Meng Qinghuai didn’t want to respond to Meng Songnian’s trivial words.
He turned and walked back into the room, continuing to call Guan Yingtang twice, but both times her phone showed as powered off.
The boarding photo didn’t look fake, so he casually checked flights from Beicheng to Hong Kong. Sure enough, there was a flight departing in ten minutes.
Meng Qinghuai swallowed deeply.
He actually understood— this was definitely something Guan Yingtang would do.
When she first came to Beicheng with him, it was the same: arriving empty-handed, just showing up without notice.
“Qinghuai, did something happen between you and Miss Yi?” Zhuang Jiayi also sensed something was off.
Meng Qinghuai put away his phone, realizing that Guan Yingtang’s departure was now an unchangeable fact.
But coincidentally, it was also a good time to completely end the chapter involving “Miss Yi.”
“Wasn’t it you who told me to end that relationship?” Meng Qinghuai said calmly. “I’ve already dealt with it. I’ll fly to Hong Kong tomorrow.”
Meng Songnian didn’t understand the connection between the two. “Why fly to Hong Kong?”
Zhuang Jiayi frowned at her son, confused as well.
Meng Qinghuai was so emotional that he forgot his originally planned trip to Hong Kong was on Tuesday.
Today was only Sunday.
Since Guan Yingtang left in a huff, of course he wanted to get there quickly to resolve things, but Meng Songnian and Zhuang Jiayi had no idea what had happened.
“I want to go early to see Grandpa,” Meng Qinghuai said coolly, finding a suitable excuse.
“Your grandfather isn’t in Hong Kong right now,” Zhuang Jiayi said gently.
“…”
Meng Songnian scrutinized Meng Qinghuai sharply. Though he said something about being dumped, his son was so outstanding— how could he be easily rejected?
Most likely, it was his own strictness that drove the couple apart, and now Qinghuai wanted to find Grandpa Zhuang Tai to talk and play chess to relieve his frustration.
In the past, whenever Meng Qinghuai faced setbacks, he would talk with Grandpa Zhuang Tai, whose rich life experience provided different perspectives.
Meng Songnian was silent for a moment, then surprisingly showed some understanding. “If you’re not feeling well, just forget this trip to Hong Kong. Your mother and I can go.”
“I’m not feeling bad,” Meng Qinghuai said expressionlessly. “I’ve already prepared the birthday gift.”
“…”
Meng Songnian and Zhuang Jiayi exchanged a glance. Both husband and wife seemed to suspect their son had been emotionally hurt.
“Alright then,” Zhuang Jiayi nodded. “See you at the airport Tuesday.”
If Meng Qinghuai insisted on flying tomorrow, it would seem deliberate. And if he went alone and arrived at the Guan Family Mansion, what would he say?
—I had a fight with your daughter. Should I not see her?
Such abruptness would probably frighten the other family.
After all, among the elders of both families, he and Guan Yingtang were still strangers.
After considering many factors, Meng Qinghuai could only agree for now to return to Hong Kong on Tuesday with his parents.
–
At midnight, Meng Qinghuai lay down alone in his bedroom.
In the past, he sometimes stayed at Jinghua Mansion for work, but he never felt lonely. On the contrary, he liked the quiet.
The TV at home was only turned on during the news, but ever since Guan Yingtang arrived, there had been all kinds of chattering noises now and then.
Over time, he had even gotten used to it.
The flight from Beicheng to Hong Kong had landed ten minutes ago. Meng Qinghuai sent a message to Guan Yingtang saying he had arranged a car to pick her up.
Perhaps both had calmed down a bit, because Guan Yingtang also replied to assure him she was safe.
Though it was just the brief words: “Arrived.”
Neither rushed to continue the late-night conversation; it seemed both were intentionally giving ground.
In truth, after Guan Yingtang left, Meng Qinghuai thought about it too— why should he lose his composure over just one Jiang Peiming?
Ultimately, their backgrounds were different, and the relationship had progressed too quickly. Sometimes he felt the happiness held in his hands came too easily, too unreal.
Like something that comes easily can also leave just as easily.
So, one Jiang Peiming, one delivered medicine, one worried word— lightly swept away his calm and reason.
At 12:30, the person sent to pick up Guan Yingtang messaged that she had been safely returned to the Guan Family Mansion on Kadoorie Hill.
Only then did Meng Qinghuai turn off the lights, ready to sleep. But after closing his eyes for a moment, he reopened them and went to the bedside drawer to get earplugs.
He habitually opened the drawer but didn’t find the blue box.
He hadn’t used those earplugs for a long time and had even forgotten about them.
The last time they were taken was from the side where Guan Yingtang usually slept, and they had never been put back.
He held that position for a moment, suddenly recalling Guan Yingtang’s nervous expression when he first took the earplugs— those eyes full of disbelief yet trying to maintain her composed lady-like demeanor.
Thinking of that scene, a subtle tenderness unexpectedly grew in Meng Qinghuai’s heart. He lowered his head and tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Just as he was about to close the drawer, a finely crafted gift bag on the bedside caught his eye.
Meng Qinghuai immediately recognized it—it was the one Jiang Peiming had given to Guan Yingtang at the hotel that afternoon, and she had smiled happily when receiving it.
That delicate mix of emotions surged again. He closed his eyes as if to erase it from sight and shoved the paper bag deep into the drawer.
–
Guan Yingtang got out of the car, standing at the entrance of her family’s mansion, still a bit dazed.
Just like when she decisively decided to go to Beicheng before, today she was equally resolute about returning to Hong Kong.
But back then she had no regrets. Now, returning a day earlier, honestly, when she landed she sat for a long time without moving.
Her mind kept spinning with Meng Qinghuai’s words: “You don’t know how playboy Master Jiang is? And yet you got so close to him?”
Guan Yingtang remembered that when Jiang Kewei found out she was going to marry Meng Qinghuai, she warned her that the Meng Family was large and powerful, with many rules and social protocols.
But having been with Meng Qinghuai for so long, from initially being cautious to gradually loosening her restraints under his indulgence, she thought she had found the right person— until today, when the imperfect Jiang Peiming appeared—
Those rules and protocols seemed to have gone out the window as well.
Guan Yingtang felt a deep, indescribable loss.
Guan Zhiheng and Ho Ling were already asleep. Guan Yingtang hadn’t informed anyone and came home on her own.
When she quietly searched for water in the dark, the noise woke the butler on the first floor. Soon, all the lights in the house turned on, and the couple, already in their pajamas, came out.
The eldest daughter of the Guan Family had finally returned after months away.
Ho Ling was delighted and asked her son, “Didn’t you say she would be back the day after tomorrow? Why the early return?”
Guan Zhiheng stood at the stairs without moving.
Guan Yingtang forced out a smile. “I missed you.”
Ho Ling hugged her son, then turned to ask her husband to come downstairs. Guan Zhiheng looked at Guan Yingtang for a moment and said, “You’ve been away for several months. What kind of state do you think you look like?”
Guan Yingtang had come home temporarily, still wearing the casual clothes from Beicheng: a loose white T-shirt and jeans.
It was actually quite casual, but according to Guan Zhiheng’s previous strict standards— if the daughter wore sloppy clothes without shape, her aura would become cheap.
That familiar atmosphere descended once more. Guan Yingtang lowered her head, feeling dispirited and unwilling to argue.
Ho Ling frowned at her husband, annoyed, and reminded him, “Our daughter came back to celebrate your birthday.”
Guan Zhiheng grunted but said nothing more. Ho Ling accompanied Guan Yingtang back to her room.
The two quietly talked; Ho Ling asked with concern, “Where did you go? Were you happy? I didn’t see any posts on your Instagram.”
Guan Yingtang lay down on the sofa gloomily. “So-so.”
Ho Ling thought her daughter was just tired from the long trip and didn’t want to disturb her. “Then rest first.”
She turned and started to leave, suddenly remembering something. She came back and said to Guan Yingtang, “There’s something Mommy thinks you should know.”
Guan Yingtang looked up at her. “What?”
“For your father’s birthday, he invited Uncle Meng and his wife from Beicheng, and…” Ho Ling paused, “…their eldest son, Meng Qinghuai.”
Ho Ling spoke carefully, knowing that when the marriage alliance with the Meng Family was first suggested, her daughter ran away the next day. Although she was back now, Ho Ling was still worried about upsetting her again.
During Guan Yingtang’s absence, Ho Ling had thought a lot. Marriage should be based on mutual will— why force her precious daughter into a family and place she didn’t know, all for so-called family face?