"Besides, even if the child hadn’t been lost, who could guarantee it would have been a son? What if it were a daughter? It’s one thing for young mistresses of wealthy families to risk their lives to have a son for status. But why would a ’mistress’ do the same? Wouldn’t that be a joke? But she couldn’t discuss this with Xu Xiaoya, so she changed the subject. The two chatted casually for a while. Before parting, Yan Xixi reminded her once more, "Xiaoya, you must love yourself first. No matter what you do in the future, always consider your own needs first. You need to use that money wisely. Don’t squander it, and certainly don’t spend it on any other man." Xu Xiaoya gave a playful salute. "Yes, ma’am!" "I’ll be checking your bank account in a while. If you give that money to your family or anyone else, I won’t let you off the hook." Xu Xiaoya hugged her waist. "Xixi, you’re the one who loves me most." Yan Xixi forced a bitter smile. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Xu Xiaoya that in just a few days, this shop might no longer belong to ’Yan Xixi.’ As long as a woman had some money of her own, she wouldn’t end up too badly off. If she didn’t make plans now, was she going to go back to being a salon girl like before? The sun was setting, its afterglow spilling onto the clusters of red bougainvillea, edging the common blossoms with a brilliant golden light. Nearby stood rows of Phoenix Trees, currently in their blooming season, entirely covered in small golden flowers that formed a magnificent, unbroken canopy of color. Yan Xixi paused in the floral pavilion, truly taking the time to appreciate the surrounding beauty for the first time. Opposite stood the villa, with its pointed roof, green tiles, and red windows. Pigeons cooed on the rooftop. Its design was exquisite, well worth its exorbitant price. She’d been living here for a year or two without even realizing it. She sat in the pavilion for a long time before heading back. A strong smell of alcohol filled the bedroom. Standing at the doorway, Yan Xixi’s heart began to race, as if gripped by a sense of foreboding. She didn’t hesitate for long, bracing herself before walking in. Wan Donglin was on the sofa. Beside him sat an ashtray, smoke curling around him, and an almost empty wine bottle. At his feet lay a neatly packed box, which contained some of Yan Xixi’s small personal belongings. He was staring intently at this box, seemingly oblivious to her entry. Yan Xixi’s gaze, however, shifted to the table in front of him. It was covered with things: tiger-head baby shoes, a large red swaddling cloth, bells, rattle drums—all sorts of little toys. A large bag, entirely filled with items he had bought for their child. Since the miscarriage, these things had been stored away in a cupboard, never taken out. Why would he bring them out now? A chill inexplicably ran down Yan Xixi’s spine. Yet, he acted as if no one else was there, completely unaware she had come in. Yan Xixi had to be the one to speak first. Affecting an air of ’Yan Yuese,’ she asked, "Mr. Wan, have you had dinner yet?" "Shall I make a few dishes for you?" He gave no answer, so she took the opportunity to retreat. That night, she put in a great deal of effort, carefully selecting ingredients and cooking four dishes and a soup—all of Wan Donglin’s favorites. She also took pains with the dessert, a mango mousse recipe she had recently learned. After preparing it, she tasted it herself to ensure it was delicious. A crisp white tablecloth was laid with exquisite tableware. It had been a very long time since the two of them had sat down to eat together . ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel⸺fire.net She washed her hands, changed her clothes, and made sure she didn’t smell of cooking oil before going to him. "Mr. Wan, dinner is served." He didn’t refuse, but merely picked up his bowl and ate in silence.