Guan Yingtang slept unusually deeply this time.
The sunlight was warm on her body in that hazy state, as if it was the gentlest welcome just for her.
Her body was wrapped in this warmth, and subconsciously, she had no desire to open her eyes.
It wasn’t until she noticed that the car, which had been driving all along, seemed to have stopped, and soon after, someone opened the back door.
Guan Yingtang suddenly woke up—
“Sorry.” She hadn’t expected herself to fall asleep, so she reflexively sat upright, straightened her hair, glanced down at herself, and let out a silent sigh of relief—
Luckily, she hadn’t lost her manners.
After all, since childhood, Guan Yingtang had been required by Guan Zhiheng to learn all sorts of lady-like etiquette, from dressing and speaking to eating and walking or sitting and standing— each with strict standards.
Though she never liked these rules, they’d long since become muscle memory.
Even when she dozed off while sitting, she would remember to keep her feet and knees together, her back straight, never slumping or sprawling.
Guan Yingtang gently tucked her hair behind her ear and asked Meng Qinghuai, “Where is this?”
“My place.”
“……”
Weren’t they supposed to go to a restaurant for dinner?
Wait—
Realizing a more important issue, Guan Yingtang immediately explained, “Mr. Meng, I actually wasn’t planning to stay at your house.”
In her plan, after getting the marriage certificate with Meng Qinghuai, her task would be done.
She’d find a hotel and stay there, do whatever she wanted, however she wanted.
How could she possibly let him stay right under her nose, seeing each other every day?
But Meng Qinghuai calmly corrected her, “Miss Guan, we’ve already registered our marriage. Strictly speaking, this is also your home now.”
…He wasn’t exactly wrong.
Guan Yingtang found herself at a loss, so she forced herself to come up with an excuse: “I was actually just worried about disturbing your life, Mr. Meng.”
“Miss Guan, you’re overthinking it. Besides—” Meng Qinghuai directly opened the car door for her, speaking calmly, “I don’t have the habit of letting my wife stay elsewhere.”
“……”
Guan Yingtang was momentarily struck by embarrassment from that word “wife.” By the time she snapped back to her senses, she was already out of the car, standing in the courtyard.
This house of Meng Qinghuai’s was a gift from Meng Songnian for his twentieth birthday.
It was close to the company headquarters, so sometimes when he worked late, he’d stay here for the night, but most of the time he still returned to the main residence at Meng Yuan.
This was Jinghua Mansion— the only project in Guangzhou that combined luxury villas with parkland.
Separated from the river, just a handful of villas were designated as non-public areas.
The houses were secluded, quiet, and enjoyed an unparalleled natural environment.
You could even sit in the courtyard in the morning, sipping coffee while watching deer stroll leisurely on the opposite bank.
Such a hidden place couldn’t be more suitable for “hiding” his new wife.
“Please, Miss Guan.” Meng Qinghuai opened the main door.
Guan Yingtang lifted her gaze—
Ink-brush folding screens, a tea table with incense, Tianshan Twilight Snow marble— the details of the entire house revealed exquisite taste, flowing with a gentle scholarly air.
Quite tasteful, actually.
Before coming in, Guan Yingtang had thought Meng Qinghuai’s place would be the kind of luxury-overload typical of the wealthy.
“You fell asleep just now, so I asked my assistant to pack up lunch from a restaurant. It’ll arrive in about ten minutes.”
“All the daily necessities are new. You can use them as you like.”
“My bedroom is the second one upstairs.”
Guan Yingtang barely reacted to the previous words, but in this sentence, her pupils shrank, and her heart thumped heavily twice.
—His bedroom.
What was Meng Qinghuai up to…
Did he want her to sleep with him?
That was way too fast—even if they were legally married now, they barely knew each other!
Her mind suddenly conjured up some discordant images, and the calm she tried so hard to maintain began to crack.
“Mistress Guan?” Meng Qinghuai called her.
Guan Yingtang snapped back, pretending to be calm, “Hm?”
Meng Qinghuai gazed at her for a moment, then pulled out a business card from his pocket and placed it on the table. “There’s still some work at the company. I’ll head out first.”
Guan Yingtang was stunned for a moment, then immediately felt a rush of relief and responded warmly, “Sure, go ahead and focus on your work. Don’t worry about me.”
Meng Qinghuai nodded. At the door, he paused, turned to look at Guan Yingtang, and said, “I usually stay with my parents, so you don’t have to feel constrained, Miss Guan.”
Guan Yingtang: “……”
It wasn’t until his elegant figure got into the car and the black Maybach drove away that Guan Yingtang slowly realized Meng Qinghuai had never intended to live with her.
After calming down, Guan Yingtang knew she’d been overthinking.
This man was just as she’d heard during her studies abroad— a noble, distant heir of a wealthy family, a favored child of the heavens, wrapped in such high praise that he exuded an unapproachable aura.
For him, things weren’t his just because they were placed in front of him.
Only if he wanted them, would he take them.
Letting Guan Yingtang move into Jinghua Mansion was perhaps already the closest, most polite step he could take under the new bond between them.
–
Because he lost several hours in the morning, on his way back to the company, Meng Qinghuai had to make up for it with an impromptu online meeting in the car.
He focused on the screen, the sound of the project manager’s report coming through his earphones, but as he listened, his thoughts were subtly distracted.
Guan Yingtang had already gotten out of the car, but the faint, soft fragrance she carried still lingered in the air.
It clung to his senses, refusing to dissipate.
Meng Qinghuai closed his eyes briefly and, without a word, pressed the button to lower the car window, letting fresh air flow in.
When the online meeting ended, he had arrived at the company.
Aowan Group’s business spanned the globe, and the Meng Family’s social network was deeply rooted in Guangzhou.
All the young up-and-comers in the city dreamed of forging ties with the Meng Family.
Everyone knew there were two young masters in the Meng Family. Compared to the rebellious second son, Meng Fanchuan, the eldest, Meng Qinghuai, was the very model of an heir in the eyes of the city’s elite.
Disciplined, steady, restrained in his brilliance, and possessing exceptional command in his professional field.
There was an important investment meeting that afternoon. Meng Qinghuai returned to his office to prepare materials.
As he took off his suit jacket, a small red booklet accidentally slipped to the floor.
Meng Qinghuai’s hand paused.
The marriage certificate, with his and Guan Yingtang’s names, was clearly visible.
The woman wore a gentle embroidered qipao, her eyes curved in a smile, gaze bright and moving.
Meng Qinghuai admitted it: Guan Yingtang was indeed very beautiful.
How beautiful?
The first time he saw her, he’d noticed her in a dim, noisy crowd.
Graceful, dazzling— like a drifting star.
Xu Fu came in at that moment to deliver the meeting documents.
Meng Qinghuai quietly locked the marriage certificate into the private drawer on his left, then instructed in a calm voice, “Go buy a ring for me.”
Xu Fu was startled, then immediately understood his boss’s meaning and nodded. “I’ll go in a bit.”
This ring was, of course, for the new Mrs. Meng. When it came to brand and style, Xu Fu had no doubt he was to pick only the best and rarest.
After a pause, he hesitated and asked, “President Meng, what is Madam’s size?”
Meng Qinghuai suddenly recalled the hands Guan Yingtang had used to hug herself while sleeping in the car.
Ten slender fingers, skin as fair as porcelain, nails painted with a gentle nude polish, wrists so delicate they seemed they might break with a twist.
“Size 10,” Meng Qinghuai replied.
Xu Fu responded and left the office. Just as he was closing the door, the man inside called him back, “Come back.”
–
Over at Jinghua Mansion, not long after Meng Qinghuai left, waves of people began delivering things to the house.
Some brought home goods, some brought daily necessities, and the florists delivered bouquet after bouquet of vibrant flowers.
The once-cold house, filled and adorned with these items, instantly became lively.
It really started to look like a home for two people.
After the final group from the gardening company finished trimming the lawn, night had completely fallen.
Guan Yingtang leaned against the sofa, looking up at the crystal chandelier in the main living room, feeling a wave of unreality.
Just last night, she’d been on Shouchendao, celebrating Fu Shengyun’s birthday.
Now, she was lying in Meng Qinghuai’s house— without anyone knowing—
In an enormous villa where even a single sigh could echo, spending her “wedding night” alone.
Too surreal.
Guan Yingtang closed her eyes, unable to believe how many outrageous things she’d done in a single night.
She glanced at her watch. 7 p.m.— not too late.
In the afternoon, while the workers came and went, Guan Yingtang solemnly made herself an “indulgence list.”
For over twenty years, her life had been too bland— every action weighed for appearances and consequences.
Now that she’d quietly arrived in Guangzhou, with few people knowing her, she had to let herself go and enjoy it while she could.
“Go to a nightclub, wear a dress I actually like, eat at a street stall…”
As she wrote these wishes on paper, Guan Yingtang found it funny.
What kind of ‘indulgence’ was this? For any other girl, these would be the most ordinary things in the world.
But she couldn’t let this trip be for nothing.
Before her marriage to Meng Qinghuai was announced to the world, before she had to return to that scrutinized, restricted life, she had to try all the things she’d never done before.
So, after thinking it over, her list grew longer:
“Attend an idol concert, dye my hair, throw a party, go on a spontaneous trip…”
As she wrote, one line popped out: “Fall in love.”
She finished writing before suddenly remembering—
She was already married. What was the point of falling in love?
Though it was a marriage of convenience, she still had her basic moral bottom line.
Still, there was some regret. In this life, that wish probably wouldn’t come true.
If only her rebellious streak had flared up sooner, maybe before entering this loveless marriage, she could have met someone she liked and had a sweet romance.
Guan Yingtang sighed and crossed out that line. Looking at the other wishes, she decided to learn from this and seize the moment—
Tonight, she’d pick one and start experiencing it.
–
Because work had piled up in the morning, Meng Qinghuai worked overtime and didn’t leave the office until 8 p.m., heading for Jinghua Mansion.
The registration had been so rushed, and though there were no real feelings between him and Guan Yingtang now, the Meng Family always handled things properly.
He didn’t want to slight his new wife.
Just like he’d intended to have Xu Fu pick out a ring at the counter, but in the end, felt he should go himself.
At 8:30, the car arrived at Jinghua Mansion. The property manager on duty, recognizing the familiar license plate, nodded in greeting, “Good evening, Mr. Meng.”
As the car was about to enter, the manager added enthusiastically, “Mr. Meng, Miss Yi just went out.”
Meng Qinghuai frowned. “Which Miss Yi?”
The manager beamed, “The lady who came with you this afternoon, sir.”
Guan Yingtang?
When did her surname become Yi?
Suddenly, Meng Qinghuai recalled a past English-language feature about Guan Yingtang, where the reporter called her Isabella Koon.
So, Isabella—Miss Yi?
Meng Qinghuai paused, found Guan Yingtang’s number, and though he didn’t hold out much hope, as expected, when he called, her phone was off.
It wasn’t even eight yet. Maybe she’d just gone for a walk and would be back soon.
She was a grown woman; surely she wouldn’t get lost in such a big city.
Meng Qinghuai put away his phone, thought for a moment, and calmly opened his laptop in the car.
He said to the driver, He Yongzhi, “Let’s wait here for a while.”
“Alright.” Zhi Shu backed the car out of the entrance and turned off the engine.
From 8:30 to 9:00, then minute by minute to 9:30, even Zhi Shu felt the atmosphere growing tense, glancing at Meng Qinghuai through the rearview mirror from time to time—
There was no emotion on the man’s face. Or rather, from start to finish, he’d always been calm and composed.
Even after sitting in the car for so long, his suit remained immaculate, not a single wrinkle in sight.
He Yongzhi had been driving Meng Qinghuai since his return to China, and over time, he felt there might be nothing in this world— or anyone— that could truly ruffle Meng Qinghuai.
This heir, though only twenty-six, already possessed an aura far beyond his years.
As the most prestigious scion of the city’s elite, Meng Qinghuai had never been arrogant, always gentle and composed.
But only those close to him knew—
His gentleness was distant.
A natural-born ruler, never swayed by emotion.
At last, at 10 o’clock, Meng Qinghuai finished his work, shut his laptop, and calmly instructed Zhi Shu, “Go ask if Miss Yi mentioned where she was going.”
He Yongzhi got out to ask.
The manager enthusiastically helped recall, and when he returned to the car, he brought back a message:
“Miss Yi didn’t say where she was going, but before she left, she asked Wang Manager how far Gongti West Road was from here.”
Meng Qinghuai: “……”
Gongti West Road— the most iconic nightlife district in Guangzhou, packed with bars and clubs, a paradise for all kinds of partygoers.
But for Meng Qinghuai, such a place held no interest. Even passing by at night, he found the noise unbearable.
He Yongzhi had many questions in his mind.
Even now, he didn’t know who this mysterious “Miss Yi” really was, but judging by Meng Qinghuai’s reaction, she had to be someone very important.
Because, just now, the young master who never set foot in such places had, for the first time, told him:
“Go to Gongti.”