Her Imperfection for Wifehood - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Although she was in a completely unfamiliar environment, a strange room, a strange bed, and was injured, Wei Yinxia slept exceptionally soundly.

Because this was not the Wei family home; no one was watching her. And An Jing was here—the person she loved most deeply.

An Jing was the last person she saw before sleeping, and the first person she saw upon waking.

“A-Jing?”

“You’re awake?”

An Jing was sitting by the bed, holding Wei Yinxia’s hand while reading a few newspapers and magazines that Lu Cheng had delivered in the evening.

She put down the newspaper and helped Wei Yinxia sit up: “Are you hungry? Lean back and don’t move. Be careful of the wound on your back. I’ll ask Qingyan to bring in the food.”

“Is it dark?” Had she slept that long?

“Mhm, it’s dark. You’ve slept for almost two hours.” An Jing reached out to tap her nose playfully and chuckled, “You can’t sleep as much as Xixi. Wanyun said Xixi can sleep for over ten hours a day at home.”

The feeling of being cherished by her beloved was so wonderful that Wei Yinxia thought she was dreaming.

An Jing went out and personally brought the food.

Wei Yinxia lifted the blanket to get out of bed, but An Jing quickly walked over to stop her: “Don’t get up. I’ll feed you. Be obedient, and let me take care of you for once.”

She had fed An Jing noodles back in the old part of the city. This time, it was An Jing’s turn to personally feed her, mouthful by mouthful.

After finishing dinner, An Jing had Qingyan bring hot water.

The manor was located in the suburbs, where fresh water was plentiful, though using it was not as convenient. It needed to be heated in the back kitchen on the first floor before being delivered to the second floor.

An Jing wrung out a hot cloth and handed it to Wei Yinxia: “It’s cold at night. You shouldn’t bathe today, so just wipe your face and soak your feet.”

“What about you?”

“I showered in Yunqing’s room before you woke up.” Although the guest room also had a separate washroom, she had gone to Tang Yunqing’s room to wash up so as not to wake Wei Yinxia.

Wei Yinxia quietly wiped her face, remaining silent.

An Jing saw her cover her face with the cloth, delaying looking up, and sat on the edge of the bed to pull at a corner of the cloth.

“Yinyin,” she successfully pulled the cloth from Wei Yinxia’s hand, cupped her chin, and kissed her lips, saying, “Yunqing is my best friend, and Xiaoyu is my goddaughter. They are like family to me. You are different. You are my beloved, the only person who makes me want to do these intimate things that only lovers do. Do you understand?”

“Mhm.” Wei Yinxia looked up and whispered timidly, “I’m sorry, A-Jing. I won’t be jealous of Tang… Sister Yunqing and Xiaoyu again.”

“Silly girl.”

After rubbing Wei Yinxia’s head, An Jing personally brought over the foot-soaking water for Wei Yinxia.

Wei Yinxia, who had just been acting a little “petty,” no longer cared about being shy and could only obediently let An Jing attend to her. Looking at the woman who had condescended to squat on the floor to wash her feet, she wondered what merit she had.

In her limited childhood memories, not even her own mother had washed her feet for her.

Once everything was settled, An Jing climbed into bed and lay flat, extending her right arm: “You can only sleep lying on your left side, so I’ll wrap my right arm around you perfectly.”

Wei Yinxia stopped being reserved. She lay down, resting her head on An Jing’s arm, pressing close to her shoulder and neck, and resting her right hand on An Jing’s waist.

Lying in the arms of the woman who was willing to wash her face and feet, Wei Yinxia was deeply moved. Tears of happiness passed through her hair and dripped onto An Jing’s neck.

“Why are you crying? Did you strain something just now?”

“No.” Wei Yinxia shook her head. “A-Jing, I just feel that the love and care you give me make me too happy. It feels unreal…”

Qingyan had prepared two sets of bedding; the pillows and blankets were paired.

An Jing had moved the blanket on the inner side of the bed to the chair before getting into bed. Now, they were sharing the blanket Wei Yinxia had used during her nap, and An Jing was using the pillow Wei Yinxia had slept on.

She used her right hand to grasp Wei Yinxia’s shoulder, pulling her closer, making Wei Yinxia press more tightly into her arms.

Her left hand found Wei Yinxia’s palm, holding it, and she kissed the top of her head: “Does this feel more real?”

“Mhm.”

After a short while, An Jing released her grip and gently wiped the tear stains from Wei Yinxia’s face in the dark.

Wei Yinxia had only slept for two hours and wasn’t sleepy now, but she was greedy for An Jing’s embrace and didn’t want to make the slightest sound to interrupt the blissful moment that belonged to her and An Jing.

But An Jing’s touch made her heart race, her mind restless.

She grabbed An Jing’s hand, kissed her fingertips and palm, then leaned forward to kiss her chin, then her lips.

As the kiss became passionate, Wei Yinxia guided An Jing’s hand to cover her own body to feel her physical change, but with just a touch, An Jing abruptly sobered up.

Their lips separated, and An Jing wrapped her arms around Wei Yinxia’s waist and back.

Their breathing was ragged, one high, one low.

The air rapidly heated up, then rapidly cooled down.

“A-Jing…”

“Yinyin,” An Jing cut her off, neither explaining why she didn’t continue nor offering any grand promises. She gently patted Wei Yinxia with her warm hand, speaking in a suppressed voice, “Hum me a little tune to help me sleep. I haven’t heard one in a long time.”

“Okay.”

Inside an ordinary small hotel in the concession, Kahn sat shirtless on the headboard, smoking.

Since he was doing something unsavory, he had to tolerate staying in a dirty, cramped small hotel.

“Zhang Wanying, I helped you commit murder—two lives for one—but you only sleep with me once. I’ve given you a buy-one-get-one-free. Shouldn’t you show some sincerity to be fair?”

Zhang Wanying, who was sitting on the edge of the bed dressing, smiled seductively, touching his leg with the tip of her toe: “Enough, Kahn. Don’t think for a minute that I believe your nonsense. If it wasn’t a sure-fire profit, would a sharp businessman like you take such a risk?”

Kahn was provoked. He extinguished his cigarette butt, pulled Zhang Wanying toward him, and stripped off the clothes she had just put on: “I like smart women.”

Zhang Wanying resisted, pushing against his chest: “You man, you promised only once…”

“My ‘once’ is longer, and better than his.” Kahn’s double entendre ignited Zhang Wanying’s lust. “Weren’t you quite satisfied just now?”

“You!” Zhang Wanying bit her lip in shame and anger. “You better keep your word. After tonight, we go our separate ways, and neither of us will cling to the other. Otherwise, I will drag you down with me, even in death. We can be companions on the path to the Yellow Springs.”

“Relax. I’m a businessman; I have that much integrity. You provided the information on that woman, but I had her killed. If we turn against each other, neither of us will benefit from betraying the other…”

Zhang Wanying wanted to cement her position as the eldest sister. She verbally claimed she didn’t mind Chen Dong keeping a mistress and having a child, but the closer the due date got, the more anxious she became.

She secretly hired a private detective to track the woman’s movements, intending to arrange an “accident.”

But men from the Qiao Gang were constantly shadowing the woman. Reluctantly, Zhang Wanying conceived the idea of collaborating with a foreigner.

At the same time, Kahn, who had long feared Chen Dong, also found this lure of Chen Dong’s mistress.

The two found common ground, each taking what they needed.

With the mistress dead, Zhang Wanying became the only woman close to Chen Dong again. She first declared her devotion until death, then worked harder to secure the gang leader with a child.

In any case, she didn’t commit the murder. If the mother and son were ghosts, they would seek revenge on Kahn.

On the other side, Kahn approached the weaker of the three major gangs, the Hai Gang. He offered to let the Qiao Gang and the Lu Gang kill each other off, so the Hai Gang could become the largest gang in Shanghai without losing a single soldier, allowing them to finally stand tall.

The terms of the deal were that they would help him establish and guard the underground gambling market in the old city district, splitting the profits 70/30.

Jin Baolu, the leader of the Hai Gang, agreed.

On the third day at the manor, Wei Yinxia received a phone call from Wei Zhengqing. It was not a call of concern, but an “order.”

“Since everything is well for you at Miss Tang’s place, stay a few more days, and keep her company for a few more days, too.”

“Her,” of course, referred to An Jing.

“Yes, I understand. Please don’t worry, Father. I won’t bring shame to the Wei family again.”

When Wei Yinxia took the call, only Tang Yunqing was in the living room drinking coffee. An Jing was out, and Qingyan and Xiaoyu were playing outside.

After hanging up, Wei Yinxia returned to the sofa. There was a cup of coffee in front of her.

The coffee had been brewed by Qingyan before she went out, and the brown liquid in her cup was now cold.

The Wei family only drank tea; no one drank coffee. Today was her first time drinking it. Tang Yunqing had warned her before she drank that coffee was bitter, and she didn’t have to force herself if she didn’t like it.

Before taking the call, she had only tasted a micro-sip, and it was indeed very bitter.

After the call, she picked up the cold coffee and took a large gulp, surprisingly tasting a hint of sweetness. Because the bitterness of the coffee was far less bitter than the anguish in her heart.

“This kind of coffee tastes better hot.” Tang Yunqing also picked up her steaming coffee, smelled it, and put it down. “If it’s cold, pour it out and make a fresh cup from the hot pot.”

She was pregnant, and the doctor had warned her against excessive coffee intake. But she loved the taste, so she would have Qingyan brew it every few days, relying on the aroma to satisfy her craving, at most taking a small sip.

“Yes, Sister Yunqing, I’ve learned my lesson.” With that, she poured the small amount of remaining coffee in her cup into the bucket and refilled a small cup for herself.

Watching her humble and respectful demeanor, Tang Yunqing said thoughtfully: “I shouldn’t inquire about your Wei family’s private affairs.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Yinxia straightened her back: “Sister Yunqing, please speak your mind.” Without An Jing nearby, she was nothing more than a humble ant in the eyes of the Tang family and Tang Yunqing.

“An Jing treats you sincerely, and she even asked me for help to get you out of trouble. Considering the kindness you showed her, and that you protected Xiaoyu, I can do my part. However, if I ever find out that you are using her, treating her as a stepping stone, don’t blame me for being unkind.”

“Does Sister Yunqing want to see my sincerity?”

“Do you have any?”

Wei Yinxia raised her right hand and said with utmost sincerity: “If heaven has eyes, and if swearing is effective, then I swear: if Boss Jing’s life is ever threatened, whether by natural disaster or man-made calamity, I implore heaven to let me take the blow for her. Yinxia will die without regret.”

Right after she finished swearing, the “honk-honk” of a car horn sounded outside.

It was most likely An Jing returning.

Wei Yinxia reflexively stood up, wanting to go meet An Jing, but before leaving, she added: “Sister Yunqing, besides this life, I have nothing.”

The only thing she could repay A-Jing with was her life….

Lu Cheng dropped An Jing off and drove away. He had accompanied An Jing to meet several bosses today. With each meeting, An Jing’s expression had grown more serious.

He was aware of An Jing’s plan to sell her shares in the Affordable Department Store, and he was the one who had been running around to schedule face-to-face meetings with interested bosses.

He was not an employee of the An Corporation; he was An Jing’s personal chauffeur and bodyguard, so he only took orders from An Jing.

An Jing got out of the car and saw Wei Yinxia walking toward her.

“Godmother, you’re back!”

Xiaoyu ran over from the side, jumping into An Jing’s arms a step before Wei Yinxia.

An Jing bent down to pick up the little girl. A loud kiss from Xiaoyu dispersed the fatigue of her day’s work.

Wei Yinxia stopped a few steps away from An Jing, looking at her with affection in her eyes. Without a single word, that look alone was enough to make An Jing feel intoxicated.

Xiaoyu covered An Jing’s ears with both hands and whispered a secret: “Mommy was naughty today and drank black juice again, and she made Auntie Yinyin drink it too.”

Hearing her goddaughter’s complaint, An Jing pinched her little face: “Xiaoyu is the best. Did you remind Mommy?”

Xiaoyu pouted: “Mommy doesn’t listen. Daddy can’t control her, and Xiaoyu can’t control her either.”

An Jing was amused by Xiaoyu’s words and couldn’t help but kiss her cheek several times: “Will Godmother help Xiaoyu manage Mommy, okay?”

“Mhm! Godmother manages!” Xiaoyu nodded rapidly.

After interacting with her precious goddaughter, An Jing held her with one arm, freeing her right hand. She walked a few steps and took Wei Yinxia’s hand: “Is the coffee good?”

Wei Yinxia wanted to pull her hand away, but An Jing held it firmly, so she let her.

“The first sip wasn’t good. It was very bitter and astringent, like traditional Chinese medicine. After a few more sips, I slowly tasted a lingering sweetness.”

An Jing laughed heartily: “Yinyin, are you being honest? That black stuff! I took a sip of it once and never wanted a second.”

“Godmother, why is Mommy the only one who likes that black, bitter juice?”

Wei Yinxia: “Juice?”

An Jing explained: “Yunqing told her it’s powder ground from black beans. After brewing, isn’t it just juice?”

Tang Yunqing stood at the doorway, looking at the two adults and one child outside. They looked like a happily chatting family of three.

How could her daughter, whom she carried for ten months, and her best friend, whom she took great pains to protect, both become Wei Yinxia’s? Tang Yunqing felt a lump in her throat.

A family of three?

She actually saw them as a family of three?

Lost in confusion, Tang Yunqing was stunned by her own thought. Her body swayed, and she raised a hand to steady herself against the wall.

“Yunqing?” An Jing was the first to notice Tang Yunqing’s abnormal state.

She let go of Wei Yinxia’s hand, took three steps to reach Tang Yunqing, and placed her right hand on her shoulder: “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Qingyan also quickly ran up and took Xiaoyu: “Madam, should I call Doctor Fu?”

“I’m fine.” Tang Yunqing grabbed An Jing’s arm with both hands. After stabilizing herself, she lowered her head. Seeing An Jing’s hand, which had just been tightly clasping Wei Yinxia’s, now resting on her forearm, the inexplicable anger in her heart became even more uncontrollable.

She avoided Wei Yinxia’s worried gaze and, as usual, linked her arm through An Jing’s: “I suddenly feel weak. Jing, take me back to the room.”

“Okay, lean on me. Walk slowly.” She then instructed Qingyan: “You should still call Doctor Fu and make sure you ask her to come over. Have the chauffeur pick her up.”

“Yes.”

In the blink of an eye, Wei Yinxia once again became the outsider.

She followed the others into the house but did not follow An Jing and Tang Yunqing upstairs.

Looking at their retreating figures, for a moment, she actually thought Tang Yunqing and An Jing were the ones who belonged together.

Status, position, appearance, temperament… she was inferior to Tang Yunqing in every way. She believed her A-Jing hadn’t loved anyone else, but what about Tang Yunqing? Were her feelings for A-Jing truly just friendship?

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