WebNovels

Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: I Succeeded

If it was all coincidence before, now I was certain Su Ning'an knew about my death. Otherwise, she wouldn't keep sending items containing my ashes to the people closest to me.

First Lu Shiyan, then Grandma and the family.

I didn't understand. I was her own sister. When I was alive, she took everything that belonged to me. Why wouldn't she let me be even after I died? How could she go to such deranged lengths!

Her daring to do this made it clear she was counting on my death never being discovered.

Which, admittedly, was likely. I had already been reduced to ashes. Given enough time, I would naturally be forgotten by everyone.

They might think I was dead, or they might assume I was missing.

Did that mean I would have to exist in this spirit form forever? When would it end?

I appeared dejectedly by Grandma's side, my heart aching at the sight of her haggard, aged face.

Nanny Wang brought over a bowl of bird's nest soup. "Old Madam, it's late. You didn't eat much tonight. Have some bird's nest soup and get a good rest. Miss Wan will surely be fine."

Grandma sighed. "You saw that shameless bunch. I don't know what kind of bewitching potion Su Ning'an has given them. That child Wanwan vanished after that night and hasn't been seen since. Even if she was angry with them, she's the most filial child. How could she not even contact me? In all likelihood... Wanwan has met with misfortune."

You see, only those who truly love you care about your whereabouts.

"Old Madam, you're just overthinking. I reckon Miss Wan is just angry with Young Master Lu. If she contacted you beforehand, wouldn't her location be exposed? She intends to make Young Master Lu suffer this time."

"But the people I sent out found nothing. That child has never run away from home alone for so long, and she left no trace. And the bloodstained wedding dress... I..."

How could Grandma not worry? Without the dress, she could perhaps find an excuse for my disappearance.

"I specifically inquired about the dress at the police station. The police only found the dress, none of Miss Wan's other belongings. If Miss Wan was really murdered, her body would have been found by now after all these days, wouldn't it? We haven't found anything, right?"

"Even so, I still can't rest easy..."

Nanny Wang sighed. "Old Madam, Miss Wan is in her twenties. She's not a child. This is a society governed by law. The young lady always had bodyguards with her. She'll be fine. She's just lovesick. Don't young people these days love that 'say goodbye and go' trend? Maybe she's already gone to a beautiful place to heal her broken heart. Rather than worrying about the young lady, you should worry about yourself. If she comes back and sees you've lost more weight, she'll be sad and cry again."

After Nanny Wang's careful coaxing, Grandma's expression improved slightly. "Fine then. Bring the bird's nest soup over."

"Right away." Nanny Wang happily brought the soup over and coaxed Grandma into finishing it.

A faint weariness appeared in Grandma's eyes. Nanny Wang pointed at the bone china set. "Old Madam, what should we do with this tableware?"

She knew Grandma had never liked Su Ning'an. Gifts and tonics Su Ning'an sent before were always thrown out.

"For the sake of the Buddha, let them stay. Consider it accumulating blessings and virtue for my Wanwan, so she comes home soon."

I sighed softly. Grandma, even if you accumulate all the virtue in the world for me, I cannot come home.

But doing this gave Grandma some comfort, ensuring she wouldn't be tormented by nightmares tonight.

I stood by the bedside, watching Grandma fall asleep. As a spirit, I had no senses and didn't feel tired.

Since my death, I'd lost count of the days I'd waited from dark till dawn.

The only improvement was that I was no longer confined solely to Lu Shiyan's side.

I could go anywhere my ashes were. Wait.

Ashes...

I suddenly thought of something.

Could I use this ability to find the rest of my remains? To see who exactly killed me?

I closed my eyes tightly, trying to seek out the other parts of my body.

When I opened them again, the scenery before me had changed dramatically.

I had succeeded.

The place was all too familiar, a place I could never forget even in my dreams—the Su family home.

In the living room, my mother was rubbing her temples. Su Ning'an approached with a bowl. "Mom, you know how Grandma is. Don't exhaust yourself worrying about her. It's not worth ruining your health over."

The bowl in my mother's hand was identical to the set at Grandma's. Hatred burned within me. Su Ning'an, you are utterly heartless.

She hated me, fine. But how could she mistreat the family like this?

Our parents doted on her so much. Why would she do this?

Su Ning'an placed a bowl of chicken soup on the coffee table. "Mom, I know you haven't been well lately. I made this specially for you."

My mother opened her eyes. "Ning'an, you're the good one. Not like that ungrateful wretch Su Wan, disappearing for so many days without a trace."

Only at this moment did I see a flicker of worry on my mother's face.

"Mom, this is ultimately my fault. If I hadn't called Brother that time, Sister wouldn't have left in anger. When Sister comes back, I'll go abroad. Then she won't be upset anymore."

"Nonsense! What's wrong with you calling your brother? She's the one who's petty, playing the runaway game over such a small matter."

The trace of worry that had appeared on my mother's face vanished without a trace. She started comforting Su Ning'an again, telling her it wasn't her fault, that it was all my doing.

"But Mom, I'm so worried about Sister being out there alone. She is a woman, after all. What if she gets into trouble? Is it really okay that we're not looking for her?"

"Even if she gets into trouble, it's her own fault! She has no one to blame but herself!"

My mother's voice was cold. "She's the one who insisted on running away. You went to fetch her once, and she got a taste for it. If she runs off every time she's in a bad mood, who has the time to look for her every day? She's an adult, always troubling her family."

A single worried word from Su Ning'an, and the whole family mobilizes, calling it concern.

I disappear for over twenty days, whereabouts unknown, and in her eyes, I'm a trouble.

If I were still alive, I would definitely get a paternity test. How could she be so cold?

As they were talking, my father and my elder brother returned.

They had just finished socializing. Their faces were flushed, their eyes slightly glazed—they had clearly been drinking.

"It's so late. Why aren't you asleep yet?" My father handed his coat to a servant.

"It's about the shares. Mom refuses to budge, says she's leaving them for Su Wan."

Big Brother sat on the sofa, drank half a cup of sobering tea handed by a servant, and then spoke leisurely. "Grandma has liked Su Wan since she was little. It's understandable she's unwilling. How about this: the company's performance has been good lately. Dad and I have discussed transferring some shares from me, Younger Brother, and Dad to An'an."

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