HBWMA -Chapter 175 Have You Grown Up Well?

A bright starlight lit up in Jiang Huashan’s eyes.

This stupid plot—I didn’t say it! It was Grandpa who figured it out himself.

Shen Zhuang quietly observed Jiang Huashan. Although she still hadn’t said a single word, her dazzling eyes and the upturned corners of her lips were enough to reveal everything.

Jiang Huashan shot up from her seat, excited. “Grandpa, wait for me! I’ll be right back.” After saying that, she turned and rushed out of the tea room.

Shen Zhuang looked at her retreating figure, a faint smile tugging at his lips, yet his eyes inexplicably turned red.

In truth, Shen Zhuang had already become suspicious when Jiang Huashan drove Fang Mei away.

If she were still the same little Huashan as before, she would never have been able to sever her attachment to Fang Mei so decisively, nor would she have risked her life to save Sui’er.

The matters of the Fu family, the incident with Xiang Ying, and the conflict in Studio No. 3—each and every one of them had been handled too perfectly. It didn’t resemble something his little Huashan could have done at all.

And yet!

How could this not be his little Huashan?

She knew how to nurture flowers. She knew that the blade in one’s hand must never be pointed at one’s own family. She knew that pig brain soup should be eaten together. She even knew the saying: “A noble family of a hundred chariots does not keep officials who hoard wealth; rather, it prefers thieves to corrupt ministers…”

The moon was bright and clear, the evening breeze gentle.

Shen Mianzhi walked out of the side courtyard with a blank, dazed expression. In her mind, she kept replaying what Shen Qingyu had said earlier.

“What Grandpa means is righteousness, not ‘fake righteousness.’”

“Fake righteousness?”

She murmured the words repeatedly, and for some reason, she suddenly felt ashamed.

Among so many children in the Shen family, she was the only one who lived without light. Even her father was not valued by Grandpa because of her. If only she could be like Jiang Huashan…

“Zhizhi.”

Shen Mianzhi looked up. Her unfocused eyes immediately regained warmth. “Dad…”

Shen Ran quickly walked through the rock garden, smiling at her. “Let’s go. We’re going home.”

Shen Mianzhi froze slightly and looked toward the direction of the banquet courtyard.

Shen Ran understood immediately. He patted her head. “Dad has taken leave—half a year this time. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay with our Zhizhi.”

Shen Mianzhi frowned slightly, worried. “But Grandpa…”

Shen Ran said, “Don’t worry. It was your grandfather who suggested it.”

Shen Mianzhi lowered her eyes and nodded quietly.

Shen Ran knew she was sensitive and softly comforted her. “Zhizhi, both Dad and Grandpa know you’re a good child. Judge actions, not thoughts—if you judge thoughts alone, no one in this world is without flaws. No matter what, when Huashan and Sui’er were in danger, you didn’t abandon them. That alone is already very good. The rest… we’ll leave it to time, alright?”

He took her hand. His chubby face was full of affection. “Dad will grow up with you.”

Shen Mianzhi’s fingers curled slightly. After a moment of silence, she firmly held his hand back, as if making a very important decision. She slowly looked up at Shen Ran.

“Dad, I have a secret I want to tell you.”

Shen Ran smiled gently. “Alright. It’s been a long time since Zhizhi shared secrets with Dad.”

Shen Mianzhi forced a faint smile, but her gaze lost focus for an instant.

“Dad… I think I’m sick. I can’t control myself. I searched online, and I might have a mental problem.”

Shen Ran’s smile froze instantly.

Shen Mianzhi looked at him helplessly. “Dad, I’m so scared. I didn’t dare say it. I was afraid Grandpa would send me away, afraid I’d be locked up, afraid I’d become a joke of the Shen family… but what I fear most is that you’ll be looked down upon because of me…”

Shen Ran’s eyes reddened. He pulled her into his arms.

“Zhizhi, don’t be afraid. Dad will protect you.”

The banquet in the side hall was nearing its end, and guests had already begun to leave.

Fang Mei sat in an inconspicuous corner, watching the dishes grow cold as the lights dimmed.

Jiang Wanyi carefully nudged Fang Mei’s shoulder. “Mom, the banquet is over.”

Fang Mei snapped back to her senses, staring blankly at the nearby hanging flower gate.

Tonight, no matter how many ways she tried, she still couldn’t cross that wall leading into the side hall. The Shen residence, which she could once enter so easily, had now become like a celestial palace or a jade pool in the heavens—untouchable and out of reach.

Fang Mei clenched her fingertips, let out a cold laugh twice, then stroked Jiang Wanyi’s face. “Wanyi, do you want to enter the Shen residence again… and become someone truly important inside?”

Jiang Wanyi nodded eagerly without hesitation. She wanted it—she dreamed of it.

A trace of cruelty flashed through Fang Mei’s eyes before softening again. “Then you’d better listen to your mother properly. Don’t end up like your ignorant sister, who doesn’t know her place.”

“Grandpa! Grandpa!”

On the other side, the door of the tea room was suddenly pushed open. The incense inside the golden beast-shaped burner had just burned down to its last inch, wisps of smoke drifting into the aroma of tea.

Jiang Huashan’s eyes were bright as stars. She ran forward a few steps, then seemed to remember something and cautiously pulled the door shut again.

“Grandpa.” She didn’t even have time to catch her breath. She spread out both hands—one held a micro memory card the size of a fingernail, the other a document folded over countless times.

“What is this?” Shen Zhuang looked at what she was holding, hesitation flickering in his eyes. After a brief moment of thought, his expression changed slightly. “Is this what they were looking for in the art studio that day?”

Jiang Huashan’s eyes lit up instantly.

Heavens—Grandpa was too smart!

Ever since she rejected the system’s mission, Jiang Huashan had been thinking about how to bring this matter up naturally without raising suspicion.

Those girls were still suffering. True rescue only mattered in the present. With her current progress, it would take who knew how long before she could save them herself. For the sake of a so-called system reward, letting those girls suffer for years longer—she wasn’t that heartless.

And besides…

Even if they were rescued, they would already be shattered beyond repair. The world was full of prejudice. If this wasn’t handled discreetly, it would become a second catastrophe for those girls.

But if it were Grandpa who acted, it would be different.

Moreover, she had always felt there might be a larger conspiracy behind this. If Grandpa investigated it step by step, the more he uncovered, the more prepared they could be for what was to come. Just like now—he already knew there was a mole around him, and at least he would be more guarded than before.

Shen Zhuang placed the memory card aside and opened the list first. More than fifty numbers were written on it, each marked, and the top four even had a “Yao” label attached.

“Did you investigate this?” he asked.

Jiang Huashan hesitated for a moment and didn’t answer.

This system thing was too troublesome. Who knew whether “cannot disclose” meant she couldn’t talk about the book in her head, or whether it meant she couldn’t mention anything related to the plot progression at all?

It was a minor issue if she suddenly gained character labels out of nowhere—but if she really got Grandpa killed because of it, she would probably end up destroying that broken book along with herself.

Shen Zhuang didn’t press further. He carefully scanned the list. “These names behind… are all guests who attended today’s banquet…” His voice paused as his expression darkened. “You sneaked into the surveillance room?”

Jiang Huashan’s eyes were filled with nothing but excitement and admiration. She hadn’t even spoken yet, and Grandpa had already guessed it?

Shen Zhuang frowned. “Forget about the past, but you are not allowed to interfere in this matter again in the future.”

Jiang Huashan nodded. She had already rejected the mission anyway. With Grandpa stepping in, she naturally wouldn’t need to worry about it anymore.

Shen Zhuang set the list down and stared at her with tightly furrowed brows. He had many things he wanted to ask, but was afraid of asking what he shouldn’t.

People who have lived most of their lives see everything clearly. No one comes back without a reason—either carrying resentment, or carrying regret.

“Xiao Hua…” Shen Zhuang suppressed the bitterness in his throat, his gaze full of concern. “Have you grown up properly?”

Jiang Huashan’s bright, sparkling eyes froze for a moment. After a long pause, she smiled faintly.

“Yes.”