After Divorcing the Beautiful Richest Woman, She Fell in Love (GL) - Chapter 3

Seeing Lin Feiruo freeze with a troubled expression, Aunt Shu quickly cut herself off. She feared that continuing would only make the contrast more painful; in matters of the heart, nothing hurts more than comparing the past to the present. Such a blow is hard for anyone to bear.

Lin Feiruo had a cheerful personality, but there was no need to rub salt in an open wound. Aunt Shu sighed inwardly and abandoned her attempt to persuade her further.

“I’ll go prepare dinner. It’ll be all your favorites.”

Aunt Shu dropped those words and turned toward the kitchen, her pace matching the briskness with which Jian Xiyan had left earlier.

Lin Feiruo snapped out of it after Aunt Shu was already gone. “Does everyone in the Jian family walk like they’re being chased by the wind?”

She was left alone in the vast, brightly lit living room. The servants were busy elsewhere, and no one dared disturb her. Lin Feiruo couldn’t stand staying there; the extravagant surroundings gave her a sense of vertigo, as if she were standing in the middle of a tourist attraction. Now that she knew the origin of this decor style, she felt even more uneasy. To think she had previously mocked Jian Xiyan’s “peculiar” taste.

Back in her bedroom with the door locked, Lin Feiruo finally breathed a true sigh of relief. She sat on the soft bed, stacked two pillows behind her back, and prepared to organize her thoughts.

She could only remember the general outline of the book’s plot; she couldn’t guarantee the details. Based on the current situation, she likely needed to meet key players in person to unlock relevant memories. At least the divorce papers were signed, meaning the plot hadn’t deviated yet.

Speaking of divorce, Lin Feiruo still felt a sense of estrangement and awkwardness regarding the word and the identity. She was only 24. Although she suffered from the hair-thinning stress of a Master’s in Nutrition, she still had the heart of a young girl. Who would have thought she’d become a divorcee before ever experiencing her first love?

No matter how inclusive society had become, Lin Feiruo remained traditional and conservative in this regard. She viewed marriage with a sense of sacred ritual and had once sworn that she wouldn’t consider it unless she met the love of her life. If it were truly her, she might not have agreed to a contract marriage.

But if the partner were someone like Jian Xiyan…

Recalling their brief interaction in the study, Lin Feiruo felt her heart waver slightly. At the time, her focus was on the papers, and she hadn’t dared to stare. Now that she was calm, she realized Jian Xiyan’s features were flawlessly perfect. Even with light makeup, her naturally beautiful foundation was undeniable. There was no sign of cakey powder, breakouts, or heavy concealer on a face that looked like it was designed by a master sculptor.

Her eyes were bright and spirited, though their base tone was cold, looking at people with very little emotion. Lin Feiruo lamented: The windows to the soul are closed; no communication possible.

In the past, Lin Feiruo felt that bright lip colors were unnecessary for non-special occasions—too abrupt and flashy. But today, Jian Xiyan proved that it all depended on who was wearing it. That single splash of vivid color on such an elegant, cold face was what truly captured the observer. It was striking, reaching straight to the heart.

Lin Feiruo was startled: I actually managed to observe her that closely under all that pressure?

Getting tired of sitting, she pulled the pillows out and reclined. Unexpectedly, she fell asleep before she could finish sorting the plot, sleeping right through dinner.

Aunt Shu waited in the dining room for a long time. She sent someone up to knock, but there was no response. Worried, she went up herself.

A muffled reply came from the room: “I’m so sleepy… let me sleep a bit more.”

Lin Feiruo rarely slept at this hour. Usually, even if she was tired, she would eat before sleeping because she hated being hungry. Shu Wanxia frowned, wondering if things had gone very poorly in the study. Otherwise, why would she skip dinner?

She also wondered: Did my words this afternoon trigger her? She was already sad, and I had to remind her of those past sweet moments. I really shouldn’t have! Aunt Shu felt regretful, looking at the full table of food with a heavy heart.

Lin Feiruo had a comfortable, peaceful sleep. When she woke up, it was nearly 8:00 AM. She stretched with satisfaction, planning to shower, tidy up, and then head to the Main Residence.

The three-day commitment was unavoidable; the sooner she went, the sooner she’d be free. She didn’t want to spend another day in this “magic castle” built from her predecessor’s questionable tastes. She was terrified Aunt Shu would tell her another shocking secret.

Touching the diamond-encrusted hairdryer switch again, Lin Feiruo couldn’t even bring herself to mock it. she dried her hair quickly with a stone face, afraid that holding it for a few seconds too long would infect her own aesthetic sense.

Downstairs in the dining room, Aunt Shu didn’t look much better than she had the night before, because Jian Xiyan had already been waiting for a while.

“Young Mistress, should I… go up and let her know?”

Jian Xiyan had rushed back to the office yesterday to handle documents, so she only found time today to discuss the precautions for the Main Residence. Compared to her gloom in the study yesterday, her mood was noticeably lighter.

Aunt Shu had already described Lin Feiruo’s “tragic state” from yesterday—saying she was depressed and had no appetite for dinner. Jian Xiyan didn’t believe it was because she hadn’t stayed overnight, but the actual reason remained a mystery.

“How is her health?”

Shu Wanxia wanted to say she was fine, since Lin Feiruo had said so herself. But she felt she had to make the Young Mistress care a little more. Otherwise, Miss Feiruo’s silent suffering from spending so many nights alone would be for nothing.

“She complained of a headache yesterday afternoon. When she heard you were back, she forced herself to say she was fine.” Aunt Shu hesitated. “Actually, I don’t think Miss Feiruo meant to upset you. She probably just wants you to notice her.”

Jian Xiyan knew Aunt Shu meant well, but… She could only give a faint smile. “We will work it out.”

The smile was slight, but it was genuine, making it all the more heart-stirring.

This was the scene Lin Feiruo walked into: Jian Xiyan with her head tilted slightly, smiling at Aunt Shu, her voice even carrying a hint of warmth. That profile alone was stunning; if she truly laughed, Lin Feiruo wondered if all the flowers in the garden would bloom at once.

Lin Feiruo’s thoughts wandered, and she stopped in her tracks until Xiao Xuan gently tapped her from behind. “Miss Feiruo, why are you standing there? Come in and have breakfast.”

Xiao Xuan was young but a great cook; the original owner loved her desserts. However, Lin Feiruo didn’t care for sweets; she preferred salty and spicy foods.

Seeing her, Jian Xiyan turned back and sat upright, nodding to her. However, the look in her eyes had returned to its usual coldness.

Lin Feiruo mocked her silently: Talk about a difference in intimacy. It’s just a smile; do you have to be so stingy with it?

She walked over, put on an equally perfunctory smile, and laid out her napkin. Xiao Xuan began serving breakfast; in front of Lin Feiruo were lotus seed soup and egg yolk pastries.

…She was starving, but it looked a bit too rich/sweet. Lin Feiruo pursed her lips, her movements slow, looking quite lethargic.

Aunt Shu chipped in from the side: “Miss Feiruo, you didn’t eat last night. Do you still have no appetite?”

“It’s not that…” Lin Feiruo glanced at the bowl of Dan Dan noodles in front of Jian Xiyan and licked her lips. “I just want to change things up a bit.”

Sensing her gaze, Jian Xiyan paused with her chopsticks. “What would you like to change to?”

Lin Feiruo was truly hungry, and those noodles looked delicious. “I want Dan Dan noodles.”

Aunt Shu instructed Xiao Xuan: “Have the kitchen make another bowl.”

Gurgle…

Lin Feiruo was helpless; she couldn’t control her stomach. Aunt Shu, remembering how “heartbroken” she was to miss dinner, felt even more guilty and protective.

“Miss Feiruo, no matter how sad you are, you must eat on time. If you starve yourself sick, the Young Mistress will worry.” Aunt Shu glanced at the silent Jian Xiyan and added, “When you weren’t up yet, the Young Mistress sat here waiting for you, refusing to let us wake you. When I told her you missed dinner, she even worried if you were ill.”

Jian Xiyan: “…”

Lin Feiruo: “…”

Under Aunt Shu’s “matchmaking,” the two briefly locked eyes. Jian Xiyan’s gaze remained cold and calm, but Lin Feiruo was different. Jian Xiyan knew they rarely made eye contact in private because Lin Feiruo used to say that eyes were the windows to the soul, and her windows were reserved for someone special.

But today, Lin Feiruo seemed much more generous. Although there was no special emotion in her eyes, she wasn’t dodging or being stingy with her gaze as she had before, as if looking at her would be a betrayal to someone else.

Gurgle…

A mysterious smile tugged at the corner of Jian Xiyan’s mouth. She pushed her bowl over. “Eat this one first. I haven’t touched it.”

Lin Feiruo licked her lips again, her heart salivating. “How could I…”

“It’s just a bowl of noodles,” Jian Xiyan teased. “Your stomach won’t allow you to be polite anymore.”

It was true, so Lin Feiruo stopped being polite. She ate with focus and enthusiasm. The chefs of the richest family were indeed skilled; this wasn’t something you could get at a street stall. As she silently praised the food, she wondered: Is one bowl enough?

Jian Xiyan originally had a modest appetite—she had already had milk before leaving the Main Residence—but seeing Lin Feiruo eat triggered her own cravings. She lightly pinched the corner of her napkin, trying not to watch Lin Feiruo devouring the noodles. But at such close range, every movement and sound was impossible to ignore. In fact, by trying not to look, she heard everything even more clearly.

Aunt Shu was quite gratified, thinking Miss Feiruo had finally “seen the light.” Even if she wasn’t good at “sweet talk,” proactively eating the Dan Dan noodles was a gesture of goodwill. In two years of marriage, she had never seen them compromise on their tastes; usually, the table was a spread of sweet, salty, and spicy dishes, and they each ate their own thing.

Shu Wanxia secretly watched Jian Xiyan to see if she noticed Lin Feiruo’s effort. Jian Xiyan’s gaze had shifted back. Realizing her “ostrich act” had failed, she simply watched Lin Feiruo eat. She had never realized Lin Feiruo was so interesting when eating—like a little hamster, and quite infectious.

The staff at the richest woman’s house weren’t fools. Although they were told to make “one” more bowl, the chef saw the owner’s preference for the noodles today and smartly prepared extra. Sure enough, when Lin Feiruo finished her bowl like a whirlwind, she looked like she wanted more. She restrained herself, though, not eyeing Jian Xiyan’s portion.

When Xiao Xuan quickly brought another bowl, the two began eating in sync. Jian Xiyan ate elegantly; compared to the busy hamster next to her, it didn’t look like they were eating the same food, yet the atmosphere was strangely harmonious.

Aunt Shu and Xiao Xuan watched from the side, feeling emotional again. Before, the couple would chat while eating, yet it always felt like they were miles apart. Today, they didn’t even speak, yet it felt like they were truly together.

After breakfast, Jian Xiyan mentioned the trip to the Main Residence. Lin Feiruo quickly brought down her luggage, clearly having prepared it in advance. Seeing her so eager to leave, Jian Xiyan felt an inexplicable sense of frustration.

Even though the partnership was over, seeing her former partner so desperate to “clap her hands and walk away”—as if she loathed everything here and the time they spent together—made Jian Xiyan feel a flash of anger. She had never been so thoroughly “disliked” in her life.

Seeing Jian Xiyan’s face darken, Lin Feiruo asked out of habit, “Is your breakfast not digesting well?”