For a moment, Shu Wan didn’t know how to describe what she was feeling.
A sharp, bitter sourness suddenly spread through her throat, so intense that it made her want to gag.
The heart that had nearly leaped out of her chest in the upstairs hallway half an hour ago, and the heart that had been pounding like a startled deer at the dinner table just minutes ago, suddenly crashed back into her chest.
It felt so heavy and suffocating that even breathing became difficult.
When had they progressed to the point of discussing marriage?
How had the conversation suddenly turned to engagement?
Only then did Shu Wan realize something terribly serious.
She didn’t think this was a happy occasion.
She wouldn’t bless them.
And she didn’t want to.
After dinner, the younger members of the family went into the courtyard to set off fireworks.
Shu Wan leaned against the ropes of a swing and stared blankly at the sky.
It was a new year, a new beginning.
There was laughter and celebration everywhere.
Fireworks bloomed and faded across the night sky, dazzlingly bright.
Yet Shu Wan couldn’t feel even the slightest bit of happiness.
Her large eyes were dull and lifeless, as though the world were coming to an end.
“Why are you sitting here all by yourself?”
Meng Chuan gave her swing a gentle push, then tossed a large red envelope into her hands.
He lowered his voice.
“I didn’t give them nearly this much. Yours is the biggest, so don’t tell anyone.”
Shu Wan pouted.
She felt like crying.
“What happened, Princess?”
“Are you so touched that you’re about to cry?”
“Hey, don’t cry. It’s just some New Year’s money.”
Shu Wan shook her head and forced a smile.
Then she asked blankly,
“Uncle Meng Chuan… does he have a good relationship with Miss Jiang?”
Meng Chuan hadn’t expected that question.
He thought for a moment before answering.
“Let me put it this way.”
“They’ve never actually been boyfriend and girlfriend, but they’re still destined to be tied together.”
Shu Wan’s breathing caught.
It was as though a storm had erupted inside her chest, waves crashing against her heart so violently that it hurt.
Yet she still desperately tried to look normal.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a matter of being well matched in status and a political marriage.”
“You’re young, but you come from this kind of family too. You should understand the position Brother Jin holds and the kind of things he has to do.”
“To put it simply, when it comes to family background, there isn’t another woman in Beicheng more suitable for Brother Jin than Jiang Jie.”
“As for their positions, they’re both part of the same system. They’re a perfect match.”
“To put it more deeply, it’s like the daughter of an ancient Grand Secretary marrying a military commander.”
“You understand how important that kind of marriage could be.”
“The future of both families is tied to it.”
“Do you understand?”
“I don’t…”
Shu Wan lowered her eyes.
The tip of her nose trembled with sadness as she fought back the urge to cry.
“I don’t understand any of that.”
Meng Chuan assumed she genuinely didn’t understand.
He gently rubbed the top of her head.
“You don’t need to understand these things.”
“Brother Jin wouldn’t want you to understand them either.”
“All you need to do is stay happy and carefree and be our little princess.”
“In any case, Jiang Jie will become Brother Jin’s officially acknowledged wife.”
“If it doesn’t happen today, it’ll happen tomorrow.”
“If not tomorrow, then someday in the future.”
“In other words, they’re not boyfriend and girlfriend?”
After everything Meng Chuan had said, that was the only thing she asked.
“…No.”
“But that’s not what’s important.”
“What matters is that they’ll eventually be tied together.”
Meng Chuan was pulled away by another child who wanted him to set off fireworks.
The moment he left; Shu Wan’s tears came pouring out like a broken dam.
If tonight’s conversation hadn’t shaken her emotions so violently, she might never have realized so clearly just how devastating the thought of Meng Huaijin getting married and having children was to her.
It felt like the end of the world.
Like a giant wave crashing over her.
Like a hurricane and sandstorm combined.
It was enough to destroy her reason.
Destroy her happiness.
Destroy the little bit of vitality she had finally managed to regain.
At some point, without her even realizing it, Meng Huaijin had completely occupied the deepest corner of her heart.
And now that man was in the tearoom, entertaining guests who had come to pay their New Year’s respects.
He held a cigarette between the fingers of one hand and a piece of silk cloth in the other, submerging the tea utensils into clear water and washing them.
Even the way he prepared tea carried that clean, decisive sense of strength and effortless confidence.
He spoke calmly with the guests, occasionally tapping away the ash from his cigarette.
Smoke drifted from his nostrils, blurring his exquisite features, and throwing her heart into even greater turmoil.
Shu Wan could clearly feel it.
Her attention toward him had perhaps already crossed a line.
She didn’t want him to get married.
And she didn’t want to watch him have children with another woman.
That was unacceptable.
As if sensing something, Meng Huaijin glanced through the transparent glass at the lawn outside.
His gaze found her with perfect accuracy.
Before their eyes could meet, Shu Wan hurriedly looked away and turned upstairs.
About two hours later, footsteps sounded outside Shu Wan’s room.
Meng Huaijin first went to his own room.
A moment later, he came back out and stopped at her door.
He knocked several times.
The door opened shortly afterward.
Perhaps because she had just taken a shower, the corners of the girl’s eyes were slightly red.
She was wearing only a thin lace nightdress, leaving much of her skin exposed beneath the warm light.
Her damp hair was still dripping with water.
Droplets slid down her pale neck and delicate collarbones.
She seemed completely unaware of it.
Her clear eyes suddenly focused.
Outside the window, fireworks of every color reflected in her pupils, making them shine brightly.
She called out to him.
Meng Huaijin immediately looked away.
His voice was cold.
“Put on something proper and dry your hair.”
“Okay. I’ll dry it right away.”
She smiled innocently.
“Did you need something?”
The man reached into his pocket and took out a red envelope.
He held it out to her.
“The New Year’s money you’ve been waiting for.”
Shu Wan’s eyelashes fluttered.
She took the red envelope and smiled even more sweetly.
“Thank you.”
“Happy New Year.”
“I hope everything goes smoothly for you in the coming year, that your work goes well, and that everything you wish for comes true.”
“And…”
She stared directly at him.
“That you bring home the woman you love.”
Meng Huaijin’s hawklike eyes narrowed slightly.
They were deep and unreadable.
He gave her a cool glance before turning around and walking into his own room.
“Dry your hair.”
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
The next day, Mrs. Meng did exactly as she had promised.
She invited Madam Jiang to the Meng residence.
Jiang Jie came with her.
The entire Meng household was filled with laughter and lively conversation.
Meng Huaijin was surrounded by several of his aunts and ushered to the mahjong table.
Jiang Jie sat on his left.
Her mother sat on his right.
His own mother sat across from him.
The man played his tiles without much expression.
There was neither joy nor displeasure on his face.
“Xiaojie, how’s work?”
“Everything going well?”
Mrs. Meng searched for something to say.
Jiang Jie smiled.
“My work has always been about the same, Auntie. Neither particularly good nor bad.”
“Although Huaijin is quite busy.”
“He’s several ranks above me, after all.”
“So what if he’s several ranks above you?”
“When he gets home, won’t he still have to listen obediently to his wife?”
Mrs. Meng deliberately put on an expression as though she had accidentally said too much.
“Oh, look at me.”
“She isn’t even married into our family yet, and I’ve already started calling her my daughterinlaw.”
The Third Branch immediately joined in.
“Sisterinlaw just can’t wait to have a daughterinlaw.”
“But sooner or later, we’ll all be family anyway.”
Mrs. Meng seized the opportunity.
“Since we’ve already talked about it this far, Madam Jiang, why don’t we take advantage of Huaijin and Jie Jie having some free time during the New Year?”
“Let’s settle their marriage.”
“What do you think?”
Madam Jiang gave a faint smile.
“Her father and I don’t have any objections.”
“The important thing is what the young people themselves think.”
A faint blush appeared on Jiang Jie’s cheeks.
She glanced at Meng Huaijin.
The man was looking down at the watch on his wrist.
It was already past eleven.
That girl still hasn’t gotten up.
Just then, his phone received a message from Meng Chuan.
“Bro, Shu Wan messaged me saying she feels a little dizzy. I’ve already brought her to the hospital.”
“The doctor took her temperature and—holy crap, guess how high it is?”
“Over 39°C!”
“The doctor said she probably started running a fever in the middle of the night!”
“But don’t worry. I’ve already admitted her to the hospital.”
“You handle what you need to handle first. I’ll keep an eye on her here.”
“If anything happens, I’ll let you know.”
Meng Huaijin silently put his phone away.
Without any difficulty, he found the tile he had been waiting for.
He completed his hand and revealed the winning combination.
Then he pushed all his winnings onto the table.
He stood, picked up the overcoat beside him, and calmly said,
“We’ll discuss today’s matter another day.”
“I have something urgent to take care of.”
“I’ll be going.”
In her hazy state, Shu Wan felt as though her mouth and throat were completely dry.
She murmured a single word.
“Water…”
Then she felt someone approach.
A hand supported her around the waist, helping her sit up until her back rested against his chest.
A cup of warm water was brought to her parched lips.
Even through her feverinduced haze, Shu Wan could recognize the familiar scent that belonged to the person beside her.
It wasn’t Meng Chuan.
She struggled to open her eyes.
Sure enough, the first thing she saw was that pair of eyes that seemed to look down upon everything in the world.
In an instant, the dullness in her eyes disappeared.
They brightened at a visible speed.
“Shu Wan.”
“Did you take a cold shower last night?”
Meng Huaijin’s voice was cold as he questioned her.
Shu Wan’s hand tightened beneath the blanket.
Her palm immediately broke out in sweat.
She was so nervous that she couldn’t speak.
He was an expert at interrogation and investigation.
She didn’t dare meet his eyes at all.
Slowly, she looked away.
“I don’t think you’re stupid enough to be unable to tell the difference between hot and cold water.”
Meng Huaijin added another sentence.
Shu Wan’s anxious heart slowly settled.
Only then did she open her mouth.
Her voice was slightly hoarse.
“Weren’t you discussing your engagement with Miss Jiang?”
“How did you end up here?”
Meng Huaijin lowered her back onto the pillow and adjusted the IV line, slowing the flow slightly.
“You should worry about yourself first.”
The girl had already forgotten that she was running a high fever.
She stared at him without blinking.
Then she continued asking quietly,
“So…”
“Did you set a date?”
“No.”
The man answered casually, as though it were nothing important.
Shu Wan’s fingers, which had been tightly gripping the bedsheet, slowly relaxed.
She looked toward the clouds dispersing outside the window.
The corners of her lips lifted into a faint smile.
Then she murmured,
“Do you really like Miss Jiang?”