Chapter 18: The Shower

Before the new year, Yan Yunzhi rested at home for several days, and her illness was cured.

This year, they would be spending the new year at the Yan residence. She prepared gifts for Ning Ke’s uncle and aunt, as well as presents for her nephews and nieces.

Ning Ke did not bother with these matters, except for the gift for Grandpa Yan, which she personally selected. The old gentleman was fond of calligraphy, so she ordered a fine inkstone and a calligraphy brush from an antique shop. Because the order was placed late, she could only pick them up on New Year’s Eve.

After picking up the inkstone and brush, Ning Ke had the driver take her to a traditional Chinese medicine shop. She selected ginseng, bird’s nest, and other tonics, along with American ginseng, gastrodia, and pseudo-ginseng.

Yan Yunzhi stood to the side waiting for her.

She was dressed plainly as always—a long light-brown coat, white inner layer, soft wool boots.

Only a pair of silver tassel earrings hung from her ears. When she turned her head to smile, the tassels swayed with a gentle glimmer: “That’s enough. No need to buy more.”

Ning Ke: “Mm. Let’s go then.”

Both the eldest and second uncles’ families were present at the Yan residence. Yan Yunzhi’s aunt had married far away years ago—Ning Ke had only met her once, and she was not there today.

Eldest Aunt Jiang Ru came to open the door, beaming: “Next time, you mustn’t bring so many things back! Azhi, manage Keke—she can’t keep moving all the good things home.”

Actually, with the Yan family’s wealth, they lacked nothing. But her words were warm, polite, and intimate.

Yan Yunzhi gave a gentle smile: “You work the hardest managing everything in the household. Buying a few things is only right.”

Jiang Ru smiled and had the housekeeper put the things away.

As they spoke, Second Aunt Song Ying also came over, holding her granddaughter’s hand. She had been rebutted by Ning Ke last time, but today she still greeted them with a smile, pulling Yan Yunzhi’s hand: “Look at this—married for two years, and this is your first new year at home. Azhi, you’re a few years older than Keke. You should keep her company more, so your feelings for each other can grow.”

Yan Yunzhi hummed in response, nonchalantly withdrawing her hand: “Aunt, Keke bought you a jade bracelet. Would you like to try it on?”

“Alright, alright, let me try it!”

“Sister-in-law, this one’s beautiful!”

“Big sister, I think your pearl necklace is nice too!”

“All of them are nice, all of them are nice! Keke has great taste!”

Ning Ke did not like exchanging pleasantries and hated insincere courtesy most of all.

Grandpa Yan was still upstairs and had not come down, so she was content to play the invisible woman.

Yan Yunzhi seemed to know she lacked patience and deflected a lot of conversation for her.

As mealtime approached, Yan Qi came down. Standing on the stairs, he gave them a look: “So you finally decided to come home.”

Yan Yunzhi glanced at Ning Ke, signaling with her eyes that “it’s fine,” then responded: “Grandpa, we’re just waiting for you to eat.”

Yan Qi saw her complexion was good, with none of her previous sickly look, and his expression softened considerably: “Mm, let’s eat.”

Ning Ke sat next to Yan Yunzhi. She raised her glass when it was time to toast, but otherwise kept to herself.

Yan Yunzhi leaned in and asked gently: “Little Ning, do you want some beef?”

Ning Ke was very unaccustomed to this tone—like coaxing a child—but she was committed to the act, so she nodded enthusiastically, looking obedient.

Yan Yunzhi smiled at her, picked up some spicy beef for her, and ladled her a bowl of lotus root soup: “Drink some soup first to warm your stomach. Eating spicy food directly will hurt it.”

Ning Ke: “Mm, okay.”

Yan Qi watched and was secretly helpless.

Azhi was his eldest granddaughter. Her father had passed away early, and her health had always been poor, so he had always been especially attentive. She was also a likable child—gentle, composed, and steady. It was just that she had always kept to herself; he had never seen her take a real interest in anyone.

Except for this girl from the Ning family.

…Forget it.

Yan Qi put down his chopsticks, and everyone followed suit.

The old gentleman took out a thick stack of red envelopes, handing each of the younger generation two large, substantial red envelopes.

Ning Ke was given two as well. Her eyes curved in a smile as she thanked Grandpa Yan: “I get some too? Thank you, Grandpa!”

She was wearing the bright red sweater the elders loved, with two little fluffy white pompoms at the shoulders. At her age, her smile was bright—white teeth and sparkling eyes—it was hard not to like her.

Yan Qi smiled rarely this time: “Of course. Azhi always says you haven’t grown up yet.”

Jiang Ru teased: “Oh my, our Azhi really knows how to cherish someone.”

Song Ying chimed in: “That’s right. Azhi said Keke just has a little temper, but she’s very well-behaved otherwise.”

Well-behaved?

Ning Ke was stunned.

What exactly had Yan Yunzhi been telling people about their sham marriage?

After dinner, the family sat together watching the Spring Festival Gala and playing mahjong.

Ning Ke had learned mahjong from Lin Yun and was quite skilled, but tonight she was Grandpa Yan’s upper hand, so she openly fed him a lot of tiles.

The old gentleman won almost every round, making everyone groan.

At nine o’clock sharp, Yan Yunzhi spoke up: “Grandpa, it’s getting late.”

Yan Qi: “You two are leaving?”

Yan Yunzhi: “Mm.”

Yan Qi frowned, thought for a moment, then said: “I see.”

He was a patriarch whose word was law, so once he spoke, neither aunt dared to persuade them to stay.

Before leaving, Yan Yunzhi said she would go to her room to fetch a couple of books, and also brought up the inkstone and brush Ning Ke had bought. She probably chatted with Yan Qi for a while, coming down a quarter of an hour later.

On the way back.

Ning Ke looked out the window: “I wouldn’t have minded. We could have stayed the night. It’s not like we come back more than twice a year.”

Yan Yunzhi: “It wasn’t because of you. I didn’t want to stay longer myself.”

Ning Ke was very surprised.

Except for Second Aunt Song Ying’s unpleasant remarks, everyone else had been good to Yan Yunzhi.

Yan Yunzhi did not explain further, instead asking her: “You lost so much money tonight. How should I compensate you?”

“Why bring that up,” Ning Ke could not be bothered with trivialities. “Do you have to be so precise about everything?”

“Of course not,” Yan Yunzhi looked at her profile. “I don’t need to be precise with you.”

Ning Ke rubbed her ear, saying nothing.

When they got home, she was about to head to her room.

Yan Yunzhi called after her: “New year, any wishes for the new year?”

Ning Ke turned to glance at her.

Something flickered in her bright, deep eyes. She smiled faintly: “No.”

Yan Yunzhi was taken aback, nodding as if disappointed: “Alright. Then, good night.”

Ning Ke: “Mm. Good night.”

From the first to the third day of the new year, Ning Ke rested at home and visited the Ning residence twice to see relatives.

It was only on the evening of the third day that she had time, and Lin Yun invited her out.

Tourist crowds were rare during the new year, and many mall stores were still open. Ning Ke and Lin Yun were evenly matched in shopping stamina, walking in high heels for five or six hours without tiring.

They bought over a dozen bags of clothes, tossed them to the driver, and planned to get manicures before going home.

But just as they stepped out of the store, they saw a familiar figure standing outside a women’s clothing store.

Ning Ke stopped Lin Yun: “Is that Tao Zi?”

Lin Yun peered closely: “Oh yeah. We went to her store opening last time, remember?”

Ning Ke nodded and stood still.

Not far away, Tao Zi, red-eyed, yelled at her fiancé Zhou Yan: “We’re about to get married! And you’re still messing around with other people!”

Zhou Yan pulled the small store employee behind him, his face cold: “Only you’re so precious, can’t even be touched. Not allowed to find another woman?”

Tao Zi was nearly out of her mind with anger: “Are you insane?”

Zhou Yan sneered: “If it weren’t for your parents’ money, do you think I’d want you? You really think you’re something!”

Tao Zi charged at him to slap him, but he shoved her away hard. She stumbled backward, her waist hitting the table painfully, cold tea splashing all over her—instantly at her most pitiful.

Ning Ke shoved her handbag at Lin Yun, strode over, and threw her hot coffee directly into Zhou Yan’s face: “Zhou, have some shame.”

The man was scalded by the hot coffee, shrieked, clutched his head, and wiped his face frantically before roaring: “Ning Ke! Are you crazy!”

Ning Ke looked at him coldly: “I think you’re the crazy one.”

With that, she grabbed Tao Zi and dragged her away, ignoring Zhou Yan’s shouting.

Tao Zi sobbed: “You… don’t laugh at me.”

Ning Ke said crossly: “I’m not so bored as to laugh at you!”

Lin Yun lived nearby, so the two brought Tao Zi there. Seeing that her emotions were unstable and her clothes were soaked, they first found her clothes and told her to take a shower, but Tao Zi refused, insisting on drinking.

Lin Yun, who had a slightly better relationship with her, could only accompany her as a friend, drinking along with her.

Ning Ke sat to the side, watching the two drunkards drink.

Tao Zi, drunk, said tearfully: “Actually, actually we used to hang out all the time. But then you stopped talking to me.”

Ning Ke shook her head, looking a little wistful: “Back then, you got close to the Zhou family. I couldn’t talk you out of it.”

She and Tao Zi used to get along well, until Tao Zi got too close to Zhou Yan’s sister, Zhou Lan. Ning Ke could not stand the Zhou family’s mercenary ways and had advised her several times, but Tao Zi had not listened. After that, they drifted apart, and when they did talk, they would end up fighting within two sentences.

Tao Zi burst into tears: “I was wrong… Back then, I was so insecure. My brother, you, Lin Yun—you all got into great schools. Only me—I couldn’t even get into college. No one around me said anything good about me. Only Zhou Lan praised me, said I was pretty, said I was smart…”

Ning Ke: “…If she said you’re smart, then you’re smart? Do you think you’re smart?”

Tao Zi, with tears hanging from her eyes: “Would it kill you to comfort me for once?”

Ning Ke’s tone was as hard as ever: “Yes, it would. I don’t know how to comfort people.”

Tao Zi glared at her, crying and laughing at once, then suddenly leaned over and hugged her: “I’m sorry.”

Ning Ke frowned and endured three seconds before pushing her away, unable to help smiling: “Alright, alright. Don’t get all sentimental with me. Okay, drunkard, go take a shower.”

Ning Ke had not touched a drop of alcohol, so she had to take care of the two drunkards, and by the time she was done, it was past 2am.

When she checked her phone, she saw a message from Yan Yunzhi: “What time are you coming home?”

It had already been past 1am then.

She would not have waited until that late, right?

Ning Ke instinctively wanted to call her, but immediately dismissed the thought.

It was this late—she should be asleep already.

Should she go home now?

She could not… if she went back this late, she would wake Yan Yunzhi.

Forget it. She would deal with it tomorrow.

Early the next morning.

Ning Ke grabbed her bag and headed downstairs.

Lin Yun, busy in the kitchen, heard her and turned around: “Keke, what do you want for breakfast?”

Ning Ke: “Not eating. I’m heading home first.”

Lin Yun: “Eat something before you go! My cooking isn’t bad.”

Ning Ke: “No. No time.”

Lin Yun watched her hurried retreating figure, as if she could not bear to stay a moment longer, and muttered in confusion: “Why rush off like that? What treasure do you have at home?”

Ning Ke vaguely heard her voice but did not stop, stepping into the elevator to the parking garage. After getting in the car, she picked up her phone and called Yan Yunzhi.

The moment it connected, she regretted it.

—This was the first time she had ever called Yan Yunzhi since their marriage.

But the call was answered quickly.

Ning Ke pursed her lips: “Yan Yunzhi, it’s me.”

The person on the other end laughed: “I know.”

Ning Ke: “I had something come up last night and didn’t see your message.”

“It’s fine. I woke up thirsty last night. Passing by your room, I saw the door open, so I just asked,” Yan Yunzhi’s tone was gentle. “Did something happen? Is it resolved?”

Ning Ke: “It’s fine now. I’ll tell you about it later.”

Yan Yunzhi: “Coming home?”

Ning Ke hummed: “I’ll hang up first. I’m driving.”

Yan Yunzhi: “Okay. Drive safe.”

After hanging up, Ning Ke let out a breath.

She had not slept well last night, and her temples were throbbing faintly. She put on earphones to listen to music, temporarily distracting herself.

She arrived home half an hour later.

The house was quiet—probably no one was home. Sister Lu had been on holiday these past few days too; she only came over to cook, and went home the rest of the time. As for Yan Yunzhi, she had mentioned she would be going back to the Yan residence this morning.

Having stayed up too late last night, tired and sleepy, Ning Ke did not want to go to her room to shower. She grabbed her pajamas and headed into the ground-floor bathroom.

She took off her earphones first. Just as she approached the bathroom, she remembered she had not taken out her earrings. Pushing the door open with one hand and removing an earring with the other, she was met with a wave of humid heat the moment the door opened, enveloping her completely.

The person standing in the mist of the bathroom was tall and slender, with graceful curves and a delicate figure. The gently swelling fullness was like fine white jade, melting in one’s hand.

Ning Ke instinctively stepped back.

Yan Yunzhi… was taking a shower.

She was standing at the door.

For a few moments, she said nothing, did nothing.

But her gaze uncontrollably landed where it should not.

By the time she came to her senses, she realized her behavior was intrusive and explained: “Yan Yunzhi, I was just…”

“Ning Ke,” the woman in the mist spoke, laughter in her voice, uncharacteristically interrupting her. “No need to peek. Look openly.”

Ning Ke held her breath, her face flushing red. She snapped back fiercely: “Who’s peeking at you? We’re both women, what’s there to see!”