《Cornered by the CEO》


 Chapter 1: The Advantageous Marriage of a Wealthy Heiress

    Yun Qian Meng was twenty-five years old when she got married. She was from a family of billionaires, but a conservative one where good daughters never said no to their parents. Her father wanted her to get married and she just said, "If that is what makes you happy, I will do it gladly."


    It wasn''t ''love''¡ªwealthy heiresses were taught never to get caught in that mess. A business decision, her father, Yun Sui Bo, had called her marriage. She had come from a family that built a real estate empire under Yun Corporation.


    The dream began.


    The union had been a move made to win their struggle against Mo Building Solutions, their most prominent and hardest competitors. The Bai family owned a well-known building materials import company in the mainland, which helped cheapen the price of materials used for the operation of the Yun Corporation.


    It had been a grand success. The Bai and Yun family came together to widen the prospects of their companies. She accepted her father''s choice graciously. She truly came to appreciate the presence of the man, his serene and respectful behavior, his gentle words, and his respect for her private space.


    And yes, it was never a happy marriage.


    The Bai family had strict rules when it came to the conduct of the wives. They were only allowed clothes that hid their skin; they couldn''t drink outside of the home, even with their husbands.


    She loved her wine and beer. She loved to wear fashionable dresses and skirts. At first, she rebelled. She ate what she wanted, she wore what she wished to. But the screams grew louder and the words harsher.


    Her husband, Bai Ye Qing, was a gentle man. He was a year older than her but he had been spoilt since young. Despite being in a prominent position within the company, he often made bad choices and couldn''t clearly see the deals he should have invested in.


    When his mother tormented her, he would stand up for her and lend her a shoulder to cry on.


    "Help me take over," Bai Ye Qing announced one day, astonishing Yun Qian Meng. "You built your company with your own hands and you are an excellent investor. Teach me."


    She didn''t know what to say, at first. But since young, she had been taught that a good wife helps their husband at all times and paves the way for their success. She taught him everything she knew, helping him invest and judge. His position grew stronger, his authority in the family growing before her eyes. She had been so proud.


    If it was love, she didn''t know, but she felt like someone was finally listening to her. She even saw him as a friend. She had never received love from her family or the attention she deserved, maybe because she was a female. Bai Ye Qing''s devotion had moved her heart. She finally felt wanted.


    His father passed away within a year of their marriage. Yun Qian Meng hadn''t been close to the man but knew him to be a hard worker who had single-handedly built the family business. She couldn''t deny that she respected him.


    After her father-in-law''s passing her mother-in-law became a demon. The shouting and abuses from early on in their marriage reappeared. Qian Meng finally understood what an evil in-law was like.


    It was no joke.


    After a couple of weeks, Bai Ye Qing took charge of the family business. Qian Meng was happy and supported him but the abuses from home became unbearable. Most of the time, she couldn''t go to work or keep track of her investments; she was too busy making her husband successful.


    One day, Bai Ye Qing came home and announced that they would be moving to a penthouse close to his office. It shook her mother-in-law, but Qian Meng was ecstatic. On the day they moved to the new apartment, she stared at the vastly empty space and decided on how she would decorate it.


    This would be her house. She would adorn it as she wished. And she did that. She filled the place with warmth and love.


    Another year passed, they tried to have a baby. Bai Ye Qing grew busier every day. She was left in their mammoth apartment, staring at the ceiling, making sure his life was in order. Sometimes she would cry, sometimes she would wonder what she had done wrong to deserve this. She felt wretched. Two years of trying... two years of trying and she didn''t conceive.


    Those that hated her smirked and told her it was a pity. She didn''t say much in return.


    She had failed the duty of a good daughter and wife. Yun Sui Bo called her often to remind her. Deals with the Bai family were falling through. She needed to produce an heir to appease Bai Ye Qing. She didn''t have the face to say no.


    At that point, she had not seen her family for a year. Her father never called her. Her step-mother was happy to be rid of her. Her little step-brother was off to college in a foreign land and never had time away from studying.


    She could only do one thing. She signed over shares of her companies to Bai Ye Qing, giving him the majority shareholder position and ensuring that he continued to work closely and to the advantage of the Yun Corporation.


    Mo Building Solutions had gained market share rapidly, making the Yun Corporation lag behind. Under the hands of their new chairperson, Mo Qingchen, everything seemed to go about like a dream.


    Another year passed. Bai Ye Qing had bought the apartment on the floor under them. He had transformed into his office. He had told Qian Meng that he needed a space of his own.


    "Have I not decorated well enough?" she had asked him, showing disappointment.


    "It''s wonderful," he had said in a soft voice, caressing her face.


    Four years into their marriage, she had gone out to buy some food. When she was coming back the security guard handed her a letter.

 Chapter 2: A Desolate and Humiliating Marriage

    It was test results from an OBGYN clinic. She scrunched up her brows and saw the name on it. She went back to the apartment and kept the results away, but curiosity was eating at her. Had he been sick recently? As his wife, she had a right to know.


    So she quickly tore the envelope open.


    Pregnancy test results. Positive. The name of the patient was not hers.


    She rushed downstairs, knowing he was in his office. She had never ventured downstairs, knowing that she hated when someone had entered her office without notice.


    That time, it was different. She knew the password because he never remembered anything else and kept the same password for everything.


    When the door opened, she saw a sight unsightly.


    It all fell into place when she walked in on him thrusting into another woman''s body, the loud moans leaving the air nauseous. She clutched her stomach as she stumbled back. She had let him use her body the same way he did another, and she felt bile rising in her throat. The little groan she produced made no difference.


    They turned to her. There was no surprise. There was relief in Bai Ye Qing''s eyes. Like he was relieved that he didn''t have to act any longer.


    It was disgusting.


    "Do you want a picture?" she heard the other woman comment. She fled. She wouldn''t let him touch her from that moment onwards. That didn''t mean he didn''t take it from her however and whenever he deemed her ready to fulfill her wifely duties.


    She couldn''t go back to her maternal home. None of them cared. They had sold her off so that their company could do better. They hadn''t once called and asked her how she was after she got married. When they did, it was usually because they needed something from her.


    A desolate and humiliating marriage.


    She remained alone.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng stood outside the door for a long time. She had not come down to his office since discovering him with his lover.


    She wasn''t pacing or lifting her hand to knock on the door before dropping her hand in painful indecision. She stared at the flaws in the wood. Blood pounded in her ears and she could feel her face flush and her palms sweat. But she remained very still.


    ''He won''t do anything to you,'' she told herself. His demeanor towards her had changed and she had often been scared of him.


    She had no idea why he wanted to see her, but apart from taking from her and making her sign on papers after threatening to divorce her. They didn''t speak about much else and she was sure that it would be a long time before Bai Ye Qing spoke to her again. She had gotten used to the long weeks of silence in the giant space she had decorated with her own two hands. She didn''t feel welcome there anymore.


    She hadn''t expected to wake up to a note asking her to meet him in his office at a specific time. Nothing else was written on it.


    Her life was not supposed to be this way.


    Suddenly, she heard it: Bai Ye Qing''s voice from behind the door. A single word was uttered to invite her in.


    He had known all along that she was standing outside the door but he had not bothered to call her in earlier. Somehow, over the years, he had learned everything about her. He knew exactly which keys to strike to invoke a reaction in her. He saw every move she would make before she made it. Wasn''t that how he duped her for so many years?


    He knew how things would turn out but he had selfishly ruined her life to get what he wanted.


    Everyone wanted to be happy. She had thought neither of them was happy, but now she knew that she had been the only one suffering.


    Her fingers brushed along the metal of the round knob lightly, just barely feeling the cold against her skin. She gripped it in her hand, tight and full of confidence, nothing like she was currently feeling. She turned the knob and pushed the door open.


    As she stepped in, her eyes instantly met his.


    Bai Ye Qing was sitting behind the desk, leaning his elbows on the woo, his fingers twined in front of him. He looked at Qian Meng calmly, his expression completely unreadable.


    "Close the door." His voice was quiet but steady. Filled with authority.


    The door shut behind her with a click. They were alone and no one would have heard their conversation either way. He still made her lock it because he liked her better when he had her trapped.


    The silence stretched between the two of them and she dropped her eyes from his face, staring down at the floor. She waited.


    She glanced up when she heard him shift in his chair. He hadn''t taken his eyes off her.


    "I received a call from Yun Corporation," he said at last, his voice cutting the silence. "Your father passed away three days ago."


    She could feel her mouth drop in shock. Of everything she had expected him to say, she had never expected that. She felt pain.


    The tears welled up in her eyes and she desperately tried to quell them. She couldn''t cry in front of him, even if for her father. Not in front of him. Not for the man who had done everything in his power to undermine her and make sure she lived a life devoid of affection and happiness.


    A sob escaped her throat, and she clasped her hand over her mouth to stop it.

 Chapter 3: Death of an Unloved Woman

    Bai Ye Qing''s eyes narrowed and he waved his hand, asking her to stop with her theatrics. He had nothing to offer her neither sympathy nor comfort. She wouldn''t have accepted them either.


    "How did he pass?" she found herself asking. He didn''t answer her question.


    "I just wanted to inform you that you will be going to the Yun house." He shrugged. "I would have left you a note explaining the situation but I gave you a chance to prepare. I also thought it might have been unkind." He sneered the last word at her. She flinched back, not knowing what else to do.


    "I will stay for a couple of days. You can fend for yourself," she said, unable to muster a louder volume. He sighed and brushed his fingers through his hair.


    "You misunderstood," he said as he stood up, taking slow steps around the desk to come near her. When he reached her, he folded his arms in front of him.


    She took an automatic step back, her shoulder blades brushing against the door behind her.


    "I''m going with you," he said, his voice still calm. Her brows furrowed in confusion. She looked for some indication on his face to show that he was joking but there was none.


    "What?" her voice was louder than a whisper.


    "Did you go deaf?" He demanded, his mouth twisting into an unfeeling grimace.


    "You can''t do this," she hissed. She hated his voice. She hated his intention. There had been nothing wrong with her father, not that she knew of. Now, this man was asking to accompany her to her maiden home. She could guess what he wanted. He wanted everything that she owned, even the Yun Corporation that her father had left for her.


    His brows rose slightly and she watched as the corner of his mouth twitched. The beginning of an amused smirk. "I really, really can." He sounded almost entertained. Like he had orchestrated everything.


    She couldn''t take this. She couldn''t stand him. He spoke to her as if her life was a joke. Like she was just a pawn to him and as if he viewed her as a possession and not a person.


    But she was a person. Where had her voice gone? Where had her prowess as a businesswoman gone? What had happened to her?


    "You can''t force me," she snapped back at him.


    A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.


    "You are my wife. You will do exactly as I say." In the years they had been married, this was the first time she saw his real face.


    She crushed back the fear she felt. Bai Ye Qing was not the man she knew. No, she remembered that she had never known him.


    "Not for much longer," she said, inhaling deeply.


    "Look at you, thinking that you can do it," he taunted her.


    The anger coursing through her body dissipated any fear she felt. "Why not?" she ground out harshly. "I don''t love you. You don''t love me. This marriage-" he cut her off.


    "What will you do? Where will you go?" He demanded the answers. Without waiting for her, he told her himself. "Your companies are mine, your money is mine. Your father is dead. Your birth mother doesn''t care. And your stepfamily would rather you be dead." He snickered.


    "I..." she trailed off.


    "You have no one." There was finality in Bai Ye Qing''s voice.


    She had no one. He was right.


    She had given up everything for him, cut herself off from everyone, and dedicated every breath to him. He took advantage of her upbringing. He took advantage of the fact that no one really cared about her.


    "You''re right. I don''t love you," he paused. She waited for the blow. "But neither does anyone else."


    She felt the tears roll down her cheeks. She tried to brush them away but Bai Ye Qing had seen them. There was pride over victory in his eyes. As if breaking someone who had nothing in life could be considered that.


    Everything she had done in her life seemed to lead up to that single moment. She found herself tied to a man she didn''t love, trapped in a life she didn''t want, unable to leave because she had nowhere to go. If she left him, she would be alone.


    In spite of the monster he was, he had become the only thing she still had.


    He followed her to her house that day. The lawyers read out the division of inheritance. Despite her father''s follies, he left her quite a lot. Bai Ye Qing looked on silently, acting as the ideal man.


    When they left the house, she saw the smile on his face. Something crept into a heart... a fear that she couldn''t pinpoint. She didn''t get much sleep that night.


    Soon, her fears came to fruition.


    - - - - -


    "We will finally get married. I will get rid of you," the other woman sneered, her teeth showing. She was the one who wrote Qian Meng''s fake suicide letter. Bai Ye Qing injected something into her veins.


    Her consciousness slowly seeped out of her body.


    She was twenty-nine. She had given her life for someone so inconsequential. It angered her.


    It burned inside her soul with a fiery passion.


    "Goodbye, Meng''er."


    As she took her last breath, she uttered a silent vow.


    She would get her revenge.


    As her consciousness slipped out of her body, she felt a new sensation overtake her. It was like nothing she had experienced. It felt like she had been submerged underwater: everything looked distorted, she could hear nothing, feel nothing, but she was acutely aware of her surroundings. No sound escaped her mouth when she tried to speak. Slowly, she didn''t even feel the need to breathe. She didn''t need air.


    Most astonishing was seeing her body lying on the sofa as her spirit hovered over it. Despite the flames of rage licking at her soul, she felt no compulsion to re-enter her body.

 Chapter 4: Waking up From a Long Dream

    She felt no connection to the body that lay in front of her. She was oddly at peace, and she witnessed Bai Ye Qian hunching over her lifeless body to check for a pulse.


    She felt absolutely nothing even at the sight of his disdain. He was looking at her corpse with an expression of hatred that she wouldn''t have been able to bear before.


    The indifference helped her shed the ounce of feelings she had for the cretin who roamed in front of her. Bai Ye Qian ceased to be someone she would ever show any kindness to. Even the anger she felt at the moment felt like it was someone else''s. Such was the state of her being.


    Oh, how she hoped that she could recognize emotions again. She wanted to hate passionately and fulfill her desires to her heart''s content. As the thought passed her, she felt an indescribable pain overtaking her soul. It tore through her as if a scorching knife had repeatedly sliced through her skin.


    She startled awake, her fingers gripping onto the rumpled sheets on which she lay, her face glistening with cold sweat. A ray of light from the streetlamp below hit her face. Her eyes were wide open, fear, and shock explicit in them.


    Her throat burned, as did her body, but she didn''t seem to realize where she was.


    "Is this Hell?" she thought, a quick sob passing her lips. No, indeed, it was not hell. It had been a long time since she was here, but it was her bedroom, the one she had used since she moved out of her family home.


    She sat up abruptly, wanting to get a better look. She wracked her mind for an explanation for her confusion.


    Did she come back to life?


    No.


    Dream. It had been a long dream. A very wretched dream that her mind had conjured up, feeding on her fears. She pressed her palms against her sweaty forehead and realized that she had a fever.


    Delirious, that''s all. She sighed and closed her eyes for a second, gathering her wits. The clock on her bedside table read ''3 AM''.


    She settled back and focused her thoughts on how the dream had come about.


    Dreams were a manifestation of fears and instincts wrapped up into one puzzle. That was how she looked at it. Much like authors who wrote stories they saw in their dreams, she believed that the human mind held a lot more information that was available to the subconscious mind.


    Yun Sui Bo had indeed asked her to marry a man named Bai Ye Qing. He had done so a couple of months ago. The boy had seemed nice enough but her subconscious mind must have picked up on something that she hadn''t noticed.


    The rest of it? Those must have been projections of her fears. Yun Qian Meng pulled her phone out from under her pillow and quickly typed in a text.


    [Li Min, ask Li Jun to follow Bai Ye Qing for the next three weeks. Do a thorough background check as well.]


    [Yes, Miss Yun.]


    The reply from her executive secretary was prompt. With her mind at peace, she counted sheep and finally fell asleep again. This time, no nightmares plagued her.


    - - - - -


    Her alarm rang at five-thirty in the morning. She peered through her sheets, rolling on the gigantic bed until they tangled with her legs. She stretched, her babydoll riding up her body, her impressive curves and smooth skin on displace.


    Her hands poked out, rummaging through the bed to find her phone and then finally slapping around on the bedside table where it was charging. She looked at the time, switched the alarm off, and then scrolled through the newspaper to see what the news around the world was.


    Nothing much. The world was still in a disarray.


    Next, she pulled out a website that listed the daily earnings of the richest people in the country and looked at her income from the previous day. Not bad. The stock market was doing good, as were the companies that she invested in.


    At nine-thirty, her daily reports and updates from all accounts would come in, so she tiptoed to the bathroom and took a nice, hot shower.


    She lived on the topmost floor of the hotel, much higher than the surrounding buildings. Coupled with the fact that the curtains were closed, she had no problem with walking out of the bathroom naked, her body still wet. She picked out the clothes she would wear for the day and placed them on the bed.


    There was something about airdrying her body that she loved. Even her hair was just left to dry naturally. Blowdrying was one of the worst things she could do to her hair. She considered it one of her best assets, so she didn''t even dye her hair or use the usual products. Much like her clothes, her skincare and hair care products were made specifically for her. Until she expanded her company, Venus, to the industry.


    Thereafter, she only made products that she would use on a daily basis or someone who loved their body equally as her. Some called her vain, others shallow. She could shrug it off. What good would it bring her to act like a white lotus?


    She tried to be good to her parents, treated her employees well, and minded her own business. Did she have to go around and advertise her good deeds so that she could be seen as this ethereal creature? She thought not.


    At sharp seven in the morning, her executive secretary, Li Min, called her phone. Yun Qian Meng bounded out of the room, knowing that her secretary had arrived. She got to the gate of the hotel and entered her car promptly.

 Chapter 5: Feeling Alienated at Your own Home

    As they headed to the office, Li Min drove in silence. The ride was bland, traffic wasn''t too bad, and Yun Qian Meng calmly went over the dream she had seen the night before.


    Much like other dreams, she couldn''t remember the tiniest of details, but the overarching story of the dream was clear to her. When faced with her fears and the idea that her instincts were subconsciously warning her, she frowned.


    Rarely did dreams feel so real. She shook the thought away.


    "How long will it take for Li Jun to get a thorough financial and historic check on Bai Ye Qing?" She felt a nagging panic at the back of her mind, something she was unused to. Previously, she had said yes to her father when he asked her to marry. She had met him once, she believed, and not had too bad of an impression about him. But what about him had set her alarms off?


    She wouldn''t know until the check was done.


    "I relayed your orders to him last night. His team is busy with some high-profile cases at the moment, so he will let one of the office managers and detectives take it on." Li Min remained stoic. She didn''t know what prompted the decision to check out the future husband, but her boss didn''t make them do those until she was suspicious or needed it for business reasons.


    Research was step one, always.


    "How is the law firm doing?" Yun Qian Meng asked casually.


    "It has been doing well, Miss Yun."


    Qian Meng had found out that Li Min''s brother was a lawyer working in one of the top three firms in the country a year after hiring her. She also found out that he was looking to open his own practice. He had poached a detective from the prosecutor''s office and was doing excellent on clients he got from his last firm.


    Qian Meng was in need of a lawyer at the time and didn''t like the lawyers she got from other firms, so she asked Li Min to connect her with her brother. After the first meeting, Qian Meng was sold. Li Jun was an excellent lawyer and he had a way of playing with law.


    Contracts were full proof under his guidance, leaving no wriggle room. Employee cases and other external work was also done by him. With her reference, he scored many other high profile clients, including companies from all sectors and criminal cases that no one else was willing to take.


    Not to mention, this man did legal background checks like no one''s business. He found out dirty secrets faster than socialites grabbing at the smallest scandal. Yun Qian Meng could trust him to bring authentic information.


    "Good news," she said finally. The rest went in silence.


    When they were in the office, the flow of people was still less. Barely anyone had arrived apart from the security team and the receptionist. She received their greetings and nodded nonchalantly.


    When she sat at her desk, Li Min finally opened a folder and went over her routine for the day.


    Her day usually looked like this:


    Meeting with the international team. Meeting her executive secretary and other assistants. Meeting with the leadership team. Business reports, proposals, evaluations, and updates from all her companies and investments. Signing on new projects. Overseeing all departments were working well. And emails... hundreds of emails.


    Some days, she even went to specific departments for routine checks. She didn''t like micromanaging, so she didn''t do it too often. This took up about twelve to fourteen hours of her day. Then there was a two hour commute time.


    Life of a CEO was hard. She barely had time for herself, and all these CEOs in the novels were actually thinking of romance. She scoffed.


    At the end of all of that, Li Min dropped the bomb.


    "You have to head home for dinner with your father. He called to let you know." Qian Meng sighed, dropping her head to her hand.


    "What is it about?" she asked exasperated. She tried to keep the time with her maiden family to the minimum, so this unexpected dinner was something she was unhappy about.


    "He said it was an emergency." As it always was. But if he had called Li Min to make an appointment, it had to be something important. Moreover, her conversations with her father usually ended when he wanted them to. Usually, he would call her and scold her if she was late to pick up or missed it. Usually, she would do it intentionally. Most of what he said was already a child of her step-mother''s wicked mind, so she rarely paid any attention.


    Surely, he wanted something. She nodded. "Let him know I will reach post work." Li Min nodded, not asking for a time, and left the room.


    The day went by without the hitch, she made good money. When work came to an end, it was seven in the evening. She sighed and asked Li Min to go home.


    She would drive the car back, herself.


    When she reached her family home, she felt a sense of alienation. She hadn''t lived in this place for a really long period of time, so it didn''t feel like home anymore. Putting her coat over her arm, she strode to the front gate. The guards at the gate had informed the staff she had arrived, so the nanny who had been working at their house for the past thirty years was standing in front of the door, waiting for her.


    "Miss Yun," this woman greeted, her head bowing down. Qian Meng looked at the withered face of the woman and felt a sense of nostalgia. Very few people had stayed in this house from before her step-mother came in and generally, none of the servants really bothered with her. They treated her with respect, but it didn''t feel like they cared for her much.

 Chapter 6: A Ruse to Bring her Home

    This nanny was somewhat different. The crow''s feet at the corner of her eyes deepened when she saw Yun Qian Meng. She had watched the Young Miss grow up in front of her eyes and felt that the child was pitiful.


    For Yun Qian Meng, she knew this woman as Nanny Yang. No one else called her real name and the older woman never offered. Qian Meng wasn''t one to pry, so she had never probed for more information.


    "Please have a full meal today," the older woman rasped as she led Qian Meng to the living room. Qian Meng looked at the Nanny with a small smile, disappointment flashing in her eyes.


    Didn''t she always try? It just seemed that no matter how hungry she was, her hunger disappeared when she ate here.


    Qian Meng didn''t reply. The living room was brightly lit and grandly decorated. It reeked of people who loved to show off their money.


    Three prim and proper figures sat on the couch. It looked like she had walked into a meeting. As usual, when she greeted her father with a bow of respect, he hummed in acknowledgment. When she looked up, she saw his eyes inspecting her. There was a hint of calculation in them that warned her that tonight was going to be a long battle.


    She pretended not to see the female in her late forties sitting beside her father. Instead, Qian Meng looked at the younger brother she liked. Surprisingly.


    "Big Sister," he chirped, hopping up from his perch and coming to hug her. Though she didn''t return it as warmly, her eyes turned into two crescents. A small smile played on her lips as she patted his back. "Where is my allowance?" he asked. In front of his sister, he acted more spoiled than others. If it had been anyone else, Qian Meng would have thrown them out of the window, but this brother of hers, she really liked.


    She pulled out her cell-phone and transferred a reasonable amount of money to him. Even though he was rich. He shouldn''t be getting exorbitant allowances. He would have to learn to work for his own money.


    His phone pinged in his pocket and his eyes widened. He rejoiced as he saw the deposit, hugging her once more. "Thank you." He plopped down on the couch beside his mother and showed her the amount.


    Stepmother was not happy. Even though she smiled, it didn''t reach her eyes.


    "Qian Meng is so good to Qing Yuan. She even gives him a small allowance," Jiang Xin said, her voice sweet. The emphasis, though, was on the word ''small.''


    Yun Qing Yuan startled, shooting an apologetic look at his sister and hoping she was not offended.


    "Big Sister gives me an allowance because she loves me. If she gave me too much, I''ll get greedy!" he proclaimed. The pure smile on his face made Qian Meng sigh.


    ''You idiot, that is exactly what your mother wants.'' She couldn''t shake her head but she felt like it.


    "Sit down," her father ordered. She sat down in the most ladylike manner and waited for her father to get to the point.


    He didn''t like engaging in small talk with her. And to be fair, it would be awkward for Qian Meng if he tried. So, she was relieved when he went right to the point.


    "You know about the recent bill on housing and employment that we are trying to pass, right?" Yun Sui Bo started. Qian Meng nodded, not knowing where the conversation was headed. "There is a television interview tomorrow morning that you need to attend."


    "Excuse me?" she asked, baffled. She was supposed to go on television but she didn''t know. What was it about? Why would she be going on?


    "Yes, you need to defend the bill. It is a roundtable and will work as an argument," he had the gall to nod sagely.


    "And you''re telling me this the night before? I don''t know what the bill is about or what I am supposed to talk about. Why would you put me in this position?" Suddenly, she realized that she was being thrown under the bus. It sure as hell felt like it.


    "You show off your intelligence all the time, so it shouldn''t be a problem for you. I''ve prepared a document for you to go over, as well." Qian Meng wanted to scoff. Yes, because springing something so big on her was good news. He even had to act so proudly of himself for having basic decency.


    "Which channel is it on? Who is the host? The name of the show. The other panelists." She was exasperated. Everything started to come into place.


    "Mo Qingchen? Mo Building Solutions is against the bill?" Qian Meng asked.


    "I already told you. Don''t make me repeat myself," her father grumbled. Clearly, there was a story behind this and she was sure that her father wasn''t going to say a word about it.


    "It doesn''t make sense. This bill will only help the industry."


    "He will do everything in his power to oppose me. He loathes me," Yun Sui Bo sipped at the glass of whiskey in his hand without saying anything further.


    Yun Qian Meng didn''t think that was the case. But Mo Building Solutions was slowly gaining more market share so they could pit themselves against the Yuns and win more contracts from the opposition group. Ah, right, wasn''t the leading politician on the opposing side a close family relation?


    She thought so.


    "I''ll do as you say," she said promptly, looking at the file that her father had thrown at the little table at the center of the room.


    She had to read it really well and inform Li Min to prepare additional material. Nanny Yang announced that dinner was prepared and the family promptly made their way over. Yun Qian Meng thought that the worst part of the evening had come to an end, but she had been wrong. After some polite chatter, her father finally came to the main point.


    The television appearance had been a ruse to bring her into his home and corner her.

 Chapter 7: The Fatal Mistake of Being Born a Female

    "Your mother called me to ask when she should book her tickets for," Yun Sui Bo said as he cut into his steak. It had been a while since she came back to her ancestral hall, so the sanitorium-like atmosphere made her feel suffocated. She didn''t know how she had survived for eighteen years of her life in this place.


    "What for?" Yun Qian Meng asked just as nonchalantly.


    "Your wedding. You should call over Bai Ye Qing and his family to set a date." There was no question about what her opinion on the matter was.


    "If your ex-wife wants to know, she can call and ask me," she replied bluntly.


    Her mother, Sun Li, had gone through medical school and was completing her residency in neurosurgery at the best hospital in the city when Yun Qian Meng was three years old. It was and still is an amazing feat, especially considering that she had been pregnant while pursuing her dream of becoming a surgeon. Working long shifts and babies? Qian Meng''s mother had made a lot of sacrifices to get where she was today and she still wasn''t where she wanted to be.


    One of the many sacrifices Sun Li made was the amount of time she spent with Qian Meng. On the rare occasion that Qian Meng spoke to her mother, she avoided the topic. Only her mother would want to be perfect despite her follies.


    Qian Meng''s first word was ''Meow.'' That was the name of the cat that belonged to her nanny who lived in the rear wing of their mansion. Her mother would pawn her off to the nanny whenever she needed to work or study--which was all the time. Needless to say, Qian Meng and Meow were best friends and it took her five years of her life to find out that the cat wasn''t even hers.


    "Don''t talk back. I also want to know," Yun Sui Bo said in a disgruntled voice.


    "I knew. I know you can''t stand talking to her. Let''s be honest, neither do I." She snorted.


    When she was six years old, Sun Li got a job at a fancy hospital across the world. Her struggles began then. Her mother took Qian Meng with her to the States and enlisted her parents to live with them as she worked ungodly shifts at the hospital. Her grandparents were very old, considering that they were in the middle to late forties when they had her mother. So, she was pretty much learning to live on her own and taking care of herself.


    This was the part of the story where everyone started to wonder where her father Yun Sui Bo was. If you asked Qian Meng at the time, she would let you know that she was wondering the same. Truth be told, she still wondered the same damn thing. He had been putting all his time in Yun Corporation as well, leaving her a child with no support from elders, fending for herself, and growing up.


    "I haven''t gotten to know him yet. Allow me some more time to investigate his personality," she replied politely but firmly. The steak was too rare for her. She leaned back into her chair, feeling tired from the conversation already. Why were all their conversations like this? It didn''t even matter if it was her father or her mother. Neither of them cared unless he benefited them in some way.


    If she was crude, she would just say that her mother and father had donated an egg and sperm respectively to create her and that was that. Their duty was fulfilled and they washed their hands off her. During the short period of time she had lived in the States with her mother, she had found that her mother had a boyfriend. And yes, her father had a girlfriend as well. So when she was ferried back to Beijing, she wasn''t surprised. Her mother gave up custody of Qian Meng, her father waited for a couple of months post the divorce before he brought a new wife, Jiang Xin.


    Enter stepmother who pretended to be an angel. Qian Meng was small but knew her father had lived in sin. Her little stepbrother was born four months after the new wife entered.


    For the first time, Qian Meng realized why her father never really spoke to her. She had made a fatal mistake. She was born a female.


    "You can get to know him slowly after marriage. Fix a date," he said sternly. Qian Meng brushed it off, not even sparing her father a glance. "Qing Yuan, how was work?" Yun Sui Bo asked after a moment of silence.


    Yun Sui Bo treated her younger brother like he was the Messiah and she didn''t mind much. He was a cute baby. He smiled at Yun Qian Meng often.


    "I have been learning a lot from the seniors in the department," Yun Qing Yuan said in a low voice. Qian Meng looked up and glanced at him in the passing. "Older sister," the boy said suddenly, surprising her. "After I finish the one-month internship, will you allow me to shadow you at work?" There was innocence in his voice. Qian Meng sighed.


    "You''re eighteen now, shouldn''t you be thinking about college? Why are you interning like a headless chicken?" she commented. Her words were harsh, but she wanted the best for this little brat. He was the only good thing about visiting this house, anyways.


    "Meng''er, can''t you do a favor for him? He wants to see how you work," came the headache-inducing sugary voice. Ah, so this is where Qing Yuan had gotten the idea from. Jiang Xin, the evil step-mother had been feeding it to him. "He idolizes you. Give him a chance."


    Qian Meng sighed. No matter how hungry she was, when she dined with this family, she seemed to lose her appetite.

 Chapter 8: Infuriated by Her Refusal

    "Aunty, it takes years of training to learn anything from shadowing. If he doesn''t go to college or get some training, he will be a nuisance in the company." She didn''t want to argue, but she had to put a stop to the discussion before they thought she was committing to something.


    "Mind your tone," Yun Sui Bo warned. Qian Meng glanced between the older couple and rolled her eye. Jiang Xin had her hand hidden under the table, no doubt clenching her fist and cursing Qian Meng for denying her request outright.


    "Your brother is highly intelligent and can pick up the pace."


    "Yes, I know. A child of Yun Sui Bo can''t be dim-witted. I am living proof of that. I don''t doubt that he is intelligent. He''s just too young and inexperienced to contribute to my team. I will not be wasting my resources. When he is prepared, I will welcome him with open arms." That was that.


    "Thank you," Qing Yuan beamed at her. Qian Meng threw him a small smile, not saying further.


    "I hear your company doesn''t discriminate against people with less experience or degrees from bad colleges."


    ''Mrs. Jiang, wasn''t this a roundabout way of insinuating that I am purposely keeping your son away from the company?''


    "That is true. As long as the candidate has the aptitude, we employ them." But she was not going to let an eighteen-year-old boy who didn''t know what he wanted to pursue to sit in on board meetings and see the private papers Qian Meng was signing.


    "Employ Qing Yuan. He will take over Venus anyway." Her father''s words came as a command. Qian Meng froze instantly. What did that mean? Why would her younger brother inherit the company she had build with her blood, sweat, and tears? It was hers.


    "No."


    Yun Sui Bo snapped his head up, rage flashing in his eyes. "What did you say?" he seethed.


    "No."


    "Say that again," he dared her. Qian Meng raised her brow, wondering if he wanted to play that game with her. Yes, hers was a conservative family and she had done her best to be civil with them and go with all their decisions, but not this. Venus was hers. If anyone tried to touch it, she would ruin them. Even if it was her bastard father.


    "No," she said. The amusement was clear in her voice. The table grew silent until a sharp sound of glass shattering came into her ears.


    How typical, Qian Meng thought. Yun Sui Bo was throwing a tantrum because someone had challenged him.


    "I''ll get going. I don''t feel hungry anymore," Qian Meng said with confidence and stood up. She took her coat on her arm and was walking out when she heard the evil witch mumble under her breath.


    Yun Qian Meng doubted anyone else heard the words, but they were loud and clear for her.


    "That''s why no one wants her."


    Qian Meng stopped in her tracks and wondered what she should do next. The calculations flew in her mind, but the only one that ensured she left the house and slept in peace that night was if she ignored the comment.


    So, she did just that.


    As she drove back to the hotel she was living in, Qian Meng thought back to her childhood.


    Her mother settled down in the States, became famous in her field, and married the boyfriend. They have kids together and she seems to shower them with love. Couldn''t say the same about Yun Qian Meng.


    She spent a year trying to understand why she was unwanted. The nannies remained constant but Qian Meng knew none of them liked her. She was just a girl they needed to take care of to get their next paycheck. Meow had also passed away. She remained friendless until she found economics.


    The love of her life. She gobbled up books one after the other. She scored full marks in all her tests, she bought advanced level books to make sure she could shine. The school recognized it. Her father wasn''t bothered.


    She skipped two grades. They wouldn''t let her do more. She was sixteen when she started college. She double majored in fashion technology and economics. It wasn''t as hard as she had thought. Time breezed by. It took her three years to complete all courses. She graduated early and went into her MBA when she was nineteen-years-old. With internships, projects, and plans to start up her own business, she took two years to complete the course.


    Fresh out of grad school, she used all the money she had invested and got returns on (primarily from the meager amount of money her paternal grandmother had left her on her death) to start her luxury jewelry business, Venus. The business expanded rapidly, she acquired more companies, invested back, and expanded. The vicious cycle continued.


    All in an attempt to be acknowledged. Numbers spoke volumes and 12 billion dollars was just not enough. That stupid Mo Qingchen had 21 billion dollars in his personal coffers and she burned with jealousy. She would beat him someday. He had a six-year advantage on her, anyway.


    ''Forget about Mo Qingchen and those Yun leeches. You have to appear on live television tomorrow and face your arch-nemesis. You have to defend the housing bill and come back victorious and having tilted public opinion to your side. Mo Qingchen wouldn''t stand a chance.''


    She meticulously went about her skincare routine and put on a face mask before she went to sleep. She had to wake up in the morning looking like she normally does.


    Perfect.

 Chapter 9: A Benevolent Boss who Employees Cant Hate

    Yun Qian Meng woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. As she went about her morning routine, she looked at herself from all angles. No blemish in sight, her skin looked youthful and glowing as if exuding a light of its own. What could she say? Venus'' skincare products in association with her aura made for an irresistible face.


    The television appearance was in a couple of hours, but the participants had been asked to go early so that their makeup could be touched up and other formalities were maintained. Business Today was the number one television show for news related to business and policy news, which was why she had accepted her father''s proposal that she do the interview in his stead.


    It made sense. While she was the daughter of Yun Corporation''s Chairman, she had her own business portfolio to speak of. It didn''t hurt that she was taking the side of a bill that had been recently introduced. That was what the debate was about. If the bill passed, Yun Corporation would benefit greatly. The returns on her investment would skyrocket as well. As long as she could tip public opinion in their favor, it would be a cakewalk.


    But on the other side was Mo Qingchen. The man had led Mo Building Solutions for two years before assigning an acting CEO. On the other hand, he had created his own tech empire and invested in impressive technological research studies and products that had made him a bucketload of money. The man also had a keen eye for patented ideas.


    Anyway, he was a formidable opponent.


    Qian Meng put on minimal makeup, letting her natural beauty shine through, and donned on a white high neck shirt with a mustard yellow double-breasted blazer and matching pants. She had the hue down to a T. After checking herself out in the mirror and ensuring not a single strand of hair was out of place, she pulled out her designer bag. She filed through it to check if all the documents she needed were in there and set out.


    Her phone rang just as she pressed the button of the elevator. "Hello?" she answered, knowing what the other person was going to say.


    "The car is parked in front of the entrance, Miss Yun," Li Min said confidently. Qian Meng smiled.


    As usual, there was nothing out of the ordinary. She had gotten ready on time and her staff was also following the clock. They worked like a well-oiled machine. Just as the system should.


    As the elevator door slid open, she was bombarded with the faces of multiple people waiting to enter. She leveled them with a look, making them scurry away from her path. She walked out, placing one foot in front of the other.


    The guards at the entrance greeted her. She gave them a smile and went over to her car. Li Min awaited in front of it, holding the door open.


    "Good morning, Miss Yun," she said, bowing slightly. Qian Meng hummed in acknowledgment and slid in. As she made herself comfortable she saw a file with sticky notes of it kept on the seat beside her.


    "What is this?" Qian Meng asked casually after Li Min slid into the driver''s seat.


    "I''ve gone through the bill, and transcribed all the opposition''s opinions and messaging of those that are for the bill. We also have notes on Mo Building Solution''s activities and the points they can bring up during the live broadcast," Li Min said without looking away from the road.


    Li Min had been by her side since the very beginning, working beside her for four years. She was twenty-two years old and had a high school diploma but her work ethic was far better than anyone else who had applied.


    Qian Meng picked up the file without a reply. She read through all the details between the time they left the hotel and entered the news agency''s underground parking lot. They sat in silence as Qian Meng finished the file and set it aside.


    "Good work," she said, startling Li Min.


    "Thank you," Li Min replied in a low voice and said nothing further. Qian Meng didn''t compliment her employees all that often unless they did good work. Out of all her employees, Li Min seemed to be the one who worked best. This young girl had been by Qian Meng''s side and worked tirelessly through the time crunches, design failures, and holidays. The sixteen hours Qian Meng worked? Li Min accompanied her.


    Qian Meng made a note that Li Min hadn''t taken any comp offs in a while. She probably had a couple piled off. "Take a break from Wednesday through Sunday. I won''t call you. Choose a location you want to visit, the company will take care of it." There wasn''t any emotion in her voice, but Li Min, who sat there surprised looked at her boss in the rearview mirror and almost teared up.


    ''Boss, I want to be as hardworking as you. You make me work so long and at odd hours. How will I hate you if you treat me so well?'' Li Min wanted to sob. On her face, nothing showed.


    "Things are busy at work in the moment, I''ll ask for the comp offs later on," Li Min supplied in return.


    Qian Meng pretended not to see the look she had received and pulled out of the car.


    Soon, she was in front of the studio, pulling out her identification and walking towards the green room. They only had one green room for the guests, so she might just run into her arch-nemesis Mo Qingchen before they butt heads onscreen.


    How interesting.


    She waited for some time, but Mo Qingchen didn''t appear. When she was led to the studio, the crew was busy preparing and Mo Qingchen was lounging on one of the visitor chairs.

 Chapter 10: Appearing as Enemies on Live Television

    Qian Meng gave him a cool look as she passed him and took her seat. As the sound tech adjusted the tiny microphone pinned to her lapel, she gazed at the rear projection screen that showed the name of the show and the Shanghai skyline. The background was blue, making her clothes striking in contrast.


    Her nemesis, on the other hand, was wearing a burgundy suit with black lapels and a black tie. His white shirt was nothing to brag about. His suit might have looked flattering on him, but it didn''t stand out compared to her.


    Her trick had worked, apparently. She had made the right choice. When people watched one person more closely, they heard their words louder. Attention was the key, as she definitely demanded it.


    Yun Qian Meng pretended to listen to Su Jin, the host of the show as she gave out last-minute instructions. When Qian Meng looked back at the woman, she saw Su Jin pointing a manicured finger towards a camera that was positioned in front of them.


    "You can make eye contact with the camera but we want a more engaging feel." Qian Meng smirked. Ah, Su Jin wanted to show this like a round-table where both parties appealed to the other and not the audience.


    Qian Meng nodded and in her peripheral vision, she saw Mo Qingchen do the same.


    She took the opportunity to study him. The sound tech had moved to him and was now adjusting his mic.


    Qian Meng grudgingly admitted that the man looked way better than she remembered. His pitch-black eyes positively shined under the flash of the cameras and under the lights on well-illuminated parties. She had not spoken to him in years and had no inclination to be near him if she could help it, so she had watched him from a distance. His face was all sharp angles, the shadows cast by the studio light making him look better than he should have. If she wasn''t confident she looked just as beautiful if not more, she would have been jealous.


    If only that mouth of his didn''t spew nonsense whenever he opened it. She wanted to smack him whenever they had interacted. He was attractive, but a frigid asshole at that.


    The stark black eyes found hers and Qian Meng caught a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. He looked extremely pleased to have caught her looking.


    "The camera is over there, sweetheart," he said. Qian Meng gave him a soft smile, amusement flashing in her eyes.


    "I''ll have to learn from you," she started. "You are self-absorbed enough to know every camera lense in the building. Did your sister teach you that?" She had expected Mo Qingchen to scowl or glare at her for the comment.


    Instead, he grinned. She couldn''t say she had seen him grin at anyone, especially such a genuine and evil one. She suddenly realized what he had done. Mo Qingchen enjoyed a good fight and Qian Meng had just taken the bait.


    She rolled her eye and glanced back at the host, only to find the woman glancing between the speakers with barely-disguised intrigue. Su Jin was actually looking forward to Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng to tear at each other''s throats.


    Someone touched her hair and she almost swatted their hand away. Being on camera was bothersome but one had to do it if they wanted more money. She calmed herself and eased into the role she was going to play.


    "We''ll start by discussing the bill," Su Jin spoke slowly, looking disturbingly disappointed that the two guests hadn''t continued to banter. "Then we can take the questions and debate on points from each side. Is that okay?"


    Qian Meng snorted. Suck Jin (as she had come to call the host) wouldn''t try to stop them if they started hissing and biting each other. She might even have passed on the proverbial weapon. If Qian Meng had to bet, the looks Suck Jin was giving Mo Qingchen would indicate, she would be on the losing side of the argument.


    "Forty seconds," came a loud voice from the darkness beyond the blaring spotlights. Qian Meng saw Su Jin shuffle through the cards in her hand as the time ticked.


    "Your older brother applied for Mo Building Solution''s marketing department, I hear," he said quickly, leaning towards the host. Qian Meng looked up surprised, not knowing why the usual cool man was actually conversing with others. "Tell him that the written test doesn''t matter much, he will get in if he does the interview well." Su Jin beamed at him and Qian Meng clenched her jaw in irritation.


    Mo Qingchen threw Qian Meng a smirk, telling her that she was doing this to taunt him. With that, he moved his attention to the primary camera. She glared at his side profile.


    "Live in 3, 2, 1..."


    The studio darkened and the show''s signature theme music came on. The monitors at the side of the stage showed the title cards and Su Jin''s face before the voiceover spoke.


    "Business Today, with Su Jin," the voice said.


    "Welcome to this morning''s edition of Business Today where we tackle today''s hot political and business issues. We have our correspondent in front of the cabinet and Su Jin reporting from the studio." Su Jin paused.


    Qian Meng had to say, even though she didn''t like the woman because of her bias, she had to admit, Su Jin was good at her job.


    "Good morning," she greeted the camera, her pristine white teeth on show. "We are joined by the Miss Yun Qian Meng, CEO of Venus, and Mo Qingchen from Dynamic Tech. Welcome."


    "Thank you for having me," Qian Meng said sweetly, shifting in her seat so that she was slightly turned towards Su Jin. She was used to speaking behind the podium in front of her workers, but she rarely appeared on television. She would never get used to the elaborate setup and the melting heat in the room.

 Chapter 11: Going at Each Others Throat and Playing Dirty

    "Thank you," Mo Qingchen repeated, flashing a smile.


    Qian Meng wanted to scoff. This block of ice could really act. He was really sucking up to Su Jin like nobody''s business. She didn''t show any changes on her face lest the cameras pick it up.


    Come on, queen of marketing, don''t put a blemish on your name.


    "Before we jump into debating amongst ourselves, Miss Yun, I would like to briefly discuss the housing and job creation bill that is under scrutiny next week. Why do you think this bill is better than the similar bill that Yun Corporation pushed last year?"


    Qian Meng stiffened slightly. She noted with no surprise that Su Jin wasn''t going to be on her side. It remained to be seen how much she let go, though.


    "Well, Miss Su," she started with a voice dripping sugar. "I will first ask you to resist the temptation to imply that Yun Corporation has been ''pushing'' anything. The housing and jobs bill fall in line with the values of Yun Corporation and we believe that it will have a positive effect on the housing industry and in turn the economy." She paused for effect and threw a look at Mo Qingchen as she dragged out the next words. "The passing of this bill will generate employment, and the fact that the opposition disagrees with this is heartwrenching."


    ''The ball is in your court,'' she thought smugly.


    "Mr. Mo?" Su Jin turned to the other.


    "That bill has no potential to create jobs," he said with a shrug. He seemed so offhanded about it, too. "Some officials may think it will do good, but similar projects have never had a positive outcome. Unemployment is rampant in the industry and the wages are dirt poor. This bill adds no value to the industry without taking into consideration other moving factors that Miss Yun isn''t taking into consideration."


    Qian Meng does her best not to retort when Mo Qingchen implies that this was all her doing. Once, the bill passed, she would be the one laughing.


    "I also wanted to add that, creating jobs and better housing should be seen from a business point of view and not a governmental one." He looked down at the lapel of his coat and smooths it down, coming too close to the mic for Qian Meng''s comfort. "Ah, doesn''t the bill also have a postulate about mandatory employment schemes for women? Yun Corporation harps on that all the time, but recent reports have shown that the male to female ratio at the company is rather shameful."


    Qian Meng tried her hardest to hold back her eye-roll. "I''ll answer you in a two-pronged fashion. Gender inclusivity and employment is something Yun Corporation is indeed emphasizing on. It is still a work in progress. Secondly, Mo Building Solutions has one of the worst records of bias against women, especially mothers who are coming back from their maternity leaves."


    ''Ah, Mo Qingchen, you see? I did my research. I knew you would play dirty and veer the conversation off the main topic, so I came with ammunition,'' she thought. Outwardly, she appeared to be gently educating him on the reality of the world, as if she were a saint doing him a favor.


    Mo Qingchen''s eye flashed with a hidden emotion. "Ask your father about the pay difference in the executive staff," he spat. "I have the stats at hand, as well." Qian Meng wanted to laugh.


    "I am one of those women and the money I receive from the company is no less than my male peers." But she was a shareholder and she did know about the wage gap. She had been harping on it and trying to make things better for a while now, but the old men on the board rarely listened to a twenty-something year old.


    To them, she said, ''Okay, Boomer.''


    Mo Qingchen opened his mouth to say something but then stopped. Qian Meng could tell that he wanted to say something but that it wouldn''t be good for his image. She waited for him, leveling him with a piercing stare, taunting him to say what was on his mind.


    "Okay," Su Jin interjected, knowing that the conversation had veered off the topic. "Representatives from both sides were on multiple shows last night and policy analysts are calling it a draw. Miss Yun, what are your thoughts on what was said last night?"


    Qian Meng thought for a minute, going back to the notes Li Min had made for her. "We are very pleased with the outcome," she replied with a confident smile. Once attacked with this weapon, Su Jin would have to be nice to her or the viewers could cuss her out. "The representatives speaking for the bill laid out the plan clearly, showing us how it would be implemented over the next six years. It was a glimpse of how much potential it holds."


    Mo Qingchen folded his hand in front of him, waiting for the right moment to speak. "Well, I personally thought that our representatives wiped the floor with theirs last night." He threw a directive look towards Qian Meng, letting the audience know exactly what he meant.


    Su Jin''s jaw dropped and Qian Meng stared at Mo Qingchen like he was an alien creature. The bastard had the audacity to smirk at her! He had stepped out of the parameters of civility. Qian Meng wondered if his family and the politicians lobbying for them would be happy with him being rogue. Or was this the strategy? Did he want to want her out to play?


    "I''m sure you''ll know I am correct when the bill doesn''t pass," he said simply.

 Chapter 12: Defending Things he Considers Trash

    Qian Meng was calculating. She was supposed to be civil because that was why she was sent here. Kill them with kindness was her motto and she was eloquent enough to kick someone''s ass without having to be crass about it. She was expected to downplay her irritation and smile for the camera. She was supposed to hold back her wrath and pretend like those little quips Mo Qingchen was making were not directed at her.


    Whatever she said would reflect on her brand. It would reflect on her father''s company.


    But Mo Qingchen had lured her out. And she didn''t like being played.


    "I hope you''ll hold your breath until that happens," she said, tilting her head to the side. Mo Qingchen''s eyes widened with provocation. "Su Jin, I''ll take you back to the matter about inclusivity and women''s employment. Did you know Mo Building Solutions has been known to rally for invasive questioning for female employees when they first interview and told that their chances of getting a promotion or pay raise lower if they get married or pregnant. Think about that for a minute." The saccharine smile was back.


    Qian Meng wasn''t going to hold back the punches. If Mo Qingchen came for her intricately built brand, she was going to ruin everything he stood for. No one and she repeats, no one can touch her baby or her.


    "Our company-" Mo Qingchen stopped. He knew the consequence of what he was about to say. He would be slaughtered if he said committed women couldn''t make work their priority. "It is untrue that their choices have an adverse reaction in their work life. Instead, it helps the company gauge the kind of insurance and holidays they will have to prepare for." That was better.


    "Ah, even if it infringes on your employee''s personal freedom?"


    ''Answer that, Mr. Mo,'' Yun Qian Meng didn''t need to say this out loud. Mo Qingchen knew what her stare meant.


    "How does this infringe on their freedom?" He asked, looking like he knew which way she wanted to take it.


    Qian Meng kept the smile on her face. She knew what he was doing, going to use the law, were you? Yes, the government was lax in the rights of women in the workplace, but it was supposed to be the corporate responsibility of corporations to ensure there was no discrimination.


    "Might I remind you that if you blindly follow the laws, there would be no room for amendments and changes. Moreover, I don''t see the company extending the same questioning to their male employees. That is discrimination."


    Somehow the conversation about housing policy had become a battle about their companies and the values they stood for. The hilarious part? They were simply representatives. They didn''t have much connection to the companies in question apart from their families.


    "How would you know? We take care of our employees, I can guarantee you that our female employees are not treated poorly." Qian Meng wanted to cut him off but she didn''t want to be the bitch. She let him finish.


    "Unless you''re hiding a skeleton in your closet, I don''t think you have any idea what it feels like for women both cis and trans women to work in the corporate world. You''re a wealthy man working at the top of the ladder, I don''t expect you to understand, sadly." Qian Meng''s words must have hit home because Mo Qingchen''s eyes widened.


    Point for Yun Qian Meng. She''d had to remember that reaction when she was feeling down and she knew she would feel like a blessing to mankind.


    "I don''t have any skeletons in my closet," Mo Qingchen assured her. "What I do have is empathy as many others do and documentation of what our employees think."


    "Is the documentation you speak of referring to the employee engagement and satisfaction form that you make them fill up?" Yun Qian Meng pressed. "The form which is not anonymous and your managers can read it?" Yun Qian Meng knew that employees were treated like trash all over the world and it was mindboggling for her. She just happened to use it against this opponent of hers at that moment.


    "I don''t know where you got that information, but it is untrue," he said with a cunning look in his eyes. "And no, I am not referring to the form you speak of but the numerous external officials who have come to the company and inspected the policies."


    All bullshit, Mo Qingchen added in his head. His father had paid them off, of course. He knew that well enough. But he was representing his family''s company on-air and it was bad for his reputation if he was associated with people who were dirty.


    "Those external officials are not the point," Yun Qian Meng pointed out. She continued to speak despite Su Jin''s attempts to interject. "The point remains that this bill will ensure women in the industry, at least one industry, will be treated fairly and generate transparent employment for citizens. In my opinion, that should be the focus of any player in the industry. We shouldn''t be fighting over basic human rights, don''t you think?"


    "Fascinating," Su Jin commented finally. "Unfortunately, we will have to go on a small break for a commercial. Please stay tuned for more with Mr. Mo and Miss Yun." Su Jin stared directly at the camera as she spoke, a bewitching smile on her face.


    "And we''re out," came a voice from beyond the glaring lights. There was shuffling of feet and whispering as the technicians and employees prepared for the next segment. Three makeup artists came up to them. One was already resetting Su Jin''s hair and makeup. The makeup artist assigned to Mo Qingchen clearly felt that he was flawless so they remained on the side, asking him if he needed anything. He had shaken his head and the woman had moved on.

 Chapter 13: Nepotism Runs the World

    The girl assigned to her, though must have felt that her skin was oily. The woman dabbed at her forehead with powder. Yun Qian Meng gave the woman a small smile, trying to hide her irritation. The girl must have understood and moved away.


    "Thank you," she said, earning a curt nod from the girl.


    Yun Qian Meng was the owner of a luxury skincare company and she championed her products. If there was any sheen on her face, it was clearly healthy and pretty looking. And she really didn''t like putting on too much powder on her face. It made her look like a baked ghost, unfortunately.


    "Golden Gate Palace, right?" Mo Qingchen said suddenly. When she turned to look at him, she saw that he had a smirk on his face as he readjusted his tie. She tried not to cringe at the sight. He clearly wasn''t used to wearing suits. He was pulling it a little too tight, ruining the symmetry.


    Not that she was going to help him with that.


    "Sorry?"


    "You live in Golden Gate Palace, right? If I remember correctly, Politician Han lives in the same complex," Mo Qingchen said smugly.


    "Do you want an award for that?" Qian Meng muttered, shifting on the stool.


    His smirk widened. "It''s convenient. Neighbors helping each other out, helping put money in each others'' pockets. How fun are the meetings?" Qian Meng wanted to laugh.


    "Rich coming from Mo Building Solutions. Isn''t Politician Li your mother''s cousin?" She spat back. "Nepotism is living well in our society, especially on your side of the world." She would have glared at him.


    "Says the woman who used money from her family to start her own company," he replied.


    "Thirty seconds," someone called from the darkness, stopping Qian Meng''s reply short. She frowned with dissatisfaction. Su Jin tapped her index finger.


    Point for Mo Qingchen.


    Qian Meng glanced towards the wings to see her assistant, Li Min, giving her a thumbs up and showing her the illuminated cellphone.


    "I spoke too soon," he commented suddenly. She didn''t turn to him as she replied.


    "Or too much," she muttered, straightening her spine as the cameraman announced that only ten seconds were left. At that time, she tried to ascertain which camera would take the first shot.


    "It would have been great if you weren''t a Yun. I would have hired you," he continued, lowering his voice and ignoring the countdown.


    She barely noticed the red light on the camera blink as her head snapped towards him. Her eyes narrowed in a glare but she forced her mouth shut when she saw him smile angelically at the camera as Su Jin welcomed the viewers back.


    The anger in her blood seemed to raise her body temperature and she willed her skin not to flush and show her emotions. From the twitch of his lips, she surmised that Mo Qingchen was trying his best not to show his smug grin and let the world know that he had intentionally infuriated her.


    "Mr. Mo, there has been a lot of speculation about the bill, a lot of promises made to citizens and noise. Can you summarize what Politician Li wants to achieve?" Su Jin''s voice was so irritating that Qian Meng wanted to bite her head off. Seeing the host''s smile, she felt the irritation worsen. The odds seemed to be stacked against her.


    She pretended to look interested in his answer, but in reality, she was wondering how expensive Qingchen''s tie was and whether or not she could use it as a noose to hang him. When he started talking, she changed her thoughts. It would be better to gag him.


    He had a velvet-smooth voice that tickled her mind. The feeling it evoked? She didn''t understand. Neither did she want to.


    "Politician Li is committed to bringing glory to the country like it was in the past," Mo Qingchen finished. Qian Meng knew that Su Jin wouldn''t direct the next question to her so that she could refute the comment. As the conversation shifts to particular clauses in the bill, Mo Qingchen cuts off her sentence.


    Qian Meng shoots a pointed look at Su Jin, the moderator, asking her why she wasn''t stopping this from happening when it was her turn to speak. This blatant favoritism. Su Jin''s eyes, though, were trained on Mo Qingchen, and she looked like she wanted to mount him. Forget about silencing him and giving Qian Meng a chance.


    "I think you are getting this wrong," Qian Meng said to him, who was now leaning forward.


    "The promises made by your side have never been kept. Your candidate promised a lot of things. Did he forget them?" he said.


    "He didn''t forget," she snapped, then willed her impenetrable poker face to come back. She couldn''t allow this man to crack the facade of professionalism she had carefully built over the years. A snide comment never plays well on-air, so she kept her thoughts to herself.


    "Doesn''t seem like it." Mo Qingchen leaned back in the chair, once again shrugging casually.


    As the conversation moved on, the tone remained the same. They bit at each other, igniting the viewers.


    Despite having a sound argument and arguing coherently with him (earning loads of points for their side), Mo Qingchen''s smile didn''t slip even for a second. If Qian Meng thought she wanted to strangle the man before, it was nothing like the overwhelming desire she felt at that moment.

 Chapter 14: Barging Into the Dressing Room as She Changes

    Su Jin continued to hand out arguments in favor of Mo Qingchen, never giving Yun Qian Meng a fair chance. Despite this, she remained strong and navigated through dangerous waters. She could imagine her father and Politician Han pacing in their respective offices as they watched the live broadcast, wondering how they could help the situation.


    If Qian Meng had a say in the matter, no one from their side of the aisle would come on Su Jin''s show ever again.


    As the segment wound down, both Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen summarized their arguments, speaking about the cause and the timeline. The cameraman soon announced that the coast was clear, making Qian Meng rise from her seat immediately and depart from the stage without so much as a goodbye or glance backward.


    Li Min was already gone, presumably to bring the car. Qian Meng went to the changing room to wipe off the powder the crew had used on her and use the washroom.


    She barged into the guest''s dressing room, throwing the door behind her and immediately turned back when the door didn''t slam close. Mo Qingchen was standing in the doorway, his long fingers curled around the edge of the door.


    "Excuse me, I am using the changing room," she sneered, knowing that she didn''t need to pretend any longer.


    "This is a shared dressing room for the guests. Last time I checked, I was also allowed to be here." He smirked.


    "Fuck you," she spat and watched as his face stretched into a grin.


    "Be careful of what you wish for," he taunted. Was this really the cold Master Mo that everyone feared? He had the audacity to act like a pig in front of her.


    "So this is what lurks underneath of cold face you put on." Qian Meng crossed her arms over her chest. "What do you want?"


    "A handshake," he replied, stepping into the room, entirely unfazed by her insult. The confusion on her face prompted him to continue. "It''s a custom where opponents shake hands after a spar to show respect to one another."


    He took another step forward. Qian Meng fought the need to step back. She looked down at the hand held out in front of him.


    "I only shake hands with those I cooperate with and benefit from. You. You are not on that list," she said, eyeing the hand with what she hoped was a look of utter distaste. He remained unfazed, a sign that he was retreating into his usual shell.


    "A shame. I would have loved to cooperate with you." His eyes dropped to her stance and then he shook his head. She tilted her head to the side, wondering what he meant by that.


    "Get out. And about the respect clause... I don''t want to be deceptive."


    Mo Qingchen frowned momentarily as he deciphered the words. His eyebrows hitched up and amusement filled his eyes. "You don''t respect me?" Qian Meng wanted to scoff.


    The man was too entitled to act surprised by the revelation. Qian Meng rolled her eyes.


    "Hard to respect someone like you who is pretentious and condescending. Moreover, I disagree with everything you stand for," she replied.


    "For example?" he pressed, his hand now inside the pocket of his pant.


    "You lack empathy for employees and squeeze every ounce of benefit you can get from them without considering their wellbeing," she said. That was the first thing that came to her mind. Apart from that, she had a long list of things that she didn''t like about him.


    Mo Qingchen sighed and shook his head. "I don''t believe in that." She was just about to leave when he snagged her arm.


    She spun to face him and watched his eyes change. She felt as if everything she had known about him had reversed. If she had more sense, she would have remembered everything else she didn''t like about him. She tried to shrug him off.


    "What?" she hissed.


    "I actually neutral in this regard and lean to the left when it comes to employment laws and benefits."


    Qian Meng shakes her head. "Then why..." she trails off.


    "I was asked to help," he said. "My father asked me to help his cousin. I was a good candidate because I knew what you would bring to the table."


    "What does that mean? Are you saying I am predictable?" She sounded offended and Mo Qingchen was a little taken aback by the turn of events.


    "No," he firmly retorted. "We have similar views, I just did as I was asked. Come to think of it, if you had done your research, you would have known this about me." He threw her a calculative look.


    She feels her headache at the insinuation that her staff was less than competent, particularly considering that all the information she had was well put and meticulous. She went back and thought about what Li Jun had said about Mo Qingchen. It had been a while since she got his portfolio. Maybe she would ask him again.


    "So you are saying that you speak for things that you don''t believe in?" she asked, feeling disgruntled.


    He shrugged. "Not really. I am more inclined to the strand of thought you align with but there are points in them that I don''t stand by. I am helping my family and extended family because I care about them and it will bring us benefits in the future."


    "Ah, yes, Your family," she commented with a scalding smile.


    "I''d be happy to introduce you to them," he said good-naturedly.


    "Oh, I''ve met them. You seem to have forgotten that I went to university with your sister and frequented your house during our friendship." She was clinging to sarcasm. "The copious number of parties didn''t help either."

 Chapter 15: Everyone Talks About #MoYunCP

    His face suddenly turned unamused. He was mulling over her words in his head before his eyes narrowed. "Have dinner with me."


    Qian Meng stared at him blankly. They had just fought and called each other out. What was going through this man''s mind? "What?"


    "Have dinner with me," he repeated, his black eyes shockingly appealing.


    "Be serious." Qian Meng sighed.


    "I am serious," he insisted.


    "I can''t have dinner with you." She is almost offended when he looks surprised. He must think he is a boon to womankind. Or he has never been rejected before.


    "Why not?" he questioned. There is no way he was that stupid. "Despite our differences, we have similar paths to success. I don''t see why we can''t have dinner together."


    "A dinner implies that both of us should be single. It almost sounds like a date." He shrugged.


    "If this is about the fianc¨¦ of yours," he started. Her eyes widened because the news hadn''t been advertised as of yet. How did he know? "He is a joke. If you marry him, you''ll be no more than filth in my eyes." The implication was that he thought highly of her and she would waste potential if she married that man.


    "I don''t see why that is your business," Qian Meng retorted with the shake of her head. She didn''t have to be told about Bai Ye Qing being trash. Her gut told her the same. But that didn''t mean she would have dinner with the enemy.


    Mo Qingchen smiled, not like the smug one before. It looked sincere enough for her to reconsider his offer. "So, next week?" he asked.


    So stubborn. "Not in a million years," she replied, deciding that she would just have to remove herself from the room. She grabbed her bag from the table.


    Realizing her intentions, he blocked her path. His gaze was dark as he tried to figure out what she should say next. "Let''s talk. Reaching out to the enemy and understanding them is the most valuable information in business," he said, a conniving look in his eyes. He had almost enticed her but she remained undeterred.


    "That''s what opposition research is for," she said. She stared at him shrewdly, trying to figure out what he was doing, clutching her coat and bag at the sides and refusing to budge.


    "You''ll find out way more from my mouth than your investigator can tell you. It will cost less money, too." Qian Meng knew. Mo Qingchen had realized that she loved money the most in the world. "Have dinner with me," he said again, his voice earnest, cutting through her thoughts.


    She rolled her eyes and looped her bag over her shoulder. She side-stepped him with every intention of walking away. But just as she walked over the threshold, she turned around to give him the last taunt. "Call me on the day I earn more money than you," she told him. So far, it had not happened. And he would probably not be interested in talking to her when it did.


    Self-deprecating? A little.


    "Ah, so never?" he called from behind her.


    She shrugged. "It might happen sooner than you think." She stepped out and as she walked down the hallway, she heard the sound of his laugh follow her.


    As she entered the elevator, she pulled out her cellphone and called Li Min. "I''m coming down," she informed her gruffly. When she reached, her secretary was waiting patiently by the car. As per normal order, they entered the car.


    "Miss Yun, please check social media for further information," Li Min said, looking at her boss through the mirror. Qian Meng nodded and pulled her cellphone out. As she scrolled through her social media, she noticed that her name was trending. As was Mo Qingchen''s. She squinted as she read through the polarizing commentary.


    "Seems like there are a lot of posts for both sides of the argument," she said in a contemplative tone. Li Min shot her a bewildered look. Had the previous trending topic somehow disappeared?


    "Ma''am I was talking about the #MoYunCP." She waited in silence as her boss looked at her with confusion. Eventually, she looked down at the rank 1 trending topic and clicked on it.


    Post after post on Mo Qingchen and her butting heads. The usual audience that tuned in spoke about the political and financial commentary but some people had posted about... the sexual tension?


    User 1: Even though they are fighting, they look like they will jump each other any second. Is this the so-called chemistry between arch-nemesis? I want it, I want it.


    User 2: I think they are dating.


    User 3: Petition to see them fight again.


    User 4: See them fight? I want private videos!


    User 5: Perverts! Leave my Yun Goddess alone. Mr. Mo has to go a long way to be worth her.


    User 6: @previous comment, are you okay? How are these two comparable?


    User 7: If they get together, the world would come to an end. Or dominate the world. Me scared.


    The comments went on and on. There were memes and edits on their pictures.


    On the drive back to the office building, edited pictures of them in different situations came up, too. These people really had some imagination, thinking that she, Yun Qian Meng, would ever get together with the demon Mo Qingchen. Not in a million years. From what angle did they look like the perfect couple?

 Chapter 16: Practically Living With Mo Qingchen

    She wanted to strangle somebody, preferably Mo Qingchen. Part of her mind was inclined to call the site she was browsing on and ask them to remove her from the rankings. But as she thought closely, she abandoned the idea. The more she tried to suppress the voices, the louder they would become.


    God knows what theories they would come up with in the future. She was not ready to find out.


    A small smile played on her lips as she realized that Mo Qingchen would be equally frustrated when he sees the news. Wouldn''t he be fuming? She couldn''t help but let out an evil laugh.


    Li Min looked at her boss with a weird expression. With her quirky personality, it was impossible to figure out what she was thinking... as long as it didn''t affect her business. Otherwise, one thing was clear, she went for the kill and only thought about growing her company and making money. There was a traffic jam on the way back, so the process was slow. She received calls from her father and Politician Han as well.


    Knowing that the round table hadn''t gone too well, she didn''t want to pick up their calls and ruin her day. She could deal with them after the day was over.


    But as luck would have it, Li Min''s phone started to ring. On the screen was Yun Qian Meng''s father''s name. Sighing, Qian Meng asked her secretary to pick the call up.


    "Mr. President," she greeted.


    "Where is Qian Meng?" Her father''s voice boomed with fury. Qian Meng looked out of the window, feeling lethargic. She couldn''t be faulted for the way things turned out. With Su Jin and Mo QIngchen on one side, she had been fighting tooth and nail to put her point across. Moreover, she wasn''t given a lot of chances to retaliate.


    "Miss Yun is currently busy," Li Min informed politely. Qian Meng turned to look at her faithful secretary, feeling a smile ghost on her lips. Ah, this was why she loved her. Li Min just knew when she needed to cover for her boss.


    "I know she is listening to this call. Get her to talk," Yun Sui Bo seethed. There was silence on their end before Qian Meng spoke up.


    "What is it that you wish to speak about?" she asked in a bored manner. No point in letting her father have a higher power in the conversation.


    "Watch your tone! I sent you there to promote our propaganda and you..." he trailed off. He sucked in a deep breath to calm himself. Qian Meng rolled her eyes as she waited for the insults to follow. "You just went ahead and ruined it, talking about unrelated matters. You had one job!"


    She was done with the conversation. "Father, I defended your company and made sure all the messaging was passed on to the audience despite being forced to participate. If you think you could have done better, please do these interviews on your own from now on." Her tone was firm without any weakness.


    Qian Meng signaled Li Min to disconnect, which the other did without question. She knew that her phone would blow up with messages from her father soon. Qian Meng thought about how much time her father had.


    If he put more effort into his business and not pester her, he would strengthen his empire and build a better future for it. He wouldn''t have needed to sell off his daughter to do so.


    For the first time in her life, she looked at her father as an incompetent man. How could one man neglect his family to do everything and still be so bad at what he did? Sure, he had made a fortune, but nowhere near what he could have made. The distance between Yun Corporation and Mo Building Solutions was widening and it didn''t look good.


    Now that she thought about it, maybe her father had reached the age where he was going senile. That was a possibility.


    The car pulled up in front of their office building and Qian Meng slung her purse over her shoulder. As she slipped out, she saw a fancy looking car stop in front of the building on the opposite side. She had been gazing at it with indifference until the familiar burgundy suit emerged. Well, the man who wore it was obviously present as well. She squinted her eyes to make sure that she was seeing correctly.


    "You!" she hissed, obviously, her voice didn''t carry over. But the man on the other side of the wide road turned at that exact moment. He could barely see her expression but he knew she was furious.


    "She found out, finally," he said lightheartedly and walked into the building opposite to hers.


    She was fuming. "Why the fuck did he go inside that building? Wasn''t it a common office building for multiple companies?" She hoped that he was there to sign a contract. But he parked right in front like he owned the place. Usually, the parking space was meant for employees only.


    "The QC headquarters shifted to this location last month. We found out a couple of weeks ago," Li Min said apologetically. Usually, her boss avoided talking about Mo Qingchen because it ruined her day. Still, she made sure to look at how much he earned every day in comparison to her.


    "And you didn''t tell me?" she glared at her secretary.


    "I tried to tell you but you told me... and I quote, ''I don''t care if he goes to hell.'' And you seemed angry throughout the staff meeting after that." Therefore she hadn''t brought up the subject later.


    Qian Meng''s lips twitched. Well, it did sound like her. But this information. She was basically living with the enemy at this point. She didn''t know how to feel about this situation. All happiness from the thought that he would be upset that they were being shipped together flew out.

 Chapter 17: Buying Binoculars to Spy on Your Enemy

    His moving offices across from her meant one thing. She would have to see him often. She knew the layout of the building too because she had toured it when she was looking at real estate for her companies. The building on the other side of the road had also been an option.


    The best offices were facing the road. The same as hers. So, their offices would be overlooking each other. Now, which floor would he be on?


    "Order a pair of binoculars for me," she said out of the blue. Li Min startled in her spot and quickly nodded before scurrying away.


    ''What was the boss going to do?'' she wondered. Qian Meng wasn''t interested in hiking or watching birds, so it made no sense for her to buy one suddenly. But people who had too much money often used it for stupid reasons.


    Li Min looked at the listings on binoculars on a reputable website. She was unsure what the use would be, but she had to prepare for the best case. She ordered a sleek and powerful model and called the store.


    Li Min had heard the urgency in Qian Meng''s voice. The store offered to deliver it within a few hours and she graciously thanked them. She sighed as she started working on her documents. The day was filled with calls and employees coming up to talk to their boss. She turned them all away.


    Qian Meng was in a bad mood and even though she didn''t chew employees or executives out under any circumstances (apart from misdemeanor or incompetence), she wasn''t exactly pleasant to talk to at those moments.


    Qian Meng spent the rest of the day sporadically looking through social media, halfway angry and amused by the shipping frenzy on social media and going through papers and crunching numbers on them to make sure nothing was amiss.


    Never would she sign on something she hadn''t confirmed with her own eyes. Humans are prone to make mistakes, so it was only fair to put in levels of security so that the least number of mistakes can be made.


    Towards seven in the evening, the binoculars finally arrive and Li Min rushes. She knocked on Qian Meng''s door and heard her soft reply. She entered without hesitation, having done it for years and she found the boss engrossed in a stack of paperwork. Scattered on her desk were different sets of documents as she cross-checks them. The calculator was within arms reach and a notepad and pen were in front of her right hand. Li Min can see the scribbles on it and sighed.


    Her boss had terrible handwriting. The notes she took were legible to only her. Li Min had trouble understanding it at the very beginning, as well, but eventually, she got a hang of it. Now, she could read what doctors prescribe. She considered that a superpower she cultivated.


    "Miss Yun, the binoculars you ordered are here," she said, waiting for Qian Meng to reply. A soft hum was made but then there was silence. Qian Meng''s fingers froze on the pen and she looked up briefly.


    "Put it on the couch. I will check it later on," Qian Meng said in a casual voice. While she sounded composed, there was undeniable excitement brewing underneath the surface. Li Min looked at her boss curiously and thought over her words.


    ''Check it later?'' she thought. After a while, she shrugged and let it go. No sooner had she placed the box on the couch than she left the room. She had realized that the boss wanted her out, so she came out without an order.


    Miss Yun preferred complete silence when she worked, so Li Min usually didn''t hang around the office much. As an executive secretary, she handles Yun Qian Meng''s schedule, collaborating with all departments and being a middle man through whom people spoke to the boss. Further, she also ensured that the boss had all the information necessary for her tasks without having to wait for them.


    Li Min also drove her boss around during office hours and fixed appointments. But one thing she didn''t do was bring her boss food to the office. Yun Qian Meng hated that. She preferred to take a couple of breaks a day, going to the nearby coffee shop for a treat or a local restaurant for lunch. Li Min didn''t know the reason why, but if she had one less thing to do, she wasn''t going to complain.


    Inside the room, Qian Meng was racing against time. If she didn''t finish her work properly, she would lose money. But if she didn''t finish it fast, her mission would fail. As soon as she was done, she bolted to the couch and unboxed the package.


    Inside, was a perfectly packaged binocular. Not being a fan of civilly opening gifts, she tore at the bubble wrap and other protective parts and got to the main thing. She set it up and went to the wide glass wall facing the road.


    Putting the thing to her eyes, she searched. Window after window, she looked. Most of the lights were switched off. The lights that were on didn''t have the person she was looking for. After fifteen minutes of trying, she groaned and put the thing away.


    She rubbed her eyes in frustration and suppressed the need to stomp her foot.


    He left for home before her. She wanted to laugh. And he still earned more money than her today?


    That was simply unfair.


    As she pressed her palm against her neck, she rolled it tried to take out the knots that had formed from sitting at her desk for prolonged periods of time. She stifled a yawn as she wrapped up her work, filled in her timesheet, and then walked out of her room.


    Li Min was still sitting at her desk, albeit having no work to do. Efficient as she was, she finished her work within deadlines. This time, she was waiting for Yun Qian Meng to be done with her. Only then could she get off her ass and drive her boss to the hotel.

 Chapter 18: A Case of the Thief Feeling Guilty

    "It''s late," Qian Meng commented as she stood in front of her secretary''s desk. "From now on, you can go home when you are done with work. I''ll drive myself back," she said with a small smile. Li Min had been working hard for her for the past four years and the hours she had put in were comparable to Qian Meng. Even though her salary was high, Li Min needed time for herself.


    "I''ll drop you off today and transfer my duties to a new driver," Li Min said promptly. Qian Meng''s tired face had a small smile.


    "I can drive myself, you know?" she scoffed.


    "You reach the office at eight in the morning and return at nine in the evening on usual days. On top of that, you work when you are home as well. Your body needs enough rest to function properly." Li Min''s words sounded much like her primary doctor''s who said the same thing about her.


    "And you need to get a hobby," Qian Meng shot back. "It''s time you spend some time on yourself. Don''t dedicate your life for others," she saved softly. Li Min smiled professionally before packing her things and exiting the building with her boss. They went to the car and drove off.


    The ride was predominantly silent, with the ride being about an hour to the hotel. She would have to find a hotel that was closer to her company sooner or later. This long traveling time was unproductive.


    "Miss Yun," Li Min spoke up suddenly. Qian Meng looked up with a curious expression. "The President called the office and my cellphone throughout the day to catch you. As per your instructions, I kept them to myself."


    This practice worried Li Min. She knew that Miss Yun battled with her family on a regular basis, predominantly with her father who was a misogynist of another level. You would think seeing his daughter earn so much money at such a young age would change his mind, but the stubborn old mule was still thinking of marrying off his daughter for his own benefit.


    "Understood." Came the prompt reply. She checked her phone and surely, her father had called her multiple times throughout the day. She kept the phone aside and didn''t look at it until she was in her room and changing into her nightgown.


    She finally looked at her phone and dialed her father''s number.


    "Well, you made me wait long enough!" her father scolded immediately. Qian Meng remained silent for a second before replying.


    "I just came back from work," she explained, even though she didn''t want to. Some part of her was still conditioned to speak politely to her father despite his cold and unnatural attitude towards her.


    "That''s not an excuse," he seethed. "This is why women shouldn''t be let out to play." This time his voice was low, almost like he didn''t want to sound like an asshole. But it was evident that she was meant to ''overhear'' this. "I should have known when your mother worked and failed to take her duties to heart."


    Now this pissed Yun Qian Meng off.


    "Ah, is that why you hate me? Because I remind you of her?" she said this offhandedly, but it had struck a nerve. "She''s very good at her job. She might not be the best mother, but you can''t deny she does what she says." There was grumbling from the other side.


    "Are you saying I don''t?"


    Qian Meng wanted to scoff. He was assuming that the statement was about him, when did she ever say anything. Clearly, this was the case of a thief feeling guilty.


    "What did you call me about?" she asked. No more beating around the bush.


    "Ensure no one from the family contacts Su Jin or her team again. She should be on our blacklist," he said firmly. She sighed, thinking about how it would cost them to alienate a highly ranked show and channel. She didn''t voice her concerns. Instead, she went for another side.


    "I am not your media assistant. I don''t know how to do that for you. You have a department that handles this at your office. Use them." She was about to hang up when she heard yelling from the other side.


    It was like watching a trainwreck. She couldn''t take her eyes off.


    "I should have never let her give birth to you! If she hadn''t missed the signs, we could have aborted you." When you were in a high position in life and an eyesore for other people, you heard a lot of cruel things directed your way.


    She had heard her mother talking to others about how her birth had almost ruined her career. Her father was unhappy she was a girl, but never really said the words out loud. No matter how thick one''s skin was when their parents tell them that they wished she was never born... No matter how many blows they sent her way... it still hurt.


    She stared blankly at the wall in front of her.


    Call her a masochist, but she recorded all her calls. One never knows what might come in handy.


    She sometimes went back to those calls and listened to them over, deconstructing her words. Years ago, she would do it to be the best child and win his approval, later, when she realized that no matter how hard she tried, he could look at her as a burden, she decided to use them to fuel her anger. The angrier she got, the harder she fought. The harder she fought, the more money she made.


    Hatred drove her to success.


    "If you think that way about me, I wonder what you would do when you find out what I think about you, Father." She let the phone drop to the bed, letting her father scream his frustrations out from the other side.


    This was nothing new. He could scream all he wanted. She went to bed, the call still on. Fifteen minutes later, he realized that she was not listening. He hung up the call after cursing her.

 Chapter 19: What Use is a Pretty Face When Your Personality Sucks

    She had come to work at 8 AM sharp. As usual. After her first bout of meetings and updates, she dismissed her assistants and came down to the local barista to get her daily drink. She waited for a while in line, much like the others in the shop, and came across some of her employees. The courteous greetings were met with acknowledgment and nothing more.


    When she reached the counter for her cup, she was startled. A hand darted out and grabbed it before she could.


    "Excuse me, I think that is my latte!" Yun Qian Meng exclaimed as she turned to look at the guy. She was expecting him to realize his mistake by then and place her cup down on the counter.


    When she saw who it was, she raised her brow in disbelief. Mo Qingchen was absurdly rude.


    "Latte?" he said, sounding bored, but the expression of disgust on his face was evident. "I would never order such a thing," he scoffed.


    Qian Meng rolled her eye. "Of course,, you wouldn''t. So, give it back to me." She reached her hand out for him to hand it over.


    "I think you''re mistaken." He held the cup up and out of her reach. With his height, it was impossible for her to take it from Mo Qingchen. "This is my black coffee." Ah, the smugness. The utter cockiness of this man.


    Qian Meng was now wide-eyed, staring at the cup in the obnoxious man''s hand. "I am not mistaken," she said through gritted teeth.


    "You are." The smugness and tight grip on her cup had Qian Meng seeing red.


    "It says iced green tea latte with soy milk on the side." She pointed to the description on the cup scribbled by black marker. "Moreover, your black coffee should be hot and my drink should be cold. You shouldn''t be mistaken."


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes squint as he thought of a response. He slowly turned to look at the cup for a moment, pretending to read. "Green tea and soy milk? If you can''t handle caffeine or lactose, you should just order milk, or better, water."


    Qian Meng gave him a look of exasperation. Mo Qingchen obviously had a lot of time on his hands to be standing here and chatting with her. Unbelievable. "What I drink shouldn''t concern you."


    "It does. Some of us like unpretentious drinks, you know? And we get to wait in line while the barista makes this overcomplicated crap." He made a face. She felt personally insulted by this. Her choice of drink was without a doubt the best. For someone who had zero taste, he sure knew how to bark.


    At least, he handed her the cup. As she made her way towards the tables, she mumbled a quick "Asshole" under her breath.


    "I heard that," he called from behind her.


    "I meant for you to hear it!" Qian Meng barked, turning her head to the side to see him smirking. She sat on one of the high stools towards the end of the caf¨¦ which overlooked the busy seat.


    "Why do I bump into him everywhere," she huffed, throwing her purse on the table.


    "Who?" Qian Meng heard someone say from beside her. It was a friendly older lady who she saw often at the caf¨¦. They had briefly exchanged smiles but this was their first time interacting.


    "Over there. In line. The ass in the grey shirt and jeans." That made her stop. Why was he wearing that abomination to work? Was his head in the right place?


    The older woman craned her neck and searched the front of the shop. "The guy who looks like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed?" She turned to look at the man in question and confirmed, making the woman grin. "He''s good looking," she said offhandedly.


    Looking at him again, she contemplated the comment. In a suit, he did look attractive, but his current clothes really made him look... She didn''t even have the words for it. "He needs to dress better to qualify." She shrugged, not wanting to admit that he looked good nonetheless.


    "Maybe, he''s going for the I-don''t-have-time-to-think-about-my-clothes look?"


    "Probably that. But what good is a pretty face when your personality sucks?" She took a sip of her latte and sighed. If it hadn''t been for the asshole, her morning would have been perfect.


    When she finished her latte, she promptly got up and leaves. The rest of the day, she sporadically looked through the binoculars and tried to find Mo Qingchen in the opposite building. It took some time for her to locate him, but sure as hell, she did.


    Mo Qingchen''s office was on the 11th floor compared to her 12th floor. Funnily enough, they were right opposite to one another, him just being a floor up. She didn''t have a great view of the room, but she saw him standing in front of the floor to ceiling glass wall and staring off into space.


    He spent about fifteen minutes in this position, before slowly strolling away. out of her view. Soon after, her phone chimed with an incoming text. She huffed as she tossed the binocular towards the couch and went to her phone. She opened it to check if it was important.


    Her brows scrunched up in confusion as she saw that it was from an unknown number. She opened it promptly and found the following words:


    [If you want to keep looking at me, have dinner with me. You can stare at me unashamedly then.]


    She wanted to pull her hair out. Mo Qingchen. He had seen her. She huffed and wondered how she would retaliate. Quickly saving the number under ''Poison Mo,'' she pulled out her stationaries and started to formulate the reply.


    Mo Qingchen looked at his phone for the next two hours and received no reply from Yun Qian Meng. He had been busy with work and knew that it was the same for her, but the least she could do was retort.

 Chapter 20: Learn How the World Works

    When he got off his seat and went to the window to stretch, his eyes shot up to the opposite building; precisely towards Qian Meng''s office.


    He burst into laughter as he saw what she had done. God knows how long it had taken her to pull it through, but she had written ''No!'' on her window. Worse, she had ensured that it was big enough that every person who could see her window from far away would know what it said.


    He shook his head and went back to his phone.


    [Message received] He texted her.


    He smiled as he got back to work, shaking his head.


    On the other hand. every employee that entered Qian Meng''s office was confused. Li Min was the worst of them. First, the binoculars and now notes on the wall? Her boss really had some strange ideas.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng felt a rush of desolation evade her as she saw her childhood house grow bigger and bigger in front of her eyes. As she parked in front of the house, she took a moment to collect her thoughts. The days seemed to blur and she had to come over to this house more often than she liked.


    She handed the keys over to the butler and quickly went inside. The house was as cold as usual, filled with people who seemed foreign to her. As she made her way to the living room, a number of servants came up to her in greeting. She nodded in acknowledgement despite knowing that none of them liked her being there. In the end, they were on the side of the lady of the house and in corelation against her.


    Her father was planted at the head of the set of sofa''s in the room, reading the newspaper despite it being evening. He had no use for the news for that day, so she wondered who he was pretending for. Or was it that he hated to talk to his family, so he pretended to busy himself to dodge any interaction with them.


    For a man who obsessed over showing off his familial love and how perfect his family was, he sure was a hypocrite.


    "Good evening, father," she bowed as she stood in front of him. Her stepmother came out of the kitchen area, looking chirpy as usual.


    "Qian Meng, you''re finally here!" she exclaimed as she scurried forward and grasped her hand. Qian Meng tried her best not to recoil from the touch and gave a slow and indistinct nod. "Come, I''m personally cooking today. Help me in the kitchen," she said. The slow smile on her face reached her eyes for some reason.


    Qian Meng had a suspicion that something would go down that evening and decided to be on her guard.


    "I''ll have to excuse myself. I cannot cook." She would rather listen to her father''s beratings than to go into the kitchen and pretend to help her stepmother. It would only spell trouble. Who knew what this woman had in store for her. It could be anything from spilled hot soup on her hands to an accidental killing. Her constant pleading to help her in the kitchen didn''t bode well.


    "Well, you should learn now. Married women should know how to cook," Jian Xin said, patting the back of Qian Meng''s hand. She visibly frowned as Jiang Xin turned to Yun Sui Bo for support. "Honey," she called in a nasally voice.


    Qian Meng refrained from rolling her eyes as her father looked up from the newspaper. "Yes, don''t be a useless wife." The meaning was clear. The sentence would have been shortly followed by ''like your mother'' if his second wife wasn''t in the room.


    "We have servants for that. No need to cook," she gritted through her teeth as she stared at her father.


    Yun Sui Bo folded the newspaper to stare sternly at his daughter. "I''ve pampered you too much. You don''t know how to conduct yourself," he claimed as he put the newspaper down. "Servants will be around to do everything for you. Why don''t you make them help you out of bed and carry you around, as well?" The remark was meant to be biting but instead amused Qian Meng immensely.


    "Now that you''ve given me the idea, I''ll try to implement it. I''m thinking of getting one of those handmaidens from ancient palace dramas. Help me bathe and put on my clothes for me." She pretended to think for a moment before deciding that she would try to anger her father more. Little joys in life, she reminded herself. "Should I hire a man to do it? That would be more fun." She raised a brow, taunting her father.


    He fumed, slamming his hand into the table as he stood up.


    "You singlehandedly want me to die from anger, don''t you?" he accused. "What did I say wrong for you to treat me this way? To treat your family this way?"


    "You''d think from the way you were talking that you were a model father," Qian Meng retorted, feeling a bubble of anger in her heart.


    "I was the best father you could have gotten!" he shouted, throwing his hands up. "I took care of you when your mother abandoned you and married a woman who would love you like her own." From his side, his wife whined for him to stop. "No, don''t take her side. She needs to learn how the world works. Just because she is a little successful, she thinks she can get away with anything."


    Qian Meng gritted her teeth. Through her teeth, she felt the words escape. Words that she had never thought she would say. "Being negligent enough that your wife leaves you and not even fighting for your daughter is not the definition of a good father."

 Chapter 21: At Least She has a Sensible Brother

    "Cheating on your wife with another woman and pretending like the relationship didn''t exist until you have the perfect excuse to marry isn''t being a good father either. Don''t think for a second that you can tell me that you married Jiang Xin for my sake. You used me as an excuse to marry her. You got her pregnant. What good mother are you talking about? You didn''t even have the manners to tell your biological daughter that she would be living with a new family."


    From the look on her father''s face, she could see that he wanted to hit her. She would gladly take it if it meant that he thought her important enough.


    "You were a child. I didn''t need to take your opinion to decide what was best for you." Yun Sui Bo was appalled by the conversation. He had never thought that he would have to explain himself to the nuisance of a daughter.


    "I didn''t ask you to take my opinion. I asked you not to use me. I would have liked it better if I had some warning." She paused and looked at Jiang Xin, who was pretending to be pitiful. Her hands had left Qian Meng''s long ago, and she was grasping onto her husband, pulling him away from Qian Meng.


    "Honey, please. Don''t fight. I beg you," she said over and over again. Qian Meng scoffed. "Okay, I''ll give you the benefit of the doubt for when I was younger. What about now? Why do you disregard every choice I make?"


    "Because you don''t know what is good for you," he seethed. His voice had calmed down. Qian Meng knew what this meant. There wouldn''t be a conversation about this ever again.


    "Other parents will at least let their children learn from their mistakes, mine don''t even care what I think. They just want to leech off me and use me for their personal gain. What a wonderful like I have." Qian Meng smirked, not a hint of amusement on her lips. Her eyes filled with loathing as she looked at the man she called her father.


    "Qian Meng, don''t say that. Your father wants what is best for you!" Jiang Xing cooed from the side. Qian Meng didn''t spare the woman a glance as she headed towards the stairs. "Qian Meng!" she called from behind. As she trudged up the stairs, she heard her father grumbling.


    "She thinks she is more educated than us. She thinks she is above everything else because she has a little money."


    Qian Meng never understood why her father brought such things up. Sure, she had been above average in her education and finished school before everyone else. She didn''t look down on people because they did worse than her. She commended them for their efforts. It was simply the words of a man who felt defeated in front of his daughter because she had achieved a lot more than he had at his older age. Despite being young, Qian Meng had the world in the palm of her hands. Her prospects were brighter than each and every person in her family.


    Was it because she was a girl that he continued to belittle her? Or was it because she was not his wife''s daughter that he did so.


    As she entered her childhood room, she realized how little she had enjoyed living in this house. She felt unwanted. She realized that she had never arranged the room to her taste, simply letting the original setting be and sleeping in the bed despite it being uncomfortable for her. She sat on the bed, the pink sheets, walls, and furniture seeming pukeworthy to her. This was not her aesthetic. She heard music coming from the room beside her and perked up.


    She found herself walking out of the room and knocking on the door beside hers. The room opened after a few seconds, the teenager looking wide-eyed.


    "Sis," he whispered. He barrelled forward, circling his arms around her waist in a bear hug. Qian Meng chuckled softly as she patted his back.


    "How are you?" she said warmly. She peered into the room and was flummoxed. It looked like a tornado had passed over the room. Understanding what she was looking at, Yun Qing Yuan looked down at his feet guiltily and apologized.


    "I''m doing good. Come inside," he said. He looked around the room frantically kicking things away to make way for Qian Meng to stand.


    "You don''t let anyone clean for you?" she asked, looking mildly horrified. There was a clutter of wires on the floor and all the monitors were switched on. He had been playing videogames and chatting with friends when she had knocked. The room smelled a little funky, that was for sure.


    "I don''t like people cleaning up after me," he confessed.


    "That''s a good thing, but this doesn''t look liveable." She frowned in distaste as she bent down and picked up a shirt from the floor. It looked wrinkled beyond belief. "I''m assuming this isn''t washed," she deadpanned.


    "Nope. Sit sit," be beckoned, pushing a pile of things from his bed. It looked like he had a designated spot that he slept on, the other half of the bed remained cluttered with things. She sat down after a moment of hesitation. "You''re here a little earlier than usual," he noticed.


    Qian Meng was looking around. Her eyes fell on a pile of indistinct magazines below the computer desk. She looked away quickly, having a slight clue about what they were. It seemed that her step-brother was old fashioned when it came to sexual content.


    "I finished work and came over," she said lightly. She didn''t add the fact that the faster she came, the sooner she would be able to leave.


    "I know how much you dislike dinner." He looked at her for a contradiction. It didn''t come. "I also know you come for me," he said brightly.

 Chapter 22: Shopping for Men With Her Step-Brother

    "Don''t flatter yourself," she retorted lightly. "Have you thought about what you want to do?" she asked quizzically.


    Yun Qing Yuan looked worried. "I decided to attend college like you asked me to. I still want to work at your company but what you said was correct. I don''t know anything and won''t learn if I don''t go to school." He shrugged.


    "Have you decided what you want to major in?" she asked, crossing her hand over her chest.


    "I''m going to major in business application and follow dad around to get some know-how." Qian Meng nodded in understanding. "Dad expects me to take over the business when he retires so I need to learn early on."


    Qian Meng felt a pang of pity and jealousy. "You do know you can follow your own path, right?" she asked, her voice low. "You don''t need to follow everyone''s expectations and suppress your own."


    Qing Yuan sighed as he shook his head. "I really want to take over the business. I realize that part of it is because dad wanted me to do it¡­ told me so since I was small. But also, sis, I''m not as strong as you. I can''t stand fighting with mom and dad."


    Qian Meng winced. Strong. That was not a word she would use for herself.


    She sounded like a lost child most of the time she fought with her father. How was that strong?


    "Do as you please. Don''t make me an exemplary example of something that I am not." She couldn''t handle the pressure of one more thing to live up to.


    "I know you don''t like mom¡­ I understand¡­ but she just wants you to be happy. One of her friends'' daughter got married recently and she is a year younger than you. According to mom, the girl doesn''t look as good as you and isn''t smarter but she got a great husband. She keeps telling us how worried she is."


    Worried. Sure.


    Qian Meng didn''t want to expose Jiang Xin in front of her son. This boy was too na?ve for someone his age and stature. He''d have to learn the hard way someday.


    "I''m not interested in marrying," she boldly declared. Qing Yuan startled as he looked at her face.


    "I''ll support you no matter what you decide. But give them a fair chance. Apparently, Bai Ye Qing is a good fellow. His company will bring ours more profit, too." He looked happy with his words, Qian Meng thought very differently.


    "Qing Yuan, do you also think that I should sacrifice myself for everyone''s sake?" her voice was low.


    Qing Yuan hung his head in guilt. "No," he whispered. "If he is a good man and takes care of Sister, I wouldn''t mind. If you don''t want to be with him, I''ll fight with mom and dad. I''ll even let you elope." He took a seat beside Qian Meng.


    "Thank you," she replied, patting his back fondly. Despite growing up in a male chauvinistic household, this boy hadn''t turned out too bad. He hadn''t asked her to kill herself over the wants of others. He hadn''t asked her to hand over her company, he had simply wanted to learn from her.


    Indeed, it seemed, there was some good still left in the world.


    "Is getting married and giving birth the only thing women are good for?" she thought out loud. Qing Yuan looked up at her, horrified.


    "Don''t think like that, sis!" he howled. "You have me. You don''t have to resist in silence. You can act out if you want. I''ll back you up no matter what you decide." The firmness in his words and the resolution in his eyes warmed her heart.


    "Good. Because I don''t intend to marry Bai Ye Qing."


    Qing Yuan stared at her for a second before nodding. "I understand."


    Qian Meng sighed before standing up. "Let''s go downstairs," she told him. "And please, clean." She gave him a small smile before leaving the room and heading down. Her anger had slightly diminished and the confirmation from her step-brother made her feel better.


    Though he had no power, the thought that she wasn''t completely alone in this fight made her feel a lot stronger.


    Her father had calmed down by the time she reached the living room. Her step-mother was still busy in the kitchen, doing god knows what. Qian Meng silently sat until Qing Yuan hopped down the stairs and plopped down beside her on the couch.


    "Sis, I have to show you something," he said lightly. She looked at him curiously as he pulled out his cellphone and unlocked the screen. It was a picture of a man she had never seen before. Qian Meng looked up at him, confused. "What do you think of this?" he asked.


    The man in the picture was rather young, younger than her by a couple of years. "What do you want me to say?" she asked. It seemed that her step-brother wanted to set her up with someone. But his choice of people wasn''t that refined.


    "Product," he said slyly. "Tell me which one you want to use. I''ll make sure it reaches your doorstep." Qing Yuan surreptitiously looked at his father to make sure that he wasn''t looking their way. As usual, Sui Bo looked unbothered. He didn''t have an inkling of the plan his son had hatched.


    "I''m not interested in this genre of product," she remarked.


    "Take a closer look," Qing Yuan begged. Qian Meng sighed as she tapped on the screen. A caption flashed and she stared. The man was from a prominent family in the country and was still at university. She knew him despite never having seen him before. From how well his father''s company was doing and the lack of attraction she felt towards men in general, she shook her head.


    "Won''t look good on my hand," she claimed. She looked back at her phone and was about to reply to an email when Qing Yuan thrust the phone under her eyes. This time it was a slightly older gentleman.

 Chapter 23: Even Her Brother Is a CP Fan

    "Too short."


    "Looks ugly."


    "Cheap."


    She came up with all sorts of things to say about every person. Qing Yuan deflated. "No more," she protested when he tried to show him something else.


    "Last one!" he begged. He did so long enough to wear her out. Qian Meng looked down reluctantly and raised a brow. "What do you think of this one?" Qing Yuan asked when she didn''t reply.


    She remained silent. Why did it have to be Mo Qingchen, her mortal enemy?


    "Look, it will look good on your hand, isn''t short, has excellent pedigree, is expensive and there is nothing like this product on the planet." His eyes looked so hopeful that she hated to dash his dreams.


    "This product might be the only one in the world but I can sense its negativity from far away." She glared at the picture before looking away.


    "Everyone says it would look good on you," Qing Yuan insisted. He snuggled closer, leaning into her with expectant eyes.


    "Don''t believe what everyone says. Have your own opinion," she said calmly in reply.


    "It is my own opinion," Qing Yuan said lightly. "Should I get this for you?" he asked with a charming smile.


    "Can you afford it?" she asked curiously. Her brother seemed adamant on getting her together with someone.


    Qing Yuan shook his head. "I might not be able to, but you do." With that he sent something to her phone. "I compiled some things for you. Go over them in your free time." He smiled at her coyly.


    She opened his messages quickly and frowned. Was this what people called a CP fan? She looked through the contents and knew there were videos and such. "Are you trying to persuade me to get this?" she pointed at the picture of Mo Qingchen.


    "Is it working?" he asked hopefully. He blinked, acting innocent. Qian Meng burst into a chortle as she shook her head.


    "Have you considered that the person in charge won''t give it to me?" Not that she wanted it.


    "I highly doubt they would say no. Give it a go." He slid away with that, leaving Qian Meng short on words. She gulped as she locked her phone and turned the screen downwards. From her side, her father looked up at her. Finally, he said a few words.


    "The Bai family will be coming over shortly. Don''t make any excuses to leave," Yun Sui Bo said shortly. Qian Meng remained calm as she watched him.


    He had waited until the last minute to inform her that guests would join. Yun Sui Bo knew that no matter what, Qian Meng would remove herself from the scene. He was right.


    "I''ve made it clear that I have an appointment a little later. I came by because you asked me," she said firmly.


    "I don''t care about your appointment. They''re coming to meet you for the first time. You are not leaving."


    "You and your controlling tendencies. You''ve added deception to it, as well," she griped. She stood up immediately. "I''ll meet them on another day."


    Li Jun had informed her that the files on Bai Ye Qing would be sent over the next day, so she could talk her way out of the marriage then.


    "Do you think you are the president of the country to needs an appointment to meet? Sit down," Yun Sui Bo barked. Qian Meng scoffed.


    "I''m the founder and CEO of my company. People do need to make an appointment to meet me. I didn''t know your time was so easy to have, father," she retorted. "You''ve already decided on our marriage, why do I need to meet the family? Just tie me up and throw me into the water." She shrugged.


    "I still have a little respect for you left. If you keep disobeying me, I''ll really tie you up," he warned.


    "Don''t say that!" Jing Xin said from the far end of the room. "Qian Meng is just hesitant about marriage. She''ll come around soon enough. You know how kids are these days. They thing they can live alone. Once they grow older, they''ll understand how lonely the world is." She sighed, shaking her head as if she had felt such a thing every day.


    "I hear married people feel lonely all the time. Why do I need to toss my time away if I am going to feel like shit, anyways." She flipped her hair over her shoulder as she looked at Qing Yuan. He was looking anywhere but at the others, not wanting to take part in the conversation.


    It seemed that the little brother of hers really lacked courage. As expected.


    "Language," her father scolded coldly. "He graduated from Yale. He is good looking and highly educated. He is heading his own company and flourishing. Where did you study? I''m embarrassed to tell people." Yun Sui Bo turned away.


    "Let''s be honest, you''d be ashamed even if I was a scientist at NASA. I have my own company and make billions of dollars a year. He works in his father''s company as a manager. He will only take over when his father retires. I think he is the one who should be ashamed, father." She bit out the last word.


    "Am I your biological father?" he screamed. "You live to torment me."


    "I wonder the same, sometimes. I wish I could pledge to such a life goal. I have better things to do." She moved forward, shrugging away everyone''s calls and walked out of the house. She heaved a sigh of relief as she waited for the butler to return with her car. As she waited a shiny car parked in front of her. A lady in her late fifties got down from the car, accompanied by the driver.


    She looked at the custom-made car and felt a sarcastic smile come upon her lips. The car costed a lot, that was for sure, but from the looks of the owners, it was bought solely to show off their increased status in society. New money, it screamed.

 Chapter 24: Dragged Back Into a Horrifying Dinner

    Qian Meng was on the verge of going down to search for the car. As she turned around, she saw the butler standing at the door. She glared at the man, knowing that he had stalled her until the Bai family arrived.


    Well, if they wanted to play it that way¡­ Even the servants were getting more audacious as the days went by.


    A minute later, an older gentleman slid out of the car, himself. She found herself staring. She had never met these people before, but she had seen them vividly in the dream. She remembered their faces and their voices. She felt a cold shiver run up her arm as they came near. She slid to the side, starting to walk away and away from the three people who were close to her.


    She was almost scared to talk to them. As if, somehow, talking to them would solidify that her dream had been real. Which was not possible. She''d looked at all sorts of mentions of such things. Some called it a psychic dream, others called it reincarnation or transmigration. Then there were sceptics. She sided with them. Apparently, she had seen these people in the passing some time in her life. The human brain stored the faces of people they didn''t know and refined and reused them in dreams. In her case, it had been her gut putting faces to the people.


    She had not searched them up or spoken to them before, but her imagination had led her to this. With this in mind, she didn''t want anything to do with these people.


    "Yun Qian Meng?" a male voice called her. She froze in place for a fraction of a second before starting to walk away again. The man frowned lightly and shouted her name again.


    This time, Qian Meng couldn''t pretend that she hadn''t heard Bai Ye Qing. She turned around with a perturbed expression. "Are you calling me?" she asked haughtily.


    Maybe her behavior was as repulsive to these people as it was her ''family.'' But then again, these people wanted her for her money and not her behavior. They would grit their teeth and live with her as long as she benefited them.


    Bai Ye Qing raised his eyebrow and gave a sincere smile. "Yes," he confirmed slowly. "Where are you going?" he asked. His voice was conversational and familiar. He acted as if they had spoken several times before and were comfortable around one another.


    "Do I know you?" she retorted, her eyebrows scrunched together as she tried to shake the man away.


    "Bai Ye Qing," he announced, taking a couple of steps towards her so that he was standing right in front of her. He extended a hand, waiting for her to take it and shake it. Qian Meng looked at his hand in distaste and held her arms firmly at her side.


    "I still have no clue who you are," she said promptly. The cold air around her had everyone in their sight holding their breath. This young miss really knew how to make people''s blood boil. The butler, who was standing at the magnificent door, whispered something to a younger man.


    The boy scurried away, going inside immediately, presumably to inform Yun Sui Bo.


    "The man who is irrevocably in love with you," Bai Ye Qing sighed. He looked at her with those dreamy eyes girl speak about so frequently. They had no effect on Qian Meng. She forced herself not to roll her eyes (a habit she would have to break soon or her eyeballs would roll back into her skull).


    "There are a lot of those on the planet. I''d get tired if I had to keep track of each and every one of them." She gave him a fake smile and was about to walk away when another voice stopped her in her tracks.


    "Are you Meng Meng? You look so beautiful in reality. I almost couldn''t recognize you." The older woman sighed. Chen Yue, her name was¡­ all from the dream. Bai Ye Qing''s mother. Qian Meng turned to look at the moment, ill-concealed horror in her eyes reflecting what she felt at hearing her name butchered in such a fashion. "How come you are leaving? I am Chen Yue, Bai Ye Qing''s mother. I''ve wanted to meet you for a very long time. Come and bring me to your home."


    Like hell, she would. She was acting all sweet and considerate, but in reality, this woman was hellbent on forcing Qian Meng into a corner so that her son could scoop her out and keep her chained to his side. She wouldn''t let that happen.


    Bai Ye Qing gingerly grabbed her bicep and coaxed her towards the house. Despite her struggles, he kept pulling her in.


    "What do you think you are doing?" Qian Meng hissed. It was in these moments, she wondered why she hadn''t learned martial arts or worked out her body enough to have some strength and shake people off.


    "Taking you to dinner," he said coyly.


    Qian Meng let out a harassed sigh as she let him lead her into the house. The butler stood by, acting like he hadn''t seen anything as Chen Yue, too, grabbed onto Qian Meng''s arm and rushed her in.


    Qian Meng involuntarily looking at Bai Ye Qing''s father who looked just as helpless as her. He gave her an apologetic smile. She bowed her head in acknowledgment and turned back to the front.


    Jiang Xin was standing at the head of the living room, beaming from ear to ear when she looked at Chen Yue and Bai Ye Qing. Qian Meng could see the wheels in her mind turning as she schemed.


    Finally, the two strangers let her arm go and Qian Meng bounced away quickly, taking Qing Yuan''s side. Her brother stared at her in horror. "Why didn''t you leave?" he whispered, his head turned towards her and his looking away.

 Chapter 25: Making Tea for the Devil-In-Laws

    He was focused on the new people in the room but his voice was filled with worry.


    "It seems that the servants are getting balsy," she gritted out. Qing Yuan gasped at her use of expletives and let it go with a chuckle.


    "You know how to curse?" he asked, amused.


    "Of course, I do. I can swear like a sailor, I just pretend to be a good little girl so that my father doesn''t kill himself for raising such a disgrace." She shrugged for effect, making Qing Yuan snort.


    Qian Meng felt someone stare at her. When she looked up, the slimy man that was Bai Ye Qing was gaping at her.


    Jiang Xin was the first one to greet them with Yun Sui Bo close on her heel. "Welcome to our home. Are you tired from travelling?" she asked sweetly, inviting them in to sit on the couch. With so many people in the room at once, it was impossible for everyone to sit at the same time. "Meng Meng, quickly go and make some tea for Mrs. Bai and Mr. Bai. Ye Qing, what do you want to have?"


    Qian Meng pursed her lips, feeling a great sense of dissatisfaction at the situation. Asking her to make tea? If she were a spoiled princess like other rich heiresses, she would have made a fuss in front of the guests. She might have been rebellious, but she knew not to drag the family name in front of strangers. The same couldn''t be said about Jiang Xin.


    Qian Meng got up from her seat, looked at Qing Yuan firmly and sauntered towards the kitchen without a second glance.


    "Sis, I''ll help you!" Qing Yuan called from behind her. Qian Meng hid a smile when she heard him catch up. Thankfully, he had gotten up from the couch before Jiang Xin could reprimand him for butting in when the elders were talking.


    Upon entering the kitchen, they saw the servants grow silent. Qian Meng moved forward and asked one of the more familiar workers to show her were the ingredients were.


    "You know how to make tea?" Qing Yuan asked, awed.


    "I live alone. I may not be able to cook, but I can make tea and coffee," she said seriously. By the look of admiration, she knew that Qing Yuan knew nothing of household chores. Well, he could live a happy life for as long as he wanted, so he didn''t need to come near hot water or other things to begin with.


    "Sis, you''re really amazing." He raised his thumb in a show of support and planted his butt firmly on the kitchen slab. The servants stayed silent as Qian Meng gave him a disapproving look.


    This was the first time she was seeing the fancy porcelain tea set being used. It seemed that Jiang Xin really wanted to make a good impression. Qian Meng scoffed, wondering why they were so important in the grand scheme of things.


    A sliver of suspicion ran through her mind, but before she could grasp onto it, the thought disappeared.


    "Sis, I can see why you don''t want to marry that man," Qian Meng suddenly spoke up. There was pin drop silence in the kitchen. Apart from the single worker that had showed Qian Meng the location of the ingredients, no one remained.


    The worker too, remained mute throughout. "It''s good that you know. Someone in this family has good sense," she sighed.


    "I must have gotten my intelligence from you," Qing Yuan said with a sagely nod. Qian Meng threw him a warning look before going back to keeping watch over the tea. It wouldn''t take too long to prepare, but she decided to make something special for Mr. Bai. From what she remembered from her dream, he had been her greatest supporter. As if to thank him for some time of reprieve in her nightmare, she made him what she thought would suit his appetite the best.


    It was precisely at that moment that someone spoke up from behind her.


    "Qian Meng, I''ll have some coffee," Bai Ye Qian said in a sweet voice. He must have thought that it made him sound endearing but the siblings turned to him in a fright.


    "How long have you been standing there?" Qing Yuan asked, his jaw dropped at the audacity.


    "I just arrived. Auntie asked me to come see if everything was alright." Qian Meng didn''t turn around but she did hear the sound of his footsteps approaching. She could feel him peering over her shoulder and froze for a split second before finding her composure.


    "Move," she growled, stepping away.


    "Just looking," he replied placidly. "You must be really good at cooking."


    Sensing her unwillingness to speak, Qing Yuan too didn''t reply. He tried a couple more times to engage her in conversation, but Qian Meng had already gotten busy making the coffee Bai Ye Qing so desired.


    Bai Ye Qing looked mighty pleased by the fact that she was making coffee for him as well.


    "Bai Ye Qing," Qing Yuan started. "Sit in the living room. We''ll bring the refreshments out soon." With that the pest was shooed away.


    When he was out of reach, Qing Yuan turned to Qian Meng with a surprised expression. "Sis, you actually made him coffee!"


    Qian Meng was surprised herself that she did it. She smiled slyly as she poured all the drinks separately and handed the tray over to Qing Yuan. "Don''t just stay idle. Take this to the room." With an incredulous look, Yun Qing Yuan moved away.


    When she followed out, she could hear Chen Yue fawning over the tea set.


    "Why did you pour out two cups already?" Jiang Xin asked, faking concern.

 Chapter 26: A Cup of Cat Poop Coffee

    "Those are specifically made for the two male guests," Qian Meng informed. She moved closer to the table and picked up the teacup before presenting it to Mr. Bai. "I hope you''ll enjoy this," she said sincerely. Though she didn''t smile, Mr. Bai looked extremely delighted.


    "Thank you," he said silently before glancing at the others. Qian Meng proceeded onto pouring everyone their drinks, leaving Bai Ye Qing for last. She didn''t pick up his cup of coffee, neither did she ask him to take it himself, leaving it to him to do what he wished.


    She had shown her courtesy to the others, but to this scum, she didn''t owe anything.


    "When did you learn how to make tea?" Yun Sui Bo asked, looking surprised. Qian Meng had not taken a cup for herself, but she figured that her tea must have tasted good. She shrugged, not wanting to tell him that she usually did everything well. It was he who didn''t acknowledge her. No need to disrespect him in front of ''guests.''


    "Why didn''t you hand Ye Qing his drink?" Jiang Xin asked. There was irritation in her voice that she tried very hard to hide but didn''t.


    "He is a capable young man, he can use his own hands." For some reason, this comment seemed to make Chen Yue laugh.


    "Meng''er must be shy," she commented in a teasing manner. Qian Meng looked at the woman in surprise and didn''t know what to say. From which angle did she look shy. She wasn''t even sure that she was capable of such an expression.


    Bai Ye Qing joined in, leaning in and picking up the coffee cup before taking a small sip. His face twisted at the taste and he glanced at Qian Meng for a moment. Before he could get a word out, Mr. Bai spoke up.


    "Miss Yun, how did you know I enjoy this tea?" he asked. He had taken the first sip with his son, so he got a clear taste of what she had prepared. Qian Meng''s lips turned up into a hint of a smile but she didn''t say anything.


    "What did she make?" Chen Yue asked, looking shocked. She glanced at her husband''s cup with a peculiar look. "Lemon and spice tea?" she gawked.


    "I didn''t know that Mr. Bai enjoyed it. I find himself enjoying a cup of this after a long day of work. It''s refreshing and really helps you shed all your worries," she informed without hesitation. There was momentary silence in the room.


    Even Qing Yuan, who had been happily sipping at his share of the tea at her side quietened down. It took Qian Meng a moment to realize why that had happened.


    She had mentioned that this was something one would enjoy after a long day at work. Didn''t that imply that the others in the room were wasting their time away? Qian Meng felt a sense of admiration at her unintended jab. She even wanted to pat herself on the back.


    But to be safe, she had to amend her statement. "Mr. Bai looked tired, so I thought to make this." The others nodded, acting as if they hadn''t thought otherwise.


    "I thought you were playing favorites!" Chen Yue chimed in. Her attention turned towards her son, who had stopped taking sips from the cup. "Ye Qing, how is your coffee?"


    With a strained smile, Bai Ye Qing replied. "It tastes very refined. I''ve never had anything like this."


    Qian Meng let her smile loose and didn''t speak.


    "We store a lot of coffee in our house, you see," Jing Xin informed before turning to Qian Meng. "Meng Meng, which beans did you use?" she asked politely.


    "I used the Kopi Luwak beans I brought as a gift earlier this year," she informed them without a hint of guilt. Everyone seemed to praise the choice except for Qing Yuan who spluttered on his tea.


    He coughed away, to the point that Qian Meng had to slap his back to force him to breathe.


    "I just burned my tongue," he said apologetically. He shot his sister a look before a sly look crossed his eye. "If I''m not wrong Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world, right?" The others turned, looking even more interested.


    "Meng Meng, you never mentioned this!" Jing Xin voiced.


    ''You would have known if you had looked into it. You just kept it aside and never tried it,'' Qian Meng thought sourly. If only¡­


    "It costs about six hundred dollar a pack. But do you know why it is so expensive?" Qing Yuan leaned forward, grabbing the attention of the crowd. The ambiance reeked of a summer camp where the kids surrounded the fire to tell horror stories.


    Qian Meng was waiting for the screams to come.


    The others were rapt in attention as Qing Yuan proceeded. "The farmers feed Civet cats the flesh of the coffee cherries and not the bean. The natural enzymes in the civet''s stomach enhances the bean flavor. Apart from the natural production of the coffee through animal droppings and certification, the coffee''s unique taste and rarity also adds to the exclusivity of the product."


    It was in this moment, Qian Meng crossed her leg and leaned back into the couch. She took in the expression of every person in the room. Bai Ye Qing slowly dropped the coffee cup to the table and leaned as far away from it as possible. Yun Qing Yuan was a ball of energy as he discovered how good it felt to cause anarchy. Chen Yue and Jing Xin looked flabbergasted, whereas Mr. Bai looked somewhat amused.

 Chapter 27: Bring Great Luck to her Future Family

    Qian Meng took note of that fact with much delight. On the other hand, her father''s palms were balled up into fists as he glared at his daughter. Qian Meng had the confidence to hold his gaze as she relished in the implied message.


    Indeed, she had fed him the most expensive coffee of all, but in the end, all he deserved was refined animal poop.


    That was the exact reason Yun Qian Meng had given the coffee to Jiang Xin and that was exactly why she had chosen it for Bai Ye Qing. If they wanted to control her, she would find her way to rebel. And when they found out, it would hurt them worse than physical revenge. She knew how to strike at one''s dignity and make them lose sleep without sharp words.


    "It tasted amazing!" Bai Ye Qing uttered, trying to dissolve the air of awkwardness.


    "That''s right. Meng''er, make sure to make this for me later, too," Chen Yue said. Her face was partially twisted with disgust, but she had to say something to stop from thinking about the disgraceful thing that had just happened.


    "Sure!" Qian Meng chirped. Chen Yue fell into silence. She ground her teeth, knowing that Qian Meng had only said things to make them feel better, but this girls fangs were really venomous, with one strike, she had made sure whatever anyone else said was an insult to their family.


    Despite this, she veiled her rage well.


    The group was led to the dining table where Nanny Yang was waiting patiently. Leaving the head of the table for her father, Qian Meng took the seat beside her brother. Instead of the western courses that usually adorned their table, the servants brought out plates of Chinese dishes, all authentic.


    These were clearly not cooked by Jiang Xin, simply because they smelled good and would probably taste well. Instead of the usual bitterness that came with the taste of her food, Qian Meng found the dishes to be quite flavorful.


    She had to say, her distaste for the woman might have been the reason for her finding the food bad on a usual day.


    As it were to happen, Chen Yue was the first to speak as the soups were introduced.


    "Mrs Yun is proficient in cooking!" she exclaimed. Chen Yue was one to quickly disdain others and find fault but she was making it apparent that she wanted to get in the good books of the Yun family.


    "Yes, I cook for the family all the time. Considering that you will be part of the family soon, I couldn''t let the servants bring in food cooked by others. I didn''t cook too many things, just the usual... so please enjoy." Talk about being humble, Qian Meng scoffed internally.


    The menu consisted of these items: marinated appetizers, sauteed king prawn with crab meat, double boiled chicken soup with morel mushrooms, braised sea cucumber with chestnut, steamed cod fish with pumpkin, pan-fried beef with sweet potato and vegetables, fried rice with taro and preserved meat, sweetened red bean paste with glutinous rice ball, seasonal fruit plate.


    Qiang Meng looked over the menu card that Jiang Xin had printed out and knew that the only thing the woman had prepared herself was probably the fruit platter that would come out at the end.


    "Of course," Mr. Bai spoke up, breaking his silence once again. He gave Qian Meng and encouraging smile before his eyes lingered on the menu and something flashed in his eyes. Qian Meng pulled a tissue to her lips to hide her smile and went back to eating comfortably.


    No more than a minute had passed before Chen Yue started to speak again. "Meng''er, which of these did you cook?" she asked.


    Qian Meng looked up. "We''re financially able to hire cooks, so I don''t cook." And she didn''t intend to cook for the Bais.


    "I''m glad to hear that," Bai Ye Qing interjected before his mother could say anything. His words made everyone grow silent. Of course he knew. They were dining with a family of billionaires, who would think that they weren''t financially capable of hiring staff. Moreover, wasn''t the jab about hiring cooks meant to get at Jiang Xin who had cooked this extravagant meal?


    Only the fathers were able to discern the true meaning behind Qian Meng''s seemingly harmless words.


    "Still, your mother had to work so hard to cook all of this. You should have helped her. At least you could present us with the food like you did the tea," Chen Yue made a show of berating her.


    ''She is taking on the role of a doting mother-in-law a little too early,'' Qian Meng thought, irritated. She looked around the table, wondering if she should walk out but the expectant look on Chen Yue''s face gave her a little idea. She wanted to have some fun.


    Disappointing her father and making fun of these idiots would be the highlight of her day, so why should she be the one to leave early?


    She put down her napkin and looked straight into Chen Yue''s eyes.


    "I have heard how prospective in-laws like to look at the gait of the bride-to-be and the size of her feet before deciding on the marriage decades ago," she started thoughtfully. "I know yours is a very traditional family, so I forgot to mention this before." She bowed her head and apologized.


    Chen Yue spluttered and Mr Bai paused his spoon mid-air.


    Qian Meng stood up abruptly and did a twirl. "I should disclose everything in the beginning. My measurements are thirty six, twenty five, thirty seven. I know that it doesn''t meet the beauty standards of our times or the country. My height is one sixty centimeters and the size of my feet is small enough that the usual sizes don''t go on my feet."


    Jiang Xin was about to stop her but Qian Meng put her hand up. "I can confirm that with small feet like mine, I''ll bring great luck to your family." She gave a poignant look towards Bai Ye Qing. "Though my figure is not ideal, it suits the needs of being a mother in the future."

 Chapter 28: Lightning Strikes the Tallest Tree

    "You don''t need to tell us all of this!" Bai Ye Qing protested. "We have no dissatisfaction with you."


    "As you shouldn''t. I''m saying all this to assuage the fears you have with regards to me. Like a conventional daughter, I am going to let you look at me like a breeding cow that will help you solidify your foothold in your father''s company." There was no emotion in her voice.


    "Yun Qian Meng," Yun Sui Bo boomed. "Choose your words wisely."


    Qian Meng ignored him.


    "Mr. Bai, I have great respect for you. It would be my honor to have you as my father-in-law."


    Chen Yue grit her teeth. On one hand, this girl was saying she wanted to be associated with her husband, on the other she was disregarding her and her son. This wench.


    Just wait until she gets married into their family. This Yun Qian Meng will know what it means to enter hell.


    "But Mr. Bai, the company you have worked so hard to create... are you going to underestimate that hard work and bank on a marriage agreement to flourish?" Qian Meng asked softly. The man in question remained silent.


    Qian Meng felt her brother''s hand press on her thighs as he pleaded for her to stop. She didn''t shake it off but also didn''t pay him any attention.


    "It''s rare to see a girl so opinionated at such a young age," Chen Yue snapped, not letting her husband get the word in.


    In her dream, this man hadn''t been assertive when it came to his wife and son. Believing that they had lived an unhappy life while he was struggling to get his business afloat, this man had given them whatever their heart desired when he could afford it. Yun Qian Meng understood. He was a family man with principles, but did he have to stoop so low as to converse with her father and arrange a marriage that she clearly didn''t want?


    Yun Qian Meng suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion pass over her. She looked at Chen Yue with resolve and then placed her napkin beside her plate. With a last glance around the table, she got up and bowed.


    "My apologies for voicing out my opinions at such a meeting. I''ve not been able to imbibe the teachings of my parents well."


    Yun Qing Yuan''s hand fell to his side as he watched his sister ruin the situation further.


    ''Kid, this is called giving an inch and reaching for a mile. If I don''t cut them off right now, who knows how far they will take this conversation.'' She gave him a look of apology and slowly left the table.


    "Stop right there," Yun Sui Bo called from behind her. Even that evil stepmother of hers left her seat and ran towards her.


    "Qian Meng, your father only wants what is best for you. He has a lot of reasons in his mind for his choice. He knows that Bai Ye Qing and you will get along well. If you give it time, you''ll be able to see that the two of you are meant to be together."


    "Please don''t cater to the romantic ideologies you think I hope. I don''t care about destiny or eternal love. I only care that I am not being given the shorter end of the stick. And I want to be treated well. You might think I don''t know what any of those means, but being treated the way I have been all my life, I know what not to expect." Her monologue ended and she took another step away.


    "Qiang Meng... lightning strikes the tallest tree. That is why parents force their daughters to take a step back. The higher you go, the more pain you will be in. Let it go and lead the cushy life you deserve," the woman pleaded.


    "I am not scared of the lightning. If God has it in him, let him strike me as hard as he can. I''ll be waiting." Yun Qian Meng shook the feminine hand off her shoulder and walked out without a glance back.


    She didn''t ask the servants to bring her car. Instead, she strolled over to the garage and took matters into her own hands. She rolled out of the garage and through the front gate, the servants bowing their heads and saying nothing to stop her. In the distance, she saw Nanny Yang watching her.


    From so far, Qian Meng couldn''t discern her expression but she seemed to feel that the woman was looking at her with pride.


    - - - - -


    Yun Qian Meng slept very well the night before. When she woke up early the next morning, she felt refreshed and ready to take on the world. Everything was fine until she entered her office and saw a file residing on her desk. She sauntered forward and flipped the cover open.


    The corner of her lips turned up and she began reading.


    The information was solid. It spoke about the achievements of Mr. Bai and how it had taken him thirty years to build a company like his. As expected, he had worked hard throughout his life, paid bribes to officials and officers only when they demanded, but there was no forging of financials or shady business. Just the usual practices in the building business.


    The woman was the same. She didn''t have money to her own name but spent her husband''s money freely. She was known for her uncouth mouth and flashy clothing in higher social circles. Nothing to talk home about.


    What surprised her was the name Bai Wenxi. An older son whom she had never heard about. He had passed away suddenly five months ago and the doctors chalked it up to an unexpected heart attack. A shot of suspicion crawled up Yun Qian Meng''s spine.


    She kept referring back to that bizarre dream of hers but something just added up when she looked at that. Didn''t Mr Bai pass away from a similar situation in her dream? And why had she never heard of this elder brother? Not even loud-mouthed Chen Yue spoke about this man who was on the brink of taking over from his father. A promising youth who had no vices.


    Suspicious. Very suspicious.

 Chapter 29: Forgive Me Father For I Have Sinned

    Their son wasn''t even cold in his grave and the family was already looking to rush a wedding. The cause became clear when she flipped over to Bai Ye Qing''s page.


    He''d bought an expensive car recently. One that cost 4 million dollars. It was a month old and the source of the money was unknown. His financial transactions showed that it was one-way, often at bars, clubs, and restaurants. There were possible signs of gambling.


    And he was playing with a lot of women. Two names popped up with prominence.


    The first was Jia Ai. The girl was twenty-three and a nurse at a local hospital. They had met a year ago and met very often. While the other girls had days of the week allotted to them, Jia Ai came and went as she pleased. She was a girl of humble origin but lived a pretty luxurious life under the watch of Bai Ye Qing. Her picture brought on a wave of nausea. A very familiar face. She even remembered how this woman''s naked body looked. The memories were hazy, but they were still embedded in her mind.


    The second person was the most frightening one of all... Mo Yize.


    Who was Mo Yize? The youngest daughter of the influential Mo family. Mo Qinchen''s baby sister. Yun Qian Meng''s only friend from her university days. Though their friendship didn''t last past that, Yun Qian Meng was flabbergasted that Yize would choose to associate with such a useless man. The frequency of their meetings showed that she was exclusively seeing him.


    It was odd for her to do so, in the first place. But exclusive? Yun Qian Meng couldn''t imagine.


    Frustrated beyond belief, she left the office without another word and found herself at the cafe she frequented. Her phone was pressed to her ear as she spoke to Li Jun in a hushed voice.


    "Are you sure about the information? Did you look up the call records and movements of Jiang Xin?" she asked, feeling sour.


    "I am working on it. I need some permits and persuasion to get the whole list, so it will take me a couple more days. Just hang on and don''t burn bridges," Li Jun pleaded.


    "I burned all my bridges long ago. I won''t do anything rash, don''t worry." She huffed and hung up the phone. "And what do you think you are doing?" she asked, watching Mo Qingchen casually sip from his cup. His hand was extended towards her, the perspiration on the side showing that it was her drink.


    "I didn''t order," she told him. She was about to bypass him when he blocked her way.


    "I''ve already bought your fancy drink. Have some decency and take it," he huffed. He pushed the cup towards her, leaving her with no option but to take it. Yun Qian Meng took the cup off him and strolled to her usual spot. She sat down and took a cursory sip from the cup when she saw him sit down beside her from the corner of her eye.


    "What is this supposed to mean?" Yun Qian Meng groaned.


    "I''m sitting. What does it look like?" He slid down the seat a fraction to get comfortable.


    "Do you ever ask for permission?"


    "You would think that some gratitude was necessary after I bought you that expensive customized drink," Mo Qingchen snorted. He nodded towards the drink sitting in front of her. "An act of kindness should be followed by a thank you."


    The last thing she wanted to do was thank him, so she picked up her cup hoping that he had gotten the order wrong. That way, she could pick at his faults.


    Of course, it was not wrong.


    "Thank you," she retorted blandly, taking another sip of her drink. "How did you know I hadn''t finished mine?"


    "I saw you duck out of the line to answer the phone. And you didn''t bring your wallet."


    Indeed, she had not. But she had a tab here. "I''ll pay you back," she grumbled. She started to rise. She could enjoy her drink in the comfort of her office.


    Before she could get up, his hands shot out and placed themself on her arm, the heat of his touch burning through the silk and extending through the rest of her body.


    "I guess dressing like a nun is good for your image." His hand lingered on the fabric of her shirt and he rubbed the smooth material between his fingers. She did dress conservatively at the office, barely showing any skin, leaving everything to the imagination. "Wouldn''t want those middle-aged men lusting after your body."


    She slumped back into the chair, his words flowing over her, making her immobile. "First, you''ve never seen my body to comment on it. Second, you would know all about middle-aged men lusting... you''ve joined their team." She turned to glare at him.


    She pretended not to hear her. She watched as his hand slowly moved down her arm, caressing and scorching until he reached the cufflink and expertly flicked it open. His finger slid under the fabric at her wrist, slowly moving the material up to expose her skin.


    As quickly as he had touched her skin, he started to fold the sleeve up. His hands were deft and Yun Qian Meng had to say that the folds didn''t look too bad. "This right here does so much better. You''d have everyone eating out of the palm of your hands."


    "Coming from someone who exclusively wears grey t-shirts to office, I''ll have to pass on your judgment on my clothes."


    The crowd around them disappeared, lost in a blur of muffled conversations and shadows that passed by without their notice. Tunnel vision was a cruel thing.


    "Moreover, I am not someone you can talk about so easily." She rose up from her seat, finally snapping out of it. "A nun, you say?" she smirked. At full height, he had to look up at her. He waited steadily for her last blow.


    The arm he had so tantalizingly touched darted forward and grabbed his t-shirt. She twisted it in her fist and pulled him forward. Leaning her face in as close as possible, their lips inches apart, she muttered her final words with a smirk.


    "Forgive me father for I have sinned."

 Chapter 30: The Fire in Their Pants

    Mo Qingchen felt her mouth cover his hungrily before he''d even seen the move coming. His body betrayed him and he reached up to grasp her waist, pulling her to him and kissing her ferociously. They devoured one another, the animosity and attraction evident in the force of their kiss.


    She towered over him, the closeness of her body forcing him to lean back. Their mouths never separated and he felt her nudging him to turn ever so slightly. He spun his upper body, letting her have her way. Her other hand came up to grab his shirt. She pressed into him, her mouth, lips, and teeth consuming his. He felt her hot breath fan over his cheeks. No sooner had he reached the brink of his control than she pulled her mouth away from his.


    "I hope I don''t see you again, but I guess it''s inevitable. Have a great day." Her eyes pierced his. Mo Qingchen had stopped breathing altogether, his mind turning into mush. Stuck in his own mind, he watched as Yun Qian Meng straightened up and left him sitting there.


    She was gone before he could get back his wits.


    He sat dumbfounded for a moment and looked around him, noticing a few other patrons staring his way. He turned to the older woman seated next to him and asked, "Did that just happen?"


    "For your sake, I sure as hope it did." The woman smirked and turned away.


    "This girl. Who taught her this!" He ran his hand through his hair, took in a cleansing breath, and then downed his cup of coffee without considering how hot or bitter it was.


    - - - - -


    Yun Qian Meng had walked out of the coffee shop and back into her office looking like nothing was wrong. When the door closed behind her, the image changed drastically. She ran to her bag and pulled her mirror out.


    Her lipstick was transfer-proof, so not much had smudged onto her face but the slight trace of color on Mo Qingchen''s lips flashed in her mind and she groaned.


    What possessed her to kiss him like a savage? She just wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine and shut that pretty mouth up. How dare he comment about her clothes when he looked like a hobo? How dare he touch her inappropriately?


    Furthermore, she hadn''t refused his touch. She hadn''t disliked it. The wretched man had played with her like an instrument and she had let him. She had been right to toy with him, she told herself.


    Despite her conviction, she found herself pulling at her hair without a word. When she went into the team meeting with the executives, she buckled up and presented a calm facade. The room was crowded and people whispered despite her presence in the room. One could call it rowdy.


    Contrary to what Mo Qingchen believed, her executives were of the younger generation. Having joined early in the game, they had climbed the ladder with their sheer work ethic and excellence. So, they were meant to be a rowdy bunch, still not being exposed to the harsh environment of the corporate culture in other companies.


    Yun Qian Meng was in a foul mood. She told herself that it had nothing to do with the bastard Mo Qingchen and his constant appearance in front of her in the recent past. She told herself she was not angry at her impulsive reactions.


    The result? She was harder on the executives and team leaders than they had expected her to be. She tore apart the recent designs that had been submitted, pointing out their flaws without holding back and berating the marketing and sales team for the slump in sales in the last quarter.


    The employees knew by that point that the boss bitch was fuming. They steered clear off her path and glanced pleadingly at Li Min to help them get out of the conference room alive. Li Min ignored their pleas and kept to herself, pretending to be deaf and blind.


    As long as she was not at the receiving end of Yun Qian Meng''s wrath, she would be fine.


    It was around midnight when Qian Meng finally finished her work. She had an investment conference coming up in a couple of days and her schedule would be packed for the week. Li Min entered wordlessly and placed a file on her desk.


    Perks of being an entrepreneur. Work can come at any time and you need to finish it. Forget going home or getting sleep. That was a thing of myths. She looked at Li Min calmly, tired out of her mind.


    "Why are you still here? Get going. I''ll just wrap up these papers and head home." She scrubbed her face with her hands, widening her eyes to get the sting out of them before waving her off.


    "I was just about to leave. I have put together your itinerary for your trip. Please go over it." Li Min left and silence engulfed the room again.


    Qian Meng signed the marketing report and the plans before closing the file and placing it on the side. Then she leaned over and reached for the slim file that Li Min had brought over.


    The file flopped open and the contents became clear. The name of speakers, companies participating, and the schedule was written down in detail.


    The flight was in two days. She would have to take the red-eye flight to Paris and reach in the early hours. Post that, she would have breakfast with the other investors, go to the investment conference, and listen to companies present their case for the next ten hours. Once that finished, there would be an after-party where all the stakeholders would participate.


    This meant she needed to pack at least one fancy ensemble to wear at the party. Which was good, she was itching to break in the new dress she had received from her personal designer.


    She continued reading.

 Chapter 31: Familiar Enough to Exchange Bodily Fluids

    The itinerary also included time slots for fashion week that would be taking place in Paris that week and slots for meetings with fashion designers for possible collaborations with the brand. So, more fancy clothes. Looking over the whole thing, Qian Meng knew that she would get less than five hours of sleep every day.


    At the end of the papers were two passes to fashion week, clipped onto the file.


    Qian Meng smiled, feeling comfortable that most of her schedule was sorted out and she wouldn''t need to think too much about what she was going to do or going to wear. With a relieved sigh, she took the file and slid it into her bag.


    Finally, she was done for the day. The clock read seventeen minutes past midnight.


    She was walking towards the entrance of the building when she saw a familiar car waiting outside. She stopped in her step, waiting for a little too long as she felt her gut twist. With a huff, she walked toward the exit with purpose.


    Mo Qingchen was leaning against the car, seemingly waiting for her. She was about to make a beeline for the bus stand in the distance but his voice stopped her short.


    "Ignoring me?" he asked, mirth filling his voice. She swiveled towards him, giving him a blank stare.


    "Oops. Sorry. I didn''t see you there." She gave him a saccharine smile before turning to go her way.


    "Qian Meng, are you coming or not?" She looked back, awed to see him smiling at her. He seemed to understand why she was avoiding him. "Regretting your decision today?" he scoffed.


    "Never," she hissed. She approached him without a word and pushed him aside. "Don''t pretend to be a gentleman," she warned, opening the door herself and sliding in without his instruction.


    He stood for a moment, staring at her, impressed. He shoved his hand into his pocket and approached the other side. He slid into the driver''s side smoothly.


    "Buckle up," he instructed, twisting his body slightly to get the seatbelt on.


    "Am I being kidnapped?" she asked blandly as she did the same.


    "No, just taking you out for a drink. You look like you need it." He glanced at her from the corner of her eye and saw her purse her lips in dissatisfaction.


    "I don''t remember earning more money than you today," she grumbled.


    "Well, that was for having food together. I''m taking you out for a drink. It''s not the same thing." He was confident in his words. After the day she had, she was also craving a drink. It might not be a good idea, but she needed something in her. It had been too long since she loosened up.


    Recently, it had been one hard week after another. She just couldn''t catch a break.


    She persisted in her protest, though. She could grab a drink on her own. Why did he have to tag along? "Drinks are personal. I don''t think we know each other well enough to drink together."


    Mo Qingchen chuckled. "We''ve already exchanged bodily fluids. What is a drink or two compared to that," he said flatly. Yun Qian Meng gaped at him, feeling hate fill her body.


    This man...


    She huffed as she pushed him aside. He smirked, seeing her opening the passenger''s side door and sliding in. Within moments, he was hopping into the car.


    "Buckle up," he urged, his voice light. She did that without a fuss but kept looking outside the window. They pulled up a couple of blocks later. The bright signs in front of the building showed that it was an exclusive bar called ''Peach Blossoms.''


    Yun Qian Meng hadn''t come here before but had heard comments about the exciting new drinks menu and creative tastes they had to offer.


    ''Good choice,'' she thought to herself, peering at Mo Qingchen without any expression of joy. Seeing her peering at him, he chuckled and shook his head. He strode over to the pavement and waited for her with his hand shoved in his jeans pocket.


    Yun Qian Meng cringed yet again, remembering that the man had a blasphemous sense of fashion. How had she agreed to accompany him when he looked like that... She fought back a groan that was about to spill.


    "Do you need me to open the door for you?" Mo Qingchen suggested, cutting her thoughts off.


    "I would rather drown in a glass of water," she huffed. She undid her seatbelt and quickly slid out of the car. Her eyes roamed over his body once before she marched towards the entrance. When she reached the front gate, she almost wanted to apologize to the employee who looked at Mo Qingchen with a critical look.


    When he saw what she was wearing and the impressive car parked ostentatiously, he let them in without a hitch. The thing about these places is that they aren''t too picky about the customers they let in, especially because the price of the items on the menu was slightly above average. If one could pay for it, the employees would not turn them out.


    It was only bad press if word got out that they discriminated against customers.


    They were led to a table of two without much prompting and Yun Qian Meng had to marvel at how beautiful the interior decoration of this place was. She rarely visited fancy bars or clubs. She rather preferred the dowdy ones where people were many and alcohol ran like water.


    You could freely mix in with the crowd and surround yourself with people without needing to think about who you really were. She liked those kinds of places where she was not Yun Qian Meng, but someone approachable and easy to talk to.


    The stools were higher than anticipated and Yun Qian Meng struggled with her short height to get on. With her five-foot-three inches in height, she couldn''t stabilize her body to hop onto the abnormally high stool.

 Chapter 32: Secure in His Masculinity

    Mo Qingchen swooped in, his palm sliding into hers as she tried to get up. With another, he grabbed her waist and propped her up on the chair without a hitch.


    Qian Meng stared, baffled at what had just transpired.


    "Just being a gentleman," he defended quickly, shrugging off the matter. She put it to rest herself and watched as he expertly got on the stool without a problem. The thing was, his legs reached the floor while hers dangled mid-air.


    "How tall are you?" she asked, squinting.


    "Six foot three inches, why?" He gave her a curious look. "Are you trying to measure me? I think the size of my shoe would come in handy instead," he suggested.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "You need new clothes. I was thinking of sending you some. You look practically homeless."


    He looked down at his shirt. "What''s wrong with what I am wearing? I enjoy not having to think about what I will wear that day and focusing my energy on my work and other aspects of my life." He shrugged.


    "As the boss, you have hundreds of employees looking up to you. If you can''t appear presentable and in control of your life, how are they supposed to remain confident in your future prospects?" she challenged. She placed her elbows on the table and propped her chin in her palms as she scrutinized his expression.


    He looked calm as he replied. "My revenues speak for themself. I don''t need to prance around like a peacock to prove that I am worth something." His words were biting and somewhat intended towards her."


    "Ah, if you''re such a genius, why are you still stuck where you are? Mark is a few years older than you and he is the fourth richest man on the planet. You''re greatly lacking in the department. I would even wonder if you were copying him with that grey shirt and jeans routine," Qian Meng taunted. That seemed to pull a reaction out of him.


    "The amount of money I have garnered already is massive. Can''t say the same about you." He glared at her fiercely.


    "You work in technology and development. Your scope is unlimited. Yet here you are, still unable to make a clear cut impact in the industry. You are a genius, a nerd in your own right who creates groundbreaking technology, but it is your lack of experience in selling yourself and your products that keep you from achieving great heights." She presented her case very formally. She wondered if she should ask him for consultation fees. "You may think that putting your ideas and products out in the world is enough but remember, you just created something faster than the others. If they see your idea, they can use it and create something to the same effect. Only, they have better exposure and marketing. In the end, you''ll be the one losing out." Her argument was sane.


    "You''re talking about things you know nothing about." Mo Qingchen looked around to find someone to take their order. His eyes met a server''s and he beckoned them over.


    "I don''t know the landscape of technology, that is for sure. But I do know how the world goes around. It has immense potential and your brain can squeeze out ideas that no other person can fathom." The compliment from her left him stunned. She saw the expression and smirked. "I know brilliance when I see it. And I don''t lie."


    "If you are so in tune with what the customer wants, why are you still stuck at your current net worth?" Mo Qingchen had the audacity to look smug. Qian Meng glared at him before turning away.


    "I work in the fashion industry for the most part. While my money is spread across different sectors, they don''t fetch crazy amounts of returns at the moment. And it is difficult to get that much money from fashion, especially from a brand that is no more than four years old."


    She had to shrug. She wasn''t satisfied with the trajectory of her wealth, either.


    The server had finally come over. The two finally looked over the menu that was handed to them.


    "I''ll start with the ''Red String of Fate'' and ''Ten Thousand Miles''." Yun Qian Meng closed the menu. She gestured towards Mo Qingchen to go ahead.


    "I''ll have the ''Ignorance is Bliss'' for now. Do you offer anything with beer?" He was too lazy to go through the whole menu.


    "You can get the ''Done at Dawn.'' It tastes amazing."


    "I''ll take that. Add in the tasting menu for one and that will be all for now." Mo Qingchen handed the menu over to the server and looked back at Qian Meng.


    "You''re hungry?" she asked curiously.


    "Not really. I don''t think you had anything to eat so I ordered in place of you. You shouldn''t drink on an empty stomach," he said matter-of-factly.


    "I thought we were not dining with one another," Qian Meng challenged. She raised an eyebrow and waited for him.


    "The reason for asking you to dinner will not be brought up today, so turn a blind eye to this."


    Qian Meng felt a smile tug at her lips. The drinks arrived soon and they could leisurely take a sip of their own drinks. While hers looked vivid and tasted good, she was curious as to what his tasted like. Both looked like ''girly drinks'' and Mo Qingchen didn''t seem to mind.


    "My masculinity is not fragile enough to think about frou-frou drinks. They taste amazing and anyone who says differently should stay away from alcohol permanently." He sounded bored for some reason.


    "Glad to know you are secure in your masculinity, Mr. Mo." She scoffed. There was a short silence.


    It was Mo Qingchen who broke it with a sigh. "I should have asked you out for a drink before. I apologize." He looked away from her, his eyes roaming around the room before it stopped on something. She followed his gaze and saw their server making their way towards them.

 Chapter 33: Not Worthy of Being His Enemy

    Qian Meng''s stomach clenched and she realized that she was famished. She hadn''t had a morsel to eat since the morning and forgotten all about sustenance until he brought it up.


    The food was placed in front of her. "Why would you want to ask me out for drinks?"


    "We''re mortal enemies. In modern times, if you don''t drink with your enemy, it''s not considered polite. Moreover, it''s better to keep me close than to isolate yourself."


    "Yes, I remember the story. Isolation causes great tragedy. The king built a palace and never lived in one place, executing those who knew of his whereabouts. In the end, he was out on an expedition and passed away. His subordinates had to bring his body back to the capital and surround him with fish so that the smell of the rotting corpse didn''t indicate to people that the ruler was dead." She huffed. "Do you think I isolate myself?" she asked, baffled. He knew absolutely nothing about her.


    "Apart from that secretary of yours, do you have any friends?" Mo Qingchen revealed without a shred of decency. Qian Meng broke out into laughter.


    Shock. She was shocked.


    "Neither do you!" she debated. She took a sip of her drink to calm herself down.


    "I know my priorities. I have a family that I can go back to. And they happen to like me. You, on the other hand, got stuck engaged to a man because your father wants to sell you off for his own gains." He was not one to mince words.


    "How do you know?" She was baffled. He did his frown behind the glass.


    "Researching the opposition, of course." He sounded angry. What for, Qian Meng couldn''t figure out. "And you are stupid enough to marry that man and hand over your property. Blind in love," he mumbled the last part under his breath.


    Qian Meng froze. Her eyes watered for the fraction of a second before she questioned him. "That''s an oddly specific thing to say. What are you talking about?" she gritted out.


    Mo Qingchen looked at her with barely veiled anger in his eyes. The dark pools of ink seemed to swirl with a storm that she couldn''t fathom.


    "Your sharp words are only meant for others. When it comes to that toxic family of yours or the fiance, you let them walk all over you." He scoffed. Qian Meng inspected him for a second before finding herself compelled to report to him.


    "I am in the process of breaking the engagement. I just need to find the perfect excuse." She looked away, unable to meet the intensity of his eyes.


    "Is it so difficult to break an engagement?" he asked. When she looked back at him, he was much calmer.


    "Yes. Incredibly. My father considers me a thorn at his side. He wants to get rid of me at any cost. Despite my protests and blatant act of humiliating Bai Ye Qing and his family, Father is adamant about marrying me off."


    The casually placed hands on the table balled up into fists and he closed his eye.


    "Distasteful." He paused and looked at her curiously. "And when have you let a small roadblock destroy your plans?"


    "Never," she professed. "Don''t intend on starting now." She chuckled as she saw him visibly relax. "Are you worried about me?" she asked, teasing.


    His breathing paused and he thought about his answer. "No. I don''t want to lose my competitor to something so trivial. Not that I would consider you my competitor if you fell for those petty tricks."


    But Yun Qian Meng couldn''t keep her eyes off his drink. She nibbled at the food placed on the table and lusted after the liquid in Mo Qingchen''s glasses.


    "Do you want a taste?" he asked slyly. Her head jerked up. For a brief second, she wondered if he was talking about himself. It was highly likely. But then he pointedly glanced at the glasses and smirked. He knew exactly what she was thinking.


    "I could order some if I wanted," she replied haughtily. She leaned over and took one glass from him. She swirled the glass around and took a tentative sip without warning him. He didn''t mind. Instead, he watched with rapt attention at the slightest shift in her expression.


    She let out a small moan and then nodded, placing the drink in front of her. In exchange, she placed the drink she had liked the least of the three she had tasted in front of Mo Qingchen. He took the glass from where she had abandoned it and took a sip without a word.


    "This tastes better," he commented. He looked at the drink without expression.


    Qian Meng was hovering between tipsy and drunk when she decided to retire from drinking. She had quite a few drinks and felt the weight lift off her shoulders. Mo Qingchen and her had a pleasant conversation about investment and promising companies each was looking at. Nothing too soul-stirring... nothing too bland. The harmony continued and the two kept their snarky remarks to themselves.


    When the time came to leave, Yun Qian Meng struggled to get off the stool.


    "Stupid high stool. They are unbearable for short people like me," she whined. Mo Qingchen sniggered watching her struggle but finally came to her rescue. He stood in front of her and was about to ask her when she placed her palms on his shoulder and used his body to balance hers. She hopped off without warning, almost falling when she touched the ground.


    His hands clutched at her waist as he steadied her and he clucked his tongue.


    He felt so guilty for touching her when he was mildly inebriated, but it was better than handing her to unknown people. God knows humans never have good intentions. He guided her to the car and placed her in the back seat before calling for a designated driver.


    Said designated driver was close to their location, making way to the car within ten minutes of the call. Mo Qingchen thanked the man profusely and slid into the back seat to accompany Qian Meng.

 Chapter 34: Ungrateful Brat Who Never Keeps Her Promises

    She sat still with a pout on her lips and turned to him. Her eyes were slightly glazed over as her eyes roamed over his features. She even protested when he asked her to scoot over and make space for him.


    "Get out," she demanded.


    "This is my car," he informed her before pushing her away and sliding in. The designated driver watched in amusement as Mo Qingchen leaned over her body and strapped her into place. He even rolled down the windows so that she could get some fresh air.


    "If I weren''t feeling merciful, I would chuck you out of my car," he warned. She snorted in response.


    "Pretending to be a good man, are you?" she slurred.


    "Yes. But why are you pretending to be a duck?" he asked and flicked her pouty lips. Her eyes widened comically, stunned by the action. The humiliation she would feel when she woke up the next morning was yet to set in.


    "A duck?" she whisper-yelled. "I am a swan. Do you dare compare me to a duck? I don''t even like to eat duck meat!" She sounded more offended than she ought to be.


    "What does the taste of duck have to do with you? Did I say I was eating you for dinner?" He countered.


    "After playing with my buttons this morning and trying to seduce me, you''re acting saintly!" she accused. "I can see it in your eyes that you want to eat me and ensure that even the bones are not left." She huffed as she turned away from him.


    Mo Qiangchen was at a loss for words. He looked at the designated driver to find the man watching their interaction, thoroughly entertained. He wanted to remain silent but Qian Meng wouldn''t stop talking.


    "I bet you like duck meat. That''s why you made the reference," she grumbled.


    Mo Qingchen took in a cleansing breath. He wasn''t going to meet this man ever again, so he might as well speak his heart out.


    "I do enjoy eating duck. But if you insist that you are a swan, I have nothing to say. Maybe, just like in the story of the ugly duckling."


    Qian Meng squinted. "I am not ugly. I might be treated poorly by my family and other people... even my marriage is not in a good place, but don''t compare me..."


    "You used to be ugly," he claimed loudly. The man driving choked.


    ''Sir, are you really out of your mind?''


    "But now I can''t say the same. You might have been born to a family of ducks and considered yourself insufficient. You might have tried to compensate for what you thought was your wrong and gave everything to them, but in the end, you are not a duck. You are a swan. You will be happy when you go back where you belong and see yourself in the right light." He''d spoken a long and philosophical sentence that made her ponder.


    "Finding where I belong. Seeing myself in the right light..." she mulled over it for a while before she came to the conclusion. "At least, the ugly duckling had a mother who loved him. And he was ungrateful."


    She slowly drifted off to sleep.


    "Well, you are a little ungrateful brat too. You never keep your promises." She thought she heard him say. In her state of muddle-headedness, she didn''t ponder on it for too long.


    - - - - -


    "Sir, we''ve arrived," said the driver. Mo Qingchen looked up and nodded. He hummed as he watched Yun Qian Meng turn her face to the side and scratch her nose. She frowned, probably hurting herself with her own nail and he had to chuckle.


    He was quite a bit buzzed himself, but talking to her had taken off the edge. Watching her sleep so peacefully, he didn''t have the heart to wake her up. He opened his side of the door and walked over to the other side.


    Before he could open the door, the driver spoke up. "Sir, I can''t wait for long. Can you make it fast?" Mo Qingchen grimaced in response. He fished out his wallet from his pocket and picked out the money to give the driver.


    "Here. I''ll book another driver," he said calmly. The man looked at Mo Qingchen with slight confusion before nodding in understanding.


    ''This man plans on staying for a long time. I''d protest but he did tip well.'' The driver could only shrug and get out of the car. He turned back as he was walking away, watching as Mo Qingchen opened the door and leaned in.


    He grabbed her hands, latching them around his neck before sliding his hand under her leg and pulling her out. Holding her bridal style, he pulled her out and turned away. He extended his foot out, reaching for the door, and then kicked it closed.


    He winced slightly but instinctively looked down towards Yun Qian Meng''s face to ensure that she was not startled awake.


    The woman in question simply grunted and buried her head into his chest.


    Mo Qingchen could feel a smile play at the corner of his lips as he wiped her face audaciously into his t-shirt. This woman really knew how to rile people up. Furthermore, she was adept at it even when inebriated.


    He walked into the lobby confidently. He didn''t pay attention to the people who turned to stare. Some members of the staff barrelled forward to greet him.


    "Mr Mo," they greeted. Their eyes wandered to the woman in his arms and the speculations began to form without further prompting. Mo Qingchen glared at them,


    "I want Miss Yun''s room number, please. And a keycard, if you will." He could extend his hand as he was holding onto her, but the staff would know well enough to accompany him to her room.

 Chapter 35: Sighing Over a Romantic Scene

    "Sir, Miss Yun has prohibited us from using the key unless we are given explicit permission to do so." The female employee bowed.


    Mo Qingchen huffed. "Do you think she can give you permission in this state?" he barked. His voice was low enough not to wake her, but the menace was real.


    ''That''s what we are scared of,'' the female employee thought. This was the hotel owner''s son, so she couldn''t deny him outright. She started to think of ways to overcome this obstacle. It was indeed in her rights to protect this unsuspecting drunk woman, as powerful as she might be in reality.


    "Why don''t I accompany Miss Yun?" she said somberly, hoping the offer was taken. Mo Qingchen looked at the employee, taking note of the name, and nodded.


    "Please accompany me. I don''t want to bother too many people." He gave her a look, demanding her compliance, and then moved towards the elevator. The female employee pressed the button to her floor and sneaked glances towards Mo Qingchen.


    He had been holding her up for quite a while but there seemed to be no signs of strain in his body language.


    The door dinged open, and Mo Qingchen walked forward with ease. The employee was about to put in her universal keycard when Mo Qingchen stopped her.


    "Yun Qian Meng," he called softly. She hummed softly, still sleeping but aware of the voices around her. "Can I open your front door?" he asked.


    The female employee stared in surprise.


    The man she had thought to be rogue turned out to be a gentleman. Though an inebriated woman wasn''t the ideal person to give her permission, the effort made was enough to soothe the woman''s heart.


    She''d met far too many lecherous men in her time working in the industry.


    But Yun Qian Meng didn''t really respond. She let out a soft moan but didn''t say anything else.


    "I''ll buy all your shares if you don''t answer," he threatened. Even unconscious, Qian Meng sensed the threat.


    She mumbled a series of numbers and then dozed off again. He motioned for the employee to punch the numbers in.


    Lo and behold, indeed, Qian Meng had given the password to her penthouse very easily.


    He walked in, the lights coming on as the motion was registered. He looked around the room and saw it neat and tidy. With no invitation, he walked into the bedroom and softly placed her on the bed. His hand sunk in, accompanied by her body and he had to compliment the staff on choosing such good bed accessories. The mattress was very soft and good for the back.


    "Your shares are safe. Good night," he whispered. He was about to take a few steps away when he heard her mumble something. He sighed and turned back again.


    He leaned in to hear what she was saying only to be met by a swatting hand. He pulled back surprised but then watched as she scrubbed her face. Her lipstick smudged slightly and the liner was blending on her eyelids. He finally understood what she wanted to do.


    He stood up straight and looked around the room but was unable to find any products lying out.


    "Hey!" he called, patting her arm. She hummed in acknowledgment. "Where is your makeup remover?"


    The female employee stood at the door and watched with rapt attention. Mo Qinchen repeated the same question a couple of times before finally getting a jumbled slur. He figured out that she meant the bathroom.


    He strolled in with no attention that he was walking into the bathroom of a woman and then looked around.


    There weren''t many products and Yun Qian Meng had clearly divided them into which part of the day she used what. He took the box which had the makeup remover and walked out.


    He sank into the bed, inches from her head, and pulled out the makeup remover and cotton pad. He knew this much from watching his mother and sister all these years. But the position was awkward. He would have to lean over her or strain his back to get this done.


    He placed the things aside and adjusted her head so that it was on his lap. Errant strands of hair covered her face. Through the thin layer of sheer foundation, Mo Qingchen could see her flushed cheeks. He wiped the pieces of hair away, tucking them behind her ears gently.


    A few meters away, the female employee stopped herself from clutching at her heart and sighing over how romantic the whole scene was. When she went home she would ask her husband to take off her makeup, too.


    Then she wondered if she should volunteer. She stopped herself short, persuading herself that she was here to oversee and nothing else.


    Mo Qingchen took the bottle of remover and uncapped it. With a precise move, he took an amount of it on the cotton pad and let it soak for a second. It wasn''t good for the product to accumulate in her pores, or so he had heard.


    He wiped at her face gently, ensuring that the pad wasn''t too rough against her skin. He had to marvel at how easily the whole task happened. He scrutinized her face properly so that no blemish could be seen and turned to the other products.


    He could see a cleanser. He looked up to the employee. "Can you bring me a hot towel and a bowl of water?" he asked.


    She nodded vehemently before scurrying into the bathroom and doing as she was asked. She emerged with the necessary items and placed them beside him. He looked at her with acknowledgment and dipped his hands into the water.

 Chapter 36: Choke on Her Vomit and Die

    With the same fingers, he dripped the droplets on her skin and applied a small amount of the cleanser. He took a few moments to massage her face, the foam appearing. He was extremely careful that nothing entered her eye. Post that, he dipped his hand in the water, washing off the foam and took the hot towel, and pressed it over her face, removing all the soapy residue.


    He checked with the press of his fingers and when satisfied turned to the employee with meaning.


    She rushed back into the bathroom, not forgetting to take the bowl and hot towel, and emerged with another one.


    "Sir, you can wipe her face once more." He did so.


    "Do you know what to use next?" he asked curiously. She looked over the products and nodded. She told him the order of the products but didn''t dare tell her the quantity to be used. "I''ll use the internet," he said with a sigh.


    He carefully pulled his phone out of his pocket without disturbing Yun Qian Meng''s head and searched online. Indeed, Venus had good marketing strategies. They even created skincare tutorials for every occasion. He followed the tutorial to the T.


    When it was finally done, he looked over his hard work and smiled.


    She had baby soft skin. Good.


    For a couple of minutes, he wondered how he would put her head back on the bed and escape. He also needed to call a driver to get him home. He looked at the time and saw that he would have to go to the office in a couple of hours.


    So would this woman. He looked down at her and sighed. Maybe he shouldn''t have brought her out for a drink.


    "Sir, should I ask the valet to park your car?" the female employee said, eyeing the two people on the bed.


    ''Mr. Mo has been given the great honor of becoming the pillow. It would take a truly heartless man to wriggle out from under Miss Yun.'' She watched with bated breath as Mo Qingchen debated internally.


    "Miss Yun seems to have drunk a lot. She rarely drinks at the hotel or comes back drunk. She might feel sick in the night," she prompted helpfully. Mo Qingchen looked up at her and didn''t seem phased. But the employee could see that Mo Qingchen had considered this seriously.


    "It won''t be good if she chokes on her vomit and dies," he told her after a minute. "She''ll come back as a ghost and haunt me forever."


    And that was supposed to make all the sense.


    "Then, I''ll go back to the lounge. Please call the reception if you need anything." The employee gave a deep bow and speedily walked away. When she closed the door behind her, she clutched her chest and swiftly ran towards the elevator.


    Before, she was scared that Mr. Mo would take advantage of Miss Yun. Now, she was scared that Miss Yun would wake up and kill her.


    Better let them two sort it out amongst themselves. Tiny flies like her don''t need to be on the scene and get killed.


    In the room, Mo Qingchen sat for fifteen minutes, his waist starting to ache from sitting in that situation. After hours of working, he really wanted to lay his head down and get some sleep. He looked at the bed longingly and wondered if he should take the risk.


    When he looked down at her, he shook his head.


    No, he wouldn''t take advantage of her, but knowing how bold Qian Meng was, wouldn''t she strip him in her drunkenness and take advantage of him?


    When he thought about it more, he thought it was a good idea. Not that she would believe him to be an innocent flower. He was about to shift his body and lay down on the bed when Qian Meng rolled over and plopped down on the bed. Her face was planted against the mattress and her limbs splayed in an odd fashion.


    Two more seconds later, she had rolled over again, this time, her hands trying to pull at her clothes and undoing them. Mo Qingchen''s eyes widened.


    "Hey!" he protested. "I don''t want to be accused of being a scoundrel," he hissed as he lunged at her and grabbed her hand to stop her. She acted like a worm, slithering around and bumping against him to free herself.


    She opened her eyes slightly and took a look at him.


    "Scoundrel," she said under her breath before throwing him off.


    Did her superpowers get unlocked when she was drunk? How was she so strong?


    Mo Qingchen twitched as he saw her slide off the bed and then crawl on the floor until she could stand up. He sighed and stood up as well. But she waved her hands at him, asking him to sit down before swaying and moving towards the bathroom.


    On her way, she fiddled with the skirt. She shimmied, losing balance often until leaving it discarded on the floor, a wrinkled mess.


    Mo Qingchen palmed his face, wondering what she should do but didn''t dare to take his eyes off her. She was trudging towards the bathroom, slowly undoing the shirt she was wearing.


    "Where are you going?" Mo Qingchen called.


    "I need to pee," she pouted, turning her head back to look over her shoulder. Mo Qingchen raised his brow, wondering how she would react when he told her how colorful she had been while drunk.

 Chapter 37: She Called Someone Elses Name

    "I need to pee," she pouted, turning her head back to look over her shoulder. Mo Qingchen raised his brow, wondering how she would react when he told her how colorful she had been while drunk.


    "Okay," he sighed. He very well couldn''t accompany her inside the bathroom. She seemed to have gotten a bit drunker than she did when she fell asleep in the car, so he didn''t want to scold her either.


    He knew enough about drunks to know that when they cried, their tears wouldn''t stop, neither would their wails.


    "Don''t lock the door!" he commanded her. She hummed, her voice hoarse but when she closed the door behind her, Mo Qingchen heard the inadvertent click of the lock.


    He waited. Five minutes.


    Ten minutes.


    Fifteen minutes.


    His knees bounced as he waited. He didn''t know how long a grown woman took in the bathroom, so he couldn''t be overly worried. Instead, he walked over to the closed door and knocked loudly.


    "Are you okay in there?" he asked.


    "Yes!" he heard a chirpy reply. "Coming!" she shouted louder.


    He slumped, relieved, and then was about to move back to the bed when he heard her fumbling. It was the clear sound of her trying to unlock the door but being unable to. Mo Qingchen pretended to be deaf. But after a minute, he really started to wonder if she had a functioning brain.


    "Can you unlock the door?" he asked gently, pressing his face against the door so that he could hear her clearly. She was slightly panicking, her breathing heavier than usual.


    "How do I open the door?" she cried. Mo Qingchen banged his head against the door before starting to advise her step by step.


    It took quite some time, he had to admit. But she finally did it. The door opened and she stumbled out, her hand gripping at the door to keep herself from falling. He grabbed one of her arms and placed it over his shoulder. He was taller than her by a full foot, so the whole situation was very awkward. One hand around her waist stabilized them.


    He basically picked her up by her waist and then planted her on the bed. Her arm slipped from his shoulder and dropped limply by her side.


    Her eyes were wide open as he stared at the ceiling.


    "You can''t leave," she slurred. She didn''t turn her head to indicate that she was talking to Mo Qingchen.


    "Who are you talking to?" Mo Qingchen replied, irritated but humoring her.


    "You." She pouted. Still no sign that she was actually talking to him and not some ghost only she could see.


    "And who am I?"


    "Ginchqen," she said. Like it was a perfectly legitimate name. He looked around wondering if he could escape. He should have left when he had the chance.


    "I am not... that." Her fingers crawled towards his hand which dangled close to her and she played with his fingers, flicking them with her own without even realizing.


    Mo Qingchen looked down and frowned. He supposed that drunk her revealed her childish side or something. Opening her clothes with no regard and touching a man like this without regard.


    "Then... are you that scumbag Bai Ye Qing?" This name she said without slurring.


    ''Am I being discriminated against or is she pretending to be drunk?'' Mo Qingchen leaned in and smelled her breath. He recoiled and cringed when he got the chance. He sucked in some fresh air and then shook his head. ''Definitely drunk. I am still being discriminated against.''


    "No." His voice was firm.


    She didn''t listen to him. She pulled him down, rolling away as his body hit the bed, and then crawled on top of him. Her hair cascaded down, framing her face as she hovered over him.


    "I''d kill you if you were," she hissed. "Took everything from me and gave it to that woman Jia Ai. I watched them... she got pregnant. I watched them as they killed me. They took everything from me. How can I let them get off?" She started to laugh.


    Mo Qingchen grew silent. "What are you talking about, Qian Meng?" he whispered.


    "You..." a sob ripped through her throat. "I have nothing. Nowhere to go, no family to stand behind me. I''m nothing." Her hand gripped the sheet beside his head and her eyelids closed as she pushed back the tears. The words were slurred but Mo Qingchen could hear her loud and clear.


    His heart shook. Uncontrollably.


    "Was I so lonely that I let a small-peened, hair-brained man take advantage of me and hoodwink me?" Her voice grew softer. "I''m so stupid."


    "Qian Meng," Mo Qingchen warned. "Shut up."


    "I don''t believe..." she kept chanting.


    "That''s right. It didn''t happen. It was all a nightmare. You''re here now. This is your life."


    He caught her when she lost strength in her arms. He cushioned her fall and held her close to his body for a few minutes as her tears soaked through his t-shirt. Helplessly, he patted her back and hummed a lullaby his mother liked to sing to him as a child. Soon, her tears dried and her sobs turned into whimpers and then into level breathing.


    His hands continued, his fingers drumming on her back, his hum disappearing into the wind. He stared at the ceiling and recalled her words.


    Yes, it was all a nightmare.

 Chapter 38: Your Panties Are Not to My Taste

    When Yun Qian Meng woke up, it was ten in the morning. She hadn''t been asleep long but her head felt heavy. Her mouth though tasted foul. When she groaned and rolled over, she felt someone watching her.


    Squinting her eyes open, she craned her neck and looked around the room. Mo Qingchen sat on the ground, his back against the wall and his head hanging. He was clearly asleep.


    Qian Meng felt the intense need to throw herself out of the window. She crawled slowly and hoped that the bed didn''t creak. She suddenly felt that the breeze was touching her a little more than usual and looked down.


    Yes, she was only wearing her underwear. She peeked at Mo Qingchen and sighed. She didn''t know how much he had seen but she didn''t have to face the embarrassment of waking up to him. The phone was promptly by the side of the bed. She held it up and looked at the time.


    Her blood pressure rose.


    It was late. Very badly so.


    "I already texted Li Min that you''re taking the first half off." Which meant, she had two hours to reach the office.


    Her eyes widened and she dropped onto the bed, hiding as best as she could.


    She had been crawling on her hands and knees, so the view from where he sat must have been... stimulating. She calculated what she should do next. She could wrap herself in the bedcover and made a run for her closet, or she could walk up to it without making a fuss.


    Her pride dictated her to follow the former.


    But that begged the question: how had they ended up in this situation. Yun Qian Meng thought hard about what had happened and bowed her head in shame. It had all come back in vivid detail. But Mo Qingchen didn''t know that. He couldn''t call her out for forgetting, either.


    So, the second option.


    She slid out of bed and padded towards her walk-in closet without sparing him a glance. Mo Qingchen raised his brow, mirth dancing through his pupils as his eyes closely followed her form. Unlike others, she didn''t add an extra sway of the hips. She plainly walked like she owned the place and deemed him invisible.


    Mo Qingchen ran his hands through his hair and stifled a laugh.


    ''So this is how you are going to play. Fine,'' he thought. Challenge accepted.


    She came out, wearing a fluffy robe, and carried a set of clothes in her hands. She didn''t even pretend to hide her lingerie under her clothes. She was almost in the bathroom when she turned and addressed him.


    "You''ll find a couple of men''s shirts when you walk into the closet. Pick one." She gave him a once over.


    "They won''t notice if I wear the same clothes," he replied blandly.


    "Yes, because you wear the same thing every day." The words came off as a reprimand. Mo Qingchen fought back the chuckle and nodded his head. Point well made. That didn''t mean he wouldn''t get revenge.


    "Don''t lock the door. You might forget how to open it again," he taunted. Yun Qian Meng screwed her eyes shut and concentrated on breathing.


    ''Act like nothing has happened, Qian Meng. He''s just trying to get a rise out of you.''


    "I''m not keeping it open for you to sneak in." She made a show of rolling her eyes and walked in. The door banged shut behind her. Mo Qingchen looked up at the ceiling and grimaced.


    His back hurt. After placing her on the bed, he ensured she was fast asleep. Post that, he felt like a lecher just lying beside her, so he situated himself on the floor. He didn''t know when he dozed off, but his back had taken the brunt of the trauma.


    He pulled himself up from his sitting position and realized that his legs had become numb. Pulling his body forward, he looked inside the closet and frowned. She had a lot of clothing. But as she said, the shirts were in the front.


    Some were even in his size. He looked at the colors and couldn''t help but glare towards the direction of the bathroom.


    Yellow. Purple. Incarnadine. Colors he wouldn''t be caught wearing dead.


    He picked the yellow one and waited for his turn to go. He would have to make do with these pants.


    She came out quicker than anticipated. He brushed past her.


    "You''re going to shower?" she asked, her voice high-pitched.


    "Yes, I showered last morning." He frowned.


    "You''ll wear the same pants and underwear?" she asked, pointing towards the single article of clothing hanging off his hand. He looked down to where she was pointing and then back at her.


    "Your pants won''t fit me. And your panties are not to my taste." He paused. "I don''t wear used underwear." He pressed his lips together and walked inside the bathroom.


    Yun Qian Meng stood stupified and hurried inside the closet. She had a minor view of her collection of underwear. With Mo Qingchen''s height, he would get a very good view of everything. Though none of them were risque, some would qualify to be worn by men.


    If Mo Qingchen didn''t mind her watermelon print boxers, she would gladly give them to him.


    Now that she thought about it. She should have some new boxers that would actually fit him. As embarrassed as she was, she knew what a neat freak Mo Qingchen was. She went to the wardrobe filled with new clothes she hadn''t tried on yet and found a bag of boxers. She brought multiple sizes depending on her cycle. He would fit into some of these.

 Chapter 39: Snake Hiding Under the Flower

    She nodded and brought out two different sizes just so he could measure which one to pick and shuffled towards the bathroom. She knocked loudly and called out.


    "What?" he shouted, irritated.


    "Take these!" After a few seconds, Mo Qingchen opened the door a crack and peered out.


    "Don''t use the towel in there. It''s mine. Use the fresh one." She handed the towel over helpfully and moved away.


    She smirked when she heard him grunt. He must have found the boxers hidden within the folds of the towel.


    Inside the bathroom, Mo Qingchen was cursing himself.


    He didn''t know whether to praise her for being thoughtful or strangle her for underestimating his size.


    He had to thank her for bringing different sizes though. He sucked it up and wore one. The print wasn''t stellar, but no one was seeing it. It didn''t matter. He left the other boxer on the clothing rack and changed into his clothes. Looking at himself in the mirror, he couldn''t decide if he looked good or not.


    "You don''t have to return them," she spoke as soon as he came out.


    "I wasn''t going to," he grumbled. He cuffed his sleeves and checked himself out in the mirror before turning to her. "Sharing underwear is reserved for married couples."


    Qian Meng recoiled.


    "Why are couples sharing underwear." Her face twisted into disgust. Men''s underwear was comfortable, so she could understand but the other way around? That sounded like a kink. Little old conventional her would never find out.


    "We''ll be taking my car to the office," Mo Qingchen declared.


    "And who gave you that idea?"


    "You left your car at the office and I brought mine to drop you off." Mo Qingchen smiled without a shred of emotion passing his eye. He thought for a bit before speaking again. "Oh, if you want to take a cab, I''ll have to dissuade you. Shanghai is highly polluted, using a cab will worsen the situation."


    "For the benefit of the planet, I''ll have to humbly ride in your car."


    He didn''t have to show off; she had an electric car, too. She kept her mouth shut and followed him out. As they passed the lounge, two lines of employees formed on either side of their path. Qian Meng looked around, confused.


    "Don''t tell me, you didn''t know my family owned this hotel," Mo Qingchen teased.


    Qian Meng scoffed. "Of course, I knew. I just didn''t think you would be a slave driver, making these employees bow down to you every time you come."


    It was part of her plan to outrage her father by staying at Mo family''s hotel and paying them money instead of putting it into her father''s pocket. A little act of rebellion if you will. She had known, and therefore made the conscious choice of staying there.


    "It''s hard being a low key young master. They recognize you because of your aura and don''t let you roam about freely." Talk about boasting. Qian Meng rolled her eyes.


    "Pretending to be humble when you take advantage of your family name. Scoundrel."


    "That''s the second time you called me that in the span of twelve hours. Are you pushing me to act like one?" He shoved his hand in his pocket and walked away faster, hoping the entourage would disperse.


    From the corner of his eye, he saw someone break through the formation and rush towards them. He placed himself between Yun Qian Meng and the man.


    Qian Meng stopped suddenly when she saw his reaction and tried to see what he was doing. From behind his towering figure, she couldn''t see a single thing. She shrugged nonchalantly and started to walk away when a man called for her.


    "Miss Yun!" he shouted. The other patrons turned to look, the image of a disrupted walk of the royals playing out in front of them. Qian Meng turned to the source of the voice and raised her brow quizically. "Miss Yun, may I have an audience?" the man asked.


    Qian Meng looked at Mo Qingchen with an expression that asked him what he thought of the situation. He just stared without an opinion, making sure his stance was intimidating.


    "What is this about?" she asked politely. Unlike other great business people, Yun Qian Meng knew the meaning of respecting everyone she encountered. One never knew who they would offend if they had a prickly personality.


    "I want ten minutes of your time to talk about my company." Qian Meng sighed.


    "Do you want an investment? Is it an angel investment or are you looking for seeders?" she asked. The man brightened. He was probably in his mid-thirties and looked well-maintained for his age.


    "Seed investment, actually. My company is located in Singapore and I want to expand to Mainland China as the market here is rich." The man had a small smile on his face.


    "Are you sure I''m the right person for this? I have a person who is richer and better at business than me standing beside me. Ask him." She threw her hands up and waved before heading out. Mo Qingchen looked at her retreating back. Without a glance towards the other man, he walked away.


    The man followed closely behind, running to catch up. The employees dispersed but waited at a distance whispering amongst themselves about Mr. Mo and Miss Yun going out at the same time.


    "Miss Yun, please. I need just ten minutes of your time."


    "Call my company and get an appointment, my friend. It''s that simple." She smiled warmly at the man as they waited. The valet had just arrived with Mo Qingchen''s car.


    "I''m afraid that I won''t be taken into consideration as I am not a native." The man gave a small guilty smile that made Yun Qian Meng stand on guard. This man had an ego bigger than his body could hold but his demeanor showed that he was a snake hiding under the flower.


    How interesting.


    "I''ll give you an hour of my time. Get in." She quirked her head towards the car. Mo Qingchen sighed and glared at her.

 Chapter 40: Match Made in Heaven

    "That''s my car. Why are you inviting people without my permission?" Qian Meng turned to him coyly and said nothing.


    "The two of you match. You look great together," the man said in an open attempt to butter them up.


    They looked down simultaneously and frowned.


    "I look like an egg yolk," Mo Qingchen grumbled. The man choked on his breath.


    ''Sir, can you kindly give a warning before dropping a bomb? Aren''t you also implying that she looks like egg yolk?''


    "What''s your name?" she asked, feeling a taste of sourness in her mouth.


    "Jiang Da," he answered immediately. Mo Qingchen turned to look at the man before walking over to his side.


    "Get in," he barked. Qian Meng pointed at the man to get into the back seat. When he did, she opened the passenger''s side door and slid in.


    Inside, Jiang Da had scooted to the other side to make space for Qian Meng. In the driver''s seat, Mo Qingchen was internally daring Yun Qian Meng to sit in the backseat and treat him like a chauffeur.


    When he saw her take the seat beside him, he sighed in relief. She knew some manners.


    "Mr. Jiang, flattering Mr. Mo will get you nowhere. I, on the other hand, am prone to flattery." She turned her body slightly to look at the man. He looked bewildered.


    "Narcissist," she heard Mo Qingchen say under his breath. She decided not to pay him any attention.


    "Having my name in the same sentence as his isn''t going to float my boat, though." She smirked. Mo Qingchen''s fingers tightened over the steering wheel.


    "Ah, I just assumed you had a romantic relationship as you came out at the same time and wore matching clothes. You really do look like a match made in heaven." Jiang Da chuckled. "I saw that you had couple fans, too. I can see what they mean."


    "This man would be the last person on the planet whom I would marry," she voiced with conviction.


    "You''ve read too much Jane Austen and not understood what she tried to say," Mo Qingchen countered. "When Elizabeth says the same things to Darcy, she''s already on the path of hopelessly falling in love with him. She ends up irrevocably in love with the man whom she despised."


    Yun Qian Meng remained silent for a minute. "It sounds like you want me to fall in love with you." She scoffed. "Or do you want to marry me?"


    Which gave her a brilliant idea. Her father wanted her to marry Bai Ye Qing. If she was already married, he wouldn''t have the power to get it annulled. She could find the worst man on the planet and tie the knot with him so that her father threw up blood.


    The plan sounded good in idea, but at the end of the day, she had other methods to avoid the marriage. And living with a man wouldn''t be to her advantage either. Corporate spies were running amock aplenty.


    Jiang Da sat silently at the back, watching the two people in the front seat exchange scorching glances.


    ''Is this enmity or repressed desire for the other? Will I ever find out?'' He shook his head.


    "Mr. Jiang. Tell me why you want me to invest in your company. Pitch it to me." It was a challenge. "You have forty minutes to convince me. What do you say?"


    Mo Qingchen turned to look at her incredulously.


    "Eyes on the road," Qian Meng reminded sternly. He turned back, shaking his head.


    The man began, talking in detail about his company and his aspirations for it. After about twenty minutes of projected membership and profit in the next five years.


    "A dating application in the Chinese market?" Qian Meng finally spoke. "The industry is already developed and in its mature stage. Creating disruption in this space will be very difficult for you, especially as you are not a Chinese resident and not in touch with the dating culture."


    Her words were clear and concise, giving her opinion without holding back.


    "While your messaging and selling point is unique, improper execution will be disastrous. It has a very high chance of drowning out and being ignored by the masses when it launches here." And that was her verdict.


    "Wouldn''t you consider it despite the projected profit in five years?" Jiang Da spoke, distraught.


    "Sure, I will. I will remember 1314 and you." She stopped and then gave him a look. "Are you attending the Investment Convention in Paris?"


    Jiang Da nodded. "I present day after tomorrow," he said slowly. He had scooted forward and leaned towards Yun Qian Meng to keep their conversation going on.


    "So you must know that I will be attending as well. Then why did you approach me beforehand?" Now, this was the million-dollar question.


    "I firmly believe that the early bird gets the worm."


    Mo Qingchen chuckled. "Mr. Jiang, rushing into a meeting without preparation can be to your utter disadvantage. You came all the way to her to call her and embarrass her into talking to you in front of a crowd. Do you think it would bode well for you?" He watched the man from the rearview mirror.


    "No-" Jiang Da began, but he was interrupted by Mo Qingchen.


    "Furthermore, your presentation skills are lacking. You based your goals on absurd projections that you will not be able to achieve. You haven''t done enough research about the market to give us proper figures."


    Yun Qian Meng wanted to stop Mo Qingchen but she knew of his formidable front when doing business. She just never thought she would hear it first-hand.


    No wonder they called him the fire-breathing dragon in the industry. He did breathe fire and he incinerated his opponent and subordinates. She was impressed. Yet, she couldn''t say that his method was a good one.

 Chapter 41: Nothing to Gain From One Another

    "And you haven''t even shown us how the app looks or how much time and money you used to create it." Mo Qingchen stopped at the red light. "To speak in fair terms, even the receptionist at Miss Yun''s company would chuck your proposal in the bin. That is why you never fixed an appointment and used alternate schemes to talk to her. This way you wouldn''t have to feel the pressure with other stakeholders in your company if you don''t get the investment. You can just tell them you didn''t get an appointment. It wouldn''t hurt your pride or make you look like a loser."


    Qian Meng tried her hardest not to burst into laughter.


    Indeed, Mo Qingchen didn''t mince any words. His deduction had been on point. The only reason someone would do this would be to evade the absolute truth and get their word before they got a chance to fully research.


    Good opportunities rarely show up like this in real life. In television dramas where emotions overpower the analytical and business mind, these passionate explosions seem plausible. But in reality, they are just a ruse to confuse the mind of people. It doesn''t take a very intelligent person to see through this ploy though.


    "I will agree to some of what Mo Qingchen has said." Yun Qian Meng didn''t need to think much to placate this man. If he could enter the hotel and approach her so easily, he could use other petty measures to get revenge at a later date. "You''re going to the Investment Conference already. Keep his points in mind and make a presentation. I assure you, if not us, someone who actually knows how to help you will invest in you."


    Jiang Da remained silent in his seat and then sighed.


    "I apologize for my impudence. I didn''t consider how aggressive and rude my actions would come off. Especially while approaching a beautiful lady. I was short on thought."


    Mo Qingchen scoffed.


    "Don''t worry about it. Give me your business card." She extended two fingers towards him and waited for him. Jiang Da fumbled as he pulled out his wallet and pulled out his business card. He handed her one and then took out another one for Mo Qingchen.


    Seeing that he didn''t have any intention to take the card, Yun Qian Meng took the other offered card and gave Jiang Da a smile. Seemingly placated, Jiang Da leaned back.


    "I''ll drop you off now," Mo Qingchen spoke up. His voice was cold. He exuded the aura of having been disturbed by a fly.


    Jiang Da coughed but couldn''t protest. At this point in the city, it would be hard for him to take a cab. He looked out and saw that the car had stopped on the side of the road. He gave Yun Qian Meng a longing look before sliding out.


    "I hope to see you at the convention," she said with a polite smile. Jiang Da could only force a smile and wave when the engine started and the car blazed away.


    He was left on the pavement gritting his teeth. So much for ambushing someone and getting benefits. Even though he thought he would be in control, it was all messed up by that Mo Qingchen.


    He looked around and realized that it would be near impossible to get a cab from here. He would need to walk three miles to get something. Damn him for not getting the local cab applications when he came to visit.


    In the car, Mo Qingchen was fuming over how reckless Yun Qiang Meng was.


    "What has got your panties in a twist?" Yun Qian Meng asked when she noticed the tick in his jaw.


    "What if that guy had bad intentions?" his voice was cold and ruthless.


    "We were in the hotel. Who would hurt me there in front of so many people? Moreover, you were there. I''d just hide behind you." He had a broad back, no one would be able to get past him.


    "You''re sacrificing others for your own sake. Shark," Mo Qingchen admonished. Her head snapped towards him.


    "I''m a businesswoman. If that makes me a shark, so be it." She puffed up her cheeks and looked out of the window.


    "I think you trust people too easily. You let him in the same car as you and even heard what he had to say. You keep giving people chances and smiling at them all the time. They think of you as weak." Now, that was where his problems lie. She smiled at people all the time and easily so. Didn''t she know that the stereotypical weak female was supposed to act her way? Gracious and smiling even when she is bullied?


    He just couldn''t understand her.


    "Don''t be mistaken. I smile easily because it does me good," she countered. "I don''t like offending people whom I don''t have a grasp over. People get offended at the smallest things and as a businesswoman and generally normal woman, I try not to offend people. The lesser enemies I have, the less I need to scheme about people. These inconsequential people hold grudges and they slowly bite at you. You don''t see them coming, so you fall prey to them."


    "Good, you know the strategy. Then why don''t you smile at me?" he challenged. It was avid curiosity.


    "Why should I smile at you? I don''t have anything to gain from you and I can tell you anything I want because you''re genuine. You don''t like to be flattered. And I don''t mind showing you this side because if I changed my behavior, you would think I was suspicious."


    "Nothing to gain from me?" he challenged.


    "What? Should I ask you for your fortune? I have my own money. Your industry is so far away from mine that they don''t intersect. Then, in what dimension are we supposed to gain from one another?" She crossed her arms over her chest and waited for him to answer.

 Chapter 42: Forgot the Reason for Her Hatred

    "Never underestimate the market. As a disruptor and founder, you should know that we are always looking for solutions and gaps in the market that we can fill and capitalize on. In that case, if one day we had to collaborate, would you deny yourself that?" Mo Qingchen threw her the fish that she could recognize.


    "There are no enemies in making a profit. If we generate high profits, I wouldn''t turn away from that. Even if you are my arch-nemesis." Qian Meng smirked. If her plan worked out, she would loop Mo Qingchen into her next investment. He didn''t need to know that, though. She would have to wait and boil the frog slowly until it couldn''t jump out of the pot.


    "Arch-enemies are only created when two people with similar aspirations and personalities clash. It''s a waste of energy."


    "You seem to cancel out the biggest factor." She stared at him. "Hatred for one another."


    The small smile tugging at Mo Qingchen''s lips disappeared. "You hate me? Why, exactly?"


    "Do I need to report the reason to you?" she answered, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.


    "Well, I think I have a right to know why I am disliked." Absolutely had that right. He had done nothing wrong to her. They had encountered one another a handful of times and none of them had been unpleasant. "If it is because of some incident involving our ancestors, I don''t want to hear about it."


    "Why would I hang onto enmity from dead people or the previous generation?" she asked. She rolled her eyes and tapped her foot, wanting the conversation to move along.


    "Then why do you hate me?" He stopped the car in the middle of the road. The horns blared and Yun Qian Meng turned to him in surprise.


    "What are you doing?" she hissed. Her cheeks colored with embarrassment as cars pulled over beside them and yelled at them to move. There were some choice words said as well.


    "Answer me, Qian Meng." His eyes were hauntingly serious.


    "I forgot the reason," she spat. No way in hell she would answer that question.


    "You forgot?" His voice became a few pitches higher. She hummed in acknowledgment. Seeing her so apathetic to the situation, he turned the car on and sped away.


    He stopped in front of their local cafe and slid out of the car. "Don''t you need your daily dose of coffee?" he asked.


    It seemed he was really pissed off. Not that she cared.


    She followed him after slinging her bag over her shoulder. Instead of standing in the line, he was waiting by the door. It was very polite of him to let her stand in line first but he could have saved them some time. Wretched and petty man.


    She reached the front and made her order as usual. But then she searched her bag for her purse, she didn''t find it. And her cash app? Wouldn''t start.


    Terrible day!


    Whose face had she seen when she woke up.


    The wretched man behind her, of course. A hand came from behind her.


    "My usual. I''ll pay for both of us."


    ''Young Master, are you kidding me? I''d never take your treats twice. I feel like I will have to pay back hundred-fold every time.''


    He extended a large bill. She could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke. "Keep the change."


    Her expression twisted into a frown. To pay him back or to be shameless, that was the question.


    The girl behind the counter who saw them every day felt a burst of joy in her heart. ''Sir, she could just open a tab. She''s a regular. But for the sake of your romance, I''ll pretend this didn''t happen.''


    They went to the next counter and received their drinks of choice. She took hers first and turned to walk away. She had barely crossed him when she felt his hand grab onto her wrist.


    "You don''t seem like someone who gets drunk easily. Why did you get so drunk last night?"


    Qian Meng thought about her answer. She bit her lip. She didn''t know what possessed her but she said the truth. "I get drunk easily when I am comfortable."


    She shook his hand away and walked out.


    Mo Qingchen stared at his palm, feeling the warmth of her skin still radiating from his where he had grabbed her. He picked up his cup of hot coffee, the feeling replicating that of her hand.


    Scorching and necessary.


    Yun Qian Meng stormed into her office and closed the door behind her. Picking up her phone she called Li Min into her office.


    "Get an intern to turn go to the nearest bank and exchange a 100 yuan bill to the lowest denomination they have... preferably fen." [1] Li Min stared at her for a long while. "Oh, I forgot my wallet. I''ll pay you back for the 100 yuan when I have it."


    Li Min tucked her head and didn''t question. This seemed like a case of petty revenge. The boss wanted to annoy someone by sending them coins. It just seemed wasteful to use the intern''s time for her personal pleasure.


    She hunted down an intern and apologetically asked her to do Qian Meng''s bidding. She pulled out a 100 yuan note from her purse and gave it to the girl.


    She hadn''t signed up for these tasks when she wanted to become an executive assistant. Was there any guarantee that the boss would remember a petty 100 yuan?


    But a debt was a debt. She was now Miss Yun''s benefactor, she told herself.


    An hour later, the intern came back, red-faced. She handed over a packet to Li Min and scurried away. It seemed that the bank teller had told off the little girl. Li Min shook her head and brought the coins to Qian Meng.


    [1] 1 yuan = 100 fen.

 Chapter 43: Worse Than a Bomb

    On seeing Li Min return, Qian Meng felt a burst of joy. She extended her hand and took the packet from her. She peered inside, her lips widening into a Cheshire cat smile.


    She peeled the protective layer from the roll of coins and let them sit in the plastic bag. Once done, she asked Li Min to come in.


    "Take this packet to Mo Qingchen''s office. Tell the receptionist I have informed Mr. Mo that I was sending him this." Without any expression, Li Min took the packet and strode out.


    Qian Meng had already pulled out her phone.


    [Mr. Mo, I have paid you back in full for the coffee. I don''t like to remain in people''s debt.]


    She pressed send.


    - - -


    Mo Qingchen received her message and stared at his phone confused. She would be crazy to return a hundred yuan. She would be crazier to claim to do so and not send the money. He shook his head, unwilling to try and understand her, and went back to work.


    About ten minutes later, his assistant came into his office with a worried look on his face.


    "What is it?" he asked casually.


    "Miss Yun has sent something to you," the assistant replied meekly.


    "Did she send a bomb?" he asked, expecting the same from the fallen and terrified expression on their face.


    "Sir, it is much worse." Gu Rong scrutinized her usually prickly boss and wondered if he would explode when he saw the gift. She pressed her hand to her stomach, silently thinking that this job was not suitable for a woman who was about to go into labor. She really didn''t need the stress of Mr. Mo''s private rivals coming after him.


    "What is it?" He paused. "As long as it is not going to kill me, bring it in."


    He really wanted to see what this woman had cooked up. Gu Rong wobbled away as fast as she could. Her face twisted as she looked at the plastic bag placed on her desk. She could clearly see the coins inside. She looked back towards her boss''s office and sighed.


    "Boss, you''ve made a petty enemy." She shook her head picked up the plastic bag with trepidation.


    She knocked on his door and didn''t wait for him to answer. Moving in, she placed the bag on his desk and scurried away.


    "What the hell..." he grumbled when he looked up. A smirk appeared on his face as he poked the bag. "You really thought this through, didn''t you?" he smirked.


    He scattered the coins on his desk, making a pool of it, and clicked a picture.


    [Miss Yun, you''re trying to deceive me, right? This is one yuan and 2 fen short.]


    He put his phone to the side and increased the alert volume to full. This was his daily dose of fun. He couldn''t stop himself from getting these small pleasures, okay?


    The reply came so fast that Mo Qingchen had to wonder if the silly girl had been staring at her screen all along.


    [No way!]


    Before he could reply, her call came in.


    "Miss Yun, did you miss me?" he teased. He heard her scoff.


    "There is definitely the correct amount of money given to you," she argued. He liked her being petulant. When he knew her as a little girl, she would always act so mature that he found it irritating. Now that she had grown up, she was finally showing that side of her that screamed ''Love Me''.


    "Don''t worry, I counted it. I am sure you are one yuan and two fen short." Such confidence.


    "Excuse me, I counted before sending it!"


    "Then someone must have taken a few coins out. Or it fell out." Qian Meng groaned.


    "Have you thought about writing comedies before? I think it would suit you very well." He took it as a compliment.


    "Well, you suit the role of the second female lead who goes crazy after the male lead slights her. I wouldn''t mind writing a romantic comedy featuring you."


    She held back her scream and took in a cleansing breath. "Don''t you know? Writing about the second female lead, the villainess as the main character is the trend now?" Beat that.


    "It seems Miss Yun spends her free time reading trash literature."


    ''And who are you to judge?'' She pouted.


    "Count the coins in front of me. I know you didn''t count it!" she defended. Mo Qingchen''s smirk fell and he stared at the pile in front of him. The only way was to evade this topic.


    "Okay, come over to my office. I''ll count it in front of you." This technique was masterful. Knowing Yun Qian Meng, she would never step into the enemy''s territory without a battle plan. Throwing a curveball at her was the best strategy to dissuade her.


    Qian Meng became unusually quiet.


    ''Mr. Mo, do you think I don''t understand what you are up to?''


    She hung up the phone. Mo Qingchen, who sat in his office, burst out into laughter at this victory. He hadn''t thought it would be so easy. Before he could gloat, his phone rang again. This time, Yun Qian Meng had video-called him.


    His smile dropped and he picked up the call.


    "You are the CEO of a technology company that boasts of disrupting the industry and making leaps in technology. Surely, you know that I can see you counting without walking across the street."


    "It''s good to walk. How are you different if you only eat and sit in front of your computer?"


    The underlying meaning was that she was lazy. Eating and sitting? He meant to say she was a pig. ''At least, I can be cooked into good food. I wouldn''t even eat your liver if someone offered me a billion dollars.''


    "It''s called using technology to make one''s time more effective. Trust in technology, Mo Qingchen." She gave him a saccharine smile. "Now, turn the phone to the coins and start counting. Actually, prop the phone up against your laptop and let me see you count. Wouldn''t want you to cheat."


    She just wanted to see the frustration in his eyes.


    Sweet, sweet revenge.

 Chapter 44: Everyone Likes Pretty Things

    He looked longingly at his laptop. He had so much work to finish before he went to the Investment Conference. He sighed deeply, a sliver of indignation gripping him.


    He propped the phone against the laptop as she said, keeping him and the coins in view. Yun Qian Meng waited with bated breath as he picked up coin after coin and began stacking them.


    Her eyes flitted between her laptop screen and phone, her attention split between the two.


    The hateful Mo Qingchen kept messing up his count. Sometimes the coins fell over, others he would forget the count. At first, Yun Qian Meng chuckled and watched him struggle. Then she realized that this man was hellbent on wasting her time. It had been thirty minutes and he was recounting again.


    "So much for a genius," she scoffed, wanting to offend him into making a fast decision. It didn''t work.


    "I took advanced math classes. And I don''t count all the money in my bank one coin at a time, sorry."


    Her eyes narrowed. His eyes gleamed with mischief.


    ''So, you want to play this game?'' Challenge accepted.


    She could multitask well. She started screen recording and went to read her files in peace. Exacting his revenge would take time and energy. He wouldn''t be able to work in the meantime.


    About fifteen minutes later, Yun Qian Meng heard Mo Qingchen''s office door open and someone come in. It was an employee who wanted to talk about a project. He was about to speak when he noticed the video call on and stopped.


    Mo Qingchen continued to count. "Don''t mind her," he told her.


    Qian Meng''s eyes widened. His face was nonchalant like he hadn''t just said that he was okay with her listening to his companies projects.


    "She doesn''t understand these things." Well, what did she expect from him? Scoundrel.


    The conversation was one-sided with the employee hesitantly speaking about some new cybersecurity software they were working on. It seemed that Mo Qingchen''s company had a breakthrough after two years of working on it.


    He remained silent but listened carefully. When she concentrated on his profile, she saw him pause between counting and twirl a coin between his fingers. He was talking about some changes in codes and the overall look he wanted.


    When the room grew silent, Yun Qian Meng interjected. "Don''t use the black and grey you usually use for your software. It doesn''t pop out to anyone. Use something like aurora blue or mint green. They are popular colors that really attract the eye."


    The other side of the call became very silent.


    "We''re a technology company," Mo Qingchen countered. "People want advancement in tech and software. It''s not about fashion."


    Yun Qian gave him a meaningful gaze. "Your product is brought by the same people who like to wear pretty clothes. Everyone likes pretty things. If the cover is nice, no matter how shitty the book or movie is, people get it." She stopped and put it in other words. "Why do you have an eye-catching logo? It sets you apart from your competitors. Similarly, your interface... the first thing people see about your new product should be appealing to the eye."


    The employee had something to say.


    "People buy phones for their daily tasks," Mo Qingchen thought the process through. "But they also like brands and models that look appealing."


    "Exactly." Yun Qian Meng smiled. "You got the gist of it. Now, where is my consultation fee?"


    Of course, she wouldn''t take any but teasing him would definitely brighten her day. He put the coin down.


    "Unsolicited advice is always free. Moreover, I will forgive you for sending one yuan and two fen less than what you own."


    She had spoken out of turn. He had effectively wriggled out of the maneuver she had trapped him in. It was time to admit defeat.


    "Well, I''ll take that offer," she compromised without another thought. She had wasted enough of his time. Doing more would hurt her conscience. In the end, she knew how much CEO''s needed to work on a daily basis.


    She couldn''t, in good conscience, waste more of his time.


    "If that''s all. I''ll hang up." She didn''t wait for his reply.


    Mo Qingchen stared at the screen long enough that the light dimmed.


    "Take her words into consideration. She has made some good points." Peng Huo, the project manager, nodded. His eyes zeroed in on the cellphone and he wondered. He hadn''t taken a good look at the woman, but she seemed very familiar.


    Where had he seen her?


    He scratched his head as he came out. "Gu Rong, who sent Boss those coins?" he asked. That was the second question he wanted to know.


    "Miss Yun from Venus. They''re in a war."


    Peng Huo looked back and it clicked into place. "So evil," he laughed. "She made him count the coins in front of her. I don''t understand their enmity and I don''t think I want to."


    Gu Rong shrugged. "Go work. Mr. Mo hates it when people gossip. He''ll fire you and not even pay you for this month if he catches you," she warned.


    Peng Huo ran faster than Gu Rong thought was possible.


    Inside the office, Mo Qingchen started going through the project with renewed vigor. He picked up the phone after half an hour, calling Peng Huo.


    "Share your progress with me. I want to configure some codes and make minute changes." He hung up immediately.


    Peng Huo lowered his head to his desk and cried.


    ''Boss, the new software is already close to perfect. What monster are you trying to create?''


    The employees surrounding him clucked their tongues, pitying the man.


    "Brother Peng, did the boss scold you?"


    "Worse," he groaned.


    "Boss wants to code. He''ll start breathing fire for every little mistake."


    As expected from the fire-spitting dragon. The people surrounding him quaked with fear.

 Chapter 45: Certainly Not a Coincidence

    Li Min stormed into Qian Meng''s office at six in the evening. "You have a flight and you need to pack," she reminded her.


    Qian Meng looked up from her file and wanted to throw a fit. "Shit. I forgot. I just have this file left. It should take me half an hour. Can you drive me back?"


    Li Min nodded and didn''t protest. Qian Meng focused on her file as she stepped into the elevator. The employees that flocked in at the same time, getting off work at their designated time looked at their boss and wondered if the sun had risen from the West.


    She ignored them effectively and stepped into the car. Li Min drove her to the hotel and was about to leave when Yun Qian Meng stopped her.


    "Stay here," she ordered. She ran up to her room and returned with her wallet in hand. "Your hundred yuan," she commented, handing the money to Li Min. "Didn''t want you to ask for interest."


    Li Min''s face dropped. Miss Yun knew her well. Li Min was not one to let go of interest. She would really have asked her boss for a standard interest on the hundred yuan.


    "Your interest rate must be higher than loan sharks, so I took precautions," Qian Meng smirked. "Also, you have the week off. Don''t come to work. Book a flight to wherever you want to go and rest. Send me the invoice, I''ll ask the accounts team to write it off as a business expense."


    "Boss," she muttered, flabbergasted.


    "I already told you about this. Don''t act surprised. It''s not like I''m an evil boss." Qian Meng turned around, waving her hand in goodbye and rushing to her room.


    Li Min pulled out her phone and forgot all about the potential tears in her eyes. She scrolled through her mood boards and selected a location. First-class tickets to the destination, spas, and the best rooms, she booked all of them. All of this happened within the span of ten minutes.


    She was still sitting in front of the hotel as she did this.


    She unabashedly sent the invoice to Qian Meng and thanked her in advance.


    Yun Qian Meng came out of the shower and peered at her phone. She squinted at the prices and then huffed.


    Well, she had promised. She couldn''t say anything.


    Time to pack.


    - - - - -


    The best thing about red-eye flights? They were cheap. The worst thing? Yun Qian Meng felt like she would die. She had booked the middle seat, which meant that someone would be sitting beside her throughout the flight.


    The flight would take twelve hours and forty minutes, which meant she would have to spend thirteen hours with a stranger. Thankfully, people in first-class never speak to one another. It was three in the morning... which meant the flight would land at nine in the morning in Paris.


    She shrugged and put on her eye mask. Until the plane took off, she could take a short nap. Afterward, she would make the bed and just go to sleep. She was mulling things over when someone sat on the other side of her. She pulled up the corner of her mask and pressed the button to raise the separator.


    It had been a couple of minutes before someone tapped her on the shoulder. She suppressed the sigh and removed the mask. The friendly face of the stewardess greeted her.


    "I''m sorry, ma''am. Could you pull down the separating screen? According to the protocol, all screens are supposed to remain down until completion of take-off." Qian Meng cursed her luck but followed diligently.


    "Thank you for letting me know." The plane was already moving, the wheels pressing against the runway. Qian Meng pulled down the screen and looked at the person sitting on the other side.


    "This is not a coincidence, is it?" she asked bleakly.


    "This is the only flight to Paris today. I am also attending the conference, so obviously I took it. I was in first class and saw a very kind lady sitting next to you. So, I politely charmed her to let me sit beside you." He gave her a cheeky look.


    "What is your excuse?" All thoughts of sleep vanished from her head.


    "I don''t like to sleep beside people I don''t know. You''re the only person I know. So, if I have to rub elbows with anyone, it should be you." There it was. The logic.


    Qian Meng grit her teeth. "That''s what the screens are for." She pointed towards it.


    "It takes twenty minutes for takeoff and landing. Plus if we hit turbulence. All in all. The screen could be down for an hour or so during the flight."


    "Fine. I''ll go back to sleep." She grunted and violently pulled the mask down. Hiding her eyes, she crossed her hand over her chest and went off to sleep.


    She had only herself to curse. She hated wearing uncomfortable clothing on a flight and easily caught colds, so she wore a comfortable baggy pair of clothes. It was fluffy and kept her warm. How was she to know she would meet someone she knew?


    Well, he couldn''t really tease her. He was always dressed so poorly. Shading her fashion sense would be the last thing he would consider.


    She was almost asleep when the overhead signs turned off. She was hovering between consciousness and darkness, unable to move. Well, she could just move when she woke up.


    There was bustle around her but she was lost to the world.


    Mo Qingchen watched the others around her flutter around and make their beds in a hurry. He waited until everyone was done and finally got up to make his own. It was easy as could be, just needed thirty seconds. He was about to lay down. His eyes moved to her body.


    Frustration set in.

 Chapter 46: Just a Good Citizen

    Why did he always find her in such vulnerable circumstances? Scratching his stubble he called the stewardess over.


    "Hi, I''m acquaintances with her." He pointed towards Qian Meng. "Do you mind if I switch seats with her?"


    The stewardess looked bewildered. "I don''t understand."


    "I don''t want to wake her."


    "Is something wrong with your seat?" she asked, looking around. She didn''t know how to handle this situation.


    "The air conditioner isn''t working well on this side." The stewardess looked up. Indeed, it wasn''t working too well.


    "I will see what I can do."


    "You don''t need to do anything. She seems to be cold. She won''t mind." He smiled. His words made zero sense but that charming smile made up for everything. If it had been Yun Qian Meng, she would have called him out on his bullshit.


    Anyway, the stewardess stepped aside and followed Mo Qingchen. He went to her side of the aisle. Sliding his hand under her back and pressing the other on her back, he raised her into his arms.


    "Qian Meng, this is the second time. How are you going to compensate?" The other passengers had gone to sleep, except for a few who looked up and watched the drama unfold. Yun Qian Meng, the brat hummed as if recognizing his voice.


    He walked over to his side, making sure her feet weren''t touching anyone. He placed her gently on his seat and pulled the cover over her. He touched her hand when he was tucking her in.


    Cold.


    "Can you bring me another duvet?" The stewardess dumbly nodded and rushed to do his bidding. She came back sooner than expected and handed the duvet to him. He opened it and spread it evenly over Qian Meng''s body.


    He took a step back and looked at his handiwork.


    ''Good job.''


    He turned to the stewardess, gave her a smile, and then went and sat on Qian Meng''s seat. He pulled the seat up to make the bed and then covered himself.


    He was used to sleeping on his side, so he turned. On one side was an old gentleman who was scratching himself in his sleep. His only option was to turn towards her. The raised handle didn''t give him a view of her but he remembered looking at her face the night before.


    He shut his eye and then waited.


    One sheep.


    Two sheep.


    ...


    Seven hundred and eighty-two sheep.


    He opened his eyes. He pulled out the noise-canceling headphones from the hidden compartment and plugged it into the system. A recording of one of his team meetings about an upcoming project came up. He listened to it for long enough that he fell asleep.


    His employees spoke with such placid voices that it worked better than any sleeping pill found in the pharmacy.


    - - - - -


    Yun Qian Meng woke up exactly twelve hours later. It was right before the flight started to land. Most of the other passengers had long woken up and had breakfast. Yun Qian Mend remained dead to the world.


    Which meant, she didn''t have any food for over twelve hours. Even more considering that she forgot to eat quite often. Mo Qingchen was taking the free hours to code and make changes to some components. He looked over to her side, stared at her sleeping face for a couple of seconds before turning back to the screen.


    This transpired something like this. As the sun rose, the light in the cabin changed. A red glow evaded the room and Mo Qingchen looked to the side, outside the window. The light seemed to cast beautifully over Qian Meng''s face.


    When he turned to see her again, this sight met his eyes. He pulled out his phone and opened his camera. He clicked a series of photographs and then casually pushed the phone back into his pocket.


    No trace of embarrassment or guilt.


    When she woke up, she stretched her body like a cat and mewled, pulling the eyes of others. Mo Qingchen didn''t have to look over to see what the scene looked like. He continued to work.


    "Why am I here?" she grumbled, her voice gravelly from her long sleep.


    "Three attendants had to pull you up and place you there because you refused to wake up." Qian Meng remained silent, stewing over his words. "They didn''t want you to hurt your back, I suppose. Don''t thank me. I''m just a good citizen."


    Qian Meng shook her head and ignored him.


    The flight started to land right about the time she brushed her teeth and took a quick shower in the first-class bathroom. She changed into something more business appropriate. When she walked out, no one bothered to look at her.


    "Dry your hair. You look like a wet cat."


    ''This man lives to make my life hell.'' She was sure of it. She had dried it as much as required without damaging her hair. Blow dryers killed hair, so she never used those. The chill from the air conditioner? She would only have to bear with it for a few more minutes.


    Qian Meng rushed out without looking at Mo Qingchen when the time came. She even grabbed some breakfast on her way out. When she reached the car assigned by the conference organizers, she looked at the tinted windows suspiciously.


    Her luggage was placed in the bag. Seeing the size of the car, it should seat about 4 people in the back. The attendant opened the door for her.


    She saw a man in his fifties sitting across from the door. She smiled at the man and slid in. She realized belatedly that there were two other people in the car. One was another gentleman, much older than them... probably in his seventies, while the other was thirty-one years of age.


    Name? Mo Qingchen.


    There were introductions made and pleasantries exchanged. The scoundrel didn''t bother with being social, he concentrated on his laptop throughout the ride to the hotel.


    "You smile too easily," he griped when the others were out of hearing range.


    "Because it benefits me," she replied languidly.

 Chapter 47: Making Money Without Lifting Your Finger

    Her schedule was packed beyond belief. It was a Wednesday. From eleven to seven in the evening, the conference would commence and she would meet budding entrepreneurs. At eight-thirty they would have dinner and then head back to their rooms. Yun Qian Meng planned on going out to walk the cities roads until twelve in the night before returning.


    Hence, she started. The clothes she had worn were perfect for the conference. She just needed to retouch her makeup and go to the designated hall before the conference began. She looked at the clock. It was twenty minutes before the inauguration, so she hurried downstairs. The conference hall was on the third floor and half the room was already filled with people. When she looked around she could tell these were the nervous entrepreneurs putting their companies laundry up for others to see. The bigger investors were yet to arrive.


    She could see some familiar faces from the years before and smiled at them in acknowledgment before settling into her designated seat.


    She looked at the name card on the seat next to her and kept her face without expression. Mo Qingchen definitely had some sort of agenda for approaching her. That was why he asked her out to dinner at the broadcasting station. She was confused about what exactly he wanted but he was trying so hard that she had to admit and appreciate his determination.


    She looked around the room as she tapped her finger on the desk and caught sight of Jiang Da. He was looking at her, as well. Unlike the other entrepreneurs, she was not nervous. At least outwardly.


    Yun Qian Meng scoffed internally as she turned her eyes away. ''It''s always the ones who are overconfident.''


    She heard the scratching of the chair scraping against the floor beside her. She kept her head straight and saw him sit down from the corner of her eyes.


    Neither greeted the other. They silently sat through the inauguration and the first couple of entrepreneurs who came up. There were quite a few looking for angel investments. Others came for B round investments or seeds. She took quick notes, plotting out potentials and using her calculator to find out the true numbers.


    Sometimes they didn''t add up to the marvelous numbers shown on the screen, sometimes the entrepreneur didn''t have any idea how to move their company forward. And then there were some that said the exact truth but their offers weren''t good. This was the reality of the business world.


    You could be rewarded for lying than saying the absolute truth. If that was what profited people.


    Mo Qingchen peered at her piece of paper, making an impressed face before going back to his own. Yun Qian Meng, ever curious about what he was writing and what his thought process was, peered over towards his notepad and frowned.


    He was doodling on the paper.


    "You don''t find any of them interesting?" she whispered, keeping her body in position. She knew he would hear. The scoundrel had excellent hearing skills. Corporate espionage would have been his poison if not for his successful career as an entrepreneur.


    "No, some of them have potential but not to my standards," he told her in his normal tone of voice. Some people around them turned to look. But Mo Qingchen''s voice wasn''t loud enough, to begin with, so they turned back towards the presenter.


    "But then again. You aren''t impressed with any of them either." His declaration was true. Some of the companies were good but the people behind the company weren''t up to the mark. It was in her business philosophy that a company is not just the product or service they sell but also the people behind it. The humans... the cogs in the wheel mattered. And if they didn''t feel right for her, she wouldn''t put her finger in that pickle.


    "Indeed, what people say is true. It is only your mortal enemy that knows you the best." She paused. "I know why I wasn''t impressed but what about you?" she asked curiously.


    "None of them possess the quality to make extravagant returns. If I see a deal where I make a lot of money, I''ll jump on it." Simple replies were always the ones that surprised people.


    "Good point. That should be your priority."


    "But that''s not what you look for in a company, is it?" Mo Qingchen guessed. "What is it that you look for?"


    "Multiple things. The first is returns. How much will I make from putting my money into the company? Second, I look at what I can offer to the company. I am not a fan of blindly making money. I like to be a critical part of how the company develops. And third, the people. If I don''t like the people in the picture, I don''t invest."


    "You have really high standards, Yun Qian Meng," he said wryly. "But what''s wrong with making money without lifting your finger?" he asked. This is what he was curious about. She loved to pile work onto herself.


    "If I am not passionate about something, I can''t put money on it. If I am passionate about something, I need to voice my opinions. That''s all." That is what she believed.


    "Or is it that you want to be of use to people. To gain their trust and acknowledgment."


    "I don''t get off on praise," she snapped.


    "Self-realization is a good thing. Think about why you are the way you are. Running around people and looking for affection and acknowledgment everywhere you go." He paused. "Your philosophy is mature, something most businessmen should develop towards, but the psychology behind it is wrong."


    "Are you done yet?" Qian Meng gritted out through her teeth.

 Chapter 48: Would He Refuse if She Paid Him?

    "No. You''re also not a good judge of person." There was silence. Another presentation had ended. Yun Qian Meng had completely ignored it. Seeing her distress, Mo Qingchen spoke again. "It was a food delivery company. Their business model takes advantage of vendors and their resource allocation is poor. You wouldn''t like them."


    She didn''t thank him.


    The presenter was taking questions. She had time to control her anger. Next up was Jiang Da with his dating app. She was really looking forward to it.


    "I only judge some people wrong. It''s not a failure of my judgment. It''s just that I wanted to trust those people."


    Mo Qingchen felt an ache in his head. There she went again. That look in her eyes made him want to step in.


    "Don''t talk like an abandoned child. You''re old enough to know that no relationship is pure. Get over your expectations from others and remember what you preach. Someone close to you, your family, or friends can turn on you at any time but not your enemy. Trust your enemy more than your friends."


    True. She kept forgetting how much more damage loved ones could cause.


    The host announced Jiang Da''s presentation. Yun Qian Meng sat up straight and looked at the board. Most of the people weren''t interested. Apart from the top dating applications that were in the market and thriving, there was not much space for other companies.


    But Yun Qian Meng saw potential.


    She wrote down everything she heard, making additional notes she wanted to question Jiang Da about. The man beside her looked too displeased to consider the company. Yun Qian Meng looked towards him and then sighed.


    "Seriously?" he hissed. "This is the one you are interested in? I thought you had high standards for people and companies." He groaned as he saw her eyes brighten.


    "Sometimes, those things don''t matter," she grinned from ear to ear.


    Mo Qingchen recoiled, realizing that she was up to something evil. He leaned away from her and watched the show silently.


    When the presentation time was up, the host came up and announced that they would take questions.


    Qian Meng put her hand up and waited for someone to pass the phone to her.


    "Thank you for the presentation," she said, beginning on a positive note. "My first question for you lies in which countries you are operating in and how many active users are on your platform as of today."


    "As of today, we have fifteen thousand active users on the platform. It is available in Singapore and some other countries for now but most of our users are from Singapore." Jiang Da replied confidently.


    "That''s a good number. How long have you been operating for?"


    "Over a year now," he said.


    "And you are meaning to enter the global market with this base..." she pretended to contemplate. "From what I have seen of the application and website, the selling point is great. You are including all sorts of relationships and asking for the inclusion of minority sexualities as well. I support the selling point. With the rising number of unconventional romantic and sexual wants of people, it is a really good selling point. But your user experience is boring at best. The interface is hard to navigate, looks bad, and feels like it was done by a novice." She sighed. "Can you tell me how many employees your company has?"


    She smiled. Her eyes were glittering and Mo Qingchen stared at her, astounded. What was she getting at?


    "Four," Jiang Da said in a much lower voice than before.


    "Including you. You, your co-founder, and two other people in your company who are helping you create this website."


    "Yes."


    "I went to your business profile." She pulled out her phone. "Both of your ''employees'' are marked as freelancers that get paid close to dirt for helping with your website." She waved the screen in front of everyone. "I also found that you are a co-founder for three other companies and tried your hand at business eight times before. What happened to those businesses?"


    Now, her smile fell. Her eyes hardened.


    Jiang Da stammered. "We''ve all had bad experiences. You also have a lot of companies under you, don''t you? You must understand."


    "No, I don''t." She scoffed. "There is a particular difference between us. I succeeded in all my businesses. I didn''t hop around like a headless chicken trying to profit from every industry. I also didn''t take advantage of young freelancers who want to make money and survive."


    "Miss Yun, did I do something to offend you?"


    ''Yes, you did. You did it the moment you compared yourself to me.''


    "You''ve not made a single dime off the dating app yet and you valued your company at three million dollars." She chose to ignore his question. "The whole capital put into the company was around fifty thousand dollars, which you took to market inefficiently in the countries you are currently operating in. You paid little to the people who built your website and didn''t think about how to better your interface. You also got a copyright for the name and idea of your dating website."


    That was the only good thing he had done. It had been clever of him to do so.


    "If I had to value your company, I would put it at a hundred thousand dollars. What do you have to say?"


    Jiang Da remained silent. Mo Qinchen, who sat beside her leaned in.


    "I thought you don''t like offending people. What are you doing?" he whispered. She glanced towards him.


    "I looked him up. Now that I know what kind of a person he is, I can grab him by his throat." She smirked.


    "I think you are wrong."


    "So, if I offer you a hundred thousand dollars to buy your dating app, including your IP rights, you would refuse?" There, she laid it out in the open. Jiang Da gaped.

 Chapter 49: Plan on Making Him Cry

    "What?" Mo Qingchen hissed.


    "A hundred thousand is too little. I would consider it if you pay one hundred and seventy thousand dollars."


    Yun Qian Meng burst into laughter. She turned to Mo Qingchen and gave him a meaningful look.


    ''What do you think of this trick?'' her eyes asked.


    He silently applauded her. He didn''t know what she wanted to do but he had to give her pointers. Turning every investor off his proposal and then rushing in to insult him and offering him money to buy his company. A complete psychological war had transpired in front of him.


    "Do you think this is a fish market? You want to bargain with me?"


    Jiang Da nodded. "It''s basic etiquette in business deals, right?" he challenged. If he was going to shamelessly sell his company, he might as well try to get the highest price possible. And he didn''t believe a rich heiress could bargain like commoners in a market. They didn''t have the same concept of money as others. Didn''t know how precious every dollar was.


    "Of course. But do you want to do it in front of everyone?" she asked. She could see that he underestimated her in his expression. She wasn''t infuriated. Her pretty outer shell and innocent face usually made people underestimate her. It was good for her because they didn''t expect it when she struck hard. How did they think she became a multi-billionaire at such a young age?


    "Yes." And that''s why over-confidence ended people.


    Qian Meng ignored him. She turned to Mo Qingchen. "I need your cooperation," she said in a low voice.


    "My cooperation?" Mo Qingchen could only mimic her.


    "The forecasted revenue for online dating in China alone is forecasted to be seven point three billion dollars. The revenue grows when you look at it worldwide." She started to present her side.


    "It''s a saturated industry which doesn''t like people entering. There is nothing unique that you can propose to the people," he claimed.


    Qian Meng pressed her lips together and continued. "Dating websites focus on hookup culture more often than not or only think about serious relationships. They are no better than solicitation or marriage websites. In such an industry, presenting a renewed platform which is worth building several types of relationships over is an undeniable selling point." She paused when she saw his skepticism. "Trust me, I know my numbers. And my gut never lies. There is great profit in this if I have my hands in it."


    "I can''t see how I can help in your grand scheme to change the online dating industry," he whined.


    "I can handle reputation management, branding, and marketing all on my own but the main focus should be the website and app. And for that, I know that you are the best. You know what sells and what doesn''t."


    ''Fall for it,'' she chanted over and over in her head.


    "Just hire some web developers and you are done." Mo Qingchen didn''t want to budge.


    She revealed her final weapon. "Estimated evaluation of the company will be at four billion dollars in 5 years. I can promise you that. With that in mind, you will receive fifty percent share, making your slice of the pie worth two billion dollars."


    ''Still want to refuse?''


    "And why are you sharing it with me?" he brooded.


    "I know my limits and I acknowledge your strengths. The best way to succeed would be to cooperate with you. I can''t convince you otherwise than to tell you how much money you will make." She lowered her head and looked at her feet. "Didn''t you say you are only interested when extraordinary returns make an appearance?"


    "True. But if I make the website and app, shouldn''t I get sixty percent shares instead? It was you who said the main focus is that. That is the least you can do."


    Yun Qian Meng had dropped the axe on her own feet.


    "I manage everything else. Don''t make your work too important," she replied cheerlessly.


    "But it is more important. What are you going to market without the interface?" He grinned. She would say yes, he could see it.


    "Fifty-five percent."


    "Fifty-seven," he offered.


    "Fifty-five percent and contracts with your gaming company in the future." The last part was said too quietly. Even the people closest to them couldn''t hear. Mo Qingchen''s ears perked up and he stared at her.


    She had a vivid plan. She had a plan for him. Intrigued, he nodded.


    "Deal. I''ll take that."


    According to her calculations, she would make enough money not to cry over spilled milk. She just wouldn''t have complete control over the company. Why did it feel like she hadn''t lost? Because she knew he wouldn''t stop her from doing what she thought was best. He probably only wanted business briefings.


    "We''ll put it on paper at the end of today''s program." She turned to Jiang Da. "Sorry. I had something to discuss. Shall we begin?"


    "Lower the price until it hurts him," Mo Qingchen interjected, his voice filled with ill-intention.


    "Don''t worry, I plan to make him cry."


    Whispers permeated through the air as people talked. An actual business deal was happening in front of them. This was a rare sight. Usually, companies and investors didn''t want their numbers out in the open but here Yun Qian Meng was, airing her business and investment plans in front of everyone.


    "One seventy thousand dollars for hundred percent shares of the company including IP rights."


    "Hundred thousand dollars for hundred percent shares of the company including IP rights."


    The banter went back and forth for a solid few minutes until Jiang Da finally realized that Yun Qian Meng wouldn''t budge over one twenty thousand dollars. He looked around the room and finally realized that he had been played.

 Chapter 50: Turning Into a Wild Child

    Yun Qian Meng had doomed him. She had torn down the credibility of her company, asked to buy it from him, and then completely desecrated the price he set. With her reputation, the price she set would act as a precedent to what other investors would be willing to pay. Moreover, now that the people in the room knew, they wouldn''t want to touch his company with a ten-foot pole.


    As promised, he was close to tears.


    "What is your final offer?"


    "One hundred and twenty-three thousand dollars for the hundred percent shares of the company and IP rights." Her face remained stoic. Opposing his earlier expectation, she had offered more. He looked up, surprised, and overjoyed.


    Treating people poorly for long enough makes them expect very little from the other person. When you surprise them with something minutely good, they jump at the offer and think you are the best person possible.


    Yun Qian Meng had easily grasped that this man was motivated by fast money. To hurt his pride over and over again until it wasn''t the most important thing he thought about. When given a small benefit, he would jump and take it.


    "Deal. When do we sign the contract?"


    "Someone from my acquisition team will call you and forward the contract. You can speak to them directly." She nodded and smiled. "It was a pleasure doing business with you."


    The older generation of investors gaped, thinking about what they saw and wondered what the endgame was. Pointing out everything bad about the company and then buying it. Did that mean that she could transform the company on her own? Now, that would be worth waiting and watching.


    "Thank you," Jiang Da muttered, giving her a bow. When he left the small stage, Mo Qingchen finally spoke.


    "Indeed, you are a shark. I was sure you were going to make him sign the company over for free."


    "I''ll take that as a compliment. When I smell blood, I follow. And when I bite, I don''t let go. That''s my strategy."


    He was impressed, to say the least. "Four more hours of this. Don''t try to rope me into any more of your plans," he warned.


    "I don''t have any more of those," she said, stretching. "Make your move and don''t complain about the price at which I bought. Your watch is worth more than what you invested in it."


    He shrugged. "How did you know?"


    "I could see it on your face." She wanted to complain. "Anyone you are interested in today?" she asked.


    "There are two I am looking forward to. It won''t be in the industries you usually invest in but consider it advice from a senior. They''ll do well in the future." He kept his eyes on the presentation.


    "I''ll think about it," she deadpanned.


    "Excuse me?" someone said from behind them. The two turned and saw a woman in her forties talking to them. One of the investors, from the look of it. "Do you mind keeping it down?"


    Qian Meng forced a smile on her face and stiffly turned away. Mo Qingchen was eerily silent.


    Why did it feel like she had been caught talking in class and pulled up in front of everyone? Maybe it was how the woman looked. Exactly like those strict teachers in high school. She had never been at the receiving end of a teacher''s scolding, so this was a new feeling for her.


    A thrill went through her.


    ''Am I actually turning into a wild child?'' she thought excitedly. After exhausting her excitement, she settled down and stared at the screen blankly. Notes after notes were taken. Not another word was said.


    - - - - -


    It was one and a half hours until dinner and Yun Qian Meng felt her headache get worse. As much as she wanted to go to her room and just sleep, she had to call Li Jun and make him write up a contract. Rarely did such opportunities come and Qian Meng was not one to delay business deals.


    She walked out of the conference room and pulled her phone to her ear. The phone rang twice before Li Jun picked up.


    "Sorry for calling you this early," she said quickly.


    "Don''t worry about it. I never went home. I was working all night. Send me the details of the company and I will be sending over the tentative contract. You can fight it out after that." There was no trace of anger or frustration in his voice. Yun Qian Meng rarely called people outside working hours, but this guy, Li Jun was a breed of his own. He never really went to sleep and worked all week so that he could spend the weekends to himself.


    "I need to explain everything to you first," she said. Explaining the whole situation, she stopped.


    "I''ll draft the contract for the acquisition and co-owner agreement tentatively. We''ll need all three stakeholders in the same room. Make sure the co-founder for the dating company gives his explicit agreement and signs over his rights as well."


    "Understood. I''ll send you all the background information and figures that need to be present in the contract. Write up a beautiful one for me." She smirked.


    "When have I ever disappointed you?" Li Jun scoffed.


    "Oh, please. I''m your benefactor. You''ve made tons of money since I signed you with my company." She deserved a little praise for that.


    "And I work like a slave for you because of that," Li Jun commented dispassionately.


    "And I pay you handsomely for it."


    "Then our side of the deal is met. We owe each other nothing." True. This was called a harmonious business relationship.


    "I sent your sister on a vacation. Take time off for yourself. I heard you were working on quite a few pro bono cases," she murmured.


    "Yeah. You taught me how to elevate my company image. Don''t want to be seen as a corporate troubleshooter." Qian Meng laughed.

 Chapter 51: It Sounds Like Forever

    "Okay, I''ll hang up. I have so much to do." She groaned and hung up. She didn''t have a very formal relationship with Li Jun so she didn''t wait for his greetings. He wasn''t the sort of person either. His gruffness and lack of emotions made it easy for him to get to the crux of the matter and fix problems.


    Good for all sides.


    She entered her room and quickly found herself exhausted. She had yet to unpack her clothes, moreover, she needed to remove her current clothes and wear something more casual for dinner. Though it wasn''t meant to be a formal affair, all the investors and entrepreneurs would be eating today. She was about to go to the bathroom when she heard a knock at the door.


    She wanted to ignore the knock but found herself trudging to the door anyway.


    She opened it, her eyes drooping, and saw Mo Qingchen standing in the hallway.


    "What are you doing here?" she asked.


    "I spoke to my lawyer. He wants to draw up the agreement between the two of us before we sign with Jiang Da," he said quickly. She pulled aside and let him in.


    He sat on the little entertainment table and placed his laptop in front of him.


    Qian Meng looked at the bathroom longingly and then lugged her laptop from her bag. She sat opposite him and opened the laptop. She had already dialed Li Jun put him on speakerphone.


    "I''m still working on the agreement," Li Jun said in a bored voice. Qian Meng could hear him typing furiously in the background.


    "Yes, Mo Qingchen wants to discuss it in detail with his lawyer over a call. Stay on the line and make the changes in real-time, okay?"


    "Understood."


    Mo Qingchen raised his eyebrow as he explained the situation to his lawyer and put the man on speakerphone as well. Introductions were made and the contract was drafted in detail. Of the postulates, the division of shares, the commitments to the companies, and money estimated to be needed to float the business and grow it was put down.


    "You promised me fifty-five percent shares which will fetch me 2.2 billion dollars in shares in 5 years'' time. I want to set that as a minimum. I also want a drafted detail of the games you wish to purchase over the next five years and what the return on those will be."


    "For now, I want to work on simpler games that we can incorporate within the application and website so that individuals can play together to increase their interaction scores. It''s like having games with quests to level up your relationship." The explanation was simple but Mo Qingchen understood it explicitly.


    "So, you have a tentative plan about the whole trajectory of the company." He thought for a moment before dictating a few lines to the lawyers to add. "This basically means, that I am bound to exclusively partner with this company and input the games in the platform and I am under no circumstances allowed to partner with any other company."


    Yun Qian Meng nodded before adding her own clause. "But I want to have the leeway to incorporate games from other companies as well to increase user traffic and new people interested in the platform. Exclusive games and in-game promotions will be a good option for that."


    "Don''t worry you''ll make money from it too," she said quickly.


    "How long have you known you want to buy this company?" he asked out of the blue. The people on the line became silent acting like they couldn''t hear the intensity in Mo Qingchen''s voice.


    "I had gone through the list of companies attending the conference when the list came out and went through minor details. Two days ago, Li Min gave me further information on the ones I was interested in. Jiang Da approached me the next day and I had to dig in. It seemed like the stars had aligned and were begging me to take action. I was just going to be a shareholder, but I could see that this man doesn''t respect others. He would ruin the company with his own hands, so I had to do it." She shrugged.


    "And why not build your own dating website without this guy?" Mo Qingchen asked casually.


    "They have ten thousand or so users already. Their selling point though not mature is good. The thing that actually drew me in? The name. 1314." She gave Mo Qingchen a pointed look.


    "It sounds like ''forever''." His eyes widened in understanding.


    "Once I saw that name, I just couldn''t stop thinking about it. I had to have my finger in it." She chuckled. "Call me a shark if you want."


    "Insane," he muttered under his breath. "Going back to the point. These are the minimum guarantees you have to give me. I hear your side and will work with you closely to form a team that executes the interface to your standards and beyond."


    "With more color," she added cheekily.


    "With more color," he added without protest.


    The call was wrapped up in the next few minutes and the two slumped back into their chair.


    Qian Meng reluctantly looked up at the clock and sighed. "We have twenty minutes to get dressed and go to dinner." She wanted to cry.


    "Well, we can just go to the ground floor in half an hour," he offered.


    "You can wear that. But I can''t wear this while I eat food," she commented. The pants were meant for business and didn''t leave room for a food baby. She preferred wearing something that was airy and allowed a little bump here and there without causing discomfort.


    Mo Qingchen looked at her clothes and nodded.


    "It does look a bit stiff."

 Chapter 52: See Her Walk Around Naked

    She pressed her lips together and for the sake of their newly agreed-upon deal, didn''t retort.


    "I''ll go change," she said lazily.


    "Don''t wash your hair. The weather is still cold, and the air conditioner in this hotel is blasting."


    She gave him a peculiar look and nodded before picking up the towel and dress from the bed. She trudged into the bathroom and before shutting it, peered out and looked at him.


    For the life of her, she didn''t know why he was still sitting in her room. She also didn''t know why she didn''t make her leave.


    Meh, it''s not like she had confidential material in the room, anyway.


    She shrugged and switched the shower on. In these fancy rooms, the bathroom doors were frosted glass. But she was far away from it so he wouldn''t be able to see her silhouette. She took a hot shower, washed her makeup off, and scrubbed her body clean. She put on some loud music to wake herself up. This was done without regard for the man sitting outside.


    The whole process was done in ten minutes. The next few minutes were spent dressing. Except for the zip. She couldn''t reach it and pull it up. She had to bite her lip and resign to her. She had already put her hair up in the towel so she hobbled out of the bathroom.


    Mo Qingchen glanced at her passively.


    "Mind zipping me up?" she asked, pretending to be shameless. This seemed to be her motto around Mo Qingchen: pretend to be thick-skinned. What could she say? Fake it till you make it.


    "You''re really too comfortable around me." He sighed. He got up from the chair and walked towards her. She gave him a coy smile and turned back to offer her back to him.


    Mo Qingchen stared for a second and realized that she was either not wearing a bra or had those pasting cups on her. Not that those did much good. He shook the thought away and rested his hand on the small of her back to tug the zipper up.


    "I just want to warn you. Don''t think I am trying to seduce you. You were the only one who could help in this situation." Unwelcome guest as you are.


    "Did I say anything about being seduced? You think too highly of yourself." If he were so easily seduced, he would have a bunch of women clinging on to him. Gold diggers were plenty on the planet.


    Qian Meng became silent. She had never even tried to seduce anyone. How would she know how these things affect men? "Huh. I didn''t see you hesitate when you walked up. You''re clearly taking advantage of my comfort around you."


    Mo Qingchen scoffed. "I view you as a genderless alien. Don''t worry about your chastity or my sainthood."


    Qian Meng tried to think of a retort but he patted her back.


    "All done. What would you have done if I wasn''t here?" he asked with a huff. Clearly, there was an alternate solution.


    "Chosen another dress," Qian Meng told him easily.


    "Then why didn''t you do that?" he exclaimed. He couldn''t deny the slight tingle at his fingertips or the stirring in his stomach.


    "I spared you the sight of me walking around naked," she smirked. She turned around at that moment and caught Mo Qinchen''s eyes flit downward towards her chest.


    He knew well that he had been caught looking. He didn''t apologize.


    "It''s cold in the dining area," he told her without emotion. He turned quickly and saw himself out much to Yun Qian Meng''s delight.


    A woman could wear a dress out without a bra just fine. And this dress made her breasts look phenomenal. Air and beauty? She couldn''t turn it down. She checked herself out in the mirror, gave a quick wink, and followed Mo Qingchen out.


    She kept her pace fast. When she arrived at the elevator, she saw Mo Qinchen standing in front of the closed door. He looked over his shoulder and saw her approaching and turned back to call the elevator.


    ''What a gentleman,'' Qian Meng thought.


    They went down in silence and entered the dining area without incident. No-one turned to look at them. Mo Qingchen remained relatively close, paying no attention to her whatsoever in her mind. She proceeded towards the buffet and placed a considerable amount of food on her plate. Some of the other people gawked but didn''t comment.


    Qian Meng paid them no attention. She had a high metabolism and ate a lot of food. And she hadn''t had much food that day, so it was okay. As she quietly ate her food, a group of investors approached her.


    "Miss Yun, is anyone sitting beside you?" an elderly gentleman asked. Qian Meng looked up from her plate and a smile graced on her lips.


    "Please do. I enjoy eating with others," she lied politely. She never ate with others if she had a choice.


    The men sat around her, chirpily talking about their investments and business ventures. Qian Meng paid close attention to the conversation without putting in her input. The dining table was where people were least guarded and they spoke of very many things they would never discuss in a normal conversation. It could range from gossip within the industry to earth-shattering news about the movements of a company that could make the stock prices skyrocket.


    Once dinner was done, Qian Meng excused herself and quietly went upstairs. On her way to the elevator, Mo Qingchen caught up to her.


    "Are you stalking me?" she asked blandly.


    "Our rooms are on the same floor," he replied gruffly. He looked unsatisfied with something so Qian Meng had to tease him.


    "Didn''t enjoy the hotel food?" she asked, the corner of her lips rising up.


    "Buffet food is always quite disinteresting. But this hotel really doesn''t pay attention to the quality of their food," he cribbed. Qian Meng shrugged.

 Chapter 53: Stare at Her All Day

    "I''m not picky when it comes to food. I''ll have anything that tastes good. I don''t have a gourmet palate." What a fat cat, she thought in her head.


    "This is because you''ve not tasted good food before. Once you taste actually good food, you''ll not want to go back to plain old food cooked by subpar chefs." The seriousness and passion with which he spoke made her turn to take a closer look at him.


    "Well, you''ll have to wait for the day I make more money than you to show me what good food is, then." She chuckled. The elevator dinged and she bounced out without a goodbye.


    Mo Qingchen shook his head as he watched her hop away. She really liked to test his patience. He followed behind silently, his hand placed firmly in the pockets of his pant. She swiped her keycard quickly and shut the door without glancing at him.


    Mo Qingchen took his phone out and checked the earnings for that day. A small smile played on his lips as he dialed a number and put the phone to his ear.


    - - - - -


    Yun Qian Meng found that she had overestimated herself. After the whole day of the convention and then laying out the contract with Mo Qingchen, she was dead tired. The balcony attached to her room had a beautiful view of Zurich. She slumped down on the chair on the balcony and stared at the starry skies for a long time. She even ordered some non-alcohol drinks to sip on as she drew in the essence of the city.


    She could barely keep her eyes open by the time it was eleven at night and found herself trudging to the bed. She was out cold the moment her head hit the pillow. If anyone had seen the scene, they would find her cute or worry about how overworked she was. The twelve hours of sleep she got on the plane was probably the most sleep she had gotten in a year. The last time being the investment conference last year. Unlike others, Yun Qian Meng could fall asleep just about anywhere. She didn''t have a place to call home and the hotel bed wasn''t familiar even after years of sleeping in it.


    So, because she had no place where she could just place her head without worrying, she had learned to fall asleep anywhere she thought suitable. Sometimes her back would hurt because of her practice, but her young age made recovery easy.


    When she woke up, she felt refreshed after a long time. She looked at the clock, wide awake, and had to rush.


    For some reason, the investors had collectively decided that they wanted to eat outside the hotel. That was fine by Yun Qian Meng. She got into the designated car without objection.


    The car came to a smooth stop and the driver opened her door. She had no idea which way to go, so she silently waited for the rest to come out. Mo Qingchen walked out of the next car that arrived shortly followed by some other investors. He took his place on her side effortlessly without caring for the other.


    Two Chinese investors around the same age were supposed to get along so people didn''t think much about it. Businessmen rarely gossipped about such things.


    "Let''s go," he commanded, irritation lacing his voice.


    "Yes, sir," she saluted.


    His eyes looked at her disapprovingly before turning away and leading the others in. When he realized that she hadn''t followed in, he turned and waited impatiently. She made her way slowly to his side. She was just about to ask if she should keep her distance from him when he interrupted her thoughts.


    "Have you tasted Scandanavian cuisine before?" his deep voice resounded. The others stepped away, letting them talk.


    "No," she shook her head. "We''re in France, why should we eat Scandanavian?" she argued.


    "Because this restaurant is world-famous for Scandanavian food and I don''t want to miss out," he reprimanded.


    "So, you enjoy food." That was a surprise. From his clothing sense and drinking habits, he didn''t seem particular about such things. Surprisingly, he was a foodie. Good. She enjoyed good food, as well.


    "I do. This morning, I''m going to introduce your mouth to something new." His smirk was crooked and utterly devilish. For a second, she was captivated.


    He went from a sour and intimidating mood to excited in a fraction of a second. His mood swings were going to give her whiplash. She found herself smiling as she walked down the path that led to the restaurant.


    "You act as if you were the one who made this trip happen," she teased.


    "Well, I did. Why else would these people know of this exquisite place? Peasants." He scoffed. Qian Meng rolled her eyes.


    How was it possible for someone so infuriating to be so charming?


    The decor was sleek and modern. The place was crowded but the moment they entered, several members of the staff nearly tripped over themselves to get to them.


    "Mr. Mo," a tall and handsome man stood before them. He smiled eagerly at the party.


    Mo Qingchen barely nodded his head in acknowledgment. The man''s eyes looked over her from head to toe before flashing towards Mo Qingchen. He said something in a foreign language and winked at Yun Qian Meng.


    Mo Qingchen stiffened. "How observant," he said in a low, dissatisfied voice. Mo Qingchen shifted his body so that he was blocking the man''s view of her. She didn''t understand a single word spoken but thought it extremely rude that Mo Qingchen had done so.


    She stared at his back for a moment before huffing and walking around him.


    "Do you plan on seating us or will you stare at her all day?" Mo Qingchen snapped.


    "Of course, sir. Right away." The poor guy jumped into action and guided the group to their seats, apologizing to Mo Qingchen along the way.

 Chapter 54: Are You Jealous?

    The man snapped his fingers and a swarm of employees suddenly appeared at their long table. Her chair was promptly pulled out and their glasses filled. They handed out the menus and then went to stand in a straight line like soldiers as they waited for commands.


    Qian Meng watched closely. She felt quite stifled in such situations. She glanced at Mo Qingchen and saw him perfectly at ease. He seemed to be used to this situation.


    "You were extremely rude to me and that man just now," she whispered. Her eyes shot fire at that point.


    There was an expansive window beside them, giving them a view of the city. Yun Qian Meng and his chairs were nestled tightly beside one another.


    Mo Qingchen leaned in close to her. "Untrue," he said calmly. "That man was rude to us, actually. He will regret that decision." The threat in his voice was clear.


    Qian Meng looked at the man in question and laughed. "He is beyond terrified of you. I highly doubt he meant to be rude."


    "That is irrelevant. He should have thought before he spoke. For such a high-class restaurant, he forgot his training." He opened his menu as if the conversation was over. So this was the infamous treatment Mo Qingchen gave to others. So different from how he treated her. The perk of being his enemy, she supposed.


    "You speak... Swedish?" she asked. She wasn''t sure what the language was, though.


    "I do. I have investments and business connections in Sweden, so I learned the language early on," he explained.


    "What did he say that was rude?" The man did seem a bit nosey but Yun Qian Meng had that personality trait as well. She couldn''t fault the other.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes didn''t leave the menu. He lifted it briefly when he spoke. "He said you were beautiful."


    She gasped dramatically. "Oh my god. What a bastard. He should be hung for his crime." Her tone was filled with sarcasm.


    "It was inappropriate," he replied sternly.


    "Were you jealous?" she joked. His eyes lifted and then he looked away.


    "I don''t like to be questioned by people." What a snob. This man lacked patience. This was his fallacy.


    "I didn''t like how you blocked my view as though I was an object. In animal terms, you were peeing on me." And what right did he have to do that?


    They locked eyes for several seconds before Yun Qian Meng opened the menu and looked down. The menu was beautifully presented, without pictures and in Swedish. She understood some of the names, so she wasn''t bothered to ask the snob sitting beside her.


    Their conversation had made them the only people who didn''t order. When she was done choosing she ordered. An employee scurried into the room.


    "I''m looking for a Miss Yun?" he called. Everyone turned and looked at her.


    "What is it?" she asked.


    "There is a man asking for you outside and refuses to leave." Qian Meng''s brows lifted in curiosity. A man in Paris who knew her enough to wait for her. Jiang Da had already gotten what he wanted, he wouldn''t meet her.


    "Do you have a boyfriend here or something?" Mo Qingchen asked curiously.


    "Not that I know of. I am rather charming, so maybe someone wants to pursue me." She turned to the employee.


    "Can you please get a name from the man?" The employee bowed and was about to leave when Yun Qian Meng''s phone lit up. Bai Ye Qing. He must have gotten her number from her father. She sighed. "No need," she called, surprising everyone. "I know who it is."


    She pushed her chair back and stood up.


    "You''re going to meet him?" Mo Qingchen asked, unamused.


    "He came all the way from Mainland China to talk to me. I have to hear him out." She gave him a pointed look and walked towards the employee. "Please find us an isolated location away from everyone. It''s a private meeting."


    Knowing Bai Ye Qing, he could cause a scene. She was here for work. Being seen with someone rowdy wouldn''t be good for her reputation.


    She was led to a private dining area and took a seat. Within a few minutes, she saw Bai Ye Qing walk in timidly.


    What a farce.


    "Sit down," she beckoned, pointing to the chair across from her. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked when he sat down. He looked at her with a boyish smile that got on her nerves. "I thought I made myself clear that I don''t want to marry you."


    "I wanted to talk to you about that, actually." His voice was louder now. Qian Meng spread the napkin on her lap and waited with bated breath for his words. What could he say that would make her rethink her decision? "I think there are some misunderstandings about this."


    "Oh, is there?" she asked, curiously. So, this was how scammers made their point. It seemed so laughable for someone who knew their ploy.


    "I sensed some hostility with you and your family. And because your father arranged this marriage, you feel like protesting." Qian Meng put her chin on the palm of her hand and listened to him. "I don''t want to force you. I think we should develop feelings for one another. If we get to know one another, we''ll come to like each other."


    The words weren''t wrong in another context. For a middle-class family, maybe he was a catch, but to her, she would be marrying down.


    "Feelings are only possible between people of the same stature," Qian Meng countered. "I am surrounded by outstanding men, and you just don''t compare. What do you think about that?"


    Yun Qian Meng saw movement behind him and stared past. Mo Qingchen had somehow found his way to her. His eyes were sharp as he came forward.

 Chapter 55: You are Incapable of Standing Beside Me

    "Look behind you and you''ll know what I mean." She felt a chuckle escape her as Bai Ye Qing swiveled around to look at the man approaching them. Bai Ye Qing turned back quickly, his eyes conflicted.


    "Isn''t that Mr. Mo Qingchen?" he whispered conspiratorially.


    "Indeed, he is." She paused in time. Mo Qingchen had already reached the table. He flicked his wrist and an employee scrambled forward to place a chair beside Yun Qian Meng. "What brings you here?" she asked, a hint of hostility in her voice.


    "You probably haven''t checked the list this morning. You made more money than me yesterday. As per our agreement, you are supposed to have a meal with me when you do. Hence, you are bound to me." His explanation seemed fair, but Yun Qian Meng pulled out her phone just in case and reloaded the page.


    She scrolled down and smiled.


    Indeed, she made more money than him. "You made 348 million dollars yesterday. A little short of my 351 million yesterday. Good," she turned her phone downwards and let him sit beside her. "A deal is a deal."


    "I had to work really hard to make you earn more," Mo Qingchen replied cockily.


    "Well, if you''re so bothered about earning less than me, why didn''t you do it earlier, huh?" Challenge accepted. "And you..." she turned to Bai Ye Qing. "How much did you earn yesterday?"


    She held in the mocking smile.


    "What do you mean?" he asked.


    "Well, I told you about the brilliant men I see every day. I told you the income of one of them. How do you fair against them?" She stared at him unblinkingly.


    "I..."


    Mo Qingchen interjected. "As a director in your father''s company, you earned a couple of thousand dollars yesterday."


    Yun Qian Meng leaned back and let the boys do the talking. If Mo Qingchen was doing her work for her, she wouldn''t jump to join in.


    "You have a tendency to blow away your money, so I bet you aren''t left with much." He let out an amused breath.


    "The depth of emotion in a relationship is not measured by the amount of money either partner has. It is decided by their support for one another," Bai Ye Qing countered. His true personality, rigidness, and fighting spirit were rearing their head.


    "Good point," Qian Meng said before Mo Qingchen could say anything. He gave her an exasperated look.


    ''Can''t you see I am fighting on your side? Why did you defend him?'' his eyes asked.


    "But two people can only support one another when they start from the same point. If I marry someone, I expect them to understand why I am not home all the time, why I drink with my business associates, and why my mood is foul. I expect them to help me solve problems when I am at a dead end. You have none of those qualities. You are incapable of understanding my situation because you have never worked hard for what you got. You are incapable of understanding me because your family frowns upon women in business. You are incapable of helping me because you will never be able to solve my problems." Now this attack was fatal.


    "But people from different classes marry and have healthy relationships. As long as I support you, and comfort you... you will feel better." The tone was coaxing and somewhat disgusting for both Yun Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen to listen to. Bai Ye Qing spoke to her like an old lover who was coaxing his lover to make them less angry.


    "Comfort me? If I lose all my money, will your comfort make me feel any better?" she challenged. "I am not a woman who wants to be subjugated by a man, but I also don''t want to be the dominant one in the relationship. We should be on equal footing. If you can''t help me further my career and goals, what use are you to me?" She scoffed.


    "But feelings matter!" he shouted.


    Qian Meng was taken aback. "Feelings?" she repeated.


    "She has none for you. You have neither emotional bonds with her nor money to make her stay by your side. What is your argument?" Mo Qingchen challenged.


    "Choose what you want to eat. I am hungry," Qian Meng spoke up. She really was hungry. She was at a wonderful restaurant and this conversation was wasting her time. Hence, she needed to at least eat something tasty to compensate.


    Bai Ye Qing reluctantly pulled his eyes away from Yun Qian Meng and focused on the menu in front of him. He looked at the names and stared blankly. There weren''t any pictures to help him either.


    Bai Ye Qing had two choices. He could either ask the arrogant Mo Qingchen for help or the woman who was hellbent on refusing his marriage proposal. He would lose out if we asked either. He decided on his last option. He had to pick randomly.


    He decided to leave it up to fate and closed his eyes, not opening them until his finger was firmly placed on something called renytterfile. He had no idea what it was but he wasn''t a picky eater, so he would just choose it.


    The entrees came in much to Qian Meng''s delight. Mo Qingchen had already started to munch on something she wasn''t sure of. It was caviar of some sort. Seeing her expression, he smirked softly.


    He pushed the plate towards her and handed her a fork. "Taste," he commanded, his tone still soft.


    "What is it?" she asked, looking down at the circular black globs in front of her.


    "Taste," he repeated, this time giving her bossy eyes. She rolled her eyes.


    "Alright. How bad could it be..." she grumbled as she used the side of her fork to slice a small piece of the pie. She slid it into her mouth.

 Chapter 56: Mo Qingchen Made Her Bolder

    Mo Qingchen stared at her lips intently as they closed down on the fork and waited for her reaction. Her taste buds were assaulted with the strangest flavor. The bitterness almost caused her eyes to clench shut before she pulled them wide open.


    "What the hell was that?" she hissed as she grabbed her glass.


    "Paddlefish caviar with steak tartar." He reached over with his fork and scooped up some for himself. "Do you like it?"


    She frowned. "I suppose I don''t dislike it." Her nose scrunched up tightly. "I thought you wanted to treat me to good food. Are you taking revenge for something?" she asked, taking another sip of her water.


    So bitter.


    "Not everything can be as sweet as your drink of choice, Qian Meng," he said knowingly.


    "Well, I suppose you enjoy bitter things. Much like your drink of choice, Qingchen." She squinted. It was the first time she had called him by his name. His eyes widened slightly and then he glared at her. She had said his name with the intention of infuriating him. "Chen Chen, why do you like bitter and black things?" she asked.


    She could literally hear Mo Qingchen''s mind melt. That nickname probably blew his mind and aged him ten years.


    "Because that''s how my soul looks," he replied bluntly. Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "But you would know all about black and bitter souls, wouldn''t you? That''s why you eat so many sweet things. Even your obsession with diet coke during university showed what you prefer... black, cold and poisonous."


    Qian Meng wanted to laugh.


    "You two are really close. I didn''t know that," Bai Ye Qing concluded. "How do you know each other?" he asked casually, but the other two could hear that his hackles were rising.


    "Our families are in the same industry. We attended the same parties, galas, charity balls. Our parents constantly compared the two of us so that we could compete and try to beat one another at everything. Qian Meng was also my sister''s best friend in college so I saw her a few times when I picked up my sister from the university." He shrugged.


    "It does seem we have had a lot of intersections in our life," Yun Qian Meng pondered.


    "It''s a pity our parents are enemies. If we had known each other without being compared all the time, our personalities would have drawn us closer to make us inseparable allies," Mo Qingchen commented. He had a faraway look in his eyes and he raised his glass towards Qian Meng. He raised hers and took a sip of her water.


    "Honestly, I trust my enemies more than my friends and family. My enemies don''t stab me in the back or try to take the things that are mine without reason." These words were a sharp slap to Bai Ye Qing''s face. Even an enemy was better treated than him.


    "The entrees are not enough to fill me up. Did you decide on what you want to eat?" Yun Qian Meng asked Bai Ye Qing. He nodded.


    The waiter''s crisp accent rang from beside them. Mo Qingchen placed his order with ease, his Swedish fluent and impressive. Yun Qian Meng hadn''t noticed it before when he was being so rude, but it was rather attractive when Mo Qingchen spoke in a foreign language.


    She ordered her bit, keeping it safe and asking the waiter for his recommendation. Then, everyone turned to Bai Ye Qing.


    His head popped up and he said, "I''ll have the renytterfile." He was confident. The waiter''s amused gaze informed him that he had butchered the pronunciation. But there was nothing to be embarrassed about that.


    Mo Qingchen cocked his head to the side. "You''ve had Scandanavian food before?" he asked curiously.


    Bai Ye Qing smirked, realizing that he must have made an excellent choice. "I haven''t. But it seemed like the obvious choice."


    Qian Meng sighed and shook her head. She knew some of these dishes because she had traveled all over the world. Even she wouldn''t order this dish.


    "I never thought you could be interesting." Mo Qingchen''s voice was filled with genuine awe and frustration.


    "He is an anomaly, isn''t he? Persistent and unembarrassed after all the humiliation we have put him through." Where she got the confidence to outright humiliate Bai Ye Qing, she didn''t know but if she had to guess, she would say Mo Qingchen made her bolder.


    "You''re persistent too," he replied softly, ignoring the last part.


    Yun Qian Meng tried another bite of the caviar. It actually tasted good once she was accustomed to the bitterness.


    "Hey, this actually tastes good," she said with surprise. Mo Qingchen smiled.


    "Of course. At first, things that seem bitter may actually be good while those sugary treats you like spoil your health and cause you pain." His eyes were piercing. Qian Meng couldn''t understand his words, but they seemed to be a life lesson.


    "Not bad," she admitted. Her fingertip lightly followed the rim of the glass before she raised her eyes to his. "And what other bitter pill do you want me to swallow?"


    Mo Qingchen didn''t respond right away, instead, he lifted his glass to his lips for a long drink of water, keeping their eyes connected all the while.


    He lowered the glass, his lips glistening. "There are a lot of pills I wish for you to swallow," he admitted somewhat reluctantly.


    Just as she was about to ask what those things were, the meals were placed down in front of them. She hadn''t even noticed the waiter standing there, which was weird considering how observant she was.


    Much to her relief and Bai Ye Qing''s, the food looked amazing.


    Bai Ye Qing looked down at his plate and sighed with relief. A plump and juicy steak with a variety of vegetables surrounded it. He glanced over at the others and saw that they had ordered different proteins. He chuckled to himself.


    "Is something funny?" Qian Meng asked.

 Chapter 57: Flower Boy Who Likes Taking Advantage

    "No," he shook his head. "Just a pre-breakfast chuckle. You know how our culture emphasizes laughing and removing toxins from our body in the morning," he explained. He had no idea what he was talking about and evidently neither did the other two at the table. They looked at him like he was absolutely insane.


    Bai Ye Qing dove in. The steak was slightly different from what he was used to. Oddly, it was slightly gamey but extremely delicious. There was a red wine sauce on the side as well.


    His gaze landed on Mo Qingchen, who sat quietly and enjoyed his meal and he took a moment to watch the man. He had been compared to this billionaire and asked to see where he stood in comparison. So, that was what he did. Mo Qingchen did stand out. The restaurant was filled with people, each and every one of them extremely cultured and prominent but Mo Qingchen with his ruffled black mane and bottomless eyes was impossible not to notice.


    Beside him, Yun Qian Meng''s presence was equally domineering. A woman who was sure of what she wanted and wasn''t afraid to get her hands dirty to achieve it. He liked these kinds of women. The more independent and strong they thought themselves to be, the easier they were to manipulate.


    They fell into his trap easily. Apparently, acting like a little flower who needed the protection of a woman evoked their motherly instinct to protect. He used it to his advantage quite often.


    Qian Meng looked up when she felt his gaze on him and felt the need to suppress a gag. The look in his eyes was predatory. He didn''t know how easy it was to read, so he didn''t bother to change his expression.


    "Thank you for inviting me to breakfast with you this morning," he said sweetly.


    Qian Meng was taken off guard. "I didn''t invite you. You showed up. I''m not impolite enough to turn you down." And it was her fatal flaw. "Are you enjoying your meal?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen silently watched the two interact.


    Bai Ye Qing nodded. "It''s delightful. Though I am sorry I couldn''t get a chance to try something new." He shot Mo Qingchen a victorious look.


    The other''s brow rose. "You''ve had reindeer before? I thought you hadn''t tried the cuisine?"


    Qian Meng watched with rapt fascination as Bai Ye Qing started to cough. "I''m sorry, what?" he spluttered.


    "Reindeer filet," Mo Qingchen pointed towards Bai Ye Qing''s dish. He made it sound like it was obvious.


    Bai Ye Qing''s eyes widened dramatically. "Reindeer?" He squeaked. Mo Qingchen was definitely pulling his leg. "As in Santa''s little helpers?" His fork dropped to the plate.


    "Well, no," he shook his head, making Bai Ye Qing sigh with relief. "Santa is a fictional character, so are his reindeer. Though the little helpers would be tasty, I am sure." Mo Qingchen snickered at Bai Ye Qing''s horrified expression.


    "This is not funny!" He grabbed for his water and chugged it down. The devout Christian in him protested. He had worshipped those reindeer as a child. Such cute little things... he had eaten a piece of one? "How could you let me eat it?"


    Qian Meng shrugged. "If I recall correctly, it was the obvious choice," she noted with a grin on her face.


    Even though his meal was incredible, the little boy inside Bai Ye Qing refused to eat one of Santa''s helpers. Mo Qingchen and Yun Qian Meng found the situation exceedingly amusing, though Yun Qian Meng did offer to order something less traumatic for his benefit.


    He politely declined.


    "You can''t look down on me for not knowing these things. That snobbish," Bai Ye Qing pleaded.


    "I am not ridiculing you, Bai Ye Qing. You must understand the reason we can''t take you seriously," Qian Meng began. "I hope this acts as a wake-up call for you. Put your act together. You don''t have anything to boast about. You are not worthy of my attention."


    "I have money. I have a company. I have everything that you do, then why am I not a candidate that you will consider? Your father thought I was suitable. And parents always want what is best for you."


    Qian Meng frowned. "You have money? You have not earned a single penny on your own. The job you hold was given to you by your father and late brother. They wanted you to be productive so they hoped you would spend at least eight hours a day at the office. Do you work, though? Or do you take advantage of your identity and put one leg over another and watch as the rest of the employees bust their ass to make a living?"


    She stopped and looked him dead in the eye.


    "The time you put in has no worth because you are just riding on someone else''s coattails. You have not tasted what it is to struggle and become something on your own. You haven''t felt the pleasure of winning after a series of losses. Those experiences make a human being worth being noticed."


    Qian Meng thought that she had said enough. Silence engulfed the room.


    "If these are your problems, I will work on them. But I will definitely win you over," he pledged. He quickly wiped his mouth and stood up to leave.


    Qian Meng didn''t hold him back as he walked out.


    "What a bastard, he dragged me to have a meal with him and then didn''t even bother to pay. Indeed, he is a flower boy who likes taking advantage of other people." The amount of food they ordered was huge and Mo Qingchen insisted on sharing. She had a taste of everything.


    Without Bai Ye Qing in the room, the atmosphere was relaxed.


    "I know the look in his eyes," Mo Qingchen said, breaking the silence in the room as they waited for dessert. "He finally realized that the receipt of favor is oppressive. That it means that he was chosen because he was family and not because he deserved that position."

 Chapter 58: Want to be a Trophy Wife

    "And when that happens, people start to turn. They plot to bite the hand that feeds them." She smiled sadly. She thought about it for a moment. "I have to show my father how bad this arranged marriage will bode for them. But I doubt it will work."


    And she was at a dead end.


    "Then what do you plan on doing? With Bai Ye Qing starting his journey towards destroying his father''s hard work... what can you do?" Mo Qingchen''s eyes gleamed with curiosity.


    "If Yun Sui Bo wants to sign an agreement with the company so bad, we''ll make sure he signs it. Just that the name of the majority shareholder will be me." As the plan slowly formed in her head, she calculated. "If the company is mine, to begin with, there wouldn''t be a need to arrange my marriage, now would there?"


    "Have you considered saying no to the marriage?" Mo Qingchen asked incredulously. While the decision to buy the company was a good one, if her motivation was to not get married, she would just have to refuse. That was all it took, right?


    "Do you think that works with the chauvinist?" she scoffed. "A few weeks ago, he informed me that my brother would be taking over my company." She guffawed, the idea was so farfetched that she wanted to slap sense into her father.


    "Yun Sui Bo has really gone senile." That was what Mo Qingchen had to say.


    "What you don''t have any other comments?" she asked incredulously.


    "No. Desserts are here," he informed her.


    Even though the meal was incredible, the dessert was better. It was heavenly. The main ingredient was cloudberry. Mo Qingchen informed her that it was called Swedish gold. She could certainly see why. Mo Qingchen indeed had good taste in food. She was almost enticed to ask him for recommendations but with his recent following around, she feared he would tag along with her, so she didn''t ask.


    She gave out a small moan with every bite she took. She couldn''t have enough. She even took bites out of his dessert, leaving him watching her drown in food. She felt slightly guilty but that was okay. For all the irritation he had cost her, he could pay back in the food.


    "What if he finds someone else to marry you? Will you say no then, too?" he asked suddenly as she was wiping her lips. She looked up.


    "I''ll just try to fulfill the need he has," she shrugged.


    "And you will keep giving him everything he needs and not revolt. Do you need his acceptance that much?" He sighed.


    "I did think about marrying someone he would never approve of, but the reasons for not marrying Bai Ye Qing remain. I can''t marry someone who doesn''t understand me or know anything about the life I live. I can''t marry anyone who is hungry to grab my money. It is hard, you know? I can''t just marry blindly without considering what effect it will have on me."


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "So, to be rid of your father, you need to marry someone who enrages him and is up to your standards, is that right?"


    Qian Meng nodded.


    "Your standards are high. There''s no one else except for me who fits it." Qian Meng looked up in shock and then sighed in relief. There was mischief in his eyes. Undeniable mischief that told her he was joking.


    "Yes, my standards are high. If you''re the only one... I guess I''ll have to be an old spinster," she countered with a raised brow. His smile dropped and he stared.


    "Well, enjoy your lonely, single life," he scoffed.


    The thought of her denying made him uncomfortable.


    "Now that you mention it... not marrying and being my own woman will make my father so angry that his blood pressure will rise off the roof." She mulled the thought over. "I don''t believe in love, either, so the only way I am marrying is if I see the dollar signs in the future." The words were said casually, but Mo Qingchen considered them seriously.


    If she didn''t marry Bai Ye Qing, some other man would come along and take advantage of this foolish girl. She was starving for love and didn''t know how to pick people to call her own. As her loyal enemy, he had to make sure their battle was long and intense, not deterred by pesky people who wanted to take her focus away from the main goal.


    He had to become victorious over her when she was using full force, not watching her go to ruin. He wouldn''t let that happen.


    It seemed he had a lot to think about.


    "You want to be a trophy wife?" His nose scrunched up in confusion.


    "Who are you calling a trophy wife? I have more money than most people on the planet, okay? I don''t believe in love, so I will have to be comfortable talking about money. I want to marry someone with whom I can make more money." Now that she said it out loud, she sounded like a greedy woman. But what was wrong with that? She could grow her money just fine. The man would need to offer at least double the growth if he wanted to marry her.


    "That''s fair." That was a good thing to consider when tying the knot. But wouldn''t swindlers use it to marry her? "How do you ascertain profits?" he asked casually.


    "You''re awfully interested in my married life," Qian Meng teased when the waiter came to their table with the cheque. "Are we going to compete in marriage as well?" She shuddered at the thought. "Let me know the parameters so that I can choose a good man."


    She looked at the bill and was about to pull out her card when Mo Qingchen grabbed her wrist.

 Chapter 59: Dont Have to Pay for That Vermin

    "What do you think you are doing?" he asked, horrified.


    "Paying the bill," she said matter-of-factly.


    "You must have lost your brain cells talking to Bai Ye Qing," he taunted. She wanted to cuss at him but he spoke before she could start. "I invited you out to eat, so I should be the one to pay," he said in a normal voice.


    "But you didn''t invite Bai Ye Qing to eat. I''m just paying for his part of the bill. You can pay mine, okay?" She shook his hand off and went through the bill to pinpoint what Bai Ye Qing had ordered. She calculated it in her head and added in the tips. Not bad for such a fancy place.


    "You''re going to pay for him?" he asked with the deepest scowl. "He''s a scumbag who didn''t even pay for a meal when he was dining with a lady. He shouldn''t be allowed to exist," he argued.


    "You are correct, but I am not letting you pay for his share. Neither am I letting the restaurant lose out on money. I''ll just consider it my father''s debt and pay for it." She pulled out her credit card and was about to hand it over when Mo Qingchen stopped her again.


    "You don''t have to pay for that vermin. There are only so many hotels that he would live at. Let me call them and ask where he is."


    Yun Qian Meng had never thought Mo Qingchen could be so petty over such a small amount of money. But this was not about money, this was about teaching Bai Ye Qing who he was messing with and how far they were willing to go to show him his true place in their lives.


    Mo Qingchen called every hotel he could think of until he found the one Bai Ye Qing was staying at. He proceeded on to explain the situation, get Bai Ye Qing''s hotel room number and make sure the restaurant got paid from Bai Ye Qing.


    Qian Meng couldn''t stop chuckling throughout the whole ordeal. She pressed the back of her palm to her lips to stop from making too much noise as Mo Qingchen spoke to the managers in a grim and professional voice.


    "Done?" she asked finally. Mo Qingchen had already asked for the manager of the restaurant and written down all the information necessary.


    "Yes. As a good samaritan, I shouldn''t let people dine and dash." He had a boyish smile on his face. As they walked back to the waiting cars, Mo Qingchen''s smile remained prominently on his face. Light rain fell from the sky, shimmering around them.


    Qian Meng slowly realized that Mo Qingchen and her could be friends. They could ease into a love-hate friendship from this bitter rivalry they had. She strongly sensed that he thought of her as something more than just a rival. He was far too stubborn to admit it though, which of course provoked her to fight him further.


    With their business partnership in the works, it would be best if they weren''t constantly fighting. But their association was interesting because they fought like cats and dogs. What fun would life have without banter every other day with Mo Qingchen?


    In the middle of a certain presentation, Mo Qingchen leaned towards her. She looked over at him curiously.


    "Bai Ye Qing paid. I''ve been told that he did throw a fit about it, though." The snob chuckled in delight and Qian Meng had to watch him in wonder. Well, this man did have boyish charm, she would have to give him that.


    And that was that. That evening the investors and founders all donned on pretty clothes and strutted like peacocks in the dining area. Qian Meng laughed and talked to everyone, making connections and making fake promises to others that she knew she would never keep.


    The best part was, they wouldn''t remember when they woke up the next morning. Just like that, the conference was over and Yun Qian Meng had signed a couple of contracts and given out some Angel investments. A few years of work on these investments would yield high returns. Then she could sit back, relax, and count her money.


    When she was returning to her room, she found something strange. There were suitcases in front of Mo Qingchen''s room. Most flights back were a week later and polite conversation with him had let her know that he would be staying for longer... a whole week, actually.


    "You left the party early?" she asked passively when I crossed him. Their rooms were two doors apart, so they could converse without shouting across the hall.


    "Yes, it was boring and unproductive." Qian Meng glanced down at his luggage. "We have a family property in town, so I am moving there. No use wasting money here." He shrugged.


    "Good on you," she commented. "I''ll be switching hotels tomorrow morning." Li Min had done this because the conference had paid for food and boarding for those two days. On the other days, Yun Qian Meng had to spend her own money to book a hotel. So, she went for a less expensive but better option.


    "Where are you shifting?" he asked curiously. The bell boy was making his way towards them, so Qian Meng knew that this would be the last time they would see each other this week. She told him the hotel and he stopped.

 Chapter 60: Offer to Stay With Him

    "Have you already paid for the hotel?" he asked. Qian Meng shook her head.


    "Why? Will you offer me to stay at your property?" she rolled her eyes. "That''s too close even for us."


    "Well, I did spend the night with you less than four days ago. The property is big enough that we won''t see each other but small enough that we can meet and talk about your full plan for 1314." These were excuses Qian Meng realized.


    "What is it that you want to talk to me about, Mo Qingchen? Stop following me around and tell me." She crossed her hands over her chest and tapped her feet.


    "I haven''t decided how to tell you yet, so you''ll have to put up with me for a bit more," he explained. His brows furrowed. "Are you coming or not? That hotel will cost upwards of twenty thousand dollars without taking into consideration the cost of room service and tips."


    She could spare the money but she could also buy shares with it. She pretended to be stupid and nodded. "I also want to see what kind of property you have in the city. It''s not easy getting hands on something good here. The market is saturated right now." Mo Qingchen smirked.


    "Get your luggage ready. We''ll leave in twenty minutes." He waved at her as he followed the bell boy away.


    "Where are you going?" she shouted.


    "I''ll wait in the lobby. Come down fast. I''ll leave otherwise..." She could hear the amusement in his voice but had to bite down her remark.


    Hello, she could afford the best services. She was gracing his house with her presence on his request and he was pretending to give her the cold shoulder. He better stop pretending with her.


    The problem was, Qian Meng couldn''t make Mo Qingchen wait for long. Her bags had already been packed. She only needed to change out of her clothes and go downstairs. She huffed in irritation as she lugged her luggage to the elevator. She had a bad habit of pulling her own luggage. Something about handing her bags to others made her uncomfortable.


    The elevator dinged as she reached the ground floor. When she came out, she saw a flurry of people from the party leisurely sitting around in the lobby. As she pulled up to the front desk and spoke to them, a representative from the conference came up to her.


    "Ma''am, will you be leaving, as well?" she asked. Qian Meng nodded with a polite smile.


    "Thank you for taking such good care of me. As usual, I enjoyed this conference thoroughly. Hope we can meet again next year." The conversation lasted for a couple of minutes. When Qian Meng looked over to Mo Qingchen, she chuckled.


    He was leaning against the wall with his foot crossed over the other. He glanced at his expensive watch frequently and shook the tall plant away, whenever a leaf touched his arm. Overall, it was the sight of someone impatiently waiting for you to finish.


    A bubble of warmth appeared in her heart and she suppressed it immediately. It seemed Mo Qingchen had been right. Whenever someone gave her the least bit of affection, she wanted to run to them and be good to them. That was indeed a dangerous quality to have.


    - - - - -


    "Welcome back, Sir," an older gentleman with a posh accent greeted them at the door. "Miss Yun," he added smoothly, making her name sound elegant. She had a lot of servants at the family home, but none of them seemed to act this... sophisticated.


    Mo Qingchen nodded his head as swiftly as he walked past the man, without so much as glance his way. Qian Meng, on the other hand, smiled at the man.


    "Welcome, Miss Yun." He bowed.


    She chuckled at how formal he was being. Just like a butler... and then she belatedly remembered that he was a butler. Her family didn''t have the more western take on the term, so she had forgotten how they behaved.


    She looked up at the building and eyed it with envy. The two-floor ostentatious luxury apartment building was indeed prime real estate.


    She hadn''t seen much of it but at the top two buttons in the elevator, the Mo family logo was engraved. She snorted at the sight, earning a glare from Mo Qingchen who was standing beside her.


    "Seriously, did you have to put this here? Whose idea was it?" she asked, pressing on the buttons herself to check.


    "My father," he said without emotion. "He''s the kind of person who likes to show off everything he has." After three heated phone calls on the drive to the property, Mo Qingchen was a tad bit testy.


    Qian Meng took a moment to soak in the grandeur of the entrance alone. The butler had run off after Mo Qingchen and she was left to her own devices.


    Before she could even take a step, a chiming voice erupted behind her. She spun around and focused on the source of the sound. It was coming from a computer screen embedded in the wall next to the front door.


    She made her way over to the display. The word ''lobby'' blinked on the monitor and a man''s face filled the screen. There was some communication between two people and Qian Meng watched in fascination. She didn''t press any of the buttons surrounding the display. Instead, she went to find Mo Qingchen, walking through the foyer without hurry.


    It led to a massive living area, stunningly decorated. It wasn''t a surprise. She would have to ask Mo Qingchen for the contact information of the interior decorator. Such decoration could multiply the price of the property. She was surprised to find how unique the layout was.


    As someone who invested heavily in real estate, she understood this space well. There was a distinctive Greek touch to the place. The mystical and enchanting atmosphere was unlike what she had imagined a place where Mo Qingchen would live. The panoramic glass walls revealed a view of the city so strikingly picturesque that she found herself walking towards it and soaking in the view.

 Chapter 61: Goddess of Tits

    "Mo Qingchen!" she yelled into the empty space. She turned around and tried to see where they could have gone. "Anybody there?" she called out, assuming someone was actually in the house with them.


    Silence.


    She snooped around a bit, calling out anyone but it was as though they had vanished. The place was designed like a labyrinth, so it wasn''t a surprise.


    Unable to find her way, she headed back to the foyer. When she reached the entranceway, the butler was standing there all prim and proper. How he had come back without passing by her was a mystery.


    He was just opening the door as she entered the room.


    As the door swung open, she nearly fell over. Standing before her was a familiar face. He was holding a bicycle helmet in one hand and a large envelope in the other.


    His hair was different than she remembered but she knew that glassy, bloodshot eye everywhere.


    "Fuck me!" he shouted, his eyes landing on her face.


    The butler gasped, thoroughly appalled by the crude language but she wasn''t surprised in the least. The boy didn''t have an ounce of couth in him.


    The mind-altering drugs this man had taken on a regular basis were usually all he consumed. He wasn''t a bad guy though. He was an extremely gifted artist which was what drew Qian Meng to him when they first met.


    She was a sucker for creative minds.


    "What on earth are you doing here, Marcus?" she asked, stumped.


    "My boyfriend asked me to send a parcel on his behalf. He is an entrepreneur," he boasted. Well, though Qian Meng and Marcus were friends, they were not on the same celestial plane.


    "Right... and your hair is orange." There was a mixture of yellow and red in there as well. Somehow, it fit him perfectly.


    He ruffled his hair to show off. "Yeah, it represents fire. The fire within my body manifests itself through my style. You know?" he looked from her to the butler and back again.


    Her laughter spilled out as she took in the baffled look on the butler''s face. "Why are you here, though? Don''t you have a show tomorrow?" she asked.


    He tilted his chin sideways. "Man, I wish I knew. Does anyone really know why they''re there?" he pondered deeply before his mouth dropped open. "Goddess of tits... it''s you..." his voice was filled with amazement.


    A spark of something flashed beneath the redness of his eyes. She knew that look. Something was brewing. Marcus was a lot of things, but he wasn''t hard to read.


    "Fuck me," he exclaimed yet again, louder this time. "You''re my muse."


    He nearly knocked over the butler as he barrelled forward towards Qian Meng. His lean body coiled over her. "I had a vision last week," he whispered in her ear. "A beautiful voice told me that my muse would be arriving soon." His fingers clung to her for dear life.


    Qian Meng fought hard to not fall over. Marcus was thin but he was also over six feet tall.


    "What is the meaning of this?" An angry voice growled from behind her.


    She managed to untangle herself from Marcus and stepped back. Her clothing was in a disarray, so she smoothed out her clothes and slipped her foot back into the shoe that had fallen off in the struggle.


    Mo Qingchen stormed into the room like a demon, his intense black eyes accessing the situation in front of him. Marcus just there staring at Qian Meng in awe.


    "Yun Qian Meng, did he harm you?" Mo Qingchen asked her, carefully looking her over.


    "He is just excited to see me." Qian Meng defended her friend quickly. In Mo Qingchen''s defense, the sight of a tall man in a tank top and bicycle shorts was unnerving, to say the least.


    His eyes shot over to Marcus. "Explain yourself," he demanded.


    "Goddess of tits is my muse," he stated as though it was a simple fact. Qian Meng wanted to die. Marcus had always called her that. They met frequently at fashion shows and worked closely with one another. The title was Marcus'' way of appreciating her asset. Among friends, it was just a joke.


    But Mo Qingchen didn''t look pleased.


    "I know Marcus. He''s an independent designer and produces exquisite pieces. He''s in Zurich for his show tomorrow." She interrupted in an attempt to break the tension. "He got a bit carried away when he saw me here."


    Marcus'' eyes darted over to her. "I wasn''t carried away... I was pulled towards you. This is destiny. My goddess of tits. I always knew it. Just when I needed your energy the most, you appeared." He dropped to his knees. "I need you tonight," he begged.


    Mo Qingchen was about to blow his lid. What sort of lewd conversation was this?


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes at Marcus'' crazy theatrics. He was always eccentric, but equally king. The man didn''t have a mean bone in his body.


    "I''ll spend tomorrow with you, what say you? I am staying a couple of extra days to see the shows and get in some meetings." Her tone was soft but dismissive.


    "After the shows tomorrow, come to the after-party. Without you at the show, it will be a dark vortex of endless pain." He grabbed her hand like a lifeline and looked up at her pleadingly.


    "Stop being so dramatic. Your show will be amazing even if I didn''t go." She paused. "I am going anyway," she added when she saw the pained expression on his face.


    "I''m not attending the after-party if you''re not there. I made a note on the bathroom door to call you tomorrow but now I won''t need to because you are here." The man leaned down and kissed her feet.


    Qian Meng shuffled back. Damn this pill-popping Elmo. How could she say no to him?


    "I''ll be there. What time?" Marcus jumped up and grabbed her, pulling her flat against his chest in a crushing hug before releasing her.

 Chapter 62: It Feels Good to be a Woman

    "Party starts at midnight. I''ll text you the address. Now, I have to go back to the studio. You''ve got my juices flowing." He tossed her the envelope and sprinted out of the door.


    Mo Qingchen walked over to the door and slammed it shut. "You''re not seriously considering going out with that maniac, right?" he asked, throwing a disgusted look over his shoulder.


    I nodded and handed him the envelope. "He''s just eccentric and completely harmless." An idea came to her head. "I have two tickets to the show, why don''t you come with me?" she asked. "We''ll have fun."


    "A fashion show? I highly doubt it will be fun. I can only imagine what a circus it will be with people like him." Such a fat cat.


    "Excuse me, there is order at these shows. You don''t have to come to the party. Just come to the shows. I need someone to take pictures with me. I can''t take all the pictures, myself." She looked him over. "And you really need some fashion sense put into you. This is a good opportunity."


    "You can go to the fashion shows, but I forbid you to attend the party." The words dripped off his tongue venomously.


    Her mouth hung open. "You forbid it? You can''t be serious." The man was insane. "What? You''re taking on the role of my father now? Or did the joke about being my husband make you go crazy?"


    His eyes firmly held hers. "This is not a joke, Yun Qian Meng. I don''t want to be your dad. But I can''t let you jump around the city at all hours of the night with a mentally unstable druggy. I brought you into my home, so I have some responsibility," he spoke in his most commanding voice.


    "I am twenty-five. I understand that you''re a great host, but what I do in my private time is none of your concern." A lone finger shot up in the air. "No one owns me."


    In one swift motion, he was dangerously close to her, so close that his pursed lips were inches from her extended finger.


    His breath burned like fire, it brushed against her skin, causing the fine hairs at the base of her neck to stand at attention. Was this the legendary fire breathing Mo Qingchen she had heard about? She wanted to push his buttons a little more.


    "Why must you always push me?" A low growl erupted underneath the words he spoke. She sensed the fire coming on and was actually thrilled about it.


    Her eyes lingered on his fury-filled face as she contemplated her response. "You give me no choice." Her voice quivered slightly, surprising her. Her thoughts were jumbled and the room seemed to be closing in.


    Damnit, she was being frazzled by him.


    He shook his head. "Qian Meng, there are consequences for your actions," he warned.


    There was a heavy silence as a sinister idea came to her mind.


    She lowered her hand, placing it on her hip. "Consequences? What consequences? What about your actions?"


    His body stiffened. "Yes. There are deep consequences." A frown embedded itself on his lips.


    "Why can''t you let go and have some fun? Even when you bring people out for food, you have this bodyguard like feeling about you. You know there are consequences for not taking time to enjoy life, right?"


    He was silent. "Sorry, hanging around lunatics or money-grabbing men is not my idea of a fulfilling and enjoyable life. I''d rather take the consequences."


    Qian Meng swiped the air in front of him. "Fine. Stay here. I''ll go alone," she said with a smirk. If he wanted to be a good host, he would come along.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t respond. She turned to the butler who was standing expressionlessly.


    "Could you show me to my room?" Qian Meng asked sweetly.


    He bowed at her request. "Of course, Miss Yun. Please follow me." He bowed again to Mo Qingchen before walking past them.


    She didn''t even glance at Mo Qingchen before leaving the room. She was a fool to think he would tag along. She wanted to dangle a cookie in front of him and see how he reacted, but he was as stiff as ever. Who didn''t like cookies?


    - - - - -


    By ten in the morning, Qian Meng was showered, dressed, and ready to go. Surprisingly, she had spent time on her hair and pulling it up in a high ponytail. The charcoal and glitter eyes that went with it made her look younger than usual. When Qian Meng looked at the reflection, she felt sexy.


    ''Damn it feels good to be a woman,'' she thought.


    There was strength to feminity, yet it was strongly underestimated.


    As she strutted her sexy ass down the hall, the sound of her killer shoes tapping against the marble floor, she felt a renewed sense of power. She rounded several corners before she realized she was lost.


    "Shit," she cursed under her breath.


    She didn''t have time to wander aimlessly in the dragon''s labyrinth. She walked in circles and grumbled about the many doors in the hallway.


    It was pure madness. Qian Meng considered herself good with directions, but this property was nothing short of a maze made to drive people insane. She tried to call for help but all she got was silence in reply.


    Just as she was about to give up and squat down on the floor in defeat, she heard a distant noise from within the walls. She darted over to it and definitely heard Mo Qingchen''s voice.


    She knocked on the door with purpose. "Open up!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.


    "Go away!" came the distinct growl from the other side of the door.


    "Mo Qingchen," I called. When he didn''t respond, Qian Meng kicked the sturdy door with force. "I''m getting late. Open up!" I demanded.


    She waited for a few moments before putting her ear to the door and hearing no movement inside.


    She lifted her and for some good reason, thought it a good idea to smash her knee against the thick, wooden surface. It took only a fraction of a second for her to realize her mistake.

 Chapter 63: The Door is Quite Intelligent

    She dropped to the floor in agony and laid there, whimpering like a baby. It hurt like a bitch, but she refused to shriek in pain.


    Suddenly, the door swung open. Footsteps made their way to her side. Obviously, it was the scoundrel. He lifted her off the floor in a quick motion.


    "Put me down," Qian Meng commanded.


    He ignored her request. Instead, he carried her through the door and into the room.


    His scent was unique. She recognized it immediately. The definitely masculine, fresh, and clean scent was definitely there. But the last undertone was more important. Danger. The tinge of untamed danger. Her nose was flat against his throat and she inhaled deeply, telling herself that she couldn''t hold her breath.


    It was faint but unmistakable.


    She felt the softness. She didn''t know she had closed her eyes until that moment. The second Mo Qingchen placed her down, she also felt a searing pain. Strange how she didn''t feel it when he was carrying her.


    She lifted her head, her eyes fluttering open. She was lying on a plush mattress. Not only plush, but the bed was a work of art, too. Long silk curtains draped along the sides of the massive structure.


    The bedroom was dimly lit, only the light from an adjourning room illuminated her surroundings but she could see that this room was much more amazing than her own. She felt disdain for Mo Qingchen for not letting her sleep in something similar but held it back.


    Before she could say a word, he was gone. Qian Meng sat up and brought her hand to her face. Her knuckles were a little tender but it was her knee that looked worse for wear. It was a little red but not puffy or bruised thankfully.


    Qian Meng poked at it and yelped. "Stupid door," she grumbled.


    "My door is quite intelligent. From what I see, it''s someone else that is less intelligent." She didn''t need to see the evil smirk that was evidently on his face.


    "You''re going to tell me this is my fault?" Qian Meng hissed.


    "I figured that would be obvious," he sniped from across the room. And then there was light.


    "I was hoping to knee you, but the door was the closest option." In other words, he had angered her to the point of kneeing the door.


    Mo Qingchen was by her side, standing directly in front of her with an odd expression on his face.


    "What''s wrong?" she asked when she saw the look on his face.


    He glanced away for a moment. "Just... why are you dressed that way?"


    Her brows furrowed. "What way?" She looked down at her dress. Yes, it was different from what she wore. It was body-hugging and more revealing than anything she wore in Shanghai. "Do you like it?" she asked.


    He raked his hand through his black hair. "You look... different." He kept glancing away and then back at her again. It was totally unlike him to look so flustered.


    "Well, I usually dress for work," Qian Meng laughed. "You didn''t answer me. Like it? Quite different from when you called me a nun, huh?" she teased. She didn''t know why she cared.


    Searing, black eyes roamed the length of her body, piercing her skin with their heat. Such a powerful sensation was unheard of. So, this was the usually calm and cold Mo Qingchen in the face of temptation.


    His jaw tightened. "Do you plan to go out with that lunatic looking like this?" he asked.


    "Again. He''s not a lunatic. Mildly eccentric, but not a lunatic." She folded her arm over her chest. "It comes with immense talent."


    Mo Qingchen shot her a nasty glare. "You need to raise your standards, Miss Yun. You''re impressed too easily." He scowled as he reached for something on the table beside her.


    "Really? How high should I raise my standards, Mr. Mo?" She matched his glare. "Fresh coming from a man who is so impressed with himself."


    The air thickened around them immediately, electrifying her senses. She was headed into dangerous waters, but she loved swimming.


    Mo Qingchen''s lips curled up. "You''re suggesting I lower my standards?" he placed his hand on her wounded knee.


    His fingers were like ice. As he pressed against her skin, she bit down on her lip. The simple ice pack felt amazing.


    "No, I am asking you to re-evaluate your standards," she said softly. "You have no clue what to base yours on."


    "Oh. How do you propose I do that?" He wasn''t looking at her face. His eyes were trained on her knee.


    "Come with me," she blurted out, far louder than necessary.


    "Come with you," he repeated smoothly.


    She nodded her head slowly, this time watching him.


    "Yes, come with me." She couldn''t fight off the grin. "To the shows," Qian Meng added. Make use of him to the fullest, that was the plan.


    Confusion filled his features. "Why on earth would I do such a thing?"


    "You asked how you could re-evaluate. I am giving you a chance to learn, of course." To take pictures of course.


    "You can''t be serious," he said as a scowl swept across his face.


    Her hand covered his on her knee. She paused, her eyes on his. "I''m serious." She lifted his fingers and tossed his hand aside. As good as they felt on her skin, she needed to make her point. "Unless... you''re too scared."


    Mo Qingchen smiled at her words. "Is that a threat?" he laughed, surprising her. "What a juvenile move."


    "Perhaps," she countered. "Did it work?" Her face broke into a wide grin.


    "Definitely not," he replied firmly.


    Unaffected by his words, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and jumped down. Her knee felt well enough. She glanced at the clock.


    Time to go. She started for the door, only glancing over her shoulder when she was midway across the room.


    "Come with me. I know you want to," her voice was light and playful. "Peek into my world."


    He shook his head stubbornly. "No."


    "You should change into something better, too." The vision of him walking into a fashion show in his usual attired caused her to break into a fit of giggles.


    He sighed.


    "I''ll wait downstairs." She sauntered out.

 Chapter 64: Not Capable of Compromise

    On leaving the dragon''s lair, Qian Meng was so heated that she plowed into the poor butler who was quietly strolling through the hall. He was a godsend.


    There was no way she would make out of this maze on her own.


    He offered to call the driver and Qian Meng just smiled and took advantage. "Tell Mo Qingchen I will be waiting in the car," she told him when they were at the front door.


    She waited in the car for fifteen minutes before he arrived. As he slid in, his jaw was locked in dissatisfaction.


    "I thought you weren''t coming," Qian Meng teased.


    "Well, you didn''t leave me with a choice, did you?" he turned to scowl at her. The car sped away and Qian Meng smirked for the rest of the day.


    At the entrance, Qian Meng showed her tickets and walked in without so much as a single word.


    "You''ll find food, important people in the fashion industry, and even access to backstage."


    "I''m sure I am not interested," he huffed.


    "Well, it will be fun. If you want to leave, you are welcome to. But you need to stay at least for Marcus'' show." Which was at the very end of the lineup, so she could see the whole thing without worrying.


    "I wasn''t told about this condition before!" he whisper-yelled.


    "Oh, shush. You know how important this is for me. I work in the industry." She rolled her eyes.


    "I don''t get why you need to watch other people''s works," he sighed. "Is this about competition intelligence?"


    "Not really. These fashion shows reveal what will trend in the coming season. It''s not just about what the designers make, but how many cameras flash during the show. You can distinctly gauge what the editors of the fashion magazines and personal shoppers and celebrities are eyeing this season. That helps us produce and interpret what the market wants." Her explanation was to the point.


    "But what about the artistic value of clothes that you harp on?" he asked, his brow raised. Qian Meng turned to look at him, impressed. It was a surprise he knew the messaging of her brands. He had been keeping a close eye on her, too, it seemed.


    "Artistic value is important," she nodded. "I am a designer myself, so I know how important it is to be inspired. But I am also a businesswoman. In my opinion, by researching the market and putting my creativity into the mix, I am combining two of my strengths. My appetite for art is satiated and the company earns a profit."


    "Shrewd businesswoman, indeed," he complimented.


    "Are you only producing things that you want to make and not capturing the voids in the market to make a profit?" she smirked as she contradicted. He tipped his head.


    "You''ve caught me there. I suppose as a software designer, I understand what you mean by amalgamating creativity with demand." He turned to me with a serious look. "So, what am I supposed to do?"


    His serious expression made her chuckle. "Pull out your phone and take pictures of the clothes and jewelry. I need to share it to the group chat of designers for them to play with."


    "That sounds pesky. Why don''t we just take a video?" he asked. Qian Meng gave him an exasperated expression.


    "Videos on phone cameras cannot pick up the real movements and are usually slightly lesser quality than the photographs, so I take pictures," she explained.


    "Don''t compare your peasant phone with mine," he scoffed. He pulled out his phone and showed Qian Meng a recorded video. It was a ballet performance, it looked like. Mo Qingchen was sitting up in the stands but the quality was excellent even when zoomed in.


    "What phone is this?" I asked. I flipped it around and saw a well-known brand.


    "I tinkered around with it and changed the cameras." Qian Meng moved away. What else would you expect from Fat Cat Mo.


    "Well, you take the videos and I will take photographs," she smiled sweetly.


    "I can''t promise to stay long. If I am bored, I will leave." That sounded preposterous. Their seats were in the very front and one couldn''t walk out of a fashion show. He would have to walk into the runway and exit somehow. Qian Meng bit her lip. She could see Mo Qingchen doing that to escape. He never did have propriety.


    "Learn to compromise," she said through gritted teeth.


    "Why should I compromise?" he hissed. They had already been seated and Qian Meng saw many familiar faces in the crowd. From magazine editors to photographers, journalists, and high profile celebrities. She even saw employees of competing brands.


    "Because you came with me and I have a reputation in the industry." She stared at him intensely.


    "I couldn''t care less if Marcus starts his show or not," he stated bluntly.


    She let out a frustrated growl. "You may not care but I do. It''s a compromise for a reason. God, you''re a businessman, can''t you compromise once?" She was exasperated.


    Why was she even trying to get through to such a person?


    He was silent as she sat there, doubting her sanity. She had wasted her time bringing her here. The realization annoyed the living hell out of her.


    "Forget it," she huffed. "You''re not capable of compromise." She looked away from him and waited for the lights to switch off.


    Despite all of it, Mo Qingchen remained seated throughout the show. He diligently took the video and sent each file to her when the shows finished. Qian Meng refused to look at him. Mo Qingchen didn''t even complain when Marcus didn''t appear until the very end.


    Qian Meng spoke to the people who came up to her and noticed a lot of eyes on Mo Qingchen, but no one asked her anything.


    In the end, she made it to Marcus'' after-party with plenty of time to spare all thanks to the insane driver.

 Chapter 65: Give Her Everything She Desires

    She got out of the car and glanced at Mo Qingchen. She could see he had no intention to come out. She slammed the door shut and glanced around at her surrounding. The street was lively with music and laughter floating in the air.


    The entrance to the place was covered in graffiti. She expected it to be an abandoned industrial space or a bar, but this was neither. Seriously, it looked like she had gone back in time.


    The place looked like it was filled to the brim with mayhem.


    A naked woman swung high above the bartender''s head on a metallic contraption. Naked ballerinas, aerialists, and even a naked man playing the cello entertained the crowd as they piled in through the little entrance. She saw faces from the industry: models, designers, and big-shot bosses who wanted to woo Marcus.


    Qian Meng wasn''t a prude but she hadn''t expected so much nudity around her. She could only imagine what Marcus had in store. Apparently, these parties were wild. Qian Meng had been to some tame ones, but Marcus was on a different psychedelic realm.


    The crowd was a little rowdy and a bit over-friendly, but then again, Qian Meng wasn''t bothered about watching people have a good time.


    A man with painted blue skin requested to see her ID. After handing her passport, she watched as he inspected it.


    He looked up with a wide smile while handing it back to her. "Goddess of tits. Marcus'' Muse. I welcome you." His eyes had the same spaced-out look as Marcus.


    "Thank you," she said awkwardly.


    She was pulled away from the door by the throng of people. She headed straight to the bar for a much-needed drink. It was almost midnight and the urge to fully enjoy seemed vital.


    Damn it. She had missed partying. The lights. The people. She missed having friends she could hang out with. Just as she was about to order her drink, someone placed a hand on her ass. Instinctively her fist swung at the source, hitting the man in the jaw.


    The man was dressed like a demon. It wasn''t a cheap costume but an elaborately designed one. A detailed creation.


    The demon rubbed his jaw. "Nice hook, angel," he winked flirtatiously.


    "Fuck off, pervert." The man didn''t seem deterred. Until an angel... a literal angel came and saved her. She shooed the demon away.


    "Thank you for saving me," Qian Meng said sheepishly. The night had just gotten weirder.


    "It is my duty, Goddess," she replied.


    "I''m Qian Meng." She extended her hand in greeting. The angel''s smile was radiant.


    "I know. We have been waiting for you to come." She took Qian Meng''s hand and guided her away from the bar.


    As they walked, Qian Meng realized that this place was designed like an old theatre. The elaborate decor and vintage wallpapers had been restored beautifully.


    "Goddess!" the familiar voice yelled from behind Yun Qian Meng. "I knew you would come." His arms were wide open.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes and smiled despite her confusion. "A Muse must attend such occasions." Her face was serious, but her laughter rang out soon after.


    "I found her before Ditsy Demon got his hands on her," the angel said.


    Marcus'' smile dropped. "I''m so sorry!" he yelled in aggravation. "I warned him to stay away from you until after the show."


    Qian Meng looked at him with trepidation. "You know that pervert?" she asked.


    Marcus nodded. "Yeah. He''s a cretin, but Dolly won''t perform without him."


    "Dolly?" she asked, noticing the lights dimming slightly.


    "Yes, Dolly the Pussycat," the angel commented but didn''t offer any explanation.


    "What is that?" Qian Meng''s voice was lowered as the crowd hushed. The man painted blue took the stage.


    "You''ll find out soon," he said, smirking. He grabbed a scantily dressed woman as she walked by. "Honey, this is my Goddess. Give her everything she desires." Marcus cupped her face in his palms.


    The stunning blonde smirked at his words. "Of course." Her eyes landed on Yun Qian Meng. "What do you desire, Goddess?" Qian Meng felt a smile overtake her lips.


    "A White Russian," she said without thinking. It was a bad decision, she knew instantly.


    "Oh, you like it sweet and rough, do you?" Qian Meng shrugged.


    The room filled with an upbeat melody. The angel grabbed her hand, pulling her into the booth. As the performance ensued, her drink arrived and she found herself drinking it quickly.


    The angel chuckled softly. "Somebody''s thirsty," she noted with a sweet smile.


    "Not really," she responded. The waitress was quite attentive. Qian Meng''s glass was never empty. She even brought a plate of cookies for her to snack on. The acts on the stage were erotic yet artistic.


    Marcus had disappeared but Angel protected her relentlessly, not letting anyone come near her. Glancing down at the cookies, she chuckled. They were an assortment of naughty little shapes.


    She munched on a perfectly shaped penis when the scene changed. The pervert from earlier was on stage with a woman. The audience chanted and moved closer. Qian Meng had a buzz going and the enchanting woman on the stage moved like a siren, beckoning her closer.


    She floated closer, unable to stop herself from joining the crowd of people gathered at the foot of the stage to worship Dolly the Pussycat.


    They swayed in unison, so free and uninhibited. If she could bottle this feeling and carry it along with her. Her eyes wandered the room slowly. It was so out of control that she couldn''t stop herself from dancing and laughing. She was giggling like a child.


    Then she felt it.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes. They were on her... that much she was sure of. She knew this feeling quite well. There was nothing like it.

 Chapter 66: Mo Qingchen the Boob Man

    Qian Meng broke away from the crowd she was embedded in and drifted around aimlessly, searching through the faces until she spotted him. Even in the darkened theatre, his clothes and blazing black eyes made him stand out.


    He stood at the bar watching her intently.


    Seconds later, she was standing in front of him. "You''re here," she stared at him as though she was hallucinating.


    "I am. But clearly, you''re not." He looked at her disapprovingly. "How much have you had to drink?" He wasn''t happy. He was never happy.


    "I feel happy after a long time," she retorted. "I am celebrating."


    "I can see that. Qian Meng, I-"


    Her finger landed on his lips, silencing him. Slowly she shook her head side to side.


    "Did you come in to lecture me?" He probably had. Party pooper.


    He was irritated. "No, but now that I''m here, I can''t help it."


    "So, why are you here?" She was confused by this too. And the fact she was too delighted to see him.


    His jaw tightened. "You said I was incapable of compromise. I had to prove you wrong."


    Her smirk was fiendish. "Oh, yes. That and we need to work on changing your standards. So, how are you going to do that?"


    "I''m here, aren''t I?" He glanced around impatiently, slightly horrified by his surroundings.


    "You are." That was a huge step towards unscrewing the stick up Mo Qingchen''s ass. "Have a drink with me. And if you don''t want to stay, we can go." She was sincere.


    He thought about her offer for a second before reluctantly nodding. Since the crowd was thick, she grabbed his hand and led him to her booth.


    Just as they sat down, the waitress appeared. "Welcome." Her eyes devoured Mo Qingchen shamelessly. "What do you desire tonight, sexy?"


    "I''ll have a Campari," he replied curtly, barely glancing at her way.


    "I''ll have another White Russian," she called out.


    The waitress glanced. "I thought you already got what you desired, Goddess?" she smirked and sauntered away.


    Mo Qingchen stood out like a sore thumb as he sat in his perfectly tailored suit and ruffled hair. Qian Meng picked up a cookie from the plate and held it up to his pursed lips.


    He looked down at the treat and then his eyes grabbed hers.


    "Take a bite," she ordered and much to her surprise he obliged. She had meant to tease him and call him out for being a prude. But this was an unexpected result.


    The cookie was a mini replica of a female breast with a bright red cherry at the center. She held his penetrating stare as he bit down on the flesh-colored pastry.


    Qian Meng saw the sparkle of pleasure cross his features as he swallowed the first bite. He was a foodie, so his stamp of approval was critical. She stared at his face and didn''t notice when the waitress appeared, standing beside her with their drinks on a tray.


    "Tasty, aren''t they?" she asked suggestively.


    He took the cookie from Qian Meng''s hand and swallowed the rest of it whole, entrancing both women. "Delicious." He licked the tips of his fingers.


    "A breast man," the waitress hummed. "There''s plenty more where that came from." She placed down a fresh plate of cookies in front of them.


    After grabbing herself a chocolate-covered penis cookie, she focused on the stage. While she was busy with Mo Qingchen, Dolly had stripped down from her previous costume into a retro, one piece. The woman was, frankly, sex on legs.


    She slinked across the stage, eyeing the men like prey.


    Leave it to Marcus to have a lascivious party with a full performance. Based on the crowd''s reaction, it would be the talk of the town.


    Qian Meng felt warm and a bit sappy. Which was completely unlike her. Slowly, her gaze moved to Mo Qingchen. He was munching away at another boob cookie, eyes glued to the stage.


    Definitely a breast man.


    Qian Meng snickered to herself. She had wanted to feed him a cookie, but it turned out it needed to be a breast to count.


    He turned to her with a quizzical look. "Something funny?"


    "You." She held back her laugh.


    Confusion touched his features. He was holding a half-eaten boob in his hand. Of course. How could this scene not be funny?


    "You like eating boobs," she snorted. When she said it out loud, it was even funnier. Instantly, his eyes dropped to her hands. Surprise, surprise. She was holding half-eaten penis pastry in both. She should have been mortified at that but instead, she laughed.


    Mo Qingchen leaned in a little closer to her. "Do you need me to say it?" His smirk was downright scandalous.


    Her hips slid closer to his. "Say that I like stuffing my mouth with-"


    A loud voice interrupted them. It was Marcus, beaming at her.


    The angel stood at his smile, smiling sweetly while the demon lurked behind.


    Like a hellcat, Dolly pounced between the men.


    "You were amazing," Qian Meng found herself saying, shouting across the table.


    "Everyone, this is my Muse, my Goddess... my savior." Marcus pointed towards her with pride.


    "I didn''t do anything apart from showing up." Qian Meng chuckled at his ridiculousness.


    "Sometimes, just the presence of a person sparks the world," Angel spoke. Her eyes settled on Mo Qingchen.


    "So true," Dolly replied. "Girl, I could go blind from the spark I see in this booth. Our pretty little Goddess is something else." As she spoke, Qian Meng could only look at her breasts. Indeed, this woman had a lovely pair. No wonder Mo Qingchen was watching so intently.


    "Thank you," she said, feeling awkward. "It''s my pleasure to be here."


    "We haven''t met your friend here." Mo Qingchen and Yun Qian Meng snorted at the last word.


    "Sorry. This is Mo Qingchen." She flailed her hands at him as though he were an installation at a museum.


    Mo Qingchen gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. He came off as uninterested, which he probably was.

 Chapter 67: Save You With My Boobs

    "Tonight, we celebrate my new collection and the birth of another!" Marcus shouted with conviction.


    Qian Meng had no clue what that meant but it seemed to get the crowd going so she smiled along.


    "Well, I need a drink," Dolly groaned as she craned her neck to find the waitress. The person appeared just like that with a tray full of drinks.


    To Qian Meng''s surprise, Mo Qingchen loosened up considerably as the night progressed. He hadn''t drunk much or spoken a word to the others, but he hadn''t requested to leave so Qian Meng took it as a good thing.


    He was relaxed. Qian Meng kept stealing glances. The man had devoured nearly an entire plate of cookies, leaving only the penises behind for her to have. Of course, the plate cleaned up.


    She hadn''t eaten since morning so she was famished. Then she remembered, he hadn''t eaten anything either. Based on how fast he was eating, he must have been hungry, too.


    A cheesy smile plastered over Qian Meng''s face as she felt the strong urge to hug everyone she saw. Which was strange because alcohol never made her feel warm and fuzzy.


    This liquor was no joke.


    She looked at Mo Qingchen and saw that he hadn''t even finished his first drink, yet he looked just as intoxicated as her. His eyes were bloodshot. But it could have been fatigue, too.


    As the night deepened, the mood of the theatre turned salacious. Discarded clothing was littered all over the floor and Dolly actually seemed a little overdressed compared to the others, despite the negligible lingerie.


    Random men would come over to bow at her feet and she would shimmy her hips playfully. There was definitely something powerful about sex appeal. Yun Qian Meng was in awe of this woman.


    A conversation about splendid tits came up and Marcus casually supplied the compliment, "Qian Meng has beautiful tits." He said it so casually that one would think he was talking about her eyes.


    "I bet she does," the perverted demon commented. "Honey, whip them out, why don''t you?" he smirked.


    "She will do no such thing," Mo Qingchen growled from beside her. He was towering over the perv before Qian Meng could even blink, his furious eyes staring the other man down.


    "Oh, so he speaks!" the other taunted. "I thought you were mute."


    Mo Qingchen scoffed. "I just refrain from speaking to primitive beasts."


    "Yes, I''m primitive. Just like you." He grinned maliciously. "I have two basic needs: eating and fucking. If you say that you are different, you are a liar."


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes were frighteningly dark. "Please don''t compare your vile existence to those of civilized mankind." The man looked murderous. Yun Qian Meng thought she was the best at pushing his buttons, but it seemed she was no match for this crude man.


    Dolly frowned and tried to break them apart. "Apologize to Qian Meng and her friend. You are being really disrespectful."


    "He called me uncivilized," the perv shouted.


    "You are uncivilized," Angel replied, giving perv a withering look.


    Something about uncivilized people not apologizing came up and Dolly rolled her eyes. "He''s a lecher. Don''t let him spoil your fun."


    "A drink to the arrival of my Muse!" Marcus announced. The waitress was waved over. There were more drinks and more cookies. Qian Meng couldn''t stop munching on the penises while the dragon did a splendid job at denting the boobs.


    Qian Meng''s memory was a bit foggy but she did giggle a lot. Tunnel vision was a real thing. She remembered people dancing on the table and singing. A large crowd had formed around them.


    She didn''t remember what she was saying but she was whispering into Mo Qingchen''s ears and he was smiling. He was laughing! She floated in and out of reality for a time before finally regaining control over her senses.


    "I want to save you with my boobs," she whispered the words into Mo Qingchen''s ear as though it were a secret.


    He laughed and shook his head. "Save me? From what?" His smile was dazzling. It filled her with warmth.


    "From yourself!" she exclaimed. "All this time, you have been living like a robot" and you don''t even mingle with others. She shook her head in indignation.


    "With your boobs?" He looked confused. Yun Qian Meng didn''t understand why; it made perfect sense to her.


    "Yes. Apparently, only boobs can motivate you," she explained like it were obvious. Mo Qingchen looked even more perplexed.


    "Fascinating. Here I thought I was going to save you." His gaze drifted from her to the ceiling.


    "Fascinating?" Oh, how she liked to tease the man.


    He contemplated briefly and then nodded. "Yes." His words were a little slurred.


    "Well, I think we can save you, then." She smirked. Mo Qingchen ran his hand through his hair slowly and exhaled deeply.


    "I shouldn''t have come here." Yun Qian Meng rolled her eyes.


    "Slumming it one night with creatives and lunatics won''t defile your uppity self."


    Mo Qingchen snorted. "There is nothing uppity about me, Qian Meng." His lips moved in closer to hers with each word he spoke.


    Warm cookie breath swept across her face and she inhaled the sweet scent. He was so close to her that their lips were practically touching. Qian Meng''s eyes ran over his face inquisitively.


    His cheeks were pink and his lashes looked like black lace framing his dark, stormy eyes. A battle was raging in them and she wanted to know why.

 Chapter 68: Stuck Her Breast in His Mouth

    Qian Meng''s fingertips softly brushed along the length of his jaw. His skin was burning up. His eyelids became heavy and he was struggling to keep them open. His black gaze was completely spaced out... like Marcus and the other people. It was worse actually and that scared Yun Qian Meng immensely.


    "I don''t feel good," he said, his words so garbled that Yun Qian Meng could barely make them out. His head dropped onto her chest. He mumbled incoherently, though she did make out the word ''beautiful''.


    He was talking to her breasts.


    Qian Meng glanced down at his half-empty glass of alcohol and wondered how he had gotten so intoxicated. Her mind was a bit fuzzy but she didn''t remember him drinking much. She looked at the cookie crumbs but couldn''t grasp what her mind had understood.


    Why couldn''t she focus?


    Her eyes darted around in hopes that she would see a familiar face. Marcus was in the crowd, in a realm of his own. The perv demon was licking Dolly''s feet, who had a leash in her hands and was guiding a man like a dog. Puzzling.


    Quietly, she pulled out Mo Qingchen''s phone from his pocket and put in the password, she had seen him on it once, so she had remembered. The driver was by their side the next thing she knew. "Is everything alright?" he asked, sounding paralyzed with worry.


    "Not really." She squinted as she tried to focus.


    Mo Qingchen was still mumbling to her breasts, talking to them in a language unknown.


    "We''re not used to the liquor here," she slurred. Her words didn''t come out the way she intended them. Her eyelids were closing without her consent and she struggled to keep them open.


    Angel cleared her throat nervously. "I think it was the edibles that you''re not used to, Goddess." Her voice was the last thing she heard before blacking out.


    - - - - -


    Darkness surrounded Yun Qian Meng. It took her a few moments to realize that her eyes were closed. That calmed her until she discovered that she couldn''t open them no matter how hard she tried.


    They were glued shut.


    Everything felt wet and sticky and there was too much movement around her. A garbled noise filled her ears. Actually, it was a groan. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess and she was sure that she was lying in a puddle of something.


    She was so disoriented and her body felt like it was tied down. With great effort, she forced her eyes open. Her vision was blurry but she could still make out the city lights around her.


    The left side of her face was stuck to a soft and thick bed of black hair. Yet what was odd was that the hair and the corner of her mouth were wet with her own drool.


    The groaning noise continued to fill her ears. She asked if it was her producing the noise but quickly canceled that idea. Her mouth was too full of hair and saliva to make any sound.


    Several times she tried to lift her head but that wasn''t happening either. So she tried her arms. That seemed to work. She used them to feel around and quickly discovered that the body attached to the hair in her mouth was lying on top of her.


    And smothering her, for that matter.


    The fact that her arms were the only working body part, she continued to feel around. She poked and prodded the mystery body over her.


    The groans grew louder and louder.


    She grabbed the top of her ponytail and used it to lift her head with one hand. With her eyes barely open, she took in the image of Mo Qingchen sprawled out across her like a blanket, face flat against her chest. He was moaning and groaning so loudly that he must have been awake.


    Using her free hand, she poked his shoulder. "Mo Qingchen," she attempted to say but coughed up a hairball instead.


    As she hacked and gagged, his drool covered head bounced around on her chest like a toy.


    Her eyes slowly wandered the perimeter. They were in the car. His. When she tried to look out of the window, her head abruptly dropped.


    Mo Qingchen''s glassy and dilated eyes looked up at her precisely the moment her chin dropped down. It must have hurt but she didn''t feel it.


    His warm breath tickled her chin, causing her to giggle.


    "Stop," he commanded in a garbled growl.


    He struggled to untangle himself from her. After several minutes, he sighed in defeat, only managing to lean his face against the soft leather seat above her shoulder.


    It was strange to see Mo Qingchen so disoriented. He completely missed his forehead several times as he tried to place his head safely. Mo Qingchen''s usually impeccable clothes were disheveled and the buttons were missing.


    She looked down at herself and with relief noticed that her clothes were not torn or missing... just riding up her thighs further. Just as she was about to look away, she noticed two tiny marks on the upper area of her right breast. She flopped her head sideways to get a closer look. Bite marks.


    Her gaze drifted to Mo Qingchen, who was dragging his fingers through his moppy hair. His hand stilled midway. "Did you drool on me?" his jaw clenched. The words were slurred but she could still make them out.


    "I did not," she retorted. "You stuck your hair in my mouth... and bit my boob" She pointed towards her chest with both hands.


    He scoffed at her accusation. "Well, Miss Yun. You stuck your breast in my mouth." His speech was clearer and filled with irritation.

 Chapter 69: The Eligible CEO is Drugged

    "I did not," she slurred. "You stuck your hair in my mouth," her face remained sideways as she glared at him. "And you bit my boob!" She pointed to my chest with both hands.


    "I certainly did not," he scoffed at her accusation. "You stuck your breast in my mouth," he countered. His speech was clearer and filled with irritation.


    "In case you haven''t noticed," she spoke calmly. "You are on top of me." She pointed out the obvious. Other than his face, she was completely covered by his long, solid frame.


    "Why can''t I move properly?" he demanded to know as she tried to pull away from her. It seemed the harder he tried the closer he became. His face was filled with anger.


    "I have no idea. Are you drunk?" she asked smoothly.


    "I ordered one drink!" he said, his patience wearing thin. She knew he would burst if she poked, but she couldn''t help herself one bit.


    "Sounds like you''re a lightweight to me." She smirked, earning a scowl in response. The dragon pressed a button to his left, causing the privacy wall to go up, completely shutting them off from the driver. He turned to face her.


    "Did you drug me?" His voice held a dangerous undertone.


    Her eyebrows hit the ceiling. "You''re kidding me, aren''t you? Do you think you are in a poorly written romance novel where an eligible CEO is drugged and sleeps with the female lead?" She wanted to roll her eyes.


    He ignored her jibe. "What was in those cookies you fed me?"


    "I assume there was flour, sugar, eggs, and butter... you can search the recipe on the internet. You seemed to enjoy them a little too much," Qian Meng offered helpfully.


    "Don''t cover for your ''friends.'' Tell me what I am high on."


    She silently stared at him for a couple of seconds. "No need for that threatening tone. Just a little alcohol and the lack of food can do that to you." Her finger shot up to his reddening face, landing at the center of his nose. She didn''t plan on that happening but he was too close. The bloodthirsty look he unleashed on her would have intimidated most people but it spurred her on. The air between them was unbearably thick. She had trouble breathing properly and swallowed hard.


    Her heartbeat sped up, pounding beneath her dress like a drum. She had to fight off the urge to torment him, just to hear him growl. The thought thrilled her to no end.


    She had issues.


    He swatted her finger away like a bug which made her laugh, a giggle actually, which was really weird since she never giggled.


    She froze, gasping mid giggle. She was high... not drunk.


    Her fingers clamped down on her mouth instinctively and she sat there wide-eyed and speechless as the images of the night flashed before her. Mo Qingchen watched her as realization swept over her like a freight train.


    "You can''t be that naive!" he exhaled with annoyance. His eyes held a bit of pity which irked her. "Really, you are naive."


    "I''m not naive." She folded her arms defensively. "I am trusting among friends."


    "Is that what you call them?" he snorted. "Also, you trust just about everyone. You''re too easy to fool."


    She glared at him. "Well, you don''t have friends, so you won''t understand..." she frowned. Her words weren''t meant to be cruel, she stated them softly and firmly.


    His hands landed on either side of her. He let out a low grunt as he pushed himself up, closely hovering over her, trapping her beneath him.


    "Untrue," he said, the deep vibration of his gravelly voice traveled all the way to her toes.


    To her dismay, she found herself completely dazzled by him. Her brain was already in an altered state, making it impossible for her to keep control over her senses.


    His eyes were dangerously dark as they forcefully grabbed hers. Practically, every part of his body was in some way touching her... every part.


    Her tongue swept across her bottom lip as she inhaled the scent of cookies on his breath.


    ''I bet his mouth tastes amazing, probably like cookies.'' How inappropriate would it be if she nibbled on his lips as he glared down at her?


    No. What was she thinking? A part of her thought herself crazy while the other suggested she lick him instead. Which of course, somehow, made sense.


    If only she could move her head. That would help.


    "Damn it," she chanted under her breath. Mo Qingchen''s eyes were intense, vibrant, and black with an overwhelming number of emotions, anger being only one of them.


    The man was completely unraveled. Something told her he wasn''t accustomed to losing control. And yet, there he was, struggling to speak properly.

 Chapter 70: Never Trust Her Again + Giveaway Announcement

    She sat, staring at him, licking her lips and wanting to lick his. A small voice at the back of her reason pled to her reasoning skills. It kept trying to snap her back into reality. The nagging voice grew louder and louder until it was screaming at her not to devour him. Reluctantly, she retracted her tongue.


    The Dragon''s magic cookie powers caused her to completely lose track of what was going on around her.


    She cleared her throat before speaking. "Did you say something?"


    He dipped down closer. "I said your words are untrue."


    A fresh wave of warm cookies washed over her face, tempting her. Just one lick, that was all she wanted.


    Instead, she bit down on her tongue. "I said words?"


    Honestly, how could she expect to think straight when he smelled so dangerous and enticing?


    "You said I don''t trust anyone." There was raspiness in his voice. "That is not true." He shook off his thoughts before raising his bloodshot eyes to his. "I trusted you."


    Her cheeks burned, much to her dismay. She had never heard the word ''trust'' uttered with such disgust before.


    "Obviously, I misjudged. It won''t happen again," he added coldly before looking away.


    Something shifted at that moment. She felt the connection between them breaking. As much as she hated him, she knew that they had a connection. Actually, it was at that moment she clearly noticed it. With great determination, he pulled away from her physically.


    He must have been high. When did he trust her? His walls were always up. She had seen it constantly... with other people. Hell, she was her own worst enemy most of the time. Apart from her family, that is. Why on earth would he just recklessly trust someone like that without at least warning them?


    She had been walking alone all her life without the expectations of others... at least winning them... therefore, this was a great responsibility that had fallen on her without her knowledge.


    It made no sense but she couldn''t shake the big ball of guilt that was lodged deep in the pit of her stomach. She glanced over at him, her face solemn. He had managed to sit upright beside her, which was no easy accomplishment if his body was functioning as badly as hers.


    She had thought Mo Qingchen''s suits would make him more handsome and indeed it did make him look good, but she realized something while she watched him struggle to straighten his tie. They were his armor. Those suits exuded power and control. He, who thought those necessities had abandoned it to wear his casual clothes, probably because he tried his best to look approachable by his employees. As much as his disposition could allow.


    The man didn''t have a friend in the world. If word around town was right, he didn''t have a good relationship with his father and brother either, leaving his mother and sister. His mother was not much talked about in the circles, so Yun Qian Meng didn''t know much about the woman, but she knew Mo Yize on a personal basis. Even if Mo Qingchen liked his sister, he wouldn''t be too close to someone who was doing almost nothing with their life than lead one of debauchery.


    Friends. Did she have friends? She asked herself. Yes, those people she had met and known on a personal basis. She did think of them as friends but no one she could implicitly trust with her life. She wanted to know why both of them deprived themselves of such a basic human need.


    She opened her mouth to ask him just that but found herself saying something else. "I''m sorry," the words tumbled out from her lips. Two tiny words were spoken with such sincerity that it surprised her.


    She wasn''t the type of person who apologized often. It was so rare that she felt something was her fault. She was a top-notch excuse maker and usually very good at not making mistakes. Usually, those words sounded strange on her lips, but this time they didn''t. Honestly, they sounded horribly inadequate.


    He gave her a detached nod before turning his attention to the window.


    They rode in silence the rest of the way. She spent the time trying to piece together exactly what had happened. Marcus loved drugs like precious little life enhancers.


    If someone had a headache, he would hand them ecstasy instead of medicine. He really meant no harm by it, but she had known never to accept any sort of pills or powders from him. She just never thought that a plate of freaking cookies would do this to her. She hadn''t imagined that Marcus would drug her and Mo Qingchen with phallic-shaped treats.


    The atmosphere in the car was intense, to say the least. She had no idea how they made it to the car and she couldn''t ask the man beside her either.


    She vaguely remembered Angel standing behind her and suspected that she had helped them. Yun Qian Meng looked for her purse and found it under her knee. She pulled out her phone to check the time. Five-thirty in the morning.


    She wondered if she would be awake for her work calls and appointments the next day. She also wondered if Mo Qingchen would let her stay in his house. She hadn''t intentionally drugged him.


    She would never do such a thing.


    Once he got a few hours of sleep and regained control of his nervous system, he would realize that. And he would let her live in his house. That way, she could save a lot of money.


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 Chapter 71: Roam the Halls in Her Towel

    As a child, she loved twirling around in circles. She would get so dizzy that she couldn''t walk straight, staggering in a zigzag pattern with her arms raised at her side, giggling uncontrollably. It was cute on a five-year-old, but at twenty-five¡­ it was absolute madness.


    Getting down from the car to the house was a memorable trip, to say the least. Thankfully, the driver prevented her from seriously injuring herself or anyone else in the vicinity.


    She kept glancing behind her, keeping a watchful eye on Mo Qingchen, who was doing far better than she was. It must have taken a tremendous effort on his part.


    He was too stubborn to accept help from anyone, angrily shooing away the doorman, the driver, and the butler. Usually, his movements were flawless and fluid, almost inhuman. His arrogant swagger always drove her insane with hatred, but watching him struggle with choppy and unsteady movements was much worse.


    The butler greeted them at the door. His usual expressionless fa?ade melted away and he looked very concerned. "Are you injured, sir?"


    "I''ll be fine," Mo Qingchen called over his shoulder as he walked away without glancing at anyone.


    The butler''s eyes landed on her. "Miss Yun, are you alright?"


    She nodded. "Yes, just a little out of it. Would you help me find my room?" Her back was leaning against the door frame, exactly where the driver had left her.


    "Of course." Like a gentleman, he held out his arm and guided her to her room.


    The bed was a welcome sight.


    She didn''t even take off her dress before crashing on the mattress with a thump. Her shoes were flung across the room. She could see the light illuminating the sky from her window.


    Since midnight, she had managed to drug herself and Mo Qingchen and contemplated licking him as he reprimanded her. Who would have known she would fall into stupidity at his side.


    She needed sleep. That would solve everything.


    She set an alarm for eight in the morning.


    The next thing she knew, it was noon.


    She blinked and the clock moved forward hours. She must have passed out without realizing it, sleeping right through the alarm.


    She jumped up from her bed like it was on fire and flew out of the room, flying down the hall at top speed. She had no idea where she was going. Her body was running on adrenaline, her mind lagging far behind.


    Why hadn''t anyone woken her up?


    As her bare feet padded down on the cool floor, she slowly came to her senses. She was still wearing that dress, her hair hanging halfway out of the ponytail. She tugged on the tie, letting it fall loosely across her shoulders.


    She desperately needed to get back to her room to shower. Then she needed to figure out how to call up every person she had an appointment with and offer excuses. Her stomach churned at the thought.


    She looked at a wayward mirror and saw that she looked like a cavewoman standing there in her tiny dress, no shoes and hair flying everywhere.


    She spun around to head back to her bedroom and was faced with hallways. "Are you kidding me?" she shouted into the empty space. Not surprisingly, there was no response. She walked down the hallway and tried every door she could find. All of them were locked.


    After too long, she found an unlocked door. It wasn''t her room, but at that point, she was too happy to get out of the hallway.


    The room led to another hallway and that to another room. Oddly enough, it looked like a gym.


    So, she snooped around for a bit.


    The wight in the room was excellent, matching the ones she had seen in those fancy health clubs. There was a sauna too. It was amazing. So, this was how her generation of rich people lived, huh.


    She was highly enticed to drop her dress and dive into the pool of bubbling water, but she refrained. Instead, she walked over to the other room. Standing before her was a state of the art, multi-head, shower extravaganza, utterly impossible to resist. Not that she tried. Before she could be called a cavewoman on crack, she snagged a fresh towel off the shelf and was the hallway to the promised land.


    A long, steaming shower was just what she needed. She dried off her body with a bright smile on her face, finally feeling human again. She wrapped herself in the towel and ventured into the next room, hoping to find one of those wall-tablets.


    Alas, all she found was an empty bathroom. Beautiful as it was, it was of no use to her. She really didn''t want to put the little dress back on. It was indeed a dangerous piece of clothing.


    But she couldn''t roam the halls in a towel. Not that anyone would see her. There was no life nearby.


    Her reflection in the bathroom mirror caused her to stop momentarily. She had used the shampoo and conditioner in the shower. Her hair looked healthy. She had to go back and turn it around to see what brand it was.


    Venus didn''t make these products, so she was researching for future purposes. She found that it was one of those brands that personally formulated the products for their client.


    Mo Qingchen was high maintenance! She would have never guessed.


    Well, his hair was fabulous. The tousled mess of chaotic black and slivers of brown. It was so twisted and tangled that one would think she didn''t use such products. But unlike him, his hair was soft and it even tasted good.


    And this was the reason.


    She had discovered that when she awoke with a mouthful of his hair.


    She scanned the ingredients and had to laugh. Champagne grape seed oil was marked as the top ingredient in the list.


    Look at this snob!

 Chapter 72: Shirtless and Dripping

    Quietly, she made her way out of the bathroom and tiptoed down the abandoned hall like a fool. After passing a few locked doors, she spotted one that was half open and quickly headed over to it.


    Her view was obstructed but she saw a phone on the wall. She made a beeline for it. Just as she was about to pick up the receiver, she heard a throat clearing behind her.


    She spun around, the phone in hand.


    Just her luck. It was Mo Qingchen. Though, based on his appearance, she would have never guessed it was him. He wore neither suit nor his casual work clothes, instead, he stood before her shirtless, wearing a simple pair of black workout shorts.


    They silently took each other in at the same time, equally confused and curious.


    "I got lost again," she explained awkwardly.


    He tilted his head to the side. "You got lost walking from your bathroom to your closet?"


    She rolled her eyes. "Of course not. That would be ridiculous."


    "Yes, it would," he agreed, staring pointedly at her.


    She followed his gaze and then remembered that she was standing there practically naked, dripping water droplets all over his floor.


    A loud buzz emitted from the phone, scaring the hell out of her and making her fling the receiver across the room. Mo Qingchen quickly grabbed the receiver from the floor and informed the person on the other side that everything was alright. He then hung up the phone.


    He was standing directly in front of her then.


    For the first time since she knew him, his eyes were a blank slate. She had no idea what he was thinking.


    "Did you not pack clothing, Yun Qian Meng?" he asked calmly.


    She squirmed in place, her toes drawing circles on the floor under her. Why was she so nervous? It was unusual for her. This was not the first time she had been in an awkward situation in front of this man. Actually, awkward situations seemed to happen every time she was near him!


    "I have clothes," she replied.


    He watched patiently, waiting for her to explain a little further.


    "Yun Qian Meng," he called, demanding she explain.


    "What?" Even her voice sounded so flustered.


    "Tell me why you are roaming the halls like¡­ that," he demanded in his bossy, prickly voice.


    His glare was intense and she felt a wave of relief wash over her at the familiarity of it. What a welcome sight.


    The emotions got rid of her nervousness immediately. She flung a strand of wet hair over her shoulder. "It is a beautiful labyrinth of emptiness here." She pointed towards the hallway. "How did you build it? This is definitely one of those minotaur traps, isn''t it? Bring in the beautiful woman and let the minotaur hunt her down?" she challenged.


    "What? Are you the beautiful woman in this scenario?" Yun Qian Meng nodded.


    "And of course, you know which role you play."


    "Ah, so this nudity is a way to entice me into playing a game of chase with you?" The question was rhetoric.


    "Not at all!" she claimed quickly. "I slept through my alarm and when I woke up, I just ran out of the room in a daze. I spent god knows how long-running around the house, trying to find my room." She paused briefly. "I did spend a lot of time in that amazing shower of yours, though. Why don''t you have any of those in your hotels? I would pay extra to live in a suite with those."


    She smiled widely at the thought of it.


    "I see," was all he said.


    Then, there was silence.


    "I saw the hot tub, too, and I was enticed to step up, but¡­" she shrugged. She was blabbering off but was cut off by a fierce look from him.


    He walked over to a small panel on the wall and opened it. There was a keypad inside. He curled his finger, beckoning her to him. She adjusted her towel before making her way across the room. When she reached, he pointed to the names on the keypad.


    "I have one of those in my room," she said blandly.


    "Yes. There is one in every room." She looked at him suspiciously. "Really. They are in the hallways, too," he added sarcastically.


    "They blend into the wall. How am I supposed to find them?" she said in exasperation.


    "How did you know about the one in your room?" he challenged.


    "The butler showed it to me," she snapped back.


    "Well, I am not surprised. I always knew you were unobservant," he noted.


    She hissed at the accusation. "I''ll have you know I am extremely observant!"


    "Really?" he challenged, not convinced in the least.


    "Really," she stated firmly.


    He stepped closer to her. "Extremely observant people do not let their families steal and step on them. They don''t let random men prey on them, or drink to the point where they are incoherent. You are not observant," he said in a low, dark voice.


    She raised a long finger in the air. "Firstly, I have done everything I can apart from legally leaving my family to stop them. I have not been fooled by any men or given them a dime of my money. The weed cookies were a one-time fluke, okay?"


    "Weed?" he repeated.


    Her eyes turned into saucers. "What?"


    "Did you feed me weed?" His face moved in closer.


    "Not on purpose!" she sang sweetly. He shot her a wicked glare before storming across the room.


    "Wait!" she yelled, but he kept walking. She followed after him, practically running to catch him. The man walked too fast with those ridiculously long legs of his. They rounded several corners before she heard a loud slam and made double-time to catch up to him before he locked her out.

 Chapter 73: Round-House Kick Her Into Afterlife

    And she was right.


    He wouldn''t open the door.


    "You''re being very immature," she called. "You should at least let me explain." The silence from inside the room did not deter her. "I just want you to know that as much as I hate you, I would never intentionally drug or maim you," she proclaimed with utmost sincerity.


    The fact that she even needed to say such a thing to her enemy was not something she was proud of.


    She peeked through the tiny window on the door but the glass was frosted and she couldn''t see a thing.


    "Apart from all those times that you were a real jerk to me, I apologize¡­" She folded her arms tightly over herself. "Like, the first time we saw each other. You were just plain rude."


    Yun Qian Meng looked around to find something to pick the lock with. One of her male classmates in college had taught her. There were certain situations that it came in handy through the years.


    "I remember how you called me a mindless school girl!" she shouted at the door. "That was uncalled for." She still searched the area as she spoke.


    There was complete silence on the other side. She placed her ear against it and heard nothing. He probably wasn''t even listening to her. She understood that he wouldn''t open the door even if she berated him. It also seemed that her skills in apologizing were a bit lacking.


    She took a cleansing breath.


    "It wasn''t a mistake for you to trust me. I didn''t know you trusted me. But as an arch-nemesis and your business partner, I will tell you that I will take care." She stopped and thought about what she was going to say next. "I don''t betray people." Well, that was a little lie.


    "Well, if you were an observant person, you would know¡­" she goaded. There was some movement on the other side. Her lips turned into a smirk.


    She remembered the hairpin she had used to keep my towel up and used it on the lock.


    "Well, I''ll just ask one of your employees to lead me to my room. I''m sure you would like that."


    Within seconds, she had the door open and was standing in the large room. To her surprise, Mo Qingchen was standing near the door, wearing something like a boxing glove, his eyes on fire. He must have been walking over to open the door. The last sentence must have gotten to him.


    She tucked the clip back onto the towel.


    "Lock picking," he said dangerously as he went back to the punching bag at the center of the room. "What? I didn''t know they taught you that in university."


    He moved with such crushing force. It was far beyond anything she had ever seen. She''d witnessed rowdy brawls at parties but Mo Qingchen''s speed and precision just completely took her breath away.


    She stood there speechless as she watched him pummel the punching bag relentlessly, using a mixture of deadly kicks and punches. Now she knew not to get on his bad side; he would round-house kick her into the afterlife.


    To her absolute horror, she was turned on. Incredibly turned on, beyond all sense and reason. With hatred came curiosity and attraction. She ached in areas she didn''t know existed. Well, she was not an animal so she wouldn''t pounce on him like one.


    What the hell was wrong with her?


    This man was her enemy. That part was a bit debatable now that she was living under the same roof as him but yes. At least as a business partner.


    The horribly sinful, naughty images flashed through her mind.


    Okay, what was going on with her? She had seen many a naked man before (lots of after parties). Albeit the fact that Mo Qingchen''s body was magnificent. But sexual thoughts were strictly forbidden. Not even a possibility.


    ''Completely off the table,'' she thought. ''But the floor would be a good option, too.'' Another part of her brain suggested quickly. She was out of control. Maybe she was still high. That had to be it. Yes, it was all Marcus'' fault, damn that cookie. He would pay.


    She stood there for a long time, shamelessly drooling over Mo Qingchen. She found her feet slowly approaching him the second he halted his workout.


    "Amazing," she said bluntly. Her filter had left her brain.


    Mo Qingchen was covered in sweat. Normally, she wouldn''t find this sort of thing attractive. His sweat though¡­ it glistened. He actually seemed to sparkle under the direct light. What was this? A vampire from The Twilight Saga? The man had pretty sweat.


    How crazy was that?


    Definitely high. What other possible explanation could there be? Mo Qingchen grabbed a towel and wiped his forehead before turning to me.


    "I have no time to let you watch me. I''ll summon you to dinner when it is ready," he said coolly.


    "Summon me?" Her back stiffened. The words sounded awfully like what her father would say.


    He nodded, tossing the towel over his shoulder. "Yes, we need to discuss some of the details about the 1314 agreement before we meet Jiang Da to sign with him. Do you have a problem with that, Miss Yun?" He was testing her.


    "I do, actually," she replied. "I find the word ''summon'' offensive." She stepped closer to him.


    "Do you?" he had a smug look on his face.


    Another step towards him effectively backed him up against the battered punching bag. "Does it make you feel powerful to summon people, Mr. Mo?" She placed her hand on either side of him, trapping him in front of her.

 Chapter 74: Almost Naked Woman Prancing Around

    "No," he stated confidently. "My power is the result of hard work and perseverance. Summoning people and having them at my beck and call is the luxury I have earned."


    Yun Qian Meng smirked. "I am not someone you can ''summon,'' Mr. Mo. I have worked just as hard to be where I am and I have the luxury to say no to you whenever I want."


    Mo Qingchen huffed. "Well, my luxury remains if you discuss business with me." She couldn''t talk him out of his pride, so she approached a different method.


    "Then, are you calling me a luxury?" It was a highly subjective notion, so she wanted to tease him.


    He shook his head. "No. You are a maddening anomaly."


    Just as she was about to snipe back, a man in uniform, the security guard, spoke up. "Mr. Mo."


    Qian Meng jumped back quickly, realizing how intimate the moment appeared.


    "What is it?" Mo Qingchen asked impatiently.


    "The alarm alerted me there was a break in to this room. Is everything alright?" His beady eyes roamed Qian Meng''s legs as he spoke.


    Mo Qingchen shot the man a deathly glare before stepping in front of her. "What do you think? Do I look as though I am in danger?" he asked sarcastically.


    "Uh¡­ I guess not," she heard the man stammering, though she couldn''t see a thing.


    "You''re dismissed," Mo Qingchen stated, cold as ice.


    The security guard left the room and moments later, the Dragon turned to her. "You need to get dressed," he said with a serious look on his face.


    "Okay. Will you show me the way to my room?" Because she had no clue.


    He nodded his head before leading the way. As they walked the long and winding hallways together, he made sure to point out the many panels she hadn''t noticed along the way, smirking each time. The smug bastard. When she got to her room, she thanked her.


    "Good thing you found me. We wouldn''t want your employees to see an almost naked woman prancing around your lair, now would we?"


    He didn''t reply. He was about to step away when she reached out for his arm and pulled him back. "Did you hear what I said outside the door?"


    He thought a moment before answering. "No."


    She didn''t believe that.


    "You tried to goad me, didn''t you?" His brows rose up curiously.


    She fought off a smile. "Are you interested to know?"


    "Depends on what you said," he smirked, wickedly. "Was it a deal?"


    "Hah. A deal. Yes, you do love your deals. Well, if it was a deal, your end of it would be to forgive me for accidentally drugging and maiming you," she explained calmly.


    "Forgiveness?" The concept intrigued him. "That is what you''re interested in? How surprising? I thought you would suck out the last drop of my blood to profit yourself."


    She nodded. "In a normal circumstance, I would. But how do you know this is not a ploy to use you? The question still remains: have you ever forgiven anyone?"


    "Definitely not," he replied without a moment of delay. "I am not an easy-going man."


    She mock-gasped. "Really? I had no idea."


    "If you were one of my employees, you would have been fired on day one," he stated seriously.


    "But I am not your employee. I doubt you would have fired me, though." She contemplated his words. "Are any of your employees anomalies? Or as good at their work as I am?" The words sounded flirtatious. She couldn''t help herself.


    "Maddening anomaly," he corrected. "Just you," he added helpfully.


    "What a shame¡­ If you were my boss, I would have quit on day one and told you to go to hell."


    "I believe that." He nodded, keeping his eyes locked on her. "Were any of your bosses Scoundrels?"


    "I have never had bosses," she stated smoothly. She cleared her throat when she realized how long the two of them had wasted. "I have a meeting."


    Mo Qingchen was flustered, she could see it. He ran his fingers through his hair, leaving it a mess. The tips of his ears were reddened. Why did Qian Meng find it adorable?


    Because she needed serious help.


    "What about our deal?" he asked just as she was about to go inside.


    "I offered you no deal."


    "Well, there will be no forgiveness, then," he bit back.


    "We''ll see about that!" she yelled out to him as he walked away. Not that she wanted his forgiveness, particularly.


    "Get dressed!" he yelled back as he rounded the corner. "Be ready for dinner."


    Tonight would be pure business. There would be no lewd thoughts. Instantly, the images flooded back into her brain.


    How annoying.


    "Why have I turned into a horny mess?" she asked herself several times, attempting to block the downright raunchy visuals that were floating around in her head.


    Stomping her foot down on the floor, she demanded her head to behave.


    How hard could it be?

 Chapter 75: Cant Help You Evade Taxes

    Until dinner, Yun Qian Meng tried to wrap up all her appointments. She received email briefs from her executive staff and her phone had been filled with missed calls, notably quite a few from her biological mother.


    She ignored the calls for the most part and concentrated on her work. Come dinner, she went out of the room and called the butler, who she now called Kevin. Yes, she was on a first-name basis with the butler who was, no doubt, adamant not to associate with her.


    Mo Qingchen was already at the dining table, his laptop in front of him. He was typing at lightning speed and Qian Meng was a little scared of sitting down across from him lest she disturbed his flow.


    He paused mid-typing and looked up. "Give me a couple of minutes." Qian Meng nodded. The look in his eyes said that he was inspired. He took thirty more minutes and dinner was already served.


    Qian Meng had already finished dinner by the time he was done.


    "You''re done already?" he asked, displeased.


    "Did you want me to wait around for you?" she asked in a bored voice.


    "I thought you would be polite enough to do that, at least," he contradicted.


    "Well, I am not. What were you working on?" she asked. That was what she was interested in.


    "The cybersecurity software you know about. The estimated finishing date would have been two more years and then testing, but I think I am mostly done with it." His eyes sparkled.


    "Why is it taking this long?" Qian Meng asked, confused. Mo Qingchen was a go-getter and he jumped into things.


    "There is nothing like it on the market and I need to make it perfect before it goes out into the world."


    Qian Meng frowned. "It''s been a couple of years since you put out new software. You''ve been basically working on software updates than anything new." She paused and looked at him. "Is your perfectionist side not letting you put out what you have on your hand?"


    Mo Qingchen shook his head. "It needs to be perfect to get out there."


    "That is what software updates are for. Are you trying to compete with some image in your mind? You can perfect it with updates!" she fought.


    "You don''t know my company. If people get wind of this, they will produce it before me. Just like you said that day. So I need to hush it up and make my technology irreplaceable."


    Qian Meng understood this. It was the need to beat the market. But in her field, it was easy to copy and put out.


    "And with you doing the legwork, how long will you take?" She looked pointedly at the laptop. "I''ll need a couple more months to finish processes and with testing, maybe a year."


    "That''s a long haul, but it comes with the industry, I suppose." She shrugged. "Consult me for marketing, though," she teased. She didn''t expect him to respond in kind.


    "Maybe, I will. I took your advice into consideration about the design. My design team is very happy about this." He looked at her with intent. "Why are you so intent on marketing, though? You''re a creative person."


    "It''s the sad truth of the world, Mo Qingchen. You''re a creator, as well. But most people create because they want their art to be seen or consumed. To do that, you need to market. No one gets famous for nothing. Measured steps are taken to achieve that. In that sense, to fulfill the dream of artists and me, I need to market my products and help them reach a maximum number of people." She thought about what she was saying next. "The whole working for exposure is bullshit. Money motivates artists. They can only continue to work and do what they love if they have money, so I try to make as much as I can."


    He nodded in understanding. "Reminds me of that scene from Wolf of Wall Street. The one about selling pens," he smirked.


    "Exactly. What is successful marketing and sales? Knowing your customer and their needs. That''s why some products do so well while others fail." She looked surreptitiously at her phone and flipped it over. The motion caught Mo Qingchen''s eye.


    "Someone''s been calling you for a long time and you have been avoiding it," he said matter-of-factly.


    "You''re interested in my private affairs," Qian Meng retorted. "It''s my mother."


    "And you aren''t on good terms." She nodded. "Pick it up and see what she wants. I doubt it is money. She''ll probably ask you about the wedding or something. You can just say you aren''t getting married and send her away."


    "I hate talking to her," she replied blandly but also saw the wiseness of his words. She turned the phone and picked it up.


    "Hello," she breathed into it. She hadn''t spoken to her mother in a year or so. Her mother kept to herself and her immediate family and had never really cared for Yun Qian Meng. So, months went by before she would call. Qian Meng had no expectations from her.


    "Qian Meng!" her mother replied, excitedly. "Why weren''t you picking your phone?" she asked breathlessly.


    "I was busy with meetings. I am in Paris at the moment." She paused. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked immediately.


    "Right, I have twenty minutes before I go into surgery," Sun Li told her. "I have been getting calls from the bank and my financial advisor about something and I needed to talk to you about it."


    "I can''t help you evade taxes, mother," Qian Meng grunted.


    "Oh, no. It''s something else." The words were waved away. "Remember I made you that minor''s joint account when you came to stay with me during your summer vacations?" she said.


    Qian Meng had to remember about that. Her summer vacations during her teenage years hadn''t been pleasant, so she didn''t think much about it. "Yes?" she responded tentatively.

 Chapter 76: Money Can Compensate for Everything

    "Well, you never transferred it to your name. I was written as your nominee, and the trading account fetched something, I think." Qian Meng was confused.


    "I am sure I didn''t have any money in that account." She had wasted it on stocks that weren''t supposed to make it anywhere and thought it a foregone conclusion. She hadn''t wanted her mother''s money, so she did some reckless things, okay?


    "You did. The purchases were attached to that account and some financial analysts were asking about one of your purchases, I think?" Qian Meng blinked.


    "Okay?" she was unsure how to reply.


    "Well, I will forward you the information. Can you update the account details? I don''t want to get any calls." Qian Meng pressed her lips together.


    "Understood, mother. Send me the details and the number of your financial advisor, I will take care of it." She had a bad habit of talking these things through herself. She hung up the call without greeting.


    "Did she want money?" Mo Qingchen asked, his voice tight.


    "No, she wanted to discard some bank account under my name." She shrugged. "She set it up when I was ten or so. I started officially trading with it about ten years ago to spite her." She rolled her eyes at the memory. "I remember analyzing investments and picking the ones that would make no money."


    "With the pocket money she gave you? Why didn''t you use it for good investments?" he asked. He crossed his foot over another and waited for her response.


    "Because she didn''t spend a minute with me and tried to use the money to get rid of me. I was spiteful, okay?" She chuckled. "I will have to see what this is about, though." By then the information was already sent to her cellphone.


    Qian Meng walked over to his side. "Mind if I use your laptop and wifi?" she asked.


    "Go ahead." He pushed the laptop to her. She took a seat beside him and set up an internet banking account. She called the advisor and put the phone on speakerphone.


    "Miss Yun, I have been waiting for your call," the man sounded scared.


    "Yes, I am looking at the bank account right now. There haven''t been any transactions of dividends paid for the stocks I bought. What is the problem?" She looked at the lack of activity, confused.


    "No, most of the stocks you bought were for companies that closed or yielded little profit. But you made a huge purchase that had excellent returns." Qian Meng squinted.


    "And how do you know about that? I don''t see it reflected in my account." Mo Qingchen was looking at the account intently as well. Something in his expression was wrong.


    "I have some analysts calling the bank about the purchases, that is how I came to know. As your mother, Sun Li was the co-signer, I found out. The account was changed automatically when you turned eighteen, so we didn''t find anything until recently."


    "Okay, can you be quick about this? Which purchase are we talking about?"


    Mo Qingchen leaned over and placed his hand on the touchpad. "This one," he said with astonishment. His eyes were wide. Yun Qian Meng followed his eyes and saw the cursor paused over a purchase.


    "I thought I sold these." She frowned. The purchase was made in July 2010.


    "No, ma''am. You didn''t." The man laughed nervously. "The analysts got the news because they need to map the growth of the cryptocurrency, ma''am."


    She squinted at it. "What are these selling at right now?" she asked, bewildered. She knew it had been in the news a couple of years ago and not paid any attention to it. She didn''t want to mourn over her losses.


    Mo Qingchen turned the laptop towards him and searched on the internet.


    40,862 dollars was the closing price that day.


    "You didn''t know about this?" Mo Qingchen''s voice was raised in excitement. "Are you stupid? You didn''t remember holding on to these?"


    "No!" Qian Meng replied, flabbergasted. "How many coins do I have?" she asked, panicked. She had probably not paid her tax on it. She didn''t even know the tax code for these things!


    "You bought them for 0.08 dollars in 2010. You invested 4000 dollars at the time." Mo Qingchen calculated in his head.


    "That''s two billion forty-three million dollars in current value," he groaned. He turned to glare at Yun Qian Meng. "God, you are stupid and irresponsible with your money." He shook his head. He looked so pissed off, too.


    The advisor was silent. "Miss Yun, you''re a billionaire," he said finally.


    "Yes, I have been a billionaire for years now." She stared at the screen. "Uh, can I call you back? I''ll have to look at the procedure." She almost stopped breathing. She hung up the call.


    "You''re upset," she said, confused.


    "You had all this money sitting there and you didn''t even know."


    "It was an account she set up," Qian Meng defended.


    "Billions of dollars, Qian Meng!" he gritted through his teeth. "Why are you this careless?"


    "Why are you so upset?" she grilled. "Upset that I am closer to your net worth now? Upset you didn''t invest in it before?" She wanted to strangle him for his behavior.


    "You wouldn''t have known it existed if not for this call, Qian Meng. If something happened to you..." he frowned. "Stupid."


    "So, should I sell it?" She didn''t know much about it, actually.


    "No!" he yelled in response. She startled and moved away from him. "Pretend it doesn''t exist and don''t let anyone know."


    "Why?"


    "Disclose it in your taxes and nothing else. Don''t let analysts know. Remain the mysterious buyer." He shot up from his chair and paced the room. "Don''t be a fool and throw away this money. You were young and tried to discard your mother''s money. You are old enough now to know that money can compensate for the time she didn''t spend on you."

 Chapter 77: Incur His Wrath

    "A couple of billion dollars will get you a lifetime of happiness that your mother didn''t give you. So stay put. Make sure neither your father nor your mother can get their hands on it."


    "What are you rambling about?" she groaned. He swiveled to glare at her. "Isn''t this supposed to be a spike in the price or something?"


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "The price might plummet for a short while after this."


    Qian Meng waited for him to explain, when he didn''t she elaborated. "I don''t understand cryptocurrency and don''t believe in it, okay? Explain to me why you think I should hold on to something that might lose money." She crossed her hand over her chest.


    He looked at her with shock. "The price shot up a lot more than the projected growth. It''s been happening for a while now. The conservative growth of each coin by 2030 is 350,000 dollars per coin."


    Her brows shot up in surprise. "And the non-conservative price?" she asked.


    "550,000 dollars a coin. But if you factor in another mystery buyer, the growth can be higher."


    Qian Meng gaped at his excitement. "Keep an air of mystery around the investment and rake in the benefits from the infamy and curiosity," she whispered. Mo Qingchen nodded.


    "Exactly."


    "It''s a risk," she countered.


    "Oh, come on. Don''t act with me. You''ve always been a crazy woman when it comes to these things. You take risks like no one else I know. That''s why you are so successful at such a young age."


    She had to attest to that. "So, I forget it exists, pay my taxes on time and rake in the benefits?"


    He tilted his head. "And what are you taking for this consultation?" she challenged.


    "Consider this your payment for helping me with the software design," he replied sardonically. She threw her head back in laughter.


    "Well, it would make up for the money." That was for sure. "Why, Mo Qingchen, you''re quite resourceful, aren''t you?"


    "Of course," he grunted. "I am not even in a mood to talk about 1314 now."


    Qian Meng sat up straight. "What happened to ignore the crypto? Sit down. Have dinner and then brainstorm with me."


    It took Mo Qingchen an hour and dinner to calm the excess energy in his body. He was on a high from the returns. He was so caught up that he didn''t even think about how he hadn''t been the one to make the money but Yun Qian Meng.


    It was safe to say that right after their discussion about the signing and future plans for human resources and technological development of the dating app, Qian Meng retreated to her room and made sure she transferred every dime in the account to herself. Her accountant was not happy with the additional work, but when he saw the amount, he prayed to God that he stumbled upon such money someday, too.


    He had got a couple of dollars from the pockets of his pants before, but this was a bumper incident that was nothing short of a miracle.


    - - - - -


    A week later:


    Mo Qingchen had arrived at the airport ahead of her, so she woke up in the morning having her bags already packed. She had never ridden in a limousine before and had never wanted to. In her mind, they were nothing but flashy vessels that were not worth the money. She had scoffed at the car when she saw it and asked the driver who bought it.


    And hence, Qian Meng found out that it was Mo Qingchen''s father''s car. He was in town and would be living in this house after they left.


    The limo pulled alongside a sleek private jet, the Mo family crest obnoxiously stamped on the side of it. She was too close to the window and looked at this blatant display of wealth. It was slightly disgusting. The upkeeping of a jet, the parts, fuel, and staff cost a lot of money. And the taxes on it were exorbitant as well. She preferred flying commercial because she didn''t need to spend stupid money on a status symbol and if she got enough points, she could fly for free. Which was what happened now.


    But she was a tad bit excited. Like every other little girl, she had on occasion wondered what it would be like to be a rockstar, riding on private jets and all. Apparent;y, shameful extravagance was perfectly acceptable in certain situations.


    The car door swung open, bringing her back to the moment, Kevin was in front of her, bearing no expression as he offered her his hand. It was strange to be catered to in this manner. Unnerving, even.


    She waved him off as she stepped out of the car. "Thank you so much for your hospitality," she smiled awkwardly.


    He smiled back, finally bringing some life to his face. "Enjoy your trip, Miss Yun." He shut the door the second she had stepped away from the car.


    "I am going back to Shanghai." Her voice was full of excitement, it barely sounded like herself.


    "Yes, I know." He held back a laugh, definitely amused. "Please do stay with us on your next trip to Paris. We will take care of you."


    "Your Mr. Mo will not be pleased that you extended the offer, Kevin. Are you sure you want to incur his wrath?" Qian Meng teased.


    "I am sure Young Master Mo will not be against the idea of you staying over. Better if you pay a small fee. He wouldn''t mind at all." He let out a small smile.


    "You''ll have to guide me around the house and I might come back in different stages of scandalizing." Her stay had been eventful, to say the least.

 Chapter 78: Living Off His Father at Thirty-One

    She waved him goodbye and climbed the staircase up to the plane. She stilled midway. She had forgotten her luggage. She jogged back down the staircase in a hurry. It would be just her luck to end up in Shanghai without any of her things.


    The limo had pulled away before she could reach the last step.


    She wanted to yell, but she didn''t. She cursed her wretched luck for several minutes before realizing Mo Qingchen could ask Kevin to come back.


    "What are you doing?" Mo Qingchen asked when he saw her sprint into the plane.


    "Can you call your driver back here?" she asked.


    "Is there a problem?" he answered smoothly.


    "I left the luggage in the limo. Call the driver back and I''ll go grab the suitcase." She grumbled under her breath.


    "It won''t be necessary. We''re about to take off, so sit down."


    "I have contracts in there," I warned him.


    "The luggage is on the plane. This is what happens when you have less money and have to fly commercial," he said with the squint of his eyes.


    Qian Meng gasped, offended. "Excuse me. I should remind you that you were on the same flight as me to Paris. Moreover, if you add up the total cost of traveling in commercial to your little jet, you will see that commercial is way better in terms of economy. You are simply wasting money with this," Qian Meng reasoned.


    Mo Qingchen shook his head. "I used the commercial flight here because my jet was occupied. Mo Zichen went to some fancy dinner with the American President and needed the jet."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "You need to stop putting the blame for everything on your father. You don''t have money to buy clothes for yourself but you have it to throw away at these luxuries." The logic made her laugh.


    "I have the money to buy clothes, I just don''t find them comfortable, that''s all." He paused. "And my father pays for the jet."


    "Eating off your father at thirty-one, eh?" Qian Meng teased.


    "That''s the least that man can do." Mo Qingchen rolled his eyes.


    "How will he travel without his jet?" she asked in reply.


    "Yize will take the jet back to Paris. She has to shop for clothes for the upcoming party. I think it is the Mayor''s wedding anniversary." Mo Qingchen looked at her curiously.


    She thought for a moment and sighed. "Right, that one. Everyone is invited if I am not wrong." She groaned. "God, they keep asking about weddings and babies like that is the end of life for every woman."


    "And man, too," Mo Qingchen added from the side. "The Bai family is invited, too. Mr. Bai is close to the Mayor." That produced another slew of curses from Qian Meng.


    "Thanks. Now I will have to cock my guns the moment I go inside that party." She looked at him in surprise. "Wait, Yize buys her clothes from abroad? What would happen if she wasn''t going?"


    Mo Qingchen shrugged. "Father would fly the jet without a passenger." He pointed towards the interior of the jet. "This is the epitome of luxury. He likes to spend the money he earns. From childhood, he told us that you only earned more money if you used the money you earned previously."


    So he splurges. "That should be only relevant if he was investing all the money and not spending it. This doesn''t look like investing." Qian Meng looked around. The interior was on-brand with the interior decoration of the house in Paris. So, this was the style Old Mr. Mo liked. "If your dad didn''t let you use the jet for free, would you travel commercial?" she asked curiously.


    "Probably not," he said. He looked at her incredulous expression. "Factoring in the timing of flights, waiting time in airports, checking, and the lack of leg space... it is better to travel on a jet."


    Qian Meng thought for a bit. Mo Qingchen explained. "Well, I think it is wasteful to have such a big plane, but a smaller plane would suffice. This one has offices and a bed, completely unnecessary." He huffed. "Maintenance cost and paying the employees to a smaller jet is considerably less and I don''t have to worry about price surges and delays. Overall, it''s a profit."


    Qian Meng didn''t argue. She was still against the whole thing. Mo Qingchen was scarce from thereon. He disappeared into one of the rooms, it seemed. Qian Meng plopped down on the couch and waited for takeoff with a small smile on her face. She could enjoy the one-time thing while she criticized Mo Qingchen.


    The engines came to life and a bolt of electricity raced through her body. The runway for the private jet was different. They hadn''t even gone to an airport. Instead, this seemed to be a privately owned property authorized to let planes fly. Interesting.


    "Welcome aboard, Miss Yun. Would you care for refreshments?" a feminine voice asked from her side. Qian Meng peeled her face from the window and spun around. A striking woman stood smiling at her.


    "I''ll take water, thank you," Qian Meng smiled back.


    "My name is Yin Ah. I''ll be your attendant for this flight. Please let me know if you need anything." Her name tag was pinned directly above the Mo Building Solutions logo on her tight-fitting uniform.


    "Thank you. I will." She watched as Yin Ah walked away, her hips swayed from side to side rhythmically. She was incredibly voluptuous, like an old-time Hollywood movie star.


    The outside was gloomy and she wondered if it would be the same in Shanghai.


    "Qian Meng," Mo Qingchen''s voice broke her out of the bubble.

 Chapter 79: Ate Crayons as a Child

    "Yes," her muffled reply came.


    She heard a frustrated sigh. "Unless you want a broken nose, I suggest you take your seat."


    She turned to face him. "Excuse me?"


    "Do you generally place your face against the window during takeoff?" There was a slight smirk on his lips.


    "My face wasn''t against the window," she gritted out.


    "Really?" He looked doubtful. "Take your seat."


    She huffed like a child as she looked away from the window. So damn bossy. She went over to one of those reclining seats and plopped herself down. Yin Ah was at her side seconds later.


    She placed her drink in the cupholder. "Buckle up, Miss Yun."


    Qian Meng couldn''t help but stare into her ample cleavage as she leaned down. How could she not? It demanded attention.


    "You fly a lot, don''t you?" she asked, being the queen of small talk. The lack of people was disconcerting. Suddenly, she felt it would be boring flying like this.


    Yin Ah swung her long dark hair behind her shoulders. "I get around." She winked playfully.


    ''Oh, I bet she does.'' Qian Meng smirked to herself. It was clear that she had assets and knew how to use them. She wondered if she shared her assets with Mo Qingchen.


    That thought disgruntled her.


    He probably had a slew of women to fill his needs. Not that Qian Meng was a sappy romantic, but casual sex wasn''t her cup of tea. One night stands were like bite-sized relationships... snacks. It never filled you and kept you feeling hungry.


    But couples were really annoying. She could see both sides, but she couldn''t do either. A relationship seemed time-consuming while the thought of one-night stands was unappetizing... empty. She would rather starve and keep her head buried in work.


    She buckled herself in and looked around. Mo Qingchen was sitting at the conference table, laptop open. He was eyeing his screen with great focus. Yin Ah sauntered her way over to him, all hips and cleavage.


    "Mr. Mo, your drink." She bent down low and placed the drink before him. He gave a slight nod without looking up.


    The next thing she knew, they were moving down the runway. The sheer force of the takeoff pushed her back into the seat, she gasped at the intensity of it. The calmness filled the cabin, she unbuckled herself and headed straight for the rooms. She moved along the interior, looking at the furniture and picture frames. She tried to be smooth about it, but her heart was leaping in her chest.


    She explored until Yin Ah called her to her seat for lunch.


    She wolfed down the food, barely chewing it in her anxiousness. Mo Qingchen was still working on his laptop, his sleeves rolled up, hair in total disarray. She finished her lunch and made her way over to him.


    He hadn''t even touched his food. She stood there for a few moments before clearing her throat to get his attention.


    "Yes?" he said without looking up.


    "You haven''t eaten," she stated the obvious.


    He looked up from the laptop and glanced towards the plate disdainfully. "I''ll pass." He turned his nose up and went back to reading.


    She laughed at his pompous attitude. He was a Fat Cat through and through when it came to food.


    "Something funny?" He was still reading.


    "You," she admitted honestly. His eyes shot up to her, a spark of light flickered within their stormy darkness. Something about those black eyes drew her in. A story that she wanted to read... no a math puzzle that she needed to solve, but she was only getting a glimpse of the question before the page disappeared.


    "Do I amuse you?" He stared her down. Instinctively, she met his gaze.


    "Yes." She smirked. "You''re such a snob."


    "I don''t accept inferiority in food. That makes me a snob?" he asked incredulously.


    "Yes. The flight is thirteen hours long and you won''t eat anything if this is the quality. You''ll go hungry. Accepting hunger rather than eating? A big-time snob," she commented.


    He leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out. "Well then, I must be a big-time snob then. Is that all?"


    "No." She moved a little closer. "I was just wondering... did you eat crayons when you were a child?" Qian Meng waited for his reply patiently, thinking that he would frown.


    Instead, he pondered her question for a second. "Only the green ones, the other colors paled in comparison."


    Yun Qian Meng laughed. "I bet. You must have been a snobby child. You probably had gold plated crayons," she teased.


    Whatever memories she stirred up obviously weren''t pleasant. The laptop slammed shut instantly. Just as he was about to respond, the plane suddenly shook, causing her to lunge forward. She lost her balance and landed directly on his lap.


    "What the hell was that?" Her eyes were wide open and darted around wildly.


    "Just a little turbulence," he explained, calm and cool and collected.


    "Really?" she responded sarcastically. "That was little? It felt like a lot to me."


    He took in her fearful expression with great interest. "You''re afraid." The shock in his face was evident.


    "What? I am not," she huffed defensively.


    His strong jaw lowered, dangerously close to her. "Liar," he enunciated the word very slowly.


    Her mouth dropped open at his gall. She narrowed her eyes as her hands flew to her hips. Swiftly, everything about him became predatory, it happened so fast that she wasn''t prepared. His eyes burned as they stared at her with an intensity that took her breath away.


    Greedily she soaked it all up. He was exposed to her for the moment. There was so much to take in that she was slightly overwhelmed. Yet, she was so completely mesmerized, she couldn''t look away. The warmth of his breath brushed against her cool skin, reminding her to breathe.


    How in the world had she forgotten how to breathe?

 Chapter 80: Thats Called Foreplay

    The plane jolted again, breaking the spell she was under. She gripped the back of his chair firmly with both hands while glaring at him. He chuckled wickedly, delighted by her horror. His cruelty truly knew no bounds.


    Who knew the Dragon, of all people, understood that some things were funny despite how ridiculous they were. "Did you know that private jets have a higher rate of crashing than commercial planes? Statistics show that it is likelier for us to die in this jet than in a commercial plane," Qian Meng told him firmly.


    Mo Qingchen pressed his lips together to hide a smile. "Well, we''ll go to heaven hand in hand, then."


    "Or hell," Qian Meng retorted.


    Yin Ah''s assets were suddenly thrust in her face. "Looks like we may be in for a bumpy ride, sir."


    Where had she come from?


    "I gathered," he replied dismissively, his eyes never leaving Qian Meng.


    It was at that moment she realized that she had ended up back on his lap, her hands above his head, boxing him beneath her. His arms were wrapped tightly around her waist. He must have realized it too because he abruptly pulled them away.


    You would think it would be awkward, but it wasn''t in the least.


    If Yin Ah hadn''t come, god knew how long they would have sat there. It was bizarre how comfortable it felt. Clearly, the high altitude was messing with her mind. She jumped to her feet the moment Yin Ah stepped back.


    Her eyes rolled over Yun Qian Meng before she sauntered away. She was sizing Qian Meng up, that she was sure of. She knew that look. Women often gave it to her when she was in college with male friends.


    But it was the ''what''s so special about her'' look. Usually, women acted that way when a man treated another woman different from the others. She couldn''t figure out why this girl would react this way because of Mo Qingchen.


    She spent most of the turbulence sitting by the window. It was peaceful. Mo Qingchen was back at word, a slight crease formed on his brow as he typed furiously on the laptop.


    When Yin Ah came over to ask her if she wanted snacks, she had a smug look on her face.


    "Do you fly for Mo Qingchen often?" she asked, trying to make small talk.


    Yin Ah nodded. "Yes, just let me know if you and Mr. Mo would like some alone time."


    Qian Meng coughed on her words. "Alone time? I don''t think that will be necessary." She couldn''t be serious.


    Yin Ah laughed at her face. "Don''t be coy, sweetie." She smirked knowingly. "Lord knows I have been trying to get his attention for years," she pointed to her breasts. "Even the gayest of gay men appreciate the view, if you know what I mean."


    The woman winked. Yun Qian Meng did know.


    She glanced over her shoulder at Mo Qingchen before turning back to Qian Meng. "Not once has that man looked at me." She paused. "But he sure does notice you." Her eyes swept over Qian Meng from head to toe. "He sure does notice you," she repeated, as though baffled by her own words.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Of course he notices me. I''m the founder and CEO of Venus. We are enemies turned business partners." It was less of an explanation and more of a brag about why she was more worthy of the attention. The way this girl looked at her rubbed her the wrong way.


    Her eyes widened for a second before she smirked. "And what a deliciously exhausting partnership that must be." She grinned snidely.


    Qian Meng gaped at her outlandish insinuation. "Nothing inappropriate is going on." Her tone was stern. "As a matter of fact, we spend most of our time arguing," Qian Meng added with complete honesty.


    Yin Ah patted her shoulder as a token of appeasement. "Oh, yes. I saw the two of you arguing. Where I come from, that''s called foreplay."


    Her eyes nearly rolled out of her head. "That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. We barely tolerate each other."


    The woman dipped into the mini-bar. It was the only possible explanation.


    Her finger tapped lightly against her cheek. "Right... you barely tolerate each other. Forgive me for thinking otherwise."


    Qian Meng brushed her off. "Clearly, you misread the situation. I knew you had the wrong impression when you gave me that look earlier." Her brows rose accusingly.


    "That you noticed?"


    "Yes, I noticed. I rarely miss anything." The girl looked amused for some reason. Something was very wrong with her.


    The jet made a detour somewhere. Yun Qian Meng didn''t pay attention because she was already engrossed in her paperwork. Mo Qingchen said something about taking things for his sister and she rolled her eyes. A blatant show of wealth.


    Yin Ah, the curvaceous flight attendant offered her a drink while she worked. And waited.


    Three drinks and over an hour later, Mo Qingchen''s gloating presence filled the doorway. Qian Meng was surprised that his head fit through. His sly grin was infectious and a bit sexy if she was being completely honest.


    "What would you like to drink, sir?" Yin Ah thrust her assets straight up in his direction. Subtlety was not one of her strong points.


    "Get me a red velvet cake," he replied not looking her way.


    "Are we celebrating?" Yin Ah''s smile couldn''t be more flirtatious.


    "I am celebrating. You are working." He walked away before she could respond.


    The large recline Qian Meng was sprawled out in was insanely comfortable. She watched as Mo Qingchen strode towards her. What an arrogant bastard. Slowly, she sipped her martini.


    "Sit up. We''ll be taking off any minute," he commanded as he sat down beside her.


    She pulled herself up, taking in his radiant grin. "You were furiously typing on your computer. I thought you were writing termination letters for your employees. Did something good happen?"


    "Of course," he replied smoothly.


    "You compromised with them?" Qian Meng asked with her eyebrow raised.

 Chapter 81: Dishonorable Manwhore

    "Yes. Then we held hands and sang Kumbaya."


    "Very funny." She put her drink down and focused her attention on him. "How many people did you fire today?"


    "None." His reply was prompt.


    "Really?" Her eyes widened in shock. "How many people did you make cry?"


    "I do not make people cry." He slipped off his jacket and draped it over the back of the seat. "Their lack of emotional control is not my responsibility."


    "Indeed." Yun Qian Meng bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.


    "Buckle up," he said, holding back a grin.


    She grabbed the buckle and attempted to click it shut, but it was broken. After trying several times, she gave up in frustration and reached for her drink.


    "What are you doing?"


    "Taking a sip of my drink," she explained the obvious.


    "We are about to take off. Buckle your seat belt." He looked annoyed. "I am inclined to think that you are an alcoholic."


    "I am not. And it''s broken." She lifted the two ends to show him. "Can''t even repair your seatbelts and fly in a jet? Disgraceful," she commented.


    "It''s not broken," he argued.


    "It is." She struggled with the clasp to show him.


    "Let me see." He reached over and before she knew it, his hands were in her lap, trying to fasten the seat belt.


    Qian Meng started to giggle.


    She squirmed as he tried to buckle the belt. It was uncontrollable and becoming painful. "Stop!"


    "Sit still," he scolded impatiently. She was sure he was enjoying her discomfort.


    "Stop stop stop!" She gasped for air.


    Just as she was about to pour her drink on his head, the belt clicked. Instantly, he removed his hands. She tried to glare at him but the wicked grin on his face made her anger simmer down.


    A throat cleared above them.


    Yin Ah was standing there, holding his cake with a stunned look on her face.


    "Your cake, sir." Her eyes widened as they darted back and forth between them. "I am going to the cockpit to give you two some privacy. Buzz me if you need me."


    Mo Qingchen waved her off.


    "What the hell does she mean by that?" Qian Meng whispered as the woman sauntered away.


    "Who?" Mo Qingchen set the cake down, slowly lifting his eye to her.


    "The woman really has some balls. Insinuating things."


    He stretched out his legs before him. "I don''t know what she means. If you want to know, go ask her."


    She rolled her eyes. "She thinks we are sleeping together."


    "So," was his response.


    She gaped at him. "That doesn''t bother you?"


    "Why would it bother me? I don''t care what she thinks," he said with complete sincerity.


    "She thinks I am a slut." Qian Meng huffed.


    "Sleeping with me would make you a slut?"


    "Yes. I mean no. I don''t know." She paused. "I am not a slut."


    "Of course you are not," he agreed. "Unless we sleep together." His grin was in contrast to her sour expression.


    Mo Qingchen was in a playful mood and she was glad since they were on a long flight. It didn''t take long for her to decide she shouldn''t care what Yin Ah or anyone else thought of her. If she could live with her decisions, that was all that mattered.


    "Don''t look so smug," she warned. "It makes you a dishonorable manwhore."


    "Would it?" he asked. She nodded. "I have been called far worse than that." That caused her to laugh. It was probably her who made the comments in the first place.


    "What could you possibly have been called to make you say that? I can''t imagine anyone would call you a whore, no doubt something else." Mo Qingchen was skeptical of her words. He squinted suspiciously.


    "You''re mistaken, I have to say." She paused, mulling over the words, almost rubbing it into his face. Yes, Mo Qingchen, you are not always right. Contrary to what you believe. "You called me a shark before. You were a gentleman. Instead, I have been called an ungrateful slut who steals men from others and repays kindness with malice." She finished that little monologue bitterly. One of those people had been his own younger sister and her former friend, Mo Yize.


    "Well, they don''t know you at all," Mo Qingchen retorted.


    "Why, thank you. I didn''t think you thought so highly of me!" She was delighted, but she kept her expression neutral.


    Mo Qingchen snorted. "Of course not. You''re not stealing anyone''s man." She wasn''t the kind to take things forcefully from others when they didn''t belong to her in the first place. She was loyal to a fault and placed great emphasis on human relationships. Therefore, he thought it impossible for her to do anything resembling the things others thought of her. But he wouldn''t tell her that. She would become even more conceited if he patted her on the back for good behavior.


    "I am not sure if I should be flattered by that statement, Mr. Mo. What are you implying?" She knew all too well what he was implying. But she had to press. She could never pass up on a volcanic argument with this man.


    "Nothing much. Just that you are busy and too stuck up to associate with a man. What a prude!" And this was coming from a man who didn''t have friends.


    ''Sure, who was actually stuck up, Mo Qingchen?'' she thought snidely.


    Qian Meng gasped. "Did you just call me a prude?" She turned to him, her eyes blazing with ill-concealed intent of pouncing on him and strangling him. There was no indecision. She didn''t know how she held herself back, though.


    "What? Are you going to kill me?" he taunted, a smile barely present on his lips. Qian Meng didn''t notice it in her offended state.


    "Don''t tempt me, Scoundrel," she hissed. She took her hand and placed it on his shoulder. Mo Qingchen startled and looked at her like she had grown another head.


    "What are you doing?" he asked hesitantly.


    "Nothing," she sang. "Just going to show you that I am not a prude." The oath was scary and Mo Qingchen found himself unconsciously placing his hand over his chest to protect his dignity.

 Chapter 82: Do You Want It?

    "What? Acting like a damsel in distress now?" she scoffed. "Just you wait!" She chuckled slowly as she saw the horror in his eyes. "You have not eaten anything. Therefore, I am going o feed you until you can no longer eat."


    Mo Qingchen raised his brow and said not a word. It was a clear declaration of war.


    Qian Meng clenched her teeth and bent over him to grab the plate of cake. She scooped a little segment and tauntingly hovered it in front of his face.


    Mo Qingchen smirked and kept his lips tightly shut. "Aren''t you getting a little too comfortable with this?" he retorted. Qian Meng took the opportunity to shove the spoon between his teeth.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes widened and she saw a flash of anger in them.


    "Eat," she commanded.


    He reigned in his anger and opened his mouth again to take the bite she was offering. He silently stared at her sly grin and fed him spoon after spoon until no crumbs were left on the plate.


    "Sorry, maybe I should have cut larger bite sizes. You must still be hungry," she smirked.


    "I dare you to feed me the crap food on this plane," he challenged.


    "Please, do you think I won''t try?" Challenge accepted.


    "I won''t go down without a fight," Mo Qingchen taunted. She rolled her eyes as she saw the expression of disgust on his face. The grimace was prominent and she said nothing as she called Yin Ah and asked her to bring over some snacks for them to much on.


    Yin Ah stared between the two and looked trepid before she turned away and scurried off towards the front of the plane. As soon as she disappeared behind the curtain, Mo Qingchen turned to her with a wicked look of amusement.


    "I''ll buy you a dress for the Mayor''s anniversary party if you make me eat the thing."


    "No need. You aroused my competitive side. It won''t rest until I have won. I don''t need a dress as compensation for winning."


    There was another bout of turbulence and it pushed her back into her seat. She looked out of the window and saw the thunder cracking beneath them in the clouds and wanted to paste her face against the window but refrained.


    Her eyes remained firmly locked on the tiny gateway to the sky. The view was breathtakingly beautiful¡­ haunting even. The sun was visible on the horizon despite the black clouds that swelled beneath them.


    "Look!" she exclaimed, poking Mo Qingchen without taking her eyes from the window. "It''s so beautiful."


    "It is," he agreed.


    When she turned to look back at him, he had taken a document and was scanning it intently, brow furrowed deep in concentration.


    "Do you ever relax?" she asked, frowning at him.


    He looked up after a few moments. "Not if I can help it."


    "You are impossible," she groaned in frustration. "What do you do for fun?"


    "Work," he stated before returning his attention to the document.


    "When was your last vacation?"


    "I don''t take vacations," he replied without looking up.


    She peeked over his shoulder, wondering what the hell was so damn interesting. It was a contract and the prospect of making money was fun¡­ but at all hours of the day?


    "There is a new term called ''bleisure,'' I am sure you have heard of it," she said softly. From the corner of her eye, she saw Yin Ah walk towards them. She placed a platter of food in front of them and a bottle of wine.


    Qian Meng quirked her brow questioningly but didn''t protest. Mo Qingchen remained in his position, engrossed in his work.


    As she popped the cork on the bottle, his eyes rose up instantly, taking in the scene before him.


    "Break time," she smiled invitingly. "I will do good on my promise to feed you."


    He lowered the document to his lap. "Always so eager to feed me." The grin on his face was lethal.


    "If I remember correctly, it was you who was eager to feed me and raise my standards," she replied smugly.


    "True," he nodded. "Mango?" Somehow, he managed to make the word sound sexy.


    "Do you want it?" she sliced off a small piece and brought it to her lips as he watched.


    "I do," he said with such intensity that Qian Meng forgot that she had already won the challenge before she even tried. She had a feeling he wasn''t talking about fruit.


    "Then put your work away and take a break." She sliced another piece and slowly held it out of his reach as she glanced down at the document in his lap disapprovingly.


    "No." His eyes seared into hers.


    "Put away the work," she directed, equally commanding, losing herself in the fight.


    Their stare was locked and his heart beating faster than the plane was traveling and then without looking away, he did it. He pushed the document away. Something so small, yet it felt huge to Yun Qian Meng.


    Mo Qingchen could compromise. Regularly.


    Before he could blink, her fingertips were at his mouth. His lips parted, giving her a slight glimpse of his tongue. She suddenly remembered the taste of his mouth and wondered if it would taste just as amazing if she leaned in right then.


    Instead, she placed the tiny piece of fruit between his lips and watched as he sucked it in, swallowing it whole.


    Yin Ah was right.


    ''I am a slut,'' Yun Qian Meng admitted to herself.


    Based on the wicked thoughts she was having about the man she swore she hated, she was just that. To be honest, she wasn''t even trying. His intensity drew her in. The danger, always present, was irresistible to the masochist in her.


    "More." His firm command broke her out of her thoughts.

 Chapter 83: Adamant on Winning Her Over

    She turned to the platter and plucked a grape from the bunch and held it just above his lips.


    The man could grab people with his eyes, demand things from them and probably eat them alive.


    She waited, frozen in place, holding his intense gaze and going through the motions.


    Slowly, he smacked his lips together, ridding them of the juices she wanted to wipe away. Disappointment flashed across his features as he pulled his eyes away. He grabbed the document he had been reading and glance back up at her.


    "Delicious little snack," he emphasized the work little before lifting the paper and going back to work.


    Qian Meng wanted to dump the platter on his head. But she refrained. If he wasn''t willing to eat the whole platter, he would only be getting this little snack and nothing else.


    She tore herself away from his side and poured herself a glass of obscenely expensive wine. She took a seat in her assigned seat and looked outside.


    Qian Meng wasn''t a saint when it came to work-life balance or communicating with people, but Mo Qingchen took it to a different level.


    She glanced over at him working intently. Her chest felt a heaviness to it as she tried to imagine why he became this way. She always thought about how aggrieved she was, but it seemed Mo Qingchen was equally damaged.


    Did she really want to know?


    The answer was yes. But the true question was, how far was she willing to go to find out?


    - - - - -


    The evening of the Mayor''s Anniversary party:


    Yun Qian Meng was steaming her evening gown when the bell to her room rang. She looked down at her robed outfit and shrugged. She had ordered her package to be brought up, so she didn''t think much of the call.


    She sauntered over to the door and opened it. Her expression froze when she saw who was on the other side.


    Qian Meng could swear he was looking at her like he saw a goldmine. Bai Ye Qing.


    "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice tight and her hands gripping onto the door. Someone had let out her information, and she was pissed.


    "Your father told me to pick you up," he said casually.


    "You didn''t learn a lesson from our breakfast in Paris, did you?" she mocked.


    Bai Ye Qing''s expression stiffened but he composed it back into a dazzling smile once again.


    "I am adamant on winning you over," he announced.


    "You can hold your breath on that," she countered. Yes, hold your breath. ''You''ll die, anyway.''


    "It''s okay. I see it as a challenge." He shrugged. He was about to step over the threshold but she put her hand up.


    "Don''t even think about it." Her father definitely didn''t know which room she was staying in, so it must be one of the evening staff she rarely met. She slammed the door on his face and moved away from it like she would get infected if she was near him any longer.


    She scurried towards her bed and jumped into it to calm herself. She did it so fast that she thought she was a gazelle. Apparently, the adrenaline that you get from an attack like that one she was under gave her a brand-new finesse that she had never known she possessed.


    She would need to change hotels now. Her safe haven had been tainted by Bai Ye Qing''s presence. She picked up her phone and called the front desk.


    "Who let an unknown man come up to my suite?" she asked without greeting. There was silence on the other end for half a minute and then anxious apologies.


    "Miss Yun, we are sorry. We have a new employee who didn''t follow protocol. We will make sure she gets a thorough orientation."


    Yun Qian Meng hung up in anger. She knew for a fact that Bai Ye Qing was still waiting for her in the lobby. She knew the man well enough. He liked to ambush people and inconvenience them into getting his way.


    He thought that if he forced himself on them, they would go along with his plan because they were polite. She was not in a mood to be polite.


    She picked up her phone once again and dialed Mo Qingchen''s number. He picked up within a ring. "What is it?" he asked gruffly.


    "I have a complaint against your family''s hotel," she complained contritely.


    "What did they do?" his answer was guarded.


    "An employee of yours gave my personal information out to that scumbag Bai Ye Qing. I will inform you that I will find better accommodation and move out immediately."


    He was silent on the other end.


    "And I need to know this?" he asked, confused. "But that is good. Your money will fill someone else''s pockets now."


    She huffed. "Sorry to bother you, Mr. Mo. I thought you should know your hotel would lose out on a high paying customer like me." She heard him chuckle and looked at her phone in confusion.


    "I understand." Short, concise reply. "Are you ready for the party?"


    She heard shuffling in the background and realized he was also getting dressed.


    "I was about to start when the piece of shit knocked on my door. Now I don''t want to go. He''s probably waiting for me downstairs," she groaned.


    "Were you going to drive yourself?" he asked suddenly.


    "Yes, why?" she asked.


    "Don''t drive with your heels on. Get a flat pair of shoes and keep them in your car. I''ll call the manager and tell him to guide you to the garage, okay?"


    She blinked. She didn''t know that was an option. "Thanks?" she didn''t know if it was a question or not.

 Chapter 84: Exterminate the Cockroach

    "See you at the party," he said and hung up. She stared at the phone and shook her head.


    Why had she even called him?


    She went over to her dress again and looked it over. The mind green dress was elegantly crumpled, the plunging neckline, and the material gathering and tightening around her waist would look phenomenal. The thing that set the dress apart from others was the faux fur embellishment on the shoulders.


    The party was so fancy that the Mayor wasn''t holding it in his multi-million dollar mansion but at a hotel. Probably one of Mo family''s hotels.


    She was supposed to arrive in forty minutes but she hadn''t even started to get ready. Well, she would have to settle for being fashionably late.


    The party would have people from all industries, people her age who were not doing as well as her, and matchmakers intent on making their sons and nephews marry a wealthier woman. As if she didn''t have enough of those lingering around her.


    People usually brought along a partner for such things, but she was flying solo. She''d written off men altogether, and humorously thought of taking a vibrator along with her since it would be the only man in her life. But that seemed inappropriate.


    Because she had no date, she would be the third wheel in every conversation.


    She hurried to her bathroom and quickly applied some makeup and decided on how to do her hair. The extra piece of fabric had been given to her and as she looked at her hair, she got the idea. She used the ribbon and twined it with her hair to form a braided high bun. She donned on no earrings or necklace. Only her fingers glistened with sleek rings.


    She rubbed some lotion into her arms and put on a squirt of perfume. By the time she put on her mint green dress, she was already running late.


    She slid into her heels, grabbed her clutch, and practically ran out. The manager was, indeed, waiting for her.


    "Miss Yun. I''ve been asked to guide you to your car," he said. As he led her down through employee tunnels, he glanced at her with interest. She paid him no heed and nodded when she reached her car. She pulled her keys out and unlocked her car.


    "Thank you for helping me out," she said politely before sliding into her car. She pulled her heels off her feet and slid on the slipped she had in her car at all times.


    She saw Bai Ye Qing on her way out and smirked to herself, self-satisfied. Traffic was light, surprisingly and she reached without a hitch. She stopped the car in front of the entrance to the hotel and threw her slipped to the back.


    Thank god the glass was tinted or the valet would see her pulling her dress up and putting her shoes on. She did the task quickly and smoothed down the dress before opening the door.


    The valet gaped at her and she smiled. She placed the key in his hand. "I''ll wait here to get them back," she told him.


    She didn''t need to wait for her car if her family pulled a stunt like last time and tried to trap her.


    He returned within ten minutes and she was relieved. She put the keys back into the purse and turned around. Not one person questioned her or asked to see her invite. Everyone knew not to mess with the people heading towards the ballroom. Especially ones who looked like they were wearing money.


    She walked in and felt eyes on her. She saw women from her social circle who went to school with her. Some to business school, others to performing arts. While they hadn''t had as much success as her, they were undisputable leaders in the industry.


    "Sorry I''m late," Yun Qian Meng smiled as she reached her family. The smile was meant for Yun Qing Yuan who looked like he was about to jump out of his skin. "I got held up by an unexpected visitor." She gave her father a pointed look.


    "And who might that be?" Jiang Xin questioned.


    "Something repulsive. There was a massive cockroach plotting to ambush me in my suite. I wonder who let them in." Her glare was evident.


    Her father remained eerily silent. She had thought he would say something but it seemed he was on his best behavior because it was the Mayor''s Anniversary party.


    "A cockroach in the hotel? Should we be complaining to the health and safety board?" Qing Yuan scrunched his face innocently. He was relieved that his sister was finally there. He hated these stuffy gathering of sycophants. They flattered and buttered him and he didn''t know why. He wasn''t proficient in mind games, so he was beyond uncomfortable. He didn''t even know if they were throwing veiled insults at him or not.


    "Oh, I escaped and came. I think we need exterminators." She rolled her eyes.


    "Big Sis, I highly doubt the cockroach was plotting to ambush you," Qing Yuan said.


    Qian Meng patted him on the shoulder, hoping that he never lost his innocence.


    "You didn''t see the look in his eyes." She let out a soft chuckle.


    "Let''s get going, we''re going to be late," Yun Sui Bo said quickly, done with the taunts.


    He led them to an even bigger room. The Grand Ballroom. What was this? Cinderella?


    People were dancing, chatting, and sipping on champagne. The shrimp cocktails looked good, too.


    Qian Meng sighed when she saw the Bai family in the distance. Her father''s destination was evident.


    Chen Yue frowned upon seeing her dress but plastered a fake smile on her face. "You look beautiful, Meng''er." The insults from their last meeting had not escaped her mind. They came back in the dead of the night and made her grit her teeth.

 Chapter 85: Cant Handle These Old People

    Qian Meng saw how the older woman was watching her. "Thank you. You look good, too. Whichever designer you''re wearing is really becoming on you," she complimented.


    Much to the credit of Mr. Bai, he looked charming in his suit. "Mr. Bai, you look fantastic yourself. Hope business has been treating you well?" she asked with a smile.


    "Yes, the lowered import taxes on the materials help business a lot." Mr. Bai''s eyes gleamed with excitement.


    "Excellent. I hear that the Mayor is lobbying for deals with other countries to reduce tariffs; it should do you good, too," she commented.


    Chen Yue quickly interjected in their conversation. "Which designer are you wearing?" she asked.


    Qian Meng spared her a glance. "It''s not anyone popular. I have a personal designer who makes all my clothes."


    "You must give me their contact information. Their designs are beautiful from what I have seen so far."


    "Of course," Qian Meng obliged. She would think if she would give the contact information later.


    "Where is Ye Qing? Is he dropping the car off?" she asked curiously, looking at the entrance.


    "Young Master Bai? I didn''t come with him."


    Mr. Bai''s expression gave away his amusement. Chen Yue, on the other hand, looked sour.


    "Oh, he went to pick you up though." She gave a dirty look towards Yun Sui Bo, who looked like he did not appreciate the treatment.


    "I didn''t know that," she lied through her teeth. "I''ll go talk to one of my business partners," she told them before hurrying away.


    Yun Qing Yuan looked like he was about to die.


    ''Sister, why did you not take me with you? I can''t handle these old people!''


    The associate in question sold fabrics. Hou Su had natural farms where they harvested silks and other materials.


    "Oh, I love the contrast in texture," the man said. "Is this Choe Daniel''s design?" he asked as he rubbed the material of her dress.


    "Do I ever wear anyone else''s clothes?" she said, tipping the glass of wine. She hadn''t yet taken a sip of it.


    "Well, his business is booming because he''s spending a lot of money on buying material." He winked.


    "The wonders of a free market," Qian Meng laughed. "My demand for comfortable and nice clothes puts money into the pockets of thousands of others."


    "What do they call that in economics?" the man asked.


    "Velocity of Money," she said with a chuckle. "You should let your finance team worry about that. Concentrate on researching on that new water-resistant fabric." She winked.


    "Yes, yes. You have dibs on it, I know!" he let out an exasperated sigh. "Come, stop talking about business. Tell me about these rumors floating around," he whispered. The others nearby listened with her perked up ears.


    "What rumors?" she asked, confused. She saw a figure enter through the door and frowned.


    "That answers my question," Hou Su mumbled. "Bai Ye Qing, right? He''s courting you or something." He frowned. "I''ll doubt your taste if you end up with him." He raised his nose in contempt.


    "There are rumors?" she asked in a low voice.


    "Yeah, everyone knows that you guys will get engaged or something. The mother has been prancing around letting every person over the age of forty know." Hou Su rolled his eyes.


    Qian Meng gritted her teeth. "You know how those fortune hunters act when they see a target. They want to claim something they will never get." She pretended to wave the matter off. "Let everyone know that nothing of this sort will happen."


    Hou Su winked. "You know how I love to gossip. I don''t mind adding a little spice in your favor."


    Qian Meng threw her head back and laughed. "Of course. I''ll depend on you then."


    "Oh, the Mayor''s wife is here!" Hou Su exclaimed. "Come on, we''ll get ourselves introduced."


    "Wait a second," Qian Meng said, causing Hou Su to stop and turn to her. "Can those of us who have already met Mrs. Mayor, and by those of us I mean me, be excused from going over there?" Hou Su raised his brow. "I feel like she has something against me ever since I didn''t give her a VIP card to my outlets. I would like to avoid her if at all possible."


    She was a liar. Although that did happen, it was not the reason for not wanting to go talk to her with Hou Su and others. Qian Meng didn''t give a shit about the VIP card or bad behavior.


    Her first reason for not wanting to be around the woman was because she smelled like cottage cheese and hairspray. Yes, even the Mayor''s wife could smell that way.


    Her second reason was the fact that her father was close to the Mayor and if she was accurate in her guess, he would use this ball and Mrs. Mayor''s gossipy and loud nature to inform everyone she was engaged to Bai Ye Qing.


    She would like to avoid that possibility at all costs.


    "Okay, you don''t have to come with me. But where are you going to go? You don''t associate with many people, do you?"


    She did. She was a social butterfly when she needed to be. But this party was just not it.


    "I''ll go to the bathroom and then I''ll go find one of my classmates or something."


    "Okay. I''ve got my phone so you can text me if you need someone to accompany you." What a good associate.


    "Give Mrs. Mayor a big hug from me," she said with a sly smile.


    Hou Su laughed as she rolled her eyes and went into the crowd of people. Once he was out of sight, she started her hunt around the room.


    She stopped when a group of men in tuxedos came up and offered her a glass of champagne. She showed them the flute in her hand but took a small sip to humor them.

 Chapter 86: Helping a Damsel in Distress

    She made it about halfway across the ballroom before she spotted Mo Qingchen. Conveniently for her, he was standing in the corner chatting with his brother Mo Xiao Chen.


    It would be too awkward for her to approach him. She sauntered over to where they were standing, taking another sip of her wine like she belonged there.


    "Miss Yun, hello!" Mo Xiao Chen greeted in his usual happy and loud voice.


    "Oh hello. How have you been?"


    "Oh, nothing. Just trying to see if there are any females here under forty that I am not related to," he confessed.


    "I see. Creeping around the Mayor''s party¡­ classy. But there are plenty of women here who are not related to you," she added.


    "Ah, well, the Mayor''s wife is a distant relative. If I hook up with someone here, I''ll be in trouble." He looked abashed. The second son of the Mo family was really different from his older brother.


    Qian Meng glanced over at Mo Qingchen. He was looking at her but his eyes were shifted down a little, not looking at her face. Speaking of faces, he had a curious expression on it. When his eyes moved further down and then up, Qian Meng realized what was going on.


    The high and mighty Mo Qingchen was checking her out.


    "Up to your high standards?" she said out of the blue, startling Mo Xiao Chen.


    Mo Qingchen had a small, barely-there smile on his face. He took a sip of his champagne as he proceeded to look her body up and down again. This time it was quicker and with less of a weird look on his face.


    The guy had no shame and Qian Meng liked that. He was bold, just like her.


    "Yes." Concise, as usual. Mo Xiao Chen slowly drifted away from them, confused about the dynamics between the two of them. "Your fianc¨¦''s family is prancing around and making connections," he commented.


    "They''re spreading rumors, too," she said quietly. "Mr. Bai seems to be on my side, though." She looked at Mo Qingchen meaningfully.


    "Be quick," he said quietly. "I can see them looking over here and contriving." Qian Meng glanced towards the direction of his stare and saw that Mo Qingchen was correct. "I''m about to step outside, would you like to join me?"


    "Okay," she said immediately. "These people will have lots of fun talking about me behind my back."


    She turned back to Mo Qingchen, who gestured for her to lead the way outside. She made her way to a set of French doors and pulled one of them open. She was expecting the outside area to be a concrete patio or something, so she was surprised to find that it was actually a tiny cobblestone patio surrounded by a really beautiful garden.


    There were twinkling lights that resembled the Christmas lights hung from the awning above them. She stepped outside and looked around, momentarily mesmerized by all the gorgeous flowers and stone pathways that led through them.


    The fact that there were no dudes in tuxedos outside helped the scenery. There was a long table set up with champaign and various cocktail foods.


    "This is better," she commented as Mo Qingchen closed the door behind them.


    "Yeah, it''s nice," he said, sounding unimpressed. Qian Meng rolled her eyes at his attitude.


    "I wonder why nobody else is here," she said. "Probably too busy flattering others," she answered her own question.


    "You know they are. They probably don''t even realize this is even out here."


    There was silence.


    "Why are you loitering around the party and not stuck beside people you know?"


    "I don''t want to meet Mrs. Mayor. What is her name, though?" she scrunched her face. "I''m not her biggest fan."


    "Lord. Me Either. I''ve only by the grace of God been able to avoid her since I got here. Can''t believe we''re related." His face showed his apparent disgust. "But that''s not the only reason we are out here, is it?"


    "Well, you just saved me from a painful evening. Do you have a habit of helping damsels in distress? Practical strangers?"


    "You''re not a stranger or a damsel in distress." As much as he would like her to be. She might need saving but he knew she was capable of it with just a little help. She got overwhelmed too often, but the change in her attitude told her that she wouldn''t make the wrong choice this time around.


    "But you are making me out to be one, aren''t you?" she countered. "Following me around every time I might get into trouble, making sure I am not cold. The snide remarks about making the right choice."


    He laughed and leaned back on the bench, putting one arm up across the back of it.


    "You''re a spitfire, you know that?" he said softly.


    "Don''t change the subject," she warned. "You never told me why you approached me. You don''t even seem to know it yourself." She would rather he made his intentions known. She was tired of tiptoeing around everything and guessing what his intentions were.


    "Yes, I have been intersecting in situations that I thought would bring you harm. Happy?" His voice was hard.


    Finally. An answer.


    "Thank you," she said hesitantly. She was a stubborn bitch and apologies and thanks didn''t come to her easy.


    "You''re welcome," he said with a nod.


    "Those interventions were more helpful than you probably realize. I felt like I had someone backing me up after a long time. Even though you are the last person on the planet that I wanted to be helped by, I am glad it was no one else." She stared off into the night sky. "I wouldn''t be able to take it from anyone else."

 Chapter 87: An Emotional Gigolo

    It was the truth. Because he was Mo Qingchen could she unashamedly take his help. She could justify it by saying he was doing it on his own accord and she didn''t need to repay his kindness.


    "I don''t want your money," he said suddenly. "You were going to compensate me or something, weren''t you?" he observed.


    She shook her head. "No." He looked surprised. "I don''t know how to repay something like human warmth." She shook her head in confusion. "I feel like it was charity, though."


    "It wasn''t a charity. It was a gift from a friend." Surprise, surprise.


    "I am your friend?" her pitch was a few notches higher. "You don''t even know me¡­" Wasn''t this what she wanted? To be acknowledged as a friend-enemy?


    "I think I may know you better than you think I do. You may not realize it, but I think you and I are a lot alike."


    Way to sound like a creep, Mo Qingchen. It sounds like something a serial killer would say before killing a girl and saving their skin as a trophy.


    "You and I are nothing alike." He looked up at her.


    "If it makes you feel better, I''ll take a cheque for my services." His stare was penetrating.


    "An emotional gigolo?" she teased.


    He waved the comment off. "I will take it but I won''t deposit it."


    "Mo Qingchen, you''re so pretentious!" she said, exasperated.


    "If you really want to repay me, you can sit down, accompany me for a chat out here so that we can avoid going inside and risk running into unsavory people."


    She raised her eyebrow. "Chat?"


    "Yes, chat."


    "And what on Earth do we have to chat about? You never told me what you wanted from me."


    He stared at her. He kept staring at her. If only she knew what it meant.


    "As I said, you and I are more alike than you think."


    "Give me one thing that we have in common and I''ll sit down with you." She paused. "Are you finally going to tell me what you want?"


    He nodded and answered immediately. He didn''t even need to think about it. "We''re both independent. We''re both so independent that it''s not a good thing."


    Qian Meng''s eyes bulged. He had to be kidding her. If this was some sexist bullshit, she would punch him in the nose. "How is independence not a good thing?"


    "Sit down and I will tell you."


    "Hold on, I need more alcohol in my system."


    "Alright," he said. "Little alcoholic." She gave him the stink eye.


    She threw back what was left in her wine glass and then went over to the table where bottles of champagne were set in buckets of ice. She popped one of them open, refilled her glass, and then put the bottle back and went back over to Mo Qingchen.


    She set herself down on the bench next to him and turned to face him.


    "Shoot."


    "Shoot what?" he asked, looking confused.


    "Start talking. You were about to tell me why our independence is such a bad thing." She rolled her eyes.


    "Well, for one, that eye roll brings you great misfortune. Your father and most men his age hate it so much that they want the worst for you." She looked at him blandly. She didn''t mind pissing them off. "I don''t mind it one bit, but you always say that you don''t want to invite anyone''s wrath." He shrugged.


    "Go on¡­"


    "Well, you''re so independent that you have issues taking help from people."


    "That''s not true," she insisted. "I don''t have anyone that I can trust to do it."


    "Yes, it is. Why else would you be so determined to compensate your employees so well even though they want to be your friends? You can''t even handle being helped by me. You want to pay me back somehow, don''t you?"


    "Because they are my employees. I don''t need them as my friends. And you don''t know me. It wasn''t about a friend helping out another friend, it was charity. And I am not a charity case." She gritted her teeth. Poor Yun Qian Meng is forced to marry someone else by her family. Poor Yun Qian Meng for being abandoned by her biological mother.


    "Nobody said you were. And I don''t think it should matter why I helped you or why people want to be your friend. You said it yourself, didn''t you? You didn''t even take your father''s help when you started your business, let alone the money your mother gave you as pocket money. He isn''t close to you, but he is your father and you are entitled to take his money without reserve."


    "From a man who hates me and will boast about it for as long as I live? I don''t think it''s a bad thing for not taking his help." She was staunch in her beliefs.


    "But you can take help because you are entitled to it. And when you need it."


    "Fine. I see your point, even though I don''t agree with you. But what''s your problem? You said we''re both too independent." Now, this was something she was dying to know. To hear him reveal his dark secrets¡­ she felt her heart thump against her ribcage with excitement.


    "Right. My problem is that I''m so independent that I don''t need anyone. I don''t let anyone close to me because I don''t feel the need for company."


    Qian Meng shrugged, unable to see the problem. "I don''t have a problem being alone either."


    "See? Just another thing we have in common."


    "God, Mo Qingchen. What is wrong with being alone if it doesn''t bother you? Just because society says that you have to have people in your life doesn''t mean everyone is that way."

 Chapter 88: To Independence and Emotional Solitude

    Mo Qingchen tilted his head in acknowledgment. "Yes, but it is easier if I had the desire to form meaningful human relationships, don''t you think?"


    She could acknowledge that. "You do need some friends. And to loosen up. But why would it make your life easier?"


    Mo Qingchen put his glass down momentarily to take out his cell phone. He didn''t answer her question until after he had opened his contact list.


    "It would certainly take some pressure off me to find a woman to settle down with. I have no desire to date and I am not capable of emotional commitment, nor do I want it from anyone else."


    "Join the club. I don''t date either. I''m perfectly fine being alone. In fact, I prefer it. Too many men salivating over my money. I don''t think well of your kind, Mo Qingchen." Very few men impressed her. She wanted little to do with them apart from business relations.


    "You''ll be content alone for the rest of your life? That you don''t need a partner to depend on emotionally?" He was leading her on. Trapping her into what he wanted.


    But Yun Qian Meng couldn''t find it in herself to stop playing this game. She wanted to know. She was dying to know.


    "I don''t need to depend on anyone. I''m no Cinderella, waiting around for my prince charming on a white horse. I can stand on my own two feet and I can rescue myself from the dragon guarding my tower."


    "Not a fan of fairytales?" He asked, taking a sip of his champagne.


    "Clearly written by pompous men," she groaned.


    "I like that you''re not a damsel in distress. There are too many of those who use their gender to get out of situations." He frowned. How many of them had thrown themselves at him? How many gold diggers had he swatted away with his personality?


    "I earn more money than most men on the planet and can do everything better than them."


    "So, you don''t date?"


    "Never really been on a date," she admitted.


    "And it doesn''t bother you at all?" Because it didn''t bother him in the least.


    "No. It is a conscious decision. I could date if I wanted, but I don''t feel the desire to do so. I have never looked at love as something that I needed in my life. I can do without it."


    Not a romantic. How fascinating. Just like him. He grew to appreciate her more with every word she spoke.


    "I''m exactly the same. We both view our independence to be liberating and our views in life and business are similar." He had made his point.


    "Come to the point, Mo Qingchen." She was getting impatient.


    "I''m thirty-one years old. My mother reminds me at least once a week that I am no longer fit to play the part of the young and successful bachelor anymore. She insists that I settle down."


    Qian Meng''s eyes grew wide. "What does age have to do with being eligible? Your mother needs a pair of glasses." Mo Qingchen was a catch no matter which angle one looked from.


    By this time, Mo Qingchen''s glass was empty. She took it from him gingerly and went to go refill the glass. Instead, she just grabbed the bottle and took it back over to the bench with her.


    He took it from her and filled his own glass, pouring a little too much out.


    "Also, why does it matter if you settle down or not? Having a woman on your arm doesn''t affect your success."


    Mo Qingchen looked at her critically. "You are na?ve if you think that way. It matters in some ways."


    "How so," she asked, curious.


    "Let''s refer to your notion of marketability." He took a bigger sip. "Everyone in my social circle is older and married or of my age and married."


    Qian Meng flinched. Now she understood.


    "I only go to parties to make connections. It''s all business for me. Everything I do in some way or another has to do with business."


    "And finding a woman to settle down with would make you more marketable. A convenience. No one would single you out in a party of couples, you would blend right in. And associations are mostly led by women in our circles."


    Mo Qingchen nodded, satisfied that she understood. "If I did settle down, it would make me more relatable. In our society, married men to be viewed as more significant in a friendly sense. A family-oriented man is approachable."


    Qian Meng stifled a laugh. "Yes, it has nothing to do with the lack of expression on your face or your reputation as a fire-breathing dragon in the industry."


    "Touche."


    "So date!" she insisted.


    "Well, it would have benefits in some ways. But like I said, I have no romantic desires. I have no patience to romance a woman if my heart is not inclined. How will I contribute emotionally to a relationship if I don''t even care for it?"


    "Good point." No need to hurt a woman because of his business requirements. "You can never make it work if you don''t really want it."


    "Exactly." He paused.


    "Do you think we will be alone forever?" she asked suddenly.


    "Most likely. I don''t envision myself falling in love. I do believe it exists. I have seen people in love, I just don''t think I am cut out for it. I''m far too selfish for love. I have no interest in sharing myself with anyone."


    "That sounds disheartening. And like me." Well, she was discovering a lot of things about Mo Qingchen today. And about herself.


    "That deserves a toast." He lifted his glass.


    "Indeed, it does."


    "To independence and emotional solitude," he said. She repeated enthusiastically.

 Chapter 89: Afraid of the Knee to the Groin

    They sat in silence for a while before she spoke. "We are alike, except for the fact that you can remain single without having to be forced into your role in the family and whatnot."


    He laughed softly and took a sip.


    "Life is about opportunities. I see your circumstances and it made me think. You are the type of person who will recognize a good opportunity when it comes your way."


    Qian Meng didn''t understand what he meant. "That''s how I made my money. But these days, life only gives me obstacles."


    "It''s not completely true." He gave her a pointed look.


    "What? Are you saying you are my silver lining?" she joked.


    "So what''s your current obstacle to get through? Escaping your family and forced engagement?"


    "Yes."


    She looked at him, expecting to see ridicule or pity. Instead, she saw his thoughtful and calculative look. The atmosphere felt heavy. Where were her sarcasm and wit?


    She wondered why he was looking at her like a scheming criminal and trying to decide if refilling her glass of champagne again would make her an alcoholic.


    Mo Qingchen and her lived in the same world, but their circumstances couldn''t be more different.


    She learned more about him that night than the others they had spent together. It didn''t change what she thought of him, but she still saw him in higher respect. She was still a prick¡­ a lonely and handsome prick.


    Mo Qingchen, finally, after a few moments, opened his mouth to say something. But before he could, Hou Su poked her head outside and looked around.


    "There you are!" he said, coming out. "What are you doing here?" he asked, looking from Qian Meng to Mo Qingchen. "¡­ with Mr. Mo."


    "We were sitting outside in hopes we wouldn''t need to partake in the festivities," Qian Meng said, standing up. "But I should probably go inside and wish the Mayor a happy anniversary."


    She turned to Mo Qingchen briefly, wondering if he was coming with her. When he reached for the bottle, she got her answer.


    "Well, better go inside or you will brood in your anti-social misery," Hou Su said. He turned to Mo Qingchen and nodded.


    "Give my apologies to the happy couple, will you?" Mo Qingchen said from behind her.


    "Sure thing," Qian Meng mumbled as she was grabbed by the arm and led towards the door.


    As they walked inside, she glanced one more time at Mo Qingchen over her shoulder. He had the same calculative look in his eye.


    Qian Meng sat herself down in one of the chairs that were in a row against the wall. Only a moment later, she noticed her worst nightmare walking towards her with a huge smile on his face.


    Bai Ye Qing.


    "Is this seat free?" he asked, gesturing to the seat next to her.


    "Yes. If you sit down, this one will be too." Bai Ye Qing ignored her jibe and sat down without that grin faltering in the slightest.


    "Your father said you would be here. I''ve been looking for you all evening. Where have you been?" He didn''t mention the fact that she had abandoned him that evening and come to the party alone, soiling his plan to announce his attachment to her.


    "Hiding from you," she said, taking a sip of champagne and not even bothering to look over at him.


    He laughed as if she had told a joke.


    "I love your feisty personality."


    She sighed. "I really don''t care." She could see some people turning to look at them and felt a premonition run up her spine. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.


    "So," he said, leaning back in his chair and taking a sip of his drink. "My birthday is coming up in a couple of months. I''m a Cancer. What is your sign?"


    Indeed, his sign couldn''t be anything else. She had nothing against the particular sun sign, but for him, the name was a perfect fit.


    "Do not enter." Her dark humor allowed her more colorful replies than Bai Ye Qing could comprehend.


    He waited for a moment as if he thought she was going to laugh before giving him the real answer.


    "Will you dance with me?" he asked, finally when she didn''t say anything further.


    "I can''t dance."


    "What?" he asked, sounding confused. "Didn''t you learn how to dance as a child?"


    "Yes, I stepped on toes and broke too many bones to count. Most men scurry away in fear of my knee if they ask to dance." She took a sip and then looked over at him for the first time since he sat down.


    If that didn''t get him to leave her alone, nothing would.


    "Look, Qian Meng. I think it''s cute that you''re sarcastic and all, but I want to say this to you. I am completely serious."


    "What? What is it Bai Ye Qing? What could you possibly have to say to me that is so important and serious that a hundred other people have to look on?" She could do nothing but confront him.


    "You''re bloody beautiful." And rich, she added in her head. "And I can''t think of anyone in this world who I could love."


    "And this needs to be said in front of all these people because¡­" she trailed off.


    "You brought in Mr. Mo in our conversation last time!" he hissed, his fa?ade falling.


    "I didn''t bring him in. He invited himself. Even at that time, you wanted to make a scene and coerce me into talking to you and taking your shit. Isn''t that what you are doing just now?"


    He shook his head vehemently. "Qian Meng. Just marry me¡­ I would go to the end of the world for you."


    Qian Meng chugged back the rest of what was left in her glass and sighed, exasperated. Silence had fallen over the room.


    "I wish you would stay there in your attempt."

 Chapter 90: Have Enough Money to Buy You

    She shot up to her feet and was about to leave when she felt his bony hands grab onto her wrist. She swiveled around to face him, mortified.


    The people surrounding her gasped in shock and she fumed. Her hand was tugged downwards and she couldn''t come to look at him.


    He was down on one knee, his finger curled around her wrist, his grip so tight that it hurt.


    She flinched but couldn''t pull her hand away. She saw her father in the distance, looking on with disinterest while his wife looked delighted.


    All contrived. That was why Yun Sui Bo had left numerous messages to Li Min so that she would attend.


    If this was the Victorian Era, she would consider herself compromised. She didn''t know what to do. She could lash out and make this man face the ridicule in these social circles, or she could silently listen to him and let the rumors go on.


    There was only one way. She didn''t like the setting but she had to.


    No one would come to her rescue. Her eyes turned and sought out the figure of the man. But he was nowhere in sight. She was drowned in the curious faces of others who wanted to watch a show.


    "Get up," she commanded. "Get up before I insult you."


    She wasn''t lying. Her father''s indifferent eyes met hers and she sneered. Chen Yue was clutching onto her mouth and waiting with twinkling eyes.


    "Please, make me the happiest man on the planet by marrying me, Yun Qian Meng."


    She sucked in a breath, allowing the smugness of his tone to infuriate her further. To these people, this was the most romantic thing in the world. Making yourself vulnerable and open and laying out your feelings¡­ how romantic.


    Not.


    "You''ve made me a spectacle in front of people who respect me," she started. This was her first warning. "It would have saved you some heartache if you asked me in advance and in private."


    ''Heartache,'' she scoffed.


    She wrenched her hand out of his grip and kept the flute of champagne down on the table in the distance. Her clutch was in her grip instantly and she popped it open and pulled out her checkbook.


    She signed on the check and put the pen back into her purse. She sauntered back, the eyes on her many, and stood in front of him, towering over him.


    "Get up," she said.


    He looked confused for a second but shakily got up. She grabbed his wrist to turn his hand palm up. She slapped the check into his open palm and stepped back.


    Her hand itched with disgust and she stared at it. The expression on her face was enough to let everyone know.


    "What is this?" Bai Ye Qing asked.


    "A blank check. I will never marry you. And because you say you love me, I am giving you enough money to get over your heartache from my rejection."


    "What is the meaning of this?" His voice raised.


    "You needed my money, didn''t you? That''s why you were chasing my skirt. As a few others. I am helping you pay it off in exchange for your distance from me."


    "I don''t know what you mean," he said, his eyes frighteningly angry. He glanced towards the crowd and back at Qian Meng.


    "I am sure the debts at the gambling bars, the women with whom you do drugs, and the vacation to the Bali you are going to take with your girlfriend will be funded by this." She smiled a saccharine smile. "You see, I have enough money to buy you."


    She took another step back.


    She grabbed a bunch of tissues on her way out and rubbed her hands furiously, making a show of it as she left.


    The room buzzed with excitement and the faces of most were delighted.


    She stormed towards the restroom after gracefully walking out of the ballroom. She scrubbed her hand and patted the back of her neck with some cold water. The little buzz she felt from all the alcohol had vanished the minute Bai Ye Qing dropped to his knees.


    She needed to go home. But she couldn''t drive back herself so she called on a designated driver.


    The door to the restroom slammed open and she waited. The wide glass wall showed her father''s fuming face.


    "Last time I checked, father, you were not a woman," she said. She knew she was crossing the line. That she shouldn''t anger him more, but she did.


    The final straw. She wanted to see what happened after that.


    He''d pulled the worst deception on her, therefore, she was in her right to give him back every strike he had dolled out.


    "I am not in the mood for your rubbish. You will marry him and that will be the end of it." Qian Meng rolled her eyes.


    "I still don''t understand what that will do." She eyed him suspiciously. "You don''t have any power over me, Mr. Yun."


    "I can ruin you," he warned.


    Qian Meng froze. He could, she knew that.


    "If you ruin me, I''ll crawl up from the bottom again, father. I never needed your help, and I will not take it even if I am on the brink of death." It was an oath. "If you think that I will hand over my company or any of my money to you and your second wife, you are wrong. I will make sure no one gets a dime of my money."


    She pulled out her phone and was about to dial Li Jun''s number when the phone was snatched from her.


    "You''ve done nothing but disappoint me since you were born," Yun Sui Bo seethed. "Everything you do is meant to make my life worse and I will not have any more of it."


    Qian Meng chuckled bitterly. "I''m not surprised. So, what do you want me to do?"


    "Go back and rectify the situation." His eyes burned.

 Chapter 91: You Are My Perfect Match

    "I''ve already made him a joke in front of everyone in our social circle, Mr. Yun. If you still want him as your son-in-law for some reason, I will have to think that you are desperate. Why are you desperate, Mr. Yun?"


    The sting on her cheeks surprised her. Her head turned to the side with the impact and she remained there, stunned.


    The weight of his hand and the sting had brought tears to her eyes. She blinked them back and turned to him with a cold look.


    "Expect a retaliation," she forewarned.


    Yun Sui Bo chuckled, unamused. "There is no CCTV here, Yun Qian Meng. I know how much you love playing by the book, so I don''t care." He waited for her words. "Now, go back and take that damned ring from him. Understood?"


    She remained stubborn. She snatched the cellphone from him and brushed past him. Her cheek burned and she was scared to look at the mirror.


    She rushed out and hoped that no one saw her. Her hand went to her hair and she undid it quickly, trying her hardest to untangle the dreaded mint green ribbon in her hair. Her hair cascaded down and she lowered her hair to let it hide her burning cheek.


    "Qian Meng," she heard the familiar voice.


    She didn''t want to see him. She didn''t want him to see her like this. Her pace quickened.


    "Qian Meng?" he called, confused and worried, suddenly. She heard his footsteps quicken and he was in front of her, blocking her way. "I have to talk to you," he said quickly.


    "What do you want to say?" she asked quietly, not raising her eyes to meet his.


    She saw the faint purse of his lips. "Let''s talk about me."


    "Go ahead, talk about yourself all you want." She didn''t know what else to say. He must have sensed something was wrong so he didn''t say anything. "So, your life sucks because you''re all alone and you''re all alone because you don''t allow anyone near you. Glad we have that established. Now, can we move on?"


    "Patience is not one of your virtues," he commented.


    "I don''t have any virtues," she demanded aggressively. "We spoke about our woes a while ago. You saw what just happened and I am happy you didn''t let me wallow in my own misery."


    "You''re¡­ upset." It wasn''t a question: rather, it was a revelation.


    "I have problems and my life sucks. But I don''t have the means to change it right now, so why does it matter?"


    He folded his arm in front of him and leaned towards her just slightly. Then he looked her dead on with calculating eyes, his voice low and serious.


    "It matters because I am a problem solver, Yun Qian Meng. We come from money, but we are both self-made. And we don''t let anything stand in our way. Not even life."


    "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she asked, her voice held such little confidence that it struck her. But Mo Qingchen didn''t notice in his excited state.


    His demeanor had shifted from his usual personal prickly state to a cold businessman. "It means that I want something you have got."


    "What in the world could I have that you want? Is it my infuriating family?"


    She had nothing to offer him in a personal aspect, and if she was getting his meaning, it had something to do with that.


    "I want you, Qian Meng. You are my perfect match."


    "Okay, this is getting ridiculous." She stepped aside and moved away from him. "I don''t know what is going on in that head of yours, Mo Qingchen. You just saw someone ambush me in front of everyone I know and force me into accepting their proposal. Do you think this is a good idea?"


    She was not walking away. Yet.


    "You are mistaken. I have nothing you offer your personally or romantically. And I don''t know what the hell you are thinking." She was repeating. She couldn''t think.


    He reached out and grabbed her wrist, although not in a forceful way. It was more an act to get her attention. But she was so tired.


    "Don''t touch me."


    "Are you sure you want to leave, Qian Meng?" he asked. "Because if you do, then you can go back to fighting off for family and Bai Ye Qing. I won''t stop you. All I am asking if that you relax and listen to what I have to say. At the end of our conversation, if you decide that it was a waste of time, we will go our separate ways and pretend this conversation never happened."


    She looked at him straight in the eye.


    "I am merely asking for your time. I am not making a pass at you. I just want you to see that we could have something great together."


    The way he said those words set something off inside her. Her back stiffened as she looked down at his hand wrapped around her wrist. Judging by the intense rage coursing through her, she was sure her eyes were flaming red.


    "Do not touch me without my permission," she spat the words at him. She removed his fingers forcefully from her wrist. "I may look like a pushover to you, but you do not own me. Nobody owns me," she seethed venomously.


    She had never been so angry in her life.


    His eyes softened and it flickered towards her cheek. "What happened to you?" He looked horrified. His newly free hand went up to cradle her cheek and the coolness of his touch against the heat of her cheek felt good, but nothing could soothe her at that moment.


    "I told you not to touch me." She slapped his hand away. She looked directly, still raging. Boldly, she said.


    "You know what? I am going to raise my standards. I am done with all of you taking advantage of me. I care about people and they throw it back at me. So, I am going to do just what you told me. I am going to raise my standards."

 Chapter 92: Someone Hurt You

    She shot out of the hotel and wandered.


    The wind whipped her hair into her face and she pushed it away forcefully. She stormed ahead in a fit of rage.


    Her life sucked, so everything became worse. The rain came down in sheets and the further she walked, the harder it came down.


    She had no idea where she was going or how she would get back to her hotel. She knew she had to return to the hotel to collect her car but she wanted to wait until everyone had left the party.


    Her heart was beating so fast it was all she could hear. She headed in a random direction, having no clue where she was and not particularly caring, totally unaware of her surroundings.


    Her eyes were focused straight ahead and most likely looked homicidal.


    How had the night turned so horrible? It made no sense to her. She walked until her feet began to hurt on the slick pavement but that didn''t stop her.


    She had so much adrenaline pumping through her, that it felt to burn it off.


    The rain had drenched her from head to toe, but it was unusually warm inside her body. The cool water helped to extinguish the fire that was burning inside her. Her stomach felt like it was still filled with flames.


    It took her a long time to come to her senses. The streets weren''t nearly as crowded in the area she had ventured into. It was darker and the vibe was not at all filled with life like she was used to seeing. If she had to label it, she would call it dangerous.


    And then she noticed it. The footsteps behind her.


    She was too tired to run and honestly, getting mugged would be the logical ending to the disastrous evening.


    She stopped walking, prepared to face her fate head-on.


    The footsteps came closer but she just stood there waiting.


    She knew how to throw a solid punch, but she certainly wouldn''t be able to defend against a weapon. She should have learned how to fight when she had the chance.


    She bogged herself down with so much work, that she forgot the need for self-defense.


    She wondered if she would find her way back to the hotel once the man stole her purse.


    The footsteps stopped directly behind her.


    She swallowed deeply, now sensing the distinct presence. Minutes went by.


    What the hell was he waiting for? She certainly wasn''t going to hand him the purse without a fight.


    He would have to earn the bounty.


    If it wasn''t for the loud clap of thunder that suddenly rang out, it would have been completely silent. It was as though time stood still. It struck her a little odd that she had yet to be attacked. And then she heard it.


    A loud sigh.


    A familiar sigh.


    A tormented sigh.


    Slowly, she turned and face him, her business partner, and enemy. He was completely soaked. His normally chaotic hair was slicked back from the rain. His fine suit clung to him tightly.


    His eyes met hers. "I''m sorry," he said simply.


    "You should be," Qian Meng agreed stiffly.


    A sudden gust of wind nearly blew her over. Mo Qingchen moved closer, running a hand through his hair before making eye contact with her again.


    "I just¡­" His gaze was somber. "I don''t want you to hurt," he stated with an intensity that caught her off guard.


    "Then why did you treat me that way? Like I was just another business deal for you? Like you could use me any way you wanted? You gave me no choice." A stray leaf landed in her hair and she tossed it aside.


    The wind was howling, thunder and lightning crackling in the sky.


    Mo Qingchen stepped closer. "I was¡­ calculating. I wanted to find the best way to convince you." He watched her take in his words. "It''s difficult for me to control that side of me."


    "So you unleashed it on me?" Her hand was on her hip. "What the hell possessed you to come onto me so strongly after what you saw? We had normal conversations for so long. We smiled at each other. And then out of nowhere, you disregard all my feelings and spring your demands and wants on me."


    She was venting her own frustrations, Mo Qingchen knew, but she would let him.


    He let out a frustrated sigh. "I am cruel." His face contorted with emotion. "You were right. I am not the type of person you should associate with."


    A strong gust of wind blew them even closer, their drenched bodies nearly touching. She wanted to comfort him. But damn it, she needed to be comforted first.


    "It''s not okay to treat me like that." She searched in his eyes and saw remorse. He was genuinely sorry. That surprised her more than anything else.


    "Why did you have to tell me your plan so urgently?" she asked, hoping to help him sort through his emotions and in turn, hers.


    He shook his head. "You were the one getting impatient. And seeing you treated like that in front of everyone. I just had to¡­" He paused. "You said you could handle the situation, that you could save yourself. So, I didn''t step in. And you were marvelous."


    But then he sighed. "But someone hurt you¡­ physically hurt you." His voice was strained.


    "Do you have any idea how frustrating you are?" she asked, dumbfounded.


    "It''s not important," he said firmly.


    "Then what is important?"


    He let out a low growl. His hands were fisted tightly.


    "I have no choice." They had moved so close together that his scent assaulted her.


    Mixed with the fresh rain and wind, his scent was so intoxicating. She was dazzled and she didn''t need to be.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes darkened, his wet lips set to spew fire her way. Her heart picked up instantly from the thrill of it¡­ the thrill of him.

 Chapter 93: Mark Her as His

    Before he even had a chance to speak, her mouth was on his, her hands on his face, in his hair.


    It happened so quickly that she took both of them off guard. He was stiff as a board, no reaction at all. She jumped back just as suddenly as she had moved in, horrified by her actions, humiliated at her lack of restraint.


    She just wanted to feel in control. Just for a while.


    With her head lowered in shame, she cursed herself. Reluctantly, she lifted her rain-soaked face to his. Just as she was about to plead insanity, Mo Qingchen swiftly pulled her in, biting down hard on her bottom lip before devouring her mouth whole.


    It took an instant for her to lose control.


    He bit down on her lip and her hands were on him. Her fingers forged a path straight up to the back of his neck, raking through his wet hair, holding his face to hers.


    Her rain-soaked dress clung so snugly it felt like he was touching her bare skin as his hands traveled down her sides. He set her on fire purely from his heated fingertips.


    With a tug of her hips, he pulled her body close to his.


    She had yet to even taste his tongue and she was putty in his hands. A tiny whine whispered her lips, causing a low growl to leave his mouth.


    She had seen him curse and growl at others. She had been at the end of his death glares, but the feeling it left against her lips was a whole new experience. It was wet and warm and tasted a bit salty.


    He explored, licking her, savoring her like his favorite meal.


    Qian Meng moaned into his mouth and though it was utterly shameless, she gently rubbed herself against him. She couldn''t help it.


    A deeper, more savage growl rumbled in Mo Qingchen''s chest, causing a tingle to pass over her skin. His hands clenched onto her hips, so tightly that it would leave a mark.


    His mark.


    Why that thrilled her, she had no idea.


    Mo Qingchen devoured her mouth relentlessly until her lips were nearly numb. He bit down on Qian Meng''s bottom lip for one last time before releasing it. She couldn''t resist the urge to bite him back.


    Lifting up slightly on her toes, she sunk her teeth down hard on his lower lip before letting it go.


    She could finally see how hard he had tried to reach her. He was at least a foot taller, and he had tried his hardest to meet her in the middle.


    "Fuck," he grumbled under his breath. His eyes remained closed but they rolled beneath his lids, showing her how hard he was trying to control himself.


    Qian Meng''s heart was racing at the reaction she provoked in him. She licked her licks before bringing it back to his, this time slowly pulling in his top lip and biting down even harder.


    Her lips were swollen and stung from his ministrations. But she didn''t care about that. She just had to repay him for it.


    And she took great pleasure in it.


    She immediately felt a distinct presence of a part of him she had never come in contact with. Her body reacted on impulse, her eyes fluttered closed tightly as her hips gravitated to the solid warmth that had suddenly appeared. She tried fighting the urge to dry hump him in the middle of the street, but resistance wasn''t an option at that point in time.


    Her emotions were overwhelmed and the only way to let it out was on him. She had spiraled out of control, and she dared to say that he had too.


    It should have mortified her that she was pressing up against him like a cat in heat, but rational thought evaded her.


    Her eyes opened slowly and found his blazing down at her. Usually, his black eyes were clustered with rage or disinterest, but at that moment, she only saw one¡­ lust.


    The wind whipped through her hair, tossing it around.


    Raw need flooded his darkened gaze. It was so primal that Qian Meng thought he was going to rip her dress off and defile her right there on the gritty streets of Shanghai.


    But then his eyes clenched shut. The sound of his heavy breathing was all she could hear.


    Their faces were close, lips lightly touching. Once his breathing had calmed, he released his vice grip on her hips.


    His eyes opened and Qian Meng could see him struggling to regain control.


    He cleared his throat. "Did I hurt you?" His voice was hoarse.


    Qian Meng shook her head, unsure what he was talking about. "No. No."


    Her lips were numb but her body tingled in all the right places. Now that she thought about it, her hips were a little sore, though it was the most pleasurable pain she had ever known. She ached for his touch.


    She shook her head at that thought.


    He stepped away from her slowly and ran a hand through his hair. "Yun Qian Meng¡­"


    "Qian Meng," she cut him off. "After what just happened, I think we''ve evolved to a first name basis. Would you like to give me another nickname?" She laughed at his stiff disposition to clear the air.


    "Qian Meng," he whispered her name as though it were a secret. "That was not supposed to happen. I don''t¡­ I can''t." His fingers slid down the side of his face. "I am not capable of romantic love. And you said you weren''t either," he stated firmly, backing away from her.


    "True. I just require honesty." She hated seeing him in turmoil. "Just tell me what you want. What do you want, Mo Qingchen?" she pressed.


    He thought over her words. "You deserve far more than those men can give you. Far more than I can give you, but I''ll take up the challenge." His tone was fiercely honest. He meant every word he said.


    "I understand." The words tumbled out of her mouth without hesitation. She didn''t really understand what he meant.

 Chapter 94: Stand Around Like Senseless Prey

    "You do?" His brow furrowed.


    She nodded at his confusion. "I''m sorry for taking out my frustration on you. It''s not every day I get slapped by my sperm donor or humiliated in front of all my acquaintances." She sniffed.


    Mo Qingchen stiffened. "Yun Sui Bo hit you?" His eyes flickered to her face and he could see it was slightly swollen.


    The lust he was restraining vanished, replaced by rumbling rage.


    Her rain-soaked body quickly felt the full effect of the cool evening breeze once his warmth was gone. Since he was no longer keeping her warm, she started to shiver. Mo Qingchen noticed and pulled out his phone, calling his driver.


    Within minutes, they were sitting in his warm and dry car. Mo Qingchen looked so distracted sitting there, dripping water on the plush leather seats. She wanted to know what he was thinking. What had possessed him to stop her in the hallway? What had possessed him to follow her in a frenzy?


    An uncomfortable silence surrounded them.


    It was driving her insane.


    "Can I ask you a question?" She side-eyed him. Black eyes flickered to her as he nodded.


    "What did you mean when you said you would take up the challenge?"


    He leaned back into his seat. "I''ll tell you when you are dry and warm." He sighed deeply. "But I meant it."


    "I have no idea what you would do without me. You can''t even express your emotions without being barraged by a thousand questions." A slight pain twinged at her sides as she laughed teasingly, trying to ease the awkwardness.


    But he wasn''t laughing. His face flashed several emotions before settling on annoyance. "When someone is approaching you on a dark, deserted street, you do not just stand there like senseless prey," he bit out angrily.


    "I was planning to protect myself," she argued calmly.


    "Really? Exactly how were you going to do that?" His jaw tightened as he stared her down.


    "I was going to punch you in the face," Her smooth demeanor was in direct contrast to his.


    "That is absurd. As if you could take down an assailant with those small fists." He glared at her manicured fingers with disgust. "What if I had a weapon?"


    She shrugged it off. "I can''t live my life with what-ifs." She didn''t like worrying about things. Though, at that moment, she had realized how defenseless she actually was. "I don''t walk around on streets, for one. And if it makes you feel any better, as soon as I find some time, I promise to become a ninja."


    Suddenly, she noticed that her shoes were ruined. She lifted her leg to fully assess the damage.


    "Look at me!" he demanded impatiently.


    Qian Meng''s eyes turned up to his. He was so angry. She frowned at his scowling face.


    "Your lack of self-preservation is unacceptable," he paused before adding. "In so many ways."


    She lowered her foot to the floor. "And you are too cautious."


    "We''ll need to shower," she said as the car came to a stop in front of her hotel. "Separately," she added, just to make things worse. "You know¡­ since we''re so wet."


    She had to laugh at her own ridiculous babbling.


    Mo Qingchen laughed too. Good lord, it was boyish. Who would have guessed that his laughter would be so sweet and melodic? The fact that she made him laugh had her grinning like a fool.


    Mo Qingchen wasn''t a dragon after all. There was hope left for him.


    - - - - -


    She walked out of the bathroom after a steaming hot shower and saw him sitting on the floor.


    "Why are you sitting there?" she asked with the raise of her brow.


    "I don''t want to get your bed wet," he told her. He was a lot calmer by then and typing away at his cellphone.


    "I wouldn''t mind if you got it wet. Go in and shower. You''ll catch a cold." He looked at her incredulously. "Don''t feign modesty. You can wear one of my oversized pajamas for the time being. I''ll call the staff to dry your suit."


    Mo Qingchen nodded numbly. He scurried into the bathroom and she ventured into the closet to find a pair of clothes that would fit him.


    Purple silk pajama set, it was. She walked over and knocked on the door. He opened it a crack and Qian Meng saw his toned arms. The hot water and steam had left a brilliant sheen on his skin. What skincare product did he use? She could only wonder.


    She got lost in her thoughts for a second before shaking herself awake and pushing the towel and clothes into his hand.


    She sat down on her bed and dialed the dining room for room service. She heard him groan inside the bathroom and snickered.


    Soon enough, he was out, wearing her clothes and looking mighty fine in them.


    "I ordered some sushi and rice bowls for us. We didn''t eat anything today¡­" she trailed off. He was towelling his hair dry and plopped down on the bed like he owned the place.


    Which he did.


    They remained silent for the longest time, both drying their hair and looking through their cellphones before the doorbell rang.


    "I''ll bring it," he offered and shot to his feet. He sauntered to the door and opened it to find a gaping female employee. "Thank you," he said politely and took the plates off the woman''s hand.


    He shut the door and went back, leaving the woman a bumbling mess. There was a man in Miss Yun''s room and it was the Young Master of the Mo family. What exciting gossip.


    But they knew better than to spread the word. They''d never get a job in this industry if they spilled the secrets of the rich and famous.


    He placed the plates on the dining table and called for her. She padded to the table and saw him setting everything up. She noticed with a hint of warmth that he placed the dishes she enjoyed more on the other side of the table.

 Chapter 95: I Want to Marry You

    How he knew, she didn''t know.


    She pulled out the seat and sat down. "Alright, this is your chance. If I finish my food and you''re still talking in circles or being silent, I will kick you out of the room," she said sternly to Mo Qingchen.


    "Fair enough," he replied, pouring himself a glass of water. "Shall I begin my explanation then?"


    "Quickly," she answered, opening her chopsticks.


    He sighed and then opened his own.


    "How long until you take over the Bai''s company? And how long can you fend off your father?"


    "I have started the process to take over yet. And my father is a lost cause. Why?" she answered quickly.


    It sure felt like a lost cause.


    "Do you agree that not having your father breathing down your neck would be significantly helpful in quickening the time it will take for you to take over the business?" he asked before popping a piece of sushi into his mouth and chewing.


    "Isn''t that obvious?"


    "I would assume so, yes."


    "I don''t see your point. My father is not going to stop pushing me."


    "Exactly. It is impossible for you to escape your father with your situation. Not to mention concentrating on expanding your own business, keeping track of your investments, and acquiring new businesses."


    This was the cold and calculating Mo Qingchen she didn''t enjoy talking to. Not on days she was miserable.


    "I don''t feel like sitting here and pointing out all the reasons why my life sucks."


    "Well, unfortunately, it is necessary for me to do in order to present my case to you." He arched a brow in challenge.


    "Then get to it, will you?" she rushed him along before taking a bite of sushi.


    "Patience¡­" his lips tugged upwards. "We''re about to get to the good part."


    "Joy," she muttered sarcastically.


    "Do you also agree that having a financial and business ally would allow you to do your job better?"


    "Obviously. Proceed."


    "What if I gave you access to all of my resources, provided free technical and software support for your ventures and helped you analyze everything? You would have access to everything and my name."


    Qian Meng stopped and put her chopsticks down. "I don''t understand what you are getting at. I could get all of those with my own money. Why do I need you?"


    The thought of getting technical and software support for free sounded really nice, though. But nothing came free in this world. What was he plotting?


    "Well, you get something in addition. My name." She squinted at him. "Now that we are on the same page, let''s go back to my situation. You do not see what we could offer one another?"


    "I have no idea what you are talking about." She breathed out in frustration. "I have nothing to offer you, Mo Qingchen."


    "You''re wrong. Qian Meng. Like I said before, I want you. And I am serious."


    "What? You''re hitting on me? You like me?" This conversation made no sense.


    "Not romantically. No matter how good our chemistry is, I can''t offer you romance. But I can solve your problem. You need a man who will shelter you from your father and support you in all adversary. You''ll have all my resources on hand. And you already know my problem."


    She talked herself through the situation. "Your problem is that you need a woman in your life. I am a woman, but you''re not interested in dating¡­ like me. So¡­"


    "Having a woman in my life doesn''t mean that I need to be romantic with her, does it?" He coaxed her on to finish her sentence.


    "You want me to go to events with you and help you socially progress and get deals. And in exchange, you are helping me with my problem."


    "Yes," he answered with a satisfied smile.


    She nodded thoughtfully, glad she was starting to catch on.


    "So that is your business proposition?" she asked, feeling slightly optimistic. He nodded. "So, how would this work?" she asked, leaning forward with interest. "I just have to go to events with you and you help me out?"


    He laughed softly and took a bite of rice.


    "There''s more to it," he informed her. She gave him an expression telling him she was listening to him. She enjoyed business propositions. "In order for both of us to reap all the benefits, I would need people in our life to believe that we''re in a relationship."


    "So you want a fake relationship?" she asked.


    Interesting. If Mo Qingchen was backing her, her dad would back off. Until he had simmered down, she could pretend to be with him. Sounded like a nice deal.


    "No. I want to marry you."


    She choked on her food and pulled her glass of water to her lips for a quick sip. She wiped her mouth with the back of her palm and looked at him, thinking that he was joking or being sarcastic.


    But when she looked at him, she saw his serious and waiting face.


    "You''re serious, aren''t you?" she asked, taken aback.


    "I''m very serious."


    "Marriage¡­ yes, that sounds exactly what I need right now after I rejected a guy in front of hundreds of people." She paused. "I have one question."


    He looked at her critically. "Ask me anything."


    "Are you fucking insane?" she asked in a hushed voice, even though there was no one who could hear them.


    "No, I am not insane. I am a businessman and so are you. I am offering you a deal that in my opinion would benefit both of us."


    "What about just pretending to date? Why would you come to the ridiculous conclusion that we should get married?"


    He scoffed. "What''s so ridiculous? For one, you will have access to everything I own, which you wouldn''t get if we were just dating. You would be legally in the right to use my name to do whatever the fuck you want with my money."

 Chapter 96: Ill be Your Shield

    "I can live without your money. I just need your help in the short run."


    Mo Qingchen shook his head incredulously. "Do you think your father will stop? The moment he gives up on Bai Ye Qing and we break up, he is going to put someone else in your way. What will you do then? Just cut out all these gold-diggers once and for all. I''ll act as your shield and you as mine. You''ll infuriate your father and at the same time be with a man who is up to your standards."


    She nodded. "You make some fair points. I see why it would be good for me to take this step, but what about you? But what about you? What is in this for you?"


    "Simple. For legalities¡­ I would want you tied to me contractually."


    Qian Meng burst into laughter. "Why me, Mo Qingchen? If you want to make a deal, it could be anyone. Not your business partner or the woman you have hated for years."


    He looked at her like she had lost her mind. "Why did I pick you? There are many reasons. The list goes on and on."


    She glared at him. "Well, start telling me what is on the list, then. I am listening."


    He gave her an amused smirk. "I trust you. Why would I want to bring some stranger into my home, much less marry them? You have known me for years¡­ and my family too. Although we''ve been fighting for a long time, I trust you because I know you the best."


    She waited for him to go on.


    "My mother adores you. She wants me to get married and settle down so badly. If I am going to do it, I might as well pick someone she will be happy to see me with."


    "First of all, that is not a good reason to marry someone. Secondly, I don''t know your mother." She rolled her eyes.


    "You do. It''s not a real marriage. It''s a contractual agreement."


    She would beg to differ.


    "Every marriage is contractual. And if we sign the papers, it would be a real marriage," she countered. "But go on. What other reasons?"


    "As smart business owners, we would mutually benefit from this agreement. We would make multiple times the money we did before and strike down all obstacles."


    She huffed. "You''re the only woman I am willing to marry."


    That gave her a start.


    "You don''t like me romantically, but you find me sexually attractive." Her eyes bulged.


    "Oh god, Mo Qingchen. You''re so conceited. Do you think every other woman is romantically attracted to you?"


    He shrugged. "They want my money, too. But yes, the female population find me irresistible." As did she. "And it needs to be mutual attraction. I fucking love to touch you."


    She shivered.


    "You''re out of reasons, aren''t you?" she smirked.


    "No. I just don''t want to tell you."


    She stared at him blankly for a moment, trying to absorb everything he had just said. She quickly found it impossible to comprehend. Insanity.


    "I still think this is insane. We''re talking about getting married, Mo Qingchen. This sounds more like a bad idea than a smooth business deal."


    He looked down at his hands before speaking. "I know it sounds crazy. At first, I thought I was crazy for even thinking of it. But the more I considered it, the more I realized that it made perfect sense. It would be unconventional, but it fits both our needs perfectly. We''re the perfect match."


    She shook her head. "You''ve let your business deals get to your head."


    She couldn''t stop thinking about her oath. He would be the last man on the earth whom she would marry. How could she go back on it?


    "And you aren''t thinking properly. You''d be winning here. Free consultations, protection from beady-eyed men and your toxic family¡­ everything I own. And I won''t ask for your money in return. Just your presence and connections."


    She stared at him. She remembered the kiss and the things he said. They swirled in her head, mixing together and hindering her judgment. "You''re willing to give me access to everything to be your wife?"


    No, she was going to say trophy wife, but she would never be that.


    "We would draw up a prenuptial agreement so that neither of us can take advantage of the other. We will go over divorce agreements and financial responsibilities in the relationship. But yes, as long as we''re married, you''ll be protected."


    For a second, Qian Meng faltered in her resolve to remain sensible. She actually, for a moment, considered his proposal. Nobody would be able to stop thinking about his offer.


    The business side of her screamed in excitement. The emotional side of her told her it would ruin her. It was crazy.


    "I can''t marry you. It would never work out," she said before she could change her mind.


    He nodded once and took a sip of water. Qian Meng could see the disappointment in his eyes. He looked¡­ sad. Miserable, even.


    "I''m sorry that you''re not as enthusiastic about the deal as I am, but I understand."


    She gulped. The contrast between him and every other man she had encountered was nerve-wracking. Others would have pressed her until she gave away or ruined them. But Mo Qingchen, the man who ruthlessly pursued his goal and got what he wanted let her be. He let her make her decision and didn''t force her into anything.


    It must have taken all his will power to hold himself back.


    "Thank you for understanding," she said in earnest.


    Two marriage proposals in one day. Her life had taken a wild turn.


    "I just¡­ I don''t think it is a good idea," she said. "We''re business partners now and if things don''t work out between us¡­ we''ll end up in ruins." And more would be in ruins than their partnership.


    She would lose the only constant thing that drove her to success. She had chased his numbers for as long as she could remember, and if that broke apart, what would be left of her? How would she survive?

 Chapter 97: Snatch the Man I Like

    "I don''t need an explanation," he said softly. "I know it was a far-fetched idea." But he had desperately prayed that she would say yes.


    "I should call and find out if your clothes are dry." She reached over towards her cellphone.


    "No," he said, holding up his hand. "As I said before, you can forget this conversation ever happened. Let''s eat dinner like we usually do. Nothing changes between us, Qian Meng."


    She pressed her eyes shut. "Okay," she said finally. "I have to admit, the food in your hotel is good."


    "It''s passable," he muttered.


    "What a snob," she found herself saying. She was surprised she could muster up her previous demeanor.


    She stared at the man in front of her and suddenly felt a pang of melancholy. Eating his meal and sipping on water in front of her, she couldn''t help but imagine him remaining that way. All alone.


    Just like her.


    She tucked her head and ate.


    He stayed until he finished his meal. He picked up his things and turned to her, no trace of remorse. "Thank you for the food."


    "You''re welcome," she replied automatically. "Good luck finding the woman you want."


    His lips tightened. "I''ll call you about the hiring of employees soon," he said.


    ''I never needed to marry, Yun Qian Meng. There is no woman I want.'' But he couldn''t tell her that.


    "And thank you. I don''t think that''s going to happen. You really are one of a kind¡­" he shook his head.


    "You''re cursing me, aren''t you?" she countered, thinking it was an insult.


    He shook his head and picked up his phone. "Goodbye," he said softly. The door opened and shut.


    Yun Qian Meng stared at it for the longest time.


    She sighed finally and sat back down. She looked at his empty plates and then down to hers. She reluctantly took a spoonful of rice and stuffed herself.


    The bang at the door was unwelcome. And it continued for a minute straight before the screaming began.


    Qian Meng screwed her eyes shut and felt a headache come on. Finally, the fury took over and she stomped over to the door and threw it open.


    "What?" she screamed. "What the fuck do you want, Mo Yize?"


    This was the first time she was seeing Mo Yize in four years. The girl looked distraught and honestly? Like a train wreck.


    "Don''t you dare shout at me!" the other countered. She wiped at her running mascara as it went down her cheeks with her tears. "I fucking hate you." Sobs wracked her body and Qian Meng found herself sighing.


    "What the fuck happened to you?" she asked. Mo Yize was wearing a blue dress, clearly for the Mayor''s anniversary party and her swollen eyes spoke of how long she had cried before storming to Yun Qian Meng''s room.


    "You fucking slut. You''re at it again, huh? You''re going to snatch the man I like again¡­" She sank to her knees and pushed her head between her legs.


    Qian Meng pressed her hand against her temple and pulled out her phone to call the front desk.


    "Hi, this is Yun Qian Meng speaking," she said calmly. The employee on the other side remained silent for a few seconds before replying.


    "Miss Yun. How may I help you?" she asked.


    "This is the second time in one day someone has released my private information to someone. Who is this new recruit giving out my room number to any person who comes up and asks for it?" she asked.


    Mo Yize''s head perked up and she jumped to her feet.


    "You dare throw me out? I dare you!" she screamed. The door opposite her opened and an older gentleman peered out with an irritated look on his face.


    "These intruders you are sending up are disrupting your hotel''s peace. Please come up and take them away. Bring security because this woman will not be removed without security." She sneered at Mo Yize.


    She hung up the phone and glared at the woman. "Don''t dare me to do things, Miss Mo. I am having a horrible day and I don''t need you to screw it up further."


    "Your day? What about me? You''ve ruined my life! Ever since I met you, my life has been going downhill. You''ve done nothing but ruin every prospect I had."


    Qian Meng rolled her eye. "Self-entitled little piece of shit," she cursed. "You latched onto me the first day of university because you knew who my father was. Because you knew as the black sheep of your family, only my company would make you infamous." Qian Meng chuckled humorlessly. "I begrudgingly let you be my friend, didn''t I? But you just had to ruin everything. You were jealous that some guy liked me. You went and spread your legs in front of him and when he fucked you over, you came accusing me of ruining your life. How is it my fault?" she accused. Her tone was low and the man on the other end couldn''t hear them.


    He shut the door with a huff, his phone already in his hand.


    "Jackson liked me and you seduced him," she retorted with malice.


    "He was a gold-digger who wanted a position at my father''s company. You fell into his trap despite my warnings and then when you couldn''t secure a position in your father''s company, he dumped you like a used plastic bag, didn''t he?"


    That touched a nerve. "Don''t call me a plastic bag! There is nothing fake about me." Her eyes burned with rage.


    "Yes, you nympho. You can''t even control your vagina and slept with everything that walked on two feet and had a dick. You let it get so bad that you amounted to nothing."


    Mo Yize gasped. "What the fuck happened to you? Why did you become a bitter harpy?" She gaped.


    Qian Meng rolled her eye. "Life does that to you. Now, once and for all, tell me why you are here, screaming your lungs out before the security comes and drags you out."

 Chapter 98: Kill Bai Ye Qing If You Want

    Silence prevailed. The padding of multiple footsteps could be heard and Mo Yize panicked. She looked shiftily towards the direction of the people and shook her head.


    "Let me in. I can''t get caught, okay?" she hissed.


    "And why should I do that?" Qian Meng asked, amused.


    "Because you''re fucking my boyfriend and I will tell everybody that. Your stock prices will plummet and the fortune you boast about will be gone within hours."


    The threat grated at Qian Meng''s nerves. "Get your facts right. I have no clue who your boyfriend is. And I am single and not engaging in any sexual activity."


    Mo Yize rolled her eyes. "Don''t pretend with me." She pushed Qian Meng aside and entered the room.


    The security made their way to her door and Qian Meng stared at their face. The manager who had led her to her car that evening was also there.


    "I don''t need you to drag anyone out but I would like to inform you that I will move out of this room within the week. I''ll settle the outstanding bill for this month."


    The manager''s eyes widened. "I''m sorry for the gross misdemeanor on the staff''s part. We will ensure it never happens again." He bowed deeply.


    "I don''t want your apology. I know it is not your fault. But letting strangers know my room number is the worst thing you can do in this business. It is dangerous and you took no precautions to ask me if I wanted these people near me. One of them is a stalker and the other a raging bitch that could sooner take a knife to my throat than my worst enemy."


    The manager spluttered.


    "I''ve let the raging bitch in. I''ll call her keeper in a while and let him take her. You may leave now."


    She closed the door in a hurry and walked to Mo Yize, who was eating out of her plate without scruples.


    "What happened to being single? You were eating with someone, weren''t you?" she taunted.


    "I used that spoon and chopsticks," Qian Meng said blandly. "And that someone was strange¡­ just like you." She thought about Mo Qingchen and had to stop herself.


    "Yes, everyone is strange and beneath you, I know." Mo Yize took another spoonful of food. "Then why did you get engaged to Bai Ye Qing?"


    Yun Qian Meng pursed her lips. "Is that what people are saying? That I am engaged to him?"


    She nodded. "They said he proposed to you."


    "They should also be saying that I rejected his proposal," she bit out. "Are you sure you were angry about Bai Ye Qing wanting to marry me and not because you were hungry?" Qian Meng looked pointedly at the bowl which was close to being cleaned of food.


    Mo Yize shrugged.


    "Why did you reject him? He''s such a sweet boy and he would do anything to make you fall in love with him."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "It''s been four years since I saw you but you still don''t know what the world is like." It was incredible how na?ve this woman was. She was twenty-eight, but her family had sheltered her from the harsh realities of the world.


    In maturity, she was nothing more than a teenager.


    "I am older than you," she commented. "And have seen a lot more of the world. Don''t act all high and mighty with me. I know all your secrets."


    "Do you?" Qian Meng gave her a piercing look. "You''re deceived easily." She laughed. She walked over to her locker and retrieved the file on Bai Ye Qing. "You''re Saturday," she said pointedly and threw the file on the spot beside Mo Yize''s hand.


    The other glanced at it sceptically and finally touched the cover. For the next ten minutes, she stared in horror.


    "You''ve made this up," she whispered accusingly. "This is bullshit."


    "It is. And you got played." She sat across from Mo Yize and saw the other losing her fight.


    "I bought him a seven-million-dollar house!" she choked.


    "Yes, you did." Stupid. "Don''t buy anything for someone who you''re not contractually bound to."


    Those words drove her down a memory lane. Mo Qingchen''s rushed back to her.


    ''Stop,'' she warned herself. This was not the time to think about him.


    "I am going to kill this slut," she swore, the picture of Jia Ai. Qian Meng paused.


    "You''ve lost your mind," she commented. "What did she do wrong?" Qian Meng asked incredulously.


    "She is stealing what is mine!" Mo Yize claimed.


    "Yize, Bai Ye Qing is not yours. Just because he scammed you out of money, you are not entitled to him. He''s a manwhore and a gambling addict. This girl is just like everyone else." Qian Meng didn''t need to tell Mo Yize that this girl conspired with Bai Ye Qing to do some pretty horrible things, because that was her suspicion.


    "She knows. She knows. I can tell you and she let it go on. A stain on our gender!" Mo Yize seethed.


    "Sure. But Bai Ye Qing is the one who cheated on you. You don''t even know this Jia Ai. And she doesn''t own you anything."


    "You want me to let her off?"


    "Never said that. The greatest thing about cheaters is that they keep cheating. Bai Ye Qing cheated on you with Jia Ai. I can guarantee that he will cheat on her with some pretty young thing when he is done squeezing her dry for that she is worth." Qian Meng shrugged.


    "I don''t follow your logic. You want me to sit like a duck and watch them get away with it?"


    "You keep putting words in my mouth. Go ahead, kill Bai Ye Qing if you want. You won''t see me stopping you." Yun Qian Meng walked over to grab a bottle of water and passed it to Mo Yize. "But please, don''t tell the police that I gave you the idea. I would like to be on the right side of the law."

 Chapter 99: Dont be Stupid While Taking Revenge

    Mo Yize grimaced. "Don''t you feel anything for him?"


    Now, Qian Meng felt amused. "No, I have no feelings for inconsequential manwhores." Then she paused. "Do you want revenge, though?"


    The idea came to her all of a sudden and laid out in her mind completely.


    "You just said¡­" the other trailed off. "You''re a psycho. Are you planning on killing him and then putting all the blame on me?"


    Qian Meng blinked innocently. "There won''t be any killing involved, unfortunately. But I can help you take out your anger. Lord knows I want to strangle a lot of people."


    Her eyes twinkled with excitement.


    "What do you want to do?" Mo Yize asked cautiously.


    "For that, we will need to make a quick shopping trip." Qian Meng looked her over. "And you need to go wash your face. I don''t want to be seen around a woman who looks like she escaped an asylum."


    Mo Yize grunted and scampered off to the bathroom without the need for direction.


    Well, it was her family''s hotel, you couldn''t expect anything else. She emerged a few minutes later, her face stripped of makeup.


    "You caked that shit on, didn''t you?" Qian Meng made a face of disgust.


    "Don''t be a judgmental prick," Yize grunted. "By the way, those products are great."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Yes, I made them. Didn''t you try them before?" she asked, feeling irritated.


    "I intentionally avoid every product your company comes up with. I associate you with trash."


    Ah, the joys of bickering. She didn''t enjoy it as much as she had hoped. That pleasure was reserved for someone else.


    "Good thing you think that way." Qian Meng''s smile was nothing short of evil. She dragged Mo Yize along to the nearest Venus outlet. For one, she had ensured her outlets remained open until after midnight, and she was thankful for that.


    "Are you going to torture me?" Yize moaned when she entered the outlet.


    "No," Qian Meng chirped. She walked towards the sportswear section and pulled her phone out.


    "You better have a good reason to call me," Li Jun said flatly.


    "Sorry for encroaching on your private time but I need your legal council," she said with a jolly expression on her face.


    "At this time in the night? Are you going to commit a crime?" he asked. He had not meant it literally.


    "Yes. And I need to know the repercussions," she stated.


    "Please don''t do anything stupid. You just bought a new company and you have product launches coming up in the next few months. I don''t need a criminal case on top of that!" He wanted to cry.


    It was his personal time and Yun Qian Meng was ruining it for him.


    "That''s why I am calling you. I need to trash a car. How do I get away with it?"


    There was silence on the other side.


    "We are smashing a car?" Mo Yize squeaked.


    "Yes. Do you know what car he has?" She nodded.


    "It''s a Lamborghini Venono with customization. It cost him a lot of money," she whispered. "God, the settlement on vandalizing that will be a lot!"


    Qian Meng glared. "Do you want to let your anger out or not?" she challenged.


    "I do!"


    "Then don''t be rational. Let me do the thinking, okay?"


    Qian Meng put Li Jun on speaker. "You''re on speaker. Tell me, how do I get away with it?"


    "First of all, you shouldn''t be talking about it in front of others," he groaned.


    "I''m in my store, okay? No one is going to tell on me."


    "Great. The next thing we need to consider is the model of the car. If it is a Lamborghini Venono with added customization, you are looking at a hefty fine and six months in jail."


    "Jail!" Mo Yize exclaimed.


    "Hush," Qian Meng interjected.


    "Right, how do I get over that?"


    "Whose car is it?" Li Jun asked, his tone bored.


    "Bai Ye Qing." There was silence.


    "Well, you have dirt on him and his family. Enough to get him in rehab and in trouble with the law. You could settle that lawsuit. But the problem is if it doesn''t work."


    "What does that mean?" Qian Meng asked. She picked up a pair of gloves and looked it over.


    "Make sure Bai Ye Qing or any other human is nowhere close to the car when you are smashing it. If he is inside the car, he can sue you for attempted murder. If he is at a safe distance, he can say it was vandalizing his property. The difference between the two is, you can get away with the latter with a fine and your status in society."


    "Perks of being a billionaire," Qian Meng sang. "So, I need evidence that he was nowhere near the car."


    "He doesn''t have insurance on it, either," Mo Yize supplied from the side.


    "Does that affect the suit?" Qian Meng asked excitedly.


    "Not really. If he did have insurance, he would have claimed it for the damage you caused. But without it, he won''t be able to get money to repair the car."


    Qian Meng grinned. "That sounds amazing." She turned to Mo Yize. "It might not get back the money you spent on buying that house, but it will be sweet revenge watching him scramble to get the money to repair a fancy car he can''t afford. What say you?"


    Mo Yize was silent for a second. "If anyone asks, you brainwashed me into doing it."


    Qian Meng burst into laughter and nodded. "Li Jun, there you have it. I''ll send you evidence and a written record once I am done. Talk to you soon!"


    She hung up the phone and handed Mo Yize the gloves. "Pick your colors," she ordered.


    "Why are we buying these things?" she asked.


    "Cars have glass. When you break glass, it shatters and hurts you. Simple physics. So, you need to be covered and protected. Don''t be stupid while taking revenge."

 Chapter 100: Destroy Them for Messing With Her

    "God, you''re the devil incarnate. Has anyone ever told you that?" Mo Yize hissed.


    "Yup. I don''t mind proving myself, either." She gave a toothy smile and took their basket to the counter. She produced an employee card and gave it to the cashier.


    "She''ll pay for it," Qian Meng claimed, pointing at Mo Yize. "But please use my employee discount."


    Mo Yize cursed the hell out of Qian Meng but swiped her card, nonetheless.


    "Evil bitch," she said as they hopped into a taxi.


    "Why are we taking a taxi?" she asked.


    "I had a few drinks this evening and you can''t drive for shit, so¡­"


    Mo Yize rolled her eyes. "You do realize we could have hopped into my brother''s car, right?" she inquired.


    "Your brother''s car?" Qian Meng jumped with fright.


    "He has been following us since we left the hotel," she claimed.


    And this proved that Yun Qian Meng had no alarm bells in her head. Mo Qingchen had followed them around and she hadn''t even realized that.


    "Since when did you know?" Qian Meng asked in a panic.


    "Since the beginning. Why? Do you think he will stop us?" she asked. "I could call him and tell him you have a plan¡­"


    "He''ll probably call me reckless," Qian Meng waved it off. She could imagine his disapproval at her plan.


    "He would sooner bankrupt the guy, but I think he would want to punish the guy who broke his favorite little sister''s heart."


    "You''re very confident, aren''t you?" Qian Meng taunted. "Bai Ye Qing doesn''t have money to exploit. Mo Qingchen couldn''t even bankrupt him if he wanted."


    She chuckled. And he couldn''t bankrupt the Bai''s company because she was eyeing it. He would probably wait until she had made her move to decide how he would react.


    The patient but annoying man.


    ''Stop it, Yun Qian Meng!'' she screamed at herself.


    "I know my brother better than you," Yize claimed.


    "I doubt that," Qian Meng whispered. "Sir, do you mind putting the protective shield up?" Qian Meng requested the driver.


    She looked out the window and saw that it was tinted.


    The driver looked at her with a weird expression and then towards the shopping bags in her hand. "Sure," he said quickly before raising the privacy screen.


    "Get changing," Qian Meng said, taking out a pair of clothes and throwing them at Yize.


    "In front of you?" she asked, disgusted.


    "I''ve seen worse," Qian Meng bit back. "And you don''t have anything I haven''t seen before."


    "Mine looks better, that''s the difference."


    Qian Meng glared. "Change."


    She shimmied off her pajamas and quickly put on her clothes.


    "You''ve done this before!" Yize accused. "Did you turn into a slut since we met?" She was still struggling with her clothes.


    "I rarely have time to change my clothes. I keep a couple of sets ready in case I need to change and do it in the car. It saves time."


    "Business people are so weird."


    "Well¡­" she trailed off. She was done. Three minutes. Not bad. She looked over at Yize and she was still struggling.


    They were almost at the only sports store in the twenty-mile radius that was open at that hour.


    "Please stay here!" Qian Meng pleaded.


    "You''ll pay extra, right?" the driver asked.


    "For your cooperation? Yes!" Qian Meng was suddenly in a wonderful mood. Her frustration and anger were simmering under the surface and excitement was keeping her moving. She knew that she would explode soon and that she could let go of her inhibitions, so she remained sweet and thoughtful until it happened.


    She sprinted into the store with Mo Yize on tow.


    Baseball bats. They needed baseball bats and goggles to protect their eyes.


    "What are we looking for?" Yize asked.


    "Aluminium baseball bats," she sang. She picked up the two most expensive ones and took them to the counter. "They are lighter and ideal for beginners." She smirked.


    "You''ve given this a lot of thought," Yize said reluctantly.


    "Just focus on how good it will feel¡­" Qian Meng told her.


    They were back in the car in a jiffy and in the next, they were inside the ungated complex where Bai Ye Qing lived.


    "You do know which car is his, right?" Yize whispered as they walked in front of their house.


    "Of course, I have the license plate number," she said. She looked around and found a solid location to prop up her extra things. She sprinted towards it and set up the little tripod she had bought. The phone was put inside it and the video recording started.


    "Ready?" she shouted, calling out to Mo Yize who was standing right in front of the car.


    "Are you taking a video?" she screeched.


    Qian Meng grinned. "Of course, I am."


    Yize shrugged and turned to the car. Hatred flashed in her eyes as she replayed the photographs she had seen. Her mind went to each and everyone where his skin was shown against another woman and she took the first swing.


    Fuck if she didn''t enjoy it.


    She felt liberated.


    Qian Meng watched in rapt fascination as Mo Yize screamed her lungs out.


    She felt a pang of jealousy in her heart and sucked in a deep breath.


    Even an army wouldn''t hold her back.


    She wouldn''t let them.


    She was done.


    Let them come at her. She would destroy them for messing with her. She promised that.


    She broke into a sprint, bat over her shoulder. She took the first swing at the expensive side mirror and felt her chest become lighter.


    In the next moment, she was kicking the shit out of it, making sure the dang thing flew out of the socket and fell to the floor.


    It had been no longer than a few minutes, but the alarms blared and the car was shattered.


    Mo Yize was jumping on the top of the car, denting the top. She had broken into a small dance as Qian Meng took precise stabs at the windshield.

 Chapter 101: Dont Waste Your Breath on Him

    She heard the rushing footsteps and saw the blaring flashlights, but she didn''t pay them any mind.


    These fuckers were going down. She would make sure of it.


    "Stop it!" Bai Ye Qing screamed, his voice filled with panic. They didn''t. "Stop it!" he chanted.


    Qian Meng finally paused and turned to him slowly. She removed the goggles from her eyes and dropped the bat to the pavement. A gasp escaped Bai Ye Qing''s lips as he realized who had destroyed his car.


    "Qian Meng," he uttered in disbelief.


    "That''s Miss Yun to you," she sneered, tipping her nose high. "You can use the money from the mansion you received from Mo Yize as compensation for the car," she declared.


    Bai Ye Qing finally realized there was another person at the scene.


    Mo Yize looked at him from on top of the car, her hair wild and her eyes burning.


    "Retribution is a bitch, isn''t it?" she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "Never betray a woman, Bai Ye Qing."


    "You know what they say¡­ Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."


    Yun Qian Meng had never felt better.


    "You''ve lost your mind!" Chen Yue screeched. Mo Yize flinched at the high-pitched sound and crouched down on the roof to come down.


    Seeing her struggle, Yun Qian Meng extended her hand and grabbed her elbows. She helped Yize off and ignored the infuriated mother and son pair as she walked towards her phone.


    She was about to brush past them when Chen Yue grabbed her.


    Qian Meng felt her anger surge. "I just desecrated your son''s precious new car. But I''m not satisfied. Do you really want to try me?" she asked in a low and threatening voice.


    The hand fell and she sauntered over to the phone and picked it up. She turned the volume down and fast-forwarded through it, feeling satisfied with the result.


    They looked ravishing in their fury. It was evidence of what they had done and proof of the extent of the act. She kept it as a contingency plan if these people acted stupid and pressed charges.


    "You won''t get away with this!" the older woman seethed. Qian Meng glanced at her and didn''t speak.


    "Mom, she has some misunderstanding¡­" he trailed off.


    "Misunderstanding?" Mo Yize repeated in a grave voice.


    "You should be careful about what you say," Qian Meng warned.


    "I have evidence for every single thing you have done. And you''d be wise not to piss her off." She jerked her chin towards Mo Yize. "That''s Mo Building Solutions'' shareholder. The youngest child of Mo Zichen."


    Bai Ye Qing paled.


    "You should have done your background check before fixed on a target. She''s more gullible than me." Qian Meng smirked at the nasty glare Yize threw at her. "Ah, also¡­ we used to be best friends in university. You should really do your due diligence when looking for targets to mooch off."


    "Don''t waste your breath on him," Yize frowned. She had already started to walk away in the direction of the main road.


    Qian Meng shrugged as she looked at the mother and son pair. "Mr. Bai, we meet again. Hopefully, we''ll meet under more pleasant circumstances next time." She gave him a polite smile and a bow before turning.


    "I''m going to sue you for vandalism and threatening our lives!" Chen Yue screamed. They saw her shoulder shake and her head lower and thought she had been intimidated, but Qian Meng was snickering.


    She threw one hand up and waved at them, never sparing them a glance. "Best of luck! See you in court, then."


    She caught up to Mo Yize.


    "Did you have fun?" she asked, a bright smile on her face.


    Yize turned to her, her expression looked like she was having more fun than ever. Which was surprising.


    "Yes!" she replied without thinking. "We should do this again," she claimed.


    "I''m sorry. I don''t want to be around to see you jilted again. It''s not a good look on you." And then she pressed her lips together to stop herself from chuckling. "Also, just because we have a common enemy, we are not friends."


    Yize huffed. "Did I say we were friends? Homewrecker," she grumbled under her breath. "Tell me, though. Why did we have to wear your brand clothes?" That part had confused her.


    "Why, when you desecrate things, you should do it in fashion. Also, I would rather you spend your money at my establishment." She grinned slyly.


    "Crafty fox."


    Qian Meng suddenly remembered that they couldn''t catch a cab from this part of town at this hour. Having no other option, she unlocked her phone and dialed his number.


    He picked it up on the first ring.


    "Pick us up."


    "From where?" he asked, acting all innocent.


    "I know you followed us," she informed him. He was silent for a few seconds.


    "I can see you from here. Come quickly or the residents will call the cops on me." He hung up quickly.


    "Who was that?" Mo Yize asked curiously.


    "Your brother," Qian Meng informed flatly.


    "From when did the two of you get so chummy?" That surprised the sister. She hadn''t introduced them to one another. When she had told Qian Meng before, the woman had flat out refused to meet her brother.


    Reason? Unknown.


    But the look of hatred on her face had told Mo Yize that these two were like oil and water. Never to get along.


    "We are not chummy."


    They reached the car and Qian Meng instinctively pulled the front passenger''s side door open. She slid in looked to the side to find Mo Qingchen sitting there.


    Yize waited outside, dumbfounded. Eventually, she composed herself and got into the car.


    The two people in the front seats sat rigidly.


    "What''s stuck in your ass?" she asked, scrunching her nose. "Why are you even here?"


    "I had to see two stupid women run around the city in the middle of the night, getting ready to ambush some man who did them wrong." His voice held thinly veiled anger.


    "Well, we came out victorious, didn''t we?" Mo Yize retorted with a hint of pride.

 Chapter 102: He Had Created a Monster

    "Did you? You just walked into the warzone without protection. What were you thinking?" Yize gaped, unused to her brother talking to her that way.


    Qian Meng knew that the anger was directed at her.


    "He''s talking to me, don''t worry. He treats me like a whipping post whenever he can," she explained. "I was having a good time, okay? I needed it."


    "But did you have to be so stupid? Why did you do that? There''s going to be police knocking on your door tomorrow morning. Do you understand how this is going to affect your image?" he gritted the words out through his teeth.


    "Yes, because I am the one who comes up with ridiculous ideas," she threw back. "I knew exactly what I was doing. I only fight battles I know I will win, Mo Qingchen. I''m not a blind, gullible girl." She pressed her hand on her temple. "You''ve killed my buzz."


    The complaint made him soften his attitude.


    "You''ve had a bad day. I''m sorry." He sat there, letting the silence take over.


    "Wow, I''ve never heard you speak so much," Yize commented from behind them.


    Qian Meng clenched her eyes closed.


    "Where are you going to go now?" Mo Qingchen asked softly.


    She spoke after a long time. "I can''t go back to the hotel," Qian Meng confessed. "They let two people I didn''t want to see to my room without my permission. And I bet more people will bang on my door tonight if I go back. And I really want to sleep." Her voice shook lightly.


    "You can stay with me if you want." Qian Meng felt tears prickling her eyes.


    "No," she said immediately. "I''ll just¡­ I''ll just stay at one of the furnished properties that haven''t been rented out yet."


    Mo Qingchen frowned. "There won''t be any bedsheets or thick covers."


    "She could stay in my room," Yize proposed, interjecting their conversation.


    Mo Qingchen turned to look at his sister and then at Qian Meng.


    "She doesn''t want to stay with you," Yize said with a little more pressure.


    "And I don''t want to stay with you," Qian Meng said quickly. She sucked in a breath. "Start driving. I''ll decide in a bit." That was her final answer.


    She called Li Jun.


    "Done with your crime spree?" he asked. There was not a hint of sleep in his voice.


    "Yes. I took a video as a safety measure. I''ll send it to you. They might file a lawsuit against Mo Yize and me, so I will ask her to give me the transfer of ownership papers for the house. Do you need anything else?"


    She waited for his answer.


    "What is the narrative you are going for?" he asked.


    "Killing rage," she said somberly.


    "Understood. Goodnight, Miss Yun."


    "Goodnight," she said and hung up. She turned to Mo Qingchen with a critical look. He noticed her gaze and nodded.


    He understood. She had a plan.


    "I''ll take you back to the hotel. Don''t forget to record." Nothing more was said. Nobody needed to.


    - - - - -


    "That little wench!" Chen Yue yelled as she paced. Mr. Bai kept his eyes trained on the woman. From the corner of his eye, he saw his son sitting quietly, not saying a word.


    "She really doesn''t like me," he whispered, acting all innocent.


    Mr. Bai didn''t comment. He didn''t need to.


    Chen Yue did all the talking in their relationship.


    "No, honey. Who does she think she is, belittling you like that?" Chen Yue shook her head. "When she marries into the family, we''ll have to straighten her out and make sure she shows respect."


    Mr. Bai almost choked on his breath. "I don''t think a wedding will happen," he said seriously.


    The words Yun Qian Meng said at the party had been confirmation for him. He glanced towards his younger son and felt a pang of melancholy.


    "Her father is adamant," Chen Yue said smugly.


    "Well, Yun Qian Meng is an independent woman. If she doesn''t want to marry, we should respect her decision." The other two seemed astounded by Mr. Bai''s support.


    "Whose side are you on?" his wife asked.


    "My own," he said gruffly before standing up.


    He was sick and tired of the drama. Mr. Bai¡­ Bai Yu¡­ worked day and night for thirty years to get where he was. Between his first son, Bai Wenxi and Bai Ye Qing, he had given the latter everything he desired.


    Wenxi had seen the family struggle in his youth and been a quiet and responsible child. He had taken lots of responsibilities in the company when he came of age and Bai Yu was happy.


    When Bai Ye Qing''s turn came, both older brother and father had humored him and given him a good position in the company.


    Yet, the more favors he got, the more he wanted. He asked for it and received, therefore, thinking that he was entitled to what was given to him. Bai Ye Qing forgot the favor he received and imagined that the success he had was earned by his own merit.


    Bai Yu had created a monster. He had allowed his son to see power up close¡ªa man who wanted more.


    Bai Ye Qing didn''t work. The accusations against him were many and the employees complained of mismanagement and harassment, among other things.


    Bai Wenxi got wind of it as did Bai Yu. And the next thing he knew, Wenxi suddenly passed away.


    Yet, Chen Yue and Bai Ye Qing pretended as though he had never existed.


    Mr. Bai was astounded. His son, his heir, his closest confidante had passed away and these two were going around, trying to climb the social ladder.


    He had seen enough. His suspicions grew stronger. And there was only one thing to do.


    He pulled out his cellphone and typed out the first message to her.


    [Miss Yun, would you mind joining me in a game of chess sometime next week?]


    He waited for a long time until the reply came.


    [It would be a pleasure, Mr. Bai.]


    And therein, the stage was set.

 Chapter 103: A Branded Woman

    Thanks to Mo Qingchen, Qian Meng had a hard time concentrating on all the work she had to do the next day. Since their discussion, she had thought the ridiculousness of the whole thing would have let her forget it easily. But no, it lingered in her mind.


    It was like a small, obnoxious voice at the back of her head kept repeating everything Mo Qingchen and she had talked about. And damn that rain-soaked kiss.


    It replayed in her mind continuously as she tossed and turned in bed. No matter how many times she pushed Mo Qingchen''s thoughts away, they reappeared.


    Well, nobody could offer her better conditions in this life. And she had been set on marrying for monetary and social gains, knowing she wouldn''t love anyone, and Mo Qingchen was the most illustrious man who could propose marriage to her.


    But even though the proposal was amazing, his idea was still ridiculous. A marriage with a business partner was disastrous from the very beginning. One should never mix business with pleasure.


    And that damned kiss. She had known some to be sweet, some passionate. But she hadn''t expected them to remotely compare to what Mo Qingchen had unleashed in her. She wouldn''t have a clear business minded attitude in a marriage with him.


    And Mo Qingchen had made it clear that nothing of the sort was supposed to happen. Good reasons¡­ logical reasons. The few hours she managed to drift off to sleep the next few days were filled with dreamed of their infuriatingly unforgettable kiss and the prospect of a harmonious marriage with Mo Qingchen.


    Somehow, they kept her thought away from the hundreds of phone calls her father made to her and the angry voicemails he left. She didn''t pay heed to any of them.


    Four days after the disastrous Mayor''s anniversary party, she woke up before her alarm went off. While showering, she concluded that it was just the thrill of the moment and her distressed state had made it so amazing.


    If they ever kissed again, it would be awful. As would their marriage, if it happened.


    It was definitely a one-time fluke. Nothing that incredible could ever happen more than once.


    As she ran the soapy loofah across her stomach, she noticed the purplish imprint of Mo Qingchen''s fingers on her hips. Her eyes flickered to the small bite mark on her lips.


    She was a branded woman.


    For some unknown reason, that made her smile. It worried her.


    There was no doubt she needed deep therapy.


    She was running just on time. She threw on the first set of clothes she saw and headed out the door, the motions practiced.


    She received the legal notice while she was in the executive meeting. She looked over the document and scoffed. For the next few hours, she remained stoic and finished her busy first half of the day.


    Once done, she called Li Jun.


    "I received the legal notice. I''ll forward it to you shortly," she said in a bland voice.


    "Is it entertaining?" Li Jun asked. Ever the multi-tasking king, Li Jun was typing on his laptop. "I''m typing out the postulates as of now. Can I get the information about Mo Yize? I think I will need to talk to her to get the story straight."


    Qian Meng sighed. "Of course. I''ll forward her number to you. She must have her own lawyer, but you could collaborate on this. You''re sure she''ll get away with a fine, right?" Qian Meng asked.


    "Yes, she could simply say that you coerced her or abused her volatile state to make her join you on the hate crime. Your clothes will act as proof that it was intentionally done, so be careful," he warned.


    "I''ll talk to Li Min about that. You know what to do next," she informed.


    "Yes, I''ll call you once I have sorted everything out. I need some information on the opposition''s attorney, too."


    Qian Meng hummed before hanging up.


    The phone on her desk rang and she took the call immediately. "What is it?" she asked, frustration setting in.


    "Your father is here to see you," her assistant said quickly, almost on the verge of panic.


    Qian Meng pressed her lips together in contempt. "Send him in after fifteen minutes," she ordered.


    Li Min was silent. "Boss," she said hesitantly.


    "Do as I say." She hung up and went back to her paperwork. She didn''t need to put Yun Sui Bo in such high regard that he came before her critical work.


    He could wait like everyone else if he came without an appointment. She wasn''t a little girl who was at his beck and call. She had a business to run and employees to handle. She didn''t have time for his bullshit.


    And he finally needed to realize that.


    She made him wait twenty-two minutes instead of the promised fifteen.


    "Send him in," she said finally through the intercom and heard Li Min take a deep, relieved breath.


    Her father barged in. He shoved past Li Min and entered the room like he owned the place.


    "What brings you here, Mr. Yun?" she asked, looking up from her work.


    "You have a great way of ignoring your family," he seethed.


    "Take a seat," she said indifferently, pointing towards the couch. "And you relinquished your rights as my family member the moment you struck me." She had a small smile on her lips.


    Yun Sui Bo gritted his teeth together when he realized that she was cold. She wasn''t worried or angry that he had come, just indifferent. That pissed him off further.


    "You deserved to be hit." Qian Meng''s head snapped up.


    "Sit," she ordered. She went around her desk and took the seat at the head of the sofa. A clear display of her authority.


    In this building, he was nothing but a nuisance who was meaning to make a scene out of nothing.


    "What brings you here this morning?"

 Chapter 104: Crawl Up From the Gutters

    "What brings you here this morning?" she asked when he took a seat. When she looked at her father''s face, she saw signs of aging. She had not paid much attention to him recently, but she hadn''t expected him to look this¡­ aged.


    "You vandalized Bai Ye Qing''s car?" he asked.


    Qian Meng nodded. "Yes, I did. What about it?"


    Yun Sui Bo huffed. "Why would you do that? What has he possibly done wrong for you to oppose me like this?"


    Qian Meng lowered her hand and smiled. "This is the first time I am going against your wishes, am I not?" she asked. She didn''t need an answer to that. She had always talked back but she had never completely disregarded his plans. "Did you do a background check on Bai Ye Qing before you thought of tying me and throwing me at him?"


    This was an important question. The answer would determine what she would do about it in the future.


    "What? What about his background?" he asked through gritted teeth.


    "The gambling debts, the string of women, and the drug and alcohol problem." She watched his face closely and saw him stiffen before he composed himself.


    He had known some of it at least.


    "I don''t see the problem. All men rake up such bad habits in this stage of their life. They grow out of it. And which rich kid doesn''t gamble, or do drugs? And cheating? That is common," he stated.


    Qian Meng nodded sagely. "Of course. Cheating is normal. You cheated on Mother, didn''t you? It should be normal for you and not a concern." She burst out into laughter.


    "Don''t talk nonsense!" Yun Sui Bo hissed. "I never did such a thing."


    Qian Meng grinned. "Nothing you say will change my mind on this matter. You doomed yourself the moment you admitted you knowingly sold me off to Bai Ye Qing and his family." She stood up. "And you''ve come to make me apologize to that disgusting family."


    Yun Sui Bo kept silent.


    "You''ll be happy to know that Bai Ye Qing pressed charges against me. Attempt to murder and vandalism. Public disruption and a string of other things." Yun Sui Bo''s eyes widened. "The people who you are trying to please don''t care about you, Mr. Yun."


    "I don''t know what you are talking about," Yun Sui Bo responded with a streak of stubbornness. Qian Meng grunted.


    "Of course you don''t. And I don''t need to know why you are so desperate. Maybe you want me off your back. Or you want my company for yourself and your second wife. Did she ask for it?"


    Yun Sui Bo''s brow arched.


    "Chen Yue and Jiang Xin are very close, aren''t they? I wonder why she pressed such charges against your daughter. If the press finds out, not only will my stock prices plummet, but Yun Corporation would take a hit, too." She paused and scrutinized his expression. "Did you know that?"


    No answer.


    "Good. Don''t answer me. I don''t need your help to figure anything out. I inherited your intelligence, remember?"


    No answer.


    "I won''t hold back because you have something to do with this. This is how far I let you go. You have no power over me, therefore, you have no use being here."


    "You''ll regret this," he said in a low, threatening voice. "I''ll ruin you," he promised.


    "I''ll watch you try. I never took a dime from you to build this company. I paid for my own college tuition and paid back more than you needed to raise me until I went to college. We owe each other nothing."


    "I will see where your pride goes when you don''t have a penny to your name," he sneered.


    She laughed bitterly. "I''ll crawl up from the gutters if I have to. I build an empire once, I can do it again." She towered over him. "Leave. You are not welcome in this building or anywhere near me from now on."


    Yun Sui Bo looked up in surprise.


    He shot up to his feet, his anger overwhelming. "You think you''re all that because you earned some money. You''ll regret this someday."


    "Out," she commanded, leaving no way out.


    He walked out with a disdain very like him.


    She sank down on the couch, scrubbing her face when she heard the clicking of heels.


    "Boss, there are articles everywhere." She looked up, a trace of exasperation in her eyes.


    "Send me the links right now," she asked.


    "Already done," Li Min answered. "Do you need the PR team to do a risk analysis yet?"


    Qian Meng shook her head. "I''ll do it myself. No need to involve the PR team until we see a crisis for Venus, okay?"


    Li Min nodded. "It seems an FIR has been lodged already. The police should be here to question you as well."


    Qian Meng waved it off. "They''ll take a few days to get to it because no one was hurt and I am an important figure in Shanghai. Just inform Li Jun as well."


    Li Min nodded. "At this point, you''re throwing a lot of money at him. This is going to blow up, too¡­" Li Min groaned. More sleepless nights for her.


    "Good thing. Li Jun will get a lot of exposure then." Qian Meng smiled a little, but it didn''t reach her eyes.


    ''But it will be hell for you and the company,'' Li Min thought. She didn''t voice her opinion though.


    "Okay, go out. I''ll browse through the articles and get back to you."


    "They''re very cruel. They didn''t hide your name and they have quotations from an anonymous acquaintance of yours," Li Min commented.


    "Very few people would dare to comment against me. The list of suspects is small. I''ll know when I read it," she assured. "Go out. I need some time alone."


    Li Min nodded. She could see Yun Qian Meng was at her tipping point. She had been on the verge for a while now, and Li Min was waiting for the ball to drop.

 Chapter 105: Giving Women a Bad Name

    How much more could this woman handle before she broke down?


    Li Min didn''t want to find out. She walked out and closed the door softly behind her so as to not disrupt Yun Qian Meng.


    She called her brother. "The Bais filed an FIR and there are articles about the situation already," she told him.


    "Yeah, I understand." Li Jun paused. "Don''t worry about Miss Yun. She is stronger than you think. And she never does things for short-term gain. Trust in her to know exactly how to reach the end unscathed."


    Li Min sighed. "I don''t know how she is going to come out unscathed from this," she groaned.


    "You''ve worked for her so long, don''t you know how?" Li Jun asked quietly.


    Li Min''s eyes brightened. "I guess I do."


    She felt a small smile play on her lips.


    - - - - -


    Inside the room, Qian Meng was reading the articles meticulously and making notes.


    The titles varied. Some outlets held back in their criticism, while the others went all out. None of them mentioned Mo Yize, so that was a boon.


    [Venus CEO Demands Attention With Her Public Breakdown]


    [The Fall of Yun Qian Meng]


    [Family Dispute turned Lethal: The Powerful Woman Who Tried to Kill her Fiance]


    Colorful and all making her out to be the crazy woman who tried to kill someone without reason.


    The main points of the article covered how Bai Ye Qing had proposed and how she was emotional and used her power and money to get away with murder.


    The comments underneath were even worse.


    ''Wow. She doesn''t look like a psychotic bitch. Turns out, you can''t judge by looks!''


    ''I wonder why she snapped. Did the money get to her head?''


    ''The car costs upwards of four million dollars. And she destroyed it. These rich brats don''t know how precious money is. Down with the rich!''


    ''Women like these give us a bad name.''


    ''This is why women need to be put in their place. Who let her out of the kitchen?''


    ''How does she run a business? Too emotional and irrational. Did she win a lottery or something?''


    ''Send her to a psychiatric ward. She deserves what is coming to her.''


    The comments grew more violent and sexist. She looked at them critically.


    The quote mentioned how disrespectful and high and mighty she acted in society. She concluded that it was one of the two: Chen Yue or Jiang Xin.


    Or they had worked together to spread the news. One of them contacted the media while the other anonymously slandered her.


    Would she press charges of slander? No. That would put fuel on the fire and the news outlets would write more articles. She needed to think carefully.


    ''Yun Qian Meng, what are you going to do next? Will you go along with the original plan or not?''


    She decided that she would. Even if she suffered some grievances in the short-run, the ending would be magnificent. She would see to it.


    Her notes were complete and she had written down more headlines that they could use. She would ensure more articles come out. She needed the news channels to come into the picture, too.


    "Could you come in?" she asked through the intercom.


    "Yes," Li Min answered without emotion. She followed through within the minute and entered.


    "Take this paper and look at the points I mentioned. I even wrote down some catchy titles to get more clicks. Call up the celebrity gossip journalists and give them the scoop." She sighed.


    "I''ll make sure no one knows you made this happen," Li Min ensured. She took the paper Qian Meng was extending towards her and read through it. "Miss Yun!" she gasped.


    "Do it," she said firmly.


    "Miss Yun, this will make our stock price plummet," she whispered harshly.


    "I know," she confirmed. "You need to plummet in front of everyone to rise magnificently." Qian Meng smiled.


    Li Min bowed and went out. She looked down at the paper again and felt herself shudder. This method was aggressive. She had seen nothing of the sort before.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng made her way to the wall-to-ceiling glass window and stared out for the longest moment. Her eyes drifted towards the direction of Mo Qingchen''s office and she wondered what he was doing.


    She sprinted to her desk and pulled open the drawer. The binoculars were still there, having been unused for a couple of days. She picked them back and walked back to the window and adjusted the zoom.


    She was looking directly into his office, but it looked abandoned. The lights were switched off, which was unlike Mo Qingchen. He kept his office lit up if he was in office, no matter if he left for a while or not


    Her suspicion rose. They hadn''t spoken in a few days and she hadn''t seen him around, too. Had the rejection really hurt him and made him not want to see her? She would understand that.


    She pulled out her cellphone and dialed Mo Qingchen''s office. They picked up after a few rings. "Hello, this is Dynamic Tech. How may I help you?" came a pleasant voice from the other side.


    "I was calling to ask if Mr. Mo is in the office today," she said vaguely.


    There was a short silence. "Mr. Mo is not in the office today. He is working from home. Do you have an appointment with him?" she asked.


    "No. Do you know when he will come back?" Qian Meng found herself asking.


    "No, ma''am. Mr. Mo will be working from home this week due to some personal issues."


    Personal issues? What was Mo Qingchen dealing with? Look at the pair of them, dealing with life separately and trudging along because they had to live.


    "Okay. Sorry for wasting your time," she replied softly.


    "May I ask who I am speaking with? I can set up an appointment with him if you like." The offer was welcome. It showed that Mo Qingchen''s employees were well trained.


    She was happy he had people he could depend on in his work life.

 Chapter 106: She Could Trust Him

    "No, that is not necessary." She hung up and felt like an impolite bitch.


    She was high-strung and no one apart from her employees should have been near her. She was close to bursting as it was. At least she could spare the people who she didn''t pay to put up with her.


    She went back to work and kept getting pings on new articles that came out. Within 8 hours, there were about seventy-two articles with different aspects of the whole thing that came out. Some exposed her college life and when she was a teenager. All rumors had come out.


    They were dragging her name through the mud.


    Her stock prices dropped 12.7% when the stock market closed for the day.


    Her eyes stung with exhaustion and she closed them, finally done with work.


    She got into her car and drove aimlessly for the longest time. So, how did she end up parked in front of Mo Qingchen''s gigantic house like a stalker?


    How did she know about where he lived? Li Min had given her additional information when Mo Qingchen resurfaced. Qian Meng knew of the fancy house Mo Qingchen had built recently.


    When she was walking towards the exit, she saw some media people waiting outside. Unwilling to show herself, she went to the parking block and told the designated driver to come back and leave the car.


    She drove towards the hotel and found more people there. So, she decided to shop for some food and wat it in her car. As she strolled through the aisles looking for ready-to-eat food, she was reminded of Mo Qingchen and how disgusted he would be if he saw her eat something like this.


    If she was with Mo Qingchen, she wouldn''t be here. At least, she would have a place to go back to. She could scream and rant her frustrations and banter with him until she felt better.


    ''Why can''t I stop thinking about him? His proposition was insane. That was why I had said no,'' she reminded herself.


    Despite the pep talk, Mo Qingchen''s house just happened to be on her way to nowhere. She decided to stop by for some recreational stalking.


    She hadn''t bought anything perishable at the store, so she could stay out here for as long as she desired.


    She wanted to take a better look at the house in which Mo Qingchen lived. So, she parked on the street in front of his house and just sat there staring at it like a crazy person.


    His house was set back at the end of a long, winding driveway, so she couldn''t get a close look at it. But she could see the beauty of the architecture. The house was in the middle of multiple million-dollar homes, but each house was spaced so far apart that the privacy of the residents was guaranteed.


    Mo Qingchen''s house was at the center of the property, surrounded by a body of water¡­ a huge swimming pool. The bridge connecting the main house with the world was the driveway that extended onto a bridge.


    She couldn''t see more because of the darkness, but she could tell the grounds were beautiful. She could see the tall trees surrounding the property, giving it a more natural and forest-like terrain. A safe haven in itself.


    She shut off her car and gaped. It looked like her dream home. The perfect blend of old and new and nature and concrete. She wondered what it would be like to live there.


    Her family house was more of a British-style architecture that placed importance on more rooms and decoration, so she had never tasted the life of living in serenity.


    What would it feel like to wake up to the sound of crickets and lounging in front of the pool? What would it be like to live with Mo Qingchen?


    When she started to think about the possibilities, she realized that he had been right about one thing. Qian Meng would gain more than him if she accepted his proposal.


    He was willing to give her access to everything he had and all he wanted in return was her presence in his social life. All he requested was for her to live in his house, go to places with him and discuss business ventures with him. She would have someone she could lean on and bounce ideas, as would he.


    ''And why do I have a problem with that?'' a part of her asked.


    ''Because you''re a stubborn pessimist, Yun Qian Meng,'' she told herself.


    The more she thought about it, the more seriously she took it. Was it really so crazy? Maybe she was stuck in society''s idea of normalcy without knowing it. Maybe she wasn''t okay with living with someone without feelings.


    But then, she was going to be alone regardless. What was so bad about a marriage that could only bring her gain?


    It wasn''t wise to let her fear and uncertainty hold her back. She would not be abandoned. That was why contracts would be put in place.


    Yes, she wouldn''t be abandoned. She could trust him.


    She needed to suck it up and go back to the hotel. Maybe she could take a couple of shots and think it over a little more. She turned on the engine, but all she got was a sputter. She tried it a few more times and got the same result.


    She groaned.


    Just her luck. The only day she brought out her non-electronic car, it broke down.


    "Damn it!" she yelled, tossing her head back. She sat there for ten more minutes and briefly considered walking home. She couldn''t call a mechanic out here. This was not the locality for it.


    She looked up at Mo Qingchen''s house once again. He was home. He had to be.


    She grabbed her purse and got out of the car, locked it, and began her trek up the driveway. As she got closer to the house, she noticed more details.

 Chapter 107: She Would Regret It

    She didn''t think Mo Qingchen would plant a garden of wildflowers.


    As she walked up the steps to the front door, all she could think about was the embarrassment she would go through. She rang the doorbell after pushing away the intrusive thoughts.


    She tapped her foot impatiently until the door opened. But it wasn''t Mo Qingchen that stood behind it. It was an older woman dressed in jeans and an oversized t-shirt. Her hair was in a bun and she was holding a bottle of cleaner.


    She decided it was pretty safe to assume this woman worked for Mo Qingchen and wasn''t someone he called when he had an itch to fulfill.


    She didn''t know what she thought of that possibility.


    "Can I help you?" the woman asked, making Qian Meng realize that she hadn''t spoken yet.


    "Yes, is Mo Qingchen around? I''m a business partner," she said softly, not knowing how to introduce herself.


    "I see¡­ yes, yes¡­ come in." The woman smiled, moving aside.


    Qian Meng walked into the house.


    "Mr. Mo is in his office. I''ll show you the way," the woman said with another smile.


    Qian Meng nodded and followed down the hallway. The rooms were a mixture of wooden tones, dark and earthy greens, and black. The track lighting and textured walls gave the interior dimension and Qian Meng had to stare in awe.


    This style of decoration suited Mo Qingchen well.


    Behind one particular wooden door sat Mo Qingchen. He was behind the desk in a small room as he read over a sheet of paper.


    He was wearing a casual t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing his forearms. He was also wearing reading glasses, which Qian Meng had to admit looked sexy.


    ''Sexy?'' Did she just call Mo Qingchen that?


    She couldn''t deny he was a good-looking man, that was for sure.


    He looked up when the woman opened the door and then did a double-take when he saw her.


    "Yun Qian Meng," he said, sounding rightfully surprised to see her.


    "Uh¡­ I happened to be in the neighborhood. Thought I would stop by to say hi." She stammered and fumbled to come up with an excuse he would believe.


    He stared at her for a long moment and then looked over at the other woman and gave her a weak smile. "Thank you, Xiong Hua."


    Xiong Hua smiled back at him and then gave him a little nod before leaving the room. Mo Qingchen stood up and walked over to Qian Meng. He closed the door behind her and then took off his glasses. He gestured for her to the big leather chair with wheels behind his desk.


    "Have a seat," he said to her.


    She hesitated a moment and then went and sat down in the desk chair. He followed her and perched himself on the edge of the desk, right next to her.


    "You just happened to be in the neighborhood?" he asked, raising his eyebrows as he smirked at her. "Who do you know that lives in this neighborhood?" he challenged her narrative.


    "I''m sure I know quite a few of them. Or they know me," she replied tartly as she took in the view of his office.


    His desk was made out of beautiful walnut wood, the simple and sturdy style standing out. He had a huge flat screen computer on the desk as well as papers and his laptop. To her left was a large bookcase filled with programming and other techie books she didn''t care for. To her right, there was a fancy minibar.


    "Fair enough," he responded to her statement. "What brought you specifically to my house, then?"


    "Funny story!" she began, her eyes still wandering around the room. "My car broke down right in front of your house."


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "Your car just happened to break down right in front of my house." He sounded amused.


    She sighed and turned her head to look at him.


    She couldn''t dig out of this embarrassing hole even if she tried to. "I parked outside your house. And when I went to start my car, it didn''t start."


    He looked at her with those piercing eyes of his. "What were you doing parked outside my house?"


    "I don''t know¡­" she mumbled with a shrug. "I wanted to see where you lived."


    "I see." He nodded slowly.


    "The reporters¡­ they are everywhere and I just¡­ I just wanted to eat in peace." She was quiet. "And I need to return to the hotel somehow. Do you have the number of a mechanic who is within range and can function in this community?"


    "I do." He picked up the cordless phone from his desk and handed it to her. She got up and went to pace around the room absentmindedly as the phone rang.


    Mo Qingchen went back and sat down in his desk chair, picked up the piece of paper he had been reading, and putting back his glasses.


    Qian Meng looked at him for a moment before cutting the call.


    It was a sign. Her car broke down in front of his house and she couldn''t call for help. Fate had wanted her there in Mo Qingchen''s office at that moment.


    This was the sign that she had to let go and take the leap of faith.


    She wanted to live without worry.


    She wanted to know what it would be like to not look over her shoulder and wonder if everything she talks to was plotting against her.


    She wanted to live in a house she could call her own.


    She wanted to be the master of her universe.


    She knew at that moment. If she let the opportunity go, she would regret it. Maybe in a week, or a month¡­ or even a decade. But one day, she would definitely regret it.


    "I''m in," she blurted out.


    "Excuse me?" Mo Qingchen asked, looking up in bewilderment.


    "I''m in. I want to marry you."

 Chapter 108: Come Back From Hell to You

    He put the paper down and then took his glasses back off and set them down next to it. He leaned back on his chair and studied her face carefully as if he were trying to read her.


    "Was that why you came here?" he asked, trying to figure out what had prompted her to change her mind.


    "No, I didn''t. But it''s what I want. The only reason I said no was because I was shocked and uncertain¡­ and scared. But those aren''t good enough reasons to pass up your offer. The offer you made me is beyond generous and I have no legitimate reason to say no."


    Mo Qingchen looked at her with worry.


    "That is if you still feel the same way." She scrutinized his expression. "I understand if the validity of the offer has expired. With the recent downward trend of my stock prices and reputation, it would be a bad deal for you to tie your name to mine." She analyzed critically. "Nothing remains to be offered from my side, then. Not many will want to associate with me when this blows up."


    He sighed in frustration. "Are you sure about this?" he asked.


    "Don''t ignore my words," Qian Meng said in a low and firm voice.


    "I wouldn''t have made the offer if I wanted to take it back." His gaze was unwavering. "I only made the offer because it was you and I know you well enough. You''ll overcome this magnificently."


    Qian Meng gaped at him in shock. It was new to her: having someone who trusted her capability. Not even her employees felt this way, even though they knew her plan. But this guy, without knowing anything, blindly trusted her.


    "You think so?" she challenged, just in case.


    "Of course. Now, tell me. Are you sure about this?"


    "Sure as I will ever be," Qian Meng said, walking over and putting the phone back down on his desk.


    "If that is the case, then we have a whole lot more to discuss. Our conversation at dinner was a preliminary one. There is a lot to go over and hash out."


    Qian Meng nodded. "I have a lot of time on my hands right now. Shall we start?" she asked with a confident tilt of her head.


    "And you are not saying this because you feel vulnerable right now?" he asked again.


    "Sweet of you to consider my side, but you should be more ruthless in business with me," she warned. "Aren''t you scared I will take everything away from you?" she grinned.


    "You can try." He narrowed his eyes doubtfully. "We''re both busy, Yun Qian Meng. I don''t have time for another conversation about this if it isn''t going anywhere."


    "My promise holds high value in the industry. If I said I will marry you, I''ll come back from Hell to fulfill my promise."


    His expression wavered and his fists tightened on the table. "No need to die to prove the guarantee of your promise."


    Qian Meng looked at him curiously. "What a confusing man!" she commented. "I''m sure. I''m going all-in on this."


    He flashed her a pleased smile and gestured to the single cushioned chair sitting in the corner of the room. "Pull up the seat and let''s draw up the agreement."


    No time like the present.


    She pulled up the chair and plopped down into it so that they were facing one another across the desk. She put her bag down on the ground next to the chair and then crossed her legs and arms.


    Mo Qingchen leaned back and lifted one foot to rest on his knee. He rubbed his chin with his right hand and looked her over, trying to figure something out in his head.


    "Are we in a Mexican standoff?" Qian Meng teased.


    He gave her a playful glare. "Before I start, I should make it clear that this is our prenuptial agreement and we will sign on it."


    Qian Meng nodded. "I would expect nothing less of you. Forward the signed prenup after you have drawn it up. I''ll, of course, share the executed document with you after consulting my lawyer."


    "Fair," he admitted. "Ah, I''m equally controlling in my personal life. I like things done in my way and I don''t intend our relationship to be any different."


    Qian Meng smirked. "I know just how controlling you are. But I am the same. Therefore, we are drawing this up, right?"


    "Well, I accept complete compliance." He shrugged.


    She raised her eyebrows at him. "Compliance? Am I signing to be your wife or your lap dog? Be careful of the words you choose."


    "You''re signing on to be my business partner and wife. And we need to stick to the contract for any partnership to be successful."


    The businessperson side of her agreed, but the rebel in her wanted to fight a little more.


    "On that note, I have some basic expectations. First of all, I will require you to upgrade your wardrobe. I know you are formal wear for events, but you''re going to need nicer clothes for casual wear. These t-shirts and sweatshirts aren''t going to cut it." She gave his outfit a once over.


    "You''re stuck up about clothes. I''m going to ignore the fact that you just insulted my wardrobe. And how much of an upgrade are we talking about?" He didn''t appreciate her comments about his clothes.


    "I know you are lazy and like your comfort, but that doesn''t mean you wear the same clothes every day. You can wear what you want at home, but when you go to the office or go out with me, you need to wear nice clothes."


    "I find the clothes fashionable men wear uncomfortable and stuffy," he grumbled.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "That''s what happens when you buy machine-made clothes. I''ll get some tailored clothes for you according to the materials you like feeling against your skin." And he had no style, so she could just give him any style that suited him.

 Chapter 109: Make or Break A Relationship

    "And I''ll need to coordinate clothes every morning?" He had a lot to whine about, it seemed. They hadn''t even started laying out all the conditions.


    "God, I''ll be the Fifties housewife and choose your clothes, okay?"


    "And where do I get these clothes?" he asked.


    "I''ll accompany you to my tailor and help you select materials and styles. While we are talking about your appearance¡­ let''s discuss your hair."


    "My hair?" Mo Qingchen asked, unconsciously reaching up to touch the mess on his head.


    "Yes, you have gorgeous hair. Give me the contact information and reference to the place where you get your customized haircare products from." She was so serious that Mo Qingchen thought she was joking for a second.


    And then he burst out into laughter. "Throwing away your own brand for better hair? I like that. I''ll book an appointment for you. They send over products according to the results of the tests."


    Mo Qingchen didn''t particularly like the thought of having to dress up every day, but it seemed a small price to pay for the gains from the arrangement. So, he decided to brush it off without any complaint.


    "I have a condition to add to that. I put great emphasis on overall fitness. I don''t expect you to have the body of an Olympic athlete but fitness is important to me. Especially self-defense and the ability to run from bad situations." He gave her a pointed look.


    She laughed. "Well, I''ll join a self-defense class when I can."


    Mo Qingchen licked his bottom lip and Qian Meng had to stop herself from staring.


    "I''m pleasantly surprised that we are doing so well. I was expecting us to be at each other''s throats already," he commented off-handedly.


    "It''s because neither of us has made any outrageous demands yet. You have to give a little to gain a lot."


    "Okay, shall we continue?" he asked. She beckoned him on. "We''ve already discussed this but we will be required to attend any events that the other needs asks them to. That is the main reason I am doing this, so I won''t be lenient on this."


    "So, when you request my company, you expect me to be there?" she asked. She knew Mo Qingchen was a controlling person and he was serious when he said that he intended there to be full disclosure and control in the agreement. "Okay," she answered.


    "Great. That being said, we will always let one another know in advance about our social outings and events."


    "Add in letting one another know our general whereabouts to keep up appearances," Qian Meng added helpfully.


    He stopped and thought for a bit. "I am wondering if we should think about talking financial division in the marriage," he broached the topic cautiously.


    "It''s important. Money makes and breaks relationships," she quipped. "Shall I propose something?"


    "Please," he coaxed. He was drawing a blank on this front.


    "We should open a joint bank account and put in a set amount of money each month for household expenses." She thought for a bit. "I know you don''t need my help in paying bills, but in a partnership, we need to be held accountable, so let''s go the normal way and split all general costs half-and-half."


    Mo Qingchen quickly typed that out. "What will you set the amount as?" he asked.


    "Well, I don''t have a house where I stay and you do. If we stay together in this house, you will know better how much money it takes to run it," she commented.


    "Well, almost everything is solar-powered and my cars are EVs, so I have barely any expenses. But for safety measures and any insurance and policies we want to buy, I think fifteen thousand dollars set aside for general use will take us a long way."


    "Seven and a half thousand dollars each, right? We''ll each hold a debit card for the account, of course. And personal expenses for clothes, business dinners, and personal welfare items will be on our own money." His consent was evident from how quickly he typed that out.


    "As for gifts, that is on whoever buys it. Are we on the same page?"


    "Absolutely." He tapped his finger on the desk. "Staying on the finances, we have a meeting a week to re-evaluate our mutual financial goals."


    Qian Meng frowned. "Use the same session to consult about our own business decisions and growth."


    "Like evaluating a report card?" Mo Qingchen retorted, beyond amused.


    "Yes. Gives us plenty of leeways to bicker and tease one another. We can''t forget the roots of our relationship just because we marry, can we now?"


    Mo Qingchen shook his head at her absurdity. But that image of them teasing one another and clawing at one another was a pleasant one.


    "I''ll give you more opportunities for that, then. To keep up appearances of how in love we are, we''ll have lunch and dinner together. We''ll take out time from our busy day to grab lunch together and have dinner every night in the dining room."


    "Are you whipping me into shape for family life? What is this, Pavlov''s experiment?" she groaned. "I feel like a teenager being scolded by my parent."


    "You''ve lived alone for so long that you forgot how to take care of yourself. Food is crucial for your health. Our arrangement can only be successful if both of us are physically and mentally healthy and live very long lives."


    Qian Meng tilted her head to the side. "If I didn''t know better, I would think you were a hopeless romantic." Mo Qingchen rolled his eyes. "Did you just roll your eyes at me?" She gasped.


    "You''re rubbing off on me in a bad way," he commented tightly.


    "Glad to be of service. Now, we need to figure out the bigger stuff."


    "Bigger stuff¡­ the wedding. My mother would like a grand wedding because it will speak about our love for one another. What are your thoughts on this?"

 Chapter 110: Rolling in the Sheets With Her

    "Sounds like an inconvenience," she frowned. Having a big wedding wasn''t a deal-breaker, but she just didn''t like the stress and drama that came with planning a wedding. "It''s more opportunity for people to speak. I don''t have the time to plan a wedding, either."


    "I imagine if we add up every person we know and would have to invite, we''d have a huge list of guests. We should make peace with my mother and make it legal at the Civil Bureau Office. What say you?" Mo Qingchen made a good point.


    The first rule to remaining rich was to earn like the rich but spend as little as humanly possible.


    "You have my seal of approval. We''ll have a short engagement. Let''s get this over with, shall we?" she smiled sweetly.


    "People need to believe we are in love," Mo Qingchen said suddenly. "At least that is what my family needs to believe. So¡­"


    "It''s better to keep the act on." She smirked. "People already think we look like a couple, so I don''t think that will be a problem." Mo Qingchen looked confused, so she whipped out her phone and showed him the hashtags and shippers who posted pictures of them and made edits.


    "This looks intrusive. Is it legal?" he asked with a hint of confusion.


    "Yes, it is legal. This will help us spin a story. Use everything that should be against us to our advantage." Qian Meng''s eyes gleamed with intelligence.


    "Cunning shark," Mo Qingchen grumbled. "Use your trash novel reading brain to come up with a great story," he urged her.


    She thought about it for a moment, revolving in her chair and looking at the ceiling for a while. She finally banged her hands on the desk and started to speak, "We were dating secretly for a while and at the time we appeared on Su Jin''s show. Because of the enmity between our families, we kept it a secret. The few months together showed us that we can''t live without one another and we want to get married."


    Mo Qingchen looked at her with disgust. "No one will believe that."


    Yun Qian Meng laughed. "People believe what they want to believe. They don''t care about the truth. They only see what we will show them. Just imagine how these enemies turned lovers stories will affect our sales." She waggled her brows.


    "Using your marriage for profit? So like you." He sounded proud.


    "That''s why you are marrying me." She winked at him.


    "So, everyone in our life is going to believe that we''re legitimately in love. Even the people who work for us?" It would be hard to convince them. "Apart from my secretary, nobody would be bothered. What about you?"


    Qian Meng shrugged. "I bought a pair of binoculars to keep an eye on you. I''ve done a lot of things recently that will make Li Min shrug off the whole thing. Moreover, she doesn''t really care about what happens to me as long as she gets her salary."


    "That''s every employee ever," Mo Qingchen agreed. "It''s the family situation that bothers me," He admitted truthfully. "Mine won''t be a problem, I trust you. But yours¡­" He paused. "If you don''t want to tell them, it''s okay. But I can handle that situation myself."


    She smiled, feeling a little overwhelmed. "As soon as we get the prenuptial agreement sorted out and signed, we''ll tell our families."


    He hummed. "I understand. We will wait until this scandal has blown over and then get married. In that time frame, we have to get new clothes, the haircare products, and bank account settled."


    "This went over very smoothly. There has to be a catch," she squinted at him in suspicion.


    He hesitated for a moment before looking at her face carefully. "If we do this, I expect you to be monogamous to me, Qian Meng."


    "Monogamous as in¡­ sex?" her pitch was instantly higher than usual.


    "Yes. Although ours is not a conventional marriage, I insist on this. You are not to engage in any sexual activities outside our marriage."


    Qian Meng sat there for a while, thinking about it while Mo Qingchen looked at her, waiting patiently.


    It wasn''t like she was sexually active, to begin with. So the fact that he didn''t want her to sleep with other people didn''t affect her. However, she couldn''t wrap her head around his reasoning.


    Why did he care?


    She wasn''t sure but Mo Qingchen must have an active sex life. It wasn''t fair for her to accept the term if he wasn''t going to do the same.


    "Does that sound fair to you? We''re not actually together, but you get to go around while I am cut off sexually?" she laughed humorlessly.


    He gave an understanding nod. "I am not a promiscuous man but I am a sexual man. I''ll be monogamous, too."


    "What a sacrifice!" she taunted.


    "I am not giving up sex," he stated simply, still looking at her. She furrowed her brow as she looked at him.


    He remained stoic and waited for her to figure out his meaning.


    ''He wants us to be monogamous, but he won''t give up sex? That doesn''t make sense. If he wasn''t going to have sex outside his marriage then how¡ª''


    She stopped.


    Her eyes widened.


    "Oh," she said in understanding. Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "You want us to¡­?" She gestured between the two of them.


    "Yes," he said with a small nod.


    "Mr. Mo, I know we kissed and it was amazing, but I didn''t think you are already thinking of rolling in the sheets with me."


    At least, she knew that he found her attractive.


    ''Of course, he finds me attractive. He almost devoured me a few days ago.''


    "You''re one of the most attractive women on the planet. I would be honored to have you as my sole partner," he added with a smirk.


    "Thank you," she said, rolling her eyes. This changed everything. "You really need to work on your delivery, though."

 Chapter 111: Thinking of Running Away

    But she was mildly flattered.


    "Well, you''re one of the most attractive men on the planet, so I understand." She rolled her tongue around her mouth thinking how to say it. "We will take it slow. You can''t expect me to jump into your bed on the night of our wedding."


    He raised a brow in challenge. "I could persuade you to," he said smugly.


    "Just because we are not getting married for conventional reasons doesn''t mean we can''t enjoy each other in some aspects."


    Mo Qingchen was impressed.


    "Final question: what do we do if one or both of us want to separate?" Qian Meng asked. Mo Qingchen grimaced.


    "You''re talking about escaping before we''ve even started," he muttered.


    "We should always cover our bases," Qian Meng shrugged.


    Mo Qingchen clucked his tongue. "As this is a life-long partnership we are agreeing to, we need to make sure the other is well compensated for breaking the contract."


    Qian Meng looked at him deviously. "What will you give me if you tap out?"


    "What do you want?" he asked.


    "You''ll give me whatever I want?" she asked, surprised.


    "Yes, I took the first step, so I should show my commitment." His words were strong and it gave her courage.


    "This house," she said simply.


    He was taken aback. "This house? Why, though?"


    "I like it. I always dreamt of something like this. If I ever had a place to call home, it would be something like this. And I like it¡­ Here, I feel¡­ good."


    It was a feeling she had when she laid her eyes on it. It was the feeling she had as she walked through the rooms and entered his office.


    "Then you can have if I ask for a separation. And what are you willing to give to me?" he asked curiously.


    "I''ll let you have the choice. Reciprocation is the key to a successful relationship." She placed her elbows on the table and then rested her chin on the back of her hand.


    Wickedness swept over him and Qian Meng felt her smile drop.


    "Remember the piece of land you bought in the rural area?" he smiled a devious smile.


    "Not fair! I only asked for this house and you asked for something so precious!" She was affronted.


    "You were the one who gave asked me what I wanted. That is what I want," he retorted, utterly pleased with himself.


    A promise was a promise. "Fine," she said begrudgingly. "But I''ll sell it to you at the price I had bought it and not give it to you for free."


    Mo Qingchen nodded vehemently. "Sure. If it makes you sleep better at night. Remember not to think of divorcing me." He chuckled.


    "That piece of land is precious. You''re evil, Mo Qingchen," she groaned.


    "Don''t pout," he replied. "Maybe I should give you a moment to think things through. Think about everything that you want to add to the prenup. Small additions can be made later, as well. I''ll step outside and let you deliberate." He stood up with the intention of doing the same.


    "I don''t need a minute to decide." That provoked a look of surprise. "But I would like to go outside. Mind if I joined you?"


    He shrugged. "Not at all," he said. He let her to the wooden panel on one of the walls and opened it. From there, she could clearly see the outside. The yard was massive and the blue water threw patterns on the wall of the house. In the distance, the trees towered over the stretch of flowerbed.


    "It''s beautiful." She was breathless.


    "Thank you," he answered as he flicked the switch that dimmed the pool lights. A soft light surrounded the patio, making the area look prettier.


    As they walked over to the seats, she continued to take in the beauty of it all. This would be her house.


    Mo Qingchen sat down on one of the chairs and patted on the one beside him, urging her to sit down. She took it willingly and stretched her leg out in front of her.


    "I will draw up the prenuptial contract in three days. I''ll give it to you to read over and make any changes and revisions you want to be made. Once we both sign the agreement, the next step would be telling people."


    He broke the silence, but she didn''t mind. She turned her head to the side and watched him soak in the beauty of this place like her. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. He ran his free hand through his hair and looked at the backyard, a faraway look haunting his eyes.


    Qian Meng liked the way he clenched and unclenched his jaw unconsciously. In short, he looked delicious.


    The perfection was disrupted when her phone rang, piercing through the atmosphere. It was Li Min.


    "Tell me," Qian Meng responded impatiently.


    "The video is trending," she whispered, panic-ridden.


    "How bad is it?" She pressed her lips together.


    "Very bad," she whispered. "They aren''t concentrating on the main parts."


    Qian Meng didn''t panic. "I understand," she said promptly. "Rest now. You don''t need to worry about this."


    Li Min would have begged to differ. The call was cut and Qian Meng suddenly remembered what her life really looked like.


    "What is it?" Mo Qingchen asked.


    "The video of Mo Yize and I destroying the car is trending." She looked through social media, and indeed the reaction was bad. "Mo Yize''s name has not been mentioned. I won''t spill, don''t worry," Qian Meng assured. Mo Qingchen frowned.


    "You know what is not what I am concerned about." He took her phone and scrolled through the comments. His eyes burned with anger and he looked like he was about to murder someone.


    "This¡­ Fuck!" he yelled.


    Qian Meng startled. "What''s wrong?" He was scrolling through her phone, this time through more and more comments.


    "They''re threatening you," he growled.


    "Don''t get your boxers in a twist. It''s all part of the plan," she told him.

 Chapter 112: Hubby, Its Me!

    "Why do you need to see these things for your plan to work? Why do you have to suffer for Bai Ye Qing and his faults?" His questions made sense.


    She smiled softly. "Are you worried about me right now?" she asked.


    "Shouldn''t I be?" he seethed. "They threatened your life." He shook his head. "This is why you didn''t go back to the hotel, didn''t you? Everyone knows where you live and the hotel''s staff can''t even protect your privacy, so you needed to escape."


    He wanted to punch something. He wanted to kill someone; preferably Bai Ye Qing.


    "You''re staying here tonight," he told her. He had left no space for argument. "Before you ask about space, you know well that I have enough rooms to keep you here. And don''t make excuses. You''ll move in eventually, why not get comfortable now."


    His voice grew softer with every word he said.


    She nodded her head, more to appease him than anything. Honestly, she didn''t want to go back to the hotel either. Mo Qingchen''s invite couldn''t have come at a better time.


    "Okay. I''ll stay with you. I''ll use you for all you are worth. Happy?" She hoped he was.


    "I am far from happy. I am fuming." And he couldn''t do a thing about it.


    "Go ahead. Prepare for me."


    Mo Qingchen nodded.


    "Let''s go in. It''s going to get chilly really soon," Mo Qingchen glanced at the clothes she was wearing and a flash of worry could be seen in his eyes.


    Yun Qian Meng didn''t see it, but she nodded. She stood up and arched her back. It had been a long day and she was going to get some sleep to take the edge off.


    Xiong Hua was roaming just packing up when Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng found her.


    "Set up the guest room for Miss Yun," he ordered.


    "Sorry for bothering you so late," Qian Meng added, trying to ease the command. She almost elbowed Mo Qingchen for being rude.


    "I''m used to it, Miss Yun," Xiong Hua retorted with the hint of a smile and scurried away.


    "Do you have extra clothes to change into?" Mo Qingchen asked. He didn''t look worried, though.


    "I have clothes to wear to the office tomorrow, but not nightwear. Give me some of your clothes," she teased. Mo Qingchen leveled her with a glare. "What? Now that we are a couple, we can share our underwear, can''t we?"


    The conversation from weeks ago came back to him and he shook his head in disbelief. He hadn''t thought it would actually happen at that point in time.


    "You''ll have to go without the underwear. I can''t produce granny panties for you, but I could give you my t-shirt and sweatpants." He shrugged.


    Baggy and well-worn clothes? Sign her up. She liked a comfortable sleep.


    "Thank you. I''d like a freshly laundered pair." She gave him a sweet smile. Mo Qingchen left her to her own devices and went to his room. Xiong Hua was back sooner than expected.


    "Miss Yun, your room is ready. Do you need anything else?" she asked.


    Qian Meng thought for a minute. "Can you keep the front door open for me? I need to grab my clothes from my car."


    Xiong Hua bowed and led her out.


    The night was setting in and it was getting chillier. Qian Meng rubbed her arms and scurried down the driveway and to her car. She unlocked it quickly and bent over to pick her clothes up from the backseat.


    Qian Meng heard someone clearing their throat and pulled out of the car with her clothes bag in her hand.


    She quirked her brow at the burly man. "May I help you?" she asked, not sure what this was about.


    "You can''t park here, Miss." The guy was gruff and looked perpetually angry.


    "My car broke down," she explained. She could see he was unconvinced. "Could you call Mo Qingchen?" she sighed.


    The man, who Qian Meng knew by then was security, looked at her strangely. But he did call Mo Qingchen.


    "Yes?" Qian Meng could hear Mo Qingchen''s irritation. She smiled surreptitiously and locked her car.


    "There''s a strange woman parked outside the house. What should I do with her?"


    Qian Meng gasped and then broke out into a chuckle.


    "A strange woman?" Mo Qingchen asked, confused.


    "Hubby, it''s me!" Qian Meng yelled. There was silence all over. She heard him grumble but couldn''t make the words out.


    "Let her in¡­" he said finally.


    The security guard hesitated for a minute before letting her go. Qian Meng mock-glared at the man and sprinted back into the house, now thoroughly cold.


    Xiong Hua had the door open so she slipped in and shuddered. The heated room was a pleasant change.


    "Miss Yun, do you want something warm to drink?" she asked. "Mr. Mo will probably eat in his office. Do you want your food in the room, as well?" she asked.


    Qian Meng nodded. "I don''t think I can eat much, though," she said apologetically.


    Mo Qingchen finally found them. "Here, take it." He pushed the clothes into her hand. "Freshly laundered," he assured when he saw her expression.


    "Thank you," she sang.


    "Catch some sleep. You''ll have another long day tomorrow." With that, they separated.


    Qian Meng looked around the room with satisfaction. The same black and wood theme continued into the room. The bed was King size, but it was the covers that made her smile. Black silk.


    She ran her hand over the material and giggled.


    She plopped down on the bed and sucked in a deep breath.


    Something had inadvertently shifted in her life. And she was satisfied.


    She picked up the grey t-shirt and sweatpants and walked into the bathroom. A steaming shower later, she donned on the clothes on her moisturized body and looked at herself in the mirror. Just the t-shirt alone was an inch above her knee and she had to roll those sweatpants so that the hem didn''t make her trip.


    She was out like a light the minute her head hit the bed. That night, she did not dream.

 Chapter 113: Mo Qingchen is Missing

    Her phone was blowing up early the next morning. Mostly, it was Li Min sending her links to all the new articles that had come up. The reputation and risk analysis had been drawn up because share prices were plummeting and Qian Meng looked at all the information without flinching.


    The titles she had given out to fan the flames and strengthen the arguments made by Bai Ye Qing''s side had been published. At least, the first segment of them were. The next two groups of headlines and content would go out in the next few days. And she was looking forward to it.


    [24-year-old Billionaire Tries to Kill the Man She is Engaged To]


    [Venus Stock Prices Plummet a Record High Since Going Public]


    [Arrest Warrant Issued for Venus CEO Yun Qian Meng]


    She dialed Li Min''s number.


    "Good morning, Boss. Have you gone through the articles?" her assistant asked.


    "I have. You did a good job with the articles. Did you write out the juicy quotations? The part about Bai Ye Qing following me to Paris was fun to read," she commented as she did her hair.


    "Yes, I left small clues here and there in the articles for the detectives on the internet to munch on after more information comes out," Li Min replied, satisfied with herself.


    "I already gave you a vacation, so you''ll just have to suck it up and work a few more days of long hours." Qian Meng wasn''t apologetic, really. She was having a much worse time with the country bashing her for almost killing someone out of spite. "How are sales at the outlet?" she asked offhandedly.


    "Sales at outlets are a little low, but online hits to the website are going off the roof. Lots of the products are in carts," Li Min informed.


    "What about sales?" Qian Meng enquired. Li Min was silent for a second.


    "They remain the same as of now. Do you foresee a spike in sales?" she asked enthusiastically.


    "I am not sure," Qian Meng was humble. Of course, she knew what was going to happen. Right now, women were looking at the video and either feeling disgusted by the act or envying how she had done as she wished. That was why people were curious. They were going to the website to check out the things and they liked the products.


    But then, they knew if people got wind of increasing sales, it wouldn''t look good, so they were letting the products in their cart marinate.


    "There is another thing I want to inform you," Li Min started hesitantly. "A lot of people are buying into the stock because prices have gone down. But that was expected." She paused.


    "What is the catch?" Qian Meng asked.


    "The highest density sales were made by people closely associated with Mrs. Yun."


    "Understood," Qian Meng said immediately. "Keep track of the buyers and make a list of the ones you think are associated with Jiang Xin. Keep the information aside. I am sure a financial newspaper will write an article on the number of people buying into the company. Give it a day for it to come out and track the reporters who look interested." She didn''t plan on revealing Jiang Xin''s plot or tipping the prosecution off about it, but she wanted to have something as leverage against the woman.


    Qian Meng was sure that Jiang Xin had convinced Chen Yue to legally pursue the matter for the purpose of buying more shares into Venus.


    Anyone with good sense would know Venus was worth a lot, but it was only because Yun Qian Meng was at the helm of the company. If Jiang Xin planned on overthrowing her, it would do her little good.


    "Anything else?" she questioned.


    "Nothing for now. Li Jun is sure that the police will call for you today. He''ll be accompanying you to the station. If you would give me Miss Mo Yize''s number, I would inform her as well."


    There was silence.


    "No need. Li Jun has her number already. He''ll talk to her. You take some rest. We have a hectic day ahead of us." She groaned after she hung the phone up.


    Dressed in her tan suit, she looked prim and proper, nothing like the psychotic vixen the world was making her out to be.


    She walked to the living room and found it empty. Her car was out of order, so she needed a lift to her office. With no one in sight, Qian Meng could only call Mo Qingchen.


    He was no doubt busy with work and probably would work for a few more days from home. But she found herself hoping to go to the office together.


    Despite what they discussed the night before, she still got the impression that he had boundaries against showing off in front of people.


    His mood swings and mixed signals were out of control and she would feel dizzy soon enough.


    Qian Meng glanced at the time and frowned. She called again but he still didn''t pick up. That was odd.


    If something had come up, he would surely have cut the call and texted her saying he was busy.


    Now, Qian Meng remembered that he hadn''t looked good the night before. Maybe he overslept. At least, she hoped that was the case and that he wasn''t balking or avoiding her.


    She spotted Xiong Hua. "Miss Yun, how can I be of assistance?" she asked, walking towards Qian Meng.


    "Oh, you''re here." She looked back at the hallways and then to the woman. "Have you heard from Mo Qingchen this morning? I can''t get a hold of him on the phone."


    "I am afraid I have not," she paused. "He hasn''t called me to ask for breakfast, either. Perhaps he had urgent business to tend to?"


    "No," Qian Meng shook her head. "He would have informed me if that was the case." She dialed his number yet again. Nothing. "Can you show me to his room?" she asked politely.

 Chapter 114: Tending to Her Mortal Enemy

    "Yes, of course." She led the way.


    Once they reached the door, Qian Meng knocked.


    And knocked and knocked. Mo Qingchen didn''t even make a sound.


    Where the hell was he? Xiong Hua seemed concerned as well.


    She contacted the security guard, who informed them that Mo Qingchen hadn''t left the house nor had he gone out for his morning run, which was apparently highly unusual for him.


    Qian Meng kept knocking on his door and listening for any sounds from inside the room.


    The guard finally arrived and Qian Meng recognized him as the man from last night who had stopped her. "Do you have a key to open the room?" The guard nodded, looking apprehensive.


    "If he''s hurt, it''s your responsibility to protect him. So, open the door." Qian Meng was impatient. Her glib tongue got her out of all sorts of situations.


    Just the thought of Mo Qingchen being hurt panicked her far more than it rationally should have, but in that moment, she only wanted to see him.


    "Open it," she demanded firmly.


    Reluctantly, the guard did as Qian Meng asked. Once the door was open, she barrelled past him. The room was a little living area with a couch and an entertainment table. The door on the far right led to what she assumed was Mo Qingchen''s bedroom.


    As Qian Meng reached the doorknob, the guard stopped her.


    "I''ll take care of this," he said dismissively. His arm blocked Qian Meng''s way. He opened the door to the bedroom, leaving her behind with Xiong Hua.


    She waited for what seemed like hours before she could take it no longer. She tried not to run as she made it inside the room. Her heart was racing out of her chest and her mind floated to the worst scenarios.


    It took her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dark room. The guard was on bended knees, huddled over Mo Qingchen, who was lying on the floor near the bathroom.


    There was no thought to her actions. She was by his side instantly.


    "Oh my god!" she yelled, her eyes prickling with heat.


    The guard didn''t respond. He was checking Mo Qingchen''s vitals. "He''s breathing," he said calmly.


    Qian Meng exhaled deeply and moved in closer. She wanted to see his face. He looked so pale and clammy. Her fingers brushed the messy black hair off his forehead.


    His skin was scorching. "He''s burning up!" she yelled yet again, unable to control her volume. She didn''t panic often, but when she did, she screamed every word.


    "I need help getting him to bed. Please get Xiong Hua," the guard ordered militantly.


    "XIONG HUA!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, not wanting to leave Mo Qingchen''s side.


    The guard glared at her. Mo Qingchen stirred. Xiong Hua was beside them in a flash. The woman seemed to have supernatural powers.


    After a bit of struggle, the three of them managed to get Mo Qingchen into bed. He was dead weight and it didn''t sit well with Qian Meng.


    "I''ll call the doctor," the older woman announced before disappearing.


    Qian Meng fluffed the pillows beneath Mo Qingchen''s head and settled him beneath the blanket. Then she hopped into the bed so that she was sitting beside him. A light sheen of sweat covered his brows and she reached out and placed her palm on his cheek.


    On fire.


    Mo Qingchen started to murmur lightly, his eyes still tightly closed. She couldn''t understand a word he was saying.


    "Rest," she whispered, brushing her fingers along the side of his face.


    But he wasn''t listening. His body stirred in agitation. "Sorry," he mumbled over and over again. Not much of his other words were coherent.


    "It''s alright," she hushed him soothingly. But he grew more agitated. She hadn''t even realized the guard was still standing in the room until the man cleared his throat behind her.


    "I''ll be back," he said as though Qian Meng cared. She nodded with taking her eyes off Mo Qingchen.


    Thank god for Xiong Hua. She rolled in a small cart of supplies. Qian Meng had wanted to cool his burning skin but was unwilling to leave his side.


    Qian Meng took his temperature and found it to be frightfully high. Somehow, with the help of Xiong Hua, she managed to feed him some medicine and then prepare a cold compress.


    The older woman excused herself politely only after Qian Meng promised to call her if she needed anything. It was her first time taking care of an ill person, but she found herself dedicated to the task.


    Once Xiong Hua left, Qian Meng looked down at the man.


    Her mortal enemy.


    The Dragon.


    The snob.


    As he laid there, he looked like none of those. His angelic face was deceptive. He concealed a wicked temper and a sort of pain that he pushed back.


    She wrung out the hand towel over the basin of water and gently placed it against his forehead. After a few minutes, his eyes fluttered open.


    He struggled to focus on her, his long lashes blinking rapidly. Qian Meng smiled down at him, relieved to see his eyes opening.


    "Qian Meng," he said her name as though it were his favorite word. He was definitely delirious with fever.


    "You scared me," she confessed, her tone warm with repercussion. She still kept cooling his skin with the compress. "You work too hard and don''t get enough rest."


    His eyes were half glazed over and staring at her face as she spoke.


    "You died," he said, still staring.


    She shook her head. "No, I am very much alive." And she was glad that was the case.


    "No, I was at the funeral." Qian Meng''s eyes flashed with shock. He''s gone mad. "And I kissed you¡­ because¡­" he trailed off.


    "I kissed you," she contradicted. It was all a technicality.


    His eyes flickered to her lips. "Why must you be so beautiful?" The sincerity in his voice took her by surprise.

 Chapter 115: Thrill of a Secret Romance

    "Why must you be so delirious?" she chuckled as she lifted the towel from his forehead and gently wiped the side of his face and neck. His eyes closed for a few moments before they opened and searched for her.


    "You must marry me," he commanded as firmly as he could in his current state.


    "Yes, we talked about this¡­" she reminded him.


    "Miss Yun, the doctor is on his way," Xiong Hua materialized beside her, scaring her half to death.


    "Good!" she responded. Mo Qingchen had fallen back to sleep. He looked much more peaceful than before.


    Her phone rang a couple of times before Xiong Hua turned to Qian Meng with a stern expression.


    "Miss Yun, you have obligations. Please go to the office and finish work. I''ll take care of Mr. Mo and inform you of the progress." The offer was tempting.


    Looking down at the messages on her phone, she had to follow it.


    "Okay, I''ll leave my number with you. Please tell me when the doctor arrives and what he says." She knew the staff would take good care of Mo Qingchen.


    And then she remembered why she had been calling Mo Qingchen in the first place. "They don''t let ride-hailing cabs into the community, do you know how I can get out?"


    With Mo Qingchen unconscious, she couldn''t just ask for the keys to his car. That seemed rude.


    Xiong Hua frowned. "I''m not sure, ma''am. I don''t think it is safe for you to take a cab with the current situation, either." So, the staff knew who she was.


    Qian Meng sighed. "I''ll call Li Min to pick me up," she groaned. That would take another couple of hours in the least.


    "Mr. Mo wouldn''t mind if you took his car for the day." The woman spoke meekly. Qian Meng raised her brow.


    "He might throw a fit if I took it without his consent, but I''ll be back before dark, so if you don''t tell him, he won''t find out."


    The conspiracy was in place, so Xiong Hua unashamedly brought the car keys over and gave it to Qian Meng.


    "I won''t get into an accident, I promise," Qian Meng winked. She went on her merry way, traversing through traffic with the music blaring. There was a different sort of satisfaction driving Mo Qingchen''s car.


    At the entrance to the private car parking to her company building, the guard stopped her. He hadn''t seen her, so she rolled the window and peered out.


    "Miss Yun. What happened to your car?" the elderly gentleman asked.


    She gave him a polite smile. "It broke down." The conversation was short-lived and Qian Meng parked in her designated spot before going into her office.


    The media people lounging outside her building didn''t catch wind of her entering because they didn''t see her car. All this while, she had strutted in driving Mo Qingchen''s car.


    She stepped into the office and the eyes on her were many. Even her employees avoided her just a little. She paid them no attention as she boarded the elevator and scrolled through her phone to look at the comments on social media.


    Ugly and vile, of course.


    "Did the police call on me as of yet?" she asked.


    Li Min raised her head, surprised. "How did you get in without alerting the media?" she asked, astounded.


    "I brought another car," she shrugged.


    "And you didn''t even get out of your hotel¡­" Li Min trailed off. Qian Meng shrugged.


    "I guess I turned into a ninja. What can I say?" She didn''t know why she hid it, but it felt sneaky of her to do so. It would be more explosive when Mo Qingchen and she walked hand in hand in front of others. Nothing was more thrilling than a secret romance for the gossiping people of the world.


    "Yes, the police couldn''t reach you at the hotel so they called me. I''ve informed Li Jun, he will be arriving at the police station when you tell him to," she announced.


    "Okay, I''ll just go through the meetings I have scheduled until twelve-thirty in the afternoon. Cancel the rest of the meetings and work for today."


    Li Min blinked. "The questioning at the station won''t take more than an hour, though?" It came out more as a question than anything.


    "I know. I have something going on today," she admitted softly. "I''ll make my statement and then return."


    She was about to go into her room before she paused and turned to look at Li Min again. "Will you be surprised if I get married?" she asked.


    Li Min arched her brow. "Boss, it depends on who you are marrying," she said hesitantly. "If it is a money-grabber or Bai Ye Qing, I will probably kidnap you and keep you confined until I can put some sense into you."


    A small smile played on Qian Meng''s lips. "You would risk going to jail to save me from a bad marriage?" she asked, entertained.


    Li Min scoffed. "I don''t want to have more work on my hands when you get divorced, ma''am." She mulled over something. "At least sign a prenuptial agreement that says they will get nothing during the marriage except for a monthly pocket money of five-thousand dollars or something."


    Qian Meng burst into laughter. "No one would marry me with that little a temptation," she confessed.


    Li Min shrugged. "You have a dreadful temper, but a man who loves you wouldn''t be looking at the money he got. Maybe he would like your temper, too." She smirked.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "I might just get married to spite you."


    "As long as you give me a bonus and a vacation, I won''t say no." The smile on Li Min''s face imitated that of the Chesire Cat.


    "Great. I''ll be out in five minutes. Tell the executives that everything will go according to schedule for the first half." She nodded and then headed in. After carefully placing her things on her desk, she ventured out.

 Chapter 116: Not the Answer They Wanted

    [Warning: You will have explicit sexual content up ahead.]


    Mo Yize reached over and scrubbed at the scuff mark that had appeared on the toe of her new sneakers. It wasn''t a big deal but she just needed to show her mother how irritated she was with the whole situation.


    "Are you listening to me?" Li Li Hua, her mother said. Her eyes were filled with thinly veiled rage.


    "What do you want me to say? He cheated on me, so I trashed his car," she explained sheepishly.


    "Were you in an exclusive relationship with him?" her mother asked through gritted teeth.


    Mo Yize shrugged. "I was trying to. He seemed like a good guy who cared about me. So, I was going exclusive with him for a couple of months." She paused. "No one knows I was at the scene, either."


    "That is not the point, Yize. You are acting out again. What is the cause? Is it because you want my attention?" she asked.


    Ah yes. Normally when she found herself hauled into her mother''s study, it was because she had done something that warranted her mother''s need to understand the motivation behind Mo Yize''s actions.


    That was basically her mother in a nutshell: always trying to understand and pick at people''s brains. Well, it had all started when Li Li Hua kept getting busy and showering all her warmth on the two elder brothers: the apples of her eyes.


    Mo Yize, the out-of-control little girl of the family was left to her own devices. Not even the servants wanted anything to do with her. It was all cool for her, though. She didn''t need her family to grow up.


    Over the years, she spent the majority of her time with the neighbors. Over the summer when she was eleven, she got close to the two brothers who were roughly around the same age as her.


    The eldest loved to scare her. He said that her whole body turned red and he thought it was funny. Stupid eleven-year-old Mo Yize challenged the boy saying that he wouldn''t know that because he couldn''t see her whole body over her clothes.


    Well, from that day forth, Eldest became very forward and interested in finding out if she blushed all over her body.


    Two years later, he found out that she didn''t.


    Adolescent developments were underway in other parts of her body and her budding breast caught the interest of Eldest. While Youngest was busy throwing water balloons at unsuspecting walkers, Eldest and Yize were playing peekaboo with her tits in the maintenance room of their house.


    At first, sneaking around was thrilling. It was a game to evade eyes and open locked doors. But then, once behind closed doors, Eldest stopped looking and started touching.


    Fifteen-year-old Mo Yize hadn''t been satisfied with her birthday present and told Eldest that. They kissed that night. "Someone should make you feel special on your special day," he had said. The same age, they had questions.


    Once she felt the pleasures of being touched in all those taboo places, she craved it. They spent most of their time in the closet in their bedrooms to continue their below the belt explorations.


    On one of those days, her mother opened the door to her bedroom closet to find her lying on her back, legs wide open and Eldest''s finger inserted as deep as it would go. Couple that with her hand wrapped out his dick. It was a thing to behold.


    Li Li Hua was raving mad. Shots were fired and two months later, Eldest''s family had moved out of their neighborhood. They only spoke about the ''incident'' once after that.


    Li Li Hua said that it was Yize''s way of telling her that she was left alone too often and was acting out because she needed to be close to someone. She promised things would be different and that she would spend more time with her daughter.


    It worked for about a month and then her mother became busy with work. She signed up Mo Yize to all sorts of activities in an attempt to keep her occupied.


    Too bad her mother hadn''t realized that those were the best places to get to know men and get invited to parties. Mo Yize met so many people that her social calendar was always full.


    She lost her virginity the very same month at the back of a car with her friend getting finger banged by her boyfriend in the front seat.


    The other times, she pretended to let the boy claim her virtue. They ate that up.


    Sex became like a drug to her. And just like with any other addiction, the more she got, the more she wanted.


    Highschool gossip spread like wildfire, and before long, she wore an invisible label that had her phone ringing off the hook. Her mother was proud, thinking she was the popular girl in school.


    At first, she told herself that she was alienated because the other girls were jealous. Even the friend who had seen her lose her virginity stopped hanging out with her. She said she wasn''t going to stand around and watch Mo Yize self-destruct.


    Yize, though, suspected that her latest crush, who had a crush on Yize was the real reason.


    The guy didn''t have a crush on Yize, he just liked the way she said his name when he made her cum.


    If they had stuck together, Yize would have asked this question: was it her fault that she was willing to do things that other girls weren''t? She knew what she wanted and went for it. She had needs, too.


    Her mother eventually found out again and the conversations began. This time it was his father''s absence that had caused Yize to seek out intimate relationships with the opposite sex to try and fill the void. Apparently, she was scared of being abandoned, so she couldn''t form relationships beyond that of physical gratification.


    What if she just liked having sex?


    But no. That was not an answer her mother thought okay.

 Chapter 117: Doubting Their Sanity

    Hypersexual disorder. That was what they slapped onto her.


    "I don''t need your attention, mother. I am not a child who needs their family''s support."


    "You will go back to therapy," Li Li Hua demanded.


    At therapy, the conversation went something like this:


    "I just enjoy sex!" she exclaimed for the hundredth time.


    "Life is much more fulfilling and enriching when we learn to do things in moderation."


    Yize rolled her eyes. "It''s not like there are consequences to liking sex. In fact, I am healthier because of the workout!"


    "What if you get pregnant?" the counsellor asked.


    "I could get hit by a truck, too," she countered. "For the thousandth time, I use protection. I am on birth-control and I always use condoms."


    "There are other¡ª"


    "Level with me," Mo Yize leaned forward. "Is there anything wrong with a girl who has sex on a regular basis? I know about safe sex and I practice it. And that is not the problem here, is it? I trashed someone''s car after fucking them for a few months."


    "Well, you trashed his car because you didn''t know him well and got duped by him," the counsellor pressed. "Why are you having sex with guys you don''t know that well?"


    "Because I want to?" she queried, even though they both knew she wasn''t questioning her stance.


    "But you can finally see that you can''t satisfy your need for sex without consequences. There are emotional consequences of this and you push away people to do it."


    Yize gritted her teeth. "If this is about female companionship, the last friend I had is now back in my life and in that video with me, trashing the man''s car. Doesn''t that scream female camaraderie to you?"


    "Yes, but you feel no deeper connection to them."


    Mo Yize scoffed. "It is because I felt a deeper connection that I ended up in this situation. The one guy I stay interested in for more than a month chases after other girls like my vagina isn''t enough for them. Guys can''t even handle this and he goes around looking for it elsewhere. Will you still defend what you wanted to say? That I need deeper connections to my sexual partners?" She argued. She would continue to argue until everyone saw her point.


    And the hour droned on until her cellphone rang.


    "Miss Mo, you''ll have to accompany me to the police station." The voice on the other end was Yun Qian Meng''s crony lawyer, Li Jun. She had seen the man before and he looked like a gruff and boring man who had nothing going on in his life other than his career. He wasn''t eye-catching either.


    "Send me the address, I''ll drive there," she said passively.


    She arrived outside the station and saw Yun Qian Meng and the lawyer standing outside. Her eyes paused on the car in front of which they were standing and she stared.


    "Is my brother here?" she asked, her voice high-pitched.


    Qian Meng blinked. "No, he''s not," she said casually without offering any information.


    "Then why is the car here?" she asked, not taking no for an answer.


    "Is that important right now?" Qian Meng replied. Mo Yize sighed.


    "Are we going according to the plan?" she asked, somewhat bored.


    "Yes, the plan is to get away with a fine or a slap in the back," Li Jun interjected. "Please stick to the story and wording I told you."


    "Don''t go into one of those reckless rants," Qian Meng warned.


    "I''ll only say the truth. The bitch needs to go down for what he did to me." She glared at no one in particular.


    Li Jun looked at this woman and controlled his disgust. Another spoiled brat who only thinks about getting her way. Great.


    As long as he makes good money off it.


    "Let''s head inside," he said. "Bai Ye Qing has already given his testimony. I am yet to get my hands on it, but with the video on our hands, we will be able to back our stories," he informed them as they entered the station.


    "Li Jun, come in," one of the officers ushered them in. Qian Meng turned to look at her lawyer, an impressed look evident.


    "Know him from a Pro Bono case," he shrugged.


    "See? They did you good, didn''t they?" Qian Meng felt too self-justified in these things.


    "Yes, they did," Li Jun admitted freely.


    "Are the two of you banging?" Mo Yize hissed. Qian Meng glared at her.


    "Not everyone goes around sucking cocks with people they see every day," she retorted. "Don''t even talk about things that are against his professional ethics. There are laws against it."


    "Hey, I don''t wanna lose because the lawyer is shady."


    Li Jun remained silent throughout this conversation. The girls stopped talking when an officer entered the room.


    The questions about what happened were said and the detective looked rather dissatisfied.


    "I have proof that Mr. Bai was harassing both these women before the incident."


    "Oh?" the detective answered with interest. "You want to say that he harassed them into vandalizing his property?" He looked amused.


    "I am not claiming anything. I have proof." Li Jun pulled out two files and slid them across the table to the detective.


    "Miss Mo had been seeing Bai Ye Qing for a few months. She believed they were in an exclusive relationship. Mr. Bai was cheating on her with multiple people and at the same time pursuing an engagement with Miss Yun." He pointed to the two women. "There is video evidence of Mr. Bai gaslighting Miss Mo when she called him out for his faults. I also have bank transfers and legal documents to show how the gaslighting and toxic relationship not only psychologically harmed Miss Mo but also drained her financially."


    The detective looked up, surprised. "Gaslighting?"


    "As you know, gaslighting is when someone manipulates others by psychological means into believing that they are in the wrong or doubting their sanity." He paused and gave over a file.

 Chapter 118: Watch Him Drown

    "I have accumulated a series of videos taken by people who partied with Miss Mo and Mr. Bai that captured his behavior."


    "And what of the other one?" the detective asked, jerking his chin towards Yun Qian Meng.


    "Miss Yun," Li Jun corrected. "Miss Yun was being pursued by Mr. Bai and we have reason to believe that he was doing so in hopes of getting her money. That is not a crime in itself, but he manipulated Miss Yun''s family into a forced marriage and publicly stalked her."


    "Stalked her?" the guy was laughing now.


    "Don''t laugh at my misery," Qian Meng gritted through her teeth.


    The detective shut up, unnerved by the intensity of Qian Meng''s words. "I''m sorry," he apologized quickly before shaking his head to clear it. "What evidence do you have?" he asked finally.


    "Records of him breaching her privacy and trying to enter her living quarters, following her to Paris and disrupting her business meetings continuously, and publicly proposing to her despite being asked to stay away from her on several occasions."


    Pictures, videos, testimonies from people who had seen him. They were all in the folder. Qian Meng had to give it to Li Jun, he was thorough when spinning his stories.


    But when she saw all the information in front of her, could she say it was a story? All these things had happened to Mo Yize and her. All these things had bothered them and stopped them from resting easily at night.


    Then how was it untrue?


    "So, your clients were psychologically harassed over an extended period of time and acted out to defend themselves and put a stop to the cycle of psychological violence?" the detective asked, finally catching the cue.


    "Yes." Li Jun''s words were absolute. "The FIR states that there was an attempt to murder him, but in reality, you can see from the leaked video that no one was within ten feet of the car except for Miss Mo and Miss Yun. There was no attempt at harming Mr. Bai''s person."


    "Anything to prove the validity of the video?" the detective asked, looking through the screenshots from the video as well.


    Li Jun, prepared as always, pulled out a couple of sheets. The contents declared the video authentic as verified by professionals.


    "You''re a thorough man," the detective stated, impressed.


    "Just doing my job, sir. The legal notice didn''t give me the contact information of Mr. Bai''s lawyer. I would like to look into his credentials and contact information, if you don''t mind," Li Jun gave a charming smile.


    The detective nodded. "It is better if you contact the opposition party. I don''t see much coming out of this for either party if I am honest." He gave a look at Qian Meng but turned away quickly.


    "Thank you for your time." He stood up to go.


    "Ah, officer!" Li Jun called him back. "The media is waiting outside. They''ll probably encounter you for information." He tilted his head to the side.


    "I won''t take any sides and I won''t comment much on an ongoing case," the officer concluded before going out.


    Mo Yize breathed in relief. "You''re amazing!" she said, impressed. "How much do you charge an hour. My dad''s lawyers are too old," she said, flicking her hair over her shoulder.


    Li Jun refused to comment and got up. "Miss Yun, the speculation will begin soon. Did you prepare what you are going to say when you go outside?" Li Jun asked.


    "I didn''t prepare anything, but I know what to say," she admitted slowly.


    "What are you going to say?" Mo Yize asked, perplexed.


    Qian Meng turned to her. "Go out ahead of us. You''ll be unnoticed. No need to get embroiled in this matter. I''ll handle it."


    "I''m not scared," Mo Yize scoffed. "I can face the media just as much as you can!" she exclaimed.


    "It''s not a matter of me being scared of protecting you. I''m doing this to make the narrative stronger. We women need to stand up for one another and hold the people at fault accountable, right?"


    Mo Yize raised her brow. "Is that why you broached the topic of speaking to the media to the officer?" she asked. "Don''t tell me. Fire up the people''s curiosity, challenge their prior perspective and then bombard with the new, more explosive story that makes them forget everything else." She gaped.


    "Absolutely right," Qian Meng chirped. "Now, get going." She pushed Mo Yize forward by the shoulder. "You''ll see a good show in the next few days. Grab some popcorn and see him drown." She winked.


    Mo Yize strolled out, and as Qian Meng had said, the reporters with their microphones and cameras didn''t glance at her twice.


    She slid into the car and drove away.


    Qian Meng sucked in a deep breath. "Li Jun, your face is going to be plastered all over social media and the news. Hope you are happy with how you look," she teased.


    "Can''t change my face, Miss Yun. I sell my professional services, not my face." He was serious.


    They walked out, Qian Meng in front of him and the reporters didn''t dare crowd too near her. The psychotic image of the video had worked well to warn them off angering her.


    "Miss Yun, Miss Yun, why did you do it?" they asked.


    Qian Meng stopped mid-stride and looked the reporter straight in the eye. "I was angry. I was angry because of how he treated women with disrespect, took away their choices, and forced them into doing things they didn''t want to. I am angry because you are asking me to justify my actions. I am angry because I am not allowed to be."


    That stunned people.


    "Could you explain that?" someone shouted?


    "It''s sad that I need to. But I will. There should be a press-release soon."


    "Who was the woman with you? Miss Yun?" They stumbled over one another to get a word from her.

 Chapter 119: Frying His Brain from the Fever

    "You don''t need to know. I won''t pass the blame onto another woman for the fault of a man. It is unbecoming of me to do that." She slid into the car with panache and honked at the reporters who now surrounded it. The revving of the engine forced them to scurry away and Qian Meng was gone. Just like that.


    Li Jun looked at Qian Meng''s shrouded form and remained stoic. The reporters hadn''t turned to him, so he slipped away, barely noticed.


    His cellphone pinged and he saw the information about the other party''s lawyer. He saw the position they were in and laughed out loud.


    Good thing he had connections; this game just got more interesting.


    - - - - -


    She arrived at Mo Qingchen''s house around four in the afternoon. The guard, of course, gave her a stink-eye, but Qian Meng ignored that as she drove the car back into the garage.


    Xiong Hua greeted her into the house.


    "Miss Yun, I''m sure you haven''t had lunch yet. I have a portion set aside for you," she said. The sweet woman. One could see that she had been trained well to take orders and follow protocol even when no one was around to see what she was doing.


    "I''ll just check up on Mo Qingchen before I eat," Qian Meng replied shortly before venturing towards his room. She washed her hand thoroughly before glancing at his sleeping form.


    She returned to the dining area within fifteen minutes, curious to get answers. As the plate of food was placed in front of her, Qian Meng smiled.


    "Do you mind sitting with me?" she asked sweetly. The older woman looked hesitant but seeing the look on Qian Meng''s face, sat down across from her. "Thank you."


    She ate in silence until she thought enough time had passed to ask questions.


    "What did the doctor say?" she asked finally, ridding herself of the image of politeness.


    Xiong Hua hid her smile behind her palm and cared to look surprised by the question. "The doctor examined him and told us that the high temperature was brought on by several factors, stress, and exhaustion being the most dominant."


    It hadn''t helped that he had followed her in the rain, Qian Meng added in her head.


    "And the doctor is aware that Mo Qingchen works long hours?" Qian Meng pressed.


    Xiong Hua nodded. "Mr. Mo has a hard time sleeping and skips breakfast."


    "And he grumbles about me skipping meals," she scoffed. "Pot calling the kettle black."


    Xiong Hua frowned. "Neither of you should be skipping meals and working like you don''t care about anything else!" she chided.


    Qian Meng looked at the woman in surprise and then went back to take a bite of the food. She looked down in surprise.


    Huh, so this was what Mo Qingchen ate on a regular basis. The food was delicious. She could see why he had such high standards.


    "You like the food, I presume?" Xiong Hua asked.


    "Of course," Qian Meng said quickly. "What else? Why didn''t the doctor give him something to help him sleep?"


    Xiong Hua pressed her lips together. "I can''t reveal that because I don''t know. Mr. Mo is very confidential about these things."


    Yes, his empire rested on his health and if word got out that he was medicated, all sorts of stories could be spun. But this was too much. He couldn''t even take medicine!


    "The doctor asked me to give him a call if the fever goes up. So far no other symptoms have appeared."


    "We''ll have to ensure he gets plenty of rest, then." Xiong Hua didn''t seem very optimistic that Qian Meng would succeed.


    "Clearly, you don''t know how persuasive I am," she said.


    "And Mr. Mo is¡­ stubborn." The older woman couldn''t find a better word.


    "More like a brat with a stick up his ass. He thinks he can never be wrong." Qian Meng huffed.


    Qian Meng took her laptop and sat beside Mo Qingchen for the rest of the evening, working and keeping an eye on him at the same time. Sometime around nightfall, Mo Qingchen''s eyes fluttered open.


    His sleepy gaze swept over the room to land on her.


    "What are you doing here?" he asked in confusion.


    "Just making sure your fever didn''t return. Xiong Hua is busy with work and I was the only one who can stand your stiff ass for more than five minutes." Suddenly, she felt like a stalker. Which was absurd.


    "Why would you do that?" He was genuinely baffled.


    "Because I was worried about you." The look on his face made her feel more like a freak. "We just talked about getting married. I wouldn''t have you frying your brain from the fever and leaving me at a disadvantage, would I?"


    He furrowed his brow slightly at the information. "I have a fever?" She nodded slightly. "A little cold and fever never hurt anyone."


    Stubborn as ever.


    "How are you feeling?" She fought the urge to check his forehead again.


    "I''m fine," he cleared his throat. "What time is it?"


    She looked at her laptop screen. "Around eight," she said.


    His eyes widened. "In the morning?"


    "No, evening. Why?"


    He sat up and reached for the control panel beside the bed. He pressed Xiong Hua''s name.


    "Yes, Mr. Mo?" her voice came from across the speaker.


    "Is Miss Li here yet?" Mo Qingchen seethed.


    "She is in the hall outside your office," was the response.


    "Is the door locked?" he asked impatiently. They heard a click.


    "No, it''s open."


    Silence.


    "Tell Miss Li to go inside and wait for me." His tone was harsh. But Qian Meng could see that it wasn''t directed towards Xiong Hua or her.


    "Yes, Mr. Mo." Came the casual reply. They could hear nervous rambling in the background before Mo Qingchen cut the connection.


    Mo Qingchen faltered slightly as he tried to stand. He was still weak and didn''t like it at all.

 Chapter 120: Spanking Into Perfection

    Qian Meng put her laptop aside and reached him. She pushed all the things that he could stumble or hurt himself on out of his way.


    Mo Qingchen stormed across the room without so much as a glance her way.


    He swung the door open with a loud band. His dominant frame filled the doorway and all she wanted was to get out of the room to follow him.


    She followed blindly, not saying a word but worry brewed in her heart.


    He was at the door to his office in no time and blocking the entrance. Qian Meng''s eyes focused on the slender woman standing before him. She was looking down at her feet.


    "Is that the contract?" he growled.


    The woman slowly nodded.


    "Give it to me." His control was slipping and Qian Meng could see his muscles tense. With shaky hands, the woman handed him a folder, her eyes remaining plastered on the floor.


    He scanned page after page silently, though the tension that filled the room was so loud, it was deafening.


    "Unacceptable." His eyes shot fire.


    "I tried¡­" the woman dared to look up to speak.


    "You tried what?" He threw the folder on the floor causing her to flinch.


    "I tried telling them that you wouldn''t like this outcome," she squeaked.


    "Well, obviously, you didn''t try hard enough." He sounded livid.


    Qian Meng knew better than to stop a boss from reprimanding their employee. She didn''t even know what this woman had done wrong.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Mo. I¡­" her voice broke as she held back her tears.


    "Where were the senior lawyers?" He cut her off before she could make more excuses.


    "He was stuck in traffic. I was the only one at the meeting. I tried calling you several times but you didn''t answer." Her eyes lifted and Qian Meng could see tears finally spill from her eyes.


    "Then you should have cancelled the meeting. What made you think that you could take my place?"


    The woman stood frozen, her eyes looking directly at him in horror.


    "Answer me!" he asked venomously.


    "They said there was a deadline. They said they didn''t need you there."


    He lowered his head. "I thought you graduated top of your class. If you don''t have common sense, let me teach you something. The other side will always try to exploit you. And you were the perfect chicken to cut and eat. And who was it that persuaded you to talk on my behalf?" His voice was suddenly eerily calm.


    "Uh¡­ it was mostly the white-haired guy." She was so petrified that she could barely talk. She wiped her nose with the back of her hand.


    "Get out." He extended his hand to point behind him. He moved away, giving Qian Meng a clear view of the girl. She was about twenty-three or twenty-four.


    Under Mo Qingchen''s scolding, this girl remained frozen in place.


    "Go!" he roared. Even Qian Meng flinched. She made a small screeching noise before running away.


    He stormed inside the office and slammed it shut so hard that Qian Meng was surprised it didn''t fall off the hinges.


    She slid the door open and watched him. He had stalked over to his desk. She had half a mind to leave him to his tantrum.


    Before she could turn, he stopped her. "Where are you going?"


    "I don''t think I can calm you down and I don''t want your fever to go up, so I was leaving," she told him firmly.


    "Stay," he ordered.


    "Why?" She was not in a mood to argue with him. And considering his demonstration a minute ago, he wasn''t going to laugh and chat with her.


    "I want to talk to you before you go." He was trying not to sound angry with her, that much she could make out. She was almost thankful for him trying.


    Slowly, she made her way over to him. His face was red and his eyes burning with rage but he was trying really hard to control. She had not seen him go off on anyone before. Now, she had first-hand experience of how he breathed fire.


    Finding out that he tried to reign in his anger when around her was new.


    "Why are you angry all the time?" she asked with genuine curiosity.


    "I am not angry all the time, just around imbeciles," he replied with a deep sigh.


    "And you think everyone is an imbecile, she countered.


    "Untrue. Not everyone." His eyes grabbed hers. "If people do their jobs well, I won''t think of them as imbeciles. It''s that simple."


    Qian Meng almost laughed. "Being a boss for so many years, you must already know that there are few people who actually work well," she told him.


    "You''d be surprised how well a good screaming can do to shake them up and get their asses off their seats. When they realize that I won''t be paying them for doing nothing and making mistakes, they make sure that they work well."


    "Primitive methods. I wonder how your turnover rate is so low¡­" she trailed off, genuinely curious.


    "Because my company is one of the best and to show people you are the best, you get to stay on. You learn new things and the next place you go, you''ll be revered as a God." He paused. "And it''s because my standards are high and I won''t let them get away with bad work."


    Qian Meng nodded. "But you can''t slam doors like that. You can''t make them think they are worthless and you wouldn''t mind killing them if not for the law."


    Mo Qingchen looked at them incredulously. "Is that how I come off?"


    "Yes. There is a fine line between a rough and demanding coach and a belligerent man on a power high." She laughed as Mo Qingchen gave her the stink-eye. "You need to work a little on your attitude and you''ll be spanking your employees into perfection without making them cry."

 Chapter 121: Get Back Into Bed

    He shook his head in disbelief. "Thank you for taking care of me," he said suddenly.


    "You don''t have to thank me. I did very little. Xiong Hua was the one who took care of you while I was at work. The doctor gave you meds to bring down the fever."


    "Not everyone would do what you did," he noted truthfully. He looked so exhausted that she wanted to haul him to bed. He hadn''t eaten anything and Qian Meng also wanted to check his temperature.


    "You look tired and hungry." She stepped closer to him. "And I am not any random person. I am going to be your wife."


    That pulled him back. "I am tired and hungry," Mo Qingchen agreed with a slight grin. "And you are going to be my wife."


    "Go back to your room and rest. I''ll bring the food up. I asked Xiong Hua to keep a plate aside for you." There was no way she was going to bother the woman at this time. She couldn''t work all day and night.


    "I''ll be fine. I have some business to settle." A sinister look crossed his feature.


    "I don''t want to pry, but I happened to overhear your conversation. If you didn''t sign the contract, it doesn''t have much validity." She glanced over at the pile of papers littered all over his floor.


    "That''s not the point," he grumbled.


    "Yes, it is. You threw a tantrum and scared the poor woman over nothing."


    Well, it wasn''t nothing. But she had to make him go back to bed. Anything to achieve that goal.


    "Of course there is a problem," he scoffed. "She should have known when I didn''t attend the meeting and failed to cancel. She knew that I was working from home for the past few days and should have had the presence of mind."


    Good point, but she had to fight it. "Well, usually, no information is good information. Won''t you say so?"


    His brow arched. "You confirm meetings the morning of, don''t you? And you found me when I didn''t answer your calls."


    She scratched her head. "I think I know you a little better than the new graduate," she said in a low voice.


    "It''s common sense. What she did reflects poorly on me. She made it seem like I am easy to manipulate into deals. That is unacceptable." He was typing furiously on his keyboard as he spoke.


    "Even if that is the case, she is new. You need to train your staff about expectations and give them chances. Did you really need to make her cry like that?" The girl had a running nose because of him!


    "I didn''t make her cry. It''s not my fault she can''t handle being reprimanded. It just shows that she is incompetent and that is intolerable."


    Mo Qingchen was so serious that she had to smile at him. He was angry at the girl for crying. The very thought made Qian Meng break into giggles.


    "Do I amuse you?" Mo Qingchen looked up from the screen, his hands hovering over the keyboard as he eyed her.


    "Very much." She kept laughing and watched as a smile crept across his face. "I''ll get you something to eat. You look like you''re doing something evil, so I will leave you to it. But by the time I come back, you will have finished it and closed your laptop and computer. You will quietly eat your meal and then go back to bed."


    Qian Meng expected him to fight her on it, but to her surprise, he just looked at her with confusion.


    "You don''t have to do that," he explained. "I am not marrying you so that you can take care of me. I have people to bring my food and cook it."


    "I know I don''t have to." Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "I want to." She chuckled at his baffled expression as she turned around to walk out of the door.


    If they were going to be married, she wanted them to have an amicable relationship. She wasn''t going to just marry for show. She wanted to join hands with this man.


    It was an added perk.


    When she returned, he hadn''t ended his work.


    He was on the phone spewing venom. It looked like he was about to fire someone, so Qian Meng cleared her throat. He disconnected the call after informing the person on the other side that they would talk later and slammed it down.


    "I have some work left," he said. His eyes fell on the plate on her hand and his eyes widened in shock.


    "You cooked for me?" he asked.


    "No, I didn''t cook. I just heated the food. You don''t have to look so impressed." She laughed. "Now, get back into bed or you won''t get dinner." She pointed towards the door.


    He ran his hand through his hair and glared at his phone for one last time before standing up. "I can eat while I work," he said, reaching for the tray.


    Qian Meng shook her head as she pulled it away from him. "I know you are a multi-tasking genius, but you won''t get a chance to prove it to me today. No more work. You need rest. So, back to the room, you go."


    She gave him a pointed look.


    Mo Qingchen laughed at her serious face. "You''re going to serve me dinner in bed?"


    Qian Meng nodded. "Yes, I am. And I will watch you finish the plate of food and crib about how bad microwaving is for good food as I work."


    "Multi-tasking yourself, huh?"


    "Yes, I am a multi-tasking minion."


    "I would hardly call you a minion." Mo Qingchen''s smirk was devilish.


    "You can call me whatever the hell you want as long as you get back into bed." She headed for his room, hoping he would follow.


    And to her surprise¡­ he did.


    His footsteps padded down on the hardwood floor behind her.

 Chapter 122: The Sexual Tension is Thick

    Everything about Mo Qingchen was so distinct that she found herself memorizing the rhythm and sound of his steps. He walked over to his bed and settled under the covers without a word.


    Qian Meng handed him the plate of food and poured him a glass of water to go with it.


    "This is totally unnecessary," he looked down at the food on his plate with trepidation.


    "Says the man who collapsed on the floor from exhaustion." Yun Qian Meng grabbed a glass of water for herself and sat in the chair beside him.


    "I did not collapse," he huffed.


    "Of course, you didn''t. You were just acting like Sleeping Beauty on the floor." She closed her eyes in frustration. "You like sleeping on the floor?"


    "I don''t sleep often," he noted dryly.


    "You can''t sleep or you choose not to sleep?" Qian Meng found herself asking. "The doctor could prescribe something to help, you know?" She side-eyed him and saw his face harden.


    "I am aware of that. I don''t need drugs." He lowered his spoon.


    "Keep eating," she commanded. "You can''t function without sleep for long, Mo Qingchen." Qian Meng tried to get to him but it seemed he was too stubborn to see her point.


    "I''m fine," his tone was firm but his eyes were heavy from exhaustion. "I have more meetings tomorrow and I have to settle business in the morning."


    "Okay," she said after swallowing her water. "Did you resolve the issue with the contract?"


    "Not yet. It will be taken care of." He had a sinister look in his eyes that would paralyze others, but to Qian Meng, it was sort of sexy. Not when he was frightening people. It was the determination to win every time that made him such a good opponent to be pitted against.


    It motivated her to do better.


    "I have no doubt that it will be. Let me know if you need any help from me." She chuckled. "Are all your negotiations so hostile? I always thought you were calm when facing the enemy."


    He began to explain smoothly. "The technology industry is highly competitive. In negotiations, you either dominate or you be dominated."


    Qian Meng nodded. "That''s my view of business, too. But I have come to learn that people can mutually benefit from deals too." She gave him a pointed look.


    "Very few people are worth to be compromised with," he said with a glint of amusement in his eyes.


    And of course, Yun Qian Meng was one of them.


    "Working together with them instead of against them is always better. You have an ally with you, then."


    "Just remember never to trust them too much," Mo Qingchen warned. "Like you did when you just stood in a dark alley waiting to be attacked!" He seemed to have suddenly remembered.


    Qian Meng sighed. "I said I will learn how to defend myself!"


    "I''ll keep barraging you until you start classes," he said softly.


    "Well. You like making deals with me, so why don''t we make one right now, Mr. Mo?" She tilted her head to the side and waited for his answer.


    "What are the conditions?"


    She leaned in close. "I promise to learn how to defend myself properly if you promise to eat and rest regularly."


    He thought about it. "You already promised to do it in the prenup," he retorted.


    Qian Meng shook her head. "I never said when I would start. I''ll start training when you start eating and resting."


    "Will you be feeding me in bed?" A devious glint lit up his face.


    "I don''t recall saying I would be feeding you at all!" She squinted, but her lips stretched into a ridiculous smile that she couldn''t wipe off her face.


    "Pity," he said slowly, dragging the word. "That was the selling point of the deal."


    Qian Meng glanced down at his plate of food and noticed that he had finished every bit as well as his glass of water. The distaste for microwaved food had suddenly vanished or he had been famished.


    In reality, it was food Qian Meng had brought to him with her own two hands; even if he hated it, he would have had every last morsel. But Yun Qian Meng would never find this truth out. A pity.


    "I am sure any one of your ''servants'' would gladly feed you in bed," she quipped.


    "Yes, they would," he agreed immediately. "But I would prefer you."


    ''Is he flirting with me?'' Qian Meng couldn''t be sure. He spoke as though it were a simple fact but his stare at quite intense.


    "You prefer me?" she repeated slowly. How did he say such things so smoothly?


    "Definitely," he nodded in the same excruciating slowness.


    "Why?" she asked, dazed.


    "Because of your delicious," he moved in closer and then paused. "microwaving of food," he ended.


    "Oh? Was the heat perfect?" she whispered.


    "It was hit." His gaze flickered to her lips. "With a kick. Just like I like it."


    ''He is definitely flirting.'' And she wanted to flirt back.


    "Do you like it only in bed?" Qian Meng pretended to be innocent.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes darkened. "I like it anywhere you will give it to me."


    She choked on her breath. His grin was sinful.


    Mo Qingchen¡­ he was evil!


    "And you don''t want anyone else to¡­ feed you?"


    Mo Qingchen shook his head. "Just you."


    "And would you say you have a large appetite?" she wondered out loud.


    "Extremely," the word slipped from his lips like honey.


    There was no doubt that they were headed to dangerous territory. Qian Meng couldn''t think of anything else. She was simply responding to him.


    The sexual tension was so thick that she could barely bear it.


    She wanted to kill him. Hell, she wanted to do more than kiss him but she would definitely start with his lips. But he was sick and needed rest.


    She couldn''t consider these things.


    That caught her off guard.

 Chapter 123: The First Time They Met

    A few days ago, she wouldn''t even consider kissing him. But now, she was biding her time. She would kiss him later. It was definite.


    "You better get a good night''s sleep if you''re going to kick some ass in the morning," she practically shouted as she shot up. She snatched the plate from him and was about to sprint out when she heard him cough loudly.


    She was worried he was getting sick again. She kept the dish aside and spun around. His face was red and he was clearing his throat profusely. She quickly refilled his glass of water and handed it back to him.


    "Don''t even dare to work after I leave," she warned as he chugged the water down.


    Why she felt so protective of him, she really didn''t know. She fought the urge to check a grown man''s temperature once again as she left his side.


    "We need to take your temperature again." She couldn''t stop herself from saying.


    "I''m fine," he replied curtly.


    "Okay, I won''t worry about you anymore." She kept the glass aside. "I should get going. My car was fixed already, so I''ll take it back to the hotel."


    He raised his brow. "I am sure you caused mischief today," he started in a low and persuasive voice. "You already told the hotel you would be moving out. Just move into this house. It''s the inevitable outcome."


    He shrugged when Qian Meng gaped at him.


    "That''s not necessary. I''ll go back tonight. Once we finalize the papers, I''ll start moving in. With the media circus, it would be a bad move to move in with you."


    He looked dejected. "I understand," he said finally.


    "Sleep," she ordered. Before he could respond, Qian Meng was out of the door and closing it. She wanted to give him some space and quiet to finally sleep.


    Yun Qian Meng had gone back to the hotel and Mo Qingchen lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.


    Sleep. Sleep evaded him. God, when had it started? He squeezed his eyes shut to remember.


    Memories from long ago flashed in front of him and a smile formed on his lips.


    He was twenty-one at the time, already heading Mo Building Solutions because his father was behind the bars and doing an amazing job at that. He rarely attended parties, but his mother had insisted he go to this one.


    Foreign dignitaries were coming and it was an excellent time to make connections in the business world in which he would live for the rest of his life.


    That was the first time he met Yun Qian Meng. He spotted the little girl from his corner of the room. At first, she skirted around people, listening to their conversation in that girlish blue dress of hers. Eventually, she started to blend in.


    Mo Qingchen had huffed and looked away, thinking she was like everyone else. That was until he heard someone clear their throat beside him. He had to tilt his head down to look at this tiny girl who looked at him with haughty eyes.


    No, she was not the first person to have that expression in them, but it was the streak of intelligence in those pretty eyes of hers that intrigued him.


    "What?" he said gruffly, still not out of his sulking and emo teenage years.


    "You''re Mo Qingchen," she said in a confident manner. Mo Qingchen raised his brows and inspected her.


    "I know," he responded simply, making her jaw slacken. He could see the incredulity and petulance in her expression but ignored it for the most part.


    "I''ve spoken to everyone in this circle and come to the conclusion that you are the only person good enough for me to marry. Hence, I will have to lay out my terms in front of you. We''re going to get married someday."


    Mo Qingchen let out a surprised chortle but paused.


    "Marriage?" he repeated. "You''re a middle-schooler only thinking about romance. I''d never consider marriage to someone of no consequence."


    She gritted her teeth. "I''m Yun Qian Meng, I will amount to something. I already have," she said. "But I don''t lurk around people who don''t want me." She raised her chin and walked away.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t know if she remembered this encounter, but it had made an impact on him. He had shrugged it off for the most part. But as he grew older, he kept tabs on the middle-schooler who had dared to propose to him. She was a genius, they said. Whatever she touched turned into gold and Mo Qingchen could see why she was so confident.


    But when he turned thirty-one and she twenty-five, he was sorely unhappy to find out that she had chosen a man of no importance or reputation.


    ''Her taste has gotten worse,'' he had thought and shrugged it off. He stopped keeping tabs on her. Sometimes, he would go out and find a companion to take to some party or spend the night with, yet he had no interest in a romantic entanglement.


    Three years and some months into the future, he turned on the news and felt something in him shift. He looked at a picture of Yun Qian Meng on the news. She was smiling¡­ a little older than the last picture he had seen of her.


    "Business Tycoon Commits Suicide in Her Apartment."


    He blinked at the screen, turned the television off, and went back to work.


    Four days later, he couldn''t contain his curiosity. He wanted to know why she did it. She was successful¡­ not that much after her marriage, but still successful. Then, why? What had changed in those fourteen years since she declared she would marry him? What brought her to the brink?


    He found the location of her funeral and went. It was one of those rare occasions when he wore a suit. He entered the venue, littered with business moguls, politicians, and celebrities. He was not out of place and no one paid him any attention.

 Chapter 124: Dont Want to Fall Asleep

    The husband, a sleazy looking man gave tearful speeches. Yun Qian Meng''s family was missing from the scene. Yun Sui Bo was dead. His wife had left the country to visit her son who was studying abroad. Not one person who knew her was there except this dramatic husband of hers.


    He watched the man carefully and wondered what she saw in him. He wasn''t successful by any means. He could barely grow a business or sustain it. Did she love him?


    He moved away from the crowd for some silence. The rest went to eat at the buffet. Something about binge-eating at funerals and bringing peace to the death.


    And he heard it.


    The husband.


    Bragging.


    About killing Yun Qian Meng.


    He froze in his spot as he heard him speak on the phone with someone, calling them terms of endearment, talking about a child.


    Mo Qingchen followed Bai Ye Qing for the next few days, abandoning his work, obsessed with finding out the truth. And he found every little detail out.


    The contract between Yun Sui Bo and Bai Ye Qing stating that their companies would help each other out. That Yun Sui Bo would take control of Venus when Yun Qian Meng gave birth. And then how this scumbag had killed so many people to grab whatever he could get.


    He had drugged Yun Qian Meng so that her health depleted. She was depressed and unable to carry children. She was miserable.


    Yun Qian Meng was miserable because she cared too much about family and being loved.


    He understood his obsession and he distanced himself.


    News about an accident killing Yun Qian Meng''s step-brother came a few months later. The news spoke about the devastation of a family that died shortly after one another.


    Mo Qingchen poured his soul into his work. He worked hours that were not humanly possible. He coded and recoded until everything was perfect.


    Years and years passed. He was forty. He barely slept.


    He was working, he said as an excuse.


    His family rarely saw him.


    He never married.


    He worked until he couldn''t think about anything but work.


    He didn''t know why guilt gnawed at him.


    It was not like he could have done anything.


    It was not like he could have saved her from this horrible fate.


    He finally finished the project that he had been working on for years. He went home that evening at seven. He was tired.


    He wanted to sleep.


    So, he fell asleep.


    When he woke up next, he was back in time. Everything remained constant, except for time.


    A glitch in the matrix? He wondered. But a glitch wouldn''t explain how every detail remained the same.


    So, he went back to Einstein and Quantum Physics. He thought about String Theory and a small vibration in the fabric of the universe shifting it drastically.


    He had somehow traveled to another universe parallel to his own.


    He saw an interview with Yun Qian Meng in a financial magazine shortly after. Her answers were powerful and spoke true to her ideals.


    It was a shame. It was a shame that a mind this bright would be extinguished.


    Before it happened. He wanted to meet her once.


    When his secretary brought in the proposal from the planning and accounting team with a proposal to shift their office, he noticed a building close to Yun Qian Meng''s headquarters.


    "This one," he had said instinctively.


    The move happened.


    Yun Qian Meng kept climbing to glory.


    A few months went by but he never saw her.


    One day, finally, his secretary came in with a proposal from his father. Something about going on a news show to battle out something on construction and housing laws.


    "You know I don''t do these things," he said gruffly, shoving the file away.


    "Your father insists you do it."


    Mo Qingchen looked up from his work and glared at the obviously pregnant woman. "Get out," he commanded.


    "You''ll be going against Miss Yun, a shareholder of Yun Corporation. Your father asked me to inform you that this is about family honor."


    Mo Qingchen grew silent.


    Yun Qian Meng.


    He mulled her name over in his mind. His pen twirled between his fingers.


    "Are you sure she is coming?" he asked.


    The secretary stiffened but nodded. "Yes, I received word from the news station that their side has confirmed."


    He nodded and looked back down. "Okay. Make sure to keep my schedule cleared."


    There was silence for the longest time.


    "Leave," he said after a minute. The secretary scurried away, wondering what the hell was happening. So easily convinced?


    And the ball rolled on and on. He wanted to meet her and talk to her, give her a wake-up call. He never expected her response.


    She seemed to hate him for no reason.


    Another meeting.


    Another coincidence.


    And then he sought her out.


    Sought her out until she was living under the same roof as him.


    The only thought he had in the moments before his eyes drooped were these: "I don''t want to fall asleep. In this universe, Yun Qian Meng is alive and happy. I don''t want to go back. I want to stay right here."


    - - - - -


    Li Jun finally received the contact details of Bai Ye Qing''s lawyer. He was someone by the name of Jiang, meaning that he was probably a maternal cousin of Bai Ye Qing. He worked as an associate lawyer in the top firm in the country.


    Li Jun picked up his cell phone and called his senior from the university.


    "Senior," he greeted when the other picked up the phone after a couple of rings.


    "Li Jun, what a surprise! Why are you calling me this late in the night?" he asked. He sounded excited and happy so Li Jun didn''t apologize.


    "Oh, it''s just a case that I am working on and the name of your firm came up¡­ so I wanted to check with you," he began.


    "A case?" the senior responded, confused. "You don''t take up small cases and if you are calling me, it should be something complicated. What is the case and who is the lawyer?"

 Chapter 125: A Matter of Principle

    Li Jun sighed and made a show of frustration. "Someone sued my client, Yun Qian Meng, for attempted murder," he admitted.


    There was silence on the other side.


    "I have heard about the raucous in the media. It had rolled that far? I saw the video, the owner wasn''t near the car at the time¡­ neither was anyone else. And you''re telling me that someone from my firm took this case and sued the CEO of Venus?"


    This was the reaction Li Jun wanted. This Senior was an executive partner and had equity in the company. If Li Jun got the message across that someone was playing the wrong cards under the company''s nose, he would get an easy withdrawal of FIR in no time.


    Company pressure was a huge thing.


    "It''s someone called Jiang Hanyu. He seems to be an assistant lawyer in your firm."


    "Are you sure?" the other asked after a pause.


    "Yes, I am holding the paper with his signature on it. He sent it with your company''s stationery, too. That''s why I was wondering if you knew anything about this guy."


    This little boy had been gutsy, taking on a case against an influential billionaire. Talk about thinking highly of himself.


    "He is a new recruit. Fresh out of his probation. We hired him right out of law school because he was the gold medallist." The other heaved a sigh. "I know nothing about filing a lawsuit, Li Jun, I am sorry. Such a huge case would be spoken about among the partners if we had known. Jiang Hanyu isn''t allowed to take these decisions. An executive partner needs to sign off on these cases and I know he hasn''t asked anyone because I have no idea someone from my company was suing your client."


    "Oh, it seems I have called in poor taste," Li Jun acted like he was regretful.


    "No, no! You have helped us. If word gets out, the company''s reputation will be in ruin. God knows what else he will do. Using the stationary and not following protocol is a gross misdemeanor. He''ll be faced with the consequences." The gruff tone of the other told Li Jun that he had hit the jackpot. His job was done.


    "Please don''t do it for me!" he countered.


    "It''s a matter of principle. We''re lawyers. If we can''t take care of being lawful, who will come to us?" the senior sounded beyond angry. "Li Jun, do me a favor. Please send over a copy of the documentation he sent you to me. You can go ahead with fighting and settling the case. We''ll take disciplinary action against him in our own time."


    Li Jun pretended to hesitate. "Okay, Senior. I''m sorry again."


    They made some small talk before Li Jun said goodbye and hung up.


    He looked down at the paper in his hand and smirked. No, this wasn''t just about winning a big case. It was about teaching a newbie a lesson. Rules are made for a reason and when you disrespect and take advantage of your position for personal benefit, you receive punishment.


    It was a matter of principle.


    Next, he picked up the cell phone and called Jiang Hanyu.


    "Hello, who is this?" Jiang Hanyu sounded like he had been bothered by the call.


    "This is Li Jun, Miss Yun''s legal representative speaking," he said calmly. "The detective responsible for the case you filed against my client gave me your contact information so that we could talk about settlement."


    Li Jun heard the younger man suck in a breath. He knew this to be surprise at getting an offer for settlement so quickly. He hadn''t thought it was possible.


    "Yes, this is Jiang Hanyu speaking. Please tell me your conditions and timings for the meeting so that I can inform my client as well," he agreed keenly.


    Li Jun chuckled. "I''ve already spoken to my client and she wishes to send out a press release regarding her side of the story with the claims and the charges she will be making against Bai Ye Qing, your client. The release will go out three in the afternoon tomorrow. Ask your client when he wants to meet to discuss the settlement. We''ll not wait for a long time for your answer."


    "Mr. Li, what does that mean? Are you threatening my client to take action?" he squeaked.


    Li Jun huffed. "You''re still wet behind the ears, child. If I was threatening you, I would tell you that if you don''t drop the charges, I will tell the whole world what a disgusting piece of shit your client is. I''ll dig out every dick pic he sent and every uncomfortable conversation he had with women and paint a beautiful picture of him to the world. That is a threat. I am simply telling you the plans of my client and I am waiting for your response."


    "I¡ªI¡ª" Jiang Hanyu stammered.


    "I''ll take that as you understanding the situation. It''s getting late. Call your client and respond to my offer."


    With that, Li Jun hung up the call.


    He forwarded the email through which Yun Qian Meng was served the papers and attached the files for evidence. He pressed send and smiled.


    His cell phone pinged with a message and he saw that his Senior had texted him, saying that he would handle the matter personally and requesting Li Jun not to speak about the matter to anyone.


    He assured of the same and went back to work.


    "Miss Yun, I am going to send you tentative timings for the settlement meeting when the other lawyer responds. Please keep your schedule free tomorrow morning," he said quickly.


    "At least greet me properly. I''ve been having a very bad week," Yun Qian Meng swore as she chucked her car keys on the table.


    "Not my problems, Miss Yun. I''m just doing the job you pay me to do."


    Yun Qian Meng groaned. "I''ll add to your work in a few days," she admitted.

 Chapter 126: Show Off Her Power

    "Did you vandalize more property?" Li Jun asked, his voice rising.


    "No. It''s something more personal. You''ll know when I send it over."


    There was silence on the other end. "Understood," Li Jun said finally. "I have another call coming in. I''ll text you the timings shortly."


    Yun Qian Meng heard him hang up and groaned. She needed a long shower and then plan out exactly what was happening tomorrow.


    If the settlement meeting was tomorrow, would she be left out of getting the full revenge she wanted? To completely destroy Bai Ye Qing''s reputation¡­ that was what she wanted.


    Soon, a text came in. The meeting was set at eleven in the morning. She groaned. She had to settle this matter before meeting Bai Ye Qing''s father. Excellent. Now that would be an uncomfortable situation.


    [Mr. Bai, do you still want to meet me? You know that your son has made some heavy charges against me and I don''t plan on backing down.] she texted in explanation.


    She was working on something important for the next day when her phone pinged.


    It was Mr. Bai, responding. [Qian Meng, don''t worry about that. Both of us can talk about business and have a relationship separate from our families.]


    That comforted Yun Qian Meng. She really liked Mr. Bai and his easy personality. He was a hardworking man with an understanding of the world from a grassroots level.


    [Understood. As decided, let''s meet at one-thirty in the afternoon. I will order lunch as per your liking.]


    With that, she went back to work.


    - - - - -


    She went to the office especially early the next morning to finish up all her work.


    "Li Min, what are the stock prices looking like?" Qian Meng asked after the meetings with executives were over.


    "Prices are unstable with large selloffs and people buying in bulk to take the opportunity." She slid the charge over to Yun Qian Meng, who looked at it carefully.


    "More people buying shares to help Jiang Xin?" I asked.


    "Yes. As per your instructions, I have made note of the transactions and load of shares bought. This is enough to prove market manipulation and buying of stocks illegally. If we add in filing papers in the name of others who can''t afford to buy our shares, we have a solid case against her," she said quickly.


    Yun Qian Meng nodded. "Hold onto the information for now. We might need it later."


    Li Min frowned. "Why don''t we use it right now, Boss?" she asked.


    "You should know better. Let the snake hide under the plant. Unless we have a reason to rattle her or threaten her, let''s not show our hands to her. She shouldn''t think of other plans to get back to us." She sighed.


    "Noted, Boss," Li Min said quickly. "It''s almost time for Mr. Bai Junior to come with his lawyer. Do you want to move to one of the smaller meeting rooms?"


    "Just book one for me until 1:30 pm. Order lunch for Mr. Bai and me, as well. We''ll have a lunch meeting."


    Li Min noted it down. "I''ll take my leave then," she said quickly and scurried away.


    Yun Qian Meng placed her pen down and took out her cell phone.


    [Feeling better?] she texted Mo Qingchen.


    He didn''t respond for a few minutes. Her office line rang and she picked it up immediately.


    "Boss, Mr. Bai has arrived. I have asked someone at the reception to bring him to the room."


    "Has Li Jun arrived yet?" she asked absentmindedly as she stared at her phone screen.


    "Yes, he arrived fifteen minutes ago. He sent you an email with the demands we can make. He asked you to check."


    "Understood," Qian Meng said quickly. She opened her email and laughed. "I''ll arrive at the meeting room twenty minutes later," she announced.


    "Yes," Li Min acknowledged immediately.


    This was a pressure tactic Li Jun wanted to use. In bold, right after the subject of the email, he had asked her to arrive late.


    She went through the proposal he had sent and responded with what she wanted out of the meeting and settlement.


    She pressed send and then leaned back into the chair.


    Mo Qingchen had still not replied. She pulled her drawer open and took out the binoculars. She walked around her table and made her way to the spot from where she could peer into Mo Qingchen''s office.


    She looked in and saw the lights on. She knew immediately that he was in office at some point in time that day. He did say he would be busy. She sighed.


    She flipped through a proposal before her alarm went off.


    Perfect time to leave her office and slowly walk to the meeting room. She walked out of the office and Li Min followed wordlessly.


    Yun Qian Meng took her sweet time to reach the room. Li Min rushed forward and pushed the door open to let her in. It was another maneuver she used when in contract-related dealings. She didn''t like people serving her and opening doors for her, so she kept it for those occasions when she needed to show off how powerful she was.


    Because men seemed to only understand this language.


    "I got caught up in an important meeting," she said slowly, sounding careless. She was not the one who had to lose anything from this encounter. She could easily overturn public opinion and tell everyone the full story, painting a narrative that would exonerate her, but she didn''t want that. She wanted to destroy him by using his own hand.


    Why would she have his dirty blood on her hands?


    She pulled out the chair and sat beside Li Jun.


    "You''re Jiang Hanyu, are you not?" Qian Meng spoke.


    The other nodded. "Miss Yun, I have heard a great deal about it. It is an honor to meet you."


    Qian Meng pressed back her amusement and responded, "It''s a shame we are meeting under such circumstances."

 Chapter 127: Apologize to Bai Ye Qing

    The other team became silent.


    "Shall we begin?" Li Jun announced more than asked.


    "We would like to make our demands beforehand," Jiang Hanyu said immediately.


    Li Jun arched a brow and Qian Meng leaned back into her chair to watch the scene.


    "Speak," Li Jun commanded.


    "We don''t want to press charges against Miss Yun. Our intention was to discuss the particulars in a civilized fashion like this," Bai Ye Qing spoke when the lawyer remained silent.


    Qian Meng scoffed. "You have a weird way of ensuring that. You plastered information about what happened on the news and internet and filed a lawsuit saying I tried to murder you."


    "That was not my doing," Bai Ye Qing defended immediately. "My mother asked Jiang Hanyu to help me with this, so I went along. I only wanted to speak to you when you were calm."


    Qian Meng broke into laughter. "Okay, I am calm. Tell me, what do you want?" she smirked.


    Li Jun gave her a warning look.


    "I don''t want our personal matters splashed on the internet. I don''t mind¡­"


    "We''ll withdraw the charges of attempted murder if you pay for the repair of the car. As per estimates, it will cost two million dollars. We will also have you publicly apologize for spreading false rumors and threatening his life." Jiang Hanyu watched his opposition team to gauge how his proposal had been received.


    Li Jun shifted in his seat. "So, let me get this straight, you want us to compensate for the car that was broken and apologize to your client?" he asked shortly.


    Jiang Hanyu nodded. "You have threatened to file for psychological abuse and stalking. The news has been leaked to the media and there is considerable monetary and reputation damage to the Bai family''s company because of this matter." He paused. "We will not consider the monetary loss made, but focus on the damage to our reputation. If your client wants us to withdraw all charges and exonerate her from any legal action, she has to publicly apologize to Mr. Bai and say that he was not the one who manipulated the media."


    He took out a few papers clipped together and handed one copy each to Li Jun and Yun Qian Meng.


    Both looked over their copies respectively and pulled out their pencils to circle and comment on each. They passed it to each other and read the other''s concerns.


    They whispered among themselves before Li Jun cleared his throat.


    "We have some arguments." His voice was loud. Jiang Hanyu and Bai Ye Qing waited patiently to find out what changes they wanted.


    "I am also Miss Mo''s representative in this matter and I have full authority to make decisions on her behalf." He produced the papers for the statement and showed them to Jiang Hanyu.


    "As per the case filed against your client, he has manipulated Miss Mo into gifting him properties upwards of two million dollars. While this was a gift at the time, the emotional manipulation had hampered her ability to think properly and aided her judgment. Miss Mo doesn''t wish to ask for compensation for the treatment she received. Instead, she wants the properties transferred to be used to pay the repair costs."


    They knew for a fact that after buying the expensive customized car, Bai Ye Qing had to forego full insurance. The car was trashed and he would hardly get any money from the insurance company because of the circumstances that led to it.


    So, this was how they would get away with it. The property he received would need to be sold to save his face and his car. The car he showed off to all the females would be gone, too. Double win.


    Qian Meng saw Bai Ye Qing clench his fist. Though he tried to hide his frustration, Qian Meng and everyone else in the room could see it clearly.


    Jiang Hanyu whispered to Bai Ye Qing. "I don''t accept this."


    Looked like the man loved his car more than the women he claimed to cherish with all his life.


    Jiang Hanyu slumped back.


    "I should remind you that emotional abuse cases and manipulating someone into transferring their property to you can lead to fines and monetary compensation equal to the amount gained plus interest."


    Li Jun waited stoically for the response.


    "Bai Ye Qing, as much as I want you to suffer, I''ll warn you. Li Jun can make it hurt." She smiled sweetly.


    "What else?" he gritted through his teeth.


    "The properties will remain in your name as Miss Mo doesn''t want them back. In return, we will not compensate you for the loss of property on your side," Li Jun said again. "Secondly, Miss Yun will apologize to Mr. Bai in the most public way she can and post all legally related papers alongside the apology."


    Jiang Hanyu''s eyes widened. "Really?"


    The room went silent. "Negotiate," Bai Ye Qing said.


    "We will agree to the apology if Miss Yun apologizes on a television show and posts an extended apology on the official website of her company."


    Li Jun put the pencil down and turned to Yun Qian Meng.


    She thought about it deeply. Apologizing on live television would attract so many eyes that it could ruin her. She needed to find a way out.


    "I''ll make minor changes to that suggestion," she said after a while. "What if¡­ the apology can come in any form as long as it can be searched on the internet and has a link on the official website of Venus." It was more a suggestion to Li Jun.


    Li Jun wrote the notation on the copy he had received.


    "Okay, let''s go with that. Miss Yun will make a public apology in any form and link it to the official website of Venus. Do you agree?" Li Jun asked.


    They spoke and finally agreed.


    "I have one more broad clause I want to add," Li Jun admitted after a pause.


    "Go ahead," Jiang Hanyu said cautiously.


    "Neither Bai Ye Qing nor Jiang Xin will be able to sue Venus, Miss Yun, and Miss Mo ever again. There will be no further demands from these three parties ever again. Lastly, if any unrelated issues come from this agreement, Mr. Bai and Mrs. Jiang will be liable for any consequences and Miss Yun can demand any losses all three opposing parties suffers from them."

 Chapter 128: Covering Their Losses

    "I object," Bai Ye Qing said immediately. "I will not be covering for their losses!" he swore.


    Jiang Hanyu tugged at his cousin''s sleeve to make him sit down. The discussion between the three men in the room grew heated until Yun Qian Meng swooped in to save the day.


    "How about this? Let''s change the last part of the clause that is causing so much problem. I can settle if you promise not to sue Venus, Miss Mo, and I, never demand anything from us again and bear any damages it does to you. I will not ask you to bear the losses incurred by Venus, Miss Mo, and me." She paused. "How does that sound?"


    Li Jun was quiet, acting like he was not appeased by this settlement. But in reality, this was the result they had been meaning to get from the beginning.


    It was easy to dupe a fresher. The wording made it sound like Bai Ye Qing was winning almost everything, but it also stopped them from creating a fuss later on.


    "Agreed." Both the opposing client and lawyer said at the same time.


    "Great. I like finishing my work fast. Please wait for fifteen minutes and I will type up the settlement agreement. We can sign directly and get this over with," Li Jun said coldly.


    "Excellent," Yun Qian Meng noted. She still had twenty minutes before Mr. Bai arrived, so she didn''t have to worry about it for now.


    Her phone chimed and she pulled it out. Her eyes lit up as she read through the message.


    [Miss Xiong demanded I take my medication. The driver picked me up for the meeting. Feeling better.]


    That was it.


    [Settlement Agreement being written out.] She informed him.


    She suddenly looked at the solitary number on top of the conversation and felt the urge to change his name. She rapidly typed into the phone. Now, the contact name read: Scoundrel Husband


    Apt.


    The call came in and her eyes widened. The room had been eerily silent until it had rung. All eyes were on her.


    Li Jun had a clear view of her screen and raised his brow in question. The name change had brought on more embarrassment within the first five seconds than she had imagined.


    Murphy''s Law had worked again: whatever could go wrong was going wrong.


    "Hey," she said immediately after picking up the call.


    "You let that ring for a long time before picking it up," Mo Qingchen grumbled. His voice was still hoarse, and he sounded lethargic. But it was a lot better than last night.


    So, he must have listened to her and slept well. She didn''t need him to drop unconscious or die from overwork. He looked like the type who forgot everything else and worked himself to the bone.


    "Still in a meeting. Why did you call?"


    Her eyes moved around the room and she saw the curious and furious expressions. It was easy to figure out who the furious one was. She wondered who Bai Ye Qing thought she was speaking to.


    "I finished mine. The deal has been settled and the company incurred no losses, not that you asked or wanted to know." Qian Meng wanted to laugh but her company demanded she didn''t react. Mo Qingchen was sulking.


    "Do you need anything?" she asked again.


    "The lawyer wrote up the prenuptial agreement. I''ll have it delivered to you. By when do you think you can send it back?" he asked.


    "That was fast," she said softly. He really wanted to get married to her quickly. "Send it to me. I''ll go through it and respond within a day or two. Is that okay with you?" It should be.


    It was not like he would hover over her shoulder until she handed him the executed copy of the contract.


    "Perfect. I''ll send it over by the evening. I just want to check it one last time."


    Qian Meng heard shuffling in the background and frowned. He had been talking freely about a wedding in front of others. But here she was, in front of her enemy, hiding her biggest trump card.


    Should she call herself a fool or a genius for keeping her tricks under wraps?


    "Okay. I''ll discuss this with you later," she insisted. "Hanging up now," she added softly.


    "Hmm," was all he said. She listened to his even breathing for a couple of seconds before pulling the phone away from her ears and cutting the call.


    She could see the curiosity on everyone''s face.


    "Is it done?" she said finally, turning to Li Jun.


    "Yes. Li Min went out to get printouts. We''ll notarize it after both of you have signed," he responded. He glanced at her cell phone before giving her a hard look.


    She pretended not to see it.


    They waited for another two minutes before Li Min pushed through the door.


    "Here," she said professionally even though she was handing over the papers to her biological brother. If people saw them together, they wouldn''t think they were related or on good terms. Outside company time, they were joined at the hip, though.


    Strange siblings.


    Li Jun looked through it and passed the copy to Bai Ye Qing. Yun Qian Meng took a look through it and signed her name immediately without further thought.


    She got exactly what she wanted.


    Bai Ye Qing skimmed through the agreement and followed suit in signing. They exchanged papers and that was that.


    "I''ll notarize these and the executive copies will be handed out. As per the information I gave you yesterday, we thought about making the announcement today. But, because of changed conditions, we will let you know when we make the final announcement." Everyone stood up and shook each other''s hand.


    Expect for Yun Qian Meng, who refused to breathe the same air as Bai Ye Qing. No one faulted her, either.


    "Boss, Mr. Bai is here," Li Min whispered. The room was quiet enough that the words traveled to Bai Ye Qing''s ears.

 Chapter 129: A Relationship Meant to Be

    "My father?" he questioned immediately, enraged.


    "You are not the only Bais in Shanghai," she said promptly. She didn''t think she should reveal his father''s whereabouts without explicit consent from the man himself.


    She was all about protecting the privacy of others¡­ until they came at her. Then she didn''t hold back.


    Bai Ye Qing fumed as they moved out of the room. As luck would have it, the elevator that opened in front of them carried Senior Mr. Bai. He looked at his son, shock flashing through his eyes for a second before his eyes turned hard.


    "Ye Qing, you were here?" he inquired.


    "Yes," the son replied in a firm and snappy fashion. "What are you doing here, father?" he hissed.


    ''This boy has no manners,'' Yun Qian Meng thought.


    Here she was, saddled with a father who didn''t let her breathe and Bai Ye Qing was being handed everything on a platter and he didn''t know what a boon he had.


    Incorrigible.


    "I''m here for work," Bai Yu gruffly responded. He didn''t think it was necessary to answer to his son, but he saw the expression of utter irritation on the younger man''s face and felt like he should omit that this was a recreational visit.


    "Work? What work could you have with her?" Bai Ye Qing jerked his fingers to point at her and Yun Qian Meng remained silent, waiting for the argument to pan out.


    In her opinion, she wouldn''t mind if this father and son had an even worse falling out. It would be much easier for her to convince Mr. Bai to sell the company to her or at least give her some stake.


    "She works in real estate. We are talking about contracts. Now go back to work. You have deadlines to meet," Bai Yu commanded.


    Bai Ye Qing stared between the two of them, his eyes burning with something neither of them could understand.


    "Have a nice day, father," he said in a low voice and left.


    The lawyer scurried after him, glancing over his shoulder at the scene that was playing out in front of him. His eyes lingered longer on Bai Yu before he was Bai Ye Qing''s side.


    "I apologize, Mr. Bai. I should have warned you that your son was coming, as well," Yun Qian Meng bowed in apology. To this man, she wasn''t ashamed or irritated to do so. He was a genuinely nice man who had probably been inconvenienced because of her.


    "Ah, no need!" he responded with a smile. "I knew my son would find out about this meeting even if we didn''t meet here," he said.


    Yun Qian Meng raised her brow. She had a feeling that Mr. Bai and she were on the same page for this meeting.


    "Let''s go, then." She gave him a blinding smile and led him to her office.


    "Boss, the food has arrived," Li Min whispered once Mr. Bai and she were seated in the office.


    "Mr. Bai, do you want lunch right now?" she asked squarely.


    "Oh, yes! I didn''t have lunch today," he said. He turned to Li Min. "Just bring the food in with the takeout containers," he asked.


    Yun Qian Meng''s eyes widened before she snickered. Mr. Bai looked at her curiously. "I didn''t expect you to eat straight out of a container," she grinned.


    Mr. Bai chuckled. "When I first quit my full-time job and started out the company, my wife was furious. She had just given birth to our older son Wenxi and she was dealing with a lot." His eyes were mildly saddened.


    "You were a civil engineer, weren''t you?" Yun Qian Meng asked, urging him on. She wanted to hear his story. She could see that he didn''t have anyone to talk to.


    "Yes, I was the third among us six cousins. We lived in the same house and I was the worst off. We had to contribute to the household but at the end of the month, I didn''t have a lot of money to spare for Chen Yue to use for herself." He had a smile on his face. "She¡­ she sacrificed a lot for me. Wenxi was around four or five when the company finally started doing well. Ye Qing was about a year old and he was born into the money."


    She knew that. She could see him acting high and mighty, thinking that he didn''t need to contribute to continuing the family legacy.


    "At home, we ate normally. But I was constantly on the field, filled with cement and dust. I could only eat in the container to ensure not too many carcinogens got in."


    He must have remembered some fond times because his smile grew nostalgic.


    "Habits never die," Yun Qian Meng agreed. Li Min entered with the paper bags and put them down on the table. Yun Qian Meng leaned in and brought everything out.


    It was a simple meal, just from a very reputable restaurant. She was undoing the lids and heard Bai Yu gasp.


    "How do you know what I like to eat?" he asked, pleasantly surprised.


    "I don''t know. I guessed." Yun Qian Meng shrugged.


    "You really do have a way with guessing, don''t you? It''s not like I am important enough to give interviews to magazines and papers. I never really eat out anymore, so I am surprised you could guess!"


    Yun Qian Meng burst into laughter. "I had dreams about Mr. Bai before, and somehow I saw you liking these things." She smiled.


    Mr. Bai blinked and then burst into laughter. "I suppose it''s a sign from the gods that you and I are supposed to know each other for a long time."


    Qian Meng agreed. They are lunch in peace before Bai Yu looked up at Qian Meng seriously.


    "You know that I am not here to have a casual meal with you, don''t you?" he asked.


    Qian Meng nodded. "I wanted to meet you as well. But with the drama that ensued¡­ I couldn''t face you." She paused. "I have to apologize for that. I¡­ I couldn''t handle it any longer," Yun Qian Meng found herself whispering.

 Chapter 130: They Created A Monster

    She hadn''t felt bad about airing her dirty laundry for so long, but in front of this man who had poured his blood, sweat, and tears into building a company, she felt ashamed for pulling such a trick. The news would cause trouble for Bai Yu as well.


    "Don''t be. I thought you did well," he said with a sigh. "I didn''t¡ª" he cut the sentence off. "I must tell you¡­ I didn''t know that you were unwilling to marry my son. I thought the arrangement was made with your consent."


    "You couldn''t have known I was unwilling," Qian Meng stated.


    "But I did know you were unwilling after that sham of a dinner," he stated. "I didn''t try to do anything to come to your defense. I stood by and watched you make your way out." He rubbed his eyes.


    He suddenly looked tired.


    "It is your family. I am an unrelated person in all of this. You shouldn''t have to come to my defense. I would expect those related to me by blood to do that." Qian Meng smiled.


    "Yes, but I can see it is taking a toll on you. And I came here today to¡­" he shook his head.


    "Do you want to play a game of chess?" Qian Meng asked when she knew Bai Yu was having a hard time saying his real intentions.


    His eyes glittered with excitement.


    "I didn''t know you know how to play chess!" he exclaimed. Qian Meng stood up and found her chess set.


    "Yes, I played as a child. I like the role of mathematics and logical reasoning used to play. I play on my own at times when I am having a hard time figuring something out. It helps me decide what to do next." She showed him the set before placing it on the table.


    "You have the same hobby as me, then. I play with the elderly men in my neighborhood. I suppose I am at the age where associating with them is the only source of entertainment."


    Qian Meng smiled despite the underlying meaning. Bai Yu was a family-oriented man and he had slowly distanced himself from them because he couldn''t stand to be around them for long periods of time.


    "You should come to play a hand with me if you feel bored."


    The game began and they were playing when Bai Yu started to speak again.


    "Can you tell me everything my son did?" he asked.


    Qian Meng''s finger hovered over a piece. She grabbed it and moved it to a better position.


    Bai Yu looked up. "Well played." And then he stared at her.


    "Do you really want to know?" she asked. "You''re his father and you want to be on his side. I understand," she said.


    "Tell me," he pressed.


    Qian Meng stood up and produced the file with all the information in it. "Mr. Bai, I am trusting you with this information." She handed it over to him.


    He moved his chess piece and then opened the file. It took him a solid ten minutes to read through the whole thing and his eyes filled with unshed tears. He pressed his palms against his eyes and Qian Meng felt a pang of sadness.


    He sniffed for a minute before he wiped the tears away.


    "Thank you for trusting me." He paused. "Can I¡­ can I ask you not to reveal the bits about the gross criminal activity?"


    Qian Meng froze. "I¡­ I wasn''t going to use that information." She felt worse that this man was defending his son despite the evil things he had done. But this was family, right? Covering for one another at all costs.


    Qian Meng clenched her fists. "I am going to reveal the information related to him following me and gaslighting the other women. Things to do with me and why I felt it was right to destroy his car." She blinked and waited for his response.


    "Did he really sell drugs and associate with such people?" he whispered.


    "He did. The information comes from a very reputable source," Qian Meng informed. "I understand that you feel like you should save your son, but¡­"


    Bai Yu sat up.


    "You think he should be held accountable, don''t you?" he asked.


    Qian Meng did not respond. "I find it strange that your eldest son, Bai Wenxi, passed away from a heart failure even though he was healthy." She gave him a pointed look.


    Bai Yu let out a shuddering breath. "Ye Qing isn''t intelligent enough to pull that off," he said in a low voice.


    "Yes, he isn''t," Yun Qian Meng felt a smirk after hearing Mr. Bai speaking poorly of his own son. "But the internet is an enriching place. You can get away with most things. Did something happen before he passed away?" she asked.


    She felt bad for planting the seeds of doubt in Bai Yu''s mind.


    The older man''s eyes flashed. "Wenxi spoiled him. He was the one who asked me to let Ye Qing work in the company. And he placed Ye Qing in a high position even though he was not qualified. I asked Wenxi not to do so because employee morale would fall, but my eldest son really loved his brother and wanted to help him start anew."


    "And what do you think that does to a person? Especially one with an inferiority complex like your youngest?" Yun Qian Meng prompted.


    "We created a monster. Wenxi allowed his brother to see power and success up close and he wanted more. He asked for things and he received it without question¡­ and I think he forgot that he was not the person who worked to get there."


    "He thought he had earned his success by his own merit," Qian Meng ended with a bang.


    Mr. Bai looked up.


    "Wenxi was going to inherit the company. I was ready to slowly hand over all executive power to him and retire," he sighed. "Wenxi had the ability to make the company into something big. Better than I could have ever made it on my own." He looked into the distance, remembering something.

 Chapter 131: Want You As My Daughter

    "And did Bai Ye Qing know this?" she asked.


    "He did. He was a little bitter but he smiled and nodded as always."


    Qian Meng felt pity for this man.


    "Receiving a favor can be oppressive. It means he was chosen because he was family and not because he was deserving," Bai Yu said slowly. "Ye Qing wasn''t very friendly with his brother for a period of time, but he was still nice."


    The fake niceness had ebbed away.


    "Friends and family are like the jaws and teeth of a dangerous animal. If you are not careful, you will find them chewing you up," Qian Meng warned. "I find the circumstances of Bai Wenxi''s death suspicious."


    "And now, I can''t even trust my own son¡­" he trailed off.


    "Do you really wish to retire, Mr. Bai?" Qian Meng asked finally.


    The man nodded. "I want to enjoy the last few years of my life. I want to go fishing and watch opera. Thirty years of struggling to build a name for myself and my company and now that I am finally there, I want to give it to someone who can carry on the legacy and rest."


    Qian Meng nodded. "People think that being at the helm of a successful company is a powerful position to be in. In reality, we are all alone, surrounded by enemies, always having to look over our shoulders. We are in the least powerful, least secure position in the world." Qian Meng gave a sad smile of her own.


    Bai Yu looked at her with fascination. "Did you know, I only agreed to meet you because I thought you would be the perfect person to carry my company on. I wanted you to marry one of my sons. I had known of you for a while and last year when Mr. Yun approached us, I thought it would be best for Wenxi and you to get to know one another. I really thought you would hit it off."


    "Your eldest son?" Qian Meng was surprised. She hadn''t known that the arrangement had been in planning for so long before she found out about it.


    "Yes. You would have been great friends. Your personalities are much alike. Fiercely loyal and business-minded. You would have got along well." He shook his head to clear his mind of the thought. "I wanted you as a daughter and I loved the possibility of it."


    Qian Meng felt her eyes water. "I would have enjoyed being your daughter." God knows she had lucked out in the parent department. She hadn''t received a shred of affection in that department. Seeing this man who could so easily tell him that he would have liked to have her as a daughter, she really wanted to go to another world where he, indeed, was her father.


    "Mr. Bai, please consider letting someone else take over your company," Qian Meng pleaded.


    "Isn''t that why you called me here?" Bai Yu cracked a smile. "I knew what you wanted, Qian Meng. And call me Uncle."


    Qian Meng tested the word on her tongue. "Uncle¡­" she whispered. It felt right. He sighed before starting. "If you want to retire, please do. But please let me get a stake in the company. I fear for you and your life." She gave him a pointed stare.


    "Why so?" he asked, startled.


    "Bai Wenxi passed away shortly after Ye Qing felt threatened. And now he has seen you here¡­ with me."


    "And you think he will attack me?" He sounded shocked.


    "I know you don''t think he is capable of it, but it is possible. I want to safeguard you. He looks at me like a threat now and he knows he can''t do anything to me. So, he will target you. So, please be careful." She quieted down.


    "What are you going to do to him?" he asked.


    "Make sure he doesn''t hurt me and my company any longer. I am not going to send him to jail or get him punished. He will live comfortably if he doesn''t do anything bad to me," that was all she could tell him.


    "The company¡­ the price, will it drop?" he asked.


    Good thing he was thinking about his company a little more than his son. "It might."


    "And are you taking advantage of my vulnerable state and buying my company by planting the seed of doubt in my head, Yun Qian Meng?"


    She didn''t know how to respond. "I won''t lie about that. I am saying all of this to you because I want to buy the company from you. But I want to do so before the price drops and investors start pulling out. I want to buy it out fairly because something is pushing my father to go to any lengths to get me married to your son." She stopped to think. "I genuinely like you, Uncle. I feel a deep connection with you and I want to be associated with you in the long run and I don''t mean as business partners. And I worry about your health. I don''t want you to end up as another victim."


    Bai Yu grew silent. "Thank you for your honesty. I didn''t think you would admit to manipulating me. And thank you for your concern." He looked at Qian Meng with a desolate look. "I don''t know if I can condemn my son¡­ but give me some time, okay?"


    Qian Meng nodded. "Why don''t we finish our game? Let''s not let this taint our date." She smiled.


    Bai Yu broke out into laughter. "I have never been on a date. I met my wife through arrangements and never had a daughter to go out on dates with. So, I am pleased!"


    The game continued and slowly but surely, Qian Meng found herself lagging behind. She was a good player, an excellent player, but she wanted Mr. Bai to win this round.


    He shouldn''t need to feel defeated in front of her. She had appealed to him unlike ever before. She was unused to being emotional in front of others when it came to business, but this man was trustworthy.

 Chapter 132: Hold Hands and Sing

    Qian Meng''s phone rang and she looked at the screen. She didn''t feel the smile on her lips but Bai Yu saw it clearly.


    She picked it up. "Hey," she said quickly.


    Her voice softened and Mr. Bai placed a hand over his mouth so she couldn''t see him chuckling.


    "Hey, are you in your office still? Done with your meeting?" Mo Qingchen asked from the other side.


    "I am in a personal meeting. Why?" she asked, confused. "When are you sending the agreement over?"


    "I am coming out of my office building right now. I should arrive in a few minutes," he announced.


    "You''re coming yourself?" Qian Meng asked, her voice rising in surprise.


    "Yes. If it''s a personal meeting, it won''t matter if I intruded. Who is it, though?" he asked. She could hear the curiosity in his voice.


    "It''s Mr. Bai," she said in a low voice.


    "Your ex-fianc¨¦''s father? Are you holding hands and singing about a relationship lost?" he made the biting remark.


    "No. Shut up and get here quickly," she commanded. She hung up the phone without another word and turned to Mr. Bai with a apologetic smile.


    "Am I intruding by staying longer?" Bai Yu commented.


    "No, no! It''s just¡­" she started to laugh.


    "The guy must be handsome," he teased. Qian Meng felt her jaw drop. "Your voice changed when you picked up the phone." He burst into laughter at her expression.


    Qian Meng felt a blush rising up her cheeks. She was unabashed in most things but having an elder tease was a new experience.


    - - - - -


    Mo Qingchen was going to walk across the street to Qian Meng''s office building.


    ''How does one dress to go see their fianc¨¦ at work? Is Yun Qian Meng even officially my fianc¨¦?'' He looked down at his clothes and couldn''t help but frown.


    He had thrown on some jeans with a band t-shirt. It was slightly nicer than he usually wore to the office. His hair was messy and he probably looked a little sick.


    The inside of the building was fancy. It had fancy tiles, decoration, and extremely well-dressed employees walking around. Mo Qingchen knew which floor her office was located on but the receptionist looked at him with alarm, making him pause.


    "Hi, can I help you?" she asked with a sickening fake smile, looking up from her computer as Mo Qingchen approached.


    "Yes, I am here to see Yun Qian Meng," he stated.


    "Do you have an appointment with her?" she asked.


    "No, but she asked me to go up to her office. I''m Mo Qingchen," he stated.


    "Oh! Certainly. You can go straight to the elevator. Get out on her floor and go right down the hall," she said, pointing towards the direction of the elevator. "Keep going until you have to make a right and then there will be a huge door glass door at the end of the hallway. Go through it and you should be in a small room with two doors off of it. Miss Li, the executive secretary''s desk is there and she will inform Miss Yun that you''re here and then direct you from there."


    Mo Qingchen frowned.


    ''What is this, an obstacle course? Do I get a shiny gold ring to deliver and a hobbit to accompany me on my journey?''


    "Thank you," he replied gruffly.


    Mo Qingchen followed her directions and made his way to the see-through door that took her into a tiny room. There were five chairs lined up against the wall and a sizeable desk.


    "Hello, what can I do for you?" the secretary asked him as she slowly raised her head. She paused when she saw his face and stood up abruptly.


    "I''m here to see Yun Qian Meng," he announced.


    "Mr. Mo. I''ll inform her right now." Li Min smiled at him and then picked up her phone and pressed one of the numbers and then waited.


    "Boss, I have Mr. Mo waiting here to see you¡­ okay, certainly," she replied after a quick pause.


    She hung up the phone and then looked back up at Mo Qingchen.


    "Miss Yun''s office is right through that door," she said, pointing to the door on her right.


    "Thank you," he mumbled as he walked over to it.


    He considered knocking but he had already informed two people that she was here, so he just walked right in and closed the door behind him.


    Yun Qian Meng was sitting on the sofa in front of a table. On the other side was Bai Yu, Bai Ye Qing''s father. The other man stared right back at him.


    The office had a breathtaking view of the city through a large full-length window beside her desk, he also had a clear view of his own office building. Other than that, the office was rather boring.


    "Mo Qingchen! You found the office without a hitch, I see," she said with a greeting.


    "Hello," he said in his proper business voice, which was really just a mockery of her friendly tone. His eyes flickered to Mr. Bai.


    "Come sit," she urged, pointing to the seat beside her. Mo Qingchen walked over and sat down before placing the file beside him.


    "Mr. Mo, I am Bai Yu," the older man introduced himself. Mo Qingchen appraised him from head to toe and then frowned. He wasn''t like the flamboyant son of his, so Mo Qingchen didn''t know what to think.


    "Yes, I know you," Mo Qingchen retorted without much emotion. He was gauging if this man was trustworthy.


    "Did you bring it?" Qian Meng interrupted the awkward conversation. Mo Qingchen nodded and handed the file over to her. She looked over it while Mo Qingchen stared at the chess game playing out in front of him.


    "Mind if I play on your behalf?" he asked.


    Qian Meng shot him a look. "I''m losing miserably. Go ahead," she said. The expression in her eyes showed that she wanted him to continue in that streak. He sat down beside her and then pushed her to the side with his body so that he was comfortable.

 Chapter 133: Your Secret to Protect

    Qian Meng was squashed to the side and gritting her teeth. "You could have just asked me to move away! Insufferable scoundrel."


    She was about to get up when he grabbed her hand and pulled her down. She tumbled and jumped against his leg before squirming away and sitting on the arm of the couch.


    He went back to the game as she read through the file.


    "You don''t have to claim her as yours, Mr. Mo," Bai Yu stated with an amused smile. Mo Qingchen''s head snapped up and he almost glared at the man.


    "I don''t know what you are talking about," he stated bluntly.


    "I am not here to ask her to take back my son. We decided to have each other in our lives and maybe do some business."


    Mo Qingchen raised his brow and glanced at Yun Qian Meng who was blissfully ignoring the conversation.


    "I didn''t ask," he retorted.


    "Are you interested in Qian Meng?" he asked.


    Now, Yun Qian Meng''s ears perked up. She wanted to know how he would react.


    Mo Qingchen thought about his response. People would find out soon enough, so he didn''t mind telling everyone a little before the rumors and slander issue had been solved. Maybe it would show that even if Qian Meng was in adversary, he would stand tall behind her.


    "Qian Meng is a mesmerizing woman. No wonder so many people are interested in her," he stated.


    "Yes, I would have loved her to marry my older son, but¡­" he trailed off. "At least they could have been friends," he teased.


    "He wasn''t up to her standards. Moreover, Qian Meng and I are getting married." There was silence.


    "I see," Bai Yu whispered. "Is this a hidden marriage?" he asked, curiosity coloring his voice.


    "No. We haven''t announced it yet."


    "I wish you a great life ahead, then!" he said. He shook his head in disbelief. This Yun Qian Meng was really something else. He recognized that these two youngsters weren''t in love, but they had a strong attraction that would, no doubt, entangle them romantically.


    He couldn''t see how they would not fall irrevocably in love with one another shortly.


    "You are the only person who knows of this apart from the two of us. If news leaks before the issue with your son is resolved, I will know who it was," Mo Qingchen threatened.


    Bai Yu was taken aback.


    "Check and mate," Mo Qingchen announced.


    Qian Meng looked at him in disbelief and smacked his arm. "Why did you do that?" she hissed.


    Bai Yu burst out into laughter. "I knew you were letting me win!" He didn''t sound offended.


    "I don''t like to lose," Mo Qingchen said in a low and threatening voice. He looked at Bai Yu, his meaning clear.


    He especially didn''t like it if he was playing a hand on her behalf and lost. He wouldn''t allow that. Ever.


    "Good. A protective and affectionate partner is good for you, Yun Qian Meng," Bai Yu announced. "I wish the two of you a great life ahead." He moved his sleeve back and looked at his clock. "Thank you for the stimulating game. I need to go now," he announced finally.


    Qian Meng stood up after him. "Already?" she asked following him to the door.


    "Yes. Enjoy your time together. A little romance in the office is good for your soul," he stated with a smile. "Mr. Mo, I look forward to the wedding," he claimed. He extended his hand, which Mo Qingchen took.


    The squeezed the gentleman''s hand before letting it go. Bai Yu wasn''t disturbed.


    "No need to walk me out," he said slowly.


    ''Good thing. The girl was all alone. Now she has someone to rely on emotionally,'' Bai Yu thought as he walked out.


    "Why did you do that?" Qian Meng asked once Mr. Bai was out of earshot.


    "I don''t know what you are talking about," he replied nonchalantly. "Is there anything you wanted to speak to me about? The agreement, that is?" he asked.


    Qian Meng thought for a moment, but she drew blank.


    "I can''t think of anything now. But I will let you know. I''ll send it to Li Jun, my lawyer and he could come up with something I didn''t think about. This should be done in a couple of days," she informed.


    "Well, I''ll get going then," he said finally.


    "Are you feeling okay?" she asked when he was about to leave.


    "I already told you that, didn''t I?" he asked. "Why?"


    "I have an appointment with my designer today because I needed to alter some clothes. Do you want to come along? I''ll just tell her you are tagging along with me," Qian Meng''s voice was almost a whisper.


    "I am done with work for the day, so I can go with you." He blinked. "Oh! I just remembered. We should do comprehensive medical checks. Just in case," he added quickly, not wanting to offend her.


    "Right. How did I forget that? We need a full-body checkup, don''t we?" I thought about it.


    "I''ll get an appointment at a private hospital. The one where our family gets all procedures done is ideal. They''ll keep everything under wraps," he commented.


    "Oh, to know the dirty secrets of the Mo family," she joked.


    Mo Qingchen flashed a small smile. "You''ll be a Mo very soon. It''s also going to be your secret to protect." His voice was deep, but his tone light.


    Qian Meng jerked with surprise. She hadn''t thought about that. Though her surname wouldn''t change, she would indeed be part of another family. Suddenly the reality that she was not only getting married to Mo Qingchen but getting unequivocally entangled with his family pressed upon her.


    I mean¡­ how bad could they be?


    Mo Qingchen was there if something was amiss.


    "Book it," she said immediately, not lingering on the topic. "Why don''t we go ahead and see if we can get the gossip train rolling?" she asked with a smirk.

 Chapter 134: This Fine Man is Hers

    "Excuse me?" Mo Qingchen asked, confused.


    "Come on." She extended her hand towards him. "Come with me. I''ll show you."


    "You want me to hold your hand?" he asked.


    "Try not to look so disgusted," she responded, laughing. "We''ve already groped and kissed. It''s a shame if we don''t hold hands. You''re going to have to get used to it soon, anyway. Trust me."


    He stood there, looking at her hand for another moment before taking it tentatively. He laced their fingers together securely and she led the way to the door of the office. They walked through the door and into the tiny room with Li Min in it.


    Qian Meng could feel Li Min''s eyes on them the whole way. They walked out of the room without paying attention to her and down the long hallway that he had come through.


    They passed a few people in the hall that looked at their linked hands curiously, but nobody said anything. They made a left where they had to and then ended back out in front of the elevator. The elevator had a few people on it, who remained eerily silent throughout the ride until they walked out into the large entrance hall were the receptionist Mo Qingchen had come across earlier sat.


    Qian Meng stopped walking and turned to face him, pulling him into a tight hug. But it wasn''t just any hug. It was a full body embrace. She dropped his hand so that her arms could circle around her waist and he instinctively wrapped his hand around her. Her hands caressed his lower back and the curve of his ass in a very non-platonic way.


    Behind Mo Qingchen, Yun Qian Meng could see the people at the desk shamelessly staring at them.


    Mo Qingchen nuzzled his face into her hair and whispered into her ear. "I didn''t think you would be so bold¡­ or such a natural actress."


    "Now that those people have seen us together, I will give it half an hour before the whole office is gossiping about the new man in my life." She smiled mischeviously.


    To all the people around, it looked like they were whispering sweet nothings to one another, but in reality, they were informing one another what they were doing. As they pulled away from the lingering hug, he placed a quick kiss on her cheek.


    "You still have a scandal to handle. Don''t go overboard," he warned.


    "My employees know not to talk to outsiders. The backlash is worse than any monetary benefit they could get from leaking the news." She gave him a little wink.


    This vixen!


    "I guess I''ll talk to you soon, then. Text me the time of your appointment and give me a ride, okay?" he mumbled, not sure what else to say.


    Ah, to think Mo Qingchen was left without words.


    "Absolutely, have a good afternoon," she said with a smile.


    He turned on his heel and walked off in the opposite direction. He didn''t get very far before Yun Qian Meng called out to him.


    "Oh, Qingchen, I forgot something!" Qian Meng called out to him.


    "What?" he asked as she turned back to face her.


    Qian Meng strutted his way over to him, closing the distance between them with a full-fledged smirk on her face. When she got to him, she placed her hand to the side of his face and brushed away his hair from his face, exposing his for her to once again whisper. She got on her toes despite the heel to get closer.


    "Your ass looks fantastic in those jeans," she whispered in a husky voice that he had definitely never heard her use before. "I may have to consider allowing you to keep those in the upgraded wardrobe. I quite like the idea of taking you out in those in public and letting everyone know that ass is coming home with me. That this fine man¡­ is mine."


    Mo Qingchen never got embarrassed, but he could feel heat flood his cheeks as Qian Meng spoke into his ear. He was left speechless, which was rare for him. As she pulled back and looked at his face, all he could think to do was give her a weak smile.


    As he turned and continued his walk outside, he had an extra spring in his step.


    This woman was going to be the death of him.


    What happened to that innocent nun fa?ade he had all these years? How had she turned into a deviant that would pounce on him? Moreover, he had to control himself not to pounce on her before she could do anything.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng took the elevator back up and this time, people looked at her with polite curiosity. She could hear mumbles here and there and she knew that the gossip was spreading faster than the speed of light.


    She was about to go inside her office when Li Min stopped her.


    "Boss, Li Jun asked us to prepare a video of you apologizing. You can discuss the particulars and what you will post on the website on your own," her words were quick and precise.


    "Got it," Qian Meng responded. "Right. If Mo Qingchen had come earlier, I could have handed Li Jun the agreement. Now I need to make a stop at his firm before going to the appointment."


    Li Min blinked. "Boss, can I ask you something?" Her voice was low and unassuming.


    "I was waiting for you to ask," Qian Meng smiled.


    Li Min coughed. "I am not asking this for gossip, but is there something going on between you and Mr. Mo from the opposite building?" Qian Meng wanted to roll her eyes.


    ''Opposite building, just say that you are timid in making a huge assumption and still want to show that you are fine with having the man as the common enemy you need to guard against.''


    "Didn''t I ask you about getting married? I promise its not to spite you, though." Qian Meng smirked.

 Chapter 135: Waste of Good Promotion

    "Boss! Wasn''t he your enemy?" she squeaked, unable to believe this news.


    "You just saw me hold his hand. Ask everyone in the office about how lovey-dovey we are."


    Li Min sank into her seat. "You did arrive in his car and disappeared for a night. You didn''t go back to the hotel, either. Did you hide a sizzling romance with Mr. Mo and dupe me into thinking you were rivals like everyone else?"


    Qian Meng saw the other''s expression and thought she was about to cry.


    "Why? Are you upset you didn''t get to grab the popcorn and watch the show?" Qian Meng teased.


    "No, I thought you were batting away all men from your side and now you are getting married." And then she became silent. "But you don''t have friends. Who is going to be your maid of honor?"


    Her eyes sparkled.


    "We are not having a grand wedding. We''ll sign the contracts, go to the Civil Affairs Bureau and get it done with."


    Li Min grimaced. What a waste of good publicity for the company. She wouldn''t even get the good food that could be expected at the wedding of billionaires. Such a shame.


    Qian Meng seemed to see through her intentions. "I''ll treat you to excellent food, don''t worry," she snickered. "Which reminds me. Our company has policies for weddings, right? What is the leave like?"


    She would enjoy a few days off. If only Mo Qingchen could stop working for a few days.


    "We have the day of the wedding off or the next working day. And three days of paid leave for the honeymoon," Li Min recited. "You won''t qualify as a late wedding, or you would have gotten a week off. But if you do get pregnant and have a baby¡­ that''s a different issue!"


    Qian Meng glared. "I just thought about getting married and you are thinking about babies. Who said anything about little people?" She rolled her eyes. "Keep it down and make sure none of the employees leak the news to the media. Not before the current crisis blows over."


    Li Min interrupted. "Wouldn''t it have more impact if people found out that you were in a relationship and Bai Ye Qing was still pursuing you? Furthermore, the other woman was your fianc¨¦''s baby sister. Now that is salacious!" It would be Qian Meng''s style to use her cards ruthlessly. So, what was holding her back this time?


    "No need to pull Mo Qingchen into this. He is a peace-loving man who only thinks about business. Gossip and pulling his sister into the picture will not be to his taste," Qian Meng explained. "So, be careful," she warned finally.


    "I bet he doesn''t like the name of his soon-to-be wife dragged in the mud either," Li Min stated casually.


    Qian Meng stiffened for a second and thought back to how worried he had been. How enraged he had been when he read the comments.


    She pushed the door open and picked up her phone to give Li Jun a call.


    "Are you free at six-thirty today? I need to drop something at your office for you to see," Qian Meng said when she was finally seated and ready to call Li Jun.


    "And I can guess that this doesn''t have to do with Bai Ye Qing or the current lawsuit you have on hand but Mr. Mo who you are making another agreement with."


    Qian Meng fell silent. "You saw his name on my phone. You should know." She didn''t need to explain.


    "I understand. I will make no comments. The nature of the agreement is personal so I will ensure no one else is involved in the process and it remains between the parties and respective lawyers only. Is that okay?"


    Qian Meng smiled. "Thank you. It''s just an agreement. Nothing too scandalous," she said after a while.


    "I don''t care how scandalous it is. As long as it is legally binding," Li Jun grunted. "I will see you soon. Please don''t be late. I have a lot of work to finish." And then he stopped short. "Please send me the video apology after you make it so that I am sure it complies with the settlement."


    "No problem. I''ll make it in the next hour and share it with you."


    The call ended and she called Li Min in. "How good is your phone camera?" Qian Meng asked.


    Li Min blinked. "It is excellent quality. The best out there at the moment," she said proudly. "Are we going to make the video now?"


    Qian Meng nodded. "I need to send it to Li Jun and post it on social media and website soon."


    - - - - -


    It was six and Qian Meng messaged Mo Qingchen.


    [Done with work. Coming over to pick you up.]


    His reply came within a few minutes. [Sure.]


    Qian Meng took her binoculars to the window and peered at his office. She saw the office go dark and smiled.


    Always on time. As she suspected.


    She packed up her things and left the office.


    "Boss, the IT team has been given all the text and documentation with the format. The video will go live on your social media account at 8 in the evening and the social media marketing team will share the post on our official social media accounts with the link to documents and text."


    Qian Meng nodded. Eight in the evening was the time when most of the world was on the internet, scrolling through social media for the hottest post. They were getting home from work, stuck in traffic, cooking food or playing games, and chatting with their friends. Everyone was online. And Qian Meng wanted the exposure of this video to be the greatest it could be.


    That was her style.


    All in or nothing.


    "Thank you. I''ll let Li Jun''s team and marketing keep an eye out. If there is something important just give me a call. My phone will be on me at all times," Qian Meng prompted before heading down.

 Chapter 136: Hopelessly in Love

    The street was busy and cars whizzed past. She waited patiently for the traffic lights and saw Mo Qingchen waiting on the opposite pavement with his hands stuffed in his pocket. People turned to look at him, especially employees who were just done with work. They lurked around, wondering who their boss was waiting for.


    Qian Meng finally crossed and tapped on his shoulder.


    "Why are you waiting outside?" she asked, looking at him weirdly.


    "Didn''t you ask me to put on a show to convince everyone we are hopelessly in love?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.


    "And you thought waiting outside in the cold when you just recovered is a good idea?" Qian Meng asked in disbelief. "And you really think people will believe that Mo Qingchen, stuck-up extraordinary would wait outside for someone?" she scoffed.


    "Well, they better believe it. Because I just waited seven minutes for you to arrive," he retorted snidely.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes and almost missed the car keys that were thrown at her. She scrambled to take them and then clutched it in her hand before going to the driver''s side and opening the door.


    She could see people gape and realized that with her hair undone and thrashing away with the wind, nobody could see who it was and people were genuinely flabbergasted that their boss let a woman drive his car. His precious car that only he touches.


    Mo Qingchen slid in and Qian Meng finally smiled.


    "I''m surprised you are letting me drive the car," she said. It was the same car she had driven without his knowledge.


    "Well, you already drove it the other day. No point in making excuses or protesting now." He smirked. The knowing look made her want to strangle him. "I''ll catch some sleep as you drive, okay? I feel tired."


    Her eyes softened and she nodded. "Get some sleep."


    The image of him collapsed on the floor flooded back into her mind and worry grew.


    "Oh, I have to make a stop at the law firm. I''ll drop off the agreement. I''ll sign and return tomorrow or the day after, okay?" she said.


    "So, law firm and then the appointment with a designer, right?" Mo Qingchen said.


    "Correct." And then she sighed. "Some news is going to hit at eight and my phone is going to blow up with phone calls. If it goes our way, good. Or else, I''ll have to look for a new way to clear my name."


    Mo Qingchen was silent. "Did you make a risky gamble?" he asked quietly.


    "No, I made an informed decision. It will go well. I just want to be prepared if it doesn''t," Qian Meng shrugged.


    "Understood." Mo Qingchen said nothing further. He placed his head back on the seat and pretended to doze. He rarely fell asleep. Even in the confines of his car with the scent of his car freshener and her mingling together and filling his nostrils, he was anxious.


    He was worried.


    And he couldn''t sleep.


    It was a while before the car stopped.


    Mo Qingchen blinked his eyes open and saw Qian Meng undoing her belt. Her eyes flitted to his face and she looked surprised.


    "Catch some sleep, okay? I''ll be right back," she promised.


    "Okay," he replied softly and fluttered his eyes closed once again.


    Once she disappeared into the skyscraper, Mo Qingchen pulled his cellphone out and searched through the internet for all the posts on the crisis. His eyes filled with rage but he held it in. He made screenshots and bookmarked several pages before clicking the phone off.


    From the corner of his eyes, Mo Qingchen saw her saunter back over to the car and enter. He pressed his eyes closed and felt her eyes on him. After a moment, the car started up and they were zooming down the road.


    "Mo Qingchen," he heard her whisper after a long time. He stirred and blinked when he opened his eyes.


    "Mm?"


    "We''ve reached. Get up slowly." She wasn''t impatient as he slowly woke up. He had fallen asleep without his knowledge. He stretched his shoulder and neck before turning to her.


    "How long have we been here?" he asked slowly.


    "Not long," she said calmly as she undid her seatbelts. The building they were parked in front of was a duplex with a fashionable exterior. He looked with interest at the architecture before trotting inside the building.


    "Miss Yun," one of the younger employees approached them as soon as they entered.


    "Ah, where is Daniel?" Qian Meng asked slowly.


    "Daniel is in the office designing. Should I call him?" the girl asked.


    "Yeah, I spoke to him about designing a new wardrobe. He said he would be free," Qian Meng stated. "Did he go into another creative period?" She chuckled softly.


    "Yes!" the girl sounded abashed. "I thought you were just going to alter your clothing. But I''ll call him right now," she said.


    She scurried away up the stairs and Qian Meng leaned into Mo Qingchen.


    "Choi Daniel. He''s a very famous designer but you probably don''t know him. His family has been in the fashion business for a long time¡­ as in they used to be royal tailors." She raised her brow at him. "Daniel designs whatever he likes¡­ wedding dresses, gowns, shirts¡­ whatever he feels like. He really enjoys making full wardrobes and I love his clothes, so I buy my daily wear from him."


    "You like your clothes, so I suppose that is good," Mo Qingchen responded dispassionately.


    "You will like it too. He bases his designs on the likes of the person, their comfort and the fashion sense." She looked him over. "I suppose everything looks good on you, so it won''t be a hard task to make your wardrobe."


    Mo Qingchen smirked. "Shall I take that as a compliment?" he asked.


    "I was just stating facts, no need to be flattered."


    "Qian Meng!" she heard the yell and turned.

 Chapter 137: Beautifully Played

    "Will I be clothing this exquisite man beside you?" he asked, inspecting the model in front of him.


    "Yes!" Qian Meng agreed. "Daniel, meet Mo Qingchen."


    Daniel froze for a second before resuming composure. "Qian Meng, you are buying clothes for your arch-nemesis? I have heard how you gritted your teeth about him and your jaws still hurt!" he teased.


    "Shut up," Qian Meng hissed. "Get me to the changing and trial rooms and do the meeting with him there. He will bail if I am not beside him." She rolled her eyes.


    Mo Qingchen glanced at her but didn''t contradict it.


    Qian Meng was trying on clothes and going through the fitting process while Daniel walked Mo Qingchen through material and styles.


    "Why is there so much to go through? I thought you could only have so many things to wear," Mo Qingchen groaned.


    "And that''s why you spent your life wearing t-shirts and jeans," Qian Meng countered. She hissed when a pin pricked her skin and the girl apologized.


    Mo Qingchen looked up immediately and after appraising the damage, started to rub the fabrics between his finger to understand what would be comfortable.


    Her phone buzzed. And it kept buzzing.


    Mo Qingchen glanced at it and sighed. "Qian Meng, it has been released," he informed.


    Qian Meng sucked in a deep breath. "Well, it is about time. No use getting excited yet," she admitted. "Keep my phone in your hand and only pick up calls from Li Min and Li Jun, okay?"


    "Okay." He didn''t pick up the calls but he stopped talking to Daniel and scrolled through his phone. He put his earphones on and listened to the video uploaded to Qian Meng''s social media.


    The blue tick beside her name was jarring. Mo Qingchen was sure he had an account that his secretary ran, but he had no clue what went on it. Neither did he care.


    Mo Qingchen saw her sitting in her office, on the same couch he had sat and played chess with Bai Yu. Behind her was the wide work desk and the logo of Venus watermarked on the wall.


    Qian Meng opened with an introduction, who she was, what she had done so far in her career, her degrees, and recommendation. She also made an introduction to Bai Ye Qing, his career so far, his degree, and his recommendation. And after the introduction, Qian Meng explained that she did wreck Bai Ye Qing''s car because allegedly he was cheating multiple women financially and emotionally. Furthermore, she thought that his advances were uncomfortable and aggressive. She went on to say that they would have no connection with one another due to personal and professional disagreements and any other comments made by her or any other person involved in this case claiming Bai Ye Qing''s personal behavior was deplorable was false and that Qian Meng was sorry if Bai Ye Qing or anybody else was hurt by this.


    In essence, anyone who saw the video understood exactly who Bai Ye Qing was, and even if Yun Qian Meng didn''t say it in words, it was clear she thought very bad things about Bai Ye Qing.


    Right after being uploaded to her social media, the video was shared by all Venus social media accounts, and a subsite under the company website was created showing the video and all the related documents, including the threatening letter the lawyer sent in his firm paper.


    Mo Qingchen looked up at Yun Qian Meng with awe.


    "You saw it?" she chuckled when she saw his expression. "What do you think?" she asked.


    "Beautifully played. Isn''t this going to come back to you, though?" he asked, just in case.


    "Nope. I followed the agreement down to the last letter," she prompted. "Ah! I need to text the link to Bai Ye Qing and apologize to Mr. Bai for the raucous." She pulled the phone out of Mo Qingchen''s hand and smiled.


    She copied the links, pasted them in the message, and added a short line. [That settles the matter. Don''t contact me ever again.]


    Sent.


    She then typed out a message to Mr. Bai.


    [Uncle, as promised, I did not reveal any of his criminal activity. I have dropped all charges against him and only published the material regarding the case which will clear my name.]


    She closed the cellphone and turned to Mo Qingchen with a smile.


    "Li Min has already tipped off the media houses as per the agreement. They will be covering it in detail. Now, we need to wait for public opinion to come in. What do you think?" she asked. Her eyes gleamed with excitement.


    "Beautifully done," Mo Qingchen praised without a thought. "I''ll be convinced it was perfectly done if the news covers favorably. How are sales?" he prompted.


    Qian Meng smacked her lips together. "More things added to the cart. I haven''t received information about more sales. Let a few hours pass and we will have some definite numbers on how the news was taken."


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "Numbers and sales speak true, don''t they?"


    And then he smirked. "I''ll be right back," he prompted. He got up before Qian Meng could ask what he was up to and walked out of the room.


    Once outside, he called the one number he had never thought he would call.


    Su Jin. She picked the phone up after two rings.


    "Mr. Mo, how can I help you?" she asked hesitantly.


    "I have a proposal for you," he began. It was the weird superiority that stunned Su Jin. She stopped and sat up straight. "I assume you have seen Yun Qian Meng''s video¡­"


    She grew silent. "I have. Do you want me to do an expose?" she asked. She would flat out deny if that was the case.


    "Absolutely not. Get the primetime slot and debate it," he said calmly. "Pick apart issues of financial and emotional violence and how this has affected the company. Get a team of specialists in. You know what to do," he prompted.

 Chapter 138: Sold Out

    "Why are you doing this?" she asked, perplexed.


    "Helping an enemy out," Mo Qingchen bit out. "People will jump at the opportunity to comment. Make it a big issue. You''ll get ad revenue like never before and a recommendation for your brother."


    Silence. "I will let you know about this." Nothing more.


    Mo Qingchen hung up and went back.


    So far, he knew that all the gossip magazines would be covering this. Financial news outlets were slowly reducing how much they covered this matter. So, he had to give a little push, knowing than Yun Qian Meng wouldn''t go that route.


    It seemed forced but he felt like he should help out a little.


    He pushed his phone back into his pocket and went back into dressing room.


    Qian Meng followed him closely as she spoke to Daniel about business.


    "Done?" she asked.


    "Yes," he said without explaining further.


    They looked like an old couple as they picked out his new wardrobe. The shirts they tried on were soft and comfortable. And at the end, Qian Meng slapped her hand on her knees and got up.


    She pulled out her wallet and gave her card to Daniel. "Go ham. I''ll make the deposit now," she said with a smile.


    "What are you doing?" Mo Qingchen growled. He grabbed her wrist and pulled it back. "Don''t take it," he warned Daniel.


    The man looked between the couple and took a step back. "You two decide who is paying and I will be downstairs." He crawled away and looked over his shoulder at the man and woman who were now glaring at one another.


    "Why are you paying?" Qingchen demanded to know.


    "I am the one who asked you to get a new wardrobe, so I should be paying for it," she replied firmly.


    "But I am the one wearing all those clothes!"


    "I am the one who sees it on you every day," she countered.


    "That makes no sense," he protested. He was still holding her hand, his grip was light and she didn''t hurt in the least, so she let him hold her a little longer.


    "It does. When we watch a movie, we pay for the ticket to do so." Mo Qingchen huffed.


    "Did you even hear how that sounded?" he questioned.


    "It''s a gift," she prompted. "Do I need to spell it out for you? In a way, I want you to look good for me, so I am buying you these clothes. What''s so wrong with that?"


    Mo Qingchen drew his hand back, suddenly confused about how he should counter. He didn''t know how to react. He nodded numbly and raked his hand through his hair as he composed himself.


    "Good. Let''s go pay!" she chuckled.


    And she did just that. Her phone rang and she looked at the screen and her body grew tense.


    "What is it?" she asked, worry lacing her voice.


    "Boss, the sales team reported a spike in sales. And more people added the sold out goods to their carts and watchlists for when they come back in stock."


    Qian Meng sagged with relief. "I thought our share prices plummeted," she admitted.


    "It''s after hours. The market isn''t even open yet. Why did you think the price fell?" Mo Qingchen snickered. Qian Meng turned to glare at him.


    "Give me the figures," she whispered. She crossed her fingers and waited.


    She heard the clicking in the background before Li Min spoke.


    "We currently have over two million page visits today. There are currently one-fifty-five thousand people on the website. This is not including the people at the sub-website. We are literally talking about the shop page." There was silence. "And we are selling out on most collections."


    Qian Meng groaned. "When do we get the final sales reports?" she asked. She was tapping her foot impatiently.


    "Tomorrow morning at eleven," Li Min said quickly.


    "And if everything sells out, when will the restock come?" she asked. "We need to keep everything ready and ride the wave, okay?" she asked.


    "Restocks are due in a week," Li Min informed quietly. "I am formulating a post on behalf of the company asking people to head to our twenty-four-hour physical outlets. They are still stocked. And asking them to stay tuned for restocks and upcoming collections," she said.


    Qian Meng could hear the furious typing in the background and breathed in relief.


    "Okay, great. Once you are done typing it out, send it to me. I will edit it once and then you can post it. Anything on the IT front that I need to be aware of?" she asked.


    "The site went down for a couple of seconds because of the overflow of traffic, but we got it up quickly," Li Min was all business. "The IT team is rationing the incoming traffic right now. The marketing team is keeping tabs on what people are saying about the company and there is slight frustration."


    Qian Meng hummed. "The post should dissuade that and divert traffic to the stores." She looked at Mo Qingchen helplessly. "Okay, we need to rush restock, don''t we?"


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "Don''t get overwhelmed. Think carefully. How do you ride it out? How do you increase the sales?"


    Qian Meng screwed her eyes shut. "We can restock in a smaller quantity. Limited goods mean driving up demand," she analyzed slowly.


    "Good. It would decrease the time needed to restock on your website and warehouses, too, right?" Mo Qingchen prompted.


    She nodded. She snapped back on the phone. "Call the factories. We should have one-third of the total orders ready. Wait for a day after we are all sold out and then start selling the new stocks, understood?"


    "Relaying the information to the team," Li Min said in a professional but calm voice.


    "Okay, I am hanging up now," Qian Meng said quickly. She did just that and stared at Mo Qingchen.


    "I change my statement. It was not beautifully done. It was perfect," he said with a smile.

 Chapter 139: Qian Mengs Qingchen

    She swore in her mind. "We need to celebrate," she whispered. Her eyes gleamed with excitement. "I know just the place!" she shouted. She grabbed Mo Qingchen and led him outside without a goodbye.


    "Where are we going?" he asked.


    "Secret," she whispered conspiratorially.


    They drove for half an hour before Qian Meng turned off the engine and faced him. "We''re here!" she exclaimed.


    He looked around. "Lovely neighborhood."


    Qian Meng gasped. "Do you mean it?"


    He scanned the parameter of the car. "No, I don''t mean it. We are in a filthy, rundown neighborhood."


    Qian Meng glanced over and saw a woman who had stuffed herself into a neon pink, leopard print jumpsuit. Mo Qingchen was looking at the woman in question with horror and Qian Meng couldn''t help but think that he was exaggerating.


    They weren''t in a rundown neighborhood. If she ever brought his snobby ass to an actual bad neighborhood, he would get a rude awakening.


    "I wasn''t talking about the neighborhood," she let out a sigh. "Which, by the way, is urban."


    "Urban decay," he argued with his snobby nose in the air.


    "Urban art!" she countered, her arms folding over her chest tightly.


    Underground artists from all over the city flocked to this area. Untapped brilliance surrounded them. Mo Qingchen couldn''t see it at the moment, but he would soon.


    She slid out of the car and looked at him. "Get out," she ordered.


    He grudgingly came out and made sure to lock the door.


    As always, he managed to look impeccable. The man could easily become a model. Even with his ''stay away or I will kill you'' attitude, he mesmerized people. The light from the street lamp illuminated his penetrating stare as she walked towards him.


    "When you offered to celebrate, I thought we were having dinner. I didn''t expect dinner to be at a dumpster, though. I suppose that makes me a snob?" he asked quietly. His eyes roamed around them to make sure the coast was clear and there were no threats.


    "Completely," she huffed. "Dumpster dining is not only cost efficient, but offers great variety. You never know what you might find," she managed to say with a straight face.


    "I''ll pass." He grimaced, nauseated by the thought.


    "Actually," she smirked. "I have other plans for you."


    "Do you?" his tone was sinful. A wicked grin spread across his face. Her heart rate doubled instantly. Why did she react to his dark side so intensely? She wished she knew.


    "I''m so excited about it. Come on." Without even thinking, she grabbed his hand, linking their fingers together.


    There was no one around to watch them. They didn''t need to pretend to be in love. But he didn''t pull away.


    Yes, it was a small gesture, but it connected them and knowing neither people pulled away or liked making connections¡­ It was huge.


    "Meng''er!" a man exclaimed, clapping his hands together as he rushed towards her. They had barely made it through the front door. He kissed her on each cheek and smiled widely. "I knew you would come."


    Qian Meng kissed his cheek. "As if I could ever stay away." His eyes sparkled with happiness.


    Mo Qingchen stiffened beside her. She tightly gripped his hand as she glanced over at him. He gave the poor owner his most deadly glare, but he, not having an angry bone in his body, didn''t even notice. A more joyful man didn''t exist. Maybe Marcus¡­ but he was doped up most of the time.


    "This is my¡­ uh Mo Qingchen," she blurted out awkwardly, having no idea how to label him.


    His eyes shot over to Mo Qingchen and brightened immediately. "How lovely to meet you Qian Meng''s Qingchen! I am Xuxu. Welcome to the Incarnadine!" he yelled pretty much everything he said with enthusiasm.


    Mo Qingcheng gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. That was all Xuxu was getting. At least his death glare lessened a bit.


    "It''s the perfect night. Are you hungry?" he asked, grabbing Qian Meng''s free hand.


    "Yes, we''re starving. Do you have a table available?" Qian Meng should have called ahead, but she didn''t expect it to be so crowded. It was a reasonably private place and not many outside the creative sphere knew about it.


    Xuxu nodded vigorously. "Come. Let me feed you." He pulled her forward and into the crowd. Mo Qingchen was tugged along.


    Xuxu whistled as he brought us over to her favorite table, a small booth near the gallery. He released her hand and spun around to face them.


    "I will return with your food! Show your Qingchen the gallery while you wait. He will love it!" He kissed both of her cheeks again and then leaned in to kiss Mo Qingchen.


    At warp speed Mo Qingchen''s hand landed firmly at the center of Xuxu''s chest, keeping him at bay. The death glare returned, far more lethal than before. Xuxu noticed this time.


    "Oh, what a hungry man! I''ll get your food right away!" he exclaimed before dashing away to the kitchen.


    Qian Meng turned to face the dragon. "Could you please try to be less hostile?"


    "He tried to kiss me," Mo Qingchen barked as though he had been brutally assaulted.


    Qian Meng''s laughter made him scowl, which in turn made her laugh harder. "He kisses everybody!"


    "Not everybody," he grumbled.


    "Prude," she teased. "Fine. No kissing, but no death glares either."


    Mo Qingchen yanked her body closer to his. "If he tries again, he''ll get far more than that."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Stop. It''s just a friendly greeting." She lifted up on her ties and placed a soft kiss on his left cheek. She pulled back slightly and placed another one on his right, lingering a few seconds as she fought the urge to lick his chiseled jaw.


    Bad Qian Meng!


    "There. Was that so bad?"


    His eyes flickered mischievously, turning her bones to jelly. Her gaze shot away before the scoundrel frazzled her.

 Chapter 140: Want To Play Dirty

    "Don''t play coy." His lips brushed against her ear. "I''m quite sure you know the difference."


    The warmth of his breath on her skin felt fantastic. "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    "You really shouldn''t tease me like that," he warned, adding fuel to her fire.


    "Who said anything about teasing?" she had the nerve to say. Her heart pounded in her chest. He brought out a side in her she never knew existed.


    "Then would you like to continue?"


    "Now that sounds like a challenge." Her brow rose. "You really shouldn''t challenge a woman like me," she warned with a playful wink before stepping back.


    Grinning from ear to ear with excitement, she guided Mo Qingchen over to the gallery. It took her a moment to remember why she brought him there. Oddly enough, he had yet to release her hand.


    His energy weaved through her. The vibrations held out palms together like magnets. As she showed him some of her favorite works, he surprised her by seeming interested in a few of them. One, in particular, caught his eye.


    "Exceptional." His laser-like stare soaked in every detail of the painting. "Why would the artist show it here?"


    "What''s wrong with showing it here?" The Incarnadine was the ultimate catalyst for creative inspiration.


    "I don''t know much about art a work like this belongs in a genuine art gallery."


    Qian Meng snickered. "This is a genuine art gallery. Artists put their work up here for the genuine enjoyment of those who love art and not for monetary gain. But a lot of big names in the art industry frequent this place. It''s a secret location for our kind," she prompted.


    "Why did you bring me here tonight?" Mo Qingchen stared at her. "Did you want me to stand out?"


    "Of course not," she choked. "I brought you here because I want you to have fun and discover new things. Instead of appreciating beauty in conventional places, I want to show you that unexpected places can hold great significance. This place holds a great significance in my life."


    "How?" he asked. He seemed surprised.


    "University was harsh. I was working, planning my business, designing, and studying all at the same time. When I was at a road-block, I would come here to soak in the creative energy. It helped me." She looked at him. "So, when I feel uncontrollably fond, or happy, or sad, I come here to share that experience. You never know, maybe someone will draw creative energy from it!"


    "Fascinating." He looked speechless. She couldn''t tell what it meant and before she got a chance to find out, Xuxu swung his long arm around her shoulder.


    "Meng''er, dinner is served! Please come before it gets cold."


    - - - - -


    "This wasn''t as bad as I expected," Mo Qingchen commented as he placed his folded napkin on the table. He had scraped his plate clean, so Qian Meng knew he enjoyed the meal.


    "You need to work on your complimenting skills." She shook her head at him.


    "I don''t give compliments often," he stated the obvious. But he did compliment her. At times.


    "Let''s practice," she paused with a grin. "We''ll start off slow. What did you like about the meal?"


    "It didn''t taste bad," he replied dryly.


    "That''s a good thing. You had a good meal." Her smile brightened. "Qian Meng, I had a good meal," she mocked his deep voice but missed its velvety smoothness. "See how easy that was?"


    "The meal bordered on average because my expectations were low." His eyes scanned the room.


    "That is why you licked your plate clean," Qian Meng said sarcastically. "Why do you need to be so negative?" she sighed.


    "And why are you so positive about people and things?" he countered, equally frustrated.


    "Okay, let''s try this again. I am not giving up." She pressed her finger to her lip as she concentrated. "Can you think of anything about me that doesn''t bother you?"


    He leaned back into his chair. "Are you fishing for compliments?"


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Definitely not. How about I start? I find you highly intelligent." She gestured to him. "Your turn."


    Maybe she was fishing for compliments under the guise of teaching him a lesson.


    He scratched the back of his neck as he let out a puff of air. "I find you highly¡­ persuasive." Qian Meng gave him the evil eye. He clearly wanted to say that she was manipulative.


    She would beg to differ.


    "Thank you, I''ll take that as a compliment." Lifting her glass of wine, she kept her gaze on him. "I find you a talented kickboxer."


    Honestly, she didn''t know a thing about kickboxing, but he looked great doing it.


    He moved in closer to her. "I find you a talented kisser."


    She choked on her wine, causing several patrons to look at her in alarm. After recovering the ability to breathe, she held up her hand. "I''m okay. Wrong pipe."


    Mo Qingchen sat there, grinning wickedly.


    "You are evil," she whisper-shouted from across the table.


    "Thank you. I''ll take that as a compliment." He tipped his wine glass at her.


    "Alright, you want to play dirty, Mr. Mo?" she challenged with my most mischievous grin. "I find you a talented boob muncher."


    He coughed on his wine as she smirked triumphantly.


    Her gloating gaze froze when it reached his. The look in his eyes nearly forced her to crawl across the table, climb into his lap and show him the full extent of her unexplored dry humping skills.


    Slowly he scraped his thumb across his bottom lip, not generally a sexual act, but it caused her hips to tingle.


    He cleared his throat. "I find you irresistible when you look at me like that."


    Qian Meng swallowed hard. "My hips are tingling," she blurted out. Her filter disappeared, definitely not good.


    "Are they?" He seemed fascinated by this information.


    She nodded slowly.


    He snapped his fingers but it didn''t work.

 Chapter 141: Your Lover Doesnt Like to Share

    They didn''t have a personal wait staff. Qian Meng had never seen the place so packed. The waiters whizzed around the room, far too busy busting their asses to notice a finger snap.


    Mo Qingchen looked mildly appalled when no one came running.


    Such a spoiled dragon.


    "That doesn''t work here." She held back a laugh.


    She knew exactly what he wanted. He wanted dessert. And he wanted her to feed him¡­ like last time. Actually, he had wanted me to feed him the full meal. Before their food was served, she discovered he literally expected her to feed him in public.


    She nearly fell of her chair.


    Somehow, she managed to negotiate working up to a full meal. Tonight, they would start with dessert.


    Feeding him dessert with people watching would be risky. With her spastic hip, she would definitely get them arrested.


    Xuxu came by to check on them a few minutes later. Dessert at the Incarnadine was a distinct experience. As a haven for artists, the food tried to cater to all of one''s senses.


    Xuxu eyed Mo Qingchen and her carefully before he spoke to Mo Qingchen, "You must be a very special man. What can I possibly offer you as sweet as her?" He raised a brow at Qian Meng as he kissed her hand.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes darkened as he watched Xuxu''s lips brush against her skin. "You can offer us privacy."


    A warm smile lit up Xuxu''s face. "Ah, yes!" he shouted, startling Qian Meng. "Come! You''ll be very pleased."


    He guided them into a private room, small and meant for intimate dining.


    Qian Meng had one thought: Definitely not a good idea.


    Mo Qingchen''s strong presence loomed behind her. She wondered what he thought of this. Before she had a chance to speak, Xuxu kissed her cheeks with gusto.


    "I''ll have someone make you very, very happy." He pulled away from her and smiled over at Mo Qingchen. Qian Meng turned to see him glaring at Xuxu.


    Xuxu chuckled. "Meng''er, your lover does not like to share. I cannot blame him. I will leave you, but I will return. There''s still plenty of time!" In a flash, he disappeared.


    Qian Meng''s eyes ran across the room. A plush, oversized futon took up most of the space, a large coffee table sat in front of it. Dimmed lighting and soft, sensual music created a romantic vibe. The candles scattered around gave off an enchantingly sweet scent: the perfect place for lovers looking to escape the crowd.


    Qian Meng could do bad things in this room. And she knew Mo Qingchen was a scoundrel who didn''t hold back.


    Her thoughts were all over the place. She had a rational side, of course. The man was her fianc¨¦. Yes, they were getting married but he thought himself incapable of forming connections. And Yun Qian Meng felt the same way, but he made her tingle. His smile made her melt, every time. She giggled and blushed like a fool over him and his sinister side. He made her heart race with excitement.


    She turned to ask Mo Qingchen if he wanted to go back to the dining room and found a very pretty female with her hands on his shoulders.


    He abruptly swatted her away like a fly.


    "Forgive me, sir, I was going to hang your jacket so it doesn''t get wrinkled," she stammered apologetically.


    "That won''t be necessary." His eyes blazed directly into hers with intense anger.


    "I''m sorry," she gasped in horror, her face turning pale.


    Qian Meng let out a small sigh. "Please don''t apologize. You didn''t do anything wrong. He just hates people."


    "Oh," she said through widened eyes. She looked positively terrified. Qian Meng didn''t understand. He was so touchy-feely with her, and then he turned around and did this to others.


    If she were a romantic, she would wonder if he only looked at her and no one else.


    "Please make yourself comfortable. I will be right back with your dessert. Xuxu said to bring you the special. I hope that is alright?" The poor woman stuttered and shook from the single look. Such a bizarre effect he had on people.


    "That sounds wonderful," Qian Meng replied with a warm smile. The woman was ready to burst into tears. The second she slipped out of the room, Qian Meng''s eyes shot over to Mo Qingchen. "She was terrified of you."


    "She should have kept her hands off me." He shrugged with indifference.


    "She was only doing her job. Would it have been unbearable for you to let her take your jacket and politely thank her?"


    "You really have no idea what bachelors go through, do you? The jacket thing is usually an excuse." Mo Qingchen scoffed. He stepped in closer to her. "Is that what a nice guy would do?"


    "Yes." But Bai Ye Qing had also been a nice guy. She didn''t know what she thought about that breed of men any longer.


    "I''m not a nice guy." His eyes locked onto her. And she was relieved.


    "And you prefer it that way?" Qian Meng asked, holding his stare.


    "Of course," he responded instantly.


    "Why?" she wonder out loud. She wanted to figure him out.


    He pinched the bridge of his nose. "We covered this. People repulse me. I generally tolerate them but I do not allow them to touch me." His face was beautiful, but his words were downright ugly. But something or someone had made him this way. And she had a nagging feeling that it was the father of his whom he despised and rarely spoke about.


    "I repulse you?" The look in his eyes gave her the answer, but she wanted him to say it.


    "Obviously not," he stated firmly.


    "I''m honored," she teased with an overly grateful expression.


    "Perhaps you should be scared." He removed his jacket and slung it over his shoulder.


    Qian Meng snorted at his warning. "Why would I be scared?"

 Chapter 142: A Stupid Vow

    [Warning: Some sexual content up ahead]


    "Because I''m not a nice guy, Qian Meng." He sounded so sincere that it caught her off guard. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. She just stood there speechless as he strolled across the room.


    The man had given everything to his name to her and he dared to argue that he was no good? Sometimes, Qian Meng wondered if there were two parts of him raging inside: one that wanted to do good and the other who wanted to push people away completely.


    "I am not a nice girl, either," she swore.


    "Excellent. We''re a match made in heaven, then." He gave her a slow and lazy smile.


    The traumatized waitress cleared her throat beside Qian Meng. "Dessert is served. Please ring that bell if you need me." She pointed to a shiny, silver bell on the table before scurrying off.


    So much for showing Mo Qingchen her life. He managed to get exactly the type of treatment he was accustomed to. The table held a cascading fountain of chocolate surrounded by various treats for dipping, a bottle of chilled champagne sat off to the side.


    Maybe Mo Qingchen was right. Maybe she should be scared of a man who gets everything he desires.


    But she wasn''t.


    She accepted her masochistic tendencies and dove first in a marriage that might devastate her. However, in her defense, she didn''t believe in fairytales or have delusions. Mo Qingchen was honest. He didn''t pretend to be Prince Charming and Qian Meng respected that about him.


    He sat on the futon watching her, his penetrating stare gripping her all over. It drew her to him. Walking towards him, she repeatedly reminded herself not to kiss him.


    He had to make the first move. No way was she going to kiss him first.


    The first move was crucial. She certainly wasn''t going to make it, no matter how tempting he was laid back on those fluffy cushions with his ruffled hair and dark, brooding eyes. He looked up at her as she stood before him.


    "Are you hungry?" She loved teasing the man.


    "Famished." His eyes devoured her like a meal.


    "Do you want me to feed you?" she asked sweetly.


    He pulled her onto his lap in one swift move, the sheer force taking her breath away.


    "Until I beg you to stop," he whispered in her ear menacingly, causing her to break out in goosebumps all over.


    Straddling his lap in her skirt, she pulled back slightly. She had a feeling this was payback for the little show in the office lobby that morning. His warm breath on her skin was going straight to her hips. Lord knew once she lost control, all bets were off.


    She swore the man could speak with his eyes.


    "Kiss me," they demanded.


    Her lips moved closer to his, wanting nothing more than to violate his mouth until she passed out from the lack of oxygen. Just as their lips nearly touched, she remembered her vow.


    He had to kiss her first.


    What a stupid vow.


    Their heavy breathing filled her ears. His fingers ran up her legs slowly until they reached her hips. He gripped them firmly, holding her in place.


    As if she was going anywhere. It was unlikely.


    She looked over her shoulder at the fondue.


    The wicked thoughts flashed in her mind. Reaching out, she picked up a long steel fork and stabbed a fresh strawberry with it. She contorted her body to dip it into the stream of chocolate, carefully guiding it to his lips. He licked every bit off before sucking the plump strawberry into his mouth.


    Warm, chocolaty goodness coated his lips.


    "More," he demanded gruffly.


    She swallowed hard and turned back to the fondue. This time, she stabbed a marshmallow, covering it completely before bringing it to his mouth, eager to watch him lick it clean.


    While his tongue moved, his dingers kneaded her hips, causing them to stir. Shamelessly, she started grinding against him as she watched him do obscene things to a very lucky marshmallow.


    Something flashed in his eyes right before his hand moved to the back of her head, guiding her lips towards his. The slow descent nearly drove her insane.


    She dropped the fork beside her, never removed her eyes from his.


    The moment their lips finally met, she nibbled, licked, and sucked every last bit of the sweet, sticky marshmallow she found on them. The man was delicious, in every sense of the word.


    Control was no longer relevant.


    She grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him closer to her. His firm hand remained on the back of her head, holding her in place. Her mouth welcomed his chocolate-coated tongue, as though it was exactly where it belonged.


    Not only was he delicious, but he was also talented. Extremely talented. Kissing had never held much interest to her, yet she definitely heard herself moaning and she didn''t mean in a small whimper.


    Just when she thought she might combust, her hips squirmed in heat.


    He grabbed onto them with a vice-like grip, easing back against the cushion, bringing her down with him. Her skirt rode up a little further. The cool air against the newly exposed skin felt good. The noises coming from her mouth would have humiliated her if she had a sound mind.


    Biting down on his bottom lip caused him to release a groan so primal that she paused mid-grind. She had to hear it again, so she bit down on his top lip even harder. He growled deep and husky, the sound truly dragon-like, though not nearly a roar. She wanted him to roar.


    His eyes ignited as the bulge in his pants become rock solid. Her lips moved along his jaw, biting her way down to his neck. She grazed her teeth along the column of his neck like a little vampire. His deep moans of pleased added fuel to her fire.


    Oh, god. What this scoundrel did to her!

 Chapter 143: The Big, Bad Dragon

    [Warning: Sexual content up ahead]


    When his hips met her, she discovered his skills went beyond kissing. She closed her eyes to enjoy the sensations. Her groans turned into a desperate whimper. Their lips met once again and he bit down, much harder than her. He followed the same path: down her jaw, biting almost savagely along the way.


    Pain and pleasure combined into ecstasy as he devoured her neck, his hands roamed up her back beneath her shirt. His lips suddenly left her neck. Her eyes flew open in need.


    Mo Qingchen stared straight at her, looking absolutely feral. "Tell me what you want," he demanded.


    "More," she managed to stammer out in a barely audible whisper. "More," she repeated again, a little clearer this time. If she could, she would have painted it on the wall in chocolate.


    In a blink, her shirt was on the floor. His black eyes focused solely on her black satin bra. His hands stilled on her hips so firmly, she couldn''t grind against him. Mo Qingchen held her in place, directly against his very prominent bulge. It throbbed beneath her, teasing her relentlessly.


    The man was trying to kill her.


    Her chest heaved up and down as she did her best to regain control. Other than the few groans and the growl she got from him, he remained as cool as ever, while she became a panting, sex-starved beggar¡­ all from a kiss.


    She wanted to rattle his cage, make him lose a bit of his militant control. She brought her fingertips to the front clasp of her bra. His eyes widened in anticipation, sending tingles all over her body.


    Why did she so desperately want to unhinge this man?


    At the precise moment, the good girl in her poked through. "I want this¡­ but¡­"


    His eyes slowly dragged up to her face. "What are your expectations?"


    Her expectations? She had no clue. Who could even think straight with him throbbing beneath her?


    "Honesty and respect," she began talking, just blurting out whatever came to mind. "I don''t expect you to be soft and gentle and fall in love with me. But I want you to respect my body." He seemed relieved by that.


    "I would never make you do anything you didn''t want to. I will only follow your lead," he swore. "Is the agreement still on?" This seemed a genuine concern for him.


    "Yes," she nodded. "We are consenting adults."


    "Then, there certainly won''t be a problem on my side," he replied with conviction.


    His lips were blood-red from being thoroughly savaged by her. "It''s definitely unwise to start here," she prompted. "Do you want to leave it at this?"


    His eyes lingered down to her cleavage, shamelessly ogling her goods. He was definitely a boob man. Her fingertips still clasped the front of her bra. Mo Qingchen stared for a moment before his eyes shot up to meet hers. She expected to find turmoil and conflict but instead found resolution.


    "If you knew what I wanted, you would run out that door." His eyes flickered to the door and back to her.


    "Are you trying to scare me?" she asked curiously.


    "No." He ran a finger beneath her chin. "If I wanted to scare you, I wouldn''t need to try."


    Qian Meng chuckled. "Says the bid, bad dragon," she teased with a playful grin. "Does scaring young girls turn you on?"


    "Quite the opposite." He gave her a grin of his own. "Meek, cowering women are highly unattractive. I much prefer persuasive dry humpers."


    "You need to work on your complimenting skills." She laughed. "Lucky for you, I seem to like snobby boob munchers."


    "So, I hear." His cocky tone made her want to smack him.


    "Don''t be so smug." Her eyes narrowed as she moved in closer. "I could make you roar without even breaking a sweat."


    "Is that a challenge?" His brow rose.


    "No." She shook her head. "It''s a promise." She leaned in and bit down on his earlobe, real hard. She bit all along the outer shell of his ear. His breathing got heavier, which turned her on more than it should have.


    She pulled away slightly and saw her reflection in his gaze. Damn, he had fired her up. After a few moments of lustful staring, he sat up, crushing his mouth against hers.


    Kissing Mo Qingchen was hotter than any sexual act she had ever imagined. It had to be the licking and biting, or maybe it was the savage way he fed. Whatever it was, holding in her moans became unbearably painful. Something had to be done.


    Abruptly, she broke the kiss and pushed him back against the futon. Just looking at him nearly made her groan.


    Damn those eyes.


    She popped the clasp open, the pretty satin cups fell off to the side, exposing her to his scorching gaze.


    "Exceptional," he spoke to her breasts, his hands immediately coming up to cup them.


    She garbled unintelligibly, not expecting his touch. She had to close her eyes. She couldn''t look at him. Her hips started to move. What was he doing with those fingers?


    Her breathing became erratic. She managed to keep herself from panting too heavily until she felt his lips latch onto her nipple. Her eyes fluttered open. She watched as he twirled his talented tongue around the edge before sucking it into his mouth, just like one of those strawberries.


    The most obscene moan she had ever heard erupted from her mouth. For the sake of her own sanity, she tried to look away, but she just couldn''t. He bit down and her hands dove into his hair.


    He released the nipple with a loud pop and looked up at her. "You are delicious."


    She wanted to thank him for the compliment, but couldn''t speak. Breathing was her main focus. He leaned forward and dipped his finger in the chocolate, bringing it over to her glistening nipple, coating it completely.


    "I''m still hungry," he said to her breast, which he held firmly in his hand.

 Chapter 144: An Offense to Their Beauty

    [Warning: Mild sexual content up ahead]


    How was he able to speak so clearly? She watched intensely as he bit roughly all around her breast, the warm chocolate dropped down to meet his lips. He licked from the bottom all the way up, taking a thick line of chocolate onto his tongue as he traveled a straight path to her nipple. He sucked it into his mouth and she shuddered.


    "Jesus!" she panted.


    "I would prefer if you call me Mo Qingchen," he replied coolly.


    Before she could respond, there was a loud knock on the door. "Meng''er, time to come!" Xuxu yelled through the door.


    Qian Meng''s eyes widened. "Coming!" she yelled back immediately, hoping he wouldn''t open the door. She was such a mess.


    "I don''t think you came," Mo Qingchen noted dryly, biting the base of her neck.


    Damn, it felt good. She squirmed against him. "You are pure evil," she said. She even showed him a smile.


    He continued nipping at her neck. Though she had cooled down, the heat rushed back into her limbs once again. So much for making him roar. She could barely function.


    He was definitely trying to kill her. She clasped her bra closed. He had licked her body totally clean. There wasn''t a trace of chocolate on her.


    The man was thorough, if not anything else.


    "We need to go." She stretched her arms up high, arching her back like a cat.


    The smile plastered on her face must have been ridiculous, but she didn''t care. Her body tingled, bursting with energy.


    "I''d rather stay here with you." He licked a bit of chocolate off his finger just before his mouth claimed hers.


    Not only did it make her forget Xuxu, but it also made her forget her own name. She had to regain some sort of control. It took plenty of willpower, but she leaned away from him.


    "Down boy," she scolded playfully.


    She jumped off his lap, standing before him in her skirt and bra, doing her best to catch her breath. Looking at him didn''t help. It made her want to dive back onto his lap and do everything in her power to make him speechless, but Xuxu was waiting and she knew Mo Qingchen wasn''t a minute man.


    From the small taste she got, she had no doubt he would be an insatiable lover, absolutely the death of an inexperienced woman like her.


    Spotting her shirt on the floor, she grabbed it, quickly pulling it on. Immediately, Mo Qingchen pouting like a child that lost his favorite toy.


    "You are such a boob man." She shook her head, laughing.


    He pulled her back down to his lap. "You have the most exquisite breasts ever created. They shouldn''t be covered. It is an offense to their beauty."


    "You really are getting much better at complimenting." She smiled wide, feeling giddy.


    "That wasn''t a compliment. I''m stating the truth," he said, completely serious.


    "You''re stating an opinion." She pulled the hem of her shirt down and attempted to pat down her wild hair.


    "No. I am stating a fact," he argued stubbornly. "I dare anyone to dispute it."


    "You are impossible." She ran her fingers through his thick hair. "Should I ask some men to see me topless then? Will you be happy?"


    "Shut up," he said sullenly. He glanced at her shirt as though it were the enemy. "This should be criminal."


    "I can''t walk around topless. Society frowns upon that kind of behavior." He was still pouting. She kissed his lips, unable to hold herself back. "Only you get to see them now. It''s an exclusive club and you''re the only member. Happy?"


    He smirked, liking the sound of that. She knew he would.


    "Come on, we have to go before Xuxu comes back. There is an actual reason I brought you here tonight other than showing you my boobs." She quickly lifted herself off his lap before she lost what little willpower she had.


    - - - - -


    Although Mo Qingchen didn''t enjoy the real reason she brought him to the Incarnadine as much as the dessert, he pleasantly surprised her. One of her favorite artists was in town and he had a unique style of creating his pieces.


    It was a group effort.


    In her head, she imagined several scenarios of how Mo Qingchen would handle being a mere participant in a large group of extremely diverse people. He didn''t acknowledge anyone else but her, but he worked as part of the team and that made her want to hum the living hell out of him.


    For years this kind of creativity had urged her own. She took inspiration from people and watching others create.


    A massive black canvas was laid out on a giant table in the middle of the room. Large measuring cups filled with different color paints lined the perimeter. Working together, a room full of people pouring the paint out, watching it flow, at times guiding it, but mostly letting it take its natural course, always resulting in a stunning creation.


    It was personal. Usually, she would dive in and lose herself in an expressive zone. Instead, she found herself watching Mo Qingchen, his brow crinkled as his eyes scanned the canvas, soaking in the spontaneity of the process.


    To her, he was the most fascinating thing in the room and the thought frightened her.


    What was she getting into? Brushing the fear aside, she joined, pouring her paint out onto the canvas, watching as it flowed directly towards Mo Qingchen''s, splashing together in a vibrant burst of colors, like liquid fireworks.


    How subliminal.


    There were people gathered around them, pouring beside her, above her, and at every angle, and let her paint flowed straight to his, as though its path was clear. She was probably reading way too much into it, but at that moment, she believed strongly in fate.


    Staring down at their private piece of canvas, she began to wonder what life had in store from them. As if Mo Qingchen could her thought, his eyes lifted to her.


    She had a feeling she would find out very soon.

 Chapter 145: The Vicious Woman Who Ruined Him

    Bai Yu stared at his cellphone and sighed. He was sitting in his study when he received the message from Yun Qian Meng and he knew that he had to see the video.


    He turned it on and he stared. Yun Qian Meng was perfectly composed as she told everyone who she was and who Bai Ye Qing was. She apologized and diverted everyone to the website.


    From the video, Bai Yu could tell how much Yun Qian Meng loathed his son. He felt tears prickle his eyes as he clicked on the Venus site.


    He felt tears pour down his face as he looked at the pictures again. In front of Yun Qian Meng, he had held back his emotions for the most part. His son, the boy he had given the world to had turned out to be a scummy gambler.


    The door to his office burst open and his head jerked up.


    "This slut!" Chen Yue seethed. She was pacing towards him and her face was red with fury. "Have you seen this?" she asked.


    "I just saw it," Bai Yu said quietly. "There is nothing I can do about this," he told her before she could open her mouth.


    "You''re his father! How can you sit by and see this filthy girl get away with slinging mud at our son?" she asked. "She threatened our lives, spread rumors about us and now she has gone to use this fake apology to point all the fingers at Bai Ye Qing!"


    "Sit down," Bai Yu pleaded. "Don''t you see? Bai Ye Qing did all of this. Why should an innocent girl suffer because of your son''s sins? She''s protecting herself," he argued. "Ask Bai Ye Qing to stay low for now. I''ll handle the business side of things."


    Chen Yue banged her hand on the desk. "You''re telling me that you won''t protect your son, aren''t you?" she said.


    "I am protecting him by making him stay low," he reasoned.


    But when was reason a thing accepted in his family?


    From the corner of his eyes, he saw Bai Ye Qing enter the office. "You''re asking me to stay low?" he responded, shocked. "I''m your son!"


    Bai Yu shook his head. "That''s why I am doing my best to protect you. Public opinion will slaughter you. The best method is to let the storm blow over. For now, stay at home and take some rest." Now, his voice was pleading.


    Bai Ye Qing laughed in disbelief. "You are not asking me to take rest, you are making me quit. You don''t want me going to the company to protect it, aren''t you?" he argued.


    "Of course, he is. When has he done something for the family? He has treated me like his slave and used his sons to further his business," Chen Yue interjected.


    Bai Yu gaped. "Why did you become like this?" he asked. "I started the business because I wanted the family to have enough money to survive. And we made enough money¡­ we can live¡­ why are you pointing the finger at me?"


    "I can''t even hold up my head in front of the others in the community. Because of this, people keep calling me and asking if Bai Ye Qing has been playing with women all along. How am I supposed to answer them?" Chen Yue began to cry.


    "What do you want me to do? I can''t push everything under the rug. Our son did do the things he is being accused of and more. I could only ensure that he doesn''t get punished for it. A little humiliation will pass and he will have enough money to live his life in comfort." Bai Yu was growing tired.


    "What business did you have with Yun Qian Meng?" Ye Qing asked coldly.


    Chen Yue turned to look between the father-son pair in astonishment.


    "Did you meet the slut?" she asked.


    Bai Yu sighed. "I did. We were discussing business. It has nothing to do with Bai Ye Qing," he said firmly. "I don''t want to hear more about this." There was no room for argument.


    "Just remember that no matter how good of a business partner she is, she is adamant about ruining your family. You place more emphasis on water¡­ you should be siding with your blood!" Chen Yue screamed.


    Bai Yu kept silent.


    "Father, Yun Qian Meng is using this as an excuse. I liked her and wanted to marry her, but I can see the kind of vicious woman she is. She is spreading rumors so that she can manipulate you," he said quietly.


    Bai Yu looked up. "Is that so?" he asked, his voice was challenging. "Will you deny meeting all those women? Will you deny hoodwinking the youngest daughter of the Mo family?" his voice grew louder.


    "I didn''t know who she was!" Bai Ye Qing protested.


    "That doesn''t make it better. You were ruining lives¡­ it doesn''t matter if the other party was rich or poor. The heaviness of the sin is the same!" Bai Yu coughed. "But because you touched the truly rich, you will never live this down. Consider it a great compliment that Yun Qian Meng and the Mo family didn''t make you disappear from the face of the earth," Bai Yue gritted out through his teeth.


    "What do you mean?" Chen Yue asked, afraid.


    "I pleaded Yun Qian Meng not to put him behind the bars. The only reason he is just being humiliated is that the girl respects me. She held back the Mo family from ruining us too. Do you know what Chairman Mo is capable of?"


    Chen Yue shuddered. "Despite knowing what you said to the press anonymously and the plans you had for them, she chose to go easy on you." He turned to Bai Ye Qing. "For once in your life, be wise. Don''t try to go after her, do you understand?"


    "I understand," Bai Ye Qing said through his gritted teeth. He glanced towards his mother, asking her to accompany her out.

 Chapter 146: Show Her What Hell Felt Like

    "Ye Qing, what are you going to do now?" Chen Yue asked. Her hand was on her son''s shoulder.


    "Call Jiang Hanyu and Yun Qian Meng. I want an explanation," he said, anger flashing through his features.


    "Didn''t you see how your father reacted?" Chen Yue said, a note of mania in her voice. "If you talk to her, he''ll go harder on you."


    Bai Ye Qing scoffed. "My father has never scolded or beaten me. Suddenly he meets Yun Qian Meng and he turns against me." He shook his head in disbelief. "I knew dad was business-minded, but he wants me gone to save himself."


    "Ye Qing, don''t blame your father too much. He''s getting old and he wants to protect everything¡­" she trailed off.


    Bai Ye Qing gaped. "You just screamed at father for the opposite. Mom, please don''t be the mediator," he said.


    Chen Yue''s eyes reddened.


    Bai Ye Qing stormed out, his phone gripped in his hand. He had received the message from Yun Qian Meng and literally laughed. Until he started getting calls from his friends and colleagues asking me what was happening and if he had done all those things.


    The first person to call was Jiang Hanyu.


    "What the fuck is happening?" he hissed.


    Jiang Hanyu, who was sitting at home, enjoying his first ever win was stunned.


    "What do you mean, cousin?" he asked.


    "When did that lawyer say the announcement was going to go out?" he barked.


    Jiang Hanyu thought for a second. "He sent me the executed copy within thirty minutes of us leaving the building. Everything is in order and the announcement was supposed to go out at eight today." And then he paused. "It came out?" he sounded excited, missing the whole point.


    "Yes, it came out! And your stupid ass didn''t even know about it."


    The other was stunned into silence.


    "We will press charges for slander again!" he said loudly.


    "What happened?" the man chanted, not understanding.


    "She plastered all the pictures and papers on the internet and the world is laughing at me. They are calling me names. What else do you think happened?" he hissed.


    Silence. "I''ll see it right now. Don''t worry!" he pleaded. The phone was hung up and Jiang Hanyu stared at it for a solid minute before watching the video.


    His heart sank and he suddenly realized that they had been played. Of course, they had apologized in the most public manner. And that had doomed them. He was now glad that he didn''t harp on doing the apology on a television channel.


    That was the saving grace.


    He went to the subsite and looked through everything and wanted to cry. All the paperwork contained Bai Ye Qing''s name, but the information of Mo Yize and the addresses and numbers of all other people involved was blurred out.


    This was targeted and planned, and they had walked right into the trap.


    He dialed Li Jun''s number quickly.


    "Li Jun speaking, who is this?" the bored but familiar voice came on the other side. The sound of typing and flipping of pages was evident.


    "Mr. Li, what is this? This is not what we signed up for!" Jiang Hanyu protested.


    There was a moment of silence. "I am sorry, I have no idea who this is. Can you specify your client and what you are referring to?" Li Jun asked.


    Jiang Hanyu clearly heard the amusement in the other''s voice. And he knew¡­ he knew that Li Jun was playing. He knew exactly who was calling him but he was taking a break from his high-stress job and taking it out on him¡­ a newbie.


    Jiang Hanyu cleared his throat. He calmly introduced himself, not showing his nervousness.


    "Yes, we met this morning," Li Jun said finally. "What is it?" he asked.


    "Miss Yun released a video and ruined Mr. Bai''s reputation further!" he shouted.


    "I have seen the video. I passed it. It lines up with each and every criterion," he responded calmly. "She publicly apologized. She posted the apology to her website, shared it on all social media platforms as per the agreement. She made it as public as possible. She posted the relevant paperwork just like the agreement stated. I don''t see the problem."


    Jiang Hanyu post. "We will sue you," he said finally.


    "You can''t," Li Jun said immediately, no emotion in his voice. "You signed a legal document stating that you can''t file a lawsuit against any of the parties. Sorry. If you don''t have anything else to say, I will go back to work." Li Jun hung up. Just like that.


    Jiang Hanyu felt his stomach turn. He rushed to the toilet and poured his stomach out.


    But now, he needed to think.


    He rushed out of the bathroom and looked through every possible book he could. And he got an idea.


    "Cousin, listen to me," he said.


    "You better have a solution for this," Bai Ye Qing sneered.


    "We can''t sue Miss Yun or Venus, but if news articles post outlandish stories, we can file for libel lawsuits," he advised. "But we can also file for the information to be removed under the Right to be Forgotten."


    Bai Ye Qing was silent. "That''s something you can do?" he asked.


    Jiang Hanyu hummed. "If you think something is adversely affecting you, you can get the content removed. You have the right for that. What will you do?" he asked.


    Bai Ye Qing thought about it carefully. He needed money to file. He knew that he could make Jiang Hanyu fight on his behalf without money, but he knew that this cousin of his was rather useless.


    This was the first good idea he had given Bai Ye Qing.


    "Okay. Hang up. I have something to do. I will try to deal with this my own way," he said.


    She asked him not to contact her again? Right after pulling such a trick? He would show her what Hell felt like.

 Chapter 147: Destroy Her Pure Reputation

    A mail came and he looked at the title. His eyes widened and he almost dropped his phone in shock.


    These pesky investors and executives¡­ just because they had some equity, they thought they could discard him?


    He opened the email and screamed in frustration.


    Proposal to Remove Director Bai From His Post.


    Were they trying to be funny? He would like to see how many people had the courage to go along with this. He was the person who would control the company once his dad passed away, how could they say such a thing?


    And then a thought passed his mind. What if¡­ what if it was his father''s plan all along? What if his father wanted to remove him from the position and was using someone else''s hand to do the dirty deed?


    He wouldn''t put it past the man.


    All his life, he had showered his love for the older brother. He had barely spent time with Bai Ye Qing and seemed to avoid conversations altogether. A family man? What a joke. Clearly, he was picking and choosing whom he wanted as family members.


    Bai Ye Qing wasn''t the brightest child but when he got into the company, he had been happy. And now¡­ and now he knew that everyone knew he hadn''t entered by his own merit. His family had put him in those positions and they didn''t even think he deserved them.


    He clenched his fists together.


    If they removed him¡­ wouldn''t it mean he would have no claim to the company shares in the future? What would that mean for his future? Would he be scrambling and begging to get the money?


    No. He would never let that happen. Not in a million years.


    He scrolled through his contacts and pressed on the group where all the women he was dating or pursuing were kept. Names? Monday plus Insert Name, continuing on to Sunday.


    Yun Qian Meng had the privilege of having her name written as a standalone. Not even Jia Ai had this privilege. If Qian Meng knew of this, she would blissfully ignore it, and thank god she would not cross his shadow for the rest of her life.


    He pressed the call button. It rang until the operator told him she was not answering at the moment. He called again. And again. It was about the seventieth call, the call connected.


    "You''ve finally picked up, bitch?" he said without restraint.


    There was silence from the other side.


    "What? You''re not going to speak now? Might as well do it now that you have picked up the phone," he called her out.


    "Don''t call again." And the phone clicked. Bai Ye Qing pulled the phone away and stared at the name on the screen. He had called Yun Qian Meng, he was sure of that. But a man had picked the phone up.


    It was past midnight and the lack of sound around them said that Yun Qian Meng was indoors and with a man.


    Bai Ye Qing felt a devious smile spread across his face. He burst out into laughter.


    How dare she call him a cheater in front of the world, when she was hooking up with a man? Her high and mighty persona and the pure image she wanted to show would be crumbled in no time.


    On the other side of the city, Yun Qian Meng was driving Mo Qingchen''s car. Mo Qingchen had remained silent for the ride until Yun Qian Meng''s phone started to blow up.


    He glanced at the phone resting on the cup holder between them. The phone stopped buzzing and Mo Qingchen saw that seventy-three calls from the number had been made to Yun Qian Meng.


    "Who is calling you so many times?" he asked suspiciously.


    Qian Meng looked confused for a second. He glanced briefly at the phone and her brows scrunched. "It should be Bai Ye Qing," she responded casually.


    "I thought you were done with that scumbag," Mo Qingchen said with a hint of coldness.


    "I am done with him. I promised Mr. Bai I wouldn''t ruin Bai Ye Qing''s life, so I decided to humiliate him publicly. Enough that no one will marry him or employ him after his father kicks him out of the company."


    The red light turned on and Qian Meng slowed down to a stop. "Aren''t you happy with that result?" Qian Meng asked with a smile.


    "I know you don''t want my help so I won''t offer it," he began. "But I don''t think this is enough. Your contract states that he should never contact you again but he is doing it."


    "What do you want me to do? Ask for remuneration for breaking the agreement?" Qian Meng joked.


    "Why not?" he asked dubiously.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "I don''t want to waste any more money on him. He has no power any longer. I have effectively taken everything away. If he doesn''t have money, those girls might not stay with him. And if they do, I wish them luck for their future. He will have enough money to eat but never enough power to go up against me again."


    Mo Qingchen sighed. "If you do not crush your enemy completely, they will consolidate their forces and come back to destroy you," he whispered.


    Qian Meng blinked. "I only said I won''t expose his criminal activities," she said softly. "I never said no one else would," she added slyly.


    Mo Qingchen turned to her with surprise. "You made the promise to Bai Yu and you are going to break it?"


    Yun Qian Meng shook her head. "It''s called equivocation. I respect him enough to not let the world know his son turned out to be a criminal and a murderer, but Bai Ye Qing should still pay for the crimes he has committed." She stared blankly at the street.


    "He killed someone?" Mo Qingchen asked, scrutinizing her expression.


    "I don''t know for sure. There was something off about how his elder brother died. But it''s not my job to figure it out. I''ll leave it to the police."

 Chapter 148: Dont Pay the Miserable Beggar Attention

    The green light came on and Qian Meng was off again.


    "You''re not going to pick up the call?" Mo Qingchen asked after a few minutes.


    "I can''t see any reason why he would call me apart from scream at me," she chuckled.


    "Well, if he keeps calling you, you won''t get to pick up any other calls. Your phone will show that you are busy," he countered.


    "Well, I only want Li Min or Li Jun''s phones to come through. Put it on," she said with finality.


    Mo Qingchen chuckled and within another second, the call came in. He picked it up and immediately, he heard Bai Ye Qing speak.


    "You''ve finally picked up, bitch?" the other said. His voice held malice. There was no other word to describe the hatred in his voice. Qian Meng straightened in her seat, suddenly a flash from her memory coming back to her.


    ''What the hell?'' she thought uncomfortably.


    Neither Mo Qingchen nor Qian Meng spoke. The sudden shock rendered them speechless. They didn''t know what they had expected.


    Mo Qingchen''s memory of the man had made him out to be this small-willed man who would crawl on his knees to get what he wanted. He could kill, but he didn''t sound like the sort of man who would courageously speak to others.


    Yun Qian Meng, on the other hand, felt a blackness at the pit of her stomach. Her eyes moved from the phone screen to the road in front and she took a silent breath.


    "What? You''re not going to speak now? Might as well do it now that you have picked up the phone," he called her out.


    Qian Meng looked at Mo Qingchen, willing him to speak on her behalf.


    "Don''t call again," Mo Qingchen said without blinking, his eyes fixed at her. He hung up and turned the phone downwards. "He hates you," he commented.


    "As he should," Qian Meng stopped him.


    "You are staying at my house tonight," he said with finality.


    "What? Why?" she asked, flabbergasted.


    "I am not allowing you to stay at the hotel tonight," he was firm. "Bai Ye Qing''s voice just now? Yeah, there is no way I am letting him get close to you when he is seething with rage. And his mother is equally weird," he breathed.


    "And you don''t trust the employees your family''s hotel employs?" she teased.


    "I don''t trust anyone, Qian Meng," he pressed. "Moreover, you said you would slowly move in once this scandal was over. So, you should do good on your end of the bargain and start moving in," he declared.


    "I don''t have clothes with me right now," she whined.


    "Don''t be a baby. We can buy a pair of clothes for you, okay?" he concluded. "You bought me a new wardrobe, I suppose I should reward you for your performance, too!" Now he turned more encouraging.


    Qian Meng looked at him suspiciously. "Is this your new approach to persuade me?" she asked coquettishly. "You want me to move in so that you can train my twitching hip?" she goaded on further.


    "If that is what gets you living under my roof, you can believe it," he accepted readily, even though his eyes heated.


    "Evil scoundrel," she grumbled under her breath.


    She pulled up in front of the hotel and waved the valet over. "I''ll be down in a few minutes," she told him nonchalantly. Mo Qingchen pulled out from the other side, his long legs helping him reach her side without effort. He matched his steps with hers, waving off the employees who came over to greet him.


    The female employee who had seen Mo Qingchen complete her nightly skincare routine breathed in relief.


    ''Finally, these two got together,'' she thought.


    Qian Meng was done packing a small bag of her clothes when her phone pinged. She wouldn''t have paid it attention if not for Mo Qingchen growling.


    "This man doesn''t know when to stop," he hissed. He pulled the phone up and showed Qian Meng''s face to it to unlock the phone. "I''m going to give him a piece of my mind," he said finally.


    "Hold your horses, macho man," Qian Meng chuckled. "Don''t pay the miserable beggar attention," she drawled.


    He huffed and looked at the messages. They were voice messages. Unable to rein in his curiosity, he started to play them one by one. The air in the room froze as Mo Qingchen grew tenser.


    "It''s ridiculous how things have become, haven''t they Yun Qian Meng? If you had kept your trap shut and just gotten married like everyone wanted you to, none of this would have happened. The whole feminist movement has made men the bad guys, when in reality it''s the women who are making this world unliveable." That was only the first message.


    "You never experienced harassment. It is all bullshit to make me look bad. And you know what? I''ll show you what harassment is. You don''t appreciate a good guy when you meet one." And he laughed. It sounded so twisted that Qian Meng''s face scrunched up in disgust.


    "I will take this opportunity to educate you about the reality of the world. Your money doesn''t make you any less inferior than before. The security? It''s all in your head. You thought I was a nice guy so you walked all over me, didn''t you?" He cursed in the third.


    "I was a perfect gentleman to you and I tried to explain my choices and wanted to spend time with you. But you behaved like the Virgin Mary, treating me like a threat who was out to get you. You''d not have made me angry if you didn''t have such negative energy. But now¡­ look at you. You accused me of being a cheater and a scumbag and you were spreading your leg to make all that money, right?"


    "What? Will you change your mind if I showed you my junk? I am sure you would. And to think you would give me a cheque with that filthy money¡­"

 Chapter 149: You Wont Get Any Sleep Tonight

    "Go die, whore." And that was the last message.


    Yun Qian Meng gaped. Even she couldn''t imagine someone would speak this way to her. Comments on the internet were one thing, but this direct attack from someone who knew where she lived? Despite her money and power, she had every right to be scared.


    "Geez, good thing I don''t like nice men," she said.


    "Are you done?" Mo Qingchen asked, pretending he hadn''t heard her attempt at lightening the mood. He glanced at her hand, took the bag from her before moving towards the door.


    Yun Qian Meng hurried, hot on his heels and slid her hand inside his free one, and laced their fingers together. He didn''t protest or look down with the odd expression like before. Instead, he squeezed her hand tighter as he led her down.


    Mo Qingchen let her drive.


    He was not an invalid and he had enough sleep to function properly, but he knew Qian Meng needed something to occupy her mind at that moment. If he was right about her having a clue about what could have happened¡­


    Then she would be shocked by the words¡­ maybe she had heard them before.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t know.


    Sometimes, he wondered if he should ask her point-blank. But what if she didn''t have the same experience. Wouldn''t she look at him like a lunatic and call the psychiatrist on him instead?


    "Qian Meng, you can''t put off the self-defense classes any longer."


    Qian Meng didn''t protest. "I looked at the gyms near the office and decided on one," she admitted frankly. The need to learn self-defense hadn''t only been motivated by Mo Qingchen''s demands. She had also been motivated by watching him kick the sandbag and look amazing while doing it. Hence, she found herself interested in kickboxing.


    "Ah, the one around the corner?" he asked casually, now a little more relaxed.


    "Yeah, they have a world-class trainer in kickboxing. I signed up for one-on-one training," she admitted. Mo Qingchen''s brow furrowed.


    "That''s good. You''ll learn faster that way. I have a membership at the club, so we can make a habit out of it," he proposed.


    Qian Meng nodded. "Absolutely, let''s be the fit couple, hubby!" she cheered.


    Mo Qingchen looked sour. He didn''t like the sound of that word in particular. If she had fun poking and irritating him, he would allow it.


    Xiong Hua was fast asleep when they arrived and the two parted, going their own ways.


    First on the list of her duties was forwarding the voice messages from Bai Ye Qing to Li Jun. So, she did that, adding a little line.


    [Forwarding in case you think it is important.]


    The reply came in within a minute.


    [Will notify the detective in charge. Anonymous tip will be placed in a few days.]


    Yun Qian Meng grinned.


    She performed her nightly skincare routine and snuggled into the comforts of the bed.


    Ah, now that the whole ordeal was over, she could finally call this house her home. With the agreement signed and probably notarized, there was no turning back.


    Yun Qian Meng felt secure in that. Mo Qingchen was tied to her and most likely, he wouldn''t leave her.


    That was good.


    She was twisting and turning in restless sleep when another text came in. She groaned and pulled the pillow over her head. And then she remembered the time.


    There were very few people who would dare to text her at this time. It couldn''t be her father or the rest of the family. They slept really early.


    It wouldn''t be Bai Ye Qing. He would be too embarrassed to send texts after calling her a whore and willing her to drop dead.


    So, curiosity got the best of her. She squinted, her eyes burning at the blaring light from the screen. She had barely read the text when her body propelled her forward into a sitting position.


    [I am ready to negotiate. Let''s meet.]


    The message was from Mr. Bai. She yelled in delight, throwing herself into the bed and squirming around in glee until her body grew tired.


    She could get a maximum of three more hours of sleep before she had to wake up.


    No one could preserve her beauty if she didn''t sleep. So she willed it to happen. But she just couldn''t fall asleep.


    So, she crawled out of her bed in her pajamas and slithered towards Mo Qingchen''s room. She knocked slowly on the door and heard him hum.


    She cracked the door open and peered in. He was staring at her expectantly. There was no surprise in his eyes though.


    "You knew I would come?" she asked, straightening up before pushing the door open wider and taking a tentative step in.


    "You had an exciting day. I didn''t expect you to get any sleep tonight," he admitted. The nightlight beside his bedside was bright and he was reading a book.


    His eyes dropped back to the unread page as he tried to hide his emotion. He had known that emotions, both positive and negative would grab at her heart tonight. And he had been waiting for her.


    If she hadn''t come, he might have made camp outside her door. He was uneasy as the threats kept replaying in his mind.


    Bai Ye Qing, that cretin. Mo Qingchen should have crushed him under his foot when he had the chance. Maybe letting Yun Qian Meng handle him in her own way was not a good plan.


    She was kind¡­ and it didn''t do her much good.


    "Can I come in?" she asked. He looked up in surprise to find her pouting.


    "You rarely ask for permission. What''s stopping you now?" he responded. Her feet padded against the floor and she moved into the room. She paused awkwardly in front of his bed.


    "Sit down," Mo Qingchen ordered, cutting her hesitations away.


    Granted, that was what she wanted to do, but she didn''t want to seem too eager.

 Chapter 150: Snoring and Drooling in His Arms

    "I shouldn''t¡ª" he stopped her before she could finish the sentence.


    "Don''t need to be courteous with me. Sit." This time, his voice was gentler. He scooted to the other side and rolled the covers back to make space for her. Once she was seated, he huffed.


    His book snapped closed and the glasses came off. He put them beside his pillow and turned his torso towards her. With the press of his palms against her shoulder, he pushed her back into the bed.


    Her feet followed on instinct and she didn''t act reluctant any longer.


    Mo Qingchen bit back the smile as he covered her and tucked her in.


    "You aren''t going to ask me what is keeping me awake?" she whispered, worried she would disturb him.


    "You plan on telling me either way," he deliberated.


    She smacked her lips together before responding. "Mr. Bai is willing to sell the company to me," she announced.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes glittered with pleasure. "That''s good. Have you thought about who will take care of executive action when Mr. Bai retires?" he asked.


    "I plan on giving him a dividend. I will set up a stock portfolio for the founder and he will live his life in comfort and I have a few people I am considering for the position of CEO," she admitted frankly.


    "And what about the son?" he asked. "He must have shares to his name, right?"


    Qian Meng nodded. "He should. The same goes for the wife, but I have a plan."


    "Force them to quit if it comes down to being dirty," Mo Qingchen said dryly. He wasn''t above those methods. Especially if it would make their lives easier.


    She grinned. "Don''t worry," she uttered confidently. "I have it all covered."


    Mo Qingchen sank into the bed, his head resting against the pillow. For a second, he wondered if he should fluff it to make it more comfortable.


    Maybe, this was part of why he couldn''t fall asleep. He pressed his head in. Beside him, Yun Qian Meng''s breathing was loud. He almost wanted to call it a snore.


    He snickered and tried to keep the sound to the lowest as he watched her mouth drop open.


    Mo Qingchen was sure she would start drooling next, but he couldn''t find it in himself to feel disgusted.


    Welcome to married life! He told himself. Well, who could say anything after that, right?


    - - - - -


    Morning came. As usual, Qian Meng awoke before the alarm rang. She turned it off and turned to Mo Qingchen, expecting to see his sleeping face.


    Alas, he was already up and staring at the ceiling.


    And then a strange thought came to her mind.


    "You didn''t sleep?" she asked.


    His head turned to her slowly. "I just woke up," he lied smoothly.


    Qian Meng shook her head. "You just recovered and you''ve gone back to not sleeping. The light was switched off, what did you do all night?" she asked, worried more than anything.


    "Just thought about some things." The blas¨¦ way in which he spoke made her angry. But she didn''t say anything. She needed to retreat to formulate a plan. That was all.


    She crawled back to the guest room to get ready for the day.


    Mo Qingchen was slower. He joined her at breakfast and lazily stretched on his chair as he wated her go over the news.


    "How much money did you make?" he asked. He hadn''t forgotten about the monetary aspect.


    "I''ll know in a few hours. But you earned a pretty penny yesterday!" She turned the phone to show his figured and he smirked.


    "Looks like a normal day to me," he boasted. "Your profits will be off the chart for the next few days, of course. Maybe you''ll beat me another day?" he goaded.


    "Don''t spur on my competitive side when I just came out of a battle victorious. I need to place my energy on a single front," she groaned.


    "So easily infuriated," he commented.


    Xiong Hua watched the couple with a pleasant smile until they left.


    Back at the office, the numbers were out.


    "Boss, the link for pre-orders is out as well," Li Min commented before starting. "The growth in online sales was 515% of total sales in a month. We achieved that in one day."


    Qian Meng looked mildly horrified. "And we had the stocks for all of this?" she asked. Li Min nodded.


    "The latest seasons and collections are sold out, while the remaining stocks from last year cleared out within the first twenty minutes of the video going live." She showed the screen.


    "Pre-orders for all collections have added up to 1.2 million individual products as of this moment. We are working on overdrive to get the orders shipped, as well."


    "Okay, make sure all ecommerce websites are vetted. No third-party seller should try to resell," Qian Meng warned. "And how are the physical stores doing?"


    That was a concern. "Footfall is a lot higher. The higher end clothes are still not seeing a remarkable percentage of sale compared to the others but the cosmetics, accessories, and skincare products are selling out quickly."


    The meeting ended and Qian Meng''s brain was fried.


    "Are the designers working on the new collection?" she asked anxiously.


    "Yes, all drafts and final products have been tested. We will be ready for launch soon. Don''t worry about it. Do you want to go to the work stations to ensure everything is in order yourself?" Li Min suggested.


    "No, I have a lot to handle," she said softly. "I''ll go finish up everything. I have a class in the evening," she whispered.


    Li Min didn''t comment.


    "Oh, I also need to make an appointment with Mr. Bai. Urgently," she prompted.


    Yun Qian Meng seat herself behind her desk and shot off the figured to Mo Qingchen. Hadn''t he wanted proof? Now he had it.


    [Open primetime news.]


    And that was that.


    She blinked at the response and scrolled through the news until she saw the bold headlines.

 Chapter 151: Becoming the Third Wheel

    The experts spoke about the scandal, debated the rights and business ethics. The impacts. And Yun Qian Meng just listened to all of it.


    She had expected the gossip rags to pick up and even the newspapers, but primetime news channels and finance and business shows rarely spoke of suck matter.


    [Did you do this?] she asked him.


    [I just gave them an opportunity to raise their TRP and ad revenue.]


    So confident.


    She looked at the text for a minute before responding.


    [First kickboxing class today. Maybe the trainer will look better than you in shorts.]


    She smirked and put her phone away.


    Why did she do that? No reason. Just to get on his nerves. She told him she didn''t want his help but he went ahead and did something for her. If it hadn''t been for the good judgment of the panelists, she might have been angry. But because they didn''t say anything bad about her and the company, she would let the matter slide without choking him for going behind her back.


    By lunch that day, things were back to normal at the office. Work fell into a comfortable routine. There was no more flirting. No texts to make her stomach clench. In fact, he didn''t respond at all.


    Qian Meng did catch glimpses of him at the window, watching her window quite intently. He didn''t contact her, though.


    Or maybe, it was just her imagination.


    He was still a hot-tempered dragon at the end of the day. Workers fled from his office in tears on a daily basis. That day was probably not an exception. Just the sound of his voice paralyzed his employees on the spot.


    Qian Meng stopped that train of thought.


    At the end of the work day, Qian Meng strolled down the street to the corner and entered the gym. All the formalities had been taken care of, so she just needed to change into clothing to start training.


    "Why did you join this class?" the coach, a very buff man around her age, asked.


    "I want to learn a few self-defense moves," she told him. "I am not looking to be a mixed martial arts champion. I just want to poke an attacker''s eye out if it comes to that," she shrugged.


    The trainer, Rory''s eyes roved over her body. "You took the mandatory training when you went to college, right?" he asked gruffly.


    She nodded vehemently. "It was years ago, but they did make us do drills and throw some punches," she joked.


    Rory blinked and nodded. "We will begin with some warm-up and I will check your strength."


    She warmed up and knew she was mildly sweating. The rounds of punches, kicking, and combinations looked easy enough, but she lacked strength, Rory told her.


    Qian Meng discovered kickboxing was hard. Really hard. She had excelled in everything so far in life and had thought this would be a breeze too.


    Mo Qingchen had made it look so easy. Thankfully, Rory was patient with her. She wound up making a fool of herself more than anything.


    While attempting a roundhouse kick for the third time, she ended up doing a warped concoction that landed her flat on her back. Rory burst out laughing hysterically. She couldn''t help but join in.


    He fell over the mat next to her.


    Becoming a ninja would take a little more time than she had expected. Her hair was all over her face. She pushed it away while Rory kept laughing at her smooth move.


    He finally stood up and held out a hand for her to take, which she quickly grabbed. He brought her up to her feet and held her steady as she wobbled a bit.


    His hands were on Qian Meng''s waist, keeping her from falling over. Apparently, acrobatics made her slightly dizzy because the room had a slant to it. She gripped his shoulders to stay grounded.


    Her eyes closed momentarily. But that was a bad idea. She swayed completely off balance. Her eyes flew back open immediately and landed on the tall figure standing at the door.


    And he wasn''t happy.


    She knew many of Mo Qingchen''s expressions. This was one she had never seen before. But he definitely wasn''t happy. He stormed across the room before Qian Meng could blink.


    "What is going on here?" He glared at Rory murderously.


    "I was showing Qian Meng some moves," Rory responded automatically. "Who are you?" he asked, finally catching his mistake. "This is a private class."


    "A long-time member and majority investor''s son," Mo Qingchen said smoothly. "She doesn''t look like she has learned anything," he challenged the trainer.


    "Ah, she is trying. But as you can see, she is not a fast learner."


    Mo Qingchen scoffed. "Perhaps if her instructor spent more time instructing and less time flirting, the lesson would be more productive." His eyes were dark as coal and they scanned down to where Rory''s hands were on her waist before snapping back up at him.


    Rory released Qian Meng immediately. She swayed a bit but wasn''t nearly as off-balance as when she first stood up. Then, she felt Mo Qingchen''s hands on her waist.


    "Are you alright?" his voice sounded concerned. It took her by surprise.


    She nodded dumbly. Between his close proximity and the way he was looking at her, she was frazzled on the spot.


    "Are you sure?" he didn''t sound convinced.


    How could Qian Meng tell him that other than being spell-bound by how good he looked in that sleeveless sports shirt and shorts, she was fine?


    She tried pulling herself together, but it wasn''t easy. His fingertips were on her waist. Her eyes flickered up to his lips which were frowning down at her.


    She was about to do something bad when someone cleared their throat beside her.


    Oh, she had forgotten all about Rory.


    "Should I leave you two alone?" he asked awkwardly.


    "Oh¡­ no. You should continue with the class. He''s here to keep an eye on me and work out himself," she mumbled like an idiot. She wanted to smack Mo Qingchen for making things awkward too.

 Chapter 152: No One Else Can Touch Her

    Mo Qingchen seemed hesitant to release her at first but after assuring him that she was perfectly alright, he removed his hands from her waist, and then he turned his stare to Rory.


    "I need to warm-up, too. Are you up for a round?" Mo Qingchen asked, his eyes filled with mischief.


    "Am I being appraised?" Rory asked mirthfully. Mo Qingchen smirked.


    "Yes. I need to see if you are a good fit for her or not," he said seriously all of a sudden.


    "Of course." Rory clapped his hands together. "Let me grab my gear," he announced.


    As he walked away, Qian Meng glanced at Mo Qingchen, who looked utterly devilish standing there. "What are you doing?" she whispered.


    "I wanted you to take self-defense classes. If he is not a good trainer, what is the use of learning from him?" he presented his argument.


    "And you are testing him on my behalf because you are a professional?" Qian Meng teased.


    Mo Qingchen arched his brow. "You think I can''t beat him?"


    "He''s got medals¡­ I doubt¡ª" she stopped midsentence. "Well¡­ let''s see if you are worth your word, then!"


    She challenged openly.


    "Go sit there. Don''t come close when we spar. You can get hurt," he instructed. The no-nonsense tone really did things to her. Ah, how she was drawn to this wicked side of his.


    "I promise. Do I have to wait long?" she asked, trying to ignore the attraction she felt. It was so powerful that it was getting progressively harder to ignore.


    "Why? Do you feel unwell? I saw you fall. You could have been seriously injured." His frown was back.


    Qian Meng smiled warmly. "I''m fine. It''s all part of being a ninja."


    Mo Qingchen actually smiled back. A genuine smile. And she had to scramble away to the farthest corner of the room before she could push his sweet ass to the mat and defile him right there. She forced her body in the opposite direction.


    "I''ll be right there¡­" she said quickly over her shoulder.


    "Be ready," he said, still smiling.


    Why was he smiling at her like that? Had he no mercy? She practically tripped over her own two feet. She planted her butt on the ground and waited for Rory to come back.


    When the spar began, Qian Meng couldn''t really see a difference in their strengths. Mo Qingchen looked a little lethargic, whereas Rory looked like he was holding back. But soon, she saw the wicked jabs Mo Qingchen made. She followed his movements until Rory backed out.


    She bounced up to her feet and closed the distance to hear Rory complimenting Mo Qingchen on his agility and strength.


    Rory quickly took note of the situation and backed away, leaving them alone.


    "See? I won," he boasted.


    "Clearly, he let you win. He didn''t want to hurt you," Yun Qian Meng poked. Mo Qingchen snorted.


    "Ah!" he called out just as she was about to leave. "From now on, I will be your instructor," he stated firmly.


    "You will?" She was stunned. He was willing to take time out of his day to teach her how to be a ninja.


    "Yes." He flashed her a charming grin. "No one else." His tone was so inviting that she nearly ran to him.


    "Okay," she responded dumbly. "No one else."


    The thing about gyms was that the showers were hot and uncannily pleasant. How so? Yun Qian Meng felt refreshed after her class¡­ even though Mo Qingchen had stared at Rory and her for the rest of the session, making sure everything was in order.


    The water cascaded over her body, cleansing the exhaustion from her limbs. She was back in her office-clothes and glowing from the bliss of working out.


    Mo Qingchen was already done and waiting outside for her. "We have to go somewhere before we head home," he announced.


    "Where?" she frowned. She had finished work for today, but something could crop up.


    "We''re going shopping," he grunted, almost unwilling.


    Qian Meng raised her brow in curiosity but didn''t say anything else. She wanted to see what he was up to.


    He refused to let her drive, so she was stuffed into the passenger''s seat and at his mercy. They sped down the street and entered a huge store that Qian Meng recognized immediately.


    "Are you trying to anger me?" she asked with a hint of bewilderment.


    "Why would I do that?" he responded. There was no mirth in his eyes.


    "This is a jewelry store¡­ and they don''t even keep my brand. Why should I go inside?" she pouted.


    Mo Qingchen curled his hand around her waist and pushed her forward. "We need to get a ring for your finger. People will get suspicious if we don''t wear anything on our hands," he mentioned.


    Qian Meng''s eyes dimmed. "I don''t need something to bind me down to you. I already have the contract," she claimed.


    "It is not about binding you to me. It''s about other people seeing that we are together." He frowned at her. "Remember? We are a loving couple. And if people find out I proposed to you without a magnificent ring, do you think they will believe we are blissfully in love?" he asked.


    His argument made sense.


    "You just had to choose the store that didn''t carry my brand," she said, peeved.


    "Didn''t know they didn''t carry your stuff," he said smugly.


    "Liar," she whispered, knowing well that he could hear her. But it was ignored.


    They entered the store and the eyes of the clerk fell on her. Surely, if you are in this business or have been on the internet recently, you would see her face and know who she was¡­


    Nope. No one recognized her.


    "Mo Qingchen, do I look really different from my photos and videos?" she asked as he scanned through the glass showcases. He looked up briefly before his eyes were back on the plethora of jewelry.

 Chapter 153: Qian Mengs Delusions are Getting Worse

    "You look much younger in real life. The camera doesn''t do you justice," he said frankly.


    Qian Meng felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. "You think I am pretty?" she asked pettily, trying to fish for compliments.


    He snorted. "I would be surprised if you didn''t know that already." His eyes were piercing as they met her. "Most cameras have varied effects depending on your body and the clothes you wear. You dress to maximize the effect you want. Hence, they cannot see the real you. That is only seen by the naked eye."


    Qian Meng blinked. "You are saying that the video or picture is a portrayal of what I look to the person behind the lens?" she clarified.


    He nodded. "It''s not you¡­ therefore, it is hard for people to recognize you even if they see your face frequently on the news." He shrugged.


    Very well, then.


    And they were in that store for half an hour. Half an hour of Mo Qingchen not liking anything.


    "What about that one?" Yun Qian Meng asked, pointing towards something that looked simple but close to what Mo Qingchen liked in things.


    Mo Qingchen looked over, his eyes ignoring the man behind the counter. "No, definitely not that one."


    Qian Meng sighed. "At least tell me why. What is wrong with that one?" she asked. She hadn''t known he was a jewelry connoisseur.


    "I don''t like the cut," he grumbled before moving to the next.


    "Well, it''s not going on your finger, is it?" she asked. "I would rather wear something from Venus," she grumbled.


    He threw her a glare. "Well, I don''t want it on my wife''s finger either," he allowed. "You make generic designs of engagement rings at Venus¡­ nothing to suit your personality. I''ll give them a hard pass."


    Qian Meng scoffed. But she couldn''t deny that he was right. Her aesthetic for accessories was different from what they produced but at least she would be wearing her brand.


    "Oh my god," she groaned, rubbing her palm over her face. "I''m starting to not even care at this point. This is way more trouble than it is worth."


    "Now you have a taste of your own medicine. I went through and let you buy me a new wardrobe, so now you can accept the ring I pick for you," he answered before walking off to go look at another display case.


    Engagement ring shopping with Mo Qingchen was about as enjoyable as going to the dentist. He found something wrong with every ring they looked at and it was really starting to piss her off because it wasn''t her hand that the ring was going on.


    Even the employees at the store were starting to get annoyed with him.


    "You know, it''s not very often that a couple shops for engagement rings together. Usually, the man does that part alone." The woman behind the counter commented to Qian Meng as Mo Qingchen made his way across the room to one of the only cases they hadn''t looked at yet.


    "Yeah, well¡­ we are not your average couple," Qian Meng spoke without looking at her.


    The female employee that had been helping them was being almost as irritating as Mo Qingchen was. She couldn''t stop ogling at him and flirting with him. At one point, she even leaned forward against the counter with her arm crossed under her chest, making her inappropriate amount of cleavage pop in front of Mo Qingchen''s face.


    God bless the man for being blind because if he had looked, Qian Meng might have gone on a killing spree. Who flirts with somebody else''s fianc¨¦ while they''re engagement ring shopping? That was just trashy and unprofessional.


    "I can see that. Your fianc¨¦ is¡­ very persistent in what he likes and dislikes."


    Qian Meng knew what the woman meant. Yes, Mo Qingchen chose her and he hadn''t looked at this woman. He had a distinct taste. But Qian Meng¡­ Qian Meng smiled devilishly as a brilliant idea came to her spiteful mind.


    "Well," she said, dropping her voice to a whisper. "I can''t hold it against him. See, he''s a really bitter man. He has penile dysfunction. So, he''s super insecure. I think he subconsciously tries to compensate by being ridiculously controlling with everything else in his life."


    "A penile dysfunction?" she whispered back, looking partially intrigued and partially horrified.


    "Yeah¡­ it''s deformed. Sex is like dipping a pen into a bucket of water. He just can''t do anything for me¡­ poor guy." She gave a longing sigh.


    The female clasped a hand over her mouth.


    "So¡­" she said, perking back up and feeling better now that she had poked holes in Mo Qingchen''s dignity. But then she noticed the employee looking past her.


    "Wife, should I be concerned that you had some nightmare or sleepwalked? I think we need to consult a psychiatrist¡­ your delusions are getting worse!" Mo Qingchen said from behind her.


    Qian Meng froze and turned slowly. She was doomed. "Ah, we shouldn''t have put you off your medicines. I can see it is taking a toll on your sense of reality." He patted her back, faking affection.


    Qian Meng cleared her throat. "Can I see a heart cut diamond? I don''t think I have tried one of those on yet," she said casually, trying to hide her embarrassment at being caught.


    "Um¡­ yeah¡­. Of course!" the employee stammered, working to recompose herself as she flipped through her key ring to find the key and open the case next to her.


    "Qian Meng!" Mo Qingchen called from a couple of cases down. "Come here. I want you to try something on."


    He was standing in front of a case with a tall male employee behind it, pulling out a ring that she assumed Mo Qingchen had pointed out to him. Mo Qingchen took the ring from him and held it closer to his face to get a better look.


    Qian Meng sighed and walked over to him. When she got to his side, she extended her left hand to him, not even bothering to check out the ring he was holding first.

 Chapter 154: Marry My Grandfather Instead

    She hadn''t been fond of anything so far, so she had no reason to believe this would be any different. He took her hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger. He looked at it carefully for a long moment before smiling and speaking.


    "This might be the one," he said confidently.


    Qian Meng took her hand back from him to look at the ring herself; anxious to see which one he finally felt was good enough.


    No sooner had she laid her eyes on it than her breath hitched. It was outrageously beautiful and she knew the designer. It was perfect as far as diamond rings went. It had a large square-cut diamond in the middle, surrounded by tiny diamonds all along its perimeter. The tiny diamonds also trailed down along the band.


    She had never envisioned her wedding or engagement ring when she was younger but if she had, this might have been the ring.


    "That''s a lovely choice." The man behind the counter commented to them. "That''s a cushion-cut surrounded by beat-set diamonds. The band is fourteen karat white gold."


    "What do you think?" Mo Qingchen asked.


    Qian Meng shifted her eyes up to look at his face which was watching her with scrutiny. There was a particular answer he wanted and he knew she was going to give it.


    "It''s beautiful," she said with a conceding shrug. "But not as good as something I would design." She looked at it closely.


    "Yeah?" he asked with a smirk. "How would you design it?" he asked casually.


    "I wouldn''t use diamonds. I would use something with color. I would also make something matching for you," she stated.


    Mo Qingchen hummed. "So, why don''t you make it yourself?" he asked.


    Qian Meng stiffened. "Did you just waste my time to ask me to design our rings?" she asked.


    She looked down at the ring Mo Qingchen had selected¡­ it was strange. She wasn''t looking down at something she wanted to wear her whole life. This was beautiful but just not¡­ enough. She was simply looking down at beautiful jewelry. It was exciting but¡­


    "You haven''t designed the two pieces for this year. You might as well work on your ring," Mo QIngchen commented, his tone enticing.


    "And you would wear something I designed without question?" Qian Meng asked.


    He shrugged. "I would like to have something lightweight. I want to wear it while I code," he said simply.


    Qian Meng thought closely and grinned. "Prepare yourself," she warned.


    "Do you want to look at the wedding bands that go along with the ring? We have three different suggested bands to go with this particular engagement ring." The employee tried his best to make a sale.


    "No," Mo Qingchen answered. "We have an important meeting to get to. Thank you for showing around. We might come back later on."


    Qian Meng snorted.


    "Certainly," the man said without emotion, knowing he had missed the sale.


    Qian Meng took the ring off and handed it back to the employee so he could return it to the case. "You just wasted their precious time," Qian Meng protested.


    "To inspire you," Mo Qingchen argued. "And I succeeded." Prideful scoundrel.


    "Where are we going now?" she asked when they were both strapped inside the car.


    "To meet my family," he said casually. Qian Meng''s fingers tightened about the seatbelt.


    "You''re introducing me to your family?" she squeaked.


    - - - - -


    "I can''t believe I am meeting the Mo family as the future daughter-in-law," Qian Meng commented with awe.


    "I told you not to comment on the situation. See? I was not the last man on the planet you would marry," he bit back. He knew how to hold a grudge, that was for sure.


    "Well, you are the last man I would marry¡­ I am marrying you, aren''t I? I just won''t marry anyone else." Qian Meng shrugged.


    Mo Qingchen stared at her for a solid second before snorting. "It''s a logical fallacy. You''re just twisting your own words to save your face, aren''t you?" he teased.


    Qian Meng shrugged it off. "One thing is for sure, your family is going to hate me."


    "No, they''re not," Mo Qingchen said with an exasperated sigh.


    "Mo Yize might throw a fit when she realizes I am going to be her eldest brother''s wife¡­ which makes me her elder, huh?" The last part pleased her immensely.


    "You seem awfully happy about being her elder. Why don''t you marry my grandfather and be her step-grandmother, then?" he commented.


    "I didn''t know your grandfather was still alive," she retorted sarcastically. "Maybe I should have considered him as a potential husband!"


    "And Mo Yize won''t hate you. She might act all tough, but she actually liked you¡­ still likes you."


    "You don''t know her better than I do," Qian Meng demanded.


    "She''s my sister," Mo Qingchen claimed.


    "And? That doesn''t mean anything. When was the last time you spent over two hours with her? You don''t even go back home for vacations¡­" She saw how he was looking at her incredulous. "You should know that your sister feels lonely. She thinks none of you like her enough," Qian Meng informed.


    Mo Qingchen sighed. "Yize will understand. She saw us together the day you trashed Bai Ye Qing''s car. Xiao Chen thinks you are entertaining and would love to have you around because you make life interesting. My mother loves you to the moon and back." And then he stopped. "Stay clear off my father."


    Qian Meng raised her brow. "You do dislike him. And you are trying to protect me from him?" she questioned.


    "I don''t need to protect you from him, but he is an asshole of a different degree. He will not believe that we are in love and he will try his best to kick you out."


    Qian Meng scoffed. "I thought he was mildly better than my father, but it seems they are just different species of bad fathers," she agreed.

 Chapter 155: Ask Her to Leave Mo Qingchen

    "Don''t worry. I am marrying you¡­ and I only respect those who do the same for me."


    And then she guffawed. "I am a really convincing person, okay? I doubt I can''t make him believe me. Moreover, you should be the one speaking!"


    Mo Qingchen felt a smile tug on his lips. "Nervous about meeting the parents?"


    "Anyone would be! That''s the biggest challenge in a relationship, didn''t you know? Good thing your family can''t throw money at me and ask me to leave you." She pouted.


    "Would you?" he asked casually. They were close to the Mo''s ancestral house already.


    "If they threw money at me? I would take it." She glanced at him and saw his sour expression. "They asked me to leave you¡­ That doesn''t mean I can''t give in if you ask me to come back." She shrugged.


    "Shark," he bit out.


    When they pulled up in the long driveway of the Mo house, Qian Meng was glad to not see any cars out front. She knew the whole family would be there any minute, but she was thankful for the moments of peace.


    "Ready?" Mo Qingchen asked as he shut the car off.


    "No," she said honestly.


    "The sooner we do this, the better. They don''t know I am bringing you over so you will have an element of surprise over them," he analyzed.


    Qian Meng gaped. "You''re just surprising them with a fianc¨¦? You didn''t even tell them? You really know your business tricks," she chuckled.


    "So, don''t be nervous. We have a clear advantage of power and knowledge over them."


    She took a deep breath and got out of the car. She walked around to go over to Mo Qingchen as he locked the car and then together, they walked up the sidewalk to the front door. She couldn''t wrap her mind around how Mo Qingchen didn''t seem nervous at all.


    Was he not worried about what his family would think or say? He walked right in the front door without knocking and Qian Meng started to chew on her lip nervously.


    "Mo Qingchen, honey!" Qian Meng heard an older woman''s voice coming from the end of the long hallway. She couldn''t see past Mo Qingchen''s broad frame, but she knew the woman was smiling warmly for the tone of her voice and how she hurried over to give him a hug.


    Mo Qingchen returned her hug and kissed her cheek, which surprised Yun Qian Meng further. And then she saw the face of the woman.


    "Yun Qian Meng?" she asked, confusion and delight in her voice. "It''s lovely seeing you at my home, dear!" she said quickly, composing herself. She looked curiously at her son.


    "Professor Li," Qian Meng responded quietly. She tried her best not to show her shock. It was the Head of the Department of the Business Application department at the university she attended. A woman who was the epitome of grace. Qian Meng particularly loved this woman because of her teaching style and interaction with students.


    It was safe to say Li Li Hua was her favorite teacher throughout her life. Moreover, Professor Li''s favorite student had always been this Yun Qian Meng, the youngest but brightest in all her classes.


    Funnily enough, Qian Meng hadn''t even known the woman was married or had children. She had sat next to Mo Yize and hadn''t known they were mother and daughter.


    Suddenly, she felt sour on Yize''s behalf. She didn''t know why.


    "I¡­" Qian Meng didn''t know what to say.


    "Did Yize invite you to family dinner? She hasn''t come home yet," Li Li Hua said, looking behind Qian Meng with a frown.


    Before she could respond, Mo Qingchen helped her out. "Actually, mother, Qian Meng came with me tonight," he said.


    "Oh," Li Hua pulled back and gave Qian Meng a hug. She looked back and forth between the two youngsters. "I wasn''t aware that the two of you spent time together," she said, sounding surprised.


    "Mm. We do. But we will talk about that later." He gave his mother a reassuring smile.


    "Does Yize know you are coming?" Li Hua asked, still seeming to be confused.


    "No. I spoke to her a few days ago," Qian Meng answered.


    "Are you unwell?" she asked, looking a little concerned. "You look flustered."


    "I''m fine!" Qian Meng claimed even though she felt a little suffocated.


    "Well, I will leave you two here. I am going to call your father, Qingchen. Take Qian Meng into the living room and get her something to drink, will you?" Li Hua said before walking off down the hall.


    No sooner was she gone than Mo Qingchen turned to her. "Relax. You look like you just witnessed a murder."


    "I didn''t even know Professor Li was your mother," she whispered. "Why didn''t you tell me?" she demanded to know.


    "Well, it sounded like a nice surprise. You''ve never seen my mother at parties because she keeps her status private and doesn''t want her students to know where she comes from. Something about professional and academic ethics."


    Qian Meng slapped his hand. "You should have told me. Well, your mother does love me," she commented with a broad grin.


    "Growing more confident in your charm now?" Mo Qingchen asked, taking her by the waist and leading her into the living room.


    "Sit here and wait for me. I''ll bring you a drink, okay?"


    Mo Qingchen left for the kitchen and Qian Meng sat there like a nervous bird, looking around the living room. The decoration was similar to the Paris building and she knew instantly that it was according to the Mo Patriarch''s taste. Professor Li seemed to enjoy the smaller pleasures in life and would surely not like these gaudy accessories.


    Mo Qingchen appeared in the room after a few minutes, holding a drink for him and one for her. His drink looked¡­ alcoholic which was good, considering he would be driving them home. She had to restrain herself, though. Meeting the parents was a huge deal. It wouldn''t be good to let her nervousness turn her into a big idiot.

 Chapter 156: Emotionally Constipated Man

    "What is this?" Qian Meng asked as he handed her the drink. She could smell something fruity.


    "It''s a citrus peach cooler. I don''t want you to drink alcohol. I want to protect my virtue¡­ you get frisky after you drink." His eyes gleamed deviously.


    She stared at him as she tilted the glass and took a small sip. "Tastes good."


    Mo Qingchen sat down on the couch next to her and took a sip of his own drink. A movement later, Li Li Hua and Mo Zichen entered the room. Li Li Hua went and sat down on the loveseat while Mo Zichen took the seat at the head of the room.


    "What is the Yun offspring doing at the Mo house?" he asked, looking at her coldly. Qian Meng could see that there was no malice in his eyes, just indifference.


    "Honey, she''s a guest," Li Li Hua spoke up on Qian Meng''s behalf.


    "Mm. Wasn''t she a friend of Yize?" he responded gruffly. "Are you here to find out family secrets?"


    "Chairman Mo, it''s good to see you. I haven''t met you in a long time and you have grown¡­ healthier since then," Qian Meng responded in the sweetest way possible. She didn''t know how to talk to Mo Qingchen''s father.


    Mo Zichen looked at her sharply. He pulled his eyes away and looked at Mo Qingchen. "I am impressed that you actually made it to dinner on time. In fact, you are early."


    Qian Meng felt the tension and hostility in the room, mostly coming from Mo Qingchen.


    "Yes, I was able to make it tonight," he answered, his eyes on Li Li Hua as if answering her instead of the living and breathing block of a man at the head of the room. "I get held up at work usually, but I was fortunate to be done this evening."


    Li Li Hua smiled at her son. Qian Meng noticed that no further conversation happened between the two.


    "Mom! I brought laundry!" a booming voice called from the entryway.


    Mo Xiao Chen, definitely.


    Sure enough, a couple of moments later, Mo Xiao Chen appeared in the room holding a laundry sack. He lived separately and probably didn''t have employees to do it and piled up his things and let Li Li Hua take care of them every week.


    "Hi, honey!" Li Li Hua beamed, going over to give him a big hug.


    After greeting his mother and father; Mo Xiao Chen turned to Qian Meng, who was sitting on the couch.


    "Hello, Yun Qian Meng," he said cheerfully, hiding his confusion at her presence extremely well.


    "Hey," Qian Meng said, laughing a little.


    "Where''s Yize?"


    "She''s not here yet," Qian Meng answered, knowing well the reason for the question.


    "Then why are you here?" Xiao Chen asked, sounding genuinely confused.


    "Yun Qian Meng came with me this evening," Mo Qingchen informed him.


    "Why?" Xiao Chen asked, laughing and giving them a bewildered look.


    Qian Meng looked over towards Mo Qingchen and noticed that his parents were looking at them questioningly as well.


    "We''ll answer that when Yize arrives," Mo Qingchen said sharply.


    Qian Meng took a gulp of her drink, hoping it would help her relax or at least hide her emotions. Thankfully, nobody pushed for answers. The advantages of high society, maybe?


    While they waited for Mo Yize, the five of them made small talk about random nonsense.


    Yize didn''t make a sound when she entered. In fact, nobody noticed she had arrived until she appeared in the living room.


    Mo Yize''s eyes immediately locked on Qian Meng, but she offered nothing more than a questioning look and a quick hi. After all of the greetings were out of the way, Mo Yize took a seat beside Mo Xiao Chen.


    "Mother, how much time until dinner is served?" Mo Qingchen asked finally when everyone was seated.


    Li Li Hua looked at her phone and thought about it. "It should be ready in thirty minutes," she said after contemplating.


    "Perfect. Qian Meng and I have something we would like to talk to you all about."


    "Okay," Li Li Hua said, looking at them expectantly. "You can tell us anything."


    Qian Meng let her eyes dart around the room to make sure everyone was focusing on them. She wanted to see how each person reacted. She brought her drink to her lips and took three gulps, trying to prepare herself for the possible repercussions of what Mo Qingchen was about to say.


    "This will be surprising to all of you, but Qian Meng and I are getting married." And then silence.


    Qian Meng''s head snapped towards his direction and she wanted to curse him. Couldn''t he be a bit more eloquent when breaking the news? Why did she expect him to do a good job at this? Emotionally constipated man.


    "Wait¡­ you mean you two were dating?" Mo Xiao Chen was the first to speak up.


    "Yes," Mo Qingchen answered.


    Qian Meng allowed herself to look at the expressions. Xiao Chen looked like he had been just told unicorns existed, Li Li Hua looked at them patiently, waiting for an expression, Mo Zichen was unreadable and Mo Yize was staring at her like she was going to murder someone.


    "Hold up. You need to tell me what''s going on. I thought something was brewing when I saw you two at the Mayor''s anniversary party, but you two were dating?" he asked, sounding amused.


    Mo Qingchen looked like he was out of ideas to convince them. He had clearly not thought this through.


    Qian Meng had to jump in to his rescue. "We have been dating secretly for a while. We didn''t tell anyone because in the event that things didn''t work out between us, we didn''t want negative press for our families and businesses. However, things got serious. So, we feel it''s time to bring our relationship out in the open."


    It was silent for a long time and Qian Meng assumed that everyone was trying to absorb the news.

 Chapter 157: Trap a Woman Like Her

    "Well," Li Li Hua said finally. "I''m sure it''s no surprise that we are shocked, But please don''t think we are displeased by the news. I adore Qian Meng. I''m just a little caught off guard."


    Mo Qingchen responded in her stead. "I understand. We didn''t keep it from everyone to be deceptive. We just wanted to see where it went before bringing in our families in this."


    "When did it start? How?" she asked.


    Qian Meng grabbed Mo Qingchen''s wrists, trying to tell the story herself. They would only say what was believable. "He moved his office to the building opposite to mine. He even followed me to my coffee place. We just¡­ dated."


    "Long enough to get married?" Mo Zichen asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.


    "We haven''t seen each other for long," Yun Qian Meng paused and looked over at him. Mo Qingchen saw a surprisingly sincere-looking smile on her face. "Mo Qingchen has become an integral part of my life. I can''t imagine moving forward in life without having him by my side. So," she said, turning back to his parents. "I accepted when he asked me to marry him."


    ''What the hell? Nobody should be that convincing of a liar,'' Mo Qingchen thought to himself. She had never used this level of deception in front of him, so he had scoffed it off when she said she was convincing. Now, he looked at her in a new light.


    Li Li Hua gasped, putting her hand over her chest.


    Mo Zichen was the only apathetic one. He could not reconcile the image of his son with the story this Yun Qian Meng was giving him. She was the daughter of the competition. The competition he had fought bitterly for decades and finally defeated¡­ and the competitor''s daughter was sitting in front of him, accompanying the son he wanted to hand his empire to, and telling him that they were in love.


    With Mo Qingchen? The boy was not capable of human connections. He wouldn''t believe it until the end of time.


    And then unexpectantly, Li Hua stood up and practically ran over to Mo Qingchen with open arms. He moved his hand away from Qian Meng and stood up just in time to catch her as she enveloped him in a huge hug.


    Qian Meng blinked, having never seen Mo Qingchen like this before. His face was still stoic, but he humored his mother''s affectionate behavior. That said a lot about who he liked in this family.


    "Oh my god, Mo Qingchen," she gasped. "I can''t believe it!"


    While Li Hua had her arms wrapped tightly around Mo Qingchen''s neck, Qian Meng got a little worried that she might strangle him. Mo Xiao Chen walked over to her and hugged her.


    She somehow found a way to stand up on her unsteady legs to hug him back.


    "Congratulations, Yun Qian Meng," he said warmly as they hugged. "This is unexpected but we are thrilled to have you as our family!"


    "Thank you," she managed to squeak.


    Then, Mo Xiao Chen and Li Hua switched places and it was Qian Meng''s turn to be hugged so tightly that she couldn''t breathe.


    "Congratulations, brother," Xiao Chen said as Mo Qingchen patted his brother''s shoulder, trying his best to pull away. What a difference in reaction.


    "Thank you, Professor Li. I''m glad to have your blessing," she said quietly.


    "Of course, you have my blessing. It''s been my prayer that Mo Qingchen would find a strong young woman like you to settle down with." She sniffed. "Call me Mom, okay? Don''t be formal."


    She had mixed emotions hugging Li Li Hua. On one hand, she felt incredibly guilty. On the other hand, she was thrilled. Li Li Hua thought Qian Meng was in love with her son.


    When Li Li Hua finally let her go and moved aside, Qian Meng was painfully aware of the silence from Mo Zichen.


    "I''m getting a new little sister!" Mo Xiao Chen remarked in excitement, hugging her again. He had an aura that could make people happy. And even though Qian Meng was nervous, she couldn''t help but smile.


    "Big brother, who knew you would get that stick out of your ass long enough to trap a woman like Yun Qian Meng?" Mo Xiao Chen said as he elbowed his brother.


    "Lucky," Mo Qingchen answered dismissively.


    The room was silent for about a minute after that.


    "What the hell is going on?" Mo Yize said in an icy tone, breaking her silence.


    "Yize!" Li Li Hua reprimanded her in a whisper.


    "No! What the hell is wrong with you? Mo Qingchen tells us he is marrying my ex-friend from university, who none of us was even aware he knew more than a business competitor, and you don''t have questions? You''re acting like this is the best thing you''ve heard all year. Don''t you find it strange?"


    Qian Meng looked at Mo Yize.


    "We''re surprised, but they explained it to us. People have wanted them to get together for a while, so it''s not surprising," Li Li Hua bit out. "We should just be happy for them."


    "They don''t even know each other!" Yize protested as if she was offended by the idea.


    Mo Zichen fully agreed. He didn''t like being hoodwinked and he sensed that was what he was facing in that situation.


    "Yize, that''s enough," Li Hua said sternly. "I understand that this news is unexpected, but don''t spoil this special time for Qian Meng and your brother."


    "Are we in some alternate universe? Why am I the only one who finds this weird?" she asked. She implored the people around to join her.


    "Mo Yize!" Li Li Hua said firmly. "Do not use that tone in this home."


    Mo Yize snorted. Of course, it was always about everyone else. She was the only one wrong.


    Qian Meng could see the frustration in her eyes and suddenly realized what Mo Yize meant¡­ or Mo Qingchen meant when he had said his mother was a good mother to him, but not to his sister.

 Chapter 158: Spouses With Benefits

    Professor Li wasn''t the perfect woman Qian Meng had thought her to be. She was a partial parent¡­ and she was a flawed parent. At that moment, she felt like de-escalating the situation.


    "If you ask the hotel employees, they will let you know the number of times we went on dates or boarded the same plane, or we stayed over at each other''s residence. You just ignored the signs," Qian Meng explained softly.


    Yize shifted her eyes to Qian Meng and she glared. Until she suddenly remembered Qian Meng sliding into the front seat and talking so seriously with Mo Qingchen that night they destroyed Bai Ye Qing''s car. How Qian Meng had called her older brother like she didn''t think it was wrong to ask for help from him.


    Mo Yize shook her head before sighing. "I''m a little tired. I''ll freshen up and come down for dinner." She shook her head slowly and then turned on her heel and walked out of the room.


    "She''ll come around," Li Li Hua said, putting her hand on Qian Meng''s shoulder.


    Qian Meng looked at the woman and tried to give her a smile.


    "I''m going to fix myself a drink. Does anyone want anything?" Mo Zichen asked.


    "I''m alright," Li Li Hua said quietly.


    "I''m going to go put my laundry in the utility room." Mo Xiao Chen answered before walking out of the room with his laundry bag.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t respond but took a sip of his water before looking away.


    "I''m okay," Qian Meng said politely and lifted her own drink.


    Mo Zichen left towards the kitchen and Li Li Hua took her left hand in hers.


    "Mo Qingchen!" she said in an accusatory tone. "You proposed without a ring?"


    "I wanted to buy her a ring, mother. What kind of a man do you think I am?" he asked. "But Qian Meng is picky and I want us to wear something personal and special to us. We decided that she would design our rings."


    Li Li Hua gasped. "Oh, Mo Qingchen. You turned out to be a romantic! I''m so proud, son."


    Mo Qingchen looked at Qian Meng sheepishly and she had to laugh.


    "He''s romantic without knowing it. He''ll say the most mechanic things without realizing that they make my heart flutter," Qian Meng said softly. Calling her picky? He had been the one who spent hours at the store!


    Mo Qingchen looked at her with surprise, wondering where Qian Meng was getting these dialogues from. She was a woman on a mission, that was for sure.


    "I am dying of curiosity, but I don''t think it''s good to know about my son''s love-life. I don''t want to be a prying mother-in-law," she joked.


    Qian Meng snickered and didn''t say any more.


    And then Li Li Hua left the room as well. Mo Qingchen seated himself beside her once again and rubbed circles on her back, a soothing gesture.


    Qian Meng looked at him with one brow arched. There was nobody around them and he wasn''t a physically affectionate person¡­ at least, the platonic kind.


    "What?" he asked with a smirk. "Am I not allowed to touch my fianc¨¦?"


    "I didn''t say anything," she commented. She had to say, the soothing circles were helping her nerves quite a bit.


    He tilted his head to the side and watched her face curiously. "Weren''t you the one who asked me to be comfortable around you?" he teased.


    "Yes. We''ll be spouses with benefits soon," Qian Meng said, joking.


    "Exactly," he said, a laugh in his voice, his hand still on the small of her back. "My father doubts us. It won''t hurt to show a little affection, what do you think?"


    Before she had the chance to answer him, she heard the sound of someone coming through the door. Mo Qingchen also looked up and they saw that it was Li Li Hua. As she took a few steps towards them, she looked between the young couple.


    "I just wanted to let you two know that dinner is ready," she told them with a warm smile.


    "Good. I''m hungry. I didn''t have much to eat today," Mo Qingchen claimed, standing up.


    He turned back around to face Yun Qian Meng and extended his hand in an offer to help her up. She took it effortlessly and stood up, but Mo Qingchen didn''t release her hand once she was on her feet. Instead, he intertwined their fingers together and held it firmly in his.


    Li Li Hua glanced at their linked hands and her smile immediately widened, but she didn''t say anything. Instead, she just turned and walked back towards the door with Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng following behind her.


    Mo Yize never returned for dinner. Qian Meng had no idea if it was because of her or Li Li Hua asking her not to come down, but nobody mentioned Yize for the rest of the night. Qian Meng then knew for sure that Li Li Hua had asked Yize not to come down.


    So, it was Mo Zichen, Li Li Hua, Mo Xiao Chen, Mo Qingchen, and Qian Meng for dinner. It was a strange feeling to be eating with another family.


    She had never spent any time with these people and it was really weird at first.


    Li Li Hua was nothing if not a warm spirit. Maybe she sensed Qian Meng''s nervousness and tried extra hard to make her feel accepted because she certainly did. Without Yize, no one voiced their judgments or intolerance at the news.


    Mo Zichen was eerily calm and Mo Qingchen couldn''t help but think that he was waiting for the right moment to sow discord.


    Other than that, Mo Xiao Chen seemed to be excited about their announcement.


    "So, does your family know about your engagement yet?" Mo Zichen asked halfway through dinner.


    "No, not yet," Qian Meng answered. "You are the first people we have told. So, I guess my family will be next."


    Mo Zichen let out a small smile. "That''s good. I''ll give you points for telling me before that senile old man." He snorted. "How is Yun Sui Bo doing though? Miserably losing his mind and trying to micromanage?"

 Chapter 159: Use the Scandal to Raise Your Sales

    Ah, so this was the source of his joy. Qian Meng picked up the glass of water and took a sip to hide her smile.


    "I am not clear about this matter." Mo Zichen nodded sagely at that response.


    "Well, I was going to object to the marriage but seeing that you are not on good terms with your family, your unsuitability goes down. Moreover, I am sure Yun Sui Bo will do an excellent job of opposing this union." He shook his head.


    Li Li Hua coughed to catch her husband''s attention. "It''s okay as long as you tell your elders, right?" she looked around the room for agreement but it never came.


    "If you are waiting for something to go wrong, you are sorely mistaken," Mo Qingchen spoke up, his voice commanding. Qian Meng sensed that there was an underlying meaning but she didn''t ponder much on it. "I don''t care about what you believe."


    Qian Meng raised her brow, wondering what he meant before she realized Mo Qingchen was referring to Mo Zichen''s suspicions about this romance they spoke of.


    Qian Meng heard the cutlery clatter on the table and froze for a fraction of a second. "I found an interesting thing on the internet," he said after a second of fuming silence.


    He played what sounded like Mo Qingchen telling someone off. Qian Meng thought it sounded familiar but couldn''t place it.


    "The Bai person your fianc¨¦ was embroiled with says she is no saint and was double timing with some other person." Qian Meng saw the twist of his lips. A flash of a man who enjoyed the misery of others could be seen and suddenly she knew part of the reason why Mo Qingchen disliked his father.


    Li Li Hua gasped and took the phone from her husband''s hand. She seemed to frantically read through the post before sighing. "It''s just a recording from when he called her and Mo Qingchen spoke on her behalf. The response is neutral, too."


    Qian Meng didn''t want to speak about the matter so openly.


    "Aren''t you going to take care of this?" Mo Zichen asked. "You used this scandal to raise your sales, you should use this scheme again," he insinuated.


    Qian Meng gritted her teeth. She saw Mo Qingchen''s fingers curl into a fist and placed her palm on top of it, stopping him from snapping back.


    She could handle these situations very well. He needed to understand that.


    "Constant negative publicity is a bad foundation for a business. My business thrives of treating people as humans. Its good reputation that drove my sales up. It was not a gimmick to make money," Qian Meng said firmly. "I can see you think I am not suitable for your son, but you are wrong. Your son will never get married if it is not with me."


    Qian Meng felt Mo Qingchen relax. His thumb peered out and caressed the spot between her thumb and pointed finger. A small smile crawled up Qian Meng''s face.


    "You think too highly of yourself," Mo Zichen barked.


    "You could try. He wouldn''t look at any of those women you put in front of him. Even if they are the most beautiful women on the planet, this man won''t think of them for a second longer."


    From the corner of her eyes, she could see Li Li Hua press her hand to her lips to hide her smile.


    "Do you know why?" Qian Meng continued. She gave the older man a piercing look, leaving the reason unsaid and going onto another trivial and foolish explanation. "It''s because in his eyes, I am perfect. There is no one prettier, smarter, or richer. I''m the only choice." She gave him the broadest grin she could muster.


    "Narcissist," Mo Qingchen grumbled but his thumb still traced a pattern on her skin. He turned his palm and twined their fingers together for a quick squeeze.


    Mo Zichen might have choked on his saliva upon seeing this open display of affection but he kept it inside him. He looked at them suspiciously, but for the life of them, couldn''t see a contradiction in his son''s eyes.


    This fool!


    "Have you two thought about a particular date for the wedding?" Li Li Hua commented to lighten the mood. "Or should we plan an engagement party. It would be the most spoken about event of the year." Her eyes gleamed and both the prospective bride and groom knew that the business professor in her was cooking up all the strategies they could use to exploit the wedding.


    "Well, we plan on a short engagement," Qian Meng answered. "We''ve spoken about this at length and neither of us want to invite thousands of people to an event so personal to us. We want to get our marriage certificate shortly after my family is informed."


    "Absolutely not," Mo Zichen barked. "I am already allowing the two of you to marry and now you are not even having a proper wedding?" he asked. "What''s the point of getting married then? What, did you get her pregnant and now you don''t want to wait to get married?"


    Qian Meng frowned.


    "Marriage is not about bearing children. Moreover, I am not getting married so that you can brag to your peers and get benefits from it," Mo Qingchen hissed.


    Qian Meng turned to him, wondering why that last comment had bothered him so much, but instead, she found Mo Qingchen looking at her with worry.


    Mo Qingchen prayed that the talk of children didn''t hurt her. They hadn''t been to the hospital yet or spoken about the prospect of children in their marriage. If¡­ if it was not possible, he didn''t want her to be sad over it.


    He wouldn''t allow anyone to talk down to her about that matter.


    "Then how do you respond to a rushed and secret wedding?" Mo Zichen challenged.


    "When you''re in love as much as Mo Qingchen and I are¡­ you don''t want to wait a moment longer than necessary to start a life together."

 Chapter 160: He Can See Her Plotting

    "Oh, that is precious!" Li Li Hua said, smiling and putting her hand over her heart.


    The biting remark had been directed towards Mo Zichen but he seemed unhindered by it.


    Mo Qingchen smiled back and Qian Meng was sure that she saw a hint of amusement on his face. He brought her hand to his lips to kiss the back of it.


    "Qian Meng is absolutely right," was all he said.


    "Of course!" Li Hua chimed in. "If everything has happened fast, why slow things down now? They know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are meant to be. No need to wait for other people."


    "You guys are going to make me puke my food out," Mo Xiao Chen said, crinkling his nose at them in disgust.


    "I am glad you two found happiness together," Li Li Hua sighed.


    Mo Qingchen hummed in agreement.


    - - - - -


    "How do you think it went?" Qian Meng asked as she rubbed moisturizer on her hands.


    "Well, it wasn''t perfect but I would say it was fairly successful," Mo Qingchen commented.


    "I mean it went better than I expected. Your father was an asshole, though." She scrunched her nose in distaste.


    "He was always an asshole. I wasn''t there to ask for his permission. Neither were you. He just happened to be there." There was no emotion in his voice. "But I was impressed by how you spoke to him. I had thought you would try to appease him."


    Qian Meng scoffed. "I only placated my own family because on paper, I have ties to them. Yours? Don''t care." She stuck her tongue out at him even though he couldn''t see it.


    "Once your name is on my family registry, you''ll allow my father to bully you?" he asked. There was slight anger in his voice.


    "Of course not. You''re the one I am marrying. Who cares about what your stupid father thinks?" She huffed. But he wasn''t looking up. How infuriating.


    "Good girl," he hummed.


    "So, how do you plan on telling your family? I mean, do you want me to go with you? I''m interested in speaking to your father man-to-man," he announced.


    Qian Meng raised her brow, but she could hear how protective he sounded. She felt a warm hand slither to her heart and squeeze it gently. Look at this man, trying to shield her from her own family.


    How cute.


    "Our family dinner is in three days. I have been avoiding it for a week or two, but I can call them and say that I am bringing someone over." Qian Meng shrugged.


    "Will your mother be upset if you don''t tell her in person? I could arrange our flights if that is a problem."


    Qian Meng noticed the frown.


    "You don''t have to go to that extent to accommodate me, Mo Qingchen," she whispered. "My mother will be fine. We''re not close and marriage isn''t a big deal to her. She was married twice and she doesn''t look like the kind who wants a connection with her failures." Qian Meng chuckled humorlessly.


    "Well, a phone call will suffice then," Mo Qingchen ended that conversation quickly.


    "You really didn''t eat all day?" Qian Meng asked after a beat. He didn''t answer. Qian Meng knew that his mind had drifted away and he hadn''t heard her. So, she cooked up a little thing in her head to get him curious and excited.


    "So, I was thinking," Qian Meng announced to Mo Qingchen, who was sitting on the bed. Just like last night, he had his glasses on and was reading a book.


    He glanced up at her. "Are you going to offer me another deal?" he asked.


    Qian Meng scowled. "How did you know that?"


    "You have no poker face." He observed from beneath his lashes.


    "What does that even mean?" she laughed. "I''ve been in business for so long, I can hide my intentions very well."


    "It means, I can see you plotting. You want something." Mo Qingchen extended his arms towards her. He settled back in the headboard and looked at her with his full attention.


    "Why must you make it sound so shady? I''m not trying to take anything from you." She dropped down on the chair across from the bed. She held back a smirk at his dissatisfied expression.


    "You want to give me something?"


    "Yes. Something you need."


    Mo Qingchen shook his head in disbelief. "You realize you don''t have to entice me into letting you sleep in my bed, right?" he announced.


    Qian Meng gasped. "I have no idea what you mean. I was talking about something else," she stubbornly protested.


    "And what is it I need?" he asked, his eyes flitting closed as he rubbed his temple.


    "I will provide you with a meal in exchange for each lesson you give me." She played with her fingers in her lap, waiting for his response.


    "The classes to make you a ninja?" he countered.


    "Yes." She smiled with pride. "I am extremely spry."


    "I saw that earlier," he noted dryly.


    "What you saw earlier was an improvisation. I created my own version of the kick¡­ that is what genius ninjas do," she insisted.


    "Is that what that was?" he eyed her as she nodded. "Because it looked like you fell on your ass and couldn''t get up."


    Her eyes narrowed into slits. "That''s how I wanted it to appear. If I fooled you, I must have even more talent than I thought initially."


    She grinned at him.


    He remained silent. He opened his eyes, his dark eyes grabbing her, not a single shred of anger or turmoil in them.


    "Indeed, you are extremely talented," he said, holding her gaze. "Now get in bed and sleep."


    Qian Meng put one hand on his bicep and then stretched up to place a light kiss on his cheeks. As she pulled away, she caught a whiff of his scent and he smelled delicious. She shifted her eyes back up to look at his face, which had a smirk on it. She couldn''t help but smile just a little bit herself.


    "Good night," she said quickly


    "Good night, Qian Meng. Sleep."


    She followed his order without dispute.


    The bedsheet, mattress, and pillows were a lot more comfortable in his room anyway.

 Chapter 161: No One Flirts With Mo Qingchens Woman

    Qian Meng''s eyes opened a few seconds before her alarm would start blaring. She stared at the ceiling and sighed. Something was amiss in her body but she couldn''t pinpoint what it was.


    "Up?" Mo Qingchen hummed when he felt the changes in her body. She stiffly turned her head towards him and found him leaning against the head post, scrolling through his notepad.


    "What are you doing this early in the morning?" He hadn''t slept, that much was evident to Qian Meng. She smacked her lips in dissatisfaction and was about to pick herself up into a sitting position when she felt the pain permeating through her body. She grunted, making Mo Qingchen look at her.


    "Sore?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with delight.


    "Are you enjoying this?" she responded quietly.


    "No. Not enjoying it. Just contemplating if I should say ''I told you so,'' at this point. I don''t think it would be well received, though," he chuckled. Qian Meng glared at him openly.


    "It''s your fault!" she accused.


    Mo Qingchen rolled her eyes. "It''s normal to have muscle soreness after an intense workout. If you had stopped when I asked you to, it wouldn''t have been this bad. The bad trainer was just an added bonus." He looked at her with meaning. "So, when the professional tells you to do something, listen to them."


    Qian Meng moaned as she tried to sit up and failed. "It hurts. Help me get up," she pouted at him.


    He shook his head in disbelief and put his tablet aside to help her. His hands hovered over her arms before he pressed on them. Qian Meng squawked at that and then groaned.


    "I need to loosen your muscles. That will take away some of the pain. You need to get a deep tissue massage to unknot the rest," he advised softly. After massaging her arms, he went on to do the same for her calves.


    There was nothing sexual about the whole thing, especially when she couldn''t move. Mo Qingchen had no interest in dead fish. After fifteen minutes of this, he helped her up slowly.


    "At least you are not laughing too much," she breathed.


    "It will get better. You are not used to intense workouts, so muscle aches will be common. We will build up your stamina and capacity slowly, okay?" He looked her over. "I will book you a massage for this afternoon. Have your lunch an hour before your session, understood?" His voice was nothing short of doting.


    She hummed. "Thank you. Send me the address, too. I have a meeting with Mr. Bai for breakfast and then daily meetings. It is a relatively easy day, though. I should get time," she said.


    Mo Qingchen nodded. Then he pulled out the tablet again and showed it to her. She looked at him curiously before staring at the screen. Mo Qingchen had pulled up Bai Ye Qing''s social media post.


    "It''s gained traction?" she asked with the furrow of her brow. The post had some one-thousand and some hundred comments and a few dozen shares.


    Qian Meng scrolled through the comments and saw similar comments. Calling out Bai Ye Qing for trying to take revenge. Some pointed out that Qian Meng had not been in a relationship with him so she had done nothing wrong. Some missed the point and said that if Bai Ye Qing could cheat, Qian Meng could see multiple people as well. There were also those that went on a wild goose chase about the identity of the man.


    "Oh," she smiled.


    "There are a few people who shared the post and thought it was me," Mo Qingchen announced. Qian Meng turned to stare at him and saw a flash of pride in his eyes.


    "Happy that they thought it was you?" she teased.


    "It was me," he countered calmly.


    She snickered as she looked through the shares.


    There was one shared post in general that put Mo Qingchen''s voice notes side to side. It was an analysis. Qian Meng was impressed. The netizens were really talented.


    She hunched over and took out her own phone and found the post.


    "Are you going to respond to Bai Ye Qing?" Mo Qingchen asked in confusion.


    "No. Who cares about that acorn-head," she breathed. "I''m going to show off my relationship." She gave him a wide grin. He looked on helplessly and allowed her to do as she wished.


    "You''re going to overshadow his accusations by making the post all about us, aren''t you?" he countered.


    Qian Meng nodded. "You finally know how my mind works. This will ensure no one flirts with me. No one wants to flirt with Mo Qingchen''s woman. He might just bite their heads off. And this will clear out any future rumors otherwise," Qian Meng explained.


    She pressed on the share button to the analysis and typed.


    [exposed]


    She didn''t capitalize or put punctuation. This was a style she liked when posting something personal. Otherwise, they would think it was the marketing department revealing news.


    Qian Meng grinned and showed it to Mo Qingchen. He shook his head in disbelief. "Very eloquent," he commented.


    "It puts the point across. Problem solved!" Qian Meng chirped. She was about to get out of bed when her leg cramped up. She howled in pain, doubling over to hold the location. Her eyes watered as she looked at Mo Qingchen helplessly.


    He rolled his eyes as he slid off the bed and helped her to the bathroom. Qian Meng was almost sad that he didn''t pick her up bridal side. Bad Mo Qingchen, passing up on such an opportunity.


    He stood her up in the extensive shower and was about to leave when Qian Meng called after him.


    "Why doesn''t my room have a shower like this?" she asked. The shower was just like the one in Paris. It covered the whole ceiling and had openings on the wall, too.


    "This is a personal preference. You can just use it."


    She shrugged. She had already taken over his room and decided she would sleep beside him. It wasn''t a big deal if she occupied his bathroom, as well.

 Chapter 162: First Time Seeing a Cold CEO

    Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng drove out to their usual caf¨¦. Despite the early hour, the line was long. They sat side by side, Qian Meng engrossed in her phone and Mo Qingchen looking straight ahead.


    "It''s picking up traction. We''ll have hashtag MoYun trending in no time," she giggled. She looked like a little girl who had been given her favorite candy. Mo Qingchen shook his head in amusement.


    "Why do you want it to trend?" he asked casually without looking at her. He was seeing her scroll through the messages and posts and liking them.


    "I always liked those celebrities who came out with their relationships confidently and shamelessly showed off their affection," she admitted. "If people are going to find out, it should be so that they get cavities." She even had a pout on her lips.


    "Show off," Mo Qingchen snorted. They were already at the front of the line.


    "One black coffee and one iced green tea with soya milk to have now," he started. Then he turned to her curiously. "What do you want to bring for Bai Yu?" he asked.


    She hummed absentmindedly before looking up. "Something refreshing in the morning. A tea, definitely."


    "We''ll have something invigorating on a tea base, please. Hot," he said. The teller smiled and looked between them.


    "I saw the post from Miss Yun. I''m glad it worked out. I was rooting for the two of you," the person behind the counter said. It was a young girl. Definitely the younger generation of the family that owned the business.


    Qian Meng''s head shot up. "Thank you!" she said brightly. She skipped away, leaving Mo Qingchen rooted to his spot. He didn''t smile at the girl, but he pulled out a generous tip and pushed it into the tip jar before scurrying away.


    ''Is this what people call a cold CEO?'' The girl thought with awe.


    They waited at the service desk and took their drinks. They found their way over to the road-side window and sat on the long table attached to the glass.


    As the people passed, they silently drank their drinks.


    "I need to finish this and then go to the restaurant," Qian Meng groaned. "Why did I forget that and order the drink for Mr. Bai?" she asked.


    "Because you were preoccupied with how good we look together," Mo Qingchen teased, even though the tone of his voice didn''t give it away. Qian Meng mock-glared at him.


    "I''ll hand it to him outside the restaurant before we head in," she stated at last.


    "Do you need me to drop you off?" he asked with his brows furrowed.


    She shook her head. "It''s the restaurant a few blocks down. I''ll walk there," she said lightly.


    "I''m dropping you off," he said firmly. "You have no idea how to defend yourself. You aren''t going to walk around the dangerous streets without protection."


    "Wow, I should start calling you dad at this point," she bit back.


    "We could arrange for that." He gave her a sideward glance and Qian Meng felt herself choke.


    She eyes him suspiciously. "How are you holding yourself back at night? Macho Daddy doesn''t seem like a person who holds back," she commented.


    "You take the initiative. Not me." And that was that.


    What did he want her to say? Bend me over and fuck me, daddy?


    She could do that. Just not right now.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng had to wait for a few minutes for Bai Yu to arrive. She saw Mo Qingchen waiting in the car in the distance but didn''t pay much attention, knowing that he just wanted to stay in the distance and watch her go inside the restaurant.


    Bai Yu arrived and he slid out of a comfortable-looking car. She greeted him and handed him the drink before waving at Mo Qingchen to shoo him away.


    "Did he come along?" Bai Yu chuckled.


    Qian Meng nodded. "He''s a bit on the edge with the recent events." And then she grinned.


    "It''s good to have someone supporting you at the end of the day. Rarely do people find someone who unconditionally gives another person everything."


    Unconditionally.


    What was unconditional?


    Qian Meng didn''t respond. They headed in and were seated in a private location within the restaurant.


    "Uncle, you don''t have a fancy car?" Qian Meng asked as they waited for the breakfast spread to arrive. Bai Yu took a small sip of the tea before shaking his head.


    "I never understood the rage about fancy cars. I just want something that will last longer and get me from one place to the other," he shrugged.


    "If you don''t mind me asking, what really solidified your mind for contacting me?" Qian Meng asked.


    Bai Yu sighed. "I had a run-in with my son and I saw the side I didn''t know he had. I always thought he was a little stupid, but it turns out he was not." He looked at the table intently. "The other investors and executive members petitioned to have him removed from his position, as well."


    Qian Meng blinked. "Other investors?" Actually, it was not a publicized matter. The company was privately owned and no news of other shareholders was ever exposed. In Qian Meng''s knowledge, the minor investors held a total of fifteen percent share of the company, negligible when it came to termination and appointment authority.


    "Yes, some of my childhood friends and other small businessmen bought into my company. The dividend is good so they have extra money for their retirement," Bai Yu said calmly.


    "They shouldn''t have enough power to make a motion to dismiss a shareholder, right?" Qian Meng was perplexed.


    Bai Yu gave her a weak smile. "Actually, they called me shortly after your announcement went out. I tried to appease them and tell him to stay off the radar for some time, but he wouldn''t listen."


    Qian Meng felt empty for a second. "So, you allowed them to hold a meeting to remove him from his spot." That was understandable.

 Chapter 163: Feel Sorry for This Old Man

    "Actually, he doesn''t have any shares to his name," Bai Yu admitted. "I have a will that all my money will get equally distributed between my wife and children on my passing, so I never gifted them private equity in the company." He shrugged.


    Qian Meng stiffened. "Does your family know this?" she whispered.


    Bai Yu nodded. "Are you scared for my wellbeing?" he asked with a charming smile.


    Qian Meng couldn''t help but look at the man closer. "I have seen too many family disputes over money to tell you otherwise. It is better that you don''t come in contact with your son for a long period of time. Do not let your guard down at any time," she urged.


    "Don''t worry. It shouldn''t be long," he informed. Seeing that she was curious, he continued. "We were supposed to have the meeting tomorrow morning, but Ye Qing convinced some of the integral voting members to not show up."


    Qian Meng frowned. This meant he had considerable power in the company. This didn''t bode well for any of them. "What is the percentage attendance necessity to go ahead with the motion?" she inquired.


    "It''s eighty percent," Bai Yu replied with an abashed look.


    While such a high attendance rate was good to come to fair judgments, it could also help people with ill intentions to continuously delay hearings. What a pain in the ass.


    "When was the meeting postponed to?" she asked. The wheels in her head were turning as she plotted.


    "It was today. It is meant to be in the second half of the work-day but I received Ye Qing''s mail saying that he was unwell and needed a few days off."


    Qian Meng chuckled without amusement. "You should put an ultimatum. Tell him that if he doesn''t appear, his employment and rights to the shares will be terminated immediately. That will have him attending in no time," she told him.


    Bai Yu nodded. "That is what I plan on doing. But I will let him retreat for a few days. I think that signing over my shares to you before the meeting will be a good move." He grew silent.


    "Is there an issue that I need to know about?" Qian Meng asked, worry lacing her voice.


    "I am aware that the other investors and employees do not think I can lead them any longer. My bias towards my younger son has created some tension within the company. And I can now acknowledge it."


    Qian Meng looked at him in pity. "So, Uncle, you want me to take the place as the fresh face who will not let anyone get in the way of a company working well. Is that what you are asking me to do?" she asked with restraint.


    "I don''t want to hide this from you. I don''t understand the new marketing methods and sales tactics that they use. I am not the right person to employ people either. I know you just went against my son and people will point fingers at you saying that you did it to take over the company, but I think the company will prosper under you." His speech was long.


    Qian Meng nodded. "If we go ahead with the acquisition, I would like to keep it under the wraps. I don''t want to be an anonymous majority shareholder but I won''t be publicizing it," she informed.


    "That is perfect," he smiled. "I looked over the contract you gave me and I think your terms and conditions are generous. I never thought you would leave me five percent shares on a dividend basis." He gulped.


    "The founder is the lifeline of the company. Even when their time is over, they remain an integral part of the identity of the institution. You put in hard work and I don''t want to cheat you out of what you deserve." She shrugged.


    Bai Yu shook his head. "You feel guilty, too," he reprimanded. "You''re a ruthless businesswoman, Yun Qian Meng. You shouldn''t feel sorry for this old man. I know you think of me as a confidant and uncle, but in business, you shouldn''t allow that."


    Qiang Meng bowed her head. She felt no shame. "My business strategy is slightly different. I like working and collaborating with people. I am not in business to exploit people. I want us to prosper together." Maybe that was why she didn''t make as much money as her peers, but she liked the way she thought of business.


    Passion. Welfare. And happiness to work.


    "You''ve done a lot better in life than I managed, so I have no reason to reprimand you," Bai Yu apologized immediately. Qian Meng panicked.


    "Uncle, that''s not what I mean. I was being conversational. Measurement of success is arbitrary." And she wasn''t trying to placate the older man.


    "I know. Silly child," he chuckled. "But how fast can we make the acquisition happen?" he asked.


    Qian Meng tried to remember what the terms were and grimaced. "It will take at least three to four days for me to finish the final stage of research and mobilizing my funds. If we follow your plan about pushing the meeting a few days, I should be able to buy you out and attend the meeting as a shareholder," she announced.


    Bai Yu nodded. "That would be good."


    But Qian Meng became silent. "This move will make your son turn on you. I cannot ensure what his reaction will be. Are you prepared to burn all bridges with your son?" she whispered.


    "I have coddled him all my life. With the money I get, I will be able to ensure that he lives a good life without¡­" he didn''t know how to end that sentence.


    "He is not living at your home at the moment, right?" Qian Meng hinted.


    "No. He hasn''t come home since that night." He frowned. "My wife has been throwing a fit, as well."


    Qian Meng nodded. "I''ll be frank with you, Uncle."

 Chapter 164: Suddenly Became an Obedient Woman

    "If you want your son to not go down this path, I request you to publicize that your will is going to be enforced by the lawyer. If you die mysteriously, no one will get your money." She gave him a pointed look.


    Bai Yu stared at Qian Meng. "You are thorough. I''ll think about it," he said quietly. Qian Meng knew in that moment that Bai Yu would never do anything of the sort.


    She had to frown. "Did you bring the signed copy?" she asked after a moment of silence.


    "I did." They went through the contract to make sure all the processes were done.


    "I''ll have my lawyer contact yours. This should go through in no time. Please keep me in the loop with the processes and meeting alerts." That was all Qian Meng asked.


    And therein ended the conversation.


    - - - - -


    The first lesson was scheduled for the next evening.


    Mo Qingchen accepted her proposal without much of a fuss. She negotiated as he relaxed on the bed. For each lesson he gave her, she would provide him dinner. To her surprise, he even agreed to let her choose the place.


    Mo Qingchen was in an excellent mood these days, so she could probably get him to agree to much more. Her mind was overridden by a list of favorite eating joins, places his snooty as would surely snub. She couldn''t wait to expose his arrogant taste buds to how the other half lived.


    Maybe she could make him a home-cooked meal or two.


    Though, she would permanently scar Xiong Hua if she ever came to the house and saw Mo Qingchen eating whatever monstrosity Yun Qian Meng had cooked.


    At seven, Yun Qian Meng strutted down the hall in her ninja gear: the black sports bra with matching shorts. Her hair held up in a high ponytail. When she entered the training studio, she saw Mo Qingchen already waiting for her. His powerful presence filled the room. He gave her a quick once over before walking over to her.


    "We''ll start with stretches." He pointed to the mat on the floor. "Get on your knees."


    Qian Meng''s brow arched up at his choice of words, but after taking in his concentrated expression and demeanor, she let it slide.


    Actually, his training attitude startled her. She didn''t plan on taking the lessons too seriously. She had figured that he would attempt to show her a few moves before getting aggravated and ask her to buy pepper spray.


    But Mo Qingchen had other plans.


    His jaw was set with determination as he explained the importance of knowing how to defend herself in a world full of vile and dangerous assailants. Not only did the man trust no one, but he also viewed people as a physical threat.


    Warped or not, Mo Qingchen''s eagerness to teach her to protect herself from the evil he saw around him touched Qian Meng.


    No one would describe him as a patient man, but to her surprise, he guided her with great patience. He exposed a new side to her and she tried her best not to read too deeply into the matter.


    The new side she exposed to him surprised her even more. No one would describe her as an obedient woman. Yet, she found herself highly attentive, so much so that it bordered on obedience.


    That should have scared her, but it didn''t.


    By the time he tossed her a pair of shiny red boxing gloves, she desperately wanted to learn everything he wanted to teach her.


    They spent over thirty minutes training before she threw her first real punch. Satisfied that she understood the basics, he put on something called focus pads. His eyes gripped hers intently as he held one up.


    "Alright, let''s see what you can do." The devious look he gave her would have freaked out most people, but it made her smile.


    "Will I be punching and kicking those?" she asked mischievously.


    "Yes."


    "Can we put some music on?"


    "You don''t need music," he dismissed quickly.


    "It will make me feel badass." Her feet remained firmly in the stance he had wanted her in.


    "If a homicidal psychopath approached you in a dark street, will you ask for music before defending yourself?" he questioned.


    "Of course not." She huffed at this ridiculousness. "This is just practice. You are not a homicidal psychopath."


    "Some would disagree." He grinned wickedly. "For the sake of this exercise, I am. You will view me as a dangerous threat to your life and try your best to protect yourself."


    "That isn''t difficult," she agreed under her breath.


    And so it began.


    Mo Qingchen militantly gave commands for the jabs and kicks he had taught her. She struggled at first, which frustrated the hell out of her, but it didn''t bother him in the least. He just stopped and took extra time to guide her until she got it right.


    Why did he consider her lessons so important? She didn''t have any idea. But anyone could guess that he was worried out of his mind that Bai Ye Qing or some other crazy person would harm her physically. He needed her not only to be intelligent but physically strong enough.


    If a day came when she felt threatened by him, she should be able to beat him to a pulp. That was his attitude towards the lessons.


    Every time her glove landed on the pad, Qian Meng felt empowered. The brute sound of it echoing through the room pumped her up higher and higher until she worked herself into a frenzy.


    "Ninja blood runs through my veins!" she claimed during a short break. "Anyone can see that."


    Mo Qingchen scoffed. And it began once again.


    He never wavered, no matter how hard her blows pounded down on the large, cushioned pads he held out. He stood solid, unrelenting as a wall.


    Sweat covered her entire body, adrenaline flooded her system and yet, this man had barely exerted himself.

 Chapter 165: He Set Her Body on Fire

    Exercise had never appealed to her, she did it to stay healthy. But that had changed. Once, she discovered the rush she got from kickboxing, she couldn''t imagine anything more addictive.


    She felt like she could tear down walls, lift cars, climb buildings. She didn''t want it to end.


    "No!" she yelled when Mo Qingchen ordered her to stop. "Ninja''s don''t stop!" Despite his instructions, she continued to throw a slew of solid jabs at him, which he expertly blocked.


    In a flash, he pinned her arms down at her sides. She got a stern glare.


    "Do you want to be so sore that you can''t move for days," he asked savagely.


    "You''re not a good mentor if that happens," she challenged.


    "Okay, I''m going to assault you." The vein at the base of his throat thumped.


    "What''s new? You want to pounce me all the time," she teased. "But you don''t want to do that. I am a deadly force of nature," she warned, exhaling a deep breath.


    "Qian Meng, be serious." He released her arms.


    "I am being serious," she responded without missing a beat.


    "We will start off easy." He tossed the focus pad on the floor. "I will come at you from behind. Obviously, I don''t expect you to bring me down. I just want you to try getting away from me."


    "I will bring you down." She smashed her gloved together, echoing like thunder.


    Mo Qingchen smirked at her as if the mere thought amused him.


    "Why are you smiling like that? Oh, now it''s on! I will not show mercy."


    "Okay, Miss Ninja," he taunted.


    "How about this, if I bring you down, I get to ask you a personal dare. No boundaries and you must do what I say."


    "You are being ridiculous." He moved in closer. "Taking me down is not a possibility."


    "Yeah? Then why haven''t you agreed to the deal? Are you scared?" She pointed at her chest.


    His brow arched. "You seriously think you can take me down?"


    "I do."


    "And if you don''t?"


    "If I don''t?" she repeated, not sure where he was going with the question.


    "What do I get if I take you down?" The predatory gleam was back and it excited her.


    "Oh, you can dare me to do anything¡­"


    He snorted in her face. "No deal."


    "Fine. You missed out on a chance to have me as your slave if you won. What do you want?" She rolled her eyes.


    "I don''t want you as my slave," he swore. "And that question is dangerous," he paused. "I want you to feed me every meal you offer in exchange for the lessons."


    "That''s a long-term thing. Unfair!" she protested.


    He lowered his lips to her ear. "I enjoyed those little snacks immensely¡­"


    His hands reached down to her boxing gloves. He pulled each one off and tossed them on the floor.


    "You did?"


    He nodded.


    "Did you?" he asked, knowing the answer.


    "Yes."


    "Good." He smiled. "Because I am still hungry."


    She didn''t respond. She stared at his lips. The tip of his finger guided her chin up until their eyes met. "Deal?"


    "Deal." She agreed. "I will feed you until you beg me to stop." Two could play at the game. Granted he could watch her without going dumb. He had a slight advantage on that front, but he would not defeat her.


    "I never beg," he warned. "Ever."


    "We''ll see about that." She kept her eyes on his.


    Mo Qingchen stepped away from her. "Are you ready?"


    Nodding her head, she gave him her best stare.


    And then he pounced.


    Even though she had expected the attack, he still managed to catch her off guard. Panic swept over her in waves. Why couldn''t she remember a damn thing he taught her?


    Her eyes widened and for a second, she was scared.


    Just as she was about to beg for mercy, her blood started to boil. The excitement kicked in. She could have easily gotten away from him, but she wanted to take him down.


    She would take him down.


    He blocked each jab and kick she attempted as though her moves were predictable. It probably should have discouraged her, but it only made her more determined.


    She didn''t know how long it took for her to realize he hadn''t moved an inch. He just stood there swatting her away like a pesky bug. This enraged her beyond belief.


    "You are going down!" She flung herself at him, throwing every bit of her training out of the window.


    He caught her without faltering. She hoped the brute force of her body landing on his would have knocked him over. It didn''t. Now she needed a new plan. She didn''t have a new plan.


    Yun Qian Meng was so blinded by her excitement that she didn''t see Mo Qingchen taking the brunt of the force, making sure she didn''t hit the ground or hurt herself.


    In an act of sheer desperation, she started tickling him. She refused to lose. He would go down one way or another.


    She tickled the back of his neck first. When she got no response, she moved her fingers down to his sides. Her legs remained wrapped around his waist for leverage.


    "Are you serious?" He tried plucking her body from his, but she just locked her legs tighter around him.


    Her fingers ran all over his body. He had to be ticklish somewhere. His hands were quite busy as well, the more he tried detaching her hips from his the stronger she ground against him.


    She found herself dry-humping her future hubby with fervor, but this time she had a valid reason. He would go down, by any means possible.


    She had to say, her hips were putting Shakira to shame.


    "Fuck," he grunted, his hands pulling her closer. Much to her surprise.


    That word coming from his lips set her on fire.


    She wanted him down on the mat for an entirely different reason now.

 Chapter 166: Grinding Against Her Enemy

    Based on the look in his eyes he did too. The man had the ability to demand sex without saying a word. He made her want to do bad things to him.


    So, she did.


    The gyration attack Qian Meng unleashed on his body was probably illegal in several states. They groaned from the intensity of it. She couldn''t stop herself though. The distinct feel of his length made itself known¡­ painfully close to where she wanted it.


    ''Get him on the floor!''


    The words ran through her mind continuously as her fingers desperately searched his body for a ticklish spot. He stopped trying to pull her off him. In fact, his fingers began exploring her body, completely distracting her from my goal.


    She nearly gave up when suddenly, it happened. His stomach muscles contracted under her touch and he squirmed in place as her fingertips brushed behind his ears.


    An evil grin spread across her face.


    Mo Qingchen knew Qian Meng had him at her mercy.


    Just as Qian Meng went in for the kill, her back landed flat against the mat. He brought her down in a nanosecond.


    His body felt solid and warm covering her. The sudden action took her breath away. She looked up into his eyes. Never had she seen them so feral.


    "You are impossible." He had her wrists pinned above her head. She lay there completely at his mercy and by the looks of it he liked the situation. "You could have easily run away but you tried to do things beyond your capacity." He looked frustrated.


    "How did you do that?" she asked, not even trying to hide the awe she had for his skills.


    "Quite easily." His mouth moved closer to hers. "Who knew a ninja could be a wimp?"


    "A wimp?" Her jaw dropped. "You''re upset I found your weakness!"


    His fingers gripped her wrists tighter. "Yun Qian Meng, are you forgetting why we are here?" he growled. "You should always de-escalate a dangerous situation. Don''t try to take an aggressive attacker down. Especially when you aren''t strong enough." He paused. "And don''t grind against them," he warned.


    "If you say so." Her eyes rolled.


    "Don''t push me," a low growl coated his words.


    "You love it when I push you," she smiled at him. "Admit it."


    "I assure you I do not love anything." His gaze ran over Qian Meng''s face as he contemplated her words. "Love is the greatest weakness of all."


    The raw honesty in his voice made her frown. She was not much of a believer, but she wasn''t so violently against love. She wondered if it had anything to do with his father. He seemed to have suffered in the hands of that man. How? She didn''t know.


    Wrapped up in her thoughts, she didn''t notice he released her wrists. Mo Qingchen appeared lost in thought as well.


    "What are we doing to cool off?" She changed the subject, hating to see him in pain. It took so long for him to respond that she expected him to abandon her.


    "Up," he ordered. He pulled his body away from her. "Let''s finish and then go home."


    Qian Meng rolled on the bed and stretched as she heard the water running in the shower. She propped her head on her palms and waited for him to come out.


    When he did, she blinked. This was clearly a scene out of those thirst-trap romance television series. The black towel hung very low on his waist and Qian Meng watched in fascination.


    Her eyes widened slightly and the devious side of her wanted to tug it just a little bit so that it fell to the floor. That was not too much to ask, right?


    She stared at him so long that she almost missed his gruff voice. "It won''t disappear if you stare at it," he said.


    She looked up and smiled guiltily. He was drying his hair with the towel. She sniffed the air and pouted. "You never gave me the contact details for the hair care company. Your shampoo smells so good. It tastes good, too," she added with emphasis.


    He squinted at her and then the memory seemed to come back to him.


    "Ah, yes. You drooled all over my hair. Now I know why," he commented as he rubbed his hair some more.


    "Speaking of drooling," Qian Meng changed the topic quickly. She didn''t want to be any more wanton than she already was. "Mr. Bai signed the contract. I will officially be the majority shareholder of the company tomorrow," she bit her lip as she watched his reaction.


    "How much did that cost you, in total?" he asked with his furrowed brows.


    Qian Meng had to smile at that. He was asking like a husband talking to his wife about an impulse buy. Or wondering if he should lend her money. She didn''t need it. She had managed to pull out funds just fine.


    "I bought it at five-hundred-seventy million dollars," Qian Meng told him. His brows furrowed.


    "That doesn''t sound right. How did they grow this big? Did you get duped?" he looked agitated at that moment.


    Qian Meng shook her head. "Calm down. I thoroughly checked the company. Their sales were in the billions last year alone. They are showing massive growth, too. Mr. Bai is not accustomed to changes in the market so the growth was not as big as it could have been, though." She had to explain.


    "Have you decided on an emergency evaluation and reconstruction team?" he asked, towering over her beside the bed.


    She nodded dumbly. "They start going through the whole structure after Bai Ye Qing is removed from office day after tomorrow." She smiled brilliantly just thinking about that.


    "You will be attending the meeting?" he asked, fascinated. "Are you excited?" he asked, crouching beside the bed and leaning into her.


    "I am. I didn''t know I wanted revenge this bad. But now that I am so close to it, I can''t wait to see him crumble in front of my eyes." Her eyes glazed as she imagined the moment. "Aren''t you proud?" she asked innocently.

 Chapter 167: Insulting the Half-Naked Woman on His Bed *

    [Warning: Mild to moderate spicy activity in this chapter.]


    He leaned in close, his lips grazing over hers. "I am," he whispered.


    His lips brushed against her, teasing her. She latched onto the bottom one and gave him a little bite, hard and fast, just like the way he liked it. Mo Qingchen wrapped his arms around her shoulder and lifted her up into a sitting position, their lips never parting. His hands came up behind the back of her head and held it in place as his lips did delicious things to her mouth. By the time he let her up for air, she had flung her hands over his shoulder and began climbing him like a tree.


    "How do you feel after the workout?" he asked hoarsely.


    "Like I am about to lose my mind," she could barely get the words out.


    "You''re not in pain?" he asked, taking a step away from her.


    "I am now," she grunted, still having trouble catching her breath.


    "How are your muscles?" His fingertips ran down her leg until they reached her calf. He lifted her leg slowly to inspect it.


    She plopped back into the bed in her blue muumuu. This was not the best choice for getting the freak on. She didn''t look sexy in this. Damn it.


    "It feels much better when you''re kissing me," she pouted. It couldn''t get much sexier than that.


    "Does it?" he smirked devilishly. His dark side peaked through and she welcomed it with open arms.


    Qian Meng nodded as she reached out to grab his waist and pull him back to her. His lips moved down the side of her neck, sending goosebumps all over her body. Mo Qingchen''s fingers drifted from her calves to her inner thighs.


    "You dress like this into a man''s bed." He bit down on the delicate skin above her collar bone.


    Her breath hitched. "Victoria''s Secret is for pansies. Sexy women wear muumuus."


    He pulled away and shook his head. "Not true. Only you can make a muumuu sexy." If she hadn''t been aching all over from working out, she would have never worn something like this. She was glad he thought that way.


    Qian Meng chuckled. "You little charmer! Trying to sweet talk me out of my muumuu?" she teased.


    Mo Qingchen''s face turned serious. "There''s nothing sweet or romantic about it, Qian Meng. Especially right now."


    "You can''t scare me away." She kissed his hardened lips softly.


    He bit down on her bottom lip and then released it. "Are you sure about that?"


    Qian Meng''s eyes closed at the feel of his fingers pushing her panties aside. "Your darker side turns me on," she confessed in a breathy voice.


    "I can feel that," he whispered in her ear as though it was a secret. It was no secret.


    She pulled him closer as he skilfully removed her muumuu and tossed it behind him, leaving her in only a bra and panties.


    "The first day¡­ in the news studio¡­" she sputtered and stopped when he bit down on her neck. "I thought you were an arrogant asshole." She knew him to be an arrogant asshole.


    "I thought you were a reckless and spastic nuisance," he retorted as his lips dropped to her breasts. He lowered the bra straps.


    The hungry way he feasted on her breasts would probably frighten most people, but she wasn''t most people. She pushed out her chest as an offering. Something about his wild side drove her insane.


    "Ouch!" she cried out as he accepted her offer, biting down hard on her nipple and sucking it into his mouth with force.


    Slowly but tantalizingly, he released her. "You like my dark side?" He observed her carefully as though her answer held a lot of importance.


    Qian Meng nodded eagerly. Her mouth managed to murmur a breathy "Love it."


    A sinister smirk appeared on his face. His eyes darkened, making Qian Meng''s heart race in her chest uncontrollably at the sight of him. Whatever devious thoughts were running through his mind, she wanted them to happen.


    Right then.


    Before she could voice that he pushed her back into the bed. The cool feel of it against her warm skin sent shivers down her spine.


    Mo Qingchen knelt before her and gave her his most wicked smirk of all.


    "What are you thinking about?" she asked, wondering how blunt he would be.


    "Defiling you in unspeakable ways until you can''t walk." He paused. "After your muscle soreness gets better."


    She glanced down at her body. "The only way to get better from sore muscles is to work out more. I suppose we are halfway there."


    He shook his head stubbornly. "Qian Meng, you need to take care of your body. You can''t be reckless with it. It''s going to accompany you for the rest of your life. Your body needs time to heal."


    "Excuse me, Mr. Mo," Qian Meng spoke up. She was slightly offended that he wasn''t enticed despite her almost naked body on his bed. "I am a well-trained ninja. And I have been using this body for twenty-five years. I know a little more about my body than you do." She placed her hand on her hip and lowered her eyebrows at him.


    "Oh, really?" he had the nerve to snort condescendingly. "I find that highly doubtful."


    "You don''t think I know the human body better than you do?" He actually sounded serious! What started out as playful flirting quickly turned into her wanting to smack that smug smirk right off his face.


    "Miss Yun, you are a designer and businesswoman, not a doctor." He stood up, making a point of looking down at her.


    "Neither are you, Mr. Mo." She glared up at him as she pulled her bra straps up.


    He laughed out. "The amount of times I have taken care of injuries puts me in a better position than you to comment, at least."


    She held up her hand. "You have me half-naked on your bed, and insulting me what is on your mind?" Offensive.

 Chapter 168: Until She Begs Him to Stop

    He lowered his gaze to her. "You need time to heal. Trust me, insulting you is not what is on my mind."


    "Tell me then. I''d really like to hear it," she said in a whisper.


    He shook his head. What a stubborn man.


    "You don''t have trouble speaking what is on your mind." She scooted closer to the edge of the bed. Mo Qingchen ran a hand through is hair.


    "I don''t want to hurt you."


    "How would telling me what is on your mind hurt me?" she looked up innocently.


    "Don''t play coy. It''s not attractive." He moved in closer. "You want to hear the dirty things I want to do to you? All the filthy things running through my mind? We both know that would lead to more than talking."


    Qian Meng snorted. "And that would be a bad thing because?" she scrunched her brows in confusion. "I honestly don''t see the problem here."


    Mo Qingchen released a frustrated sigh. "I''m not a gentleman. I can get rough. I''m generally in full control of myself, but it might be different with you. You are here to be protected, not to satisfy my carnal needs."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Hello, Mr. Boob Muncher. Don''t pretend to be a gentleman. I''m offering myself up to you even though I am painfully aware of your appetite." She leaned in a little closer. "To be honest, I''m dying to see you lose control."


    "I know." He took a step back. "You''ve been testing my limits since the day we met." The man had the audacity to growl.


    Qian Meng stretched out my legs. "It''s not my fault. You make it impossible to resist." A chill shot up her spine. She wrapped her arm around her half-naked body. "It''s kind of cold in here. Do you think you can control yourself enough to keep me warm?"


    Mo Qingchen threw her an intense stare before dropping to his knees. "Come here," he ordered as though she were a disobedient pet.


    "Why don''t you come here?" she curled her finger at him, luring him to her. The challenge had been made. Would he take it, though?


    "Why must you fight me on everything?" His jaw stiffened.


    "The bed is more comfortable. I''m being logical. Isn''t that what you like? Logical decisions?" It was the truth. She actually wasn''t trying to push his buttons, that was just an added bonus.


    "What on earth possessed me to propose to you?" he growled out a frustrated sigh.


    "My great rack?" Qian Meng pushed out her cleavage together, holding back a laugh.


    His eyes darted straight to them. Before she could tell him she was kidding, he lunged forward and scooped her up, settling them both on the bed, her sitting in his lap.


    He kissed her lips once. "I''ve seen better."


    Qian Meng''s jaw dropped. "You told me they were exquisite!"


    Mo Qingchen shrugged. "Do you believe everything that a man tells you?" he questioned.


    "Of course not." She grasped his jaw and pulled his face to meet hers. "I believe what you tell me. I trust you." What would you say to that, Mo Qingchen?


    He stared at her with a dark look. "That is a bad decision."


    "Yes, because you''re an awful monster. Is that what you want to tell me?" She released his jaw as they continued staring at one another.


    "Trust makes you vulnerable. Little Red Riding Hood trusted the wolf and look at how that ended for her." He chomped his mouth suddenly, making her flinch.


    Qian Meng gasped. Had he actually just do that?


    "Wrong. She never trusted him. He was pretending to be someone he wasn''t," she argued.


    Mo Qingchen was talking about something entirely different. Qian Meng, though, was clueless about this fact.


    "You don''t think people do that?" he looked at her with concern. "You really are na?ve."


    "Mo Qingchen, please. I am not a little girl. I am aware people do that. Are you being someone else with me?" She watched him ponder on her question.


    "Yes." His hands gripped her hips a little tighter. "I am not myself when I am with you."


    "And you think that is bad?" she teased with a light smile. "Knowing a part of you that you don''t show other people makes me feel special. It''s not the same thing as pretending to be someone you''re not." She shrugged.


    "If that''s what you choose to believe," he countered.


    "Moreover, we signed a contract. I can hold you responsible for betraying me." She paused. "Do you trust me?" She watched as his eyes darted to the side before resting on her.


    "No," he said finally.


    Her brow rose. "Just no?"


    "Would you rather I lie?" He pushed a piece of her hair behind her ear, an intimate gesture. The man was the king of mixed signals.


    "Don''t ever lie to me. But why don''t you trust me?" She just wanted to understand.


    "I don''t trust anyone," he said calmly.


    "I know that, but you admitted I am different. You are marrying me."


    He paused to think about this. "I think higher of your morals than others. That is true. But I can''t say I trust you completely." And he stopped again. "I am highly attracted to you. Being around you doesn''t repulse me. I sometimes prefer your company to being alone."


    "Slow down with the sweet talk!" she gasped. She even made a show of fanning herself. "Okay, don''t trust me. We have a lifetime to work on that. But know that I trust you."


    He shook his head. "You lack self-control."


    "What?" her voice rose. "I most certainly do not!" she protested.


    He leaned down and whispered in Qian Meng''s ear. "What if I told you I wanted to lick your body until you begged me to stop? And then I would turn you over¡­"


    "Just licking? No biting?" she questioned audaciously.


    "There will be biting. You''re my favorite meal," he replied casually.

 Chapter 169: Taking the Towel Off *

    [Warning: Lots of wild snu snu in this chapter. Please skip if it''s not your cup of tea!]


    "Will there be marks?" she asked with concern. She had clothes that could reveal a lot of those marks. She would have to think about her wardrobe choices in the future.


    "All over your body. You will be sore for days." Mo Qingchen''s wicked smirk was back.


    She fell across his lap with her arms above her head. "Go ahead!"


    Mo Qingchen looked down at her, a predatory gleam in his eyes. Her heart raced as she waited for him to pounce. She closed her eyes, wanting to be taken off guard. The thrill of it would be such a rush that she waited with anticipation for what felt like an hour before she slowly opened her eyes.


    He was watching her intently. "No self-control. You''re like a lamb to slaughter."


    She lifted off his lap in a flash. "My god. Why are you such a control freak? Do you ever lighten up?"


    "Rarely." He pushed up off the bed and stood above her. "Definitely not tonight."


    His finely constructed personality was firmly in place. But so was his freshly showered body. He looked so smug that he remained in full control. Qian Meng wanted nothing more than to shake him up.


    She reached out and pulled him close by swiftly tugging on his waist. He swayed slightly. Her gaze darted up to his and a naughty smile flashed across her lips. With speedy fingers, she undid the knot of his towel.


    She discarded it in one powerful move. His body stiffened.


    Everywhere.


    Call her crazy, but seeing him like that felt like a huge victory and she wasn''t using the word huge lightly. There was nothing little about the dragon''s hidden cub.


    She was an awful person for not bothering about anything else than making him lose control.


    "Wow, where did you get that towel? How did it hold up for so long?" she asked with fascination. Her fingers wrapped around his fully aroused cock as she spoke.


    He grunted before clearing his throat. "What are you doing?" Mo Qingchen''s voice was strained but stern.


    She did her best lamb impression before engulfing the tip in her mouth.


    "Fuck," he groaned.


    She had no idea what she was doing. She had done some internet searches, but she had to get a feel for what he liked. It would definitely take some experimentation. She was up for the challenge, though.


    She teased him little by little, sucking on the head and then trying to drop down full hilt. Qian Meng realized that her gag reflex seemed to not work. He let out a low growl when she pulled off, his eyes black.


    Her fingers moved to explore his most precious jewels. He liked things rough. One didn''t have to know him well to figure that out. Qian Meng nibbled lightly on the outer rim of the head, giving his balls a firm squeeze and then a hard massage.


    Mo Qingchen''s breathing became heavier, but he still had his walls up. She wanted him to let go and feel. With renewed determination, she opened her mouth and sucked him in and then released him over and over before she pulled her head back with a loud pop as her lips left him.


    "Now I know what you meant when you said I was delicious," she began thoughtfully. "You are delicious, too!" She smiled up with him with dripping wet lips. "But maybe you''re right. I should have more self-control." She frowned and let out a heavy sigh as she leaned down to pick the towel up once again.


    "Don''t," the word left Mo Qingchen''s lips in a pained whisper.


    "Oh?" she paused, holding the towel, barely having picked it up.


    Mo Qingchen''s gaze dropped down to her. "Don''t stop." His eyes begged.


    "If you insist." She let the towel go, dropping it back on the floor.


    If you asked her why, she couldn''t give a reason other than that she was led my instinct and insanity. But she leaned in between his legs and bit down on his inner thigh as hard as she could.


    Qian Meng wanted to mark him. Maybe she did need a lesson in self-control. She would have to deal with that later because the boob muncher smashed his walls down faster than a snake could strike.


    Mo Qingchen reached down and gripped the back of her head firmly. His fingers wound their way into Qian Meng''s hair.


    "Are you hungry, Qian Meng?" His deep voice sounded different. She couldn''t decipher what it held.


    "Famished," she replied, a bolt of adrenaline shooting through her.


    Her eyes raised up to his, expecting to find his wicked smirk or a devilish gleam in his eyes, but she found neither. His generally hardened jaw had loosened. His usually stern eyes were hooded and clear. It took her a moment to recognize it.


    His walls were down. The only other time she had seen it was when he slept. He certainly wasn''t sleeping at that moment.


    "Open," he commanded. And she did just as he asked.


    The scene changed. No longer was Qian Meng taunting him or he resisting. He opened up and he was without abandon. He pushed his cock deep down her throat with absolute lack of thought. He lost all self-control. Qian Meng welcomed it with open arms.


    Well, open mouth if we wanted to get technical about it.


    Qian Meng wondered if she should have tried the traditional route of talking about their emotions, but where was the fun in that?


    The grunts and growls coming from him fed her insatiable appetite to help him feel, to truly feel a connection with another person. She couldn''t lie, the fact that she was that person made her heart leap.


    She was a horrible singer but she could use it if need be. She put on quite a show. Humming one;s heart out with a cock hitting the back of your throat wasn''t as easy as one might think, but she nailed it. Thank god for the internet.

 Chapter 170: Destroy His Self-Control

    [Warning: The first paragraph is steamy. Normal chapter after that.]


    Mo Qingchen thoroughly enjoyed her performance. She was sure that she was his favorite singer from that moment on. He growled a string of profanities, ending them with a thunderous roar. His warm cum shot down her throat so fast that she could barely taste it.


    "Are you okay?" he asked, releasing her head and dropping down to his knees in one fell swoop. Sweat dripped down the sides of his face and his breathing was labored. He looked definitely ravished.


    "Actually, I''m a little upset." She folded her arms.


    "Did I hurt you?" His eyes grew concerned.


    "Hurt me?" Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Don''t be ridiculous. Who gets hurt during a blow job?" she asked.


    He raked his fingers through his hair, making it a sweaty mess that somehow managed to look sexy as hell. "I shouldn''t have been so rough." His eyes roamed all over Qian Meng as though he didn''t believe she was okay.


    "But you couldn''t control it." She didn''t even try to contain her smile. "My, what a loud roar you have."


    He scratched his forehead in confusion. "What the hell are you talking about?"


    "I wanted you to let me in. That wouldn''t happen unless you lost control," she explained with excitement. "You really made me work for it. That''s for sure." She wiped her brow.


    He plopped down on the bed beside her and splayed on top of it. "Is that why you are upset? Because I didn''t destroy my self-control easily for you?"


    "What?" she threw her head back in laughter. "Of course not. I enjoyed that part. I don''t like it when things come easily to me. But I was upset that I couldn''t finish the song I was singing."


    He had to think for a few seconds before it clicked. "If it makes you feel better, you can finish it for me later. It had quite a gripping melody." Mo Qingchen shuddered just imagining.


    She hummed a little for him. "It''s Franz Liszt," she whispered.


    "You turned a romantic classical piece into raunchy music to get railed to. Devious."


    "As long as you enjoyed it and want a repeat performance," she said lightly with a hint of meaning.


    He nodded with a small smile on his lips. "I was wrong. You aren''t the lamb. You''re the wolf," he muttered.


    Qian Meng wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. "Me? That''s crazy. I don''t bite."


    "Liar." He moved in closer.


    "I nibble," she admitted. "And you love it." Qian Meng kissed him lightly and then nipped at his lips before releasing them.


    "I do." There was a moment of drowsy silence. Qian Meng was sure she had put him into pleasure-induced drowsiness. She was too happy with herself. "I need to take another shower," he groaned.


    "Together? To conserve water?" she chimed in. He glared at her before pressing another kiss to her mouth.


    "No. I can''t handle more tonight." He nudged her cheek and then got up. "Oh. We need to call your mother," he reminded Yun Qian Meng.


    She looked at the time. "She should be free in half an hour. She''ll have lunch break," she commented.


    "I''ll clean up and then we can call her, okay?" Then he paused. "She won''t tell Yun Sui Bo before we get to him, right?" he asked suspiciously.


    Qian Meng shook her head. "She hates talking to him. And she will forget about the matter the second we hang up."


    Mo Qingchen looked at her face for a sign of sadness but when he found none, he went into the bathroom.


    Mo Qingchen returned to the room in full clothing this time. Qian Meng pouted as he walked up to the bed.


    "Why are you sulking?" he asked gruffly. His hair was still dry but he was patting his cheeks to remove the excess water from it.


    "You''re clothed!" she responded unkindly.


    "Yes, I fear you will accost me again. I will never come near you without all my clothes on." Qian Meng scoffed at his oath. She would see how he did that. "Go wash your face, at least. You look like you were thoroughly ravished."


    Qian Meng looked at him critically. "I was thoroughly ravished," she countered. She bit the corner of her lips in insinuation and then stood up. She felt his eyes on her as she sauntered into the bathroom. Indeed, she looked thoroughly ravaged. Like she had not been allowed to leave bed for hours.


    She shook her head to push the thought away and then washed her face and matted down her hair with a little water. Done. She looked ready for bed.


    She sighed when she found Mo Qingchen leaning against the headboard, waiting for her. His eyes were closed and his chin raised towards the ceiling. She wondered if he was sleeping but he stirred and blinked his eye open when he realized she was back.


    "You should sleep. I can call them later," Yun Qian Meng said quickly.


    Mo Qingchen had a lazy smiled on his lips. "No need. Let''s talk." He patted the place beside him and she trotted over and plopped down. She positioned herself beside him so that her shoulder rested against his and then she dialed her mother''s number.


    "Qian Meng?" the voice came from the other side. Her mother, Sun Li, was surprised to get a call at all. They rarely spoke and talking so frequently was not usual for them.


    "Yes. Are you free to get on a video call? It won''t take more than two minutes," Qian Meng hurried to say.


    There was silence on the other side. "Okay. Wait." Qian Meng heard shuffling from the other side and she breathed in relief.


    "She has time," she whispered to Mo Qingchen.


    Soon, a video call from her mother came in. Qian Meng took it and for the first time in years, she saw her mother in comfortable clothes. She was wearing a ratty shirt and had a messy bun on her head. This was a look she had never expected from her mother.

 Chapter 171: How Rich Is Mo Qingchen?

    The lines at the corner of her eyes and her fidgeting to set the camera right almost made her look like an endearing mom.


    "It''s my day off. What did you want to talk about?" Sun Li asked, looking at Qian Meng with confusion. Mo Qingchen was not in frame at this time, so it was obvious that she had no idea someone else was in the room.


    "Oh. I just¡ª" she couldn''t finish before Sun Li cut her off.


    "Is this about the bank account and all that fuss?" Sun Li asked, her brows furrowed.


    Mo Qingchen pressed his lips together in dissatisfaction. These people didn''t talk to each other about anything apart from money, it seemed.


    "No, I sorted that out. You don''t need to worry about being pestered about it any longer. This is about something else. I want you to meet someone."


    Sun Li looked stunned. She blubbered for a minute before she shouted over her shoulder. "Honey! Kids!"


    Qian Meng recoiled at the sound and dug closer to Mo Qingchen. He pushed her forward and his arms slid around her shoulders to hold her close, a gesture Qian Meng was thankful for.


    There were a flurry of footsteps and sleepy people coming into frame. Sun Li fumbled to show three golden haired men of different ages. The older man was Daniel, Sun Li''s husband. The two boys were Ryan and Chris, Yun Qian Meng''s so-called siblings.


    Qian Meng slowly shifted the camera so that both Mo Qingchen and she was in frame. There was a collective greeting. Mo Qingchen nodded. "How are all of you?" he asked casually.


    Qian Meng could see that he was being polite on her behalf. She was grateful for that.


    "Who is this?" Sun Li spoke up, almost teasing. Qian Meng was surprised by the tone. It sounded more like a friend asking another, but Qian Meng responded nonetheless.


    "My fianc¨¦," she said quietly.


    Sun Li smiled. "Oh yes. I heard about you from Yun Sui Bo. You are Bai Ye Qing, right?" she asked casually. She didn''t seem interested in the topic.


    "No," Mo Qingchen responded immediately, sounding rather offended.


    Sun Li looked confused, as did Daniel.


    "I thought you were marrying some Bai person," Daniel said. He was a little more interested in knowing about the matter than Sun Li, that was evident.


    "No. Father arranged that. I didn''t like the guy. This is the one I am marrying. He is Mo Qingchen," she said proudly.


    "Oh!" Sun Li responded, surprised.


    "I''m thrilled to finally meet you," Mo Qingchen said but they couldn''t hear a trace of happiness in his voice. Qian Meng almost choked on her laughter.


    "I''m glad to meet you too, although I can''t say finally. I didn''t even know Qian Meng was seeing anyone, let alone breaking an arranged marriage and marrying her boyfriend," Sun Li answered. "Oh, call me by my name. No need for courtesy."


    Mo Qingchen scathingly thought that there was no way Sun Li could have known any of this. "Qian Meng and I were keeping our relationship a secret until recently," he allowed an explanation for Qian Meng''s sake.


    "Qian Meng has time to romance these days?" Daniel asked lightly. It seemed that he had tried to set her up with people before only to be shot down. Mo Qingchen smirked.


    "No. We make time for each other. It''s about prioritizing," Mo Qingchen voiced.


    Sun Li looked at him intently and scoffed, making Qian Meng smile.


    This aggressively protective man, slyly reprimanding her mother for being a shitty parent. What would she possibly do about him?


    Sun Li was unimpressed but Daniel was laughing.


    "Is this your boyfriend?" Ryan asked, wide-eyed with fascination.


    "Yup," Qian Meng responded lightly.


    "He''s handsome," he nodded enthusiastically.


    "Thank you," Mo Qingchen replied, a trace of a genuine smile on his lips. Qian Meng stared for a solid second before turning back to the people on the screen.


    "So, Mo Qingchen, what do you do for a living?" Daniel asked.


    "I own a technology and software company", he responded. "However, that is not the only area of business that I''ve taken part in. I''m an investor in a few businesses."


    "Wow. That''s¡­ impressive," Sun Li answered, seeming not sure of what else to say. "Wait. Mo, right? Is your family in real estate?"


    "You''re thinking about the right family," Mo Qingchen replied with a smile.


    "Oh." Sun Li became quiet.


    "You certainly seem very accomplished," Daniel complimented.


    "I have worked hard," Mo Qingchen said lightly.


    "So, how rich are you?" Sun Li asked without a shred of shame. "I mean. Hardly anyone is richer than Qian Meng. I hope you can match her," she corrected quickly when she saw Qian Meng''s reaction.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t know how to answer. No one really asked him this question. It was easily available on the internet. "You could search online," he told her. "I hope the number satisfies you."


    Qian Meng chuckled.


    Daniel was already on the business. "You''re in the top70 richest people on the planet!" he choked out.


    "I am?" Mo Qingchen sounded embarrassed by that. Qian Meng laughed some more.


    "Yes, I think he earned something around 136 million yesterday," Qian Meng boasted. Mo Qingchen squeezed her shoulder and shushed her. "He''s upset he''s not in top 5, I assure you," she snickered.


    Was this showing off her wealthy husband? Who knows? She didn''t care. She was proud of this man.


    "So, how did you two get together?" Daniel asked, brushing aside the topic. He looked rather embarrassed by it.


    "We run in the same social circles and I went to university with his sister. We started dating recently, though," Qian Meng said confidently.


    Sun Li looked shocked. "And what do your parents think about it?" Sun Li asked. The question was thrown at both Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen.


    "My family is thrilled. You are the first person from Qian Meng''s side who knows. We''ll tell Yun Sui Bo in a few days." Mo Qingchen said on Qian Meng''s behalf.

 Chapter 172: Prepare to be Choked

    He hadn''t thought Sun Li would be shameless enough to not even consider herself Qian Meng''s parent.


    How apt.


    "Oh. You should have told your stepmother before¡­ isn''t she supposed to help plan the wedding?"


    Qian Meng sighed. "We''re not having a grand wedding."


    Sun Li looked confused. Even more so. "Are you pregnant?" she asked tentatively. "You shouldn''t make the same mistake¡ª"


    "No. I am not." Qian Meng stopped her short. She didn''t want to hear any of this. "That''s not the only reason people get married without a party," she ground out through her teeth.


    "Great! Well, I can''t say that I have an opinion on this matter. I don''t know Mo Qingchen well enough but I will support Qian Meng in her choice. She is almost never wrong." Sun Li shrugged.


    "Yes, Qian Meng is a good kid. She has thought this through and I know you will make her happy. That''s all that matters, right?" Daniel said, looking at Mo Qingchen with a smile. "Well, welcome to the family, son. Please don''t give us a reason to regret it!"


    Mo Qingchen looked at this step-father for a while before nodding. "I won''t. I sincerely appreciate your open-mindedness."


    Before they could cut the call, they heard Daniel ask one of the kids, "I''m a pretty cool dude, right?"


    "Yes, dad. You''re very cool."


    Qian Meng hung up and threw the phone aside. "Well, that was interesting," she commented blandly.


    "It went better than I anticipated. I was sure she wouldn''t even pick up the phone," he said frankly.


    Qian Meng was surprised too. "I thought the same. The great Sun Li has a day off and she spoke to us for so long. At least Daniel pretended to care."


    "Points to him for that." Mo Qingchen was dispassionate otherwise. "Get in bed. You have work tomorrow," he ordered.


    Slid into the covers and peered from underneath at him.


    "Like what you see?" he chuckled.


    "Very much," she breathed. "I wanna snuggle!" she claimed. "At least then you can complain you didn''t get any sleep because of my octopus limbs."


    Mo Qingchen chuckled. "Always so eloquent." He tapped her nose. He slid down and circled her waist. "Okay, octopus hands. Do your worst," he challenged.


    "Prepare to be choked," she warned.


    Mo Qingchen laughed before nodding. He pressed her head into his chest. His hand drew lazy and absent-minded circles on her back. Soon enough, her breathing evened out and her hands slackened on his body.


    He was wrapped in her warmth, tethered to the universe. If he fell asleep, maybe she would hold him back from going to another world. As he thought about this, he slowly fell asleep.


    - - - - -


    All the procedures were done by twelve the next morning. Qian Meng belatedly remembered that she needed to move in with Mo Qingchen and she had a lot of packing to do. Therefore, she let Li Min know she was headed to the hotel.


    She was halfway through packing (mostly because she was clinical in keeping everything organized) when she felt her eyes droop. She wanted to sleep.


    The happenings of the past weeks were coming back to her and as it was finally ending, she really wanted to sleep.


    She woke up to the annoying ringing of her cell phone. She ignored it twice and even tried muffling it under her pillow before she gave up and decided to just take care of the situation. Keeping her eyes closed, she stuck the phone to her face.


    "Shut up and let me sleep," she mumbled into it. It was Mo Qingchen''s number, so she didn''t feel bad doing this. She had a special ringtone set for him.


    "Well, that''s no way to speak to your fianc¨¦."


    Qian Meng groaned. "What do you want? I just need to sleep a little longer!"


    "I''m outside your hotel room." Qian Meng felt her sleep evaporate.


    "What?" she asked, opening her eyes immediately. "You''re at the hotel? How do you even know where I was? I never told you where I was¡­"


    "You think I can''t find out where my own fianc¨¦ is?" he asked in an amused tone.


    "Are you stalking me?" she asked petulantly.


    "No, I am marrying you." Qian Meng almost choked. "I called Li Min and she told me you went to the hotel to pack." Qian Meng sighed.


    "Why are you here? I thought we weren''t seeing each other today."


    "My plans for today were canceled and I figured we might as well be productive," he said calmly into the phone.


    "What is that supposed to mean? I''m too tired to be any more productive." She groaned once again.


    "Are you sure about that?" he asked, sounding amused.


    "Yes, I feel terrible," she answered, irritated.


    "Okay. I thought I would help you pack up and move but if you''re too tired then I''ll jus¡ª"


    She cut him off immediately. "Wait. What?" She was already sitting up on the bed. "You want to help me?"


    "I did. But no¡ª"


    "Give me two minutes. I just have to put some clothes on."


    He became silent. "You''re naked?"


    "Two minutes!" she yelled into the phone before hanging up and tossing it down onto the bed. She shot out of bed so fast she was surprised she didn''t pull a muscle. If Mo Qingchen wanted to help her pack, she wouldn''t hold back. She could be exhausted later on.


    She put on some decent clothes and literally ran over to the door where Mo Qingchen was standing. She flung herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck as she squealed happily. For helping her pack, he deserved a hug.


    "Have you showered? Packing did a number of on you," he said, his eyebrows furrowed together.


    Good mood gone.


    She let go of him and put her hands up against his chest to push him away from her for a bit.


    "Well, you smell bad too," she responded petulantly. Actually, he smelled like he always did. But he insulted her scent, so of course, she had to insult his.

 Chapter 173: Stop Undressing Him With Her Eyes

    [Warning: The ending of this chapter has very vivid dirty talking. Read at your own risk!]


    "No, I actually showered. I smell minty fresh!" he said, smirking at her.


    "You''re such a jerk," she grumbled.


    "Okay, stop undressing me with your eyes. We need to get to work."


    She gasped in protest. "I am not undressing you with my eyes." She was. "I''m just thinking about how ugly your pants are."


    "They''re jeans. How can they be ugly?" he countered. There was a logical fallacy in her words.


    "Maybe, it''s not the jeans. It''s you. You have a wedgie the size of our country." Complete and utter lies. He looked amazing in jeans. Especially when his back was to her and she could ogle his ass.


    "I do not!" he said defensively, reaching down to adjust his package.


    "You just made it worse," she deadpanned.


    "Let''s just go in," he pushed past her. He got into the room, shaking his head as he did. She scurried behind him over to the closet. She was halfway done, so with another pair of hands at work, they didn''t need a lot of time.


    - - - - -


    At the end of the evening, Qian Meng slumped on the bed. "Thank you for helping me," she offered.


    "You''re welcome," Mo Qingchen responded as he sat down beside her.


    "What are you doing?" she asked, perplexed.


    "Sitting with you?"


    "Why?"


    "You won''t let your fianc¨¦ take a break after he helped you pack all your belongings so that you can move in with him?" His tone was bland. Qian Meng could see that he was plotting something.


    "No. I have to wake up early tomorrow for the moving company to take my stuff, pay all dues at the hotel, go to your home and tell Xiong Hua where to keep the things. Then I need to attend the shareholder meeting to throw Bai Ye Qing out. You are not doing anything funny, understood?" The warning was clear.


    "You''re not going home with me?" he asked, shocked.


    "I''ll just have to drive more if I go to the house," she complained. "I''ll sleep here."


    Mo Qingchen frowned. "Okay."


    Qian Meng stood up, ready to show him out. She jumped a little in surprise when she felt Mo Qingchen''s arms wrap around her waist from behind.


    "If I didn''t know any better, Yun Qian Meng," he started softly as he pulled her body back against his and kissed her neck. "I''d say you were trying to get rid of me."


    Qian Meng''s eyes fluttered closed when she felt his tongue against her skin.


    "What?" she asked, unable to comprehend what he had just said.


    He didn''t answer her, maybe because his mouth was busy. He was torturously sucking on her neck in alternation with his tongue lavishing her skin. It felt incredible, but she wanted that tongue in her mouth.


    She turned in his arms so that she was facing him and lifted her hands to rest on his hard biceps. He caught on to what she wanted and kissed her as soon as she was facing him.


    He slid his tongue over her lips, making her gasp. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and hummed contently as she responded in kind.


    When he withdrew, she took the opportunity to take his bottom lips between her teeth and bite down gently. The low growl that he made told her that he liked it. As usual. So, she bit down harder.


    In no time at all, their make out session became heated. Their kisses became steadily more aggressive. When his hands slipped down from his hips to grab her ass, she groaned against his lips. He pulled her harder up against his body, allowing her to feel his growing erection. She actually made a whimpering whine.


    She wanted that cock.


    Qian Meng eagerly cooperated when he used his hands to on her ass to lift her up. She moved her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist, still molding her lips to his as he carried her across the room and back to the bed. He sat down on the bed with her straddling him.


    As they continued their game, she ran her hands up and down his sculpted arms. She loved the feeling of his hard, chiseled body underneath her. He felt exactly like a man was supposed to feel.


    After a while, she forced herself to break their heated kiss. She had to pull away to catch her breath or else she was going to die.


    Apparently, Mo Qingchen was a monster that didn''t need air. No sooner had she pried her lips away from his, he went right back to sucking on her neck. But this time, it was with a renewed fervor that that Qian Meng''s toes curling. He was sucking so hard that Qian Meng could hear it and god, it was a wonderful sound.


    "Don''t give me a hickey," she managed to gasp between her panting. He growled as he sucked harder. "Meeting," was her one-word explanation.


    He nodded and released her skin after a moment of thought. His kisses trailed up her neck to her ear, where he flicked her earlobe with his tongue. She could handle earlobe flicking, but of course, Mo Qingchen wasn''t so simple. It wasn''t just his tongue teasing her that had her whimpering and squirming around on his lap in search of friction. It was the tongue teasing combined with his hands that creeped up under the fabric of her shirt to caress the bare skin on her stomach and sides.


    "You like grinding up against my thick, hard cock, don''t you?" he breathed into her ear. "You can''t even sit still."


    "Yes." She was willing to comply with anything he said as long as he kept doing what he was doing.


    "Are you getting wet for me, Yun Qian Meng? Do I make your pussy drip?" Both of his hands were at the button on her pants, toying with it teasingly but not popping it open.


    "Mm," she whimpered, lifting one hand to tug on his hair.

 Chapter 174: Strip Him in the Hallway

    [Warning: ML is still running his dirty mouth. You might want to stab someone after reading this chapter.]


    "Answer me," he commanded.


    "Mo Qingchen," she moaned, grinding down on him again.


    "That doesn''t answer my question." He grazed his teeth on her earlobe as he popped open the button of her pants and she felt a new rush of wetness between her thighs.


    "Yes. I''m wet for you." Her voice was forceful, demanding that he speed up. She didn''t know why she was so turned on, but some of it had to do with the leftover tension from the night before.


    "Yeah? What do you want me to do?" he asked.


    "Just take off my fucking pants already!" she groaned. She needed to put something in her.


    "Well, I guess you will have to take your vibrator''s help after I leave." He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.


    "What?" she breathed, confused.


    "I''m offering you advice. You have so much to do and I need to leave too¡­" he trailed off, his tone punishing.


    "What?" she asked again, starting to catch on but thinking that surely he must be joking.


    "I just remembered that Xiong Hua cooked a lot of food. I need to get home," he answered, sliding Qian Meng off his lap so that she was sitting on the bed next to him.


    "What?"


    "I know. It sucks." He stood up and adjusted himself. "But it''s okay, right? I mean, you can just rub one out after I leave. You have a meeting tomorrow, so best of luck." He seemed oddly delighted at the turn of events.


    "What?" she screamed, unable to say anything else.


    Was he serious? Was the whole reason for pulling her back because he wanted revenge? Because Yun Qian Meng was not going home? How childish and stupid.


    "I have a meeting tomorrow! How will I go like this?" she shouted after him.


    "Goodnight, Qian Meng." He smirked as he walked to the door.


    "Are you serious? Please tell me you are joking¡­" she said as he opened the door.


    "No. Not joking. I''m just as serious about leaving as you are about not coming home."


    She fumed.


    "Good luck with your¡­ issue." Mo Qingchen walked out and closed the door behind him. Qian Meng lunged at the door, flung it open to find him walking down the corridor. He was really leaving.


    "You''ll pay for this!" she screamed after him. He didn''t turn back.


    In that moment, Yun Qian Meng didn''t know if she wanted to murder Mo Qingchen or strip him in the hallway and ride him to heaven. She decided to neither and went inside the room.


    With the door closed and the distance growing between them, Yun Qian Meng suddenly felt like crying. She really needed some sort of relief. And she had already packed her handy vibrator. There was no way she would unpack all her things to find it. This was a disaster.


    Of course, Mo Qingchen knew this and he did it on purpose. She formed a devious plan in her mind, but what was the use? What was the use when she couldn''t stop thinking about him under her?


    Fine.


    She would just finish the processes.


    She called the front desk first and made a standing order to clear all dues. Then she called the moving company to make sure they would arrive early tomorrow morning and pick up her stuff.


    She sat in one of the managerial rooms after she was done talking to everyone and cancelled her long-term living accommodation. She paid for her parking and any other services she had taken in the past.


    Her wallet almost hurt when she was done with all of it.


    When she drove out of the hotel, she felt like crying.


    How effectively Mo Qingchen had manipulated her into coming home. That scoundrel, leaving her high and dry when he knew she needed a clear head to function. She was going to show him the meaning of blue balls!


    When she arrived at Mo Qingchen''s house, the security guard was waiting outside. He was waiting outside like he was expecting her. She groaned as she looked at him.


    "Xiong Hua has told you that I am moving in, right?" Yun Qian Meng asked. The guard nodded. He didn''t look impressed though.


    "Do you want me to park your car in the garage?" he responded.


    Qian Meng nodded. "Yes, that would be great. Keep it to the front. I use the car all the time," she informed lightly. "I''ll leave you to it, then!" she chirped before practically sprinting into the house.


    Xiong Hua saw her running and stared. "Mr. Mo is in his study!" she called after Qian Meng, who had rushed past the housekeeper.


    Xiong Hua shook her head and chuckled. Things were going to get interesting in the usually cold and silent mansion.


    Yun Qian Meng was standing in front of the study and she sucked in a deep breath. She opened the door fuming and found Mo Qingchen with his glasses on, talking to someone on the phone.


    From the sound of things, it was about his investments outside China. Looking at the time and the intensity with which he spoke, it was going to be a long conversation.


    She had half-a-mind to climb him while he was talking business. That shit was hot. But she despised people who interrupted her work. It would be the same for him. She didn''t know if he saw her but she closed the door without saying a word and went to his bedroom.


    Snuggled into his pillow, she waited for him to return. The exhaustion finally took over and she felt asleep.


    It was almost time for Yun Qian Meng to wake up when Mo Qingchen returned to his room. He had seen Yun Qian Meng and was hoping to wrap up work, but the chance never came. Instead, the people on the call kept talking in circles and the mounting problems that needed immediate attention kept him away.


    Seeing her spread out on his bed, he couldn''t help but smile. She did look exhausted and rather pissed off even in her sleep. His lips curled up and he tilted his head to the side.

 Chapter 175: A Morning Greeting *

    [Warning: The chapter has a volcanic explosion of smutty goodness. Read at your own risk. You might need a pillow to cry into after reading it.]


    He was a man who took responsibility. Of course, he needed to make her feel better.


    He inched closer to her and tucked her hair behind her ears before sliding down. The girl was wearing one of his shirts and just her panties like she was waiting to pounce on him the moment he got inside the room.


    How unfortunate that he had too much work and missed out on her innovative approaches.


    That being said, he hooked his finger on either side of her hips and pulled her panties down.


    "Turnabout is only fair," he whispered with a devious smile. With the panties down to her ankles, he hurriedly removed them and flung them across the room.


    Useless things, he thought to himself.


    Yun Qian Meng floated in her sleep. Warmth seeped into her. She groaned in her sleep and rubbed her thighs together before settling back.


    Mo Qingchen chuckled. "What are you dreaming about?" he asked, knowing well what it could be. That little mewl from her mouth meant that she was doing the dirty in her sleep. Can''t leave her hanging, he thought before leaning in.


    The warmth that spread over her limbs carried tension, a sort of need that rippled in her belly. Qian Meng flipped open her eyes as she felt the jolt against her center. She was surely in a bed that smelled familiar, but what was this morning greeting?


    When did her dreams become this vivid?


    Strong hands held her thighs spread while a tongue moved with slow and deliberate strokes up her slit.


    Mo Qingchen watched her as he took her into his mouth. Those black eyes pinned her in place as he moved his mouth against her. As his tongue flicked at her quickly swelling clit, she gasped and flung her head to the side, pressing her face into the pillow.


    "Awake?" Mo Qingchen asked her in a pleasant but coy fashion.


    She didn''t respond.


    He took her clit into his mouth, sucking at it hungrily as she jerked her hips up into his face. He moved a hand to her abdomen, pressing her back down on the bed, taking full control of her movements.


    Then, he continued to tease. He moved his mouth down her slit, sending shivers through her as he moved back up to flick at her clit.


    She rode the waves, the pleasure roiling through her, rising and falling, going higher still, but then back down to the ground. He treated the minute she closed in to the peak. Her skin turned into pure lava; every nerve ending and every gasp measuring the seconds until she came.


    He bit down on her clit ever so lightly before moving back to his movements. Qian Meng only craved more. She wanted more pressure, faster strokes¡­ anything to release the tension that had built up in her body.


    She was sure she was going to go mad from it.


    As he once again drew his mouth from her swollen nub, he peppered her thighs with soft kisses. One of his hands let her thigh go and he softly caressed the flesh of her inner thigh, letting her feel the shock waves in her veins.


    Qian Meng let out a frustrated growl and tried to buck her hips. Suddenly his hand crawled under the shirt and stopped at her nipple. He took it between his fingers and twisted. She screamed, writhing under him.


    She arched off the bed wanting to jerk away from the sudden sting. But it only strung her higher.


    The fire that pooled in her stomach travelled to her breasts and straight to her center.


    She felt another bout of wetness between her legs.


    A low whimper rose in her throat as he rolled the nipple between his fingers. His other hand moved to her pussy, thumb moving slowly in cirles around her clit. She shuddered under his ministrations.


    She thrust her hip into his hand. In punishment, he twisted her nipple once again. It was a vicious cycle: a cycle that only made her burn hotter. His hand moved to her other nipple.


    He flicked it and she again bucked underneath him, desperate and wild for release.


    "Look at me," he commanded. Her eyes flew open and she turned her head to look at him. He was staring intently at her, pinching one of her nipples as he did so.


    She moaned, beginning to close her eyes again, but he twisted the nipple savagely.


    "Look at me," he ordered again, his voice rumbling in warning. She panted but matched his gaze. She shuddered when he softly caressed her clit again. The contrast of the sting of her breasts with the too-soft rubbing made for a piece of art.


    He held her gaze. When he was satisfied that she wasn''t closing her eyes again, he began moving his finger faster against the swollen nub. He swiped over her clit, tapping lightly against it. He didn''t wait as he slid a finger insider her and began a slow rhythm, sliding in and out of her as his other hand fondled her breast.


    He took her higher and higher, still pinning her under his gaze. The moment her eyes threatened to close, he''d pinch her nipple in warning, forcing her eyes to flicker open to stare right at him.


    Faster and faster he moved and she felt the climax begin. She dared not close her eyes. Knowing this horrible man, he would move away the instant she closed her eyes and rob her of her orgasm.


    She choked as the tension exploded within her.


    His eyes looked positively animalistic as he watched her writhe under his hands. He dropped his head back to her convulsing pussy and took her clit back into his mouth, his tongue hungry and lapping at her, drawing her orgasm out further and further.


    Mo Qingchen finally allowed her to buck against him, her thighs closed around his head and she pressed urgently into his face. He carried her over the waves as she pushed her voice back.

 Chapter 176: Running After Using Him

    She finally collapsed, her entire body going slack as he let her come down. She distantly felt him climb up beside her even though her senses were a little dull. Mo Qingchen stroked a hand gently down her side, running his fingers down her neck and between her breasts.


    He rested the heavy hand against her stomach and she finally opened her eyes again. She found him watching her.


    He smiled and brushed the sweat off her forehead with his other hand. "Good morning," he whispered. "Now you won''t feel distracted during the meeting."


    Qian Meng nodded helplessly. "The pinching hurt!" she complained.


    "But you loved it," he countered with a grin. She turned to him and pressed herself against his chest. She wouldn''t tell him she did. As if her orgasm wasn''t enough evidence!


    She didn''t need to embarrass herself any longer.


    "I don''t mind waking up like that for the rest of my life," she admitted. "Maybe your lack of sleep will help me relax in the future. Good job, Mo Qingchen!" she praised with a lascivious smile.


    "Shark," he responded, giving her nose a little nip. She scrunched her face in dissatisfaction and was about to scoot away when he pulled her closer.


    "Running away after you used me thoroughly?" he accused.


    She scoffed. "You''re the one who put your face between my thighs. This was willingly giving your service. When did I use you?" She craned her neck to glare at him.


    "I''ll let you off this time. I only let offered my talented tongue and fingers to bring you luck in business," he teased. He patted her ass affectionately before letting her go. "Your alarm is about to go off," he announced.


    And it really did. "You timed my orgasm?" she accused. What a control freak. Who could do that? This was stroking his ego, obviously. No way he could do so well.


    When he didn''t respond, she grew a little irritated. "How much did you practice to be able to calculate such a thing?" she interrogated. This was important information!


    "I am naturally talented," he defended. "You aren''t the kind to get jealous. Why are you asking?" He was doubtful. Surely, Yun Qian Meng wouldn''t be crawling around feeling jealous, right?


    "I am not jealous. I am just wondering how much I need to practice to get this party trick down." She stared at him with curiosity.


    He growled. "You can practice on me all you want," he said in a magnanimous voice.


    "Excuse me. Why do you make it sound like you are doing me a favor? I am the one putting in the labor while you enjoy."


    He licked his lips. They were still wet from his previous actions. Qian Meng felt a shudder. She tried to roll away but hissed when her tender nipple rubbed against the fabric of her shirt.


    "How will you compensate? My nipples hurt!" she whined. She cupped her breasts as she sat up, a pout plastered on her face. He watched her closely and chuckled.


    "I could kiss it better but we might not have time for that," he told her. His head jerked towards the clock and she sighed.


    "Right. Someone forced me to come home. Now I need to oversee the packing and moving!"


    ''Just you wait, Mo Qingchen, I am going to make you suffer for this,'' she swore. She huffed.


    "Don''t worry. I already told the manager to carefully send everything to the house. Xiong Hua will be at the door taking everything and checking inventory."


    Qian Meng squealed. "Really?"


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "Did you really think I would be that irrational? Of course, I took care of everything." He snorted.


    Qian Meng cursed in her mind. Mo Qingchen looked like the kind of person who would not care about the harm he was causing as long as he got what he wanted. That was why he devised all of this. He couldn''t make her think otherwise with these honeyed words of his.


    But he had also given her an orgasm that made her mind clear. Maybe orgasms were what made people genius, Qian Meng wondered for a second before shaking her head.


    "You''re forgiven, then," she said lightly. Punishment was for another day.


    "What did I do to demand forgiveness?" he asked in confusion.


    "You forced me to do what you wanted without taking regard of what I felt. You even used sex as a tool. Very childish!" she remarked.


    "I solved the problem too, right?" he retorted. Qian Meng stuck her tongue out at him in malice and then dropped back into the bed.


    "Well¡­ for the emotional and physical trauma caused, I will take you up on the kissing my breasts bit once I am done with work. Understood?" She huffed and slid underneath the covers, leaving him to burst out into laughter.


    "Get up!" he called after a while. Qian Meng had taken short naps in the meantime. "Qian Meng, you need to get up," he coaxed, his face hovering over her.


    She pried an eye open and saw that he was already shaved and dressed for the day.


    "I don''t want to!" she groaned. Like a petulant child. It felt good to be able to act this way. She rarely postponed her work.


    Mo Qingchen frowned. "I know¡­ it''s been a very long and hectic few months. Just a little more. We''ll take a break from work when we marry. You can sleep all you want, okay?"


    His coaxing seemed to work. She picked herself up from the bed and sluggishly walked to the bathroom to shower.


    She came out after twenty minutes, flush from the hot water. She strolled to the guest room where some of her clothes were kept, one of them fit for a shareholder meeting.


    "Where are you going?" Qian Meng asked when Mo Qingchen followed her.


    "Driving you to work," he said casually. She blinked in confusion.


    "If we take one car, how do I go to the meeting?" she asked.

 Chapter 177: Mr. Mo Really Knows How to Pamper His Wife

    "You can take the car to the meeting later on. Catch some sleep in the car," he told her. She smiled brilliantly and trotted behind him.


    "Young Master Mo really knows how to pamper his wife!" he called after her. He tucked his head and opened the door for her.


    "Don''t spew rubbish," he said lightly. She snickered until they were out of the garage and driving to the office.


    - - - - -


    The conference looked like a funeral service when Qian Meng entered. Eyes followed her as she walked over to Mr. Bai.


    "You arrived early," he whispered as she bent over to talk to him. He was seated and to get up and greet a girl half his age would make it difficult for Qian Meng to remain inconspicuous during most of the meeting.


    Qian Meng was sure that most of the people had no idea that Mr. Bai had sold off his shares and only retained some control over the workings of the company. Qian Meng was rather satisfied to be the secret boss of all these people. She had power over them.


    Now, it would be fun to see who was on Mr. Bai''s side and who was lurking behind Bai Ye Qing for their own gain. For the majority shareholder to know who was hell-bent on dragging the company down was a boon, and her strategy was spying and secrecy.


    "Yeah. I cleared up my schedule for the board meeting. Just spoke to the executives and ran over to sit in," Qian Meng smiled politely.


    "The speaker of the board will be making the motion. Just look around and see who says what in the beginning. You can give your input later on if you think things are not going your way," Bai Yu told her with a fatherly lilt.


    "Don''t worry. I know I have ultimate voting right, but I want to see how the play pans out. I never pass up on seeing what cards the enemy holds." She grinned.


    Bai Yu patted her hand. "You''re right. I haven''t been able to take full control despite majority share. You are a much better controller than I am. I will leave the rest to you." He sighed.


    He looked much older than the last time Qian Meng had seen him. He probably was being unable to get rest at home because of Chen Yue, his wife. Moreover, the constant worry about his wayward son should have been weighing heavy on his mind, as well.


    "I''ll talk to you after the meeting ends," she whispered and looked around the room. The older gentlemen all stared at the fresh face. She could see the curiosity clearly on their faces.


    Who had sold part of their shares to get a new person in the boardroom? From the looks of it, a confident woman like this should be a businesswoman who knew her way around.


    But at such young an age¡­ she probably was a marginal shareholder with one percent or less stake in the company.


    How wrong they were.


    Age was not a determining factor in everything.


    Executives, speakers, lobbyists from all departments filled in, as did secretaries. Only Bai Ye Qing was missing in action.


    Qian Meng surreptitiously looked at her watch and scoffed. He really knew how to put on a show. Waiting until the last minute to enter the room. Did he think by being late he would make the other group panic or feel relieved?


    Then he would swoop in and win the argument? How delusional.


    "Is he really not going to come?" One of the gruff looking elderly men beside her spoke. "He was a wilful child from childhood, but I really thought he was a good addition to the company. Who better to take the helm than one''s own kin, right?" he laughed nervously.


    Qian Meng listened without emotion.


    "But you saw he was gallivanting around. It''s not good for the company''s reputation," someone else chimed in.


    The first gentleman scoffed. "Which of the rich young masters in our country isn''t indulging a little. We were born in turbulent times and crawled up the social ladder to get money for our retirement days. But the next generation is living in prosperous times. Why should they work so hard?" he questioned.


    "It''s true that our kids are living good lives, but overindulgence is also not good," someone said in a low but unconfident voice.


    Qian Meng glanced over and made note of their faces. She would have to see how they reacted when the motion was made.


    A hum fell over the room. It was time to begin the meeting.


    The speaker came to the central stage, taking the microphone and looking around the room.


    "Thank you for attending the board meeting this afternoon. We know that this was done on short notice. As per the guidelines of the meeting, I will be taking attendance of sitting board members, shareholders, and executive staff. If the attendance is over eighty percent of total listed members, we will continue with the meeting," he announced.


    The man glanced towards Mr. Bai and Qian Meng recognized it as a sign of approval. The speaker was someone on Bai Yu''s side, which was ultimately a good thing.


    He looked impartial but the way he looked around the room hinted at his bias.


    Qian Meng took note of this and started to plot how the scenario would play out.


    The earlier man who had boisterously commented about the youth of the current times spoke up. "Director Bai Ye Qing has not arrived yet. We shouldn''t be starting without him, should we?" he asked.


    The speaker looked at him and shook his head. "Sir, according to the rule book, the attendance needs to be taken with or without the presence of the offending party. Moreover, his absence will result in his immediate termination." The underlying meaning was: if you bring this up again, Bai Ye Qing will not walk in the company ever again.

 Chapter 178: Voting Against Family Members

    The shareholder huffed. "I have also read the rule book. He has twenty minutes after the meeting has officially started to arrive. You can''t terminate him until that time is crossed!" he claimed.


    The speaker nodded. "Indeed."


    But it was highly disrespectful not to be on time at one''s own trial. It was saying that he didn''t care about the outcome. Qian Meng didn''t know which paragraph of the Art of War Bai Ye Qing had taken note of, but this wouldn''t work in a scenario where respect for the company and authority was involved.


    "Let''s proceed," Mr. Bai announced. "We will wait twenty minutes for Director Bai to arrive. If he doesn''t arrive by then, he will be terminated immediately." His voice was confident, leaving no room for dispute.


    The speaker nodded. Silence prevailed and he finally started to speak.


    The attendance was taken, and all members of the board and related personnel were present. Except for Bai Ye Qing.


    "We will proceed with the motion of the day. We have gathered to discuss the removal of Bai Ye Qing, a current Director from financial year twenty-nineteen to twenty-twenty-one. This is the motion. Before we vote, we must discuss." The speaker looked around the room to locate anyone who wanted to speak on the matter.


    A middle-aged man with peppered hair spoke up from the front of the conference room. "I have two questions to ask and some comments here," he announced.


    "Go ahead," the speaker nodded.


    "The two questions are: who was involved in the interview process of Director Bai before he joined the company. And he is Chairman Bai''s son, right?"


    The answer to both questions was evident, but Qian Meng perceived that this was a beginning of a trick. She leaned into the chair and watched the faces of the people in the room.


    Someone, a gentleman who looked like he was an employee spoke up. "I am the HR director. Director Bai is Chairman Bai''s son, yes. And Chairman Bai and Vice President Bai Wenxi were involved in the interview process. But the previous senior human resource manager, marketing head and chief executive officer did conduct an interview and deemed Director Bai fit to be in that role."


    Qian Meng frowned. This statement could go either way. She couldn''t figure out how either of those people were situated.


    "Actually, the senior human resource manager took the lead in the interview. Chairman Bai left it to the right authorities to make the call."


    The previous guy tried to hide his smile. "I had only known that Chairman Bai was involved in the matter. And we hire people all the time. We need to think about the other employees in this case. With Director Bai, it seems kind of slanted. It has created a buzz in the company and being in a situation of parent and son in the same company and now the bond being strained because of this meeting¡­ I think is a huge conflict of interest. I can''t support Chairman Bai voting on this matter. I urge the others to help me stand on my ground." He looked around to see who acknowledged his words.


    Qian Meng pressed a finger to her chin. So, this was what they were playing at. They were trying to veil their intentions by saying that letting Mr. Bai vote would be a conflict of interest.


    Clearly, they knew that Mr. Bai was the one who called the meeting and had overall right to terminate his son''s employment and involvement in the company, but this man went out of his way to get him out of the voting pool.


    He wanted to control the situation. Now, how would this help Bai Ye Qing? He could persuade the minority shareholders on his side to vote to keep him and it would be fine.


    He wouldn''t be thrown out.


    Quite a clever plan.


    It didn''t matter what human resources said: the plan was to use their words and keep Mr. Bai from voting.


    Qian Meng had to applaud them for their cunning plan. She looked at Mr. Bai and saw him appraising the man critically. He didn''t look back at her, but Qian Meng knew what she was thinking.


    This man needed Bai Ye Qing to lead to make unfair amounts of money.


    Qian Meng decided that he was an important player and named him ''MA1''. Meaning: Middle-aged speaker 1.


    The elderly man beside her who spoke loudly, now became ''B1''. Meaning: Boomer 1.


    "Anyone else want to comment on this matter?" the speaker asked. He urged others to speak up in support or against the words of MA1.


    Indeed, B1 spoke up. "I do have to agree with him. I think it is a conflict of interest, having your own father as your supervisor. I don''t think we should be doing that for the sanctity of the relationship."


    What a hypocrite, Qian Meng thought. Just a few minutes ago, he was talking about how children could run amok, and now he had changed his tune.


    The meek man beside B1, hereafter called B2, spoke up. "I can see that there are some concerns. I think we can have this matter be decided by a proxy set by Chairman Bai. An outside eye without a familiar relation," he said.


    B1 and MA1 turned to glare at him. He recoiled and tucked his head down, but never changed his words.


    Qian Meng pressed her lips together. Maybe this man knew that any person appointed to take a decision would be excluded on some pretext. That was why he made the comment. Or he genuinely wanted a fair hearing.


    MA1 had to counter. "Is there anything in the rule book that says something about voting against family members?"


    The speaker thought about it carefully. "The only thing¡­ I would have to check, but there is a policy that family members do not have full control over the decision. Other than that, there is no policy," he announced after a thought.

 Chapter 179: Keep Bai Ye Qing On Board

    MA1 grinned. "Roger that." He paused. "With the buzz that this situation has created and as far as morale is concerned, I still have to ask Mr. Bai to sit out in the voting."


    The lone female investor apart from Yun Qian Meng spoke up. She was in her fifties. "I think with the policy in mind, if all members have voting rights, it would be unfair for Mr. Bai to sit out. As long as his vote isn''t out-winning everyone else, it should be fine," she allowed.


    The HR director spoke again. "I definitely think there is some question here when it comes to unbiased voting, but I have to look at this through another lens. What is the primary purpose of this meeting? It is to ensure the best people are in the leading position in our company. And if there are some issues with one person and they are hindering the process, I would allow Mr. Bai to vote because he cares about the company more than anyone sitting in this room."


    There was a hum in the room as people discussed the opinions.


    "Does anyone else want their opinions known?" the speaker asked once again.


    "I want the most qualified employees also. As a shareholder, I do know that Mr. Bai has the highest risk in the room. But I have to say that it was advertised that Mr. Bai''s recommendation played an important role in appointing Director Bai. In that case, he has shown clear bias towards his family member. It is unethical for him to vote in this case," B1 spoke once again. He looked stoic but Qian Meng could see a glimmer of victory in his eyes.


    These people loved to talk in circles and hide their positions. But did they not see that their tricks were seen through the instant they employed them?


    Qian Meng opened the notepad she had been given when she was entering the conference room and started to draw on it. She positioned each person and their arguments in frame with her comments.


    She was the queen of using people''s words against them. And she liked playing the devil''s advocate to get her way. So, she waited and bided her time.


    The back and forth went on for some time, each person harping on their own opinion. Finally, Bai Yu cleared his throat. The speaker turned to him.


    "Chairman Bai, do you have something to say?" he asked with a tone of reverence.


    Mr. Bai nodded and cleared his throat. "This is a very difficult call for me. I think there is going to be fallout either way. I tend to agree with both sides of the argument. I have been through his before in situations where Wenxi was given execution rights. The discussions were circled around hiring employees who were fit for the position. It is not about a family member. I just¡­ however you draw it out or cut it¡­ whether he reports to me or someone else, to me it is a blurry line in retrospect." He sighed.


    "With regret, I will say that I have been biased in the past and allowed Director Bai to be employed in the company. I can see how my recommendation as the Chairman would influence and coerce the human resources team and other interviewers to employ my son. I will relinquish my veto powers and allow the shareholders to decide the outcome. But let me assure you that the result will depend on what the majority shareholders voice."


    Which meant that Yun Qian Meng was the only person who mattered in this meeting. But this was a show to see who would fall and who wanted the best of the company. It was a show to see who the snakes were hidden under the grass.


    Everyone was appeased now that Bai Yu had spoken up. They didn''t suspect him of being deceptive, so they proceeded to move on.


    The speaker nodded. "We will take Chairman Bai''s words into consideration. He will be watching over the board meeting and voice his opinions. He will not be vetoing the decision taken."


    There was an overwhelming acknowledgment of the decision. The speaker looked at his watch.


    "Director Bai has three minutes to arrive, or the board meeting will be canceled and all his rights and privileges in the company taken away," he announced finally.


    People on his side sucked in deep breaths. Some of them looked down at their cellphones and typed. Qian Meng presumed that they were asking Bai Ye Qing to hurry.


    She smirked. He couldn''t be foolish enough not to arrive. So, he was probably in his office or walking down the hallway at the very moment.


    Like magic, the conference room door really opened, and Bai Ye Qing pushed through. He looked confident with his hands shoved in his pant pockets and a lone male secretary trailing behind him with files under his arms.


    "Apologies for being late," he chirped. He didn''t look around the room and took a seat at the only available chair left. His secretary leaned against the wall behind him, looking jumpy.


    Qian Meng looked at the files. She could sense that those were in defense of his actions and whatnot. She highly doubted it would help his case once all his dirty deeds were outed.


    She prepared for her big reveal.


    "It is very disrespectful to be late to a hearing for your termination," Bai Yu commented gruffly. He didn''t look at his son or greet him back. The people around the room buzzed with activity, wondering what had really gone wrong in the relationship for it to come down to a dismissal of the future owner of the company.


    It must have been a huge scene if it had caused a major rift in their father-son relationship.


    "At least we got rid of Bai Yu''s vote," B1 responded. "I spoke to some of the others. Some of them were on our side. If it works out, we can keep Bai Ye Qing on board."

 Chapter 180: She Was There to Sow Discord

    Qian Meng rubbed her lip with her finger.


    This man had an underlying motive to keep Bai Ye Qing onboard, but Qian Meng didn''t know smaller businessmen in the city. There were plenty of those. She knew the board members and their shares, but without their names, she couldn''t identify any of them. She didn''t have their pictures.


    And no one here took names like they knew each other and didn''t want to include the new people in the conversation.


    "Sorry, Chairman Bai. I was compiling my defense," Bai Ye Qing announced. He smiled at the room. "I have some words to say that I feel the members of the board should hear before coming to a judgment."


    Qian Meng was dying to know what those words could be.


    The speaker cleared his throat. "I suppose that is okay."


    Bai Yu looked at his son curiously. "Go ahead," he said.


    Bai Ye Qing pushed the speaker aside and adjusted the microphone for himself. Qian Meng watched with rapt fascination and wondered how he led anyone in anything. He had no presence to speak of or intelligence for that matter.


    What an odd son to a brilliant man. She couldn''t help but feel pity once again.


    "This hearing is a disgrace in the face of our company. I deny the allegations made against me. Though more powerful than me by birth, the woman who has made this happen has lied through her teeth to smear my name in the public eye. I, in no way, threatened her or the other woman. As I see it, she took this route to infiltrate the company and ensure that any and all threats against her were cleared before the contracts with her were signed."


    "Is he talking about the Venus CEO?" people whispered around her. Qian Meng raised her brow and stared at Bai Ye Qing. He had no sense to even look around the room. He didn''t know she was sitting right under his nose as he spouted nonsense.


    But would he have cared anyway? Who knew?


    "The past few weeks have been a calculated and orchestrated business hit, fueled with a wave of pent-up anger from Miss Yun that I found out she was involved with other men and fear that her company name would be smeared. She has intentionally put me in the public eye to whitewash her image in the public eye and in turn, tried to ensure that I have no foothold or power to respond to her accusations."


    Mr. Bai turned to look at Qian Meng. She shrugged as she chuckled. She didn''t know how to speak when he so passionately tried to blame others for his downfall.


    People beside her heard her laugh and turned to look at her curiously. Bai Ye Qing did not notice any of this.


    He went into a monologue about the unstable power structure of the company and how outside forces were trying to use his father to become richer and invincible. It all sounded like a grand old conspiracy theory.


    Finally, he stopped and looked around the room. His eye slipped past her before he did a double-take and stared at her in horror.


    She gave him a blinding smile. She pressed the microphone in front of her and began to speak.


    "Director Bai, are you saying that the claim that you were in multiple relationships while pursuing marriage with me a lie? Or are you saying that you didn''t harass and abuse all those women?" she asked cheekily. This question was purely for herself. To defend her honor and to let everyone know who she was.


    "Why are you even in this room? You have no right to sit in," Bai Ye Qing sneered. But he wasn''t angry enough to yell. Qian Meng scrutinized his expression and realized that he didn''t think it was too farfetched if she was here. "Are you here to act as a witness and tell everyone what a horrible human I am?"


    Qian Meng waved it off. "I don''t need to tell anyone what kind of person you are. I have already given all the proof required for people to make their own judgment. Unfortunately, one or more of the shareholders sold part of their stake in the company and gave me enough power to sit in on this meeting."


    Bai Ye Qing grew eerily silent. He suddenly realized that she was here to sow discord between the people. Now, everyone, including those on his side would start pointing fingers at one another.


    They would start wondering what Yun Qian Meng had offered for those shares apart from the price. Was it contracts? What benefits did it bring? Should they follow her lead to not offend her or cast her aside as a minor shareholder and outvote her?


    All these questions came to the minds of the others in the room.


    But Bai Ye Qing knew¡­ she had bought shares from his father. There was no one else who Qian Meng could easily access.


    His face was scrunched with dissatisfaction and Qian Meng felt delighted at the turn of events. His misfortune brought her great joy. "It was targeted and my movements manipulated to look a certain way," he claimed, looking at her without a hint of fear.


    Qian Mend nodded sagely. "Of course. Let me rephrase that question: Were you meeting other women while you were trying to pursue me?" she asked again.


    "Yes, probably. Haven''t you ever done that?" he countered.


    "Can you answer the question clearly?" she responded.


    "Yes. But so were you!"


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "I was not pursuing a relationship with you." She took a moment to look at the speaker. "Were you meeting aforementioned women on company time?" she added in a little later.


    Bai Ye Qing sucked in a breath. "What does that mean?" he yelled.


    "According to the information online, it can be estimated that you were not present at the office or working on anything with relation to the company during the period of time you were spending with other women."

 Chapter 181: Qian Meng Puts on a Show

    ''Bai Ye Qing, it''s not about who you duped. It''s about the company now. I have gotten my revenge. I just want you gone. I won''t bring up what a nasty piece of work you are any longer, because the police can take care of that!''


    "There is no way you can prove that," he scoffed.


    "Just answer the question, Director Bai. I am not asking for your opinion. I am only looking for facts that will help the other board members decide on what to do with you," Qian Meng responded, all business. There was no trace of victory or amusement in her face, so people knew that she only wanted to point out what was truly wrong in this scenario.


    "No. I did not squander away company time." He was resolute. He didn''t think a new shareholder could get any information from this company and his subordinates weren''t people who would talk out of turn. They knew who he was and what he could do. His father was the Chairman. That alone didn''t allow them to speak unkindly of him. He was not scared of anyone tattling on him.


    Qian Meng seemed to have been waiting for just this moment. "Mr. Speaker, might I submit proof against what Director Bai just said?" Qian Meng spoke slowly.


    Bai Ye Qing''s head whipped towards her direction. Proof? Was she kidding? What proof could she have on this matter? More time-stamped pictures? He could say they were tampered with. It''s not like this was the court of law where they could verify either of the claims.


    But Yun Qian Meng was the queen of the board, she knew how to play a room.


    The speaker asked their assistant to do as Qian Meng asked.


    Qian Meng handed the papers over.


    "Can we project the first image on the screen," she asked softly. The first image was projected. "This is a declaration from one of the employees that they had Director Bai''s identity tag which logs when employees come in and go out. He was the one punching in on behalf of Director Bai."


    Bai Ye Qing''s eyes hardened. He looked at the screen. It was a typed-out document with the company header. The location and name of the signer were left out.


    "Who signed this? This can be falsified," he claimed.


    "The privacy of the employees has been maintained as they do not want to be dismissed for saying the truth. It''s a hard stance, so I have kept the originals with their names prepared for human resources. It will be handed over after the decision is made," she claimed.


    "What a bunch of lies! Did you bribe them into signing this paper?" he asked.


    She didn''t even respond to the accusation. She asked the assistant to change the images and as it turned out, the employees rotated in this duty.


    "As you can see, this was not an isolated incident. Everyone in his department seemed to know of his gross misdemeanor. But that is not the extent of his wrongdoings and taking advantage of company properties and identity," she announced.


    People looked at each other in confusion. What other bomb was this Yun Qian Meng going to drop on them? They wanted to find out, but they also dreaded that their own names would be dragged into the question.


    "Bullshit!" he hissed. He was still standing at the front of the room, but he was not the center of attention.


    It was Bai Yu who broke the stalemate. "Miss Yun, go ahead. Please present to us that you have found," he announced. As the person with the highest authority, people couldn''t contradict him. He had no voting rights, but if he wanted to see all sides for a fair trial, no one could say he was wrong.


    It was a good move made by Mr. Bai to shut everyone up and let Qian Meng put on a show. It could either gain the trust of the shareholders or turn them against her.


    He would have to sit by and watch as she played it out. He also wanted to see how she fared against these old and rotten foxes.


    "I have to first say that I am not speaking for myself," Yun Qian Meng began. "I am speaking on behalf of all of you who have been losing money because of this issue." That statement seemed to stir some reaction from all factions of the shareholders and executives.


    "I know some of you were frustrated by the extravagant spending from Director Bai since he took office." She looked at him blankly. "I also speak on behalf of those people who are dissatisfied with the lack of initiative on the part of Director Bai to look into the marketing issues and his constant pushing of subpar material as a cost-cutting method."


    Qian Meng heard B1 sigh and press his hand on his forehead. He knew that he would get involved in this matter one way or the other. He didn''t even look at Yun Qian Meng and stared off into the distance, a petulant look on his face.


    "Okay, Yun Qian Meng. You need to stop saying that I aggressively do things!" Bai Ye Qing protested as she spoke.


    "May I finish my speech?" she asked, her voice as calm as water, not even bothered by his interruption.


    "No! If you''re going to malign me¡ª"


    She started to speak over him. "As of this month¡ª"


    "Listen to me!" he interrupted, aggravated.


    "As a board member, I have no confidence in Director Bai''s ability to do his job and lead his team." Bai Ye Qing continued to ramble. "You can make your point after I have finished speaking. You are just appearing like a man who is not confident in himself right now," she warned.


    That seemed to make him go silent. A strike at his ego was all it took.


    "Considering the following, I have come to the conclusion that we should remove Director Bai from his position."

 Chapter 182: A Liar and a Disgrace

    "The company card was used at a high-end restaurant a month ago to pay a bill for Director Bai and a group of people he took with him. To ensure that this was not a business expense of a department dinner, we spoke to various employees and spoke to the restaurant. We found that none of those in the party that day were employees of this company." She looked at everyone in the room, holding their eyes. "This means that Director Bai was using company funds to pay for his habitual partying. This can be tallied with the expenses in a subsequent investigation."


    There was a gasp and a groan.


    "The board was recently misled by Director Bai on the port and docking fees of materials for the company. The contract signed with the privately owned dock was not revealed despite the eighteen-month negotiation for licensing with the other company. This was effective until recently when the finalized agreement was put before the board for a vote. The board was kept in the dark about the matter until that meeting, leading the members of the board to have no disclosure about the particulars of this contractual agreement."


    Mr. Bai squeezed his eyes shut. He had been at the meeting himself, blindsided by what had happened. He hadn''t thought particularly about it until Yun Qian Meng spoke in the meeting. If it had been Bai Ye Qing working hand in hand with one of the shareholders to put money into both their pockets, this was gross negligence of duty.


    It would also mean that the board member in question, who was B1, would be put up for removal from the board and his shareholder rights stripped.


    Bai Yu opened his eyes and looked at Yun Qian Meng. She must have found this out and started to plot the next steps even without mentioning it to him.


    It was okay. He did not own this company any longer, but her foresight stunned him. She had thought of the steps to cull out all the rotten apples before Bai Ye Qing was dismissed. How much had she dug and what skeletons had she found to confidently show it off to the other shareholders?


    "The shareholders were also kept in the dark about government bonds and contracts with transport agencies. Each truck of material cost the company thirty percent more than the market price. The issue was not raised by Director Bai in any of the executive or board meetings, neither was the cost and contractual changes shown in the accounting books."


    Another head dropped and Qian Meng noticed that B2 was the next to look defeated in this case. He was a meeker man, so he didn''t huff with indignation, but the accusing eyes of the other shareholders fell on these two people.


    "And finally, there is the issue of ethics and accountability."


    "Alright. Enough! You''ve said enough!" Bai Ye Qing yelled as she spoke. She didn''t flinch or look away from the other people in the room. She didn''t even care to acknowledge him. She continued to speak.


    "There have been many accusations from employees of bad conduct and abusive intent towards both male and female employees."


    "You will not talk about my ethics like it is for you to decide!" he said. His microphone was switched off, but everyone in the wide conference could hear him clearly.


    Not one person spoke up in his defense any longer.


    As she took up special instances that many of the employees had seen, Bai Ye Qing grew irritated.


    "Excuse me. May I finish?" Qian Meng snapped. It was a calculated move.


    "No!" he said immediately.


    "If you think you can shut me up because you are interrupting me, you are wrong. I will speak until the end. If need be, I will send a recording of this speech to every shareholder here and let them decide what they want." Qian Meng gave him a warning look.


    ''Come, scream at me. Attack me!'' she screamed internally. She wanted an outburst from him. Something that would ruin his chances completely. Not even those on his side for monetary purposes could stand up for him.


    She continued on with the accusations.


    Bai Ye Qing banged his fist on the table. "Stop. Fucking stop, you bitch."


    She continued. Her speed increasing, but nothing hindering her collected and calm manner. And then she saw him from the corner of her eyes. He had left his post at the head of the table and he was coming towards her, his stance so aggressive that she should have been afraid.


    "We are done with this. Fucking stop." He had pointed his finger towards her as he took threatening steps. "You''re fucking out of your mind!" he yelled.


    People wheeled away from him, trying to get away from his path of fury. Qian Meng hid her amusement and continued to read. But the board members were more entertained and scared by the look of pure hatred on his face.


    One would call it murderous.


    Qian Meng saw him raise a glass of water and he threw it. At full force. Towards her.


    Maybe it was Mo Qingchen''s training, or maybe the survival instincts sneaked in, but she ducked. The glass shattered on the carpeted floor, leaving wetness and glass shards everywhere. Qian Meng stared, and she gritted her teeth.


    There was silence. Not even Bai Ye Qing moved.


    B1 stood up abruptly from beside Yun Qian Meng, collecting his things and never looking at the others in the room.


    "What a pity you missed. I should have sued you for all your money. Alas, I love my life better." She said nonchalantly. "I ask the other shareholders to reflect on what Director Bai just did and vote to terminate him from the company immediately," she said with finality in her voice.


    Qian Meng almost couldn''t believe the claps that surrounded her.


    "You''re a liar and a disgrace!" Bai Ye Qing said, his hand slamming on the desk right beside her papers. She looked up at him solemnly. "You think you can prove all of that? Because none of it is true," he claimed.

 Chapter 183: The Decision Has Been Made

    He looked like what others could call unhinged.


    B1 spoke up finally. "I am sorry, I did not come here to watch a drama. Miss Yun has displayed horrible behavior in a board meeting." He even glared at Qian Meng as he spoke.


    "I agree with you," Bai Ye Qing chimed in with a note of relief. "I will follow you."


    Qian Meng''s voice hardened instantly. "Sit down," she said calmly. "The moment Director Bai leaves this room his termination will be finalized. Let''s not forget his abhorrent and violent actions either. An external audit team will do a full investigation on the contracts signed since he came into office." It wasn''t a threat. It was a promise.


    B1 stood still. He could hear exactly what she meant. The minute he left the room, his contract with the company would be shredded. He would never be able to do business with hostile partners and rumors floating.


    He just didn''t know that Yun Qian Meng would make sure that happened anyways.


    "You have no right," Bai Ye Qing started but Mr. Bai cut him off.


    He coughed to bring everyone to attention. "Apologies to everyone. I should have announced this before the meeting began. According to the mass email sent to all of you, you know that apart from the dismissal motion, there was an announcement that I wanted to make."


    Bai Ye Qing looked surprised.


    "I understand that it comes as a surprise to all of you, but I am no longer fit to be the majority shareholder who can run the business and take it to new heights. Seeing that my son has been accused of some very serious crimes, I took the opportunity to sell most of my shares to Miss Yun."


    There were gasps and protests.


    "How could you¡ª" Bai Ye Qing started to speak and then he stopped. He seemed to realize what business his father had gone to discuss with Yun Qian Meng the day he signed that hideous agreement with her.


    While people slung mud at him, his father had teamed up with the women who ruined him for a petty amount of money. Money that rightfully belonged to him and not the cheap whore.


    "As per my discussions with Miss Yun, I realized that under her supervision and initiative, the problems within our company could be resolved. The glass ceiling we are currently stuck at can be shattered. An experienced businesswoman like Miss Yun can take your profits and end-of-year bonuses to a new height," he explained. "At the same time, I will hold the right to sit in on meetings. As a courtesy."


    Actually, there was no need to explain why he sold the company. But these shareholders were those that saw the company through its ups and downs. Most of them had been his friends from youth and partners in business for a long time. They probably knew that he had wanted to resign and only stayed on because of his eldest son''s death.


    Most of them understood.


    "Old Bai! Have you lost your mind? Giving the reins of your company to a little girl?" someone spoke. Qian Meng made a note of them.


    She didn''t say anything superficial to make them understand either. When they saw how she changed and got a fat cheque at the end of the year, they wouldn''t be moaning and groaning about who was at the top. Instead, they would be praising her.


    "As a majority shareholder, I could dismiss Director Bai immediately and charge him with a number of financial crimes, but I respect the people who have been pillars of this company since its infancy," she said slowly. "There is no need to fuss. I will patiently wait for your decisions."


    She leaned back into her chair and crossed one foot over the other. She watched with rapt attention as the attendants heatedly discussed the next course of their action.


    Some wondered if there was an adverse effect of voting opposite of what the new majority shareholder wanted. Others wanted to know if they could leave the room without voting.


    Qian Meng didn''t want to help them in their dilemma in any way, so she watched the show unfold.


    Across from her, towards the head of the table, Bai Yu had a similar expression of serenity.


    It looked like results from the years of his work were now in front of him. He looked desolate and at peace at the same time. His work was over. He could finally retire.


    With only this small number of shares left in the company, he could enjoy a leisure life, watch theatre, fish, play chess, and go on luxury cruises for the rest of his old age. Wasn''t that a good thing?


    Bai Yu wasn''t sure himself. He looked at his fuming son and found the young man glaring at Qian Meng and him. He felt a frown tug at his lips but shook the thought away.


    He couldn''t let himself believe that his son held such malice.


    He closed his eyes when the commission quietened down. Finally, the speaker took control.


    "Are we ready to vote on the motion?" he asked, looking around the room. Everyone sat down, including Bai Ye Qing. He still had hope that people would rebel and take his side. He still didn''t understand that Qian Meng had put a bell around each person''s neck. She would know exactly what action to take in response to those made by the people in the room.


    They knew they were walking on eggshells, only Bai Ye Qing seemed unable to understand this.


    The votes trickled in and his face grew gloomier.


    "Chairman Bai, the decision has been made," the speaker relayed the message. From the beginning until the end of the vote, Bai Yu didn''t open his eyes. He didn''t want to see.


    "Announce it." That was all he said.


    Yun Qian Meng looked at Bai Yu and felt pity blooming in her heart. How was this man going to live in his own home from now on? He was no longer the sitting chairman. He was supposed to be lazy and do what he wanted.

 Chapter 184: Cleaning Up the Swamp

    But he had a spiteful son and a vile wife. If he stayed under the same roof as them.


    She couldn''t even imagine what to happen to him. At least¡­ At least Bai Ye Qing won''t be out in public for too long.


    "The shareholders have voted to dismiss Director Bai from his position and any chance that he will have any stake in the company in the future." The speaker''s voice was lower than before like he was mourning along with Chairman Bai.


    "So be it," the old man said.


    ''So be it,'' Qian Meng repeated in her mind.


    Finally, she owned what her father wanted. She should have felt victorious, but she only felt bittersweet in her heart.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng had been ready for the external audit the moment she decided to buy the company. She had paid extra money for the ''hatchet man'' as they called them in the industry. She was not only going to do a financial review and pinpoint irregularities but also use the hatchet man to clean the company up from inside.


    This company needed a thorough cleanup and she wasn''t sparing expenses to make it happen.


    The whole process would take three months, give or take a few weeks, and Qian Meng was prepared to wait for the results to fully control her latest investment.


    Right now, though, she needed to focus on thwarting Bai Ye Qing. Seeing his rage and physically aggressive behavior, she was sure that he would try to do something. If it wasn''t attacking her, it would be Mr. Bai. She had warned him over and over again and at this point, she had no clue how to tell the man to heed her warning seriously.


    She slid into the car and was stuck in traffic, so she decided to make some calls.


    "Is there any update on Bai Ye Qing''s file?" she asked. She looked at the car in front of her. It moved an inch. She heaved a sigh, wanting to bang her head. There was no point in moving forward in such a situation.


    All around her the horns blared. If the traffic jam wasn''t bad enough, she also needed to listen to the cacophony of people groaning and moaning and blaring their horns. She was on the verge of a raging headache.


    "I dropped the file at the prosecutor''s desk. I haven''t heard anything about it yet. I have no clue why they are dragging their feet on this," he huffed. Qian Meng could hear the frustration in his voice.


    "There is a lot of information on his financial crimes, but if we reveal the corporation-related crimes, the company will go into public view. I don''t like showing my investments in such a vulnerable situation." Qian Meng had to think of a way to get the prosecution moving.


    Finally, she found something in the back of her mind. "What about using the fact that he almost hit me with a glass? Can''t we report him for homicidal tendencies or something? Threatening physical harm?" she asked.


    Li Jun became eerily silent. "He threw something at you?" he asked, his voice calm.


    "I did aggravate him, but all the shareholders and executive staff saw him do it. He was screaming bloody murder and cursing me out. I am not so much threatened by him than worried that he will heart Mr. Bai." Qian Meng cleared her throat.


    "Do you have evidence?" he asked quickly.


    "There were witnesses," Qian Meng told him.


    "Anyone on your side? Someone who will not profit from him being detained or not?" he urged.


    "The only person I can think of is Mr. Bai and he won''t complain," Qian Meng admitted.


    "He didn''t hurt you in any way. Did you dodge or did he throw it beside you?"


    "I think he missed on purpose."


    Li Jun sighed. "It''s a threat but the cops can''t do anything until he physically approaches you with the intent of attacking you."


    "No harm. No foul," Qian Meng sighed.


    "Yes. I''ll try to call the prosecutor to nudge them," Li Jun said finally. "Drive safely to the office and make sure the guards do not allow Bai Ye Qing or anyone suspicious into the building. Call Mo Qingchen and tell him to tighten security at the house as well."


    Qian Meng was silent. She didn''t know how to tell Mo Qingchen what had happened. She was nervous about his reaction.


    "Miss Yun, you need to tell him. If Bai Ye Qing is caught anywhere near you, I will have evidence to detain him for enough time to get the prosecutor moving. Please."


    Qian Meng sighed. "Okay. I will call him," she said quietly.


    Traffic moved just a little bit and her car jerked forward an inch. She cut the engine and dropped her head on the steering wheel.


    To call or not to call Mo Qingchen.


    If she didn''t tell him, she would lose out on catching Bai Ye Qing. She couldn''t even imagine how furious Mo Qingchen would be if he found out later. She was threatened and she didn''t tell him? He would probably punish her to the moon and back. She didn''t even want to find out.


    She pressed on his number and waited for him to pick the call up.


    In his office building, Mo Qingchen was sitting amongst the managers and directors, getting their reports on progress on the projects and ideas for future projects when his phone buzzed on the desk.


    Thankfully, his phone was on silent, but everyone felt it. They looked around helplessly, wondering who was the unlucky person who would get their ear eaten out by the Dragon, but instead, they saw Mo Qingchen quietly staring at the place beside his laptop.


    Finally, he spoke up. "We''ll take five minutes break," he said gruffly. He didn''t bother to move from his perch and picked up the phone. He pressed it against his ear and heard the high-pitched noise on the other side.

 Chapter 185: Someone Has to Protect Her

    "Are you stuck somewhere?" he asked, wondering why she was calling. She wasn''t the kind of woman who called up her significant other to boast about her accomplishments or cry about what went wrong with her meeting. So, he was confused why she had called.


    But it had to be important. She would never disturb his work otherwise.


    "Oh, just traffic," she said absentmindedly. "I had to tell you something important. It won''t take much time," she said quietly. The tone of her voice didn''t sit well with Mo Qingchen.


    "Is something wrong?" he asked. One couldn''t hear the change in his voice easily. But to these employees who were scolded ruthlessly by this block of ice on a regular basis, the tone was doting!


    "Nothing is wrong," she said after a while of contemplation. "Uh, would you mind adding some security near the house?"


    His eyes darkened. He looked at the others in the room and controlled his anger. "One second," he said into the phone. He muted the call and then looked at the person who was previously presenting.


    "The meeting is dismissed. We''ll talk about this tomorrow." He stormed out of the conference room without looking at the bewildered looks on everyone''s faces. Not even one of them could say that their schedules were packed the next way.


    He unmuted the call after leaving the room. "What happened? Tell me in detail," he demanded.


    Qian Meng sighed. "I aggravated Bai Ye Qing during the meeting and he almost hit me with a glass of water," she admitted.


    "He tried to splash water on you?" he exclaimed. His fingers curled up into fists.


    "Uh, no. He¡­ threw the glass in my¡­ general direction."


    "He hurt you?" he roared. "Where are you? Tell me!"


    Qian Meng startled into silence. "I''m fine," she squeaked. "It didn''t hurt me. I didn''t even get any water on me. I''m fine!" she reassured. She tried to raise her voice over him to stop him from worrying. "I just think he might do something so I want to take precautions," Qian Meng told him.


    "What about the police? What are they doing letting such a dangerous man roam around on the streets of Shanghai?" he sounded beyond his limits. He was about to explode from anger.


    "They aren''t investigating his file yet. Li Jun is going to follow up with them on the matter. Don''t worry. Right now, we just have to catch him doing something horrendous and we can draw some attention to the issue." Her words were measured and only highlighted the scheme. It didn''t leak her genuine worry of being attacked or hearing Mr. Bai had been hurt.


    But Mo Qingchen understood it easily. "I''ll call the security team immediately and inform them. Whose car did you take to the meeting?" he asked.


    "I borrowed Li Min''s car." Mo Qingchen had gotten extremely busy that morning and couldn''t drop her off at the Bais company. So, she had taken Li Min''s car.


    "Okay, park the car in the private parking lot of your building and be safe when you go up. Call Li Min and instruct her to tighten security immediately." He paused. "I''ll come over to your building when you are done with work and then drive us home, understood?" he barked.


    Qian Meng hummed. "We won''t have kickboxing lessons today?" she asked absentmindedly.


    "You can still think of lessons? We''ll practice in the gym at home if you aren''t exhausted after work. Now, focus on the road."


    His breathing was clearly uneven. Qian Meng stared at her screen and smiled. "Are you fuming?" she asked with a smirk.


    "Don''t laugh," he warned.


    "When¡ª"


    "I can hear it in your voice," he scolded. "This is not a small matter. I''m on the verge of tracking him down and beating him to a pulp. The only thing holding me back is I might go to jail for a night. I have so much work to finish."


    Qian Meng burst into laughter. She threw her head back and laughed until she felt all her tension seep out of her body. "I have an excellent lawyer who can make it seem like Bai Ye Qing tied you up and used your hand to hit himself. Want to try it?" she teased.


    Mo Qingchen pressed his lips together. He didn''t want to smile but her words amused him. "You realize that the damage I can inflict would be much worse than what your lawyer can prove is within limits, right?"


    "At least we don''t have to be worried about hospital bills," Qian Meng snickered. The elevator arrived and Mo Qingchen got in. There was a female employee going up to the floor below him.


    She squeezed herself into the corner, as far away from him as possible.


    "How long do you estimate you will need to reach the office? Should I ask part of the security team to escort you?" he asked casually.


    "Now you''re being ridiculous. He was still in the company when I left. Even if he had wings, he wouldn''t be able to reach my building before me." There was logic in her words.


    "He could hire someone," he told her blandly. Now that he mentioned it, maybe he should stand outside and wait for her to enter the building and escort her to her office. That was a possibility he should consider.


    "He needs money to hire someone. He''s an addict and a gambler. He is running debts that are hard to pay off. Even his credit cards are maxing out. Hiring hitmen is really hard!" Qian Meng told him mirthfully. "Stop being a worrywart."


    He snorted. "One of us has to be. You''re living the carefree life, thinking bad things won''t happen."


    Qian Meng clucked her tongue. "What would it be like to have a nagging father like you? I feel so loved and cared for," she joked.


    Mo Qingchen huffed in irritation. "Believe me, I don''t want to be your dad. Resolve your daddy issues somewhere else. It''s not my cup of tea."

 Chapter 186: Return the Favor

    Beside him, the female employee''s eyes bulged. Mo Qingchen seemed to have forgotten she existed.


    She scurried out when her floor came and Mo Qingchen finally remembered she was there. He watched her run away like a scared rat dispassionately and concentrated back on the call.


    "If I call you daddy, it won''t be related to my father," she scoffed. And then she paused. "This conversation took an abnormal turn." The honking slowly stopped. "I''ll hang up now. The traffic is moving. I''ll see you once we are done with work," she chirped.


    Mo Qingchen stared at the phone and knew that she had hung up. His floor had arrived and he stepped out and made his way to the office. He didn''t even pay attention to Gu Rong, who tried to stand up to greet him, but he rushed past her so fast that she couldn''t even get her butt off her chair.


    She planted herself back down and shrugged. Mr. Mo would call her if he needed to plan something new.


    Once in his office, Mo Qingchen went through all his contacts to find his politician uncle. He had never called this person willingly, but now he was doing it without reserve.


    The phone rang a couple of times before the elderly man picked up the call.


    "Mo Qingchen?" he said, sounding surprised.


    Mo Qingchen hummed. "Uncle, I have a question to ask of you," he began.


    "Go ahead!" the elder said nervously. This young man in their family was a recluse and just his voice was scary. Much like his father, he too had an aura that demanded people keep away. What did he have to do with an old man like him? "Why did you call? Did you face some problem?"


    Mo Qingchen froze. "I wanted to ask you to return the favor," he said firmly.


    The elder was bewildered. "Favor? What favor are you referring to?" How couldn''t he remember taking help from Mo Qingchen?


    "You pleaded with me to go to that show and take your side about the housing bill," he reminded calmly.


    The elder jolted. "I pleaded?" he asked, not knowing what else to say.


    "Yes." There was finality in the way he said it. "I need a criminal investigation pushed forward immediately. It''s an urgent matter. The suspect is from a rich family and has been gambling and extorting money for a while but they are also threatening others. Can you do something?" he asked.


    The elder took it more as a challenge than anything. "Qingchen, I am a high-ranking political figure. Of course, I can pull some strings. What case are you talking about? Where is it stuck?" he asked eagerly to show off his authority.


    Mo Qingchen smirked. He gave the information lightly and then hung up the phone without ceremony.


    The next half an hour was spent making preparations to tighten security. After he was done, he wanted to curse. He was backlogged on a lot of work. And he had pushed the progress meeting to tomorrow.


    Did he need to work longer and keep Qian Meng waiting? He hoped not. He rushed out and swore that he would finish the work before six in the evening.


    - - - - -


    Bai Yu returned home uncharacteristically early that day. It was barely three in the afternoon and he had opened the front door of the house.


    He was slipping his shoes off when he heard Chen Yue making her way to him. She had her apron on and she looked excited about something.


    "Is the meeting done?" she asked.


    Bai Yu looked up, confused, and took in how she looked. "Are you planning on cooking today?" he asked.


    Chen Yue looked perplexed for a while before she gave him a warning glare. "Why are you acting like I never cook? Don''t you remember how many meals I have cooked for you and your colleagues?" she said.


    Bai Yu nodded to placate her. "Why are you cooking today? Don''t you have a back problem?" She had stopped cooking altogether stating that it hurt to stand. She was close to his age, nearing her sixties, so it made sense to him.


    But what was so special about today that she had disregarded her cramps and pains to cook?


    "I just felt like cooking today," she said happily. "How did the meeting go?" she asked.


    Bai Yu didn''t respond. He could guess that the rotten son of his hadn''t spoken to his mother yet and had left him open to attack. At least, he had got a few moments of silence on entering the home.


    He looked at Chen Yue carefully. "Did you know something?" he asked calmly.


    Her smile dropped. She looked away guiltily. "How would I know anything? I am asking you what happened," she responded in a meeker voice.


    "Your good son signed bad deals with some of the shareholders and was pocketing company money. He even tried to collude with them and stop me from voting," he told her. He watched her expression to see any changes. From her reaction, he could guess that she had known the latter would happen, but the first part of his accusation was new information to her.


    "Why would he do that?" she asked, her voice rising slightly.


    "Don''t you know well in your heart why he would do that?" Bai Yu asked her. He shook his head at her silence. "I thought I indulged him, but now I can see the problem runs deeper. You''ve been helping him hatch plans," he accused.


    "What nonsense are you talking about?" Chen Yue yelled. "Haven''t I done everything to make sure my children''s futures were bright?" she asked. She clutched at her chest, looking offended at his accusation.


    "I just told you that your son was embezzling money from the company and making bad deals and this is your response?" He felt desolate.


    The wife who had cried when he left his job but never complained about the hard times when he struggled to build his business. She had become selfish. She didn''t care for him. Only for the son who was adamant about ruining the family''s work.

 Chapter 187: Using Dirty Methods to Come to Light

    "My son. My son? Isn''t he your son, too? You''ve always kept him on the sidelines. When someone is kept in the dark, they use dirty methods to come to light!" she countered.


    Bai Yu squeezed his eyes shut.


    "He was not suited for business. He was never good at it. He didn''t allow himself to cultivate any other skills. He wanted to do what his father and brother did. I was really proud he was trying, but I would be happier if he was a hard worker who wanted to prove himself than a gambler who needs to make under the table deals to facilitate his addictions."


    He felt tears prickle at his eyes.


    "What are you talking about?" she yelled. "Just tell me what happened. What did you do to him?"


    "What did I do to him?" he gasped, looking at her accusingly. "I kept silent throughout the meeting because I had no right to veto and I allowed the others to talk rubbish about the company I poured blood, sweat, and tears into." Tears dripped out of his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. Finally, he allowed himself to cry.


    "Why are you crying? What is wrong?" A misplaced worry for her husband bloomed in her heart.


    "I am wondering if I was an incompetent husband and a father. What did I do so wrong for things to turn this way?" He collapsed on the chair and hid his face in his hands.


    "What is wrong? How did things turn out?" she panicked.


    After a few minutes, Bai Yu sniffled and wiped his tears away from his face.


    "I don''t want to talk about it right now. When your son feels like coming home, ask him what he did and how the meeting turned out." He sluggishly got up from his chair and trudged up the stairs.


    "Yu! What happened?" she yelled after him. He didn''t seem to hear her calling from behind him. He stopped in front of his office and stood for a few minutes before shaking his head and heading for the bedroom.


    - - - - -


    The shareholders had presumably left but they had congregated in a restaurant nearby. Someone had even brought Bai Ye Qing along forcefully to speak to the people to whom he had falsely given hope.


    "Young Master Bai, what is this they are saying?" B1 asked. "I thought you were just being a hot-blooded young man, but you were swindling money from your father''s company?" he asked. He had actually known of this fact well before but said nothing because he was profiting off this son since he had taken office.


    "Please, don''t pretend like you didn''t know. It''s just company money. It''s mine at the end of the day. Why is spending a thousand dollars here and there such a big issue?" Bai Ye Qing rolled his eyes. "And don''t pretend to be high and mighty. You have been skimming money from your profits for so many years. Just because no one held you accountable doesn''t mean what you did wasn''t wrong." He scoffed.


    B1 fumed. "It''s not a problem for you to do it. But did you have to be so stupid as to outright show everyone what you were up to? How could a puny girl who has been in the business for fewer years than my high blood pressure find out so easily?" he asked.


    "She single-handedly exposed what a scumbag you are, and you are calling her a puny girl?" MA1 grumbled softly. "She indirectly pointed out every deal we made. Why do you think she was sitting there silently and waiting for us to speak our minds?" he asked.


    B2 finally spoke up. "She was making notes of who to take care of after the meeting. We will be the first people on her list to make trouble for," he said with a frown.


    "She is a major shareholder, but it doesn''t mean she can discard us easily!" B1 exclaimed.


    MA1 shook his head. "Didn''t you see? She brought in an external auditor to look through all the contracts and financial books. The external auditor is answerable to the shareholders¡­ us. But who is the one with the actual power? That Yun Qian Meng. She''s planned this thoroughly." He shook his head in disbelief.


    "Do you think she will be able to do anything about us?" B2 asked, sounding scared.


    "Of course she can''t take away our shares," B1 huffed.


    "But she can remove us from the board easily. There will be many people who will try to butter her and curry favor. We placed ourselves on the wrong side of the company at the first go." Without knowing.


    Bai Ye Qing slammed his hand on the table, his anger slowly rising. "Are you all thinking only of yourself? What about me? I am going down with you," he seethed.


    The older gentlemen glared at him. "Young Master, we wouldn''t be in a bind if you had been discreet."


    Bai Ye Qing shook his head. "Yun Qian Meng is a shark. When she smells blood, she goes for the kill. No matter how good you are at hiding, she will find you out." He smirked at them. "If you dare abandon me, I will make sure all your dirty laundry is aired out into the public."


    The elders stiffened.


    "Are you threatening us?" MA1 asked, his voice low.


    "No such thing. I pulled a few strings at the accounting department and changed the balance sheets. The discrepancy won''t be too big. I made sure to make my share of the profit look lesser. But what about you? If I get caught and asked to produce the files, I will have no choice but to follow."


    It was a clear threat.


    "Why would you?" B1 shouted.


    "Yun Qian Meng likes to play using the law. She is not going to let you off even if you beg her to. The best option is to minimize damages." Bai Ye Qing nodded sagely.

 Chapter 188: Impossible for Him to Get Another Job

    The other members of the party looked at one another. "You think too highly of her, surely. She used some petty tricks and acting to get you in a bind, but we are old people. What situations have we not seen? It''s not so easy¡­" B1 said confidently. "Moreover, she doesn''t have all your father''s shares."


    MA1 nodded at that. "He looked disoriented. He clearly wanted you to do well but also couldn''t turn a blind eye." He licked his lips. "You still have some stake in your father''s company. You live under the same roof. Changing his mind is very easy," he said quietly.


    Bai Ye Qing looked at the man without emotion. He knew his father had abandoned him. There was no turning back. The meager amount of shares he had left were still something. They would produce enough money at the end of the year.


    The world seemed to go out of focus as he thought about it. Once more was not a problem, right? Just once more. But first, he needed to know what kind of agreement his father had signed with the slut, Yun Qian Meng.


    He sped home in the blink of an eye. The rush of traffic had died down and it had only taken him fifteen or so minutes to reach the house.


    He swung the door open to enter the front door. The heavy wooden frame banged against the wall, shaking it. Chen Yue came speeding out of the kitchen at the sound, thinking that Bai Yu had come down once again and was now showing off his anger.


    She looked at her son, his tie astray and his pallor grey.


    "Ye Qing, what is wrong?" she asked, nearing him to touch his shoulder. "Why do you look so bad?" she asked. Actually, she knew that nothing good came out from the board meeting, but she was yet to find out the results.


    Though she was the chairman''s wife, she had never taken an interest in the business. Neither did Bai Yu show her the ropes or tell her about his problems. Therefore, over the years she hadn''t even contacted the other colleagues about the company. Probably, their numbers had been deleted from her phone as well.


    As the kids grew up, they didn''t talk about their private matters much either. Wenxi had always been a reserved child, but he had stuck to Chen Yue and accompanied her to all the locality functions, the plays, and movies. He even humored her attempts at setting up blind dates for him. He was tight-lipped but he doted on his mother.


    On the other hand, was Bai Ye Qing, a glib-mouthed child who hugged his mother often. He told her trivial details about his day, missing out on the important treacherous moments he had indulged in. Chen Yue finally felt involved. This son became her outlet to the world.


    What he said was paramount.


    "Where does father keep all his business material?" he barked as he took off his shoes.


    "Papers? They are in his study. Why?" she cried as she jumped after him. Bai Ye Qing sprinted up the stairs. She followed hot on his heels.


    Bai Yu had never felt the need to lock his office space, so Bai Ye Qing threw the door open without much effort. He looked wildly around the room and then turned to face her. "Where?" he barked.


    Chen Yue started. "It''s in the locker under his desk." Bai Ye Qing sprinted to the area and sank down to the floor to look at the combination lock. He swore loudly before looking at her desperately. "What''s wrong? Just tell me. I''ll help you!" she said.


    Bai Ye Qing shook his head. "I need the password to the safe. Father sold the company to Yun Qian Meng. I don''t know how much he has sold." He pleaded with her to tell him the password.


    Chen Yue gulped. "Sold everything?" she whispered. "He sold everything to that girl? Why?" she asked.


    "I don''t know, mother. Tell me what the password is!" he yelled. Neither noticed the figure at the door, watching their interaction, exhaustion marking his face.


    Chen Yue told him the password. "But how did you know she bought everything? Was she at the meeting? What did she do?" she asked.


    "She ruined everything. I did everything to keep father from voting but because he sold his shares off, I couldn''t stop them from expelling me. She showed all these false documents to the shareholders to dupe them!" he explained. He put in the password and the vault opened.


    "What do you think you are doing?" Bai Yu spoke, his tone grave.


    Chen Yue swiveled around. "This is not what it looks like," she said instinctively.


    "What does it look like?" Bai Yu countered. "I think it is exactly as I expected." He stared at Bai Ye Qing. "Have you not learned your lesson yet?" he asked.


    Bai Ye Qing sneered. He looked down at the bunch of files and unceremoniously brought them all out and placed them with a thud on the table.


    "Stop it, Ye Qing," Bai Yu raised his voice. Chen Yue startled.


    "What is going on here? Why did you sell the company to that Yun girl? What kind of spell does she have you under?" Chen Yue sobbed.


    "Spell? What drama are you writing in your head? Your son tells you they were false accusations and you believe him? Do you think the members of the board were born yesterday that they don''t know how to discern between false accusations and complaints with real background and proof?" he asked.


    "Of course, I will trust my son over outsiders. But clearly, you don''t think the same way. Why are you being like this?" Chen Yue asked. She moved forward to grab his arm and shake it lightly.


    "Your son has already been dismissed from the company. With the number of crimes he has committed within the company, it is impossible for him to get another job anywhere in this country."

 Chapter 189: Bring a Child Into the World to Suffer

    He squeezed his eyes shut.


    "I knew there was something amiss, so I tried my best to hide it. The fact that he is not rotting in jail already is compensation enough. Do you think I have not tried to protect him?"


    "He is your son! How can you abandon him when he needs you the most? We''ve raised him for so many years. He was the pearl in my palm and you give away his good future to someone else?" she yelled. She shook him vigorously.


    Bai Yu had finally had enough, he shook off her hand and moved away from her. He looked straight at his son and spoke, "If you want to know the particulars of the contract, just ask me," he said.


    Bai Ye Qing looked at him with steely eyes. "Can I trust you to tell me the truth? You went behind my back to throw such a big net. What did you think would happen when everyone found out? You wanted to remove the pesky shareholders who were not on your side, didn''t you? I know this clearly. I had turned them in my favor. Everything would have been okay," he insisted.


    Bai Yu shook his head. "I had placed my head in the mouth of the crocodile and trusted it not to destroy me."


    "What does that mean?" Chen Yue spoke, her voice horrified.


    "Oh, the eighty-five percent I previously held, Yun Qian Meng bought eighty. She left me a customary five percent share to benefit me as the Founder of the company. I have few voting rights, but my opinion matters. The dividend rates for it are also higher than all the others. The conditions were good. No businessman would pass the opportunity up." He didn''t need to explain himself, but as a father and a husband, he felt compelled to tell them.


    "So, you sold your company for spare change?" Chen Yue gasped. "It was to be passed down from one family member to the next. From one generation to the next. You worked to build it to the heights it is at right now and you sell it?" She stared at him.


    "I built it; therefore, I can sell it when I deem fit," Bai Yu said proudly.


    Chen Yu pointed her finger at him. "Do you think you are the only one who contributed to the company? I wasted years of my life living the life of a poor woman to help you in your dreams. I cooked and cleaned and raised our children singlehandedly so that you could go work and make the company bigger," she said, her eyes burning with indignation. "Wenxi, the poor boy, worked tirelessly to help you in the business, too. Do you still say you worked alone for the success? Dream on!"


    Bai Yu scoffed. "You now remember that you have an older soA n? You have been ignoring his existence since he passed away. He was not even cold in his grave and you had already stuffed his marriage prospect into Bai Ye Qing''s hands." He shook his head in disbelief. "I don''t see a shred of grief in your face when you talk about him. I don''t know what to say. Moreover, you never mentioned any contributions made by your good son, Bai Ye Qing. Why? Do you not think he was competent?" he challenged.


    "I was Wenxi''s mother!" she shouted, offended. "I mourned him much more than you ever will. I bore him in my body for nine months and fed him my milk even when I was barely well myself." A solitary tear rolled down her cheek. "And Ye Qing just started out, how can I know how well he has worked?"


    Bai Yu scoffed. "If he had done anything important, you would be beating a drum around the neighborhood, telling everyone what a good son you have. Just like how you mentioned him getting married to a billionaire."


    Chen Yue frowned. She didn''t know what to say. Both of them heard a camera clicking and turned to look. Bai Ye Qing was flipping through the pages of the acquisition agreement, taking pictures of each so that he could show it to a lawyer.


    "Are you still going to defend him?" Bai Yu said, pointing towards Ye Qing. "Look at him shamelessly going through confidential business documents and taking pictures!"


    "Father, don''t worry. I am only trying to secure my own future. Usually, it is the duty of the parents to make sure the children have a bright future, but when parents are not capable of doing it or refuse to help, the child must take it into their own hands," he replied in a biting tone.


    Chen Yue turned pale.


    "You''re talking about family values? You should respect and trust your parents to receive their favor. You think everything in the world is free because your family is rich? No person will keep giving you benefits, Ye Qing. I have given you the best education and job opportunities available so that you can flourish. There is only so much I could do." He paused. "Even now, I am pleading you to stop and protect yourself from harm. The money we have is enough to keep us living a very luxurious life in the future. You will want for nothing. Would you take the offer if I gave it to you?" he said, testing the waters.


    Bai Ye Qing glared at his father. "Do you hear what you are saying? Stay low? Live luxuriously?" he chuckled without humor. "If you can''t handle taking care of a child and cleaning up after them, you shouldn''t have given birth to them. It''s not my fault for being born!" he accused.


    Bai Yu froze. "What did you just say?" he whispered, his voice breaking slightly with sadness. His eyes were slightly red as he looked at his son. It seemed that he was beyond redemption.


    "If you can''t afford a child or love them unconditionally, don''t bring them into the world to suffer," Bai Ye Qing hissed.

 Chapter 190: Disaster Followed Wherever She Went

    "Chen Yue, do you see what we have created?" Bai Yu muttered. "We''ve put him on a pedestal and now look at how he thinks about the world."


    How entitled and disrespectful.


    "Don''t worry," Bai Ye Qing said with a sarcastic lift of his lips. "I won''t be living under the same roof as you. I guess you would tell me that as long as I am living under your roof, I will have to follow your rules. I have been staying here for your own benefit. I didn''t want to abandon my old parents." He laughed.


    "Yu, please. Don''t let him leave."


    Bai Yu turned to his wife. "He''s leaving the main house to go to the apartment he brought. He brought it using money he skimmed from the company. He used embezzled money to buy an apartment." He pointed at Bai Ye Qing. "Think about it carefully. The same person who just lectured us on being terrible parents is saying that he wanted to watch over us. Do you think he is telling the truth?"


    "I don''t understand," Chen Yue whimpered.


    "He''s been living under our roof because he gets free food. He doesn''t need to do chores and he can also keep an eye on our movements. He only aims to control the company, that''s why he stayed here and used you to talk on his behalf."


    Bai Ye Qing laughed. "And who has forced me to do this?" he yelled. "Who treated me like an idiot ever since I was a child?" He pointed wildly around the room. "Everyone in the family and in the locality kept pointing out how I wasn''t as good as older brother. You didn''t refute. You planned on giving him everything. What about me?" he asked.


    "You''ve really lost your mind," Bai Yu said. "Everything was equally divided between the family. You never understood what sharing meant. Even as a child, you would go into your brother and cousins'' rooms and take their things indiscriminately. If someone protested, you would cry until everyone got tired and gave you what you wanted. Do you think the same thing applies when you are an adult?" he said slowly.


    "Wenxi was the older child. He knew what hardship was. When you asked him for something, he gave it to you without question. But you¡­ you would always take his pieces of food and keep it in your plate. At the end, you would not eat the pieces and we would have to throw it away."


    "Why are you bringing this up?" Chen Yue said. "That''s all in the past."


    "It was all the indication I needed. He is a usurper. He wants everything for himself and he will go to great lengths for it to happen. Think about it. He kept bothering people, thinking they would give in to his whims. When he didn''t get his way, he harassed and threatened those people more. Even when he didn''t need something, if he saw someone else having it, he would take it from them and exploit it. He would discard it, too. He doesn''t care for anything but getting what he wants¡­ immediately."


    There was silence in the room. Words had been spoken and no party had been polite.


    "I will go live in the apartment I bought with money I embezzled, then," Bai Ye Qing stated with a huff. There was a hint of pride in his eyes.


    "Ye Qing, son, please¡­ don''t leave. Your father is just angry. You don''t have to leave," Chen Yue pleaded. She clutched onto Bai Ye Qing''s arm as he brushed past her. "You just went through a big change, it''s not good to stay alone."


    He shook her off and stormed out.


    Chen Yue remained rooted to the spot, dazed and confused.


    She finally snapped out of it and turned to Bai Yu. "Did you have to be that harsh? He is a child!" she said.


    "A child? He is twenty-six years old¡­ going on twenty-seven. He was supposed to be married. He still gambles away his salary and spends lavishly on meals with friends, debtors, and women. Now, he doesn''t have a salary. What do you want me to do?" he asked. "I will not allow him to use my hard-earned money to indulge in illegal activity."


    He turned around and walked away, leaving Chen Yue in the office without a clue of what to do. She looked towards the mess in the room and sighed. She went behind the table and started to neaten up the papers and putting them back inside the password protected vault.


    She closed it and looked around the room. The pain in her lower back intensified and she rubbed the spot after getting up.


    Suddenly, a wave of anger overcame her.


    Yun Qian Meng.


    That bitch.


    She was tearing their family apart. Ever since she came into their lives, nothing had gone right for them. At first, the Yun family approached them for a married with Wenxi and he passed away shortly after. Then the marriage prospect fell on Ye Qing. He, too was ruined like this in her hands. The girl was hellbent of ruining them. Or disaster followed wherever she went.


    She needed justice for her family. There was only one person responsible, and there was little to no way to get back at her for the grief Qian Meng had caused her.


    She walked back to the kitchen and picked up the phone. After a few rings, the phone was picked up.


    "Chen Yue, why are you calling all of a sudden?" the person on the other side asked. Jiang Xin spoke sarcastically into the phone. "You haven''t called me in a while. I thought you were offended by my daughter''s behavior and didn''t want anything to do with me."


    Chen Yue sighed. She didn''t understand these plots and acts. "Sister, that step-daughter of yours is still causing our family trouble. She stormed the family company''s and expelled my son from his position." She barely held back her anger.

 Chapter 191: Changing the Will

    There was a moment of silence. "She¡­ did what?" Jiang Xin asked. "Why would she¡­" she trailed off.


    "Why do you think?" Chen Yue yelled. "Do something about this!" she pleaded.


    Jiang Xin blinked on the other side before a small smile spread across her lips. "Sister¡­ if you have time, come to our house. I don''t understand business matters. If you could explain everything that happened to my husband, he might be able to help you with the matter." She let the words fade, leaving Chen Yue to her thoughts.


    "Yes, yes!" Chen Yue responded. "I¡­ I will come over in a bit. Just¡­ just give me some time, okay?" she asked. She looked around the room bewildered.


    The food on the stove had burned already. She had already told the household staff to go home. There was nothing to eat that day. She felt a sob rip through her throat as she peered into the fridge. They had enough groceries and exotic foods in the fridge to cook with.


    She picked up some things to create heavy porridge. She stared off into space for so long that it was very late when she was done. It was already time for dinner.


    She sighed and poured herself a bowl of porridge and another portion for Bai Yu.


    She called him to come down but he didn''t respond. After a few minutes, she trudged up the stairs to the bedroom. She looked in. The lights were switched off, no sign of life. Confused, she went to the office. He was not there either. Finally, she grew scared. Bai Ye Qing had already left the home, did her husband leave for somewhere without telling her, too?


    She pulled out the phone and dialed his number. For the first two times she called, Bai Yu didn''t respond.


    At last, he called her back.


    "What is it?" he answered gruffly.


    "Where did you go?" she asked. "Dinner is ready. Come back home and eat." There was silence.


    He hummed in acknowledgment before cutting the phone. She had taken the first spoonful of porridge when she heard his footsteps coming down the stairs. She looked up with surprise.


    "Where did you come from? I looked for you on the second floor," she said.


    He looked at her dispassionately. "I moved my things to the guest room," he told her. "I know that the bedroom bed is good for your back, so sleep there. I don''t have such problems, I will sleep in the guest bedroom for now." He tucked his head and started to eat.


    "You won''t even share a room with me any longer?" she asked, frightened. "What do you want to do?"


    "Nothing. I think we should live separately for now." He took a sip. "You''ve wasted your life on me and raising the children. You can live as you want now. I won''t restrict you financially. You can do what you want. Don''t be aggrieved at the end of your life." His silence was heart wrenching.


    The first thing he had wanted to do after retiring was take her to the pilgrimage she had been talking about for a decade. He hadn''t had time to take her before, so she had deferred it, now that he would have time¡­


    He shook the thought away. It was better for them to live peacefully. Separately. Neither could stand the other any longer. What was the point in harboring false hopes in his heart?


    They could buy tickets to different cruises and sail the world.


    "Do you want to divorce me?" she asked, her voice wavering.


    "I am not at the age to divorce," he said blandly. "Most of your family is not going to take you back and living somewhere else is difficult. Let''s just live separately in the same house."


    She felt another bout of anger boil inside her. "You won''t divorce me because I can take half of your assets, isn''t that right?" she asked.


    He raised his hand to scrub his face. "I don''t feel well. Can you please stop talking about this? If you want to spend all my money, go ahead. I don''t want to go through a divorce."


    Chen Yue placed her cutlery down. She had no appetite.


    She picked herself up from the seat and went to change. Once done, she walked by him. He looked up, saw her move out, and had an inkling of the suffering Yun Qian Meng would go through.


    For a second, he wondered if he should call her to warn her. But then he thought otherwise. He was ashamed to talk to her. His son and wife had made her life miserable in the past few months. The girl had been gracious most of the time until she felt threatened.


    He couldn''t fault her for her behavior. He couldn''t even fault her for her business-smart attitude.


    He remembered the words she had told him repeatedly. The look of absolute hatred in Bai Ye Qing''s eyes flashed through his memory and he suddenly understood something.


    Once he was sure that she was gone, he picked up his phone and called his lawyer.


    "When do you want the changes to your will done, Mr. Bai?" the lawyer asked.


    Bai Yu didn''t have to think about the answer for long. "I want it executed immediately. Send me an emailed version of it. If you can come over briefly for my sign and execute the copy within a day or two, I would be pleased."


    The lawyer was silent for a second. "Mr. Bai, is there something I need to know about? Why are you changing your will so suddenly?" he asked.


    "It''s a precaution. But if something does happen to me, you know who to point towards. I will entrust you with the execution of the will." With a few more details spoken about, Bai Ye Qing finally hung up the phone.


    Time to go back to the guest bedroom.


    It was going to be a long night.

 Chapter 192: Regretting Those Words Deeply

    Qian Meng received a call shortly after she finished work from Li Jun.


    "Tell me. Is there any progress on the investigation?" Qian Meng asked. She knew there would be nothing new, but she could hope.


    Li Jun coughed. "Actually, there is." Qian Meng gasped in response. "I am as surprised as you are, actually. I called them to find out what was going on right after our call this afternoon and they told me they didn''t have enough manpower to look into it."


    "But then they changed their tune?" she asked, dumbfounded.


    "It seems so. I received a call from the prosecutor. They already got a court order to track and surveil Bai Ye Qing. Moreover, they are investigating deeply into the case. I think they assigned three or four exclusive investigators on the matter, too."


    Qian Meng could hear the surprise in his voice. "What changed their mind about the urgency of the issue? Did you find out?" she asked. She had an idea that it was someone Bai Ye Qing had messed with before.


    "It seems it was a minister who asked in a favor."


    Qian Meng blinked at the answer. "Minister? Which one?"


    "It''s Mr. Mo''s distant relative. The minister in the opposition, Miss Yun," Li Jun said lightly.


    Qian Meng laughed in surprise. "Is that so?" she said softly. "Okay. If they tell you anything new, keep me in the loop." She paused. "I have another call to make. I''ll talk to you later."


    She was sitting in her office and the door opened just a crack. She saw Mo Qingchen peer in and smiled wide.


    "You hurried up the investigation?" she said sweetly.


    He had to thought about his answer for a second. "You don''t need to thank me. I am making sure your body and mind are safe. He should be put in jail soon. He is a threat to society," he said seriously.


    Qian Meng nodded as she got up from her desk. She scooped up her things and packed them before trotting to him. "As you told me not to thank you, I''ll just show you my gratitude."


    With her bag still slung over her shoulder, she pressed him against the door and pressed a quick kiss on his lips. "That should do," she said happily.


    Mo Qingchen looked down at her with his dark eyes. "Your gratitude is really small," he commented. The conversation was dropped. It was time to go home.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng was putting on moisturizer on her hands when Mo Qingchen popped the question. "Where do you want to go on the honeymoon?"


    "Wait, we''re actually going on a honeymoon? I thought we were just going to stay home or something," Qian Meng admitted as she looked at him from over her shoulder.


    "Yes. Why wouldn''t be?" Mo Qingchen looked offended.


    "I mean¡­ we rarely get time off from work and you want to spend it on a plane?" she asked, her nose scrunched up in confusion.


    "It would raise a lot of questions if we didn''t go on a honeymoon. I know that my family would definitely find it strange, not to mention everyone else. You will be announcing the wedding and people will look forward to some honeymoon pictures," Mo Qingchen told her slowly. He looked at her expression with acute interest, his voice slow enough that he could change his logic if he thought she wasn''t convinced.


    "I didn''t think about it that way." What Mo Qingchen was saying made sense. She had forgotten the show they would have to put on for others.


    "Besides, we could use a vacation. That is all it has to be to us. Just a vacation," he tested by saying.


    "So, where will we go?" she asked, skipping like a bunny.


    "Is there anywhere in the world you would want to see and haven''t had the chance?" Mo Qingchen asked seriously. She blinked.


    "I would love to go to a lot of places. But what is convenient for you?" Her eyes glowed with excitement. He saw her expression and tried to hide his smile.


    "How about the Bora Bora islands? There is great food, good views and absolutely no one to pester us. You can run around wild and no one will say a thing." His eyes were keen as he waited for his response.


    "The Bora Boras?" She bit her lip. "I would love that." She tried not to jump on him in happiness. She had only ever traveled for business, never having the time to explore the places she visited or tasting their cuisine.


    He chuckled, seemingly amused by her enthusiasm. "We will go to your house tomorrow, right? Are you nervous about confronting your father?"


    Qian Meng shifted in her chair and shrugged.


    "I guess I am a little nervous. I am not sure what plots he has up his sleeves. He has an uncanny ability to pester people until they are so tired they give in," she mumbled.


    Mo Qingchen furrowed his brow. "He likes tiring the enemy before attacking them. But his methods are crude. Exhausting the enemy is an art and he shows his cards too early. Don''t worry. I''ll be right there beside you." H smirked at her cockily. "I have a knack for making impressions, don''t you know?"


    Qian Meng shrugged and looked down to examine her fingernail, annoyed with his pompousness. She was unwilling to feed his ego. "You didn''t exactly impress me when we first met. So, I suppose you will do," she said with a slight roll of her eye.


    He laughed softly and got up, casually walking to her, and pausing right in front of where she sat.


    "The first time you saw me? You told me you would marry me someday," he said, bumping his leg against her knee playfully. "Look. You succeeded."


    She smiled and looked up at him. The smile on her face was sarcastic. "Ah, yes. I regretted those words deeply. All I said was I would marry you and you took it to heart."

 Chapter 193: Want to Go Skinny Dipping

    [Warning: The talk gets a little spicy. Nothing too hot, though!]


    "See, ten years later, it was you who chased me to marry you instead." There was a victorious glint in her eyes.


    "The next time we met¡­ at the news studio. I know you thought I was sexy¡­"


    "I didn''t say I don''t find you sexy. We were talking about first impressions," she countered.


    "So," he said, leaning over and bearing his weight with his hands placed on the armrests at her sides. "You do think I am sexy, then?"


    It irritated Qian Meng that he was conceited and could turn her on. And it irritated her more that she truly wasn''t irritated with him. How the times had changed.


    All thoughts of irritation flew out the window when he leaned in further to nibble on her earlobe gently and playfully.


    "You have to ask?" Qian Meng squirmed a little in her seat. "You were so sure just a moment ago," she teased.


    "Well, maybe I just want to hear it from you," he whispered before flipping her hair over her opposite shoulder so he could start kissing the exposed skin behind her ear.


    "Mm. That must be it," she said, smiling as she lifted her hand to feel his chiseled bicep.


    "It''s okay. You don''t have to say it," he teased, kissing right beneath her year. "Soon enough, you''ll be saying much more scandalous things, anyway."


    "Oh, like what?" Qian Meng asked, tilting her head to the side to give him better access.


    "Things like: harder, faster, deeper¡­" he paused and lowered one of his hands to gently squeeze her thigh. When he spoke again, his voice was slightly lower and huskier. "I''m coming¡­"


    She closed her eyes and swallowed. She was getting wet. She could feel it. Suddenly, she wished that her vibrator wasn''t buried under all her clothes. She needed self-control around Mo Qingchen. The devious man could leave her unappeased whenever he wanted.


    No one deserved that much power over another person''s body.


    She was half annoyed and half relieved when the idea came to her. She needed to cool down.


    "Let''s go swimming," she blurted out suddenly.


    "What?" Mo Qingchen asked, sounding amused. "You don''t have a swimsuit outside. And you just put moisturizer on."


    "That''s okay. It doesn''t clash with the water in your pool. Specially developed moisturizer," she grinned. She stood up, stumbling a little but pushing him a little further from her.


    "Are you going to go in naked?"


    "Maybe," she said, arching her brow at him suggestively.


    "Wait, are you serious?" he asked as he watched her pull her blouse out from where it was tucked in her pajamas.


    "If I do it, you have to do it, too," she giggled.


    "You seriously want to go skinny dipping?" he asked, chuckling.


    "What''s wrong? Too chicken?" she taunted.


    "No. I''m just¡­ surprised." He blinked. He picked up his phone and scrambled to call. "No one is allowed to come near the house tonight. Everyone should be stationed outside the gates, understood?" he said gruffly. He turned to her. "The road is clear," he announced slyly.


    "Come on," she said, taking his hand and pulling on his arm insistently. "Let''s go take a swim!"


    He looked down at her intently. "You''re something else. Being out in the wild makes you happy, doesn''t it?" he said, laughing and shaking his head. But he let her tug him along.


    "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Qian Meng laughed.


    "The only reason I am doing this is that you have had a few rough weeks, right?" he asked, leaning over to completely pull off the top and throwing it to the side.


    "Oh, is that so?" she eyed him. "And here I thought it was because you wanted to see me naked," she whispered.


    His eyes darkened. She guided him to the immense pool. "Oh, I''ll have plenty of opportunities to see you naked. Don''t you worry," he answered, kicking off his slippers.


    She let go of his hand and watched him peel his socks off, smirking at her as he did. When he stood up straight and went to start unbuttoning his shirt, Qian Meng smiled and watched him eagerly. Mo Qingchen took it off quickly but unfortunately had an undershirt on underneath.


    "Your turn," he nodded towards her.


    Qian Meng eyed him as her hand traveled over the low-cut lace material of her bra. She could see the usual collectiveness in his demeanor falter a little as his eyes darted to her breasts.


    Sure enough, they were Mo Qingchen''s greatest weakness. She had planned on wearing it to bed and enticing him, but as it turned out, a better opportunity came to her. She was ready to show off.


    "Nope. First, let''s see that shirt come off, Mr. Mo," Qian Meng retorted.


    He made quick work of lifting his undershirt off and then tossing it aside. Meanwhile, Yun Qian Meng tried not to be too obvious about ogling his perfectly sculpted chest and abs. His upper body was even better than she had imagined.


    "As wonderful as those cute little pajamas look on you," he started, shifting his gaze down from her chest to her waist. "Lose it."


    She smiled and reached down to tug on the sides of the pant. She was excited to see his reaction to the skimpy lace panties that matched her bra. She started to shimmy out of her skirt, slowly sliding it down her thighs. All the while, she kept her eyes fixated on Mo Qingchen''s face, watching him stare shamelessly as she continued to strip down. She was surprised when he literally, although quietly, groaned as she revealed her panties.


    That boosted Qian Meng''s confidence even more and made her smile.


    "Like what you see?" she asked as she let the pajama fall around her ankle.


    "I just hope you have more lingerie sets like that," he answered, his eyes raking up and down her legs.


    "I do," she answered, kicking the pants towards him playfully. "Your turn."

 Chapter 194: Come in and Teach Me a Lesson

    [Warning: Lots of dirty talk and... cough. Don''t read if it bothers you!]


    His hands flew up to his belt buckle, which he quickly undid. He slid his belt off through the loops and tossed it aside, eyes still roaming over her body hungrily as he did. He carefully stepped out of his black dress pants (which she had bought for him) and then folded them and set them down on the chair.


    Apparently, Mo Qingchen liked wearing boxers and he looked damn good in them. The ones that he was wearing at that particular moment were black and just tight enough.


    "Ball is in your court, Qian Meng," he said softly, eyes fixated on her breasts once again.


    Silly Mo Qingchen. Did he really think that she was about to just strip down naked in front of him? She didn''t care about her bran and panties. It covered more than her bikinis.


    He had seen her goodies for free a few times, but never together. That was a novelty he still had to earn.


    She hummed, biting her lip thoughtfully and playing with the waistband of her panties. "What to take off first¡­" she mused, raising one hand to tap her chin. Mo Qingchen heartlessly leaving her high and dry gave her enough courage and motivation to make him roll on the floor with desire.


    But she was a lady. She would be classy about it.


    "The bra," Mo Qingchen interjected quickly. "You should definitely take off the bra." His voice was insistent but strained.


    "Oh, I should?" she asked innocently, thoroughly amused.


    "Yes," he answered before licking his lips sensually. If it wasn''t for the current situation, she might have burst out into laughter at the sight.


    She slowly walked over to him and stopped right in front of him, so that they were standing inches apart. She looked up at him through her eyelashes and smiled sweetly. He looked down at her expectantly.


    "Close your eyes," Qian Meng spoke softly.


    He swallowed and then surprisingly, he obeyed her. His eyes fluttered closed and she smiled contently.


    "Keep them closed," she instructed.


    She lifted both her hands, her left going to rest on his shoulder and the right moving higher to trace his bottom lips with her finger. Then, she slid that finger down, tracing across his prominent jawline and down to his collar bone.


    She continued tracing a path down his chest and then right down the defined line that ran down his abs. When her finger reached the waistband of his boxer briefs, she paused and let her hand linger there, toying gently with the elastic.


    And then she turned and ran to the pool. She did a cannonball into the water, leaving Mo Qingchen standing there with his eyes closed like a fool.


    By the time she swam back up to break the surface, Mo Qingchen was already standing at the side of the pool, glaring at her.


    "I never took you for a cocktease, Yun Qian Meng. I guess I was wrong."


    "Oh, come on. Don''t get your panties in a bunch," she answered, rolling her eyes.


    "That was cruel," he responded, although he seemed o be suppressing a laugh.


    "You think so? Why don''t you come in and teach me a lesson then?" she challenged, plashing some water up at him.


    "You''re going to get it now!" he growled before lithely diving into the water.


    She squealed when he swam right over to her, gripped her thigh, and pulled her over to him. As he broke the surface of the water, he pulled her, still by her thighs, over to him until her legs were wrapped around his waist.


    "I guess I should say sorry," she laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. "But you should have seen your fa¡ª"


    She didn''t get to finish her sentence as his lips cut her off, kissing her forcefully. He was starting to make a habit of it.


    Curiously, kissing him back felt natural. Maybe it was because the few times they had kissed had all resulted in long and lengthy make-out sessions and more. Maybe it was because they had amazing chemistry. Whatever it was, the more she kissed him, the more enjoyable it became. As uncharacteristic as it was for her, she submitted to him for that time.


    Her hands automatically moved to his hair and she allowed herself to get lost in his kiss. She reveled in the velvety heat of his mouth. He kept his hands placed firmly on her thighs, holding her. Anything could have happened around them and she wouldn''t have noticed. She was too focused on his tongue and the electricity sizzling between them.


    Not good.


    When he moaned into her mouth, her reaction was instinctual. She used her legs, which were wrapped around his hips as leverage to pull herself forward and grind against him. She paused and pulled back from their kiss to look at his face when she felt his hard length nestled between her legs, pressing up against her center.


    "Is that a torpedo in your boxers or are you happy to see me?" she teased.


    "You think my cock is comparable to the size of a torpedo? I am flattered, Miss Yun."


    She rolled her eyes. "I was talking about one of those pool toys that little kids play with," she clarified, experimentally grinding against him again. Her hips were putting Shakira to shame!


    He closed his eyes and swallowed.


    "Do you have a snarky comeback for everything?" he asked, his eyes still closed.


    "Did I hit a soft spot making fun of you?"


    "Use all the sarcasm you want. You and I both know that what you''re feeling is far from little. Don''t even think that I forgot your eyes glistening with tears as you took my cock down your throat," he growled.


    "Sure, sure," she said immediately, not wanting to linger on his words.


    "This is probably a defense mechanism," he countered.


    "Defense against what?" she frowned.


    "The intimidation. The fear that you''re experiencing at the feel of my cock. You''re wondering how you will take it, aren''t you?" He pressed a quick kiss at the corner of her lips.

 Chapter 195: Block Him From Getting Action

    The more she rolled her hips against him, the more discomfort he was in. "No, it''s cool. I am not worried about that. My trusted vibrator took care of me all these years. Your cock won''t be too bad." She had the gall to pout.


    Mo Qingchen laughed and opened his eyes to look at her. "What a relief," he deadpanned.


    She absentmindedly continued to grind against him.


    "What a cocky little dragon," she whispered. "Hmm¡­ what is this aching emptiness in my stomach?" she wondered out loud, knowing how lewd it sounded.


    His eyes widened just a fraction. "You want me to remedy that?" he asked hoarsely.


    Qian Meng pouted. "I think I am a little hungry. What a shame." She released her arms from around his neck and then unwrapped her legs from his waist. She swam away towards the ladder.


    "Where the hell do you think you are going?" he asked, his eyes blazing with need. As she stepped onto the ladder, Mo Qingchen grabbed her ankle and tugged unceremoniously.


    She gasped and looked over her shoulder at him, the image was too enticing.


    "I''m going to get out so I can have some snacks," she replied innocently.


    "But¡­ we were just¡­" he stopped. His eyes turned hard. "Is this revenge for what happened last night?"


    Qian Meng scoffed. "Why would you say that?" she responded innocently. "I am sure you can just rub one out, right?" she tilted her head to the side innocently.


    "Qian Meng, are you serious right now? I have a raging hard-on!" he countered.


    Qian Meng blinked. "Oh, I heard blue balls can kill. You really need to remedy that!" she pointed unceremoniously towards his hard length. "Why do men always refer to their erections as ''raging'' anyway?" she asked as she started to towel herself dry. "Vocabulary to make it sound bigger?"


    "No, it''s because my cock is ragingly upset that you left me cockblocked," he answered, starting to get out of the pool himself.


    "How did I block it?"


    "You blocked my cock from getting action," he bit back. "You are so infuriating," he groaned.


    "Too bad, we already signed a contract, and you have to marry me." She would have stuck her tongue out if she could.


    "Downright maddening," he said under his breath.


    "Well, karma is a bitch, Mr. Mo." She grinned. The cellphone she had placed on the chair started to ring loudly, the ringtone telling her it was her father.


    "God, I want to fuck you so bad," he whispered.


    "Well, time to take my father''s call," she sighed as she walked over to it.


    "Are you sure you don''t want to ignore the call and dive into the hot tub out back?" She blinked. Truth be told, the hot tub did sound great and she wanted to get in with Mo Qingchen.


    But right now, her dad''s call was coming in and she couldn''t think of one positive reason why he would call at such a late hour.


    "I wish I could," Qian Meng said slowly, a hint of longing in her voice. She shook her thoughts away and put the phone to her ear.


    "Yun Qian Meng speaking," she said softly.


    "It''s your father speaking," Yun Sui Bo said gruffly.


    Qian Meng held back a sly smile when she noticed his irritation. "Oh," she said lightly. Like she hadn''t known it was him when she picked up the call. After teasing Mo Qingchen, she felt like she could pull her father''s leg, too.


    "You deleted my number?" he asked, affronted.


    "Mm," she hummed. Even if she had deleted his number, she would have known it was him just looking at it. Her father hadn''t changed his number in the past two decades. She knew it by heart.


    "Come home right now!" he barked. "You dare to delete your father''s phone number? You''ve grown too big, haven''t you?" he yelled. From behind him, Qian Meng could hear someone talking. They didn''t seem to be prompting to her father, so she was mildly confused.


    "What is this about?" she asked casually, not putting much emphasis on the matter. She knew what it could be about. Her father had found out she had bought the Bais company. It was later than she expected, too.


    She had imagined he would call the minute Bai Ye Qing stepped out of the meeting but had lulled herself into thinking that it might need a few more days. Bai Ye Qing was preoccupied with his emotions, it seemed, so she gave it a few more days.


    Things had not moved according to her plan.


    The dinner tomorrow could be considered canceled after this. Now that he wanted her to come to talk and give her a scolding, she didn''t need to be courteous and tell them she planned on bringing someone along.


    "Come home right now. I don''t need to explain to you over the phone," he demanded.


    Qian Meng sighed. "I understand." She hung up the phone without another word. She turned to Mo Qingchen to find him staring at her curiously.


    "What does he want?" he asked, crossing his arms over his bare chest. She let her thoughts wander for a second before answering.


    "He wants me to come home to listen to him lecture. From his voice, I could tell he found out about the acquisition and today''s meeting," she told him with a shrug.


    Mo Qingchen''s brows furrowed. "Well, I was supposed to accompany you tomorrow. Now that you are going to meet them, I should just tag along."


    She looked at him, surprised. "You want to go?" she asked.


    "Don''t tell me you want to listen to him scream at you tonight and then go for a family dinner tomorrow." He scoffed. "It will look like you got scared of him and brought a husband to back you up."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "I don''t even want to see them once a month, you''re talking about seeing them on two consecutive days." She shook her head in disbelief.

 Chapter 196: Shield His Woman Well

    "Does this mean you were not going to show me off to your father? That is the whole purpose of the marriage, remember?" He tilted his head to the side, waiting for her to confuse herself and then take him along. He could have forced his way and drove her there, but it was better if she asked him to come with her.


    Who knows, this girl could claw her enemy but when it came to that scum father, she was a little soft. He had to go along with her to make sure she didn''t balk in front of him. He could shield his woman well, no one should doubt that.


    "You should be tired at the end of the day," she said. Her eyes dropped to his boxers and she tried to suppress a smile. "Don''t you need to take care of that?" she asked.


    He didn''t follow her gaze. "Unlike you, I do not lack self-control. I can function quite well with a hard-on," he promised.


    Qian Meng shrugged. "I suppose no one wanted to be with you because you roar. That''s why you''re used to walking around with blue balls. You spell misery." She poked her tongue out.


    "Yes, even aroused, all my blood doesn''t go to my genitals. Unlike someone I know," he said astutely, staring at her.


    He was clearly saying that her brain only worked sporadically. Scoundrel.


    "Well, you can drive then. Get changed. We''ll take a trip to Yun Sui Bo''s house and watch a good show," she snickered.


    Mo Qingchen looked at her, hiding his worry under a mask of indifference. He walked behind her, and saw her scamper towards the shower.


    "Do you want to go in first?" she asked.


    He shook his head. "You go ahead. Leave some hot water for me. Don''t use it all up!" he demanded. She smiled slyly and nodded.


    "I think you need a cold shower though," she taunted before jumping into the bathroom and locking the door.


    Mo Qingchen huffed and placed himself on the ground. His hair still dripping with water, but getting Yun Qian Meng into the shower was necessary. She caught colds easily. His body was healthy and he rarely got colds, so he could wait a few extra minutes.


    Inside the shower, Yun Qian Meng had a similar thought. Mo Qingchen had a very bad bout of fever. She should have let him go first. But this house has more than one shower. The thought came to her: they could have just showered together. Neither would get cold and they would save water, too! What a bargain.


    She stopped the thought immediately. She quickly scrubbed her body, ignoring the throbbing between her thighs and then getting out within a few minutes. She toweled herself dry and then came out.


    "Get in quickly!" she commanded when she saw him sitting on the floor. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be sleeping. He opened his eyes when he heard her and slowly nodded.


    He shot up to his feet and slowly walked to the bathroom. His wet arm brushed against hers and she jumped away.


    "What are you doing?" she asked cautiously.


    He looked at her without letting his intentions be known. "What did I do?" he asked innocently.


    She stared at him for a second before shaking her head. "Quickly take a shower. Take a hot shower, okay? Don''t catch a cold." She remembered how he looked on the floor that morning and she shivered.


    He hummed as he entered.


    Qian Meng made her way to the wardrobe and opened it to find a rack of her clothes already present. She had asked Xiong Hua to keep a specific packed box in this room. She looked at the closet and sighed with contentment.


    Half of the closet had Mo Qingchen''s clothes, while the other, hers. There was a spare room next door that Mo Qingchen had already started to renovate into a walk-in closet. They would have enough room for both of their wardrobes right in the next room.


    She picked out a pair of clothes for her and then a pair for Mo Qingchen. She quickly changed into hers, now knowing how long he took to shower. After she was done, she knocked on the bathroom door.


    "I have your clothes with me," she called.


    The door opened a few seconds later and his arms poked out. She passed the clothes to him and then went back to finding her accessories. He made it out in record time.


    He stared at himself in the mirror and nodded. "You''re good at this choosing clothes thing. I wouldn''t mind it if you chose my clothes in the morning, it would cut out most of my work." He paused. "Especially with the new wardrobe."


    Qian Meng scoffed. "You''re really testing my limits, aren''t you? Am I your chambermaid?"


    Mo Qingchen grimaced. "You are good at something and I am not. Therefore, you should do it on my behalf."


    The words made sense. "But wouldn''t that mean I would have to do most things in this relationship then?" she asked innocently.


    He turned to glare at her.


    "Let''s go!" he told her. She chuckled as she trotted behind him. It was hard to keep up with him. He walked especially fast with his long legs.


    She bounced to his side and noticed that he slowed down. Once in their car, he turned to her thoughtfully.


    "Should I have brought gifts for your family? That''s custom, right?" he asked.


    Qian Meng blinked. "I didn''t take anything to your house, either. It would be unfair if one person followed custom and the other didn''t. Moreover, you don''t need to pay any of them respect!" she said stubbornly.


    "Understood," he dismissed the matter immediately.


    Qian Meng spoke up again. "About my younger brother¡­ he''s a nice boy. A little lost but nice. He doesn''t like grand gifts. If he whines and asks for something, toss him a few hundred yuan and he will merrily skip away."

 Chapter 197: Came to Meet the Family

    Mo Qingchen was pulling out of their driveaway when he said this. "I didn''t bring my purse. I don''t even have my card," he said. Qian Meng could also hear that he wasn''t sure about her testimony about her younger brother.


    "I''ll transfer the money. You can pay me back in beverages," she chirped.


    Mo Qingchen shook his head. "Understood." In his head, he prayed that this little brother wasn''t a serpent well concealed in his skin.


    - - - - -


    When they pulled in front of the Yun family house, Mo Qingchen looked aghast. "You lived here for most of your life?" he asked, sounding appalled.


    Qian Meng snickered. The building was ornamented and grand. The furniture inside was somewhat similar. "What until you see inside the house," she said.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t know whether to be horrified or not. "You had no hand in decoration, right?" he whispered.


    "Absolutely not. I never considered this my home. So, I never tried to change anything inside this¡­ thing." She snickered.


    He nodded, thankful. Even if she had bad taste, it had turned for the better. So, he wouldn''t have complained.


    He slid out of the car and jogged to her side to open the door. There was already a guard waiting for us in front of the house. He walked forward when he saw Mo Qingchen, an unknown person, but then sagged with relief when he saw Qian Meng being escorted out of the car.


    "You''re being all gentlemanly," she teased.


    "We need to put on a good show to anger them, right?" he said, a smile playing on his lips.


    "True," she agreed quickly. She didn''t hate this game one bit.


    "Young Miss," the guard said with a bow. He extended his hand for the key to the car.


    "No thanks," Qian Meng said quickly and brushed past him.


    "What was that about?" Mo Qingchen asked. His car was sitting in the driveway. Of course, getting a parking space would have been nicer.


    "One time, they drove my car to the garage and wouldn''t bring it out when I wanted to leave." She pressed her lips together in dissatisfaction. "They wanted to trap me here so that I had no choice but to meet Bai Ye Qing and his family," she grumbled.


    Mo Qingchen looked over his shoulder at the guard and glared. The man shriveled up in his spot, confused as to why Young Miss''s companion was looking at him like he was about to kill someone.


    "Even if they stowed away my car, I would bring you out of here," he promised.


    "Oh, saving the damsel in distress!" she said mirthfully. She stopped in front of the door and saw Nanny Yang walking down the hallway to greet her. "Nanny Yang!" she exclaimed.


    The older woman hobbled forward and bowed. "Young Miss, there is commotion inside. Take care," she whispered. Her eyes flitted towards Mo Qingchen and she restrained her questions.


    "Oh, Nanny Yang, this is Mo Qingchen. He''s my fianc¨¦," she whispered conspiratorially.


    The older woman''s eyes widened but she smiled politely. "Good to meet you, sir."


    Mo Qingchen glanced at Qian Meng and saw her easy and affectionate gaze. He knew that this was a person he needed to be respectful of. "Nanny Yang," he greeted.


    "Nanny Yang was more of a parent to me than anyone else on the planet," Qian Meng informed him. "I''m not running around wild because of her."


    Mo Qingchen extended his hand towards the woman. He grasped it firmly. "Thank you for taking care of Qian Meng all these years."


    Even Qian Meng was surprised to hear the sincerity in his voice. Nanny Yang stared for a moment before apologizing.


    "Sir, I did what was right. Please don''t," she said quickly. She politely pulled her hand away. This was a woman who knew her place in the family structure. Miss Yun came sometimes, but she had to live with the rest of the Yun family all year round.


    She couldn''t be seen so chummy with them. She looked at Yun Qian Meng longingly but said nothing.


    Mo Qingchen nodded slightly. Qian Meng caught the cue and pulled Mo Qingchen inside.


    "Expect others," Qian Meng told him. "I heard some others when father called. I expect some foreign entities pulling up their sleeves to fight."


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "We''ll see."


    They entered the living room and found her father fuming at the head of the seating arrangement. Jiang Xin was positioned beside him and was patting his knee soothingly.


    Qian Meng also saw Chen Yue sitting opposite them. Her hands were on her knees and she played with them nervously.


    Qian Meng cleared her throat and the people in the room turned towards her.


    "What are you doing here?" Yun Sui Bo asked. It was obvious whom he meant, but Qian Meng pretended not to understand.


    "You asked me to come," she said innocently.


    "Not you! The one beside you!" he exclaimed.


    "Oh, came to meet the family," she said lightly. Mo Qingchen allowed her to lead the conversation. If she was respectful, he would be too. But if she wanted to tease and show off, he would give her every weapon needed to do it.


    "Whose family?" Yun Sui Bo asked dumbly.


    "My family. His future in-laws," Qian Meng countered. "Haven''t you heard the news? It is all over the gossip rags." She smirked.


    Yun Sui Bo was deathly silent. "I was wondering why you had the courage to stand up to me. It turns out that you got a backer!" he said calmly, but Qian Meng could hear the threat in his voice.


    "Let''s go sit," she said without worry. She tugged Mo Qingchen along with her and sat him down on the sofa. She took the seat beside him, their shoulders against each other. It wasn''t overly affectionate, but anyone who looked could see that these two were romantically involved.


    "You-you! How can you make such a scene after what you did this morning?" Chen Yue said through her teeth.

 Chapter 198: Found a Clogged Sewer

    Qian Meng looked at the woman.


    It was Mo Qingchen who made the whole scene comical. "Who is this?" he asked. His voice was not loud, or soft. Everyone present could hear him clearly. Funnily enough, he didn''t sound curious in the least. It was more like he was asking where this insect had dropped from.


    But Qian Meng humored him. "Uncle Bai''s wife," she responded. She didn''t want to take Bai Ye Qing''s name in this situation.


    "Uncle¡ª" Chen Yue spluttered.


    "What an odd combination," Mo Qingchen muttered under his breath.


    "You¡ª" Chen Yue began, but Jiang Xin stopped her mid-sentence.


    "Ah, they''re just kids. Why are you getting angry with them?" she asked with that sweet voice of hers.


    "You allow this stepdaughter of yours to insult you left and right. Because you allow it, she thinks she can speak this way to others, too!" Chen Yue scolded.


    Jiang Xin lowered her head. "It''s all my fault."


    Mo Qingchen felt his jaw drop to the floor. He had never seen someone act like they were part of an imperial harem before. This was straight out of the movies!


    "See what I mean?" Qian Meng whispered to him. He didn''t respond, but then, he didn''t need to.


    Yun Sui Bo, too, shook up at his wife''s words. "It''s not your fault. She got this attitude from that mother of hers. Always going out and focusing on work. It turned the girl into a loveless woman. She only thinks about profit and humiliating others to get her way," he grumbled.


    Qian Meng scoffed. "Mr. Yun, stop waxing poetry and tell me what you wanted to say when you called me over. Just because I brought someone with me, you''ve forgotten what you wanted to say?" she asked.


    The lowered voice and the meeker attitude were for the benefit of Mo Qingchen. They could be from enemy families, but letting the other think that it was somehow his fault that his daughter was acting up was a no-no.


    "You bought their company?" he asked, finally remembering.


    "I did. What is that to you?" she asked, folding her hand across her chest.


    "I told you to marry into the family, not buy their company and show off!" he said, slamming his hand on the arms of the couch.


    Qian Meng shrugged. "I already told you I didn''t want to marry. You were doing your best to force me into it, so I wondered what treasures the company held for you to do so."


    Yun Sui Bo glared. "I was thinking about your future! Jiang Xin and I brought you up while your mother pursued her career. Look at her, is she happy with her life?" He pressed his lips together. "Chasing money all day. You don''t know how to cherish human relationships. Marrying into the Bai family would have done you good."


    Still so polite. Yun Qian Meng wanted to bring out the real man behind this mask Yun Sui Bo had on. She wanted Mo Qingchen to see with his own eyes.


    "You can pretend all you want but neither of you brought me up. I did a fine job of it myself. About the company. I didn''t find any treasures there, but I did find a clogged sewer. Mr. Yun, have you lost your touch in business, or are you desperate for something?" She leaned in and stared intently at him.


    Yun Sui Bo didn''t show panic.


    "If there weren''t people in this room, I would have slapped you across the face. I have had enough of you!" he shouted.


    "You''re finally revealing yourself!" Qian Meng exclaimed. Mo Qingchen laced their fingers together and squeezed it, suddenly feeling a pang of melancholy. Good thing he was here. Otherwise, he knew Yun Sui Bo would hit her.


    "You shouldn''t make threats so easily," Mo Qingchen said in a low voice. Everyone turned to him, stunned that he was speaking.


    "You''re an outsider, you don''t get to talk!" Yun Sui Bo warned.


    Mo Qingchen scoffed. "I am glad to be an outsider. I feel sad for those that you call family." Such sharp words.


    Jiang Xin sucked in a sharp breath. Her face twisted in a grimace. "What does Mr. Mo mean? Don''t you think you are speaking out of line? This is the Yun house. Qian Meng is related to us by blood but you have just driven her to the house. You shouldn''t speak in family matters."


    By saying he had just driven her there, she was not taking their relationship into account. She was also calling Qian Meng part of the family, opening her to attack from her family.


    "This is not a family matter, though. This is clearly about Mr. Yun and his inability to control his business. He is using his daughter as a pawn to make a quick buck, isn''t he?" he accused, glaring towards Yun Sui Bo now.


    This startled Yun Sui Bo greatly.


    "What nonsense have you been telling people?" Yun Sui Bo asked Qian Meng. He gritted his teeth.


    "I didn''t tell anything. Anyone with half a mind could see what you are doing. First, you brought up letting Qing Yuan take over the company. Then you told me that I needed to marry Bai Ye Qing. Don''t you think you are being transparent? You are making a deal with the Bai family¡­ something related to your company. And you are using me as a pawn to do it." She sniffed with disgust.


    "Nonsense!" Yun Sui Bo started.


    Jiang Xin meekly spoke up. "Meng Meng, no matter what you thought, you should have tried to clear the misunderstanding with us first," she said.


    Chen Yue interjected. "What benefits can we give such a big family like the Yuns?" she said. "Your father saw that ours was a good family and wanted to give you a peaceful home."


    "Peaceful home," Qian Meng scoffed. "And you jumped at the opportunity, didn''t you? A billionaire for a daughter-in-law."

 Chapter 199: Ask the Neighborhood Dog for Permission

    "You could brag about how you put her in her place. Your son would inherit the business, too. How fun!" She felt anger rise in her stomach.


    "He wouldn''t get the company," Mo Qingchen said casually. Qian Meng looked at him questioningly, but he didn''t respond.


    "What do you know? Why are you even here?" Yun Sui Bo asked.


    "I was going to come tomorrow, but you thought it was okay to call Qian Meng late in the night to lecture her and drive her into the corner."


    "For the family dinner?" Jiang Xin gasped. She turned to Qian Meng. "You know that no one is allowed to come to our family dinner. Why did you invite him?"


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "You two invited the Bais and stuffed them in my life. I wasn''t even married to their house, but you did it. Now that I have a man who I am really marrying, you''ll bring up some bullshit custom!" What a joke.


    "The man you will be marrying? Who gave you the permission?" Yun Sui Bo barked.


    "I don''t need your permission. I already don''t consider you in the decisions I take," Qian Meng lied. She had bought a company that was in shambles to make a point. To get her father off her back. How was she unaffected by him?


    "Then why did you bring him here? To get my blessings? Let me tell you, Qian Meng, you will get no such thing." Talk about a conservative outlook. It was only there because it benefited him in some way.


    "Blessing," Mo Qingchen scoffed.


    "We are here to inform you. When I publish the news, people will call you and congratulate you because your daughter married her worthy match." Her eyes flickered to Chen Yue, the look taunting.


    "Are you calling my Ye Qing unworthy of you?" she asked. She was ignored.


    "I know how you hate to be blindsided. That''s why I am doing you a favor," she told Yun Sui Bo.


    "Doing me a favor? I dare you to marry. I''ll ruin you. Do you understand?" Chen Yue shook at this threat.


    Qian Meng was unbothered. "You have made these threats before. And I told you every time that I don''t care. I would like to see you try."


    Mo Qingchen frowned. "I''d like to see him try," he said.


    "Young man, don''t taunt me. You might think you have some power, but in front of me, you can do nothing," Yun Sui Bo said lightly. Now, he felt a little more in control.


    Mo Qingchen looked at him curiously. "Do you really believe that? By marrying me, she will be the wife of the oldest Mo son. My father hates when others bully his family members." He smiled.


    The smile on Yun Sui Bo''s face slipped. He looked at Mo Qingchen for a second. "When they call me about your wedding, I will tell them that I didn''t say yes to it."


    "Do you think this is Ancient China and by not getting your permission, we are eloping and disgracing ourselves?" Qian Meng burst out into laughter.


    "Sure. While I try to get your permission for this wedding, I should also ask the mailman and the neighborhood dog about it. How will I marry Qian Meng if I don''t get their permission?" Mo Qingchen said without looking at anyone.


    His eyes were fixed on something else. Yun Qian Meng followed his gaze and found her brother at the entrance, eating something while he watched the scene unfold.


    He laughed nervously when he was caught.


    The people in the room turned.


    "When did you go out?" Jiang Xin cried.


    "Earlier. When father was calling sister over, I went out to buy some food." He scampered over, knowing there was no use in standing on the sideline.


    "Sis, look. There is a new mochi place around the corner. I bought some for you," he offered her the box. He plopped down beside Yun Qian Meng and latched onto her arm.


    He peered at Mo Qingchen and smiled widely. "Brother-in-law, nice to meet you!"


    He sounded too enthusiastic.


    "Qing Yuan!" Yun Sui Bo warned. "He is not your brother-in-law."


    "Of course, he is!" Qing Yuan said without regard. "The whole country knows. Father, did you not know?" he blinked.


    "You knew about this?" Jiang Xin gasped. Qing Yuan nodded. "Why didn''t you tell us?"


    He blinked in confusion. "Everyone knows. How should I have known father''s secretary didn''t tell him?"


    Mo Qingchen watched the younger brother. He analyzed every move and every word he said. If Qian Meng was treated well, she wouldn''t see through the fa?ade. But Mo Qingchen was not the same. So, he bid his time and watched.


    "You should have told us," Jiang Xin said mildly.


    Qing Yuan shrugged. He turned to Qian Meng. "Have some mochi," he urged. "All the influencers are eating here. It''s all over social media!" he said proudly.


    Qian Meng nodded, now calmer. She propped the box open and took a ball out. She bit into it and held back a moan.


    "Have this!" she said immediately, turning to Mo Qingchen and waving it in front of his mouth. Mo Qingchen glanced away from Qing Yuan''s face and saw the bitten mochi that she was shoving in his face.


    He lowered his head and took a small bite. Qian Meng watched as his eyes glittered. She shoved it into his open mouth and then took another one in her hand.


    "Not bad," he said after chewing for a long time.


    "If the store is open while we go back, let''s buy a box," Qian Meng suggested. Mo Qingchen hummed.


    "Are you two showing off your love in front of us?" Chen Yue said, her voice raised.


    "Yes," Qian Meng said sweetly.


    "You ruined my son''s life and you are showing off?" she asked. She turned to Yun Sui Bo. "You said you would take care of this. I am sitting here and I only see that your daughter is taking advantage of you!" She huffed.

 Chapter 200: Ready to Pull Out a Weapon

    "Chen Yue, don''t get angry. Let''s talk slowly and solve this matter," Jiang Xin said calmly.


    "What calmly? This girl is hell-bent on ruining my family! I don''t know what benefits she is giving my husband, but he is ensnared by her!" she accused, throwing her hands towards Qian Meng.


    Mo Qingchen stiffened. "Watch your words," he warned grimly.


    Qian Meng chewed on the mochi ball for a few moments before speaking. "Chen Yue, don''t you understand? Your good friend is using you to make trouble for me. She speaks sweetly and instigates you. At the end of the day, you are the shrew who screamed and stormed someone''s house and she is the one who wants to resolve the issue calmly." Qian Meng shook her head.


    So stupid.


    "Are you done talking?" Yun Sui Bo roared. Qing Yuan gripped tighter onto her arm.


    "What do you think?" she challenged.


    There was silence. Yun Qing Yuan was the one who made it mildly better. "Sis, you made coffee for¡­ that guy. Now that the real deal is here, shouldn''t you make him something?" he whispered.


    Qian Meng looked at him curiously. "What are you playing at?" she whispered.


    "Your hubby looks like he is going to pull out a weapon. But you are here, so he can''t do it," he told her. Mo Qingchen listened with his ears perked up. The kid might just be on Qian Meng''s side.


    "I want to watch the show," Qian Meng said lightly.


    "But¡­ you gave that dude coffee. It''s unfair!" he whisper-yelled.


    "Whose side are you on?" Qian Meng asked. She batted his hand away and stood up. "I''ll make something for Qingchen," she announced before walking to the kitchen.


    Jiang Xin was about to get up but Mo Qingchen cleared his throat.


    "The wedding date has been set. None of you are invited. I will warn you against putting barriers in front of her. It won''t end well for you," he said in a low voice so that Qian Meng couldn''t hear.


    "Are you threatening me?" Yun Sui Bo asked.


    "It''s not a threat if I intend on coming through," he replied.


    "I won''t give her the family registry, what will you do then? Get married without it?" Yun Sui Bo asked, a challenge clear in his voice.


    Mo Qingchen scoffed. "Do you know how easy it is to get a duplicate booklet?" he asked. "Aren''t you looking for some sort of benefit from marrying your daughter away?" He tilted his head.


    "I don''t know what you are talking about," Yun Sui Bo said in a low, panicked voice.


    "Don''t pretend. Qian Meng is not here and I won''t tell her. I know your plan. Marry her off to a smaller house, contain her power. The Bai family had a son who was willing to do dirty business to help your business out. Moreover, he even said he would let you have Venus once she gave birth to a baby." He smiled. This was the smile of a man who would go on a murder spree.


    There was silence. Mo Qingchen looked at the people in the room. Yun Qing Yuan looked so shocked that he was about to cry. His eyes reddened.


    "Father¡­ is¡­ this true?" he whispered. He got no answer.


    Mo Qingchen looked at Chen Yue. And he knew instantly that this filthy woman had known.


    "Is this true?" Qing Yuan asked again.


    "Nonsense," Yun Sui Bo responded, but anybody with half a brain cell could tell that he was lying.


    "Can''t pretend any longer?" Mo Qingchen taunted. His eyes flickered to the kitchen. She was still inside. "Forget about whatever benefits you want. You will get none even if you kneel down in front of me and beg," he hissed.


    Mo Qingchen read it in his eyes. This man would ask for help from Mo Qingchen if he needed it. Even if he was the enemy''s son.


    "I''ll let Yun Qian Meng find everything out on her own. I won''t hinder her path. But if you so much as threaten her, I''ll make this house go up in flames."


    Jiang Xin gasped. "You''re threatening our life?" she asked. "We can call the police on you!"


    "Sit down!" Yun Sui Bo hurried to say.


    "See how your husband is cowering? It''s because he knows what I can do." If only Qian Meng had seen this side of Mo Qingchen, she might have hugged him tightly and never let go.


    "Why are you doing this?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen straightened up, his expression changing into a calm fa?ade. Qian Meng slowly walked towards them, her eyes fixed on the mug in her hand. She was trying her best not to let even a drop spill.


    She slowly walked up to him and handed the mug over to him with a smile. "Here," she said.


    He took it and patted his hand on the sofa beside him. She plopped down and pushed Qing Yuan a little to move over. She looked at him and suddenly she was stunned. Despite the smile on his face, his eyes were red. He looked like he was on the verge of crying.


    She turned to Mo Qingchen and saw nothing out of place. She could read the room though. There seemed to be¡­ fear.


    "What is this?" Mo Qingchen asked, scrunching his brow after taking a sip. She didn''t get a chance to ask him the real question.


    "Coffee," she told him.


    "I know that but what the hell is this taste?" he asked.


    Seeing his grimace, she chuckled. "It''s instant coffee," she admitted. He looked at her like she had committed a crime.


    Qing Yuan gave out a genuine chuckle. "Sis, I understand the poop coffee, but why instant coffee this time?" he asked.


    Qian Meng didn''t know how to answer.


    "Poop coffee?" Mo Qingchen asked. "God, that tastes awful. I bought a small packet years ago. I think it is still rotting in the pantry." He shuddered. "But really¡­ is this symbolic?" He was curious.

 Chapter 201: A Defiled Woman

    "It''s saying I don''t want to grind coffee beans after a tough day. I know you won''t mind, so I bought you instant coffee."


    Qing Yuan snickered. "She probably couldn''t stay away from brother-in-law for a long period of time."


    Everyone in the room could hear the strain in his voice.


    "We will leave after you have had the coffee, okay?" she said. "Qing Yuan, do you want to go with us?" It was an open offer.


    Qing Yuan jerked up. "Where?" he asked.


    "Our home," she said immediately. "You can stay in the guest bedroom."


    Mo Qingchen hummed. "If you want to stay with us and attend the wedding, you are welcome to come with us." Mo Qingchen''s voice was soft. While he stayed in their house, he could do an extensive background check on this boy. It was easier to keep an eye on him if he was under his rood.


    "Can I?" he asked.


    "Absolutely not!" Jiang Xin interjected. "Why would you¡ª"


    "Wait. You are living together?" Yun Sui Bo asked, horrified.


    "Yup!" Qian Meng chirped. "I am a defiled woman. No one else will take me anymore. Mo Qingchen is my only option now." It was meant as a joke but to Yun Sui Bo, this was the truth.


    "Have you lost your mind?" Yun Sui Bo asked.


    "She''s a grown woman, you can''t stop her¡­" Jiang Xin muttered. "But Qing Yuan, you can''t go." She gave him a stern look.


    "He''s an adult, too. He can do as he pleases," Yun Qian Meng told them firmly.


    Qing Yuan sighed. "Sis¡­ it''s okay. I''ll¡­ I''ll stay here. Can I come later¡­ if I change my mind?" he asked. His eyes held unshed tears.


    "Absolutely," Qian Meng said immediately.


    "Yes," Mo Qingchen said at the same time. He put down the mug of finished coffee. "Done," he said quietly.


    "Okay, let''s go!" Qian Meng responded. "You sure you don''t want to see our house? It''s very pretty." Qian Meng patted on Qing Yuan''s shoulder.


    "I''ll visit," Qing Yuan responded. "I''ll walk you out," he said suddenly, standing up.


    The other two followed.


    "Wait!" Chen Yue protested. "What about me?" she asked. "What about my son?"


    Qian Meng sighed. "If you had paid attention to what was actually happening, you wouldn''t have come here," she started. "If you don''t make a fuss, you''ll live in relative luxury all your life, your son included."


    "Why did you do this?" she cried, grabbing onto Qian Meng''s hand.


    Qian Meng didn''t know how to answer the question. "I don''t attack first. This happened because all of you tried to ruin me. I won''t stand by and watch it happen," she swore.


    She looked at Mo Qingchen for support. He extended his hand to her and pulled her to the exit.


    "Brother-in-law!" they heard from behind them. They turned and saw Qing Yuan hot on their heels. He extended his hand. "I¡­ thank you." He finally said.


    "For what?" Mo Qingchen asked dispassionately.


    "For¡­ convincing Sis."


    Mo Qingchen raised his brow.


    "I am rooting for the two of you!" he chirped before jogging back into the room.


    The couple blinked. As they made their way to the house, Mo Qingchen finally asked her what the young man had meant.


    "He showed me your picture a while back, telling me that we would be the perfect match," she smiled. "I told him that it would never happen."


    "He has good taste," Mo Qingchen said quietly.


    "Indeed, he does," she repeated. "If only our parents weren''t this way¡­" She could only sigh.


    Mo Qingchen glanced towards her multiple times and wondered if she was happy. Would it have been better if the Yun family had given their blessings? Would Yun Qian Meng back away now?


    All the worries poured into his mind. But by the time they were back home and she was snuggled in his arms, he forgot about it.


    This woman was resolute. Once she had decided on something, she wouldn''t look back. He closed his eyes and felt his muscles relax. His breathing evened out, and he didn''t have any dreams.


    That was the best result.


    - - - - -


    Bai Ye Qing slammed the door of his car shut when he got out in front of the gated apartment complex. This car had cost a lot of money, but because of Yun Qian Meng, he had to repair everything. The car dealership shrugged off anyone who couldn''t pay the millions needed to repair the car. He had given the car to one of the smaller shops to salvage what they could. The leather in the interior had been changed to cheap material. The dents had been taken out, but the paint job wasn''t stellar.


    He wanted to scream just at the thought of it.


    He brushed past the guards and sprinted to his apartment. Once inside, he pulled out his cellphone and sent all the pictures to Jiang Hanyu.


    The call came in shortly after. "Cousin, what did you send me?" he asked, panic lacing his words.


    "Look at the papers and tell me how I can overturn it. I need my hands on the shares, understood?" he growled.


    There was silence on the other side. "Cousin, please don''t involve me in this matter. Since the Venus fiasco, I have been having a hard time at the office," Jiang Hanyu''s voice shook.


    "Well, it''s your fault for not covering your bases. Did you have to be stupid?" Bai Ye Qing claimed. "You didn''t even think of the consequences of signing that agreement. My life went downhill from there," he groaned.


    Jiang Hanyu startled. "Cousin, this¡­ this is your father''s shares. Why do you want it?" he whispered.


    "Stop asking questions and do as you are told."


    Jiang Hanyu shook. "Please. Get yourself a lawyer who can help. I can''t do anything about this!" he claimed.


    "Just look at the file and tell me!"


    Jiang Hanyu gulped. He fumbled as he looked over the papers. "Whoever wrote this contract was careful. It clearly states that it can''t be reversed. The returns are very amicable too." He sighed. "Stop thinking about this matter, cousin. It''s irreversible."

 Chapter 202: Memories of a Murder Part 1

    Bai Ye Qing screamed in frustration. "You can''t do one thing right! Did you even see the will I sent you? See what it says, you moron," he hissed.


    Jiang Hanyu gasped. "The will?" he stuttered. "Cousin!"


    "Shut up and look through it."


    Jiang Hanyu braced his heart and read through it. "I am not good with wills but everything will go to your mother and you after Uncle Bai passes away. It''s equal share."


    As he expected. "Good. Don''t run your mouth, understood?" he gritted through his teeth. He hung up the phone and sighed.


    Okay, there seemed to be only one way. This Jiang Hanyu was a chicken and he would never rat on Bai Ye Qing. Since young, he had blindly followed Bai Ye Qing. The only difference was, he was a good student. Top of his class and all that jazz, so he did some good and got into a big company.


    Bai Ye Qing plopped down on the bed and thought about what he would do.


    Last time, there had been a little hitch with the plan and he hadn''t completed it perfectly, but this time, he had to do it properly.


    He remembered the conversation with his brother that led to it, he did so perfectly. How could he not? The thorn in his eye had held back no punches to reprimand him.


    "Did you take money from the shareholders to push contracts?" Bai Wenxi asked. He had called Bai Ye Qing into his office and closed the blinders so that no one could see what was happening.


    "Bro, what do you mean?" Bai Ye Qing asked, his perfect little brother fa?ade in place.


    "Ye Qing, I don''t know if you don''t understand or you are pretending, but it is not legal to take bribes when you are in a position of authority in the company," Wenxi explained.


    "Bro, I really didn''t take anything from anyone. Why would you say that?" he whispered.


    Wenxi shook his head. "People are complaining about you. Marketing and Sales team 1 is bothered by your conduct."


    Stupid employees, they didn''t know when to keep their mouths shut. Bai Ye Qing''s jaw clicked.


    "I didn''t put pressure on them, I swear!" he said.


    Wenxi nodded. "You might not think it is pressure, but they are regular employees. You are the Chairman''s son and my brother. We have absolute power in the company. There is nothing wrong with what you do in everyone''s eyes. So, they could only come to me to report."


    He was silent.


    Bai Ye Qing could see that his brother was angry but holding back harsher words on his account. He knew the reputation his brother had. Wenxi was everything that he wasn''t. He was hard on the employees but fair. He didn''t punish or reward differently.


    If he were a king in ancient times, the people would praise him for being a good ruler.


    "I really didn''t¡­" Bai Ye Qing whispered.


    "I will have to reprimand you for this. It''s a good thing that the contracts have not gone through yet. I will talk to the shareholders and make them back off." He stared at Bai Ye Qing. "As for you. You will be suspended for taking bribes without leave. This month''s salary will also be deducted from your account. I will let the accounts department know." Wenxi didn''t even blink at the punishment.


    "If you suspend me, everyone will know. Please!" Bai Ye Qing pleaded. Those people from marketing and sales team 1 would know exactly what got him suspended and the gossip would spread. He would have no pride to speak of after that. And the salary cut? He couldn''t afford it.


    He still had to pay off that dreaded man from the casino. Moreover, the shareholders¡­ there were bound contracts he had signed for that. If he went back on his words, there would be no way they would back him afterward. He would have to stand back and watch as his father gave everything to his elder brother.


    "No!" Bai Ye Qing said again. "Brother. I will tell the shareholders off. I will give back the money they gave me. It wasn''t a bribe, I promise!"


    He would do everything in his power to make sure he wasn''t discredited.


    "You think those old men will let you off?" Wenxi asked. "You''ve just joined the workforce and you already did a mistake of this magnitude." Wenxi''s anger was slowly revealing itself. He was clearly pissed and he didn''t want to shout at his brother.


    "I¡ªI¡­" Bai Ye Qing trailed off, not knowing what to say in the situation.


    "Go home," Wenxi ordered. "Your suspension letter will be processed by HR," he said.


    Ye Qing stared at his brother for a minute. "Is there anything I can do to¡­"


    "No," Wenxi said immediately. "I am already going against my morals to only suspend you. Ideally, I would have to terminate your employment and call the police. Do you understand?" he said.


    Bai Ye Qing couldn''t nod. "Then why didn''t you?" he challenged.


    Wenxi''s eyes widened. "You¡­" he trailed off. "I don''t want mother and father to know. Especially mother, she has been happy recently because you are busy with work. But if you¡­ if you get caught for this¡­" Wenxi shook his head.


    ''Forever the filial son,'' Bai Ye Qing cursed in his thoughts.


    "You''re such a good son," he found himself saying. "I''ll see myself out," he said quickly and stood up.


    Wenxi''s phone rang and he picked it up. "Yes, Chairman," he said immediately. "Yes, I will be there immediately."


    Wenxi eyed Bai Ye Qing. When he hung up, he looked at Bai Ye Qing with a question. "Why are you standing there? I have a meeting to attend, work until the end of the day, and don''t come to work tomorrow, understood?" he said. "Apply for an extended sick leave. I will approve it."


    Bai Wenxi took his jacket over his arm and went out of the room after seeing him off.

 Chapter 203: Memories of A Murder Part 2

    Bai Ye Qing hung around the corridors, listening to gossip and finally realized why his father had called. Bai Yu worked hard and rarely called his family. Except for dinner where nothing about business was discussed, Bai Ye Qing rarely received a call from his father. About work, at that.


    It was no meeting. All the higher-ups were in a meeting, questioning Bai Wenxi. It was somewhat of a trial before the jury decided if Wenxi would be confirmed as the executive authority in the company.


    Bai Ye Qing''s heart dropped to his stomach. There had been no talk of this before. Or had he not paid attention while the others spoke.


    He could feel the eyes of the others and the whispers. He could imagine them saying that he was the useless son who got nothing while his elder brother worked hard and got such a high position despite being so young.


    Yes, his hard-working brother. Working days on end, sometimes not coming home. Only sleeping on the weekends.


    He clenched his fist together and locked himself in his office. The phone call from Jia Ai came in the perfect moment.


    "Baby, what are you doing?" she asked in that sweet and innocent voice of hers.


    Bai Ye Qing cleared his throat. "In my office," he said gruffly.


    "I am on my lunch break. This new department is so hard to work for," she sighed. "Patients are always screaming and demanding," she said.


    Bai Ye Qing scrunched up his brow and wondered why he needed to listen to this nonsense. He had enough on his mind to begin with but now he also needed to listen to this woman ramble about how hard her professional life was.


    He hummed now and then, never really paying attention until the golden question was asked.


    "Is something wrong?" she asked.


    Bai Ye Qing finally relaxed and he went into a play by play of what happened, keeping behind some of the details that made him look bad. But overall, the story stood like this: his brother was evil and didn''t want him to do well in life because he wanted full control of the company. Now, he was in a meeting that would put him in ultimate authority while Bai Ye Qing would be thrown out of the company.


    Jia Ai sucked in a breath. "Does this mean¡­ you won''t have a job?" she asked. "What if he tells your father?" she said.


    "He said he wouldn''t. But maybe his just heart will waver," he snorted.


    "Can''t you convince him otherwise?" she asked. "He''s your older brother. He wouldn''t want to ruin you, would he?"


    Bai Ye Qing thought about it. "What he is willing to do will ruin me in the end. If he throws me out, I won''t be able to raise my head in the company or to people I know from this moment on." He gripped the paperweight tightly in his hand.


    "And you can''t convince him?" she asked again.


    He thought about it for a second. "He''s a goody two shoes. He will never waver. I can only stop him from doing it today," he said softly. He wondered if the email to HR would be sent out the moment he came out.


    There was a way.


    "You¡­ I''ll call you later."


    And the plan went like this: suddenly, highly inflammable products caught on fire. Bai Wenxi spent rest of the day and the better part of the next few days on-site, trying to figure out what to do. There was a massive loss in this case.


    Bai Ye Qing studied how to kill without being detected. He was considered an expert at the end of the first day. He called Jia Ai and told her that he needed a muscle relaxant. A powerful muscle relaxant.


    She didn''t ask him much and he didn''t say anything either. There was a tacit understanding in this scenario.


    The fire was stopped and his brother finally came home after a few days. In the dead of the night, Bai Ye Qing slid into the room. His brother never locked his door, so it was an easy task. His brother was on the bed, sleeping soundly while the laptop screen was illuminated.


    The shot was given. Enough to slowly stop the heart. Wenxi wouldn''t wake up.


    Bai Ye Qing''s eyes flickered to the screen and he saw the proposal his brother was working on. It was damage control. His eyes glittered as he sprinted to his room and brought his pendrive. The file was transferred to his device and as his brother took his last breath, Bai Ye Qing sat in his room, excited for what the future would hold.


    At this time, Yun Qian Meng was at the back of his mind. He hadn''t really known about the matter.


    The next morning when Bai Wenxi didn''t come down, his mother went to look. He was dead but still taken to the hospital.


    The doctors said his heart¡­ just stopped beating. There was no suspicion. No one had broken into the home, the family was a close-knit unit, and the police dismissed the matter. Things like this happened every day and doctors knew that.


    No one demanded an autopsy. Bai Ye Qing tried to persuade his family to cremate his brother''s body, but his father wanted a physical spot he could visit his elder son. Bai Wenxi was buried.


    The father who never paid attention to him visited the grave every weekend. Usually alone.


    Bai Ye Qing snapped out of his reminiscence. He only had one option.


    He called Jia Ai. "Baby, do you have a minute to talk?" he asked. It was late in the night already and Jia Ai was on night shift.


    "I have a few moments. I am at the nurse station. Why?" she asked.


    Bai Ye Qing heard giggling and teasing in the background. Everyone was asking Jia Ai if it was her boyfriend. This woman... prematurely flaunting her relationship...

 Chapter 204: Away From Prying Eyes

    "Mm. Remember that medicine I asked you to bring home before?" he asked quietly.


    "Which one?" she responded. To an onlooker, they were talking about something banal, but to those that knew, it was evident that Bai Ye Qing used Jia Ai as an outlet to get drugs. She had access to all these highly addictive drugs. And god knows what he was doing with them.


    "The relaxant," he informed her. "Could you bring me one?" He used Jia Ai as a free store for all medication.


    She quietened down. "Sure. But when do you want it?" Her voice was level despite being in the company of others.


    "I''ll come over when you have it. Can you give it to me tonight?"


    "Why do you need it?" It wasn''t that she needed to know. She was more curious. He usually asked her to bring painkillers and things of that nature. The only other time he had asked for it¡­ "Did something happen at home?"


    Bai Ye Qing sighed. "You don''t need to know why I need it." It was possible deniability if they were found out. It was highly flattering that he didn''t want her to be caught. Some would call it love, others would see it for what it is. She was his supplier and if someone caught on to what she was doing, his outlet would be lost.


    Maybe he loved her because of what she brought to the table. Mostly undetectable murder weapons. Who would not love her?


    "My father expelled me from the company and sold it," he told her shortly.


    She sucked in a panicked breath. "I have a break in three hours," she told him reassuringly. "Don''t worry about it. Just meet me and then get a good night''s sleep."


    The others around her looked at her curiously. When she hung up, her colleagues asked her what was wrong.


    "My boyfriend is having a hard time at work. He feels better when he sees me, so he wants to drop by," she chuckled nervously.


    The others shrugged, not worrying about it.


    The hours ticked by and finally, the call came in. "I am in the parking lot," he whispered.


    She told everyone she was going on break. She hit the packet of syringe and medicine under her clothes and walked out of the exit. Once in the parking lot, she looked around to find him. In the dead of the night, this parking lot was eerie. She feared being here. One never knew what could happen.


    But the most nefarious deal tonight was the one she was making. She spotted Bai Ye Qing leaning against his car, parked in the darkest corner of the parking lot, away from the prying eyes of anyone who would pass.


    She looked around nervously and when she saw no signs of life around her, she trotted over to him.


    "Are you sure about this?" she asked slowly. She pulled the hem of her shirt up and tugged at the paper bag tucked into the elastic of her pant. "I got it for you. But do you want to rethink this?" she asked.


    Her voice was neither low nor loud.


    But to the man sitting in the passenger seat of the car parked in the opposite lane, the voice could be heard. He was leaning back into the seat so that the two could not see him. Moreover, his dashboard camera was working perfectly, picking up the interaction.


    He opened the window and perked his ear to listen to the conversation.


    "Just give it to me," Bai Ye Qing growled. He snatched the packet from her and got in. Once inside, he rolled down his window. "I''ll call you tomorrow," he said gruffly.


    She watched as he pulled out the car from the parking space. She slowly walked back towards the lighted path, wondering what this would change in her life.


    She was already inside the hospital when someone approached her.


    "Excuse me," the man said. She looked up and put on her best smile, ready to assist the man in case he was a patient or someone''s guarding.


    "Yes, do you need help?" she asked politely.


    "Yes, I would like to ask you some questions," he told her slowly. He pulled out his badge and showed it to her. Her eyes flickered to it and her guilty conscience made her go stiff with panic.


    "Me?" she squeaked.


    "We are investigating someone and we need your cooperation in the matter," the officer informed her.


    She looked around to see if anyone was watching and shook her head. "I know that the bad guys come with fake badges all the time. I''m sorry, I won''t speak to you," she said quickly.


    The officer, who was dressed plainly tilted his head to the side. "If you want someone in police uniform to come and escort you to the police station, I will call them in," he said slowly.


    He watched as she panicked and then nodded. She had weighed in her options. Whatever they wanted to talk to her about, she would answer them. "Bring in the cops in uniform. I won''t just look at the badge and go with you," she told him.


    The officer nodded. "Ma''am, you watch too much television," he told her. He kept an eye on her as he called the police officers in. On the other hand, the man in the car had shifted into the driver''s seat and followed Bai Ye Qing back to the apartment complex. He waited patiently for the person to move but he didn''t. The light in his apartment went off.


    Jia Ai was taken into the police station and questioned.


    She was forthcoming, to say the least. She didn''t work well under pressure. She told them about Bai Ye Qing asked for drugs.


    "What did you give him today?" the officer asked.


    "He¡­ he asked for a muscle relaxant." She gave a name. The officer controlled his horror and nodded.

 Chapter 205: Cooperation and a Tainted Reputation

    "Do you know what it is used for?" he asked.


    She explained in detail, leaving out any knowledge of what Bai Ye Qing could need it for.


    "Why did you give him these drugs?" he asked. He saw as Jia Ai''s eyes shifted as she looked for an explanation.


    "I¡­ you know¡­ he¡­ has a way with women. He forces them to do stuff," she said quietly. Yes, this was a claim made against him by Yun Qian Meng and Mo Yize. She knew this clearly.


    If Bai Ye Qing was going down, she was not going to follow him. Yes, she loved him, but not enough to go to jail for him.


    "Oh." It was clear that the officer didn''t believe her. But he gave her the benefit of the doubt. "What do you think Bai Ye Qing will use it for?"


    "I don''t know¡­" she whispered. He watched the officer closely.


    "Has he asked you for this drug before?" She remained silent. "If we find out that he has and you are hiding it from us, you will be charged with obstruction of justice and misleading the police. There is jailtime for it," the officer told her helpfully.


    Facing such incriminating charges, she didn''t hold back. She could deny most of it because Bai Ye Qing had never told her what this medicine was for.


    "He did," she said finally. "About a year or so ago, he asked me for the medicine," she admitted.


    "And you never asked him what it was for?" the officer asked incredulously. "You know what will happen if you lie," he warned.


    She clammed up for a second. "He never told me anything. He shouted at me if I tried to ask. I just¡­ don''t know. I suspected something, but I never had the courage to speak up." Tears squeezed out of her eyes and the officer watched, bemused.


    "What did you suspect?" he asked.


    "His¡­ brother passed away shortly after," she said. "His heart stopped beating." And she cried her eyes out.


    "And what do you suspect?" the officer asked.


    "I think he injected his brother with a lethal dose," she admitted. "But I don''t know," she amended quickly.


    The officer nodded. He tried a variety of questions but nothing stuck. In the end, he didn''t have enough evidence to arrest Bai Ye Qing. He could only continue to tail the man.


    On the other hand, this Jia Ai was an interesting character. She denied knowing everything. But he couldn''t allow her to go out and tell Bai Ye Qing that he was being watched or that someone suspected him of foul play.


    So, she was warned and sent back. Only for the short run.


    So, the officers in charge really thought about it. They were suspicious of one murder and another one being attempted but none of the files they had would lead to a conviction.


    Then¡­ there was only one way.


    The officer sighed.


    "We will call Bai Yu secretly and talk to him," he announced. Everyone was happy with the plan.


    Talk to Bai Yu and Chen Yue. Get them wired for interactions. They would figure out who was the bait and who Bai Ye Qing spoke freely to. After that, they could slowly build a case against this man.


    He had gambling, debts, extortion, drug abuse, drug trafficking, and a hundred others charges they were investigating him for. Once they had enough evidence, they could put him behind the bar for the rest of his life.


    The officer called the one who was tailing Bai Ye Qing. "What is his location?" he asked.


    "He is in the apartment. I have not seen any movement yet. It looks like he has hit the bed for the night. Should I come back?" he asked.


    The officer quickly responded. "No. He has lethal medicine on his hand. He is waiting to use it. We can''t leave him alone even for a second. Stay on his tail at all cost. I''ll send someone else to accompany you."


    "Understood, Boss," the other said before hanging up. With the sandwich in his hand, he kept his eyes trained in front of him. He kept watching to make sure nothing was amiss.


    The night passed without worries. Even Jia Ai, who was supposed to come home didn''t return.


    When Bai Ye Qing called her in the morning, she picked up after a long time.


    "Why didn''t you come back?" he asked.


    Jia Ai contemplated if she should tell him anything before the warning played over in her mind. She gulped and steeled her heart. She couldn''t go to jail.


    "Oh, a colleague fell sick. I just picked up her shift. I don''t know when I will be back," she said softly.


    Bai Ye Qing sensed something was amiss. "I told you not to think about it too deeply. There is nothing wrong, understood?" he assured her.


    She hummed, though her voice was still strained but didn''t say anything further.


    "I''ll meet you in a few days. It''s going to be hectic. Don''t call me unnecessarily."


    "Okay," she responded immediately.


    She turned to look and found a man glancing at her. They had placed someone beside her in the name of protecting her from harm, but really, they were making sure she didn''t talk to Bai Ye Qing or act suspiciously.


    She understood this.


    The people around her kept their distance, sensing that something was amiss with Jia Ai and her situation. Some asked if she needed help with trouble, others who disliked her just assumed she had made trouble for herself.


    Her reputation was now tainted. But at least she was not going to jail. That was all she had to thank for. Even if Bai Ye Qing remained free, he wouldn''t know she had tattled on him. He would still be with her. If he did get locked up, she wouldn''t be ruined with him. Life would be harder without the extra money, but not as hard as living in jail for a considerable amount of time.


    She shuddered to think.


    Cooperate. She would cooperate.

 Chapter 206: Another Person to Talk to

    The police came knocking on Bai Yu''s door the next morning. They had secured Bai Ye Qing''s location and knew for a fact that he hadn''t left the premises.


    The door was actually opened by Chen Yue, who looked on in confusion as two uniformed police officers asked to see her husband.


    "Is something wrong?" she asked resolutely even though worry seeped into her voice.


    "We wish to speak to Mr. Bai Yu. Is he home?" one of the officers asked.


    "He is. Is this something important? Did he do something wrong?" she asked. She was sure that wouldn''t be the case. Bai Yu had always followed the rules. But what else could this be about? Maybe something related to a friend?


    "This is confidential information, ma''am. We just want to talk to your husband." The officers were the pictures of calm.


    She nodded, her worry mounting. "Yu!" she called over her shoulder.


    A gruff-looking Bai Yu slowly made his way down the stairs and looked at the officers at the door. There was panic in his eye as he rushed forward.


    "Did he hurt someone?" he said instantly.


    The officer startled and they glanced at each other before shaking their head.


    "Sir, this is about an urgent matter. Would you mind following us?" he asked.


    Bai Yu nodded. "Do I need to sit in the police car or can I drive to the station myself?" he enquired.


    "Your car is fine," the officer said quietly. He glanced towards the nervous Chen Yue and addressed her finally. "Ma''am, if you could follow us, that would be great," he said after a thought.


    Chen Yue looked between the three men standing in front of her, hysteria getting the better of her.


    "What is this about? I don''t want to go!" she raised her voice.


    The officers realized that this matter would be hard. Getting the parents in on a sting was difficult, which was why they needed to talk to them individually to evaluate if they wouldn''t give out the mission.


    Jia Ai had been a complete dud because she wanted to save herself and keep her face in front of her boyfriend. But these two¡­ they needed to be spoken to.


    Bai Yu turned to her. "Don''t make a fuss. If the officers say that it is an urgent matter, we should get going. Don''t run away with your thoughts," he grumbled.


    Even in his home clothes, he was ready to personally drive to the station. This matter was not something to advertise to the community. They would soon know but making people know before something happened was a bad trick.


    He pulled Chen Yue along and put her inside the car.


    Just as he was about to take the driver''s seat, he saw Chen Yue pulling her cellphone out to call someone. He leaped at her and took it out of her grasp.


    "What do you think you are doing?" he hissed.


    "I just wanted to call¡ª" he interrupted her.


    "Ye Qing?" he asked. Chen Yue couldn''t even nod. "Don''t even think about it. This is serious police business. Don''t you know talking about such matters can get you jailed?" he told her quietly, his anger thinly veiled. "Telling your son everything isn''t good. He left the house himself; he doesn''t need to know about the people living in it, then."


    He kept the phone in his lap until he was seated before switching it off. "I''ll keep this until we know what the police want to talk to us about. They already said this was a confidential matter and we were not allowed to speak."


    Chen Yue quietened down. As Bai Yu drove behind the police car, she had to speak up. "Were you seriously asking us to amicably separate?" she asked.


    He hummed.


    "Do you find it unbearable to live with me?"


    He didn''t respond. "You will come to realize that in old age, sleeping alone is better. You won''t have to wake up because I have bad sleeping habits or don''t turn off the lights until late. You''ll find serenity in living alone. You need to find your own world apart from your son," he told her firmly.


    "You''re scaring me¡­" she trailed off.


    Bai Yu sighed. "Whatever the police tell you, you are not allowed to speak of it to others. Not even your son or your family members."


    Chen Yue nodded. "I understand," she responded immediately. "What do you think this is about?"


    "I don''t know," he responded shortly. "I already called my lawyer in, he will be at the station for both of us. Listen to him well and don''t talk out of turn," he said as they pulled into the station.


    They were led into the interview rooms where both of them spoke about their son and what they knew. Bai Yu was transparent, telling them everything he knew and what he suspected his son had done.


    The officer pursed his lips. "We have been tailing your son for some unrelated matters and found him receiving drugs."


    Bai Yu nodded. "Yes, I have heard that he has a drug problem. How bad is it?" he asked.


    "Sir, these are not medications to get high on. This medication can lead to death if administered wrong."


    Bai Yu became silent.


    "But it looks like you knew something of this sort."


    He nodded. "Due to some personal and professional events, my son was forced to leave the company. As such, he has two potential targets. One of whom is me," he stated clearly. There was not a shred of fear in his voice.


    The officer watched him closely. "Who is the other person? Do they know they are in bodily harm?" he asked.


    "It''s Miss Yun¡­ The CEO of Venus. She is the one who asked me to be on my guard."


    The officer stiffened. This had suddenly turned graver than before. "Miss Yun Qian Meng? She knows of this matter?" he asked.


    Now, they had another person to talk to.

 Chapter 207: Rise and Shine, Hubby! *

    [Warning: You reap what you sow. Yun Qian Meng''s time to show off has come! Beware... it will get steamy!]


    "Yes, I think you should call her in. Bai Ye Qing almost hit her in front of a bunch of people. I am sure she wouldn''t tell the police because the girl respects me." He sighed.


    "Bodily harm¡­" the officer trailed off. "It seems we will need to call her too." He seemed reluctant but he had no other option.


    "You can call her over the phone. She has been installed as my legal guardian in case of my demise or during a medical emergency," he said quietly.


    The officer could only nod. What a complicated life these rich lived. They couldn''t even trust their own family to be safe and take the decision in the person''s best interest. They had to find someone from outside to do it.


    "Do you have her number?" he asked.


    "I do," he said.


    The call was made and the officer returned after a while. "Miss Yun has asked for people with uniformed police to go to her house. She has sent us the address as well. Thank you for your time. Please stay behind, we will need your assistance."


    The officer came out of the room and clutched his hair.


    "Boss, is it bad?" the other asked.


    "It''s rich people''s business. Don''t leak even a word. The viral incident about billionaires? It has come to some pretty serious criminal consequences," the officer sighed.


    The younger officer looked on in horror. "Boss, do we need to speak to the higher-ups?"


    The officer shook his head. "It was the higher-ups pushing in favor of a conviction being made. We need to solve this cleanly or our necks will be on the line!" the officer exclaimed.


    - - - - -


    An hour earlier. Mo Qingchen''s House.


    Yun Qian Meng awoke a lot earlier than usual. The heat of Mo Qingchen''s body was making her sweat. She looked over and saw him groaning as she extricated herself from his grip. He had gone to sleep a lot later than her and it was still their day off.


    She looked down at him sprawled on the bed and thought back to last morning. She had woken up to the best sensation in the world. Last night, she had given him a taste of blue balls, but now¡­ she had to repay his kindness in the morning.


    It was only fair.


    She considered brushing her teeth before she began but realized belatedly that it was of no use. If it went according to plan, she would need to brush her teeth afterward¡­ again.


    Better be efficient.


    She looked down at herself. She just needed to shimmy off the trousers and she would be in perfect attire. She looked at her wild hair in the mirror and after thinking it satisfactory, made her way over to Mo Qingchen.


    She crawled onto the bed and straddled him. In her panties and top, she squirmed on his member through his slacks. It was early in the morning and his wood was prominent. It throbbed at the heat of her body.


    She could hear Mo Qingchen''s soft breathing in the room and it grew heavier.


    As she ground against his member, she took a hold of his wrists and guided them up and placed them over his head. He groaned in half-sleep and looked up at her through bleary eyes.


    A lazy smile spread across his face and Qian Meng knew he thought this was a dream.


    "Rise and shine, hubby!" she exclaimed. Even though her voice was low, it was full of coquetry.


    He slowly awakened and then he was staring at her.


    "Qian Meng?" he asked dubiously, his voice still thick with sleep.


    She ground against him with intent and the resulting groan was evidence that she was a master at what she was doing. "Who else?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen looked down at where she was seated. The sight of her spread thighs rubbing over him made him think he was going to cum. He couldn''t look away.


    "Mind letting my hands go?" he asked after he gulped down his saliva. His throat was too dry.


    She obliged but guided his hand to where she wanted it. His palms crawled under her top and he shuddered when there were filled with the soft flesh of her breasts. He gave another low groan as her rock-hard nipples scraped across her palm.


    He squeezed and molded the flesh, teasing her nipples with his thumbs and fingers. Qian Meng let out a soft gasp and her body shuddered as he worked her breast.


    Qian Meng had to shake herself out. This was about making him feel good. How did she get into it so much? She knew he liked her breasts immensely, but she was supposed to help.


    Her eyes stared back at him and all he could do was wait for her next move.


    She rose off his thigh and bent forward, her face only inches from his. He felt the warm air caress his lips. Mo Qingchen ached to just lean forward and kiss her.


    Mo Qingchen felt her hand at his waist. Like a professional, she neatly moved him to rid him of it. Mo Qingchen knew that his cock was now prominent through his boxers but he couldn''t look away from her eyes.


    She slowly began sinking down and his brain stopped working. There was no way to describe the lust crashing through him.


    Her lips moved and she said a word that he couldn''t decipher. And then liquid heat descended on his clothed cock. Mo Qingchen heard a long and deep groan and belatedly realized that it was him.


    It was matched by a sift sigh as Qian Meng adjusted herself on his lap. The whole move took a few seconds, but everything seemed to be in slow motion. Mo Qingchen felt every sensation deep in his bones.


    She pulled off her shirt and descended, her hard nipples brushed against his t-shirt. She began gently rocking to some unheard music and his cock throbbed as the heat permeated through him.

 Chapter 208: The Mess in His Pants *

    [Warning: Hot, steamy stuff from the last chapter continues. Skip a bit to read the progress on the case!]


    He felt her pull his boxers down and didn''t make a sound. "Just feel," she said. Mo Qingchen looked up and saw her push his t-shirt up. He was about to lift his body up to help her but she pushed him down. The shirt caught in his arms but covered his face and eyes.


    "You can breathe, right?" she asked gently.


    He nodded enthusiastically, wondering where this idea had come into her mind.


    He felt her shift but didn''t think much of it. In the next moment, his cock throbbed as a moist heat slid up and down his length. He couldn''t see, but he could hear her giggle.


    Qian Meng just wanted to feel it against her. Nothing more. But the shock of her wet heat had sent a wave of pleasure through her.


    It hit Mo Qingchen had her pussy was not only pressed against his cock but that it was wetting his length. He started to lift his hands and then hesitated.


    "You can," she told him. Given the green light, Mo Qingchen rested his hands on the cheeks of her ass. She could feel them tense and relax as she continued to rock forward. All the while, her finger brushed over the hard nubs.


    Mo Qingchen shuddered as she pressed her breasts into him.


    Her body still gyrated, but now she leaned more into him. Their bodies molded together, her hot breath on his neck as he clung to her.


    Mo Qingchen was losing it¡­ and fast. He was a grown man and this woman was going to make him lose it in record time. Instead of stopping the sensations, he pulled her closer as those breasts mashed against his bare chest.


    Qian Meng did a strange swirl of her hips and he felt the warm and moist lips wrap around the head of his cock. That was his limit. He gave a grunt and his hips jerked.


    Qian Meng smiled as she did one final swipe. But her own pleasure caught her off guard. She moaned softly into his ear as she twitched. The wetness pooled over his cock, mixing with his cum.


    Despite the impromptu blindfold, he cradled her as they both came down. When she finally lifted away from him, he pulled the shirt down. Without a word, she pulled the panties into place and turned to move away.


    Just as she was about to disappear into the bathroom, she gracefully turned back. With a sultry smile, she blew him a kiss and slipped through the door.


    He just lay there, the mixture of their fluids cooling on his member. He pulled his clothes into place and sat on the bed until she returned.


    He ignored the sticky mess in his pants as he walked into the bathroom. He gave her a glare but she felt no heat from it. He was satiated and she felt overly happy about it.


    But that was the extent of her courage. Her heart throbbed in her chest. The moment she pulled her panties aside, fear had gripped her heart. She had planned it when she put the shirt over his eyes but actually doing it made her scared.


    He hadn''t seen all of her. That was all she could say. She took in a deep breath as she tried to calm herself down.


    Neither slept after that. Instead, they had breakfast. But the call came then. They claimed to be the police. Something about Bai Ye Qing.


    She got their information, including their badge number and what they wanted. Still, she asked for uniformed police to be sent to their address.


    "What is it?" Mo Qingchen asked before he bit into a toast.


    "I think the police have a lead on Bai Ye Qing''s case. They wanted an interview. I told them to come in uniforms and badges," she shrugged.


    "Do you want me to accompany you there?" he asked softly. "Me being there would push things along faster." He arched his brow.


    "Yes, yes. Almighty Mr. Mo. I don''t need the help, though. I think they are talking to people who are related. You are not related in that sense, so¡­ just take rest at home." He kissed his cheek, the butter on her lips spreading over it.


    He grumbled a little but didn''t protest too much. She snickered and went back to breakfast.


    The police did come.


    "There goes my off day," Qian Meng joked. She took the car, leaving Mo Qingchen wondering what was going to happen. Qian Meng had already called that lawyer, Li Jun. He could handle everything, so he shouldn''t be worried in the least.


    Instead, he focused on work. He had known Qian Meng would be home today on a break and didn''t want her to feel lonely. She had only stayed when he was around. Leaving her unattended and uncomfortable wasn''t something he wished.


    Now that she was gone, he could go to his study and finish up some work.


    He went into the office, not expecting anything grand to happen at that time.


    - - - - -


    In the police station.


    Qian Meng had arrived and the police had taken her statement. She had given them everything she had, including the threatening voice messages he had left.


    "So, would you like to wear a wire in case he comes to your location?" the officer asked.


    Qian Meng blinked. "I don''t mind wearing it but I have a lot of sensitive business conversations," she admitted. Li Jun moved in his seat.


    "Usually, the police ask to wear a wire to those who can have free conversations with the suspects. Why are you placing a wire on my client?" he asked seriously.


    The officer frowned. "Actually, of the people who could have a frank conversation with him, none are suitable. The suspect''s mother refuses to cooperate. The girlfriend is a wild strand that we can''t trust. From the information we have, we can only trust Bai Ye Qing''s prospective victims to help us catch him."


    Qian Meng frowned. "But this means letting him near me, right?" Qian Meng asked. This idea would not float well with Mo Qingchen. Even she was unappeased with the idea. She was a risk-taker, but not when it came to her life.

 Chapter 209: Responsible for Executing His Will

    "Yes, we have already got the confirmation from Mr. Bai Yu. We just want to cover our bases," the officer announced. "As such, officers will be listening in on the conversation and following you at all times so that your safety is not compromised."


    He looked at her emphatically.


    "Can you tell me a bit about the procedure?" she asked. "I will consider my options after I am knowledgeable in the matter. What are the legal bounds of eavesdropping on someone and recording a conversation without their explicit consent?"


    Actually, Li Jun wanted to know too. "Yes, has the court order been issued? What are the dates on which it is valid? I want to know in detail. I don''t want my client dragged into a violent situation without confirmation on the legality and surety that something good will come from this." His words left no space for tardiness.


    The officer nodded in understanding. "In order for the police to wire Miss Yun, we need to secure a warrant that would allow us to break that is known as the two-party consent rule," he began. "The law requires all people involved in a recording to be informed of and consent to their being recorded," he further explained.


    "And¡­ what is the status on the warrant?" Li Jun asked, taking control.


    "We had to jump through a lot of hoops but we got a judge on standby. Once we have your verbal consent to participate, the warrant will be drawn up."


    Li Jun pursed his lips. "As for the right language for the warrant, that has been settled?" he asked.


    The officer nodded. "The prosecutor looked over the draft himself. We cannot reveal the contents as it is a matter of government confidentiality." He paused. "But you will be meeting with the federal authorities and city police for this matter. The agencies will coordinate to plan the operation."


    Qian Meng nodded.


    "Further, we will discuss all the different contingency plans in place and the what-ifs, so it will take a lot of time to work through all of that," the officer said.


    Qian Meng took ten minutes to talk to Li Jun personally, but she already knew she would be signing on those consent forms. But she was astute in signing documents. Once she was clear on the risks, she spoke to the officer again.


    "I''ll do it," she said softly.


    The officer grinned. She was led into a bigger room. Qian Meng saw Bai Yu and his lawyer already seated inside.


    The officers on the case were also present.


    Both Bai Yu and Qian Meng were briefed on the plan. They signed the consent forms before the police placed recording devices on their bodies.


    They even placed GSP trackers in the trunk of their cars.


    "If you say the codeword, we will rush in."


    "Good to know," Qian Meng said under her breath.


    "Any sign of danger or violence and we will be inside," the officer assured again.


    Bai Yu nodded bleakly.


    Bai Yu and Qian Meng both came out of the room and he faced her.


    "Qian Meng," he said after a moment of silence. "You didn''t keep your promise, did you?" he asked quietly.


    "I''m sorry, Uncle Bai. I did keep my promise," she told him. It was a small lie. She didn''t inform the police directly.


    Li Jun stepped in, extending his hand. "Apologies, Mr. Bai. It was me who tipped the police off. As a lawyer, I would be a dereliction of my duty if I come across someone who has committed a crime and not report it." He bowed deeply.


    Bai Yu gave them a sad smile. "No need to apologize. It''s a good thing. I would have been killed without anyone to help me if not for you taking your duty seriously," he said.


    "Please be safe," Li Jun said calmly. "I expect Mr. Bai Ye Qing to go to you rather than Miss Yun. Her residence is still a mystery to him, so you are the easier target," he said.


    The plan had been made. It was one bait after another. If Bai Ye Qing didn''t fall for one chance, the second plan would be brought into action.


    "Don''t worry. I have been in the business long enough."


    Qian Meng took a step forward. "Uncle, stay strong. Everything is going to be fine." What else could she say? His son was probably going to jail.


    "If¡­ something happens to me," he started.


    "Please don''t say something like that!" Qian Meng interjected. What was this talk of harm? It was never a good sign.


    "Hush, Qian Meng," Bai Yu prompted. "If something happens to me¡­ whenever that is¡­ you will be my legal guardian. You can take my medical decisions on my behalf. If I die, you will get a call from my lawyer. You will be responsible for executing my will, do you understand?" he asked firmly.


    "I apologize. I have no intention of executing your will. I wish for you to live for many more decades. I don''t like the talk of death. It''s too ominous," she gritted through her teeth. "None of that!" she said again.


    "Fine!" he told her. "We shall have a nice meal after everything is sorted. I think I will go fishing in a couple of days. Call me when you are free. Maybe we can play a hand of chess." He smiled but it was sad.


    "Absolutely," Qian Meng assured.


    She watched as Mr. Bai walked away. She was about to turn the corner when she saw Chen Yue coming to him and throwing questions at him. He hushed her up and went into the parking lot.


    Qian Meng took a cleansing breath. Thank god the old bat hadn''t seen her. She couldn''t imagine the drama that would happen inside this station if she caught sight of her.


    She held her heart for a second before turning to Li Jun. "Thank you again. You have been working on my cases a lot recently, haven''t you?" she smiled apologetically.


    "I get paid by the hour. Don''t mind me. I enjoy taking your money." He gave her an appreciative look before they went their own way.


    It was time for Qian Meng to go back home. Maybe she could lounge near the swimming pool and wait until the news came.

 Chapter 210: Happy at Being Called Brother-in-Law

    Mo Qingchen was engrossed in his work when the communicator buzzed. He looked at it with irritation and saw it was the security team calling him. He tapped on the communicator immediately, sure that Bai Ye Qing had been spotted near the property.


    "Is he nearby?" he asked impatiently.


    "Mr. Mo. The threat is not in the vicinity. A teenager is looking for you and Miss Yun, though."


    Mo Qingchen furrowed his brows as he thought about it. "Description," he asked.


    "Teen male. About five foot eight inches in height. Looks polite."


    Mo Qingchen blinked. "Turn the video feature on," he ordered.


    The video came on and she saw the little man look around the property wildly. He looked up at the camera and his smile widened. He was waving enthusiastically.


    Mo Qingchen steeled his heart and looked around to see any sign of luggage but couldn''t find it.


    "Bring him to the gate. Ask Xiong Hua to lead him to the office," he instructed. He cut the call and then went back to work.


    Because of tightened security, the process of bringing Yun Qing Yuan into the house would take longer. The security team was taking the threat seriously, so they patted down Qing Yuan and asked him the purpose of coming before guiding him to the door. They didn''t want him running around in the property unchaperoned.


    The security team didn''t know that this kid was Mrs. Mo''s younger brother, so the treatment was gruff. Qing Yuan looked unperturbed as he walked in.


    He marveled at the decoration, stopping ever so often in front of a furniture piece or wall extension that he liked. Xiong Hua patiently waited for him to be done with his inspection before finally depositing him in front of the office.


    "Please go in. Mr. Mo is waiting inside for you," she said. With a small bow, she turned to leave.


    Qing Yuan scratched his head and slid the door open. He peered in and saw Mo Qingchen working seriously at his laptop. He was alternating between writing on the laptop and his notepad.


    Qing Yuan knocked on the door and waited for Mo Qingchen to look up. It took a minute before Mo Qingchen looked up. He looked as fierce as always. Without Qian Meng in the room, he had no reason to pretend or be friendly.


    But he was courteous. "Come in," he said shortly.


    "Brother-in-law, am I interrupting your work?" he asked.


    Mo Qinchen felt a hit of sweetness in his chest at the first few words. Last night, he had been preoccupied with getting Qian Meng out of the Yun Sui Bo''s house that he hadn''t appreciated her little brother.


    Though he didn''t look cunning, he was smart and regarded people''s feelings. This was an excellent quality to have.


    "No," Mo Qingchen responded casually. "Why didn''t you bring your luggage and stay with us for a few days?" he asked.


    Qing Yuan shook his head. "They will think I ran away from home. It will be a storm that I don''t want Sis to face," he grumbled.


    "You are an adult. You can move away from home if you want," Mo Qingchen told him. Qing Yuan looked up at him, his eyes shining.


    "Brother-in-law, thank you," he said suddenly, taking Mo Qingchen by surprise. "I am not like Sis. I can''t stay away from the family." He itched the back of his neck, feeling ashamed.


    Mo Qingchen frowned. "You''re Qian Meng''s brother, I don''t believe that," he said kindly. "What do you enjoy doing the most?"


    Qing Yuan shrugged. "Father wants me to go into business but I don''t really like it. I don''t have a golden hand, either."


    The adversities of being born in a rich family were getting complacent. He didn''t need to work to get something to eat, so he never thought deeply about it. But it could also be a form of freedom. He didn''t need to work but he could do what he wanted to do without reserve.


    "Apart from business, what do you like?"


    "Are you doing my career counseling?" he asked with a broad smile.


    "Of course not. I am not certified to help you with that. I can only advise you," Mo Qingchen said with a shrug.


    "I like to eat and write."


    Mo Qingchen blinked. "Are you any good?" he asked.


    "At eating? Yes. Don''t know about writing, though," he shrugged.


    "If you don''t have to fuss about money, why don''t you explore what you like to do? Eating and writing are both sectors related to consumer enjoyment. You can go the journalist path, where you get to eat and review foods and restaurants. Or you could write fiction. What do you like?"


    Qing Yuan thought about it. "Brother-in-law, you make it sound so easy. I am sure it''s not!" he claimed. He hadn''t considered writing fiction or reviewing things professionally.


    "Don''t ask me about how to turn this into a profession. I am sure Qian Meng can help you with that more than I can," he said. "But if you don''t want to go into business, you don''t need to."


    His youngest sister, Mo Yize had gone to business school because everyone expected her to. In the end, she had lost her way, too. Actually, Mo Qingchen knew she earned money¡­ good money, but he didn''t really know how. He had to find out about this.


    Looking at Qian Meng''s little brother reminded him that he hadn''t spoken to his siblings in a really long time. How were they doing? He wondered.


    They spoke about inconsequential things for the most part. Qing Yuan was just as much of a foodie as Mo Qingchen, so they had a lot to speak about. Qing Yuan enjoyed roadside stalls as much as fancy restaurants, so there was a point of debate there.


    Mo Qingchen found him to be rather similar to Qian Meng. A little na?ve and pampered but nothing bad.


    Soon enough, Qian Meng was back. She sprinted to the office and found Mo Qingchen and Yun Qing Yuan seriously speaking about some cuisine she had not tasted. Their conversation had jargon she didn''t care about, so she watched them with a pleased smile for a few minutes before Mo Qingchen noticed her.


    He paused midsentence and looked at her. "Back?" he asked.

 Chapter 211: Just Need to Hug Their Thighs

    "As you see," she countered slyly. She marched forward and took the seat beside Qing Yuan. She turned to him curiously. "Did you run away from home?" she asked.


    Qing Yuan snorted. "Not a chance. Dad would find the washer''s bat at home and beat me to a pulp if I did."


    Qian Meng highly doubted it. "If you want, I can toss him out of the room. Just say the word!" Her voice was firm. She didn''t glance at Mo Qingchen to ask. She was assured of her abilities to protect her little brother, but also, she didn''t think he wouldn''t help her if she asked for it.


    "As much as I love seeing you tell off, dad¡­ I don''t want you to get in trouble." He looked down at his hand. "I know you dislike mom and dad for the things they say. It''s chauvinistic and they want to use you and¡­ I don''t want that. But¡­ they are still mom and dad to me," he said in a low, pained voice.


    Qian Meng stiffened. "Don''t you dare feel guilty because some adults are making a choice to be assholes. You had no hand in it."


    She wanted to shelter this kid.


    "You know what? Let''s eat some lunch. Xiong Hua cooks the best food," Qian Meng said. She was about to comment how it was better than Jiang Xin but she remembered that she was Qing Yuan''s mother.


    At the end of the day, he would feel bad if someone badmouthed his parents.


    "What''s for lunch?" he perked up.


    Mo Qingchen looked calmly between the siblings and told them the dishes prepared. Qing Yuan cheered and clung to Yun Qian Meng''s arm as they made their way to the dining area.


    "Did the meeting go well?" Mo Qingchen asked vaguely before the food arrived.


    Qing Yuan just casually looked on, not a shred of curiosity in his eyes.


    "It went well. Don''t worry," she responded, just to soothe his worries. Mo Qingchen knew she couldn''t say more, so he didn''t pry further.


    "Ah!" Qing Yuan exclaimed while they ate. "I completely forgot why I came," he said.


    "I thought you came to see me and my house. Was there another reason?" Qian Meng asked. She was joking of course but Qing Yuan looked serious.


    "I brought you the family registry," he whispered.


    Qian Meng went silent. "Did you ask someone before you took it?" she asked, slowly growing frantic.


    Qing Yuan shook his head. "I saw Mom make sure it was in its place. She even kept it inside the safe, so I knew they wouldn''t let you take it." He shrugged. "It takes weeks for the family registry to be issued again, so I just opened the safe and brought it to you," he shrugged.


    Mo Qingchen stilled a chuckle when she saw Qian Meng''s horror.


    "You stole it?" she asked. "Why did you¡­ we could have just applied for another one. If they file a missing report with the police, you will get in trouble!" she groaned.


    Qing Yuan laughed. "They ever open the safe. Once mom kept it inside, she would never think I could take it out."


    "Still¡­ if they notice¡­"


    "Don''t worry. The maximum that can happen is you''ll get asked a bunch of questions. You can tell them I gave the book to you. What are Mom and Dad going to do? Scold me? Kick me out of the house?" Qing Yuan smiled.


    "When did you grow so courageous?" she asked, dumbfounded.


    "I now have a powerful sister and brother-in-law. I just need to hug your thigh. Even if you drag me along, I won''t be in too much trouble." The mischievous boy snickered.


    Qian Meng shook her head in disbelief. "Well, it''s okay. It''s only a few days. Once the wedding is done, I will give it back to you. Make sure you keep it in the right place. Otherwise, we will be in trouble, understood?" she asked.


    Qing Yuan nodded enthusiastically.


    Mo Qingchen finally let out a chuckle. The siblings turned to him. "You two¡­ stealing a family registry to get married. We are eloping, huh?"


    Mo Qingchen looked deeply into Qian Meng''s eyes and she leaned back against the chair. "Well, there is a thrill in eloping, isn''t there?" she admitted. "I''ll get to feel it in a way." She winked.


    Qing Yuan coughed. "I love the public display of affection but I don''t like the look in your eye, sister. This is new," he said.


    Qian Meng threw him a glare. "Shut up, kid. What do you know?"


    "Enough!" Qing Yuan hummed.


    Qian Meng lounged around with Qing Yuan for a few hours before he finally got up to leave.


    "I''ll go freshen up. Do you mind escorting him out?" she whispered to Mo Qingchen.


    He nodded without a word and watched as she skipped away towards the room. He turned to Qing Yuan and found the young man inspecting him.


    "Come," he ordered. Just as he was about to leave the house, Mo Qingchen stopped him. He pulled out his wallet and took out a few bigger notes. He handed it unabashedly to Qing Yuan.


    "This is¡­" Qing Yuan trailed off.


    "Pocket money. Buy some good food with it," Mo Qingchen responded lightly. Qing Yuan took it without reserve.


    "Brother-in-law, I took your bribe. But if sister is unhappy I won''t let you off," he claimed. He puffed up his chest in a show of power. "I know you are very powerful, but if it comes to my sister, I am not above using dirty methods to make your life miserable."


    Mo Qingchen wasn''t offended. "Good," he said immediately. "Duly noted." This was giving the brother assurance that Mo Qingchen intended on keeping Qian Meng happy and on top of the world.


    He felt a body rush up to him and looked down, surprised as Qing Yuan circled his waist with his arm. "Thank you, brother-in-law."


    He let go immediately and sprinted away, seemingly embarrassed by the show of affection. Mo Qingchen stood, confused, but rather pleased with how the encounter had turned out.

 Chapter 212: Shed Their Old Anger

    Bai Yu was mulling over the extensive plan in his mind. His wife didn''t have a clue about the matter but he needed to present it in a manner that was believable to her.


    He pulled his best acting mask on and spoke to her as they drove towards their home.


    "Yesterday, all of us were high on our emotions. After talking to the police, I think¡­ I think we need to sit down and have some family time to restore our faith in one another," he said quietly, in his usual voice. Though his words were firm, he also showed a sense of helplessness in the matter.


    Chen Yue looked over at him with a note of suspicion. The fact that he would offer an olive branch was highly unlikely in itself. Chen Yue didn''t know what to say.


    "Do you want me to call him over for a late lunch and dinner?" she responded.


    "Let''s cook all of his favorite foods. He thinks that I don''t care for him, but I do. We should set such family matters straight," he said trepidly. He was looking at her expression ever so often to look for signs of suspicion. Suspicion of what he was actually up to.


    After a thought, Chen Yue was happy. "Okay, I will call him over. The cook already prepared foods he likes, so just asking him to come back won''t be too much." She bit her lip expectantly as she looked at him.


    If he was ready to mend his relationship with Bai Ye Qing, he would be willing to give them a chance, too. She really didn''t know how to survive without him. Last night, sleeping apart from Bai Yu had been¡­ miserable. For all these years, they had slept in the same bed no matter where they were, but suddenly he was gone.


    Even his quirks seemed to come to her mind and she didn''t feel bothered by them any longer.


    The call was made and Bai Yu reached home. He freshened up and watched bemused as his wife poured her heart and soul into setting the table and making sure the cushions were all in place.


    The city police deputies were staged nearby, ready to swoop in at any sign of danger. A police helicopter was set to orbit nearby.


    At two in the afternoon, Bai Ye Qing arrived at the house. He went into the house and looked around. His mother was waiting eagerly in the sitting area, while his father was reading the daily newspaper, looking like he didn''t have a care in the world.


    The atmosphere was strained as he made his way inside.


    Still, the situation remained civil as Chen Yue spoke to her son, asking him what he had for dinner the night before. He looked skinny after a night of staying away from home.


    Bai Ye Qing responded calmly, but couldn''t help but look at Bai Yu once or twice. As they were having lunch, he brought up the issue about how he was having financial problems.


    Bai Yu didn''t comment enthusiastically, but he gave ideas on how to invest the remaining money Bai Ye Qing had. It was part of the play. Chen Yue was trying to get both men to talk but they were avoiding the main topic.


    Bai Ye Qing didn''t mention being thrown out of the company or seem in any way distraught about the events of the prior month. Bai Yu noted this.


    It seemed like the elephant in the room one completely avoided. They skirted around it because it was taking up too much room.


    After another long chat, the sun was finally setting. Bai Yu spoke up finally. "Ye Qing, come into my office. We need to talk," he said.


    Chen Yue perked up. "Yes, the two of you need to talk and shed your old anger!" she prompted enthusiastically.


    Bai Ye Qing didn''t think much of the matter. He stood up and followed his father to the office.


    "What do you want to talk about?" he asked, once they were inside. The door to the office was kept slightly cracked so that Bai Yu could call for help at any time.


    "I¡­ heard some rumors circulating," he started. "People are saying that you will be arrested for a list of crimes." He sighed.


    "What kind of crimes?" Bai Ye Qing asked.


    "All money and violence-related. I was upset just hearing them¡­ I don''t remember them all." He looked up to stare at his son.


    "Those are bogus claims. Don''t believe everything in the rumors, father. I know you think poorly of me, but trust your son a little," Bai Ye Qing gritted through his teeth.


    "I am not thinking poorly of you. If the police have evidence about this¡­ you should take a plea bargain. It would reduce any potential prison sentence. That is the best thing that can happen," he advised. "I don''t want to see you rotting away in prison, son."


    He meant that last sentence. But it was a foregone conclusion.


    "Don''t be ridiculous, dad," Bai Ye Qing said. "I haven''t done anything and there is no plea bargain," he said stubbornly.


    "The drug charges. What about them? Every time there is a medical check-up, you refuse to go. You keep stalling and you never took drug screenings at the office. Ye Qing, where are you getting the drugs from?" Bai Yu asked.


    "Nowhere," was the prompt response.


    "Did you brother find out about these things? I know you had a huge fight with him. Even the HR team knows about it, son. Just tell me truthfully what happened and I can help you."


    Bai Ye Qing glared. "My attorney has told me not to talk about it¡­ the specifics," he said.


    Bai Yu flinched. What attorney was he talking about? Was it that Jiang boy? Did he know about all the crimes, too?


    Bai Ye Qing''s responses and his behavior when Bai Yu approached him was similar to that of hostile suspects being interrogated or interviewed. He couldn''t talk about it. Talk to the attorney.

 Chapter 213: Help Escape a Compromising Situation

    Bai Yu was his father. He was not talking to a cop. He should be able to talk to the father who is giving him a way out. But no.


    It seemed Bai Ye Qing had made up his mind about what would happen. The end result was already in his mind.


    Bai Yu continued to press for answered, but Bai Ye Qing didn''t budge. He blasted his son for refusing to take help. In its response, Bai Ye Qing seethed.


    "I will help myself. I don''t need you to handle matters for me when you are clearly not on my side," he said.


    Bai Yu was about to speak up when he saw Chen Yue push the door open.


    "Bai Ye Qing, do you mind going to the store to buy me an ice pack? My back is hurting and the one I had is too old," she grumbled, Bai Ye Qing looked between his parents and nodded. He slowly left the room and made his way down.


    The police hid when Bai Ye Qing left the house. They still had a tail on him at all times.


    The officers had a clear sense of what just happened. Chen Yue was attempting to help her son escape a compromising situation. She was trying to play it cool, pretending like nothing was happening and that Bai Ye Qing had nothing to do with the charges against him.


    "Did you bring him here to interrogate him?" Chen Yue asked, anger evident in her voice.


    "I am just asking him if something happened. Why are you getting so bothered by it all?" he questioned. "It was a normal conversation. If we don''t clear the misunderstanding, how are we supposed to live as a family from now on?"


    "You are accusing him blindly," Chen Yue hissed.


    "I am not accusing him blindly. You are the one who is blind. Enjoy it while you can," he told her mirthlessly.


    "What is that supposed to mean?" she questioned immediately.


    "Bai Ye Qing did some very bad things. It''s obvious," Bai Yu said. "But I feel like you are helping him cover it up. Chen Yue, how much of what he has been doing did you know?" he asked. He hoped and prayed that she had nothing to do with Wenxi''s death.


    If she did, he wouldn''t sit still.


    "Excuse me? It is not obvious to me," Chen Yue said. "It may be obvious to you but you are imagining things, Yu. You''re always had a hard time trusting other people. Especially those in your family. You are not living in reality," Chen Yue stated.


    "I am the one not living in reality?" he countered. "You don''t wonder or think it is wrong that he has been taking money from others, selling drugs, and whatnot? In what reality are you living in?"


    Chen Yue stared.


    "His explanation to everything doesn''t make sense. Nothing he says makes any sense. I don''t think he is telling a word of truth."


    There was a moment of silence.


    "You are a goddamn fucking bastard. That is what you are for talking about your son¡­ our son that way. To make such things up¡­" Chen Yue trailed off.


    "Is that so?" Bai Yu said glumly. "I suppose we will have to reconsider our living arrangements, then."


    Chen Yue stiffened. "What does that mean? Are you threatening me?" she asked.


    "I did no such thing. You said that I am a¡­ fucking bastard. You have made yourself clear. I know what you think about me after so many decades of marriage. The bitterness you feel against me¡­ I can see it all."


    "I didn''t tell you that," Chen Yue shouted. "You''re a lying bastard for twisting my words like that."


    The argument was towards its end. Bai Yu didn''t want the police officers to listen in on his train wreck of a marriage falling apart.


    "No. It is final. I am rejecting both of you as my family," Bai Yu said. "I''ve given up on you, Chen Yue. Just¡­ don''t talk to me again. Don''t even bother. Don''t look for me when you need my help because I will not go out of my way to offer it," he said. His voice had an unkind streak.


    "You''re abandoning me?" she whispered.


    "Nothing like that. I thought we could live amicably in the same house as long as we didn''t talk, but that is a foregone conclusion. I will allow you to live in the house for tonight, tomorrow, you can go back and live with your son. The money in your personal account? I deposited it religiously every month. You can use it as long as you live. I will continue to put money into it. But if I find you helping Bai Ye Qing out with it¡­ I might just cut you off, do you understand?" he threatened.


    This was the last of the play. If Bai Ye Qing didn''t answer any of his questions, he would have to sow discord. He would have to let Bai Ye Qing know that he wouldn''t get a share of the property once his father called the lawyer.


    As Chen Yue walked out of the office she felt panic. Not sadness. She saw Bai Ye Qing walking up the stairs, the ice pack in his hands.


    "Ye Qing," she called hopelessly.


    "What is wrong?" he asked, his brows furrowed. He looked at the office door, still ajar, and had a slight sense of what could have happened. "Did he snap at you for defending me?" he asked.


    Chen Yue sniffed and nodded. "He¡­ he threatened to cut us off. Said I wasn''t allowed to help you and that he wanted to completely separate from me. What should I do, Ye Qing?" she cried.


    His eyes hardened as it flickered to the office.


    He hugged his mother as his jaw ticked with anger. "Don''t worry. Nothing like that will happen. It''s going to be okay¡­" he said.

 Chapter 214: Administer a Peaceful Death

    "How do you know that? Don''t you know how resolute your father is? Once he decides on something, he never turns back!" she said, tears dripping down her cheeks.


    Bai Ye Qing pulled her back. "Trust me. He will not do it. I will not let him."


    From inside the room, Bai Yu heard these words. He didn''t know if the officers heard it, too, but he knew Bai Ye Qing would be taking action before the lawyers were called to solidify his claims.


    And that was the opportunity he needed.


    Looking at the time, it was way past working hours, so Bai Ye Qing thought he had until tomorrow morning for the plan to succeed. He didn''t need that much time. He would coax his mother and sleep on the couch in her room. He would wait patiently until she fell asleep and slip into his father''s room to inject him with the drug.


    When he would slip back into his room, he would casually make sure his mother thought he had approached the bed to get a glass of water for himself. His alibi would be airtight.


    That was the plan. So, he waited for the right time.


    In the dead of the night, Bai Ye Qing crawled out of the room, making sure not to take a single loud breath. As he walked down the hallway, the people outside waited with bated breaths.


    Bai Ye Qing paused in front of the guestroom door where he knew his father was sleeping.


    He turned the knob and entered. His father was on the bed, his eyes closed. He padded over and hovered over Bai Yu''s body. A flurry of thoughts passed his mind but he pressed them down.


    This was it. This was the end of it.


    As he inched forward, Bai Yu rolled over in the end.


    ''Is he awake?'' Bai Ye Qing thought in a panic, taking a step away.


    "Do you want to talk about something?" Bai Yu spoke up. In the darkness, his voice was piercing.


    Bai Ye Qing stiffened as he watched his father''s eyes pop open. He looked wildly in the room before his eyes settled on Bai Ye Qing. He didn''t even move to switch on the lights, lest his son attacked him.


    "Why are you awake so late?" he asked. His voice held no anger. Instead, there was panic.


    "I was thinking¡­" Bai Yu trailed off. "You didn''t answer me. Why did you come here?" he asked again.


    "Nothing," Bai Ye Qing gritted through his teeth. "You didn''t answer me either. Why are you really awake?" He had his suspicions.


    "I was waiting for you to come," Bai Yu said ominously. "I was wondering how long you would pretend." He was point-blank about the conversation. He knew his son the best. He had seen the line and knew that provocation could get a reaction far more than calculation. Bai Ye Qing wasn''t a very intelligent boy¡­ never had been. And most of the time, he was impulsive. If not for the girlfriend supporting him, he wouldn''t have gotten away with murdering Wenxi.


    "What does that mean?" he asked, his voice rising. In the dead of the night, it sounded loud.


    "I remember how you insisted on Wenxi''s body being burned," Bai Yu whispered. "Why did you insist that?"


    Bai Ye Qing gritted his jaw. "Big brother told me that it was his religious belief. He wanted his ashes to be spread over water," he explained.


    Bai Yu hummed, having expected such a response. "Wenxi was an atheist. He didn''t believe in such things. As far as I know, he wanted to be left in the wild or something quirky like that¡­" he sighed.


    "He lied to you. Who would want that sort of ending? He was just saying it." Bai Ye Qing never understood his brother. He did joke about being left in the forest for the animals to eat him. Something about letting the energy of the universe be given back.


    "Wenxi never lied," was all Bai Yu said. "But you are lying. Why did you want to burn him, Ye Qing?" he pressed.


    Bai Ye Qing inched forward. "You look like you know something," he said slowly. "What do you know, father?" he asked.


    "I¡­ I don''t know anything. But I do suspect it." Bai Yu wondered where his calmness came from. "Wenxi''s heart just stopped, they said. Is that true?"


    Bai Ye Qing shrugged. "It did stop. That''s not a lie." He closed in a little more.


    "Did you help with it? What did you use?" There was silence. "Tell me. You''re going to do the same to me, aren''t you?" Bai Yu whispered, pain evident in his voice.


    "You already know¡­ why are you asking then?" Bai Ye Qing said. "I just gave it a little nudge. It doesn''t hurt, I have been told. It''s a peaceful passing," he admitted.


    Bai Yu sucked in a deep breath. A part of him hadn''t wanted to believe his son capable of it. Once hit with the truth, he didn''t know how to process it.


    "What did you do?" he asked again.


    "Researched. Got the drug. Pushed it in." Such a casual tone. Worthy of a cold-blooded murderer.


    Bai Yu finally felt anger. For the first time. He felt unending anger. "You stupid piece of shit," he found himself cursing. "And you wonder why you never did well in life."


    Bai Ye Qing''s eyes cooled. "You''re going to regret that!" he hissed as he pounced.


    A jolt of adrenaline went through Bai Yu''s body as he struggled under Bai Ye Qing''s grip. The codeword was said but he felt a sharp pinch in his arm. He groaned as he shook Bai Ye Qing away.


    He grabbed onto the arm and watched in horror as the syringe clattered to the floor. The needle was trapped in his hand and didn''t move.


    Bai Yu didn''t hear much, but he saw Bai Ye Qing swivel towards the door in a panic.

 Chapter 215: Bai Ye Qing Could Do No Wrong

    Officers, fully armed and ready to shoot entered the room. There was screaming.


    Someone dropped down beside Bai Yu and asked him if he was okay.


    "He injected it," Bai Yu said quietly. Maybe it was shock, maybe he didn''t care much for what happened, but he didn''t look like someone had tried to kill him.


    "You told on me?" Bai Ye Qing screamed.


    "You have a right to remain silent," the officer holding him down said. His rights were read but Bai Ye Qing swore and struggled as he was led out.


    The door of the master bedroom opened. Chen Yue emerged from it, wide-eyed and scared that someone had broken in. "Who are all of you?" she shouted.


    She had no weapon to speak of.


    "Ma''am we are from the City Police. Please move aside," they said in a polite but firm voice.


    His eyes searched through the faces and found one who had interviewed her. "What are you doing? Let my son go!" She barrelled forward, pounding into the man.


    He was taken by surprise and almost stumbled back. He sighed but knew that he had to follow protocol. He already believed that Chen Yue knew a lot more than she had let on. She had even tried to help Bai Ye Qing when Bai Yu questioned him earlier in the day.


    "Ma''am, I will have to charge you on assaulting an agent of the state," he said calmly.


    She screamed, calling for a lawyer. Calling for Bai Yu. Instead of seeing Bai Yu come out on his own two feet, she saw two paramedics rush into the room. As she was cuffed and dragged forward, she struggled and looked over her shoulder.


    No one was telling her what happened and she was cuffed.


    "Why are you doing this to us? What has our family done to you?" she screamed.


    No one responded.


    Finally, she saw the paramedics carrying out her husband in a stretcher. The officers moved aside, making way for the paramedics to take the now somewhat drowsy Bai Yu out.


    "What is wrong with him?" Chen Yue asked.


    No response.


    "The paramedics are taking him to the nearest hospital. We will call his medical guardian shortly," the officer said calmly, feeling like he was supposed to give some information to the family.


    Bai Ye Qing remained eerily silent.


    "What medical guardian? I am his wife. Of course, I should go with him. Let me go!" She threw her body back, banging into the officer.


    "Ma''am if you move too much, we will need to charge you with evading arrest, as well. Please calm down," someone else said.


    She wasn''t one to listen. "Ye Qing, what is happening? What is happening?" she shouted.


    The ambulance had arrived in record time and Bai Ye Qing and Chen Yue both heard people talking on their walkie-talkies.


    They had cleared up traffic. Man in late fifties had been given a lethal dose of muscle relaxant. The medicine was causing muscle spasms. Hospital personnel were to be prepared for the patient to come in.


    Chen Yue realized something in that moment. She turned to see her son being pushed into the waiting police car. There was clarity.


    Her son had tried to kill her husband. How could that be? He wasn''t a violent or bad child. He would never do something of this sort. It must have been planted. She remembered Bai Yu staying with the police for longer than her and him asking Bai Ye Qing to come for lunch and it clicked in her mind.


    "A trap," she whispered.


    To her, Bai Ye Qing could do no wrong. Even when she had seen the man she had shared a bed with taken out of their house in a stretcher, she didn''t believe it.


    It had to be everyone else''s fault.


    And she couldn''t ask Bai Ye Qing what had happened. The police had separated them and put them in different cars.


    Finally, the sage advice came back to her. Don''t talk to the police without an attorney present. So, she quietened down and steeled her heart. No matter what happened, she wouldn''t allow these people to ruin Bai Ye Qing. The poor child did not deserve this treatment.


    - - - - -


    Yun Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen slept peacefully in their house, without any knowledge of what was happening. Despite being scared of Bai Ye Qing attacking her, the presence of Mo Qingchen and the extensive security team had helped her fall asleep.


    In the dead of the night, her cellphone rang loudly. Qian Meng shuddered as she looked around the room in panic.


    Even Mo Qingchen seemed to stir from his sleep. "What is it?" he whispered, his voice still groggy.


    "Phone," she grumbled before reaching out for it. She looked at the screen to see that it was an unknown number. She pressed her phone to her ear. "Yun Qian Meng speaking," she said calmly.


    "Miss Yun, I am the officer who spoke to you this morning. Mr. Bai is being taken to the hospital right now. He is not in a state to sign for his treatment. We need you to come to the hospital and sign the papers for his procedure."


    Yun Qian Meng startled awake. Any sign of sleep remnant in her body flew out. She sprang up to sit on the bed, her mind blank.


    "What happened?" she cried out.


    "Mr. Bai was attacked during the operation. We got to him on time and apprehended Bai Ye Qing, but Mr. Bai was slowly losing consciousness. He is being taken to the hospital already. They have everything prepared," the officer said.


    Yun Qian Meng took a cleansing breath and hopped out of the bed. She sprinted to the closet and took out the first pair of clothes she could find.


    "Please give me the name and address of the hospital. I will arrive shortly," she said quickly. "You may transfer my verbal consent on any emergency procedure required before I arrive." She paused. "I will trust you to pass on my words, officer."

 Chapter 216: Dont Want to Disappoint Myself

    She bolted into the bathroom, leaving Mo Qingchen in a state of worry and confusion.


    He heard her stop speaking, but she had already closed the door. "What happened?" he asked as he stood right outside the door.


    He heard her call from inside. "Mr. Bai was injured during the operation. Bai Ye Qing has been arrested. I need to go to the hospital immediately," she said. Mo Qingchen would hear the underlying tension in her voice.


    He didn''t miss a beat as he went to the closet and picked out his clothes as well. There was no way he would let Qian Meng drive in a state of panic, that too so late in the night. He didn''t care for propriety as he threw his clothes aside and donned the new pair.


    He was pulling his pant up when Qian Meng came out of the room. She looked surprised. "You''re going too?" she asked.


    "Of course," he told her. He gave her a look of offense as he buttoned the jeans. "What do you need to take?" he asked when he saw her panicked state. She was staring around the room listlessly.


    "Purse. Phone. Car keys," she said finally.


    Mo Qingchen hummed. He took his share of things and allowed her to look through her stuff.


    "Take your identification card, too. We will need it to fill out papers at the hospital!" he called.


    She nodded vehemently and dug through her purse to pull out her passport. "This will do, right?"


    Mo Qingchen nodded. Of course, it would work, but in her panicked state, she couldn''t think too hard. She was rational, more so than any normal person would be, but Mo Qingchen could see how much Qian Meng cared about Bai Yu to be genuinely scared for his wellbeing.


    He was already in the driver''s seat and watched her slide in. They were out in no time.


    Qian Meng had already called the hospital while they drove to the hospital, just to make sure.


    "He hasn''t arrived yet," Qian Meng informed Mo Qingchen. He sped up the car, driving faster than any speed limit would allow him. "Slow down," she said finally when she looked at how fast they were going.


    "It''s better to reach earlier than worry about speeding tickets," Mo Qingchen spoke. "This late in the night, apart from the trucks transporting goods, no one else drives on the streets. Don''t worry about an accident. I am an excellent driver."


    Qian Meng gave him a small smile. "I''ll pick up your speeding tickets. You''re driving like a maniac because of me," she said after a while.


    Mo Qingchen scoffed. "I just needed an excuse. I always wanted to know how it felt to drive this fast. All those games had me curious. I''m willing to pay in cash for this first-hand experience." He tried his best to make her feel less guilty.


    They reached the hospital in relative silence. After that conversation, they thought about what would happen next.


    The paperwork was extensive, to say the least. And it took Bai Yu a day and a half to regain consciousness for a few minutes. His eyes moved around the room and settled on Qian Meng. He gave a weak smile before he fell back to unconsciousness once again.


    As his guardian, Qian Meng rarely left the hospital. Most of her calls were taken from the private lounge of the VIP section. She looked over proposals and oversaw the execution of the coming launches from the confines of the hospital.


    Mo Qingchen, though, remained her bridge to the world. He brought her food from home, her daily dose of green tea latte. He even gave her the reports to their complete physical examination.


    Qian Meng waited with bated breath when she held the folder. It was a thick file with all her reports and she was scared to find out what it contained.


    "Why are you so afraid?" Mo Qingchen probed. He had been staring at her for the better of five minutes. She looked mildly panicked. "If you don''t want to know what is inside, you don''t need to see it," he assured her.


    "Shouldn''t I know what is wrong with my body? I want to know so that¡­ I don''t disappoint myself," she admitted casually.


    "Think about it carefully. If there was something amiss, the hospital would have called me personally to inform me. Apart from being a VIP, it is the protocol for hospitals to inform patients about urgent matters and diagnosis, so that the patient isn''t taken by surprise," he explained to her.


    "So, you are sure there is nothing wrong with me?" she asked, arching her brows.


    "I am not a doctor. But I can tell you one thing for sure. No matter what those reports say, I will be marrying you. I will stay by your side until the day both of us die. These reports change nothing."


    A shred of panic took over once again. "Then there is something wrong," she confirmed.


    Mo Qingchen pressed his lips together. "I told you there wasn''t!" he countered.


    "But you haven''t looked inside, have you?"


    Mo Qingchen shook his head.


    Qian Meng steeled her heath and opened the envelope. She looked through the reports, one page at a time. It was part of her routine to read every word written on the paper, no matter if she understood or not. After inspecting most of it, she turned to the gynecology section.


    Nothing jumped out. Everything was excellent. She had to search on the internet to make sure she was reading everything correctly. Her eyes watered slightly but she wiped them away quickly.


    Mo Qingchen looked at her shoulder and felt his eyes darken when she took longer on those certain pages. Anger boiled inside him and he wondered if he should find the murderous couple and make them pay for what they did.


    But this was a different world. Here, they hadn''t hurt Qian Meng too badly. Did he have a right to? He pressed it down in his heart and waited for her.

 Chapter 217: Built Like a Stud

    "Does everything look okay?" he asked finally.


    She nodded, a small gasp leaving her mouth as if she couldn''t believe it herself.


    "Looks like we''re stuck together for the better part of fifty to sixty years," Mo Qingchen said lightly.


    She turned to him with a little glare. "Are you complaining?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen shrugged. "You''re a handful already. I''m imagining decades of this and wondering if it would be entertaining or horrifying." He was joking but to Qian Meng who didn''t have a good image of marriage, it was almost ominous.


    She gulped. "I mean¡­ you could initiate a separation at any time¡­ If I get on your nerves. You can afford to lose the house," she said quietly.


    Mo Qingchen stared at her. "You have very little faith in yourself," he noticed. "I knew it to an extent, but it seems to be a chronic disease." He didn''t know what more to say.


    Qian Meng shrugged. "Your reports? Does it hide some deep, dark secret?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood.


    "As healthy as a human can be," he commented blandly. Qian Meng''s hand gripped his bicep and squeezed it tightly.


    "Looks like it. You''re built like a stud," she snickered.


    Mo Qingchen glared. "That doesn''t count as a compliment. But I am as big as one," he said softly for her benefit. She choked on her breath and stared stupidly as he took the reports from her hands and arranged them once again. "I''ll put these in the safe at home." He paused. "Just see Mr. Bai once. I met the police downstairs and they wanted to talk to you and Mr. Bai''s lawyer," he informed her.


    "Why didn''t you tell me until now?" she gasped and shot up to her feet.


    "You were on the call when I arrived and then I had to show you the reports. I thought it more important. From the looks of it, it is something related to Bai Ye Qing and his shrew of a mother, Chen Yue. It''s not important." He waved it away like it was nothing.


    Qian Meng sighed. "As much as I want to ignore them, I do have to listen to them. Mr. Bai is particularly soft when it comes to his family. Bai Ye Qing might have tried to kill him, but he still thinks of that monster as his son." She shook her head in disbelief.


    "Miss Yun?" someone called her. Her head shot towards the direction and she saw a nurse looking at her with a sense of urgency.


    "Yes? Is he awake?" she asked.


    The nurse nodded. "The patient is looking for you," the nurse said calmly. Qian Meng nodded and followed her gingerly.


    Mo Qingchen picked up her laptop and papers and tucked them under his arm before following her.


    He slid the door closed after him and found Qian Meng sitting beside Mr. Bai''s bed, his hand clutched in hers.


    "How do you feel?" she asked softly.


    Mr. Bai tried to gulp and winced at the feeling of his throat burning. "Wat¡ª" he couldn''t finish the words, his throat itching dryly.


    Qian Meng looked at the nurse helplessly.


    "The doctor has ordered no intake of fluids or solids at the moment. I can bring in ice chips to wet the throat, though." She looked at Mr. Bai for his thoughts.


    He simply nodded and tried to clear his throat. She spoke to the guards waiting outside the room before walking away.


    "Don''t try to speak yet," Qian Meng advised. "Your throat will hurt even more if you try to speak," she said softly.


    Mr. Bai made a small noise of agreement. The ice chips were brought and Qian Meng helped Mr. Bai in this aspect. She pressed the chips to his lips lightly so that bits of water could reach his throat. After a few minutes of this, Mr. Bai could finally muster some words.


    "What about them?" he asked. He had not seen Chen Yue come in. At all. She was his wife. Even if she didn''t have legal guardianship of him in this situation, he had excepted her to at least visit.


    Qian Meng''s shoulder dropped. "Bai Ye Qing is in police custody. And your wife was taken arrested because she assaulted a police officer, resisted arrest, and tried to obstruct justice." She could only break the news to him like this. There was no reason to mince words.


    "At least she will protect her child until the very end," he said. He closed his eyes briefly. "I am sure the police want to talk to me," he said.


    "They do," Mo Qingchen said finally. "While you were unconscious, they called on Qian Meng. When you are ready to meet them, we can oversee a discussion with them."


    Mo Qingchen hadn''t liked this man much in the very beginning because of whose family he was. But seeing this man on the bed, trying to put away the man who could have killed Qian Meng¡­ he couldn''t help but be relieved.


    Relieved that it wasn''t Qian Meng on that bed. Relieved that she wasn''t dead. Relieved that this time, she had more people playing on her side. Her chessboard was adorned with powerful pieces who would help her with all their might.


    This was what she deserved.


    Bai Yu was oddly calm when the police came in.


    The officer-in-charge had made the trip himself. "Mr. Bai, I''m glad to see that you are doing better," he said. It was good for him that the person they had wired was relatively well. He was already getting reprimanded by all levels of superiors for the scenario. But how could he tell them that they had caught the perpetrator red-handed?


    Thank god, Bai Yu was alive.


    "I''m sure," Bai Yu replied with a slight smile.


    "We have already submitted all the evidence. But we have a question for you¡­ I know it''s bothersome, but I must ask you," the officer sucked in a deep breath.

 Chapter 218: Attraction to a Weak and Pathetic Woman

    "What?"


    "Mrs. Chen Yue and Bai Ye Qing demand a personal attorney. Your attorney," he informed.


    Bai Yu stared. "There must be a conflict of interest in this matter. I''ll let Qian Meng and my lawyer sort this out on my behalf." Bai Yu leaned back into his bed. "I just want to rest now. This chapter of my life is over," he said with finality.


    The officer remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Understood. Thank you for your cooperation. If we need a statement, we will reach out to you," he said at last.


    He turned to Qian Meng. "Miss Yun, please come to the police station once you have wrapped up in the hospital," he said.


    He scratched his head before leaving the room.


    Qian Meng looked at Bai Yu. "Are you sure you want me to handle this? I will follow what you want," she said.


    Bai Yu shook his head. "I''m not the one who abandoned them. They did that to me. If they still want to use my lawyer after I am in the hospital because of them¡­ I can''t help them anymore. The state will provide them with legal representation, I am sure."


    Qian Meng nodded. She glanced at Mo Qingchen. "I will relay the message on your behalf. If you want to know anything else, please just call me." She bowed.


    "Oh! One more thing," Bai Yu called her back. Qian Meng looked back. "I prepared a wedding gift for you. It should arrive in time for your wedding. But because I am bound to the hospital, I will have to ask my lawyer to bring it to me. Then we can have you sign the papers."


    "Papers?" she asked.


    Bai Yu just nodded. "You get something, too," Mr. Bai said, looking at Mo Qingchen. He put his glasses on and looked at his phone. "Go, now. You have lots of extra work because of me," he said with a sad smile.


    Qian Meng didn''t know how to respond to that. There was no use for words. With no idea what to do, she could only leave the room and call the lawyer and her own.


    "Li Jun, police station again. Sorry for this matter," she apologized.


    "No need. This tip got me a lot of brownie points from the prosecutor''s office and the attorney general. I don''t mind this at all," he responded. "Do you wish to speak with any of the detained people in the case? You are allowed to as Mr. Bai''s legal guardian. I can help you set it up," he offered.


    "I''ll think about it," she told him. She hung up and was making her way to the car. "You''re coming along?" she said when she noticed Mo Qingchen trailing behind her.


    He shrugged. "I won''t allow you to go inside the police station alone."


    "I''ll have two lawyers with me," she joked.


    "Never trust lawyers, either. They do what you pay them to. If someone pays more, they will turn their loyalty. I, on the other hand, won''t do that." He gave her a small smile. "I also have some words to say to Bai Ye Qing." He gave her a look.


    "What words do you have for him?" she asked curiously. "Are you going to rub his nose in? Say that he couldn''t get me but you did?" she nudged him with her elbow.


    He scoffed. "Not everything in the world is about you, Qian Meng," he retorted. "He needs to understand some things. It''s better if I tell them to him than someone else."


    Qian Meng''s brow furrowed in confusion. "What inside information are you feeding him?" she asked.


    "Nothing you need to know. These things are not meant for your delicate ears," he said. Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "I am giving you the opportunity to be the pampered young miss and you will pass up on it? I didn''t think you would do that!"


    Qian Meng shrugged. "Isn''t it supposed to be a fatal flaw of mine? I am too independent for my own good. That''s why we are getting married," she almost stuck her tongue out.


    "Well, I am letting you pretend. Taste the bitter-sweet deliciousness of being a weak and pathetic woman." He eyed her. "I can''t say I will find you attractive like that, though," he added.


    "Oh, we wouldn''t want you to not find me attractive." They chuckled lightly.


    - - - - -


    They reached the police station in record time.


    Actually, the officer had a lot more to discuss than just the matter of attorneys.


    The officer produced a few forms. "We just received word from the prosecutor after listening to the wire recording," the officer spoke up. Li Jun took the form and read it over before passing it to Mr. Bai''s lawyer. The older gentleman too read through it and frowned.


    "Okay. Can you tell us a little more about this matter?" Qian Meng prompted. She could see the officer was nervously eyeing the two lawyers. Usually, they would get one lawyer or one appointed by the state, but seeing someone rich and powerful with a team of lawyers was not something they saw on a daily basis.


    "The prosecutor in charge wants to exhume Mr. Bai Wenxi''s body for an autopsy. Mr. Bai Ye Qing admitted to using a lethal dose of medicine to murder his older brother. In such a case, the prosecutor will want the coroner and medical specialists, including anesthesiologists and the like to testify in court to show how heinous the murder is," he said.


    Qian Meng gulped. "It should be a really slow process, right?" she asked. Another snippet from that dream of her came back.


    The officer didn''t know how much to reveal. "It can take from four to eight hours for the medicine to kill. Despite the dosage," he said after a moment.


    Qian Meng sucked in a breath. "And you need to autopsy Bai Wenxi''s body to get incriminating evidence." She finished.

 Chapter 219: Enjoy Your Vengeance

    "I don''t think I have the authority to make such a personal decision on behalf of Mr. Bai. I am his guardian during medical emergencies but exhumation of a body has religious sentiments and familial sentiments involved." She paused. "I will have to ask Mr. Bai about this personally before I can give you the final word." She pushed the paper away. "You could also ask Bai Wenxi''s mother to sign the papers, could you not?" she asked.


    The officer hung their head. "Mrs. Chen Yue has been uncooperative. We allowed her to speak to her son so that we get more information on her involvement in the crimes. It seems that she had some idea about the other charges but nothing on the murders and attempted murders. But she is willing to cover it up."


    Qian Meng felt her blood freeze. "Even though her own son was killed?" she asked incredulously.


    The officer nodded.


    "I''ll still press on allowing the parents to decide on this matter. Mr. Bai''s lawyer will personally speak to Chen Yue and Bai Ye Qing." She paused. She turned to the lawyer for his opinion. "Before you go in to speak to them, would you mind going over the topics for discussion?" she asked.


    "I''ll leave the three of you to discuss. I''ll log in the interaction however you want to show it on paper," the officer said finally.


    When he went outside, he found Mo Qingchen waiting for him. "Mr. Mo," he bowed reverently.


    "No need for that," he waved it away. "Will I be exerting power if I wish to speak to two of the recently detained participants in the investigation?" he asked.


    "You mean Chen Yue and Bai Ye Qing?" the officer asked, sure that was what he meant.


    "No, I wish to speak to Bai Ye Qing and Jia Ai, the girlfriend," he said. The officer arched his brow. "I know she was brought in on charges of selling drugs but you want to use her to pry more information and leverage it."


    He knew all about plea deals and he wasn''t happy about it. That was the primary reason why he had come.


    "Mr. Mo, there are bigger hands in this matter. Some powerful people have ties to this case. I don''t think¡ª" Mo Qingchen interrupted the officer.


    "More powerful than me?" he challenged. The officer spluttered. "Don''t worry. My words will not affect any plea deals you offer. On the contrary, maybe it will help you get a deal," he commented. The smile on his lips screamed of danger.


    The officer took a step away.


    "O-okay," he said finally.


    "Great. Let me know where I need to log in," he said casually. "I''ll go in shortly after the lawyers get their meeting." His mood shifted immediately. His eyes were still hard but he wasn''t threatening anyone any longer.


    From the corner of his eyes, he saw Qian Meng coming out of the room.


    "All done?" he asked.


    She shook her head. "Mr. Bai''s lawyer wants to bring up their exclusion from the will, the attack, and other matters. I will act as the sit-in for Mr. Bai. We already spoke to Mr. Bai about this."


    Mo Qingchen nodded. This matter was vague enough for him. She wasn''t breaking any laws by giving out this information.


    "Take your time. Enjoy seeing them like that," he told her. Her eyes flashed, wondering how he knew. "Don''t act. I know you''re a bloodthirsty shark. Behind that porcelain doll appearance, you''re a real monster, aren''t you?" he whispered.


    "Don''t know what you are talking about," she responded.


    "Sure. Just enjoy." Enjoy your vengeance, Yun Qian Meng.


    - - - - -


    Seated in the meeting room were Bai Ye Qing and Chen Yue. They looked up when the door opened and saw the face of their family lawyer and sighed with relief.


    Actually, it was Chen Yue who felt some shred of relief.


    Bai Ye Qing patiently waited for the ball to drop. But then Yun Qian Meng and Li Jun followed, both son and mother had anger roiling through their bodies.


    "What is the meaning of this? We asked for lawyers. Why did you bring her along?" Chen Yue accused. Bai Ye Qing''s hands were locked on either arm of his chair, whereas Chen Yue was only cuffed.


    This showed which of them was really dangerous. For all the talk Chen Yue made, she was still frightened of the police. Bai Ye Qing, on the other hand, was sure he could somehow get away with it.


    "She is here as Mr. Bai''s legal guardian," the lawyer mentioned.


    "My name is Li Jun, I am Miss Yun''s lawyer. I have already had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Bai Ye Qing previously. It seems Miss Yun is closely legally related to the Bai family." Li Jun threw a glance towards Chen Yue.


    She fumed. She didn''t know this specimen, but anyone taking Yun Qian Meng''s side was a public enemy in her opinion. Nothing good came from this girl being involved.


    Yun Qian Meng hid her smile and prompted the lawyer to speak up once again.


    "I have been informed that both of you requested me to represent you. Is that correct?" he asked, his voice monotonous.


    "Uff, you''ve worked for our family for so long. What upheavals have you not seen?" Chen Yue asked, now a little placating.


    The lawyer smiled. "Mrs. Bai is correct. But I had to personally inform you that I cannot represent either of you." His voice was booming in the otherwise silent room.


    "What is that supposed to mean?" Chen Yue yelled.


    Qian Meng flinched at the sudden noise but kept calm.


    "Mrs. Bai, according to the contracts signed with Mr. Bai Yu, I cannot represent anyone who has brought him harm or has threatened him. This includes business rivals and those who have used physical violence against him." He looked straight at Bai Ye Qing.


    "You believe these nonsensical claims, as well?" she asked. Bai Ye Qing remained silent throughout the conversation.

 Chapter 220: Ethically Deranged to Represent Him

    "I have already reviewed the evidence, Mrs. Bai. Bai Ye Qing indeed attacked Mr. Bai two nights ago. Moreover, he is also suspected to have murdered Bai Wenxi. In these circumstances, I would be ethically deranged to represent Mr. Bai Ye Qing." He took a cleansing breath. "As for you, your involvement has been deemed obstruction of a criminal investigation and you have been deemed an accomplice in these crimes. Therefore, I will not be able to represent you either."


    Chen Yue gasped. "Did you do this? Are you making this happen while Bai Yu is still lying in the hospital bed? Have you no shame or humanity?"


    Yun Qian Meng scoffed. "Mr. Bai sent me here to ensure that his words were relayed word by word. I have no hand in this matter, I am acting as the executor of his demands," she said casually.


    "What a crock of lies. That man won''t be this harsh!" Chen Yue demanded.


    "Hasn''t he always been this way? Upholding his high ideals and not caring about his own flesh and blood?" Bai Ye Qing prompted from the side, fuelling the fire.


    Chen Yue grumbled some more before the lawyer cleared his throat. "I can only advise you on this: please take the police''s offer and meet a state-appointed defense attorney."


    "Why would we do that when we have money to hire someone? Even if it''s not you, we have Jiang Hanyu to represent us," Bai Ye Qing commented. He was shaking his foot in irritation. He had never expected the uptight lawyer to represent them anyways, but he had gone along with his mother in an attempt to exhaust her hopes.


    If she didn''t have any hopes for their father, she would take Bai Ye Qing''s side unconditionally.


    Li Jun cleared his throat, interrupting Mr. Bai''s lawyer who was about to speak. "As per my knowledge, Jiang Hanyu is a newly employed lawyer. Most people of his experience never see the face of the court or get to be the primary defense lawyer in the case." And then a wicked grin spread on his face. "Moreover, his company issued a statement yesterday discrediting him and saying that he has been using company property fraudulently."


    "Fraudulently?" Bai Ye Qing asked.


    "Hanyu is an intelligent child. He would never¡ª"


    "He was fired from his job. It''s a public statement so I don''t think he will ever get a reputable job in a firm ever again. He might get employed in a seedy firm that represents petty and dirty criminals. You could try that route," Li Jun said calmly.


    Bai Ye Qing leaned forward, ready to pounce but the restraints held him back.


    Qian Meng was enjoying this legal act a lot.


    "Then what do you want us to do?" Bai Ye Qing seethed. "It is my constitutional right to get a lawyer to defend me from false claims," he said vehemently.


    Li Jun looked at him. He wondered if his man really believed what he was saying. He hoped not, because then he could get away with some sort of psychological analysis.


    And Li Jun would have fun taking down every angle they had.


    "Well, as you said, you have the right to legal counsel. And a public defender will do that for you. They have years of experience under the belt," Li Jun smiled.


    "But they have so many cases¡­ they will never give us importance like a paid lawyer will," Chen Yue said, a note of hysteria.


    "Sure, if you can afford a lawyer," Li Jun said quickly.


    "What is that supposed to mean?" Bai Ye Qing asked, his eyes bouncing from one person to the next.


    "Mr. Bai made a change to his will shortly before the attack. As per his wishes and the regulations, I am obligated to tell you that you will receive no money from Mr. Bai this moment forward," he said calmly.


    He unrolled the paper and calmly placed a copy in front of the mother and son.


    Chen Yue frowned and Bai Ye Qing scanned over it.


    "He changed his will? He never told me about this? How can I be sure you didn''t forge this?" Bai Ye Qing asked calmly.


    Chen Yue nodded. "He was not in a state to change the will."


    These shameless people. They could say that he too injured to change the will but still deny it was because of what they did. How did such people even sleep at night?


    "He changed a will before that," the lawyer said firmly. "I have an executed copy of it with me. I am only showing you the copy right now," he said blandly. He didn''t trust them to bring out the real copy.


    "What does it imply?" Bai Ye Qing asked calmly. Chen Yue was already hyperventilating.


    "Mr. Bai put in a clause that disbars both of you from getting a share of his money in case you are convicted of a felony. As we can see, because of the seriousness of the charges and the evidence we have already seen, Mr. Bai will be cutting off monetary channels with both of you," the lawyer said. "Mrs. Bai, the money in your personal bank account will remain but no further payments will be made. As for Mr. Bai Ye Qing, he will receive no monetary reprieve. Any and all debts incurred by him will be settled only by him and have no effect on Mr. Bai."


    Qian Meng hadn''t known the extent that the new will went to. By this, he had effectively cut ties with his family without canceling them out of the family registry. It was a bold move to make and she couldn''t help but feel sorry.


    Sorry that Uncle Bai was going through such immense pain. He had lost his eldest son to a violent death. His younger son was soon going to jail for murder and a long rap sheet of things and his wife was enabling the son.

 Chapter 221: What Was Your Plan?

    "You have to be kidding me," Chen Yue breathed. "It was you, wasn''t it?" she seethed as her beady eyes turned to Yun Qian Meng. "You were the one waving the stick all this time!" she said.


    "I had nothing to do with this. Mr. Bai anticipated this day and he took action to safeguard himself. You didn''t allow him time to inform you. You attacked without thinking of the consequences." She sighed. "To think he was still trying to protect you despite knowing you would want to kill him." All this time, she spoke to Bai Ye Qing.


    "I need to talk to him," Chen Yue protested. "There is no need for all of this¡­" she was on the verge of tears.


    "I am sorry. I am not the one calling the shots here. Uncle Bai has made his decision already." Qian Meng paused. "The real reason why I am here is because the police need permission for the autopsy¡ª"


    No sooner had the words left her mouth than Chen Yue was screaming, panicked. "You said Bai Yu was alive and he woke up. Then what is this autopsy about? Are you lying to me?" she asked.


    Bai Ye Qing on the other hand felt a cold hand grip his heart.


    "If you allowed Miss Yun to finish, you would know the real story," the lawyer said with a sigh. "As part of the investigation, the police need to exhume our eldest son, Bai Wenxi''s body."


    "No-no way! He died at such a young age and you want to bring him out from his resting place and cut him up? What kind of disgraceful thing are you asking permission for?" she asked, her eyes reddening.


    Qian Meng could see that there was some shred of love for the older son, no matter how much she protected the younger one. She didn''t feel any sympathy for this woman though.


    "Yes, he died at a very young age. Usually, for medical and police purposes, an autopsy is done on the body, but on the family''s insistence, nothing of the sort was done. With the turn of events, we will need your permission to do so."


    Chen Yue''s eyes cooled. "What are you looking for?" she asked. "I will not give you permission for this. Leave my son alone. He''s at peace now."


    Qian Meng turned to look at Bai Ye Qing. "What do you say, do you think your brother is at peace?" she asked provocatively.


    He turned sharply to her. "Shut up," he gritted through his teeth.


    Chen Yue noticed the exchange of glances. "What does that mean? Why would you ask Ye Qing?"


    Qian Meng wanted to roll her eyes. "I am sure you already know that your younger son is suspected of murdering your elder son. You don''t need to play dumb."


    "What nonsense. You''re just slandering us at this point!" she said. It had been said before but she refused to believe it.


    "Maybe the autopsy will help convince you?" Qian Meng prompted.


    "Absolutely not. You won''t get it from me." She leaned back into her chair and pressed her lips together into a line. That was that.


    Qian Meng turned to the lawyer and gave him a look. He sighed and nodded, understanding what she meant.


    "Well, there is nothing more to discuss, then. We will leave now," he said.


    The two arrested people were at a loss. They had called over the lawyer to get legal help but at the end of the meeting, they were left with no stake in the family money or a lawyer. They had ended up with less than they had. Bai Ye Qing looked at the table as he tried to figure out what to do.


    The three left and there was silence in the room.


    "Ye Qing, what are we supposed to do now?" she asked.


    He shook his head. "You still have the bank account, don''t you? We can use the money there to get a lawyer," he said quietly.


    Chen Yue startled for a minute. "Can we afford it?" she whispered.


    Before he could answer, the police officers came in and separated them.


    "Someone wants to talk to you," they said to Bai Ye Qing. He raised his brow but didn''t protest. He was taken to another smaller room. There was no one-sided glass for people to look in and the stoic officer who brought him in was standing on one side.


    Mo Qingchen had been waiting inside. With his legs crossed and the leisurely expression on his face, Bai Ye Qing found himself comparing to him once again.


    "What do you want with me?" he asked. He had no enmity with this man apart from the relationship with his sister. He could think of no reason for him to come here.


    "Guess," Mo Qingchen said. He looked at this puny man and wondered how he had reigned terror in Yun Qian Meng''s life for that long. While others couldn''t see his anger, Mo Qingchen curled his fingers into a fist. He kept them on his knee, not allowing Bai Ye Qing to see the change in his demeanor.


    "Is this about your sister? I really didn''t know it was her."


    Ah, now that Mo Qingchen thought about it. This guy had also tried to dupe his sister. How had he glossed over that bit?


    "Ah, you remind me," Mo Qingchen''s lip quirked up. "You made it worse for yourself."


    "Mr. Mo. I have no enmity with you. Why did you come to meet me?" he asked.


    "You''re an idiot, that''s why you think that," Mo Qingchen began. "I heard the threats you made. How many voice messages did you send, again?" he asked.


    Bai Ye Qing looked confused. "You dared to call back and threaten my fianc¨¦. You threatened to hurt her and you think you didn''t do anything wrong." He couldn''t believe it.


    "Your¡­ fianc¨¦?" he stuttered.


    "But tell me, what was your plan?" he asked.

 Chapter 222: All For a Woman

    "Did you really think you would be happy marrying her? That she would be happy?" he asked. "I wonder what you would have done. Asked her to help you learn how the business world works. Kill your father and take over the company before slowly wringing her dry."


    Bai Ye Qing startled. "Mr. Mo¡­"


    "Yes, tell me. What is your excuse?" he asked. "I know all about the second apartment you bought in the same building. That was where Jia Ai was supposed to live, wasn''t it? And if Qian Meng got in your way¡­ you would kill her."


    Bai Ye Qing gulped. "I don''t know what you are talking about."


    This meeting wasn''t about Mo Qingchen showing him his place. It was more about Mo Qingchen seeing the threat is extinguished. He wanted to unburden all his thoughts on a man who couldn''t fight back.


    "Yun Sui Bo made a pact with you. Venus would go to him once Qian Meng gave birth to a child, right?" He tilted his head to the side. "And you planned on not allowing a child to see the light of the world. A good plan, really. A miserable fool like Yun Sui Bo would actually think you are incapable of doing something like that."


    Bai Ye Qing understood what this was about. So, he tucked his head and listened. He didn''t want to anger someone of this caliber.


    "But this time, you got found out." Mo Qingchen let out a laugh. This sloppy bastard had gotten away with so much last time that he couldn''t believe it. It made him think everyone was incompetent. With good reason.


    "I''m not sure if you are lucky to get caught or not," he commented.


    Bai Ye Qing''s head jerked up. "What do you mean?" he asked.


    Mo Qingchen smiled. "I checked. You have running debts with a lot of people. But they might not touch you when you are in jail. But think about all the high-profile people you sold drugs to. The drugs, the little felonies you committed. What will they think now that you are being investigated?" he asked.


    "I¡­ don''t understand." He really didn''t. He had never thought of the consequences of associating with rich and dangerous people. Things that could come to bite him in the ass.


    "The police always want information about the dangerous people you associate with. And now they will think you spilled. And what happens to snitches, Bai Ye Qing?" He leaned forward, his demeanor threatening.


    "¡­Snitches?" he asked, his voice shaking.


    "Yes, they end up in ditches, don''t they?" He smiled. "But good thing, you are going to jail. They might not get their hands on you." And then, Mo Qingchen raised his brow. "Wait. Dangerous people have acquaintances in jail, don''t they?" he whispered.


    "Are you threatening me?" Bai Ye Qing asked in a small voice. His eyes drifted towards the officer and an idea formed in his head. "Help! He is threatening me!"


    The officer didn''t even look at him. Mo Qingchen sneered. "You really are stupid. I am telling you what your life will look like from now on. No matter if you take a plea deal or you tell the police about everything you did, you won''t be safe. You will look over your shoulder for the rest of your hellish life and wonder when you will be cornered and killed."


    "That will not happen," Bai Ye Qing said confidently.


    "Is that so? Do you have magical powers? Or do you think you can convince those people that you didn''t snitch? You spoke to the police¡­ and if your time in jail isn''t long¡­ you''re over." The wicked grin on Mo Qingchen''s face sent a chill down Bai Ye Qing''s spine. His confidence slowly seeped out of his body.


    "If you want protective custody, your lawyer will have to apply for it. But no lawyer in this city or country will take your case. The public defender has so much on their plate that they won''t worry about you too much. You''ll be all alone, wondering when the ball will drop. What a wonderful life," Mo Qingchen ended sarcastically.


    "Why are you doing this to me?" Bai Ye Qing asked finally.


    "What am I doing to you? Do you think a pathetic piece of shit is worth my time? I haven''t done anything to you. This is what you reap for the things you have done." His face turned stoic. After this moment, he would never see Bai Ye Qing again. He would make sure to find out how his life went, but he would never let this man come out of jail.


    That was the end of this matter.


    "But why¡­" he whispered.


    "You tried to scam my little sister. You threatened my fianc¨¦ and you had every intention of killing her. You took someone''s life and were on the way to kill another person. It''s not about me¡­ you''re just a horrible person. You have this coming to you."


    Mo Qingchen stood up from his seat and looked down at him. "Goodbye, Bai Ye Qing. I hope to never see you again."


    Those were his final words. He turned and left the room. At the last moment, he politely nodded to the officer before going out.


    The officer sagged with relief after he walked out. He turned to Bai Ye Qing and shuddered. What Mo Qingchen had said was true. Mo Qingchen didn''t need to do anything to hurt this man. Instead, by association, he would be pestered for all his life.


    The officer didn''t even want to imagine the situation.


    But the tone of Mo Qingchen''s voice was what scared him. This man¡­ this powerful man¡­ the way he spoke about it sounded so cold that he would have believed he didn''t care. But he also heard how happy Mo Qingchen would be if he heard Bai Ye Qing was hurt beyond belief.


    And all for a woman.


    Now that was just terrifying.

 Chapter 223: Punish Her for Crimes She Hasnt Committed Yet

    He sighed and took Bai Ye Qing back to his holding cell.


    At the final moment, Bai Ye Qing spoke up. "Is what he said true?" he asked.


    The officer looked at him dispassionately. "Never been in jail," he said with a shrug and walked away. If someone knew they were going to have a horrible life, they would go to great lengths to make it stop. The officer just didn''t want more paperwork on his hands.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng was outside, talking to the team leader.


    "Apologies for not resolving the issue," Qian Meng said.


    "Oh, it''s nothing. Asking her for permission was a long shot anyway. But if you can quickly give us permission to exhume the body, we can call the cemetery and get permission from them, as well," the officer said.


    "Right. How long will the autopsy results take to come out after that?" she asked.


    The officer winced. "If it''s not a high-priority case, it is usually pushed back. Moreover, the victim has been dead for a while. To test for the medication, it will take a longer time. The labs will have to work harder."


    Qian Meng looked down. "Is there any way to make it quicker?" she asked. She wanted closure for herself and Uncle Bai.


    The officer shook his head. "There are a lot of active cases right now. But don''t worry. He can''t be bailed out and we have enough information on the matter to not let him out."


    Qian Meng nodded. "Excellent. Then I will talk to Mr. Bai and give you the forms with explicit permission to exhume the body."


    "Ah! Mr. Mo is talking to one of the suspected accomplices," the officer said. "Would you like to inform him that you are leaving?" she asked.


    "Oh, he is still talking? I''ll just wait for him," she said.


    The officer nodded. "I''ll lead you to the room. You can wait outside," he said politely.


    She turned to the lawyers. "Li Jun, thanks for coming down again. Hopefully, we won''t see each other again this month," she said calmly. There was a hint of amusement in her voice too.


    "No problem. Just call me if something pops up," he responded.


    "Miss Yun, I am sure Mr. Bai told you about the gift, did he not?" he asked.


    "He did. It has arrived?" He nodded. "Then you can go ahead and have Mr. Bai take care of the procedure. I''ll be there with my fianc¨¦ when he is done," she assured.


    The older gentleman nodded. She didn''t see them out. Instead, she followed the officer to where he said Mo Qingchen would be.


    The guard outside nodded. "They just went inside a few minutes ago. I don''t think they are talking yet," he said.


    The officer sighed before turning to Qian Meng. "Miss Yun, you can sit here or you could sit inside the observation room. The microphones are all turned off."


    So, this was following procedure. She couldn''t hear anything that was said. Moreover, Mo Qingchen''s back would be faced towards her. Qian Meng was a little dissatisfied, but the wild child in her reared its head.


    She could eavesdrop on him a little bit.


    "Would that be okay?" she asked.


    "It won''t be an issue. There isn''t a formal interview going on. Mr. Mo just wanted to talk to the person. Moreover, I don''t think Mr. Mo would sue you for eavesdropping," the officer said with a smile.


    Qian Meng couldn''t hold back her laughter. "Indeed, he won''t sue me. Or so I hope," she added with a sly grin.


    She was led inside and took a seat. Qian Meng was surprised to see who Mo Qingchen was talking to. It was not Chen Yue. Instead, it was the girlfriend¡­ Jia Ai.


    "Why is he¡­" she trailed off. Her eyes traveled to Mo Qingchen''s back and she could see he was not speaking.


    Inside the room, Jia Ai was eyeing Mo Qingchen like a piece of candy. She didn''t know why she had been made to talk to this person but from the expensive clothes he was wearing and his demeanor, he wasn''t a common man.


    He looked better than most of those idol drama actors. And he looked like he was about to eat her alive. She didn''t mind that notion one bit. After the soft and accommodating presence of Bai Ye Qing, she was also curious why people liked the cold and dangerous men for themselves.


    Now, she could see why.


    "Enjoying the view?" Mo Qingchen asked finally. His voice was so low that she barely noticed it as she swam through her fantastic thinking.


    "Sorry?" she said, stumped for further words.


    "Enjoy it. I don''t bring you any good news," he said without reserve.


    "I¡­ d¡ª" she stopped, confused.


    "I''m not a fan of the justice system. They don''t do enough to punish people who deserve it," Mo Qingchen announced. "Of course, they can''t punish you for something you haven''t done yet. But I can," he said firmly.


    Jia Ai''s eyes widened in shock. "Sir¡­ I don''t understand what you mean."


    "Whatever plea deal you are going to take. However ignorant you try to pretend to be, you will spend some time in jail." He looked her over. "You''re someone who adapts to situations well, so you might get out of prison because you were on your best behavior." Another thing he hated immensely. "But I can ensure something," he said finally.


    "What?" she whispered.


    "When you come out of prison, you will not get any jobs." He placed his hand on the table, his eyes piercing. "The hospital already knows that you squeezed out drugs from their premises. The patients who didn''t get their painkillers after their surgeries... they know everything about it."


    He was beyond attractive, but she was sure she would die. How he restrained his urges, she didn''t know, but she was thankful for his ''civility.''


    "The hospital will try to hush it up, but you will be thrown out of the profession. Your license will be taken away. But that is not all," he added quietly.

 Chapter 224: Stupidity Should Be Punishable by the Law

    "The minute you come out of prison, I will make sure someone follows you everywhere you go. Whichever apartment you want to rent to live in, my man will tell them what you did. When you try to get employed, they will tell your prospective employers how you stole and didn''t care when someone died because of you. Everyone you try to be friends with will know that you are a homewrecker who stood by as someone was killed."


    This last bit was said in anger. She had not necessarily stood by and watched Bai Ye Qing kill his ''wife.'' But in another world¡­ she probably had.


    And he didn''t care for the law. He needed revenge. He would not allow the stupid justice system to let these evil people walk around in society.


    "But why?" Jia Ai cried. Her eyes flooded with tears and her vision of him blurred.


    "Just because," was his ruthless reply. Tears poured out of her eyes when she realized that he was not joking. He meant what he said and he had the means of doing good on his threats.


    Mo Qingchen felt oddly satisfied as he watched her cry. It made him feel better. He had no idea that the woman for whom he was taking revenge was sitting in the next room, staring blankly at the scene in front of her.


    She had been left alone in the room and curiosity had gotten the best of her. After looking at the switchboard for a long time, she pressed the right button. The words in the other room filtered into her ears and she slumped down on the seat, absolutely in disbelief.


    She had never thought Mo Qingchen to be capable of speaking so many words. It was against his principles. He was a man of few words and he enjoyed showing what he was capable of. The words said to Jia Ai were scathing, downright degrading, if she had to say it herself.


    And she didn''t understand what it meant.


    She had not looked at Jia Ai even once and thought of doing anything to her, but Mo Qingchen¡­ he was making it a point to single her out and make her life hell.


    She couldn''t fathom it.


    A bubble of joy burst into her heart.


    She didn''t quite catch the meaning when he called her a homewrecker who stood by and watched people get murdered. She didn''t think it was said in a literal sense. Because¡­ how could Mo Qingchen know what happened in her dream?


    Therefore, the thought did not register with her. Maybe, a long time later, she would reflect back on this moment and would get the clarity of what he had said.


    She would finally understand that this stoic and cold man¡­ he had done everything possible to ensure these people got what they deserved for killing her in another time. In another world.


    But that day was not today.


    She pressed the same switch once again when Jia Ai began to cry. Her heart shook and her wails grated on her nerves. She wondered how long Mo Qingchen would sit there.


    Finally, she saw him move. He sat up in his chair and then slowly got up.


    Qian Meng quickly got out of the room and pretended like she hadn''t just heard every word he had said.


    She smiled sweetly as she leaned against the wall and turned her head to see him come out.


    He looked lost in his thought as he closed the door behind him, but in the next second, his eyes zeroed in on her and it widened just a little.


    He looked almost guilty at being caught.


    "Why are you standing here?" he asked, hastily going to her side.


    "Waiting for you," she said, a preppy lilt in her voice. His brows furrowed but he didn''t comment. Instead, he just nodded. He didn''t want to answer her questions at that moment, so he would do anything to evade it.


    "Why did you talk to her? She isn''t really an important figure in our lives," Qian Meng said as they walked to the car.


    Mo Qingchen turned to her with a stunned look. "You might be magnanimous and let her off, I don''t feel like I owe her anything," he responded. He felt that she was let off easy. He could have done a little more to make her life miserable, but he also didn''t want to stoop to their level and do something criminal.


    What a dilemma.


    "When did I become magnanimous? I am the pettiest person I know!" she protested. "Is this about Bai Ye Qing duping your sister?" she asked finally.


    Mo Qingchen looked at her critically. "Do you not know the kind of person this Jia Ai is?" he asked. "She¡­ looks¡­ like the kind of person who would latch onto a man because he has money and then help him kill people," he said.


    "And when did you become a righteous vigilante?" she joked.


    He bit his lip. "The moment I realized that you would have been the one they could have killed."


    Qian Meng startled. "What nonsense are you saying. Why would I let anyone kill me?" she laughed. But suddenly she felt nervous.


    "Yes, you would be an idiot to marry that man and let him ruin you." Suddenly, Mo Qingchen felt angry at her, too. Yes, she had been stupid enough to marry him that time, too! Sure, she was the victim. But how could she have been so stupid?


    He had to punish her as well. Stupidity should be punishable by the law!


    He grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face him.


    She stared at him, wondering what he was up to¡­ "What are you doing?" she asked him slowly. She saw the conflict in his eyes but couldn''t guess what it meant.


    "Idiot," he muttered under his breath. His hand slid into her hair and he clutched it tightly in his fists and pulled her head back.

 Chapter 225: Blessings of an Elder

    Before she could make a sound of pain, his lips descended on hers. He ravaged her completely, biting until she would cry out against his lips. And then, he slowly licked at the wounds, soothing them slowly.


    When he finally pulled away, he massaged the back of her neck, feeling a little guilty. Her eyes were a little red from the pain and she looked livid.


    "What was that for?" she asked as she smacked his chest.


    "Punishment. For being an idiot," he said after a while. His fingers brushed against the corner of her mouth and he stared at her swollen lips for a while. "You will remember the lesson for a few days¡­ at least." He frowned.


    Qian Meng groaned. "Caveman," she grunted as she pushed him away. "Now I have to look Uncle Bai in the face. He will know what you did!" She waved her finger in front of his face threateningly.


    Mo Qingchen shrugged. "Just showing off my good relationship with my fianc¨¦." Why should he feel ashamed?


    She let out a loud huff before looking around her. The parking lot was somewhat desolate so no one had seen them. Hopefully. She scrambled to the car and heard the click of the doors being unlocked.


    She slid in and burrowed into the seat, hoping that it was a good hiding spot. She didn''t speak to him for the rest of the ride to the hospital.


    She walked into Mr. Bai''s room and found the lawyer chatting idly with the man in question. They looked up when they heard the door open and smiled.


    "Qian Meng, come and sit. Your wedding gift is here," Uncle Bai said with a warm smile. He looked a lot better than before. His voice was not hoarse any longer and the doctors seemed to have checked him over and given him permission to sit up and take visitors.


    "You really bought gifts for the wedding?" she asked.


    "Did you think I was joking? As an elder, it''s my duty to give you a gift with meaning." He looked at her meaningfully and she couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    None of her family acted as elders, but this unrelated older gentleman took it upon himself to give a wedding gift. And the blessings of an elder from her side.


    "Ah, I didn''t think I would get wedding gifts without inviting anyone," she snickered. "Now you are making me feel guilty, Uncle."


    Uncle Bai only smiled. "Once you have settled into married life, invite me to a grand meal and give me some wedding candy."


    Qian Meng nodded. "Now, tell me. What wedding gift did you get me?" she asked.


    "Nothing expensive. I heard of it a while ago and was meaning to let it go, but you seemed perfect for this." Qian Meng eyed the lawyer curiously.


    "The curator already placed the gift in my care. I have the transfer papers here," the lawyer said.


    She looked at the paper and blinked in surprise. "Where do I need to sign?" she said immediately. A gift from an elder could not be turned back. Though it didn''t sound like much, but whatever Uncle Bai had bought for her would have a deep meaning.


    The papers were signed and finally, the lawyer went over and produced a box.


    Qian Meng turned to Mo Qingchen with delight.


    "What is it?" he whispered.


    "A chessboard," Bai Yu responded in her stead. "It''s a chess set made in India during the nineteenth century," he added after a while.


    Qian Meng caressed the display case. It was a big oak box with a hinged lid. She opened it slowly and peered inside. She couldn''t help but gasp. The interior was lined with black plush but the pieces inside were what caught her eye the most.


    "It''s made from a rare type of ivory," Uncle Bai commented, satisfied with her expression. "Do you like it?" he asked finally.


    "I do!" Qian Meng exclaimed. He picked up the king and turned it in the light.


    One side of the board was stained green while the other retained its natural ivory color. The king and queens came with extensive foliate carvings. The bishops were flaming mitres, knights as horses heads, rooks as turrets with flags, pawns with more foliate decoration. All the pieces had elaborate leaf decoration at the bases.


    The craftsmanship was exquisite, to say the least.


    "It''s beautiful," Qian Meng remarked. "I will have to display it!"


    Uncle Bai shook his head. "Even if you display it, you must play with it often. Such things only have value when used for their true purpose. No matter the age or how beautiful they look on the outside," he explained. He looked between Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng. "Do you understand?"


    Maybe both of them did, maybe neither figured it out.


    "Isn''t it because you want to play a hand with me on this chessboard?" Qian Meng joked.


    "You''ve caught me," Uncle Bai replied.


    Mo Qingchen kept his eyes on the pieces and held up the queen. Indeed, it was exquisite. But then he turned to Bai Yu.


    "Didn''t you say you had something for me, too?" he asked shamelessly.


    Bai Yu chortled in surprise. "Oh yes," he finally said. "A schoolmate of mine was from a family of imperial chefs dating back to the early thirteen hundreds. His family invites a couple of people a year to taste the authentic cuisine. Usually, money won''t get you in. But I know that you like food, so I called my friend."


    Mo Qingchen didn''t react verbally but his eyes sparkled.


    "Oh," Qian Meng gasped. "So, authentic as the days of the Kings? No recipes changed?" she asked.


    Bai Yu nodded. "They grow their own produce, too. So, the taste remains untainted by modern times." He smiled.


    "Sounds good," Mo Qingchen said after a while.


    "Well, I have given you two the gifts you want. You''ll have a taste of royal food and an infinite number of games to accompany you in your life together."

 Chapter 226: Thrown Out of the Bedroom

    Qian Meng laughed. "Uncle Bai, you really put careful thoughts into your gifts," she said.


    Bai Yu shrugged. "What is a little forethought? As long as you two are happy," he said.


    Yes. As long as both of them were happy. What a good thought.


    And so, when they came back to their house that day, Mo Qingchen spoke up. "Let''s get married tomorrow," he said.


    Qian Meng blinked. "Tomorrow? So soon? What about the flight preparations?" she asked in a minor state of panic.


    Mo Qingchen shrugged. "I''ll take care of everything. Just tell me when and how you want to go and I will take care of it. Let''s get married tomorrow." She looked at the expression on his face and couldn''t help but nod in agreement.


    "Okay. Let''s get married tomorrow," she said with finality. Tonight would be her last day as an unmarried woman. Whatever should she do with herself? "I suppose I will move to the guest bedroom for the night. We can''t see each other before the wedding!" she teased.


    Mo Qingchen frowned. "There is no white dress or walking down the aisle involved. And if it was bad luck, I would just overturn it somehow."


    "What about my purity?" Qian Meng blinked innocently.


    "Didn''t you say you were ruined already? Just sleep in this bed. And stop pretending. No one will believe you any longer."


    Qian Meng giggled. "I still haven''t forgiven you for biting me!" she said when she remembered what he had done in the parking lot.


    Mo Qingchen rolled his eyes. "I''ll do it again when you act stupid," he said without a hint of amusement.


    Her eyes widened. "When did I act stupid? You''re just making up things now," she groaned.


    "You''re almost always acting stupid," he retorted.


    "Excuse me, sir. Are you sure you want to sleep in the same bed as me? I could very well sleep in the guest bedroom," she threatened.


    "I was sure you were going to throw me out of the bedroom with my pillow but you really are magnanimous," he claimed.


    Qian Meng frowned. "There you go again. I am not magnanimous. I just¡­" ''Don''t think this room belongs to me as much as it belongs to you.''


    She couldn''t say this out loud. But Mo Qingchen seemed to have understood. The doubt slowly crept into her face.


    His eyes hardened and that dreaded word slipped out of his lips again. "Stupid."


    At this rate, it was unknown when her lips would heal.


    "Mo Qingchen, I am not getting married to you tomorrow!" she fussed. He hummed and let her rage for a few minutes. But a few cubes of ice and a good night''s sleep later, her lips came out unscathed.


    And therefore, the marriage would progress as planned.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng looked at herself in the front-facing camera and decided she looked good enough to attend her own wedding. She picked up her bag and walked out, only to find Li Min wringing her hands together nervously.


    "Boss, have you taken all your documents?" she asked, her eyes moving over Yun Qian Meng and what she was wearing.


    "Yes. Birth certificate. All photograph IDs. Bank passbooks and documents. I even have the family registration book with me." She smiled widely.


    Li Min sighed. "Good luck, Boss. I''m panicking just thinking that you are getting married at such a young age." That too to a wolf. A nice wolf, but a wolf, nonetheless.


    "You''re just bothering yourself for no reason. Take the day off. I''ll send you a picture of the red booklet once I have it in my hands, okay?" Qian Meng chirped. She was in an exceptionally good mood.


    Qian Meng was headed over to Mo Qingchen''s office. She was going to pick him up and then drive to the civil bureau''s office to marry the man. Everyone around her seemed to think Qian Meng needed a lot of luck with this. Li Min and Li Jun had been worried about the family registry and wondered if Yun Sui Bo would allow Qian Meng to take it.


    Qian Meng had been sure he would hinder the wedding, but her lovely younger brother, the cute little Yun Qing Yuan had sneaked out of home with the registry and handed it over to Qian Meng already.


    What a champ.


    There seemed to be no obstacles in this marriage. But something might still go wrong.


    Qian Meng felt fuzzy in her stomach. It had never been that way for her. She just didn''t have it in her to be warm and fuzzy. She was much better known for her devilish laughter and sharp wit.


    She walked across the street and stood in front of the building. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, centering herself. She wondered what the day would bring. One thing was for sure, she was getting married to Mo Qingchen and no one would stop her.


    The inside of the building was quite nice. The walls had sleek waterfalls and cascading fountains. Bright and colorful flowerbeds enhanced the already stunning grounds. She was sure she even saw a butterfly smile at her when she entered the building.


    Fascinating as it was, this was definitely not Mo Qingchen''s style. Someone had made this technology company building into the wonderland of people with green fingers.


    In the distance, the elevator opened and a group of corporate twenty-something-year-olds filed out chattering to one another. She patiently waited for them to fill out before she got in.


    Mo Qingchen had told her the main reception area for his share of the companies. Yes, Mo Qingchen didn''t rent out the whole building, just a bunch of floors.


    When she exited the elevator and found her way to the office reception, she knocked on the door. She was warmly greeted by a tall, slender woman.


    She looked at Qian Meng for a second. "Hi, I am Jia Shu, Human Resource Manager. You must be Xiulan, the new executive secretary. Thank you so much for coming on such short notice," she shook Qian Meng''s hand vigorously.

 Chapter 227: Have Fun and Dupe My Employees

    Qian Meng raised her brow. It was fine if people didn''t recognize her, but this was the first time someone thought she was someone else. She didn''t know how to respond to this situation.


    "Can you give me a second? I''ll just respond to an urgent text," she said politely. The smiled that accompanied the words was impeccable. Jia Shu didn''t think anything of it and waved her to go ahead.


    Qian Meng pulled out her cellphone and opened Mo Qingchen''s chat.


    [Your HR manager thinks I am the new secretary. Too confused to respond.] She sent the message out.


    The response came in record time from Mo Qingchen.


    [I have an hour or so before I finish work. Emergency calls. Have fun and dupe my employees.]


    Qian Meng blinked. Was he feeding her bad behavior of making fun of people? She didn''t mind. If he gave her explicit permission to dupe them, she would take full advantage of the situation and tour the office. Maybe even get in on the gossip.


    This was definitely running errands for the CEO, okay?


    Qian Meng pushed her phone into her bag and gave Jia Shu a blinding smile. "I''m glad to be here."


    Jia Shu clapped her hands in delight. "Excellent. You already sent your paperwork so I won''t need you to fill out too many forms." Her tone was bright and cheery. "Oh and don''t worry, I won''t bore you with the company''s introduction video. How about you promise me you''ll watch it on our website?" she winked.


    "Of course!" Qian Meng chimed in with a playful wink.


    Qian Meng liked this woman. She seemed like a girl that didn''t take life too seriously. She got the feeling that if she were an employee, she would be glad for such an HR manager.


    "Take a seat Xiulan, and we''ll go over a few things." She ushered Qian Meng into her office, closed the door, and returned to her desk.


    Qian Meng sat down and started to look around the room.


    "I assume you have already gone over the job responsibilities, but I would like to discuss them to avoid any confusion," Jia Shu explained as she sat down.


    "Sure." Qian Meng leaned back into her chair. It was warm as if someone had just been sitting in it.


    "Your main responsibility above all is to make sure Mr. Mo follows his schedule and is informed of any and all changes. He''s actually very militant about it." Her tone became serious. "He''ll expect you to be on top of meetings, calling everyone in question and making sure everyone is on time. You will need to confer with the Software Architects often because they mostly come and go from the office." Jia Shu shuffled some papers around her desk as though she was looking for something. "You knew about travel, yes?"


    Qian Meng shook her head. She wasn''t sure if she wanted to know.


    "You are expected to travel with Mr. Mo as needed."


    Qian Meng was confused. She hadn''t seen Mo Qingchen travel with the secretary.


    "Actually, the traveling has posed a problem for us. The current executive secretary is in her last trimester of the pregnancy and she hasn''t been able to travel for a while. She will go on leave in a week. Mr. Mo''s work has been growing so he now requires two secretaries instead of one," she explained to Qian Meng.


    "Oh." Qian Meng couldn''t say anything else.


    "You have no idea how great it is to have you here," Jia Shu said, still shuffling through papers. Then she stopped abruptly and sternly said, "Now, I must warn you. Mr. Mo is a tough man to work for. Though he''s fair and generous to his employees, he expects impeccable work." She looked straight at Qian Meng to emphasize the seriousness of her statement.


    "Thank you for the warning. But I don''t think it is going to be an issue for me." Qian Meng was impressed by her equivocation.


    Jia Shu smiled and nodded her head approvingly.


    "Don''t worry. As I gather, others may have tried to be his friend. I am not interested in that," Qian Meng added slyly.


    "Good. Because that is highly improbable." Jia Shu paused. "More like impossible." She let out a small chuckle. "Forgive me for being inappropriate."


    Actually, what she had said was not overly inappropriate. She wasn''t badmouthing her boss. She was warning the new employee¡­ gently.


    "Oh, please." Qian Meng waved her hand in front of her face. "I can''t stand uptight people dragging their feet in the corporate machine," she admitted honestly. "We''ll get along well." She announced.


    Jia Shu grinned warmly. "I hope you will come to me with any concerns you may have here."


    Qian Meng smiled. "Hopefully, I won''t need to bother you, but I will if I need to."


    "Just remember that Mr. Mo needs to remain your top priority. If he''s unhappy, everyone''s unhappy." She almost began to roll her eyes but caught herself.


    She cleared her throat nervously and handed Qian Meng some forms to fill out. With that, she led Qian Meng into the reception area with instructions.


    The forms looked normal. Qian Meng put them aside and into a folder.


    "Come. Let me give you a brief tour of the building before I bring you to Mr. Mo''s office." Her smile was dazzling.


    The next half an hour was spent mingling with various personnel. They seemed friendly enough. Inviting faces and warm pleasantries were showered on Qian Meng. They were absolutely delighted until they were told she was the secretary.


    "Hang in there," cried a small girl, hugging Qian Meng tightly.


    How ridiculous.


    Jia Shu led her away from the group of employees. "Are you ready to meet the big guy?" Her long legs moved swiftly down the hall. She gave Qian Meng a friendly wink to their mail carrier as they passed him by.


    "Is he expecting me?" Qian Meng''s brow creased curiously.

 Chapter 228: Thrilled to be Working Undercover

    "Yes, you have an appointment with him and you''ll be right on time," Jia Shu spoke softly. She glanced at her watch.


    Qian Meng prayed for the actual new secretary. The woman was grievously late. She wondered what happened to her.


    "Since it is your first day, I''ll send someone to show you around the health club when it opens. I think you will like it there."


    Health club. Fascinating.


    A few moments later, the elevator dinged and they were off. As the doors slid shut, Jia Shu was already chatting with the people around them.


    Qian Meng gave out a friendly grin.


    The executive suite had opulent furnishing, giving it a regal look, while somehow still maintaining a modern vibe.


    A lively voice pulled Qian Meng out of her thoughts.


    "Jia Shu, you''re on time as always!" her smile was playful. "Your shoes are so beautiful," the woman cried out while glaring at Jia Shu''s feet. "I''m so jealous. I can''t wear heels for god knows how long."


    She actually pouted like a child for a moment with her arms crossed.


    "This is Gu Rong, Mr. Mo''s Executive Secretary. She is excellent at what she does," Jia Shu explained.


    "Oh, please¡­ You''ll be on track within no time!" Gu Rong said excitedly.


    Qian Meng extended her hand to shake. Gu Rong took it and pulled her in for a quick hug instead. "Don''t mind me. I started loving hugs when I got pregnant. I am sure the doctors can explain."


    "Delighted to meet you," Qian Meng commented. "We''ll be spending a lot of time together, you and I." It wasn''t meant to sound ominous, but it did.


    Jia Shu touched Qian Meng''s arm. "I have to run. Enjoy your first day and don''t hesitate to contact me if you need anything at all." She waved goodbye as she rushed to grab an open elevator.


    Gu Rong grabbed Qian Meng. "Let''s get you to Mr. Mo''s office before it''s too late." She scrunched her nose as though she didn''t want to think about what could happen in that case.


    "Too late?" Qian Meng wondered aloud.


    "Mr. Mo has no tolerance for tardiness. I learned that lesson the hard way." She let out a cute little sigh. Qian Meng knew this well, but it had never affected her.


    Gu Rong lifted her hand and knocked on the door three times.


    After a moment, Qian Meng heard Mo Qingchen''s deep voice commanding them to enter. Gu Rong quickly opened the door, leading Qian Meng by the hand to the front of a large desk.


    "Mr. Mo, this is your new executive secretary, Hao Xiulan."


    There was silence. Qian Meng saw Mo Qingchen press his lips together. He looked up and Qian Meng had to bite back a smile at his expression. He was trying so hard not to react to her little deception.


    "Mr. Mo, I''ll be taking my leave then," Gu Rong said quickly before moving back. The door closed behind her and Qian Meng chuckled.


    Mo Qingchen finally allowed a smile to slip. "You look lovely today," he said as he stood up. He slid his hand into his front pockets.


    "Thank you," Qian Meng answered. "Apparently, I look like an executive secretary. Whatever that means." She crossed over to his side of the desk and hopped up to sit on the edge of it. "I figured I might as well go along with it. Act as your informant. It was thrilling to be undercover."


    "I see," Mo Qingchen said with a nod, laughing.


    "What''s so funny?" Qian Meng asked.


    "You are," he answered simply. She seemed to have said something along the same line to him a while back.


    "Why am I funny?" She eyed him cautiously as he started to slowly walk towards her.


    "Because you just came in here and plop yourself down on top of my desk like it''s nobody''s business."


    "You don''t want me sitting on your desk?" It was his prized possession. But so was she.


    "I never said that." Mo Qingchen sauntered the rest of the way over to her, closing the gap between them. He stood right in front of where she was sitting and pulled his hand out of his pockets, placing them on the desktop on either side of her hips. "In fact, you look very good on top of my desk. I''ll have to keep that in mind."


    He tilted his head to the side and his lips descended towards her. An alarm went off in Qian Meng''s head.


    "What are you doing?" she asked, even though she knew very well.


    "I''m going to kiss you," he blinked innocently.


    "In the office? Someone will come in at any time," she hissed.


    "I know you want me to kiss you, Qian Meng. Who cares about someone walking in? We''re getting married today."


    There was no time to respond. His lips were on her in a flash, moving gently yet insistently against hers. She felt him move his hand to take her chin and tilt her face up towards his. Her mind was overloaded with thoughts. One moment he had been standing across the office and now he was kissing her. She didn''t even know what to think.


    She actually never thought the militant Mo Qingchen would allow for intimacy within the confines of his office. But she didn''t expect him to be this candid and gentle at that moment.


    She spent a few moments trying to sort out all the thoughts bombarding her and it took her a while to realize that Mo Qingchen wasn''t just kissing her, she was kissing him back. Her lips were moving against his as well.


    And then there was this feeling in her stomach. She had felt it on that rainy night when she first really kissed Mo Qingchen. Except, this time, the feeling was way stronger. While her lips were steadily warming up to him, her mind was panicking over that exact fact.

 Chapter 229: Think About Her Every Time He Works

    They''d never kissed that way before. His kisses were usually rough, almost savage. This time, his lips were gentle and attentive. It took her off guard.


    ''What is wrong with my stomach?''


    The truth was, the way Mo Qingchen was kissing her gave her butterflies. She was not prepared for it.


    She would never know if Mo Qingchen felt the same way. She wasn''t even willing to admit it to herself, much less to him. She suspected that it might have the same way for him. At least, that is what she would have liked to think.


    His walls were up so high that she dared not ask him if he felt soft and caring towards her.


    Qian Meng lifted her arms until her palms were flat against his chest and then she pushed against him. Mo Qingchen pulled his lips away from her. Still, they were dangerously close. She didn''t wait for him to step back away from her.


    Instead, she slid off his desk, forcing him to move back to give her room. Immediately she moved towards the window to put some space between them. The butterflies in her stomach were not from a feeling of sexual attraction. She could tell the difference.


    She didn''t want to find out what it meant.


    "I briefly considered apologizing but I won''t apologize for something you clearly enjoyed." Without thinking, she whipped around to face him. She huffed when she saw his smirk. She wanted to slap it right off his face.


    God, it made her want to kiss him again.


    "What makes you sure that I enjoyed it?" she challenged.


    "You kissed me back¡­ very passionately." The corners of his eyes crinkled with delight.


    "You''re so full of yourself!" she exclaimed.


    "I am not full of myself. I am sure of myself. There is a difference."


    Qian Meng sighed and ran her hand through her hair, a habit she had picked up from Mo Qingchen. She walked back to the chairs and sat down, facing the front of Mo Qingchen''s desk.


    "You don''t mind making out with me in your office? The place you work? You''ll now think about me every time you sit down to work," she taunted. Mo Qingchen''s eyes flashed towards her.


    "Who said I didn''t want that to happen? It will make me work efficiently and not kill myself over it. I''ll remember that I have to take you home and catch some sleep after dinner. Sounds good to me."


    Qian Meng blinked. "Do you realize you just said something romantic?" she questioned.


    Mo Qingchen glared. "I''m just stating a fact."


    Qian Meng shook her head. Maybe she was thinking too deeply into the matter.


    "Sure," she mused. "I think I like you better when you''re kissing me." She shrugged. Mo Qingchen leaned down, his head looking down at her.


    She reached up to cup the back of his neck.


    ''Don''t think about it, Qian Meng.''


    She pulled his head down towards her and this time, she initiated the kiss. This kiss was different. It was much like how they usually interacted: trying to one-up one another.


    Their lips were insistent and their tongues fought for dominance, each wanting to lead in the dance they were engaged in. Although their lips moved slowly, their actions still felt passionate. Mo Qingchen kept on humming and Qian Meng finally knew that he had taken a page from her techniques.


    This scoundrel!


    They stayed like that for a long time. By the time Mo Qingchen pulled away, Qian Meng''s lips were literally chapped. And he didn''t even pull away completely. He kissed down her jaw, her neck, and over to her ear.


    "Thank you," he whispered against her skin.


    "For what?" Qian Meng whispered back.


    "For humoring me and my employees. I''m so glad I am marrying you today."


    She sighed and started to nervously chew on the inside of her cheek. "You think so?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen cradled her cheeks and nodded. "Someone''s outside talking to Gu Rong. They should be here to take you. Your lipstick is a little faded," he commented.


    She glared. "It''s transfer-proof!" she countered. Still, she looked at the camera and patted it in. "It looks natural. No issues." She looked at his lips and wiped at the slight smudges on his skin before she was satisfied.


    "All done." She grinned.


    Finally, there were three knocks on the door.


    "Come in," Mo Qingchen called as he put distance between them. Gu Rong peered in. She looked between Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen before shrugging it away.


    "Mr. Mo, Cai De is here to bring her down to the club," Gu Rong announced.


    Mo Qingchen looked at Qian Meng for a second before nodding.


    She bit her lip before heading for the door without looking back. They could go home and finish what they started.


    Gu Rong took in her expression and didn''t seem surprised. Qian Meng wondered what the others saw on her face.


    "I see things went well," Gu Rong teased.


    "Just delightful," Qian Meng responded. "What do you think happened?" Her arms were folded tightly.


    "He didn''t shout at you, that''s good. He might have said something offensive. Did he call you his servant?" A masculine voice responded. Qian Meng quickly spun around to see the source of the voice.


    "Hi, I am Cai De, VP of Product Management." He waved and smiled politely.


    "Nice to meet you. He calls people his servants quite easily, does he?" she asked. "Never mind." She shook her head and smiled weakly. She was still reeling from the feeling of Mo Qingchen''s lips on hers.


    "Oh, don''t feel awkward talking to us! Trust me. We''ve all been there." He let out an empathetic sigh. "You look very human coming out of the room."


    Human, my foot! Qian Meng wanted to protest.


    Mo Qingchen''s employees seemed to dislike him quite a bit.


    Qian Meng actually had to crane her neck to look at the man. Cai De towered over her. She thought Mo Qingchen was tall, but this guy was massive.

 Chapter 230: Creative Way to Diss on the Boss

    He had biceps and triceps and all sorts of muscles that Qian Meng didn''t even know existed.


    Instantly, Qian Meng wondered if he could crush a watermelon with his bare hands. She didn''t know why she had that thought.


    Gu Rong quickly made her way over and hugged Qian Meng slightly. She stiffened and then wondered if she should push the woman away. She was very pregnant, so Qian Meng didn''t even want to touch her in fear.


    "Seriously, we would be shocked if you came out of his office in a good mood," Gu Rong said sweetly. "Actually, I have never seen anyone come out of that office in a good mood. Even people he was doing business with."


    Probably because Mo Qingchen didn''t compromise and give them what they wanted.


    "If he''s that bad, why do you work for him?" Qian Meng pointed towards the direction of his office.


    The two looked at each other and then at Qian Meng. They both began to speak but then stopped.


    "Well, not only is it a prestigious company to work for, but the pay is top-notch. No other company pays so well. Plus, the employees here are absolute darlings. Mr. Mo is harsh but he beats all the employees into shape. We come in as lumps of coal and he pressures us into diamonds if you will." Gu Rong giggled mischievously.


    "She''s right. The work is so interesting and the benefits great. We can''t complain. Mr. Mo is the ruler of this jungle. He can do whatever he likes as long as my paycheck gets signed and I have fun working on new projects," Cai De grinned snidely.


    Qian Meng wondered if they were exaggerating. Mo Qingchen rarely spoke to people unnecessarily and he was harsh, but he didn''t snap at people unfairly. Qian Meng had a tingling feeling that the employees had made him out to be a villain and didn''t see how he was actually a strict boss who didn''t know how to put pressure without glaring.


    "So, he belittles you and you listen to it so that you get paid?" her voice was appalled, but for a very different reason.


    "It''s not so bad! Nothing a few stiff drinks at the end of the day can''t fix, right?" Cai De looked at Gu Rong.


    "Right. Should we tell her¡­" she glanced behind her. "Support group." She made air quotes as she said the words.


    "You have a support group?" Qian Meng chuckled at the idea. "You are not participating in the drinking, right?" she questioned, looking down at the prominent baby bump.


    "Don''t laugh. I am serious. We have weekly meetings. And no, I don''t drink. I just have water and vent with the others," Gu Rong grinned.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. Who needed a support group for their job? She tried not to seem insensitive, but she found it totally ridiculous. Did Li Min do something similar?


    Qian Meng had to wonder.


    "So, what do you do at these meetings?" she asked.


    Gu Rong lowered her voice to almost a whisper. "We have a booth reserved at a trashy local bar. We meet every Monday and Friday after work. Not the whole company, of course. Just the ones who work closely with Mr. Mo." She sounded so serious. She even kept glancing behind her as she spoke. "It''s happy hour, so we don''t need to spend much money. But we always end up venting about the Dragon."


    Instantly, she clamped both her hands over her mouth in fear.


    "I mean Mr. Mo!" her eyes darted nervously over to Cai De, who looked up to the ceiling and then shook his head like he didn''t know what she was talking about.


    "I know what he is called in the business circle," Qian Meng explained. "But surely¡­ he isn''t making you work hard¡­ You''re very pregnant."


    Gu Rong blinked. "Oh, of course not. He''s very understanding. The secretary is required to follow him to all meetings and take notes, make reservations, and catch up with business associates, but I have basically been scheduling everything for the past few months. He''s been very understanding and doesn''t allow me on my feet for long."


    Qian Meng felt a smile on her lips. Look at this softie. They thought he was a tyrant, but in reality, he was taking care of his employees so well.


    "He doesn''t sound so bad, does he?" Qian Meng chimed in. The two others grew silent.


    "We have a book about him¡­" Gu Rong spoke up¡­ "About his exploits. It''s more like a children''s illustrated book one of the campaign artists made."


    Qian Meng blinked. What a creative way of dissing on the boss. She was learning a lot today.


    "You''re getting late! You need to go complete the tour!" Gu Rong frantically grabbed Qian Meng''s hand and began dragging her down the hall. The girl was stronger than she appeared.


    "Slow down," Qian Meng called, but Gu Rong just tugged her forward and kept going. Qian Meng looked back at Cai De and he was smirking at her.


    "You''re very calm. You''re going to fit in around here just fine, little girl," Cai De said as the elevator door closed. The health club arrived. He walked around, showing Qian Meng the employees who were in the room at the time.


    Jia Shu wasn''t kidding when she said the people around here were¡­ different.


    The air was alive. The beat of the music in the weight room thumped through her bones. It was no worse than the gym she went to, but it also had to do with Mo Qingchen and how he placed gyms everywhere he spent time. She had seen that theme recur.


    The first person she met was Peng Huo, the Project Manager. He was¡­ unique. He wore a skin-tight pair of cheetah print stretch pants and a long, tank top. No shoes. Somehow, he managed to pull it off.


    Probably into yoga.

 Chapter 231: Did the Boss Spank You?

    When Cai De introduced her, Peng Huo clapped his hand together. "You''re beautiful. Have I seen you somewhere?" he asked.


    Qian Meng had never seen him, so she didn''t respond.


    "Maybe not. How would I know you?" he sighed. "I''ve been working here since college and the work is keeping me alive at this point. With Mr. Mo running behind me with a sword to perfect everything¡­ I need to cleanse my aura." He put his hand on his chest. "As you can see¡­ this body is a gift from God." He batted his eyelash at Qian Meng.


    She chuckled thinking he was joking around, but then she noticed he wasn''t chuckling along with her.


    A diva. A diva who liked yoga.


    "Where did you work before this?" he asked casually. "Did your boss spank you there, too? Is that why you came to our company?"


    Qian Meng choked on her chuckle. "Excuse me?"


    "Oh, so you are an innocent flower and walked into the dragon''s lair. He''ll eat you alive!" He shook his head in disappointment.


    Before she could respond, a woman appeared behind him. She rolled her eyes and snapped, "Leave her alone."


    "God, Huo Lei, don''t be so prissy. It''s not my fault you need to work overtime!" He swung his hand over his head theatrically.


    The woman just shook her head, though she looked amused. "I''m Huo Lei, Software Developer in Team One. Peng Huo and I went to college together, but he became a scared lamb down the way."


    Qian Meng could guess that they had an amicable relationship and were not in the same team. That was why they could talk this way to one another.


    "Nice meeting you," Qian Meng said.


    Cai De came back from wherever he had gone. "Okay, follow me. Mr. Mo might call on you at any moment. Let''s complete the tour." He walked Qian Meng through the rooms. "Just so you know¡­ we have an employee''s meet every year and we dress up. You should be prepared for that!"


    That sounded fun and not something Mo Qingchen would indulge in.


    Cai De pulled out his phone and showed her a picture. It was a group photo of core staff it looked like. They were dressed in clothes from the Western seventies. She recognized Cai De, Peng Huo, Huo Lei, and Gu Rong. There were also several people in the photo she didn''t recognize.


    Qian Meng released a half-laugh. The photo was equal parts funny and disturbing to look at.


    "This was last year. We always go with a theme." Cai De smiled as he looked over her shoulder at the picture.


    "Such a shame you weren''t born in this decade. Those clothes were made for you," Qian Meng complimented.


    "Ah, don''t tease me just yet. You should wait to see what we have planned this year. You are going to love it." He headed for the door snickering and smiling devilishly as he went.


    "I want to see you in a mullet, for some reason," Qian Meng commented, her hands folded in prayer.


    "Keep speaking, little girl. Don''t forget, you''re the newbie here. This means you don''t get any input on your first costume. Be warned, we are a very creative bunch." He gave her a quick wink and closed the door.


    They were led back to the main area, where the familiar faces had congregated. It seemed like everyone was done with their work or taking a break.


    Peng Huo came up to Qian Meng. "How do you like the building?" he asked.


    "It''s very beautiful. Who designed all of this?" Qian Meng asked.


    Peng Huo shrugged. "Probably the aesthetic Mr. Mo likes. Grand and expensive."


    Qian Meng shook his head. "No. He despises the decoration, I can assure you," she snickered. She could imagine him dreading walking through those hallways.


    "How would you know?" he asked.


    Her phone rang just at the moment. She looked at the name and smiled. "I''m in the health club. Done?" Qian Meng asked gently.


    "Yes, I am just coming down to get you. I finished work."


    "Okay. I''m waiting," Qian Meng chirped.


    She hung up the phone.


    The people around her stared. "Am I not allowed to take calls in the building?" she joked under their eyes.


    "Oh, no. Just¡­ I never thought anyone apart from Gu Rong would be in a relationship. You have a partner and still came to this company as a secretary."


    Qian Meng frowned. "Why? Do the executive secretaries come to seduce Mo Qingchen?" she asked.


    There was some commotion. "Whoa. You can''t call him that!" Peng Huo leaped to her side. "If you call his name, he will appear."


    Qian Meng started to laugh really loudly. They thought she didn''t believe them but when the elevator door opened and Mo Qingchen arrived, she heard Peng Huo say something on the lines of, ''I told you so.''


    She continued to laugh, unable to stop herself. It wasn''t that she found the situation amusing, it was just funny thinking how these people would react.


    She was desperately gasping for air when she sheepishly looked at Mo Qingchen through red, watery eyes. She was sure she looked unstable. The others around her had the same freaked-out expression that she thought they would.


    Mo Qingchen, though, shook his head in amusement and held his hand out to her.


    He rubbed the moisture away from her eye. And took it. "You''re late," she reprimanded in an amused voice.


    "I had business to take care of. Let''s go," he announced. He looked around at the room and then at Qian Meng questioningly.


    Qian Meng turned to them. "Sorry for duping all of you. No one gave me the opportunity to say who I was when I arrived. I''m Yun Qian Meng. My office is across the street."


    There was silence in the room.


    "Why are you¡­ here?" Peng Huo was the first to respond. He finally realized where he had seen her.

 Chapter 232: Marriage Was Making Her Dumber

    She was on the call with Mr. Mo as he counted those coins last time! How could he not recognize her?


    She looked so different in real life.


    "Important life event," Qian Meng said shortly.


    Mo Qingchen tugged at her hand, trying to pull her away. "Wow. Are you so weary to marry me?" she asked, her voice sounding as sweet as pie.


    "Come. The line will be too long if we are late," he said gruffly. Qian Meng shook her head in disbelief. She squeezed his hand tightly and followed him with a skip in her step.


    - - - - -


    Mo Qingchen led her to the bank, keeping her close to his side with his arm around her waist after leaving the civil bureau office. As they went through the monotonous routine of making a bank account and connecting recurring payments and transfers to it, Qian Meng once again looked at the document with both their signs on it.


    A few months ago, she wouldn''t even have thought about signing a business contract with Mo Qingchen, but now she had signed a marriage form, bank forms. They were even considered each other''s medical guardians from then on. She wondered how many more papers they would sign together. The thought made her smile.


    While it wasn''t really the ''big day'' everyone touted it to be in the traditional sense, it was her ''big day'' in some ways. It was a life-changing, exciting, and monumental day for her. She wanted the rest of it to be spent at Bora Bora, or at least on her way.


    Being her stubborn self, she didn''t listen to Mo Qingchen when he told her they should stay at home and wait until the next morning to leave for Bora Bora. She wanted to get there literally as soon as possible, so Mo Qingchen had borrowed his father''s private jet to fly them there. They stopped by the house to take their luggage and left for the airport straight.


    So, as a result, Mo Qingchen and she were both exhausted by the time they settled in for their flight.


    Yin Ah raised the curtain separating the quarters and entered with flutes of champagne for the newlywed couple. She gave Qian Meng a smile, mischievous and all before leaving.


    It was common knowledge that they were together, so she didn''t bother explaining. Qian Meng was sure she couldn''t sleep on the flight because of Yin Ah''s eyes on her, but she ended up surprised.


    She woke up when they reached Bora Bora.


    She had only woken up for short spans of time to eat, only being fed by Mo Qingchen and then falling back asleep.


    She awoke with a jolt, the first thought entering her foggy mind being that her neck was incredibly sore. She rubbed at her eyes, opening and shutting them a few times as she tried to clear the fuzziness. She rubbed her eyes, opening and shutting them a few times as she tried to clear the fuzziness.


    She winced, moving one hand to rub at the back of her neck.


    "Sore?" Mo Qingchen asked, looked over at her.


    "Yes," she said, tilting her head from side to side.


    "I figured you would be. You slept with your head on my shoulder the entire time. I think you may have even drooled a little on my shirt," he said, his face scrunching up in distaste.


    "I really slept well. I feel so full of energy!" she yelped. "I must have been really exhausted all this time." She patted his shoulder. "It must have been your shoulder. So broad and soft."


    He froze for the fraction of a second. "Did you call me soft?" he asked, his voice lower than usual.


    She blinked. "I also called your shoulder broad. Does your arm feel numb?" she asked after a second, worry taking over.


    "Absolutely not. I worked for most of the time. I could have taken you to the bedroom, but you wouldn''t budge even if I tried. You didn''t move an inch."


    She frowned and ignored his teasing. "Where are we, anyway?"


    "I believe we are just about to land. You woke up just in time."


    "We''re landing already? It''s been thirteen hours?" she asked, horrified. "I lost a day!" she groaned.


    "Well¡­ it''s almost a day behind Shanghai time. We have loads of time." He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.


    "Did you sleep?" she asked softly.


    "Only a little while. It''s evening in Bora Bora. I want to sleep at night," he snickered. "I know that you won''t be able to sleep all of tonight."


    "What the hell?" she asked incredulously.


    "What?"


    "Why did you let me sleep, then? I don''t want my sleep schedule to go awry. Now, I won''t be able to sleep tonight!" Bad Mo Qingchen.


    "You''re so stubborn, you would have slept anyway." He shrugged.


    "Probably, but you could have reminded me." How did she forget about the time difference? Was marriage making her dumber already?


    "I''m starving," she announced, feeling her stomach growl.


    "We can order room service once we get to the hotel. Don''t eat the food here any longer," he advised. "I have already booked restaurants and deliveries of all sorts of food."


    Qian Meng blinked. "When did you get the time to do all of that?" she gasped. "Are we going on a honeymoon or eating spree?" she asked with a groan.


    He turned to her with a devious look. "We will not be working on our honeymoon. It is the time to resort to your basic necessities in life. Eating, fucking, and sleeping." He smiled so angelically that Qian Meng choked on her breath.


    "I have no idea what you are talking about," she whispered. "And we aren''t going out to eat once we settle into the hotel?"


    Mo Qingchen shook his head. "I am tired. The resort we are staying in has excellent food, so we will indulge from the confines of our room tonight. And then¡­ it will be time for bed." He smirked at her.


    "What a jerk," she mumbled as she fastened her seatbelt as the indicator light flicked on.

 Chapter 233: Afraid to Leave the Bathroom

    On the way from the airport to the hotel, Qian Meng was very much awake. Not only was she awake, but she was practically clawing at the car windows, not wanting to miss one second of the breathtaking scenery around her.


    "This is beautiful," she said, gazing out of the window like a bewitched woman.


    "It is. There will be plenty of time for seeing the island tomorrow, in broad daylight."


    "I''m enticed to just give up on going to the hotel and just sleeping on the roadside," Qian Meng breathed.


    "Wait until you see the hotel," Mo Qingchen whispered conspiratorially. "Speaking of it. We are here."


    Qian Meng looked at the scenery, stunned. There were huts looming over the water, the lighting underneath making everything so pretty that she couldn''t breathe for a second.


    "We have the biggest and the farthest huts all to ourselves. You can sunbathe, jump into the ocean, eat on a boat. Whatever you want." He took her hand and helped her out of the car.


    When they checked in at the front desk, she was surprised to find that Mo Qingchen spoke to the staff with complete ease.


    He conversed with the woman on the other side of the counter, typing away on a computer. He was polite to her despite her smiles and giggles. The woman reached over to hand him the keys to their room.


    Mo Qingchen tucked the room keys into his pocket and then gently placed his hand against Qian Meng''s lower back, turning her around with him.


    "Come," he said softly as he guided her in the direction of the walkway under the open sky and above the waters.


    "The luggage has already been taken to the rooms?" Qian Meng enquired.


    "Yeah. The room has been set up. No one will bother us for the next few days."


    As they walked towards the room, Qian Meng became nervous. This was the first time she would be alone with him as his wife. She wondered if the interactions between them would be any different than before. Would he look at her differently? Would he expect her to treat him differently?


    As she thought about the factors that would be different between them, her mind turned to sex. It wasn''t like she hadn''t thought about it. They had done pretty much everything apart from the final act.


    Qian Meng gasped as they walked into the last leg of the walk. She could see the expansive ''hut,'' Mo Qingchen had spoken off. It was more like a small one-storeyed villa¡­ the length of it large enough to house ten or more people.


    "After you, my bride," he whispered, gesturing to the door he had just opened.


    She froze when she strode inside.


    The decoration was rustic but elegant. The immaculate wooden furniture and decoration worked well with the materials used to build the hut and the water outside. As she walked through the living area, she entered a small opening. It was an area with an open sky and you could sit at the very edge and enjoy the water.


    Qian Meng wanted to cry.


    "Do you like it?" Mo Qingchen asked, following her as she made her way around the heavenly rooms.


    "It''s perfect," she replied, stopping and standing still in the bedroom.


    "Good," he said softly, giving her a small smile.


    "It doesn''t feel foreign. It''s beautiful and homey. I want to live here forever," she breathed. The idea came to her and she had to shake it out of her head.


    "We can come here for a vacation any time you want," he told her.  "I''ll allow you to drool on me for half a day on the flight to see you happy." She turned to him, her eyes wide.


    "Have you stayed here before?" she asked.


    He shook his head. "No. I looked through the photos on the internet. It seemed fitting to your taste than the other more ''luxurious'' resorts. It''s more casual but also elegant."


    "You know me better than I thought," she praised.


    "The luggage is all in here," he responded, gesturing to their bags sitting in the corner of the bedroom. "If you wanted to change clothes or freshen up."


    "Please," she groaned. She eagerly opened and dug into her suitcase. "A shower sounds amazing right now."


    "Still starving?" he asked, slipping off his shoes and neatly putting them up against the wall.


    "Yes, I think I can feel my stomach eating away at itself."


    Mo Qingchen laughed lightly. He went to retrieve the intercom.  "I''ll ask them to deliver the food while you are in the shower. I can''t have my wife''s organs disintegrate on the first day of our marriage," he teased.


    "You''re the best," Qian Meng hummed.


    "Do you want anything in specific?" he asked once again.


    "I have no idea about the cuisine here. Get me something nice and simple. Nothing too fancy or away from the original dishes, okay? I want to taste authenticity first!"


    He perked up. "A woman after my heart! Yes. Good and traditional food is good. I''ll order enough to fill you up." He told her with a hint of danger in his voice.


    "Perfect." Qian Meng smiled as she pulled her toiletry bag out of her suitcase.


    "I had them put some champagne on ice in the kitchen. Would you like anything else to drink?"


    "There''s a kitchen here?" she asked, confused.


    "There is. Not that we will be using it to cook," he shrugged. Qian Meng stared at him for a solid second before shaking her head.


    "Champagne is fine," she said over her shoulder as she carried her toiletries with her to the bathroom. "I won''t be long," she added.


    Qian Meng really didn''t mean to be long in the bathroom. She had every intention of showering quickly and being out before her food arrived at the room.


    However, it didn''t really work out that way.


    Subconsciously, she was afraid to leave that bathroom.

 Chapter 234: She Didnt Want Him to Regret His Decision

    She thought that she was afraid of the unknown. She didn''t know what was in store for her. She was nervous about where things would go from there, and she guessed hiding in the bathroom helped her to avoid her fears as long as possible.


    So, as Qian Meng hid, she groomed herself in pretty much every way one could imagine. She unnecessarily shaved her legs, although skipping her already waxed girly bits. She meticulously scrubbed every inch of her body. Qian Meng shampooed and conditioned her hair, and then used the blow dryer to dry and fluff it once getting out of the shower. Qian Meng washed her face, put on deodorant, and brushed her teeth¡­ twice.


    She wasn''t sure what to expect as far as Mo Qingchen wanting to have sex that night, but she did want to be prepared in the event that he did. Although it was an unconventional situation, she still had enough self-worth to want to look her best if he may see her naked for the first time. She knew she would be less nervous if she was confident in her appearance.


    He had seen bits and pieces of her, but if he was her in all her glory. She didn''t know how to cope with that. What if he didn''t like what he saw?


    She didn''t want him to regret her decision.


    After completing all of that, she started to get antsy. Qian Meng still wasn''t ready to go out and meet her fate. So, she looked around the bathroom, trying to think of more things to do to occupy herself.


    She began a whole new round of compulsive and unnecessary rituals.


    She tweezed her already maintained eyebrows, filed her already manicured nails, straightened her hair that had already been smoothed down by the blow dryer (she should have done the usual and waited for her hair to dry naturally), and applied lotion to her whole body which was still pruned from standing under the hot water for too long.


    And then she brushed her teeth again. It was all rather redundant.


    Sighing with the acceptance that her appearance was as good as it was going to get, she shoved everything back into her cosmetic bag. Qian Meng then took a step back and turned to look at the reflection of her naked body in the full-length mirror that was attached to the backside of the bathroom door. Qian Meng turned slightly from side to side, wanting to see what Mo Qingchen would see if he indeed did decide that he wanted to have sex that night. She moved her eyes up and down as she observed herself from bottom to top.


    Qian Meng looked over her legs first. They were small, a tiny bit toned, but not muscular by any means. Her eyes traveled up further where her thighs turned into her hips, they were wide, providing curves to give her a feminine figure. Between her hips rested possibly her favorite feature on herself. She had been blessed to have a naturally flat and even a little bit of a toned stomach. She wasn''t rocking a six-pack, but she definitely wasn''t flabby at all.


    Her breasts were nothing special, but they suited her just fine. Despite what Mo Qingchen said, her breasts weren''t magnificently big or small. They were just average.


    As she stood there and looked at herself naked, she realized that she had forgotten to bring clothes with her into the bathroom.


    She cursed under her breath. How had she forgotten the clothes? She had been staying with Mo Qingchen for enough time to get into that habit. e bathroom.


    The bathroom was hot from the steamy shower. She sighed and grabbed her towel, wrapping it around herself and tucking it into itself under her arms. She took one last glance at herself in the mirror, flipped her hair over her shoulder, and decided it was time to finally leave the bathroom. She had no idea how long she had been in there, but she knew it had already gone beyond the norm.


    Qian Meng exited the bathroom back into the bedroom, where she found Mo Qingchen. He was sitting at the desk, illuminated by the light of the lamp next to him. He had an empty plate and a half-full champagne glass at his side. In front of him, he was writing purposefully on something. He seemed rather absorbed in it and didn''t seem to even notice Qian Meng''s reappearance.


    "Hi," she murmured softly.


    "Hey," he replied, glancing up at her just briefly before he looked back down at whatever he was doing. He quickly did a double-take, looking back up at her, taken aback.


    "Are you¡­ did you forget your clothes?" he asked.


    "I did. I am not trying to seduce you," she warned, wagging a finger at him to hide her nervousness. "Are you working? I thought you wouldn''t do that!"


    He blinked. "Well, you were in the shower for what seemed like a year, so I started working on something." He pushed the paper aside and put his attention fully on Qian Meng.


    "Yeah¡­" she started awkwardly. "Sorry, that took so long," she added, shifting her weight awkwardly.


    "Don''t worry about it. I put your food in the microwave to try and conserve some of the heat," he told her gently. She smiled. "It''s almost gourmet, so don''t forget to enjoy it slowly."


    "You won''t sit by and explain everything to me?" she asked, shocked.


    His smile grew and he nodded. "I''ll do it from here," he told her. "You should eat a full meal." His eyes glowed darkly.


    Still hot from the shower, she decided to just remain in her towel as she went to go eat her food. She ate unceremoniously, listening to Mo Qingchen explain what was on the table.


    "I''ll grab a shower myself," he said. "I promise not to take as long as you, though. I don''t even think I could achieve such a big feat even if I tried."


    "Shut up!" she muttered, rolling her eyes.

 Chapter 235: Claim Her on the Wedding Night

    "I''m just messing with you," he laughed.


    After finishing the food, Qian Meng went back to the bedroom to get some clothes. But before she could even get to her suitcase, the captivating sight from the adjoining balcony caught her attention.


    She couldn''t resist taking a peek at the view right away, so she passed by her suitcase and headed outside.


    Just as she had expected, the view outside was breathtaking. There was not a single human in the vicinity and Qian Meng had to acknowledge the vastness of the world. Qian Meng smiled as she rested her elbows against the railing and leaned over, trying to take in everything. She tried to memorize everything within sight, never wanting to forget that image.


    Floating over the water, she looked further and further away from where the light merged into darkness, but the water didn''t end.


    She heard the doors creak open behind her. She knew that it would be Mo Qingchen and she didn''t even bother turning around to confirm it. Qian Meng was too absorbed in the beauty of the scene before her, looking more like a picture than something she was actually seeing right in front of her eyes.


    "Gorgeous, isn''t it?" Mo Qingchen muttered as he moved up behind her, bringing his hands to rest on her hips.


    She felt her body stiffen just slightly, suddenly very aware that she was totally naked other than the small white towel loosely wrapped around her middle. The towel barely came up over her breasts and ended right where her ass met her thighs.


    She had no idea what kind of clothing if any that Mo Qingchen had on since he was behind her and she hadn''t turned around, but she was fairly certain that she could at least feel his upper body. It was bare.


    He was telling her things that she couldn''t concentrate on. He left one arm around her waist but lifted the other to move her hair off her neck, pushing it all over one shoulder. His lips found the now exposed side, showering it with slow and hot, open-mouthed kisses as he spoke between them.


    Her eyes fluttered closed and she instinctually stretched her neck out to make more room for his lips. "I have to admit, your company makes the best tasting moisturizer," he muttered thickly against her neck.


    She hummed and then her eyes popped open. "Wait. I am not sure if it is okay for consumption." She panicked for a second before she joked. "Wouldn''t it be fun if you got poisoned on our wedding night? Will I be called a black widow?" she snickered.


    He huffed, missing a kiss. "I have read the ingredients and watched all the videos on your products. It''s safe," he muttered.


    Qian Meng chuckled. "You''re studying my products? Dedicated to your wife, huh?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen ignored her. "Tell me, Yun Qian Meng. Did you saunter out of that shower looking all sexy for me? Did you want to look good for me?" he whispered.


    Qian Meng swallowed again. She wasn''t sure how to answer him. Her glib and sarcastic tongue had become dry, so she decided to be honest.


    "I didn''t know if you wanted to¡­" she trailed off.


    "Want to what?" he asked softly, still placing searing kisses on the skin of her neck.


    "Want to¡­" she couldn''t speak past the content sigh at the feeling of his hot tongue against her burning skin.


    "Want to fuck you tonight?" he asked, unabashed.


    "Yes," she shuddered out.


    "Is that so? Haven''t I told you before¡­ I fucking love to touch you. I want to explore every single inch of your body. I''ll want you long after I have tasted, touched, and memorized every cell. Do you understand?"


    Mo Qingchen slid his hand off the arm that wasn''t holding her down the side of her body to gently caress her thigh.


    "You thought I was a gentleman who wouldn''t claim you the same night. You thought I wouldn''t pounce of you the moment you became mine?" The possessive way in which made her clutch the railing in fear and erotic thrill at the same time.


    "I wasn''t sure," she admitted softly, incredulity coloring her voice as she grew attuned to the feeling of his fingertips lingering on her skin.


    "Are you kidding?" Mo Qingchen asked as his hand slid up from her thigh to underneath her towel to caress her bare ass. "You''ve been taunting me incessantly for days with this sweet little ass of yours. Quite the cocktease you''ve been, Miss Yun¡­" There was a threat and a promise in his words.


    Her mouth fell open. "Don''t pretend to be innocent. You have been teasing me, too." She sighed, pushing her ass back into his palm just a little too eagerly. She wanted to see the reaction she elicited from him.


    He growled, the rumbling low in his throat as she squeezed her ass with his large hand. "Guess what?" he asked, his breath hot against her ear. She couldn''t even think about an answer to that.


    "What?"


    "My cock is at your disposal. I won''t tease you any longer. How does that sound for a deal?" He stepped closed against her body so that she could feel his erection pressed against her lower back.


    The way her towel had been positioned, the seam where both sides met was at her back. She jumped a little when Mo Qingchen grabbed both ends and pulled them down to open the towel, exposing her whole backside. Even though the air wasn''t cold, the sudden sensation of it abruptly hitting her skin made her shiver.


    The towel fell but Qian Meng caught it just in time to clutch it up against her chest, covering her front. She knew that they were far away from people, but she still had the instinctual misgivings of being outside in the open like this.


    She felt him take a step back, no longer feeling his body pressed against hers.

 Chapter 236: Have You Begging Me *

    [Warning: Mild-moderate snu snu content up ahead! Enjoy and bring the cold holy water with you.]


    "Mm. I have never seen your ass like this. I have been neglectful. Another thing I add to the list of incredible aspects of you." She could hear the fascination in his voice.


    Was this supposed to be a compliment? She started to turn around to look at him, but his hands were on her hips, holding her still.


    "Don''t move," he ordered. "Just stay like that."


    He tugged gently on her hips, pulling her back towards him. She stumbled a little and then stepped back willingly. Her elbows remained against the railing so that she was now more bent over than standing, simply leaning on the rail. Some of her hair was starting to get in her face, so she tossed her head to the side so that her hair fell over the opposite shoulder instead.


    "Perfection," he muttered quietly before releasing her hips. "Don''t move an inch."


    An eternity passed in complete silence. Mo Qingchen didn''t touch her anymore and it was rather maddening to just stand there completely naked, bent over the railing, and waiting anxiously for his next move.


    She wanted to turn around and look at him, but it was clear that he wanted her to stay still. It was hard to choose between demanding what she wanted and being the obedient little lamb being led to slaughter.


    Finally, she felt contact. It wasn''t what Qian Meng was expecting, though.


    His lips were at the back of her knee, kissing the sensitive flesh there ever so softly. It was nothing like the hot, searing kisses he''d been lavishing on her neck just a few minutes earlier. These kisses were gentle, tender, warm caresses of his lips. Just like the kiss in his office.


    They were different, but they felt good.


    His lips ascended up her thigh, moving slowly. He seemed to be taking his sweet time, enjoying himself. It caught her off guard.


    He kissed up until the top of her thighs and stopped at the swell of her ass. He peppered her with kisses before scraping the skin with his teeth.


    She had heard that people''s actions came back to bit them in the ass, but now that she faced the event first hand, she could definitely say it wasn''t unpleasant.


    As his lips continued on to her lower back, both of his hands settled firmly on her ass cheeks. He gave them a gentle squeeze as he kissed a tantalizing trail up her spine.


    The shiver came to her unbridled. It was as if each time his lips touched her skin, she found a new nerve ending to feel through. She buzzed with anticipation and not being able to see Mo Qingchen was driving her crazy.


    Qian Meng was aware of her shallow breathing and quickening heartbeat. As his lips moved higher and higher up her back, his hands moved with them, right along the same trail. He didn''t stop until he was right back where he started in the first place, with his lips at her ear.


    "Mm. Let''s check if you are wet for me, shall we?" he said, sliding his fingers down her side.


    If Qian Meng hadn''t been wet from his kisses up her body, his voice at her eat would have definitely done the trick at that moment.


    His hand moved down her side and across her lower back to her ass, giving it a firmer squeeze. And then, it slid excruciatingly slowly down between her legs. His hand stilled before he actually touched her folds, but she could feel it right there, hovering a fraction of a millimeter away.


    "Bend over for me. Just a little more," he commanded softly into her ear.


    Qian Meng swallowed thickly and complied, taking another step back so that she was bent over a little more.


    "There you go," he encouraged, a smile evident in his voice.


    His fingers made contact with her fold, the touch feather-like before he pressed harder. He stroked her with soft, explorative motions. Qian Meng whimpered at the contact, instinctively opening her legs a little wider apart.


    She hummed as one fingertip just barely dipped between her folds.


    "You''re wet," he stated. As if she didn''t know.


    "What did you expect?" she retorted. "We have been toying with each other since we met."


    She groaned as he pushed his finger into her.


    "And you''re tight," he groaned, wiggling his finger inside her.


    She barely turned her head to the side. "I know," she said with a knowing smile. The kegel muscle exercises finally came to use. She utilized her powers to squeeze his finger.


    "Always ready with a retort, aren''t you?" his words were sharp, but his tone was full of amusement.


    "I just like to know what I''m working with," she replied, squeezing his finger once again.


    "You know what?" he asked. She didn''t respond, knowing he would give her the answer. "I am going to fuck that snark right out of you," he threatened slowly as he started to move his finger in and out of her, expertly hitting all the right spots.


    "I thought you liked my attitude," she countered, fighting off the little moan lodged at her throat.


    "Normally, I do. But tonight, I plan on having you begging me for my cock, not talking back to me." He pushed in with a little more force to emphasize his point.


    "Where''s the fun in that?" she challenged, her lips puckering up in a mock-pout. Qian Meng sighed happily when he added another finger into the mix.


    "The fun will be in fucking you senseless while you beg for more," he responded, ever so sure of himself.


    "You''re awfully sure of yourself, Mr. Mo." She opened her eyes with a light smile on her lips. She just couldn''t help it.


    "Yes, I am. And you are about to find out why, Mrs. Mo."


    Mrs. Mo. She had not heard that before. It made a delicious shudder run through her body.

 Chapter 237: Good at Talking Dirty *

    "Well, are you going to get on with it, or are you going to stand there and finger fuck me all night?" She didn''t have a crass mouth, but in these situations with him, she always found herself matching his filthy language.


    "Impatient?"


    "No. I am sure it''s a great view." She arched her back a little so that her ass stuck out a little more.


    The added bonus was Mo Qingchen''s fingers slipping further inside her. He turned those fingers clockwise with a flick of his wrist and then curled them up. But she was bent over. It didn''t have the intended impact. Usually, when someone curled their finger inside a girl, it was with the purpose of trying to find that sweet spot that would make her explode.


    But in this position, it with the back wall. She was overcome with a feeling of fullness she had not expected.


    "Uh¡­" she grunted in surprise, moving to grip the railing in front of her in her hands instead of leaning against it on her forearm. She heard Mo Qingchen chuckle.


    "Such a tight little pussy. I don''t know how you''re going to manage what I have in store for you," he said, continuing to thrust his fingers into her. He was slow and deliberate, just keeping the friction without giving her a satisfactory level of pleasure.


    "I don''t know what you mean." Sarcasm was her weapon. "I''ve told you¡­ I have a loose vagina. No problem here!"


    "Who is it you are trying to convince?" he asked provocatively. "It''s not working on me because I have my fingers buried deep inside you right now. I can feel how tight you are. I can feel how much you want me. So much that my hand is wet up to my wrist. You''re soaking wet for me." And he hadn''t even started.


    "Don''t exaggerate." Qian Meng felt a fresh flood of wetness pool between her legs. She spread her legs further and Mo Qingchen moaned softly when he felt how his words had affected her.


    Qian Meng wanted to scream. If they were going to fuck, he just had to get on with it. It was pure torture at this point.


    "Do you want to be fucked, Qian Meng?" It was like he was a mind reader.


    But Mo Qingchen loved to talk dirty.


    Mo Qingchen was good at talking dirty.


    "Do you want me to answer that? Where did all your confidence go?" she bit back. It was not the best thing to do.


    "Oh, I am confident. I know that you want to be fucked. I just want to hear it on your pretty lips."


    Qian Meng sighed and weighed her options. Everything was a game with Mo Qingchen. And she wasn''t one to evade a challenge. If someone wanted to play games with her, she rarely could walk away. The logical thing would be just to say what he wanted and get it over with. But she wanted to play.


    She wanted to play to win.


    "Maybe I don''t want to be fucked," she feigned thoughtfulness.


    "Then why don''t you explain why my hand is dripping wet right now?"


    "I peed?" she tried. "Excess sweating of your hands?"


    He threw his head back in laughter behind her. The pulses of his laughter traveled to his finger, still embedded in her tight channel. She bit down on her lip to stop from sighing.


    He slid his fingers out abruptly, leaving her frowning and feeling a little empty.


    Qian Meng prepared her protest and was about to announce it when she realized why the fingers had left her. His hand dipped lower to stroke her clit. The new friction was delicious and made her jump with delight.


    She was ready to surrender.


    Mo Qingchen was right; she had no self-control.


    "I want to be fucked," she blurted out, breathing heavily.


    "Good girl," he cooed happily, withdrawing his hand completely.


    Mo Qingchen sighed and she heard him shuffling behind her for a moment. He took off his boxers and stepped forward again. His body was pressed flush against her and once again, Qian Meng could feel his erection rub against her lower back. This time, however, the silky skin of his cock rubbed against her. It seemed to have grown even harder.


    "You could cut diamonds with that hard-on," she said under her breath and then froze. If Mo Qingchen had heard that snide comment, he didn''t give attention to it. He moved his cock across her skin, brushing it against her back, her ass, and her thighs. He, then, focused on just her thighs, rubbing the head back and forth over her wet and waiting sex.


    At the back of Qian Meng''s mind, she was sure that all the teasing and excitement would ebb away the moment he pushed inside her. It wouldn''t be as good as she anticipated.


    "Mo Qingchen, stop teasing me. I said it out loud! Just fuck me already." Only the lapping of the water could be heard. And with that, he pushed into her pliant body.


    "Ah!" she yelled.


    He stilled immediately. "What? What''s wrong?" he asked, sounding taken aback and genuinely concerned. "Are you okay?"


    "No!" she groaned. "You couldn''t warn me that you have a monster cock? You almost slew me with your raging spear." She wanted to pat herself on the back for the dragon metaphors but now was not the time.


    Mo Qingchen found humor in the situation. He laughed as he rubbed her hip soothingly. "I told you that you will struggle to take my cock. You had it in your mouth before, what did you expect?"


    "I have an ungentlewomanly mouth. I take big bites and gobble down my food. But my vagina is a different story. I didn''t realize¡­" she pouted.


    He tugged at the end of her hair and pressed his chest to her back. "Do you want me to stop?" he asked casually, but Qian Meng could hear the strain in his voice.

 Chapter 238: The Qian Meng I Know and Want *

    [WARNING: YOU HAVE BEEN FOREWARNED! ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR HEART, OVARIES, OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE BODY IS NOT ON MY HANDS. BRING YOUR TISSUES AND KEEP SOME HOLY WATER ON HAND. THIS IS NOT A DRILL!]


    "No," she whined. "I was just a little surprised, that''s all." Desire clawed at her stomach. Dragon cocks be damned, she''d take it right now. "I kind of like the way it stretches me." She was unbearably shy as she said the words.


    "Fuck." He breathed, both of his hands resting on her hips. "Is that so?"


    Qian Meng smirked, glad that he was finally inside of her¡­ just partially. She suddenly had some power over him. She could hear him struggle to speak, it must have felt good for him.


    She whimpered his name.


    He rested his chin on her shoulder as he spoke in that dirty, husky voice of his. "My big cock is stretching your tight little pussy, isn''t it?" He moved out half an inch before slowly thrusting back in.


    She gasped as she took him fully. The girth of him made it impossible that he wouldn''t be pushing against that sweet spot every time he moved inside her.


    She tried not to think too much, but with how wet she was, his length slid easily in and out of her at an excruciating pace, hitting her sweet spot casually. She wasn''t sure if she should have an orgasm¡­ she didn''t know if it would be awkward or make her too vulnerable in front of him. But at this rate, it was inevitable.


    She dropped the towel she had been holding on to for her life and let it pool at her feet.


    "Finally," Mo Qingchen breathed. "You can come all you want, baby. You don''t have to worry about clean up anymore." She bit back a cry as he pushed deeply and held himself in that spot for a few seconds. "I haven''t been able to stop thinking about sinking my cock in you for weeks." He gripped her hips tighter, starting a steady rhythm of thrusting gently in and out of her.


    She had thought Mo Qingchen would be savage. But he was sweet and gentle and she was confused.


    She squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip and for some reason, the sensations heightened. She could only focus on every ridge of his cock as her walls gripped him. She bit back her moans and whimpers, unsure of how she should sound.


    "Does that feel good?" he asked, moving a little faster, still sliding back and forth with ease through her wetness, rubbing the right spots as he did so.


    She hummed, a purposefully vague response.


    Qian Meng hadn''t realized just how worked up he really had gotten her before he entered her. She knew that the trail of sensual kisses all over her skin had gotten her wet, and she knew the fingering felt good, but Qian Meng wasn''t prepared to be this close to reaching orgasm so quickly.


    She was sure that part of it may have been the forbidden factor of it. By that point, Qian Meng had been actively trying to ward off a climax, but the fact that she was denying that of herself only made her body relish in the pleasure that it was deriving from Mo Qingchen that much more.


    As his thrusts became faster, harder, and impossibly deeper, all Qian Meng wanted to do was cry out. She wanted to moan, scream, and call out his name. She wanted to allow herself to let go of all the whimpers, groans, and grunts that her body was aching to expel.


    But for some reason, something in her felt the intense need to suppress them. She kept her lips mashed together and remained completely silent. The only thing that she couldn''t seem to control was her shallow and ragged breathing.


    "Why are you so quiet?" Mo Qingchen asked, not a hint of breathlessness. "Where''s your sarcasm?" he whispered harshly. But he seemed to have guessed that he hadn''t fucked her silly¡­ she had just closed up to his sexual advances.


    His hips stilled and he waited for her response.


    She shuddered and shifted to make him move, but he held her hip firmly.


    "Tell me what it is," he demanded. "I won''t move until you tell me."


    "I''m not silent. Just enjoying it," she said slowly. But he didn''t move. "Please move," she pleaded.


    "You are lying. Tell me the truth and I will move," he said. She shuddered and stared into the water before speaking.


    "I am scared¡­ I don''t know how to¡­ react," she admitted.


    His hands which were still firmly planted on her hips tightened and his thrusts resumed, remaining strong and steady. A tiny whimper escaped Qian Meng''s lips in a response to him.


    "It''s okay to be scared. It''s overwhelming. But the moment you let go¡­ you''ll feel the real intensity of being with me," he promised. "I want to hear you whimpering and screaming. I want to watch you writhe under my fingers and cock. I want to see you unbridled and wild, bucking into me without thinking about your image. That''s the Qian Meng I know and want."


    She cried out as the words spread through her veins. And she couldn''t contain it any longer. She shuddered and ground back into him, spurring him on to take her as he wished. The soft sound of his grunts and ragged breathing kept her rooted in reality. Her body made sounds she didn''t think were possible. His thrusts grew sharp and his speed increased. Qian Meng felt a prick of joy in knowing he was enjoying himself.


    It became quickly apparent that she was going to orgasm.


    She sucked in a deep breath and let go, allowing the waves of pleasure to surged through her like fire. She could feel herself clamp down on Mo Qingchen''s length. Along with her keening cries, her muscles convulsed and her legs shook. Even her back arched with pleasure, the pleasure from the contact of his chest against her back becoming too much.


    He held onto her tightly. "Oh fuck. You''re coming¡­ you''re squeezing the life out of me." There was no distress in his voice though. He wasn''t being strangled by her¡­ yet.

 Chapter 239: Off With Your Boxers! *

    [Warning: Mild snu snu up ahead and a lot of dirty talking.]


    Her orgasm was long. Wave after wave of white, hot pleasure rolled through her body. Her back arched harder and she surrendered, rocking her body just slightly in sync with the waves of her climax.


    Mo Qingchen grew erratic behind her and growled as he released. Hot spurts coated her insides and she panted as Mo Qingchen panted into her ear. Mo Qingchen continued to thrust into her slowly as he rode through his pleasure and she slowly came down from hers.


    He sank to the floor, taking her with him and they lay beside each other, his cock still inside her. She felt him draw lazy patterns on her hips and stomach with his fingertips, the coolness of them making her jump ever so often. Sometimes, he would reach down and thumb her clit absentmindedly before pulling his wet fingers back up to draw circles on her hip bone.


    Qian Meng stared at the sky until she felt Mo Qingchen gently pull himself out from inside her. Her breathing had slowly turned normal, but Mo Qingchen''s lazy kisses at the back of her neck seemed to keep her body tingling.


    His cock lay against her thigh, still wet and coated in her juices.


    "Do you want a glass of champagne?" Mo Qingchen asked as he turned his head to look at her face. Her forehead was covered by a sheen of sweat from their activity.


    "Sure, thanks," she said quietly.


    Mo Qingchen removed his fingers from her body and scooted back. "Get up. You''ll catch a cold," he told her. He slowly stood up and then moved into the room, leaving Qian Meng to her own devices.


    She sighed as she picked herself up. She clutched the towel on the floor and slowly walked into the hut, slightly uncomfortable as the evidence of his orgasm spread all over the insides of her thighs.


    He saw her pouring her a glass and handed it over to her before pouring one for himself. Qian Meng took a generous sip as she sat down on a wooden chair and watched him place the bottle on the table next to him.


    They sat there for a few minutes in silence, sipping on their champagne and looking off into the distance. Qian Meng sipped on her drink until her glass was empty and then set it down on the little table next to her.


    "Is something bothering you?" Mo Qingchen asked after a while.


    "No, why?" she answered, freezing for a second.


    "I got the impression that something was bothering you," he said, looking at her intensely.


    "What made you think that?" She blinked in confusion. She hadn''t been vocal about her turbulent thoughts. Then how did he find out?


    "Everything was pretty hot. I thought I had you sufficiently aroused. God knows you were wet enough. And you told me to fuck you. And then everything went downhill."


    "Downhill?" she asked, raising her eyebrows at him. "What is that supposed to mean? You came. What do you have to complain about?"


    He watched her as he spoke. "I did enjoy it. It just seemed that you didn''t enjoy yourself." He frowned, concerned.


    "I had an orgasm. I thought you could tell," she countered.


    "I know you did. That is not what I meant. The mood just shifted. Our foreplay was hot and I could tell you wanted me. The sexual tension was buzzing but once I got inside you¡­ you just froze." He gulped down another sip of champagne. "It just wasn''t¡­ nice."


    She bolted up from her perch, staring down at him.


    "Unsexy?" she scoffed.


    "Everything just fizzled out," he said matter-of-factly.


    "Did you seriously just call me unsexy?" she repeated, offended.


    "I didn''t call you unsexy. I said that the second half of our sex wasn''t ideal," Mo Qingchen corrected. He could have been a little gentler in his speech, but it was not part of his personality to lie.


    "Sex with me is not unsexy. I am the sexiest person you know," she told him without a shred of doubt.


    "Why are you so defensive? I''m not attacking you, Qian Meng. I jus¡ª" His explanation was cut off.


    "Take your boxers off," she said, looking at him with fire in her eyes.


    "What?" Mo Qingchen responded, dumbfounded.


    "Take your boxers off. I''m sexy and I am about to prove it." It was game time.


    "I wasn''t calling you unsexy," he said again.


    "I took it personally. It''s a challenge I must overcome," she said firmly. "Off."


    "Are you serious?" he asked, eyes moving up and down over her naked form. His eyes stopped at Qian Meng''s thighs pressed together and he had to shake his head to stop himself from whatever thought passed his head.


    "Very." There was not a sign of dissuasion.


    "I think you are overreacting," he told her. Wrong move.


    "No, I am not," she said, getting on her knees. "I would like to see you try and call sex with me unsexy after I am done with you."


    Of course, he didn''t obey her when she told him to take off his boxers, so she took it upon herself to move her hands to his hips and begin tugging at them herself.


    Mo Qingchen finally had the decency to lift his ass off the chair so she could get his boxers off. She pulled them past his feet and tossed them aside on the floor, eyes immediately darting to the object of her determination. Mo Qingchen''s cock.


    He wasn''t hard yet, so she had her first objective. He had obviously wiped himself clean while she was laying outside contemplating life.


    She moved so that she was hovering over him but didn''t actually sit on him. She supported her weight by grabbing the back of the chair next to his shoulders.


    Qian Meng leaned forward so she could plant warm, wet kisses along his neck. Much like how he had approached her outside.


    "You don''t have to¡ª" he started to speak.

 Chapter 240: Wont Deny Her Anything *

    "Shut up," she mumbled, continuing.


    She felt like a fire had been ignited inside her. All the worries she had outside were put on hold for the moment. She hadn''t realized that Mo Qingchen had thought sex with her was disappointing. She now understood that he must have picked up on her mood and tried to make her feel better, but it altered his feelings. She would show him how good she was. He would have no doubt by the time she was done with him.


    She kissed his neck slowly, dragging her tongue across his skin and caressing it slowly with her lips. She nipped playfully at his earlobe and then kissed a lingering trail of kisses down his neck to the hollow of his throat. Right then, she kissed below the Adam''s apple. She was slow and deliberate with her tongue until she heard him let out a relaxed, soft sigh.


    She knew how to get him going, she was recognizing that. Her efforts were rewarded when his little soldier slowly began stiffening and rising up until it was standing up straight and poking against her stomach.


    "Happy to see me?" she said in her best sultry tone. She ran her hand down his sculpted chest to firmly wrap her hand around his length. She tugged on him with two slow, firm strokes. He let out a soft, barely audible moan.


    She took a lesson from his dirty talking and tried her hand at it. In any other situation, she might have blushed to say such words. "Do you want to feel my pussy wrapping around this thick, hard cock again?" she asked in a husky breath against his neck.


    "Yeah," he answered breathlessly, moving his hands to rest on her outer thigh.


    She shifted to sit on his thighs. His eyes were closed but he opened when she gave him another firm stroke. Mo Qingchen felt the wetness of her thighs pressed against him and felt his mind become numb.


    "I think¡­ I think I want to ride you," she said as she ground against him one more time.


    "You can do whatever you want to me.


    "That is exactly what I plan on doing," she said, letting go of his shaft and rubbing both her hands up his chiseled abdomen. "I want to ride you until you can''t deny¡­"


    "I''m certainly not going to deny you that," he retorted with a smirk.


    "Mo Qingche¡­ look at how hard you are for me¡­" she drawled, keeping up her sultry rendition of a porn star tone.


    "What comes up has to come down, you know."


    "Oh, yeah?" she answered, raising her eyebrow at him.


    "At least, before it gets painful." He tilted his head to the side as if taunting her.


    He pulled on her thighs, urging her to get up, so she complied.


    "Let''s move to the bed," she told him. She led him to the bed and pushed him down on it. He looked surprised for a second before delight took over.


    She moved so that she was hovering right over his erection and took it in her hand to rub the head through her folds slowly, teasing him. He let out a frustrated sigh and moved his hips upwards, trying to push into her.


    "Eager?" Qian Meng asked with a taunting smile.


    "Very," he responded.


    She smiled as she finally sank down onto him, slowly taking in an inch at a time. Mo Qingchen moaned and so did she. Qian Meng''s really was a natural moan, but she would be lying if she said she wasn''t amplifying it just a bit. She squeezed her muscles as she took him in, wanting to make herself as tight as she could for his sake. He groaned, making her smile wider.


    Now that Mo Qingchen was aroused and inside her, it was on. She was a girl on a mission.


    Mission: make Mo Qingchen cum as quickly as possible.


    Qian Meng moaned loudly, but not too over the top as she moved her hands from the bed to her hips, and slowly moved them up her torso. She threw her head back, letting her hair cascade down her back as she arched it.


    Her breasts jutted out. She moved her hands up her stomach to cup her breasts and gently pinched her nipples as she moaned again. The pinch wasn''t as intense as when Mo Qingchen played with her, but they replicated some of the excitement she felt at the time.


    Mo Qingchen twitched inside of her.


    "Do you like that?" she asked, tugging on her nipple once again. "You like me touching my breasts?"


    Mo Qingchen swallowed thickly, his eyes glued to what her hands were doing.


    "Pinch your nipples for me," he said as he rocked his hips up into hers.


    She obliged his request and pinched her nipples again, purposefully whimpering as she did so. She took his action as a need for friction and slowly began rolling her hips on him. He moaned and continued to lift his hips to meet her repeatedly.


    She leaned over him, hair falling over and tickling his skin. "You make my pussy feel so good," she moaned loudly.


    She cocked her head to the side sharply to flip her hair to one side. As she worked her sexy, Mo Qingchen watched her with rapt attention and a little bit of humor.


    Qian Meng arched her back in a steady rhythm that matched the movement of her hips. Mo Qingchen''s gaze jumped all over her body, from her hips to her stomach to her breasts and then to her face.


    He didn''t seem to know where to look, and his enthusiasm made Qian Meng giddy. She knew he was eating up everything she was giving to him and it felt amazing.


    Mo Qingchen allowed her to control. He wanted her to take initiative and find her pleasure and be shameless. That was what she needed.


    "Ride me just like that," he urged throatily as he moved his legs.

 Chapter 241: Nothing Less Than Mind-Blowing *

    [Warning: Completely filthy snu snu up ahead. Read at your own risk!]


    His feet were flat against the bed and his knees were up.


    The slight shift in his legs made it so that he went impossibly deeper into her, making Qian Meng whimper genuinely. She guessed that because of the leverage he gained by having his feet flat against the mattress, he was able to move his hips up harder against Qian Meng''s. It added pressure for her and must have done something for him too because he let out a long moan.


    She moved her hands from her breasts to rest his palm flat against his abdomen. It helped her to steady herself. She made the motions of her hips on him bigger so that she was moving up and down on him just a little bit more and not just rocking back and forth. He slid his hands up from her thighs to her hips and his breathing became increasingly labored.


    "Ride you like this?" Qian Meng asked.


    "I take that back." He smiled. "Ride me harder."


    Qian Meng took the challenge in stride. She sat up all the way on her knees, making him slip out of her. But she didn''t leave him for long. She moved her knees further apart and then grabbed him at the base of his shaft and realigned him at her entrance.


    She squeezed her inner muscles as tightly as she could and lowered herself back down into him. Before he could even finish moaning, she lifted herself right back up until it was just the tip of his cock left in her. And then she sank right back down.


    Qian Meng used every bit of strength she had in her thighs to repeat this move over and over again, fast, all the while keeping her muscles squeezed as tightly as she could.


    Her hands against his abdomen helped keep her steady as she lowered herself on him over and over again, faster and faster.


    "Ride you like this?" she asked again.


    He groaned loudly, his fingers digging into her hips, eyes squeezed shut.


    "Fuck¡­"


    "Yeah?" she asked, moving faster. He cursed slower this time, but with more urgency.


    "Do I feel good, Mo Qingchen? Tell me how good I feel."


    "So good. So fucking good," he said desperately.


    "Am I sexy?" she asked again.


    "Yes," he hissed. Qian Meng smiled.


    "Say it. Tell me I''m sexy, Mo Qingchen."


    "You''re sexy. You''re so fucking sexy¡­" he trailed off.


    It was time to bring it home.


    "Open your eyes, Mo Qingchen," she demanded. "Watch me ride your cock."


    He opened his eyes and they landed on her face, unfocused.


    Smiling, Qian Meng took on hand off his stomach and moved it behind herself. She had to arch her back to reach for what she was looking for and it made her shoulder cramp up. But she knew it was going to be worth it.


    It was a little difficult to do while continuing to ride Mo Qingchen, but she managed to get a hold of his balls, gently cupping his sac in her hand. She rolled them slowly in her palm, biting her lip seductively as she looked down at him.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes widened a little in surprise before they went glassy and he let out a deep grunt.


    "I''m going to cum," he said breathlessly, almost so soft that she couldn''t hear him.


    She hummed. "Cum for me. Let me have it."


    Mo Qingchen shook his head and his eyes tightened like he wanted to close them. But he didn''t. His balls tightened in her hand and his chest began heaving with his shallow breathing. The look in his eyes made him appear far more vulnerable than she had ever seen him before. When she had sucked him off all those days ago, she hadn''t seen the vulnerable. She had seen more of him letting go and being rough and savage man that he was. It made her feel a little better about what she had been feeling outside.


    "I don''t want to finish so fast," he spoke, his voice strained.


    "Do it," she spurred him on, trying to remain sultry. "I don''t want to wait any longer to feel your hot cum fill me up again."


    His jaw went slack, his mouth falling open slightly, and he took a sharp breath. His abs tightened under her hand. A moment later, she felt the first hot spurt of his release inside of her.


    Qian Meng stilled herself on him as he climaxed. He let his eyes flutter closed and swallowed repeatedly, breathing heavily through her pleasure. She remained still and quiet until he was finished, trying to suppress her smug smile.


    She didn''t even think about the fact that she didn''t have an orgasm until after it was over. She didn''t care though. That wasn''t her intention or her goal. The only purpose she had in jumping and riding him was to prove to him that she was sexy and she was good at sex.


    Mo Qingchen obviously got the wrong impression of her, and she was definitely not going to let the night end with him thinking that of her.


    "Still want to call me unsexy?" she asked with a smirk once she knew he was done.


    "I did not say that. But if that is the reaction I get, I''ll tell you that every single day," he said breathlessly.


    "I am sexy. We needed to clear that up!"


    "Consider it cleared," he said, opening his still hazy eyes to look up at her. "But you didn''t come," he added with a frown.


    "No, I didn''t. I guess you were a little unsexy for me," she said with a nonchalant shrug as she climbed off him.


    "I wonder why you didn''t cum," he said as he sat up. "That was incredible."


    "I guess incredible isn''t good enough for me. I guess I only orgasm for nothing less than mind-blowing," she scoffed as she stood up off the bed. He pulled her back and made her fall beside him.

 Chapter 242: Bottled Up and Confrontational

    "So, what happened outside was mind-blowing?" he asked with a smirk.


    "Not for you, apparently," she mumbled.


    "You''re all bottled up and confrontational. You wanted to prove a point to me and you focused on that. That''s why you didn''t cum. It''s okay." He caressed her face. "But you let yourself go. You weren''t silent." He looked at her curiously.


    She grumbled as she leaped off the bed and grabbed some clothes before turning and walking away towards the bathroom.


    Gravity was taking effect once again and she wanted to get to the bathroom before more of his cum coated her thighs.


    She closed the bathroom door behind her and dropped her clothes as she moved as quickly as she could to the toilet. She peed and then used her muscles to clench and unclench repeatedly, trying to get as much out as she could of what Mo Qingchen had left in her. She wasn''t concerned or scared of getting pregnant because she took her pills religiously every day. It was just uncomfortable and awkward to feel his cum dripping out of her for the next few hours.


    When she was done, she wiped herself thoroughly and then stood up and washed her hands. When she was finished, she brushed her hair and put on the rattiest and most comfortable clothes she had brought.


    She jumped in surprise when she opened the bathroom door and Mo Qingchen was standing in front of her, bare ass naked and waiting with a clean pair of boxer briefs in his hand. She shuffled past him awkwardly and moved back into the bedroom as he entered the bathroom and softly closed the door behind him.


    Qian Meng went back to the bed and plopped down on it. She had grabbed the empty champagne glass and poured a drink for herself before she did. She drained it right ahead and went ahead and filled it up a second time before putting the bottle back down.


    She settled into the pillows, now content to just sip on her bubby treat. She switched on the television and began watching whatever was on.


    Mo Qingchen appeared just as she was starting to get into the movie. Of course, he looked amazing in nothing but his tight black boxers, but she tried not to stare.


    He came over to reclaim the side of the bed he''d been occupying earlier. Qian Meng could feel his eyes on her, but she didn''t turn to look at him until he spoke.


    "Do you see what I mean now?" he asked gruffly.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "The sex. What you just did to me in here," he said. "Where was that when we were outside? Why did you feel so offended?"


    She turned back to the movie, biting at the inside of her cheek.


    "I was bent over on an outside patio being fucked. I felt¡­ uneasy. What did you expect?" she asked. "It was my first time. I didn''t know if what I was doing was okay."


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "I expected it to be that way when we started out," he said evenly. "Your personality is fiery. I don''t know why it disappeared just as things were heating up. What is the real problem?"


    Qian Meng sighed.


    "Why do you care so much? It doesn''t matter if I showed it or not. I¡­"


    "It does matter," Mo Qingchen said softly. "It matters to me."


    She turned back to him again. "Why?"


    He sighed. "You seem to have this idea that I don''t care about anything as long as you fulfill the contract. And that''s simply just not how it is. I don''t want to have sex with you while you stand indifferently. I guess some people get off on feeling like they are in absolute control that they don''t care about their partner''s feelings, but it''s not my cup of tea. I like your vivacious personality and when you give me back what I give you."


    "Why not?" she countered.


    "I think you have a misconception of my intentions concerning our relationship."


    "No, I don''t. I understand it very well."


    "I don''t think you do. I thought you understood, but maybe I was wrong."


    "Enlighten me then," she sighed, taking a gulp of champagne.


    "The idea for the agreement was mutual benefit. I didn''t expect anything less for the sexual aspect of that. I gather that you have the impression that the sex for my gain only. But I never saw it in that way!" he claimed.


    "You didn''t?"


    "No. I hoped all along that we would genuinely enjoy being with one another. I thought you understood that. But I can see that you feel you owe me something and you feel conscious about it."


    The more Mo Qingchen explained himself, the stupider she felt. He made everything he was saying sound so simple and logical. It made her feel a little dramatic and over-analyzing.


    "No," Qian Meng said with a small smile. "I wanted good sex."


    "I knew that you might," he said, smiling back.


    She laughed as she turned to put her face into the pillow.


    "What?" he asked, also laughing. It was a scene.


    "I was so firm of what I thought and you just change my mind in five seconds. I am worried about someone with your mouth making me buy their nonsense."


    Mo Qingchen''s stare became intense. "What were you thinking about?"


    "I just felt¡­ vulnerable," she mumbled into the pillow.


    "Vulnerable?" he repeated.


    "Yeah. Like¡­ I was really into it at first, but then I started to think about what it meant. I didn''t know how I should act. What was appropriate for our situation? I didn''t want to be that¡­ naked in front of you." She married her enemy. He had power over her. That scared her. She wanted to be the best, but she didn''t feel confident in herself.


    Her dream about a disastrous marriage came back to her in those moments and she didn''t know what to do.

 Chapter 243: Married Friends Can Kiss

    He pushed her hair away from her face and slipped a finger under her chin, coaxing her face up from the pillow. She complied and turned her head to look at him.


    "Don''t ever think of it like that again," he said seriously. "Please. I hate that you would feel that way, Qian Meng. I''ve never once considered our involvement with each other to be anything like that. You did not sign your body away to me. We each signed our agreement to outline our expectations from one another. You are not making yourself vulnerable to me."


    "I just¡­"


    Mo Qingchen''s eyebrows furrowed together slightly in a thoughtful way. "If you¡­ if you want to say no to something, you can do that. I told you in the beginning that you''re free to do what you want. You can leave me if you want. I wouldn''t force myself into your life. You''re free," his voice was strained. He sounded confused and rather afraid, but Qian Meng didn''t hear it.


    "You''re right. I know this." What was wrong with her¡­


    "Please don''t feel that way. Don''t degrade yourself like that. I certainly don''t look at you like a powerless lamb. There is no reason that you should."


    "Thank you," she whispered. "I feel a lot better. You made a lot of sense. I was being irrational. I don''t know what my problem was. I hadn''t really felt that way until tonight," she admitted.


    His eyes softened, but he looked troubled.


    "I really hate that you felt like¡­ you didn''t want to be with me. That''s upsetting. You should have asked me to stop. I don''t like the thought of going against your will." She bumped his leg playfully with her own. "Don''t feel too bad," she said, "I did orgasm!"


    He still looked distressed. Qian Meng scooted closer to him.


    "Listen to me. You are not responsible for my thoughts. I truly want to be friends with you. Just because we are not in a conventional relationship doesn''t mean we can''t enjoy each other," she told him. That was his point all along.


    "That is what I want," he allowed.


    "I feel a lot better, too. Don''t beat yourself up, okay?" she said.


    "Friends, then?" he asked hopefully. "I don''t know how to be friends, but I will try."


    She agreed. "Excellent. Come give me a kiss, then." She scooted even closer to him. "Normal friends don''t seal their friendship with a kiss. But married friends can," she told him.


    "True." Mo Qingchen leaned in to softly press his lips against hers. He kissed her gently and slowly, nothing deep. After a few moments, Qian Meng pulled back, smiling.


    Mo Qingchen yawned and her smile immediately faded. He was tired and he could sleep. A bubble of hope in her heart arose. But she was still wide awake from her long sleep on the plane.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked, noticing her change in expression.


    "You should sleep. I''m not going to fall asleep, though."


    "Drink some champagne. You should definitely get some sleep if you can. I don''t want you to stay up all night and then sleep away your vacation." He patted her shoulder.


    She took the bottle of champagne and took a swig right out of it, not even bothering to use her glass. Mo Qingchen had a good idea in telling her to drink a little more. Champagne made her groggy and she was hoping it would help her sleep.


    "You aren''t scared of me jumping you anymore?" she said as she took a swig. He looked over at her.


    "I don''t mind you using my body any time you want. Go ahead. I''m just glad you''re drunk around me." He got up and went to make sure the front door of the suite and that the doors to the outside were locked. He turned off all the lights outside of the room and then returned.


    She continued sipping on the champagne steadily as Mo Qingchen went to the bathroom for a few minutes. When he came out, he turned off the lights and got back into the big, fluffy bed. She took one last swig of champagne and put the bottle down on the bedside table.


    "Can I turn off the television?" he asked as he picked up the remote. "Or do you want to watch it some more?"


    She shook her head. "No, turn it off. I want to try to go to sleep."


    Mo Qingchen nodded and hit the power button. The television flicked off and then he put the remote down on the little table next to his side of the bed.


    He was arranging and fluffed his pillows with a yawn before settling in on his side. He turned to face her and opened his arms in invitation. She smiled as she neared him. She had gotten so used to sleeping with him, that this didn''t bother her.


    She fluffed the other pillows and then snuggled into his arms. "Goodnight," she said softly.


    "Goodnight, Mrs. Mo."


    She settled in. For the longest time, she lay there, trying to will herself to sleep. She felt relaxed but simply couldn''t fall asleep.


    She couldn''t stop thinking about what her life would be back like when they got back home. Undoubtedly, it would be completely different in some ways. It was a change that she had wanted, sure, but regardless, all change was still a little scary. The fear of the unknown is powerful.


    But she was excited.


    She opened her eyes and looked at his sleeping face. She breathed softly, happy that he was finally catching some sleep. Finally.


    He made a humming sound but didn''t say anything. She grew still so that she wouldn''t wake him up. But slowly but surely, his face scrunched, and he awoke.


    Mo Qingchen found her staring at him. "Can''t sleep?" he asked, his eyes growing alert.


    "It''s okay. Go to sleep," she mused. She slid her hand around his waist and pressed her head against his chest. She hummed softly.

 Chapter 244: Waiting for Him to Wake Up *

    [WARNING: Scorching under the sun and under MQC up ahead. Read at your own risk. Be sure to get your sunscreen and have a cold shower in your schedule!]


    "Okay," he sighed. Slowly but surely, his breathing evened out. She hummed until she started to get drowsy. His steady breathing lulled her to sleep within minutes, her humming grew fainter until it disappeared.


    In the end, despite the problems, their night came to a close much more pleasant than Qian Meng had expected.


    - - - - -


    Mo Qingchen had actually taken days off for both of them. They spent the next few days swimming with sharks and stingrays. They dined at restaurants as they watched the sunset or the stars.


    Qian Meng even convinced him to walk down the streets to eat at the roadside stands.


    Bora Bora had a unique culinary tradition that infused traditional South Pacific cooking with French, Italian, and Japanese influences. Qian Meng was sure with the amount of food she had consumed in those days, she was going to gain at least twenty pounds. They had fish marinated in coconut milk, Poisson cru, a plethora of dishes with chicken, pork, sweet potatoes, breadfruit, rice, and local fruits and vegetables.


    Qian Meng was slowly understanding what Mo Qingchen loved about food. She feared that marrying him would make her puff up like a balloon.


    On the last day of their honeymoon, Qian Meng lounged on the open deck in their hut. Mo Qingchen was sleeping and he had been sleeping every night since they got married. Qian Meng had decided to go outside and enjoy some of the warm Bora Bora sun. Her little blue bikini barely covered her bottom but she was happy.


    The deck was surrounded by parts of the hut, so she took off her top. Under Mo Qingchen''s constant attention, Qian Meng had come to appreciate her breasts.


    Maybe they were incredible. Mo Qingchen said so.


    She turned over on her stomach, remembering how it felt when Mo Qingchen was inside of her. In these few days, they had more sex than some people have all year. Her worries had slowly melted away over the ways and there was a constant hum in her blood and he seemed to be the only one that could cool it.


    All of a sudden, a large shadow blocked the heat, making her shiver in anticipation. Qian Meng''s folds became wet as her pulse sped up. It was the scent. Mo Qingchen smelled so damn good and she had grown more attuned to it.


    "Why are you out here alone?" he whispered, licking the shell of her ear.


    Qian Meng whimpered and tried to sit up, but he held her down on the towel. Slowly, he rubbed his hands over her exposed flesh, stopping when he reached the swell of her lower back. She struggled even harder, which earned her a smack on the butt.


    "Let me turn around," she begged.


    Instead of giving her what she wanted, he pulled her hands behind her back. "Don''t move," he commanded.


    Wantonly, she ground her butt into his hand. Now that Mo Qingchen was there, the heat was unbearable.


    He pulled off the useless swimsuit bottoms and spanked her again. She groaned and pushed her lower body closer. This time, he bit her left ass cheek, sucking the skin when he was done. She felt liquid oozing out of her sensitive folds.


    "Have you been touching yourself so early in the morning?" he asked, turning her head so that they were facing one another.


    Qian Meng nodded vigorously, knowing that he liked the game. "I did. I touched myself again." His clear back eyes darkened upon hearing her admit to it with such an innocent voice.


    He grunted as he pulled her hair. "Why didn''t you call me?"


    She shook her head. "I didn''t cum. I waited for you to wake up." She blinked innocently.


    "Good." With no warning, he got behind her and sank into her wet heat, inch by glorious inch. She screaming, writhing beneath him until he was completely sheathed. She felt him in every part of her body. There was no way she''d ever be able to like another man sexually. Mo Qingchen had ruined her for life.


    "Did you like touching yourself? Did you taste yourself?" he asked, pressing his fingers into her hip bone.


    "No¡­ no," she stammered.


    Mo Qingchen helped her get on her knees so that he could go deeper. One of his hands held her wrists together while the other kneaded her breast. The need to move her hands was so strong that she almost broke her arm.


    "Fuck. Easy, Qian Meng," he grunted. He let her hands go and placed a kiss on her neck. His fingers found their way to her clit and he began playing with it as he thrust inside her.


    Qian Meng lowered her head on the towel, keeping her hips up for him. He spread her legs wider and continued to ram deep inside of her. She closed her eyes to savor the sensation. The cool breeze mixed with the warm sun made this the perfect setting.


    Pretty soon, her first orgasm hit her hard, curling her toes. Mo Qingchen cursed and held onto her tighter for a second before flipping her over, only pausing for a few seconds before burying his girth back inside her.


    "Open your mouth," he commanded, inserting his index finger inside. She whimpered at the sensation. "Taste yourself. You taste so damn good. I had to share."


    Her eyes glazed over as he pulled out, leaned down, and inserted his tongue where his cock had just been. Dazedly, she tangled her fingers in his hair and tugged. Between his licks, he pinched her nipples. She was so close to coming again, but she needed him inside of her this time.


    He blew on her nub.


    Qian Meng screamed, falling over the edge once again. Mo Qingchen didn''t stop, though. His talented tongue lapped at her juices until she could take no more. She tugged at his hair, prompting him to look up.


    Finally, he kissed her mound and crawled back up her body. She was more than ready and he so easily slid right back into her slick heat.

 Chapter 245: Carry Her Over the Threshold

    [Warning: Mild snu snu in the beginning of the chapter. You have been warned.]


    "Mine," he grunted, pounding her into the ground.


    "Yes!" she yelled, her nails digging into her sweaty back.


    With a grunt, he emptied himself deep into her. After coming down, he rolled them so that she was on top of his chest. She was so consumed with bliss and without a care in the world that she drifted to sleep under the golden warmth of the sun.


    Mo Qingchen felt her go limp on him and waited until he was sure she won''t wake up to put her on the floor. He picked her up and walked her over to the bed. After placing her down on the soft mattress, he sprinted to the bathroom to get a hot towel, a bowl of water, and some dry towels.


    For the next few minutes, he wriggled the dry towel under her and spread her open. A smile crawled up his lips as he wiped her down. He had noticed how she liked to clean herself up after sex. She whimpered and moved around at the stimulation and Mo Qingchen was almost sure she came.


    When Qian Meng awoke, she was in bed overlooking the ocean. She stretched, feeling incredibly good. And then she blushed on remembering how she must have come to be there.


    Sitting up, she looked for her husband. As she looked for him, she pulled her phone out. Li Min had left her updates and she went through them. She gave Li Min a call, spoke about work, and then hung up.


    Mo Qingchen was easy to spot. He was still out in the open natural pool in their hut. It was long and she saw him swimming with powerful strokes.


    She spotted her bikini and put it back on before dipping into the water. It was warm and relaxing as she waded out to join him.


    "Qingchen," she called as she neared him.


    He came up and hugged her gently. "You should rest a little longer. Did you have a good nap?"


    Qian Meng smiled. "I did. Missed you," she hummed.


    He gave her a crooked grin. "Did you?"


    They played in the water for hours. He would pick her up and toss her into the water as she tried to get away. She was a good swimmer but he was faster. There were soft touches, breast grabs, and gentle caresses that made her feel really beautiful.


    After their play, he let her wrap her legs around his waist and goad him on as he got her back to her floor. They dried themselves off and Mo Qingchen wanted to make love once again.


    "Don''t you want to eat one last meal before returning home?" she asked. There was conflict on his face but finally, food won over.


    - - - - -


    "I want to go back to Bora Bora already," Qian Meng whined.


    "Sure. I will turn the car and take you to the airport," Mo Qingchen responded.


    "Now?" Qian Meng asked seriously. He laughed and shook his head at her.


    "We''re not even home yet. And I know you will regret it once we get on the plane again."


    Qian Meng sighed and turned her head to look out of the window. "I miss it, really."


    "Already?" he asked.


    "Already. I have never been anywhere so beautiful. You don''t miss it?" she asked curiously.


    "I didn''t get enough time with the place to miss it." He chuckled. "I was preoccupied with taking care of you. And to be honest, I am glad to be almost home. It was nice to get away for a while but I am anxious to get back into my routine."


    "What a stiff," she teased with the roll of her eyes.


    Mo Qingchen laughed and continued driving happily down the highway. "I would like to see how you react once the calls from your office become more frequent. You''d be hopping like a bunny for me to take you home then."


    "True."


    They drove the rest of the way back to the house in relative silence. They were both exhausted and it was evident in their lack of conversation.


    As they pulled up the long and winding driveway, Mo Qingchen hit put his head out, and motioned for the guard to open the gate.


    "Is that Yize?" Mo Qingchen said suddenly as he slowed to a stop.


    Qian Meng blinked. "What? Where?"


    "I think she is pulling up behind us."


    Qian Meng turned to look over her shoulder out of the back window and sure enough, Mo Yize was pulling up behind them in her car.


    "Weird that she would come today," Qian Meng muttered.


    She unfastened her seatbelt and was about to open the door when she found that it was locked.


    "What are you doing? Open it," she demanded.


    Mo Qingchen shook his head. "Sit tight. I will open the door for you." His eyes held a smile as he opened his door and slid out. Qian Meng watched as he walked over to her side and opened the door.


    "What now?" Qian Meng asked, amused. She watched as he bent down and slid his hand behind her and under her knees.


    "Carry you over the threshold," he stated calmly. Her eyes widened as she felt her body lift off the seat.


    "That''s not necessary!" Qian Meng protested. She felt imbalanced for a second and wrapped her arms around Mo Qingchen''s neck for support. "Are you trying to be romantic in front of your sister?" she asked.


    "Don''t care if she sees. We don''t have a tradition in our relationship, so I am instilling some. Do you have a problem?" he challenged.


    "I do," she responded. He chucked her protests away and started walked towards the main door.


    Qian Meng looked over his shoulder and saw Mo Yize get out of her car at the same time and move towards them, sprinting to catch up.


    She had her purse slung over one shoulder and another was holding a grocery bag in the opposite hand.

 Chapter 246: His Wife Was Being Stolen

    "Hey¡­" she said timidly, greeting them with a small smile.


    "What''s up?" Qian Meng asked, surprised to randomly see this long-lost friend of hers there.


    "I wanted to stop by and see how the honeymoon went. I''m sorry it seems stalkerish and creepy that I pulled in at the same time as you guys." She sighed. "I asked my mother what time your flight lands and I guessed you would reach by now."


    There was an awkward tension between them, especially after they announced the marriage. It was impossible to get used to it. Even when thinking themselves as estranged friends, there was no pressure to act nicely. But now they were family.


    "Don''t be absurd, Yize. You''re my sister. You''re welcome to come to our house any time you want," Mo Qingchen said smoothly.


    Yize''s eyes widened at the statement. It was probably one of the very few affectionate words her brother had said to her in their whole lifetime. "Seriously?"


    She looked over at Qian Meng. "Your wife won''t throw me out for being rude to her?" she asked sassily.


    Qian Meng smirked. "How can I do that to my little sister-in-law?"


    Mo Yize rolled her eyes. "I never thought I would see someone carry the bride over the threshold. Do people actually do this still?" she asked. But her question was only curious and not full of disgust.


    "I wanted to," Mo Qingchen said plainly. He really did carry Qian Meng over the threshold and then dropped her down to the floor. It was more like Qian Meng jumped out of his arm in mild embarrassment but all was okay.


    Mo Yize pressed her lips together and shook her head. "Right. I didn''t want to bring champagne because it was too formal and awkward. So I brought you something I thought was a little more personal." This time, she almost had a genuine smile. One Qian Meng hadn''t seen in years.


    "Okay¡­"


    Mo Yize fished into the grocery bag and pulled out the first item.


    "A batch of buttered rum cupcakes," she said happily, holding up a box from a bakery near their university. They had bought food from it almost on a daily basis. "And a year''s supply of matcha for that monstrous drink you like." She held up a small container.


    "That''s only one box," Qian Meng retorted.


    Mo Yize rolled her eyes. "This is the first box. I contacted a seller and asked them to send over a box every other week. I put their business card in the bag."


    Qian Meng nodded sagely. "In terms of food, these are my two favorite things," she said happily. She went over to Yize and took the items without reserve.


    "I thought you would be pleased," Yize shrugged.


    "Well, you can''t beat cupcakes and matcha."


    "Exactly what I thought you would say."


    Mo Qingchen watched from the sideline in confusion. "Can someone explain what is happening here? Weren''t the two of you at odds with one another? Why did you become chummy all of a sudden? I was not planning on going home to not make things awkward, but now it looks like my wife is being stolen from under my nose."


    He crossed his hands over his chest.


    "Brother, you wanted to use it as an excuse so that you didn''t need to see dad," Mo Yize said without fear.


    Qian Meng looked over her shoulder. "Can you take the bags to the room?" she asked. She could sense that a long and awkward talk with Yize was looming. What it would be about, she had a faint idea.


    "You''re being unbearably sweet. Why did you feel the need to bring me anything in the first place?" Qian Meng asked as she took the goodies into her arms. She slowly walked towards the kitchen and heard Yize follow.


    "Well¡­ I uh¡­"


    As she trailed off, her eyes lingered on Mo Qingchen, who was still standing, not having taken the clue.


    The look his sister gave told him that she didn''t want him there during the conversation. He finally took the hint.


    "I''ll give you two some privacy," he said. "I''ll start unloading the bags from the car."


    They remained silent as Mo Qingchen retrieved the first two bags and started wheeling them towards the bedroom.


    Once her brother was finally gone, Mo Yize spoke up. "I suppose it is a kind of bribe," she said.


    "A bribe for what?" Qian Meng asked.


    "Forgiveness?" Yize said timidly, biting her lip.


    "Forgiveness?" Qian Meng responded, raising her brow in confusion. "For what?"


    Mo Yize paused and then sighed. "I feel bad for how things turned out between us. I know I am responsible for that¡­"


    Qian Meng was even more confused. "Where did this come from all of a sudden? It''s been years since we broke off our friendship. Why are you going back on your conviction?"


    "Well, I have been forced to go to therapy. It just seemed to me like I wasn''t much of a friend to you during that time. After the wedding, I kind of realized it was unfair. I was selfish and put my insecurities on you. I was just mad that you had everything in the world and you were even taking my brother from me. I felt left out that the stupid guy liked you. It hurt my feelings that you didn''t coax me at the time either¡­"


    Qian Meng chuckled. "Unfortunately, I don''t have everything in the world. You must have realized my family is garbage at this point. Did that have something to do with this conversation?" she asked.


    Mo Yize shook her head. "Everyone''s parents are garbage at this point. I just¡­ I want to get along with you again. I didn''t have a good reason to be mad at you. It hurt my feelings that you reacted and didn''t just go along with what I wanted. I was angry that you were marrying my brother, but that is your business. I know you didn''t owe me anything."

 Chapter 247: Take Notes, Mr. Mo

    Qian Meng stopped to think about what a huge leap this was. "Which therapist did you go to? Do they have magical powers?" she asked.


    Mo Yize glared. "Oh, shut up. Be happy that I apologized to you and didn''t spend years eating your ear off."


    Qian Meng leaned forward. "It''s all in the past now. I want to move forward. I can''t say we will be friends like we were in university, but if you prove that you aren''t an insufferable bitch again¡­ I''ll talk to you civilly, understood?"


    Mo Yize smiled. "I won''t throw my arms around you in joy. And I definitely don''t want you going mushy on me, okay? My therapist is all about meaningful relationships with women in my life. Think of me talking to you as homework."


    Qian Meng snorted. Two avid bitches who were on the verge of becoming friends again. What a lovely turn of events. Who would have thought?


    "Well, to be honest, we won''t be friends¡­ we''re sort of sisters now." Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Do you want to do sister stuff with me?" she asked.


    Mo Yize looked at her with mock disgust. "Are we going to talk about boys and braid each other''s hair from now on?"


    "We did that a lot in university. Nothing new there. You can bitch about your family openly now. I know who they are." Qian Meng smirked. "Apparently, our names are in the same family registry."


    "Are you sure you don''t have an alternate motive? My brother is tight-lipped, I am sure you are dying to know why he hates dad so much." She snickered. "All three of us dislike him, to be honest. Brother just shows it openly." She shrugged.


    "And you won''t tell me the reason," Qian Meng guessed.


    "Don''t drag me into your relationship with my brother. I can barely handle saying sorry to an old friend. It''s too high intensity for me." It was all fun and jokes. And then Mo Yize looked at her watch. "Dang, I have a meeting with my team. I need to get going."


    Qian Meng stood up along with her. "What do you do for a living again?"


    "I do a lot of things," Mo Yize shrugged. And then she continued in detail. "I have a small team of day traders working under me. They make me the money. And I also have a team of professionals. I buy failing restaurants and bars and renovate them. When the business is booming, I sell them off to the highest bidder."


    Qian Meng raised her brow. "You can never commit to anything, can you? Is this another way of you fixing up and making money?"


    Mo Yize shrugged. "There is no challenge in just having one place to look over. I like the excitement of taking on new challenges and obliterating them."


    "Sounds like you," Qian Meng said finally. "Well, you should get going. Thank you for coming over. I really appreciate it."


    "You''re welcome," Mo Yize answered. "Call me if you want to hang out or something. Lord knows I am bored all the time."


    "I might hold you to that," Qian Meng announced.


    Qian Meng followed Yize out of the door and watched as she slid into her car.


    "Well, that was a short visit," Mo Qingchen said from behind her.


    Qian Meng turned around to see him a few steps away from the door.


    "Yeah, she has meetings with her team. She just came by to give me presents," Qian Meng said with a small smile.


    "I saw that. It was thoughtful." He looked contemplative.


    "Take notes, Mr. Mo," she joked.


    When she walked back into the house, she felt strange. It was officially their house. Mo Qingchen and hers. And she was used to it. It felt like her own.


    Qian Meng saw Mo Qingchen go back towards their bedroom and made her way to the kitchen. She wondered if there was anything to eat at home. Left with only the option of cupcakes, she pulled out a plate and set a few on it before taking it back to the bedroom.


    She didn''t see Mo Qingchen in there, but she could hear him shuffling in the bathroom. Her bags were lined up neatly against the wall next to the door that led to the bathroom.


    But those could wait. She didn''t feel the need to deal with them right away.


    She plopped down on the bed and noticed that Mo Qingchen had turned on the news on the television. She picked up the remote after watching the news for a minute before she started to skim through the channels and found something that was interesting.


    She found a comedy and settled on it.


    As she got into the movie, she peeled the paper wrapping of the cupcake and bit into the exposed cake. She let out a satisfied moan and continued to bite into it. She was so engrossed in the movie and her food that she didn''t see Mo Qingchen come out of the bathroom.


    "Seriously?"


    "What?" she mumbled through her mouthful of yummy goodness.


    "You''re eating cupcakes on the bed?"


    She forcefully swallowed and flashed him an angelic smile. "I fed you sandwiches on this bed, too. Don''t complain, Mr. Mo."


    "But¡­ you''re not using your plate properly."


    She hummed. "I plan on sleeping with ants today. Don''t worry. You can share the bed. It''s therapeutic apparently," she joked.


    "You''re joking right?" he asked.


    Qian Meng snorted. "You can''t tell?"


    "Your mind is a wonderful place. I never know when you have that serious look on your face." He sighed in relief. He began furiously wiping away at the blanket, trying to get rid of the crumbs.


    She watched him move around and chuckled.


    "Move," he instructed as he nudged her thigh with his sweeping hand.


    She sighed and obliged, getting up and taking her food with her so Mo Qingchen could continue to fuss over the blanket.


    "I''ve saved some for you," she called. Her hunger had subsided so she decided to unpack some of her clothes. She walked into the bathroom and couldn''t help but smile.

 Chapter 248: She Was Rubbing Off on Him

    Mo Qingchen had already arranged all her toiletries on the counters and she even found a range of hair care products¡­ the same brand that Mo Qingchen used for his luscious hair.


    As she slowly unpacked, invasive thoughts came to her.


    "What''s wrong?" Mo Qingchen asked.


    "What makes you think something is wrong?" she answered, looking up at him.


    "You''re quiet."


    "Maybe I just don''t have anything to say. People are quiet all the time. It doesn''t mean anything."


    "Normal people, yes. Yun Qian Meng? No. You always have something to say¡­ or do."


    Qian Meng shook her head and laughed as she folded her suitcase back. "Nothing really. Just thinking¡­"


    "About?"


    "What if we get sick of each other?"


    Mo Qingchen thought about the answer for a while. "It''s a big house. I am sure we could keep our distance if that came to be."


    Qian Meng nodded and raked her fingers through her hair, immediately cringing. It felt knotted and dirty.


    "I feel disgusting. I hate the way it feels after traveling on the plane. Even private jets can''t help it, huh? I need a shower."


    "I was thinking the same. But you go in first."


    Qian Meng looked over at him. "Thank you."


    As Qian Meng walked to the shower, she heard the door click behind her. She slowly began stripping off her clothes until they were in a pile on the floor.


    She pulled the glass door to the shower area open and reached inside to turn the spray of water to a near-scalding temperature. She was just about to step in when she realized that all of her shower necessities were still in her bag in the bedroom.


    The towel¡­ the thing she needed the most.


    I sighed and closed the door again before making her way over to the bathroom door. She opened one and stuck her head out. Mo Qingchen was lounging across the bed, one arm behind his head, flipping through the channels on the television.


    "Mo Qingchen!" she faked a gasp. "I cannot believe you are soiling your precious blanket by lying down in your filthy clothes."


    Mo Qingchen turned his head immediately and stared. "I thought you were taking a shower."


    "I am, but I forgot my towel in here. I also need some other stuff. Close your eyes so I can get it."


    He raised his brow. "You want me to close my eyes? I''ve already seen all of it. What are you hiding?"


    "It''s different," Qian Meng scolded. She wasn''t sure how, but it just was. Mo Qingchen laughed and shook his head before closing his eyes.


    Qian Meng checked one last time before opening the door wider and slipping out into the bedroom. A gust of wind hit her, causing her nipples to harden and goosebumps to break out all over her skin.


    She faced the bags against the walls, her back to Mo Qingchen as she unzipped the bag.


    "Say, you scolded me for eating on the bed, but here you are rubbing your dirty body all over it. What do you have to say about that?" she taunted.


    She was bent over and digging through her luggage, shifting around clothes. Finally, she found what she was looking for. She straightened back up, picking up her bag.


    "I am rubbing against the bed because your behavior rubbed off on me," he accused lightly. Qian Meng finally turned around.


    Mo Qingchen was staring at her, his eyes twinkling as a big smile spread across his face.


    "Mo Qingchen!"


    "What?" he laughed. "Did you really believe I wouldn''t look?"


    "You''re not a man of your words, are you?" Qian Meng muttered. "I won''t trust you from now on." She scurried back into the bathroom and shoved the door close behind her.


    Her shower was long and hot. She thoroughly lathered her hair with the brand new bottle of shampoo Mo Qingchen had ordered for her. She scrubbed her body thoroughly to get the sticky residue from traveling off.


    She even shaved her legs. When she finished, she felt so much better. It was good to be clean, but the hot spray of water felt so good that she lingered inside for more than necessary.


    She had no idea how long she stood there, but she didn''t turn the water off until it was already lukewarm instead of hot. She snagged the towel that she had hung up and toweled herself dry. She even patted the water out of her hair before stepping out of the shower.


    Qian Meng hated putting on clothes when she was wet. Instead, she cooled off and air-dried herself in the bedroom. She could do the same while Mo Qingchen took a shower.


    In the bedroom, Mo Qingchen was still on the bed, nearly in the same position as before. His eyes shifted to her when she opened the door.


    "The bathroom is free," she told him.


    "Is there any hot water left?" he teased with a hint of a smirk on his lips.


    "Come on, I wasn''t in there for that long." There was indeed not much hot water left. He could enjoy the sudden spurt of cold water for teasing her so much.


    He scooted to the edge and swung his legs over the side of the bed so that he could stand up. "It was easily over thirty minutes." He walked over to where she stood.


    "Really?"


    "Yes."


    Qian Meng shrugged. "I was shaving."


    He hummed. "Is that so?"


    "Yes," she said, furrowing her brows at him in question.


    He bent a little at the knees until he could reach to put his hand on the back of her knee. He slid it upwards slowly, moving across the backside of her thigh.


    "Smooth," he commented in a low tone, keeping his eyes on hers.


    "Yes, that is the intended effect of shaving," Qian Meng countered with a laugh.


    But the man kept sliding his hand up higher, turning it towards the inside her thighs. "Is that all you shaved?"


    Qian Meng''s laughter faded and her heart thudded against her chest at the sudden change of events. She wondered what he was trying to start. She bit her lip and tried to think of how to respond.

 Chapter 249: Announcing the Marriage to the World

    Unfortunately, she could come up with one thing. "Why don''t you find out?"


    His hand moved up a little more until his fingertips barely grazed against her lower lips. She shivered at the stir of lust in her stomach. Mo Qingchen smiled at her and withdrew his hand, drawing up to his full height once again.


    He moved his hand to the back of her neck and stroked the heated skin with his knuckles.


    "You look delicious all flushed and wet, Qian Meng."


    She felt his fingers trail over her collarbone and down her chest. He moved to pinch the end of her towel and tugged on it until it came undone. He gently pulled it down at an angle so that only her left breast was exposed.


    He didn''t grope her in an overly sexual way. He simply brushed his thumb over her nipples in a circular motion. It hardened at the stimulation and she expected him to continue¡­ but he didn''t. He simply smiled at her and walked into the bathroom, disrobing as he did.


    She was caught off guard by the number of sexual advances Mo Qingchen made towards her since the wedding. Or the lack. The honeymoon was¡­ tightly packed, but she hadn''t expected him to even let her out to see the sunlight. Maybe her expectations were a little off. Maybe¡­ because they were not real newlyweds, it didn''t work the same way. Maybe because they weren''t in love, he didn''t constantly want her sexually.


    What they did was great. But¡­ it felt casual. Sure, the positions they took were intimate and it was excellent sex. Mo Qingchen was very skilled in that department and with the exception of when she was trying to prove she was sexy, she came every time¡­ several times, actually.


    "Are you going to stand there and stare?" he asked suddenly.


    She blinked as his voice brought her back to her surroundings. She hadn''t realized that she had been standing there just staring at him stupidly. He was completely naked, standing in front of the open door.


    "Oh¡­ no¡­ I am going to post the pictures from the honeymoon and wedding. Announce it to the world."


    He gave her a small smile. "I''ll look forward to being on trending news tomorrow, then."


    Qian Meng nodded as she closed the bathroom door quickly and readjusted her towel around her body. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and went to lay down on the bed where she cooled off from the steamy shower. The cold air against her skin felt absolutely divine.


    She slowly closed her eyes, enjoying it. She didn''t realize when she fell asleep.


    She was woken up by Mo Qingchen nudging her leg. She groaned as she lifted her hand to rub her eyes. He was standing at the bed, his towel slung loosely around his waist.


    "Don''t sleep on the bed while you are wet," he said softly.


    Okay, that was enough! She jumped off the bed, tucking her towel back together so that she didn''t have to hold it, and ripped the blanket off the bed.


    "What are you doing?"


    She dragged the blanket across the room, through the bathroom, and over to the closet. She shoved it through the door so that it landed in a big pile on the floor and then parched over to the closet where the other bedsheets were kept. She found the one she thought was the most hideous and lugged it back to the bedroom with her.


    "What is that?" Mo Qingchen asked as he saw what she was carrying.


    "I found this cheetah print in your inventory. Don''t be a snob," she answered as she fluffed it out over the bed.


    "It''s hideous. Who bought it? Is it for a teenager?"


    "Maybe it was made for a teenager," she bit back.


    "Okay, let''s put something else. We won''t get any sleep if we rest on that."


    "No. I don''t want to listen to you talk about your blanket anymore." She glared at him.


    "Did I nag you too much?" he asked apologetically.


    "Yes," she pouted.


    "I''m sorry. You get cold so easily¡­ It''s chilly outside." He dragged his hand through his hair, messing it up despite how wet it was.


    She had been annoyed until that statement was made. It flew out her body as she stared at him for a second. She couldn''t very well continue to act spoiled so she went to the closet and pulled some clothes out.


    The fact that they almost argued over a blanket made her worry about how they would adjust to living with each other as a married couple. It wouldn''t be easy to adjust. They both had strong personalities and it was already difficult to sometimes mesh with him.


    As they moved around the area, getting ready for bed, they remained in silence. As Qian Meng completed her night routine, Mo Qingchen suddenly broke the silence.


    "You didn''t post the pictures and announcement yet?" he asked.


    She suddenly remembered. She squeaked as she abandoned the routine and plopped down on the bed to scroll through the pictures. They were all really well-taken. The first one she posted was of their red marriage booklets kept side by side, their pictures showing.


    She titled it [spamming 1]


    And then she numbered them like this. One picture of them having wine on the plane. One of them standing in front of the ocean, which a fellow tourist had taken of them.


    The last one was of Mo Qingchen in the distance, the water was up until his waist, but his upper body was revealed to the world. Under the rays of the sun, he looked positively ethereal.


    The pictures were posted just like that. One after the other without any grand declaration. It was explanation enough.


    Mo Qingchen snorted as he saw the titles and then he pulled the phone away from her. "No more looking at the comments. Let''s sleep," he announced.


    She nodded as she pulled herself closer to him. She had thought it would be hard to sleep, but she was too exhausted to even end the thought. She was out within minutes.

 Chapter 250: He Likes Her Loud and Obnoxious Breathing

    When Qian Meng woke up at six in the morning, Mo Qingchen''s side of the bed was already cold. She scrunched her brows in confusion as she padded to the bathroom and found it unoccupied as well.


    Still, she brushed her teeth and got ready for the day. She was dressed and packed for the office when she reached the dining area. Xiong Hua was standing there, setting the table.


    Qian Meng saw a basic breakfast which still looked delicious.


    "Good morning," she called. Xiong Hua looked up and smiled.


    "Mrs. Mo, good morning. I made your breakfast according to what Mr. Mo has on a regular day. I hope you don''t mind that I didn''t ask you," she said politely.


    Qian Meng waved it off. "Don''t worry about it. I am not that picky about food, and I trust Mo Qingchen to have good taste." She smirked. "Speaking of the dragon, where is he?" She looked around, just in case.


    "He is in the kitchen, trying to make something." Xiong Hua looked equally confused as Qian Meng felt.


    "Can he cook?" she asked.


    Xiong Hua shook her head. "I don''t know what he is making, but I have never seen him use those ingredients." She laughed.


    "I''ll check up on him," she said lightly. She sauntered to the kitchen and found Mo Qingchen facing away from her. He was busy with something but the kitchen looked extremely clean.


    Qian Meng smiled as she sneaked up on him. She peered around his broad shoulders and saw him pouring out a drink into one of those reusable containers.


    "What are you up to?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen hummed, not in the least bit startled at her appearance. "Your iced green tea latte," he said calmly. "We had matcha at home, so I unboxed it and followed the instructions. Drink it and tell me if I got it right," he asked. He handed her the cup.


    Qian Meng looked at it curiously. It was a custom container with an airtight lid and all. It even had her company''s logo and her name on it. She stirred the straw in the drink as she spoke. "Why weren''t you startled when I sneaked up on you?" she asked.


    She took a small sip and grew rigid.


    "You call that sneaking up on someone?" he snorted. "I could clearly hear you breathing and your loud footsteps," he informed. And then his brows furrowed. "Does it taste bad?"


    Qian Meng didn''t comment. She took another sip. "Are you saying I breathe funny?" she countered.


    "No, I am glad you breathe. No matter if it is loud and obnoxious. I will take it any day," he told her, his brows still furrowed. "Don''t change the topic. Does it taste horrible?"


    She shrugged. "Have a sip," she challenged.


    "I don''t like the idea of it, but for you¡­" he sighed. He leaned down and his lips were over the straw sucking on it.


    His expression didn''t change. "As I expected, disgusting." He tried to pry the cup away from her. "Give it to me," he ordered when she wouldn''t budge.


    "You took so much time and effort to make it, I am not giving it back," she pouted. "But why did you make it?"


    He stopped trying to take the cup and looked sheepish. "I felt bad for nagging you last night. It''s a bribe," he said.


    Qian Meng nodded. "You really sounded like a nagging husband. Not a good look on you."


    He nodded. "I will try not to do it again."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "You''re a nag, to begin with. You want everything perfect. I don''t expect you to change in a night. Take your time." She stopped sipping at the drink. "Oh, I forgot. I need to rush to my dad''s house and return the family registry to Qing Yuan."


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "Just have a little lunch and I can drop you off."


    She shook her head. "I need to reach before the others wake up. I''ll have breakfast later." She pecked his cheek quickly and then sprinted away.


    She heard him call from behind, but she was merrily jogging away. Her husband made her a drink to apologize. That was worth something, right?


    She pulled out her car from the garage and placed the cup in the holder before zooming off. She called Qing Yuan just in case.


    She was going to cut it off, thinking that Qing Yuan wouldn''t pick up the call when he did.


    "Sis? Why are you calling so early?" he asked. He sounded tired.


    "Sorry, did I wake you up?" she asked apologetically.


    "Oh, no. I didn''t sleep last night. I was working on something." He sighed.


    "Right. I am coming to give the family registry back. No one is awake, right?" It wasn''t that she was afraid of meeting them. It was about Qing Yuan getting into trouble over something so trivial.


    "Yeah. They sleep until eight before dad rushes to the company. You''re safe to come now. I will wait near the front door."


    The call was cut and it took her a few dozen minutes to rush to the house. Qing Yuan was, as promised, standing in front of the front door.


    Qian Meng slipped out of the car and sprinted over to him. "I need to go to the office after this. Don''t have time. Thanks!" she rushed.


    "I saw the pictures already. Nice¡­ I wish I could visit Bora Bora," he groaned.


    "Save up enough money and travel on your own. It''s not a place you go with family," Qian Meng told him excitedly.


    Qing Yuan huffed. "I can see you had a lot of fun with brother-in-law. Good for you. I''m jealous." He smirked.


    "What are you thinking about?" Qian Meng scolded.


    "That my sister successfully got the only model available in the world and it chose her!" he barked a laugh.


    Qian Meng noticed something from the corner of her eyes. Her focus shifted and she saw Yun Sui Bo coming towards them with a somber expression.

 Chapter 251: Dont Think About Faking a Rebellion

    "Father is up," Qian Meng warned Qing Yuan. He stiffened before shoving the booklet into his loose pajama pockets.


    "What did you just put in your pocket?" Yun Sui Bo''s booming voice came. Qing Yuan turned, a trace of fear in his eyes.


    "Take it out," Yun Sui Bo said firmly. Qing Yuan looked between Qian Meng and his father before pulling out the booklet tentatively. It was snatched from him the moment he took it out.


    "Why is it here with you? Are you about to give it to this ungrateful girl?" he asked.


    Qian Meng couldn''t help but glare. "Qing Yuan, go to your room and get some sleep," she told him.


    "Who are you to order people around in my house?"


    Qian Meng looked at him with distaste. "I am standing on your property, but I didn''t enter your house," she began. "And if you have a problem with your son going to his room and sleeping because he stayed up all night, I am going to have a problem with your attitude as a father."


    Yun Sui Bo sucked in a breath. "Did you tell him to steal it and give it to you so that you can marry that wretched man?" he asked, his voice raising with each word.


    "It''s too early in the day for screaming. Don''t give me a raging headache when I have to work for the next twelve hours," Qian Meng warned.


    "No. Sis didn''t ask me to¡ª"


    Qian Meng stopped him with a look. "If you really cared about my life and what I was doing, you would know that I already got married days ago."


    Yun Sui Bo''s eyes widened. "Without my permission? You didn''t even call your family to the wedding!" he accused.


    "No. It was just between us husband and wife. We don''t need others to tell us what is right for us." She scoffed. "And you are not going to bring up the real issue, is that it?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Qing Yuan, go back," Qian Meng told again. This time, her brother scurried away without a word.


    "Tell me. What trick did you pull up to make me regret my decisions?" Yun Sui Bo asked sarcastically.


    "The man you tried to marry me off to¡­ he tried to kill his own father. He is suspected of killing his older brother." Her smile was wide. "I wonder if you knew that. Maybe it would have been easier for you to marry off a daughter who would die in the marriage."


    Yun Sui Bo looked stunned. "You¡ª"


    "Don''t start pretending now," she said immediately. "I don''t have time for your explanations or your coercions. I have a busy life and there is no place for you in it. I hope you realize that and keep what little dignity you have. People will call you to congratulate you on my wedding and ask you questions. Because I don''t want my image to suffer, you will tell them you knew about it and that we had been dating for months without anyone''s knowledge." She gave him a knowing look. "Don''t try to falsely tell me you will rebel. With how much emphasis you put on saving your face, you will definitely follow what I said."


    She didn''t bid farewell as she turned and went over to the car. As she wound out of the driveway, she saw Yun Sui Bo turning and going back into the house.


    She didn''t care what he said. But she knew he was a rat who would hide when things got difficult. Only, she didn''t know the extent to which he could do it.


    - - - - -


    She was sitting in her office and just getting ready for the day when she heard a knock on the door.


    "Come in!" she called, confused why Li Min was suddenly knocking for permission. She saw Li Min peer in with a small but professional smile.


    "Why are you knocking?" Qian Meng asked immediately as Li Min slid in. But then she saw a man follow her secretary inside. "What are you doing here?" Qian Meng asked with a grin. "Showing off your affection right after the wedding?" she teased.


    He placed a box in front of her. "Your breakfast. I knew you would forget it so I asked Xiong Hua to pack it for you. I am dropping it off on my way to the office," he announced.


    She smiled. "I saw the customized containers, too. What is up with that?"


    Mo Qingchen shrugged. "I know you have community fridges for food here, so I brought something to distinguish you by. I have a set for myself too. I just sent the idea and Xiong Hua took the delivery while we were on our honeymoon," he said.


    "Are you trying to say that I should eat my meals on time?"


    Mo Qingchen just nodded. "I''ll get going now. I have a meeting in fifteen minutes," he told her. He came to her side and planted a kiss on her cheek before rushing out.


    Qian Meng silently looked at the door he had gone through. She heard a cough and turned to Li Min. "Feeling jealous?" she asked.


    "I am happy being single, Boss." She paused. "Congratulations on your wedding. And I am sorry to burst your bubble." She placed down the files on the table.


    "What are these about?"


    Li Min began to speak. "The design team and marketing team made the slight changes that were decided on in the last meeting. ''The Shift'' jewelry line is set to go into production. I need your explicit approval to get the ball rolling. On top of that, ''The Goddess'' bridal dress collection drafts were due. The design team sent it over already with sample materials. They have everything set up in the design floor, you''ll need to take a look and make the changes you want."


    "When is the estimated launch date?" Qian Meng asked.


    Li Min blinked. "For ''The Shift'' line, the factories will be working in overdrive. Our fashion show garnered a lot of attention last time when we showed the titbits from the line, so we are fast-tracking production."

 Chapter 252: The Autopsy Results Are Out

    "We should have the primary batch of goods within three weeks. As discussed, we will have only order-based deliveries and customization after that."


    Qian Meng leaned forward and took the folder in her hand. She skimmed through it. "And the bridal line?" she asked.


    "I have already spoken to the guest designer we are collaborating with. She is up to make changes as you want. But we need to have several in-house design meetings with the designer to finalize. The launch will be in five months."


    Qian Meng nodded. "That''s a good amount of time between the two launches. Any other launches that I need to sign off on?"


    Li Min nodded. "The contract with the textile company needs to be renewed and the executive staff told me that the water and heat resistant material you were pining for is finally getting manufactured commercially."


    Qian Meng pressed her finger to her temple. "Grab a meeting with the CEO of the company. We can negotiate on the time when. We need to demand the testing videos and reports before we make a decision. Just in case, talk to the legal team and make a tentative contract getting exclusive user rights to the material."


    She tapped her free hand on the table. "Ah, you also need to take into account how much they can produce and if they need investments in that."


    Li Min nodded. "I have already asked for the test reports and videos. We will get signed documents after the lunch break. I''ll grab a meeting with the CEO for you, too. We also have a few problems."


    Qian Meng looked at Li Min in surprise. "What problems?" she asked.


    "Problems related to docking and transportation of the goods," Li Min said in a low voice.


    Qian Meng squeezed her eyes shut. "Is it anything serious? We have contracts with all the ports and transport agencies, right?" she asked.


    "Yes, the trouble is only some misbehavior with the staff or them losing a shipment and then calling to say they found it an hour later." Li Min could guess what this was about.


    "It seems the old bats from the Bais'' company are acting up. Serve them legal notices and get compensation for lost items even if it is a prank or for an hour. All conversations need to be accounted for. Make sure everyone knows to record conversations, emails, any conversation they have with these vendors and companies." She sighed. "The old bats pulled some strings, it seems. They must be scared of what we will find."


    She shook her head in disbelief. "It''s an amateur move, Boss. I can handle it myself. As you''re the external audit. I have been told about two and a half weeks is still remaining for the complete results to come out. You''ll have enough then to toss them out."


    "You don''t need to assure me," Qian Meng said with a hint of amusement. "It''s all part of the plan. They can''t do anything unless I allow them to."


    The chessboard was laid out and she knew exactly how to counter every attack the opponent made.


    And the day went on and on. Qian Meng went from one meeting to the next. She sampled materials. Saw the sample dresses and designs. She spoke to the marketing team, sales, designers.


    It was only after lunchtime that the call from Li Jun came in. She picked it up immediately.


    "What''s the update on the case?" Qian Meng asked without a greeting.


    "The autopsy results are out. It was ruled a homicide. They found muscle relaxant during the testing. No signs of struggle. They are taking the wire operation and the confession on tape as evidence as well. The charges for drugs have been added, too. He''s not coming out of jail in this lifetime," Li Jun said.


    "The police would surely offer a plea deal to get names from high-end people, right?" Qian Meng asked.


    "Yes, they offered deals, but Bai Ye Qing is still ''thinking'' about it. Whatever that means," Li Jun said. "The girlfriend¡­ Jia Ai, I think her name is. She took the plea deal. She will give all the evidence. She is looking at 3-5 years in jail. She doesn''t seem happy about it though."


    Qian Meng laughed. "No one would be happy going to jail," she snorted.


    "Oh no. She is not happy about fewer days in jail. It''s the same for Bai Ye Qing," he said. He was confused, that Qian Meng could hear.


    She realized something at that moment. Whatever Mo Qingchen had told Bai Ye Qing had the same effect as it did on the threats made to Jia Ai.


    She was itching to know what he had said. She would have to ask Mo Qingchen when she reached home.


    "Has Mr. Bai been called to the police station? Have I?" she asked.


    "So far, Mr. Bai has not been called for questioning. But they will have a re-burial of the body at a different location as far as the police know."


    They spoke about some other issues and legalities that needed to be taken care of before Qian Meng hung up and went back to work. She was in the middle of reading a document when Li Min entered the room, looking utterly confused.


    "Boss, some handmade confectionery shop representative is waiting at the reception. They said that you ordered from their store. They bought a few truckloads of goods."


    Qian Meng smiled. "I had ordered it a while back." She stood up from her chair. "I''ll have to personally take the delivery." She went downstairs and really, there was a woman standing at the reception, waiting for her.


    "Yun Qian Meng?" the woman asked. She had a notepad in her hands.


    "I am she. How many packets did you bring?" Qian Meng asked.


    "We have two orders of wedding packages made according to your instructions. One order is of white vintage lace bags with candy and a customized note in all of them. The other order is a black velvet bag with candies and a customized note. Both are different in the types of candies ordered and the notes. Am I correct?" she asked.

 Chapter 253: The Lady Boss Bribes the Employees

    Qian Meng nodded. She looked at the sample bags and then signed off on the order. "Thank you so much. I''ll have someone unload all the things," she said with a grin.


    As it turned out, the whole process took hours.


    She already asked Li Min to make a schedule. The white packets of wedding candy were stored in the canteen''s pantry. According to the schedule, every department would come in and take their packets.


    Doing the same in Mo Qingchen''s office was another thing altogether.


    She left him a message while they were unloading the Venus share of packages.


    He called her immediately. "Candy? What are you talking about?" he asked. She could hear that he was walking.


    "Wedding candy. It''s a tradition. I am giving one to each of my employees at the headquarters. So, yours should get them too, right?" she told him.


    "Have they arrived already?" he asked.


    "Yes. I was wondering if you could help out with unloading everything."


    Indeed, Mo Qingchen came out and when he saw the truck waiting for him, his jaw went slack.


    "For every employee?" he asked.


    She nodded. "I am trying to score points as the boss''s wife. I already made a fool of them that day. I need to compensate in some way," she shrugged.


    He blinked and then sighed. "I''ll get some help." He was busy making calls. But some employees had already come out of their building and were waiting eagerly for their share of wedding candy.


    Qian Meng followed along, accepting congratulations and taking compliments on how good they looked together. She even handed out some candies with her own two hands.


    "Sorry for taking up your time," she said when she reached the health club. She had realized that it was the gossip hub and the people she had duped were all congregated inside, their heads together as they hyperventilated.


    They looked up immediately and gave her weak smiles. "Miss Yun¡­ Mrs. Mo¡­" They didn''t know what to call her.


    "Ah, don''t worry about formalities. I felt bad for being on the sly and getting such information about the boss from you. So, I brought all of you something special."


    She ushered Mo Qingchen in and a few people after that.


    The black satin bags came out with the notes and candy. They were shameless to take it from her. Qian Meng couldn''t stop laughing.


    "You were working for the enemy all along!" Peng Huo commented. His eyes widened and he slapped his hand over his mouth when he remembered Mo Qingchen was there.


    Actually, Mo Qingchen was busy looking at the packets and wondering why he wasn''t getting any. There was a lot of care put into these packets and he wasn''t getting one? Preposterous!


    "I was. But I could be a double agent, for all you know," Qian Meng countered. "Thank you for contributing to his company. It was part of your contribution that brought it where it is. For taking care of my husband and doing your job despite your feelings¡­ thank you." She bowed a little, her eyes twinkling.


    She was trying to create a bridge between the employees and Mo Qingchen. A little less fear would do them good and increase productivity. At least, they shouldn''t be scared of voicing their problems if they had any. And if she, as an outsider for the company but the closest person to their boss could help the matters, she couldn''t see why not.


    Cai De was the next to speak up. "You really stumped us for words. Gu Rong nearly delivered her baby from the anxiety."


    Qian Meng looked at the secretary in disbelief. "Tell me that''s a joke."


    She waved it off. "They are just exaggerating. Nothing like that happened." She smacked Cai De''s arm. "Thank you for the present. You didn''t have to¡­" she said politely.


    She, as a secretary, knew how much work must have been put into this.


    "Wedding candy is for family and friends. I have always believed that my company and employees were part of that group. Though the social relationship is different, everyone deserves it." She smiled. "Go along, I know you want to eat a candy."


    She urged them on.


    She didn''t speak more, knowing it would make them feel awkward, so she left, tugging Mo Qingchen along.


    "Why do they get wedding candy but I don''t? You didn''t even offer one to me?" he asked.


    "I have the sample packets. I could give you one," she shrugged. "I ordered enough for all the employees at your office. Only for the headquarters, though," she corrected quickly.


    "I get a sample?" he looked affronted.


    "It''s the same thing. Come on," she tugged him along. Once inside his office, she pulled out the bag and gave it to him.


    "What did your employees get?" he asked. She just showed him a picture.


    "Oh, you put in a lot of thought into it. Why the white lace and black satin?" he asked as he opened the bag and peered inside. "It has a variety of candy, too."


    "I didn''t want to go with the usual red packets people give. The bride wears white and the groom black. I went with the best materials that suit the color in this case. I spent a pretty dime on all of it."


    "You really didn''t have to," Mo Qingchen said. "But thank you for trying." He patted her head. He took out the note and squinted his eyes to see. "What is written on this?" he asked.


    Qian Meng frowned and took the card away. "Excuse me, don''t criticize my handwriting."


    Mo Qingchen burst out into laughter. "This chicken scrawl is your writing?"


    Qian Meng huffed. "I penned it and sent it to the company to put it on the cards. Don''t laugh." She smacked him on the shoulder.


    "Okay, read it out to me, please. Because I can''t read whatever you wrote." He pressed his lips together to bite back the smile. She looked a little offended so he tried to hold his reaction back.

 Chapter 254: Embarrassed Just Reading It

    Qian Meng cleared her throat. "My family''s Mo Qingchen looks a bit grumpy but he means well. Thank you for your care. I appreciate you looking after him while I was not here."


    She felt embarrassed just reading it out loud. Maybe she shouldn''t have written this¡­ She groaned.


    "Don''t be embarrassed. They might not be able to read what is written," he assured her.


    "That doesn''t make me feel better!" she retorted.


    Mo Qingchen couldn''t hold back his laughter any longer. "Well, if they do read it, they will think you are a romantic at heart. That''s a good look. Very much like those novels you like to read."


    She rolled her eyes. "You enjoy the greetings; I need to get back and finish work." She patted his cheek affectionately before sprinting out.


    Indeed, everyone was staring at her. They had these dreamy looks in their eyes that Qian Meng would almost not stand. Thank god she didn''t write something like this for her employees. She would die of embarrassment looking at their face every day.


    She sucked in a deep breath, composed herself, and then went back to work.


    She hadn''t even checked social media for the response to her wedding announcement. Mo Qingchen also had a pile of work because he had been gone for the honeymoon, so she took her work home with her.


    She was finally looking through the responses and felt her body curl up in embarrassment. It seemed that everyone was talking about it. The marriage booklet picture had gotten so many shares and comments that Qian Meng couldn''t comprehend.


    [I have never been so happy to see a red booklet before. I won''t even be this happy to see my own!]


    [@lastcomment, this just shows you will be forever alone. We are on the same boat *cry*.]


    [I need a novel or series or movie made on this. I''ll throw all my money at it, I promise.]


    [+1]


    [+n]


    In the comment section of their pictures together.


    [Look at Mr. Mo! He is looking at his Meng Meng and not at the camera.]


    [Swooning at the look in their eyes.]


    [The ship has docked, folks! It''s true love.]


    [I will gladly accept this torture. Give more lovey-dovey pictures.]


    These were the comments mostly.


    There were also others like:


    [Clutching my wallet and investing in their companies. Surely their share prices will fly to the moon!]


    Qian Meng snorted at those. Maybe it would. She hadn''t really checked that aspect of their wedding.


    And then there were pictures of Mo Qingchen shirtless in the water.


    [Bad eyes! Look away. This is someone else''s man.]


    [Meng Meng is so lucky. She gets to touch this every day. *nosebleed*]


    [Look at you people being pervs. I am not one of you. Absolutely not! *licks the screen*]


    Qian Meng looked at those and wondered for a solid ten minutes if she should delete the photograph. But she also knew that it had been saved multiple times and would be forever kept in the galleries of these thirty girls and aunties.


    She put the phone away and got to work.


    It was almost two in the morning when Mo Qingchen returned. Qian Meng looked up to see him dragging his shirt up to discard it. He looked tired beyond belief.


    "Are you done with work?" she asked worriedly. He finally looked over at her and nodded.


    "I finished everything at one go. Are you still working?" he asked.


    Qian Meng nodded. "I took small breaks here and there but I still have a lot to finish," she said with a groan.


    He looked at her with worry. "You shouldn''t sit on the bed and work. It''s bad for your back. Why didn''t you go to the office and work there?"


    She hadn''t thought about that. "You don''t have trade secrets to protect in there?"


    "You can see my trade secrets if you want. But work in the office if you bring it back home. No sitting on the bed and hurting your neck and back," he scolded.


    "Yes, dad," she replied.


    Mo Qingchen threw her a look. "I''ll just freshen up and rest beside you, okay?" He sounded like a tired little child and Qian Meng couldn''t resist. She was busy at work, making changes to a document when she felt the bed dip. She saw Mo Qingchen crawling in beside her.


    He rested his head on his palms, facing her. His eyes were trained on her face and he watched as she tried to work.


    "Why aren''t you catching any sleep?" she asked, feeling a little conscious.


    "Not sleepy," he replied immediately. "Want to watch you. Missed you."


    Qian Meng gave him a sideward glance. "Did you fry your brain at work? Why are you talking like a three-year-old?" She removed her hand from the keyboard and placed it in his hair, stroking his scalp slowly.


    His brows were mildly furrowed and she could tell he had a killed headache.


    He sighed contently and scooted closer to her until she could feel his hot breath against her clothed thigh. There was nothing sexual about it, but as she worked with one hand, she kept her hand on his head, pressing ever so often to help with the pain.


    Working with one hand took more time, but she couldn''t make herself pull away from him. What would have taken half an hour took two. She would glance at him and find him staring off.


    Later on, his eyes were closed but she could tell he wasn''t sleeping.


    It worried her more and more. His sleeping pattern was erratic. Some days he could sleep beside her. On others, he barely got any sleep. He refused to take medicines or get help. And she just couldn''t understand what was going on with him.


    When she was finished with work, it was five in the morning already. There was no point in sleeping but her body ached to just sink into the bed and get some rest. She set the laptop aside and slid into the bed.

 Chapter 255: Was This Justice Justified?

    This was comfortable. There was no need to think about it. The pressure on his forehead increased and he opened his eyes slowly.


    "No more," he said softly.


    "It''s fi¡ª" Before she could finish, he pressed a light kiss on her lips.


    "Rest." There was no room for argument. She felt the butterflies in her stomach start to scream and flutter about. She tried to ignore it, but it only grew worse when he pulled her into his arms. He moved her around until she was tightly pressed against his chest and his head was resting on top of hers.


    She squeezed her eyes shut and slowly let the warmth take over.


    Nothing new.


    Just rest, he had said.


    Okay, she would just rest.


    - - - - -


    For the next few weeks, life was back to normal. Mo Qingchen and her would have breakfast and go to work. Go through meetings, reports, and work from all their invested companies before getting off at six in the evening. Their kickboxing practice was not to be skipped. After that, they would shower and go home to enjoy the rest of the evening.


    For the first two or three days after their honeymoon, they were so occupied with work that Qian Meng felt they needed a pact. "If there are no emergencies, we go to the office and come back together. And we always have our meals on time... together."


    Mo Qingchen, the fellow stickler for rules saw his opportunity to feed Qian Meng on time and grabbed it with both hands. And therefore, their lives as harmonious partners continued.


    Qian Meng was watching television one evening when the call came in.


    She looked at the name on the screen and quickly took the call. "Uncle Bai," she breathed into the phone.


    "Ah, Qian Meng, I am glad you picked up the phone." His voice was gruff and he sounded worn out. This worried Qian Meng greatly. She had spoken to Uncle Bai for a few minutes every other day but he always sounded so tired that it was getting worrisome.


    "Uncle Bai, how have you been doing recently?" she probed softly.


    "I have been doing well. Why do you ask?" he asked with a small chuckle.


    "You keep saying that you are doing well, but it sounds like you are fighting a war. Is your health deteriorating? If that is the case, you can''t hide it from me!" she spoke quickly.


    "Ah, nothing of the sort. The medicines from the hospital and general exhaustion from all these years of work caught up with me. I have not worked for a month now. The doctor said that I will slowly regain my vitality," he promised.


    Qian Meng wanted to take the man back to the doctor and pry for answers until she was satisfied but she knew she would be overstepping the boundaries.


    "You are taking your medicines diligently?" she asked.


    Bai Yu hummed. "At first, it was difficult without Chen Yue to figure out where everything was, but now¡­ it''s a piece of cake."


    Qian Meng pressed her lips together. "How are things on that front?" she asked.


    "The court hearings are going to begin in a few weeks."


    Qian Meng raised her brow. "That seems excessive. Usually, cases take months to be brought to court, especially when the prosecution has information to pry from everyone involved. What happened?" she asked.


    "They are fast-tracking all the processes. There seems to be pressure from higher authorities to wrap up the case privately."


    Qian Meng didn''t mind that. As long as Bai Ye Qing''s name and crimes weren''t splashed all over the news, it would be fine. She didn''t want her investments tanking before she had a chance to evaluate and raise them. Moreover, once people found out, there would be no shortage of people who would come to make trouble for her.


    The old bats from the Bai company were testament to that. She quickly realized who it could have been. And she tried to keep the smile away from her face.


    "I see¡­" she trailed off.


    "But that is not what I wanted to talk to you about."


    Qian Meng sat up. "Uncle Bai, don''t hesitate to tell me anything," she assured softly.


    The older man laughed. "Oh no. I am not hesitating to tell you anything. I am actually inviting you to a funeral," she said quietly.


    Qian Meng flinched. This must have been about Bai Wenxi''s reburial.


    "I see¡­" That was all she could say, she didn''t know how to respond.


    "Last time, Wenxi''s funeral was held in a rush. We called everyone we knew but there was no closure. Now that the truth has been revealed, I want to bring the boy some peace," she informed her.


    "Do you need any help booking the gravesite and commissioning the headstone?" She had not done it before but it was a hectic process. Most burial locations had strict regulations and high maintenance fees.


    "Oh, no. I wouldn''t want to inconvenience you with that," he said, choking up at her insistence. Even her own family hadn''t offered to help, but this little girl was offering herself up so freely without any conditions.


    "It''s no inconvenience. I have already claimed that you are my uncle. It''s now my filial duty. It''s Wenxi my brother, then?" she told him.


    Bai Yu felt a sob rip through his throat.


    "Uncle Bai¡­"


    "Oh no, kid. I am fine. Just happy that there is someone who I can consider family." He sniffed and seemed to wipe his tears away. "You don''t need to worry about it. I have already spoken to the plot owners. I am shifting Wenxi to a better spot in the same burial ground. I already booked for it and made a new headstone. It just took a lot of time to process the papers for the police to release his body."


    Qian Meng flinched. She wanted to beat herself up for letting this old man relive the grief of losing his son once again. All for her revenge? She didn''t feel her justice was justified when she saw Uncle Bai in pain.

 Chapter 256: Protect Her From The Gunfire

    "I am sorry. I should have thought about that earlier."


    "Absolutely not. You just need to come the day after tomorrow to the service. I would like you there," Uncle Bai said.


    "Of course. Of course, I will come," she spoke quickly. "I¡­ I will pick you up from home. Is that okay?"


    "Thank you, Qian Meng," he whispered. "It''s getting late in the night. Time for the old man to go to sleep. I will speak to you later. See you."


    The greeting was polite and the phone was hung up. Qian Meng felt herself stare at the television blankly. It was only when the bathroom door shut that she came back to the present.


    "What is wrong with you?" Mo Qingchen asked. Qian Meng turned her head slowly and watched as he dried his hair with the towel.


    She shook her head. Her phone was still clutched in her hand and Mo Qingchen''s eyes flickered to it.


    "Is there a problem at work? Do you want me to drive you to the office?" he asked carefully.


    She shook her head again.


    "Why do you look so lost, then?" he pressed.


    She opened her mouth to speak and then closed it. Finally, after a minute of silence, she gathered her thoughts enough to tell him what it really was.


    "Uncle Bai called. Bai Wenxi''s burial is the day after tomorrow. He asked us to come. Will you be free?"


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes flashed with understanding. "Of course, I will come. Tell me what you want to do and I will tag along." There it was, the strong wall behind her, reading to let her lean on him lest she falls when she doesn''t have her guard up.


    "I want to pick Uncle Bai up from his home in the morning. There must be a ton of work at the burial and then the funeral service. There is no need for Uncle Bai to face all of that alone," she said firmly.


    Mo Qingchen stared at her.


    A funeral. He hated those things. Sycophants and treacherous monsters who waited and relished the death of someone and pretended that they were mourning. He hated those. He would have never gone if not for Yun Qian Meng''s distressed expression.


    There was no way he would allow her to face those people alone.


    "Okay. He will be distressed so you can stay by his side," Mo Qingchen assured.


    Qian Meng''s eyes flashed with surprise. "Since when did you become considerate about people who are not me?" she asked.


    He raised his eyes. "Isn''t he someone you consider family? I might not personally feel attached to him, but I am bound to him through you. And he has treated me well. I am not an ungrateful dog." Unlike that son and wife of Bai Yu''s, Mo Qingchen thought to himself.


    "Moreover, that Chen Yu might be there eating people''s ears off. I am not letting you face the gunfire alone," he commented gruffly.


    Qian Meng chuckled despite her worry. "That is the real reason, isn''t it?" she inquired.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t respond, but the answer was clear.


    "Don''t worry. I can handle just about everyone. At this point, no one is strong enough to distress me." She smiled sweetly. "By the way, were you the one who sped up the court proceedings?" she asked finally.


    "I did put a word in but it seems there are a lot of people who want Bai Ye Qing to stop speaking. Faster court proceedings usually mean he won''t give information about his clients to the police and prosecutors," Mo Qingchen shrugged.


    "There are more people¡­" she trailed off in thought.


    "People who want him dead," Qingchen said abruptly. The slight hatred in his voice surprised Qian Meng.


    "There are people who want to kill him? Is that even possible in jail? If he gives out information, won''t he be in protective custody inside the jail system?" she inquired.


    "Not always. It depends on what his information brings to the prosecution''s table. Also, protective custody is a flimsy thing. There is no saying what can happen inside the jail."


    For some reason, Qian Meng felt a chill run up her spine when she heard him say it. Like he had a plan. "What does that mean?" she whispered.


    "If someone wanted to hurt him, it would be easy. There are so many reasons why someone can get hurt in jail that no one would bat an eye."


    Qian Meng felt like he had a plan. "I hope nothing does happen, though." She could feel his intense gaze. "No matter how much I hate him and want him gone forever, I don''t want Uncle Bai to face more pain."


    She pressed her lips together. She hoped the meaning in her words was clear. She didn''t support him doing anything under the table to get revenge.


    "It''s not under my control, unfortunately." He shrugged. As Qian Meng gripped onto him in the bed, she felt like she didn''t really know the man in front of her. She had thought she did, but sometimes, he surprised her.


    And she didn''t know what motivated him to do it. Was he not as nice as she had thought before? Was he a ruthless master who could discard anything and everything that he didn''t like? Or was there a purpose to all of this¡­ she didn''t know.


    It had flattered her a little before, but this was excessive. His wrath¡­ sometimes, it scared her.


    "What punishment are all of them going to get?" Qian Meng asked all of a sudden in the middle of the night.


    Qingchen''s eyes remained closed as he thought about the response. She didn''t seem okay with vigilante justice, so he had to tone it down. The little shark had destroyed cars and reputations but physical harm wasn''t in the cards for her, it seemed.


    "Bai Ye Qing will get life in prison because he will reveal the names of everyone he ever associated with."

 Chapter 257: The Only Family You Have Left

    "Chen Yue will get a month or two in jail because the severity of her crimes will be downplayed and that evil girlfriend will get a maximum of five years in jail. That''s about it."


    She sighed, reassured.


    "And you won''t do anything, right? You won''t get in trouble?" she asked. This was the real question she wanted the answer to.


    "No."


    Qian Meng was so tired that she didn''t question further. As to which of the two questions he had responded to, she didn''t know, but she was reassured.


    - - - - -


    As the service happened, Qian Meng felt a sense of doom overcome her. It just didn''t seem right. There was nothing special about it. Before her was one among many gravestones. There was nothing to properly indicate the value of a precious life that was lost. There was nothing left but a body. A body in a box that was six feet under the ground, left to wither away with nature and time.


    Bai Yu was in front of the grave, his eyes unfocused as he remained lost in thought. Behind her, Mo Qingchen steadily and silently made sure everything was in order. He had been nicer than she had expected.


    She snapped out of her thoughts and began her own role in all of this. If Uncle Bai couldn''t be the host, she surely had to.


    Bai Yu, too was having similar thoughts. He couldn''t fathom facing the death of his son twice, this time more devastating than the last. He could hear Qian Meng saying goodbye to the last of his and Wenxi''s friends as they got into their cars and drove away. But he wasn''t aware of what they were saying.


    Who knew what they thought of him now? What they thought of his wife and younger son who were not present at the service. Everyone knew something was amiss. Why else would a body be exhumed? Why else would the rest of the family be absent and two people who were not in the family registry be overtaking the duties that others should have?


    He had been firm in his believes until the body was slowly put into the ground. He found himself wordless and full of regret. They hit him like a train once again. He was filled with regret for all the conversations and experiences that he hadn''t gotten with Wenxi. As it seemed, no matter what, there would never have been enough time for it, not even if his son and he had lived for another hundred years.


    A car door shut somewhere behind him, followed by the sound of rolling tires on gravel, and then there was nothing. It was quiet.


    Moments later, Bai Yu felt a tap on his shoulder. He closed his eyes briefly before turning and seeing Qian Meng standing beside him. This girl had been so nice to her. He didn''t deserve it after what his family had done to her.


    "There are a few guests who said they will wait at your home. I tried to dissuade them," she whispered.


    Uncle Bai patted her hand which rested on his shoulder. "You''ve done enough. Thank you for coming today."


    Qian Meng shook her head.


    "Qian Meng¡­" they heard Mo Qingchen speak. They looked over and found him staring at the car that had pulled up. It was a cop car and they could guess who was inside.


    Thankfully, Bai Ye Qing wasn''t there. But Chen Yue was.


    She silently came down, her face haggard from the days she had been in jail. She was yet to get her bail sanctioned and await trial, so she had been in the jail all along.


    She sneaked a glance at Bai Yu, but seeing he had looked away and pretended she didn''t exist, she simply walked to the grave and sat beside it for a few moments. She mumbled things under her breath and even spilled some tears before she was taken away by the cops who assisted her.


    There was silence after that.


    "It will be dark soon," Uncle Bai said to them as the sun began to set over the cemetery.


    "It doesn''t matter. We can stay as long as you want," Qian Meng assured.


    They had already been there for over an hour after everyone else had left, mostly in silence. Bai Yu didn''t have anything to say and he wasn''t even crying. He just felt numb.


    "I should be at home with everyone else. They are probably wondering where I am."


    Everyone had gathered at his home after the service but Bai Yu had no interest in being around them right then. Being around them didn''t feel like without Wenxi. And he didn''t want their sympathy and questions.


    "Don''t worry about anyone else. If you want to stay longer, we will." And that was the end of the discussion on Qian Meng''s side.


    "The two of you don''t have to stay with me. You should have gone back with the others¡­"


    It surprised him when Mo Qingchen spoke up. "I especially hate funerals and when young and promising people die. And I understand your grief." This translated to: I am not leaving either.


    Bai Yu nodded. "The two of you came for the service¡­ it means a lot to me. You didn''t know Wenxi but you wanted to support me¡­ thank you."


    They could guess that Bai Yu had a lot on his mind that he wanted to unload. So, they patiently waited as he strung words to form sentences.


    "The two of you¡­ you are in love and intend to spend the rest of your lives together. You will face adversities and sometimes you will fight, but at the end of the day, the two of you will be the only family you have left. Cherish that."


    Qian Meng shuddered at the thought. Uncle Bai wasn''t completely wrong. Even though Mo Qingchen and she weren''t in love, he was the only ''family'' she was left with. She had a few other people she could trust¡­ but Mo Qingchen was it for her.

 Chapter 258: Shallow and Inhumane

    It was Friday and Qian Meng was almost done with work when Li Min stumbled into her room, a faint look of panic on her face.


    "Boss, something happened," she said quickly.


    Qian Meng looked up from the final lap of her last task, confused. "What is it?" she asked.


    Li Min bit her lip. "You''ll have to check the trending livestreams for reference." From her expression, Qian Meng knew it was something huge. Once in a while, some brand would be thrown under the bus and there would be rants all over the internet about it.


    It was probably Venus'' turn.


    She took her phone out and looked at the notifications on her phone. It was news alert from news outlets posting about Venus. She furrowed her brows as she opened the stream.


    "¡­I understand that high end brands have different customer service guidelines, but this is too much. How shallow and inhuman have we become that someone should get thrown out of the store because ''they don''t fit in.''"


    Qian Meng startled and looked up at Li Min. "What is she talking about?" In the background she could hear the woman rant.


    "She made a post shortly before the livestream about her being thrown out of one of our outlets because of her clothes."


    Qian Meng frowned. "Is this true?" she inquired.


    "I have already called the store and asked them for information about the matter. The store manager is looking into it and responding to us shortly," Li Min assured.


    Qian Meng nodded and looked back at the stream. "Apparently, wearing non-branded clothes, shorts and slippers to Venus stores means that the guest is not clean¡­ that they have bad intentions." The streamer rolled her eyes.


    Qian Meng quickly made note of this point. She could also see the outraged comments and realized that this woman was a celebrity. She did secondary roles in web dramas and small productions all the time. She was already on her laptop, digging out what companies she had done advertisements for as she listened.


    This could very well be a targeted attack from another company or a genuine complaint. No company was stellar when it came to customer service. Sometimes, things fell out of the crack. No matter how difficult the job was, the employees couldn''t disregard or embarrass the customer, that was the primary rule of being in the service industry.


    In the comments, she saw people commenting supportive comments.


    [If I came in looking scruffy and dirty, they would throw me out, too.]


    [If they throw out a celebrity, just who are their customers? Gaudily dressed people?]


    [High fashion and exclusive stores always have rights to admission reserved.]


    [If we don''t look the part, should we be thrown out as imposters? What nonsense!]


    The comments flooded the system and Qian Meng could only watch as it went on. It was unwise to call her PR team immediately and ask them to take down the video and post. Unless they had concrete evidence that what this woman was saying was false, they could not retaliate.


    Taking down the stream would mean like a big corporation trying to block the mouths of the common people. The outrage would grow further because of it and people would think that their outlets do treat customers differently based on how they are dressed and what part of society they come from.


    The stream went on for half an hour longer with the woman answering all sorts of questions and adding on to what had happened. She was soon saying that the security had dragged her out, as well.


    Qian Meng pressed her fingers to her forehead as she slowly closed the live-stream and called in an emergency meeting.


    The public relations, marketing, and executive staff were all called in, some of whom had already gone home.


    "You must already know what is happening. We need to track each and every comment posted. Give me the online and offline statistics, which news agencies are saying what and how the sales are being affected. I trust that the team leaders know how to assign work between themselves. Once we have assessed the intensity of the crisis and found out what really happened, we will formulate a strategy to minimize the effect. Are we clear?" Qian Meng asked.


    She turned to Li Min. "You''ll be working closely with the PR team on this. Forward all updates to my email."


    She was probably not going home today. Damn it.


    It was the PR team head who spoke up. "Boss, the interns were already following the trends."


    Li Min nodded. "It was one of the interns who made the first call about what happened."


    Qian Meng strained to smile. "That''s wonderful. The interns this time are really enthusiastic to work. Taking time out of their personal lives to track how the company is doing. I will meet them for a chat once this storm blows over," she promised.


    That seemed to lift the mood in the room considerably.


    Now, it was a waiting game. The whole team could only wait for the PR team to send all the figures and top comments before they could come to a conclusion.


    On the other hand, Li Min finally received a call from the particular outlet where this was happening.


    "Boss, we have been sent the video footage and a formal explanation," Li Min whispered into her ears.


    "Just tell the team. I want to hear their ideas on how to manage this crisis," Qian Meng said. Last time, it was her personal matter so she hadn''t involved the employees in brainstorming, but this time, it was a matter of the company''s reputation. She was not the only person who knew best. The best in the industry from around the country had been employed by her to ensure that Venus''s reputation was top notch.


    And she trusted them.


    The story unfolded like this.


    The customer, the name of whom they didn''t know at the time was acting suspiciously since they walked in. After seeing a plethora of jewelry, just when the employee turned to bring out another box of rings, the woman tried to shoplift.

 Chapter 259: Cant Make Rash Remarks

    "Do we have the footage right now?" Qian Meng asked, thinking deeply.


    "They should have some video footage from the time. The manager wasn''t sure if the camera caught what happened, but this is the story that the employee who catered to this female celebrity gave."


    Qian Meng chewed on her lip. "What does everyone think? What are the plans if we don''t have clear evidence of what happened?"


    A Director of Marketing, Ma Qiu, spoke up. "According to custom, it would be wise for us to explain our side of the story even if we don''t have any solid evidence on her hand. It would minimize the criticism," the guy said. He was a young man who looked bright with life.


    Qian Meng looked at the others in the room. "The best option would be to wait and watch. If we don''t have solid evidence, we can''t make wild conjectures," Xiong Fen mentioned. She was the Director of Public Relations, who had worked a lot longer in the industry.


    "But we also can''t wait too long to make a statement," Qian Meng sighed.


    An executive nodded. "After hour prices are fluctuating because of market instability since the live-stream happened. And the impact might not be too big right now but if this scandal snowballs, it would be hard to recover."


    The sales team representative also looked worried. "It''s not just stock prices. Such scandals have historically have disastrous effect on sales."


    Qian Meng knew all of this, but hearing it out loud just made the situation grimmer.


    "If it had been a smaller voice, the impact wouldn''t be this big," Li Min interjected.


    "We need to show that the words of this celebrity are unreliable. Any ideas on this?" Qian Meng hoped that there was someone who could come up with something.


    "I still think we should publish a primary statement about this," Ma Qui said. "The story will sell. A primary story is important to the market."


    Xiong Fen groaned. "Excuse me, making a rash statement is going to put our heads on the guillotine."


    The two quickly glared at one another.


    "Okay, both of you, don''t glare," Qian Meng commented. "Both of you have made valid points. We can''t make a rash statement, but we also can''t delay making it." She thought about it. "We bring in the two opinions together. We only publish as much as we know concretely."


    She looked at Xiong Fen, who nodded in understanding. "I will ask one of the managers to write up a short statement and oversee the reading."


    Ma Qiu looked a bit confused but seeing the Boss be on board, he didn''t say anything.


    "When can I expect the statement to go out?" Qian Meng asked.


    "We can expect it within an hour. It will take some back and forth to get it done, but it will be on your desk for approval within an hour." The promise was made. The thing about her employees was that they met deadlines. There was no use pouring your soul and working long hours. It was always about finishing everything up on time.


    "It seems a lot of you won''t be able to sleep tonight. I will accompany you on this," Qian Meng promised. She was not a person who gave up all responsibility and then slept safely at night. If her employees were working overtime to solve a problem, she wouldn''t be the capitalist slave driver and let them do it alone. At the end of the day, it was her problem.


    The people in the room dispersed, some going home while the others slaved away in the office. Qian Meng''s room remained empty for a few minutes before an employee from the PR team rushed in. They were lower in the ranks but very enthusiastic.


    "What news do you bring?" Qian Meng asked with the best smile she could muster.


    "I brought information on the celebrity and her associates," the young man said. "Her name is Shu Yuhan. Twenty-three-year-old female. Started working in the industry and quickly rose in ranks. She is a part-time model and was once invited to walk on our runway but something fell through in the last minute."


    Qian Meng nodded. "I knew about her being in the industry and the basic information. Is there anything worth noting? What is her motivation?"


    The guy nodded. "I have gone through her social media and found that she wears a lot of jewelry from Sophie''s Secret. She also seems to have affiliate links for the products listed in her posts and a code for her followers to use to get discounts."


    Qian Meng felt her head ache. "Is that so? She got caught and made a scene. I would say public humiliation also plays a part in all of this. But let''s see what people are saying. If we have any outside witnesses who saw it happen."


    The kid blushed and looked down.


    "What are you nervous about? Were you a little fan of this Shu Yuhan? Is that why you had seen all her posts?" Qian Meng asked.


    The boy was about twenty-two, fresh out of college. It was at this age that people had celebrity crushes. So, she wouldn''t be surprised if that was the case.


    He nodded. "Yes, I feel like I have supported someone who has been bad to the company I work for."


    Qian Meng laughed for the first time since the news broke. "Don''t worry about it. We can''t help who we fall in love with. Do your work with peace of mind." She gave the kid a warm look and made him go his way.


    Once the door was closed, she recalled the words she had said to the brat. And then she remembered that Mo Qingchen was going to take her home when she was done.


    She looked at her cellphone, still full of news articles on the matter, and cleared her history before calling Mo Qingchen.


    He picked up instantly. "I was just about to pick you up. Did I make you wait for too long?" he asked.

 Chapter 260: The Spread of the Crisis

    Qian Meng felt her worry seep away. "Oh, no. Something came up. It''s a complete mess at this point. I don''t think I will go home tonight. You go home and sleep well. I''ll see you tomorrow, okay?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen was silent for a second. "What is it?" he said softly. "Anything I can help with? Tell me and I can make it happen."


    "There is nothing you can do. You are so busy with the software trial. How can I unload my worries onto you? Just rest tonight. I''ll give you updates when something big happens. Don''t worry about me."


    There were no greetings mentioned as Qian Meng hung up. Li Min was already inside the room, a file in her hands.


    "The PR team forwarded the draft of the statement and called me. Please look at it."


    Qian Meng looked at Li Min. "Did you read it already? What do you think?"


    Li Min looked confident. "For now, this statement is ideal. I made sure there were no grammatical errors as well. After you approve it, we will be posting it to our social media."


    "Just make sure the PR team doesn''t give any comments to the news outlets right now. We will do that once we have the footage and story in line."


    "Yes, Boss," the reply was immediate. Li Min left the office and Qian Meng quickly turned to the computer to check her mail. The statement was short and apt.


    [The claims about our customer service standards are grievous. In light of recent events, the company is looking into this matter. Strict action against all parties found at fault will be taken.]


    Qian Meng looked at it once more and nodded. It captured how serious the claims made were, but didn''t specify if the company thought they were true. It showed that the company was taking this seriously and looking into the matter. It didn''t matter who was at fault, they would be punished indiscriminately.


    She picked up her phone and called Li Min. "Ask them to post it," she said as soon as the phone was picked up. "And when is the videotape coming in?"


    "Yes. And the videotape will take some time. They are sorting through everything before sending us the footage," Li Min responded quickly.


    "Just make sure you have the footage from outside the store as well. We need to see who was taking videos if it gets released to the public."


    That was another headache. The videos could be edited and would show her being escorted out by the security. It would make things so much worse.


    And then what she thought would happen did happen.


    A video did come out.


    There were two security guards on either side of Shi Yuhan. She had a faint but sarcastic smile on her lips. With how good cameras in this day and age were, the surroundings with their small details were clear.


    "There is no federal law that can justify you doing this to me," she said provocatively.


    "Ma''am, please. You know what law you have broken," the security said firmly, no expression on their face as they rushed her out. Quite a crowd had appeared outside, watching what the commotion was about.


    "So, you don''t know about my rights as a human being. What a joke!" she shouted now. Her eyes were slightly wide with panic at the words the security had said. She looked at the crowd as if she had been caught stealing, which she had.


    "Ma''am, don''t make this difficult for us. We are obligated to make you leave¡­" The crowd was buzzing with activity.


    "Don''t spout nonsense to me. What threat do I pose? You illegally searched me inside the store. You threatened my person and you still act all high and mighty."


    The security guard refused to speak or acknowledge her taunts.


    "Just because I was wearing less expensive clothes, you think you can get away with this? You guys are in so much trouble." She chuckled. "Customer care is something ingrained in our culture and you did someone important dirty."


    The footage showed her shouting for a few more seconds before she quietened down as was led outside.


    Li Min was seated in front of Qian Meng as they assessed the footage. "It''s a good thing the security guards didn''t make any rash comments while they were escorting Shi Yuhan outside," Li Min grumbled.


    "Seriously. It would have been a mess if that was the case. It would have made things worse," Qian Meng agreed. While people would have thought any other client had done something wrong to be escorted out, it was a celebrity with enough money to not behave improperly.


    Therefore, her story was believed. No matter what the guards said would have been twisted and turned until no truth was left. And people would believe what they wanted to.


    "The video and clips from the live stream are already airing in national news. Media outlets are picking it up as well."


    Qian Meng scrolled through the news and saw that most of it were really bad. The comments were looking really bad, too.


    "How bad do you think this is going to hit us?" Qian Meng asked.


    "The Shift is getting launched in ten days. This is the worst time for something like this to happen," Li Min whispered.


    "The timing is too coincidental, don''t you think?" It was a rhetorical question. "But we can''t make wild guesses yet. This could be a standalone problem. Keep the manufacturing up for now. Let''s see how the crisis matures and then decide if we should delay the launch or not," Qian Meng sighed.


    Li Min nodded. "I''ll relay the message quickly. The PR team has also sent charts on the spread of the crisis. They also added sample comments and general sentiment," Li Min added once she glanced at her phone.


    "Great." She clicked open the email and downloaded the file quickly.


    For something drawn up in such a short time, this was very well done.

 Chapter 261: Shabbily Dressed Celebrity is Thrown Out

    The post had gone viral, obviously. The live stream and her social media post on the incident were hovering around 10,000 reactions, 16,000 shares and over 3,000 comments.


    This was not to mention the other people who were posting about it separately.


    "This is spreading like wildfire," Qian Meng said under her breath.


    About the news impressions, there were over 70 articles written in big and small publications. Video clips had been posted and quoted. The overall tone of the articles was negative. Not one came in support of Venus.


    Among prominent fashion bloggers and the like, there was some outrage as well.


    A popular fashion and accessories blogger posted: [I have seen really badly dressed people walk into Venus outlets. It''s no excuse for someone to be kicked out. This is just terrible bias. Doubly shameful that we are in Shanghai, a liberal city with a mixed and cultural soul.]


    Qian Meng pointed at the name. "Has this blogger been contacted by our PR team before? Has she done any reviews on our products? Anything related to us?" she questioned.


    Li Min looked at the name and shook her head. "This blogger has been sent a PR package for some of our cosmetic and jewelry lines but she is known to only review products she buys on her own. Anything she bought from us, she has reviewed. They are widely viewed and appreciated videos, as well," Li Min acknowledged.


    "So, she is not part of the smearing campaign. She believes what is being said online." Qian Meng looked through the other comments and realized that there were even people who said they had similar experiences in Venus outlets.


    It was mostly because they felt like an imposter in such a store or the employee sounded rude to them. Nothing to the extent of this Shi Yuhan, but everyone saw it as a culmination of the bad behavior common people receive at luxury stores.


    At a time when people were conscious of bias against social classes and activism was at its peak, no one cared for the truth. They only cared about making their own points.


    "Make note of all the bloggers and celebrities posting about the matter. We''ll have to keep track of packages and who to approach for promotions according to how they phrase their posts from now on."


    Li Min made note of this quickly.


    "Ah. Did you order food for everyone who is staying back? We can have bento boxes packed for them from the local restaurant, right?"


    Li Min''s eyes brightened. "I''ll order one for you and me as well," she said chirpily before skipping away.


    She heard some cheers from the nearby conference room and smiled. Obviously, the employees had found out that the boss was treating them to a meal for their hard work.


    As everything progressed and Qian Meng waited for the CCTV footage to come, she looked through the titles of the news articles.


    ''Venus is Shallow and Inhuman'' was one of the first stories she clicked on.


    ''After Inhuman Tag, Venus Says They Will Look Into the Incident''


    ''Luxury Brand Venus Faces Backlash After Shabbily Dressed Celebrity is Thrown Out''


    ''Venus Finds Itself in Hot Water After Celebrity Speaks Up About Biased Treatment''


    Everything went along the lines of this.


    There were some new articles published after their first response went out, but things still looked grim. And the comments and shares mounted.


    It was late in the night when the video footage came in.


    Qian Meng could clearly see Shi Yuhan looking around the store and coming inside. She made the employees take out loads of things, always frowning and moving on. And then¡­ she asked for another box. Her eyes flickered to the direction of what Qian Meng assumed was the visible security camera before she plucked out a ring and pulled it up to her face.


    Qian Meng frowned when she saw the celebrity putting the ring in her mouth and starting to walk out of the store without a care in the world. The employee caught up and asked her what was happening before she realized that this was a case of shoplifting.


    In front of so many customers, the employees didn''t make a huge scene and guided Shi Yuhan into a more personal space and security was called.


    She was being questioned and the ring was taken back.


    Qian Meng looked at the whole ordeal and felt like this female celebrity had been really stupid. Most stores had fully functioning CCTVs placed in them. Furthermore, the jewelry section would always be well-monitored for security purposes.


    "Do you think she is a little stupid?" Qian Meng asked softly.


    Li Min also looked confused. "This is a new method of stealing jewelry, that''s for sure. She put the ring into her mouth without a thought of whose hands it was on."


    Qian Meng snorted. "Some people don''t mind putting things in their mouth without the thought of where it has been." It wasn''t meant to be a lewd joke, but it sure came off that way.


    Li Min tried to stifle her laughter but failed.


    "This proves everything, does it not?" Qian Meng said.


    Li Min nodded. "Do you want us to give the video footage to the media?"


    Qian Meng shook her head. "This is about someone''s reputation. Even if we have enough proof, we can''t simply throw it out into the public to turn the tides. It''s crass and unethical. It will also not help with the situation because it will come off as aggressive on all ends. What about the people who say they felt out of place in our store because they didn''t have a lot of money? Those people will think they are being targeted as bad people as well."


    Li Min looked confused. "Then what do you think we should do, Boss?"


    Qian Meng thought for a minute before answering. "Call the marketing and PR directors right now. I''ll talk to them and come to a final decision."

 Chapter 262: Her Instincts Have Improved

    Li Min walked out of the room and soon returned with the man and woman who had been butting heads before.


    They sat far apart from one another. "Still engrossed in your fight?" Qian Meng asked.


    "No," both said at the same time. Qian Meng smiled before turning the computer screen towards them. "The video is here. What do you think?"


    She played the video and watched the expression on either person''s face. It was disbelief and disgust at first and then relief.


    "This proves that we were not in the wrong," the marketing director, Ma Qui said.


    "In this case," Xiong Fen added without ceremony.


    "I think we should make a statement about what really happened and get an end to this. What about you?" he turned to look at the woman.


    Xiong Fen looked perturbed. "From a crisis management point of view, we can''t publish a statement outright when a lot of people are involved."


    Ma Qui scoffed. "What''s there to think about? Just post the video. It is self-explanatory. People will turn on the celebrity just like that."


    "Absolutely not," Xiong Fen protested. "While some people will feel like the celebrity was wrong, others will think their opinions about being discriminated against was being suppressed."


    "Averting the crisis is the most important thing right now. The shift is launching worldwide in ten days. Do you know how much dragging this will cost the company?" Ma Qui raised his voice to ask.


    "Ma Qui is right in this aspect," Qian Meng agreed. "But you are thinking from a hardcore sales perspective," she supplied to the man. "Xiong Fen, what do you want to do? I want your opinion."


    The woman bit her fingers as she thought. "According to me, the best plan of action would be to contact Shi Yuhan or her managing company. We talk to her about why she posted false rumors and ask her to clear it up."


    Qian Meng thought about it. "But this will take time. You''re keeping the video as a last resort, is that right?" Xiong Fen nodded.


    "Boss, I don''t see the point in delaying releasing the real events. It''s a straight cut way."


    "You marketing people don''t think about reputation. You are sales-driven. But part of the reason why sales grow higher is how clean a company looks," Qian Meng explained. "Our plan should be the one that makes us look clean. Not the one which makes us come on top. This is not a face-slapping story where we fight tooth and nail. We need to think about the revenue for the next five years."


    Ma Qui buried his head in his hand. "I''m not trying to go against you, Boss. But I know what I am doing."


    Qian Meng chuckled. "I know that you do. That''s why I employed you. But in this case, we need to tread carefully. We have a launch coming up and if we don''t look good by the end of it, forget about sales."


    Xiong Fen hummed. "I have a gut feeling that a ''Ban Venus'' style movement will start tomorrow. We need to act fast and get to Shi Yuhan before it does," she claimed.


    Qian Meng flinched. "Those are two words I never want to hear together. No banning. We need to avoid this at all costs, understood?" Qian Meng said loudly. "I don''t care what sources you use. Even if you have to dig out someone''s grave, do it and find Shi Yuhan''s management''s number. I want all conversations recorded."


    "And don''t make threats!" she called from behind, knowing Ma Qui was a little eccentric when it came to such things. But he drove up sales like nobody''s business. So, Qian Meng wouldn''t mind.


    As long as he stayed within the line.


    Qian Meng read through each and every article that came out, her mind on overdrive as she highlighted what phrasing was being used. The people who had stayed back at the company looked dog tired but that was another case altogether. There was still work to be done.


    The team was in a conference when Xiong Fen''s phone rang. She looked at the screen and surprise flashed through her face.


    "It''s Shi Yuhan''s management company!" she exclaimed before she put the phone to her ears. "Hello, I am a representative from Venus," she began soon. There were some harsh sounds from the other side, but Xiong Fen''s face remained stoic.


    After the phone was hung up she looked at the crowd and frowned. "As expected, they refused to give us their artist''s number."


    "They must think we are trying to strike up a deal, don''t they?" Qian Meng asked.


    "It seems so. They don''t seem pleased with how the media storm has taken shape but they are also not upset about the attention Shi Yuhan is getting."


    "I would think so. She received 300,000 new followers since this began," Qian Meng grumbled. "Keep asking them. If they make a fuss, tell them it''s a sponsorship and modeling opportunity that we wanted to discuss."


    "Yes, Boss."


    The meeting finished and everyone scattered. Qian Meng slowly walked towards her office and was about to open the door when she felt someone walk up behind her.


    She turned over to look over her shoulder and felt a small smile creep up on her lips. "What are you doing here?" she asked with delight.


    "Brought you breakfast," he told her. "Your instincts have improved a little," he complimented.


    "I was a ninja, to begin with. You were the only one who thought otherwise," she scoffed as she pulled him into the office.


    "I tried my best to stomp as I walked. You wouldn''t have noticed me otherwise," Mo Qingchen retorted smoothly.


    He walked over to the table without ceremony and started to unpack the paper bag he had brought along with him. There was a container for drink boxes of food.


    "You brought a lot," she said, peering over his shoulder.

 Chapter 263: The Vixen Only Tries to Look Pitiful

    "Yes. It''s going to be a rough few days, so I will deliver the food to you when I can. Xiong Hua will send someone for the rest of the time. At least I won''t need to worry about your meals, then!" he huffed.


    Qian Meng snickered. "It''s a complete disaster. I am waiting for the first cycle of newspapers to come out. Moreover, once the country wakes up, it''s going to be another storm."


    He patted her head. "You''ll overcome it. I have no doubt. When have you allowed something you set you back?" he asked softly.


    "Damn right!" Qian Meng shouted, feeling enthusiastic all of a sudden. "Let me show you how a crisis is handled, Mr. Mo!"


    Mo Qingchen shook his head in amusement. "You''re not devastated, that''s good. Yes, Mrs. Mo. Show me how it''s done, okay?"


    Qian Meng opened the box and her eyes became wide with wonder. "Are you feeding a small army or do you think I am a pig?" she questioned, turning to him with her hands on her waist.


    "I would be disappointed if I was raising a pig all along. I didn''t have breakfast, so I am going to eat with you," he said quickly.


    Qian Meng quickly handed him the spoon. "There seems to be only one pair of cutleries." She frowned.


    "I should reciprocate for all the times you fed me," he said without a hint of embarrassment. He scooted over to hear and spooned out some food and waved it in front of her face.


    She opened her mouth wide, making a cartoonish moment out of it before chomping down. "Ah, I didn''t realize I was this hungry until now," she moaned in pleasure.


    There was nothing intense about the whole ordeal, she simply ate and looked over some documents. She also told him about what had happened. First, he would feed her and as she chewed and spoke, he would take a bite of the food himself. The whole thing worked out wonderfully.


    Mo Qingchen was packing up the box when the call came in.


    "Boss, Shi Yuhan isn''t going to cooperate. We called her and left her messages multiple times but she refuses to revert," Xiong Fen rushed to say.


    Qian Meng squeezed her eyes shut. "No need to use threatening language in this case. She will surely make a fuss out of it and splash it all over the news and internet. Just tell her that we want an open discussion about what happened. Lure her out to the company."


    Mo Qingchen turned to her curiously.


    "She doesn''t seem to be interested in this," Xiong Fen replied. "I have already taken this route, but she is still resistant."


    "There is a high chance that she is still asleep. If she doesn''t respond by lunch today, send her a non-relevant segment from the CCTV we found. Take note from Ma Qui''s outlook. We might need to be a little aggressive in this case."


    Xiong Fen grew silent. "Boss, do you think it is wise?" she asked.


    "I trust in your judgment, but Ma Qui is not completely wrong. Sometimes you need to be forceful to clean your reputation," she said sagely. "See if the approach works."


    "And if she does the whole ''Venus tried to threaten me'' routine?"


    "Then she''s stupid and we don''t have to put too much effort into wondering what she is up to. We can follow Ma Qui''s route and reveal what happened in her case. Let''s see what the whole scene is. I will talk to you post-lunch about how we will handle the scenarios, okay?" Qian Meng said finally.


    She sighed after hanging the phone up.


    "Do you need to hack into someone''s account and post an apology on their behalf?" Mo Qingchen offered from beside her.


    Qian Meng startled. "What? You are going to hack in and make my problems go away? My hacker in a white suit?" she teased.


    "It''s a piece of cake. The password is going to be something stupid, too. I watched a few of her videos before deciding that her voice is irritating and her IQ is in single digits," Mo Qingchen commented ruthlessly.


    "You have to admit, she has an innocent-looking face, though," Qian Meng shrugged. "No wonder people want to trust her. A pitiful little girl standing up against a big corporation¡­" she trailed off.


    "It''s actually the pitiful ones that are scary!" Mo Qingchen said lightly. "Look at you, you are a vixen when you look pitiful. It''s all an act."


    Qian Meng chuckled. "Are you here to check on me or criticize me? Don''t you have work? Go!" she threatened.


    He was pushed out of the office, his eyes filled with amusement.


    "I''ll ask for updates sometimes. Don''t get irritated with me," Mo Qingchen warned.


    "You''ll forget with all the work on your plate. Now, go!" she rushed.


    He waved her one last time before walking down the corridor. The employees who had come in to work on Saturday scrambled out of their offices to greet him.


    It seemed that the wedding candy really helped improve everyone''s opinion of Mo Qingchen.


    Despite her worries, Qian Meng had a skip in her step for a few hours. This was until lunch passed and Xiong Fen rushed into the office.


    "What did she do?" Qian Meng groaned.


    "She didn''t even let me send me the little clip. She really woke up for lunch and saw my messages." She turned her phone to Qian Meng.


    "Is that a screenshot of the messages you sent?" Qian Meng asked.


    Xiong Fen nodded.


    Qian Meng read through the messages and saw nothing threatening. The post Shi Yuhan made went something like this:


    [A certain high-ranking employee from Venus used unscrupulous methods to find my number. I also want to know why they are using this technique to threaten me. Want to talk to me? In your dreams. I have done nothing wrong. Until your employees apologize to me for their behavior, I don''t have a word to say to you!]

 Chapter 264: Its a Trend to be Entitled

    And the screenshots were attached.


    "She really is a fool," Qian Meng said softly. "Don''t worry. Sit down. Have you had lunch?" she asked.


    Xiong Fen shook her head. "Great. Someone delivered food from my home. There is enough for the both of us, what do you say?" She offered a spoon.


    The employee nodded. "Thank you, Boss. But should we be eating right now?" she asked.


    "You can''t fight a war if you don''t have enough energy in you. You need a full stomach to not fall sick after the war is won," Qian Meng said nonchalantly. "Let''s eat and discuss the matter, okay?"


    Xiong Fen hummed and took her seat on the sofa.


    As they munched on their food, Qian Meng started to speak.


    "Why do you think she is pressing so hard on exposing us even though she knows we will have proof of the matter?" she asked. She was a little confused about that.


    "She''s someone who is skyrocketing in fame at the moment. From the perspective of a PR person, I have worked with a lot of influencers and celebrities. They usually think they are invincible and that they are entitled to things," the other responded.


    "Is that so? Is this a trend? I have never had to personally talk to celebrities, so¡­" Usually, more fame meant more at stake. Why would they feel entitled to things when they had more to lose?


    "Usually, this entitlement is present in smaller flies in the entertainment and influencer industry. The actual big names are very careful with how they present themselves and what they want," Xiong Fen explained.


    "But this entitlement, what does she want from this? Why is she publicizing this so much?" Qian Meng couldn''t wrap her mind around this.


    Xiong Fen''s spoon hovered near her mouth but she didn''t put it in. She looked thoughtful. "Boss, what do you think she gains from this raucous?"


    "I''m coming up blank myself. But we need to figure it out."


    The best way to vanquish an enemy is to understand what they truly desire. Once you know that, you will know what steps they will take in the future. No enemy works against their goals or benefits. Then¡­ what was Shi Yuhan getting out of this?


    "Is it infamy?" Xiong Fen asked.


    "Infamy is bad in the entertainment industry. Public opinion, once it turns against you can ruin your career. Therefore, even if she did want to gain attention and new followers, she wouldn''t have chosen to go against Venus," Qian Meng whispered.


    "Venus has a reputation of cleaning up messes well in the business circles. I can''t see her betting her career on this," she agreed.


    "Then what can further her career and at the same time cushion the backlash?" Qian Meng asked softly.


    Xiong Fen closed her eyes. There was a moment of silence. "It wouldn''t be farfetched to think that she has an impressive backer." She shoved a spoon of rice into her mouth and chewed with distress.


    "Is it one person or an organization?" Qian Meng wondered out loud.


    Xiong Fen''s eyes popped open. "Organization," Xiong Fen said immediately. Qian Meng turned to her, looking for answers. "We were suspecting Sophie''s Secret for playing it dirty at first but didn''t think much of it. But after going over Shi Yuhan''s social media, I saw that she is basically promoting their products and affiliate links. She''s making quite a bit of money."


    "You think she is sucking up to Sophie''s Secret team?" Qian Meng inquired.


    Xiong Fen nodded. "According to inside sources, the brand ambassador for Sophie''s Secret is ending their contract shortly and they might not renew it."


    Sophie''s Secret¡­ who was the face of the brand again? "Ah, didn''t the brand ambassador get a few hit shows in the recent past? She is quite a big name in the industry at the moment¡­"


    "Which would explain why she doesn''t want anything to do with Sophie''s Secret any longer," Xiong Fen added. Qian Meng nodded. "Sophie''s choice is rooted in fast fashion and they often steal from other brands internationally."


    Truly, they had questionable business practices. Qian Meng had spotted similar but bad quality products in Sophie''s Secret shops. They tried to imitate Venus accessories but failed miserably. But it was still taking from their ideas. And you couldn''t call it counterfeit products. They were just giving a different option.


    "So, Shi Yuhan is using the opportunity to impress the executives and become the new face of Sophie''s Secret? That''s your opinion?"


    Xiong Fen nodded. "But we can''t be sure. I''ll get someone to check out her relationship with the company. Once we have some context, we can catch her without a shred of doubt."


    Qian Meng nodded. "For now, ask about the brands she is collaborating with or thinking of working with. Look at her relationship with Sophie''s Secret. Don''t leave out the possibility that she is seeing someone with influence in Shanghai either. Entitlement doesn''t come easy."


    "And what about the current situation?" Xiong Fen inquired.


    "We need to see how we can get Shi Yuhan on our side first. I still want you to write a statement from us about how we understand the plight of how high-end fashion brands treat some customers. Agreeing to mistakes is always seen as a humble gesture."


    "When is the deadline for that?" the other asked.


    Qian Meng was done with her lunch. "I''ll give your team until the end of the day to do a write-up. Leave it on standby for now. Let''s talk to this Shi Yuhan before we say anything publicly."


    "We have about twenty-four hours to thirty-six hours to respond to the situation."


    "I know that. It''s a matter of time before the public becomes more aggressive. You weren''t wrong about the ban hashtags coming either. I wonder when it is going to start trending," Qian Meng sighed.


    No sooner had she said this than Li Min entered the room. Qian Meng jokingly spoke up. "What? Is Ban Venus trending already?" she smirked.

 Chapter 265: Monkeys Watching a Show

    Li Min looked shocked. "It started an hour or so ago. We were waiting for it to get picked up."


    "What''s it looking like right now?" Xiong Fen stood up immediately.


    "Right now, it''s just a lot of comments bashing Venus and banning stores. But I also saw some short clips from influential handles that troubled me." And it did seem the matter worried Li Min. She looked at Qian Meng with a little fear.


    "What is it?" she asked. She could only imagine how much worse it was getting. At least there was no mob surrounding their building. That would be a different level of anarchy that she would have to handle and she didn''t think she was up for it.


    "We have some beauty vloggers turning the scandal into a publicity stunt and a trend," Li Min started. She tapped on her phone and showed Qian Meng a video.


    "What is she doing?" Qian Meng asked, horrified. It was a matte compact her company had produced the year before and it had sold really well. The reviews were excellent as well.


    But this vlogger was scraping away at the compact and breaking it apart to reveal the package underneath. Qian Meng almost felt her eyes tear up.


    "How dare¡ª" she was about to shout when Li Min rushed forward.


    "Boss, it''s picking up right now. It''s a couple of people who are doing this, but too many people are entertained by it. Destroying makeup and accessories is a global social media trend at the moment."


    Xiong Fen too tried her best to calm Qian Meng down. "I know it''s disturbing to see something you worked so hard on being destroyed for the entertainment of others, but there is a controversial talk about this. It is disrespectful, but it is the customer''s decision on what they want to do with their products. If they want to throw it away, use it every day, or destroy them¡­ it is their choice."


    Qian Meng knew all of this. "They bought it with their own money¡­ do they think money comes so easily or are they easily amused like monkeys?" she asked, looking at the two other people in the room with confusion.


    "We can''t comment on this," Xiong Fen said firmly. When it came to her babies, Qian Meng was a mama bear. She would defend the product if she knew the other person was lying. This was why Xiong Fen had to make that statement. "Boss, you cannot¡­ under any circumstance post a status about this."


    "I know. But it is hard to watch," Qian Meng whispered. Her head fell to her palm and she wondered if she would be able to handle this matter when she was emotional. Maybe she should. Maybe she wouldn''t. "Okay, let''s get to work quickly. We need all the information in a few hours and the draft of the statement, too. Understood?" she ordered.


    "Yes, Boss. Working on it." Xiong Fen was out of the door in a flash.


    "Any other news?" Qian Meng asked, resigned.


    "Yes, the status about our representative reaching out to Shi Yuhan is picking up pace and the video is being shared more often. The comments are worth looking at, Boss."


    Qian Meng looked up from her hands. "Understood. You go out. I need some quiet to look over the comments. Call a meeting at five-thirty and we will process everything that has happened and toss around ideas to make the situation better."


    Li Min nodded and went outside. Qian Meng was just starting up her browser when the mail about the meeting came in. Li Min was as efficient as always.


    [You did the right thing by posting these online. Make sure it reaches as many people as it can. Sharing.]


    [You should tag the company also. This is ridiculous. You should post this until the CEO finds out about what is happening.]


    [@lastcomment, do you think the CEO doesn''t know yet? They simply put out a shoddy ''we will look into this'' and went back to threatening the artist. Shameless.]


    [You did the right thing! Not only the employee who disrespected you, the management, the security staff, and even the onlookers who didn''t come for help should be reprimanded. Also, quite disturbing to see that the onlookers didn''t have the decency to speak up.]


    [20,000 shares and still counting. It proves that humanity still has some kind of existence among us. Thanks for everyone''s overwhelming support. To clear dirty, you have to deal with it yourself. When the situation demands it, please don''t be a spectator and have fun. Speak up against what is wrong.]


    [Venus should be boycotted for such behavior towards their customers. The employees should be taught a lesson for their behaver. They are also common people like us! And I am surprised to see such reaction from the onlookers at the scene and the security who just saw her struggle and enjoyed it.]


    After reading this, Qian Meng understood that a load of customers not feeling in place was falling on her. She had expected it.


    And then she turned to the other comments and videos of people destroying Venus products. It really was picking up as a trend.


    And then something popped up. The websites on which Venus sold products for more reachability stopped letting people review arbitrarily.


    [Haha. Venus must be trying to control the damage. Just tried to leave a review on their product and saw this message.]


    A screenshot was added.


    [This brand is receiving a lot of media attention due to recent events. We are monitoring all reviews closely, and some may be removed.]


    Qian Meng felt like banging her head on the wall.


    She called up Li Min immediately. "Ask the companies to not monitor reviews right now!" she exclaimed the minute the phone was picked up. She explained the situation and Li Min understood immediately.


    "Sorry, Boss. I am getting the information through immediately."


    They hung up and Qian Meng watched in horror as what she expected really did happen.

 Chapter 266: Enjoy Her Husbands Free Service

    More reviews and pictures criticizing the company flooded all their pages. Be it their social media, company website, any retail stores and malls they were in¡­ it was everywhere.


    As she scrolled through the comments, something became relatively clear to her. Shi Yuhan wasn''t working alone to get the favor of the company. She was doing this because she had been asked to create trouble.


    Sophie''s Secret was buying commenters and creating an army of criticizers who oppress any comments that came to the defense of Venus.


    She sometimes saw a comment here or there about how shady Shi Yuhan''s attitude was in the video. But the dislikes, the violent comments, and retorts shut down any rational commenter everywhere.


    Everyone congregated in the meeting room.


    "What''s the current situation?" Qian Meng asked, looking around the room.


    Ma Qui was the first to speak up. He had a hint of a smile on his face. "Boss, I spoke to Sales and they saw a huge spike in orders placed. Online stores are being flooded by people. The amount of new people who are ordering in despite the high prices is mind-boggling," he said.


    Qian Meng looked at him curiously. "Obviously you know why they are buying the products. Why do you look so happy?" she asked.


    "Your revenue went up."


    Xiong Fen cleared her throat. "The media coverage of the trend is really driving the point home. If we look at the top 5 news outlets and the articles they published about the incident, you will get a clear view of the narrative being presented."


    Li Min pulled up the article on the big screen in the conference room.


    It read:


    [People in Shanghai are destroying their Venus products to protest the company''s ill-treatment of customers. Despite the company saying that they are looking into the matter, the people are fired up.]


    The article explained what had happened and how the livestream had taken the internet by storm, going viral within minutes.


    [The backlash from people escalated when screenshots of a high-ranking employee from Venus contacting the celebrity involved in the controversy.]


    "They are having a field day with this, aren''t they?" Qian Meng spoke. "But the tone is not critical or negative. Even the titles aren''t that outlandish as last night. Are the journalists losing traction or have the talks to change titles helped?"


    Xiong Fen took the lead in this. "We have contacted most of the journalists who have been publishing articles. We have talked the journalists into changing the harsh titles and reducing mentions of Venus. We have also convinced the journalists to put in some good points from our previous campaigns and how our employees are treated humanely."


    Qian Meng twirled her pen in her hand. "Thank you for taking the initiative for that. The clickbait titles were bothering me." Actually, a lot of things happened in the background, things that her employees did very well that she didn''t need to worry about or ask them to do. They knew how to do that. Qian Meng was only concerned with how to handle the people in the scandal. The handling of the media and public opinion? She could leave that in the capable hands of her employees.


    "Just doing my work, Boss. I''ll submit a thorough report later on," Xiong Fen said.


    "Any advance in getting information about Shi Yuhan?" she asked.


    Xiong Fen looked up apologetically. "Yes, we got confirmation about who is backing her. It''s both a corporation and a person."


    "Both?" This surprised Qian Meng. "Who and which company?"


    She knew which company, but she needed to be sure.


    "Sophie''s Secret. The third son of the current CEO is having an affair with Shi Yuhan," Xiong Fen said.


    "Look at that, so much scandalous content to put out into the public," Ma Qui snickered.


    Qian Meng frowned. "It''s not like we can use that information to get back at her. We only need to know her motivation to bring her down. If this is a personal attack on the company on behalf of her boyfriend''s family business¡­ then I don''t think I have to hold back," Qian Meng acknowledged. "But how did you get the information about this relationship?"


    Xiong Fen looked even more guilty. "No one in the industry seemed to know a thing about it. They must have been really discreet about all of it to keep it hidden for so long." She paused and looked around the room. "I received a message a while ago with only pictures."


    She pulled out her phone and turned it to show Qian Meng.


    They were selfies of Shi Yuhan with the third son. Qian Meng snorted.


    "Whose number is that?" she asked.


    "Restricted number. Do you want me to look into it?" Xiong Fen asked.


    "There was nothing written on it?" Qian Meng questioned. Once she got confirmation, she didn''t bother thinking too deeply into it. "Don''t worry about it. I already know who it is."


    The man took his words really seriously. Hacking into phones and posting apologies. At least he didn''t post any apology from Shi Yuhan''s accounts. That was a boon in itself.


    This much, she could let him slide.


    "You know who it is?" Ma Qui squeaked. "Let''s employ them. Such a great resource."


    Qian Meng broke into laughter. "Enjoy the free service. You can''t afford to pay for it," she joked.


    The room grew silent, people somewhat understanding what it meant. No one acknowledged what they knew. Their Boss''s husband was truly powerful. Hacking into phones like nothing was the matter and not even taking credit for it.


    To the few who didn''t realize the truth, much was to be said about them ignoring the outright PDA of the boss couple.


    "Okay, let''s continue. I want to see what the narrative for destroying the products is. I don''t like it as a trend," she sighed.


    Li Min scrolled and the room read through the caption of the videos posted.


    [@Venus, due to your lack of support for the people, I as a non-rich person can no longer support your company.]

 Chapter 267: When Are You Coming Home?

    This woman held up a piece of clothing in her hands and showed it to the camera. It was a top from two years ago. Their summer collection.


    "This is a top I brought from Venus after saving for it. This is for everybody to see. I am throwing this into the fire because of their lack of morals."


    And she really did throw them into the fire. And then she introduced a few more pieces, telling everything when and why she bought them and slowly putting them into the fire.


    "I''m going to let them all burn. When a corporation doesn''t share the same vision as the people, they need to be denounced and boycotted."


    Another post said that Venus had made them chose between the brand they loved and the ideals they lived by. They also asked when being polite and dignified had become offensive.


    Some shredded their clothes. Others scraped off their cosmetics and got rid of them on video.


    Qian Meng was fuming. "A lot of the posts must come from people who are doing this for fun and some follows and attention."


    "And they are driving up the sales," Ma Qui commented.


    "Allow them to do it tonight. We can afford to let people buy and burn out products," Qian Meng said through her teeth. "Xiong Fen, still no positive response from Shi Yuhan, right?"


    "No. She cannot be convinced."


    Qian Meng nodded.


    "Understood. Tomorrow is a holiday. But we are going to have a conference with all the media present. The gloves have come off." She swore. "I need a plan from Human Resources on re-training the staff about etiquette. The Public Relations team will do a write-up and apology on how high-end brands often discriminate against paying customers and word it in a way that takes responsibility for those who have been treated this way."


    Qian Meng could see that Ma Qui was going to protest. "You will be monitoring the effect of this controversy on the launch which is in 9 days." She paused. "I will be speaking to the media myself tomorrow. Make it around six in the evening so that the online media are the only ones who get to post about it that night. The print media will play off on Monday morning for maximum coverage."


    She thought about it a bit more. "I want an intern from the PR team to inform me about all live reactions while I am speaking on the podium. I will be taking questions."


    Xiong Fen propped up. "Do you expect Shi Yuhan to livestream again?"


    Qian Meng nodded. "It''s a Sunday evening and livestream views are the highest. People will want to know her reaction the most. If we can''t bring her to talk out in the company, we can expect to see her reaction on the livestream."


    "I thought I was a cruel beast. Boss, you are really teaching me a lot," Ma Qui snickered.


    Qian Meng threw him a glare. "We have done our part to resolve this privately. Now, we can''t stand by and watch and people ruin our products. The whole team worked for years to build the products to the quality they are today. Seeing our work go down the drain is one of the most painful things for a company and its employees."


    "With only 9 days to go for The Shift to be launched, do you think we will turn the tides on time?"


    Qian Meng was confident. "Of course, we will. Let''s show those bastards at Sophie''s Secret what we are really capable of," she grinned.


    The people in the room cheered and the meeting came to a halt. There was a lot of work left to be done.


    "Once we are done with the oncoming launches, everyone gets compulsory off days for working so hard and so long. Don''t be modest and deny it. I''ll talk to HR about this matter." She gave them one last smile before pushing herself off the chair and moving out of the room.


    There was an excited buzz in the air.


    Once in her office, she typed out quickly. [Did you send the picture?] she texted Mo Qingchen.


    The response came in after a dozen minutes.


    [What picture?]


    Qian Meng wanted to roll her eyes at his pretense. "Still acting?"


    [Shirtless rich boy and celebrity cuddling in bed. Definitely not a photo that anyone should have.] This was an accusation.


    [If no one else has it, how will I?]


    [Using your magic wand, of course. It doesn''t help that you asked if I wanted you to hack into their device and post an apology a few hours ago!] Qian Meng stared at the phone and waited for him to respond. It took almost twenty minutes for him to come back.


    [I do have a magic wand. But I haven''t used it in a while now. When will you come home?]


    This response made her smirk. She pulled out her binoculars from the drawer and pulled up to the floor-to-ceiling glass wall. She adjusted it and looked out.


    Mo Qingchen was sitting in his room. He was leaning back into his chair and facing the road. Qian Meng zoomed in at his face. He definitely looked smug.


    "Is this how you are going to play?"


    [If you don''t stop looking so smug, your magic wand will become dusty.]


    Take that!


    She looked back through the binoculars and saw the confusion on his face as he read the message. And then his head popped up and he looked towards her window. His eyes wandered for a bit before he gave her a blinding smile and a wave.


    Her breath hitched as she watched him. The boyish smile on his face rarely appeared. It was so pure and lovely that Qian Meng wanted to fly over and pepper kisses all over his cheeks.


    He looked down and typed. The moment he looked up her phone pinged.


    [When are you coming home?]


    She sighed. He was adamant about avoiding the question. This bothered her a little but not enough that she would drag him out for it.

 Chapter 268: Hit The Nail On The Head

    [I don''t know yet. I''ll have an answer tomorrow.] She put the binocular aside and went to sit on her chair.


    [Okay. I''ll ask Xiong Hua to bring you clothes.]


    He waited another minute before messaging again. [Do you need your skincare products, too? I can bring them over tonight.]


    Qian Meng burst out into laughter. She hadn''t thought about that. She looked at her face on her phone''s camera and snickered.


    [Are you telling me I looked like shit when you saw me?] she asked.


    [You looked amazing¡­ even though a little oily.]


    She burst into laughter.


    [Okay. You know my makeup and travel kit, right? Send that to my office when you can.]


    He had offered so kindly, so she couldn''t go against his wishes.


    [Okay.]


    The conversation was over, apparently. Just like that. Qian Meng was back to work. People filled in and out of the office.


    The news about the conference broke out in no time. The top reporters were already posting on their social media about it. Networks were going to livestream it.


    Xiong Fen knocked on her door. "Boss, it''s done," she said.


    Qian Meng nodded. "You have the hall ready for everything, right? Do you need me to sign on any business expenses?" she asked.


    Xiong Fen nodded. "Sorry, it was all on short notice so the costs are a bit higher. As per usual, the team is preparing the room. All the visuals and being made at the moment, as well. The budget for the caterer needs to be sorted through. I have the menu and the budget here. I also got a small staff on hand to give the food out. Would you mind looking over it?" she asked.


    Qian Meng ushered her in and looked through the file. The catering and food cost was obviously higher because everything was done within a day.


    At least they didn''t have to book a venue for the press conference. Most locations were booked in advance and if they were booked within twenty-four hours, the prices would hit the sky.


    Qian Meng sighed and signed off on it. "Looks good to me." She knew her employees had tried their best to reduce the cost as much as they could. "Take it to the accounts team and make the payments, okay?"


    She couldn''t be bothered with it.


    Xiong Fen nodded and went her merry way.


    But then the posts and speculations started coming out. Qian Meng read through them at first and then realized everything was going to be in place by the next day. The rest of the night was spent practicing her delivery with Ma Qui, Xiong Fen, and Li Min.


    This was important. An apology and a expose. Her tone needed to be just right; her wording needed to hit the nail on the head. It was high intensity.


    And no one else but her could do it. Because the whole thing was so big, the only way to make this go away was for her to come forward.


    Qian Meng groaned and opened her eyes. She didn''t remember falling asleep but she was extremely aware that she had lost time by doing so.


    Her head was pounding and her mouth was dry like it would after she drank too much, and her head hurt really bad. It took her a moment to realize what had woken her up. She registered the sound of her cellphone ringing. It sounded muffled and she could feel it vibrating somewhere on her desk. She reached into the dump of papers and files in search of it.


    She finally found it and pulled it out and sighed. She slid her finger across the screen as she closed her eyes again. Just a little more to subside her raging headache and neck cramp.


    "Hello?" she answered, her voice low and croaky.


    "What are you up to, sunshine?"


    Qian Meng cringed and cracked her eyes open just enough to see who she was speaking to even though she didn''t need to. The sassy tone and the sugar were enough to tell her.


    Mo Yize.


    But why the hell was she calling so early?


    "Qian Meng, are you there? You''re not sleeping right now are you?" she asked.


    Oh no.


    "No, I am not sleeping," Qian Meng insisted, bolting up to sit straight on the office couch.


    "We were supposed to have breakfast together. Did you forget?" Mo Yize asked.


    "No. No, I didn''t forget it." She had completely forgotten about it. She had received a message from Yize a couple of days ago and said yes thinking that everything would be solved and she would be able to meet up. But that didn''t happen.


    She had spaced out and now she didn''t know what to do.


    Things with Mo Yize were better. They spoke over text now and then and it never got too fired up. She wasn''t a complete bitch to Qian Meng, neither was she to Yize.


    "Okay. Where are you? Do you want me to pick you up from the house or do you want to meet me at the restaurant?"


    "I''ll meet you there?" Qian Meng asked, not sure herself.


    "Okay. I am on my way."


    On her way? Qian Meng cursed in her mind.


    "Okay. I will meet you there," she answered hesitantly, tugging at her hair.


    They said their goodbyes and hung up. Immediately, Qian Meng groaned loudly and glanced at the time on her home screen. It was eight in the morning and she was due to meet Mo Yize in fifteen minutes at the latest.


    She barely had time to pee, which she really needed to do.


    She tossed her phone down on the couch and made her way to the bathroom. Most of the employees were still on their way to the office or had stayed back to make sure things were resolved.


    After freshening up, she put her phone to her ear and told the team that she would take all meetings on the phone and grab some breakfast. She had even called a cab for herself. She didn''t trust herself to drive so tiredly.

 Chapter 269: Do Something Underhanded to Your Enemy

    Qian Meng was incredibly relieved when she reached the restaurant and found Mo Yize waiting patiently. She was on the patio and from the way Mo Yize looked at her, Qian Meng could tell she looked like a mess.


    "Hi?" She greeted as Qian Meng approached, looking aghast by her appearance.


    "Sorry I am late," Qian Meng sighed.


    "I wasn''t waiting for long." She stood up and ushered Qian Meng to her seat at the table. "I already offered you a cold drink. They don''t have that abomination you like, so you have to settle for this."


    But Qian Meng was all over it the minute it was placed in front of her.


    They ordered their food and made some meaningless conversation for a while. They talked about university and who was doing what. It was awkward but it was much better than them screaming at one another every time they saw each other.


    By the time their breakfast came, Qian Meng was happy that something could put a stop to the conversation.


    "Thank you for coming, Qian Meng," Yize commented randomly as she shoved a piece of food in her mouth.


    "Why wouldn''t I come?" she asked, looking up in confusion.


    "Well, I know you. I can tell you didn''t have much sleep last night and that your company is not doing that well right now. And I know you just fell asleep when I called you. But you came out of respect and I am grateful for that. It means a lot."


    Qian Meng smiled sheepishly. "Is it that obvious?"


    Mo Yize raised a brow. "What do you think?" She stopped. "You should have just canceled. I wouldn''t have minded."


    Qian Meng shrugged. "Now you are indebted to me. Make sure to put in a good word to your therapist about me. Maybe I will need them someday to save myself from my destructive tendencies."


    Mo Yize snorted. "What problems are you facing? You look tense. Maybe I can help you out a little."


    Qian Meng shook her head. "I can work it out myself. It''s nothing too much for me," she said.


    "Oh come on. You''re too nice to your opponent. Shouldn''t you be more ruthless? Do something underhanded, or tell me. I''ll do it for you for free. I like the fun."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "As if."


    "Hey, I spread malicious rumors about the steel company and made its stock prices plummet because of a bet with my father, remember? He wouldn''t buy me that pony." She shrugged.


    Qian Meng looked around in horror. "The statute of limitation might be over but you shouldn''t say it out loud. Moreover, I don''t really believe you when you said it."


    "Just ask your husband. He knows all about it." Mo Yize''s tone was calm and unaffected.


    There was a long silence as they both continued to eat.


    "You know¡­ I don''t want us to be afraid to talk about our family around each other," Qian Meng said. "I know that Mo Qingchen is your brother and he is my husband and that bothers you. It''s confusing, but we can talk trash about him if you want. I''ll take permission from him¡­" Qian Meng teased.


    "I don''t need his permission," Yize grunted.


    "I''m glad you are taking your therapist''s advice. We had a pretty good friendship back in university before scummy men came between us. And there shouldn''t be a reason why we can''t have some semblance of a friendship like before."


    Mo Yize shrugged.


    "I am not sure we can go back to¡­ that. But now that we are family, I don''t think it is healthy for us to ignore the elephant in the room."


    Mo Yize gaped at her. "Do you mean that? You are really willing to let that thing go and move past it?"


    Qian Meng thought about her answer carefully. "Why not? I am willing to try."


    "Does that mean we are going to party together?" Mo Yize asked.


    Qian Meng chuckled. "Baby steps. No one is partying. Let''s not get diverted from what is important."


    Breakfast ended and Qian Meng quickly said goodbye and hastened back to the office. She thought about catching some sleep in the car but her phone rang again.


    She was on the verge of tears. "Hello?" she said without looking at the name. Her phone was on silent so she didn''t even have a ringtone to go by.


    "I miss you," Mo Qingchen said from the other side, disrupting the silence after a few long moments of the call beginning.


    She felt mildly annoyed by the call but knowing who it was, a small smile touched her lips.


    "I thought you would be enjoying a break from me."


    Mo Qingchen chuckled. "It''s funny. I used to think sleeping alone and in silence was the greatest boon."


    "And now?" she prompted.


    "Now, it''s far too quiet without the sound of you breathing next to me. I don''t like it." She could hear the longing in his voice.


    "For someone who doesn''t sleep much, I take it as a huge compliment," she said. A strange sensation evaded her chest. She wasn''t familiar with it yet. And she had to change the subject.


    "Did you see the news? I feel like a truck has run me over from all the work," she groaned.


    "I saw the articles. Do you need any help in that regard? I could shut down all their electricity and wifi so that you get a few moments of peace," Mo Qingchen joked.


    "I don''t trust you. You might just do it," she responded. "Don''t even think about it. I can handle this problem on my own."


    "I know you can. You''re one heck of a woman, aren''t you?" he complimented. "Never clueless. You always¡­ just know¡­" There was wonder in his voice.


    "Oh, it seems you really do miss me," she replied cheekily. "Also, I have never met a woman who is faced with a hard situation and doesn''t know what to do. We always have a way. It might not be the best, but we always have a way to solve the problem," she commented.

 Chapter 270: A Lawsuit Has Been Filed

    "You are wrong about that. Not everyone is like that, Qian Meng. That is why you stand out amongst the crowd."


    She didn''t know how to respond. "Well¡­ I don''t know when work will be over. But maybe I will go home this evening?" she said hopefully.


    "Okay, I will ask Xiong Hua to keep food packed for you just in case. I''ll also be late for the next few weeks. The new software is almost complete," Mo Qingchen said. The excitement in his voice was palpable.


    "Really?" she asked. "That''s wonderful. Before I forget, could you ask Xiong Hua to pack something I can wear at the press meeting? I need some options on those."


    "Don''t worry about that. I set everything aside when I found out it was happening. Thank god you keep all the sets organized."


    Qian Meng snickered at his bewildered little ramble.


    She saw her office building pull up.  "Oh, I have arrived.  I''ll talk to you later."


    She hung up without saying anything else.


    - - - - -


    It was half an hour before the press conference and Qian Meng was looking over the material one last time. She was already dressed, her makeup done just right and there was not a shred of nervousness in her body.


    Her phone was pressed to her ears as she called Li Jun. Apart from Mo Qingchen and Li Min, he seemed to be the person she called the most. What did that say about her?


    It took him a while to pick up the call. "Miss Yun," he whispered.


    "Are you in a meeting?" she asked. She looked at the clock and was confused. He was supposed to be done with everything by now.


    "No, I just walked away from the desk for a minute. I have already reported Shi Yuhan to the police. The clerk who catered to her that day has given their statement and the unedited CCTV footage has been given to the police as well," he said calmly.


    "Thank you for that," she said with a sigh. "When are you serving her the papers?" she inquired.


    "I have already posted the papers through the post office. The email copy of it is sitting in my email right now. Once you mention that a lawsuit has been filed against Shi Yuhan, I will press send on that," he assured.


    "You''re a lifesaver," Qian Meng groaned.


    "Don''t mention it. Just doing my job," he chuckled.


    "Well, I need to go down and wait for the cue to go up on the stage and speak," she informed him. "I''ll get a debrief on the situation later, okay?"


    The call ended and Qian Meng looked at her form one last time before piling her papers and making a move.


    An intern sprinted to her the minute she neared the hall. The little guy bent over and pressed his hands to his knees as he panted.


    "Why are you running?" Qian Meng asked, amused.


    "Boss, I am the one keeping track of Shi Yuhan''s social media. She just started a livestream," he said. He turned the tablet towards her.


    Qian Meng saw the celebrity sitting on her sofa with popcorn and an array of food in front of her. She didn''t think Shi Yuhan would eat any of it, but she was making quite a show.


    "No need to run for that. It''s not that urgent. Just keep a tab on what she is saying and report them to me as and when you see I am not doing something pressing. Understood?" she instructed.


    "Yes, Boss." The boy looked down apologetically.


    "Look up," she urged. "What has she said so far?"


    There was a blush on the boy''s face. "She said that she wants to see the company go down because of the lies we say."


    Qian Meng nodded. "Enjoy her outrage. I will see it later on," she told him with a smile.


    She went inside the side room of the hall and peered inside. The reporters were sitting in the front, talking to one another. The whole atmosphere was jovial despite how serious the situation was for Venus.


    "Are all the reporters we invited here yet?" Qian Meng asked Xiong Fen.


    "Yes, everyone is here. The cameras are stationed at the back. I will be introducing the motion before you come out and give your statement," Xiong Fen said quietly.


    "Understood." Qian Meng turned to Li Min. "You know when to signal Li Jun to send the email, right?"


    "Absolutely," Li Min said immediately.


    "Three minutes until it starts," Xiong Fen announced. The intern perked up and came forward.


    "Boss, currently around eleven thousand people are watching Shi Yuhan''s livestream. The comment section basically reads as everyone watching a show. The outrage is more on social media posts. They are waiting to tear us apart, it seems."


    Qian Meng patted the boy on his back. "Keep up the good work."


    Xiong Fen looked at her watch. "Showtime," she muttered before walking out. She was standing in front of the cameras with a professional look on her face.


    Qian Meng watched from the sidelines as she started to speak.


    "Thank you to everyone who made time for the press conference today. Our founder and CEO, Yun Qian Meng, will be addressing and making a statement on behalf of the company and its employees. The structure of the conference will remain unchanged. The CEO will make her statement regarding the issue first. She will then take questions from the reporters present." She paused.


    The room erupted with disbelief.


    "Without further ado, I would like to invite her to the podium." Xiong Fen bowed shallowly before turning to Qian Meng.


    Qian Meng sucked in a deep breath before holding her head high and emerging from behind the shadows.


    The flashes of the camera went off immediately and she tried her best not to blink against the assault of bright light.


    She gave the crowd a polite smile as she situated herself behind the podium. For the first few moments, she looked at the faces sitting in front of her and saw the curiosity on their faces.

 Chapter 271: Publicly Condemn Shi Yuhan

    These were people who made a living covering news about her and ripping apart her company''s reputation when they got a chance.


    Now, she had to talk to them to make the situation better.


    Qian Meng found the situation ironic.


    The reporters sitting in the front had to praise Qian Meng for her calm demeanor and aloofness. Be it the scandal with Bai Ye Qing or this explosion of hatred from the customers, she remained aloof from the consequences. She never made too hard a move or showed weakness in front of the camera. But they could also guess that her calm and collected demeanor was an act to conceal her true intentions.


    Even in the face of the tarrying power of public opinion, she could act like nothing was wrong. She could come in front of the camera herself and not send out an executive to speak on the matter. How courageous was she?


    In reality, this was Qian Meng taking responsibility. If something was wrong in the company, it had to do with the chain of command. No small employee could make such a big thing happen. It was indeed an internal problem that had led to such a blow-up. There could be a number of other reasons for it. She didn''t need someone else to act as a scapegoat. This was her baby and people were attacking it without regard.


    With how big the controversy had become, people wouldn''t be appeased by anything less than the CEO coming in front of them and giving an explanation personally. Qian Meng understood that completely.


    "Thank you to everyone who came to the press conference despite how rushed the announcement of it was. As you may know, a few days ago allegations regarding the conduct of Venus staff were made. I have personally looked into the matter and have appeared in front of you to appeal to the public and explain the issues."


    She looked around the room for reactions.


    Most of the reporters had notebooks in their hands. They scribbled furiously as the questions popped into their mind. They were tempted to shout their questions at Qian Meng but knew not to disrupt the conference and get kicked out of the hall.


    Wouldn''t they miss out on the inside scoop then?


    "In lieu of the complaints, we did a thorough internal investigation and have come to the conclusion that our customer service is, indeed, at fault for making our customers feel like they do not belong in the outlet." She stepped out from behind the podium and into the clear view of the cameras. "I give my heartfelt apologies to each and every customer who suffered discrimination or bias because of what they wore or how they looked in any of our stores."


    She moved back behind the podium and smiled once again. "But my responsibility does not end with an apology to them. True to the founding principles of our company, the company will shut all physical outlets of Venus for the duration of five days."


    There was a collective gasp in the room. The typing on the laptops and scribbling on notebooks continued, permeating the air and making it stifling.


    "All client service-facing staff members will undergo a rigorous corporate training regime so that the underlying issues with bias can be eradicated. We are putting great emphasis on better training and development of our staff and I would encourage those who brought these concerns to light to re-evaluate their opinion upon experiences the new regime."


    She paused. "Having said this, I would like to make another statement."


    The room quietened down. With the CEO bowing in front of the crowd and saying that there was indeed bias against customers, there was nothing else to be explained, right? This clearly stated that the celebrity had been treated ill.


    The reporters sucked in a breath in anticipation.


    "I would like to publicly condemn Miss Shi Yuhan for manipulating the truth and slandering the company. Though other customers have been treated unkindly, that was not the case with Miss Shi Yuhan."


    The reporters could no longer hold in their questions.


    "Miss Yun, could you explain what really happened for you to make such a statement?" a female reporter asked.


    She was aware that Qian Meng could dance around questions better than most people could. She had learned from experience and this was the only question that could make Qian Meng explain everything in one go.


    Qian Meng''s eyes flashed to the reporter. There was no anger in them but she did give a look of reprimand.


    "It''s not time for questions yet," she interjected politely. "But as I was already going to explain the incident in detail, I will not hold you in contempt for your question."


    Qian Meng tapped her finger on the podium before continuing.


    "Upon investigation, we found that Miss Shi Yuhan had come to the store to buy a ring. The employees stated that they saw Miss Shi Yuhan try to steal one of the rings that had been shown to her and therefore took her aside for questioning."


    The crowd erupted once again.


    "She spoke aggressively to the staff members and was promptly escorted out of the store premises. The video of the same can be found freely on social media and the internet. You will see that Miss Shi Yuhan is the one who created a scene and our security staff treated her with the utmost respect," Qian Meng stated firmly.


    "Miss Yun, are you saying that Miss Shi Yuhan created a controversy so that she could go scot-free from the charges of shoplifting?" a reporter shouted. "Or are you lying about this to save your reputation?"


    Faced with the sharp and distasteful question of the reporter, Qian Meng couldn''t help but smile sarcastically. "I have already mentioned that all of you will get a chance to ask questions after I am done with the statement. Can the security team please escort this reporter out?" She looked around and Xiong Fen nodded at her from the side.

 Chapter 272: Miss Shi, Please Check Your Email

    A sure signal that the name and agency they were from were confirmed and Qian Meng could continue.


    "Are you going to throw out everyone who asks you a question? Is this your repentant attitude? What a crock of shit!" the reporter said, struggling against the gentle tugging of the security guard who had come to Qian Meng''s rescue.


    "Answering the rude reporter and everyone else who is thinking the same in their head: I do not know what motivated Miss Shi Yuhan to carry out this smear campaign against the company. I do know that she was supposed to model for one of our shoots but the talks fell through. I do not know if that is a motivating factor in this or not." She stopped and smiled wider. "Actually, my team tried continuously to reach out to her to get her side of the story. Instead of responding to us, she posted confidential business messages on social media and misconstrued the meaning."


    There were no outbursts in this case but hands shot up in the air.


    Qian Meng picked one reporter from the crowd after seeing which agency they were from. It was one that was somewhat kind to them despite their controversy.


    "What is your question?" she asked.


    "You took the name of the person directly in your statement. This can be considered slander. What made you decide on being this aggressive in this case?" the reporter asked. Most of the others seemed distressed by the off-topic question, but for Qian Meng, it was a brilliant one.


    "I have confirmed with my legal team that I can take the name of an offender without being sued. Before any of you bombard me with questions about why I am so sure, I will answer it for you. I have conclusive evidence of the same."


    Qian Meng hid her flinch at the flurry of questions. She adjusted her microphone. "Please settle down. I will show it to everyone shortly." She sighed internally. "The reason we delayed releasing a conclusive statement was that we wanted to give Miss Shi Yuhan the benefit of the doubt. If she had responded to us and tried to resolve the issue without publicizing it, we wouldn''t have taken such harsh measures. Actually, we were being courteous. We have CCTV footage from the store that caught Miss Shi Yuhan in the act of stealing the ring."


    She turned to the big screen behind her. In the next few moments, the CCTV footage started to play. Like every other CCTV footage, it was slightly grainy. But the reporters watched with mild horror and fascination as the celebrity they had sided with made excuses before popping a ring into her mouth.


    "Is it because we know who it is supposed to be that we see Shi Yuhan in the video?" a reporter whispered.


    "Might as well be her doppelganger, in that case," another huffed.


    The video clip ended.


    "The video is so grainy. How can you say for sure that it is the celebrity in question?" No one took the other''s name. Yun Qian Meng was rich and could afford a lawsuit, but they most certainly could not.


    "That is a reasonable question to have. Of course, three camera angles showing her isn''t enough to prove her identity. It could be someone who looked like her. So, we also matched the outfit and hairstyle she was wearing in the video going around on the internet to be sure."


    Just then, a screenshot of the video came up on the screen. A side-by-side comparison of the woman in the footage and the other video made it clear that it was indeed Shi Yuhan in both of them.


    "Damnit, we have been tricked," a reporter hissed. They were typing furiously on their cellphone.


    Qian Meng anticipated that he wanted to break the news first before the others had a chance.


    "The video footage will be sent to all the reporters present for reference. We are not detectives, but we trust the civilians and reporters to know," Qian Meng stated. Collectively, the phones of the reporters pinged, presumably, the footage in their inbox.


    "The video is now in the public domain. You can do with it as you will."


    Someone held their hand up. "Are you going to sue Miss Shi for this?" they asked, now bold enough to take her name.


    "The employees present have already made a statement to the police about the matter. The result is unknown. But Miss Shi Yuhan will be sued for slander by the company. The papers should have been sent to her already."


    She stared at the cameras and smiled. The cheeky side of her finally coming out now that she had aired all the dirty laundry out in the open. "Miss Shi, I know you are watching this. Please check your email as soon as you can. Unfortunately, posting the contents of it on social media is considered a gross crime."


    The reporters stopped breathing for a second.


    That¡­ that was why she had personally come up on the stage. To have the last word!


    After hearing Qian Meng''s words, the reporters were speechless. The people watching it live were also short of words. What were they supposed to do now? Sure, people thought Venus had issues with client servicing. She already closed all her outlets to train every staff member. And now the person who seemed to be treated the worst turned out to be a liar.


    "Miss Yun, as an ending remark, do you have anything to say?" a reporter asked carefully.


    Qian Meng''s smile turned saccharine. "When our stores open in five days, be sure to come to play and enjoy. We will be waiting for your review," she commented.


    The conference came to an end and the reporters scrambled to get out of their seats to write their articles. Not many stayed back for the food that had been prepared for them. In the end, Qian Meng sat amongst her employees, looking at them as they relaxed for the first time in two days.

 Chapter 273: Where Did You Shower?

    "Thank you for your contribution. Most of the reporters and cameramen parcelled their food and took it home. The rest is for everyone here to enjoy," Qian Meng stated.


    The team cheered and thanked their Boss.


    Xiong Fen and the intern were the only ones who were still working at that point. "Boss, things are calmer now. Most of the comments seem to be turning towards Shi Yuhan."


    Qian Meng nodded. "What was her reaction when I revealed that she was trying to shoplift?" Qian Meng asked the intern curiously.


    The intern burst into laughter. "For the first couple of seconds, she was a blubbering mess. And then she started to scream. People in the comments were wailing and mourning that they had headphones in and they needed to go to the emergency room because their eardrums were damaged from her high-pitched noises."


    Qian Meng allowed the intern to ramble on.


    "But she kept saying it was all a false accusation. People were siding with her for a moment, but then you showed the video and the tides turned. Her face went white and then someone took the phone from her. The livestream ended just like that!" the intern finished.


    It was either her manager or her boyfriend. "Well, that is understandable. By now, she should have the papers. Let''s see her next move." She snapped her finger and turned to Xiong Hua. "Call the social media platforms Shi Yuhan uses the most and ask them to ban her for spreading malicious rumors."


    Xiong Fen nodded. Doing this after the truth had been revealed was the best way to make her speak less nonsense. Let her make less fuss. Qian Meng doubted that Shi Yuhan''s management would allow her to post any more for a while, but banning her from social media was a power move. It was completely legal when someone''s guilt was irrefutable.


    "I''ll make it happen immediately."


    "I have already spoken to HR. Your Comp-offs will be issued through your emails tomorrow. Be sure to send in the dates you want to take off with your immediate supervisor and have them sign off on it."


    "Thank you, Boss!" everyone sang together.


    "That was great work. Let''s not talk anymore. I''ll head home. Let''s meet tomorrow and get a detailed view on the change in narrative and what the market and sales look like," Qian Meng said finally before standing up.


    She rolled her sore shoulders and after giving one last smile to her employees strolled to her office.


    Li Min was already at her desk, talking on the phone. She saw Qian Meng approach and nodded at her surreptitiously. She hung up the call and stood up to greet Qian Meng.


    "Boss, I spoke to Li Jun. Everything is in order. There is no need for us to worry about it anymore. The remaining team will monitor the advance. We are going to block out any malicious comments now that the public eye is not looking at us critically."


    Qian Meng''s face bloomed. "Sorry, neither of us get vacations for this. But for now, let''s go home. I need to sleep on my bed for a change."


    Li Min snickered as she saw Qian Meng pat on her back and grumble about her body being that of an eighty-year-old lady.


    She emerged out of her room after a while with big bags in her hands.


    Li Min blinked. "Did you move your house here?" she asked quietly. Qian Meng stopped and sighed. "I had food delivered from home every meal. Then there were clothes, towels, and everything else. I was practically living here," she explained.


    "Boss, I forgot to ask you¡­ where did you shower all this time?" Li Min squinted her eyes suspiciously.


    "You were sitting beside me for all these days. Did I smell?" she questioned. "I showered at the gym. I have a membership there, remember?" She rolled her eyes. "Always so suspicious."


    Li Min shrugged. "Just making sure you are minty fresh when you go home."


    "Okay. I need to run. I want to get home and comfortable." She moaned and she hastily walked out. She had already called a cab and found it waiting outside the building entrance.


    She slid in and placed all her bags before slumping into the seat and closing her eyes.


    Finally, some peace.


    She didn''t even notice as the time flew by and she was already in front of the home. Oh, how she missed it. She strolled in like a queen and dumped all her baggage in its rightful place.


    The house was not brightly lit so she had to call Mo Qingchen.


    "You aren''t home?" she asked. She knew there was a high chance he wouldn''t be. But that didn''t mean she wasn''t disappointed. Even she could hear the pout in her voice.


    "No. I''ll get home really late today. I have a dinner to attend," he explained. "By the way, you looked beautiful on the television. I was cheering for you," he teased.


    She snickered. "Thank you, Mr. Mo. I feel tired so I will freshen up and then try to catch some sleep," she told him lightly.


    "Okay. I''ll join you in bed later tonight. See you," he greeted warmly. The thought made her skin flush. She sighed before hanging up and looked around the big and empty bedroom.


    Time to freshen up and get some rest. The war would continue again from tomorrow morning.


    But her plans fell through. She ended up relaxing. But not resting.


    When Qian Meng was in a mood to design, it was because she needed to relieve stress. And she usually was lacking sleep from overwork or a little drunk. The recent events had really given her a run for her money. She slung her arm over the lounge chair she was laying on, her drawing tablet in hand as she thought about how to place a certain stone in her ring. The position was comfortable and for a second, she really just wanted to gaze at the stars which vividly twinkled in the clear night sky.

 Chapter 274: Kept Him Waiting Too Long

    And it was a relatively good night.


    Mo Qingchen was forever busy completing his new software and had informed her that he would be having dinner at the office. Xiong Hua was waiting around, asking if she should prepare dinner.


    Qian Meng felt bad having the woman stay back long after she should be working and cleaning up after her. So, she asked her to rest. She took a relaxing bubble bath before throwing in some stuff and eating whatever was in the house.


    Right at that moment, as she stared at the stars, she heard the door to the poolside foyer creak open. She lolled her head to the side to watch Mo Qingchen appear, looking exceedingly handsome in his suit.


    "I was looking for you in the house," he told her as he closed the door behind him.


    "Hello, hubby!"


    "Hello," he humored her chirpy tone. "Why are you sitting out here in the dark? I was going to look here earlier but the lights were not on."


    "I wanted to design our rings. I need to relax and the stars are so beautiful tonight," Qian Meng explained, turning her head again so that she could look straight up at the sky.


    She heard his footsteps approach. He stretched one arm out and gripped the side of the lounge chair as he leaned over to kiss her.


    "Are you drunk?" he asked against her lips, probably smelling the alcohol on her.


    Qian Meng nodded and he kissed her again, unbothered. He was not used to her drinking, but he was fine with it as long as she was safe about it.


    "How was your dinner?" Qian Meng asked, lifting her arm to loosely drape it over his shoulder and play with the short hairs at the nape of his neck.


    "Uneventful," he responded, moving his head to the right to press move down further and kiss her neck softly. "You sent Xiong Hua home?"


    "I had leftovers," she confirmed, closing her eyes and enjoying his lips against her skin.


    She wanted him to kiss her again but before she had a chance to ask him, he straightened back up, moving away from her.


    "I will be upstairs. I want to shower and change into something comfortable. Will you be here long?"


    "No," Qian Meng said. "But don''t wait for me. I might get carried away with designing."


    "I know that. But I want to wait for you."


    Had she been more alert, she would have recognized the underlying meaning in his words. But she was buzzed. She simply nodded.


    She turned to the sky and listened to the sound of the door opening and closing behind her as Mo Qingchen left.


    She lost herself in thought and soon she was drawing again. This time, a different design. Time flew by and she finished a few drafts before she got up and headed in. She was already starting to come down from her buzzed state, but she still felt good.


    She wandered through the kitchen, looking for something to eat. She was ravenous. Clearly, she was leaving a mark on the household grocery list.


    With her stomach full and a bottle of juice in her hand, she made her way to the bedroom. Mo Qingchen was already in bed, sitting against the pillows and looking over at the tab in his hands.


    A bottle of wine sat on the bedside table, making Qian Meng smile.


    His hair was damp and tousled and he was naked except for the black boxers that shielded the best part of his body. She stood at the door and admired his body for a while.


    She could tell he smelled amazing so she briskly walked to him right away.


    She placed her bottle of juice down on the nightstand next to his bottle of wine and climbed her way onto the bed and into his lap, sitting sidewards.


    "Hi," Mo Qingchen laughed softly, setting the tab aside and adjusting his body so that he could accommodate her. At last, he draped one arm over her thighs.


    "Did I keep you waiting for long?" she asked, batting her eyelid.


    "What do you think?" he questioned with a quirk of his lips.


    "I got too engrossed in my work."


    "You look positively inspired," he responded. "I feel inspired just looking at you. What did you do to yourself?"


    "I transcended to another plane for a few moments. It happens sometimes." Qian Meng shrugged.


    He shook his head in disbelief and reached for the bottle of wine. He turned his head as he reached, making his jaw and the cords of his neck pop out. Qian Meng loved the way the muscle in his arms flexed as he tensed and the way his Adam''s apple bobbed in his throat.


    His body was strong and defined. Instinctively, she loved these details. This was one of the moments when she was sure she was crazy or had turned into a primitive being. She had a side that wanted the big and strong caveman to hunt and take her. She wanted to get her freak on. The conclusion was: Mo Qingchen made her panties wet.


    The alcohol helped a lot too.


    So, she took the initiative while his head was turned to lean in and kiss right under his earlobe before nibbling on it. He did smell good. She breathed it in as she moved lower to kiss his neck and worked her way to his Adam''s apple.


    He hummed, making her smile in satisfaction against him.


    Qian Meng had come to realize that his neck was his weakness. Kissing him on the neck would always make the guy in his boxers wave hello. Strongly. Right then, she could feel it awaken beneath her and poke her ass.


    He hummed again and she felt a bubble of joy. She loved how his chest rumbled when he moaned and hummed. Any of the other glorious noises that he made when she was on him.

 Chapter 276: I Like Every Part of You *

    [Warning: MQC and YQM have turned on their filthy mode. Bring your holy water and tissues. I do not take responsibility for any bodily injuries that may occur!]


    When her panties were revealed, Mo Qingchen found that they matched her bra. He looked on in appreciation at the sight as he tossed the shorts to the floor.


    "You know I am a sucker for these things¡­" he complimented. He quite liked the feel of the material on him. As did Qian Meng.


    "I know," she grinned as she moved to remove the panties.


    "Stop," he said, reaching for her hand. "Turn around."


    "What?" she questioned, confused.


    "Turn around. I want to watch as you reveal every bit to me. I love it so much¡­"


    She shook her head. "I thought you liked my boobs the best? Why are you suddenly fascinated by my ass?"


    "I like every part of you. Your snarky ass included."


    Qian Meng laughed as she got back on her knees and turned around. It was to amuse him. She still straddled him but faced in the other direction.


    His hands moved to rest slightly on the outsides of her thigh, rubbing up and down, light enough to give her goosebumps all over.


    She moved her hands to her hips and wriggled her ass teasingly for Mo Qingchen to enjoy, swaying with the unheard beat from before as she slowly started to pull her panties down.


    No sooner was the material down over her ass, one of Mo Qingchen''s hands was roughly groping the newly revealed flesh. He knocked her off balance with his enthusiasm and she laughed as she fell over, barely catching herself with her hands against the mattress in front of her.


    And then, his hands were between her thighs, his long fingers exploring her folds. She was no longer laughing. Her breath hitched and her eyes fluttered closed. She had to force herself to move against him.


    "Mo Qingchen, I need to take these off," she whispered as she crawled away from his touch. He let her. When she was out of his reach, she slowly pulled the panties down her thighs. She kicked them off blindly.


    She glanced over her shoulder and saw Mo Qingchen shifting behind her to remove his boxers. And he was hard. Good thing, because she didn''t want foreplay.


    Tonight, Mo Qingchen was to look at her ass. Qian Meng would enjoy this new love of his and exploit it to the maximum.


    She backed herself so that she was once against straddling him, facing away. He was sitting up and the contact between her back and his chest was scorching.


    "Come on," he encouraged, pulling her back into him.


    "I thought you might want to watch me bounce while I ride you," she told him in a sultry voice.


    "You thought correctly," he answered, sliding his hands around to grope her ass again.


    She settled her hands on his thighs and lifted her ass up and shifted until she was position over him. She looking down for visual guidance and saw him hold himself and line his length with her entrance.


    With a single dip of her hips, she could feel the hardness pressing against her opening. She whimpered with longing, eager to feel him stretch her.


    She lowered further and found that he had moved himself. He didn''t allow her to do a thing. Instead, he moved himself back and forth across her slick folds to brush against her clit and tease her.


    She couldn''t have that!


    She reached down to grab his hand and swatted it away so that she could take control. "Don''t cockblock me!" she commanded.


    He chuckled as he relented and withdrew his hands, letting her do her thing. She gripped his shaft and aligned him once again so that she could sink down onto his cock before he could do anything funny.


    "Fuck¡­" she sighed. She heard Mo Qingchen groan behind her.


    She shifted her weight on her arms as she slowly took him in, relishing the feeling of him filling her completely. Mo Qingchen''s sighs of pleasure and grunts spurred her on and brought a grin to her lips.


    "God, you have such a perfect pussy," he breathed, his hands massaging his thighs as she adjusted the angle to find the right leverage.


    "Are you realizing that just now?" she said. She found a comfortable angle and slowly pushed up with her leg muscles, dropping her head to look down between her thighs and watch his cock slide smoothly in and out of her body. God, the sight was more erotic than she thought it would be.


    She whimpered as she leaned forward to get a better view and felt the tip of his head glide over her G-spot.


    "Ride me," Mo Qingchen encouraged, his voice dripping with lust.


    His hands were firmly planted on her ass and he groped her roughly, the force nudging her up and forward a bit, intensifying the pressure on that spot inside her.


    She shook her head to control herself. "You''re so hard," she mewled in wonder, her face contorting in pleasure as she picked up the pace.


    "All yours," he told her, stroking her skin, his hands wandering wherever they could reach.


    "Yes. Mine," she agreed possessively, loving the words more than she should have.


    Despite the weeks of kickboxing training, she realized she had a long way to go. Her skin was flushed and she was sticky with sweat. Even her breathing was erratic.


    As her movements grew faster, her stomach tightened further. She was so wet that she could feel it on her thighs and his lap. She was ready to combust, pulsing around him.


    The fatigue burned in her thighs and she was distracted enough that her orgasm was at bay.


    "Are you close?" she whimpered, shifting her weight.


    "Getting there," he replied calmly.


    She scoffed. She was a complete mess, ready to burst at any moment and he didn''t even sound affected! She slowed down and flipped her hair over her shoulder to turn and look back at him.


    Her mouth fell open at what she saw. She had been so preoccupied with her own pleasure she hadn''t noticed his hands were off her.

 Chapter 277: Enjoying the Show *

    [Warning: Do not read in front of people. Snu snu and MQC trying to make a point up ahead. Read at your own risk.]


    Mo Qingchen was just sitting there, sipping at the wine straight from the bottle. And he was watching her ride him.


    Part of her was offended that he was so blas¨¦ towards what she considered was incredible sex. And yet, at the same time, it was a turn-on to see him.


    She was growing to like his cold and rather cunning personality. The way he controlled the situation and never really followed what others did, it turned her on. It seemed to contradict her personality but she could only theorize that Mo Qingchen was the first person that could control her.


    Actually, it was because she allowed him to control her. He knew how to do it.


    "What are you doing?" she asked through her heavy breathing, failing to hide her disappointment. Why wasn''t he on the edge with her?


    "Enjoying the show," he said lightly.


    "I am offended!" she claimed.


    "Are you ready to cum?" he asked, ignoring her statement.


    "Want to cum together," she pouted.


    He hummed. He took one last swig of the wine before he placed the bottle back on the table and turned to give her his undivided attention.


    "You need to work out more," he commented finally. "Let me," he was firm. He bent his knees so that his feet were flat against the mattress.


    Qian Meng held onto one of his legs to balance herself as she maintained her position. Mo Qingchen gripped her hips and began thrusting into her relentlessly.


    His whole demeanor screamed that he had allowed her to have her fun, bouncing around on him while he watched with amusement. And right then, it was time to get down to business.


    It was a little insulting but a little too erotic.


    "Fuck!" she screamed as he well and truly fucked her.


    He had taken control, so she could just sit there and enjoy the pleasure rippling through her body. Her moans never stopped and neither did his strong and steady pace. Qian Meng could hear the sound of skin against skin as his cock plunged into her.


    "Don''t cum," he ordered, knowing that she was unbearably close. This time, he sounded strained.


    "I can''t," she whined, still holding onto his leg as her body moved with the force of his thrusts. "I''m so close."


    "Don''t," he pressed. "I am close."


    She wanted to cry with relief. His lips pressed against her spine as he thrust harder. She closed her eyes and squeezed her muscles around him just the way he liked.


    However, the plan foiled immediately. Squeezing her muscles only increased her own pleasure and she screamed as waves of pleasure bolted through her.


    "Qian Meng¡­" his voice held a reprimand. She had orgasmed when he had told her not to.


    Qian Meng felt him throb inside her and then the first of his release coated her insides. She smiled triumphantly as she rode out the rest of her pleasure.


    They stayed still for several moments, Mo Qingchen lavishing her back with kisses and her just lolling her head back and enjoying the feeling of the cold air and his lips against her heated skin.


    Slowly, but surely she regained her breath and leaned forward to rest her cheeks against his knee. He rubbed her back slowly, making her sigh.


    Ah, so this was what it felt to be relaxed despite a hard day. Her limbs felt like jelly. She wondered if she would be able to move any time soon from where she was.


    It was the perfect time to actually talk to her. "I need to talk to you," he started softly. When he didn''t get a response, he nudged her to get her attention.


    "What is it?" she sighed out the words.


    "Now that the whole controversy has been dealt with, I want to tell you something. And you need to pay attention to me, okay?" he demanded. She hummed and nestled into him. Knowing that she was listening, he began. "I know you are good at marketing your products, but this time... you took too long to act. Just like before, you were so focused on getting everything right, chasing the right answer that you didn''t pay attention to the variable factors in the situation."


    "What are you talking about?" she asked gruffly.


    "You could have ended all of this the day it came out, but you instead chose to drag it on and slowly watched as things got worse. You allowed those people to stomp over you and your company. Why did you do that?" Actually, he knew the answer to that question.


    She opened her eyes and looked at him critically. "Everything was going down the drain. Have you no idea what a nightmare it is when the executives don''t know the full situation and take action? How many careers have been ruined because of it?" she argued.


    "I understand that very well. But you aren''t a conservative when it comes to mitigating rumors. Then why do you lack confidence when it comes to your company?" he scolded.


    "It''s not that I lack confidence but that I don''t want to jump into anything lest..." she trailed off. Lest she lost it all. This was her baby, how could she see it struggle? "It was protocol."


    "It almost ruined your company''s image. There are still going to be people out there who think poorly of the brand. They won''t trust you."


    Qian Meng nodded. "That is what happens after a scandal. I expected it. There was no way I could come out of it unscathed considering that some of the employees at the outlets were treating customers poorly if they thought they didn''t have the purchasing power."


    "And you resolved that beautifully. Why didn''t you do this the very day the news broke?" Mo Qingchen pressed her to answer.


    "To..." she hesitated. "To evaluate the situation before I took a drastic step."


    Mo Qingchen shook his head. She would remain stubborn in her belief until the very end. But it was his duty to tell her as he saw it.

 Chapter 278: Dont Fall Asleep Just Yet

    "There is also the matter of your employees. I am sure they are talented people, but they don''t see you as their boss. They see you as their peer."


    "What are you talking about now?" she groaned once again.


    "Listen carefully. There is a reason why I keep my employees at an arm''s length. They need to see you as their employer. Your employees have a casual tone when they talk to you and I felt like they didn''t feel the urgency of the situation. It all seemed... calm. Like you were the only one who was actually worried."


    Qian Meng scoffed. "They worked two days straight for this. I wouldn''t say they weren''t feeling the urgency," she retorted.


    "You are not trying to understand what I am saying. Those talented people have become complacent. They don''t do their jobs to the full capacity because they don''t see you as a figure of complete authority. If they did, you would have had them pleading you to be aggressive in this situation. You wouldn''t be the one telling them to do everything while they followed. They needed to take initiative and show you the way when you were clearly unable to gauge the situation."


    It was a long explanation. If she were an outsider, she would have applauded him for his insight. He had been in business for far longer and knew quite a bit about delegating work. Not that she was okay with how he treated his employees, but he was good with giving out tasks. His employees were efficient.


    But this was different. He was criticizing her in a way. She was mildly offended. If she hadn''t been lulled into exhaustion because of her orgasm, she might have fought him on every point. But at that moment, she didn''t have the strength to tell him anything. This conversation could continue some other time. She wouldn''t forget.


    "Okay. End of conversation. I really need to sleep. Goodnight, Mo Qingchen." She whispered and then closed her eyes again.


    "Don''t fall asleep just yet," he told her softly, his voice completely different. "I''m still inside you¡­"


    She mustered some strength to push herself up enough that he slid out. She lazily rolled off him, settling on the bed next to him. She didn''t open her eyes to see, but she felt the bed shift as Mo Qingchen got up. She fell asleep just moments later to the sound of running water in the bathroom.


    Mo Qingchen returned with a warm towel and wiped Qian Meng gently, knowing that she would feel uncomfortable throughout the night. He had half a thought to run a hot bath and settle her in, but with her sleeping, he wouldn''t be sure if she was cold.


    Even in her sleep, she twisted and turned, squirming against the towel until he was done. She settled in and he smiled. He would not forget her promise of continuing the discussion. Maybe he would bring it up in their weekly discussion about their businesses. That would be a good time.


    A shower and some cuddling later, he was sleeping right along with her.


    When she woke up the next morning, she could hear the sound of water running in the bathroom. Qian Meng tried to go back to sleep but she had to pee and her bladder was hard to ignore.


    She threw the covers off with a sigh and hastily walked into the bathroom where Mo Qingchen was showering.


    "Did I wake you?" he asked from behind the glass.


    "No, I am sleepwalking," she snapped without looking at him.


    He chuckled in that arrogant and infuriating manner that made her want to punch him and kiss him all at the same time. Qian Meng rolled her eyes as she made her way into the toilet area and shut the door. While doing her business, she heard the water shut off and she sighed.


    She was hoping he would stay in there long enough that she could go out and go back to sleep before she had to deal with him again.


    The reason for her avoidance? The words he said last night kept coming back to her and she grew more irritated as time went by. Something about him criticizing her didn''t sit well with her.


    When she opened the door and walked out, Mo Qingchen was standing at the sink, brushing his teeth. Without saying a word, Qian Meng went over to the second sink and started to wash her hands.


    "Are you upset with me then?" Mo Qingchen asked after he had finished up and put his toothbrush away.


    Qian Meng shrugged, keeping her eyes fixed down on the water splashing over her hands. She was aware of his movements and then suddenly, he was behind her, his hands on her hips just as she turned the tap off.


    "Qingchen¡­ I just¡ª"


    She was about to tell him to leave her alone and let her go back to sleep but she made the mistake of glancing up into the mirror and finding his black eyes watching her.


    They shimmered with mischief, as they did when he was with her. The allure in them was hard to resist.


    She realized she was smiling.


    "There''s the pretty smile I look forward to every day. You were trying to hide it from me, huh?"


    Mo Qingchen turned his hands to coax her to turn around to face him and she gave in all too easily. She loathed the way that she couldn''t seem to stay away from this man.


    "How are you going to make me less angry? After lecturing me last night?" she asked like a total brat as she lifted her arms around his neck.


    "Qian Meng," he warned, his tone still amused. "You know I was trying to make a point. It wasn''t meant to hurt your feelings."


    Qian Meng''s eyes hardened. "Whatever. The intention doesn''t matter. I was bothered by it."


    "Speaking of this, I did bring you something you can consider as payment for angering you," he said slowly, watching her expression closely.

 Chapter 279: A Tool to Punish Her

    "You did? Why didn''t you give it to me last night?"


    "Mm. Wait here," he said promptly, not responding.


    Qian Meng unwound her arms from his neck and watched him disappear into his closet. Curious, she followed him and found him opening a drawer.


    "Let me guess, you got me a boyfriend t-shirt that you wore during these days? For me to wear and remember you by?" she teased. "Are you going to give me a love token?"


    "Sorry to disappoint you, Mrs. Mo. You don''t get my t-shirts. Now, close your eyes."


    Qian Meng laughed and closed her eyes, leaning against the door frame as she waited. "Alright, they are closed."


    She heard his footsteps as he approached and she could tell he was standing in front of her.


    "Open," he ordered.


    Her eyes flitted open to find him standing there with a smile on his face, holding a jewelry box. The carving on the box was exquisite, put together neatly, every inch of it was perfection. She wondered how much money something like that must have cost.


    It made her mouth dry.


    "Is it¡­ real?"


    "Of course, it''s real," he responded, sounding insulted. "Carved biscuit porcelain box. You''re making the rings, so you need something to keep it in, right?"


    Qian Meng blinked. "Sorry¡­ I have never seen anything like it before. Where did you buy it from?" she asked, awed.


    "Do you like it?"


    "Are you kidding? It''s exquisite," she breathed harshly. "Where did you buy it?"


    "An upscale antique store. It''s on the way back home, so I thought I would buy you something. You loved the antique chess set Uncle Bai gave you, so."


    Qian Meng gathered her hair and took the box to her side of the closet. She placed it in the most conspicuous location and watched it carefully.


    She could see Mo Qingchen standing behind her and smiling. He was looking at her reflection in the mirror. Their eyes clashed and she looked down immediately. Feeling something strange in her stomach.


    ''Stop trying so hard to act like you belong.'' The intrusive thought passed.


    "You''re frowning," Mo Qingchen commented from beside her. "You don''t like it?"


    Qian Meng shook her head, trying to smile.


    ''Why would you try so hard? You won''t make anyone proud. And no one loves you. Aren''t you wasting your life?'' This time, the voice in her head was obscure¡­ not her own. It was someone else and she felt a pang of fear at it.


    "It''s not that," Qian Meng responded quickly, trying to shove the thought to the back of her head. "But¡­ you really didn''t have to do this, Qingchen."


    "I know." He stepped closer to her and leaned back against the counter. "But I wanted to. I felt that you deserved a treat after what happened."


    Qian Meng squinted. "You bought a gift to erase your sins even before you committed it," she accused. "You¡­"


    "Yes. I did. I thought about it closely and I knew you could react this way. So, I prepared."


    Qian Meng sniffed. "You used sex as a tool to punish me," she said.


    "I wasn''t punishing you. I don''t have anything to be angry with you for. I just wanted to teach you a valuable life lesson."


    Qian Meng nodded. "And you used sex as a tool," she said again.


    Mo Qingchen sighed. "Anything to get the point across."


    ''See? He doesn''t like you enough.''


    Qian Meng shook her head.


    "What is it?" Mo Qingchen asked.


    "Nothing. I want to grab breakfast near the office."


    The silence was awkward as she continued to stare out of the car window. That day, she had insisted on taking her car, but he had insisted on driving. They were seated at the restaurant and he kept looking intensely at her. Eventually, her eyes shifted over to him.


    She wanted to ask about it all. Why had she really asked to marry her? Why was he going so far to appease her? Why did he use that one thing they connected on as a weapon against her?


    Just as she was about to open her mouth to do so, their morning took a turn for the crazy.


    Despite being far away from the front of the restaurant, they could both hear the distinct sound of tires screeching loudly outside in front of the restaurant.


    "What the hell was that?" she found herself saying.


    "Must be someone taking out their anger on the world," Mo Qingchen commented with the shake of his head.


    In the background, they heard a commotion and someone commented on an expensive car being harmed. Mo Qingchen stood up immediately and briskly walked past Qian Meng to investigate.


    Qian Meng followed behind him as he walked back out into the street. As soon as he caught a glimpse outside, his whole demeanor changed.


    "What the hell!" he yelled before taking off in a full out run.


    Qian Meng was still inside the restaurant and didn''t know what he was so mad about. She wanted to see what had been freaked out like that.


    Her eyes widened at what she did see. Her car was trashed.


    "Holy shit¡­" she swore as she slowly padded towards the direction Mo Qingchen had gone to.


    Mo Qingchen was circling around her car, surveying the damage. She stopped in her tracks and just stood there staring, trying to process what she was saying. It was horrible. All of the windows and the windshields were knocked out, tiny pieces of glass strewn about everywhere. The headlights were smashed as well and all four tires were slashed. But there was something else that she noticed before any of that.


    Music.


    Music blared from inside the car, a snippet of a song about a raging bitch.


    Someone had edited the song to the exact part about the woman and somehow put it in a CD to play over and over again.


    The scene before her made bile rise in her throat.

 Chapter 280: A Distinct Threat to Qian Meng

    Who would do something like this to her car?


    The scene of her smashing Bai Yu Qing''s car flashed in her mind and she wondered if he had asked someone to take revenge on her. How would he do that from jail?


    Her mind went blank.


    "Mo Qingchen¡­" she called over to him as the thought struck her. "Did someone have my key?"


    "What?" he asked distractedly, looking over at her.


    "The car is playing music. That means it''s on. Did you leave the key in the car?" she asked.


    "No!" he barked. He walked over to the car and pulled the driver side door open, but then stopped and just stood there, staring into the car blankly.


    "What is it?" she asked, getting worried.


    He didn''t answer her, so she went over to him to see for herself. She walked up beside him and gasped. Inside the car, completely covering the floorboard was read.


    "Apparently, someone is trying to send us a message," Qian Meng observed.


    "Apparently," Mo Qingchen agreed. He was calmer than Qian Meng had anticipated.


    "The key is in the cup holder," she pointed out once she noticed it.


    How did it get in there?


    "The man¡­ the man who bumped into me. It was him," Mo Qingchen said unexpectedly.


    "You think someone who you bumped into did it?" she asked.


    "People don''t bump into me, Qian Meng. I thought it was strange but I wasn''t¡­ I wasn''t alert." He looked angry. "If not for the screeching tires, we would have never known the timeline for when this happened."


    "But why would they take the risk of bumping into you?" Qian Meng wondered.


    "Because they needed the key," he answered as he quickly made his way back to the restaurant.


    "This wasn''t targeted at you, considering that they trashed my car. But they must have been watching us closely to know you were driving and where you kept the key, right?" she asked.


    There was a look of pure rage in his eyes and he stood up taller. "Someone was following you around. Did you not notice?" he asked.


    "I was in the office for so many days¡­ I just came home in a cab last night. Of course, I didn''t notice," she defended. "Your house has security, shouldn''t they be seeing if people are lingering around?" she retorted.


    "I am sure it was someone professional. Pickpocketing and following us without being noticed¡­" he trailed off.


    "Is it Bai Ye Qing? This¡­ this looks like someone with a personal vendetta."


    Mo Qingchen shook his head. "He''s an awful person but he is in jail without any communication with the outside world. He didn''t do this."


    "How can you be sure?" she asked curiously. Her heart still thudded in her chest.


    "I am sure," he said confidently but didn''t explain the meaning behind it.


    "Well then. Who the hell did it, Mo Qingchen? Because I can''t think of anyone who hates me enough to trash my car and pour¡­ blood all over the floor of it. This is personal. Someone has a very distinct message that they want to send."


    His expression changed. His frustration with her luckily seemed to go as quickly as it had come. Instead, he looked troubled.


    "Yeah. It was a really distinct message."


    Qian Meng couldn''t see how his fists clenched and his eyes flashed to the CCTV cameras placed on the street.


    "I''ll call the cops," Mo Qingchen broke the silence.


    "We have to talk to the cops an awful lot, don''t we?" Qian Meng sighed. "It all started after I met you. Are you a jinx or am I finding out more about my enemies since we got together?" The universe worked in various ways.


    "I think the higher powers want to tell you that you should pay your lawyer more," Mo Qingchen said offhandedly as he pulled the phone to his ear. "Don''t blame me for it."


    Qian Meng tried her best to smile but she knew Mo Qingchen wasn''t in a mood to joke around.


    He spoke quickly into the phone and then took a step back.


    "Let''s go sit inside the restaurant. I''ll ask the staff to give us a window seat so that we can keep an eye on the car," Qian Meng said once he hung up.


    "You want to keep looking at it?" Mo Qingchen responded with the raise of his brow.


    "I just want to make sure no one tampers with the evidence!" she shrugged.


    "I didn''t know that you had the time to watch crime shows these days," he teased but his voice was tense. Qian Meng appreciated that he was playing along with her futile attempt at easing the atmosphere. She could clearly see the storm brewing in his eyes and she didn''t know what to do to make him talk.


    Unable to hold herself back any longer, she spoke up as she took a sip of water. "I''m sorry. This just pushed back our schedule," she said quietly.


    Shock flashed across his feature and then he looked dumbfounded. "Do you think that is important right now?" he asked, his voice rough.


    "Are you mad?" she asked.


    "No. You were the one who was upset with me. And now you are not. Why are you apologizing to me when it was me who lost the keys? Someone took the keys off me¡­ And I boasted about being a trained fighter and whatnot." He dragged his hand through his hair. "I should apologize to you. I should have noticed that we were being followed and that someone took the keys from my pocket."


    Qian Meng blinked. "Pickpocketing is an art. It has nothing to do with you being able to fight." She pushed the stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I learned all about it in college, remember?" She blinked innocently.


    "Don''t remind me," he groaned. "I feel worse." He huffed as the food came.


    The police didn''t seem to prioritize the matter. So, it was almost halfway through their meal when the cops arrived. The sirens blared, telling everyone that something had happened.

 Chapter 281: Shield Her From Bullets

    Qian Meng was about to get up when Mo Qingchen shook his head.


    "I''ll go out and talk to them. I was the first one to see what happened, right?"


    But Qian Meng was stubborn. "They''ll ask whose car is it. So, I will need to come out anyway. Let''s just go together."


    Mo Qingchen looked at the meal longingly and nodded. "I''ll talk to them. You pay and come out. We rushed out before without eating and the staff got anxious that we were running away."


    Qian Meng cracked a smile before nodding. He wasn''t joking. It was a matter-of-fact sentence meant to explain why he was going out first.


    She was curious about what he would talk to the cops. But she pushed it down and called the waiter over to ask for their bill.


    "Would you like the leftovers packed?" the waiter asked.


    Qian Meng thought for a minute before shaking her head. "No, thank you. Just the bill would be fine."


    They scurried away and Qian Meng looked out of the window to see Mo Qingchen speaking to the cops with a grave expression on his face. She squinted to try and read what he was saying but she wasn''t good at that.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng sighed and rolled over for what seemed like the thirtieth time that night.


    "I know. I can''t sleep either," Mo Qingchen said softly through the darkness. The day had passed mundanely after the police left. She worked and received reports. Mo Qingchen picked her up from work and they drove home in his car.


    She wondered how he got it and then chalked it up to someone bringing the car to his company because hers was unusable.


    Actually, Qian Meng hadn''t known that he was awake, but she wasn''t surprised, either. Mo Qingchen didn''t sleep much, to begin with. Moreover, who wouldn''t have trouble sleeping after what had happened that morning?


    "You can never sleep," she whispered. And then she shuddered. Everything feels so creepy," she admitted. "Even the house."


    "Come here," he spoke and she felt him stretch out his arms to her.


    She scooted over towards him and cuddled into his side, resting her hand on his abs. Laying against his strong body really made her feel a lot better.


    Her body involuntarily assumed that no matter who tried to hurt her, he would shield her from it. A scary thought. She wasn''t used to someone protecting her. She almost feared that when the gun was actually fired, the man who she thought would shield her would dodge it and it would hit her¡­ unprepared.


    It would be death, right?


    His words came as a surprise. "I don''t want you to feel unsafe here, Qian Meng. This is your home." He wanted to add something but didn''t. ''I don''t want you to feel unsafe anywhere. I won''t let anyone hurt you. Today was a miss on my part. It will never happen again.'' But all of this seemed like a poor excuse meant to console him more than her.


    "It''s a little hard not to feel unsafe. How do I know that whoever did this isn''t going to show up again? And who knows what they have up their sleeves? If they get to us¡­" she trailed off.


    "We''ll see if the police can get any fingerprints. They are already looking through CCTV footage to find out who did it. Other than that, I will do everything in my power to make sure this doesn''t happen again." That, he had to swear.


    They were silent for a while, but still not close to sleep.


    "What if the security and police are unable to do anything?" she asked. "They couldn''t do anything¡­"


    "Qian Meng," he cut her off. "I am sure. You are safe."


    "But how can you be absolutely sure?"


    "I am sure. The guards had nothing to do with this," he said firmly. He knew that was the thought that came to her first. That there was someone spying on her from the guards. There was no other way they could know¡­ right?


    "Well, if it wasn''t one of them, I honestly don''t know who would have access to me. It had to be someone who is around us, right?"


    Mo Qingchen mulled over how he should respond. "We know so many people. It could be anyone. Who would have a motive to do something like this?" he asked. She turned to try and look at his expression despite the darkness.


    "Too many people," Qian Meng muttered. It was unfortunate. "For all I know, it could be my dad. The person I suspect most is in jail, so I don''t know who else could do something like this."


    Mo Qingchen stroked her shoulder. "It''s going to be okay."


    "You know¡­ I am shocked that you don''t have security cameras on the house," she commented as she turned her head up to look at his face. "What kind of person builds a mansion like this and doesn''t have cameras?" she scolded.


    "We have cameras in the front gate. With the security staff there¡­ I have thought about installing them a few times but I suppose I have procrastinated. I''ll have someone come out as soon as possible to put them up," he assured her.


    She had been distressed when she heard that there weren''t security cameras everywhere on the grounds.


    "Okay," she said finally, unable to keep the thoughts out.


    His lips touched her forehead and she closed her eyes as they formed in a gentle kiss.


    "Get some sleep. I will watch over you," he whispered against her skin.


    Qian Meng slept the entire night nuzzled into his side, at least feeling safe for the time being. Not once did she struggle or roll away.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. Usually, she would groan if he pulled her closer or if she felt hot and slide away, but that night, despite the heat, she didn''t move an inch. She stuck to his side like something bad would happen if there was even an inch between them.


    In her sleep, she revealed how scared she really was.

 Chapter 282: His Definition of Timely

    By the time Qian Meng woke up the next morning, Mo Qingchen was already up. He got up and left her to sleep a couple more hours.


    When she finally did wake up, she went and took a shower and then ventured downstairs where Xiong Hua had set up a plate of breakfast for her.


    "Where is he?" Qian Meng asked.


    "Mr. Mo is outside," Xiong Hua said without pause. Qian Meng took the mug of iced tea that Mo Qingchen had left for her and went to go find him.


    Out front, at the end of the winding driveway, there was a truck. Two burly men stood next to it, talking to her husband. The men walked away as Qian Meng approached, one of them going to take a ladder out of the back of the truck.


    "Good morning," she said as she stopped at his side.


    "Hello," he answered, turning to her as she stretched up to kiss his cheek. "Did you get some more sleep?"


    "I did. What are those guys here for?"


    Mo Qingchen didn''t need to look over to know what she was referring to. "The security cameras."


    "That was fast." She was extremely surprised, actually. She had mentioned it pretty late, so getting someone out here so early to get cameras fitted¡­


    "I may have provided a little financial incentive to get them out here in a timely manner," he shrugged.


    "What is your definition of timely?" she retorted.


    "Quicker than what they originally suggested," he responded stubbornly.


    "Why so early?"


    "I realized that we needed the cameras. I thought nothing could happen, but it did. So, I am not going to spare any expenses or methods to keep you safe." He cradled her face in the palms of his hand and pressed a quick kiss on her puckered lips.


    She couldn''t respond.


    "Did you have breakfast?"


    Qian Meng hummed. When he let her face go, she spoke again. "I had a light breakfast and this iced tea. Thank you for that, Mr. Mo," she smiled.


    "Does it taste better these days?"


    She nodded enthusiastically.


    "I still think it tastes like grass, so." He patted her head.


    Qian Meng remembered something and looked towards their closed garage where her car originally should have been. "What are we going to do about the car? I''ve never been in such a situation, I am not sure."


    "The police have already gone over it. I had someone come out yesterday and get it to the shop. You don''t need to worry about a ride for now. I''ll be driving you home all the time. If you need to go somewhere, just tell me," he said firmly.


    "Even when you need to work long hours?" she whispered. "That doesn''t sound like a good idea."


    "You were the one who coaxed me to use technology more freely. I can drive home and work from here, too. Don''t worry about it," he said.


    "Aren''t you going to work today?" she asked.


    He shook his head. "I am not working from the office. I will spend some time on the phone, but otherwise, I will pick you up and drop you at work and make sure everything in the house is in order."


    "Okay," she answered plainly. "Are we bad business owners for doing these things?" she asked pitifully.


    "The whole point of having your own business is so that you can dictate your own hours. If you can''t use it for your family, what else will you use it for?" Such a high-brow thing to say.


    She scoffed. "I have to get dressed and going before everyone is at work," she announced.


    Mo Qingchen urged her on. "That is a good idea. Let me know if you need any help!" He called from behind her.


    She smirked. "What help could I need to get dressed up?" From the corner of her eye, she saw the smug grin on his face. Despite the tension, they had these small moments when everything seemed alright.


    What the hell was this?


    Time flew when she concentrated and she found herself flying out of the home, calling for Mo Qingchen. "Mo Qingchen! Are you ready?" she asked.


    He emerged from somewhere behind the house, looking delicious in his pajamas. But he wasn''t ready to go out.


    "You''re not ready?" she accused.


    "I am going to stay in the car, so no one will see me. I won''t disgrace you. Come on," he urged. He took her by her wrist and deposited her into the car.


    He took a detour and checked the car, from the trunk to the hood before coming in. In doing so, he rolled up the sleeves of his t-shirt, giving her a free view of his skin.


    Qian Meng couldn''t help but admire the impressive muscles in his forearm as he turned and walked away and headed for the driver''s seat.


    They were the same muscles that she enjoyed admiring when she would look down and watch him as he used his fingers to make her whimper and beg for him.


    "I love the look in your eyes, Qian Meng. But it''s no time for that!" he announced, pulling her away from her dirty thoughts as he closed the door behind him.


    Qian Meng laughed and shook her head. "Dream on," she whispered. After laughing for a minute, Mo Qingchen started the car.


    When it was time to get off, Mo Qingchen surprised her by wrapping his arms around her much more tightly than she had expected. It was a long embrace.


    Qian Meng felt awkward as time went on. She wasn''t used to such affection from Mo Qingchen. When would she get used to it? They were extremely close, just not in this way.


    "Be alert," he told her.


    His tone was what made it more awkward.


    "I know, Qingchen. I''ll get off, now."


    He hummed. "Wait for me to pick you up, okay?"


    The situation was getting too mushy for her. She clearly needed to lighten the mood.


    "Geez. You should sleep a little more. From this close, the bags under your eyes look like I killed you and reanimated you."


    She felt him stiffen and it took him a few moments to answer her.


    "Well, I guess you''ll have to tire me out enough to make me sleep every night." And that was that. No resolution.

 Chapter 283: His Favorite Place in the World

    Qian Meng was on the edge since she came home. When she was with Mo Qingchen, the feeling of being watched, the feeling that someone was going to pop out from the corner wasn''t so intense.


    When Mo Qingchen offered her snacks, she told him that she had tired from work and wanted to take a nap. Mo Qingchen wasn''t as free as he had made himself out to be. He had been getting so many calls while he drove that Qian Meng knew he was downplaying it.


    She excused herself to their room, hoping Mo Qingchen would take the time to finish his work. She didn''t want to sleep, so she ended up lounging in bed and watching a television series.


    She didn''t realize that she had fallen asleep until she was awoken by the shifting of the bed as it dipped down on Mo Qingchen''s side. She opened her eyes slowly, sighing as she blinked away the fog of sleep.


    Mo Qingchen sat on the side of the bed, bent down slightly to remove his slippers. She sighed again as she stretched her arms over her head. Mo Qingchen looked back at her over his shoulder and smiled softly.


    "Well, hello there, sleeping beauty."


    "Hi," she answered through the yawn as she rolled onto her side and pulled his pillow into her embrace.


    "Did you have a good nap?"


    "I might need to sleep some more," she admitted.


    "I see. Nap time at the Mo House, is it?" he teased.


    "I didn''t intend on sleeping¡­ but the bed is so comfortable. So soft and warm¡­"


    He hummed as he plopped himself down on the bed to lie down beside her. "It sounds like another place. It just so happens to be my favorite place in the world, actually."


    She squinted. "Oh?" she couldn''t help but laugh. She watched him pull the blanket over himself and scoot over towards her. "Where is that?"


    "I''ll give you a small hint," he teased playfully as his hand found her body. He pulled her to him. "It''s pink."


    She mused as she wrapped her hand around his neck.


    "It''s a very small space. Barely enough room there."


    "I see¡­ sounds uncomfortable."


    He rolled his eyes. "When I am there¡­" he paused to kiss her neck and lift her leg over his hip. "It''s very very¡­"


    "What?" she breathed, threading her fingers through his hair.


    He rolled over, pinning her between his body and the mattress. He pressed his hips into her and she sighed in contentment. Playful Mo Qingchen had quickly evolved into aroused Mo Qingchen.


    What fun!


    "Wet," he finished finally before his lips descended. He kissed her slowly but wasted no time for his tongue to get to work.


    The weight of his body pressed her into the mattress. It felt heavenly as his mouth dominated hers. She was all too willing to surrender to him. The man knew exactly how to coax her into doing what he wanted. In bed, at least.


    But there was one problem. "Qingchen," she breathed, struggling to keep her mind clear in her lust-induced mental block.


    He hummed against her lips.


    "Not now," she responded, even though her body screamed the opposite. "I am on my period."


    His lips slowly parted from hers and he pulled back slightly just enough to gaze down at her face. His eyes narrowed slightly as they searched the answer.


    Qian Meng was stunned for a second. Did he not trust her?


    "Really?" he asked. His tone wasn''t speculative in the least, just a little disappointed, but Qian Meng almost flinched.


    "Do you want me to show you proof?" she asked.


    "No," he said rolling off with a frown. "I trust you."


    He settled on his back next to her, and she rolled onto her side to face him.


    "I''m sorry," she said immediately, feeling a little awkward.


    "You''re apologizing for being on your period?" he asked, quirking a brow at her in question.


    "No. I just¡­ I don''t know if you still¡­ you know¡­"


    "Want to have sex with you on your period?" He finished for her.


    "Yeah," she replied sheepishly.


    He eyed her curiously and she could only shift uncomfortably under his gaze. "I thought you are against it." He was direct.


    "I think it is a little weird. But I just wasn''t sure how you felt about that. When I turn you away."


    Mo Qingchen''s expression was unreadable. "I am not opposed to the idea of having sex with you when you are on your period. Is that what you are asking? I know you are not up for it. I respect the boundaries that we have set up for one another, and I don''t intend on pushing you on any of them."


    Qian Meng smiled. "That''s good to hear. Sometimes I wonder¡­" she trailed off.


    "What?"


    "Wonder if it agitates you when I say no. Sex was a part of the agreement, after all."


    He sighed. "It was. But we are partners. Besides, I am not a sex-crazed monster who can''t go without it for a few days."


    He seemed to be in a sour mood, so she decided to take the opportunity to ask about something that she had wondered on-and-off for a long time.


    "Can we talk about the women who came before me?"


    His face fell further and Qian Meng felt her heart drop as she watched it with her own eyes. "I don''t want to talk about women in front of you, Qian Meng. There is nothing there," he answered simply.


    "Qingchen, look." She sighed. "We haven''t talked about this since the beginning. Am I supposed to ignore that you told me you didn''t want a romantic connection but you are excellent in bed? Such skills don''t come at the first try. I know you have been with people. Why don''t you just confess?"


    "The word confession implicitly implies that I am guilty of something. I¡­ I didn''t do anything wrong. You asked me a question and I gave you an answer. I didn''t have a romantic connection with anyone. The women I was with knew that I couldn''t offer them love or a relationship. And I wasn''t involved with anyone for a long time before I had conceived even the slightest thought of proposing to you."

 Chapter 284: Not Another Word About This

    His adamant denial of guilt was the very thing that spurred Qian Meng on. He hid so much from her. All the time. And it ate away at her. It was cute at times to think he was taking care of her, but when he evaded questions like this¡­ a pattern emerged in her head.


    What was he guilty about? She needed to find out.


    "I just don''t understand why you are so secretive about these things, Mo Qingchen."


    "And I don''t understand why you are so adamant about needing to know all of the details about something that has nothing to do with you."


    She sucked in a deep breath. "Nothing to do with me? I am married to you. Is it so wrong of me to want to know something about you?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen scrunched his eyes closed. Qian Meng sat up, growing more and more agitated.


    "Seriously? You never speak when I ask you an important question. There are things about me that I haven''t wanted to talk to you about, but you always make me spill them out to you. But I can''t ask you anything? There is something you are hiding from me and it means that it has something to do with me. Whatever happened in your past impacts me too and it is not fair that I am not allowed to ask you questions."


    He was silent for a long minute. He should have remained silent for a little longer.


    "And what about the issues you keep bottled up?" he asked, his tone almost demanding. "That impacts me, and I am not allowed to ask questions about it. What is the difference?"


    "Issues?" she seethed. She threw her cover of her, her blood boiling. "Just because I think about certain things and not divulge it to you does not mean I have issues, Mo Qingchen."


    She stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door shut, fuming.


    Mo Qingchen was the most frustrating man on the planet. Why must he be so stubborn? Something at the back of her mind was telling her that he was sitting on top of the bed, thinking the exact same thing about her.


    And that thought frustrated her even more. The truth was¡­ they were both stubborn. Neither wanted to feel vulnerable. Neither of them wanted to let their walls own when they felt like the other person wasn''t willing to do the same. It was the waiting game of who was going to bend first but while they waited, the tension was going to build.


    And someday, it was going to explode.


    They were fiery personalities by nature. How could they do well if they continued this way?


    Qian Meng placed her hands on the counter and leaned forward, taking in a deep breath. Mo Qingchen pissed her off, telling her that she had issues. He didn''t know anything about her history or the voices that kept pulling her back. Yes, she had boundaries with him but every relationship had that.


    Who did he think he was, berating her that way?


    She heard a soft knock on the door and she groaned.


    "Leave me alone, Mo Qingchen."


    The door opened slowly and through the mirror in front of her, she could see him enter the bathroom. She stared at him in the mirror as he approached her and then turned to face him, looking up at him expectantly.


    Qian Meng was waiting for him to speak. But he said nothing. He approached until he was standing right in front of her, and then he stopped and placed his hands on the counter at her side so that she was caged between his arms.


    He leaned down towards her and she wondered. That was when the kiss landed on her lips. She contemplated pushing him away but he kept it short and looked down at her again before she could think too much.


    "I don''t want anyone else, Qian Meng."


    Is that what she was really worried about? Was she so adamant about getting the details of her past relationships and the reasons for his proposal because she feared that he wanted someone else? That he would, someday, want someone else.


    Without knowing anything about the matter, Qian Meng couldn''t tell if he was lying or not. She was happy with the situation with Mo Qingchen. The thought of someone jeopardizing that made her feel somewhat defensive.


    Maybe she was on the brink of exploding because she wanted him to want her. Really want her.


    "They all want you," she whispered.


    It was the first thing that popped into her mind. Most men she knew cheated. It haunted her. Mo Qingchen searched through her expression for something.


    Qian Meng could only see curiosity and worry but not anger.


    "They all know nothing is ever going to happen with me," he responded after a while. "I am taken."


    I didn''t quench her worries. But he had told her what she wanted to know in a way. If he understood that he wasn''t going to stray, then Qian Meng didn''t have to worry about those women messing up her situation with Mo Qingchen.


    "Okay," she answered him, not knowing what else to say.


    "I am telling you right now." He leaned in slightly to look into her eyes. "Nothing is ever going to happen with anyone else."


    He spoke slowly and carefully as if he was explaining it to a small child. "Even if you and I decide to part ways, I have no interest in pursuing any type of relationship with anyone. You have no reason to be concerned about any contact between me and a woman. Therefore, I do not want to hear another word about this. I am not having this discussion again. Do you understand?"


    She just looked at him, feeling defeated. His words sounded condescending, but she just didn''t have the energy to continue having the never-ending argument with him. She couldn''t force him to be open with her. If he didn''t want to tell her about what he was hiding, then he wasn''t going to.

 Chapter 285: Put Their Lives on the Line

    It was time for her to accept that and let it go. The only problem was, it was much easier said than done.


    "Do you understand what I just told you, Qian Meng?" he asked again, a trace of impatience in his voice.


    "I understand," she said quickly, feeling like she had lost a battle.


    "Good."


    - - - - -


    The next few days were uncomfortable and Qian Meng just felt tired despite getting a lot of sleep. Mo Qingchen and she were relatively quiet as they ate or drove to work or home. The clanging of forks and knives against their plates and the sound of the busy streets were painfully loud as they invaded the silence.


    Qian Meng knew why Mo Qingchen and she were not in the mood to talk, but she wasn''t sure was Xiong Hua also seemed to remain quiet. She seemed deep in thought and Qian Meng didn''t pester.


    On Friday night, the Venus outlets opened to the public. For the most part, Qian Meng focused on making sure nothing went wrong on that front.


    The new security system, all complete with cameras and a security team trained to handle evildoers was stationed. Qian Meng watched closely as stores opened and people went in.


    "Anything out of the ordinary?" Qian Meng asked as they monitored everything.


    "The sales are higher than our average day. I think the promotions and celebrity mentions are working in our favor," Ma Qui spoke tersely. "But I fear that it will fall sharply within a few days." He frowned.


    Qian Meng looked at Ma Qui sharply. Suddenly, Mo Qingchen''s words from Sunday night floated back to her. To make her take control. "Ma Qui, you are the Director," she stated. The man looked at his boss in confusion.


    He also knew that he was a Director. What was the Boss getting at?


    "Shouldn''t the problem you conveyed to me be followed by the solutions that you have in place?" Qian Meng questioned.


    Ma Qui frowned. "You have always wanted us to be precise, so¡­"


    Qian Meng shook her head. "Understood. Don''t just tell me the problems, find me the solutions with it."


    Xiong Fen looked startled at the end of the table.


    "Ideas?" Qian Meng threw it out into the open.


    Someone from sales put their hand up. "The new jewelry line is being launched in two days. Should we be focusing on main sales right now?" they asked. "I think the sales will spike once the collection hits and then level out to our usual average."


    Ma Qui spoke up. "The marketing team can put more emphasis on the advertisements rolling out."


    Xiong Fen also spoke up. "The PR team is shortlisting influencers to whom the PR packages for the new series will be sent."


    Qian Meng froze. "They haven''t gone out already?" she asked, her voice low.


    "No, they go out tomorrow morning. It should reach all the influencers on the list by evening tomorrow."


    "And when will the videos of it come out, then? We need a first look from them to get the talk going!" Qian Meng felt her frustration pour out.


    The people in the room froze. Qian Meng was a boss who rarely spoke in such a nasty voice. She was strict but mostly kind. She understood and wanted the best for her employees.


    For some reason, they thought it was something to do with her personal life. So, they didn''t pry.


    "Let me explain. The top influencers have already received their packages, the second and third tiers are on standby and will go out tomorrow," Xiong Hua spoke.


    Qian Meng felt her anger rise even further. "Only the top tier? After the whole scandal about the top 1% getting the privilege?" she asked.


    Xiong Fen was stunned. "Ma''am. According to the procedure, we need to look through all the videos before they go public¡­" she trailed off.


    "They are PR packages, not paid promotions. The influencers will talk about whatever they want to. Let them be. Focus on sending out the packages early. Are there any companies that will send packages within a few hours?" she asked.


    The sales team looked stumped for words.


    "We can have it parcelled from a package dropping company. But¡­" she paused.


    "What about it?" Qian Meng asked.


    "It looks unprofessional," she whispered.


    "That''s an old-fashioned way to think about it. Modern problems need modern solutions. Someone chalk up the costs and sent it to me. I want a comparison with the courier services available in the city. Is that okay?" Qian Meng called to the people.


    Everyone nodded. "For the influencers living outside the city. We will send everything out tonight by priority mail. They should reach tomorrow morning." Qian Meng dismissed everyone.


    As she walked back to her office, she felt the urge to talk to Li Min.


    "For a second, stop being my secretary and tell me objectively," Qian Meng began, her voice low and calculated.


    "Yes, Boss," Li Min said calmly.


    "Do you think I am a bad manager?" she was straightforward.


    "No. You''re a good manager," Li Min responded without much thought.


    "No. As in¡­ should I be assertive and let them do all the work?" She didn''t know how to put it. The way Mo Qingchen had put it, she understood it a little.


    Li Min seemed to ponder on that a little bit. "You''re very creative in your business practices. That has been the case since the beginning, but I think you have two problems. One, you like to be involved in everything that happens in the company and the second is thinking of your employees as somewhat close to friends and family."


    Qian Meng blinked. "This is your first real job. What are you talking about? I am supposed to treat them as machines?" she asked.


    Li Min shook her head. "No. Your need to control everything means that your employees are not in full control of the decisions they need to make. Second, because you treat them so nicely, they don''t think it is necessary for them to¡­ metaphorically¡­ put their lives on the line for the company."

 Chapter 286: The Suspicious Man in the Crowd

    They think you have their backs no matter what, so they just follow you blindly without taking the initiative."


    Qian Meng squinted suspiciously at Li Min. "Do you do the same?" she asked. "How do you know this so well?"


    Li Min shrugged. "I am diligent in my work because I get my work ethic from my brother. But there have been times when I have wanted to take advantage of how casually you speak to people at work."


    Qian Meng smirked. "Like the vacation you took for working long hours."


    Li Min held her hand up in surrender. "People like working in the company because of the welfare programs. But we are not running a non-profit organization. It''s okay to treat your employees well, but don''t go overboard with it and make them think they don''t need to put their 100% every day."


    The air from her lungs whooshed out. "Why is it that when you said it¡­ it was so much easier to understand?" she grumbled to herself.


    "Someone said the same thing to you?" Li Min asked.


    "You heard that?" Qian Meng scolded. "Don''t eavesdrop."


    "Sorry. It''s a habit. The lower your voice is, the more curious I get about what you are saying. It''s become a habit now," Li Min snickered.


    "At least treat me as your boss," Qian Meng groaned.


    "Then stop cosplaying as the head of the worker''s union," Li Min said, not mincing her words. "I saw it today." She smirked.


    "What is with all these obnoxious people?" she groaned.


    "Mr. Mo must have told you this¡­" Li Min trailed off. "I assume his method of doing so wasn''t the best and it offended you."


    Qian Meng couldn''t deny that it had.


    "Well, it''s always more offensive when you like the person more. Your parents criticizing you is much worse than your teacher. It''s like being humiliated in front of your crush. It''s understandable."


    Qian Meng glared at her secretary. "Are you psychoanalyzing me or something?"


    Li Min blinked innocently. I have no idea what you are talking about.


    "Talking about humiliation. I just looked at the cost of the new security training. Wasn''t it a little over the top?" Li Min asked as they arrived in her office.


    "It was. But it was necessary. It''s better to be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen," she responded sagely.


    "Makes sense," Li Min replied. "The PR team just informed me that the articles about the relaunch are coming out. Do you want me to forward the links to you?" Li Min spoke up as she looked at the screen of her cellphone.


    "You guys monitor it. Apparently, I am an overprotective hen when it comes to these things. I''ll take everyone''s advice and let the employees work like slaves," she joked.


    "Understood, Boss," Li Min said with a hint of a smile. "Your kickboxing class will start in an hour. Don''t you want to get ready for it?"


    Qian Meng perked up and looked at the clock. "Right. I need to go." The pent-up energy in her body needed to be released in some way or the other. Kickboxing was the best way.


    Then, she wouldn''t have to round-house kick Mo Qingchen for his attitude problems whenever she wanted to.


    Qian Meng got up and got ready for the walk. Something about it made her angsty. In the back of her mind, she already knew something was wrong. She was terrified.


    Mo Qingchen''s call came in just in time.


    "How is your day going?" he said.


    Qian Meng didn''t know how to respond even though he had been the first to reach out with an olive branch.


    "It''s been okay. Just busy," she spoke, trying not to let the tension in her body show.


    Mo Qingchen stared at her through the screen for a moment before nodding. "You''re going out somewhere?" he asked finally.


    "Yeah. The gym. I have the kickboxing class," she informed.


    "Make sure you wear a jacket out. It''s breezy outside," Mo Qingchen cautioned as she walked out of the room.


    "I''m feeling a little sweaty today. A little breeze to clear my mind would be good."


    "Are you planning on walking there?" he asked with furrowed brows.


    "I can''t ask you to drive me a hundred meters from my office, can I?" she scoffed. "It''s one of the busiest streets in the city. I can manage to walk that much."


    Mo Qingchen hesitated a moment and Qian Meng already knew what he was going to say next.


    "Keep your keys in your hand and your purse in front of you. Be alert. I don''t like the thought of you going out alone. There is no light and too many people."


    Qian Meng sighed and moved her face closer to the screen. "Mo Qingchen," she began, her voice low. "Stop it. I will be fine. I am going to walk a hundred meters. I am sure it won''t take long."


    "It''s not a hundred meters. It''s a lot more than that," he protested.


    "Okay, I need to get going," Qian Meng said immediately.


    It was quiet at first as she walked along the footpath. There was a chill in the air but it wasn''t unpleasant. She preferred cold to hot any day. Her preference for a drink would testify to that.


    But there was something eerie about the chill in the air. She felt like she was being watched. She kept glancing over her shoulder as she walked, watching the people around her.


    There was one figure in the crowd that she didn''t like. Their demeanor left Qian Meng with an unsettled feeling in her gut. The man looked like he was hiding something. Despite the wind, there was no need for someone to wear such a bulky jacket or have their hands tucked into their front pocket so conspicuously. Among the people in the road, he stood out sorely.


    She realized that she''d had enough. With a deep sigh, she stopped and went into a small store that sold juice.

 Chapter 287: She Would Die a Painful Death

    As she waited at the counter for the order, she looked out into the street and saw the corner of the man''s body from the glass window of the store.


    The man had stopped. As he turned to face her, he scratched at the back of his neck. Something flashed in the corner of her eyes and she noticed something like a handle peering out of the man''s jacket picket.


    The shop was small enough that she could see it clearly. It looked like a hammer.


    The contents of her stomach bubbled in fear.


    There was a group of people enjoying their drinks and Qian Meng could see that they were about to leave. She wondered where it was safer. How long would this man follow her?


    She closed her eyes and tried to force herself to make the decision. She needed to go somewhere where there were security guards. She wanted to turn around and walk back to her office but that would mean that she would come face to face with the man following her.


    Or maybe, she could run.


    She could run to the gym. Anything to avoid the man following her.


    She shook her head as she controlled her emotions. She pulled out her phone and opened Mo Qingchen''s number.


    [At the juice shop. Pick me up please.]


    She sent it quickly. Her eyes were trained on the man.


    And then, it happened.


    The man must have seen her fiddling with her phone because he slowly started to make his way into the store. Qian Meng''s eyes flitted to the group who were about to leave and without a thought about the drink she had just ordered and paid for, she sprinted to them and joined their group to go out.


    She quickly apologized for bumping into them and briskly walked away, her pace just short of a sprint.


    "No, no, no, no¡­" she chanted. Her phone pinged but she couldn''t for the life of her, look at it. She could see the glowing sign of the gym but it looked so far away that she swallowed thickly.


    She had to be strong. She had to be the tough girl Mo Qingchen thought she was.


    She heard voices from somewhere behind her that she realized she was faster than she had thought. She didn''t know what these people were saying. She felt like she was underwater. Everything around her was muffled and blurry. She moved like a zombie.


    She was conscious of her own mind, but completely unaware of her body. She moved on autopilot. Her mind was racing with so many thoughts that she couldn''t hold on to them.


    Perhaps it was her way of blocking out all the other senses that hindered her from running away.


    Maybe, she would die a painful death.


    The thought came to her like a haunting.


    She remembered cuddling into Mo Qingchen, the way his chest rose and fell with his breath and how he would kiss her hair in the middle of the night. She remembered sitting beside him and them being scolded for talking during a conference. And she wanted nothing more than to see him. If only she could run to him.


    ''Oh god.''


    She was approaching the gym faster than she would have expected. Maybe she was running. She was alteast aware enough of her surroundings to know when she had almost reached. She also noticed that there was a distinct voice speaking from behind her.


    "Qian Meng!" someone shouted.


    ''Oh, I can understand them now,'' she thought.


    Everything that happened in the next few moments was so quick that Qian Meng wasn''t even sure how it happened. In a flash, she felt her chin smack into something hard. She was not sure if she felt it or heard it, but whichever it was¡­ it happened in the same second as the pain. It hurt like a bitch, so much so that it seemed to snap her out of the trance she was in.


    Her ears were ringing and her mouth had a salty taste from the tears flooding down her face, but now, there was a taste alongside it.


    Her stomach turned at the realization that her mouth had blood in it.


    A shriek entered her ears and it took Qian Meng a moment to register that it had come from her.


    "Shit, Qian Meng¡­"


    Mo Qingchen. A half a second after recognizing his voice, his arms were around her. He lifted her into his embrace, her feet moving off the ground as he carried her.


    He carried her up.


    Up?


    Apparently, she had tripped and fallen a few steps away from the gym.


    "What is going on?" Mo Qingchen demanded.


    He placed her on her feet, but she seemed not to trust herself to stand on her own.


    In all honesty, she couldn''t stand on her own. Mo Qingchen''s hands remained firmly around her waist and she let him hold her upright as she covered her mouth with her hands.


    "She''s upset," someone said from somewhere.


    "Yes, I can see that," Mo Qingchen snapped, impatient. "What the hell happened?"


    "I think she is panicking," the same person said again. If Qian Meng could focus, she would know it was a fellow gym-going whom she had seen multiple times on the treadmill.


    Mo Qingchen gave the person a scathing look, immediately silencing them.


    Qian Meng swayed and his arms tightened around her in response. She leaned against him, worried that she was going to pass out.


    All she could think was: ''This can''t be real. This has to be a nightmare.''


    "Qian Meng. Listen to me. Relax," Mo Qingchen prompted. "Take a deep breath."


    "He was following me," she croaked between her sobs. "He was following me."


    "I''m here," he whispered. "I''m here," he reassured.


    "He''s following me," she croaked, unable to say anything else. As they stood in front of the entrance, Qian Meng was still sobbing and bleeding. She told him again and again about the man.

 Chapter 288: Youre Breaking My Heart

    She was too hysterical to pay attention to the details, but she did understand when Mo Qingchen dismissed the people around them, saying that he didn''t need help.


    "We will talk about it in a bit, okay?" he told her. "Let''s go in and sit down. Please." His tone was nothing short of begging. He was anxious. He didn''t understand what was happening.


    After she cut the call, he had thought about following her for a few minutes and then headed out. He couldn''t help himself. His phone pinged when he was making his way out of the building.


    When he saw it, he froze. His pace was brisk as he crossed the street and tried to look for her in the crowd. She wasn''t hard to spot.


    She was close to a sprint and he could see her shoulders shaking.


    He shook the thought out of his head and focused on her.


    "Do you want some water?" Mo Qingchen asked.


    "No."


    "Do you want anything?"


    "I''m cold," she said.


    "Okay, I''ll get you some towels to warm you up."


    Qian Meng aimlessly looked at the clock. "It''s time for class, right?" she asked.


    "There is no need to take the class today. Let''s sit for a bit before going home, okay?" He was so cautious in talking to her.


    Indeed, she ended up sitting there for fifteen minutes before he held her hand tightly and walked her to the car. When they reached home, it was dark.


    Qian Meng sucked in a deep breath.


    "No one is in there. I had the security team check each and every corner of the grounds," Mo Qingchen assured.


    She was sitting on the bed when she started crying again.


    "Please¡­ you''re breaking my heart," he whispered. It only made her cry harder.


    Mo Qingchen guided her to their bathroom to clean up. She stood in the shower with him and sobbed, only vaguely aware as he washed her body. He had her rinse the blood in her mouth and then inspected the area to discover that she had two chipped teeth.


    Qian Meng really didn''t care.


    "I think it adds to your charm," Mo Qingchen tried to joke, but Qian Meng didn''t seem to hear it.


    He stood and held her in the shower until the hot water ran out. Around the same time, her tears finally started to settle. She wanted to keep sobbing but she felt like she couldn''t produce any more tears.


    She had used them all, and the muscles of her stomach ached from the violent sobbing.


    Mo Qingchen wrapped her in a fluffy towel and made her sit down in front of the mirror. He slowly combed her hair for her. He took her to bed and she had to tell him that it was okay twice before he was willing to leave her long enough to go get the ice for her mouth to prevent swelling.


    He didn''t turn off the light in the bedroom. Instead, he scooted between it and Qian Meng to lessen the harsh light. He lay closer to her, holding the ice pack against her mouth for her as she nestled against him for warmth and safety.


    They didn''t speak for a long time, both knowing that the other was awake. Mo Qingchen would shift the ice pack a little every few minutes. With his free hand, he stroked her skin and ran his fingers through her hair.


    It was sweet, but she was too numb to care about it.


    "Mo Qingchen?" she called after what felt like an eternity.


    "Yeah?"


    "Thank you for coming."


    He stopped breathing for a second. "Of course, I came. I was making my way to you before you sent me the message," he told her.


    Qian Meng suddenly felt horrible that it had upset Mo Qingchen to see her so hysterical. But how else was she supposed to react? Mo Qingchen had found her right on time and probably not seen the man who had been following her.


    "You didn''t see the man?" she asked.


    "I didn''t. But I will find out," he swore.


    "Thanks," she mumbled.


    "I''ll go change the icepack," he told her.


    Qian Meng watched as he left the room and then pulled his pillow over to her. She was left with a bit of an empty feeling at being alone. She would have been unhappy with anything that happened that night. But there was an ache in her chest that she would carry with her.


    Her life wouldn''t be the same after that night.


    Part of her was angry. Why did she think she would be safe when Mo Qingchen was so worried? And then there was heartbreak. What would happen if she died? She couldn''t help but wonder that she had given up her precious time with the people she loved.


    Time that she had to spend with them.


    Would Mo Qingchen want that? Maybe he wouldn''t. She couldn''t come to ask him. Maybe he would leave. Even if he left, she wouldn''t be able to pardon herself for losing all that time.


    Suddenly, her face was wet with tears again.


    Mo Qingchen was gone longer than she expected. She thought he would probably just go to the fridge and come back, but it was nearly half an hour later when he came back, with two mugs in his hands.


    "I brought you some tea with lemon and spices," he said as he closed the door behind him with his foot.


    She tried to give him a smile. "Thank you."


    The combination of the ice and the wetness of tears on her face had her shivering. Some warm tea did sound nice.


    "Why did¡­ your heart break upon seeing me cry?" she asked dumbly.


    He looked surprised. He had to think about it for a moment. "I promised that you wouldn''t be in danger and you were. You thought you wouldn''t make it. And you were prepared for it to happen. That made my heart hurt," he said softly.

 Chapter 289: Not Going to Live in Fear

    "I don''t want to die," she said as she pushed herself up into a sitting position, leaning back against the stack of pillows.


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "I know. But¡­ you thought you would. I married you with the promise that I would shield you from everything and I failed." His eyes filled with guilt.


    "Stupid man."


    Mo Qingchen came to sit on the bed with her, handing her the cup of tea. He made a stack of pillows for himself right next to her so that he was sitting close. She could feel his eyes on her as she took the first little sip.


    "Why did you call me stupid?"


    Qian Meng gave a forced snort. "Do you think you are a god? Or do you have the power of seeing the future?" she asked.


    "Neither, unfortunately." He blinked. "I thought I did."


    Qian Meng frowned.


    Mo Qingchen changed the topic quickly. "Do you think you''ll be able to sleep?" he asked her. "You look so exhausted."


    "No," she responded with a slight shake of her head. "But you should."


    "I am fine." He would not get any sleep for the next couple of days just thinking about what happened.


    "There is no point in your staying up with me. It''s not going to do any of us good." She was stubborn.


    "If I fall asleep¡­ you''ll be alone." There was mild fear in his voice. What if he fell asleep and went to another world? What if Qian Meng was left all along¡­ scared.


    "So what?" she shrugged.


    "You may think that you don''t care or that you want to be alone, but you don''t," Mo Qingchen said gruffly.


    Qian Meng looked over at him, surprised. "And how do you know what I am feeling?" she challenged.


    Mo Qingchen smiled. At least her fighting spirit was slowly coming back.


    "I know because I have been there. I feared someone I should have loved. I would have given my life for it to have not happened. You''re just starting to get scared. You don''t know if you want to be around anyone or if you want to be scared by yourself and not let anyone else see you like that." He stopped and inspected her expression.


    "Being alone may sound nice but it is the darkest there. Even if you are by yourself, you won''t be alone. The fear will be with you. And then you will be by yourself in the silence, all of the distractions gone. You won''t be able to ignore it. It will stare at you right in your face. You will learn to cope with it over time but it will be too much right now."


    Qian Meng tried to understand what he was talking about.


    "How do you know? What were you scared of the most?" she asked.


    "My dad. And pain."


    Qian Meng didn''t know what to say. She briefly understood but couldn''t wrap her head around it. "Your dad¡­ hit people?" she had to clarify.


    "Just my mother," he said without emotion. "He wanted us scared of him and unafraid of everything else. I was scared of him at first, but then I really hated him. I really hated what my mother called love and marriage." He still did.


    "I''m sorry," was all she could say.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes seemed to soften, but otherwise, he continued on as if she had said nothing. As if he had not revealed a dark secret of his.


    "So, no. I am not going to sleep if you are not. I am not going to make you talk about it if you don''t want to. Because it won''t help either way. But I am here to listen if you want to. And if you don''t, I will still be here with you. You don''t get the option of letting me stay or not. Because I did get that option and made the wrong choices and it effectively killed me inside."


    They just stared at each other. She wasn''t sure what to think of Mo Qingchen''s little speech. She knew that it was coming from a good place, but just as he had said, a part of her just yearned to not show him this weakened side of her.


    Part of her also wanted to argue with him and make him sleep, but she didn''t have the energy. At least, he wasn''t going to make her talk. She figured she could deal with him staying awake.


    It was about forty-five minutes that she did want to talk, so she spilled it all out.


    "I felt someone watching me within a few seconds of stepping out. But I just chalked it up to stress," she whispered into the semi-darkness.


    They had both finished their tea by then and were lying down. She was facing him on her side as he lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. A pillow remained between them as she hugged it.


    "What happened next?"


    "I''m not really sure. I kept looking over my shoulder to make sure if my gut was right. And it was." She paused. "Why did he tail me?" she cried out.


    "I don''t know for sure, but I will find out. The reason might hurt you more¡­ so for now, be a little selfish and don''t ask questions, okay?" he pleased.


    She shook her head defiantly. "No, I am not going to live in fear. I am not going to miss out on precious time because some psychopath wants to harm me."


    Mo Qingchen sighed. "I understand. But it''s a double-edged sword. I am not going to let you in harm''s way. The last time I promised, I wasn''t careful enough. Now, you''ll have a bodyguard with you at all times."


    He was resolute.


    "Why didn''t you ask me about that, Mo Qingchen?"


    "I don''t need to ask you about that. You were not safe today. Having someone guarding you will at least give you relief. You won''t be looking over your shoulder. I will pick them out meticulously," he said firmly.

 Chapter 290: Barefoot and Disheveled

    "The police will find the culprit, right?"


    "They couldn''t find anything conclusive, Qian Meng. They are still trying to identify the car at any traffic signals but they don''t have any leads. It will take some time."


    "Oh god¡­" she cried, her hands grasping at her already aching stomach as her sobs returned.


    Mo Qingchen took her other hand and held it in silence as she cried herself to sleep.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng didn''t sleep for long. She was surprised to discover that she had actually fallen asleep in the first place. She blinked her eyes groggily and looked up to see a sleeping Mo Qingchen.


    She wondered how long he had been out. She knew that he had fallen asleep after her. After all, he did vow to stay awake as long as she did.


    She lay there for a few moments, feeling numb before the need to relieve her bladder was too pressing to ignore. Her eyes were heavy and her muscles ached as she peeled herself out of bed. She was completely exhausted, but she didn''t need to sleep anymore.


    After relieving herself, she was delighted to discover that her period was over. She washed her face and brushed her teeth.


    That made her feel a little human. She thought about taking a shower as well, but she was too thirsty to think about anything other than a tall glass of water.


    She pulled on a hoodie and tied her hair up on the way out of the bedroom. The house was eerily cold and as she made her way down the staircase, she found herself wishing she had put on some socks.


    She could smell the coffee in the air. Normally, it would wake her up and make her feel good but that day, she was too tired and it was too early. The smell made her queasy.


    She turned the corner into the kitchen and found Xiong Hua standing at the kitchen counter and fixing up their breakfast. She had a cup of coffee beside her area of work and she sipped on it occasionally. Qian Meng hadn''t expected anyone to be up and about and she wondered if she had missed out on Xiong Hua every morning.


    "Mrs. Mo, you''re up," she observed, her expression sad when she noticed me.


    "Yeah," Qian Meng shrugged.


    There was an awkward silence between them for a few moments. Qian Meng went to retrieve a bottle of water and Xiong Hua cleared her throat before speaking again.


    "Did you get any sleep last night?" she spoke.


    "A little." Qian Meng realized that Mo Qingchen had asked Xiong Hua to come early and prepare food for them.


    Xiong Hua put aside food in some bowls and plates and placed it on the dining table. Qian Meng followed.


    "Mr. Mo is still sleeping?" she asked, trying to make small talk.


    "Yeah," Qian Meng answered with a nod.


    "He asked me to make something warm and homely for you in the morning. Usually, you don''t eat much, but today, please do. You look tired," Xiong Hua coaxed.


    "Mo Qingchen did?" Qian Meng asked, knowing the answer.


    "What about me?"


    They both looked to the side, following the sound of the new voice in the room. Qian Meng saw her husband come around the corner. He was barefoot, dressed in some athletic shorts and a plain grey t-shirt. His hair was disheveled, making it known that he had not showered yet either. It was rare to see him to mused up, especially in front of other people.


    He was normally put together at all times. Qian Meng suspected that this had something to do with what happened last evening. He must have rushed down when he didn''t see her sleeping beside him in bed.


    "Good morning, Mr. Mo," Xiong Hua greeted.


    "Good morning," Mo Qingchen responded with a nod in her direction.


    "I was just telling Mrs. Mo that she should eat more food," Xiong Hua mentioned, sensing that these two weren''t keen on speaking.


    "She is right," Mo Qingchen responded.


    "I''ll take my coffee outside. It''s a beautiful day out and the backyard is gorgeous. Mr. Mo, please help yourself to breakfast."


    Xiong Hua left the room quickly, coffee cup in tow. Mo Qingchen came up and kissed her head before sitting down beside her, turning his chair sideways so that he was facing her directly.


    She looked over at him and his eyes carefully assessed her. Tears rolled down her cheeks slowly, but for that moment, the sobbing was absent.


    "Are you okay?" he asked.


    "No," she answered quickly. "I keep remembering whenever I¡­" she sighed. What did he expect? For her to simply forget?


    "Take some rest. Take the day off. Recuperate. I am not working today, so I will be beside you all day long. Understood?" He patted her head.


    She hummed and sniffled. And just like that, she called in for work, only letting them give her updates. Just like Mo Qingchen had said, he became a boss because he liked the idea of taking time off when he wanted to.


    But once she started to check her emails, she shifted in her seat.


    It was a mass email from Li Jun. She opened it and scrolled through the contents. He had sent it late last night; therefore, she had not checked it.


    Sophie''s Secret had filed for design copyrights for new products. This meant that they were going to launch something new. But it would take at least a few weeks for it to happen, so Qian Meng wasn''t really upset.


    She picked up her phone and asked Li Min to put on a video conference.


    The team sat down for a short meeting, everyone present was in their home clothes.


    "As you have seen, Sophie''s Secret is going to launch a new jewelry line soon. We couldn''t get our hands on the contents, but Li Jun received news that it was jewelry."


    "That was why they were trying to create problems right before our product launch," Ma Qui spoke under his breath.

 Chapter 291: Bundling Up For Hibernation

    "That should be the case. Keep an eye out. The product launches tomorrow. I don''t want anything going amiss," she said quietly.


    It was nine in the morning, so most stores wouldn''t be open.


    "The PR team is monitoring news and reviews already," Xiong Fen prompted. "So far, there are no attacks."


    Ma Qui hummed. "But their launch might impact our numbers. Usually, when Sophie''s Secret comes out with a new launch, our sales drop a little. Having the sales drop so close to the launch might be a bad thing."


    "And the solution?" Qian Meng prompted. She looked already tired, so no one stopped to think.


    Ma Qui was the first to speak. "How about a shorter campaign? Something personal?" he prompted.


    "I would be interested in that, but I don''t want to spend any more money on this line."


    The sales team head nodded. "The projected sales of this launch aren''t as high as our other seasons. Because of the uniqueness of the concept, the market share is rather low."


    Ma Qui quietened down before speaking again. "I''ll speak to Xiong Fen then. Do you have any ideas?" he asked.


    Xiong Fen bit her lip. "Actually, we already had plans on doing personal stories related to the line. Mostly, we wanted to emphasize on how the products came to be," she said.


    "Are you sure about it?" Qian Meng asked.


    "Yes. I''ll line out the ideas and send it to you for your approval," she said quickly.


    "Understood. Let''s end with that. Make sure Sophie''s Secret doesn''t make too much noise," she gave the final order before stepping out of the call.


    Mo Qingchen appeared out of the bathroom, rubbing his hair dry.


    "Any problem?" he asked.


    "Competition is launching a new collection shortly after ours releases. Usually, they will launch a collection two weeks after they file for copyrights, so we are placing everything up to safeguard our sales."


    Mo Qingchen smiled. "Anticipating the dagger before it is swung at you. That is a good strategy."


    Qian Meng shrugged. "I am not too shabby at business," she said with a sad smile.


    "I know that. Do you want to take a shower?" he asked.


    She nodded. She stretched and got off the bed. She was sluggish in her steps as she padded to the bathroom. She stepped into the hot spray and stood there until the water turned cold.


    She only stepped out when there was a knock on the door.


    "Are you okay?" Mo Qingchen asked from outside. He didn''t wait for her to respond. The door clicked open and he peered inside.


    She looked at him wide-eyed. "Why do I even lock the door?" she grumbled.


    He gave her an apologetic smile. "You forgot your clothes. I got them for you," he told her gently. She nodded and watched as he pried the door open wider and walked in with his hands full of clothes.


    "Are you bundling me up for hibernation?" she asked, eyeing him cautiously.


    "You catch colds easily," he said. As if that explained everything away.


    He quietly left the bathroom but never shut the door. It was as if, he was keeping tabs on her from the bedroom.


    Qian Meng sighed as she walked out of the bathroom, her hair up in the towel.


    "Now, relax," Mo Qingchen ordered. Easier said than done. Despite that, Qian Meng nodded sheepishly and crawled under the covers. She turned to her side and pulled out her cellphone. She was looking through social media when her brows scrunched up in confusion.


    Mo Qingchen, who was sitting beside her and typing on his laptop quickly noticed the change in her demeanor.


    "What is wrong?" he whispered.


    "One minute," she responded quickly, pushing herself off the bed to sit. She scrolled some more and then opened another tab to view Sophie''s Secret''s website. "What the hell is this?" she hissed.


    She scrambled off the bed, her phone pressed to her ear.


    "What the hell is happening? How did they launch their product today?" she asked, her voice rising in desperation.


    Mo Qingchen could hear the confusion on the other side. He kept the laptop aside and stood up, trying to get closer to her to understand the situation.


    "No. They filed for copyright and got it yesterday. How could they have launched the product for the public already? Does this timeline make sense to you?" she shouted.


    Mo Qingchen stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder. He looked at her desperation and felt helpless. If he didn''t know what was happening, how could he help and calm her down?


    "No, explain to me how they could get pictures from a private show and create designs that are similar to the ones we are launching tomorrow!" The hysteria was evident.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes widened fractionally and he pulled out his phone and searched for what Qian Meng was talking about.


    They had spoken about the new line of jewelry that Qian Meng was excited about. The inspiration for it came from a custom piece she had been commissioned to make the year before and she had been excited to venture into the industry and use modifying jewelry to revolutionize fashion in the country.


    When Mo Qingchen had asked her about the estimated sales, she had smiled and told him that it wouldn''t be as big as her other collections.


    "Why are you launching it then? Shouldn''t it be a conglomeration of creativity and demand?" he asked.


    "There is a higher demand for it in Western countries, but in China, people are not so enthusiastic about it. But we will grab onto a niche market," she emphasized.


    "No loss?" he asked.


    "No loss," she swore.


    Now, looking at the sinking expression on her face, he couldn''t help but feel like she had spoken too early.


    "Emergency meeting. In forty-five minutes. I want answers and solutions. I don''t have the time to dilly-dally, understood?" she barked at the person on the phone.

 Chapter 292: Help You Look Good

    When the call cut off, she sank into the bed. "Why is this happening to me?" she asked, looking up with Mo Qingchen.


    He gulped. "Plagiarism?" he asked.


    She nodded.


    "Have you called the lawyers?" he asked.


    "Li Min is doing it. Li Jun and his team will be in the call," she said quickly. She looked around the room aimlessly. "Should I dress up and go to the office?" she asked.


    "You can do all of this from home. Stay here. I am not leaving you alone, okay?" he said firmly.


    She sucked in a deep breath.


    "What do you think happened?" Qian Meng asked.


    "They used the scandal to delay you. When they couldn''t, they sped up their production and waited for the last moment to file their copyrights so that you couldn''t stop them or launch before they did," Mo Qingchen explained. That was his guess, though.


    "Why didn''t I see it coming?" she whispered. "How long have I been in business that I didn''t see it coming?"


    He squeezed her shoulder in reassurance. "You can only evade what you see coming. They have been working in a pattern for a while, right? You studied it and you took measures against it. How could you have known that they got their hands on your designs?" he asked.


    "That is the problem, right? They don''t have our designs. They somehow made one face from the multiples every piece was meant for. The materials are different too. But the overall feel of the design is the same," she explained.


    "You''ve checked thoroughly?" he asked.


    "Yes, Li Min is sending over samples of all of them to me right now," she told him.


    "Li Jun will know what to do. You need to stop beating yourself up. There are highs and lows in business and you have faced it before, haven''t you?" he pressed her to respond.


    "But everything together?" she squeaked.


    "Let your staff take control. You have me. You have me standing behind you. Understood?" he prompted.


    She nodded. Her eyes were teary, but she knew something would make sense. She would have to pull herself together and figure out a solution to this.


    For the better part of thirty minutes, Qian Meng stared at the ceiling and grumbled, going over plans that could work. If no one else could do it, she would have to find a solution immediately.


    The jewelry arrived about that time and Mo Qingchen stopped her from getting off the bed.


    "I''ll bring it upstairs. Do you want a cup of iced tea?" he asked.


    "Thank you," she said awkwardly. When he left the room, her eyes glazed over slightly. The panic slowly set in. It was all a plot, right? All the transport and port companies making a fuss, the scandal, the low sales, the plagiarism, and then there was the smashed car and the man who followed her. The universe seemed to be throwing it all at her one after the after.


    Maybe it hoped that she would be buried under the fear and pressure and at that moment, the silence in the room made her sure that it was going to happen at any second.


    She was going to crumble.


    And then he returned.


    "I already checked the package," Mo Qingchen assured as he handed the box into her hand. "It only has jewelry."


    She tried to give him a smile but failed. Mo Qingchen didn''t need her to speak to know that the prospect of something dangerous being sent to her frightened her. And that she knew it was a possibility.


    So, she went to work and inspected each and every accessory with the calculated eye of a designer and marketer. There were only a few minutes left until the meeting began so she scrambled to the closet to find something suitable. So, she settled on one thing.


    Qian Meng only changed into a formal top before settling into bed with her laptop on her lap. Mo Qingchen, seeing this, brought it a small table.


    "It''s a table for the bed. I bought it years ago and never used it. It''s now yours," he announced. He picked up her laptop unceremoniously and slid the table into place.


    She looked at him helplessly but felt a wave of gratitude when she looked at herself in the reflection.


    "Now, your employees can only see your top and face. Discard the pillows from behind you," he instructed.


    "What do you think you are doing?" Qian Meng questioned.


    Mo Qingchen blinked. "You need to think about solutions right now. You don''t need to stress about how you look in front of your employees, so I am helping you out in that front," he said simply. "Now, focus," he told her.


    He settled down beside her, his fingers flying over his keyboard as he typed out something. It was distracting at first, but then it seemed to fill the deafening and awkward silence in the room.


    The video conference started and Qian Meng switched on her camera and waited for everyone to arrive. There were no greetings.


    Li Jun was the one who looked positively livid out of all of this and Qian Meng could figure out why it was. She would need the details from him in the meeting.


    "Okay. We all know the problem. The launch is tomorrow. How do we remedy it?" she asked to the room.


    Xiong Fen was the first to speak. "The PR packages have been received by the influencers outside the city. The smaller influencers in the city as yet to receive it because we were in the process of sending them out today. The popular influencers had been given the go-ahead last night," she started.


    "Put a hold on sending out the PR packages to the other influencers for now," Qian Meng agreed. "Ma Qui, what are you doing on the marketing end?" she asked.


    "The advertisements for China are still running on billboards. If we pull them down today and cancel our launch tomorrow, we''ll get back most of our deposits. I can make that happen," he said quickly.

 Chapter 293: Frustrated By The Traps She Laid

    "Good. There is only one decision left to be made, then," Qian Meng said with a sigh. "Li Jun, what are our options legally?"


    Li Jun was silent for a moment. "First, we need to figure out how they got their hands on the design," he responded. "The copyright filed for the designs was on the basis of color, material, design, and manufacturing technique. I got my hands on their copyright papers and set them side by side. Legally, the designs look a little similar, but in terms of quality, materials used, and the process of manufacturing, nothing coincides."


    The temperature in the room dropped. "So, we cannot drag them for plagiarism?" she asked.


    "Not on these grounds. If you insist that your products are so similar that the customer can get confused between the brands, we can use that as grounds to file a lawsuit," he added after a while.


    The product development team and the designers frowned. Qian Meng, too, was disappointed.


    "It''s evident from the quality and weight of the jewelry pieces that it is not from Venus. I''ll need the R&D team and the designers to take a closer look into this," Qian Meng ordered. There was a hum of acknowledgment.


    "But there is something we can do," Li Jun said suddenly. Everyone perked up at that. "We can show the court that this company has a long history of creating similar designs to other companies. This will give them a bad track record. The other way is to appeal under the Competition Act. We can claim that they are practicing restrictive trade practices and encroaching on niche markets," he said.


    Qian Meng raised her brow. "But our company doesn''t dabble in the niche market," she pointed out.


    "The company doesn''t. But this jewelry line was a revolutionizing piece in the country and therefore, by encroaching on a niche market, it has caused the company a great loss."


    The word ''loss'' almost made Qian Meng flinch.


    "So, you are proposing that we file a lawsuit against them for plagiarism and unfair competition?" she asked finally.


    "Absolutely," Li Jun responded.


    "And what will be the result?" she asked.


    "There is a seventy percent chance that we will win in the first case and a fifty percent chance of a win in the second."


    Qian Meng calculated that in her head. "How much time will it drag on for?"


    That was the important question.


    "A couple of years."


    Qian Meng thought for a bit. The money she lost would be great.


    "If we file a lawsuit against them, people will find out. It will be high-profile. And more companies might join in. It might help us or break us," Xiong Fen prompted.


    "To launch or not to launch," Qian Meng mumbled to herself.


    "There is an art to knowing when to draw notice and when to withdraw," Mo Qingchen said from beside her. Qian Meng turned to him in surprise.


    She had clearly seen him put in his earphones, but he had responded to her.


    "What are you saying?" she asked bluntly.


    Mo Qingchen shrugged. "Most often, the most effective action is to stay back, keep calm, and let others be frustrated by the traps you lay for them. Play the long-term game rather than a quick victory."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Stop being poetic and tell me the answer in terms I understand."


    Mo Qingchen glanced at her face once and then back to his laptop. "How should I know? I just quoted some random lines from a book I read before," he said without humor.


    Qian Meng wanted to smack him for the comment. But then it struck her.


    "Cheeky bastard," she muttered under her breath before turning to the people waiting eagerly for the couple to bicker and respond.


    "Okay, we are not going to launch The Shift." The groans came from all over. "In China. Sophie''s Secret only has its copyrights in China and they only sell domestically. Stopping the launch worldwide will be too much of a loss," she announced.


    "Li Min, take some help and contact the other offices and manufacturers and tell them to proceed according to the plan. International influencers will post reviews on time."


    Xiong Fen grabbed Qian Meng''s attention. "If domestic public make noise and ask why we aren''t launching it here. What should we say?"


    "Tell them that there is no market for shifting body jewelry domestically," Qian Meng said calmly. The plan formed in her head. "Keep the stocks aside. The influencers who review international products can review them¡­ after the lawsuit is filed."


    Qian Meng used this as a cue for Li Jun. "Li Jun, I''ll let you take over the legal aspect. With regards to all legal processes, you can talk to the media and consult the PR team. Coordinate on that, please."


    "Got it," Li Jun said promptly before muting himself. The rest of the people discussed the particulars.


    "I need to see how much we will be losing from this," Qian Meng said finally. "It has been really turbulent for a while and the losses are mounting. Give me the figures as soon as communication with all key people has been done. We can''t let there be any delay," she said.


    "Last but not least, let''s bring the bridal collection launch forward. No one outside should know about it. We need to make it a surprise drop, understood? People should think that we are busy with The Shift. Sophie''s Choice is not matured in bridal accessories so they will fall back in this case."


    "Do you want to use the talk surrounding the launch and the lawsuit to generate curiosity in the people about The Shift and then launch it with the bridal collection?" Ma Qui asked.


    Qian Meng nodded. "It''s not a concrete plan as of now, but we can make a good campaign for it. Changing relationships, jewelry that can withstand the progress of life¡­ something like that," she rambled. "But this is not a final plan. Don''t go around working on it. This should be prioritized, okay?"

 Chapter 294: Find the Mole

    "What about the mole, Boss?" Li Min asked.


    Qian Meng''s eyes cooled. "Is there any progress on who it was?" she questioned.


    Li Min shook her head. "We have the IT team looking at all correspondence for the answer. I suppose it will take some time for it to happen. But once we find out, what is the mode of punishment?"


    Qian Meng smiled. "The usual. Lawsuit for breach of NDA, loss, and a testimony for our lawsuit against Sophie''s Secret. Make sure the news travels to everyone in the industry so that they never get a job. There is no use for a rat in the company." She was firm and cold in that.


    Mo Qingchen gazed on passionately. He always believed her to be kind to her employees, but to those that did her wrong, she wasn''t kind in the least. She needed to be cold and ruthlessly calculating even against her closest people. This was a lesson she was going to learn the hard way and he was happy with the progress she had made so far.


    And the call ended. The whole thing had calmed down it seemed.


    It was a long moment before Qian Meng fully turned to Mo Qingchen.


    "Did you just help me solve the problem?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen looked bewildered. "I just told you a few poetic lines and you figured it out all on your own. How am I supposed to strategize like a military general?" he scoffed. "I tell you, you would make a cunning general in the ancient times. You scare me sometimes," he said with a small smile.


    "Well, thank you for your help. I just couldn''t think of anything and you swooped in and answered everything."


    Mo Qingchen thought about his response for a minute. "I suppose¡­ it was inspiration more than me telling you the answer. It''s better this way. You were going to lose money from this collection in the domestic market, so you cut it out. It''s simple. If you don''t cut off the rotten limb, it spreads everywhere."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "You and your military strategy language."


    "You played it beautifully," he acknowledged. "And your employees¡­ you made them work more strategically. I like that," he whispered. "You still have a long way to go, though," he said gently.


    "It really bothered me when you told me, you know?" she admitted. "But then I thought back to it and Li Min seemed to think the same way," she informed him.


    "You believed her but were insulted by me?" he asked in confusion.


    "Mm. I think it''s because you are my family. I don''t want to be criticized by my family. I want to make you proud." She sounded almost childlike at that moment. Her eyes even watered a little.


    "I am proud of you." He stroked her hair with one hand while the other remained on the keyboard. "I''m happy that you consider me your family. I wasn''t criticizing you; I was just telling you that I am proud of you and I can''t wait to see you grow as a businesswoman."


    Qian Meng fell silent. "Do you know? You sound really condescending sometimes."


    His mind blanked. "I¡­ I am sorry about that. It''s my age, I think. I am growing old too quickly." In his mind, he was over forty years old. But she was still in her mid-twenties. How was she supposed to live side by side with a middle-aged man?


    He hadn''t thought about how he sounded. Now, he regretted not making himself clear.


    "You don''t look too old, thankfully. It would be a shame if that were the case," she said off-handedly.


    In his eyes, Qian Meng was almost back to normal. She was still bubbly and sarcastic. She bit back at every turn she got, but he wondered if she was pushing back everything into her heart, left to fester when she was alone.


    He worried.


    It plagued his mind. He would rather she cried and slept until all shred of fear and doubt was gone from her mind and heart.


    But how could he do that? He couldn''t even make himself a better human to help her¡­


    - - - - -


    The high anxiety broke when the call from Li Min came in.


    "Did you find the mole?" Qian Meng asked impatiently.


    "Yes, Boss. It is not a direct employee of ours. The manufacturing company in Hong Kong has a short-term employee who leaked the pictures. We requested all contracted companies to investigate the matter one by one and we found it immediately. The employee was using the company wifi to send pictures to a friend of his. So far, we made a very small connection to Sophie''s Secret. And the messages look harmless," Li Min informed.


    "Has he been fired and held accountable yet?"


    "No. The manufacturing company is reluctant on the move. They are trying to absolve themselves and their staff of any wrongdoing."


    Qian Meng scrunched her brow in confusion. "They want to keep the one who gives out company secrets in their company?"


    "Not exactly. The employee left their job a month or two ago. He somehow took pictures of the first sample. They can''t terminate him again but can hold him accountable for a breach of contract. I have spoken to our executive in Hong Kong and he also acknowledges that it is going to be hard to take action."


    Qian Meng groaned. "And?"


    "The manufacturer refused to send out the product until the matter was resolved. We sent out the executive for talks but they said they would only change their minds if the CEO came and spoke to them privately," Li Min acknowledged.


    "It''s a joke, obviously," Qian Meng waved it off.


    "No, Boss. I think they are dissatisfied with the contract amount and are therefore acting up. Even the mole came from their side. I spoke to Li Jun and he said that the manufacturer can deny products in cases of plagiarism and such," Li Min said.

 Chapter 295: I Want to Come Back Home

    "Add in the strained relationship between our countries. Analyze if I actually need to go or not. Have one last negotiation, or I will step in and see what I can do." Hong Kong was one of their biggest markets in the world. If the manufacturer there didn''t cooperate, the loss would just snowball. Who knows if the other contracted companies will take a page from their book and follow suit to create trouble.


    With all the finished products sitting in the factories, Qian Meng couldn''t be rash and just suspend all business with the manufacturers.


    "Find out what their wants are," Qian Meng demanded.


    It was only a matter of time before Li Min called back and told her that she did need to go. Qian Meng remained silent for a moment before sighing. Mo Qingchen had been taking a call. The door of their bedroom was open and she could hear his voice coming from the corridor as he paced. Every so often, he would pass in front of the door and make himself visible.


    It was a sweet gesture.


    She would need to discuss it with him. And quickly.


    "Your expression doesn''t look good. What happened?" Mo Qingchen asked. She had been less tense just a while ago, but now, she was back with the frustrated and somewhat scared look.


    "I have to go to Hong Kong. There is a situation there that I need to take care of. I need to be there to solve it."


    Mo Qingchen''s expression was sad but not surprised. Oddly enough.


    "When are you going to come back?"


    She looked away, picking at the label on her water bottle as she considered his question. She knew that she had to go to Hong Kong for work and it would take some time to sort everything out but it wouldn''t be too long, right?


    "Depending on the situation and the ripple effect it causes. It could be a week or up to a month or two," she acknowledged. There were a lot of issues to be sorted out and if she needed a stronger company, she would have to weed out and discard all the problems.


    "Are you going to come back?"


    The question pulled her off-guard. Every motivation she had for marrying Mo Qingchen was still present. She would have to work remotely and focus solely on the company for a while but she had every intention of coming back.


    But what was he asking? Was he asking if their marriage was over? Was this what he wished for? Regardless of their problems and miscommunication, she didn''t want their marriage to end.


    "Will I be able to?" she found herself asking, looking back over at him again.


    He seemed surprised at her answer and then maybe a little slighted.


    "What? Why would you think you wouldn''t be able to come back?"


    She blinked. "I don''t know how long I will be gone. What if you get tired of waiting on me? I won''t be here to go places with you and, you know¡­ sleep with you. What If you decide to find someone else who can be around when I am not?"


    Anger flashed in his eyes. He stared at her for a moment before he stood and walked away to get some air. She watched his back as he strode in the corridor and then returned.


    "Do you really think so little of me?" he asked just before turning to face her. "Do you think that I care nothing for you? That I would toss you aside like a used tissue?"


    She thought back to the night before and his gentleness as he bathed her. She remembered the way he held her as she cried and his vow not to leave her alone. She wondered if she should be reading into his affection or if it was all a ruse. She really didn''t have the strength to go all in.


    She was so overwhelmed that she didn''t have the capacity to try and assess her relationship with Mo Qingchen.


    "I want to come back." It was the best she could do at that time.


    He sighed as he came to sit down beside her, this time calmer. "I want you to come back. Always."


    She didn''t pay heed to the last part. She had seen couples break up over smaller things. She didn''t need to put her expectations too high.


    "I will."


    "What are you going to do about work in the city?"


    Qian Meng shrugged. "I will have one of the higher executives take up over that and leave the signing to me. I can''t handle everything on my own. But I will go."


    They were quiet for a while. She watched him as he thought about something. She wondered what all of this was like from his perspective. He didn''t really care about much and frankly, he got irritated with people who cried and couldn''t solve their problems. He must have thought her incompetent despite what he said. The whole thing must have been awkward for him.


    "It worries me to think of you being in Hong Kong by yourself."


    "I won''t be by myself. I will have Li Min with me," she answered.


    "But Li Min can''t protect you, Qian Meng." His words hit her like a slap to the face. "I am sorry to be harsh but I am not sure you understand what is happening. I am not saying you should not go, but I worry about you being there alone taking care of everything by yourself. It''s a huge emotional and professional pressure and you need someone to look after you."


    "I don''t have a choice at this point, Mo Qingchen. My company is on the line."


    He nodded. "I understand that. I would want to go too if I was in your position, but I want you to be mentally prepared. It''s going to be rough." He looked at her for something.


    "Of course, I am going to be surrounded by people who know what they are doing. I will know exactly what to expect and how to take care of the situation."

 Chapter 296: Being Too Sensitive

    "But you need someone to take care of you," he announced.


    "Are you speaking about the bodyguard you wanted to hire?" she asked. "I am okay with that. I just thought you wanted me not to go¡­ sorry." She paused. "I''m being too sensitive, aren''t I?"


    "No. You are not. And yes, you need the bodyguard with you. I was going to ask them to join when you started going back to the office but now you will take him with you to Hong Kong."


    Qian Meng nodded. "Having someone protecting me will soften the burden of the situation. It''s not a bad idea. I''ll ask Li Min to book the flight and living arrangements for him. I need his details for that, though," she prompted readily.


    Everything Mo Qingchen was saying did make sense. She had no idea what to expect from the people who were trying to hurt her. The violent side of the world was still something she was not used to and she would never be. There was so much going on in her life that she really hadn''t even begun to think about everything.


    "What if¡­" Mo Qingchen seemed hesitant as his eyes shifted back and for between her and the floor.


    "What if what?"


    "Well, I could go with you."


    Qian Meng was stumped for words. That was the last thing she was expecting him to say. Mo Qingchen was a creature of habit. He had a routine in Shanghai and he rarely went out of his way to do something different.


    He had built a life exactly the way he wanted it. Why would he be willing to disrupt all of that?


    "Why¡­ would you come with me? I mean¡­ why would you want to do that?"


    "Our relationship is working for me. I want this to continue." Qian Meng blushed as she looked at his eyes. "Therefore, I care about you and your wellbeing." He smiled slightly and scooted closer to her as he placed one of his hands on her thigh. "You''re my partner in crime, Qian Meng. I don''t want to see you hurting or struggling."


    She should know that already. But the smart Qian Meng was an idiot when it came to security in any sort of relationship. He had learned that. He was harsh at times, but on others, he tried his best to reassure her that he was all-in in this relationship.


    She unconsciously leaned towards him. When he touched her, she felt safer. She trusted this man. Her eyes filled with a fresh wave of tears at the realization that this man would be the most important person in her life.


    Her mother and father were still alive, but she seldom saw them or heard from them. And she didn''t really care for them much. She was slowly realizing that her dependency was more than protection and that terrified her. What would happen if it ended?


    What would happen if the man who went to great lengths to protect her turned against her and wanted her gone?


    "What about your business obligations?" she asked. "How would you run your life like you usually do?"


    "I can do most of my work from anywhere with my phone and internet. And if I do need to be in the city, Hong Kong isn''t that far."


    Qian Meng closed her eyes for a brief moment, a little taken aback by the offer.


    "I don''t know¡­ I''m just so overwhelmed right now. I don''t think I have even processed all of this yet." She placed her hand over his on her thigh, trying to keep her tears at bay.


    "I understand. It''s a lot to take in. That''s why I want to be there."


    She looked at her husband sitting next to her and she felt gratitude for him. He could make her angry as hell at times, but he was really showing his loyalty. This was the toughest situation in her life, and he was there for her to lean on. She knew then that if she ever had the opportunity to do the same for him, she would.


    She stood up and placed herself on his lap to hug him. He seemed surprised at her affection, but he wrapped his arms around me without hesitation.


    "Thank you," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you for your offer to come with me and thank you for what you did last night. It would have been a lot more difficult without you."


    She felt his forehead against her neck as he embraced her.


    "You''re welcome," he whispered.


    There was an energy between them that she couldn''t identify. It felt more intimate than she could remember ever feeling with him before, even during sex. Sex between them was¡­ fucking. But this, this was true intimacy. It made her angsty.


    He pulled her body more tightly against his and she tightened her arms around his neck in response. Her fingers combed through his hair and he hummed softly. She smiled just a little, something a few hours ago she didn''t think she would do willingly.


    His hum of satisfaction had provoked it. He couldn''t resist making that noise when she ran her fingers through his hair. He loved it.


    "Do you want to take a shower with me?" he asked suddenly.


    She hesitated.


    "That sounded bad," he said quickly, pulling away a little to look at her. "I didn''t mean it li¡ª"


    "I know," she cut him off. "It''s okay. I do. I just need to tell Li Min to book the flights. Send me the information on the bodyguard, please?"


    "Of course," he answered, looking relieved that she hadn''t taken his suggestion the wrong way. "I''ll see you in a bit?"


    "Yeah." She nodded, unwinding her arms from his neck as she stood up from his lap.


    She waited for the message to come in and looked through the information before forwarding it. She explained how many tickets and everything else before looking for Mo Qingchen.

 Chapter 297: Why Was He Scared?

    The door that led to the balcony was open, and as she approached them, she saw Mo Qingchen looking out into the garden. He was shirtless and leaning forward, his forearms against the railing.


    Qian Meng took a moment to appreciate his defined back muscles. He was such a powerful-looking man. His masculinity could turn her on even in the worst of times.


    She bit her lip and turned to walk into the bathroom, pulling off her top as she walked and then tossing it into the dirty laundry hamper. She glanced over at the bathtub and suddenly, it sounded more appealing than the shower.


    It was huge and so deep that there were steps down into the thing. She could sit straight up and the water would reach up to her shoulders.


    She hadn''t been wearing a bra underneath her top and her now exposed nipples hardened in the cold air as she went to turn on the water faucet in the tub.


    She adjusted it to the temperature she desired and then dropped the plug and let the water begin to fill.


    She had some bath oils sitting up at the edge of the tub and quickly reached for her favorite scent and added it into the water. Mo Qingchen entered the bathroom at that moment.


    "A bath?" he questioned, closing the door behind himself.


    "Yeah, I decided that a bath sounded nice before a shower."


    "Before a shower? You want to take a bath and then take a shower?"


    "Yup."


    "I don''t take baths, but I thought it was a replacement for the shower?"


    Qian Meng shrugged as she removed her socks.


    "I want to take a shower, too. Do you have a problem with it?" she blinked.


    He hummed as he approached her. She stood straight again, his eyes flickering down to her breasts. "Are you cold?"


    "Yeah." She nodded, starting to peel off her pants.


    She didn''t feel embarrassed by his question now his gaze. One thing she had discovered that she wasn''t expecting when she had agreed to marry Mo Qingchen was how comfortable she was being naked around him.


    Sometimes, she would joke around about it, but actually, she liked the way he looked at her.


    "Do you want to take the bath alone?" he asked. He tried his best to hide his disappointed pout.


    She shrugged as she tossed her pants and panties into the hamper with her top.


    "I don''t mind if you join in," she prompted.


    "Really?" He raised his brow in surprise. "You don''t mind sitting in my dirtiness?"


    She stifled her giggle. "No, I do intend on showering after the bath. But I know that you are not a bath person. So, I won''t be heartbroken if you don''t want to sit in my dirtiness." Only Mo Qingchen could come up with these ideas.


    Secretly, she did want him to join her. She was just too prideful to tell him. So, she bit her lip to suppress her smile when he started removing his shorts.


    She dipped just her toes into the water and then slowly added her foot before doing the same with the other. She tried to adjust to the steamy temperature.


    "It''s hot," she cautioned as she slowly submerged herself up to her chest.


    "You''re lucky I like the heat. This would scald my skin otherwise," he retorted as he followed suit at a much faster pace.


    It was a little awkward for a moment as they fumbled around in their naked state, trying to find a suitable position. Finally, they settled on opposite sides of the tub. His legs had to bend because of his height, but hers stretched out before her with no problem. She comfortably settled down between his legs.


    His hand caressed her foot gently and she fluttered her eyes closed as she soaked in the intimacy in the air.


    "Can I try something?" he said suddenly. She opened her eyes, a little peeved that he had interrupted.


    "What do you want to try?"


    "Something new," he said.


    "And what is that?" she asked impatiently, hoping he wasn''t trying to play games with her. She didn''t have the energy for that.


    "I want to be upfront and honest."


    She almost choked.


    "If you haven''t noticed. Being upfront and honest isn''t our strongest suit."


    She sighed. "So I have noticed."


    "So, I''ve decided to go first," he responded.


    "Okay¡­" she trailed off, sitting straighter with intrigue. "I''m all ears."


    He tried to collect himself a little.


    "I just had a scary moment, Qian Meng. I have been having a few for some time now."


    He rubbed his face with his wet hands. It sent dribbles of water down his neck and chest.


    "What do you mean?" she asked, perplexed. Fear and Mo Qingchen didn''t exist in the same universe.


    "I was just sitting here watching you. You had your eyes closed and your face at rest and you just looked¡­" like someone at a funeral. He couldn''t finish the sentence. "The thought occurred to me that I would give anything to be able to take your fear and pain away from you. I would give anything to shoulder it myself in your place. Because watching you get hurt and suffer may be worse than suffering the pain myself."


    Qian Meng stared at him for a long moment, caught off-guard and unable to form a response.


    "Mo Qingchen¡­"


    "Why does that scare me? I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I can''t explain."


    Qian Meng thought for a moment, taking in his questioning look. His question wasn''t rhetorical. He really wanted an answer.


    "I have been scared too. Sometimes I am scared that you don''t have enough people to support you. Sometimes, I am scared that you are ruining your health by not sleeping or following a routine. I understand." She couldn''t answer him, so she could only assure him with what she felt.


    "But why? Does it scare you?" he questioned.

 Chapter 298: You Make Me A Good Person

    She nodded. "I think it scares us because we are being sincere to one another. Because we are truly husband and wife."


    He looked away from her then, contemplating on the new nugget of information.


    "We need to stop being scared. We care about each other. That much is known to us. It''s natural. We live together, we hang out together, and we have amazing sex. We would have to be rocks to not care about each other."


    Mo Qingchen hummed. "I thought I was emotionally void."


    "Did you really believe that? I thought¡­ deep down¡­ you knew that you were capable of it."


    "Yes," he responded firmly.


    "It does feel a little sad," she agreed.


    "It is sad. At least¡­ At least I can give you this much. If not love, at least I can care for you enough."


    She paused.


    She watched him, her best friend, as he stared at the wall behind her. He looked so thoughtful and vulnerable. He always had such high walls surrounding him that in the midst of her tragedy, she had the feeling that he was letting them down at least a little bit.


    She wondered if her own vulnerability was contagious. Maybe, she had her walls up too and he was only bouncing off on them. He wouldn''t always be this way, right?


    She knew she would miss him when she was in Hong Kong. She wasn''t sure how she felt about him coming with her, though. Undoubtedly, it would be helpful to have his support, but she didn''t want to be a burden to him.


    That wouldn''t be fair to him. He was a busy man with enough on his plate already without having her stuff added onto it.


    "You look lost. What are you thinking about?" he asked.


    Only then did she realize that her gaze had shifted to the water and Mo Qingchen was watching her.


    "I was thinking about your offer to come with me to Hong Kong."


    "Have you made a decision yet?" he wondered.


    "I don''t know. It''s just really sweet of you to offer."


    He shrugged. "I have a feeling you would do the same for me."


    Qian Meng contemplated that. Would she? She really wouldn''t know until such a situation popped up. They said that people showed their true colors amidst difficult times, and Qian Meng liked to think that Mo Qingchen was being sincere towards her in her difficult times.


    She sat up and pulled her legs back so that she could rest on her knees. Water sloshed a little and Mo Qingchen watched her curiously as she maneuvered to be able to lay down on top of him. She placed herself with one of his legs between hers, her chest against his and her head tucked into his neck.


    It felt good to have him against her. She felt safe there. Her heart felt safe there, as well.


    "You''re a good person. You have a good heart. You''re not emotionless," she told him.


    She wanted to tell him that she recognized his loyalty to her, but before the words could meet her lips, Bai Ye Qing''s face popped into her mind.


    Mo Qingchen put an arm around her and combed his fingers through the ends of her wet hair.


    "You make me want to be a good person."


    And there it was. It was almost a whisper in the darkness but it was more than enough to penetrate her and caress her heart.


    She pushed herself up and onto her side a little more to look at him. She tried to picture the softened look in his eyes.


    She shook her head at him as she lifted a hand to the back of his neck.


    "You were always this person, Mo Qingchen. You are just too afraid to let anyone see you. The person you are on the inside underneath all the control and anger. It''s you."


    His chest rose and fell more deeply against her, matching the intensity of his eyes.


    "You''re the only person that I want to know the real me, Qian Meng."


    She believed him, and his words helped banish her thoughts of Bai Ye Qing. He might haunt her dreams, but she had gotten to see Mo Qingchen. So often, she was frustrated by the feeling that she didn''t know Mo Qingchen at all, that all the secrets he kept from her would come to strangle her while she laid helpless in the darkness.


    But she heard what he was saying. He wanted to let her in. He wanted her to see him as a man unlike others.


    There were a lot of things that she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him that he could trust her. That she wanted to trust him and let him in, too. She wanted to tell him that she was grateful for marrying him in this lifetime.


    But instead, she kissed him.


    She kissed him slowly, with her eyes open. He was still for a moment, but then his lips began to move against her in perfect harmony. She watched his eyebrows pull together as he pulled her closer to him until her breasts were pressed firmly against his naked chest.


    They stayed like that, kissing languidly until he began to harden against her hip.


    He broke away just enough to speak, their foreheads still touching.


    "Sorry." His breath came out as a shudder.


    "It''s okay."


    He shifted her ever so slightly so that she was no longer in contact with his erection. And although she understood why, she couldn''t help but feel a little sad at the loss of touch.


    She settled back against his side, her face in his neck and her eyes closed.


    She didn''t consider herself a clingy person, but she felt reluctant to let him go. Maybe this was what normal spouses did. She was trying to take comfort from her husband.


    She didn''t know how long they stayed like that. In silence. It was probably as long as it took for the water to cool because neither of them spoke until she shivered.

 Chapter 299: What Have You Done To Me? *

    [Warning: Mild sexual content.]


    "Are you cold?" he asked.


    "Yeah¡­ the water is starting to get cold."


    "A shower sounds nice, right?"


    "Yeah. I''ll take a nap after that. I could use it. I feel exhausted."


    He helped her out of the tub and led her into the hot shower. Clouds of steam moved around them. They didn''t speak but acknowledged the presence of one another with soft touches as they moved around one another to wash their bodies.


    She was poked by his semi-hardness a couple of times in those attempts. She pretended not to notice it. She couldn''t fault the natural reaction of his body to being close to a naked and wet woman.


    Her.


    They took their time in the bath but were swift in the shower. She felt drained even though it was still early. The sleep that she had gotten was not quality and she was anxious to lay down in bed and just rest.


    Mo Qingchen turned off the water and handed her a towel. She tossed it after drying herself and made her way back into the bedroom, immediately crawling into bed.


    "Too tired for clothes?" Mo Qingchen asked as he emerged from the bathroom behind her.


    "Come in," she answered, pushing back the covers on his side of the bed.


    He watched her as she settled in and he glanced at the clock.


    "I have some calls to make¡­"


    "Oh."


    She wasn''t very good at hiding her disappointment because he was swift to backtrack. At least, a little bit.


    "I can lay with you until you fall asleep. If you don''t want to be alone."


    "That would be nice," she whispered.


    He went back into the bathroom and only emerged without the towel. He turned the lights off before coming to the bed. The drapes were pulled over the windows, so the room was really dark.


    She watched him slip into the bed beside her, as naked as she was, and scoot towards the middle. She met him there, pulling the covers up around them and placing a hand on his toned stomach. She was on her side and he was on his back, their heads turned to each other.


    She moved her fingers across his stomach slowly, feeling the ridges of his abdominal muscles.


    "Qian Meng¡­" he sighed. He grabbed her hand and gently placed in on her thighs.


    "What?"


    "Don''t do that."


    "Don''t touch you?" she asked.


    "Not like that. I''m already trying to keep things at bay down there. The bath¡­"


    "I just want to be close to you."


    His eyes filled with confusion as he stared at her, searching for answers.


    "Why?"


    His question was fair but she didn''t exactly know the answer. She didn''t know if there was an answer.


    "You comfort me." It was the best thing she could come up with. It was an honest response.


    So many emotions passed over his face that it was hard to guess what he was thinking. But the way he looked at her was intense. It was one of those, soul-searching gazes.


    "What have you done to me?" he whispered.


    ''No. What have you done to me?'' she wanted to ask. She knew the answer to their question. They had shut themselves off for so long but then¡­ they made each other feel.


    He felt exactly what she felt when they kissed a moment later. His lips caught hers slowly. She felt what he felt when his hands pulled her to him as if he owned her. She felt it in the breath that they shared as their kiss deepened. He felt it between them as their chests pressed against one another.


    And then he was on top of her. Her legs circled his waist and her arms were around his neck. Their kisses were heated but remained slow and deep.


    It was different.


    She wasn''t sure when their kisses had changed, but they had. Maybe it was a gradual change. With each passing day and each time their lips touched. In the beginning, it was all lustful and impatient. But this¡­ this was different. It was better.


    He was fully hard, resting heavily against her hip. Once he realized it, he started to pull away.


    "I''m sorry," he began. "I¡ª"


    "It''s okay," she interrupted. "It''s okay, Qingchen."


    She placed her hand at the back of his neck and pulled him down to her once more. His hesitated for a moment before his fervor returned. He pressed his body more firmly against her and she couldn''t help but cling to him.


    They held each other without hurry. She ran her hands over his solid arms and chiseled back and she felt safe there, sheltered by his strength.


    She didn''t know why she felt compelled but she reached down between them to circle her fingers around his hardened length and lined him up with her entrance, guiding him.


    Mo Qingchen broke their kiss and looked down at her questioningly, his breathing heavy.


    "Qian Meng."


    "I want you¡­ Please."


    "This doesn''t¡­"


    Qian Meng took his hands and laced their fingers together. "I am sure. Just be in me?"


    He looked at her for a long moment and then kissed her ever so gently. "Okay."


    She gripped his hand tighter as he dipped lower. She slowly relaxed herself to take him in. He kissed her forehead as he pushed into her, so slow that it was torture.


    A part of her wondered what it said about her that she actually wanted to have sex with him at that moment. She should be distraught, afraid¡­ and she was! But she wanted comfort. His comfort.


    She wanted to feel anything other than the misery that plagued her at night. Her instincts told her that Mo Qingchen was her answer.


    He pushed in until she felt so full of him that it was hard to breathe. But she knew from experience that there was still a little left to go. The last inch of him stretched her. He was deep, pushing her to the brink of discomfort. The last inch that remained was the only thing between them.

 Chapter 300: Avoiding Him *

    [Warning: Light adult content.]


    She sighed contently as she turned her head to the side. He took the opportunity to kiss her neck.


    "Are you okay?" he mumbled against her skin when she groaned.


    "It''s a lot," she admitted.


    "Too much?" he inquired. She shook her head. Just perfect.


    He placed a finger under her jaw and turned her head so that she was looking at him. Then, he slowly rested his forehead against her. They stare, only a mere inch apart.


    "It''s all yours. All of me belongs to you," he told her.


    "All of you?" she choked.


    "All of me." It was a promise.


    She didn''t know if he meant physically or more, but she found herself hoping that it was the latter. He had asked her what she had done to him and now she was asking the same question again.


    "What have you done to me?" Where were all these feelings coming from?


    Her answer seemed too insufficient.


    Everything was different. The way he kissed her. The way he touched her. They had never had sex like this before.


    They had never been so intimate or gentle with one another. And Mo Qingchen wasn''t even moving inside her. He just stayed there. And it was everything she needed at that moment.


    Their bodies were joined for the next few hours. It didn''t even feel like sex. It felt like they were simply being. Mo Qingchen spent his time being still and thrusting sometimes.


    There was no familiar sound of slapping of skin, or the growls and mewls. It was just eye contact and slow kisses. There were soft whispers of affection.


    It was perfect.


    Scary as hell. But perfect.


    Her eventual but inevitable orgasm was unlike anything she had experienced before. It seared her somewhere deep within her. It rolled through her slowly like a fire spreading through an open field. It wasn''t the toe-curling, white-hot blaze that she was accustomed to with Mo Qingchen. It was gentle and calm. Somehow, it reached the crevices of her heart.


    They made love to each other for the first time that day.


    And it changed everything.


    - - - - -


    She had fallen asleep after having sex with Mo Qingchen. No, not sex; love. She had made love to him. And then she fell asleep.


    She had never made love to anybody. She didn''t even think she was allowed to feel like that for someone.


    When she woke up, he was gone. She was in bed alone, and she was terrified. What had she done? When had all of this happened? It was not part of the plan.


    Regardless, she had all of those feelings and she couldn''t deal with them at the moment. There couldn''t have been a worse time for it to arrive. So, she made a decision.


    She got up and took a quick shower, needing it after being with Mo Qingchen, even thought she had taken one just before. She would have to let the hot hater wash away her feelings for him if she could. It would be easier that way.


    For her, it was too late. What had he said again? That he would care for her but never love her. He had penetrated her heart and begun to fill it like smoke did through the smallest hole. She needed to get away from him and finish business before she could think about this deeper.


    So, she showered, dressed and immediately began to pack things for her trip to Hong Kong. She sat on the floor of her closet with her open suitcase, packing anything she would need while she was away. She was hoping to finish before she had to face him, so she was disappointed she heard the door to their bedroom open and close.


    "Qian Meng?" he called out a moment later.


    "I''m in the closet," she called back with a sigh.


    He appeared in the doorway a few moments later and she looked up at him. He looked tired. She wondered if he had slept when she had or if he had gotten up to really take those calls after she fell asleep.


    "Oh, you''re packing¡­"


    "Does that surprise you?" she asked softly, trying to keep the tension away from her voice.


    "Well, no. I just¡ªwhen did you wake up?" he asked. Qian Meng looked at him and saw what looked like guilt and fear on his face. She blinked, wanting to ask him what it was, but she knew for sure that he would evade the question.


    With that in mind, she crawled over towards the shelves of the shoes.


    "What is up with the interrogation? Are you trying to hide something?" she countered.


    "Sorry¡­ I¡ª"


    She had never heard Mo Qingchen stumble over his words. This would be the first time. "Have you made all your calls?"


    He was silent for a moment. "Yes. I just finished. Xiong Hua is cooking dinner already, so I checked up on her as well."


    "Good."


    "Qian Meng," he began.


    "Can you hand me my boxers for when I am bloated? It''s in the drawer behind you."


    With a sigh, he walked back into the drawer and pulled it out. He gingerly added it to her suitcase.


    "Can you¡ª"


    Mo Qingchen interrupted her. "Why do I get the feeling that you are avoiding talking to me?" he asked.


    Qian Meng didn''t like the way the discussion was going.


    "I''m not. I am just trying to pack," she defended.


    "Well. Can you take a break for two minutes?" he inquired.


    She put down the dress that she was holding and looked back up at him. "What is it, Mo Qingchen?"


    He opened his mouth to respond but then seemed to change his mind and he closed it again. He stood, staring at her in confusion.


    "You want me to take a break so that we can stare at each other?"


    She could tell that her attitude had struck a nerve by the look on his face.


    "I would rather you explain to me what the hell I did in the few minutes since I walked in here to anger you."

 Chapter 301: Why Did You Cling To Me?

    "Because the last thing you said before you went to sleep was that you wanted me to stay beside you. And now you are giving me the cold shoulder." He sounded frustrated.


    "I am not giving you the cold shoulder, Mo Qingchen. I¡­ If you already didn''t know, I am not in the right state of mind."


    "Thank you for the update. I did know that. I just thought we should talk about¡­ you know¡­"


    And there it was.


    "Talk about what, Mo Qingchen?"


    She knew what he wanted to talk about. He wanted to talk about the fact that they made love to each other hours earlier. But she couldn''t She couldn''t process that right then when she was dealing with so many things at the same time.


    She didn''t want him to tell her that it was all a mistake. That what he wanted from her was not¡­ what they had done but something more clinical like before. She had nothing and everything to give to him. But it depended on him what he wanted. Every ounce of her had to be alert right then.


    "I just thought we should¡­" he stammered.


    "Spit it out, Mo Qingchen."


    "Were you there with me?"


    Her fists clenched at her sides. "What are you talking about?"


    "Just tell me. While we were¡­ when we were having sex, were you there with me?"


    She stared up at him and his black eyes shimmered as he pleaded for her to understand what he meant without having to say it. And she did. She understood exactly what he meant.


    He wanted to know if she felt it too. He knew that he had made love to her but he wanted to know if she had made love to him too. And although she had made up her mind about where she couldn''t go, she couldn''t let herself destroy what little they had with the wrong answer to the question.


    "I was," she answered hesitantly.


    Her chest tightened at the look of relief that washed over his face. But he didn''t look happy. He smiled, though it didn''t reach his eyes as he watched her get up off the floor and went over to him.


    She bit her lip as she touched his cheek, trying to think of the right thing to say.


    "Mo Qingchen, you were amazing. Last night and today. All of it. You have been amazing. Earlier, when I needed comfort, you did everything. I needed to feel safe and you gave me that. You let me feel¡­"


    "And you¡­"


    "Wait," she interrupted. "You have been here to comfort me during the worst time of my life. And that means so much to me. But I understand, Mo Qingchen. That is all it was, right? It was comfort."


    His face fell immediately when he realized what she was saying. Qian Meng didn''t notice it, though. She didn''t see how his words disappointed him. She removed her hand from his cheek and folded her arms across her chest.


    "You''re overwhelmed," he said calmly after a moment of silence.


    "I am. But I understand where you were coming from," she said.


    "You don''t have to think about this right now. I know you have bigger priorities right now to deal with, but I will be there with you. I''m going to Hong Kong with you and we''ll¡ª"


    "No, Mo Qingchen," she whispered. She didn''t know if she could handle being around him after her discovery.


    "What do you mean, ''no''?"


    "You don''t need to come with me to Hong Kong," she reiterated.


    "Are you telling me that you would rather be there alone than have me with you?" he asked.


    "Mo Qingchen¡­"


    "Am I that horrible, Qian Meng?"


    "It''s not about how I feel about you¡­"


    "Oh, really? What is it about, then? You keep saying that you understand. But what do you understand, Qian Meng? I can''t think of a single reason that you would rather be there all alone than have me there to help you." He gritted his teeth in frustration.


    "You have to take care of things here. You don''t owe it to me to go with me. There is nothing in our contract about going on emergency trips together," she said after boldening up.


    The look on his face made it seem like Qian Meng had slapped her. His standoff-ish demeanor changed. "Contract? Are you really thinking about our fucking contract at a time like this?"


    "No¡­ I understand¡­"


    "No, you don''t understand anything! You keep rambling on about what you think and you are not listening to me!" he shouted. "I thought we discussed this yesterday. We are going to be open and truthful to one another. Why are you bottling up what you feel at a moment like this?" he asked.


    "Because you¡­"


    "I what? Have I not made it clear that I want to be with you? That I want to come with you to Hong Kong?" he asked. "For someone so intelligent, you have no idea about people around you." He scoffed.


    "I¡­ I forgot the terms of our relationship."


    She felt terrible.


    And so did Mo Qingchen. He could see that she was shutting herself away from any feelings that she may have experienced along with him. He couldn''t be too upset with her about it because she had intended to do that for a while as well.


    He was telling her that he had some sort of feeling for her. That he would go with her to Hong Kong no matter what she said to push him away.


    "Shut up and tell me what you really feel. Don''t duck behind things you think I want to hear or shut yourself off. Be honest with me," he demanded.


    "Okay." Her voice was barely audible.


    "Did you use me for comfort?" he questioned.


    "No¡­"


    "Then why did you cling on to me?"


    "Because I felt safe with you. Because I wanted you to be there with me," she answered truthfully. She wasn''t revealing her feelings¡­ just telling the truth. That was what she told herself.

 Chapter 302: Chase Her If She Runs Away

    "And do you not want me around you anymore?"


    Qian Meng stared right into his eyes. They didn''t have the gleam that they usually did. She couldn''t decipher what he was feeling at that moment.


    "It''s not that¡ª"


    He raised his hand to stop her. "Do you want me to go with you?" She opened her mouth to make an excuse but he caught her. "I don''t need to know if you think you are inconveniencing me. I want to know if you want me to come with you. The question is simple enough."


    She was silent.


    "Don''t think about anything else. Concentrate on what you want. Be selfish!" he ordered.


    "I want you to come with me," she said meekly.


    He nodded. "Then I will come with you." She opened her mouth to protest. "I am not listening to you. Even if you run away, I am going to find out where you are staying in Hong Kong and make sure I am staying in the room next to you. I will be there." His words were more of an assurance than they were a threat. "Now, which flight did you book your ticket? I''ll book mine on it, too," he said.


    She shook her head. "I already booked your ticket," she said sheepishly.


    A small smile played on his lips. He pressed his palm to her head and stroked her hair. "Good girl. Don''t think about too much right now. You''re overwhelmed. We will talk about this later, okay?"


    She nodded slowly. "Okay."


    As he helped her pack the last of her things and move around to do the same for him, she had only one thought in her mind.


    ''Mo Qingchen, I want to explore a real marriage with you.''


    And maybe she should have blurted it out. Just like that.


    - - - - -


    The short flight was almost unreal. Mo Qingchen held her hands throughout the journey from their home to the airport. He didn''t even let it go as they boarded and took their seats.


    They didn''t speak a lot, the air awkward. But emotions are weird. When you are overwhelmed by them, somehow the body starts giving you signals to snap out of it. Usually, this was translated as hunger.


    She pushed it down for the most part.  She had been so hungry when she entered the airport that she barely spoke to the new bodyguard who had been assigned to her.


    Mo Qingchen said that he was in the special forces until he retired and that he had a license to carry a gun. Qian Meng blinked in confusion but then she was glad. She didn''t mind the bodyguard being prepared at all times. Now that Mo Qingchen was going with her, she felt that the people trying to hurt her would do a lot worse. They needed the protection.


    Once they were at the hotel Li Min had booked, Mo Qingchen finally spoke.


    "Leave your bags. I''ll get everything out," he offered.


    "It''s okay. I can carry mine. It''s going to take more than one trip. Why does this hotel not have this service?" she asked. Li Min frowned.


    "I''ll call someone."


    "No need. I''ve already taken out the heavy ones."


    Li Min nodded but went her way to ask about it anyway.


    Once they were checked in, Mo Qingchen tugged Qian Meng towards the dining area. "We need to feed you. You''ve gone without food for a long time," he said.


    "Let''s settle into the room before we eat," she said. Her growling stomach, however, disagreed. She was starving and food did sound good.


    The meal came and it looked fantastic, but all of a sudden, her raging appetite seemed to diminish. Something about sitting there beside Mo Qingchen when she was sure that she would be alone and missing him¡­ it just unnerved her.


    Open and honest. She had to internalize that.


    "I thought you were starving?" Mo Qingchen asked, looking at her plate to her face. "All you have done is move your food around on your plate. Do you not like it?"


    "No, no. It''s fine. It''s great, actually. I''m just¡­ I don''t know."


    "What''s wrong?" he asked, putting his fork down.


    "It''s weird being here with you." She sighed.


    "But you said you wanted me to come with you. Has that changed?"


    "No. I do want you to come with me. Even when I said that you didn''t have to come with me, I think I was hoping you would be stubborn and come along anyway. It''s weird because I am pretending like nothing happened. That I''m not making things really hard for you," she told him.


    "Qian Meng." He looked at her for a long moment. "We haven''t even been here for an hour yet. How could you possibly be acting as if nothing has happened?" he asked. He was a logical man but he understood her confusion.


    "Because I am not talking about what happened. I¡­ I have a lot to say," she confessed.


    "Do you want to really talk to me or are you scared that something bad will happen if you don''t speak to me?" he questioned.


    "I want to talk to you. But I guess I feel guilty. And scared."


    "Guilty?" he said, shocked.


    "That I could walk around hand in hand with you, or sit and have a meal with you and still feel like everything is okay. I feel guilty that it is normal. I messed up, Mo Qingchen. I should¡­" She tried to grasp the words.


    He finished the sentence for her. "You feel like you don''t deserve it?"


    "Yes," she answered, taking a deep breath.


    "Can you explain why?" he asked. "I won''t know what you are thinking until you tell me. You know that I am not very observant in certain things."


    Qian Meng scoffed. "You give yourself too little credit. You do. You''re wonderful. You know just the right things to do and you say the right things¡­ most of the time."

 Chapter 303: I Am Broken

    He waited for her to continue.


    "And I just used you and threw you aside." She took in another deep breath. "Actually, I really wanted you to come and I said that you shouldn''t because¡­ because I didn''t want you to be around me when you didn''t think of me the way I think of you."


    "How do you know I don''t feel the same way?" he asked. "How do you think of me? Why don''t we talk about it?"


    "I don''t know how I see you yet, but I just know what I think about you a lot," she responded. "But I am also confused. Is this normal? Is this mutual? Shouldn''t I be more scared? Shouldn''t it hurt more? That everything I know¡­ my personal safety and my company are on the line¡­ but I am just okay¡­ with you."


    Mo Qingchen stood up from where he sat and walked around the table to sit in the chair next to her, turning it to face her.


    "Qian Meng, I know it is not clear to you now, but that is a good thing. When you live your life to the fullest, the fear decreases. The sadness decreases. Your company had a loss, it''s not new. It happens all the time. It''s okay to not be scared and sad with me. It''s perfectly normal." He placed a hand on her leg reassuringly.


    "I know¡­ Just¡­ Everything looks the same but none of it feels the same," she acknowledged.


    "I know it doesn''t seem like it right now, but it''s a good thing. You know that."


    She did know that.


    Mo Qingchen¡­ he knew the right things to say. It was always on point. In fact, it was obvious that he empathized with her. He had been scared too, and now she knew why.


    "It''s a good thing," she repeated after him.


    There was a short silence.


    "Qian Meng?" he spoke up again.


    "Hm?" She looked up.


    "You''re overwhelmed with everything being thrown at you and a little bit by something threatening you. But what are you really scared of? Why are you so scared of it?" he asked openly.


    He saw as Qian Meng''s demeanor changed. She looked caught off-guard by his question. Her whole body stiffened.


    "I need some time to think. I know that you want to related to me, but I want some time to think about it."


    Mo Qingchen looked at her for a long while. He had expected some kind of response and he got it. He could see the conflict on her face. He knew that she wanted to tell him. What it was? He didn''t have a clear idea.


    "I''ll wait for you to make a decision," he swore. "I won''t push you." There was a firmness in his voice that reassured her.


    "Thank you," she whispered.


    Mo Qingchen went back to his seat and continued to eat. She watched him for a while before eating the food herself.


    Qian Meng remembered back to the time when she had accepted that they were hopeless. That she would never know Mo Qingchen''s secrets or when she was sure he didn''t like her apart from the contract and the sex. She was sure he was never going to give her leeway. But he had.


    He had given her a nugget of information that revealed a new side of him to her.


    She could do the same.


    Open and honest.


    Qian Meng wiped her mouth once she was done eating and stood up. "I''ll go take a shower in the room. Come up slowly," she said quickly.


    She had to make a decision.


    He hummed in agreement and watched her leave. She knew that the bodyguard was trailing behind her and made sure that it was indeed him.


    "Ma''am. I have already checked the room while you were having your meal with Mr. Mo. I will be waiting outside," he said without much emotion.


    "Thank you," Qian Meng murmured as she unlocked the door.


    As she walked into the foreign bedroom, her eyes narrowed in on the bed. The last time she had been on a bed, she had made love to her husband. And then she decided to come to Hong Kong without him.


    Coward.


    But she thanked God that Mo Qingchen hadn''t allowed her to make the wrong choice.


    She took a long, hot shower and then put on some comfortable clothes. She didn''t notice him in the changing room at first. It was only when she walked out towards the private little pool that she saw him. He was dipping inside the heated pool, his face turned upwards towards the open sky.


    And suddenly, she understood what he had meant. She wasn''t within his view yet but she wanted to talk to him. It was time.


    "Mo Qingchen," she called. His eyes opened immediately and he looked at her.


    "Yeah?" he answered.


    "Can I join you?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding.


    He was breathtakingly beautiful, as usual. The water-dispersed over his chest, making him shimmer. His hair was tousled, indicating that he had been raking his fingers through it; something he did when he was worried.


    Qian Meng kicked off her slippers so that she could sit down on the edge with her feet in the water. She didn''t really look at him, at his face until she was sure of what she was going to say.


    She didn''t even notice how her eyes watered.


    "Qian Meng? What''s wrong?"


    She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "I''ve been crying too much lately," she admitted. And then she became silent for a little longer. "I don''t know if I have ever been hurt in a relationship, Qingchen. I think¡­ I think I am broken."


    Mo Qingchen sucked in a deep breath and then started to cough in surprise. It was the last thing he was expecting her to say. It took him a few moments to catch his breath.


    "You what?"

 Chapter 304: A Long and Painful Dream

    "A dream¡­ I saw a dream that felt too real," he explained. "And I was killed."


    Mo Qingchen''s heart started beating faster in anticipation. Dare he hope that he was about to hear her story? It was palpable. The answers he desperately wanted were so close. But he knew that he shouldn''t be holding his breath.


    "Who killed you¡­ in the dream?" he asked slowly.


    Qian Meng shuddered before answering him.


    "You asked me why I was so scared. What I was scared of, right?" She turned to him, her eyes holing the absolute truth. "It''s¡­ not just the dream. Since I was a child, not one person forgot to remind me how unwanted I was. I served a purpose. Sometimes, I was a mistake. My parents didn''t want me to be born but I was. And then, they separated," she told him calmly. "Actually, I have never believed relationships or marriages were meant to last. One person cheats or gets bored and they break up. No one ever works on their marriage. No one is happy."


    She gulped. "So, I never thought I would love anyone," she said.


    "And you did?" Mo Qingchen asked curiously.


    "I don''t know. I married you because I thought it would be easy. The terms you laid out were things I could go with. But then everything changed," she admitted. She shook her head. "But that is not the main reason."


    "Then what is?" He was growing more confused. Would she actually tell him?


    "Around the time my father decided to arrange my marriage with Bai Ye Qing¡­ I was trapped in a really long dream."


    Mo Qingchen stared at her, flabbergasted that she was actually telling him this. Finally.


    "I know you won''t believe me¡­ but it felt so real."


    "Go on¡­" he encouraged.


    "In the dream¡­ I married Bai Ye Qing without a second thought. I wanted to please my dad and it seemed like the only way. At first, it was¡­ peaceful. I saw him more as a friend than anything else. But the rules in the Bai house were not nice. I suffered and got cursed out and then Uncle Bai died," she said. She blinked in confusion.


    "Uncle Bai died mysteriously¡­" she said again.


    "Focus," Mo Qingchen reminded her.


    She nodded. "The verbal abuse from the mother-in-law got bad and well, I moved out with Bai Ye Qing and we were living in this apartment. I decorated everything and waited and waited until everything I had was gone."


    Her face broke with emotion. It damn near broke Mo Qingchen''s heart. She had never seen such agony on her face and he was sad to say that he was mesmerized by it.


    "He turned into a monster. He didn''t care that I was suffering. Everyone demanded I have a child but it never happened to me. He isolated me from the people I knew. And I¡­ couldn''t break away." She felt like slapping herself for being so foolish in the dream.


    "I couldn''t give him kids¡­ so I gave him my company. I was fully dependent on him." She choked. "He was cheating on me all along. And the woman was pregnant. And I was not. I saw them¡­ together." She couldn''t even say it out loud without her stomach rebelling.


    Mo Qingchen stiffened. He¡­ he had not known this.


    "They did everything to humiliate me. I think¡­ I felt desolation." She looked out into the distance, the sense of being lonely coming back to her in waves.


    "And you blame yourself for that?" he asked.


    "Of course, I do. It was my fault. I trusted him and didn''t see all the red flags along the way. I wasn''t smart enough to know who he really was. I wasn''t brave enough to leave him even when I wanted to kill myself. I should have known¡­" She forgot about it being a dream. It felt all too real for it to be a dream, didn''t it?


    "Qian Meng," he whispered to bring her back to her new reality.


    "If you are going to say something about letting go of the shame and fear because a lot of women go through it¡­ I don''t want to hear it. I am weak and a coward," she announced. "I am weak," she repeated.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t know what to say.


    "I am so sorry you went through that."


    Qian Meng shook her head. "When I am with you¡­ sometimes, I will hear Bai Ye Qing''s voice in my head, telling me how worthless I am. How I will never deserve the love and support of other people. The worst part? I believe it."


    Mo Qingchen clutched her hand desperately. "He gaslit you. He destroyed your self-confidence for his selfish and evil needs. I am sorry you went through that. I am so sorry."


    She wanted to smile but failed. "Like I said, it was all a dream. I wasn''t really killed. It was all a dream."


    That was the only way she could reassure herself.


    "You did go through that pain, Qian Meng. You lost your life in his hands. You should hate him. You should hate her. But here you are, just blaming yourself for the wrongs done to you."


    She looked over at him curiously. "It didn''t happen." There was a strange hollowness in her voice.


    "It did," he said roughly. "Stop denying it. You know exactly what I mean. You lost a lot in that life and you woke up. You got a fresh start." He didn''t even try to hide that he knew. What was the point of it?


    "What do you mean? That life? Fresh start?"


    Mo Qingchen swiped his free hand across his face as he blinked away the fear. She had to tell him. They were going, to be honest. No matter how much it hurt.


    "I¡­ I¡ª" he stammered.


    Qian Meng looked at him in disbelief. He looked so pained that it was devastating. She wanted to tell him it was okay and that he didn''t need to tell her anything anymore.

 Chapter 305: Mo Qingchen: Resident Therapist

    But she was desperate to understand the meaning of his cryptic words.


    She wasn''t going to deter him. So, she waited.


    "I have never told this to anyone before," he began quietly.


    "You can tell me. I told you the most twisted and unreal story ever," she responded. She felt his hand go slack around her and turned it around to grab him firmly. It was her turn to give him support.


    He opened his mouth, closed it, and then opened it again.


    "I went to the funeral."


    His voice broke on the last word. Though she couldn''t wrap her head around what he was saying, her heart broke for him. He fell apart a little more then, tears finally slipping from his eyes. They poured down faster and faster.


    She hadn''t expected this. She didn''t know what to say. She just gaped at him for a long moment as she processed what he had just told her.


    Mo Qingchen was dealing with the burden of a loss. He lost someone and she didn''t know who it was. Who could incite such emotions in him?


    "Whose funeral?"


    He tried to compose himself. "I can''t say it."


    He had thought it would be easy to tell her he was there once she told him about her dream. But it wasn''t.


    Qian Meng didn''t even know her thought process when she acted. She just did it. There he was, the man she was falling in love with, heartbroken as he shared with her something he had suppressed in his heart for a very long time and she felt for him more than she had felt for anyone else in her life.


    That was the moment she realized the depth of what she had been struggling with feeling for him. She felt for him at that moment not just in her heart but in her soul. She didn''t know what or who was hurting him so badly, but she wanted to protect him fiercely from anything that could ever hurt him like that ever again.


    She understood now what he meant when he told her that he would rather take her pain himself than watch her suffer with it. Because watching him with that pain, she felt helpless. Like she could do nothing.


    What she did was hop into the pool. She had no regard for the fact that she still had clothes on. She didn''t care. She just wanted to hold him.


    She somehow flung her arms around his neck and pulled him to her, holding him tightly. He put his hands on her hips and she put one of hers on the back of his head as he buried his face against her chest.


    "I''m so sorry, Mo Qingchen," she whispered, not knowing what else to say.


    He was quiet for a long time. Qian Meng was sure that he was still crying, but it was hard to tell with his face pressed against her. It was strange to see him this way. Her husband was always so composed and collected. He rarely showed any emotion, much less cry in front of her. It meant a lot to her that finally, he was willing to open up to her and let his guard down.


    These two fools.


    "I''m supposed to be comforting you now," he said after a while, pulling his face away from her chest slightly. "Not the other way around."


    Qian Meng shook her head as she moved her legs up at his sides and sat down on his lap so that their faces were closer together.


    "We can comfort each other," she answered.


    He took a deep breath and blinked away the last of his lingering tears.


    "You know¡­ I don''t even know the last time I cried. I can''t remember."


    "It''s okay to cry. I would feel bad if I was the only one turning on the waterworks all the time," she responded lightly.


    As bad as she felt for him, a part of her was glad that he had cried in front of her. She knew that he had probably never cried in front of another person and it made her feel relief. They were both comfortable enough to cry in front of each other and not pull away. Instead, they were allowing the other to comfort them.


    "You aren''t going to ask me to tell you more?" he asked after he had calmed down.


    "No. You gave me the space to decide and come up to you. I appreciate that. I can only do the same for you," she told him.


    He hummed in agreement. And then he asked her. "Why didn''t you want to tell me about your story before?"


    "Because it obviously brings up a lot of unresolved feelings for me. It''s not something I like to think about or talk about. I have tried my best to bury this stupid dream and what it means for me. I don''t like to bring it back up again," she said truthfully.


    "Then why did you tell me now?"


    "Because it was hurting me more than help me. Because it was hurting you. I don''t want to give it that power."


    "Yes, you can''t bury it. You have to deal with it and the only way is to say it out loud and talk about it."


    Qian Meng chuckled. "You sound like a therapist now."


    "But I am glad you told me. It helped me understand why you push me away. I understand you better now."


    Qian Meng gulped. "That''s why I did it. I want you to know why I am messing up. I can''t promise I won''t do it again, but I think after saying it out loud, I will be more conscious of the impact it has had on me."


    It did make sense. Qian Meng remembered him mumbling about a funeral when he had a fever. She hadn''t thought much of it then, but sober and healthy Mo Qingchen said the same thing. He had lost someone very special to him and it filled him with fear of relationships as well. He understood what she felt¡­ somehow.

 Chapter 306: Nothing Made Him Feel So Alive

    "I think I understand you now, too!" she told him.


    "I don''t want to keep secrets from you anymore, Qian Meng. I want both of us to be honest. I still¡­"


    "What?" she prompted.


    "I meant every word I said to you, Qian Meng. I know that we had an understanding. But I want you to know me. You''re the only woman I really want to know me. I have shut myself off from everyone around me for so long. I''ve close myself off from emotion. I haven''t wanted to know anyone and I haven''t wanted anyone to know me. But it feels so¡­"


    And then their foreheads were together and her eyes were closed and just feeling him breathe against her. It grounded her.


    "I''m listening¡­" she said. She steeled her heart.


    "It feels so different with you. I don''t know why. I didn''t plan on any of this. I didn''t plan on caring for you."


    Qian Meng swallowed hard. She hadn''t prepared herself for this.


    "Me either," she replied.


    "This isn''t what I thought this arrangement would turn out to be."


    That was her moment. She regretted the way she had treated him. And despite that, he still opened up to her.


    "You asked me if I was there with you. I was. I was there with you and it was perfect. You gave me everything I needed at that moment and so much more. It terrified me, Mo Qingchen."


    "You felt it," he breathed. He was quiet, almost as if he were thinking out loud.


    "I did. I felt it and it scared me. It brought back all my bad thoughts. Like you said, when I got into this with you, I wasn''t expecting any of this. I wasn''t expecting to feel for you. But I felt so much for you in that moment. It was overwhelming." She shook her head, trying to snap herself out of the intrusive thoughts once again.


    "All the feelings I had for you and didn''t know about just hit me like a train. And I realized how much I depended on you. I trusted you so much that I would believe it if you told me the color of the sky is red. And that is terrifying," she admitted.


    "Do you think I wasn''t scared too?" he asked firmly.


    Qian Meng''s heart was racing. This was the first time they had really spoken about their feelings for each other and she felt like she was dreaming. She had not dreamed that she would be in this place right then. There was something about discussing your past grief that brought people together.


    "I don''t know. I had no idea what you were feeling. I was too preoccupied with myself." She was ashamed of it, too.


    "Do you want to know?"


    "Of course, I do¡­" she trailed off.


    "I was scared, too. Scared, confused, overwhelmed. All of it."


    "You were?" she squeaked.


    "I have experienced a lot of unexplainable and beautiful things in my life, Qian Meng. I have built a multi-billion dollar dollar empire from the ground up. I have made billions in a single day. I have eaten the best dishes in the planet and thought that I had every experience there was to have. But then there was you¡­ yesterday. And none of those other things mattered. None of that compared to what I felt with you. None of that ever made me feel so alive."


    Her heart skipped a beat or several as she processed what he was saying. This was as honest as she could ever hoped him to be with her. She had been too scared to face her feelings for him and even after she had pushed him away, he had put in all his emotions so eloquently for her. She was the luckiest damn woman in the planet.


    She wanted to try with him.


    She wrapped one arm around his neck and cuddled him. Her in her wet clothes against him, their faces so close that she could feel the sear of his black eyes staring at her.


    "I''ve never felt anything like it before, either," she finally told him.


    "The sex¡­"


    She smiled a little, feeling herself blush. And that was something she didn''t do. Blush. Mo Qingchen made her blush. What was happening to her?


    "Yes. The sex," she muttered.


    "I have had my fair share of sexual experiences. I have been with beautiful women," he started.


    She looked at him and quirked an eyebrow. "Is this supposed to make me feel good about myself?"


    He laughed a little but that intense expression never left. "My point is, I didn''t think sex could get any better than I had already experienced."


    "And then? Bragging to a first-timer?"


    "And then we shared what we shared and I realized that I had never truly connected with someone before. Not like that."


    She slid her hand up around the back of his neck and found the soft hair there.


    "It wasn''t just sex."


    "No, it wasn''t." She agreed.


    "And even after. All I did was lay there and hold you. I watched you fall asleep. It was simple, yet I don''t think I have ever been so content in my life."


    For a man who spoke very few words, Mo Qingchen found it easy to express himself.


    "It''s¡­ a lot," Qian Meng said after a while. "And I don''t really know what all of it means."


    "It doesn''t have to mean anything right this second, Qian Meng. We just started to think about it. I haven''t presented my side of the story yet."


    That made her feel better about how she had been acting. He was right. It didn''t mean that everything had to change between them. They were still themselves. They were still Mo Qingchen and Yun Qian Meng. They only had to take baby steps towards the endgame.


    "Okay," I nodded.


    "Don''t go acting all weird around me now just because I know you have a crush on me," Mo Qingchen teased softly.

 Chapter 307: Momentary Lapse of Intelligence

    Qian Meng''s eyes widened a little in surprise.


    "Excuse me, I should be telling you that, Mr. I-have-no-emotions," she accused.


    "I don''t think so."


    "Yes. You started everything. You were the one who said that we shouldn''t keep any secrets anymore. And you brought up how mushy you feel when you watch me sleep."


    "No, you''re wrong," he said, shaking his head at her.


    "I am not." She moved from her position and settled sideways on his lap.


    "Yes, you are. I''m pretty sure you started it the moment you agreed to marry me."


    Qian Meng''s heart fluttered again.


    "Are you about to go all mushy on me again? You are the one who fought to make the marriage enticing to me. I think you liked me for a long time before that!" she accused.


    "Okay, enough mushiness for now." He laughed.


    "For now." She smiled.


    "On a lighter note, I can''t believe you got in the pool with all of your clothes on." He looked down at her now see-through top.


    "A little water never hurt anyone," she said dismissively.


    "You got in here because you wanted to comfort me. Thank you."


    "Jumping in some water to give you a hug is nothing compared to you pretty much keeping me from breaking down," she told him.


    "You would have done the same for me. You did," he said confidently.


    Now that she thought about it. She would. She had.


    "Yeah¡­ But while we are on the subject, I want to promise you something."


    He looked confused. "Promise?"


    "I promise not to push you away when I am feeling confused or scared. I might take some time to open up to you, but I won''t push you away." And that was a great step.


    Qian Meng was a woman of promise. She would do exactly what she said she would.


    "I won''t let you forget that," he promised in return. "Now that you are back, I have to tell you¡­ I did miss you."


    She tilted her head in confusion at first. And then she understood what he had meant. She had been distant and awkward for a while. She had not been herself. "It wasn''t the same without the two of us constantly teasing each other. It''s been a relatively short time since we married but I feel like we belong. It''s not right when we are not together."


    A happy smile spread across his face. "Come on, Juliet, let''s go inside." He grabbed her as he stood up and started to climb out of the hot tub.


    "Sorry. No tragic stories allowed," Qian Meng said immediately.


    After getting out of the water, her clothes felt like they weighed as much as an elephant. So, with no shame, she stripped down and squeezed the water out before draping it over one of the chairs.


    She could give them to laundry later and save herself the mess of carrying them inside sopping wet.


    Mo Qingchen laughed and shook his head at her as she walked into the room completely naked and then started frantically rubbing her arms as the chill set in.


    "You have a problem?" she asked with a pout.


    "None at all. In fact, you should walk around naked more often," he told her.


    "I am sure the people in the hotel would love that," she grumbled.


    She was feeling better, at least enough to think about other things.


    "I''ll change into some clothes before my nipples turn into ice cubes," she called to him as she ran to her suitcase.


    She searched for a minute before quickly changing. She heard Mo Qingchen behind her moments later.


    "Did you manage to save your nipples?" he asked with amusement.


    "I think so."


    "Good. I am very fond of them."


    She admired as he stripped out of his swim shorts and draped them over the edge of the tub to dry.


    "You should have left them outside with my clothes. I hope you didn''t get any water on the floor!" she teased.


    "I had a towel outside. Like a normal person."


    Qian Meng mock-glared. "I didn''t plan on jumping into the pool with you, thank you." She slowly dried the tips of her hair.


    "When are you going to work?" Mo Qingchen asked suddenly.


    Qian Meng perked up and looked at the clock. "I have an hour to put my makeup and power suit on. The place we are meeting is not far from here," she said.


    Mo Qingchen nodded in understanding. "I will be close if you need my help. You are talking to the owner and manager of the factories first, right?"


    Qian Meng nodded. "The offer is up to be made. Li Min and the legal team already sorted everything out. It''s just a matter of going through the process now," she admitted.


    "What happened to staying for a few weeks?" he questioned.


    "I might have been dramatic because I was overwhelmed. Thank you for wanting to accompany me for a few months away from your work," she said gratefully.


    Mo Qingchen sighed. "Was our relationship weighing heavy on your mind? So much so that once you spoke about it clearly¡­ everything else just fell into place?" he asked.


    She thought about the answer for a bit. "It was part of it. I am also outside Shanghai, away from the people who want to harm me. I have a bodyguard and a husband to protect me. And I had time to think about things. Now that some parts of it are solved, I can think clearly again."


    "And you feel ashamed of that." It wasn''t a question.


    "Yes. I need to toughen up. I broke down too easily. It''s not like I have not had losses before." She looked at him. "You said you don''t like damsels in distress. Do you like me less?" she asked.


    "I like you more," he shrugged. When he saw her arched brows, he couldn''t help but laugh. "The definition of weak and strong¡­ I don''t trust them. As long as you solve your problem and find your way back, you are strong. In my eyes, you grow more charming when you overcome hardship and momentary lapse of¡­ intelligence." The last bit was a joke. Which she took in stride.

 Chapter 308: The Gun In His Drawer

    Qian Meng was back from her long meetings and planning with the local Venus team. It was already evening and her whole body felt sticky.


    Qian Meng hopped into the shower without ceremony, feeling the need to wash up before doing anything else. She was about to step out when Mo Qingchen entered and grabbed the towel from the towel rack. He held it open for her.


    It was all too sweet.


    "Thank you," she said, smiling at him as she stepped towards him and wrapped it around herself.


    She left the door to the shower open and went to side-step around him so he could get in (which was what she presumed he was doing). But then he stopped her with his fingers at her chin. Their eyes locked briefly before he leaned down and kissed her. It was short, but it was soft and sweet and perfect.


    "I finished work. I''ll get into the shower quickly," he informed her before stepping around her and walking into the shower.


    Qian Meng went to go put on some pants and one of his sweatshirts. Because she could.


    "Should I order room service for us?" Qian Meng asked him, trying not to stare through the glass as he soaped up that body of his.


    "No need. The bodyguard told me you were coming back so I ordered already. The food is at the side of the table."


    "You''re the best," she announced.


    She hung her towel and went into the bedroom, ready to settle in and enjoy her food as she scrolled through social media or watch something funny. Mo Qingchen would protest a little at first, but he would know that getting Qian Meng off the bed with her plate of food was a losing battle.


    She went over to the nightstand and saw Mo Qingchen''s things placed on it. This was definitely his side of the bed, then. The food was placed on top and she reached for it. But the top drawer was partially opened and something inside caught her eye.


    She startled.


    Surely, it wasn''t what she thought it was.


    She wasn''t one to snoop but what she thought had caught her eye reminded her of something her father kept at home. She had stumbled across it as a little girl and it piqued her curiosity.


    So, she opened the drawer and it was, indeed, what she thought she had seen.


    Why would Mo Qingchen have one here? She knew it wasn''t there when she left because they hadn''t decided which side of the bed either would take. And which hotel leaves such a dangerous thing in the drawer?


    Why was it there, then?


    She left the plate for then and walked back into the bathroom.


    "Hey, Mo Qingchen?" she called.


    "Yeah?"


    She walked over to stand in front of the shower door, watching him shampoo his hair.


    "Why is there a gun in your drawer?"


    Mo Qingchen froze and just stared at her for a minute. She couldn''t discern the expression on his face. For a moment, she wondered if he was going to be angry for looking in his drawer or for asking about it.


    Fortunately, he didn''t. He was actually calm as he answered.


    "I have had a gun for years," he said with a shrug and then stepped under the water to rinse the shampoo out.


    "You don''t keep it in any of the drawers," she responded, trying not to sound too demanding. "I mean¡­ I have never seen it before."


    "I keep mine in one of the safes. I got this after coming here," he informed her.


    "Well, is there a reason you got one? Did something happen?" The anxiety made her a little jittery. But more than that, she was curious.


    She was immediately reminded of the incident with the car and someone following her. She knew that the police hadn''t made any progress on the case, but she had not really thought that the perpetrator would follow them to Hong Kong.


    She had been so wrapped up in everything, it had slipped her mind.


    Surely, Mo Qingchen would have told her if something had happened, right? She started to wonder when he took a while to answer. If something did happen, what reason would he have to keep it from her?


    To protect her?


    "Mo Qingchen?"


    Still, he took a few more minutes before he said anything.


    "There is nothing to worry about. I got a gun just to be safe. It''s just a precaution."


    Qian Meng wished that he wasn''t under the water with his eyes closed. It hid all his emotions.


    "Oh." She couldn''t question him if he didn''t respond properly.


    "Okay?"


    She hummed.


    She didn''t want to stand there and watch him like a creep, so she left the bathroom to give him some privacy. She climbed into bed.


    Mo Qingchen said that she didn''t have to worry about anything, so she believed him.


    If not for the threat to her life, she wouldn''t have doubted him keeping a gun. She had grown up with her father having one. She didn''t know how to use them but she wasn''t particularly uncomfortable with them.


    But something had happened before, so she had to ask him.


    No sooner had she finished dinner than Mo Qingchen appeared from the bathroom, stark naked. She tried to keep her eyes on the television, watching the news, but she couldn''t help but sneak looks at him in her peripheral vision as he walked across the bedroom.


    "You don''t have to be sly. I know you are looking at me," he said with a devious smirk.


    His back was turned to her, so she was able to watch him without shame as he went through his bag and put on some black boxers.


    "My eyes keep wandering," she answered. "Your body is ridiculous. I think you''ve gotten more ripped since we got married."


    Mo Qingchen scoffed. "I think you''re complimenting me to get into my pants."

 Chapter 309: Spouting Lines From A Script

    That made Qian Meng smile. "Good thing you''re not wearing any pants then."


    He turned around and chuckled as he went over to the bed to lay down beside Qian Meng.


    "Is it weird to be sleeping in a different bed?" he asked suddenly.


    She turned the television off and scooted over to give him more room.


    "I lived in hotels all along, so I didn''t think I could feel strange living anywhere. But it seems¡­ I do feel like I need to find my place all over again."


    He gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?"


    "Everything has changed for me and so much has happened. At the same time, everything is the same. I just have to find my footing again. I have been leaning too heavily on you and it''s detrimental to how I identify myself."


    Mo Qingchen thought about that for a moment. "That makes sense. You went from being wildly independent to having me around all the time. It all happened really suddenly, too."


    "I''ll figure it out. I need to find a balance between having you backing me up and still being independent," she told him. "That''s my mission now."


    "At least you don''t have to get used to sleeping alone again," he teased.


    "Shut up," she said as she nudged him with her foot. "You like sharing your bed with me. I know that."


    He laughed. "Most of the time. But you hoard the blankets."


    "You take up the whole bed and you cuddle too much. It''s an even trade," she countered.


    "Whatever you say," he laughed. His smile dropped and he became really serious. "I want to talk to you."


    "I don''t like the sound of that. What about?" he asked.


    "How are you feeling?"


    She raised her brow. "That''s what you want to know?"


    "It''s only been a few days. But we need to talk."


    He wanted to talk about her being scared out of her mind?


    "Mo Qingchen¡­ I don''t need to talk about it."


    He sighed. "Of course, you need to talk about it. I have not pushed you about it but I can see you looking at everything twice. When we spoke today, I could see that you have a lot of fear and issues with trust. And I understand that. You need to talk to someone about it."


    "I don''t want those things to be constantly on my mind. That''s all," she responded.


    "Sure. But it isn''t healthy to bury your issues and not address them," Mo Qingchen countered.


    "Isn''t that what we do best?" she asked. He was quiet for a moment. He knew she was accusing him of doing the same thing.


    "Okay. We need to keep the conversation to one problem right now. God knows we have a lot of issues to solve between us. It would take us all night to talk about them."


    Qian Meng frowned. "And it''s okay to talk about it as long as I am the one doing it?" she asked.


    She instantly regretted saying it. She knew her words were unwarranted. After all, she had told him to take his time.


    The fact that he didn''t answer made her feel even worse. He had been amazing to her and she kept refusing to let him in. She even went back on her words to give him space.


    She wondered if he would get sick of the push and pull and stop trying. She didn''t realize it then, but through this, Mo Qingchen was slowly proving to her that she could trust him. That she could lean on him without completely losing her independence.


    "I''m sorry," she said immediately.


    "It''s fine. You clearly don''t want to talk about it and I am not going to push you," he swore.


    She didn''t want to jeopardize what they had.


    "I''m sorry. I am not ready to talk about it just yet. Can we do it some other time?" she asked. "And I am sorry for being impatient."


    Mo Qingchen pressed his lips together. "We have apologized to each other more times than someone in customer service does in a month." He grumbled.


    Qian Meng wrapped her hand around him and pulled him closer. "Let''s not push each other into talking about anything that is going to make us cry. We just need to know that when we want to talk about these things, the other will be there to listen. I''ll hold you if you want to cry."


    She added the last bit in.


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "I''ll let you know if I want to cry."


    Qian Meng had a contemplative moment. "I am starting to realize that I trust you." And that was a big thing for her who was scared of trusting and giving others power over her.


    "I''ve never trusted anyone other than myself, really. I trust you, too." He pulled back a little and lifted her chin to look up at him. "I won''t take your trust lightly," he vowed.


    "I hope not. I will smack you otherwise," she warned him.


    "Yes. Didn''t I promise to take care of you for the rest of my life? I will do it."


    Qian Meng''s heart fluttered.


    "Promises are binding but I won''t hold you to it if that is not what you want," Qian Meng said out of the blue. "You don''t need to be loyal because of a promise."


    Yes, it was sweet and praiseworthy for a man to keep his promise, but she didn''t want it to be an obligation for him.


    "I don''t feel loyalty to you because I made a promise. I made the promise because I already felt loyal to you." His voice was low.


    "Do you get your lines from a scriptwriter?" she asked, slightly in awe.


    He pursed his lip and gave her a look of warning. It all melted away into deep concentration in the next second. Qian Meng knew he was going to say something important, right then.

 Chapter 310: Stay Loyal to Her in Every Lifetime *

    [Warning: Adult content up ahead. Bring some cold and crisp holy water and some tissues with you.]


    "In this lifetime and every other, I promise to only be loyal to you. Even if I have to crawl back from Hell, I will do so gladly."


    Qian Meng grew eerily silent. "Wow. You just broke all the cold CEO fantasies women have," she stated.


    "This cold CEO is not for everyone to fantasize. You can, though," he smiled.


    He slipped a hand under her shirt to rest on her bare side, right at the dip of her waist. His touch ignited a fire in her stomach as it often did when he touched her this way.


    "You''re perceptive."


    "I just know myself very well. I also remember the last time I was inside you."


    Was it just yesterday? It felt like a long time ago, too.


    Her breathing grew a little heavier with lust. It amazed her how quickly he could turn her on, just like lighting a fire with a lighter.


    She lifted her arm and looped it around his neck.


    "I will be loyal to you, as well. I can take care of you too¡­"


    "Yeah?" There was a glimmer of hope and joy on his face.


    She nodded and kissed him. His lips responded to her instantly, moving in perfect sync. His tongue was against her immediately, and she found herself moaning.


    It was always the same when they kissed. The way he kissed her always had a slightly domineering edge to it. No matter how much she fought, he was always in control. She was aware of this through little things and actions. Just like when he would cradle her face as he kissed her.


    They kissed for a long time, unhurried despite the intense energy coursing through them. He made no move to hide his erection. It strained against his boxers and Qian Meng had no shame as she rubbed against it.


    Eventually, the hand he had on her side slid down to push at her sweatpants.


    "Take them off," he whispered, pulling away from her lips just a little to speak.


    I rolled onto her back and awkwardly jiggled around under the covers as she pushed them off. Once she had them past her knees, she simply kicked the rest of the way off and let them rest at the foot of the bed.


    She hadn''t put on any panties after her shower, so she was completely naked from the waist down. And with every move she made, she felt how slippery it was between her thighs.


    She moved to roll back onto her side and face him, but he stopped her. He scooted closer to her, looking down at her as he remained on his side.


    It was a rather amusing scene.


    "Stay like that," he directed, placing one of his hands flat against her lower abdomen.


    He looked down at her and began to move his hand down until it reached its destination: between her legs.


    "Oh my," he said, marveling at how wet she was. She moaned slightly at his touch.


    "I saw you in the shower. Don''t judge!" she explained.


    "Oh. You really like me now, huh?" he teased.


    "What do you think?" she answered, knowing what he meant.


    She hadn''t masturbated in a long time. And her vibrator was probably not going to work because it had not been used in a long time.


    "You''re going to be quick, then," he concluded almost clinically. His finger skimmed over her clit and she jumped, surprised by how sensitive she was.


    Yup, she was going to be very quick.


    Her eyes fluttered closed as she felt him push a finger inside her. Her muscles gripped his finger involuntarily, eager for more. She moaned again.


    "I might not make it to homerun if you foreplay continues," she told him softly.


    "It''s not foreplay. Just relax. You don''t have to make it to homerun."


    Her eyes opened immediately. What was he saying? That there wasn''t going to be sex?


    "But¡ª"


    "Hush. Just kiss me."


    She did it without question. He hovered over her, one of his fingers remaining inside her. This thumb rubbed slow and gentle circles over her clit.


    They hadn''t focused on just foreplay for a really long time. Not since their wedding. Normally, foreplay was always followed by sex. For him to simply pleasure her was different.


    Qian Meng had no complaints.


    He knew what he was doing as he moved his finger inside her with purpose. Instead of going in and out, he moved it up and down and pressed against her upwards¡­ until he found the sweet spot.


    And he knew it immediately as she moaned into his mouth.


    "There it is," he responded in a whisper against her lips.


    "Yes¡­" She could only sigh.


    He pressed against it hard, making her moan deeply. His resulting smile held pride and victory. She craned her neck to kiss him again, but it was difficult to maintain their rhythm as she moaned and breathed roughly.


    She sucked in a breath as she bent one leg and placed the foot flat against the bed to give him better access. Mo Qingchen continued the same routine without faltering. Only, he went faster. When her breathing became more unsteady, he added another finger.


    That was just what she needed. Two of his fingers didn''t compare to his hard length that she was accustomed to, but the motion in which he moved them gave her a feeling of fullness. It satisfied her protesting pussy and she pulled at him to give her more.


    She didn''t know if it was an abnormal bout of lust for him or their earlier confessions, but it wasn''t long before she felt the churning in her belly as the pleasure began to build. She broke away from the kiss, overwhelmed, and gasped for breath.


    His lips slowly made their way across her neck.


    "Mo Qingchen," she moaned.


    "Good?" he asked against her neck, sounding a little breathless himself.


    "So good. So fucking good¡­"


    "You''re so wet right now."


    She knew she was. Not only because she could feel it but the sounds it made as his fingers effortlessly moved was enough of an indication.

 Chapter 311: Ive Been Coming Undone For You *

    [Warning: light snu snu in the beginning. Progress at the end. *wink wink*]


    She couldn''t even respond as her toes curled along with the tips of her fingers. She was close. So damn close.


    She tried to say something, but a jumble of incoherent sounds escaped her throat.


    She was a moaning mess as Mo Qingchen started to finger her harder. She could only rock back and forth steadily with the force of his fingers as he worked them.


    "Hey," he called as he pulled back from her neck to look into her eyes. "Look at me?"


    He was asking, not demanding. So unlike him.


    She looked into his beaming black eyes. Her chest rose and fell rapidly and she was glad to see him panting with lust, as well.


    "Mo Qingchen¡­" she whimpered.


    He lowered himself closer to her until his forehead rested against her. Time seemed to slow down. It was just the two of them in the whole wide world and they weren''t aware of anything else.


    "You are the most beautiful woman in the world," he whispered, eyes blazing. And when he looked at her like that, she felt beautiful.


    "I''m¡­ so close," she stammered, gripping onto his forearm.


    "Yes, baby," he encouraged so quietly that she could barely hear it. The endearment shot through her mind, completely dazing her for a moment. "Come for me. I want to watch you come undone for me. Because of me."


    She gasped as the pleasure mounted. The higher she climbed, the farther she wanted to rise. She was intoxicated as he played her. In return, she sang for him with her moans and whimpers.


    "I''ve been coming undone for you for months now."


    His fingers slowed just a little, enough to keep her on the edge without letting her explode.


    "You are safe with me." Another reassurance. He would tell her until she believed it completely.


    "Safe from what?" she breathed back, trying to keep her composure.


    "Yourself."


    ''And the demons that haunt you,'' he thought. He didn''t say it out loud.


    She didn''t know how he always knew the right thing to say. His words and the pleasure he was giving her did things to her. In fact, in these vulnerable moments, neither of them held back.


    Despite the confusion during the day, in the darkness of the night, they seemed to feel safer. They took comfort from each other''s bodies in the privacy of their room. It was the time they shared their most shameful feelings with one another. In moments like these, they somehow brought down their walls.


    "Now come for me," he coaxed, quickening his pace once again. "Let yourself go."


    She did.


    She would later realize that when one starts to let their walls down and truly trust their partner, they are able to achieve a whole new level of pleasure during orgasm. She would know this was true because the closer she got to Mo Qingchen, the more intense her orgasms became.


    This one brought tears to her eyes.


    When it was over, he didn''t pull away. Instead, she lay there basking in the aftermath of her powerful release and he kissed a slow trail from her collar bone to her shoulder, up her neck and across her jaw until he found her lips.


    She couldn''t help but smile widely against his lips. He smiled too as he gently slipped his fingers out from inside her.


    "That was¡­" she began, her chest rising harshly as she tried to catch her breath.


    "Good?" he prompted.


    "More than that."


    He pressed his lips against her cheek. "That''s good to know," he answered with a chuckle.


    "When I can move again, I''ll return the favor."


    She saw him shaking his head before he kissed her forehead. "Another time."


    She gave him a questioning look. "Rejecting me?" she half-joked.


    "No. You have had a long day and I didn''t do anything so that you returned the favor. I just wanted to watch you."


    "You did?" she asked, dumbfounded.


    He nodded eagerly. "Watching you orgasm when I am not distracted is a sight to behold."


    She was not sure how to respond.


    "I''ll be right back. Don''t go anywhere," he said before he slipped out of the bed and disappeared into the bathroom.


    He was gone for a short time. When he returned, they talked for a while. But it was hard for Qian Meng to keep her eyes open after a long day. She could tell Mo Qingchen was tired too.


    She settled into sleep after making him promise he would go to sleep early. She stirred awake when she heard a loud noise.


    Mo Qingchen looked guiltily at her, hoping he hadn''t completely woken her up.


    "Qingchen?" she called.


    "Sorry. I didn''t mean to wake you up."


    "It''s okay," she mumbled, half-asleep. "What was that noise?"


    Mo Qingchen patted her hair. "I just knocked something over. Go back to sleep, baby."


    She made a small noise at the back of her throat. "Why did you wake up?"


    "I haven''t fallen asleep," he told her truthfully.


    "You''re still awake? What? Why?" She turned a little more, now more awake.


    "I had to do something," he said softly. He had knocked over the alarm clock as he tried to keep his laptop aside. The sound was so loud that he froze. He didn''t even place the laptop completely and set it back on his lap.


    "Oh, I thought you finished work when I came home. Did I disturb you throughout the evening?" she asked, worried.


    "Not at all. I remembered something and did it before the deadline," he explained.


    She sat up slowly. "Do you want to talk about it?" Seeing his confused expression, she explained further. "You have something on your mind. Do you want to talk about it?"


    "There''s nothing on my mind. Don''t worry. I am already done with work. Let''s go to sleep, okay?" he coaxed.


    "Okay. Just wake me up if you want to talk," she slowly told him. She could see he didn''t want to talk, so she didn''t force him. She waited until he slid under the covers completely before turning the lamp off. They both lay back down and she drew small designs on his forearm, hoping it would soothe him to sleep.

 Chapter 312: The Awkward Morning After

    Qian Meng slept soundly for the rest of the night. She was surprised to wake up alone, though. Mo Qingchen had slept really late but had still woken up so early. This was something that happened changed since before they married.


    She didn''t see him in the main bedroom or the bathroom, so she quickly got dressed and went to the dining area. Plates of food and a mug of her favorite drink were already placed on the table and Mo Qingchen was sitting there, working.


    She peered at him for a moment before clearing her throat to be polite.


    "Good morning," he spoke lowly from where he sat.


    She slowly inched closer to him. He was sitting at the dining table, looking intently at his laptop screen and typing away furiously.


    "Hey," she said softly.


    He didn''t look up at her until she spoke, and even then, it was very brief before his eyes returned to the laptop.


    "Hey," he answered simply.


    She stood there like a fool, staring at him. She didn''t know what she expected from him. The last time they had been intimate, the after-effects had been less than ideal. This time, she was hoping it would be different. Apparently, not.


    At least, she had thought he would have more than one word to say.


    She sat opposite from him and chomped down on her food. She knew how irritating it was to be interrupted when working. She slowly chewed on her food and then grabbed her drink.


    It didn''t take much time before Li Min''s call came in for her to come down.


    She took her bag and was stopped before she left the front door. "I''ll see you in the evening," she called. She heard him hum in response and scrunched her brows.


    Sighing, she left the room.


    - - - - -


    When she returned late in the afternoon, she found Mo Qingchen sitting in the same spot with a look of concentration on his face. Her day had gone smoothly, really.


    Li Jun had joined into the conversation with the manufacturing stakeholders and duped them into signing an agreement that would not help them in the long run.


    The manufacturer wanted more per-product price. Qian Meng had signed with them because of their humane working conditions and fair prices in the first place. But since then, the owner had changed and they had been making a fuss every now and then. Her team had taken care of it before, but now, the manufacturers became too demanding. What they wanted was too expensive and reduced Venus'' profit margin quite a bit.


    Qian Meng didn''t mind treating people well, but when the others treated her poorly, she didn''t have to hold back on giving them the same treatment.


    She ended up talking to Li Jun and making sure that the manufacturer took care of this launch and made it so that Venus could break the contract without any liabilities.


    The law was the playground for good lawyers, and Li Jun made sure to play with it well.


    Qian Meng had also toured some of the other manufacturers in the city that had good conditions. She was yet to decide on one, but going around each and every facility, meeting the workers, and getting the conditions were tiring.


    But she was satisfied with the experience so far.


    She had expected Mo Qingchen to be working, but not sitting in the same place, in the same position. It seemed that he had not even touched his food. The plates of food she had left for him still remained.


    She went to the bathroom and freshened up before coming out. She just had to be sure, so she pulled up the cover to each dish and found them untouched.


    She glanced towards Mo Qingchen, who seemed oblivious to her presence.


    "Mo Qingchen?" she called him softly, not wanting to bother him.


    "You''re back?" he said without looking up.


    She was silent. "Did you have anything to eat since you woke up this morning?" she asked. That was what she was worried about.


    He looked up briefly. "Don''t think so. Why?" His tone wasn''t welcoming. She knew he was working remotely despite the heavy workload, so she didn''t scold him.


    "Just wondering. Is the food not to your taste?" she asked.


    "It''s fine."


    Short answers.


    "Sorry, I didn''t mean to interrupt you. I just wanted to make sure you were eating."


    Not wanting the situation to get any more awkward by her prolonged staring, she turned and headed for the bedroom.


    "Qian Meng, wait!"


    She stopped and turned back towards him. He had at least stopped typing and was now looking at her apologetically.


    "I''m sorry. I am just behind on a lot of work. I have been sitting here answering emails for over an hour now," he admitted.


    She nodded in understanding. "It''s okay. I understand." It was a huge sacrifice on his part to come with her, even if it was just for a few days.


    She turned more towards the door, but then he spoke again.


    "Come here."


    She saw him push back his chair, putting more distance between him and the desk.


    "Yeah?"


    "How was work today?"


    Since he seemed open for conversation, she went and sat down on one of the chairs facing him. Immediately, she noticed that his cellphone began to vibrate on his desk and she waited, expecting him to answer it.


    Instead, he glanced at the screen and silenced it, apparently choosing to ignore it.


    It was odd.


    "Everything is getting sorted out slowly. I might not have to stay for long," she informed.


    "I''m glad."


    "I forgot to ask you this morning. How did you sleep?"


    His mouth twitched. "I slept pretty well after we went to sleep together." He smiled and began toying with the pen sitting on the table.


    "So, are you going to eat something today? Do you want me to feed you while you work?" This was an open offer. She had done it for him before. And she loved taking care of him like that. He was someone who enjoyed eating, so feeding him was such a fun activity.

 Chapter 313: Ignoring Me On Purpose

    Again, his cellphone began to vibrate on the desk. He looked at the screen again and silenced it again. Qian Meng noticed the last two digits of the unknown number.


    "You don''t need to answer that?"


    "I''ll call them back later," he said quickly. "Do you want to feed me? What are your plans for the evening?"


    "I do. I''ll just make sure you eat and then go into the room. I have to catch up with updates from Shanghai and the other launches, too," she announced.


    "Good. I''m sure you miss working in the headquarters."


    She nodded. "I like the idea of working from another place, but my office makes me want to work harder. After I am done, I want to take a walk around the city. Maybe eat at a famous restaurant," she prompted. "You might not be able to finish work, so I will sneak in food for you."


    He frowned. "I''ll be safe with the bodyguard with me," she said firmly. "You can work without feeling the need to follow me."


    "You don''t have to sneak in any food. I''ll finish work and accompany you," he promised.


    She shook her head. "Take all the time you need. There is no rush. I still have a lot to do myself."


    "Whatever you want to do, Yun Qian Meng."


    Qian Meng crinkled her nose in distaste when he called her that. Why was he being formal with her? What happened to Qian Meng and ''baby''?


    Again, his phone began to vibrate. Again he silenced it. Qian Meng did see the number. It was the same one. She started to wonder if it was someone he really didn''t want to talk to, or if it was someone whom he didn''t want to talk to in front of her.


    "Are you sure you don''t want to get that? Seems like they have something important to say." She wanted to see his reaction.


    "They can leave a voicemail," he answered. "Right now, I am focusing on you."


    Qian Meng flinched. He was hiding it from her. He didn''t want to talk to this person in front of her. Usually, he would take calls freely in front of her. Only sometimes, he would go to the other room. Usually, he kept the door open so that she could hear him talking.


    But occasionally, he would close the doors and talk. Like he was hiding. She hadn''t thought about it closely before, but the look of slight panic and irritation in his eyes as the call came in made her suspicious.


    They looked at each other in silence for a few moments. She started to feel anxious. Why was there an awkward tension between them? Where did it come from? There was something up with him since the morning which made her nervous. The twinkle in his eye from last night was nowhere to be seen. He had been passionate last night, but that day, he seemed distracted.


    It made her sad.


    "Is everything okay?" she blurted out. How would she know if she didn''t ask?


    "What do you mean?" He seemed surprised by her question.


    "You just seem¡­ off since the morning." She didn''t know how to explain the change.


    "Off?"


    She nodded. "You look like something is bothering you. And you were anxious last night." He never made noise at night and he never fumbled around. What had happened to make him walk on eggshells around her?


    "I''m fine," he assured. He sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair, messing it up a little. "I just had a lot on my mind since last night."


    Qian Meng blinked. "Anything you feel like sharing with me?"


    The ball was in his court.


    "Nothing terribly interesting. Don''t worry about it."


    And then he ran his hands through his hair again. He always did that when he was anxious or bothered by something. She knew that much, but aside from telling her, he was private about his worries.


    Her curiosity was definitely sparked if it hadn''t been before.


    "I''ll leave you to your work," she said quietly before going into the bedroom. As she went, she tried to find out the first digits of the number she had seen. Turned out, it was from the central jail. The code was unique to it.


    "Qian Meng, I''ll send back the stale food and order something fresh, okay? I''ll be right back!" he called from behind her.


    She turned and saw the cellphone vibrating on the desk. Mo Qingchen clearly saw it vibrate but once again didn''t answer it. And it irritated her.


    The only people she could think about who were in prison were those who shouldn''t be calling Mo Qingchen. Who was he trying so hard to avoid?


    So, she decided to find out. She reached for the phone and pulled it to her ears before the person on the other side could hang up.


    "Hello?"


    The person on the other line was silent for a moment too long, making her wonder if they were going to answer her at all.


    "Oh, hi," the man finally spoke. The voice was slightly familiar, but she couldn''t pinpoint who it was. "Who am I speaking with?"


    "I should be asking that question, sir. This is my husband''s phone you are calling."


    She looked over at Mo Qingchen, who was leaning against the door with a small smirk on his lips. It irritated her more. He hadn''t even stopped her from taking the call.


    "Oh, Yun Qian Meng, is it? How have you been, bitch?"


    Qian Meng''s eyes widened.


    "Excuse me? Who the fuck are you?" she spoke.


    "Bai Ye Qing."


    Her eyes widened. Why was Bai Ye Qing calling Mo Qingchen? And how did he sound so different from usual? Why wouldn''t Mo Qingchen take his call in front of her? What did he not want to say in front of her?


    "Was that you blowing up my husband''s phone just now?" she questioned.


    "Oh, so he was ignoring me on purpose."

 Chapter 314: Dont Treat Me Like A Villain

    Qian Meng had no interest in answering him or hearing anything else he had to say. So, she stood, shaking her head, and placed the phone back on the table.


    "Here, my ex-fiance wants to talk to you. I wonder why that could be?"


    She actually wanted the answers from Mo Qingchen. Anything that came out of Bai Ye Qing''s mouth was a lie. She only trusted Mo Qingchen to tell her what was going on.


    "Qian Meng¡­"


    "Save it. Take the call."


    She turned and marched out of the dining area and into the bedroom. She thought about standing at the door and listening to the conversation but she didn''t want to hear what he was saying. If he didn''t tell her himself, why should she bother?


    She was too irritated to even take some fresh air, so she got down to work. She tugged at her hair and groaned in frustration. Why the hell could they not have one decent day together without being at each other''s throats? Did everything have to just be messed up the moment she thought things were going well?


    She hated Bai Ye Qing to her bones. She hated what he represented and everything that Mo Qingchen was hiding from her. He represented everything that was wrong with her life. And now, he was also everything that Mo Qingchen was keeping from her. It was driving her crazy.


    She was just about to finish logging in when Mo Qingchen entered the bedroom.


    "Why are you so angry?" he asked, getting straight to the point.


    "Did you really just ask me that?"


    "Yes, Qian Meng. I did."


    "Oh, I am Qian Meng again?"


    Mo Qingchen huffed. "Why does a call from Bai Ye Qing bother you so much? I have been keeping tabs on him, that''s all. He found out and called me. That''s it!" He was clearly frustrated.


    "Don''t you get it? It''s not Bai Ye Qing. It''s all the secrets. You won''t tell me anything about your history and why you act the way you do. You don''t even tell me what is on your mind and you expect me to spill all my secrets to you. You are so shady when it comes to your life. Can you imagine what I am left to assume when you don''t tell me anything?"


    He always pressed her for answers. He was the one who wanted them to be open and honest, but he was always playing on double standards.


    "Yes, it upsets me. I am trying my hardest to give you space and time to tell me while I am spilling my guts to you all the time. Don''t you fucking get it?" her voice raised with each sentence.


    "Qian Meng," he said in a low and warning voice.


    But she didn''t stop. She continued to rant.


    "You told me last night that I could trust you. That I was safe with you. You hide so much from me. How am I supposed to trust you fully when you do that? How am I supposed to feel safe with you and know that you are not going to stab me in the back, Mo Qingchen? I feel like I barely know you!"


    "Qian Meng."


    She had no idea where all of these frustrations were coming from. She had bottled these up for so long that she couldn''t help but explode. Though there were no tears in her eyes, her hands shook.


    "Just give me just a small piece of information and think you are done with revealing everything? The things you say are always so cryptic that I never know what you mean. Do I know you? Do I really?"


    "QIAN MENG."


    "No, fuck you. You can''t silence me every time I point out your double standards. I am giving you time, but you can''t take advantage of it. You can''t hide things related to me when you expect us to be partners." She choked. "Mo Qingchen, tell me. Do you expect me to just be honest with you while you hide everything about my life from me? You''ve entangled yourself and you refuse to say anything!"


    Then suddenly, he was coming at her. His eyes blazed with anger. From just his stance she thought for a split second that he was going to hit her. She flinched and cowered. She even stepped back.


    Instead, he just lifted her chin and her face jerked as she looked at him. There was anger all over his face. His eyes were dark and his nostrils flared. Even his jaw was tense.


    Qian Meng was paralyzed with shock as she stared up at him. The only movement of her body was the rapid rise and fall on her chest.


    "You will not assume anything about what I am doing. Everything I do is to protect you. You can''t talk to me like that, do you understand?"


    She didn''t know how to answer.


    "The next time you even accuse me of not being trustworthy or thinking I will stab you in the back, you should have a good reason for it. Just because someone called me and I didn''t tell you, you cannot treat me like the villain."


    He let go of her chin and stepped away.


    She just watched him as he composed himself.


    "Are you calm now?" she asked. It was about five minutes after the explosion.


    "Yes," he responded.


    "We need to talk. I will tell you what I really want to say," she told him. "I promised to be upfront with you. If you can''t handle my feelings, then you shouldn''t have asked me to do that." Her voice was low. She was still reeling from the shock of his aggressive move.


    "Okay. I lost control back then. I also need to apologize to you."


    "I''ll go first."


    "Please do," he agreed, gesturing with his hand for her to begin.


    "Let me make one thing very clear to you, Mo Qingchen," she began, standing up with her fists clenched at her side.

 Chapter 315: Exhausting and Scary

    "If you ever come at me that way again, I will leave. We will just call it quits with this whole thing because I am not going to put up with that."


    He nodded. "I understand."


    "I have seen you do this before with that female employee. You tried to physically intimidate her. And you tried to physically intimidate me into submitting to you. That was wrong of you."


    He nodded. "Yes, it was."


    "You scared me."


    She finally felt her eyes become hot with tears. The newly composed expression of his faltered, too. He looked pained, regretful.


    "I know. I am so sorry. I feel horrible. I know the look in your eye. I have seen it before."


    "I thought¡­" She blinked a few times, really trying not to cry. "I thought you were going to hit me."


    His face crumbled. His eyebrows came together as he felt nausea take over.


    "I¡­ I would never."


    She sighed and sat back down on the be.


    "I know you grew up seeing your father treat your mother poorly. And I know it changed you. You might not have done it intentionally, but you were conditioned to lose your temper when someone questions you, when things don''t go your way." She stopped. "I can''t keep going back and forth with you. It''s exhausting and it scares me."


    He sighed as he crossed his hands over his chest.


    "Can you not stand over me like that right now?" she asked, not wanting to feel like he was trying to assert dominance over her.


    So, he crouched down in front her instead. His hands were on the sides of her knees, so that she was the one looking down at him. She crossed her arms over her chest, not wanting to touch him.


    "Qian Meng, I am an asshole. I knew I was going to fuck this up at some point. Several points, actually. This morning, I was dealing with some stuff and then it just mounted until you accused me. It just set me off. But that is not an excuse. I have no excuse for scaring you like that." His head bowed.


    "You are right. You have no excuse. You can ignore me and be irritated. I don''t give a fuck. You are allowed to have a lot on your mind. But I am going to deal with you coming at me physically or shouting at me. Don''t ever do that again."


    The way he looked at her, he looked like Mo Qingchen from the night before. He was the warm Mo Qingchen, and not the one who didn''t want anyone near him. She could see the regret in his eyes, and she believed him when he said he was sorry.


    But she continued. "You should have just told me what was going on with you this morning. You shut me out like you told me I was doing. What I told you might have sound bad, but I meant it."


    "I just didn''t know how to tell you what I was up to. I was sure you would look at me differently." And he looked sincere.


    "Why did Bai Ye Qing call you?" she asked without delay.


    "I had already spoken to him before. He was calling to bitch at me, probably. I would have called the jail after I was sure he had calmed down," he stated.


    "You are not answering the question, Mo Qingchen. What was the call about?" she pressed. When he didn''t answer, she sighed. "If you think keeping secrets from me will protect me, you are wrong. It means that I have no idea what I am stepping into. And I will know you are keeping secrets and think the worst-case scenario," she explained. She was calmer now, so she could speak without accusing him.


    "Bai Ye Qing has been having a hard time in jail. So, he thought it had something to do with me," he told her. He sat down on the ground and waited for her verdict.


    "And was he correct? Did it have something to do with you? Tell me honestly." She could see the hesitation on his face.


    "Before I answer that, I have to say something to you." Qian Meng looked at him expectantly.


    "About Bai Ye Qing?"


    He shook his head. "About Bai Ye Qing and the guy who tried to hurt you." He gulped. "I tracked them down."


    Qian Meng shook her head. "I''m sorry. You need to tell me one at a time. The guy who followed me. What happened with him?" Bai Ye Qing was already a prisoner, so she didn''t feel threatened him.


    "I tracked him down."


    She gasped. She stared at him for a long moment, trying to comprehend what she was hearing. "How did you do that? Even the police didn''t find any leads."


    He licked his lips. "I found out all the footage and tracked him down manually. I got a private investigator too." He looked at her sheepishly.


    "What are you trying to tell me, Mo Qingchen?" she demanded.


    "I got the private investigator to track down the guy and give me every little information he could possibly find on the perpetrator."


    "And when did this happen?" she asked.


    "I got all the information yesterday."


    "Yesterday? When you told me you were finishing things before deadline?" she cried out.


    "I am telling you now."


    She glared at him. "You could have told me yesterday, Mo Qingchen. What about the gun?" she inquired.


    "Our alarms went off in the house and the person trying to break in ran away. It was the same guy. I wasn''t sure if there were people following us, so I had a gun on me."


    Qian Meng searched in her eyes to see that he was telling the truth. "Why didn''t you tell me earlier?"


    "Because I didn''t want you to be scared again."


    Qian Meng hid her face in her palms. "You tracked down the man who was trying to hurt me and you are casually telling me you found him now? Like we are talking about the weather?"

 Chapter 316: Kill Him With My Bare Hands

    She suddenly dreaded what would come next.


    "Why did you track him down and not hand him over to the police?"


    "At first, I just wanted to hand him over to the police," he stated calmly. "But then I realized it would be too easy."


    Qian Meng looked at him with concern. "What did you do?" she demanded.


    "I found out everything I possibly could about him."


    "And?" she prompted. "What did you find?"


    "He works are a local motorcycle shop. Or he was. The shop was owned by an older man. They had four locations. The guy was in jail before and got a job there and swiftly went up to being a manager. He was set to buy the shops over once the owner retired."


    Qian Meng''s heart constricted in her chest. She didn''t want to know anything about this man. She wanted him behind the bars. She was fighting hard to leave that experience in the past. And now Mo Qingchen was taking matters into his own hands.


    "What did you do?" she repeated.


    "I made the owner an offer he couldn''t refuse. I purchased the business, shut it down, and sold everything in bits and pieces. The man has no job."


    Qian Meng stiffened. "What did you accomplish doing that?"


    "I am not finished. The investigator found that this perp was having an affair with a married woman. I had the investigator mail all the photographic evidence to her husband in hopes the woman would break it off with the perp and the husband would make him suffer."


    Qian Meng gasped. "The woman¡­ what about her?"


    He shook his head immediately. "She is okay. But the perpetrator now has no choice but to take another big job to start a new life. He needs savings and a safe place to stay."


    "You almost ruined that woman''s life," she said.


    "She shouldn''t have been cheating then," he told her calmly. Almost ruthlessly. "People who cheat do not deserve our pity," he reminded her.


    "Okay. She was wrong. But why involve her?"


    "Because I needed to corner the perpetrator into taking a job."


    Qian Meng stared at him. "And you are not going to tell me what you have planned next, right?"


    "Of course. I know you are soft-hearted. You will turn him over to the police and the people behind him won''t get punished. So, I am not going to let you stop me."


    She shuddered. "You''re going to destroy him?"


    "No. He will go to jail. You don''t need to worry about that. I am just making sure that he can''t escape." She could see the determination in his eyes.


    "And what about Bai Ye Qing? He is already in jail. What problems is he facing and what did you do to make it happen?"


    "I''ll tell you everything." He touched her knee, trying to appease her. "I purchased the flat Jia Ai would live in after she comes out of jail. When Chen Yue rents an apartment, I will do the same. Every time they try to make a fresh start, I am going to get them evicted and then sell everything off."


    She quietly watched him.


    "Bai Ye Qing won''t live happily in jail either. By now, the people in his location must have found out that he ratted their bosses out."


    "Bai Ye Qing did that?"


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "He wanted protection so he told the police everything about his clients and the crimes he was committing with them. Some bad people will go to jail." He smiled.


    He looked positively terrifying. "Mo Qingchen¡­ how would people inside the jail know that?" She wasn''t sure if she wanted to know the answer.


    "Because I sneaked the news in." His tone was matter-of-fact.


    "Why the hell would you do that?" It was actually how cunningly he put people to death that bothered her the most like he didn''t care about the lives of others. She wanted people punished but not cruelly.


    "Qian Meng, I told you that I would protect you fro¡ª"


    He cut her short. "Protect me? This is not protecting me. You are taking revenge!" she yelled.


    "Qian Meng¡ª"


    "How could you do that? That is the opposite of protecting me. It''s even worse than I thought. What is Mr. Bai going to do if he finds out that my husband is responsible for all of this?" she asked.


    "He is not going to find out. I was very careful to keep anonymity."


    She watched him as her anger mounted. "How could you? How dare you mess with people behind my back? We are supposed to be a team!"


    "We are a team! That is why I¡ª"


    "That''s why you what? That''s why you did all of this? Without even consulting me?" She stopped. "No, you didn''t feel like you needed to consult me. Because you didn''t think I deserved to know. Or maybe you thought I don''t get a choice in all of this. How would you feel if I did such things without your knowledge?" she questioned.


    In two seconds, she went from absolutely fuming to completely devastated. One second, she was glaring at him and in the next, she completely broke down.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t miss a beat as he took her into his arms. She wanted to push him off herself. She wanted to yell and tell him not to touch her. Hell, she even wanted to slap her. But she didn''t.


    Instead, she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and cried loudly against his chest.


    "I could kill Bai Ye Qing with my bare hands for what he has done to you. I could kill them all for making you suffer," he confessed.


    She recoiled slightly. That wasn''t what she had expected him to say. "Mo Qingchen, don''t say that. Don''t give them the power to make you so angry. That''s all in the past. It was just a dream. You can''t hold a grudge against people who could have been bad." She tried to make him see reason.


    "It''s not a dream. And it''s not in the past, Qian Meng."

 Chapter 317: I Dont Even Remember His Name

    She was caught off guard by him raising his voice. Her hands immediately fell from her chest.


    "Mo Qingchen¡­"


    "It wasn''t a dream at all. Bai Ye Qing is a monster and it all happened. In fact, he is here right now, between us."


    Qian Meng slouched, feeling defeated.


    "What? You don''t know? Don''t you feel how he has ruined our chances to be together? Because I sure as hell see it."


    He growled. She didn''t know what to do. She knew his anger was directed towards Bai Ye Qing and not her, but all she wanted to do was make things better. The question remained. Why was he doing all this?


    "Tell me¡­ what do you want me to do?" she pleaded.


    "Stop it," he demanded. "I just want both of us to be happy and as long as that man is alive and haunting you, it''s not possible for us. When you told me exactly how he tortured you, I felt I was dying inside. I see the pain in your eyes when someone mentions him. I see the panic when you think about something related to that time. And it''s all because of that fucking bastard!"


    Just like last night, tears filled his eyes as they burned into hers.


    "You want to save yourself from the pain and you keep telling yourself that it was all a dream. But I can imagine just how desperate and pained you must have been. Qian Meng¡­ I was at your funeral," he choked out.


    "My¡­ funeral?" she whispered.


    "I was just watching the news and they said you were depressed and you killed yourself. I went to the funeral. It was all covered up. And all those sycophants attended the funeral. I was so¡­ empty." He cried. "I knew the gist of what had happened. You asked me why I was torturing them? Because I can''t torture them from that universe. Because I can''t make you forget it, Qian Meng."


    "You do make me forget all of that, Qingchen!" she cried. "When you kiss me, I don''t even remember his name."


    "If that was true, my lips would never part from yours."


    "Then kiss me," she begged. "I want you. Only you. Those other things don''t matter."


    "I can''t be with you like this. Not now. I feel like I could literally rip someone''s head off for what happened to you. You deserve to be with me at my best when I don''t resemble that monster."


    "I don''t understand¡­" she mumbled.


    He was angry at Bai Ye Qing and the others. Not her. She had to remind herself that.


    "I don''t know until which point you were conscious in that parallel universe but I lived for years after you did. I saw how your family was devastated. I just can''t help but think it was all my fault."


    He gulped.


    "Some nights, I wake up in cold sweat because I am scared that I will be in a different universe where you are not alive. That I couldn''t protect you from those bastards. I can''t sleep, Qian Meng. I am so scared."


    "I''m alive. I''m fine!" she told him desperately. "It''s okay."


    She hadn''t processed what she was saying, in reality. All she could think about was how desperate he was to protect her. And then it slowly seeped in.


    "You knew?" she asked. "You were there? It was not a dream?"


    Mo Qingchen nodded, despite his emotions. "I don''t exactly know what it was. You thought it was a dream and I thought it was a glitch in the matrix. Somehow, the fabric of the universe was out of balance and both of us ended up in this parallel universe where all the bad things hadn''t happened."


    Qian Meng gulped. "Parallel universe¡­" she muttered. "Like reincarnation in those novels?" she asked.


    He furrowed his brow. "There must be a scientific explanation to this." He shrugged, but his whole body was stiff.


    "That means¡­" Her eyes widened in horror. "What is your last memory in that¡­ parallel universe?" she asked.


    "It was all a blur of constant work," he admitted. "After you died, I really couldn''t function properly. I felt responsible. I just worked and worked. I couldn''t sleep. After my greatest project was completed, I just went to sleep."


    "Then?" she asked. "What happened then?" She shook his shoulders, waiting for an answer.


    "I woke up in my old office," he told her.


    She gasped as she put the things together. "You absolute fool."


    The topic at hand had changed. This was more important.


    "Huh?"


    "You died! From overwork!" she exclaimed. "What do you think happens when you don''t sleep? Your body shut down, Mo Qingchen!" she said. "And why didn''t you tell me before?" she asked.


    "I don''t know about that." He looked away. "But I figured out that you were the same Qian Meng from that world. When you got drunk the first time we drank together. You told me¡­"


    She grew eerily silent.


    "And you didn''t think you should bring this up before?"


    "What could I have said? You drunkenly said some things that fell in line with what I knew. I could have only heard what I wanted to, or been completely wrong about what you meant," he started.


    "You could have tried."


    "What did you expect me to say? Hey, Yun Qian Meng, You died a miserable death in the universe I lived in previously and I can''t let that happen to you again. Would you have believed me?" He pressed his lips together.


    "If I was not who I am, no. But I¡­ I am that Yun Qian Meng. I would have believed you."


    He shook his head. "I wasn''t sure. And I wouldn''t have told you even if I was. Hindsight is¡­ terrible." He did look regretful.


    The doorbell rang and Mo Qingchen picked himself up to a stand. "It''s the food. It''s finally here. Will you feed me?" he asked.


    She nodded.


    She followed him into the dining area and saw an employee walk in with two plates. He placed them and then deposited the mug of black coffee on the table.


    The smell wafted through the air. She could see the employee eyeing them. They must have looked like a mess. They had both cried.

 Chapter 318: Im Not Dying Tomorrow

    Qian Meng''s eyes were probably red and glassy. And she knew Mo Qingchen looked the same.


    The guy left quickly, leaving them to their own devices.


    Mo Qingchen sat down and took the mug into his hand.


    He took a sip of his coffee and then sighed as he looked at her.


    "You''re mad at me for not telling you sooner," he stated.


    Tears filled her eyes as she rubbed her hands over her face. Was she mad at him? It felt wrong to be mad at someone who had died and come back to rescue her at all costs. But she was definitely hurt.


    "I just¡­" she hesitated for a moment, trying to reign in her emotions. "Why wouldn''t you tell me, Mo Qingchen? You already figured out that I had a similar experience, but you didn''t tell me. I could have been with you longer. I just don''t understand why you would let me sit there, completely oblivious, doing nothing¡ª"


    She was so sick of crying, but the sobs came back in full force.


    "I probably should have told you, Qian Meng. You may hate me for the rest of your life for not doing so, but I didn''t want to put you through that hell once again. Between me telling you everything and you someday revealing the strange but scarring dream you had, I thought we would figure it out. I wanted our time together to be unburdened, I guess. I didn''t want the dark cloud of doubt looming over us all the time. I guess, I thought that if you didn''t know, it would be easier. I didn''t want to drag it out. But sometimes I will say or do things that are unprecedented and you will think I am evil. But I am stopping things from happening before they did in that world."


    She made a terrible sound of pain somewhere between her sobs, loud enough to cut him off from speaking further.


    "It''s not enough. You¡­ you are giving up everything for me. For some guilt that you hold on to? Why? Do you realize that the guilt ate you up? You are too young. I''m too young to lose you. If you continue on like this¡­ you''ll die in a few years." She wailed. "I don''t want to be a widow so young. Even if I look fabulous, I don''t want it!"


    Mo Qingchen was going to chuckle but he couldn''t.


    "Qian Meng, don''t cry. Please," he pleased. His eyes blurred as tears filled them. "Please don''t cry."


    He reached across the table to take her hand but she couldn''t bear to look at him. Her eyes remained locked on her water bottle.


    "It''s not fair," she continued. "I can''t let you do this¡­"


    "You listen to me, Qian Meng," Mo Qingchen instructed. "You are going to be just fine. I am going to be just fine. We are both strong and we will get through this. I don''t have a single doubt in my head that we will overcome anything that the universe throws at us. You are going to stand at the top of the world alongside me, we will be happily married and every dream that we ever had will come true." His voice shook as more tears came from him. "If you want, we will have children together someday and you are going to be a wonderful mother."


    "Stop," she begged, cutting him off once again. "Don''t do that. Don''t reassure me like that. It sounds like you are saying goodbye. The way you keep working and getting no sleep. The way you throw yourself into protecting me. Mo Qingchen, it scares me. Do you want to die?"


    "I''m so sorry, Qian Meng." She looked up to see him wiping tears from his cheeks. "I''m sorry for putting you through this."


    Qian Meng took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.


    "I''ll wrap up work here quickly and we will go home. Once we are there, I will start taking care of you," she sniffed.


    She hadn''t given any thought to this, at least not until she stated what was on her mind. It was just instinct. She just knew that she needed to be there with him as long as she could. "I want to stay beside you and make sure you are taking care of yourself."


    "Qian Meng, you have work left here. I can''t ask you to put everything on hold and come home with me. And I am definitely not going to ask you to spend every moment taking care of me," he insisted.


    "You''re not asking me. I''m telling you."


    "But your work. You have a lot to take care of."


    "Do you think my work matters more to me than you? You already took away so much time from me. You are not going to take the rest of our time together away, too!" she answered, raising her voice.


    "It''s not like I am dying tomorrow," he groaned.


    She was floored that he would even argue with her about this. Why wouldn''t he want her to come home? And either way, he needed her. Who else would take care of him? Who else could make him follow their instructions?


    She didn''t know how much work she needed to put into getting his body into shape, but she was sure that it would worsen if she didn''t take charge quickly.


    He must have noticed her plotting, so he responded. "Okay." He held up his hand in surrender. "You''re right. I should have told you sooner and I should follow your instructions. God knows I am not going to argue over having you around at home."


    "Good, because it is not up for discussion," she replied stubbornly.


    "But you have to promise me something, Qian Meng," he paused for a moment. "You have to complete your work before accompanying me home. I don''t mind going through some hoops and working from a distance."

 Chapter 319: Bad Things Will Happen

    He gave her a small smile. "If you come home with me, I don''t want to have you worry about every single thing you are leaving undone. I don''t want you stuck in guilt or whatever it is you are feeling right now. I need you to get up and take control. No more crying."


    She shook her head adamantly. "I get it. I''ll finish my work here before going back. Okay?"


    "Okay. It''s decided," he told her. "Now, will you feed me?" he asked.


    She nodded readily and took her plate with her. She sat next to him as he turned back to the laptop and started to work. She didn''t look at his screen but found herself wanting to say something.


    "This is all the conversation we can handle for now. When you are done with work and we have both had some fresh air, we will talk about the rest, okay?"


    He hummed. Now that he had unburdened everything, he could easily tell her everything on his mind. This seemed to be the one thing that kept holding them back. Now that it was all out in the open, he was sure they could communicate better.


    It was close to nine at night when they finished their work. Qian Meng recognized that her emotional volatility made her hungrier, and Mo Qingchen never turned down an offer to eat good food.


    "Are you done with work?" she asked tentatively after coming out of the bedroom. He looked up.


    "Sorry. Just finishing up," he apologized quickly.


    "No. It''s okay. I''m the one who should apologize. I don''t want to interrupt your work," she said.


    "This is important," he said out of the blue. Qian Meng gave him a small smile, appreciating that spending time with her mattered to him. "You''re important," he finished.


    "You''re being awfully mushy," she teased.


    He nodded. "We need to get something to eat and some fresh air." He took his cellphone in his hand. "I''ll just grab my wallet. We still have a lot to talk about, don''t you think?"


    She nodded and waited until he returned with his wallet. He extended his hand towards her, waiting. She took it readily.


    They walked out of the room and found the bodyguard already waiting outside.


    "You called him out?" Qian Meng whispered to her husband.


    "Yeah. I texted him," he said with a guilty smile.


    "We should treat him to good food. We''re really making him work hard, aren''t we?" she stated.


    Mo Qingchen chuckled. They walked down the street, admiring the stores until they found one which they liked.


    "Would you like to sit with us?" Qian Meng asked the bodyguard. His eyes flashed to the woman and he shook his head. "Oh, that''s a shame," she said in a low voice.


    The bodyguard was seated right beside their table, and Qian Meng found herself leaning forward to speak to Mo Qingchen. "I have never had a bodyguard before. Do they usually act so cold?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "They don''t like conversing with the people they are protecting apart from work-related issues. It gives them the distance required to do their job." He looked at her deeply. "I know you want to treat people well and equally, but some jobs require a complete cold-hearted approach. Bodyguards are that kind of people."


    Qian Meng nodded in understanding. "Do you think he will mind if I pay for his meal, at least?" It was a na?ve question to ask.


    Mo Qingchen shook his head. "I don''t know the answer to that. In my experience, they usually buy their own food. But if you insist on paying, they won''t mind. Ask him what he prefers," he told her.


    She looked down at the menu and was looking over it when the encounter with Bai Ye Qing popped into her head. Suddenly, she felt too distracted to give much thought to what she wanted to eat. Hanging out and having dinner together was something they thought about doing often, but they never really had the time to. They had just had a huge fight and she wasn''t sure how she felt about it.


    Had she been too soft after finding out how much he had suffered? Should she have been angrier at him for doing things behind her back?


    "What''s wrong? Do you not want to eat here?" he asked.


    "No, it''s not that."


    "Then what is it?" he asked curiously.


    She sighed and placed the menu down on the table. "I was so angry when you told me what you had done. I was ready to rip you a new one. And then I am sitting there, looking at you and¡­" she trailed off.


    "And what?"


    "And I''m not angry anymore." She groaned.


    "You''re upset because you want to be enraged?" he asked, raising his brow in question.


    "No. Yes. But when you say it like it, I sound like a lunatic," she admitted.


    "To be honest, I don''t think I will ever understand you. But I like that," he chuckled.


    She rolled her eyes. "God. It''s not about that. How do you say the most perfect thing one second and something completely wrong in the next?" she asked. "It''s driving me crazy."


    He stood up from his chair and walked around the table to her side. He put his hand on the armrest of her chair, turning it as if she was weightless so that she was facing the chair next to her.


    He sat down and turned his chair in her direction and pulled her closer. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, close enough that their fingertips were barely touching.


    "As long as we are talking about things, we have to accept that bad things will happen. I am going to mess up¡­ probably a lot. And you''ll mess up too. Let''s be honest," he stopped and looked deeply into her eyes. "Neither of us have any significant experience with relationships."

 Chapter 320: I Am Not Sorry

    "At least, not romantic ones. I have never been in a relationship, meaning I haven''t been accountable to anyone other than myself for over a decade now."


    And he was right. If they had any shot at being able to be together functionally, they had a very long way to go.


    "I guess we both have a lot to learn, huh?"


    "We do," he agreed. "But the important thing is¡­ I want to learn. Do you?"


    All she had to do was look him in the eyes to know her answer. "Yes, I want to be married to you."


    "Well, that''s a start."


    Instantly, Qian Meng felt a little better. She reminded herself that they didn''t have to change overnight. Baby steps were okay as long as they were moving forward.


    "Well, I have no doubt that we will be able to work through all of these obstacles. We are both obviously passionate about each other and committed to this relationship. We''ll be able to do it," she said confidently. It was more like putting good things into the world. If she positively looked at the situation, they would have a better chance! "Let''s start right now!" she demanded.


    "What do you mean?"


    "For a first," she picked up her menu and handed it to him. "You can order me some delicious food. And then you can tell me all about what you did after the funeral," she stated.


    He looked at her in awe for a moment. "You''re really bossy," he grumbled. "Okay."


    He told her bit by bit about what he had done and her eyes sparkled with wonder. When he was done, she looked at him dreamily.


    "You''re a really dedicated man. Do you know that men are the sexiest when they work?" she told him. He chuckled softly.


    "Is that so?"


    "You even used your past experience to complete your best project ahead of time," she said promptly. "Now, that is a cunning businessman if I have seen one." She gave him a blinding smile. "But you also gave up a lot to do that," she said, her smile falling.


    He looked at her curiously. "You haven''t been sleeping a lot lately, and some of it has to do with me. So, even if you slow down a little, it won''t change the future by a lot. Let''s live a healthy and long life," she insisted.


    He nodded enthusiastically. "What about the other things I did? The ones that enraged you?"


    Ah, so he had brought it up once again.


    She frowned. "You shouldn''t have done those things. I know they harmed me in another world, but they didn''t do it here. Maybe the outcome would have been different. They shouldn''t be punished for the crimes they haven''t committed yet, don''t you think?" she asked.


    He shook his head. "I did it because they were capable of doing it and worse. You made them hate you and they would have done something far worse sooner or later." He stopped. "Try to understand. It was all I could do to not literally kill them."


    She clutched his hand in a tight grip.


    "I understand. But you brought them into our relationship more than they already were," she insisted.


    He exhaled. "I know it probably wasn''t the best decision. I let my anger get the best of me. You were right. I convinced myself that what I was doing was in the name of protecting you, but it was about revenge. The more I have been able to destroy their lives, the better I felt about the whole thing. I will admit to it."


    She rubbed small circles on the back of his hand. "And I thought I was the immature one."


    "I''m sorry," he said automatically.


    "No, you are not." She knew this for a fact.


    He amended his statement quickly. "I am not sorry for what I am doing to the people who want to harm you. But I am sorry that it hurt you."


    She shook her head in disbelief. "You are just telling me that you won''t stop going after them. Is that it?"


    "Yes. But this time, I will inform you about the results. You won''t have to find out in a way that hurts you or makes you suspicious of me."


    What else could she expect? The fact that he was willing to share the dark side of him was enough for her. For now.


    Actually, Qian Meng hadn''t noticed that the restaurant they were sitting in was quite romantic. It was amusing to see the bodyguard ready for threats when the lights in the restaurant were dim and couples filled the tables.


    She watched the waiter on their way back, carrying their glasses and plates of food.


    Qian Meng couldn''t keep the smile off her face when the meal was placed in front of them. They began eating and it turned out to be amazing. The circulation in the restaurant was nothing short of nice and the scent of food wafted through the air gently. It all provided an ambiance of complete perfection. Maybe it was not the place at all, but the man sitting with her. It felt like a dream to be with him.


    They both ate quickly, in relative silence. They were both famished after a long day of work and battling out their emotions. And the food was so good that they scarfed it down. Once they were finished, their plates scraped clean, they lingered.


    They sipped on the cocktail Mo Qingchen had ordered. They looked out of the restaurant into the streets where people still walked without pause. The candle between them still burned, illuminating their faces and giving them a warm glow. Mo Qingchen looked especially beautiful under its warm embrace.


    "Can I say that this is the best trip I have ever been on?" she sighed happily.


    Mo Qingchen raised his brow. "Better than Bora Bora?"


    Their honeymoon had been excellent, but this was different. She had always wanted a vacation and it was wonderful to travel, but this was much more exciting in several ways.

 Chapter 321: My Uptight Husband

    Things had changed between Mo Qingchen and her. To be completely honest, despite the trip being for business, she was just excited to have him accompany him. Mo Qingchen put out his heart on the table and demanded she do the same. Qian Meng could see that he wanted her to be secure in their relationship, to experience something special. And she was.


    "We should travel more often," Mo Qingchen said decisively.


    "We should," she agreed. "We should make time from our busy schedules and just travel like this."


    He smiled. "We can go anywhere you want. All you have to do is tell me where you want to go and I will take care of the rest."


    She laughed. "You really like planning trips and food tours, don''t you?" she teased. "You know¡­ I would have figured that we would have gone out and had more food by now. But the time since our wedding has gone by so fast¡­"


    "It has," he agreed. "It has gone by very fast and we missed out on a long time because we solely focused on work."


    "The underside of being the boss, I suppose."


    "The coming year will be better."


    "Our time together wasn''t bad, Qingchen. Well, I mean, aside from all the people out to get me and us fighting." Saying it out loud put a lump in her throat.


    "A lot has happened. Maybe ''better'' isn''t the right word. I hope the year will be calmer," he amended when he saw her expression.


    She nodded vehemently. "Things will settle once the launch of The Shift is taken care of."


    Mo Qingchen watched her intently. "After this, you will have to work on the launch of the next line. Then the external audit for the Bais'' company will come out. God knows what will happen after that," he said softly.


    "Ugh, don''t talk about those things," she groaned. "I just want to live in this moment until I absolutely have to worry about those things. I can''t constantly be stressing out over what is going to happen next."


    "Why? You have all the plans in place. You should be excited to make progress, right?"


    "Yes, but that doesn''t mean I look forward to the stress."


    "I seem to enjoy the stress," he said with a shrug.


    "Yes, because you are boring," she teased. He was quiet for a moment.


    "Do you really think that?" he asked.


    Qian Meng laughed and took a sip of her drink. "I was joking, Mo Qingchen."


    "But do you think I am boring?"


    "What?" she was affronted. "No!"


    "Are you sure?" he pressed.


    "Why do you care so much?" she asked, surprised.


    "It''s something I have thought of before. It seems like you have more fun with other people than you do with me." It was an honest confession. Qian Meng sat up straight, trying to understand what he was actually saying.


    "What? Where is this even coming from?"


    He was quiet for a second. "You have fun when you partied with Marcus. You also had so much fun with Mo Yize when you guys hung out all the time. It just seemed like you enjoyed being around them than you had fun with me."


    "Wait," she laughed. "Is this really something you have thought about before?" she asked.


    "Yes. It hasn''t gone unnoticed."


    "That I have fun with friends?"


    "Yes."


    "Qingchen¡­" she shook her head, trying not to laugh when he was telling his feelings. "How can I not have fun with them? They are absolutely wild. Just being with them makes me wonder what they are high on."


    "I guess," Mo Qingchen responded.


    "Are you jealous of my friendship with your sister? How did you even know about what we did?" she asked.


    "I didn''t say I was jealous." He paused. "Mo Yize couldn''t stop talking about her friend. She would give all the details. She was a lot better with interacting and not fighting with mom back in those days," he informed her softly. "I got a lot of insider information on you, as well." He smirked.


    Qian Meng remembered the things she used to talk to Mo Yize about and felt embarrassment set in.


    She quickly changed the topic. "You didn''t say you were jealous, but it is written all over your face!"


    He squinted. "Maybe."


    "Of course I used to have fun with Mo Yize in university. And I like being wild once in a while. But that doesn''t mean that I don''t have fun with you or I think that you are boring. It''s different with you."


    "Different?" he perked up.


    She nodded. "Different," she confirmed. "I don''t do the same things with you that I would do with friends. I have fun with you. It''s just a different kind of fun."


    "I see."


    She snickered at his expression.


    "I am not trying to console you. It''s true that you can be a little uptight sometimes, but I feel good being around you."


    "Uptight?"


    "Yeah. You''re a lot better now. I want to see you let loose, relax a little more, too." She watched his expression change.


    "I relax," he countered.


    "You do? Because I can have fun with you, but sometimes I feel like you''re the one who has never had any fun."


    He tilted his head towards her. "I have fun. Maybe my idea of fun is different from yours."


    "I guess," she allowed.


    "I''m having a lot of fun now. I just have a good poker face," he deadpanned.


    She laughed and shook her head at him.


    "I bet that a few months ago, you wouldn''t have even thought about this. You wouldn''t consider whether I was having fun with you or not. You wouldn''t have cared¡­"


    He looked at her, thoughtfully. "Qian Meng, there are a lot of things I think about now that I wouldn''t have guessed I would be concerned with a few months ago."


    She studied his face carefully. She didn''t want to miss the change in his expression as he told her more.

 Chapter 322: I Think About You All the Time

    "Like what?" She rested her elbows on the table and placed her chin in her palms.


    He continued to look at her pensively for a few more moments before blinking slowly. His face seemed to soften as it often did these days when he looked at her. She bit her lip as his eyes searched hers.


    "Alright, here comes my moment of openness that we are working on."


    Excitement bubbled in her.


    "I''m listening," she encouraged.


    "The honest answer is that I think about you¡­ all the time. Every day, maybe even every moment at the back of my mind. I''m just always thinking about you. Maybe it''s in the smallest of ways, but you are always there." He gulped. "I think about you in every decision I make. Or just now, when you laughed, I was thinking about how I could make you do that again."


    ''Oh my.''


    "You have the brightest smile, did you know that? Your nose scrunches up and your eyes sparkle and it''s the cutest fucking thing I have ever seen in my life."


    Qian Meng had to admit that it was hard to breathe at that moment. But she inhaled sharply. That was not what she was expecting him to say. What was she supposed to respond to that?


    "Oh¡­" He didn''t seem to notice her response.


    "I often wonder if I am keeping you back from living to the fullest. I want to see you dance. I know you love that," he confessed. "Sometimes, you''ll shimmy around when you are in the bathroom or wandering around the room. You even do it during your skincare routine."


    "You notice me a lot¡­" She couldn''t believe it.


    "Too open?" he asked. He was clearly wary.


    She shook her head. "Of course, not. You could never be too open with me. It''s just fascinating. Who would have thought you could be such a romantic?"


    He raised a brow. "I am not. Well, I have never been romantic before," he admitted. "I''m just being honest. If what I am saying is romantic, I guess it is something you bring out in me."


    Qian Meng thought about it for a moment. She seemed to remember something her grandmother used to say when she was really young. While her parents weren''t the ideal couple, her maternal grandparents were a different thing. She would tell Qian Meng stories of her grandfather. And she always said that she didn''t fall in love with him for who he was. She fell in love because of who she was when she was with him.


    Mo Qingchen''s words and feelings with her were new for him.


    How could he randomly hit her with these honest moments that made her swoon? He was so different now and she couldn''t help but wonder if it was happy the way he acted when he was with her than when he was without her beside him.


    Another thing her grandmother said came to her. She hadn''t understood it until she realized she was experiencing it with Mo Qingchen.


    He had exhibited this behavior several times, in big and small ways. From making her drinks every morning to driving her around, making sure to destroy everyone who could harm her¡­ Mo Qingchen had shown her that he thought of her before he thought of himself.


    It was a big realization. She didn''t have to wonder if Mo Qingchen was feeling what she was for him. She already knew.


    "What I wouldn''t give to read your mind right now," he muttered.


    "What?" she asked, finally snapping out of her thoughts as she looked back over at him.


    "You look like you are in deep thought. Care you share?"


    She bit her lip. "You know how I always complain that you are hard to figure out? But I think I am starting to." Her eyes twinkled with delight.


    "Starting to figure me out?"


    "Yeah!"


    "Oh?" He laughed. "Should I test you?"


    "I only understood a little," she smiled. "But a little bit at a time is good. No tests."


    Qian Meng finished off the rest of her drink and glanced at Mo Qingchen''s to find it empty.


    "Should we order more?" he asked.


    "I''m okay for now. I actually want to take a walk to digest all this food," she answered, gesturing towards the street.


    "Let''s go, then," he urged. He looked over at the bodyguard. He looked like he was done.


    Qian Meng followed his eyes and remembered. "It''s my treat. I pulled you away from your leisure time, so." She gave him a blinding smile. It seemed to have no effect on the man.


    "Don''t smile at people like that," Qinchen advised.


    "Why?"


    "I don''t want to fend off men with a stick. It was already hard to get married to you," he joked.


    "His expression didn''t even change. You don''t need to worry. I think my charm only works on you," she whispered in a conspiratorial tone. He scoffed and shook his head.


    "Let''s go." He didn''t want to tell her that most people hid their emotions really well and only she couldn''t see how mean turned to look at her all the time.


    - - - - -


    They were in their room and Qian Meng looked out towards the pool longingly. "I want to check out the water in the pool. I didn''t get to enjoy it when I jumped in after you," she said.


    Mo Qingchen looked at his watch and nodded. "Go ahead. I''m sure the water will feel great. It''s already been an hour since you ate, so you can take a swim."


    Qian Meng snickered. "You''re talking like a grandpa. Come with me, let''s change."


    Qian Meng went through her luggage and found the bikini she had brought for herself. She had thought she would be alone, so she picked out a bright orange bikini. She could imagine Mo Qingchen''s horror at the color and had to smile as she put it on.


    Just as she was about to tie the halter top around her neck, Mo Qingchen emerged from the bathroom in black swim shorts.

 Chapter 323: The Jokes on Me

    She felt herself blush as she looked at him. The effect his body had on her only seemed to grow more intense as her feelings grew for him.


    "Is that bikini new?" he asked as his eyes moved over her body.


    "I bought it a long time ago. Never had the opportunity to wear it," she said quickly.


    "Its looks¡­" he trailed off.


    "It looks what?" She smiled as she walked over to him, swaying her hops as she moved.


    "I was saying that it looks good on you. But I think it''s you that makes it look good." He shook his head in disbelief. "How do you manage to pull off the most hideous looking things?"


    She laughed hard as she took his hand.


    "Come on."


    She led him outside and down the short stairs and into the water. I was dark out and if she were alone, she would be a little scared to go into the water. She had a fear of pools in the dead of the night, but she often ventured into them with Mo Qingchen. She felt like she couldn''t see what was in the water unless the sun was up.


    But the moon was big and bright and she could see Mo Qingchen perfectly even without the lights in the room.


    She let go of his hand and waded out. The water was the perfect temperature, warm but still refreshing.


    "The view from here is so beautiful. Isn''t it the best view ever?" she asked. Their pool was heated and looked over the building. The infinity pool was sought after and rather famous. She would have to thank Li Min for booking this room later on.


    "It''s up there," he said with a nod.


    "Up there?"


    He nodded. "It is beautiful."


    She was clearly more impressed than he was, and she was beginning to wonder about all the other places he had been and the beautiful things he had seen. Where had he gone? Did he have someone with him?


    She decided to be honest. "Have you ever taken other women to beautiful places?" she asked.


    "No," he answered immediately. "I had no reason to."


    "You always travelled alone? Did you enjoy it?"


    He hesitated before answering her. "I have never had a relationship with a woman before. Why would I bring them somewhere with me?"


    "Good question." Now she felt a little stupid for asking.


    "I did enjoy going places and eating good food alone. But now that I think about it, I might have enjoyed it more if I had gone with you." Actually, he looked forward to it now.


    "I want to go too." She sighed. "I think I will have to rethink my work hours very seriously," she contemplated.


    They were silent for a moment. "I have always been curious about one thing. Can I ask?"


    He nodded.


    "I remembered because I brought up other women¡­ We never really had really personal sex, did we? In the beginning, we were always facing away from each other."


    "And?" Mo Qingchen prompted.


    "Was it the same between you and the other women? I always wondered why¡­ What was it like with other women?"


    Mo Qingchen blinked. "Do you really want to know about the way I had sex with other women?"


    "I''m just curious. I won''t be jealous," she shrugged.


    "No. I didn''t only have sex with them from behind."


    She felt a lump in her throat. Her mind began racing with insecurities. Was she not as attractive as those other women?


    "Oh."


    "But it was because of that¡­ that I tried to keep it from you."


    She scrunched her brow in confusion. "What does that mean?"


    "You know what my intentions were when I proposed to you. I didn''t think either of us needed romantic feelings for me to keep you out of harm''s way. Actually, there haven''t been that many women, and even though all of them knew that I was emotional unavailable, some of them did expect more from me later on." He stopped to look at her.


    "You didn''t want me to develop feelings for you," she stated.


    "No. I didn''t. I was trying to take measures to prevent it from happening," he explained.


    "I see. Well, you think awfully highly of yourself!" she joked, even thought her voice was a little strained.


    "The joke is on me, though. I am the one who developed feelings, regardless of all the measures I took myself." His lips twitched upwards.


    The words softened her a little. He may have acted a certain way because of his intentions in the beginning but it wasn''t that way any longer.


    Mo Qingchen stepped closer to her and Qian Meng went to him.


    "You''re not alone in that," she told him, placing her hands on his sides.


    "I am thankful for that. I have a closer look at what those women might have felt. If I had developed feelings for you and you didn''t reciprocate¡­" he paused thoughtfully. "It would have been difficult."


    She agreed. "I am glad it didn''t happen to me alone, too. I would have been hurt. But I kind of feel sorry for those women, too. They didn''t get to see you like this." She pinched his cheek.


    "Okay. We need to stop talking about other women. I don''t want to spend any more of my time with you talking about inconsequential people." He looked very serious.


    "We won''t talk about them, then," she agreed.


    Qian Meng floated on the water for a while before her thoughts caught up to her. "I can''t believe I told you about that dreaded dream that felt too real. Apparently, all of it happened in real."


    Actually, the concept fascinated her from time to time.


    Mo Qingchen rested on the side, watching her. "How does it feel to finally tell someone? After keeping it to yourself for all this time?"


    She pondered on the question as she turned and stood up. It felt good that they both knew the story.

 Chapter 324: Youre My Man

    It had also to do with him not pushing her too much. She didn''t feel backed into a corner. And she felt a little guilty that she had forced him to tell things to her.


    She wanted to tell him and that was what made the difference.


    She stretched up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. "It feels like I was waiting for the right person to tell. You''re my person."


    After the storm and her cutting off her family, he really was her person.


    "I like the sound of that."


    And because she felt the same, she reached up to kiss his jaw.


    "You''re my man," she whispered as her lips pressed light kisses towards his lips.


    He could tell that she was trying to keep her balance and struggling. The water sloshed around her as she stretched up on the very tips of her toes to kiss him. He was too tall.


    So, he moved his hands down from her hips to her thighs as he bent down a little and hoisted her into his arms.


    Qian Meng wrapped her legs around his waist and smiled.


    Mo Qingchen always handled her so effortlessly. What women didn''t like the feel of being weightless in her man''s arms?


    "I like the sound of that even more," he said, looking up at her instead of down.


    They looked into each other''s eyes for a long time. His were intense, full of what was growing between them and he couldn''t express.


    He felt it bubbling inside of him. He felt it creep into his chest. He couldn''t pinpoint the exact moment he started to feel this way, but he knew there was no going back. Qian Meng had changed him in a way that he would never be the same again.


    It was terrifying and wonderful. He felt so much that he might have wanted to puke.


    "What are we doing?" he asked her quietly, his voice shaking a little.


    Qian Meng looked at him hesitantly for a split second before taking a deep breath. Now that she knew his feelings, she wouldn''t hold back her words.


    "We''re falling in love."


    He wasn''t quite sure of that word but he also didn''t have anything to say at that moment. There was nothing adequate to express how he felt. So, instead, he kissed her.


    She put her hand on the back of his head and pulled him to her as his lips descended upon hers passionately. Like this, she would meet him in the middle.


    It started off slow and sweet, but it heated up quickly. His hands were busy holding her, but hers grabbed and pulled at him in a frantic attempt to get closer to him. They moaned against each other''s lips simultaneously.


    Then he did that thing where he would bite her bottom lip and then suck on it. And she was wet.


    "Qingchen," she moaned.


    He quieted her by pushing his tongue into her mouth and moving against her. His body was in perfect rhythm with hers.


    Suddenly, they were moving. Qian Meng squealed but didn''t know where he was taking her. And honestly, she didn''t care enough to open her eyes to see. He could have been taking her further into the water to throw her over the ledge and she wouldn''t give a damn as long as he kept kissing her the way he was at that moment.


    Her body was jostled around in his arms as he walked, but their lips never broke apart. Her heart was beating frantically and the tempo of their breathing grew heavier and lustful.


    She realized that they had entered the room when the cold air of the air-conditioner hit her, making her skin break out into goosebumps.


    Although she knew exactly where they were headed at that point, it didn''t stop the surprised squeak that came from her lips when he dropped her down onto the bed.


    She looked up at him as she bounced from the impact. He was an absolute vision. His wet body and tousled hair were nice, but it was the way he was looking at her that made her want to burrow her head in the pillow and squeal like a teenager.


    He made her feel beautiful. He looked at her with such reverence that it took her breath away.


    "You don''t mind me wet and dripping on your precious bed?" she asked. The innuendo was clear in her voice. He looked stunned for a second but forgot all of it when she arched her back and twisted herself so that she was pulling the tie that held her bikini top together.


    She pulled it from around her neck and off her body, tossing it to the ground, somewhere by the bed. Her nipples hardened in the cold air.


    "I wish you could see yourself right now," Mo Qingchen said in a husky voice as he stepped forward and placed his hands on her knees. "You are breath-taking right now in the moonlight, half-naked and looking at me like that."


    She bit her lip in anticipation. "How am I looking at you?" she asked. She hoped she returned the same way he looked at her.


    He scrutinized her for a second. "Like we could be in a crowd of millions of people and you wouldn''t notice anyone but me."


    Ah, so she looked at him the say way. It was probably true.


    She shuddered. "Qingchen¡­ I have never wanted anything more than I want you right now."


    "When have I been able to deny you anything?" It was a rhetorical question.


    He slid his hands from her knees to her thighs and then to her hips where he fingered the waistband of her bikini bottoms teasingly. He tugged at them slowly and she sighed happily as she lifted her hips to allow him to pull them over the curve of her ass.


    She didn''t know what came over her, but she attempted to be intentionally sexy.

 Chapter 325: Pleasure to Keep You Satisfied

    She slipped her legs out of them one at a time. Judging by the way Mo Qingchen''s eyes raked up and down each limb as she moved, she was sure her attempt worked.


    But then, he looked back up at her eyes and she saw it. She saw the hesitation and concern. It was just a second, but he seemed unsure of himself. She hated that.


    "Don''t do that."


    "Don''t do what?" he asked, startled.


    "Don''t overthink about it. We are no different now because of what we said to each other. I''m still the same Qian Meng as I was when you married me," she tried to make him understand.


    His eyebrows pulled together as they did when he was in deep thought. And then he shook his head.


    "No, you''re not."


    She felt a surge of panic in her chest.


    "Yes, I am," she said defiantly.


    "No, baby. You are not. You are everything now."


    She sighed, releasing the breath she hadn''t realized she was holding. "You''re too far away," she complained.


    "I can fix that!"


    He made his way onto the bed so that he hovered over her. She reached up to pull him down. She knew she must have looked needy.


    She whimpered when she pulled him down to kiss her. As his lips moved softly against hers, he slipped a hand between her thighs and moan at how wet she was. With two fingers, he spread the wetness around her folds, preparing her body for him.


    She spread her legs wider as he shifted to line himself up with her. With one arm, he held himself above her. The other held one of her thighs, lifting her leg up slightly. He looked down between them to watched his cock enter her. Watching him, in turn, turned her on even more.


    She gasped as he pushed into her, never getting used to his size. And then the air left her abruptly in a long moan as he pushed deeper. She flung her arms around him, making a thump against his back. He didn''t seem to notice or care.


    It must have hurt a little, though.


    Once he was fully inside of her, he looked back into her eyes and she whimpered. The way he looked at her knocked out any air that was left in her lungs.


    "I want you," he said, his tone husky and jagged. He looked like a predator on the lookout for its prey.


    "You already have me," she replied. "My body is yours."


    "And the rest of you?" He withdrew more her and then pushed back into her even slower than before.


    "Take it. Take all of it. Anything you want. Just don''t stop," she pleaded.


    He listened to her. He took all of her for the rest of the night. The first round was a slow burn, unhurried in their passion. The second was fast and explosive. The third was¡­ tear-jerking.


    He held her hand as they made love, kissing her slowly until they were both breathless. When they finally separated, she couldn''t keep the smile off her face even if she tried.


    She lay on her stomach, her legs tangled in the sheets as she waited for Mo Qingchen to return from the bathroom. Her head was turned to the open door and heavy lids, she kept a watch him come out.


    Their impromptu rush to the bed had left it wet, but she was too exhausted to care.


    She heard the sink in the bathroom turn off and then the sound of his footsteps as he came back to the bed.


    Qian Meng''s smile widened when she felt turned her head away, not looking in his direction any longer. The bed dipped and moments later, Mo Qingchen''s body was over hers.


    He placed a soft kiss on her lower back and made a slow trail of wet kisses up her spine. She sighed as she held the pillow tighter.


    "I feel like slime," she commented happily.


    "Is that a good thing?" Mo Qingchen whispered against her skin.


    "A very good thing. You worked me well, Mr. Mo."


    He chuckled, sending shivers of pleasure up her body. "I take great pleasure in keeping you satisfied, Mrs. Mo."


    "Well, you are a man who does his job well. No matter what it is," she complimented freely.


    "I appreciate the feedback. I will keep up my hard work."


    After making it up her back, he placed one more kiss on the side of her neck before settling in next to her. He looked at her as he stroked her hair. His body was illuminated in the moonlight, but his eyes sparkled for a different reason.


    Why had they not turned on the lights yet? Who knew?


    They liked seeing the unadulterated happiness in the other''s eyes and feared that the lights would take it away.


    They weren''t used to seeing happiness like this. In moments like those, Qian Meng felt Mo Qingchen was the most attractive man on the planet. He won by leaps and bounds.


    "You''re so beautiful," she whispered as she cupped his defined jaw with her hand.


    "You stole my line."


    "Sorry," she said, closing her eyes for a brief moment. "You should get your scriptwriter to work harder."


    "You look tired."


    "You wore me out," she groaned.


    He laughed and she opened her eyes to catch a glimpse of that beautiful boyish smile that she knew would be on his face.


    "Sleep," he ordered, his hand rubbing her back.


    "I don''t want to sleep. I don''t want this day to end," she confessed.


    "It''s been a productive and enlightening day."


    "Not because of that. I don''t want the day to end because I don''t want things to be different in the morning." She hoped the lights never came on.


    "Why would it be different in the morning?"


    She wondered if he really didn''t know about it. Things were always different in the morning with them. It was a pattern.

 Chapter 326: Lavish Her With Attention

    They had sex and cuddled, but then day came¡­ it wasn''t the same. After the night they had, she didn''t want to wake up to another awkward day of them denying everything.


    "It always is."


    "Not tomorrow. I promise," he vowed.


    "Okay."


    She scooted closer to him, cuddling against his strong body as he wrapped his arms around her.


    "Thank you," she said, burrowing her head in his chest.


    "For what?" she asked. He sounded a little sleepy, too.


    "For telling me what you did tonight."


    "Oh. That."


    She hummed. "I''m glad you told me. It was important for me to know those things. To know that we had some semblance of trust between us. That makes me feel secure/ You can share something personal with me, means a lot to me. I won''t take it lightly, either."


    He pulled away to look at her. "I do. I trust you just like you trust me."


    "You gave me another part of yourself to me tonight," she claimed.


    Mo Qingchen thought about that. That put it into perspective. Qian Meng must have felt like she had given him a part of herself by telling him about her past life and insecurities. He was happy to be able to do the same for her. He was glad that it meant so much to her.


    "It sounds like a trade¡­ Hmm¡­ are you propositioning one, Mrs. Mo?" he asked, flashing her a playful smile.


    "Maybe."


    "Me for you?" he teased.


    Qian Meng felt bold in her happiness. So, she said it. "How about my heart for yours?" She blushed the second the words came out of her mouth.


    "Interesting proposal," he responded.


    She bit her lip as she waited for him to give a better answer. "What do you think?"


    "Can I trust you to take care of it?" he asked. It sounded like a challenge.


    She moved her arm around his neck. "Always. Will you take care of mine?"


    "Until the universe falls apart." He was earnest in his declaration.


    The air was thick with unspoken feelings. The spark was intense and Qian Meng felt the need to cut it before it turned into flames, even if it was a good thing.


    "Listen to the two of us. Could we be any mushier?" She laughed softly, stroking his hair.


    He laughed alongside her. "It must be the endorphins from all the sex."


    "That and exhaustion."


    Mo Qingchen put his hand on the back of her head and kissed her forehead gently. "Sleep, baby."


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng sat in front of the dresser in their hotel suite and got ready for the day. Somehow, she had woken up earlier than Mo Qingchen.


    Right at that moment, Mo Qingchen was taking a shower while she put on last touches on her lipstick. She was just about to pull her hair into a ponytail when she sat him in the reflection of the mirror.


    He was standing behind her with a smirk on his face.


    "Good morning, Qingchen," she said eagerly.


    "Good morning, baby," he whispered. His eyes were filled with adoration. He bent down and slowly caressed her hair. She looked at him in confusion as he began to straighten her hair and form a ponytail on her head without her prompting.


    She felt warm just thinking that he was helping her with her hair.


    And then he did something unexpected. He curled her hair in his fist and tugged her head back. His free hand circled her throat, his movement still gentle.


    "What are you¡ª" She couldn''t even finish her sentence.


    He hungrily bit on her lower lip. His lips molded against her and she groaned at the sensation. And then he grew less rough. He didn''t bite her. Instead, he slowly caressed her lips, licked it, and lavished it with attention.


    She didn''t know how long it was, but her neck felt a little sore. He finally let her go after pressing a peck on her cheek.


    Qian Meng looked at him with mock sharpness. Her eyes danced with delight as she reprimanded him. "I just finished my makeup. I''ll have to touch up again."


    He looked at her with a scrutinizing eye. "You just absolutely ravishing like this," he complimented freely.


    "Everyone will know I was rolling on the bed with you," she retorted lightly.


    Mo Qingchen shrugged. "No issue for me. I''m not a jealous man, really. I sometimes feel a pang in my heart, but I don''t mind men looking at you. It just means they have good taste."


    She glared. "Shut up. You touched my hair, so you tie it," she told him.


    He chuckled. "Are you sure you want my unpractised hand on your hair?"


    She nodded firmly. She could tie it again if his hairstyling was a disaster.


    She watched him intently as he smoothed down the strands of her hair and tied her hair into a low ponytail. His attention to detail and need for everything to be neat really made him good at it.


    The hairband was loose, but he looked pretty good.


    "Didn''t expect you to excel at this. Did you tie Mo Yize or your mother''s hair?" she asked.


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "I used to tie Mo Yize''s hair when she was in elementary school. She didn''t let me do it from middle school, though." He shrugged.


    "That''s when most girls become conscious of their outward appearance. Not your fault." She stood up and patted him on the shoulder.


    She quickly touched up her lipstick.


    "I think I should become a product tester," Mo Qingchen said out of the blue.


    Qian Meng looked at him weirdly.


    "I mean¡­ the product is for one person, but what if someone else kisses them? It should be tested for safety and taste, right?" he teased.


    "It''s unpaid work," Qian Meng played along. "You only get to kiss me. A lot." She rolled her eyes at his delight.


    "It''s settled then."


    Her phone vibrated and she looked at the screen. "The car is here. I need to head out. I have the signing and the talk with the person who leaked the photos," she informed him.

 Chapter 327: Wont Get Paid in Dirty Money

    Mo Qingchen nodded. "Things are going according to plan on my end, too. I''ll have some excellent news for you tonight," he told her warmly.


    Qian Meng arched her brow before nodding. "I''ll look forward to it, then." She waved goodbye and opened the door.


    The bodyguard was waiting for her outside. She gave him a surreptitious nod before moving down the hallway.


    As the car drove, Li Min pushed the tablet towards her.


    Qian Meng took it instantly and looked through the charts.


    "The sales look good in the States and Switzerland. What is the reception like?" she asked.


    Li Min smiled. "We have some of the reality television celebrities posting about it. With the awards coming up, some of the other celebrities will be wearing it in different locations, too," Li Min assured.


    Qian Meng nodded. "People are questioning the late launch in China, though?" she asked.


    Li Min nodded. "It''s mostly the influencers who are putting in inquiries. We are not letting them post yet as Li Jun hasn''t filed put together the files yet."


    "Ask the team to monitor the activity. It''s low for now. They should know what to say for now. When will Li Jun file the lawsuit though?"


    "From what he told me. It''s almost ready. Once we sign the contract and make the leaker the offer, he''ll put it in."


    Qian Meng smiled. "Sounds good. Prepare for launch in Hong Kong right after we sign. I don''t want any more delays. Time is of the essence."


    As Qian Meng signed the papers herself, she looked at the manufacturing company owner. Her eyes glittered with amusement as he pushed the employee he had pretended to protect for so long.


    The firing procedure had been finalized as well.


    "Why don''t you come with us? Let''s have a chat," she said politely.


    The guy looked struck by lightning in her presence. "I already told your people that I had nothing to say," he responded harshly.


    Qian Meng only smiled. "You might not have to speak to my employees, but you can speak to me. I have much more power than them, you see?" she said.


    The man contemplated for a minute. It didn''t take much to convince him.


    "I''ll only hear you out. I don''t want to make any deal with you."


    Qian Meng nodded. Just his acceptance was enough to let her know he was easy to manipulate. He was open to options. He would go to the side where he could profit.


    The man was guided to a nearby restaurant.


    "You can order as you wish. It''s my treat."


    There was something about treating others nicely that they couldn''t get enough of. He looked over the menu intently.


    Qian Meng crossed her hand across her chest and watched him.


    No matter how bad of a person one is, they will take full advantage of a person''s kindness. Especially when it came to food. And Qian Meng knew how to lure them.


    A man whose stomach was filled before the negotiation was sluggish. He was so happy and satisfied, that he wouldn''t think sharply about his decisions. That was the theory people perpetuated. But it was actually true.


    Qian Meng cut through her food and watched him eat, only taking small bites of her food.


    Hunger made her sharp. Hunger for power and money. Hunger for food. All of it.


    Once he was halfway full, Qian Meng started to speak. "Can I ask you why you did it?"


    She was about the same age as the man sitting across from her. And as per Mo Qingchen, she was a rather dazzling sight. She wanted to test the theory.


    "I did what?" he acted like he didn''t know.


    "Why did you send the pictures to them?"


    The man shook his head. "I didn''t do any such thing," he responded quietly.


    "I have all the proof with me. But I want to give you the opportunity to speak. I can''t only judge you by what you did. I need to know the motivation, too."


    He looked conflicted.


    "Is this about how you are treated at the factory?" she asked. "Or did you have an urgent need for money?"


    These were two motivators for a crime. Hatred and money. But how she put it made it sound like he was the victim who needed to get out of a situation.


    The man took the opportunity with open arms. Everyone liked an excuse for their crimes.


    "I¡­ I''m not well off. I needed the money and I was only a temp worker. I was sure they wouldn''t give me an extended contract or employ me full-time. What could I have done?" he pleaded to her to understand.


    Qian Meng nodded with false understanding.


    "The employment market is so bleak these days and the person who reached out to me was offering some money that could buffer my expenses."


    It made sense.


    "How did they reach out to you?" she asked curiously, not allowing the excitement in her voice to show.


    "I actually knew them from somewhere." He bit his lip. "We met online and¡­ when she offered the money to do it, I just couldn''t think of a reason not to." He shrugged.


    Add in love to the mix. This person was full of excuses.


    "Oh, a shame," Qian Meng sighed dramatically.


    The man jumped in shock. "What do you mean?"


    "Did you already get the money for the work?" she asked. The man shook his head. "Oh."


    "Is that a bad thing?"


    Qian Meng looked up from her glass of water. "The company doesn''t have a good track record of paying people. Rumor has it, they often delay the salaries of their employees. If they are not paying their employees. I wonder when they will come around to paying you."


    She played coy.


    The man''s eyes widened. "They won''t give me the money?"


    He even had the guts to act affronted in front of the woman to whom he had made lose a lot of money.


    "I am not saying that," she played. "I don''t know. How could I?"


    He looked anxious.


    "Well, they could also throw you under the bus after paying you. I don''t know if the compensation will cover all your living expenses," Qian Meng said with a shrug.

 Chapter 328: Destroying Someone for Harming You

    "I¡­" He sucked in a deep breath. "And what do I get if I am on your side?" he asked.


    "At the end of all of this, you get to have a job. You won''t be blacklisted," she said.


    "And¡­ the money?" he asked.


    "If they give it to you, accept it. It''ll help you cover your costs," she said with a smile.


    "How can I take their money and then¡­" he trailed off, panic gripping his chest.


    "You gave them the pictures. That''s what they wanted from you. You did the work and got the money. You think we can''t safeguard you?" she asked.


    The man gulped.


    "Think about it carefully." Li Min pulled out her card and handed it to the man. "We won''t hold the offer for long," she said.


    The man took the card and held it for a second before looking up. "I''ll do it," he said finally.


    "You chose well."


    Actually, it was easy to convince a weak person who was motivated by fear and money. Qian Meng didn''t have to personally come, but she wanted to do as Mo Qingchen did and see if it felt better.


    Destroying someone for harming you¡­ turned out. It wasn''t so bad.


    When Qian Meng slid into the car, Li Min looked perturbed. "Boss, you said to take the money from Sophie''s Secret. Why did you do that? He could turn at any moment," she said.


    Qian Meng glanced at her secretary. "Do you think they will pay him? They used a personal connection and enticed him into doing it. If they pay him money, it will leave a money trail. They already made a small deposit to him to show they were reliable," Qian Meng explained.


    "But it could be written off as an acquaintance giving them money for something," Li Min understood. And then she understood. "When the lawsuit is filed¡­ he will have to constantly attend. Everyone will know what he did. He''ll never get a job in the industry, right?"


    Qian Meng chuckled. "Of course. The number of years the lawsuit goes on, he will definitely not get a job. If he does, it won''t be a job where he has any important work," she commented.


    "That''s one way to get revenge," Li Min commented. "So, he will basically have no money to survive. Is that what you wanted?"


    Qian Meng smiled. "Let''s hope Sophie''s Secret pays him for his services, then." It was a cheeky response.


    "I have already spoken to Li Jun and the lawyers in Hong Kong. They will work together, take a statement, and then file the lawsuit by the end of tomorrow."


    Qian Meng nodded. "Wait for the go-ahead from Li Jun and then ask the influencers to post. No open comments yet. It''s all speculation until Li Jun drops the bomb."


    Li Min smiled. "Understood, Boss." She paused. "Our business here is just about done. The manager in the Hong Kong region has already signed the new manufacturers on as per your details. When will we be going back?"


    Qian Meng thought about it. "Let''s wait for tonight and check if everything goes smoothly. Book a flight for next morning if it does," she said.


    Li Min made a note of this. "You have to check the emails from the external audit team and the newly formed team for 1314, too," Li Min informed her.


    Qian Meng felt a bubble of joy. "Progress report? I''m sure Mo Qingchen has received it as well. Last I checked, the team for 1314 had hired some good people."


    She arched and tried to smooth the knots in her back. "Let''s head back to the hotel. If we don''t have any other issues related to Sophie''s Secret, I''ll work on HQ and other projects." She noted.


    The car arrived at the hotel and Qian Meng opened her eyes reluctantly.


    She walked into the room and found Mo Qingchen busy with work in the dining area. "You came back early," he said calmly. He looked up from his laptop and gave her a crooked smile.


    "Yeah. Work is done. Just waiting for everything to fall into place," she informed him. "Have you had anything to eat?" she inquired with an arched brow.


    "I had the breakfast you ordered for me. It was delicious," he told her. "What about you? Did you grab some food on your way out?"


    She shook her head. "I had a few bites of steak. I am famished. I''ll eat lunch and then get to work," she said promptly.


    He looked at her curiously. "Why don''t we take the next flight out if you sorted everything?" he asked. "Are you dragging your feet again?"


    She rolled her eyes. "I learned my lesson from last time. I''m using it as an excuse to spend the evening and night with you. Mixing work with pleasure."


    ''And what a pleasure it will be.''


    Qingchen eyed her suspiciously. "What do you have planned?"


    She blinked innocently. "Nothing outlandish. Go, finish your work. I''ll order food. After six in the evening, you are all mine," she claimed without restraint.


    He laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "I am always yours, no matter what time of the day."


    Silver-tongued scoundrel!


    She bit back her reply and the tingling in her stomach and called for food to be delivered to their room. Room service was a boon in such cases.


    "Ah, did you read the mail from 1314?" she asked. "I haven''t looked at it yet," she admitted.


    "I did. They''ve hired all key personnel already. The app is a complete mess design-wise so it will take some time to get it all under control. Just look at the email once. I''ll discuss the rest with you later, okay?" he asked.


    She nodded. She pulled the phone to her ears and ordered the most delicious stuff on the menu.


    After that, she pulled out her laptop and sat opposite him. She worked and peered at him ever so often. He didn''t look up, but there was a knowing tug on the edge of his lips.


    Working together was so much fun.

 Chapter 329: Mourn Over Her Singleness

    Halfway through the afternoon, both Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng finished work. He looked up from his laptop curiously and placed his elbows on the table. "Tell me. What did you plan for the evening?" he asked.


    She was surprised. "I thought you would have a lot of work. Is this how you usually do it? Do you finish this early?" she asked.


    He shook his head. "The heavy period of work is over. And I took a page from my own preaching and trusted my employees to do their work well."


    She bit her lip trying to suppress her smile. "Well, it seems, I have more time on my hands when I am not running around like a headless chicken," she admitted.


    "Stop changing the topic. Where are we going?" she asked.


    She looked at the time and frowned. "I was sure we would finish late so I wanted to go to the beach for a night swim and some leisure," she admitted. "But if we have time, we can catch the sunset on a hike. I actually wanted to go. Apparently, it''s really beautiful."


    Her eyes glowed.


    He nodded. "You brought appropriate clothes, right?" he asked.


    "I have a swimsuit ready for the water and track pants and sneakers for the hike. I don''t have a bag to take the things, though." She pouted.


    "We''ll buy one on the way," he told her.


    The hiking trail was about eight kilometers in total and the pictures of the place were breathtaking. Qian Meng had figured that it would be a relaxing time out.


    But she was wrong.


    Not to say that it wasn''t beautiful or fun. It was both. But it wasn''t relaxing. It wasn''t a mere walk as people advertised. And the eight kilometers turned out to be a long day.


    And it was rather hot. Mo Qingchen was carrying their stuff in the bag he had purchased, but Qian Meng couldn''t help but think that it was a whole workout.


    "You okay?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder at her.


    "Why is it so hot?" she complained, shifting her shirt to get some air.


    There were other tourists walking around them and her bodyguards lingered behind him, probably wondering why he had to hike with them.


    Qian Meng was only exerting herself to try to keep up with her husband. Not only was he in phenomenal shape, but his legs were also much longer than hers. He could cover a lot more distance naturally.


    "Take my hand," Mo Qingchen offered.


    "No," she protested. "I can do it myself."


    Everyone around them seemed to be doing just fine on their own. So, she wasn''t about to give up and hold his hand. She had some pride.


    "I want to hold your hand. Please?" When he said it like that, she couldn''t resist.


    He wasn''t even breaking a sweat. He acted like he was out on a leisure stroll. It was rather annoying.


    "How are you not even sweating?" she demanded.


    "I work out every day."


    "So do I," she challenged. He raised his brow at her. "Well. I do work out a lot."


    "You do. But the training to build stamina is slightly different. You focus on short spurts of energy and strength. Do you want to work out with me from now on?"


    She made a distasteful face and Mo Qingchen laughed. "I still need to beat you at kickboxing to redeem my pride."


    "Best of luck on that, baby."


    She squeezed his hand in protest.


    "Why did Li Min not come along?" Mo Qingchen asked?


    "She said she didn''t want to look at the happy couple and mourn over her singleness," Qian Meng responded nonchalantly. "I feel a little sorry for the bodyguard now. Wonder if he has a partner." She looked over her shoulder and gave the man a smile.


    She turned back and her smile dropped. "Surely, it can''t be much further," she stated.


    "Once we are on the beach and the water hits our feet, it will all be worth it. Trust me," a female voice said from somewhere on the other side of her.


    Qian Meng looked over to see who was talking and found a woman smiling at her brightly. She hadn''t expected anyone to approach her, especially with the stone-faced iceberg of a husband who seemed to repel humans.


    "I hope so," she answered, blushing as she smiled politely back at the woman.


    She hadn''t even been aware that anyone else could hear their conversation.


    "I''m sorry," the woman apologized quickly, apparently understanding the look on her face. "I didn''t mean to eavesdrop."


    Mo Qingchen''s hand gripped her a little tighter but he didn''t say anything. "You''re fine," Qian Meng answered with the shake of her head. "I am not usually a whiner. I didn''t realize it was a physically demanding hike when I planned this, unfortunately."


    "That''s understandable. It''s longer and harder than people make it out to be. But it''s worth it once you get there."


    Qian Meng nodded. The woman kept looking in her direction, so Qian Meng continued to be polite. It didn''t seem like the woman recognized her or anything, so she was safe.


    "Have you done this before?"


    "This is my seventh time," the woman answered excitedly. "It''s a wonderful experience, so we keep coming back each time we''re here."


    "I''m glad to hear that it is worth it."


    "What tour group are you with?" the woman asked.


    "A what?" Qian Meng responded, confused.


    "We''re not in a tour group," Mo Qingchen answered. "We''re just here for business."


    When Qian Meng looked over at him in confusion, he pointed to the others. "This is a popular location for major tour groups to visit," he explained.


    "My mistake!" the woman continued as Qian Meng looked back at her. "I assumed. I thought everyone here would be from the tour groups." She chuckled nervously.


    "I''ve never been in a tour group before. Do you like it?" Qian Meng asked, interested.

 Chapter 330: Qian Meng Was In Love

    "It''s demanding but wonderful. We go every year, my husband and I," the woman answered, gesturing to a man on her other side.


    Qian Meng looked at this person for the first time when he waved at her with a polite smile, which she returned with one of her own.


    "What other places are you going to?"


    "We''re going to the night markets and a few other places before heading to another country. We''re on our yearly vacation," she replied with an excited grin.


    "That''s wonderful." The conversation made the journey a little easier.


    "I''m Jasmine, by the way. The handsome man over here is Rong Rong," she joked.


    Jasmine was a tall woman of mixed race. She was definitely exotic-looking. Her Rong Rong, on the other hand, was very ordinary looking. He was of average height and build with dark hair and a beard¡­


    Qian Meng paused for a second, alerting Mo Qingchen that she didn''t know what to do. He nudged her without anyone noticing and it was enough sign for her to introduce herself.


    "I am Qian Meng," she said finally. "And that is my husband, Qingchen." She didn''t give any surnames lest their identity was revealed. They weren''t international celebrities or anything, but a lot of people did know their names.


    Also, it wasn''t often that Qian Meng had the opportunity to introduce Mo Qingchen to someone new. It gave her a sense of satisfaction to call him her husband.


    "Hey, there," Rong Rong said, looking around Jasmine and her to greet Mo Qingchen.


    "Hello," Qingchen nodded at him.


    "So, you guys have been here for how long?" Jasmine asked.


    "It''s been a few days. We didn''t look around much, though," Qian Meng said vaguely.


    "Still. It''s awesome. I was just telling Rong Rong that I wanted to stay longer some time. We''ve only been here as a stop on our vacations. But it''s one of our favorites."


    Qian Meng nodded in understanding. "It''s our first time together, but it has been good so far."


    "Well, you picked the perfect place to explore," Rong Rong interjected. "You''re going to have a blast if you like beaches and good food."


    Qian Meng chatted with the couple for the rest of the way, which ended up being a nice distraction from the trek. They found out that the couple lived in America. First and second-generation immigrants.


    Jasmine was a photographer, whereas Rong Rong owned a business supplying and manufacturing medical devices. Qian Meng was so fascinated by Rong Rong''s profession that she kept asking him how he got there.


    To her surprise, Mo Qingchen seemed interested too. At least, he was trying to mingle with people and not push them away not Qian Meng''s account. The men struck up their own conversation, while Qian Meng chatted with Jasmine on her own.


    The whole dynamic intrigued Qian Meng. And she couldn''t help but wonder what had brought about this great change in Mo Qingchen.


    As miserable as she had been on the hike up, the result was great.


    Once, they had finally made it to their destination, she was blown away. The water was bright and colorful and even more vibrant than the pictures she had seen. The sun was setting as they walked into the beach, creating an ethereal picture unlike any other.


    The tour groups formed lines as Mo Qingchen and she went ahead. They sat down on the sandy beach, just inches away from where the waves licked at their feet.


    "This is incredible," Qian Meng sighed dreamily, looking up and around. "Another beautiful sunset at a beautiful place with you¡­"


    "I told you it would be worth it!" Jasmine called back to her.


    Qian Meng turned out and saw the couple walking over to them.


    "You were right," she conceded.


    As the water came up a little higher, Mo Qingchen stretched his arm out until it rested on her shoulder. She took hers and held it up to his waist, scooting closer to him.


    This part of the excursion was relaxing. She could hear the bustle of the food stalls nearby and the lapping sound of the water. Waves crashed near them. All the fatigue from earlier was gone.


    Jasmine and Rong Rong chatted in front of them the whole time, but Mo Qingchen and she were quiet. She was content with their silence. She was occupied enough with the scenery in front of them. At one point, she looked over at Mo Qingchen and was surprised to find that he wasn''t doing the same. He wasn''t looking at the scenery like everyone else was.


    Instead, he was watching her.


    His face was so content, so peaceful, that she couldn''t help but smile at him. When she did, he shifted the hand on her shoulder so that the back of his fingers brushed against Qian Meng''s cheek. She turned her head down to kiss his knuckles.


    One wonders¡­ Did Mo Qingchen see it on her face in those moments as their eyes remained fixed on each other? The reason that would make her stomach turn and her heart beat faster when she looked at him.


    Qian Meng was in love.


    Finally, she closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. Mo Qingchen leaned forward to play a kiss on her lips, which she couldn''t help but return.


    But then she squirmed and started to push him back when he lingered.


    "Stop¡­" she complained when he began kissing across her jaw and to her neck. "I''m all hot and sweaty."


    "I like you hot and sweaty," he replied quickly. "It reminds me of having sex with you." This was his voice was so quiet that no one else could hear what he was saying.


    Qian Meng laughed as she continued to push at his chest, albeit with much less effort. "We''re out in public. No more sex," she scolded.


    "We''re taking a break because I overworked you?" he asked.


    "Shut up!" she laughed as he pulled back from her neck to look at her.

 Chapter 331: The Old Man is Tired Already

    "You''re safe from me. We''re in public." He placed his hand on her waist instead to pull her in. "For now, at least."


    Thankfully, the other couple had moved away for quite a bit, and they could enjoy teasing each other. But then she finally heard them. Jasmine. "So, did you end up loving it?" she asked with a big grin.


    Qian Meng had already pulled away from Mo Qingchen at that point.


    "We did. It''s beautiful here," she answered.


    "I''m glad!"


    "Is it as good as you remembered?" Qian Meng asked.


    "Of course¡­ Not to be a total creep, but I was playing around with my camera and snapped some awesome ones of you two over by the water."


    Qian Meng stopped, caught a little off guard, and glanced at Mo Qingchen before looking back at Jasmine.


    "Oh¡­"


    "I''m sorry. Is that creepy? It''s just the photographer in me. You guys look beautiful together, so I couldn''t help myself."


    Qian Meng blushed at the compliment but also saw the bodyguard make his way towards them.


    "Ma''am, can I look at your camera for a second?" he announced.


    Qian Meng startled. "He''s just doing his job," Mo Qingchen told her.


    "Oh?" Jasmine was startled. She looked at Qian Meng questioningly.


    "We''re a little surprised. I hope you don''t mind us going through the pictures," Qian Meng said. Jasmine had already handed the camera to the bodyguard as Qian Meng spoke. "We didn''t know that people were watching us."


    "I don''t think anyone else was, but like I said¡­ my eyes were drawn to you." Jasmine kept her smile, but Qian Meng could see that it was strained.


    The bodyguard looked through the pictures before showing them to Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen.


    Jasmine had been right. It was really a beautiful picture. Mo Qingchen''s hand was on her waist and she had a big smile on her face, in the middle of laughing as he kissed her. The background gave it an ethereal glow.


    "These are really good pictures," Qian Meng told her.


    "They are great," Mo Qingchen agreed as he looked through the photos.


    "You think so?" Jasmine asked excitedly. "The way you two are with each other is just captivating. I can see how in love you are just watching you."


    Qian Meng looked over at him and they stared at each other for a split second. Mo Qingchen looked over at Jasmine and gave her a small smile.


    "Thank you," he said. "But we will have to take the pictures from you."


    "Oh. I''m sorry for intruding," Jasmine apologized quickly.


    "Oh. No. It''s a security issue," Qian Meng said quickly. "Thank you for taking the pictures."


    "Hey, just give me an email address and I can send it to you before deleting," the other said.


    "You can transfer it to me," the bodyguard interjected. "Do you have a USB cable?"


    Qian Meng was surprised at the whole ordeal.


    Jasmine nodded numbly. "I have it in my bag."


    For the next five minutes, they fiddled until the photos were sent. The bodyguard took the camera again and proceeded to delete all the pictures with Qian Meng in them.


    Jasmine was awkward for a second before she brightened up. "You must be looking out for something. Is everything okay?" she asked.


    "Yes. Extra precautions," Qian Meng said casually.


    Jasmine eyed them with worry but shrugged it off. "Oh, that must have been nerve-wracking. I interjected in your conversation when you have security detail on the lookout. You must have thought I had some other intentions," she chuckled nervously as her eyes flitted to the cold bodyguard.


    Qian Meng waved it off.


    Despite this, Jasmine decided to walk off.


    "Wow, that was embarrassing," Qian Meng cringed.


    Mo Qingchen sighed. "It''s collateral damage for keeping you safe," he told her.


    "I know. You don''t need to explain. I wasn''t exactly comfortable with my picture being taken without my permission or knowledge either." She shuddered. "But the pictures look beautiful," she conceded.


    She turned to the bodyguard. "Would you mind sending a copy to either of us?" she asked.


    The bodyguard simply nodded.


    Qian Meng, finally satisfied, looked around. "There is a lot of food here. How about we go ahead and eat some snacks?" she suggested.


    "I''ll keep watch here. Buy a bottle of water and whatever you want to eat, okay?"


    Qian Meng nodded enthusiastically. "I''ll not pay attention to the quip about me finishing all the water," she snidely commented. "And I will be right back."


    He watched her jump to her feet and shake off the sand from her back. The bodyguard silently followed and she skipped away to the food.


    It was fifteen minutes before she returned. She had food in her hands and a bottle of water tucked under her arms.


    She placed the food down on the blanket and proceeded to screw the top off of his bottle and handed it to him. He took it and downed half of it at once.


    "Thank you," he sighed once he pulled the bottle from his lips.


    "Ah, the old man is tired already," she teased.


    He glared up at her with just a hint of a smile.


    "Hush. Funny coming from the person who I had to carry for most of the trek," he countered. She grinned as she reached to run her fingers through his hair.


    Qian Meng handed a portion of the food to the bodyguard, knowing better than to ask him to join them. For the next few hours, they walked through the beach and occasionally munched on food. Mo Qingchen was happier about the whole affair because he got free food out of it.


    Qian Meng snorted when he finally was done.


    "Do you want to call for the car to take us back?" she asked.


    "You don''t want to hang out anymore?" he questioned. She shook her head. "Call, then."


    She sat down on the beach and waited for Mo Qingchen to do the same. As she called, she saw him rolling his shoulders in fatigue.

 Chapter 332: Dreaming About Bai Ye Qing

    "Are you okay?" she asked.


    "Yeah. I just want to get back and take a shower," he sighed.


    "But I like you hot and sweaty," she retorted. "It makes me think of having sex with you."


    He looked over at her and a devious smirk spread across his lips. "Using my own dialogue against me? Get your own scriptwriter, baby."


    She blinked innocently. "When did I do that?"


    He laughed and shook his head at her. "Smartass."


    - - - - -


    In her dreams, she is back on the beach with Mo Qingchen. The waves crashed wildly just a feet away from them, reaching towards them. The air was thick and salty and it filled her lungs as she gasped and moaned against her husband''s lips. He was over her as they lay on the sand, kissing fiercely. His hands moved over her body in a way that said he owned her, and he did.


    She pulled him closer to her, eager for more from him. He had consumed her in every way possible, but it just didn''t seem enough. She always wanted more.


    She wanted him in her. On her. Beside her. She wanted him to be one with her in every way.


    The roar of the waves was suddenly eclipsed by thunder. She wondered if a storm was coming but it was hard to concentrate when Mo Qingchen was touching her. His hands were strong but gentle at the same time. He was dominant but always full of love.


    Until he was not.


    She liked the way he led the kisses and constantly challenged her. But in a fraction of a second, his touch became forceful.


    And he was not the same.


    He was someone different.


    The taste of his lips wasn''t the same, but it was still familiar to her. A taste from long ago, another dream that she couldn''t forget. It was a taste that made her want to vomit.


    She pulled away, wide-eyed to find Bai Ye Qing''s face in front of her. It started to pour. It rained and thundered and she couldn''t get up because Bai Ye Qing was on top of her, pinning her down.


    She began to scream hoarsely as he grabbed her.


    "Shut the fuck up," he said in her as her fists pounded against him. She was crying, panic boiling in her stomach.


    "No!" she yelled, tears rolling down her cheek and into her mouth as she screamed. "Stop. Please!"


    "Shut the fuck up," he repeated. "If you act like a bitch, you will be treated like a bitch."


    The words were familiar to her, words she had heard and read before. They seemed to trigger the change that happened next. The shift from her nightmares into a memory.


    Everything was the same. She was dying again.


    It was not a dream. It was just a memory.


    "Stop. You''re hurting me!"


    "Qian Meng!" yelled a distant, misplaced voice.


    "Die, bitch!" Bai Ye Qing growled.


    "Please!" she begged.


    "Qian Meng!" the mystery voice rang again.


    "I''m sorry¡­" she sobbed, not even having the strength to scream any longer.


    "Qian Meng!"


    She jolted away suddenly, startled and confused as to where she was. Mo Qingchen''s hands were on her, his expression wild with concern as he looked at her. As soon as she had opened her eyes, tears had escaped and rolled slowly down her cheeks. She wasn''t just crying in her dream. She had been crying in her sleep.


    "I¡ª" She couldn''t put a sentence together.


    "Are you okay?" Her husband demanded.


    She swallowed thickly as she tried to compose herself. Very slowly, she was starting to be anchored to reality. She wasn''t in that world with that monster. She was far away from the nightmare that had plagued her. In every sense, she was safe.


    "Yes," she managed to croak out in response.


    It was obvious that Mo Qingchen had been awake for a while, unsurprisingly. He smelled like himself. Familiar. Safe.


    "You were dreaming about him, weren''t you? Bai Ye Qing?"


    "How did you know?" she asked, looking into his eyes.


    "You were talking in your sleep," he explained.


    "I was?" She was horrified. "What did I say?"


    Mo Qingchen looked at her hesitantly. "Enough for me to know what you were dreaming about," he responded eventually, apparently not wanting to give her a clear answer.


    She wiped at the tears on her cheeks as she started to sit up, realizing just how disgusting she felt. Not only did she feel sickened from her dream, but she was a physical mess as well.


    "Hey¡­" Mo Qingchen whispered, his hands circling her wrists as he stopped her from drifting away in her thoughts. "You didn''t say anything I didn''t know. I''m not hiding anything from you, okay?" he informed.


    He watched her intently, searching for an answer. She could tell that there was something he wanted to express, or maybe he wanted her to talk. But she just needed space to breathe.


    As her eyes shifted down over her body, she was able to separate herself from her dream a little more. This body wasn''t subjected to Bai Ye Qing. He didn''t have any power over her anymore. It had ended a long time ago and she had to leave it all in the past. She just had to remind herself of that. This body didn''t have anything to do with Bai Ye Qing, and everything to do with Mo Qingchen.


    The beauty in that realization was that Mo Qingchen hadn''t taken anything from her. She would willingly give him all of her.


    She wiped the last of her tears from her face. She smiled at him softly, but it didn''t reach her eyes.


    In Mo Qingchen''s eyes, there seemed to be concern.


    "Come here," he said, beckoning her with the tilt of his head.


    She crawled to him and placed herself firmly at his side.


    "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.


    "I''m okay," she answered. "I just needed a few minutes to clear my head."

 Chapter 333: Beyond All Reason and Practicality

    "Are you sure?" His concern was touching. He was really worried about her and she couldn''t deny that it was a nice feeling to know someone cared about her so much.


    "Do you dream about him often? I have never heard you talk in your sleep before."


    She shook her head. "No, I don''t. In fact, I haven''t dreamt of him in a while. I guess he had been on my mind after talking about everything."


    He looked gutted. "I hate that he was on your mind even in your sleep." He sighed. "I''m not going to ask you what happened in your dream. I don''t think I want to know."


    "You probably don''t. You would be reckless if you did," she said firmly. "I don''t want you to imagine that. It''s in my past."


    "But you haven''t dealt with it. You have never told anyone. You''ve never talked about it to anyone."


    "I told you!"


    He looked at her for a long moment, almost hesitantly.


    "I think you should consider going to talk to someone. You know, a professional. Someone who knows the right things to say," he told her.


    "Therapy?"


    He nodded. "I think I might need it too. Neither of us is really dealing with our emotions in a healthy manner. And I don''t want our relationship to be sour."


    She looked skeptical. "How will it do us any good? How are we going to talk about events that never happened in this timeline to a medical professional? Do I say that I was killed by a husband I never had in this world?" she asked.


    "It''s not just that, is it? We can spin it in any way we want. That''s not all our issues, right?"


    She nodded. "I''ll think about it. Maybe if we go together."


    His expression softened a bit as he looked at her. "Good."


    "In the meantime, can you not think about it?"


    He sighed and looked away, over towards the window.


    "What?" she prompted.


    "I am trying to think of how to word what it is that I am trying to express." She waited for him. It felt like an eternity until he looked back at her with a thoughtful expression.


    "The way I feel about you is foreign to me. But it''s strong. It bypasses all reason and practicality and it makes me nervous because, for the first time in a long time, I am not in complete control. I know this huge thing about you and it''s hard for me not to constantly think about it. It sickens me to think about it, yet I keep wondering about every detail."


    "I don''t want you to think about it," she protested.


    "Some of it, I am not sure I want to know."


    She swallowed. He was right about that.


    "You can ask me whatever you want. I will answer truthfully. But only ask me what you want to know, okay?"


    He nodded.


    "Nothing changes in the morning, okay?" she emphasized. He looked confused. "This was been one of the best few days of my life," she said in a rush. "I didn''t know I could feel so close to someone, much less you. It felt like I don''t feel whole without you."


    He looked at her intently for a long moment before he responded. When he did, he spoke softly. "You discovered a part of yourself that you didn''t know existed."


    It made sense to her. "I think so." She knew exactly which part it was. "You."


    His eyes shimmered. He opened his mouth to speak a few times but then he closed it again as if contemplating what to say.


    "I know the feeling," he finally settled. "I don''t understand what it is yet. And nothing is going to be different in the morning. I am sorry if I gave you that impression."


    Qian Meng blinked a few times, suddenly shaken from her realization. "Oh! That''s not what I meant. I want to hold on to the feeling of happiness. Things in our past are difficult for us. And it''s totally killing my buzz."


    "I see," he answered, a smile spreading across his lips.


    Suddenly, he was standing and coming at her with a devious smirk on his beautiful face. She looked up at him in anticipation.


    She yelped in surprise when he scooped her up into her arms and held her like a sack of potato.


    She squealed, wriggling in his arms as she tried to steady herself. "What are you doing?"


    He hushed her with a throaty chuckle.


    "Mo Qingchen!" She was intrigued as he walked to the other side of the bed. What did he want to do? She wasn''t opposed to anything. But they had a flight to catch later on.


    Her heart fluttered in anticipation as he tossed her down on the bed so that she bounced a couple of times and then just when she had braced herself for mischief, he backed off.


    She didn''t even have a chance to look up at him before he was pulling up the sheets and covering her. He covered her up until the top of her head. She started to yank it back, but he held it down firmly.


    "Get this off me. Are you trying to strangle me?" she asked, but her words were muffled to him.


    "Stop moving and close your eyes."


    "What?"


    "Just do it," he coaxed.


    She sighed and brought her arms down until they were at her sides and then closed her eyes.


    "Are they closed?" he inquired.


    "Yes."


    There was silence for a few moments and then he cleared his throat. The sheet was slowly peeled away from her face and down her body. The gust of air gave her a chill. She kept her eyes closed, obeying Mo Qingchen''s order, even as she felt him leaning down over her. Then she felt his lips against her forehead and she couldn''t help but smile.


    "Awake?" he said softly as he pulled away.

 Chapter 334: Seduce Him Into Healthy Sleeping Habits

    She took that as permission to open her eyes. When she looked at him, he had a beautiful smile on his face that made her heart melt.


    "Was I pretending to be asleep?" she laughed.


    "Yes. We just started over. And we are not going to talk about anything that brings us down. It will all wait until we get home," he admonished.


    She grinned up at him widely.


    "Thank you," she whispered. "But we still have a few hours left to sleep." She blinked at the clock innocently. "Will you join me?" she asked coyly.


    He looked at her suspiciously. "I am not tired. I''ll be fine."


    She pouted. "I think I will be lonely without you. I want to curl up into your arms so that I can feel whole again."


    He was oddly enticed. And then he realized what she was doing. "Are you trying to seduce me into healthy sleeping habits?" he asked.


    "Is it working?" she responded innocently.


    He shook his head in disbelief. "I can''t believe this is working on me." He slid under the covers beside her and wrapped his arms around her. "It''s working on me," he told her again.


    She giggled softly and snuggled in. One night of sleep was better than none.


    - - - - -


    When Qian Meng woke up again, they were in the same position as they had fallen asleep in. She had been woken up by Mo Qingchen moving beside her, moving to get out of bed. She reached for him, not wanting to let go, and made a whining noise when her fingers slipped from him.


    "Where are you going?" she asked groggily, not even opening her eyes.


    "Bathroom," he grunted sleepily. "I''ll be right back."


    She yawned and rolled onto her back, rubbing her eyes. She felt super groggy, which she attributed to the nightmare she had earlier. Her muscles even felt stiff, and she couldn''t help but groan a little as she lifted her arms above her head and stretched.


    Suddenly, she was aware of her own full bladder. She decided to get up and relieve herself as well. She walked into the bathroom just as Mo Qingchen was exiting the toilet area. She smiled as she walked in after him.


    She was blessed with a husband who actually put the toilet seat back down.


    She went to wash her hands at one sink while Mo Qingchen brushed his teeth. They looked at each other in the mirror and Qian Meng couldn''t help but smile at the sleepy look in his eyes. It was rare that she got to see him right after he woke up. It was cute.


    "How are you feeling?" she asked him as she went about preparing her own toothbrush.


    He leaned forward to spit the toothpaste out into the sink. "Much better. Hungry, though," he answered before beginning to rinse his mouth out.


    "We could eat something!" she offered.


    Mo Qingchen laughed as he straightened back up and put his toothbrush back in its place. "I''ve had my fill of outside food. I just want to eat food cooked at home now."


    Qian Meng blushed a little. She was the one who dragged him along all the time because he liked the food. But also because he meant food cooked by Xiong Hua. They had transitioned from business partners to friends and then to lovers. They were falling in love with each other and that changed things.


    "What are you thinking about so hard in the morning?"


    She jumped when she felt Mo Qingchen''s arms encircle her waist from behind. She hadn''t even noticed him move over behind her. She had been so deep in thought, she was just standing there and staring at her toothbrush.


    "Nothing," she answered quickly before shoving her toothbrush into her mouth and beginning to brush vigorously.


    "I''ll go make some coffee and your iced tea." He turned his head to place a gentle kiss on her neck.


    She nodded and watched him leave the bathroom through the mirror.


    This was a strange place Mo Qingchen and she was in. They had skipped so many stages of a natural relationship and she wasn''t even sure what she should feel their relationship was. He was her husband, but if they had begun conventionally, they wouldn''t be married at this point. They would be¡­ dating.


    She laughed. The thought of dating Mo Qingchen seemed weird. She couldn''t imagine referring to him as her boyfriend. They just weren''t meant to start that way.


    Still, a part of her wondered if the way their relationship had begun was healthy.


    She went back into the bedroom and over to Mo Qingchen''s suitcase and stole one of his t-shirts to put on. With that, she went to find Mo Qingchen.


    The aroma of coffee was rich in the air as she entered the dining area. Mo Qingchen was dripping the coffee when she walked in.


    "I could have made some coffee for you, you know."


    He looked up. "I never said you couldn''t," he responded. "Are you thinking about something strange again?" he asked.


    One of the things she liked about Mo Qingchen was that he was a no-bullshit kind of person. He was straight to the point most of the time. Cut to the chase about everything.


    "Nope. I am plotting something," she said casually.


    "Okay. Does it involve killing me?" he joked.


    She squinted at him. "Not yet. But I won''t make any promises." She tilted her head cheekily.


    Qian Meng sat down and put on some music as she checked her emails. Her phone had a strong sound system, so the music permeated through the air. The first song started and she was caught by surprise when suddenly, as the words to the song began, Mo Qingchen began mumbling along.


    He began muttering under his breath so lowly that Qian Meng couldn''t hear him. She looked over at him, at the back of his head, totally surprised that he knew all the words to the song.

 Chapter 335: My Wife is Rich

    It was a famous love song and she hadn''t expected him to even listen to music at this point.


    She forgot all about her emails and continued to watch him with a big smile on her face. He probably thought that she hadn''t noticed his mumbled singing, but in reality, she found it adorable.


    He said one particular sentence wrong and she interjected, grinning at him.


    Mo Qingchen started laughing throatily as he looked over his shoulder at her. "Oh yeah?" he asked, obviously amused.


    "Why are you laughing at me?" she asked, starting to laugh herself.


    "Because you are cute."


    She had to blush at that. "I had no idea you were so knowledgable about songs, though. This one is years old!" she commented as she watched him walk over with her mug of ice tea.


    "My mom is a big fan."


    Qian Meng nodded. "My nanny was a big fan."


    "I remember listening to these songs with my mom when I was a kid," he responded kindly. Qian Meng smiled, taking the mug from his hand.


    "I like imagining you as a kid," she said.


    Mo Qingchen was a powerful man and it was difficult to imagine him as a child. It was a fun picture, though.


    "Sorry to disappoint you: I was an ordinary child."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "I find that hard to believe." She took a sip of her iced tea and sighed contently.


    "I think your perception of me is greater than that of the rest of the world," he said calmly.


    "I don''t think so," she countered. "I think your perception of yourself is detached from what people see. People from all over the world admire you and your tenacity. You''re actually somewhat of a celebrity among entrepreneurs and investors. You have social media pages dedicated to the work you do. Are you familiar with that?"


    She had actually looked at them quite a few times and scoffed at how he was worshipped before she got into a relationship with him.


    He hummed. "Interesting."


    "What is interesting?" she asked.


    "Just a thought I had."


    "And what is that?"


    "I wonder how different the world would be if we all saw ourselves the way other people do. Through the lens of love, for example."


    Qian Meng stopped sipping. Her first real impression of Mo Qingchen wasn''t a great one. But the way she saw him now, she had never thought so highly of another person. She attributed that to simply getting to know him better, but maybe it was really because she saw him through a filter¡­ through the tinted glasses of love.


    Before she could give more thought, she was suddenly being turned around by Mo Qingchen. He took her hands in his and pulled her to the empty space in the room. And then suddenly, her body was against his. He held one of her hands in his while the other arm held her tightly around her waist. It took her a second to register what he was doing.


    He was dancing with her.


    She was so caught off guard that it took her a moment to move with him, placing her hand on his shoulder. She laughed as he spun her around the room, the whimsical music crooning around them.


    "What are you doing?" she laughed.


    "Dancing with my wife. The song is good and my wife loves to dance."


    She yelped in surprise when he dipped her suddenly. Once she was upright again, he pulled her tight against his body.


    "I didn''t know you could dance," she whispered.


    "I can''t. This is a private showing," he teased. "But the song is a sad one, isn''t it?"


    "It is¡­" he agreed. "But we are both having a good morning."


    "Yes, yes¡­ we are," she answered, smiling up at him. He leaned down to kiss her and she smiled against his lips.


    As they boarded the plane and sat in their seats, they talked. Mo Qingchen told her about the better memories from his childhood and Qian Meng told him stories from hers. He told her how he built his empire of wealth and power and she answered by telling him her experience. They took different approaches, but the end result had been rather similar.


    They even talked about the future. He talked about investments that he wanted to make and the businesses he was interested in entering. Qian Meng spoke about her plans for 1314 and the different verticals of her company.


    They dreamed bigger dreams for each other than they did for themselves, and Qian Meng wondered if he saw her through the same lens that she saw him through.


    Love.


    "Isn''t that a huge risk?" Qian Meng asked at a particular idea of his. Her eyes remained fixed on him. "I know you have done it several times before, but entering an industry that is so dense already. Are you willing to risk failing? It doesn''t worry you that you''ll end up losing money?"


    He smirked. "Risk is the fastest way to make money," he told her. "You take risks as well. But even if the market is dense, I am looking at disrupting it further. That is why I am confident in my business ventures," he said confidently. "It doesn''t make me nervous because I am not investing money I can''t live without." He looked at her slyly. "Moreover, my wife is so rich, why do I need to worry about not having money?"


    Qian Meng giggled. "That''s smart."


    "I grew my wealth faster than others because risk and reward are part of who I am. It''s what I do. It''s how I made most of my money." Qian Meng nodded in understanding. "You place everything on the product and the customer. I look for opportunities. And I don''t just practice my theory in business. I use them in my personal life as well."


    Qian Meng looked at him in confusion. "How so?"


    "Well, look at you."


    "What?"

 Chapter 336: My Greatest Risk, My Greatest Reward

    "You''re my greatest risk of all. And I am your greatest risk, am I not?"


    "We are?"


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "Asking you to marry me was a huge risk and not just in a monetary sense. I brought you into my house and family life. It could have gone very badly. Similarly, you married me and moved into a foreign house. A lot could have gone wrong."


    Qian Meng contemplated that for a moment.


    "I guess so." Qian Meng saw him turn with a glimmer in his eyes.


    "You''re also my greatest reward."


    Blood rushed to her cheeks. "There you go again with your mushy words."


    He blinked like he didn''t know what his words did to her. "It''s the truth, though. When we made the contract, I knew the way I hoped our marriage would pan out. I knew what I wanted this relationship to look like. The reality was different though. It far surpassed my most optimistic projections."


    Qian Meng''s heart fluttered. It was good that everyone seemed to be busy in their own little worlds in first-class. "Mine, too," she said softly.


    "I was nervous about our agreement, too," he admitted. "But it is the single most significant decision I have ever made. The best decision."


    She didn''t have significant enough words to offer him. "I''m glad I said yes. I almost said no, you know? I''m just lucky."


    He lifted his hand to stroke along her jaw with his thumb. "Luck isn''t enough to be responsible for bringing you to me. Divine intervention is the route I would go. It''s not luck."


    Qian Meng sighed as she reached up to take his hand. "You really know the perfect things to say. Divine intervention, huh?"


    "I''m speaking to you with blatant honesty."


    She shook her head. "But the way you say things¡­"


    "What do you mean?"


    "You stun me with your words."


    He hummed thoughtfully. "Before you, I was a man of very few words. I guess you have changed me." He stopped. "It''s absurd how people can change you. We go through life interacting with so many faceless and insignificant people. And then one day, one of them stands out. Suddenly, the black and white world has a splash of color. And then the world slowly gets more and more colorful."


    "Am I the color in your world?" she whispered softly because she wasn''t entirely sure if he meant her.


    He looked at her again, his face consumed with thought. "You weren''t the first time I met you."


    "And now?"


    He inhaled sharply, his body visibly relaxed as he revealed his answer. "You are brighter than the sun, Qian Meng. If I die, my soul will be dragged to your side once again."


    The way he looked at her at that moment, she knew exactly what he meant when he said people looked through the lens of love. He only saw the good in her. She knew the look in his eyes.


    "Mo Qingchen¡­"


    They moved to kiss each other but the passing attendant stopped them in their tracks.


    Qian Meng wanted to scream at her younger and more na?ve sense. She didn''t know affection, but she wanted to yell at herself for being so cynical. She wanted to tell her younger self what love was.


    If she could speak to her younger self, she would tell the kid to chase Mo Qingchen until the end of the world. To live happier times than she had.


    "You¡­" she whispered breathlessly. "You are my color and light, too."


    Mo Qingchn inhaled sharply but didn''t speak.


    "You are my everything."


    - - - - -


    The subsequent days went by in a blur. Li Jun finally filed the plagiarism and unfair competition charges.


    Li Jun did it in the most public manner possible. When the media reached out to him, he answered in the most direct form.


    "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, they say. But in the fashion industry, imitation is monetized. Brands exploit the complex and outdated copyright laws against smaller designers. But sometimes they also imitate from big brands, knowing that plagiarism is rarely an easy thing to prove in court."


    Battles were fought online. Buyers of both Venus and Sophie''s Secret battled. The designers of the plagiarised line also aired their frustrations on the web. But the designers of Venus were quiet. Li Jun asked them as much.


    Even when they saw people ripping off their creations, they didn''t say anything. They would fight in the court. With Li Jun, it was possible to win.


    When the media asked Sophie''s Secret about their take on the lawsuit, they had some interesting things to say. They denied any infringement, claiming that the design did not resemble The Shift in any way.


    No customer would be confused about the brand the product was from.


    Wasn''t this admitting that they had plagiarized? But the law worked in different ways. Sophie''s Secret wasn''t a small company, so they had star-studded lawyers behind them too.


    Then, it came down to the media speculating.


    Influencers within China started to post their reviews and an overwhelming number of people wanted them to compare the products. More wanted to know why The Shift wasn''t being launched in China.


    Some said it was because of Sophie''s Secret launching their products in a short span of time. But everyone acknowledged that Venus accessories looked much better and were efficient.


    On one of these days, Li Jun called Xiong Fen, asking her to look into an interview opportunity.


    "What is this about?" Qian Meng asked when Li Jun and Xiong Fen got on a call with her.


    "I had a publication reach out to me for an exclusive. They wanted an interview with you about the plagiarism case."


    "And you want me to talk to them?" she asked.


    Li Jun shook his head. "I want you to talk about The Shift and put in information about when we started working on it. Make it an underlined message," Li Jun explained.

 Chapter 337: Pick Such an Odd Name

    Qian Meng looked at Xiong Fen. "You''ll need to get a list of questions. If they want an exclusive, they should get in line," Qian Meng commented.


    Xiong Fen nodded. "We''ll collaborate on the answers and pass it by Mr. Li." She looked over at the lawyer. After the agreement, everything went according to plan.


    And then, there she was, sitting in front of the male reporter, dressed up for a small photo shoot for the two-page spread that had been promised to Venus.


    "Miss Yun, are you ready?" the journalist asked.


    Qian Meng nodded. "I am ready." She placed her hand on her knees and waited for the questions to come.


    The reporter cleared their throat for one last time before firing their question.


    The summary of the interview went like this:


    "Why did you pick such an odd name for the line? The Shift?" The question was one from the list given to her, so she didn''t hesitate to answer it.


    "It was the word that defined the idea behind the collection the best. We wanted to create a line of accessories that could within its components transform into something else at any moment. As per the occasion, the aesthetic of the accessory changed. It was the best of both worlds in a way," she informed in a calm voice. The concept behind the line was integral to the design. "As for the name, it is inspired by the myths surrounding werewolves and how they can shift from a human form to a wolf form."


    The reporter gave her an understanding smile. "Oh, I see. That is actually a rather interesting concept." He nodded. "But I have never seen anyone come up with such an elaborate design concept for each piece in a collection. What inspired you to create it?"


    Another question from the list. Good for now.


    She pretended like she was remembering the time she had come up with the idea. Even though what she was about to say was the truth. "It''s not common knowledge but I accept two custom orders every year. I personally design and hand it over to the client. It is only me working in that process. You can consider it a passion project of mine." She just had to slide in a little promotion for herself. She already made her wedding rings this year, so she wouldn''t take on any more. But next year¡­ she would love to work on something exciting.


    "Last year, a client of mine wanted to buy their partner an engagement ring. But their partner is a mathematician who loves hard-to-solve puzzles. With this idea in mind, I started to draft a design that the wearer would need to put thought into and solve before wearing it. As it turned out, the results were many. And therein came the idea of shifting jewelry. One accessory that can adapt to any occasion."


    She had listened to the love story of the said couple and felt that the puzzle would be the best way to make the engagement ring worth their story. But that story was for another time.


    The reporter looked stunned. He quickly shrugged off his train of thoughts and his speculation on who the couple was. "In the fashion industry, there is something called basic gear. Something that goes along with all kinds of clothes as you dress up or dress it down. Is that part of the function of this collection?"


    Qian Meng frowned. She hated this type of generalization, but to those who had not studied theory or trends, she could understand them not knowing the difference.


    "No," Qian Meng started. "Basic gear remains constant. You need to add other articles to it to make the whole look stand out. But this collection is meant to be glamorous and demure as and when required. It''s not one accessory that works for all. It is multiple accessories embedded within one body."


    That got the reporter curious. He asked a question that was not in the list. "And how many forms can each separate item become?"


    A pertinent question, regardless.


    "Each design has a different number to it. Some have two. Others might be worn in twelve different ways." That number alone should be fascinating.


    The reporter even gave her the chance to brag more about the line. "And are those the only ways you can wear these articles?"


    Qian Meng shook her head. "The Shift is about adaptability and shedding your skin. Therefore, even though we give a booklet on the designs we could come up with. The consumer can always use their creativity to try out new ways to wear the products."


    The reporter jotted something down in their notebook. When he looked up, he had a gleam in his eyes. Qian Meng knew where the discussion was headed.


    "You''ve put a great deal of thought into this project. How long did this collection take from conception to it coming to the market?"


    She didn''t have to think deeply about the answer. "We started working on this collection in January of last year, shortly after I delivered the engagement ring that inspired it. It has taken about a year for it to come to the market for customers to buy. But part of the collection was displayed in a private fashion show in New York with the head designer of the collection. That happened around November of last year."


    "Oh. Would you say that this collection took a lot more time than the other collections?" the reporter asked.


    "I wouldn''t go as far as to say that. Every collection takes months to come to be. The Shift was slow to come to the masses because of some internal issues unrelated to the designing process." The Shift was a particularly difficult line to come up with. The fact that it was selling so well was a boon in itself. Her loss from China hadn''t been negligible, but it wasn''t hurting as bad any longer.


    The reporter straightened up at that response.

 Chapter 338: Hid Her Husband in the Luggage

    "The response makes me curious and I can''t help but ask¡­ When we were looking at the pictures from the collection, we saw similarities to a brand called Sophie''s Secret. Your designs were rather similar. Do you have a comment about that?"


    Qian Meng felt her lips tighten, but she was sure her smile was in place. This reporter really liked to push the boundaries now that he had gotten the opportunity to question her. He knew this was off-limits.


    But it was in Qian Meng''s personality not to back down. She knew she could say a lot indirectly without implicating herself. Li Jun had told her as much. She knew enough about these reporters to have all sorts of answers ready. "In our concept and design class, we were taught that no idea is completely original. We are subconsciously inspired by the things around us. I don''t see much of a resemblance between the designs from Sophie''s Secret and our collection, really. It is a matter of quality, craftsmanship, and material."


    This was saying that no matter how hard Sophie''s Secret tried to copy them, they were inferior in quality and ideas. A little poke at their lack of talent and creativity.


    But the answer didn''t satisfy the reporter. He went on to question, "The rose gold detailing and some do correspond, is it not? Do you think that both designers were inspired by similar sources? What a coincidence."


    Qian Meng gave him a saccharine smile that made goosebumps rise on the reporter''s skin.


    "That makes it sound insidious. You can tell from the thought process and concept behind each collection that they are different. Just because there is a similarity in style doesn''t mean that they are interchangeable. One cannot just buy one or another. The debate about plagiarism is best fought in courts. I won''t comment on that further."


    That was her warning. He could try her and put her in a corner. But even if you cornered someone, you wouldn''t get out unscathed. She made sure the reporter understood that.


    The reporter cleared his throat but took a different approach. The questions when asked in that sequence sounded instigating. But because it was in the list of questions, Qian Meng didn''t tell them off. Even if he changed the wording a little.


    "With the opposition''s collection coming out¡­ why did you launch the collection globally but not in China? Is it because of the similarity?" the reporter asked timidly.


    Qian Meng answered confidently. "The global market has a varied interest in statement pieces and more sleek designs. The Chinese market leans towards a certain style. So, all age groups wear different conventional styles. Therefore, after market research, it doesn''t make sense for us to launch The Shift in China." Actually, this was not completely false. Qian Meng had wanted to push The Shift to disrupt the market.


    The reporter nodded. "But there were promotions in China, were there not?"


    She kept the smile on her face. "There were. Part of Venus''s mission is to change the accessory industry in the world. The promotions of the collection were done on a transparent basis. As a businesswoman, I cannot mass produce jewelry that is not wanted by the native market."


    She didn''t let the other point out the fault in her statement.


    The reporter paused and looked at her intently. "We noticed that you held out on launching the collection in some other countries as well. Is this because of the same reason?"


    Qian Meng presumed he was asking about Hong Kong, but she pretended not to understand. Instead, she focused on the literal meaning of his question.


    Hence, the answer was simple. "Yes."


    The reporter quickly realized that he was reaching her limits. So, he changed the question to something friendly. No more hidden meanings. "But now that the people in China want to see this collection launched domestically, will you consider the same?" he asked.


    "The decision has not been made as of yet. But we are taking the wants of our customers into consideration. That is all I can say."


    This was strategically said. They wanted the customers and the opposition not to know that they had another launch coming up. It was going to be a complete surprise drop. So, this statement would create hype about other things and take away focus from the main issue.


    She would get them hyped about the jewelry and then drop the bridal collection.


    The reporter clapped his hand together. "Actually, I am looking forward to The Shift. My wife has asked me to order from an international site online, too. She was rather excited that I was talking to you about it," he mentioned sheepishly.


    "Well, I hope your wife can someday, wear a design from the collection." That was all she offered.


    The reporter smiled, feeling a weight lift off his shoulder.


    "I would like to take the opportunity to venture into more private questions," he began. Qian Meng looked at him suspiciously. "It''s nothing too serious, really. Word on the street is that you got married. And we know you were on a business trip a while back. How was being away from your husband right after your wedding? Did you miss him?"


    Qian Meng broke into laughter. "I didn''t expect that question. Is that something your readers are curious about or you are curious about?" she asked freely.


    "When I posted that I was interviewing you, people seemed really interested in your relationship with Mr. Mo. They kept advising me to ask you to post more pictures."


    Qian Meng covered her mouth with her lips. "We''ve been busy. So we didn''t take pictures. And what makes you think that I didn''t bring him along with me on my business trip? I hid him in my luggage. You can ask the airport authority."


    It was clearly a joke. "Did you really?" the reporter asked.


    "No!" Qian Meng responded with a laugh. "He has a successful business of his own that keeps him busy. He wouldn''t want to waste his time in my luggage," she said.

 Chapter 339: Feed My Husband a Birthday Meal

    "So, he was sitting beside you?" he asked.


    "Is that entertaining news?" Qian Meng questioned.


    The reporter nodded. "It''s not part of the main interview, mind you. It''s service to your CP fans," he said with delight.


    Qian Meng understood that. "I''ll keep that in mind. People want pictures¡­ it seems." She chuckled.


    "But don''t you think long trips away from each other will cause problems? My wife already fusses that I am not home enough," he said.


    Qian Meng contemplated that. It was a reasonable problem couples had. "I don''t know yet. I just married. How about I get back to you after a few decades of marriage?"


    And with that, the conversation ended.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng had never cooked a full meal before, but she wasn''t worried. How hard could it be? Growing up, she had seen her grandma and the nannies cook. It didn''t look too difficult.


    Qian Meng wanted to give Mo Qingchen a grand birthday dinner. He probably hadn''t had one in quite a long time, if ever. And she wanted one, too. This was his first birthday since they got married and she didn''t want to let the chance pass.


    Actually, she had been planning this since the trip to Hong Kong. She just hadn''t told Mo Qingchen about it. She wanted it to remain a surprise.


    Since the interview, quite a few things had happened. The perpetrator who had made her fear for her life had been caught in the act. He had apparently set fire to one of the biggest private ports and had been caught on CCTV and identified. Shockingly, just when the owners of the port came to claim damages, it turned out that they had paid this man to burn down the port and all the products in it! The mentioned owner of the port? Boomer A and Boomer B who were in cahoots.


    Qian Meng had only looked at Mo Qingchen curiously and known from his little smirk that he had designed the whole thing. Devious Dragon.


    As the date for the reports of the external audit came near, Qian Meng got a lot of calls from the other shareholders. She usually spoke to them and then worked.


    Since coming back to Shanghai, she had cut down on the excessive amount of meetings with staff. They just sent her the conclusion in the form of minutes and resolutions. This worked just as well. Now that her company was a couple of years old, she could slowly let the others take over and only focus on the big things.


    What happened when she cut down on the minor tasks she used to micromanage? She finished work on time and even took her Saturdays and Sundays off. She could enjoy the time nagging Mo Qingchen to eat and sleep or just watch him work from home. Even Mo Qingchen seemed to be taking to the new routine.


    What people said was correct: when one is single, they can do things according to their wishes and prioritize everything over themselves, but when they are in a relationship, they need to rethink their priorities. And she quite liked these changes. The kickboxing sessions, the rituals of a married couple¡­ they made her feel secure for the first time in her life.


    Also, her husband was kind of cute when he was not working.


    Mo Qingchen hated the word cute and lord knew no one would dare use it to refer to him other than her.


    Stubborn, arrogant, impatient, hot-headed, and aloof were a few words that came to mind when thinking of Mo Qingchen. Cute would be the last word anyone would ever use to describe him.


    Over the past couple of weeks, Qian Meng had developed new words for him, words like playful, funny, passionate, and protective. No one saw that side of him except for her, he made sure of that. It certainly wasn''t easy to get to this point with him.


    They worked like hell for it, but that didn''t bother either of them. It may sound clich¨¦ but it was completely true.


    Which was exactly why she was standing in front of the kitchen, ready to feed her man a meal he would never forget.


    Birthdays had never been of much importance to her. She tried her best to do as she wished all throughout the year. But this time, it was about giving Mo Qingchen a priceless memory.


    Xiong Hua scurried out of the kitchen upon seeing her, eager to help. She wouldn''t let Qian Meng lift a thing. Even though Qian Meng had personally gone shopping after checking if all the ingredients were at home.


    "I''m making a birthday meal for him," Qian Meng told her as if she couldn''t tell by the bags of groceries in Qian Meng''s hand.


    "Yes, I guessed," Xiong Hua beamed happily.


    "You did?" That surprised her since she hadn''t told anyone about her idea.


    Xiong Hua nodded. "When you went out in the morning, I figured you wanted to do something special for Mr. Mo. You''re just on time, I was about to start cooking. You can take over, though!"


    Qian Meng clapped her hand in enthusiasm. "You don''t need to work harder because of me."


    "Not at all," Xiong Hua shook her head. "I will leave after you finish cooking. I don''t think Mr. Mo will come down. He also guessed what you were up to. He must think you will do a great job."


    Qian Meng could tell the other wanted to say more but held back. Xiong Hua couldn''t hide how delighted she was though.


    "I don''t know about that. His standard for food is so high. No one can reach it."


    Xiong Hua smirked knowingly. "Mrs. Mo, you''ve already climbed very high." She stopped. "I won''t take up more of your time. Would you like me to show you where the other ingredients are?" she asked.


    Qian Meng shook her head. "I remember where everything is. I''ll find my way," she reassured.

 Chapter 340: Bit Her Like a Sandwich

    Xiong Hua''s eyes filled with warmth. "If you need anything at all, please don''t hesitate to ask me." She nodded slowly and walked away.


    The kitchen had everything a top chef could ever dream of. Xiong Hua was busy unpacking everything and she simply disappeared after doing so.


    As she cooked, a grin appeared on her face.


    "You look devious, Qian Meng." Mo Qingchen wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He lowered his lips to her ear. "Should I be concerned?"


    She scoffed. "Of course not. Have I ever done anything to harm you?" Her hands covered his on her stomach. "Intentionally," she added quickly before he could talk about that time they were drugged.


    "Intoxicating someone unintentionally doesn''t count?" he asked while spinning her around to face him.


    "Obviously not." She held his gaze.


    He backed her up into the island at the center of the kitchen. "Not true."


    "What?" Her eyes narrowed. "If I didn''t do it intentionally, it''s not my fault."


    "Are you sure?" he asked.


    "I¡ª"


    Mo Qingchen cut her off by biting her lips hard.


    "Ouch!" She shot him a glare. "What was that?"


    "That was a kiss," he said devilishly.


    Her fingers touched her lips. "That was not a kiss. You bit me."


    The smirk widened. "I get rough sometimes. You like it, don''t you?"


    She rolled her eyes. "I like it rough, but this was painful," she moaned. "You must be hungry. You bit me like a sandwich, for Christ''s sake!"


    He chuckled. "I didn''t realize you were so fragile." He leaned in and gave her a few pecks as soft as feather. "There. Is it better?"


    She pouted. "I am not fragile. Trust me, I can handle your rough side."


    "We''ll see," he taunted. "So far, you''re a scaredy-cat."


    Her jaw dropped. "You will regret those words. You''re not the only one who can play rough, you know."


    He laughed. "Don''t tease, Mrs. Mo."


    "I''m not teasing. I''ve been practicing kickboxing a lot recently. I can do some damage," she warned with a menacing tone.


    "Highly doubtful," he grinned wickedly.


    "You''re underestimating me, hubby." She matched his snide grin. "By the end of the night, you will beg me for mercy," she promised.


    "I won''t beg," he said sternly. "Ever."


    She kissed his hardened lips. "Good. It''ll be more meaningful when I come out victorious, then."


    "The only begging tonight will come from these lips," he said, tapping her mouth with his fingertip. "The challenge has made it all the more appealing to me. You really shouldn''t have done that, wife."


    She pulled away from him. "I''m not scared. I''ll have you eating out of the palm of my hand." She clapped her hands together and looked around the kitchen before meeting his eyes again. "Now, shoo. I have work to do."


    Qian Meng kept her menu simple. She wanted to make a stuffed chicken, mashed potatoes, and frico. For dessert, she wanted to make a blueberry pie.


    It wasn''t all that difficult, right? Who needed a chef for that. She searched the recipes online and got each and every step she should make.


    Rolling her sleeves up, she got right down to business. Thankfully, the usual ingredients were always prepped by Xiong Hua.


    The rest, she could be creative with. As she prepared Mo Qingchen''s meal, she wondered if cooking could be a new creative path for her. It would make sense. She liked to design things. The meticulous process of it was something she enjoyed thoroughly. She liked the glitter in people''s eyes when they saw her finished product.


    Mo Qingchen loved to eat. Perhaps feeding him would be another way for her to tap into that energy. But one thing was for sure. She needed music to finish cooking.


    Silence didn''t feel right in the kitchen. She pulled up her playlist and cranked it up. Her hips swayed as she danced to the beat, singing along.


    She couldn''t help herself.


    She had to be the complete picture. The presentation was key. Since she was going to be the cute wife who cooks her husband meals for his birthday, she had to go all the way. She ordered a pink apron and a bunny headband like the ones actors wore on the television.


    She kept her face bare of makeup. She wiped her brow as she cooked the food.


    The kitchen looked like a bomb had hit it. Almost every ingredient she had used was somehow staining her new apron. Her hair, which had started out as a neat ponytail high up in her head, had become awry. She batted away several bits of ingredients from the counter.


    She hadn''t seen anyone look like this when they cooked.


    The meal itself looked just as sloppy as she did. The pictures that went along with the recipes looked nothing like what was in front of her. Maybe her ugly dishes would magically transform into these pretty-looking ones?


    Xiong Hua was eager to help her and had set up the table for them to eat, too. Qian Meng wondered if she should have left the cooking to Xiong Hua and just given Mo Qingchen the gift she had prepared.


    She wanted him to feel cared for. That should be more important than how the dishes looked right? Or if they were edible?


    She hadn''t tasted any of it yet. But she knew one thing. If the food tasted anything like it looked, Mo Qingchen would only say these words: garbage, poisonous, unacceptable. Mo Qingchen wouldn''t sugarcoat it for her, either.


    He was always so honest about these things.


    Qian Meng fiddled with the strings of her apron as she thought about that.


    She didn''t know why she felt that nervous. It was because she didn''t have a plan B.


    Why did she send Xiong Hua away? Right, so that they didn''t need to see her dancing around and trying to cook.


    Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. "Don''t panic," she reminded herself over and over again.

 Chapter 341: Dressed Up As a Cute Wife

    Step one: make herself look sane. The disheveled look screamed ''unstable''.


    Step two: The food she could make presentable on gorgeous dishes.


    Mo Qingchen would never see their dark past.


    She let out a small sigh of relief, feeling better immediately. As she made her way to the prep area, she managed a confident sway of the hips. She totally had this!


    A cocky grin began to spread across her face.


    She heard footsteps behind her as she reached it. Mo Qingchen stood frozen in place, taking in the destruction that surrounded him. His head tilted to the side and then his sharp eyes slid over to her.


    "What have you done?" His eyes darted around before he frowned.


    "Isn''t it obvious?" She gave him a bright smile. She went far enough to bat her lashes at him, hoping to distract him with her charms.


    "Yes." He took a step towards her. "You destroyed our kitchen."


    "Please." She waved him off. "Stop being so dramatic."


    He reached into his pocket and whipped out his cellphone.


    "Who are you calling?" There definitely wasn''t a police branch to report a food crime, right?


    "Xiong Hua," he replied, unlocking his screen.


    "No!" she lunged forward and grabbed the phone out of his hand. "Don''t be ridiculous. This is just a little mess. Hardly noticeable at all."


    His brow rose. "There is food on the ceiling."


    Her eyes glanced up and then back to his. "Many kitchens have food on the ceiling. Did you know that?" she asked.


    "One. Only one," he responded bluntly.


    "Well, our kitchen is special!" She dropped his phone in her apron pocket.


    He took a step closer to her and she stepped back. His arm came down on either side of her, trapping her against the counter.


    "This is what a home-cooked meal looks like. Stop being a snob."


    "This is definitely not what a home-cooked meal looks like." His gaze roamed over the kitchen before returning to her.


    "You are so unappreciative," she huffed. "I slaved over the stove all day." Her eyes shot to the stove in question. "I even dressed up as a cute wife. A simple thank you would be nice."


    A small grin appeared on his face. "You want me to thank you for wrecking the kitchen?"


    "Cooking is an art form, Mr. Mo. You might see a wrecked kitchen, but to me, it is a creative explosion." At this point, she was making up bullshit to keep the banter going. She even managed to keep a straight face. They both knew she wrecked the kitchen.


    The place was a complete disaster, but she couldn''t let him call Xiong Hua back to work. She wanted to be alone with him. She would call professional cleaners while he ate.


    "Creative explosion?" he repeated her words as though he couldn''t have heard correctly.


    She nodded confidently.


    "You''re a complete mess," he sighed as he wiped her cheek with his thumb.


    "A mess for you," she reminded him.


    "Oh. For me?"


    She rolled her eyes. "I did it for you. I put a lot of time, effort, and adoration into this meal. Do you think it was easy?"


    He leaned in really close. "You should be banned from all kitchens."


    "Really?" She challenged as her hands flattened on the counter behind her. He nodded with a pompous grin on his face.


    Her still stained hands shot up to his face, and she swirled her fingers around so fast that it wiped the grin right off his face.


    She couldn''t stop giggling. He looked like a delightfully angry ghost. Even his eyebrows were white.


    He drew her in tight against him. "You think this is funny?"


    Her laughter answered his question. She could barely breathe. He grabbed her hand away from his face and pulled them behind her. Leaning forward, he arched her back over the counter.


    "How many kitchens have you destroyed?" he asked, his lips practically touching hers.


    "Just yours," she panted out, still catching her breath.


    The palm of his hand cradled the back of her head, which hung back so low that it almost touched the counter.


    Mo Qingchen lifted her face up to his and slowly kissed her like she was the most precious thing in the universe. His gentle side never failed to sweep her off her feet.


    They tasted like flour. It was somehow raw and sensual. Spontaneous. Her heart leaped in her chest. Mo Qingchen was in full control. Despite her fear of giving up control, she allowed and craved it with him.


    Only him.


    She craved it. She enjoyed tormenting him and his reactions delighted her to no bounds.


    Somehow, Qian Meng managed to lift her legs up and wrapped them around his waist. His free hand reached behind her and spread out across her lower back, holding her exactly where he wanted.


    Her hips went right to work. Like old times.


    His hard groan against her lips only spurred her on. Mo Qingchen''s soft side left the building. He gripped her ponytail firmly and pulled it back, exposing her neck. Hot ragged breaths swept over Qian Meng''s skin. She opened her eyes when she felt his hard stare on her.


    He really did look like a dragon at times. She had nothing else to possibly compare him to. She would give anything to know his thoughts in those moments.


    She swallowed deep. "Are you hungry?"


    His fiery eyes stayed on her. "Famished."


    Her hips ground against him one more time before she reluctantly lowered her legs to the floor. He did not seem happy about that. The frown on his face made her smile. She just couldn''t help it.


    She adored every part of her. Even the one which went from a wild dragon to a pouty teenage boy.


    "Sorry to disappoint you, but I am not part of the meal." She slid out from under him and pulled her skirt down from around her waist. Prim and proper. Everything was about presentation.

 Chapter 342: Enticing Him With Her Feminine Wiles

    "They say I am cold and cruel." He shot her a heated look.


    "You thought it would be that easy? What kind of a woman do you think I am?" She pressed the palm of her hand to her chest, feigning shock.


    "I know exactly what kind of woman you are," he taunted. "The kind that destroys my kitchen and then assaults me with her feminine wiles."


    He still had flour all over his face, but it didn''t dull how handsome he looked. His disheveled appearance seemed to add to his appeal.


    Qian Meng thought she looked like a train wreck, though. If only she knew what Mo Qingchen was thinking.


    "Feminine wiles?" She batted her eyelashes at him. "Can I help it if you lose all self-control when you are around me? I am just a pure little girl."


    "Very observant, Mrs. Mo. As a matter of fact, I am feeling a little out of control right now." She didn''t see his hand coming. He raised it out of the open bag of flour with a big heap in it.


    "Don''t you¡ª" She was too late. She was cut off with a mouth full of flour. It splattered across her face and down her neck.


    His smile was pure evil.


    "You messed with the wrong person!" she said as she wiped her face.


    Mo Qingchen brushed the flour from his hands. "I''m not afraid of you," he said, using the words to mock her.


    "You should fear me most of all!"


    "I think I can handle it." He arched his brow at her.


    "Mr. Mo, you should sleep with one eye open," she warned.


    "You plan on sleeping tonight?" She shook his head slowly. "It''s highly unlikely."


    "Is that so?"


    He shrugged. "Unless you can''t handle it. You might be too fragile."


    "I am not fragile." Her hands flew to her hips. "Bring it on, Mr. Mo," she taunted over her shoulder as she headed for the sink. "Go wash up. I''ll serve dinner in fifteen minutes!" She turned to face him.


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes widened. "We are eating this?" He looked around at the unappealing food surround them.


    She huffed at the nerve of him as she washed her hands. "Yes. I have been cooking for you for hours!"


    He threw her a disapproving scowl. "I''m not easy to please when it comes to food. Your skills are dangerously bad."


    She dried her hands on a towel. Her face was still sticky, but she could deal with that later. "You can''t make that judgment until you have tasted it. Never judge a book my its cover."


    He glanced over at her pitiful looking potatoes. "The cover of this book looks like horror. I know what is inside."


    She shooed him out of the kitchen. Standing there in the middle of the kitchen, she rolled her eyes. Horror story. He had no clue what he was talking about.


    As she glanced at the kitchen again, she stifled her own complaints in her heart. She really didn''t want to eat this food.


    The table was really set for a king. The priceless china, the sparkling silverware were all stunning. Every last detail on the table was perfect. Until she put the food on it.


    Mo Qingchen strolled into the dining room fresh from a shower, hair still damp and his face shaven cleanly. He took in the feat in front of him as he slowly approached. He attempted to mask his disdain. Qian Meng knew that it took a great effort on his part.


    Qian Meng hadn''t realized how much this meal actually meant to her. It was just a meal. Why would she even care? Yet, her stomach coiled in knots, and she broke out into cold sweat and her breathing became erratic.


    How was she going to feed Mo Qingchen with her hands numb?


    Mo Qingchen sat at the head of the table, glancing around at what had to be the worst meal he had seen in his entire cushy life.


    "You don''t have to eat it," she blurted out. She sounded like she was helping him dodge certain doom.


    His black eyes locked onto her. "Come here," he ordered.


    Her legs made their way over to him. Normally, she would banter about his bossy attitude, but she let it slide. Honestly, she wasn''t even thinking clearly. A million anxious thoughts passed her mind in the span of a few seconds it took her to reach his side.


    "I''m sorry," she apologized with such deep remorse that it caught her off guard. Her pride usually didn''t allow her to apologize for such matters.


    Mo Qingchen leaned back into his chair. "Okay, I''m concerned now. What happened?"


    She liked how he didn''t ask what she had done wrong to apologize. She shook her head and tucked the stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I wanted you to have a nice birthday meal but I ruined it."


    She was surprised to find her eyes heating with unshed tears.


    "Have you tasted it?" he asked calmly.


    She rolled her eyes. "Look at it." She cringed. "It looks like a horror show. Do you really want to know what happens in the end? It''s your tongue on the guillotine."


    Mo Qingchen reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her down onto his lap. "I''m actually excited to find out how the story ends. Even if my tongue is on the line."


    She raised her eyes slowly. "Don''t mock me." She sounded like a child.


    Mo Qingchen brushed the hair off her shoulder and lowered his lips to her ear. "I don''t care about the food. The fact that you thought of cooking for me is enough." He paused, his eyes darkening. "In fact, you are the most delicious thing I have ever seen," he whispered seductively.


    Qian Meng''s face broke into a girlish smile. "You are such a smooth talker."


    He wrapped his arm around her waist. "Now keep your promise. You have to feed me."


    "Fine," she dragged the word out and released a sigh. "If you insist. I really hope you are not that hungry."

 Chapter 343: Close Your Eyes and Toughen Up

    His gaze was firm. "I''m really hungry."


    "Calm down." She tapped his lips, leaving her finger pressed up against them. "Are you ready to get a taste?" she teased.


    He drew her finger into his warm mouth and bit down. Hard.


    She pulled her finger back immediately and waved it in the air. "I am not part of this meal!"


    His brows furrowed in mock disappointment. "That''s not acceptable."


    She leaned down and kissed him gently. "Such a spoiled dragon."


    He frowned when she tried to get off his lap.


    She grabbed a plate off the table and put a little bit of everything on it and by little, it was minuscule. The plate had just enough to keep her promise. No need to torture her husband for more than that.


    Mo Qingchen watched her as she placed the plate down before him and then returned to his lap.


    "Am I on a strict diet?" he asked as he looked down at the minuscule proportions and then back at her.


    "It''s a sample." She lifted the dish closer to his face. "Do you really think this is going to meet your standards?"


    "Highly unlikely," he answered honestly. "But I still want to eat your food."


    She picked up the fork and let it hover over the plate. "What would you like to try first?"


    "The¡­ stuffed chicken?" he responded even though it sounded like a question. He wrapped his hand around her waist.


    "Your wish is my command, sir!" She jabbed at a piece of chicken with the fork.


    "Good to know."


    Qian Meng raised the fork to his lips. He opened his mouth and hesitantly wrapped his lips around the fork until she pulled it away. He chewed slowly. Qian Meng''s eyes dropped down, not wanting to see the look of pure disgust on his face.


    "Strange¡­" he said, sounding perplexed.


    "You don''t need to sound surprised. I appreciate your acting, though." She chuckled.


    "No. Give me another bite." He looked down at the plate with utter confusion.


    Qian Meng brought another piece of chicken to his mouth and watched him chew it with great concentration. He swallowed it and his eyes locked on hers. "It wasn''t a horror story after all. What a surprise," he said with a small smile.


    "What do you mean?" Now, she was bewildered.


    "It''s delicious." She knew he was lying to her face.


    "You never lie. What''s wrong with you today? Be honest, Mo Qingchen. I can handle the truth." She didn''t try to mask her irritation.


    "Why would I lie about the chicken?"


    Her eyes widened in shock. He did prefer some odd combinations in food. Maybe this was one of those things. "You''re not lying."


    She picked up a small piece of chicken and popped it in her mouth. Her eyes grew wide and she stiffened as she chewed the meat.


    How could something that looked so awful taste good?


    "It is delicious," she said more to herself than to Mo Qingchen. A wide grin appeared on the other''s face.


    "Can you believe that?" she squealed.


    "Not really." She glanced down at the sad bird on the table.


    "How did it happen?" she wondered. "You see¡­ you can''t judge a book by its cover. It doesn''t matter how horrible it looks outside. There are surprises inside." She beamed at Mo Qingchen with delight.


    He eyed her curiously.


    "Do you want more chicken?" She let the fork hover over the plate.


    "Potatoes," he said. Such a brave man.


    "Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly. He nodded in response. "Okay¡­"


    She scooped up a bit and fed it to him. This time, her eyes were trained on him as he chewed and swallowed. His expression gave nothing away.


    "Wow. That was the most disgusting potato dish I have ever consumed." He even glared at it. "I have never seen such a disgrace but it tastes good. How is it possible?"


    "It''s a talent, I suppose," she boasted. "Anyone can make things look appealing. There''s nothing special about that. How many people can cook a meaningful meal that hammers in values in us?"


    "Just one," he agreed. "You cook the ugliest food in the world."


    "Stop flattering me." She waved off the compliment with a bright smile. "I wouldn''t go that far."


    He glanced down at the plate and then back at her. "I would go further. If there is life on other planets, your food would be uglier than the things they could come up with."


    She smacked him as she laughed. "Uglier than alien food?"


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "Without a doubt. The best among ugly food."


    "I have skills. What can I say? You haven''t even tried the other things yet."


    She scooped up some of the cheese concoction and raised the fork to his lips. He clamped them shut immediately and shook his head.


    "Close your eyes and toughen up, husband," she taunted.


    He slowly parted his lips. Qian Meng stuffed the fork in and pulled it out at lightening speed. His mouth closed and he hesitantly started to chew before swallowing.


    "Well?" she asked impatiently.


    "Spectacular," he admitted. "Truly unbelievable."


    "I like my food to have that wow factor," she informed with pride. "Expect the unexpected."


    "I have to expect the impossible," he said, looking at the plate with confusion.


    "Predictable is boring," she shrugged.


    "Yes, you love spontaneous." He had a gleam in his eyes that surprised her.


    "You know that well, don''t you?" She matched his michevious tone. He loved that.


    Mo Qingchen hadn''t lied, he was hungry. She fed him a large plate of food, which he devoured and then he fed her a plate in return.


    Just as he was about to clean up, Qian Meng stopped him. "I have something waiting for you!" she said.


    "Where to?" he asked.


    "Pick me up! I''ll lead you there."


    Mo Qingchen stood up with her still cradled in his arms and walked away from the table.


    "Where are we going?" he asked. Qian Meng held on to him tightly.


    "That''s a surprise," she whispered in his ear, menacingly.

 Chapter 344: I Was Distracted by You

    Qian Meng actually made him carry her all over the house, never giving him the real destination.


    "Are you going to tell me where we are going? Or do you just want to be cradled in my arms like a baby?" Mo Qingchen jabbed.


    Qian Meng snorted. "Like a baby? Is that how you view me?" she asked. "Or are you tired already?" she teased.


    Qingchen rolled his eyes. "I''ll just put you down then," he threatened.


    She giggled and pointed. "To the guest bedroom!"


    He maneuvered them through the halls. "The bedroom seems like the logical place to end our date. But what are we going to do there?" he asked as they rounded the corner.


    "What else do you want to do?" she asked.


    "Anything with you is fine." He gave her a blinding smile. Qian Meng helped him open the door and Mo Qingchen paused.


    The room was dark enough that it took a few moments for his eyes to adjust. The first thing that stood out was the blanket on the floor and plush pillows.


    "You did some renovating, I see," he commented.


    "Always so observant, Mr. Mo," she teased as he walked into the room. He looked to the empty wall and realized what was going on.


    "Are you going to watch a movie?"


    "We are," she replied with a wicked gleam in her eyes. It usually meant she wanted sex.


    "We''re watching porn?" he almost yelled out.


    "Such a dirty-minded man," she tutted judgmentally.


    "Me?" He laughed. "You were giving me the look." He finished walking to the head of the room and sat down on the blanket.


    "What look?" she asked innocently.


    "You are joking, right?" He snorted in her face. "You give the most wicked looks, woman."


    "I have no idea what you are talking about." Mo Qingchen put her down and sat down beside her.


    He had no idea what she wanted to watch. None at all. He was actually stretched out for a long nap ahead of him. There was no way he was going to stay awake for any movie.


    He saw Qian Meng fiddling with the remote and placing a small projector strategically. "Bought this off the internet," she told him helpfully.


    Qian Meng finally stretched out beside him and he draped his arm across her shoulders, pulling her close.


    It was all good and romantic.


    "We''re watching a romantic movie?" he asked.


    Qian Meng cuddled closer and rested her head on his shoulder as the movie began. Mo Qingchen hadn''t seen any romantic movies, so he honestly didn''t know how to handle the cringe.


    A few seconds into the opening scene, Mo Qingchen realized it wasn''t a classic romance.


    "I know this guy," he said under his breath. "What is his name again?" he mumbled.


    "The one and only, Cage Cavanaugh," Qian Meng replied with a girly squeal.


    "We''re watching an action movie?" He sat up to get a closer look at the screen.


    "What else could we possibly watch?" Qian Meng snatched him back and rested on his chest. "It satisfies my need to look at a pretty face and learn some ninja moves. You don''t get too bored either."


    Mo Qingchen rolled her eyes at how obvious that was. "There''s no romance in the movie?"


    "You''ve never seen this movie?" she asked with a gasp.


    "I don''t think so." His eyes flickered to the screen and back to her. "I can''t remember."


    "Oh, you would remember if you had watched it," she quipped.


    "What''s so great about him?" He yawned obnoxiously. "It looks like he punches people. Big deal."


    "You can''t be serious." He shot a hard glance at him. "You need to watch this generation''s king of action. The man has stellar acting and magnificent ninja techniques up his sleeves."


    "I see¡­" he said, still not moving his eyes from the action before him.


    Qian Meng saw how engrossed he was and focussed on the screen also, deciding to watch the movie once again.


    In the end, two hours went by in a blink.


    "You can blink now," Mo Qingchen said as the credits rolled. She did. It never seemed to surprise her.


    "How does he do it?" Cage moved like a ninja. Though, what she really thought a ninja constituted was very different from the actual meaning.


    "Fighting people for two hours?" he leaned back into the pillows behind him.


    "Are you serious? That was so much more than just fighting. Every move was precisely executed. Moreover, the plot!" The words flew out of her mouth in excitement. "I got pumped up just seeing it."


    "The fight scenes were great but I was a little distracted by you," he teased.


    "Because I am too beautiful and you couldn''t keep your eyes off me?"


    "Because you were trying to replicate the moves. Might I add you would have a stellar career in making background music?" he added.


    "Mocking me is not a wise move," she warned him.


    "Oh, really?" He paused and looked at her. "What are you going to do about it, Mrs. Mo?"


    Her eyes narrowed. "You think I can''t take you on?"


    He shrugged. "Doubtful."


    Before he could finish, she had pounced on him. Arms flailing, legs kicking. She managed to catch him off guard and was feeling good about herself for the few seconds it took for him to respond.


    Then, she was lying on her back. He looked down at her, shaking his head.


    "Who is the master?" he had the audacity to ask.


    "I am the master!" she declared.


    "You really shouldn''t have said that." He had a wicked gleam in his eyes. And it spelled trouble for poor old Qian Meng.


    "Oh!" she gasped.


    Mo Qingchen released her immediately, thinking that she was hurt. He keeled over on his side as she went in for the tickle attack and tried to fend her off. She held on firmly.


    She straddled him and pulled his hands above his head. She had won. She panted heavily onto his lips. "I will always win. When will you learn?"

 Chapter 345: Ran Out of Underwear

    She tapped a finger against her chin. "This is how it is going to work from now. I will give you a command and you follow it. Simple."


    He arched his brow in curiosity.


    "No speaking," she warned. He surprised her by keeping silent. "There are two rules." She ground down on his lap. "I give you what I want. You love it and accept it without question."


    His eyes blazed. From the firm length poking her, she was sure he really liked this situation.


    Her eyes ran over his body as though it was her own possession.


    "Take off your shirt," she commanded just before releasing his hands.


    He leaned forward and paused for a moment. Then, he reached down to his waist and grabbed the hem of his shirt, and raised it above his head, tossing it behind her.


    "Good boy," she praised.


    "Oh, is that what you want?" The challenge sparked something fear in her.


    "It''s not possible for you to be a good boy." She ran a finger down his chest, leaving her gaze locked with his. In a flash, she was on her back, looking up at her husband.


    "Absolutely not. I might get soft for you sometimes, but I know when to play hard, baby." His face scanned her expression intently.


    "So, no cute pet names whispered in my ear while you gently make sweet love to me?" she whispered.


    "I would rather spew filthy, demented words in your ear while I violate every inch of your delicious body." His explanation was calm like he was talking about the weather. "I can be as rough as you want. You only need to be willing."


    "Is that what the birthday boy wishes for?"


    He nodded. "Adoring you has made my animal urges so hard to control." He didn''t take time to think his words over.


    She pulled herself closer to him so that their faces were inches apart. "That''s exactly how it should be." She kissed him, unable to resist his lips.


    He kissed her back deeply, nothing like the soft peck she gave him. In return, she wrapped her legs around his waist and was just about to grind against him, when he pulled away.


    "But even when I am being filthy and rough, I am making love to you," he swore.


    Her eyes widened. "Why do you need to tell me that? To remind me that or yourself?" she eyed him carefully.


    "It''s to clarify any doubt that we may have." He cleared his throat. He stopped speaking and his eyes zeroed in on her chest.


    "My turn to take off clothes?" she teased with a flirty smile.


    "If I had my way, you would''ve been naked the moment everyone left the house." He reached out to unbutton her shirt, but she slapped his hands away.


    "So impatient, Mr. Mo." She brought her fingertip to the bottom of the shirt and slowly undid it. She did the same with the next, dragging it out even longer. Watching his enchantment at her every move was incredibly intoxicating.


    But she should have known better than to tease the dragon.


    Before she got to the third button, he pounced, grabbing the bottom of her shirt and in one fell swoop, pulling it over her head, leaving her lying there in her bra and rumpled skirt bunched at her waist.


    Just as he was about to pounce on the next item of clothing, she caught it off guard by grabbing his pants by the waist. She had them unbuttoned and unzipped before he even had a chance to react.


    She expected to find boxers. As usual.


    "Did you run out of underwear?" she asked, taking in his naked form. She could stare at the man for hours, but this was a pleasant surprise.


    "I thought this would be easier for you," he said with a casual shrug.


    "Yes, it is easier this way." She flashed him a naughty smile. "Are you going to pounce on me again?" she stretched out her body as an offering. She could see how his eyes darkened as his eyes roved over her body.


    "Would you like that?" He licked his bottom lip in anticipation.


    "Only one way to find out!" Before she could finish the sentence, his hands were on her, bra and panties were across the room and halfway there, respectively. He casually let the skirt stay.


    The man had skills. And a lot of practice with her.


    His hands went straight to her bare breasts. "I have missed you," he said to them. Mo Qingchen often spoke to her boobs¡­ almost reverently.


    He gripped one firmly and gazed at it longingly. His warm lips scattered all thought from her mind. The man could do some serious damage to her intelligence with that mouth of his.


    She hummed as he went to town, caressing and touching as he wished. In the end, the promise of giving and making him only take what she offered flew out of the window. This man never let up a chance to dominate her.


    And because she thoroughly enjoyed his ministrations, she didn''t stay. It didn''t help that she was beyond redemption at this point. His charm worked acutely on her. She could only lay back like a willing pray and let him eat her.


    He ran his fingers across her skin long after he was satisfied. The feathery touches left her shuddering. Still in her skirt, she sat up and glared at him.


    "You ruined my plans!" she pouted.


    "The sex was not part of your plan?" he asked incredulously.


    She shook her head. "It was part of the plan. But not in this order. I still have a few more steps until the sex came into play. But you took everything into your own hands!" she scolded him.


    He let out a humorless laugh. "You''re the one who teased the monster into coming out. You can''t complain now. What do you have in store for me, Mrs. Mo? What did I miss?" he asked.

 Chapter 346: The Feeling of Being Proposed To

    A meal and a movie was enough. What else had she plotted? How long has she been planning it for?


    She perked up. "Wear your pants quickly," she ordered. She crawled around to get her clothes and quickly pulled them on. Though crumpled, she looked flushed and excited.


    He watched her as he slowly put on his pants and bounced up to his feet.


    "Where to?" he asked.


    "To our bedroom! Your present awaits." She gave him a small wink and then skipped away. Bewildered but drawn to her, he shadowed her movement. With soft eyes, he followed her to their bedroom.


    "Where did you hide the ring? I tried to re-organize my shelves a few days ago, so I must have come across it and not realized," he said under his breath.


    "You couldn''t find it even if you tried. I got the gift today," she informed him.


    "Isn''t that a bit too lackluster for how grand you have made out my birthday to be?" he teased. "Don''t tell me¡­ You forgot to get me a present, so you ran out at the last minute to buy something."


    She smacked his hand. "Absolutely not. The timing worked out perfectly and I had a gift for you just for your birthday," she gave him a brilliant smile alongside her words.


    He looked at her curiously as she moved to the purse she had taken to work that morning. She pulled out two boxes from it and showed them to him.


    He quirked his brow in question. Did she get him a cuff or something? He wondered. But he waited. He couldn''t imagine what would be inside those boxes.


    "Can I take a guess?" he said suddenly.


    "I''m sure you wouldn''t be able to even if you tried." And then she thought about it. "Well, you might know what the gift is, but you will never guess how precious it is."


    He bit his lip. "I won''t guess, then. Just show me the present." He paused. "I can''t think of a better present than the meal and movie we just saw. I already had a perfect birthday," he complimented.


    She grinned. "I know. But I am a woman who strives for perfection. I must do better than perfect so that you can never be satisfied if not you are with me." What a confident little shark, he thought to himself as he waited for her to reveal what was in the box.


    She gingerly took one box in her hand and peered inside. But he was faster, he peeked around and saw a very feminine-looking ring. He blinked. It didn''t look like anything he had seen before.


    "Did you get yourself a ring for my birthday?" he asked with a chuckle. He couldn''t take a good look at the ring, because she snapped the lid shut and glared at him.


    "Be a little more patient. I am just seeing which one is yours."


    He smirked. "You got yourself a gift on my birthday. Because we are husband and wife¡­ we are one soul and body? So my birthday is your birthday and you bought yourself something nice?"


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Just you wait. I will make you eat your words!" She opened the other box and pulled out something from inside it.


    He couldn''t even blink as she flipped the box over her shoulder. It landed on the bed. His eyes traveled to it, but then it quickly snapped back to her as she slowly knelt on one knee.


    Mo Qingchen finally knew what people felt when they were proposed to. He suddenly felt that Qian Meng had missed out on this feeling because he was an unromantic ass.


    "What are you doing?" he asked, almost frightened.


    She looked at him with amusement.


    "I know we are already married but you don''t have anything to show for it. You are someone who likes to show off your relationship with your wife discreetly, so I got you something that you will like." Then she stopped short. "I guessed what you would like it, but if you don''t¡ª"


    "Stop and just show me," he demanded.


    "Extend your hand forward, Mr. Mo," she teased him. He did as he was asked and felt a bubble of joy as he extended his hand to her. He knew what he had gotten for her. This was their wedding ring. The one he had told her to design. There would only be one pair in the whole universe.


    He took his hand in hers and gingerly slid in the ring she had created with her own two hands into his finger.


    She stood up finally, watching him appraise it with a blank look.


    "I know it doesn''t look like much, but it has deep significance," she finally said. She was a woman who was confident in her designs and how beautiful they looked. But she couldn''t understand from his expression if he liked it or not.


    "The ring is made from Damascus Steel. It was and still is used to make the best swords on our planet. I used it, treated it, and made it so that it gleams black-blue and purple like moonstone and opal. When you look at it, you don''t think it is special but in reality, it emits the same aura as you do. I weighed and balanced the design so that you wouldn''t be imbalanced when you typed fast at work. And I carved it so that it reflects the design of my own ring."


    He looked a little surprised. "Carved the design of your ring?" he asked.


    She nodded. "I carved the pattern and proportional depth the ring could create if your ring acted as a mold for my ring. So, the pattern of the stones on my wedding ring is embedded in yours. When kept side by side, it looks like they fit together perfectly."


    The explanation was simple, but he still didn''t understand. To help him along, she pulled out her own ring and slipped it in without giving him a chance to protest.


    He looked at it with wide eyes and clasped her hand to bring it closer to his face.


    "What stones did you use?" he glanced at his ring and saw that the color scheme matched perfectly.


    She smirked. "Stunned by how brilliant it is?" she asked.

 Chapter 347: Qian Meng Had Officially Marked Him

    She pointed to each stone as she explained. "The central piece is an impure cut of topaz. The outer stones come in various cuts and are a mixture of Jeremejevite and Aquamarine."


    Mo Qingchen traced the stones on her ring before doing the same on the one on his finger. It did match. He stared wide-eyed. "It looks so mystical," he told her with awe. "These rings look like they come out from a gothic or witch-like universe."


    She nodded. "I like that. The materials I used are not that common for wedding rings. They are underrated but magical. They fit our story. Precious things that other people don''t appreciate. So, we do it in their stead."


    He didn''t know what to say. "When did you make this?" he asked. "This isn''t like the design you had shown me before," he said, remembering her drunkenly showing her the tablet she had drawn in.


    She nodded. "That was the first draft. I ended up changing it when we came back from Hong Kong. I have been spending time in the design lab and making this personally during my lunch break." She looked down, suddenly feeling shy.


    "You made this all from scratch?" he asked, his voice small. He sounded like he was touched.


    She pouted as she nodded. Now, looking like a spoiled wife looking for her husband''s praise. "I used all the elements to bring together this piece for you. I worked really hard." She stopped. "Do you like it?"


    It was time for the final statement.


    He gulped as he stared.


    He pulled her by the wrist and kept their hands side by side. He twined their fingers so that their rings were on full display beside each other. With his free hand, he pulled out his cellphone and started clicking pictures.


    Qian Meng was confused. "What are you¡­"


    "I really do like to show off, Qian Meng. As much as I want to keep this all to myself, I need to show this to everyone on the planet." He gulped as he let her hand go.


    Qian Meng''s phone rang and she looked at it. It was a message from Mo Qingchen. She let him do as he wished.


    She looked at the photo and almost laughed. He had been so excited that the picture was a little blurry. The actual design didn''t show as well, but Qian Meng kept the pictures nonetheless.


    "Are you sending it to someone?" she asked.


    He hummed. "I am sending it to my siblings and mom. Mom was asking if we got our ring yet or not. So, it''s the best thing to show her."


    He bit his lip as he typed out the message.


    [Qian Meng made our ring.] he sent it out and then sighed.


    "You do realize that none of them can actually see it, right?" she asked.


    He shrugged. "If they really want to see it, they can see it when they meet me." He paused. "You can post it on your social media too if you want," he said belatedly. "I know you are worried about plagiarism, but the pictures are blurry."


    She grinned. "It''s not like they can copy this anyways. They won''t even know why the rings are made this way. And this is not a design that most people would like," she admitted.


    She could see that he wanted the world to see his ring. Now, he had physical evidence that he could subtly take around to show people that he was a taken man.


    So, she obliged.


    She pulled out her social media and chose one of the shaky pictures. Anyone who saw would make our that their fingers were twined and that there were rings on their fingers. That was all she needed people to know.


    The real look. They could get it when she decided to post exclusively about it.


    [Birthday boy clicked the picture of our wedding rings. Happy birthday, my scoundrel.]


    She grinned as she pressed post and then tossed her phone aside.


    "Well. What do you think, Mr. Mo? Shall we get to the main highlight of the night?" she asked.


    He raised his brow.


    "You messed up the queue, but I am a stickler for rules. In this order, you are supposed to be overwhelmed and pounce me. What do you think? Can you act the part?"


    She giggled and stepped back.


    He stalked forward, a predatorial gleam in his eyes. Like a little rabbit being hunted, she jumped around the room, letting him take his time.


    He knew very well, he could catch her in a fraction of a second, but she allowed him her teasing and fun.


    The weight of the ring pressed against his chest. He felt like he could breathe. It seared into his skin and he knew what it meant. This woman had officially marked him. This ring would never come off his finger.


    Lord knew what he would do if someone tried to pry it off him. He would rip them to shreds. Even he, himself, wasn''t allowed to do it.


    As for anyone else who could touch it? Only Qian Meng. She would be the one to take care of it. He doubted it was an easy process to clean something as intricate as this, but he trusted her to give him back this token.


    "Baby, enough playing around," he growled.


    He pounced at her body, angling it so that he grabbed her and landed on the bed. He shielded her from the force of the fall and rolled her over immediately.


    Her squeals of delight vibrated across the room and she giggled as he peppered kisses over her face and neck.


    A smile seemed to be permanently etched on his lips as he teased and tickled her. Her happiness magnified his.


    Suddenly, he felt light. Like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. He narrowly kissed her ear and whispered huskily.


    "I am still hungry," he said.


    "Oh, should I make something else and ruin our kitchen a little more?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with mischief.


    "No. It''s not that kind of hunger. It''s the kind where I eat you and not even leave the bones behind."


    He laced his fingers with hers and crawled down. The skirt was bunched up to her waist and her panties in shreds. His face was tucked between her legs and the dragon went to have his feast.

 Chapter 348: The Everyday Goddess

    Qian Meng was going over her emails when Li Min came in to inform her that she had a meeting.


    "Is this the one for the bridal collection?" she asked. She had been working for it for some time because the emails just didn''t give her as much pleasure as they should have.


    "Yes, Boss. It''s an update meeting but we are going over the final plan for the marketing, packaging, and design team. So, it''s better if you go and see it."


    Qian Meng nodded. The season of weddings would hit soon and she wanted to see what her team had in store for her.


    She had handed over most of the tasks she micromanaged and started focusing on her other businesses as well. She was slowly working towards having equal time for all her financial investments and that was working out really well for her.


    Since she started to be the bad boss who allows their employees to shine, her other sources of income skyrocketed. She was paying more attention to the Bai company, her real-estate flipping and renting business and it just seemed that trying to be the best wife was rewarded with good fortune and wealth.


    All thanks to Mo Qingchen and his teachings, of course.


    "Let''s go!" Qian Meng shot up from her seat. "Did you go over the proposals? How are they looking?" she asked Li Min conspiratorially.


    Li Min looked at her boss with a smile. "You will love some of them and you will hate the others, that is all I am going to say," she informed her Boss.


    Qian Meng gave her a look of confusion but shook it off.


    She entered the room and found her employees looking at her with some level of fear. This was a new development.


    "Let''s begin, shall we? Don''t mind me. I am just sitting in. Do your thing," she told her employees calmly.


    Li Min coughed as she guided Qian Meng to the end of the room.


    The primary batch of the wedding dresses was almost done and the statistics and quality control reports were being prepared. The first update was on that. It all moved on to the marketing team. Ma Qui got up himself and opened a presentation.


    Ma Qui was all about visual aids and showing people exactly how he wanted things to be.


    "Usually, a line of wedding dresses is introduced through a fashion show with a grand staircase. As the theme of the line is Goddess, we are thinking of going with the ideals of the company and defining what a Goddess really is."


    Qian Meng scrunched her brow as she looked at Ma Qui.


    "We will take out the religious aspect of being a goddess and empower the everyday woman. A freshly graduated girl who is marrying her high school sweetheart. The woman in her fifties who is marrying the man of her dreams later in life despite her family''s pressure to marry earlier. The housewife who is renewing her vows. The possibilities are endless," Ma Qui said.


    Qian Meng made a small note of this.


    "We bring out the Goddess in the woman and show her as a Goddess in her own life or that of their significant other," he said.


    Qian Meng nodded.


    Xiong Fen perked up. "You will have to make a list of models you want to correspond to each person, yes?" she asked.


    Ma Qui nodded. "We have prepared a list."


    The list came up and Qian Meng looked at it and felt mildly disappointed. "I have a question," she said.


    The people in the room became eerily silent and looked over at her.


    "Ma Qui, are these professional models?" she asked.


    "Yes, Boss."


    Qian Meng licked her lips. "If you are advertising the line as the everyday woman being a Goddess, aren''t these conventionally beautiful and really popular models going against your message?" she asked.


    "Yes, but we can''t use non-professionals for the photoshoot and short clips that we will put on the boards and advertisements."


    She nodded in understanding. "I am not saying that. I am asking you to make a list of models who are not highly popular. Don''t just focus on the beautiful. Go ahead and look for people you would see on the street. Broaden the horizon. Body neutrality should be a focus, in my opinion."


    She paused.


    "But this is just my opinion. You all can discuss and give me your opinions." She quietened down.


    Ma Qui made note of this and moved on. "We''ll pull up some other options and send you the list." He looked over the room. "The other option we have is a documentation style advertisement. It won''t look like an ad, but like a story that you see unfolding in front of you," he said.


    As an example, he showed a wedding video taken at a wedding and uploaded it onto a video streaming site.


    Qian Meng looked at the wedding ceremony and smiled. She actually liked this idea.


    She was curious about the couple they would choose.


    "Boss, this is where I need to propose something outlandish to you," Ma Qui said.


    Qian Meng perked up. "What do you want? I am up for unconventional ideas," she said without a shred of hesitation.


    "What do you think about having a wedding for the promotion?" he asked.


    Qian Meng choked. "Excuse me?"


    Ma Qui smiled. "Your love life has been in the public eye for the better part of the year. It started with Bai Ye Qing and you showed how serious you were about your love life. And then there is your rather mysterious relationship with your husband. If you go to your pictures together and see the comments, you will notice that people want to see more of the two of you. See you in love and hear your story."


    Qian Meng twirled the pen in her hand. "We are not celebrities. I don''t think this is a good idea." She didn''t want to say that the romantic environment of a wedding wasn''t something Mo Qingchen would want.

 Chapter 349: Is My Sleeping Beauty Awake?

    There was an obligation to tell the other person that they were loved dearly and Qian Meng didn''t think Mo Qingchen would utter those words even if there was a gun pointed at his head.


    "Among the coming celebrity weddings, no matter who we contact for this, there is a chance of word getting out to the public. And we save a lot of money if it''s your wedding."


    Qian Meng cleared her throat. "You want to monetize my relationship and make me the real face of Venus, is that it?" She wouldn''t be the first founder who made an appearance in contributing to product sales. But she was not sure she wanted a grand wedding.


    It didn''t look good for her. And she was not going to fake it.


    "Ma''am. It''s the best type of plan. I don''t think we can get any more radical than this. It''s quenching the curiosity of the public. The buzz about your ring is ongoing as well. So people are looking forward to seeing more romance from Mr. Mo and you."


    It was enticing.


    "If it does happen, when will the shooting happen?" Qian Meng asked finally.


    "Three weeks from now," Ma Qui perked up, seeing that there was a possibility of it happening.


    "Until then, make sure to concentrate on the shorts for advertisements. I will consider the proposal about the wedding. I really like the idea but I am not comfortable with being the face of this promotion," she admitted. "But make sure to send me the plan. Don''t put in too much effort into it."


    She would have to make a decision within two weeks. She would need to talk to Mo Qingchen about it soon. Another headache.


    The thought of saving money and monetizing everything was an infinite earning loop. She loved the idea. But¡­


    She listened to the rest of the meeting and sighed when it was over.


    "Great job, guys. I''ll look forward to your final proposals," she said finally, before standing up and leaving.


    Li Min quietly followed her.


    "What do you think about the idea?" Qian Meng asked.


    "It''s brilliant. But this is your private life with Mr. Mo. Boss, you need to decide after talking to your husband." Li Min was good at these things. She knew what Qian Meng was thinking and reaffirmed or denied those thoughts.


    Qian Meng nodded. "Feels wrong to drag my husband into a grand wedding when it was something both of us didn''t want." But Mo Qingchen also loved showing off their relationship.


    She sighed. She would just ask him and get it over with.


    Her phone pinged with a message and she pulled it out.


    [Baby, I need to for a business meeting. I''ll leave tomorrow evening and come back on Sunday.]


    She read the long message and smiled. And then the message sank in.


    She started typing quickly. [I hope it''s nothing to worry about.]


    That was her first thought. Mo Qingchen''s response came within seconds.


    [Something popped up. But it''s not bad. Business expansion style. Will tell you at home. You''ll be okay staying home alone?]


    And then she remembered that he would be gone the weekend. Bummer.


    [I''ll be fine. Pick me up in the evening. I want to talk to you, too.]


    Despite what she anticipated, she never got to talk to Mo Qingchen about the shoot. He was just busy with calls from executives. She watched him work for the better part of the night and then snuggled into him, slowly drifting to sleep.


    She would tell him when he came back from his business trip.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng woke up to the sound of Mo Qingchen shuffling around. He was moving about, going from the bathroom to the bedroom as he packed. This was the first time he was packing his back after their trip to Hong Kong. Sadly, this time, she wasn''t accompanying him.


    She sighed and rolled over to face him. With that, she stretched her arms over her head.


    "Is my sleeping beauty awake?" he asked with an amused smile as he walked back to the edge of the bed where the open duffle bag was kept.


    Qian Meng nudged at the bag with her feet, trying to get it out of her sight. As if it could disappear and her husband wouldn''t have to leave.


    "Hi," she said sleepily.


    She watched as he slipped a pair of dress shoes with an amused smile at her cat-like antics into a satin slip bag. He then packed it into a bigger bag. Mo Qingchen now paid attention to his appearance, especially because she was always picking everything for him. But his aesthetic sense had improved since marrying her.


    "Did you have a good nap?" he asked, crouching down beside her and caressing her sleepy face. She gave him a silly smile.


    "I did. What time is it?" she asked as she nuzzled her face into his palm.


    "Almost eight," he responded.


    "Oh no. Your sister is going to be here soon," she moaned. She needed to get up. This was the first weekend apart from Mo Qingchen since she started working five days a week and he had a business meeting. So, he wanted her to take the moment to spend time with his sister.


    Qian Meng wanted her friend back and all well, so she shrugged and readied for a small sleepover.


    "I was just about to wake you up. You will need more sleep. I think you two will be giggling and partying when I am gone, so I wanted you to rest up."


    Qian Meng giggled sluggishly. It could be true.


    "Did you get any sleep?" she asked, getting to the main question.


    "Surprisingly, I got a fifteen-minute shut-eye."


    Qian Meng rolled her eye. "You''re still not human. You have a long way to go ahead of you, husband."


    He laughed throatily and bounced to his feet to go over to his duffle bag and zip it. "I''m all packed, I think."

 Chapter 350: Desperate and Craving

    Qian Meng made a whining sound at the back of her throat as she shifted onto her knees and crawled to the edge of the bed, towards him.


    "Do you really have to go? Ah, I want to spend the weekend with my husband." She didn''t want to hold him back, but she was also a little clingy on these days.


    She moved to kneel on the bed just in front of him, reaching for his hand.


    "Why? Are you going to miss me terribly?"


    She laughed as he stepped towards her, placing his hand on her hips while she stretched to wrap her arms around his neck.


    "Are you fishing for some love? It''s not a cute look on you, Qingchen."


    "Admit it. You are going to miss me."


    She scoffed. "I never said I wouldn''t."


    He looked at her suspiciously. "How much?"


    Mo Qingchen was equally clingy, if not more.


    "Now you look desperate," she teased.


    He clucked his tongue. "You would have your husband desperate and craving for your affection rather than admit you will miss me terribly?" he pouted.


    "Desperate and craving?" Qian Meng laughed. "Is that how you really feel?"


    "Absolutely," he responded. He was always so sure of what he wanted.


    "How would you like me to remedy that, baby?" she asked sarcastically. "Like this?"


    She couldn''t exactly reach what she intended, so she used his shoulders for support to move from her knees to her feet to stand on the bed. She crouched down to pepper his face with kisses.


    "Do you want me to kiss all over you and tell you how perfect you are?" she teased as she kissed all over his forehead and cheeks and nose. "Don''t leave me," she begged dramatically. "How will I live without you for two days?"


    He laughed heartily, trying to swat her away.


    "If I chain you down, will I have you with me forever?" she prompted cutely.


    "Chain me? Feeling kinky, baby?" he laughed.


    She stood up all the way and then jumped onto him, throwing all her limbs around him. He grunted slightly with the force of her leap, but caught her with relative ease with his hands cupping her ass as her legs encircled his waist.


    "I''m never going to let go of you," she vowed, squeezing her arms around his neck. "And then you can''t ever leave me." She bumped her forehead into his.


    "You are crazy, Qian Meng."


    "You like it," she said confidently.


    "I do. God help me, I do." He pressed a quick kiss on her lips.


    "I hope that was enough affection to last you two days, because I am worn out already."


    "No stamina," he teased, bending forward until she was flat on her back. He got up onto the bed, on his knees and loomed over her.


    "I will really miss you," Qian Meng said honestly.


    "I know." He smiled. "And I will miss you. I don''t know how I will sleep without you seducing me."


    She smirked. "I''m going to call you and make sure you sleep while you are not beside me. My seductive powers are not bound by proximity, Mr. Mo. Don''t underestimate me."


    He nodded. "I prepared a present for you so that you don''t feel lonely while I am away. Do you want it?" he asked.


    Her eyes glittered but she acted modestly. "Why did you get me a gift? You didn''t have to give me anything. You are my greatest gift of all."


    "Cheeky little woman," he whispered affectionately. "I did get you a gift. Can I give it to you now?"


    He got up off her and walked over to the closet. He opened his sock drawer as Qian Meng sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. He returned to her with a small package. He sat next to her and handed it to her first, which she took with slight hesitation.


    He looked mildly nervous. And it poked at her curiosity. She looked back over at him and he licked his bottom lip in a nervous gesture before looking t me.


    "Mo Qingchen, seriously. You didn''t need to get me a gift."


    "Don''t worry. It didn''t cost me anything."


    That surprised her. She didn''t expect him to be someone who liked to give handmade gifts. "Okay, then."


    "I don''t want you to open it until I am gone and you miss me. I want you to open this when you really really want to see me. Understood?"


    She blinked. "But you won''t be here when I open it."


    "That''s okay. I want you to see it alone." He took the box from her hand.


    Qian Meng watched him stand up and put the package on the top of the dresser. She was definitely intrigued to open it and find out why he sounded so anxious about the gift. It was weird.


    She couldn''t give it much thought because the doorbell rang.


    "Oh, it must be Yize!" she said and stood up. She went over to him and touched his arm so that he would look at her again. "Thank you for the gift. No matter what it is, you don''t have to be so worried. And thank you."


    He turned to hug her, placing the lightest kisses on her lips. "You''re welcome."


    She left Qingchen in the bedroom and went down to answer the door. Xiong Hua beat her and was opening the door by the time she made it.


    Mo Yize peered in and smiled. "Oh my, look at you looking cute. All rumpled from sleep," she cooed when she saw the condition Qian Meng was in.


    "Thank you," she laughed. "Come in. Your brother is ready to leave already," she said with a pout.


    She led Yize into the house and towards the kitchen. "As you can tell, I just woke up from my nap. I could use¡ª" she paused briefly, surprised when she walked into the kitchen to see Qingchen. "I could use a tea to wake me up. Do you want some?" she turned to ask Yize.

 Chapter 351: Watching You Through the Window

    "Nope. I''m okay. I had too much coffee at work, today," she admitted, wincing a little.


    Qian Meng couldn''t help but laugh. Mo Yize had a sensitive stomach, and she knew too much coffee gave her wicked diarrhea.


    "You''re going to spend half the night in the bathroom, aren''t you?" she joked.


    "Hey, Yize," Mo Qingchen greeted her a little awkwardly.


    "Hi," she responded, giving him an awkward little smile.


    "Glad to see you coming over again. Back to your college days, huh?"


    "Just trying my level best to make things better."


    "You sure you don''t want some tea or coffee? I am making some for Qian Meng already," he said.


    "I''ll just have some water, thanks!"


    "One tea. One water, coming right up."


    Qian Meng shook her head and retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge and took it to the dining table. For a moment, Qian Meng and Yize just looked at each other.


    "What do you want to do tonight?" Qian Meng asked finally.


    "I don''t know. I want something low-key," she shrugged. "Let''s talk and shit. Like usual."


    "I agree." Qian Meng nodded. "Let''s do a movie and pizza tonight. I have been craving some greasy food recently, but Qingchen doesn''t like pizza from those chain stores." She sighed.


    And they used to do that all the time.


    "Sounds like my brother," she scoffed. "Let''s have some unhealthy food."


    "I''ll even get the forsaken pineapple."


    "Qian Meng, we are almost out of the matcha powder. Don''t forget to get another can of it." She looked over at Mo Qingchen, who stood in front of the refrigerator. "Also, ask Xiong Hua to get you some other milk variables."


    "Okay! I''ll get some almond milk."


    A small smile touched his lips. "I guessed as much."


    Qian Meng looked over at Yize again, but she wasn''t looking at her. She was staring at her brother, watching him intently as he poured the right amount of soya milk and powder in and made Qian Meng''s drink. Her expression was peculiar. She looked pensive and maybe a little bothered.


    As they spoke, Mo Qingchen came over and put her custom mug in front of her. Qian Meng smiled up at him.


    "Thank you."


    "You''re welcome. I should probably leave now."


    Qian Meng scooted back in her chair to stand up. "I''ll walk you out and say goodbye¡­"


    "Wait." They both looked over at Mo Yize, surprised.


    "Yes?" Mo Qingchen asked slowly when all she did was stare at him.


    Mo Yize stood up hesitantly and walked over to him. And then, she shocked the other two by hugging him. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head against his shoulder.


    "Have a safe trip," she spoke softly.


    Mo Qingchen looked at Qian Meng, baffled, and looking like he had no idea what to do. She motioned for him to wrap his hands around her, and he thankfully did.


    "Thank you, Yize," he responded with shock.


    They parted and she turned away bashfully as she went to sit down again.


    "I''ll be right back," Qian Meng said to Yize. "I''ll just walk him out."


    The other nodded.


    Qian Meng helped take his bag into the car, leaving Yize in the kitchen.


    "That was weird," Mo Qingchen said to her in a low voice as he closed the back door.


    "That was good."


    "Good but weird," he answered.


    "Well, I just hope we can spend the night together. Things are a little more awkward than I hoped it would be," she admitted.


    "Let me know how it goes, okay?"


    She nodded. "Let me know when you land."


    He opened his arms to her and she hugged him tightly, wrapping her arms around his neck.


    "I''ll miss you," she promised.


    "And I, you. I''m sorry I couldn''t stay for the weekend."


    "You''re going on an important trip. It''s just two nights. I can manage."


    He pulled back just enough to look at her. He took her chin between two fingers. "Be good."


    She laughed. "Aren''t I always?"


    He shook his head and chuckled. He tipped forward until their foreheads touched. "No, you are always mischievous."


    "I will be good," she promised. "Until you come back."


    She took his face between her hands as he kissed her, his lips soft and tender as they caressed hers.


    He released her then and she watched him walk around the front of the car and get into the driver''s seat. She stood and watched as he turned around and departed down the long driveway, heading back inside when she could no longer see him.


    When she walked back into the kitchen, Mo Yize was standing. She walked in and Yize gazed at her with the same look that she had given Mo Qingchen when he prepared her tea. She looked troubled, and that troubled Qian Meng.


    "Is everything okay?" she asked.


    "I was watching you through the window."


    Qian Meng raised her brow. "You were? Creepy."


    "Yes." She paused. "You really love him, don''t you?"


    Her question caught her off guard. At first, Qian Meng didn''t know how to react. Then, after having a moment to absorb it, she realized that it was a good thing.


    She realized why Mo Yize had looked at her the same way she had look had Qingchen when he made her tea. She saw how real their relationship was, for the first time.


    She believed it.


    "I do," Qian Meng answered, a wave of nervousness rolling through her stomach. "I do love him."


    The honesty of her own answer shook her. She knew she loved him, but it was the first time she had said it out loud and meant it.


    "Wow." Yize shook her head as she went to sit back down.


    "I thought you were attracted to one another when I first saw you two together¡­ but when you said you were getting married for love, I didn''t believe it. You didn''t look like you were in love," she admitted.

 Chapter 352: I Live For My Goddess Now

    "Yes. It shouldn''t be a surprise to you that Qingchen and I have a prenuptial agreement."


    Qian Meng watched her carefully for a reaction.


    "It''s not surprising," Yize responded. "Most people in our circle have it. It''s nothing much. The fact that you love him¡­ That my brother is capable of that¡­ I just¡­ didn''t expect it," she said.


    "Are you that surprised?" Qian Meng asked.


    "Not at all," Yize answered, giving her a reassuring smile.


    Although everything had gotten off to an awkward start, the night ended up being amazing. For the first time, she was enjoying hanging out with a friend. They ate pizza and watched movies and talked about their problems.


    It was the first time both of them let things go, and the results gave both of them hope for the future. Someday, they would be best friends again.


    When Mo Qingchen texted her to let her know the plane had landed, she answered him back with reassurance that Yize and her were doing well. She was surprised by the relief it gave her.


    - - - - -


    The next morning, she skipped around until Mo Yize left. She had barely had any sleep. The thought of Mo Qingchen filled her mind constantly when she was not talking.


    She wanted to keep his promise and wait until no one was around, so she didn''t open the gift he had left her.


    She thought about stretching the truth and opening it in the bathroom but ultimately decided against it. She wanted to wait for the excitement of opening it when she was completely alone and consumed by thoughts of his.


    Therefore, as soon as Yize had left, she practically jumped to her bedroom to get the little box. She sat on the bed as she tore the paper open, revealing a small velvet box. She frowned at it. Was it more jewelry? Mo Qingchen said that he hadn''t spent money.


    Unable to wait any longer, she opened the box hungrily. To her surprise, a small piece of paper fell out into her lap. That was it. There was nothing else in the box. Just a small piece of paper.


    Curiously, she picked it up and unfolded it. She took notice that the paper was thick and brown. The edges were worn as if ripped out from a book. Her heart leaped in her chest when she thought she understood what she was looking at.


    At least, she hoped.


    The first thing that caught her eye was the date. Written at the top corner. It was in Mo Qingchen''s writing and it was their first night in Hong Kong. A quick scan of the page confirmed what she knew in her gut.


    It was a page from a journal. Mo Qingchen''s journal. Where he poured his thoughts and heart out. And he had gifted her a glimpse into it.


    This was the best gift she had ever received.


    Her eyes scanned hungrily. She was nearly out of her mind in anxiety at the thought of what she had chosen to share with her. This was what the page said:


    [Today, I realized that I am happy to be alive. I don''t need to hide in the shadows, lie and be sure that I am a soulless monster. On one hand, I struggle with the feeling of being the betrayer. I have devoted my existence to the existence of reclusion and self-imposed atonement of my sins. Today, I am scared¡­ more than anything that I will lose the only thing keeping me alive. And I have only just found it.


    My heart beats passionately in my chest. I have found my path and every moment I get closer to a destination I didn''t know I intended to reach.


    I am betraying everything I have known. I betray my demons with the truth and the lies, the awareness that I am slaying my demons one after another.


    I betray them simply by being with her. She slays them in my stead and she does it as she sleeps here beside me.


    I am free. I am no longer imprisoned in my guilt. She is my goddess and I live for her now. My cold heart is no longer confined. I feel it beat now. I feel the heat of my blood pumping through my veins. I am alive.


    I have a place in the world. With her.


    My wife.]


    Qian Meng stopped breathing.


    She needed to go.


    She needed to go to him, to be with him.


    Qian Meng didn''t even know how long she sat there on the bed, reading and re-reading that piece of paper.


    Over and over again.


    She read the whole thing. And then, when she was near memorizing it, she skimmed over it and let the most gut-wrenching parts pop out at her.


    ''The only thing keeping me alive.''


    ''I have a place in the world with her.''


    Her heart never stopped racing. His words were beautiful. And the word beautiful didn''t even seem like an adequate enough word, but she couldn''t come up with a better one to describe it.


    Mo Qingchen had managed to give her the best gift on the planet and nothing could ever top it. He had given his unreserved thoughts and feelings, right there on a piece of paper.


    When he wrote it, he probably didn''t think that anyone would ever read it. He had written those words as an outlet for his emotions. Ones that he didn''t quite understand. And that fact made them all the more astonishing.


    Each and every word shattered the little bubble she was in. But the last few lines had got her. He had a home now. With her.


    Could he have been any more dramatic than that? She had been afraid to tell him her feelings, but he had blown it all out of the world. Telling him she loved him seemed nothing in comparison to the utter ardor that rang through every single word he had jotted down. He had spilled his heart out and shown it to her.

 Chapter 353: Do Anything to Get a Glimpse of You

    Oh god. He had said that she was his very reason for living.


    Still, Qian Meng knew that she had to tell him right away. She had to tell him that she was in love with him even if it paled in comparison to what he had shared with her. And she had to do it in person.


    She put the paper down and scrambled across the bed to get to her phone, where it was charging on the nightstand. She ripped the cord out and let it fall away as she hopped off to the bed and went to dial for Mo Qingchen''s cell.


    She paced back and forth anxiously in front of the French doors that led out to the balcony while she waited for him to answer the call. It rang a couple of times and just when she was about to scream from frustration that he might not answer, he picked up.


    "Good afternoon, baby," he answered smoothly, his voice caressing her whole body even over the phone. "I was going to call you because you hadn''t called. But I didn''t want to interrupt your time with my sister."


    "Why did you make me wait until I was alone to open that gift?" she barked at him immediately. "You should have let me open it yesterday, in front of you, so that I could read it with you¡­ So that I could¡­"


    "Baby, calm down." He laughed. "You already opened it, then? You were so eager and missed me?"


    She hadn''t meant to attack him. That wasn''t her plan. But just on hearing his voice, it all spilled out.


    "I opened and read it¡­ Mo Qingchen¡­"


    He was quiet for a moment.


    "Is that a good thing?" he asked apprehensively.


    "A good thing?" Qian Meng scoffed, finding it incredulous that he could even ask such a thing. "I need to know if you are done with work for the day. Are you really busy?" she asked.


    He made a confused noise.


    "I need to know if I can take the fastest route to get wherever you are right now. I need to know if you have time to see me. I don''t want to be a wedge while you are working. So, tell me quickly."


    "Well," he laughed. "I guess that is a good thing."


    Her heart constricted in her chest. He wasn''t understanding and she couldn''t express how she was feeling or thinking at that moment.


    She sprinted to the bed and heard him breathe as she opened her laptop and opened the search engine.


    "Mo Qingchen, you don''t understand. I need to get on a flight to you. Right now."


    He was quiet for another moment.


    She typed out the information and searched for the commercial flights available.


    "Are you serious?" he asked right now.


    "Mo Qingchen, I am shaking. I am dead serious." She groaned in frustration. This time, a longer moment of silence ensued. "All the immediate flights are fully booked and the only ones available are the ones tomorrow. What the hell?"


    "Hold on a second." She paused her fingers over her keyboard and listened to some bustling on the other end. And then there was the sound of the door closing. Qian Meng hoped that she hadn''t caught him in a meeting or something.


    Damn it, she should have just texted him. Why didn''t she contain her emotions better?


    "Do you seriously want to come here right now?"


    "Yes, I need to see you."


    "Qian Meng¡­" She could hear the uncertainty and surprise in his tone. "I''m only here until tomorrow morning. I don''t have a lot of time free t¡ª"


    "I don''t care," she cut him off. "I don''t mind if I have five minutes with you. I just need to see you. If you are busy, I''ll just fly to you and wait until you are free to see you. Just a glimpse is fine, okay?"


    She heard the determination in her own voice and was sure that was the thing that made him linger in his silence. It was completely understandable that she had caught him off guard.


    In moments like this, Qian Meng really wanted to have a personal jet at her beck and call. As soon as the idea sparked, Qian Meng shot a message to Li Min from her laptop.


    "Oh. I don''t think I am giving you the reaction you are looking for," he responded eventually. "I just wasn''t expecting this conversation. I am taken aback."


    "I am already trying to get any possible vehicle. Do you have a way to get me there or should I just start walking to you?" she asked.


    She heard him exhale and she could picture the gleam in his eye as he released the small laugh.


    "I¡­" She could hear the wheels turning in his mind. "Okay. I''ll hang up. I have to make a phone call and see if I can figure out something to get you to me quickly. I will call you right back, alright?"


    Qian Meng shuddered. "Who are you going to call?" she asked.


    "I''ll try to arrange a private flight for you. I have to check with my dad and family to see if anyone is using it and if we have a pilot ready to take the trip."


    She calmed down. "Okay."


    "Don''t you have any commitments?"


    "None. My schedule is clean for you," she answered boldly. She might need to take a call or two, but that didn''t mean she would sit at home and wait for it. She could very well do it while she was beside Mo Qingchen.


    "You must have had plans¡ª"


    "Mo Qingchen, I literally don''t care about anything else right now."


    He must have heard the resolution in her voice because he didn''t argue further after that.


    "I will call you back shortly," he said finally.


    "I''ll pack my bag."


    And she did exactly that after she disconnected the call. She rushed around the bedroom and bathroom as she packed a quick bag, just for the night. She didn''t put much thought into what she packed because she didn''t plan on stepping a foot outside Mo Qingchen''s hotel room once she got there.

 Chapter 354: Wanting Instant Gratification

    After throwing a bag together, she went ahead and started texting Li Min to check on any progress.


    [I am looking into it. Is there an emergency?]


    Qian Meng knew that her answer would make her secretary think that she was crazy to spontaneously jump on a plane and fly a few hours to stay for a few brief hours before returning. But she didn''t care. As far as she was concerned, Li Min could think she had gone out of her mind.


    She was going.


    When her phone finally rang, she answered it on the first ring.


    "Hey," she spoke eagerly.


    "Alright. So the same pilot who flew us to Zurich is willing to fly you. I am sending a car to get you. It should be there in an hour. The pilot will beat you to the landing strip and be waiting for your arrival."


    A huge smile spread across her face.


    "Go to my office and get my checkbook from the first drawer to the right. Pay him double what he tells you."


    "Double? Why are you paying? I should be¡ª" she couldn''t finish.


    "He''s doing me a huge favor dropping whatever he may have planned. He is going to stay for the whole day for the round trip."


    Qian Meng exhaled.


    "It is really nice of him," she admitted him.


    "And he is carrying precious cargo." Qian Meng couldn''t help but blush at the blatant show of affection.


    "Thank you for setting everything up. I''ll ask Li Min to stop looking then."


    "Of course. I was surprised at your request. But¡­ I am glad you want to come, Qian Meng."


    Qian Meng bit her lip. There was so much she was dying to tell him, but she couldn''t get wrapped up in all of that just yet. She was a woman on a mission and she had tunnel vision until she was face to face with him.


    "What do I do after I land? Where do I go?"


    He chuckled. "I will be there to get you. It''s going to take around four hours to get here, so you will be here less than twenty hours."


    She hummed. "I don''t care."


    "I have been told as much." She heard the smile in his voice. "I''ll be done with work by then. I''ll shift around everything so that I can pick you up. Luckily, I did most of the work before you called."


    "I am sorry for being a bother, but you have to do what you have to do. I know you are there to work so I will not take up much of your time. I''ll just speak and then you can carry on with your business like nothing happened."


    He was breathing evenly. "And this all because of the gift I gave you?" he asked, his voice as gentle as water.


    She bit her lip. "I am not sure. It''s just¡­ everything¡­" she trailed off, not knowing how to explain herself.


    "It''s okay, he answered tenderly. "Just get yourself on that plane."


    "Even if it''s the last thing I do," she swore.


    "I have to go. Text me when the car gets you and again when you are about to take off, please," he pleaded.


    "Okay. And Qingchen?" she prompted.


    "Yesh?"


    "Thank you."


    ''For everything,'' she added in her mind


    - - - - -


    She took in a calming breath before the car had even arrived. She was feeling like a big ball of anticipation. She thought she might spontaneously combust.


    Yin Ah was not on the flight. In her place was someone she had never seen before. She couldn''t expect people to have as much free time and urgency to throw away all their plans to board a flight.


    She didn''t want to sit on the flight for three hours. All she wanted was to be with Mo Qingchen and she wanted instant gratification. By the time the car picked her up and made the drive to the airport and they were able to take off, Mo Qingchen would probably be done with work. But it felt like an eternity.


    So, she did all she could to relax. She plugged in her headphones and listened to something mellow, hoping it would help.


    She clutched at the piece of paper in her hands the whole way. It felt searing hot against her skin, charging her up. She wished she had something of the same intensity to offer to him. But all she had was the courage to finally tell him what she had been afraid to say even in the darkness of the night.


    And even that didn''t feel enough.


    The view from her window as they landed at the small, private airport was breathtaking. The timing had worked out to where they were just landing as the lights in the city came up. She gazed out of the window as the plane began to descend, watching the twinkle of the stars and the lights merging together.


    She had never been there before, but she was quickly coming to love it. But despite its beauty, it paled in comparison to the black eyes that she wanted to look into.


    The first thing she did before the plane had even come to a stop was text Mo Qingchen.


    [Just touched down.]


    His response came immediately. [I know. I watched. I''m in the back of the car, pulling up to the runway right now.]


    Her heart leaped. She looked out the window again and, sure enough, an SUV made its way towards the plane. Mo Qingchen was in that car, and she could practically taste the anticipation on her tongue.


    Her body shook with anticipation and she was dying to get off that plane. She fidgeted impatiently as she waited for the door to be opened. And once it was and the stairs were lowered, she gave the pilot a hurried thank you before disembarking.


    She raced down the steps at the same time as the back door of the car opened. It was several meters away from the plane and she had to look carefully to spot Mo Qingchen''s feet as he stepped out.

 Chapter 355: I Love You

    And then, he closed the door.


    There he was, all of him, and he was looking straight at her with a brilliant smile on his face that could be clearly seen even as far as she was.


    If she didn''t have her bag, she would have sprinted to him. However, with that and the risk of falling flat on her face at a moment like that¡­ she didn''t. She couldn''t quite trust her knees at that moment. She walked with purpose, concentrating on her steps.


    It took forever, and her heart thudded against her ribcage the whole way.


    Finally, he was within arm''s reach. She inhaled sharply as she closed the last few feet between them and she dropped her back on the tarmac, totally unconcerned about it, and walked straight up to him until there was a foot separating them.


    She lifted her hand, the hand that held the sacred piece3 of paper, and pressed it against his chest, right over his heart. He looked down at it and then back up at her, completely baffled.


    Her eyes filled with tears as she lifted her other hand to gently caress his cheek.


    "I love you."


    Qian Meng watched. Her eyes were fixed on his face as a myriad of emotions crossed his face.


    Shock, Bewilderment. Thoughtfulness. And finally, realization.


    The whole time, his eyes were locked on her.


    And then there was astonishment, pure joy, worship, and contentment.


    And then, something else flashed on his face that she couldn''t identify. He looked troubled all of a sudden and she couldn''t tell what he was thinking.


    "What?" she prompted. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    He held her gaze for a moment before answering her. "It''s just that¡­"


    "Just what?"


    Under other circumstances, she would have panicked at his reaction. However, she had read that piece of paper a hundred times. It was near impossible to question his feelings. She knew where his heart was and it was there with complete conviction.


    "Shit," he breathed as anxiousness flashed in his eyes. "Fuck. I''m sorry. You''re waiting for me to say it back and I am fucking this up!"


    "No¡­ no¡­" she whispered. She inched closer to him as she ran her hand up from her cheek to push her fingers into his hair. "You''re not fucking this up. It''s impossible for you to fuck it up after¡­"


    Mo Qingchen looked pained and she wanted to puke because of how anxious she was.


    "Can you tell me what is wrong, though?"


    "I''m so sorry." He blinked and he seemed to snap out of it. "Fuck."


    "Mo Qingchen¡ª"


    He reached up into his hair to take her hand. He brought it down to hold it between them and then the other hand was on her face.


    "I do¡­ Those words¡­"


    Qian Meng stared at him, confused. After everything he had written, was it possible for him to think those three words were too much to utter?


    "What?" she croaked.


    "Those words feel so¡­" he sighed. "Those words feel so childish when I think of them in relation to the way I feel about you."


    Qian Meng exhaled audibly, relieved.


    "Oh." Her breath came out in a rush.


    "I love you." Qian Meng''s heart stopped. "Of course, I do. But people throw these words around so easily. They have become so generalized and I don''t think it''s fair for me to define my feelings for you this way. It doesn''t hold the depth of meaning that I want to convey. I just feel like there should be something more. More than something people write as a general greeting on cards and say in a joking manner."


    She shook her head at him.


    "Are you joking?" Mo Qingchen gulped. "You don''t need to worry about expressing your emotions. This¡­" She pulled her hand from his as she unfolded the paper. "These words are so much more than anything else you can tell me. You have already said them."


    He stared at her for a long moment. "That paper meant that much to you?"


    "It meant everything to me. It was enough to make me want to immediately get on a flight even if I could see you for five minutes. I would gladly take a flight back after this conversation. I just needed to look at your face when I said those words to you." She paused to take a deep breath. "I know it isn''t significant enough. But I am not capable of putting my heart out in words like this. I''m not this articulate. Please know that I feel the way you do. What you wrote here, I feel the same way. I finally found my place in the world¡­ with you."


    He stopped her there. "Hey."


    Qian Meng looked at him with wide eyes, desperate as he took her face between his palms.


    "If you don''t know the right thing to say, just tell me that you are mine. Because if your feelings reflect my own, that''s the best thing I can think of to convey my emotions. I''m yours. Every part of me. With everything that I am. I am devoted to you in every way possible."


    She liked that.


    "I''m yours," she breathed. "You completely possess me." She paused. "I still wish I had something better to say that is on par with what is on this paper, but I don''t think it is possible."


    "Baby, you flew to me to say that you love me. If that isn''t the biggest indicator, I don''t know what is."


    She chuckled. "It wasn''t an option for me to not come. It killed me to even wait as long as it did to get here. Also, you paid for the flight. I don''t think I put in much effort." She huffed.


    "I¡ª"


    Mo Qingchen stopped, distracted when the driver''s side of the car opened slowly beside them.


    "Mr. Mo?" a male voice said from somewhere behind her. "I am sorry to interrupt, but we probably shouldn''t linger on the runway for too long."


    Qian Meng coughed in embarrassment.

 Chapter 356: I Only Want You

    "Noted. We''ll leave now."


    The man spoke to her. "Ma''am, may I get your bag?"


    She turned to look at the driver as he stepped out of the car.


    "Thank you, yes."


    He nodded quickly before going to get her bag. He walked around the car to load it into the back. Qian Meng turned to Mo Qingchen.


    "Come on," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder and guiding her to the car. "We will talk more at the hotel."


    She blinked. "You''ll go there with me?"


    He nodded, looking confused as he opened the door for her.


    "I just didn''t know if you would be done with work. I thought I would stay in the hotel room until you were done for the day."


    He waved it off as the driver walked around them and got back into the driver''s seat.


    "I''m all yours tonight. I accomplished everything else before you arrived. I do have some things I need to do in the morning, but you can sleep during that time."


    She grinned smugly. "Mine all night¡­" She climbed into the back of the car and slid across the seat so Mo Qingchen could get in beside her. "I really like the sound of that."


    She watched him slip in gracefully beside her and close the door. The partition between them and the driver was up and Qian Meng wondered if he could hear them.


    "I think the driver got bored with our mush and decided to take matters into her own hand," Qian Meng admitted sheepishly.


    "It''s probably because the next plane might come in," Mo Qingchen said soothingly. "What good is love if you can''t show it off, anyway?" he boasted. They were silent for a moment. "Are you hungry?"


    "No," she answered, shaking her head.


    She hadn''t eaten all day and, on a level, she was physically hungry, but she had no desire to eat anything. She felt too¡­ nervous to eat.


    It was overwhelming that all of a sudden everything was different. She wasn''t aware of how the change came to be. She was suffocatingly in love with the man sitting beside her and it seemed like she had woken up one day, completely in love with him. She had fuzzy memories of a time when she wasn''t completely enslaved by his charms when she disliked him. Those moments were so distant to her that they felt like it had happened before her last life.


    She had never stood a chance when it came to him. He was her destiny.


    "What are you thinking about?" he asked quietly as he lifted his finger to coax her bottom lip out from under her teeth.


    "Everything."


    She took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together and she held it in her lap as she leaned her head against his bicep. She suddenly felt his face in her hair as he kissed her head.


    "Did you sleep well last night?" she asked.


    "I did." He chuckled. "I still can''t believe you wanted to fly all the way here instead of following your schedule."


    She rolled her eyes. "As I said, it wasn''t a choice. There is nowhere I would rather be than with you."


    He gulped. "Somehow, I want to celebrate this with you. Just the two of us."


    She shook her head. "No."


    "No?" He raised his brow in question even though she couldn''t see him.


    "No. I don''t want to go anywhere. I just want to be alone with you."


    He was quiet for a moment, but he was pleased. "Whatever you want."


    She didn''t know what came over her, but she blurted it out. "You. I just want you."


    His heart stopped. "You already have me."


    His words from the tarmac echoed in her mind.


    Thankfully, their ride to the hotel was short. It was beautiful, as expected from Mo Qingchen. Mo Qingchen guided her to the elevators with their hands twined and her bag over his shoulder. As they rode their way up to the top floor, tension crackled between them.


    It was so intense that Qian Meng wondered if the people in the elevator could feel it radiating from them.


    They walked down the long hallway hand in hand. He only released his to fish for the key from his wallet and pull it out to let us into his room.


    "Nice room," she commented as she watched him place her bag beside his.


    "I booked a small room because I was just staying for two nights. If I had known you were coming, I would have gotten a suite."


    She smiled, shaking her head as she went up to him. He turned to face her directly as she slid her arms around his neck, her fingers sliding through her hair at the back of it.


    "Who needs a suite. Everything I need is right here in the room." She gave him a small wink.


    His hands on her hips gingerly brought her body close to his. "I just want to give you the best of everything."


    She shrugged. "You always do. Including you."


    He huffed. "You''re so easily satisfied. It''s infuriating," he admitted.


    "I''m not easily impressed. I just know what I like. It doesn''t need to be fancy to satisfy me. Just a simple gesture is enough for me." She pulled her arms from around his neck and reached into her pocket to pull out the piece of paper again. "Like this."


    He glanced down and shook his head subtly. "I had no idea your reaction would be so intense. If I had known, I would have given you my whole journal."


    She blinked. "Do you write a lot about me in there?" She shook her head, not wanting to know. "I don''t think my heart could have handled a whole journal. It would have been fun, though. To look into the most intrusive thoughts of Mo Qingchen." Her honesty made him smile.


    "I will let you read it sometime. But most of it is boring to you. I often jot down what I did that day or a code that particularly crossed my mind."

 Chapter 357: Made His Heart Flutter

    Qian Meng walked over to the bed and sat down at the end and unfolded the paper. "I am glad that your love for me is up there with your codes, Mr. Mo. I am honored. If you want to show your journal to me, I don''t mind. Until that day comes, I will hold onto this piece of paper like it is my lifeline."


    He came over and stopped in front of where she sat, crouching down so that he was looking up at her through his long lashes. Her eyes were on the paper, rereading it, but she could feel him watching her. Sure enough, when she looked at him, his eyes were locked on her.


    "Why are you staring at me?"


    He gleamed with delight. "When I wrote that, I had no intention of giving it to you. But when we were in Hong Kong, I realized that your insecurities about love and the genuineness of our relationship ran deeper than I had previously thought. And I decided that you should read it. I just wanted to give you some insight into my feelings because it scared me that you would bottle up everything again."


    Qian Meng smiled at him softly. "I know you didn''t write this to give to me. That is why it means so much. This is raw and uncensored. I will cherish this forever. It is the best gift you could have given me. All those material things, I can buy them myself. But this¡­ only you can give it to me," she swore. It was a promise that she could never accept anything like that from any other person on the planet.


    Mo Qingchen hummed. "Maybe I am better at verbalizing my feelings to myself than I am to you."


    She shook her head in disbelief. "The idea of you not knowing what to say is ridiculous. You are constantly saying things that make my heart skip multiple times in a single strike!"


    He sucked in a shocked breath. "You say things that to that to me, too, Qian Meng. You just don''t realize it."


    "Yeah?" she snorted in disbelief. "What was the last thing I said to you that made your heart flutter?" she asked in challenge, sure that he was bluffing.


    "In the car, you said all you wanted was me," he responded without hesitation. He knew his answer immediately and Qian Meng was left gaping at him.


    "Oh," she responded stupidly, not knowing what else to say at that moment. She was blushing.


    "Yeah. Oh." He smirked knowingly. "You''re pretty adorable when you are embarrassed. Did you know that?"


    "I''m not embarrassed," she defended quickly.


    "Okay." He grinned. His eyes changed as they always did during their most intimate moments. In his day-to-day life, he was stern. His black eyes were pools of constant calculation and purpose. However, with her, he showed a side reserved only for her.


    His eyes seemed to lighten and soften. They sparkled like the clear night sky. When he looked at her, in quiet and personal moments like these, there was a different kind of life in them.


    They dazzled her.


    "What are you staring at now?" she asked after several moments.


    "My whole life."


    Qian meng gawked at him and then she inhaled sharply.


    "You worry about not having words to express yourself? Are you serious? You say these perfect things all the time. I feel like¡­"


    "What?" he coaxed.


    "Like I can''t breathe," she admitted with a sigh and a shake of her head. "You take my breath away. It''s so corny to say out loud, but I think I am going to have a heart attack."


    He drew circles on her knee. "That''s an irony." She looked at him in confusion. "I feel like I can''t breathe when you are not around."


    She bit her lip to stop herself from bursting out into laughter.


    "Stop it! When did we become the kind of people who fly across the country to be with each other?"


    He shrugged.


    "They say love makes you do crazy things."


    "Love," she muttered, stretching the word out. "What did you tell your father about the surprise flight arrangement?" Qian Meng was curious.


    Mo Qingchen hated talking to his father, but for her, he had called him and arranged for a flight.


    "I told him that you had urgent business and he gave me a lecture on not letting women run wild and take control of the household." He rolled his eyes. "I am starting to wonder what my mother sees in the man to stay with him. I don''t understand this love." He made a face of pure disgust.


    "Still don''t like the word?" she asked.


    "It has to do with how my father painted it. But now, I see that it is so different. I still can''t confine my emotions to petty feelings like he does. I do not condone his definition of something so pure."


    "Damn. How do you do it every time? Articulate what you feel?"


    He shook his head. "If you think I am doing a good job at expressing my feelings, you have no idea the magnitude of my feelings for you. Because I feel like I haven''t even been able to scratch the surface of what I feel for you."


    She was tired of talking because they were starting to repeat themselves. So, she chose the form of communication they were good at.


    "Show me then."


    "Is that what you need?" he asked slowly.


    "Yes."


    He gently pried the piece of paper out from her fingers and placed it on the table beside him. He stood, no longer crouching in front of her, but bent over her as she sat on the bed. She breathed in deeply as she looked up at him, her body buzzing with the need to press against him.


    "I am yours," he vowed, reminding her as his lips descended.


    And then he kissed her. His bottom lip covered hers as he formed a kiss and she breathed him in.

 Chapter 358: I Will Prove it To You *

    [Warning: Worship of a lewd kind has begun. Read at your own risk. Bring some tissues for tears and nosebleds.]


    They kissed slowly and innocently at first, his willowy lips caressing and separating hers. She yielded to him as she usually didn''t, letting him be in control and show her as he had promised.


    When his tongue slipped over her bottom lip and into her mouth, she moved her own against it. She sighed in content at the familiar taste of him.


    He tasted like home.


    She moved her hands up his forearms and over his shoulders. She moved it past his neck to thread her fingers through his silky hair. He hummed when she tugged on it gently and then his hands were on her, moving from her knees to her thighs.


    The blood under her skin buzzed when her skin was touched, blushing and firing up on the path of his caresses. She helplessly whimpered into his mouth.


    He pulled away for her for just enough time to say his piece, his forehead pressed with hers as he remained bent over her.


    "I am yours," he said again, this time with reverence. "Every inch of my body and soul is yours. And I will prove it to you¡­ until we taste the same."


    Qian Meng closed the distance between them, this time taking charge and pushing her tongue into his mouth. His hands were hot on her, even though the fabric of her skirt as he pushed it up to show her naked thigh. He slid them up and around to the backside of her thighs.


    He grasped her firmly and fully took her by surprise when he used his hold to hoist her up off the bed and into his arms.


    Qian Meng yelped in surprise, her arms tightening around his neck as he picked her up like the lightest weight in the world. Her thighs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he pulled her against him.


    She moaned into his mouth earnestly, completely turned on by his display of strength and assertiveness. Once she knew he had a good hold of her, she loosened her arms around his neck and ran her hands over his shoulder and arms, reveling in the feeling of his muscles as they strained with the task to hold her.


    He was so fucking strong in every sense, and despite scoffing at such a notion for all her life, it made her dripping wet.


    She was intoxicated by him. She was not sure how long they remained like that. All she knew was that it was a measure of time by the end of which she was aching for him. He stepped closer to the bed and she jostled in his arms as he descended to his knees on the mattress.


    Qian Meng was impressed that he could keep his balance while holding her, but he did, perfectly.


    He shuffled forward on his knees until he was right in the right position and able to lower her down. Qian Meng''s head descended on the pillow, her hair spreading across her pretty head like a halo, like the angel she was in his eyes.


    He leaned forward over her so that their lips never separated. They worked together to unfasten the buttons of his shirt and even as he shifted around to shrug it off, they never parted. They didn''t stop kissing until she began pulling at the hem of his undershirt. He knew what she wanted and pulled away enough for him to slide it over his head.


    Qian Meng whined at the loss of the connection.


    Once it was discarded, Mo Qingchen looked down at her with an intensity that made her suck in a shaky breath. She was rattled by his gaze. His dark eyes were brighter than ever, despite the haze of lust and emotion.


    "I''m yours," he said once again, his voice low and thick with emotion. "Even the blood that flows through my veins know to make my heart beat just for you. You alone."


    She swallowed as she gaped at him, completely mesmerized.


    He kissed her briefly again, just to begin a trail from the corner of her lips and across her jaw and towards her ear. His lips made their way down her neck and Qian Meng''s eyes rolled back when he rang his tongue across that one spot that Mo Qingchen knew could make her come in other instances. She moaned softly and craned her neck to give him access to more of her sensitive skin.


    Her hands were all over him. She touched everywhere she could reach.


    Soon, he was pulling at her shirt the same way she had done with his. He pulled back and coaxed her to sit up enough for him to pull it over her head. And then he tossed it aside unceremoniously. Cool air hit her bare skin and relieved the searing pressure of the heat that ignited her body. He nudged her to lie back and she obeyed, staring at him the whole time.


    She watched as his eyes slid down to her breasts and his Adam''s apple bobbed in this throat as he swallowed. Goosebumps broke out over her skin. She was moved by the realization that even if years passed, his reaction to seeing her would be strong. She hoped that it never went away.


    He pushed her down again and sucked on her collarbone. She moaned loudly this time, her errant hips going to work as they ground against him. He had her whimpering and she could feel the hardness of his erection right between her thighs.


    Her breaths came unsteadily as his mouth moved to her breasts. He was all lips and tongue and teeth. He ran his tongue languidly over the top of her breast before sucking on the skin there and she cried out as she arched her back towards him. He took it as an invitation to slip his hand under her and with an expert flick of his fingers, the claps of her bra popped open.


    It fell away from her chest and in one motion, he pulled it away and tossed it aside, his mouth replacing the fabric.

 Chapter 359: Craving For Your Other Half *

    [Warning: The author goes crazy with the snu snu. This is one of those chapters. Bring tissues for tears and nosebleed!]


    She tugged on his hair and his eyes shot up to her, burning. He released the skin he had been sucking on, where she was sure she could find a hickey. His breath on her wet skin made her shiver.


    "Every molecule of air that fills my lungs¡­" He kissed her hardening nipple. "You breathe that life into me."


    She was instantly reminded of the words he wrote and the thought alone made her moan.


    His mouth wrapped around her nipple, so hard that it was throbbing and he grazed it with his teeth just enough. She dug their nails into his shoulders. She was sure that it hurt, but he didn''t even flinch. In fact, the kinky dragon moaned. He moaned around her nipple and the vibration shot a wave straight to her pussy.


    She wriggled under him again. She could see that he knew of her impatience and she was grateful when he released her nipple and sat up until he was kneeling again. Both of his hands caressed her breasts, squeezing them in his palms. He stroked her nipples with his thumbs before releasing them and sliding his hand down. He held her at the ribs and as his hands slid over her sides, she could feel the same love in his touch as she did in his eyes.


    He took his sweet time to explore her. And it drove her absolutely crazy. She was so worked up that she wanted to cry out. He finally began to unfasten the button of her jeans. She lifted her hips for him, eager for him to pull them down over her ass. She pulled back one leg at a time to free herself from them.


    He tossed it aside with the rest of their clothes and looked down into her thighs as he ran soothing circles over her legs.


    The serious look on him made his jaw more angular and the vein on his forehead pop out. But his eyes, they sparkled.


    "You own me. You are the very reason for my existence in this universe."


    Qian Meng''s eyes filled with tears. She was starting to realize what he was doing. He was showing her how he felt through his body, the way he was comfortable, but at the same time, he found the words to accompany them.


    "Mo Qingchen," she breathed, her voice barely audible. A tear slid down her eye and she didn''t bother to wipe it away. "I love you."


    He nodded. "Yes. I want you to remember everything that I just told you. Because I mean every word and so much more. Don''t you dare forget it."


    She nodded. "I need you."


    She watched as he got his pants off. He shifted around until she lay before him, panting and ready for him. She was happy to see that the boxers went down with his pants. It showed just how eager he was.


    He was left completely naked and she was sure that she had completely soaked through her panties.


    His eyes settled on her foot as he took it in his hands. He made her stretch her legs up and out towards him. He kissed her ankles slowly and up her calf to her knee. His lips moved slowly.


    Qian Meng was so desperate for him that the whole process felt like torture. But she didn''t want him to go faster. The slow burn was killing her, but it would be a good death.


    He moved closer and closer. Her stomach tightened in anticipation as he tugged on her panties. She lifted her hips to allow them to pass over her ass and then came the moment when he pulled it down low enough that his lips kept moving higher and higher.


    She kicked the panties down and off her feet and he was already dangerously close to her slit.


    She knew he wasn''t going there, but she could hope. He veered left and kissed up to her hips. She took a breath, willing herself to be patient with him. He kissed her with absolute reverence. The way he touched her, the way he looked at her, the way that his lips formed against her skin.


    "You are the only Goddess I pray to, Qian Meng." He paused to place another kiss on her hip. "And my lips praise you. I kneel before the altar of your body."


    ''Where did he come up with these things?'' she screamed internally.


    "Please touch me," she begged.


    He gave in to her request and his hand ghosted up her thigh, towards the heat of her center. He obviously wanted to torment her, because he didn''t touch her there. His fingers were right there, as close as his hand massaged her inner thigh.


    All the while, his lips continued their trail and he kissed her over her ribcage. She tugged at his hair in frustration and she was almost scared that she would leave him with bald spots by the end of the night.


    Finally, he touched her. At the same time as his lips returned to her breasts, two of his fingers slid up the length of her entrance. She moaned loudly, not expecting the intensity.


    Extended foreplay was something else, indeed.


    "Damn¡­" he breathed, marveling at how wet she was.


    "All for you," she told him immediately.


    He took her hand and before she could understand what he was doing, he had her fingers pressed into herself, exploring her own wetness with his hands over hers. He guided her fingers to dip through her folds.


    "You feel that? You are absolutely dripping for me." His voice was deep and full of lust. "Is that what I do to you?"


    He was right. "Yes," she moaned.


    "Is this how badly your body craves me, baby?"


    "Yes."


    "It''s because you were made for me. You crave me because I am¡ª"


    "¡ªYour other half," she finished for him.


    "Yes." The tip of his finger skimmed her clit and she groaned. "Are you ready for me?"

 Chapter 360: Explode in the Next Ten Seconds

    [Warning: The snu snu from the chapter before continues here. It ends in the first part of the chapter. So, beware.]


    "I am going to explode if you are not inside me in the next ten seconds," she warned.


    He pushed her legs apart and moved between them. She watched his face as he positioned himself, shuffling forward until his cock was lined up at her entrance. He moved forward until just the tip of his length was pushed between her folds and then used his hand to move it up and down, sliding it through her wetness. The head brushed her clit and she cried out, her toes curling with all the pent-up tension inside her.


    "Please don''t tease me," she pleaded with a cry.


    "Look at me," he begged. When she did, she found him looking at her carefully.


    He slowly began to enter her. Her whole body flexed and shifted to accommodate him. He rolled his hops slowly as inch by inch of him sunk inside her. His eyes moved back and forth from her eyes to watch them come together.


    Qian Meng knew she liked watching as he entered her. It turned him on and it turned her on even more.


    She reached for him and he lowered himself until he was resting on his forearm. His body moved against her in just the right way to stimulate her. His pelvic bone rubbed against her clit with every thrust.


    He lowered his head forehead against her, he thrust his hips forward to push the last inch of his length into her. He was completely inside her, then, his balls resting against her.


    "And I''m home."


    Qian Meng felt the same way. And for the next hour, there were no words, only sounds of worship.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng was on her stomach, her head turned towards him. Mo Qingchen was on his side, facing her. The sheet covering her barely reached the top of her ass and Mo Qingchen''s fingers were occupied in drawing patterns over her spine.


    "Hi," she whispered to him, breaking the serenity in the room.


    "Hi, baby," he answered, warming her skin from the inside. "What are you thinking about? You''ve gotten so quiet."


    She nestled into her pillow a little more. "I was in wonder that a day ago, I didn''t think I would be here." She realized something at that moment. "Just a year ago, I would never have thought this was possible. That I would be here with you and in love."


    Mo Qingchen''s eyes shimmered. "I think I did."


    Qian Meng lifted her head a little, giving him a look of bafflement. "What?"


    "I said, I think I knew it."


    "I heard you." She put her head down. "But what are you talking about? We are so far removed from our expectations at the beginning."


    He scoffed. "Oh, baby, I know."


    "Well?" she prompted.


    "I was thinking about this a few days ago." He looked at her for a long moment.


    "What were you thinking about?"


    He smirked. "I used to think before you."


    She rolled her eyes. "I would hope so."


    He laughed as he leaned closer to her, reaching beneath the sheet to pinch her ass. "Smartass," he growled merrily.


    She yelped, squirming away from me.


    And then he was scooting closer to her and his face was in her neck.


    "Are you going to let me finish?"


    He shrugged. "I am not stopping you."


    His fingers combed through the end of her hair on her back.


    "I used to think about certain things before you. And sometimes I wondered what the whole meaning was behind everything I do."


    She slung an arm over his shoulder. "What do you mean?"


    "I mean¡­ What was all this for? I have worked so fucking hard in my life and sometimes I wondered why. Standard of living is one thing, but I was always beyond that. I always tried to reach the far top. Nothing was enough good enough and I always wanted more. A normal man would be satisfied with a million, but when I had that on my own, all I could think about was a hundred million. It was a kind of greed that consumed me, but I didn''t know why it was."


    She laughed. "I have never thought closely about it. I think I am the same. That''s why I competed with you on earnings and ranks."


    He shook his head. "Qian Meng, I am telling you that it was all for you."


    She stopped. Her breath stopped. "What?"


    "On some level, I knew you were coming into my life."


    She blinked in confusion. "Mo Qingchen, you made it clear from the first time we met that your intentions towards me weren''t romantic. You were sure nothing would happen between us."


    "And they weren''t," he agreed. "But on a subconscious level, I think I knew that you were coming to me. I always felt the purpose behind building my empire. I just didn''t know what the purpose was. I know it sounds crazy but I think that purpose was you."


    "Mo Qingchen¡­"


    "The universe instilled it in my subconscious mind that you were coming. And I was preparing to give you the best life that I possibly could."


    She breathed in sharply. These words came from a man who didn''t believe in a higher power. To concede so completely¡­


    "I understand," Qian Meng said finally. But she was curious. "When did you realize that I was the right thing?"


    He looked at her curiously. "The right thing?"


    She nodded. "You must have had a moment when you knew that I was the one you wanted by your side. Your true love. Your destiny. Your endgame," she explained.


    He looked past her and at the wall.


    "The funeral."


    Qian Meng blinked in surprise. "At my funeral?" It was so strange to talk about it, but this newly excavated nugget of information was important. "You liked me back then?"


    He looked perplexed. "I knew you were the real deal¡­ the destiny and endgame at the funeral. It just seems that I had no clue what that meant."

 Chapter 361: My Goddess

    [Warning: Apologies. These two just can''t stop expressing emotions with their... bodies. Please keep your tissues ready.]


    She rolled her eyes. "Smooth talker!" she accused.


    He chuckled. "I don''t know if it was true love or anything back then, but I knew that I lost something. Thinking back to it now, I am sure that I felt the loss of my destiny and my soulmate."


    She pretended to vomit and he smirked.


    "You''re the one who asked the question. You unleased the romantic fool in me. So, you need to deal with it, Mrs. Mo," he said. He nuzzled into her.


    And then she kissed him.


    Qian Meng was woken sometime in the early morning as the darkness of the night just began to lighten. She was awoken by Mo Qingchen pushing his length into her from behind. She was still hugging her pillow, partially on her side and partially on her stomach with one leg straight and the other bent in front of her.


    She moaned on realizing that she was not dreaming.


    "Good morning," Qingchen whispered against the side of her neck. She sighed and shifted against him as she fully awoke.


    "Did you even sleep?" she asked, her voice thick with grogginess.


    "Yes, I just woke up and you looked far too enticing over there for me to not be inside you." He shifted his hips against her, making her moan loudly. "You''re so tight like this."


    And she knew it must be. Because he felt colossal pushing into her in this position. This was different from the other positions they had tried and Qian Meng could swear that he felt twice as big as he did in other positions when he was already a lot for her to take.


    She felt like she was already clamped around him, so the intensity of the fullness when her greedy body clenched to try and suck him in further was unfamiliar.


    "God, I feel so full of you."


    "I''m not even halfway in," he admitted.


    Qian Meng jolted.


    "We have to switch positions then. I can''t¡­" she blubbered.


    "Relax," he whispered so softly that she barely heard him.


    She took a deep breath and made an effort to relax all her muscles, focusing on her pussy. She felt herself soften for him and then she felt the rest of him slide into her. Her belly ached with the depth but it was perfect.


    "Shit," she started to swear but the word came out as a loud moan.


    He pressed against her sweet spot perfectly.


    "Roll onto your stomach all the way, baby."


    She obeyed, bringing her bent leg in as she rolled the rest of the way until she was completely flat on her stomach and both of her legs were straight. Mo Qingchen moved with her so that he remained completely inside her, now behind and on top of her.


    This, she was familiar with. But last time, during their honeymoon, it hadn''t felt like this. Qian Meng felt him everywhere: in her, on her, around her. He completely enveloped her and she loved it.


    Her tightness must have made him feel incredible because he uttered an incredibly garbled sentence that she couldn''t make out. He pulled out and thrust back in a couple of times experimentally to find his rhythm. She could feel the resistance slowly ebbing away.


    "Does it feel good?" she panted.


    "You have no fucking idea," he answered.


    She clenched around him even tighter and he groaned.


    "Fuck me¡­" These words were in contradiction to the ones said earlier in the night. But she felt his love despite it. No matter if their lovemaking was gentle or rabid like wild dogs, she would forever feel the intensity of his feelings consume her in their private moments.


    "You want me to fuck you in your pussy?" he asked gruffly, his voice dripping sex.


    She hummed.


    She felt him shifting behind her. His hands were planted firmly inches away from either side of her head. With her head turned, he had a perfect view of his straining muscles as he held himself up.


    His hips moved and he slowly thrust into her. He pulled out just a little and then more and more with each passing stroke. She closed her eyes and felt the extra force he was exerting to push past the resistance of the tightness without overwhelming her. As he thrust into her harder and harder, his breathing grew heavy.


    He glided right over every spot that made her go wild. Every thrust was harder until he was pounding into her and the noises of sex surrounded them.


    "My goddess¡­" he groaned incoherently.


    She loved that it was her body that provided him with pleasure that made him a blubbering mess of need.


    "Take me," she encouraged breathlessly.


    She tilted her hips just a little and moaned in appreciation at succeeding to find the perfect angle. The result was immediate. Her wetness increased tenfold and he began to slide In without any resistance.


    She cursed at the new feeling, her voice hoarse.


    His hips slammed against her harder and her body rocked up and down to meet him eagerly. She saw flashes of white behind her closed eyes. She was pinned down between Mo Qingchen and the bed and she couldn''t move. She couldn''t do anything but lay there and encourage him as he took everything he needed. She had no other choice than to absorb the intensity of the pounding he gave her.


    She took it with delight.


    She felt herself starting to ripple around him, her body sucking ravenously at his length.


    There was a pressure building in her, so she concentrated on it. Intense wasn''t even the right word for it. It was almost like she had been holding her bladder for too long and she was going to burst. Not a stellar comparison, but everything was outweighed by the onslaught of pleasure. She opened her mouth to scream but it was too intense and she couldn''t even make a sound. She lay prisoner as it wreaked havoc on her body.

 Chapter 362: I Want to Look at You *

    [Warning: Yes. Read at your own risk. Snu snu ahead.]


    "Don''t come," he ordered as if reading her mind.


    "I can''t," she panted. "I''m going to¡­" And then he pulled out of her abruptly. "What are you doing?" she asked desperately. "Don''t stop!"


    "Get up." He moved off her and she was left dumbfounded. She looked at him, bewildered. "Come here, baby."


    She started to push herself up. It was difficult with her shaking legs. But she managed to get up onto her knees and looked over to find Mo Qingchen sitting, with his back against the headboard.


    She complained.


    "Come here. Sit on me. I want you to look at me when you come."


    She finally understood. She crawled her way over to him and scrambled to straddle his lap. He placed his hand on her hips and guided her as she lined himself up against his throbbing length. She was swift in her movement and sank down. She was so set that she was practically dripping. To the point that he slid into position without her trying.


    "Don''t move," he said when she started to. He stopped her with a firm hand on her hips. "Just look at me. Just feel me."


    He had started out the night thinking about his own pleasure, but when he felt her ripple around him, he suddenly remembered that he couldn''t not look into her face. She wanted to give him that. Not only himself.


    She sat there on him, her legs around his waist and his length buried inside her body as deep as he could go. She looked into his eyes and she never felt more loved.


    She touched his face, running her fingers down his defined cheekbone and then across his lips. He twitched inside her and she sighed. They were just as close as two bodies could get but it just never was enough with this man.


    "Kiss me," she whispered.


    Qingchen turned his face as one hand reached up to hold the back of her neck. He brought her face to his. She caught his lower lip between her teeth and stroked the curve of it with her tongue. His groan was so erotic that it made her pussy clench, earning her a second one.


    His hand slid up her stomach to touch her breast. He rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger and she arched her back, crying desperately. There was a direct line of pleasure from where he tugged and to her core.


    "So soft," he mumbled with wonder as his lips worked their way down to her neck. She didn''t know if he was talking to her breasts again or to her.


    She hummed as she held onto him. She was drunk with love and lust, her eyelids heavy. He sucked gently on her throat. It was a vicious cycle.


    "You''re going to make me cum if you squeeze me like that."


    "Yes please," she said in response.


    "Is that what you want, my goddess? To feel me cum inside you?"


    She nodded.


    His hand held her back firmly so that she could lean back. Instinctively, his lips kept their way down her throat, down her collarbone, and caught her nipple in his mouth. She arched back to him, her chest heaving. She clenched around him again and again, sending her into a vortex as she set off into one hell of an orgasm.


    Qian Meng threw her head back as she cried out in pleasure. She was sure that her whole body would have fallen back if not for Qingchen holding onto her. She held onto his arms, her nails digging into his biceps as she anchored herself. When the second wave of pleasure began to roll through her body, Mo Qingchen tensed and then with a forceful grunt, came inside her.


    He relaxed back against the headboard and pulled her with him so that she could cool down. She fell limply into his embrace, her face turned into his neck, panting.


    His hand rubbed soothingly down her back. He turned his head to kiss her forehead and she closed her eyes.


    "I should get off you," she whispered, not wanting to disturb the peaceful silence. "But I don''t think I can move my legs."


    "That''s okay," he said as he smoothed back the hair from her face. "Stay here for a while."


    So, she did. She stayed on his lap with him inside her and her face nuzzled into the crook of his neck. He smelled like her favorite things on the planet. Mo Qingchen and sex. The only combination that went together. She couldn''t get enough of it.


    "Look outside, Qian Meng," she said suddenly.


    She pulled back from his neck to sit up a little. She turned her head in the other direction and looked outside. The sun was on the rise.


    "It''s beautiful," she said in wonder. Another sunrise with Mo Qingchen.


    "It''s okay."


    Qian Meng turned her head to look at him again, quirking her eyebrows questioningly. She was floored at his response.


    "It is beautiful," he conceded. "But the way you are glowing right now¡­ The sunrise isn''t the breathtaking thing I am looking at."


    Again, the wind knocked out of her. She was getting used to his uninhibited words of passion. But this¡­ how does one get used to it?


    She leaned forward again. "Mr. Mo, I can unleash my sweet talk too, you know!"


    "Tell me then."


    "You make me glow," she said without hesitation. "You called me a goddess, but I think you made me that way. The feeling is mutual, believe me."


    She started to lift herself off him. "Let me." He helped her lift-off and she swung her leg around so that she could lie down again. She lay facing the outside and Qingchen quickly took his place behind her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into him until he was spooning her.


    She bent one leg swiftly in front of her, the way she liked to sleep, and settled against him until she was comfortable.

 Chapter 363: Shred the Agreement

    One of his hands was under her head so that she could use her bicep as a pillow. The one settled on her ass.


    "It''s early," he whispered against her shoulder, kissing the skin there. "Go back to sleep."


    "''kay," she mumbled, already halfway there. "Feel free to wake me up like that any time you want."


    He chuckled throatily as he rubbed her ass. "I shall keep that in mind."


    Mo Qingchen had worn her out thoroughly. She had only one thought before she drifted back to sleep.


    ''I wish my life continues like this.''


    When she woke up next, she was saddened to find the bed next to her cold. She wasn''t surprised, though. She knew Mo Qingchen had to work in the morning, and she definitely didn''t want him to neglect his business because she had shown up on a whim.


    She stretched and rolled onto her back, actually enjoying the dull ache in her groin. It reminded her of her husband and the way he had loved her at night. She sighed as she extended her arms out, reaching to grab his pillow.


    She was surprised to find a piece of paper on it. It was a small white paper, folded in half and propped on the pillow. She picked it up curiously and brought it to find a few words written in Mo Qingchen''s handwriting.


    [Good morning, my goddess. I''ll be back soon. -Your Qingchen.]


    It was simple and sweet. The words burned into her soul. ''My Goddess.'' ''I''m yours.''


    She smiled contently as she pressed the piece of paper against her heart and closed her eyes, letting the warmth of love sweep her away.


    Another special piece of paper she would forever keep in her purse.


    - - - - -


    On their flight back, Mo Qingchen suddenly spoke up. "Oh. I have something for you. Before I forget." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pendrive.


    She watched curiously as he walked over to grab his bag. He thumbed through it for while after taking out his laptop. Finally, he pulled something out and held it out to her.


    "What is this?" she asked as she took them.


    "This is the copy of our prenuptial agreement."


    Qian Meng looked on confusedly. "It is? Why do have a copy of it with you?" she asked.


    He smiled. "After putting the journal page in your hand, I knew that I had to do something about our agreement. I want to revise it. We should sit down and go through it item by item to revisit every detail. I am sure that everything regarding the financials remains the same, but the boundaries we created before we had feelings for each other¡­ let''s just throw them out."


    Qian Meng was more than happy to leave everything about their finances just as it had been. As people with businesses, it was in their interest to protect themselves no matter how much they loved each other. It was the dynasties they had built from the ground up. It was a matter of understanding one another, pride in what they did, and making sure that they functioned as a financially stable and equal couple.


    By changing the agreement, their relationship could move to the next level, free from the bindings of a time when they were not invested. The agreement dictated the clothes and the social appearances, restrictions she didn''t want either of them to have if they didn''t want to go along.


    Their agreement would be like any normal couple. She would love that.


    "Well, do you want to go over it now? Just destroy it."


    He smiled. "This will have no legal standing when the new one is notarized. But I thought you would get a kick out of shredding it. It''s the only copy remaining apart from the one you have. Let''s destroy every trace of it."


    Somehow, that was so nice to hear. This felt like a material way to say goodbye to the old for good.


    "This is really exciting," she laughed as she stood up.


    "I hoped that you would think so." Qingchen sat down and waited for her.


    "Thank you for giving me the honor of shredding it," she said as she gripped the thick stack of paper. "That was considerate. What about you? Are you going to press delete forever on your laptop?" she asked.


    He nodded. "I knew you would get a kick out of it. You seem like the violent type," he teased with a wink. He gestured for her to go forward.


    She took the binder clip off the papers. Just as she was about to rip the first of the pages, she turned to her husband. "This feels ceremonious. It''s a big deal, right?" she said to him.


    "It is," he agreed.


    "It means a lot to me to get rid of this. It feels like our relationship is completely different now. You are doing this for my peace of mind, aren''t you?"


    He was silent for a few moments. "Our relationship has changed for a long time regardless of this paper. It''s just a paper. But it feels symbolic. It is a representation of us moving on and being a couple in all senses of the word."


    "It does make me feel secure in the progression of our relationship," she told him immediately. "You really know what I am thinking now, don''t you? When did you turn into a mind reader, Mr. Mo?"


    He nodded.


    Qian Meng stretched to place a quick kiss on his lips and then she turned to the papers and separated one, feeding her fears into the action of ripping them into so many pieces that not even a word could be read.


    Mo Qingchen inched closer to her and placed his hands on her shoulder. He kissed the top of her head and smiled. Every time she tore at the paper, she felt herself relax a little more.


    When she finished shredding all the papers, she felt Mo Qingchen nudge her affectionately.

 Chapter 364: I Want to Marry You

    She turned to face him and saw him smiling down at her.


    "And now, it''s gone!" he said resolutely.


    "Yeah." Qian Meng smiled in satisfaction.


    "It really is. The two people who sat on opposite sides of the desk and made that agreement? They are not us anymore."


    Qian Meng sighed happily as she stretched to wrap her arm around his neck. "Yes, now we sit on the same side and sign documents," she agreed softly.


    His jaw hardened and he looked serious for a moment. "This relationship hasn''t come easily. It is not easy, but it is real."


    Her eyes locked on his and they were both aware of the implication. She bit her lip and her fingers caressed the back of his neck.


    "Things that don''t come easily have the highest reward. It feels sweeter in the end," she whispered. She inhaled deeply, breathing her in.


    "I love you."


    He exhaled slowly and she could see him melting as she looked into his eyes. He moved closer to her and touched his forehead with hers. She saw the conflict on his face.


    "Qian Meng¡­" he breathed.


    She knew what he was thinking. He didn''t have to say it.


    He didn''t like saying he loved her. And it didn''t offend her. He believed his feelings weren''t so simple. And she understood the sentiment. And after everything he had said and done to reaffirm his feelings for her, she knew where his heart was even without hearing those three generalized words.


    They weren''t the kind of people who said those words when they felt comfortable or happy. In an effort to preserve the meaning, Qian Meng had decided to say those words only in moments she felt hopelessly and blissfully in love with it.


    There was no obligation to say it out loud.


    "I know," she soothed him immediately.


    So, Mo Qingchen didn''t say anything. He just kissed her. He kissed her softly but with the dominant edge, she was always aware of. She gave into him and followed his lead as he pressed her into the seat. His tongue pushed past to caress hers. She moaned into his mouth and his resulting grunt made her nipples stiffen.


    "Qingchen," she sighed when he barely pulled away to take a deep breath.


    He caressed her sides and she shivered. It meant a lot to her when he did those small gestures. It made her feel so fragile yet cherished at the same time.


    "I keep waiting for the moment when this feeling will wear off," he choked, his forehead against her again.


    "What?"


    "The novelty of you," he explained. "I have never craved anything the way I crave you. I don''t even like food as much. The first time I saw you in this life, my attraction to you was intense, but it''s been so many months since. This ache that I feel for you just keep getting stronger."


    She exhaled a shaky breath. "I know."


    He stared into her eyes for a moment before pulling away. He looked over the space contemplatively. Then, he looked back at her.


    "Here?" she said breathily, guessing what he was thinking.


    "No," he said eventually. "No, I don''t want to fuck you. That''s not what I want right now."


    She nodded slightly, disappointed but glad. If they had sex on the private jet, it would be disastrous.


    "Okay." She nodded, rubbing her hand on her neck in comfort.


    "Tonight, though," he vowed, his nose brushing against her cheek.


    "I want you," Qian Meng whined, wriggling impatiently in her seat.


    Why did they have to be a couple of masochists? Because after that, Mo Qingchen and she decided to have a kissing session. At other times, she would say it was time well spent.


    But it proved to be a recipe for sexual frustration. The fact Mo Qingchen had picked her up and pulled her legs around his waist so she could feel his erection nestled right where she needed him didn''t help.


    He hummed before pulling his lips away from his. "All right. No more kissing," he teased breathlessly. "We''re getting frisky."


    "What do you expect when you kiss me like that?" she answered. "I still want you."


    "I know you do," he said as he pushed her hair from her face. "But we can''t. We''re on the jet."


    "Screw that. We just humped each other on it, anyway. Let''s just go to the room and screw each other," she said with a crude smile. "This is so stupid."


    He smiled knowingly at her as she pouted. "It''s not stupid," he argued.


    She sighed and leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder. "Okay, let''s talk about something serious so that I can stop thinking about sex."


    "Fine. You start talking," he said. She felt his chest vibrate against her as he laughed.


    "Alright, I''ll talk about something important then," she answered eventually. Indeed, she had something to tell him.


    "Go ahead," he smiled.


    "I want to marry you." She straightened herself to look at him and she found him looking at her with a baffled expression.


    "You are married to me, silly." He laughed as he ran his hands over the tip of her hair.


    "I know. But I am telling you how I am feeling right now." Their eyes locked on each other and she stared at him for a long time, trying to mull over how she would express what she was feeling. She had been thinking about marrying him since the option was set on the table by Ma Qui. And it had stuck in her head. She wasn''t asking him about his opinion. She felt the need to tell him she wanted to marry him.


    Because she really wanted to marry him.


    "Are you saying that if you weren''t married to me already, you would want to marry me now?" Qingchen supplied helpfully.


    She swallowed. "Yes." She paused. "But there is something else I want to add too."


    "That''s a big thing to say," he muttered.

 Chapter 365: Protect and Cherish Your Heart

    She bit her lip and tightened her arm around his neck. "Well, that is the depth of my feelings for you. It''s obvious that I want to marry you again."


    "I feel the same way. But are you sure you really want to spend the rest of your life with me?" he asked. His eyes twinkled with amusement.


    "Do you really have to ask me that?" she asked, shaking her head slightly.


    He suddenly took her side. "I don''t need to ask. You were made for me. There is no one else." Her heart thudded wildly in her chest. "There could never be anyone else."


    "When you put it that way, I really feel like you want to marry me right back," she mumbled.


    "You think?" he asked, raising his eyebrow at her.


    She shook her head. "I know. I know that you would marry me in a heartbeat."


    "Good. Now tell me what the other reason for wanting to marry me is," he said lightly.


    "Two things, actually. Sometimes I think we cheated ourselves out of a real wedding. And the new bridal line¡­ the marketing team thinks we should document our wedding so that people can see a fragment of our story."


    His eyes widened fractionally before he spoke. "I am more interested in your first response. Cheated out of a wedding?" he asked.


    "Well, we just mechanically filed the papers. The day didn''t mean that much to either of us. I mean, I knew I was starting a new chapter in my life, but that way¡­ the wedding certificate didn''t reflect anything between us."


    His eyebrows pulled together. "I never really thought about it," he answered after a beat. "Some people don''t put as much significance on a wedding ceremony as others."


    Qian Meng nodded. She had been one of them. "I know. But don''t you feel a little regretful that we didn''t get to embrace the moment?" she asked.


    "Do you?" he questioned back.


    "A little, yeah." He looked troubled at that, so Qian Meng continued to explain. "It''s not a big deal. I just think it is sad that we don''t have a definite moment of commitment. I know we are committed to each other now, but we are stuck in this grey area where people still aren''t sure how we got there. Sometimes, I don''t realize how I got here," she admitted.


    "How so?"


    She thought about her answer for a minute. "If we never had the contract and just allowed everything to happen naturally, would we be married at this point in our relationship?"


    He answered immediately. "If I had my way, yes."


    She bit her lip as she pondered on that response. "Yeah, maybe I am being mushy and caring about a wedding. But as I said, part of the idea came about because of my employees showing me beautiful wedding videos," she chuckled, defensively.


    "I understand what you are saying," he assured her, taking her chin and turned her face to look at him. "But standing in a church in front of hundreds of people and saying some pre-written vows doesn''t mean much to me. Especially, if the idea comes from your employees who want to monetize our relationship."


    She opened her mouth to answer, but he cut her off.


    "It''s these moments of authenticity that matter to me. Me and you. It wouldn''t matter if we had a ceremony because we were madly in love. I didn''t want a ceremony with cake and grand food with people I barely know. I would rather just listen to your heartbeat. That is what I consider real."


    She nodded, rubbing her hand up and down his thigh. "I''ll discard the plan," she said quickly.


    "No. We aren''t done talking. If you had a real wedding¡­ how would you want it? What would you do differently than the norm?" He really wanted to know if she wanted a wedding or had the idea been planted in her head.


    "If I had a real wedding, I think it would have meant a lot to me. I could look at the pictures and remind me of the day I was full of love and astonishment that I was marrying my other half."


    She looked down at the ring on her finger. "And this," she added, holding it up. "This ring would represent the commitment I made for a lifetime."


    It was the ceremony of it all.


    "I would have done things differently if I was in love with you when I married you. I would have written my own vows, my own promises of the wife I want to be for you. And I would have declared it to you and the world before I let you put the ring on my finger. It wouldn''t be an agreement between two people. I want the world to hold me accountable for the responsibility I had to protect and cherish your heart."


    Mo Qingchen gulped.


    "Say it to me then."


    Qian Meng gaped at him. "What?"


    "What would your vows be?" he asked. "Tell me. Like you are marrying me right now."


    Her throat closed up with emotion.


    Amusement and mischief mixed with the love in his smile.


    "You and me. Right here. Just us. Marry me now. Show me what you want to promise." The corner of his mouth rose up towards the crinkled edges of his eyes.


    All the uncertainty was gone. He made it simple.


    "You want a simple wedding that is authentic. Don''t you?" she asked. He nodded. He had told her as much. "But you are not saying no to the wedding shoot. Which you know was the catalyst for this."


    He shrugged. "I just want to make sure you know that I would marry you in the simplest way possible. With just the two of us and vows. I don''t mind a wedding for the world to see, but I wish you choose what kind of wedding you want without the influence of outsiders. Your wedding should be something you look back to with fondness."

 Chapter 366: Bigger Problems Then She Anticipated

    "Oh," she said finally. "You want to marry me in front of people!" she cheered.


    He chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. "I love to show off our relationship. Why wouldn''t I? I just want the day to be something you want and not a production team. Can you make sure you stick to it?" he asked.


    She nodded with abandon. "Yes, hubby! Let''s get married." She giggled and clapped.


    It was set. From the gentle expression, she could see that he wasn''t doing it because she wanted to, but because he really wanted to get married to her. He wanted to have pictures of her dressed to impress with him by her side. He didn''t know what kind of wedding she would choose. But he was looking forward to it.


    - - - - -


    The phone call she had expected during Saturday was postponed because the external auditor came across a roadblock.


    When the call came, Qian Meng leaped to take it.


    She logged into the video call on her laptop and looked at the auditor. The man looked stoic as he prepared the documents to show her.


    "You wanted to update me?" Qian Meng asked when they had settled.


    "Yes, I found something significantly problematic," he said.


    Qian Meng nodded. "What is the problem? Give me a short explanation and I can find out the rest from the report you produce," she informed him.


    "Apart from the areas that I was initially looking into, I found some strange transactions made."


    Qian Meng frowned. "Are these the companies associated with the shareholders?"


    The other shook his head. "I was actually looking into all the contracts and financial reports and I found the one with Yun Corporation," he said quietly.


    Qian Meng stiffened. "There is a problem with Yun Corporation?" she asked.


    She remembered how her father had reacted when she broke the news of her takeover. He was protecting his weakness so fiercely that he had shown where it was hidden.


    She had expected something of this sort of misdeed on her father''s part, but the expression on the auditor''s face told her that the issue was far worse than she had anticipated.


    "I was going through the orders and the financials of each transaction. The balance sheets look proper at first look, but on closer inspection, I could tell that someone was tweaking the numbers."


    The balance sheet did come up. The segments that were highlighted were easy to spot and Qian Meng quickly went over them. Even without knowing the full details, she could see that there was something odd.


    She furrowed her brow.


    "Can you go into depth about this? I have an invested interest in the Yun Corporation, as you know," she said formally. She didn''t have to.


    The auditor nodded. "If you look at the third line," he showed it separately for her benefit. "You will see a massive amount of purchase of metal pipes for the foundation."


    She could see it.


    "You will also see the price paid. But when I correlated it with outgoing orders and payments received, it didn''t match up."


    Qian Meng gulped.


    "Were the purchases and payment lower than written or more?" If it were lower, the tactic was being used to forge financial statements and dupe the shareholders of Yun Corporation into thinking that the company was doing well. If it was more, it was tax fraud.


    "It was considerably lower," the auditor admitted.


    Qian Meng let out a shuddering breath.


    She had a five percent equity stake in Yun Corporation. Manipulation of the financial books meant that there were discrepancies in the total capital possessed by the company, the profits shown were not at par.


    Even the shareholders were losing out on what they thought was money they had.


    "And this trend follows?" Qian Meng asked finally.


    The auditor nodded. "It doesn''t look that bad on paper, but when taking into consideration how big Yun Corporation is and the discrepancy in numbers, the result is¡­ shocking to say the least."


    Qian Meng squeezed her eyes shut. "Understood," she said finally. "I will need you to send these financial bits to me as soon as possible. I will have to carry out my own investigation into what is happening." She paused. "Otherwise, please continue with the rest of the issues you found."


    The auditor calmly explained everything else. He couldn''t see a great reaction in Qian Meng''s face and was mildly in awe of how strong this woman was. Or maybe she had known there would be an issue.


    He explained everything and before he cut the call, he had to say, "I will send over the issues in two separate emails."


    Qian Meng nodded before hanging up the call. It was Sunday evening and she had to work tomorrow.


    She saw Mo Qingchen entering the room from the corner of her eyes and turned to him with a small smile.


    "Done with the call?" he asked passively as he came to sit beside her on the bed.


    "Yeah¡­"


    He looked at her intently. "There are bigger issues than you anticipated?" he asked.


    Qian Meng nodded. "Thank god I took over the company and did an external audit." She shuddered.


    "Is this about your dad? Something to do with the deal with Bai Ye Qing?" he asked.


    Qian Meng nodded. "You must have figured it out. What do you think?" She explained what the auditor had said.


    Mo Qingchen thought about it for a moment before answering. "I suppose your father is incurring losses and doesn''t want the world to know because it hurts his pride." When he remembered Yun Sui Bo''s demands in this life and the past one, he had an inkling about what it could be.


    "That is why he kept pressing for kids," he said. "Once the kid was born, he wanted to use the child to take Venus."


    Qian Meng frowned. "That makes no sense."


    "It wouldn''t be the first time that a father has done something of the sort. I think the plan was to make you give everything to the kid and then get custody."


    Qian Meng grew more confused. "With both the parents alive, that couldn''t have been the case."

 Chapter 367: Using His Children For a Quick Buck

    Qingchen scoffed. "Absolutely not. Your father probably knew what kind of person Bai Ye Qing was. The drugs and the women. He wanted that. The Bais had a company that would bring him materials for less and it would balance his books, but the second son of the family was scum. He would definitely be caught in a scandal or go to jail. He wanted you to have a kid before Bai Ye Qing was prosecuted. Once you had the child, Bai Ye Qing could suddenly be convicted of multiple crimes. At that stage, Yun Sui Bo would only need to file for custody of the kid and say that you are an incompetent parent and incapable of taking care of your child."


    Qian Meng wanted to roll her eyes but then she paused. "Because I was already married, he wouldn''t have the right to control me¡­ so he would control the child¡­" And suddenly it made sense.


    It was a tactic commonly used amongst the filthy rich but she hadn''t expected to be treated like a breeding cow.


    "He really is a piece of shit, isn''t he?" Qian Meng whispered. "I don''t even care for his opinion and I wonder how he could even come up with such a devious plot." She shook her head, trying to clear it. "He doesn''t want Venus for Yun Qing Yuan¡­ he wants it to fund Yun Corporation."


    Mo Qingchen nodded. "That is the inference," he said calmly.


    Qian Meng started to laugh, even though it was humorless. "That asshole. It''s not that he hated me for being a girl¡­ he doesn''t even love his son. He is using his children to make a quick buck."


    Mo Qingchen watched as his wife slowly figured out how disappointing all of this was.


    "What will you do now?" he asked.


    Qian Meng mulled over this. "I have to go over every financial report I sat through and correspond it with the Bai corporation. I will have to call up and get information on all the problems secretly."


    Mo Qingchen didn''t respond.


    "And then the war begins." She looked at the saddened expression on her husband''s face and lifted her hand to caress his cheek. "Don''t worry. This is not simply about revenge. I have a lot of money at stake here. I am not allowing a senile old man to ruin me and my surname," she growled.


    A small smile flitted across his lips. "Ah, my wife is the sexiest when she is determined to bring down an established dynasty." He turned his face and pressed a kiss to her palm.


    She pulled her hand back instantly, shocked at the sudden move. But then she giggled.


    "You''re going to back me up, right?" she asked. "I am going up against a prideful monster who had more money than me. A weakling like me can''t overthrow the tyrant father that easily," she said jokingly.


    Mo Qingchen chuckled. "I will be right behind you. But I don''t think you need my help. Knowing you, you probably plotted it in your head until the very end."


    He stopped and watched her. "So, what is the end goal?"


    "The end goal?" she repeated. "Pluck out the poisonous weeds from the company my grandpa build with his blood, sweat, and tears. Turn the reigning general into my hunting dog. And when the hunting dog becomes friendly, I will make sure they are nothing but a harmless lamb who cannot threaten me or the company."


    To others, this seemed like a bold statement without any backing. People would not realize what her plan was, but to Mo Qingchen, who knew his wife and her wicked methods like the back of his hand, the meaning was clear.


    Qian Meng was going to initiate a hostile takeover of Yun Corporation. And while she did it, she would make the shareholders and her father feel grateful for her initiative.


    The confidence in her voice filled her with pride.


    "The war against your father begins, then?" he asked.


    She nodded. "The best battles start in the middle of the night, when your enemy is sleeping, not knowing that threat is waiting right outside the window."


    Mo Qingchen patted her head affectionately. "Stop waxing poetry. Get down to work. I don''t want you working overtime. We finally settled into a normal routine, if this gets you overworked, I will be displeased."


    She smirked. "You just want me to seduce you into sleeping."


    He shrugged. "I do enjoy a good sleeping pattern and the idea that my wife brings out her feminine wiles to cuddle with me." He dropped down into bed and lay down.


    The tell-tale sign of an email coming made him frown.


    "I got the reports," she said quietly. Qingchen hugged her exposed thigh and pressed his face into her skin as the clicks filled the room.


    His wife went through the reports of the past few years, her breathing growing harsh with anger at times. And then, finally, she clicked out.


    "Done?" he asked.


    "For now," she informed. "I already took action and sent out my little spies to get additional information. Let''s see how long Yun Sui Bo can keep up with his ethical businessman act," she hissed.


    "And what about the fallout? When the public finds out¡­ It is not going to be good," Mo Qingchen said quietly.


    "I am the queen of marketing and image management. Trust me. I know what to do." She paused. "For now, I am keeping everything under wraps. But when the time comes, I will reveal it to the world and make sure they trust the changes I will bring to Yun Corporation."


    She watched as he rolled over and looked at her face. "Why does it feel like we are at a constant state of war?" he asked.


    "Because the higher you go, the harder it becomes to stave off people with bad intentions," she answered.


    "Shouldn''t the threats stop at some point?" he groaned.


    She chuckled. "For that, we will need to reach the very top. Where no one can even imagine harming a single strand of our hair." She eyed him curiously, wanting to see what his reaction would be.


    "Well, it''s time to reach the top, then. Let''s make the world fear every going against us," he swore. He raised his hand to offer a handshake.


    She took it without hesitation. "To world domination!" she said jokingly.


    The implication was clear. Neither of them would stop until they stood at the top of the world. As equal partners.

 Chapter 368: Warming You Up With My Body

    Qian Meng woke up to the sound of the alarm. Her alarm had been set to a soft beeping sound and it worked for them. Mo Qingchen was a light sleeper, so she tried not to wake him up. Furthermore, it was the weekend for both of them.


    Qian Meng felt the bed shift beneath her and opened her eyes to see the shadow of her husband''s form reaching over to shut the alarm. He had gotten to it before she could.


    Qingchen sighed softly as he pulled the covers off himself and flung them towards her side of the bed.


    "Don''t get up," Qian Meng said just as he started to sit up, her voice croaky with the thickness of sleep.


    His head turned in her direction and although she couldn''t make out his expression in her bleariness, she was sure he looked surprised.


    "Oh, the alarm woke you too?" he asked, his voice just as sleepy as hers.


    "Kind of. I forgot to disable it last night. I was just about to fall back asleep."


    He patted her shoulder. "What did you dream about?" he asked.


    "Nonsense." She shrugged.


    "It''s still so nice to wake up with you." He reached over to smooth her hair from her face. "Good morning."


    "No. Not good morning," she protested with a yawn. "It''s too early. Go back to sleep with me." They had stayed up too late the night before, so she wanted to nag Mo Qingchen into sleeping a little more.


    "I''ll just work out today, okay?"


    "I never get to sleep with you like a lazy person. You''re not working today. Can''t you sleep with me a little longer?" She was sure that she looked cute with her freshly awoken face¡­ albeit a little ruffled.


    "If we are sleeping, you won''t know that I am here," he reasoned.


    But she didn''t like being obstructed from her goal to get him to sleep. "I''ll know if you aren''t here. How about I go workout with you?" she asked slyly.


    "You''re going to get up and work out with me?" he asked, disbelief evident in his tone.


    "No. I will give you a workout right here in bed, husband. And then you can go back to sleep with me. Or the other way around. It doesn''t really matter to me." The offer was enticing.


    "The offer is compelling but your negotiation tactics need some polishing, baby." He chuckled as he started to get up and Qian Meng was thoroughly offended.


    "I wonder who to solicit for fun times at work," she bit back. "Seriously? You would rather go work out?" she asked as she watched him sit on the bed and then stand up.


    "Didn''t say that." He gave her an amused look.


    "Then where are you going?"


    "Restroom."


    She made a small noise of acknowledgment.


    She rolled over to nuzzle her head into the pillow. She lay there for a few minutes until she heard the sound of Mo Qingchen brushing his teeth.


    She groaned as she flung back her own half of the blankets. She refused to be the only one with morning breath, so she forced herself to get up.


    She immediately regretted her decision when the chill of the air hit her. She already longed to get back in the warm cocoon of her blankets. She was starting to wonder if they had an insulation problem at their home or if she felt cold too acutely.


    Qian Meng scampered into the bathroom and over to the sink. She snatched her toothbrush and saw Mo Qingchen in the toilet area. She had a view of his taut ass that she loved so much. The scene would have been sexy if she couldn''t hear the sound of him urinating.


    When had they reached this stage where locking the toilet wasn''t a thought that crossed their mind? Had they been married too long?


    But their ache for each other hadn''t diminished. So, it shouldn''t be something to worry about.


    Qian Meng ignored him and moved back and forth from one leg to the other in an attempt to warm herself up. When Mo Qingchen turned around and saw her, he began to laugh.


    "What are you doing?" he asked as she pushed the toothbrush into her mouth.


    "I''m trying to get warm! She answered in a garbled manner from around the toothbrush. "Can you get me a sweatshirt?"


    She was starting to regret not putting something on before bed but she hated sleeping in too many clothes. But she was so cold that her nipples felt like they were about to pop off.


    She watched in the mirror as Mo Qingchen came to stand behind her. He washed his hand before wiping it. And then, his warm hands found their way to her hips and stilled her.


    "Why would I do that if I am just going to take it off again?" he teased.


    She smirked. "Are you going to warm me up yourself, then?"


    "Of course."


    She laughed as she leaned over the sink to rinse her mouth. He took advantage of her position and ground his morning wood against her, making her squirm.


    "Go warm my sheets," she said as she pushed back against him.


    "Yes, Goddess."


    He spanked her ass hard enough to make her jump before he walked away. She shook her head as she rinsed the toothbrush. Playful Mo Qingchen always made her tingle inside. So did the thought of getting him back into bed.


    After putting her toothbrush away, she used the restroom before going back to the bedroom. Mo Qingchen was back in bed, sitting up against the pillows. He scrolled through what she assumed were emails.


    He was supposed to be taking the day off, but she figured he would end up working from home again. He couldn''t help himself. He was a workaholic. But that was how he had made his fortune, so she couldn''t scold him too much for that.

 Chapter 369: Waiting For The Green Light

    [Warning: Slight mention of snu snu. But not snu snu!]


    "Hey," she said as she went to his side of the bed and took his phone from his hand. "Too early for work."


    She put the phone down on the nightstand and was pleased when he didn''t stop her or protest. Instead of reaching for it, he reached out for her.


    She grinned as she climbed into the bed with him.


    Qingchen grabbed her, pulling her down to tuck her into his side as he yanked the covers back up over them. She was nestled against him as he turned towards her and rubbed everywhere he could reach.


    He rubbed her back, her sides, her ass, her thighs¡­


    And she melted into him.


    "I like you in the morning," he whispered huskily.


    "Just in the morning?" she asked with a raised brow.


    His face was in her neck, kissing her warm. "I like you all the time, but especially in the morning. Maybe because we don''t get to revel in it often enough."


    "Don''t get what?" she asked, confused still.


    "Morning Qian Meng. Sleepy, warm, soft Qian Meng. So intoxicating."


    She hid her smile. "Better than working out and going to work?" she prompted slyly.


    "Much better." His lips stilled against her neck as his hands lay motionless against her body. He just held her and she was content with that.


    They were making small talk until Mo Qingchen slipped his hand from her lower back and into her panties to cup her ass cheek. Qian Meng squirmed against him.


    "You can take my panties off if you want," she offered with a coy smile.


    He chuckled softly as her hand stroked him over his neck.


    "I can?"


    "Yeah." She grinned.


    He sighed teasingly. "Thank god. I have just been waiting for the green light¡­"


    Qian Meng laughed as he tugged her panties down her thighs, shifting and shimmying around to aid him in his quest. Her laughter faded as his fingers skimmed down the length of her legs, raising goosebumps. Just the act of him taking her panties off could make her wet.


    That was how her body responded to his every move. She pulled one leg free and then the other, allowing him to ball the material up and toss it onto the floor. Then, his hand was back on her thigh, trailing upwards, making Qian Meng shudder.


    "Open your legs."


    She bent one knee, accommodating his hand. His fingers skimmed her folds lightly and she whimpered.


    "It''s so early in the morning and I already want you," she whimpered.


    "I can feel that," he responded cockily.


    Qian Meng bit her lip as one of his fingers dipped into her wetness.


    "Hard and deep," she clarified with a hitch of her breath. His middle finger barely pushed into her as his thumb grazed her clit.


    "So, you want to be fucked?"


    "Yes¡­" she whimpered. "Do that thing when you are on your knees and you push my legs up."


    She could see him grinning at her, and she knew that he knew what she was talking about. Her lip remained between her teeth as she watched him get up onto his knees and between her legs. Her breathing accelerated in anticipation.


    "Like this?" he asked huskily as he hooked his arms behind her knees and started to push them towards her chest.


    She nodded enthusiastically.


    She scooted her butt down a little as she rolled her hips to get comfortable. Her legs parted a little more and she enjoyed the look of pure lust that came over Qingchen''s face as his eyes trailed down her body and landed on her wet and swollen folds.


    "You like to look at me, don''t you?"


    He groaned at her words but his eyes didn''t leave her folds. She wasn''t embarrassed by him looking. She really liked the way he looked at her in these moments.


    "Fuck yes, I do. Baby¡­" He rubbed his hands over her thighs as his tongue peeked out to lick his lip. "So pink and perfect and ready for me."


    "All yours," she told him as she scooted closer.


    "Yeah?" His eyes shifted up to look at her face. "All mine?"


    She nodded eagerly.


    "Let me taste you then." She squealed as he dipped down and placed his head between her thighs. She stiffened for a moment before her whole body relaxed into his hands and lips.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng looked at the proposal for the wedding shooting and smiled. It looked like something she wanted.


    The crew had been decided and the sample videos had been shown too. The promotions short videos for the bridal line had also been filmed. There, in about a week, Qian Meng was supposed to get married.


    She looked at the small box of invitation cards that she had ordered. There weren''t too many. And she was determined to send each and every one personally.


    Contrary to what she had thought, Mo Qingchen ended up having business associates who seemed closer to friends than he would care to admit. She had seen their pictures and was sure that these people were part of a diverse boy band or something like that.


    Then there was Mo Qingchen''s immediate family. Qingchen had grumbled about inviting his father.


    "He is going to ruin my big day. I can''t let that happen," he said slowly as he gave her a critical look. He looked down at the invitation card and smirked.


    "You really went all out to get the invitation on such short notice."


    Qian Meng shrugged. "It was a small amount, so I had to plead with the printing company to make an exception," she admitted.


    "You''re abusing your power as the CEO," Qingchen teased. "Who lets their employees manage and take care of all the wedding planning?" he scoffed.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "I am going to profit out of my wedding. I picked out everything with you. It''s according to our aesthetics and wishes. So, it''s not abuse of power." She smirked. "Also, husband¡­ don''t change the topic."

 Chapter 370: No Toxic People Allowed

    Qingchen furrowed his brow. "I am not letting that old rat come to my wedding," he said firmly. "He doesn''t like our marriage, anyway. Why should we let him celebrate with us? I can assure you that wasting food and lodging on him will be a regret you will carry for the rest of your life."


    "Don''t be so dramatic!" Qian Meng exclaimed. "You''re going to call your whole family but not your father? It''s going to be on camera, Qingchen."


    He shrugged once again. "This is my way of telling you that you shouldn''t call your stepmother and father to the wedding either. I know you don''t want to."


    She pressed her lips together.


    "If they are against our marriage, they are not invited. Simple. Invite your brother and he will represent your family. Isn''t that great?" he said softly.


    He knew that she had been thinking of the same thing. It just so happened that he hated his father and didn''t want him to come to the wedding either.


    "Are you making a deal with me? No toxic people are allowed in our wedding?" she asked.


    Qingchen nodded enthusiastically. "But let''s make sure they know for certain that they weren''t invited," he commented slyly.


    "You''re crazy."


    "Do you want me to go when you send the invitation card?" he asked.


    She shook her head. "I''ll visit Qing Yuan at the main house. You should continue with work." She patted his head.


    He nodded and watched as she picked up all her things and shoved them in her bag.


    "I''ll see you at night!" he called after her affectionately.


    Qian Meng looked back, just as she opened the door to go out. A wide grin crawled up her lips. "Love you, too."


    The people outside definitely heard. Especially the new secretary who looked like she had swallowed a fly. Qian Meng wondered for a second if she had a crush on Qingchen.


    Her husband was incredible. It wouldn''t be a stretch to think that was the case. She shrugged off the idea, knowing her husband didn''t even look at people twice.


    Little did Qian Meng know, this secretary of Mo Qingchen''s had a crush on her! She gritted her teeth whenever she saw how affectionate the couple were in Qingchen''s office.


    It had become a regular occurrence in the last month or so. These two were inseparable.


    With Qian Meng came Li Min. The woman watched the new tube light with amusement. Finally, as she watched Qian Meng leave, Li Min spoke up.


    "No need to think about Boss. She has tunnel vision when it comes to Mr. Mo. Give up." As she was about to leave, she stopped and added another sentence. "How about we grab dinner this weekend? You can think about me, instead."


    The new secretary gaped as she watched Li Min leave. In this conservative world, rarely did women ask other women out so casually.


    It was kind of cool.


    Well, even if to pry information about Qian Meng, this little fly could eat a meal or two with Li Min.


    - - - - -


    As Qian Meng pulled into the driveway, she saw the employees stop working and turn to look at her car. Though hers had been changed, the exterior remained the same. They obviously knew who had come.


    It had been three months since she had step foot inside this house and she expected that her father had created a lot of drama and screamed her name multiple times for the employees to be on edge to this degree. She sighed as she pulled out her bag and the invitation card for Qing Yuan.


    As she slid out and walked towards the house, a snake slithered out from one of the bushes and stopped a few meters from Qian Meng''s feet.


    Her breath hitched as she stared at the creature. She dared not make a sound. The employees too stiffened. Everyone seemed to freeze for a moment before they started to get into action.


    In reality, the snake wasn''t that big. But the fact that it was roaming around the estate unhindered was the source of concern.


    "What the hell¡­ I knew my dad was feeding the human snakes, he is raising real snakes too?" she muttered under her breath when the snake slithered away, giving her leeway to sprint into the house.


    "Or is the universe warning me that I am walking into a pit of snakes?" she countered.


    She shook her head in disbelief and stepped into the house.


    An employee scurried past her and into the living room, presumably to inform the older couple about her arrival. They were not the sort to enjoy unhappy surprises.


    When she entered, she found two pairs of dissatisfied eyes already on her.


    "I never thought I would see you in my house again," Yun Sui Bo commented disdainfully as he took in her appearance.


    Qian Meng shrugged. "I am a married woman now. Even if you thought your unmarried daughter was destined to follow every word you said, you already sold your daughter away. There is no need to show off your power anymore, right?" she commented snidely.


    His nostrils flared. "Sold you off? Can you not be so vulgar?" he sneered.


    Qian Meng smiled sweetly. "Sorry, you tried to sell me off. But didn''t succeed. But I don''t answer to you any longer, Mr. Yun." That was the main point in this conversation.


    His breath rushed out in what Qian Meng assumed was anger.


    "Meng Meng, please understand. Your father was just worried about you!" the stepmother chimed in helpfully.


    Qian Meng couldn''t help but roll her eyes. Thank god, it was a small reaction, or else, her father would have chewed her head off. She was in a good mood and didn''t want this toxic pair to burst her bubble.


    "Is that so? Why were you worried, might I ask?" she supplied helpfully. She didn''t glance towards Jiang Xin, knowing she would not take the cue and answer anyway.

 Chapter 371: The Wedding Invitation

    "A married daughter might not be in the family registry, but a father always hopes that the daughter isn''t mistreated in their marital home."


    What a crock of lies.


    "I am pretty sure Mr. Yun wants me to suffer so that he can scoff and tell me how I have always made the wrong decision." The smile she gave Yun Sui Bo as she spoke raised his blood pressure to the roof.


    "How would you know what a parent feels?" he started.


    Her heart hardened. "Father, it is because of this parental feeling that I sometimes don''t want children," she commented. "If parents show their worry and love for kids the way you did to me all my life, I would rather not have children. No human deserves to be treated that way from a parent they were conditioned to love from birth."


    Her words were said slowly, but the effect was sharp. Yun Sui Bo sucked in a sharp breath.


    "I don''t want to waste my time on the two of you. Please call Qing Yuan down, I have something to give to him," she said deftly.


    "Did Qing Yuan badger you into giving him something?" Jiang Xin said sweetly. "He has been asking his dad to buy him a new and expensive laptop. Such a spoiled kid." She giggled.


    Yun Sui Bo''s frustration diminished, but Qian Meng grew irritated. This father of hers sure knew how to look doting. But he was a snake who was using his son behind the scenes.


    "I see." She didn''t say anymore.


    "If it''s not that¡­ what is it? Pocket money?"


    Qian Meng didn''t respond. She pulled out her cellphone, unwilling to listen to the woman ramble, and called Qing Yuan instead.


    He picked up in no time.


    "Sis, what''s up?" he said gleefully.


    "Come downstairs," she responded.


    "You came home!" he exclaimed. Qian Meng could hear the loud sounds of a video game in the background. This was his original state of resting.


    She hummed and hung up the phone.


    "How can you be so disrespectful to your mother?" Yun Sui Bo grunted.


    Qian Meng looked up. "She is not my mother." It seemed that everyone needed to be reminded of this fact.


    "You¡ª" Yun Sui Bo couldn''t finish. They heard the sound of Qing Yuan''s footsteps and turned to look at him. The boy was sprinting down the stairs with sheer delight on his face. He looked younger in his carrot-themed pajamas set.


    He barrelled into Qian Meng without reserve and hugged her tightly. "I haven''t seen you in so long," he said as he pulled away, a pout plastered on his lips.


    "Didn''t I tell you to visit whenever you want?" she responded as she ruffled his hair. "Mo Qingchen wanted to hang out with you but you said you were busy, I hear," she said with a gentle smile.


    "Brother-in-law did call on the weekend. But I was working," Qing Yuan said proudly.


    Qian Meng''s eyes widened. "What work are you doing?" she asked.


    Qing Yuan blinked. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I started writing!" He looked so excited that Qian Meng was immensely happy. Her brother had found something he liked doing.


    Yun Sui Bo scoffed.


    "You didn''t tell me, you brat. What are you writing?" she asked excitedly. She could see that Qing Yuan''s parents didn''t share the same enthusiasm that she did.


    "Webnovel. Sis¡­ I have loads of readers!" he exclaimed as he pulled out his phone.


    Another scoff came from their father. "So, it was with your encouragement that he went crazy. He got into business school but after a week of classes changed his major into literature." The complaint was evident. "What boy studies Literature instead of business when he has a business to take over?"


    "Honey, don''t say that¡­ he is just following his passion. When he understands the world, he will come back to business anyway," Jiang Xin defended her son quietly.


    Qian Meng could see the dissatisfied expression on her face as well. She must have grilled the poor boy for his decision as well.


    "Sis, tell them!" Qing Yuan whined. And Qian Meng didn''t mind taking the bullet in place of her poor brother who seemed to be under a great deal of stress, living in the snake pit¡­ among snakes.


    "Business school will not teach him business," she said in a low voice. "Those professors of business have little chance of succeeding in the field." She looked at him in confidence. "Instead, if he hung out with drug dealers, he might learn a great deal more about business, don''t you think?" she said snidely.


    Qing Yuan snickered, knowing that Qian Meng was referring to the scum Bai Ye Qing when she spoke about drug dealers. But he hid his smile and looked at his sister pitifully.


    "What drug dealers?" Yun Sui Bo yelled.


    Qian Meng waved him off. "I don''t have a lot of time on my hands." She pulled out the invitation card and handed it to Qing Yuan. "You are invited," she said sweetly.


    Qing Yuan looked at the paper in bewilderment.


    The black envelope was sealed with golden wax and a green leaf. He carefully opened it and gasped. A thin packing tissue with beautiful green leaves printed on it caught his eye. He wriggled the paper out and saw that a handmade paper laid with strings of gold was inside. It was an invitation to Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen''s wedding. The information about where it was happening was all written.


    "Really?" he squeaked. "You''re having an actual wedding?" he asked.


    Qian Meng nodded. "We decided that she shouldn''t miss out. It''s a small ceremony," she informed him.


    "What wedding?" Jiang Xin commented excitedly as she stepped forward.


    "It''s a small ceremony for people I want to see on my big day. Qing Yuan is invited." The implicit meaning was, the other two in the room were not invited.


    "What is the dress code?" Qing Yuan asked.

 Chapter 372: My Reputation Wont Suffer

    "Bring your swimming trunks and comfortable clothes. Bring a semi-formal set for the wedding ceremony." She grinned.


    Qing Yuan gleamed. "An informal ceremony?"


    Qian Meng nodded.


    "Where is ours?" Yun Sui Bo said shamelessly.


    She turned to him with a glare. "You are not invited," she said without emotion.


    She felt utter satisfaction as she spoke the words and the look in Yun Sui Bo''s eyes as he heard.


    "What does that mean?" he yelled. "What kind of person doesn''t invite their family to their wedding?"


    Qian Meng licked her lip as she put the words together. "Mr. Yun, do you realize that you had to ask for an invitation to come to your daughter''s wedding?" she stabbed.


    His eyes flashed at her response.


    "You know as well as I do why you don''t deserve to be at a ceremony where people who love me and cherish my relationship with my husband are only allowed to come."


    Jiang Xin spoke up. "Meng Meng¡­ of course, we want to be there. We love you. You are our daughter."


    Qian Meng shook her head in disbelief. "No. You don''t want to be shamed in front of people when they realize you weren''t invited to your own daughter''s wedding."


    "But who will walk you down the aisle?" Jiang Xing commented. That seemed to be her only hope. Qian Meng knew that his stepmother only wanted bragging rights in front of her friend. To say that the Venus CEO and she had an amicable relationship when that clearly wasn''t the case.


    "There is no hard and fast rule that my father needs to walk me down the aisle. I would rather walk down it myself," she told them truthfully.


    Qing Yuan tightened his hand around Qian Meng''s. "Sis, why would you walk down alone? We wouldn''t want the Mo''s to think you have family backing you. I will do it," he said helpfully.


    Qian Meng felt a prickle in her heart as she looked at the earnest expression on her brother''s face. "You''ll stand up for me?" she almost whispered.


    Qing Yuan nodded vehemently. "I know brother-in-law won''t allow anyone to treat you poorly, but if anyone does, I promise to leap to your defense at the same second brother-in-law does."


    "I don''t need a big family to protect me," she looked up as she said. Those fake parents of hers looked shocked. "It seems I have a sincere brother. The problem of walking down the aisle is solved then."


    She ruffled the kid''s hair once again. "You¡­ send me the link to your story. I will send you gifts and boost your numbers." She grinned. "More gifts and rank means more new readers."


    Qing Yuan laughed and nodded. "I''ll take this upstairs. I need to pack and get my speeches ready!" He was so excited that Qian Meng felt that his joy was infectious. She was in the snake pit, but she was rather happy with the outcome.


    Qing Yuan left after asking Qian Meng to leave immediately, but she knew that was not possible.


    "You might have no regard for customs, but I do. The people at the ceremony will know you didn''t invite your father. How do you think they will look at you?" Yun Sui Bo said. He used the reputation she loved to blackmail her into inviting him.


    "My reputation won''t suffer. What kind of a father do you think gets excluded from their daughter''s big day?" she countered. "Tell me the truth, you are only insisting on coming because people will think poorly of you. Because you won''t know how to explain it to people."


    Yun Sui Bo pressed his lips together in dissatisfaction. "Don''t pretend like you are a saint. You want people to talk poorly of me. That''s why you are pulling this stunt."


    Qian Meng nodded. "Maybe I am. But you gave me that opportunity, Mr. Yun. When I said that I didn''t want anyone who doesn''t cherish me at my wedding, I meant it. The fact that you are not on the list is sad." As a child, she felt horrible that her parents wanted nothing to do with her happiness.


    "I¡ª"


    Qian Meng raised her hand to stop him in whatever speech he was about to make. "You should be more concerned that you are an awful father. What does it matter what people think? People will think poorly of you because you are an awful person, Mr. Yun. It''s not my fault. It''s a reputation you build over your life." And this was the complete truth.


    She glanced down at her watch. She had to leave. "I don''t want to linger around and talk to you any longer. But let me warn you, if you try to stop Qing Yuan from attending, I won''t hold back," she threatened.


    "Why would we¡ª" Jiang Xin started to speak.


    "I know the two of you¡­ you will try to do it. I am being courteous by not announcing to the world how horrible you are. If my brother is stopped from attending my wedding, I will make sure every news outlet finds out. Understood?"


    There was silence in the room. They knew she was serious. Any errant idea about stopping Qing Yuan flew out of the window. They watched helplessly as Qian Meng stepped out of their view.


    "She has grown bolder after getting married. Now that she married a richer man, she thinks she can say whatever she wants to her parents," Jiang Xin instigated albeit in a small voice. She glanced nervously at her husband.


    "No man will condone such behavior from their wife," Yun Sui Bo responded. "They are still in their honeymoon period. Sooner or later that Mo kid will realize what a disrespectful brat she is and stopped backing her. Let''s wait a few years. We''ll see how she keeps that attitude up," he said. He dragged his feet back to the sofa and sat down.


    For the short-term, he would grit his teeth and let her talk back. There were plenty of methods to get what he wanted. A year or two was no problem. He would see how she could keep her head up when the people who she thinks cherish her don''t take her side.

 Chapter 373: Getting Rid of Him

    Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng were having a destination wedding. It wasn''t some fancy getaway that they were preparing for a wedding at some expensive place with glamor and luxury. Instead, they went for a cozy wedding with the people they knew and wanted there to be with them.


    The camera crew had already arrived at the site ahead of schedule to set up the cameras and sign all permits with the owner of the cabins they had booked.


    Everyone was packed and put into cars they could relax in. The five-hour journey from Shanghai to Qiandao Lake district was fun. Sometimes it was a race between cars and trash-talking each other. Sometimes, it was silent or someone was laughing and singing.


    By the time they reached the cabins at the end of the winding road, they weren''t too tired. But they did feel the need to freshen up.


    As they wheeled onto the massive property, they saw the camera crew already waiting for them.


    Qing Yuan gave the camera a blinding smile as he wheeled in his luggage and waved at it for effect. Qian Meng only chuckled and patted him on the back at his enthusiasm.


    Uncle Bai was stoic but a small smile played on his lips. Mo Qingchen was chatting with him in a quiet voice and Qian Meng couldn''t hear what they were talking about.


    "How have you been feeling recently?" Qingchen asked the older man.


    "I have been good. I still have mild tremors now and then from the injection, but the doctor said it might be psychological," Bai Yue informed slowly. Qingchen had already taken his suitcase and wheeled it alongside his own.


    Bai Yue looked at the young man and wondered how such a great change had happened in such a short period of time. He glanced towards Yun Qian Meng, who was happily chatting with her brother and knew the answer immediately.


    They had been comfortable around each other, but he suspected that these two were truly happy together now. And that had made Qingchen a warmer and more considerate person.


    "Make sure to get your check-ups regularly," Qingchen said in a low voice. "Have you gone to visit your¡­ family since?" He eyed the older man in pure curiosity.


    Bai Yue shook his head. "Chen Yue will be released shortly and she will be living in the building Bai Ye Qing bought. For some reason, it was not seized," he responded. "I have diligently transferred money to her account all these years so she won''t need to ask me for money." He looked at Qingchen. "But that isn''t what you are asking about, is it?"


    Qingchen gave a guilty look.


    "He looked scared and told me that you planned on getting rid of him," he said point-blank.


    Qingchen didn''t look startled. He had known that Bai Ye Qing would do anything to ease the pressure off himself. He also knew that his father was close to Qian Meng and Qingchen.


    "And what are your thoughts on this matter?" Qingchen probed.


    Bai Yue shrugged. "He had committed heinous crimes against people I don''t know and people I do. He killed my son." Bai Yue grew quiet. "Truly, I wake up some days thinking I can forgive him because he is my own flesh and blood. But on others, I remember how he killed his own brother in cold blood. Because of his greed¡­ his jealousy." He shook his head. "I know you held back from making him suffer because you respect me."


    That was all the acknowledgment he needed. Qingchen couldn''t place where this man stood, so he pretended not to have any ill intentions towards Bai Ye Qing. "I have no need to make him suffer. He is a key witness in a drug distribution case. He is going to have a hard time in there himself."


    Bai Yue sighed. "You did get him stronger protection until the end of the hearings, didn''t you?" he asked.


    "I didn''t ask for anything. The police must have thought he was in danger." He looked at Bai Yue without a trace of guilt. The wedding was a time when Bai Yue wouldn''t know his other son was going to die. He was going to celebrate with the others and not worry about how sad his life was.


    Once he was back home and settled, the trials would take place. The verdict for the drug cartel leaders would come out. And then¡­ Bai Ye Qing would cease to exist.


    Would Qingchen feel guilty in doing so? No. But he would feel for the man walking beside him.


    "I see¡­" And that is where the conversation ended.


    They finally came in full view of the property.


    There were three cabins resting in the secluded cove. Each one had an exquisite view of the beautiful lake. The parking area was a few minutes short of the house and the private dock was a three-minute walk from the cabins.


    As they went into the houses, Qian Meng told them where each person was stationed. In total there were less than 30 people who attended. There were a few more who had been invited, but due to their busy schedules, they could not come.


    One of those people was Qian Meng''s mother. And her new family. Qian Meng wasn''t saddened. She had known that her mother wouldn''t come, and she was okay with it.


    As she settled into Mo Qingchen and her bedroom, she looked out the broad wooden doors with square panels that looking straight at the water outside. She opened the door to the veranda, leaving her suitcase behind, and sucked in a deep breath.


    The sky was clear with white, wispy clouds drifting over her head. The water was glittering in the sunlight. The mountains in the near distance were lush green. The colors of nature sucked her in.


    "What are you thinking about?" Qingchen asked from behind her. He slid his hand around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder, trying to take in the same view as she was.

 Chapter 374: Lets Go Skinny Dipping

    She sighed and raised her hand to run her fingers through his hair.


    "Just looking. Wonder who had the brilliant idea of picking this place," she said jokingly.


    Mo Qingchen chuckled. "Wasn''t it your obsession with looking at rental properties in such locations to buy that made you stumble across it?" he teased. "You found the perfect place."


    She hummed. "But the owners will never sell. I understand, it''s too beautiful and profitable to sell." She shook her head in dissatisfaction. "Ah, some things even money can''t buy."


    Qingchen turned his head and pressed a quick kiss on her cheek. "You could buy it if you paid ten times the market price, you know?"


    She rolled her eyes. "That sounds unnecessary. I would never make up for what I paid."


    Qingchen snorted as he eased his hands from around her waist and stood up to his full height. "Always thinking about business. You could keep it for sentimental value, you know?"


    She rolled her eyes. "I just arrived. I have no sentiments for this place. If I like it too much, I will just build something even better. What do you think?" She grinned that shark-like grin that he loved.


    He patted her hair before going in. "I will hang up your dress and my suit!" he called from over his shoulder.


    She heard the buzz of familiar voices below her and looked down. It was a bunch of her business associates and friends who were settled into the third cabin.


    The sight was weird because they were dragging a huge ride-on float. It was definitely in the shape of a unicorn and she wondered which of her eccentric friends had sacrificed their luggage space to bring this mammoth.


    "What is that?" she asked in a mixture of horror and amusement.


    Marcus looked up and grinned. "I had it at home because I bought it for a party. It seats four people!" he exclaimed.


    Qian Meng gaped. "Are we allowed to?" she laughed in disbelief.


    "I asked the property manager when they came by. They said it was fine. Showering right now is such a chore when I have a perfectly beautiful lake to dip and swim in," he commented. "Come down, beautiful bride!" he shouted.


    Qian Meng burst into laughter and turned around. "Qingchen, do you want to go skinny dipping?" she shouted.


    He peered out from the closet, his eyes wide in shock. "Here? Out in public?" he asked.


    She giggled. "They are all going out to swim. Do you want to join?" she amended.


    He sighed in relief. "I thought you had grown some exhibitionist tendencies without my knowledge," he commented. "Tell them to dive in. I''ll call the others and then join." He gave her a mischievous smile.


    Qian Meng looked to the balcony of the other cabin and saw one of Qingchen''s friends already outside. She waved at him. "Brett! Wanna take a dip with the group? Tell everyone, will you?" she shouted.


    Mo Qingchen laughed out loud as he picked out swimming clothes to wear. "Yize just texted me, saying that she is joining in," he said.


    Qian Meng turned and nodded. "Let''s go in!" she squealed. Mo Qingchen threw her swimwear at her and then sprinted to the bathroom ahead of her.


    She shook her head and stripped off her clothes quickly, getting into the swimsuit unashamedly, ignoring her husband who came out of the bathroom in his swimming trunks and eyed her greedily.


    "If we didn''t have a swimming appointment right now, I would ravish you," he said in a low voice.


    She looked at him coyly over her shoulder and shimmied her hips to entice him. "I don''t think you would. The cabins are close together and the two of us are loud. Everyone would know what we are doing the minute you start stripping me out of my clothes."


    She fingered the tie on her shoulder before tightening it.


    He chuckled. "We might get cheered on, but I don''t think my mom or Uncle Bai would appreciate the scene."


    She shrugged and went ahead.


    When they got downstairs, almost everyone was sitting at the private dock. The wooden platform was freshly cleaned and looked enticing enough to dive into the water from.


    Mo Qingchen''s friends seemed to be having a little too much fun. They cannonballed into the water and then swam to the ungodly-looking unicorn float.


    It bobbed in the water and the female companions squealed when it dipped slightly into the water and someone climbed into the float, dripping all over it.


    Qian Meng basked under the sunlight and watched happily as people who met for the first time mingled.


    A small floaty a distance from the rest floated and she saw Li Min swimming to it without a hitch. Li Min was a loaner through and through. Only when she was dating did she become a little girl and pursue until the end.


    With how often Li Min seemed to get calls from Mo Qingchen''s secretary and the not-so-serious expression on her face¡­ Li Min seemed to be flirting to the other. All was good. As long as they didn''t cause trouble for the bosses.


    Qian Meng noticed someone walking up behind her. The sun was so bright when she looked in the direction that she had to squint.


    Mo Yize peered down at her with a cocky smile. She dropped down beside Qian Meng and placed an arm on the other''s shoulder. "Only you would make a holiday out of your wedding," Yize commented.


    Qian Meng chuckled. "Reminds you of royalty from ancient times, right? The birthday of the King and Queen is celebrated. It''s similar."


    Yize tutted. "What else could I expect? You really think you are the Queen."


    Qian Meng flipped her hair over her shoulder in a show of dominance and the two broke into fits of giggles.


    "I just wanted the people I like to be in one place and enjoy their time. I want everyone to get to know one another. I don''t want a wedding day that is stressful."

 Chapter 375: Dont Get Drunk and Drown

    "Instead, I want it to be remembered as a time when Qingchen and my love was so infectious that people were genuinely happy and enjoying our big day with us," she explained.


    Yize nodded. It was only then Qian Meng noticed the can of beer that Mo Yize was shoving in her direction. Qian Meng looked at her surprised but took it surreptitiously.


    "Just a sip. I brought a freezer full of booze, so don''t worry about running out. Marcus is skipping around, waiting for permission to hand it out," she said with a grin.


    Qian Meng snorted. She had forgotten how much trouble Marcus and Yize could create when they came together.


    "Just make sure no one drowns in the lake. I want a peaceful wedding. No homicides or accidental drownings allowed, okay?" she pleaded.


    Yize rolled her eyes. "With your stuck-up husband and Li Jun around, do you even think it is possible?" she challenged.


    Qian Meng eyed her friend suspiciously. "My husband isn''t as stuck-up as you would believe. And Li Jun¡­" She followed her friend''s line of sight. "You of all people should know that he is anything but a saint."


    Yize raised her brow in surprise. "How should I know?" she said, feigning innocence.


    Qian Meng glared at her mockingly, "Yize, my love, do you think I am blind?" she said. She paused to gauge Yize''s expression. "I don''t want if the two of you are flirting or fighting or have a lot of sexual tension between the two of you¡­ but it''s obvious to anyone who is within a few meters of the two of you." She snorted.


    "We aren''t dating," Yize said, giving Qian Meng enough information.


    "You are buddies then? Taking care of one another?" Qian Meng whispered conspiratorially.


    Yize frowned. "Shut up. No one knows. If my mom finds out, it will be the end of me. She''s a little¡­ pushy, you know?"


    Qian Meng sighed. "I know your predicament. But if you really want to remain inconspicuous, please make sure that Li Jun''s car isn''t shaking in the parking lot when he said he was out to get lunch," she teased.


    Mo Yize sucked in a deep breath. "Damn it," she cursed under her breath. "No one else saw, right?" she hissed.


    Qian Meng shook her head. "I was the only one in the parking lot. I went to drop off a signed document. Please be careful."


    Yize nodded.


    "But¡­ you aren''t having any issues? Between the two of you?" Qian Meng asked.


    "I don''t know how much you know about¡­ our condition¡­ but yeah. For some reason, we are better than anticipated. Never knew I would actually like someone to this degree."


    Qian Meng scoffed. "Been there. Done that." She looked down at the can of beer and popped the cap open. She took a mild sip and looked up to find some of the others staring at her.


    "Hey! Qian Meng, is that beer?" someone called.


    There was rowdy laughter and then demands to get beer in their hands too. Marcus, the ever-enthusiastic one, doggy swam across the water available to them, handing each person a can and a prayer.


    ''Don''t get drunk and drown!''


    Mo Qingchen also walked up and crouched down beside Qian Meng. "Weren''t you ready to dip in the water? Why are you sitting out?" he asked in a husky voice.


    Qian Meng craned her neck to look at him. "Just enjoying the scenery and the sun." She looked at the pure love in his eyes and realized that she looked different than usual. "Why? Does my hair look beautiful like this?" she asked.


    He played with the messy ends sticking out of her bun and smiled. "Wild and uncontrollable, glowing with the rays of the sun?" He sighed. "Ah, you really look like a goddess."


    Mo Qingchen chuckled when he heard someone fake gag. He looked over at his sister and laughed without restraint.


    "Please take your pillow talk to your bedroom. Don''t make the public nauseous with it!" she claimed.


    No one knew if Mo Qingchen was engrossed in the conversation or he was pretending, but he didn''t notice Xiao Chen sneak up behind him and shove him into the water.


    Qingchen gasped when he resurfaced, his eyes burning. Though playful, he looked like he was ready to have revenge.


    This was the first time Qian Meng had seen her husband interact with his family like a normal person would. He definitely didn''t spare any words for others, but here, he held on to the boyish side that he only showed her.


    Xiao Chen was dragged into the water as Qingchen snagged at his leg. The brothers seemed to banter and play around in the water. As they did, Qian Meng watched.


    Ah, so beautiful.


    Finally, after what seemed like mere seconds, she put down the beer she had only taken a sip or two from and sank into the water. She paddled to Qingchen.


    He spotted her the minute she jumped into the water. He made his way over and the crowd cheered as she hastened and planted a wet kiss on his lips in the middle of the water.


    On the porch of the central cabin, Uncle Bai, Li Jun, and Li Li Hua, and Xiao Hua watched with varied expressions of happiness and boredom.


    They remained in the shade, seemingly not wanting to get into the water like the youngsters. Li Jun was the only person in a different age group, but Yize and Li Min at least knew that he had a fear of water.


    What if there was a snake in there? He would never jump into water that was not a swimming pool.


    Qing Yuan acted as the DJ, putting on some new music that everyone bobbed and sang along to. He dipped into the water, conversing with everyone, his personality shining out.


    Everyone ignored the cameras and phones pointed at them.


    It was only Friday.

 Chapter 376: Not Getting Time to Play Together

    The production crew had actually never seen a wedding like this. It was a family and friend vacation. These people had cleared a whole weekend and taken the Friday off to be at the wedding. And this was a celebration of love and the lives of the people who would tie the knot.


    They were pleasantly surprised. Even the fact that they were treated as part of the invited guests.


    And when the sun slowly dipped in the sky, everyone came out of the water. Only the groom and bride floated in the water, whispering lovingly with one another.


    "Come on! You two!" Someone shouted. "Enough is enough! We also have romance in your life, okay?" they teased.


    Mo Qingchen was the one that led the two of them to the wooden dock. He raised himself onto it and grabbed the fluffy towel before anyone else could. He flung it over his shoulder and crouched down to raised Qian Meng effortlessly up, as well. He quickly wrapped her in the towel and hugged her tightly as he rushed her to land.


    There were chuckles and conversations. The group dispersed, leaving the crew with a lot to think about. Shooting weddings was about angles and poses. But this one¡­ they didn''t really need to worry too much. They just kept the cameras rolling. They swapped out batteries and kept filming. The people were photogenic, not because they all looked good but because they were perfectly happy and casual. There was no hint of pretense in this group.


    Some of these people were elites who rarely spoke or gave a smile to people outside, but in their own world, they were free and filled with laughter.


    They had just gone to charge the cameras and rest when they saw the smoke rising in the distance.


    No way¡­ a bonfire?


    One of the crew members had come check on the group and found everyone sitting around a fire.


    Mo Qingchen, having newly found his talent for making warm and cold soft drinks was busy mixing what he had. Li Li Hua scurried out of the main cabin with two thermoses in her hand.


    "Here is the hot cocoa to go with the marshmallows!" she announced as she placed it on the small table a little away from where the fire was blazing. Everyone acknowledged her.


    "Is Qingchen making something inside?" Qian Meng asked curiously.


    "He seems engrossed in making iced tea for everyone. I think he is going to clean out the fruits the owners left in the fridge for the weekend," she snickered.


    Qian Meng snorted. Mo Qingchen never did anything half-assed. Now that he had perfected how to make drinks, he wouldn''t hold back on showing off in front of others.


    "I''ll go check on him," Qian Meng announced.


    "Do you miss him already?" Hou Su teased from the side.


    Qian Meng mock glared. "You better take note of what you are saying. I am known as the petty queen in the industry for a reason," she threatened before walking away.


    Hou Su catcalled from behind her, making her raise her middle finger and waving it in response. The chuckles followed and faded away until she was back inside the cabin.


    Mo Qingchen worked with his back to her in the kitchen.


    "My bulk king, are you done yet?" she asked.


    He raised his head but didn''t turn back to look at her. "Almost done. Can you grab the trays of ice from the fridge? I need to add them to the jug," he told her.


    She hummed and scurried to the fridge to take them out. "There are three trays. How many do you want?" she asked.


    "Take them all out. Knowing the people outside, they will drink and eat everything you put in front of them." The tone with which Qian Meng said this was so bitter that she was sure he was speaking about his friends and no one else.


    "Got it!" she said cheerfully and pulled the trays out.


    She leaned against his arms and wrapped her hand around his waist as he finished up. "My goddess, will the tray be too heavy for you?" he asked slowly.


    She shook her head with the little space that she had. "Not a problem. Come out. What else is there?" she inquired.


    He thought about it for a minute. "Mom bought lots of chips. She also made sandwiches for everyone. It''s there." He pointed. "Leave those. I will bring them out."


    Qian Meng hummed. "Why does it feel like we have a soccer team for a family and we are raising them into pigs?" she asked playfully.


    Qingchen paused for a second. "Do you want a soccer team of a family or do you want to raise pigs? Choose one or the other, we can''t be mixing species here," he responded.


    She snickered. "I''m headed out. They are just about to start with ghost stories and whatnot. I want to hear those scientific-minded people degenerate into cave people scared of the dark."


    Qingchen snorted. "Go."


    She never backed down from a bout of fun. He turned for the small amount of time she needed to go out of the room and out of his sight before he turned and looked around the kitchen. The food and the seasoned meat aside, everything was done. He also needed to take the barbeque grill out and set it up outside.


    Li Li Hua peered in as he picked up the sandwiches. "Qian Meng went out?" she asked slyly.


    "She did. Were you waiting for her to leave?" Mo Qingchen asked.


    "Yes. The two of you decided on such a small party. It''s more of a family trip. I feel bad that the two of you aren''t getting to spend time together even though it''s your wedding."


    Mo Qingchen waved it off. "This is how we wanted it to be. Isn''t it a custom for the bride and groom to not spend time alone before the wedding? They aren''t even allowed to see each other. It is better this way, I think." His voice was reassuring.


    Li Li Hua looked at him with wonder. "Did you really want this wedding?" he asked.

 Chapter 377: Move My Hips Better Than Shakira

    Qingchen thought about his answer carefully. "Both of us decided on it together. If she was alone in wanting it, I wouldn''t have minded and gone along with her, but I want it too. I wanted a wedding where only people I liked were there and people she liked were there. And we achieved that." He shrugged.


    "Therefore you didn''t invite your dad?" she asked.


    Qingchen smiled. "Wasn''t it him that said he was too busy?" he retorted.


    "You know how your dad is. He knew you wouldn''t invite him to begin with. Why didn''t you?"


    Qingchen shrugged. "You already know the answer. I don''t like him." He looked at his mother, knowing that she was about to say something. "Please don''t try to be the mediator. Mo Zichen is happiest when he doesn''t need to be around people he thinks are beneath him." He looked at her sharply. "Which is just about everyone on the planet."


    "You¡ª"


    "And it so happens that my wife is part of that group." Mo Qingchen was straightforward. "I am not one of those people who will allow my wife to be treated poorly. I won''t even allow myself to do it." He was firm in his belief.


    "Your father does like Qian Meng. We all do. We can see the change she has brought about in you. Even when you got your wedding certificate, you weren''t the man you are now. I don''t know what really happened, but I am glad that you found a new way to look at the world."


    He shrugged. "Let''s not talk about Mo Zichen and go out for some fun." Talk about that father of his only made the atmosphere take a turn for the worse.


    His mom left first and then Mo Qingchen went with the grill. It didn''t take much time among everyone to set everything up.


    Qingchen rushed to be beside Qian Meng and watched her hold back her laughter as she listened to the incredulous stories that others were telling.


    "¡­ and then we opened the door just as the knocks were in mid-strike and no one was on the other side!" Yun Qing Yuan cried.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. She had heard this story at least ten times before this and knew it by heart. If someone allowed her, she could reiterate it word by word and with Qing Yuan''s exact expression. It never changed.


    He was making these claims since his school trip back when he was in middle school. It was funny until she believed that Qing Yuan believed in ghosts.


    The poor boy couldn''t even go to the bathroom at night alone because of this incident.


    Mo Yize was the first to look at the couple when everyone else had said their stories. "Don''t the two of you have any supernatural stories?" she asked.


    Qian Meng shook her head.


    "Boss doesn''t even believe in god or ghosts. How would she tell you stories?" Li Min spoke blandly. She took a sip of her iced tea as Marcus crept up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. He slowly poured what Qian Meng was sure was alcohol into her glass and then went to the next person to do the same.


    Li Min took another sip.


    "I don''t need to believe in unscientific occurrences to experience something that I personally couldn''t explain," she countered.


    Yize rolled her eyes. "Oh, tell me, Great One. What mystical phenomenon did you experience that you couldn''t explain with your knowledge of science?" She looked at her older brother. "Your husband would answer you in a jiffy."


    "I died and then came back to life," Qian Meng said simply.


    Everyone was stunned for a second before they burst into laughter. Qian Meng too joined in on the laughter.


    Qingchen squeezed her hand and whispered in her ear, "I am not sure if you are daring or just joking around. They''ll put you in a psychiatric ward if you look too serious," he threatened.


    "You''ll let them?" she challenged.


    He shook his head and nuzzled her neck, not responding.


    Of course, he wouldn''t.


    As the night progressed, slow music permeated through the air. It was a good thing that there were no buildings nearby or the raucous they were creating would surely get them into trouble.


    Mo Qingchen''s usually stiff friends jived with the music. Even Qian Meng joined in at some point.


    "Qingchen," someone called.


    He looked away from his beautiful wife at the person and raised his brow in question.


    "Don''t sit around like a lame duck. Come dance with me!" his friend whined.


    Qingchen scoffed. "You look like a hobbling monkey," he joked. "Is that supposed to be breakdance? What is that?" he asked. The tone of disgust wasn''t lost on his friend.


    "Excuse me¡­ it''s called floorwork. Don''t mock me when you can''t even move your hips like Shakira."


    He rolled his eyes.


    ''Of course, I can,'' Qingchen thought. ''I just won''t dance with you.''


    "I move my hips better than her," he said with a hint of seriousness.


    His friend scoffed and scurried away, mumbling under his breath. "Narcissist." He found Qian Meng and had to ask her, "Sister-in-law¡­ what do you see in him?" he asked.


    Qian Meng was confused for a second before she broke into laughter. "What did he say?"


    "That he can move his hips better than Shakira." He looked over at Qingchen with disgust. "Do you think he has lost his mind, finally?"


    "Well, if only we could make him dance. Then we would know for sure that he can move his hips better than Shakira," Qian Meng joked.


    "We are all sticklers for empirical evidence," his friend sighed.


    "That we are¡­" she chimed in.


    "Care for a dance?"


    The wedding was the next day. It was barely eleven when everyone decided to hit the bed. The filming crew had long given up on these people and made their way back to the cabin. They would have to wake up before everyone else and make sure the decoration for the wedding and camera angles were perfect.


    These people were too happy and in love. It made their single hearts cry out painfully.


    At least they got really good food because they were part of the crew.

 Chapter 378: A Secret Affair

    It was early in the morning. Qingchen and Qian Meng were separated after breakfast and all the things necessary for dressing up were taken to the cabins on either side.


    Mo Qingchen stood in front of the mirror and put on the suspenders, feeling a bubble of anxiety as the cameras focused on him. He looked at it and heard the cameraman chuckle.


    "Mr. Mo, don''t be conscious. Dress as you normally would," he said.


    Qingchen couldn''t help but grumble. Even Qian Meng didn''t make him wear suspenders. Moreover, she was much better at dressing him up than he could ever be.


    As he slid the tie off the hanger and whipped it around his neck, he really wished that she was here to help him with it.


    Despite his thoughts, he swiftly tied the knot and settled it centrally. He looked up at the mirror, adjusted his cuffs, and then glanced away.


    The time on the clock showed that he was getting married in an hour.


    Unlike last time, when he hadn''t been nervous or even happy about the event, this time, he was looking forward to how she would look in the dress.


    She had refused to show him that bit. Everything else, he had an opinion in. The dress alone, she refused to show. She had done the fittings herself and made sure he didn''t even drive her to the location lest he peeked inside the store.


    About this matter, she was superstitious. When he asked her why she shrugged.


    "You never had that one moment when you were stunned to see me. I want to give you that. I know people say it''s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, but actually, I think seeing the dress with the hairdo and the makeup¡­ it''s the thing of dreams. You see me in my most beautiful moment without a memory of anything on me to taint it."


    She nodded sagely after that.


    He had scoffed. "You take my breath away every morning. It doesn''t matter what clothes you wear. I find you stunning because you are in those clothes. They have no particular attractive qualities to charm me." His cheeky grin made him smack her.


    "Humor me for now. You will know what I mean when I walk down the aisle."


    And therefore, like the obedient husband that he was, he left her to her plans and waited to be stunned by her as she had wished.


    Qian Meng on the other hand was getting into the dress and putting on her jewelry without a hint of worry. On the day they had gotten the wedding certificate, she had felt her heart at her throat and she was suffocating under the pressure of what she was about to do.


    But now, it was as simple as breathing.


    For a curious second, she wondered if Mo Qingchen was getting into the clothes without a problem. On most days when he needed to wear a tie, she would take the small stool and stand on it. She would slowly tie it for him because he always said he was not good at it.


    She had a sneaking suspicion that he liked to see her face up close and look down at her lashes as she concentrated on him. She suspected that he liked kissing her forehead. She was sure was the feather-like kiss on her hair was supposed to be a secret affair that he was amused by.


    She allowed him that.


    Mo Yize and Li Li Hua were the ones fussing over her dress.


    "I got you everything for the ritual!" Mo Yize said quickly.


    Qian Meng looked up at her in surprise.


    "I knew you would forget about it, so I got it for you," she smiled.


    "I already have something new and something blue. Do you have something old and borrowed?" Qian Meng asked.


    "I prepared those, too," she whined. "Anyway. I found that smoky quartz crystal necklace that you loved to wear at university. I borrowed it from you and then forgot to give it back. I found it while cleaning by room." Yize pulled it out of the pocket in her dress and showed it to Qian Meng.


    "I looked for that for so long!" Qian Meng scolded. "I can''t wear it with the dress," she told Yize.


    "Trust my judgment. You have a button holding the collar up and the whole back is empty. I will attach this to the button at the back."


    Qian Meng blinked. "That''s not a bad idea. And what about the borrowed?"


    "Mom brought a brooch that matches the blue hairpin and the earring you are going to wear."


    Yize had gone to her to fit the dress and choose the jewelry. The blue hairpin and the earring were part of The Shift collection. As it had been discussed, they were going to use the wedding video to promote it.


    Qian Meng watched as her dress came together.


    "Do you think Qingchen can tie his necktie properly?" she spoke out loud after a moment of silence.


    Li Li Hua stiffened. "Why do you ask that?" she voiced.


    "He always makes me do it for him when he wears one. He keeps saying that he is very bad at tying neckties," Qian Meng informed in a small voice.


    Yize giggled without speaking and Li Li Hua broke into laughter. "The boy must have fooled you because he likes it when you tie it for him."


    Qian Meng''s eyes widened in surprise. "I was suspicious but¡­"


    "He was the class prefect in school. He can tie a necktie in various ways and perfectly. He is strict when it comes to dress code." Li Li Hua watched as Qian Meng glared at the mirror.


    In her head, she was planning on how to punish her husband.


    "Are you trying to rub it in? Everyone knows how much your husband loves you," Yize teased. She smacked Qian Meng''s ass playfully and then hastily backed away out of Qian Meng''s reach.


    "Hey!" Qian Meng called with a laugh. Mo Yize¡­ after months of therapy, she seemed to have developed back to her bubbly self.

 Chapter 379: Mo Qingchen Wanted to Cry

    Their friendship had begun once again and it seemed a lot stronger than in the university days.


    Especially because Yize had reconciled with her sexual preferences and found out why she did the things she did in the past. Good for her.


    There was a knock on the door and Qian Meng looked at it and found Qing Yuan waiting for her.


    "Is he waiting?" Qian Meng asked.


    "Yup. Brother-in-law looks like he is about to faint," Qing Yuan informed with a chuckle. "Are you done?"


    Qian Meng nodded.


    "Let''s go then!"


    - - - - -


    The wedding had no best men and bridesmaids. It just had a rustic location at the back of the cabins. The owners had already prepared for the event. With chairs strewn on both sides.


    Mo Qingchen stood in this crisp white shirt and burgundy pants, the suspenders still on even though he had taken off his coat in his nervousness.


    He fiddled with his tie as he waited for Qian Meng to appear.


    Mo Xiao Chen was the officiator. Why? Because he insisted. He had gotten a license online when he was bored and thought this was the best time to put it to use.


    "Qingchen, what if I mess up what I am supposed to say?" he whispered to the already nervous groom.


    Qingchen whipped his head to the side to look at his younger brother. "Please tell me you are kidding," he moaned.


    Xiao Chen smiled apologetically. "I wrote down what I want to say on my palm already. If I forget, I''ll just read off it," he responded.


    "Don''t be like your usual self. You sound like a zombie when you read out loud." Qingchen had suffered many evenings as he listened to Xiao Chen try to memorize the texts for his tests. His younger brother showed no emotions when he read off a paper. "Also, couldn''t you just write the prompts on a piece of paper? Are you still preparing to cheat in your university examination?"


    Qingchen frowned.


    "That was one time!" Xiao Chen protested. "You solved that without our parents getting involved. You can''t be petty and bring that up now," he whispered. "I don''t want the cameras to pick up that I forgot what I am supposed to say." This was the information that made Qingchen roll his eyes.


    It was a habit he had picked up from his dear wife.


    "She''s here!" Qingchen said finally. Even though his voice was low, everyone seemed to hear it. They turned to look at the bride. She had a small smirk on her lips as she held on to Qing Yuan''s hand.


    Her younger brother boyishly smiled. It seemed that he had a skip in his step as he walked his sister down the aisle.


    Mo Qingchen sucked in a deep breath as he looked at her. She had been right. He was going to pass out due to a lack of oxygen. He had always felt disgusted by people who cried at weddings, but he wanted to cry a little, too.


    She really did look like the goddess she was. In this get-up, everyone else could see what he saw in her.


    Her hair was down, a few strands over her shoulder while the rest moved as she walked towards him. Something shimmered off her chest and he saw the brooch his mother fondly wore on many occasions on her. It brought a small smile to his lips.


    The dress was classic. And even though he saw some traces of makeup on her face, she looked exactly like she did at home.


    He sighed as she stood a meter away from him.


    Qian Meng let go off Qing Yuan''s hand.


    "Sis, your designer bag awaits," he said in a low voice. He didn''t need to hand over his sister to Mo Qingchen. He knew the power she held in that petite body of hers. She was capable of standing beside Mo Qingchen without having someone pass her on. She could stand beside him as an equal and offer her hand in comradery.


    "Your necktie looks good," Qian Meng said the second she stepped towards him and turned to look at him directly.


    Confusion swam in his eyes before realization dawned. He smirked at her and then reached out to take her hand.


    When the ceremony began, Xiao Chen didn''t need to read off the prompts in his hand. He spoke effortlessly.


    "Good morning, everyone!" he chimed.


    "There is no better place to celebrate the love and commitment that Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen have than this very place. You might be wondering why they chose a secluded spot surrounded by lakes and mountains. The suspicion I have is that they wanted Friday and Saturday and Sunday to happen. They wanted all of you here with them."


    "Many of us have met for the first time, yet the bond as a family seems to have connected us instantly. This is the kind of contagious love Qian Meng exudes. My brother, who has always disliked companionship, has come to love her world¡­ her people and now¡­ his people."


    "The love they share is not bound by religion or tradition. Therefore, this ceremony, too, will not be bound by it. The bride and groom have prepared for the celebration a reflection on what it is they love about each other. I am sure this was the easiest part of planning the wedding."


    "Groom, why don''t you go first?" Mo Xiao Chen urged.


    Qingchen nodded and looked to the opening where the others were seated. His friend hastily stood up and came over and handed something to Mo Qingchen.


    Qian Meng saw the brown notebook that Qingchen often wrote in and realized that it was his journal.


    Mo Qingchen was going to read off his journal. She sucked in a deep breath. Her heart thudded so loudly that she was sure everyone else could hear it.


    But she didn''t know if she wanted the others to hear what he had written about her. But she also wanted to know it for herself.

 Chapter 380: Gravitating To You

    "Qian Meng¡­ this is the easiest and most difficult thing I have ever had to do," Mo Qingchen started without looking at the page. Qian Meng wasn''t sure if he was speaking what was on his mind or if he had read those pages so many times that he knew them all by heart.


    "To stand up here before our friends and family and marry you¡­ I don''t need to think about it for a second. I often find it hard to describe how much I love you. I don''t think it is possible." He gulped and his eyes flitted to the paper in his hand.


    Qian Meng was sure that he didn''t need to read off it.


    "Yes, you are absolutely gorgeous¡­" He took a shuddering breath as he looked up at her. "And I am sure that I have seen your eyes shimmer and move as the day progresses. You have the voice of a siren. No matter where I am. No matter if millions of people surround us and I can''t find you. Your voice alone would stop me and pull me to you."


    "You stun me at every turn. Your face that needs not a drop of makeup, your fingers that bend metal and stones alike to create something new." He paused with intent. "But all of that could evaporate in an instant and I might not even notice. Because I have never been so attracted to anything as I am that beautiful mind of yours."


    "The mind that makes you curious and funny and passionate. It makes you spontaneous. But most of all, I love your loyalty. You would do anything for your friends and family. And I am elated that I am part of your life."


    "No matter how strong the world thinks I am, there have always been moments I have wavered. Moments I have considered that the gruelling days and bitter nights were not worth it, but in the end, you were there at the end of the darkness, bringing meaning and sweetness to my life."


    Qian Meng felt moisture on her cheeks and quickly moved her fingers up to wipe off the traitorous tear that threatened to roll down her face. She was not in the slightest concerned about the cameras. She was only unused to people seeing her cry.


    In front of Mo Qingchen, it was okay. But others? It felt like a great weakness. She listened keenly to the words that slipped his mouth, her heart trembling at the intensity of his eyes on hers.


    "Someone once asked me who was the dominant one in our relationship. And you were so offended that I thought it was me. I didn''t tell you then, but I am only so strong in front of the world because I can stand straight with you as my backbone. I know for sure that even if I falter, you will prop me up and push me to greatness. You make me want to push myself to greater heights."


    Qian Meng pressed back the sob that was stuck in her throat.


    "I am bound to you. There is no looking away from the brilliance of you. The fact that your heart beats on this planet is enough. I am not a religious man, Qian Meng, but for you, I am willing to bow down. I praise you and the universe which gave me the opportunity to share my life with you."


    He dipped his head as if to bow to her.


    "You are the one thing that reminds me to be good¡­ to do what is right. You are my best friend and there is nothing that I won''t do for you." He stopped. "You deserve the world and I can''t wait to go get it with you."


    A smile bloomed on his lips. "I love you."


    He stopped. Qian Meng, stunned, leaped at him and hugged him tightly. The people around them be damned, she needed to hold him close to make sure this was not all a dream.


    From the woman who didn''t want a wedding ceremony to the one stunned by his words, she had come a long way. He was eloquent and always knew what to say, but she¡­ she was lost for words.


    She could only show him, in her own capacity how much his words struck her. She could never compare with words¡­


    Xiao Chen coughed from behind them. "I don''t think this was part of the ceremony," he said awkwardly even though he was joking.


    The crowd laughed, but it was low. They didn''t want to ruin the moment for these two.


    "Is this okay?" Xiao Chen teased.


    Qian Meng cleared the lump in her throat and pulled away. She slowly smothered the shirt she had hidden her face in and took a generous step back to keep herself from kissing Mo Qingchen silly.


    "Qingchen¡­ my scoundrel¡­ husband¡­" she trailed off, jotting down everything she called him. "While I wrote these vows, I remembered something you said a while ago. Yes, I too think that I loved you even before I knew that there was a ''you''."


    Mo Qingchen raised his brow in question.


    "I have known Mo Qingchen all my life, but you¡­ I found ''you''. I love wildness and freedom. I love the salt in my hair and the sand between my toes. I love that every day I spend is unknown to me. I am not scared of it when I am with you. Because I can bravely face it with you on my side."


    "You give me everything that I wished for. I love the safety and excitement of a trip I didn''t know about. I love the rawness of emotion in your eyes and words. They are unfiltered and unapologetic and I know that I am finally home."


    She looked at him with a teary smile.


    "So, it would be wrong to say that I fell in love with you. No¡­ I found a love that the universe had planned all along. I found everything I love in the strict man whom I never thought well of until I knew him. Until I knew you. You were perfectly there. Perfectly you."

 Chapter 381: Watching Every Sunset Together

    "I love that you recognize me as your other half but also know that I am whole and complete all on my own. I love that by loving you, I found a whole new family that I never imagined I would get. I got my best friend, a cheerful mother, and a supportive mother who will always have my back."


    "I love that I will grow old with you. That I will hold your hand and sit on the balcony, our hair grey and watching the twenty-one thousand and nine hundredth sunset together." This part made her really want to cry. "But if there is one selfish thing that I could ask for, it is that the universe takes us at the same time. That our last breath is taken together and not a second apart. For I don''t want to live without you or wonder how you are without me."


    "I hope that the way you look at the world never changes. That you see beauty in the world and the strings of the universe and its mysterious ways. But most of all, I hope that I am the only one who receives your heart. Because it loves deeper and more freely than anyone I have ever known."


    "I love you and I promise to stay with you until the end. If there is another life waiting for me after this one, I promise¡­ this time¡­ I will find you first."


    Despite the small number of guests at the party, the applause was deafening. None of them knew the real meaning behind these vows, but it was a perfect declaration between the two of them.


    "Now, now! Everyone, please calm down. I can see that these two are anxious for the final act. Let''s fast-track everything and get to the main, event, shall we?" Xiao Chen announced. He cleared his throat when the crowd quietened down. "By the power of your love and commitment, and the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss each other."


    Qingchen was the first to step forward. He raised his hands and cradled her cheeks as he watched her.


    He slid one palm down under her chin and tipped her head up. With a little bend of his knees, he leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss on her lips.


    She smiled against his lips and circled her arms around his neck, propping herself up on her tiptoes to kiss him fiercely.


    Everything ceased to exist. She felt like her head was underwater and the only source of oxygen was him. He didn''t seem to care much about the audience, either.


    He straightened up and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her up effortlessly. This way, he didn''t need to crane his neck. He could feel her smile against him and felt that particular streak of mischief that she enjoyed seeing in him.


    He pulled back just a little and bit down on her bottom lip.


    Her cry was smothered but the hoots were no longer ignorable. He pulled away from her, pecking the spot he knew would sting later on as an apology.


    "Do you like the taste of my lip tint that much?" she asked, pressing her thumb to her lip. Her eyes glittered with delight, but her mouth was always looking for a way to retaliate.


    He shrugged as he grasped her hand tightly and swung it as they walked past the crowd. The guests rose from their seats, petals of flowers from the local market were showered on the path and on their heads to bring them into the new phase of their life.


    Qian Meng raised her free hand and caught a petal in her hand and rubbed it between her fingers with a small smile on her face.


    The crew members promptly guided them to the tables and little open space where the bouquet toss was supposed to happen. "The bride stands here and all the unmarried girls get to stand here," the crew member announced. He spoke into his walkie-talkie, announcing for everyone to prepare.


    "Why just the women, let the men come in too. Gendered stereotypes are a no-no in this wedding," she said jokingly.


    She ushered everyone to the spot and saw that Mo Qingchen''s friends were the most enthusiastic lot.


    "Qian Meng, aim towards me!" Zi Min hollered. His girlfriend was standing beside him, rolling his eyes.


    "Please don''t," she moaned. "He might drop down on his knee and ruin your wedding," she warned quickly.


    Qian Meng nodded. "I am not good at aiming. It depends on your luck and how my muscles move today."


    "If it lands with me, I am running into the lake and never emerging," Choe Daniel pronounced with a raise of his brow.


    Qian Meng snickered. But there was something she didn''t like about the picture. She looked around and saw Uncle Bai sitting peacefully on the chair.


    Even during the wedding ceremony, he sat in the location where the cameras would catch him the least.


    "Uncle Bai, don''t just sit there. Come on. This is for everyone!" Qian Meng said.


    She felt Mo Qingchen nudge her, but she ignored it. "This is just a fun activity without any implication. Please come," she said softly.


    "I am too old for this," Uncle Bai countered, a little embarrassed.


    "I just want to see you in loads of pictures when I look back at this day," Qian Meng pointed out. After a minute of everyone urging him to do the same, Bai Yue cleared his throat and walked over.


    He stood a little farther away from the younger crowd, but nonetheless, he stood there with a calm smile.


    Qian Meng turned around, a hop in her step, and counted at the top of her lungs.


    She tossed it back with no intention as to where it would land and hoped dearly that she didn''t topple over the cameras or make the bouquet land a mile away from where everyone was standing. That would be too anti-climactic.


    And it did land awkwardly.


    She heard Qingchen suck in a surprised breath and squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment. She must have tossed it somewhere far away.

 Chapter 382: The Unplanned First Dance

    "Where did it land?" she whispered to her husband.


    "Right in Uncle Bai''s hand. It was aimed at his head, but he protected himself," Mo Qingchen muttered.


    Qian Meng shuddered at the absolute turn of events. No doubt, Uncle Bai would be embarrassed.


    She turned about with an embarrassed chuckle. She pretended to look surprised and then chuckled. "Uncle Bai, you are looking good with the bouquet in your hand," she commented. No one made any comments about upcoming marriages or the like. It was not in anyone''s interest.


    "Thank you for the flowers, Qian Meng. I haven''t received a gift like this in years!" Uncle Bai chimed good-humoredly, knowing that the situation was a bit normal.


    Thankfully, no one could guess the underlying awkwardness, especially the cameras.


    For the rest of the celebration, Uncle Bai didn''t part with the bouquet. He kept it on his lap and had a pleasant smile. He had realized it was all in good faith and it meant nothing. So, he didn''t mind the beautiful bouquet that had befallen him.


    The funny speeches were made, but the focus was on the food. There was no expensive steak or gold-covered deserts.


    Most brides preferred big, tiered cakes at their weddings, but Qian Meng didn''t like those mammoths. She had a small party of thirty-something people attending and a big cake was an absolute waste. Especially when some of these people have diabetes and high blood pressure. Instead, she went online and looked for highly rated bakeries in the area. She found a quaint mom-and-pop bakery with social media accounts filled with delicious pictures.


    From the plethora of pictures, she picked out the most elegant but simple-looking cupcake.


    The cupcakes were plain at first sight, but the white, fluffy icing on top of it was adorned by half of a fig. The tiniest quantity of maple was drizzled on the top and it was garnished with crushed walnuts. On the side, a ripe blueberry sat, reading for picking. Each person had such a platter in front of them.


    For the food menu, Qian Meng had taken on a picnic basket style of meal. The ingredients used were fresh vegetables, fruits, and seafood from the local sellers. The caterer had gone according to her plan and made it all comfortable and nothing too fancy. But still, it was delicious.


    In the end, the research employee who had traveled to Qiandao to taste all the menu items and live in the cabin to test everything out would be getting an extra bonus for a job well done.


    And just like this¡­ the party continued into the night.


    Qing Yuan was back in front of the speakers, acting as the DJ. Soft music floated in the air as everyone laughed and conversed. But finally, Xiao Chen clapped his hands.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, can we welcome the bride and the groom to the dance floor. It is time for their first dance!" he said.


    Qingchen rolled his eyes.


    Their first dance had been long before this wedding but none of these people knew.


    "He can dance?" someone chimed.


    Li Li Hua chuckled. "I have never seen him dance, but I think he can¡­" she told the person asking.


    "Show us how you move your hips better than Shakira!" someone else hollered. Word had traveled about Qingchen''s confidence in dancing. Qian Meng was absolutely sure that these people wouldn''t allow him to stand around and not prove himself.


    As the music floated, Mo Qingchen dropped down to his knees in front of Qian Meng, who he knew would dance even if there were a million eyes on her. He knew that she had chosen a song, but what it was¡­ he didn''t know. She hadn''t asked him to go to dance classes or mentioned it.


    "Just follow my lead," she had said and he had shrugged it off. It meant that he could avoid dancing if he wished.


    Right then, he wanted nothing more than to see what she had up her sleeve.


    "What are you doing?" Qian Meng asked in wonder as she tugged a piece of hair behind her ear and looked down at him. He hitched the hem of her dress a few inches.


    "Hold onto my shoulder," he told. She did so immediately and felt him raise on foot and then carefully take off her shoe. Then he moved to the other. "You go wild when you dance. I don''t want you spraining your legs." He patted her calf and then looked up. "Don''t trip over your dress."


    She smiled.


    She stepped away from him, her hands bunching up her dress without grace and pulled them up so that it didn''t hinder her walk.


    Qingchen watched in confusion at her teasing smile.


    "Come on, hubby¡­" she teased. "Won''t you dance with me?" That smile and the mischief in her eyes¡­ how could he resist that.


    "How?" he asked.


    She tilted her head. "However you want. When have we followed the rules?"


    He slowly stood up and bit his lip as he watched her slowly shimmy to the music.


    She sang the song loudly so that everyone could hear. MO Qingchen laughed at how out of tune she was but slowly walked to her. He mouthed the words as the others cheered and hollered.


    What followed was spontaneous singing, twirls and dips, and just pure jumping with joy.


    Qingchen didn''t look elsewhere as Qian Meng asked the others to join in the dance. They were surrounded by people, all singing and dancing, the most passionate and loud of them all his own wife.


    He closely followed her, his fingers barely able to leave the skin of her back as she moved around without faltering.


    At the end of the night, he was gasping for breath, unable to keep up with her excitement and happiness, but still willing to do whatever she wished. He swayed with her and whispered sweet-nothings in her ears as her fingers played with the hair at the back of his neck.


    "Was the wedding what you expected?" Mo Qingchen asked her.


    "It was everything and more," she said. "Ah¡­ I want to marry you again." She bemoaned.


    He chuckled softly. "Let me know any day. I will marry you a hundred times¡­ a thousand if it pleases you." ''Because I have never felt happier in my life.''

 Chapter 383: Destroy His Father-in-Law

    The day after the wedding was bliss. While others went for their honeymoon on this day. Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen shared it being lazy with their friends and family.


    "Do you want another honeymoon?" Qingchen asked as they lay in bed, the conversation from the opening in front of the cabin floating into his ears.


    "Honeymoon?" Qian Meng hummed. "Sure. I don''t need it but it would be nice later on," she chimed.


    He raised his brow in question.


    "I am completely relaxed right now. I don''t need a honeymoon just because of the ceremony," she said. "Maybe, when I just finished a difficult project, or you finished something stressful¡­ let''s spontaneously pack up and go somewhere. Let''s take some time off and have our honeymoon then."


    He raised his hand and cradled her cheek. "If I didn''t know you, I would think you were trying to save money for both of us."


    She giggled. "How are you sure I am not? Maybe I am running low on money," she stated.


    Qingchen paused. "Are you?"


    She shook her head slightly. "Not really. I might in the future, though." She didn''t say further, but Qingchen had an inkling it was part of her plan which she wasn''t quite sure of as of yet.


    He shrugged and pulled closer to her. With her head burrowed in her chest and the noise of people outside, the two of them went to sleep¡­ in broad daylight.


    It was a novelty. A little piece of heaven before they went back to their exhausting daily life.


    - - - - -


    The sudden drop of the bridal line brought about a wave of excitement.


    The little specs of The Shift that people saw did spark interest in them, but not in the way the marketing team had originally anticipated. By using the pieces at her wedding get up, they had suddenly taken on a meaning of their own.


    This series suddenly signified the hardships of life and how we meander through it. How the jewelry walks alongside us, changing to what we need. Just like how Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen''s relationship changed and became what it did.


    The meaning was given because of the romance and excitement about getting to know how the couple got together. The production was magnificent, and the background music, the scenes from them playing in the water, taking a walk in the mountain trails¡­ they all reflected in it.


    Sales aside, people were gushing over Qian Meng and Qingchen.


    [Where is the rest of the movie? I want to see the parts where they fall in love and then see them happily married with a dozen children in ten years.]


    Qian Meng smiled at that. While her ceremony was true to her, people still wanted a movie. Like their life was something that made people curious.


    She saw a reply that she agreed with.


    [Mo Qingchen and Yun Qian Meng are public figures. We will see them grow over the years and build their family. I feel part of their family now¡­]


    Then there were more comments¡­


    [I think this is one of the most beautiful couples and weddings I have seen in my forty years of living.]


    [I am so happy for these two. In a world where billionaires keep getting divorced and splitting their money, these two married again. If this isn''t true love, I don''t know what is.]


    While the wedding vows got a lot of attention, it was the first dance that seemed to make people go crazy.


    [I thought Mr. Mo was cold and calculating. But the way he looks at her. My heart¡­ be still.]


    [This is what I genuinely love about this couple. They are genuinely having a good time. They are not worried about remembering the moves. They just look at each other and have fun. It''s like they gravitate to one another. Beautiful!]


    [Is nobody going to talk about the absolutely stunning wedding dress and jewelry? I know that this is an impromptu ad, but¡­ Mo Qingchen''s suit matches the dress so well.]


    [She took her shoe off to dance!]


    [If this isn''t me and my bride at my wedding, I don''t want it.]


    [I feel like this is one of the moments towards the end of the movie where it ends happily ever after and then some more.]


    [Asking hubby to marry me again.]


    [I don''t even have someone I like, but I think I am going to buy a wedding dress and wear it on the street. I will support this couple and help them make money. Chances of happiness increase.]


    This was a recurring theme. The sales were high. And companies scrambled to come up with bridal collections to make some money off the popularity of Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng''s wedding reveal.


    While they did profit, they couldn''t beat the sales of Venus. Qian Meng had considered The Shift a lost cause in China, but through this, it boomed. Their market research had been blown out of the window and everything was selling like hotcakes.


    She almost wanted to cry.


    But these days¡­ she was really casual in her business. Her life didn''t revolve around it anymore. She found herself going to Mo Qingchen''s parents'' house and spending time with Li Li Hua and Mo Yize. Mo Xiao Chen was a constant in her life, too.


    The family she craved for was suddenly before her eyes. And she wouldn''t have it another way.


    On the other side, her own family was making her life slightly less happy. Since the video came out, Yun Sui Bo had called her and given her a piece of his mind. Jiang Xin was no better, still using whatever money she got to buy Venus stock. Qian Meng was frankly tired and looking forward to getting all the information required to take this toxic couple down.


    "You invited the father of the man you despise and put in jail but not your own," Yun Sui Bo started. Qian Meng was sitting on the passenger''s side, looking at her phone with a bland expression.


    Mo Qingchen, who was seated beside her glanced at her, making sure that he didn''t need to step in and destroy his father-in-law and protect his wife.

 Chapter 384: Dont Force My Hand

    "He has been more of a father to me than you have been in my twenty-five years of life. What does that make you, Mr. Yun?" she countered.


    She didn''t allow herself to be frustrated or angry.


    The older man was silent for a second. "What have I ever done to make you hate me? Why are you making me the bad person?" he asked.


    "Because you are a bad person and a bad father. You have never once looked at me and spent time with me. When I think back to my childhood, I do not have one good memory of you. You never read me stories or encouraged me on my achievements."


    "Because I was busy earning money," he said.


    "You had enough money already. When you had a child, you should have thought about raising it, too. I am not your property because you donated your sperm. I deserved to be given love. But you did nothing of the sort. And you still ask me why I hate you?" she questioned calmly.


    "And what about you? What have you done for me?" Yun Sui Bo asked.


    Qian Meng laughed in disbelief. "When you told me to get married to someone I had no idea about, I said yes. I trusted you and you almost sixty years of experience in life. I didn''t question it because I thought you had my interest at heart." She stopped and looked at Mo Qingchen.


    She saw him clench his jaw, but his eyes were trained on the road ahead.


    "But you didn''t. I was wrong for trusting you and I thank the stars that I had the caution to check the person you had chosen for me." She snorted.


    "But¡­ Mr, Yun, I thought about it a lot. There is no way you didn''t know what kind of person Bai Ye Qing was. You deliberately set me up for failure. You wanted me to be miserable." And he still dared to ask why she disliked him.


    "You¡ª"


    "You think you like your son? No. You are a selfish bastard who doesn''t care about anything else but your pride. Everything you do is for yourself. Sometimes, I even pity your wife¡­" she trailed off. "And then I remember she is just as guilty as you are."


    "You are not going to have a good life¡ª"


    "But that is not up to you to decide!" Qian Meng countered. She wouldn''t allow him to put seeds of doubt in her head. "I decide what life I have. I will not let you make me miserable. I will not allow your shadow to ruin my prospect of happiness. You don''t deserve that privilege," she swore.


    She saw Qingchen''s lips lift into a smile. He lifted his hand off the gear and turned his palm up to silently ask for her to hold his hand.


    Qian Meng slid her hand forward and he threaded their fingers together and placed her hand on the gear.


    "Would you have been where you are¡­ independent without me?" Yun Sui Bo asked.


    It was something fathers said all the time. It was a shameless tactic. As if because he worked hard to make money, he is somehow exempt from being a good father. Like he worked hard so her hard work doesn''t count.


    "I didn''t take a penny from you since I left home. You have not raised me or financially helped me to get me where I am. It was my hard work and my intelligence that helped me crawl up to the top. You have no hand in this. I didn''t get handouts because I was your daughter," she told him. "Actually, it put me at a disadvantage. People despise you for your attitude. And I share your DNA. Therefore, people assume I am like you."


    He was silent for a while. "Are you going to cut all contact with me?" he asked.


    Qian Meng looked at her phone in shock. "Even if I try, will you stop contacting me?" she asked. "That woman in your house keeps buying shares of my company when the price dips. Will you stop her from doing that?" she pressed.


    "If you take better care of your company, the price of your shares won''t dip, don''t you think?"


    Qian Meng could almost hear the real meaning. ''Because you are a woman, you don''t know how to handle a business. So, what if my wife is making money off of you?''


    "Is that what you really think?" she asked softly, testing the waters.


    "And don''t refer to her like that. She is legally your mother. Show her respect¡­" He stopped to think how he would address the accusation. "What she does with her money is her own thoughts. It has nothing to do with me. Your company went public so that people had a stake in it, why are you grumbling now?"


    Insidious bastard.


    "First of all, share prices aren''t the be-all and end-all of a business. It is a short-term fluctuation. The real value of a business lies in the growth, sales, the capital of the company and the workforce, and their contribution. Thirty years in business and you still don''t know. What a shame." The quip was made.


    "I said all of this as a warning, Mr. Yun. Don''t push me and manage your expectations from people. You are not the victim and the more you play it, the more disgusted people feel being around you." Her free hand went towards the red button to hang up.


    She had one more thing to say.


    "I don''t want to destroy you, so please don''t force my hand."


    She pressed the button.


    Qingchen looked at her, seemingly in deep thought.


    "What?" she asked, her voice low.


    "Why did you warn him?"


    She pressed her lips together. "I must be weak. Even though he is horrible, I can''t forget that he is my father," she sighed.


    Qingchen shook his head. "You yearned for his affection for years. I understand you completely. You are not weak, you just loved your father even though he wasn''t kind to you." He looked at her with apologetic eyes. "I''m sorry."


    Qian Meng shook her head. "Don''t be sorry. You''re almost the same. You loved your father until it turned into¡­ something else." She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "It''s okay. Let''s never treat people the same way we were treated."


    And that was a promise both of them kept.

 Chapter 385: Put Out A Bait

    Qian Meng was looking over the monthly sales report with thinly concealed glee when Li Min entered her office with a rigid expression.


    Qian Meng didn''t look up immediately, instead of finishing the comment on one of the reports. "I don''t even need to look at your face to decipher that you come bearing bad news," she said, her voice still cheerful.


    Li Min sighed. "Boss, I am afraid you will not be happy when you hear this," Li Min responded. "This doesn''t look good."


    Qian Meng finally looked up curiously. "Is it the matter I wanted you to look into?" she asked.


    Li Min nodded. "I have a close relationship with all the secretaries working at Yun Corporation. We meet once a month for drinks and gossip," she stated.


    Qian Meng raised her brow. "I didn''t know that. Are you spilling any of my secrets?" she asked with a grin.


    "Absolutely not. But they are. As you anticipated, Yun Corporation is in shambles. President Yun''s secretary couldn''t stop moaning about all the sudden paperwork that has fallen on her head."


    Qian Meng smirked. "And you found out exactly what they were, did you not?" she asked eagerly.


    Li Min nodded. "I prepared a list of the documents she remembered him asking for. He has been scrambling to speak to others. He seems to be worried about something," Li Min informed.


    "Did the secretary say when this started?"


    "It started a couple of days ago. He called her late into the evening and asked her to come back to the office to work."


    Qian Meng chuckled. So, her plan had worked.


    Her sources inside Yun Corporation couldn''t find too much evidence and even the audit of Bais'' company showed some flaws. But she needed solid proof before proceeding with her plan to take over Yun Corporation.


    Her provocation and warning to Yun Sui Bo had sped the process up. She was a little tired of digging, so her words had a double purpose.


    She would consider herself an experienced pickpocket in this case. It was like a gullible person walking into a train station and seeing a warning that there were pickpockets. They would inadvertently see the sign and feel for their wallet to make sure it was still there.


    Similarly, Yun Sui Bo had been scared of her and started making sure that all the evidence was well-concealed. This, inadvertently, gave her the exact location of what she needed. Qian Meng now knew what she needed to look at.


    She had to say, she had used this method from a few decades ago to her advantage. The pickpocket putting the warning sign up themselves? Classic.


    "I understand. You brought everything with you?" she asked, casually.


    Li Min looked perplexed. "I did. But did you know this would happen?"


    "Ah, I forgot to tell you that I put out a bait. Don''t worry, you look devastated by what those papers say, so let me take them off you." She extended her hand to take the papers from Li Min.


    The other was reluctant and watched her Boss carefully.


    "It''s bad. I can''t put into words how bad." She handed it over finally and stood at the other side of the table as Qian Meng flipped over the pages.


    Her brow furrowed as the pages went on.


    "Are these true? Where did you get these from?" Qian Meng asked.


    "The secretary drunkenly spilled the names, I found the people at the copy room and some other bitter employees from the accounts department to hand it over. I recorded everything, so we won''t be legally liable for corporate espionage," she said freely.


    Qian Meng pressed her lips together. "It''s ethically wrong. And it is still espionage because employees gave away sensitive information," she said. "We obviously can''t go public with this information," Qian Meng stated with a sigh.


    By the end of the papers, Qian Meng was thoroughly frustrated. "This is horrible," she muttered.


    "Are you going to sell your shares in the company while the prices are high or¡­"


    Qian Meng shook her head. She tapped on the papers as she spoke, "My father made some very bad investments even after the political backing he has. In the past four or five years, he has made such bad decisions¡­ The company is holding on with barely a couple of billion dollars in capital. After paying employees, completing ongoing projects, and paying off debts, there will be nothing left."


    Qian Meng leaned back into her seat as she thought. "The company will have to file for bankruptcy or let everyone go if they don''t get capital or investment from banks quickly. But with these figures and credit history, there is no chance of Yun Corporation recovering in my father''s hand."


    The explanation was heavy but on point.


    "Thousands upon thousands of people will be let go off without a future. And that too in the name of my father. My surname is on the line here. And these people who have put their ass on the line and work for the company¡­ what will they do?" she asked. "These people are married, have children and old parents to take care of, they have student loans and home loans to pay off. I can''t leave them stranded when there is something I can do," she said softly.


    There was something Li Min never understood about Qian Meng. It was her soft heart. She could be the ruthless capitalist and make her profits and leave. But she didn''t do that. She said it was because of her personal reputation, but Li Min was led to believe that the employees who would be badly affected were a major part of Qian Meng''s decision.


    Qian Meng looked at Li Min''s expression and knew exactly what she was thinking. "Don''t¡­ If my father is a failure, the people will lose faith in me and my company. I don''t care about my father failing, but I will not allow him to ruin the reputation I built thread by thread. I will not allow him to hold me back in any form," she demanded.


    Li Min nodded. "Understood, Boss. What is the next course of action?"


    Qian Meng licked her dry lips and gave Li Min a small smirk. "You have to be clingy with the secretaries. Get information on every movement my father and the other executives make," Qian Meng said. "I will be voicing my concerns to the shareholders."

 Chapter 386: Block Mr. Yuns Number

    Li Min perked up. "But you said you can''t make this information public!"


    "I can''t make this information public, but I can make the information about audit available. It was legally done and I only suspect bad administration and accounting on Yun Corporation''s part. It will plant the seed of doubt," Qian Meng said.


    "But¡­ it proves nothing."


    Qian Meng raised her brow. "When a company needs to falsify sales and raw material numbers¡­ something is very wrong. I plant the seed¡­ my father gets furious and he tries to act without thinking. He will have to prove that the doubt is false."


    If he does want to clear doubts, he will have to bring out proof. In that way, Qian Meng wouldn''t have to reveal what she had found and her dad would be pressured into a corner.


    "Boss, you are really harsh on your father," Li Min said jokingly.


    "I am just giving back what he gave me. I am more sophisticated about it, that is all." She smirked. It was partially her father knowing how hard-headed and petty Qian Meng was that made this plan feasible.


    And Qian Meng knew her father well. He had a pattern of behavior.


    The reason for the pattern was that her father was an aggressive person who was rarely in control. He could not see more than a couple of moves ahead. He could not see the consequences of his bold moves or clever tricks. And because he was constantly being forced to react to the moves of his ever-growing list of enemies and the unforeseen consequences of his own rash decisions, his aggressive energy turned against him.


    "Thank you for finally standing up to that man. I am tired of listening to his voice every time he is in a bad mood," Li Min said hopefully. The clear meaning was, ''Boss, your father won''t pester me any longer, right? Please say so. He has been talking my ear off for years!''


    "Apologies," Qian Meng stated. "You will have to put up with him for a month or so more. And it''s going to be worse than all the calls you have received over the years combined," she stated with a smile.


    Li Min groaned. "I will block his number, then!" she warned.


    "Do as you please. If he wants to speak to me, he can call me."


    Li Min''s lips turned down in a disturbed frown. "Boss¡­"


    "His words don''t affect me as much as they used to. I don''t think I care much for him any longer. He feels more like a nuisance I had no choice but to keep in my life all these years. Don''t worry." She looked up at her secretary with an appreciative smile. "I know you are constantly worried about me, but stop doing that. The company is slowly growing and I have a support system now. You have your own life to lead. Please concentrate on that."


    Li Min was happy about the recent change in her workload. She went home on time and she rarely had to do overtime. But she was still deeply attached to the Boss who had employed her when no one else would despite her lack of education and qualification.


    This boss looked at people with different eyes. She was loyal¡­ fiercely loyal to her boss.


    "Boss¡­ I will never leave you. When the time comes, I will be old and walking with a cane¡­ and you will have to take me away from my desk in a coffin."


    Qian Meng snorted at the morbid proclamation of loyalty.


    "Please don''t die inside the building. I have had enough police contact for the rest of my life," she said.


    Li Min nodded.


    "Get going. I will call Mr. Gu and proceed with the plan," Qian Meng informed softly.


    Li Min scurried out, satisfied.


    Mr. Gu was a smaller shareholder in Yun Corporation. He was a real-estate mogul and a man in his seventies. The redeeming quality about this dilapidated man was¡­ he liked to gossip. He liked to gossip a lot. And sugar-coating was his superpower.


    He had contacted Qian Meng a couple of weeks ago because he wanted to buy an apartment building that Qian Meng had fully renovated. She was not looking to flip it, but to reel in Mr. Gu and get the opportunity to feed him information about Yun Corporation and its problems, she was going to sacrifice this apartment building which would have fetched her a higher price in the future.


    She looked at the papers as she called Mr. Gu.


    The phone rang multiple times before the older gentleman picked it up. "Yun Qian Meng?" he asked, surprised.


    "Yes, Mr. Gu. It''s me," she said quietly. "I was calling you back about your offer to buy the apartment building," she informed slowly.


    "I thought you wouldn''t be willing to sell it," he said. "I am very happy you decided to, but what changed your mind?" he asked.


    Qian Meng pretended to hesitate. "It''s¡­ I am slowly going to liquidate my existing real-estate investments." She didn''t give a reason, leaving it to the older man''s gossipy mind to complete.


    She wasn''t going to tell him outright that she needed money for something. Instead, she would let him fill in the blank so that she can deny it later on.


    "Ah! I see," Mr. Gu responded. "I was planning on buying the building for my son. I suppose you had a lot of bids, didn''t you?" he asked.


    "I did get some queries, but your offer was rather generous," she said. "I realized you were planning on gifting it as well, so I decided to go with you."


    She could hear the smile in Mr. Gu''s voice as he responded. "Of course. I am delighted. For the papers, when do you want me to send them over? Is there additional paperwork that I need to go over?"


    Mr. Gu had never bought anything from Qian Meng. But she was known in the industry to cover all bases. From any residual property tax, water, and sanitation bills¡­ she had strict criteria for it.


    This was why people liked to buy properties from Qian Meng.


    "I will look through it and discuss it with you," she informed him. This was the main point. Mr. Gu liked to meet in person and sign in person. He liked human contact and conversation, which tied in well with his gossipy nature.

 Chapter 387: A Glass of Wine and Baby Pictures

    After finishing her work that day, Qian Meng reminded Mo Qingchen that she was headed to his parent''s house. He was still in the middle of a meeting, so he responded with a short ''okay,'' and then went back to work.


    She wasn''t offended in the least. The company was on the last leg of the biggest project in the last few years. The fact that Mo Qingchen was making time for her every day and coming home, itself, was a huge testament to how much he loved her and prioritized her over his work.


    He kept to his word, so she didn''t bother feeling left out when he didn''t respond immediately or couldn''t drive her home.


    Qian Meng got to Mo Qingchen''s home a few minutes after she was supposed to and Mo Qingchen''s mom was already there waiting for her. She scrambled out of her car as soon as she had parked and hurried over to her as her mother-in-law emerged from her SUV. The same one she had been using when Qian Meng was studying under her.


    "I''m sorry I am late," Qian Meng apologized as she went to exchange a hug with her mother-in-law. "Did you have an extra lesson today?" she asked casually.


    "I just got home myself. I had some students who wanted clarification on a topic taught in class," she assured Qian Meng dismissively.


    "I just sent some dinner for Mo Qingchen. I lost track of time," she said sheepishly.


    "Oh. How is he? He doesn''t call me enough, you know," his mother complained.


    "I know." She frowned. "He''s just¡ª"


    "Busy. I know." The other sighed.


    Qian Meng felt guilty for him. She knew her mother-in-law wished that Qingchen would spend more time with her. One of the countless things Qian Meng adored about her was the depth of love she seemed to have for her children¡­ however misplaced her love was. Her affection radiated from her when she looked at them.


    None of these kids knew how lucky they were for that. Qian Meng''s mom didn''t look at her like that.


    Qian Meng made a mental note to tell Qingchen to call her more.


    "Well, you should come to our home and stick around until he gets home," she offered. "If you want."


    The professor shook her hand. "No. I don''t want to intrude on your evenings together. Besides, didn''t he question the authenticity of your cooking the last time I taught you to make something?"


    Qian Meng smiled. She was still on her mission to make presentable food. Most of the time, she failed miserably but the food ended up tasting good. At least, she was not wreaking the kitchen any longer.


    She had come over a few times to learn how to make his favorite dishes as a child. She had made some cakes and taken them home to him, but when she told him she had made them, Qingchen just laughed and said it was nice of his mother to let her take credit.


    He felt really bad when he realized she had indeed cooked them herself. Of course, he had joked and known she was excited to show it to him. His teasing didn''t hamper her enthusiasm.


    But she had decided that she would up her cooking game. Instead of making desserts, she made whole meals. She still needed some help to contain the creative explosion, but she was impressing Mo Qingchen with each passing attempt at meal preparation.


    "I already have everything we are going to need," Her mother-in-law commented as she moved to open up the door to the back seat.


    "What time will father-in-law be home?" Qian Meng asked quickly. The man never really gave her a good expression. It could be said that he wasn''t overly displeased, but Qian Meng liked avoiding him at all costs, especially after knowing what a piece of trash he was.


    "A little after eight."


    Qian Meng smiled. "Perfect."


    Sometime later, Qian Meng stood at the sink, washing her hands and waiting for the sitting time for the ingredients to end. They were not ready to go into the oven yet, but they were prepared. With her mother-in-law''s thorough instructions, everything was prepared without destruction.


    It was nice spending time with the Professor. Aside from the help she got, Qian Meng enjoyed the process of cooking with someone. Sometimes, Mo Yize would come in and steal some pieces of food before retreating. The whole time, the only conversation she had was with Qian Meng and not her mother. They seemed to be going through a rough patch once again. What had made that happen, Qian Meng didn''t know.


    But still, Qian Meng could see that Mo Yize''s attitude towards people was changing.


    "Is everything alright?" Li Li Hua asked, looking over at Qian Meng as she dried her hands.


    "What?" Qian Meng responded breathlessly, suddenly snapping out of her faze. "Everything is fine. I think the ingredients are ready."


    Li Li Hua clapped her hands. "Great! They will bake quickly, so you don''t want to put them in yet. We should sit and have a glass of wine while we wait on the chicken. What say you?"


    Qian Meng chuckled. "I need to drive back. I''ll just have something non-alcoholic," she said. Despite this, she opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass for Li Li Hua.


    Her mother-in-law pulled an album of pictures and informed Qian Meng that she had found it while trying to clear some space in the house. They were mostly pictures of the kids, and Qian Meng enjoyed them immensely.


    "Aw!" she cooed when Li Li Hua showed a picture of Mo Yize as a tiny baby. "She looks like a porcelain doll!"


    Li Li Hua nodded. "People would tell me that about Yize all the time," she grinned. "She was a stunning baby."


    Qian Meng smiled widely as she turned to another page.


    "My heart," Li Li Hua sighed, placing a hand over her chest. "Here''s my Xiao Chen."


    Qian Meng grinned widely as she looked at the picture of a stocky little boy in the bathtub. He was on his stomach with his bare ass sticking up into the air. He looked back over his shoulder at the camera with a toothy grin.


    "Oh my god. You need to show that to his girlfriend," Qian Meng said quickly.


    Mo Xiao Chen had found himself a girlfriend and they had been together for a while. From what she had heard from Xiao Chen when he returned home to see her, things were heating up between them. He looked smitten.

 Chapter 388: Dont Want To Be A Parent

    When she asked him why he didn''t invite her to the wedding, he laughed and said she was shy and afraid of rich people. Qian Meng understood that Xiao Chen didn''t want his girlfriend to meet his father and dismissed the whole issue, never asking again.


    "He would kill me," Li Li Hua giggled.


    "What do you think of his girlfriend, by the way?" Qian Meng asked. "I haven''t had a chance to ask you."


    "She is a really sweet girl. I know Xiao Chen is taken with her." Qian Meng nodded. "I hope she feels the same way about him. I hate seeing my children hurt and I know he will be devastated if they don''t work out."


    "I agree with that." But she believed that it would work out.


    "Xiao Chen is my passionate baby. When he loves, he loves hard." Li Li Hua paused. "Oh, look at this one!" she yelped as she came across a picture of a little messy-haired boy. "This is Qingchen."


    Qian Meng took the album from her and stared down at it for a long time. Looking back at her was a dark-eyed boy with wild hair and missing teeth. His mouth was open as he went to lick an ice cream cone. Ice cream was smeared all around his teeth, but he was careless, with sparkly eyes and sun-kissed cheeks.


    "Wow," she sighed.


    "Cute, right?" Li Li Hua giggled.


    "It''s adorable," she agreed. "Mo Qingchen is usually so serious in front of others. It''s nice to see him as a kid, all carefree."


    "Mo Qingchen was a free-spirited child. He wasn''t so serious until he approached the age of eight. Until then, he was my dreamer."


    "Really?" Qian Meng asked as she finally looked away from the photo. "I would have thought Xiao Chen would be like that."


    "Oh, no. Xiao Chen was rowdy. Yize was my little princess. Qingchen, though. Qingchen was a dreamer."


    She watched her mother-in-law speak about her children with a goofy grin. She soaked up the way this woman spoke about her children. She was eager to know what Qingchen was as a little boy.


    "How so?" Qian Meng asked, completely enchanted.


    "It was apparent from the beginning that Qingchen was extremely intelligent. He began to crawl earlier than other babies. He learned to walk earlier, spoke earlier. As he got a little older, his imagination took off. He preferred to play alone most of the time, but the other kids were just not on the same level intellectually. Even alone, his imagination ran wild. He had big dreams and things he wanted to learn. He always made these little inventions. The older he got, the bigger he dreamed."


    Qian Meng gulped. "He always knew he would accomplish big things, didn''t he?" she guessed.


    "Yes. He certainly did. Something drove him to be the best."


    Qian meng stroked the picture gently. "He''s the smartest person I know," she told her mother-in-law.


    "And me, as well. With that intelligence came some struggles when he was a child. He got bored quickly and he wasn''t easily entertained." She shook her head. "These things didn''t change when he grew up. His standards and boredom just grew. And you know how he is now."


    Qian Meng shrugged.


    "I''ll tell you, if your children turn out to be anything like their father, you are going to have your hands full¡­"


    Qian Meng''s heart stopped.


    She was quiet for a long time, just staring at the other. Some part of her conscious mind was screaming at her to say something, but she didn''t know what to say.


    She shouldn''t have been surprised that her mother-in-law said what she did. Why wouldn''t people expect them to have children? Qian Meng had never fully considered it before but she was suddenly realizing that Li Li Hua was expecting grandchildren from her eldest son and daughter-in-law.


    "Qian Meng? What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing," she answered quickly. "It''s just¡­ I don''t know if Qingchen and I are going to have children."


    "What?" Li Li Hua blinked at Qian Meng, who could only bit her lip. Even her expression hadn''t been completely truthful.


    "I''m sorry. What I mean is¡­ we haven''t discussed having kids. So I am not sure if that is something both of us want."


    Now it was Li Li Hua''s turn to stare at her. She recognized the different emotions that flashed across the older woman''s face.


    "Oh, I am sorry. That was presumptuous of me."


    "No, no. It''s okay!" She was surprised by how guilty she sounded. "I am not surprised that you would assume. It just never came up in a conversation."


    "No. I am surprised you have not spoken about it. I just thought neither of you wanted to be a parent."


    She shifted in her seat, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.


    "Both of you are busy with your career and you have a long time ahead of you. If you want children, you can have them at any age. But knowing the two of you, does it have to do with you two thinking you won''t be good parents?"


    Qian Meng was surprised at that.


    "Because that is preposterous!" Li Li Hua exclaimed.


    "It is?"


    "Qian Meng¡­ being a parent is all about love. There is no secret formula to raising a child. They are all different with different needs. Love is the only constant thing."


    Yet, there were so many parents failing their children.


    "I don''t think love is the only factor to being a good parent. There is a lot else to be taken into consideration." Both Mo Qingchen and her had drawn some short straws when it came to parents. So, Qian Meng wasn''t sure if they could overcome that and raise a child.


    "Yes, it is more than that," Li Li Hua agreed. "You know how people say that when you want to know the type of husband a man will be, you should take a look at the way he treats his mother?"


    Qian Meng nodded tentatively.


    "It is like that. You can tell the type of father a man will be by the way they treat their wife. Or more, the way that he loves his wife." Li Li Hua carried on. "Zichen has treated me like a queen."

 Chapter 389: Make Beautiful Babies Together

    Qian Meng gave her a stiffened smile.


    "And he has always treated his daughter like a princess."


    Qian Meng knew better than to comment on their relationship. As long as her father-in-law wasn''t physically abusive, Qian Meng would keep her mouth shut.


    "My point is, Qian Meng, the way you love your spouse translates. When Qingchen was born, neither of us knew how to be parents. When I first looked at my little boy¡­" she shook her head with a dreamy sigh. "It is a special thing to create a life with the man you love. And when I saw Zichen hold Qingchen for the first time, I just knew everything would be okay. I knew we would figure it out together. Qingchen wasn''t just a person we were suddenly responsible for. He was a literal part of us¡­ together."


    Qian Meng gaped at her mother-in-law. Despite the odd image of the elderly couple, Qian Meng''s mind swirled with images of a little boy who looked like the one licking the ice cream cone. Only, he had her hair.


    She imagined Mo Qingchen holding a baby. But just as quickly as the thought came, she shook her head to try to clear it away. What the hell was she doing? Qingchen and she needed to have a healthy relationship first before they brought a kid in the middle of that.


    "Perhaps I am being a little selfish," Li Li Hua spoke up. "I do love the thought of grandchildren to spoil rotten. And besides, the two of you would make such beautiful babies!"


    Qian Meng laughed nervously before swallowing.


    The open beeped and it wasn''t until Li Li Hua got up to check on the food that Qian Meng felt like she could breathe again.


    - - - - -


    Mo Qingchen loved everything and that thrilled Qian Meng. In fact, he made so many hums and moans that she wondered if he really loved it that much or he just wanted her to feel good.


    Either way, her husband was sweet.


    While they ate, Qingchen told her about his meeting. It had gone well and she was all smiles as she listened to every detail.


    During his second plate, he asked what she wanted to do with him. He was delighted to find out that she wanted to be lazy and watch television with him while they sipped on wine.


    After dinner, they took their bottle up to their room to watch a movie in bed. It was early, but Qian Meng was looking forward to a cozy night with her man. She waited on the bed, scrolling through the options while Qingchen changed out of his work clothes and used the restroom.


    He appeared in his grey boxer briefs and t-shirt. Qian Meng scooted over to make room for him on his side of the bed.


    "Thank you for dinner," he said quietly as he reached over to coax her to look at him.


    "Don''t thank me," she laughed, rolling her eyes.


    "I want you to know it means a lot to me. The fact that you are trying to make presentable food because I am a snob is cute."


    She turned to squint at him. "Yeah?"


    "Okay. Cute is not the right word. Sexy."


    "Sexy?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow.


    "Yeah," he said proudly.


    Qian Meng laughed, shaking her head as she went back to scrolling through the movie options.


    "What do you feel like watching?"


    "Whatever you want," he responded as he leaned over to the nightstand to fill their glasses of wine.


    Mo Qingchen gave her a glass and after taking a sip, she put it over on her own nightstand. He settled back against the pillows and she scooted closer so that she could cuddle him. Her foot touched his leg and he hissed.


    "Shit, baby. Your foot feels like a block of ice."


    She pouted. "I am cold. It''s cold in here."


    He looked worried for a second. "Why didn''t you tell me that, silly girl?"


    She watched as he hopped off the bed and disappeared through the door. He came back with a grey sweatshirt.


    "Sit up," he ordered. She obeyed and watched him as he slid back onto the bed. "Hands up."


    He dropped an item that turned out to be a long pair of socks onto the bed. Then, he unfolded the sweatshirt and starting to pull it down over her raised arm and her head.


    Qian Meng smiled as he yanked it down the rest of the way onto her. It was his, which was way too big for her. She nestled into it as she lay back against the pillow.


    "Thank you!" She smiled up at him.


    "Give me those ice blocks you are trying to pass off as feet," he chuckled.


    She giggled as she lifted her leg up and held her foot out to him. He gave her playful looks as he slipped one of the socks on and repeated the process on the other. When he was finished, he pulled the blanket back and then tugged it until he was nestled beside her.


    "You like to take care of me, don''t you?" she said accusingly.


    "It''s not a secret, Qian Meng."


    He was right. It was no secret. From the way he refused to sleep until she was breathing evenly to the way he made her drink perfectly, he was always taking care of her.


    Suddenly, Li Li Hua''s words from earlier rang in her mind. One can tell what kind of a father a man will be by the way he treats his wife. She tensed in Mo Qingchen''s arms.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked, his fingers in her hair.


    "Nothing," she answered too quickly.


    "Did you make any progress with teaching your dad a lesson?" he asked as their eyes remained fixed on the television.


    "Yeah. I got all the information and started executing the plan. I will be busy eating dinner with shareholders under different pretexts for the next couple of weeks. You''ll be able to fend for yourself, won''t you?" she asked teasingly.

 Chapter 390: Starting the Rumors Fashionably

    "Do you want to discuss this in more detail with me?" he asked with the raise of his eyebrow.


    "Not right now. The plan is just starting, so I don''t want to say anything too early. When we sit down to discuss our finances and investments this week, I will update you on it." She turned to look at him curiously. "Are you worried about this?" she prompted.


    He nodded. "I am just worried that your father will get wind of the situation. Your bodyguard was kept on standby for some time, but I will call them back on an urgent basis," he informed her. "I was picking you up and dropping you off. If you are going to get busy, it''s better that we have extra security."


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "What? Do you think my father will explode and try to kill me?" And then she stopped. She wouldn''t put it past her father or her stepmother to do something drastic when they realize they are on a sinking ship without a lifeboat or means to survive.


    His stare gave her the same answer.


    "Understood. I will never oppose more security."


    He nodded and chuckled. "Do you realize that you take my advice more freely now?" It was delightful for him.


    She nodded and then nuzzled into his neck. "You have domesticated a shark. Do you feel satisfied?"


    He chuckled and didn''t respond. All was well.


    That night, she dreamt of shimmering black eyes. This time, they weren''t Mo Qingchen''s. They were his eyes in the face of a little girl. A little girl with her nose and his eyes.


    When she awoke the next morning, she remembered that little face vividly. Unlike other dreams, this one didn''t vanish when the day passed. It was embedded in her mind for a long time after that.


    - - - - -


    The meeting with Mr. Gu was fixed. The venue was an upscale steakhouse that Mr. Gu would surely enjoy. When she entered the restaurant, she was silently led to a private room.


    "Yun Qian Meng," the older gentleman called the moment the door opened and she stepped in.


    "Mr. Gu," she greeted. "You have been doing well, yes?"


    The gentleman waved it off. "Sit down quickly. Let''s order food and go over our business while dinner is prepared," he prompted.


    Qian Meng gave a firm nod before taking the seat across from him.


    The order was placed and Qian Meng was almost done going over all the bills when Mr. Gu stopped her.


    "Your style of business mirrors that of your grandfather, did you know that?" he said out of the blue.


    Qian Meng looked at him in surprise. "Is that so? I don''t hear a lot of stories about my paternal grandfather and his days in business. Everything I know is from old news clippings and sales reports," she admitted.


    "I was a young man when I met him. We were both struggling, him more than me. But he had tenacity." He nodded in contentment. "I was buying in all the land during the real-estate crash, taking renters to make ends meet. It wasn''t a bad policy. I had enough money. Your grandfather pushed forward and asked me to lend him money¡­ invest in this company and in return he would help with building real-estate on the land I owned." He smiled, seemingly in reminiscence. "Your bullish drive and methods are so similar to his. He was feared of."


    He smacked his lips together and shook his head. "You will be taking over Yun Corporation after your father, will you not?"


    Her eyes widened in shock. "I don''t think so. I already have so many investments and companies to look after. I don''t think Yun Corporation is an entity someone as small as me can handle." While her tone was humble, the implication was clear.


    She was not the one who thought this way. It was others. Namely her so-called family. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell. Qian Meng was known to take up larger-than-life projects that no one thought her capable of handling and then doing so fashionably.


    It was impossible for her to have low confidence in taking over the family business.


    "Don''t be negative. I see great potential in you. And your husband¡­ he is also a capable man!" Mr. Gu said lightly. "His family is also in the same business. It would be a shame to let the chance pass."


    He clucked his tongue and continued.


    "My husband is in the technology space and I am in fashion. We don''t dwell in real estate even though our family does. We are content with our lot," Qian Meng pronounced magnanimously.


    Mr. Gu nodded. "Youngsters always want to prove themselves to the world. It''s a boon to have children like you and Mr. Mo. Mine just loitered around and partied all day at your age. I wish I had kids like you," he admitted in an attempt to flatter her.


    Qian Meng chuckled, pretending to be shy. "Thank you for the compliment."


    "But¡­ I saw that your father didn''t attend the wedding. Are things not good between the two of you?" he asked, leaning in, his gossip-filled brain taking over.


    Qian Meng patted her lips with the handkerchief in an attempt to hide the smile that threatened to escape at any time. "My father had some personal issues to handle," she said. She slightly hesitated before the word ''personal,'' in an attempt to show that the reason was probably not that.


    "I see." The wicked glint in the eyes of the older gentleman was as clear as day. "I was really worried about you running losses or not having capital. You are selling this prime location¡­" he trailed off, fishing for inside information.


    "Oh, it''s not that!" she protested. "It''s just a precautionary thing. Some of the companies I am invested in might not be giving out dividends this financial year. I have some pressing investments to make, so I am taking this route," she mentioned casually.


    Mr. Gu nodded. "The companies you invest in¡­ are all highly acclaimed ones. Why would you suspect¡­" He coughed.


    "I have just been hearing rumors from here and there. Nothing major. I am sure it is not the case." She chuckled, pushing a hint of nervousness. She invested in dozens of companies.


    If someone thought her a gullible child, which clearly Mr. Gu still thought of her, they wouldn''t look too much into her plotting. They would wonder which company Qian Meng could have heard rumors about. There was a handful and the most likely one was the one he was also invested in.


    "Rumors?" he asked, his voice rising in pitch. "What kind of rumors?"


    Qian Meng clammed up. She lifted her hand and waved it off. "Nothing major," she said immediately.


    Mr. Gu nodded, letting her off, but for the rest of the signing process and dinner, he looked contemplative. Knowing how paranoid and gossip-centric this man was, he would dig out what she meant and look over every small step she took.


    She wouldn''t have to directly reveal anything. And she had possible deniability when the time came.


    It was a win-win situation.

 Chapter 391: Let Public Opinion Hang Him

    Within the next two days, news spread amongst the shareholders and anyone who was interested in Yun Corporation shares. The old foggies were buzzing with panic, thinking their sweet dividend money wouldn''t be paid this financial year. Maybe it would grow worse and worse as time passes. Would they have to pull out of their investment, but at this rate, no big investor would want to put money into a sinking ship.


    But in none of these discussions did Qian Meng''s name come up. She was altogether forgotten by the wealthy old investors who had the same outlook on female business owners as Qian Meng''s father did.


    She was insignificant in the turn of events.


    This was what Qian Meng called taking advantage of chauvinism. Though it was detrimental to society and women in general, sometimes, using their power against them was the best way to show them how women could make their world go up in flames.


    Silently destroying everything they thought they worked hard for.


    It was after lunch hour when Yun Sui Bo''s young, female secretary entered his office in a panic.


    "President Yun, there is a problem," she said, her voice low. The older gentleman was sitting behind the desk looking at his cellphone. The secretary presumed that he was playing some childish game instead of working.


    Yun Sui Bo was known to give away most of the work to others, only remaining when something drastic happened to panic and scream at people.


    The secretary was prepared to get an earful at this point, as well.


    "What is it?" he asked in a bored voice. How he could remain calm and watch his business go down the drain was unknown. Maybe he was confident that he would get everything he desired by playing dirty or plotting. Or maybe, he thought the universe would cater to everything he wanted.


    "I just received a call from one of the shareholders asking if the company was in financial trouble." She was meek as she spoke.


    Yun Sui Bo looked up immediately, his eyes widening in shock. "Why would he ask that?" he yelled, a streak of fear going through him.


    "Apparently, everyone is talking about it. The shareholders had decided not to spread the news, but someone mustered up the courage to ask me directly," she said.


    Yun Sui Bo thought about the situation. "If everyone was stopping this rumor from spreading, why did it reach my ear?" he asked. "Someone clearly wanted me to know."


    The secretary gulped. "President, rumors are always like this. People keep saying they don''t want it to spread, but it takes a form of its own. How do I respond?" she asked, getting to the main point.


    He banged his hand on the desk. "Tell him there is no such thing!" He looked at her with thinly veiled irritation. "Can''t you even do this much?"


    She hung her head and muttered, "Yes, President. I will do that." She knew for a fact that this would only make things worse. If a secretary responded to such a rumor instead of the President, it would make people even more suspicious.


    This bit, Qian Meng had anticipated correctly. Her father always barked whenever there was something he had to say, but when it was time to stand up and take responsibility, he always shrunk away, letting others do the work.


    And in proper Yun Sui Bo fashion, he raged in his office in isolation as his secretary scurried out and called the shareholder back. She mustered up all her eloquence and told the man not to be worried about the false rumors circulating in the investor circle.


    Instead of quenching curiosity, it fired up the theories even further.


    People were texting Qian Meng about the situation as well, suddenly remembering that she was the daughter of the man in question.


    [I have not heard of this before. Please give me some time to look into the matter.]


    This is what she told everyone.


    She was sipping on her iced tea that morning when she responded to the final text she had received.


    "Your phone has been going off for a while. Progress?" Mo Qingchen asked with a smile. He had heard the things going around the rumor mill, knowing well that it was his wife''s handiwork.


    "Yes. I did make some long-term loss on the apartment property, but Mr. Gu paid it off by running his mouth to everything he knows and their neighbors." She chuckled. "And my father evaded the questions so people are going crazy, asking me."


    Qingchen pulled his hand away from the steering wheel and patted her head. "You calculated very well," he complimented.


    "I have to make use of the torturous sixteen years I lived in his house, don''t I?" she scoffed. "It hurts worse when the person who lived under the same roof as you become your enemy. Because they know your digestive schedule and little quirks," she said, pleased with herself.


    "Has anyone told you how charming you are when you are acting evil?" he said, glancing at her with humor.


    "You have. On several occasions," she said boldly. "Doesn''t it make you hot to see me like this?" she challenged.


    He shrugged. "Can''t deny that allegation," he was quick to admit.


    "What is the next course of action?" he asked.


    "Hounding my father into a corner," she said calmly before taking another leisurely sip of her drink. "I already initiated the bomb."


    "And what is that?" he asked.


    "I pretended to be ignorant of any issues in Yun Corporation. Because Mr. Yun is evading questions, people will start suspecting that he is the one creating all the trouble and keeping it under wraps. No one else will be implicated right now," she commented.


    "It keeps you safe from the rumors and makes them have confidence in you. You are the one looking into the matter and trying to take responsibility even though you have very little to do with the company. No more than the other clueless shareholders," he said out loud. "It''s a good move," he acknowledged.


    "I have it all planned." She tapped on her head.


    She would not pick up the knife to stab her enemy. No. She would only open holes in the reputation of Yun Sui Bo. Then, she would stand aside and let public opinion hang him.


    There was nothing more powerful to bring down big organizations. Public opinion and cancel culture could be insufficient in most cases, but for big corporations who weren''t clean, it was a death sentence waiting to happen.

 Chapter 392: Nipping the Rebellion in the Bud

    Back in Yun Sui Bo''s office, his secretary and Vice President sat and tried to formulate how to reinstate the faith of the shareholders.


    "President, I think we should call a board meeting immediately to quell any rumor," Li Wenyue, the Vice President spoke up.


    Yun Sui Bo carefully looked at the secretary and called them up. "I am hungry. Please get us some snacks and tea," he ordered.


    The secretary promptly got up to her feet and scurried away, knowing that the President wanted to speak to the other in private. She knew best not to linger around. More people had been fired in the past few years from the executive staff than she cared to admit and she had a sneaking suspicion that it had to do with them knowing too much or protesting.


    Despite hating the job and the boss, she needed the salary. She was paid well for putting up with his attitude. She wondered how the current Mrs. Yun, Jiang Xin, had gone from being the President''s secretary to wife. He had a bad personality. She couldn''t even imagine liking the person enough to have a meal with him, let alone get married to him.


    She shuddered just at the thought.


    The woman had a different level of willpower, probably.


    Inside the office, Yun Sui Bo was not calm.


    "A board meeting to quell rumors?" he voiced. "Do you think that will work out?" he scoffed.


    "That is the best course of action," Li Wenyue said quietly. "I am still looking into raising money from other sources and getting a loan," he told Yun Sui Bo.


    "You realize that doing that will make the rumors worse, yes?" he asked.


    "President Yun, I am doing everything discreetly. You don''t have to worry about word getting out. I know we are struggling but I don''t want the situation to spiral out of control¡­ more so than it already has."


    The undertone of concern and courage in the VPs voice made Yun Sui Bo take a second glance at the man.


    "Do you think you worry more about this company than I do?" he asked. The only reason he had allowed Li Wenyue to be the Vice President was that his son was still young and he didn''t have a family member to take that position and be the leader.


    This man was not from his family and not invested in the business as badly as he was. But here he was, running his mouth, pretending to care more than Yun Sui Bo did. It angered him.


    "President, I love this company as much as you do. I have been working here for the past twenty years. I crawled up from the bottom up. I just want¡ª"


    Yun Sui Bo put up his hand. "Don''t say something that will make the situation worse. I am getting the money. Just go out there and make sure they believe that we are financially okay. Understood?" he asked.


    In truth, Yun Sui Bo treated all his employees like servants. He didn''t care much for them, even if the other was the Vice President, taking care of most of the day-to-day workings.


    Li Wenyue was struggling to make ends meet and doing his best to pull the company up. But meeting the demands of the President was hard.


    Li Wenyue had shed more hair in the past couple of months than he had most of his life. He was slowly growing tired and really wanted to break out of this company and speak up about the things that go on behind the curtains.


    But the NDAs. The iron-clad NDAs preventing him from speaking up and the ban on working in any competing company for the next three years or taking clients with him was keeping him from making a move.


    "I will call a board meeting and show the reports and ensure everyone. Please don''t worry," that is what he said finally. "I need to get going, I have to prepare for everything."


    He stood up abruptly and fixed his suit before hastily leaving.


    Yun Sui Bo watched the man leave with a speculative look on his face. When the secretary returned, he asked her one simple question.


    "Did anyone say where the news came from?"


    His voice was grave.


    The secretary startled and shook her head. "No one really knows the origin, President. Do you have someone in mind?" she questioned.


    He leaned in and grabbed a biscuit as he looked at the now-closed door.


    "I have my suspicions," he said immediately.


    The secretary followed his gaze and realization dawned on her. She gulped and praised the lord that she wasn''t the one being questioned in this case.


    She didn''t even speak of work matters outside.


    Good thing she had a drinking session today with the other people. She needed to destress.


    Yun Sui Bo, on the other hand, was thinking about Li Wenyue as his supposed disloyalty. He had never liked the man, but he came with great credentials. But the man was ambitious. He was ambitious beyond Yun Sui Bo''s comfort level.


    The man was bolting forward at every opportunity, trying to do great things and getting credit for his work.


    Right now, the only person who was getting heat for the rumors was him, the President. No one else seemed to be getting flack for this. In reality, the rumors seemed doctored. Like someone with close knowledge of the company was feeding information to outsiders. The suspicious lack of names was also worth noting.


    The only person who knew everything and would profit off the news getting out was Li Wenyue. If Yun Sui Bo was thought of as incompetent, the next in line to take the President position was him. He would have no one stopping him from taking over the position.


    The initiative to raise money and looking overly concerned about the company were also signs pointing to it.


    A mere servant growing greedy because of their higher position and trying to usurp the throne from its rightful owner. And everyone knows what happens to a servant who disobeys orders. They get fired and sold off.


    Yun Sui Bo bit into the biscuit and took a sip of his tea.


    ''Rebellion should be nipped at the bud.''


    Right after the board meeting, he would corner and get rid of Li Wenyue.

 Chapter 393: Qian Mengs Trusted General

    That evening when Yun Sui Bo''s secretary drank, she did as she always did. She started to vent about how evil her boss was. The good thing about her was, she didn''t remember these things when she woke up the next morning.


    "I can hold my drinks really well," she always said, but then she embarrassed herself all the time. It was a good thing that none of her superiors at work had seen her this was. Because this woman sure knew how to swear and curse her boss and company.


    Li Min slowly sipped on her non-alcoholic drink and listened to the endless whines. Until she hit the lottery.


    "I think the President is going to kick the Vice President out," she slurred.


    Li Min''s hand stopped in front of her face in surprise, but she concealed any form of emotion on her face. "Why would you think that?" she asked in the calmest voice possible.


    The other popped her head up and gave a look of distress. "The President said as much." She sighed in deep regret. "Even if the VP really did spread the rumor¡­ he was probably doing it for the company."


    "What rumor?" Li Min asked, pretending like she didn''t know anything.


    "You know¡­ the one about financial struggles in the company?" She paused. "I don''t know a lot about it because I am not allowed to read the papers, but what if there really are financial issues?" she asked.


    "Not much will happen to the company," Li Min started. "Can''t say the same about the employees, though." She coughed to hide the small smile on her face.


    "What does that mean?" The secretary panicked.


    Li Min shrugged. "When large corporations face monetary shortage, they find imaginative reasons to cut off their workforce or not pay them," she said. "Companies rip off poor employees all the time in the name of saving the corporation."


    "There are a lot of those?" the other squeaked.


    Li Min nodded. "Recently, a lot of companies have been firing thirty to forty percent of their workforce. Some are even cutting the salary because the company is facing a hard time." Li Min took a sip of her drink as she scrutinized the expression of the others.


    Surrounding them were other secretaries of the leading executives in Yun Corporation. They, too, listened sombrely to Li Min speak.


    "If Yun Corporation is really facing financial problems, the people at the top of the ladder won''t feel it."


    Someone scoffed. "Executives rarely take pay cuts. No matter what, their salaries and benefits are ensured."


    "True."


    The atmosphere grew heavy and no one seemed to be in a mood to speak freely. When the get-together ended, Li Min rose up and took her leave.


    "I have to work early tomorrow, I will head out," she informed everyone. After bidding goodbye, she walked out into the street and sucked in a cleansing breath.


    She pulled out her cell phone and called the number that she had been dying to since the inside information started spilling.


    The phone rang a mere few seconds before Qian Meng picked it up.


    "You''re done already?" she asked, not even surprised. Li Min had already said that she went to these get-togethers to get inside information. She was unashamed of it and Qian Meng didn''t mind playing dirty either.


    As long as it was all hush-hush, who cared?


    "Yes, I just came out." Li Min raised her hand to flag off a cab. "Give me a minute. I am just entering the cab," she said slowly.


    Qian Meng quietened down and leaned into the bed as she waited. She heard the cab door slam and knew that the information was going to spill out.


    "The shareholders are continuously calling the secretary''s office. The information has been conveyed to Mr. Yun and he is, as you expected, evading responsibility. A meeting for shareholder will be called and the Vice President is working on it," she summarized quickly. "But Mr. Yun is ready to fire the VP under the suspicion that he was the one that gave out the information," Li Min said finally.


    Qian Meng sucked in a happy breath. "As we expected. I thought it would be another executive, but Yun Sui Bo went for the only person who he thinks threatens his position," she snorted.


    She had to give it to Mr. Yun for being a paranoid bastard who can''t stand when someone else is better equipped to take control than he was.


    "I did act on my own, though," Li Min said apologetically.


    "Oh?" Qian Meng asked without much concern. Li Min had been following her for so long that Qian Meng considered her an intelligent general who could see where her action was going to result in.


    "The secretaries were worried about the company and I let it slip that usually the employees suffer in such situations."


    Qian Meng was silent. "You did good. Secretaries come in contact with the maximum number of people. The word will spread quickly," she responded. "This was not part of the plan, but it could be a good move." She paused when she thought of something. "Are you sure your name won''t get mentioned in the mix?"


    That was the only concern.


    "My name will absolutely not be mentioned. Secretaries and assistants are extremely loyal to one another. I think we bond over the hatred for the demon boss."


    Qian Meng chuckled. Indeed, she was sometimes a demonic boss, but she wouldn''t let her free-spirited secretary be done wrong because of that.


    "Good. Thank you for taking time out of your personal life for this. You shall get a beautiful bonus." Qian Meng knew that Li Min loved extra money over holidays. She was okay with it. "Get off the clock and have fun."


    The phone was hung up and Qian Meng fiddled with her phone as she thought.


    Mo Qingchen walked into the bedroom and saw Qian Meng sitting on the bed with the laptop in front of her. She was thoughtful as she stared at her cell phone.


    "What are you thinking about?" he asked.


    "My father is suspicious of his VP. I am trying to word how I should approach him," she informed.


    "His VP is Li Wenyue, right?" Mo Qingchen asked. Qian Meng nodded in acknowledgment. "He is known to be loyal to his work. I don''t think he will take kindly if you reach out to him," he said slowly.

 Chapter 394: Cant Handle This Level of Worship

    "I know that. That''s why I am trying to word it in a way that doesn''t sound like I am trying to take advantage of his predicament," Qian Meng frowned.


    "You''re going to get shot down," he told her point-blank.


    "I am banking on it," Qian Meng said with a small smile. "Things are going to blow up. And Li Wenyue is going to have to handle it alone and then be discarded. It''s only a matter of time before he realizes he is a scapegoat in all of this."


    She tapped on her cellphone and then looked at her laptop.


    "I''ll send an email to ask him what the rumors are about," she said.


    "You could ask your father. Is this the best action?" Qingchen questioned. He trusted her judgment, but it was also his responsibility to make sure that she was perfectly confident in her action. For this, he would have to constantly question her.


    "Everyone in the industry knows we don''t get along. I would never reach out to him directly. So, it''s him next in line. I am a shareholder, so I have the right." She shrugged.


    The email was sent out as usual. The greeting was pleasant and then she mentioned the rumors that had been going around. She even voiced her concerns about the state of the company and the fear that this rumor would spread to the general public.


    "I have initiated contact." She stretched her hand over her head and then rolled her neck.


    Mo Qingchen stepped closer to her and removed the laptop. "You''re done with work, right?" he asked.


    She nodded with a small smile on her face. "I still need to shower and then do my skincare routine," she moaned.


    Qingchen quickly saved all the files open on her screen and then set the laptop and table aside.


    "Don''t worry about that," he said quickly.


    She sat on the bed, confused as he went to the bathroom and then returned with a wet towel. He kneeled down beside her and raised her hand to slowly drag the wet towel over her skin.


    "I can''t handle this level of worship," she said with a chuckle.


    Qingchen clucked his tongue. "I am just getting started," he said with a wink. He ended up wiping down her exposed skin gently and then discarding the towel in their laundry bag.


    He then went to her vanity and brought back the skincare products she used on a regular basis.


    "Do you know how to use them?" she teased.


    He mock-glared at her before nodding. "The first time I did it was when we drank and you fell asleep on me," he said. "I took off your makeup and put on the products so that your pretty skin wouldn''t be ruined." He smirked.


    Qian Meng''s eyes widened. "I seem to remember something of the sort. You have a good memory if you can use everything in order."


    He was usually busy looking over materials or checking his phone when she was preparing for bed. She wanted to see if he remembered.


    And he did.


    He pushed her back into the pillow and tucked her in before using every product correctly.


    She showered him with compliments and he smiled. "If you think I do it better than you, you should let me do it instead," he advised.


    She rolled her eyes. "I am more concerned about your skin. You are nearing middle age. Your skin will start sagging soon. Are you sure you don''t want to take care of your skin as well?" she taunted.


    "You vowed to love me even if I was old. Wrinkles and bad skin come with the package," he said boldly.


    "Are you saying that you will let yourself go?" she asked with a snicker.


    "Absolutely not. But skincare?" He shook his head confidently.


    "We''ll have spa days. Come on!" she whined. She pointed towards the vanity. "Go to the drawer and pull out one of the masks," she ordered.


    Qingchen patted her cheeks, finally done with her routine, and then looked over to where she was pointing.


    He did as she asked without reserve. He found a plethora of packages and held them up. "You choose. I don''t understand which one to choose."


    She looked at the packages and then pointed towards one. "It''s rejuvenating," she said casually. He came back and she scooted her butt over to his side of the bed and then patted to the newly free portion of the bed.


    "Here."


    He sat down and looked at her suspiciously.


    She shot up and then pushed him into the bed. She took the face mask from him and then smiled at him wolfishly. "No. This won''t do!" she exclaimed.


    She swung her leg over the edge of the bed and went over to her vanity to bring out more.


    An under-eye gel, a lip mask, and a hairband later, she came back. Equipped with her weapons, she pushed his hair back and put on the hairband. Next, she slowly rolled on the under-eye serum.


    She heard him exhale and knew that the procedure was having a calming effect on him.


    "Is this going to make me as pretty as you?" he said jokingly.


    Qian Meng paused and tapped his chin playfully. "Maybe not as pretty as me, but definitely will make sure you don''t look like my grandfather in a decade or two." She sniggered.


    He followed in chuckling along.


    "Now, shush!" she ordered as she tore the packet open and carefully placed the mask over his face.


    He shuddered at the cold sensation but then settled down as she slowly smoothed out the mask and then caressed his cheek over it.


    Next, she placed the lip mask and then sat back and watched him struggle to stay silent.


    It was a strange sight, but as she hummed and chattered until the time to take it off came, she found his breathing level out.


    She knew this rhythm perfectly. Qingchen was asleep.


    Qian Meng had found another way to make him relax and just sleep. She had a warm smile as she pulled off the masks and then the hairband. After cleaning up, she snuggled into bed beside him and pressed a kiss on his neck.


    "Goodnight," she whispered before squeezing her eyes shut.

 Chapter 395: Dragging the Little Brother Into The Mess

    As Qian Meng had expected, she received a curt but professional response from Li Wenyue. She chuckled as she sat at her desk and gave him an equally polite response.


    It was only a matter of time before her father got impatient and the VP realized he was holding on to the rotten end of the rope. When that happened, he would come to the only shareholder who was capable of protecting him and had a large number of shares in the company.


    Seven percent was a small number compared to the twenty-seven percent Yun Sui Bo held, but that was still something.


    Factoring in the three percent held by the VP and seven percent held by Jiang Xin and Yun Qing Yuan¡­ Qian Meng was up against some heavy numbers. She had to strengthen her side.


    And the day came soon. The board meeting was obviously called, but Qian Meng wasn''t invited, she was sure that her father had something to do with it.


    She looked at the list of attendees and saw her little brother on the list. The boy had turned eighteen last year and the seven percent shares kept aside from him had been transferred into his name.


    Qian Meng usually disliked using people she loved for her benefit, but in this case, she wouldn''t mind openly asking him to help after telling him her plan.


    That much she could trust him with.


    She picked up her cellphone and called him.


    He cut the call and then called back himself.


    "Sis, what''s up?" he asked chirpily.


    "I am fine. But why did you cut my call and then call back?" she asked, confused.


    Qing Yuan chuckled. "You know how the younger member of the family always gets calls so they don''t use up their call balance? Yeah¡­ I don''t want that anymore," he said quickly.


    Qian Meng snorted. "Make use of it as long as you can. It''s the only care you will receive," she advised him.


    "Nah. I have money to spend. So, I will shower you with my call minutes," he responded.


    Qian Meng felt a smile tickle the corner of her lips and she gave away. She sucked in a breath and prepared to disappoint him.


    "I called you for a serious matter," she said after a while.


    "Oh. Go ahead," he answered immediately.


    "I am sorry for pushing this onto you, but I saw that you are attending the board meeting in a few days. Is that true?" she asked.


    She had to confirm. Taking an eighteen-year-old to the meeting and leaving her out was a deliberate move. Yun Sui Bo knew that Qing Yuan wouldn''t be able to pick out mistakes and would unconditionally take his father''s side. Whereas, Qian Meng was strongly against corporate misdemeanor.


    "Oh, dad told me he would take care of it. I have classes that day until the evening so I won''t be able to attend. He will be the spokesperson for mom and me," he said innocently. "They didn''t call you?" he asked after a moment of silence.


    "Of course, not. I didn''t invite him to the wedding, you think he will let me sit in on a board meeting?" she questioned.


    "But you called because something is bothering you," Qing Yuan spoke carefully. "Is there something I need to know about this meeting?"


    Qian Meng sighed. "I was hoping you could attend and tell me what is said in the meeting," she told him.


    She could almost hear the thoughts turning in his head. "Sis, I am older now, too. You can tell me if there is a problem. It''s always better to solve it together."


    Qian Meng chuckled. "Ah, I always forget that you are an adult now. Understand this older sister of yours¡­ If you grow up, it means I am growing older. Moreover¡­ I don''t want to see my baby brother face the world so quickly."


    She clucked her tongue.


    "Come on. Is there a problem at Yun Corp? With dad?" he asked.


    Qian Meng would have suspected anyone else of prying for information. But Qing Yuan was pure and definitely not like those people. "Truthfully, there are some concerning rumors going around the business circle and amongst the shareholders. The board meeting is to quell the rumors and show a strong front," she admitted. "But Qing Yuan¡­ the rumors¡­ I think they are true."


    She could hear him take an audible breath. "You mean¡­"


    "But I don''t want to drag you into this, Qing Yuan. They are your parents and you can love them despite what they do or face. I will not make you choose sides. I don''t want that life for you." She had lived away from parents and knew how hard it was. A somewhat present and loving parent was better than none.


    "But you wanted me to go, didn''t you?" he questioned. "Then let me attend!" he insisted.


    "Didn''t you say you had classes? Just forget about it," Qian Meng contradicted quickly. Before hearing his voice, she had been prepared to use him, but now¡­ she couldn''t drag the kid into this mess.


    "The essence of a good college experience is bunking class once in a while. I have stellar attendance. It''s won''t affect me in the least," he said confidently.


    Qian Meng sighed. "Make sure you are not doing this for me. This should be something you want to do yourself." She stopped. "If you want to learn about business and improve your writing, you can use it as an opportunity to look into things. But do not do it because you want to support me or something."


    Qing Yuan, who was sitting on the field, watching people pass was even more confused by this. "Isn''t that a good enough reason, though? Why do I need to have a selfish reason for it?"


    Qian Meng slapped her forehead with her palm. "Hey. Don''t go. Understood?" she commented. "You can''t help me. I will make it happen, somehow," she said.


    It was more of a warning.


    He coughed. "Okay!" he said chirpily before hanging up.


    Qian Meng sighed before rolling her eyes. This kid¡­


    On the other side, Qing Yuan slung his bag over his shoulder before jumping to his feet. He looked at the timing for the board meeting and then looked at his schedule.


    Well, the last three hours was a lecture by a professor who made him fall asleep. That being said, he could miss it and listen to something more meaningful.


    He shrugged as he entered class.


    Time to be of some use to that hard-headed and independent sister of his.

 Chapter 396: Capturing the Enemys Hunting Dog

    Promptly two days later, two emails simultaneously landed in Qian Meng''s inbox. One in her professional account and the other in her private account she had created when she was thirteen.


    She found Qing Yuan''s email and frowned at the title.


    [Surprise Present For My Lovely Big Sis]


    She looked at the email id and shook her head. He needed to get a new, more professional email ID if he was exchanging emails with his professors and fellow students. This was a complete wreck.


    What was sweetboi@website supposed to mean? She would shudder if someone sent her a work-related email from such an account.


    Inside was only an attachment. Obscure name aside, she was so busy that the date escaped her mind.


    She looked through the document and her eyes widened as she scrolled through the details.


    It was the minutes of the meeting. For someone doing it for the first time. It wasn''t that bad.


    It said the following.


    [Emergency Board met at headquarters on Wednesday at 2:00 pm.]


    The list of members present was given in detail and the agendas were exhibited.


    Item One was the allocation of capital for the financial year and presented by Executive H, Financial Reporting Director.


    It displayed the distribution of capital for the year on various ongoing projects of Yun Corporation. The Financial Reporting Director made a motion to decide on which of these things would happen.


    The discussion about profit distribution amongst shareholders was brought up in this sphere, the allocation to eligible shareholders was postponed and said that it required future emergency board action.


    With the majority shareholder voting in this regard, the motion was passed.


    The second Item of discussion was the financial report, presented by the fiscal analyst. A detailed report was shown to the shareholders and no further action was apparently required for it.


    Item three on the list was the official revenue estimate. Qian Meng looked over the funds and allocation of profits with disdain.


    A small note underneath mentioned that a certain amount of revenue was not mentioned in the estimates as it would go to some sort of relief fund.


    Qian Meng highlighted this portion and then moved on.


    The general operating statement review also showed a rosy picture.


    She read over it. The board meeting was orchestrated to make it look like the rumors were indeed just that¡­ malicious falsehoods.


    But as Qian Meng read through the figures and the mystery fund which was eating up revenue, she realized that her father had paid a petty trick.


    While the Vice President, Li Wenyue had made the meeting happen, a little clause in the revenue meant that something was happening in the background that the shareholders weren''t allowed to see. There was a lack of transparency and this time, their anger wasn''t directed at Yun Sui Bo, but at Li Wenyue, who they trusted.


    It was the perfect opportunity to weed out the VP''s power in the company.


    A good strategy, indeed.


    But looking at the email that had landed in her inbox from the other, the petty trick had worked to her advantage. The response came earlier than she had expected.


    She typed out a quick response to her brother:


    [Thank you for the minutes. I would have still appreciated it if you went to class instead. PS: Please change your email address.]


    She hit send and then turned to the other email.


    It was short and sweet.


    [I would like to propose a meeting between the two of us. Please let me know if you are available on any of these slots.]


    Li Wenyue mentioned a list of times and dates and Qian Meng scrolled through it.


    She pinged Li Min and called her into the office.


    "Boss, you called?" she asked.


    Qian Meng nodded. "I am meeting Li Wenyue tomorrow at twelve. It''s lunch hour. Please put it in my schedule."


    "Understood," Li Min said immediately. "Do you want me to book a restaurant or private location for the meeting?" she asked.


    "Book a location near Yun Corporation. It will be a long discussion, it seems."


    "Please inform me if I need to push back any of your other scheduled tasks," Li Min said immediately.


    She was promptly dismissed and Qian Meng went back to sending out the email. The small note of her work number also helped.


    The meeting was set.


    Li Wenyue would be joining hands with Qian Meng. Now, she had to slowly use the enemy''s hunting dog to finish the game.


    She had tricked the enemy into believing that one of his best generals was a traitor. She had forced the VP to escape and join forces with her. There was nothing sweeter than this type of vengeance.


    Plucking out people from the enemy''s camp¡­ It was always so harsh when the house dog bit the owner''s hand. So much more hurtful than a rabid street dog doing it.


    She chuckled as she imagined her father''s expression. Ah, to be a fly on the wall as he raged.


    She took out the list of executives and employees who had been assisting Yu Sui Bo in his dirty work and made note of them. Time to send the flies away. Somewhere where they don''t dare to infect others.


    There was a slight knock on her door. She looked up and saw Li Min peering in. "An anonymous tip to the media was made. The rumors just got dropped on a financial journalist''s desk. He should be scrambling to publish first," she commented slyly.


    "Mind keeping track of the news and the resulting action?" Qian Meng asked with a note of desperation. "I can''t trust anyone else to do it."


    Li Min smiled. "Don''t worry about it." Just before she was going to leave, she said something beyond Qian Meng''s imagination. "I have blocked your father''s number. Please handle the issue yourself!"


    She gave Qian Meng a blinding smile before skipping away.


    Qian Meng shook her head and chuckled. Once the news hit, her dad would know for sure that Qian Meng was the one taking action behind the curtain.


    No one else would have the guts to spread the news to the media, especially when share prices would plummet. Who else would care little about the current reputation?


    Only someone who was as fearless and sure as her. She knew she could make the price skyrocket. Why would she worry about such trivial matters?


    And as expected¡­ her phone started to ring at nine that evening, an hour after the first news article came out.

 Chapter 397: Inherited His Parasitic Genes

    "Mr. Yun!" she exclaimed the moment she picked the phone up. "You have gotten faster at catching news about yourself," she said jokingly.


    There was an angry huff from the other side. "You don''t even try to say it was someone else!" he said finally with disdain.


    Qian Meng raised her brow as she thought about her response. "Would you believe me if I told you it wasn''t me?" she questioned.


    "No."


    "Then I have no reason to defend myself against your accussations," she said frankly. "I have long learned not to waste my breath on you." She paused.


    "You¡ª" Qian Meng cut him off immediately.


    "Is there anything important that you need to tell me? If not, then please cut the phone." She didn''t dilly-dally around the topic.


    "Stop. Don''t disrespect me," he growled.


    Qian Meng sighed and waited for him to continue.


    "Where did you get the information from? The things in the news article?" he asked.


    She rolled her eyes. "As I said, I didn''t know about the article until it came out. I can''t tell you information that I don''t have," she stated boldly. "But if you are going on a witch hunt, why don''t you use your paranoid mind to cook up a story that best fits your interest, Mr. Yun?" she asked calmly.


    "Li Wenyue? Or did you stoop low enough to get the information from the little brother who thinks the world of you?" Yun Sui Bo bit back without regard.


    Qian Meng clenched her jaw before chuckling without amusement. "As I said, choose your story. I don''t care to explain." And then her heart twisted with the need to get revenge. "Actually, if I did use Qing Yuan, I would have to say that I don''t need a DNA test to prove that I am your daughter," she replied.


    "What do you mean?" he was gruff.


    "From the looks of it, you use your blood-related family to save your face. I must have inherited the parasitic genes," she mussed.


    "You little¡ª"


    "Okay, I am not in a mood for bullshit. I need to sleep tonight," she said quickly before hanging up.


    She looked up from her cellphone and saw Qingchen come out of the closet, his mouth open with shock.


    "What?" she asked innocently.


    "Did you just say that?" he was in disbelief. She shrugged, not thinking much of it. "I am proud of you, baby. You have finally grown up," he complimented.


    She winked at him salaciously before curving her finger and beckoning him.


    He chuckled even though his eyes darkened. He eyed her like prey for a good minute before he pounced.


    She shrieked in surprise as he landed, caging her between her arms and kissing her silly.


    - - - - -


    The financial news section the next morning was full of talks about the controversy surrounding Yun Corporation. It was an hour before the stock market opened and Qian Meng was already glued to her laptop, tracking everything in sight.


    She went to her brokerage account and placed orders for shares of Yun Corporation. Was it a low-handed method? Sure. But she needed the stocks to stand up against her father.


    At least, she was buying the stock under her own name.


    Her eyes glittered as she checked her phone for news.


    "Ready for the battle?" Mo Qingchen asked as he handed her the coffee.


    "Absolutely," she responded with a grin. "I am meeting Mr. Li for lunch today. It depends on the response from the public on how fast this plan will pan out," Qian Meng informed as she twirled her straw.


    Qingchen nodded. "Let me know if you need spare cash to buy up more," he chimed in. He put the volume of the news higher and they watched it, sitting side by side and having their breakfast.


    While Yun Corporation was being bashed and going up in flames, the couple peacefully watched.


    Qian Meng kissed Qingchen on the cheek once she finished breakfast and skipped away. "I will have a long day today. My phone will be constantly ringing, so don''t expect me to respond!" she told him over her shoulder. She placed the dishes in the sink and then washed her hand.


    "I will just talk to the bodyguard directly. You can call me any time. I have a meeting from three in the afternoon. Otherwise, it''s all okay," Mo Qingchen told her confidently.


    Qian Meng hummed and nodded. "Finish your meal slowly."


    Her phone buzzed and she looked at the illuminated screen. "The bodyguard has taken the car out already. I''ll go now."


    She skipped back to his side and tucked a finger under his chin to turn his head towards her.


    His eyes were unfocused as she looked away from the news and then it glittered as he saw her lean in for a kiss.


    The quick morning kiss she had been expecting turned into something sensual.


    He brought his hand to her ass and kneaded it gently before patting it affectionately. "No more," he said, after pulling away. "Get going."


    She stared at his lips for a beat too long before looking away. "The formula for Venus lipsticks is stellar. It never ceases to amaze me¡­  Not a smudge in sight." She stood up straight and gave her husband a cheeky smile.


    She had a swing to her hips as she walked out of his sight.


    He could only chuckle.


    He pulled his cellphone out and texted the bodyguard.


    [Keep me updated on Mrs. Mo''s day. Don''t leave any information out. Stay alert.]


    He pressed send and then went back to finishing what remained of his breakfast.


    - - - - -


    The bodyguard waited outside patiently until he saw Qian Meng appear at the front door of the house. He straightened up and gave a small bow.


    "Ma''am," he greeted. "Please sit in the back," he said calmly.


    She sauntered near and watched the other open the door. She slid in with a quick thank you and shifted to the opposite side to the driver''s seat. It was all about protocol.

 Chapter 398: Mr. Yun, Trapped Inside His Office

    The bodyguard took the wheel and remained silent as he started the engine.


    "Ma''am, I need you to wear the seatbelt," he said.


    Qian Meng silently did as he asked, knowing this guy was going to give every detail to her overprotective husband. As much as she needed to be on guard, the babying was a little much.


    She found it amusing at most times, but on others, it was mildly annoying.


    In this case, it was funny.


    They were on the road for quite a while when Qian Meng looked up from her laptop. She looked around, frowning at where she was.


    "Is this a shortcut?" she asked casually.


    The bodyguard pressed his lips together. "There is traffic on the main road today. We will reach the office on time," he said calmly.


    Qian Meng looked at the map in the front and eyed the bodyguard. She also noticed that the speed of the car was higher.


    She put her laptop aside and watched the man''s motions curiously, finally realizing that he kept looking at the mirror.


    She cleared her throat to catch her attention. "Do you suspect someone of following us?" she asked without hesitation.


    The bodyguard remained stoic, unalarmed by her catching up.


    His work was to keep her mind at peace and take care of threats she didn''t know of. But if she did find out, he had to explain to her and let her know that she was safe with him.


    "Yes, Ma''am," he responded.


    "Which one?" she asked.


    "The black car four cars down," he told her.


    She discreetly looked in its direction and pulled up her phone to take a selfie. With her husband being nuts for good camera specifications, it was no problem for her to get the picture of the license plate, unblurred.


    She zoomed in and looked at the picture.


    "I already took the license plate numbers. Could be fake, but it''s better to have it."


    The bodyguard discreetly thanked her even though he had memorized it already.


    "Don''t worry about losing the tail. Just drive normally to the office. This car is going to follow us around all day, so don''t be too bothered," she told the bodyguard.


    He looked up. "Is there something I should know about?"


    Qian Meng smiled. "I think my father sent this person. I can''t be sure, but it should be," she shrugged.


    The bodyguard, obviously, couldn''t take that as an answer. Despite giving his verbal agreement, he went his way.


    Not once did he move in a way that would make the person in the other car suspect that he had been caught.


    - - - - -


    In the privacy of her office, Qian Meng watched as the price of shares plummeted. She had pulled out of her smaller investments to have enough money to buy up as many shares as possible. And as she had expected, there was a massive drop in the price of shares.


    Qian Meng knew that this was when traders and investors grew fearful and sold off their stake in the company. So, she waited patiently, placing orders.


    Li Min entered her office around eleven that morning.


    "Boss, I bring news," she said.


    Qian Meng smiled. "Good news or bad news?" she asked. She looked at the clock. "I need to leave for lunch with Li Wenyue, too. I need the accurate information and plans in place before that," she told quickly.


    "Apart from plummeting stock prices, there is an uprising from within the company," Li Min said with a smile.


    "Non-violent, I hope?" she asked. She crossed her fingers and hoped that was the case.


    "Non-violent. It''s a sit-in protest asking the higher-ups to come clean about the rumors. The employees and contractors are scared that they will lose their livelihoods so they have surrounded the offices of the executives."


    "Is Mr. Yun part of that group?" Qian Meng asked with delight.


    Li Min nodded enthusiastically. "It''s been about an hour since he reached office. He has been in his room. It is surrounded by employees."


    She turned her cellphone to show Qian Meng the picture of the scene. The employees sat on the carpeted floors outside her father''s office.


    "Good thing my father has a bathroom inside his office. Otherwise, his bladder wouldn''t have allowed him anything," she smirked.


    Li Min nodded. "It''s nearing lunch hour. We will find out about his condition by then."


    Qian Meng planned. "Change of plans. After meeting Li Wenyue, I will go and meet Qing Yuan. Get him on call and see what his schedule looks like, will you?" Qian Meng asked apologetically.


    "Getting on it."


    Li Min left the room, leaving Qian Meng to her work.


    She suddenly remembered the bodyguard and looked up. "Ah, we have to change plans, I will tell you accordingly, okay?" she told him.


    And then she went back to work.


    Qian Meng received the phone call earlier than she had anticipated. It was Qing Yuan.


    "Hey," she stumbled over the words as she looked over a marketing report.


    "Sis, I am not free today. But tell me what the matter is," he asked without hesitation.


    "It''s nothing major. I was just going to talk to you to lobby you onto my side," she claimed peacefully. She didn''t need to beat around the bush in this case.


    "You don''t need to lobby me. I can see as everything plays out," he replied. Qian Meng heard the sadness in his voice.


    "Are you okay?" she couldn''t help but ask.


    He huffed deeply. "I am okay but I am worried about our parents," he said truthfully. "I know you don''t like either of them¡­ but¡­ they haven''t treated me poorly."


    Qian Meng almost smiled. "Qing Yuan, I am not asking you to stab them in the back," she explained softly. "I am lobbying for you to be on my side because I care about our family name and the thousands of employees and contractors Yun Corporation employs. All their livelihoods are in danger."

 Chapter 399: The Bosss Wife Was Obidient

    She didn''t mean to say this in an awfully manipulative way.


    "I know. You would have left the company to rot if you weren''t concerned about all those people. I don''t think your reputation would suffer because of Father''s misgivings. But¡­" he trailed off.


    "I heard that his office was surrounded."


    "Yes, the employees have done that. It''s a peaceful protest. He is not in any danger. It''s a powerful statement on the part of the employees. It is their right to protest and ask for answers when their lives are at risk. They simply want answers, nothing else." Her explanation was simple.


    "I fear¡­ his blood pressure¡­"


    The idea clicked in her mind. "Shit¡­" she cursed. And then she stopped herself. "If you aren''t free today¡­ what about tomorrow?" she asked.


    "That''s fine!" he stated. He clearly heard the urgency in her voice. "Do you need to tend to something urgently?" he inquired.


    "Yes. I just remembered something," she told him quickly. "I''ll text you later, okay?"


    Without much ceremony, she hung up and called Li Min in.


    "Inform the secretaries that Mr. Yun''s food and medicine need to be delivered on time without delay. He has high blood pressure."


    Li Min raised her brow. "You want him well-fed?"


    Qian Meng shook her head. "Mr. Yun has high blood pressure. He uses it at times to make others feel guilty. The protest is peaceful, don''t let it be ruined by the old man''s obsession with slandering people."


    Li Min''s eyes widened with worry. "I''ll go right now," she commented before sprinting out.


    Qian Meng clucked her tongue, reprimanding herself for not remembering this. The sit-in protest was not the protest she had imagined. Actually, she was more sure people would be enraged enough to be violent, but this was better. No one got hurt this way and the police couldn''t be violent.


    Li Min called her instead of coming in.


    "Boss, I am keeping track of everything. The executives must have called the police. I received pictures of two pickup cars a block away from the Yun Corp office. They have a lot of police stationed just in case things turn violent. Food and medicine are being delivered on time to Mr. Yun." The information was thrown at Qian Meng without reserve.


    Qian Meng hummed. "Okay. It''s time for us to leave for lunch, too. You can stay back. Keep me informed on text."


    Li Min was silent. "You will bring only the bodyguard?" she asked.


    "Yes, he alone is fine. You can make base here and filter information," Qian Meng had an authoritative lilt to her voice.


    The phone was cut and she looked around her room.


    "We''ll just have lunch for now. The plan is back to normal," she told the bodyguard. She made one last command on her brokerage account before packing up and slinging her back over her shoulder.


    He walked a step behind her, his eyes roving over every single person in Qian Meng''s proximity. He looked around the parking lot before allowing her into the sight of anyone who was sitting inside a car to wait for her.


    He was swift in getting her inside the car and getting in himself.


    He got out of the parking lot and watched in the rearview mirror as the car continued to tail them.


    "Still following?" Qian Meng asked with a shred of excitement.


    "Allow them to follow us," she said.


    The bodyguard looked over at her, concealing his surprise.


    He had already found out who the car belonged to. He had the CCTV footage from the security team and identified who was following them. It seemed like they had no intention of harming Yun Qian Meng. Instead, they were there to monitor her every mood as she had anticipated.


    But letting them tail her purposely¡­ it meant that she wanted Mr. Yun to know about something without having to use others.


    They pulled up in front of the restaurant.


    "Park in the restaurant parking lot. Where everyone can see," she said quickly.


    The bodyguard thought the same. He didn''t want a valet handling the car or tampering with it. But it also meant that Qian Meng would have to walk a short distance from the parking lot to the front entrance of the restaurant.


    He could need to be more cautious, but this was the best course of action.


    He had heard about people tampering with her previous car, so he wouldn''t take any car-related chances.


    She checked the watch one last time, not getting out of the car until Li Wenyue pulled up.


    She noticed a car pulling into the driveway and looked at it carefully. Once she saw Li Wenyue appear out of it, she cleared her throat.


    "Let''s head out," she said slowly and slid to the other side of the war, waiting for the bodyguard to guide her out.


    She slid out and walked over to Li Wenyue, who was stunned to see her.


    "Why didn''t you head inside the restaurant?" he asked as she raised her hand for a handshake.


    "I had some work that I needed to finish. I saw you pull up, so I decided to come out." She smiled politely.


    Li Wenyue finally claimed her extended hand and gave it a firm shake. A sign of camaraderie. "Let''s go in, shall we?" he spoke.


    Qian Meng nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before motioned him to go before her.


    The bodyguard watched the interaction, making sure from the corner of his eyes that the tailing car was in an excellent view of this interaction.


    Mrs. Mo had managed to capture the scene perfectly.


    He straightened his cuff, silently pleading that the boss''s wife was obedient and reasonable like she was now. If she put her mind to mischief, she would find a way to lose him and run around.


    Inside the confines of the car that tailed Qian Meng sat a middle-aged man with a camera good enough to take professional wildlife photography.

 Chapter 400: Waited Until the Last Minute

    If he was pretending to be a journalist or treating Qian Meng like an animal in the wild was unknown.


    He was ducked down, his finger on the shutter, taking in every second of the interaction. He had taken good money for this job and he was expected to send pictures every twelve hours. After following her from the gated community, he had been unabashedly doing his job.


    At first, he thought it was some woman who was cheating on her husband, but then she realized that all the woman did was work. The interaction with the older man looked innocent and professional as well.


    Apart from that little tuck of her hair behind her ear.


    He looked over the picture and smiled.


    This was good content.


    Inside the restaurant, Qian Meng sat silently, waiting for Li Wenyue to order. She crossed one leg over the other and appraised his expression.


    An onlooker wouldn''t see how tightly coiled he was, but Qian Meng knew with one look that the man had a lot on his mind.


    Li Wenyue ordered and then snapped the menu shut. He looked up at her apologetically. "Sorry, I am indecisive in certain things," he said finally.


    Qian Meng gave him a polite smile. "All of us are guilty of it at times." She pretended not to hear the double meaning in his words. "What is it you wanted to discuss with me?"


    She wanted to have proof that he wanted to be on her side in this battle before she could expose her intentions.


    "I am sure you have heard the rumors circulating. We spoke about it briefly on email, but I needed to get your opinion on the situation at the company," he said calmly.


    He, too, was scrutinizing her every move.


    "Yes. I believe I was concerned about the situation and you courteously told me everything was alright." She paused and tilted her lips upward in a humorless smile. "What changed your mind?"


    "I believe the issue runs deeper than we had previously thought," he claimed.


    Qian Meng wanted to roll her eyes. "I wouldn''t have found out the truth if not for the news article. I am glad you chose to speak to me, even though I know your reasons are not as noble as you have led me to believe," she was forthright about her suspicion.


    "In business, we are all only interested in our own profit. I won''t deny that I have selfish reasons for reaching out to you."


    Qian Meng nodded in understanding. "I can respect that. You don''t need to tell me your own motivations, but I hope you will speak to me truthfully. I don''t condone wishy-washy partnerships." The look she gave him was enough warning.


    She would destroy him if he betrayed her.


    She had already planted the seed and once her father found out about who she had met, he would surely corner the VP until he had no choice but to help her or be destroyed.


    And then the plotting began. Over lunch, Li Wenyue revealed the extent of the damage and asked Qian Meng to support him to restructure the business and clean it up.


    Qian Meng took a decisive sip of her water. "I don''t mind lending my support in favor of you, but I want to ask why you waited until the last minute to try and salvage the situation." She looked at him, contempt rising in her.


    Li Wenyue, as good as his reputation was, had turned a blind eye to the mishaps in the company. And now he was acting high and mighty. He reaped the benefits for so long.


    "It''s¡­ I didn''t know¡­"


    Qian Meng scoffed. "I refuse to believe that half-baked lie." She sighed. "I don''t expect you to answer truthfully, but I require sincerity. I hope you can keep that."


    She wiped her lips before standing up.


    "I shall be leaving now. I have some engagements after this." She took a quick bow and left the room.


    The bodyguard joined her, guiding her through the busy restaurant and into the car.


    Qian Meng walked purposely in front of the other car, showing a happy smile. Once her back was to it, she dropped the smile and slid into her own car without concern.


    Mission accomplished.


    One way or another, she would sow discord amongst the executives in the company.


    When the car started, Qian Meng pulled her phone to her ear.


    "Done with the meeting. What is the situation in the office?" she asked.


    "Everything in the office is peaceful for now. The executives are grumbling and screaming at employees for not doing their jobs. Mr. Yun has been radio silent."


    The information was given in one go.


    "Watch over the situation from there. I will return to the office in a while. I have to leak some news to the executives tonight, you can do it through the secretaries, right?" she questioned softly.


    Li Min was silent for a second. "I can call a small gathering today. Everyone seems to be in a wretched mood," she said slowly.


    Qian Meng chuckled at the insinuation. "Take the company card. It''s a business expense," she said jokingly.


    Li Min bit back her joy before responding. "Understood. Let me know what to say."


    "Right after my father finds out who I met. It would have the greatest effect," she said maliciously.


    She hung up the phone and went back to work on her laptop.


    The price was falling beyond belief.


    She wondered if she really needed to contact Mo Qingchen about transferring money to her or buying in her stead.


    She decided against it. She had another unexpected weapon in hand.


    Before she could reach the office, Li Min called her again.


    "Is there a change in the situation?" Qian Meng asked calmly. She had grown used to these sudden changes. She took them in stride.


    "Not in the protest-front. But your younger brother called me and asked me for Li Jun''s number. I thought you should know," Li Min said. There was a hint of confusion and worry in her voice.

 Chapter 401: Never Break Her Duty

    "Li Jun?" Qian Meng asked, not sure what to say. "They met each other at the wedding but I didn''t know they were on speaking terms," she muttered.


    "Yes, I don''t think it is a private call, Boss. I just wanted to inform you in case your brother was planning something without your knowledge."


    Li Min was one to distrust the intentions of others easily. Qian Meng was the same in most cases, but not when it came to her younger brother.


    She had seen him grow up and recently, he was taking more initiative. He wanted to show that he was all grown up and could take care of others instead of the other way around.


    She remained silent for a moment. "Thank you for letting me know. I will give him a call."


    She pressed her lips together and wondered what the little boy was up to. She sighed and dialed his number. He picked it up immediately, seemingly waiting for her call to come.


    "Finally," he breathed into the phone without greeting.


    "What are you doing?" she asked. She knew he knew what she was talking about.


    "I spoke to your lawyer. He will be calling you anyway."


    Qian Meng frowned. "I don''t want to hear about this from the lawyer. I want to hear what is going on with you. Why did you want to talk to him?" she questioned.


    Qing Yuan tutted. "Just trying to help. I thought high and low about what to do. And I have come to the conclusion that I am siding with you. I don''t know what else to do than to give my shares to you."


    Qian Meng stiffened. "You are not going to give me your shares," she countered firmly.


    Qing Yuan was startled. "Don''t you need them to win against Father?" he asked innocently.


    Qian Meng sighed. "They are yours. I need your support, not for you to transfer your shares to me," she explained. "You have a right by blood to it. It''s not worth much right now, but it is your pension if you so wish."


    "But¡­ dad¡­ he will find a way to persuade me. Or force me," he groaned.


    "You have some understanding of your nature, then," Qian Meng stated. "But you are trying to grow up. I understand." She was silent for a minute. "I promise that your shares will be worth much more than they are now."


    "I trust you," Qing Yuan responded immediately.


    "Yes. So, trust me to win against Father without taking your shares," she tried to reason with him. "There are many ways to this than the method you have come up with," she acknowledged. "Li Jun will find a better way to ensure both our rights on this, understood?" she said.


    She didn''t want to think too deeply about her brother''s decision. He was young and rash in showing support. He would regret it later on. Therefore, as his older sister, it was his responsibility to teach him and manage his exuberance.


    - - - - -


    With her seven percent in Yun Corporation and the three percent from the VP, she had a stronghold on the company, but not enough to override Yun Sui Bo''s authority.


    For that, she would need Qing Yuan''s share. And even his mother''s. But that was the main issue. Jiang Xin would never give up her shares.


    Unless Qian Meng used her impatience and greed to her advantage. And she had an idea to execute it.


    Right now, her father was swamped at the office, surrounded, and couldn''t come to the phone to call. It was the perfect time to get everything under control.


    She recounted the names of the people who her father couldn''t hang up on and then to the people who person who could convince Jiang Xin to sell her shares.


    If she wasn''t wrong, Jiang Xin''s financial planner was the one whom Qian Meng used when she was a teenager. He was recommended and handled the accounts of people in his family for a while.


    But the man had a deep disdain for the Yun family, especially because Qian Meng''s father was a tyrant and rarely treated people with the respect they deserved.


    Qian Meng sighed.


    Right now, she needed to fix so much. The moment she entered her office, she was on the phone with Li Jun.


    "I heard that my brother called you," she started without greeting.


    "He did," he said lightly. "What is your decision on the matter?"


    "I don''t want to buy the shares from Qing Yuan. Once I restore and reform the company, the share prices will stabilize. It''s financial security for him. Instead, we need to find a temporary solution that makes sure he is on my side legally. Can you ensure that?" she asked.


    Li Jun thought for a minute. "It''s possible if you are his legal guardian. But he is eighteen years old and considered an adult so you can''t sign as a guardian." He paused. "But if he signs over power of attorney rights to you, you can take defined actions on behalf of Yun Qing Yuan."


    Qian Meng hummed. "It''s common amongst the elderly but he is a teenager."


    Li Jun explained further. "You will be the financial POA. You have access to his financial accounts to pay for health care, housing needs, and bills. You will also have to file taxes on behalf of him. And investment decisions. That is what you want, right?"


    Qian Meng frowned deeply. "I don''t want that much control. I only want control over his shares in Yun Corporation."


    "We can make that happen," he said easily. "As long as you don''t go against the interest of Yun Qing Yuan or break your duty in his interest."


    It wasn''t even a thought worth mentioning. "That is fine for me. With Qing Yuan busy with school, we need to find a time when he is free to talk to us about it and see what he thinks about this matter."


    Li Jun sighed. "Understood. I suspect there is something else that you want me to look into as well," he prompted.


    Qian Meng smirked. "Caught me," she stated. "I need you to call my previous financial adviser and place a share acquisition proposal to him for Jiang Xin''s shares in Yun Corporation."


    "Anonymous buyer, yes?" he asked casually. Qian Meng could hear him typing aggressively in the background.

 Chapter 402: Hiding Who He Really Is

    "Yes. Make it anonymous. And give him enough incentive to ensure that the shares are sold." She placed this expectation on Li Jun because he was capable of doing it. He maneuvered such things with ease.


    "My name is easily associated with you, so I will ask my Merger and Acquisitions expert to do it in my stead. Rest assured, the result will be the same if I had done it myself."


    Qian Meng hummed in agreement. "I shall leave it to you. There is a deadline, though," she added calmly.


    "Deadline?" Li Jun sounded surprised.


    "Yes, do it within tomorrow afternoon. Before Yun Sui Bo finds a way to come out of his office," she said firmly.


    "Noted."


    The conversation ended and Qian Meng texted Yun Qing Yuan about the idea presented by Li Jun.


    The reply was instant.


    [Where and when do I sign?]


    Qian Meng smiled and shook her head.


    She typed out her response quickly.


    [You need to understand the whole process before signing. Get on a video call or meet Li Jun. Then you can sign.]


    Though she was in a hurry, she didn''t want her brother to grow up and think that she had used him too cruelly and without regard for his opinion.


    [Okay!]


    And it was set.


    An impromptu meeting at Li Jun''s office happened at five that evening. Qing Yuan wanted to shoot forward and finish the process right after his class ended.


    He entered Li Jun''s office, his backpack looking heavy. He saw his sister already seated and gave her a blinding smile.


    "Sis, you''re looking really tired today!" he joked.


    "But still pretty beyond belief," she countered in a similar tone. "Sit down. We have to talk."


    Li Jun leaned forward and produced the paper. He went through each and every article in the POA papers, explaining the law jargon and its implication in full detail.


    At the end of an hour, Qing Yuan breathed out a tired breath.


    "Do you have any doubts about anything?" Li Jun asked patiently.


    Qing Yuan shook his head. "It sounds good to me. I don''t understand investment so having Sis take care of this one in my stead is a huge relief," he explained. He squared his shoulder. "Where do I sign?"


    The process was quick.


    Li Jun already had the notary officer on standby.


    "The other request you made is well underway. You should get the final result tomorrow morning," Li Jun said just as the brother and sister were about to leave.


    Qian Meng nodded and thanked him.


    She turned to Qing Yuan. "Are you going home now? I will drop you off," she said casually.


    Qing Yuan shook his head. "I am going to stay at the hostel for a while. I don''t want to be home at such a time," he said with a shrug.


    "I''m sorry for this," she apologized again.


    "But you aren''t sorry about what you are doing," Qing Yuan claimed. Qian Meng raised her brow in question. "I know you feel sorry for dragging me in, but you aren''t sorry about what you are putting Father through. I don''t fault you for it." He looked towards the ground.


    "Sis, I like you more than the other people in my house. So, don''t worry about my opinion," he said in a small voice.


    "Then let me drop you off at university, okay?" she insisted.


    He nodded. "Your car is low-key, so no one will find out who I am," he commented.


    Qian Meng was shocked. "Are you hiding who you really are at college?" she questioned.


    He nodded. "You fought to create your own identity in the industry. And I know how imposing dad can be. I want to live my college life independent of how I grew up." He had to think about what he was going to say next. "I don''t want to live in the shadow of my father''s reputation¡­ or yours."


    Qian Meng understood what he was saying without being offended. He was a young man who wanted to stand on his own two feet and make his name without the influence of his family. She was the same when she was younger. She wouldn''t fault him for wanting the same.


    "I understand. My car is widely used in the country. At most, people will think you have a very pretty older sister," she said in a smile. She ruffled his hair as they walked into the parking lot.


    From the corner of her eye, Qian Meng saw the familiar car and frowned.


    She couldn''t allow this information to leak to her father yet. She shielded the man''s view of Qing Yuan and led him into the car.


    She pulled out her phone and texted Li Min.


    [Make sure my father doesn''t receive any emails. Especially pictures of what I am doing today.]


    Li Min, who saw this message was perplexed for a second before realization dawned on her. Her boss was being tailed and she had met Qing Yuan. To protect her brother and to blindside her father, Qian Meng needed Yun Sui Bo to be cut off from all movement outside his room.


    [Mr. Yun doesn''t check his mail himself. I will try.]


    Qian Meng was not reassured. She had cornered her father, he might start doing things he usually doesn''t do. So, she fiddled with her thumb as she spoke to Qing Yuan.


    He was excited about his classes and chattered insistently about the people he met and the things he learned.


    Until graduating high school, he hadn''t taken such a keen interest in studying. He did it because he had to. But now that he had found a subject he found himself enjoying, he studied because he liked it.


    Qian Meng watched the happy gleam in her brother''s eye and felt the tension slowly seep out of her body.


    There was a reason she was working so hard and part of it was this boy who was growing up too quickly.


    She found herself hugging him tightly before he slid out of the car. He looked surprised but didn''t say anything.


    "Invite me over to party with brother-in-law. I miss him!" he insisted before sprinting past the university gate.


    Qian Meng sighed and looked at the sky. After all of this was over, she would try to bring Qing Yuan to a place where he felt more secure.

 Chapter 403: Treat People Like Humans

    Yun Sui Bo''s secretary sat at her desk, talking to others when her phone started to ring. She looked at the screen and smiled.


    "Li Min, what are you up to?" she asked.


    Li Min chuckled, pretending to be pleasant when she needed to pass on the message quickly. "I just wanted to ask a favor of you," she informed in a low voice.


    "And what is that?" the other questioned, without any doubt in her mind about Li Min''s intention.


    "I need you to stop Mr. Yun from checking his email or messages. Is that possible?"


    The secretary grew quiet. "What are you asking me to do?" she whispered, her eyes moving around to see if anyone was watching her.


    "Just this. We need to stop him from communicating with other people and ruining your protest," Li Min said lightly. She didn''t feel too guilty in duping the other.


    "That¡­ I can''t do that. It''s against my moral conduct as a secretary," she hissed.


    "If you say so. But you aren''t his secretary right now. He has done you wrong and enjoyed the benefits of money, hasn''t he?" Li Min instigated. Her tone was level but coaxing. Li Min knew how Yun Sui Bo usually spoke to others so she didn''t put too much emphasis on what Mr. Yun had done wrong.


    It could be interpreted in many ways.


    "I¡­ need to think about this." The response was too quiet for Li Min''s comfort. She knew not to press too badly or her intentions would be taken ill. So, she hummed and talked about other things not pertaining to Yun Sui Bo.


    After a few minutes of gossiping, the secretary felt a lot better.


    Her work phone rang and she looked at it with thinly veiled disdain.


    She picked it up and pulled it to her ears.


    "Yes, President Yun?" she spoke into it.


    "Bring me some tea and snacks," he demanded. The secretary froze.


    "Yes¡ª"


    Yun Sui Bo cut her off. "Could you run to that shop you brought cookies from last month?" he asked.


    The secretary suddenly remembered that Mr. Yun had stolen a cookie from her when she had brought some for her colleagues. And the store was near her house! It was an hour away from the office.


    "Sir¡­ the store doesn''t deliver here. It''s out of range of delivery," the secretary informed softly.


    "I am craving it. Don''t tell me stories and get to work."


    Just before he was about to hang up, the secretary heard him mutter under his breath. She knew he wasn''t speaking to her, but the words pierced into her heart.


    "Lazy."


    She gulped and hung up the phone.


    She had spent years working as his secretary and taking up the burden of running around and doing most of his work. He had never given her any perks or bonuses like she had heard Li Min get from Yun Qian Meng. She had not even received a shred of respect.


    She looked around the room and saw people sitting and chatting, sharing meals and whatnot. But there she was, behind her desk, running around like a headless chicken at every whim of the President.


    She was still working. At what cost?


    She felt tears prickle her eyes.


    If not for her family, to whom she needed to send money every month, she would have quit this job long ago. She wasn''t compensated enough for her work or respected.


    Mr. Yun treated her worse than an animal and she had a sneaking suspicion that it was because she was a girl.


    She sniffed and put her head down on the desk.


    In the traffic outside, the round trip would take her so many hours that she wouldn''t even be back when he called to ask for his supper.


    She pulled out her cellphone and went through the food delivery application. She picked the cheapest bakery with the lowest reviews and picked out a box that would cost her close to nothing.


    ''Let''s see if the great Mr. Yun knows the difference!'' she thought vengefully.


    She shot Li Min a text saying the same. And the response was less than lukewarm.


    [Ah. What a great revenge. He must be shaking in his boots. You are so evil.]


    This was clearly teasing, but the secretary didn''t take it to heart.


    The cookies arrived within twenty minutes. And two big mails came at the same time. She looked at the unread email and then stared at the closed door.


    She could delay telling him about the email for five minutes.


    She placed the cookies carefully on a plate and added some tea along with it and knocked on the President''s door.


    She could feel the eyes of the others on her, but she didn''t pay them attention.


    She heard his consent from inside the room and walked in.


    He was pacing inside the room, talking insistently and angrily into his phone. He barked at her to place the cookies on his desk and ''get lost.''


    The secretary sighed and did as he said.


    He was on the phone already, why would she disturb him with the news of an incoming email. And the mail was even titled like a spam email. Why should she inform him when he hadn''t told her to look out for it explicitly?


    She huffed and left the room.


    From that moment onwards, she stopped working. She went over to the desk to make sure no messages came through. She sat close to the door and smiled as Mr. Yun''s phone blew up and he had no time to look at his messages or emails.


    The email was still unread and she took great pleasure in watching Mr. Yun struggle alone.


    She pulled out her cellphone at the end of the night. It was midnight and Mr. Yun was still on the phone.


    [He hasn''t opened the phone yet.]


    [Great. Thank you! Mind getting him to sleep? We wouldn''t want Mr. Yun to collapse due to overwork.]


    The secretary understood immediately. She knocked on the door with a small smile.

 Chapter 404: Qian Mengs Fear Came True

    "President Yun?" she called. She had heard the call end.


    "What is it?" he snapped, awfully grumpy.


    "Sir, it is getting late. Why don''t you get some sleep?" she asked.


    He raised his voice so that everyone outside could hear him. "With those bastards sitting outside and plotting against me, how can I go to sleep?" he fumed.


    The secretary pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing. That was the whole point of the protest. To make him unable to sleep like he was making it hard for them to sleep at night.


    "I will be right outside. Please rest your worries and get some sleep. Your health is of absolute priority, President." She gave him a small bow to appease his anger.


    Yun Sui Bo contemplated on the issue for a moment before nodding.


    "You can sleep on the couch. They won''t allow you to leave the room. Unfortunately, we don''t have any blankets or pillows to aid you. I will have to inconvenience you to put up with this for some time," she said promptly.


    Actually, they had pillows and blankets in the employees'' lounge, but she wouldn''t allow him to rest easy even if he did sleep.


    Mr. Yun huffed and raged about how impertinent employees were when he was the one putting food in their mouths.


    Entitlement in billionaires was common, but rarely did one come out and boast about how a minuscule part of his money was feeding others.


    ''Making the economy better, my foot.''


    She watched him settle into the couch and look absolutely uncomfortable. She placed a bottle of water on the desk for him to have at night and taking advantage of his closed but tense eyes, she put his phone on silent. It wouldn''t even vibrate.


    ''Have an excellent night of sleep!'' she thought cheerfully.


    A panicked thought that this action would get her fired crossed her mind, but then she eased back. She was going to lose her job anyway if the company went down, might as well get on the good side of an actually good employer while she was at it.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng got into her car just like the day before and rode to the office. The car from the day before was back and seeing that her father hadn''t rage called her, this man had either not sent the photos or Li Min''s secretary friend hadn''t informed her father about the incoming email.


    She was satisfied with either of those options.


    "How long do you think this car will follow us?" Qian Meng asked in a bored voice, knowing the answer to it herself.


    The bodyguard remained silent but looked at the rear-view mirror to check on Mrs. No''s expression.


    She looked mildly bored.


    "Do you want me to lose him?" he asked.


    Qian Meng shook her head. "I don''t want to lose him," she joked. "I am more interested in keeping a low profile for now. Only giving him the information I want to give."


    She flipped through the papers in front of her. It was the progress plans of 1314 that Mo Qingchen had handed to her. She read through it silently and was appeased by the progress. After this storm passed, 1314 would be her priority for some time. Seeing the independent progress Mo Qingchen was making, she knew she wouldn''t have to fret about it too much.


    She closed the file and put it inside her bag. She would catch some sleep before getting to work.


    Li Wenyue was spearheading talks with the shareholders, using her name to do it. Most of the other shareholders were calling her in a panic to make sure they were not being fed lies by the Yun Corporation. While all of this happened in relative silence, Qian Meng''s phone blew up since Li Wenyue started to speak.


    He was garnering power from other shareholders, but in reality, they were supporting Qian Meng in this battle. Li Wenyue didn''t seem to realize that yet.


    Despite this, Qian Meng was fine. She could monitor what Li Wenyue said without needing a spy at his side.


    He didn''t have a good reputation at the moment, so he could only use her. It was the perfect weapon for him, who had no reputation of his own to work from. On the other hand, her name was unsettling the shareholders. In such turbulent times, they saw a ray of hope and flocked to her. They were in a horrible dilemma. To choose the old man who was making mistakes or the fresh young woman who had made a name for herself.


    The answer was simple.


    She was busy looking over her work when Li Jun''s call came in.


    "Tell me," she prompted, holding her phone between her ear and shoulder as she typed out an important email on her laptop.


    "The transfer has been successfully made. You, as the buyer remained anonymous. We will progress with the financials and get everything in order within two hours," Li Jun informed.


    "Excellent," Qian Meng exclaimed. Her fingers stopped over her keyboard and she grinned brightly. She now had 26 percent control over Yun Corporation, which was one percent less than her father. But with the support of the other shareholders, she would be able to walk in like she owned the place.


    For a moment, she thought about how easy it was to manipulate the shareholders and feared that her father would pull a trick and get them on his side.


    But it was okay. That might just make it more fun for her. She would see it as a challenge. It might increase her hatred for Mr. Yun and therefore make it sweeter when she saw his world crumble around him.


    It was around five that evening that Li Min sprinted into her room, looking worried out of her mind.


    "Boss, I have bad news!" she exclaimed.


    Qian Meng looked up from her work and stared at Li Min in surprise. "What has gotten you like this?" she asked, perplexed.


    "What we feared happened," Li Min said.

 Chapter 405: Yun Sui Bo Is At The Hospital

    Qian Meng stared for a beat longer before she pulled out her cellphone. "He was taken to the hospital?" she questioned.


    Li Min nodded. "The secretary called me to tell me that Mr. Yun was taken to the hospital because he fainted. The media was already outside. We can expect stories about him fainting from exhaustion or having a heart attack from shock coming out in a few moments," she said quickly.


    Qian Meng nodded. "As expected from Mr. Yun. He used the most expected method." She smiled at Li Min. "Don''t worry. Let him get admitted to the hospital. Let everyone and the shareholders know that he is unwell. Even the employees need to know."


    Li Min frowned. "But the popular opinion¡­" she trailed off.


    "This isn''t a battle of popular opinion. It''s a matter of the employees and shareholders. I can use my reputation to clear up misunderstandings in a bit. Right now, let the news of him being sick run. Let''s see how long he can pretend and get away with it."


    She smirked.


    "Aren''t you going to visit Mr. Yun?" Li Min asked after a moment.


    "I will," Qian Meng chirped. "When Jiang Xin calls me to act like a virtuous wife."


    Li Min stared at her Boss for a second before nodding.


    "Ah, before you leave. Please send over all the papers with proof of Jiang Xin illegally buying shares of Venus. Every single detail. Make two copies. Put one folder on my desk and give the other to Li Jun," she instructed.


    "I''ll collaborate with Li Jun for the rest," she said freely.


    Li Min nodded and went out. As she closed the door to the office, she realized what those papers were for.


    Her boss was going to use it as leverage. She never thought her boss would blackmail others. It would surely be a sight to behold!


    As Qian Meng had expected, Jiang Xin''s call came an hour after her father had reached the hospital.


    Qian Meng picked up her cellphone and pulled it to her ears, waiting for the pretend sobbing to begin.


    "Meng''er¡­" she started. "How have you been?" she asked.


    Qian Meng cleared her throat. "I am busy with work. Do you mind getting to the point?" she countered, leaving no room for pretense. As much as she wanted to see this woman act, doing it at a time when she needed to take action did not suit Qian Meng''s taste.


    "You¡­ have you watched the news?" she asked after a sniff.


    "Ah, yes. I have. What about it?" Qian Meng questioned firmly. She felt a small smile crawl up her lips when the other stopped breathing for a second.


    "You know your father is in the hospital but you didn''t rush over?" Jiang Xin asked with a gasp.


    Qian Meng almost sniggered, knowing that Jiang Xin was emphasizing this point because she was sitting beside her very conscious father. It was an attempt to infuriate him against her.


    Probably because she had a guilty conscience for selling her shares, she was pushing all the attention towards Qian Meng and avoiding suspicion.


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes.


    "Yes. Is there an issue?"


    Jiang Xin missed a beat before responding slowly. "Your father''s health is deteriorating. The doctor spoke to me but I couldn''t understand much. Can''t you come over and talk to the doctor on our behalf?" she asked.


    Qian Meng could almost imagine Jiang Xin looking at Yun Sui Bo from the corner of her eyes to check his expression.


    "I will come if your husband pleads me to," Qian Meng said boldly. She wanted to see how far they would go to meet her face to face. Yun Sui Bo must be scrambling to meet her at this point. He had been desperate enough to use a low measure like feigning a serious illness to get out of a protest.


    Jiang Xin stumbled to mention this to Yun Sui Bo, who had already heard the words coming from the receiver. His eyes blazed with anger.


    "Tell her that if she doesn''t want to look like an unfilial brat in front of the media, she will come to me!" he barked.


    Qian Meng snickered.


    "Meng''er¡ª" Jiang Xin started, but Qian Meng cut her off.


    "No need to relay his words. I heard them clearly. Tell him not to faint from anger again. What is this an ancient harem drama?" she joked maliciously.


    She hung up the phone without ceremony and collected her things.


    She peered out of her office and saw Li Min monitoring the news.


    "How is everything on the media front?" Qian Meng asked slowly as she neared Li Min''s table.


    Li Min looked up. "It''s polarizing at the moment. Some news agencies are accusing employees of intentionally mistreating the executives and President Yun. Others are pointing out the timing and saying that it is not the fault of the employees who are protecting their own rights."


    Qian Meng hummed as she thought about it. "Don''t let it get too biased on any side. I need my father stuck to the hospital bed in fear of being reprimanded," she claimed.


    Chaining him to a location that was not his office was a good thing. If he was in the hospital feigning illness, he wouldn''t be able to take work calls. He needed to follow the act until the end. In this way, she could imprison him in his own plot.


    "Boss, you are going to meet him now?" she asked, looking down at her watch.


    "Yeah. I''ll call Mo Qingchen and ask him to leave some food in the oven. I don''t know how long this conversation is going to take," she sighed.


    Li Min stood up and nodded. "Have a safe trip," she called as Qian Meng walked away.


    Qian Meng waved over her shoulder and walked out of sight. The bodyguard stuck to her side until she slid into the car.


    "The car is still following us," he said after a couple of minutes on the road.

 Chapter 406: Dont Follow Us Anymore

    Qian Meng chuckled. "Let him. He will figure out where I am going soon and zoom in front of us," she said confidently.


    And it happened just like she said. Once the man in the other car had figured out that she was headed to the hospital, he overtook Qian Meng''s car and went towards the hospital first.


    Qian Meng smiled brightly. "Please stop by Li Jun''s office," she said calmly.


    The bodyguard looked at Mrs. Mo through the mirror and felt a little scared of her. She either had a deep understanding of people or she had supernatural powers. How she gauged the movements of others better than a bodyguard like him was unknown to him, but she seemed confident in her movements.


    "Yes, ma''am."


    He took a side lane and diverted towards Li Jun''s office.


    Qian Meng quickly dropped by and picked up the power of attorney papers and the share transfer proof from Li Jun before coming back.


    In the parking lot of the hospital, the man who was supposed to tail Qian Meng grew worried. She should have arrived shortly after he did, but it had been twenty minutes since he came and she had still not arrived.


    He was just about to start the engine when he saw her car pull into the hospital''s parking lot. He sighed in relief and ducked out to pull out his camera.


    Qian Meng, on the other hand, had already spotted his car. The light in his car was switched on, so she could see into it despite the rolled-up windows.


    She also knew that he would either need to switch off his lights or roll down the window to take better pictures of her.


    As the bodyguard pulled up to a free parking space, she leaned forward to speak to him. "I wanted to give you a heads-up," she started. The bodyguard looked over after he had turned the engine off. "I am going to confront the man who is tailing us."


    The bodyguard showed no outward emotion but was somewhat uncomfortable about this.


    "There is no use for him to follow me any longer," Qian Meng said in a deep voice.


    "I will leave the car first and walk ahead. As he takes pictures and rolls down the glass, approach him and pull him out of the car."


    She gave him a devious smile.


    Without another word, she opened the door and slid out of the car with ease. She sauntered towards the hospital entrance, not once looking towards the car.


    As she had expected, she heard the faint noise of the automatic window rolling down a little.


    She was almost out of sight when the bodyguard used the man''s diverted attention to his advantage. He approached the car and blocked the view of the camera finally.


    By doing this, his large body covered access to the figure of Yun Qian Meng, who had looked over her shoulder and seen the scene.


    She smirked.


    "Sir, may I ask what you are doing?" he spoke gravely.


    The man looked like he was caught in a headlight. "I¡ª" he started, but didn''t know how to respond.


    "You are encroaching on the privacy of my client. Please come out," the bodyguard demanded.


    "Excuse me¡­ I am not taking your pictures. Why are you getting your panties in a twist?" the cameraman hollered.


    The bodyguard responded by grabbing onto the door and wrenching it open.


    The other''s eyes widened as he tried to keep it closed.


    The bodyguard reached inside and unlocked the door from the slip of space available to him. The door opened immediately and the man stumbled out along with it. He clutched the camera to him and looked like a wild animal caught.


    Qian Meng had already reached the spot by this time.


    "Take the camera, please," she asked the bodyguard. He followed without a second thought, wrenching the camera out of his hands. He was looking through the pictures as the other man tried to snatch them from him.


    Qian Meng gently took the camera out of the bodyguard''s hand and her eyes widened at the weight of it.


    "How have you been carrying this around for days?" she asked, suddenly feeling sympathetic. "Is the one who put you up to this going to pay for your orthopedic?" she asked. She shook her head as she found the slot for the memory card and pulled it out.


    She handed the camera back to the man and gave him a brilliant smile. "Thank you for diligently photographing me. I am sure I look lovely in these pictures. You don''t mind if I hand these to Mr. Yun myself, do you?" she chirped.


    The bodyguard cleared his throat, unable to hide the amusement he felt.


    Qian Meng waved off the other man without notice. "You don''t need to wait for an hour with crappy wifi any longer. I will do it for you," she said as she slid the memory card into her bag. "You worked hard."


    She patted the man on the shoulder and then turned to leave.


    The bodyguard released the man. "Don''t follow us anymore. She''ll just embarrass you until you want to jump off a building," he said seriously.


    He trotted over to Qian Meng and his eyes moved as he made sure no one else was watching.


    Qian Meng already had her cellphone to her ear. She looked sly when the other person picked up on the second ring. "Mr. Yun, I knew you were waiting for a call. Not who you expected?" she asked.


    Yun Sui Bo cleared his throat. "Are you coming or not?" he asked gruffly.


    "Of course, I am coming. Wait for five minutes. I am bringing a gift for you too." She hung up the phone, knowing that the man who had tailed her would call in a hurry to inform Yun Sui Bo what had happened.


    "Thank you for putting up with me. I might not need you around for too long, though," she told him slowly as they walked down the corridor of the VIP ward. "You''ll be happy to go back to your unit. And I will get my personal bodyguard back. He has been too distant recently," she joked.

 Chapter 407: Dont Want To Be Infected

    The bodyguard didn''t need an explanation about who she was mentioning. Mrs. Mo was definitely talking about her husband.


    She stopped in front of a room and slid the door open.


    The people inside looked up in surprise.


    "Meng''er!" Jiang Xin exclaimed.


    Qian Meng ignored her and stepped inside, pretending to scrutinize her father. He was, as she knew, perfectly fine.


    "Ah, from how you acted, I was thinking you were at the doorstep of death. You look better than the last time I saw you," she claimed, rolling her eyes. "Have some shame, Mr. Yun¡­" She clucked her tongue.


    The door to the room was closed by the bodyguard. Finally, the couple saw him.


    "Why are you bringing in that person?" Yun Sui Bo asked angrily.


    "He''s my bodyguard. He goes wherever I do," she said with a hint of boredom.


    Jiang Xin tried to mediate and spoke softly. "What is the use of a bodyguard when you are with family?"


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "I don''t need him at other times. I ask for him especially when there is family involved."


    Yun Sui Bo cleared his throat but the glare in his eyes was evident.


    "Sit down. We need to talk."


    Qian Meng looked around the room and found a seat that was farther away from the couple. But it was still closer than she would have wanted to be.


    She gingerly sat down, looking at the struck expression on her father''s face, who had expected her to sit beside his bed as a courtesy.


    Qian Meng had long left behind her manners when it came to her father, so she didn''t pay him any attention.


    The bodyguard planted himself beside Qian Meng and stared intently at the older couple. He had a little idea about what was happening, having overheard several conversations since he was employed to protect Mrs. Mo, and he didn''t have a high opinion of these people.


    "Come closer," Yun Sui Bo barked.


    Qian Meng flashed him a smile. "Sorry, I don''t know what disease you caught. I don''t want to be infected by you," she said calmly.


    Yun Sui Bo''s eyes grew wide and the tell-tale puffing of his face could be seen. When he couldn''t take out his anger by screaming and making comments, his face would turn this way.


    Qian Meng felt a spark of joy in her heart.


    "I don''t have a transmittable disease," he responded after calming down.


    "How do you know that?" Qian Meng countered. She lacked discretion when she pulled out a tissue from her bag and wiped her hands. She made sure Jiang Xin and Yun Sui Bo saw it.


    "I told you¡­ I spoke to the doctor!" Jiang Xin jumped in easily.


    Qian Meng raised her brow. "Didn''t you say that you didn''t understand much? That''s why you called me, didn''t you?"


    Jiang Xin nodded, "But I understood some parts of it," she murmured softly.


    Qian Meng nodded. "Let''s call the doctor and hear the diagnosis, shall we?"


    Jiang Xin looked at Yun Sui Bo for permission and then pressed the call button. The nurse came running and found the chill in the air.


    "Do you mind calling the doctor? I am Mr. Yun''s biological descendent," Qian Meng said dispassionately.


    The nurse blinked in surprise, catching the hostility but quickly scurried away to call the doctor.


    Qian Meng silently leaned back into the seat, her eyes on Yun Sui Bo.


    "What surprise do you bring?" Yun Sui Bo asked. He didn''t know what it was, but he was sure it was nothing good.


    "You will find out once I have spoken to the doctor. The important thing is: why have you called me, Mr. Yun?" she asked.


    He cleared his throat. "You have been meeting with a lot of people, I hear," he said.


    She rolled her eyes. "Those are your unfounded conclusions. Why? I can''t even meet people these days? Do I look like the collared dog that you can command to sit?" She leaned in and questioned him.


    "Don''t twist my words. You know very well that you are incapable of taking over Yun Corporation. The real-estate and building industry is predominantly male-centric and they will crush you. Why you want to oppose me with such bogus accusation is beyond my imagination," he told her sharply.


    "The jewelry business is predominantly female-centric, I also don''t understand why you and your wife are adamant to take my company from me when you know nothing about it." She paused. "Oh, that''s not right. I know why now. Mr. Yun, you are a horrible businessman, that''s why."


    "Don''t speak like you know everything in the world!" he snapped. "You are not the only intelligent person. This personality of yours is what people hate about you."


    Qian Meng scoffed. "No one hates me except you, father. I am really amicable with people who treat me properly. I have a low tolerance for sneaky and parasitic people."


    From the corner of her eyes, she saw the door slide open and she stopped talking. The doctor entered and seemed blissfully oblivious to the tension in the room.


    Qian Meng shot up to her feet and bowed.


    "Ah, you must be Mr. Yun''s daughter," the older gentleman started.


    Qian Meng nodded, keeping a dignified expression.


    "Your father has raised blood pressure. We have done all the tests but, in my opinion, your father is healthy. His raised blood pressure is a product of something angering him today. Don''t worry about him."


    Qian Meng chuckled. "Thank you for giving me your honest opinion, doctor," she began. "And I apologize that you need to take care of this fake patient and waste decades of your experience on him." She bowed apologetically.


    The doctor startled and took a step back. Suddenly, he realized that the patient and the woman beside him were looking at him with exasperation.


    He would never understand wealthy people.


    "Ah¡­" he trailed off.


    "Please let them know how to take care of my father. He will have an excellent rest here, I am sure." She smiled beautifully.

 Chapter 408: Be Careful of the Truth

    The doctor coughed and explained what medication his father was being given.


    Apart from his daily medications, nothing. He was basically on vacation at the hospital. Taking up the space and room of a person who actually needed it.


    Qian Meng didn''t make any more comments out of frustration. She saw the doctor out and then returned to the room to face Yun Sui Bo.


    "Did you have to embarrass me in front of the nurse and doctor?" Yun Sui Bo asked with his voice raised.


    "Shush," Qian Meng scolded. "You are in a hospital. Don''t raise your voice and disturb the patients." She gleamed wickedly at him. "And I am not the one who shamed you, you are shaming yourself by being here to escape your responsibility."


    "You started it to begin with!" Yun Sui Bo countered.


    Qian Meng put her hand in her purse and fished out the memory card. She sauntered over to Yun Sui Bo and put it on the bedside table.


    "These are all the pictures the man took after tailing me for two days. Next time you think of pulling this trick, don''t be sloppy about it," she threatened him.


    Yun Sui Bo looked up in surprise. "You¡ª"


    "I am here to say a few things. I know why you called me." She looked at him deeply. "No, I will not sign over my shares to you or support you. I am the hardest target so you thought to ask me first. But I won''t do it." She raised her brow. "I plan on seeing what you want to do to coerce me? I will take great pleasure in seeing you suffer."


    She turned to glance at Jiang Xin. The other shifted uncomfortably in her seat, but Yun Sui Bo didn''t notice.


    "But let me tell you a little secret¡­" Qian Meng leaned into her father. "Your fake illness might turn into reality. Be careful when you find out the truth."


    She stood up straight.


    "I advise that you stay put in this bed and don''t come out for a few days. Plan your next steps and think deeply about what you will win and lose if you fight me."


    She produced the envelope with all the criminal infarctions made by Jiang Xin and placed it beside the memory chip.


    "That is not the only copy. So, don''t think about destroying it."


    Yun Sui Bo scrambled to take it into his hands. He opened the envelope and scanned through the contents, his eyes widening slightly before he looked up.


    "What is the meaning of this?" he growled.


    "Letting a brainless bimbo around to spend your money can be dangerous. Especially when you love them. The money she so freely spent was done illegally. Let''s see how she gets away with it." She wound her hands behind her back and looked at them.


    Jiang Xin was curiously looking at the papers, not knowing what it was.


    "Choose your battle wisely." Qian Meng zipped her bag decisively. "That should be all from me. You shouldn''t have anything else to say. You can''t convince me in any way."


    Yun Sui Bo crumbled the paper in his hands as he watched her leave. He wanted to shout behind her, but he saw the people walking around in the corridor and contained himself. Anything he did now would be in the news.


    Qian Meng had known that he was conscious of it and therefore asked him to silently sit there without doing anything. He looked down at the paper and glared at Jiang Xin.


    "Honey?" she asked softly, curling up slowly. "I¡­ I didn''t know¡­"


    Yun Sui Bo felt his anger slowly melt away. "I asked you to take the advice of your financial advisor at all costs, didn''t I? Why did you do something so irresponsible?" he asked coolly.


    "But you encouraged me to do it at the time!" she protested with a whine. "I have been listening to the financial advisor these days." She bit her lip and looked at him guiltily.


    "That''s good. That''s good," he said calmly. He took his cellphone out and took out his son''s number.


    "Even without Qian Meng and Li Wenyue''s support, I can override everything."


    Jiang Xin looked at the phone. "You are going to bring Qing Yuan into this? You know how he loves his sister," she said softly.


    Yun Sui Bo shook his head. "He has been taking a keen interest in business recently," he informed. "He had class but he came to the board meeting. He diligently took notes too." He sounded pleased with himself. "I am sure Qian Meng influenced him to take up that arts subject, but seeing him taking an interest¡­ I think he is reconsidering his previous choices."


    Jiang Xin looked tentative.


    Yun Sui Bo picked the phone up and place it at his ear. He had a small, victorious smile on his lips as he waited for his son to pick the call up. But it didn''t happen. He furrowed his brow. "Is he sleeping after his classes?" he wondered.


    Jiang Xin cleared her throat and nodded. "He is really tired after long days of classes," she told him. "But¡­ what about the charges Qian Meng is threatening to bring up against me?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.


    Yun Sui Bo waved it off. "I have higher connections than her in politics and the police force. I can make it disappear. Don''t worry about it," he assured her.


    Jiang Xin frowned. "Qian Meng is intelligent like you. Don''t you think she will realize what you want to do, too?" she questioned.


    Yun Sui Bo''s eyes flashed. He looked at his cellphone and called his son again.


    And again.


    And again.


    But then a call from an unknown number came in. Yun Sui Bo distrustingly picked it up. "Hello?" he spoke.


    "Mr. Yun, this is Li Jun speaking. I have been appointed as Yun Qing Yuan''s legal representative. I suspect you are calling your son because of some issues. Would you mind sharing them with me?" he asked professionally.

 Chapter 409: Know Thy Enemy

    Yun Sui Bo pulled his phone away from his ear and looked at his wife. "Qing Yuan has a personal lawyer?" he asked.


    Jiang Xin shook her head in confusion. "He never needed one, why?"


    Yun Sui Bo pointed to his phone.


    "I do not wish to talk to you without my son present. I doubt the validity of your claim," Yun Sui Bo said frankly.


    "Mr. Yun, you just called your son several times and he forwarded his words to me. He just wants you to know that if you wish to speak about financial matters, you will have to talk to either me or his power of attorney."


    Yun Sui Bo gulped. He had a bad feeling about this. "He set up a power of attorney?"


    "Yes."


    Yun Sui Bo exhaled deeply. "Yun Qian Meng?" he asked, already knowing the answer.


    "Yes, sir. You can ask me anything you wish to." Li Jun waited for a response but the other had already hung up.


    Yun Sui Bo stared off at the wall before turning to Jiang Xin. "She guessed my move. You were right¡­ She guessed my move."


    "Qian Meng got Qing Yuan a power of attorney?" Jiang Xin asked, surmising from what she could hear.


    Yun Sui Bo huffed. "Who else would give Qing Yuan such ideas?" he barked. "He''s an impressionable young man. I was wondering why he was interested in business all of a sudden¡­ This was the case, I see." He looked furious, but he didn''t yell.


    The words from Qian Meng were still fresh in his mind. The way she had slowly become brazen and rid herself of any conventional manners while talking to her family.


    "Qing Yuan is smart about most things. But he loves his sister," Jiang Xin tried to smooth over.


    "He hasn''t been coming home from university recently either, has he?" he asked.


    "Yes, he told me he wants to be independent now that he is in college," she said in a small voice.


    "It''s all part of the plan. We need to reform his believes and love for his sister before he turns against us. One child rebelling is enough. I can''t handle two obnoxious ones in the same house."


    Jiang Xin bit her lip. "Qing Yuan is amicable. He goes with whatever people say. I am sure Qian Meng manipulated him into giving up his shares," she urged.


    If Qian Meng had heard these words she would have laughed until her stomach hurt. At least she was upfront about what she wanted. Her father had been toiling away, trying to use every possible connection he could to stay in his place. He could even exploit his own children. Then, she couldn''t ask help from her own brother?


    She might have abandoned the rest of her family, but her brother wasn''t included in that group.


    "I will find a way to turn the power of attorney rights. I am sure our lawyer can figure something out," Yun Sui Bo said half-heartedly. He turned to Jiang Xin in contemplation. "Actually, I might not need their shares. Your shares are enough."


    There was silence in the room. Seeing that Jiang Xin didn''t respond to him, he froze. He turned to her suspiciously and stared.


    "Your shares¡­ you have them, right?" he asked urgently.


    "I¡­ do as the financial advisor tells me to," she responded with a hint of panic.


    "What¡­ what did you do?" he asked, his voice raised slightly.


    "He¡­ he said it wasn''t salient to hold on to the shares right now," she muttered.


    "Yun Corporation shares? What did he say exactly?" he asked. He leaned forward and grabbed her shoulder to shake her.


    "He said there was a buyer interested. And that when the prices fall further, I could buy back more at less price!" she cried. "I only wanted to help you."


    His hand fell to the bed and he sagged. He pulled out his phone and dialled the advisor''s number. The whole conversation took half an hour. During most of it, Yun Sui Bo shouted, all thoughts of propriety going out of the window.


    After he hung up the phone, he turned to his wife with urgency. "He asked you to consult me. Why didn''t you consult me?" he asked desperately.


    "It was so late in the night and I called you several times but you didn''t pick up my call!" she said. Her eyes were watery and red from fear. "I really wanted to help you," she said softly, urging him to understand.


    "If I didn''t pick up my phone, you should have just waited until I called you back. Why did you sign that night? The papers were processed this morning at the government office. You don''t even know who bought it!"


    She gulped. "They made a good offer and I wasn''t willing to sell my shares," she defended. "But¡­ but they informed that the offer was only valid for that night and that they would be dropping the offer if I wasn''t interested."


    And it was true. In love and money, people felt most acutely when they lost precious objects, not when they possessed it.


    "So¡­ you sold it?" All energy seemed to leave his body.


    "Don''t get angry. We can always get it back," she said softly, sobbing.


    "Don''t you understand?" he finally recognized defeat. "You were given a few hours to decide if you sold your shares or not. Coincidentally, I was unreachable at the time. The buyer was anonymous and the whole process was completed without twelve hours."


    Jiang Xin blinked.


    "Qian Meng¡­ she used you."


    The two quietened down. "She knows well that you don''t understand the stock market well and are prone to panic buying and selling. She made you panic and sell her shares without stepping into the ring."


    This was why Qian Meng was scary. She knew the people around her like the back of her hand and she could play them like a fiddle. She used every possible trick to aid her grand plan.

 Chapter 410: Yun Sui Bo Begged

    Yun Sui Bo took the papers into his hand and read deeply.


    "She laid out her trap so well. She waited for half a year, collecting evidence and plotting our downfall. She looked into everything the company was doing and¡­"


    Fast attack was the weapon of her choice. It had forced all the pawns in her game to react without the time to think over their plan. With no time to think, they had all made errors of judgment. Qian Meng had expertly maneuvered two tactics in one plot. She had waited and baited for the right opportunity and then proceeded at lightning speed when the opportunity came. She displayed that the only way to win was to make the enemy respond on her terms.


    He couldn''t help but feel a sharp pang of pride at how she had grown up.


    But then she remembered her saying that he had taken no part in her growth. He sighed.


    "I will try to get you out of this. I need time. I need time." He repeated. He slid back into his bed. For the two days, he stayed in his hospital room, pretending to be sick.


    Not a single idea he had in his mind would work. Qian Meng had blocked every path he wanted to take.


    On the third day in the hospital, Yun Sui Bo was stunned and downright scared when the door to his room opened and he saw a grim Mo Qingchen enter his room.


    The man sat down beside him and looked over his body curiously. "Qian Meng forgot to tell me that you were sick," he said calmly. Of course, he had known. "As your son-in-law, I should have come earlier."


    "Why are you here?"


    Mo Qingchen looked calm but an aura of danger surrounded him. "To see how you were doing. Qian Meng doesn''t enjoy watching others in misery, but I enjoy it immensely. I wanted to see you crushed in the hands of your daughter."


    There was happiness in his eyes that Mr. Yun had not expected to see.


    "You didn''t take my permission to marry her. You haven''t done your duty as my son-in-law either. Do you dare to claim that you are it?" Yun Sui Bo asked. It was his last attempt to look strong in front of Mo Qingchen.


    Qingchen scoffed. "Do you remember my warning? I clearly told you that you would meet a bad end if you messed with Qian Meng, but you were plotting against her all this time."


    "There was no plot. My right¡ª"


    "I don''t care about your chauvinistic point of view, Yun Sui Bo. I have tried my best to hold back and let Qian Meng handle the situation herself." He paused. "She is a capable young woman who has crawled up from the hell of insecurity and uncertainty to where she is today. No thanks to you. And she is still kind enough to let you live a peaceful life."


    "Peaceful?"


    Mo Qingchen raised his brow. "Don''t think for a moment that you would have been at peace in this hospital room if not for Qian Meng. She is kind. But I am not." Mo Qingchen finally stood up. "This is your final warning. Remain in this hospital room and be sick until you are ousted from the board of directors. And don''t try to contact Qian Meng every again."


    Mo Qingchen slung his jacket over his hand and sauntered out.


    Yun Sui Bo sank into the bed in disbelief. Did he just get threatened again? He had lost all control. The lawyers couldn''t do a single thing about the sold shared and the power of attorney actions.


    The media was no longer talking about Yun Sui Bo being in the hospital and the protest in the company continued.


    Slowly, his phone had stopped ringing. No one asked him how he was. And he knew exactly what that meant. The calls were now going to Qian Meng and her people. All the shareholders were on her side and he was going to be thrown out.


    He had received notice that he would be removed from his position as the President at the next board meeting. And after Mo Qingchen''s warning, he knew well enough that he couldn''t step out of the room to attend it.


    He took out his phone and texted Qian Meng one last thing.


    [Yun Qian Meng, please allow me a leeway.]


    The response didn''t come.


    Back at Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng''s house, Qingchen entered to find Qian Meng shimmying and singing in the kitchen as she cooked.


    The song was peppy and she was in the bare minimum of clothes as she cooked. The apron acted as a protective barrier from her mostly exposed body.


    "What are you cooking?" he asked as he slid his hand around her waist and kissed her neck affectionately.


    She hummed and continued to shimmy, grinding against him insistently.


    He growled and bit her neck softly, making her chuckle.


    "I am trying out a new recipe," she said happily. "So far, I haven''t made the kitchen explode," she proclaimed proudly.


    "It is still early," Mo Qingchen teased.


    She huffed and dodged his lips. "I am really happy today," she said. There was a hint of pride in her voice.


    "What about?" Mo Qingchen asked. His eyes were fixed on the food being cooked and he knew that Qian Meng would continue to cook hideous looking food unless his mother was assisting her.


    And he had come to enjoy it immensely.


    "Yun Sui Bo texted me!" she exclaimed. Qingchen stiffened. A jolt of anger raced through him until he remembered that his wife was happy.


    "What did he say?"


    "He grovelled. He pleaded that I spare him," she giggled. "I¡­ I didn''t know I needed this. All my life, I ran after his praises but this¡­ this was the thing that made me happy."


    Then, she sighed. "To be honest, I feel like I wasted my time running behind his praises. He is begging me now and I feel like the man I looked up to was just a fake." She shook her head, suddenly her happiness diminishing.

 Chapter 411: The Secret Owner of Yun Corporation

    "I am happy you chased after it. It gave you purpose until you had other things to motivate you. Being motivated by insignificant people is not bad. It''s what you achieve in the end that counts."


    He saw her put the lid on the pan and slowly turned her around to face him.


    "I am proud of you, Qian Meng." He cradled her cheeks and gazed deeply into her eyes. "And I love you so much."


    Her heart prickled and she propped herself on her toes and kissed him silly.


    "I went to meet your father today," he confessed that night. "He won''t bother you anymore," he spoke with certainty.


    She hissed. "I thought I had singlehandedly made him kneel. You scared him into it?" she grumbled.


    He shook his head. "You did everything. I just asked him to stop bothering us."


    This victory was hers along. He was just going to be beside her and watch her shine.


    "Really?" She looked suspicious of his words.


    "Really," he assured. "I look forward to seeing how you manage those people."


    Qian Meng smirked. "It''s time for spring cleaning," she said ominously.


    - - - - -


    What happened over the next week boggled everyone''s mind. The explosive news that the President of Yun Corporation, Yun Sui Bo, had stepped down from his position was seen on the news. While Qian Meng had asked the media to play his firing down, the people knew what this meant.


    Qian Meng was adamant about being the secret owner of Yun Corporation without facing the company. The first thing she did was appoint her trusted troubleshoot company to reform everything.


    Her goal was simple. Clean the company and kick the bad seeds out.


    The first person on that list was Vice President Li Wenyue. Qian Meng silently removed him from his post and gave him a nice leaving package to say goodbye.


    When Mo Qingchen asked why she had thrown out the person who had helped her take over, she smiled. "He helped me because he was threatened. He didn''t do it because he wanted the company to do well," she began.


    Qingchen frowned. "He has a great reputation."


    "He remained silent and even spurred on the bad decisions made by the President and the other executives. Why should I keep him?" she asked.


    Qingchen nodded. "I see. So, you took the enemy general, used him, and then discarded him." He smirked. "You knew he would likely betray you in the future, so you took away his chances to do so."


    She ran her fingers through Mo Qingchen''s hair. "Absolutely."


    "I must say, I thought you would fire all the executives as well, but you did something shocking," he chuckled.


    "Firing all of them would be bad for me. By sending them to subsidiaries with good pay and bonuses is already a boon for them. They were scared that they would lose their job and never get another one, but I gave them a chance."


    She had essentially turned a pack of wolves into a pack of friendly dogs.


    "This is a better way to emasculate them rather than killing them in one stroke. If I fired them, their anger would grow and they would seek vengeance."


    "You could handle them, though," he said matter-of-factly.


    "Of course, I could. But I don''t want to waste energy on this. I have placed them in positions that have no power and only monetary benefits. Once they realize it, they will leave on their own accord. Why do I need to ruin my good image and offend them?"


    Her words made sense.


    "I am the aggressive kind. You, on the other hand, are a schemer." He had known for a long time, but seeing her plans mature into these unfathomable forces of nature¡­ it was a sight to behold.


    "I like that about you. We complement each other in that way," she responded with a raised brow. "But I will be really busy for a few months. The acting CEO is good at his job but the company is down in the dumpster."


    She shook her head in disbelief.


    "When I saw all the papers, I wanted to cry. The employee benefits, the problematic pay structure¡­ everything just screams bad business practice," she whined.


    "To think that our story started with the two of us fighting in front of millions of people, defending our fathers'' company." He chuckled. "And now we are getting a headache from the things we tried to defend."


    Qian Meng clucked her tongue. "It''s divine retribution for not realizing what a scumbag Mr. Yun is." And then she chuckled. "He is going to be discharged tomorrow."


    Mo Qingchen rolled his eyes. "What have you planned for him?" he asked.


    "I am taking all his shares. I sent Li Min with two cruise tickets. Jiang Xin and Yun Sui Bo can finally enjoy their married life." She snickered.


    "Evil," he said, tapping on her nose. "He will be reliving the humiliation he faced with all the time he has on his hand."


    Safe to say, Qian Meng had enough leverage over the man to buy the shares at abnormally low rates. She still allowed her father to have enough money to live a carefree life.


    But not enough that he could stand on his feet and try to fight her again.


    It was a pleasure to see him suffer in this way. Completely defeated with no way to retreat or move forward. He could only follow what she planned for him and he couldn''t even protest about it.


    In the following months, word spread in the business community about how formidable Yun Qian Meng was. Before, her husband was feared for his demeanor, but recently, no one dared to protest against her. Her meticulous schemes had become a legend in themselves.


    Everyone said that Qian Meng set the house ablaze to save it from the plague.


    And she could do it again.


    The employees rejoiced and the shareholders took a deep breath of relief. Yun Corporation was going to make a comeback. And it was going to flourish.


    It would take a couple of years, but it would definitely happen.

 Chapter 412: Over The Moon

    A few months later:


    Qian Meng was almost done with work when Mo Qingchen called her. She put her call on speaker as she worked.


    "Are you done with work?" Mo Qingchen asked slowly. She could hear him walking and knew that he was asking so that he could drive her home.


    "I still have half an hour to go. I have some proposals to go over. Are you done?" she asked in response.


    "Yeah. I was calling because Mo Xiao Chen wants to reveal the gender of the baby." Qian Meng grew eerily silent.


    "What baby?" she asked.


    "Xiao Chen''s baby," he answered, explaining away her confusion. "I guess they changed their mind about finding out the sex of the baby."


    Qian Meng was still confused. "I didn''t even know they were expecting," she told him. "When did this happen?"


    Qingchen laughed. "My brother told me two days ago. Something about keeping it under wraps until the first trimester passed. It''s a superstition, I believe." He sounded mildly bored.


    "Okay. I didn''t know." She was surprised by the news. Especially considering the fact that the couple had no plan to have babies, ever. "When are they telling us?" she changed the tone of the conversation. She was excited on their behalf.


    "They sent an email to me. They want to do a video conference to tell us."


    Qian Meng grinned and sat up straighter. "This is so exciting. We''re going to have a niece or nephew." She giggled.


    "Yes, it would be one of those," he retorted.


    "Smartass," she laughed as she raced through her work. "Go to the car and wait. Get the laptop ready. I''ll just finish this and come down."


    She could finish work once they went home. It was more important to listen to the couple gush about their baby. Every parent deserved to be unadulteratedly happy about the life they were bringing into the world.


    After finishing the paper she was reading, she took her blazer and fixed her hair, wanting to look a little more presentable for the video call.


    She found Qingchen in the parking area, sitting on the driver''s side and setting up his laptop. She rounded the car and slid into her seat.


    "I don''t think she was expecting that at all," Qingchen was telling the couple.


    "I wasn''t expecting what?" she asked.


    "That they are pregnant."


    She nodded. "I definitely wasn''t expecting that," she answered with a grin. "This is the surprise of a lifetime."


    "Meng Meng!" Xiao Chen''s voice rang from the laptop speakers before she was even in the view of the monitor. "Where are you?"


    "I''m here. I''m, here," she ensured, leaning into Qingchen so that she was visible.


    Qingchen turned the light in the car on and turned the laptop so that both of them were visible without having to struggle in their seats.


    "Hey, Qian Meng!" his girlfriend squealed excitedly, waving at her.


    "Hey, guys!"


    Qian Meng took in the image on the screen with a big, silly smile. The couple was perched on their couch, the mother-to-be glowing and Xiao Chen beaming with his massive hand on her rounded belly.


    "You look amazing. I think your belly got bigger since last week. Or am I imagining it because I know you are pregnant?" Qian Meng contemplated.


    "Ugh, don''t remind me!" the other groaned dramatically.


    "I hear you have some news for us," Qian Meng prodded.


    "We do!" she responded. "We kept the pregnancy a secret for a while and weren''t going to find out the sex of the baby. But well¡­ we couldn''t resist!"


    Qian Meng chuckled. "Well, spit it out!" she insisted.


    "Ready?" she turned to her boyfriend and for a quiet moment, they just beamed at each other.


    "The suspense is killing me," Qian Meng chided.


    "Okay, okay," Xiao Chen answered, not taking his eyes off of the mother of his child. "We''re having¡­"


    Qian Meng''s fingers and toes tensed in anticipation. She was more excited to find out if they were going to have a son or daughter than she had ever anticipated. This was the first pregnancy journey she would be part of!


    "A boy!" they both cheered at the same time.


    Qian Meng squealed with happiness, clapping her hands together.


    "Congratulations," Qingchen said smoothly, calm and collected as ever while Qian Meng freaked out.


    "I''m so happy for you guys!" She leaned against Mo Qingchen as she spoke.


    "This one is going to be a troublemaker," Xiao Chen declared, patting his girlfriend''s stomach.


    They chatted for a little longer, talking about nursery decorations and possible name choices. When they hung up, Qian Meng made Xiao Chen promise to take care of her growing nephew and his mother. Qingchen informed them slyly that the couple would drink wine in their honor.


    They disconnected the call with a lot of well-wishes.


    "I''m so happy for them," Qian Meng said to Qingchen, her head on his shoulder as she hugged him.


    "I am glad, too. They are embracing such an unexpected circumstance so well."


    Qian Meng nodded. It was clear that the baby was unplanned, but the couple had been happy about it nonetheless. "I bet your mother is over the moon now that she is having a grandbaby."


    Qingchen chuckled. "Oh, I am sure. The pregnancy was unexpected but it worked out for everyone. My dad was flipping out but I am sure he is going to be ecstatic now that he is getting a grandson." He scoffed.


    "Wait. Is that important? Is your father that way, too?" she asked.


    Qingchen shook his head. "He melts for baby girls in the family, but he can manipulate and threaten the male children. He enjoys the power trip."


    Qian Meng was suddenly bothered.


    "Well, it''s better them than us."


    Qian Meng leaned back into her own seat and looked at him carefully. "How is that?"


    "My mother is getting the grandchildren she wants so badly. My dad gets a grandson to be a tyrant with."

 Chapter 413: A Piece of Them Together

    Qian Meng suddenly remembered her conversation with Li Li Hua so many months ago. How she had been when she told that Qingchen and she didn''t plan on having children.


    She remembered the picture of Qingchen as a little boy. And just as it did back then, her heartbeat quickened when she imagined a little boy with their mixed features.


    "You mean they won''t hound us for grandkids since they are getting one from Xiao Chen."


    "Exactly," Qingchen said flippantly as he pulled out the car from the parking space. "Better them than us."


    "You are talking about pregnancy like it is a disease."


    Qingchen shot her a confused look like he felt exactly that way and her statement was surprising.


    "Don''t get me wrong. I am happy they are embracing the situation and seem to be happy." Qian Meng watched him carefully as he pulled out into the street and drove. "But I am not ignorant to what they are in for, and I don''t envy them."


    Qian Meng swallowed. "Right."


    The conversation was making her uncomfortable, and the fact that she had no idea why only made the feeling worse.


    "Just imagining my dad breathing down my neck and my mom going along with everything makes me feel sad for Xiao Chen. They won''t get to raise their kids. These older people will force them into everything they don''t want for their child."


    Qian Meng sucked in a deep breath. "I''m sure there are good things that outweigh all the bad stuff. A baby isn''t a curse, Qingchen."


    He turned to face her slowly, his eyes narrowing just slightly as if to ask what she was getting at. "That is not how you felt when we got married. You definitely didn''t want your dad dictating what happened to your child."


    But that time seemed to be a long time ago. A glimmer of fear reflected from behind his black eyes and it made her nauseous. She backpedaled, knowing that he still feared the things from her past life happening again. Even though their circumstances were so different.


    "I am just saying that even though people might want to manipulate our circumstances and the life of any child we have, we can just not let them do it. Xiao Chen will enjoy being a parent," she said finally.


    "Yes, that is my point. I am happy for them. I am thrilled that they are so excited. That is why I said it would better be them than us. They are giving all the parents what she wants and seemingly they want it too."


    "Yeah." She cleared her throat.


    He suddenly turned to her when they were stopped at a red light. He touched the cheek with the back of her fingers. "What is it?" he asked.


    "Nothing." She didn''t say that what sounded terrible to him didn''t sound terrible to her. She wasn''t scared of those people controlling her because she was confident, she could evade them. She liked the thought of her combined with a little piece of him.


    The thing was. She could see it for them in the future.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng knew she wanted to be a mother the moment she saw her husband hold their nephew. She had experienced an inkling of feeling the months prior but it wasn''t until that moment that she knew.


    The feeling was slowly growing on her. At first, it was just a realization that the thought of it didn''t scare her anymore. Her heart found the idea endearing, even though her brain mocked her. What about their busy schedule? What about the hounding parents who would want to use the child?


    All of those thoughts flew out the moment Xiao Chen handed her the wriggling baby over to the stoic Qingchen. A slow smile spread across his face and Qian Meng felt her heart melt. All logic dissipated.


    Shockingly, her husband was a natural at holding a baby. She would have expected him to be awkward and nervous, but just as expertly as he did everything else in life, he cradled and gently rocked the baby boy back and forth with perfection.


    Qian Meng was vaguely aware of the people in the room speaking but she couldn''t tell anything they were saying. Her attention was solely on the sight before her as her husband nuzzled their nephew, placing a gentle kiss on the baby''s wispy hair.


    The longer she watched him, the tighter and tighter her heartfelt. She never expected to be shaken by the experience, but in hindsight, it made sense. She was still bothered by the things from her past life and she knew her cold husband only felt gentle towards her.


    Now, she could see it from an outside perspective. It hit her hard. She could only imagine what she would feel if the baby in his arms was their own.


    A piece of him and she melded together.


    A physical manifestation of their non-negotiable love.


    "Qian Meng, did you hear me?"


    She was snapped out of her thoughts. "W-what?" she sputtered, attempting to blink away the daze.


    She stepped closer to him to peer down at the tiny person in his arms. "He looks like both of them," Qian Meng whispered.


    When his girlfriend needed something, Xiao Chen showed his true form. He was a doting father and a partner. He tried his best to make them comfortable.


    Amid their distraction, Mo Qingchen nudged her with his elbow and shot her an amused grin. "So, what do you think?"


    He didn''t say any further. And she didn''t respond either. She didn''t know how to. She wondered if he knew. There had been a flicker in his eyes the last time they spoke about children. Maybe he remembered it. Maybe not. Maybe he saw it in her eyes at the hospital that way. If he did, he didn''t give her any indication.


    She knew she had to be honest with him at some point. Honesty was part of the vows they had made to one another. And she was determined to follow. But it wasn''t the right time to bring it up.


    A new family member had appeared. The day was about him. And Qian Meng was content to pour her love into him.

 Chapter 414: Stopping To Kiss The Husband

    "Ow!" Qian Meng screeched loudly, hissing at the throbbing pain.


    It wasn''t the unexpected spanking that hurt. It was the fact it startled her so much that she jumped right into the open cabinet door above her head.


    "Are you okay?" Mo Qingchen asked, clearly trying not to laugh.


    She tossed the wipe into the sink and winced as she reached across the counter to her phone stand. She shut off the music that had apparently been playing too loud for her to hear him sneak up on her.


    "I hurt my head," she whined, reaching up to feel and make sure she wasn''t bleeding.


    "Aw¡­ my poor baby," Qingchen cooed, and she knew he was just trying to humor her.


    His tone was laced with amusement but it still made her smile. His hands pushed and pulled at her hips to turn her around to face him.


    "When did you get home?" she asked as he pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her sore head.


    "Just now." With a kiss to her forehead, he made her heart beat a little faster in the way only he could. "The place is practically sparkling. You must have had a busy morning."


    Qian Meng beamed up at him, proud of her work and happy he had noticed.


    She hadn''t thought herself capable of housekeeping, not until Xiong Hua started taking time off on weekends. She had never been messy, but since it happened, there was nobody else around to clean the house during the weekends.


    Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen divided the work and they were both okay with that.


    Somehow, she felt wifely when she helped in the house. She had never considered herself domestic, but she found herself enjoying this normal life with Mo Qingchen.


    "I wanted to have everything done so that we can come back to a nice, clean house after the weekend away," Qian Meng explained, hopping up to sit on the counter. "I even changed the sheets, so we don''t have to lift a finger when we come back!"


    "Clever girl," he answered, pushing her legs open to step between them.


    "How was your morning?" Mo Qingchen had to work half a day in preparation for their weekend travel, but she had no doubt he would still be busy. Just like she would.


    Everything about their lives was busy.


    "Long."


    "Long?" she questioned.


    "Of course, it was. I was looking forward to having you all to myself this weekend."


    Qian Meng smiled at him, pushing her fingers through his messy hair.


    "Are you hungry?" she asked, wondering if she should try to make something to eat before they left.


    A devilish smirk pulled at his lips, and she should have known what he was thinking.


    "Hungry for you¡­" he muttered, diving in to nip at her lips, kissing her.


    She shoved him away, scrunching her nose at his crude remark. "Did you seriously say that?" she asked, laughing despite herself. "So corny."


    "Can''t help it," he answered unapologetically. "Sex deprivation will make a man do crazy things."


    Qian Meng frowned as she played with his fingers, troubled he had voiced something that had been on her mind.


    "Did you really feel deprived?" she asked outright.


    She had been withholding sex from him because she wanted an explosive vacation that could double as their unofficial honeymoon. Their first honeymoon had been devoid of emotion, so she wanted to overlap those memories.


    "I am joking, Qian Meng," he responded softly. She could see that he regretted his playful comment. "I''m not deprived. Just are just¡­ busy."


    Qian Meng chewed at her lips. "It won''t be much longer," she muttered.


    "I know," he whispered back, kissing that spot on her neck that made her quiver. "A weekend away for sex is much better."


    Paired with the twinkle in his eyes, his grin was dazzling.


    "I can get on board with a weekend of sex," she nodded, reaching to grab his hips. "I can definitely get on board with that."


    "Oh yeah?"


    She laughed as he yanked her toward him, seeking out her lips with his. He hummed against her mouth.


    "I am willing to start right now."


    Qian Meng''s hands darted for the buttons of his crisp shirt because she would never pass up that suggestion.


    "I just changed the sheets," she reminded him as he nibbled on her bottom lip.


    A wicked grin pulled at his mouth as he yanked her down from the counter, turned her around, and bent her over it. "I guess we will just have to make do right here."


    And they did. Twice.


    - - - - -


    Because of their schedules, they only had two days to get away for the weekend. They ended up booking something close by. A cabin in the mountains. Mo Qingchen joked about the scene coming out from a horror movie, but nothing sounded better than to be secluded out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do but each other.


    Besides, Qian Meng knew that there was nowhere safer than beside Mo Qingchen.


    "What are you staring at?" Mo Qingchen asked.


    "You."


    His boyish grin made her want to lunge across the car to smother him with kisses.


    "Clearly," he answered, glancing over at her quickly. "Maybe I should ask why you are staring at me, wife."


    She raised her brow. "Because I love you."


    He laughed as he shook his head. "Okay, crazy."


    "No. Really!" she answered, shifting in her seat to face him as directly as she could. "If there is anything I have learned from everything we have been through, it is that we have to cherish the moments we have with the people we love. We never know how many of those we have left behind."


    Rebirth and realization had made her determined not to take a single moment with Mo Qingchen for granted.


    "Okay. We will make a stop at the grocery store before going into the hills," he said blandly.


    And then he paused. "Did you know? You make things right just by loving me the way you do? That is all I need. It''s everything," he said once they had pulled up in front of the grocery store.


    Qian Meng ripped her seatbelt off and flung herself into his lap.


    A twenty-minute pit stop to make out with her husband wouldn''t hurt anyone.

 Chapter 415: Confidence In His Love For Her

    A while later, she found herself in the condiment aisle, consumed in a tough debate between two types of mayonnaise. Lost in thought, it startled her when something landed in her cart with a clanking noise.


    She looked up to find Mo Qingchen smiling at her. He had been roaming around the shop while she got straight to what she needed. She peered into the cart to see what it was and felt her eyebrow shoot up as she turned to him.


    "Lube? Really?"


    He smiled. "You know me. I am always thinking of my wife first."


    She rolled her eyes. "Is that right?" she teased.


    "Forty-eight hours of sex, Qian Meng. We don''t want any chaffing."


    "So, you don''t plan to eat or sleep?" she questioned lightly.


    "Nope!" He was as chirpy as always.


    "Guess I can just put these things back."


    He laughed as he came up behind her, reaching around her to grab the mayo he knew I liked, and tossed it into the card.


    "Take it," he answered as his hands found her hips and he dipped his head down to kiss her cheek. "We can always use it for more lube if we run out."


    "Ew¡­" I drawled out, shuddering despite her laughter. "You''re really something else. You know that?" she mused, reaching to place the other pack back into the shelf.


    "I do."


    Qian Meng started to push the cart back down the aisle and he fell in step with her. "Perfectly designed for you."


    He rubbed his hand across her shoulder and there it was again. It was the urge to melt into his touch. But then, his phone rang, a reminder that it wasn''t time for that yet.


    "I am surprised you have reception out here."


    "I won''t at the house. I made sure."


    "Answer then."


    He reached into his pocket and silence the device without looking at it. "Whoever it is can fuck off," he replied. "At least for the weekend."


    That made her smile. She wasn''t na?ve to think he could reject all calls, but the fact that he was so dedicated to their weekend together warmed her heart.


    It solidified her resolve to finally reveal her feelings to him about the baby thing before the weekend was over. She didn''t plan to tell him while they were away, just in case he reacted less than favorably, but she did plan to tell him before they went back on Monday. The reminder of her confidence in his love for her definitely helped put her at ease.


    "There''s a liquor store next door," Mo Qingchen commented as they rounded a corner. "Should I grab some wine while you finish up here?"


    Apparently, those words meant that Mo Qingchen was independently studying every bottle he came across. She had finished shopping, paid for everything, and made her way over to the liquor store. Mo Qingchen was still browsing. She was content to let him do his thing, though.


    He was a man of excellent taste in food and beverage.


    She scrolled through social media while he selected his favorite brand. She only looked up when his phone started to ring again.


    "This is the fourth time that number has called," he muttered as he looked at the screen with a frown.


    "Just answer it."


    He sighed as he swiped his finger across the screen.


    "Mo Qingchen."


    She smirked to herself, loving the sound of the authoritative bite in his voice that was always present when he took a business-related call. She loved that shit. "Yes," he continued. "I see."


    The frown on his face deepened, and she began to wonder if something bad had happened. "Thanks for letting me know."


    "Is everything okay?" Qian Meng asked as he ended the call.


    He looked over at her and for a moment, he just stared blankly.


    "Bai Ye Qing is dead."


    - - - - - -


    They didn''t speak for the rest of the way to the cabin. It wasn''t a tense silence, but it was clear they were both lost in thought. She hadn''t even noticed Mo Qingchen put the car in park and staring at her.


    "What are you thinking about?"


    She frowned as she turned to him, unsure how to put into words exactly what she was feeling.


    "Is it wrong of me to be sad?" she asked in a tiny voice that took her by surprise. "I mean¡­ after everything¡­"


    "It''s not wrong," he assured her, reaching over to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "That feeling is what separates you from Bai Ye Qing. You are a good person, Qian Meng."


    She thought that over for a moment. "What about you?"


    "I feel bad for Mr. Bai. How can I feel back for Bai Ye Qing after he¡­ what he did?"


    Qian Meng felt tears threatening to prick her eyes and blinked them away defiantly. She would not cry for that man.


    "Because loss is hard, even in the darkest of circumstances. And you like Uncle Bai."


    Qian Meng thought of everything that man had done to her and Uncle Bai. She remembered Bai Wenxi''s funeral and Uncle Bai''s tears. A wave of anger and resentment filled her. And maybe a little nausea, too.


    "Can we go inside?"


    He nodded and they both released themselves from the seatbelt and gathered their bags as they got out of the vehicle.


    "It''s beautiful here," Mo Qingchen commented, making her realized she was so distracted that she hadn''t even looked around.


    She glanced up at the clear skies and massive trees around them. She nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is."


    "Still don''t plan on leaving the bedroom?"


    She looked over at him, at his teasing, boyish grin, and she was envious of the way he seemed to let new information roll off his back.


    She laughed as much as she could muster and trudged off toward the front door. As she pulled up the email with the lock code, she noticed that she had lost reception on her phone. That was the whole point.


    To be secluded with Mo Qingchen.


    Only¡­ at that moment, her thoughts were interrupting.


    The cabin was large, probably intended for a family, but it still held charm with soft lighting and dark woods. Mo Qingchen carried their luggage into the bedroom while she put away the groceries, spacing out as she did.


    As hard as she tried, she couldn''t seem to think of anything except Bai Ye Qing. Waves of anger and anxiety-filled her as she replayed moments in her head. In some ways, it felt like so long ago, yet the emotions were so raw at the same time.

 Chapter 416: I Want To Have A Baby

    She still carried the hurt with her. It was always there, but she couldn''t figure out why the news of Bai Ye Qing''s death was bringing it all to the surface.


    ''Why do I care? Why do I give a shit whether he is alive or dead?''


    And then she realized how angry she was at him. Angry that he had died.


    It was too easy. He deserved to live through the guilt and pain of what he had put her through. He deserved to deal with the repercussions. He deserved to realize he had lost everything in the world and get thrown around like a rag doll. He deserved to have to remember her as the person who ruined him. But now¡­ he was just gone.


    She jumped when Mo Qingchen came up behind her. The way he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her was sweet, but it startled her.


    "Did I scare you?" he asked softly, seeking out the crook of her neck.


    "A little."


    He was silent for a moment. "The bedroom is nice."


    She tilted her head to one side as his lips brushed against her skin. "The whole house is nice."


    "You want to go see it?"


    He moved his hips against her ass, and she knew exactly what he was insinuating. And hour earlier, she had been so ready to jump his bones. Now, she felt lost in her own head.


    But she was determined not to allow that scum to ruin her time with her husband.


    "Yeah," she answered quietly, reaching for his hand on her hip.


    He turned her to face him, and always so perceptive to her emotions, his eyes immediately searched hers. "You okay?" he asked, reaching for his hand on her hip.


    She nodded, stepping closer to him to nuzzle her face against his chest. Maybe sex was a good idea. She was feeling extremely clingy.


    "I am okay."


    He cradled her head against his chest as his lips kissed her temple. "I love you."


    She melted into his arms. He didn''t say it often, but he somehow always knew the perfect moment.


    "I love you," she murmured in response, stretching to kiss the hollow of his throat. "So much. You have no idea¡­"


    She looked up to meet his hard gaze. Shaking his head, he brought his hands up to hold hers between his palms. "Delusional," he muttered as he leaned down to kiss her.


    Unyielding fondness paralyzed her as his lips met hers. For a moment, she couldn''t even kiss him back. She just stood there, frozen in love, while his mouth moved against her.


    Then, all at once, her heart swelled and her lips parted. She pulled him into an embrace of burning need.


    She whimpered as he picked her up, tightening her legs around his waist and fisting his hair in her hands, pulling just hard enough to elicit a throaty moan from him.


    His lips never parted from hers until they were in the bedroom and he was setting her down on the edge of the massive bed. The room looked nice but it wasn''t important enough to warrant more of her attention. She could only think about how Mo Qingchen started sinking down to his knees between her legs.


    She combed her fingers through his hair, watching him as he looked down to take off my fluffy slippers. He placed it on the wood floor beside him. With unnerving patience, he repeated the same process with the second shoe and then each sock. He was moving slowly and it made her anxious for more.


    Once he was finished, she reached for him, but he didn''t come to her. He just stared at her and took her bare foot in his hands, holding it in a way he was able to use his thumbs to work and massage the arch.


    It was sweet, but her foot was not what she had in mind for him to attend to.


    "Come here," she urged.


    "Be patient." She frowned at him as she let her arms fall, leaning back to support herself on her palms. "I want you to relax."


    "I am relaxed," she countered, trying not to pout.


    "Yeah?" he challenged, raising an eyebrow at her.


    "What?" She hated his sexy smirk at times.


    "I always know what you are thinking, you know¡­"


    "You are a mind reader now?"


    He shrugged. "Something like that."


    She huffed at him as he dropped her foot and rose up slightly to slowly push his hands up her thighs to her hips. "You are more transparent than you think."


    "What is that supposed to mean?"


    "Those cute little faces you make aren''t just in bed, you know."


    She glared. "I feel like you are patronizing me."


    It was his turn to frown at her as he rubbed at her hips. "Not at all. I am just telling you that I know you. That I know what you are thinking. You are telling me that you are relaxed when you are not."


    She was beginning to get irritated.


    "That." He interrupted her thoughts accusatorily, almost in frustration. He stood up to lean over her, his eyes level with hers. "Right there."


    "Qingchen, what are you¡ª"


    "Stop thinking about him." It took her a moment to understand what he meant. And he was spot on.


    She closed her eyes for a moment as she faced the truth. It was a struggle to communicate at times. They were still learning, still working on it, and probably always would be.


    But Mo Qingchen was far too important for her to stop trying.


    "I¡ª"


    "Ever since¡­" he hesitated for a moment. "For the last many months, it is like you are internalizing everything. I see it on your face, Qian Meng. And it is difficult for me to know where to start. You start thinking and I can see there are thinking you are bottling up that is bothering you."


    There were so many things she wanted to say to Mo Qingchen. Everything was swirling around in her brain, and it was difficult to know where to start. But then, without any warning, the one thing she wanted to wait to talk with him about just¡­ tumbled out.


    "I want to have a baby."

 Chapter 417: It Was Never Enough

    Mo Qingchen stared silently for a long time, expressionless. With each passing moment, a tight ball of anxiety and anticipation grew in her gut, making her panic. She had no way of knowing what he was thinking. The hard line of his mouth offered no comfort and his eyes seemed eerily flat.


    Was he angry?


    Was he in shock?


    She couldn''t even find in herself to hope he was happy.


    She didn''t know what she had expected him to do, but she wasn''t comforted by the laugh that erupted from him.


    She couldn''t hide the hurt expression. Sitting there, feeling vulnerable from her confession, watching him laugh was a tough pill to swallow. Luckily, he stopped immediately and stared. His face fell and a blank look from before came back.


    "You''re serious."


    She couldn''t speak. She was weighed down by panic and dread. She felt angry for ruining the moment with her confession.


    "Yes," she managed to croak.


    He sank into his seat with a helpless look that made her feel terrible. "Wh¡ªQian Meng¡­"


    He was stammering, a sure sign that Qian Meng had blown his mind.


    Anger surged through her, tamping down the guilt. She knew it was a shock, but did he have to act as if she had given him horrible news?


    "Is that a terrible thing?" she asked, fighting to keep her voice steady. He blinked as he leaned closer.


    "I just need to¡­" He stood up. He turned to face her but wouldn''t make eye contact. "I will be back."


    And he ran from her.


    She wanted nothing more than to chase after him, but she was acutely aware of the bomb she had dropped on him. She couldn''t fault him for needing time to absorb that.


    But it was still painful to wait.


    She felt like she was intruding by going out and that if he wasn''t ready to talk¡­ She wouldn''t force him. She found him in the living room, staring blankly outside the window.


    She was sure if they weren''t wound up, it would have been an incredibly soothing atmosphere.


    "How long have you been waiting to say that?" he asked.


    She almost jumped.


    "What?" she asked stupidly.


    "How long have you wanted to say that?" He wasn''t looking at her, but his voice was calm.


    "A while," she commented. She knew to be honest in such times.


    He nodded, but the silence that followed was long. She wondered if he would say anything else.


    "Can I ask why? Because of your father?"


    That was a curious thing to ask. Did he think that insecurity scared her into wanting to have a kid with him? If so, he was wrong.


    The desire hadn''t been birthed by fear. There was nothing but love behind it.


    "No. Before that."


    "Oh."


    She stared at him while he stared at the ground. He kept running his fingers through his hair and tugging at it in a way that would normally make her want to pounce on him. Instead, she grew anxious. She waited until it was apparent, he had nothing else to say.


    She couldn''t take the silence any longer.


    "I have been thinking about it for a very long time." Finally, he looked up at her, offering her some relief. "But I didn''t know how serious I was until Xiao Chen became a dad."


    He nodded as he rubbed the back of his neck. Part of Qian Meng wanted to cry. Part of her wanted to punch him.


    "What a terrible thought, right?" she commented sarcastically. "Horrifying to think that I might love you enough to want that."


    He straightened up and looked at her with wide eyes. But a second later, anger flashed in his eyes, and his shoulders squared, ready for a fight.


    "What is that supposed to mean?" he demanded. "That I don''t want that? That I don''t love you enough if that is the case?"


    "No¡­ No¡­ That is not what I am saying, Mo Qingchen. I am just¡­" She paused and sucked in a deep breath. "I know what I said came as a surprise¡­"


    "Surprise? I was blindsided?"


    She closed her eyes. The situation was escalating quickly, and it wasn''t her intention at all.


    "I am not the same person I was when I met you or when I married you initially." She went to sit beside him, tucking her hand under her thighs to keep them warm.


    "And you think I am?" he questioned.


    She swallowed, watching him slide his ring around his finger.


    "No. And that''s my point. You can''t." She took a moment to reel herself in. "I didn''t want children before and I wholeheartedly meant that. But I had never been in love before. I didn''t know it could be like this."


    Apprehension marred his expression. "Like what?"


    She turned to look up at him and found strength. "Like it was never enough."


    He squinted at her, confused. "What is never enough?"


    She sighed, annoyed that she wasn''t as good with words as he was. She could only speak from her heart and hoped that it would do her feelings justice.


    "I love you, Mo Qingchen. And I know why you don''t say it often. Those words don''t do justice to our feelings. They are a poor reflection of the depth of my emotions. But it''s all I have. I know it''s not enough to just say it. Sometimes¡­ it''s not even enough to feel it."


    He blinked in confusion.


    "I really suck at this."


    Just as she was getting frustrated, he lifted his hand and gently brushed her hair over her shoulder. When she saw his sweetness, she came to a moment of clarity.


    "What are you trying to say?"


    "That I love you fiercely. And I know it sounds cheesy, but it feels like a fire burning me from inside. And I am never satisfied."


    "Never satisfied?" He quirked his brow and she huffed, standing for a brief second before flopping back down so that her whole body was facing him.

 Chapter 418: Let Me Take These Off

    "What I mean is¡­ there is never enough of you. I always want more. The longer I am with you, the more intense it becomes. The fire just burns hotter and hotter. It''s overwhelming."


    "So, I want everything. Your heart. Your body. I want to be tied to you in every single way humanly possible. I want to experience every part of life with you." She laced her fingers through his and pulled his hand into her lap.


    "I want to create a life with you out of our love. I want to carry our child and nurture that little combination of us inside me. I want to be bound to you in that way, too. I want to give that child everything the two of us missed out on in our childhood."


    Once she was finished, she finally looked up to find him staring at her like a deer caught in headlights. She had just dumped all her emotions, new and old, on him, and it was natural that he would take some time to process it.


    "Qian Meng¡­"


    She waited for him to continue, but nothing more came from his lips. There was just silence. His mouth was wide open to exemplify just how speechless he was.


    And she was patient with him. "What are you thinking?" she asked in a whisper.


    She couldn''t stand the distance between them. As she scooted to his side and entwined their limbs, she didn''t even care that he didn''t have a response. She was only glad he didn''t push her away.


    "I don''t know how to say the right thing."


    "There is no right thing to say." She breathed in his cologne. "Or feel."


    He remained silent for a few moments. "Look," he finally muttered. "I can''t give you an answer right now. Or tomorrow. Or the day after. I need some time to think and not make irrational responses. That is not fair to either of us."


    She nodded. "I should give you some space." That is what her gut told her. "I am going to head to bed."


    She didn''t want to smother him. She admired how her husband carefully contemplating and considered every little move he made in life. She didn''t have to be told to know he required and appreciated time and space to mull over things. She was more than happy to step back and let him take as much of that as he needed.


    She rubbed his arm as she untangled herself from him, standing up and making her way back to the door.


    "Hey."


    She stopped and turned. He didn''t speak, but he didn''t have to. It was all in his eyes: desperation, confusion¡­ fear, and guilt.


    But most notably. There was luck.


    So, she didn''t speak either. She trusted him to see it in her eyes just as she saw in his. In the silence, she went to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and moved her lips across his cheeks. And then, she left him.


    She didn''t feel good, but she definitely felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulder.


    - - - - -


    She thought it was a dream at first. Like her mind wanted to conjure up something better, pretend that she hadn''t ruined their weekend getaway.


    But it wasn''t a dream.


    She knew because her subconscious mind could never duplicate the way Mo Qingchen''s hands felt on her body.


    "What?" she mumbled.


    She heard him say something to her, but she had been too far on the wrong side of sleep to make it out.


    "I said¡­ let me take these off."


    Qian Meng smiled sleepily as he pulled at her panties, the only scrap of clothing she had on. "Lift up."


    She obeyed him without hesitation, pushing her feet against the bed to lift her hips up. She turned her head as he dragged her panties down her legs, blinking away the fuzziness to make out the time on the alarm clock.


    "Did you just come to bed?" She looked at him, barely making out his silhouette as he tossed her panties over his shoulder.


    "Yeah."


    "Mo Qingchen¡­"


    "Sh¡­" he hushed her as he dove in to kiss her neck, right on her weak spot.


    His body brushed against hers as he hovered over her, and he was already naked, half-hard, and poking at her.


    There was only one tiny part of her at the back of her mind that considered asking him to stop. The image of her therapist telling her this wasn''t healthy flashed in her mind, that Mo Qingchen was using sex to avoid using words.


    But she just wanted to be closer to him.


    "Don''t think about the good doctor. Let''s enjoy the weekend. I will grab the first appointment to talk this out, okay?" he said. "We''ll have a mediator."


    With that said, Qian Meng didn''t worry. She listened to him and rolled over so that he would give it to her deep.


    She had barely made it onto her stomach before Mo Qingchen was pulling at her shoulder, urging her back.


    "No, I want to feel your heart beat," he explained.


    "Baby¡­" She sighed longingly as she reached for him, opening her legs and pulling him closer to her. And then there was no apprehension or fear or unanswered questions. There was just love.


    And multiple orgasms.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng was awoken by the sound of Mo Qingchen''s voice. This time, it was further away and stern. It urged her to pull herself out of her sleepy daze to figure out what was going on.


    She rolled onto her back and found him pacing back and forth in front of the bed.


    She reached her arms above her head and stretched her back with a big yawn, not paying attention to Mo Qingchen rambling on about deadlines until she realized his eyes were locked on her, gleaming.


    "I will follow up soon," he offered to the person on the other line before disconnecting. He slipped his phone into his pocket and apologized quickly. "I didn''t mean to wake you. But I lost reception every time I left the room, and you are a heavy sleeper¡­"


    "Qingchen, it''s fine," she cut him off, laughing at his rambling. "Good morning, by the way."


    He shot her a boyish smile that made her melt. She knew right then that everything would be okay.


    "Good morning."


    Their locked eyes lingered for a moment before he reached for the blankets and yanked them off her in one fluid motion.


    "Qingchen!" she squealed, angry with him for taking away her warmth. "It''s cold and I am naked!"

 Chapter 419: The Woman She Has Become

    But she couldn''t even be mad. Not even when he grabbed her ankles and yanked her down the bed to him. Her playful husband was back. That meant that she hadn''t ruined their weekend. Not only had she gotten what she needed to say off her chest, something that should have started a storm. But it didn''t.


    It was one of those moments where one can feel just how far they had come.


    "I have to get at you while you are still soft and warm and sleepy¡­" He leaned over the bed to hover over her. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close as his lips moved across her neck. "You know how much I love that."


    "You are in a good mood this morning."


    "I am." He kissed her behind her ear before pulling back to look down at her. "And I want to thank you for last night?"


    His reaction was starting to seem too good to be true. She tried not to get her hopes up but failed miserably.


    "Thank me? For my bad timing?" she asked.


    "For the woman you have become. For not pushing me to talk last night. The people we were before¡­ we would have gone off the handle and demanded things from one another. But last night, you thought about me first and what I needed. Even though I know it wasn''t easy for you, you gave me the space I required."


    It wasn''t the answer she cautiously hoped for but it was more than she could ask for.


    "Our therapist would be proud, huh?"


    Qingchen chuckled.


    "Well¡­ I know my reaction wasn''t perfect, bu¡ª"


    She put her finger over his lips, silencing him. "We''re not perfect, Qingchen. We''re still human and your reaction was completely fair." Then he was back at her neck again as she played with his hair, thinking there was nowhere else in the world she would rather be in that moment.


    "And thank you for letting me be with you last night," he muttered into her ear.


    "You can be with me any time you want," she whispered back.


    Calling her bluff, he moved his lips in a trail down her breasts. She laughed and played along until he kissed down her stomach.


    "Well, not right now!" she laughed. "I need to brush my teeth and take a shower."


    "Such a tease," he sighed.


    "Do you really want to go down there after coming in me twice last night?" she challenged.


    "Point taken."


    He rolled her over and smacked her ass. Maybe, for the first time, she really knew how strong they were together.


    Stronger than either of them on their own.


    - - - - - -


    A weekend she had thought would be awkward was one of the best in her life. Qingchen and she had agreed not to discuss the baby bombshell for the remainder of the week. He needed time, so they weren''t going to come to a conclusion.


    Qian Meng was able to enjoy the time with her husband a lot more without having the weight on her chest.


    The first day they can grab an appointment, they arrive at the psychiatrist''s office. It had been two weeks since they returned home and they had barely touched the topic.


    Perhaps it was because of how well they handled the situation that she wasn''t prepared for the bluntness with which Qingchen spoke to the doctor.


    "Is it fair to say you were shocked by Qian Meng''s desire to have a child?" the doctor asked.


    "Yes," he responded without needing the time to think.


    "Why is that?"


    "Where do I begin?" he laughed.


    "What is the first thing that came to mind?"


    He took a pause. "How we don''t have the time."


    "We didn''t have time for each other when we first married, either," I interjected.


    "That''s different, Qian Meng."


    She stared at him, and he looked down at his lap, almost in guilt, like he regretted saying it.


    "Let''s focus on the topic at hand, people."


    "Fine," Qian Meng agreed.


    "Mo Qingchen, it seems to me like we have identified the crux of your decision here. We know that things are not the same as when the two of you married and even though you didn''t have time before, you make it now. What we need to determine is if you still feel like you can''t make time for this particular thing."


    He hummed.


    "Are children a deal-breaker for you?"


    Qian Meng looked at him, but he wouldn''t look at her.


    "No¡­ No¡­ I just¡­"


    "You just what?" the doctor pressed.


    "I don''t think Qian Meng and I would be good parents."


    There it was.


    The exchange continued, but Qian Meng didn''t hear what was said. Her mind was in overdrive to process what he had said.


    She could think of a thousand reasons why Mo Qingchen would be an excellent parent. But she hadn''t considered that it wasn''t just him. This had to do with her as well.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t think he would make a good father and the worst part was, she couldn''t argue with that.


    She knew she could be a good mother. She could learn, but why did she have to prove herself?


    "Qian Meng, are you all right?"


    "What?" she snapped out of her thoughts. "Sorry¡­ I spaced out for a second."


    "I was asking you what you thought about Mo Qingchen''s opinion."


    "Oh." She squeezed her eyes shut. "What did he say?"


    "I said that we are still trying to find our footing as a couple."


    She glanced over at him. He was eyeing her with concern. "We have been through so much, and it''s like we are finally standing on solid ground. The thought of throwing something as important as a baby into the mix is a little overwhelming to think about."


    She was quiet.


    "What do you think about that, Qian Meng?"


    The truth was¡­ she couldn''t remember the last time she had been so drained. She felt melancholy. The high she had been on for the past two weeks vanished without a trace.


    What was there to say? Convince Mo Qingchen that they would be good parents? That having a child was easy?


    "I don''t have anything else to say."


    The doctor stared at her for a long time and Qian Meng got the impression that they were waiting for her to continue.


    "Well," the doctor answered. "Maybe we should wrap up the session here."

 Chapter 420: Taking Her Side

    "I mean¡­ I don''t blame him for feeling that way. And even though it caught me off guard, I can''t say I was surprised by it," Qian Meng told Mo Yize. She shifted her little nephew in her arms. "It made me sad, you know? Hearing him say that I wouldn''t be a good parent."


    The sympathy in her eyes didn''t make Qian Meng feel any better.


    "And what did you say?" she asked.


    "Nothing." Qian Meng shrugged. "I said nothing."


    "What? Qian Meng!" the other admonished. It felt uncomfortably foreign to Qian Meng because she rarely had someone reprimand her in such an affectionate way. "Why didn''t you tell him how you felt about what he had said?"


    "What was I supposed to say, Yize? That he was wrong? He has every reason to feel that way. I am rash and aggressive. He is cold and¡­ we are both busy." Qian Meng looked down at the baby blinking up at her. "We have a turbulent relationship. He''s right."


    "That is not true. But even if it were, so what? It doesn''t matter if you think he has reason to believe you wouldn''t be a good mom. He is your husband. He needs to know if he said something hurtful to you!"


    Qian Meng sighed. "You''re taking my side over your brothers?" she asked.


    "Obviously. I know that he is sensitive towards you, but he is strict in what he believes and sometimes blunt. He doesn''t realize his words make people stay up at night."


    "I don''t know¡­ Part of me wishes I had never brought up the baby thing at all. Everything was blissful before I opened my mouth."


    The baby squirmed in her arms, wanting to be put down to crawl around, so Yize took him from me.


    "How long would it have stayed that way?" Yize asked sharply, and Qian Meng knew she was about to make a good point. "You want to be a mother. That''s a huge deal. If you kept something like that inside and hadn''t told my brother, it would have eaten away at you."


    She was right. It was too much to keep inside. Even though she had tried to keep her feelings at bay, she felt like she would burst.


    "I know you are right. But its¡­ uncomfortable."


    "What?"


    "It''s the elephant in the room. Mo Qingchen¡­" Qian Meng''s heart warmed at the thought of her husband. "Mo Qingchen overanalyzes everything. I know that this has been constantly on his mind. I see it when I look at him and there is nothing I can do to make him stop thinking about it."


    "So you need to wait until he figures it out. Whether he wants babies or not."


    The answer was simple, but waiting was hard.


    Qian Meng looked up and saw Yize hesitate to say something. "What¡­" she gulped. "What happens if he decides he doesn''t want kids?"


    Qian Meng had considered this many times. But it didn''t lessen how her chest clenched when the question was posed out loud.


    "Then we don''t have kids."


    "And you would be okay with that?"


    Qian Meng looked down, touched her ring once again. "Yize, the only thing I wouldn''t be okay without is Mo Qingchen."


    And she meant every word.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng was an emotional wreck for the rest of the day. She couldn''t seem to figure out why her conversation with Yize had upset her so much. Until she woke up to the culprit the next morning.


    It was Monday and her period had come with immaculate timing.


    Figuring out the cause of her hormonal turmoil didn''t help. Her heart was still heavy and as she drove to the psychiatrist''s office to meet Mo Qingchen, her eyes filled with unshed tears of frustration.


    She craved another cup of iced green tea, so she stopped by the local caf¨¦ to get some. She didn''t know how it tasted because, after only one sip, she dropped her cup in the parking lot and spilled the whole thing.


    She didn''t know if her breaking point was the loss of the drink, the fact that it spilled on her new shoes, or her hormones. Whatever the case was, she cried the rest of the way to the psychiatrist''s, dabbing at her tears frantically so she wouldn''t show up with tears down her face. She preferred to keep her breakdowns post-arrival at her therapy appointments, not before.


    She cursed under her breath when she pulled into the parking lot and spotted Mo Qingchen lingering outside the office building.


    She was always happy to see him and although she could appreciate the business attire and the sunglasses that made him look like he had walked right out of a fashion magazine, she had been hoping to steal a couple of minutes to pull herself together.


    Ever the gentleman, he had been waiting to walk her upstairs.


    "Hey, pretty girl," he crooned, yanking her door open.


    But his smile was short-lived. One glance at her and he knew something was wrong. His face fell as he stretched into the car.


    "Hi," Qian Meng sniffed.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "I''m fine."


    "You''re not fine. You''re crying." He found her hand and pulled at her until she slid out of the car. "Tell me what''s wrong."


    "I''m just having a bad day."


    His hand was on her lower back, urging her closer. Her chest met his at the same time she looked up to his face. She pulled his sunglasses off to get a look into his eyes but caught only a glimpse before he pressed his lips to hers. Love burned too bright to keep her eyes open.


    "What''s going on?" he muttered against her lips as he pulled back.


    Having gotten a taste of him, her craving swelled until it was too much to handle.


    "Well," she began after a moment. "I started my period and I spilled my drink on my new shoes."


    "Oh, baby." He kissed her temple and stroked her hair while she took comfort in the familiar scent of his cologne.

 Chapter 421: What She Really Needed

    "Don''t cry. I will buy you shoes. All the shoes you want."


    Annoyed because she felt he was mocking her, she pushed him away and then did it again when he tried to hold on to her.


    "Stop," she cried as her eyes welled up again.


    "Qian Meng."


    She finally gave up and let him pull her tight against his chest.


    "I really liked those shoes."


    She didn''t care about the shoes at all.


    - - - - -


    Somewhere between standing in his arms and sitting in the psychiatrist''s office, Qian Meng understood she couldn''t blame her hormones for this. It was a storm brewing since their last session and Yize had been right. It would only get worse if she wasn''t honest about her feelings.


    "Qingchen really hurt my feelings last time we were here."


    It felt really good to say. The weight was immediately lifted off her shoulder. She felt stupid for ever holding her words back in the first place.


    "Tell Qingchen more about that."


    Qian Meng bit her lips as she turned to her husband. "Last time, you said that you didn''t think we would be good parents."


    She studied his expression as he blinked, understanding finally dawning on him.


    "That was hurtful to me. It made me sad that you thought I wouldn''t make a good mother."


    He opened his mouth to respond but the psychiatrist held up their hand to stop him. They gestured for Qian Meng to continue.


    "I didn''t say anything then because I didn''t feel like there was anything I could say."


    He sucked in a deep breath and his jaw tensed.


    "What do you mean by that, Qian Meng?" the psychiatrist prodded.


    "I understood why he would feel that way," she offered.


    "But it hurt." That summed up Qian Meng''s point. "Qingchen?"


    He didn''t respond right away. He stared at his hands for a minute, rubbing them over his face before he licked his bottom lip and finally spoke.


    "I knew you were upset about something I said and I just¡­ let myself believe you when you said you weren''t. I am sorry for being dense," he apologized first. "I think¡­ I worded myself very poorly."


    "So, that was not how you feel?" Qian Meng asked, but she heard the doubt in her voice.


    "No. That''s not what I meant."


    "I know I have changed from the woman you married but I also need to prove to you that I am not rash and using the baby to make myself feel better."


    His face scrunched up with worry. "You don''t have to prove anything to me." He stretched his arms out across the small couch so his hand was behind her head. "I am not your father or a cop. And I hate that you feel indebted to others." That was nice to hear. "We are equals. You don''t need to prove anything to me because I know just how amazing you are. You don''t need to prove anything to anyone."


    "Sometimes, I don''t feel like that is true."


    "Qian Meng," his voice was gentler. It complimented the fingers that softly touched the ends of her hair. "We have both grown as people and I am so proud of you. Do you doubt that I know how capable you are?"


    "I would hate to think there are other reasons you don''t think we would be good parents."


    He stiffened, regret evident all over his face.


    "Tell Qian Meng what you meant, Qingchen."


    She watched him, waiting patiently as he seemed to carefully choose his words.


    "I know you would be a good mother. I don''t question that." With his eyes on her and his fingertips in her hair, Qian Meng waited eagerly for the words to take away the hurt she had suffered the last time they were on that couch. "When I said I wasn''t sure if we would be good parents, I meant that I wasn''t sure we were suited to be parents¡­ yet."


    "I would like to hear more about what you mean by that," the psychiatrist said when he didn''t continue.


    "One of my favorite things about Qian Meng is her spontaneity. As much as I love my schedule and being on time, I love when she pulls me away from work because she wants to go swimming." His lips turned up into a soft smile, one Qian Meng found contagious. "I love that she wakes up on the weekend and wants to get in the car and go to the next town because she found a little restaurant she wants to have lunch at. I love that she wants to take me on dates. I love that we have sex in the middle of the day and have long conversations at night."


    Melting, Qian Meng almost forgot of any and all tension in that room.


    "She made me spontaneous too, and I love that aspect of our relationship."


    "And you are worried that would change if you choose to have children?"


    "Of course, it would change, but it feels unfair for the child to put up with parents who are so busy and still so spontaneous."


    "What are your thoughts on that, Qian Meng?"


    She sucked in a deep breath. "A small part of me wants to say he is wrong. That nothing will change. But I know that is not true. Of course, having a child will change things. It has to. But the change doesn''t scare me, not after knowing Mo Qingchen and the love he showers on people."


    "Since you have felt his love¡­"


    "Yes," she nodded.


    "Can you explain this further?"


    "My priorities haven''t changed. I always had a fancy car, a closet full of clothes, good food, and billions of dollars. That wasn''t happiness for me. I took a leap of faith in marrying Mo Qingchen. But then I fell in love and I know that being with him makes the material things in life so much better. I have everything I thought I wanted from life. But it took me getting everything I thought I wanted to realize that the only thing I didn''t want was all I really needed in the first place."

 Chapter 422: Proud Like His Father

    "And what is that?"


    "Love," Mo Qingchen answered for her, knowing exactly how Qian Meng felt.


    They turned to look at Mo Qingchen, who was staring at his hands, twisting his fingers together in a nervous gesture. When he finally did clear his throat, he looked up at her. The intensity in his eyes took her breath away. The look lasted for a brief second before he stood up.


    "I am sorry¡­ I don''t want to talk in front of the doctor any longer."


    She blinked at him, not understanding at first.


    "I understand." The doctor interjected. "You must have a lot on your mind, Qingchen. And I won''t force you to let me hear in on that conversation. You need some time to think and then speak to your wife in private¡­" they trailed off. "Let''s end the session here."


    "Uh¡­ okay¡­" Qian Meng picked up her purse and shuffled to the door. She didn''t understand what had just happened.


    "Everything okay?" she asked as they stood in the elevator.


    "Yes."


    They didn''t speak until they were in the parking lot.


    "I wasn''t ready for you," he whispered into her ears after pulling her into his arms. He kissed her head tenderly. "You know that?"


    The man who had proposed¡­ he hadn''t been ready for her.


    He put his forehead into her hair and she wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him closer.


    "Back to the office?" she asked.


    He nodded.


    "There is one thing I need to say to you."


    He pulled back just enough to look at her expression.


    "We spoke about you being unsure about what you want, about us being good parents, or how it will change our relationship. But we haven''t talked about what happened if you are sure."


    His cellphone rang. He didn''t even look at it. "What do you mean?"


    "If you are sure you don''t want children, then none of this matters." Qian Meng looked straight into his eyes. "I don''t want you backed into a corner thinking I am giving you an ultimatum." She reached up to take his face in her palms. "I can live without a child, but Mo Qingchen, I can''t live without you."


    He swallowed and nodded. "Once we are done with work and I have thought of everything I want to say, let''s sit at home and talk about this."


    Qian Meng nodded briefly. And then they got into their cars, driving side by side back to their office.


    - - - - -


    She didn''t want to get off the bed that night, but Mo Qingchen had other plans. He held up a large bowl of ice cream and a plate of snacks as she worked on the bed.


    "Hey," he said, coming straight over to her. She looked up from her laptop, tilting her head up for him to place a kiss on her lips. "Do you have a lot of work left?"


    Qian Meng shook her head. "I should finish this, but I am feeling really lazy," she said, stroking his thigh.


    "Great. Dinner is canceled."


    "Are we watching a movie?" Qian Meng asked in confusion.


    "No. I have other priorities to take care of," he explained with his signature smirk. "But we are going outside."


    He leaned over to kiss her forehead again and before she could string two thoughts together, he was gone, skipping down the hall.


    She slid her body out of the bed. "Hey!" Qian Meng called out as she followed Mo Qingchen. "Where are we going?"


    "Outside."


    "Out where?"


    "Just outside."


    She blinked in confusion. "What do I wear?"


    "Just put on some shoes."


    Qian Meng looked down at her shorts and shirt. "I don''t even have a bra on."


    He grinned. "I noticed." Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Just grab a jacket. It''s chilly outside."


    Mo Qingchen guided her to the small landing between the garden full of wildflowers. She was feeling mildly unsettled. At least, she was glad that he seemed to be in a good mood.


    Mo Qingchen was smiling next to her, crooning a love song to her softly along with the radio playing on his phone.


    There was a bite in the air and she was thankful that she grabbed a jacket. Wrapped in fuzzy socks and a jacket, the night became enjoyable. She had to ward off advances from a handsy Mo Qingchen, knowing that the guards would see if they did anything.


    They finally compromised to cuddle while they lay back to gaze at the stars.


    She curled up tightly into Mo Qingchen''s side and relaxed so much at him scratching her scalp that she almost fell asleep. The rumbling in his chest when he spoke roused her, though.


    "Remember when you flew across the country to tell me you loved me?" he asked quietly into the heavy, love-filled air.


    She smiled against him, hitching her leg over his hip to slide it between his.


    "Of course, I remember."


    She remembered every moment with him.


    "Remember when I told you that all of this¡ªeverything I have worked for, everything I have built¡ªwas for you?"


    "I remember it like yesterday," she answered. "You said your heart knew I was coming and that you had to have the best life you possibly could ready for me." She rubbed her hand down his stomach. "And then you fucked me so good I saw stars."


    She twisted p to look at him, expecting to see him grinning, but his expression was serious and thoughtful. "What made you think of that?"


    "I was thinking about therapy and when you said that everything changed for you. That all the nice things didn''t matter as long as we were together."


    "Qingchen¡­ I didn''t mean¡­ I am grateful for our lives."


    "No. That''s not what I am getting at." He shook his head.


    "Oh."


    "I am just trying to say that I feel the same way. Before you, I gauged my self-worth in monetary value and my pride was uncannily similar to my father''s." He held her tighter when she shivered.

 Chapter 423: Being A Parent Is Scary

    "And while I might still feel that way, none of it means a damn thing to me anymore if I don''t share my life with you."


    He turned his head and looked at her like she had made, lit, and hung every damn star above them. "Everything I have, Qian Meng, everything I am¡­ down to the bones in my body, is all yours."


    She stretched up to kiss the corner of his mouth, and he paused just briefly before continuing.


    "I''m sorry for freaking out in the middle of our session."


    She watched him struggle to find the words he didn''t need. She already knew.


    "After I left today. I felt guilty. And I did some thinking." She pulled back to look at him questioningly. "I felt bad that you poured your heart out to me and received no response from me. Even though I was there to talk about my feelings, I shut you out."


    "What you said in there was meaningful. More than you know. I needed the time to think alone. And it hit me hard."


    Qian Meng chewed on her lip, wondering if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "I felt clarity."


    Her heart jolted. He had come to the conclusion.


    "Clarity?" she squeaked.


    "You want to know why I brought you here, baby?"


    Unaware he had any motives outside of fattening her up, she was utterly confused.


    Mo Qingchen sprung to his feet and walked back and forth in front of her, appearing jumpy and anxious.


    "I brought you out here because I am conflicted."


    She gaped at him blankly. From seconds, he had gone from clarity to conflicting. Qian Meng really wanted to punch him hard in the balls at that moment so that he would never be able to get her pregnant despite his decision.


    She chose not to say anything at all.


    "I am pretty sure that our bedroom remains our bedroom."


    ''WHAT?''


    "And the hallways, we need to redecorate it."


    Qian Meng looked at her husband as she sucked in a sharp lungful of air. He couldn''t be discussing redecoration at a moment like that, right?


    "And I am thinking of flipping the rest of the first floor and adding a bedroom downstairs."


    Clearly, this was some sick joke.


    "I feel like it would make much more sense if the baby had a room downstairs."


    ''What?''


    Silence stretched on for what felt like whatever as she tried to connect the dots.


    "I mean¡­ at least for the first year."


    "I¡­"


    "What do you think?"


    Think? Her brain was out of order. It took her a solid two minutes to remember how to use her tongue. He waited patiently with a satisfied grin.


    "Are you really saying what I think you are saying?"


    "About changing the floor plan? I know it is last minute, but¡­"


    "Qingchen, stop!" Her tone was harsh. "This isn''t a joke. This is serious."


    His smile faded as he slipped his hand in his pockets. He finally knelt down beside her. "This is the single most important thing to me. Your happiness. That''s all I want. Whatever it takes."


    His words made her swoon, but it felt wrong. "Qingchen¡­ no¡­" Then she grew angry.


    "No?" He was clearly puzzled. "What do you mean, ''no''?"


    "You can''t have a baby with me because you want to make me happy. That''s¡­ You can''t do that! I can''t do that. I won''t. I won''t have kids you don''t want just so you can end up bitter and resentful in the future."


    His eyes widened in bewilderment.


    "When did I say I didn''t want kids?"


    "You didn''t have to, QIngchen. That''s what you have been wrestling with this whole time."


    "Don''t do that. Don''t make an assumption like that. That''s not fair."


    "Well, it''s unfair to me!" The tears came fast and hard. "You can''t tell me everything I want to hear to placate me."


    He calmed her down, speaking softly. "That''s not what this is."


    "You said yourself that you wanted me happy."


    "And that''s wrong? What you want is what I want." She wasn''t buying it. "It''s one and the same. That is what I am trying to tell you."


    "Then why all the indecision?" she demanded.


    "Because I am fucking scared!" She jumped, startled. "I knew from the very beginning that I wanted kids with you, the moment you felt relief when looking at your gynaecology reports. But when you asked me, I fucking hesitated."


    It felt good to get an unfiltered reaction from him. "To be honest, I was scared because I don''t know how to be somebody''s dad."


    "Qingchen¡ª"


    "The only fathers I have seen where shitty and abusive. I don''t want to be that, Qian Meng."


    "The thought of being a parent is scary as hell. Not being what your parents were is hard¡­" Qian Meng admitted.


    "But you know what I have now that I can''t pass up?" Mo Qingchen asked.


    "Me?"


    He nodded. "The thought of being a parent was scary as hell, but while I was conflicted, I spent most of my time preparing for the baby than I did thinking about if I wanted a child. I want a family with you. I subconsciously knew that we would figure it out together. We always do."


    Qian Meng smiled and wrapped her hands around his wrist.


    "Yes, we do." She stared up at him as his thumbs brushed away her tears. "But I need you to be sure about this, Qingchen."


    "I am sure."


    "How do you know you won''t get scared and change your mind?" she challenged.


    He flashed her a smile so bright that it dimmed the stars above. "Because when I look at you¡­ I am not afraid of anything."


    And then he kissed her right there.


    When he pulled away, he said one thing. "We need to go see a doctor and start working on the renovation of the house. It''s going to be hectic. Are you up for a fight, baby?" he asked.


    Qian Meng grinned with watery eyes. "With you by my side? Always."

 Chapter 424: Universes Helping Hand or Super Sperm

    Like everything else in life, Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng were proactive. They were sitting at the hospital waiting room a day after their conversation.


    Both of them had done a comprehensive health check-up already and Qian Meng was on her way to get her gynocological tests done. Having finished his part, Mo Qingchen patted her back.


    "Get used to the cold gel. We might have to do a lot of ultrasounds in the near future," he said calmly.


    Qian Meng quirked her brow. "You looked up the cold gel, too?" she snickered.


    "That and the intrusive checkups that are uncomfortable." He frowned.


    "Those¡­" she groaned, remembering.


    "It''s part of life."


    And when she was getting her consultation, Mo Qingchen sat ramrod straight as if he was in the principal''s office. Qian Meng was almost sure that he would pull out a notebook to write down every word the doctor said.


    She shook her head as she turned to the doctor. The female doctor was looking over her reports.


    "So, you wish to have a child, is that correct?" the doctor asked. Qian Meng nodded, even though it was a foregone conclusion at that point. "Your prescription of birth control pills will be over in a few days. You will definitely need to get off those first," the doctor said calmly. "Mind you, there are two issues that you need to know of."


    Mo Qingchen stiffened. Of course, having children was hard.


    "Is there an issue?" Qian Meng asked. She hadn''t considered this part. She hadn''t had any issues with her reports in the past.


    "No need to be worried. I just want to remind you that birth control takes somewhere between two weeks and a month to wear off," the doctor began. "Apart from that, your reports shows some scarring in the ovary."


    The doctor turned the screen and showed it to them.


    "Is this a huge issue?" Mo Qingchen questioned immediately.


    "Not really. Such scarring is common at Mrs. Mo''s age. They appear somewhat abruptly and aren''t life threatening," she explained.


    "But it does make it harder to conceive," Qian Meng commented softly.


    The doctor nodded. "It reduces chances or delays pregnancy, but it''s not a problem, really," the doctor assured.


    Mo Qingchen looked at the picture and felt a pang of sadness. He hadn''t considered that in the other world, she could have developed this and had a problem conceiving. Guilt enveloped him once again.


    "Is there medication for this?" he asked quickly.


    Qian Meng saw his clenched fists and smiled helplessly.


    "Of course. First of all, you need to have a healthy lifestyle. I know that both of you work out, eat clean food and follow schedules, but you also need to reduce stress," the doctor advised. "Enjoy the process and you should have no problem," she said calmly, giving Qian Meng a pointed look.


    The message was clear: don''t get obsessed with conceiving, enjoy being in love.


    "Of course."


    "What is the time-frame for positive results," Mo Qingchen asked astutely.


    Qian Meng snorted. "This is not a business deal, she can''t tell you any definite time period."


    The doctor waved it off, having met enough prospective parents who asked these questions. "You can expect results somewhere between four months to¡­ years." The last part was softer.


    "It''s a long-term project, then," Mo Qingchen mumbled.


    Qian Meng remained silent, mostly amused by his musing. It was evident that Mo Qingchen was racing for that baby. She wanted kids, but he was result driven and was planning on her popping out a baby exactly nine months from when he said he wanted kids, too.


    "I''ll work extra hard to make it happen."


    The doctor suppressed a smile at the shameless declaration and Qian Meng burst into laughter.


    "I am glad that your husband is an overachiever."


    The appointment came to an end and Qian Meng left with a prescription.


    Safe to say the doctor was surprised when the Mo couple came back twenty five days later.


    The doctor looked at them, puzzled as she squirted sanitizer on her hands. "Tell me¡­" she said finally.


    "I missed my period," Qian Meng said immediately. Her words were rushed, stunning the doctor.


    "Going off your birth control pills can throw off your menstrual cycle, yes," she commented. "But as you are trying for a child and are healthy, I am bound to give you a pregnancy test," she said with a smile.


    "I already took a few," Qian Meng said proudly. She produced a ziplock bag full of test sticks. The doctor saw that there were two of every brand she could think of. It was a huge ziplock bag, too.


    "Whose idea was it?" she asked, a little scared of the couple.


    "Mo Qingchen prepared everything in advance. We set up a monitoring system, too," Qian Meng said proudly. While making babies was fun and having Mo Qingchen pouncing on her delightful, his conviction to the task was heart-warming. He had everything prepared and just waiting.


    "Okay." The doctor shook her head.


    Obviously, the tests in her hand were all positive.


    "Did you take these in the morning or later in the day?" These were important questions.


    "One of each brand in the morning and the rest after lunch."


    Leave it up to this couple to be this efficient.


    "Despite the results on the pregnancy kits, I will need a formal test done through the labs," the doctor chuckled.


    And sure enough, the results came out the same.


    The doctor pulled Qian Meng to the bed and the cold gel was back on her stomach.


    The doctor sighed when she moved the wand around. "You''re about twenty days pregnant," she confirmed. She couldn''t help but look at the smug Mo Qingchen who was sitting and watching them.


    "We are overachievers," Qian Meng said proudly. "What''s a little scar tissue to the super sperm of two highly intelligent and beautiful individuals? Our genes are incomparable."


    Actually, she was jokingly voicing out what she knew Mo Qingchen was thinking. He looked even more amused but kept his mouth shut.


    He had done the victory dance at him when Qian Meng wasn''t looking. He delivered the results much before the expected time-frame. What was not to celebrate?


    The doctor laughed. "I suppose we need to get you a plan, then."


    And that, was how these two beat the odds. Maybe it was the universe giving them a helping hand. Maybe it was Mo Qingchen''s super sperm. No one would find out the real answer.

 Chapter 425: He Wont Hurt Me

    2.5 Months Later:


    Mo Qingchen waited for Qian Meng at the entrance of the restaurant. She had an important meeting outside her office, so she had barred him from coming. Instead, the worried husband had made sure Li Min drove Qian Meng around and that she had her food and water on time.


    He looked at his watch once again and then at the road by which she was going to arrive. He saw her car a few minutes later and sighed in relief. At least, she was finishing all her meetings on time. He could trust Li Min to force Qian Meng to follow her schedule.


    The car stopped in front of him and he took an urgent step forward to open the door for her. He placed his hand over her head and carefully helped her out.


    "How are you feeling?" was the first thing he asked when he saw her face. She looked tired.


    She gave him a shallow smile and held his hand tightly.


    "Do I look that bad?" she asked.


    He shook his head. "You just look tired. I am sure you will feel better once we have you fed," he said gently and thumbed the stray strand of hair away from her face.


    She scoffed. "At this rate, I am going to be a fat little pig. Are you sure it''s the baby making me gain weight or the food you are stuffing me with, Mr. Mo?"


    He chuckled softly, even though he didn''t find the situation hilarious. Her expression had gotten worse since yesterday. She was having headaches and she barely had any appetite. He was trying to get her fed, but she could barely keep anything down.


    He had even called the doctor and he had said it was simply morning sickness and nothing to worry about.


    The over-worried and doting husband accepted this diagnosis with a grain of salt and kept trying to get her whatever food she wanted to eat or craved.


    "Has everyone arrived yet?" Qian Meng asked as they entered the lavish restaurant.


    "My parents are here. Xiao Chen and his family is here too. Yize is yet to arrive," he informed her. "My dad is his usual robot self. He seems to be pressuring Xiao Chen into getting married with his girlfriend. Ignore the conversation and don''t get stressed no matter what he says," Qingchen told her in a whisper as they made their way to their private room.


    The long winding staircase made her dizzy just looking at it.


    She sucked in a deep breath and slowly walked up the stairs. Mo Qingchen could sense that she was not feeling well.


    "Are you okay?" She nodded. But the feeling just got worse. "Let''s just go home if you don''t feel well. Let''s cancel. I''ll explain to everyone." He tugged on her hand and felt her press his hand tighter.


    "I''ll just sit down and it will be fine," she assured.


    Once she reached the top of the stairs, she felt a lot better. She took a breath of relief and walked forward. She slowly let go of his hand and walked forward. Opposite to the row of private rooms, a small birthday party took place.


    It was a group of rowdy youngsters who loudly sang the birthday song. Qian Meng''s spirit soared and she looked at the group with wonder as she walked forward.


    In a split second, a loud bang enveloped her senses and from the corner of her eyes, she saw flames erupt. The combined forced ripped her out of her senses so violently that she lost her balance. Her heels twisted too fast to recover. Her body fell sideward, away from Mo Qingchen. She didn''t make a sound. It all happened within a flash of light.


    Everything went black before she reached the bottom.


    Mo Qingchen almost missed catching her. His eyes widened as he lunged to stop the fall. He could only awkwardly stop her from hitting the ground. Once he had a hold of her, he could only slowly put her on the ground.


    When Qian Meng slowly regained consciousness, she rose to the sound of chaos around her. Confused, she took a few moments to remember where she was.


    "Absolutely not!" Mo Qingchen roared ferociously. The voice opened her eyes. Her surroundings were blurry at first, but she soon realized that she was in Mo Qingchen''s arms. Mo Yize stood in front of them, looking more livid than she had ever seen her friend be.


    Her gaze wandered beside Yize. Why would Qingchen''s demon of a father be standing there? She closed her eyes and reopened them.


    He was still there. She slowly remembered that she was on her way to meet them.


    "Sir, please. Let her help her up," someone said from the side. The voice was foreign, but Qian Meng was sure it was none of the staff.


    "Bro, it''s okay. You don''t need to let any stranger touch her. Let me and dad help her up. We need a doctor to look her over, okay?" Mo Yize urged in a stern voice. She knew that tone. Yize was seconds away from throwing a fit and having her way at any cost.


    "Mo Qingchen, let me help her up," his father''s calm voice replied.


    "No!" he roared more viciously. "She needs a doctor, not a noxious parasite like you." He pulled her in closer, protectively. His murderous tone made everyone around them paise.


    "We just need to move her out of the hallway. We will wait in the private room until the medics arrive, okay?" Yize tried to reason.


    "Qingchen," she croaked. His eyes shot down to hers. "It''s okay. He won''t hurt me."


    The turmoil in his eyes struck her like a hammer. He looked scared. Not just concern covered his face but absolute terror.


    He held her gaze for several moments before opening his mouth to reply. Just as the words were about to come out, he was interrupted by the paramedics briskly sweeping into the room, whom, she might add, Qingchen was also sceptical of.

 Chapter 426: Fight Until Her Last Breath

    Letting his father near his pregnant wife was the last thing he would allow. He had seen how poorly he treated his mother when she was pregnant with Yize. How could he allow such a man near his precious wife and children?


    Qingchen began barking orders at the paramedics from the moment he set her down on the stretcher. She drifted back into unconsciousness without being able to comprehend what he was saying.


    "My wife is twelve weeks pregnant and she has been having a bad headache since last night. She doesn''t have a good appetite and the doctor said it was normal," he said out in a rush.


    As the medics took her, he rushed behind and found Li Min getting out of the car, looking distressed.


    "Li Min," he growled. "What is wrong with her?" he asked.


    Li Min jumped at the fierceness of his voice but she understood. "Mr. Mo, Boss hasn''t been able to keep anything down since morning. She couldn''t even keep down a sip of water. She vomited at least six times," Li Min informed.


    Qingchen''s expression was murderous. "And you didn''t think to dissuade her from going to the meeting?" he asked. He didn''t let her respond. "You didn''t think that you should inform me when you know how stubborn she is?" he roared.


    Li Min''s eyes almost watered at the scolding.


    The paramedic from earlier called for Qingchen, saving her a thorough scolding. She heaved a sigh.


    "Mr. Mo, please accompany her to the hospital. I will follow the ambulance closely. Please don''t be worried. I will reach around the same time and give them details." She bowed and shuffled into the car.


    Qingchen didn''t wait longer and bolted to the ambulance. He saw his father''s grave expression and the look of worry on everyone else. He didn''t care what they thought.


    As they rode away, Yize turned to her family. "I got the name of the hospital they are taking Qian Meng. I''ll follow. Who wants to come with me?" she asked.


    The family didn''t question and went in.


    Their father sat in Yize''s car and grumbled. "Twelve weeks pregnant and they didn''t tell us. It''s not like she is the only woman who got pregnant and worked hard in the office. What is there to faint?" he grumbled to herself.


    Yize gritted her teeth. "Have you been pregnant before, dad?" she asked.


    Mo Zichen startled and looked at his daughter. "What?"


    "No, you seem to be really knowledgable about pregnancies. I know you don''t like Qian Meng because she is young and not ideal for the son you nurtured to be your heir, but you have to accept that she is a strong businesswoman. And Qingchen hates you. He would never touch your company again even with a six feet pole."


    Mo Zichen liked his daughter too much to say anything back.


    "I know you are upset about your meeting not going according to plan, but please restrain yourself." She stopped and wondered if she should explain further. "Brother might kill you if you say anything out of place." Months of therapy told her that she was fucked up not only because of her mother but her father too. She just¡­ hadn''t realized it.


    She knew for a fact that her two other brothers had been affected by it too. One refused to get married altogether and the other didn''t even want emotions in their life until Qian Meng arrived.


    Mo Zichen looked at his daughter without knowing what to say.


    She didn''t feel like explaining.


    "You shouldn''t speak to your father like that," Li Li Hua said sternly.


    Mo Yize sighed and restrained her frustration. "At some point, you two will realize that you have traumatized your kids into being incapable of normal relationships. One beat his wife and abused her and the other skipped around speaking about female empowerment but did nothing as she was beaten. She even called it a manifestation of her husband''s love." She looked at the two of them through the rearview mirror. "If you know what is good for your children, don''t involve yourself in their private lives. We are grownups. We know what to do."


    Li Li Hua had been prepared to say something, but this blatant revelation of the truth left her stunned.


    "I know I am being harsh, but the situation deems I speak on everyone''s behalf. Brother is not in the right state of mind. Please don''t make his situation worse." Yize was pleading at this point. The rest of the journey was silent.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng was alone. She could feel the biological defenses of her body crashing quickly.


    Consciousness was the first to go, taking self-preservation and determination with it. Suddenly, she was scared that she was drifting away again. If this was fate, she would fight it with every last drop of her being.


    She wouldn''t allow the universe to pull her away to another place without her consent.


    It seemed that hope was leaving.


    She needed to compel the body to keep functioning. And when she was sure it was going to fail, she willed her heart to hold on.


    It seemed to be the only one at her side. The others betrayed her.


    A small part of her wondered what it would be like to give up. She was not always like this. Last time, she didn''t fight this hard.


    But this life was special. This body and this heart were special. This soul was special and it was bound to Mo Qingchen and the little lives inside her.


    As she saw images of another universe, one where her circumstances were different and Mo Qingchen was different come to her mind. She felt it pull on her.


    But she didn''t allow it to pull on her. There wouldn''t be an end to her. Even if her body was long gone and rotten, she would not allow herself to live a life without ''her'' Qingchen.


    She would fight to keep this body for just a little longer in the unyielding vastness of the universe. If destiny was determined to take her away, it would have to rip her life away from her desperate grasp.

 Chapter 427: Everything Was Grey

    She felt his presence beside her. He had grasped her limp and heavy hand. Only the beeping of machines and the sound of his tears filled the room for a long time. If Qian Meng could wake up, she would cry with him. She wanted to.


    "God," he choked out eventually. "Please, god. Please¡­" His voice was raspy. He was tired and broken. "You can''t take her from me. You can''t¡­"


    It sounded like a desperate plea, a last resort. The man was not religious. She knew this because she knew him inside out. But his heart was breaking so painfully that he couldn''t think straight.


    Her heartbeat grew stronger at the sound of his voice. She felt a pang of victory. It was a small miracle. This was the part that confounded science.


    Her body had migrated through parallel universes to be here, so it was prone to moving again and again. But this desperate voice filled with the love and prayer of Qingchen bound her.


    He squeezed her hand. "I love you¡­" he whispered.


    The words made her resolve to fight impossibly stronger.


    He sat there, not knowing the war Qian Meng was fighting. He was witnessing something that he didn''t know was possible.


    - - - - -


    "Mrs. Mo''s blood pressure is abnormally low. Blood and urine samples showed signs of severe dehydration. So, we did an ultrasound and confirmed a diagnosis," the physician told Mo Qingchen as he stayed put beside his wife.


    Qingchen waited patiently for the declaration.


    "Mrs. Mo has hyperemesis gravidarum," he said. It sounded grave and Mo Qingchen felt his pulse leap. "Please don''t be alarmed. Most women experience morning sickness during pregnancy. The hormone created by the placenta is the problem in this case. There is a large amount of this hormone produced by your wife at the early stage of the pregnancy. But if treated properly, there would be no issue."


    Mo Qingchen sagged in relief. "Do you have the ultrasound results yet?" the physician asked.


    Mo Qingchen shook his head. "We were going to get the tests once we hit the three-month mark. Is the baby okay?"


    The doctor smiled. "I did see your wife had an appointment coming up. She must have lost some weight too. Don''t worry about it. You have triplets, by the way."


    Mo Qingchen choked. "W-what?"


    The doctor smiled. "We shall give the ultrasound pictures when your wife wakes up. Congratulations," the physician said.


    Mo Qingchen frowned. "But why isn''t she awake yet? You have her on IVs and medication. Why isn''t she waking up?"


    He gulped.


    "She has stabilized. The dehydration and exhaustion take time to recover. Some patients sleep for days after their first spell," he assured.


    "When will she wake up?" Qingchen asked in frustration.


    "It will take some time, Mr. Mo. Please patiently wait by your wife''s side. She is doing really well. We are monitoring the babies, too. Don''t worry about anything."


    He patted the worried husband on the back and went his way.


    Qingchen on the other hand, simply sat in the room, feeling numb as he read everything about the condition.


    Feeling constant nausea. Loss of appetite. Vomiting everything they ate or drank. Becoming dehydrated. Feeling dizzy and dazed. Losing five percent of weight instead of gaining.


    All the symptoms scared him. He felt like he was making it happen to her. That it was his fault.


    It would go on for all of her pregnancy and end when she gave birth. But her recovery period would be longer than others.


    As he dug into everything he could do to make her comfortable from the moment she woke up from her long sleep, he heard people enter the room.


    The phone felt weightless in his hands as he pressed his forehead into Qian Meng''s hospital bed. He fought the bile rising in her throat. Outside, the birds chirped and the city kept moving.


    But everything was grey to him.


    Colorless, like death. She sucked in a pained gasp of air at the thought. He shot up and looked at Qian Meng''s sleeping face. He checked the machines to make sure her heart was still breathing.


    "Brother, are you okay?" Mo Yize asked.


    "No."


    "I am sorry. That was a stupid question."


    "Nothing has color anymore, Yize." He fisted the material of his pants, fighting back the pain as it seeped into her bones. "It''s just grey¡­"


    There was a long moment of silence. Mo Yize was at a loss of what to say.


    "It won''t be like that forever. Once she wakes up, everything will go back to as it was," Yize assured.


    "You don''t know that." Mo Qingchen had a strange feeling that everything wasn''t as simple as the doctors made it out to be. He felt pangs of hopelessness now and then and he was sure she was slipping away.


    He couldn''t sleep.


    He just couldn''t sleep in fear that the moment he did, something bad would happen to her.


    "Even if you feel hopeless, I know it will get better. It has to!"


    Mo Qingchen turned to her sharply. "Would you feel the same way if your boyfriend¡­ Li Jun¡­ was where Qian Meng is right now?"


    The sharpness of her exhale said it all. The bite of his words had the effect he intended them to, like a knife to the gut. Like what he felt.


    "I''m sorry."


    "Isn''t everyone?" Qingchen said dispassionately.


    Yize reached across to take his hand and he let her hold it despite how limp and lifeless it lay in her grasp. Silence stretched between them, meaningless matter to fill the voids of space that words couldn''t.


    Their sympathy wasn''t going to make Qian Meng better. And encouragement wasn''t going to chase away the pain. It was all inevitable.


    "Dad called to ask for you again in the morning," Yize informed carefully.


    "Why? What else does he want to know? He knows everything that happened."


    Yize sighed. "I guess he wants to talk more about it¡­ the pregnancy."


    "What''s the point?"

 Chapter 428: A Good Thing That He Was Crying

    "I am sure our parents have questions," Yize coaxed.


    "I am not in the position to answer them. I don''t have the answers they want."


    Yize gulped. "I under¡ª"


    "No, you don''t understand. Do you want to talk about this right now? Don''t you think this can wait until after she wakes up? Can I just get through that time?" his voice was raised.


    "No. You are right. Absolutely. I am sorry." She patted her brother on the back.


    Qingchen sighed deeply and pressed his face into his free hand. "Look. I am sorry. I didn''t mean to yell at you¡­"


    "You don''t have to explain anything." Yize squeezed his shoulder. Mo Qingchen started to cry. "You don''t have to explain anything at all."


    He didn''t have the energy to explain. But he cried.


    Yize watched her brother break apart. She saw him cry for the first time and though she should have been worried, she felt a weight lift off her shoulder.


    It felt like a good thing. That Mo Qingchen was crying.


    It was a good thing that he was crying.


    - - - - -


    There was nothing lonelier than the sound of footsteps in empty hospital hallways. The sound of the expensive shoes Qian Meng had bought for him only made it worse. The clicking of the heel echoed too loudly, reverberating through despair.


    It was a walk he was unfamiliar with, but he would never forget these doors. Each one he passed brought him closer to his Qian Meng. He finally reached his destination.


    He opened the door and found Yize sitting inside, as he had expected her to be. It was the only way he could leave for the meeting, to at least know that someone Qian Meng trusted and wanted would be there at her side when he wasn''t.


    "You''re here," she whispered as Qingchen walked in.


    "Hi, Yize," he muttered as he dropped his bag on the vacant chair. He simply didn''t have the time or patience for any further pleasantries than that.


    "How is everything there?" He vaguely registered Yize asking from behind him as he pulled the chair over to the bed.


    "As good as expected," Qingchen said calmly. "Mom will be here soon. Qing Yuan wanted to come too but he was a mess just hearing his sister was in the hospital. He won''t be much use here. I told him to come after she wakes up."


    While some part of his mind aided the automatic responses coming from his mouth, the bulk of his attention was focused on his other half.


    "Hi, baby¡­" he whispered, just for her as her hand pushed across the too-rough linen. His eyes lowered to her stomach. "Hi, little ones."


    His eyes shifted back to her pale lips. He ached to touch those lips with his own, to feel their softness again. Something about not knowing when she was waking up made less than a single day feel like longer than an eternity.


    "Mom just went home to rest a few hours ago. She needed to eat something. A real meal and not the crap from the hospital vending machine," Yize droned on to fill the silence.


    "I know," he answered with a sigh. "Dad called her home."


    "You should do the same." She stopped, knowing that it was an impossible argument. "Brother, I can stay here. Why don''t you go home?"


    He considered telling her that it was pointless. Not to waste her words on him. He sighed, knowing he needed to respond, but not to Yize.


    "I am sorry I wasn''t here earlier." He leaned over to kiss the back of the hand he held. "But I had to attend the meeting." He turned her misleadingly warm hand over to nuzzle his cheek against the palm. "I know you would insist that I go."


    He pressed a light kiss on her palm.


    He pulled back.


    "Did anything new happen while I was gone?" he asked. This was one of the only questions he was interested in hearing the answers to.


    "Not really," Yize answered as he had expected. "She has been kind of twitchy, though."


    Qingchen''s head snapped so hard to look over at Yize that he gave himself whiplash. "What?" he demanded.


    "I said¡­ she has been twitchy."


    His eyes widened. "Why didn''t you call me?"


    "I was going to but the nurse said that it was nothing and that we shouldn''t be so alert to simple bodily movement."


    Qingchen turned away from her in an effort not to yell. He knew that Yize''s intentions were good, but this was his life they were talking about. It was not only imperative for him to know but critical.


    "Brother," Yize came forward, wondering if he was angry or not. "How about I go out and get you something to eat? Give you a little time alone with Qian Meng?"


    "Fine," Qingchen responded quickly. He honestly didn''t care what anyone else did.


    "I can run to your house and get you some clothes to change into. Should I do that?"


    "Sure."


    He didn''t give Yize a second glance as she gathered her stuff and left. He barely even heard the door close behind her as she lay his face against Qian Meng''s palm again. He closed his eyes and willed his love to move something.


    He just wanted some hope.


    - - - - -


    He was quickly getting used to the sound of the beeping. It didn''t bother him as he dozed off. What woke him was the noise that interrupted the steady sounds. The sound of rolling wheels.


    "Oh, I''m sorry, Mr. Mo," someone spoke as he lifted his head, rubbing at his sleepy eyes with his free hand. "I didn''t mean to wake you."


    He looked up to see one of the night shift nurses smiling at him apologetically.


    "It''s okay. I must have dozed off for a minute." Qian Meng''s hand, warm but limp, was still in his. "Is everything okay?"


    "Everything is fine. I was just checking Mrs. Mo and the babies'' vitals. I''m all finished."


    Qingchen nodded. "Thank you."

 Chapter 429: I Would Rather Be Shot

    "You know, you are going to end up hurting your neck if you keep sleeping like that. There is a couch here and a comfortable recliner. I can get you a pillow." The offer would have been enticing to any other person.


    Mo Qingchen tried to muster a smile to offer the woman. The nurse seemed sweet and she had suggested the same the night before when he refused to sleep.


    "No, thank you."


    Her expression was all knowing and there was not a shred of surprise.


    "I am sure the recliner is comfortable but it isn''t close enough to her." He hated the sympathy that flashed in her eyes.


    "I understand," the woman said kindly. She left quickly, leaving him alone with his wife. And a pressing bladder.


    "I''ll be right back, baby," he told her, turning to place a gentle kiss on her palm. He felt the subtlest twitch of her finger on his cheek. "Qian Meng?" he asked slowly, his gaze darting up to her pale eyelids. "Qian Meng, baby, can you hear me?"


    But there was no response.


    - - - - -


    Mo Qingchen could only breathe and stare at her early in the morning. The constant beeps were all that could be heard. And then it happened. His reason to keep breathing, the keeper of his heart, opened her eyes and blinked twice.


    He would never forget the moment his wife opened her eyes.


    For more than thirty hours, his chest felt empty. Just seeing her collapse and waiting for her to wake up had completely gutted him. When he held her limp body in his arms, he actually felt like his heart was being ripped from his chest.


    The only way to describe the way he felt when he saw her open her eyes was that the sheer intensity had slammed his heart back into its right place.


    In the blink of an eye, the color in the world returned.


    "Oh my god," he sobbed, almost collapsing.


    If it hadn''t been for the need to call the doctor immediately, he would have fallen to the floor like a useless heap of limbs. He was lightheaded from the sheer elation that his wife was alive and awake.


    Qian Meng closed her eyes again after blinking a few times. But it didn''t matter. "It is perfectly normal for everything to be very hazy right now."


    Qingchen wanted to run to her and smother her in hugs and kisses, but he resisted. He stayed where he was, his hands clenched in fists as tears flowed freely down his cheeks.


    She breathed out deeply before opening her eyes once more, though they didn''t focus on anything in particular. In a flash, the doctor produced a tiny flashlight from his pocket and flicked it on.


    "Mrs. Mo, you have been asleep for some time. Can you follow the light for me?"


    Although, it took her some time to register what was being asked, Qingchen watched with a beaming but teary smile as her eyes slid back and forth following the light.


    When the doctor turned the light off, her eyes focused on him right away. The longing and desperation in her gaze broke his heart.


    "Qingchen," she croaked, barely anything more than a breath.


    "Please," he cried. "Just let me touch her¡­"


    The doctor obliged with a kind smile. "You can touch her. Just be gentle and speak softly. We will allow more visitors after the charts are filled out."


    Mo Qingchen scurried to her side wordlessly and leaned over her, pressing hurried kisses to her forehead and cheek.


    "Baby," he whimpered, crying all over her face. "You''re awake. You came back to me¡­"


    He vaguely registered the doctors and nurses retreating, giving him a minute.


    "Are¡ª" She started to speak but then stopped to clear her throat. "Are you okay?"


    That only made him cry harder. "How are you asking me if I am okay?" He was completely baffled by the thought.


    "Don''t leave," she croaked next. It was a peculiar thing to say.


    "I am not going anywhere," he answered as he took her face gently in his hands. "I am right here."


    She sighed, sounding relieved before she closed her eyes.


    "I am going to get you some water, Mrs. Mo," the doctor announced as he grabbed her chart and made a quick exit.


    At first, the whole thing was like a dream. And then it hit him. The moment it actually hit him; he almost fell to his knees. The people in the room left. And he couldn''t argue. For a long moment, only his cries filled the room. And then he felt Qian Meng''s hand in his air.


    "Shh¡­" she whispered and the fact that she was comforting him made him sob harder.


    "I am so sorry." He turned to look at her.


    "Qingchen," she looked back at him with tear-filled eyes. "Please. Don''t cry."


    He took a shaky breath, trying to compose himself. He surveyed her face, trying to convince himself that it was real.


    "I can''t help it. I thought I had lost you." Slowly, he felt somewhat in control of himself.


    "I''m here. I fought really hard to stay here with you. Did you see?"


    He jolted at the information. He had an inkling that it was the case, but now his suspicions had been confirmed.


    "I love you." He scrambled to say. "You don''t even know." He cupped her cheeks with his hand, stroking the corner of her eyes. "Thinking I had lost you was like having my insides ripped out. Worse."


    "It''s selfish¡­" She paused before swallowing. "Is it selfish that I thank the universe that I am in my position and not yours?"


    "What?"


    "I would rather fight to come back to you. I would rather be in this hospital bed than know what it was like to think I had lost you and had no way of knowing¡­"


    Qingchen nodded, laughing softly through his tears. "Yes," he agreed. "I would rather be shot at than go through the last thirty-something hours again."


    Her eyes stayed closed for longer this time as her breathing slowed down. Just as he thought she was sleeping, she spoke again.

 Chapter 430: Love Me Like You Do

    "Qingchen?"


    "Yeah, baby?"


    "The baby¡­" She didn''t need to say anymore.


    "They are all fine." He saw the confusion wash over her weary face. "We''re having triplets, Qian Meng."


    She sucked in a shocked breath before squeezing her eyes shut. "Why can''t we do anything normally? Did we really have to be such overachievers?" she asked jokingly.


    He sniffed. "Part of why you are sick is because we are having multiples. It''s your first pregnancy, too. We will need to take care of you and make sure your morning sickness doesn''t hurt your body."


    "The doctor explained everything to you?" she asked.


    "This morning."


    "I missed it?"


    "Yes. But they promised to give us the ultrasound photos." He dropped his hand to her stomach. "I already had a goddess guiding my life. Now I have angels, too."


    She raised her hand to his cheek and stroked his face.


    "How long was I out for?"


    "Two nights."


    Qian Meng''s gaze was apologetic as she met his. "I''m sorry I left you alone to worry all that time. Did you eat properly? Did you sleep?"


    He shook his head as he smiled at her. "It doesn''t matter. It is over now and you are with me. I will never take this second chance I have with you for granted, Qian Meng."


    "Lie down with me," she slurred as sleep called to her.


    "I can''t." He wanted to plead with her to stay awake, but her head lolled as she lost the battle with sleep. "But I am right here, baby."


    - - - - -


    Qingchen could guess that Yun Qing Yuan was mad that he missed out on time with his sister before she fell asleep again, but no one dared say anything to him. Qingchen didn''t feel bad either.


    When the doctor came back with ice chips for Qian Meng, he briefed the family on what to expect out of the next few days and subsequent months. The doctor said that as she recovered and the pregnancy progressed, she would need to be prepared to sleep a lot and that it was normal.


    She would take time to regain her energy. But Qingchen knew his wife was above average and would probably be up and about faster than anyone expected.


    Qingchen didn''t think she would wake up for a while, so he was talking to Li Min and the other associates to handle most of the workload for the rest of her time in the hospital. After she was awake for longer, Qian Meng could decide how she wanted to assign the work.


    He was on the phone with Li Min when he realized that she had prepared for every possible circumstance.


    "Qian Meng already told you to handle things?" he asked in shock.


    "Yes, Boss was prepared since she decided to get pregnant, Mr. Mo. She was cutting down on her workdays to four a week. She already distributed most of her work. If she was unable to oversee the proposals, she trusted me to make the decisions after consulting you."


    Qingchen sucked in a deep breath. "Understood. Please carry on with the plan until she is discharged from the hospital at least. You can call me at any time for my opinion."


    He hung up the phone and looked at it in absolute silence.


    He almost jumped in surprise when her raspy, sleepy voice cut through the silence.


    "You found out."


    "You''re awake," he answered stupidly, blinking at her as he recovered from her jolt of surprise.


    "I am."


    He frowned. "How long have you been awake?"


    "Just a couple of minutes."


    "A couple of minutes? Why didn''t you say anything?" He looked at her critically.


    "I was enjoying watching you."


    He caressed her head softly. "How are you feeling?"


    "Like I have been shot with a tranquilizer for elephants," she admitted. "I am not sure if it''s a good thing or not." She sighed.


    "I missed your eyes," he told her unable to look away.


    "I missed looking at you, too," she admitted.


    "Could you hear me? When you were¡­ asleep?" he asked.


    She stared at him for a moment, contemplating her answer. "Sometimes. I could hear you in the background while I struggled to wake up. But I couldn''t. I couldn''t move or open my eyes. I was sort of aware of the things around me, though. I don''t really remember it all now. It is like when you are in a dream and you remember when you start to get up but the more you are awake, the fainter the dream becomes in your head. Does that make sense?"


    "Yeah, it does." She gave him a sleepy smile that made him swoon. "So, what did I find out?"


    "What?"


    "You said I found something out," he repeated.


    "Oh, that I now have the foresight to get your help when I know I won''t be capable."


    He looked at her with confusion before he realized that she had heard the conversation.


    "I am not sure why you would give me that responsibility," he said softly.


    "That''s why I gave it to you. Because you don''t want my things but you would take good care of my business like you take care of me," she explained.


    "You wanted me to know¡­" he trailed off. "You wanted me to know that you trust me enough to hand over your company." It was a wondrous moment.


    "I needed you to know. Even if something happened and I didn''t have the chance to tell you. It has been on my mind for a while."


    "Thank you," he responded, squeezing her hand gently. "I will uphold your trust. I know that no one has ever loved another person like you love me."


    "Good. That was my purpose."


    "I can only give you my journal to show you how I feel. There is nothing else I can do to tell you," he said.


    She nodded and licked her lips.


    "Do you want some water?" he asked.


    "Lie with me." Qingchen smiled but shook his head.


    "I can''t. I might hurt you. And I have to call your brother. They went down to the cafeteria to get food and I promised to call when you woke up again."


    She rolled her eyes. "I don''t care," she dismissed quickly. "Lie down with me."

 Chapter 431: I Can Dress Myself

    "I can''t baby."


    "I need to hold you¡­" she whined.


    "You''re too fragile," he insisted as he stood up. "We will have plenty of time for that. I just need you to rest and take care of the babies, okay?"


    "You keep licking your lips. Your lips must be chapped. What do I get you?" he asked, peering into the empty paper cup he had been feeding Qian Meng ice chips from.


    She shook her head. "Did you bring my bag? I had lip balm in there. My lips are so dry," she protested.


    Qing Yuan entered and saw the scene.


    "I don''t have your bag, but I can go out and buy one for you."


    Qian Meng put her hand on his leg to physically stop him. "It''s okay. Don''t leave."


    "It''s fine. I need to get a toothbrush for myself and you."


    She looked at him longingly. "I need one of those desperately."


    "I can go out and pick up everything you two need," Qing Yuan said sweetly.


    "It''s okay. You two enjoy a little time together before Qian Meng starts taking calls and working again," he chuckled softly, knowing that was exactly what his wife was going to do when he left the room.


    "Qingchen!" Qian Meng protested and he really did find it sweet that she was so adamant about not wanting him to leave. He didn''t want to leave either, but he knew he had been hogging all her time from the family.


    "It''s okay, Qian Meng," he laughed. "I will be right back. Finish whatever you need to before I do. I won''t condone you working when I am in the room."


    "Hey!" she called after him as he started to walk away. "If you are going to leave, you should at least kiss me. My mouth tastes horrible but you have to deal with it." She smiled slyly.


    Lighthearted laughter filled the room from the people who had entered. Qingchen went back to her, shaking his head. He leaned over to place a quick kiss on her dry, chapped lips.


    "Extra strong toothpaste it is, then," he muttered to her teasingly as he pulled away.


    - - - - -


    "Which pants do you want to wear?" Qingchen asked as he unzipped the duffle bag.


    "The grey ones," Qian Meng said slowly.


    "The plaid ones?"


    "Yes." She looked at him in surprise. "I am impressed that you know plaid, Mr. Mo."


    He ignored her teasing and continued with his questions. "Which shirt, then?"


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "Qingchen, I can dress myself."


    He glanced over at his wife, who watched him helplessly from the hospital bed.


    "Don''t start complaining, Qian Meng. I am already anxious about you going out so soon." He sighed.


    "It''s been a week."


    "Exactly. It has only been a week and you are recovering from a serious condition, Qian Meng." She shook her head, but he continued on before she could argue with her like he knew she wanted to. "The way you have been acting, you would think you have a cold or something. Not something as severe as your body rejecting all nutrients and trying to kill you."


    Qian Meng looked at him with mild disgust at the exaggeration. "I really hate lying in this bed all day, feeling absolutely useless. It''s driving me to the brink of insanity. I need to get out. Even if I sit in the office, I don''t dare."


    Qingchen gave her small, sympathetic smile. He really did feel for her, but her health was his absolute first priority.


    "I know, baby. That''s why I am letting you go home. But I am not happy about it."


    She shrugged. "I don''t want to stay at your parents'' home for the rest of the pregnancy. It''s not something I can handle and I don''t think you can handle either. So, let''s just go home, okay?" she chuckled.


    Qingchen and she were in complete agreement about that. Qingchen''s mother had offered them the guest bedroom in their house but there was no way the two of them would walk through the hallway without Mo Qingchen constantly thinking about how his father might hurt his wife.


    Qian Meng was already clawing at the walls to get out of the hospital. She was an independent individual and she hated that her mobility was restricted.


    Qian Meng was the ruler of her own kingdom, as was Qingchen, living in someone else''s house? There wasn''t room for two kings in Qingchen''s father''s place.


    Instead, Yun Qing Yuan was moving in. Add in Xiong Hua and her constant need to take care of the couple, Qian Meng was set for a good pregnancy.


    "Are you okay with Qing Yuan staying with us?" Qian Meng asked finally.


    Mo Qingchen hummed. "I don''t care if he lives with us temporarily or permanently. I already invited him to live with us before the wedding. He chose to do so now. Also, it''s better that he comes live with us. I am not letting my wife stay at home and get bored or depressed. He will be of great help."


    Qian Meng looked at her husband and realized he had thought everything through.


    "Bored and depressed?" She quirked her eyebrow defensively but quickly melted at his boyish smirk. "My prince charming, why are you pushing my buttons when I am sick?"


    He grinned. "Am I pushing your buttons? I like that."


    She rolled her eyes. "There is nothing I want more than to push your buttons."


    Qingchen ignored the sexual innuendo and made a quick subject change as he helped her changed into her clothes.


    "Did you get enough to eat? You''re going to need your strength because we are going out for the first time today."


    "I''m good," she said dispassionately.


    "Are you sure? I could ask Xiong Hua to make something and keep it ready for when we arrive," he insisted.


    "Qingchen, I am good."


    He knew his constant questioning about her well-being was getting on her nerves, but he couldn''t help it. He was constantly thinking of things he could do for her. The near-death of his soulmate did that to him.

 Chapter 432: Recklessly Kiss Her

    "How about¡ª" She interrupted him immediately.


    "There is only one thing I want from you."


    He looked at her urgently.


    "Kiss me," she responded sweetly.


    He pressed his lips into a thin line, trying to hide the expression that revealed how badly he wanted to do just that. Hell, he wanted to do way more than that, but he had tried desperately to keep his composure and stop himself from jumping her bones. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into him and never let go, but her recovery was a priority.


    "Qian Meng."


    But when he looked at her, the battle was already lost. He knew he was inching towards the slippery slope that led right into an intense sexual tension. But when she looked at him and her eyes sparkled the way they did, there was no denying her.


    "You are doing that on purpose, aren''t you?" he accused, narrowing his eyes at her as he slowly approached the bed.


    "Do what?" She acted innocent.


    "Look at me like that."


    She licked her lips and his heart beat faster.


    "All mischievous and come hither."


    Her lazy chuckle made his fingertips tingle with the need to touch her.


    "I didn''t do it on purpose," she said. Qingchen leaned over her. "I guess this is just the look of a woman helplessly in love."


    He squinted. "I am already coming for your lips." He moved slowly, careful not to knock into her as he stretched over her on his hands. "The swoony lines won''t get you anything extra."


    "Damn," she muttered just as his lips descended on hers.


    Their kiss began with a slow simmer but grew to a steady blaze that set his heart on fire. Her lips were the only reprieve as his body burned for her. He moved with hunger. While his brain screamed at him to keep things innocent, his heart cried out for more.


    He clung to logic with a death grip. Kissing was harmless but he couldn''t afford to fall into reckless behavior.


    "Easy," he breathed as he forced himself to pull away from him.


    She groaned in protest as he peeled himself from her and settled into her side instead.


    "I miss you, Qingchen." Her tone was that of defeat and as steadfast as he was in his resolve, it didn''t take the sting of guilt out.


    "I''m right here, baby."


    The look she gave him was reproachful. "I miss you. I miss you being inside me."


    Qingchen ran his hand over her stomach, a subconscious reminder to both of them. "I know. Don''t think for a second that I don''t miss it, too."


    "Then let me."


    He shook his head. "Not until the doctor says it is okay. Besides, we are in the hospital right now. Wouldn''t you feel weird when someone can walk in at any time?"


    She smiled slyly. "All the more reason to get home quickly. Fuck the doctor. They don''t know me!" she giggled.


    "How are you feeling?" He watched her face intently as he lightly rubbed her stomach. "Truthfully."


    "Qingchen, stop."


    He was taken aback by her stern voice. But her face softened when she realized she had startled him. "Sorry. But you have to stop treating me like I am made of glass. I am okay."


    He sighed. "I just worry."


    She turned to face him directly as she took his face between her hands. "Look at me."


    He hadn''t realized until he was staring at her lips. When he slid his gaze up to meet hers, they sparkled with affection.


    "I am okay, baby. I know you worry, but I am okay," she spoke those last words slowly, enunciating as if she were speaking to a child.


    "I know that I have been overbearing, Qian Meng. And I know you are frustrated with being cooped up in this room, but I know how you are. You have high expectations of yourself and I don''t want you to push yourself before you have really had the time to ease into the condition."


    She frowned. "And what about you not trusting me?"


    He shot her a confused look as he shook his head. "What are you talking about? Nothing happened to the trust between us."


    She had that stubborn look in her eyes. "Then you need to trust me when I tell you I am okay."


    Realization dawned on Qingchen and he gave her a sheepish look.


    "I trust you. I only worry." He closed his eyes briefly before the next words left his mouth. "I know now what it feels like to think I have really lost you forever so I don''t want to feel that way again. You''re not a distant person anymore. You are my wife."


    Her hand swept across his cheek and she gave him a sad half-smile. "Come on." She leaned over to him and placed a chaste kiss on the corner of his mouth. She pulled back slowly before pushing herself off the bed to stand. "Let''s go home."


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng entered the house and gasped.


    "The interior designer called. The rooms are ready. I aired everything so that you don''t feel stifled with the smell of new things," he said calmly.


    She sucked in a deep breath. "I can still smell it," she pouted. "But it''s not overwhelming. I like it," she said with a bright smile.


    "Are the fumes bad for the baby?" she asked.


    "Probably," Mo Qingchen said slowly. "Let''s go stay at one of the apartments again," he interrupted. "Let the house settle and then we will come back." They had already lived in an apartment close to their office for some time, but the space was restrictive and Qian Meng missed home. Now that she was back inside, she didn''t want to leave.


    "Pregnant women move into new houses all the time. It''s fine!" she commented.


    "You''re not just any pregnant woman. You''re one who almost lost her life," he said harshly. In the end, Mo Qingchen spoke to the doctor and was convinced otherwise.


    "Time to jump into my bed!" Qian Meng squealed as she rushed towards the bedroom.


    "Don''t run!" he called after her helplessly, knowing that she would not listen to him any longer. She was in her home ground now. There was no stopping Qian Meng, the storm. He felt a small smile lift up the corner of his lips. It was good to have her back in the house. It was good to be back in the house. It didn''t feel like home without her any longer. Just a place to put his head down when he needed to rest.

 Chapter 433: Complete And Fearless Devotion *

    [Warning: MQC and YQM are hornballs. You have been warned!]


    Qian Meng''s nail dug into the flesh of Mo Qingchen''s forearms, which she had gripped tightly in hers and he groaned loudly. She wasn''t sure if the biting pain had anything to it. It could have been a groan of pair or that of pleasure.


    Pleasure of her sitting on top of him, rolling her hips so that his cock slid between her folds effortlessly. She wasn''t exerting too much energy, considering that the doctor had told them that she needed to rest and there would be no penetrative sex in the recent future.


    "Oh, darling¡­" She cried out hoarsely.


    He moaned loudly and she knew exactly why. She had recently taken to calling him darling, mostly during sex. And she was delighted to find that it drove him wild.


    "I''m close¡ª" he bit out through labored breathing and desperate gasping.


    He released her hands to grope her ass desperately in an attempt to steady her rhythm. It was of little use. They were both covered in sweat, slipping and sliding against each other as their hips moved erratically. Her hands found his hard stomach as she continued to roll her hips.


    The room was filled with moans and whimpers. They were like animals. Instinct had taken over and her whole body was buzzing with the need to release. She had already orgasmed twice because of his talented mouth but she wasn''t satisfied.


    She had come to realize that she would never be sated with Mo Qingchen. Since she got pregnant, her libido skyrocketed, and then when the doctor restricted their sex life, Mo Qingchen remained the devoted husband who made his wife come multiple times a day.


    His erection, though, was often left unattended. He took too many cold showers these days.


    At least his insomnia had gotten a lot better.


    "So fucking beautiful," he grunted and she felt his abs clench under her palms. Her man was close. So, so close.


    "I''m right there¡­" he responded to her moan.


    After coming twice, this one started with the slowest of burns. It ignited in her toes which were curled up against the mattress and spread across her body until she couldn''t even think straight. All she could think of was her husband and how much she wanted him inside her.


    She imagined that she would clench around him so hard and pull him into her if it were possible. All she wanted was to consume him the same way he consumed her.


    The pleasure spread up to her belly and she threw her head back, crying out loudly. Mo Qingchen anchored her in place, not allowing her to fall and she let the fire reach into her chest.


    Her orgasm was right there and she was reaching for it. It was true¡­ As her therapist had said, sex with someone you loved completely, someone you trusted and could literally die for was a complete game-changer.


    And having a piece of that person inside you was a reminder of that love every second she breathed.


    He made her feel like a true goddess. Months ago, when he would say it, she would shy away. Now, she thrived on it. She saw herself the way Mo Qingchen saw her. He had made her capable and ready to love with complete and fearless devotion.


    Now, she knew with certainty that she was worthy of him that they were both willing to love each other as they deserved to be. It was him and her against the world.


    Whatever the other needed in the relationship, they would fight to get it. She was his in every sense. Her heart, body, and every aspect of being.


    "Come on me," she moaned.


    It took her a moment to realize that those words had come from her. She hadn''t even realized she had been thinking it. It just popped out.


    She slowed her movements as she looked down at Mo Qingchen, who was looking up at her with dark and lustful eyes.


    "W-what?" he asked, giving her a look like he wasn''t sure he had heard her right.


    But Qian Meng was unashamed. "Come on me," she repeated.


    He swallowed but she knew the look on his face. He was turned on.


    "Yeah?" he replied, his voice dripping in honey and lust.


    She nodded.


    He moved to sit up, withdrawing from her and she was impressed when he picked her up and was on his knees in one fluid motion. He put her down on the bed gently.


    She looked up into his eyes as he took her hand and moved it between her thighs. She knew what he was instructing her to do and with a soft moan, she began rubbing circles on her clit.


    Her chest heaved up and down rapidly, anticipation bubbling in her stomach as she watched him shuffle towards her on his knees. She broke eye contact to look down between them. He took his erection in his fist and began stroking. It was possibly the most erotic thing she had ever seen and the desperation in her whimper was almost embarrassing.


    She could see the spasms of his muscles as he shuffled closer and closer until he found his desired position. He had one knee on either side of her upper thigh. He was right there, looming over her, stroking himself faster and faster as she rubbed away at her clit. He groaned loudly and she knew what it meant. He was right there.


    Even then, he gently nudged her hand away to expose her heaving chest fully to him. And then he came on her, grunting loudly with each spurt that coated her breasts.


    Her orgasm ripped through her and every muscle in her body tensed desperately, wanting to feel her husband inside of her.


    "Yes, baby¡­" he encouraged through his pants as he came down from his own high. "Come for me."


    She whimpered his name and squirmed under him.


    He released himself to tend to her, nudging her hand out of the way to replace it with his own. He looked down into her eyes as he rubbed small, gentle circles over her clit. She was left a melting and moaning mess.

 Chapter 434: This Is Your Mess, Mr. Mo *

    "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen¡­" he said gruffly, staring at her.


    She reached down to wrap her hand around his forearm tightly, squeezing as he rode the waves of pleasure rolling through her.


    "You grow more beautiful with each passing day. How is it even possible?"


    He continued to rub circles until she became too sensitive, at which point she pushed him away. "I can''t," she breathed as she tried to compose herself.


    "Qian Meng¡­ baby¡­" Qingchen shuffled back and leaned over her carefully to press his lips to hers. She moaned into his kiss and whimpered when he pulled away.


    "Qingchen," she whined.


    "Hold on," he said lowly. "I''ll be right back."


    He walked towards the bathroom and it was only then she realized what a mess she was. Mo Qingchen''s semen was splattered across her chest. Some of it had even gotten in the ends of her hair. It was unfortunate because it would dry quickly.


    Mo Qingchen returned a few moments later with a washcloth. He stood over her as he wiped her hair first. He slowly cleaned her chest but all she could do was laugh. His efforts were sweet and appreciated but it didn''t do much good for how sweaty her body was. All the washcloth did was make her boobs jiggle around.


    "Why are you laughing? I am trying to help you, you know?" he said with a smile.


    "Help me?" she laughed, making her boobs jiggle even more. "This is your mess, Mr. Mo."


    "You asked for it!" he answered, laughing heartily. "I admit, I might be making some motions to see your boobs move around enticingly."


    She grinned as she shoved his arm. "Shut up. I honestly think my best get is to get in the shower."


    He nodded. "Probably. A bath is not good for you."


    "It''s in my hair."


    He looked guilty. "I''ll help you wash it out."


    His phone started ringing then and he left the washcloth sitting on her chest as he went to his nightstand to get it.


    "I have to take this," he said as he unplugged it from the charger. "I was expecting the call yesterday. Hop in the shower. I will be there in just a minute."


    She hummed in response.


    "Come here. Give me a kiss."


    She obeyed with a smile and rose from the bed carefully and took two steps towards him to meet him in the middle for a quick peck on the lips. His lips had barely parted from hers when he swiped his finger across the phone to pick up the call, probably just a second before he missed it.


    "Mo Qingchen," he barked into the phone, his tone carrying the authoritative bite it always did when he was talking business.


    She left him to his conversation and hurried to the bathroom to wash herself. She went straight to the shower and turned the water on. Stepping under the water was sweet relief. She had gotten a new bottle of body wash that was barely scented because she couldn''t stand the ones she used before. At least they were all from her brand.


    She could hear Mo Qingchen and knew that he was either talking really loudly or even yelling. She didn''t envy the person on the other side of the line. Angry Mo Qingchen wasn''t pretty. Combine that with the ruthlessness with which he handled business, she definitely felt bad for the person.


    The conversation didn''t last long. She had barely finished washing her body when Mo Qingchen slipped into the shower. She tried to assess his facial expression but he didn''t look bothered at all.


    "Is everything okay?" she asked, taking a step back as he stepped in.


    "Of course. Why?"


    "You sounded a little upset on the phone call," she admitted.


    He scoffed. "That? It was nothing. I had to be aggressive in this case to drive results." Typical Mo Qingchen. "It smells good in here."


    She grinned in response.


    "Do you know what is better?" he prompted. She raised her brow in question. "The view." His gaze went up and down her naked body appreciatively.


    And just like that, he dropped his business persona. He was not the billionaire businessman. He was her Mo Qingchen, the version of himself that he only allowed her to see.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked with playful suspicion.


    "Nothing," she shrugged. "I just love seeing you like this."


    "Explain," he said softly as he closed the space between them and wrapped his arms around her waist. He nuzzled his face in her neck, kissing across her skin and she had to concentrate not to lose her train of thought.


    "You appear disconnected with the world to others, but in front of me, you are completely different. I like that."


    He pulled away from her neck, his eyes sparkling.


    "Are you trying to tell me that I am whipped?"


    Qian Meng rolled her eyes, shoving at his chest, but he didn''t budge or let go.


    "I''m being serious."


    "I know." He paused. "You created this soft side when you made me fall for you."


    "I made you fall in love with me?" He had made it sound like a hostage situation.


    "Yes. You seduced me. A slow and torturous seduction." He grinned widely as he dipped his head down to find her lips. "I never stood a chance."


    "I love you," she whispered against his skin.


    "I''m yours," he answered. "And the babies." He caressed her stomach. And then he washed his semen out of her hair.


    It was a perfect romance.


    "Enough. Let''s get you dry and warm," Mo Qingchen said softly. He led her out of the bathroom and toweled her dry before putting her clothes on.


    After inspecting that she was fully dressed and warm, he slowly carried her to the bed.


    "Do you think that babies get motion sickness when we are being intimate?" Qian Meng asked out of the blue.

 Chapter 435: Ripping His Shorts Off

    Mo Qingchen hadn''t thought about that closely. "I think we need to ask the doctor that."


    Qian Meng frowned. "We could search it online too, you know?" she prompted from beside him.


    "I trust the medical professional more, love," he told her gently.


    She turned to face him. "Does the doctor remember being in the womb and their parents having sex?" It was a stupid discussion but one that seemed pertinent at the time.


    "The people on the internet have even less of a chance of remembering. We''ll ask the doctor." He patted her hair and settled her in.


    Now that Mo Qingchen thought about it, a prickle of worry overcame him. He placed his hand over her stomach, checking for movement. And then, in the dead of the night, he stayed awake with his hands on her stomach and his head at her heart, making sure the only things keeping him alive and happy were safe and sound.


    - - - - -


    Qian Meng woke up to the sound of birds outside their house. She was so out of it that she had no idea where she was at first. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times before remembering that she had fallen asleep while watching Mo Qingchen work.


    This only made her more confused. She had no recollection of actually going to bed, but she had somehow managed to end up tucked beneath white soft covers and her plush body pillow.


    There was only one explanation.


    "Qingchen," she groaned as she tried to roll over onto her back and stretch her arms above her head. It was a difficult task with the humongous beach ball on her stomach.


    She was sore and groggy, indicating that she had slept too long and too deeply. A glance at the clock showed that it was past eight in the morning. So, it had been a really long time.


    She pushed the blankets aside and sat up, yawning. She wasn''t surprised to have slept that hard. She had been a deep sleeper but the pregnancy kept her tired all the time. These babies¡ªwhom she loved very much, were sucking all her energy out.


    Still, she felt back for cutting their night short. They had a couch date after he finished work and she had fallen asleep on him.


    "Qingchen?" she called out, knowing he wouldn''t be far.


    She made a quick trip to the bathroom to get herself together before looking for him. Because she knew Xiong Hua wouldn''t come before the afternoon, she felt cheeky and went searching for him in her comfy panties.


    Her nipples hardened in the cool air as she shuffled down the hall, following the smell of his black coffee. She found him in the dining area, sitting at the table, focused intently on his laptop.


    She saw him typing at his laptop, so she assumed he was responding to emails or something.


    "Hey," she greeted with a big smile.


    He glanced up at her, midway through bringing his cup of coffee to his lips, and jumped as if he had seen a ghost.


    Everything that followed happened so quickly that it was difficult to register. One moment, he was looking at her with his eyes as wide as saucers, and in the next, he had jumped up from his chair and yelling a slew of profanities.


    Mo Qingchen had spilled all over his lap.


    "Damn it!" he hissed.


    "Qinchen! Are you okay?" she asked, praying that his coffee wasn''t fresh enough to burn him.


    She hurried over to him, scampering across the cold floor to get to him. She didn''t understand why he wasn''t ripping his shorts off.


    "Stop! Don''t come any closer!" he yelled at her, making her stop in her tracks.


    She was stunned that he had yelled at her and confused as to why he didn''t want her near him.


    "What¡ª"


    Qingchen sighed loudly, reaching out to close his laptop and she wondered briefly why he would care about that when he was covered in coffee.


    "Shit." He unbuttoned his shorts and yanked them down.


    "Why can I not come any closer?" Qian Meng asked in a small voice.


    He looked up, realization dawning in his eyes. "You can now. Sorry for shouting, I didn''t know what else to do." He sucked in a deep breath. "Until thirty seconds ago, if you came closer, you would have flashed your tits to everyone on the conference call."


    Qian Meng gaped at him for a moment before connecting the dots. She finally saw the wireless earphones in his ear.


    "You were on a video call?" she asked.


    "Yes."


    She giggled as she watched him peel his boxers off.


    "I would be damned if anyone sees my wife''s tits but me," he swore.


    Shaking her head, she tried to pick up his wet clothes. He stopped her immediately and picked it up himself. "Don''t even try that."


    "Mr. Mo. Until recently, you were enthusiastic about everyone in the world seeing my beautiful breasts. How have you changed your tunes now?" she teased. "Also, the coffee didn''t burn you, right?"


    He shook his head. "It wasn''t that hot. Thank god." And then he smirked. "I might have said it, but when it came down to the actual thing happening, I panicked. No one needs to see you like this¡­ so beautiful. What if people start chasing you? It''s too irritating to fight off flies."


    "I''m sorry," he huffed as he hurried past her. She tried to keep her gaze off his flopping and flaccid appendage. "I have to rejoin the call for the last few minutes."


    "It''s fine," she called to him as he stormed down the hall in search of new shorts. "I''ll throw these in the laundry bin."


    "Good morning, by the way!" he yelled over his shoulder. "And your tits are beautiful. The best in the world!"


    She laughed out a loud laugh as she ventured off to the laundry room.


    Once she put everything in order, she steered clear off the kitchen to let Qingchen do his thing. She thought about taking a shower, but all she wanted to do was lay around in bed.


    Mo Qingchen didn''t take long to finish up his call. It felt like only a few minutes had passed before the door to the bedroom opened. She saw him walking towards her. His boxers slung low enough on his hips to make her think dirty thoughts.


    "All done?" she asked, not even trying to get up.


    "Yes, ma''am. I am all yours for the rest of the day." She watched with a carefree smile as he dove into the bed beside her.


    "Did they laugh at you for spilling coffee all over yourself?" she asked as she placed her hand on his shoulder.


    "Yes. They tried to hide it, but I knew they were laughing inside." He traced small circles on her side. "I don''t need to explain to them that it was because my wife walked into the room half-naked."


    "Fair enough."


    "I''m sorry for not being there when you woke up. I wasn''t expecting you to wake up so early," he admitted.


    Qian meng shrugged as she combed her fingers through his hair. "I don''t mind. I knew you would have to work. I need to work too. Just. Not now."


    That was inevitable. In a couple of weeks, she would get admitted to the hospital, and then after the babies are born, it would take a couple of months to settle down. She was already putting a lot of pressure on her employees but she also had a family to think about.

 Chapter 436: The Waiting Game

    At last, it was the waiting game. Most of the days, Qian Meng was on the bed, on her side, propped up on pillows under her head, behind her, between her legs¡­ She fully used the voice-to-word feature on her laptop to get most of the work done. Whatever little she was allowed to do, that is. The rest of the day was a mixture of her listening to the radio, sleeping, browsing for things for the babies. It was mixed in with the babies kicking, heartburn, and quite a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions.


    But Qian Meng was happy to know that she had only twelve hours left before she went to the hospital.


    Both Mo Qingchen and she knew that they wouldn''t have the time to be bored for the next eighteen years.


    Mo Qingchen walked around the room, looking for anything he might have missed to put inside the backpack.


    "Stop pacing around the room, you are making me dizzy," Qian Meng said softly. She looked at the bundle of nerves that was her husband and started to chuckle.


    "I don''t know if I have taken everything," he responded urgently.


    "I have a copy of the list you made. Let''s check, okay?" she urged. He looked more scared than she was feeling. He nodded and sucked in a deep breath.


    "Check," she prompted firmly. Mo Qingchen crouched down beside the bag and waited for her.


    "Our photo identity cards. The health insurance information. Hospital registration forms." He hummed as he looked through the folder with the paperwork. "The birthing plan: for if I am unable to speak during the C-section and the doctors and nurses need a guideline of how I want everything to happen." He checked it, his body stiffening at the very thought.


    "Change and cash for snacks, gift store errands, and any cravings that I may have," Qian Meng said slyly.


    He threw her a dirty look, which she ignored.


    "Of course, you get to have snacks, too. Unhealthy food is best when you are as nervous as you are," she teased. Then, she continued. "Laptop, tab, and phone chargers for both of us."


    "Done," he confirmed.


    "My tab has been filled with music and books and series to watch." Because she would need a distraction while everyone prepared for the procedure.  "Pillows," she said firmly.


    Mo Qingchen looked at the body pillow she was in love with. "I will load it in the car when we leave." He looked at it with jealousy. "That pillow gets to hold you and support you all the time," he said with a pout.


    Qian Meng snickered. "Touching you is dangerous," she commented. "Moreover, your body is too hard. Not as comfortable as this pillow."


    He frowned but then urged her to continue with the list.


    "Lollipop for dry mouth. A can of cranberry juice to reduce the risk of urinary tract infection. Chewing gum for balky post-surgery bowel function."


    These things were added by her thoughtful husband, who had done a little too much research on the topic. He had also read an excessive amount of birthing horror stories, so he was carefully screening every single thing that he could.


    "Personal items: hairbands, comb, and dry shampoo so that I look fabulous in the first photo with the babies," she hummed.


    "Sleepwear, panties, and a robe." Because hospital clothes were uncomfortable, to say the least.


    "Socks and slippers. Sanitary pads, nursing bras, and tank tops."


    Mo Qingchen gave a thumbs up. "Everything is in there."


    "Then come back to bed and vegetate with me," she lured him.


    He snorted as he jumped back on his feet and sauntered to her side. The damn pillow was still between them, but it was fine.


    He lay on his side and slowly caressed her face. The silence in the room was comfortable, but he felt the need to talk to her. He had all this pent-up energy that he needed to let out.


    "My paternity leave starts tomorrow. I have two months'' leave but I can stay home as long as you need me to. Don''t think that you need to do everything on your own. Just focus on recovering yourself¡­ everything else will be taken care of," he said softly. His voice was low and the rhythm almost lulled her to sleep.


    "A lot of women experience postpartum depression, so please tell me if you feel unwell. I don''t want you to feel like everyone only cares about the baby. If you do face complications, we will get the best treatment and make sure our family is healthy, okay?"


    "You have thought about this deeply, haven''t you?" Qian Meng asked. "Is that what you do every night?" she smirked.


    He raised his brow in question.


    "I can feel you wake up in the middle of the night and checking up on me. I know you stare at me for a long time and then place your hand on my stomach to make sure the babies are okay," she informed him. She hadn''t told him anything because he would stop doing it, fearing he was disturbing her sleep. And he would suffer in silence for the rest of the night, wondering if they were okay. Giving him peace was more important.


    "Why didn''t you tell me I was waking you up?" he groaned.


    "You weren''t waking me up. I don''t sleep restfully because of how big my belly is. I wake up often. Also, I enjoy your care." She removed a strand of hair from his forehead, looking at his face with unyielding fondness.


    "You should have."


    "I mentioned it now," she shrugged.


    "Yes. Right before we go to the hospital for the babies to be born."


    She chuckled at his petulant tone. "Now, stop worrying. We prepared for everything. Let''s enjoy the process."


    And so, Mo Qingchen lugged the body pillow along with the big bag of things into the car. Qian Meng wore a flowy dress, looking like the picture of grace and beauty as she hobbled with his support.


    And the process was as smooth as she had expected. The consent forms were signed and Qian Meng was already waiting for anesthesia.


    "Did that hurt?" Mo Qingchen asked from his spot beside her.


    She shook her head. "Not much," she assured. "It''s strange, you know? Feeling everything below my rib cage going numb," she said in wonder.

 Chapter 437: Gave Birth to Alien Potatoes

    "Scary?" he asked. He gulped visibly.


    "Not at all."


    The nurse came by with a chalky drink.


    "What does this do?" Qian Meng asked as she looked at the liquid with distaste.


    "It neutralizes your stomach acids," the nurse informed. Her eyes strayed to Mo Qingchen, who looked nervous but still scared anyone who came into the room. Father Bear was definitely not playing around when it came to his family. "We will give you a catheter and IV soon. After that, the mother will be taken to the operating room and the father will suit up in scrubs and a mask," the nurse informed. She knew these two were fishing for information.


    And it went just like that.


    A curtain was pulled across her midsection so that she couldn''t see the procedure. She was thankful for it. She didn''t need to see her guts being spilled. But as Mo Qingchen took his place by her side, she grew curious.


    "Why do you have that look on your face?" Mo Qingchen whispered.


    "What look?" she questioned.


    "Like you are plotting something," he said, concern evident in his voice.


    "I am trying to listen to what is happening behind the curtain."


    Qingchen tried to hide his smile. "You''re starting to feel scared, aren''t you?" he asked.


    "Not at all," she stated. "With so many senses out of commission, I am trying to keep busy and compensate."


    "What do you hear?" he asked, trying to take her mind off the impending procedure.


    "I hear the scrub nurse¡­ another nurse or two. The anesthesiologist. Oh, the pediatrician is here too. Is there anyone observing?"


    Qingchen shook his head. "It''s just as you said."


    For Qian Meng, it felt like a dream. When the doctor arrived, there was music on the radio and her doctors and nurses were singing along to the songs in unison. Like it was a movie set. She had asked for music but hadn''t expected the impromptu musical to play out behind the curtains.


    It was such a major life event for Qingchen and her. She had expected everything to be stiff and serious around her, but she realized it was just another ordinary day for everyone else.


    That gave her comfort. If it was just an ordinary day, it meant that the risk was minimum and the procedure was progressing according to plan.


    It eased the fear of not knowing what was being done to her own body. It eased Mo Qingchen to see her not be panicked.


    No, she didn''t feel pain, but she did feel pulling and tugging, almost as if someone was trying to tickle her from the inside in an uncomfortable way.


    "Do you feel anything?" he asked.


    "No pain¡­ just my insides being moved around. Certainly, a feeling right out of a thriller movie," she commented.


    He snickered but stopped in the middle when the babies were slowly brought up over the curtain one by one.


    Mo Qingchen looked at the little ones with wonder in his eyes and watched as the nurses took them away to do thorough checkups.


    Suddenly, Qian Meng burst out into tears, scaring him. "What''s wrong?"


    "I thought I would see the babies and feel like they were my whole world," she sniffed.


    Mo Qingchen gripped her hand. "It''s okay not to feel that way. They were just born. We will slowly get to know them. We can love them slowly, okay?" he assured.


    "Oh, it''s not that," she choked. "The first thing I thought was: ''Wow, I thought our babies would look cute, why did I give birth to alien potatoes?''" And she started to bawl.


    Mo Qingchen tried his best to hide his laughter but failed miserably.


    "Don''t laugh. I feel horrible," she accused.


    He rolled his eyes. "We can''t return babies, sorry. You will have to make do with alien potatoes for now," he told her playfully.


    She glared at him. "Babies look ugly when they are born. I am sure my genes will do wonders," she sneered.


    He nodded in agreement. "Our genes are superior. If we managed to conceive triplets naturally and in such a short time, I am sure these babies will get some of our overachieving tendencies."


    It was her turn to roll her eyes.


    - - - - -


    Afterward, Qian Meng was sent to her hospital room. At the time, Li Li Hua accompanied the nurse who had brought in the three babies. "You have two daughters and a son!" Li Li Hua exclaimed.


    Qian Meng looked at the babies and froze with surprise. Seeing this, Li Li Hua laughed. "Why are you surprised at getting three babies, now?"


    Qian Meng shook her head and looked at Qingchen. He had not seen the babies their birth, either. This was their first meeting.


    "Do you want to carry them?" the nurse asked Qinghcen.


    He remained still. He had not adjusted to his new identity as a father. Only at this moment did he realize how much responsibility he had as the father of three children.


    From now on, these three children would be relying on Qian Meng and him to survive. Although, he had prepared himself for this, truly seeing the babies wrapped in bundles made him panic just a little.


    Qian Meng noticed this and gestured for him to come over. "You can''t hold all three babies at once. How about I hold one of them for you?" she said.


    The nurse slowly taught them how to hold the babies before placing them slowly in their arms.


    The babies looked so tiny, especially in the arms of Mo Qinghcen. However, they were sleeping and safe.


    He breathed in relief.


    "Now that they are cleaned up, they don''t look as bad," Qian Meng whispered, fearing that the baby in her arm would wake up.


    "A few hours did wonders to their appearance. A few more years and they will look human," Mo Qingchen commented seriously. The nurse laughed as she witnessed the scene.


    "Well, the babies and parents will definitely have a good relationship," she said.


    Li Li Hua looked at the careful expression on her son''s face with a satisfied smile.

 Chapter 438: Naming Babies Is Really Hard

    Qian Meng was kept at the hospital for four days before she was allowed to go home. During this time, Qian Meng had a hard time moving around. The C-section was not a horrific experience, but she was still very weak from the experience. Mo Qingchen was forever the sweetheart, helping her move around, go to the bathroom, and then to the neonatal care unit where the babies were.


    She met a lot of parents there and had wondered what kind of parents they would be. The parents were worried about their child''s health. Some bemoaned the cost of hospitalization.


    These events made Qian Meng grow. She had always known how hard it was for others to ensure a good life for their kids, but now that she had three babies of her own to take care of, she saw the struggle in a different light.


    Her children would never suffer financially. Even though they were triplets, Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng had spared no expense to make sure the pregnancy was ideal so that they had safe births.


    Though they were in a high care situation, they were born healthy. They would need to be monitored for a while and the cost would be enormous for a normal family.


    She was privileged as were these babies.


    As Mo Qingchen had mentioned, she grew to think her children beautiful. It was her love as a mother and straightforward denial that she could give birth to ugly babies that made her brain see the potatoes are cute little creatures. But she refused to let those rational thoughts in her mind.


    Settling into the role was easy. She felt like a mother and Mo Qingchen was nothing but the best father.


    But strangely, she found herself at a loss when it came to the names. Nothing fit.


    Mo Qingchen, obviously, was of no help either. "What do you think of Java as a name?"


    Yes, there had been several moments in her marriage that she had wanted to punch her husband, but this was one time she came very close to actually doing it.


    "Java is better than C++, at least," she ground out through her teeth. Mo Yize, who was staring at the faces of her nieces and nephews looked up and snickered.


    "Why did you ask him for names? He can''t even name fish, you expect him to come up with good names for his own children?" she snorted. "Aren''t you scared he will pull an Elon Musk on you and name his child something that you will regret?" she questioned.


    "I trusted him not to go too far. But I was clearly wrong," Qian Meng responded, sounding irritated. "What is your inspiration for naming the children?" she asked, turning to Qingchen.


    "Something to do with our field of expertise and love," he commented loudly.


    "And what does Java have to do with us?" Qian Meng questioned, her eyes widening.


    Qingchen blinked. "I like programming."


    "I don''t!" Qian Meng protested. But his words sparked an idea. "You are not reserved about naming your children culturally appropriate." If Java had said anything, it was that. "Let''s go with your idea of amalgamating our interests and get some nice names."


    Of course, she pulled out her phone and did a search. About an hour of back and forth and they finally decided on three names.


    "These names¡­ how did the two of you come up with them?" Mo Yize sighed. She had thought Qian Meng would be better, but these names¡­ weren''t the best?


    "Our kids. They can be a little embarrassed for now. But when they grow up, they can change their names legally if they want," Qian Meng swore. Mo Qingchen nodded, agreeing with her completely.


    Hence, the name of the three children stood as such. The eldest daughter was named Sia after the Egyptian goddess of intellect and technology. The middle child, their second daughter was named Neith, the Egyptian goddess of weaving, war, and hunting. And their youngest son was named Rex. His name meant ''king'' in Greek, but actually, there was a hidden nod to Mo Qingchen''s love for programming. It was a programming language, an audio file format, and remote execution software.


    Hence, the components of their work and personality that they liked were used to name the children.


    When they posted about the children on social media (obviously not sharing pictures), the names confused people.


    Some mentioned that the couple was too unique in their mindset. Some commented that the names sounded like heroes from ancient plays.


    Others were just happy that their favorite couple had kids.


    ''Pass on the excellent genes!'' They had done the world a service.


    Safe to say, some people felt sad for the youngest who was named Rex. He was definitely going to be mistaken for a pet dinosaur for the rest of his life.


    - - - - -


    For the first time in a long time, Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng were alone.


    "How about we go to bed?" Mo Qingchen asked. Qian Meng clenched at the suggestion alone.


    "I never thought you would ask."


    He smirked deviously, even though his eyes showed signs of exhaustion. "Then why are we still out here?"


    Clearly, he wasn''t messing around, because he quickly darted up, practically knocking her out of the way. Qian Meng laughed as she looked up at him. He bounced around like a little kid who had to pee but quickly remembered the shower she didn''t have the time to take that morning.


    After fussing with the babies all day, there was no way she was letting him near her treasure trove without one.


    "Qingchen, I need a shower."


    "So do I," he answered as he extended his hand to help her up. "What a happy coincidence."


    They raced to the shower like a couple of horny teenagers and weren''t any better once they got there. It was a struggle to keep their hands off each other long enough to scrub their bodies and difficult to do it while they were making out.

 Chapter 439: Frisky When the Children Are Not Home *

    The growing tension was more than palpable between them. It was painful, and while Qian Meng stood and watched Mo Qingchen rinse the last of the shampoo in his hair, she literally couldn''t keep her hands to herself any longer.


    "Waaaah. You''re so hard," she marveled, wrapping her hand around the erection jutting out straight at her. He hissed at the sudden contact and twitched in her hand.


    "Being without you for more than a few days is unhealthy for me. My balls hurt!"


    Qian Meng laughed softly, stroking upwards once, making him moan.


    "I think I can relieve this ache." She squeezed a little harder with her second stroke. This time, his moan was louder.


    "Careful, baby." He brought his head up from under the spray of water and looked down as he opened his eyes to watch her hand. "I''m ready to go off like a rocket launcher."


    She cackled at the thought. "Are you?"


    Because she wouldn''t be herself if she didn''t push his boundaries, she stroked him twice more, firm and fast.


    "Fuck, Qian Meng, I am serious. I already know I am going to lose it before I can get you in bed." Another stroke and she had him whimpering. "This isn''t helping."


    "So, come now." He put his hand against the wall next to them, his muscles straining. "You''ll last longer that way. I am not looking for a quick lay."


    "Oh, yeah? Getting frisky when the children are not home?" he asked.


    She stroked faster, finding a rhythm. "Yeah." She worked him with firm, deliberate strokes, faster and faster until he was rocking his hips into her hand.


    "Fuck," he growled, sending a rush of blood straight down to where she really wanted him.


    "Don''t hold back," she encouraged.


    She kept her tempo as his breathing grew harsher. He reached up to tug on his hair and his whole body seemed to harden.


    He twitched in her hand again and with a jerk of his hips, she knew that he was close. It was time to reel the fish in.


    She stepped closer and reached beneath where the other hand worked him to take hold of his balls. It worked like a charm. She cupped him with the gentlest of pressure and right away, he was spilling his release all over her hand and wrist with one of the most erotic sounds she had ever heard from him. It was raw and guttural.


    "Christ, woman¡­"


    Qian Meng smiled as she leaned forward and kissed him on the chest. She stepped around him to wash the semen off her hand. He moved out of the way, turning to lean back against the wall and tossing his head back as his breathing slowly returned to normal.


    "Feel better?" she teased as she turned off the water.


    He picked his head up to look at her with a boyish grin. "Much."


    Qian Meng pushed the glass door open just enough to reach out and grab their towels off the hook. "Glad that I was of service," she answered as she handed him his.


    "That wasn''t service. That was straight-up seduction."


    She rolled her eyes as she rubbed the towel over her body quickly and bent over to dry her hair.


    She nearly fell forward on the tile when Mo Qingchen pushed a finger into her from behind.


    "Whoa¡­" He steadied her with an arm around her waist before she could slip. "You okay?"


    "Yes. I just wasn''t expecting that. I mean, you can''t put your fingers in people without warning," she said as she straightened up.


    "You''re wet," he said in form of explanation.


    Qian Meng turned to face him. "We were just in the shower. Of course, I am wet."


    "You know what I mean." He lifted his hand to her breast, smearing the lubrication from her arousal over her nipple in a circle. "You''re wet for me. Getting me off turned you on." He spoke in a low voice.


    "It did." She breathed in sharply as her already hard nipples tightened in response to his touch. "But I was wet before that," Qingchen hummed in appreciation, his lips burling up in a seductive smile. "You''re not the only one who has been deprived, you know?"


    "Have you missed me, baby?" he muttered so softly that Qian Meng almost couldn''t make out what he had said.


    He stepped closer to her and she swallowed as anticipation coursed through her.


    "I miss you any second that you are not with me."


    He turned his hand and covered her breath with it, squeezing it gently in his palm. "I don''t even remember how long it has been since you were inside me."


    He slid his hand from her breast and up her chest to her collarbone. Finally, he cupped the side of her neck. "I know the feeling."


    They stared at each other for half a second before he slipped his hand around to hold the back of her neck, guiding her mouth to his and he leaned forward to kiss her.


    There was nothing innocent about the way his lips moved. He kissed her with purpose. He kissed her with longing and promise and passion of two lovers coming back together after a long time. He kissed her with love, and when he picked her up and pressed her back against the tile wall, it didn''t matter where they were.


    Everything around them melted away. It was just him and her. She gave no thought to the towel she dropped on the shower floor. The time she had been without him, or anything in between.


    He was semi-hard and getting harder against her thigh, an impressive recovery time but unsurprising given the circumstance. He held her ass firmly in his hands, and she held onto him with her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulder. She was practically clawing at him as she moaned into his mouth. His tongue against her was soft and teasing.


    Everything about his touch was passionate but controlled. He knew that her body was still not fully recovered and he took great care to be gentle with her.


    Qian Meng, on the other hand, was downright needy. He broke away and moved his lips to her neck with tantalizing kisses and all she wanted was to shove him down to the shower floor and hop on for a ride.


    "Darling," she whimpered.


    "What do you want, my goddess?" he rasped against her neck. "Tell me."

 Chapter 440: Are You Saying Something? *

    "You. Just you," she responded breathlessly. She wanted all of him, any way that she could have. "Please¡­" she whined, tugging at his hair.


    She was bursting with the need for him and couldn''t comprehend how she had contained it so far. She must have pushed it down so deep that she hadn''t noticed it, but right at that moment, it was all coming back. It was imploding.


    She tightened her arms around his neck when he moved away from the wall, carrying her out of the shower and through the bathroom. It was her turn to lavish his neck with kisses. She nipped at the skin and felt victorious at the little sighs and hums he made.


    When he finally lowered her down on the bed, she felt like a caged animal who had been free. She pushed herself back until her head hit the pillow and then she sat up, pulling him to her. He held her face as he kissed her, moving as she laid back until he was on top of her.


    She opened her legs and he settled between them. When she reached for his hips and pulled him forward, urging him to push into her, he laughed softly against her lips.


    And it pissed her off.


    "Is something funny?"


    Qingchen''s hand moved down her side, rubbing her flesh in what she guessed was soothing in his books. "Relax, baby." He kissed her jaw and she dug her nails into his shoulder blades. "I just want to take my time with you."


    She realized that she had shot herself in the foot. Qingchen had already gotten off. He was in round two, ready to take it slow and draw out her pleasure. But she was literally aching.


    "Qingchen¡­ please¡ª" She shut up, trailing off into a moan when his hand dipped between her thighs and he pushed one finger into her.


    "Relax," he repeated. "I am not going to torture you."


    But he already was. At least he had provided her with some sort of friction. So, she clenched around it.


    "I need you."


    He soothed her, kissing just behind her ear. "I know. But your body is still affected by giving birth. I won''t be reckless with you. I could seriously hurt you if I don''t be gentle and keep my cock away."


    Her toes curled as she moved her hips against his hand, silently asking for more. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing her body to relax, but it was futile. Her body was burning and she knew only one thing could put the fire out. He had to make her cum.


    His wet kisses on her neck were not enough to distract her from the pain of being unattended between her thighs. She rolled her hips again and groaned. One finger¡­ one motionless finger was not enough. He had to give her something to work with!


    "Mo Qingchen," she bit out sharply, tugging on his hair.


    He got the message.


    Sweet relief washed over her as he moved his thumb to find her clit and circled gently, soothing her.


    "The doctor might not approve of this¡­" he said as his thumb pressed into her clit. Making her moan loudly. "But I don''t care. My baby needs relief. I damn well know my duties¡­"


    ''Tell me that with your dick!'' she thought aggressively.


    His mouth moved lower. "Beautiful," he mumbled to himself as he kissed over the swell of her breast.


    She tossed her head back against the pillow, moaning softly as his thumb moved in another circle. It was torture not to have him inside of her as she wanted, but as long as he kept touching her, she would survive.


    A fresh wave of blood rushed down as his lips wrapped around her nipple. They had been awfully tender, so his lavishing licks and gentle winding of his tongue around her hardened peak made her cry out.


    His tongue moved in perfect rhythm with his thumb. With each pass, her back arched a little higher and her toes curled a little tighter. He sent her soaring.


    She closed her eyes and imagined for a moment what it would feel like if his mouth replaced his tongue. The thought of it was enough to make her a whimpering mess.


    "Qingchen." She looked down at him as her fingers scratched his scalp.


    His eyes shifted up to meet her gaze and he hummed, creating a vibration around her flesh. It had her clenching around his finger once again. His teeth grazed her nipple gently at the same time as he curled his finger up to touch her sweet spot. The spot he knew like the back of his hand.


    And she came. She tumbled into orgasm and he couldn''t possibly have missed her tightening and pulling at his finger.


    He released her nipple and smirked at her, massaging the same spot again. "Are you saying something?" he teased as she cried out. "You''re so fucking wet."


    She whimpered as she rolled her hips, wanting him to touch that spot again. But he didn''t.


    "Not yet," he answered at her wordless protest.


    Qian Meng didn''t know if he was good at reading her face or if he just happened to be thinking the same thing as she was, because his wet and warm kisses trailed down her stomach.


    She scratched lightly at his scalp, the way she knew he loved. He kissed her over her hip bone. He stopped there, looking up at her with sweet eyes, asking for permission.


    "Go ahead. Godspeed, husband."


    It took Mo Qingchen a moment to register what she was saying, but she knew the very moment he did. The inference clicked and his eyes shimmered with joy and love.


    For a few long moments, he just stared at her. He eventually opened his mouth to speak but there was nothing to say.


    "I love you," he whispered, rubbing his lips back and forth across the skin between her hips. The long scar from the surgery nestled on her abdomen, but it bothered neither of them.


    "And I''m yours," she answered, stealing his line.

 Chapter 441: I Dont Want To Hurt You *

    She was so wet. And it was all his fault.


    "Relax," he whispered, rubbing his hand over her belly.


    She sucked in a deep breath but it didn''t help her heart thudding violently in her chest.


    Lower and lower his lips descended. From her pubic bone over to the crease where her leg met her pelvis and then back over her mound, heading for her swollen folds.


    She flexed her toes in anticipation when his thumbs parted her, exposing her to him. He wasted no time. He looked up at her as he pressed a kiss on her clit. And then he worked his tongue over her in a slow and wet lick.


    His lips wrapped around her clit and she melted. She was sure she wouldn''t be able to move again.


    She made a noise somewhere between a squeal and a grunt and she pushed her head back into the pillow, closing her eyes. So much for watching. It was a struggle to even breathe.


    His tongue lashed over her throbbing clit and her body quivered. She would have bucked her hips into his face, but his hands held her down. She was pinned to the mattress helplessly with nothing to do but absorb the pleasure.


    "Qingchen¡­"


    He groaned in response, the vibration had her legs trembling on either side of him. Her back arched violently when his tongue dipped lower to explore the tender flesh. With just the tip, he slowly circled the pulsing opening.


    In a flash, he was back at her clit, his tongue fluttering wickedly over the bud. A fresh wave of wetness came with the urge to clamp her legs shut. All she could do was hook her legs over his should to avoid strangling him with her legs.


    She cried out, her hands fisting the sheets at her sides.


    He sucked hard, drawing on her clit and she came immediately. A string of jumbled moans and curses spilled out of her mouth along with it. Her eyes flew open as she looked down, her gaze meeting his¡­ full of lust and satisfaction.


    Her thighs clenched so hard around his head that she wondered how he didn''t suffocate. Or drown. Still, he found space to move his hand down and slipped two fingers into her.


    She gasped and then screeched when he curled them up, massing that spot again. Her legs flew open and her hips jerked wildly, bucking against the hand that held her down against the mattress. His fingers pressed against that spot deep inside her and it sent her directly into a second orgasm that put the first to shame.


    Her legs shook and her toes curled so badly that it made her feet cramp.


    Her orgasm was so hard that her abdomen muscles clenched and it almost hurt.


    He closed his eyes as he nuzzled her, moaning as he moved his head back and forth, pulling her clit in each direction as he sucked hard, drawing her orgasm out until it sucked out the last drop of energy from her.


    His fingers continued to massage her inner wall even when she reached down to push at his shoulders.


    "I can''t. I can''t." She panted, sure that she would die from sensory overload. She chanted a pleading mantra as she squirmed, trying to get away from the torment of his unyielding mouth.


    He slung his arm over her hips to hold her down and in place even as she trashed before him. She wanted to cry. Her only outlet was her desperate cries and whimpers. She just clawed at the sheets beneath her.


    Fuck his expensive sheets for making her go through this.


    "Qingchen, please!" she shrieked, writhing while her core clenched and released again and again.


    He ignored her. A low, animalistic groan rumbled out of him as he sucked her harder, pressing and rubbing. The tingles of another orgasm pulled at her, and she tensed with a breathless cry, sure that her body could not take another orgasm while she was trying to come down from the last one.


    The scoundrel didn''t stop. His tongue thrashed while his mouth sucked. And with another push of his fingers, she came again in a rush. Beads of sweat dripped down her legs as she squeezed her eyes shut.


    There was nothing she could do but brace herself and take it. She was helpless against the intensity of his ministrations.


    But she didn''t spend time caring about how vulnerable it made her feel. Maybe, that was his intention: to work her into oblivion so that she didn''t think about anything else but the incapacitating pleasure.


    When he finally stilled his fingers and pulled his mouth from her, she was left lying before him like a limp noodle.


    She slowly opened her eyes, blinking away the white spots as she looked down at him. He was panting, still between her legs and looking at his hand as if he didn''t know what to do with it.


    He had a smirk plastered on his face as if he had a joke that she wasn''t in on.


    "What?" she demanded.


    "Nothing," he dismissed quickly, licking his glistening lips as he glanced up at her. "Nothing. I will be right back." He placed a kiss on her inner thigh before he hopped off the bed, slipping quietly into the bathroom.


    She lay there for who knew how long, trying to catch her breath and absorb everything that had just happened. It all happened so fast but then¡­


    She stayed limp until she was cooled off and she actually began to shiver. She wanted to get cleaned up and see what was taking Mo Qingchen so long in the bathroom. So, she sat up and pulled the blanket around herself as she stood.


    Only then did she notice the wet spot underneath her. It put the term ''wet spot'' to shame. She finally understood what Mo Qingchen had been smirking at.


    With the thought of changing the sheets and praying that she hadn''t soaked the damn mattress, she wrapped the blanket around herself and wandered into the bathroom, finding Mo Qingchen in the shower without the water running and his hand around his hardened length.


    He turned to look at her, pulling his hand away from his cock.


    "I am only doing this because I don''t want to hurt you by entering you," he explained, his hand twitching with the need to stroke himself.

 Chapter 442: Little Monster Between Your Legs

    She didn''t answer. She didn''t know what it was, but looking at him sent a surge of emotions through her. One look into his eyes told her that he was extremely happy.


    Her heart swelled.


    The man had held himself off and made her cum so many times relentlessly so that she didn''t ask for his cock.


    "Hey¡­" Mo Qingchen began, his tone laced with panic as her eyes filled with tears. "What''s wrong?"


    She shook her head. Nothing was wrong. Everything was right. Because she hadn''t realized just how carefully he thought about every move he made.


    She cried.


    "Baby, are you okay?" he asked, moving out of the shower.


    Qian Meng sniffled and nodded. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and gave him a watery smile. "Let''s take care of the little monster between your legs. You''ve been such a good boy, Mr. Mo. You need to be rewarded thoroughly."


    She dragged him back into the shower and made sure to give the same treatment as he had given her. Part of it was a reward and the rest was punishment.


    When they came out of the shower, Mo Qingchen asked her the question once again.


    "Nothing," she answered simply, with the shake of her head as she tightened the towel around herself.


    "I just¡­" she once again began sniffing, trying to hold back the second round of tears from falling. "I''m¡­"


    "Why are you crying?" he asked, clearly troubled at the thought.


    She had no words to express the feeling, so she hadn''t said anything else. He spun around to her quickly and made his way to the sink. Qian Meng wrapped her arms around his waist with the towel clutched in her fists and placed a gentle kiss on his back.


    She looked up at him as he turned around in her arms, tightening her hold on him as he took her face in his hands and they stood pressed against each other, stomach to stomach.


    "What''s going on?" he asked. The shimmering pool of black reflected nothing but love and concern. Despite her efforts to stop the tears, they darted down her cheeks. They were little pellets of grief for the Mo Qingchen who she hadn''t completely understood despite his words.


    "I''m just emotional, you know?" she answered through sighs and sniffles.


    "That''s understandable." He dipped his head to kiss away her tear on one cheek while his thumb swept away the wetness on the other. "Just as long as they aren''t sad tears."


    Qian Meng breathed in deeply, calming down as his scent filled her lungs. "They are not."


    He pulled back to look into her eyes. His hands caressed the sides of her neck. "Do you want to talk about it? What are you feeling?"


    Her tears had already subsided and she felt more relaxed than she could in a very long time. "There is nothing to talk about really. I just felt really good. That is the best way to put it. And it wasn''t only physically." A brief kiss on her lips momentarily silenced her.


    He nodded at her words finally and placed a feather-light kiss on the corner of her mouth. "For me, too."


    His smile was breathtaking. "Goddess¡­ you don''t know how long I have waited to do that to you again. They say women change after giving birth and that they are sensitive. I wanted to try it out, too."


    She had to admit that she had shied away from such advances since she gave birth. She knew how much it meant to him, but she didn''t feel ready for him to go down there.


    "Sorry for being a crybaby."


    His hands in her hair soothed her. "Don''t apologize. I enjoyed the opportunity to brag that I made you cum so hard that you cried."


    Even as Qian Meng laughed, fresh fears welled in her eyes. She appreciated his efforts to lighten the moment, but she was feeling so many things at once that it was hard to hold on to one for a long time.


    "I''m sorry¡­" she bit out through a whimper. "I don''t know what is wrong with me."


    The look on his face was helpless and Qian Meng felt so bad for him to have to deal with her.


    "Did I say something wrong?" he asked, searching for an answer desperately. "I''m sorry. It might be inappropriate to make jokes at a time like this, but I am stuck between whether I should be encouraging you to cry and get it out, or make you laugh and stop your tears."


    "I''m just needy," she finally said. She wanted to cling to Mo Qingchen and never let go. Her stomach chose the exact moment to growl loudly. "And really hungry, apparently."


    "I''ll make you something," he offered quickly.


    Part of her wanted to decline his offer and ask him to just hold her. A more rational part of her wanted to take the opportunity to get dressed and put together emotionally.


    "Okay."


    "Let me go see what we have."


    She nodded, chewing on her bottom lip. Since getting pregnant, she would wake up in the middle of the night and go through the fridge for food. Mo Qingchen quickly took to cooking healthy snacks for her to eat in the middle of the night. In their house, ordering food from outside had been long prohibited for Mrs. Mo''s health.


    Hence, the husband ended up making everything from scratch. Even the blueberry ice cream and cheesecakes she had come to love were all handmade and stored in the fridge at all times.


    With a kiss on her cheek and a second on her forehead, he left her, slipping out of the bathroom with quiet grace. She was left with every nerve in her body missing him.


    She sucked in some fresh air to clear her mind from the intoxication of breathing him in for too long.


    After dressing in some fresh panties and one of Mo Qingchen''s t-shirts, she felt much more put together physically. And as she stood in front of the mirror, she brushed out the tangled and still damp hair, her mind slowly cleared up.


    Suddenly, she realized why she kept crying. She was once again shaken by the depth of her love. It wasn''t the first time she had felt that way. Every time, just when she felt she knew the weight of what Mo Qingchen meant to her, she fell for him a little more.

 Chapter 443: I Promise To Be A Good Girl

    Falling and falling and falling.


    It never stopped.


    The burn she felt for him grew more intense. The more it grew, the harder it was to contain the heat in the shell of her body. He would be the end of her, and she would love every minute of it.


    Death by a love so deep for a man and their children that her human body couldn''t contain it. In such times, she really hoped that she was the Goddess Mo Qingchen deemed her to be.


    She smiled at the thought as she padded towards the bedroom. She went to the bed to strip off the sheets, anxious to get them washed and dried. As she pulled off the last corner, she heard Qingchen''s footsteps coming down the hall. He appeared at the door a moment later, leaning against the doorjamb in a pair of boxers.


    "What filling do you want, Qi¡ª"


    He stopped when he noticed what she was doing. A slow grin crept its way onto his lips. He didn''t have to say anything and he didn''t. His smirk and teasing look said it all for him.


    ''Cleaning up your mess, baby?''


    "Don''t look at me like that," she snapped, fighting back a smile of her own as she climbed off the bed, scrunching up the sheets in her arms.


    "Like what?" he taunted.


    "Like you have never seen a wet spot before!"


    Of course, he knew what it was. She had made him sleep on them several times.


    "Well. I have never see¡ª"


    "Chicken!" she yelled, cutting him off. "I will have chicken for whatever you are making. Thank you!"


    He laughed, tossing his head back with his bare teeth and sparkling grin. So beautiful that she would deal with a thousand wet spots to see that look on his face.


    But she couldn''t let him know that.


    "Oh, yeah¡­ It''s just so funny¡­" she failed at trying not to laugh as she tightened the wad of sheets in her hand, lifting them up high above her head as she poised herself to throw them at him.


    "Hey!" he yelled the second before she threw it out of her grasp and towards his head. He ducked and avoided it just in time. "Don''t throw your sex-stained sheets at me."


    "Stop making fun of me, then!"


    "You little¡ª"


    She laughed as he picked up the sheets and took two steps back as he rounded on her, barreling towards her with a silly grin.


    "What are you doing?" she screeched, lunging across the bed in an effort to keep her distance from him.


    He caught her by the foot and she face-planted on the bed, her scream muffled in the mattress. He climbed onto the bed, practically on top of her and forcefully turning her over. Screaming again, she sucked in a gush of air she had lost from the fit of giggle that had taken over her.


    Qian Meng''s eyes widened as he held the wad of sheets above her, poised to shove them in her face. He obviously wasn''t trying hard because she was able to keep him at bay.


    "Stop!" she yelled, her lungs burning as she tried to catch her breath. "I will never throw my wet sheets at you again. I promise!"


    "Say please." He was laughing that deep laugh that was rare but made her swoon.


    "Please!"


    "Say, ''Qingchen, I promise to be a good girl and not throw things at you.''"


    She rolled her eyes, but in reality, she loved every moment of playfulness from her husband. "Qingchen, I promise to be a good girl and not throw things at you," she repeated in a rush.


    "Now say, ''Qingchen, I promise not to be embarrassed when you make me come so hard that I can''t see straight and I soak the sheets.''"


    "I never said I couldn''t see straight," she protested.


    "Say it," he warned, pushing the sheets closer to her face.


    "Okay. Okay! I promise!"


    "Promise what?" he prompted.


    "I promise not to be embarrassed when you make me come so hard I can''t see straight and I soak the sheets," she said like a good girl.


    "Good. Now say, ''Qingchen, your big cock is incredi¡ª''"


    "Fuck off!" she groaned through her giggles.


    With a chuckle, he tossed the sheets off the side of the bed and leaned over her, lips descending on hers.


    "I fucking love you," he mumbled as he kissed her.


    Forgetting the sheets completely, she wrapped herself around Qingchen, clinging to him as he picked her up from the bed and carried her from the bedroom to the hall and through the living room. Finally, they reached the kitchen.


    She kissed all over his face the whole way, relishing his soft laughter and sweet attempts to capture her lips with his own.


    Silly, goofy love.


    She sat on the kitchen counter, eating cut fruits as she watched him make their sandwiches. He stood between her legs while they ate, sharing bites and kissing mayonnaise off the corner of their mouths.


    She ignored the feeling that everything was too good or too perfect to last. She knew it would last. The universe had predestined it.


    After their sandwiches, they settled in the living room, finding an old movie and cuddling up together on the recliner. With his fingers in her hair and her ear over his beating heart, she fell fast asleep before the first few scenes ended.


    She grumbled, barely conscious when she registered noises coming from far away. She tossed and turned, never really coming out of dreamland until she felt his soothing hands on her.


    She registered that her body was jostled in her sleep.


    "Shh," Qingchen soothed. "Sleep. I am just moving you to the bed." He spoke in a low voice. Before she could ask him, he already informed her of what she was worried about. "The babies are fed and napping. I changed them and placed them in their cribs."


    She hummed. She felt herself being lowered onto what she assumed was the bed but hesitated to let go of him.


    "Where are you going?" she mumbled, squeezing her eyes together as she held onto the faint remnants of sleep.


    "I''ll just bring the babies here. You sleep, baby." A kiss to the forehead, a blanket sliding across her skin. And he was gone.


    She didn''t fight the urge to sink back into her dreams. In the end, she felt something warm and cuddly in her chest and she sighed peacefully.


    It didn''t matter which of her babies was nestled at her chest, she knew the other two were safe and sound with her husband.


    The sweet, sweet man.

 Chapter 444: Epilogue: Where It All Started (I)

    Qian Meng flipped through the magazine in front of her. She didn''t read the contents of it and simply continued the action on a bored basis. Her eyes flickered to Mo Qingchen, who was sitting in front of the camera, a makeup artist looming over him, trying to get him to look appropriate for the bright lights.


    She smirked at Mo Qingchen''s knowledgeable posture. Years of being married and struggling to raise three toddlers had given him a new appreciation for relaxation while doing skincare.


    "Mr. Mo, let me know if you feel uncomfortable or you want to change something," the artist said after moving away from him. He looked at his face through the mirror and appraised her work.


    Qian Meng also looked at his backside and was a little curious as to how he looked. He looked at her through the reflection and smirked. "What do you think?" he asked directly.


    The artist, having forgotten about Qian Meng, looked around in surprise.


    "You almost look like you are thirty-one again, old man," she teased. "Last time I saw you in this news studio, you walked in without makeup."


    He smirked. "I aged all thanks to you," he quipped back without remorse. She faked a gasp and then leaned away, mock-glaring at him.


    The artist slowly smiled, finally connecting the dots. This one hadn''t looked at the popular searches on the internet, it seemed. She seemed surprised by the romantic tone between the two.


    "Mr. Mo still has excellent skin. You don''t look as old as you are," she said politely.


    Qian Meng guffawed.


    Mo Qingchen shot her a look. "It''s all thanks to the old woman who is obsessed with looking twenty even though she is nearing forty," he retorted.


    Qian Meng stood up and walked to him. She smacked his shoulder and then took a closer look at his face.


    "I still have nine years to be forty. Can''t say the same about you," she smiled. After staring at his reflection for a while, she turned him in the chair to face her. She looked up at the makeup artist and spoke slowly. "His lips look a little bright with the tint. Can you lighten the shade a little?" she asked casually, her voice hinting at slight guilt at making a demand.


    The artist nodded enthusiastically.


    She started her work as Qian Meng started to tease from behind. "I can''t have him looking better than me on live television."


    Mo Qingchen tried his best to hold back the smile. The whole process was done within seconds.


    "Done!" the other chirped.


    Mo Qingchen thanked the other and then stood up slowly and patted down his suit.


    "We will be on wait for ten more minutes and then we can settle into the panel," Qian Meng said, only relaying the words of the staff member who had come to tell them the same.


    Mo Qingchen nodded and settled down on the couch. He dragged her down alongside him and they nestled together, giving the makeup artist, who was clearing up her things a grand display of affection. Her poor single heart raced at the sight but she shook it off.


    "The last time we were here, we met for the first time in adulthood," Mo Qingchen said slowly. "We were on the opposite side of the podium and people could still see the spark between us," he announced.


    Qian Meng chuckled at the memory. "People have an uncanny eye for these things," she admitted. "They knew before us that we would hit it off." She drew lazy circled on the back of his hand.


    "Are you still pissed off at Su Jin for her conduct?" he asked.


    "I find her pushy and she doesn''t stick to the markup sent to her. Now that she is in a public relationship, I don''t have to worry about her flirting with you, at least."


    Qingchen threw his head back in laughter. The short bark that escaped was reigned in immediately. "You still said yes to coming to the show and dragged me along with you," he accused.


    "You can spare a couple of hours from work," she said with the roll of her eyes. "This is an issue that we have introduced reforms about in our company. It''s an opportunity for good PR and to attract talented people who are tired of the work conditions proposed by most companies."


    He stared at her with those eyes that she was used to. Like she was just a little more precious than the moment before like he could see a goddess right in front of his eyes and he couldn''t believe it. The years hadn''t changed that simple fact.


    "This is the Qian Meng I love. Righteous and fierce and standing against the world to prove her point."


    Before she could respond, the same staff member peered in.


    "Everyone is being called in. If you are done getting your makeup done, please follow me," he said.


    The couple stood up wordlessly and walked hand-in-hand into the set. They sat on their assigned seats and looked around. The panelists were as had been mentioned in the briefing. A professor in a public research institute. Two members from the working population. A high-ranking manager from a well-established company and a start-up CEO in the technology industry. Other than these, Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen were also present.


    Su Jin took her place at the center and spoke briefly to each member. This time, thankfully, she didn''t linger on Mo Qingchen for too long, or Qian Meng might have really had it out for her.


    As the show started, a grim image was painted about entrepreneurs and employers.


    "We call it the 9-9-6. It''s the routine of working from nine in the morning to nine at night, six days a week. In reality, most of us are working longer hours and are always on call. It''s the stress of just working seven days a week," The person who spoke used to be an employee of a big company. She had worked for five years in the same before quitting. The trauma was such that she left the industry altogether and was now working in a field unrelated to her university major.


    "Yes, this kind of work schedule is predominant in our country, especially in the technology industry. Mr. Mo, you have been in the tech sphere for more than fifteen years now. Why do you think that the name of your industry is associated with such working conditions?" Su Jin asked carefully.

 Chapter 445: Epilogue: Where It All Started (II)

    Mo Qingchen didn''t hesitate to respond. "The landscape of the software and technology industry is ever-changing. It has been growing rapidly for the last few decades. The primary reason why entrepreneurs and tech companies push such hours of work is that they associate longer work hours with more work done. They think that such hours will drive results and earn more profits," he said.


    His response had a ripple effect. The CEO from the start-up looked like he had a lot to say. Thankfully, he kept quiet for a while before Su Jin turned to him with a question.


    "Hearing what Mr. Mo has to say, what is your thought about the issue? Are the long working hours unproductive like Mr. Mo implied?" she questioned.


    "The technology landscape is driven by hard work. Especially for startups that have a small workforce and no capital to employ a larger number of employees to finish projects like a company of Mr. Mo''s magnitude would," he started. "And these conditions aren''t impressed upon the employees. They choose those hours. Most technology companies have flexible working hours. Because the employees are driven and wish for their company to succeed, they do put in more effort," he concluded.


    Qian Meng scoffed in her heart. What a crock of bullshit. She didn''t let her emotion show, though.


    Su Jin turned to the other employee present at the scene. "I can see that you have something to say. Please go ahead."


    "I think that the ''we are a family'' culture is used as an underhanded tactic to coerce employees into working long hours. It says that you are not just paid to work but you also have an invested interest in how the company grows. In reality, the employees who work long hours get nothing except for their salary and some snacks at the office. No number of snacks compare to having the time to cook a meal at home or eating out with friends," she demanded.


    "Can you elaborate on this issue?" Su Jin questioned, thrilled. "When I was working such long hours, I remember eating all three meals of the day in the office. I had no social life and I only came to the house to rest my head before waking up and starting my day to work again. Of course, I got a salary, but I felt like I was obligated to work those hours without getting extra pay for my efforts. I didn''t even have a place to spend the money I was earning!" she said finally.


    Qian Meng nodded in agreement. This was the crux of the issue. This is why they had gathered.


    "And that is why we have gathered here. Two days ago, a male employee was found in a critical condition in his cubicle. He was taken to the emergency room but he passed away last evening," Su Jin announced with a voice filled with grief.


    "Since then, loads of messages from bosses to their employees have surfaced on the internet as people related to the stress of overwork. But most people still can''t escape the grind. Professor Bo, you have been observing this phenomenon for a while. Can you give us an inside look into why this work culture has developed in our nation?" Su Jin asked.


    The professor in question was an elderly man in his late fifties. He shifted and straightened in his seat before speaking in a low and grave voice. "Compared to the white-collar workers living in countries like the United States or the United Kingdom, the income of white-collar workers in China is much lower. The situation gets worse for the middle class. The income gap between the lower-income class and middle-income class is huge. If someone doesn''t work really hard, they can slip into poverty. There is a huge pressure on children to work beyond their natural limits to ensure a comfortable livelihood for their family."


    Su Jin hummed. "So, that means, people would willingly work those hours because of the fear of slipping into poverty."


    And the conversation continued. "There is an invisible mental pressure for employees to work more to earn more," Qian Meng said slowly. "You might not work twelve hours a day, six days a week. It is the possibility of being called into work at any time of the day and having to leave whatever you are doing to complete this emergency work that sucks out the life of people," Qian Meng started. "It might not seem like the case but not only entry-level and managerial level employees, but executives and owners often work such hours, too. You might feel like you will not surpass your goals if you don''t do it. Be it money or the expectations of others. I was, personally, working at all hours of the day for the first four years of starting Venus. I can say without a hint of doubt that it sucked my soul out. At the end of the day, when my head hit the pillow, I couldn''t even remember what human emotions felt like. I was just this working machine," she prompted.


    Before anyone could chime in, she added promptly, "I know, that the main motivation here is money, but the pressure to do better and feeling like not working those hours will make people think you are a bad person is also a factor."


    She made her point and stopped speaking.


    The one who had quit her job due to stress spoke up too. "I fully agree. I knew I could make enough money even if I didn''t work abnormal hours. But I took calls at two or three in the morning to take care of emergencies. At one point, I started to hallucinate and lost sleep because I was too worried to get what little sleep I was allowed. In my hallucinations, I always felt that my cellphone was ringing. It was the constant paranoia that someone was looking for me. I was terrorized to go to work every morning."


    "The law states that people should work for eight hours a day, but companies often have stipulations in the contract under names like ''flexible working hours.'' It necessarily means that you can be on call whenever your boss thinks it is necessary," Su Jin commented. "Reports have come out that if strict implementing of overtime salary was dolled out, a lot of companies would go bankrupt paying their employees."


    This time, the one in the managerial position spoke up. "As someone who is in the workforce and at the same time career-driven, I can''t say that I support 9-9-6, but I appreciate the hard work people put in. Their struggle makes a world of difference."


    Qian Meng almost rolled her eyes. She eyed Mo Qingchen curiously and could see him trying to hide a smirk at the bullshit being sprouted from the mouth of the other.

 Chapter 446: Epilogue: Where It All Started (IIl)

    "I lead a team of thirty people. I believe if you feel like there is no way to escape, you should work harder. Let''s not complain. 9-9-6 is inevitable and has been a part of society for two decades or more. If you don''t do it, there is a long line of people willing to do it in your place."


    Qian Meng sucked in a horrified breath.


    "I know that the business-owners sitting in the studio with me today won''t admit to the same, but from the perspective of the corporation, if someone is not willing to do the work, there are others who are. If the company doesn''t work on overdrive all the time, they will lose out to other companies who are. The cost of the functioning of the company will increase and the efficiency will decrease."


    The tech CEO nodded. "Absolutely. In the end, such companies will be overtaken by the competition."


    Their argument, therefore was, it''s not the companies who are making you work hard, but that other people are running too fast and they didn''t want to be left behind in the dust, losing out all their money.


    "Yes. So, no matter if I change my place of work or my career, the stress might be less compared to my current job, but the drive to work longer and harder will still remain. To be irreplaceable, you need to be someone who is willing to sacrifice."


    Su Jin spoke briefly and continued the conversation until she started to ask about the work culture in the panelist''s own company. Qian Meng''s turn came and she had to speak, frustration building in her heart.


    "Before I speak about my company''s policy, I would like to state that most of us are passively caught in this work culture because even if we don''t personally follow inhumane routines, partners might do so." She sighed. "Setting high targets, making your employees feel like they are bad people if they don''t want to work long hours¡­ this is a culture I have come across a lot. As humans, I think our dignity and liberty are important. I don''t want to stand here and pretend like the words spoken by others don''t disturb me. To say that an employee is easily replaceable and that if you don''t work and cherish yourself you are throwing yourself into poverty¡­ I strongly disagree. We work because we either enjoy it or want money to survive. But if we are barely surviving as soulless machines¡­ what''s the point?" Qian Meng questioned.


    "Are you saying that you don''t stress on your employees to meet deadlines?" someone challenged.


    "Deadlines are important and of course they are set. But my employees don''t need to sneak out of work and walk around on the streets to recuperate," Qian Meng challenged with the rise of a brow.


    The light chuckle from the two employees was indication enough that Qian Meng was right.


    "My company still has the eight-hour schedule, but we only work four days a week," Qian Meng announced. "I am proud of this because I myself can''t dedicate twelve hours a day six days a week. I have a life I want to enjoy and a family whom I cherish. If I have this standard for living my life, then I should make sure that the people around me get the same choice," she demanded.


    Some agreed.


    "But as a business owner, is that a profitable model?" the CEO of the startup asked.


    Qian Meng smirked. "I don''t intend to offend but what is your turnover rate?" she asked. She raised her hand to stop him from answering. "I will assume from your expression that it is high. It''s because of the stress of excessive work and bad company culture. I am not pointing at you only, but at most companies. When an employee quits, a new employee has to learn their responsibility of it is added onto another existing employee. The more pressure, the less productive the employees become," Qian Meng stated. "My business model is based on paying people what they are worth and making sure they are healthy and happy. Their love for their work reflects in their work. I don''t need to force people to meet deadlines, the working hours are helpful in that."


    She had an open discussion with Professor Bo about fewer workdays and what the research showed were the results of it. Having done this for two and a half years now, Qian Meng was confident in the results.


    It was actually even more controversial when Mo Qingchen started to speak. Mo Qingchen''s company still had the eight hours and five days policy with half a day of work on alternate Saturdays. But his office space had been reduced and employees could choose if they wanted to work from a physical office or remotely.


    "Why did you take this decision?" Su Jin asked.


    "After the birth of my kids, Qian Meng took a six-month leave and she usually responded to emails and took calls for her maternity leave. I had two months off. But I kept extending it and working from home until her maternity leave came to an end. I found that I liked it better working from home. I could keep an eye on the kids all day and most of my work could be done from home." He shrugged. "I extended the offer to my employees. It cut down on hours of travel time and cost."


    "But why do you keep it voluntary on-site working?"


    "Because some people find it easier to work in the office. It''s their personal preference. If they are space-oriented or working from home isn''t an option for them."


    In the end, no one would oppose the models put forward by Qian Meng and Mo Qingchen. Though they were very different, the models worked on their own.


    Ripples went across the internet. The country''s favorite power couple was back at it. They were defending each other and serving affection to all that could see them.


    They were moaned about the lack of information on the triplets, but that didn''t last for long. They knew of the existence of the three kids and their names. But they had never seen a shadow of said kids.


    Rumors floated around the internet that Mo Qingchen drove Qian Meng to the office every morning and then went back home. On days he had to work from the office, the whole family would come out of the car, all wearing matching clothes and looking like models.


    Employees also said that Mr. Mo had attended meetings with one kid sitting on the chair he was supposed to be in and one kid in each arm as he paced around the room and listened to presentations.


    Qian Meng, despite her years of kickboxing training, was still unable to handle more than one kid at a time. These three were a handful, to begin with. Only Mo Qingchen somehow managed them with ease.


    And therefore, the family thrived personally. The parents leaped over others, making ridiculous amounts of money and surpassing everyone, making good on their promise to be at the top of the world and living their best life.

 Chapter 447 - Futuretake: A Family Meal

    That weekend, it was Mo Qingchen''s turn to cook for the family. In the background, he could hear the squealing of the children as they were chased by their mother. This was an imperative part of the day. If they didn''t chase the monsters, they wouldn''t tire them out and bedtime would be a nightmare. ;


    The elders said that kids were the worst at age two, but three was the phase where kids turned into demons. Qian Meng was getting a run for her money as the three kids combined forces and surrounded her. ;


    Like a cornered victim, she pleaded and begged as the triplets tried to climb up her legs, clinging to her clothes. Mo Qingchen looked over his shoulder and burst into laughter at the helpless look on Qian Meng''s face. ;


    This was a daily occurrence. ;


    Kids were supposed to be scared of one parent, but instead, these three were fearless. Neither Qingchen nor Qian Meng believed in hitting the kids or raising their voices. Instead, they took up trying to make things understand what they had done wrong. ;


    But playtime was different. As long as the kids didn''t hit anyone or do something dangerous, everything was fair play. ;


    Seeing Qian Meng struggle to keep balance, Mo Qingchen quickly put the stove on low heat and sprinted to the site of the crime. He scooped up two at a time, leaving Qian Meng lighter and relieved. ;


    "I thought I was going to topple over with them." The main concern, in this case, was the kids getting hurt. When you had kids, you forgot that you were human and could get hurt, too. ;


    She looked at the stove and shook her head. "I''ll go stir the veggies. Just handle them for a bit, will you?" she pleaded softly. With Neith hanging off her hips, she sauntered to the stove, making sure that there was careful distance between Neith and the stove. She stirred slowly as she spoke. She said exactly what she was doing and it seemed to humor the kid.


    Mo Qingchen came over, carrying the other two, and placed them farther away from the heat so that they could watch their mother cooking. In form of entertainment, he started to ask questions. ;


    Qian Meng guffawed when she heard the conversation. ;


    "Meow times One is?" Mo Qingchen prompted. Qian Meng raised her brow, wondering what the response would be. ;


    In unison, the three kids sang out, "Meow!"


    "Meow times two is?" he asked again.


    "Meow meow!" they responded in the same tone. The higher the multiplication became, the louder their voices grew until Qian Meng couldn''t hold the spatula in her hand properly and shook with laughter. ;


    The shouts of ''meow'' were deafening. The kids giggled, too, seemingly happy at humoring their mother. ;


    "What do you think?" Mo Qingchen asked her. ;


    She shook her head in amusement. "When did you teach them this?"


    "I was on a boring work call. I put the call on mute and taught the kids this. It took some practice to get them to scream in unison, but it was worth it." He chuckled. ;


    "As long as you don''t teach them tough multiplication," she said softly. "I have a feeling at least two of them will surpass your expectations."


    Food was ready and Qian Meng placed everything on plates. ;


    Neith looked at the food on her plate and scrunched her little face. "Ugly," she said calmly but confidently. The tone was so much like Mo Qingchen that a shiver ran up Qian Meng''s spine.


    She glared at Mo Qingchen, who looked like he was biting back a smile. ;


    Qian Meng placed her hand on her hips and waved her finger. "You can''t say that, Neith. It hurts my feelings. I worked really hard to make that!" Qian Meng said softly.


    Sia looked up from her meal, innocently and tried to appease her mother. "Tastes really good, maa," she said. Her voice was low.


    Qian Meng patted the kid''s head, happy that at least one was on her side. ;


    "Maa, the food is this much ugly," Rex commented. He pinched his little fingers very close together to show a measurement of how impressed he was with the aesthetics of the plate in front of him. ;


    Seven years of marriage and practice in cooking hadn''t made Qian Meng improve in the good-looking food category. Qian Meng sighed. ;


    "You guys are coming up with creative ways to criticize me these days," she said with a pout. "How does it taste?" she asked. ;


    "Delicious," Qingchen spoke up before the kids. There was a twinkle in his eyes that Qian Meng didn''t miss. She rolled her eyes and looked at the children. ;


    The kids hummed in agreement. ;


    "Is it better than Dad''s cooking?" Qian Meng coaxed.


    "Mom cooks best," Sia commented brightly. ;


    "Dad''s not too bad¡­ but mom is better," Rex responded. He was always one to¡­ downplay bad comments. ;


    Neith didn''t comment. She seemed to have a tacit understanding with her siblings. ;


    "Traitors. I taught you so many games but you took your mom''s side when the time to test your loyalty came," Mo Qingchen accused. His voice was filled with amusement. ;


    "Sorry!" they trilled together.


    The meal passed harmoniously. It was a boon that all the kids were happy eaters. They got it from both parents who were foodies. They didn''t make a fuss when they were asked to eat. That was one less headache for their tired and overworked parents. ;


    "Time for dessert!" Qingchen called. He stood up from the chair and slowly cleared away the table. ;


    "I''ll take care of that," Qian Meng told him. She pushed at his shoulder. "Get the desert, will you?" she asked. ;


    Mo Qingchen pressed a quick kiss on her lips before sprinting to the refrigerator. Qian Meng snickered at the expression on the kids'' faces. They were used to these displays of affection and knew them to be what love looked like. ;


    But they still looked peeved. ;


    Qian Meng scraped the remnants away and then unloaded the dishes in the sink after lightly cleaning them. ;


    "Qian Meng!" Mo Qingchen called. "Leave the dishes for later. Have the donuts first," he prompted.


    She looked over her shoulder and saw the kids holding the sugared donuts Mo Qingchen had made a couple of days ago in their small hands. The powdered sugar went all over their hands and Qian Meng felt mild horror at how hard she would have to work to clean these children up before bed. ;


    Still, she smiled and came back. Ever the sweet husband, Mo Qingchen brought up the donut to her mouth and fed her small bites as Qian Meng pulled out tissues and cleaned the table. ;


    "You have really become a middle-aged wife," Mo Qingchen whispered. Qian Meng turned to him with a smile. ;


    "That is exactly what I am, Mr. Mo." She wiped her hand with a wet wipe and then promptly took the donut from his hand. In the process, she was distracted and the crumbs of the donut and the sugar ended up going under her T-shirt. She could feel the powder on her skin and snorted. ;


    "I had heard of the term sugar-tits, but this is ridiculous."


    She didn''t think she had ever heard Mo Qingchen laugh so hard. "That term fits you perfectly," he flirted openly. A plan formed in his mouth. "This wasn''t enough dessert for me. Let''s ditch the kids after putting them to bed and have some real desert, shall we?" he said. ;


    The look in his eyes held promises. Promises Qian Meng was going to hold him accountable to. The sugar on her tits wasn''t going to be cleaned so easily. It needed special attention. And it would be a waste to just clean it up. ;


    Therefore, Mr. Mo and Mrs. Mo rushed to change the kids into night clothes, tucked them into bed, and then sprinted to their room for their unfinished meal.