My Mysterious Darling Wife (GL) - Chapter 12

If they were ordinary thieves, she’d give them a beating. If they were from the Chi Family, she’d knock them out and drag them away. Zhang Yuning hurried forward, grabbing a half-brick from the roadside since she didn’t have tWhat are you eating? Zhang Yuning asked, realizing only after finishing her own meal that she hadn’t served her boss. Chi Nian smiled faintly. Isn’t there a carrot in your fridge?

Uh… you can’t eat that, can you?

Why not? I already did. Chi Nian reached for the bowl, but Zhang Yuning quickly grabbed it. I’ll wash it myself. She couldn’t believe that Chi Nian, a privileged woman born with a silver spoon in her mouth, had cooked instant noodles for her, let alone imagine her washing dishes by the sink.

It was as if a celestial being had been tainted by earthly dust, making her worry that Chi Nian would lose her ethereal beauty. Any domestic task felt like a desecration of her dignity.

A carrot… Zhang Yuning thought. I thought I was the only one who ate such odd things. Do normal people really eat carrots for dinner?

Chi Nian was extremely strict about her diet, rarely eating much in the evenings. She usually opted for light meals, and a carrot would barely suffice. After all, there was nothing else available, and there wasn’t time to buy groceries.

Zhang Yuning quickly washed the bowl and noticed the kitchen was spotless, as if no one had ever cooked there. Everything was perfectly organized. Had Chi Nian cleaned up immediately after making the noodles? Does she even do housework? A fresh wave of questions flooded her mind.

If it weren’t for the eggshells and carrot peels in the trash can, you wouldn’t even know anyone had used the kitchen.

Don’t bother with this next time, Zhang Yuning said, feeling inexplicably guilty, as if she owed Chi Nian something. Even their night together hadn’t made her feel this way—it was just a bowl of noodles.

Planning a next time already?

No, absolutely no next time, Zhang Yuning said, shaking her head vigorously as she put the bowl away. You can do whatever you want with the rest. I’m going back to work now. She met Chi Nian’s gentle gaze again, her eyes like a warm spotlight shining on her.

Zhang Yuning suddenly remembered her dream from the night before, the lingering sensation of kissing Chi Nian, and the vivid details of their time in bed. She shuddered, startled by the terrifying allure of these lingering memories.

Sensing the intense gaze, she looked up. Chi Nian’s eyes were once again like a clear pool, a sense of distance radiating from their depths. Can you finish by two o’clock? Zhang Yuning asked, her tone serious. I need the information. When it came to business, a certain gravity always settled over them.

Zhang Yuning noticed that Chi Nian’s handbag had changed to black. The size was similar, but the brand and style were different. Regardless of the bag, she had never seen Chi Nian open it. There must be something important inside that she never let out of her sight.

It won’t take that long. Just a little while.

Alright. Don’t forget my 7 a.m. breakfast.

Yesterday, Chi Nian had made breakfast because Zhang Yuning overslept. Today, she had to cook noodles because Chi Nian was working late. Zhang Yuning, the nominal nanny, felt increasingly useless. She nodded, knowing she was indebted to Chi Nian. After all, Chi Nian was her boss, and after two meals, she couldn’t keep taking advantage of her generosity.

Returning to the study, Zhang Yuning quickly immersed herself in her work. Once she entered the digital realm, she became completely disconnected from the physical world, losing all sense of time.

She worked with unwavering focus until the data extraction reached 80%. Among the names on the list, three were minority shareholders of the Chi Shang Group, and six were senior executives in the R&D Department. It seemed Chi Nian was indeed planning to return to the group and seize power.

Zhang Yuning stretched, noticing a bright moon hanging outside the window. She pressed her temples, thinking of Chi Nian, and peeked next door. The lights were off. Glancing at her watch, she saw it was midnight.

Wasn’t Chi Nian afraid of the dark? She couldn’t sleep without a nightlight. What would she do here without one? Zhang Yuning stood up, her legs numb. She limped out of the room and found Chi Nian sitting on the edge of the bed, gazing up at the moon.

There was no telescope here, but fortunately, the sky was clear tonight. The full moon shone brightly, its light like a radiant lamp illuminating the boundless night. Even the streetlights and distant city lights, no matter how dazzling, couldn’t match the gentle glow of the moon.

Would she be scared without a nightlight? Zhang Yuning worried that Chi Nian might not sleep at all. She glanced around and her eyes landed on the top of the bay window. There were no spare light bulbs in the house, but she could take one apart.

Zhang Yuning had a knack for tinkering. As an IT professional, she was skilled at disassembling and reassembling electronics—a simple task for her. She climbed onto the bay window, her head nearly touching the ceiling. The small bulb there was originally meant to illuminate her way when she jumped out the window—a shortcut she used when there was an emergency downstairs and she didn’t have time to take the stairs.

She retrieved a toolbox from the bookshelf and dismantled an extension cord, pulling out the wire. After taking apart a back-massaging stick, she tied the light bulb to it and connected the circuit with a plug, inserting it into the wall. The light came on.

But the brightness might disturb Chi Nian’s sleep. Zhang Yuning scratched her head, glanced at the desk, grabbed an A4 sheet of paper, and folded it accordion-style to create a makeshift lampshade around the bulb. She then covered it with another sheet to further dim the light.

Sure enough, the brightness was now comparable to a regular night light.

Zhang Yuning nodded in satisfaction, picked up the lamp, and walked to Chi Nian’s makeshift room. Chi Nian sat on the floor with her knees drawn up to her chest, her bag beside her, seemingly merging with the moonlight.

The room’s small balcony held only a simple wardrobe. A rug lay on the floor, placed there for easy sleeping—Zhang Yuning wanted her home to be a place where one could rest at any time.

This cramped corner had become Chi Nian’s favorite spot. She wasn’t fussy, didn’t mind the small space, and wasn’t bothered by the floor’s cleanliness. Her dark brown spaghetti-strap pajamas enveloped her, radiating a quiet melancholy that seemed to release the shadows from her heart—beautiful yet heartbreaking.

Zhang Yuning placed the lamp on the floor beside the bed, and the dark room lit up when she plugged it in.

Chi Nian turned her head, her expression curious but not at all surprised. You made this?

It’ll do for now. The brightness should be enough.

Chi Nian turned and sat on the bed, leaning forward until she was propped up on her elbows at the headboard, her chin resting in her folded hands. She stared at the lamp, a hint of amusement in her voice as she said, It’s a bit ugly.

The brightness is fine, right? About the same as your room. At least you have one. Don’t be so picky.

The lamp was undeniably crude. Wrapped in A4 paper, at least the edges had been carefully folded, but the top was just a single sheet folded in half. Function over form, it had no aesthetic appeal whatsoever.

Chi Nian leaned closer again, and Zhang Yuning once more felt that familiar warmth and intoxicating fragrance. Out of the corner of her eye, she even caught a glimpse of Chi Nian’s clearly visible cleavage. Just as she was about to shift away, Chi Nian said, Don’t move.

Her tense body relaxed, and she remained still.

How did you know I liked night lights? Chi Nian reached out and flicked the unsightly paper top. The scribbled characters on the paper looked like tiny black dots, lost in the incomprehensible patterns, like bugs burrowing into the bulb.

You know the answer. You have one in your room.

Do I? Chi Nian looked up at Zhang Yuning, her eyes briefly flickering with a hint of anticipation before quickly returning to their usual calm. She seemed to be consciously gathering her thoughts.

Then you should get some rest. I’ll work a bit longer.

Zhang Yuning turned to leave, but Chi Nian tugged at her arm. She paused, her movement faltering, and asked, What’s wrong? Are you scared? I’m right next door, and there’s no door between us. There’s nothing to worry about.

ime to fetch a weapon.

She’d covered Chi Nian’s luxury car with a car cover, yet someone had still managed to find it. Had they been under surveillance?

As Zhang Yuning approached the car, the two men had already lifted half the cover. She raised her arm, ready to smash the brick down, when one of the thieves, sensing her presence and about to be struck, suddenly shouted, Sister Ning! It’s Sister Ning!

Zhang Yuning froze, her movement halting. Weren’t these the two little brothers she’d trained in the slums?

Glass Island’s social hierarchy was stark, with extreme wealth and poverty. The upper class could rival entire nations in wealth, while the poor struggled to afford a single meal. This disparity had led to the existence of the slums, a place teeming with orphans and vagrants, many homeless and forgotten. The government, indifferent to the plight of the poor, focused solely on appeasing wealthy merchants, relying on the elite few at the top to drive the nation’s economy and development.

Few knew that Zhang Yuning had come from the slums herself. She regularly sent medicine and occasional aid there. The two thieves before her had been frail and often bullied for their food as children. One day, she’d encountered them and taught them some specialized skills, like lockpicking.

You two have a death wish, stealing from me? Zhang Yuning’s anger flared. She clenched her fist, itching to punch someone. Get lost! Coming here? You want to end up in jail?

Yes, yes, Sister Ning, we’re sorry, we’re sorry, the two boys, barely fourteen or fifteen, mumbled. They scraped by on petty theft, barely managing to feed themselves, and had targeted the car, hoping to find valuables inside.

They must be desperate again, Zhang Yuning thought.

She considered giving them some money, but decided against it. Handouts weren’t a long-term solution. After chasing the boys away, she sighed heavily and covered Chi Nian’s car, still worried it was too conspicuous and easily spotted.

I have to leave tomorrow. This place is too dangerous.

Using the first-floor security bars, she climbed back up the way she had come, slipping silently into the study as if nothing had happened. Chi Nian likely hadn’t noticed. Zhang Yuning massaged her stiff neck, stretched her limbs, and returned to her work.

With only 20% of the task remaining, she resolved to finish it in one go. Chi Nian likely intended to use these people’s vulnerabilities—their hidden secrets and shady dealings—to manipulate them.

To the Chi Shang Group, Chi Nian was merely born into privilege, reaping rewards without effort. She had amassed wealth simply by being the largest shareholder. But if she tried to seize power, no one would accept her authority. She needed a team. Yet could a team formed through coercion truly be reliable or sustainable?

Internal strife within the Chi Family would benefit the Third Miss, making it imperative to execute this plan flawlessly.

After what felt like an eternity, Zhang Yuning finally finished extracting all the necessary information. She circled key points with her pen, her eyelids growing heavy. As her tense nerves relaxed, she slumped onto the desk and fell asleep instantly.

Yet her subconscious reminded her to wake up early—she needed to prepare breakfast for her boss, even though the house seemed completely bare. When Zhang Yuning was utterly exhausted, even ten alarms wouldn’t rouse her. But sometimes, her biological clock would jolt her awake in an instant.

Sometimes, when her mind was racing with thoughts, it refused to quiet down, and those chaotic thoughts would seep into her dreams. Just as now, slumped over the desk, she dreamed that Chi Nian approached her, asking if she was cold and suggesting she move to the bed. Zhang Yuning refused.

Moments later, she dreamed again that Chi Nian brought a blanket and draped it over her shoulders. Chi Nian leaned in close, as if studying her intently. Through her half-closed eyes, Zhang Yuning glimpsed that blurred face. Perhaps it was the dream’s lack of clarity, but the hazy quality seemed to enhance Chi Nian’s beauty.

When would this intoxicating dream end? Why was Chi Nian so enchanting in this dream?

Chi Nian crouched beside the table, tilting her head slightly to gaze up at Zhang Yuning. Zhang Yuning felt Chi Nian’s icy fingertips slip into her palm. She curled her fingers around Chi Nian’s hand, and the dream sequence abruptly ended. As her consciousness faded, a gentle kiss landed on her forehead.

Why do I keep dreaming about her? Always her.

She couldn’t stay asleep forever. She needed to get up and make breakfast. Zhang Yuning willed herself awake, struggling against the lingering drowsiness. After several attempts, she finally jolted awake again. This time, there was no lingering confusion she clearly remembered being in her own home, with Chi Nian present.

She immediately sat up, the blanket sliding off her shoulders.

Rubbing her eyes, Zhang Yuning ignored the aches in her body from sleeping awkwardly. As she picked up the blanket, she wondered, Was last night not a dream? Did Chi Nian really come?

Impossible, she quickly dismissed the thought. Maybe Chi Nian woke up in the middle of the night, saw me asleep, and casually draped the blanket over me. The rest was just a dream. Don’t overthink it.

She glanced at the time—730 AM. A little late, but still manageable, right?

But when she walked to the adjacent room, a bowl of steaming congee sat on the kitchen counter, accompanied by two slices of toast. Chi Nian was on the balcony, focused on her tablet.

Hearing the movement, Chi Nian turned her head and said calmly, You’re late again.

I’m sorry, I…

Zhang Yuning looked up and noticed Chi Nian was wearing her oversized T-shirt, her hair tucked behind her ear, her figure bathed in the morning light streaming through the window. There was a serene beauty about her. It was the first time Zhang Yuning had seen her without a skirt, and she looked pure and captivating. Heaven had bestowed such a stunning appearance upon her—it was hard to tell if it was a blessing or a curse.

Go shower and get ready. The porridge won’t be too hot by the time you’re done, Chi Nian instructed before lowering her head again. She seemed to care and know how to take care of others, yet she kept her concern subtle, as if suppressing something.

Zhang Yuning felt ashamed again. She had almost woken up on time. She nodded, glanced at the breakfast, and was once again amazed by Chi Nian’s cooking skills. There was probably only one bowl of rice left in the house, and the bread was the long-lasting kind—not particularly tasty but durable.

Why does this always happen? she thought, feeling annoyed. After breakfast, Chi Nian will finally leave, right? Living cramped like this is uncomfortable for both of us. At least we didn’t sleep together last night. If we started acting out these dreams, I can’t even imagine what would happen.

She had been gradually calming down, but whenever she dreamed of such intimate scenes, Zhang Yuning couldn’t help but remember certain moments in bed.

She finished breakfast in two minutes, washed the dishes, and asked, What’s the plan for today? I’ve already extracted the information.

Share it with me, then delete it.

Okay.

After lingering for another five minutes, Zhang Yuning decided it was time to leave. The luxury car had to be moved before it attracted attention and exposed Chi Nian’s location.

Where to next? Back to the Dean Apartment or meeting someone?

Chi Nian calmly stood up. She wore a plain white T-shirt and her own cropped jeans, which fit her perfectly. With her bare face and simple outfit, she looked strikingly out of place next to the ridiculously expensive handbag. Her clothes were all bargain-bin finds, costing only a few dozen yuan each, yet Chi Nian carried herself with such innate elegance that they seemed like designer pieces worth thousands. Her inherent nobility radiated outward, elevating everything around her.

We’re going grocery shopping.

Huh? Grocery shopping?

To buy some food. You have nothing here.

Zhang Yuning found the remark odd. Did this mean Chi Nian planned to stay long-term?

Let’s buy groceries for the Dean Apartment. We’ll have to go back eventually.

No, we’re staying here first.

Isn’t that… inappropriate?

Chi Nian raised an eyebrow. Are you going to issue an eviction notice every day?

My place is small. I’m afraid you won’t be used to it.

I’m perfectly used to it, Chi Nian said, looping her arm through Zhang Yuning’s and leading her toward the door.

Wait a moment, Zhang Yuning said, hurrying to the closet to grab a beige baseball cap. She placed it on Chi Nian’s head. Cover up a bit.

Chi Nian tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. My hair’s a mess.

Fix it yourself.

Chi Nian didn’t move.

Understanding her meaning, Zhang Yuning reluctantly reached out to carefully arrange Chi Nian’s hair, tucking strands behind her ears and smoothing her bangs. Their faces were inches apart, the warmth of their breath mingling between them.

She was truly beautiful, her bare skin flawless. As Zhang Yuning adjusted the cap, her thoughts drifted back to the car accident. How could Chi Nian have no scars on her head? It defied logic. This was Chi Nian’s deepest mystery, one that cast doubt on her true identity.

It was still early. Zhang Yuning wondered which supermarket to take Chi Nian to. Someone of her status must have certain shopping restrictions. They couldn’t exactly drive a luxury car to the local market.

The car was too conspicuous. Given their low-profile attire today, a flashy ride would be inappropriate. Zhang Yuning suggested taking her own beat-up car instead. Chi Nian didn’t object. Zhang Yuning borrowed a garage to hide the car, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Chi Nian’s presence here would be leaked. It was just an uneasy intuition, but her instincts had an uncanny way of proving correct.

A routine trip to the supermarket might seem ill-suited for someone of Chi Nian’s status, but she showed no discomfort. Upon arriving, she expertly grabbed a shopping cart, blending in seamlessly with the ordinary shoppers. Chi Nian hadn’t insisted on visiting a high-end supermarket she preferred a regular shopping mall with affordable prices.

When working as a bodyguard, Zhang Yuning dressed casually, ensuring she could move freely if a fight broke out. She had no interest in browsing the supermarket, remaining constantly vigilant, convinced that eyes were watching Chi Nian from every corner.

What do you want to eat? Chi Nian asked, stopping at the snack aisle. Zhang Yuning, distracted, didn’t even hear the question.

Chi Nian chuckled, covering her mouth. You don’t have to make it look like we’re stealing something.

It’s still early. The crowds will get worse later.

If you don’t say anything, I’ll just buy whatever I want, Chi Nian replied, ignoring her warning and picking out snacks.

Oh, Zhang Yuning replied, still unsure what Chi Nian was buying—food? Household items? They did need to stock up on supplies, but since she was working as a bodyguard recently, it wasn’t like she’d be staying long-term.

Chi Nian examined items layer by layer, grabbing several high-calorie snacks. Zhang Yuning, dressed in a blue-gray shirt and jeans with her hair loose over her shoulders and sunglasses hanging from her collar, took them off and said, Put these on.

Why?

A little disguise.

I’m not a thief. Why would I need a disguise?

If anyone recognizes Miss Chi here, Glass Island will trend on social media again.

Chi Nian smiled faintly. It doesn’t matter. She refused the sunglasses and pushed the cart toward the fast-food section. Suddenly, someone ran toward them. Zhang Yuning reacted instantly, pulling Chi Nian into her arms to avoid the collision.

Just as she was about to throw a punch in defense, she realized the person had simply forgotten to weigh their items at checkout and was rushing back.

Zhang Yuning exhaled deeply, glancing down to find Chi Nian gazing up at her with a dazed expression. That deep, sorrowful gaze, tinged with a hint of joy, was mesmerizing. Abruptly, Zhang Yuning remembered every dream, and her heart ached inexplicably.

She tried to release Chi Nian, but Chi Nian clung to her tightly. The early morning supermarket was relatively empty, but even amidst the occasional passerby, everything else seemed to fade into the background. The entire world felt irrelevant to the two of them.