Chapter 51: It was right as Cheng Jun had been covering her with the blanket that Ruan Jiu Jiu had awakened.

It was right as Cheng Jun had been covering her with the blanket that Ruan Jiu Jiu had awakened.

She had thoroughly roasted him in her mind, thinking that as expected, he was a dense straight male. He didn’t even think to tell her to move to the bed to sleep, not worrying in the slightest that sleeping on the sofa for a night might make her neck so still it fell off.

After thinking it over, Ruan Jiu Jiu decided that waking up right now might be a bit awkward and continued to pretend to be asleep. She would wait until after Cheng Jun left, and then go back to her room by herself.

She listened as the sound of Cheng Jun’s footsteps as he left stopped, and then a few seconds later, heard his footsteps come close again and the sound of his slippers against the floor as he knelt down. Ruan Jiu Jiu was still wrapped up in her assumption that this bastard was going to secretly get some snacks and was just about to catch him red-handed.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

And then right afterwards.

The short sentence left by Cheng Jun caused Ruan Jiu Jiu to be totally dumbstruck.

She didn’t dare open her eyes. Thankfully, Cheng Jun didn’t discover anything wrong with her, rather he stood back up and went back to his study.

After the lights were turned off, Ruan Jiu Jiu opened her eyes and was silent for a long time.

She passed an entire sleepless night.

“…”

The next day, Ruan Jiu Jiu got up very early. She prepared breakfast and then started getting ready to go to work. By the time Cheng Jun came out of his study, there wasn’t even a shadow of Ruan Jiu Jiu remaining in the house.

“Good heavens, what happened to you, domestic violence?” Mr. Meng’s response was very exaggerated.

Boasting a pair of heavy dark circles, Ruan Jiu Jiu’s entire manner seemed weak and spiritless and she couldn’t be bothered to continue his line of conversation. She powerlessly shook a hand. “Let me rest a little.”

Mr. Meng asked with deep concern, “How are you feeling? If you really are uncomfortable just take the day off and go back home to get some sleep.”

If she was able to fall asleep, she probably wouldn’t be in the state she was in now.

Ruan Jiu Jiu let out a long sigh.

“Never mind, it’s probably that the pressure lately has been a bit heavy so I haven’t been able to sleep well. But things should improve soon.”

“Young people shouldn’t stay up late too often.” Mr. Meng poured a cup of water and handed it over to her. “So what if there’s a lot of pressure? How about we go to an anime expo this weekend for some fun? My wife has an extra complete cosplay outfit, wanna come?”

As he said that, a strange light flashed in Mr. Meng’s eyes. He had already had several discussions with his wife on this topic, and they unanimously agreed that kidnapping Ruan Jiu Jiu to attend with them would definitely be fun. It was really dull to see young people always going around with such a serious attitude.

Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…It’s probably better if I don’t intrude on your alone time together.”

Her mind was currently in a mess. How could she summon up a leisurely attitude to to play with Mr. and Mrs. Meng?

“Oh, that’s right.”

Ruan Jiu Jiu cut into Mr. Meng’s train of thought. “Our work has pretty much reached completion.”

“Oh yeah, oh yeah, starting from this weekend we can take more time off. Really, why don’t you consider dressing up as Tsunade…”

“My stomach hurts, I’ll go ahead and go to the restroom.” Ruan Jiu Jiu resourcefully pulled the restroom excuse to get herself out of the crisis, leaving behind a disappointed Mr. Meng to slap his own mouth.

“A beauty like Teruhashi Kokomi works too ah!”

……

He didn’t know if it was just his own misconception, but lately Tu Nan always had the feeling that something was off about Sister-in-law.

When they were at work she always seemed to hide from him, and she worked even harder on her work than usual. Even when she didn’t need to do overtime she’d do overtime. Everyday she showed up early and left late, like she had been possessed by a workaholic. He specifically took some time to go looking for her. Ruan Jiu Jiu had a brush in hand and was in the middle of making corrections when Tu Nan knocked lightly on the door, and then entered.

“Sister-in-law?”

That gave Ruan Jiu Jiu a huge scare and she patted her chest to calm down before saying, “How’d you come in so suddenly?”

“I knocked on the door, but you were too focused.”

Tu Nan had a totally innocent look on his face.

“Why don’t you have any of the mannerisms of a big boss? Who’s like you and comes running over to the staff area practically everyday to chat.” Ruan Jiu Jiu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Speak, what is it.”

“This is called being in touch with the people.” Though he was only really in touch with Sister-in-law.

Tu Nan laughed mischievously before saying, “Nothing much, just seeing that you’ve been working yourself to the bone lately so came over to have a heart-to-heart conversation.”

Ruan Jiu Jiu shot him an unhappy look. “What kind of boss are you, being so concerned about your employee doing overtime?”

“More like being concerned about your guys’ marital life.”

Tu Nan took the initiative to pull out a chair for himself and sat down. He attempted to subtly extract some useful information: “We’re almost to the break, Sister-in-law and the boss must be going out for some fun?”

“Don’t make any mistaken assumptions.”

It was only when Cheng Jun’s true identity had come to light that Ruan Jiu Jiu finally cleared things up. In reality, they had helped her win the laptop, and her so-called prize of a “three day trip” was also Tu Nan’s handiwork. She had thought that when she transmigrated into a different world, she would also develop a “golden finger” like everyone else and have her good luck improve by leaps and bounds. It was only later that she found out all that luck was given to her by Cheng Jun.

When that thought came to mind, Ruan Jiu Jiu pressed her lips together and fell silent.

Tu Nan simply didn’t know that the two of them had gotten married without any feelings between them, and still thought that the couple had gotten into an argument.

He saw that there was only a month remaining until Chinese New Year, and thought that of course you must properly go out to play when you get time off. Tu Nan himself didn’t have any hopes of finding a partner and could only partake in other’s dog food by helping his boss out a bit. In a flash, Tu Nan’s misery poured out from the depths of his soul and he burst into tears: “Sister-in-law, you probably don’t know, but our entire single dog group has betrayed me. Jiao Fan and Fu Zi Cheng, those two dogs without conscience, both ran off! They’re both going to accompany their girlfriends for Chinese New Year!”

Ruan Jiu Jiu was a bit surprised. “Really, then I definitely must offer them my congratulations. But Jiao Fan—” Wasn’t he still pining after An Rou?

“He used the excuse of a business trip to chase her to the U.S.” Tu Nan clicked his tongue a few times. “Who knows what their relationship will develop into in the future.”

Ruan Jiu Jiu was astounded and couldn’t help but laugh.

“People always look towards the future.”

She should also look towards the future.

The conversation topic swerved this way and that until it totally ran off. Tu Nan had already forgotten what topic he originally wanted to discuss with Sister-in-law. He stole a few cans of beverages, a few White Rabbit milk candies, and some of Sister-in-law’s snacks and trail mix. He chatted about his thoughts towards marriage, and finally it was only under the secretary’s urging that he left, feeling completely satisfied.

Leaving Ruan Jiu Jiu’s office, Tu Nan stopped blankly. “Huh, just now what did I come here to talk about?”

His secretary stared at him, so speechless she choked. She had long gotten used to the contrast between his powerful and perfect reputation outside the company and his true personality, which was indirect and silly, reflecting on his stupid but cute husky-like nature. She let out a professional smile. “There’s still 10 minutes remaining until the videoconference begins, you should prepare for that first.”

Ruan Jiu Jiu remained seated inside her office.

She had already finished all the work she was responsible for in this period of development. If they found someone else to take over, it should be a very easy transition.

It wasn’t early in the day anymore. She leaned back in her chair and lifted her phone to scroll through everyone’s Weibo posts. A whole flock of people were waiting for her to send out dog food.

Ruan Jiu Jiu rubbed the spot between her eyebrows and posted an attachment of a hand-drawn sketch.

It was the same female warrior that was sitting on the tree last time. This time, she no longer wore a sword at her waist and on her back she carried a heavy, wrapped bundle that swung back and forth. Her hands were folded behind her head, and she chewed on a stalk of grass in her mouth as she confidently strolled towards the setting sun.

Fat Birds Fly First: Homebound.

When she returned home.

Cheng Jun happened to be coming out of the kitchen with a bottle of Yakult in his hand. The loose state of his pajamas gave his entire person a lazy look. Ruan Jiu Jiu asked in a natural manner, “What do you want to eat for dinner?”

Cheng Jun: “Manchu-Han imperial feast.”

Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…Please be more reasonable!”

“The state banquet from Nixon’s trip to China.”

“What kind of person do you take me as? A dish-ordering machine?” Ruan Jiu Jiu slapped him on the arm. “If I had that kind of talent why wouldn’t I go become a chef in a Michelin restaurant?”

Cheng Jun seemed to have discovered a new world. “Michelin…”

“Don’t even think about it.” Ruan Jiu Jiu cut him off expressionlessly.

It seemed that their topics of conversation always started from food. Finally the two of them agreed to eat dumplings. Ruan Jiu Jiu cut up the meat and vegetables and made Cheng Jun prepare them into filling while she herself made the dough for the dumpling skin. Just listening to the sound of the knife banging down on the cutting board gave the entire place a homely feeling.

By the time Ruan Jiu Jiu finished busying herself, she suddenly realized that the sound of the knife had gone quiet.

When she looked back, she immediately saw Cheng Jun with his back to her staring at the filling on the cutting board, apparently considering whether to give it a taste or not.

Ruan Jiu Jiu: “!!! You can’t eat raw meat! There are parasites in it!”

A few minutes later.

Cheng Jun who was caught red-handed, sat obediently on the chair. He watched Ruan Jiu Jiu demonstrate to him how to fold dumplings. After watching her do it a few times, he frowned, deciding it was too troublesome. Scooping out a spoonful of filing onto the circle of dough, he covered it with another dumpling skin and squashed it together within a few seconds.

Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…What are you playing at.”

Cheng Jun: “Full moon dumpling.”

Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…”

If you’re slacking off then just slack off, what kind of excuse is that?!

He quickly folded another few dumplings in the same manner. “Waxing half moon, waning half moon.”

Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…”

Once Ruan Jiu Jiu fished out the dumplings from the boiling water and deposited them onto the plate, Cheng Jun once again faintly added some bizarre comments. “Monkey fishing for the moon.”

……

……

……

The old proverbs were right. Right when you felt you couldn’t endure anymore, you had to restrain yourself again. Ruan Jiu Jiu’s mind was filled with visions from the Water Margin of Wu Song beating the Tiger and Lu Ti Xia punching Zhen Guan Xi.

Cheng Jun sported a bump on his head as he very obediently ate dumplings. He didn’t say another word regarding moon-related sayings.

Ruan Jiu Jiu ate a few bites and suddenly lost her appetite. She settled her chin on her hand as she stared at Cheng Jun. A burst of pain bubbled up from the depths of her heart. Filled with complex feelings, she felt worse than when one gulps down two bottles of bitter medicine and knows there’s still one more to go.

It was as if she had raised a puppy for a while and now had to give it away, and even took the initiative to do it herself. Saying that she could do it confidently and without care was a lie.

Cheng Jun swallowed a mouthful of dumpling and said, “So, what’s wrong?”

Contrary to the way he appeared lukewarm and slow on the outside, he actually seemed to be even more sensitive to others than one might expect. Ruan Jiu Jiu’s thoughts stopped and she replied in an ordinary tone of voice, “If you stop pissing me off so much there won’t be any problems.”

After the two of them finished dinner they ate some fruit and each of them played some games on their respective phones. They looked just like a married couple who had lost passion in their marriage and settled for a dull, ordinary relationship, in the end even sleeping separately.

Just when Ruan Jiu Jiu was about to enter the bathroom, Cheng Jun suddenly called her to a stop.

“You don’t want to talk about it?”

Ruan Jiu Jiu: “After you come home tomorrow we can discuss it.”

The next day, Cheng Jun went to the office, but Ruan Jiu Jiu had requested a day off and didn’t go to work. She pulled out a suitcase and sat on her bed in a daze. In the entire place, there weren’t actually many things that actually belonged to her.

Ruan Jiu Jiu sat for a long time, staring at her practically vacant suitcase.

For the whole day, Cheng Jun was absent minded at the office.

From time to time he glanced at his phone, his movements so obvious that Fu Zi Cheng almost couldn’t bear it anymore. “Boss, if you want to go home just go home, we can take care of the work that’s left.”

Cheng Jun: “Okay.”

Fu Zi Cheng: “???” This is where you politely decline!

Cheng Jun closed his laptop, leaving only the view of his back from behind to Fu Zi Cheng. Tu Nan, who just came in, stood blankly before asking Fu Zi Cheng, “Where’s the boss going? Don’t we need to work overtime today?”

Fu Zi Cheng’s entire face was doused in bitterness. “That’s right, and now we need to work even more overtime.”

Tu Nan: “?”

Cheng Jun took a car directly home.

When he walked out to the ground floor and looked up, he noticed that the lights in Ruan Jiu Jiu’s room were off. It looked like things were totally dark inside, giving him a bad premonition. He couldn’t help but speed up his steps. When he opened the door, the lights in the kitchen weren’t on either. The house was full of things like it didn’t lack anything, yet it was also totally empty like it didn’t have anything inside.

His steps slowed down.

On the tea table were placed two documents, written in black and white. To his shock, it was the divorce agreements. Ruan Jiu Jiu’s name was signed neatly, and above it she wrote that she voluntarily renounced all her claims to any property.

Lastly, Ruan Jiu Jiu had left a short and simple note.

[Sorry, but let us part without any hard feelings. My resignation letter for the company will be sent over, I can only trouble you and Tu Nan to look for a new person again. Take care of yourself, don’t eat too much junk food.

One last thing: Cheng Jun, don’t go looking for me. I won’t be your chef anymore.]

Ruan Jiu Jiu was terrified.

She knew that she was easily coaxed but not coerced. If Cheng Jun showed her his soft and weak side again, she really would make another misstep.

She could only take advantage of Cheng Jun’s absence to secretly slip away, avoiding the awkwardness of bringing up divorce to his face.

“…”

There wasn’t any expression on Cheng Jun’s face. His face was as white as a sheet, contrasting sharply against the blackness of his pupils, yet he didn’t seem upset in the slightest.

He walked over to Ruan Jiu Jiu’s room and turned on the lights.

The room didn’t seem any different from usual. She hadn’t taken much with her when she left, and even the little pieces of jewelry, scarves and whatnot on the dressing table remained in place, undisturbed.

He stood rigidly in place, like he was deep in thought, yet also like he was staring vacantly without realizing the significance of what had transpired.

He took his phone out and bent his finger. After a long, silent pause, he dialed Ruan Jiu Jiu’s number.

The sweet and pleasant voice of the service lady sounded. “We’re sorry, the phone you dialed has been disconnected…”

When he sent a message on Wechat, a notice popped up that he wasn’t friends with the other person.

A crash sounded.

The phone fell onto the floor.