After the Divorce, the Whole World is Waiting for Us to Get Back Together - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

As time went on, the summer heat became increasingly prominent. The sweltering air only served to make one’s throat feel drier and parched.

“Knowing the taste of the marrow” is the most cunning thing in the world; a sensation slid down Cheng Xi’s throat, like an ice cube dropped into boiling water.

Cheng Xi didn’t know what Meng Zhijin was thinking when she asked that question, nor did she know if the way she leaned in was intentional or accidental. She only knew that the pendant light hanging over the bar flickered in her peripheral vision, acting like a warning that she must not step forward.

There were no cameras here. She shouldn’t indulge her own desires.

“Teacher Meng, we aren’t in the show right now,” Cheng Xi reminded her, shifting her gaze away from Meng Zhijin. “Keeping an appropriate distance from a work partner and not knowing too much about their privacy… that’s what you taught me back then.”

Meng Zhijin watched Cheng Xi avoid her gaze, leaving her with only a profile. Her eyes remained as calm as ever as she nodded in agreement: “You are very smart. You’re a quick learner.”

Cheng Xi’s personality dictated that she could never hide her emotions. Being praised made her happy, even though she knew Meng Zhijin was just nodding along with her earlier reminder.

Steam billowed from the small hole in the lid of the earthenware pot, spreading out as it thinned. In this rising mist, Cheng Xi tilted her head slightly and looked back at Meng Zhijin: “Then shouldn’t Teacher Meng give me some kind of reward?”

Hearing this, Meng Zhijin’s gaze faltered for a moment. The purpose written in this woman’s eyes was so easy to see through, just like back then…

But before Meng Zhijin could think further, Cheng Xi’s voice rang in her ear again: “Treat me to a meal, Teacher Meng.”

Cheng Xi’s eyes curved slightly. The way she tilted her chin made her look like a clever and alluring cat. So blatant, so unapologetic.

Meng Zhijin discreetly hid the shifting emotions in her eyes and agreed: “Alright.”

Cheng Xi immediately became excited. These past few days had been too difficult; she couldn’t eat spicy or oily food while on Chinese medicine, and both Qi Ming and the old practitioner were monitoring her. Cheng Xi had planned to embrace fried chicken and crawfish after Wilderness Survival, but now she had to say goodbye to all that.

But luckily, luckily… she had delivered medicine to Meng Zhijin today. She could piggyback off Meng Zhijin’s place and order delivery for a satisfying feast.

“I want fried chicken, pizza…” Cheng Xi scrolled through the delivery app, calculating what to eat for this rare opportunity.

But before her plan was set, Meng Zhijin’s voice came: “You are taking Chinese medicine. You cannot eat fried food.”

The voice was calm as usual, yet somewhat cold and ruthless. Cheng Xi instantly wilted. Her eyes looked at Meng Zhijin with a mix of innocence and grievance, as pitiful as an abandoned kitten.

But Meng Zhijin remained unmoved, filtering through the deliveries on her phone. “How about Sukiyaki? It’s light and has a lot of variety.”

She added a final note: “We can order a small side of tempura and have them deliver it.”

“Deal!” Cheng Xi was instantly revitalized, a well-behaved smile appearing on her fox-like face.

The Sukiyaki Meng Zhijin ordered arrived right on time. The medicine had just cooled to a drinkable temperature when a knock sounded at the door.

Meng Zhijin had just picked up the white porcelain bowl when she heard the sound and prepared to get up. But just as she made the move to set the bowl down, Cheng Xi pressed her down by the shoulder. The young woman’s figure—no longer as gaunt as before—loomed over her. “Just drink your medicine.”

For a moment, Meng Zhijin felt a sense of déjà vu, as if a lifetime had passed.

Cheng Xi moved swiftly to the door. She didn’t know which restaurant Meng Zhijin had ordered from, but the delivery person wasn’t a standard rider; it was the restaurant’s own staff, looking very formal and efficient. “Here is the Sukiyaki you ordered. The tempura will be crispier if you put it in the microwave for a bit. Enjoy your meal.”

“Thank you,” Cheng Xi said politely, taking the food and closing the door.

Since Meng Zhijin was still drinking her medicine, Cheng Xi took it upon herself to unpack, taking the items out one by one. When she pulled the large box from the bottom, she was genuinely surprised. “Whoa, what kind of service is this? They sent the pot too?”

“I bought it; I didn’t have one at home,” Meng Zhijin explained calmly after finishing the last drop of medicine.

“Isn’t it bitter?” Cheng Xi looked at Meng Zhijin’s indifferent expression in surprise, then shifted her focus back to the brand-new pot. “I get the feeling you almost never cook at home?”

“It’s not bitter.” Meng Zhijin took a tissue to wipe the corner of her mouth, answering Cheng Xi’s questions methodically. “I’ve only been back in the country for less than a month, kid.”

Another “kid.”

It was casual, yet it felt like a feather brushing against Cheng Xi’s heart. Away from the cameras, they should be widening the distance in real life, yet this familiar nickname brought out an ambiguity that made it hard to distinguish their boundaries.

Cheng Xi gave a soft “Oh,” not knowing if she was responding to the first explanation or the last word. She lowered her head to carefully open the boxes of ingredients and seasoning. “Then do you know how to make it, Teacher Meng?”

“Just sit down. Consider it a thank-you for brewing the medicine today,” Meng Zhijin said. She picked up the empty porcelain bowl and placed it in the dishwasher.

“Well, isn’t that nice?” Cheng Xi, naturally enjoying the prospect of being served, sat down with a smile. “If I come to brew medicine for you every day, doesn’t that mean I can come here for a free meal every day?”

“If you are willing,” Meng Zhijin said, turning toward Cheng Xi.

Sunlight fell through the side window into the open Western-style kitchen, surrounding Meng Zhijin in white light. She leaned lightly against the cabinet, her pure black eyes seemingly holding a blatant invitation. Because it was so direct, one didn’t dare to try and decipher the emotions within. It was feared to be a fragile soap bubble that would vanish if poked.

Cheng Xi chose to avoid it once again, using an excuse: “Sister Ming wouldn’t be happy about that.”

The rising steam from the pot gradually dissolved the slight stagnation in the atmosphere, and the aroma of beef began to spread. Meng Zhijin’s arrangement of the pot was very standard; her steps for making Sukiyaki were similar to what Cheng Xi had seen in Japanese dramas. Cheng Xi watched from the side, occasionally being helpful by clearing away the empty, obstructive boxes.

The two coordinated with a silent understanding, as if they spent time like this often. And indeed, they once had. The dust-covered memories lay between them, but amidst the swirling aroma, neither chose to reminisce.

Once everything was set, Cheng Xi sat down properly. Without much regard for her image, she rested her bare feet on the chair and began casually scrolling through her phone. “The show’s official Weibo started the teaser campaign today, did you know?”

“Mhm,” Meng Zhijin replied, without missing a beat as she added broth to the pot.

“Do you think they can recognize us from those silhouettes?” Cheng Xi asked curiously.

“They can,” Meng Zhijin nodded, putting the lid on the pot.

Cheng Xi rarely saw Meng Zhijin so certain about such things. She followed up: “Teacher Meng, you seem very sure. Why?”

“The first season was a massive hit. Countless eyes are watching the second season; rumors have leaked long ago,” Meng Zhijin analyzed calmly, not hiding her team’s strategy from Cheng Xi. “My team’s lips aren’t as tight as they used to be either. There are also several accounts belonging to internal staff.”

Commonly known as “Marketing/Fan leads.”

Cheng Xi knew the style of Meng Zhijin’s team in the past and was surprised by the current shift. She propped her chin on her hand and thought for a moment, her downcast eyes filled with a hint of ambiguous laughter as she clapped her hands. “Not bad, Teacher Meng. You’ve been back for less than a month, and you’ve already figured out the domestic entertainment industry’s operating model and started manipulating it?”

A trace of weariness flashed through Meng Zhijin’s eyes at Cheng Xi’s words, but it left no mark. In the end, she just curled her lips into a smile and didn’t answer further.

Cheng Xi’s finger swiped across her phone screen. Her attention was on the show’s 7:00 PM official announcement, and she didn’t catch Meng Zhijin’s fleeting look. She asked curiously: “I wonder how they’ll react when they see it’s really us?”

“I feel like the public’s impression of us is still that ‘Cold Face Incident’ from three years ago.”

Hearing this casual tease, Meng Zhijin frowned slightly and opened the lid. The long-trapped white mist rushed out, instantly obscuring Meng Zhijin’s face. The Sukiyaki broth bubbled, and the cross-cut shiitake mushrooms were round and plump from soaking up the juice.

Meng Zhijin placed a piece of Wagyu beef into Cheng Xi’s bowl. “It’s ready. Crack an egg for yourself and dip it.”

Cheng Xi’s eyes curved, and she immediately set her phone down. “Thank you, Teacher Meng. I won’t be polite then.”

Whether it was because the Sukiyaki from this shop was delicious or because of Meng Zhijin’s skill, Cheng Xi ate with great satisfaction and was soon half-full. The cold sparkling water smoothed over the complex flavors in her mouth. Cheng Xi let out a comfortable sigh and looked up to see Meng Zhijin eating asparagus slowly and methodically.

She didn’t eat fast; she chewed each piece of asparagus several times. Her pale pink lips moved slightly, looking strangely attractive. Cheng Xi still remembered the first time she ate with Meng Zhijin; she had made fun of her, saying that at this speed, she would have starved in an orphanage.

For some reason, Cheng Xi hesitated, put down her chopsticks, and chose to take a break to wait for Meng Zhijin.

The phone beside her lit up again. Seeing that half an hour had passed since the teaser began, Cheng Xi logged into her “sockpuppet” account to check Weibo. As expected, the official Weibo for Our Romantic World was in a frenzy, with comments reaching four digits in half an hour.

However, the top comments weren’t fan-coordinated control; they were a chaotic “brawl.” Meng Zhijin’s fans and Cheng Xi’s fans were fighting. Even the comments for Su Miaomiao and He Chen couldn’t win and were pushed down.

“No, I refuse! I won’t allow Teacher Meng and Cheng Xi to be together! Someone save me!”

“LOL, who do you think you are to ‘not allow’ it? Sorry, taking our Little Fox away. We don’t chat unless it’s official. Everyone, please pay more attention to our Little Fox’s upcoming movie, Dreaming of Chang’an.”

“Genuinely asking, what does Cheng Xi have to show for herself? How can she collaborate with someone of Teacher Meng’s caliber? It’s a pity for a celestial being like Teacher Meng; she probably came back to the country to undergo a ‘trial’.”

“Yeah, your Meng Zhijin is a celestial being, normal humans aren’t worthy. If you’re so capable, don’t join a romance show! Seriously, if she’s so above the mortal world, why squeeze into a hit show? Real celestial or fake? More like a ‘Painted Skin’ demon.”

“Meng Zhijin is professionally trained, graduated from the Central Academy of Drama. Her debut work won Best Newcomer, followed by three consecutive top national awards—her strength as a Movie Queen is evident. No black spots, no scandals since debut. The only negative news is the ‘Cold Face Incident’ after the Daylight celebration party three years ago, thanks to Miss Cheng. I wonder who the real ‘Painted Skin’ demon is.”

“Who doesn’t know Meng Zhijin has a Movie Queen mother and a top lawyer father? Our Little Fox is just genuine and doesn’t flatter people.”

“I know why they chose Teacher Meng. Other artists probably couldn’t help but roll their eyes if they were paired with Cheng Xi, who treats a cold face as a personality. I feel for Teacher Meng, having to act with a flamboyant, attention-seeking brat.”

The two fanbases had fought once three years ago over the “Cold Face Incident.” Meeting again now, they ignited at a touch. In the back-and-forth, Cheng Xi’s side was at a disadvantage.

Meng Zhijin saw an ambiguous smile on Cheng Xi’s face—not a particularly bright one—and asked, “What are you laughing at?”

Cheng Xi didn’t hide it. She pushed her phone toward Meng Zhijin. “Your fans are calling me a flamboyant, attention-seeking brat. They say you’re only on this show to undergo a trial.”

Meng Zhijin looked at the towering comment section. The dense black text flashed before her eyes, causing her to frown.

But before Meng Zhijin could think further, she felt a shadow fall beside her.

Cheng Xi had walked over at some point. Without much decorum, she sat sideways on the table. Then, just as they had described—like a flamboyant attention-seeker—she leaned down and moved directly toward Meng Zhijin.

Her eyes held a vengeful smile, and the small mole on the tip of her nose was clearly visible to Meng Zhijin. As the two leaned so close their shadows seemed to overlap, she whispered: “But Teacher Meng, what do you think your fans would do if they knew you were having dinner with this ‘attention-seeking brat’ right now?”

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