After her anger from being overheard on the phone subsided, Lin Xin's rationality gradually returned.
She shifted her gaze to Ye Linghua, only for her pupils to contract when she noticed a gash on Ye Linghua's right temple, blood slowly oozing out from the wound.
"Why did you stop talking?" Ye Linghua asked when she saw Lin Xin frozen in shock. Her brows furrowed even deeper. Reaching out, she brushed Lin Xin's bangs aside and carefully examined her head. "You don't seem injured at all," she remarked, confused.
"It's you who's injured," Lin Xin croaked in a hoarse voice, unable to hold back from pointing it out.
"What?" Ye Linghua leaned closer, tilting her head to hear better, as Lin Xin's voice was barely audible.
With their proximity, Lin Xin could clearly catch the unfamiliar scent of Ye Linghua's shampoo. Unexpectedly, she didn't find it unpleasant.
When Lin Xin remained in a daze and didn't respond, Ye Linghua pressed on, "Do you feel unwell? Do you need me to call for a car?"
Lin Xin looked away, avoiding the faint aroma wafting toward her, and only then did she raise her voice, "You're the one who's hurt! It's on your forehead."
The spacious living room at night seemed especially hollow, and Lin Xin's suddenly louder voice echoed slightly.
Ye Linghua froze for a moment before smiling. "I'm hurt?" She raised her eyes to look up, but the injury wasn't visible to her. Reaching out, she gently touched the area and winced at the slight pain. "I guess it does hurt a bit," she admitted. The bleeding wasn't heavy, though.
"It's a minor injury, nothing to worry about. What about you? Are you hurt?" Ye Linghua dismissed her own condition and turned her concern back to Lin Xin.
What did she mean by nothing to worry about? How could it not matter? What woman wouldn't care about her appearance?
Lin Xin frowned involuntarily and took a good, earnest look at Ye Linghua for the first time. She realized Ye Linghua's lower eyelashes weren't long, but they were dense. She noticed how high and defined her nose bridge was. She even saw that her lips were thinner on top and fuller on the bottom.
Upon closer inspection, Ye Linghua was quite beautiful. Her features carried a touch of heroic sharpness, though they lacked a certain feminine softness.
There were faint laugh lines at the corners of her eyes, probably because she often smiled.
"Why are you silent again? You're making me worried. I did my best to protect you when we fell. If you're feeling discomfort anywhere, tell me, okay? Don't hold it in."
Ye Linghua's warm words of concern flowed into Lin Xin's heart like a soothing stream. The moonlight poured in from the window, illuminating Ye Linghua's face. Her features became more defined in the interplay of light and shadow.
This woman—someone she didn't even know—was caring for her so much.
Suddenly, a wave of grievance surged within Lin Xin, and her eyes began to redden.
Even a stranger was willing to risk getting hurt for her. So… maybe she wasn't as worthless as she thought, right?
Seeing Lin Xin's eyes suddenly turn red, Ye Linghua was startled. "You're really hurt? Where does it hurt?" This was someone who nearly drove her mad with rage earlier. How severe must her injuries be to have her on the verge of tears now?
Ye Linghua was genuinely frightened by Lin Xin's teary expression and grew a little flustered.
"I'm not hurt," Lin Xin quickly clarified.
Hearing this, Ye Linghua let out a sigh of relief. "Whew, as long as you're okay."
Lin Xin used her hands to push herself up into a sitting position. From this angle, she could see Ye Linghua's forehead wound more clearly. It must've been caused by hitting the corner of the staircase when they fell, and the area around the wound was swollen and red.
"Go sit on the sofa. I'll grab the first aid kit," Lin Xin instructed as she stood up.
Ye Linghua followed her lead, getting up as well, and obediently went to sit on the living room sofa, waiting for Lin Xin to return.
Having lived in this world for three years, Ye Linghua wasn't unfamiliar with large mansions like this. However, Lin Xin's villa seemed to lack something… a sense of life?
Wasn't she always home, cleaning and cooking?
Ye Linghua's gaze lowered to the stack of documents on the table—something she had tidied up earlier that afternoon. She'd noticed then that the paperwork pertained to a new collaboration project.
It must have been prepared for Zheng Lanwen, right?
"Lower your head so I can disinfect the wound." Lin Xin's soft voice brought Ye Linghua out of her thoughts.
Only then did Ye Linghua realize Lin Xin had returned, now seated across from her. Lin Xin held a cotton swab and disinfectant, her expression focused and serious.
Ye Linghua obediently tilted her head forward. Lin Xin carefully wiped the blood away from the wound, her actions delicate and gentle.
Ye Linghua felt a faint brushing sensation across her forehead. While the contact stung slightly, it was more of a prickly itch from being bandaged.
From her lowered vantage point, Ye Linghua could only see the curve of Lin Xin's lips. The woman's lips were tightly pressed together in concentration as she disinfected the wound.
A peculiar thought stirred within Ye Linghua. Realizing she was having inappropriate ideas, she hurriedly averted her gaze. Remembering the argument that had landed them in this situation, she decided to explain herself. "I really didn't mean to eavesdrop. But… I did hear something. I'm sorry. Please don't be mad, okay?"
Lin Xin lowered her gaze, her mood slightly swayed by Ye Linghua's almost coaxing tone. After a moment, she gave a small nod. "I'm not mad anymore."
Ye Linghua blinked in surprise. "…Really?"
Lin Xin smiled faintly and repeated, "I'm not mad anymore." Her goodwill toward Ye Linghua had increased, especially after their shared tumble down the stairs. For the first time, she offered Ye Linghua a genuine smile.
Lin Xin's beauty was striking to begin with, but when she smiled, her alluring almond-shaped eyes became irresistibly captivating.
Ye Linghua couldn't help but be dazzled by the sight. Yet, she reminded herself that nothing could happen between them. Especially since Lin Xin's heart belonged to someone far more important than herself—Zheng Lanwen. With this in mind, Ye Linghua cleared her throat awkwardly, looking away from Lin Xin as she silently chanted to herself.
The heroine's. Everything is the heroine's.
Lin Xin, of course, had no idea what Ye Linghua was thinking. Once she finished disinfecting the wound, she grabbed some sterile gauze from the first aid kit and carefully applied it to Ye Linghua's forehead. A simple bandage completed the task.
Ye Linghua lightly touched the bandage and then smiled. "You're really amazing."
This sudden compliment caught Lin Xin off guard. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly lowered her head, avoiding Ye Linghua's gaze like an ostrich burying its head in the sand. While tidying up, she mumbled, "That's nothing special. It's simple."
After returning the first aid kit to its place, Lin Xin's mood had calmed. She turned to Ye Linghua and said, "There are no bedrooms on the first floor—it's mainly the kitchen, gym, and a soundproof room. The second floor has two guest rooms. You can pick whichever one you like. There are blankets and bedding in the closets. Can you manage on your own?"
Ye Linghua nodded. Lin Xin gave her a long, thoughtful look before getting up and leaving.
Upstairs, Ye Linghua chose the room next to Lin Xin's, which had once been Zheng Lanwen's. Since it was a guest room, it didn't have a walk-in closet, but there was a simple wooden wardrobe. The room also had its own bathroom and a large balcony beyond the glass doors opposite the bed.
Overall, it had everything one might need, but it was uncommonly minimalist, as if the occupant was ready to leave at any moment.
After closing the bedroom door, Ye Linghua's smile disappeared.
She retrieved a set of bedding from the closet and made the bed. Only then did she take out her phone to send a message: "You can head back now."
The reply was quick and straightforward: "Okay."
Ye Linghua also sent another message to a different friend: "Thanks. Everything's fine now."
One of her longtime friends, Tang Qiao'an, was harder to brush off. "Yan Zi told me you called her earlier asking about Imperial Feast recipes."
…Damn that Yan.
"And this morning, you also called me, telling me to stay on standby. I'm a doctor, you know. I cleared my entire day for you. Even if you didn't end up needing me, don't you think you owe me an explanation for who exactly I was waiting on?"
Ye Linghua inhaled sharply. This friend was as nosy as ever. Reluctantly, she replied, "I'll treat you to a meal."
"Do you think I care about a meal?" Tang Qiao'an nearly spat blood in frustration.
"What I care about is the tea! The gossip!!!"
Ye Linghua couldn't help but laugh. "As a doctor, shouldn't you focus on your work?"
"…Are you even human?!"
Ignoring her, Ye Linghua set her phone aside. In truth, she hadn't packed any luggage today because she had been hesitant from the start. She wasn't sure if stepping into someone else's story was the right thing to do.
But after seeing Lin Xin's posts on various forums, she couldn't stand idly by. Lin Xin was someone talented and successful—an award-winning actress with three Best Actress titles to her name. Someone like that shouldn't lose their life over a failed relationship.
It was absurd and unjust.
The tipping point had been the torrential rain this morning. Normally, Ye Linghua was the type to stay in bed on rainy days, disliking the effort it took to move around.
But in the end, she made up her mind to help Lin Xin. She quickly threw on some clothes, grabbed an umbrella, and took a car to Lin Xin's home.
Fortunately, she had prepared in advance and had been keeping an eye on the Lin family's situation. Hearing that Lin Xin's mother planned to hire a housekeeper, she seized the opportunity to secure an interview.
All of this was to prevent the first major tragedy in the story: Lin Xin's suicide.
Yes, in the original novel, Lin Xin had attempted suicide on the day of her divorce. The trigger was a phone call from Zheng Lanwen.
The contrast between the joy of preparing for their wedding anniversary and the despair of being handed divorce papers had already pushed Lin Xin to the brink. To make matters worse, Zheng Lanwen had called to apologize that same day.
Forgetting would've been better. Why rub salt in the wound?
Lin Xin, unable to bear it, attempted suicide. Although the attempt failed, the experience left a deep scar—both physically and emotionally. Every time she saw the mark on her wrist, she was reminded of Zheng Lanwen's betrayal. Even when they reconciled later, that scar remained a painful reminder of her suffering.
As a melodramatic tragedy, the novel had truly put Lin Xin through the wringer, torturing her both physically and emotionally.
However, something felt… off.
Ye Linghua walked to the edge of the bed and gazed at the bright, silvery moon hanging against the dark sky, its glow surrounded by countless stars.
Something was strange…
In the novel, Lin Xin had cried after that phone call, not thrown her phone.
Ye Linghua rubbed her chin, squinting thoughtfully. "Could it be… that I remembered the plot wrong?"
* * * *
The next morning, Lin Xin got out of bed feeling refreshed and made an effort to tidy herself up properly.
Though the divorce with Zheng Lanwen had left her saddened, the five years of their 'polite and distant' marriage had done little to warm Zheng Lanwen's heart. Instead, Zheng Lanwen had successfully managed to freeze Lin Xin's once-burning devotion.
While Lin Xin felt sorrow, what she felt even more keenly was that her love had been wasted. She also harbored resentment—resentment that Zheng Lanwen still loved Lin Wan.
But no matter how she felt, life had to go on.
After stepping out of her bedroom, Lin Xin noticed the guest room door next to hers wasn't fully closed.
Pushing the door open, she was greeted by a spring breeze carrying the fresh scent of the woods outside the villa. Lin Xin closed her eyes for a moment, savoring it, then glanced around the room to find that Ye Linghua wasn't there.
Looking more closely, she spotted Ye Linghua standing on the balcony, stretching lazily, still wearing the same clothes from the previous day.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, Ye Linghua turned her head. Her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall, shimmering faintly in the morning sunlight as it swayed.
Upon seeing Lin Xin, Ye Linghua looked slightly surprised but quickly broke into a radiant smile. "You're up?"
From yesterday, Lin Xin had already noticed something special—Ye Linghua's smile was incredibly charming. It exuded a warmth and friendliness that was impossible to resist. Looking at her smile, it felt as though they were long-lost friends, or even as if Lin Xin were the most cherished person in Ye Linghua's heart.
The way Ye Linghua's eyes curved and glowed when she smiled gave people the illusion that they would be endlessly spoiled by her affection.
It was hard not to keep looking at that smile, to feel drawn closer by it.
Some people truly had an unfair advantage—just a smile could captivate anyone.
Lin Xin couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Despite her thoughts, Lin Xin still asked, "Did you make breakfast?"
Ye Linghua hesitated, then replied, "...Would you mind milk or coffee?"
Lin Xin frowned, prompting Ye Linghua to quickly add, "I can also make soy milk."
Noticing the bandage on Ye Linghua's forehead and recalling her selflessness from the night before, Lin Xin sighed and turned toward the stairs. "I'll handle it. Come down soon."
Ye Linghua paused briefly before nodding. "...Alright."
By the time Ye Linghua made her way downstairs, Lin Xin was still busy in the kitchen.
As the person hired to care for Lin Xin, Ye Linghua naturally felt it would be inappropriate to just sit at the table and wait for food.
Rolling up her sleeves, she stepped into the kitchen and saw Lin Xin frying shrimp paste. The shrimp must have been prepared the day before, likely as one of the dishes planned for last night.
Now, however, Lin Xin was piping the shrimp paste into long strips using a piping bag and pan-frying them gently.
Once the shrimp paste was cooked, Lin Xin placed it aside and poured a mixture of eggs, milk, and salt into the same pan. Using chopsticks, she carefully stirred the egg mixture toward the center until it solidified and took shape, then plated it.
Next, she turned to grab a stack of bread from a nearby shelf.
Ye Linghua, who was practically a novice when it came to cooking, could barely recognize basic dishes, let alone understand the intricate culinary details. The basket of bread she saw in front of her was a complete mystery.
"That's ciabatta. I'm making sandwiches," Lin Xin explained casually, as if aware that Ye Linghua wouldn't know.
Ye Linghua rubbed the back of her head and chuckled. "Sure, I'll eat anything."
Lin Xin, who was slicing the ciabatta sideways, nearly rolled her eyes at that comment.
Ye Linghua laughed again, a soft, pleasant sound, and added, "Thanks."
Whatever irritation Lin Xin felt dissipated instantly. She muttered under her breath, A beautiful face, a kind smile, and a ridiculously alluring voice—some people just break all the rules when it comes to being charming.
Lin Xin layered the ciabatta with fresh lettuce, the fried egg, and the shrimp paste. She then squeezed a bit of sweet chili sauce over it and added two slices of cheese.
Placing the top half of the ciabatta back on, she sliced the sandwich neatly in half before looking at Ye Linghua with mild annoyance. "I was going to add tomato slices, but someone already used them up."
Ye Linghua smiled awkwardly, aware that the tomatoes had gone into her rendition of scrambled eggs and tomatoes last night. She sheepishly defended herself, "You ate quite a bit of that dish last night, too."
Lin Xin opened her mouth, momentarily speechless, before complaining, "There were only two or three dishes! Of course I had no choice."
Amused by her reaction, Ye Linghua quickly apologized. "You're absolutely right—it's my fault. I'll practice more this afternoon, I promise."
They weren't close enough for Lin Xin to really believe her promises, but she let it slide.
After finishing the sandwiches, Lin Xin poured yogurt into two glasses, added some fruit, and pushed a portion toward Ye Linghua.
The dining table was set near the sliding glass doors, which were now open, letting in the fresh, cool morning air. The sunlight hadn't yet reached this spot, and the view outside was stunning—a lush green lawn stretched across the yard.
Near the entrance stood a large tree, its umbrella-like branches casting shade over the veranda. It was easy to imagine sitting on the veranda during a hot summer day, feeling perfectly cool and comfortable.
In such a picturesque setting, paired with a meal bursting with flavor and texture, it was hard not to feel utterly content.
The two of them sat across from each other, the breeze from outside occasionally lifting their hair.
Lin Xin glanced at Ye Linghua across the table. Her heart stirred unexpectedly. The tranquil breakfast scene she had once longed to share with Zheng Lanwen had instead come to fruition with a woman she barely knew.
But she didn't feel sad about it. Perhaps it was the beauty of the scenery outside, or perhaps it was Ye Linghua's warm and inviting smile.
Everything just felt so right—so perfect.
A sense of peace washed over her.