A Warm and Cute Strike (GL) - Chapter 3

“Sister Hong, next time there’s a last-minute notice like this, please just reject it for me if you can.”

In the dressing room, Ye Feifei—still clad in her elaborate costume—tossed her phone onto the vanity after hanging up. She rubbed her throbbing temples, her face a mask of exhaustion.

Standing behind her, Cheng Hong shrugged, looking somewhat indifferent. “You’ve barely managed to squeeze into the A-list, but your position isn’t stable. You could be dragged down at any moment. Now is not the time to be willful.”

Ye Feifei knew Cheng Hong meant well, but…

“Qingnuan, she…” A flash of guilt flickered across the woman’s glamorous face.

“Feifei, don’t be foolish. How many people are watching you right now? If the reporters find out about you and Xiang Nan…” Cheng Hong’s voice dropped, but Ye Feifei understood the unspoken implication.

She and Xiang Nan were secretly married. If the media found out, they would sensationalize it beyond repair. Given her branding as a “mortal goddess” for male fans, her popularity would take a massive hit. The company would never allow it.

Ye Feifei bit her lip, deciding to wait a bit longer. Once she had a firm footing, she would go public…

Buzz—

Her phone vibrated. Seeing the name on the caller ID, Cheng Hong was tactful enough to say, “Change your clothes first. I’ll wait for you outside.” She then left the room.

Ye Feifei took a deep breath and answered. “Hello—”

There was a long silence on the other end before a man’s voice came through: “It’s me.”

“Mhm. Congratulations, Director.” Ye Feifei curled her lips slightly.

She had learned about his award from Cheng Hong. Despite being husband and wife, they were like strangers. Though she missed him dearly, she could never find the right words whenever they actually spoke.

Xiang Nan remained silent, not responding to her congratulations.

Ye Feifei finally sensed something was wrong. “What happened?”

After being pressed, Xiang Nan finally spoke with great difficulty. “Qin Mo and Yuyan had an accident… a car crash…”

In the dressing room, the stunning woman reflected in the mirror widened her eyes.

Thud— the phone slipped from her trembling hand and hit the floor. Simultaneously, tears welled up without warning, blurring her makeup…

Lin Wen was on the highway, heading to meet Ye Feifei for her next appointment. Sitting in the car, she scrolled through Weibo out of boredom.

Unexpectedly, she saw a familiar ID in her following list—”Nuannuan’s Little Sunny Day.”

She didn’t remember teaching little Qingnuan how to post on Weibo. Could a child that young even read? Looking closer, she realized it was a repost.

It was a superstitious, marketing-heavy post that read: “Repost this koi fish for good luck!” Attached was a cartoon image of a koi.

A look of disdain crossed Lin Wen’s face. She never believed in such posts, even if the comments were full of people returning to “pay their respects” after their wishes came true.

She glanced at the original poster’s ID: “Old God of Fortune has Arrived.” The profile picture was a traditional New Year painting of the God of Fortune.

Lin Wen shook her head, figuring Qingnuan just liked the cartoon fish. She put the post and the ID out of her mind.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Ye Feifei’s manager, Cheng Hong. Lin Wen didn’t dare delay and picked up immediately.

“Sister Hong? Yes, I’m in the car. What? The appointment is canceled?” Lin Wen froze, then replied, “Oh, okay. A flight to E-City? The earliest one? No problem, I’ll arrange it.”

The next day, at the E-City Central Hospital.

Disguised in sunglasses and a mask, Ye Feifei arrived outside the ICU. She took off her glasses and stared through the glass at the woman inside, who was hooked up to various tubes. Tears blurred her vision once again.

She and Su Yuyan had grown up together; they were best friends. But in recent years, Feifei had been focused on her career, and Yuyan had frequently traveled abroad for concerts with her husband, Qin Mo. They had barely seen each other.

Looking back, it had been six months since their last meeting. She never imagined they would reunite under these circumstances.

How could such a terrible car accident happen out of nowhere…

“Qin Mo…” She turned to the man standing beside her.

He had clean-cut short hair and wore rimless glasses. Even with dark circles under his eyes and a bit of stubble, his scholarly air was unmistakable. This was Ye Feifei’s husband and Xiang Qingnuan’s father—Xiang Nan.

Xiang Nan had flown back from abroad immediately upon hearing the news, arriving slightly before Ye Feifei. He shook his head. “They couldn’t save him…”

Ye Feifei’s grief was palpable. She looked back at the glass. “Will Yuyan be okay?”

“Hard to say. She’s not out of the danger zone yet.” Xiang Nan pulled his wife closer, providing silent support.

Ye Feifei finally broke down, leaning into his chest and sobbing.

“Wait, what about Yuyan’s child?” Feifei suddenly looked up, grabbing her husband’s collar. “I remember they have a daughter… was she in the car too?”

“Yes,” Xiang Nan nodded.

Ye Feifei’s face paled further.

“Don’t worry, she’s fine.” Xiang Nan caught her hands. “Yuyan shielded the child during the crash. Aside from a mild concussion and a fractured lower leg, she’s okay.”

Relieved, Ye Feifei asked urgently, “Where is she? Can I see her?”

“She’s in a regular ward.” Xiang Nan sighed. “But… she’s not in a good state mentally…”

Feifei’s heart tightened. She went to wash her face before following Xiang Nan to another room to see Su Yuyan and Qin Mo’s daughter—Qin Xuening.

A nurse was checking her IV drip. She looked surprised to see the famous couple enter but professionally kept her gossip in check. She adjusted the drip, whispered a few gentle words to the little patient, and left the room.

Ye Feifei looked at the girl on the bed. Only seven years old, her body was just starting to grow taller, making her look frail and thin in the oversized hospital gown.

She was staring out the window, never once looking at them. Despite being a child, the density of the loneliness and sorrow surrounding her nearly made Ye Feifei break down again.

Feifei walked over and finally saw the girl’s face.

Even with a pale complexion and a bandaged forehead, her refined and ethereal features were clear. However, her vacant, hollow eyes were heartbreaking.

“Child…” she called out softly, afraid of startling her.

The girl finally reacted, her eyes moving to look at her.

“Child, it’s me. Do you remember me?” Feifei happily took her small hand. “I’m your Auntie Fei.”

Qin Xuening looked at the tearful woman and gave a microscopic nod. Of course she remembered her. In her past life, this woman had been the first to rush to her after the disaster and pull her into a hug.

It seemed this life was no different.

Seeing the response, Ye Feifei finally lost control and hugged the girl. Suppressing her sobs, she stroked the girl’s smooth hair. “Don’t be afraid. Auntie will always be with you. Your mommy will be okay too.”

Qin Xuening leaned against her shoulder, silent.

In her past life, after her parents died in the crash, Ye Feifei had stayed with her for a long time. But gradually, she stopped coming.

It wasn’t until later that she learned why: due to the nanny’s negligence, Ye Feifei’s daughter had slipped and fallen into the bathtub, nearly drowning. Though she was eventually resuscitated, she became a vegetable…

Should I… give them a warning? Qin Xuening wondered.

“Feifei, calm down.” Xiang Nan came over and held his wife’s shoulder. “You’re touching her hand.”

Ye Feifei looked down and saw the needle in the girl’s hand; she had forgotten about the IV. She quickly let go. “Sorry, Auntie didn’t mean it. Did I hurt you?”

Qin Xuening looked at her, lowered her gaze, and gently shook her head.