The Moon Shines on Me (GL) - Chapter 24

“Why would Luoluo hurt you?” Lu Qingwan never expected that the person who harmed Sister Yuanyuan would be the intern, Luoluo. She thought their relationship had always been quite good.

It really goes to show that you can’t judge a book by its cover. It also made her mistakenly accuse the good person, Bai Yu. Luckily, after her and Sister Yuanyuan’s “flowers and apology” routine, Bai Yu didn’t really stay mad at them.

Shen Yuan shook her head. She wasn’t sure why Luoluo would harm her. In Shen Yuan’s impression, the intern Luoluo was a quite well-behaved girl.

“I heard she’s working as an original artist at Riyue next door now, and she started immediately with formal employee status, skipping the probationary period entirely.” Lu Qingwan was stunned when she heard this. How did Luoluo manage to find such a good job right after leaving Zhaoyang?

“Riyue?” Shen Yuan tilted her head in confusion. She had never heard of this company.

“Yes, it’s the Riyue subsidiary of the famous Mingyue Group in Jiangcheng. It only opened in Jinghai a few months ago, so it’s normal that you don’t know about it. But it’s strange how the Mingyue Group, which has always developed in the south, suddenly established a company in the north.”

Hearing the words Mingyue Group, Shen Yuan suddenly froze. The Mingyue Group was an industry under the Shen family’s name, named after… Shen Mingyue. The current CEO was the Shen family’s only daughter, Xie Tingxin…

Although Shen Yuan couldn’t figure out why Xie Tingxin didn’t change her name even after returning to the Shen family, one thing was certain: Xie Tingxin suddenly opening a branch company in Jinghai was likely related to her.

After Shen Yuan left the Shen family that year, she fell seriously ill. When she woke up in the hospital, the first person she saw was Xie Tingxin.

Xie Tingxin wanted Shen Yuan to return to the Shen family to live with their family of three. Shen Yuan refused. After that, Shen Yuan deliberately avoided Xie Tingxin, reducing any trace of her presence in Xie Tingxin’s life.

On one hand, it was guilt—she didn’t know how to face them. On the other hand, she had gradually accepted her identity as the fake daughter and deeply felt that being an ordinary person wasn’t so bad.

Shen Yuan didn’t want to go back to the Shen family and ruin their family of three’s relationship, so she chose to stay away from her.

After recovering, Shen Yuan found several part-time jobs to support herself. However, not long after, Shen Yuan’s part-time life hit a snag. She was inexplicably fired by her boss, then her wages were deducted, and eventually, she couldn’t even afford food, let alone expensive art supplies.

With no other choice, Shen Yuan had to find a few more dirty and strenuous jobs until she graduated and entered the Qiuyu Group, where her life improved slightly.

But what Shen Yuan didn’t expect was that after three stable years at the Qiuyu Group, she was suddenly framed for plagiarism again, leading to a huge debt.

That year, Xie Tingxin found her again, saying she could help her repay the debt, but the condition was that Shen Yuan had to return to the Shen family.

Shen Yuan only said four words:

“I can’t go back.”

Since then, they had never seen each other again.

Shen Yuan suddenly thought of something and opened WeChat to send a message to Gu Shiwei.

Y: “I think I know who the mastermind behind this setup is.” Zhao: “Xie Tingxin?” Y: “How did you know?” Zhao: “[Online File]”

Shen Yuan clicked on the file and quickly skimmed through it, roughly understanding the sequence of events.

Luoluo’s family favored boys over girls. She had a younger brother in school, and her parents emotionally blackmailed her into sending three thousand yuan home every month. However, Luoluo was only an intern, and her salary, after rent and living expenses, couldn’t cover three thousand yuan. She desperately hoped to become a full-time employee, but fate was unkind—the quota for full-time positions was too tight this time, and she couldn’t secure the only spot.

Just when she was planning to give up and look for a new job, Mu Rui found her. Mu Rui promised her a high-paying, formal employee position as long as she could steal Shen Yuan’s artwork.

This was a huge temptation for anyone, especially for Luoluo, who was already short on money and facing unemployment.

…

Shen Yuan frowned when she read this. She skipped this part and flipped a few pages down.

The file showed:

This incident bears a striking resemblance to the case S.Y. encountered in Jiangcheng three years ago. Mu Rui is an employee of the Mingyue Group and the current Art Director of the Riyue company. Mu Rui and Xie Tingxin are close personal friends.

But Shen Yuan had no personal enmity with her. Mu Rui had no motive to frame her, neither three years ago nor now.

Their only connection was that they both knew Xie Tingxin, the person in charge of Riyue.

However, there was still no evidence to prove that Xie Tingxin was the mastermind behind this incident. Mu Rui also stated that no one had instructed her to do it.

But more importantly…

Y: “You actually investigated me?” Zhao: “I was wrong. I’ll kneel on a washboard when I get home tonight.” Y: “How much did you find out?” Zhao: “Only the S.Y. plagiarism case from three years ago QAQ”

Shen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao: “Yuanyuan, can you come to my office, please? I’ll have Assistant Chen come and get you QAQ”

The moment Shen Yuan saw the message, she stood up from her workstation. Without waiting for Assistant Chen to make a big entrance, Shen Yuan voluntarily came to Gu Shiwei’s office.

After Shen Yuan knocked and entered, Gu Shiwei’s eyes moved. She immediately put down her work and pulled Shen Yuan onto the sofa.

“CEO Gu, what did you need to see me about?” Shen Yuan’s expression was cold, adopting a business-like attitude.

Gu Shiwei’s mouth held a smile. She grabbed Shen Yuan’s wrist and pulled her into her arms: “What is your relationship with that Xie Tingxin?”

“A former friend.”

“Did you offend her? Why is she framing you repeatedly?”

“Maybe.” After all, Shen Yuan had taken twenty years of her happy life. It was normal for Xie Tingxin to hate her.

“I just feel like something isn’t right.” Xie Tingxin’s various actions highly resembled someone with extreme possessiveness who clips a pet’s wings to keep it confined to a certain place, unable to fly freely, so that only she can admire it.

The framing three years ago didn’t truly achieve her goal, so three years later, she used the same method again to remind Shen Yuan that if she didn’t compromise with her, Shen Yuan would experience the scene from three years ago again.

For someone who had just recovered from depression, this was undoubtedly a devastating blow. The Shen Yuan of three years ago might have pulled through, but this time might be different.

This Xie Tingxin’s psychology had reached a twisted point. Her feelings for Shen Yuan even transcended the boundary of friendship, forming a sick, proprietary desire that was somewhere between friendship and love.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Yuan looked at Gu Shiwei’s serious expression and asked in confusion.

Gu Shiwei snapped out of it and gave a dismissive smile: “It’s nothing. Her plot has been exposed this time. I won’t let her hurt you one bit again.”

Shen Yuan was startled when she heard this, staring at Gu Shiwei with a slight daze.

Gu Shiwei took advantage of Shen Yuan’s distraction to lightly pinch her cheek. It was a brief touch, so fast that Shen Yuan thought it was an illusion.

The phone rang abruptly. Gu Shiwei kept her arm around Shen Yuan as she answered the call.

“Hello? Mom?”

“Zhaozhao, it’s your dad’s birthday tomorrow. Remember to come back to the old house.”

“When did my dad come back? Why didn’t I know?”

“Gu Zhao—did you block your mother’s Moments again? Your dad’s been back for half a month!”

“Got it, got it. Bye.”

After Gu Shiwei hung up, she met Shen Yuan’s scrutinizing gaze.

“Zhaozhao?”

“My nickname is Zhaozhao. My maternal grandfather gave it to me. My mom got used to calling me that, so it stuck. Why?”

“It’s nothing. I have a friend… also named Zhaozhao.”

“What a coincidence. Your friend is my friend. Introduce her to me sometime.”

Shen Yuan made no commitment to Gu Shiwei’s suggestion. She had quit the game and hadn’t been in touch with that friend for a long time.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll go now.” Shen Yuan said, then backed out of Gu Shiwei’s arms without hesitation.

“Wait a moment…”

Shen Yuan was wearing a white shirt with colorful embroidery on the collar today. When Gu Shiwei hugged her just now, she accidentally messed up the collar a little. She lowered her head and straightened it for Shen Yuan before reluctantly letting her go.

“Should I send you off…”

“No need.”

After Shen Yuan left, the smile on Gu Shiwei’s face faded. She picked up a file, her gaze lingering on the three words, Xie Tingxin, at the end for a long time.

“Xie Tingxin…”

“Mingyue Group…”

Was her relationship with Shen Yuan really just “friends”?

The following afternoon

Gu Shiwei sped down the highway in her Ferrari.

Shen Yuan looked at the increasingly unfamiliar scenery outside the window and couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you taking me?”

“We’re not going back to Yunjin Villa tonight. It’s someone’s birthday in my family, so I’m taking you back to the Gu family’s old house.”

Shen Yuan: “…Can I not go?”

“No, I want to introduce you to my parents.”

Shen Yuan: “?”

As far as she knew, they hadn’t formalized their relationship yet, had they? How did they skip right to meeting the parents?

“If you don’t want to meet them, just bury your head in the cake. Actually, I’m mainly taking you home for a big meal.”

Gu Shiwei had helped Shen Yuan so much, and Shen Yuan also wanted to thank her. Since it was her father’s birthday, Shen Yuan could take this opportunity to give a gift.

Shen Yuan conceded: “Then stop when we get to the mall later. I’ll buy an aunt and uncle a present.”

“I’ve already prepared them and put them in the trunk. You can just grab them later.”

Shen Yuan: “…”

It was already seven in the evening when they arrived at the Gu family’s old house. The courtyard was brightly lit. A large cake was set up in the center of the yard, and there were also drinks and buffet food arranged around the periphery. Many guests came to celebrate today. Shen Yuan felt scrutinized by dozens of eyes as she followed Gu Shiwei.

Most of the guests wore formal attire, making Gu Shiwei and Shen Yuan stand out in their white shirts and trousers.

“Gu Shiwei, why did you bring Miss Shen? Are you introducing her to your elders?” Lin Qinghuan had arrived earlier and had already had three glasses of wine. At first, she thought she was mistaken, but upon closer inspection, it really was Gu Shiwei and Shen Yuan.

Smelling the strong scent of alcohol on Lin Qinghuan, Gu Shiwei frowned: “How much have you had?”

Lin Qinghuan smiled and held up three fingers: “Not much, just three glasses.”

“Zhaozhao, why are you only just getting back? Come, let’s go offer some toasts.”

The speaker was a middle-aged woman around forty or fifty. She was dressed in an exquisite gown, adorned with jewelry, looking radiant.

“Mom, with you here, it’s not my turn to offer toasts. Don’t make it difficult for me. I have a friend to look after.”

Lin Qinghuan greeted her at the appropriate time: “Hello, Auntie.”

Shen Yuan followed Lin Qinghuan’s lead and also said, “Hello, Auntie.”

Madam Gu Qingfeng nodded to Lin Qinghuan, then turned her attention to Shen Yuan: “Zhaozhao, is this your new friend? Which family’s daughter is she? She looks a bit unfamiliar.”

“She’s from no family, her surname is Shen, and her name is Shen Yuan.”

Hearing her name, Shen Yuan said again, “Hello, Auntie.”

“This young lady is very pretty. Are you graduated? Where do you work? How old are you? How do you know Zhaozhao?…”

“Mom, I’ll go with you, alright? Lin Qinghuan, please look after Shen Yuan for me. I’ll be right back.”

Gu Shiwei quickly pulled her mother away. If she stayed any longer, Gu Shiwei was afraid her mother would ask for Shen Yuan’s household registration.

“Come on, Miss Shen, let’s go get some cake.”

Lin Qinghuan looped one arm around Shen Yuan’s shoulder, holding a wine glass in the other hand. The two swayed towards the large cake.

Lin Qinghuan knew Shen Yuan didn’t like crowded places, so she served a few fruits and snacks and led Shen Yuan to a quiet pavilion by the lake.

“Eat up. No one comes here.” Lin Qinghuan rubbed her stomach and patted Shen Yuan’s shoulder: “I’m going to the restroom. Don’t wander off. I’ll come back and find you in a bit.”

“Okay.”