Chapter 144: You’re So Sly, Mom

Su Li remained silent, saying nothing.

She could understand Shen Cishu’s meaning.

In fact, she had encountered many clients who thought like Shen Cishu.

They never firmly made their own choices, and afterwards blamed their misfortunes on others.

But Su Li did not truly know Shen Cishu, nor was she aware of what Shen Cishu had sacrificed for her dream.

Still, words of accusation were definitely not what Shen Cishu wanted to hear.

What she wanted to hear was the apology from “her” as a mother.

To take responsibility for the impact this had on Shen Cishu.

“Sorry, Xiao Cishu.”

“What could I do? Mom was so stubborn and incapable, and so concerned about saving face. Otherwise, if Mom had compromised even a little, why wouldn’t the Bai family have given us money?”

Shen Cishu complained, but Su Li said nothing.

Although she played the role of Shen Cishu’s mother, she was ultimately not her real mother.

As for what happened in Shen Cishu’s family, Su Li didn’t know and chose not to interfere with such unnecessary matters.

Shen Cishu didn’t care about Su Li’s reaction and kept talking to herself:

“There wasn’t much money in our family, we didn’t even buy painting tools.”

“Mom, don’t you think you were very immature back then?”

“You refused to accept money from the Bai family.”

“But part of that money was Shared Property of Husband and Wife, belonging to you and Dad.”

“If you really cared about me, you wouldn’t have been so stubborn and obstinate.”

“So when you brought me home, it was just to get revenge on Dad and the Bai family, wasn’t it?”

Su Li watched as Shen Cishu slowly moved closer to her.

Their paint-stained fingers intertwined tightly, and soon Su Li’s hand was covered in paint as well.

Her other hand, also covered in paint, lifted Su Li’s chin with delicate fingers, and their eyes met.

“Sometimes I even doubt if you’re lying about there being no money at home.”

“You’re always busy working, but you never actually bring back any money. Even after all these years, our family is still so poor.”

“When Dad divorced you, he must have given you a lot of money, right?”

“And then to get back at him, you made my life so miserable—working all day but secretly spending money on things you like, right?”

“Your so-called work is just you secretly spending Dad’s money.”

“How sly, Mom.”

Su Li let the paint-covered fingers trace her cheek, smearing her clothes, but still she said nothing.

Her face was expressionless as she quietly watched Shen Cishu’s impassioned performance.

According to the information Bai Huizi provided her, Shen Cishu’s mother was not as she described.

But for Shen Cishu now, the truth no longer mattered.

She obsessively constructed the image of her deceased mother into the shape she imagined.

Su Li believed that whatever Shen Cishu’s mother was truly like had already blurred in her mind—she herself wasn’t even sure anymore.

Unbothered by Su Li’s silence, Shen Cishu’s paint-stained fingers continued to move across her face.

Like a child who found an interesting toy, she began using Su Li’s cheek as her canvas.

Before long, Su Li felt an itch spreading on her cheek.

Even though it was high-end paint, Shen Cishu hadn’t bought the kind with minimal skin impact, so contact with the paint was uncomfortable.

But Shen Cishu didn’t care about that now.

Su Li didn’t warn her—such interruptions would only break Shen Cishu’s mood, and there was no benefit.

She hadn’t warned when buying the paint either, so she naturally wouldn’t now.

“Mom, you must have secretly saved up a lot of money, right?”

Shen Cishu pressed her palm onto Su Li’s shoulder, her eyes fixed tightly on her.

Su Li met her gaze without a word.

“Since you saved so much, why don’t you let me spend it?”

“I know, it’s Sister Bai, right? You secretly give Sister Bai money again, don’t you?”

Shen Cishu’s voice echoed in her ears, but Su Li stayed silent.

“You’re always biased toward Sister.”

“Because you didn’t raise Sister by your side, you feel guilty.”

“You think you didn’t give Sister the mother’s love she deserves.”

“But why don’t you feel any guilt toward me?”

“Just because I stayed by your side?”

“Why can Sister have everything? Why?”

Shen Cishu spoke resentfully.

In an instant, Su Li was covered in paint.

Handprints of various colors were everywhere.

“Why don’t you say anything, Mom?”

“Are you avoiding my questions again?”

“It’s always like this. You say you love me, love me, but your actions never make me feel a shred of care.”

“Love isn’t just spoken—it’s expressed through actions.”

“So, Mom, can you let me feel your love one more time?”

Shen Cishu’s hand pressed hard on Su Li’s shoulder.

If it were someone else, Su Li thought she might feel pain, but she didn’t mind.

Compared to the last time when Shen Cishu held a knife, this felt much safer.

“Sorry, Xiao Cishu, Mom has no money.”

Su Li said calmly.

Perhaps Shen Cishu’s mother would have handed over all her income and earnings to her, but Su Li was not Shen Cishu’s mother—she wouldn’t do something so foolish.

Paying for the paint was already a favor to Bai Huizi.

“You have money, you definitely have money.”

“You just don’t want to let me spend it.”

“Are you secretly saving it to spend on that despicable Bai Huizi?”

“It must be! It must be! You want to give that woman all your money!”

“Then where else could your money have gone?”

“Why, with hands and feet, can’t you earn money?”

“Don’t you know I spend money everywhere?”

“Don’t you understand I need money in so many places?”

“If you know I need money so badly, why don’t you work hard to earn it?”

“You refused the Bai family’s money so stubbornly, even took me away without their permission. Why don’t you take responsibility for my life?”

Watching Shen Cishu become more and more agitated, Su Li recalled how she once clung to her legs, crying.

She was now drowning in her emotions.

Toward her mother, she felt both guilt and resentment.

“If you can’t earn money, then sell yourself!”

“If you lie down in bed, won’t you make money?”

“When you were with Dad, wasn’t that how you made money?”