Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Mom!” This entire ordeal really troubled Bai Zhenhua. He quickly consoled his mom. “Laoer just wants to live outside for a few days; he will come back soon to visit you in no time.”
“This is too infuriating, too infuriating!” Grandma Bai kept hammering her chest; her breathing was shallow and rapid.
Nanny Li quickly patted her back to soothe her.
The whole family was in chaos.
The words of Grandma Bai, however, provoked Zhu Xueyan, for she implied that she had absolute rights on what to do with the inheritance, and she could dispose of it any way she wanted.
For the sake of her son, although she knew that this was not an appropriate time, she still couldn’t contain the words she wanted to say.
“Mom’s illness is getting more serious than ever… In such circumstances, we can apply for guardianship on grounds of mental incapacitation, right?”
She was reminding Bai Zhenhua…
… That they could apply to a court for guardianship of their elderly parent with mental incapacitation—Alzheimer’s. Depending on the court ruling, this could also mean that they would have the rights to manage her financial affairs.
Her words were really hurting to Grandma Bai.
When the old lady heard that, she nearly passed out from anger.
She pointed at Zhu Xueyan and was having a lot of trouble to say something. “You… you…”
She was Zhu Xueyan’s mother-in-law, but she was also Bai Zhenhua’s real mother.
Seeing his mom so enraged, Bai Zhenhua turned pale after worrying about her too much. He called out his mom in anxiety and turned his head several times to glare at his wife, Zhu Xueyan.
“If something were to happen to my mom, Zhu Xueyan… I won’t let you off!”
Zhu Xueyan’s eyes were staring at him wide-opened in disbelief.
Many words of sadness remained stuck in her throat, but she found herself unable to say anything.
Was she upset? She was.
Could she shout and throw a fit? She couldn’t.
She couldn’t express into words all the unhappiness she was feeling. How could she even consider those as grievances then?
In front of a man who didn’t love her, anything she did would be wrong. Maybe it was wrong for her to be alive on earth would after all… everything was wrong!
“… Bai Zhenhua, you want to divorce me, right? You have been thinking about it for a long time already, right?”
…
…
When they stepped out of the Bai Family, even the surrounding air felt fresh.
Xiang Wan and Bai Muchuan were holding hands; he was also dragging a big suitcase as he walked on the path of the neighborhood. Xiang Wan suddenly felt like laughing.
“You’re so fierce earlier!”
“Mm?” Bai Muchuan seemed immersed within his thoughts. When he heard her remark, he turned to look at her.
“But… I like it.” Xiang Wan drew closer for a kiss and let out a chuckle. “Do you think we are like two poor souls living on the street?”
“Hur!” Bai Muchuan sneered, “Is there a poor soul as good looking as me?”
Earlier, when they left the house, the chauffeur wanted to give them a lift, but Bai Muchuan rejected it.
He was holding the luggage on one hand while he’s holding his girlfriend’s hand on the other.
This scene felt like an artistic painting of a wandering but happy couple.
“Mm… I like it,” grinned Xiang Wan.
When one was with their beloved, they would feel happy like they could do anything.
“If we go to travel around with our luggage now, I’ll like it better.”
“You want to roam the world already?” Bai Muchuan laughed while he glanced at her. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything for you. I won’t let you be homeless for sure!”
“Hehe, thank you, Little Bai! I love you.”
She would confess to him frequently.
Tsk! Although he glanced at her in doubt, he was actually feeling sweet.
This neighborhood was unusually big. Few people would come out of their homes for a stroll. They could only see vehicles come and go. While they walked along the path, they saw that the environment was so scenic like it came straight out of a picture book. Both of them pulled their luggage along, and they felt as though they were walking inside a painting. It seemed like they were both alone inside this quiet world…
Xiang Wan was not joking.
She really liked that feeling.
A quiet corner in a city…
… That only belonged to the two of them.
…
“Where are we going now?”
“Go home.” Bai Muchuan squeezed her hand.
“Your house?” Xiang Wan asked, “The one I used to stay previously?”
“Yup,” confirmed Bai Muchuan, “Is that okay? If you don’t like that house, we can go to another one.”
“…”
Pffft! She couldn’t hold her laughter.
“Poverty has limited my imagination!”
This was the Capital!
The price of a house could save a company that was on the verge of bankruptcy. Most people dared not imagine that they could own an ordinary house in the Capital, but he could choose amongst the best houses…
“Bai Muchuan, how much money do you actually have?”
“A lot.” Bai Muchuan smiled. “You want to know? Marry me, and I’ll let you manage the money!”
“…”
Xiang Wan tittered, then she looked up at the sky and sighed.
“Aye, why did I have a feeling that I’ve transformed into a phoenix from a sparrow?”
“…” Bai Muchuan looked at her.
Xiang Wan stuck her tongue out and smiled at him.
Her smile was dazzling, charming, and gentle at the same time.
Bai Muchuan felt that his heart skipped a beat and held her hand tightly.
“Silly! There’s no sparrow that can transform into a phoenix.”
“But I think I am!”
“That’s only because… you are never a sparrow. You’re already a phoenix!”
“… Heh.” Xiang Wan smiled with delight. “I like the sound of that. I like to hear this random nonsense you say against your conscience…”
When she smiled or laughed, her facial expressions looked lively and animated.
It was like a flower just about to bloom.
Bai Muchuan narrowed his eyes. “Little Xiang Wan, if you behave like this, I will think of doing some bad things to you…”
“Eh?” Xiang Wan looked around her. She instantly blushed and her face felt burning hot. “You… geez, men are indeed animals that think with the lower half of their body!”
“… But you love me anyway!”
“Shameless. Pffft… Well, I really do love you.”
The two of them joked with each other; the atmosphere was relaxing.
Soon, they got out of the neighborhood and walked for another stretch before they arrived on the main road.
Bai Muchuan called a cab. While waiting, he suddenly asked Xiang Wan a question.
“Do you feel that I’m like a wuss when I’m with that family?”
“…” Hmm, wuss?
She felt that he was already very valiant yet appropriate.
She behaved more like a wuss when she thought of her behavior whenever she faced her mom.
“Definitely not!” Xiang Wan laughed. “Rather, I feel that you’re actually quite tolerant… If it’s the Cheng Family, I believe you would have used your fists, right?” she said jokingly, she actually meant that Bai Muchuan would have adopted a more aggressive, but a more pacifist approach.
She got that conclusion from the way he treated Cheng Zheng.
Bai Muchuan was silent for a moment. Then he let out a sneer, while seemingly not denying what she said.
“At the very least, the Bai Family did not send me to that special school, whereas, the Cheng Family did that.”
“…”
He was not made of stone; how could he be unfeeling?
The Bai Family brought him up after all. Grandma Bai really loved him a lot too.
Even though Zhu Xueyan might have been mean to him, he had grown up safe and sound in the family.
“I get to go to school, I have clothes to wear, and I have food to eat. All my four limbs are good and well. With that, I am grateful to them.”
“…”
He had a cold appearance, but his heart was warm and soft.
Xiang Wan looked at him without batting an eyelid.
That was such a handsome face.
She squeezed his hand back. “I understand you.”
Bai Muchuan’s eyelids lowered a little. “So even though I knew there would be trouble, I still brought you back there.”
“I know. In your heart, you consider this showing respect to them. After all, your name is in the same household registry as them.”
Bai Muchuan patted her head. “Little Xiang Wan, I’ve made you suffer some unhappiness.”
“But I’m fine… Heh, maybe you didn’t know. There are a lot of girls crying, shouting or even bawling to be in my place and suffer this unhappiness instead…”
Bai Muchuan snorted a laugh. “It’s good that you know. Treat me nicer, okay?”
“Yes, Sir! Your Excellency, from now onwards, I’ll guarantee that I will serve you wholeheartedly even if it means you wouldn’t be able to sleep…”
“No sleep?” Bai Muchuan showed a smirk as his pair of alluring eyes glanced at her. “You think too much! If you don’t sleep, how would you serve me?”
“…”
…
They went back to that same neighborhood Xiang Wan stayed the last time she was here.
The serene stacked townhouse was in a big and beautiful landscape garden.
When they reached the entrance of Bai Muchuan’s apartment, Xiang Wan heaved a sigh of relief.
Although this was her second time coming to this place, she already had a feeling she was returning to her home.
“Open the door.”
The house had a biometric door lock.
Bai Muchuan did not open the door, instead, he mouthed for her to try. “You do it!”
This confused Xiang Wan for a moment. “Me?”
Bai Muchuan nodded. “Yeah, try it.”
Uh!
Although Xiang Wan lived there for a few days, she hardly stepped out of the house and had never used her fingerprint before to open the door…
Looking at Bai Muchuan’s expression that showed a half-smile, she went up to the lock-in and put a finger on it.
Ding!
The light turned green and opened.
“Eh? When did you get this done?”
“Mrs. Bai, please go inside!” Bai Muchuan’s smiling face felt gentle when it shone under the warm-colored light. There was a surge of mixed emotions within Xiang Wan, and she didn’t know how to express them.
“Bai Muchuan…”
She called his name.
She didn’t know what to say since she was in a daze.
“Come on in, what are you standing at the entrance for?”
One could consider this apartment as the best in the Capital.
It had an enormous space. The bedroom, study, a gym room, entertainment room, it had everything. There was also a big patio where she could plant in during spring and watch the snow in winter. It was totally Xiang Wan’s ideal house. The Bai Family’s mansion belonged to more of the ancient Chinese looking house, whereas this apartment was very modern and comfortable. She really liked it a lot, everything looked pleasing to the eye.
Especially—
The house was still the same when she left.
It was spotless too.
Xiang Wan exclaimed in surprise. “Did anyone clean this place? It’s wonderful.”
Bai Muchuan held her shoulders and let out a chuckle. “Prior to us coming back, I’ve arranged for the place to be cleaned.”
For upscale houses like this, the building management also provided professional housekeepers as a service for the residents living in the neighborhood.
Otherwise, what was the use of paying so much building management fees for? Of course, the building management also needed to provide equivalent service for their residents too.
“It’s nice to be rich!”
Xiang Wan put her arms around his waist, embracing him.
“Bai Muchuan, I’ll work hard to earn money too. I want to become a famous author as well! I want to make you proud—”
“I believe you.” Bai Muchuan patted her head gently. “When you become a famous author… support me too, okay?”
His remark startled Xiang Wan for a split second. She looked up at him with her eyes glittering brightly. She was actually happy inside.
“Sure, by then, I’ll support you!”
“Congratulations, Little Xiang Wan. You’ve gained the right to support me.”
“…” Oh, there he goes again with his tsundere attitude!
Xiang Wan did not know if she should laugh or cry.
Bai Muchuan was as cool as usual. “Women who wanted to support me have been queuing up for over 20 years already… But I’ve given none of them a chance.”
“Alright, alright~” Xiang Wan blinked, as though it really flattered her to have that chance. “I’ll definitely work hard to earn money and support my dearest Sir Little Bai.”
Bai Muchuan snorted a laugh. He picked her up and made several 360-degree turns in the huge living room.
“… I approve your request!”
“Ahhh… put me down… I’m getting dizzy… I’m dizzy…”
…
Happy days passed by quickly.
Xiang Wan was like a free little bird when she returned to this house in the Capital.
In this place, she could belong to herself completely.
Without interference, she just needed to do what she liked and could totally concentrate on her work.
If she need not think about those frustrating matters online, she could say that she really was a blissful and fortunate woman in this space that belonged to her and Bai Muchuan.
There was someone she loved, and that someone loved her back.
Both of them trust and understand each other while giving each other the greatest freedom they could.
Everything was just nice.
She thought about the so-called pinnacle of one’s life; maybe that was what she was experiencing now.
Whether or not she could become a famous author, for her current state, she was actually enjoying the feeling of working hard towards her goal…
Writing her story, growing plants, and waiting for her man to come back home.
He would also work while she was writing her story.
When he was writing his story, she would also accompany him.
It was really picturesque in this quiet and relaxing life.
If not for that day, when Xiang Wan was taking a nap on the lounge chair and suddenly dreamt about Du Landuo, she had almost forgotten about the harsh realities of the world.
It had been a while since she dreamt of Du Landuo, and the latter barged into her dreams again.
She still looked bloody as always…
She reached out her hand while looking at Xiang Wan. There were tears and blood on her eyes.
On her fingers, her long fingernails seemed to touch her face for about a few centimeters.
The next moment, Du Landuo’s face changed to Xuan Yue.
She had an exquisite makeup on her face and was standing in front of her while shouting in distress.
“Save me… someone wants to kill me… wants to kill me… someone…”
Save me…
Someone was after me…
“Ahh!”
Xiang Wan gasped. The dream frightened her.
The surrounding was warm, and she was still lying on the lounge chair.
The enclosed balcony was warm enough.
It was snowing outside, and it had not stopped yet.
Xiang Wan got up and went back to the living room. She then realized that Bai Muchuan was already back at home.
There was also a pair of unfamiliar shoes belonging to a man.
Xiang Wan was surprised for a moment and headed to the study.
The door was not fully closed. She couldn’t make out the voices in the study that came from Bai Muchuan and Ding Yifan respectively.
Xiang Wan paused and did not go inside the room. She could faintly make out the words “Heaven’s Wrath”.
… They were talking about work.
Xiang Wan did not want to snoop on them and wanted to leave when the door suddenly opened.
Ding Yifan came out of the study.
Standing at the entrance, seeing her surprised him for a while. “Teacher Xiang!”
Xiang Wan felt awkward to leave now. She turned her head to show a smile. “Detective Ding, you’re here.”
“Mm.” Ding Yifan didn’t show much reaction. “I still have work to do, so I’ll get going now. See you, Teacher Xiang.”
“See you!”
Xiang Wan looked at his hurrying back view. She thought about it and turned back to knock on the door.
“Hi, darling! What do you want to eat tonight? I’ll go get the ingredients and make you a scrumptious dinner.”
Bai Muchuan was still sitting on a chair in the study while looking all moody as shown on his brooding face. Cigarette smoke filled the entire study too. That added some gloom to the warm atmosphere in the house.
“No need to trouble yourself with that.” Bai Muchuan showed a smile. “I’ll just grab a bite; that will do.”
“I don’t allow that!” Xiang Wan could see the reluctance in his smile. She knew that he must have encountered some problems at work.
She didn’t probe on that but pointed outside. “You can continue to do your work. I’ll go get the ingredients now, okay?”
“Okay.” Bai Muchuan was looking at his laptop and did not stop her.
Xiang Wan smiled at him naturally. “Smoke lesser!”
This startled Bai Muchuan and looked at the cigarette he was holding between his fingers before he swiftly snuffed it out on the ashtray.
“… I forgot.”
“Heh!” Xiang Wan made an “okay” gesture. “I’ll get going now.”
“Be careful!”
“I will…”
…
The amenities around the neighborhood was very convenient.
Close to their home was a big supermarket. Xiang Wan was thinking of what to get while walking with her head lowered.
However, before she could enter the supermarket, she saw two familiar faces walking out of it.
The two of them were holding each other’s hand.
The man was holding the plastic bags of groceries while the woman was holding the man’s arm and was talking intimately with each other—
They did not see Xiang Wan but turned at a corner and walked straight away.
Xiang Wan stood at her spot for a long time.
It floored her!
This couple made her see the bad side of humanity once more.
Xuan Yue… and Hu Bandao?
