After the Divorce, the Whole World is Waiting for Us to Get Back Together - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The sunlight still lingered on her, but the expression in Meng Zhijin’s eyes had completely detached itself from Cheng Xi’s memories. Those dark pupils were cool and clear; a few strands of hair fell across her forehead, silently re-establishing the distance between them.

Their eyes met.

Cheng Xi’s heart gave a violent throb. Her ears burned under that icy gaze.

Guilty conscience.

She wasn’t sure if it was because she realized she had been staring too directly at Meng Zhijin, or because of the untimely memories that had just flooded her brain.

Because of the eyebrow grooming, they were standing quite close. Meng Zhijin’s voice wasn’t loud, and the people around them couldn’t hear. Compared to Cheng Xi’s caught-in-the-act embarrassment, Meng Zhijin appeared exceptionally composed.

Seeing that Cheng Xi had no intention of speaking, Meng Zhijin unhurriedly withdrew her gaze. She turned to the makeup artist standing nearby and asked, “How is it? Is this the feeling you were looking for?”

The makeup artist, who had been watching in awe, nodded repeatedly, thoroughly impressed by the “natural” brow Meng Zhijin had shaped with such a casual hand.

Unfazed by the praise, Meng Zhijin set down the razor. Like a patient teacher, she continued, “Miss Cheng’s features naturally carry a sense of world-weariness. Since it’s ‘weariness,’ the wildly growing brows shouldn’t be forced into something too delicate…”

This cold yet gentle demeanor made Cheng Xi’s brow furrow slightly. It was exactly like how Meng Zhijin had acted earlier in front of the mirror, talking to someone—or no one.

Once was an accident. Twice was a pattern.

To bluntly call out her dazed stare and then immediately pivot to a calm professional discussion with someone else… What is this? Revenge combined with flirting with an ex?

The Meng Zhijin in Cheng Xi’s memory and the Meng Zhijin she had seen over the last few days had a subtle discrepancy. The woman she used to know was never like this.

The corners of Cheng Xi’s mouth slowly dipped. So, my understanding of her really is just superficial now, isn’t it?

A staff member holding a phone for filming walked over. The interviewer asked, “I didn’t expect Teacher Meng to have such a skill. Have you groomed anyone else’s eyebrows in the past?”

Meng Zhijin was honest. She shook her head. “No.”

“Really? With such a practiced hand, I thought you had tried it many times,” the interviewer said with a hint of regret, then chuckled. “It seems Teacher Meng’s grooming skills are like her acting—pure natural talent.”

“I wouldn’t dare claim that,” Meng Zhijin said, her lips pursing slightly in humility.

Cheng Xi’s movement of biting into a Longjing pastry paused. She wouldn’t dare? Her current “practiced hand” was partially thanks to Cheng Xi. She couldn’t count how many times her brows had been shaped by Meng Zhijin, nor how many times she had purposely messed around during the process.

Bright winter light filling the room… moving lips… searching for fingers to interlock with, while the razor was tossed onto the carpet for the umpteenth time.

Striking while the iron was hot, the interviewer brought up their willingness to share a lounge. “I remember Teacher Meng and Miss Cheng collaborated three years ago. You look very familiar with each other; you must keep in touch a lot in private, right?”

The room went dead silent. Nearby staff members frantically signaled the oblivious interviewer.

The interviewer froze as his sluggish brain finally recalled the “smoking gun” of their bad relationship: the paparazzi photo from three years ago at the Silence wrap party, where they stood side-by-side with faces as cold as stone.

The staff member felt cursed. He had met many stars, but he had never seen a pair with “bad blood” accept a shared lounge, let alone something as intimate as grooming eyebrows! How was he supposed to make the connection?

The air was thick with awkwardness.

Cheng Xi, being both at the center and the periphery of the situation, slowly chewed the last bite of her pastry. Then, as if by accident, she looked at the real center of attention: Meng Zhijin.

The woman was calmer than expected. Her satin skirt flowed naturally over her crossed, shapely legs, revealing a sliver of jade-like skin. Her hand rested on the sofa arm, her neck and shoulders forming a beautiful, poised arc. She looked more natural than Cheng Xi.

Cheng Xi frowned. Her mischievous, childish curiosity was cut short; her expectation for a reaction fell flat.

Meng Zhijin’s assistant, Xiao Qi, reacted quickly. The incoherence she showed in front of Cheng Xi vanished. She stepped in to save everyone. “Teacher Meng has been filming Daylight abroad for the last two years. Contact with everyone back home has decreased significantly.”

“That’s unavoidable,” the interviewer quickly pivoted, following the lead. The frozen interview was salvaged.

The interviewer refocused on Meng Zhijin. “So, after returning from Country Y, what are your plans for future work? Will your focus return to the domestic market?”

“Of course. However, there are no specific plans for work yet,” Meng Zhijin gave a very official answer. “Having lost touch with many in the country over the years, the priority after returning is to plan some reunions.”

“Actually, there’s no time like the present.”

Cheng Xi’s voice cut through the air from behind the camera. Her long, straight black hair obscured half her face; the contrast between snow-white skin and jet-black hair made her red lips look strikingly vivid.

“Since Teacher Meng plans to reconnect with people in the country, why don’t we take this opportunity to get to know each other… again?”

There was a thick smile in Cheng Xi’s eyes, a seductive charm radiating from her fox-like gaze. Along with it was a calculated spark of mischief.

Since Meng Zhijin had “teased” her more than once, it wasn’t unfair to return the favor, right? After all, she was just a “stranger” who hadn’t been in touch for a long time.

Moreover, the “discord” from years ago was a lie to hide the fact they were together. Now that the fact was gone, there was no need for that specific misunderstanding to persist. Or perhaps, making it more awkward would be better. Maybe Meng Zhijin would find her “rudeness” in front of the camera so off-putting that she’d back out of the dating show.

Then Cheng Xi wouldn’t have to deal with the job.

The liveliness that had just returned to the room dimmed again. Silence coiled around Meng Zhijin. She sat on the sofa, her raven lashes lowering slightly. She looked like she was considering it—or perhaps just being cold.

Knock, knock. “Teacher Meng, Studio 2 has been cleared.”

A staff member’s reminder at the door felt like a divine pardon to everyone else. Just as they were about to use this excuse to separate the two clashing women, Meng Zhijin stood up.

Cheng Xi’s hand, which she had extended to show “sincerity,” hadn’t been withdrawn yet. Suddenly, it was gripped. Two different hands interlaced, and a warmth grew in the cool palms.

It was strange, yet both carried a familiarity they didn’t want to admit. And an ambiguity.

The fragrance on Meng Zhijin was elusive and distant, yet she was physically closer to Cheng Xi than ever. Her voice, as light and airy as ever, imprinted a single word by Cheng Xi’s ear:

“Okay.”

After Meng Zhijin left, Cheng Xi was called to her own shoot. The equipment was professional, and she finished before the afternoon rush hour. Xiao Wu went out to deal with the driver, leaving Cheng Xi to wait in the studio.

The photographer was thrilled with the shots. “Miss Cheng is truly photogenic. You were born for the camera. If you ever need a shoot, you must come to me.” He handed her a black business card.

Cheng Xi took it, her face looking even more exquisite than on the screen as she smiled brilliantly. “I will.”

The photographer was dazed.

Just then, the studio door was knocked. Xiao Qi poked her head in. “Teacher Cheng, I saw your assistant go look for the driver. Are you finished?”

“Finished. Come in.” Cheng Xi nodded, seeing the notebook in her hand. “Want an autograph?”

Xiao Qi nodded eagerly. “Can I?”

The girl looked to be about Cheng Xi’s age, her eyes bright with expectation. Cheng Xi wondered if she looked this starstruck in front of Meng Zhijin. Thinking of her sneaking away from Meng Zhijin to find her gave Cheng Xi a petty sense of victory.

“Of course.” Cheng Xi took the pen and notebook. The new paper smelled of wood; the flyleaf was decorated with a delicate lace border. Just as she was about to sign, her wrist paused.

“What’s your name?”

“My name is Chen Qi. Everyone calls me Xiao Qi.”

Cheng Xi noted it. Her pen glided across the white paper, writing a blessing that included Xiao Qi’s name, followed by her own signature. She showed it to the girl. “Is this okay?”

The contrast between her cold, red-lipped appearance and her gentle voice made Xiao Qi’s eyes glaze over for a second. She clutched the notebook to her chest like a treasure.

Creeeak.

The door opened again. Xiao Wu walked in with a worried face. “Xi-jie, we have a problem.”

“Is 521B0 here again?” Cheng Xi guessed.

“Yes and no,” Xiao Wu groaned. “Sister Ming reported it to the police yesterday. 521B0 didn’t show, but we can’t be sure if these people outside are with them.”

Cheng Xi disliked the gloom. She pinched Xiao Wu’s sagging face. “Don’t look so down. Sister Ming isn’t here, but I am. We’ll stick to the old plan. You wear my clothes and take the car to lead them away.”

“But will you be okay alone? What if they have others following you?” Xiao Wu’s worry only increased.

“Um… I think I might be able to help.” Xiao Qi raised her hand tentatively. “I can talk to Teacher Meng. We can drive Teacher Cheng home. Teacher Meng used to deal with sasaengs abroad; I have experience in counter-surveillance.”

Cheng Xi was surprised by the offer. But after several interactions, her guard against Xiao Qi had lowered slightly. Still, she asked her assistant, “What do you think?”

Xiao Wu knew the professionalism of Meng Zhijin’s team would be top-tier. “That would be a huge help. Thank you.”

The setting sun sliced through the foliage near the quiet back exit of the studio. The concrete floor was baked white by the sun, cast over by flickering green shadows.

Cheng Xi stood in an inconspicuous corner wearing clothes borrowed from the studio, a baseball cap pulled low over her small face. A black car with a very expensive logo glided into her field of vision and stopped.

She was amazed that Xiao Qi could borrow such a luxury vehicle. Xiao Qi poked her head out from the passenger seat, gesturing for her to get in.

The door opened automatically. A puff of cool air drove away the summer heat. Cheng Xi stepped onto the running board and climbed in, saying politely, “Thank you, Xiao Qi.”

“No need, no need!” Xiao Qi waved her hands frantically, gesturing toward the back seat. “If you want to thank someone, thank Teacher Meng.”

The familiar title hit Cheng Xi’s ears like a physical blow. Her gaze, which was about to lift, froze.

The tinted windows softened the glare of the sunset, illuminating the interior in a warm glow. Meng Zhijin sat with a straight back in the rear seat—quiet, yet possessing an overwhelming presence.

She looked at Cheng Xi and said calmly:

“I’m starting to doubt your motive for wanting to ‘get to know me again.'”

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