After Failing To Tame The Scumbag - Chapter 6

“Do you keep a dog?”

Another moment of silence.

Before Ji Jin could recover from those words, Yun Chuxiu directly cut to the next topic.

In all fairness, being a suitable dining companion isn’t easy, but for Yun Chuxiu, it wasn’t particularly hard either.

Ji Jin swallowed her food slowly, her thoughts not yet untangled from the previous heavy subject, but her mind was already smoothly being led away. Her tensed nerves gradually returned to normal.

…It seemed like it really wasn’t that big of a deal.

Ji Jin took advantage of the moment Yun Chuxiu looked down to pour tea to quietly observe her. Yun Chuxiu seemed to notice, but she said nothing, only slowly looking up after pushing the warm tea over.

That glimmer of playful cunning had briefly vanished.

Ji Jin felt a bit uneasy, but she also knew her own “talent” for stepping on landmines. She opened her mouth, then, as if in a fit of pique, took a bite of a green side dish she disliked. Chew, chew, chew… and then, unable to hold it in, she spat it out expressionlessly.

Yun Chuxiu: “…”

Yun Chuxiu couldn’t ignore the deliberate noise she was making. “If I call you a child, do you really have to throw a childish tantrum?”

Ji Jin puffed out her cheeks, avoiding the subject: “I don’t have anything to do this afternoon…”

“Your assistant already sent me your schedule,” Yun Chuxiu reminded the person attempting to lie with a straight face. “If I remember correctly, an hour from now, you have a rather important meeting to attend.”

Ji Jin: “Work isn’t as important as you.”

Yun Chuxiu spoke coolly: “If you really want to act out a CEO drama, please don’t cast me as the female lead.”

Ji Jin: “…”

Being rebuffed actually made Ji Jin happy. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at her, making a zipping motion over her lips, obediently silencing herself.

The summer sun was always intense.

After sending off a clearly reluctant Ji Jin, Yun Chuxiu stood alone in a quiet corner of tree shadows, lost in thought for a long time.

The expression Ji Jin had when she said those words reappeared in her mind. At the time, Yun Chuxiu felt dazed, but thinking back now, every pause Ji Jin made, every subtle change in her smile… was actually terrifyingly clear.

Yun Chuxiu thought and pondered until she almost forgot how to breathe.

She looked down, covering her eyes which were stinging from the sunlight, and let out a bitter smile. Her mind was a mess for a moment, even she wasn’t sure if this lingering bitterness was disappointment in Ji Jin or if she was simply exhausted from dealing with it all.

Since her attitude had always been so firm, then… what was Ji Jin thinking when she listened to those beautiful fantasies about building a family?

Yun Chuxiu suddenly couldn’t understand.

Acting pitiful, playing nice, even repeatedly lowering her bottom line to cater to her desire for control… Ji Jin was always generous toward her.

But…

But.

Yun Chuxiu got into her car in a daze, and only when her hand touched the steering wheel did she snap back to reality, quietly looking at her chosen destination.

Luoxing Orphanage.

“Sister Xiu!”

Just as she entered the gate, a group of “little radishes” no taller than her thighs rushed over. These colorful little children dashed through puddles that hadn’t dried yet. Just as they were about to hug her, they belatedly braked, looking sheepishly at the slight splashes on Yun Chuxiu’s skirt.

The hem of her black long dress was dampened in a small patch, looking like a few fallen stars, it was almost “artistic” and not very noticeable.

Yun Chuxiu, of course, wouldn’t get angry at the children for this. She shook the little cakes she had detoured to buy. Seeing the familiar children’s eyes light up and focus on one point, she couldn’t help but smile, gently patting the head of the first little girl.

“So, Xiu Xiu is back,” hearing the commotion, the spirited old Director also walked out. She even ceremoniously put on her reading glasses to take a careful look, then smiled warmly: “These little ones have much sharper eyes than mine.”

“Director Mama,” Yun Chuxiu handed the cakes to a nearby auntie and walked straight toward the old Director. The closer she got, the more the heavy gloom between her brows faded.

Time had not been unkind to the gentle Director. Even with a head of white hair, she didn’t look old at all. From a distance, her frame didn’t seem hunched, she looked like a green pine covered in snow.

“Xiu Xiu,” the Director happily took her hand and patted it. “Why the sudden visit? Did you suffer some grievance outside?”

Hearing this, Yun Chuxiu, who had intended to suppress her bad mood, felt her nose sting. She instinctively tried to distract herself, pinching the Director’s sleeve to steady her emotions.

In this early summer season, the Director’s clothes were thin. Within a few moments, Yun Chuxiu had unintentionally given herself away, yet she was unaware, only thinking of how to quickly gloss over the topic.

“…I just missed you.”

The Director patted her back and said, “When you were little and wanted to lie, you would grab my sleeve. You still haven’t changed that habit.”

Yun Chuxiu was speechless.

Fortunately, the Director knew the setting and didn’t press further. Instead, she settled the children with the caregiver and pulled Yun Chuxiu toward the inner room.

Yun Chuxiu looked up at the rusting “Story Room” sign, feeling both helpless and embarrassed. She whispered, “Director Mama, I’m not a child anymore…”

The Director widened her eyes, feigning sternness: “But you still call me Mama.”

With that, she brooks no refusal and pulled Yun Chuxiu onto the soft sofa. She first heated a glass of milk, then brought out a plate of bright, beautiful candies from under the table before slowly sitting down.

Yun Chuxiu felt even more embarrassed. Moreover, there were things she hadn’t figured out herself, so it wasn’t appropriate to speak of them and add to the worries of those who cared for her.

She paused and said, “Director Mama, actually…”

“Xiu Xiu, do you remember what I told you when you were little?” The Director saw the unease in her eyes and lightly tapped the table. “In here, you can tell me what happened in any way you like, even if you have to make up a story.”

“Don’t worry about secrets. I promise those stories will stay within this door.”

The Director’s voice was slow and gentle. Yun Chuxiu turned her head away awkwardly. Outside the wooden window, the sunlight fragmented the greenery. As the wind blew softly, she felt for a moment as if she had returned to that afternoon she first knocked on the door.

Director Mama had landed a critical hit.

Yun Chuxiu hesitated, raising her hand to cover the eye facing the light. Finally, amid repeated deep breaths, she slowly recounted the tangled mess of her emotions.

She didn’t use hypothetical characters or elaborate metaphors. Yun Chuxiu simply laid out the chaotic trifles of her life. Occasionally her words were disjointed and emotional, like a child lost in a heavy rain.

The Director just listened. When she finished, she handed her a glass of warm milk to soothe her throat.

Coming out of her emotions, Yun Chuxiu felt even more embarrassed as she recalled what she had said.

“Xiu Xiu, um… I might need to ask,” the Director seemed a bit puzzled, pausing for a few seconds. When Yun Chuxiu looked up, she asked slowly: “Are you keeping a dog that isn’t very obedient?”

The milk in Yun Chuxiu’s hand almost fell to the floor.

“No, she isn’t a dog…” Yun Chuxiu tried to explain helplessly, only to turn and see the Director’s clear, slightly teasing gaze.

Yun Chuxiu: “…”

Yun Chuxiu complained softly: “Director Mama, why is it that even though I’ve grown up, you still love to tease me so much?”

“Your phone has been vibrating,” the Director pointed to the screen peeking out. Yun Chuxiu reached for it, and just as she grabbed it, it vibrated again.

Likely because the messages hadn’t been answered, Ji Jin had called directly this time.

Yun Chuxiu instinctively wanted to hang up, but as she moved, the Director had already gotten up and left the room, clearly giving her a quiet environment to take the call.

Yun Chuxiu looked at the screen, paused for a few seconds, and finally pressed the green button.

“A-Xiu,” Ji Jin’s voice sounded frantic, only smoothing out after a few breaths. “Where did you go? Why aren’t you replying to my messages? You’re still angry, aren’t you? A-Xiu”

“Stop for a second,” Yun Chuxiu pulled the phone away to rub her ear. The fresh taste of milk lingered on her tongue, reminding her of where she was.

“I’m fine,” Yun Chuxiu checked the time, not intending to hide anything. “I bought some cakes to see the kids. When you messaged, I was probably in line and didn’t have my phone on me.”

Having received an explanation, Ji Jin calmed down. Only then did she reveal the reason for her call: “So that’s it. No wonder the person delivering the jewelry didn’t see you.”

Yun Chuxiu: “?”

Yun Chuxiu was truly confused now: “What did you buy?”

“It’s the pink diamond crown I commissioned from R-brand. I thought the timing was right, so I had them deliver it early,” Ji Jin said nonchalantly, as if these things were trifles, less important than a single look from Yun Chuxiu. She said, “It’s the seventh anniversary gift I prepared. It suits you perfectly.”

“Ji Jin, the anniversary isn’t today,” Yun Chuxiu closed her eyes, guessing she was showing off to appease her, which felt even more exhausting. “I’m not angry with you. You don’t need to keep doing this.”

Ji Jin’s breathing hitched again.

“But I really don’t know what else to do,” Ji Jin, who had been uneasy reviewing their conversation, sounded aggrieved. Her voice was damp and low: “I just want A-Xiu to see how much I care…”

“Then it must have been very expensive,” Yun Chuxiu evaluated calmly. At this moment, she had become completely composed.

She thought back to the words the Director said before leaving.

At the time, they seemed absurd, but thinking about it now, those blunt words weren’t entirely disconnected from reality.

Yun Chuxiu couldn’t help but wonder: was her persistent “pressure” a form of invisible taming for Ji Jin?

She shuddered for no reason.

“A-Xiu?” Ji Jin’s voice was pinched, as if afraid of disturbing someone.

Yun Chuxiu let out a long breath and narrowed her eyes. Like someone finally stepping out of a deep pool into the real sunlight, she smiled. The wavering stagnation finally dissipated.

“I’m listening,” Yun Chuxiu tapped the table. Her gaze fell back on the fragmented window. The sunlight was getting harsher, and at last, a faint mark was etched onto the stubborn tree trunk.

“I should be the one saying sorry to you,” Yun Chuxiu knew exactly what she needed to do. After soothing her with a more natural and gentle tone, she continued: “I’ve thought it through. We are fine as we are. That crown… I look forward to you putting it in my hands yourself. Of course, when the time is right.”

The silence on the other end lasted even longer. Ji Jin continued to breathe softly, as if dissecting every word to make sure there wasn’t a hidden thorn inside.

“Really?” Ji Jin asked again.

Yun Chuxiu hummed in affirmation. Ji Jin sounded happy, letting out a very obvious sigh of relief.

“I won’t forget,” Ji Jin’s voice rose, then realizing her change in tone was too obvious, she lowered it again, naturally acting spoiled: “One more week. In one week, we will have truly been together for seven years. I’ve cleared a long vacation for myself. A-Xiu, let’s go away together, okay? Just the two of us, no one else.”

Yun Chuxiu gave a vague answer, neither agreeing nor refusing. She just said it wasn’t convenient to discuss it now, listened to a few more of Ji Jin’s pretty words, and hung up.

Beep.

Yun Chuxiu leaned back against the sofa. Her heart felt empty. She didn’t even notice when the Director had come back in.

“Xiu Xiu, you’ve always been the child I’m most proud of,” the Director found something in her gaze. She opened her palm; a glass candy wrapper reflected rainbow-like light, tiny fragments bridging a gap.

“Now that you’ve grown up, I can’t help you much anymore, but the Story Room will always be here. I hope it can still give you the courage to face things.”

Yun Chuxiu responded, unwrapped the candy, and bit into it. Instantly, a cloying sweetness filled her mouth.

She didn’t necessarily like it, but it seemed to bring a peculiar sensation.

Yun Chuxiu crunched the candy and swallowed. After saying goodbye to the Director, she returned to her car. She first replied to all of Ji Jin’s messages, and then entered a positioning page filled with schedules and times.

A little green dot sat there quietly.

Yun Chuxiu smiled and pressed the button to close the one way tracking.

The timeline was stretched very long first the times, then row after row of annotated itineraries, then all the records she had stared at countless times.

The final little green dot hidden inside actually seemed insignificant now.

Seven years could be erased so easily. So, what exactly was it that she had been so stubbornly clutching in her hand?

Yun Chuxiu sighed. Like grinding down a stubborn, sharp gear, she suppressed the strong unease and resistance in her heart and stepped into the “correct” orbit.