Ji Xiran’s emotions were equally complicated.
How could her bestie’s unreliable spouse pick this exact moment to rush back?
She had gone to so much trouble to finally make Chu Yuan see Yan Dai’s true colors, yet here she was, back in the country!
All their previous progress could easily go down the drain now.
Who knew if Chu Yuan would suffer another sudden bout of lovesickness the moment she laid eyes on Yan Dai?
After all, it wasn’t like this hadn’t happened before.
Every single time she encountered Yan Dai, Chu Yuan would turn completely dazed, foolish, and numb, her mind utterly consumed by thoughts like, “Sister Yan is so beautiful,” and “I like Sister Yan so much.”
Ji Xiran instinctively reached out to grab Chu Yuan, wanting to pull her away from the spot as quickly as possible.
But Chu Yuan’s feet seemed to have taken root right where she stood; no matter how hard Ji Xiran pulled, she wouldn’t budge an inch.
Ji Xiran gnashed her teeth, lowering her voice to a harsh whisper. “Chu Yuan! Didn’t you promise to go out and play with me today? Everyone has already been invited, and yet you can’t even move your legs the second you see Yan Dai?”
But how could Chu Yuan care about what Ji Xiran was saying right now?
Her wife was back.
Her wife, who rarely ever returned, was now standing right in front of her in the flesh.
At this moment, Chu Yuan’s eyes were completely devoid of anyone else except Yan Dai.
Chu Yuan took a moment to mentally prepare herself before finally looking up.
And there she was.
The driver’s side door opened, and a figure stepped out of the vehicle.
She was quite tall and slender. Her chestnut-brown, long curly hair was swept neatly behind her ears, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of her nose. The frames slightly obscured her eyes, which tilted upward at the corners, making her usually cold and distant demeanor appear a fraction softer and more gentle.
However, her sense of style never seemed to change. She wore a deep gray long coat over a pair of tailored, straight leg dress pants, projecting an aura that practically screamed ‘do not approach.’
The newcomer was none other than Yan Dai.
The person she had loved unilaterally for three whole years.
She was also legally and rightfully her wife, even if the other woman didn’t feel the same way about her.
It had been half a year since they last stood face to face. Encountering her again now, Chu Yuan felt an indescribably complex knot of emotions tighten in her chest.
During this period away, Yan Dai seemed to have changed a bit, yet it also felt as though nothing had changed at all.
Yan Dai was still the same Yan Dai, expressionless and difficult to get close to.
Whenever she looked at others, her gaze was always indifferent.
Chu Yuan froze on the spot, gazing at Yan Dai from a distance as she stepped out of the car. Neither of them made the first move, nor did either speak, leaving the atmosphere entirely gridlocked.
Why did Yan Dai come back?
Was it because her work abroad was finished, or did she just want to visit after being away from home for so long?
In that single second, countless explanations for Yan Dai’s return flashed through Chu Yuan’s mind, but not a single one had anything to do with her.
Yan Dai could have dozens of reasons to return to the country, but it would absolutely never be because of her.
After all, how could Yan Dai possibly return for her sake? It was simply impossible.
Beside her, Ji Xiran’s eyes were rolling so far back they could practically see heaven, but there wasn’t much she could do right now.
This was a society ruled by law; Ji Xiran couldn’t exactly drag Chu Yuan away by force.
Besides, Chu Yuan was an adult now. Even if she forcibly dragged her away today, she would just run right back to Yan Dai’s side on her own.
Ji Xiran was well aware that in this relationship, she was ultimately just an outsider. The final direction of their emotions depended entirely on the two of them.
At the very least, this woman Yan Dai had actually returned to the country. Although she was a bit late, it was still better than hiding abroad forever.
Even though Ji Xiran always liked to advise them to get a divorce, she didn’t genuinely wish for Yan Dai and Chu Yuan to cut ties and never see each other again for the rest of their lives.
Ji Xiran simply felt that ever since they got married, they hadn’t been able to mesh well despite spending so much time together, they clearly weren’t compatible.
Therefore, she believed that keeping the two of them bound together was far too painful. Instead of torturing each other like this, it was better to break up early.
Cutting losses in time would be good for everyone.
But if these two could actually talk things out sooner, get along more harmoniously, and be a bit happier than they were now, that was also an outcome Ji Xiran wanted to see.
Ultimately, Chu Yuan’s happiness was her only requirement.
So, no matter how much Ji Xiran disliked Yan Dai, after she finished rolling her eyes, she still took a step to the side. She gave them some space, leaving an independent area for them to communicate properly.
As for whether these two could actually manage to communicate, that was an entirely different story.
The probability was that they wouldn’t be able to, otherwise this marriage wouldn’t have been a total mess for so long, Ji Xiran thought gleefully.
And in reality, that was exactly the case.
The moment Ji Xiran stepped aside, she cleared a space meant only for the two of them.
Now, only they remained.
After not seeing each other for so long, who would greet the other first?
And what would they say?
There were actually many, many things that could be said.
Yet the atmosphere between Yan Dai and Chu Yuan was exceptionally bizarre, they just stared at each other, as quiet as mice.
If Chu Yuan refused to speak first, the two of them might very well remain at a standstill until the end of time.
Chu Yuan was actually holding a grudge in her heart. She still had her own princess temper and a bit of stubbornness. No matter how much she liked Yan Dai, it was impossible for her to always take the initiative and submit to everything.
In short, the past version of her would definitely have been the first to break the silent atmosphere between them, but that wasn’t necessarily true anymore.
This time, she didn’t really want to take the initiative.
She had spent so many years throwing herself at her to no avail anyway. Right now, she felt a little aggrieved, no, scratch that, she felt incredibly, profoundly aggrieved.
All the bits and pieces of past grievances had piled up, and they were now on the very verge of erupting.
But for Yan Dai to take the initiative first? That was even more impossible.
The two of them silently engaged in a visual standoff, each hoping the other would speak first, soften up, and extend an olive branch so they could immediately use the opportunity to step down from the ledge.
However, if both of them held the exact same mindset, they would never be able to have a proper conversation.
Just like now, standing face to face, staring at each other without a word or a single movement.
They might not be tired of standing, but Ji Xiran, who was waiting on the side, felt her legs growing weak.
She took off her sunglasses and looked at the pair who were still locked in silence a short distance away, feeling quite amazed.
Oh my god, what on earth was going on with these two?
Not moving a muscle, not uttering a word, were they cosplaying as statues first thing in the morning?
Why did watching these two navigate a romance have to be so agonizingly difficult?
After being apart for so long, shouldn’t they rush forward, hug each other, and say something like, “Long time no see, I missed you,” to clear the air?
It should be an incredibly simple thing to do!
Stalling like this, did they have rocks in their heads?!
While those two had the physical stamina and patience to remain at a deadlock, Ji Xiran certainly did not. Just as she was about to lose her temper, Xue Qinghuan drove up in her sports car and rolled down the window. “Are you going out to play by yourself?”
Ji Xiran didn’t even bother to answer verbally, merely gesturing with her chin toward the spot where Yan Dai and Chu Yuan were standing.
Only then did Xue Qinghuan notice the two figures standing a short distance away.
“Whoa,” Xue Qinghuan gasped in surprise. “You didn’t mention that Yan Dai was back. How is Little Yuan supposed to go out with us now? She’s definitely going to leave with Yan Dai.”
Everyone in their social circle knew that Chu Yuan had been utterly spellbound, completely infatuated with Yan Dai.
Clearly, Chu Yuan used to be someone who would go out and wild with them at a moment’s notice.
But ever since she met Yan Dai, Chu Yuan had transformed into an absolute textbook case of a lovesick fool.
Ji Xiran replied, “Not necessarily. The two of them have been having a tiff lately.”
She conveniently left out the part where she had been actively fanning the flames.
Xue Qinghuan let out a skeptical huff. “As if I don’t know Little Yuan. Forget about a normal little tiff, even if the two of them had a massive fight, as long as Yan Dai hooks her finger even slightly, Little Yuan will run right after her.”
Ji Xiran couldn’t argue, because the damn truth was exactly that.
However, no one anticipated that today, Chu Yuan was dead set on standing her ground.
Ultimately, Chu Yuan was still the first of the two to make a move. However, she still didn’t say a single word. Instead, she turned around to leave, choosing to directly ignore Yan Dai.
Seeing that Chu Yuan was about to walk away, Yan Dai finally showed a flicker of a reaction. She spoke up, calling out her name.
“Chu Yuan.”
Finally, it was Yan Dai’s turn to take the initiative.