Chapter 4: Sweater

Lin Yun gave her a thumbs up: “As expected, we still have to rely on our Miss Ning Keke.”

Ning Ke let out a cold laugh: “Give it a rest, you.”

She already regretted it.

But backing out now was even more inappropriate.

She and Yan Yunzhi were legal wives.

If she had difficulties and didn’t dare ask Yan Yunzhi, it would make her look like she had something to hide.

Ning Ke: “Let’s ask Xu Jian.”

An Yu called Xu Jian over.

Xu Jian wore a Hawaiian-style floral shirt today and smiled at Lin Yun: “Little Yunyun, what brings you here today?”

Lin Yun, who was only bold with close friends, almost couldn’t handle the nickname he gave her: “Jian Ge. Several guests for ‘Perfect Partner’ got poached recently. I’m short-staffed now. Can Jian Ge help out?”

Xu Jian: “I have a friend, also a manager at our company. He has two young idols under him who are free recently. I’ll ask about their schedules.”

Lin Yun clasped her hands together: “Thank you, Jian Ge!”

Xu Jian, always informal: “Alright, we all know each other well. Cut the fake pleasantries. I’m leaving first, Little Yunyun~~”

Lin Yun almost broke out in goosebumps from his calling her name.

Ning Ke laughed: “That’s just his personality, don’t mind him.”

“Truly unbearable,” Lin Yun checked her phone: “Right, Tao Zi’s store is opening today. Let’s go take a look.”

Ning Ke was reluctant: “Don’t want to go.”

Lin Yun: “For Tao Zhi’s sake, let’s just go.”

Ning Ke reluctantly agreed: “Fine then.”

Ning Ke had An Yu prepare six flower baskets with banners wishing a successful opening.

Tao Zi and her fiancé Zhou Yan stood at the entrance.

Lin Yun greeted them first: “Tao Zi, Zhou Yan, congratulations on the opening!”

Tao Zi wore a Chanel-style short jacket and a knitted skirt, paired with British-style leather shoes.

The brand logos on her clothes were large enough to be dazzling.

She wore Chanel pearl earrings and a heavy white floral perfume, dressed like a wealthy young lady.

She nodded at Lin Yun, then clicked her tongue, “Yo, Ning Ke, why did you come along too?”

Ning Ke frowned before she even got close, almost suffocated by the white floral scent.

Tao Zi: “What’s with that expression?”

Ning Ke pulled her lips into a very cold smile: “Heh.”

Tao Zi: “Hey!”

Lin Yun quickly stepped between them: “Alright, alright, Keke gets dizzy from white floral scents. She didn’t mean anything by it.”

Then she glanced back at Ning Ke, signaling her to say less.

The Ning, Lin, Tao, and Zhou families used to live in the same compound.

The younger generations knew each other.

Ning Ke and Lin Yun were best friends, but clashed heavily with Tao Zi.

However, Tao Zi’s older brother, Tao Zhi, was a close friend of both hers and Lin Yun’s, so they had to give him face.

The Tao family became wealthy later and had weaker foundations.

Tao Zi’s parents were focused on making money and didn’t have time to manage their children.

Tao Zi was the second daughter of the Tao family, usually dressing like someone newly rich, wishing she could plaster brand logos on her face.

After studying abroad, she stayed home for half a year and now decided to start her own fashion brand.

Ning Ke was very skeptical of Tao Zi’s taste: “Fine, it’s your opening day, I’m here to support you. Wishing you prosperous business. But remember to hire some professional designers and models, okay?”

Tao Zi became unhappy again: “Ning Ke, are you mocking me?”

Ning Ke: “Not mocking. I’m seriously suggesting you improve your taste.”

Tao Zi: “You think only you have good taste? Only you know what looks good?”

Ning Ke: “What else? Otherwise, why did I become a star and you didn’t?”

Tao Zi: “…”

‘Being pretty gives you the right to be arrogant, huh?’

Seeing they were about to clash again, Lin Yun quickly mediated: “Alright, alright, Taozi, show us around the store. I’ll pick out a few clothes.”

Zhou Yan, who had been ignored the whole time, finally had a chance to speak: “Exactly, Ning Ke, why bully his sister while Tao Zhi isn’t around?”

He was Tao Zhi’s good friend and engaged to Tao Zi, his words clearly defensive.

Ning Ke scoffed, “Who did I bully? And taking a step back, so what if he is here? I’ll bully whoever I want.”

Zhou Yan didn’t get any advantage over her and gave an awkward laugh: “Yes, yes, yes.”

Ning Ke patiently accompanied Lin Yun around the store.

All she could say was the quality of the clothes was uneven; some were unbearable, while others were passable.

Lin Yun whispered, “Aren’t you going to buy a couple of pieces? Show some support.”

Ning Ke: “Don’t know what to buy. Nothing suits me.”

Lin Yun: “Why not buy a couple of wool sweaters for your Yan Yunzhi? She’s so thin and not in good health, she must be very afraid of the cold, right?”

She kept her voice very low because Ning Ke and Yan Yunzhi’s marriage was kept tightly under wraps; among their circle of friends, only she knew.

Ning Ke paused, remembering the coughing she heard last night.

Her fingers brushed over the clothes.

The texture was soft and comfortable, quite suitable for Yan Yunzhi.

She released her hand: “Why would I randomly give her clothes?”

Lin Yun grew anxious: “Aiya! Aren’t you planning to invite her onto the show? Can’t you show a little gesture?”

Ning Ke thought about it and finally relented: “Fine then.”

After browsing for half an hour, Lin Yun bought four items, and Ning Ke bought two wool sweaters.

Tao Zi beamed when she saw them checking out: “Thanks!”

Ning Ke couldn’t be bothered arguing with her, gave a casual hum, and pulled Lin Yun away.

After saying goodbye to Lin Yun, Ning Ke hailed a taxi home.

It was only four o’clock when she arrived home.

Ning Ke stood in the living room and glanced upstairs.

Sister Lu immediately said, “Azhi woke up around noon. She should be reading now.”

Ning Ke: “…Oh.”

‘She hadn’t asked where Yan Yunzhi was, why tell her?’

It was almost time for dinner.

Ning Ke didn’t go back to her room, sitting in the living room watching TV, but her mind was calculating how to bring up the matter of the show with Yan Yunzhi.

The two of them had always kept their distance.

She couldn’t bring herself to ask Yan Yunzhi for help, nor could she bring herself to open her mouth.

If Yan Yunzhi agreed, she would owe Yan Yunzhi a favor.

Sister Lu brought over a bowl of washed cherries and asked sheepishly, “Miss Ning, excuse me, I wanted to ask, where did you say you saw the mouse this morning? I searched the house all day today, couldn’t find it…”

When Ning Ke mentioned a mouse in the morning, Sister Lu felt her professional standards, her competence, and her fine character had taken a huge hit.

She searched high and low, inside and out, all day, without seeing even the shadow of a mouse.

Ning Ke: “This… maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me.”

Sister Lu beamed: “That’s what I thought… That’s good, that’s good!”

Ning Ke hummed, awkwardly touching her ear.

Only after Sister Lu went into the kitchen to get busy did she breathe a sigh of relief and start eating the cherries.

She couldn’t resist eating quite a few in one go.

While eating, she remembered a female celebrity’s self-discipline and forcibly pushed the fruit bowl away.

Yan Yunzhi ate very regularly.

Whenever she was home, meal times were fixed: 7:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 5:30 PM.

Ten minutes before mealtime, Yan Yunzhi came downstairs.

She paused upon seeing Ning Ke: “You’re back quite early today.”

—Ning Ke was a frequent flyer, constantly working overtime and rarely home. When filming, returning at two or three in the morning was common.

Dinner was ready just then.

Ning Ke sat down at the table to eat without saying anything.

Yan Yunzhi drank soup before the meal: “Today’s soup is delicious.”

Sister Lu immediately said, “These are the soup ingredients Miss Ning brought back the day before yesterday.”

Hearing this, Yan Yunzhi glanced at Ning Ke and said with a smile, “Thank you.”

Ning Ke said it was nothing.

Her mind was preoccupied with the show Lin Yun mentioned, and she also thought about the clothes she bought on the way back… but she couldn’t bring herself to mention either thing.

After finishing the soup, Yan Yunzhi turned her head slightly, covered her mouth, and let out a low cough.

Ning Ke paused her chopsticks, asking casually, “Yan Yunzhi, did you cough all night last night?”

“Sorry,” Yan Yunzhi took a tissue to wipe her hands, “Did I disturb you?”

Ning Ke: “…Yes.”

Saying more would sound too much like concern.

The words got stuck in her throat, unable to come out or be swallowed.

Yan Yunzhi smiled apologetically, speaking softly, “Sorry for disturbing you, I’ll try to be quieter. Tomorrow, Sister Lu will ask someone to come check if the room’s soundproofing is too poor.”

Her voice was light, gentle, and considerate as always, but hearing these words, Ning Ke felt an inexplicable surge of anger.

‘She shouldn’t have asked in the first place. This person… talking to her is really boring.’

After dinner, Ning Ke casually handed the two shopping bags to Sister Lu.

Sister Lu: “Ah? Who are these for?”

Ning Ke tossed out a “You figure it out” and went straight upstairs.

Sister Lu stood there blankly, muttering to herself, “She didn’t say who they’re for? Could they really be for me?”

Hearing a door slam upstairs, Sister Lu thought about it, then opened the bags and saw two wool sweaters inside.

She took them out, held them against herself, and muttered, “My goodness, such a small size. I can’t possibly wear this?”

Ning Ke had been out all day.

She removed her makeup, soaked in the bath for half an hour, and was just about to apply a face mask when a video call request from Lin Yun popped up.

She answered and turned on speakerphone.

Lin Yun’s image, clad in pink bunny pajamas, appeared.

Ning Ke said bluntly, “Old lady, at your age, still so girlish, dressing like a high school girl every day?”

“This old lady is in her prime, how can you call it old age,” Lin Yun spoke much more crudely than her pure and beautiful appearance suggested, “Unlike you, married for two years and still living like a widow over there!”

Ning Ke gritted her teeth: “Hey!”

Lin Yun immediately stopped: “Just kidding, kidding. So, did you mention the variety show thing to your model wife?”

Ning Ke: “Didn’t say.”

Lin Yun: “No way, sis, I’m getting anxious here, hurry up.”

Ning Ke: “I have nothing to say to her, don’t know how to bring it up.”

Lin Yun: “Don’t be like that, you’re legal wives, isn’t it just that you spend little time together now? Besides, you and her used to…”

Ning Ke: “Why bring up old history.”

Lin Yun let out a long sigh: “Then how about I help you think of what to say?”

Ning Ke gave an “oh”: “Go ahead, I’m putting on a face mask.”

The other end of the line went quiet.

Ning Ke paid it no mind.

She opened a jar of Valmont Prime Renewing Pack mask and slowly began applying it.

Just as she finished applying the mask, someone knocked on the door outside.

Ning Ke casually said, “Come in.”

But the person who entered surprised her.

It was Yan Yunzhi, not Sister Lu.

Ning Ke subconsciously adjusted her V-neck pajamas, but then felt the action was awkward.

She stood up and asked, “Is there something?”

“Am I disturbing you?” Yan Yunzhi held up the shopping bag, smiling, “Are these wool sweaters for me?”

Ning Ke: “Oh… this…”

Yan Yunzhi took two steps forward, “Sister Lu said they should be for me.”

“Oh… that. Tao Zi opened a new store, gave me a few pieces, told me to give them away casually.”

She emphasized the words ‘casually’ heavily.

Yan Yunzhi, however, seemed not to hear it, smiled at her, her gentle eyes curving into a beautiful arc, “I like them very much. I haven’t had time to go shopping for clothes this winter yet. Thank you, Ning Ke.”

Normally, Ning Ke disliked this kind of fake politeness the most, but tonight, she didn’t know what was wrong… perhaps because it was the first time Yan Yunzhi had entered her room, her voice sounded gentler than usual.

She turned her head away uncomfortably, the ears hidden by her hair feeling a bit hot.

She forced out dryly, “You’re welcome. It’s just…”

Before she could finish, a new sound came from the phone: “Ning Keke! I thought of it!”

Ning Ke only then remembered Lin Yun hadn’t hung up the video call.

Before she could speak, the person on the other end spoke: “It’s okay if you can’t bring yourself to say it. If words fail, use actions. Yan Yunzhi is so sickly…”

Ning Ke immediately grabbed her phone, the face hidden beneath the mask almost losing its composure.

She squeezed out through gritted teeth: “Lin Yun, that’s enough, stop talking nonsense. I’ll talk to you later…”

Lin Yun, like a machine gun, fired off rapidly before she could hang up: “Relax, I’m not telling you to beat her up! Wouldn’t that be domestic violence? I mean, if you really can’t persuade Yan Yunzhi, then seduce her! Ning Keke, have some confidence in your stunning beauty and hot body, okay?!”

Even Yan Yunzhi’s usually calm and composed face showed shock.

She looked at Ning Ke in astonishment.

Ning Ke: “…”