Chapter 58 Part 2

The two of them went downstairs together and left the neighborhood.

The evening breeze was soft and yielding. The street that Meng Ning had strolled with Qi Xiao earlier that day now wore a different look. Warm yellow streetlights glowed, and if Meng Ning had been walking alone, the phrase “spring night” would have emphasized the “spring.” But walking with Wen Zenian, it shifted the focus to the “night.”

The night was hazy. Gentle. Capable of hiding many secrets of the heart.

Like a warm, rolling tide.

It was only when they walked this close that she caught the faint trace of alcohol on Wen Zenian’s breath.

She asked, “Have you been busy with work lately?”

Wen Zenian gave a distracted hum of acknowledgment.

Actually, Meng Ning wanted to ask what would happen with the Paris C Hotel. But she felt it wasn’t appropriate, as if she were trying to chase her away. It might even be good for Wen Zenian to stay busy here—busy meant she truly had work, not that Meng Ning was just dragging her down.

Yet being busy wasn’t entirely good either, because even under the dim streetlights, fatigue shadowed those deep, profound eyes.

Meng Ning thought for a moment. “Let me tell you a joke. So, there was this steak…”

“Meng Ning.” Wen Zenian suddenly called her name.

“Yeah?”

“Treat me to an ice cream bar.”

Meng Ning was stunned.

What was going on lately? First Qi Xiao, now Wen Zenian—why was everyone making her, someone with zero income, foot the bill?

Well, not zero. She had made twelve yuan once.

Qi Xiao was one thing, but what about Wen Zenian’s annual salary? Why was she asking Meng Ning to pay?

But she was living under someone else’s roof. What could she say?

Nothing, except to cave pathetically. “Sure thing, haha.”

Wen Zenian led her toward the supermarket.

Damn it, Meng Ning swore inwardly. Wen Zenian was taking her to that organic supermarket that delivered veggies to the house. Were the ice creams there all imported? How much did one cost?

And Wen Zenian—even on a walk, she wore high heels that matched her white blouse and wide-leg trousers, striding with such poise that Meng Ning felt guilty trailing behind her.

Of course Meng Ning felt guilty. She could only hope Wen Zenian picked something cheap.

Even standing by the freezer, Wen Zenian looked stunning. The light cast shadows from her thick lashes onto her cheeks as she glanced around somewhat absently, lightly twisting the diamond earring on her earlobe.

Then she asked, “Do they have Green Mood here?”

Meng Ning was shocked again.

Wen Zenian hadn’t been back in the country for years—why did she remember Green Mood? Was she feeling nostalgic for the simple pleasures of the past?

Meng Ning double-checked. “You want Green Mood?”

She assumed Wen Zenian had just mentioned it offhand, recalling her childhood. But Wen Zenian said, “Mm-hmm.”

Meng Ning let out two awkward laughs. “What supermarket stocks Green Mood? The margins wouldn’t even cover distribution costs.”

Someone as shrewd in business as Wen Zenian surely knew that. She had only led her here to prompt the next question: “So, where can we find it?”

Meng Ning pondered. “I buy my groceries at a little supermarket now, but it’s a bit far—two streets over. Not sure if it’s still open, and you’re in heels…”

She said all that hoping Wen Zenian would find it too much trouble. Compared to walking two streets with her to get Green Mood, she’d rather buy an expensive imported one right here.

Two streets! How much small talk would she have to make to fill that?

But Wen Zenian, who could read between the lines in any business deal, seemed oblivious to her hint. She said calmly, “Then let’s go.”

Meng Ning despaired.

The two left the supermarket. Wen Zenian asked, “Which way?” Meng Ning pointed.

Wen Zenian walked quietly, the sharp click of her thin heels echoing softly through the spring night—like the evening breeze rustling willows, or moonlight dancing on flowers.

When two introverts met, it was the trickiest situation. Meng Ning had no choice but to step up and play the extrovert, stubbornly picking up her earlier thread. “Let me tell you a joke.”

Wen Zenian tilted her head slightly, her gaze skimming the pavement. She neither nodded nor shook her head.

Undeterred, Meng Ning plunged ahead. “So, there was this steak…”

She finished the joke.

Wen Zenian wore the same expression as before—no smile, her gaze neutral. It was impossible to tell if she was listening or lost in thought.

Meng Ning prompted, “Hahaha.”

Still no laugh from Wen Zenian.

Disaster. So awkward. Meng Ning’s competitive streak flared. “Okay, one more…”

For the first time, two streets felt endlessly long. She racked her brain, telling every joke she knew, and they still weren’t there.

For the first time, two streets felt heartbreakingly short. She hadn’t gotten her fill of Wen Zenian’s lightly swaying silhouette or the scent clinging to her before they arrived.

The little supermarket’s lights were still on, a warm yellow glow spilling from the door. A breeze made it sway gently, like a silkworm cocoon on a cliff.

Meng Ning led Wen Zenian over.

Sure enough, Green Mood was in the freezer. Wen Zenian stood there motionless, like a leader on an inspection tour. Oh—realization dawned on Meng Ning. She was waiting for her to grab it.

Meng Ning took one out and shut the freezer door. Wen Zenian asked, “Aren’t you having one?”

Meng Ning shook her head. “Too late.”

Every buck fifty she could save was a win.

Wen Zenian gave a small nod and said nothing more, watching as Meng Ning scanned the code to pay.

Outside the supermarket, Meng Ning tore open the wrapper and handed it to Wen Zenian.

Honestly, with her outfit, Wen Zenian holding a Green Mood bar looked mismatched—like she should be enjoying a fancy gelato. But Wen Zenian had this magical charm; everything she did seemed perfectly natural, as if that’s how it was meant to be.

Meng Ning was wracking her brain for return-trip conversation when Wen Zenian’s slender finger pointed to a roadside bench. “Let’s sit for a bit. Finish it before we go.”

Disaster struck. Meng Ning’s heart sank.

If Wen Zenian took small bites, it might take three to five minutes.

If she licked it slowly, it could take ten.

That meant ten more minutes of scrambling for topics!

She followed Wen Zenian to the bench. They sat down, and from the corner of her eye, Meng Ning sneaked a glance.

Disaster, utter disaster.

Wen Zenian was licking it slowly!

Meng Ning thought fast. “Actually, I have another joke…”

“Meng Ning.”

Wen Zenian called her name like that.

“Yeah?”

Wen Zenian said nothing. She simply switched the Green Mood from her right hand to her left, then gently placed her right hand on the back of Meng Ning’s neck.

Meng Ning froze instantly, as if sealed in place, silent and still.

She remembered doing volunteer work with cats—the skin at the scruff of their necks was like their off-switch. One grab, and they went limp.

And during their intimate moments, Wen Zenian had murmured, “My kitten.”

But right now, the hand on her neck held no trace of desire. Its palm lines pressed against her slightly raised spine, fingertips resting lightly nearby, without a hint of caress.

Wen Zenian’s palm seemed to say: Just stay like this for a while.

So she fell silent. She sat forward, palms braced on the edge of the bench seat. Wen Zenian leaned back closer to the chair’s backrest. From their positions, Wen Zenian couldn’t see her face.

Gently, she let the smile she’d been forcing all evening ease a little.

Feeling safer, she let it drop more.

Until the grin vanished completely from her face. Her shoulders felt a touch lighter. Not having to talk was nice. Not having to smile was even better. The heel of her sneaker scraped lightly against the ground. The night breeze brushed her eyes, leaving them a bit dry, a bit itchy.

She watched the traffic signal across the road, green to red, red to green.

She counted along with the countdown, matching Wen Zenian’s soft, shallow breaths.

Until Wen Zenian lifted her hand from Meng Ning’s neck and said, “Let’s go back.”

Wen Zenian didn’t have much time in the city. Meng Ning spent her days dealing with stray cats.

Qi Xiao worked her regular shifts and visited Meng Ning on her days off. Meng Ning had asked her, “Does Gwyneth have a ton of work keeping her in the country?” Qi Xiao had thought it over. “Yeah, I guess. She’s definitely busy every day.”

On the day before Qi Xiao’s day off, Wen Zenian found her and handed over a paper bag.

Qi Xiao glanced down. Whoa, fluffy handcuffs! So risqué! Could she even look?

Oops, her mistake—it was a fluffy cat toy.

And underneath, several boxes of imported flea medicine. Meng Ning had mentioned it was hard to find. How did Wen Zenian even know?

Wen Zenian said, “Just say it’s from you.”

Wen Zenian was such an odd person. She didn’t mind admitting to buying Meng Ning underwear. But when it came to cat toys and medicine, she denied it.

In short, she eagerly owned up to things that would embarrass Meng Ning. But things that would tug at her heartstrings? Those, she wouldn’t admit.

Qi Xiao crumbled again.

Truth be told, facing Wen Zenian in her formal business attire still intimidated her. After all, this was her boss’s boss’s boss’s boss. Everyone had seen palace intrigue dramas—who didn’t know “accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger”? What if she upset her and got fired?

But she couldn’t hold back. “Um…”

Wen Zenian’s gaze signaled her to continue.

“I originally thought that after seeing that scene at the stray cat shelter last time, you’d have Meng Ning move out,” Qi Xiao said. “You know, right? Without your say-so, Meng Ning would never leave on her own.”

Meng Ning was exhausted.

Qi Xiao and Wen Zenian both knew that all too well.

Wen Zenian paused but didn’t respond. She turned and walked away.

Qi Xiao’s heart plummeted. She was done for! She had upset Wen Zenian! Was it too late to write an apology?

She just felt that Wen Zenian and Meng Ning’s relationship was stuck in a dead end. Whether backing off or moving forward, Meng Ning moving out would be the first step.

Unexpectedly, after two steps, Wen Zenian turned back.

“Actually, before I saw that scene, I was planning to have Meng Ning move out.” Wen Zenian started by staring at her own shoe tips. As Qi Xiao began worrying about her own appearance, Wen Zenian’s gaze lifted slowly.

“But after seeing it, I got a little worried.”

Even then, Wen Zenian held back, qualifying it as “a little.” “I’m worried that if Meng Ning moves out, she’ll realize not facing the past is much easier. I’m worried she’ll discover that facing anyone else is better than facing me.”

Qi Xiao turned and bolted.

Holy crap! She forgot all about workplace etiquette. She was utterly shattered!

Wen Zenian’s tone stayed as restrained as ever when she said “a little.” But her eyes said it wasn’t just a little worry.

It was a little fear.

Or maybe more than a little.