My Wife, So Fierce! - Chapter 5

Shen Baiyi smiled at him but didn’t actually go to rest. Instead, she quietly helped Wang Yong tidy up the place.

Some people had already calmed down and returned specifically to collect their belongings. Shen Baiyi acted as if nothing had happened, moving tables and chairs for them and packing up the food to deliver to each household.

By the time the house was finally put in order, it was already late at night.

“Uncle Wang, thank you for today,” Shen Baiyi said, looking at Wang Yong. “It’s very late, you should go rest first.”

Wang Yong hesitated, recalling the text message he had just received. He steeled himself and said, “Baiyi, I’ll stay here tonight.”

Shen Baiyi was taken aback.

Seeing her silence, Wang Yong quickly added, “I’ll just lay out a bedroll in the main hall.”

At a time like this, outsiders usually wouldn’t dare to intrude on someone else’s home, let alone stay overnight. If Wang Yong was making such a request, it must mean he truly had no other choice likely Zheng Yao’s arrangement.

Shen Baiyi hesitated. “If you don’t mind, you can stay in my father’s room.”

“No, no, I don’t mind at all. Thank you for the trouble.”

–

Outside, things had finally quieted down. Zheng Yao lay slumped over the table, the fire in her chest still burning.

The expressions of those people made her sick, their scheming was practically laid bare.

An entire village, yet it seemed there wasn’t a single decent person among them.

Thinking of Shen Baiyi, who always looked at her with timid eyes, Zheng Yao closed her eyes. This Shen Baiyi seemed too pure, like a lamb that had wandered into a pack of wolves, ready to be devoured at any moment.

And that lecherous old man.

Zheng Yao sat up slightly, propping her head up with her hand, her brows furrowed in irritation. Today, she could have Wang Yong keep watch, but what about tomorrow, the day after, or the future?

Knock, knock, knock!

Before she could come up with an answer, the door was knocked on again. Zheng Yao’s expression turned cold as she went to open it.

“Miss Zheng.”

Shen Baiyi lifted her head, her beautiful yet pale face fully exposed under Zheng Yao’s gaze. Her eyes always seemed to shimmer with unshed tears, making her appear pitiful under the moonlight.

“What is it?” Zheng Yao’s heart remained unmoved.

“Thank you for speaking up for me earlier,” Shen Baiyi said, forcing a faint smile.

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Zheng Yao’s expression darkened instantly. “When did I speak up for you?”

Before Shen Baiyi could respond, Zheng Yao’s face hardened. “You’ve misunderstood. I wasn’t helping you, I just have a bad temper, and flying into a rage is normal for me.”

Crossing her arms, she continued, “Besides, this is Shen Sanguang and Bai Yuanzhu’s funeral banquet. Isn’t it only natural for me to cause trouble here? How could you possibly think I was helping you?”

Seeing Shen Baiyi’s face grow even paler, Zheng Yao pressed her lips together, stopping herself from saying anything more cutting.

She took a step back, about to close the door, when a thin, bamboo-like arm suddenly blocked the way.

The movement was too sudden. Zheng Yao couldn’t stop the door in time, and it slammed into that frail arm. A pained gasp escaped Shen Baiyi’s lips.

Zheng Yao froze.

Shen Baiyi had already withdrawn her hand, but a red mark had already bloomed across her fair skin.

Zheng Yao’s hand, hanging at her side, clenched and unclenched. Seeing Shen Baiyi trembling from the pain, she bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before swallowing back the apology.

“What do you want?”

She averted her gaze, forcing herself to ignore the red mark.

Why soften now?

This was Shen Sanguang’s daughter. Even if she died right in front of her, it would have nothing to do with Zheng Yao.

“The water’s boiled. Would you like to take a bath?” Shen Baiyi clasped her hands behind her back, forcing a smile onto her pale face. “There’s still warm food in the kitchen.”

Before she could finish, Zheng Yao had already shut the door.

Listening any longer might have truly softened her resolve.

Stiffly standing behind the closed door, Zheng Yao remained silent for a long moment. Only when the footsteps outside faded away did she take a deep breath, trying to banish that flash of red from her mind.

Regaining her composure, she texted Wang Yong on her phone.

After receiving his reply, she finally set the phone down.

Now that the tension had eased, exhaustion set in. It was so late, and after hearing all the commotion outside, she hadn’t even bathed yet.

Taking the last set of clothes from her suitcase, she stepped outside. As she walked, her eyes involuntarily searched for Shen Baiyi.

After scanning the area, she couldn’t find her anywhere.

Her heart instantly sank.

Remembering how pitiful Shen Baiyi had looked after getting her arm caught in the door, Zheng Yao’s expression grew increasingly stern. Was that kid hiding in some corner crying silently?

Or worse had she done something reckless in a moment of despair?

Realizing this possibility, Zheng Yao became frantic.

Guilt and panic piled up, overwhelming her with intense remorse.

Setting aside her grievances with the Shen family for now, she called out while searching:

“Shen Baiyi!”

After several unanswered calls, she was about to turn back for her charging phone to ask Wang Yong to help search when a voice suddenly came from outside:

“Miss Zheng, were you looking for me?”

Zheng Yao turned to see Shen Baiyi standing there perfectly fine, and her heart instantly settled back into place.

Shen Baiyi seemed to have just returned from outside, holding a box of mosquito coils. Noticing Zheng Yao’s intense gaze, she grew flustered and hurried inside to explain: “We ran out of coils at home. I saw all the mosquito bites on you this morning, so I went to ask Aunt Liu for some.”

As she spoke, she approached Zheng Yao.

Stopping right in front of her, Shen Baiyi finally looked up and forced another smile, holding out the coils with both hands: “With these, the mosquitoes won’t bite you anymore.”

Zheng Yao’s eyes were drawn to Shen Baiyi’s hands.

The red marks were still there, now accompanied by bruises, proof of how hard the door had slammed.

Yet Shen Baiyi acted as if nothing had happened, her eyes filled with a pleading look.

Zheng Yao pressed her lips together tightly.

She would have preferred if Shen Baiyi were some spoiled, unruly brat.

After a long pause, she finally said coldly, “Don’t force a smile if you don’t mean it. It looks terrible.”

Shen Baiyi’s smile slowly stiffened. Hesitantly, she murmured, “I’m sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for?”

Zheng Yao frowned, completely unable to understand why Shen Baiyi kept smiling at others when she clearly didn’t want to, or why she kept apologizing when others were the ones at fault.

Her father had just died, she should be the one receiving apologies, not giving them.

Seeing Shen Baiyi stammering wordlessly, Zheng Yao turned away and said firmly, “I’ll transfer Bai Yuanzhu’s compensation to your account monthly. Leave this place go study. Your granduncle is no good, and I know you see that too.”

Originally, she had planned to give Shen Baiyi the full amount this time, but she hadn’t expected her to be in such a situation.

Paying monthly was a hassle, but for Shen Baiyi, it provided some security.

“You’re Aunt Bai’s direct relative. That money should go to you, I can’t take it,” Shen Baiyi shook her head.

“Seems like your memory’s failing you,” Zheng Yao scoffed lightly. “I’ve already severed ties with her as mother and daughter. I’m only here now because I’m a good Samaritan, doing my daily good deed.”

Having said what needed to be said, she struggled to control her gaze, forcing herself not to stare at Shen Baiyi’s hands again. Taking a deep breath, she ignored Shen Baiyi, hung her clothes in the bathroom, and headed straight to the kitchen.

The conditions here were abysmal, hot water had to be boiled in a large pot. She hadn’t noticed last night, but now, lifting the lid, she saw a greasy sheen floating on the water’s surface.

“…”

Recalling the lavish spread of meat and fish on the table earlier, Zheng Yao’s expression darkened. Clearly, this was a multipurpose pot after stir-frying, a quick rinse and refill turned it into a bathwater boiler.

“Let me help you fetch the water.”

In the brief moment she hesitated, Shen Baiyi had already slipped back inside, deftly grabbing a bucket and a ladle to scoop the hot water.

Her hands trembled slightly, the bruises on her arms impossible for Zheng Yao to ignore.

Just as Shen Baiyi was about to lift the bucket with that injured hand, Zheng Yao stepped in front of her, scowling. “I have my own hands.”

She bent down, ready to hoist the bucket and leave with effortless grace.

Unfortunately, the bucket didn’t budge.

Half-full, it remained stubbornly on the ground while her arms trembled from the effort and Shen Baiyi was still watching her with wide eyes.

“…”

Zheng Yao!

Zheng Yao was too mortified to speak.

In the end, it was Shen Baiyi who broke the awkward silence, quietly taking the bucket from Zheng Yao’s hands and effortlessly carrying it to the bathroom.

Setting the bucket down, Shen Baiyi stood with her back to the door, unable to suppress a small smile as she recalled Zheng Yao’s expression earlier.

How could she find Zheng Yao, five years her senior, so endearing?

Letting go of the bucket, she straightened up.

Her gaze inadvertently landed on the open bag Zheng Yao had hung up, revealing a glimpse of purple lace fabric inside.

Unavoidably, she remembered the underwear she had washed for Zheng Yao last night. Her breath hitched slightly, and she hastily averted her eyes, quickly stepping out of the cramped bathroom.

This time, she wisely kept her distance from Zheng Yao.

–

This was probably the most agonizing bath Zheng Yao had ever taken.

One moment, her mind conjured the image of oily water; the next, the humiliating memory of failing to lift the bucket.

The more she thought about it, the more painful it became.

The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt.

By the time she finished, Shen Baiyi had disappeared again. Zheng Yao didn’t linger outside, quickly retreating to her room.

The scent of mosquito coils filled the air.

Zheng Yao glanced around and spotted a burning coil on the floor. Clearly, while she was bathing, Shen Baiyi had come in to light it for her.

Rubbing her temples, she exhaled softly.

Later that night, Wang Yong’s voice drifted in from outside.

Half-asleep, Zheng Yao immediately sat up, straining to listen to the conversation between the two.

Though she had instructed Wang Yong to bring Shen Baiyi some ointment for her injuries, she didn’t want Shen Baiyi to think she was behind it. So, she’d told Wang Yong to come up with his own excuse.

But with him being such a rough, burly man, she wasn’t sure how convincing he’d be.

Making sure Wang Yong hadn’t exposed himself outside, Zheng Yao finally relaxed and stopped worrying about what was happening out there. Without the nuisance of mosquitoes that night, she managed to get a rare good night’s sleep.

Of course, if she had known what would happen the next day, she probably wouldn’t have slept a wink all night.

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