The taxi stopped in front of a small grocery shop. That corner of the street was crowded with people—the sound of chatter, the smell of fresh vegetables, and the fragrance of spices filled the air.
Huan Jing tugged Anya's hand.
"Wait, let's grab a few things from here."
Anya smiled.
"Alright, buy whatever you want today. It's my treat."
Huan Jing blinked dramatically.
"Really? Oh, right… anyway, your husband is rich, that's why you can afford to treat me. Otherwise, no chance." She grinned mischievously.
The two wandered around the shop. Suddenly, Huan Jing's eyes caught sight of fresh fish. She picked one carefully and grew serious.
"Anya… I need a favor."
Anya tilted her head.
"What kind of favor?"
Huan Jing clasped her hands together, her face turning innocent.
"You know I can't cook fish properly… but I'm craving it so much today. Will you have dinner with me? We'll be done by 8."
Anya hesitated.
"But I'll have to cook for Zain too, otherwise he'll be upset."
"Oh, he can handle one day on his own. Please, today is my break-up party. You're the one who said we're soul sisters, so you have to agree." Huan Jing puffed her cheeks, making a cute face.
Anya laughed at her antics.
"Fine, fine. Let me just message Zain first."
She stepped aside to call. Huan Jing muttered under her breath, pouting,
"Hmph, married people need permission for everything. Good thing I'm single."
A few minutes later, Anya returned with a small smile on her lips.
"He agreed."
Huan Jing's eyes sparkled.
"Really?! How did you convince him?"
"That's a secret," Anya teased. "Just between him and me."
"Ohhh, I see," Huan Jing feigned jealousy. "Fine, keep your little secrets."
Then she quickly tossed ten bottles of drinks into the basket.
"Let's go, my darling!" she cheered.
Anya shook her head, laughing.
"Hmm… let's go."
They finished shopping and reached home just as the clock struck eight.
Together, they cooked dinner in the kitchen. According to Chinese tradition, a steamed fish was placed at the center of the table, surrounded by stir-fried vegetables, dumplings, and steaming rice. The entire house filled with the aroma of food and the sound of their laughter.
After dinner, they sat on the floor, opened bottles, and clinked glasses. Huan Jing took a long sip, her cheeks turning slightly red.
"To freedom," she said with a smile.
Anya raised her glass too and spoke softly,
"To new beginnings."
At first, Anya thought, One drink won't hurt.
But soon enough, both of them had emptied all ten bottles.
Huan Jing got up, staggering around the room, singing,
"Break-up… break-up… party tonight!"
Anya hugged her tightly, whispering,
"Yes, party tonight…"
But both suddenly broke into tears. Anya, however, composed herself quickly, grabbed the remote, and turned on the TV to play a song.
Huan Jing grabbed her hand.
"No crying, only party. And a party without music and dancing is incomplete!"
Anya, wearing a long purple top with full sleeves and a white coat, and Huan Jing, in a blue-white T-shirt with black pants, began a couple dance together. They smiled, forgetting their sorrows, comforting each other in their own way.
Meanwhile, Tiang and Zain returned home from the office. Zain had come to pick Anya up.
Tiang chuckled, "I bet Huan Jing must be crying by now, and Bhabhi is the strong one comforting her."
Zain nodded, "You're right. You know, whenever there's a sad scene in a drama, she doesn't just shed a few tears—she cries for a full half hour."
Tiang tilted his head. "Then… are they crying right now?"
"Maybe," Zain said thoughtfully.
The two headed straight to Huan Jing's house, where Tiang knew the password.
But as soon as they entered the living room, they were stunned. Anya and Huan Jing were swaying on the sofa, singing loudly, holding empty glasses as microphones.
Tiang's eyes widened.
"What the…? I thought they'd be crying, but—"
Zain chuckled, patting his shoulder.
"Mrs. Yan… I never thought I'd see you like this."
Huan Jing froze for a second, then smirked, whispering to Anya,
"Look, your Mr. Wolf is here to take you home."
Anya laughed and replied,
"You can't call my husband Mr. Wolf. He's only my husband."
Zain smiled, looking at her lovingly, thinking, You look so cute right now.
Huan Jing, pretending to be annoyed, said,
"Anya, play another song already! Why are we stuck on this one?"
Anya raised her glass like a mic and shouted playfully,
"Alright then—get ready for the next song!"
Tiang sighed dramatically.
"Now what do we do? How do we handle them?"
Zain laughed, replying,
"You handle your crush—oops, I mean your neighbor—and I'll handle my wife. Mission start!"
Tiang threw up his hands.
"Seriously… this feels like Mission Impossible."
Anya and Huan Jing tried to hold back their laughter, but their eyes gleamed mischievously. They began swaying again, but when Zain and Tiang tried to pull them off the sofa, Huan Jing clung to Anya.
"Anya, my soul sister… these bad men are trying to separate us!" she cried dramatically.
Zain folded his arms, looking at Tiang with mock seriousness.
"Did you hear that? She just called us bad men."
Tiang raised an eyebrow and pointed at Zain.
"No, no… she didn't mean me. She meant you. You're always the one who gets angry first."
Zain shot him a glare.
"Shut up! Don't put this on me."
Anya, her cheeks flushed from the drinks, wobbled a little and pointed her finger at both of them.
"You two are equally bad! Bad men! Separating me from my soul sister… I'll file a case against both of you!"
Zain groaned dramatically.
"Ahh, great! Now my own wife wants to send me to jail."
Tiang burst out laughing, holding his stomach.
"Wah, sister in law! You're amazing. First time I've seen someone threaten zain yan like this."
Zain turned to him with narrowed eyes.
"And you're insane if you think we can separate them like this. Watch me."
He held out his hand, started counting slowly, his voice deep and commanding.
"One… two… three—"
Before Anya could react, he suddenly swung her up over his shoulder like a sack.
"Zain!" Anya squealed, pounding his back with her small fists, her legs kicking in protest.
"Put me down! Where are you taking me, you big bad wolf?!"
Zain chuckled, his lips curving in a teasing smile.
"This is the first time I've ever heard you call me that. Tomorrow when you remember, you'll regret it."
Anya huffed, her face buried against his shoulder.
"I hate you! Bad wolf!" she muttered with cute anger, still wriggling to get free.
On the sofa, Huan Jing suddenly raised her hand like a soldier taking oath.
"Don't worry, Anya! I'll save you from this wolf!"
She jumped up, wobbling on her feet—but before she could take a step, her heel slipped.
"Ahhh!"
Tiang, who had been watching closely, darted forward and caught her in his arms just in time. For a moment, he didn't move—his eyes fixed on her flushed face, the silly little smile she gave him.
Zain smirked from across the room.
"See, brother? At least I got to take mine away. But you… how will you handle this drunkard?"
Tiang sighed, tightening his grip around Huan Jing as she leaned her head on his chest.
"Brother, this is unfair. You took your wife… and left me with this crazy drunk soul sister."
"Bye, bye! Soul sister forever!" Anya called from Zain's shoulder, waving one arm toward Huan Jing as if she were sailing away.
Zain carried her out, passing the dining table. His eyes fell on the empty bottles scattered across it. He raised an eyebrow, muttering to himself,
"Ten bottles… no wonder she's completely gone."
He entered the lift, Anya still squirming on his shoulder, mumbling complaints. When they reached downstairs, he carried her straight toward the car.
Just then, a little boy walking with his mother stopped and pointed with wide eyes.
"Mom, look! That uncle is kidnapping that aunty!"
The boy's mother gasped at first, then noticed Anya giggling and muttering incoherently. She shook her head and laughed softly.
"Not kidnapping, son. That's his wife. Looks like she's had a little too much to drink."
Zain chuckled, adjusting Anya in his arms and glancing at the woman.
"She's right. My wife's drunk. And trust me… this is the most romantic kidnapping I've ever done."
The woman covered her smile, whispering,
"These youngsters nowadays… even their romance is dramatic."
Zain slid Anya into the car seat, buckling her in carefully as she pouted, whispering again,
"Bad wolf…"
He smiled softly this time, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Maybe I am… but only for you."