Chapter 95

Kong Xiyan's conversation with Guan Xiaoying wasn't exactly pleasant. Guan Xiaoying kept trying to persuade her to join Xinhui, but Kong Xiyan refused, explaining that her decision to stay at Jingyan wasn't just about the contract—there were other reasons.

Guan Xiaoying lowered her eyes, then said, "Xiyan, is it because of Xiaofan that you haven't been in touch with me?"

Kong Xiyan's gaze turned cold, though her expression remained neutral. "No, it has nothing to do with the past."

Guan Xiaoying nodded faintly. "That's good. Xiaofan's death was an accident; no one could have predicted it. I don't want you to carry that burden forever, or let it come between our friendship."

Kong Xiyan looked at Guan Xiaoying. The sunlight slanted across her profile, too glaring for her to read the other woman's expression.

Guan Xiaoying continued after a pause, "Do you know why I've always wanted you to join Xinhui?"

"Do you remember what Xiaofan said before he passed?"

"He said he hoped we'd take care of each other."

"But it's been three years, and you've never once come to find me."

Guan Xiaoying curled her lips into a smile that wasn't quite a smile, her expression desolate.

Kong Xiyan turned to look at her, taking a long moment before replying, "I've never forgotten what Xiaofan said."

Guan Xiaoying turned to face Kong Xiyan without revealing any emotion, letting out a breath. "You don't need to keep those things on your mind all the time."

Kong Xiyan made no response.

A strange glint flickered in Guan Xiaoying's eyes. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. The cold wind swept by, lending her voice a chill as she spoke, "Alright, I should get going. Don't stay out in the wind—you're not fully recovered, and you shouldn't catch a cold."

Kong Xiyan nodded slightly. "Okay, I understand."

Guan Xiaoying lowered her gaze. "Xiyan, I can understand if you don't want to come to Xinhui. But I hope you'll give me a chance to take care of you."

"Just consider it—allowing me to fulfill Xiaofan's last wish."

Kong Xiyan's pupils contracted. A gust of wind made her sway, but she clenched her jaw and stood straight, her expression conflicted. "Xiaoying..."

Guan Xiaoying cut her off. "Alright, don't say anything more to turn me down. Call me when you've made up your mind."

"I'll be waiting for you anytime."

With that, she stepped forward and gave Kong Xiyan a brief hug, then smiled, turned, and said goodbye.

Kong Xiyan watched her figure grow more distant. Her fingers pinched the edge of her hospital gown, and she shut her eyes, not opening them again for a long while.

When Chi Wanzhao found Kong Xiyan, she was sitting alone in the hospital pavilion, exposed to the wind on all sides. The breeze lifted a few strands of hair from beneath her hat and rustled the hem of her clothes. Chi Wanzhao walked in, pressed close behind her, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Kong Xiyan was still deep in thought; being interrupted by Chi Wanzhao startled her briefly. Then she blinked. "You're back."

"Oh, right—Chi Xuan..."

Chi Wanzhao pointed toward the hospital. "I had her head home first."

Kong Xiyan nodded. "Sorry, I didn't get to keep her company properly."

Chi Wanzhao sat down beside her, draped an arm over her shoulder, and drew her into an embrace, speaking slowly. "Xiao Xuan said she ran into an old friend just now."

Kong Xiyan took Chi Wanzhao's hand, rubbing her fingertips slowly against the palm. Her voice was weak. "Mm."

Clearly, she didn't want to talk about it.

Chi Wanzhao lifted her hand to her lips and kissed it.

Kong Xiyan tried to pull back, but Chi Wanzhao held on firmly, her fingertips warm.

Watching Chi Wanzhao's actions, Kong Xiyan spoke up. "Can I ask you something?"

Chi Wanzhao nodded. "What is it?"

Kong Xiyan asked, "If the truth you've been searching for would leave you battered and bruised, would you still keep searching?"

Chi Wanzhao's delicate brows drew together. She turned to give Kong Xiyan a long, searching look. "Yes."

"For me, knowing the truth is a kind of release."

Kong Xiyan lowered her eyes.

Yes.

Knowing the truth was a kind of release.

She let out a sigh. Chi Wanzhao watched her. "What's wrong?"

Kong Xiyan pressed her lips together and shook her head. "Let's go. I'm a bit tired; I want to go back and rest."

Chi Wanzhao helped her to her feet.

Back in the ward, Kong Xiyan pulled out her phone and sent Tong Yue a message.

—Sister Tong, any update on that matter I asked you to look into?

The phone buzzed.

Kong Xiyan's heart quickened. She almost didn't dare look at the phone.

It wasn't until she was lying on the hospital bed that she took out her phone to check.

Tong Yue had replied.

—Not yet. I should have news within the next couple of days.

Kong Xiyan turned off the screen and let out a breath.

She took off her jacket and lay down, drifting off to sleep before long. Chi Wanzhao sat beside her, glancing at her phone. Her fingers reached out but curled back. A faint sigh sounded in the ward, and soon another person joined her on the bed.

Chi Wanzhao drew Kong Xiyan into her arms, lowered her head, and kissed the top of her head. Her bright eyes were dark and luminous.

Kong Xiyan's even breathing came to her ears. Chi Wanzhao's heart felt warm, her body relaxed, and she soon closed her eyes as well.

Outside the ward, a nurse carrying a tray of gauze for changing dressings knocked on the door. No response. It seemed no one was inside. With a slight frown, she opened the door and saw the two resting on the bed, then quietly slipped out again.

Outside the window, the cold wind howled, carrying a piercing chill that made one's scalp tingle.

Passersby hurried along the street, clutching the collars of their cotton coats tightly for fear of the wind sneaking in, heads bowed low.

Sometimes a young couple would hurry by, huddled together.

Winter.

It was the season made for keeping each other warm.

...

Kong Xiyan slept until evening, when a nurse woke her to change her dressings. She scanned the room but didn't see Chi Wanzhao anywhere, and her brows knitted.

The nurse deftly redressed the wound and, noticing her expression, asked, "I'm sorry, Miss Kong—did I hurt you just now?"

Kong Xiyan looked up with a faint smile. "No, thank you."

The nurse breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and left with the tray.

The ward was silent. Kong Xiyan reached for her phone to call Chi Wanzhao, but bit her lip and set it back on the nightstand instead. She got out of bed and walked to the window, looking down.

Outside, only the cold wind and fallen leaves—not a person in sight, let alone a ghost.

Kong Xiyan pouted and lowered her gaze.

Just as she was about to cave and grab her phone again, it struck her.

Since when had she grown so accustomed to seeing Chi Wanzhao the moment she opened her eyes?

And why, when that person wasn't at her side, did she feel so restless?

Kong Xiyan gave her head a little tap and put the phone down, heading for the bathroom.

No sooner had she pushed the door open than she saw Chi Wanzhao inside, wrapped in a towel, looking back at her.

Just out of the shower, Chi Wanzhao's skin was flushed pink. The towel was wrapped from under her arms, leaving her pale arms, rounded shoulders, and slender neck bare. Her long hair was gathered up in a white towel, with a few strands of inky black hair still damp, clinging to her fair skin and disappearing into the towel.

It was a beautiful scene—a woman fresh from her bath.

Kong Xiyan unconsciously stared, dumbstruck, until Chi Wanzhao gave a light cough. "What is it?"

The moment she spoke, Kong Xiyan slammed the bathroom door shut with a bang!

Chi Wanzhao's face showed surprise.

Kong Xiyan hurriedly smoothed her hair with her hands and straightened her clothes. Actually, the nurse had brushed her hair during the dressing change, so it wasn't messy. But all Kong Xiyan could envision was herself with bird's-nest hair, rumpled clothes, and a greasy face.

She went to the coffee table, grabbed a tissue to dab at her face, tossed it in the trash, and only then reopened the door.

She smiled with composure.

"Took a shower, huh."

Chi Wanzhao, noting her stiff expression, chuckled. "Come here. I'll wipe you down with some water."

Kong Xiyan's face instantly flushed crimson. "No need, I can manage myself."

Chi Wanzhao said, "But the doctor..."

Kong Xiyan pushed her out the door. "It's fine. The doctor only said to keep the wound from touching water. As long as I don't wash my hair, I'll be fine."

When she saw Chi Wanzhao about to speak again, Kong Xiyan simply closed the bathroom door.

Standing outside, Chi Wanzhao knocked on the door.

Kong Xiyan: "It's okay! I can handle it!"

Chi Wanzhao: "Hand me my underwear."

Kong Xiyan: ...

After a moment, Kong Xiyan's slender wrist reached out with the underwear. Chi Wanzhao took it and gave the back of her hand a playful pinch. Kong Xiyan yanked her hand back instantly, adding a couple of muttered complaints.

It was the familiar Kong-style cursing that Chi Wanzhao knew well.

She bit back a smile and stepped away from the bathroom.

After her shower, Kong Xiyan emerged to find Chi Wanzhao sitting in front of the TV watching the news. She still hadn't put on any clothes, just wrapped in that towel. The flush on her skin had faded, making it look even fairer.

Her dark hair lay spread over the white towel, an arresting sight.

Kong Xiyan stood there staring, and it was only the ring of her phone that snapped her out of it.

Out of the corner of her eye, Chi Wanzhao watched her hurry over to the nightstand to grab the phone.

She answered.

"Hello."

"Haining?"

Wang Haining was feeding Yanyan at that moment. On hearing Kong Xiyan's voice, she asked, "Xiyan, is President Chi there with you?"

Chi Wanzhao? Kong Xiyan's gaze flicked to Chi Wanzhao, who was sitting on the sofa. "Mm," she said. "She's here."

Wang Haining said, "There's something I'd like to ask her."

Kong Xiyan replied quickly, "Alright, just a moment."

With that, she walked over to Chi Wanzhao and handed her the phone. "Haining's on the line."

Chi Wanzhao's brows knitted slightly. She took the phone and rose, walking over to the window. "Speaking."

On the other end, Yanyan's meows came through. Wang Haining paused before saying, "I heard from Xiyan that you're planning a trip back to Country A after the New Year."

Chi Wanzhao lowered her eyes. "Mm."

Wang Haining: "I'd like to go with you all."

Surprise flickered in Chi Wanzhao's eyes, but she quickly recovered. "Alright, got it. I'll have Zhou Sheng arrange it."

Wang Haining pressed her lips together. "Thank you."

Chi Wanzhao: "You're welcome."

She hung up.

Kong Xiyan remained seated on the sofa, looking up to ask, "What did Haining want to talk to you about?"

Chi Wanzhao gave her a sidelong glance. "Nothing much. She just asked what soup she should make for you tomorrow."

Kong Xiyan stared at her profile. "And what did you tell her?"

Chi Wanzhao looked down. "I said up to her—since they'd all taste the same anyway, neither of us can cook well."

Kong Xiyan: ...