Mysterious Beautiful Wife at Home (GL) - Chapter 28

This response was as good as no answer at all—it even seemed to affirm her value as a substitute. But where exactly was the resemblance? She and An Lin were completely different types of women.

Yet Zhang Yuning couldn’t bring herself to press further. She subtly retreated, putting some distance between herself and Chi Nian. The steam around them was thick and swirling, making her feel as though she were in some celestial realm. She almost thought she’d ascended to the Southern Heavenly Gate.

She was barely clothed, but the cold was long forgotten. Instead, she felt unbearably hot. Glancing at Chi Nian, she noticed the other woman was only wearing a thin, breathable layer. Beads of sweat glistened on Chi Nian’s forehead, droplets clung to her jawline, and tiny rivulets pooled in the delicate hollow of her collarbone.

Zhang Yuning looked around and realized they were in a steam room. The high-temperature mist had driven the chill from her body, but the stifling heat made her feel increasingly alert.

Still, the lingering emotions about being a “moon substitute” swirled in her chest. Whether Chi Nian’s teasing was unintentional or not, it always managed to disrupt the rhythm of her heartbeat effortlessly.

This deep sense of disturbance unsettled Zhang Yuning. It felt like she was being controlled. Was her role as a substitute connected to her body, Chi Nian’s data, or the inexplicable events of late?

Trying to fish for information, Zhang Yuning sat up, wiping the sweat from the corner of her eye. “I’m not the moon. I’m just someone you’ve mistaken for her.”

Chi Nian froze, studying her thoughtfully without a word.

“Am I wrong?” Zhang Yuning pressed. “Don’t you sometimes look at me and wonder who you’re really seeing?”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is—when you look at me, are you seeing me, or are you seeing her? Your worry, your fear, your concern, your affection—they’re all for her, not me. Wake up. Even as a substitute, I can never be the real thing. It’s cruel, but I have to remind you: I’m Zhang Yuning, not someone else.”

She had meant to remind Chi Nian, to pry into the truth about this “moon.” But somehow, she had slipped into the role herself. In the world she had constructed, Chi Nian should have reacted strongly—after all, her words were undeniably harsh. Yet with every sentence, her own frustration and emotions intensified, especially when she deliberately emphasized her own name at the end.

Chi Nian didn’t respond immediately. Her expression shifted from confusion to surprise, then to sudden realization. Tentatively, she asked, “Are you the one who’s treating yourself as a substitute?”

“Isn’t that the case?”

“Why would you think that?” Chi Nian seemed genuinely baffled.

Zhang Yuning was speechless. Just because she acted carefree didn’t mean she was stupid. Chi Nian’s fondness for gazing at the moon, her treasured moon lamp, all the moon-related symbolism, and everything she had done—wasn’t it all obvious?

What was she playing at? Toying with her? If this wasn’t some tragic substitute romance, why would Chi Nian have slept with her? If it wasn’t about filling the void of loss, why would she be so intimate with a stand-in? Why the extravagant gestures? Why the excessive concern?

No—wait. Maybe Chi Nian’s concern for her substitute was purely about the substitute herself. They had never met before, never interacted—how could there be any real feelings?

Amplifying these thoughts, Zhang Yuning’s emotions surged. She let out a derisive laugh. “If I’m not a substitute, then what am I? A bodyguard? A bedmate? Or just a one-night fling?”

Before these words were even finished, Zhang Yuning saw the hurt expression on Chi Nian’s face. She seemed to be innocently enduring the attack, the words laced with thorns and hidden blades extinguishing the last glimmer of light in her eyes.

Chi Nian remained silent, her gaze dropping in sorrow, enveloped in an overwhelming sadness—an indescribable feeling. At this moment, Chi Nian seemed as though someone had struck her weakest point, devoid of strength and vitality, left with only silence and helplessness.

In that instant, Zhang Yuning despised herself. But Chi Nian, why didn’t you deny it? Why didn’t you explain? Even a word, a reaction would have been better.

Yet Chi Nian did nothing, as if bearing some immense pressure alone, suppressing all her emotions. The domineering, willful, even ruthless side she showed to the outside world had never once revealed itself in front of Zhang Yuning.

But occasionally, she would tease or be harsh on herself—why was she doing nothing now?

Zhang Yuning simply didn’t want to be a substitute. She’d rather just be a bodyguard, maintaining a purely professional employer-employee relationship, than watch Chi Nian gradually conquer her heart, only to realize in the end that she was just a stand-in.

The more Chi Nian stayed silent, the more she appeared wounded, the more Zhang Yuning regretted her earlier spiteful words. But what was wrong with those words anyway?

Chi Nian remained wordless, only slowly rising to her feet, giving Zhang Yuning a deep look before walking out.

There wasn’t even disappointment or blame in her eyes—just resignation and sorrow.

Zhang Yuning pounded the wooden bed in frustration, then walked over to the nearby hot spring pool, submerging herself until she was nearly suffocating before resurfacing.

She still didn’t know where this place was. What if Chi Nian ran off on her own?

Chi Nian had been the one saving her but how had she managed to move Zhang Yuning in such a weak state?

There was only one possibility: proximity. Could this be the Haitian Villa District? The Chi family’s villa was right next to the base. If Chi Nian wasn’t under threat from Chi Jing, staying at her own villa wouldn’t be a problem.

Zhang Yuning quickly pulled open the door and found her clothes hanging outside the sauna room. This was a suite—changing area outside, sauna and bath inside.

After getting herself together, she relied on her memory of the villa’s layout to find the exit from the sauna room.

The sauna was a standalone structure in the courtyard row houses behind the villa, adjacent to the swimming pool. The entire area had a sunken design, with a cobblestone walkway leading up to the villa’s back door.

She had thought it was still night, but stepping outside, she realized it was already dawn. The overcast sky and recent rain left the air damp. A small cluster of bamboo and a few jujube trees grew beside the courtyard. Without entering the villa, she could follow the path to the parking lot not far away.

Chi Nian must have been angry—her departure was her way of expressing it. Zhang Yuning felt restless, unsure of what to do next after being left behind like this.

Just then, a notification for an email arrived. She opened it—it was from Lan Chengjin.

“Miss Chi’s itinerary today may involve danger. Stay close and protect her.”

Did she have plans today? Zhang Yuning tried recalling the contents of the planner. There shouldn’t have been anything marked for today, but there were still some cryptic symbols she couldn’t decipher. For now, she could only make out some of the timings.

The black notebook was filled with rich content, seemingly recording many details. If one were to follow the entries after the date of her last injury, there were indeed several English abbreviations noted—perhaps today’s schedule.

Chi Nian had been making many moves lately. Though she hadn’t been publicly flaunting her presence everywhere, digging into others’ privacy and scandals while casually dismissing entire teams was a style of operation that easily bred resentment. If someone with a petty, narrow-minded disposition decided to fight to the bitter end, there was a real possibility she could face danger in a public setting.

Just as these thoughts crossed her mind, Chi Nian appeared. She had changed into a blue butterfly one-shoulder dress that fell to her knees. Her makeup was perfectly balanced—neither too heavy nor too light. When she wasn’t smiling, she resembled an iceberg, the cool blue hue of her dress amplifying her unapproachable aura.

She ignored Zhang Yuning entirely and walked straight toward the car.

“Where are you going? I’ll drive.”

“You don’t need to follow. I’m going alone.” Chi Nian refused. She was genuinely upset, though she kept it bottled up, not lashing out at anyone.

Zhang Yuning chased after her and stopped her. “Let’s keep things separate. Even if you’re angry, you still need to be careful when going out. We can talk about the rest later.”

“What’s there to talk about later?” Chi Nian’s expression was grave, her displeasure evident. Zhang Yuning wanted to provoke her into venting—better that than enduring her cold indifference.

“Anything.”

Chi Nian let out a helpless laugh, but her eyes remained icy. “Then why not talk about it now?”

Her tone was honestly a little frightening. Zhang Yuning felt an inexplicable guilt but had no choice but to brace herself and face it.

“The last time you had chills, I warned you. Why didn’t you listen?”

“I didn’t get caught in the rain.” Zhang Yuning knew she was being scolded for that incident.

“You didn’t get caught in the rain, but you took a shower, didn’t you? A cold one at that.”

Zhang Yuning stared at her in shock. Chi Nian seemed to be suppressing an oncoming outburst but maintained her composure and spoke at a normal pace.

Had she installed surveillance on her? That was terrifying.

“Last time, you were about to foolishly take a shower at home, and I stopped you. This time, you still didn’t give up. What were you trying to do—prove something or get back at me?”

“I just wanted to verify—”

“And what did your verification achieve? Satisfaction? Happiness? Or torment?” Chi Nian’s words were sharp, leaving Zhang Yuning speechless.

“You claim to listen to me, but in reality, you’re deceitful and manipulative, gambling with your own body. Do you think you’re so clever and impressive?”

Chi Nian’s words grew harsher, provoking Zhang Yuning’s rebellious streak. She retorted, “My body is mine. Whether I live or die has little to do with you. I don’t owe you any explanations.”

“Zhang Yuning!” Chi Nian actually shouted. The two had never had such a heated argument before.

But it came to an abrupt halt as Chi Nian’s outburst drained her. She rested a hand on her waist, her breathing uneven from the emotional strain, as if it had sapped her energy.

After a long pause, her gaze grew distant, and she said slowly, “You promised me you wouldn’t say the word ‘die.'” Her tone carried a trace of despair.

Chi Nian’s voice was hoarse, almost tearful, wrenching Zhang Yuning’s heart. She wanted to soften, but Chi Nian turned and walked away without even taking the car.

Zhang Yuning thought about chasing after her but remembered the email’s warning and Chi Nian’s expression just now. Instead, she rushed to the car, started it, and drove slowly, following Chi Nian’s unhurried steps.

Beyond the villa gates was a sycamore-lined boulevard, empty of other vehicles. The standalone villas here were spaced far apart, ensuring no disturbance between them.

Chi Nian walked slowly with her arms wrapped around herself, her thin clothing doing little against the chill. Her solitary figure seemed small and fragile against the wide expanse of the road.

Zhang Yuning’s car followed silently at a distance of fifty meters, her gaze fixed on Chi Nian’s back, often lost in thought.

Looking up through the sunroof, occasional raindrops fell from the trees. Chi Nian’s steps grew slower, sometimes even pausing altogether. Thinking of her frail health and the possibility that she hadn’t slept all night while taking care of her, Zhang Yuning stepped on the gas, pulling up ahead. She got out and opened the passenger door, saying, “Get in, Miss Chi.”

“Stop following me.” Chi Nian, clearly still unsettled, walked right past the car door.

Left with no choice, Zhang Yuning blurted, “I just don’t want to be a stand-in. I don’t want you to always see me as someone else.”

Chi Nian stopped in her tracks. For a long moment, she neither turned around nor offered an explanation. Zhang Yuning hadn’t meant to say those words—it felt like pleading.

The two stood there, one behind the other, as a cool breeze brushed their faces. The overcast day kept the temperature low, and Zhang Yuning noticed Chi Nian hugging herself again.

That damnable pang of heartache rose within her. She simply couldn’t bear to see Chi Nian suffer.

Zhang Yuning took off her denim jacket and stepped forward to drape it over Chi Nian’s shoulders, but Chi Nian sidestepped and walked toward the car instead.

Had she finally stopped being angry? A flicker of relief warmed Zhang Yuning’s chest as she quickly got into the car and asked, “Where to?”

Chi Nian looked at her, her gaze soft now, the earlier displeasure and tension completely gone.

“To the west tower of Twin Towers. There’s a summit forum on the top floor starting at 9:30.”

Zhang Yuning glanced at her watch. “Only half an hour left? Twin Towers is pretty far from here.”

Chi Nian remained unruffled. “It’s cutting it close, but that depends on how you drive.”

“Then hold on tight.”

Zhang Yuning had raced cars before, and Chi Nian’s luxury vehicle was a sports car to begin with. The trip to Twin Towers would normally take forty minutes, but after scanning the map, she chose to take main roads over side streets, switching between speeds of 120 to 140 km/h as they raced toward their destination.

She loved riding motorcycles and racing cars, occasionally scratching the itch by doing a few laps at the track—though she never wanted to invest the time to become a professional racer.

This was Zhang Yuning’s first time experiencing the difference between a coupe and a race car, and the entire ride was exhilarating. Drifting around curves and overtaking other cars were effortless feats.

She worried Chi Nian might get carsick and kept glancing at the passenger seat, but Chi Nian not only remained composed—she even wore a faint smile, as if enjoying the ride.

As expected, the high-speed drive drastically cut down their travel time. They arrived at Twin Towers in just twenty-five minutes. What a fine car—any ordinary vehicle wouldn’t have been able to accelerate like that.

“Five minutes to spare. We made it,” Zhang Yuning said, checking her watch again and about to urge Chi Nian to hurry when the woman suddenly beamed and asked, “Did you enjoy it?”

“Huh?”

“Haven’t raced in a while—must’ve been itching to, right?”

How did she know? Then again, her love for racing wasn’t exactly a secret, but Zhang Yuning still felt something was off.

Just as she was about to remind Chi Nian to get out, the woman started touching up her makeup. Zhang Yuning checked her watch again, confused. “Boss, it’s 9:28. You’re going to be late.”

“Oh, I just remembered—it’s actually at ten. I must’ve mixed up the time earlier,” Chi Nian said calmly, applying lipstick in the car mirror.

Is this for real? Zhang Yuning was at a loss for words. All that rushing around had been for nothing. She felt like Chi Nian was deliberately messing with her and wanted to get angry, but she also knew that anger would just bounce right back. Besides, it had been ages since she’d raced, and Chi Nian’s coupe had given her a good taste of speed.

Wait—Chi Nian had just asked if she enjoyed the drive. Could she have intentionally let her drive like that?

No way. Even if Chi Nian knew she loved driving, there was no need to go out of her way like that. It wasn’t like the moon could also love racing—that An Lin didn’t look like a racer at all.

Maybe it was just love me, love my dog, or perhaps she was overthinking it.

Chi Nian smoothed her long hair, half draped over her shoulders and half cascading down her back, deliberately revealing the straps of her dress. The straps were embroidered with subtle bows, each clasp centered with a gleaming pearl.

“Grab the tablet from the back seat, and let’s go.” Chi Nian touched up her lipstick, then stepped out of the car without another word. Zhang Yuning gave a quiet “Oh” and obediently followed.

As they walked toward the VIP elevator lobby, Zhang Yuning noticed a sign that read: “Glazed City Anti-Cancer Academic Symposium.”

An anti-cancer academic symposium? Why was Chi Nian suddenly interested in medicine? As far as she remembered, aside from manufacturing and developing medical equipment, the Chi family’s business rarely ventured into pharmaceuticals.

She had just returned from the research base. Based on Zhang Yuning’s understanding and speculation, the first-person Chi Nian should have met was the core figure of the research team. Someone who wasn’t coerced by secrets or leverage but seemed willing to dedicate their life to the cause.

But then, the elder Zhong and the others she met at Huazhong Hotel all had some sort of dirt on them, held firmly in Chi Nian’s grasp. Combined with the earlier incident, she had them under control.

Chi Nian must have assembled her own research team to work on a major scientific project. That was the only conclusion Zhang Yuning could draw from the events so far, and the direction couldn’t be wrong.

Yet, judging from Chi Nian’s medical books to today’s symposium, this project didn’t seem simple. What could a joint scientific and medical project be? AI replacing traditional doctors? Or full automation in the medical field?

It was a terrifying prospect. The advancement of medicine was unpredictable, and such a revolution, if leading globally, wouldn’t just concern corporate interests but national ones—impacting Glazed Island’s standing and contributions to global medicine.

Was she overthinking this? Zhang Yuning exhaled deeply and followed Chi Nian into the symposium.

At the entrance, the attendant bowed and asked for their conference badges. Chi Nian tapped her phone, and the attendant immediately stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. Zhang Yuning had no idea when Chi Nian had arranged all this. Had she been “moving chess pieces” every time she was on her screen?

With today’s technology, anything could be arranged online. So, while Chi Nian rarely left the house, she had been quietly orchestrating countless things behind the scenes—only stepping out when absolutely necessary.

So, what was her purpose here today?

Zhang Yuning had expected Chi Nian to mingle effortlessly, as she did in social settings. But instead, she found a corner and took a seat in an inconspicuous spot.

“You sit down too, standing makes you too conspicuous,” Chi Nian instructed. Zhang Yuning nodded and took a seat beside her.

This seminar hadn’t made the news; it seemed like a small-scale meeting organized between government officials and the medical community. There weren’t many seats in the venue. The first three rows were occupied by authoritative professors from the medical field, all of whom had made outstanding contributions to tumor research—big names from the Liuli Island Biological Research Institute.

Chi Nian lowered her head and opened her tablet, which contained detailed backgrounds and other private information on the twelve key figures present. She flipped through the pages one by one, and Zhang Yuning happened to catch a clear glimpse of all the content—even the mention of the once-taboo topic, the “SO Anti-Cancer Lab.”

The anti-cancer serum was a sky-high profit project. If Liuli Island succeeded in developing a drug that could benefit all of humanity, the entire world would have to kowtow to this small nation. Was Chi Nian aiming for this? To develop an anti-cancer serum infused with scientific research elements?

Another page turned, revealing an academic article entirely in English. Zhang Yuning only recognized two names in the signature: Yu Qinghua & Ai Lin.

She memorized these two names. Since there was no detailed information about them, Zhang Yuning felt they were crucial and decided to investigate them thoroughly later.

“Why didn’t you ask me to help dig up information on these people?” Zhang Yuning couldn’t help but ask. She had been the one to crack and extract data on the R&D team, yet she knew nothing about the medical figures involved.

“You haven’t been resting well lately, and with your health issues, I didn’t want to overwork you,” Chi Nian replied in a hushed tone, her attention still fixed on the tablet.

“Since when have I ever been afraid of exhaustion? I’ve pulled all-nighters countless times and never collapsed.”

“True, you didn’t collapse from staying up late, but you fainted twice from chills.”

Zhang Yuning’s lips twitched. She really didn’t want to talk about this, especially since they had just argued. Things were still a bit tense.

But she couldn’t shake her frustration. IT information cracking was her specialty, yet Chi Nian hadn’t involved her at all.

“Right, I probably can’t compare to those dark web experts. They’re all elite hackers, after all—probably only need half the time I do to crack information.”

Her words dripped with sarcasm. Chi Nian glanced up, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Then you should work harder on improving your IT skills.”

“I—” Zhang Yuning bristled. “The result is the same, isn’t it? As long as the information is accurate, what does it matter?”

“Time is part of the result. If you’re slow, it can delay a lot of things.”

Zhang Yuning was left speechless. Before she could think of a response, Chi Nian added, “Don’t think you’re invincible just because you know a little about everything. You dabble in many things but never master any. I needed this information last night, and it was ready by this morning. Meanwhile, you were in a deep sleep at that time—how could I have asked you to do it?”

When Chi Nian was blunt, she really didn’t hold back. Zhang Yuning had never intended to specialize in anything—she just liked knowing a bit of everything, being somewhat proficient in various fields. In short, she was a jack of all trades.

But she had never thought there was anything wrong with that. Knowing a bit of medicine meant she could treat colds, fevers, and dress wounds. Learning some IT allowed her to crack passwords and design security systems. A little martial arts meant she could defend herself and even work as a bodyguard. She was competent in other areas too, though not an expert—wasn’t that what made her a versatile talent?

How had Chi Nian made it sound like she was completely useless?

“I can finish extracting all the information in one night,” Zhang Yuning inexplicably felt a competitive urge rise within her, especially when Chi Nian affirmed those hackers while dismissing her speed.

Chi Nian closed her tablet and looked at Zhang Yuning, her eyes filled with amusement, but she said nothing.

“You don’t believe me?”

“I’ve seen your skills, but compared to those top hackers on the dark web, it’s truly not the same level of expertise. One must learn to recognize reality and know when to show weakness.”

“I can show softness, but I won’t show weakness.”

“What’s the difference?” Chi Nian asked.

Zhang Yu’s brows furrowed slightly as she hesitated for a moment before replying, “I can accept you treating me as a substitute for the moon. I can tolerate you doing whatever you want to me, and I can even bear you playing tricks on me or scheming against me. These are my soft spots, not my weaknesses.” Her words carried layers of meaning—suspicion toward Chi Nian, resentment toward Chi Nian, speculation about Chi Nian. Whether malicious or well-intentioned, Zhang Yu wanted to see how Chi Nian would react.

Dealing with this version of Chi Nian was treacherous; if one wasn’t careful with their words, they could easily fall into a trap. Sometimes a verbal one, sometimes something else entirely.

Yet Chi Nian remained unmoved. Instead, she smiled calmly and replied lightly, “You weren’t like this when you fell into my arms.”