Rapid Collapse (GL) - Chapter 47

Han Ning paused while drying her hair. She looked at Shen Xi and gave a slight smile, gently reassuring her, “Of course not. Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. Even if this treasure is a bit troublesome… But… she is your mother, your family, and also my mother-in-law. How could I mind?”

Her words clearly expressed her stance. Hearing this, Shen Xi felt a huge weight lifted off her chest. She smiled, pursed her lips, and wrapped her arms around Han Ning’s waist.

Whispering in her ear, she asked, “Why mother-in-law? Shouldn’t it be mother?”

“Because I’m the pillar of this house, the anchor of little Shen Xi’s world~” Han Ning patted her back, burying her head in Shen Xi’s neck and taking a deep breath. The fresh scent of her hair filled the air. Closing her eyes, Han Ning murmured, “I will protect you, baby.”

It was late at night. Shen Xi turned over in bed and looked at Han Ning, who was sleeping face to face with her. She reached out and placed her arm around Han Ning’s waist. In the darkness, Shen Xi blinked, feeling that Han Ning seemed a little different tonight. She didn’t dwell on it, but she sensed that Han Ning’s emotions were unusually strong, as if she was afraid of something…

Maybe it was just exhaustion, combined with her unwell body. She didn’t have the energy to think too much. Soon, she drifted off to sleep and didn’t wake up until nine in the morning.

She stretched lazily and reached out beside her, but the bed was empty.

“Oh, right. Ning Ning went to work…” Shen Xi realized. She got up, tidied herself, and returned to her own home. Shen Fengmei was waiting inside. Hearing the door open, she quickly stood up with a flattering smile. “Xiao Xi, where did you go? I didn’t see you all night…”

“But that didn’t stop you from eating and sleeping, did it?” Shen Xi replied coldly without even looking at her, heading straight to the study to start work.

Shen Fengmei was curious about everything in the house. She followed Shen Xi into the study and sat on the sofa beside her, watching her work.

Facing the computer, Shen Xi couldn’t type a single word.

Writing was something very personal to her. Even though she didn’t write anything inappropriate, she just didn’t like being watched.

Back then, she used to write on her phone and took a long time to transition to a computer because the big screen made her feel insecure.

“Mom, can you stop staring at me?” Unable to bear it anymore, Shen Xi turned around and said, “I can’t write with you watching me.”

“Oh…” Shen Fengmei finally realized, feeling restless and unsure of what to do. She started pacing around the study. Seeing her boredom, Shen Xi grabbed a book from the shelf and handed it to her.

Shen Fengmei waved her hand. “I don’t like reading…”

Shen Xi’s face darkened. “But you love gambling, right?” She pushed the book toward Shen Fengmei. “Didn’t you used to love reading this?”

Seeing the title Feng Shui Guide, Shen Fengmei’s face lit up with joy. She grinned. “Yes! I love this! I don’t know where my old copy went. I looked for it everywhere…”

Facing the computer, Shen Xi quickly typed while thinking—this was the very book from before. A few years ago, while writing a novel with a feng shui master as a character, she needed research material. She remembered Shen Fengmei had this book, so she secretly took it home.

For once, they coexisted peacefully for two hours. Shen Xi glanced at the clock and then at Shen Fengmei, who was fully engrossed in the book.

“Mom… if you’re going to read, don’t use your fingers to wet the pages.” Shen Xi sighed helplessly.

“Otherwise, I can’t turn them…” Shen Fengmei innocently licked her finger and flipped to the next page.

No wonder. That Feng Shui Guide was a pirated book she had bought for eight yuan at a street stall years ago. The pages were as thin as tissue paper—a clear knockoff.

“Are you hungry? What do you want for lunch?” Shen Xi closed her laptop and pulled open the curtains.

“Anything is fine, as long as there’s food…” Shen Fengmei paused and then added, “But… I kind of want roast duck.”

Drinking, gambling, and eating roast duck—Shen Fengmei’s three favorite things.

“Alright, let’s go. I’ll take you.” Shen Xi took the book from her hands, folded a corner to mark the page, and placed it back on the shelf.

“Where are we going?” Shen Fengmei asked excitedly, following behind her.

“Near the film studio. We’ll meet Han Ning.”

“Oh… meeting Ning girl. Ning girl is a good girl. I feel at ease with you spending time with her~” Shen Fengmei clapped her hands happily.

Seeing her so happy, Shen Xi smiled silently and prayed in her heart—please, no more troubles. Just let things stay like this.

The eighty thousand yuan debt, she could repay slowly, as long as Shen Fengmei stayed away from gambling…

When they arrived at a roast duck restaurant near the studio, they initially planned to wait for Han Ning. But Shen Fengmei, having never seen a film shoot before, wanted to take a look. So Shen Xi had to take her to watch.

“That tall, slim one is Ning girl? She’s so pretty~” Shen Fengmei praised as she stood from a distance, watching Han Ning act.

Shen Xi pursed her lips and smugly raised her eyebrows. Of course~ Ning Ning is the most beautiful.

When the director finally called “cut,” Han Ning slowly emerged from her role. As she wrapped up, her assistant, Keke, was discussing upcoming schedules. “You don’t have any more scenes this afternoon, but Liang Xun thinks you might like these scripts. You should review them at home…” Just as she spoke, she noticed Shen Xi and Shen Fengmei.

Keke knew about the eighty-thousand-yuan debt. Her expression stiffened slightly, and she forced an awkward smile before greeting them. Then, as she passed Shen Fengmei, she scanned her up and down with a disdainful hum before turning to sort through costumes.

Shen Xi found it strange. Keke had never been like this before—she always greeted her sweetly. What was going on today?

“Auntie, Xi Xi, why are you here?” Han Ning’s eyes lit up in surprise.

“My mom wanted roast duck. I thought there was a good place nearby, so we could have lunch together,” Shen Xi explained.

Keke pursed her lips and coldly muttered, “Han Ning, you should be working more. You need to earn money to support yourself. Otherwise, how else would you afford roast duck?”

“Keke… what are you saying? Go eat your dessert and stop talking nonsense.” Han Ning lowered her voice and handed Keke a dessert shop gift card.

“Han Ning…” Keke pouted, clearly upset, but eventually left.

“She’s just a kid talking nonsense…” Han Ning muttered. Shen Xi held her hand and asked, “Keke was acting weird, and so are you. Are you hiding something from me?”

Han Ning shook her head. “No…”

Later, Shen Xi overheard a conversation. Keke was upset that Han Ning had paid off Shen Xi’s debt…

Sitting on a bench, Shen Xi lit a cigarette, staring into the distance. Tears blurred her vision. She wiped her eyes and murmured, “What did I do to deserve Han Ning’s love…”