Chapter 6. Ye Chen, You’re So Cruel!

“Pfft!”

“Is this guy trying to rub salt in the wound?”

“Never thought the brother-in-law could be this savage.”

“Hmph, whatever. If they want to cook, let them cook!”

“Exactly! Just sit back and relax, Xiyi. Be the queen you are.”

“…”

Bai Xiyi sat on the sofa for a while but eventually couldn’t take it anymore.

She sniffled, then finally looked up at the camera.

“Well, sorry for the drama, everyone. It’s almost lunchtime, so I’ll end the livestream here.”

Instantly, the chat erupted in protest.

“Holy shit! It was just getting good, don’t stop now!”

“At least let us see what kind of food they’re making!”

“This is so lame. Unfollowing!”

“Xiyi, are you chickening out?”

“…”

Bai Xiyi’s lips twitched.

She finally understood, these people just wanted to watch the world burn.

With a sigh, she shook her head and stood up.

“I really am ending the stream. But if you want to see their cooking, fine, I’ll show you.”

She lifted her phone and walked to the kitchen entrance.

There, she saw Ye Chen effortlessly flipping a wok, plating a dish that looked and smelled divine.

Bai Xiyan, beaming, took the plate from him and handed him the next prepared ingredients.

Their coordination was seamless, their exchanged glances sickeningly sweet.

“Damn, that’s too wholesome!”

“That food looks amazing.”

“Looking at their meal, then at my instant noodles… I’m jealous.”

“No drama? Boring. I’m out.”

“So much for being a queen. Is this how you do it?”

“Damn lovebirds, way too sweet.”

“…”

Watching their perfect teamwork, Bai Xiyi admitted, she was jealous.

She finally turned off the livestream and leaned against the doorway, staring at the scene.

At some point, her vision blurred, doubling the images before her.

Slowly…

She imagined herself in Bai Xiyan’s place.

And realized,

Maybe… this kind of life wasn’t so bad?

But she snapped out of it within seconds.

Her fists clenched silently.

“No.”

“This isn’t the life I want!”

“I want a man who stands under the spotlight, with me on his arm, bathing in starlight!”

“This mundane, kitchen-bound life? I hate it!”

She repeated the words in her mind, but watching her sister and ex-husband move in perfect harmony…

It felt like ants were gnawing at her heart. She couldn’t stay another minute.

Yet she couldn’t run.

That would shatter the pride she’d clung to so stubbornly.

So she endured.

Watched their sweetness, swallowed the bitterness.

And forced a smile.

The agony peaked when the three of them sat down to eat.

Though Bai Xiyan and Ye Chen restrained themselves, no feeding each other, no overt displays of affection, their lingering glances and soft-spoken words stabbed into Bai Xiyi like knives.

The food was delicious, familiar.

But it might as well have been cardboard.

She shoveled down her rice, stood abruptly, and grabbed her bag.

“I’m done. I’m leaving.”

Ye Chen called after her. “Wait!”

He went into the bedroom, returned with her jewelry box, and handed it to her at the door.

“These are yours. Take them.”

“Also, I’ll remove your fingerprint from the lock. Take care of yourself.”

Bai Xiyi numbly took the box, stumbled out, and mechanically entered the elevator.

When she reached her Ferrari and collapsed into the driver’s seat, the dam finally broke.

“Wuuu, ”

She buried her face in the steering wheel, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Why?! Why?!”

“Ye Chen, how could you do this to me?!”

“Wuuu, ”

“After the divorce, you didn’t even try to win me back, instead, you got with my sister!”

“Did you ever think about how I’d feel?!”

“How are we supposed to face each other now? How will Mom react?!”

Tears streaked down her face, staining the Ferrari’s leather seats.

For the first time, she understood true heartbreak.

It stole her breath.

When the tears finally ran dry, she wiped her face and started the car.

“A hot spring bath. A spa day. I’ll be the flawless queen I’m meant to be!”

“I don’t need a man to live well!”

“Bai Xiyan, you won this round. But you just picked up my leftovers.”

“In the end, I’m still the winner. You’ll always be the loser!”

“From today on, I’ll live so well, you’ll choke on envy!”

Pumping her fist, she hyped herself up, feeling strength return.

Then,

Her phone buzzed.

A notification:

[Your credit card (ending 2541) has been deactivated by primary cardholder *Chen. Effective 13:21:33, Feb 3, 2021. – China Merchants Bank]

The message stabbed into her heart like another knife.

“I…”

“Ye Chen! You’re so cruel!”