Chapter 5
Translated by newbienoona
Edited by anks
Last night’s painful memories rush back into Mage’s head .
On the other hand, Nangong Zifei acts standoffish, his tone, insipid . “Last night… was I drunk?”
Mage tugs on the blanket and wraps it around her body as she sits up . Her thin shoulders start shaking as she tries to stop herself from crying .
He was so drunk last night that he thought she was An Chuxia . She wanted him to wake up, but he ignored her pleas . The most heartbreaking part of it all was how he kissed her so tenderly . Initially, he gave her hope, but eventually, all he actually did was to give her despair by the name of An Chuxia .
He frowns until last night’s memories awaken him .
“I was willing, boss . ” Mage breaks the long silence as she sighs . “But you held me down while you called out for An Chuxia . ”
Silence .
“I have my dignity, even if you’ve had me . ” Mage’s tears finally spill and rush out .
He remains still and silent for a long time . Finally, he speaks after letting out a long sigh . “I will be responsible for you . ”
As his voice falls, her crying stops . Hope swells in her tear-soaked eyes . “Really… really?”
That look… is the look he gives An Chuxia . He isn’t soft… but maybe, he’d be able to forget An Chuxia and fall in love with her instead .
“Really, I’ll take responsibility . “ His eyes dodge hers as he makes up his mind . “I will try hard to… accept you . ”
He admits he has done some despicable things, but not enough to have his conscience eat him up . But he knows he has to be held accountable for what he just did . Although he knows he won’t be able to fall in love with Mage, the least he can do is pretend to be happy while giving her a good life .
“Boss!” The door suddenly opens and Jiao Daihu appears .
The thin sheets covering the naked bodies catch Daihu’s eyes . His synapses misfire as he tries to comprehend the sight before him .
Mage lowers her head as she clings onto the sheets tightly . Deep down, she knows she’s wrong . If she was stronger, she would’ve broken away from Zifei . Things wouldn’t have turned this way… .
Why are there so many what if’s?
If this happened again, would she have repeated the same mistake?
“Jiao Daihu, head on out first,” Nangong Zifei instructs calmly . Daihu can see Zifei is in an awkward position, but his tone remains commanding .
“I will, but boss… . ”
“Get out!”
Daihu wants to argue, but he trembles in his spot . He’s so scared, he almost wets his pants . He quickly turns and leaves .
Nangong Zifei picks up his clothes from the side of the bed and starts putting them back on . He says hoarsely, “Go, get dressed . ”
“Boss… ,” she whispers . “You tore my clothes last night . ”
After a beat, Zifei gets up and walks to the door before saying, “I’ll send someone to bring you clothes . ”
Tension leaves Mage’s body as soon as he closes the door gently on his way out . She stretches her right hand over to her left chest and starts pounding it vigorously . She’s delighted after last night’s pain . After all, he said he’ll be responsible for her, and that [event] was worth it . Despite the pain, she felt valued!
In the next moment, she hears a knock on the door . Mage quickly covers her body and says, “Come in . ”
It is the chef’s blond assistant . She holds out Mage’s garments as she walks toward the bed . When Mage reaches out, the blond flicks her wrist and throws the clothes on the bed . She says in her non-standard Chinese: “I cook with these hands . I don’t want them to get dirty!”
Shock paints Mage’s face . She didn’t expect this foreigner to have so much disgust for her . She asks hurriedly, “What do you mean?”
“What do I mean?”
The blond turns and takes a few steps like she couldn’t stand being in the same room with her . She turns back around and confronts her . “You’re a nobody . Do you think sleeping with the boss gives you the power to move up the ranks? You can’t be a king-bird when you’re only a pheasant!”
The blond assistant wanted to say “phoenix” but since she can’t remember the word for it, she substitutes it with “king-bird” instead .
“Who are you calling a pheasant?” Mage clenches her teeth in anger .
The blond sneers as she maliciously says, “Do you think I’m the pheasant? Everyone knew the boss was really drunk last night and you intentionally seduced him!”
The blond shoots her a disdainful look before turning and walking out .
Mage is wrongfully accused . All she wanted to do was make him drink the hangover soup . The proof still litters the floor!
Despite the accusations, she’s suffered enough in this villa . They think she’s eating soft rice, but in reality, no one would give her a second glance .
“I should be used to this by now . ” Mage bangs her head as she slowly dresses and adjusts to the soreness between her legs .
It takes her a bit longer to walk down the steps because she overhears the conversation between Zifei and Daihu . The paintings hanging around the spiral staircase easily hide her behind the solid walls .
“Boss, you’re crazy, and now you’re sending her to Stein?” Daihu passionately argues . “You were drunk last night . Wouldn’t it be enough to just compensate her?”
“Jiao Daihu!” Nangong Zifei silences him . Once Daihu regains his composure, Zifei continues . “I have to make amends . Wouldn’t it make me less of a villain if I took responsibility?”
“What villain? We’re not villains!” Daihu says as he sighs . “I won’t accept her as big brother’s [woman], and the other brothers won’t accept her either!”
“Do I have the final say or are you making the decision?” Nangong Zifei’s tone is getting cold, like death approaches .
Seeing Zifei’s disposition worsen, Jiao Daihu doesn’t push his luck despite advocating as a friend . So he replies loudly, “Of course you have the final say . ”
“Then it’s settled . Let’s have breakfast!” The moment she hears that, she regains her composure and forces herself to walk down the steps naturally .
They meet at the landing at the same time . Zifei still refuses to look at Mage, but he quietly says, “Let’s have breakfast . Tomorrow, we’re going to Stein to attend school . ”
“Together?” Her eyes light up . “Stein?”
“You better not embarrass us by acting like a village girl . ” Daihu is upset he doesn’t get to attend Stein . However, if Nangong Zifei is the [mafia] head, this is a good cover-up so the police won’t find them any time soon .
Breakfast is tense . Mage’s eyes are dark, but she proceeds to sit and eat quietly .
Jiao Daihu mutters and wishes she were An Chuxia instead . That way, Nangong Zifei won’t remain angry for long . What’s frustrating, however, is that Zefei doesn’t even argue .
She grips her fork tightly, displeased with the outcome .
What she doesn’t see is the exchanged looks between Zifei and Daihu, warning Daihu not to speak .
Nangong Zifei disappears after breakfast . Mage doesn’t know where he’s going, but she knows it’s confidential .
Bored, she logs onto the computer and searches for any news regarding An Chuxia . Similar search engines state “Future Han Group’s Young Master’s Wife”, “Future Mrs . Han is a College Student”, and “Fiancee Searches Day and Night to Find Young Master Han” . All the articles are positive . She can’t entertain herself by reading negative news about her .
She shuts down the computer when she loses interest . Then, she glances at her reflection in the mirror, staring at her bruises and the dark circles under her eyes . She looks like she’s been abused .
Boredom makes her sleepy . She didn’t realize how tired she was until she fell asleep the moment she grabbed the pillow .
***
An Chuxia buys a few postcards to send to her friends back home from New York . She has decided that she’d return [to China] like nothing is wrong .
She wants to return to her old self – the one Han Qilu admired!
Steward Han told Xiang Mankuai that he would be accompanying the young master to the hospital for his check-up, and she didn’t have to join them . An Chuxia was supposed to join them, but Steward Han convinced her to stay behind as well, assuring her they’d be back soon .
That was when she decided to purchase the postcards in the post office . She may still speak stilted English, but it’s enough that she can communicate .
“An Chuxia!” The familiar voice makes her shudder .
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