Chapter 36

Wang Haining didn't understand what Chi Wanzhao meant and wanted to ask more, but Kong Xiyan had already come in carrying the clothes, so she fell silent.

She still made dinner, with Kong Xiyan heating water in a large pot for a bath nearby.

Seeing Kong Xiyan seated on a stool feeding the fire, Wang Haining cleared her throat and asked, "Xiyan, what do you think of CEO Chi?"

Kong Xiyan was adding firewood and, without looking up, replied, "She's nice. Why?"

"No reason."

Wang Haining lifted the lid of the big pot, skimmed off the white foam from the cooked porridge, and dumped it away. Then she set down the lid, sighed, and left the kitchen.

Chi Wanzhao was standing outside with Yanyan in her arms.

Their eyes met. Chi Wanzhao lowered her gaze and walked past her into the kitchen with a cold expression.

Kong Xiyan had just arranged the firewood. Her small face was flushed red by the flames, like a ripe apple, looking quite appetizing.

A few electric appliances sat unused in the kitchen, probably having been untouched for a long time. After entering, Chi Wanzhao set down Yanyan and asked, "Need any help?"

Kong Xiyan looked up. "No, go on out. Wait until I—"

Chi Wanzhao walked straight over, crouched down next to her, and interrupted, "Let me help."

In the firelight, her bright eyes gleamed, her gaze intense.

Kong Xiyan swallowed back the refusal on her lips and said after a pause, "All right."

Chi Wanzhao had never encountered such things before, never even lit a fire. Though her expression remained collected, she instinctively shrank back when the flames burst out.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

The fire blazed like a little stove, warm and cozy.

Red light cast over both of them.

Before long, Chi Wanzhao noticed the flames, which had been burning vigorously, beginning to die down. She picked up an arm-thick log and shoved it in.

The fire went out.

Unable to help herself, she mimicked Kong Xiyan and blew on it, but nothing happened. Chi Wanzhao pressed her lips together, a dark look settling on her face. Seeing her brows knitted in frustration, Kong Xiyan, amid her own busy work, hurried over with a laugh. "What's wrong?"

Chi Wanzhao looked up to meet her eyes, then turned away. "Nothing."

Kong Xiyan needed only a glance to know what had happened. With a chuckle, she said, "I didn't think there was anything CEO Chi couldn't do."

Chi Wanzhao's already cold face grew even more sullen.

Kong Xiyan didn't tease her further. She took some dry grass from the side, placed it beneath the firewood, blew gently, then turned to Chi Wanzhao. "Like this."

Chi Wanzhao leaned in. Just as Kong Xiyan turned her head, her lips brushed against the corner of Chi Wanzhao's mouth. She stared, frozen for a few seconds, wide-eyed. Flames suddenly shot up from the dry grass, and Chi Wanzhao quickly pulled her into an embrace, burying her head against her chest.

When Wang Haining entered the kitchen, the two were huddled together by the fire, embracing.

She cleared her throat. Kong Xiyan instantly broke free from Chi Wanzhao's arms and left without a word.

Wang Haining stared at her retreating figure with cold eyes and then said, "CEO Chi, I've heard you and Xiyan are only bound by a contract. I hope you know your limits."

Chi Wanzhao masked the tenderness in her eyes, her gaze sharpening as she looked up at Wang Haining. "May I ask by what right Miss Wang speaks to me like that?"

Wang Haining took a breath, her profile bearing a faint resemblance to Chi Wanzhao's. "I treat Xiyan like a sister. I don't want her to be taken advantage of."

Chi Wanzhao sneered, "Sister?"

"Then, as the lawful spouse of Miss Kong, I hope Miss Wang will stop adding drama where there is none."

...

Wang Haining's eyes darkened, her face still cold as she stared at Chi Wanzhao and asked, "Do you like Xiyan?"

Chi Wanzhao walked over until they were at eye level, both wearing matching expressions. Only a faint reply echoed in the kitchen.

"So what if I do?"

With that, she stepped out of the kitchen.

Behind her, Wang Haining watched her slender back for a long while before finally looking away.

After dinner, Kong Xiyan took her pajamas and headed to the bathroom first. In the living room sat only Chi Wanzhao and Wang Haining, facing each other, neither looking at the other. Finally, Yanyan leaped onto the square table and stood perfectly still between two dishes.

Chi Wanzhao and Wang Haining reached out at the same time, but Yanyan jumped away in an instant. Their hands met, Wang Haining's hand resting right on top of Chi Wanzhao's.

Kong Xiyan emerged from the bathroom with a dry towel draped over her head, rubbing her hair carelessly. Spotting the two in that pose, she froze for a moment. "You two...?"

Wang Haining drew her hand back quickly and started clearing the dishes. Chi Wanzhao remained expressionless.

Kong Xiyan glanced sideways at the bathroom door.

Was it just her, or had she come out of that door the wrong way?

Neither person in the living room offered an explanation. Kong Xiyan cast a suspicious look over them, then finally withdrew her gaze, turned around, and went back to her room. Chi Wanzhao also took her pajamas to the bathroom.

Back in the room, Yanyan trotted along behind her with a soft meow.

Kong Xiyan finished blow-drying her hair, scooped the cat up from the floor, and pressed her forehead to hers. "Yanyan, did you see what they were doing just now?"

Yanyan: "Meow..."

The culprit stared back with wide, innocent eyes, blinking slowly. She extended her pink tongue, rough with tiny barbs, and licked Kong Xiyan's palm.

Gentle and mild.

Kong Xiyan scratched her head affectionately. "Yanyan is still the cutest."

"Meow..."

Yanyan leapt out of her arms. Kong Xiyan flopped onto the bed, her fingertips brushing against her phone case. Picking it up, she saw a message on WeChat.

Tong Yue had sent: Don't forget the return date—reach out anytime.

Kong Xiyan replied: Got it, Sister Tong.

Tong Yue: 【Smile】.

The remaining two messages were from Xiao Cheng.

The usual greetings, plus one asking her out tonight.

Kong Xiyan typed out a refusal and sent it.

Just as it went through, another message popped up from Fu Qiu.

Fu Qiu: Sister Kong, where did you go? Missing you!!!

Familiar with her signature exclamation marks, Kong Xiyan smiled and replied: Nowhere special, just home.

Fu Qiu: Home? But I thought Sister Kong lived in City B?

Kong Xiyan thought for a moment; moved.

Fu Qiu: Oh...

Fu Qiu: Then when are you coming back?

Kong Xiyan counted the days: In four days.

Fu Qiu: Fine, I'll just have to get by on reruns of Breaking the Cocoon.

Kong Xiyan chuckled. There were two episodes of Breaking the Cocoon airing tonight, but she didn't have enough mobile data, and the signal was poor here, so catching them live wasn't possible.

Half an hour later, she managed to check the official account. Many fans had already started discussing tonight's broadcast topics.

—I think Chu Qian should choose the Crown Prince. The general version in the drama isn't good enough for her.

—Agreed. As for acting, the Crown Prince is slightly better; as for looks, he's even more so. I'm putting my bet on the Crown Prince!

—Are you blind? Chu Qian clearly loves the general, pining for him and refusing to marry anyone else.

—Hah, the Crown Prince's acting? You all should really go see a doctor.

—Don't be so harsh. It's clearly good. Don't think just because the Xiao Cheng fans are numerous, you can spin things. We're not here for Xiao Cheng—we're book fans!

—Come on, stop arguing over nothing. Who cares about that homewrecker Kong? Let someone else have her! Just don't let her near my Xiao ge!

—Agreed!

—Seconded!

—You bunch of idiots, calling her a homewrecker all day. Be honest: would this drama be so popular if Kong Xiyan weren't playing Chu Qian? She brings her own buzz. The "prodigy girl" three years ago was no joke. In the end, isn't it Xiao Cheng who's riding on Kong Xiyan's coattails?

—Bullshit!!! She's just a washed-up homewrecker. We wouldn't stoop to that!

—Ha, you don't want to, but your idol sure does.

Kong Xiyan frowned slightly at these comments; a familiar feeling surged up. She glanced at the ID—sure enough, it was "Never Lies."

Not only she recognized it; people below the official post did too.

Kong Xiyan tapped into the profile and saw this ID had gained over ten thousand followers, yet had never posted a single Weibo.

Back on the official page, she saw many replies under that comment.

—I sense this is some kind of oracle!

—Tell us more, oh great one! I don't believe Xiao ge would fall for someone like that!

—Tsk, just showing off for attention and clout. This person pops up everywhere—report and ignore, thank you.

—Right, and last time they didn't clarify anything before running off. Enjoy riding that hype to ten thousand followers? Just as cheap as that homewrecker Kong, both of them leeching off my Xiao ge.

—I suspect this is Kong's burner account, amusing herself by claiming Xiao Cheng is after her!

—+1!

—+1!

In an instant, speculation that this account was her alt dominated the top comments. She gave a cold smile, her gaze chilling, and turned off Weibo.

Chi Wanzhao had already washed up and was standing at the door, watching as Kong Xiyan frowned at her phone screen. She smirked coldly, then flung the phone aside.

Yanyan had jumped over the moment she entered, clinging to her pant leg and refusing to let go. Chi Wanzhao had no choice but to bend down and scoop her up, remembering the awkward moment at dinner, her eyes turning cold.

Yanyan, sensing the change, curled into a snowy ball in her arms, hardly daring to breathe.

Hearing the movement, Kong Xiyan turned and met Chi Wanzhao's gaze. She pointed to the vanity. "The hairdryer's over there."

"Okay."

Chi Wanzhao acknowledged quietly, setting Yanyan on the bed, then turned to sit in front of the mirror and dry her hair.

The low hum of the hairdryer filled the room. Kong Xiyan cradled Yanyan and looked out at the moonlight. She caught sight of the lights still on at the Chen Family Home and called out, "CEO Chi."

Chi Wanzhao switched off the hairdryer. "Mm?"

Kong Xiyan: "Tomorrow, I'll take you to a betrothal feast."

"It's that Brother Shan who picked us up. His engagement is tomorrow. If you'd rather not go, I can—"

Chi Wanzhao turned the hairdryer back on and finished her sentence, "If you go, I'll go."

Kong Xiyan glanced over at her. "Oh."

Chi Wanzhao was still in light-colored pajamas, damp from the shower. Several wet patches clung to her waist, hinting at her willowy figure.

Graceful shoulders, slender waist, fair skin. Her hair, slightly curled from being tied up, gleamed black.

Kong Xiyan, seated nearby, watched in the mirror as this beauty—cold-browed, aloof, like a white lotus just emerging from water—radiated an unapproachable air in every gesture.

She lowered her gaze and continued petting Yanyan.

After finishing her skincare, Chi Wanzhao walked over, picked up her tablet, and dealt with work matters before getting into bed.

Kong Xiyan had already settled in to sleep, with Yanyan crouched on her pillow, staring wide-eyed at Chi Wanzhao. Chi Wanzhao leaned against the headboard, book in hand, but there was no reading lamp here—only a dim, dangling bulb.

The words on the page blurred.

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Chi Wanzhao set the book aside and reached over to switch off the light.

Perhaps it was the countryside—the moonlight was far brighter than in the city. After the light went off, a slanted beam streamed in, and when she lifted her eyes, she could clearly see the faint blush of Kong Xiyan's ears.

There was only one pillow, so naturally their heads rested close together.

Chi Wanzhao stared at Kong Xiyan's earlobe, her gaze deep and unreadable.

Unaware, Kong Xiyan had scooted farther toward the inside of the bed, making room for her, until her head nearly hung off the pillow's edge. In the shuffle, her long hair fell over her small, delicate earlobe.

Chi Wanzhao looked away calmly.

The room was silent.

Soon, the steady breathing of woman and cat filled the air.

Chi Wanzhao turned on her side, as she had the night before, and drew Kong Xiyan into her embrace. After a moment's thought, she brushed aside the hair from Kong Xiyan's ear, stared at it, then suddenly bent down and took the earlobe gently into her mouth.

Soft, fragrant.

Almost a hint of sweetness.

Kong Xiyan stirred uneasily in her sleep, letting out a soft whimper. A flicker of clarity passed through Chi Wanzhao's hazy eyes. Slowly, she released Kong Xiyan and lay back down on her own side.

In the dead of night.

A phone rang in the room. Kong Xiyan, half-asleep, forced her eyes open and stared at her phone on the nightstand. Then she was fully awake.

It was hers.

Afraid to wake Chi Wanzhao, she reached for the phone while still lying on top of the other woman, but the device sat at the far edge of the nightstand, and her outstretched arm couldn't reach it.

With the phone still buzzing and the ringtone soft but persistent enough that it was impossible to ignore, Kong Xiyan sighed, shifted half her body across Chi Wanzhao's, and stretched one hand forward, bracing herself with the other on the bed. Yanyan, amused by her contorted pose, squeezed in beside her and let out a loud, "Meow!"

The sudden sound startled Kong Xiyan. Her arm buckled, and she collapsed fully onto Chi Wanzhao.

Of all places.

Her face buried in Chi Wanzhao's neck, her soft lips pressed against the smooth column of her throat. A faint fragrance enveloped her. Before she could lift her head, she heard a click.

The lamp flicked on.

Kong Xiyan raised her head from Chi Wanzhao's neck. Chi Wanzhao was already awake, her eyes clear and bright, glittering, depths unreadable.

Their gazes met, then darted apart.

In a husky voice, Chi Wanzhao murmured, "After sleepwalking, sleeping naked, grinding teeth, and biting, Miss Kong now adds ambush to her repertoire. You really do keep me—impressed."

Kong Xiyan: ...

Could she just knock her out with one swing??