Chapter 26: Disappearance

Yang Xuejiao emerged from the shower and glanced at the clock on the wall; it was already 11:30, and her husband had not yet returned. She cast a look at the food left on the table, sighed, and walked into the guest bedroom.

The room contained a single bed, and opposite it stood a large vanity. Ever since her daughter’s suicide, she had converted the original desk into this dressing table. She picked up the hairdryer, intending to dry her hair, but her gaze fell upon the framed photograph of her daughter, Yin Xingyue, resting on the vanity. The picture had been taken by her "father" during their family vacation last summer.

In the photo, Yin Xingyue wore a white dress, staring straight ahead with a faint smile. It was, by all accounts, a beautiful photograph. Yet, for some reason, Yang Xuejiao always found it inexplicably eerie. She felt her daughter’s smile looked fake, and that steady, piercing gaze made her deeply uncomfortable. She promptly turned the frame face down on the vanity and switched on the hairdryer.

In the vanity mirror, the reflection showed a beautiful woman in pale pink silk pajamas. With her full bosom and fair skin, she lacked the youthful vibrancy of a young girl, but she radiated a distinct, mature allure. In her youth, Yang Xuejiao had been a striking beauty with many suitors, but she had ultimately chosen to marry Yin Xingyue’s father, Yin Dacheng. She had chosen him not for his looks or family background, but because he was an intellectual. In their era, intellectuals were highly regarded, and for Yang Xuejiao, it had been a step up in social standing.

Later, however, she realized that intellectuals were worthless; having an education meant nothing if you were penniless. Thus, after Yin Dacheng’s death, she had married her current husband, Fang Yunlou, without a moment’s hesitation. She had known Fang Yunlou for many years—he had been one of her suitors back then. While he lacked the academic prestige of Yin Dacheng, he came from a wealthy background, and his business had been flourishing for years, earning him a fortune.

But she was no longer young, and she was a divorcee. Once the novelty wore off, Fang Yunlou began to treat her like a discarded shoe, returning home less and less frequently—especially after their daughter’s suicide.

At this thought, she reached out and stood the frame back up.

"Useless thing, I raised you for nothing..."

A flash of resentment and malice crossed Yang Xuejiao's eyes—an expression no mother should ever possess. After putting away the hairdryer, she saw that Fang Yunlou still hadn't returned, so she went to bed.

When she awoke the next morning, Fang Yunlou was still absent. Yang Xuejiao sat blankly against the headboard for a long time before finally getting up. She put on a tight-fitting skirt that accentuated her curvaceous figure. Upon entering the dining room, she saw that the leftovers from the previous night remained untouched. She picked up the plates and dumped the food straight into the trash can.

It was past ten o'clock by the time she finished her elegant makeup and headed out with her bag. When she arrived at Fang Yunlou’s company, the young receptionist immediately helped her open the door with a warm smile.

"Good morning, ma'am."

Though the girl was not as beautiful as her, she radiated youthful energy, and her skin, in particular, was luminous. Yang Xuejiao couldn't help but feel a pang of envy; it was so good to be young.

"Morning. Is the boss in?" Yang Xuejiao asked casually as she walked inside.

"No, he hasn't arrived yet," the receptionist replied.

Yang Xuejiao stopped in her tracks and looked back at the girl. "Is he on a business trip?"

The receptionist thought to herself, *He’s your husband—don't you know if he's on a business trip?* But aloud, she said, "No, but Mr. Fang hasn't been to the office for two days."

"Two days?"

Yang Xuejiao paused, a faint sense of unease creeping into her heart.

***

Shen Siyuan was awakened by his phone ringing. He picked it up to see his mother calling.

"Kid, where are you?"

As soon as he answered, his mother, Huang Huijuan, shouted loudly on the other end.

"Where?" Shen Siyuan was still groggy and couldn't process the question.

"Kid, you didn't just wake up, did you?"

"Yeah, it’s my day off. I finally got to sleep in—why would I wake up so early?" Shen Siyuan checked the time; it was only 6:10. He was fully awake now.

"Didn't we agree you'd come back today? Are you treating my words like wind in your ears?" Huang Huijuan’s angry voice crackled through the line.

"Mom, I said I'd come back, but I didn't say when," Shen Siyuan said helplessly.

"Then when are you coming back?" Huang Huijuan asked, trying to remain patient.

"I'll go back in the afternoon."

"I went to the market and bought your favorite green-striped fish, and chicken with edamame. Come back early..." Huang Huijuan played the emotional card.

"It’ll be the same if I eat it tonight," Shen Siyuan replied.

Seeing that Shen Siyuan was unmoved, Huang Huijuan finally lost her patience.

"Since you're already awake, get your butt over here! Dragging your feet—what use are you to me?" With that, she hung up with a sharp click.

Shen Siyuan looked at his phone and sighed helplessly. His mother was truly a nuisance. He tossed the phone aside and lay back down, but his sleepiness had vanished. Since that was the case, he stopped lingering in bed and got up to wash up.

Just as he stepped out of the bathroom, his mother called again.

"Kid, are you up yet?"

She acted as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't been furious just moments ago.

"I'm up. I'm leaving soon."

"Don't lie to me."

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"Pfft—from the time you were little until now, how many times have you lied to your mother?"

"What did I ever lie to you about?" Shen Siyuan asked, speechless.

"When a man lies to a woman, it's either about love or money. Your father only lied to me about love, but you, you brat, you're the worst—you lie about both."

Shen Siyuan had no rebuttal, because his mother was stating facts. Every time he wanted money from her, he would start with an emotional appeal before asking for the cash.

"I'm not talking to you anymore; I have to go, you're wasting my time."

"Hmph."

He heard the triumphant tone in Huang Huijuan’s voice on the other end. Knowing her son, she realized that Shen Siyuan saying such things meant he was essentially giving in.

"Can you make it back for lunch?"

"I'm leaving right now. Forget lunch, I'll be there in time for breakfast."

"Forget breakfast, I didn't make any for you. Just grab a bite to eat outside. Don't skip breakfast, it's bad for your health..." His mother began her nagging again.

"Mom, I know, I'm hanging up," Shen Siyuan said impatiently.

After ending the call, he realized that his mother had never expected him to get up early to come home; otherwise, she definitely would have cooked breakfast for him. Her true goal was simply to get him out of bed so he would arrive before noon.

"Playing mind games with your own son," Shen Siyuan muttered, though he couldn't help but smile.

Ever since he was a child, Shen Siyuan had a remarkably harmonious relationship with his mother, sharing a bond of maternal love unlike any other.

He packed his things and prepared to leave. As he reached the door, he suddenly remembered Yin Xingyue from last night. With a thought, he summoned the Ten Thousand Soul Banner and released her.

Yin Xingyue materialized into a wisp of smoke, appearing out of thin air in the room. The once ordinary-looking girl now carried an air of the supernatural.