After Breaking Up With the Scheming Bad Woman 33

Chapter 33: I Missed You, Xingxing.

The air in the entryway froze at that moment, the light silently illuminating everything.

Huai Xing hadn’t expected Chu Wantang to come out. If it had been before, she would have subconsciously defended herself, saying, “Jiejie, why are you misunderstanding me again?” But this time, she didn’t even have the thought of looking up at her, lest the tears she had just managed to hold back would break through again.

As for an answer, she had even less of an idea. Since Chu Wantang had decided to continue this cold war with her, why should she argue with her about this? What did her staying or leaving have to do with Chu Wantang?

“Not going to answer?” Chu Wantang looked at her figure, crouched down to change her shoes, and took a step forward, saying softly, “You didn’t answer my question in the elevator just now either. Is this how I taught you, Xiao Xing?”

For a rare moment, Huai Xing ignored her. She tied her shoelaces, slowly straightened up, and pulled up the handle of her suitcase again.

Chu Wantang moved a little closer, shortening the distance between them. She looked at Huai Xing’s sulking expression and couldn’t help but throw out a third question. “The man in the suit who added you on WeChat today, what was that for?”

“…” Huai Xing pressed her lips together tightly and walked out with her suitcase.

Just as the door opened a crack, the handle of her suitcase was grabbed by a hand.

She couldn’t pull it anymore.

Chu Wantang was already standing behind Huai Xing. She reached out her other arm, first closing the door, then hooking it around Huai Xing’s waist. Her clear, moist voice uttered two words: “Too late.”

As she spoke, she pulled the person into her embrace until their chests were pressed against each other’s backs. She then frowned and said unhurriedly, “You’ve lost weight.”

Huai Xing remained silent, not wanting to respond with a single word.

She only expressed her attitude with her actions: she struggled out of this embrace that she cherished so much.

Chu Wantang hadn’t been holding her very tightly, so it was easy for her to succeed.

Huai Xing didn’t dare to look at Chu Wantang’s face. Being stopped like this, she also gave up the idea of going to a hotel now.

The sound of the suitcase rolling on the ground was heard again, this time in the opposite direction.

Logically, she should have slammed the door with some force, making a loud “bang.” She used to do that when she was upset with her mother.

But when it was time to close the door, she canceled the thought.

She was no longer the willful child she used to be, and the person standing outside the door was not the Huai Zhao who would tolerate her no matter what.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but feel dejected.

The door to the guest room closed gently, cutting off all sight and light.

Chu Wantang watched her return to her room. Only when there was not a single gap left did she lower her eyes and look at the empty space in front of her.

Was it an illusion? It seemed as if Huai Xing’s warmth still lingered there, and on the arm that had been wrapped around Huai Xing’s slender waist, there seemed to be a sensation that made her feel dazed.

After a long while, she returned to the master bedroom. Her gaze couldn’t help but turn to the speaker and the spring letter on the desk.

The speaker was quiet. The flowers in the spring letter had long since withered. She didn’t care about the other decorative flowers, so she had replaced them with fresh begonias several times. But there were many varieties of begonias, and the ones that bloomed in early May were not the delicate color of before, but a more purplish hue.

She stood there for a moment, her eyelashes fluttering.

A few seconds later, she walked over slowly, stroked the petals with her slender fingertips, and watched them tremble. The corners of her lips pressed down.

No matter how many times she replaced them, it was not the same bouquet that Huai Xing had given her before.

The next day, the sky was clear and the air was fresh.

As soon as Huai Xing opened her eyes, she saw countless screaming emojis from Ren Jiao. Her buddy was unwilling to face the reality that the five-day holiday was over.

It wasn’t just Ren Jiao. In her group chats and on her Moments, everyone was lamenting the same thing, all wanting to go back to before the holiday.

Huai Xing didn’t have such thoughts. Before the holiday, she had been in a cold war with Chu Wantang.

Now, after the holiday, it was still the same. Nothing was different.

But to her surprise, when she came out of the guest room today, she saw Chu Wantang at the dining table at a glance.

In the past few days, they hadn’t seen each other at such a time. It was clearly the most ordinary thing in the past, but now it felt a little strange.

Huai Xing didn’t pay attention to Chu Wantang and went into the bathroom.

A few minutes later, she came out with her face moisturized.

Auntie Chen had already placed her bowl and chopsticks directly opposite Chu Wantang and was looking at them with a gratified expression. This look… to describe it, it was like watching a disbanded girl group reunite.

Huai Xing was speechless at the description in her mind. “…”

She didn’t show any strangeness and sat down opposite Chu Wantang.

Auntie Chen had prepared millet congee and stir-fried vegetables this morning, and had also cut some sweet and sour summer oranges.

Chu Wantang was tasting the summer orange with a fork. She swallowed a small piece and said to Auntie Chen with a smile, “Auntie Chen, you can go back now. Get some rest.”

“Okay, Miss Chu, Miss Huai.”

Huai Xing also smiled at Auntie Chen. As soon as she left, her smile faded, and she only looked down at the breakfast in front of her.

She would just pretend the person opposite her didn’t exist.

This was also the strategy she had come up with last night—

So what if Chu Wantang knew her feelings? Had she said it out loud? No, right?

Then she should feel “baffled” by the cold war Chu Wantang had initiated and play along. When the time was right, she would “turn the tables” and express her confusion. This way, she could take the lead and also dispel Chu Wantang’s doubts.

But this table was not large, and it was a bit narrow.

No matter how much she wanted to ignore Chu Wantang, Chu Wantang’s slow and deliberate action of forking the orange would still enter her field of vision.

The temperature had been high recently, so Chu Wantang had taken off her suit jacket. Today, she was only wearing a light blue blouse made of soft fabric.

Her cuffs were casually rolled up to her elbows, the lines of her forearms graceful, revealing the exquisite watch on her wrist. The hand holding the fork was slender and elegant, her posture graceful. Even without seeing her face, you could feel a hint of laziness.

Seeing that the summer orange on Chu Wantang’s plate was almost finished, Huai Xing finally felt her breathing lighten a little.

Unexpectedly, after Chu Wantang finished eating, she didn’t immediately put down her fork. Instead, she made a request to her. “Give me some of your orange.”

“…” Huai Xing didn’t look up or answer, silently pushing the plate forward.

Chu Wantang couldn’t help but laugh at Huai Xing’s appearance. She didn’t fork any more oranges, but instead put down her fork and rested her elbows on the dining table, watching Huai Xing chew slowly with her chin in her hand.

Huai Xing could accurately sense her gaze and felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles.

Not only did her eating speed suddenly increase, but she also took back the fruit plate and silently ate the sweet and sour oranges.

Before long, she cleared her own bowl and chopsticks and went into the kitchen.

After putting the bowl and chopsticks in the sink, she turned around and was surrounded by Chu Wantang.

In fact, Chu Wantang had also come in to put away her bowl and chopsticks, but she was standing behind her.

This way, the two of them were of the same height and at eye level.

The light in the kitchen was good, and fine specks of sunlight came in, entering Chu Wantang’s brown eyes and forming distinct spots of light.

Huai Xing retracted her gaze and moved to the side.

Chu Wantang happened to be putting away her bowl and chopsticks sideways, blocking her way. Seeing that she was trapped by her, she chuckled softly. “It wasn’t on purpose.”

“…” Huai Xing, who still chose to be mute, chose the other side. This time, there were no obstacles.

After leaving the house, she jogged all the way to the entrance of the complex to hail a taxi.

At this moment, she felt as if she were participating in an “escape room” competition, and she had finally succeeded.

She got into the car and looked back at the entrance of the complex.

She couldn’t help but feel very puzzled. What are you thinking, Chu Wantang?

With three minutes left until nine o’clock, Huai Xing arrived at her workstation and sat down.

She hadn’t been at the company for the past five days. She wiped her desk and, while she was at it, also wiped Ren Jiao’s desk.

Ren Jiao came in just in time to see this scene and was very moved. “Huai Xing! I will award you the ‘Touching China 2020 Good Colleague of the Year’ award.”

“You’re welcome.” Huai Xing had just finished wiping and sat down in her own seat.

Ren Jiao pulled out her chair and lamented naturally, “It’s hard to imagine what I would do if you weren’t working here anymore. You can’t leave. If you leave, what will I do?”

“Why would I leave?”

“Because I know that this job is not a necessity for you. You’re more like you’re here to experience life.”

Huai Xing was stunned for a moment and didn’t deny it.

Ren Jiao then asked, “Then do you have a job you want to do yourself?”

Seeing that Huai Xing was really thinking about it, Ren Jiao had a “this child is unteachable” expression. “After knowing me for so long, it seems I still haven’t successfully brainwashed you. When faced with this question, you should firmly say ‘no.’ People shouldn’t work! They should just play every day!”

Huai Xing smiled faintly and didn’t agree. Instead, she turned to look out the window.

She had been protected by Huai Zhao when she was a child, and taken care of by Chu Wantang after she became an adult.

Such questions had never been within her scope of consideration. But at this moment, she felt a little lost.

Since she didn’t lack money and was just experiencing life, what kind of work did she want to do?

Before long, she felt that she had fallen into a trap of thought and was thinking about some meaningless things.

Wasn’t her current life very satisfying?

Even though she was still in a cold war with Chu Wantang, there was nothing to be picky about. If nothing unexpected happened, she would always follow Chu Wantang at “Lan Ling.”

For the next few days, when Huai Xing woke up at her normal time in the morning, she would see Chu Wantang sitting at the dining table.

Not just in the morning, but also in the evening, she would come home one after the other with Chu Wantang.

Their communication was still very little. It was almost always Chu Wantang who spoke a few words, and she still didn’t say much.

But at least Chu Wantang was no longer leaving early and coming back late, and was not deliberately avoiding her.

She would even tell her that she had some cramps and needed to drink hot water. When she brought her warm water, she would smile and thank her.

It was a bit polite, but the atmosphere had eased.

Thinking about it, it made sense.

Chu Wantang must have also realized that she had never explicitly stated her feelings, so there was no need to get hung up on such “non-existent” things.

They could still continue to be sisters.

Because of the adjusted holiday, they had to work on Saturday this week, leaving only Sunday as a holiday.

On the rare holiday, when Huai Xing’s biological clock woke her up, she didn’t see Chu Wantang having breakfast. After washing up, she went back to sleep.

When she woke up, she released the jade comb and heard a knock on the door.

There was no sound from the master bedroom. Huai Xing put on her slippers and went over.

She first looked through the peephole. It wasn’t the familiar delivery man, but a brightly dressed and very strange woman.

She thought for a moment, opened the door a crack, and asked, “Hello, may I help you?”

The woman was not only brightly dressed, but her makeup was also heavy. But time had left its mark on her face, and she looked to be in her forties.

“I’m looking for Chu Wantang,” Xu Congyun said, frowning at the girl. “Who are you?”

Huai Xing didn’t answer and asked back, “May I ask who you are?”

“Where is Chu Wantang?” Xu Congyun didn’t answer either and was about to push the door open.

Huai Xing was very vigilant and didn’t let her in.

She emphasized again, “You need to tell me who you are, ma’am.”

“I’m Chu Wantang’s aunt. My surname is Xu. Do I need to give you my ID number?”

Huai Xing opened her mouth, but before she could answer.

Her shoulder was gently held by someone from behind. Chu Wantang came to her front and said to Xu Congyun, “Why the sudden visit, Auntie?” She then opened the door. “If there’s anything, let’s talk inside.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Wantang took Huai Xing’s hand and squeezed it.

This was their most intimate action recently, but it was still as familiar as if they had never had a cold war. She then turned her head and asked with concern, “Were you scared?”

“…No,” Huai Xing shook her head.

She glanced at Xu Congyun, who was already sitting in the living room. This was the first time she had seen anyone else from Chu Wantang’s family in the long time she had been in Jingcheng. Was this the aunt who had left finger marks on Chu Wantang’s face last time?

But before she could ask, Chu Wantang had already let go of her hand, her features gentle as she said, “Go back to your room, Xiao Xing.”

Huai Xing looked at the aggressive Xu Congyun, thought of the finger marks from before, and shook her head. “I don’t want to.”

“Hmm?”

“What if she slaps you again…”

Chu Wantang looked at the undisguised concern in her eyes, pressed her lips together, and nodded. “Okay.”

Xu Congyun had come this time for a serious matter.

She drank some of the water Huai Xing had brought, cleared her throat, and then said, “The old lady is in the hospital. Even if you don’t go to the hospital to see her, you should at least show some concern, right, Wantang?”

“I shouldn’t,” Chu Wantang said, her arms crossed, her expression calm. “Didn’t the old lady already think that I, her granddaughter, was unfilial? If I show any concern, wouldn’t that be out of character?”

Huai Xing, at the side, heard her being so sarcastic and couldn’t help but twitch her lips slightly.

Xu Congyun sighed. “You know why she thinks you’re unfilial, don’t you? You’ve rejected all the talented young men she’s introduced to you. You’re your big brother’s only child…”

“Auntie,” Chu Wantang interrupted her elder’s speech. “Not necessarily the only child. Please be careful with your words.”

Xu Congyun’s brows were tightly furrowed. “Big brother may be a bit of a womanizer, but he definitely hasn’t had any illegitimate children outside all these years. I can guarantee that.”

Huai Xing digested this information. She remembered her impression of Xu Zhixun when she had met him six years ago.

The man in his forties was handsome, gentle, and well-maintained. He looked very energetic. At that time, she had thought that her mother’s taste was not bad. This old classmate was not the kind of pot-bellied middle-aged man.

But now, listening to the conversation between Chu Wantang and Xu Congyun, she pressed her lips together tightly and felt that something was wrong.

Xu Zhixun’s private life seemed to be very chaotic.

Then what about Chu Wantang’s mother? Did she know all this?

“Womanizer…” Chu Wantang couldn’t help but rest her head on Huai Xing’s shoulder. She turned her head slightly, her posture lazy, and commented, “A very good packaging word. It makes him sound a lot more affectionate.”

Xu Congyun didn’t want to get entangled with her on this matter. “The old lady’s hospital expenses are not small. Your uncle and I discussed it. You can just pay a hundred thousand.”

“Auntie, please go back.”

Chu Wantang closed her eyes and said with no strength, “The last time the old lady slapped me, my face still hurts.”

Hearing this, Huai Xing’s nerves tensed up.

So it was the hospitalized old Mrs. Xu who had slapped her. Then it was even more impossible to give her money. She looked at Xu Congyun with a cold face and couldn’t help but order her to leave. “Ms. Xu, my sister had a slight concussion after that slap last time. It should be us who are demanding compensation.” She dragged out her tone. “In that case, please pay my sister a hundred thousand yuan on behalf of the old lady. After all, you are so filial. It’s most appropriate for you to pay this money.”

“Who are you, what sister?” Xu Congyun glared at her. “I was talking to Wantang. What’s a stranger like you interrupting for?”

As soon as she said that, the atmosphere froze.

Chu Wantang’s face fell, and the coldness on her face was thick.

She stared at Xu Congyun and said unceremoniously, “I’m still calling you Auntie out of respect for my late father. Haven’t you Xu family members always thought that I, with the surname Chu, was an outsider?” At this point, she curled her lips in extreme mockery. “How come we’re a family now?”

Xu Congyun was so angry that she picked up her designer bag and stood up, pointing her index finger at Chu Wantang, and then at Huai Xing.

Her voice was a little sharp as she asked, “What’s your name?”

“Huai Xing,” Huai Xing answered very calmly.

Xu Congyun was stunned for a moment. “Huai?” She covered her mouth and laughed. “Your surname is Huai… your surname is actually Huai…”

Chu Wantang’s expression froze. She stood up to see her out. “Take care.”

Before long, Xu Congyun left with a smile, still muttering about Huai Xing’s surname.

The door closed, cutting off the sound.

Huai Xing sat on the sofa in a daze. She hadn’t recovered from Xu Congyun’s surprise just now. What was so surprising about her surname being Huai?

Chu Wantang came to her, bent down, and explained, “Xu Zhixun had told his family before he remarried Auntie Huai, so Auntie must have been shocked that I brought you here.”

“Oh…” Huai Xing lifted her eyelids. “That’s reasonable.”

Chu Wantang’s long hair was down. She looked at Huai Xing’s eyes, raised her wrist, and pushed aside a few messy strands of Huai Xing’s hair, asking nonchalantly, “Are you willing to talk to me now?” Her voice held a smile. “Thank you for protecting me just now.”

“…” Huai Xing turned her face away and said a little awkwardly, “I’m not the one who started the cold war.”

Chu Wantang leaned closer and planted a kiss on her cheek, her voice soft. “I missed you, Xingxing.”