A Carefree Journey: Returning Home
Three years later, on a spring afternoon, Wang Jingnan, holding her two-year-old daughter, stepped into Yayuan again.
The roses on the balcony were in full bloom, even more abundant than three years ago, clearly carefully tended. She carried her daughter into the living room; afternoon sunlight streamed through the French windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Hearing her enter, a figure turned from the balcony and slowly walked towards her, backlit and somewhat indistinct. When she entered the living room, Jingnan looked at her friend, momentarily lost in thought.
It was Zhiwei. She wore a smoky pink silk dress, the hem swaying like water with her steps. Three years had passed, and she seemed like a piece of jade carefully polished by time, having shed the last layer of youthful naiveté and radiating a breathtaking beauty. Her skin was radiant and glowing, and the languid charm in her eyes was natural. Those eyes, once as calm as autumn water, now possessed a nonchalant allure, like the most beautiful peony in full bloom, vibrant and fragrant.
"Zhiwei?" Jingnan was almost stunned, instinctively tightening her grip on her daughter. Looking at her radiant friend, and then at her own disheveled appearance over the past three years, spent busy with childcare and law firm affairs, she couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly: "Compared to you, I've practically become a haggard old woman."
Zhiwei had already approached and chuckled softly upon hearing this, her laughter clear and melodious. She first gently teased the exquisitely beautiful little girl in Jingnan's arms with her fingertips, her eyes tender, then looked up at Jingnan teasingly and said, "Don't talk nonsense. You're not a haggard old woman at all; you're clearly a 'wife from a wealthy family' overflowing with happiness, radiating a sense of peace and contentment."
She paused, then winked mischievously. "I'm different. I've been out here for the past three years, and I'm practically a female demon who replenishes her yin with yang energy. You can't learn from me, or I'll corrupt you."
The little one giggled as Zhiwei amused her, reaching out her tiny hand to grab her dangling pearl earring. After playing for a while, the child became drowsy. Jingnan skillfully patted his daughter's back, watching her drift off to sleep, before the nanny carried her to the guest room for a nap.
Finally, only the two of them remained in the living room. Jingnan finally had a chance to examine Zhiwei closely and couldn't help but exclaim, "You've changed so much since you came back."
Zhiwei leaned back lazily on the sofa, sunlight outlining her perfect profile. "I came back to sweep my mother's grave; it's almost been five years." Her voice was calm, with a hint of barely perceptible longing.
"Are you still leaving?" Jingnan asked.
"I'm not leaving." Zhiwei picked up the tea from the coffee table, took a sip, and gazed at the blooming roses outside the window. "I've had enough of partying and revelry. I'm back... for something different."
The child's even breathing could be faintly heard from the guest room. Jingnan relaxed, shifting to a more comfortable sitting position, and asked curiously, "Where have you been these past three years?"
A smile of reminiscence curved Zhiwei's lips, and her gaze became distant.
"I've been to Greenland, a land of ice and snow, and stayed in an Inuit hut, watching the aurora borealis drift across the sky like green silk." Her voice was soft. "I've also been to the Norwegian forest, where in summer, the tundra is covered with unknown wildflowers, so magical it seems otherworldly."
She paused, her tone becoming languid and teasing: "I even got VIP memberships with top escort companies in several countries."
Jingnan raised an eyebrow, revealing an expression that said, "I'd like to hear more details."
Zhiwei didn't mince words, speaking as frankly as if she were discussing art collecting. "My conditions are high. First, you have to abstain from sex for at least six months, provide a comprehensive medical report to ensure your body is absolutely clean, free of any of those weird viruses." She swirled her teacup. "Money, at this time, is most useful for buying health and peace of mind."
"Secondly," she continued, "during the 'service period,' you can only serve me wholeheartedly. I don't want to get involved with anything shady. I don't like sharing, and I don't like being entangled."
Jing Nan was taken aback: "So demanding?"
"Harsh?" Zhiwei laughed. "But I'm incredibly generous. Besides," she winked playfully, "do you think my current situation is making things difficult for anyone?"
Looking at her radiant face, Jing Nan had to admit that even setting aside her wealth, her looks and temperament alone were enough to make people flock to her.
"So," Zhiwei summarized casually, "whether it's a Greek boy as handsome as David under Michelangelo's brush, a passionate and energetic Brazilian, or a beautiful Japanese man who looks like he stepped out of a ukiyo-e painting... I've tasted them all."
Her tone was calm, as if she were commenting on wines from different regions. "However, even the most delicious food can become tiresome if you eat too much of it. Once the pleasant feeling fades, I don't hesitate to pack my bags and take my team to another place."
Although Jingnan had never witnessed it firsthand, over the past three years, she had handled a series of confidentiality agreements, employment contracts with special clauses, and financial expenditures of astonishing amounts flowing to unusual destinations from Zhiwei's side. She had already glimpsed a corner of her friend's indulgent lifestyle.
Listening to Zhiwei recount these events in such a calm tone, Jingnan suddenly understood. For the past three years, Zhiwei hadn't been wallowing in depravity; rather, she had been experiencing the youth and freedom she had once lacked in a way that was almost willful yet extremely rational, taking control of her own body and desires. She wasn't indulging in debauchery, but rather exploring, making amends, and reaffirming the meaning of the name "Shen Zhiwei" in a shocking way.
Outside the window, the setting sun bathed the garden in a warm golden glow. From the guest room came the soft sound of her daughter waking up; Jingnan got up to check on her. Zhiwei remained seated on the sofa, gazing at the magnificent sunset, her eyes clear, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
