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"By the way, Mom, I saved some tickets for everyone. They're all VIP seats, so you must come."
"Sure, I'll definitely come," Chu Yunrong agreed immediately.
Shen Xitong's gaze shifted to the other people at the table, looking expectant.
"I'm an old man with no appreciation for all those cellos and pipas. I can't understand them, so I won't join," Old Sir Shen refused.
Though disappointed, Shen Xitong knew Old Sir Shen was never interested in such things.
"I'll be on a business trip to Europe that day, so I can't make it. I'll bring you back a gift," Shen Junyu said gently.
That left only one person, and everyone's attention turned to Shen Qinglan.
Shen Qinglan put down her chopsticks, "The end of the semester is coming up, and there are still many topics I haven't reviewed, so I won't be going."
As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Yunrong was displeased, softly reprimanding, "It's your sister's first concert. How can you skip it? It's just a final exam, not as important as your sister."
"Yunrong," Old Sir Shen said in a low tone, his voice slightly grave.
Meeting her father-in-law's warning gaze, Chu Yunrong sheepishly fell silent.
Shen Qinglan's expression remained calm, revealing no emotion, "Grandpa, I'll head back to school now."
Old Sir Shen was reluctant, "It's so late, just stay at home tonight."
His granddaughter rarely came home, and even on weekends, her time at home was limited. He understood the reasons.
"I have classes early tomorrow morning, so it's more convenient to stay at school. It's almost the weekend anyway—I'll come back to see you then," Shen Qinglan stood up.
Seeing this, Shen Xitong stood up as well, "Qinglan, I'll walk you out."
Old Sir Shen watched his departing granddaughter, then fixed his gaze on Chu Yunrong, "Come with me upstairs."
Shen Junyu was the only one left at the dining table, his eyes flickering, lost in thoughts no one knew.
"Qinglan, don't misunderstand Mom. She didn't mean it. She just…." Shen Xitong followed Shen Qinglan, speaking apologetically, like a wise older sister trying to reason with her rebellious and naive sibling.
Shen Qinglan stopped walking and looked directly at Shen Xitong, her eyes devoid of any emotion, "Shen Xitong, there's no one else here. Why pretend? Aren't you tired?"
Shen Xitong's face froze for a moment before returning to normal, maintaining a magnanimous smile, "Qinglan, I know you're upset about Mom favoring me, but you have to understand her. After all, it was me who stayed by her side all these years while you were away, and you enjoy peace and quiet, so you've spent little time with her. It's understandable she isn't used to it."
Shen Qinglan understood the undertones of Shen Xitong's words. Despite appearing consoling, she was actually flaunting. Even though you, Shen Qinglan, are Mom's biological daughter, I'm still the one she loves most, even if I am not related by blood.
Shen Qinglan understood what Shen Xitong was implying, but she was no longer a child. If, when she first returned to the Shen family, she harbored even a sliver of hope for Chu Yunrong, that hope had long been extinguished by reality over the past six years.
"Shen Xitong, I hope you can wear your 'Eldest Miss Shen' mask for a lifetime," Shen Qinglan said flatly, her words like a knife piercing deeply into Shen Xitong's heart, exposing its deepest decay.
Shen Xitong's face turned unsightly, staring coldly at Shen Qinglan's retreating figure.
"Lanlan, get in the car."
Shen Junyu's car stopped in front of Shen Qinglan, the window rolled down, revealing Shen Junyu's handsome face.
Shen Qinglan got into the passenger seat, and the two remained silent on the drive.
When they stopped a street away from the school gate, Shen Qinglan was about to get out when Shen Junyu held her hand, prompting a questioning look from her.
Shen Junyu licked his lips, his throat dry, "Lanlan, you'll always be my sister, the one I cherish most."
Shen Qinglan understood, a slight smile on her lips, "Brother, I don't mind."
Seeing his sister's lighthearted demeanor, a faint bitterness flickered in Shen Junyu's eyes. Was it because she didn't care at all that she didn't mind?
"Take care of yourself staying alone at school, and wait for me on Friday. I'll come to pick you up." Shen Junyu instructed.
Shen Qinglan wasn't oblivious to the bitterness in Shen Junyu's eyes. Being highly sensitive to emotions, she could guess what Shen Junyu was thinking with great accuracy. It wasn't that she didn't care about the Shen family, it was just….
"Okay." Shen Qinglan agreed. If this would ease her brother's feelings, so be it.
**
Shen Family Study
Old Sir Shen sat in the chair, silent for a long while. Chu Yunrong sat nearby, anxiously clasping her hands.
"Dad, is there something you want to say?" Chu Yunrong broke the silence.
"Yunrong, you've been married into our family for over twenty years now. Shen Qian is a soldier, and he's been away from home for years. The fact that this family has remained harmonious all these years is thanks to you."
"Dad, don't say that. It's what I should do. Even though Aqian doesn't come home often, he's always treated me well. I've never regretted marrying him," Chu Yunrong said softly.
Old Sir Shen sighed, "Shen Qian has been so busy with work that even when you gave birth to Junyu and Lanlan, he wasn't there with you. He's the one who owes you."
Chu Yunrong seemed to recall those difficult times. Though her parents-in-law treated her well and took care of her meticulously, her husband's absence was something no one could compensate for. Her eyes reddened slightly.
"I remember when Lanlan first went missing, you were like a madwoman, searching for her everywhere, talking about her every day, and even developed depression. Shen Qian couldn't bear it any longer, so he adopted Xitong from the orphanage, and you gradually recovered."
"Tongtong is a good child, very sensible and well-behaved," speaking of Shen Xitong brought a smile to Chu Yunrong's face.
Old Sir Shen nodded, "She is indeed sensible. But Yunrong, Lanlan has returned now. Don't forget, she is the daughter you carried for ten months. If not for the accident back then, she wouldn't have left us for so many years. She would have grown up loved and cared for, just like Xitong."
"Dad, I know Qinglan is my daughter, and I've been trying to make it up to her all these years. I know I might favor Tongtong sometimes, but Qinglan is just as dear to me," Chu Yunrong's voice was choked with emotion.
"You know best whether that's true. I just hope as a mother, you can be fair to your own daughter. That's also your mother-in-law's wish. Lanlan was her favorite, and now that she doesn't have much time left, the one she worries about most is Lanlan. Don't let her spend her last days in unrest."
"I understand, Dad."
At the study door, the hem of a green dress flickered past.
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