Chapter 9: Snowy Night

Ning Ke disliked physical contact with people the most.

During school, one of the favorite things girls did was go to the restroom together in groups.

She found it incredibly boring and never asked Lin Yun to go with her.

While not exactly a germaphobe, whenever someone touched her, especially someone unfamiliar, she desperately wanted to wash her hands immediately.

However, Yan Yunzhi’s hand released hers quickly.

The hand of someone chronically ill, her long fingers appeared cold white under the stark light, with faint blue veins visible on the back of her thin hand.

Ning Ke pressed her lips together.

‘Fine, considering Yan Yunzhi’s poor health, she wouldn’t hold it against her.’

Yan Yunzhi: “If you sleep outside, Uncle and Aunt will still question you tomorrow. The window wasn’t closed properly, it’ll be fine once it’s closed.”

Ning Ke checked the doors and windows, then lay down again. Indeed, as Yan Yunzhi said, she didn’t hear any more coughing.

In the darkness, Yan Yunzhi’s breathing gradually became steady, very light and quiet, just like her.

She had fallen asleep.

Ning Ke, however, remained wide awake.

She lifted her left hand, lightly touching the spot on her right wrist where she had been grabbed, as if unable to bear it, her fingertip rubbing the area.

There was another living person beside her. She didn’t know how Yan Yunzhi managed to fall asleep, but Ning Ke couldn’t sleep at all.

She heard Yan Yunzhi’s breathing.

She could even feel her warmth, her heartbeat.

And the faint, lingering, slightly bitter scent of medicine.

Yet it wasn’t entirely medicinal, rather some indescribable cool fragrance.

She didn’t know how much time passed before she finally felt drowsy.

The next morning, Ning Ke was awakened by the winter sunlight.

When she woke up, Yan Yunzhi was already dressed. It was spare clothing left from when they first married.

She wore a white sweater, her long hair cascading over her shoulders.

Seeing Ning Ke awake, she smiled brightly at her.

Ning Ke hadn’t slept well and had some morning grumpiness: “What are you looking at?”

Yan Yunzhi: “Looking at you finally waking up.”

Ning Ke checked the time: ten o’clock.

Her uncle and aunt disliked the younger generation sleeping in.

She might get scolded when she went downstairs later.

Yan Yunzhi walked over: “What’s wrong, didn’t sleep well last night?”

Ning Ke: “Just like that.”

She indeed fell asleep very late.

‘And the culprit was standing right beside her, daring to ask why she hadn’t slept well.’

Ning Ke glared at her irritably, asking fiercely: “Do you usually wear perfume?”

The scent wasn’t unpleasant, of course, but it lingered persistently at the tip of her nose, disturbing her sleep until so late last night.

“Perfume?” Yan Yunzhi paused, “I haven’t used any these past few days.”

As she spoke, she walked closer again, standing by the bed and suddenly leaning down.

Her long, dark, smooth hair instantly cascaded down, the ends brushing against Ning Ke’s cheek.

A light fragrance wafted towards her: “Smell again.”

Ning Ke quickly turned her head away, rubbing the spot on her face where the hair had brushed, feeling itchy, somewhat bristling: “Can’t smell anything!”

‘Really… suddenly getting so close, what was she doing!’

Yan Yunzhi gazed at her, her pupils gentle and bright: “How about, we go home later and look at which perfumes I have?”

Ning Ke: “Only if I’m bored out of my mind.”

Her impolite way of speaking wasn’t new. Yan Yunzhi didn’t get angry hearing it: “Alright. Get up now?”

Ning Ke hummed in agreement, finally getting out of bed, turning her back to Yan Yunzhi to get dressed: “Let’s go back.”

The two went downstairs. Ning Hui wasn’t home. Meng Yuejiao tapped Ning Ke’s nose: “Your uncle went to the company, otherwise seeing you get up so late, he would definitely scold you.”

Ning Ke hugged her aunt’s arm, half-burying her face in the elder’s shoulder: “If he scolds me, you’ll protect me, right?”

Meng Yuejiao pinched her cheek: “Such a big girl, still acting spoiled with Auntie. Azhi, look at her!”

Yan Yunzhi: “She’s quite good like this too.”

Ning Ke’s state was completely different from when she interacted with her.

One moment she wanted cherries, the next she was asking Meng Yuejiao: “Auntie, where’s my cushion? This one isn’t comfortable, I want to change it.”

Meng Yuejiao was helpless against her, smiling as she said: “Azhi, control her!”

Ning Ke glanced sideways, her eyes unreasonably challenging, clearly meaning ‘You dare try to control me?’.

Yan Yunzhi said with a smile: “I wouldn’t dare.”

Only then did Ning Ke turn her face back to talk to Meng Yuejiao.

At noon, Ning Hui returned. The family ate lunch together, and only then did Ning Ke say she wanted to go back.

Meng Yuejiao tried to persuade her to stay. Ning Ke promised to come back in a few days before she relented: “Fine, go back and have your couple’s world!”

Driver Lao Tang waited outside the door.

Ning Ke had work to attend to. As soon as she left the house, she bid farewell to Yan Yunzhi: “I still have to rush to an announcement.”

Yan Yunzhi: “Let Lao Tang drive you first.”

Ning Ke didn’t say anything, put on her earphones to listen to music after getting in the car.

Only when the car stopped at the destination did she say: “I’m leaving.”

Yan Yunzhi hummed, her voice clear, cool, and gentle: “Then I’m going home. Ning Ke.”

Ning Ke lowered her head to unbuckle her seatbelt. Hearing her say the words “going home,” her movement paused.

—It sounded like she was waiting at home for her return.

‘This thought was truly inexplicable.’ Ning Ke sighed, unbuckled her seatbelt, and got out of the car.

In the afternoon, she filmed a commercial advertisement.

Besides Ning Ke, there were two young idols from the same company, Jiang Lin and Yu You.

These two also joined “Perfect Partner,” a good opportunity to promote artists from the same company.

The commercial shoot started at 3 PM and didn’t wrap up until 9 PM.

Ning Ke finished early and took an overseas call on the side: “Tao Zhi? It’s the middle of the night over there, right?”

Tao Zhi yelped: “Our Eldest Miss still remembers the time over here?”

Ning Ke: “Cut the sarcasm. Speak human.”

Tao Zhi: “Human language is, I’m coming back in a few days, pick me up at the airport?”

Ning Ke curled her lips, but her words were merciless: “Depends on the time. I’m busy making money.”

Tao Zhi: “You money-grubbing woman, how much time does it take to pick me up?”

Xu Jian was催促 her to leave. Ning Ke laughed: “Did you only just meet me today? Alright, I just finished work, talk later.”

“Why so slow?” Xu Jian walked over, saw her hang up the phone, his eyes smiling, “Your wife?”

Ning Ke: “What nonsense. Tao Zhi.”

Xu Jian knew Tao Zhi was Ning Ke’s childhood friend: “Him ah…”

He walked out one step behind Ning Ke, secretly shaking his head.

Everyone was still gathered at the door, not dispersed yet.

Someone offered to host: “Let me treat everyone to a late-night snack.”

Ning Ke: “Not going, I’m going home.”

Someone joked: “Why go home so early? You’re a girl, not like the director with a beautiful wife at home, haha!”

It was clearly just a joke, but Ning Ke was displeased: “If I say I’m not going, I’m not going. Who made a rule that only men can go home early?”

Seeing Ning Ke lose her temper, others restrained themselves somewhat, knowing she didn’t like jokes and spoke bluntly.

Asking her might lead to unpleasantness.

Xu Jian quickly smoothed things over: “If she’s not going, she’s not going.

It’s late, some roads are still icy, it’s good to go back early. Let’s get together next time.”

Ning Ke didn’t say more and got directly into the car.

It was the coldest time of the year. Snow fell intermittently, making the roads slippery.

It was exactly ten o’clock when she arrived home.

At this hour, Yan Yunzhi was usually asleep, and Sister Lu had returned to the auxiliary building.

Ning Ke didn’t want to disturb anyone and opened the door herself.

Only after taking off her coat in the foyer did she see Yan Yunzhi sitting by the living room window, watching her with gentle eyes under the night light.

She must have showered; she wore silver silk pajamas, her long hair tied low behind her ears.

A book lay on the table, along with unfinished tea.

It looked… giving the illusion that she was waiting for her to come home.

Ning Ke clutched her bag and walked over: “Not asleep yet?”

Yan Yunzhi: “Drank too much tea tonight, couldn’t sleep.”

Ning Ke raised an eyebrow: “Can’t sleep after a cup of tea? I think you’re an old person.”

Yan Yunzhi smiled noncommittally, her fingertips touching the warmth of the teacup: “Want to try?”

Ning Ke sat down: “First disclaimer, if it doesn’t taste good, I’ll say so directly. Don’t get upset.”

Yan Yunzhi: “I won’t.”

It was unclear whether she meant it wouldn’t taste bad, or she wouldn’t get angry.

While Yan Yunzhi washed the cup and prepared the tea, Ning Ke sat bored at the table, resting her cheek on her hand, her fingertips tapping rhythmically on the cloisonné teacup.

Yan Yunzhi pushed the teacup in front of her: “Ready.”

Ning Ke picked up the cup and took a sip.

The tea was warm, with a cool, clear, sweet taste, perfectly dispelling the chill of the snowy night.

Yan Yunzhi: “Does it smell good?”

Ning Ke only then realized the tea’s aroma was familiar: “So it’s the smell of tea leaves.”

‘It was this scent that disturbed her sleep last night.’

Yan Yunzhi said: “It’s snowmelt I collected myself, plus flowers grown in the garden beds, dried and used for tea. I’ll give you a tin.”

Ning Ke remembered her appearance in the snow that day: “Why are you giving me things?”

Yan Yunzhi looked at her: “You took care of me last night when I wasn’t feeling well.”

Ning Ke: “…Oh.”

“It’s getting late,” Yan Yunzhi told her to go upstairs, “Rest early.”

Ning Ke finished the cup of tea: “Then goodnight.”

Yan Yunzhi listened to her footsteps fade away, then stood up as well, just in time to answer a call: “Yanshi, what’s the matter?”

The caller was Lu Yanshi, her former classmate, now her collaborating lawyer.

Lu Yanshi said: “The agreement you asked me to prepare earlier is drafted. When should I bring it to you?”

“No rush,” Yan Yunzhi thought for a moment, “Let’s talk after the New Year.”

“Didn’t you say it was very important before, that I had to give it to you before the New Year? What, scheduled a new tour recently?”

“No, no plans for performances for now. I need to keep these few months free.”

Lu Yanshi was curious: “What do you plan to do for these few months?”

Yan Yunzhi smiled faintly: “Nothing much.”

Snowflakes fell silently.

The glass window reflected the slender silhouette, gazing out at the falling snow, her voice clear and clean: “Accompanying my wife.”