Did My Ex-Wife Agree to Remarry Me Today? - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Not Wanting to Go Home

 

Once the car cleared Exhibition Road, it merged onto Jiangwu Avenue, entering the evening peak-hour traffic.

 

As Cao Rong drove, A-Mei suddenly held up her communicator from the back seat and said excitedly, “Sister Zhou asked me for photos!”

 

Director Cao, completely confused, asked A-Mei, “What photos?”

 

“Photos of Cookie’s mom.” A-Mei tapped away at her communicator enthusiastically. “Cookie’s mom said if Sister Zhou asked for photos, I should send her the first one. I’ve already sent it to her.”

 

A-Mei’s excitement stemmed from the fact that the instructions finally matched—she had fulfilled Cookie’s mom’s request!

 

Director Cao, keeping her eyes on the road, shook her head, dismissing it as a little game between a couple; she didn’t want to hear about it, nor did she want to understand.

 

Having completed her mission, A-Mei happily tucked her communicator away, thinking about where she would take Cookie for a stroll once she got back.

 

The black screen of the communicator chimed again. A-Mei looked down, squinting her eyes in confusion at the new message.

 

Li Zhou had received the photo and sent another message: “Send me the others too.”

 

What others? A-Mei stared blankly.

 

Li Zhou added: “Didn’t you take many? Send me the rest as well.”

 

A-Mei frowned while selecting the photos, wondering inwardly: How did Sister Zhou know she took a lot of photos? Sister Zhou wasn’t even there when she was taking them.

 

Could it be that Cookie’s mom told her? Cookie’s mom told her herself, yet still told me to only send one!

 

Chi Yun was unaware of Li Zhou asking A-Mei for photos. She was focused on driving, her mind occasionally wandering as she planned where to take Li Zhou to eat. It had taken a lot of effort to get her to agree to dinner; she had to make the most of this opportunity.

 

Images of several vegetarian restaurants flashed through her mind. Chi Yun picked two with nice environments and asked for Li Zhou’s opinion.

 

Li Zhou chose one located halfway up a mountain.

 

Chi Yun steered the car toward that direction. They drove westward, facing a sky that looked like a color palette. The sunset set the sky ablaze, turning it a deep rose color. After driving a bit further, a golden-orange light appeared, staining the western sky an orange-pink.

 

Li Zhou, having finished saving each photo, sat in the passenger seat with her eyes closed to rest. Occasionally, she tilted her head to steal a glance at the person beside her, who was driving seriously.

 

This feeling was unfamiliar to Li Zhou—specifically, the current state between her and Chi Yun. It was a vague, ambiguous spark growing out of the ruins of their past. There had never been such ambiguity between them before.

 

After they got married, all emotions and interactions had hit a freezing point. Concepts like “marry first, love later” or “love growing over time” had all been false. She had actually believed the things she searched for online back then.

 

Now, this current state seemed like the right track—the one Li Zhou truly wanted.

 

How long will it last?

 

The restaurant they were going to was called “Flower Signal.” It was nestled halfway up a scenic mountain, but the parking lot was at the base. To get to the restaurant, one had to walk a mountain path that tested one’s patience.

 

Having grown up going into the mountains with her two mothers to pick herbs, make medicine, and deliver it, Chi Yun felt a natural affinity for mountains.

 

Li Zhou was also very relaxed. As a plant spirit, she felt a kinship with mountains and nature. Walking through a place with fresh air and high humidity, every pore on Li Zhou’s body seemed to expand, breathing in deeply.

 

It was early spring. The small flowers and grass along the road were vibrant and colorful. With the sunset glowing and the evening breeze blowing, the walk was incredibly pleasant.

 

It truly felt a bit like a date. The two walked up the slope side-by-side.

 

The naturally quiet one maintained her composure, her steady gaze fixed on the view ahead, looking at the scenery rather than the person. The talkative one, in order to suit the beautiful scenery and blend into the atmosphere, remained silent as well.

 

In this environment, letting the mood rise and the unspoken understanding spread was far more effective than any amount of talking—a logic that was easy to capture and practice.

 

After reaching the slope, they had to climb two flights of stairs to reach their destination. The first flight was narrow, a shortcut specifically paved. Chi Yun let Li Zhou go first, following silently behind.

 

Halfway up, Li Zhou, who had been moving at a steady pace, suddenly stopped. She didn’t speak or turn around; she stood still in her original posture, seemingly waiting for something.

 

Chi Yun peeked past Li Zhou to see what was happening. A herbivorous ladybug was slowly crawling across the step. The person ahead of her was actually waiting for the insect to cross.

 

“I’ll shoo it away.” Chi Yun stepped forward.

 

The little thing was quite smart. Chi Yun tapped the stone slab in front of it with her toe, creating a puff of wind. Sensing danger, the ladybug spread its wings and flew away—a classic case of bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

 

“It’s gone.” Chi Yun looked back at Li Zhou.

 

Li Zhou’s expression was indifferent.

 

“Shall I hold your hand?” Chi Yun reached out toward Li Zhou.

 

It was dinner time, and other customers unwilling to take the long way around were heading this way too. They were currently blocking the “transportation artery”; if they didn’t move up, the people below would get stuck.

 

Li Zhou didn’t reach out. Instead, she gently pushed Chi Yun’s back. “Go forward.”

 

Chi Yun saw the people below coming up the stairs one after another, and realizing the stairs were too narrow to walk hand-in-hand comfortably anyway, she didn’t insist. She walked ahead of Li Zhou, acting as a shield against annoying bugs or moths.

 

Times had changed. In the old days, Dragons and Phoenixes were truly formidable; with a few whispered words, the snakes, insects, and rodents of an entire mountain would obey them—coming when called and leaving when told. After the passage of time, these creatures had evolved. Recognizing that Dragons and Phoenixes weren’t that scary anymore and wouldn’t usually do anything to them, they grew bolder, going about their business as they pleased.

 

Chi Yun had lost her cool skills and could only use primitive methods—shooing with her hands and chasing with her feet. Sometimes, when her movements were too large, Li Zhou would remind her from behind: “Be careful.”

 

Chi Yun loved the feeling of Li Zhou’s hand lightly supporting her back. The strength from that slender hand penetrated the fabric to brush against her skin, making Chi Yun’s heart itch.

 

After finishing the stairs, the road merged with a boardwalk circling the mountain. The path widened. Chi Yun reached out to Li Zhou again. “Shall I hold your hand?”

 

This time, Li Zhou didn’t refuse. She gently placed her hand in Chi Yun’s. Chi Yun turned back, her smile more radiant than the mountain flowers.

 

“A table for two?” Upon entering the restaurant, a server approached them.

 

“Yes,” Chi Yun answered.

 

“Please follow me.” The server led them to a window seat. “You can scan the code on the table to order. There are self-service fruits and drinks over there; please take as needed in small portions to avoid waste.”

 

“Alright, thank you.”

 

Chi Yun pulled out the chair for Li Zhou and took her coat, placing it in the storage area by the chair. She did these things with practiced ease.

 

Today, Li Zhou was rarely the one being served by her.

 

“What do you want to eat?” Chi Yun opened the electronic menu and placed it in front of Li Zhou.

 

Li Zhou scanned it. “Two simple dishes will be fine.” She wasn’t very hungry.

 

“You look first; I’ll order mine.” Chi Yun was starving. She was famished; she had just grabbed quick bites for breakfast and lunch, and only now could she sit down for a proper meal.

 

She ordered a bunch of things to fill her stomach. If she were sitting across from someone else, Chi Yun wouldn’t dare order so much, as appetite is linked to one’s “poise,” and President Chi cared about her image. But in front of Li Zhou, she didn’t need to worry about such things.

 

While waiting for the food, Chi Yun made a point to mention: “The doctor said I don’t need an IV tonight. I just need to take medicine and observe. If I don’t have a fever all night, I’ll just take medicine from now on.”

 

The underlying hint was that she was a “free agent” tonight, easy to arrange, available at a moment’s notice—she would go wherever she was told.

 

Li Zhou cut off those hidden desires with a single sentence: “You still need to rest. Go home and rest early after dinner; don’t go running around.”

 

Chi Yun let out a long, drawn-out “Oh—” sound, expressing her reluctance vividly.

 

The food arrived quickly. When the waiter brought out a stack of pancakes, Li Zhou couldn’t help but reach out to stop them. “The doctor said you can eat this?”

 

“Of course.” Chi Yun showed Li Zhou the medical advice; it mentioned avoiding seafood, cigarettes, and alcohol, but it didn’t say anything about pancakes. Pancakes were her staple; she’d go hungry without them.

 

“How many portions did you order?” Li Zhou frowned at the pancakes stacked like a small mountain. “Isn’t this too much?”

 

“Just one portion,” Chi Yun reached out to take the plate from Li Zhou, promising, “The rest are vegetables, very light. Don’t worry, I’ll have a bite of pancake, a bite of greens, and a sip of soup. I won’t mistreat my stomach.”

 

Having passed the audit, Li Zhou let her go. Chi Yun finally got to eat the leek pancakes she had been craving.

 

During the meal, Li Zhou mostly watched Chi Yun eat. This person could eat ten palm-sized pancakes in one go; just watching her made Li Zhou feel full.

 

After finishing, Chi Yun even complimented her: “I think they’re not as good as yours, really. If you made them, I could eat another portion.”

 

Li Zhou suddenly poured cold water on her: “There probably won’t be an opportunity for that anytime soon.”

 

“Are you going out to sea?” The spark of excitement that had just flared in Chi Yun’s eyes died down.

 

“Departing tomorrow evening, or maybe earlier,” Li Zhou said.

 

What did that mean? It meant that once tonight was over, she would wake up for work tomorrow, and no matter how fast she rushed after work, she wouldn’t be able to see Li Zhou. A new documentary was being filmed; once Li Zhou left, she certainly wouldn’t be back for at least ten days or two weeks. Chi Yun didn’t even dare think about a longer duration.

 

Calculating it this way, tonight’s time together became precious. Chi Yun grew even more reluctant to part with Li Zhou.

 

“If you’re full, let’s go.”

 

The walk down the mountain was dragged out by Chi Yun. Every two steps, Li Zhou had to turn back to look at her. This person was plucking a leaf from this tree and tugging at a branch from that tree, obviously slowing down the process of returning.

 

“Aren’t you afraid the owner of the trees will come and settle the score with you?”

 

“I’m just pulling the branches; I didn’t break them,” someone defended.

 

Li Zhou walked down the steps, grabbed Chi Yun’s wrist, and pulled her down the mountain.

 

Reluctantly getting into the car, Chi Yun asked Li Zhou, “Where to now?”

 

Li Zhou: “To your house.”

 

A flash of light crossed Chi Yun’s eyes; she almost misunderstood Li Zhou’s meaning. Then she realized and followed up, “Are you coming in?”

 

“No,” Li Zhou said. “Drive to your door, you get out, and I’ll drive the car back to Wuzhou.”

 

As expected. Chi Yun was even more unwilling to go back.

 

She drove at a snail’s pace on the road, not caring that she was overtaken by countless cars. But no matter how much she stalled, the journey of less than twenty kilometers eventually ended an hour later.

 

The car stopped at the entrance of Huijing Mansion. Chi Yun didn’t get out; gripping the steering wheel, she began her shameless routine: “I’ll drive you back, then take a taxi back myself.”

 

“A waste of money and time. No need,” Li Zhou refused decisively.

 

“I’ll drive you back, sleep at your place for the night, and have Pei Pei pick me up tomorrow. That way it’s not a waste of money or time.” A person’s true purpose is often hidden under a thin skin.

 

“Then wouldn’t you be wasting Pei Pei’s labor?”

 

Chi Yun slumped over the steering wheel, resting her head on her arms. Her eyes were burning with intensity, yet also held a trace of hurt from being repeatedly rejected. She looked at Li Zhou and said mournfully, “I’m her boss, and I pay her a salary.”

 

“That still doesn’t mean she should labor for your private affairs.”

 

“I want to go to your house,” Chi Yun put her cards on the table. “Just say yes or no.”

 

Chi Yun was prepared to slump over the steering wheel all night if the answer was no, and she made sure to convey this through her determined gaze.

 

Li Zhou was well aware of her little tricks. She said, “Aren’t you going to my house just to do something shameless before bed?”

 

“Let’s make a deal. Pick one ‘shameless thing’ to do. Once it’s done, you get out of the car, and I go home. Deal?”

 

Chi Yun immediately perked up: “Does that include ‘this’ and ‘that’?”

 

Li Zhou: “What ‘this’ and ‘that’?”