Chapter 105

Chi Chao's funeral was arranged by Chi Yifan, and Chi Wanzhao had barely been home for two days, likely helping with the arrangements.

Since waking up, Chi Xuan's emotions had stabilized considerably. Xie Dan, worried about her, stayed with her in the apartment for two days. Kong Xiyan couldn't help with Chi Chao's funeral arrangements, so she could only stay at the apartment with Chi Xuan.

During that time, she called Wang Haining.

Wang Haining remained as usual; the tone of her conversation didn't change at all. Kong Xiyan also asked her why she had come to Country A, but Wang Haining didn't say, though Kong Xiyan had a vague guess.

Three days later.

Chi Chao's affairs were mostly settled. Chi Wanzhao sent Zhou Sheng to pick them up and take them to the cemetery. Kong Xiyan changed into a black trench coat and went downstairs to find Chi Xuan and Xie Dan already neatly dressed and standing in the living room.

When Chi Xuan saw her come down, she called out, "Second sister-in-law."

Kong Xiyan glanced at her expression. "Are you okay?"

Chi Xuan nodded, her face still a bit pale. "I'm fine."

Xie Dan took both their hands and said, "Come on, Yifan and the rest are still waiting for us."

As soon as Kong Xiyan went out, she saw Zhou Sheng standing by the car, already holding the door open.

The three of them got in the car one after another.

The atmosphere inside the car was heavy. Chi Xuan didn't speak and kept looking out the window. Xie Dan held her hand, her eyes red and swollen, clearly having cried a lot these past few days.

Of everyone in the car, Kong Xiyan had the least connection to Chi Chao—they'd only met twice.

But she still felt a dull ache in her chest. The image of Chi Chao lying on that hospital bed always reminded her of her father, who had been in the same state.

The car arrived at the cemetery quickly.

When Kong Xiyan got out, she spotted Chi Wanzhao. Over the past three days, she'd been coming and going in a hurry, sometimes returning only after Kong Xiyan had gone to sleep and leaving before dawn. Every night, Kong Xiyan wanted to say a few words to her, but seeing how exhausted she looked, she could only hug her with a pang of sympathy.

No words of comfort would come out.

At times like this, language felt utterly inadequate.

Chi Wanzhao glanced over at Kong Xiyan and walked toward her. When she got close, she said in a low voice, "You're here."

Kong Xiyan nodded and stood beside her, lifting her gaze to look elsewhere.

The Chi family held considerable influence in Country A, so many people had come to pay their respects—old friends of Chi Chao, business partners, and some politicians. Kong Xiyan glanced at them briefly and then looked away. Chi Wanzhao stood beside her, talking with Xie Dan. She wore only a shirt under a thin black trench coat, the hem of which was lifted and whipped about by the wind.

Kong Xiyan watched Chi Xuan and Xie Dan head inside, then asked, "Are you cold?"

Chi Wanzhao turned to look at her, her expression soft and warm. "Not cold."

Seeing this, Kong Xiyan just took her hand sympathetically. A little while later, Zhou Sheng walked over holding chrysanthemums and handed them to Kong Xiyan.

Chi Wanzhao took the flowers for her and said, "Let's go."

Kong Xiyan followed her to Chi Chao's gravestone.

The photo on the tombstone bore no resemblance to the man lying in the hospital bed—not emaciated, not aged, not marked by any sign of illness.

In the photo, the man was young, with handsome features and a gentle smile, and his gaze still held a certain warmth, bearing some resemblance to Chi Yifan.

Kong Xiyan placed the flowers on the grave, a complicated feeling welling up in her heart.

There was no doubt that this man's actions had hurt two families, but the things in this world could not be neatly resolved by simple right or wrong.

She lowered her eyes.

Chi Wanzhao saw her put down the flowers and took her hand, standing beside her. People kept coming to lay flowers, and everyone's expression was somber.

Before long, it started to snow again, lightly—the flakes melted as soon as they hit the skin. Kong Xiyan turned to look at Chi Xuan and noticed her face was wet, whether from melted snow or tears, she couldn't tell.

There were a lot of people coming to pay their respects, so it took a while. Worried about Xie Dan's health, Chi Wanzhao asked whether she wanted to leave early. Xie Dan shook her head and sighed. "Let me see him to the end."

Seeing her so resolute, Chi Wanzhao gave up trying to persuade her.

They stood in the cemetery all morning as countless people came and went. By noon, the snow had gradually intensified, and only a few people were left. Chi Yifan walked over and asked Chi Wanzhao to take Xie Dan and the others back first. Xie Dan took one last, deep look at the photo of the man on the tombstone and said:

"Let's go."

She turned and walked away.

Chi Xuan followed closely behind her. Chi Wanzhao looked up and exchanged a few words with Chi Yifan, who nodded, his expression solemn.

They talked for a few minutes. Chi Yifan noticed that Kong Xiyan was still standing there waiting for Chi Wanzhao, and he waved his hand. "Go on ahead. We'll discuss the rest when we get home."

Chi Wanzhao gave an "mm" of acknowledgment and turned to leave.

Kong Xiyan was standing nearby waiting for her. The cold wind blew Chi Wanzhao's coat, puffing it up into a billow. She walked swiftly and was in front of Kong Xiyan in a few steps.

Just as they were about to leave, a voice called out from behind them: "CEO Chi."

Chi Wanzhao and Kong Xiyan both turned around. A woman dressed all in black stood behind them. Seeing Chi Wanzhao turn, she smiled and said, "CEO Chi, long time no see. Do you have a moment to talk?"

Chi Wanzhao frowned and looked at Kong Xiyan.

Kong Xiyan smiled. "I'll head over to Mom and Xiao Xuan first."

Chi Wanzhao: "Alright."

Kong Xiyan nodded and smiled at the woman in greeting before walking away.

Just before she got into the car, she saw Chi Wanzhao and that woman heading deeper into the cemetery.

Chi Xuan asked from beside her, "Where's my second sister?"

Kong Xiyan smiled. "She has something to take care of. She'll come in a bit."

Chi Xuan looked past her out the window and saw Chi Wanzhao with the woman standing there. She knitted her brows slightly, then looked away.

Meanwhile, Chi Wanzhao and Chai Yin stood under a tree, facing each other. Chi Wanzhao spoke first: "Something on your mind?"

Chai Yin lifted her gaze. "I only just heard about your father. I wasn't able to help with anything..."

Chi Wanzhao cut her off. "No help needed."

Chai Yin nodded knowingly.

If the Chi family couldn't handle something themselves, she certainly wouldn't have the ability to do any better.

"Feeling down?"

"If you are, you can always invite me out for a drink anytime."

Chi Wanzhao pressed her lips into a thin line. "I'm fine. If Miss Chai has nothing else, I'll be going."

Chai Yin stood in front of her. "CEO Chi truly hasn't changed one bit."

A coldness crept onto Chi Wanzhao's brow; she didn't reply.

Chai Yin sighed. "Fine, I'll cut to the chase. After the new year, I'm heading back to City B. During this time, someone has been contacting me frequently."

"She asked if I wanted to cooperate."

Chi Wanzhao frowned. "Who?"

Instead of answering, Chai Yin looked toward the direction of the cars and asked, "Is that CEO Chi's girlfriend?"

Chi Wanzhao pressed her lips together. "She's my wife."

A flash of surprise passed through Chai Yin's eyes, and then she nodded. "I understand."

Chi Wanzhao didn't say anything more. Chai Yin continued, "Clearly, the person in the country doesn't know about that. She asked if I wanted to partner with her, and once the deed was done, she'd help me take the position of Mrs. Chi."

Chai Yin let out a soft laugh. "Obviously, she doesn't know you well enough."

Chi Wanzhao asked, "Why did she approach you?"

Chai Yin shot her a look. "Do you need me to remind you, CEO Chi? In the past three years, I'm the only one you've been linked with in tabloids. Besides, when I went abroad back then, there were reports that it was because of a broken heart. So tell me, why would she come to me?"

Chi Wanzhao lowered her brow. "Who is it?"

Chai Yin replied, "Guan Xiaoying."

"I'm sure that name isn't unfamiliar to you, CEO Chi."

Chi Wanzhao's gaze fixed on Chai Yin. After a moment, she said, "Cooperate with her."

Chai Yin was stunned for a moment. "What? I have no interest in wrecking someone's marriage."

Chi Wanzhao looked at her, her face frosted over, lips drawn tight, voice icy. "Agree to her for now. Once you're in City B, I'll have Zhou Sheng get in touch with you."

Chai Yin, seeing that Chi Wanzhao had already formed a plan in just a few minutes, nodded. "Alright, I understand."

After their talk, Chi Wanzhao was about to leave, but Chai Yin frowned and asked, "If you don't mind, what kind of grudge does she have against your family?"

Guan Xiaoying?

What kind of grudge?

That might require asking Xiyan to find out.

Chi Wanzhao still kept her brow furrowed and her expression cold. Her voice drifted to Chai Yin's ears with the cold wind: "I'll be in touch once you're in City B."

Chai Yin nodded and looked at her retreating figure.

To say she had never been drawn to her would be a lie.

Back then, she had been stuck in a quagmire. When everyone was piling on her, hurling insults and accusations, it was Chi Wanzhao who pulled her out—not only that, but also paved a smooth avenue for her.

Chai Yin had trampled those who had slandered her, standing tall and haughty, like a queen.

But she wasn't a queen; she was just an ordinary woman.

At the time, she had already fallen for Chi Wanzhao in secret, but that woman was like a stone, immune to both soft words and hard pressure. No matter what she tried, she couldn't get even a sliver of her. In the end, she gritted her teeth and decided to bare her heart and confess.

All she got in return was one sentence: You should go abroad and develop your career.

So she came abroad.

Chai Yin let out a cold breath and cast a glance at the black car already driving away in the distance. She really couldn't imagine what it would be like for Chi Wanzhao to have a wife.

She kept her gaze fixed far away until her phone had rung many times before she snapped back to reality.

Chai Yin took the phone out of her bag, saw the familiar name on the caller ID, and picked up. "Hello."

The woman on the other end asked, "Miss Chai, have you thought it over?"

Chai Yin tapped her finger against the phone. The wind howled, and even her voice sounded a few degrees colder. "I feel like Miss Guan's sincerity is lacking. Since you want to cooperate, I'll need to know the reasoning. If I end up being used as a pawn, that wouldn't be very nice."

Guan Xiaoying chuckled lightly. "Miss Chai is joking. But I believe the most important thing in collaboration is the outcome. If both parties are satisfied with the result, then it's the best kind of cooperation."

"Don't you agree, Miss Chai?"

Chai Yin's gaze drifted into the distance, her eyes deep and unreadable. "Alright."

"I accept your offer."

"Also, one more thing: when I return to the country, I want to join your company."

Guan Xiaoying's lips curled. "No problem."