Nan Yu didn’t care that Nan Xin refused to take it. She simply placed the perfume bag she was holding on the table nearby.
Then she returned to Fu Beichen’s side and affectionately linked her arm through his.
“Xin Xin, we’ll be going now. If you run into any difficulties, just contact me.”
With that, the three of them left.
From beginning to end, Fu Beichen didn’t say a single word. His silence was essentially an acknowledgment of everything Nan Yu had said.
In their eyes, Nan Xin was nothing more than a useless pretty face.
Nan Xin’s fingers curled slightly before finally reaching for the perfume bag that had been casually left behind.
The moment her fingertips touched the cold paper handle, she suddenly found the whole thing rather ridiculous.
Shen Zhixia grabbed her wrist, her voice filled with restrained anger. “Xin Xin, they might as well have written ‘We look down on you’ all over their faces!”
Nan Xin raised her eyes and looked toward the corner where the three had already disappeared. The last trace of emotion in her eyes gradually faded into silence.
“Let’s go.”
She gently pulled her hand free, her voice as calm as a frozen lake.
“She paid for something I made. What is there for me to be angry about?”
“…That’s true.”
Shen Zhixia, who had still been feeling humiliated a moment ago, immediately saw things differently. She grinned.
“I really want to see her face when she finds out you’re Moon. It’ll be hilarious.”
“Let’s go.”
Nan Xin said nothing more.
But she knew that she had already begun to slowly let go.
By the time Shen Zhixia dropped Nan Xin off, it was already past nine that evening.
When Nan Xin returned, only Aunt Zhang was waiting for her at the villa. She personally handed Nan Xin the keys to Ji Zhouye’s home.
“Sir instructed me to give these to you, Miss Nan. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
After Aunt Zhang left, Nan Xin was the only person remaining in the villa.
It was only during the past two days that she had learned that Ji Zhouye was someone who preferred peace and quiet. Aunt Zhang was simply the housekeeper responsible for cleaning the villa, and she left once her work was done.
Being pregnant was already exhausting enough, and Nan Xin had been out and about all day. She felt completely drained, so after washing up, she went straight to bed.
A little after two in the morning, she woke up thirsty and got out of bed to pour herself some water.
The moment she opened the bedroom door, however, she noticed that the lights in the living room were on.
Nan Xin’s heart tightened.
Had someone broken in?
But when she saw the person lying on the sofa, the tension in her heart finally eased.
Ji Zhouye was sprawled somewhat uncharacteristically across the sofa. He was still wearing the same clothes he’d had on when he returned that afternoon, though they were now slightly wrinkled.
He had taken off his glasses, revealing an exceptionally handsome and refined face. There were faint dark circles beneath his eyes.
A faint smell of disinfectant lingered around him. He had probably just returned from performing surgery.
Seeing that Ji Zhouye was asleep, Nan Xin quietly tiptoed away. But just as she turned around, she heard his hoarse voice.
“Did I wake you?”
Nan Xin shook her head. Her gaze fell on the hand he was unconsciously pressing against his stomach, and she blurted out, “You haven’t eaten, have you?… I’ll make you something.”
Only after the words left her mouth did Nan Xin realize how abrupt she had been.
But Ji Zhouye slowly opened his eyes. His deep gaze passed through the lenses of his glasses, as though he could see straight through the uneasiness she felt about wanting to repay him.
Just when Nan Xin thought he would refuse, he stood up.
“Sorry to trouble you. I’ll go change.”
Since she was already imposing on him by staying in his home, being able to do something for him would at least ease some of her guilt.
Ji Zhouye probably didn’t cook much. There wasn’t much food in the refrigerator, but fortunately, there were still some basic ingredients—eggs, tomatoes, and noodles.
Nan Xin tied on an apron and got to work.
Back when Fu Beichen had built his career from scratch, he had been extremely busy with work. To take care of his daily needs and meals, Nan Xin had seriously learned how to cook, and she had become quite good at it.
By the time she carried out a steaming bowl of tomato and egg noodles, Ji Zhouye had already changed into blue-gray loungewear and walked out of his room.
“Give it a try and see if you like it.”
Nan Xin sat down across from Ji Zhouye.
The fragrant aroma of tomatoes and noodles filled the living room, making Ji Zhouye’s stomach growl even more fiercely.
He showed nothing on his face, merely giving a quiet hum before sitting down and taking a slow bite.
The sweet and tangy tomatoes blended with the fragrance of the eggs, coating the noodles with a surprisingly delicious flavor.
Five minutes later, the entire large bowl of noodles was completely empty.
And those noodles had just come out of the pot!
“Doctor Ji, was it okay?”
“Mm. Not bad.”
Watching Ji Zhouye calmly wipe his mouth, Nan Xin curled her lips slightly.
She could tell from how quickly he’d eaten that he had clearly enjoyed it.
Out of courtesy, Nan Xin politely said, “If you ever don’t have time to eat again, you can tell me. I’ll cook for you.”
Ji Zhouye looked at her again.
This time, however, there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.
His expression seemed to be saying: Your attempt at bribing me is rather obvious.
Just when Nan Xin thought Ji Zhouye would definitely refuse, he nodded seriously.
“All right. Bring lunch to the hospital tomorrow.”
“Uh… okay.”
Nan Xin froze for a moment before realizing that Ji Zhouye had actually agreed.
She got up to wash the dishes, but Ji Zhouye stood first. He took the bowl and chopsticks into the kitchen, and after the sound of running water, he returned.
Seeing Nan Xin still sitting at the dining table, he raised an eyebrow.
“Is there something else?”
Nan Xin hesitated before tentatively asking, “Can I stay here until I find a place of my own?”
She did have some money now, but she still wasn’t capable of confronting Fu Beichen and Nan Yu. This was the safest place for her.
“So you’ve decided to cling to me?”
Ji Zhouye gave a soft scoff and turned toward his room without answering her.
Nan Xin sighed.
Looks like that wouldn’t work. She needed to hurry up and deal with everything on her plate.
The next morning, Nan Xin slept until after nine before being awakened by the ringing of her phone.
When she saw the words “Mother-in-law” on the screen, Nan Xin frowned, but she answered anyway.
Soon, Su Limei’s usual commanding voice came through the phone.
“Come back to the Fu residence tonight. I have something to discuss with you.”
“Can’t you tell me over the phone?” Nan Xin asked.
“I told you to come back, so come back. Why do you have so much to say?”
Nan Xin’s grip on the phone tightened slightly, her fingernails digging into her palm and causing a sharp sting.
For Fu Beichen’s sake, she had swallowed countless words that were far more hurtful.
But now, the resentment that had been suppressed in her chest for so long suddenly surged upward.
She spoke softly to the already disconnected phone, her voice cold as ice.
“Why should my time still be controlled by you?”
Nan Xin had no intention of going.
But then another WeChat message came through.
When she saw who had sent it, her expression softened slightly.
This time, it was a message from her sister-in-law, Fu Yueling.
In the Fu family, Nan Xin had always been the one with no say and no respect. Fu Yueling was the only person who had ever treated her with genuine sincerity, which was why Nan Xin had always been fond of her sister-in-law.
Fu Yueling: “Sister-in-law, you absolutely must come back to the old residence today. Something has happened to the family.”