Mysterious Beautiful Wife at Home (GL) - Chapter 09

The elevator remained still for a few seconds before resuming its descent. Chi Nian’s grip never loosened, and Zhang Yuning could feel her nails digging into her skin, a faint pain lingering. Was she genuinely afraid?

Zhang Yuning pulled out her phone and immediately dialed the maintenance hotline to report the elevator issue.

Noticing Chi Nian’s tense expression, she reassured her, “No need to worry. It might just be a hitch in the traction rope, nothing
major.”

“Mm.”

Chi Nian released her hand, returning to her usual composed stance. Her expression remained largely unchanged, but that brief
moment of vulnerability had been the most emotion she’d shown in the past two days.

They smoothly arrived at the underground parking level, where Zhang Yuning realized this was a private garage housing only three
luxury cars. This elevator was exclusively for Chi Nian’s use, a top-tier VIP privilege that seemed oddly out of place in this
apartment complex.

The cars were red, yellow, and gray. Chi Nian asked, “Which one do you want to drive?”

“All yours?”

“Mm.”

Zhang Yuning arched a brow, unsurprised. Three sports cars were nothing. Chi Nian could have parked ten and it would still fit her
status.

But before she could choose, Chi Nian walked straight to the gray one. “Get in.” The smart electric vehicle recognized Chi Nian’s
voice and automatically opened the door.

“Where to?” Zhang Yuning was clearly meant to be the driver. Though she usually rode motorcycles, her driving skills were top-
notch. She’d nearly joined a racing club once but dropped out, disliking the rigid training and restrictions.

“To Linden Manor. We’re meeting someone.”

Once inside, the car’s autonomous driving activated. Zhang Yuning, well-versed in tech, understood the controls at a glance. She
turned off the autopilot, preferring to handle the wheel herself; safety lay in keeping control.

Linden Manor was a high-end resort on the outskirts of the island, rumored to have steep entry requirements; your car’s value was
your ticket in. Their multimillion-dollar luxury ride would breeze through without issue.

But wasn’t Chi Nian worried about exposing her whereabouts and giving Chi Jing another chance to frame her? Who could be important
enough to risk meeting now? Could it be one of the people from last night’s list?

Questions swirled in Zhang Yuning’s mind, but she kept them to herself. The answers would come when they arrived.

Zhang Yuning had driven plenty of coupes and adored both motorcycles and horseback riding. Behind the wheel, she instinctively
pushed speed limits, but today, she drove cautiously, mindful of Chi Nian’s comfort. In the city’s heavy traffic, speeding wasn’t
an option anyway.

Once they left the urban area, Chi Nian lowered her head to scroll through her phone. Zhang Yuning glanced over and asked,
“Shouldn’t we prepare?”

“For what?”

“Anti-surveillance gear. I carry some with me.”

“What’s the point?”

Zhang Yuning frowned at her before refocusing on the road. “Ms. Chi, if this person has ulterior motives or means you harm, it’s my
job to take precautions.”

Chi Nian’s gaze shifted, and Zhang Yuning could feel her eyes on her. She kept her focus on driving, refusing to meet it. After a
pause, Chi Nian said, “Don’t call me Ms. Chi.”

“What should I call you then?”

“Anything but that.” Chi Nian looked down again, her words clipped and to the point. She never wasted breath, and sometimes her
meaning was unclear. Maybe she simply disliked the formality of “Ms.”

Zhang Yuning replied, “Got it, boss.” The moment the title left her lips, she sensed Chi Nian’s eyes flicker up, but in the end,
she said nothing more.

The two remained silent throughout the journey. Chi Nian occasionally closed her eyes to rest, though whether from exhaustion or
deep thought was unclear. Zhang Yuning still felt meeting outsiders was unsafe and handed her phone to Chi Nian, saying, “This
phone has anti-surveillance functions. There’s a miniature camera in the charging port. Take it with you later and place it on the
table, aimed at the person you’re meeting.”

“You’re worried about me?”

“You’re the boss, I’m the bodyguard. Isn’t this my job?”

Chi Nian’s expression was unreadable, but her soft reply was almost inaudible: “Right.” Zhang Yuning clenched the phone, saying
nothing more.

After about forty minutes, they arrived at the first gate of Linden Manor. Two sharply dressed young men, spotting the car’s
emblem, hurried to operate the barrier controls. As the vehicle passed, they bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle, practically
groveling. Zhang Yuning shook her head at the sight.

In this country of Liuli Island, the hierarchy of human status was dictated by wealth. Money meant power, and the poor were
inherently inferior.

The manor housed three villas, each towering five stories high. Wealthy patrons typically reserved entire floors. Surveillance
cameras dotted the grounds, complemented by patrols of massive guard dogs and impeccable butler service. So pristine it rivaled
Third Miss’s Butterfly Manor.

VIP vehicles followed exclusive routes designed to prevent encounters, ensuring privacy and prestige. Following the signs, Zhang
Yuning parked in the designated spot.

For some reason, the moment they entered, Zhang Yuning’s instincts sharpened. When the car stopped, Chi Nian immediately unbuckled
her seatbelt.

“Wait here.”

“Why? Does it feel unsafe?” Chi Nian obediently stayed put.

“Let me check first.” Zhang Yuning stepped out, scanning the car’s perimeter and surveying the area especially elevated positions.
Security guards patrolled designated zones, armed with batons and leashed dogs, though they maintained a discreet distance to avoid
startling guests.

Just then, an attendant came jogging over, presumably to escort them inside. Zhang Yuning opened the passenger door. “Come out,
Boss.”

At the title, Chi Nian shot her a glance. “You can call me that outside.”

“And other times?”

“Not at home.”

Zhang Yuning’s lips twitched but she stayed silent. Why did Chi Nian care so much about titles? They barely knew each other. What
else was she supposed to call her?

“Welcome, Miss.” The attendant bowed with practiced precision, his tall frame perpetually hunched to avoid towering over guests; a
jarring sight in modern society.

Before Chi Nian could respond, Zhang Yuning stepped between them. “Lead the way.” She allowed no one within a meter of Chi Nian
close enough to intercept any sudden threats.

“Of course, this way please.”

Zhang Yuning glanced sideways at Chi Nian, gesturing for her to walk ahead while positioning herself slightly behind, keeping her
charge within sight.

But Chi Nian caught her wrist. Their eyes met, Chi Nian’s gaze always layered with unreadable emotions that eventually settled into
quiet resolve.

“Walk beside me.”

“But—”

“Let’s go.” Chi Nian left no room for protest, looping her arm through Zhang Yuning’s. The bodyguard had no choice but to bend her
elbow, creating a perch for Chi Nian to lean on.

Chi Nian walked forward calmly, her gaze softening as she lowered the arm that had been hooked around hers. “No need to hold it up
like that.”

“Oh.” Zhang Yuning had no choice but to comply. It had been almost instinctive for her, and she didn’t understand why Chi Nian
wouldn’t accept the gesture. Insisting on walking arm-in-arm just felt… odd somehow.

Perhaps it was difficult to walk steadily in high heels and a dress. Dressed like this, anyone who saw her would be dazzled just
like the waiter earlier, whose eyes had lit up before he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look directly at someone of such
high status.

The person Chi Nian was meeting was on the second floor, in a private room resembling a suite—spacious and by the window. When they
arrived, a man was seated on the plush sofa. Hearing their approach, he stood up immediately upon seeing Chi Nian, straightened his
tie, and remained standing with a polite smile.

He appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in a white suit with round-rimmed glasses that gave him a retro yet scholarly air. His
excitement at Chi Nian’s arrival was barely contained.

“Miss Chi, it’s been a while.” He extended his hand, but Zhang Yuning stepped forward, unwilling to let him get too close.

Chi Nian patted her arm lightly and whispered, “Xiao Zhang, wait outside.”

Was she really being dismissed like this?

“A bodyguard?” The man glanced at Zhang Yuning, sizing her up with some surprise. “Just one person, is that enough?”

“She’s more than enough. Let’s sit.” Chi Nian didn’t shake his hand but smiled warmly.

At times like this, Zhang Yuning knew she should be as silent as a statue, obeying her employer’s every word. Yet she couldn’t help
feeling irritated. “Call me if you need anything. Or use the phone.” She wanted to remind Chi Nian this phone could monitor and
counter-surveillance. The doorway was a bit far, and any moment Chi Nian was out of sight posed a security risk.

“Mm, I know.”

She noticed the private room had no other exits. The windows were sealed, and there were no waitstaff. The table was already set
with food. Once at the door, Zhang Yuning pulled out a specialized monitoring tablet.

The room was equipped with four hidden cameras. Hacking into surveillance systems was second nature to her, and within five
minutes, she had access to every angle, 360-degree coverage of Chi Nian, all from concealed pinhole cameras. She wasn’t sure if
this was premeditated or standard procedure.

Chi Nian had placed her phone on the table, facing the man. With all five feeds displayed on the tablet, Zhang Yuning worked
effortlessly, focusing on observing the man while running a background check.

He turned out to be a scientist from the Chi Shang Group—35 years old, the youngest core member of the R&D department, with
multiple prestigious projects under his belt. Rumor had it he specialized in astrophysics and dabbled in that indecipherable
quantum mechanics field, achieving remarkable success in scientific research.

Though the cameras captured both of them, Zhang Yuning found her attention inevitably drawn to Chi Nian. She was chatting
animatedly with the man, speaking more than usual and smiling freely. She stirred her coffee but didn’t take a single sip.

To avoid detection, Zhang Yuning muted the audio, though she could make out snippets from lip-reading. After some small talk, they
moved on to recent Chi family projects. Why was Chi Nian being so warm toward this man? Her demeanor was completely unlike her
usual self.

Zhang Yuning couldn’t shake her irritation. After recording the entire session, she closed the tablet.

What was the point of this meeting? She didn’t understand. This man wasn’t some high-ranking executive at best he could be called a
scientist. With so many technical researchers in the Chi family, why did they have to meet him specifically? Just because he was
tall and handsome?

The meeting didn’t last long, ending after just half an hour. Chi Nian walked over with a smile and said, “Let’s go.”

The man remained standing where he was, giving a slight nod. “Take care, Miss Chi.”

“Goodbye.” Chi Nian maintained her cheerful smile throughout, never once showing the cold expression she often wore at home like a
completely different person.

Zhang Yuning silently opened the car door for her. Chi Nian walked out with effortless composure. The two remained quiet the entire
way until they got into the car.

“Where to? Heading back?”

“Your place.”

“Huh? My place?” Zhang Yuning was surprised.

“You mentioned wanting to go back earlier, didn’t you? I’ll go with you.”

Zhang Yuning did want to return, but not with Chi Nian in tow. How was she supposed to meet Third Sister like this? Besides, her
place had no privacy or security measures beyond the surveillance at the entrance.

“No need, it’s not that urgent.”

“I’d like to see it. Is that not allowed?” Chi Nian’s insistence came in that characteristically mild tone, showing no visible
change in expression. She always acted this way when they were alone, yet her demeanor had been completely different with that man
earlier. This unequal treatment left Zhang Yuning feeling unbalanced.

Perhaps it was a matter of status. Chi Nian naturally valued people who were useful to her. Still, Zhang Yuning couldn’t fathom why
she wanted to visit her place.

“Really not allowed?” Chi Nian asked again when she remained silent.

“Fine.”

Unable to refuse, Zhang Yuning had no choice but to give in. She realized she was always making compromises for Chi Nian, breaking
her own principles and letting down her defenses.