Fighting For My Wife With Myself After Being Reborn - Chapter 37

The weather outdoors was exactly as Shen Huaixu had perceived it from behind the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The spring day was warm, and the breeze was gentle.

Shen Huaixu strolled along the cobblestone paths of the community park, occasionally catching the fragrance of flowers blooming on both sides. The scent was elegant and pleasant, lovely enough to be enjoyed without causing dizziness or sleepiness.

The park was very quiet. Perhaps because it was a workday, there weren’t many people strolling like her—mostly elderly grandfathers and grandmothers, or parents pushing strollers.

The elderly walked and paused, occasionally sitting on benches holding hands and whispering. The parents wore gentle smiles, softly describing things to the infants in the strollers that were, to them, both novel and beautiful.

At this moment, everyone tacitly shared this brief period of tranquility.

Shen Huaixu was among them, though she, having just regained her freedom, was far less calm than she appeared.

As she breathed in the crisp air and the faint floral scent, she couldn’t help but burst into tears.

No one knew how she had endured this past period.

Every day, she had faced either absolute darkness and silence or the existence of a “behind-the-scenes spirit” who could do nothing at all.

Had it not been for her strong psychological resilience and her powerful will to survive, Shen Huaixu didn’t doubt for a second that she would have literally fallen ill from suppressed frustration; it was truly agonizing.

“I never used to think a blue sky was anything special—couldn’t you see it every time you looked up? Looking at it now, I really didn’t know how to cherish it!” Having wandered around the park for ten minutes, Shen Huaixu couldn’t help but lament.

Things that once felt within easy reach had, at certain times, become unattainable existences. It was truly ironic.

Shen Huaixu admired the long-lost sky. She wasn’t stingy; she snapped a few photos of the azure sky and the competing blossoms, sending them all at once to Gu Yinghuai, who was still “toiling at the mill” at work, to show that she was being a good girl, taking her walk, and not getting into trouble.

Refuse Overtime: 【So good, so good. As a reward, let’s have Spicy Incense Pot together tonight, Xu~】

Don’t Want to Work: 【(Drooling) (Drooling)】

Don’t Want to Work: 【Can I apply for a cup of milk tea too? (Acting cute.jpg)】

Refuse Overtime: 【Oh my, I’ll have to think about that one (Distressed)】

Don’t Want to Work: 【QAQ Wifey~ Spoil me】

Refuse Overtime: 【Pfft, alright, alright. But you can’t have it iced! If I find out you ordered an iced one, when I get back, hmph, you’ll be in for it.】

Don’t Want to Work: 【By your command, My Lady Wife】

Refuse Overtime: 【(Kiss.jpg)】

Shen Huaixu grinned sillily at the “kiss” on the chat interface, thinking her Huai was simply too cute, wishing she could reach through the screen and pinch her little cheeks.

After fan-girling for a while, Shen Huaixu adjusted her mask, pulled down the brim of her baseball cap, and walked toward the community gate.

Every second of her “release time” was precious; she had to make the most of these final moments.

Once the half-hour was up, without waiting for Gu Yinghuai to check in, Shen Huaixu proactively sent a photo of herself at home, indicating she had arrived and her physical condition was good.

If one ignored the iced milk tea and dessert in her hand, she could be described as nothing less than perfectly obedient.

The thing about milk tea is that iced and room temperature are two completely different beasts—and hot is just… well, unless it’s the end of the world, Shen Huaixu wouldn’t drink hot milk tea.

She took a risk and quietly ordered a cup with “no ice,” not daring to tell Gu Yinghuai.

How does “no ice” not count as room temperature? Shen Huaixu felt guilty yet righteous at the same time.

The messages Shen Huaixu sent vanished like a stone in the ocean. She didn’t even have to think to know her Huai must be buried under work at her tiny workstation again.

Poor thing, she must be exhausted. Feeling sorry for her wife, Shen Huaixu exited WeChat and opened a food delivery app to send some “long-distance warmth.”

And so, after a month, Gu Yinghuai’s colleagues once again enjoyed a delicious and sweet afternoon tea.

The resentment generated by days of continuous work dissipated quite a bit under the influence of the afternoon tea. Many people smoothed their furrowed brows and happily ate the free treats.

“Oh, the desserts from this place are truly delicious, just a bit too expensive.” Jian Yulan ate a cream puff with a look of satisfaction.

In truth, with her income, she could afford to buy them whenever she wanted.

But how could something you buy yourself be the same as something you get for free? Things that don’t cost money just taste better!

Besides, for the same price, she’d rather take Chen Miao out for hot pot or Korean BBQ; desserts were just an occasional treat.

Chen Miao teased her: “Even our wealthy Yulan thinks it’s expensive? Shouldn’t you just wave your hand and take the whole shop?”

Jian Yulan rolled her eyes at her, too busy munching on the puff to respond. She turned to Gu Yinghuai and asked, “How is your partner’s recovery going?”

Gu Yinghuai stopped halfway through replying to a message, looked up, smiled, and said, “Recovery is going well. She was even clamoring to go out today.”

Thinking of the “Outing Application Report” Xu had typed up, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud right in front of Jian Yulan and Chen Miao.

Seeing her like this, Chen Miao and Jian Yulan understood perfectly. This girl had looked half-dead just a while ago, but in the last couple of days, her complexion had reddened significantly. Her almond eyes were no longer clouded by gloom; when she smiled, they sparkled, making her look exactly like a little fox who had just eaten a sweet grape.

Love is indeed the ultimate medicine.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I knew it. You’ve been looking radiant these past two days, and it’s definitely because of this.” Seeing that her friend was finally no longer frowning, Jian Yulan felt much more relieved. She and Chen Miao had been worried sick lately, fearing that before Shen Huaixu could recover, Gu Yinghuai would work herself into a collapse.

Chen Miao wiped the cream from her fingertips and continued to “grind at the mill,” her tone inevitable tinged with workplace resentment. “Yeah, Yinghuai, you have no idea. This brat Yulan hasn’t stopped nagging me about it during meals. My ears are practically growing calluses from her voice.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Yinghuai caught Jian Yulan’s gaze before she could look away. She successfully saw the other woman’s face turn red instantly. Perhaps feeling embarrassed at having her “true colors” exposed, Jian Yulan began to argue wildly, claiming she hadn’t been talking about it constantly and that Miao Miao’s words were pure slander.

Looking at her red-faced and uncomfortable friend, Gu Yinghuai kindly didn’t dismantle her pale defense. Instead, she soothed her emotions. “Thank you both. I’ve made you worry lately. How about I treat you to hot pot tomorrow night?”

Hearing there was hot pot to be had, Jian Yulan was no longer shy. She looked at Gu Yinghuai with expectant eyes and asked, “Why not tonight?”

“Stupid, because Yinghuai has a date tonight!” Although Chen Miao was still working, her ears were tuned into their conversation. “Don’t be a nuisance.”

“Miao Miao, you’re the nuisance!” Jian Yulan grabbed a small bread roll she’d swiped from someone else and threw it at Chen Miao, only to see Chen Miao reach out and catch it perfectly. She then tore open the packaging and started eating. “Thank you for the gift, Yulan BB. Mmm, really tasty.”

Jian Yulan was nearly incensed by her mocking tone, but since it was still working hours, it wasn’t easy to lash out. She could only glare at Chen Miao indignantly and drop a threat for her to “just wait until after work.”

A soft threat was no match for the threat posed by the data Chen Miao was currently processing. She gave a perfunctory “mm-hmm” while still chewing the “heaven-sent” bread roll.

Jian Yulan turned her head away in a huff—out of sight, out of mind.

Gu Yinghuai covered her mouth and stifled a laugh.

Whenever her two friends were together, they always produced interesting chemical reactions. Every time they bickered, she would happily listen to their incredibly childish dialogue, and then, right when they were actually about to start a real fight, she’d separate the impulsive “children” and coax them both.

She cherished her friends, just as her friends cherished her.

The painful working hours passed quietly under the comfort of the afternoon tea. As soon as the clock hit quitting time, people who were seriously staring at their monitors one second were saving data, exiting software, and shutting down the next. Off work!

“Leaving, leaving! See you tomorrow~”

“See you tomorrow~”

“Ugh, I don’t want to work. When will this life ever end? I want a vacation—”

“Accept your fate. You want a vacation at a time like this? You’re dreaming.”

“Abominable! A little corporate ox can’t bear to hear those words. Take them back!”

Colleagues left the company laughing and talking. Chen Miao and Jian Yulan said goodbye to Gu Yinghuai and left together, planning to eat a big meal at a nearby mall.

Gu Yinghuai was in no rush to leave.

She slowly packed her things, called a car, and followed behind other colleagues with light steps to the elevator.

In the past, except for rare occasions, Shen Huaixu would drive to pick her up and drop her off. Now that Shen Huaixu was home recuperating, without her private shuttle, Gu Yinghuai could only drive herself or call a ride.

In the beginning, Gu Yinghuai would drive herself, but over time, even the most industrious person becomes lazy. Now, taking advantage of the fact that she didn’t live far from the company, she took a taxi every day.

Today was no different.

Sitting in the backseat of the taxi, she replied to the messages Shen Huaixu had been pestering her with since the afternoon—messages she hadn’t been able to answer.

The person on the other side of the screen seemed to be standing guard over the phone. As soon as the message was sent, she received a teary-eyed emoji from Shen Huaixu, along with a pitiful accusation of “cold violence.”

Faced with her girlfriend’s baseless accusations, what could Gu Yinghuai do besides indulge her?

After coaxing her girlfriend for a long time, while the driver was waiting at a red light, she opened Weibo.

Upon refreshing, the first thing that popped up was Shen Huaixu’s “mission” post—nine whole photos summarizing her day at home.

In Jiang Rui’s words: Since she’s injured and can’t come out to work, she should at least maintain some presence on the internet. Otherwise, by the time Shen Huaixu recovers, she’ll be a “who?”

Gu Yinghuai carefully gave it a like and saved the selfie in the center.

This photo is at a slightly different angle than the one Xu sent me!

The taxi pulled up to the community gate just before nightfall. Gu Yinghuai took her bag and got out.

The spring night was cold and windy. Those who had been strolling in the park during the day had long since run back to their warm homes as the sun began to set; the park was now deserted.

Gu Yinghuai caught a mouthful of chilly wind and quickened her pace home.

“I’m back,” Gu Yinghuai called out toward the living room as she opened the door.

Shen Huaixu came running at the sound of her voice. She stood at the entryway, her silver-gray eyes fixed on Gu Yinghuai. She opened her arms and waited with a light smile for Gu Yinghuai to rush into her embrace.

Gu Yinghuai took three steps in two, throwing herself into Shen Huaixu’s arms.

Her lover’s warm embrace chased away the chill left on her by the biting spring wind. She tilted her head up, and the next second, a burning kiss from her lover landed.

“Welcome home.”