The word “dignity” was deeply etched into Guan Yingtang’s very bones.
Her true self was only visible to those she truly trusted.
Although Meng Qinghuai was now her husband in the eyes of the law, there was still a layer of distance between them.
They had come together to consolidate their families’ interests.
What Meng Qinghuai and the Meng Family wanted was the Guan Family Miss, not Guan Yingtang as a person.
Guan Yingtang had already understood this clearly before coming to Guangzhou. She could allow herself to be rebellious one more time, but Meng Qinghuai could never find out.
So, even though Meng Qinghuai was speaking to her like this now, no matter what, making a scene by getting drunk on her very first day in Guangzhou was still a bit out of character.
Guan Yingtang discreetly surveyed her surroundings.
Aside from the central area for regular work, Meng Qinghuai’s study had a distinctly personal space on the left.
There was a calligraphy table there, likely made of black walnut. Brushes, ink, inkstone, and xuan paper were neatly arranged on the desk, a faint scent of ink wafting in the air.
Though Guan Yingtang had little real skill in calligraphy, she had trained her taste since childhood by following Fu Shengyun.
The few Huzhou brushes on Meng Qinghuai’s brush rack were worth a fortune— the handles mostly ebony inlaid with boxwood.
The white jade inkstone with cloud and dragon patterns on the side was even more familiar to Guan Yingtang; it had fetched a sky-high price at an art auction once, causing a stir in the circle.
The Four Treasures of the Study on Meng Qinghuai’s desk were all top-tier.
Guan Yingtang had a sense of things now. She walked over, feigning casualness, planning to steer the conversation toward “calligraphy” to bolster her own image.
“Mister Meng, do you like calligraphy as well?”
Meng Qinghuai’s gaze swept lightly over her. “Just a little interest.”
The Meng Family kept a low profile, so Guan Yingtang had no idea that, aside from herself, Meng Qinghuai was one of Fu Shengyun’s only two closed-door disciples.
But Meng Qinghuai’s understated reply made her assume—
The rich always have some elegant hobbies to show off their “taste.” These rare treasures were probably just Meng Qinghuai’s way of displaying his refined interests.
This was her chance.
“I started learning calligraphy from Mr. Fu when I was seven,” Guan Yingtang said naturally. “If we have time someday, we could share some techniques and insights.”
This was similar to saying “let’s have tea when free”— a kind of Hong Kong-style politeness. But it subtly reinforced Guan Yingtang’s image as a talented woman, reminding Meng Qinghuai—
The woman who got drunk last night was just “not used to the climate,” not her real self.
Meng Qinghuai seemed to accept this, lowering his head with a faint, almost imperceptible smile. “Alright.”
Whether it worked or not, at least she had tried to patch up her image. Guan Yingtang pointed outside the door. “Then, I’ll go back to my room.”
She had just turned around when she suddenly remembered something and turned back to Meng Qinghuai. “I haven’t thanked you yet.”
Meng Qinghuai: “For what?”
“For the clothes,” Guan Yingtang raised her hand, showing her diamond ring. “And this.”
Guan Yingtang was thanking Meng Qinghuai for giving her “face.”
Although this marriage had come together hastily and without affection, at least Meng Qinghuai had not neglected her as Mrs. Meng in terms of material things, giving her all the dignity she deserved.
Their marriage could only be reflected in such ways now. Meng Qinghuai understood without saying more. “My driver is waiting downstairs. If you want to go anywhere, just let him take you. As for the butler, Xu Fu is still selecting the team. Probably the day after tomorrow—”
Guan Yingtang froze, quickly interrupting him. “No need.”
Maybe Meng Qinghuai meant well, but the more people she had around her, the less freedom she’d have.
“What I mean is—” Guan Yingtang curved her lips. “Actually, I prefer quiet. I don’t like having too many people at home.”
Meng Qinghuai looked at her meaningfully for a few seconds. “Didn’t Miss Guan say this house is so big it echoes, and it’s lonely being here alone?”
Because she thought there was an echo, because it felt so lonely, she’d started a one-woman welcome concert for herself.
Meng Qinghuai’s ears were still buzzing from being the only audience member.
Guan Yingtang: “?”
Did she say something like that?
She couldn’t remember at all.
–
In the end, the matter of having the butler move in was put on hold, just as Guan Yingtang had requested.
She hadn’t had enough fun yesterday, and she still needed to buy some personal items.
After Meng Qinghuai left, Guan Yingtang returned to her bedroom, randomly picked out a new outfit from the clothes, and then called Jiang Kewei, planning to invite her to lunch.
Jiang Kewei had only heard half the gossip and was still hanging in suspense, so she immediately agreed to meet Guan Yingtang.
They met downstairs at Jiang Kewei’s law firm during her lunch break.
Jiang Kewei’s father was a well-known lawyer in Guangzhou. Though their family wasn’t quite first-tier, it was still very privileged.
But unlike Guan Zhiheng, who also had high expectations for his daughter, Jiang Kewei’s father put her to work in his law firm as soon as she graduated, starting from the bottom as a legal assistant and handling all sorts of odd jobs.
Even when she was busy as a dog, Jiang Kewei still managed to squeeze out precious lunchtime for gossip.
“I’ve been so distracted by your news all morning I couldn’t work,” Jiang Kewei asked as soon as she sat down. “When did you meet Meng Qinghuai? You never mentioned him.”
Since her marriage to Meng Qinghuai would soon be publicly announced, Guan Yingtang didn’t plan to hide it from her friend. She raised her finger in admission. “I married him.”
Jiang Kewei had just sat down and picked up her coffee. She choked on her first sip, staring at Guan Yingtang in shock. “???”
“Our wedding is in three months. Before that,” Guan Yingtang said, “I hope you can keep it a secret for me.”
Jiang Kewei continued to stare at Guan Yingtang in shock, slowly coming to her senses. “Is it a family alliance?”
Guan Yingtang tacitly agreed.
Jiang Kewei had a lot to say but swallowed her words, sighing after a while. “The Meng Family has high status in Guangzhou. Lots of family members, lots of rules for socializing and conduct—do you know that?”
Of course Guan Yingtang understood what Jiang Kewei was hinting at.
She’d already had enough of being caged like a golden bird in Hong Kong, and now she was entering an even bigger cage, continuing that masked life endlessly.
“That’s why I want you to keep it secret, so I can have a few months of fun,” Guan Yingtang said lightly. “Even a person on the gallows needs a last breath of relief.”
Jiang Kewei finally understood why Guan Yingtang had insisted on going to a nightclub last night.
To outsiders, being the Meng Family’s young madam might look glamorous, but Jiang Kewei knew Guan Yingtang’s personality wasn’t suited to a powerful family like that.
The complicated social web on the mainland would only make things harder for her.
“It’s not as bad as a death sentence,” Jiang Kewei stirred her coffee in silence, then suddenly asked, “Does Meng Qinghuai love you?”
As if she’d heard a joke, Guan Yingtang burst out laughing. “Miss, I’ve only known him a few days!”
“You never know,” Jiang Kewei analyzed. “I think he cares about you. There were so many people outside the bar last night, you reeked of alcohol, and he just picked you up and left.”
Guan Yingtang wasn’t naïve enough to believe a man she’d just met could love her. If she had to explain—
“He probably just didn’t want me to be recognized and embarrass the Meng Family.”
Jiang Kewei was speechless for a moment.
After all, when they were in school, they’d heard Meng Qinghuai had been strictly trained since childhood, with an extraordinary demeanor.
Compared to his unruly younger brother, he was more like a traditional young master of an old family.
Guan Yingtang’s explanation was plausible.
Even ordinary families cared about appearances, let alone these high-society families constantly under the public eye. For them, every move was scrutinized, and a single misstep could lead to all kinds of rumors.
“So you’d better be careful acting in front of him,” Jiang Kewei reminded her. “Meng Qinghuai isn’t easy to fool.”
Guan Yingtang confidently gave an OK sign. “Don’t worry, everything’s going smoothly so far.”
……
Lunch break was soon over. Jiang Kewei returned to the law firm, while Guan Yingtang had the driver take her around shopping malls all afternoon, right until sunset.
In a place where she was a stranger, the advantage was being able to do anything freely, without worrying about being recognized.
But on the other hand, being a stranger meant she didn’t even have a companion for dinner.
She’d just met up with Jiang Kewei at noon, so she couldn’t call her again in the evening.
But Guan Yingtang didn’t want to go home so early either. He Yongzhi drove her around the Second Ring Road, asking carefully, “Miss Yi, is there anywhere else you’d like to go?”
Uncle Zhi wasn’t sure what exactly the woman in his car meant to Meng Qinghuai, but in all these years, this was the only one he’d seen Meng Qinghuai treat so specially.
“Is the Yawan Company Headquarters far from here?” Guan Yingtang asked curiously, looking at the busy traffic outside the window.
He Yongzhi didn’t dare be careless and immediately replied, “Not far. Does Miss Yi want to go?”
Actually, Guan Yingtang didn’t know why she suddenly asked that. In that moment, she didn’t have anywhere in particular she wanted to go.
She nodded, tacitly agreeing.
He Yongzhi was very familiar with the route to the company. In just over ten minutes, the car stopped in front of the company’s headquarters building.
Across the street, Guan Yingtang lowered the car window.
She had only ever heard in the news about how this prestigious company was driving economic integration across the strait, about how it had built an international business empire almost singlehandedly, and about how its “Yawan Center” had become a landmark in many Asian cities.
Guan Yingtang looked up. The two towers of Yawan pierced the endless clouds, standing out among the cluster of skyscrapers in the CBD with a unique presence.
The vast glass curtain walls reflected the neon lights of dusk, exuding a sense of sophistication and technological elegance— a calm and rigorous aura.
Just like Meng Qinghuai.
Truly, a place breeds its people.
“Miss Yi, should I let the Young Master know you’re here?” Uncle Zhi asked.
Guan Yingtang quickly shook her head. “No, no.”
She was just here out of curiosity, not to meet Meng Qinghuai.
But fate seemed to love playing tricks.
She had just stopped for a few seconds when the glass doors of the building across the street opened and several men in suits walked out.
“It’s the Young Master,” He Yongzhi said, looking in that direction.
Guan Yingtang saw him too.
Just like at Fu Shengyun’s birthday banquet, Meng Qinghuai’s presence drew attention effortlessly.
Even across a busy street, even with people around him, the moment you looked, you saw him first.
He was tall and refined, his shirt and trousers immaculate.
Someone was talking to him as they walked, and he nodded indifferently in response. His aura was understated, yet in a crowd, he was impossible to ignore.
Guan Yingtang immediately used her hand to shield her face and whispered, “Let’s go, let’s go.”
He Yongzhi did as told and drove away. But before they’d gone far, Meng Qinghuai called.
Guan Yingtang didn’t know what they discussed.
After hanging up, He Yongzhi turned the car around. “Miss Yi, Young Master said he’ll have dinner with you tonight.”
Guan Yingtang’s eyes widened. “Huh?”
–
After telling He Yongzhi the restaurant address, Meng Qinghuai put away his phone and opened his laptop.
He was someone who managed his time well. Even the ten-minute drive was enough for him to review the latest industry report.
Meng Qinghuai was used to this efficient way of working. The car was quiet until a sudden phone call broke the silence.
Xu Fu was calling. He said that Guan Yingtang had ordered a dress that didn’t fit, and the sales staff had found the right size, but they’d forgotten to get her contact information.
He wanted to know if Meng Qinghuai could have it delivered to Jinghua Mansion tonight.
At that moment, Meng Qinghuai’s car happened to be at Guomao. If he remembered correctly, their flagship store was nearby.
“No need. I’ll be at the store in five minutes.”
It wouldn’t be hard for someone with an agenda to uncover Guan Yingtang’s real identity.
Unless necessary, Meng Qinghuai didn’t want strangers entering Jinghua Mansion again.
Since he was already there, he might as well pick it up.
No one expected the person paying for “Miss Yi” to show up in person.
After a chain of phone calls, the store manager finally got the news four minutes later.
She hurried out with the elegantly packaged dress to wait outside. Sure enough, a black Phantom soon pulled up in front of her.
The driver got out, politely took the bag from her, thanked her, and returned to the car.
The real buyer was in the back seat, never revealing himself.
The car window was cracked open just a sliver. The man inside leaned back in the seat.
Even though his face couldn’t be seen clearly, the aura of nobility was almost palpable through the window. The store manager only dared steal a glance before quickly looking away.
Any more would feel like an offense.
The car left the Guomao business district. The paper bag the driver had brought in sat quietly to the side. Meng Qinghuai was focused on his report and didn’t pay attention—
Until the driver suddenly braked hard to avoid a pedestrian at the corner.
The car swayed, and the delicate paper bag toppled over, two thin diamond chains slipping out of the dust bag.
Until that moment, Meng Qinghuai would never have believed there could be anything special about a dress Guan Yingtang ordered.
But then, following the chain, he slowly opened the thin, daringly sexy backless dress.
Meng Qinghuai: “…?”
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