when the little guy saw her last night, he had looked timid, a little shy, even a little afraid — nowhere near as close to her as he was now to Qin Shiyan.

Su Ci’s eyes tilted up at the ends. Suddenly, she felt an urge to throw away her brother’s pudding so he could experience the cruelty of society!

After that, Qin Shiyan played with little Su Ning while chatting with Su Mother.

She had slipped up earlier, but she adjusted quickly. Wherever she fell, she climbed back up again. She kept talking to Su Mother about Su Ci, and when she heard that Su Ci had suffered before, her eyes turned red with heartache.

As for Su Ci’s cold gaze, not only did Qin Shiyan pretend not to see it, she even showed warm concern toward Su Ci — just enough, never overstepping, her attitude gentle and pleasant.

Su Ci’s red lips lifted. This childhood companion of hers… not simple at all.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

After school, Shen Xue passed by Lu Zhe’s classroom. She casually took a glance inside and happened to see Lu Zhe doing classroom duty.

She hurriedly took out her phone and messaged Su Ci: Lu Zhe is on duty. Do you want to see?

Su Ci replied instantly: Yes, hurry!

Then she sent a video call request.

Shen Xue pressed accept. When Lu Zhe’s stunning face suddenly appeared on screen, she was stunned again.

“Point the camera at Lu Zhe. I want to see him.” Su Ci urged from the other end.

Once more, Shen Xue felt Su Ci was absolutely Lu Zhe’s fangirl. She stood outside the window, secretly stretched her phone inside, and aimed it at Lu Zhe.

Su Ci watched the boy on the screen holding a broom, and she sighed: Lu Zhe has to clean the classroom. Too pitiful.

Shen Xue: I also just finished cleaning my classroom.

Su Ci bluntly: I only care about Lu Zhe.

Shen Xue felt she was, without a doubt, a tool-person.

Su Ci sat at her desk, resting her chin on one hand, watching the screen seriously. She felt it must be distance creating beauty, otherwise how could Lu Zhe look even more handsome?

Just then, an annoying figure suddenly entered the frame.

“Gege, today is your birthday.” Zhao Youyou took out a small gift box from her backpack. “This is my birthday present for you. Gege, happy birthday.”

Zhao Youyou wore her school uniform, her hair down, her features delicate — a girl like this giving a birthday present was enough to move anyone.

Su Ci shot upright, her eyes narrowing, cold gaze fixed on the gift in Zhao Youyou’s hand.

If Lu Zhe dared to accept it…

“Su Ci, do you need me to go stop them?” Shen Xue, being a responsible tool-person, remembered clearly that Su Ci told her to keep watch and not let other girls get close to Lu Zhe.

Su Ci’s tone was light. “No need.”

Lu Zhe lowered his eyes. He did not reach out. “Move. You’re blocking me from sweeping.”

Zhao Youyou: …

She instinctively stepped aside. Lu Zhe continued sweeping up trash on the floor, completely ignoring her.

“Su Ci, Lu Zhe didn’t accept the gift,” Shen Xue reported instantly.

“I saw.” Su Ci rested her chin in her hand again. The fierce anger from earlier had completely vanished. She muttered softly, “My little poor thing still has to clean the classroom on his birthday. So pitiful.”

Shen Xue was practically shocked by the speed at which Su Ci switched moods.

When Lu Zhe arrived at the computer shop, he saw Boss Fang hanging a “Temporarily Closed” sign on the door. Inside, he had set up a full table of dishes.

“Xiao Zhe, today is your birthday. Call Xiao Ci over too — we’ll celebrate it properly.” Boss Fang patted his shoulder and laughed.

“Let’s find Ci-jie to celebrate Brother Zhe’s birthday!” Little Kuaile had already been fitted with prosthetics, but he needed to go to the rehabilitation center to learn how to walk, so for now, he still sat in his small wheelchair.

Lu Zhe said, “Her family found her. She already went back.”

Boss Fang was shocked. “Went back where?”

“B City.” Lu Zhe looked at him. “Uncle Fang, Su Ci is the young miss of the Su family.”

This time, Boss Fang was even more shocked. The Su family in B City was so well-known — there was no one in the country who didn’t know of them.

No wonder Su Ci’s temperament was so delicate and noble, and her appearance wasn’t something an ordinary family could raise.

Boss Fang remained silent for a long moment, then let out a deep sigh.

He had originally imagined that Su Ci and Lu Zhe, the two young ones, might develop something. But now, Su Ci was the Su family’s daughter. No matter how outstanding or capable Lu Zhe was, he was still an orphan — and a terminally ill orphan at that.

One in the heavens, one on the ground.

Could they be together?

“Since Xiao Ci isn’t here, it’s fine. Kuaile and I will celebrate your birthday with you.” Boss Fang gathered away the sorrow on his face.

“Thank you, Uncle Fang.” Lu Zhe understood exactly what Boss Fang was thinking.

But what Boss Fang had in his heart, Lu Zhe had never once allowed himself to think.

Boss Fang was the one who sent Lu Zhe back home. He had drunk a bit, and his consciousness was slightly hazy.

Falling onto the folding bed, Lu Zhe closed his eyes to steady the waves of dizziness.

Just then, his phone rang.

Lu Zhe fumbled for it, pressed to answer, and the girl’s light, airy voice filled the room. “Lu Zhe.”

Lu Zhe opened his eyes. His pitch-black gaze was slightly misty, like it was blurred by alcohol. “Mm.”

“Lu Zhe, happy birthday.” Su Ci brought her face close to the screen.

Only then did Lu Zhe notice the pair of bunny ears on her head. He immediately sat up, his voice lowering. “Your bunny ears came out again?”

“No, these are accessories I bought. Today is your birthday, so I wanted to show you bunny ears. They’re not real, but they look the closest.”

She knew Lu Zhe liked her bunny ears, so she had gone out specially tonight to buy the headband — searching for a long time before finding one whose ears looked most like her real ones.

Su Ci gazed at him with bright, mischievous eyes. “If you were beside me right now, I’d let you pinch my bunny ears.”

Lu Zhe’s pitch-black eyes darkened. He lowered his voice. “Tuan Tuan, don’t tempt me.”

He would become greedy.