My Wife, So Fierce! - Chapter 18

The words had barely left her mouth when she sneezed heavily.

Zheng Yao snapped out of her thoughts, went back to her room, and tossed a hoodie at Shen Baiyi, commanding bluntly, “Put it on.”

Shen Baiyi obediently complied, slipping the oversized hoodie over herself.

It was still way too big, but at least it covered those two flashes of pink.

Satisfied, Zheng Yao averted her gaze and handed Shen Baiyi the documents she had just shown the police, saying seriously, “I’m an only child. I don’t have any sisters.”

She then pointed at the sofa. “Put everything back on the table after you’re done. You’re sleeping on the sofa tonight. I’m only letting you stay for one night. I’ve already ordered takeout for you, it’ll arrive later, so get the door yourself when it comes. If you’re bored, you can watch TV, but I’m busy, so don’t disturb me.”

Without waiting for Shen Baiyi’s reaction, she turned and went back to her room.

Letting Shen Baiyi stay overnight wouldn’t cause her too much trouble, but if she didn’t finish her manuscript, her editor would hunt her down.

Zheng Yao went into full survival mode, focusing intently until past 1 a.m., finally finishing all 16,000 words. Riding the wave of inspiration, she even managed to write an extra thousand.

Pleased, she closed her laptop, stretched, and hummed a tune as she opened her bedroom door only to freeze at the sight of Shen Baiyi curled up on the sofa.

She had almost forgotten there was someone else in the house.

Zheng Yao frowned in annoyance, though her footsteps softened considerably.

After a quick wash, she stepped out of the bathroom and couldn’t help glancing toward the sofa again.

The small blanket had slipped to the floor, and Shen Baiyi had curled into a tiny ball, her face buried in the sofa cushion likely pressing against the wound on her forehead.

Zheng Yao stood there, wrestling with herself for a long moment.

Finally, gritting her teeth, she walked over to the sofa.

If the wound got infected or Shen Baiyi caught a cold, it would only mean more trouble for her. Better to nip it in the bud.

She bent down, picked up the blanket, and unceremoniously draped it over Shen Baiyi. Then, with a stern expression, she pinched Shen Baiyi’s thin cheeks and adjusted her head to a proper position.

The gaunt face was now fully exposed.

Shen Baiyi’s skin used to be fair and smooth, but now it was noticeably darker. Still, her lashes remained long and thick, casting delicate shadows over her face. In sleep, she looked serene and gentle.

Zheng Yao stared blankly for a few seconds before quickly withdrawing her hand.

Faint finger marks lingered on Shen Baiyi’s cheeks, adding an inexplicable nuance to her expression.

Zheng Yao didn’t dwell on it. She turned away and headed back to her room.

The door clicked shut behind her.

On the sofa, Shen Baiyi opened her eyes not a trace of sleepiness in them. She touched her cheek, silent for a moment, then hugged the blanket piled in front of her and closed her eyes again.

–

At 8 a.m., Zheng Yao was jolted awake by her alarm.

Her eyelids still felt glued together, yet her body moved like a zombie out of bed.

This was the price of procrastination.

She could have easily written a little each day and submitted the draft without stress. But the happier and lazier she had been earlier, the more she suffered now.

Zheng Yao might be a procrastinator, but she wasn’t one to bail. No matter how exhausted she was, she had to drag herself up and keep working.

Bleary-eyed, she pushed open her bedroom door and jolted awake at the sight before her.

Was this her apartment?

The previously cluttered living room was now impeccably tidy, the floor and dining table so clean they gleamed.

The air was filled with a tantalizing aroma that immediately made Zheng Yao’s stomach growl in protest.

It took her several seconds to realize there was someone else in the house.

Hearing movement from the bathroom, she walked over to find Shen Baiyi crouched with her back turned, vigorously scrubbing the bathroom floor tiles with Zheng Yao’s shoe brush.

The section she had already cleaned looked factory-new, white and spotless, as if freshly laid.

Zheng Yao frowned. “What are you doing?”

Shen Baiyi turned around, her face lighting up with a shy smile when their eyes met. “Sister, you’re awake? I made some porridge, but I wasn’t sure if you.”

As she stood up, she suddenly swayed unsteadily, as if about to collapse.

Zheng Yao’s expression changed. Before she could think, she had already stepped forward and caught Shen Baiyi just in time.

The girl’s arm felt as thin as a bamboo stalk.

Shen Baiyi’s face was pale. After catching her breath for a few seconds, she said softly, “I’m fine. Just stood up too quickly after crouching for so long.”

Making sure she was steady, Zheng Yao withdrew her hand and waved impatiently. “Go away. Go rest.”

Just like the fragile Lin Daiyu from Dream of the Red Chamber.

After shooing her out of the bathroom, Zheng Yao slammed the door shut. The entire bathroom looked brand new, bottles and jars arranged like soldiers in a military parade, the mirror and sink polished to a shine.

Had she woken up early just to clean the house?

Weirdo.

Only after finishing her own morning routine did Zheng Yao realize, she hadn’t prepared any toothbrush or towel for Shen Baiyi.

What a pain.

With a scowl, she rummaged through the cabinet under the sink, pulled out a new toothbrush, and placed it on the counter. As she opened the door to call Shen Baiyi, she saw the girl emerging from the kitchen with a bowl of porridge. “Sister, breakfast is ready.”

The rich fragrance hit her nostrils.

It was the familiar century egg and lean pork congee.

Even though a whole year had passed, the memory of that bowl of congee seemed preserved in her mind so vivid that just seeing it now triggered an immediate physical reaction.

Zheng Yao swallowed discreetly.

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