Chapter 99

Chi Xuan had nearly finished setting off the fireworks when she finally looked up at the two people sitting on the bench. She sniffled and muttered, "Aren't you cold?"

The only reply was the biting wind.

Wang Haining was still lighting fireworks on the side, the lighter clicking continuously. Before long, a bang sounded and fireworks bloomed.

"Still want to set them off?"

Wang Haining noticed Chi Xuan holding two long sparklers, gazing at the bench. She followed her gaze, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes.

Chi Xuan snapped back to reality, seeing Wang Haining standing beside her. She said stiffly, "Yeah... let's set them off."

Wang Haining lit the sparklers in her hand.

A series of crackles and pops.

Chi Xuan's expression was hidden behind the white smoke of the fireworks as her voice drifted out faintly.

"Wang Haining."

Wang Haining turned her head. "Hmm?"

Chi Xuan bit her lip. "I'm sorry."

Unlike her usual awkward attitude or stiff tone, this apology was laced with a trace of guilt. Wang Haining took two long sparklers from her side and lit them.

A brilliant light burst from the tips.

"It's fine."

Wang Haining said calmly.

Chi Xuan swung the sparklers in her hand, tracing a beautiful arc in the cold, still air. She found a spot on the exercise equipment nearest to Wang Haining and sat down, her expression mournful.

"My mother tried to kill herself."

"It wasn't long after he brought you to our house."

"I was so scared. I was the only one home. My second sister had locked herself in her apartment, my oldest brother was at the company. I was all alone and didn't know what to do. I..."

Chi Xuan's emotions became agitated again as she recalled that period. Her bright eyes reddened, tears welled up, and her nose tingled. Wang Haining stepped closer to stand by her side, reaching out to press her shoulder. "Don't say anymore."

"All I saw was red."

"My mother was lying in the bathtub, she..."

Wang Haining wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into an embrace, patting her back. "Don't say anymore."

Her voice was warm, calming Chi Xuan's heart.

Chi Xuan indeed fell silent.

But Wang Haining could understand her feelings from those few words.

She had only been sixteen then, just learning that her father had an affair and had another child, only to find her mother attempting suicide. A few seconds later and she might have lost her mother forever.

That chain of events inevitably gave her someone to resent.

And she herself had become that target.

No wonder when they first met three years ago, Chi Xuan's gaze had been full of hatred as if they were sworn enemies.

Yes, it was a deep-seated enmity indeed.

Wang Haining gave a faint smile and continued patting Chi Xuan's back.

Chi Xuan said in a muffled voice from the embrace, "Wang Haining, I'm sorry."

Wang Haining opened her mouth, but said nothing.

Who could really say what was right or wrong?

Between them, what was lacking wasn't an apology.

She patted Chi Xuan's back. "Don't think about it. Let's go home."

Chi Xuan lowered her head. "Mm."

When they left the square, Chi Wanzhao and Kong Xiyan also stood up from the bench and walked back together.

When they got home, Chi Wanzhao noticed Chi Xuan's eyes were red and glistening with tears. She grabbed her wrist. "What's wrong?"

She believed Wang Haining wouldn't provoke Chi Xuan.

But whether Chi Xuan would go out of her way to provoke Wang Haining was another matter.

Kong Xiyan also noticed Chi Xuan's unusual state. She frowned. "Did Haining say something..."

"No."

Chi Xuan interrupted Kong Xiyan and looked up with a smile. "No, Second Sister and Sister-in-law, don't worry. It was just windy downstairs."

Chi Wanzhao and Kong Xiyan exchanged glances and nodded. "Good to hear."

After going home, Wang Haining went to feed Yanyan. Kong Xiyan came over, crouched down, and stroked Yanyan's head. "What happened to her?"

"Hmm?"

Wang Haining gave her a puzzled look, then understood. "It's nothing. The wind was too strong and made her cry."

She shook her head seriously after saying that. "So delicate."

Kong Xiyan: ...

She glanced at Wang Haining, knowing she wasn't telling the whole truth, but she trusted Wang Haining to act sensibly, so she accepted the explanation and agreed, "She is a bit delicate."

Wang Haining turned to look at her, and they smiled at each other.

After Yanyan was full, she walked unsteadily, rubbing against Wang Haining's calf and looking up, before turning and wobbling over to Kong Xiyan, raising her head and meowing!

Kong Xiyan scooped her up and pinched her belly, which felt like a ball of fat.

She seemed even fatter than when she had been brought over.

Yanyan purred contentedly in Kong Xiyan's hands, closed her eyes in satisfaction, and nuzzled Kong Xiyan's palm.

After Wang Haining tidied everything up, she stood and asked, "Are you two leaving tonight?"

Chi Wanzhao glanced at Chi Xuan. "We..."

"We're staying."

Kong Xiyan smiled and interrupted Chi Wanzhao's words. "We'll stay the night. It's snowing outside and hard to get a taxi, so we won't go back."

"Xiao Xuan, what do you think?"

Chi Xuan pursed her lips. "I'm fine with anything."

Kong Xiyan stroked Yanyan and laughed. "Alright, then we'll all stay tonight."

The house had three bedrooms: her father's old room, hers, and one for occasional guests. Now Wang Haining and Chi Xuan each had one, while she and Chi Wanzhao shared one, naturally taking Yanyan into their room.

Kong Xiyan sat on the edge of the bed with Yanyan on her lap, carefully grooming her fur. When she saw Chi Wanzhao enter the room and shed her coat, she asked, "What do you think happened between Haining and Xiao Xuan earlier?"

Chi Wanzhao furrowed her brow. "I don't know."

"But whatever it was, it's probably not a bad thing."

Given Chi Xuan's attitude, one could sense her change toward Wang Haining.

Kong Xiyan nodded.

Indeed, not a bad thing.

Chi Wanzhao walked to the bed, patted Yanyan's head, and told Kong Xiyan, "I'll go wash up first."

Kong Xiyan looked up. "Alright."

The two had spent quite a while being affectionate outside earlier, leaving Kong Xiyan's pink lips slightly swollen, not very obvious, but discernible if looked closely.

Chi Wanzhao stared at her lips for a long moment before turning away and leaving the room.

When she reached the bathroom door, she heard voices inside.

"Wang Haining, did you do that on purpose?"

"No."

Wang Haining's voice was as calm as ever. "You caught the wind outside; you need to soak for a while."

"But there's no need..."

"Don't move..."

Chi Wanzhao stood at the door, hesitant to enter. After a while, Chi Xuan came out in slippers and saw Chi Wanzhao standing there, calling out awkwardly, "Second Sister."

"Mm."

"I'm heading to my room."

Chi Xuan bowed her head and left.

Chi Wanzhao entered the bathroom and saw Wang Haining sitting inside, soaking her feet. A large basin was steaming with vapor, and Wang Haining looked composed. "Want to join?"

Chi Wanzhao waved her hand. "No need."

Wang Haining stood up and poured out the water, saying, "That's right, CEO Chi surely isn't cold. And maybe she needs to cool down later."

Chi Wanzhao coughed lightly and watched her leave.

She looked at herself in the mirror, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Chi Wanzhao lingered in the bathroom for quite a while. Kong Xiyan couldn't hold back and went to the bathroom to look for her, but didn't find her. Instead, she heard voices from Chi Xuan's room. She tiptoed to the bathroom to wash up, then quickly returned to the room.

Yanyan was sleeping on the bed, giving a listless meow when she saw the door open before burying her head back into sleep. Kong Xiyan stood at the door, thought for a moment, and glanced at the black notebook not far away.

When Chi Wanzhao entered the room, she saw Kong Xiyan lying on the bed in pink pajamas, legs kicked up, with Yanyan curled up beside her, fast asleep.

She quietly closed the door and took a couple of steps toward the bed, seeing Kong Xiyan lying there looking at a sketchbook.

Kong Xiyan's brows were relaxed, her expression content, and as she saw the people and scenery in the drawings, she unconsciously curved her eyes, looking tender.

Chi Wanzhao walked over slowly and sat down beside her. "Pretty?"

Kong Xiyan didn't look up. "Quite pretty. Look at this flower; I can barely recall it."

Chi Wanzhao leaned in and nodded. "I think it's pretty too."

Especially the person in the drawings, whose smiles and glances were captivating.

Kong Xiyan caught the underlying meaning and turned to look at Chi Wanzhao. Their eyes met, and Chi Wanzhao leaned in while reaching out to turn off the room light.

Suddenly everything went dark.

Kong Xiyan felt Chi Wanzhao's body press closer, and she called out nervously, "The... the notebook..."

Her reply was the sound of the notebook being closed and placed on the nightstand.

In the darkness, nothing was visible. Kong Xiyan lifted her head and turned, finding Chi Wanzhao's lips on hers, then her body was enveloped, a hand sliding to her waist and lifting her pajama top.

Her skin was smooth, still fragrant with body wash. Chi Wanzhao buried her face in Kong Xiyan's neck, her tongue tracing the contours of her skin, while her other hand began its unabashed conquest.

Kong Xiyan offered only a feeble resistance before surrendering, letting Chi Wanzhao ignite her everywhere. Her hands unconsciously reached for Chi Wanzhao's neatly pinned hair and gave a light tug, sending the clip tumbling to the floor. Chi Wanzhao's hair cascaded over Kong Xiyan's face and neck.

The ticklish sensation combined with her body's reaction made her break out in a sweat.

In the room, Yanyan, at some point, had jumped off the bed and onto the wardrobe. She found a comfortable spot and settled down, her purring soft, at least overshadowed by the room's passionate atmosphere.

Kong Xiyan's mind was too muddled to think clearly, so she let Chi Wanzhao lead her into surrender.

Chi Wanzhao seemed especially spirited tonight, ignoring Kong Xiyan's weak pleas. Their battlefield shifted from the bed to the chaise longue, then to the single sofa. By midnight, Kong Xiyan barely had the strength to raise her hand, and was finally carried back to bed by Chi Wanzhao.

She sensed Chi Wanzhao changing her clothes before drifting into deep sleep.

Chi Wanzhao got out of bed and walked to the scattered clothes. She bent down and took out a box from her pocket.

It was a rectangular box.

She opened it and glanced at the sleeping Kong Xiyan, a beautiful smile curving her lips.