8

"Eh?"

Under the clear blue sky, Lin Xin suddenly stumbled and fell forward, her own face betraying a look of surprise.

Ye Linghua froze for a moment. Her body reacted faster than her thoughts, and she rushed forward to catch her.

In that instant, time seemed to slow down, every movement becoming vividly clear. Ye Linghua saw Lin Xin's panicked eyes, while Lin Xin caught the bewildered look in Ye Linghua's.

As they drew closer, Ye Linghua stretched out her arms, and Lin Xin instinctively clung to her. Feeling Lin Xin nestled against her, Ye Linghua tightened her hold, securing Lin Xin's waist.

Through the thin fabric of Lin Xin's shirt, Ye Linghua could easily feel the warmth and smoothness of her skin.

Simultaneously, Lin Xin's slender arms wrapped tightly around Ye Linghua's neck.

Ye Linghua could even feel the rapid thudding of her heart, a reflection of her fear.

Against her face, Lin Xin's soft hair brushed gently, tickling slightly. The faint floral scent of her shampoo wafted to Ye Linghua's nose.

Lin Xin relaxed against her, tightening her embrace just a little more.

Then came the inevitable force of the fall, which pushed them both back several steps until they collapsed to the ground, still clinging to one another.

The pain lasted only a moment. Ye Linghua endured the scrapes and took a deep breath before looking at Lin Xin.

But Lin Xin didn't immediately move. She remained nestled in Ye Linghua's neck, her soft cheek pressed against her skin.

Ye Linghua endured the sensation and called out in a low voice, "Lin Xin?"

Her tone was gentle, filled with concern. Instead of answering, Lin Xin burrowed even deeper.

It wasn't just the embarrassment of falling twice in front of the same person. It was also the warmth of Ye Linghua's arms—a sensation Zheng Lanwen had never given her.

Being tightly held like this felt like a sweetness she didn't want to let go of. It was an unearned temptation that sparked a sudden greed in her heart.

If only… she were mine.

"Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

Just as she had done the last time Lin Xin fell, Ye Linghua's tone was filled with genuine concern.

This snapped Lin Xin back to reality. She realized that, at her most vulnerable, she had simply sought warmth.

But people needed to be strong.

Lin Xin lifted her head from Ye Linghua's embrace, shaking it lightly. "I'm fine."

She stood up, realizing she was still clutching the red umbrella tightly.

At that moment, the umbrella felt unusually heavy, making it difficult to hand over. It no longer felt so easy to sever the last thread of connection between them, to simply tell her to leave.

Ye Linghua also stood up, her injuries from earlier still evident—a bruised forehead and a minor burn on her right hand, now mostly healed.

Lin Xin looked her over from head to toe, feeling the unfamiliarity between them. She realized she had no real reason to ask her to stay.

Reluctantly, she extended the umbrella, thinking to herself that living alone wasn't impossible. It was just a matter of getting used to it.

"I couldn't book a plane ticket..."

To Lin Xin's surprise, Ye Linghua easily found a reason to speak up.

Lin Xin froze, then smiled and looked up at her. Under the sunlight, her smile was more sincere than ever.

"Then… stay for one more night?"

Ye Linghua's peach blossom-shaped eyes curved into crescents as she smiled back. "I'll trouble you, then."

Lin Xin found herself genuinely liking Ye Linghua. She was warm, and people who smiled often couldn't be that bad.

A single smile could warm an entire spring and heal a heart riddled with scars.

* * * *

On their way back, neither of them said much. Ye Linghua twirled the red umbrella in her hand, spinning it gracefully like a prop in a performance.

Lin Xin was momentarily stunned by the display. She widened her eyes and asked, "How do you know how to do that?"

Ye Linghua chuckled. "I learned it, of course."

Lin Xin nodded in amazement and began sharing her own experience. "I once acted in a historical drama where the director required me to twirl a sword like that. But I couldn't get it right and got scolded for it, haha." She laughed at herself.

But Ye Linghua didn't laugh along. Instead, she said seriously, "But you practiced for days and nailed the scene with a perfect score, didn't you?"

Lin Xin was stunned. She hadn't expected Ye Linghua to know that.

For a moment, her mind raced with possibilities. Embarrassed, she asked, "Are you a fan of mine?"

"No." Ye Linghua replied so quickly that Lin Xin's smile instantly disappeared.

Realizing her mistake, Ye Linghua hesitated, clicking her tongue in frustration.

When they returned to the villa, the awkwardness lingered, though it began to fade.

Lin Xin noticed Ye Linghua's arm, now scraped from catching her earlier. Feeling guilty, Lin Xin realized how often Ye Linghua seemed to get hurt during her brief time here.

Forgetting for a moment that she had hired Ye Linghua as a housekeeper, Lin Xin even went so far as to help her put the umbrella back on the stand.

Turning to her, she asked, "Are you hungry?"

Ye Linghua smiled and shook her head. "Not hungry."

Back in the living room, Ye Linghua noticed a few plates of refreshments and three cups of tea on the table by the glass doors.

But the tea had long since gone cold after the day's commotion.

Ye Linghua glanced at the setup and asked, "Were you planning to have a proper talk with her today?"

Lin Xin looked at her but didn't answer.

Ye Linghua sighed apologetically. "I'm sorry. I just wanted her to treat you with more respect."

Looking back on it, she realized that their issues were none of her business. She had only intended to keep Lin Xin company, to help her through her pain, and prevent her from hurting herself over a period of years.

She had never planned to intervene in their relationship or make decisions for Lin Xin.

But seeing Lin Xin, such a beautiful and kind person, so blatantly unappreciated had made it impossible to hold back.

"I shouldn't have—"

"Thank you," Lin Xin interrupted, cutting off Ye Linghua's apology.

Looking back on the confrontation that afternoon, Lin Xin realized how much Ye Linghua had stood up for her.

She didn't need to apologize.

Ye Linghua was taken aback and turned to look at Lin Xin, who smiled and said, "Thank you for standing up for me earlier."

The tension in Ye Linghua's chest eased, and she smiled in relief. "No need to thank me."

That evening, Lin Xin took it upon herself to cook dinner. Though the two didn't talk much, they shared a peaceful atmosphere.

It was as if nothing had happened that afternoon.

* * * *

Later that night, back in her room, Ye Linghua pulled out her phone, groaning at the sight of over a dozen missed calls.

Opening WeChat, she found the group chat [Who Can Stay Silent After Seeing This] in an uproar with 99+ messages.

[A Melancholy Ending: Is there no justice? Calling me during lunch to book a plane ticket—do I look like an assistant?]

[Musical Spirit: Who is it?]

[A Melancholy Ending: Who else? Our group leader!]

[Poison: Hahaha, so did you book it?]

[A Melancholy Ending: Book it? They hung up on me and ignored me for hours! Get back here and pay me for the ticket!]

[Gone in a Flash: Maybe they blocked you. You are pretty noisy.]

[A Melancholy Ending: What do you mean?! Are you all ganging up on me now? Do you think I'm easy to bully? Grrrr, I'll bite you all!]

The chat was flooded with laughter and teasing after that, but Ye Linghua didn't bother reading it all and exited the app.

That night, she slept soundly.

As for Lin Xin, knowing that Zheng Lanwen had returned home without stirring any trouble or making any harmful public moves, she also fell into a peaceful sleep.

* * * *

Ye Linghua woke to the sound of birdsong. Blinking up at the unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar ceiling, she paused before remembering where she was.

Sitting up in bed, she glanced around the empty room and sighed. She had managed to stay one more day—now what excuse could she use today?

Her phone buzzed again, and Ye Linghua guessed it was Ye Fang. After ignoring her all day yesterday, she decided to answer.

Sure enough, Ye Fang didn't hold back and immediately launched into a tirade. "What the hell are you playing at? I booked your ticket yesterday, even went to the airport to wait for you! How dare you!"

Ye Linghua put the call on speaker, tossed her phone onto the bed, and began getting dressed. "I read the chat logs in the group yesterday. Are you sure you went to the airport?"

Ye Fang faltered. "…You had time to check the group chat but couldn't answer my call?"

Ye Linghua smirked. "Who said I didn't have time?"

Ye Fang's exasperated wail echoed through the phone. "Aaaaah! What do you mean?!"

Ye Linghua couldn't help but laugh but still reassured her, "I'll treat you to a meal when I get back. You won't lose out."

Ye Fang responded stubbornly, "No. Just tell me what you've been doing, and I'll let you off the hook for the meal."

Hearing this, Ye Linghua paused. She hadn't told anyone around her why she was looking for Lin Xin. Without a solid reason, she didn't want to make something up to deceive them.

From the start, she had only intended to accompany Lin Xin through this difficult time, not planning to stay by her side for years.

She simply wanted to be there during her hardest moments. Once Lin Xin could face things with ease, she would leave.

It wasn't meant to take too long, so Ye Linghua had never planned on letting those close to her know about it.

But now, thinking about it, Lin Xin was… far more wonderful than she had expected.

With a sigh, Ye Linghua said, "I'll still treat you to a meal."

Ye Fang muttered, "...Hmph, being all secretive."

After hanging up, Ye Linghua washed up thoroughly and changed back into the outfit she had worn when she arrived. Only then did she head downstairs.

That morning, Lin Xin had risen especially early. Even though Ye Linghua was already an early riser, by the time she came downstairs, Lin Xin had prepared a simple Western-style breakfast.

At that moment, Ye Linghua truly felt that, as a housekeeper, she was utterly incompetent. Although she wasn't technically here as a housekeeper anymore, the reason she had stayed felt too flimsy.

She rubbed her chin, wondering if she should find her friend to teach her some cooking skills.

When Lin Xin saw Ye Linghua coming downstairs, she paused briefly at the sight of her wearing the same clothes as the day she arrived.

Lowering her head, Lin Xin said in a calm voice, "Come eat."

Ye Linghua smiled warmly and sat across from her.

The two ate in silence. The fresh morning air carried the unique scent of forest greenery, accompanied by the crisp chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind. It was a peaceful and tranquil morning.

But no matter how beautiful the moment, it couldn't be frozen in time. Breakfast, too, passed quickly in the flow of time.

As Ye Linghua dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, Lin Xin knew the time for them to part had arrived.

"Thank you for letting me stay last night." Ye Linghua's every gesture carried an innate elegance, making it hard for Lin Xin to associate her with an ordinary housekeeper.

Lin Xin nodded slightly. Ye Linghua glanced at the time on her phone and added, "I have to go. Otherwise, I'll miss my flight."

Lin Xin nodded silently. Ye Linghua gave her a deep look before standing and walking toward the door.

At that moment, the world seemed to fall quiet. Lin Xin watched Ye Linghua's retreating figure as she walked to the entryway, picked up the red umbrella from the stand, and turned back to look at her.

That gaze seemed both evaluative and final, as if it carried a sense of farewell, causing Lin Xin's heart to tighten.

They were just strangers, after all. It wasn't as though they couldn't part.

But the thought of separating like this left Lin Xin feeling a pang of unwillingness. She had no complaints about Ye Linghua. She had been by her side during the hardest days. This house… still needed someone to keep her company.

So why couldn't it be her?

Why did she have to find someone else? Even if she wasn't a perfect housekeeper and lacked many skills, wasn't Lin Xin's satisfaction what mattered most?

She didn't lack capable housekeepers.

She genuinely enjoyed having Ye Linghua around, so…

Lin Xin abruptly stood up, startling Ye Linghua. Standing in the entryway, Ye Linghua turned to her with a curious look. "Lin Xin?"

Lin Xin placed her hands on the table, her head bowed as if in thought. After a moment, she suddenly raised her voice, asking, "Can you… can you even find work when you go back?"

Ye Linghua froze, staring at Lin Xin as a faint blush crept up her neck and spread to her face. Then she suddenly smiled knowingly.

Meanwhile, Lin Xin was internally screaming at herself: Ahhh! Why did I say that?! Why couldn't I just say what I meant?! What if she actually finds a job?

She was utterly frustrated with herself for finally gathering the courage to speak, only to completely miss the point.

Overwhelmed by a mix of embarrassment and self-loathing, Lin Xin's face turned bright red.

Watching her, Ye Linghua felt her heart soften. She laughed lightly and replied, "No."

Her voice was gentle, like a melody, as if she understood exactly what Lin Xin was hoping to hear. And Ye Linghua didn't want to disappoint her.

She couldn't understand how Zheng Lanwen could have been so cruel to Lin Xin. Beautiful like an angel, with a lovable personality, Lin Xin's lack of straightforwardness only made her more endearing. How could anyone bear to let her down or see her disappointed?

Unaware of how much warmth she exuded, Ye Linghua's tone carried a subtle fondness, accompanied by a faint smile.

Lin Xin was momentarily stunned. The chaotic thoughts in her mind dissipated as she abruptly looked up at Ye Linghua.

There she stood in the entryway, holding the red umbrella, her smile as serene as ripples on a wind-touched lake. Her focused gaze felt like a tender green patch in a spring mountain. Lin Xin felt her face grow hot again, her heart skipping a beat.

Seeing Lin Xin's gaze fixed on her, Ye Linghua's smile deepened. She reminded her, "I really can't. After all, as you know, I can't cook."

Lin Xin snapped back to reality and laughed. "Oh! That's true!" Who else would hire someone like her but me?

Thinking this, Lin Xin finally felt at ease. Still blushing slightly, she shyly proposed, "Since you won't have work if you go back, and it'd be a waste of money on the plane ticket, why not stay and work here?"

She fidgeted with her hands, sneaking glances at Ye Linghua while adding, "I'll reimburse you for the ticket. You know I'm rich, and you won't find a boss as generous as me."

Ye Linghua glanced at the umbrella in her hand, then gently placed it back in the stand. Walking slowly toward Lin Xin, she said, "But I really can't cook."

Lin Xin quickly replied, "You can learn!"

Ye Linghua hummed in agreement, nodding. "Alright, I'll learn seriously, boss."

The last word seemed to roll playfully off her tongue, carrying a teasing undertone that made Lin Xin's heart flutter.

She forced herself to stay calm, then smiled back at Ye Linghua. "Don't worry, you won't regret staying with me."

Ye Linghua never denied her. "I trust you."

Lin Xin couldn't help but smile, her mood brightening. Ye Linghua truly had a knack for making people happy. Even with just a few simple words, she could bring joy.

A person like this… I'm so glad I convinced her to stay.

At that moment, Lin Xin had already forgotten about Zheng Lanwen's sudden midday visit the day before—and all the unpleasant words she had said.

* * * *

Meng Kelin only heard about Zheng Lanwen's visit to Lin Xin a few days later and angrily called Zheng Lanwen's company to complain.

Then she drove to Lin Xin's house, worried about her.

Meng Kelin had never approved of Lin Xin's relationship with Zheng Lanwen. While fans outside the industry shipped Zheng Lanwen with Lin Wan, insiders knew the two had actually been together.

When Lin Wan left Zheng Lanwen and went abroad, why had she done so?

Meng Kelin sneered. A little investigation would reveal the answer. With Lin Wan's baby face, how could she have advanced in the industry?

The entertainment world wasn't devoid of stars with baby faces, but in today's market, how many of them actually made it big?

Lin Wan had wanted to carve out a place for herself with that face, but it required far more effort than most.

Unfortunately, Lin Wan lacked patience. After a few failed attempts, she abandoned Zheng Lanwen and went abroad.

Zheng Lanwen fell into a slump, and it was during that time Lin Xin had taken her in.

Back then, Zheng Lanwen had been a nobody, yet she had the audacity to act superior around Lin Xin. It was infuriating to think about. Even now, after their divorce, she still had the nerve to come back?

And Lin Xin? What was wrong with her? Why did she let herself get tangled up with trash like Zheng Lanwen?

The more Meng Kelin thought about it, the angrier and more anxious she became. She worried Lin Xin was sulking alone at home. She had wanted Lin Xin to rest at home after her statement, not deal with Zheng Lanwen's nonsense.

Driving quickly to Lin Xin's gated community, Meng Kelin was let in without issue by the security guards, who recognized her. Lin Xin had previously authorized her unrestricted access.

When she arrived at the villa, she noticed something unusual.

On the balcony of the room where Zheng Lanwen used to stay, there were clothes hanging out to dry.

Meng Kelin: "???"

She didn't overthink it, assuming Lin Xin had tidied up the room and washed Zheng Lanwen's clothes.

Even after the divorce, she's doing this?

Fuming, Meng Kelin used her key to enter the villa, ready to confront Lin Xin.

But as she burst in, her anger froze on her face.

The villa wasn't the dark, messy place she had imagined. It was bright and orderly, filled with a faint floral fragrance.

And that wasn't the most shocking part.

In the dining area, Lin Xin was leaning against the table, facing a woman standing close in front of her.

From Meng Kelin's angle, she could only see the back of the woman, who was leaning closer toward Lin Xin's shocked face.

It almost looked like… she was about to kiss her?

Meng Kelin's voice broke through the tension. "What are you two doing?!"

Both women froze. Lin Xin stared blankly before turning her head toward Meng Kelin. The woman standing before her, Ye Linghua, also turned around and offered a polite smile. "Hello."

Meng Kelin finally saw what was happening. Both women were wearing kitchen aprons. Ye Linghua's apron, clothes, and even her hands were covered in white flour, with a few smudges on her face.

But none of that could hide her graceful demeanor and clean beauty.

Oh, they were cooking.

Realizing she had misunderstood, Meng Kelin felt relieved. Lin Xin hadn't been wallowing in despair after all.

Lin Xin had already pushed Ye Linghua aside and was walking toward Meng Kelin.

"Ms. Meng," Lin Xin greeted.

The other woman followed closely behind, greeting her as well. "Hello, Ms. Meng. My name is Ye Linghua. I'm… the new housekeeper."

Oh? Ohhh.

Meng Kelin felt completely at ease. A housekeeper, cooking in the kitchen. That's perfectly normal.

Then she casually asked, "What were you two doing just now?"

Ye Linghua smiled faintly. "Xin Xin was teaching me how to cook."

Lin Xin: "..."

Meng Kelin's smile froze. "???" Xin Xin?

No, wait—the important part is… teaching?

Didn't this person just say… she was the housekeeper?