Jiang Kewei took Guan Yingtang to a quaint little gift shop.
After buying some decorative items, Guan Yingtang personally wrapped them in beautiful colored paper, then tied them with a ribbon, finishing with a butterfly-shaped bow, fully embracing the ceremonial atmosphere.
By the time she finished, it was exactly five in the afternoon. Meng Qinghuai was working overtime at the company today, and they had planned to have dinner near Yawan later that evening.
“I’ll find you and Old Lady Chu to play cards after I get back from Beicheng,” Guan Yingtang promised Jiang Kewei confidently on the way to Yawan. “If nothing unexpected happens, I should be back soon.”
Jiang Kewei asked, “Where are you planning to hold the wedding?”
“Still undecided.” Guan Yingtang paused for a moment as if suddenly recalling something, then smiled shyly like a young girl. “You know, he said he’s going to propose to me in Hong Kong, but I have no idea how he’ll do it.”
Since Meng Qinghuai mentioned this briefly that day, Guan Yingtang had kept it in mind, wondering if he would kneel on one knee to propose like in the dramas.
Would there be lots of flowers and a romantic setup just like on TV? Or would he have some unique way to do it?
She had already started imagining all of this.
Jiang Kewei clicked her tongue, watching her friend bathed in happiness. “No matter how he proposes, it doesn’t matter— you’ll say yes anyway.”
Guan Yingtang pursed her lips, thinking that was true.
Suddenly, her phone rang. Guan Yingtang thought it would be Meng Qinghuai calling, but the screen showed Jiang Peiming’s name.
She was a bit surprised but didn’t think much since they were close. Answering casually, she teased, “What’s up? Young Master Ming.”
On the other end, Jiang Peiming’s voice sounded weak. After a slight cough, he said, “I was planning to come find you, but I got sick as soon as I arrived in Beicheng.”
Guan Yingtang was truly stunned. “Beicheng?”
She quickly came back to her senses. “I’m not even in Beicheng. Why would you come looking for me there?”
“Forget it, Yingtang, don’t lie to me,” Jiang Peiming coughed heavily again. “Last time we video-called, that painting hanging on your wall was exhibited in Hong Kong last year. I asked around— it was bought by a buyer in Beicheng.”
……
Guan Yingtang never expected that the painting in Meng Qinghuai’s house would betray her location.
“Just because it was bought by a buyer in Beicheng doesn’t necessarily mean…” she wanted to find an excuse, but hearing Jiang Peiming’s persistent coughing made her give up.
Fine. It’s not like Meng Qinghuai and I will keep it a secret for long.
So Guan Yingtang stopped arguing and asked him instead, “Why are you coughing so badly?”
Jiang Peiming had been on the move for nearly a month, first chasing from Hong Kong to Antarctica.
Then, hearing that Guan Yingtang might be in Beicheng, he rushed there without rest.
The fatigue from consecutive trips and the temperature changes caused him to catch a high fever upon arrival.
“It’s nothing serious,” Jiang Peiming said. “Just need some sleep.”
Hearing this, Guan Yingtang sighed helplessly. “You really are hopeless, Young Master. Where are you now? Have you taken any medicine?”
–
Half an hour later, Guan Yingtang appeared at the entrance of the famous ultra-luxury Wanyue Hotel in Beicheng, carrying some fever medicine.
Before entering, she called Meng Qinghuai and told him she suddenly felt unwell, asking him to eat dinner without waiting for her tonight.
She walked with her head lowered, unaware that a young man coming out of the lobby caught sight of her briefly before looking away again.
Following the room number Jiang Peiming gave her, she went upstairs. The young man opened the door weakly and looked relieved when he saw her. “I thought you were lying to me again.”
Guan Yingtang was completely different when facing Jiang Peiming— casual and carefree as she walked in, glancing around the room. “Why don’t you hang out with those young model girlfriends of yours? Why are you always fixated on me?”
She turned around and put the medicine down. “Did my dad give you money? Are you stalking me around the world?”
Jiang Peiming scoffed but didn’t reply. Sitting down, he looked at her and said, “So why did you come to Beicheng?”
“None of your business.”
“Uncle Heng asked you to marry that guy who’s here in Beicheng.” Jiang Peiming raised an eyebrow, guessing her real reason. “What, did you come to secretly investigate him?”
Guan Yingtang was momentarily stunned, not expecting Jiang Peiming to come up with such a clever excuse for her.
She bit back a smile and immediately nodded, “Exactly.”
“So, how’s the investigation going?”
“Not bad.”
She didn’t notice the subtle flicker in Jiang Peiming’s eyes. Then she laughed softly, “About guys, you only know after spending time with them whether they’re suitable. Do you think all guys are like me, uniquely good?”
Guan Yingtang glared at him. “Am I really that hard to deal with?”
“If Meng Da Shao knew what you get up to privately…” Jiang Peiming shook his head and coughed again. “Forget it, A Tang. I’m afraid you’ll have a hard time after marriage. Better to stay in Hong Kong.”
Hearing this, Guan Yingtang wanted to retort, but inside she lacked the confidence. The game with Meng Qinghuai after marriage felt almost complete— 99% done, only 1% left uncertain.
She pursed her lips, tore open the medicine package, and handed it to him. “Take your medicine. Stop bothering me.”
She was about to leave, but Jiang Peiming called out, “Hey, I’m suffering here.”
Guan Yingtang picked up the hotel menu and placed it by his bedside. “Order whatever you want. I’m going back to Hong Kong the day after tomorrow. Don’t stay here if you’re not feeling well.”
Jiang Peiming: “……”
He was already halfway to the door.
Growing up together, seeing him like this made her feel a little sorry. Reluctantly, she sat back down. “Alright, tell me, Young Master Ming.”
After ordering takeout from the hotel restaurant for Jiang Peiming, Guan Yingtang left.
Just as she stepped out, Jiang Peiming followed and called after her, “A Tang, you dropped something. You didn’t answer my calls.”
It was the gift bag she had casually left on the sofa when entering the room.
Holding it in his hand, Jiang Peiming asked, “Such a nice package—who’s it for?”
Guan Yingtang took it and smirked, winking, “My husband.”
Jiang Peiming: “?”
They parted ways at the hotel entrance. Guan Yingtang checked her watch—7 p.m. By now, Meng Qinghuai had probably already eaten dinner.
To make time for attending Guan Zhiheng’s birthday banquet in Hong Kong, Meng Qinghuai had been working overtime these days, finishing tasks early.
Not wanting to disturb him, Guan Yingtang hailed a cab back to Jinghua Mansion.
What she didn’t know was that by the fountain near the hotel entrance, Meng Qinghuai’s car had already been parked there for quite some time.
–
Meng Qinghuai had received a call from Meng Fanchuan half an hour ago.
The owner of Wanyue Hotel was a good friend of Meng Fanchuan, who also maintained a private suite there. Meng Fanchuan had stopped by earlier today and called Meng Qinghuai to say—
Apparently, the young lady from Hong Kong, his fiancée, was spotted at the hotel.
“Didn’t she say her trip was almost over and she’d be back in Hong Kong? Is she transferring flights through Beicheng? Staying at Wanyue?”
Meng Qinghuai frowned slightly. He wondered why Guan Yingtang would be at the hotel, which explained why she canceled their dinner plans earlier.
But when she left, she clearly told him she was going out shopping with Jiang Kewei.
Though strange, Meng Qinghuai didn’t show any reaction and just replied to Meng Fanchuan, “Got it.”
He’d always been indifferent toward his fiancée. Meng Fanchuan didn’t mind either, but before hanging up he commented, “She’s even better in person than in photos.”
Meng Qinghuai pondered for a moment in the office. Since his dinner plans were now free, he decided to go pick her up at Wanyue.
Not long after he arrived, he saw Guan Yingtang coming out.
And—
That legendary childhood friend, the former prospective match.
……
Just as Guan Yingtang had finished drinking a glass of water at home, Meng Qinghuai’s car pulled into Jinghua Mansion.
Guan Yingtang had originally thought Meng Qinghuai would be working late tonight. She jumped directly into his arms from the sofa. “Why did you come home so early? Finished work?”
Meng Qinghuai caught her with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her. “Mm.”
His choice was straightforward, but inside, his mind was far from easy.
On the way back, Meng Qinghuai had thought perhaps it was nothing—meeting a friend was normal.
But it was hard to accept that Guan Yingtang canceled dinner with him because of Jiang Peiming.
Why was that guy in Beicheng? Why did she go to see him?
Complex emotions flickered in Meng Qinghuai’s eyes.