Chapter 2: Mrs

Ning Ke hummed in acknowledgment and pulled open the car door, settling into the passenger seat.

Yan Yunzhi started the car, pulling away from the curb.

Her driving skills were good.

She drove steadily for safety on the snowy day, but not slowly.

While driving, she spoke in a soft, low voice.

“Have you been waiting outside for long?”

“It was alright.”

“Were you out by the seaside a few days ago? Did you catch a cold?”

“You mean on Weibo?” Ning Ke thought for a moment, then gave a faint hum. “The investors required it.”

—The implication being, it was just for promoting the new drama.

During a red light pause, Yan Yunzhi, as if not understanding, turned her head to look at her: “Did you catch a cold?”

“…No.”

Ning Ke tugged at her scarf impatiently.

She wasn’t used to this kind of almost-caring conversation.

She put on her earphones, turned sideways towards the window, quite rudely expressing her desire not to talk.

Yan Yunzhi didn’t say anything, just smiled faintly.

She also didn’t press further about whether she had a cold.

The Kunqu opera was still playing in the car.

The singing style was classic, an unknown tune, played softly, lingering and drawn out.

Ning Ke didn’t play any music through her earphones.

Watching the scenery rapidly receding outside the window, she unknowingly closed her eyes.

She was too tired.

She didn’t know how much time had passed.

When she opened her eyes, she was dazed for a moment, realizing she had fallen asleep at some point.

It was still snowing outside.

The car was parked on the side of the road, and the Kunqu opera had stopped.

A light, gentle fragrance floated in the car.

Ning Ke took a deep breath before turning her head.

She met a pair of warm eyes, the corners slightly curved in a beautiful arc.

She had no idea how long Yan Yunzhi had been looking at her like this.

Ning Ke averted her gaze, feeling a bit uncomfortable. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“We just arrived not long ago,” Yan Yunzhi said warmly. “Are you very tired? Is work very hard?”

Ning Ke had a somewhat solitary personality and hated listening to this kind of domestic concern.

Coupled with her genuinely bad mood today, the words “none of your business” almost slipped out.

But when she looked up and saw Yan Yunzhi’s gentle expression tinged with concern, she forcibly held back.

After a two-second pause, she managed to squeeze out, “It’s just like that.”

Work is just hard; what job in this world isn’t hard?

There was nothing much to say.

Ning Ke unbuckled her seatbelt.

She got out of the car first, not waiting for Yan Yunzhi to lock it, and walked straight ahead.

Until Yan Yunzhi called out to her, “Ning Ke.”

Ning Ke stopped and turned, looking at her quizzically.

Yan Yunzhi had just locked the car and stood beside it, dressed in her peacock blue coat.

The color was cool and deep, cinching her waist to appear exceptionally slender.

Someone chronically ill is inevitably frail and thin, but her posture was upright, looking uniquely beautiful and clear amidst the white snow.

Ning Ke shifted her gaze away. “What is it?”

Those beautiful eyes, tinged with a hint of a smile, rested on Ning Ke.

Yan Yunzhi slowly spoke: “Mrs. Yan.”

Ning Ke.

Mrs. Yan.

—The act had to be played out completely.

Ning Ke watched Yan Yunzhi walk to her side.

She pressed her lips together firmly, but ultimately extended her hand and linked arms with her wife.

However, a distance of thirty centimeters remained between them, wide enough perhaps to fit another person.

After walking like this for a distance, Ning Ke’s limbs felt stiff.

She had never liked physical contact with people, let alone with Yan Yunzhi, whom she barely considered familiar.

Fortunately, the walk wasn’t too long.

Just then, the butler came out and smiled upon seeing them, “Eldest Miss, Miss Ning, you’re back!”

Yan Yunzhi asked, “Where’s Grandpa?”

The butler tapped his head, “Look at my memory. The master went out this afternoon. Before leaving, he asked me to call and tell you not to rush back today!”

As he spoke, Second Uncle Yan Mingchao came out to greet them, “Your grandfather’s old friend had a sudden heart attack. He went to the hospital and won’t be back today.”

Yan Yunzhi greeted him as “Second Uncle,” then turned her head to Ning Ke and said, “Grandpa isn’t here. We’ll head back after dinner.”

Ning Ke murmured an “oh” and immediately withdrew her hand.

The pretense was for Grandpa Yan’s benefit.

Since the old man wasn’t present, there was no need to pretend anymore.

The previous generation of the Yan family had three sons and one daughter.

Yan Yunzhi’s father passed away years ago, and her aunt lived elsewhere.

The house was occupied by the families of First Uncle Yan Minghai and Second Uncle Yan Mingchao.

First Aunt Jiang Ru and Second Aunt Song Ying also came out to greet them, pulling Yan Yunzhi down to sit.

With the birthday star absent, the remaining people gathered around one table.

With many people at the dinner table, the conversation inevitably revolved around the younger generation—their studies, careers, and marriages.

Jiang Ru first served Yan Yunzhi some food, “Azhi, was the tour successful this time?”

Yan Yunzhi politely thanked her, “Very successful. Collaborating with my teacher and junior sister, I didn’t have much to worry about.”

“Your junior sister is called Xia Linsheng, right?” Jiang Ru recalled. “I’ve seen that girl, very pretty. Her return yesterday was even in the news! Did you come back together too?”

Yan Yunzhi confirmed but didn’t elaborate further.

Her gaze drifted to Ning Ke beside her, who was idly poking at the corn kernels in her bowl with her chopsticks, looking utterly bored.

Second Aunt Song Ying smiled brightly and called out to Ning Ke, “Keke, you and Azhi have been married for two years, you should see each other more often. Career is important, but if you’re apart for too long, even the best feelings will fade. Besides, if you want children, you should plan early, after all…”

Ning Ke didn’t make a sound.

She disliked hearing such talk, but since they were Yan Yunzhi’s family, she could only ignore it.

“Second Aunt,” Yan Yunzhi smiled, smoothly changing the subject. “Regarding the matter you asked me about Professor Gu at Ning Da, it’s already settled.”

“Ah,” Song Ying lit up, instantly forgetting her previous topic. “That’s wonderful! My niece has been set on having Professor Gu as her advisor!”

Yan Yunzhi exchanged a few more pleasantries, ending that conversation.

Song Ying sat next to Yan Yunzhi with her granddaughter.

The child looked up and asked softly, “Auntie, can I drink your juice?”

Yan Yunzhi hadn’t touched the drink.

Just as she was about to pass the glass over, Song Ying hurriedly stopped her, “No need, Azhi, lest you pass the illness energy to Xiaoyu.”

The raised glass paused mid-air.

The atmosphere instantly chilled.

Yan Yunzhi’s poor health over the years, requiring constant medication, was known to everyone.

But saying it like this, in front of everyone, and in such a tone, was very inappropriate.

Song Ying showed a hint of awkwardness mixed with a subtle expression, “Azhi ah, Auntie was just saying. Don’t take it seriously… Anyway, you can’t eat fish, so come, come, Keke, try the soup Auntie made.”

Yan Yunzhi seemed utterly devoid of temper, smiling warmly.

However, Ning Ke, who had been poking at the corn, stopped her actions.

‘Is this person made of wood?’

‘Getting bullied right to her face and not showing a shred of anger!’

Song Ying had just placed a bowl of fish soup in front of her.

Ning Ke looked up and smiled at her, but her words were directed at the nearby auntie holding the bowls, “No need. I’ll have a different bowl. Lest the stupid energy gets passed to me.”

Song Ying’s expression turned cold, “What did you say?”

Ning Ke’s lips curved, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes, “What does Auntie think I said?”

Yan Yunzhi cared about face, but she didn’t.

Her bad temper was famous since childhood, the Yan family knew about it too, so offending someone one more time wouldn’t make a difference.

Since she was being bullied right before her eyes, she had to slap back.

Song Ying almost stood up but was pulled down by her husband.

Jiang Ru also shook her head at her and said smilingly to Ning Ke, “Keke wants to change bowls? Then, Sister Wu, please change the bowls and plates for everyone.”

Song Ying’s face was frosty.

She had heard about this Ning family eldest miss’s spoiled temper, but since she misspoke first today, she could only endure it.

The table fell silent.

But the previously superficial harmony vanished completely.

They barely finished the meal.

After dinner, Yan Yunzhi suggested leaving.

Because alcohol had been consumed at the table, the driver, Lao Tang, rushed over from home and waited outside in advance.

When Ning Ke and Yan Yunzhi got married, Grandpa Yan, with a grand gesture, registered a detached villa under his name directly to Ning Ke.

The place was located halfway up a mountain, very secluded.

In the few hours they spent eating, the snow hadn’t stopped falling.

The snow on the road was thicker than when they arrived.

Ning Ke frowned, first taking a call in the car.

It was from her manager, Xu Jian, “Keke, Tang Xi is eyeing a magazine we were negotiating with again. We secured the cover, now she wants it.”

Ning Ke couldn’t suppress her anger, “What’s wrong with this Tang Xi lately? Has she gone mad?”

Xu Jian: “I haven’t figured it out either. Why is her manager Yang Ming acting crazy too? Let me find someone to investigate.”

Ning Ke hung up, her mood worsening.

She even felt like rolling down the window to feel the cold wind.

But her hand touched the button and inexplicably pulled back.

Yan Yunzhi turned her head and looked at her for a while.

Ning Ke glared back mercilessly, her eyes asking, “What are you looking at?”

When Ning Ke was in a bad mood, nothing looked right.

She remembered Song Ying’s expression at the dinner table when she mentioned passing on “illness energy,” and anger flared up.

She half-turned her head, seeing the reflection of a corner of Yan Yunzhi’s coat in the window.

She recalled the photo taken by reporters at the airport; when Xia Linsheng held her arm, she had the same peaceful expression.

Yan Yunzhi didn’t know why her mood was so bad today.

Ning Ke had bad moods before, but at most, she would ignore her.

She rarely acted like this.

The mountain road outside the villa area was covered in snow.

The car wheels skidded several times.

Driver Lao Tang’s face was tense, sweat almost dripping down, “Miss Yan, Miss Ning, the road is a bit difficult today. Should we take a detour?”

“No need,” Ning Ke suddenly said. “Stop the car. I’ll get out and walk.”

Driver Lao Tang stopped the car, puzzled, “There’s still some distance, maybe…”

Ning Ke opened the car door and stepped into the snow.

The heating in the car was stifling, making it hard for her to breathe.

They were almost at the entrance of the villa area; walking back would only take twenty minutes.

Unexpectedly, just as she got out, she heard someone call her from behind, “Ning Ke.”

Seeing Yan Yunzhi get out of the car, Ning Ke couldn’t help frowning.

But she didn’t stop to wait for her, continuing forward.

Yan Yunzhi walked slowly, her steps measured.

She fell far behind Ning Ke.

After walking some distance, Ning Ke turned back and called to her, “Why are you walking so slowly?”

‘Her health is poor, does she want to freeze to death in the cold wind on this winter night?’

From a distance, amidst the heavily falling snow, Yan Yunzhi smiled at her and walked over slowly, “What’s wrong? Have you been angry all day?”

Ning Ke didn’t answer, instead asking, “Aren’t you angry?”

Yan Yunzhi thought she was referring to the events of the evening and her voice was gentle and calm, “Not angry.”

Ning Ke: “Why aren’t you angry?”

Yan Yunzhi said softly, “Why should I be angry? Didn’t you scold her back for me?”

Ning Ke was stunned.

She blinked, then turned and walked away.

But this time, her steps were much slower, just a meter or two ahead of Yan Yunzhi.

Her ears perked up, listening to the sound of Yan Yunzhi’s footsteps.

It was comforting. Steady, not dragging.

She turned her head slightly and hummed softly.

Walking back through the snow, Ning Ke stood at the entrance, shaking off the snow.

Yan Yunzhi’s poor health required quiet recuperation.

Only the two of them lived in the main building of the villa.

The auntie, driver, and cook all lived in the auxiliary building.

Sister Lu, who had taken care of Yan Yunzhi’s daily life for many years, happened to come out, holding a white coat, looking troubled, “You’re back. Azhi, are we really throwing this coat away?”

Yan Yunzhi nodded, “Throw it away.”

Sister Lu: “Such good material, you haven’t worn it many times, right? Why throw it away?”

Ning Ke also turned her head back, recognizing the coat.

It was the one Yan Yunzhi wore when she returned from the airport yesterday.

She said nothing, changed her shoes in the foyer, and went straight upstairs.

But she paused at the top of the stairs.

She heard the intermittent conversation from downstairs.

Yan Yunzhi: “Someone else touched it. I don’t want to wear it anymore. Or see if you can give it away.”

The figure at the top of the stairs remained still for a long time before finally moving.

‘Touched by someone else.’

‘Someone else.’

‘Oh.’