Chapter 4

When Gu Rongqing went to pick up Wen Nuan that evening, Liang Mei accompanied her. Gu Rongqing was the one who went into the kindergarten to collect her daughter, and the moment little Wen Nuan got into the car, she threw herself into her arms.

“Mama, I missed you so much~ Hug me~”

This was the first time Gu Rongqing had gone so long without seeing Wen Nuan. It had been almost two months since she divorced Wen Ling, and she hadn’t even made a video call during that time. If Wen Nuan hadn’t missed her and insisted on calling her this time, Gu Rongqing wouldn’t have dared to call herself. Although she was the one who’d given birth to the child, Wen Ling had been the one taking care of her ever since she was born.

“Nuan Nuan, what would you like to eat? Mama will take you somewhere nice.”

“Mama, isn’t Mommy coming to eat with us?”

Whenever Wen Nuan didn’t understand something, she simply asked.

Gu Rongqing, however, was momentarily at a loss for words.

They hadn’t planned to tell Wen Nuan about the divorce yet. Since Gu Rongqing rarely stayed at home to begin with, sometimes returning only once every two weeks or even once a month, Wen Nuan hadn’t really noticed anything unusual. It was just that this latest absence had been a little longer than usual.

Just as Gu Rongqing was about to answer, her phone rang.

It was her mother.

“Hello, Mom.”

“When are you bringing Little Nuan home? I haven’t seen her in almost two months!”

Mother Gu’s complaining voice came through the phone.

Gu Rongqing remembered the call her mother had made when she first learned about the divorce. She’d spent the entire conversation blaming Gu Rongqing. Gu Rongqing genuinely couldn’t understand what sort of spell Wen Ling had cast over her mother.

At the time, news of their divorce had already been exposed. Before Gu Rongqing even had the chance to tell her mother herself, her mother had called.

And without so much as a greeting, she’d immediately taken Wen Ling’s side.

“Rongqing, have you been mistreating Wen Ling?”

“Wen Ling was the one who asked for the divorce.”

“Then you must have treated her even worse!”

“She’s the one who wanted a divorce. How does that mean I’ve been mistreating her?”

Gu Rongqing had been rather angry at the time.

How had being the one asked for a divorce somehow become her fault?

“Wen Ling loves you so much and treats you so well! Even a blind person could see that! If you hadn’t hurt her, why would she have asked for a divorce?”

After hanging up, Gu Rongqing had thought about her mother’s words for a long time, but she still didn’t think her mother was right.

And now she was even more convinced of it.

Wen Ling was ignoring her entirely!

“Rongqing? Are you even listening to me?”

Mother Gu had been talking for quite some time without getting a response and was growing impatient.

“Mom, I’m listening…”

“Then you heard me. Bring Wen Ling home for dinner tonight too.”

With that, she hung up.

Gu Rongqing was a little bewildered.

So what exactly had her mother just said?

Bring Wen Ling home for dinner?

How was she supposed to do that?

“Mama, let’s go pick up Mommy now!”

Wen Nuan happily swung her little legs and looked up at Gu Rongqing with wide eyes.

Gu Rongqing was at a loss.

Should she call Wen Ling?

“Mama~ I’ll call Mommy and tell her!”

As though sensing Gu Rongqing’s hesitation, Wen Nuan took the initiative and called Wen Ling herself.

“Mommy~ Grandma invited us over for dinner! Hurry up and get ready. Mama and I are coming to pick you up!”

Wen Ling’s voice sounded hesitant.

“I… I’m a little busy right now. Why don’t you and…”

“That’s settled! We’re almost there!”

Before Wen Ling could finish speaking, Wen Nuan issued her command in her sweet, childish voice.

Then she happily climbed onto Gu Rongqing’s lap.

“Mama, let’s go!”

Meanwhile, Wen Ling had been thoroughly startled by the phone call.

Ever since returning home that afternoon, she’d been busy writing. She really hadn’t started making dinner yet…

But having dinner together?

She hadn’t even dared to imagine something like that.

Still, now that such an opportunity had presented itself, she absolutely had to go!

She immediately hurried into the bathroom to freshen up.

She hadn’t put much effort into her appearance when she’d gone out earlier. She’d simply thrown on a T-shirt and jeans.

But who could have guessed that Gu Rongqing would be there?

And Ji Chenxi, too.

Just look at Ji Chenxi, then look at herself.

Anyone would know which one to choose.

Especially since, after today’s auditions ended, she’d barely gotten home when Xu Zhe called her.

“Wen Ling, your big brother really has to thank you for giving me such a juicy piece of gossip today.”

Xu Zhe’s sarcastic tone made it perfectly clear that he was mocking her.

“If you don’t have anything important to say, I’m hanging up.”

“Hey, hey, don’t! Your big brother’s just showing a little concern for you.”

Wen Ling hung up.

Her mother didn’t know everything about what had happened between her and Gu Rongqing, but Xu Zhe did.

Xu Zhe was only a few years older than Wen Ling, and they’d played together when they were children.

Back then, Wen Ling’s mother had just gotten divorced. Her uncle felt sorry for his younger sister and would visit them every few days.

During summer vacations, he would sometimes bring Xu Zhe along and leave him at their house for the entire summer.

That was how Wen Ling and Xu Zhe had developed their close sibling-like bond.

As for Xu Mengmeng, she’d been too young at the time.

Wen Ling had just finished getting ready when Gu Rongqing and Wen Nuan arrived.

The two came straight inside.

Wen Ling had only just finished dressing and tidying herself up.

Today, she wore a black jumpsuit. Her hair fell just to her shoulders, and she’d applied some simple makeup.

Wen Ling’s features had a handsome, slightly androgynous quality. Clothing that was overly feminine didn’t particularly suit her.

But the stylish, slightly edgy jumpsuit complemented her perfectly, making her look even more striking and effortlessly cool.

Gu Rongqing was momentarily stunned when she saw her.

It had been a long time since she’d seen Wen Ling looking like this.

Normally, Wen Ling spent her days at home taking care of their daughter and rarely bothered dressing up. She usually wore T-shirts and shorts or pajamas around the house, and even when she went out, she generally dressed casually.

“Let’s go.”

Wen Ling didn’t want to say much.

Nor did she know what she could say.

She walked over, picked up Wen Nuan, and headed out.

Seeing them leave, Gu Rongqing followed.

The Gu family lived in the suburbs, about an hour’s drive away.

Gu Rongqing drove.

Not long after they got into the car, Wen Nuan grew sleepy and fell asleep in Wen Ling’s arms.

Only then did Gu Rongqing explain, “My mom misses Wen Nuan and wanted her to come over for dinner…”

Wen Ling didn’t say anything.

Taking the hint, Gu Rongqing fell silent.

Actually, Wen Ling wanted to ask something.

Then who had invited her to dinner?

Was it Gu Rongqing?

Wen Ling didn’t know how she’d become such a coward.

Back when she’d secretly been in love with Gu Rongqing at university, she’d been timid too. But at least she’d had the courage to pursue Gu Rongqing after Ji Chenxi went abroad.

So what had happened to her now?

If anyone said she no longer loved Gu Rongqing, that would be impossible.

Wen Ling knew exactly how much she loved her.

She would have gladly torn out her heart and offered it to Gu Rongqing.

Throughout their seven years together, she’d believed she could eventually melt Gu Rongqing’s icy heart.

But…

She hadn’t.

Neither woman spoke during the drive.

Wen Ling found the silence unbearable.

There were so many things she wanted to ask Gu Rongqing.

For example, how were things going between her and Ji Chenxi?

The thought had barely crossed her mind before the words escaped her lips.

“Are you and Ji Chenxi together now?”

Gu Rongqing turned to look at her, surprise evident in her eyes.

“Me and Chenxi?”

The look Gu Rongqing gave her made Wen Ling uncomfortable.

But since she’d already asked, she could only grit her teeth and continue.

“Yes. You and Ji Chenxi.”

“Why would I… be together with her?”

That question left Wen Ling confused.

The two of them were constantly being seen together.

Weren’t they dating?

Wen Ling had always had a terrible habit of burying her head in the sand.

Throughout all their years together, during the first two years of their marriage, both women had been busy.

Later, after Wen Nuan was born, Wen Ling’s life had revolved almost entirely around their daughter.

Meanwhile, Gu Rongqing became increasingly busy, and her fame continued to grow.

The two barely had any time together.

Gu Rongqing might manage to eat dinner at home once a week, but afterward, she’d go straight back to work.

She would only come home to spend the night roughly once every two weeks.

Naturally, intimate moments between them were few and far between.

And whenever they did have sex, Gu Rongqing was like a block of wood.

Was she obedient?

Yes, she was.

Whatever position Wen Ling wanted, however she teased or played with her, Gu Rongqing accepted it all.

Every time Wen Ling thought Gu Rongqing was finally about to lose control and cry out, Gu Rongqing would somehow hold herself back, remaining completely silent.

When they first started having sex, Wen Ling had been extremely cautious.

She’d always felt that Gu Rongqing was someone sacred, someone who shouldn’t be defiled.

Yet she’d been allowed to touch her.

Later, Wen Ling wanted to make Gu Rongqing cry.

She wanted to hear Gu Rongqing beg for mercy.

But it never happened.

Gu Rongqing never refused her, but she never took the initiative either.

She was always the one receiving, quietly playing the role of a pillow princess.

Wen Ling was almost embarrassed to admit it.

They’d been married for so many years and even had a child together, yet Gu Rongqing had only touched her intimately once.

And even that had been because Wen Ling had pressured her into it.

It happened after Wen Nuan was born.

Wen Ling had started wanting more from their relationship.

She wanted them to have a normal, mutually affectionate marriage as two wives.

Unfortunately, Gu Rongqing didn’t know how.

It had hurt Wen Ling so badly she thought she was going to die.

After that, Gu Rongqing became even more afraid to try again.

Little by little, Gu Rongqing’s coldness had worn away Wen Ling’s courage.

And then Ji Chenxi reappeared, crushing the last shred of hope she’d been holding on to.

“There’s really nothing between Chenxi and me…”

“Don’t. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Wen Ling interrupted Gu Rongqing before she could finish.

She turned her head away, no longer wanting to look at her.

Gu Rongqing didn’t know what to say.

Her hands clenched tightly.

Watching Wen Ling turn toward the window and stare outside, Gu Rongqing began, for the first time, to understand a little of what had led to their divorce.

Neither woman spoke again.

When they were almost at the Gu residence, Wen Ling gently woke Wen Nuan.

She carried their daughter inside, with Gu Rongqing following behind.

Just then, Mother Gu came out to greet them.

Gu Rongqing had inherited her beautiful appearance from her mother.

Mother Gu had already been in her thirties when she gave birth to Gu Rongqing and was now approaching sixty. Even so, it was easy to tell that she’d been an extraordinary beauty in her youth.

Mother Gu had a gentle personality.

At least, that was how Wen Ling saw her.

Throughout the seven years of their marriage, Mother Gu had always spoken softly and kindly in Wen Ling’s presence. Wen Ling could hardly remember ever seeing her angry.

Gu Rongqing called out, “Mom.”

Wen Ling opened her mouth slightly but couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

Mother Gu, however, had already rushed straight toward Wen Nuan.

“Oh, my precious Nuan Nuan! Grandma missed you so much!”

She completely ignored her own daughter.

But really, who could blame her?

Wen Nuan was simply too adorable, and she had such a sweet little mouth.

“Grandma, Nuan Nuan missed you too!”

Wen Nuan wriggled out of Wen Ling’s arms and hurried toward her grandmother on her short little legs.

The two embraced each other affectionately.

Wen Ling thought that if her own mother, Ms. Xu, witnessed this scene, she’d probably be moved to tears.

“You two, hurry up and come inside too.”

Holding Wen Nuan in her arms, Mother Gu walked into the house without even looking at the other two.

Dinner had been prepared by Father Gu.

When he was younger, Father Gu had been a chef and had opened his own restaurant.

Later, after marrying Mother Gu, his restaurant business grew steadily larger.

Once he’d established a reputation in the capital, he’d expanded the business into a nationwide chain.

Mother Gu had once said that she brought good fortune to her husband.

And indeed, ever since they married, his business had only become more successful.

It wasn’t until they were both in their thirties that they’d finally had enough time to have Gu Rongqing.

As a result, Gu Rongqing had been a pampered child from the moment she was born.

However, Mother Gu later realized that because she and her husband had been so busy, they’d spent far too little time with their daughter.

That lack of companionship had shaped [read the original at bailiantales.com]Gu Rongqing’s personality, leaving her somewhat detached and lacking in emotional warmth.

That was precisely why both of Gu Rongqing’s parents had been extremely satisfied with Wen Ling.

Although Wen Ling was a year younger than their daughter, she was usually the one taking care of Gu Rongqing.

Before the two got married, whenever Mother Gu called her daughter, they rarely had any heartfelt conversations.

Wen Ling was different.

She always called to offer her greetings during holidays, and whenever she had time, she’d bring Wen Nuan to visit them.

“Dinner’s ready! Grandpa made lots of Little Nuan’s favorite dishes!”

Father Gu brought the last dish to the table, and everyone sat down to eat.

Throughout dinner, Mother Gu did most of the talking.

Father Gu wasn’t particularly talkative. He sat to one side, busy feeding Wen Nuan.

Wen Ling kept Mother Gu company and responded to her conversation, though Mother Gu was the one who largely guided it.

Gu Rongqing, meanwhile, ate quietly.

After dinner, Wen Ling took the initiative to clear the dishes.

Mother Gu couldn’t stand watching her do everything alone.

“Rongqing, go help her.”

“Um… I can manage by myself.”

Wen Ling opened her mouth.

But once again, she couldn’t bring herself to call Mother Gu “Mom.”

Mother Gu noticed.

She genuinely liked Wen Ling.

In fact, she felt that the years her daughter had spent with Wen Ling had made Gu Rongqing a little more human, a little warmer.

In the end, Mother Gu simply pushed both Gu Rongqing and Wen Ling into the kitchen together.

The two washed the dishes in silence.

When they came out, they heard Mother Gu announce that she wanted Wen Nuan to sleep with her that night.

She’d already taken the little girl away and told the other two to go back to their room and sleep.

Back to their room?

Which room?

Wen Ling wondered.

The Gu family lived in a small two-story villa.

There was a guest room on the first floor, but it hadn’t been used in a long time.

Whenever Wen Ling and Gu Rongqing visited, they always stayed in Gu Rongqing’s bedroom.

So where was she supposed to sleep now?

Besides, Mother Gu and Father Gu probably both knew about the divorce.

Yet the two of them were acting as though nothing had happened.

Wen Ling really couldn’t understand them.

“What are you two standing around for? Go upstairs! There’s nowhere for you to sleep on the first floor!”

Seeing that neither woman was moving, Mother Gu grew anxious.

With no other choice, the two obediently did as they were told.

Wen Ling didn’t particularly mind.

But Gu Rongqing was feeling a little…

After all, Wen Ling had been the one to ask for a divorce.

Gu Rongqing hadn’t expected Wen Ling to agree to come home and have dinner with her again.

Much less to sleep in the same room.

In the same bed…