Chapter 111 She No Longer Understands

The first floor of the detached villa was a paradise for the cats, equipped with every amenity imaginable; their lives here were more comfortable than most humans could dream of. Many cats who had once roamed the streets chose to stay, and there were many unfamiliar faces as well—Xu Anan suspected the original feline residents had spread the word, prompting others to come seeking refuge.

Keeping so many cats was certainly expensive, but Lord Jiang was wealthy beyond measure; this was hardly even a drop in the ocean for him, more like a mote of dust slipping through his fingers.

“What’s on the second floor?” Xu Anan asked curiously, noticing a sign that read: “No cats allowed upstairs.” But surely the cats couldn’t read, could they?

“That’s the living quarters for people,” Jiang Li explained. He was mainly worried the cats might fall from the stairs, hence the arrangement.

Xu Anan followed Jiang Li upstairs and found that the decor was strikingly similar to her own little home—except everything here looked far more costly.

Jiang Li gestured for Xu Anan to follow him into a room. “We’re staying here tonight.”

“Here? But I haven’t taken a shower, and I didn’t bring pajamas.”

“There are some in the wardrobe.”

Stepping into the walk-in closet, Xu Anan was stunned to see women’s clothing on the left and men’s on the right. She hadn’t expected to find a selection for herself here as well.

But she didn’t quite understand—what was Jiang Li’s intention behind all this?

“What are you standing there daydreaming for? If you’re not going to pick something, come with me and try out what it’s like to use a jacuzzi together,” Jiang Li said, already stripping off his shirt and pulling her into the bathroom without giving her a chance to refuse.

Thus began another new “contest.”

After hours of exertion, Xu Anan was exhausted, collapsing into sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Watching the small woman slumbering peacefully in his arms, Jiang Li couldn’t help but smile. He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, pinched her soft, delicate cheek, utterly captivated.

Xu Anan’s skin was flawless—like the finest mutton-fat jade. Up close, he could even see the fine down on her face. Her eyelashes were long and thick, casting a small shadow under the light, making her look especially pure and innocent. Her lips, like a delicate jelly, glistened temptingly, making one want to taste their sweetness.

Jiang Li had never been one to deny himself. When a thought crossed his mind, he acted on it. He leaned in and pressed a few light kisses to her lips, eliciting a sleepy frown and a murmured complaint from the woman in his arms: “Mmm, Li, stop it. I have so much to do tomorrow.”

Her soft, sweet voice was like a bite of glutinous rice cake—tender and comforting.

Jiang Li had to restrain himself with great effort.

He was already thinking that when Xu Anan woke up, he’d make her call his name a few more times.

But at that very moment, someone else upstairs was still awake.

Ning Xiyue was annoyed with herself for having called Jiang Yu over without solid evidence, and even more so now that Jiang Li had acted so unpredictably, causing Jiang Yu to harbor some resentment towards her.

But she was unwilling to give up—she stayed in the bathroom late into the night, hearing nothing of interest.

So she installed a recording device in her own bathroom, leaving it running at all times, waiting to catch Xu Anan and Jiang Li’s next tryst.

Or perhaps to catch Xu Anan in a scandal with some other man.

A vicious glint flashed in Ning Xiyue’s eyes.

She had to ruin Xu Anan.

…

Early in the morning, after breakfast, Xu Anan headed out. As she descended to the first floor, she was immediately surrounded by a horde of cats, melting her heart with their cuteness.

Nearly every breed imaginable was present, and she wished she had more hands to pet them all.

The morning sun was gentle, the breeze mild, and the small woman’s radiant smile was etched deeply into Jiang Li’s memory, becoming one of his rare moments of true joy.

He lounged lazily nearby.

“Aren’t you on a tight schedule?” he teased.

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Xu Anan hurriedly put down the Maine Coon in her arms, grabbed her bag, and dashed for the door, waving back at Jiang Li as she left.

Jiang Li’s gaze followed her until her slender figure disappeared from sight, only then turning to attend to his own business.

Xu Anan didn’t go straight to the magazine office. Instead, she found a seat by the window in a café near Chenggang Building Materials.

After a while, a woman in a dark red cheongsam approached.

“Excuse me, could you let me have this seat?” the woman asked politely. “I always sit here, but to make it up to you, you can order anything you like from the menu.”

Xu Anan’s eyes flickered. “To tell the truth, I have no choice but to sit here—I’m waiting for President Cheng to return.”

The woman’s expression changed instantly.

“Oh? What is your relationship with President Cheng?”

Xu Anan stood, handing her a business card. “Actually, I’m here hoping to catch President Cheng for a ten-minute interview.”

After reading the card, the woman’s anger subsided a little. “You could call his secretary to schedule an appointment.”

“Strangely enough, I haven’t been able to reach the secretary’s number at all, otherwise I wouldn’t be resorting to this,” Xu Anan sighed. “From here, I can see exactly when President Cheng arrives, so I’m afraid I can’t give up this seat. I’m sorry.”

The woman put away Xu Anan’s business card. “I understand—I’ll find another seat.”

Just as she turned, Xu Anan called out, “Wait a moment.”

She asked in surprise, “May I ask, are you Mrs. Cheng?”

Seeing she’d been recognized, the woman smiled. “That’s right, I’m Cheng Gang’s wife—a woman who has already retired from the business world. I’m surprised you remember me.”

Xu Anan shook her head. “I don’t know or care what others think. But in my opinion, without you, Chenggang Building Materials wouldn’t be what it is today.”

She went on to mention one of Molly’s proudest business negotiations—the very one that had secured Chenggang Building Materials’ stability.

Molly was both surprised and moved.

After all, that was five years ago. Outsiders forgetting was understandable—even the company’s shareholders had long erased her contributions, forcing her to return home and become a full-time wife and mother.

Molly was deeply grateful to Xu Anan for remembering her and the achievements she held dear.

“You flatter me. I only did what I ought to have done.”

“But some people are happy to reap the rewards without lifting a finger.”

Xu Anan’s words hit the mark, and Molly fell silent for a moment before raising an eyebrow and smiling. “Miss Xu, you’re a very interesting person.”

Xu Anan arched an eyebrow. “That’s because I’m always around interesting people.”

Molly was briefly taken aback, then smiled knowingly.

“Once I finish this coffee, I’ll take you to see my husband. If I’m not mistaken, he’ll already be at the office by now.”

In truth, Molly had already guessed that Xu Anan had been waiting for her, but she was still willing to help—after all, the eyes never lie.

Whether Xu Anan truly admired her or not, at least she understood her.

Yet Xu Anan’s next words took Molly by complete surprise.