CHAPTER 445: 220. JI WANXIA.

Her friend? And with a baby?

Nan Wan was a bit confused, quickly searching her mind, but couldn’t find anyone that matched.

She asked a colleague to help attend to a patient, then walked out of the emergency office to a slightly quieter corner.

Turning her back to the flow of people coming and going, she asked, "Did she say her name?"

Could it be...

"The lady only mentioned her last name is Ji," the servant stood at the door, sizing up the stranger in front of them, eyes filled with caution and wariness, "Madam, is she your friend?"

Her hand still holding the door frame, polite yet obviously defensive.

She had been at the Mu Family’s old residence for ten years and had seen many ladies from prestigious families, but just from appearance and demeanor, this Miss Ji didn’t seem to come from an ordinary family.

But... Madam had never mentioned having such a friend, and she hadn’t seen her around recently.

She wouldn’t dare let someone of unknown origin into the house casually.

The last name Ji...

Could it be Ji Wanxia?

There weren’t many people with the last name Ji in Qing City, and among those Nan Wan could call a friend was only Mu Jin Huan’s sister in An City.

Ji Wanxia, who disappeared without a trace after leaving a letter.

A sudden realization hit Nan Wan, and she turned around, heading quickly towards the elevator, "Invite her in, make some good tea, I’ll be back soon."

The servant replied, "Yes, alright, I’ll prepare lunch while waiting for you."

The sound of high heels on the floor, consistent in frequency, crisp and clear.

In the hospital, she was the aloof and distant Doctor Nan. As the nurses and patients greeted her, she only nodded faintly in response.

The elevator had just gone up, so she stood at the door waiting, "Yes, ask her what she’d like to eat, make it according to her preferences."

"Yes," the servant responded respectfully, though somewhat surprised. She politely stepped aside, "Miss Ji, please come in."

Ji Wanxia smiled at her, "Thank you."

After hanging up the phone, Nan Wan entered Mr. Mu’s number on the dialing interface but stopped just as her finger was about to press the dial button.

The servant had called her, relaying the information: Miss Ji said she’s your friend.

Which means, Mu Jin Huan didn’t know that Ji Wanxia was back.

So, Ji Wanxia didn’t plan on seeing him.

But, from any perspective, the person Ji Wanxia went to find at the North Shore Villa should have been Mu Jin Huan.

Why...

The elevator arrived, and Nan Wan stopped thinking further. After changing clothes in the office, she drove back home.

Entering the password, she opened the door.

There was an extra pair of shoes on the shoe rack in the entryway, nude-colored, flat, with no visible brand.

Upon hearing the door close, Ji Wanxia looked up, put down the teacup in her hand, stood up with a faint smile, "Long time no see, sister-in-law."

She wore a beige blouse, simple white undergarments, washed blue jeans, her black hair gathered to one side in a loose braid.

Just like when they first met, gentle eyes and a faint smile, like a fairy accidentally fallen to the mortal world.

Only, there was a feeling Nan Wan couldn’t quite describe.

She stepped forward and stood in front of her, suddenly feeling a bit dazed, "Wanxia, where have you been all this time? Your brother and I were worried."

The day Gu Shaozhi barged into the villa with a menacing aura seemed just like yesterday, but counting carefully, more than a year had passed.

After that day, Mu Jin Huan never mentioned anything about Ji Wanxia again.

But there were those few late nights when he stood alone in front of the study’s floor-to-ceiling window, head down, staring into the infinite night outside, deep in thought.

Without leaving a light on, apart from the flicker of a cigarette, he almost merged with the darkness.

The next day, after he went to work, she would see the ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts.

Ji Wanxia didn’t answer Nan Wan’s question; instead, she approached and hugged her, "I didn’t notify you in advance, suddenly coming over, did I interrupt your work, sister-in-law?"

"Not at all," Nan Wan paused for a moment, slowly raising her arm, "it’s a pleasant surprise."

She didn’t want to say more, and Nan Wan didn’t press further. However, it seemed Ji Wanxia was even thinner than before. Even through the shirt, she could feel the bones on her back.

During this almost one year, life must have been tough for her.

Ji Wanxia’s gentle face was always adorned with a faint smile. She returned to the sofa and scooped up the little pink bundle trying to crawl towards the edge.

Looking up at Nan Wan, she said, "This is my daughter, her nickname is Pea."

The little pink bundle, with wide, round eyes, kept staring at the big golden retriever playing with a fur ball in the living room. When Barton ran to the left, she twisted to the left; when Barton dug into the flower stand, she squatted in her mother’s arms, almost bending in half.

She squeezed her mother’s fingers hard, seemingly unhappy about being forcibly pulled away from getting close to the dog.

She’s three months younger than Mu Yan, which means Pea is already four months old.

Nan Wan placed her bag on the coffee table, sat next to Ji Wanxia, and gazed at the soft and tender Pea, her heart melting like cotton.

"Yes, definitely your daughter."

Although Pea was still small and her features hadn’t fully formed, the elfin eyes were almost carved from the mold of Ji Wanxia’s.

On hearing this, Ji Wanxia’s smile froze momentarily, but she resumed her natural demeanor shortly after.

When alone, she lacked the cute and pampered charm of a beloved girl; what she had more now was the maturity and peace that came with having traversed mountains and rivers.

But, in front of Nan Wan, she remained as before, "Of course, Pea gave me ten months of turmoil. If she didn’t look like me, I would be upset."

Really... so alike?

Little Pea was very lively. When she saw the ruby pendant around Nan Wan’s neck, she raised her little feet as if wanting to crawl towards it.

Nan Wan smiled, bent down, and cradled her from Ji Wanxia’s arms, feeling her soft, tiny hands tickling the skin on her neck.

The more she looked, the more adorable she found her, no wonder Mr. Mu wanted a daughter.

The servant served the tea in the living room, "Madam, lunch is ready."

The big golden retriever, worn out, was resting on the carpet. With Ji Wanxia’s consent, Nan Wan placed Pea next to Barton, allowing her some close contact.

Then she instructed the servant, "In a little while, you can bring Jiu Jiu down."

"Alright."

The servant responded respectfully, went upstairs, and brought Mu Yan from the nursery to the living room. The carpet was still the fluffy winter kind, ensuring the little one wouldn’t catch a chill while seated.

Just as Nan Wan placed Jiu Jiu on the carpet, he crawled next to the big golden retriever, but shortly, his attention shifted from Barton to the little Pea beside him.