Imprisoned with a Wife (On the Psychology of Being F***ed) - Chapter 2

When I got home, a warm, familiar aroma greeted me: the scent of egg and scallion noodles.

Filled with the warmth of home, Yan Jingyao tossed her small bag aside and scurried to the kitchen, peering through the doorframe. “Mom?”

Yan Rui turned her head. “You’re home a bit late.”

The water in the pot was boiling, bubbling with white steam. She stirred the noodles with chopsticks. “Did you eat? Want some egg noodles?”

“Yes!”

Yan Jingyao eagerly grabbed a bowl and chopsticks, placing them by the stove, looking drool-worthy. “Mom, I want two eggs~”

“Got it.”

Yan Rui smiled, first serving her the softened noodles from the pot, then cracking another egg into the simmering soup next to it.

Yan Jingyao happily carried her bowl out to eat. A moment later, Yan Rui emerged with her own portion.

They sat at the dining table, eating noodles together. “Isn’t your flight at 10 AM tomorrow? Still out wandering around? Not going to pack?”

“Where did you get the idea I was wandering around?”

“Didn’t you dye your hair?”

“…”

Okay, she did dye her hair, a popular “milk tea gray.” But the color wasn’t exaggerated; she thought it wouldn’t be noticeable unless you looked closely. She didn’t expect her mom to spot it right away.

“Are you heartbroken again?”

“…”

Indeed, she was once the top criminal investigator, incredibly perceptive. Yan Jingyao had nowhere to hide, and Yan Rui’s “again” hit hard.

“Mom, can’t you use a nicer word?”

“Like, out with the old, in with the new?”

“Hmm, nice, I like that.”

Both of them chuckled. Yan Jingyao lowered her head to eat her noodles, seemingly unaffected by heartbreak. But Yan Rui knew she always broke up.

This wasn’t because she was playing games with people’s feelings. On the contrary, she knew her daughter wanted to be serious, but each time it didn’t work out.

“What was it about this time?”

“She said, ‘I’m not like you.'”

Yan Rui paused, about to speak but stopping herself. It was already very clear. She thought for a moment. “Have you really not considered meeting some of the kids I know? Some of them are quite fond of you.”

“No, I haven’t.”

Yan Jingyao took a sip of soup, exhaled contentedly, wiped her mouth with a tissue, and smiled. “I want to choose for myself.”

“Alright.”

Yan Rui didn’t say anything. Her own marriage was arranged by her family, but thankfully, Yan Qichen was a good man. They developed feelings over time, a very romance-novel-like “marriage first, then love.”

She had initially resisted the arrangement, so now she didn’t force her daughter when it came to choosing a partner. However, Yan Jingyao’s relationships had never been smooth, and Yan Rui worried she might face too many setbacks.

She coughed. “Jingyao, actually, I could also ask around, introduce you to friends’… um, daughters who are different in that aspect, hmm. If you really have that need.”

Yan Jingyao looked at her mom seriously for a moment, then blinked. “Wow, my dear Yan Rui comrade, are you that trendy? You can even find out a daughter’s sexual orientation?”

“Cough, I said I’d try my best.”

“As expected of a criminal investigator, so knowledgeable.”

“…”

“Well then, I won’t be polite, dear Yan Rui. May I ask which daughter you know is ‘different in that aspect’?”

“…That, I said I’d have to ask first.”

“Oh~” Yan Jingyao stretched. “Alright, I’ll wait for Yan Rui comrade’s good news. I’m looking forward to it.”

Yan Rui: “…”

Actually, she had no confidence at all, but words spoken were like water spilled, so she just had to accept it, nodding solemnly.

Yan Jingyao smiled and got up to wash the dishes, not taking it seriously. Her mom was probably just worried about her being down after a breakup.

But Yan Rui seemed to take it seriously.

While Yan Jingyao was taking a nap, she went through her old classmates’ contact list and called a few close friends.

But this kind of thing was too bizarre and complicated. Even if she swallowed her pride, she couldn’t really ask, “Hey, is your daughter a lesbian? Would she mind dating my daughter?”

The ship of friendship might just sink.

So, it turned into casual chats that spiraled off-topic. By the time Yan Jingyao groggily got up, she saw her mom on the phone in the living room, surrounded by several empty water bottles.

Yan Rui’s call wasn’t finished even by dinner time.

••••

The next day, it was still foggy.

Afraid of traffic delays, Yan Rui woke Yan Jingyao up very early, practically dragging her and her luggage into the car to take her to the airport.

She was barely conscious by the time they reached the parking area, groggily pulled out by her mom, who then shoved a sandwich into her hand.

“You’ll be alright on your own, right?”

Cars couldn’t stop for more than five minutes in the drop-off zone. Yan Rui rubbed her still-drowsy daughter, recalling how she’d previously missed a flight because she’d fallen asleep in the waiting area.

“Eat after you’ve gone through security. Don’t sleep in the waiting area, keep your phone’s ringer on, I’ll call you.”

“Oh…”

Still not fully awake, Yan Rui shook her head helplessly, pulled out the suitcase, extended the handle, and handed it to Yan Jingyao. “Hurry, go in.”

Time was running out. She quickly got back into the car, and before leaving, rolled down the window, weary.

“Whatever you do, don’t miss your flight again!”

“…Oh.”

With a cloud of dust, Yan Jingyao stood on the roadside, dazed for a while. She peeled open the sandwich and ate it while shaking off her sleepiness, the cold wind finally waking her up a tiny bit.

She was at the airport, right, a ten o’clock flight.

Lawyer Yan finally logged on. She checked her watch and leisurely went inside to get her boarding pass.

She had bought a first-class ticket, VIP treatment. The process was quick, leaving her time to grab a coffee.

Not rushing to security, she found a coffee shop on that floor, picked a window seat, ordered a random mocha, and, inhaling the rich, warm aroma, rested her head, watching the entrance.

People came and went. Yan Jingyao watched intently, a one-in-ten-thousand hope lingering deep inside—would Xu Wei come?

She had a strong liking for this mature, beautiful woman. Their life rhythms matched, and they were comfortable together. Even though Xu Wei would occasionally say things like “I’m not like you,” she was indeed the most suitable “ambiguous partner” Yan Jingyao had considered.

She hoped she would come. If she came, it would mean she still wanted to develop their relationship, and not just be suitable bed partners.

Unfortunately, the mocha’s steam gradually dissipated, and time passed minute by minute. Xu Wei still didn’t appear.

There were no texts or calls on her phone. When it suddenly vibrated, Yan Jingyao fumbled, but it was her mom, reminding her not to miss boarding.
Her heart surged then fell. Finally, she couldn’t wait any longer. She stood up, paid the bill, leaving the untouched mocha, and left.

She quickly went through security via the VIP lane and boarded the plane just as boarding closed. Even when the flight attendant came to tell her to turn off her phone, Xu Wei’s call still hadn’t come.
She thought, she really isn’t coming.

A helpless twitch of her lips, Yan Jingyao turned off her phone, leaned back in her seat, and looked out at the sky still shrouded in white mist.

She really was heartbroken. What number was this one, again?

She smiled, closed her eyes, and sighed. It seemed she might just have to rely on her mom to set her up with someone.

Dear Yan Rui comrade, you have a long and arduous journey ahead.