Transmigrating As The Scummy Ex-Wife Of The Cold And Aloof Tycoon - Chapter 27

Will this act ever end?

“It was the first time I saw you,” Ye Yichi blurted out, forcing herself to be perfunctory while staring into Xin Ning’s stubborn eyes.

“I see.” A wave of emotion surged in Xin Ning’s gaze. Her fingertips curled into her palms, the tips of her pale pink nails turning white from the pressure.

Stop pressing so hard, you’ll bruise your palms, Ye Yichi sighed inwardly.

“We hadn’t met before the engagement banquet. You saw me for the first time there and realized I looked like your first love…” After a pause, Xin Ning relaxed her fingers, slowly withdrawing the trembling light in her eyes. “You gave me a milkshake because that ‘Xiaoxiao’ liked them? You gave me candy because she liked it, too?”

That really wasn’t it. Ye Yichi didn’t even know if Xiaoxiao liked milkshakes or candy.

She was only somewhat familiar with Xiaoxiao because they had been seatmates; her knowledge was limited to a face and a personality. She had even forgotten Xiaoxiao’s surname. She only knew where Xiaoxiao lived because she had encountered her while working for Old Man Ye that slope was so steep that the exhaustion of climbing it with a heavy pack remained vivid even after transmigrating into the book.

“Planting so many roses… was that also because she liked them?” Xin Ning’s cool voice trembled slightly. “In these three years, was everything you did for me because I resembled her?”

“Yes,” Ye Yichi nodded slowly.

Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. Until the exit music plays, an actor cannot call “cut” on their own.

“So, that’s how it is.” Xin Ning nodded lightly, her lips pressed tight, her eyes darkening. “That’s actually quite good. It’s better this way.”

To be honest, it felt terrible. A three-year unhappy marriage ending in a lie. Ye Yichi looked away, not daring to meet Xin Ning’s eyes.

“It really is good. This way, many things finally make sense,” Xin Ning’s cool voice continued. “So what if I’m a substitute? What else did she like? What did she do that made her unforgettable? Tell me, and I can satisfy those needs for you.”

Ye Yichi’s head snapped up.

Wait, this isn’t right. This wasn’t how the script was supposed to go. When a proud, noble protagonist finds out they are a “stand-in,” aren’t they supposed to cut ties and leave indignantly?

“Are you that surprised?” Xin Ning looked directly at Ye Yichi, her dark eyes clearly reflecting Ye Yichi’s silhouette. “Let me think, where should we start? How about making a cake? You asked me to make a cake before because she used to make them for you, right?”

No, no, no. This flow is completely wrong.

“There’s really no need for this,” Ye Yichi said, choosing her words carefully. “We’re divorced. You don’t have to be a substitute anymore.”

“Take Auntie Su back with you,” Xin Ning said, no longer looking at Ye Yichi.

She took the basket from Auntie Su’s hand and looked down. “I have the eggs. I still need cream, milk, and lemon slices. I’ll go buy them now. Tonight… tonight after we finish watching the updates, the cake will be ready.”

Wrong, wrong, wrong. This was absolutely not the right progression. No interrogation, no breaking of ties. Instead, she’s talking about buying cream and milk to bake a cake tonight…

Ye Yichi dragged Auntie Su back to Huawan, feeling uneasy all afternoon.

When Su Fanxing returned from school, Ye Yichi immediately grabbed her. “Are you sure you didn’t make up anything else to Xin Ning besides the ‘substitute’ thing?”

“Nothing, absolutely nothing,” Su Fanxing swore with three fingers raised.

“Then it’s strange.” Ye Yichi’s brow furrowed.

After hearing the explanation, Su Fanxing’s brow furrowed as well. “Is your ex-wife so angry she’s planning to poison you? Poisoning a cake… that’s kind of romantic, isn’t it?”

“Impossible,” Ye Yichi said helplessly.

Three years together, over a thousand days, she had at least a basic level of trust in Xin Ning.

Xin Ning was like a resilient, proud plum blossom. Even if she breathed out frost and swords, she remained the color of ice and snow, a purity rooted in her marrow. Ye Yichi had grown up in the streets and seen plenty of grays and blacks, this kind of clean white was rare.

She couldn’t blame herself for being captivated by it.

After dinner, as per routine, two new episodes aired. Ye Yichi watched distractedly, her eyes constantly drifting toward the courtyard gate. Don’t come, please don’t come. Having finally gotten a divorce, she just wanted to feed the chickens, sleep, and soak up the sun in peace.

After the first episode ended, Ye Yichi took a deep breath and sent a WeChat message to Lin Weilan.

You mentioned last time that Xin Ning seemed like a different person? What did she do?

(They had exchanged WeChat info the last time Lin Weilan visited.)

A moment later, Lin Weilan called via voice chat. “I can’t quite put my finger on it. She didn’t cry or make a scene, but she looked completely off. She dragged me to a bar to drink, made me play ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,’ and… oh yeah, she asked me to teach her how to bake a cake.”

A cake?

“When you sent that cake to me and Director Li before, did you ever make a triangular hazelnut chocolate cake?” Ye Yichi asked. “One for Xin Ning.”

“Xiao Ning doesn’t like sweets, so I’ve never made one for her. Also, you might not know this, but she’s severely allergic to nuts. She can’t eat anything with hazelnuts at all.”

Ye Yichi’s fingertips twitched.

That triangular cake with crushed hazelnuts… Xin Ning had actually bought it at a dessert shop…

Why buy that cake? Ye Yichi couldn’t understand.

What was the point of eating it right in front of her? Ye Yichi couldn’t wrap her head around it.

“Why are you suddenly asking about Xiao Ning? Did she do something?” Lin Weilan’s warm voice carried a hint of worry. “It’s too late today. Please, just keep her stable for now. I’ll head over first thing tomorrow morning.”

Stable? How?

After the second episode finished, Ye Yichi made up her mind. It was just a piece of cake. A small case. She’d even eaten undercooked food before; she could handle this.

Shortly after the ending theme finished, there was a knock at the courtyard gate.

“Sis, why do I feel like I’m watching a horror movie?” Su Fanxing whispered, clutching Ye Yichi’s arm. “Maybe we shouldn’t open it. Let’s just pretend to be asleep.”

“It does feel a bit like that, doesn’t it?” Ye Yichi burst out laughing.

The noble Miss Xin, the “plum blossom” who used to say ‘I will never like you,’ was now being associated with a “vengeful ghost” vibe.

“Sis, you’re still laughing? What do we do?” Su Fanxing paced frantically.

“Fine, go back to your room.” Ye Yichi stood up and walked over to open the gate.

It was indeed Xin Ning.

But unlike her usual capable and polished self, Xin Ning was wearing fluffy pajamas. White base, pink cuffs, and a hood. There was a pocket on the left and a large Hello Kitty sewn on the right.

The round white head, the oval orange nose, the curved eyes, and two patches of pink blush. She was holding a massive pink cake, and she wore a matching, oversized pink bow on her head.

“This outfit?” Ye Yichi arched an eyebrow.

“Last year when we went shopping, you said it suited me.” Xin Ning looked down at the Kitty. “I bought it secretly later and hid it in the closet all winter.”

See, that’s fate. If Ye Yichi had seen Xin Ning in this last year, she definitely would have pulled her into a clumsy hug. But now that they were divorced, regardless of how cute it was, she shouldn’t be admiring it.

“That’s last year’s style, it’s out of fashion this year.” Ye Yichi smiled and took the cake from Xin Ning.

“I’ll accept today’s cake, but don’t make any more. You’re just not used to someone you lived with for three years suddenly leaving. It’s not true love. And you know my situation now. Our marriage was a mistake from the start. We’re adults, why be willful and pile one mistake on top of another?”

Xin Ning pressed her lips together, burying her chin in the fluffy collar, which softened her sharp features. “Knowing I was a substitute… actually made me very happy.”

Ye Yichi: “Huh?”

“I’ll make you milk tea tomorrow. I’ll look up a tutorial tonight. I have milk and tea at home.” Xin Ning blinked slowly and asked softly, “Also, tonight’s episodes were very good. Do you think… if I follow the tropes in the drama, I can win my wife back?”

Before the divorce, Ye Yichi didn’t understand Xin Ning. After the divorce, she understood her even less.

Happy to be a substitute? What kind of mental gymnastics allowed her to say something so shocking?

And chasing her back using TV drama tropes? She’s been poisoned by too much television.

The next morning, Ye Yichi woke up early. She didn’t understand Xin Ning, but she understood her work ethic. Once Xin Ning set her mind on something, she followed through.

She had tried kind words, harsh words, and logical analysis. None of it worked.

They were neighbors; she was just sending cake and milk tea. Even if she called the police, no one would intervene.

Maybe I should just join a film crew? If she stayed away for a while, by the time she got back, Xin Ning would be used to her absence and stop all this.

Truly, love makes one strive for progress… even if it’s a “mistaken” love.

Before 9:00 AM, Ye Yichi received a message from Lin Weilan saying she had parked at the ancient town parking lot.

Get to Huawan quickly, Xin Ning is already here.

Ye Yichi replied quickly and put down her phone, silently watching the other end of the dining table. Xin Ning sat there quietly at 8:30 sharp, she had knocked on the gate, carrying a black lacquer and gold-inlaid food box.

The kind of thing usually seen in period dramas.

When Ye Yichi opened the door, for a split second, she thought she had already arrived on a film set.

Shaking off the thought, Ye Yichi inspected the box. It had three layers. The first layer held several buns that looked a bit “struggled.” The second held two bowls of a light brownish liquid. The third contained store-bought buns and snacks in plastic bags.

“The top two layers are what I made. The bottom is from the breakfast shop. See which you prefer.” Xin Ning laid them out one by one, her dark eyes reflecting the orange-pink glow of the dawn.

“You really don’t need to do this.” Ye Yichi rubbed the bridge of her nose.

The scent of roses mingled with the aroma of food; it wasn’t overpowering, but it couldn’t be ignored. When did Xin Ning change her shampoo? Ye Yichi stared at the two bowls of milk tea. It must have been after she picked her up from the mountain.

Why change it?

The cold, crisp scent of cedar was what Xin Ning loved, wasn’t it?

“Did she do these things before? Probably not, right?” Xin Ning placed one bowl in front of Ye Yichi and one in front of herself. “You said you were together in high school. Back then, she probably didn’t have the time or opportunity to do this.”

“She?” Ye Yichi snapped back to reality. “Oh, you mean Xiaoxiao. She didn’t need to do these things.”

“Is that so?” Xin Ning slowly sipped the milk tea. “I thought people in love would want to do something for each other.”

“You said it yourself, ‘people in love’.” Ye Yichi stared at the bowl. “When you love someone, you naturally want to do everything to make them happy. How could you bear to let those jade-white fingers touch the grime of the kitchen?”