Chapter 35

Kong Xiyan and Chi Wanzhao played with the children until almost lunchtime. It wasn't until Chen Junshan came over to call Yuanyuan home for lunch that everyone gradually dispersed.

Once the playground was empty, Kong Xiyan flopped down onto a patch of withered grass, her hair messy and face dusted with dirt, completely without poise.

Chi Wanzhao, by contrast, fared better.

Perhaps it was her upbringing; even when exhausted, she didn't collapse. Instead, she sat upright with a straight back, her cool, aloof features taking on a refined air.

At noon, the sun hung high, and though they weren't wearing jackets, they didn't feel cold. Kong Xiyan propped herself up from behind, gazing at the sky, but her arms gave way and she fell backward, lying flat on the playground.

It had been a long time since she'd felt this carefree.

In City B, even when she returned to the apartment, she never truly relaxed, always on guard. Now, she was finally completely at ease.

Closing her eyes, she breathed in the cold air mingled with the fragrance of soil. Dried grass brushed against her cheek, tickling lightly. Smiling, she flicked it away with her fingers, utterly content.

Chi Wanzhao turned her head to watch her movements.

Kong Xiyan lay flat on her back, belly flat, chest rising and falling. From their game of soccer, her cheeks were flushed pink, her lips slightly parted. With her eyes closed, her lashes appeared long and curled, each distinct.

Chi Wanzhao watched until a gust of wind blew; then she shifted, blocking the cold air.

It was midwinter, so few insects were about, and Kong Xiyan, lying on the sun-warmed dried grass, looked utterly comfortable. She raised one hand above her closed eyes as if shielding them from the sun.

Chi Wanzhao leaned closer, propping herself up with her arm, and turned her body to block some of the sunlight.

Kong Xiyan lowered her hand again.

In a soft voice, she mumbled, "CEO Chi, what do you think of this place? Quite different from what you imagined, isn't it?"

The first time she'd come here, she'd been truly stunned. She hadn't grown up pampered, but she'd always lived in the city, where entertainment venues, street food, and high-rises were everywhere, one after another.

Even after becoming famous, she'd only ever mingled with high society.

She'd never imagined such a remote place existed.

Nor had she imagined she'd come to love it so deeply.

Hearing Kong Xiyan's question, Chi Wanzhao lowered her head, her gaze tender. "It's lovely."

She was a woman of few words, and Kong Xiyan thought nothing of it. Still with eyes closed, she murmured, "Actually, it's really nice here. They—"

Chi Wanzhao looked down at her chattering lips. They were bare of lipstick and pink. When Kong Xiyan had tugged at the grass earlier, a tiny blade had fallen onto her chin, unnoticed. The piece of straw wiggled up and down as she talked.

She looked utterly ridiculous.

Chi Wanzhao gave a soft laugh. She was about to lean over to remove it, but when her fingertips touched Kong Xiyan's chin, Kong Xiyan opened her eyes and frowned. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

She plucked the grass free and held it up before Kong Xiyan. "Taking this off for you."

Kong Xiyan looked at the face so close to hers and retreated, the panic gradually subsiding from her eyes. Softly, she said, "Oh, thanks."

Chi Wanzhao curved her lips slightly and said gently, "What? Miss Kong disappointed?"

Kong Xiyan pressed her lips together. "No."

Chi Wanzhao rose, patting grass off her bottom. "Disappointment won't help. I'm certainly not about to do anything with you here."

Kong Xiyan gritted her teeth. "Shut up!"

As soon as she said it, she froze.

It seemed she'd grown bold. She was actually daring to snap at Chi Wanzhao!

Unbelievable.

Chi Wanzhao's bright eyes fixed on her face, but she said nothing, just stared.

From the distance, Wang Haining called out, "Xiyan! Time to go back!"

"Coming!"

Kong Xiyan jumped to her feet, brushing off the grass as she prepared to leave. Chi Wanzhao grabbed her wrist. "Don't move."

"W-what?"

Kong Xiyan didn't dare meet her eyes and deliberately looked away. Chi Wanzhao sighed, moved behind her, extended a hand, and swatted her on the butt.

.

.

.

After a few swats, seeing no more grass remained, Chi Wanzhao said, "Let's go."

Kong Xiyan was stunned for a few seconds. "Okay."

Then she followed Chi Wanzhao and headed home.

Not a single word passed between them on the road, and the atmosphere was unusually heavy. Wang Haining walked ahead, steps quick. Kong Xiyan wanted to catch up, but thought it might not be right to leave Chi Wanzhao alone, so she walked alongside her awkwardly.

When they reached the doorstep, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Wang Haining had made lunch. Back when they'd lived together, Wang Haining did most of the cooking while she handled other chores, and she'd never thought twice about it. But after entering the house, Chi Wanzhao frowned at the lavish spread on the table.

She didn't say anything, just followed Kong Xiyan and sat down on a stool.

Yanyan also emerged from the room, leaping onto a wooden stool and swishing her big tail.

Seeing her, Kong Xiyan remembered she hadn't made lunch for her yet. With an apologetic face, she said, "Yanyan, we'll make it after we eat, okay?"

Yanyan fixed her sapphire eyes on Kong Xiyan and meowed.

Wang Haining handed a bowl of rice to Kong Xiyan, then bent down to Yanyan. "Her name is Yanyan?"

Kong Xiyan hummed in assent. "CEO Chi's cat."

Wang Haining had been about to touch the cat but restrained herself, her fingers slowly curling. She stood up and said, "Eat first. I'll go make some soup."

"Don't bother."

Kong Xiyan quickly stood and pulled her back. "There's already so much food. We can't finish it. Don't waste anything."

Hearing that, Wang Haining didn't look at her. Instead, she turned her head toward Chi Wanzhao. "Then you two go ahead. I'll go next door and have a look."

Kong Xiyan frowned. "Look at what?"

Chi Wanzhao spoke in an indifferent tone. "Sit down and eat with us."

She didn't glance at Wang Haining either. After speaking, her face tensed and lips pressed together. Though her expression seemed calm, a sharp edge showed in her brows and eyes. Wang Haining heard the words, turned to look at her, and gave a sigh. "Alright, let's all eat together."

Kong Xiyan cast a puzzled glance between her and Wang Haining, then shook her head and chose to focus on her meal.

After lunch, Chi Wanzhao washed the dishes, Kong Xiyan prepared food for Yanyan, and Wang Haining returned to her room for a nap.

In the cramped kitchen, Chi Wanzhao placed the cleaned dishes in the wooden rack and set the chopsticks in order. Kong Xiyan finished making the cat food but didn't leave; she stood behind her. When Chi Wanzhao turned around, she asked, "CEO Chi, do you not like Haining?"

It wasn't that she was being oversensitive; it was just that Chi Wanzhao's hostility toward Haining was too obvious. She'd noticed it the night before but hadn't paid it much mind.

But the midday scene had made it all too clear.

Chi Wanzhao washed her hands and shook them dry. Seeing Kong Xiyan staring at her, she furrowed her brows slightly, her beautiful eyes open and honest. "It's not that I dislike her."

Nor was it that she liked her.

She silently added that in her heart.

Actually, she knew that what had happened with Chi Chao wasn't Wang Haining's fault. She'd been deceived too, and could even be considered innocent.

But every time she saw those eyes, so similar to Chi Chao's, she couldn't help misplace her anger.

That's what led to this situation.

Kong Xiyan clearly didn't believe her. "Impossible. I—"

Chi Wanzhao's tone gradually cooled. "Miss Kong."

"If you were truly that good at judging people, you wouldn't have been tricked three years ago."

Kong Xiyan fell silent immediately.

Chi Wanzhao passed her, her expression cold.

In the main hall, Yanyan was biting her tail and waiting for food. When she saw Chi Wanzhao emerge from inside, she hopped over to her leg, raised her head, and meowed a couple of times.

Chi Wanzhao didn't even look at her, just walked into the room.

A moment later, Kong Xiyan emerged from the kitchen. She lifted Yanyan onto the table, placed a small bowl before her, and watched her eat with gusto, which slightly eased the frustration building in her chest.

After seeing to Yanyan, Kong Xiyan didn't return to her room. She sat in the main hall for quite a while, only snapping out of it when Wang Haining, who had stepped out to pour some water, spotted her and asked what she was doing.

Yanyan had long since finished eating and was lying asleep on the table.

An empty bowl sat in front of Kong Xiyan.

At Wang Haining's words, she smiled and picked up the empty bowl. "Nothing. Let me wash this."

Wang Haining followed behind, looking at her slender frame. "Want to talk?"

Kong Xiyan set the bowl down and followed her into her room.

Wang Haining's room was filled with books, a writing desk, and a stack of exercise books—the standard décor of a teacher's bedroom. She placed a faded white porcelain cup on the table and turned to Kong Xiyan. "Tell me, what's really going on between you and her?"

Kong Xiyan originally hadn't planned to talk about any of this.

Good or bad, it was her choice, and she would bear it.

But Wang Haining meant something different to her than other people. Since she asked, she didn't want to hide it, so she briefly recounted what happened three years ago and what had recently transpired with Chi Wanzhao.

After hearing it all, Wang Haining frowned. "Why didn't you ever tell me any of this in all these three years?"

Kong Xiyan shook her head. "I don't know."

"Maybe I just didn't want to talk about it."

"And you didn't ask."

Having lived together for three years, Wang Haining had long since come to think of Kong Xiyan as family. When she'd first met her by the sea, she'd thought she looked pitiable, just like herself. Later, she'd looked up some things online, and all of it had been unfavorable to Kong Xiyan.

There were photos and press conferences, solid evidence.

Even she had almost believed it.

As for why she hadn't believed it fully—it was probably because, through their growing bond, she'd come to understand what kind of person Kong Xiyan was. She could never have done something like that.

Yet she'd been afraid it might affect Kong Xiyan, so she'd never asked.

She'd never imagined there was so much more behind the story.

Now, after listening to her, Wang Haining realized she didn't truly know Kong Xiyan all that well.

At least not her past.

The room was quiet. Wang Haining thought for a moment, then asked, "So what are you going to do about her?"

"What else can I do?"

"The only way I can turn things around now is by relying on her."

"Besides, she's never forced me to do anything. Trading three years for everything I lost is a fair exchange."

Wang Haining sighed and wanted to hug her by the shoulders, but just as she reached out, a knock came at the door. Wang Haining patted her on the shoulder and went to open it. Standing outside was Chi Wanzhao, expression calm. "Miss Kong, your phone is ringing."

Kong Xiyan quickly slipped past them and went into her room. Wang Haining gave Chi Wanzhao a long look, and only after she too went inside did she close the door.

In the room, Kong Xiyan's phone sat on the bed. She assumed Tong Yue was looking for her, but as she unlocked the screen, she saw a text message.

The sender was Chi Wanzhao.

She opened it.

It contained only a single line—five words.

—I'm sorry about earlier.

The frustration in Kong Xiyan's chest vanished in an instant. She suppressed the upturn of her lips and mimicked Chi Wanzhao's cool, indifferent look. "CEO Chi, what do you mean by this?"

Chi Wanzhao was even more straightforward than before. "Nothing. I was just worried that my words might upset you, and that you might take it out on Yanyan."

Kong Xiyan: ...

Even though that's what Chi Wanzhao said, Kong Xiyan still graciously forgave her. In fact, the two of them even ended up lying on the same bed for their afternoon nap. Staring at the bulb dangling overhead, she asked, "CEO Chi, are you still not going to give me the photos?"

These past couple of days together had gradually eased her earlier trepidation, and she was more friendly with Chi Wanzhao now.

She spoke much more casually.

Chi Wanzhao thought for a moment. "It's not time yet."

Kong Xiyan turned her head to look at her. "Not time for what?"

Chi Wanzhao lay on her back, her profile exquisite, a glimmer in her eyes. "It's not yet time to reel in the net."

Kong Xiyan didn't ask further.

After the nap, the children called them outside to play again. Though the kids all liked Wang Haining, she was still their teacher and could be strict at times, so they were somewhat afraid of her and thus didn't like her as much as they did Kong Xiyan.

After a whole morning of soccer, the kids found Chi Wanzhao easy to get along with too, so they invited her along as well.

They passed by the Chen family home, where Chen Junshan was braiding Chen Yuan's hair. Before he could finish, Chen Yuan tried to run off. Kong Xiyan quickly sent her back. A neighbor of the Chen family saw them and laughed. "Hey, that Yuanyuan is a real wild child."

Kong Xiyan replied, "Isn't that the truth? Brother Shan has his work cut out for him."

The neighbor beamed. "That's why the whole village has been telling Shan to find a wife. And wouldn't you know, Shan's engagement is set for tomorrow."

Engagement?

Kong Xiyan looked up at the Chen house. No wonder something had felt off since yesterday. Now that she thought about it, the place was too clean.

The whole house had recently been spruced up, and some doors even had double happiness characters pasted on them. She'd been in a hurry yesterday and hadn't paid it much mind. So Brother Shan was getting engaged tomorrow.

Chen Junshan smiled bashfully. "Auntie, please don't say any more."

Kong Xiyan tilted her head at him. "Is Brother Shan feeling shy?"

The aunt burst out laughing.

As they were about to leave with Yuanyuan, Chen Junshan asked, "Teacher Kong, if you're not busy tomorrow, come over for a meal. Everyone in the village knows each other."

"Oh, and you can bring your wife along too."

After a whole morning of the children's efforts, there wasn't a soul in the village who didn't know that Kong Xiyan and Chi Wanzhao were a couple. Chen Junshan added a complaint: "Teacher Kong, yesterday you never told me she was your wife. Did I do anything embarrassing?"

Kong Xiyan had already been knocked pink by Chen Junshan's repeated calls of "your wife." She shook her head insistently. "No, no, no. Brother Shan's been perfectly fine."

Only then did Chen Junshan relax. "Good. So tomorrow, remember to bring your wife along for lunch."

Kong Xiyan met Chi Wanzhao's gaze, pulling at the corners of her mouth. "I'll... try."

Chen Yuan was eager to leave, so Chen Junshan didn't keep chatting with Kong Xiyan and let them go.

They hadn't even exited the Chen family's yard before Chi Wanzhao unhurriedly said, "Wife?"

Kong Xiyan's scalp tingled. "It's just them teasing. Don't take it seriously."

Chi Wanzhao laughed softly without replying, following behind a pack of children.

Because it was winter, outdoor activities were limited. They'd already played soccer that morning and didn't feel like doing it again, so Kong Xiyan organized a jump rope contest—boys versus girls. She oversaw the girls, and Chi Wanzhao took charge of the boys.

Those kids had boundless energy, whipping the ropes around until dust soared into the air, turning the whole place into a dusty haze.

They finally dispersed near dusk. Kong Xiyan felt like her bones were coming apart. As she gathered up the supplies, she said to Chi Wanzhao, "Kids are so exhausting."

Chi Wanzhao watched her aching back and lowered her gaze. "Then we won't have kids."

Kong Xiyan took the bait. "No kids—sounds good—" Then she caught herself and stammered, "CEO Chi sure knows how to joke."

Chi Wanzhao didn't contradict her, simply retracting her gaze.

On their way home, Wang Haining was collecting laundry. Seeing them return together, she paused, conflicted, and hovered nearby for a moment before calling out, "Xiyan."

Kong Xiyan walked over. "What's up?"

Wang Haining put the clothes in Kong Xiyan's hands and pointed at the clothesline. "Help me take these in, will you?"

Kong Xiyan nodded. "Sure."

After speaking with Kong Xiyan, Wang Haining noticed Chi Wanzhao had already gone inside, so she quickly followed, catching up as Chi Wanzhao was about to enter her room. "CEO Chi."

Chi Wanzhao turned to meet Wang Haining's eyes.

"What is it?"

She asked coolly, jaw tense.

Wang Haining glanced at Kong Xiyan, still outside pulling down laundry, and said, "CEO Chi, if you're getting close to Xiyan just to get back at me, you needn't bother."

"I'm the one you want revenge on. Take it out on me. Xiyan doesn't know anything."

Chi Wanzhao's eyes darkened at her words, but the taut lines of her profile softened slightly, a touch of sharpness fading from her brow. Still, the look she gave was as intense as ever. She gave a short laugh, her lips parting to say, "Miss Wang didn't take up screenwriting in the entertainment industry."

"What a shame."

Wang Haining: ...