Your Wife? Mine! - Chapter 14

The child’s kindness was pure; she immediately leaned in to blow on Shen Xi’s wound. Her breath was light and airy, like a spring breeze softening the heart. Shen Xi couldn’t help but reach out to ruffle the girl’s hair, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

However, when the child looked up, her eyes caught the bone-conduction hearing aid tucked behind Shen Xi’s ear. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Ooh… Hope, what’s that by your ear? Is it a hairclip?”

Shen Xi’s body went rigid. She felt Meng Xiyao’s inquisitive gaze shift toward her as well. Sensing the scrutiny, Shen Xi pursed her lips and spoke with practiced calm.

“It’s a hearing aid. My ears… I have some trouble hearing.”

As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward Meng Xiyao, almost as if she were waiting for her to ask more. But Meng Xiyao said nothing, maintaining a polite, social silence. Shen Xi retracted her gaze, looking down with a trace of disappointment.

Wutong, however, reached out and took her hand, her face full of sympathy. “Hope, you’re so ‘strong in body and broken in spirit.’ You have to take good care of yourself, or you’ll have lots of owies…”

Shen Xi: “…”

After a moment of silence, she couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter. “Honey, it’s not ‘strong in body and broken in spirit.’ It’s ‘broken in body but strong in spirit.'”

The child’s face flushed red instantly, and she buried her head in embarrassment. Shen Xi cupped the girl’s face, tapping the tip of her nose with a doting smile. “Your idioms aren’t half bad, little Wutong.”

Wutong ducked away shyly, pretending to be tough. “Fine, fine, I got it. Broken in body, strong in spirit!”

Watching the interaction, Meng Xiyao’s gaze drifted back to Shen Xi’s ear, her thoughts wandering. Hard of hearing? Since when?

For a long while afterward, Meng Xiyao remained somewhat distracted. Fortunately, Wutong and Occidens were lively enough to monopolize Shen Xi’s attention, allowing Xiyao to barely mask her inner turmoil. They played under the starlight-like lamps all evening, enjoying themselves thoroughly. It wasn’t until 8:30 PM, when it was time for Wutong’s bath and bed, that the game ended amidst the child’s reluctant protests.

Holding Wutong’s hand, Meng Xiyao escorted Shen Xi to the villa entrance to bid her farewell. Wutong clearly adored her new “Auntie Hope.” She pulled on Shen Xi’s hand, pleading in a milky voice, “Auntie, you have to come play with me often!”

A wave of warmth washed over Shen Xi. She nodded solemnly. “Mhm. I definitely will.”

She lifted her eyes to Meng Xiyao, who stood behind the child, and said softly, “Bye. Get some rest.”

Meng Xiyao nodded slightly, her gaze appearing softer in the night. “You too.”

“I’m going then.”

Shen Xi said the words, but her feet felt heavy. She stared at Meng Xiyao with longing, hoping for a request to stay that she knew wouldn’t come. Seeing that thirsty look in her eyes, Meng Xiyao felt a slight tug on her heartstrings, but her face remained impassive.

“Drive safe,” she instructed plainly cool and distant.

“Mhm.”

Full of reluctance, Shen Xi finally shoved her hands into her coat pockets and forced herself to turn and walk away. After two steps, she couldn’t help but look back. She saw that Meng Xiyao had already turned around with the child in her arms; her graceful figure was slowly receding toward the warm lights of the house.

Watching that silhouette merge back into her home, a massive sense of loss swallowed Shen Xi like the night. At the same time, a deep regret surged like a tide. If she hadn’t been a coward and fled back then, would she be able to stay here now? Could she be playing with the child during bathtime? And then… then, together with her Omega, could she be gently coaxing their child to sleep?

Ugh! It’s enough to make her explode!

This ventless regret and jealousy snapped her tether on logic. Shen Xi suddenly lashed out, kicking a flower bush in the green belt with a vengeful force, sending leaves and branches shaking violently.

Damn you, Gu Hai! Damn you, Gu Hai!

She was definitely going to kill her! She’d snatch back her wife, reclaim her child, and finally blow that woman’s head off!

Aaaaahhhhhhh! Shen Xi screamed silently in the depths of her soul.

Just then, Meng Xiyao who had reached the porch seemed to feel something and looked back. She happened to catch Shen Xi’s childish tantrum against the innocent greenery. She couldn’t help but knit her brows in confusion. What’s wrong with her now? Wasn’t she having fun tonight? Why is she angry again in the blink of an eye?

Twelve years later, this person’s temper seemed even more unpredictable than when they were kids. Meng Xiyao shook her head, pushed the thoughts aside, and stopped looking. She carried the sleepy child straight into the brightly lit house.

Wife: Is she having another episode? You don’t understand if I didn’t see my wife for twelve years, I’d be losing it too.

For several days in a row, Shen Xi managed to find all sorts of flimsy yet effective excuses to grandly enter the house. Following Alice’s advice, she used Wutong as a breakthrough point, and her relationship with Meng Xiyao quickly grew closer. At the very least, when the two of them were alone now, that suffocating, awkward silence from the studio no longer repeated itself.

As the tension eased and their rapport began to resemble the harmony of the past, Shen Xi became brimming with confidence. Coupled with Alice’s constant encouragement over the phone, she was almost certain that replacing Gu Hai and reclaiming her wife and child was only a matter of time.

When a person feels satisfied, they inevitably get cocky; and when they get cocky, they tend to forget themselves.

On Saturday morning, Shen Xi dressed in a particularly elegant, vintage outfit for the breakfast table. Her beige micro-check shirt was crisply ironed, paired with well-tailored brown suit trousers and a simple thin leather belt. An emerald green patterned tie added a splash of color to the ensemble. She tied her ink-black hair into a sharp high ponytail, looking refreshed and spirited.

Sitting opposite her, Shen Shaohua scanned her outfit, a rare look of approval crossing her face. “You actually look like a decent human being today.” She took a sip of her coffee, her tone still carrying its habitual critical edge. “Keep it up. Look sharp. Stop wearing those oversized, baggy suits. You’re already skin and bones; you look like a debt-collecting ghost in those. It’s hideous.”

Shen Xi didn’t even bother to roll her eyes, treating the comment like white noise. Beside her, Shen Zhao noted the “peacocking” display and asked pointedly, “Do you have a date?”

Shen Xi could hide things from everyone else, but she could never fool her eldest sister. She nodded and gave a short “Mhm.”

“Going to the stables. I’m teaching Wutong how to ride.”

The name “Wutong” seemed to flip a switch. Both Shen Shaohua and Shen Zhao looked up at her simultaneously. Shen Zhao, in particular, frowned, her voice tight with displeasure. “Aren’t there professional equestrian coaches at the stables? Why are you butting in?” She set down her cutlery, her voice dropping an octave. “If you’re really that bored, why don’t you go meet those Omegas I picked out for you and get your disordered pheromones sorted out?”

Shen Shaohua stared at Shen Xi with equal disapproval. “Your sister is right. You don’t care about your own business, yet you’re worrying about someone else’s child. What is the meaning of this?”

While the two were taking turns lecturing her, the matriarch, Shen Qiongfang, was slow-walking through a crab roe bun at the head of the table. She carefully picked out the golden, oily filling and then used a fork to place the crispy, toasted bun skin onto Shen Xi’s plate.

“Grandchild, eat this,” she said lovingly.

Shen Xi’s face immediately broke into a sweet smile. “Thanks, Grandma!” She began eating with gusto, completely ignoring the two disapproving glares beside her.

She was long used to this. Ever since Gu Hai started pursuing Meng Xiyao, whenever Shen Xi tried to do anything to hinder Gu Hai’s “good fortune,” these two would jump out to stop her. If she were still that sensitive, fragile teenager, she might have been held back by their “advice.”

But now…

Since returning to the country, as long as she could be near Meng Xiyao even if they were just sitting in silence—her heart felt as though it had been washed by spring water, light and free. She could clearly feel her heavy, time-locked soul slowly breaking its chains and becoming buoyant again. She craved this light, floating feeling, like being immersed in a beautiful dream she never wanted to wake from. Regardless, she was someone who had already “died” once. There was nothing in this world left for her to fear. If anyone tried to stop her from pursuing this dream, she would simply kick them out of the way.

Shen Xi finished the food on her plate in a few bites, grabbed a napkin to elegantly wipe the corners of her mouth, and tossed it onto the table with an air of nonchalance. “I’m full. Enjoy your meal.” With that, she stood up, walked to the head of the table, and planted a crisp kiss on Shen Qiongfang’s wrinkled cheek. Her smile was brilliant. “Grandma, I’m heading out!”

Shen Qiongfang waved happily. “Go on, go on! Have fun, and come home early tonight.”

“You got it!” Shen Xi chirped and turned to leave.

“Shen Xi… Shen Xi!” Shen Shaohua called after her, her tone commanding. Shen Xi didn’t look back; her figure disappeared through the dining room door with brisk agility. Shen Zhao watched her defiant retreat, her frown deepening, and a sense of unease bubbled up in her heart.

A short while later, Shen Xi took a sightseeing tram within the manor and arrived at the lush green stables. She had changed into a finely tailored black equestrian outfit: a pristine white stand-collar shirt and polished tall boots. She waited in the lounge, her posture as upright as a pine tree.

Before long, light footsteps approached from a distance, and Meng Xiyao walked in, leading Wutong by the hand. Hearing the sound, Shen Xi stood up immediately and turned toward the door.

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