Jiang Shiyu glanced at the time on her phone screen.
Ten minutes had passed, and the man still hadn't appeared.
She tapped the phone screen, about to call Murong Cheng.
A car slowly drove towards her.
Thinking it was Murong Cheng, Jiang Shiyu put down her phone.
The car stopped in front of her, and the rear window rolled down.
"Why are you waiting here in the cold? Get in, I'll give you a ride."
It was Si Han.
Jiang Shiyu hadn't seen Si Han for some time.
"Ruo..."
She was about to say Ruo Feng, but thankfully stopped herself in time.
"Why are you here?" Jiang Shiyu blinked her beautiful eyes.
On such a cold day, Si Han was out. Wasn't he afraid of his leg pain?
"I was meeting an old friend and happened to see you. Get in."
Si Han opened the car door.
Jiang Shiyu looked left and right, but couldn't see Murong Cheng's car.
Never mind.
Jiang Shiyu opened the car door and got in.
The car was heated, and as soon as she got in, Si Han handed her a thermos.
It was an antique copper thermos filled with warm, fragrant incense. Holding it in her palm, the temperature was just right, and it emitted a rich aroma.
The copper pot was hollow, carved with intricate and beautiful patterns.
"You've been standing for so long, hold this to warm yourself."
Si Han's voice was faint, always carrying a hint of coolness, as if he were with everyone.
A faint medicinal scent filled the car.
Jiang Shiyu sniffed, "What a coincidence. Good thing you passed by, or I would have caught a cold."
"Where's A Cheng?"
"He's probably... busy!"
This was the first time Jiang Shiyu hadn't been picked up by Murong Cheng, and the first time she hadn't received a call from him.
It was strange; this man was never like this.
"Mr. Rong seems to be at the Murong family's old residence. He called you this morning, but you were resting, so I didn't disturb you," the driver reminded Si Han.
Jiang Shiyu was stunned.
A faint bitter smile bloomed on her lips.
As expected.
"Are you alright?"
Si Han seemed to know something. He lowered his eyes and looked at Jiang Shiyu faintly.
Jiang Shiyu averted her gaze, turning her face slightly.
She was afraid Si Han would see her expression, and also afraid he would notice her evasion.
"It's nothing. Che Che and Ruo Ruo are both Murong Cheng's children. If it were me, I would naturally care more about my own children. It's fine, I understand."
Jiang Shiyu felt a lump in her throat. She swallowed, forcing down the strange emotion.
Si Han's eyes were deep and unfathomable, like distant mountains under the night sky, silent and unmoving.
Back at Jing Yuan, Jiang Shiyu thanked him and went upstairs.
She opened the door. It was empty, with only the aunt busy inside. No one else was there.
At this time, Che Che and Murong Cheng would usually be waiting for her.
The little one would rush into her arms.
Jiang Shiyu opened her arms, making a hugging gesture.
Unfortunately, only cold air met her embrace.
A sense of loss instantly surged into her heart.
Like a sea surface stirred by the wind, waves rose, layer by layer, gradually becoming turbulent.
"Madam, you're back. Strange, why didn't I see the master and the young master today? Are they eating out?"
The aunt came out of the kitchen and looked around Jiang Shiyu. Seeing her alone, she found it very strange.
Her phone remained silent.
Jiang Shiyu hid the disappointment in her eyes. "Cook less food tonight. They have something to do and won't be home for dinner. Auntie, if you want to eat, cook a bit more and you can eat with me."
The aunt smiled sheepishly, "Oh, how can I accept that? I'll eat at home. My son, daughter, and husband are all waiting for me at home. I'll cook for you, Madam, and then go home..."
Son, daughter, and husband...
Yes, these should have all belonged to Su Ziyue.
Jiang Shiyu sat in the living room. The warm light shone, and the central air conditioning kept the room warm.
She felt drowsy. After the aunt finished cooking, seeing her still asleep, she put the food in a warmer, left her a note, and left.
Jiang Shiyu woke up around seven or eight o'clock.
The living room was empty, with only her.
The indoor lights were dim, and outside, the sun had already set. Since it was a winter evening, dusk fell particularly early. At this time, it was already deeply dark outside.
Jiang Shiyu propped herself up with her arm. Her phone on the coffee table was still silent.
The aunt had already left. Jiang Shiyu pulled out a chair, took out the food, and sat alone, eating slowly. After she was full, she washed the dishes.
Just then, there was a commotion outside the door.
Footsteps, the sound of a room card, then the door card was swiped, and the door opened.
"Mommy—"
Che Che's soft voice sounded from the entrance.
The little one's face was rosy. He hopped and skipped, throwing himself into Jiang Shiyu's arms.
"I haven't seen you for a few days, and I've missed Mommy so much. Have you missed me? I made a new friend! I want to introduce her to Mommy. Her name is Ruo Ruo. She's a girl who looks a lot like me. Although she's a bit cold, she's very pretty! Mommy will definitely like her!"
Che Che's voice was clear. Even without seeing his face, one could feel his overflowing joy.
"Is that so? If Che Che is happy, then Auntie is happy too. Auntie isn't feeling well today, so I'm going to bed."
Jiang Shiyu spoke mechanically, coldly pushed Che Che away, and went upstairs without looking back.
Che Che stood there, bewildered, not chasing after her. "Daddy, what's wrong with Mommy?"
The little one's eyes immediately turned red, and he pouted his small lips in grievance.
"Is Mommy angry? Is she angry because Che Che hasn't visited Mommy for several days?"
Murong Cheng closed the door and glanced at the woman's cold and resolute back.
His phone had been taken by someone today and he couldn't find it. He used a servant's phone to call Jiang Shiyu, but she hadn't answered. That's why he rushed back from the Murong family's residence.
The little one insisted on seeing Mommy, so he brought him along.
"It's okay, Mommy might just be feeling unwell, so she's like this. Darling, go watch TV."
Murong Cheng patted the little one's head with his large hand, then handed Che Che the remote control.
Che Che said "Oh" and took the remote control to the living room.
Murong Cheng went upstairs and turned the doorknob.
Click.
The door didn't open.
It was locked?
Jiang Shiyu never locked her door. Today, she had uncharacteristically locked it.
Murong Cheng took out the spare key, but it still didn't open.
Not only was it locked from the outside, but it was also locked from the inside with the deadbolt?
A hint of helplessness flashed in Murong Cheng's eyes.
It seemed that ever since Su Ziyue brought Ruo Ruo back to the country, he had been going to the Murong family's old residence.
He wasn't interested in Su Ziyue, but Ruo Ruo was his biological daughter and Che Che's sister. These two little ones were his flesh and blood, and they were twins.
The old man liked them very much, beaming with joy, and kept calling him to come back.