Chapter 31

Kong Xiyan arrived in City B at the end of September, and by the time she left, it was already early December. Chi Wanzhao was driving, while Kong Xiyan sat in the passenger seat, giving directions.

The village she had stayed in was called Changning Village. It was remote and steeped in history, inhabited mostly by the elderly, women, and children. Anyone with any strength had already left—some taking their children with them, others simply leaving without a word.

As a result, many left-behind children remained.

Changning Village was sparsely populated to begin with, nestled between two great mountains. It rarely saw a new face all year round. If it hadn't been for Wang Haining bringing her there, she would never have believed such a secluded place existed.

Kong Xiyan had initially planned to fly to Ping'an City and then transfer by car, since the transfer alone would take a full day.

But Chi Wanzhao insisted on driving to Ping'an City.

Though a highway connected City B and Ping'an City, the drive took six hours. And Chi Wanzhao hadn't touched a steering wheel in three years, so there was no way she could switch off with her.

Kong Xiyan sat in the car, looking woebegone.

The car's heater was on full blast, making her drowsy. Yanyan was curled up in her arms, purring contentedly. Chi Wanzhao glanced at her and said, "Sleep. I'll wake you when we arrive."

Kong Xiyan replied, "No need. The road's long—I'll keep you company."

Chi Wanzhao's face stiffened, her jaw tight, lips pressed into a thin line. "I don't want to talk."

Kong Xiyan: ...

Shut down by Chi Wanzhao, she pressed her lips together and fell silent.

A complex emotion flickered in Chi Wanzhao's bright eyes. The further they drove, the darker her expression became. After more than an hour, she suddenly slammed on the brakes. Kong Xiyan lurched forward, nearly dropping Yanyan!

"Wh-what's wrong?"

Kong Xiyan turned to Chi Wanzhao, her heart pounding. Chi Wanzhao looked at her, eyes deep, and asked, "Do you want to go back?"

"Yes."

Kong Xiyan didn't understand what had come over Chi Wanzhao all of a sudden. Thinking she might have changed her mind about going, Kong Xiyan hugged Yanyan and said, "Do you have something to do? Why don't you head back to City B, and I'll go alone?"

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of Yanyan."

"If..."

Before she could finish, Chi Wanzhao reached out and pulled her into an embrace.

The car was parked on the shoulder of the highway, hazard lights flashing. The two of them held each other, with a cat squeezed between them. Kong Xiyan, confused, patted Chi Wanzhao's shoulder and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Chi Wanzhao slowly released her. They pulled apart slightly, and she re-fastened her seatbelt, her expression gradually returning to calm. "Nothing."

"Then why..."

"I miss my mom."

Kong Xiyan: ...

So not only am I like Yanyan, I'm also like your mom!

I really can play any role!

Kong Xiyan grumbled inwardly, then gave a light snort and turned to look out the window. They had been driving for two hours since leaving City B, with about four more hours to reach Ping'an City.

Outside, the wind howled. Chi Wanzhao glanced at Kong Xiyan's delicate profile, then looked down, started the engine, and got back on the road.

It was past three in the afternoon when they reached Chang'an City. After getting off the highway, Chi Wanzhao immediately turned on the GPS navigation. Kong Xiyan's sense of direction wasn't great, and if they'd relied solely on her instructions, who knew where they might have ended up.

Though Kong Xiyan was indignant about Chi Wanzhao's comment, she had to admit—she was right.

Once off the highway, she was completely lost.

The roads looked the same, even had similar names. If she were left there alone, she probably wouldn't even make it out of the city proper.

Kong Xiyan directed them to the nearest town to Changning Village.

The further they drove into the countryside, the narrower the roads became, potholed and uneven. Kong Xiyan's body swayed with the car. She'd only had a few slices of bread for lunch, and now her stomach was churning. Her face turned pale.

Chi Wanzhao kept a close eye on her. Seeing her ashen complexion, she said, "It'll get dark soon. Why don't we find a place to stay for the night and set out again tomorrow?"

Kong Xiyan nodded helplessly, knowing that even if they made it to the nearest town by tonight, they still couldn't reach Changning Village.

Chi Wanzhao drove into a nearby town, searching four or five streets before finally finding a hotel—or rather, a motel.

It was tiny, with its sign hanging on the second floor. Chi Wanzhao considered looking for another hotel, but seeing Kong Xiyan's pale face, her heart ached.

She asked, "Are you okay? How about we stay here tonight?"

She pointed to the motel. Kong Xiyan didn't want to ride in the car any longer, so she nodded weakly. "Okay."

Chi Wanzhao helped Kong Xiyan out of the car. Yanyan sat in the passenger seat, staring with her blue eyes. Chi Wanzhao told her, "I'll come back for you in a bit."

"Meow!"

When Chi Wanzhao shut the door, Yanyan settled back on the passenger seat, raising her head to look out the window.

In the car, Kong Xiyan's stomach had been churning painfully, but once she got out and breathed in the fresh air, she felt much better. She walked slowly, calming her mind, taking deep breaths in and out. Only after repeating that three or four times did she feel a bit better.

Seeing the color gradually return to her face, Chi Wanzhao felt relieved.

*Breaking the Cocoon* was still airing. To avoid any unnecessary trouble, Kong Xiyan put on a mask and a hat before going upstairs, leaving only her bright, sparkling eyes exposed. Because of her earlier discomfort, those eyes glistened with a watery sheen, looking pitifully endearing.

Chi Wanzhao stared at her for a long time.

Kong Xiyan asked, "Am I okay? Can you still tell it's me?"

"No."

It was already dark out. Plus, Kong Xiyan's hat was large, and her long hair covered her face, so she wasn't easily recognizable.

Chi Wanzhao withdrew her gaze and looked up.

The small motel was on the second floor. They climbed a narrow staircase and reached a glass door at the top. The motel's name hung above the door—simple and crude.

Kong Xiyan pushed the door open and called out, "Is anyone here?"

No one answered after two calls. Chi Wanzhao frowned slightly, about to suggest finding another place when a woman's voice drifted over.

"Coming! Coming!"

"Someone's here!"

The owner, a middle-aged woman with a loud voice, came up to Kong Xiyan and spoke like firecrackers going off. "Two pretty ladies, sharing a room?"

Kong Xiyan said, "No, we're—"

Chi Wanzhao cut her off. "One room."

Kong Xiyan turned to look at her. Chi Wanzhao leaned close to her ear, speaking seriously, "Out here, one room is safer."

Safe?

Kong Xiyan glanced past her at the rooms behind them. They had wooden doors, and light was visible through the gaps under several of them. It did indeed seem unsafe.

She nodded, tacitly agreeing with Chi Wanzhao.

They booked one room, and Chi Wanzhao paid double, saying to the owner, "Please give us a better room."

The owner, looking like she understood, led them to the room at the very end.

The door opened to a fairly large room. The owner followed them in and said, "Look, this room has a TV, air conditioning, and a private bathroom. I usually don't rent it out. Since you girls are traveling together and it's not convenient, I'll let you have it."

Kong Xiyan nodded.

This room was indeed much better than the others. At least the bed was clean, there was no strange smell, and the air conditioner was a welcome bonus.

Chi Wanzhao hummed in agreement, exchanged a few pleasantries with the owner, and walked her out.

A little while later, she brought Yanyan up, carrying a takeout box of congee in her other hand.

Kong Xiyan stared at the steaming takeout curiously. "Where did you buy that?"

Chi Wanzhao pointed downstairs. "Down there."

Kong Xiyan: "How did you know they sold it there?" Did this woman notice everything around her at all times?

Chi Wanzhao saw her incredulous expression and smirked. "The owner told me."

Kong Xiyan: ...

Indeed, money makes the world go round.

After eating some of the hot congee, Kong Xiyan fed Yanyan some cat food. She'd suspected they wouldn't reach Changning Village easily, so she'd packed the cat food—and it came in handy.

Chi Wanzhao watched her take care of Yanyan, a soft look in her eyes. "You really like cats?"

Kong Xiyan tilted her head, watching Yanyan eat. Her hand rested on Yanyan's neck. "Mm, I have since I was young."

"I used to have one who was super aloof. No matter how you teased him, he'd just give you a sidelong glance."

"Like this."

She mimicked a sideways glare at Chi Wanzhao. It didn't make Chi Wanzhao laugh, but she laughed herself. Then her smile faded. "He was so naughty, always running and jumping around."

A trace of melancholy touched her brow. Chi Wanzhao didn't ask what had happened to that cat. She simply said, "And what do you think of Yanyan?"

"Yanyan?"

Kong Xiyan's hand was still on Yanyan's head. "Yanyan's great. So obedient and smart. She's like a little heart-warmer."

That was why, despite repeatedly threatening to punish her, she'd never had the heart to go through with it.

She was just too adorable.

Thinking about it, she laughed. "CEO Chi, I think after we get divorced, I'll definitely miss Yanyan."

Chi Wanzhao's gentle eyes clouded over, a cold severity creeping in. Her voice was flat. "Is that so?"

Kong Xiyan nodded. "Mm."

—Then let's not get divorced.

Chi Wanzhao held those words on the tip of her tongue, but in the end, she didn't say them. She just stood up, opened her suitcase, took out two pairs of cotton pajamas, and went into the bathroom.

Kong Xiyan stayed crouched by Yanyan, watching her lick her paws contentedly after eating her fill, then scooped her into her arms.

Suddenly, her phone rang from her bag. She hurried over to fetch it and saw Wang Haining's name on the caller ID.

"Hello, Haining."

Wang Haining's voice was concerned. "Where are you now?"

Kong Xiyan paused to think about her location, then replied hesitantly, "Not far now. But it's too late tonight to get there. I'll be back tomorrow."

Knowing she was safe, Wang Haining relaxed and gave her a few bits of advice. Kong Xiyan chuckled, reassuring her. "Okay."

"I know."

"I will, don't worry."

"I'm not a kid anymore."

"Really, really."

Her tone was light, as if she were chatting with an old friend. The bathroom door wasn't soundproof, and Chi Wanzhao stood still on the other side, her hand on the door handle, not turning it for a long time.

Remembering how the woman in front of her always seemed eager to draw a firm line between them, she felt a tightness in her chest.

Her expression darkened.

Outside, Kong Xiyan ended the call quickly. She looked toward the bathroom, puzzled—Chi Wanzhao had been in there for quite a while.

Just as she was about to knock, Chi Wanzhao opened the door, coming face-to-face with her. Kong Xiyan clutched her phone, feeling a bit awkward.

She came up with a lame excuse. "Are you done? I... I need to pee."

Chi Wanzhao: ...

Kong Xiyan scurried into the bathroom, wishing she could slap herself twice. What a stupid thing to say!

She dawdled in the bathroom for ages, then ran out a few minutes later to grab her pajamas and dash back in. Yanyan found her running back and forth amusing and chased after her, pawing at the bathroom door once it was shut.

Worried the noise might be noticeable, Chi Wanzhao picked up Yanyan and took her to the bed first.

When Kong Xiyan emerged from the bathroom, she saw Chi Wanzhao leaning against the headboard. This time, she wasn't reading a book but working on her tablet. Her fingers moved quickly across the screen, her expression serious and focused.

Even Yanyan seemed to catch the mood, sitting obediently by the bed, her long tail swishing occasionally.

Half an hour later, Kong Xiyan finished her skincare routine and got into bed.

The bed here wasn't as spacious as the one in the apartment, and there was only one blanket. Even lying on her side, she took up half the space.

Making room wasn't easy.

Although the room had air conditioning, Chi Wanzhao hadn't turned it on, and Kong Xiyan didn't feel comfortable doing so either. So she simply got into bed.

The cold blanket and sheets made her shiver.

Chi Wanzhao glanced at her from the corner of her eye, then sat up. "Come sleep on my side."

Kong Xiyan looked baffled. "What?"

Chi Wanzhao pointed to the socket on her side. "My laptop needs charging."

"Oh, okay."

Kong Xiyan got out of bed and scurried over to Chi Wanzhao's side. Once the spot was free, she lifted the covers and slipped in. Unlike the icy cold of before, this half of the bed was so warm it made her pores open.

Yanyan also slipped under the covers, settling on the outer edge. Worried she might fall off, Kong Xiyan shifted, inadvertently pressing her back against Chi Wanzhao's waist.

Chi Wanzhao remained lying down. Kong Xiyan's back pressed against her waist and thighs. Her hand holding the tablet trembled slightly, her gaze deep.

After a while, when Kong Xiyan showed no sign of moving, she continued working.

She was still handling Assistant Zhou's documents past midnight. Kong Xiyan had long since fallen into deep sleep, her breathing steady. Yanyan was curled by the pillow, her ear tips twitching occasionally.

Chi Wanzhao set the tablet aside. The sound startled Yanyan, who shot her head up. Seeing it was Chi Wanzhao, she settled back down.

The room wasn't as warm as the apartment.

Sleeping, Kong Xiyan kept edging closer to Chi Wanzhao. She ran cold, and though Chi Wanzhao had been brewing soups to warm her up, Kong Xiyan's constitution was weak. In winter, her hands and feet were icy.

Frighteningly so.

Chi Wanzhao warmed her own hands for a while until they were toasty, then took Kong Xiyan's hands in hers. In the darkness, her eyes glistened.

This bed was a bit too narrow. Kong Xiyan was sleeping on her side, leaving a small gap. Chi Wanzhao slipped her arm around her shoulder and, with a gentle motion, turned Kong Xiyan, who had been facing away, toward her.

They were face to face.

Kong Xiyan's soft breaths brushed against Chi Wanzhao's chest. It felt ticklish. Chi Wanzhao eased back slightly, looking down at the woman in her arms.

No lights—just faint moonlight.

Not bright, but enough to make out her features.

Even in the shadows, one could see the delicate lines of her face. Chi Wanzhao's fingers traced along Kong Xiyan's soft cheek, thinking of a taste she had recently sampled, and her throat went dry.

Deep-seated desires stirred quietly within her.

Kong Xiyan, feeling uncomfortable from the touch, swatted her hand away and buried her face deeper into Chi Wanzhao's chest, nuzzling against her braless breast.

So soft.

Soft enough that she couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh.

Kong Xiyan was dreaming. In the dream, she'd bought a stick of cotton candy, sweet and fragrant, and she wanted nothing more than to take a bite.

So she bit down!

"Hiss!"

Chi Wanzhao cried out in pain, a sharp sting shooting from her chest straight to her head. The sound roused Kong Xiyan, who blinked groggily, reached for the bedside lamp, and flicked it on.

Chi Wanzhao's pajamas had two buttons undone, revealing a broad expanse of pale skin, and just below her chest, a bright red mark.

Kong Xiyan swallowed hard. That was a bite mark.

It matched the dream.

That was her bite mark.

The atmosphere in the room grew awkward. Kong Xiyan's cheeks flushed. She scratched her head, explaining, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to."

Chi Wanzhao calmly buttoned up, her expression unruffled. "If Miss Kong had done that on purpose, that would be terrifying."

Kong Xiyan: ...