Chapter 66.2

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Qiao Ziman paused for a moment. Not again, she thought, before quickly stepping in to separate the two. “Stop fighting already. Aren’t you both moms enough?”

Both women huffed loudly and turned away from each other. Qiao Ziman tried to smooth things over and headed back upstairs. Halfway along, she heard clapping from behind her.

He Cuizhen said proudly, “Thanks to my cleverness.”

Qiao Ziman looked back and teased, “Mom, you could be a little louder.”

“So…” she began, then continued, “Do you two have something you’re keeping from me?”

He Cuizhen dodged her gaze. “What secret could we possibly have?” She tugged at Chi Qilan, and the two walked over to the sofa.

The five of them sat in a row, completely treating Qiao Ziman as if she were invisible.

Qiao Ziman didn’t say a word. Instead, she lowered her head and went back upstairs, pondering the strange behavior of everyone over the past few days. In the end, I’ve come to one conclusion—I must be getting isolated, she thought.

Before she knew it, time had moved on to Christmas, and that day also welcomed the first snowfall of winter.

Glittering snowflakes fluttered down from the sky, blanketing the entire city in a delicate wash of white. Chi Yin gently patted the snow off Qiao Ziman’s coat, clearing away the remnants before retrieving a hanger and carefully hanging it up. Only then did she return to the sofa, turning to gaze at Qiao Ziman, who was diligently at work.

Qiao Ziman wore a crisp white blouse buttoned up to the penultimate button, revealing an elegant neck and the graceful line of her collarbones. Paired with high-waisted suit pants and slender high heels, she exuded an austere yet sophisticated charm. Today, Qiao Qiao looked utterly enticing. Chi Yin’s throat involuntarily rolled.

Sensing that heated gaze, Qiao Ziman turned her head and raised her lips in a questioning smile. “What’s wrong?”

Nothing, just a little desire to kiss… even more, she thought.

Chi Yin asked, “Why are you wearing glasses too?”

In an instant, Qiao Ziman saw right through her thoughts. “Learned from you—anti-blue light glasses,” she replied with a deepening smile. Rising, she stepped toward Chi Yin, removed her own glasses, and with one hand, reached for the air conditioner remote, turning up the temperature a few degrees.

Chi Yin leaned back slightly, her grip on the sofa tightening unconsciously. “Qiao Qiao, what are you planning to do?”

Qiao Ziman’s fingers trailed over the buttons on Chi Yin’s blouse. In a few shallow breaths, most of the fabric slipped away, exposing her skin. Chi Yin’s ears tinged with a soft blush as her eyes shifted toward the tightly closed door.

“Qiao Qiao, this is the office,” she whispered in a hushed reminder.

Dropping to her knees, Qiao Ziman replied, “I locked the door.”

“But—” Chi Yin began, but before she could finish, Qiao Ziman pressed her lower lip against Chi Yin’s, silencing her protest. Moments later, she pulled back, a slender, glistening smile curving her lips. 

“The office isn’t very soundproof,” she murmured. “Try to keep it down.” 

With that, Qiao Ziman lowered her head again, her fingers threading through her hair as Chi Yin bit her lip, struggling to contain herself.

***

Half an hour later, Qiao Ziman retrieved a wet wipe and began dabbing at the water stains on the sofa. Suddenly, the phone on the desk buzzed. Chi Yin shot a glance at Qiao Ziman, and when she wasn’t watching, quickly snatched the phone to check the message.

Qiao Ziman turned and noticed how intently Chi Yin was staring at the screen. “What are you looking at so seriously?” she asked, a hint of curiosity in her tone.

For a moment, Chi Yin’s hand froze before she regained her composure and smiled. “Just a message from a marketing account,” she explained.

Qiao Ziman raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” she replied, half-convinced.

Chi Yin tilted the phone slightly away, her fingers darting over the keyboard as she quickly typed a reply—to a jewelry designer.

Qiao Ziman squinted. “Yin Yin, lately I’ve had the feeling that you—and Mom and the others—are acting a bit off.”

Chi Yin remained expressionless. “You’re overthinking.”

“Honesty brings leniency, resistance brings harsh consequences. You know what happens if you hide things from me.”

After dressing, Chi Yin walked out. “Of course I know,” she replied, and then added, “Qiao Qiao, I’m not coming to work with you today; I need to check out the restaurant.” 

She pushed open the door and stepped out. A belated wave of nervousness washed over her. Leaning against the office wall, Chi Yin panted heavily. I was terrified; I almost got caught, she thought.

After work, Qiao Ziman first went to the flower shop downstairs and bought a bouquet of bright red roses. The shop owner recognized her immediately.

“Girl, it’s you again. This time, I’ll give you a 12% discount.”

Qiao Ziman took the beautifully wrapped roses and smiled politely. “Thank you, boss. By the way, do you have a greeting card?”

“Yes,” the owner replied as he fetched a blank card and handed her a marker. “For your boyfriend?”

Qiao Ziman accepted the card, found a flat surface to place it, and looked up to correct him, “It’s for my girlfriend.”

“Oh, my apologies, my apologies,” the owner said repeatedly, then added, “I wish you both happiness.”

A smile welled up in Qiao Ziman’s eyes. “Thank you.”

She stared at the blank greeting card, lost in thought for a full five minutes before finally picking up the pen. Before long, two delicate silhouettes took shape on the page—tall, elegant, with flowing hair.

It was them.

Grown up.

Even as adults, they still held hands, their gazes locked with deep affection, their smiles warm and radiant.

With steady strokes, she carefully wrote their names beneath the sketch.

[Qiao Ziman & Chi Yin]

[Grateful for our reunion]

“Thanks, boss.”

Leaving the flower shop, Qiao Ziman walked home with a light, almost buoyant step.

The moment she stepped into the yard, she immediately noticed the Christmas tree by the entrance, twinkling under a cascade of multicolored lights. It was covered in a medley of ornaments—no doubt Jiang Shu’s handiwork.

Her gaze shifted to the front door. A row of bright red lanterns hung above it, alongside two bold, unmistakable double happiness symbols in brilliant crimson.

Qiao Ziman stopped in her tracks. 

…Seriously?