After breakfast, Cecilia Ye sat idly for a while, then suddenly scooped up Zao Zao and headed out the door.
She had the driver take her to the duplex where she used to live. Since Xavier Fostern wouldn't let her sleep anywhere else, she figured she might as well move back here. It was a good chance to get used to living on her own ahead of time.
She set Zao Zao down and looked around. The place was spotless—someone must come by to clean it regularly. Only the fridge was empty, its contents likely cleared out to prevent spoilage.
While Zao Zao circled at her feet, Cecilia Ye found the kibble she’d bought last time and fed the pup a little. After tidying up, she got ready to head downstairs and buy groceries.
Qinghe Residences was located downtown. Its name might sound ordinary, but it wasn't a place just anyone could afford. The neighborhood was an oasis from the city’s bustle: one house per building, duplexes on the top floor only. It was incredibly convenient, with a residents-only supermarket right inside the community.
Cecilia Ye had never been there before, so she ambled down the path to take a look.
The weather was bright and clear. A petite girl made her way down the road. Though it was bitterly cold after the snow, the sunlight now bathed her in a golden halo. The sidewalks had already been cleared of snow.
On either side, the streetlamps were designed like magnolia blossoms—they looked beautiful.
Cecilia Ye bundled herself in her scarf and hat, wearing a light camel overcoat, looking both sweet and pretty.
Perhaps because it was a workday morning, the supermarket was nearly empty, but stocked with everything. The fruits and vegetables were all imported and exceptionally fresh, perfectly matching the lifestyle of such an upscale neighborhood.
She was careful, only picking nutritious things she knew how to cook. Nothing too heavy; the market was so close, she could always come back for more.
Groceries in hand, Cecilia Ye walked home slowly.
At the sound of the door, Zao Zao scampered over at once.
"Zao Zao, play by yourself for a bit, okay? Or go sunbathe on the balcony. I need to put things away first."
The apartment was warm. She took off her coat and began putting groceries in the fridge, item by item.
Seeing the empty shelves, Cecilia Ye remembered the time Xavier Fostern had picked crab meat for her under the lamp.
She smiled faintly. It’s fine, she thought. From now on, besides Zao Zao, she’d have a baby too.
She wouldn’t be lonely.
When she finished, she sat in a lounge chair by the floor-to-ceiling windows to soak in the sun. The doctor said that getting plenty of sunlight was good for her.
Outside was a huge rooftop garden and a swimming pool. The snow blanketed the greenery, making it look icy cold; she'd rather stay inside where it was warm.
Zao Zao let out little whimpers, begging to be held.
Cecilia Ye scooped the pup onto her lap, stroking its soft belly and whispered,
"Zao Zao, you can't keep getting fatter. I have a baby in my belly now—if you get too heavy, I won’t be able to carry you anymore."
Zao Zao’s dark, shiny eyes gazed up at her, its tail wagging as if it understood, then nuzzled against her stomach.
Cecilia Ye beamed, "What, you really understand what I’m saying?"
She happily ruffled Zao Zao’s head.
*
Xavier Fostern was very busy and hadn’t come home to sleep that night.
The office lounge was set to the right temperature, but he still felt cold, as though something was missing when he tried to sleep.
Of course, he had no idea his little wife had already left home.
Not until the next morning did he get a call from the Fu family’s maid: Madam had taken Zao Zao out yesterday and still hadn’t returned.
Instantly, Xavier Fostern saw red. He strode out of the lounge, water still dripping from his freshly washed face, and dialed Cecilia Ye’s number.
Just then there was a knock at the office door. Henry Hart came in. Usually the CEO was up and ready at this time...
He composed himself and said earnestly, "President Foster, this morning’s meeting..."
"You handle it," Xavier Fostern snapped, not even looking up. Judging by the tone, he had no intention of attending.
Still in his dark blue pajamas, he leaned against the desk and called Cecilia Ye.
After a few rings, she answered, still heavy with sleep. "Hello...?"
"Where are you?"
Cecilia Ye recognized his voice and patted her forehead. How did she forget to tell the maid where she was staying? But if Xavier Fostern was phoning only now, he must have stayed at the office last night.
"I’m at Qinghe Residences... Uh, sorry, I forgot to tell them yesterday."
Xavier Fostern let out a breath of relief—at least he knew where she was now. "Why did you go there?"
"It’s quiet here..."
Cecilia Ye fabricated an excuse. Warm under the covers, she grew sleepy again, her voice growing softer as she spoke.
Xavier Fostern hung up and glanced at Henry Hart, who was still standing nearby, frowning as if to ask, "Why are you still here?"
Henry Hart, noting his boss’s sour mood, wisely took his leave.
Xavier Fostern went back to the lounge, changed his clothes, grabbed his car keys, and headed out.
Cecilia Ye dozed for a bit longer. But her stomach soon growled—she was starving—and suddenly she craved soy milk. Specifically, the thick, hot kind with red dates, just like Yun Yi used to make.
Unable to resist, she dragged herself up. There should be a soy milk maker in the kitchen.
Twenty minutes later, Xavier Fostern opened the door to the sound of a blender whirring furiously—and Cecilia Ye’s startled yelp.
He tossed aside his keys, didn’t even bother changing his shoes, and rushed straight to the kitchen.
Cecilia Ye was pressed against the fridge, keeping a wide berth. White foam was erupting from the blender on the countertop, the machine buzzing incessantly. The rich aroma of beans and a hint of red dates filled the air.
Seeing Xavier Fostern, Cecilia Ye froze. At this hour, wasn’t he supposed to be busy at work?
Xavier Fostern frowned, crossed the kitchen in a few quick strides, and pulled the plug.
The annoying noise cut off at once.
He looked at Cecilia Ye, standing motionless by the fridge like a guilty child, clutching a spoon to her chest. Her eyes were anxious. She had followed the instructions! How did things end up like this?
The boiling soy milk kept bubbling over with a loud noise.
"Um... I didn’t do it on purpose."
Xavier Fostern set one hand on the fridge and looked down at Cecilia Ye.
His imposing frame blocked her view, his faint woody cologne drifted over. Cecilia Ye blinked up at him, then looked down at her toes.
Xavier Fostern tilted her chin, making her meet his gaze. He hadn’t even taken off his coat and was still carrying the chill from outside.
"Is this how you live by yourself?" he asked, his tone a little mocking.
Cecilia Ye bristled. "No, this was an accident! I just wanted red date soy milk—the kind Aunt Whitney makes. But this machine wouldn’t cooperate."
Xavier Fostern rolled his eyes at her feeble complaints.
He glanced at Cecilia Ye, surprised to hear her say so much at once. He couldn’t help but smile. Then he took off his coat and handed it to her.
Rolling up the sleeves of his black shirt, he bent to fish out the now half-soaked instruction manual from the countertop.
Cecilia Ye hung his coat on the rack by the door, then joined him for a look.
His rolled up sleeves exposed his lean, sinewy forearms, faint veins tracing beneath the skin. He flipped through the small manual, as serious as if it were a business contract.
After reading the instructions and peering into the still unground beans in the machine, he couldn’t help but chuckle. He dumped the batch out into the sink.
"Hey..." Cecilia Ye tried to stop him, but it was already too late.
Xavier Fostern rinsed the blender casually. "This batch’s no good. Grab a towel and wipe up."
Though she was annoyed, Cecilia Ye obediently wiped up the spilled mess.
Xavier Fostern refilled the machine with the red dates and beans she’d prepared, added water in the correct ratio according to the manual, and set it going.
"Come on, it’ll be done soon," he said.
Cecilia Ye eyed the blender warily, not quite convinced. "Will it really work this time? It won’t—"
Xavier Fostern’s cold stare cut her off abruptly.
"Why did you move over here by yourself?" he asked from behind.
"I wanted to live on my own for a while. Like I said yesterday—I just don’t want... that."
"That? You mean, you don’t want to sleep with me?"
Cecilia Ye’s cheeks reddened. She turned and nodded.
Xavier Fostern took a long stride, his tall frame drawing close. She instinctively edged back until she bumped against the dining table.
Perhaps finding it tiring to keep looking down at Cecilia Ye while standing, Xavier Fostern braced both hands on the table, leaning in.
Being rejected over and over by this little woman was starting to test his patience.