After Abandoning Her, She Discovered That Her Partner Was a Paranoid - Chapter 2

The steamy mist from the hot pot gradually dissipated.

By the time Jing Feizuo and Lin Xin finished their dinner, the city was already ablaze with neon lights.

As Lin Xin checked her phone for the time yet again, Jing Feizuo finally spoke up, her tongue still tingling from the Sichuan peppercorns.

“Stop checking,” she said. “If Wen Jin’s meeting ends before ten o’clock, I’ll drink this whole pot of chili oil.”

Lin Xin took a deep breath, resignedly grabbed her car keys, and snapped, “No wonder she let you out tonight!”

Wen Jin’s residence was located in Linjiang’s most exclusive district, occupying an entire floor of an apartment building that seemed to float among the clouds. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered panoramic views of the winding river and the dazzling city lights. The location was also conveniently close to the hot pot restaurant.

Before long, the black sedan came to a smooth stop.

Lin Xin, acting as Jing Feizuo’s personal chauffeur, tapped the steering wheel and glanced sideways at her friend, who was lounging lazily in the passenger seat.

“When are you finally getting your driver’s license?” she asked, pressing the car door lock with a soft click. “Otherwise, I’ll have to ask Wen Jin for a salary.”

Jing Feizuo slowly unbuckled her seatbelt and stuck her tongue out at her friend. “As long as I’m in the same city as Miss Lin, I’ll never get my license.”

“Get lost,” Lin Xin rolled her eyes and waved her away. “Go enjoy your healthy life with Wen Jin.”

Jing Feizuo grinned as she opened the car door, a gust of cold wind hitting her face. Stepping out, she turned back to wave at Lin Xin. “Drive safe, and don’t miss me too much.”

Lin Xin ignored her, stomping on the accelerator. The tires squealed faintly against the pavement as she sped off.

Jing Feizuo stood there, her smile gradually fading.

The Linjiang Apartment complex had strict security, so she’d asked Lin Xin to drop her off at the entrance.

As she approached the gate, facial recognition automatically verified her identity, and the barrier swung open. The security guard standing ramrod straight in his booth saluted her.

Jing Feizuo returned his salute with a smile.

In the three months she’d been with Wen Jin, their relationship had progressed at breakneck speed, like a whirlwind. Wen Jin had given her almost unlimited access to all her properties, as if the only thing left was to add Jing Feizuo’s name to the title deeds.

Yet Jing Feizuo rarely used these privileges. Their cohabitation was infrequent, and while Wen Jin’s mansion was luxurious, she preferred the comfort of her own apartment in the Old Town.

This vacation was unexpected.

Recently, after finishing up gallery business and meeting a hellish deadline for her manuscript, Jing Feizuo had given herself a long break.

The indulgence after the pressure was wild: she spent the first night partying all night at a bar with friends, followed by days of sleeping during the day and staying up all night, relying entirely on takeout for meals.

Wen Jin’s short business trip happened to coincide with the first few days of this break.

When Wen Jin returned and saw Jing Feizuo again, she was startled by the sight before her: Jing Feizuo’s eyes were vacant, dark circles rimmed her eyes, her skin was sickly pale, and even her lips had faded to a grayish hue—her condition was even more alarming than after pulling all-nighters to meet deadlines.

That was one of the rare times Wen Jin asserted herself forcefully, determined to put an end to this lifestyle that bordered on slow suicide.

Jing Feizuo’s body was also protesting against such excess, so she moved into Wen Jin’s home, and the two reached a temporary “health pact.”

The orange glow of streetlights diffused into the night, like floating pools of warm mist.

Jing Feizuo walked into the light, her shoes making soft, rustling sounds against the dry ground.

At the door, she pressed her finger against the fingerprint lock, and the cheerful beep of successful recognition sounded.

Unexpectedly, warm, inviting light spilled out as Jing Feizuo opened the door. As she slipped off her shoes, she ran into Wen Jin, who was emerging from the bedroom in her pajamas.

Though the lit lamp had already indicated someone was home, Jing Feizuo still paused in surprise at the sight of Wen Jin.

“I thought you’d be back later,” Wen Jin said, opening her arms in a natural gesture. “I’m so tired,” she complained.

Wen Jin chuckled. “You smell like hotpot.”

Despite her words, her actions contradicted them. She stepped forward, hugged Jing Feizuo, and kissed her. “Do you want me to help you with your bath?”

Jing Feizuo pulled back from the embrace, giving Wen Jin a meaningful look. “I don’t want to get even more tired.”

Wen Jin neither confirmed nor denied this, simply taking the coat Jing Feizuo had removed. “Go take a bath. The water’s already heated, and I’ve laid out your clothes.”

Such thoughtful and attentive service prompted Jing Feizuo to adopt a playful tone. “President Wen, you’re the best!”

After a pause, she added warily, “It’s not anything too outrageous, is it?”

Even during their cohabitation over this vacation, Jing Feizuo’s presence in Wen Jin’s home remained minimal. She wasn’t accustomed to bringing many personal belongings, which meant Wen Jin usually had to arrange her loungewear.

Most of the time, Wen Jin would prepare normal changes of clothes for her: new underwear and ordinary pajamas.

But occasionally, when Jing Feizuo unfolded the neatly stacked clothes, she would find an almost transparent black gauze robe or a loose-fitting shirt embroidered with Wen Jin’s name along the hem—but no pants.

Wen Jin: “If you’re so worried about it, why don’t you just bring your own clothes?”

Jing Feizuo glanced at her.

This wasn’t the first time Wen Jin had said something like this. Her subtle and not-so-subtle hints about Jing Feizuo moving in permanently had occurred multiple times in the past three months, always ending with Jing Feizuo’s refusal.

This time, instead of arguing with Wen Jin, she walked straight into the bathroom.

As expected, the clothes Wen Jin had prepared were neatly laid out inside. Jing Feizuo casually flipped through them—ordinary pajamas, with Wen Jin’s name embroidered in the corner as usual.

Jing Feizuo suddenly recalled her conversation with Lin Xin during dinner, and an inexplicable, strange emotion welled up from the depths of her heart.

She turned on the shower, and the water cascaded down with a roar.

Jing Feizuo stood beneath the stream, her eyes closed and her face tilted upward, letting the hot water pour over her head. The droplets struck her skin like warm, caressing tendrils, tracing winding paths down her hair, forehead, neck, and body.

The bathroom quickly filled with steam, dissolving Jing Feizuo’s figure into a hazy silhouette. Water droplets splashed against the tiles as she lowered her head, watching the stream pool around her feet before swirling down the drain. Yet the strange sensation lingered, untouched by the flowing water.

When Jing Feizuo emerged from the bathroom, she found Wen Jin at the bedroom desk, working on her laptop.

Recalling the past few days, Jing Feizuo realized Wen Jin seemed to have been constantly busy with work during their downtime.

“Have you been really busy with work lately?” she asked.

Wen Jin had already noticed the movement at the bathroom door. Instead of answering immediately, she set aside her work and walked toward Jing Feizuo.

Stopping close by, her gaze fell on Jing Feizuo’s damp hair. She frowned. “Why didn’t you dry your hair?”

Jing Feizuo shrugged. “Too tired. I’ll do it later.”

Wen Jin sighed helplessly, pressed Jing Feizuo into a chair, and turned to grab the hairdryer.

The hairdryer’s hum filled the room as Wen Jin gently ran her fingers through Jing Feizuo’s long hair. Her fingertips occasionally brushed against Jing Feizuo’s scalp, sending a faint, electric-like tingle through her.

The warm air shifted closer and farther away, her movements light, as if afraid of tugging on the hair beneath her hand.

Jing Feizuo tilted her head back slightly, almost sinking into the tactile swamp. The strange sensations that had been lurking in her heart seemed to evaporate completely under the warm air and gentle touch.

She closed her eyes comfortably and sighed, “You’re being so good to me. How can I ever repay you?”

Wen Jin replied, “I’ll collect my dues in due time.”

Jing Feizuo hummed softly, her voice blending into the wind’s roar, both indistinct and intimate.

Soon, the hairdryer fell silent.

Wen Jin gently tied up Jing Feizuo’s dried hair, then suddenly picked up her phone, pulled up a webpage, and handed it to her. “Take a look at this hotel.”

Still somewhat dazed, Jing Feizuo casually swiped through the images. Her eyebrows arched slightly. “President Wen, when did you start caring about ambiance on business trips? This place—”

Her words trailed off as her gaze froze on a particular image: G City’s iconic bay at night, its waters shimmering like scattered gold on the screen.

She whipped around to meet Wen Jin’s smiling eyes behind her.

“Someone spent five minutes staring at G City’s promotional brochure at the art exhibition last month. I remember it clearly,” Wen Jin said, her thumb brushing against Jing Feizuo’s ear. “I’ve arranged all the new project tasks and managed to squeeze out a week’s vacation. This time, you won’t complain about having too little time to play, will you?”

Jing Feizuo gasped, her delight tinged with regret for not realizing sooner. “No wonder you’ve been working overtime every day and subtly probing my travel plans. I should have seen this coming.”

She turned her back to Wen Jin, grasped the hand resting on her shoulder, deliberately pressed hard on Wen Jin’s pressure point between thumb and forefinger, and then shook the hand with mock formality. “President Wen, this surprise definitely makes my top ten moments of the year.”

Even after lying in bed, Jing Feizuo was still buzzing with excitement over the surprise.

Her fingertips glided across the tablet screen, displaying the meticulously curated itinerary Wen Jin had prepared over the past few days. When she saw the hidden Seafood Eatery tucked away by the docks, her eyelashes fluttered.

“How did you know I wanted to try this place?” She patted Wen Jin’s arm. “And this antique flea market…”

Wen Jin opened a social media app and searched for Jing Feizuo’s account. Among her recently saved posts, all were related to entertainment and activities in G City.

“In the digital age,” Wen Jin said, “privacy is an illusion.”

“Ha.” Jing Feizuo chuckled sheepishly. “I thought someone your age wouldn’t even use this app.”

Wen Jin tapped her knuckles sharply against Jing Feizuo’s forehead.

Jing Feizuo made a gesture of zipping her lips, signaling she had spoken out of turn.

Then, she pointed to the beginning of Wen Jin’s plan: “But you’re planning to take the train? I’m not mistaken, right? That’ll take a whole day!”

Wen Jin smiled mysteriously.

“You’ll find out tomorrow. You’ll love it.” She took the tablet from Jing Feizuo’s hand. “Now, it’s time for a good night’s sleep.”

The next morning, Wen Jin had her driver take Jing Feizuo back to her apartment to pack her luggage.

When Jing Feizuo came downstairs in a trench coat, dragging her suitcase, Wen Jin was leaning against the car door, checking her watch.

The temperature in A City had plummeted overnight. Wen Jin’s breath formed white clouds that swirled around her red lips, like a vintage poster come to life.

As Jing Feizuo approached, Wen Jin noticed her exposed hands were frozen red.

She gestured for Jing Feizuo to hand the suitcase to the driver, then opened the car door for her. “Get in quickly.”

The car was warm. As Jing Feizuo settled in and took off her coat, she asked Wen Jin, who had just gotten in beside her, “Will we make it in time?”

Wen Jin took her hand. “We have plenty of time.”

They were sitting so close that Jing Feizuo flinched slightly at the ticklish sensation of Wen Jin’s breath on her skin. “All we need to do now is look forward to our trip.”