Chapter 19
Jin Zijin was the kind of person who acted on impulse, and since she’d said they were going to try them, the two of them really did open box after box and sample them one by one.
By the time they reached the fifth box, Jin Zijin was too tired to keep going and simply passed out.
When Wen Yan leaned down to kiss her, her breathing grew long and even.
Wen Yan was silent for a second, then gave a stunned laugh.
Forget it. Forget it. With that kind of stamina, she’d better go easy on her.
Wen Yan lowered her head to kiss her lips, then got up and went into the bathroom.
While she was wiping herself down, Jin Zijin half-awoke in a daze and hoarsely asked what was going on.
Wen Yan said nothing. Go back to sleep.
Jin Zijin lifted an arm, hooked it around her neck, and pulled her into her embrace, insisting that she hold her.
Wen Yan had no choice but to indulge her and gather her into her arms.
——————
A wonderful night’s sleep.
Morning light spilled across the window lattice, and Wen Yan woke to the familiar warmth and weight beside her.
Jin Zijin’s arm was still loosely around her waist; her breathing was steady.
Wen Yan didn’t move. She only looked at the sleeping face in front of her, stripped of all defenses, and felt her heart fill with an unfamiliar sense of peace.
It was only when a clear growling sound broke the silence that Jin Zijin buried her reddening face against Wen Yan’s shoulder and warned her in a muffled voice not to laugh.
Wen Yan held back her laughter and got up. “I’m going to make breakfast.”
After washing up, she went downstairs, tied on an apron, and skillfully took ingredients out of the fridge.
Eggs sizzled in the frying pan; the toaster popped up with a crisp, fragrant slice of toast; and the milk in the small saucepan slowly warmed.
Just as she carried the appetizing breakfast to the table, Jin Zijin came downstairs too.
She had already changed into loungewear, her long hair loose over her shoulders, and walked over to the table.
Her gaze lingered on Wen Yan for a moment, then drifted to the bright morning sky outside. Only then did she seem to remember something, and she drawled lazily, “It’s Saturday today; you’re off work, right?”
“Mm.” Wen Yan pushed the glass of milk toward her. “So you can eat slowly.”
Jin Zijin sat down and took a sip from the cup, but her eyes stayed on Wen Yan’s face, thoughtful.
After a moment, she spoke, her voice already back to its usual clarity. “Do you know how to play badminton?”
Wen Yan paused slightly with the juice in her hand and looked up. “I do.”
“If you don’t have anything else planned,” Jin Zijin said, lightly tapping the table with her fingertip in a tone as casual as if she were discussing breakfast, “do you want to go out with me? You can also take a look at my ‘work’ today.”
Wen Yan blinked. She set down the glass pitcher. “Huh? Is that okay?”
The corners of Jin Zijin’s lips curved into the faintest smile, her eyes clear and certain. “What’s not okay about it?”
She paused, then looked at Wen Yan with great gentleness. “You’re my wife; for an occasion like this, you’re very suitable.”
The words wife and occasion collided softly in Wen Yan’s heart, stirring up a faint echo.
Before she could process the sudden invitation, the doorbell rang.
Ding dong.
Wen Yan looked toward the door in surprise.
At this hour, there were rarely visitors.
She stood up and went to open it.
The moment the door opened, she subconsciously widened her eyes slightly.
In the entryway outside stood seven or eight people, quiet and orderly.
At the front was a young woman in a sharp beige skirt suit, her makeup exquisite and her bearing brisk.
Behind her were two tall women in well-tailored black suits, their expressions stern.
Further back were several staff members carrying professional-looking cases of various sizes, dressed fashionably and silently.
The scene instantly tightened the relaxed atmosphere of a weekend morning.
The woman at the front quickly and politely swept her gaze over Wen Yan, then bowed slightly. “Good morning, Dr. Wen. I’m Xu Ming, President Jin’s assistant.”
She stepped aside and indicated the girl beside her, whose makeup was especially delicate and artistic. “This is Aiwen, who’s in charge of President Jin’s styling today.”
“Behind us are the rest of our team members.”
The girl called Aiwen stepped forward half a pace and smiled politely. “Hello, Miss Wen.”
Wen Yan quickly came to her senses and moved aside to let them in. “Please come in.”
Xu Ming was clearly well trained; before stepping over the threshold, she stopped and asked, “Dr. Wen, do you need shoe covers?”
“No need, just come in directly.” Wen Yan hurriedly answered, doing her best to keep her voice steady. “It’s fine; I’ll clean up afterward.”
Only then did Xu Ming nod and make a concise gesture to the people behind her.
The group entered in orderly fashion, quietly and swiftly occupying the living room.
A corner of the originally spacious living room was soon converted into a temporary styling area.
The cases were opened, revealing a dazzling array of makeup products, hair tools, and clothing hung under dust covers.
The whole house instantly took on a professional, focused air.
Wen Yan stood at the boundary between the dining area and the living room, looking at this abrupt interruption to their ordinary home life; her fingertips curled unconsciously.
Yet Jin Zijin had already risen calmly and walked toward the temporary setup as if she were long used to all of this.
She sat down in the specially prepared chair, and Aiwen immediately led an assistant over to begin working with gentle, efficient motions.
Wen Yan watched quietly from a few steps away.
The foundation brush swept over her cheeks like a feather; concealer was placed precisely on nearly invisible details; a brow pencil outlined clean, natural arcs.
Jin Zijin closed her eyes and let herself be handled. Under the professional touch, the lines of her profile looked even smoother and more distinct.
The whole process was very quiet, broken only by the faint brushing of tools and the soft clicking of cases opening and closing.
When the final dusting of setting powder was applied, Aiwen said softly, “It’s done, President Jin.” Jin Zijin slowly opened her eyes.
Today she was wearing no formal suit.
Instead, she wore a white athletic set with excellent tailoring and a crisp texture, perfectly fitting her tall, straight figure.
Her long hair was tied up high and neat, revealing her smooth forehead and elegant swanlike neck.
There were no extra accessories, only a simple sports watch on her wrist and those pair of jade earrings still shining softly at her earlobes.
Her makeup was extremely sheer, almost invisible; it mainly enhanced the depth of her eyes and her naturally healthy complexion.
She looked spirited and sharp, fresh and crisp, full of healthy, vigorous vitality.
Wen Yan stared for a moment.
She had seen many sides of Jin Zijin: strong, gentle, lazy, vivid.
But this was the first time she’d seen her look so athletic, so bright and breezy.
Jin Zijin examined herself briefly in the mirror and gave a small nod.
She stood up, flexed her wrists and shoulders, then turned to look at Wen Yan, who had been watching her the whole time, her expression relaxed. “I’m going to play badminton with an elder today.”
She took two steps closer and lowered her voice a little as she invited her again. “Do you want to come with me?”
Wen Yan actually wasn’t very interested in this kind of activity with a clear social purpose, and her instinct was to refuse.
But...
Her eyes traced Jin Zijin’s sharp, handsome brows and eyes, where the morning light from outside the window shimmered, along with her own tiny reflection.
Just thinking about being separated from her, even for half a day, seemed to leave a little hollow space in her heart.
An unfamiliar, soft attachment rose up inside her.
The feeling surprised even her, yet she found it hard to resist.
She nodded. “Okay.”
A glimmer of satisfied laughter rippled through Jin Zijin’s eyes.
She snapped her fingers crisply and said to Aiwen, “Prepare something for Dr. Wen too; something fresh and simple, with a sporty look suitable for movement.”
“Understood, President Jin.”
Wen Yan was led to another chair.
Facing the approaching makeup brushes and the focused gazes of strangers, her body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
Aiwen was professional and very patient, working as she spoke in a low, gentle voice to Jin Zijin.
She never tried to chat too much with Wen Yan, which greatly eased her discomfort.
After the styling was done, Wen Yan looked at herself in the mirror.
As expected, the makeup was extremely natural and seamless, almost impossible to notice; it merely made her skin look more even and her features more energetic.
Her hair had been neatly tied up, and she was also wearing a sports set in the same color family as Jin Zijin’s.
Jin Zijin walked over, let her gaze rest on Wen Yan for two seconds, then reached out and gently tucked a stray lock of hair from her temple behind her ear.
Her fingertips brushed the outer edge of Wen Yan’s ear by accident, bringing a faint, itchy warmth.
Jin Zijin looked her up and down and seemed very satisfied. “Good.”
Before long, a sleek black Audi A8 pulled up downstairs in silence.
Xu Ming opened the door; Jin Zijin got into the back seat first, and Wen Yan followed.
The door closed, cutting off all outside sounds. Inside the car lingered the citrus scent coming from Jin Zijin’s body.
Wen Yan breathed in the familiar smell and felt herself settle.
The car drove steadily north.
The farther they went, the wider and quieter the roads became; the trees on both sides grew dense and lush, as though they were filtering out layer after layer of the city’s noise.
Wen Yan looked out at the quiet scenery slipping backward past the window, and faint sweat beaded in her palm.
Unable to help herself, she turned to look at Jin Zijin beside her, who was flipping through some materials, and hesitantly asked, “Is there anything I should pay attention to when we meet this elder?”
“My badminton skills are only amateur level; will that..."
Jin Zijin turned her head to look at her. Morning light filtered through the car window, casting fine shadows on her lashes.
She reached out and gently covered Wen Yan’s slightly damp hand, her palm cool and steady with reassurance.
“Don’t be nervous.” Her voice wasn’t loud, but it had a calmness that set the heart at ease. “We’re just accompanying an elder for some activity and having a home-style meal.”
“Relax; just be yourself.”
Wen Yan felt the warmth of her palm, and that warmth seemed to seep slowly through their touching skin into her unsettled pulse.
“Mm.” She answered in a low voice, trying to relax her stiff shoulders, but her heart was still beating a somewhat irregular rhythm in her chest.
The car slowly drove into a discreet yet heavily guarded residential compound.
Pink walls and dark tiles; greenery set between them; above the gate hung only two elegant characters written with forceful brushstrokes: Lan Garden.
The scenery inside opened up at once; pavilions and waterside terraces stood in staggered layers, and artificial hills and potted landscapes were exquisitely arranged.
The air carried the fresh scent of plants and soil, serene and deeply refined, like quiet seclusion hidden in the midst of a bustling world.
As soon as the car stopped, staff in understated traditional Chinese uniforms silently came forward to guide them.
Wen Yan followed Jin Zijin through a winding corridor toward a bright and spacious lounge connected to the indoor badminton court.
Her gaze brushed past the green bamboo and koi pond outside the corridor, both marveling at the elegance of the place and growing more and more uneasy about the meeting ahead.
The moment they stepped into the lounge, the people inside came out to greet them at just the right time.
At the front was an elderly woman dressed in a comfortable dark navy Chinese-style exercise outfit.
Her white hair was snowy, yet arranged with impeccable neatness; her face was rosy, her eyes clear and sharp, and her back straight. She walked steadily, and the fullness of her spirit was deeply striking.
Beside her was a young woman of about thirty, with a gentle, quiet temperament and a naturally respectful manner.
The old lady wore a warm smile, her gaze first landing on Jin Zijin with familiar affection.
But the instant Wen Yan’s eyes unexpectedly met the old lady’s face, she was completely stunned.
It was as if the blood in her whole body froze, then rushed to her head at once; a buzzing sound rang in her ears, and her pupils shrank uncontrollably.
She had seen this face before.
Only once, several years ago, at the far end of a hospital corridor crowded with people, glimpsed from afar between layers of passing figures.
But the dignity and bearing that time had etched into that face, along with the name and title her mentor had once mentioned in a low, reverent voice, were deeply carved into her memory.
This was a major figure one could only ever see in special settings or on special news reports.
Wen Yan felt a faint dizziness; her fingertips went cold.
Subconsciously, she clenched her fist, her nails biting into her palm, using that sharp little pain to keep her outwardly calm.
Such a big shot...
And Jin Zijin had so casually said it was “just playing a bit of badminton with an elder” and “having a simple meal”?
Her gaze shifted almost mechanically to Jin Zijin beside her.
Jin Zijin had already stepped forward quickly, respectfully yet familiarly supporting the old lady’s arm as she smiled and said, “Grandma, you look great today. We weren’t late, were we?”
Grandma?
Wen Yan felt even her breathing hitch for a moment.
The old lady smiled and patted Jin Zijin’s hand, then turned her kind gaze to Wen Yan, who was standing frozen in place and struggling to maintain a proper expression; all of her faint tension and shock were laid bare before her eyes.
The old lady’s smile deepened, and she said to Jin Zijin, “So this is the one you just married? Jianlan came back from your wedding and even told me you chose well.”
“Seeing her today, she really is a good child.”
Wen Yan’s cheeks went hot at once. She hurriedly wanted to step forward and greet her according to the most proper etiquette.
But because she was too shocked and too suddenly flustered, her movements came out a little stiff.
Jin Zijin looked back at Wen Yan, then turned around and smiled at the old lady as she introduced her, “Yes, Grandma. Her name is Wen Yan.”
She paused, then added in a calm, natural voice, as if introducing the weather for today: “My wife.”
The “grandma” Jin Zijin addressed was actually surnamed Sun.
She and the Jin family’s old matriarch had been comrades who’d fought life-and-death battles together back in the day; the two families had been close for generations, bound by a deep friendship.
Jin Zijin introduced her to Wen Yan with familiar ease. “This is Grandma Sun.” Then she pointed to the young woman who had been staying by Grandma Sun’s side, carrying a gentle, bookish air. “This is Grandma Sun’s granddaughter, Sun Jianlan.”
Wen Yan immediately gathered herself, stepped forward half a pace, and bowed slightly. “Hello, Grandma Sun. Hello, Miss Sun.”
Sun Jianlan smiled politely and took the initiative to extend her hand. “Hello, Wen Yan.”
Her fingertips were cool, and her handshake was measured and appropriate; the touch was brief, and the etiquette perfect.
Grandma Sun smiled kindly and called them over. “Don’t stand at the door. Come in and sit down.”
The group moved into the inner hall.
The room was set up in a classical and dignified style; the rosewood furniture gleamed with a warm luster, and a landscape painting with a profound, distant mood hung on the wall.
Sun Jianlan personally picked up the teapot and poured them freshly brewed pre-rain Longjing tea. In the celadon cups, the tea was clear and green, its fragrance light and elegant.
She also brought out a few exquisitely arranged pastries, including osmanthus cake and walnut cookies.
Amid the lingering tea fragrance, they drank and talked.
Looking at Jin Zijin and Wen Yan sitting side by side, Grandma Sun’s eyes were full of satisfaction as she said to Jin Zijin, “Once a person starts a family, they do become more steady.”
“You found such a thoughtful partner; the big stone in your grandma’s heart can finally be put down halfway.”
Then she changed the subject, looked at her granddaughter, and shook her head. “Unlike this one of mine; sigh, she’s really a worry.”
Sun Jianlan was just picking up a piece of walnut cookie. Hearing this, she didn’t mind at all; she only smiled lightly and said relaxedly, “Grandma, marriage is fate. If it’s not time yet, there’s no use rushing.”
As she spoke, her gaze brushed over Jin Zijin almost casually, and her smile deepened a little. “I don’t have your good fortune, Zijin; when you reach out, you grab a treasure.”
Jin Zijin lifted her teacup, hiding the perfunctory curve at the corner of her mouth, and said lightly, “Just luck. You’ll find someone as good as Wen Yan someday too.”
Wen Yan sat quietly to the side, taking small sips of tea.
She watched the apparently casual exchange between Sun Jianlan and Jin Zijin, and caught the way Sun Jianlan would lean slightly toward Jin Zijin when speaking.
Jin Zijin, though not particularly expressive, showed no resistance either.
That natural closeness somehow sent a very faint, sour ache through Wen Yan’s heart, like the subtle bitterness that rises after tea leaves settle at the bottom of a cup.
She lowered her eyes and unconsciously rubbed her fingers along the smooth wall of her teacup.
Lunch was set in a small flower hall; the dishes were light and refined, mostly seasonal vegetables and nourishing soups.
At the table, Grandma Sun specially used serving chopsticks to place the tenderest piece of steamed sea bass onto Wen Yan’s plate and said kindly, “Xiao Wen, eat more; look how thin you are.”
“Thank you, Grandma.” Wen Yan hurriedly thanked her.
On the other side, Sun Jianlan and Jin Zijin talked about recent developments.
The topic soon turned to the hotly trending field of AI smart applications and several emerging drone projects.
The two of them were clearly both experts; their speech quickened, and technical terms flew.
Occasionally there would be a clash of viewpoints, but they quickly reached consensus, making the atmosphere lively and focused.
Wen Yan ate her food in silence, tasting nothing.
She watched Jin Zijin’s attentive profile as she leaned in to listen to Sun Jianlan speak, watched her nod occasionally with admiration in her eyes, watched the high degree of tacit understanding between her and Sun Jianlan, built on shared fields and shared knowledge...
Her fingers on the chopsticks tightened slightly without her noticing, her knuckles turning a little pale.
Grandma Sun, old and sharp-minded, took all of Wen Yan’s tiny silence and tension in stride.
Smiling, she pointed her chopsticks vaguely at the two people chatting animatedly and said gently to Wen Yan, “Don’t mind them; those two kids have always been like this. Put them together and they start talking about things we old folks can’t understand, and they can’t even eat in peace.”
She also ladled Wen Yan a small bowl of soup. “Come now, Xiao Wen, have some soup. This was simmered for a long time; it’s very nourishing.”
Wen Yan’s heart warmed; she quickly accepted it. “Thank you, Grandma. I can do it myself.”
After the meal, the group took a stroll through the elegant garden to help digest the food.
The vegetation was lush, the fish in the pond swam lazily, and sunlight filtered through the leaves in mottled patches.
After walking a lap, Jin Zijin flexed her wrist and smiled at Grandma Sun. “Grandma, I specially changed clothes for today just to come accompany you and get some exercise. Shall we have a little competition?”
Grandma Sun accepted the challenge with delight. “All right; let me see whether you’ve been slacking off lately.”
The group then moved to the professionally equipped indoor badminton court.
Jin Zijin played first with Grandma Sun.
Although Grandma Sun was advanced in years, her movements were still nimble, and every step bore traces of her old prowess.
Jin Zijin deliberately held back and fed her well-placed shots; the two of them traded back and forth, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
After a few rounds, Jin Zijin naturally suffered a “complete defeat.”
“Grandma, you’re still as sharp as ever. I’m outmatched.” Jin Zijin laughed as she admitted defeat, slightly out of breath, a thin sheen of sweat gathered at her temples.
“You slippery girl.” Grandma Sun laughed and scolded her, but her gaze turned toward Wen Yan beside her. “Xiao Wen, come on, play a couple of rounds with Grandma.”
Wen Yan had been quietly watching from the side. Hearing this, she paused, then nodded. “Okay.”
When she went onto the court, her posture was different from Jin Zijin’s ease and confidence; she was more serious and focused.
Grandma Sun’s shots were quite seasoned, sometimes softly dropping near the net, sometimes driving deep into the back court.
Wen Yan moved quickly and with agility; no matter where the shuttlecock went, she was always there in time.
And the angle and force of her returns were controlled extremely well, never allowing the shuttlecock to fall easily, yet always sending it to the most convenient position for Grandma Sun to receive.
Her stamina was clearly excellent; after several rallies, her breathing was still steady and her eyes bright.
Jin Zijin and Sun Jianlan were playing a few games on the adjacent court. When they got tired, they went to rest under the corridor eaves at the side.
Sun Jianlan picked up a bottle of water and drank a few mouthfuls, her eyes falling on the slender figure moving and leaping across the court not far away.
Just then Wen Yan seized an opening, sprang lightly upward, and drew a beautiful arc with her arm for a clean, decisive smash.
Yet at the moment the racket struck the shuttlecock, the force was somehow pulled back; the shuttlecock floated gently over the net and landed right in front of Grandma Sun.
Grandma Sun laughed and caught it, returning a delicate drop shot.
Wen Yan landed steadily, then rushed to the net, even letting out a bright, crisp praise, “Beautiful!”
With a flick of her wrist, the woman sent the shuttlecock back again with perfect steadiness.
Jin Zijin leaned against a pillar, a water bottle in her hand, but her gaze never left Wen Yan on the court.
The winter afternoon was warm; sunlight shone brightly through the skylight and poured onto the badminton court.
After exercising, Wen Yan’s body was slightly hot, her cheeks flushed with healthy color, her fringe damp with sweat and stuck to her smooth forehead.
The fitted sportswear outlined her fluid waistline, long straight legs, and the vivid lines of a body in motion.
Jin Zijin felt a little dry-mouthed. She tilted her head back and took a sip of water, then looked at Wen Yan with burning eyes.
Sun Jianlan followed her gaze and gave a soft laugh. She bumped Jin Zijin with her elbow and lowered her voice. “I have to say, your marriage really is pretty great.”
“Where did you go to dig up such a lovely person? Look at how she’s got my grandma smiling from ear to ear.”
Jin Zijin withdrew her gaze and gave her a sideways glance, lifting her chin slightly; a flash of unabashed pride and smugness passed through her expression. “You should see who picked her.”
Sun Jianlan raised an eyebrow and leaned in a little, her voice tinged with curiosity. “But... I remember the name on the wedding invitation was ‘Wen Chen’? How did it turn into ‘Wen Yan’? Don’t tell me you got the wrong person.”
She was joking, but her eyes were appraising.
Jin Zijin’s expression didn’t change as she answered indifferently, as if stating a simple fact; lying came naturally to her. “Who said that? The one I always meant to marry was Wen Yan.”
She paused, as though recalling some irrelevant detail, and added casually, “Oh, probably the assistant made a typo when printing the invitation. I didn’t check carefully.”
“It’s such a small thing; it doesn’t matter.”
Sun Jianlan clicked her tongue and turned to look at her, teasing, “But how come I’ve never heard you say you like women?”
Jin Zijin glanced at her, her expression mild. “There are plenty of things you haven’t heard before.”
“And besides, did I ever say I liked any men?”
Fair enough.
Since childhood, Jin Zijin had always been the kind of person people chased after, circling around her like butterflies around a flower, and yet she never responded to anyone; she’d only been busy making money.
Thinking of that, Sun Jianlan smiled and shook her head, sighing, “Your luck is ridiculous. Even a business marriage ended up landing you such a good person.”
Hearing this, Jin Zijin’s mood brightened.
She lifted a hand and patted Sun Jianlan’s shoulder, neither light nor heavy, her smile edged with mischief and swagger. “Little sister, don’t be jealous.”
“This kind of blessing...” She dragged out the words, her eyes glinting. “Go cultivate for another three hundred years and see if you’ve got a chance.”
Sun Jianlan brushed her hand away, looking disgusted. “No. I don’t want that kind of blessing.”
“You’re already married, so don’t drag me into this. I cherish my single life and my career path very much.”
The two of them stood relaxed, laughing and chatting brightly. To Wen Yan, who had just finished a round and was taking a break to drink water, it looked like an entirely different scene.
She saw Jin Zijin’s naturally affectionate gesture when she patted Sun Jianlan’s shoulder; she saw the bright smile in Sun Jianlan’s eyes as she looked up at Jin Zijin and spoke; she saw that atmosphere between them, free of any barrier and intimately familiar...
It was like an extremely fine needle, silently pricking at the tip of her heart.
Wen Yan slowed her drinking.
The brightness in her eyes from exercise dimmed a little.
The faint sourness that had been there ever since they met quietly fermented in her chest, turning into a dull, acidic ache that spread without a sound.
She looked away, set the empty water cup aside, and casually adjusted the strings on her racket.
Her long eyelashes lowered, hiding the fleeting loneliness in her eyes.
————————
Hahaha, she really does care so much.
Caring means you’re already in the next stage of feelings.
Still at midnight tonight.
[ panda head ]