Chapter 92

By the time Wang Haining and Gu Ling got back, Tong Yue had already finished talking things over with Kong Xiyan. The two women wore faint smiles and were chatting about other things. Gu Ling handed the cut fruit to Kong Xiyan with a smile. "Try it—see if it's sweet."

Kong Xiyan took it. "Thanks."

She took a bite; it was indeed quite sweet.

Gu Ling saw her expression and pressed her lips into a smile.

Soon after, Tong Yue stood to leave. Glancing at her watch, she said, "I need to handle some things online. I'll come back when I'm free."

Kong Xiyan lifted her gaze. "No need. I'm only staying a couple of days—don't make the trip back."

Seeing that Tong Yue was about to protest, Kong Xiyan smiled. "Besides, Haining's here to look after me. Don't worry, Sister Tong. Nothing will go wrong."

Wang Haining smiled at Tong Yue.

Tong Yue had no choice but to sigh. "Fine, then."

"Don't worry about the online stuff—I'll handle it. Take care of yourself, and call me if anything comes up."

"Especially with things like this."

Kong Xiyan smiled with her eyes. "Mm."

Tong Yue felt a little reassured seeing her obedient nod.

When Gu Ling saw Tong Yue rise, she stood as well. She'd originally thought up an excuse to stay behind, but with Wang Haining there, forcing it seemed inappropriate. There was still plenty of time ahead; no need to rush.

So she looked at Tong Yue and said, "Sister Tong, I'll come with you."

Tong Yue said, "Alright. Let Xiyan get some rest."

Kong Xiyan watched until Tong Yue and Gu Ling's figures disappeared through the door before looking away, her expression calm. Wang Haining walked to the coffee table and asked, "Does your head still hurt? I made some pork rib soup—want me to warm some up for you?"

Kong Xiyan shook her head. "I'm not hungry yet."

Seeing her like this, Wang Haining set down the insulated jar and walked over to sit by her bed. Kong Xiyan looked at her and asked, "How was last night? Did you get used to it?"

"It was fine," Wang Haining said.

"More comfortable than the apartment."

Wang Haining didn't hide it, saying it openly.

Kong Xiyan struggled to hold back a laugh. "So it seems I wronged you by making you stay in the apartment these past couple of days?"

Wang Haining pressed her lips together. "To be honest, a little."

Kong Xiyan let out a soft laugh.

After a moment, she asked, "Haining, what—what do you think of the Chi family?"

Wang Haining's face, which had been smiling, froze for a few seconds. Then she answered as if nothing had happened, "No particular thoughts."

"They're them, and I'm me. We've always been strangers who have nothing to do with each other."

"Xiyan, you should understand me by now."

Kong Xiyan lowered her gaze and patted Wang Haining's hand. "I understand you. But Chi Xuan doesn't, which is why she lost control yesterday..."

"I know," Wang Haining interrupted her.

"I don't blame her."

"Putting myself in her shoes, if I were her, I can't guarantee what I'd do either."

Kong Xiyan smiled. "I knew you wouldn't blame her."

Wang Haining glanced at her. "What? You're still hurt and you want to play peacemaker? Not even checking if the back of your head still hurts?"

"It doesn't hurt—"

"Hey, be gentle..."

Fragments of their conversation drifted out of the room. Li Bo, standing outside the door where Chi Xuan had been for a long while, said, "Third Miss, would you like me to knock?"

Chi Xuan shook her head. "No need."

She then turned and walked straight out.

The heavy snow from yesterday had stopped by midnight. Today the sun was high, and its rays felt warm on the skin. At noon, the cold wind blowing outside didn't feel biting. Chi Xuan turned to Li Bo and said, "I'll take a walk. Don't follow me."

Li Bo was uneasy. "Third Miss, you're not familiar with this area. Let me at least come along."

"No need."

Chi Xuan's words, carried by the wind, reached Li Bo's ears.

With the click of her high heels, she disappeared from Li Bo's sight within moments.

Li Bo had no choice but to sigh and wait at the entrance of the inpatient building.

Chi Xuan didn't go far. She just wanted to clear her mind.

The conversation she'd just overheard had burrowed into her brain like bees, stinging her nerves.

—What do you think of the Chi family?

—No particular thoughts. They're them, and I'm me. We've always been strangers.

She suddenly recalled yesterday afternoon, when she stood in the heavy snow and Wang Haining had slipped her the umbrella, saying:

—I could give this umbrella to you, or to anyone else, even the cats and dogs on the street.

—Chi Xuan, do you understand what I mean?

Back then, she didn't understand.

Now, she was beginning to.

Because in Wang Haining's world, the Chi family was no different from anyone else.

They were all strangers.

Chi Xuan grew tired from walking and sat down on a bench. Soon, someone took a seat right beside her.

She turned her head and called out, "Second Sister."

Chi Wanzhao tilted her head to look at her. "What are you thinking about? Li Bo said you've been here a while—why didn't you go in?"

Chi Xuan said, "Nothing. Just wanted to get some air."

Chi Wanzhao lowered her eyes. "Are you thinking about Wang Haining?"

At the mention of that name, Chi Xuan was noticeably calmer than yesterday, and didn't even snap at her to stop talking.

Chi Wanzhao looked ahead at the snowflakes stirred up by the cold wind. "Xiao Xuan, have you ever thought that whether she exists or not, the real problem ultimately lies with Dad?"

"Now, because she does exist, you've pushed all the blame onto her and hate her to the bone. But suppose she didn't exist?"

"Then who would you hate?"

Chi Xuan opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Chi Wanzhao turned to look at her. "If she didn't exist, would Dad have still made a mistake?"

Chi Xuan said, "Yes."

Chi Wanzhao asked, "Would you forgive him?"

Chi Xuan was silent for a long moment before answering, "No."

Chi Wanzhao stroked her head. "Then who should you hate?"

Chi Xuan thought it over. "Second Sister, I know I should hate Dad. But your hypothetical doesn't hold—Wang Haining exists."

With that, she stood up and said in a lower voice, "I'll come back this afternoon."

Chi Wanzhao called after her back, "Chi Xuan."

Chi Xuan only paused her steps, but didn't turn around or reply, continuing forward.

A row of footprints marked the path she left behind, growing fainter in the distance.

Chi Wanzhao pressed her lips into a straight line and headed to the side. Before long, she stood in front of Li Bo. "Take Third Miss home first."

Li Bo quickly bowed his head. "Yes, Second Miss."

After Li Bo left, Chi Wanzhao looked up at the sky. What had been clear moments ago was now showing signs of darkening, as if another heavy rain was on the way.

Zhou Sheng thoughtfully came to her side and said, "Miss Chi, I've brought Yanyan."

Chi Wanzhao relaxed her stern brows and cold eyes, turning her head to look at the cat in Zhou Sheng's arms. Perhaps because it hadn't eaten the past couple of days, Yanyan looked a bit thinner, and was meowing softly.

She took it from Zhou Sheng, and her features finally softened a bit.

Yanyan settled docilely into her arms, raised a paw, and exposed its white belly, brushing it against Chi Wanzhao's fingers as if asking for a scratch. Chi Wanzhao reached out and gave it a firm pinch, casting it a half-hearted glare. Yanyan immediately tucked its paws away, wearing a pitiful expression.

The first thing Kong Xiyan saw when she spotted Yanyan was that look.

Her heart went out to it immediately. "Yanyan, come here quickly."

Hearing a familiar voice, Yanyan poked its head out from Chi Wanzhao's arms, then scurried down and hopped onto the bed to sit beside Kong Xiyan's pillow, cocking its head to study the gauze on her forehead. It even stretched out a paw, as if to touch it.

"Yanyan." Chi Wanzhao called, and it promptly withdrew its paw.

Kong Xiyan gathered the cat into her arms, then turned to ask, "Why did you bring it here?"

Chi Wanzhao set down her bag. "There's no one at the apartment."

Kong Xiyan smiled, hugging Yanyan.

That was true—she was hospitalized, and Chi Wanzhao had been by her side since yesterday, so likely no one had been tending to Yanyan. Still, she felt a bit uneasy about bringing the cat to the hospital.

Noticing her conflicted expression, Wang Haining sat on the edge of the bed and said, "Xiyan, if you don't think it's suitable to have Yanyan here, I can take it home."

Kong Xiyan looked at Chi Wanzhao, who was noncommittal.

She ran a hand through Yanyan's white fur. "That works."

Yanyan raised its head and licked her chin, tickling her and making her giggle.

Lunch was brought in by Zhou Sheng—portions for three.

Yanyan paced around their meal table, occasionally letting out a soft meow to draw attention. When Kong Xiyan got out of bed, Yanyan pressed against the leg of her hospital pants, acting clingy.

Chi Wanzhao took some cat food from her bag and fed Yanyan. Seeing this, Wang Haining said, "Xiyan, I'll go heat up the pork rib soup. You go ahead and eat."

Kong Xiyan raised her eyes to her with a soft "Mm."

Chi Wanzhao kept feeding Yanyan while her gaze drifted to the pork rib soup Wang Haining was carrying, her expression neutral.

A few minutes later, Wang Haining set the warmed soup on the coffee table, dividing it into three portions in insulated bowls.

Chi Wanzhao helped Kong Xiyan to the table.

The food was all light and suited Kong Xiyan's appetite, so she ate a bit more.

After the meal, Kong Xiyan picked up her bowl of pork rib soup and took a sip, looking utterly content. Chi Wanzhao, seeing this, also took a light sip. Wang Haining smiled and asked Kong Xiyan, "Good?"

Kong Xiyan began, "Good—"

Chi Wanzhao said flatly, "Not good."

Kong Xiyan: ...

Wang Haining: ...

Noticing both their gazes still on her, Chi Wanzhao calmly placed her bowl of soup in front of Yanyan. Yanyan bent down and lapped it twice.

"Yanyan, is it good?"

Yanyan meowed.

Chi Wanzhao lifted her lips and pulled back the bowl, looking at Kong Xiyan and Wang Haining, her tone unchanged. "See—Yanyan also says it's not good."

Kong Xiyan: ...

Wang Haining: ...