Mysterious Beautiful Wife at Home (GL) - Chapter 16

The rain fell intermittently throughout the night, its sporadic pattering against the windowsill lingering until dawn.

Surprisingly, the weather forecast had actually been right for once. When Zhang Yuning woke up, she found herself wrapped up like a dumpling, having hogged the entire blanket. For some reason, a chill had crept in during the night, piercing her from head to toe with an icy sting.

Fortunately, this time she woke up at 6:40, Chi Nian was still asleep. Finally, she could make breakfast on time. She sat up immediately, fully alert, splashed her face with cold water, and headed straight to the kitchen.

She still felt cold, as if trapped in an ice cellar, the entire house frozen over. She grabbed a jacket and wrapped it around herself. The open layout of the living space meant she couldn’t make too much noise, or she’d risk waking Chi Nian.

So, she opted to make sandwiches, paired with a cup of instant soy milk, and sliced some fruit on the side—simple, green, and healthy.

After quietly working in the kitchen for a while, Zhang Yuning glanced at her watch; exactly seven o’clock. She picked up the plate, slid open the kitchen door, and found Chi Nian already awake, looking freshly washed.

She wore a black headband, her hair casually tied into a bun, with wispy bangs framing her forehead, accentuating the delicate mist-like arch of her brows. Looking closer, Zhang Yuning noticed a faint mole near the peak of Chi Nian’s eyebrow like the finishing touch on a portrait of a beauty. It didn’t feel like a flaw but rather an enhancement.

Chi Nian was dressed in an oversized white T-shirt, likely dug out from the wardrobe, serving as sleepwear or loungewear. Even such an ordinary piece looked inexplicably stylish on her. Without makeup, her complexion was flawless, as if already prepped with foundation, her gaze carrying an air of mystery and cool detachment.

She sat at the counter, lifting her eyes to Zhang Yuning, her gaze settling on the shirt jacket.

“You’re cold?”

“Just a little chilly. It’s fine.”

Chi Nian’s relaxed brows gradually furrowed, her expression tinged with concern, but in the end, she said nothing, only murmuring softly, “I’d like some water. Warm water.”

Without hesitation, Zhang Yuning obliged. Chi Nian was meticulous. Her disciplined morning routine and restrained eating habits made it clear she prioritized wellness.

At this rate, Zhang Yuning’s life would inevitably become more structured and healthy too.

Chi Nian still maintained her habit of not speaking during meals, avoiding her phone or any distractions, focusing solely on eating. Zhang Yuning finished her food in a few bites and began scrolling through her phone for yesterday’s news. Strangely, the speculation about Chi Nian’s identity hadn’t blown up. Aside from yesterday’s pop-up notification, there was no further movement.

This speed, Molindi couldn’t possibly have missed it. She was known for her sharp execution and swift action. There was no way she’d ignore news about Miss Chi. Even if the report had only been up for two minutes, it should have spread across all of Liuli Island, impossible to retract in time.

Even if the police weren’t looking, surely Chi Jing wasn’t completely useless, right? His sister, alive and well, the largest shareholder of Chi Shang Group. A direct threat to his position and he wouldn’t act?

A single sandwich took Chi Nian twenty minutes to finish. Truly, savoring every bite. Zhang Yuning immediately cleared the dishes and washed the cups the moment she was done, eager to help. Just as she finished, Chi Nian’s phone rang. This time was different, she actually spoke entirely in Chinese.

“Not today.” Her voice was unusually warm and cheerful. It was the first time Zhang Yuning had seen her answer a call so openly.

“Don’t feel like going out in the rain. Let’s meet at the building when the weather clears up.”

“If you’d like any other entertainment, I’m happy to accompany you.”

“Order whatever drinks you like, my treat.”

The phone call seemed perfectly social, but Chi Nian’s usual social-butterfly demeanor was noticeably different this time. Zhang Yuning guessed that someone had originally arranged to meet but postponed due to the rain. Just rain, if it were an important engagement, would it really need to be delayed? The person on the other end didn’t sound easy to deal with, yet Chi Nian appeared effortlessly in control.

With just a few words, she smoothly handled the caller. But the moment she hung up, her smile vanished instantly. No transition, no lingering warmth.

The effort she had just poured into that bright, sociable expression seemed almost like she was forcing herself. Wasn’t she supposed to be great at socializing? Weren’t these things second nature to her? So why did she look so drained after the call?

Which version of her was the real one?

She liked drinking, clubbing, going out, throwing parties, anything lively and bustling. But the Chi Nian before her now carried the quiet weight of someone who had weathered storms, someone who saw through the world with detached calm, someone accustomed to solitude and sorrow.

The contrast was too stark. Zhang Yuning suddenly wanted to see if Chi Nian in a social setting was still the same as before.

She averted her gaze, rubbing her forehead, feeling vaguely unwell mostly just cold.

Growing up, she had gone barefoot in winter for lack of shoes, endured hunger and freezing temperatures, yet never once fallen ill. But today was different. A deep chill radiated from within, her breath coming out cold instead of warm, her hands and feet icy.

She had no real experience with being sick, but with some medical knowledge, she could roughly diagnose herself based on symptoms. This persistent chill might be the precursor to a high fever.

Maybe it was just her constitution. Her body taking longer to react to the cold before eventually succumbing to a normal fever.

But just from getting caught in a little rain last night? That was pathetic.

Not wanting Chi Nian to notice anything off, Zhang Yuning retreated to the study. There was nothing for her to do anyway.

Staring blankly at the pile of shattered moon lamp fragments, she suddenly remembered there might be glue at home. Might as well give it a try. She studied the messy diagram on the packaging, sorting the fragments carefully before using tweezers to piece them together.

High-strength adhesive was unforgiving. One misstep, and the lamp would be beyond repair.

She adjusted the desk lamp to its brightest setting, slipped on black-framed glasses, and twisted her long hair up with a pen before getting to work. The moon lamp wasn’t too badly broken. Just over twenty fragments, large and small. Once sorted, it didn’t seem too difficult. Handicrafts were Zhang Yuning’s forte; anything hands-on was never a challenge for her.

But the cold only worsened. She draped a blanket over her shoulders and checked the temperature. 18°C outside, 22°C indoors. That shouldn’t be enough to make her feel like this.

Her symptoms didn’t quite match an oncoming fever. Her nose felt slightly congested, but aside from the cold, there was no real discomfort.

The blanket did little to help. Unable to focus, Zhang Yuning curled up on the soft window seat, thinking maybe a nap would help. Whether from exhaustion or the cold, she drifted off in that position.

Last night, she hadn’t had any strange dreams, but now they returned. Once again, she heard someone calling her.

“Xiao Zhang? Xiao Zhang?”

Feeling a tug on her arm, Zhang Yuning shivered slightly. Through half-lidded eyes, she caught sight of Chi Nian, who gently touched her forehead and then her hand before stepping away briefly to retrieve a thermometer.

Zhang Yuning had no idea how she’d managed to find it amidst her chaotic storage.

“Here, let’s check your temperature,” Chi Nian said softly, her voice as gentle as water. Zhang Yuning weakly sat up. “No need, I don’t have a fever,” she replied. She didn’t have the body aches, headache, or heat typical of a high fever only this unbearable chill.

But Chi Nian insisted. “Just check it anyway.” She shook down the mercury thermometer and slipped it under Zhang Yuning’s arm. Too cold to resist, Zhang Yuning lifted her elbow slightly in compliance.

Chi Nian brought over a pillow for her to lean against and then draped another blanket over her.

This is ridiculous, Zhang Yuning thought. It was April, yet she felt like she was trapped in subzero winter.

“Warmer now?” Chi Nian’s eyes were so tender they seemed on the verge of tears, her caring tone seeping straight into Zhang Yuning’s heart. In those worried eyes, Zhang Yuning saw only her own reflection. Chi Nian’s gentleness felt like it could melt even the hardest things in the world. Anything unbreakable, anything cold as ice. Even if Zhang Yuning had frozen solid by now, she would have already thawed.

Her lips were icy, her teeth threatening to chatter if she spoke. Afraid her voice would tremble, she simply nodded.

Outside, the rain suddenly intensified, battering the windows in a loud, relentless downpour, punctuated by low rumbles of thunder. Chi Nian narrowed her eyes, gazing into the distance, an air of sorrow thickening around her. Even without words, Zhang Yuning could feel the weight of that grief.

Then Chi Nian’s gaze fell on the half-repaired moon lamp on the table. A shadow of melancholy clouded her expression. She opened her mouth as if to speak but ultimately swallowed her words, leaving only silence.

Zhang Yuning weakly studied Chi Nian, looking at her more intently than ever before. There was something strange about being sick despite her usual wariness and suspicion toward Chi Nian, despite the mysteries and unpredictability surrounding her, all Zhang Yuning could think of now were Chi Nian’s kindnesses, her inexplicable concern, those emotions that seemed deliberate yet instinctive.

Right now, she didn’t have the strength to think about anything. It was as if she were teetering on the edge of freezing to death, unable to feel warmth no matter how many layers she buried herself under.

When enough time had passed, Zhang Yuning reached for the thermometer, but Chi Nian was quicker. She examined the reading, her expression darkening, brows furrowed.

“Let me see,” Zhang Yuning said, reaching out. But Chi Nian lowered it, swiftly shaking the mercury down before calmly stating, “No fever.”

Zhang Yuning sensed something odd about her but didn’t have the energy to argue about her temperature. She just hated feeling so weak and lifeless.

Chi Nian glanced at her watch. “When did the chills start?”

“When I woke up.”

“Did you feel it last night?”

Zhang Yuning thought back. Aside from the nosebleed and some unusual discomfort, she hadn’t felt particularly cold. She shook her head. “No.”

As she spoke, Chi Nian’s expression grew even graver. She sat beside Zhang Yuning, arms open, and murmured, “Hold me.”

“No.” Zhang Yuning refused without hesitation. The cliché of sharing body heat for warmth was unnecessary. She didn’t want pity just because she was unwell. She’d seen enough disdain and condescension in her childhood.

Once, she had been like a dog begging for scraps, desperate to survive, longing for someone to toss her even a single meal.

Her fragile frame stirred up the shadows of the past, and Zhang Yuning instinctively wrapped herself tighter. But Chi Nian moved closer on her own, pulling her into an embrace. Zhang Yuning’s heart resisted, wanted to push away yet in the end, she collapsed against that slender shoulder.

“Don’t be afraid. Lean on me. It’s okay.” Chi Nian’s whispered words carried warmth against Zhang Yuning’s ear, and finally, she felt a flicker of comfort.

Chi Nian pressed their foreheads together, gently stroking her hair, and a soothing warmth seeped into Zhang Yuning’s heart. Suddenly, all her defenses crumbled. She curled in slightly, nestling deeper into Chi Nian’s arms for the first time, allowing herself to show weakness in front of another.