Chapter 40: A Sister’s Suspicion and a New Home

She hadn’t connected the dots before. But today, after seeing Bai Mengqi with her own eyes, she immediately felt that Bai Mengqi bore a striking resemblance to her niece’s child.

Given their unusual relationship, a sense of suspicion immediately arose within her. She promptly went to Zi Yanran’s home to question her parents.

Upon hearing Su Ruoxi’s words, the couple paused, stunned. They hadn’t anticipated that Su Ruoxi would connect these particular dots so quickly.

Su Xiaoshi instinctively asked, “Has Yanran not told you yet?”

Su Ruoxi shook her head. “No,” she replied, “that’s precisely why I found it strange and came to ask you.”

Hearing this, an awkward expression immediately crossed the couple’s faces. They appeared deeply embarrassed.

Su Xiaoshi scratched her head. “Ah, Ruoxi,” she began, “even though you’re my biological sister, you know Yanran’s temperament. If she doesn’t want to say something herself, it’s not appropriate for us to tell you. But I trust she’ll speak to you eventually.”

Observing the expressions on her brother-in-law and sister’s faces, an incredible thought instantly sprang into Su Ruoxi’s mind.

However, since her brother-in-law and sister had already spoken, she found it difficult to press further.

“Is that so? I understand. Then I won’t ask any more questions. I have some matters to attend to at the bureau, so I’ll be heading back now.”

Su Ruoxi offered a faint smile, then stood up, preparing to return to the bureau.

Seeing this, Su Xiaoshi quickly urged her to stay. “Ah? You’ve only just arrived,” she said. “Won’t you stay a little longer?”

Su Ruoxi gave a wry smile. “Big Sister,” she explained, “my identity is rather unique. It’s best if I limit my contact with ordinary people to avoid causing you any trouble.”

Upon hearing this, Zi Ye immediately shook his head at his wife. He knew Su Ruoxi was right.

Her status was indeed exceptionally unique, far beyond that of a typical government official. If extensive contact with them were to inadvertently bring about any negative repercussions, that would be truly undesirable.

Thus, the couple could only watch as Su Ruoxi departed.

After settling into her car, Su Ruoxi leaned back against the seat, her mind beginning to churn with thoughts.

Pondering Bai Mengqi, whom she had met today, and Zi Yanran’s evasive demeanor, she couldn’t help but murmur to herself, “Interesting. If things are truly as I suspect, then everything will become clear.”

****

Around five in the afternoon, the sunlight had begun to soften. It no longer blazed with the intense, almost unbearable heat of midday.

Zi Yanran and Bai Mengqi finished work early.

They chatted and laughed all the way back to their unremarkable residential complex. It boasted no luxurious scenery or high-end facilities that would elicit gasps of admiration; it was simply a humble dwelling for residents. Yet, it exuded a rich, palpable sense of everyday life.

Zi Yanran had already moved all her belongings in. As the two of them opened the door to the apartment once more, a wave of warmth immediately enveloped them.

From the living room to the bedrooms, every corner had been meticulously decorated.

Since this was only their temporary abode, there was no need for an extensive renovation. A simple rearrangement and replacement of some furniture had been enough to create such a comfortable ambiance.

“Wow! You finished it in just one day? That’s amazing!”

The moment Bai Mengqi stepped inside, she looked as though she had discovered a new continent. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and a joyful smile lit up her face.

She gazed around, taking in the small decorative details, her heart brimming with delight. This was a sense of life she could never experience in a rented room.

“Alright, go quickly and move your own things,” Zi Yanran said, unable to suppress a soft chuckle as she watched Bai Mengqi’s surprised expression.

Bai Mengqi immediately acknowledged her, then led Zi Yanran towards the apartment she shared with Wang Lei.

Wang Lei was not home at the moment. He had also found a job, and it wasn’t quitting time yet.

“Hey! Did your university roommates really not notice at all that you’re a girl?”

Zi Yanran followed Bai Mengqi into the room, curiously surveying her surroundings. Then, her gaze settled on Bai Mengqi, and she couldn’t help but ask.

Bai Mengqi gently shook her head, the corners of her lips curving into a slight, helpless smile. “I only turned into a girl last summer,” she explained. “Coupled with my disguise, their mortal eyes definitely wouldn’t be able to tell.”

With that said, Bai Mengqi began to pack her belongings.

In truth, she didn’t have many possessions. After all, her daily life was rather simple, devoid of excessive clutter.

In no time at all, everything was moved over in just a few quick trips.

“You’re keeping these clothes?”

Zi Yanran frowned slightly as she looked at the pile of men’s clothes Bai Mengqi had brought over.

She squatted down, sifting through the garments. She noticed several pieces that had clearly been worn for years without much replacement.

It was evident that Bai Mengqi, despite being a cultivator, lived an incredibly low-key life—or perhaps, a rather frugal one.

One could only conclude that Bai Mengqi came from an average family background. Having grown up accustomed to a simple life, she had never harbored much desire for material possessions.

More importantly, she was reluctant to part with these clothes. After all, these were the garments she wore when she was a man, and keeping them allowed her to occasionally reminisce about the past.

“I’ll keep them,” she said. “I’m quite sentimental.”

While she knew these clothes might not seem impressive to others, they held a special significance for her.

Seeing this, Zi Yanran said no more, merely nodding slightly.

Next, she glanced at the contents of another bag, which contained the women’s clothing Bai Mengqi had purchased.

However, a single look was enough to tell that the quality of these women’s clothes was far from impressive. They were undoubtedly cheap, market-stall items.

“These… these are too poor quality,” Zi Yanran remarked, picking up a piece of women’s clothing and turning it over in her hands. She examined the coarse fabric and somewhat crude craftsmanship. “Tomorrow is Saturday, why don’t I take you to buy some new ones? You can pick whatever styles you like.”

She thought to herself, ‘Bai Mengqi doesn’t wear women’s clothes often anyway, so she wouldn’t spend a lot of money on good quality ones.’

“Is having money really so great?” Bai Mengqi retorted instantly upon hearing Zi Yanran’s words, a stubborn expression on her face. “Honestly.”

Zi Yanran chuckled softly, not offended. She slowly said, “You know, when you don’t have money, having a lot of it truly *is* great. When I was little, I lived a simple life just like you, without much money. But ever since my dad became successful, I understood the difference between being rich and poor. That feeling is genuinely very different; you’ll realize it someday.”

With that, the two settled their plans. Zi Yanran told Bai Mengqi to choose an outfit, intending for them to go out tomorrow, with Bai Mengqi in her true form, to shop for new clothes.

Bai Mengqi didn’t stubbornly insist otherwise. After a brief moment of thought, she pulled out her favorite set from her limited collection of women’s clothing: denim shorts paired with a black T-shirt.

This particular ensemble indeed presented a contradictory image. The upper half suggested a handsome young man, while the lower half was distinctly feminine, creating a unique, conflicting style.

“From your attire, it’s clear you still cherish your identity as a man, don’t you?”

Zi Yanran couldn’t help but chuckle as she looked at Bai Mengqi’s outfit, her eyes twinkling with a hint of teasing.

Bai Mengqi didn’t deny it. She let out a soft sigh and said, “Ah! You’ve never been a man, so of course you wouldn’t understand what it’s like for a man to become a woman.”

Having spoken, Bai Mengqi walked to the wardrobe and gently opened it.

The moment the wardrobe swung open, she instantly looked as though she had stumbled upon a new world. Her eyes widened in astonishment.