Mysterious Beautiful Wife at Home (GL) - Chapter 15

After the commotion, Zhang Yuning had no appetite to cook. One made instant noodles, the other ate fruit. One stayed in the study, the other on the balcony, neither speaking to the other.

The red mark from the slap still lingered faintly on her cheek, though it was gradually fading. Zhang Yuning sat motionless in front of the gaming screen, the interface paused on the start button.

That slap from Chi Nian had dredged up memories she’d rather forget. Since the age of six, all her recollections were of the slums; where being beaten by different people was routine, where abuse was daily life. The wealthy would vent their frustrations by beating someone from the slums, earning themselves a burger or a few coins in return.

After leaving that place, Zhang Yuning, with the grace of the Third Young Miss, learned various skills. When she was finally capable, she returned to the slums and repaid every bully who had ever wronged her, finally releasing that pent-up rage.

But Chi Nian’s slap. How could it compare to the fists and kicks of those thugs? Zhang Yuning stared at the pile of shattered lamp fragments on the table, recalling the heartbroken look in Chi Nian’s eyes. She didn’t understand, yet she wanted to fix it.

Repairing something so thoroughly broken would take immense effort and patience. She’d need to figure out how to piece it together, buy adhesive to reinforce it, but the cracks would always remain.

Zhang Yuning decided to try.

She turned on her computer, and a pop-up notification caught her attention. It was breaking news from Glaze Island, titled “Woman Resembling Miss Chi Spotted at XX Supermarket.” Zhang Yuning’s heart lurched. She hurriedly clicked the link and found photos of Chi Nian shopping, accompanied by a detailed write-up. The article questioned whether it was a case of mistaken identity or mere coincidence, noting that she was accompanied by only one female bodyguard.

This was bad. She’d really been exposed. Damn her intuition, always sharp when she least wanted it to be.

Zhang Yuning shot to her feet, her mind racing. What now? If things went as expected, someone would likely trace Chi Nian back to her soon. Not just the Chi family, the police were also searching for Chi Nian. Should she take this chance to expose her and pretend she knew nothing?

If she wasn’t Chi Nian, she couldn’t bear the weight of that identity. If she was, more moves would follow, and she’d inevitably draw attention. The legendary Miss Chi was a social butterfly, effortlessly navigating the circles of high society, mingling with officials and wealthy heirs.

Perhaps… it was time to let this “Miss Chi” return to her rightful place. Zhang Yuning slowly sat back down. She could have hacked into the news backend and deleted everything, but instead, she closed the tab and waited to see what would unfold.

That evening, Zhang Yuning prepared a light meal for Chi Nian. The two barely spoke, each taking their own showers and going about their own business. In the meantime, Chi Nian answered several phone calls and spent most of her time glued to her tablet, though Zhang Yuning had no idea what she was looking at.

By then, Zhang Yuning was exhausted, yawning uncontrollably. She hadn’t slept much these past few days. She could pull all-nighters, but she had to make up for the lost rest, or she’d be sluggish.

“Xiao Zhang, come to bed.” Just as her head began to droop toward the desk, Chi Nian’s voice called out. Zhang Yuning rubbed her eyes, remembering Chi Nian’s request for her to sleep beside her.

She sure knew how to time her demands. Zhang Yuning’s bed wasn’t small anyway, and as long as they didn’t touch, sharing it wouldn’t be a problem.

Pressing her fingers to her temples, Zhang Yuning walked to the bed. Chi Nian was already reclining against the headboard. There was no nightlight, and the moon was hidden behind impending rain, casting a gloomy darkness over the room much like the mood between them.

With the internet being so advanced these days, Chi Nian must have seen the news herself. Why hasn’t she reacted at all?

The curtains were drawn tight without any gaps, and the same chipped handmade lamp still stood by the bedside. It was a miracle it hadn’t been trampled to pieces. Zhang Yuning’s bed was made by pushing two small beds together, spacious but distinctly divided in the middle. She flopped down, ready to sleep, when Chi Nian called out, “Xiao Zhang.”

“Hmm?” She didn’t turn around.

“Does your face still hurt?”

“No.”

Zhang Yuning didn’t want to engage and closed her eyes, preparing to sleep. But then Chi Nian’s hand landed on her shoulder. “Turn your face over. Let me see.”

“No need, really. It’s fine.”

Why fake concern after hitting her? Zhang Yuning didn’t want this kind of attention. But Chi Nian didn’t let go, pressing her shoulder more firmly. “I want to see.”

Realizing she wouldn’t get any sleep otherwise, Zhang Yuning reluctantly turned over, still keeping her eyes shut, unwilling to meet Chi Nian’s gaze.

She could feel Chi Nian leaning closer, her warm breath brushing against her face. In a dream, they might have kissed by now. Keeping her eyes closed was safest. She couldn’t tell whether Chi Nian was studying her or doing something else. Zhang Yuning held her breath, afraid her exhale might reach Chi Nian’s face. If their breaths tangled in this tense atmosphere, anything could happen.

After a long moment, Chi Nian’s soft voice broke the silence. “I’m sorry.”

Her tone carried guilt and a hint of remorse. Zhang Yuning frowned and opened her eyes, only to find Chi Nian lying right beside her, having crossed the divide between the two beds. Their faces were inches apart, and when their eyes met Chi Nian’s filled with regret; Zhang Yuning immediately looked away.

“It’s fine. I’m tired.”

She would have preferred Chi Nian to be more aggressive, more confrontational. This gentle approach only made her more uncomfortable. Zhang Yuning even began to feel guilty about her own motives. Deliberately ignoring the exposure of Chi Nian’s information, watching the drama unfold, all while investigating Chi Nian for the Third Miss to gain an advantage in the feud between their families.

“Sleep. It’s raining, don’t go out.” Chi Nian didn’t move closer again, retreating to her side of the bed. Zhang Yuning stayed silent, closing her eyes and willing herself to fall asleep quickly.

But, frustratingly, she couldn’t. Her eyelids were heavy, sore enough to tear up, yet sleep eluded her. Afraid of disturbing Chi Nian by tossing and turning, she remained on her side, forcing herself to stay still, to shut down, to keep her eyes closed.

Gradually, her mind began to drift. Her body felt weightless, floating, and then a woman’s voice echoed in her ears: “A-Ning, A-Ning…”

Who was A-Ning? Was it calling her? Zhang Yuning opened her eyes to find herself in a vast, blank space—nothing but endless white in every direction. Her rational mind told her this had to be a dream. The voice grew distant, morphing into a chaotic echo, indistinct and impossible to recognize.

Suddenly, a continuous buzzing jolted her awake. Zhang Yuning reached under her pillow, pulling out her phone. The surveillance system had triggered an alert, someone had been lingering for over five minutes. She was usually a heavy sleeper, but the vibration alarm always snapped her awake.

The sound blurred the line between dream and reality. Moving carefully to avoid making noise, she switched to night mode and checked the camera feed. It was Lan Chengjin.

It must be the Third Young Miss with some instructions, coming again just days after her last visit. Had the news spread already? If someone had traced that she was with Chi Nian, police cars would have probably surrounded this place by now. Unless the Third Young Miss had arranged things?

Zhang Yuning quietly turned her head to glance behind her. Chi Nian seemed to be asleep. It was 1 a.m., the peak of deep slumber. She slowly got out of bed, tiptoed to the study, threw on a shirt, then retrieved her sneakers from the cabinet beneath the bay window. Wearing just her shorts, she climbed out the window and carefully descended the familiar route.

Only after stepping outside did she realize it was already raining. Zhang Yuning paid it no mind, though the wind was chilly, and the raindrops felt sharp against her skin. She pulled the shirt tighter around herself, sniffled, and walked straight up to ask, “Chengjin, what brings you here so late?”

Lan Chengjin was strikingly beautiful yet carried an icy demeanor. She was decisive in her actions, always wore her long hair pinned up, and dressed in professional attire; the very image of a career-driven woman. As the Third Young Miss Xiao Changying’s most trusted confidante and right-hand woman, she personally handled all important matters.

The two were accustomed to this method of meeting. To summon Zhang Yuning, Lan Chengjin simply had to stand under the surveillance camera at the entrance for a while either Zhang would appear shortly, or a call would come through.

Dressed in a crisp light-blue suit and holding two phones, Lan Chengjin got straight to the point: “The Third Young Miss wants you to protect Miss Chi properly.”

“‘Protect’ meaning…?”

“Ensure her safety. Follow all her arrangements.”

“Has the Third Young Miss formed an alliance with Miss Chi?” Zhang Yuning was puzzled. The two women seemed to have no connection whatsoever they might not have even met before.

Lan Chengjin shook her head. “Don’t know.” She offered no extra words.

“How long? Miss Chi and I agreed on three months.”

“Follow Miss Chi’s lead. I’ll contact you if anything changes.” With that, Lan Chengjin walked into the darkness, where a driver waited in the distance. The entrance returned to the quiet of night.

The rain grew heavier, pattering against the leaves with a rustling sound, soft yet grating. Zhang Yuning felt uneasy. She scratched her ear, rubbed her nose, took a breath, and began retracing her steps.

As she climbed back up, her mind raced. The Third Young Miss was a controversial figure, rumored to have secured her inheritance by eliminating her entire family. Her methods were inscrutable, but she was undoubtedly ruthless decisive to the point of brutality. Whether she had blood on her hands was none of Zhang Yuning’s concern.

But why would the Third Young Miss give such orders? To keep friends close and enemies closer? Yet she hadn’t assigned any tasks just told her to obey Chi Nian and protect her well. Could there already be some undisclosed exchange of interests between them?

Back inside, Zhang Yuning removed her climbing gear, wiped her hair, and was about to return to the bedroom when she noticed Chi Nian standing by the bathroom.

Startled, she quickly explained, “I just went to the bathroom. Did you get up to use it too?” Then, remembering something, she hurried into the bathroom, saying, “Forgot to flush,” and pressed the handle while checking her reflection in the mirror to ensure no traces of rain or her outing remained.

Chi Nian hadn’t moved, her thoughts unreadable. Her eyes were like a moonless night, still and desolate.

“I thought you’d left.”

“If I promised not to go out, I won’t.”

“Good, just be obedient.” After saying this, Chi Nian turned back and lay down as if nothing had happened.

Zhang Yuning hunched her shoulders slightly, feeling an itch in her nose. She rubbed it hard perhaps too forcefully and a smear of blood stained her fingers.

Frowning, she wiped it away with a tissue, dismissing it as nothing serious before lying back down to sleep.

She was exhausted. If she had to dream, she prayed it wouldn’t be of Chi Nian again.