Appearing on a Marriage Show Before Getting Divorced - Chapter 34

It was past eleven o’clock when Ruan Youran returned home. Although she had tried to compose herself and let the night breeze clear her face, her eyes were still slightly red and swollen.

Chu Nian hadn’t slept. Hearing the movement, she draped a coat over her shoulders and walked into the living room. “You—”

Just as she was about to speak, she caught sight of Youran’s reddened eyes. Her heart instantly clenched; she pursed her lips and swallowed the rest of her words.

Youran turned around, looking at her indifferently, and took off her jacket. Without saying a word, she went to the bathroom to wash her hands. When she came out, Chu Nian was still standing there in the living room. Youran let out a cold snort and ignored her, walking instead into the bedroom to lean over and kiss Zhengzhi.

Zhengzhi was lost in some dream, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Chu Nian watched from the side, knowing that Zhengzhi hadn’t actually been asleep; she had been pretending to sleep while waiting for Youran to come back.

Youran poked the little girl’s cheek. Looking at those pouty red lips, her heart overflowed with emotion. So… this was what it felt like to have your own child. She loved everything about her—the tiny nose, the long eyelashes, the cherry mouth, even the little hands and feet.

Youran watched her for a long time, unable to resist leaning down to kiss Zhengzhi’s little foot. Chu Nian watched from the doorway, feeling both pained and relieved.

In the years before they were separated, Youran had doted on Chu Nian just like this. Back then, when Chu Nian’s filming ran late into the night, Youran would wait up for her no matter the hour, handing her hot soup the moment she walked in. Then, Youran would prepare a basin of hot water with mugwort for her to soak her feet, and accompany her to bathe afterward. Even after being married for so long, Chu Nian would always get shy during shared baths, keeping her head down. Youran would always laugh and grab her wrist, forcing her to look up, and then… they would dissolve into a playful mess.

After the bath, Youran would blow-dry her hair and kiss her just like she was kissing Zhengzhi now.

It had been so long…

Chu Nian lowered her head and returned to the living room, sitting there in silence. It was another ten minutes before Youran emerged from the bedroom. She glanced at Chu Nian sitting there, said nothing, and went straight to the guest room to sleep.

She wouldn’t communicate. Chu Nian had even less of a way to speak; her heart was full of words, but she simply didn’t know how to let them out.

When Zhengzhi woke up the next day, she ran barefoot into Youran’s room. Her little face was scrunched up with worry until she saw Youran lying there, and only then did she let out a long sigh of relief.

The adult-like sigh made Youran want to laugh. She scooped Zhengzhi into the covers. “What are you sighing for?”

She loved poking Zhengzhi’s face; it was so soft. She wished the girl had a bit more meat on her bones. Zhengzhi lowered her head shyly. This trait was exactly like Chu Nian; whenever a shy topic came up, she would look down.

Youran dazed for a moment. Zhengzhi nuzzled into her arms and whispered, “When I woke up, I thought… I was still in America, and Mamma-Youran wasn’t here.”

Youran felt a pang of sorrow and hugged her tighter. “How could that be? I’ll never leave you again.”

Zhengzhi smiled, her face wrinkling like a little steamed bun. Since Youran arrived, she smiled much more. “I know. Mamma said that as long as I took my medicine and got better, Mamma-Youran would bring me home.”

It seemed her mother hadn’t lied to her.

Youran’s body stiffened, a surge of bitterness rising in her heart. She held Zhengzhi for a while and asked softly, “Was the treatment… very painful?”

Zhengzhi played with Youran’s hair. “I was scared of needles at first, but then I got used to it. If I closed my eyes, it didn’t feel like it hurt.”

Youran took a deep breath and squeezed her tighter.

Zhengzhi thought for a moment. “Later, when they did the bone marrow aspiration, a lot of doctors and nurses had to hold me down. It hurt so much… I couldn’t help crying. But after we got home…” She shivered, as if recalling the pain. “I saw Mamma crying all by herself. She was afraid I’d see, but I saw her anyway.”

Youran’s eyes turned red. Zhengzhi looked at her. “Mamma-Youran, are you mad at Mamma?”

Looking at those large, watery eyes, Youran’s heart softened. She didn’t want to lie, so she simply stayed silent.

Zhengzhi whispered, “Mamma is very pitiful. When my treatments hurt, she cries in secret. When she hurts herself, she looks at your photo and cries in secret, because no one is there to hug her.”

A child’s innocent words were often the most piercing.

When Youran carried Zhengzhi out, Chu Nian had just woken up. She looked flustered, searching everywhere for the child, but let out a long sigh when she saw her in Youran’s arms.

Youran glanced at her. “I’ll make breakfast.”

It was a flat, cold sentence, but it was the first time Youran had proactively spoken to Chu Nian in days. Chu Nian was stunned and instinctively took Zhengzhi from her. Watching Youran head to the kitchen, Chu Nian stood holding the child in silence. She looked down at Zhengzhi’s little hair-buns. “What did you say to Mamma-Youran?”

Zhengzhi let out a yawn. “I want to play with toys. Mamma, let me go.”

Chu Nian: “…” This child has had her own mind since she was tiny. If she doesn’t want to say something, she’s an expert at finding an excuse to escape.

Watching Zhengzhi scamper off and slide into the middle of the living room to play happily, a faint smile appeared in Chu Nian’s eyes.

Just as breakfast was ready, Ruan Qiu and Chu Qing arrived. The moment she entered, Ruan Qiu opened her arms. “Oh, my precious granddaughter! Come, let Grandma see if you’ve put on any weight.” She was dressed quite extravagantly today, keeping her overcoat on so as not to startle Zhengzhi with the low-cut gown underneath.

Chu Qing had been grumbling at her all morning: “It’s just an awards ceremony! Why are you dressed like that?”

Ruan Qiu had smirked: “I can’t let those juniors outshine me!”

Ruan Qiu loved chubby children; she always felt Zhengzhi was too thin. She constantly told Chu Nian that the child needed to be fattened up to improve her resistance and immunity. Chu Nian could only nod helplessly with a smile.

Youran had made a massive spread: noodles, shrimp fried rice, several steamed buns, fresh juice, and deep-fried dough sticks with soy milk.

Ruan Qiu’s eyes widened. “My god, it really is different when the wife and kid are around. I, as your mother, have never enjoyed this kind of treatment.”

Youran was holding a knife, which she gave a slight, casual flick. Ruan Qiu immediately scurried behind Chu Qing and whispered, “Did you see that?”

Chu Qing tried to suppress a laugh. “What?”

Ruan Qiu looked a bit starstruck. “I’ve never seen our Jianjian look so cold and ruthless. Doesn’t she have that ‘overbearing CEO’ vibe? Heavens, why didn’t I realize she had this talent before?”

Chu Qing: “…”

During breakfast, Youran stayed close to Zhengzhi. Ignoring the fact that the girl was independent enough to eat on her own, she fed her bite by bite like a toddler. Curiously, while Zhengzhi used to be shy when her grandmothers tried to feed her, she happily ate every bite Youran offered.

Eventually, as Youran was discussing company business with Ruan Qiu, Zhengzhi tugged on her arm and pointed at the fish. “Debone it, Mamma-Youran. Debone it.”

Ruan Qiu: “…”

Youran smiled, stroked Zhengzhi’s hair, and began deboning the fish for her. After a moment of being “jealous” of the attention, Ruan Qiu looked at Youran. “So you mean you want to go back and handle the work handover?”

Youran nodded. Chu Nian, who had been quietly drinking porridge, looked up at her.

“Yes.” It was time to clear her schedule and use these few months to properly accompany Chu Nian and help her recover.

“Fine. I’ll send word ahead. You just need to show your face,” Ruan Qiu said. Since it was the family’s own company, things weren’t that complicated.

Youran nodded and said no more, patiently feeding Zhengzhi. Seeing the child eat so well, her heart felt soft, and she leaned down to kiss her forehead again.

Ruan Qiu sighed sentimentally. “Actually, you were this cute when you were little, too.”

Youran looked up. “What’s that supposed to mean? What’s wrong with me now?”

Ruan Qiu rolled her eyes. “Now you’re grown up and have your own temper. One look from you is enough to scare people. You’re about to kick this old lady off the throne as head of the family.”

Youran snorted and ignored her. Chu Qing smiled and looked at Youran. “By the way, your Sister Hui has called me several times saying she wants to see you. If you go to the office, meet with her so whatever business she has doesn’t get delayed.”

At the mention of “Sister Hui,” Chu Nian’s body stiffened.

The two mothers might not know, but she knew very well. Sister Hui was a major shareholder in the company, ten years older than Youran—a very mature, charming, and charismatic woman. Most importantly, the reason Chu Nian was so concerned was that Sister Hui… had always admired Ruan Youran.

Chu Nian had seen it by accident once. After a shoot, she wanted to surprise Youran and waited for her at the Yifeng building. To avoid paparazzi, she was in a low-profile car, fully disguised in a mask and sunglasses. By chance, she saw Youran being backed up against her own car by Sister Hui.

Youran had looked helpless: “Sister Hui, I told you, this little woman is a family woman. I can’t reciprocate your deep feelings.”

“Family woman?” Sister Hui had laughed charmingly, her eyes practically firing electric sparks. “Who is it? How come I don’t know?”

Back then, after they married, Youran had wanted to go public. She didn’t care—though she was an artist, she was the “taking it easy” type. But Chu Nian was a top-tier Film Queen; her every move was in the spotlight. Going public would have been a career-ending blow, so they kept it secret.

Youran had tilted her head. “Good sister, stop teasing me. You’ve watched me grow up; you’re basically no different from my two moms.”

Sister Hui stared into her eyes. “It’s because I watched you grow up that I know how cute this little white rabbit is. If I could marry you, I’d announce to the world that you are my woman.”

As she spoke, she stepped closer. Just as Youran was about to push her away, the car they were leaning on suddenly let out two sharp honks, startling both of them.

Sister Hui’s dominance that day was etched in Chu Nian’s memory. She took note but never mentioned it to Youran. Only once, while watching a movie featuring four bold, charming female leads, did Chu Nian ask casually, “Jianjian.”

Youran had been leaning against her, watching intently.

“If it were you, which one would you choose?”

Youran looked at the screen. “I’d pick that one—the boss with the two guns. Wild, hot, and powerful enough.”

Chu Nian didn’t say another word. She stayed silent for a long time, but that night… Youran couldn’t understand why her wife was so energetic, tossing her around again and again.

After breakfast, Ruan Qiu and Chu Qing went to play with Zhengzhi. Although the child was mostly recovered, she couldn’t go out frequently yet. Ruan Qiu was discussing building a private playground for her. Normally, Chu Qing would disapprove of such extravagance, but this was a case of grandparental doting; she nodded without hesitation.

Zhengzhi was being teased into a slight smile by the two grandmothers. Ruan Qiu was dissatisfied and poked the girl’s cheek. “What’s this? You wag your tail like a puppy for your Mamma-Youran, but for us telling you stories, you only give this dignified little smile?”

Zhengzhi tilted her head to avoid Ruan Qiu’s hand, then quietly used her sleeve to wipe her face.

Ruan Qiu: “…” Chu Qing shook her head with a laugh and pulled Zhengzhi into her arms. “Alright, stop bothering her.”

Youran watched this harmonious scene with a slight smile. She went to the entryway to change her shoes; Chu Nian followed and watched her silently. When Youran looked up, their eyes met.

She didn’t move, simply looking at Chu Nian. Chu Nian wanted to say so many things, but a sudden nervousness took over. “You… come back early. I’ll make the cumin lamb you like.”

Just that?

Youran waited a moment longer. In the past, she had indulged and pampered Chu Nian. Even if things went unsaid, Youran would know and say them for her with a smile. But this time, she had grievances, anger, and indignation. She was determined to teach this duplicitous woman a lesson.

After a silence, Chu Nian just stood there. Youran raised an eyebrow and looked at her flatly. “Don’t wait up for dinner.”

Chu Nian stared into her eyes.

Youran stared back. “Sister Hui just called. She has something important to discuss. I won’t be coming back.”