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This topic may contain spoilers about future episodes of Fated To Love You.
However, please note that the novels/comics storyline may not be the same as that of the drama.
Fated To Love You Preview Bookhttp://shopping.pcho...mp;SR_NO=DJAG09
Image scans of the book: http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=332144900
Fated To Love You Comicshttp://www.kingstone...e...&#shareMind
Image scans of the comic: Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Fated To Love You Novelhttp://www.kingstone...e...&OpenArea=1
Chapter Descriptions: http://www.kingstone...e...&OpenArea=1
First Chapter: http://www.books.com...575658137-1.php
Chinese Scans/Download of the Book (Accessible to AF-members and above ONLY!!)
Novel Translators:
Chapter 1 - meosles [Edited]
Chapter 2 - tammiest [Edited]
Chapter 3 - minivicki [Edited]
Chapter 4 - wyng [Edited]
Chapter 5 - meosles [Edited]
Chapter 6 - meosles [Edited]
Chapter 7 - Blur sotong [Edited]
Chapter 8 - indescribable [Edited]
Chapter 9 - xiaojade [Translated]
Chapter 10 - J-Star Supporter [Edited]
Epilogue - J-Star Supporter [Edited]
Editor: Beauty_Karova
Prologue
[Translated by meosles][Edited by Beauty_Karova]
Hidden Text:
Her existence is like a sticky note.
People tear it off when they want to use it and throw it away when they finish using.
Nobody will remember where the notes that are filled with tasks have been thrown.
She has completed what she needs to do and should know when to disappear.
She is very kind and offers help whenever asked.
She is very convenient and can be thrown away after use.
She doesn’t take up space and is forever quiet.
Her existence is as thin as paper.
But when you become used to her and can’t find her one day,
You will discover that this paper is actually—very important!
Chapter 1.
[Translated by meosles][Edited by Beauty_Karova]
Hidden Text:
Destiny’s Chip
Maybe with all this arrangement, their fate may be tied together forever.
Gentle and without temper, this ordinary girl is like water that is plain and appears inconspicuous. Regardless of whether she is at fault, she will always apologize to the other party first. This girl will finally meet the prince of her dreams this day—but why do things turn out so differently from what she imagined?
Wu~~
The pipes blew. A luxury cruise is parked at the harbor. The white ship is floating on the blue sea like a graceful swam.
This is a "love boat" which is about to start the two days one night romantic journey soon. Regardless of whether you are out of love, passionately in love or seeking love, everybody is smiling brightly. They secretly hope to have their own romantic encounter on this short journey.
Chen Xin Yi, nicknamed "sticky note girl", is one of them. Even though she is plain, has an ordinary background and even a commonplace name that causes a dozen people to turn around when called, she can still indulge in the fantasy of being Cinderella who will one day meet a price who dotes on her like a princess. If possible, she hopes that this fated prince will be her current boyfriend—Gucci.
"Gucci, Gucci wait for me!" She keeps calling for her boyfriend while carrying many bags and trying to get through the crowd. But he walks very fast and his footsteps never slow down for her.
Like all her previous boyfriends, they always walk at their own pace leaving her flustered and chasing after them. But this time, she is determined to catch up with him. Otherwise her taking the pinch and paying for the expensive trip will be meaningless.
After some difficulty, she finally sees her boyfriend’s back. Just as delight comes to her, a stylish black car suddenly appears and nearly knocks her down. She steps back in fright and her spectacles fall down.
"Ah! Where are my specs?" Xin Yi hastily hunts for it on the ground. Without her spectacles, she is as blind as a bat.
A moment later, she finally finds it. But when she reaches out her hand to get it, the door of the black car opens and a pair of feet wearing black leather shoes step out and walks on it without mercy.
"Ah~~my specs!"
The loud cry of despair causes the man who came out of the car to frown. He looks down and sees the shattered spectacles, picks it up and then walks towards Xin Yi holding out his hand towards her.
Xin Yi stares at the big hand in a daze and then looks up to see a face covered in sunlight. She can’t see him clearly but her chest suddenly gives a beat. She hesitantly puts her small hand on that big palm. The man pulls her up and holds her in his arms using one hand. The other hand puts the spectacles on her.
As the band plays and the flowers floats down, Xin Yi falls into a daydream. Is this the fated encounter between the prince and princess that she hoped for? A tall, handsome, gentle and considerate prince...
"Don’t drop your spectacles on the ground next time, this is very dangerous!" The prince doesn’t apologize but rebukes her instead.
"Ah?" Xin Yi is startled and immediately falls back into reality. She blinks her eyes and looks at her shattered vision through the broken glasses—this prince is not gentle and he is so proud that he doesn’t give her a second look.
Accompanied by his assistant, he coldly talks with the captain. The captain bows as if he is receiving an important person and welcomes him onto the ship.
"Hmm. What’s so great about him?" Xin Yi wonders bluntly.
At this moment, an impatient Gucci finally appears. "Chen Xin Yi, how long do you plan to dally? Go on the ship!"
--------------------------------------
Room 306.
The prince in Xin Yi’s eyes is standing alone in a room. The room’s decorations—antique four poster bed, princess floor curtains, rose petals scattered across the bed and flowers spread all around the room, giving off a slight flagrance. On the tea stand there's bottle of a vintage red wine, "La Romance Conti", which was his girlfriend’s favorite and matches her status of a premier ballet dancer.
He smiles slightly and ray of sunlight breaks through his cold handsome countenance. In an instant, he shines like the sun god.
He is Ji Cun Xi, the director of "Magical Enterprise" that produces the daily products used by Taiwanese people. He was born as a prince, with the looks of a prince and the personality of a prince. He is high and above, aloof and apart from the crowd. The only people he cares about are his granny and girlfriend Anna Shi. Beautiful and graceful, Anna is the woman he loves most in this world.
Tonight, he has planned everything with care as he is about to propose to his girlfriend.
He carefully takes up the ring box and practices his proposal speech— "I love everything about you. So Anna, will you marry me?"
---------------------------------------
"I am willing! Gucci, I am willing to give everything to you."
At room 309, Xin Yi hugs a sexy night gown and speaks shyly to the empty air.
Tonight, she plans to give herself to Gucci. She knows that he is actually someone with strong needs. In the past, he has made every effort to restrain himself for her. But it doesn’t matter now. Tonight he doesn’t have to contain himself anymore. She is ready to give herself to him totally. She believes that this will change the slowly chilling relationship between the two of them.
Xin Yi smiles as she meditates and continues to tidy her luggage. Gucci has already gone to the casino. She will look for him later on. They will definitely have a wonderful night...
"Ha Chu!" Xin Yi suddenly sneezes. She has a runny nose and an itchy throat. Since yesterday, she has been feeling a little unwell and now it seems to be getting worse.
No, no! She takes out the cold medicine and quickly swallows two tablets. She will not allow any accidents to ruin the romantic night she planned so carefully...
----------------------------------------
Before Anna boards the ship, Cun Xi decides to get a drink at the bar by himself, both to pass the time and to cultivate the mood for the proposal. When he enters, with the exception of the bartender there is only one couple kissing passionately at a sofa in a corner. He sweeps his eyes across the room, sits on a bar stool and orders a martini.
The couple on the sofa has finished kissing and separates breathlessly.
"Gucci, didn’t you board the ship with your girlfriend? Don’t you need to accompany her?" The woman’s voice is flirtatious.
"She is still tidying up the luggage!" The man’s said coolly. "Actually I can’t stand her anymore. If she didn’t beg me, I wouldn't have wanted to go on some love cruise."
"If you didn’t come, you wouldn’t have met me!"
"You’re right. I never imagined that I will meet my pre-destined girl here." As they talk, the couple starts kissing again.
What a shameless couple! Ji Cun Xi frowns and feels sorry for that man’s girlfriend. She is blind to go out with such a bastard!
But this is not his business. He drinks his wine quietly. He is only concerned with whether the proposal tonight will go well. No matter what, he must make Anna agree...
"Ji Cun Xi!" A voice filled with hatred calls out. Two men sit down, one on each side of him.
He raises his eyes in displeasure and looks at the two unwelcomed guests. "Wu Lu Lu, Wu Qi Qi. The two of you again? How long do you plan to continue harassing me?" Ever since he bought a shampoo factory on Jiang Mu Island, this pair of father and son has been plaguing him like aggrieved spirits.
"Ji Cun Xi, you want to fully automate our factory as soon as you buy it! Do you know that this will destroy the livelihood of the people of Jiang Mu Island? I refuse to let you treat my old staff like this!" Wu Lu Lu says. "I am asking you one more time, do you still want to retrench the workers?"
Of course he has to retrench, he will definitely retrench!
Ji Cun Xi speaks coldly "May I ask, how much did you send to buy two tickets for this cruise so that you can corner me?"
"Ha! Do you think that we can’t afford a luxury cruise?" Wu Qi Qi laughs proudly "I tell you, buying the corner of 10 fruit newspapers will give 80 percent discount. So we only spent 12 thousands! You never expect us to use this method right?"
He has never expected for them to be so dumb. "You actually you spent 12 thousands and two days’ time just to ask me five words to which I have answered more than ten times? To calculate, on average each word cost 2400 dollars. With this kind of unprofitable method of doing things, no wonder your factory’s management is in disarray."
When Wu Lu Lu and his son hear him, they are speechless and nearly faint in anger.
"Your ‘Wu Lu Lu shampoo factory’ has been put up for auction. I bought it legally according to procedure and allow your recipe of ‘Old Jiang rebirth hair tonic’ to be carried on. Isn’t this an idea that profits everyone?" He really can’t understand why this father and son are so displeased.
"You..." Wu Lu Lu is so angry he glares at him "That mouth of yours can really debate! Even the dead come to life with your talk. You only care about our factory’s recipe. You don’t care about the island folks’ survival at all!"
How will he be able to care for so much? Ji Cun Xi can’t be bothered about the pair of flies and darkens his face. "I warn you. Today is very important to me. If you dare to create trouble, I’ll sue until you become bankrupt! I am answering for the last time, I . will . definitely . retrench! Are you satisfied now? Now go away!"
The impressive rebuke gives Wu Lu Lu a scare and he jumps up. When Wu Qi Qi sees that the eyes of everyone in the bar is on Ji Cun Xi, he quickly takes out a packet of medicine and secretly mixes it into Ji Cun Xi’s wine.
"Dad, let’s not invite trouble. Let us go!" After accomplishing their goal, he throws a look at his father.
Wu Lu Lu understands. "All right, let’s go! Ji Cun Xi, we’ll remember this. A cold-hearted businessman like you will not come to a good end!"
Father and son go out angrily and the bar resumes its peace. The couple on the sofa looks at Ji Cun Xi curiously and whispers to each other. He is in a bad mood and shakes his head. After finishing his drink, he signs the bill and leaves.
At the door, he bumps into a lady who is entering the room shakily. He glares "Be careful!"
"What! You are the one who bump into me first all right?" Xin Yi sees him walks off unhappily and holds her whirling head. She stumbles into the bar and ask the bartender.
"Excuse me, Mister. May I know where the casino is?"
"The casino is on the next level." The bartender answers. "Miss, you don’t look well. Do you want a drink?"
"No need. Thanks." Xin Yi turns him down as she is anxious to find her boyfriend. But when she turns her head, she finds Gucci on a sofa. She is delighted. "Gucci! Why are you here?"
When Gucci hears her voice, he jumps up in fright and quickly goes towards her, blocking his girlfriend’s view to prevent her from seeing another woman. "What are you doing here?"
"I couldn’t find the casino, so I came here to inquire. What about you? I thought you wanted to go to the casino?"
"What should I do in the casino?" Gucci say sourly. "I don’t have much money in my pocket. If I go there I will be laughed at for making small bets!"
"Oh, you don’t have money." Xin Yi looks at him and suddenly bits her lips. She takes out a credit card. "Why don’t you use this first."
Gucci’s eyes brighten but he pretends not to care. "I already told you. I will not use a woman’s money."
"Take it! You should enjoy yourself when you go out." Xin Yi says. "Maybe you will win and we can have a high-class dinner tonight."
Gucci laughs and cups her face to give her a kiss on the forehead. "Why do you look so pale?"
Xin Yi turns red. "I think I have a cold. I just ate some medicine. I don’t know whether it is due to the medicine or not, but I am feeling dizzy now."
"Like this. Why don’t you go back and have a sleep first! Dress prettily tonight for a big dinner with me." Gucci coaxes her.
"All right." Xin Yi leaves the bar obediently. She doesn’t see her boyfriend hugging and flirting with his latest woman the moment she leaves.
She groggily returns. Because the ship is too big, she even gets lost sometimes. Finally she finds the level where she stays. "303, 305, 307..."
She finds it! Just as she is about to yell in delight, a serviceman acting suspiciously quickly pull her back. "Are you the special girl arranged for tonight?"
Special arrangement? Does he talks about her being in the process to give herself? She blushes. "I have a special arrangement, but..."
"It doesn’t matter, I know. Over here." The serviceman pushes her into a room. In her dizziness, she doesn’t notice that it's room 306, not room 309.
When the serviceman leaves, Xin Yi jumps on to the bed. Thinking of the romantic candlelight dinner with her boyfriend, she sleeps sweetly.
---------------------------------------------
Strange, why am I feeling so dizzy?
After leaving the bar, Ji Cun Xi originally wanted to go to the casino and play for a while. But his head suddenly becomes heavy and his body feels hot, as hot as a stove.
He feels that something is not right and with great difficulty goes back to his room. In the room all the curtains have been closed and it is pitch dark. He looks around dizzily and sees a lady sleeping on the bed. He is delighted.
"Anna, you're here." He sits on the edge of the bed and calls his girlfriend softly. She doesn’t react and continues to sleep sweetly. She turns around and a part of her leg is exposed.
As he looks, a fire spreads though the lower part of his body. He leans towards her and starts kissing the back of her neck.
"Hmm—" Xin Yi feels strange and wakes up groggily. She thinks it is her boyfriend and turn over to hug him. "I already made up my mind. From now on you are everything to me." She confesses passionately.
When Cun Xi hears her loving talk, with her body in his arms and the medicine taking effect, he can’t control himself and kisses her passionately.
She tries to push him away shyly. "No, it’s not right yet. And I...still haven’t worn my night gown..."
"But I can’t wait anymore." He covers her lips and swallows up all her protests. His hand starts to invade her clothes and leaves a hot trace on her skin.
A pair of strangers, under mistaken circumstances, falls into a sea of passion—
In the room, it is still dark. The scent of love lingers in the air.
Xin Yi leans on a well-build body sweetly. Her head is heavy and she is still intoxicated with the echoes of passion. She moves slightly and a pair of strong arms immediately holds her tightly, as if they are afraid that she will slip away.
"Don’t move! I won’t let you go again. I want you to remain by my side forever." A hoarse voice whispers into Xin Yi’s ears.
She breaths deeply and is touched. "I didn't know that I were so important to you..." She has been afraid that Gucci would be like her previous boyfriends and would leave her eventually.
She is overwhelmed with emotion. Her hand is suddenly raised and a sparkling diamond ring is placed on her ring finger. She can’t believe her eyes. "This is?"
"I have finally caught you. This ring does not only represent your importance in my heart, it also symbolizes my determination to dote on you and care for you all my life. In future I want to share everyday with you."
This is the most romantic proposal that she could have imagined! Xin Yi can’t help crying and hugs her boyfriend tightly.
"I love you, Anna." He says.
"I love you too, Gucci." She answers.
The two of them are startled, and after a beat, say at the same time.
"Who is Anna?"
"Who is Gucci?"
They look at each other in alarm. The light is dim but finally they can see that the person in front of them is not who they think it is.
"Who are you?!" Xin Yi asks in panic.
Suddenly her mind recalls someone who wears the spectacles for her at the harbor. "It’s you!" It’s that proud prince.
"It’s you!" Ji Cun Xi also recognizes her. It’s that blur girl.
The two of them face each other uncertainly. Just as Ji Cun Xi gives a frown and about to talk, the room door burst open. Wu Lu Lu and his son barges into the room and starts snapping away with their cameras.
"Don’t take any photos!" Ji Cun Xi shouts angrily.
"Ji Cun Xi, you are at fault first. Don’t blame us for being merciless!" Wu Lu Lu says viciously "If you don’t accept our conditions, these photos will be published in the newspapers."
"Are you framing me?"
"So what if we are framing you?" Wu Qi Qi laughs wickedly. "Come, let us introduce to you. This lady comes from Indonesia..." He is momentarily stunned and stares foolishly at Xin Yi on the bed.
Xin Yi also looks at him in amazement. "Brother-in-law? What are you doing here?"
"You mean what are you doing here?" Wu Qi Qi cries. Now it’s all finished! He has arranged for an Indonesian girl to seduce Ji Cun Xi! How does she change into her wife’s sister?
"What have you done?" Wu Lu Lu cries. "After all that fuss, Xin Yi is that Indonesian girl? This is not the way to save money. Do you want me to die under my daughter-in-law’s blade?"
What is the matter? Ji Cun Xi listens to the three of them and his face becomes dark. So he has fallen into their trap?
"What is your relationship with them?" He asks Xin Yi sternly. "Are you in league together?"
"I..." Xin Yi is speechless. She does not understand what happens either. Why does she go to bed with a stranger and even let her own brother-in-law takes these naked photos?
"Did you slip into my room on purpose? In order to blackmail me you are willing to sleep with me? Don’t you have any sense of shame?" Ji Cun Xi angrily rebukes her.
"No, it’s not like this. I really don’t know how I enter the wrong room. I don’t know what has happened... I am sorry, I did not do this on purpose." Why should she apologize? She has to apologize after sleeping with someone. Is there anyone as pathetic as her?
Xin Xi covers her mouth and feels wronged. Trembling, she covers herself with a bed sheet and clumsily gets off the bed. Grabbing her keys, she runs out.
Where is Gucci? Where is her boyfriend? He will definitely protect her and tell her all these are only a nightmare. It’s not real, it’s not real...
She hypnotizes herself and through her tears finds room 309. When she swipes the card and enters the room, what is awaiting her is another scene that stuns her even more.
The man she loves is rolling around on the bed with another woman. And that woman is even wearing the sexy night gown that she prepared especially for this trip—
"Gucci! What are you doing?"
"Xin Yi?!" When he sees her, Gucci hurriedly jumps up from the bed. "Don’t misunderstand. I am only massaging Rebecca..." He stops suddenly and peers at her. "Why are you covered only in a bed sheet? Where are your clothes?"
Once his words come out, he sees Ji Cun Xi entering the room angrily with Xin Yi’s clothes.
"Hey! Return your stuff to you. My ring..." He becomes silent.
The atmosphere is strange, two pairs of couple look at one another in astonishment.
-----------------------------------------
Her boyfriend is fooling around with another woman behind her back and now he turns around to accuse her of being unfaithful. Unable to defend herself, she has to accept her fate and, carrying her luggage, leaves the room she paid for with her card.
What is the meaning of this? Why does she allow another woman to occupy her love nest? She paid for it with her money!
But she is this kind of girl. She doesn’t know how to reject people and is often toyed with. She tries her best to be nice to everybody but they often make use of her instead.
It is said, girls like her are like "sticky notes". Everybody throws her away after they finish using her. Nobody cares about her fate and nobody cares about what happen to her.
What should... she do now? Xin Yi stands on the deck and grips the railing, crying helplessly. She only wishes for someone to love her! Why does Gucci treats her in this manner? Why does even her brother-in-law bully her? Why can’t she be stronger and not let people push her around?
"I am an idiot, a big idiot!" She scolds herself tearfully. Her hand phone gives a short ring and she reads the message through her tears.
Valued customer, your expenditure at the Anna Bell casino is two hundred thousands, three hundred and eleven dollars. Currently you have reached your credit limit. Please pay as soon as possible when you receive your bill, thank you.
What is this? Xin Yi is stunned. Gucci actually spend all her credit limit? She feels dizzy and her hand phone falls from her hands. She hurriedly tries to grab it but it’s too late. She can only watch helplessly as it falls into the sea.
Misfortune never travels alone. Is this her fate? Why doesn’t she just die now?
When this thought occurs to her, Xin Yi breaks down. She holds the railing and raises her leg—
"What are you doing?" A man suddenly rushes over and grabs her from behind. "You have only fallen out of love, is there a need to commit suicide?"
Xin Yi raises her head and sees that the man who stopped her is the unfortunate prince who has just slept with her. She breaks down even more. "My hand phone is gone! Two hundred thousands are gone! My fated prince is gone... all gone! Why does this happen to me? I only wished to love someone with all my heart, what have I done wrong?" She cries bitterly.
Ji Cun Xi hugs her. His feelings are complex. He originally thought that she was in league with Wu Lu Lu and his son, but later discovered that she herself has been betrayed by her boyfriend who even drove her out in front of the vixen.
"Why are you so foolish? You left because that man told you to? He is the one at fault!"
"But I... I also slept with you! Even though I did not do it on purpose, but..."
"You are really a stupid woman!" Ji Cun Xi is exasperated. "Your boyfriend was already involved with another woman at the bar. He has probably betrayed you many times and you still let him push you around."
"I only... wish him to love me. I know that I am not good enough, not worthy of him..."
"What not worthy? Who says you are not worthy?" Ji Cun Xi angrily turns her tear-streaked face around. He can’t stand people who feel so inferior. "You come with me!" He pulls Xin Yi up forcefully.
"Go, go where?" She stumbles behind him.
"Tell that ignorant man that he is not worthy of you!"
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He performs a magic spell on her.
He takes her to the beauty salon on the ship and orders the stylist to transform her from head to toe. She has a full body SPA, puts on makeup, exchanges her spectacles for contact lenses and perms her hair into a loose flowing style. She wears a light elegant evening dress and even her nails are polished into shiny beads.
He transforms her into a princess.
Xin Yi stares at the image of herself in the mirror in a daze. Is that really her? Can she be so outstanding?
The stylist brings her to Ji Cun Xi who is browsing through a magazine. He raises his head and is startled. A look of wonder crosses his eyes.
Xin Yi looks down shyly.
"You don’t look too bad." He praises her and holds out his elbow towards her.
"What?" She doesn’t understand.
"Hold my arms." He commands her without reason.
"Oh." She holds his arm foolishly. Blushing, she follows him to the casino. The bright crystal lamps hanging from the ceiling shine into her eyes.
"What are we doing here?" She asks Ji Cun Xi quietly.
"You want to get back at that lousy man right?" He smiles coldly.
She wants to. "But..."
"Shut up and follow me." He gives her a warning glance and does not allow her to retreat.
The two of them finds Gucci winning big at a table and sit down opposite of him. When Gucci sees the elegantly dressed Xin Yi, his eyes nearly falls out. Rebecca who is leaning on him is mad with jealousy.
Xin Yi awkwardly wants to run away but Ji Cun Xi holds her hand tightly under the table. He coolly nods at the dealer and exchanges five million chips in one breath.
Everybody is shocked and even Xin Yi dumbstruck at this huge amount. But Ji Cun Xi seems to treat it as commonplace and waves his hand, signaling the dealer to deal the cards.
In the first round, he loses one hundred thousand to Gucci. In the second round, he loses another one hundred thousand. In the third round, he even loses five hundred thousand at one go. The fourth round he continues to lose miserably.
"He is not only a rich man but also a sucker!" Rebecca laughs coquettishly and put her hand around Gucci’s neck to show off. "You are formidable, darling."
"Hey." Xin Yi can’t care about her ex-boyfriend flirting with another woman anymore. She is only worried about Ji Cun Xi, afraid that he will really lose all he has at the gambling table. She pulls his sleeve secretly. "Hey, stop playing."
Ji Cun Xi looks calm. He glances at the bottom card that has just been dealt and says "One million."
"Huh?" Gucci is stunned and even Rebecca is speechless.
Xin Yi is even more nervous. "Hey, you must really stop playing!"
Ji Cun Xi ignores her and looks at Gucci in challenge. "One million, will you follow?"
Gucci feels a wave of anger. "All right, I follow."
The dealer deals the next card. Ji Cun Xi's cards are three As and the bottom card is K. Gucci’s cards are diamonds A, Q, J and the bottom card is 10.
"It’s my turn to call again." Ji Cun Xi smiles coolly. "One million."
Another one million? Gucci breathes hard and starts sweating.
"What are you afraid of?" Rebecca glares at him. "He only has three As at most. We may have a royal flush on our side. Follow!" She pushes out the chips for Gucci.
Ji Cun Xi frowns. "Then I bet that you won’t be a royal flush. Show hand!" He pushes out all his chips.
Everybody is stunned again. Is this man crazy?
The dealer deals the last card. Gucci turns it over. It’s a hearts K. He lets out a breath of relief. "Oh, that’s a pity. It’s only a straight but it’s enough to win your threes."
Ji Cun Xi is in no hurry to turn over his card. He looks at Xin Yi "You turn over the card."
"Me?" Xin Yi is surprised.
"Believe me, you will be my lucky girl." Ji Cun Xi eyes are certain.
Xin Yi is at a loss for words. His eyes are so absolute. Not knowing why, she feels that she can trust him. She slowly turns over the card. It’s a club K.
"Full House!" Everyone shouted. "He wins, he wins!"
Gucci starts to faint, he has lost more than two millions! "Just now that round doesn’t count. We play again!" He doesn’t know what to do and tries to wrangle out of the situation.
Ji Cun Xi looks down on him. "What did you say?"
"I said you betrayed me and slept with my woman. You make a cuckold out of me. Shouldn’t you compensate me a little?" Gucci is so unnerved he starts blathering.
What did he say? Xin Yi’s heart starts beating. Ji Cun Xi’s look hardens. "All right, since you want to take back the chips you lost, I’ll give you another chance."
"Really?" Gucci’s eyes brightened.
"Kneel down in front of her." Ji Cun Xi points to Xin Yi. "Say sorry."
"You want me... to kneel down in public?" Gucci’s face turns pale.
"Well? You can’t do it?"
Gucci hesitates for a moment and finally clench his teeth. Even if there is gold under a man’s kneel caps, it’s not as much as two millions dollars.
"I am sorry, Xin Yi." He really kneels down in front of her. "Please forgive me."
Xin Yi looks at him. She has mixed feelings and can’t talk.
------------------------------------------
"Why did you help me like that?"
On the deck, the sea wind is blowing slightly and the moon light shines on the waves far away. Xin Yi raises her hand to push back the hair that has been messed up by the wind and quietly ask the man besides her.
Ji Cun Xi does not answer and look far away. After a pause, he curves his lips and smiles stoically. "I only want to pass the time."
"Pass the time?"
"I had wanted to propose to my girlfriend tonight, but she ditched me at the last minute and flied to New York." He said quietly. "She is a ballet dancer and the dance group over there has invited her to join them. They even promised that she will be able to perform the leading role of ‘Swan Lake’ at the Lincoln Center."
Leading role of Swan Lake? Xin Yi closes her eyes and imagines a ballet dancer dressed in white dancing lightly on the stage. "She must be very outstanding." She praises him quietly.
"Of course she is outstanding." Ji Cun Xi says ironically. Otherwise he would not have fallen in love with her and even planned to propose to her.
Xin Yi looks at him. Not knowing why, she feels that his handsome face looks lonely. She feels a stir of emotions. "She will definitely be back soon! With you waiting for her here, she won’t bear to leave for long."
When Ji Cun Xi hears her, he turns around to look at her. "Are you feeling sorry for me?"
"No! How can I?" Xin Yi hurriedly waves her hands to clarify. "I myself... am the one in a mess, all right? I have been dumped by a jerk, incurred a huge debt and even uncomprehendingly slept... umm, with a stranger." As she says this, her voice becomes softer and a blush spreads across her face.
Ji Cun Xi glances at her embarrassed look and suddenly smiles. He takes the initiative to hold out his hand. "I am Ji Cun Xi."
"Ah!" Xin Yi hurriedly holds out her hand too. "I am called Chen Xin Yi."
The two of them shakes hand and suddenly feel a strange feeling going through their bodies. Xin Yi’s heart starts beating furiously.
"This is for you." Ji Cun Xi takes back his hand and gives her a chip.
She takes the clip puzzled. "Why give this to me?"
"This is a souvenir that can change a person’s life. Life is like a gamble. You can’t win every round but as long as the chip is in your hands, you will always have hope. Tonight you have won back your pride. You must always remember this. Your fate lies in your own hand, so don’t look down on yourself again."
Xin Yi looks at the chip. Her throat starts choking and her eyes sting. No one has ever said these words to her before. Everybody always think that she is not good enough and feels that she is not outstanding. Only he...
She holds the chip tightly and gives him a sweet smile through her tears. "Thank you! I will remember."
Chapter 2
[Translated by tammiest][Edited by Beauty_Karova]
Hidden Text:
"Father, I have sinned. I have gotten pregnant out of wedlock, and everyone has found out! Oh, God!"
Father John seems a little different today… but, this precious young life within me… I want to do my very best to protect him, bless him, make sure that he won't be bullied as I was…
However, the priest who follows Xin Yi out of the confessional is actually a young man with a gentle smile on his face…
After the love cruise, Xin Yi returns to her daily, routine life: at work, she is still that convenient Sticky-Note girl, ordered about by boss and colleagues alike. However, instead of complaining or even feeling resentful, Xin Yi "accepts" her fate and resigns herself to fulfil each and every one of their unreasonable requests, even feeling quite happy as she did it.
Because, in her heart, there is a sweet new secret: she has met a prince, and he has given her one magical, dream-like night, comforting her in the aftermath of her heartbreak and making her feel less unwanted.
She has carefully hidden the "lucky" poker chip given by him in the lucky charm she has made herself. She carries it with her everywhere she goes, wearing it close to her heart.
She knows that it is probably unlikely that she'll ever have the chance to meet that proud, arrogant, and yet—so gentle—prince again, but it doesn't matter… he will always be in her memories, and she will always remember what he has said to her…
"Xin Yi, why are you just staring into space?" The female colleague in the cubicle next to hers asks her. "Your cellphone is ringing!"
"My cellphone? Oh; thank you." She comes back to life and hurriedly picks up. "Hello?"
"Xin Yi? This is your brother-in-law." Wu QiQi's loud and boisterous voice booms over the line.
"Brother-in-law, what happened?"
"Nothing, really; I just wanted to ask you... err, after 'that' day... have you been okay?" There is a note of embarrassment in Wu QiQi's voice.
"Mm, I'm really well." Aside from feeling a little under the weather and, occasionally, queasy and like throwing up in recent days, that is.
"Is that true?" Wu QiQi is skeptical. "You were violated by that good-for-nothing bastard, and you actually feel 'really well'?"
"He's not a good-for-nothing jerk," Xin Yi protests, frowning. "He's actually a pretty nice guy... otherwise, he wouldn't have let you guys off so easily." Considering what the Wu father and son have done, they would have been taken to the police station long ago—if it hasn't been for Cun Xi.
"Che! Don't be fooled. He was probably just afraid that news of the layoffs would leak out and hurt the reputation of his precious company, Magical Enterprise!"
"He's said already that business is business. He's not purposely being hard on you guys."
"What's wrong with you?" Wu QiQi yells at her in dissatisfaction. "Didn't that guy only sleep with you? Don't tell me he's also brainwashed you! Every sentence out of your mouth is in defense of him; are you even a woman of our Jiang Mu Island any more? Traitor!"
Traitor? Xin Yi is taken aback. This charge is a little too heavy, isn't it?
"Forget it! I was just asking whether or not you… it's best if you aren't! If that bastard actually dared to leave his seed behind, I'd have to fight him to the death!" After finishing his piece, Wu QiQi hangs up in a fit of rage.
What is he talking about? XinYi is puzzled. Why has her brother-in-law called her, anyway?
The female colleague in the cubicle next to hers yells for her, pulling her out of her revelry. "Xin Yi, help me make some copies of this file, okay? I need it for the meeting that's coming up; make ten copies."
"Oh, okay." She takes the documents from her and makes her way to the copier. She is accosted by several of her colleagues—all with demands—along the way.
"Xin Yi, file these for me."
"Xin Yi, you're going out for lunch today, right? Bring me back a sandwich, okay?"
"I want one, too! Also, a Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks."
"Okay, okay; tell me one by one, okay?" There are simply too many demands from her co-workers; Xin Yi can't possibly remember them all; hurriedly, she takes out a pad of Post-It notes to record their requests. Maybe there are too many tasks, after all—she felt dizzy. A wave of nausea and acid comes up her throat; she immediately rushes to the women's room and dry-heaves at the sink.
"What's wrong, Xin Yi?" A female colleague walks into the bathroom and asks, smiling, "You've been feeling queasy these past few days… you're not pregnant, are you?"
Her colleague has meant only to tease her, but Xin Yi stares in shock. She thinks of her brother-in-law's concerned phone call; the last sentence out of his mouth—" If that bastard actually dared to leave his seed behind"—it is not possible, right?
Xin Yi's eyes become large with fear. Is she really pregnant?
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Rather than waste any more time, Xin Yi goes by herself to the local convenience store during her lunch break and brings a self-pregnancy test. It is drizzling outside, and Xin Yi, afraid that she'll be recognized by any of her colleagues, puts on a raincoat, a safety helmet, and even a breathing mask. She furtively makes her way into the store, purchases her self-pregnancy test, and leaves, looking nervously all around her as she goes.
She has no idea that her clothes and nervous movements, along with the guilty expression on her face, makes her seem extremely suspicious to several of the undercover cops who are stationed nearby. They follow her discreetly, keeping contact with each other via walkie-talkie.
Without suspecting a thing, she nervously hurries into her work building and ducks into the restroom.
The undercover police officers follow. Next, a reporters' van from a TV station pulls up to the building. The reporter has somehow managed to intercept the messages between the police officers and is puffed up with pride at the prospect of a firsthand "exclusive" news report.
After exchanging a few hand signals, several of the police officers charge into the ladies' room. Covered by the rest of the officers, one officer kicks open the door of a locked stall.
"Ah!" Xin Yi screamed in panic. At a loss, she can only stare at the big, strong officer who has kicked down the door. "What… what… what do you want?"
"You are under arrest!" The large man brings out a pair of handcuffs and, expressionless, slaps them onto her wrists.
What is going on? Xin Yi wants desperately to cry, but she has no tears.
The worst is yet to come, however. As she is dragged out of the restroom by the officer, a bright light suddenly flashes before her face. A TV camera is furiously rolling, and an excited reporter shoves a microphone into her face, shouting, "Miss, how do you feel about being arrested? What are you thinking right now?"
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He is in a terrible mood, a fiery mood; he really wants to find something—anything—and beat it.
"What did you say? Why can't you come back to Taiwan?" Ji Cun Xi slams on the brakes and pulls his beloved car to the side of the road. He glares at the screen of his cellphone, where the charming, lovely face of his girlfriend, Shi Anna appears.
"Oh, Cun Xi, don't be angry!" Anna pleads with him sweetly. "I know that you're angry because I accepted the offer from the New York Ballet Company so suddenly, but… just think of me for a second. I'll be performing Swan Lake at the Lincoln Center! How could I possibly pass up such an incredible opportunity? They wanted me to sign a two-year contract, and I could only agree."
"So you just decided to leave me in Taiwan by myself for two years?" The expression on Cun Xi's face is extremely dark; he is in a very bad mood. "What do you take me for?" She took the decision to leave Taiwan for two years without discussing it with him and now is standing him up without a word. "From the past until now, you've only cared about yourself. Have you ever thought about what I wanted?"
"Of course I have!" Anna's large eyes wink and wink at him, the expression on her face extremely cute. "And you've already got it!"
Cun Xi frowned. "What is it?"
"My heart, of course!" Anna looks at him positively. "I love you, Cun Xi." She declares this in a soft, gentle voice and leans toward the camera, her pretty pink lips blowing him a kiss. "Even though I'm not by your side, my heart is still with you all the time… crying with you and laughing with you… it will always be with you."
"Anna." Cun Xi lets out a sigh, feeling helpless. Why is it that he can never stay angry with this woman? He knows full well that she is only using sweet, honeyed words to appease him but he can still feel the tug on his heartstrings. "Have you ever considered that, without you by my side, I might reach out to embrace another woman in my loneliness?"
Anna laughs lightly. "Other men might, perhaps… but the Ji Cun Xi who loves me so deeply… he would never do so."
Can she really control him so easily? Cun Xi is annoyed. "Do you really understand me so well? Perhaps, one day, when you finally turn around, I will already be gone."
"Well, if that's the case, I'd better…" Anna sighs deeply, "take the early flight tomorrow morning and return to you immediately!"
Upon seeing her forlorn expression, Cun Xi feels his heart soften. The Anna that he loves is a born superstar, meant to be on stage and admired by all. How can he possibly bear to deprive her of fulfilling her dreams? "Forget it; just stay in New York," he yields.
"Thank you, Cun Xi!" Anna gives him a grateful smile. "Thank you for being willing to compromise. That means that I hold a very important position in your heart!" She pauses. "Did you know that, when ballerinas perform pirouettes, we must first fix our eyes on a certain target? No matter how we spin, we must never let our eyes leave that spot—otherwise, we will fall easily. The first time I met you… it was because I let my eyes leave my target… and I fell. It was you who brought me flowers after the show and encouraged me to stand up and try again. Cun Xi, ever since that day… I've never fallen again… because I've found my real target in life: you. No matter where I am, no matter how I turn, my eyes will always be fixed on you." This passionate confession moves Cun Xi.
He gives a long, drawn-out sigh. "Okay; I wish you luck. Jiayou!"
After hanging up with Anna, Cun Xi sits inside the car for a while, absentmindedly looking out the window at the passing pedestrians.
The woman he loves has left him again. Although it is only for a short two years, he still feels a little lonely. The feeling of waiting… it wasn't easy. He has experienced it before; when he was young, he had once waited diligently for his traveling parents to return home… he had waited until Grandma honestly told him that they had already gone on to heaven and would never come back again. To be honest, he is afraid of waiting. He hates being left behind… and yet, it seems that he is always being left behind.
There is a sudden noise outside the window, startling him out of his thoughts. He forces himself to come back to reality, and then notices that a crowd has gathered on the streets. They are pointing at the large television screen and whispering to each other.
The Taiwanese just love to stick their nose into other people's business!
He shakes his head. Just as he is about to turn on his car and leave, he suddenly glimpses a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. His eyebrows rise in shock.
Isn't that Chen Xin Yi? What is she doing on television? His eyes glued to the screen intensely, he watches the very confused, lost, and pale Xin Yi as she holds a pregnancy test in one of her shaking hands… it can't be possible, right?
Cun Xi shudders suddenly. She is pregnant? And she'll let everybody find out about it?
He has a sudden, uneasy feeling and breaks out in a cold sweat. Who is the father of that child? It can't possibly be… him, right?
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The father of her child is Ji Cun Xi, the prince of her dreams, of her ideals... the prince who would never want to marry her.
"Chen Xin Yi! You big fool! Pregnant out of wedlock? And you got yourself and your embarrassing situation into the news? You're really done for!"
Xin Yi really wants to slam her head into a wall; sure enough, her life is still miserable. She has originally thought that meeting a prince could bring a little luck her way, but, instead, he'd left her with a huge problem.
What should she do now? Xin Yi wonders to herself. Not wanting to return to the office and face the laughter of her co-workers just yet, Xin Yi has hastily requested for a day off. In the course of her aimless wandering, she finds herself in front of the St. John's Home, where she has previously worked as a volunteer.
This particular orphanage is run by a Catholic priest named John. She has met her first boyfriend here; even after he has dumped her, she still came back often to help out with some of the errands and to play with the children.
Under Father John's influence, Xin Yi also became a Catholic. Occasionally, when she is feeling particularly worried or concerned, she would come to the Home to seek the advice of the priests there. However, her troubles this time are so serious… how can she speak up about them?
"Xin Yi Mama, you've finally come to see us! Quickly, come here and show us how to make these model sculptures!" The children, completely unsuspecting of Xin Yi's inner turmoil, are extremely happy to see her, pulling her with them to the back of the Home to play with the clay.
Xin Yi has liked to work with clay since she is a child; the children at the orphanage also love the cute little clay dolls that she makes for them. Unfortunately, Xin Yi isn't really in the mood to play with the children today.
"I'm sorry; can I teach you another day?"
"No! It has to be now!" the children insist. "Xin Yi Mama doesn't come to see us very often; play with us!"
Another child chimes in, "Yes, Xin Yi Mama! Teach us how to make model sculptures!"
The cries of "Xin Yi Mama! Xin Yi Mama!" from the children only serve to perplex Xin Yi further. She isn't anybody's mother yet… in fact, her own life is in a mess; how will she manage to raise a child? She is so afraid… she can't have this child! But… how can she abort the child? There is a little life inside her…
"Where is Father John?" Xin Yi asks the children.
"I think he's in the confessional!"
The confessional? Perfect. She desperately needs to make a confession.
"Wait for me for a while, okay? It'll only be a little bit. I'll come back later to play with you?" Xin Yi uses a gentle voice to soothe the children. Without waiting for their chime of agreement, she rushes toward the confessional.
It looks like a middle-aged woman has just finished and is leaving the confessional, satisfied. Xin Yi opens the door and steps inside. She can barely make out the moving outline of a person through the black curtain hanging in the confessional. Taking a deep breath, she says,
"Father, I have sinned."
The person on the other side of the curtain seems to stiffen. After a slight pause, a deep, raspy voice asks, "What is your sin?"
"I… " Xin Yi, sitting on the tiny bench, twists her hands in her lap nervously. "Father, don't be too shocked… I… I am pregnant."
The other person is silent.
Xin Yi thought that the kindly old Father John has been shocked into silence. She hurries to explain, "I really didn't mean for this to happen! I don't even know how I wound up in bed with that man… or how we could possibly 'get it in one shot'! I… I… aiii, it's my entire fault. I shouldn't have acted so impulsively that day and signed up for a love cruise, of all things. In the end, not only was I dumped, but I was also left with a huge debt and… "The story comes out in a messy, unorganized rush, without any details or sequencing.
After she has finished her speech, the other person is silent for a long time before offering his opinion: "This is the strangest story I've ever heard."
Is he making fun of her? Xin Yi is confused; she thinks she has heard a bit of humor in the voice of the man. Does even Father John not sympathize with her?
She is on the verge of going crazy. Panicked and confused, her feelings pent up inside her for too long—"Father, I know that I'm very stupid, but please… don't make fun of me."
"I'm sorry." He coughs twice. "So then… what do you plan to do?"
"I… " Xin Yi pauses. She suddenly feels that there is something wrong. "Father, is there something wrong with your voice?"
"It's nothing." He coughs twice again. "It's just that my throat doesn't feel very well."
"Is it a cold? Have you gone to see the doctor yet?" Xin Yi asks anxiously.
"I'm fine." The man is amused. This girl is certainly unique… although she has plenty of troubles herself, she still finds the time to worry over others? "You should think about what you're going to do next."
"I… I really don't know." Xin Yi is at a loss. "Father, please tell me… what should I do?"
"This… humm… if you ask me, an abortion is your best option."
"What?!" Xin Yi asks in shock. She can't believe that Father John can make such a suggestion to her! An abortion? Isn't that strictly against the teachings of the Catholic Church? "Father… didn't you say… that every child is a gift from God… every child is a precious life!"
"Did I? I said this?" he mutters to himself in confusion. "But… if you don't get an abortion, are you really going to give birth to the child? Can you raise him by yourself?"
"I… I probably can't." Xin Yi has very little confidence in herself.
"Then, get rid of it."
"No! How can I do that?" Xin Yi protests immediately. "This child's life is precious! No matter what, he's still my child… although I don't know whether his appearance is lucky or unlucky… but, if I were to give birth to him, I would definitely try my hardest to love him and bring him up well. I would give him all the best! I would protect him; I wouldn't let anyone make fun of him or bully him!" That's right; she won't let anybody treat him like that! All of the wrongs, all of the injustices and hurts she has suffered as a child… she'll never let her child go through the same experiences!
"I want to love him properly, give him all of my love… I want to tell him that he is the best, the best… my most precious treasure… " Xin Yi's voice trails off as her eyes are filled with tears and a sob comes up her throat.
How can she reject her own baby? How can she abandon her own flesh and blood? She understands the feeling of being abandoned more than anyone else…
"Father, I really can't get an abortion just like that… I… I need some more time to think about this." After finishing her speech, she brushes away her tears and leaves the confessional in a rush.
After a while, a man comes out of the other side of the confessional. He is not whom Xin Yi has assumed—the old, kind Father John. Instead, he is a handsome, dashing, and debonair young man.
Ponderingly, he watches Xin Yi's back as she disappears from sight, a slight, gentle smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Dylan Papa, you were here all along? I was looking for you for a long time!" A little boy suddenly appears out of nowhere, clutching at his leg. "Hurry; Xin Yi Mama is here! I want to introduce you guys!"
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At the same time that Xin Yi is in a whirl over her new slew of problems, Cun Xi is staring at his own problem, brought to him in an express mail delivery.
It is a computer disk. It contains photos of him and Chen Xin Yi tangled together in bed. It has come, obviously, from the Wu father and son. The motive behind its delivery, of course, is to blackmail him into not laying off any of the factory workers.
Has the father-son pair seriously not done enough yet? Cun Xi feels both angry and helpless at the same time. He has never met anyone so ruthless in "battle" before! They can actually use a disk containing compromising photos of the younger sister of their daughter-in-law and wife, respectively, as blackmail material! Do they really think that putting a mosaic over the woman's face would solve everything? If this are actually leaked or released to the public, those people who are always spoiling for a scandal would no doubt be able to find out the identity of the "anonymous" woman in the photos.
Are they really not afraid that Chen Xin Yi would be hurt by this? Or do they just not care?
So stupid. Why it is that everyone around that girl is only looking to use her? He thinks these people were not worth her time.
The more Cun Xi thinks about it, the more angry and indignant he becomes. He decides to go to Jiang Mu Island, obtain the original files, and put a complete end to this ridiculous layoff "argument"!
Chapter 3
[Translated by minivicki][Edited by Beauty_Karova]
Hidden Text:
Marriage caused by the baby
Ji Cun Xi, who came to Jiang Mu Island to retrieve the mother source accidentally, met Xin Yi. The two of them were scolded and had to spend a night in the garage together. This night seemed to bring them closer. They enjoyed the sound of the soft but strong heartbeat of the little life together and their internal emotions were stirred. In that case, just follow the orders of the elders and—Let's get married.
Start early, end early. The next day, Cun Xi together with his assistant Anson, board the first boat to Jiang Mu Island.
Jiang Mu Island is situated offshore from Taiwan. The land area is quite small and there aren't many islanders. For the past years, they have been relying on the one and only shampoo factory on the island for their livelihood. Sadly, the factory hasn't been well managed and it has ended up with the fate of being auction, which is why Magical Enterprise could take it over. They have not expected that once they brought it, all the troubles would come along.
The sky is dark, the wind blowing strongly. Cun Xi stands at the stern like the statue of a warrior, looking as though he's ready for a cold hard battle.
Indeed, he's here for battle. He is groomed to takeover the family business since young and he has seen a lot of troubles that has taken place in the past and been through some mishaps too, including being kidnapped for ransom. He has never admitted defeat in those times and no one can ever threaten him.
This time, the Wu Family's father and son has infuriated him.
"Chairman, the waves are really huge." Anson is stumbling beside him, slightly seasick. "I heard from the other people on the boat that there's a typhoon approaching!"
"Is it? I don't feel it." His attention is focused on getting back the mother source. "The boat is going too slowly, go and make the Captain to speed up."
What? Speed up? It's already shaky enough! Anson's stumbled off to negotiate with the captain with an unhappy look, not brave enough to defy the Chairman's orders.
Cun Xi continues to stand at the stern. A slight distance away, a person walks past and she looks like Xin Yi; Cun Xi blinks his eyes, hoping that he sees the wrong person.
It's impossible! Why is she here? Unless she has heard news of him coming and chased him all the way here? She… isn't here blame him for the baby in her womb is she?
Images of Xin Yi crying and begging him to take responsibility float around in Cun Xi's mind. He starts sweating profusely and his eyebrows are knitted together. Although frustrated, he still decides to face up to his duties and moves towards the woman. Unexpectedly, a man carrying a pole on his shoulder walks towards him and turns, accidentally sweeping Cun Xi into the sea.
How can such a stupid thing happen?
Cun Xi floats in shock in the sea, attempting to swim back onto the boat. However, the boat suddenly starts to speed up and he is ditched far behind. Luckily, he's quite good in swimming and after a while, he finally climbs onto shore, panting heavily.
On the other side, a group of islanders have gathered and their focus is all on the boat that's slowly approaching. No one notices him and when he sees how all the islanders are carrying sticks and pans, standing with as though they were getting ready for battle, he realizes that they are likely there to "welcome" him.
Since he already knows there's threat, Cun Xi obviously won't step into the danger zone himself. He digs inside his pocket for his phone to call and warm Anson but realizes that he lost both his phone and wallet.
sh*t! It must have dropped when I was swimming onshore! After thinking for a moment, Cun Xi decides to leave the mess for Anson to settle and he heads towards the factory.
When he enters the factory, Wu Qi Qi is happily squeezing tomato ketchup on his huge hamburger, preparing to have a delicious male. When he sees Cun Xi, he is shocked!
"Ji Cun Xi, you're fast! I didn't expect you to be able to remain alive and make your way to the factory!" What is the group at the port doing? They can't even stop one man!
"Hand over the mother source immediately!" Cun Xi ordered.
Wu Qi Qi looks at him. Noticing that he is wet from head to toe, looking pathetically like an illegal immigrant that swam onshore, he decides that Cun Xi must have been treated very badly by the group at the port. He calms down and starts laughing evilly. "Do you think you can walk out of this factory alive?" He has already set up a big trap in the factory!
"The one who's going to die should be you, all right?" Cun Xi says darkly. "If you're still determined to work against me, then I will sell the factory to Steven Zhou who's interested in building an incinerator. I'm sure your situation will become even worse. As for me, not only will I not suffer a lost, I might be able to earn some profits through the sale."
What? Sell the factory? Wu Qi Qi starts to feel unease but he still keeps up a cool front. "Ji Cun Xi, don't think that all of us Jiang Mu Island people are easy to fool! I will not be tricked by you!"
"I'm giving you one last chance. Hand over the mother source."
"If you want to get back the mother source, there's only one way. That's to step over my body!" Wu Qi Qi pulls a string and a bag of flour drops from the sky. The white powder scatters over the whole area.
Cun Xi reacts quickly and immediately covers his nose and mouth. It is Wu Qi Qi who triggered this trap that begins coughing profusely. He has been laughing too much and forgotten to close his mouth, resulting in him breathing in a lot of the flour. Next up is the hidden sandbag. Cun Xi ducks down and avoids it. The one who hit the prize is once again Wu Qi Qi. He falls on the ground in pain and ends up slamming his hand on the mouse-trap. His fingers immediately turn red and start to swell. He jumps up, screaming in pain but ends up having a bucket landing on his head. He passes out due to the bucket and falls onto the floor.
Open-mouthed, Cun Xi stares at the whole scene. He's definitely right, the members of Wu Family are very smart soldiers. He has never seen anyone set up a trap and eagerly jump into it himself. That has been very instructive.
He shakes his head, laughing to himself. As Wu Qi Qi's body happens to be blocking the narrow walkway, he can only step over him and walk into the office to search for the mother source.
It doesn't require him much energy to find the disk as it is lying in the very first drawer and on it, they have very nicely written "Mother Source" using a red marker.
Holding the disk in his hand, Cun Xi starts to hesitate and ponder. He can't believe that anyone can be that stupid. This disk must be a fake one right? However, considering how Wu Qi Qi can't even escape from a trap that he himself set, it is possible he really is that stupid.
"Wu Qi Qi, are you around?" Wu Liu Liu's loud voice springs up from the factory door. The chattering of the islanders can be heard too. "Where has that Ji Cun Xi hidden himself? He wasn't on the boat! Lucky there's a typhoon warning today so the boat can't drive off. That kid can't escape even if he has wings and can fly. We're planning to do a search of the whole island…"
Search of the whole island?
Cun Xi's mind jumps into alert mode and before he can think of any other things, he has already jumped out of the office window and sprinted away from the scene.
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Sigh! She really feels like escaping.
Xin Yi stands in front of the house, shuffling around. She's really reluctant about stepping into the house and facing up her parents' scolding.
Last night, when her dad Chen Hu Yuan and mom Xi Shi have heard about their daughter being pregnant from the other islanders, they were shocked and have immediately made the call, demanding for Xin Yi to return to Jiang Mu Island. No matter how reluctant she has felts, she could only take the first boat back.
"You're finally back!" Hu Yuan discovers her first and immediately drags her to kneel in front of all the ancestors' memorial tablet. "How could I have raised a daughter that can bring such a disgrace to our family? News of your pregnancy even made it onto the television! Do you know that this scandalous news has spread throughout the whole Jiang Mu Island already? How can we still show our face around here?"
"Exactly!" Xi Shi joins in on the nagging. "Haven't I told you before? Save on everything except condom! You threw all the lectures I gave you into the wind?"
The two continues one after another, scolding their daughter non-stop.
"Speak! Who is the man that got you pregnant?" Hu Yuan demands loudly.
Xin Yi shakes her head adamantly. "I… I don't know." How can she drag the innocent Cun Xi into the mess too? "He was a stranger that was on the cruise. I didn't mean to… Sigh, it was all an accident!"
"Accident your head!" Hu Yuan is shaking with anger. "Fine, fine, fine! You're going to protect that stupid guy? I'll hit you until you admit then! Wife, pass me the cane!"
What? He's going to deal out the family punishment? Xin Yi is shocked. Xi Shi hesitates too. She turns towards her daughter. "Why don't you quickly reveal who he is? Do you really want to anger your dad? Who's the man? Did he lure you onto bed? Or did he drug you?"
"It's not like that!" Xin Yi quickly explains. "Dad, Mom, please don't misunderstand him. He's really not that type of person. He's very nice and has helped me a lot. He…"
"You're even speaking up for that guy!" Hu Yuan can't stand it and retrieves the cane by himself to start hitting his daughter.
It is painful but Xin Yi doesn't dare to hide. She kneels there silently, enduring all the anger of her father.
"You still refuse to reveal who he is? Fine, I'll hit you again!" Seeing that Hu Yuan's cane is going to hit her again, a figure ducks in from the open doors of the Chen Family and blocks the cane.
"Stop!"
It's Ji Cun Xi! Xin Yi opens her eyes in shock.
Hu Yuan glares at him. "Who are you? What does me punishing my daughter has anything to do with you?"
"Of course it's related to me, because…" Ji Cun Xi stands in his original position, speaking honestly. He has not planned on running inside, but fate has destined that he will walk past the Chen Family and also destined that he will hear of Xin Yi being punished, destined that he will speak up for her. Being a gentleman, how can he abandon her to her fate? "I'm the father of the baby," he admitted.
"What?! You're..." Hu Yuan and Xi Shi stare at each other and give Cun Xi a look-over. The more they look, the madder they get.
This man who's entirely wet, has a hole in his suit, has flour in his hair and looks very pathetic is actually the culprit for their daughter's pregnancy?
Goodness gracious! What had their daughter seen in such a man? Was she blind?
"Xin Yi!" Xi Shi screams. "Are you trying to anger us to death?"
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After the Chen Family scolds Cun Xi, they lock him inside the garage.
"Kid. You don't have any money or items to pawn, it's already very nice of us to keep you for a night! I've already called your grandma. She's coming over by boat tomorrow morning to pick you up. We'll deal with the pregnancy matter tomorrow!" Hu Yuan slams the garage door and locks it.
Cun Xi stands in the dark garage by himself. There are random items scattered around the room and even spider webs on the wall. The room is full except for the space that he is standing at. There isn't even space for him to lie down. He is speechless and really wants to scream at heaven.
He, Ji Cun Xi, the Chairman of Magical Enterprise is actually being forced to sleep in this dirty garage without even a bed and blanket?
This… is ridiculous! Since he have bought over the factory on Jiang Mu Island, his life seems to have turned into a ridiculous drama and all the unbelievable scenes are being acted out without his consent. He, the main lead, can only stand on stage in shock.
Crazy, too crazy! Cun Xi thinks angrily. He sits down on a row of boxes in frustration and because his clothes are not fully dry and he doesn't have the chance for a shower, he can only hug himself tightly to stay warm.
He misses his strawberry blanket.
Although the blanket is just a small and thin one, it is a gift from his mother. It has accompanied him since he was a child. Even that one time when he was kidnapped, it was because he had the strawberry blanket with him to hold on tightly to that he managed to have the courage to not cry and cause a scene. He was able to wait patiently for his parents and grandma to come save him. When Mom and Dad went away, he hugged the blanket and kept waiting until Grandma told him that they had gone to heaven and won't be coming back.
At that time, he felt that he had been abandoned and was mad and revengeful. He threw his strawberry blanket into the dustbin wilfully but ended up secretly picking it back in the middle of the night, crying and apologizing to his parents while washing it clean.
Even now, he still needs that blanket in order to sleep.
A cynical smile forms on Cun Xi’s face as he thinks of that. He has never dared to tell anyone, even Anna, about this embarrassing matter. If she ever knows of it, she'll definitely look down on him…
"Ji Cun Xi, are you there?"
The timid voice that calls out for him draws him back from his midst of thoughts. He concentrates and hears voices coming from the garage door. After that, Xin Yi pushes the door open and walks in.
Cun Xi glares at her. "What are you here for?"
"I…" she stammers, caught off guard. "I figured that you probably haven't eaten so I brought supper for you as well as a blanket." While talking, she turns around and drags in a big plastic bag from outside. Inside, there is a blanket and a straw mat. She lays the straw mat on the floor to act as a mattress. "So that you can sleep better tonight."
Cun Xi watches her actions coldly.
"You're very angry right?" She holds out a bun to him apologetically. "I'm sorry. I dragged you down into the waters with me, causing you to be scolded by my parents."
Cun Xi ignores the bun. "Why are you apologizing again? This incident isn't your fault!"
"But if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been locked here. I'm sorry that you have to put up with such circumstances!" She apologizes again.
Why doesn't this lady ever listen? Apologizing every now and then, she has no personality! No wonder she's often bullied!
Cun Xi chews on the meat bun and gives Xin Yi a glance over, looking at her from head to toe and back from toe to head. She has put on her black-framed spectacles again and looks like a countryside lady, lacking attractiveness. He sighs. "Didn't I give you a pair of contact lenses? Why aren't you using it? Look at you! The way you're dressed is very unattractive and definitely old-fashioned!"
"I'm old-fashioned?" Xin Yi blurs and looks at him. "But you… aren't much better."
Hearing that, Cun Xi almost chokes on the bun that he is chewing on. "sh*t!" he swears. She is right. His pathetic state is not much different from hers. "Why did I end up here?"
"It's all because of me walking into the wrong bedroom on the cruise, I'm sor…"
Not again, she's going to apologize again! "Shut up!" he stops her with annoyance. "I've said before. You don't have to apologize to me."
"Oh, sor…" Xin Yi starts apologizing out of habit again but stops herself in mid-sentence when she realizes what is wrong.
Cun Xi starts laughing when he sees her poor "I was caught doing the wrong thing" look. "You! Your worst shortcoming is that you have absolutely no confidence. What are you usually doing?"
"I…" Xin Yi thinks. "Reading romance novels, knitting, auctioning online…"
"Enough! Why does all that sound like something female otaku would do? Can't you do anything meaningful at all?"
"I…" Xin Yi's face turns red. "I liked art a lot when I was young," she points at the pottery showcased on the shelf on the wall.
"You made these?" Cun Xi grabs one randomly and examines it closely. "It's quite good! My grandma likes making pottery too, if you have the chance to meet her, the two of you will definitely have lots of fun chatting."
"Really?" What is his grandma like? She can't help but anticipate. But on afterthought, she drops her anticipation. No matter what type of person his grandma is, she will definitely not have the chance to meet her.
"What is this?" Cun Xi picks a rectangular pottery and blows away the layer of dust on top.
"That's…" Xin Yi's heart skips a beat. She immediately stretches out her hand to snatch the box back. "Don't look at it!"
Her strong reaction makes him even more curious and he continues asking, "What is this?"
"It's… a wish box."
"Wish box?" Cun Xi's eyebrows go up. Catching Xin Yi off guard, he grabs back the box and opens it. Inside, there are pieces of sticky note and scrawled on them are small messy words. "The teacher doesn't call me, someone will do classroom cleaning duty with me, and someone will remember my birthday…" he slowly reads out all her wishes.
"When playing hide-and-seek, they will find me before going home and not forget me every time…" He suddenly stops and stares at Xin Yi, whose face is already as red as a tomato.
Was she always forgotten? Even when playing hide-and-seek with her friends, she would get abandoned in some small corner?
Cun Xi's eyebrows knit together again and an unknown feeling sprouts in his chest. He looks at the last note and slowly reads, "Meet someone whom I can love and who loves me back."
"Stop reading!" Xin Yi finally protests and grabs back the box.
He smiles at her. "The last wish, it's the same as mine."
"Really?" She is shocked and her eyes lights up.
"I almost got my wish," he says mutely. "But she flew to another far away place again."
Xin Yi hears him and her heart sinks. Her eyes darkens. How can she have forgotten? He has a very outstanding girlfriend! "Are you angry at her for choosing the stage instead of you?" she asks tentatively.
Cun Xi is surprise. After a second, he shakes his head. "I can never be angry at Anna." He sounds helpless. "During her first public performance, she fell on stage. But she didn't panic. She got up and continued dancing. What I love about her is her hardworking and never give up attitude. I clearly know that she loves ballet so how can I get mad at her for choosing the stage?" While speaking, he takes out a small ballet shoe keychain from his pocket and starts playing around with it mindlessly.
That must be a present from Anna, right? Xin Yi thinks enviously. She can feel the deep love he has for his girlfriend and that makes her more depressed.
"Aicho!" he suddenly sneezes.
She blinks. "Are you okay? You didn't catch a cold, did you?"
"It's nothing. I'm probably just allergic to something," he shakes his head, not willing to appear weak.
"Cover yourself with the blanket!" she drags him to sit down on the straw mat and starts clumsily covering him with the blanket. Noticing that his hair is half wet, her eyebrows knits together. Two seconds later, she brightens. "Oh, there might be a hair-dryer in here somewhere." She walks to the corner and starts digging through the boxes for the hair-dryer and indeed, she finds a small hair-dryer.
"Dry your hair. If you don't do it before you sleep, you will have a headache."
"Never mind." He waves his hands. "This is nothing. It'll dry by itself soon."
"No!" she is adamant and plucks in the power pug. "Sit over here. I'll help you blow your hair." While speaking, her hands starts fiddling with his hair, combing through it cleverly.
What is she doing? His thoughts start to wander. Her hand's movements are really gentle, and is going through his hair very nimbly, like a spell cast. It ruffles not only his hair but also his heart.
It's weird. He knows he should object to it but somehow his tense shoulders start to relax and he begins to enjoy himself.
"Ji Cun Xi, you… don't want the child right?" she questions quietly.
He is surprised. After a moment, he replies mutely, "It's not that I don't want to bear responsibility. I already have a girlfriend. I cannot let her down."
"I know."
"Also, frankly speaking, we're like two strangers. Our lives should not have such entanglement. Your life should not be messed up by this child too," he analyzes.
"Yeah, you're right," she agreed. "Tomorrow I… will go to the hospital for abortion."
"That's the best," he lets out a sigh of relief. He suddenly feels that at the back of his neck, a drop of water drips down. Is that her tears? He suspects it but doesn't have the courage to turn back. He can't let himself become soft-hearted, he definitely can't!
"Okay. It's dry now." After she has completed the task, Xin Yi switches off the hairdryer and purposely fakes a light tone. "Go sleep. I'm going back." She stands up.
Let her walk off just like that? Cun Xi stares at her and suddenly feels reluctant to let her go. "Stay and accompany me!" he demands.
"What?" she is shocked.
"Didn't you say that you caused me to end up in this lousy storeroom? If that's the case, you should stay and accompany me through this disaster." he finds a childish excuse.
She knits her eyebrows and examines him. "But didn't you say that this isn't my fault and I shouldn't apologise?"
Her one sentence leaves him speechless and he can only glare at her angrily.
Her heartbeat speeds up due to his stare and she reluctantly gives in. "Okay okay. I will stay to accompany you. So what shall we do now?"
-------------------------------------
They talks for the most of the night. From his career that is at the apex, her pure and sincere dream, their embarrassing childhood moments. Finally, maybe because it is so late, Cun Xi starts to wander. He reveals to Xin Yi the embarrassing fact that he cannot sleep without his strawberry blanket. She listens to him and although she finds it funny, she still starts to sing bedtime songs to help him fall asleep.
He drops off but she can't. When the sun starts to rise, she gets up and leaves silently. She makes her way to the small hospital on the island alone, prepared to go for abortion.
Xin Yi thinks that she only needs the doctor's approval but it turns out that the father of the baby needs to agree too. She is at a loss when Cun Xi suddenly appears.
"Why did you come here alone?" he reprimands her softly. "Didn't we agree to go through this together?"
"But…" Xin Yi stares at him sadly. She doesn't want him to see her break down! She has the premonition that when the baby is being aborted, she will definitely cry.
"Sir, please sign here." The nurse hands Cun Xi an agreement form for the operation. He holds the pen in his hand but can't get himself to sign it.
The old doctor standing at the side sees his hesitation and suggests kindly, "Before we carry out the operation, let's do an ultrasound scan first."
And thus, Xin Yi ends up lying on the bed in the medical room, having the doctor doing an ultrasound scan for her. Cun Xi watches nervously. Soon, a small foetus-like shape appears on the screen.
"This is your baby." The doctor smiles. "Do you hear that? That's the sound of his heartbeat."
Heartbeat? Xin Yi and Cun Xi look at each other in unison. The baby's so small and there's already a heartbeat?
Bong bong bong… The faint heartbeat sound beats strongly against their heart.
This is the baby! Their future child! A brand new life.
Xin Yi chokes and tears flow down silently. Cun Xi watches her eyes turn red and can't help himself from reaching out his hands.
Their two hands come together and hold each other tightly. The hands are trembling but it conveys their emotions to each other…
-----------------------------
"What did you say? Xin Yi secretly went to pick out the baby?" Xi Shi shouts at the phone. "Great. Our dumb daughter. She dare return home!" she declares angrily and slams the phone down. "Old man, old man! Did you hear that? Xin Yi went for an abortion!"
"What? Abortion?" The one who answers isn't Hu Yuan but an old woman who, since no idea when, has been standing at the door. She is wearing and hanging jewellery all over her and has an air of richness. However, her face shows shock and panic. "Did you say that our Ji Family's precious great grandson is being removed?"
"Who are you?" Xi Shi demands.
"I'm Cun Xi's grandmother. I'm called Ji Zhen Zhu." Grandma Zhen Zhu walks forward to shakes Xi Shi's hand. "You called me last night saying that my grandson's here. Remember?"
"Oh. You're the grandma of that stupid kid!" Xi Yi is confused. Zhen Zhu's body is covered with shining jewellery. "Weird. Isn't your family very poor?"
"Poor?" Zhen Zhu blinks her eyes and looks from her two tall and muscular bodyguards to the posh and long car parked outside. This kind of entrance is considered poor?
"Wait! You said that your surname is Ji? Your grandson is Ji Cun Xi?" Xi Shi thinks everything through and finally understands the huge mistake she has made. "Isn't Ji Cun Xi the president of some Magical Enterprise?"
Wrong wrong wrong! How could she have been so stupid? She has actually treated the rich god like a germ? Xi Shi regrets it. Realising that the father of her daughter's baby is actually the heir of a large enterprise, her sharp eyes starts to shine money signs.
"Let's not discuss this now!" Zhen Zhu hurriedly pulls back her line of thought. "Didn't you just say that your daughter is going for an abortion? How can that happen! Our Ji Family has only had a single line of heir for many generations. I've finally gotten my precious great grandson! Quick! Bring me to the hospital! We must stop her!"
And thus, Xi Shi ends up in Zhen Zhu's posh car which speeds to the hospital. The moment the car stops, they see Ji Cun Xi carrying Xin Yi out.
It's over! Her daughter's chance of marrying into the rich has been destroyed just like that? Xi Shi thinks…
It's over! Her wishes of having a great grandson still can't be fulfilled? Zhen Zhu thinks…
The two of them dash towards them in unison and ask, "Where's the baby?"
"The baby…" Ji Cun Xi and Xin Yi look at each other awkwardly and after a short silent moment, finally answer slowly. "We've decided to keep the baby."
Yes! If her daughter marries into a rich family and becomes the lady of the family, she will be a rich mother-in-law too! Xi Shi is delighted.
Yes! Great-grandson will report to the family as usual and the Ji Family line will continue! Zhen Zhu is delighted.
The two of them order in unison, "Get married immediately!"
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Not wanting to delay things and under Xi Shi and Zhen Zhu's strict orders, the new couple is sent to Jiang Mu Island's one and only small wedding church and has an official ceremony.
Of course Cun Xi is unhappy but Zhen Zhu says that she is getting old and she really wants to carry her great grandson soon. Also, will he be able to live with his conscience if he makes the other party become an unwed mother who has to bear with all the gossip and finger pointing of the islanders? Seeing that he is still reluctant, she resorts to threatening to let Anna know of all the details.
Cun Xi is angry and frustrated but there is little that he can do.
Xin Yi understands his reluctance and takes initiative to express that she does not want to marry into the Ji Family. However, Xi Shi immediately slaps her and scolds her for not feeling ashamed of herself! Seeing that Xin Yi is being blame, Cun Xi changes his mind and agrees to the wedding.
The last to object is Hu Yuan. They want him to just open his arms and let his precious daughter be "given" to someone else? He definitely objects to that. Then Grandma Zhen Zhu grandly declares that no one will be retrenched from the factory and all the islanders start to thank her and treat her as a goddess. Under their pressure, Hu Yuan can only nod his head in agreement.
Finally, after all the troubles, the ceremony starts and the islanders clap enthusiastically. Zhen Zhu and Xi Shi are both smiling brightly.
The ceremony ends and Zhen Zhu invites everyone on the island to a restaurant to eat seafood. The crowd all leave happily, leaving the two newly weds together and staring at each other in confusion.
Xin Yi catches sight of Cun Xi's angry face and bows her head down apologetically. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing again?" Before her apology, everything has been still fine but once he hears her apology, he starts to get mad. "You were also forced into this. How can this thing be blamed on you?"
But if she isn't to blame, then who is? Xin Yi asks herself. She understands how reluctant he has been in marrying her. He must be thinking of Anna right now.
"Actually you… didn't need to agree to the wedding." She murmurs. "I can learn to take care of the baby by myself."
"But can you manage it?" he asks coldly. "You can't even keep your own life in order so how can you take care of the baby?"
Xin Yi hears and cowers in shame.
"Also, how can I let my baby's mother walk outside and be ridiculed?" he adds in angrily.
That is the main reason why he has agreed to marry her right? Because he can't bear for her to have to endure the weird looks of the society. Xin Yi looks at Cun Xi secretly and can't help feeling touched—He might look cold on the outside, but he's actually a very warm and gentle man.
"Thank you," this time, she doesn't apologize but thanks him instead.
He seems even angrier though and turns to glare at her. "Thank you for what?" he reprimands after a pause. "This is only temporary. After you give birth to the baby, we'll divorce."
"What?" she is shocked.
"Don't worry. I will give you a huge sum of money at that time. Take it as your alimony."
Chapter 4
[Translated by wyng][Edited by Beauty_Karova]
Hidden Text:
Despite her new status, Xin Yi doesn't feel like a married woman.
Cun Xi comes home drunk. Xin Yi takes care of him all night in spite of the fact that she is unwell and that her husband whispers another woman's name. Because of this accident, Cun Xi feels angry with himself. Will the blissfulness bowl that Dylon gives Xin Yi really brings her happiness?
He wants to sign an agreement with her, stating in it that the marriage between them will cease with the baby's birth. Not only will he give her a large sum of money, he will also deposit a fixed amount into her bank account every month.
Even if one day she has to leave the Ji Family, as long as she signs these papers, she doesn’t have to worry about her future.
She can actually disagree with the terms, because her status in the Ji Family is safe as long as granny and the baby are around. But she doesn't have the heart to see him fret over the issue and accepts the agreement.
She silently signs the papers and while he is not looking, she quietly erases the alimony portion with correction fluid. She doesn’t want his money because she believes that she still has the ability to fend for herself. She just wishes that, when the time comes, he’ll take good care of their baby and give him a happy environment to grow up in.
This is all she hopes for. Apart from that, she does not dare to think further. Neither is she in the position to think.
She smiles bitterly at her own situation and boards the bus.
Once the banquet ended, Granny had planned to bring Xin Yi back to the Ji’s residence, but Xin Yi’s parents couldn’t bear to let her leave so soon so they decided to keep her for the night. Xin Yi’s Mum instructed her the rules she will have to abide by being a daughter-in-law while Xin Yi’s Father cried over the sudden marriage of his daughter.
The next morning, Xin Yi packed her belongings and waited for Cun Xi to pick her up. She waited all day but Cun Xi did not turn up as promised.
Xin Yi called Cun Xi up. He was in the midst of a meeting and, left with no choice, Xin Yi had to take a cab back to the Ji’s residence instead.
She knows that he did it on purpose as he does not want to face the reality of their forced marriage. That is why he pretends to have no time to fetch her home and ignores her. She doesn’t blame him for behaving this way, because their marriage was as sudden as it was ludicrous. She understands his reasons for being mad.
She would never have thought that despite being married, she would still be forgotten by her bridegroom, in the same way the surrounding people ignored her existence. The reality is so different from what she has imagined—her prince coming to fetch her and not forgetting about her…
“Well, there isn’t much choice, because I’m not the Princess.” Xin Yi mumbles to herself. The real princess is Anna, the only woman that Cun Xi wanted to marry all along. “To him, I’m just a burden..” She and the baby are responsibilities that Cun Xi has no choice but to face up with.
Xin Yi sighs and looks out of the bus window dazedly. The scenery along the road passes by quickly besides her and suddenly, an advertisement board catches her attention.
[Ceramic Exhibition of Master Zhong Shan Long]
Master Zhong Shan Long is the ceramic master she respects the most and being an outstanding ceramicist has always been her dream. But a dream is just a dream. She’s just an ordinary girl. She wouldn’t be able to achieve this dream.
Looking at the advertisement, she has an idea and quickly gets off the bus. Standing in front of the exhibition hall, she does not expect that it’s past the opening hours and the door is locked.
At this moment, one of the men who stood on the staircase talking to his friend notices her. His eyes brighten and he walks to her. “Xin Yi!”
She is stunned by his cheerful face. “You’re..?”
“I’m Dylon. Have you forgotten about me?” He looks a little hurt upon her oversight. “We’ve meet each other in the church. We got to know each other thanks to some naughty kids.”
“Oh Yes.” She remembered. Those kids address him affectionately as “Daddy Dylon” and jokingly say they want to pair him with “Mummy Xin Yi”.
Xin Yi is feeling embarrassed as she was only worrying about her baby’s issue that day and does not have a very clear impression of Dylon. “I’m sorry that I did not recognize you just now.”
“Oh…that hurts!” Dylon replies with an illusive smile . “Do you know that females can’t get their mind off me and will always think about me once they seen me?”
Xin Yi was a little amused by his words. How can he be so arrogant? But from his good looks, red lips and white teeth, he does have some potential of seduction.
“Are you here for the Ceramic Exhibition?” she asks. “You’re also interested in ceramics?”
He doesn’t answer her question. “How about you? Heard from the orphanage kids that you’re pretty good at it.”
“No, not at all. It's just an hobby.” She shakes her head embarrassedly and sighs. “Too bad that I'm late and the exhibition hall is closed.”
“Do you really want to see it?”
“Yes. Master Zhong Shan Long is my most admired master and I’ve always wished to see his ceramic pieces.”
There is a quick flash in Dylon’s eyes and he suddenly smiles. “Follow me then.”
“What?” Xin Yi is lost. While still trying to figure out what was happening, she is pulled by Dylon through a side door and into the exhibition hall. He presses the button from somewhere and the hall is lighted up. She is stunned. “Is it allowed to do this? Dylon, how can we sneak in here like this...”
“It’s alright. Don’t worry.” Dylon raises his hand and stops her from continuing further. “I thought you were very keen to see Master Zhong Shan Long’s pieces? Take a good look then.”
There’s no need for Dylon to say this, because Xin Yi’s is already admiring Master Zhong Shan Long’s work. She is full of praises for his works. She suddenly stops in front of a piece of ceramic work.
It’s a big bowl with a very rounded shape. Despite the very thin outer layer, it gives out a very thick and solid feeling with dizzy light and warmth.
She stares at the bowl with awe. On the surface it’s a piece of very ordinary artwork, but it just fills up her heart with a very strong sense of sour sweetness.
“You seem to be very fond of this bowl.” Dylon notices.
“Yes.” She nods. “It gives me a very strange feeling.”
“What feelings ?”
“I feel…blissful.”
“Blissful?”
“Take a look... Despite the shape being very rounded but the outer layer very thin, though it seems like it breaks easily, the enamel colour gives people a sense of solidness and stability. Isn’t that what being blissful is all about? On one hand enabling us to feel warm and safe, but on the other hand also makes us feel the fear of standing on thin ice.”
Dylon listens on, with the glow in his eyes sinking. After a long while, he asks Xin Yi softly “What’s your definition for being blissful?”
“Being blissful…” Xin Yi smiled mistily. “is when there’s additional vegetable on my lunch; when you’re squeezing on the bus, others would let you get on first; when it’s your birthday, there’s people who’ll celebrate together with you; or when you’re playing hide-and-seek, your friends will find you first..”
“This is what you mean by…being blissful?” Dylon frowns. It’s all so minor!
“Yes. Very simple isn’t it?” Xin Yi smiles faintly. But to her, it's something that’s very difficult to fulfil.
Dylon looked at her with deep thoughts within. He notices there’s a slight loneliness behind her faint smile. He has a sudden thought and when he is about to say it out, Xin Yi’s handphone rings. She hurriedly picks it up, afraid that it will alert the security guards of the exhibition hall.
“Hi. I’m Xin Yi.” She lowers her voice while speaking. “It’s you, Granny…Wedding Photos? I guess there’s no need for it, because I think Cun Xi is not free…Alright, I understand. I’ll be right there.” She hangs up the phone.
“Eh? Did I hear that you’re going to take wedding photos?” Dylon is curious. “Don’t tell me you got married because of your baby?”
How does he know? Xin Yi blushes with a guilt conscience.
“Oh no. You’re really planning to get married because of the baby?” He shockingly raises his voice.
She is embarrassed and nervous. “I…I got to go. It’s was a pleasure to meet you today. Bye Bye!” She turns her back and was ready to go.
“Wait!” Dylon holds on to her and looks at her for quite awhile. “Allow me to give you a wedding gift!”
“Wedding gift?”
“Yes.” He brings her back to the door of the exhibition hall and gets her to wait outside. Ten minutes later, he is back with a big paper box and passes it to her with a smile on his face. “For you.”
She receives the gift and thanks Dylon vacuously. It isn't till she steps into the Ji’s residence that she opens up the box. One look inside it and it almost takes away her breath!
The gift is that special bowl!
How is that possible? Xin Yi can’t believe it. That man not only brings her to the exhibition hall after opening hours, he can even give her a ceramic piece of Master Zhong Shan Long. This man – WHO IS HE?
Inside the box is there's a message written on the card with very graceful handwriting :
I hope this bowl will bring you happiness and blissfulness!
Blissfulness? Xin Yi is stunned. Will she be able to achieve it?
---------------------------------------------
Blissfulness... is indeed far from sight for Xin Yi.
When she first enters the Ji Family, her husband takes upon the excuse of going outstation for official business and is not around for a few days. Servants in house seem to know that their young master does not fancy her and thus are not that friendly towards her. They do not even talk to her respectfully.
Granny Zhen Zhu calls her into her room and tells her that she’s the new lady master of the house so now the whole household of the Ji Family is in her charge. Xin Yi is afraid and tells her that she still has a job. However, Granny already attended to her resignation and as the daughter-in-law of the Ji Family doesn’t have to work, she should just concentrate on being Mrs Ji Cun Xi’s.
Granny also encourages her to be firm with the servants in the house. But how can Xin Yi do it, when her own husband is ignoring her and that she's used to always giving in to others?
Xin Yi feels very troubled. Since she’s married into the Ji Family, she has no choice but to start learning how to be the lady master of the house, for the sake of the future of her baby.
And so, she starts to get used to the new surroundings. Not only the decoration of the Ji’s residence is very posh and exquisite, there’s even a few goats being reared at one corner of their huge garden and a few crocodiles being feed in the pond. Granny says goat’s milk and crocodile’s blood is being fed to Cun Xi since young to help stabilize the poor condition of his health. Being the only heir of the Ji’s family, in order to avoid the god’s jealousy towards him, Cun Xi is dressed up and attended to like a girl since childhood.
He actually wore girl’s clothing? When Xin Yi flips through the family’s album and sees pictures of Cun Xi in girl’s clothing, she can’t help but laugh.
The prince was once a “princess” when he was young!
She looks at the album with curiosity, staring at his baby pictures. It was only till primary school days that he began wearing boys’ clothing. And he does look very cute and noble in the suit with shorts and bow tie!
Being a legendary person during his teenager days – Reciting, Debating, Piano… he had won plenty of trophies from minor and major competitions. He was also selected as Chairman for Class Reunion Committee and Student Committee during his days in college and university.
What follow is the days when he starts working – Handsome, Charismatic and a real Prince. And there, standing besides him, is a graceful and beautiful woman, with a pair of eyes beaming with confidence.
This woman is... Anna?
Seeing Xin Yi gazing at Anna’s picture, Granny senses something wrong and quickly grabs over the album. “Don’t take it too hard. Now the Young mistress is you and I acknowledge only you as my daughter-in-law.” Granny seriously assures her.
But Cun Xi only loves Anna.
Though there’s a sense of bitterness inside her, Xin Yi considerately does not mentioned a word about how she feel. Instead, she continues chatting with Granny about the bits and pieces of the growing up of Cun Xi. Though the elderly love to go on forever in their reminiscences of the past, Xin Yi is still very enthusiastic in knowing and understanding more about Cun Xi.
“And Xin Yi, since you’re married into our family, please take good care of Cun Xi in the future.” Granny gently reminds her. “That is why there are some rules that you need to remember on his behalf.”
“What rules?”
“No cold drinks in the morning except a glass of lukewarm milk. Alcohol is only allowed after lunch and there must be a limit to it. The taste of meals for dinner must not be too heavy, less consummation of cholesterol, fruits must be available for all three meals in the day and the maximum reading for driving speed is sixty kilometers per hour...”
“Sixty kilometers per hour?” Does she hear it correctly?
“That’s right.” Granny is very serious. “I don’t allow him to speed drive. It’s too dangerous.”
But isn’t 60km/hr too slow? Xin Yi sticks out her tongue but still continues to pay attention to Granny’s long list of rules. “Will he follow them?” Cun Xi’s not a kindergarten kid anyway.
“Of course he will!” Granny is very proud of herself. “Cun Xi is a very filial grandson!”
But Granny’s sense of pride for Cun Xi only last for a few hours. Late in the night, Cun Xi is finally back, but he is drunk.
Granny is so angry that her face is twisted. “Cun Xi, did Granny tell you that there should be a limit to how much you can drink? Look at you now. What’s if your body can’t take it? What has Anson been doing? I warned him not to let you drink so much. I’m going to call him now and ask him why…”
“It’s me… erm… It’s me… who wanted to drink…Grandma, don’t blame it on Anson.” Cun Xi is burping and stammers as he walks up the stairs. He is swaying from side to side and almost fells down the stairs.
Xin Yi quickly goes up and supports him from behind. “Be careful.”
Cun Xi feels a feminine touch on his back. “Is that you…Anna?”
Xin Yi heart sinks. “It’s me, Xin Yi.” She replies softly to Cun Xi’s question.
“Oh yeah. How can I forget?” Cun Xi mocks himself. “There’s a wife at home…waiting for me.” He shakes off her hands and climbs up the stairs unsteadily.
“This silly boy! How can he get himself so drunk?” Granny is very troubled over Cun Xi’s behaviour. “Xin Yi, I’ll leave Cun Xi to your care then.”
“Yes.” Xin Yi nods and follows behind Cun Xi back to his bedroom.
After vomiting in the restroom, Cun Xi sits down dispirited on the floor. Though his mental state is unclear now, Xin Yi doesn’t mind at all and starts clearing the mess on him with a towel.
There’s a strong smell of liquor on his body, even in his breath. Perhaps normal ladies will feel annoyed handling this type of situation, but not for Xin Yi. No matter how pathetic or unlikeable he is right now, all she can thought of is how the prince who weaves a princess dream for her and saves her from the pitiful plight on the cruise, his gentleness underneath his pre-eminent behaviour and words he says when he gives the token to her as a memento.
“I’m so sorry to have got you into this marriage and made you buried your sorrows in liquor.” She murmurs while trying her best to drag him onto the bed and help him to take off his socks and shoes. After unbuttoning his shirt, Xin Yi sees Cun Xi’s tanned and very manly chest. Suddenly, her heart beats more quickly and she immediately turns away from the sight.
“Anna…” He still mistakes Xin Yi with another woman.
“No…I’m not…I’m…” She stiffly swallows back her own name and decides to go along with the misunderstanding. Right now, he must be wishing for the woman he loves to be by his side.
“Anna! I’m sorry…I didn’t do it on purpose…Its Granny who forced me to marry her…I didn't want to betray you but…She’s pregnant with my child…I can’t leave her in the lurch. I’m sorry…I’m sorry…” He grabs Xin Yi’s hands and keeps apologizing.
Xin Yi listens with sorrows in her heart. He refuses to let her apologize so easily, but right now he himself is apologizing to another woman— “Cun Xi, I don’t blame you at all.” She consoles him gently. “Just sleep. Take a good sleep and stop thinking so much.”
“You…really don’t blame me?”
“Yes. I don’t blame you.” She looks at him with kindness in her eyes, telling him the “lie” he wants to hear.
He smiles, opens his eyes and looks at her in stupor. And suddenly, he takes her by the neck and before she can react, Cun Xi kisses her on the lips.
It is a very light kiss, as light as a feather. So full of compassion that it strummers her heart.
“Thank you so much...” He tells her. But the next minute, Cun Xi brings her back to reality. “...Anna.”
It’s Anna, not her! The person he thought he kissed was the illusion of his lover, not Xin Yi who’s right in front of him now.
Xin Yi sighs. She signed at her own foolishness and imagination of Cun Xi loving her. She carefully covers Cun Xi with a blanket and places his favourite Strawberry pattern blanket beside him on the bed.
Sitting at the side of the bed, Xin Yi looks at Cun Xi’s peaceful and innocent face. “Good Night.”
---------------------------------------------
The following morning, Cun Xi wakes up with a headache.
Holding his head and half getting up from his bed, Cun Xi is angry with himself over the fact that he is unable to hold his image in the public after having a drop too much at the bar last night.
Taking a deep breath, he notices a lukewarm glass of Honey Lemon glass placed besides the bed. He drinks from the it and his headache slowly gets better.
Cun Xi is very curious about the considerate person who prepared such a glass of fruit juice for him. And at this time, he catches sight of a women sleeping on the sofa and slips down from bed for a closer look.
It's Xin Yi. She's curled up on the sofa with a thin blanket and it seems to be cold as she is shivering lightly.
“This silly woman!” Cun Xi frowns. After getting a blanket, Cun Xi covers her with it but it wakes Xin Yi up.
“You’re up?” She quickly gets up and is blinking her sleepy eyes.
“Why are you sleeping on the sofa?” His asks with snappiness.
“I…I didn’t know where I could sleep.” She awkwardly tries to explain herself. “I can’t sleep in another room and if Granny knows about it, she will be very unpleased.”
She’s right. If Granny knows that they’re not sharing the bed like normal husband and wife, she’ll be mad. “In the future, I’ll sleep on the sofa and you’ll take the bed.” He stares at her with sulkiness.
“No I can’t!” She protests, shaking her hands vigorously. “That is your bedroom! How can I occupy your bed?”
“But…”
“It’s alright. The sofa’s big and comfortable enough for me.” She always gives in to others, but on this issue, she is surprisingly persistent.
Since she doesn’t mind, then I shouldn’t either. Moreover, it’s impossible that I’ll share the same bed with her. Much to his chagrin, Cun Xi’s still curious. “Did you prepare that glass of juice?”
“Yes, I did. Have you drunk it? Has it gone cold?” She asks him in a worried tone.
“No, it didn’t.”
“That’s great.” She sounds relieved. “Granny reminded me that you’re not allowed to take cold drinks in the morning so woke up at 5 to change another glass for you. I was worried that the previous glass has gone cold.”
At 5? Cun Xi is astounded. She specially got up so early just to change a hot drink for me? Don’t tell me she woke up a few times through the night just to do this?
“To play it safe...” She reminds him. “You should take another glass of the juice in 30 min and you’ll get better from the hangover.”
“You seem to be very experienced in handling such situations?” Does her ex -boyfriends got drunk often? Cun Xi wonders himself.
“No…It’s my Dad!” She laughs. “Every time he got drunk, he’ll have a serious hangover the next day. Tea or milk has no effect on him so the best choice is fruit juice.”
He doesn’t say anything but looks at her. She notices it and doesn't dare to continue on. The atmosphere becomes rather stiff.
Though they are newly wed, it is not because they love each other. Moreover, they even signed a divorce agreement after that. Both of them feel uneasy and do not have the slightest idea how to get along with each other and their marriage.
“Erm…I…” When Xin Yi finally gathers all courage to speak, she feels a sudden rush of nausea and immediately dashes to the restroom to vomit, though nothing comes out.
“Are you alright?” Cun Xi is shocked to see her like this.
“I’m ok. I’m jus feeling a little...nausea. I will be alright in awhile.”
“Its morning sickness…” Cun Xi is thinking. Though he’s not familiar with the general knowledge of pregnancy, he at least knows that many pregnant mothers do have morning sickness problems.
Being unwell herself, she still managed to take care of me last night when I was drunk. How can such a silly woman exist? What has he done to deserve such care and concern from her? He purposely left her alone for a few days after their marriage. How can he be considered a good husband after all these had happened?
“Don’t worry. I’m fine now.” Assuring Cun Xi, Xin Yi smiles and walks out of the restroom after surviving the physical uneasiness.
Looking at her pale face, Cun Xi suddenly feels mad at himself. Very, very mad…
---------------------------------------------
Cun Xi’s anger does not stop right there. It extends to breakfast time and it startles all the servants in the house.
It starts when Xin Yi goes down for breakfast and sees a plate of grilled mackerel fish on the breakfast table. She feels the smell of the fish rather strong and requests the servants to get it taken away. However, the servant replies that its young master’s favourite so they can’t remove it.
“If that’s the case, then can I have something sour to consume? Or do you have Pomegranate juice?” Though she is polite towards the servant, the answer is “There’s no Pomegranate juice in house because Young Master and Old Mistress don’t like to drink it.”
From the way it looks, Xin Yi knows the servants also won’t take the trouble to prepare the juice for her either. Sighing, she understands all these servants personally look down on her due to the rush of her marriage to Cun Xi. Though Granny left instructions for her to take over the household, she seriously has no idea where to start from.
“In that case…I’ll skip breakfast then.” She bitterly decides to leave breakfast alone as she can not swallow anything down when she can still feel the nausea inside her stomach.
“You have to eat!” In a split second, Cun Xi voice comes along. He walks towards the table and stares strictly at the servant. “Didn’t you hear that Young Mistress wants to drink Pomegranate Juice?”
“But… But there isn’t any in the house…”
“Then go buy it!” Cun Xi raises his voice at the servant and it gives the rest a fright. “And why is there grilled mackerel fish for breakfast? Didn’t you people realize that there’s a pregnant woman in the house? Change it away and bring some other food here!”
“But Young Master…Mackerel Fish is your favourite!”
“Any food that is causing Young Mistress to feel unwell is not allowed to appear on this table!” Cun Xi roars. He is still very angry with the servants taking the opportunity to bully Xin Yi. “Listen carefully. I won’t give anyone a second chance to repeat the same mistake again so you people better bear this in mind.”
“Yes, Young Master.” The servant answers hurriedly, immediately removes the grilled mackerel fish and starts to get busy preparing Pomegranate juice for Xin Yi.
Granny can’t help but smile when she sees Cun Xi blowing his top at the servants because of Xin Yi.
“So… what happened? Who’ve made our Young Master so angry?” Granny purposely throws out the question when she steps into the dinning room.
Since Granny is here, Cun Yi has no choice but to hold back his anger and greets her. Xin Yi also quickly helps to pull out a chair for her to get seated at the table.
Looking at the sulked face of her grandson and the puzzled expression on Xin Yi’s face, Granny laughs out loud finally.
“Granny, what are you laughing at?” Cun Xi frowns and asks.
“I’m laughing at you two. The more I look, the more compatible you two get. Cun Xi, you’re already a married man. You should know the responsibility of a husband and how to go by fulfilling them. As for Xin Yi, you’re the daughter-in-law of our family now so do have more confidence in yourself and don’t always give in. Both of you understand what I’m trying to say?”
For a few moments, the two young adults get distracted by Granny’s words. After awhile, both Cun Xi and Xin Yi exchange eye contact and nod their head. “Yes, Granny. We understand.”
Chapter 5
[Translated by meosles][Edited by Beauty_Karova]
Hidden Text:
Misunderstanding
Even though this marriage is not based on love, I will not betray you.
Xin Yi slowly builds up a relationship with Granny. She uncovers her specialty and imitates one of Master’s Zhong Shan Long ceramic works to give to Granny. Cun Xi, who sees his wife chatting intimately with another man, cannot suppress his jealousy and without clarifying the situation, confronts Xin Yi in front of Granny.
Cun Xi’s support gives Xin Yi courage and she is no longer afraid of the servants. At the very least, she is still the lady of the house. She should make requests when the situation calls for it.
“I wish to look at the past menus.” She asks the kitchen staff and observes Cun Xi and Zhen Zhu’s eating habits. She notes down their likes and dislikes and often interacts with the housekeeper to ask about the Ji family’s daily affairs. Even though she does not have to handle the matters herself, she has to keep an eye on them sometimes.
She also takes the initiative to get closer to Zhen Zhu. Granny likes ceramic art and keeps a workplace in the backyard. It even has a kiln where she can make ceramics for fun. Xin Yi sometimes joins her and gives her opinions.
“So you know this too?” Zhen Zhu is pleasantly surprised.
“I like it since childhood but I don’t have such a good studio like granny.” Xin Yi smiles. “Granny’s craft is much better than mine.”
“I only make them for fun.” When Zhen Zhu sees that this granddaughter-in-law is able to form a beautiful shape with ease and she is full of admiration. “Looks like you have some talent! Xin Yi, do you want me to hire a master to teach you?”
“No need!” Xin Yi quickly waves her hand. “I am doing it for fun. I have never thought about being a ceramic artist.”
“Why not?” Zhen Zhu raises her eyebrows. “You are still young and have potential. If you study under a master, you have a bright future ahead of you.”
She? Bright future? Xin Yi shakes her head. It never crosses her mind that such a wonderful thing can happen to her. She doesn’t dare to dream too big, because she can never achieve it.
“You have too little confidence in yourself.” Zhen Zhu seems to read her mind. “You should trust granny. I specialize in collecting ceramic arts, so my judgment is quite accurate. If I say you have talent, you definitely have… That’s right, some day I should ask Dylon to look at your work and let him appraise it.”
“Dylon?” Xin Yi is surprised. This name, is it the same man who gave her the lucky bowl? “Who is he?”
“He is an art broker. Normally I buy my ceramic arts through him. He is very familiar with master Zhong Shan Long.”
“Master Zhong Shan Long?” Xin Yi says in surprise. “He is the ceramic master that I idolize the most!”
“I love his works too.” Zhen Zhu smiles and her eyes turn misty. “When we were young we were once in love.”
“Really?” Xin Yi is curious. “What happened?”
“That took place a long time ago…” Zhen Zhu sighs and slowly talks about her first love that she has missed.
In this manner, the relationship between the two women deepens as each day passes by. Originally Zhen Zhu only treated Xin Yi as the mother of her great-grandson. But slowly she grows to like her and often privately reminds her grandson to treat his wife better.
Even though Cun Xi feels that he should not neglect Xin Yi, he still feels guarded. So he continues to blow hot and cold, and maintains a distance from his wife.
Xin Yi understands his confusion and does not ask for more. She quietly cares for Cun Xi in her own way. When she learns that Cun Xi does not like to eat out and prefers plain food, she make his lunch herself and asks the servant to send it to his office. She knows that he is busy with meetings and doesn't have time for meals, so she make healthy sandwiches that can be eaten while he is reading documents. He is sick of eating the same type of food every day, so she tries to vary the tastes.
She carefully hand-washes his strawberry blanket. His study is full of Anna’s photos and she wipes the photo frames for him. His time is precious, so she helps him to prepare his shirt and tie every morning so that he does not have to worry about them.
He goes out early in the morning and returns home late at night. They seldom have time to talk so she leaves messages on sticky notes for him everywhere. Like reminding him not to work too late at night in the study, eat supper if he is hungry and wear more clothes when it is cold.
She actually doesn’t know what a wife should do but she tries to do whatever she can. Because she wants to care for him and wishes that he will be well and happy.
She doesn’t want to trouble him. Even though this marriage can last only for roughly nine months, she doesn’t want to bring any disturbance to him. She will buy baby care books herself and go to hospital for checkups on her own.
“Today you come alone again?” The gynaecologist asks Xin Yi.
“Umm, that’s right.” She smiles a little awkwardly. The doctor tells her immediately that he wishes that her husband will accompany her. “Cun Xi… My husband is too busy at work, he can’t take the time off.”
“Then find a way to take time off. This is his baby too.” The doctor is a little disapproving. “The pregnant mother has many particulars. I want to explain to him and ask him to take note.”
“You can tell them to me, doctor.”
“All right.” The doctor looks at her for a while. “Is your condition of vomiting still very serious recently?”
“Yes, a little bit…”
After the examination has ended, Xin Yi leaves the clinic. She is holding the ultrasonic scan in her hand and smiles at it foolishly—the baby is really growing little by little! Will it be a boy or a girl? The doctor says that he can’t determine the gender yet but she hopes that it will be a cute and handsome boy like his father.
But no matter what the baby looks like, she can only look at him once. When the time comes, she has to leave the Ji family, leave her baby and leave… him.
When she is thinks about this part, Xin Yi silently stands where she is.
“Hey! Isn’t this my ex-girlfriend who causes uproar with her pregnancy, Chen Xin Yi?” A sarcastic voice calls out behind her.
It’s Gucci! She looks back and is stunned at to see her ex-boyfriend looking at her maliciously.
Gucci laughed sinisterly and look at her from head to toe. “Well? Coming to see the gynaecologist alone by yourself? Are you thinking of having an abortion? That rich boyfriend of yours refuses to bear responsibility?”
She frowns and tries to ignore him, but his voice continues to taunt her.
“I already told you. Why will any man want a fish rod girl like you, who have no looks and no figures? He was only fooling around with you!” Gucci’s manner is caustic.
She stares at him. “What are you doing here?”
“Me? I am accompanying my woman for an examination.” When he says this, a petite woman comes over. Xin Yi recognizes Rebecca, the woman whom Gucci met on the cruise. Gucci pulls her over and smiles in triumph. “Let me introduce, this is my fiancée.”
“Hey! Gucci, isn’t this your fish rod ex-girlfriend?” Rebecca is as caustic as Gucci. “Why? She is seeing the gynaecologist alone by herself? Is she going for an abortion?”
“I came here for an examination!” Xin Yi can’t take it anymore and answers back.
“Having an examination?” Gucci sneers. “Really? You really intend to have the baby? Aren’t you afraid that being a single mother will be difficult?”
“I am married!”
“Married?” Rebecca raises her eyebrows. “Who? Who will marry you?”
“Me!” A sharp voice rings out.
The three of them turn their heads in surprise. Using large strides, Cun Xi walks over coldly. He takes Xin Yi in his arms and says protectively.
“I, Ji Cun Xi, have married Chen Xin Yi. Do you have any problems with that?”
“No, no!” Gucci turns pale. When he remembers how badly he lost at the casino on the cruise, he still feels apprehensive and quickly leaves with Rebecca.
“You… why are you here?” Xin Yi can’t believe her eyes.
“You dare to ask!” Cun Xi looks at her in disapproval. “Why did you go for the gynaecologist examination alone by yourself? Granny told me that the doctor had asked me to accompany you during your last examination.”
“But… I thought you are busy…”
“The baby is mine too, don’t forget that!” Cun Xi rebukes her and pulls her along to the clinic. After the doctor told them of the things they should pay close attention to, they leave the clinic.”
“Aren’t you busy in your company? Quickly go back.” Xin Yi urges him to go.
“What about you?”
“I want to buy some baby products. Granny says that it’s time to decorate the baby room…”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“What? You go with me…”
“Stop nagging. Let’s go!” Cun Xi stops Xin Yi forcefully.
He is not happy. He didn’t expect Xin Yi to go for the examination alone and get mocked by people. He married her because he didn’t want her to suffer the disapproval of others but she still suffers.
It’s his fault for neglecting, his fault for not bearing the responsibility of a husband. From today onwards, this will be corrected, he decides gloomily.
He accompanies Xin Yi to the baby store. Xin Yi is delighted at everything she sees. She holds up a pair to tiny shoes and asks excitedly. “Cun Xi, which color is nice? Blue or red?”
“Anything.”
“I like red color but if the baby is a boy, then won't the blue be better?” Xin Yi hesitates.
“Isn’t this easy?” Cun Xi says. “Just buy both colors.” He orders the shop assistant to wrap up everything that Xin Yi likes and buys two sets of every item. “Now regardless of whether we have a boy or girl, we can use them.”
“But isn’t this too wasteful?” Xin Yi is speechless. He nearly buys up all the items in the shop.
“Our family can afford it.” Cun Xi doesn’t think much about it.
Rich people are really different! Xin Yi smiles weakly. She better not shop with him in future, otherwise he will probably buy up another store.
“That’s right. We should buy some clothes for you.” Once Cun Xi decides on this, he drags her to another shop selling maternity clothes. In the end he really buys up half the items in the shop.
“I can’t wear so many!” Xin Yi protests. Who will buy so many maternity clothes? It’s only for nine months, what a waste!
“Then wear a different one each day, you won’t get tired of them like this.” He says lightly.
Xin Yi looks at the nonchalant Cun Xi and feels flattered. No matter what, he is using his own ways to care for her.
“Thank you.” She thanks him.
“Thank for what?” Cun Xi frowns and he becomes serious. “Don’t say thanks and sorry at every turn. This is nothing.” This is only the duty of a husband.
“Regardless, I still want to thank you.” Xin Yi smiles gratefully.
-------------------------------
Since that day, the distance between them grows closer. Cun Xi will accompany Xin Yi to see the gynaecologist and takes the initiative to care about her health. He learns from the doctor that letting pregnant mothers drink garlic chives ginger juice and eat white sugar vinegar egg will improve their vomiting condition, so he personally makes sure that the kitchen makes some for Xin Yi.
His attentiveness touches Xin Yi. No one has ever been so nice to her. All her previous boyfriends expected her to be the one to make sacrifices, but none sacrifice for her in turn. But he always helps her whenever she is in trouble.
A person like him deserves happiness. She decides to do more for him and teaches him how to be a good father before she leaves the Ji family. She hopes that he, the baby and Anna can form a happy family in future.
“Cun Xi, look.” She makes him read the baby care books together with her. “Look at this baby, isn’t he cute?”
“Hmm. It’s quite cute.” Cun Xi glances at the picture carelessly.
“Look, the book says that babies who are newly born are easily injured. When you bath the baby, you must spread a towel below to prevent slippage, and remember to protect the neck when you carry the baby…”
“Let the nanny take note of these.” Cun Xi interrupts her. “Don’t worry. We will hire a professional nanny to care for the baby when the time comes.”
“But the nanny is not the real parent. She won’t give the baby her full love!” She is slightly agitated and worries that the baby will have no one to love him. The nanny and even the grandma cannot replace a parent’s love.
If she, the mother, cannot remain at the side of the baby, then as the father he must love him.
“Please spend more time with the baby in future, even if only to talk to him.” She pleads.
Cun Xi looks at her gravely and seems to understand her anxiety. His eyes darken and he nods his head. “I understand.”
That puts her at ease and she continues to share the contents of the books with him. He looks at the smile on her face and is dazed. Maybe all pregnant women give off a motherly glow. He feels that she looks kind and beautiful, making him think of his own mother.
When his mother carried him, did she share baby knowledge with his father so earnestly?
“Xin Yi, you…”
“What?”
He wants to ask, after a few months when she must leave her own baby, will she be sad? But he doesn't dare and can only look at her.
Xin Yi feels strange and is about to ask him when her hand phone rings suddenly. She answers the phone. “Hello, who is this?”
“I am Dylon, do you remember?” The other party says laughingly.
“Dylon? It’s you!” She cries in delight. Cun Xi hears her and frowns. She waves her hand apologetically and leaves the room to talk at the hallway. “Why do you call?”
“I got your number from the orphanage and wanted to ask after you.” Dylon explains. “Do you mind?”
“Why would I? I should have called to thank you for giving me that ceramic bowl.”
“That’s nothing. Well? Is your marriage life happy? Does your husband treat you well?”
“He treats me very well.” Xin Yi smiles and takes a look inside the room. Cun Xi is flipping though the baby care book. “Right, Dylon, I was about to ask you. Do you know Ji Zhen Zhu?”
“How do you know?” Dylon enquires.
“So you are really the art broker that granny talks about?”
“Granny?”
“Um. Actually my husband is Ji Cun Xi.” She lowers her voice.
“What? You married Ji Cun Xi?” Dylon utters in wonder. “Is he the one who had a one night stand with you on the cruise?”
“How do you know?” Now it’s Xin Yi’s turn to be surprised. She thinks for a while and asks unhappily. “Did Father Norman tell you?” How can the priest tell her confession to another person?
“Don’t blame the priest. Actually it’s me who heard it accidentally.” Dylon admits sheepishly that he impersonated the priest and listened to her confession. “I did not mean it, please forgive me.”
What's the use to stay angry? He already knows everything. Xin Yi has no choice but then a thought occurs to her. “Since you owe me, can you do me a favor?”
“What favor? Just say the word!”
“I want to give granny a present but I can’t afford it, so I need to make it myself. I heard that you are on close terms with master Zhong Shan Long. Can you teach me how to make a ceramic art that imitates his style?”
“You want to make it yourself?” Dylon smiles. “No problem! I’ll give you some opinions.”
Therefore the two of them arranges a time. Xin Yi hangs up the phone and returns to the bedroom.
“Who called?” Cun Xi asks.
“A friend.” She hesitates and continues. “He is the one who gave me the ceramic bowl by master Zhong Shan Long.”
“Him?” Cun Xi closes his eyes and thinks of her putting her cherished ceramic bowl in the room carefully. She looks at the bowl several times a day. He feels a stir of jealousy. “Since he is so generous, he is close to you?”
“Well...” Actually they don’t know each other well. “Come, let us continue to read the book.”
-----------------------------
Cun Xi realizes that he minds.
He dwells upon his wife treating that ceramic bowl as precious and her delighted expression when she receives that man’s call that night.
He doesn’t understand why he cares. Xin Yi has the right to make friends of the other sex. A friend treating her well and giving her such an expensive art work is none of his business.
He is only… a little worried about her. Her luck when it comes to men is really bad. She is always dumped and used by others. He doesn’t want her to be cheated again.
It’s only for this reason, he tells himself, but can’t help keeping track of his wife’s whereabouts. Ever since she received that call, she often goes out and sometime even returns home at a later time than him. When he asks, she only says that she is keeping touch with her friends.
Is she meeting another man secretly? Cun Xi fumes subconsciously. Even though their marriage is only a contract for nine months, she should still respect her status of being Mrs. Ji. What is the meaning of this secrecy?
He gets even angrier when Anson accidentally sees Xin Yi with a man on the streets. The man was holding her and they behaved intimately.
He keeps his temper and tells Anson to mind his own business but he takes the matter to heart. One night, Xin Yi leaves immediately when she receives a call. He can’t help trailing her secretly in his car.
She calls a cab and goes to a luxurious condominium. After staying there for one hour, she comes out again with a handsome man besides her.
He looks darkly at the happy smiles on their faces and grips the car wheel tightly.
“Thank you! Dylon.” Xin Yi waves her hand. “Good night, bye bye!” She sits in the taxi again.
Cun Xi follows her and after blocking the taxi at a traffic light, he knocks on the car window. “Chen Xin Yi, get out!”
She has a fright and finally turns down the card window. “Cun Xi?”
“Get out!” He orders fiercely.
Seeing the menacing expression on his face, she quickly pays the fare and get down from the taxi. Holding a large paper box, she sits in his car. “Cun Xi, why are you here?”
“You are so alarmed to see me?” Cun Xi says coldly and starts the engine. “Where have you been?”
“Me?” She is startled and glances at the paper box in her arms. “I went to a friend’s place…”
“It’s a man, right?” He interrupts her.
She is stunned.
“Chen Xin Yi, aren’t you shameless? You are my wife and yet you are having a rendezvous with another man!”
“Me, a rendezvous?”
“Don’t try to deny. I have seen it with my own eyes.” He glares at her. “Yes, we did not marry out of love and will be divorced in a few months time. But it seems you can’t bear with it for so long. Are you so eager to climb into another man’s bed?”
She is stunned. “I did not!” How can he humiliate her like this?
“A man and a woman alone in an apartment for an hour. Don’t tell me you are just drinking tea and chatting.” He says coldly.
“We were really only chatting...”
“That’s enough! Don’t lie to me, I don’t want to listen!” Cun Xi refuses to listen to Xin Yi’s explanations and steps on the pedal. The car speeds up.
She hurriedly holds on to the door handle. “Cun Xi, drive slower! Don’t you remember? Granny says that you should not drive above sixty kilometers per hour.”
“Damn the sixty kilometers per hour!” Cun Xi answers angrily but he slow down the car. It’s not because of granny’s rule but because he suddenly remembers that she is pregnant and can’t take sudden jolts.
He continues to drive in a temper. When he returns to the Ji house, he tosses his keys at a servant and drags Xin Yi indoors.
“What? What happened?” Zhen Zhu is watching TV in the living room. When she sees their state, she is distraught.
“You ask her yourself!” Cun Xi’s face is black. “Look what the woman that you insisted that I marry has done!”
“What did you do?” Zhen Zhu asks Xin Yi.
“I… I didn’t” Xin Yi’s face is white. “He misunderstood…”
“I’ve seen it myself!” Cun Xi shouts. “You refuse to admit? And this is not the first time, even Anson sees you fooling around with another man.”
“You are fooling around with another man?” Zhen Zhu is shocked.
“No, granny. It’s, it’s…” Xin Yi hurriedly explains. “It’s Dylon…”
“Dylon? You mean the Dylon who buys art work on my behalf?” Zhen Zhu frowns. “You are having an affair with him?”
“I am not… I only went to collect this.” Xin Yi doesn’t know how to explain and can only bring out the paper box she is carrying. “Granny, open it and you will understand.”
Zhen Zhu takes the box uncertainly and opens it. Under layers of wrappings is a flower vase that is shaped like a lady. “This is?”
“It must be given by that man!” Cun Xi is even angrier after seeing the vase. “He gave her a ceramic bowl before and now it’s a vase.”
“It’s not given, I made it myself!” Xin Yi quickly explains.
“What?” Cun Xi and granny exclaim at the same time.
Xin Yi finally explains that in order to give granny a present, she asked Dylon to teach her how to make a piece that resembles Zhong Shan Long’s work. The reason why they have been meeting during this period of time is to create a good piece of work.
“So you made this for me personally?” Zhen Zhu is touched when she sees her granddaughter-in-law’s attentiveness and rebukes her beloved grandson instead. “Cun Xi, what is the matter with you? You accuse others without reason! Have granny ever taught you this?”
Cun Xi is dazed and realizes that he has misunderstood his wife. He feels apologetic but can’t bring himself to apologize out of pride.
Xin Yi does not desire his apology either. She looks at him sadly for a moment. “You really feel that I am the type of woman who will betray a marriage?” Even if this marriage is not based on love, even if he doesn’t love her, she will never betray him. “In the future, please don’t misunderstand me again.”
After she finishes talking, she goes upstairs quietly.
-----------------------------------
“You should apologize to her.” Zhen Zhu advices her grandson after Xin Yi returned to her room.
Cun Xi says moodily. “I know.”
“So what if you know? Go and do it! I don’t believe that you can’t see how Xin Yi has care for you during this period and how much effort she puts into this family. She is serious about being a good wife to you—Do you know who make the sandwiches that is sent to you company every day? Who is being so attentive and knows what you want to eat today and what you don’t want to eat? Your strawberry blanket, she is afraid of spoiling it and hand washes it herself. When I passed the study the other day, she was wiping Anna’s photo frames. I wanted to take away those photos but Xin Yi refused to let me. She said Anna is very important to you.”
When she says this, Zhen Zhu gets angry and raises her voice. “Don’t you think you are too much? You married Xin Yi but can’t forget Anna?”
Hearing his grandmother talk about his girlfriend, Cun Xi clenches his teeth and is filled with mixed emotions. “Originally the one I love is Anna, you should know that!” Marrying Xin Yi is only a delay strategy.
“Anna, Anna, ever since you date that woman, you are the one who is compromising. What about her? What has she done for you?” Zhen Zhu says dismissively. “She only cares about dancing and goes to New York by herself without discussing with you! She should know that our Ji family has only one sole heir every generation but she still declares that she will not have children even if she marries you—I don’t understand, why do you still miss a selfish woman like her?”
“Because I love her!” Cun Xi shouts. Love has no reason. Even if Anna goes to New York and there’s almost no news of her, he still love her.
“It’s up to you! I can’t be bothered to talk with you anymore. You think over who is the one that is worth cherishing.” Zhen Zhu leaves angrily.
Of course the one he should cherish is Anna, Cun Xi thinks angrily. He shuts himself in the study looking at Anna’s picture and is lost in thoughts until midnight.
He tries to recall all the memories that he and Anna share. Remember Anna’s smiles, Anna’s dancing, and Anna’s mischievous look when she is flirting with him. But strangely, Xin Yi keeps barging into all these memories.
She on the ship comforting him that Anna will return to him, she bringing supper to the warehouse and combing his hair, all those inferior and lonely hopes that she hides in the wish box, she begging him to spend more time with the baby, and the sorrowful look that she gave him just now when she asked him not to misunderstand her again…
Cun Xi’s heart tightens. Maybe he has let her down. Maybe he should apologize to her.
He returns to the bedroom quietly. Xin Yi is already asleep. She still sleeps on the sofa and her body is curled up like a shrimp which somehow tugs at his heartstring.
He kneels down and looks at her tiny face.
She is really not very pretty or at least not as outstanding as Anna. She is ordinary, so ordinary that she has no character. She does everything quietly and does not ask for credit. No wonder people say that she is a sticky note girl. She has no sense of existence.
But for some reason, the more you interact with her, the stronger her existence attracts him and causes him to care.
What is the reason? Cun Xi can’t understand. Suddenly something falls out in front of her chest. He picks it up curiously. It’s a good luck charm that is hand sewn and inside it is a round thing like a coin. He takes a closer look, it is a chip.
He stares at the chip. Isn’t this the chip that he gave to her that night? She carries it so preciously on her body all this time?
Cun Xi’s chest tightens and his heartbeat quickens. He looks that the sleeping Xin Yi and suddenly on impulse carries her and puts her on the bed.
She doesn’t wake up and only rubs her nose as if she is chasing away a fly. Suddenly she turns over, grabs the blanket and curling up her body like a shrimp, continues to sleep.
He finds it funny and uses his hand phone to take a photo of her ungracious sleeping posture. Looking at her continuing to sleep so soundly, his heart gives a tug and he bends his body. His lips slowly approach hers—
“What are you doing?” She opens her eyes and look sleepily at him.
He freezes.
This post has been edited by meosles: 03 July 2008 - 02:37 PM
MultiQuote
Posted 29 March 2008 - 12:53 PM
Posted 29 March 2008 - 03:20 PM
..i'll just have to wait till all the ep air!!
Posted 30 March 2008 - 08:27 AM
!
poor the baby
They'd better include this line in the series. 
