Chapter 557 - 558: A Different Story

Chapter 557: Chapter 558: A Different Story

A night of drizzling rain left the lush courtyard, teeming with trees and flowers, feeling particularly chilly. Dew drops clung to the green leaves, and the interwoven grass glistened with moisture.

The main door of the villa was pushed open from the inside. Guo Xuehua, dressed in a light brown sweater and with her hair still unkempt, stepped out and looked towards the large iron gate.

She hadn't slept well the entire night, her face looking tired and bearing dark circles under her eyes. But Guo Xuehua didn't care about that. Yang Chen hadn't come home all night, and no one had informed her of his whereabouts. She was deeply worried.

Aunt Wang emerged from the house, sighing wearily, and said with concern, "Xuehua, I've made some porridge. You should have some. It's cold outside in the early morning; standing around isn't good."

"Yulan, where do you think Yang Chen could have gone? So many people searched the whole Zhonghai for him, yet he still can't be found," Guo Xuehua said anxiously, having no appetite for porridge.

This was her son, lost for over twenty years and just recently found, now missing again. If she weren't mentally strong, she might have collapsed by now.

Aunt Wang wore a bitter expression. "I may not have children, but I understand how hard this is for you. Even though the young master hasn't returned, no one has said anything bad has happened to him. If he comes back and finds you unwell, he would feel terrible too."

"I know waiting like this is useless, but my heart is not just troubled, it's breaking," Guo Xuehua said, her face showing an indescribable sorrow.

Aunt Wang sighed helplessly, "Our family always seems to have these worrying incidents. At least Zhenxiu is staying at school these days. If she were home and saw this, given her bond with the young master, she'd be in an uproar, making the house even more chaotic."

Guo Xuehua paused, frowning. "Right, I was so worried I forgot. Zhenxiu didn't come home last night; is she staying at school?"

Aunt Wang nodded, speaking tenderly, "She called after you left, saying they're intensively reviewing something at school these days, so the whole senior year is staying on campus. I don't know what's up with these schools, always having intense training. They're just students but work harder than adults."

Guo Xuehua forced a smile, "Students preparing for college entrance exams naturally have it tough, but they might fondly remember these times later on. Sometimes when I look at Zhenxiu, I often think if our Yang Chen had grown up at home, gone to school like other kids, I would have been like other mothers, urging him to study and do homework.

Thinking about it, those days would have been meaningful, watching him grow and learn more each day.

But Yang Chen, and my younger son Yang Lie, one disappeared when he was young, and the other went off with his master to learn skills. I never got to take care of them properly. I feel so inadequate as a mother, just wanting to make up for it with the time I have left. At least I saw Lie often when he was young, but I couldn't take care of Yang Chen at all."

"No wonder you treat Zhenxiu like your daughter, filling the gap of never having raised your own children," Aunt Wang joked lightly.

Guo Xuehua smiled faintly, but the worry in her brows remained.

The two watched the gate for a while, not seeing anyone return, so they turned back towards the house. Just as they were about to close the door, there was a knock on the large iron gate outside.

Guo Xuehua and Aunt Wang immediately ran out again. Sure enough, there was a figure outside, knocking on the iron gate.

Yang Chen glanced at the steaming porridge and side dishes on the table, swallowed, and said cheekily, "How about I eat first?"

"No way. You're not eating in this state. You'll get mud all over the carpet," Guo Xuehua said, showing no mercy despite Yang Chen's pitiful look. Some things she wouldn't compromise on, even with the guilt she felt in her heart. Besides, Yang Chen didn't look like he'd faint from hunger.

Yang Chen scratched his head, indifferent, and started to head upstairs.

Guo Xuehua suddenly remembered something and urgently called out, "Oh, Yang Chen, did you know that Lu Min was murdered?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Chen didn't even turn his head. He just waved his hand dismissively, "I know. Don't worry about it. Let them think whatever they want."

Guo Xuehua was taken aback. Lu Min was the person Yang Chen had been insanely determined to kill. She thought that hearing about Lu Min's murder would elicit some reaction from him, especially since those people were clearly trying to frame him. But to her surprise, Yang Chen seemed completely indifferent.

Watching Yang Chen head upstairs, Guo Xuehua pondered for a moment, furrowing her brows. She turned to Aunt Wang and said, "Yulan, don't you think Yang Chen seems a bit different this time?"

Aunt Wang was puzzled. "What's different? The young master has always been like this. Though he can be nonchalant, he's very dependable when it matters. I've told you before, ever since he married the young lady, many problems in our family have been resolved, all thanks to him."

Guo Xuehua shook her head and smiled. "I don't mean it that way. I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I feel like there's something different about him this time. I can't quite pinpoint it, but it's definitely not a bad thing."

Aunt Wang chuckled. "Maybe it's just a mother's intuition."

Knowing Aunt Wang was teasing her, Guo Xuehua rolled her eyes and was about to say something when she suddenly remembered. "Oh dear, I forgot to tell Yang Chen that An Xin is sleeping in his room!"

Aunt Wang was surprised. She had gone to bed early last night and hadn't known. "You let Miss An Xin sleep in the young master's room?"

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Guo Xuehua nodded. "Yes, it was very late, and I didn't have the heart to send her away. Letting her sleep in Ruoxi's or Zhenxiu's room didn't seem appropriate, so I let her sleep in Yang Chen's room."

Aunt Wang gave a bittersweet smile, unsure of what to say.

"It should be fine. Ruoxi is still in Europe, and An Xin should leave once she sees Yang Chen," Guo Xuehua added, feeling guilty. But even she knew it wasn't fair, especially in front of Aunt Wang, who was in some ways a guardian to Ruoxi.

Aunt Wang sighed. "This isn't about one night or a few nights. Even if we don't mention it, the relationship between Miss An Xin and the young master is obvious. Xuehua, first it was Miss Rose next door, and now there's Miss An Xin. I've watched our young lady grow up. I know her temperament well. Once she sets her mind on something, she's as stubborn as a mule. If this continues, how are you, as her mother-in-law, going to handle it?"

Guo Xuehua's mind was a mess. She was happy her son was back, but his lifestyle was becoming a serious issue.

Just then, the phone rang. Aunt Wang naturally walked over to answer it. "Hello, who is this?"

After a moment, her expression turned complicated and somewhat surprised. "Miss? You're home?"