Transmigrating As The Scummy Ex-Wife Of The Cold And Aloof Tycoon - Chapter 41

The world was bustling with noise and crowds.

The kiss began amidst the cheers and ended amidst the cheers.

Xin Ning’s slender body stopped trembling, though the tear stains on her cheeks became even more vivid. “Yi Chi, I shouldn’t have fallen for you.”

“You’re lazy, you always leave things in a mess, you do whatever you want, and you’re always so reckless yet somehow, you’re always right, and so many people in the company respect you more… You’re Ye Shijin’s niece, you said those things to me, and you even used that ‘Xiaoxiao’ name to deceive me. Fanxing told me everything; she made up that whole ‘substitute’ story.”

“But it doesn’t matter anymore. None of it matters. I’ve figured it out.”

Xin Ning buried her head tightly into the crook of Ye Yichi’s neck. “As long as you’re okay, that’s enough. I admit defeat. I’ve lost my pride and my heart to you. Even if you really wanted to wait for me to fall in love just to dump me, it wouldn’t matter. Yi Chi, as long as you are safe.”

“Silly girl.” Ye Yichi held Xin Ning tightly, her own cheeks gradually becoming wet. “How could I ever do that?”

On the way down the mountain with the rescue team, Ye Yichi spotted the white Bentley.

It was stuck off the side of the road, front wheels caked in mud and the body filthy, but fortunately, there was no major damage. Xin Ning explained that she had been in such a rush that she skidded on the mountain road; luckily, the rescue team arrived and picked her up.

“The car got stuck and wouldn’t move. Thank goodness I ran into the rescue team.” Xin Ning pursed her lips, her voice carrying a hint of lingering fear. “I was originally planning to hike up on foot.”

Ye Yichi frowned slightly, a wave of aftershock hitting her heart.

Back at Huawan, Grandma Su and Su Fanxing swarmed them, circling Ye Yichi several times to inspect her.

“Thank goodness, thank goodness you’re okay! Sis, you scared us to death.” Su Fanxing opened her arms, about to pounce.

Grandma Su grabbed her immediately, winking at Ye Yichi. “Yueyue, that room upstairs wasn’t cleaned today. Why don’t you and Xuexue stay in the room next door? You two didn’t get to talk much during New Year’s, today is the perfect chance to catch up.”

What was there to say?

The words that needed saying had already been said when they met.

On the way to the room next door, Ye Yichi licked her canine tooth. She had fallen for someone she “shouldn’t” have, the act of rushing into the mountains regardless of the danger had already explained everything. There was no need for words only action.

The soft Tencel cotton sheets, waves of grey and pink intertwining, and the white cat-head patch rose and fell with the heat of the moment…

At breakfast the next morning, Su Fanxing’s eyes were fixed unblinkingly on Xin Ning’s neck.

“Sis, sis, sis.” Lowering her voice, she gossiped cautiously. “Is that a ‘strawberry’ [hickey]? Are the strawberries in those romance novels like that? Did you bite her? It’s my first time seeing one.”

“Stop looking.” Ye Yichi slapped her hand away.

Xin Ning took a small bite of her steamed bun, the tips of her ears turning red.

Over the next few days, the grey-pink duvet cover was replaced by light blue, then ginger yellow, then a brilliant red. The only thing that remained constant was the white cat-head with its amber eyes, rising and falling.

A few days later, the scene was cleared. For safety reasons, the director gave everyone an extra week off, announcing that work would resume after Valentine’s Day.

Guoguo’s surgery was scheduled for the day before Valentine’s.

Before going to the hospital, Xin Ning pulled a jujube wood “Peace Charm” plaque from the cabinet. “I’m a little scared. I want to wear this.”

Ye Yichi smiled and helped Xin Ning tie it on. “It’s a pity I lost the rose ring.”

She had spent the last few days asking the cleanup crew, but no one had seen it. It was as if it had vanished into thin air amidst the pile of shattered glass.

“It’s okay. After Guoguo’s surgery is over, we’ll go buy new rings,” Xin Ning said. “This time, let’s buy a matching set, okay?”

The surgery was a success.

After hearing the results, Xin Ning hugged Ye Yichi and cried. “If my mother had had the surgery when she was little, maybe the outcome would have been different? Yi Chi, I miss my mom so much.”

Ye Yichi tightened her arms and kissed Xin Ning’s forehead.

To be honest, she missed Old Man Ye too. But the old man was right: life is like a dandelion. No matter the circumstances, one should enjoy the sun and rain and bloom into bright yellow flowers. And after the flowers fade? Even if you are scattered by the wind, you get to see all the scenery along the way.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll be with you from now on.”

The next day, Valentine’s Day, Ye Yichi drove Xin Ning to the city in a sports car. The Bentley had been towed down the mountain by the insurance company and wasn’t repaired yet.

In three years of marriage no, three and a half years it was the first time they had gone to pick out jewelry together.

Given their status, they were ushered into a VIP room as soon as they entered the store.

There was a soft white sofa, and next to it stood a piano not a digital one, nor a classic Victorian-style grand piano.

It had no ivory-plated white keys or ebony black keys.

Ye Yichi stared at the piano. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the peace charm on Xin Ning’s wrist swaying. There was one thing she never understood: if Xin Ning didn’t like Lin Weilan, why did she used to sit so quietly in front of the piano?

“There was a piano in the villa too, remember?” Xin Ning spoke softly. “You pestered me saying you wanted to use it, then practiced for a long time just to play ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’.”

It was impossible to forget.

Back then, relying on memorized sheet music and a subpar rhythm, she was like an ugly duckling trying to impersonate a swan. In the gaps between her fumbling fingers, she had looked up nervously, only to find Xin Ning’s gaze rippling like water.

Because of that, the music she had memorized skipped a line she couldn’t tell a 2 from a 3, or a 1 from a 6.

“I didn’t just play it. I played it wrong.” Ye Yichi smiled. Now that time had passed, it didn’t feel that embarrassing anymore.

Wasn’t it just a case of “toying with the signal fires to please a beauty”? If King You of Zhou could do it, why couldn’t she?

“The mistakes didn’t make it sound any less beautiful. For seven years before that, that piano had never made a sound.” Xin Ning paused, her voice trembling slightly. “It was my mother’s favorite thing. When I was little, she would always play for me. After that, no one ever played it again. Thank you for making it ring once more.”

While they were talking, the salesperson returned with a tray.

On the black velvet were various styles of wedding rings. Ye Yichi’s gaze scanned them and was drawn to one particular pair.

There were no diamonds or colored gems, just simple rose gold the rings themselves were shaped like Mobius strips.

“Has Ms. Ye taken a fancy to these?” The salesperson took the rings out and introduced them with a smile. “The design is inspired by the Mobius strip. On the surface, it has only one side, but internally it holds infinite possibilities. In love, it symbolizes romance, eternity, meeting, and a journey that never ends.”

Romance, eternity, meeting, and a journey that never ends?

Ye Yichi chewed on the words in her mind and looked up at Xin Ning.

“Never ending? I like that meaning very much.” Xin Ning’s gaze fell on the rings clear and shallow like a pond under spring sunlight, deep yet full of life.

“Then let’s take these.” Ye Yichi briskly took out the card containing her acting fees.

She was grateful that love makes one diligent; if she hadn’t taken that acting gig just to avoid Xin Ning, she wouldn’t have been able to produce this much cash at once.

Carrying the black ring box, Ye Yichi and Xin Ning returned to Huawan.

Su Fanxing was at school, and Grandma Su had gone to the supermarket. In the vast Huawan, only four chubby chickens were clucking and running under the trees.

Ye Yichi pulled Xin Ning to a stop and dropped to one knee, taking a ring from the box.

“Our first marriage was too rushed. There were many words I didn’t have time to say, and many I didn’t know how to say. Now that the rings are bought, I want to propose properly.”

“In sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, or for any other reason, I will love you, care for you, respect you, and protect you. I will be faithful to you until the end of my life. Will you marry me, Xin Ning?”

To be honest, her heart was pounding against her ribs.

Old Man Ye always said she didn’t have a sensitive or delicate bone in her body but look at her now. Even facing a confession she knew would be accepted, she still couldn’t help but feel a flutter of trepidation.

Xin Ning froze for a second, the tips of her ears turning crimson in an instant.

Then, the flush spread to her cheeks.

Red and glowing, reflecting the warm sunlight, she was dazzling as if a whole tree had suddenly burst into bloom.

“Okay.” Biting her lower lip, Xin Ning nodded softly, allowing Ye Yichi to slide the ring onto her ring finger.

The rose-gold Mobius strip sparkled brilliantly.

So, the Mobius strip actually carries such a meaning, Ye Yichi thought with a small realization.

Xin Ning took the other ring from the box, pulled Ye Yichi up, and carefully placed it on her finger.

“Now that you’ve proposed and we’ve exchanged rings, you aren’t allowed to not want me anymore.” Her cool voice carried a faint, fragmented tremor. After saying it, Xin Ning pursed her lips in annoyance. “I shouldn’t have said that on an occasion like this. Sorry, I… I didn’t have time to draft a script.”

Ye Yichi burst out laughing.

A shallow kiss captured those slightly pursed lips, the wild scent of roses was wrapped in the cool fragrance of cedar.

When the kiss ended, Ye Yichi pulled Xin Ning into her arms.

In the depths of Xin Ning’s pitch-black eyes were concentric ripples. She raised her hands to hook them around Ye Yichi’s neck.

The jujube wood “Peace Charm” at her wrist swayed with her movements.

“Do you know why I chose jujube wood?” Ye Yichi curved her lips. “Because jujube trees sprout the latest. Often, when other trees have been budding for a long time, it finally shows just a tiny bit of green.”

“When I was a kid, there was a jujube tree in our yard. The spring I was born was particularly cold, and the trees sprouted half a month later than usual that jujube tree even more so it waited a full month to sprout. Since it sprouted late, the leaves naturally grew late (chi), so my parents named me Ye Yichi [Ye Also-Late].”

Also late, but present.

No matter how cold the spring, green life will eventually break through the ice. The leaves will grow, and the flowers will bloom sooner or later.

Fortunately, Xin Ning this tree of flowers had finally bloomed for her.

“I love you,” Ye Yichi said.

To love you is to naturally love all of you.

The good, the bad, the exquisite, or the awkward ill-timing none of it needs to change. The coolness, the stubbornness, the elegant pride… every bit and every piece, whether blooming or not, is the most beautiful scenery.

“I love you too,” Xin Ning smiled.

The smile was light and clear, like crystal-clear snow seeping into the corners of the eyes and the brow, finally erupting into an overwhelming surge of emotion.

Loving you means letting go of the shackles.

True or false, the tearing pain and the nights of suffering whether it “should” or “shouldn’t” have been none of it could withstand that single throb of the heart.

The guest was startled by the swan landing on the snow.

But who knew,

On the silent eaves, through the cold years, in a corner where no one noticed,

The snow too, had long ago lost its heart.

(End of Main Story)