After Escaping Marriage - Extra 1
Chapter 144: Extra 1
Cheng Zhanxi had just finished speaking with the director of the Linjiang City Art Museum. After politely declining his dinner invitation, she walked out of the museum, glanced at her watch, and swung a leg over the silver-white heavy motorcycle parked by the roadside. A gust of wind swirled through the air. People only had time to catch a glimpse of a graceful figure as a silver streak sped away like lightning.
Twenty minutes later, Cheng Zhanxi managed to find a parking spot and took the elevator to the third floor of XX Mall.
As the elevator doors opened, she was greeted by a standing sign that read: “New Book Signing Event for Bestselling Author Cheng Mo.” It detailed author Cheng Mo’s representative works and included a brief introduction. It wasn’t the first time Cheng Zhanxi had seen her pen name appear in such a context, but she still felt a daze for a few seconds before a smile bloomed on her lips unconsciously.
Don’t misunderstand—this Cheng Mo was not her.
With 1.4 billion people in China, it wasn’t surprising for people to share the same name, or even the same pen name.
Cheng Zhanxi’s art circle was a niche one. Her pen name was only famous within that circle. If you were to ask a random person on the street whether they knew the painter Cheng Mo or the author Cheng Mo, they would definitely say the latter. A TV series adapted from the latter’s novel had become a huge hit last year, bringing the author herself even greater fame.
Cheng Zhanxi and the other Cheng Mo were fundamentally in different circles and didn’t affect each other.
Cheng Zhanxi looked around. The line for the book signing already snaked into a long dragon.
She went to buy a book and orderly joined the end of the line. Two or three young girls in front of her clutched their books to their chests, craning their necks to peer down the long line, discussing excitedly in hushed tones—
“I’ve waited so long for Cheng Mo to have a signing in Linjiang. I can finally see her in person, sob sob sob.”
“I heard she’s super beautiful in person. My friend who ran into her at a bookstore signing instantly became a fan of her looks. She bought three books on the spot and evolved into a book fan. If she didn’t have work she couldn’t get away from, she would’ve come to Linjiang to chase her idol this time.”
“Really?”
“You’ll know when you see her.”
“You’ve seen her?”
“…No, but she writes so well, she must be pretty!”
“…” The girl who asked the question laughed. “Alright then.”
The chattering girls retracted their gazes from the distant table and happened to turn their heads, their eyes pausing on Cheng Zhanxi who was standing behind them.
The weather was pleasant. Cheng Zhanxi wore an oversized suit jacket over a light-colored shirt, with loose, wide-leg trousers that enveloped her straight, slender legs. On her feet was a pair of white canvas shoes, the cuffs of her pants slightly short, revealing sexy, delicate ankles.
One of the girls slowly turned back around, took out her phone, and pulled up a search page. She looked at the outfit of a model on an international brand’s runway, then compared it to the clothes of the woman behind her. Oh my god, how did this person look even better than the model?
The second girl whispered in her ear, “The Cheng Mo you were talking about, who’s prettier, her or this lady?”
The third girl couldn’t help but glance back at Cheng Zhanxi, pretending it was casual, then glanced again and again.
The line ahead was too long and moving slowly. The first girl mustered up her courage and struck up a conversation with Cheng Zhanxi. “Are you also a fan of Teacher Cheng Mo’s books?”
Cheng Zhanxi replied with a smile, “Yes, I am.”
From a certain perspective, that statement was true. Not just a book fan, but a die-hard fan—the kind who had watched her write every single book.
The young girl stared, mesmerized by the fragmented light in her peach-blossom eyes. Her cheeks grew warm as she continued to make small talk. “How long have you been a fan?”
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Over twenty years, I suppose.”
The girl: “…”
It had only been two years since Cheng Mo published her first book!
The girl gave a dry laugh and turned back around.
The long line in front of Cheng Zhanxi gradually shortened, and the girls began their hushed discussion again—
“Huh? Why is she wearing a mask?”
“She always wears a mask.”
“Then how did your friend see her stunning beauty?”
“She took her mask off to drink water that time.”
“…”
So seeing her face depended on luck?
“Our Momo relies on talent, not looks,” the first girl said. “She’s not like those people who market themselves as a ‘beautiful author’ all day long!”
Cheng Zhanxi couldn’t help but smile.
She could tell this was a loyal reader.
Yu Qingtang finished signing the book in her hands and passed it to the reader in front of her with both hands. She flexed her sore wrist, then looked up, a smile forming on her face behind the mask. “Hello…”
Her voice stopped abruptly as she looked with pleasant surprise at the smiling woman before her.
“What are you doing here?”
“Here to support the great author,” Cheng Zhanxi said, handing over her book.
Yu Qingtang’s eyes curved into a smile. She skillfully opened the cover, her pen hovering over the flyleaf. “To whom?”
Cheng Zhanxi’s lips curled, her tone rising at the end. “You decide.”
Yu Qingtang lowered her head and wrote two lines with fluid grace. She closed the book, handed it back, and said, “I’ll have someone get you a chair. Wait for me over there.”
Cheng Zhanxi was obedient. “Okay.”
Cheng Zhanxi walked to the side and opened the book. On the flyleaf, written in elegant cursive, were the words: To the little cutie who was crying last night, I really want to kiss you.
Cheng Zhanxi’s face flushed red. She quickly snapped the book shut and held it to her chest.
The young girls from before had just gotten their signed books and were standing a few steps away from Cheng Zhanxi, expressing their feelings about seeing their idol in person.
“Even with a mask on, you can tell she’s a beauty just from the upper half of her face!”
“Her eyes are so dark and bright. When she looked at me, my heart almost jumped out of my chest. Is she single?”
“Is the wedding ring on her left hand not shiny enough for you?”
“Hahahaha, I was so focused on her face, I didn’t notice.”
Sitting not far from the signing table, the strikingly beautiful Cheng Zhanxi attracted the attention of many readers at the event. During the long, tedious wait in line, having a pretty lady to look at was a welcome sight. But no one connected her to Yu Qingtang; they just assumed she was a bookstore employee.
Suddenly, Yu Qingtang picked up the bottle of mineral water on the table, her fair, beautiful fingers resting on the cap.
Then, with a flick of her slender white fingertips, one side of the mask hanging on her ear slipped down, revealing a face that made the world lose its color.
The entire venue fell silent.
She tilted back her long, jade-like neck and took a slow, deliberate sip of water. Amidst the complete silence, she screwed the cap back on and put her mask back in place.
The stagnant air began to flow again.
Yu Qingtang looked at the stunned reader in front of her, extended a hand, and said gently and politely, “Hello, aren’t you going to give me the book?”
The first girl was completely dumbfounded, and her two friends wore identical expressions.
A dozen seconds later, they all simultaneously pulled out their phones, went to the Weibo topic #ChengMoLinjiangNewBookSigning#, and posted—
【Ahhhhhh I saw Cheng Mo in person, I’m dead, I’m gone, I’m doing sit-ups in my coffin! Sob sob, what kind of divine beauty is this! The countless little idols I’ve stanned can’t compare to a single hair on her head, even the big celebrity XXX (censored) I saw in person before isn’t as beautiful as her!】
At the same time, other readers at the event also flocked online to discuss it.
【Ahhhhhh my life is complete!】
【Oh my god, I’ve never seen someone so beautiful, is she a fairy?! [starry eyes]】
【I shouldn’t have been fumbling for my phone just now ahhhhh!!! The moment I looked up, she had already put her mask back on. If I had known, I would have stared a few seconds longer! Don’t ask, just know that I regret it [crying]】
【Just a passerby who bought a book to join the fun, didn’t expect such a pleasant surprise. Miss, are you sure you don’t want to debut in showbiz? I’m your loyal face fan ying ying ying @ChengMo CY】
The signing event lasted until seven in the evening. When it ended, a staff member turned their head for a moment, and when they looked back, Yu Qingtang, who had been sitting behind the table, was gone.
The staff member: “?”
Where did she go?
In the mall’s emergency stairwell, the sound of wet kisses echoed, enough to make anyone blush.
Cheng Zhanxi released Yu Qingtang, who was flushed and hot from her kisses. She wrapped an arm around her slender waist, pulling her into her embrace. Pressing her forehead against the other’s, she pecked at the tip of her nose and her red lips again and again.
Yu Qingtang’s chest heaved as she panted softly in her arms.
Cheng Zhanxi teased, “The great author is so busy. I waited from afternoon until dark.”
Yu Qingtang ignored her teasing and asked, “Are you hungry?”
Cheng Zhanxi said, “A little.”
“I’ll take you to eat.”
“No rush. I’ll eat something else first.” Cheng Zhanxi tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and lowered her head to cover the woman’s lips once more.
Yu Qingtang wrapped her arms around her neck, adjusting to the most comfortable kissing position.
Three years ago, after their wedding, Yu Qingtang had followed Cheng Zhanxi around the world, visiting exhibitions everywhere—the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands, the Musée de l'Orangerie in France. They even made a special trip to the small town of Giverny, 70 kilometers west of Paris, home to the famous Monet’s Garden and his massive water lilies floating on the lake…
The light of the sky, the reflection on the water—even time itself seemed to stand still there.
Cheng Zhanxi carried her drawing board and sketched everywhere they went, while Yu Qingtang brought a notebook and joined her, recording what she saw and heard. Gradually, the idea of writing began to sprout. She didn’t care about fame or what she might gain from it. She had nothing else to do, so writing was a way to pass the time and satisfy her imagination.
Her first reader was Cheng Zhanxi, and her second was Song Qingrou. Although Song Qingrou no longer wrote novels, she still had her connections and simply submitted the manuscript to a domestic publisher on her behalf.
Two years later, Yu Qingtang was already a bestselling author whose book signings were always packed.
The trajectory of fate was sometimes astonishing.
When they were choosing a pen name for Yu Qingtang, Cheng Zhanxi had wavered between Cheng Yu and Yu Cheng, but Yu Qingtang rejected both because they sounded awful. In the end, they decided on Cheng Mo. They were two parts of a whole, using the same name in different circles—a romance known only to them.
Yu Qingtang’s phone rang.
Cheng Zhanxi released her lips. Yu Qingtang first calmed her ragged breathing before answering the call. “Hello.”
The staff member on the other end asked, “Teacher Cheng Mo, where did you go?”
Yu Qingtang said, “I’m in the restroom. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay,” the staff member replied.
Yu Qingtang hung up.
Cheng Zhanxi’s gaze was teasing. “You don’t even blush when you lie now.”
Yu Qingtang took a lipstick out of her bag, twisted it open, and gestured for Cheng Zhanxi to lower her head so she could touch up her lip makeup. “You taught me well,” she said lightly.
Cheng Zhanxi took the lipstick and touched up her makeup as well. “You suddenly took off your mask to drink water today. Was it because you were jealous?”
Yu Qingtang gave her a faint glance, took the lipstick back, capped it, and said, “Remember to wear a mask next time you come.”
Cheng Zhanxi’s lips curved into a smile.
Yu Qingtang led Cheng Zhanxi by the hand back into the mall. A staff member came up to them. “Teacher Cheng Mo.”
Cheng Zhanxi reflexively opened her mouth, then smiled as she listened to Yu Qingtang respond beside her.
The person in charge from the publishing house wanted to treat Yu Qingtang to dinner. Yu Qingtang brought her family member along. Cheng Zhanxi focused on serving her food, not participating in the table conversation and keeping her presence to a minimum. Occasionally, when she heard the person in charge mention sales breaking some hundred-thousand mark or singing Yu Qingtang’s praises, she would listen attentively for a moment.
“Why were you so quiet today?” Yu Qingtang asked when they were alone after leaving the private room.
“Wasn’t I afraid you’d get jealous?”
“So well-behaved?” Yu Qingtang pinched her chin.
“I’ve always been well-behaved.”
“Then you’ll be on the bottom tonight.”
“Okay.”
“When does the art exhibition open?”
“The tenth of next month, for one month,” Cheng Zhanxi said. “I’ve already looked up fun places nearby. How about we go hiking tomorrow?”
“Okay. What’s the altitude?”
“Not high, only a few hundred meters,” said Cheng Zhanxi, who was well-versed in Yu Qingtang’s physical limits.
As expected, Yu Qingtang’s face showed a relieved smile.
In truth, Yu Qingtang’s stamina had improved considerably during their three years of traveling the world. Last time, she had even hiked across the Sahara with Cheng Zhanxi and her friends, fulfilling her wish of lying in a rooftop tent in the desert to watch the stars—though she did spend half a month lying at home without going out after they got back.
After spending a month in Linjiang, the two returned to Jingcheng to see family and friends.
Song Qingrou had long since instructed Xiao Yun to prepare a full table of food and was waiting at the door. When the two got out of the car, Song Qingrou walked over, took Yu Qingtang’s hand, and looked her up and down. Seeing her rosy complexion, she felt relieved and patted the back of her hand before turning to her own daughter.
Cheng Zhanxi was pouting so dramatically you could hang an oil pot from her lips.
Song Qingrou said with heartfelt concern, “You’ve lost weight.”
Cheng Zhanxi’s act broke in an instant. She smiled. “Where did I lose weight? I look exactly the same as when we left.”
Song Qingrou took one by each hand and led them inside. “Come on, let’s go in.”
The driver brought the gifts from the trunk into the entryway and closed the main door.
Song Qingrou held their hands and asked about everything, from delicious food to fun places, her eyes filled with envy.
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Why don’t you come with us next time?”
Song Qingrou shook her head. “Wouldn’t your dad cry the Great Wall down at home?”
Cheng Zhanxi burst out laughing.
Yu Qingtang smiled gently.
She split the orange she had just peeled into two halves, offered one to Song Qingrou, and said, “Mom.”
Song Qingrou took the orange and ate it, letting out a sigh.
“We can only wait until your dad retires.”
Yu Qingtang said, “Xixi and I will scout things out for you first. Then our whole family can travel together.”
Song Qingrou nodded in gratification.
That evening at the dinner table, Song Qingrou brought up Cheng Yi’s retirement. Although Cheng Yi looked young, he was already past the national retirement age but was still working diligently at the company. In reality, Cheng Yuanxi had long been capable of handling things on his own. He had stayed on because he was afraid Cheng Yuanxi would be too overworked by himself, and because he was still in good health.
When Cheng Yi heard she wanted to travel, to go wherever she pleased like Cheng Zhanxi instead of only taking a half-month vacation each year, he immediately declared that he would organize a shareholders' meeting as soon as possible to change the group’s chairman.
Cheng Yuanxi: “?”
Song Qingrou beamed with joy.
Cheng Zhanxi started talking about the places she and Yu Qingtang had recently visited. There was one place with an excellent natural hot spring that was great for soothing muscles and improving circulation. At the time, they had really wanted to take their parents there to soak, and now they finally had the chance.
Song Qingrou said, “I love hot springs!”
Cheng Yi joined the discussion, and the atmosphere at the dinner table became lively.
After listening for a long time without hearing his own name mentioned in the plans, Cheng Yuanxi: “?”
After a while, Cheng Yuanxi finally couldn’t help but ask, “What about me?”
Everyone looked at him with a mixture of pity and respect.
Cheng Yuanxi pouted slightly, looking aggrieved. “I get it. I’ll take good care of the house.”
Song Qingrou said gently, “When you have your annual leave, we’ll take you with us.”
Cheng Yuanxi nodded and shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth.
…For the sake of this family, he was destined to sacrifice too much.
At the shooting range.
The sound of gunshots echoed incessantly inside.
Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang took off their earmuffs, put down their guns, and simultaneously looked at the scores displayed on the electronic screen.
Yu Qingtang pursed her lips and turned to ask, “What’s your score?”
Cheng Zhanxi was very satisfied with her result. “Eighty-eight,” she said with a smile.
Ten shots, averaging nearly nine points each. That was very impressive.
A smile appeared on Yu Qingtang’s face.
Cheng Zhanxi’s brow furrowed slightly. “What’s yours?”
Yu Qingtang said, “Ninety.”
Cheng Zhanxi: “…”
Yu Qingtang’s physical stamina was no match for hers, but in competitive activities that relied on arm strength, wrist strength, and accuracy, she improved at lightning speed. Two years ago, Cheng Zhanxi had lost to her in archery. A year ago, she had been utterly defeated in darts. And now, in shooting, which Yu Qingtang had only picked up a year ago, she had tasted Waterloo once again.
But losing to her own lover was nothing to be ashamed of.
Cheng Zhanxi asked, “Does your shoulder hurt?”
Yu Qingtang instantly became delicate, sucking in a breath. “It hurts.”
The guns had a strong recoil. Firing ten shots in a row made even Cheng Zhanxi’s shoulder feel uncomfortable, let alone the tender-skinned Yu Qingtang.
Cheng Zhanxi led her out of the shooting range and sat her down on a sofa in the VIP area, massaging her shoulder.
“Let’s do something more relaxing next time. No more guns,” Cheng Zhanxi said, her heart aching for her.
Her shoulder hurt every time. The first time she tried shooting, Yu Qingtang had acted perfectly calm at the club, but as soon as they were alone, the pain made her cry. She couldn’t lift her arm for two days.
Yu Qingtang fed a piece of fruit into Cheng Zhanxi’s mouth and asked, “What else are you good at?”
Cheng Zhanxi swallowed the fruit. “Rock climbing.”
Yu Qingtang chuckled. “That won’t work. Something that only involves hands.”
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Arm wrestling.”
Yu Qingtang laughed heartily but still shook her head. “No, you lift weights every day, you’re much stronger than me. I want to play something that requires skill.”
Cheng Zhanxi massaged from her shoulder down to her palm, kneading the web of her right thumb. She smiled. “If you want to beat me, you should compete fairly. You always pick things you’re good at, but you won’t compete with me in what I’m truly good at.”
Yu Qingtang blinked. “You’re my wife. Why should I compete fairly with you?”
Caught off guard, Cheng Zhanxi was hit by a critical blast of Yu-style sweet talk, leaving her so giddy she didn’t know which way was up.
Cheng Zhanxi thought for a moment. “Badminton, then.”
She would give her another chance to win.
But Yu Qingtang couldn’t stick with it. On the very first day of playing badminton, she was drenched in sweat from running back and forth to return the shuttlecock. Doing it once in a while was fine, but practicing until she could surpass Cheng Zhanxi? She decisively chose to give up.
“Is there a quieter sport that only requires using your hands?” Yu Qingtang sat across from Cheng Zhanxi, cupping her cheeks in her hands as she asked.
“…”
Cheng Zhanxi racked her brain and replied, “You can top me. Ten times a day.”
Yu Qingtang raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure that’s a quiet sport?”
Cheng Zhanxi: “…”
At a horse ranch in the suburbs of the capital.
Dressed in a black riding habit, Yu Qingtang put a finger in her mouth and let out a long whistle.
In the distance, a black horse that had grown sturdy and strong, its coat smooth and shiny, raised its head. With thundering hooves and a flying mane, it galloped toward Yu Qingtang.
“Da Bai.” Yu Qingtang stroked the big black horse’s neck, and the horse nuzzled her palm affectionately.
Yu Qingtang led it by the reins for a short walk before mounting. Cheng Zhanxi had already been trotting in circles for a while and now stopped beside her. “Ready to go?”
Yu Qingtang said, “Let’s go.”
A gap opened in the ranch’s fence, and two horses, one white and one black, charged out one after the other.
After riding, they stopped by the home of an uncle who ran a private kitchen to freeload a meal.
In the afternoon, they went to Renmin University and strolled around the campus. At dinnertime, she called Xiang Tianyou. “Where are you?”
Xiang Tianyou said, “Just got out of class, on my way to the cafeteria.”
Cheng Zhanxi glanced in the direction of the cafeteria and smiled. “At the library entrance. Yu Qingtang and I are here. Hey handsome, want to have dinner with us?”
Xiang Tianyou’s voice immediately changed on the other end. “I’ll be right there!”
In less than a minute, a tall, long-legged young man appeared in Cheng Zhanxi’s line of sight.
At twenty-one, Xiang Tianyou had shed his youthful awkwardness. His features had become more defined and three-dimensional, and the angles of his profile had emerged. He was wearing a solid-colored sweatshirt and black pants today, looking fresh, clean, and handsome.
In the few seconds it took for him to walk over, Cheng Zhanxi saw countless pairs of female eyes glued to him.
Cheng Zhanxi patted his shoulder; his bones were surprisingly prominent.
She gave Xiang Tianyou a meaningful look.
Xiang Tianyou obediently lowered his head in front of her like a big golden retriever. Cheng Zhanxi ruffled his hair. “What do you want to eat?”
Xiang Tianyou said, “Anything’s fine, I’m not picky.”
His eyes shone brightly as he looked at the two of them.
After he started university, although Cheng and Yu were not often in Jingcheng, their relationship had not grown distant at all. Song Qingrou was fond of Xiang Tianyou and often invited him to the Cheng house for dinner. Xiang Tianyou also loved the atmosphere of the Cheng family. If it weren’t for the awkwardness of figuring out the generational titles, he would have almost acknowledged Song Qingrou as his godmother. Every time Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang returned to the country, they would be sure to visit him at school, take him out to eat, and buy him clothes. They also sent him things regularly.
Cheng Zhanxi said, “Alright, I’ll just pick a place then. The car is parked at the school gate. Let’s go.”
Xiang Tianyou followed her for a few steps, then suddenly stopped.
Cheng Zhanxi: “What’s wrong?”
Xiang Tianyou hesitated. “I…” His ears turned a faint red. His skin was fair, so the blush was particularly noticeable.
He rarely showed such an expression, which Cheng Zhanxi found quite novel, and she felt a flicker of amusement.
She turned her head to look at Yu Qingtang. Good heavens, Yu Qingtang’s expression was even more gossipy than hers.
As Xiang Tianyou was hemming and hawing, a soft, gentle female voice suddenly came from behind them.
“Xiang Tianyou.”
Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang exchanged a look, both seeing the excitement in each other’s eyes.
So it was a romance!
They turned around at the same time. The girl in front of them was about the same age as Xiang Tianyou, wearing a blue and white long dress and a knitted cardigan, with a single-strap chain bag slung over her shoulder. She had a gentle temperament.
Recognizing her face, they blurted out, “Yu Zhou?”
Wasn’t she at Peking University?
Yu Zhou hadn’t expected to run into them here. A trace of embarrassment rose inexplicably, and her cheeks flushed slightly. “Teacher Yu, Teacher Cheng.”
Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang’s gazes darted between the two of them.
Yu Zhou tucked her hair behind her ear and unconsciously took a step back. “I’ll just…” It looked like she was about to flee.
Cheng Zhanxi thought she might have ruined a good thing and was hesitating whether to speak when Xiang Tianyou called out to her, “Wait a minute.”
He usually spoke with a full, resonant voice, but now it held a hint of bashfulness.
Xiang Tianyou said, “Teacher Cheng, give me a few minutes.”
Cheng Zhanxi said magnanimously, “Take a few more, it’s fine.” It would be even better if they didn’t have time for dinner tonight.
Xiang Tianyou took Yu Zhou to the lake behind the library. They stood face to face, talking. They seemed calm, and the atmosphere looked pretty good.
Cheng Zhanxi turned to look at Yu Qingtang, wanting to chat with her, only to see Yu Qingtang staring intently into the distance, not even blinking.
Cheng Zhanxi waved a hand in front of her eyes.
Yu Qingtang’s long lashes fluttered. She withdrew her gaze and looked at her, pursing her lips.
“Lip-reading like this is too strenuous on your eyes,” Cheng Zhanxi said softly. “I’ll ask for you later, I promise I’ll get all the details.”
Yu Qingtang’s brow relaxed, and she smiled faintly. “Okay.”
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