Even though she was currently playing the role of a not-so-great mother, Chi Mi had ultimately gotten her wish and followed Feng Yixun back home.
Li City, Jiangbei District, Dilan Garden.
From his lukewarm remarks, Chi Mi could roughly piece together the situation.
After returning to the country, he had been living in this large flat in Jiangbei District, Li City.
Six bedrooms, complete with a tea room, a game room, and a gym—not particularly large.
The property was located very close to Li City’s main commercial district, making it convenient for his work.
There was also a well-known kindergarten nearby, where the children all came from affluent families, so it was convenient for Linlin to attend school.
But the one who actually lived here most of the time was Linlin’s live-in nanny, Dong Jinyu.
As for Feng Yixun, he spent at least five months out of the year away from this place.
Dong Jinyu, a middle-aged woman in her forties, was shrewd, capable, and quick with her hands.
Her salary was clearly quite substantial.
Everyone usually called her Aunt Jinyu.
When the live-in nanny Dong Jinyu opened the door and saw Chi Mi, the smile on her face froze for a moment.
It took her several seconds to react. “Madam?! You—you’re back?”
Chi Mi responded awkwardly, “Ah? Yeah…”
Feng Yixun led Linlin into the house, giving brief instructions. “Her mind’s gone wonky. Set up a new set of toiletries for her. Everything else stays the same as before—she’ll still sleep in her own room.”
Dong Jinyu quickly replied, “Yes, Mr. Feng.”
If it weren’t for Linlin constantly calling for her mom to come home, Chi Mi really couldn’t have taken it.
This man’s attitude was simply awful—what gave him the right?
“Hey—”
Chi Mi stared at the man’s retreating back, feeling the urge to hit someone.
…
This apartment was full of traces of family life.
After marrying him, it seemed Chi Mi had also lived here long-term.
But apparently, because their relationship wasn’t good, they had always slept in separate rooms.
Chi Mi’s room was separated from Feng Yixun’s by the gym and the tea room, with Linlin’s bedroom across the hallway in between. The live-in nanny Dong Jinyu’s room was in the northwest corner. Her daily workload wasn’t heavy—mostly cleaning, occasionally helping look after Linlin. She didn’t cook often, and even the task of picking up and dropping off Linlin at school was rarely done by her.
Both of Linlin’s parents had a clingy streak when it came to their child—even if they didn’t get along on the surface.
Chi Mi’s room had its own walk-in closet.
The closet was quite spacious, but there weren’t many clothes in it—just some loungewear for seasonal changes.
She found a pair of pajamas printed with a Magical Girl design and took a shower.
It was getting late today; she’d rest first and deal with everything else later.
Seventeen-year-old Chi Mi needed at least ten hours of sleep every day.
After showering, her mood had improved considerably.
As usual, she prepared to brush her teeth and go to bed.
A soft, light footstep sounded from outside the bathroom.
A little head peeked in, watching her from the doorway.
Linlin blinked her eyes at her mom, her hair seeming to have just been blow-dried.
She suddenly said, “Mom, that’s not how you do it…”
Chi Mi was in the middle of brushing her teeth, looking completely bewildered.
Not how you do what?
Linlin walked in wearing her little slippers and said again, “Mom, you don’t know how to brush your teeth.”
Chi Mi said nothing, staring blankly at her.
Linlin stood beside her and gestured with her fingers to demonstrate.
“You have to use the Bass brushing method…”
“Like this, Mom, follow me…”
“One, two, three, four…”
Chi Mi was dazed for a moment, then adjusted the hand holding her toothbrush and earnestly imitated her daughter’s technique.
She realized belatedly that she had been led around by her child?
Her own mother being led by her little girl?
Brushing teeth and such—she always thought it was all about brute force.
After washing up, Linlin was very satisfied with her.
She took her hand and led her toward another room.
Sure enough, her daughter brought her to Feng Yixun’s room.
Feng Yixun’s room, besides the basic bathroom and walk-in closet, also connected to a balcony and his study.
When they came over, he was on the balcony making a phone call.
Linlin pointed to the soft large bed not far away and said, “Mommy, you sleep here.”
Chi Mi crouched down, looking at her with some hesitation.
She held her little hand, “Linlin…”
The little girl smiled and gave her cheek a smooch.
“Does Mommy want a kiss? Then kiss Mommy!”
Chi Mi instantly forgot what she was about to say, her heart filled with softness and warmth.
Linlin saw that Feng Yixun had finished his call, trotted over to him, and hugged his leg.
She dragged out her tone and called him: “Da—ddy—”
Then, she turned her little head to look at Chi Mi.
It seemed like a coquettish plea, yet carried an air that brooked no refusal.
Feng Yixun picked her up and said, “Daddy knows. Linlin should go to bed early.”
The little girl’s small arms circled his neck, and she kissed his cheek again, “Bonne nuit papa.”
He lowered his head slightly, kissed her hair, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
So this man could smile after all.
Chi Mi stood stiffly to the side. The thought that she was now part of this family, that her precious girl had kissed both Mommy and Daddy, and that she herself was like an illiterate who couldn’t understand a word—made her blush with embarrassment.
Feng Yixun set Linlin down, and the little girl obediently left right away.
As soon as the bedroom door closed, Chi Mi instinctively shuddered.
She began to feel uneasy again.
Chi Mi scratched her head, “Uh, your room is pretty clean, huh…”
But the moment Linlin left, Feng Yixun’s expression turned sour.
He looked at her with disdain, “Why are you dressed like that?”
She looked down at her Magical Girl pajamas.
“Uh…”
What’s wrong with this?
Chi Mi saw no problem at all, lifting her head to meet his gaze with a look of utter certainty.
“Mind your own business about what I wear!”
After a bit of bickering, Chi Mi decided to pretend he didn’t exist before he could give her a cold look.
She strode over to the bed, flipped open the thin fleece blanket, and lay down.
Then quickly wrapped herself up tight.
Closing her eyes, she said, “I’m going to sleep now. As for you, President Feng, sleep wherever you like.”
She just hoped this beast of a man wouldn’t suddenly come over to demand his marital duties.
Isn’t that how it always goes in TV dramas?
Besides, didn’t he already do it last night…
Marital duties don’t have to be every night, right…
Just as she was feeling anxious, she suddenly heard the man’s indifferent words.
“You sleep. I still have some things to take care of.”
Chi Mi cautiously opened one eye and caught a glimpse of him turning to leave.
Soon after came the sound of the study door opening and closing.
She felt a strange sensation, unsure whether it was relief or something else.
Chi Mi had thought she wouldn’t sleep well.
But after lying there quietly for a while, drowsiness swept over her, and she fell into a deep sleep.
…
Li City, Luo’an District, a five-star hotel.
Under the canopy of an iris-colored night sky, where neon lights flickered.
Traffic flowed endlessly, unfamiliar figures drifting through the world.
A young woman with a desolate expression stepped into the elevator.
Waiting for her was a man so cold and proud, as if forever looking down from above.
“A Xun, I beg you, please save my mother…”
“Beg me? Do you even deserve to?”
Chi Mi pleaded humbly.
But he shoved her onto the bed with brutal roughness, flipping up her skirt.
Relentless torment descended upon her like a violent storm.
She cried, apologizing over and over.
“I’m sorry…”
“Chi Mi, you deserve every bit of this!”
“It hurts, A Xun, don’t…”
“What are you pretending for? It’s not like it’s your first time.”
“I… I…”
Suddenly, Chi Mi could no longer think, her entire body frozen stiff.
She felt she could barely breathe, a tearing sensation sweeping through her, and she jolted awake in shock.
Everything was pitch black before her eyes. She flailed in panic, her hands grasping wildly.
In an instant, she was pulled into someone’s embrace.
The sudden light was blinding, and she instinctively shrank back, burying herself in the man’s arms.
Feng Yixun glanced at the bloody scratch marks on his neck, frowning as he looked at her.
He lowered his voice and called her name: “Chi Mi.”
Tears glistened at the corners of Chi Mi’s eyes, and she was almost afraid to look at him.
Yet right now, being held by him like this somehow made her feel safe.
She didn’t know whether she should tell him the truth, but this man wasn’t saying anything either.
If she stayed silent like him, maybe things would only get worse.
She was only seventeen now—she shouldn’t have to bear so much.
Chi Mi sniffled and decided to just say whatever came to mind.
“I remember now—you, you’re a beast…”