After Breaking Up With the Scheming Bad Woman 8

Chapter 8: It Was My Fault for Making You Cry.

Crying out loud in a cemetery wasn’t a shameful thing. No one would cast a curious glance if they heard a stranger’s sobs; everyone just assumed that family and friends were heartbroken in such a place.

However, Huai Xing didn’t cry out loud. Her sobs were particularly suppressed and restrained, only intermittent whimpers escaping.

Only Chu Wantang could hear them.

The weather was nice, so the black blouse Chu Wantang wore wasn’t thick. The fabric on her shoulder was quickly soaked by the tears of the person before her, the damp, sticky feeling rather uncomfortable.

She frowned, then changed her position, kneeling down to face Huai Xing. She naturally reached out her arms, wrapping one around the girl’s waist and gently patting her trembling shoulder with the other, pulling her into her embrace.

A gentle breeze blew. She smelled the scent of the solid perfume on Huai Xing, her voice returning to its usual gentle and soft tone. “I know, Xiao Xing. I told you, I believe you. You have to believe me too, okay?” She paused, turning to look at the photo on the tombstone. “If Auntie Huai misunderstands and thinks I’m bullying you, I’ll never be able to clear my name.”

Huai Xing quickly looked up. Her sobbing hadn’t stopped, but she still turned her head to the grave of Huai Zhao and explained earnestly, “Mom, Jiejie isn’t bullying me.”

They were family, they were sisters. She was the one who had secretly crossed the line.

Chu Wantang’s arm around her didn’t loosen. She looked down at her current state with half-lidded eyes.

Huai Xing’s thick lashes were stuck together with tears. Her eyes and the tip of her nose were red from crying, and her fair face was still glistening with tears.

Her usually full-colored lips were a bit dry now, but they looked as if they were coated with a layer of translucent honey, as pink and moist as the spring cherry blossoms they had seen all along the way.

Chu Wantang’s gaze lingered on them for a couple of extra seconds before slowly retracting.

Her throat moved quietly; she felt a little thirsty.

Huai Xing was oblivious. She didn’t look at Chu Wantang’s face, gradually letting go of her sister’s hand. Perhaps feeling that what she had just said wasn’t enough, she wiped her face and then slowly added to Huai Zhao in a nasal voice, “Mom, Jiejie treats me very well. The night before last, when I had cramps, she even came to rub my stomach. Mom, you used to rub my stomach too. I miss you so much…”

Seeing that her state was gradually returning to normal, Chu Wantang slowly stood up and glanced at her own shoulder.

There was a large watermark on the fabric, and the bra strap underneath was also soaked. The woman’s lips twitched. She glanced at the top of Huai Xing’s head, a hint of helplessness on her bright face.

They stayed at the cemetery for another half an hour before Huai Xing reluctantly returned the way they came with Chu Wantang.

She would turn back every few steps until the trees obscured her mother’s tombstone from view, only then stopping the action.

Wen Ruyu’s call came in at that moment, asking if they were done and if they wanted to come straight to her house to sit for a while.

Huai Xing smiled at the person on the other end of the phone. “Auntie Wen, we’re going back to the hotel first.”

“Did you cry?” Wen Ruyu could hear the nasality in her voice.

Huai Xing admitted sheepishly, “Yes…”

On the other end, Xia Yi snatched the phone from Wen Ruyu, and a young male voice rang out, “Huai Xing, come quickly, I and…”

What he said next was unknown, as his mouth was covered.

Wen Ruyu took the phone back and asked with a smile, “Do you want me to pick you up?”

“No need, Auntie Wen, we can come on our own.” Huai Xing also broke into a smile. “Don’t worry, we won’t miss this meal.”

“Good, good.”

“Let me know before you leave.”

After a brief chat, they hung up. They were also approaching the cemetery’s parking lot.

For convenience, Chu Wantang had rented a car for these two days. She first opened the passenger door and waited for Huai Xing to get in before walking around the front of the car to the driver’s side.

On the way, Huai Xing gripped her phone tightly, looking at the scenery outside the car window.

She and Chu Wantang hadn’t spoken for a while. Now that her thoughts had returned, she couldn’t help but feel that the atmosphere was a bit stiff.

Did Chu Wantang really believe what she had said? And why had Chu Wantang suddenly treated her like that? Where had she slipped up? Was her reaction to the gift strange? Or was her reaction the night before last when she had cramps strange? Or had her racing heartbeat been discovered when she hugged Chu Wantang? Or were there more moments she herself wasn’t aware of?

She had no way of knowing. Her breathing couldn’t help but become lighter, and lighter still.

Even the thought of sneaking a glance at Chu Wantang was canceled for now. She would have to be more cautious in the future.

Her feelings for Chu Wantang could only be seen by her alone.

At nearly eleven, they returned to the Junling Hotel.

They had both knelt on the ground, and even after patting the dust off, their black pants still had obvious marks. Chu Wantang called the hotel staff to take their clothes to be washed and dried.

Huai Xing changed her outfit first and came out to the living room.

The staff member arrived quickly and stood properly at the door. She handed over her clothes, said “one moment,” and then went to knock on the master bedroom door. “Jiejie, the staff is here to pick up the clothes.”

The door opened, the gap widening.

Huai Xing stared at the scene inside, slightly stunned.

Chu Wantang extended a slender wrist, holding out her clothes. But her other hand was still behind her back, fastening the clasp of her bra.

The bra was black, and Chu Wantang’s skin was as white as mutton-fat jade. She had already changed into another pair of black suit trousers, a designer belt cinched at her waist, its brand’s logo stamped in gold foil.

The rest of her was bare, save for the fabric barely covering her chest. Her taut, flat abdomen, the beautiful lines of her shoulders and neck, and the V-shape formed by the full curve of her bust…

Huai Xing’s eyelashes trembled. She didn’t dare look for too long, yet felt that shrinking back would make her seem guilty, so she had no choice but to take the clothes first.

Before she could turn around, Chu Wantang’s now-free hand reached behind her back to fasten her bra clasp. All the while, she stared at Huai Xing, her lips parting and closing as she said with a smile, “Your tears got my bra wet, Xiao Xing.”

Huai Xing wore an apologetic expression, not knowing where to look. “Sorry…”

“You shouldn’t be the one apologizing. It’s my fault.” Chu Wantang pulled a camisole from a nearby rack, her tone sincere. “That wasn’t my intention. It was my fault for making you cry. It won’t happen again, hmm?”

As she finished, she looked at Huai Xing again, her gaze filled with endless gentleness.

“Okay.”

Huai Xing nodded lightly. She would treat this as a closed chapter and cooperated, saying, “Don’t doubt me, Jiejie.”

“Don’t worry.”

Having received a definite answer, Huai Xing no longer hesitated. She walked to the door and smiled at the staff member. “Sorry for the wait.”

Chu Wantang stood where she was and lowered her eyes, looking at her still-exposed skin. She raised an eyebrow nonchalantly before unhurriedly putting on the camisole.

The Wen family lived in a high-end residential complex in Yuncheng’s first ring road. In the early years, Wen Ruyu and her husband, Xia Zhi, had opened a husband-and-wife late-night snack stall. Business was booming, and they eventually bought a storefront, which grew larger and larger. In the days when money was no longer a major concern, she, like many housewives, focused on her family, first giving birth to Xia Shiwei, and then Xia Yi.

The man’s subsequent affair was not surprising. The couple had long run out of things to say to each other, and their daily quarrels had never ceased. Unwilling to part with his two children, he “maintained” his family on one hand while supporting a young woman on the other.

But the mistress was unwilling to remain in the shadows and came to their door, causing both sides to completely tear off all pretenses.

Huai Zhao had studied law in Jingcheng back then. After settling in Yuncheng, she opened a law firm. Wen Ruyu’s case was handled by her, and she secured the best possible outcome.

The two mothers met because of this, developed a mutual admiration, and became very good friends.

Now, times had changed. It had been six years since Huai Zhao passed away.

Wen Ruyu waited eagerly for Huai Xing and the others at the elevator entrance. The thought of this made her eyes redden again. Such a good person, yet she had chosen to end her life at forty-seven.

She no longer had a bosom friend in this world.

“Mom, stop wiping your tears. It won’t look good if Huai Xing and Sister Wantang see you like this,” Xia Yi said, draping an arm over Wen Ruyu’s shoulder and watching the rising numbers on the elevator display. “This should be them, right?”

The wrinkles at the corners of Wen Ruyu’s eyes were somewhat pronounced. She nodded. “It should be.”

Just as she finished speaking, with a “ding,” the elevator doors opened.

Inside were none other than Huai Xing and Chu Wantang. Both were dressed formally, looking exceptionally beautiful, and carrying gifts.

Xia Yi’s eyebrows shot up, and he was the first to call out, “Huai Xing, Sister Wantang.”

“Mind your manners. Xiao Huai is older than you!” Wen Ruyu said, then stepped forward with a smile to greet them.

They didn’t exchange too many pleasantries at the elevator. The Wen family quickly ushered them inside.

After washing their hands, everyone took a seat.

The dining table was laden with eight generously portioned dishes. Strawberries and blueberries were also arranged in exquisite fruit bowls.

Xia Yi conscientiously poured drinks for everyone. Huai Xing accepted hers and then said to Wen Ruyu with a smile, “Auntie Wen, Sister Shiwei must not see these dishes, or she’ll feel her life is even more miserable.”

Chu Wantang, sitting beside her, heard her mention Wen Shiwei and gave a faint twitch of her lips.

Hearing this, Wen Ruyu laughed so hard the fine lines by her eyes crinkled. She replied, “Don’t worry about her. She’s living a good life now.”

“Hmm?”

“Mom, don’t you go spreading rumors. The suffering I endured in Germany was real,” Wen Shiwei said as she came out of the bedroom. She had striking features, a classic beauty with a bold look. She looked at Huai Xing with a grin. “Xingxing, why are you so stunned? Didn’t expect me to be here, did you?”

Huai Xing was very surprised, her eyes lighting up. “Sister Shiwei, didn’t you say you were in Germany gnawing on dry bread?”

“How could I surprise you now if I hadn’t lied?”

Wen Shiwei pulled out a chair and sat down on Huai Xing’s other side. Only then did she turn to Chu Wantang on Huai Xing’s left, her lips curling into a smile. “Sister Wantang, long time no see.”

“Long time no see.” Chu Wantang nodded, polite and courteous.

Wen Ruyu sighed. “This is great. Everyone’s here this year.” She urged them, “Don’t just stand there, kids. Hurry up and eat before it gets cold.”

…

After the meal, everyone sat on the sofa in the living room.

Wen Ruyu had many things she wanted to ask and say, so she pulled Huai Xing into a chat. She inevitably brought up the late Huai Zhao, which could only end in a long sigh.

Chu Wantang had a pair of silver-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. She watched the LCD TV calmly, but she didn’t miss a single word of the conversation between Huai Xing and Wen Ruyu.

Wen Shiwei popped a blueberry into her mouth. Seeing Chu Wantang’s pretense, she couldn’t help but sneer.

After a moment, she leaned closer to Chu Wantang, lowered her voice slightly, and raised a wild eyebrow. “Sister Wantang, you must be very disappointed to see that I graduated early and came back, right?”

If it hadn’t been for Chu Wantang suggesting to Wen Ruyu that she study abroad in Germany, she wouldn’t have been absent from Huai Xing’s side for so long.

“Not at all.” Chu Wantang adjusted her glasses, her expression light. “You’re not important enough to evoke such an emotion in me.”