Chapter 496 I Don't Want to Go Back to My Childhood

After a pause, Hu Lirong sighed, "I only knew she could make money, but I didn't expect her to make this much. She's opened so many branches. It's just that... she's a bit stingy."

"You know, she's so capable. Why not just give De'an a position in the company and pay him a salary of tens or hundreds of thousands a month? Wouldn't that be better than him working so hard at the auto repair shop?"

"Mom, it was De'an who wanted to stay in Italy. He's fixing cars now, and I think he's doing fine."

"What's so good about it? His sister has readily available resources and jobs, why would she choose to fix cars?"

"However, I heard from your mother-in-law that she probably won't get married. It's good that she's not getting married. De'an and she have such a good relationship. She doesn't have any children, so in the future, won't all these things be for our Xiaoze Kuan?"

"Mom, don't keep thinking about these things... She has a close older brother, what if she gives it to his child?"

"That's why I'm telling you to try to please her, to bring Xiao Zekuan to her more often, and to make her care about Zekuan so that she'll give him her inheritance in the future."

"Listen to your mother, we can't let someone else snatch this opportunity away..."

Shen Xuewei found it quite amusing to hear people discussing how to curry favor with her in order to obtain her assets in the future.

She reached out and gently knocked on the door, and the person inside fell silent.

Upon discovering that it was her, her face turned as white as if she had seen a ghost, and her guilt was clearly visible on her face.

The mother and daughter stared at each other, bewildered.

Tang Tang forced herself to call out, "Wei... Sister Weiwei, you're here..."

Shen Xuewei nodded casually, "Yes, I'm here. Did I disturb you?"

The two hurriedly waved their hands and said, "No, no."

Shen Xuewei handed them the things she had brought, saying, "These are for De'an and Zekuan. You can give them to them later."

Tang Tang hurriedly took it, "Okay, thank you, Sister Weiwei."

Shen Xuewei waved her hand, indicating that she didn't need them to see her off, and then took the elevator and left.

After she left, the mother and daughter breathed a sigh of relief, but the next moment they couldn't help but worry again.

"Mom, do you think she heard what we were saying just now?"

Hu Lirong wasn't quite sure either, "I... I don't think so?"

Tang Tang was so anxious she was about to cry. "What if Sister Weiwei tells De'an and my in-laws? What will they think of me?"

"Mom, it's all your fault. I told you not to keep talking to me about these things, but you just kept doing it."

Hu Lirong reassured her, "Don't be afraid, I don't think she's that kind of person. Even if she complains, I'll apologize to De'an and your in-laws later, and they won't blame you."

"Alright, alright, Mom won't talk to you about these things anymore."

When Chu De'an got home from get off work, he noticed that the two of them kept looking at him with a hint of something in their eyes.

He looked completely bewildered, wondering what the two were up to.

"Why are you all staring at me like that? Just say what you have to say. Did Zekuan break something again?"

Chu Zekuan, who was playing with his toys, looked up blankly.

He's too young to understand the complexities of adult relationships.

Hu Lirong and Tang Tang shook their heads. "It wasn't him."

"Is it because you don't have enough money? I'll transfer you 20,000 yuan, you can spend it as you see fit."

"It's not about money."

Chu De'an lay down on the sofa, too lazy to guess anymore.

"No, that's not it. If you want to say something, then say it. If not, hurry up and bring the food up. I'm hungry."

The two went to the kitchen and brought up the prepared food.

Chu De'an ate his meal with gusto. The mother and daughter exchanged glances, and Tang Tang cautiously said:

"De'an, did your sister say anything to you today? Like, when she mentioned me and my mom..."

Chu De'an buried his head in his mouth and shoveled rice into his mouth, casually saying, "She asked you to cook..."

Sensing that something was off between the two, he paused, then changed the subject.

“My sister said…” he drawled, glancing at the two of them.

Tang Tang felt guilty instantly and quickly told him that he shouldn't have gossiped behind her back, and that she would go apologize to Shen Xuewei.

Chu De'an's smile faded, and he looked at the two of them without saying a word for a long time.

After a long while, he sighed in frustration, got up, and walked outside.

Tang Tang chased after him, "De'an, where are you going?"

Chu De'an didn't even turn his head. "Go apologize to my sister for you."

Tang Tang stopped in her tracks, staring blankly at his departing figure.

When Shen Xuewei learned of Chu De'an's purpose, she looked at the person in front of her with his head down and chuckled softly.

"I didn't take it to heart."

This is nothing for her to care about.

They were just insignificant outsiders.

Chu De'an looked at her, then lowered his head in shame.

He scratched his head, sat facing Shen Xuewei, unsure how to face her, and finally only said one sentence.

"Sister, sometimes I think, if only we were still kids, there wouldn't be so many problems and worries."

"When we were little, you, me and Tang Tang were all happy together, without having to think about anything else."

He was genuinely expressing his feelings, and he truly believed what he was saying.

Shen Xuewei, however, was different from him; she never dwelled on her childhood.

For Chu De'an, life at that time was beautiful, warm, carefree, and full of childlike innocence.

However, when Shen Xuewei recalls her memories, most of them are painful.

She doesn't want to go back to her childhood.

The fear of living under someone else's roof, the humble way she observed people's expressions and tried to please those who could influence her fate—everything felt so powerless and so insignificant.

Countless nights, she had dreamt of being driven out of that "home" that didn't belong to her.

The two sat facing each other, both reminiscing about their childhood.

Shen Xuewei rubbed her temples wearily. "I'm tired. You should go back first."

Chu De'an looked at her with concern, "Okay, sister, I'll head back now. If anything happens, remember to call me."

"Okay, I understand."

Chu De'an left Shen Xuewei's house and went to have a meal at Chen Fangli and her husband's house next door.

Hearing the cheerful laughter coming from not far away, Shen Xuewei's face was hidden by her hanging hair, which made her look even more lonely.

After attending Zhao Xiannan's wedding, Shen Xuewei flew out of Italy.

After dropping her off, Chen Fangli returned to the hamburger shop to continue her work.

In my spare time, I sat at the table and checked today's sales figures with Chu Fu.

After verifying the information, Chu Fu smiled so broadly that all his wrinkles appeared.

Chen Fangli sat silently for a moment, then suddenly said, "Afu, from now on, don't mention Weiwei's affairs to Xiaotang and her mother as much as possible."

Chu Fu asked, "What's wrong? Why are you saying this out of the blue?"

Chen Fangli shook her head, "It's nothing, I just feel that it's unnecessary."

"Okay, then I won't say anything, I'll listen to you."

...

After returning from Italy, Shen Xuewei began to exercise more and pay more attention to her physical fitness.

After undergoing a comprehensive medical check-up at the hospital, and being told that she was in excellent health, she flew abroad.

During the Chinese New Year, I returned to Italy and we had our New Year's Eve dinner together at the Chu family's house.

Amidst the lively chatter, someone casually remarked, "Weiwei, you seem to have gained some weight in just a few months?"