Chapter 17: Whose Home Is This, Really?

Li Wanbai stepped out of the styling department with a face as pale as a vegetable. Turning her head, she spotted Su Orange leaning against the wall and sighed deeply. “Duoduo, the fact that you ran out early was simply the wisest move! You have no idea what I just went through!”

Clothes had fluttered before her eyes like a blizzard; even with her interest in fashion, she couldn’t handle seeing dozens of outfits in a second, hundreds in a minute. To make matters worse, Sister Chen and Ye Xiruo, both seemingly out of their minds, grew more and more excited, more obsessed the longer they looked. Next to them, Li Wanbai felt like nothing more than a bystander, a telephone pole.

“All right, but you made it out, didn’t you?” Su Orange grinned mischievously, though she quickly composed herself, coughed lightly, and said, “Come on, I’ll go home with you.”

Su Orange had originally planned to drive back herself, but Li Wanbai had no desire to experience another round of reckless driving. She quickly put a stop to that, requesting a company driver instead. Conveniently, this allowed her to take Wang Xing’s Maybach that had been left in the underground parking lot.

An all-around win.

“Turn left up ahead and we’ll be there,” Li Wanbai said with a smile. “Thank you, sir.”

The driver replied cheerfully, “No need to thank me! It’s only right for a driver from Radiant Sun Entertainment to serve its artists! Besides, Miss Li, you’re the most popular artist in our company—many of us would love to drive for you! Would you mind signing an autograph for me when we get there? I’d love to show off to my friends.”

While Li Wanbai chatted with the driver, Su Orange remained silent, gazing out the window, her thoughts adrift.

The driver braked sharply at the foot of the hill. “Miss Li, we’ve arrived at your destination! This is a high-end residential area with strict security. My vehicle isn’t registered, so I can’t drive in. I’m afraid you’ll have to walk from here.”

Li Wanbai waved him off, unconcerned. “It’s fine. I live in Villa Number 3, right by the gate.”

“Wait—Villa Number 3?” Su Orange grabbed her wrist, looking at her oddly. “You live here?”

“Yes, this is my home.” Li Wanbai looked puzzled, then understanding dawned. “Given how bad things used to be between us, it’s no wonder you’ve never visited. But it doesn’t matter now. Remember, this is my house. You’re welcome any time. I’ll add your fingerprint to the entry system in a bit.”

“But…” Su Orange began, still trying to process it as Li Wanbai pulled her from the car.

“This place is huge, isn’t it?” Li Wanbai laughed. “At first, I found it strange too. Who would’ve thought that in ten years, I’d make enough money to afford a villa here? If I hadn’t noted the address in my memo, I’d probably be sleeping on some street corner right now.”

She chuckled. “Imagine the headlines: ‘Famous Actress Sleeps Rough—For What?’ That would make quite a story.”

Perhaps because her middle and high school dream had been to become a jewelry designer, her current status as a celebrity still felt surreal to her.

So be it—let life drift along like this.

“That’s not what I meant,” Su Orange said as they walked up to Villa Number 3. Her expression was hard to describe. “I’ve been here before. I’ve seen this place.”

“You’ve been here? Then why do you look so lost?” Li Wanbai asked, perplexed.

“When I was here last, this was the new marital home for you and Yu Baichuan,” Su Orange explained. “I came for your wedding banquet.”

Li Wanbai froze in place. “You mean, this is actually the home you and Yu Baichuan shared? My real home isn’t here?”

“Probably, I guess. That’s between you two—why ask me? How would I know?” Su Orange muttered. “You can’t even keep track of your own affairs. What’s the point of asking me?”

Please, enough with the scolding.

The problem was, ever since waking up in the hospital, Li Wanbai had been living here. She counted on her fingers—it had been about a week, and she hadn’t seen Yu Baichuan even once. If she’d run into him, she surely wouldn’t have so boldly claimed this as her own home.

If not for Su Orange pointing it out, she would still be in the dark.

Now she was only left to wonder—where was her real home?

After all these years as a top celebrity, even if Radiant Sun Entertainment was stingy, she’d still made a fortune. She must own property somewhere, especially since the divorce papers Yu Baichuan mentioned would have been sent there.

The thought tied her mind in knots.

“You must have some addresses or clues in your memos—let me see! Even delivery records, grocery or pharmacy lists, anything. I can deduce where your real home is from the smallest detail.” Su Orange patted her chest. “Don’t forget, I used to be president of the mystery club. With a few hints, I could even tell you what color underwear you wear—”

She was abruptly cut off by Li Wanbai. “Forget it. I’m comfortable here. If I find out where I was supposed to live, I’ll just have to move again, and that’s too much hassle.”

Su Orange paused, giving her a strange look, then suddenly chuckled. “Is that really all you’re worried about?”

“No one knows me better than you, Duoduo,” Li Wanbai replied with a grin. “Yu Baichuan has no idea I’m still living here, so he’ll send the divorce papers to my original address. I was worrying about what to do if I received them, but now, problem solved—I won’t get them at all.”

Su Orange was speechless. She gave Li Wanbai a thumbs-up in admiration.

Later, she realized she’d raised her thumb far too soon.

Li Wanbai opened the villa’s main door, and instead of a lifeless living room, the first thing that greeted her was a rooftop garden bursting with vibrant flowers.

Calling it a rooftop didn’t do it justice—it looked more like a glasshouse overflowing with blossoms.

Li Wanbai stopped short, stunned by the sight.

In contrast, Su Orange seemed even more at home than the owner herself. She strolled over to the glasshouse, smiling. “The flowers are as beautiful as ever in here. It makes me want a glasshouse of my own.”

“Wow, I didn’t expect the renovation team to be so quick. I only mentioned wanting a glasshouse the day before yesterday, and it was finished in a day,” Li Wanbai said with a laugh. Then, at Su Orange’s words, she blinked in confusion. “Wait, was the glasshouse already here when you visited before?”

“You mean to say you left the villa entirely in the hands of the renovation team for a whole day?”

They exchanged glances, both wearing equally bewildered expressions.