Just Wanting to Divorce My Love Rival - Chapter 26

A wave of dizziness washed over her, as if the world were shaking in every direction. This sensation lasted for about three seconds before subsiding.

Mu Cheng opened her eyes. The dizziness vanished, and she found herself in an empty living room. There was no one else there.

A white, circular crystal chandelier hung overhead. The window was half-open, and as a breeze blew in, the crystal pieces emitted a crisp ting-tong sound.

This time, just like the last, time here had not moved; it picked up exactly at the scene where she had left off.

Mu Cheng rubbed her chin, lost in thought, trying to figure out the logic behind this.

It seemed that this timeline nine years in the future remained static or continued based on her presence. When she traveled back to the past, time here would stop; when she traveled here again, the frozen timeline would resume its operation.

Mu Cheng was deep in thought about these rules until the sound of footsteps behind her brought her back to reality.

She turned around and saw Zhong Yingzhi wearing a pink, cat-shaped onesie. A large kitten print occupied most of the front, and two small ears perched on the sides of the hood. Upon closer inspection, the pajamas even had a long pink tail dragging behind.

If anyone else were wearing this, Mu Cheng would definitely have blurted out, “What a cute outfit.” But on Zhong Yingzhi…

No matter how she looked at it, it was discordant. The styles were a total mismatch.

Mu Cheng’s lip twitched as she remarked, “They say the older you get, the more you like these pink, cute things. It seems even you aren’t immune. I thought you only wore that ‘frigid’ style—nothing but black and white. I didn’t expect your taste in clothes to change so drastically.”

Zhong Yingzhi ignored her comment and handed over another set of pajamas. “I brought your change of clothes. Go take a shower. It’s late; go to sleep after you’re done.”

Mu Cheng took the pajamas and spread them out to take a look.

A brown, plush onesie with a large Golden Retriever printed on the front and a yellow tail in the back. It wasn’t hard to notice that this set and the one Zhong Yingzhi was wearing were a pair.

Couple pajamas—a cat and a dog.

A long time ago, Mu Cheng had a plan: once she got into a relationship, she would pester her partner into wearing a cat-and-dog pajama set. She would be the dog, and the other person would be the cat.

She never expected this plan to actually be carried out with Zhong Yingzhi.

Seeing her standing still staring at the clothes, Zhong Yingzhi frowned and urged, “What are you dazing for? I’ve already drawn the water for you. If you don’t go now, it’ll get cold again.”

Mu Cheng looked at the cat onesie on Zhong Yingzhi, then at the dog onesie in her hands. Just as she was about to say something, a sudden, sharp pain throbbed in her temples.

Mu Cheng clutched her head with both hands, doubling over from the pain.

Seeing this, Zhong Yingzhi rushed forward to support her. “What’s wrong?”

The pain was sudden and intense, but it disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.

Mu Cheng shook her head and stood straight. “It’s nothing, just now…”

She stopped mid-sentence.

Fragments of memory suddenly surged into her mind, shifting from blurry to clear.

In the vision, Mu Cheng and Zhong Yingzhi were walking side-by-side through a bustling shopping mall.

Mu Cheng held Zhong Yingzhi’s hand, swinging it back and forth, constantly leaning into her.

Zhong Yingzhi looked slightly annoyed and said with displeasure, “Stop swinging my hand around. Walk properly.”

Mu Cheng didn’t listen; in fact, she swung her hand even more boldly. “If you give me a kiss, I’ll stop swinging.”

Zhong Yingzhi let out a cold snort with a stern face. Mu Cheng thought she was going to lose her temper, but instead, she saw her lean over and leave a light kiss on Mu Cheng’s cheek.

Mu Cheng, pushing her luck and clearly unsatisfied, pouted. “I don’t want that kind. I meant a passionate kiss, not this ‘playing house’ stuff.”

Zhong Yingzhi scanned the crowd around them. “This is a mall. There are too many people. Stop messing around.”

Mu Cheng giggled and leaned in, whispering, “Then let’s find somewhere private. Didn’t we just pass a hotel? The decor looked nice. I think that place would be great.”

At these words, a blush slowly crept across Zhong Yingzhi’s face.

Seeing her blush, Mu Cheng laughed triumphantly.

Zhong Yingzhi glared at her. “Pervert.”

Mu Cheng shrugged. “Yeah, I’m a pervert, but only for you. Do you like it?”

Zhong Yingzhi: “You’re sick.”

Chatting and laughing, the two walked past a pajama store. Mu Cheng stopped and peered inside.

A set of brown dog pajamas on a mannequin caught her eye. Mu Cheng loved them instantly and dragged Zhong Yingzhi inside.

A sales assistant stepped forward with a polite smile. “What style are you looking for? Would you like me to introduce some?”

Mu Cheng pointed at the dog onesie. “Do you have a couple’s version of this?”

The assistant pointed to the other side. “Yes, right over here. It’s a white kitten set.”

Mu Cheng looked in that direction, her eyes lighting up. “A-Ying, how about this? Isn’t it cute?”

Zhong Yingzhi gave a hum. “If you like it, buy it.”

Mu Cheng shook her head. “The dog set is mine, and the cat set is yours.”

Zhong Yingzhi looked at the cat pajamas, her brow furrowing in obvious disapproval. “I don’t like it. Just buy yours.”

Mu Cheng didn’t care whether she was satisfied or not. She pushed against the woman’s back with both hands, half-forcing her into the fitting room.

Zhong Yingzhi went in with the clothes, but she dawdled inside for a long time without coming out.

Mu Cheng couldn’t wait and knocked on the door. “What are you doing? I asked you to change, not do embroidery. Hurry up!”

After several rounds of urging, the door finally opened. Zhong Yingzhi stepped out, looking awkward and reluctant.

Mu Cheng looked at this usually stern and cold woman wearing the outfit… She held it in for a moment, then finally burst out laughing.

Hearing the laughter, Zhong Yingzhi’s face went cold, and she immediately tried to go back and change.

Mu Cheng hurriedly stopped her. “Don’t! It looks good. I just need a moment to adjust. I’ll get used to it. It really looks nice.”

Zhong Yingzhi was determined to change, and no one could stop her. She even issued a warning: “Even if you buy it, I won’t wear it.”

The assistant, who was packing the clothes, paused and asked uncertainly, “Do you still want these two sets then?”

Mu Cheng nodded as if it were a matter of course. “Yes.”

The assistant stole a glance at the dark-faced Zhong Yingzhi and asked carefully, “But this lady just said she wouldn’t wear it. If you take it home…”

If you take it home, you’ll probably get into a fight, the assistant wanted to say, but held back the well-meaning warning. She noticed that although Zhong Yingzhi looked unhappy and even on the verge of anger, the slight lift in the corner of her brow betrayed her true emotions.

Mu Cheng hummed, “Keep packing. Ignore her. Just because she says she won’t wear it doesn’t mean she actually won’t.”

Hearing this, Zhong Yingzhi sneered, “I said I don’t like it and won’t wear it. Do you not understand?”

Mu Cheng stuck her tongue out at her, undeterred. “It doesn’t matter if you like it. It’s enough that I like it.”

The chaotic memory ended there.

Zhong Yingzhi stood beside her, looking worriedly at her. “Is it a headache?”

“When we were dating… was that our ‘vibe’?” Mu Cheng touched her arm, feeling a layer of goosebumps.

Zhong Yingzhi was confused. “Hmm?”

Mu Cheng was in a state of shock—exactly the same shock she felt when she saw the marriage certificate. It was too sudden, too eerie, and defied all logic.

She found it hard to accept, yet she had to.

Getting back to business, Mu Cheng set aside the confusion and took on a serious expression.

She placed both hands on Zhong Yingzhi’s shoulders, gazed at her, and asked earnestly, “Nine years ago, I told you something in the dorm. I said, if nine years later I tell you I traveled from the past to change the future, please don’t doubt it—you must believe me. Do you still remember what I said to you back then? Do you have any recollection?”

Zhong Yingzhi tilted her head in confusion. After a moment, her expression shifted slightly as if she had recalled something.

Mu Cheng was overjoyed; the hint had actually worked! “Even though you were doing group work at the time, I know you were listening to me. Your memory is so good—you have a photographic memory for books—so you must remember, right?”