Did My Ex-Wife Agree to Remarry Me Today? - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Biting the Straw

Intuition told Li Zhou that sleeping together was a trap or perhaps not a “trap,” but an event that would spiral out of her control. What Li Zhou feared most was precisely this: a situation that deviated so far from the norm that she could never return to her original state of equilibrium.

The current pace was one she liked and, more importantly, one she could still manage. Thus, she refused Chi Yun’s request. “You sleep first. I can’t. I need to go downstairs to finish the drawings; I might pull an all-nighter.”

Her expression was cool, but her gaze lingered on Chi Yun’s harmless, slightly dazed face. Internally, she thought: This woman is quite the actress. I can’t tell if this “innocence” is real or just a front…

Generally speaking, in the dead of night, inviting a single woman to lie in bed with you is a clear signal of “ill intent.” Moreover, this person had a “criminal record.”

In all fairness, even if Chi Yun’s mind was occupied by “ill intent” for 22 out of 24 hours, there were still 2 hours where she was peaceful, quiet, and simply wanted to discuss philosophy. At this moment, she was remarkably calm—calm enough to genuinely want to invite Li Zhou to bed to discuss academic issues. Environmental academic issues.

Soft pillows, comfortable bedding, a dim bedside lamp… lying face to face, looking into each other’s eyes what a perfect atmosphere for a long talk.

But Li Zhou’s departure to the studio crushed Chi Yun’s hopes for a deep conversation. Later, while alone, Chi Yun realized that although she had many ideas, she couldn’t yet articulate them clearly.

How does one make a water-fearing Phoenix stop fearing water? The Phoenix in question had no clue. She couldn’t bring herself to ask Li Zhou either; her fear of water was her “Achilles’ heel,” a weakness she wasn’t sure she could overcome. If Li Zhou gave her advice and she failed, she would lose face—and the failure would be witnessed entirely by Li Zhou.

Chi Yun was proud; she wouldn’t allow that. She decided she should swallow all the difficulties herself and only present the final, victorious result to A-Li. With this in mind, she felt it was too early to tell Li Zhou about her plans to go to sea. She had to erase the “water-fearing” label first.

While Li Zhou was downstairs, Chi Yun called Sheng Minghui.

Among the Phoenixes Chi Yun knew, her mother was the most adapted to water. As far as she knew, her mother wasn’t born that way; it was a gradual, post-natal adaptation. Now, there wasn’t a body of water on the five continents or four oceans that the free-spirited head of the Phoenix clan feared to tread. Surely, she had some experience to share.

The call connected quickly. On the other side of the ocean, the couple had just woken up and were out for a stroll. Sheng Minghui was surprised; her daughter never called at this hour. When she heard Chi Yun asking for a breakthrough on how to be less afraid of water, she was even more surprised addressing this required touching on some private matters.

Direct as ever, the Phoenix Matriarch asked, “Why are you asking?”

“I want to go to sea with A-Li,” Chi Yun said.

The couple already knew about the divorce, and Chi Yun had told them about the issues that had plagued her. Knowing their daughter was trying to win her wife back, Sheng Minghui and Long Xi were naturally willing to help.

Regarding the fear of water, Sheng Minghui had much to say, but the core solution wasn’t something easily discussed with a daughter especially one whose relationship was still in the “pursuit” phase. Unless, of course, things were heating up.

Sheng Minghui used to be just like Chi Yun; she couldn’t stand a drop of water on her skin. Her temper was much worse than Chi Yun’s, and no one could persuade her to change until Long Xi used certain “methods” to lead her. These methods included, but were not limited to: hugging in water, kissing in water, and… doing that in water.

These methods were for those whose hearts were already aligned. For someone who hadn’t even reached first base, she could only offer the basics.

“Drink more water, wash your hands often, and bathe frequently,” the Phoenix Matriarch offered as her nine-word mantra. “Fall in love with these three things, and you’ve taken the first step toward success.”

Chi Yun seriously noted this down in a small notebook.

“Also, win A-Li back quickly. Being with her will help with those three things…” Sheng Minghui couldn’t say more; she was already pushing the limits of her dignity. She couldn’t exactly tell her daughter that a “richer” sex life made those three things natural and indispensable. She could only hope the “cub” would figure it out herself.

The usually sharp Chi Yun failed to grasp the deeper meaning. She took her mother’s final words as simple encouragement and well-wishes. After hanging up, she immediately began to implement the mantra literally.

Step one: Drink more water.

There was a rustling sound upstairs as footsteps traversed the entire second floor. Li Zhou, who was supposed to be focusing on her drawings, found her gaze drifting upward repeatedly.

She had heard muffled talking earlier and guessed Chi Yun was on the phone. The call lasted a long time, and immediately after, the person upstairs started wandering around. It’s late; why isn’t she sleeping?

Soon, Li Zhou heard the roar of a faucet followed by the clatter of something falling into the sink. It was chaotic and noisy. Unable to take it anymore, Li Zhou closed her laptop and went upstairs.

Chi Yun had innocently tried to boil water. However, the water pressure in Li Zhou’s house was so high that a slight turn of the tap sent a violent jet of water out, startling her. Her grip on the kettle loosened, it fell into the sink, and the water splashed off the kettle, soaking a large patch of her clothes.

It was a mess, but Chi Yun managed to regain control. She turned off the tap, dried the kettle, and refilled it. When Li Zhou walked in, Chi Yun was wandering the living room in wet clothes, holding a water bottle and drinking.

Li Zhou recognized that bottle instantly. It was the one she had been using while drawing upstairs and had forgotten to take down. It wasn’t just any cup; it was Li Zhou’s most-used, almost inseparable drinking gear.

And it had a straw.

An hour ago, Li Zhou’s lips had been on that straw. Now it was in Chi Yun’s mouth. Looking at the water level, Chi Yun was drinking the very water Li Zhou hadn’t finished.

“What are you doing?” Li Zhou asked, annoyed.

Chi Yun looked slightly sheepish about using Li Zhou’s property without permission, but not very. Li Zhou had used this cup to give her water when she first woke up, so in Chi Yun’s mind, it was “shared” now.

Muffled by the silicone straw, Chi Yun mumbled, “Thirsty. Need water.” Her mother said drink more, and the doctor said drink more. She had logic on her side.

“That’s my cup,” Li Zhou emphasized, her annoyance peaking. And what was with the giant wet patch on Chi Yun’s chest? Had she been caught in a downpour?

“I couldn’t find another cup, so I borrowed yours,” Chi Yun said, armed with excuses. “Besides, the freshly boiled water is too hot, and your cup had cool water in it, so I just drank it.” She spoke with the righteous air of someone who believed her logic was flawless. “Dr. Wang said feverish patients need lots of water.”

Li Zhou gestured to the wet clothes. “And this?”

Chi Yun looked at the sink and pointed innocently. “Your tap has too much pressure. It splashed me when I was filling the kettle.” After saying this, she leaned back in and took two more sips.

When Chi Yun had fainted, Li Zhou had removed her outer layers before putting her to bed. Now, she was wearing only a thin white shirt. The wet patch was very prominent against the white fabric.

“I’ll get you some clothes. Change,” Li Zhou said. She gave Chi Yun her own pajamas.

Chi Yun changed quickly and then asked, “Then what will you wear tonight?”

Li Zhou looked at the soft pajamas on Chi Yun and the faint silhouettes underneath. She awkwardly looked away. “I’m not sleeping tonight. I don’t need pajamas.”

After changing, Chi Yun still wouldn’t let go of the water bottle. Every now and then, she’d take a sip. Li Zhou suspected this was intentional; she remembered Chi Yun hating plain water since they were young, so why the sudden attachment?

Li Zhou went over to take the bottle back. Chi Yun bit down on the straw, refusing to let go. In her distraction, a sharp fang hidden in the corner of her mouth bit through the silicone, creating a noticeable tear.

Her tongue felt it immediately. Chi Yun’s expression froze the classic look she gave whenever she got into trouble.

Annoyed, Li Zhou snatched the bottle away. This cup had been pristine for ten years, yet it was ruined the moment it touched someone’s mouth.

Chi Yun tried to explain she didn’t mean it, but Li Zhou seemed convinced it was intentional. With a headache starting, Li Zhou gave up on work and just wanted to lie down.

The “tactless” Phoenix stuck to her like glue, following her to the bed and explaining frantically: “Really, my teeth aren’t that sharp. It was just one fang in the corner, I accidentally grazed it while sipping!”

Li Zhou didn’t want to hear it and pulled the quilt over her head. As she did, she naturally settled onto the pillow. Chi Yun lay down too, facing her.

“Just look at my teeth, they aren’t sharp at all. It was an accident!”

The frantic explanation tactic eventually worked. Li Zhou could stay mad once or twice, but not forever. Soon, her anger dissipated. Chi Yun was still dead-set on proving it was an accident.

Li Zhou was exhausted; she hadn’t rested since yesterday. Arguing with this woman was more tiring than working at sea. “I’m tired. Let’s sleep,” she said.

“Okay!” Chi Yun enthusiastically tucked the edges of the quilt in.

The bed was a twin, and the quilt wasn’t large. If two people shared it, one was bound to be uncovered—unless they stayed very close. Realizing she was being tightly “cocooned” by Chi Yun with no gaps in between, Li Zhou opened her eyes.

Chi Yun’s eyes were bright, filled with a tireless, shimmering energy. The scene Li Zhou had looked forward to most before the divorce was finally happening on this tiny bed.

When Chi Yun suggested for the third time that Li Zhou check the “sharp fang” that bit the straw, Li Zhou actually, dizzily, agreed.

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