My Mysterious Darling Wife (GL) - Chapter 5

Zhang Yuning prepared breakfast again sandwiches with milk, and coffee and Chinese dishes for Chi Nian to choose from. The refrigerator was stocked with semi-prepared ingredients, making the meal quick and easy to assemble. She wasn’t sure if Chi Nian had any dietary preferences, so this was the best she could manage.

Sitting at the dining table, Zhang Yuning heard the sound of rushing water from the bathroom. Chi Nian must be showering. Zhang Yuning had little appetite, so she wandered around the house, eventually reaching the adjacent office area. She discovered that the inner room was a gym and game room.

Spending time with Chi Nian felt like wasting her life. She wondered if she would ever obtain any useful information or unravel the mysteries that plagued her mind. Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, she watched the dawn’s early light struggle to emerge from the darkness.

The skyscrapers pierced through the dense fog, their peaks soaring into the clouds, appearing and disappearing intermittently. The glass walls began to reflect the weak rays of the rising sun. Once the sun fully ascended, its blinding light would first strike these towering structures that presumed to look down upon the masses.

Normally, Zhang Yuning would still be in bed at this hour. But after staying up all night, witnessing such a sunrise over Glazed City was a first for her.

Lost in thought, Zhang Yuning heard Chi Nian’s voice Come join me for breakfast.

Zhang Yuning turned, her gaze freezing. Chi Nian stood in the doorway, wearing a long, white, vacuum-sealed T-shirt that draped down to reveal her smooth, slender legs. The sheer silk fabric did little to conceal her slender yet voluptuous figure. Only the third and fourth buttons were fastened, leaving the curves of her br3asts and their firm peaks clearly visible through the thin material. Even the lace trim of her black underwear was clearly discernible.

Perhaps fresh from a shower, her long hair hung half-wet, occasional droplets sliding from her collarbone to stain the shirt with translucent patches that stirred the imagination.

I’ve already eaten, Zhang Yuning said, her appetite gone.

Then just sit here and keep me company while I eat. Chi Nian turned away without waiting for a response. The shirt, shorter in front and longer in back, barely covered her hips, resembling the sheer gauze worn in ancient times—a single, thin layer that revealed everything.

Zhang Yuning didn’t refuse. Getting overly emotional would be pointless. After all, their relationship was ambiguous. Chi Nian hadn’t mentioned a salary, so calling her boss felt hollow. Claiming she was repaying Chi Nian with her body was just a superficial excuse.

A dark gray rectangular dining table separated the two women. Chi Nian had indeed brought the bag she’d mentioned and placed it beside her. Zhang Yuning remained silent, resembling an obedient subordinate.

Chi Nian gazed at the sandwich with a faint smile, then picked it up.

What are you smiling at? Breakfast is simple, but it’s all I know how to make, Zhang Yuning said. She knew this meal was too basic for Chi Nian, but she was just an ordinary person who couldn’t prepare anything elaborate.

Nothing. It’s fine, Chi Nian replied, chewing slowly and deliberately. She never spoke with food in her mouth, her movements refined and elegant, befitting her privileged background.

Zhang Yuning fell silent again. She couldn’t yet decipher the woman before her. Chi Nian was an enigma, her true nature sometimes shrouded in mist, sometimes clear as day. In truth, Chi Nian rarely lost her temper, her emotions remarkably stable, though she occasionally reacted in unusual ways.

But what was she really like in her everyday life? Who could truly know?

What’s next? Zhang Yuning asked. We can’t just stay here every day, can we? She also wanted to know Chi Nian’s next move, hoping to extract useful information from it.

Chi Nian calmly sipped her water after finishing her meal, picked up her coffee and bag, and headed toward the work area. She didn’t bother changing clothes, simply saying as she walked, I’ll be staying in here all day. I’ll let you know if I need anything.

Can I go out? Zhang Yuning wanted to return to the clinic to arrange recent matters and, ideally, meet with the Third Miss to report her plans and discuss better strategies.

Though she couldn’t tell if the Chi Nian before her was genuine or what her motives were, this concerned the Chi Family’s future, and the Third Miss deserved to know. Perhaps the Third Miss’s investigation might uncover some clues.

If Chi Nian wasn’t planning to leave today, Zhang Yuning figured it should be safe to slip out for a while.

Afraid of being refused, Zhang Yuning added, I’ll be back soon, within an hour.

Chi Nian reached the sliding door and paused, turning to look back at her. Her eyes were as deep and luminous as pearls, sparkling even in daylight. What secrets did they hold? Why did Zhang Yuning always feel like Chi Nian could see right through her?

Chi Nian smiled, a beautiful smile that belied her infuriating words No.

Zhang Yuning was rejected again. Chi Nian always said no, rejecting her with complete composure, utterly indifferent to her feelings.

Name your salary. Don’t rush to answer take your time to think it over. With these words, Chi Nian walked to her desk and sat alone in the vast office area.

Salary? Zhang Yuning chuckled softly. So, it’s finally come to this? She wasn’t short on money she could get by just fine. This whole situation had been bizarre from the start. She had deliberately entered this game, and what she wanted wasn’t money.

She was now deeply curious about Chi Nian, eager to see what would happen next—what Chi Nian would do, what would unfold within the Chi Family, and how the Third Miss would react upon learning the truth. This quest for answers was enough to keep Zhang Yuning interested and willing to stay.

What she truly wanted to know was why Chi Nian had chosen her in the first place.

Zhang Yuning would fulfill her duties as a bodyguard to the letter. Whatever the boss said, she would do. If she was told not to leave, she wouldn’t. When bored, she would go to the gym to practice boxing or study IT-related topics—her true passions. Researching these subjects brought her genuine joy.

Chi Nian occasionally issued commands like Bring me water, Coffee, Dessert, or Stay here and don’t leave. Apart from bathroom breaks, she remained glued to her desk all day. The office area was so technologically advanced that even the glass curtain walls functioned as displays, segmented into numerous smaller screens that could freely switch channels. The control panel was the laptop in Chi Nian’s hands.

She spent the entire day staring at the screens, occasionally jotting notes in a notebook. Zhang Yuning had no idea what she was recording. This intelligent system was likely the standard configuration at the R&D Base, and it might become a mainstream trend in the future.

The real issue was Chi Nian’s transparent blouse. Wearing such revealing attire in a formal office setting seemed utterly inappropriate, yet it also carried a sensual charge. In this office-themed setting, the sight of a disheveled beauty was jarring. Zhang Yuning remained calm each time she entered the room, but whenever Chi Nian swiveled her executive chair to face her directly, the sheer fabric always stirred a sense of unease.

Though the details of their intimate encounters remained fragmented memories, every glimpse of Chi Nian’s revealing clothes and captivating smiles brought those intertwined images flooding back passionate embraces, fervent kisses, and the lingering heat of their shared moments.

Zhang Yuning always tried to detach herself, to remain aloof from Chi Nian’s beauty and allure. It was her most effective method of escape. She had no intention of getting emotionally involved just because they’d had s3x once.

After all, who knew what schemes Chi Nian might be hiding?

As dusk approached, Chi Nian finally stood up, stretching her limbs as she issued her final command for the day Xiao Zhang, go make dinner.

I’ve never heard of a bodyguard being responsible for cooking, Zhang Yuning grumbled half-heartedly. I was hired to protect your life, not become your personal chef! Breakfast, lunch, dinner—the only thing missing is tucking you into bed.

You don’t have to think of yourself as just a bodyguard, Chi Nian replied, slowing her pace.

Zhang Yuning looked up in surprise. Chi Nian smiled and continued, Roommate, housemate—whatever you want to call it. Don’t overthink it. Her tone was gentle. As she turned to stretch, raising her arms, the hem of her shirt lifted, threatening to reveal her underwear. Zhang Yuning darted forward, grabbed the curtain, and yanked it shut with a sharp tug.

Zhang Yuning’s sudden action startled Chi Nian, who froze mid-stretch. What are you doing, Xiao Zhang? she asked, bewildered.

They can see from across the street, Zhang Yuning said, tugging at the curtains, desperately trying to shield Chi Nian’s exposed skin. Though it wasn’t yet evening, the room was brightly lit, and the large expanse of transparent glass made it visible from any tall building across the way.

But the curtains were voice-activated, allowing her to only pull down the lower half for a half-hearted attempt at concealment. In reality, the transparent surface was so vast that unless the curtains were fully drawn, they offered little privacy.

Chi Nian watched her, her expression shifting from suppressed amusement to outright laughter. Zhang Yuning finally realized how absurd her actions were. What was she so worried about? That someone might see Chi Nian? This didn’t seem like the kind of concern a bodyguard should have.

Never mind, she said awkwardly, releasing the curtains. I’ll go prepare dinner. She just wanted to escape the awkwardness.

The outer layer of the glass is privacy-enhanced, Chi Nian explained patiently. No one can see inside. Zhang Yuning ignored her, pretending nothing had happened. Who walks around the house dressed like that anyway? she thought. Couldn’t she be more professional when she’s working?

Oh, okay, Zhang Yuning replied awkwardly, quickly slipping into the kitchen. Suddenly remembering she hadn’t asked Chi Nian what she wanted to eat, she opened the refrigerator, her brow furrowing in frustration. Chi Nian walked over and volunteered, No carbs tonight. Prepare a light meal for me—no staples, no sauces. Steam the vegetables and cook the beef medium-rare.

After giving her instructions, Chi Nian returned to the living room, settling back into her usual domestic demeanor, as if nothing had changed from her office persona.

Bodyguard, housekeeper, roommate… In just one day, Zhang Yuning had acquired so many new roles.

Got it, Zhang Yuning replied.