She Adopted Me After My Biological Mother Passed Away - Chapter 37

The indignant past of a high school girl raising a child.

Shi Shuxue sent a message back to Chi Yeyu, telling her she’d be at the school gate in ten minutes and not to worry. Only then did Chi Yeyu settle down.

Today, Shi Shuxue wore an academic style wool duffle coat with a ribbon bow at the collar, paired unusually with a deep gray pleated long skirt. Fearing she might be cold, Chi Yeyu bent down to tug at the hem of her skirt. Seeing she was only wearing leggings underneath, she frowned and asked, “Are you cold?”

Shi Shuxue shook her head. “They’re thick. I’m not cold.”

“Alright, but you look really beautiful in this outfit,” Chi Yeyu praised while tying a scarf for her. She lifted Shi Shuxue’s two braided pigtails, wrapped the scarf around her neck a few times, and then gave her a fierce hug, inhaling her scent. “So fragrant. What brand of shampoo do you use?”

“I don’t remember, bought it online,” Shi Shuxue said.

Chi Yeyu reminded her, “Buy expensive, big name brands. With hair quality this great, don’t let it get damaged.” During her college years, Chi Yeyu changed her hair color every other day, her hair quality was much worse than Shi Shuxue’s. Luckily, she had a good base, so all that messing around hadn’t turned it into thin, limp strands yet.

“Mhm. What color do you want to dye it today?” Shi Shuxue asked.

“Let me think… why don’t you decide? Since I’ll definitely be hanging around in front of you often from now on, what color do you like me with?” Chi Yeyu looked at her with sparkling eyes.

Without a second thought, Shi Shuxue said, “Blue.”

“Blue again? Like last time? You really love my blue-hair period, don’t you?” Chi Yeyu had only dyed it deep blue for one year. To protect her scalp, she hadn’t dared to bleach the roots, opting for a gradient blue that flowed to the tips.

Shi Shuxue said, “That color suits you. Besides, I can’t imagine you in other colors. The black you have now looks good too.”

“But black is too boring. Even dying it blonde would be more interesting than this.”

Shi Shuxue fell silent. Upon reaching the hair salon, she suddenly asked Chi Yeyu, “Do you think I should dye mine a color too?”

“You? What would you dye it?” Chi Yeyu asked in surprise.

Shi Shuxue replied, “An ‘un-boring’ color.”

Realizing Shi Shuxue was taking her mindless comment to heart, Chi Yeyu shook her head vigorously. “No, no, no! You’re perfect just like this. I don’t find it boring at all! Don’t dye it; you’re especially beautiful this way, and I love it.”

As she was led away to have her hair washed, Shi Shuxue stood by and asked, “Really? You don’t think my lack of change is boring?”

Chi Yeyu was lying back in the shampoo chair. As the warm water rinsed her hair, she tried to bolt upright at the question, only to be pressed back down by the stylist.

“Whoa, miss, don’t move! The foam will get in your eyes.”

She had to lie still, her voice urgent. “Really, how could I lie to you? I would never think you’re boring!”

Shi Shuxue leaned against the nearby sink, propping herself up with her hands behind her. She tilted her head slightly, studying Chi Yeyu, and threw out a second question: “Then tell me, what’s interesting about me?”

Once Chi Yeyu’s head was dried and she was moved to the mirror, the roar of the hairdryer drowned out conversation. She used the interval to think of several points. As soon as it went quiet, she rattled them off like a menu:

“Our little Shi Shuxue has an incredibly interesting personality. You have endless curiosity and a desire to explore the world. Plus, you love doing things that are out of the ordinary. I remember one winter you buried your face in a snowman because you wanted to kiss it! That was so interesting.”

“It wasn’t a kiss, it was a hug,” Shi Shuxue corrected.

“Fine, fine, a hug. That shows a sense of humor too,” Chi Yeyu continued. “The stray hairs sticking up when you wake up every day are also very interesting. I want to count them every time I see them, but I never tell you.”

“Chi Yeyu!” Shi Shuxue snapped, annoyed.

“Yes, exactly! This too! I used to think you didn’t have normal emotions, but it turns out you have everything a normal kid should. You’re quite ‘wholesome’ you don’t get mad when others tease you, but the moment I do, you get fired up.”

Her words made the young stylist next to them chuckle. He struggled to maintain a professional expression despite his upward-curling lips.

Shi Shuxue kept a stiff face. “…Thank you, Ma’am.”

“Why are you calling me that again! Stop it, you’re going to be the death of me!” Chi Yeyu cried.

Shi Shuxue asked, “Didn’t you used to love it?”

“I loved it because I hadn’t seen your true nature yet! I thought you truly admired me and respected me as an elder. Who knew you’d turn out to be such a heartless little rebel?”

“Oh, so in your heart, I’m a heartless little rebel,” Shi Shuxue shrugged.

Chi Yeyu could tell she was purely amusing herself. “Ahhh, Shi Shuxue, just you wait! I’ll deal with you after I’m done with my hair!”

Of course, she couldn’t actually bring herself to “deal” with her. The first thing Chi Yeyu did after finishing was turn to Shi Shuxue and ask, “How is it? Does it look good?”

Her hair was a bit longer than before. The blue was dyed with a gray undertone, like the “smog blue” of a sky just before rain. Being tall and slender, she looked cool and edgy. Shi Shuxue felt that if she added oversized sunglasses and a black mask, she could walk down the street and be mistaken for a celebrity.

Unfortunately, she had a mouth that couldn’t stay still. Seeing Shi Shuxue nod slightly, she began striking various poses in the mirror like a peacock displaying its feathers. Even the stylist thought the look was a masterpiece. He repeatedly admired his work and asked if he could record a video for social media in exchange for a 12% discount.

Chi Yeyu waved him off, acting mysterious. “Nah, my face can’t appear on the internet.”

The stylist, though not quite understanding but feeling it sounded impressive, gave up with regret, stealing several more glances at his handiwork before they left.

After the hair appointment, they discussed finding a restaurant for dinner. Before they had walked far, a girl with a heart-shaped face called out to them.

“Um, wait a moment! I’m your fan, can I have your autograph?” She approached the two. Shi Shuxue instinctively looked at Chi Yeyu, who froze for a second, assuming the girl was there for her. She patted her pockets, realizing she hadn’t brought a pen.

However, the girl looked straight at Shi Shuxue and handed her a postcard. Her shy tone was mixed with nervousness: “Xue, I’m your fan. I’m so happy to meet you here today.”

Chi Yeyu nudged Shi Shuxue with her elbow. “Hey, your fan.”

Shi Shuxue lowered her eyes and pulled a pen from her backpack. She took the postcard, flipped it to the blank side, and asked, “Can I sign here?”

“Yes, yes! I didn’t expect you to be in the same city as me. Are you at university here? I’m so happy to meet you today, ahh… truly happy. I started learning bass because of your videos. I want to join a band in the future and be a bassist just like you. This is the first time I’ve seen you offline. You’re so beautiful, such a delicate face, like a doll…”

As Shi Shuxue signed, the girl chattered incessantly. Initially reserved, her voice became clearer and louder as she went on. Chi Yeyu stood by, stifling a laugh.

Chi Yeyu suggested, “Why don’t you take a photo with her?”

“Oh, can I?” the girl asked in surprise.

“Mhm.” Shi Shuxue nodded slightly. She took the girl’s phone, flipped the camera, and framed the two of them in the shot.

Her face was small and her chin sharp, making her very photogenic, though her naturally sparse expressions appeared even colder in the photo.

“Thank you!! I will print this out and cherish it for a lifetime!” The girl looked at the photo, ecstatic.

Satisfied, the girl left with a light step. Chi Yeyu was happy for her. “Xiao Xue, you’re so popular now, meeting fans on the street.”

“I don’t usually meet them, this is the first time.” Shi Shuxue pulled her scarf up. When Chi Yeyu was at her peak popularity, the two of them would be recognized even wearing masks.

“There will be more in the future.” Chi Yeyu rested her arm around Shi Shuxue’s waist, affectionately rubbing her stomach and circling her palm. “Do you want to stand on bigger stages in the future? If you want to pursue this path professionally, I can help you.”

Shi Shuxue said, “I haven’t decided yet. It’s pretty good as it is.”

“You joined this band because you truly love music, right?” Chi Yeyu leaned down to look at her face. “Xiao Xue, I never want to force my expectations on you. I want you to live easily and be happy. I know the days before you met me were hard, so I can’t bear to let you suffer anymore.”

She made a tiny gesture under Shi Shuxue’s eyes, saying solemnly, “Not even a little bit.”

Shi Shuxue blinked slowly. “I like the bass. And the drums.”

Relieved, Chi Yeyu smiled and praised, “You’re doing great, Shi Shuxue.”

Shi Shuxue thought for a moment and made a request: “Then can you give me a kiss?”

“Sure.” Chi Yeyu pulled her close, bent down, and tilted her chin with one hand, placing a fleeting kiss on her right cheek.

In an instant, Shi Shuxue’s entire ear turned crimson. The spot where she had been kissed felt both itchy and burning. She raised a hand to lightly touch the skin. Chi Yeyu never refused this kind of request.

So, what exactly does Chi Yeyu think of her?

That night, discussions about the band “Screaming Goldfish” exploded across various social media platforms. Threads piled up in forums, and fan groups reached 99+ messages.

It started when the fan who took the photo with Shi Shuxue posted it online. Besides expressing her love, she specifically mentioned that the older sister shopping with Shi Shuxue was very cool, had striking blue hair, and was very easy to get along with.

Because she was a new fan who followed the band for Shi Shuxue’s bass playing, she knew nothing of the past and didn’t realize that was the once famous, controversial Chi Yeyu. However, netizens deduced her return from those few words. Chi Yeyu, by her mere presence, sent the domestic indie band scene into a frenzy, with discussion topics reaching a peak.

Beside Shi Shuxue, with blue hair, who else could it be but Chi Yeyu?

But didn’t these two have a falling out? How are they shopping together in such harmony?

Back then, Chi Yeyu had left the band without warning. The news of her public fallout with Shi Shuxue on the street was still ingrained in the memories of most fans. For “shippers,” the photos of their breakup still hung high in the “Eternal Regrets” collection on forums.

Their relationship was complicated to begin with. Chi Yeyu had taken over the band from the former leader, Shi Xianyu, and had personally raised Shi Xianyu’s daughter, Shi Shuxue. With only a nine year age gap, they didn’t quite seem like mother and daughter, nor like master and apprentice, nor sisters. Years of living together had led many long time fans to suspect a secret romance, which had drawn a lot of negative public opinion toward Chi Yeyu.

The reasons for her leaving the band were analyzed to death in forum posts, some said Chi Yeyu had creative differences with the band, others said she was bored with band life and sought better prospects abroad, and some even fabricated stories of Chi Yeyu abandoning Shi Shuxue as a heartless lover.

But Chi Yeyu was back. They were seemingly traveling together. All those rumors about them being dead to each other were overturned overnight.

Die-hard shippers wailed through the night, imagining endless dramas. Their “ship” had gone from sweet cohabitation to a sea of bitter emotions, crossing boundaries of identity and gender, and was now seemingly coming to a fruitful conclusion!

Soon, another girl in a private group chat shared a candid photo of the two. In the picture, Chi Yeyu was hooked onto Shi Shuxue’s arm as they walked toward a street corner together. The blue hair and black hair brushed against each other in an indescribably intimate scene.

The photos spread rapidly. Content related to the “Rain Snow” (Yu Xue) ship surged, nearly taking over the entire forum.