“I mind.” Those three words came out of Meng Qinghuai’s mouth, and for no reason at all, Guan Yingtang was suddenly swept by a strange feeling.
She couldn’t tell what it was, as if a current had run through her chest, her heart skipped a beat, then immediately sped up slightly.
What he meant by “minding” was…
Did it mean that, apart from herself, he wouldn’t accept any other woman as his companion?
He was so strict about “men’s virtue” that it made her, who always acted like she didn’t care about anything, seem a little wild by comparison.
Guan Yingtang didn’t believe it, so she pursed her lips and asked, “So, Mr. Meng, have you never asked anyone else to be your companion before?”
Meng Qinghuai lowered his head, as if answering a rather boring question. “Miss Guan, I don’t just casually invite anyone.”
Now that he’d said this, Guan Yingtang understood.
As the Eldest Son of the Meng Family in Guangzhou, the heir to the Aowan Group—such a man with a top-tier background wasn’t someone just anyone could stand beside, or rather—
Only those qualified could stand at his side.
And the only reason she could be made an exception was probably just because of her suitable identity as Meng Tai Tai.
Guan Yingtang saw through it all. “If we weren’t married, would Mr. Meng still invite me?”
Meng Qinghuai paused for two seconds, then asked in return, “If I did invite you, would Miss Guan accept?”
They both fell silent for a few seconds, the mood playful.
“Maybe.” Guan Yingtang laughed softly, deliberately meeting Meng Qinghuai’s gaze. “After all, who could say no to Mr. Meng? Back in university—”
“We’ll leave at eight-thirty tomorrow morning.” Meng Qinghuai cut her off directly.
“?”
“Just bring the necessities. As for formalwear, we’ll pick it out locally.”
As soon as he finished, a phone rang right on cue. Meng Qinghuai glanced at it, then unilaterally ended the conversation. “I have to get back to work.”
???
Guan Yingtang stared in shock as he turned away.
Wait a minute—
She hadn’t even gotten to the part where she was going to tease him about being popular with women, and he just left like that?
Besides, she’d only answered a hypothetical question—it was hypothetical!
No one ever told her before they got married that Meng Qinghuai could be so cunning…
The man had already walked to the window to take his call, so Guan Yingtang could only mutter in her heart as she watched his back, then quietly returned to the bedroom.
After closing the door and thinking about it, even though she’d basically agreed to this, to be honest, with Meng Qinghuai leaving Guangzhou and her alone in this Jinghua Mansion, it might not be as carefree as she’d imagined.
If Meng Songnian showed up on a whim one day, how would she deal with it?
Might as well follow Meng Qinghuai abroad for a trip. Anyway, Spain was in Europe, and there weren’t many people there who knew her.
With that in mind, being his companion didn’t seem so hard to accept.
Once she accepted it mentally, her actions quickly followed. Guan Yingtang began to pack her luggage seriously, only bringing documents and personal clothes as Meng Qinghuai instructed.
As she was closing the suitcase, she suddenly remembered a certain dress she’d hidden in the corner, one she’d never had a chance to wear.
A little excitement began to stir in her heart.
Guan Yingtang found it in the wardrobe, gazed at the sexy backless design for a moment, and three lines of scrolling comments flashed through her mind: @无限好文，尽在晋江文学城
Whatever.
Just bring it along.
Who knows what might happen?
Cheered up by her own reasoning, Guan Yingtang stuffed the dress into the bottom of her suitcase, packaging and all.
She had just finished packing when He Zi called with a video chat.
The last time they’d met was at Fu Shengyun’s birthday banquet. At the time, He Zi was about to go abroad to a small island for vacation, which made Guan Yingtang a little envious. She hadn’t expected that she herself would end up leaving even faster.
She answered the video call. On the screen, He Zi was wearing a sexy bikini and holding a cocktail, winking flirtatiously. “Surprise!”
Guan Yingtang could tell at a glance that He Zi meant what she said—she really had gone on vacation.
“Where are you now?” she asked.
“Australia.”
As soon as He Zi finished, a blond, muscular handsome guy suddenly appeared shirtless in the frame, greeting Guan Yingtang. He Zi moved the camera away, then smiled seductively. “How about this one?”
“New boyfriend?”
“No way, just someone to sunbathe and chat with.”
“……”
Guan Yingtang sighed in defeat and advised her, “His pecs are so big, be careful not to get too heated.”
He Zi burst out laughing, then shooed the guy away, found a quiet spot, and sat down. “So, what about you? Are you getting heated now?”
“Me?”
“Jiang Peiming’s been blowing up my phone, asking if I’ve been hiding you. That’s when I found out you’d left Hong Kong Island too.”
“……”
“Not bad, Yingtang.” He Zi narrowed her eyes and studied her for a moment. “Did Jiang Peiming really try to make you run from a wedding?”
When it came to the flash marriage, Guan Yingtang hadn’t intended to hide it from her best friend, but He Zi and Jiang Peiming were close, and He Zi was the type to drink until she was tipsy—who knew if she’d blurt something out while drunk one day.
“No, don’t listen to his nonsense.”
“Then where are you now?” He Zi scrutinized the background. “The bed behind you doesn’t look like a hotel.”
Guan Yingtang quickly moved to the window, feeling guilty. “At a friend’s place.”
“So mysterious. She never likes to pry into people’s gossip, she’s too busy enjoying herself. Anyway, Peiming’s pretty worried about you. If you’re safe at your friend’s, just let him know.”
“Okay.”
After the call, Guan Yingtang immediately called Jiang Peiming, but he didn’t answer, and the call ended automatically. She didn’t know what he was busy with, so she just texted him: I’m fine, don’t worry.
Only after sending it did she find it odd. Jiang Peiming had always been a laid-back guy—why the sudden change?
Guan Yingtang went to bed early. As soon as she lay down, her phone rang again. She thought it was Jiang Peiming’s reply, but—
“I won’t be busy too late tonight, I’ll just rest in the study. Good night.”
Guan Yingtang replied without expression: “Good night.”
After sending it, she muttered in her heart.
What else do you want? Your dad’s gone, do you expect to sleep over?
–
Guan Yingtang set an alarm on purpose, worried that she’d gotten used to sleeping in and wouldn’t wake up on time. The next morning, as soon as the alarm went off, she got up decisively, as if starting a workday.
Shower, blow-dry, makeup—every step was orderly and precise.
After nearly an hour of careful preparation, at 8:10, Guan Yingtang changed into the pearl-colored qipao she’d worn when she came from Hong Kong Island. After checking herself in the mirror, she walked out of the bedroom with elegance.
She thought Meng Qinghuai hadn’t come to wake her yet, maybe because he’d worked late and was still sleeping. But when she saw both the study and guest room doors open and no one inside, she was puzzled.
Guan Yingtang walked two steps toward the stairs, and was surprised to find that Meng Qinghuai was already downstairs in the living room.
He was dressed in a suit, sitting on the sofa with a few files in hand, and a few people standing beside him.
Guan Yingtang only recognized one of them—his special assistant, Xu Fu.
Hearing the movement, Meng Qinghuai looked up, his gaze landing on her.
The others followed his gaze.
The sudden attention made Guan Yingtang a little nervous. She wasn’t sure if she’d come out at the wrong time, or if she’d revealed her identity.
But running away immediately would seem too sneaky and flustered—not her style as the daughter of a prominent family. @无限好文，尽在晋江文学城
After all, Guan Yingtang was always the epitome of a lady. Even if the sky fell, she’d hold up an umbrella and remain graceful.
So, Guan Yingtang steadied herself, smiled calmly—
“Good morning, everyone.”
She stood at the top of the stairs, her figure elegant in the qipao. The people below looked up at her, and for a moment, it felt like a princess meeting her ministers.
At first glance, the imposing air could intimidate people.
But Meng Qinghuai only gave a silent, inward smile. He said something to Xu Fu, who then led the employees out one by one.
Once everyone was gone, Meng Qinghuai turned to Guan Yingtang, calming the worries that had been raging in her heart. “Don’t worry, they won’t gossip.”
The old guard and the new, power struggles within Asia Bay— even as the legitimate Taiziye, Meng Qinghuai had been tripped up by some old-timers, both openly and behind the scenes, over the years. So he’d started reshuffling things early, building his own inner circle.
Now, anyone working by his side had already been thoroughly vetted and earned his trust.
Hearing this, Guan Yingtang’s forced composure finally became genuine, and she let out a breath. “Why were there so many people at home?”
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