The next morning, Guan Yingtang was woken up by the sound of her phone ringing.
The ringtone came from the hallway outside, followed by Meng Songnian’s voice as he answered the call.
He seemed to have just gotten up as well; after a few words, his voice gradually faded as he headed downstairs, no longer audible.
Turning her head, she found that the man who had slept beside her last night was already gone.
Guan Yingtang didn’t dare to get up rashly, so she lay in bed, listening carefully for any sounds outside.
After about ten minutes, she heard someone turning the doorknob. Unsure who it was, she quickly curled up under the covers.
The door opened, and footsteps approached slowly. Even though she couldn’t see clearly, the familiar aura told Guan Yingtang it was Meng Qinghuai who had entered.
Though she could relax a little, given last night’s “Box” incident, Guan Yingtang still wasn’t ready to face him. So she stayed hidden under the blanket, pretending to sleep.
She sensed that Meng Qinghuai had come close—
Guan Yingtang lifted her eyes slightly, trying to see through the covers, but she saw nothing. She only heard him open the wardrobe, followed by the sound of clothes rustling.
Guan Yingtang stiffened, even holding her breath unconsciously. She waited until the footsteps finally moved away toward the door, just as she was about to let out a sigh of relief—
“I’m taking my father back to Meng Yuan.” The man’s voice suddenly fell.
“……”
Guan Yingtang froze for a moment, then realized—sharp as he was, he’d already seen through her act.
After the door closed, Guan Yingtang threw off the covers, her face flushed red from holding her breath.
For the second time since last night, she mentally cursed Meng Qinghuai out.
Just then, Jiang Kewei called. “Are you up yet? I’m on my way to your place.”
Today was Saturday. Jiang Kewei didn’t have to work, and she’d already told Guan Yingtang yesterday to prepare for some fun— she was determined to make sure her friend had a pleasant weekend.
This timely call helped dissipate Guan Yingtang’s irritation. She immediately got up to wash and change, also feeling grateful that Meng Qinghuai had gone back to Meng Yuan—she didn’t even have to think of an excuse to leave.
Twenty minutes later, Guan Yingtang stepped out alone and got into Jiang Kewei’s car.
“So, how’s your first day of cohabitation?” As soon as she got in, Jiang Kewei went straight for the sore spot.
“Don’t ask.” Guan Yingtang had no intention of recalling last night’s mess. She adjusted her sunglasses. “What’s this program you mentioned?”
Jiang Kewei started the car, smiling mysteriously. “You’ll find out soon. I promise you’ll enjoy it.”
Weekend traffic was even worse than on workdays.
When they reached the Second Ring Road, a delivery guy scraped a sedan, and the two of them were stuck in the jam with nothing to do.
Guan Yingtang suddenly suggested, “Let’s play some music.”
Jiang Kewei casually switched to a radio station that was playing light music.
She kept switching— next was a love song.
Jiang Kewei grew impatient, flipping through station after station, until suddenly, a powerful heavy metal rap blasted from the speakers—
Guan Yingtang sat up straight.
The two of them exchanged a look, something in their DNA stirring.
At that moment, on the bustling street, if anyone glanced into that red BMW, they would have seen two girls putting on a blazing concert inside the car.
Especially the young lady in sunglasses— she looked like she was doing a solo show, her body swaying gently to the rhythm, fingers drawing lines in the air, mimicking the moves of a rap artist.
“A girl can do what she wants to do~
And that’s what I’m gonna do~
And I don’t give a damn about my bad reputation
Oh no~
It’s not me~”
The atmosphere in the car instantly ignited. Jiang Kewei tapped the steering wheel to the beat, then turned to look at Guan Yingtang beside her.
She was dressed in an elegant lemon-yellow long dress, with black hair, red lips, bright eyes, and dazzling white teeth— so beautiful she didn’t seem real.
If she just sat still, she could embody the very definition of the legendary “famous lady.”
But her soul was the complete opposite.
“Tell me, what do you think Meng Qinghuai would do if he saw you like this?” Jiang Kewei laughed.
Guan Yingtang was immersed in the music, supremely confident. “He’ll never see this.”
She’d been putting on an act for over twenty years. Aside from He Zi and Jiang Peiming, no one on Hong Kong Island knew about this side of her.
Even her parents thought their good daughter always followed the path they set, and even when little mishaps occurred, she never strayed.
She’d fooled the whole world—how hard could it be to fool Meng Qinghuai?
Half an hour later, after escaping the traffic, Jiang Kewei finally arrived at their destination.
Guan Yingtang slowly pulled down her sunglasses and looked up at the big characters on the building in front of her: Aikang Zhi Jia Elderly Home.
???
“This is the elderly home our Law Firm provides legal aid for. I come here a lot, so I’ve gotten to know the elders.” As she spoke, Jiang Kewei got out of the car and started unloading milk and fruit from the trunk.
Guan Yingtang followed, still confused. “So your weekend plan is to bring me here for charity work?”
“Of course not.”
Just then, a middle-aged woman came out from the elderly home, and upon seeing Jiang Kewei, greeted her warmly, “Jiang Lawyer, you’re here.”
“Don’t worry, just leave it to us,” Jiang Kewei replied, then turned and winked at Guan Yingtang. “Sis, just focus on having fun today.”
Guan Yingtang was still baffled as she followed Jiang Kewei inside. When the door opened—
Seeing the familiar scene inside, Guan Yingtang paused, then suddenly realized what was going on. She narrowed her eyes and shot Jiang Kewei a “no wonder it’s you” kind of smile.
–
On the other side, at Meng Yuan.
Meng Songnian hadn’t come home all night. Although he’d informed Zhuang Jiayi in advance, when Meng Qinghuai brought his father back in the morning, Zhuang Jiayi still asked, “Was there really work that couldn’t wait until today?”
Meng Songnian sighed, looking helpless and tired. “It was unexpected.”
He glanced at Meng Qinghuai, signaling with his eyes.
Meng Qinghuai had no choice but to follow up, “There was a problem with a bidding document for the Hang City government cooperation project, so I asked Dad to come over and help.”
Meng Songnian nodded approvingly at his son.
Zhuang Jiayi poured a cup of ginseng tea for her husband, then shifted the topic to their son. “And what about you? Why have you been staying at Jinghua Mansion these past few days?”
Before Meng Qinghuai could answer, Zhuang Jiayi continued, “Are you avoiding our questions about you and Miss Guan?”
Meng Songnian nodded, siding with his wife without hesitation. “Your mom is right.”
Meng Qinghuai: “……” Some help you are, Dad.
Perhaps sensing her son’s faintly reproachful gaze, Meng Songnian cleared his throat and calmly reassured Zhuang Jiayi, “But there’s no need to worry. Miss Guan is away on vacation, so there’s nothing we can do anyway. He’s been busy with work lately, and staying there saves commute time.”
“That’s true.” Zhuang Jiayi was convinced. She looked at Meng Qinghuai with concern. “Since you’re back, stay for dinner today. I’ll have Mei Yi make your favorite dishes.”
Meng Qinghuai was about to decline when his phone vibrated in his pocket.
Isabella: “Mr. Meng, I’m meeting some friends today and won’t be home for dinner. Have a great weekend.”
Meng Qinghuai was silent for a moment, then put away his phone and replied to his mother, “Okay.”
The young master hadn’t been home for several days. The chefs at Meng Yuan had been busy all morning, preparing a table full of Meng Qinghuai’s favorite dishes as Zhuang Jiayi requested.
But with the second and third sons missing from the family dinner, the atmosphere was inevitably a bit lonely.
At the table, Meng Songnian brought up the second son, Meng Fanchuan, and asked Zhuang Jiayi, “Is Ah Chuan still in Monaco?”
Zhuang Jiayi nodded. “He called me the day before yesterday— said the competition isn’t over yet.”
Meng Songnian suddenly felt indignant. “He called you?”
“He didn’t call you?”
…That brat.
The clear favoritism shown by the second son left Meng Songnian quite annoyed.
He scowled, muttering, “When we go to Spain, we’ll stop by Monaco and see what he’s so busy with all day.”
Zhuang Jiayi was reminded, and put down her chopsticks. “Speaking of which, I might not be able to go to Spain with you.”
Not long ago, the bank owner that Aowan Group works with in Europe, who is a Duke of the Kingdom of Spain and whose family owns the largest bank in Spain, had sent an invitation to Meng Songnian and Zhuang Jiayi to attend his daughter’s 18th birthday coming-of-age ceremony.