Chapter 4

Kong Xiyan's sleep schedule used to be erratic. Before, with her acting commitments, it wasn't uncommon for her to survive on just four hours of sleep a day. But over the past two years, her routine had settled into a steadier rhythm; she went to bed at regular hours now. She set the white cat down on the bed, turned to rub its soft belly, and found herself thinking of what Chi Wanzhao had just called her.

"Yanyan?" she said hesitantly.

The cat lifted its head to look at her, its bright blue eyes glinting, strikingly beautiful. She couldn't resist scratching Yanyan's head and murmuring a few times, "Yanyan, Yanyan."

The white cat meowed twice, rose, and shook out its fur. Kong Xiyan lay flat on her back, and Yanyan trotted over to her chest, sat down, and began licking a paw with its pink tongue.

Kong Xiyan: ...

It was heavy.

She could barely breathe.

She sat up, lifted Yanyan onto her lap, and ran her fingers through its white fur.

The coat was thick and well-kept, pristine as snow, plush and soft, like cotton. After a few strokes, Kong Xiyan couldn't help burying her face in that white fluff.

Heavenly. Absolutely heavenly.

She loved cats. Before her debut, she'd kept a cat at home for four or five years, and they'd been inseparable. Later, when her career took off and she seldom returned home, her father had wanted to give the cat away. She'd refused, so the cat became her constant companion.

That cat was a domestic shorthair with an arrogant streak and a mind of its own. When it looked at you, it had an air of looking down on the world. Her fans had nicknamed it "Queen."

Unfortunately, her Queen had not come to a good end.

During those weeks after her father's accident, she'd been racing to and from the hospital like a spinning top, with no time to care for the cat. The assistant who'd originally tended to it had also been pulled away due to company matters. When she finally returned to the apartment, it was empty.

There was nothing left.

She still had her assistant's text on her phone: "Sister Kong, I'm so sorry. A few days ago, Queen got out and was hit by a truck..."

Kong Xiyan closed her eyes, her hands slowly tightening into fists. Yanyan sensed her shift in mood, opened its eyes, lifted its head, and let out a small meow, then pressed its head against her clenched fist.

Her fingertips met softness. Kong Xiyan opened her eyes and met Yanyan's glowing gaze. She smiled and scooped the cat into her arms. What an endearing little thing.

They were still frolicking on the bed when a rhythmic knock sounded at the door. Kong Xiyan frowned.

"Who is it?"

Chi Wanzhao's composed voice drifted in from outside: "It's me."

Kong Xiyan exhaled in relief, thinking she was being jumpy. Who else could be in this apartment besides her?

She scrambled out of bed, slipped into her slippers, and opened the door, only to find Chi Wanzhao standing at the entrance, holding a quilt and a pillow.

Kong Xiyan: ...

Chi Wanzhao caught the quilt that was about to slip and looked at Kong Xiyan. "Excuse me, please step aside."

Kong Xiyan: "President Chi, this is my room."

Chi Wanzhao walked in and set down the quilt and pillow neatly. "I know. That's why I brought my own quilt."

Kong Xiyan: "No, I remember the contract clearly states we don't have to share a bed."

Chi Wanzhao gave a slight nod. "Indeed."

"But the contract you signed just says that, aside from filming, you must be with Yanyan at all other times."

Kong Xiyan's mind drew a blank. What did that have to do with this? Wasn't she already sleeping with Yanyan right now? What was Chi Wanzhao up to!

Seeing that Kong Xiyan was still stunned, Chi Wanzhao sat on the edge of the bed, reached out to scoop up Yanyan, and ran a finger over its pink nose.

She said calmly, "I can't sleep at night without Yanyan."

Kong Xiyan: ...

Wasn't this just a roundabout way of sharing a bed? Was Chi Wanzhao trying to trap her?

She eyed the woman before her suspiciously. Though Chi Wanzhao wasn't a dazzling beauty, she had a certain allure. Could she possibly have designs on her?

She couldn't accept that. After mulling it over, she said, "President Chi, why don't you take Yanyan back to your room?"

Chi Wanzhao let out a soft chuckle and cast her a glance. "Miss Kong, are you afraid I harbor ulterior motives toward you?"

Kong Xiyan didn't answer, her bright eyes darting away.

Chi Wanzhao: "Miss Kong does have a certain charm, but I'm not so desperate as to settle for anything."

Kong Xiyan wanted to shut her up.

Seeing that she was still standing there, Chi Wanzhao parted her thin lips. "Or do you think you're more adorable than Yanyan?"

Kong Xiyan: ...

How was she not adorable?

Wait—no! How had she gotten dragged into Chi Wanzhao's little game?

Kong Xiyan turned to face Chi Wanzhao. In her room, only the bedside lamp was on, its light dim but casting Chi Wanzhao's profile into sharp relief, every line perfect. After a moment's thought, she spoke: "President Chi, take Yanyan back to your room."

Chi Wanzhao's face cooled by three degrees. "Miss Kong, I don't like repeating myself. We are simply taking what we need from each other. Are you trying to break the contract already?"

Kong Xiyan gritted her teeth. "No."

Chi Wanzhao: "Get on the bed."

Kong Xiyan: ...

The bed was very large. Kong Xiyan and Chi Wanzhao each took one side, with two thin quilts and two pillows. Yanyan stretched out between them. The cat clearly preferred Chi Wanzhao; it rested its head on Chi Wanzhao's shoulder, while its tail flicked on Kong Xiyan's side, swishing back and forth incessantly. The fluffy tip brushed from Kong Xiyan's cheek down to her neck, tickling her.

Kong Xiyan, without a word, grabbed Yanyan's restless tail and tucked it under the cat's bottom. Before she could pull her hand back, the tail sprang up and swatted her right across the face.

She heard a soft laugh from beside her.

Chi Wanzhao lay on her side, watching Kong Xiyan's childish reaction. Her sharp, elegant features softened slightly, and her gaze drifted almost lazily.

The reason Kong Xiyan had charged into the ranks of the Four Young Actresses right after her debut three years ago was, first, her extraordinary acting. She'd starred in only one film as the female lead, and it had shattered box office records and won countless awards.

It had become legend.

Second, her looks were exceptional.

A smooth, graceful forehead, refined brows, delicate features, and a slim figure—her beauty wasn't showy, but impossible to overlook.

Just lying there now, wrapped tightly in the quilt with only her head visible, she could stir endless imagination.

Chi Wanzhao calmly averted her gaze, switched off the light, and the room plunged into dimness. Yanyan instinctively snuggled into Chi Wanzhao's arms, looking perfectly content.

Kong Xiyan couldn't fall asleep. She tossed and turned, and finally couldn't help asking, "President Chi, when will you give me the photos?"

Chi Wanzhao's hand, stroking Yanyan, paused for a moment. Her clear voice pierced the darkness: "Not yet."

Kong Xiyan swallowed her words and fell silent.

Chi Wanzhao had impeccable sleeping posture; she barely moved an inch. Yanyan curled up beside her arm, and both human and cat breathed steadily.

Only Kong Xiyan lay awake, counting stars.

With someone else beside her, she simply couldn't drift off. It wasn't until the sky was just beginning to lighten that she finally closed her eyes.

The moment she fell asleep, the alarm went off. Chi Wanzhao rose, quickly silenced the alarm, and glanced at Kong Xiyan, her gaze clear and alert.

Yanyan, awakened by the sound, meowed and stretched as it stood. Chi Wanzhao scooped it up and tiptoed out of the room.

Except for lunch at the office, she cooked her other two meals herself. Perhaps having lived abroad for so long and never quite adapting to foreign food, she'd developed the habit.

Chi Wanzhao fried an egg, then carried a glass of milk to the dining table. Yanyan was crouched by its food bowl, meowing insistently. She glanced at the cat. "No. You need to lose weight."

As if it understood her, Yanyan immediately jumped up, nipped at her pajama hem, and rubbed its body against her leg.

This was its way of acting cute, and it never failed.

Sure enough, Chi Wanzhao sighed, picked up the cat, and walked to the cabinet to fetch the cat food.

Yanyan circled her excitedly, meowing without pause. Chi Wanzhao shot a look at the cat. "Keep meowing, and you'll get nothing."

Yanyan: "Meow..."

After breakfast, Zhou Sheng arrived at the apartment at just the right moment. Seeing Chi Wanzhao step out in a beige suit, her expression sharp, he quickly opened the back door and said respectfully, "President Chi."

Chi Wanzhao gave a slight nod and slipped into the car. Zhou Sheng followed, and noticing the dark circles under her eyes, said, "President Chi, did you not sleep well last night?"

"It was fine."

Her tone was indifferent, her manner aloof—a distance he'd long grown accustomed to. He opened his tablet and ran through her schedule: "President Chi, at nine you have the contract signing with President Wei of Xinhui, at ten-thirty a meeting—the documents are with Mi Lin. In the afternoon..."

Chi Wanzhao listened in silence. Only after he finished did she ask, "Is Wei Yan coming back to the country soon?"

Zhou Sheng glanced at his screen. "Yes, he was on a flight this morning."

Wei Yan was also being heavily promoted by Jingyan. After that incident three years ago, he'd kept a low profile, but two years ago he'd been scouted by Jingyan and given a push. Only then did his luck turn, and he gradually rose to fame.

Rumor had it he'd already been nominated for three major awards, and his momentum couldn't be underestimated.

Hearing his boss bring him up, Zhou Sheng asked in a low voice, "President Chi, should we have Wei Yan come back to the company for a visit?"

Chi Wanzhao narrowed her keen eyes and parted her thin lips. "No rush. Let him rest for now."

Zhou Sheng lowered his head. "Understood."

The two arrived at the company shortly after. Chi Wanzhao settled into her chair, and Zhou Sheng turned on the television. On screen, a man was surrounded by fans, barely able to move, with signs held high.

[I Love Wei Yan!!!]

[Wei Yan, Marry Me!!!]

[The Best Wei Yan in the World!]

Signs of every kind. The airport was a cacophony, and reporters seized the moment to fire questions: "Mr. Wei, is it true you'll be joining 'Dawn'?"

"Mr. Wei, we heard you weren't feeling well abroad?"

"Mr. Wei..."

The questions came in a barrage, but Wei Yan kept a faint smile and stayed silent, while his bodyguards worked to hold back the reporters and fans.

Amid the noise, a reporter close to him suddenly spoke up. "Mr. Wei, are you aware that Miss Kong has made a comeback? Will this have any impact on you?"

Wei Yan's frame swayed slightly. The previously noisy airport hushed considerably. Fans still hoisted their signs, and everyone waited in unison for his answer.

His assistant cut in, "Sorry, this..."

Wei Yan pulled the assistant back, let out a sigh, and said, "All I want to say is that I'm sorry for what happened in the past. From now on, we'll have nothing to do with each other."

The assistant stamped his foot in frustration. The reporters wanted to push further, but the fans erupted in cheers.

"Yan Yan, keep going!!"

"Yan Yan, don't be upset! You still have us!"

Wei Yan forced a smile and was bundled into the car by his assistant. Chi Wanzhao turned her attention to the floor-to-ceiling window, then reached out and turned off the TV.

Zhou Sheng stood behind her. "President Chi, we have all the photos. Should I give them to your wife?"

Chi Wanzhao shook her head. "No need. Leave them on my desk."

Zhou Sheng pulled a small envelope from his pocket and laid it on Chi Wanzhao's desk. He hesitated, then said, "And about your wife..."

Chi Wanzhao was watching the people coming and going below. Her expression was grim, her brows growing sharper, a trace of coldness in her eyes.

After a long pause, she finally spoke: "Zhou Sheng, when you're standing firm, the force of your blows is heavier and more precise—and you won't lose your balance because of it."

Zhou Sheng bowed his head. "I understand."