Su Li could clearly feel Shen Cishu pressing herself forcefully against her, their fingers interlaced tightly, and the sharp pain of her fingertips digging harshly into her flesh.
It was as if she was punishing her.
“Hmm, just finished work, Little Cishu.”
Su Li pretended to wear a tired expression on her face. Since Shen Cishu had come to find her at this hour, it meant she had already discovered that Bai Huizi was one of her clients.
Moreover, Shen Cishu had already convinced herself with a relatively coherent logic and didn’t mind that her client was Bai Huizi.
So when Su Li came out of the meeting room, she hadn’t bothered to remove the scent related to Bai Huizi.
In fact, if she had tried to tidy herself up, it might have aroused Shen Cishu’s suspicion.
It was better to be open about it.
But the pain on the back of her hand still showed that Shen Cishu was holding a grudge over the matter.
“Mom, you know what? I just saw a disabled person sitting in a wheelchair. So pitiful.”
Shen Cishu quickly shared her recent sighting with Su Li. The person in the wheelchair was a good topic for conversation between the two.
“Disabled people also have the right to appreciate art.”
Su Li naturally knew who the disabled person Shen Cishu was talking about was.
She hadn’t expected Shen Cishu to have unexpectedly met Jin Ke’er.
But even if they knew each other and were good friends, it didn’t matter to her.
Just because they knew each other didn’t mean anyone was sending her money, so Su Li wasn’t concerned about the matter.
“But that disabled person looked so pitiful, all alone, only a servant following her around.”
“I don’t even know where her mother is. If her mother knew her daughter was disabled, she’d probably be very sad, right?”
Shen Cishu continued talking as if she were just a little girl.
It was a stark contrast to the university lecturer persona she was about to become when Su Li had reviewed her information.
Even Su Li wondered what someone like Shen Cishu would be like as a university lecturer.
But she only pondered this briefly.
Whether Jin Ke’er’s mother’s spirit in heaven would feel heartache for her daughter, Su Li had no idea. Maybe she did, maybe she didn’t.
“No mother can remain indifferent when she sees her own daughter in pain.”
“But I’ve heard that some students at our school abandon their children, leaving them in the restroom.”
Su Li was silent for a long time before she said, “Those people are only a small minority.”
“What about you, Mom? If I became disabled, would you still love me? Would you always take care of me?”
Shen Cishu’s gaze locked onto Su Li, and Su Li could distinctly feel her fingernails digging deep into her flesh.
“Of course, if Little Cishu got hurt, Mom would be heartbroken too.”
Su Li said sadly, though the one who felt heartbroken was actually Shen Cishu’s real mother, not her.
After Su Li’s words, the nails digging into her flesh slightly retracted, and a sweet smile appeared on Shen Cishu’s lips.
“Mom, where are we going next?”
Shen Cishu coquettishly asked, ignoring the glances from others around them. She even leaned her head against Su Li’s shoulder.
Mom’s favorite thing was when she acted spoiled. All she needed to do was act spoiled, and Mom would agree to any request.
“Let’s go wander around the Art Museum, just like Mom used to take me there.”
Shen Cishu’s voice was gentle. Suddenly, she thought that sounded like a good idea.
That annoying sister had spent a fortune to build this Art Museum, but in the end, it became a place for her and Mom to hang out.
And she didn’t have to do anything to enjoy this atmosphere.
Thinking of this, Shen Cishu happily nuzzled Su Li’s shoulder.
“Mom hasn’t taken me to the Art Museum in such a long time.”
As if recalling something, Shen Cishu said with a hint of grievance.
“Sorry, Mom’s been busy with work recently,” Su Li said apologetically.
“Busy, busy, busy! Every time I look for you, you say you’re busy!”
“I bet you went to see that wicked Bai Huizi, didn’t you?”
“Who is your daughter really, her or me?”
“If it weren’t for you insisting on divorcing Dad, would I have to live such a poor life now?”
“The one running this Art Museum now isn’t that wicked Bai Huizi anymore, it’s me!”
Shen Cishu angrily released Su Li’s hand and forcefully shook her off, glaring at her.
The eyes of the people admiring the artworks around them turned to the two of them. Even with others watching, Shen Cishu didn’t care.
On the contrary, the attention gave her courage, fueling her resentment toward Su Li.
“You can’t give me anything!”
“You can’t bring me any financial comfort!”
“Now you can’t even selflessly share a mother’s love with me!”
“Why does Bai Huizi have such good luck?”
“She inherited Dad’s assets and still has your love!”
“But I get nothing.”
Su Li watched Shen Cishu’s sudden outburst calmly, relieved that this time the other party had paid in advance.
She paid no mind to the chaos inside the Art Museum.
Perhaps Bai Huizi had long predicted this scene, because before long, security guards arrived to disperse the crowd.
Since photography was prohibited in the area where they stood, no one recorded Shen Cishu’s breakdown.
Su Li even suspected that this was all part of Bai Huizi’s plan, or that Shen Cishu had invited her here to prepare for this very outburst.
“I’m sorry, Little Cishu.” Su Li’s emotions remained steady as she slipped into the role of Shen Cishu’s mother.
Shen Cishu didn’t want a fair or genuine mother. She wanted someone who would unconditionally side with her.
“It was Mom’s fault for not considering Little Cishu’s feelings.”
“That same line again, always the same line.”
Shen Cishu glared at Su Li with eyes full of disappointment.
“It’s always like this. Every time you say that.”
“You say it like you’re going to change, but you never do anything.”
“You promised me you wouldn’t see that wicked Bai Huizi again. So what have you done?”
Su Li fell silent, unsure whether Shen Cishu’s mother actually said those things.
For a moment, she didn’t know how to answer.
After a moment’s thought, she spoke gently.
“She’s not a wicked woman, she’s your sister!”