Your Wife? Mine! - Chapter 8

Their first moment alone in twelve years hadn’t been the tender reunion Shen Xi had imagined. Instead, it had left her with a mouthful of bitterness and a chest full of suffocating frustration.

Carrying her unspoken grievances and a roaring fire of anger, she returned to her quiet villa and headed straight for the basement gym. Quickly pulling on her boxing gear, she imagined the heavy sandbag as Gu Hai’s hateful face and unleashed a frantic, disorganized assault with everything she had.

That bastard Gu Hai!

Wasn’t she just lucky to be four years older than Meng Xiyao? She had differentiated into an Alpha earlier, allowing her to snatch that damned engagement first. If… if only she were four years older, if she could have stood by Xiyao’s side back then, the person most suited to be with her would have been Shen Xi!

At the thought, Shen Xi’s bloodshot eyes locked onto the swaying bag as if it were Gu Hai’s mocking face. She threw another heavy hook.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The dull echoes of her strikes rang through the empty gym, matching the frantic beat of her heart. After ten minutes of high-intensity output, the gunshot wound on her left chest the one that had only recently healed finally gave way under the strain.

Fresh blood seeped through the white bandages, blooming into a stark, crimson stain. The sudden, sharp pain made her gasp, and her movements froze. She was forced to end her self-destructive venting and drag her aching body back to the bedroom to clean, medicate, and re-bandage the wound.

After the ordeal, Shen Xi stood slumped before the bathroom sink. Looking at the reflection of a woman with a pale face, messy hair, and eyes full of failure, a nameless spark of fury rose again. She raised her hand and slammed a fist into the mirror.

CRACK.

The impact sent a sickening sound through the room. A web of cracks instantly blurred her resentful face. Shen Xi pressed her raw, bleeding knuckles against the cool, shattered glass, her eyes filled with an unshakeable darkness.

Why? Why did I have to be four years younger? If the elder one had been her, Gu Hai wouldn’t even be a footnote. And Gu Hai was a total scumbag—how could she marry someone as good as Meng Xiyao and not cherish her? How could she dare to cheat?

Total trash!

The more she thought, the angrier she became. With no outlet for the pressure, she slammed another fist into the already broken mirror. This one was harder; shards of glass sliced deep into her skin. The piercing pain jolted her back to reality.

“Sss—”

She jerked her hand back, huffing and puffing on her bleeding knuckles as cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She blew on the wound for a long time before the sharp sting began to dull.

Stumbling out of the bathroom, she collapsed heavily onto the soft bed. The mattress was incredibly plush, making her feel as though she were falling into a dream. Lying on her back, she stared vacantly at the ornate ceiling, but her mind was filled with images of Meng Xiyao.

That quiet profile as she painted in the sun; the elegant way she sipped tea, her fingers slender against the white porcelain… Every frame was so vivid, so beautiful, and yet so out of reach.

If only… if only she were my wife.

Once that thought took root, it grew like a wild vine, wrapping around her heart until she could barely breathe.

Wait…

Since Gu Hai was not only cheating but slandering and despising her behind her back, why couldn’t Meng Xiyao be her wife? At the very least, when it came to loyalty and genuinely loving her, wasn’t Shen Xi a thousand times better than that hypocrite?

Besides… she was grown up now. She wasn’t that powerless child from twelve years ago who could only flee in disgrace.

At the thought, Shen Xi’s breathing hitched, and the blood in her veins began to boil.

The Alpha wore a smile, looking for all the world like a puppy eager to please its master, her eyes bright and shining.

Seeing this, Meng Xiyao’s emotions grew even more tangled. The air was thick with the scent of cold pine radiating from the Alpha, making it difficult for her to catch her breath. She gave a small, distant nod. “I see.”

Perhaps sensing she was being too cold, she added, “I’ll pass it on to her… your apology.”

At those words, Shen Xi’s smile vanished. She took another slow sip of tea. An awkward silence stretched between them, and Shen Xi began to feel as though she were sitting on a bed of nails. She set her cup down and stood up, feigning interest as she paced around the studio, desperate to break the quiet.

“It’s a great studio. The decor is beautiful. Did you design it yourself? It really captures your style.”

With every step the Alpha took, the wooden floorboards emitted a soft clack-clack that seemed to sync with the rhythm of Meng Xiyao’s heartbeat.

Meng Xiyao sat poised on the sofa, head bowed as she stirred her tea with a small spoon, her gaze fixed on the swirling amber liquid. The rich aroma of the tea mingled with the scent of pine, making her feel momentarily dazed. Her thoughts drifted for a second before she pulled herself back.

“No,” she said softly. “The interior design… Ah Hai handled all of that.”

At the mention of “Ah Hai,” Shen Xi whipped her head around to look at her. But Meng Xiyao kept her eyes lowered, her expression unreadable. “When we got married, I was preparing for my doctoral graduation. I was quite busy… so…”

Shen Xi understood immediately, and in an instant, the entire room felt loathsome to her. How repulsive, she thought. Her gaze swept over the artwork hanging on the walls, and she pressed further: “And these paintings… are they all yours?”

“Yes.”

The answer was succinct. Thinking she had finally found a safe topic, Shen Xi began to offer sincere praise. “Your technique is incredible. You’ve improved so much, Sister Xiyao. I really love—”

She went on for a while, but Meng Xiyao ended the conversation with just two words: “Thank you.”

Shen Xi fell silent. Not willing to let the interaction die, she turned back and asked, “Since your work is so beautiful, have you thought about holding an exhibition?”

“I’ve held one every year since I finished my master’s.”

Shen Xi: “…”

A wave of massive embarrassment nearly drowned her. She stared at the cracks in the wooden floor, wishing she could shove herself inside one. At the same time, a familiar heat began to rise from the soles of her feet—like tiny flickers of flame darting through her veins, leaving her restless and agitated.

Say something! Think of something to say!

Shen Xi looked up, her gaze darting around frantically until it landed on the easel Meng Xiyao had been working on. It was a nearly finished spring landscape, warm and serene in tone. Catching it like a lifeline, she pointed at the painting, her voice sharp with a reckless sort of urgency.

“I really like this one. When it’s finished, could you give it to me to decorate my place? I’ve just moved back, and the house is so empty, so…”

Meng Xiyao followed her gesture toward the window. Her voice remained calm, but her words made Shen Xi want to curl up and die. “Not this one. I promised it to Ah Hai. She wants to frame it for her office.”

She turned to look at Shen Xi, her gaze steady. “You can pick another one.”

The expression on Shen Xi’s face froze. It was like a bucket of ice water had been thrown over her; even her forced composure shattered. The light in her eyes died out. Her lips twitched, and she finally squeezed out a dry, hollow syllable: “…I see.”

She didn’t look at the painting again. To end this self-inflicted humiliation as quickly as possible, she pointed randomly at a small still-life in the corner. “Then… I’ll take that one,” she said, her voice dropping.

“Alright. I’ll have someone send it over later.”

“No need,” Shen Xi refused instantly. She strode over, took the painting down herself, and clutched it to her chest. “I’ll take it now.”

Clutching the painting like a shield to cover her shame, she practically fled the room, her goodbye hurried and clumsy.

Meng Xiyao sat alone on the sofa, listening to the hurried footsteps fading downstairs. She didn’t move for a long time. Eventually, she stood and walked slowly to the window. Through the clear glass, she saw Shen Xi rushing out of the villa. The Alpha’s thin silhouette looked lonely in the sunlight. When she reached the heavy iron gates of the estate, she suddenly stopped.

A moment later, she raised her foot and kicked the solid iron gate with all her might, as if venting her fury.

“God dammit! Dammit!”

Shen Xi kicked the gate several times, so violently that she nearly dropped the painting. Her retreating figure was a portrait of frustration and defeat, like a child who didn’t know how to handle her own anger.

Just like before, she was completely incapable of hiding her emotions.

Meng Xiyao found it fascinating. Watching the scene, the corner of her mouth quirked up into a faint, fleeting smile. It vanished as quickly as a stone sinking into a lake, leaving only a ripple before disappearing. Her eyes turned cold again, deeper and more complex than before.

Since you stayed away for twelve years—since you were so determined to leave without a word—why did you come back?

Shen Xi… what exactly are you trying to do?

She couldn’t help but curl her body into a ball, letting out a suppressed moan of pain and longing.

Yes, exactly. This is what she should have done!

Meng Xiyao belonged to her. She had to be hers!

This realization was like a lightning bolt cutting through the darkness, instantly illuminating her chaotic thoughts and igniting her nearly hopeless heart. Shen Xi leapt from the bed, ignoring the stinging pain in her palms, and snatched up her phone to call Alice.

The call was answered almost immediately. Alice’s familiar voice crackled with curiosity. “Shen? Calling me at this hour—is everything okay?”

Shen Xi bypassed the pleasantries. “Do you know any high-level private investigators? I need someone discreet and capable.”

Alice sounded puzzled. “I do, but… wouldn’t it be faster and easier to just use the Shen family’s legal team?”

The Shen family’s lawyers had connections everywhere. In this city, there was virtually nothing they couldn’t uncover. But for Shen Xi, that path was closed. Her past experiences had taught her that her obsession with Meng Xiyao would find no support within the family. In fact, it would likely invite even stricter surveillance.

As the daughter left behind by the “rebellious” Shen Liuguang, she couldn’t afford any more “outrageous” behavior that would give her watchful elders more ammunition. She had to seek outside help.

Shen Xi lowered her voice, revealing a fraction of the truth. “Meng Xiyao’s wife… Gu Hai. She’s cheating. Apparently with some starlet.”

Alice let out an exaggerated “Whoa” before her tone turned predatory and excited. “So your chance has finally come? Sweeping in during her moment of weakness… no, wait, saving a damsel in distress… that’s not quite right either. Anyway, it’s a good thing!”

However, Alice quickly sobered up. “But if even you know she’s cheating with a celebrity, then it shouldn’t be a secret to Meng Xiyao, right? Has she really not noticed a thing?”

The words hit Shen Xi like a bucket of cold water, clearing the fog of jealousy and impulse. Right. If even distant cousins were gossiping about it in the garden, how could Meng Xiyao—the woman at the center of the storm—be completely unaware? Was Gu Hai really that clever at hiding her tracks?

Shen Xi frowned, feeling like she was missing a vital piece of the puzzle.

“Shen Xi,” Alice said meaningfully, “maybe… the obstacles you’re facing aren’t as big as you think.”

A sudden surge of courage flooded Shen Xi’s body. She gripped the phone tight. “Alice, I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry,” Alice promised. “Consider it done.”

While Shen Xi waited for the investigation results with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, Meng Xiyao finally finished her work. She cleaned her brushes, packed away her supplies, and changed into comfortable loungewear before driving to the kindergarten to pick up Gu Wutong.

The kindergarten was exclusive to the Shen family and a few high-ranking associates, with children from wealthy and powerful backgrounds. Security and privacy were absolute.

As she reached the gate, she heard a sweet call: “Mommy~!”

Meng Xiyao turned to see her daughter darting toward her like a happy little bird, wrapping her arms around her legs. Smiling, she leaned down and scooped her up.

As they walked back to the car, the little girl chattered away in her arms. “Mommy, Mommy! Today Teacher Gao taught us how to sing ‘The Elephant Dance’!”

“Is that so? And did my baby learn it?”

“I did!” Wutong beamed. “I’ll sing it for you!”

“The big silly elephant knows how to dance, the little monkey knows how to climb trees, the fox knows how to somersault, hey!”

Wutong clapped along as she sang. Meng Xiyao settled her into the passenger seat, buckled her in securely, and began the drive home. On the way, she listened to her daughter’s milky voice sharing her day, an unconscious smile touching her lips. The golden rays of the setting sun spilled through the window, coating them in a warm glow.

As Meng Xiyao turned into the driveway of her villa, she spotted a thin, lonely figure standing like a silent statue outside the closed iron gates.

As the car drew closer, she recognized her: Shen Xi had returned.

The Alpha was holding a massive, heavy-looking package, craning her neck in anticipation. The moment she saw the car, her eyes lit up. Like a loyal puppy seeing its master return, she hurried forward with the package, her face a mask of nervousness and blatant hope.

Meng Xiyao was internally surprised. She hadn’t expected to see her again so soon, especially after the Alpha had practically fled the studio that morning following their awkward conversation.

She brought the car to a smooth halt and rolled down the window. “Miss Shen? Is there something else?”

Shen Xi held up the package it was nearly half her height and tried to sound natural. “Since I received a painting from Sister Xiyao this morning, I really loved it, so I wanted to bring a return gift.”

She paused, her gaze flickering to Gu Wutong, who was peering curiously from the car. Her voice softened. “This is… for little Wutong.”

Hearing her name, Wutong’s eyes sparkled. “Whoa! Auntie, is that for me?”

Shen Xi couldn’t help but smile at the child’s excitement. “Yes, it’s just for you.”

“Wow, Auntie, you’re so nice!” Wutong chirped, instantly friendly. “I remember you! We saw each other last night. Are you Mommy’s friend? Do you live at Great-Grandma’s house too?”

“I do…” Shen Xi replied naturally. She looked entirely different from the “wilted eggplant” she had been earlier that day.

Meng Xiyao watched the rejuvenated, almost fawning Alpha, unable to fathom what kind of mental journey she had gone through in the last few hours. She frowned slightly, interrupting the exchange with a distant tone. “Thank you for the gesture. You can leave the gift at the gate; I’ll have the butler fetch it later.”

The feigned confidence on Shen Xi’s face instantly crumbled, replaced by a pathetic, wounded look. She stared directly at Meng Xiyao, her voice dropping to a low, pleading whisper. “Sister Xiyao… won’t you let me in for a bit? Maybe for dinner?”

Afraid of being rejected, she rushed out an excuse. “My sister… she’s working late at the office today, and our housekeeper is on leave. I… I have nothing to eat…”

Meng Xiyao: “…”

She was almost tempted to laugh at the sheer absurdity of the excuse. The Shen estate was massive; Shen Xi could walk into the main house and find a dozen chefs ready to cater to her every whim. There was no need to scrounge for a meal at her house. The reason was utterly insincere shameless, even.

But today, Shen Xi seemed determined to be shameless. Her ears were flushed a deep red, but she held her ground, her eyes burning as they locked onto Meng Xiyao’s. “Sister Xiyao, be kind… since I just got back to the country, won’t you let me have a simple meal?”

Looking into those wet, puppy-dog eyes, Meng Xiyao felt her defenses soften. She realized she could never truly harden her heart against this person. From age twelve to thirty-two, whenever Shen Xi appeared before her, she couldn’t help but yield. It was an inescapable destiny, like a meteor destined to crash into a planet.

Gazing into the Alpha’s stubborn eyes, she finally let out a soft, almost imperceptible sigh of resignation or perhaps acceptance.

She pressed the remote for the gate. As the iron bars slid open with a soft hum, she said quietly, “Come in.”

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