Floating life reflects two lotuses

Chu Wanlian, arm in arm with Xu Nianni, walked slowly out of the restaurant. The night breeze was cool, blowing her newly cut bob haircut, making her look exceptionally refreshing and neat.

"How was today? Are you satisfied?" Xu Nianni asked with a smile, holding the prize bag that Chu Wanlian had just received.

"It's alright, the scene is a little... smaller than I expected." Chu Wanlian had a faint smile on her lips, but in her heart she was thinking about Li Chenyao's gaze during the banquet. He seemed to be observing her, or perhaps testing her.

"Hey, don't act all innocent after getting the benefit." Xu Nianni poked her shoulder. "You're the star of the day, the most dazzling one here."

Just as Chu Wanlian was about to respond, she suddenly heard several low voices talking not far behind her.

"Xiao Jinlian's family...you don't know, do you? Her family situation is quite complicated," a voice said mysteriously.

"Complex? What do you mean?" another voice asked, clearly curious.

“My cousin used to be a neighbor of the Xiao family. He told me that Xiao Jinlian’s father disappeared many years ago, and it was quite a sensation at the time.”

"Really? Why has she never mentioned it before?"

"I guess it's a family matter that shouldn't be aired in public. My cousin also said that he heard some rumors when he was a child, saying that before her father disappeared, he seemed to be involved in some kind of conflict of interest..."

"Shh, keep your voice down! What if someone hears us?"

Chu Wanlian paused, her heart skipping a beat. She tried to remain calm, pretending to be organizing the bags in her hands, but actually she was listening intently to the conversation.

Xiao Jinlian's voice suddenly exploded in his mind: "What are they saying?! My father is missing? Why don't I know anything about him!"

"Don't worry," Chu Wanlian reassured her silently. "Let me hear if there are any other clues."

The voices of the people behind her grew softer and softer until they were barely audible. Chu Wanlian had no choice but to stop and turn around, pretending to be nonchalant as she glanced at them. The people speaking seemed not to notice her, continuing their hushed conversation with their heads down.

Xu Nianni noticed her unusual behavior and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Chu Wanlian smiled slightly, then casually probed, "Ni Ni, how much do you know about the Xiao family?"

Xu Nianni paused for a moment, then smiled and shook her head.

Head: "What about the Xiao family? How much could you possibly know? It's just you and your aunt at home, it's quite quiet."

"Oh, yes." Chu Wanlian nodded, but her gaze became more inquisitive. "What about my father? I've never heard you mention him before."

Xu Nianni suddenly looked a little embarrassed, her eyes darting away for a moment, before she smiled and changed the subject: "Oh, what's there to say? Lianlian, you're the star of the show today. It's so late, let me take you home so your aunt won't worry."

"Ni Ni." Chu Wanlian slowed her pace, her tone slightly lowered, "If you know anything, could you tell me? Even if it's about my father."

Xu Nianni stopped, her smile froze, and after a long while, she said in a low voice, "Lianlian, there are some things... perhaps your aunt doesn't want you to know. Since she's never mentioned it, it means she doesn't want you to worry. You should go home early and get some rest."

"But I need to know at least some clues," Chu Wanlian pressed on relentlessly. "Ni Ni, what exactly happened to my father?"

Xu Nianni bit her lip, seemingly hesitant, before finally sighing and gently patting Chu Wanlian's hand: "Lianlian, some things are not for friends to pry into. All I can tell you is this: 'If your aunt doesn't bring it up, you'd better not delve into it.'"

Chu Wanlian was stunned. She saw hesitation, difficulty, and a little bit of... unease in Xu Nianni's eyes.

"Thank you, Ni Ni." Chu Wanlian didn't ask any further questions, her tone revealing a hint of helplessness and disappointment.

The two walked silently to a taxi by the roadside without saying another word.

Back home

As soon as Chu Wanlian opened the door, Xiao's mother poked her head out from the kitchen: "Lianlian, you're back? How was the banquet today?"

"Not bad," Chu Wanlian replied with a forced smile, took off her high heels, walked to the sofa and sat down, but her eyes inadvertently drifted to a corner of the living room—there was an old wooden box covered with a piece of fabric.

She seemed lost in thought, and Xiao Jinlian's voice echoed in her mind again: "Those questions you asked Ni Ni... she must know something! I knew it, my mother never mentions my father, and she doesn't even allow us to keep his photos, how could that not be strange?"

"Don't rush," Chu Wanlian replied softly. "This wooden box might be a breakthrough."

"A wooden box?" Xiao Jinlian immediately perked up. "Quickly, let's see what's inside!"

Chu Wanlian got up and walked to the wooden box. She carefully lifted the fabric covering it, revealing the box's mottled surface. The box was secured with an old-fashioned brass lock. She tried shaking it and found that the chain was already rusty and broke easily with a gentle tug.

The moment the box was opened, a musty smell wafted out. Inside, several old photo albums and some yellowed documents were neatly stacked. Chu Wanlian opened the album, and the first picture was a family portrait: a gentle man stood beside Xiao's young mother, holding a little girl of three or four years old in his arms.

"Is this... when you were a child?" Chu Wanlian asked softly.

“Yes, it’s my dad…” Xiao Jinlian’s voice suddenly lowered, with a hint of complicated emotion, “I’ve never seen this photo before.”

Chu Wanlian put the photo album aside, picked up a stack of documents, and found that it was an agreement about company shares, with "Xiao's father" signed in the signature column.

"What are these?" Xiao Jinlian asked, puzzled.

"It might be related to your father's disappearance," Chu Wanlian replied softly, her fingers fumbling through the layers of documents. Suddenly, a thin sheet of paper fell out.

The handwriting on the letter was somewhat messy, and it read: "In case of any unforeseen circumstances, be sure to keep the share agreement safe and never give it to a third party."

Chu Wanlian frowned, put the letter and agreement back into the box, and said in a low voice, "Before your father disappeared, he seemed to sense some danger."

"What...what exactly happened?" Xiao Jinlian's voice was full of shock and unease. "Could it be that my father's disappearance is really related to some kind of conflict of interest?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple." Chu Wanlian closed the wooden box, her mind racing with thoughts. "But to find out the truth, perhaps we should start with these documents."

She looked up at the window; the moonlight spilled onto the floor, hazy and cold. An uneasy atmosphere seemed to permeate the air, as if a storm was about to break.

"Don't worry," Chu Wanlian said to Xiao Jinlian in her heart, "Now that I have taken over your body, I will definitely help you find out the truth. This is my promise."