One Year After Her Sister-In-Law Was Widowed - Chapter 14

Thinking that it might be awkward for the two of them to just sit around with nothing to do once they got home, Ji Zhuozhou decided it would be better to find something to occupy themselves, like buying groceries and cooking a meal. Consequently, she hadn’t asked the cooking lady to come over today.

It just so happened that the lady had some family matters to attend to and needed a few days off, a request to which Ji Zhuozhou had readily agreed.

Xiao Shuangyu’s plan to treat her to a meal had to be shelved once again. The two of them soon arrived at a supermarket near the house. They had already agreed on a menu while in the car; though regardless of what dish names Ji Zhuozhou suggested, Xiao Shuangyu had nodded her head at lightning speed.

In short, the goals of the two were very clear.

However, as she pushed the shopping cart alongside Ji Zhuozhou, Xiao Shuangyu still felt a strong sense of unreality.

The feeling of being a “wife”coming to the supermarket to buy ingredients for dinner after getting off work early on a Friday—was actually happening to her and Ji Zhuozhou.

Would passersby… think they were a loving married couple?

Xiao Shuangyu’s thick, lingering gaze fell intently on the person beside her, watching without blinking as if Ji Zhuozhou placed different items into the cart. Ji Zhuozhou’s fingers, as white and smooth as jade, lightly hooked onto the side of the cart, leading her along.

She was in a trance.

Even she was deluded to this extent; how could a bystander who knew nothing, not mistake their relationship?

Rounding it up, Ji Zhuozhou was her wife for today, she thought, with logic that was neither straight nor strong.

Ji Zhuozhou stopped, staring at the shopping cart in a daze, as if checking what was still missing. After finishing her mental check, she turned to ask her.

Xiao Shuangyu hurriedly snapped back to attention and listened carefully. She knew absolutely nothing about cooking; hearing Ji Zhuozhou recite a list of ingredients; she only just realized that certain dishes actually contained those specific items.

Her confusion and surprise brought a smile to the corners of Ji Zhuozhou’s lips. “It’s quite magical, isn’t it? By adding different ingredients and seasonings, food transforms into different flavors.”

Xiao Shuangyu blinked, then looked up. “Just like blending a fragrance.”

Ji Zhuozhou paused slightly, the depths of her eyes turning a bit more tender. “Yes, just like blending a fragrance.”

After checking out and paying, they returned to the residential community with the groceries.

When getting out of the car, Xiao Shuangyu still carefully carried that drink. With one hand holding the cup, the other held all the items they had just purchased. Two large bags packed full and heavy.

Ji Zhuozhou wanted to share the load, but Xiao Shuangyu put her hand behind her back and shook her head in refusal.

Looking at the feather-light drink cup in her other hand, Ji Zhuozhou couldn’t help but speak up. “Haven’t finished it yet?”

Xiao Shuangyu’s gaze darted to the side, and she nodded quickly, hiding the cup further behind her back. “I can carry it.”

Ji Zhuozhou didn’t miss a single one of her movements and simply gave up on the idea of trying a different way to help her carry the cup.

Upon entering the door and setting things down, they were enveloped by the rich scent of rain and mist. Xiao Shuangyu looked around, feeling that the place hadn’t changed at all since they left this morning.

In a home that didn’t belong to her, she couldn’t even find a place to hide something if she wanted to.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t finished the drink; it was that she hadn’t touched it at all since that moment.

She wanted to preserve it—to preserve a kiss from Ji Zhuozhou.

Not just the straw, but the entire cup.

However, she had been with Ji Zhuozhou ever since then and had no opportunity at all to dispose of the liquid inside and store the cup away intact.

So, she still hadn’t touched the liquid in the cup, pretending she was going to drink it later, and placed it grandly on the coffee table in the living room.

Together with Ji Zhuozhou, she organized the items from the bags. Besides the ingredients, there were some small snacks that Ji Zhuozhou had specifically bought for her.

It truly felt as though she was being coaxed like a little baby.

The two of them quickly organized everything, and Ji Zhuozhou began to cook.

Xiao Shuangyu followed behind her to help, putting what she learned from Ji Zhuozhou into practice immediately. As she handled different ingredients, she listened to Ji Zhuozhou praise her over and over again.

“You’re a fast learner,” “You washed this so clean,” “You’re the most capable person I’ve seen,” and so on.

How strange.

How strange.

Was this the atmosphere between wives?

The rushing water washed over her hands and the ingredients she held, and Xiao Shuangyu couldn’t help but think this.

Ji Zhuozhou was special. No matter what Ji Zhuozhou praised her for, she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable, wouldn’t feel disgusted or dizzy, and wouldn’t unconsciously argue back.

But she felt strange.

She felt a sense of estrangement.

Towards herself, and towards Ji Zhuozhou.

There was nothing left for her to do, so Ji Zhuozhou told her to go play in the living room for a while. Xiao Shuangyu nodded but didn’t move.

She stepped back, standing in a spot where she wouldn’t hinder Ji Zhuozhou.

With nothing obstructing her view, she could clearly see the spatula Ji Zhuozhou was moving, the bow at the back of the apron, and the strands of hair swaying slightly with her movements and Ji Zhuozhou’s profile—serious yet at ease.

The strange feeling vanished.

The aroma bubbled up from Ji Zhuozhou’s direction. Xiao Shuangyu blinked, throwing the so-called “wives” thought to the back of her mind, suddenly understanding where the problem lay.

She was a guest.

A guest in this home.

Everything Ji Zhuozhou did was merely to entertain her late wife’s younger sister.

It was not as her wife.

Before her eyes, Ji Zhuozhou suddenly picked up a morsel of food with her chopsticks and turned around, her other handheld underneath as she looked up at her. “Come and taste this. Ahh”

Xiao Shuangyu obediently opened her mouth, chewing mouthful by mouthful, and bit by bit, she deleted the thought of “Ji Zhuozhou being her wife today” from her mind.

Her dark gaze fell upon Ji Zhuozhou’s deep green eyes. The tips of her ears flushed a faint red, and her distinct sanpaku eyes curved into a slight smile as she said, “It’s delicious.”

In her mind, the thought that had accompanied her for over a year reappeared.

She wanted Ji Zhuozhou.

She wanted to watch Ji Zhuozhou forever; she wanted Ji Zhuozhou to turn back and look at her.

She got the keys to Ji Zhuozhou’s house.

Not long after dinner, Xiao Shuangyu received a message from the owner of the TH Bar. Two fixed songs had been changed at the last minute, and they were told to stay sharp tonight because there would be distinguished guests.

Xiao Shuangyu didn’t know who the owner’s “distinguished guests” were, but she knew that whenever the owner said that they couldn’t be absent, especially not at the last minute.

Today was Friday, and the Array Band was scheduled to perform at the TH Bar anyway.

If she forced a leave of absence, it would make things difficult for A-Nan and Nie Siyu.

It was already nearly eight o’clock. It would take more than an hour to get from here to the TH Bar; she might even be late for the performance starting at nine. She couldn’t stay any longer.

She quickly replied to the message, then turned to look at Ji Zhuozhou. Her gaze was dark, filled with helplessness and reluctance.

But she bumped into a pair of gentle and inclusive eyes. Ji Zhuozhou had been looking at her for some time, asking softly, “Did something happen?”

Xiao Shuangyu lowered her head. “I have something to do and need to go out. It will be very late, so…”

So she couldn’t stay tonight.

Before she could finish her sentence, Ji Zhuozhou had already responded. “Is that so? I’ll wait for you to come back.”

Xiao Shuangyu froze in place, then lifted her head a moment later to repeat, “It’s really late, especially late.”

Ji Zhuozhou seemed to think about something. “I’ll get you a key. In case I fall asleep, Lianlian can open the door herself.”

Xiao Shuangyu didn’t know what to say. Gripping the key in her hand, she was seen off into a taxi by Ji Zhuozhou. Her gaze kept searching backward, still feeling in trance.

The taxi was ultimately faster than the subway. Not only was Xiao Shuangyu not late, but she also had time to put on makeup and change her clothes.

She was in a very good mood.

Taking her drumsticks onto the stage, Xiao Shuangyu felt her whole body filled with strength; her drumming was powerful.

Until the song “Long Tongue” began.

A-Nan’s powerful vocals were in full force, interpreting the lyrics she had written to the fullest. Her small frame was bursting with energy.

For the first time, in the gaps between the drumbeats, Xiao Shuangyu heard the lyrics of this song so clearly. She immediately thought of the three people in the pantry this afternoon who were spreading rumors, which made her feel unpleasant.

The explosion of emotion instantly merged into the drumming. A-Nan and Nie Siyu exchanged glances, caught off guard, nearly unable to keep up with her beat.

The atmosphere was explosive.

At midnight, on the way to the backstage lounge of the bar, A-Nan and Nie Siyu flanked Xiao Shuangyu on both sides. On one hand, they questioned her for disregarding their “survival” on stage, and on the other, they poked her shoulder, saying she was acting strange today.

Xiao Shuangyu didn’t say much, responding vaguely and letting them have their way, her mind filled with the thought of hurrying back to see Ji Zhuozhou.

As the lounge door opened, the bar owner, Ji Xunxia, was sitting on the sofa. On the small table beside her, various wine bottles were already laid out.

Ji Xunxia’s long red hair was flamboyant and charming. She tilted her chin toward them, letting them open the wine to celebrate. “You guys did well today. Keep it up in the future.”

A-Nan let out an “Ah.” “Xunxia-jie, don’t be a black-hearted boss…”

Nie Siyu covered her mouth, stopping her from repeating that fact in front of the boss.

It was already too late.

“Black-hearted, huh?” Ji Xunxia raised an eyebrow. “Then shall I keep trying harder?”

A-Nan, struggling under Nie Siyu’s hand, shook her head rapidly.

While they were making a fuss over there, Xiao Shuangyu had already smeared cleansing oil all over her face.

Just as they opened the wine and were about to clink glasses, Xiao Shuangyu had finished cleaning up and was ready to head out.

A-Nan thought she had come over to celebrate and immediately handed her a wine glass. “Lianlian, why did you take off your makeup first? Come and drink.”

Xiao Shuangyu hesitated for a moment but took it, drinking it all in one go. “I have something to do, so I’ll be going now.”

The others didn’t try to keep her, telling her to be careful on the road.

Xiao Shuangyu nodded in response and went out to get into a taxi.

It wasn’t until she was standing downstairs at Ji Zhuozhou’s building, clutching the very real house key in her pocket, that Xiao Shuangyu looked down amidst the slight dizziness of the alcohol. She sent a message to the “Little Sailboat” pinned at the top of her WeChat.

Upstairs, in the unlit living room, Ji Zhuozhou sat on the sofa. Her finger traced the edge of the drink lid over and over again, her deep green eyes dark and void of light in the shadows.

A faint glow lit up on her lap. Those deep eyes looked down at the message that had suddenly arrived on her phone.

Xiao Shuangyu (Smile Face): I’m back

The movement of her fingertips stopped instantly. She put down the cup, stood up, and turned on the living room light.