Jiang Shuyi almost fled into the so-called "Teacher's Office," which was more like a temporary lounge for teachers to catch their breath between classes or deal with emergencies.
After all, most university teachers disappeared after class, rarely staying in a fixed office.
At this moment, the lounge was empty, so quiet that she could hear her own heart pounding like a drum.
“Thump-thump-thump—”
Leaning against the cold wall, she felt her legs turn a bit weak.
The composure she had forced herself to maintain in the classroom was now completely gone.
Her mind buzzed with the little girl’s photo and the name “Lu Xuan.”
How could he have it? Who exactly was he?
Jiang Shuyi rushed to the water dispenser, her hands trembling as she poured a cup of cold water, then tilted her head back and gulped it down without a second thought. The icy liquid slid down her throat, but it did nothing to extinguish the burning panic in her heart.
One cup wasn't enough, so she poured another, and another, until the chill finally managed to quell the churning fear in her chest. Only then did she lean on the table, gasping for breath.
Twenty years. She thought those past events had long been sealed by time, buried in the deepest parts of her memory, never to be brought up again.
But today, just now, that Student named Lu Xuan, with a casual remark, had peeled back a corner of her most shameful secret.
No, she couldn’t panic!
She took several deep breaths, trying to steady her breathing.
Especially at times like this, she needed to be calm.
She, Jiang Shuyi, had risen from an adopted daughter to where she was today, relying on more than just luck.
Just then, unhurried footsteps approached the door.
Jiang Shuyi suddenly looked up, a flicker of wariness in her eyes, but then, a gentle and soft smile quickly appeared on her face, as if the distraught person from moments ago wasn’t her at all.
Lu Xuan strolled in, his gaze casually sweeping over her face before settling on her hands, which had just put down the water cup and whose fingertips were still slightly pale.
“Lu Xuan,” Jiang Shuyi’s voice strove to maintain its usual gentle softness, even carrying a hint of perfectly appropriate concern, “I’m so sorry to make you come all this way.”
She paused, as if weighing her words, her eyes revealing a mix of “surprise” and “eagerness”: “That… that photo you just sent me, where did you get it from?”
She took two steps forward, her tone becoming more earnest: “That’s… that’s my sister who’s been missing for many years. All these years, our family has never given up searching for her. If you can provide any clues, or… or do you know her? Her name is Jiang Yuzhu, my sister, Jiang Yuzhu.”
When she spoke the three words “Jiang Yuzhu,” her voice almost imperceptibly paused, as if the name itself carried a thousand pounds of weight, making her slightly breathless.
Deep in her heart, a cold voice screamed maniacally: Jiang Yuzhu, the Jiang Family’s jade, the pearl in their palm! That wretched girl who stole all her adoptive parents’ attention the moment she was born!
Why could she be called Yuzhu? While she, Jiang Shuyi, would always be just a substitute, an adopted daughter who could be discarded at any time!
If… if these two little bastards were still alive…
A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Jiang Shuyi’s eyes, too quick to catch.
She had to find them first, and then… eliminate future troubles! Everything of the Jiang Family could only belong to her, Jiang Shuyi!
Lu Xuan watched her “sincere” performance, a cold sneer forming in his heart.
This Teacher Jiang, her psychological fortitude was indeed impressive. She had already concocted a story so quickly, even establishing herself as a good sister diligently searching for her lost family.
A faint, unreadable smile played on his lips as he slowly spoke, “Oh? Teacher Jiang’s sister? How truly touching, that after all these years, the Teacher still remembers her.”
His tone was flat, revealing no emotion, yet it made Jiang Shuyi’s heart sink. She felt that Lu Xuan’s words carried a hidden meaning.
“Then I wonder,” Lu Xuan slowly pulled out his phone, his fingertip lightly tapping the screen, as if casually swiping, “does the Teacher recognize this person?”
As his words fell, Jiang Shuyi’s phone vibrated slightly again.
A strong, ominous premonition, like a venomous snake, coiled around Jiang Shuyi’s heart.
She almost held her breath, her hands trembling as she opened the new message.
When another tender boy’s face clearly appeared on the screen—a face seven or eight parts similar to Jiang Yuzhu’s, equally innocent and pure, but belonging to Jiang Cheng, the younger twin brother she had abandoned at the same time—Jiang Shuyi felt her vision go dark!
Jiang Cheng!
It was Jiang Cheng!
How could this be?!
A photo of her younger brother, Jiang Cheng!
How could he have a photo of Jiang Cheng?!
“Clatter—”
Her phone slipped from her powerless fingers, falling heavily onto the smooth floor with a sharp, jarring sound.
She felt as if all strength had been drained from her body, staggering back two steps. If not for the cold wall behind her, she would have collapsed to the ground.
How could this be?!
How could he… how could he even have a photo of her brother?!
She had clearly abandoned them separately back then! The time and place were different! This Lu Xuan, what exactly did he know?!
He knew everything!
He had photos of both of these little bastards!
They weren't “missing” together back then at all! How could he possibly have both photos at the same time?! Unless… unless he knew the truth of what happened back then!
An unprecedented fear seized her heart, making her almost unable to breathe.
She stared intently at Lu Xuan, her eyes filled with terror, venom, and a hint of imperceptible despair.
Disguise… in the face of absolute evidence, any disguise seemed so pale and powerless.
Jiang Shuyi took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, trying to calm her heart which felt like it was about to pound out of her chest.
She leaned on the cold wall, forcing herself to stand steady.
Given the situation, there was no point in pretending anymore.
She raised her head, her gaze locked onto Lu Xuan, her voice hoarse as if sandpaper was rubbing: “Who… who exactly are you? What do you want?”
Her gaze was no longer the gentle softness from before, nor the deliberate feigned pitifulness, but rather a desperate ruthlessness, like a cornered she-wolf.
At this point, any further pretense was useless.
She took a deep breath, her voice hoarse, but with a desperate resolve: “Student, you don’t need to test me anymore.”
She stared intently at Lu Xuan, asking word by word: “Tell me, what exactly do you know? What do you want?”