Zhuang Xiyue led her out of the bathroom, "Which private room are you in? I'll walk you there."
Yun Ya pointed it out to her.
It turned out the two private rooms were next to each other. Zhuang Xiyue smiled and led her over.
Just at that moment, the door of that private room suddenly opened from the inside, and Kang Jinse walked out. She stopped in front of the door of the adjacent private room and touched up her makeup in the mirror before knocking on the door.
Zhuang Xiyue stopped in her tracks, frowning slightly.
The bathroom was at the end of the corridor and the lighting was dim; unless they made a noise, Kang Jinse wouldn't notice them.
The door opened from the inside, and a middle-aged woman in a club uniform asked, "Can I help you with something?"
Kang Jinse glanced inside, but her view was blocked by a wall, and she couldn't see anything clearly.
She then smiled and said, "I heard that Lady Su is here. I am Kang Jinse, and I've come to visit."
Kang Jinse? Her recent scandal with Yun Shen has been the talk of the town; it was rare to find someone who didn't know her. But why was she trying to stir up excitement here?
"Please wait a moment, miss."
Soon, the person reappeared, "The lady is not receiving visitors, please return, miss." With that, she didn't give Kang Jinse another glance, turned around, and slammed the door shut.
Kang Jinse stood there dumbfounded. How could this be? Why would Lady Su refuse her upon hearing her name?
"Hmph, she's just a mayor's wife. What's there to be arrogant about? Sooner or later, she'll be kicked down," Kang Jinse muttered as she turned back to her own private room.
That Kang Jinse really couldn't make it onto the stage. Such a woman matched with Yun Shen was like a toad lusting for a swan's flesh.
Zhuang Xiyue shook her head; Ji Lanyi was beyond comparison.
Arriving at the private room, Zhuang Xiyue said to Yun Ya, "Yun Ya, go back. Remember to come visit your aunt's house when you have time. Your Brother Yan Song has been talking about you a lot."
Yun Ya responded with a cheery smile.
That little rascal misses her? He probably can't wait to eat her up.
When Zhuang Xiyue pushed open the door, Lady Su was already dozing off. Upon hearing the noise, she opened her eyes, "Why did it take so long to use the restroom?"
Zhuang Xiyue smiled, "I ran into a junior and chatted for a bit."
"Is that so?" Lady Su closed her eyes again, and the beautician dropped essential oil on her face, massaging with deft hands; Lady Su hummed in comfort.
"How are the preparations for your birthday party tomorrow night? You've always been low-key these past two years, but it looks like Jiangzhou is about to be handed over to you as my husband is being transferred."
Zhuang Xiyue feigned surprise at the right moment, "Is Mayor Su going to be promoted?"
There was a hint of pride in Lady Su's voice, "He's moving to Capital City. Come to think of it, it's all thanks to Minister Yan. I need to thank you properly this time."
Zhuang Xiyue's smile was warm and gracious, "Lady Su is too kind. It's Mayor Su's outstanding achievements and competent governance that naturally warrant such promotion."
These words comforted Lady Su deeply, "You, with your sweet talk... rest assured, we won't forget your family's great kindness. I've lived in Jiangzhou for over a decade, and there's nothing, whether it should be known or not, that can escape my eyes. In the future, I'll pass the torch to you." Jiangzhou was affluent, and as its mayor's wife, she had enjoyed all the adulation; however, once in Capital City, she would be starting from scratch. Indeed, she was reluctant to leave, but as the saying goes, 'one climbs to higher positions.' For her husband's career, she had no choice but to move on,
Lady Su looked at the gentle, graceful, and elegantly poised woman before her, beautiful as a painting. It was no wonder, coming from a family with over a hundred years of scholarly tradition, and with the Yan Family as a backer, it was clear that Jiangzhou's future was hers.
...
After being chased out by the mayor's wife, Kang Jinse grew angrier the more she thought about it. Ji's was the top wealthy family in Jiangzhou, and Yun Shen, as its president, made her his fiancée, which was already a significant concession on her part. Yet, the other side showed no appreciation.
What's there to be proud of? She heard that Mayor Su would soon step down. By then, she wouldn't be the mayor's wife anymore. Let's see how high and mighty she can be then.
When she saw Yun Ya return, Kang Jinse couldn't help but burst into anger, "Muttering and hesitating, why don't you fall into the toilet?"
Yun Ya hung his head and remained silent.
Thinking of clinging to the mayor's wife's coattails, you should at least have the stature for it. Nothing more than a mistress in Lady Su's eyes, no nobler than the girls from a hair salon. Besides, she would soon follow her husband to the Capital City for his new post, and to her, Jiangzhou was hardly worth a glance.
In the afternoon, Kang Jinse rushed to get her hair done, then went shopping at the mall, picking out dresses for herself. It wasn't until the end that she carelessly bought a dress for Yun Ya. By the time she got home, it was already nine in the evening.
Yun Miao insisted on waiting up for Yun Ya before going to sleep.
"Rock, rock, the boat rocks to Grandma's bridge..."
"Dear Grandma, dear Grandma, Grandma smiles at me..."
Yun Ya hummed the nursery rhyme, and even though Yun Miao couldn't hear it, she still fell asleep with a sweet smile. Yun Ya looked at Yun Miao's peaceful sleeping face, smiled faintly, and, resting head against head, contentedly closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, after taking a shower, Kang Jinse noticed her phone suddenly ringing on the table. Thinking it was Yun Shen calling, she hurriedly picked up.
"Sis... Sister, it's not good, Mom has fallen ill, sob... what do we do..." A young girl's panicked voice came through the phone.
Kang Jinse's joy vanished in an instant as she furrowed her brows, "What happened?"
"Sob... When I got back from school, I saw Mom collapsed in the yard. I'm so scared, sister, please come back quickly..."
"Don't panic, go find Uncle Wang next door, and have him take Mom to the hospital. Stay at home and be good, sister will be right back, do you hear me?"
"Yes, okay, I'll wait obediently for Sister to come back."
After hanging up, Kang Jinse called Yun Shen, and with no one answering after three attempts, she had no choice but to rush back to the countryside overnight on her own.
The journey from Jiangzhou to Jiangtian Village was over a hundred kilometers, and being a night drive, she didn't dare speed too much. No matter how anxious she was, there was nothing she could do.
The phone rang again and Kang Jinse, seeing the incoming call display, felt a surge of relief and quickly answered.
"What is it?" Yun Shen's indifferent voice came through the phone.
"Brother Shen, my mom had an accident..."
"Hmm, where are you?"
"I'm on my way home, halfway there already. Brother Shen, what do I do? I'm so scared. Can you come with me?" As soon as she spoke, Kang Jinse suddenly felt nervous.
There was a pause on the other end, "I'm still busy, can't accompany you. Let Ah Biao go back with you, and if there's anything else, you can contact Liang Yu." The call ended right after he spoke.
Listening to the "beep, beep" of the busy tone on the phone, Kang Jinse's heart turned cold in an instant.
Hadn't she already experienced this man's heartlessness? So, what exactly are you sorrowing over?
The night highway was exceptionally quiet, the wind howling, the headlights of passing cars flashing by, illuminating her eyes, intricately made up, shining intensely.