Mysterious Beautiful Wife at Home (GL) - Chapter 23

The phrase “our home” seemed utterly foreign to Zhang Yuning. She listened to Chi Nian’s words with detached indifference, casually retorting, “How is this ‘our home’?”

 

“Anywhere can be,” Chi Nian replied without hesitation.

 

Zhang Yuning was curious. Where did this confidence come from? Nowhere could truly be their home. Even the clinic was just a temporary dwelling.

 

The simple word “home” carried too much weight. It could belong to anyone just never to her.

 

When they reached the car, Zhang Yuning’s hand injury hadn’t healed, so Chi Nian insisted on driving again. Zhang Yuning didn’t ask where they were going. Whatever the boss said, she would follow.

 

After this trip, Zhang Yuning had gained new insights into Chi Nian. Her class consciousness and actions were contradictory or perhaps her words were just empty pleasantries.

 

Moreover, Xi Mengge’s appearance had revealed plenty of information. Zhang Yuning didn’t know how the two interacted, but given that Chi Jing had tried to harm Chi Nian, this sister-in-law’s status and circumstances should have made them adversaries.

 

Yet Xi Mengge’s tone held no hostility toward Chi Nian. If anything, it carried an indulgent warmth.

 

So, the financial control of Chi Shang Group was also in Chi Jing’s hands. No wonder he could sit firmly as chairman and maintain his grip on the company. How Chi Nian used her 40% stake would be crucial.

 

The world might see Chi Nian as a naive fool, but Xi Mengge was probably the only one who didn’t underestimate her.

 

Zhang Yuning had assumed they would return to Chi Nian’s villa or the Dean Apartments, but instead, they drove back to the clinic.

 

“Why are we here again?” Zhang Yuning felt this place was no longer safe. Now that Chi Nian had appeared in public, staying in an ordinary residential area was unwise.

 

“Get your wound treated. I’ll go upstairs to get the moon lamp, then we’ll head back to the Dean Apartments.”

 

Zhang Yuning stared at her, momentarily stunned.

 

“What?” Chi Nian parked the car boldly right in front of the entrance.

 

“My hand just needs some basic antiseptic. And that moon lamp is broken. If you want one, we can buy a new one at the Dean Apartments.”

 

“I want that one.” Chi Nian’s gaze softened, brimming with tenderness whenever she mentioned the moon lamp. A stark contrast to the cold ruthlessness she had displayed earlier.

 

Zhang Yuning remained unmoved, interpreting it as nothing more than the capriciousness of a spoiled heiress. With Chi Nian’s status and wealth, she could do whatever she pleased. Live recklessly, flirt endlessly, even destroy lives without a second thought.

 

She said nothing more. Back inside the clinic, Chi Nian went straight upstairs while Zhang Yuning gathered supplies to tend to her wound. The blood had already clotted, and even when she cleaned it with iodine, the pain barely registered.

 

The coagulated blood had formed small gashes. Zhang Yuning disliked wrapping wounds in gauze, so she used five adhesive bandages to cover them instead. She wasn’t afraid of pain, nor did she care much about minor injuries. As she disposed of the medical waste, she spotted a syringe in the trash.

 

It had been a long time since she last used a syringe on a patient. She wasn’t sure if the nurse had used one in her absence or maybe Chi Nian had discarded it that day? Zhang Yuning picked it up with a pair of tweezers and sealed it in a medical specimen bag.

 

Thinking back to when Chi Nian had injected her, she refused to believe it was just a dream. How could a dream feel so real?

 

Staring at the disposable syringes in the tool cabinet, Zhang Yuning glanced at her right arm and sank into deep thought.

 

She seemed to have never received an injection before, as she rarely fell ill. Aside from her wounds healing quickly and her physique being stronger than others, there was nothing unusual. She attributed all of this to her exceptionally strong immune system.

 

How could a needle mark vanish into thin air?

 

Zhang Yuning peeked toward the staircase. Chi Nian was dawdling over something, and taking advantage of the quiet, Zhang quickly opened a syringe, drew some glucose, and injected it into the crook of her own arm.

 

The pain felt so similar, the sensation so vivid. How could this be a dream? Chi Nian had plenty of time to discard the syringe. After all, they all looked similar, and her wounds healed quickly. Was it possible the needle mark had disappeared overnight?

 

Whatever the case, verifying it once would settle the matter.

 

Zhang Yuning swiftly finished what she was doing. The sound of a door closing came from the second floor, and she waited nonchalantly at the foot of the stairs as Chi Nian carefully descended.

 

Chi Nian held her bag strap with one hand while cradling something as if it were a treasure, smiling as she came down.

 

“How’s your hand?” she asked.

 

“It’s fine.” Zhang Yuning took two steps forward and extended her hand. “Let me carry it for you.”

 

“No need. I’m afraid you’ll break it again.”

 

“It’s not a big deal. We can just buy another one. It’s not some rare limited edition.” Zhang Yuning didn’t understand why Chi Nian was so insistent. The lamp was just an ordinary handicraft from a common store, nothing special. Why not replace it? What was even more puzzling was that Chi Nian insisted on taking it with her even if they weren’t staying here.

 

What was the significance of Chi Nian’s persistence?

 

“Some things are irreplaceable.”

 

“It’s just an ordinary lamp.”

 

Chi Nian stopped and turned to look at Zhang Yuning, her expression serious. “But you’ll never buy it again with the same state of mind.”

 

“What does that matter? All you like is the moon.”

 

“How could it not matter? If time were reversible, would people still feel the same way?” Chi Nian’s thoughts were erratic, and delving deeper made it hard to grasp the underlying meaning.

 

“Time isn’t reversible,” Zhang Yuning replied flatly.

 

“Exactly. The irreversibility of time is such a painful thing. People can never do the same thing in the same place with the same state of mind.”

 

Chi Nian was right. So what she cared about was that even if she bought a brand-new moon lamp, the feelings she had when purchasing it would never return.

 

But so what? Why did Chi Nian care about this? Upon closer reflection, her words seemed to carry a deeper meaning. She was subtly expressing something within her heart.

 

Unfortunately, Zhang Yuning couldn’t decipher it. Perhaps no one in this world ever would, because there was no opportunity.

 

Chi Nian placed the moon lamp on the back seat instead of the trunk. She really was afraid of damaging it again. Yet her reverence for it seemed laughable, even mismatched.

 

The multifaceted Chi Nian made it hard for Zhang Yuning to trust her. These subtle emotional expressions could easily stir one’s heart, but Zhang Yuning refused to fall into such a trap.

 

“I’ll drive. My hand is fine, my wounds have always healed quickly since I was a child.” Zhang Yuning walked to the driver’s side as she spoke. Chi Nian simply watched her, her brows slightly furrowed. The moment her smile faded, a shadow of sorrow passed through her eyes, heartbreaking to witness.

 

But this shift in emotion was fleeting, perhaps only a split second, because Chi Nian soon smiled again. “You are strong.”

 

“Thanks for the undeserved praise, boss.”

 

After living in the clinic for a while, returning to Dean Apartments felt like stepping into another lifetime. Life was like the center of a circle, spinning around only to return to its starting point, over and over again. Though the locations, people, and events seemed different, in essence, they were all the same.

 

The script of fate had long been written, outlining each person’s life.

 

In the evening, the moon lamp in Chi Nian’s bedroom flickered on. She no longer mentioned sharing the bed. Since there was only one, resistance was futile.

 

The biggest inconvenience at Dean Apartments was the lack of computer tools. Zhang Yuning had to rely on her phone and tablet. Chi Nian didn’t seem to have any new IT-related tasks for her, so she began studying the contents of the two record books.

 

Chi Nian kept a strict routine, going to bed promptly at 10 p.m., but Zhang Yuning couldn’t do the same. The strange events of recent days weighed on her mind. Everything bizarre had started the moment she met Chi Nian.

 

She began piecing together the timeline, starting from the car accident involving Chi Nian. She marked the major events she remembered with dates and cross-referenced them with Chi Nian’s notes. She discovered that the car crash, the intrusion into the secret room, the chills, the injections, and the injuries all of them were recorded.

 

Though the recording methods varied, the dates were unmistakable. That meant the upcoming dates in the notes would also see events unfold, whether accidents or otherwise nothing would be peaceful.

 

The latest date recorded was tomorrow. So, Chi Nian would surely go out or take some action then.

 

There was still no word from Third Miss, and Zhang Yuning was growing increasingly anxious. If Chi Nian’s records were some kind of prophecy, that would be terrifying. She could clearly sense that something was off, but the fragmented clues and speculations refused to form a coherent picture.

 

The logical gaps were too glaring. She couldn’t accept it.

 

She also looked up each of the people from the dinner party, confirming they were all R&D executives. It was clear that each of them had scandals or leverage in Chi Nian’s hands. Mo Lin Di had taken them all away, but what happened afterward, how Chi Nian had arranged things; Zhang Yuning couldn’t guess. It might have been a battle in the corporate world.

 

By midnight, exhaustion finally caught up with her. She didn’t want to return to the bedroom, so she stayed on the sofa. Through the living room window, she could see the night sky. Half the moon was obscured by clouds, making it a poor night for stargazing. But Chi Nian had her moon lamp now, so perhaps she no longer cared.

 

Strangely, Chi Nian hadn’t even gone to the glass-walled office area to look through the telescope today.

 

Worried that Chi Nian might suddenly appear by the sofa in the middle of the night and scare her half to death, Zhang Yuning decided to go back to the room.

 

When she reached the bedroom door, she noticed Chi Nian had changed her sleeping position. She used to curl up on her right side, clutching her bag strap, but tonight she lay flat on her back, one hand resting on her abdomen, the other still gripping her bag. Zhang Yuning also noticed that Chi Nian had switched bags again. This time, it was Tiffany blue with a diamond-encrusted combination lock, though the lock was designed more like a logo.

 

The door wasn’t fully closed. Chi Nian had left it open for her. Strangely, the moon lamp wasn’t on Chi Nian’s side but had been placed on Zhang Yuning’s bedside. By unspoken agreement, Zhang Yuning slept on the right, Chi Nian on the left so this was definitely intentional.

 

Zhang Yuning was puzzled. Chi Nian had too many inexplicable behaviors, to the point where she had grown somewhat accustomed to them and no longer felt any waves of surprise. She lay down by the edge of the bed, the rotating light casting a gentle glow. At that moment, Chi Nian wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

 

“Go to bed earlier from now on,” Chi Nian murmured, half-asleep, her voice slightly hoarse. After speaking, she rested her head against Zhang Yuning’s shoulder.

 

Zhang Yuning lifted her hand slightly, wanting to clasp Chi Nian’s fingers, but stopped herself. Chi Nian’s movements always seemed so natural whether it was their past intimacy or the way she touched her now, everything about her was practiced and effortless.

 

Strange thoughts flickered through Zhang Yuning’s mind, and she desperately tried to suppress them.

 

“Got it,” she replied calmly. Chi Nian took a deep breath, nuzzling her nose against Zhang Yuning’s neck. Zhang Yuning tensed. If this continued, who knew what sparks might fly?

 

Was she really just going to be a bed partner? If Chi Nian was playing, then she could play too. Why take it seriously? They were both adults.

 

She knew Chi Nian was probably awake, maybe she had sensed someone beside her and instinctively reached out. Zhang Yuning tentatively responded to her touch, stroking the hand resting on her waist before turning to face her.

 

Chi Nian had been sleeping with her eyes closed, but the moment Zhang Yuning shifted, they fluttered open slightly.

 

Their gazes met. As always, Chi Nian’s eyes brimmed with affection. “Did I wake you?” Zhang Yuning asked.

 

“I wasn’t asleep before you came in.”

 

“Your body clock allows that?”

 

“I can make my body clock whatever I want it to be.” Chi Nian scooted back slightly, putting a small distance between them.

 

Zhang Yuning didn’t understand the gesture, but Chi Nian smiled and said, “This way, I can see you better.”

 

“Why put the light on my side? Don’t you like the moonlight?”

 

“It doesn’t matter where it is.”

 

“Why?”

 

Chi Nian shifted again, resting her head on her left arm, her eyes gleaming as a soft, alluring smile played on her lips, making Zhang Yuning’s heart tremble faintly.

 

“Your eyes are like the moon. I can just look at you.” Chi Nian’s gaze was anything but innocent now. Once again, Zhang Yuning saw her own reflection in those dark pupils. Being this close, under the light, it was inevitable. Nothing strange about it.

 

Chi Nian was using her as a substitute, wasn’t she? She had been thinking about this earlier, trying to push the thought away, but seeing the light had made her bring it up. And now, Chi Nian’s words only heightened her sensitivity to the mention of the moon.

 

“Are you using me as a stand-in for your moon?”

 

Chi Nian’s expression froze, her smile fading.

 

“The moon is the one who matters to you, not me.”

 

As Zhang Yuning pressed further, Chi Nian lowered her gaze, the light in her eyes dimming.

 

“Your protectiveness toward me, your apparent concern, everything you’ve done it’s all tied to that moon of yours. What a cliché, this whole ‘substitute love’ trope.” Zhang Yuning’s relentless questioning met with silence from Chi Nian, only confirming her suspicions that at least half of them were right.

 

At the very least, the moon represented someone important to Chi Nian. Everything Chi Nian had done for her might not have been out of love, but it was definitely connected. She might not have any direct ties to the moon, but there must be something similar or useful about her.

 

She wished Chi Nian would react. Refute her, get angry, retaliate with sharp words. Anything but this silence.

 

But she had none of that.

 

Chi Nian remained silent for a long time before finally asking, “Are you bothered by being treated as a substitute?”

 

“I don’t mind. Whether it’s as a bodyguard or a bed partner, it’s just three months. As long as you’re happy, and I get a hefty paycheck why not?”

 

Zhang Yu’ning’s carefree words stabbed straight into her own heart. Chi Nian’s tacit acknowledgment of the “substitute trope” only confirmed it. If she could uncover who this “moon” was, perhaps she could unravel Chi Nian’s true intentions.

 

Chi Nian sighed deeply and said nothing more, only murmuring, “Let’s sleep. There’s a social engagement tomorrow.” With that, she released her grip and turned away.

 

Their nighttime conversation had come to an end, but Zhang Yu’ning’s drowsiness had been shattered, leaving her sleepless. The impact of their exchange had struck deeper than expected, leaving her already turbulent heart in even greater disarray.

 

As the distance between her and Chi Nian widened, she also turned onto her side, sulking as she faced the nightlight. But when she shifted, her arm brushed past her eyes and to her shock, she realized the needle mark in the crook of her arm had vanished.