Chapter 51

“You seem to know Miss Lin quite well.”

Chen Man’s voice still echoed in her ears, and Cheng Zhanya heard it clearly, with nowhere to escape.

She lowered her head and took a sip of milk.

After a moment, she slowly smiled. “Because we know each other.”

“Just know each other?”

Their relationship was clearly more than that.

Cheng Zhanya’s tone suggested she was very familiar with Lin Hanbing—Chen Man could tell.

They seemed like lovers who had known and loved each other for years.

And then there was the look Cheng Zhanya had just given her.

Full of tender affection.

Cheng Zhanya smiled and nodded.

She didn’t want to dwell on or discuss her private affairs. Instead, she asked about Chen Man’s works.

By the time the dinner ended, it was nearly ten o’clock.

The evening hadn’t been particularly pleasant. Chen Man had kept probing, intentionally or otherwise, into her relationship with Lin Hanbing. The goodwill Cheng Zhanya had felt that morning had diminished quite a bit.

Chen Man’s driver was waiting right at the door, and Cheng Zhanya watched her get into the car.

“Do you really not need a ride home?”

The car window rolled down, revealing half of Chen Man’s face. She wore a faint smile, looking considerate and utterly harmless.

“No, really, thank you.” Cheng Zhanya politely declined. “My friend is coming to pick me up.”

“Is it Miss Lin?”

Here we go again.

Cheng Zhanya felt perplexed.

She wondered if something had happened between Lin Hanbing and Chen Man, and why Chen Man was so fixated on her.

Cheng Zhanya forced a smile, avoiding a direct answer to the question. She gave a slight bow and waved goodbye.

Chen Man seemed a little disappointed, but she managed her emotions masterfully, masking it seamlessly.

Gracefully, she said, “I had a great time today. It was lovely to meet someone as beautiful and poised as you. Let’s make plans again when we have time.”

“Sure, next time,” Cheng Zhanya replied, playing along with the polite exchange.

Once the car had slowly driven out of sight, she turned around and glanced back into the restaurant. The seat where Lin Hanbing had been sitting was now empty.

Just as she started to wonder, she spotted Lin Hanbing approaching slowly, outer coat in hand.

Lin Hanbing gazed deeply at her and smiled. “Looking for me?”

Cheng Zhanya turned her face away. “Why are you still here?”

Shouldn’t she have gone home after dropping her off?

Hadn’t sitting there alone, waiting for her, felt boring? A waste of time?

“Waiting for you,” Lin Hanbing said bluntly.

“Afraid your idol might whisk you away.”

“You’re crazy!” Cheng Zhanya frowned and shot her a fierce glare.

Today’s encounter hadn’t lived up to her expectations of joy and anticipation. Instead, meeting her idol had shattered the perfect image she’d held.

From initial delight to current disappointment.

All in just one day.

It might have been better not to meet at all.

That way, she could have kept her expectations alive, her admiration intact.

But she couldn’t deny it—she was glad for Lin Hanbing’s constant companionship from start to finish.

A gust of wind blew past.

The late autumn breeze carried a chill.

Ignoring her wife’s anger, Lin Hanbing draped the coat over her shoulders. “Will you keep me company for some late-night snacks?”

Cheng Zhanya hadn’t eaten much, too busy responding to Chen Man’s conversation.

The steak had cooled during their talk, and her mood had shifted subtly, leaving her without much appetite.

By the end of the dinner, she’d only finished her milk.

Cheng Zhanya wanted to refuse, but she really was hungry.

She’d barely touched the food on the table and had even refilled her milk. Fortunately, the little one in her belly had been exceptionally well-behaved, not troubling her at all.

So, she nodded. “I want dessert.”

She added, “Chinese-style.”

Lin Hanbing chuckled. “Alright.”

She took Cheng Zhanya’s hand naturally, as if they hadn’t divorced.

Looking at her hand being held, Cheng Zhanya’s heart fluttered wildly—thump, thump, thump.

She had the illusion…

The illusion that they were back in the days when they were dating.

How many times had Lin Hanbing held her hand like this, the noble and aloof woman ignoring everyone’s stares?

That sweetness, which Cheng Zhanya had nearly forgotten even now, came rushing back.

Lin Hanbing had made her remember.

Lin Hanbing seemed to have changed a lot.

And yet, she hadn’t—she was still the same.

…

The streets were still bustling well past ten.

South City’s nightlife was vibrant, with cars speeding by like elusive shadows.

When they got married, to accommodate Lin Hanbing, they’d bought the apartment they lived in now, right near the city center.

The area was full of great eateries and entertainment spots.

There was a specialty dessert shop nearby, one with some history.

Before the divorce, whenever Cheng Zhanya was bored or hit a writing block, she’d order delivery from that shop.

It had been a while since she’d indulged.

For some reason, she suddenly craved it.

Lin Hanbing seemed to understand her. As the car headed down a familiar street, Cheng Zhanya knew where they were going.

Soon, the car pulled up steadily outside the dessert shop.

Even Lin Hanbing, who was rarely home, knew the area better than she did.

Cheng Zhanya ate there often, but mostly via delivery. Even the food in her fridge was delivered. Unless necessary, she hardly went out.

Thinking back to her homebound days, Cheng Zhanya felt she’d wasted part of her life.

She’d missed out on so much joy in those years.

Luckily, she hadn’t fallen into depression.

“How did you know about this dessert place?” Cheng Zhanya asked her.

She was simply curious. Lin Hanbing spent most of her time working and rarely came home. How would she know about a local dessert shop?

“Because you ordered delivery from here a lot.”

Lin Hanbing had indeed been an inadequate partner, pouring everything into work. Each time she came home, Cheng Zhanya welcomed her warmly and never complained.

So she’d naturally assumed their life would continue like that forever.

After the divorce, she’d spiraled for a while.

She kept replaying the things Cheng Zhanya had shared with her—things she’d barely acknowledged—yet her wife had kept chattering away tirelessly.

Cheng Zhanya had mentioned this dessert shop three times.

Raved about how good it was eight times.

There were the occasional takeout bags she’d spotted at home.

And after the divorce, the moldy pastries in the fridge—all screaming how much Cheng Zhanya loved it.

—I hope, when you’re done being busy, you can come eat here with me.

Lin Hanbing felt a pang of heartache. Such a simple wish, and she’d dismissed it, completely overlooking Cheng Zhanya.

No wonder Cheng Zhanya had grown cold.

She was the utter fool.

The one who’d lost the Cheng Zhanya who loved her wholeheartedly.

“How did you know I ordered delivery so often?”

“You told me,” Lin Hanbing said. “You shared it with me.”

Cheng Zhanya paused, stunned.

Remembering those days of unanswered messages still made her heart ache faintly.

She couldn’t quite recall what had kept her so steadfast back then.

Perhaps it was just her love for Lin Hanbing.

Cheng Zhanya let out an “oh,” subtly pulling her hand away from Lin Hanbing’s reach. She turned her face aside as bitterness spread in her chest.

Seeing her empty hand, Lin Hanbing felt a twinge of loss.

It was what she deserved.

The dessert shop was small, with only about ten little tables.

The workspace, however, was spacious, separated by transparent glass so customers could see the hygiene standards and the chefs in white uniforms working diligently.

Even after ten, the tiny shop was packed.

Servers bustled about.

Spotting them enter, a server showed them to a two-person table near the workspace, pouring water and handing over menus amid the rush.

In this digital age, things had advanced quickly.

Many shops used online ordering—convenient, fast, and labor-saving.

But this dessert shop stuck to manual orders.

It was rare.

It preserved some jobs, and Cheng Zhanya’s fondness for the place shot up several notches.

Each to their own merits, after all.

The two women’s striking presence drew eyes from the moment they walked in.

Lin Hanbing exuded a cool, aloof aura, but more gazes lingered on Cheng Zhanya. People stole glances their way, whispering.

A child even blurted out innocently, pointing at Lin Hanbing: “Fairy!”

Cheng Zhanya kept her head down, pretending not to hear.

Lin Hanbing really was beautiful—wherever she went, she sparked discussion. As Fan Yaobai had said years ago, it was a shame Lin Hanbing hadn’t entered showbiz; it would have been a crime otherwise.

Cheng Zhanya ordered a few of her favorite pastries.

She hesitated, then decided to check with Lin Hanbing.

“What do you want?”

Only after speaking did she remember that Lin Hanbing didn’t like sweets.

Her gaze instinctively drifted to the savory section. Before she could change her order, Lin Hanbing said, “Whatever you like, I like.”

“You…”

Cheng Zhanya exhaled. “Be serious.”

“I am serious.”

Everyone was busy, so Cheng Zhanya quickly added two savory items. “Make do with these.”

Make do? Hardly.

Lin Hanbing watched Cheng Zhanya with a smile.

She had nothing else she wanted to do—just be with Cheng Zhanya, making up for all the missed moments.

Gazing into Lin Hanbing’s deep eyes, Cheng Zhanya averted her own, unable to meet them directly.

Lin Hanbing’s companionship these past days always made it hard for her to resist.

She didn’t ask for much.

Just more time together.

Not endless lonely nights and infinite waiting.

These days always reminded her of their early dating period.

And Lin Hanbing’s attitude toward the baby.

She’d misunderstood her.

Deeply, it seemed.

Ever since learning about the pregnancy, Lin Hanbing had been incredibly attentive and respectful.

It was beyond what she’d expected.

Lin Hanbing was even more anxious about the little one than she was.

Cheng Zhanya had caught her several times poring over name dictionaries, seriously brainstorming names for the baby. It always made her heart flutter.

Perhaps the fluttering had never stopped.

She’d always been moved by Lin Hanbing.

Some pastries were ready-made.

A delicate plate of osmanthus cake arrived at their table—three small pieces, layered with rice cake and thin coconut milk, dusted with osmanthus on top. A faint fragrance wafted into their noses.

Lin Hanbing picked one up and took a bite, noticing Cheng Zhanya staring at her oddly.

Cheng Zhanya didn’t crave sweets that much usually, indulging only occasionally.

But this shop’s desserts—she never tired of them.

Maybe due to the pregnancy, her tastes had shifted.

She’d grown fond of sweets and even spicy food.

Before, she’d longed for Lin Hanbing to join her at her favorite spots, to watch her eat what she loved. Too long without it, and that longing had faded.

Yet seeing Lin Hanbing eat something she enjoyed still touched her deeply.

“You don’t like sweets, do you?”

She’d ruined the mood.

Cheng Zhanya regretted the question as soon as it left her lips.

But Lin Hanbing didn’t seem fazed. Smiling, she replied, “I like them now.”

“Whatever you want to do from now on, I’ll be there with you.”

Cheng Zhanya swallowed, perhaps from the dryness of the osmanthus cake. She took a sip of water, pretending not to hear.

“It’s very delicious.”

Lin Hanbing praised.

She rarely eats sweets, almost never.

The rice cake melts in the mouth, not too sweet, with bouncy coconut milk wrapped in osmanthus flowers, leaving a lingering fragrance between the teeth.

She suddenly understood why Cheng Zhanya had come to like it.

Sweet but not cloying.

Delicate and soft-glutinous.

It’s said that sweets have a magical power.

Eating it will make you feel happy.

It seems that’s really the case.

Lin Hanbing looked at Cheng Zhanya’s satisfied expression and couldn’t help but smile.

She seemed to have been affected by the sweets as well.