Picked Up a White Cut Black Wife - Chapter 8

Shen Zhao brought Ai Jingshan to the ancient painting restoration workshop.

Due to its age, the painting was severely damaged and would require considerable effort to restore.

“Was this also excavated from the Princess’s tomb?” Ai Jingshan asked.

“Exactly,” Shen Zhao replied, taking out her phone and showing Ai Jingshan photos she had taken at the site. “Senior Brother, look—the painting wasn’t framed and was hidden beneath layers of clothing. By the time we found it, it was already in tatters, so we had to extract it in two separate pieces.”

“No wonder only half the scroll remains,” Ai Jingshan remarked.

“Once the other half arrives, we can restore it with some extra time.”

After chatting for a while, they realized it was noon. The restorers, who had been sitting for hours, began to stretch their backs and take breaks. Someone suggested going out for lunch together. Ai Jingshan had just returned, and Shen Zhao couldn’t refuse, so she joined them.

The daily work in the restoration workshop was monotonous and tedious, but she was used to it. As usual, she worked late into the night, yet had only managed to clean a small corner of the ancient painting. The remaining dusty areas were shrouded in a thin haze, like viewing flowers through a fog.

Knock, knock, knock—

Someone knocked and entered. It was Ai Jingshan.

“I knew you hadn’t left yet,” Ai Jingshan said disapprovingly. “Why are you still working so hard even here?”

Shen Zhao put down her tools, gazed at the painting before her, and suddenly asked, “Senior Brother, do you remember why you originally chose to study archaeology?”

Ai Jingshan chuckled. “Hereditary? Ha ha ha… I’m more curious about you. You could have lived comfortably as a pampered heiress, yet you dedicated yourself to archaeology. The pay is low, and the work is exhausting.”

“I’m not sure myself,” Shen Zhao replied, her thoughts drifting back to the past. “It’s just… I felt like I had glimpsed a hidden corner, and I wanted to get closer.”

“What’s gotten into you?” Ai Jingshan asked, puzzled. “Suddenly so sentimental? I rarely see this side of you.”

Shen Zhao shook her head. “Maybe this discovery has just been particularly exciting.”

Ai Jingshan laughed. “I can tell! Ha ha ha… It’s getting late. Come on, I’ll drive you home.”

“No need, Senior Brother. I can drive myself.”

“Absolutely not. You’re too tired to drive safely, and the snow is still falling. The roads are treacherous.”

Shen Zhao sighed helplessly. “Alright, then. Thank you, Senior Brother.”

“Don’t be so formal with me.”

Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up downstairs. Shen Zhao opened the door to a blizzard, the biting cold piercing straight to her bones.

Ai Jingshan, holding an umbrella, walked around to Shen Zhao’s side. “This snow is really heavy. Let me walk you inside.”

Without hesitation, Shen Zhao strode into the building with him. After thanking Ai Jingshan again, they found the elevator had just arrived.

Ding!

The fingerprint lock clicked open, and the voice-activated lights flickered on. Shen Zhao slipped off her shoes and glanced around, only to find a figure sitting in the corner of the sofa. The balcony window was wide open, and swirling snow billowed into the living room.

I forgot there’s someone else living here now.

“What are you doing sitting on the floor?” Shen Zhao frowned, hurrying over to close the balcony window. “Aren’t you cold? Get up immediately.”

The girl remained silent, her long black hair dusted with snow. She stared straight at Shen Zhao, her expression blank.

Leaning against the balcony door, Shen Zhao raised an eyebrow in confusion. When the girl still didn’t speak, she closed the door and turned to head back to the bedroom.

The next moment, a plaintive voice called out from behind her, “Wife.”

“What is it?” Shen Zhao asked, turning around.

“You said you’d be back by noon.”

Shen Zhao let out a realization-filled “Oh,” then said casually, “I forgot.”

The girl’s face darkened with resentment.

“Have you eaten?” Shen Zhao asked.

“…No.”

“Is there no food at home?” Shen Zhao frowned in confusion, turning to check the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator to find it completely empty except for a single egg lying forlornly inside.

A pang of guilt flashed through Shen Zhao’s heart. When she turned back, she saw the girl clinging to the doorframe, gazing at her with a resentful expression.

“What do you want to eat? I’ll take you out.” Shen Zhao glanced outside. At this hour, nearly all the nearby restaurants were closed. She bit her lip and pulled out her phone. “Never mind, I’ll see if there’s any delivery available.”

Unfortunately, most delivery services had also shut down for the night. After scrolling through several options, the earliest delivery wouldn’t arrive for over an hour. Reluctantly putting down her phone, Shen Zhao rummaged through the kitchen cabinets. Finally, she found a half-empty bag of rice. She had no memory of buying it, but since it wasn’t moldy, it should still be edible.

“Hey, can you cook?” Shen Zhao asked, turning to look at her.

The girl stared blankly at the rice in Shen Zhao’s hand, then shook her head.

Stupid question, Shen Zhao thought, realizing she’d forgotten this woman was a Princess who had never lifted a finger in her life.

Leaning against the counter, Shen Zhao pondered for a long moment, torn between cooking herself and abandoning the girl to fend for herself. Finally, she frowned in exasperation, pulled out a pot that hadn’t been used in ages, and poured the rice into it.

Still wearing her coat from outside, Shen Zhao felt a thin layer of sweat break out as the room warmed up. She quickly took off the coat and handed it to the girl. “Take this outside for me.”

The girl entered the kitchen, silently accepted the coat, and retreated to the doorway, her dark eyes fixed intently on Shen Zhao.

“Still not satisfied?” Shen Zhao muttered, after steaming the rice and drying her hands. “Ungrateful wretch.”

At this, the girl’s expression grew even more indignant, her fingers tightening around Shen Zhao’s coat.

“Not hungry yet, huh?” Shen Zhao challenged.

The rice still needed a while to cook. Shen Zhao approached the girl. “Give me the clothes. I won’t ask the Princess for favors anymore.” But the girl clung to the clothes, hugging them tightly as she turned and went to sit in the living room.

Such a childish temper.

Considering she’d been hungry all day, Shen Zhao decided not to argue further and sat down beside her.

Her phone buzzed incessantly with messages. Ai Jingshan’s arrival had stirred up the group chat, but Shen Zhao glanced at it casually, with no intention of replying.

Just then, she noticed someone subtly inching closer to her. For some reason, Shen Zhao felt a playful urge to tease the girl. Pretending not to notice, she continued scrolling through her phone. Just as the girl was about to get close, Shen Zhao suddenly stood up.

“Wife!” the girl exclaimed, panicking. She grabbed Shen Zhao’s arm, and the momentum nearly pulled Shen Zhao onto the sofa.

“Has the young miss finally calmed down?” Shen Zhao asked, amused.

The girl leaned her head against Shen Zhao’s shoulder, her voice direct and unapologetically unhappy. “Who was that person in the car?”

“Hmm?” Shen Zhao paused for a moment before realizing what she’d been asked. She frowned slightly, displeasure flickering across her face. She’d always disliked intrusions into her personal life; apart from her parents’ occasional inquiries, those who knew her well rarely pried into her private affairs. This question felt like a violation, and her tone turned icy. “Whoever she is, it’s none of your business. I’m only taking you in temporarily out of pity because you have nowhere else to go. We have no connection whatsoever. Understand?”

The atmosphere suddenly chilled, heavy with unspoken tension.

Their eyes met. The girl blinked slowly, her long lashes veiling the emotions in her eyes, yet the sorrow radiating from her was palpable.

Realizing her tone had been too harsh, Shen Zhao turned away, withdrawing her hand. “I’ll go check if the food’s ready.”

Aside from eggs, there were no other vegetables in the house. After a moment’s thought, Shen Zhao decided to make a bowl of egg fried rice.

When she carried the rice out, she found the girl curled up on the sofa, her back to Shen Zhao, clutching her clothes. She looked so small and fragile.

A pang of sympathy struck Shen Zhao. Setting down the bowl, she approached and said gently, “Get up and eat something. You can sleep later.”

Hearing this, the girl burrowed deeper into the sofa, as if sulking.

“Not eating? Fine, I’ll just throw it away,” Shen Zhao said, getting up as if to leave.

As expected, the girl immediately sat up and hugged Shen Zhao’s waist. “I didn’t say that!”

Though she was jealous, she couldn’t waste the effort her wife had put into cooking for her.

Shen Zhao, unaware of the girl’s thoughts, simply thought, She’s just a child. I’ll treat her like a temporary foster child.

“Then hurry up and eat before it gets cold,” Shen Zhao said.

Reluctantly letting go, the girl sat at the table and began spooning the fried rice into her mouth.

Noticing the girl was still clutching her clothes, Shen Zhao reached out and touched her hand. “Are you cold?”

The girl’s hand was indeed much colder than normal. “Put on the clothes,” Shen Zhao said, draping the garment over her shoulders. “Just leave the bowl in the sink when you’re done. Auntie will come to clean tomorrow.”

After saying this, Shen Zhao went to take a shower. When she came out, the girl had finished eating and was curled up on the sofa, her gaze fixed on the bathroom door.

“Full?” Shen Zhao asked.

The girl nodded and reached out to her. “Wife, let’s go to sleep.”

“Alright, take the blanket back to your room. I’m not used to sleeping with others.”

After a moment’s thought, the girl suddenly asked, “Then has Wife never slept with anyone else before?”

“Hmm?” Shen Zhao gazed into the girl’s eyes, suddenly understanding her meaning. She said flatly, “It’s none of your business. Go away.”

“If Wife doesn’t want me in the room, fine. I’ll just stand guard outside.”

“How would you stand guard?” Shen Zhao glanced at the corner of the wall. “Sit there like last night? You’ve eaten enough to have the energy now?”

The girl nodded slightly, a stubborn glint in her eyes.

“Do you have some kind of delusional wife-obsession?” Realizing there was no reasoning with her, Shen Zhao cut to the chase. “You really want to sleep in my room?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Fine.” Without another word, Shen Zhao entered the bedroom, grabbed the blankets, and carried them to the guest room. “It’s yours. I’ll sleep in here.”

“That’s not what I meant!” The girl grew flustered, hopping off the sofa and following Shen Zhao. “I want to sleep with Wife.”

Shen Zhao leaned against the door. “You’re too young to be acting like a pervert. Understand? Or I’ll kick you out.”

“I’ve already come of age and married Wife. It’s not being a pervert. You and I… we should have… long ago…” The girl explained earnestly, but as she spoke, she grew bashful, took Shen Zhao’s hand, and lowered her head.

“You… you… don’t talk nonsense!” As if anticipating the girl’s next words, Shen Zhao’s pupils dilated, and she jerked her hand away as if electrocuted.

Undeterred, the girl continued, “You’re my wife, so there’s no reason for us to sleep in separate rooms.”

“Impossible! Don’t… don’t think such impure thoughts!” In Shen Zhao’s twenty-five years, her exceptional beauty and prominent family background had attracted many admirers. Yet her innate coldness and aloofness kept people at arm’s length. Few dared to make advances, and even the boldest suitors were easily dismissed with a polite refusal. This sudden, intimate confrontation left Shen Zhao utterly unprepared.

The atmosphere grew increasingly strange. The small doorway divided the space into two halves, the darkness behind her like a deep abyss, swallowing temptation and danger.

“Wife,” the girl softened her voice, taking a half-step forward until she was barely touching Shen Zhao’s body, their breaths mingling.

Shen Zhao froze instantly. When she finally reacted, she stumbled back several steps in disarray, retreating completely into the darkness.