Caught off guard by their sudden eye contact, Guan Yingtang’s mind was already screaming.
Her pores stood on end; she almost bolted for the door, but years of refined acting skills held her persona together at the very last second.
Calm down.
She was a lady…!
She was the First Lady of Hong Kong!
She was the Bookish Goddess in the hearts of countless Hong Kong men!
Doing her best to maintain her poise, Guan Yingtang put on a smile and, even feigning elegance, walked into the study, facing Meng Qinghuai. “Morning, aren’t you going to the company today?”
The woman before him still had a warm flush to her skin, her lips naturally tinted red from the lingering steam.
Just moments ago, she’d been so shocked she seemed a little lost, yet in the blink of an eye she could act as if nothing had happened.
Meng Qinghuai withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes, and silently lifted the corners of his lips. “Not busy today.”
His ambiguous look made Guan Yingtang instinctively feel something was off.
She lowered her gaze slightly, and only then, belatedly aware of what she was wearing, nearly lost her composure again as her mind started screaming for a second time.
She was openly! Boldly! Wearing Meng Qinghuai’s shirt.
And because she’d just come out of the bathroom and it was hot, plus she thought no one was home, Guan Yingtang had only lazily fastened two buttons in the middle.
The shirt hung loosely, exposing a large swath of her flushed skin beneath her collarbone.
“I didn’t bring any clothes,” Guan Yingtang explained herself at lightning speed.
So what? They were already married, so wearing her husband’s clothes wasn’t illegal, right?
Even as she tried to comfort herself, the heat rising in her face betrayed her frantic inner turmoil.
Her heartbeat quickened as she pretended to casually button up all the buttons. “I’ll just wear yours for now. You don’t mind, do you?”
Meng Qinghuai didn’t even look up, his reply calm: “I don’t mind.”
“……”
Guan Yingtang’s toes curled into the floor, her scalp tingled, and her whole body felt uncomfortably hot.
She closed her eyes for a moment, quickly adjusting her state—
She was already wearing it, being fussy would just make it seem like she had some special feelings for him.
Just at this awkward juncture, the doorbell suddenly sounded from downstairs.
Guan Yingtang froze for a moment, instinctively looking at the man.
Her living here was a secret the two of them had agreed on; except for that assistant who knew, no one else should be coming over.
Guan Yingtang didn’t speak, but her eyes were already asking Meng Qinghuai: Who is it?
Unexpectedly, Meng Qinghuai replied coolly, “Go down, they’re here for you.”
This answer made Guan Yingtang’s expression change instantly. She’d only just arrived in Guangzhou last night, in a place where she knew no one—who would be looking for her?
And who could so precisely find Jinghua Mansion, a place only she and Meng Qinghuai knew about?
Guan Yingtang asked again uncertainly, “For me?”
“Yes.”
…At this moment, the only ones scouring the world for her were Guan Zhiheng and Ho Ling.
Guan Yingtang’s heart sank, as if she understood something.
Could it be that she’d embarrassed herself after getting drunk last night, Meng Qinghuai discovered her true nature by accident, felt deceived into marriage, and called Guan Zhiheng to take her home?
If so, Meng Qinghuai was truly ruthless.
Even a day as husband and wife should count for something, but he could turn on her just like that.
But Guan Yingtang had always been responsible.
If she dared to run away from home, she was ready to be found by Guan Zhiheng at any time.
Her only regret was that she’d only had the Jinghua Mansion Experience Card for a day before it ended.
She snorted, turned, and went to the door.
But when she went downstairs and opened the main door, the sight before her left Guan Yingtang stunned.
A black van was parked in the middle of the courtyard, and four young women in boutique uniforms stood respectfully at the door, nodding to her. “Hello, are you Miss Yi?”
Yesterday, when she went out, Guan Yingtang’s curiosity got the better of her, and she’d made up a name to ask the duty manager for directions. Unexpectedly, the other party really didn’t recognize this Miss Hong Kong Socialite.
She hadn’t expected that after a night’s sleep, even Meng Qinghuai was cooperating with her fake name.
“……And you are?” Guan Yingtang asked awkwardly.
In truth, there was no need to ask.
From the brand logo on the van, she could guess they were sales staff from some top luxury boutique.
Sure enough, the women introduced themselves as sales and told her, “You scheduled an in-home shopping service, and my team is here to serve you.”
Guan Yingtang: “……”
Ten minutes later, the sales team had efficiently set up three rows of racks in the first-floor living room, all hung with the brand’s latest spring and summer runway pieces.
Only then did Guan Yingtang finally realize what Meng Qinghuai was up to.
Perhaps knowing she’d come from Hong Kong to Guangzhou empty-handed, and even before she appeared in his shirt, he’d already arranged for her to have new clothes. He’d even considered her privacy, thoughtfully bringing the boutique to their home.
The saleswomen professionally recommended items in front of her, but Guan Yingtang’s mind wandered, and she couldn’t help glancing upstairs.
Meng Qinghuai did not appear.
“Miss Yi, these are our spring and summer collections for this year. The new arrivals this season are mainly in soft tones, such as this piece…”
The sales supervisor’s tone was extremely flattering.
They’d received instructions from their upper manager that morning to suspend business and prepare for Miss Yi.
Although they didn’t know who was footing the bill for this lady, after dealing with so many wealthy clients, they knew there were levels among the rich.
Anyone living in Jinghua Mansion couldn’t be ordinary.
The decor seemed understated, but in reality, everything was luxurious— any single piece of furniture was worth millions.
After introductions and model try-ons, the supervisor politely asked Guan Yingtang, “Miss Yi, do you see anything you like?”
Guan Yingtang’s gaze landed on a runway dress.
It was a Black Chain-Back Dress, with the back almost completely bare, held only by two slender gold chains— a daring and sensual design.
She’d noticed it as soon as the sales introduced it.
Although such a dress would never have made it into her wardrobe in Hong Kong, still—
“Wear a dress I love at least once.”
That was one of Guan Yingtang’s wish list items.
After a moment’s thought, Guan Yingtang glanced upstairs again to make sure Meng Qinghuai wasn’t around, then trailed her slender fingers along the rack, picking out a few daily pieces at random.
At last, she quickly pointed at the Chain-Back Dress. “And this one.”
“Of course.” The salesperson picked out the pieces she wanted, but when it came to the dress, she apologized, “Sorry, Miss Yi, there’s only this one left in a large size. I’ll have it transferred from another store as soon as possible, and have it delivered to you by the day after tomorrow at the latest— is that all right?”
Guan Yingtang was about to say to forget it, but the glossy fabric seemed to have tentacles, constantly tempting her already restless heart, until she finally gave in, “That’s fine.”
In a place where she knew no one, what was she so worried about?
Only after checking off every item on her list could she say she hadn’t wasted this secret trip to Guangzhou.
“That’s all.” Guan Yingtang got ready to head upstairs for her Black Card. “Do I pay now?”
“No need, Miss Yi.” The sales people didn’t know who this beautiful woman was, and even if she looked familiar, they wouldn’t dare guess. “Your satisfaction with our service is our greatest honor.”
There was no need for her to pay. The store manager had already instructed them: no matter how much Miss Yi spent, all bills would be covered by the person in charge.
Their only task was to display the latest fashions for this lady to choose from.
After the sales left, Guan Yingtang looked at the pile of clothes with mixed feelings, then returned upstairs to find Meng Qinghuai in the study and asked, “Why didn’t you say they were delivering clothes?”
“What else?” Meng Qinghuai looked at her. “Who did you think it was?”
Meeting his eyes, Guan Yingtang felt as if he could see right through her petty suspicions.
Her expression grew a little unnatural, and she looked away. “No one.”
She cleared her throat and took the initiative to explain the “Miss Yi” matter. “My English name is Isabella. The manager at the door must’ve misheard and thought my surname was Yi.”
Guan Yingtang silently apologized to the manager in her heart, but there was no other way— he’d just have to take the blame for now.
But Meng Qinghuai didn’t care, or maybe he was too lazy to expose her little trick.
After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly stood up and slowly walked toward her.
The tall figure approaching made Guan Yingtang’s breath catch, and she suddenly remembered what Jiang Kewei had stressed over the phone—
The person who brought her back last night wasn’t Jiang Kewei, but Meng Qinghuai.
But Guan Yingtang had drunk too much and couldn’t remember anything from last night.
Did she embarrass herself? Go crazy? Did she… “show her true colors”?
Guan Yingtang’s mind raced, thinking about how to handle it if her true nature had been exposed, when a soft voice fell above her head, “This is for you.”
Guan Yingtang’s gaze dropped to the man’s outstretched hand.
An oddly shaped antique leather jewelry box, embossed with exquisite gold patterns. The contents were obvious at a glance.
…A ring?
Guan Yingtang froze.
Seeing her unmoving, Meng Qinghuai opened the box himself. On black velvet sat a diamond so big it looked like a lightbulb.
Guan Yingtang had grown up in luxury and naturally knew this ring was priceless— not just some ordinary luxury brand from the market.
But her marriage with Meng Qinghuai was an unspoken alliance of interests, and their license had been rushed.
She’d never expected him to give her any ceremonial gestures like this.
Much less such an expensive ring.
“For me?” Guan Yingtang asked, knowingly.
“If the size isn’t right, I’ll have it adjusted,” he replied.
“……”
With the box between them, Guan Yingtang suddenly guessed something—
Maybe she hadn’t been too out of line last night after all.
The outside world believed Guan Yingtang was a rare lady in Hong Kong these days— always elegant and dignified.
The Meng Family chose her for marriage because of this.
If she’d really done anything outrageous last night, with Meng Qinghuai’s personality, there’s no way he’d be giving her a ring right now.
Guan Yingtang paused for a few seconds, then tentatively reached out her hand.
Her guess needed Meng Qinghuai’s next move to confirm it.
A fair hand hovered in front of him. Meng Qinghuai paused, then immediately understood her intent.
He said nothing, took the ring from the box, held her palm with one hand, and gently slid the ring onto her ring finger with the other.
Not too loose, not too tight— just right.
The broad, warm touch of his skin enveloped hers, the chill of the ring completely lost in his warmth.
It felt like something inside her had been unexpectedly touched.
Guan Yingtang’s palm grew hot; she lowered her head and pressed her lips together. “Thank you.”
At the same time, she breathed a sigh of relief in her heart—
This pretty much confirmed that her drunken behavior last night hadn’t been too bad.
“Last night…” Guan Yingtang lowered her arm, still feeling the need to explain. “My friends knew I came to Guangzhou and wanted to welcome me, but maybe the drinks here are too strong— I lost track of my limits.”
Even if she hadn’t made a scene while drunk, as the ‘lady’ in Guan Zhiheng’s eyes, getting dead drunk was still unseemly.
Guan Yingtang tried her best to salvage her image.
“I… didn’t cause you any trouble, did I?” Guan Yingtang asked, maintaining her composure.
Meng Qinghuai looked at her.
How should he describe Miss Guan from last night?
She clung to him and refused to let go, warmly invited him to bed, and after dragging him down, babbled secrets in his ear.
Sometimes she’d comment on the handsome men dancing at the bar, sometimes she’d suddenly shift to discussing deep life philosophies.
Amid her chaotic rambling, she even managed to hold a mini concert.
When she got excited, she’d grab his phone and take endless selfies of the two of them.
Just thinking about the hundreds of photos now sitting in his phone, Meng Qinghuai couldn’t help but take a deep breath, then calmly replied:
“Of course not.”