Homecoming?
I scoffed as I dropped my bag on the bed:
As if that could ever happen. Yichen prefers to stay at his family home than come to his matrimonial home.
So until he stands before me, would I believe that he had really come home.
Immediately my body flopped down on my bed, I groaned from relief that rolled through my bones.
My bones were aching from my heels and from last night exercise. My cheeks flushed red. And I quickly slapped my face to get rid of the thoughts.
Soon the exhaustion consumed me and I drifted off to sleep.
Soon I found myself submerged in unlimited darkness, where was I? I tried to scream but it was like a bottomless echo as my voice travelled far and wide.
I started walking only for me to swerve to the side, once Xiao Bo and Zhen Rui appeared before my very eyes.
That's when I realized, this was a nightmare.
"Just die, Zhen Yi" Zhen Rui shoved and I found myself falling to my death again.
"Noooo." I screamed, jolting awake, panting only for me to look around and breathe a sigh of relief as my heartbeat calmed down.
It was just a dream.
I could never forget how I died, after being abandoned by Yichen in the hospital, Zhen Rui came in and injected me with a lethal drug.
That's how my life ended, without nothing to be proud of.
But this life everything would be different, I will be my own strength, achieve something and have a beautiful life in a peaceful countryside.
Where they are sunflowers.
I picked up the new phone I got while on my way home, decided to do a little doom scrolling on Weibo. There was nothing to do, perhaps I could even look for a place to work.
For now, let me just rest, before Mo Yichen comes back.
Just then a message came in. It was my mum. It has not been long I setup the phone and she was already pestering my life.
[Yi Yi, my baby. Don't forget to prepare food for your husband as he is returning the day after tomorrow?]
I could practically smell the nervous laughter from the other side of the screen. Now that she knew that the one at fault was her beloved Rui, she is trying so hard to curry favor with me.
But she doesn't know that Zhen Rui would have to pay for that phone, one way or the other.
But preparing food for him? Wasn't that Nanny Chen work? Why do I have to prepare a meal for him? Despite, shaking my head and telling myself I wouldn't do it. It throbbed in my head.
Afterall, we were still married, and I was the one who cheated due to reckless mistake.
What if he already knew? Right before we divorce, I should prepare a meal for him to say my final goodbye. With that thought in mind, I sat up from the bed, dragged myself to the bathroom to shower and came out wearing a simple dress.
I have been living in this house for a long while, that I am so comfortable with wearing anything..
Downstairs, Nanny Chen was busy at the counter. The smell of spicy steak wafted into my nose, and I audibly drooled.
"That smells really nice!" I exclaimed, settling onto a stool.
My nose still in the air sniffing the sweet sauce that came with it. I mean it's just meat but how could it smell so delicious.
Nanny Chen chuckled, shaking her head at my reaction. She immediately set a plate with a slice of steak beautifully arranged. The aroma was too much. I dug in instantly.
Nanny Chen placed her mittens aside and watched me. "I was informed that little Chen was returning."
I froze, finding it hard to swallow the meat I just chewed. Reluctantly, I swallowed and flashed her a weak smile.
Nanny Chen was the only one in this house that has ever treated me like someone that mattered.
Which I am grateful for, since Mo Yichen never came to see me after our marriage. Even if he came, he wouldn't check in, and just left Nanny Chen here to tend to my meals.
"I wish he wouldn't return," I blurted out, unable to hide the truth from her.
Her eyes softened. She came around the counter and hugged me. "I believe this time, it's going to be different. Perhaps he has noticed how unfair he has been, and wants to make it up to you."
Or perhaps he wants to finalize our divorce, after finding out I cheated on him.
I melted into Nanny Chen's arms. "Teach me how to prepare nice dishes like yours, Nanny Chen."
She airily laughed. "Definitely, Madam. We'll start tomorrow."
****
The D-Day. Saturday, November 4th.
Clothed in a red dress with a black apron wrapped around my neck, my heart was hammering.
Thanks to Nanny Chen, I had prepared chicken dumplings, cake, and an entire buffet. I hoped it tasted nice, at least.
I tucked a strand of my ink-black hair behind my ears, glancing at the clock. It was already 7:00 PM. When was he going to return?
"Don't be so anxious. He normally returns late. Here, have some dumplings." I jolted as I felt Nanny Chen's hands on my shoulder.
I turned and my eyes watered. She knew I was hungry, she was an Angel. I collected the plate from her, digging in.
She watched me happily. "Thank you, Mama Chen." I mumbled still chewing on a dumpling.
Her eyes crinkled into a smile and she shook her head. "I have to leave now. Tomorrow you can tell me all about what happened."
I froze. She was leaving. I dropped the plate, grabbing her hand. "Won't you stay for dinner? Yichen would be happy to see you."
The thought of being alone with Mo Yichen freaked me out. I don't think I could comfortably eat.
He was a freaking tyrant; he would skin me with his eyes. I shivered, only for Nanny Chen's chuckle to pull me into reality. "There is an emergency at home, dear."
"You are leaving?"
My body trembled at the deep rumble of the masculine voice. I mechanically turned my head to find Mo Yichen standing at the entrance of the living room, framed in the flash of the hallway light.
My heart raced. I forgot how to breathe.
I am dead.