Chapter 27

Chi Wanzhao had been working overtime for three straight days. Assistant Zhou, who had been by her side for so long, finally asked in confusion, "President Chi, has something happened?"

She had already dealt with all the important matters ahead of time; it was rare for her to linger like this.

Chi Wanzhao looked down at the papers, hummed in acknowledgment, and asked casually, "That proposal for sponsoring the school you prepared earlier—is it ready?"

Assistant Zhou: "Yes, it's done. Do you need it now, President Chi?"

Chi Wanzhao glanced at her watch. It was just past eight. She hadn't gone home yet, and she wondered what Kong Xiyan had eaten for dinner. Kong Xiyan never thought of herself as a bother when taking care of Yanyan, but she simply couldn't take care of herself.

Seeing that Assistant Zhou was still waiting for her response, Chi Wanzhao shook her head. "No need. Put the proposal on my desk tomorrow. Also, clear out a week's leave for me."

Assistant Zhou asked hesitantly, "Is it about the old Mr. Chi..."

Chi Wanzhao cut him off. "No."

Assistant Zhou sighed in relief and asked dutifully, "What should I prepare for you?"

Chi Wanzhao thought for a moment. "Prepare a car for me."

Assistant Zhou was momentarily taken aback by her delicate profile. No plane ticket, but rather a car, and for a week-long trip—combined with the proposal she'd asked for, he had a good idea where President Chi would be going next week.

He nodded knowingly. "Alright, I'll arrange it as soon as possible."

"By the way, does Madam know about this?"

Chi Wanzhao hesitated for a moment. "I haven't told her yet."

Recently, she and Kong Xiyan had been on opposite schedules; they only managed to chat briefly when she sent messages about her itinerary, and this wasn't something suited for that kind of conversation.

Assistant Zhou noticed her brows unconsciously knitting and suggested, "I heard from Tong Yue that Madam will have a week off in two days. She told Tong Yue she'd be going back there. President Chi, how about taking the chance to go back with Madam?"

Chi Wanzhao stared at the papers in front of her and asked, "Is that so?"

Assistant Zhou answered respectfully, "Mm. Would you like me to let Madam know on your behalf?"

Chi Wanzhao did not confirm or deny, but Assistant Zhou had been with her long enough to know that her silence meant tacit approval.

Time slipped by quietly. The only sounds in the office were the flipping of pages and the occasional question from Chi Wanzhao. Assistant Zhou moved between the office and the secretary's room, occasionally bringing in documents for her signature.

After signing the last document, Chi Wanzhao capped her pen and looked at Assistant Zhou. "How is He Lao's situation going?" she asked.

Assistant Zhou lowered his head respectfully. "He Wei has intercepted He Lao's matter. Though it's still trending online, it won't turn into a real problem. At the set, he hasn't dared act up again. He's been quiet lately."

Chi Wanzhao rested her chin on her hand. "What about Wei Yan?"

Assistant Zhou adjusted his glasses. "Wei Yan has stepped out to support He Wei publicly. I expect news of their reconciliation will surface soon."

"Mm."

Seeing that she wore an unreadable expression, Assistant Zhou continued, "Tong Yue is ready on her end."

Chi Wanzhao's sharp eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line, her demeanor carrying an imposing air. She looked at Assistant Zhou and said coolly, "Tell Tong Yue: many in this circle value her talent. I don't need that. I just need her to be smart."

Assistant Zhou nodded. "Rest assured, President Chi. We've paved the way for her; I believe she knows what to do."

Chi Wanzhao turned her back to him and looked out through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Night had fallen, the moon bright and the stars sparse.

She lowered her gaze and stood. "Let's go."

Assistant Zhou followed close behind as they left the office.

When they arrived at the apartment, before Chi Wanzhao even got out of the car, she saw Kong Xiyan sitting at the entrance holding Yanyan. The wind lifted the hem of her clothes and her long hair, and a black mask covered half her face, revealing her willow-leaf brows and beautiful eyes.

Yanyan was nestled in her arms, head lifted, being stroked into pure bliss.

Assistant Zhou noticed Chi Wanzhao staring and suppressed a smile, lowering his head to say, "President Chi, we've arrived."

Chi Wanzhao softened her sharp expression, her features gentle. Assistant Zhou walked quickly to her side and opened the door for her. Seeing them get out, Kong Xiyan hugged Yanyan and prepared to stand.

She had been sitting outside for too long, and her legs had gone numb. When she stood, she stumbled, and Yanyan jumped down from her arms.

Chi Wanzhao stepped forward to steady her by the wrist, which was freezing cold.

Clearly, she had been sitting here for a long time.

Chi Wanzhao frowned involuntarily and said with slight displeasure, "In the future, just wait for me inside."

Kong Xiyan hesitated, biting her lip to keep from speaking.

Assistant Zhou interjected at the right moment: "President Chi, Madam, please head inside. It's cold—don't stay out in the wind."

Chi Wanzhao hummed in reply and turned toward the apartment. Kong Xiyan bent down to pick up Yanyan and was about to follow when Assistant Zhou called, "Madam."

Kong Xiyan stopped and turned, looking at Assistant Zhou's deferential posture. "What is it?"

Assistant Zhou lowered his eyes, a glint flashing behind his glasses. He said quietly, "I'd like to ask you to take good care of President Chi for the time being. Not long ago, some trouble occurred in her family, and she hasn't been in a good mood. You must have noticed—she's been working overtime the last few days."

"Trouble? What trouble? What happened with her family?"

Kong Xiyan lifted her head, starry eyes filled with obvious concern. Assistant Zhou kept his head low. "It's nothing major. It's her father—he's in the hospital... his condition isn't good. You know how President Chi is; she doesn't like to talk about such things. Please take care of her."

Kong Xiyan's heart grew complicated. She had indeed noticed Chi Wanzhao's low mood recently, but she'd never thought deeply about it. So it was her father.

Remembering the time three years ago when her own father had been in a similar situation, Kong Xiyan fell silent.

Seeing her reaction, Assistant Zhou grew even more respectful. "Madam, yesterday President Chi had us prepare a proposal overnight—it's about sponsoring schools in poor areas."

"I know that school is where you once stayed. President Chi said she wants to inspect the site, but really, she just wants to get away and relieve some stress."

"Could I trouble you to find time to accompany President Chi?"

Chi Wanzhao was going to the countryside too?

Kong Xiyan turned to look at the person waiting for her. She nodded in agreement. "Alright. When is President Chi leaving?"

Assistant Zhou said, "It's not fixed yet. What day suits you, Madam?"

Kong Xiyan thought for a moment. "If it's convenient, I'll have a week off starting two days from now."

Assistant Zhou: "It's convenient."

After sending Assistant Zhou off, Kong Xiyan stroked Yanyan in her arms and walked toward Chi Wanzhao. Seeing her looking fixedly at her, Kong Xiyan looked up with a smile. "Let's go inside."

Chi Wanzhao followed behind her without asking what Assistant Zhou had said, her gaze gentle as water.

At the door, Kong Xiyan hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside behind Chi Wanzhao. "You open the door..."

Chi Wanzhao's gentle eyes dimmed slightly. "You didn't bring your keys?" she asked suddenly.

Kong Xiyan: "...Mm."

Chi Wanzhao's face stiffened. "How long did you wait?"

Kong Xiyan shrank her neck for no reason. "Half, half an hour..."

Chi Wanzhao's face was cold as frost. "Miss Kong, if you forget your keys again, you may contact me directly."

Kong Xiyan: "Alright..."

Chi Wanzhao glanced at her. "Miss Kong has thick skin and can handle a bit of cold, but Yanyan can't stand this wind."

Kong Xiyan: ...

"Let's go."

Chi Wanzhao opened the apartment door and let Kong Xiyan and Yanyan go in first, then followed, gazing at her slender back with deep, brooding eyes.

Once inside, Kong Xiyan settled on the couch with Yanyan to watch some TV. Yanyan had been outside for a while and, once home, sprawled onto Kong Xiyan like a stubborn, stuck-on lozenge.

Chi Wanzhao removed her trench coat, revealing a blouse and a knee-length skirt; her legs in stockings were slim and long, with beautiful lines.

She rolled up her sleeves and unbuttoned the collar of her blouse, exposing delicate collarbones. Kong Xiyan caught an inadvertent glimpse and found it hard to look away.

Chi Wanzhao noticed her gaze and asked, "Have you eaten?"

Kong Xiyan snapped back as if pricked by a needle. "Yes, I have."

Chi Wanzhao frowned at her startled reaction but said nothing more and went into the kitchen. Seeing her disappear from the living room, Kong Xiyan sighed in relief; to avoid an awkward atmosphere, she took Yanyan upstairs.

Just after entering the room, she received a WeChat message from Fu Qiu. Opening it, she read: "Sister Kong, do you know who exposed what He Lao did last time?"

Kong Xiyan set Yanyan on the bed, changed into her sleepwear, and only replied after slipping under the covers: "No idea. Who?"

Fu Qiu: "I heard it was Guo Yixi's assistant who posted it in a fan group, and then someone reposted the video on Weibo, so everyone found out."

Kong Xiyan looked at her phone and let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

At first, she had suspected Chi Wanzhao.

Now that she knew it wasn't her, she felt strangely relieved. She didn't want to owe that woman any more.

Fu Qiu kept typing: "I knew it. Guo Yixi being the biggest beneficiary isn't for nothing. She really knows how to seize on something."

"—But this time, extinguishing He Lao's arrogance is so satisfying."

"—Hey, Sister Kong, are you reading this?"

Kong Xiyan's fingertip lingered on the screen before replying: "Mm, reading."

Fu Qiu: "But if He Lao finds out, he'll probably make trouble for Guo Yixi..."

More than likely.

Kong Xiyan knew that even if He Lao didn't go after Guo Yixi, He Wei would never let it slide.

After all, the image He Lao had carefully maintained for years had crumbled, and He Wei was the closest to him. It would be strange if she didn't vent her anger on his behalf.

A term suddenly popped into Kong Xiyan's mind.

Dogs biting dogs.

She was amused by her own thought and put her phone down. At that moment, the door was pushed open, and Chi Wanzhao stood at the threshold in her sleepwear. Seeing the smile in Kong Xiyan's eyes, her voice unconsciously softened. "What's making you happy?"

Kong Xiyan quickly schooled her expression, moved aside half the bed for her, and hugged Yanyan to her side. Lowering her head, she replied, "Nothing."

Chi Wanzhao didn't press, merely humming softly as she sat on the bed. Kong Xiyan knew she liked to read in bed before sleeping, and sure enough, Chi Wanzhao leaned against the headboard and picked up a book. With her hair loose, even her eyes seemed gentler.

After considering her words, Kong Xiyan spoke. "Today, Assistant Zhou told me a bit about your family."

"Are you okay?"

Half of Chi Wanzhao's profile was hidden by her hair; her voice was muffled. "Not really."

Her tone was fragile, like a hurt little woman, far from her usual lofty, commanding demeanor. Kong Xiyan was struck speechless by her admission.

The room was very quiet. Kong Xiyan shifted out from under the covers, leaned against the pillow, and pulled Yanyan into her embrace, stroking its white fur.

Chi Wanzhao closed her book and turned to her. "How did you get through it three years ago?"

Three years ago?

Kong Xiyan was taken aback by the question. After a moment's thought, she replied, "I just did. I got through it somehow."

Her tone was flat, as if she weren't talking about herself at all; her brows and eyes remained unmoved, calm and unruffled. Seeing her like this, Chi Wanzhao felt a faint ache in her chest. She set her book aside, threw back the covers, and reached out to pull Kong Xiyan into her arms, embracing her.

"Want to cry?"

"No."

"Do you hate them?"

"No."

Chi Wanzhao asked, and Kong Xiyan answered. She didn't notice anything wrong with this position and even patted Chi Wanzhao's back soothingly. "So this will pass too, it will. Don't be too upset."

Yanyan, seeing them wrapped together, shook its white fur and padded over, nudging its head against Kong Xiyan's body.

Kong Xiyan shifted slightly and looked down at Yanyan trying to jump onto them. She extended a fingertip and pressed it against Yanyan's forehead, her expression tender.

Chi Wanzhao glanced down and saw her like that—delicate brows and eyes containing irrepressible gentleness, features matured into striking beauty. It was beautiful—she'd known that about the woman in her arms for a long time.

The warm lamplight from the headboard fell on them, cowling them in a soft halo. After soothing Yanyan, Kong Xiyan tried to look up and met a pair of shining eyes directly.

They were dark and bright, with her own small reflection in them.

She blinked. Chi Wanzhao's palms were sweating; she slowly clenched one, moving closer to Kong Xiyan. "Miss Kong, would you mind if I kissed you?"

Kong Xiyan froze, and as Chi Wanzhao closed in, she stammered, "I, I, I—I mind..."

Chi Wanzhao sighed, her eyes fixed on Kong Xiyan's rosy lips. "Too late."

It tasted just as she'd imagined—sweet and fresh. Chi Wanzhao couldn't help wanting more. She wrapped her arms around Kong Xiyan's shoulders, pulling her closer, while one hand found her slender back.

Kong Xiyan was dizzy from the kiss, but when Chi Wanzhao touched her back, she suddenly snapped awake and shoved her away.

Caught off guard, Chi Wanzhao nearly fell off the bed. She looked up and saw the embarrassment and anger in Kong Xiyan's eyes.

The atmosphere in the room turned awkward.

Yanyan, entirely oblivious, sauntered over and sat between them, meowing at Kong Xiyan.

Kong Xiyan looked away. Yanyan then rubbed against Chi Wanzhao and meowed.

Chi Wanzhao reached out, picked it up by the scruff, and set it on the floor.

Yanyan glared at her with its sapphire eyes, turned, and hopped away. When Kong Xiyan saw it jump onto the sofa, she pressed her lips together and asked, "Why—why did you kiss me just now?"

Chi Wanzhao's eyes followed hers to Yanyan, and the words that reached her lips took a turn instead. "You're very much alike."

"You and Yanyan."

"I couldn't help myself."

Kong Xiyan: ...

Three minutes later, Chi Wanzhao stood at the doorway with bedding in one arm and Yanyan in the other, while Kong Xiyan, in a tone mimicking Chi Wanzhao's calm and indifference—though her lips were swollen and her voice not quite steady—said, "President Chi, please take Yanyan, with its tender skin and fine fur, to the guest room for a pleasant night."

"Bang!"

The door shut.

Chi Wanzhao rubbed her nose with the hand holding Yanyan, looking a little deflated. Yanyan, oblivious, glared at the closed door.

"Meow!"