Did My Ex-Wife Agree to Remarry Me Today? - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Learning to Swim

Before heading to the office, Chi Yun made a quick trip back to Huijing Pavilion.

She needed a change of clothes and wanted to check on the tree-form A-Li. Perhaps due to the recent heavy rainfall or the sudden rise in temperature, a bright orange-red ant nest had appeared in a corner of the yard. It was so striking that Chi Yun spotted it immediately.

Even though the nest was tucked away far from the pear tree in the center, Chi Yun worried that a stray ant might lack common sense and crawl onto A-Li. A-Li was terrified of bugs.

Chi Yun’s mind immediately drafted a high-level defense upgrade plan: not a single insect was to get near A-Li.

Efficiency was her middle name. After messaging Pei Pei to push back the morning briefing, Chi Yun grabbed a shovel from the warehouse. Growing up helping her mother, aunt, and grandmother tend to the gardens, she was quite adept with tools.

She dug a circular trench around the protective perimeter—20cm deep and 20cm wide. Then, she lined the trench with waterproof fabric, secured the edges with soil, and filled it with water. The shimmering white surface of the water created an immediate sense of an “inviolable boundary.”

Chi Yun soon realized the moat didn’t just stop ants; it stopped her too. Previously, she could stand quite close to A-Li. Now, with the existing protective net and the new moat, she had to stay a full meter away, watching A-Li from a distance.

No hugging, no biting—only looking.

At least A-Li has two forms, she thought. Eager to finish her work so she could see A-Li in Wuzhou by evening, she hurried upstairs to change.

Pei Pei had “exchanged” various waste materials for sixty minutes of tardiness last week and decided to use them on Monday. As she strolled toward the office building, she ran into Chi Yun at the entrance.

“Morning, President Chi,” Pei Pei said.

Chi Yun smiled. “Morning.”

Chi Yun was all smiles today. Anyone could see she was in a great mood a complete 180 from the low-pressure atmosphere she’d radiated last week. Pei Pei figured it was the perfect time to get those reimbursement forms signed; the boss would likely sign the covers without even flipping through the receipts.

In the elevator, Pei Pei looked for a way to show her initiative by discussing work or mentioning who had come looking for her during Chi Yun’s absence. But before she could display her “model employee” qualities, Chi Yun beat her to the punch with a non-work question.

“Pei Pei, do you know if there are any swimming pools near the company?”

“A swimming pool?” Pei Pei froze, utterly baffled. Hearing those words from her boss was bizarre. Everyone in the company knew President Chi was a Phoenix. Taking a Phoenix into water was like giving a Dragon a drink—only someone with a death wish would attempt it. Did the boss take the wrong medication today? Is she trying to lead me into a life of crime?

Pei Pei shook her head vigorously. “No idea.”

Since the office was on the 32nd floor and all four elevators were occupied, Chi Yun took the chance to chat. “Can you swim?”

“Yes,” Pei Pei replied honestly.

“Where did you learn?”

Asking a Dragon where they learned to swim was also strange. Pei Pei didn’t even have a memory of “learning.” After she hatched, her mother had tossed her into the natural lake in their neighborhood, and she had outswum the fish instantly. To a Dragon, swimming was as natural as breathing.

Talking about this in front of a water-fearing Phoenix felt like bragging. Pei Pei thought of how Chi Yun always kept her away from the “storm centers” of drinking at business dinners out of consideration. She decided to be equally considerate.

“I learned at Wanyou Lake. It took me a long time,” Pei Pei lied.

“Wanyou Lake? The one at Building 3?” Chi Yun recalled seeing that lake from the skywalk to her grandmother’s house. In summer, the little Dragon cubs were packed in there like dumplings.

“Yes,” Pei Pei said.

Chi Yun nodded and fell silent. She liked Wanyou Lake, but she knew it wasn’t for her. Building 3 was a Dragon gathering spot. A grown Phoenix wearing a floatie among a bunch of Dragon cubs would look ridiculous.

However, Wanyou Lake gave her an idea. Instead of searching in the human world, she should look within the Phoenix community. Maybe the water there was better suited for a Phoenix’s constitution.

Back in her office, she called the clan manager, Hu Hongquan.

“Little Matriarch,” Hu Hongquan answered warmly.

Chi Yun’s mother, Sheng Minghui, was the Phoenix Matriarch, once responsible for the lives of over 15,900 Phoenixes. After old traditions were abolished and Phoenixes integrated into society, she had become much more relaxed. The Matriarch system remained as a symbol of unity, and Chi Yun was next in line.

“Uncle Hu,” Chi Yun said, “do we have a lake at the East Pavilion?”

“A lake?” Hu Hongquan paused. “No. We used to have one, but after several Phoenix chicks were scared into hysterics, we filled it in. Even the stream by the main building was converted into a dry creek bed.”

“Oh, I see,” Chi Yun said, disappointed.

Hu Hongquan picked up on her tone immediately. “If the Little Matriarch wants a lake, we can dig one right now. We’ll fence it off so the little ones don’t get near it.”

“Dig one?”

“Of course,” he said. “The East Pavilion has plenty of land. If you need a lake, use as much space as you want.” Though he didn’t know why she wanted a lake, he felt the entire Phoenix clan must support her unconditionally.

Thinking of the massive construction involved, Chi Yun hesitated. “Not yet. Let me think about it.”

After hanging up, she scrolled through social media and happened upon two posts by Yu Ting about a private swimming club. She tapped the photos and sat up straight. The environment looked excellent and the location was close. The description mentioned they offered lessons, starting from infants.

Chi Yun knew her own level. She figured she’d have to start with the infant pool and a coach who specialized in babies. Anything deeper might result in her drowning before she even learned the basics.

Learning to swim was a plan, but not for today. She wasn’t fully recovered yet. She decided to set the date for a month from now. For now, she’d ask Yu Ting about the privacy and the patience of the coaches.

Two hours later, Yu Ting saw a message from Chi Yun: President Yu, are you familiar with this swimming club?

Yu Ting replied quickly: Yes. It belonged to a friend, was membership-only, and very private. She was surprised it caught Chi Yun’s eye. She typed tentatively: Does President Chi want to learn how to swim?

Chi Yun didn’t panic at being found out. What was wrong with a Phoenix breaking through her limitations? Before she could reply, Yu Ting sent another: There are actually other Phoenixes who learn there. I ran into one last weekend.

That hit the mark perfectly. Chi Yun asked several more questions before Pei Pei called her for a meeting.

On the other side, Yu Ting sent a message to her friend: How fast can I get a swimming coach certificate? The friend replied: About half a month. There’s an exam coming up. Yu Ting: Sign me up.

By 6:20 PM, Chi Yun arrived at Li Zhou’s house under a gentle twilight.

The yard was buzzing. Several large trucks were lined up, and workers in light blue uniforms were loading crates. Chi Yun recognized them parts for Li Zhou’s exhibition. The fact that they were loading suggested the setup was starting soon.

With her usual parking spot taken by a truck, she parked behind Grandma Wang’s house. Wang Fang was waiting for her. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet, but I’m not hungry. I want to see if I can help A-Li,” Chi Yun said honestly.

Wang Fang smiled. “If you haven’t eaten, come inside. The person you’re so eager to see left instructions. She said when you arrived, I should stop you and feed you. A-Mei is over there helping, and you’re a patient don’t disrupt their assembly line workflow.”

If it were just Wang Fang asking, Chi Yun might have politely declined. But knowing it was Li Zhou’s request changed everything. A-Li isn’t that against me being here, she thought happily. She even arranged my dinner.

“I’ll follow your lead then,” Chi Yun said. “Do you need a hand?”

“The patient should rest. We’re having rice noodles tonight,” Wang Fang said. “I’ll make you the roasted pork version.”

Chi Yun was easy to please today. But while she was eating, Dr. Wang suddenly appeared. She took Chi Yun’s hand, ready to start the IV.

Wait! Chi Yun thought. The IV is happening here at Grandma Wang’s? Not in A-Li’s bed?!

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