After sending her last message, Guan Yingtang tossed her phone onto the bed in an arc, unable to stop a smirk from lifting one corner of her lips.
On Hong Kong Island, there were countless men who wanted her contact information. How could Meng Qinghuai get it so easily?
——Since you want to add me so badly, let’s see how patient you really are.
Taking the new pajamas she bought during her afternoon shopping trip, Guan Yingtang turned and went into the bathroom to shower, not caring whether Meng Qinghuai would reply or not.
It didn’t matter. Even if he did reply, it was perfectly normal to leave him hanging for a while.
She even started humming a tune, leisurely finishing her shower before picking up her phone and unlocking the screen——
Hmm?
Guan Yingtang blinked, her eyes scanning up and down.
…Meng Qinghuai actually didn’t reply to her?
Not a single response.
After a brief moment of surprise, Guan Yingtang found it completely reasonable.
After all, this was just his style. A businessman who measured time by money would never waste it on meaningless small talk.
Guan Yingtang put her phone back down and got up to pour herself a glass of water, but her phone rang again.
She raised her eyebrow slightly, thinking it was a belated reply from Meng Qinghuai, and deliberately waited a few seconds before picking up the phone.
It was only when she had the phone in hand that she realized the caller was Jiang Peiming.
Her childhood friend, the one dubbed “charming and a playboy in love” by the Media of Hong Kong Island.
It was like an NPC forcefully inserted mid-game. Guan Yingtang answered with little interest, “Speak.”
On the other end, Jiang Peiming chuckled, “What happened that’s so serious you need to run away from home?”
The Guan Family and Jiang Family were true family friends. Guan Yingtang and Jiang Peiming had grown up together.
Previously, Guan Zhiheng had intended to bind the two families even closer by marriage, but then he met Meng Songnian, and through him, the even more outstanding Meng Qinghuai.
Guan Zhiheng, as a prospective father-in-law, changed his mind in an instant.
It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with Jiang Peiming. Logically, with the feelings that came from growing up together, he should have been a more suitable husband.
But this Master Jiang was always making magazine covers with models and actresses. Never mind whether the stories were true or not— just dealing with the gossip would give his daughter headaches in the future.
But Jiang Peiming really did know Guan Yingtang.
For example, upon hearing that the Number One Heiress of Hong Kong Island had suddenly gone traveling abroad, he immediately knew she was putting on a show.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Guan Yingtang played dumb.
“I’m saying, there’s a generation gap between mainland guys and Hong Kong girls. Don’t force yourself,” Jiang Peiming said lazily. “If you don’t like it, then don’t marry.”
“And how do you know I’m forcing myself?” Guan Yingtang said as she opened the door and walked to the kitchen island on the first floor, casually grabbing a glass and bending down to pour water, deliberately enunciating, “I really like it.”
She liked this unfamiliar environment, liked walking the streets without being stared at, liked even just a few months of freedom.
“OK, OK,” Jiang Peiming didn’t argue. “Where are you now? I’ll come find you.”
Guan Yingtang dropped a few ice cubes into her glass and made up something, “In Antarctica, looking at glaciers.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a figure suddenly appeared in her line of sight.
Dressed in heavy black, towering like a mountain and blocking the light above her.
Guan Yingtang’s heart skipped a beat— she didn’t even need to look up to know who it was.
She’d been so absorbed in her conversation with Jiang Peiming that she hadn’t noticed when this man had entered the house.
Still, Guan Yingtang raised her eyes, seeing the figure before her clearly.
His long legs wrapped in black suit trousers were almost oppressive, his shirt and jacket immaculate. He stood there with a calm air, every inch exuding rigor and maturity.
…Who needed to go to Antarctica to see glaciers, when there was one right here in front of her?
Cutting off the call in her hand, Guan Yingtang was so surprised she didn’t even have to act, “…Mr. Meng, why are you here?”
Meng Qinghuai’s gaze shifted slightly, sweeping over her from head to toe.
Guan Yingtang’s instinct told her he should be looking at the glass in her hand, but for some reason, when those eyes landed on her, she felt it wasn’t so simple.
But her disguise was flawless.
Even the pajamas she wore were a set of taro-purple Chinese-style silk pajamas bought that afternoon, with traditional frog buttons and exquisite Suzhou Embroidery at the cuffs and hems.
Perfectly fitting her persona.
“Looks like Miss Guan found the glass,” Meng Qinghuai finally spoke after a moment.
Meeting his gaze, Guan Yingtang opened her mouth, awkwardly making a sound of acknowledgment.
Meng Qinghuai turned and headed upstairs toward the bedroom. Seeing this, Guan Yingtang hurried to follow. She could guess what he wanted to do, and sure enough——
He pushed open the bedroom door; the air conditioning was on, the TV was playing, and the curtains were tightly closed.
Guan Yingtang took the initiative to explain, “…I figured it out myself later. Turns out it’s the same Smart System as the one at home.”
Meng Qinghuai didn’t respond, walking straight into the bathroom.
There was still lingering steam, tiny droplets clinging to the transparent glass, the air damp and carrying a faint fragrance.
“The water problem should be solved, too,” Meng Qinghuai turned, speaking with hidden meaning. “Should I praise Miss Guan?”
Knowing he was teasing her, Guan Yingtang still pretended to be humble, lowering her face, “I was too impatient, sent you a few messages, and even troubled you to come all this way. I’m really sorry.”
“No trouble,” Meng Qinghuai replied lightly, taking off his suit jacket as he spoke.
Guan Yingtang froze.
She watched him casually toss his jacket onto the sofa, then open the wardrobe and take out a set of men’s pajamas.
Sensing something amiss, Guan Yingtang walked over and asked, “Mr. Meng, this is…”
Meng Qinghuai looked at her calmly, “To prevent Miss Guan from having any other problems, I’ll stay here tonight.”
Guan Yingtang’s eyes widened. A thousand words rushed to her lips, but her gaze uncontrollably drifted downward——
Maybe it was just that this man’s body was too perfect. Even after shedding the suit, wearing only a white shirt, he exuded an untouchable, cool aura.
Oddly alluring.
Wait a minute——
Guan Yingtang quickly pulled her attention back and met Meng Qinghuai’s gaze again, “Actually, I don’t have any more problems.”
“Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent sure.”
So unfair, she thought, grinding her teeth inwardly. She’d just been outplayed by this man. A wise woman doesn’t suffer a loss in front of her eyes— if she really let this man stay, where would her freedom go?
Wouldn’t that be like having a live-in father?
“It’s getting late, Mr. Meng, you should head back and rest,” Guan Yingtang quickly handed Meng Qinghuai his jacket, hoping her ‘fatherly’ husband would leave soon.
But Meng Qinghuai didn’t take it, lowering his eyes to glance at his watch, “It is late.”
Guan Yingtang sensed something was wrong again, “Hmm?”
“So I’m not leaving tonight.”
“……”
Meng Qinghuai pretended not to notice Guan Yingtang’s frozen smile, took the jacket from her hand, and walked out, “I’ll sleep in the room next door.”
It wasn’t until the bedroom door closed that Guan Yingtang realized what a stupid mistake she’d made tonight.
She knew full well that Meng Qinghuai was not easy to deal with, yet she still had to provoke him right to his face. Now look— she’d provoked him right to her side.
The sky was falling.
But Guan Yingtang could do nothing.
This was originally Meng Qinghuai’s house, and they were already legally married. She really had no grounds to kick the man out.
It was nearly midnight. Guan Yingtang simmered with frustration, but there was nothing she could do.
After downing her glass of ice water in one go, she lay on the bed, trying to sleep, but the presence of a not-so-familiar husband in the house made her wide awake.
Bored, she took out her phone.
She’d hung up on Jiang Peiming in a rush, only to find he’d sent her a few more messages.
Ming: “That mainland Young Master isn’t right for you.”
Ming: “Come back. This Young Master will marry you.”
Marry you, my foot.
Guan Yingtang cursed Jiang Peiming in her heart. He’d been a careless rascal since childhood, always joking about everything.
Two people who knew each other so well— how could they ever get married?
Besides, she already had a Marriage Certificate.
Even if it was a loveless arrangement, even if… her husband was shrewd and deep.
At this thought, Guan Yingtang’s stomach suddenly cramped with pain.
She frowned, thinking it was just a fleeting illusion and didn’t pay much attention.
She turned over, planning to check if there was any news about her in the Media of Hong Kong Island these past two days, but within minutes, her thoughts were consumed by the pain.
Her stomach twisted in spasms, as if a pair of hands were wringing it again and again.
From trying to endure it, Guan Yingtang eventually curled up, cold sweat forming on her forehead.
Her period wasn’t due yet, and dinner had been fresh. Could it be…
Guan Yingtang recalled the cup of ice water she’d just gulped down.
Having just arrived in Guangzhou, she was still adjusting, and yet she drank a whole glass of ice water in the middle of the night.
But now wasn’t the time for regret. The pain spread like a tide, and Guan Yingtang realized this wasn’t something she could just tough out.
Turning on her side, she pulled out her phone, hovered over Meng Qinghuai’s WeChat for a long moment, but stubbornly closed the chat window.
She wasn’t going to ask that infuriating man who’d just outplayed her for help.
Besides, she’d promised she wouldn’t trouble him again. She wasn’t about to slap herself in the face so quickly.
Maybe drinking some hot water would help.
Guan Yingtang forced herself out of bed, grabbed her cup, and, bracing against the wall, made her way to the kitchen island on the first floor.
Just as she was about to pour herself some hot water, a sudden stabbing pain made her hand slip, and she clutched the edge of the counter to keep her balance.
The cup fell, shattering crisply in the quiet midnight.
Upstairs, Meng Qinghuai, who was still working in his room, heard the faint noise and frowned.
He glanced at the time: 12:51 a.m.
The sound was clearly from downstairs, as if something had broken.
She wasn’t asleep yet.
Given his “experience” from previous incidents, Meng Qinghuai hadn’t planned to go down, but as his gaze returned to the computer screen, that shattering sound kept echoing in his mind.
At last, he sighed and reluctantly pushed back his chair.
It was late at night. The corridor was pitch black, with motion sensors briefly lighting his path before darkness returned.
Familiar with the house, Meng Qinghuai flicked on the light at the corner as he walked downstairs.
Before the living room lights fully illuminated the first floor, Meng Qinghuai still thought, “What is she up to again?”— until he saw the figure crouched by the kitchen island, picking up glass shards.
And the clearly unwell look on her face as she turned at the sound.
Guan Yingtang felt utterly unlucky. She only wanted a glass of water—why did even the cup have to go against her?
As the pampered First Daughter of the Guan Family, she’d never suffered like this.
Back on Hong Kong Island, even if her throat felt a bit scratchy, the servants would immediately brew her some Twenty-Four Flavor for care.
Now here she was, in so much pain she thought she might die, and there wasn’t even anyone to pour her water.
Their eyes met. Meng Qinghuai walked straight over, glanced at the floor, and pulled her to a safe spot. “Why aren’t you sleeping in the middle of the night?”
“I wanted… a cup of hot water,” she said weakly.
“Not feeling well?”
Guan Yingtang stubbornly insisted, “No.”
She couldn’t fool anyone with how she looked, but since she wouldn’t say, Meng Qinghuai didn’t press. He nodded toward the upstairs, “Go up first. I’ll bring it to you.”
“……”
Guan Yingtang acquiesced, lowering her head and walking out slowly, enduring the discomfort. But a sudden wave of pain made her let out a low moan, her body instinctively wanting to crouch down.
No, she couldn’t take it anymore.
Did she really have to climb the stairs by herself?
Couldn’t she just—
The thought “have someone carry me up” had barely crossed her mind when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her waist. Before she could react, she was already being lifted.
A clean woody scent filled her breath.
Guan Yingtang froze in shock.
…Well, but.
Fine, there really wasn’t anyone else in the house.
Guan Yingtang rather shamelessly accepted Meng Qinghuai’s help.
She was acutely aware of the strong hands supporting her back. At this distance, she could even feel the warmth of Meng Qinghuai’s body.
With only two thin layers of pajamas between them, the friction as they moved seemed to generate heat.
Otherwise, why was she suddenly burning up?
No matter how practiced her persona, she’d never acted out such an intimate scene with anyone before.
Guan Yingtang pretended to be calm in Meng Qinghuai’s arms, occasionally glancing up, but his face was unreadable.
Calm as still water, steady as a rock.
Like carrying a wooden dummy.
“Sorry.” Maybe the sudden sensory stimulation and shift of focus dulled her pain a bit, because by the time they reached the second floor, Guan Yingtang’s churning stomach didn’t hurt so much.
She pressed her lips together, “Sorry for bothering you so late.”
Now she looked perfectly dignified, sounding sincere, nothing like the tricks she pulled earlier on WeChat.
Meng Qinghuai didn’t reply. He opened the bedroom door with one hand, set her on the bed, and straightened up.
Staring at her.
Being stared at made Guan Yingtang feel oddly guilty. She really hadn’t settled down all evening, one incident after another.
Clearing her throat, she quietly avoided his gaze. But then his voice fell at her ear: “Stomach pain?”
At this point, there was no need to pretend. Guan Yingtang nodded.
Meng Qinghuai asked, “I was right next door. Why didn’t you call me?”
The room was silent for a moment.
“I thought…” Perhaps the pain had sapped her will to perform, Guan Yingtang hesitated, her tone dropping, “You must really hate me.”
Who would want someone suddenly forced into their world?
She didn’t like it.
And Meng Qinghuai, who was even more aloof, surely didn’t either.
This marriage was just a business arrangement. She wouldn’t embarrass herself by making Meng Qinghuai play the caring husband in the middle of the night.
After she finished, Meng Qinghuai didn’t respond. The two just looked at each other— one standing, one lying down— until the air grew subtly tense. Only then did Guan Yingtang realize—
Maybe she’d said the wrong thing.
It was a tacit business deal. Why strip away the pretense and expose the true nature of their marriage?
Now that she’d said it, how would they keep up appearances in the future?
Guan Yingtang opened her mouth, wanting to say something else, but Meng Qinghuai silently left the room, his black silhouette cold and distant.
“……”
The already large bedroom felt even colder after he left.
Guan Yingtang’s stomach started hurting again.
This time, it felt more like anger.
Angry at herself for losing her sense of proportion after a little intimacy, angry at that man for being just as unfeeling as she’d expected.
She hugged herself with her eyes closed, lay on her left side for two minutes, then rolled to her right, finally sitting up straight——
At the same time, the bedroom door opened.
Guan Yingtang paused, her gaze falling over. Meng Qinghuai entered, carrying a cup of warm water.
His expression was as calm as ever, as if nothing had happened. He walked over to Guan Yingtang, handed her a box of Medicine, “Take two pills first.”
Guan Yingtang: “……”
“And after you finish, please go to sleep early, Miss Guan. Only with more rest will your mind stop running wild.”
Fine, she had misjudged him.
Guan Yingtang silently took the Medicine, briefly reflecting in her heart. She was about to sincerely thank Meng Qinghuai, but then realized the deeper meaning in his last words——
She looked up at him, puzzled, “You think I’m confused?”
“Aren’t you?” Meng Qinghuai pinched the rim of the cup, gently placing the warm water at her bedside. His voice was equally soft,
“On what grounds does Miss Guan think I would marry someone I hate?”