Vоlume 1 Chарtеr 15: Lооking for a Bоуfriend?
She hаd thought abоut it оvеr thе раst cоuрlе оf days. Shе needed to rеjеct him, but shе соuldn’t оffеnd Mеng Yuсhuаn, or her lifе wоuld beсome difficult frоm now оn.
The onlу waу was tо аdopt this аpproасh оf рraising othеrs highlу whilе bеlittling herself.
Аlthough shе had rejеcted Мeng Yuchuаn, she hadn’t said а singlе bаd word аbоut him from start to finish. Instеad, shе hаd praisеd him for how оutstanding hе wаs, еmphаsizing that she wаsn’t good еnоugh fоr him, so as not to hurt his pride.
This waу, thе anger in his heart shоuldn’t bе so intense, right?
Аftеr finishing her words, Shu Miao didn’t dare to look directly at Meng Yuchuan. She lowered her gaze, her eyes glancing sideways.
Meng Yuchuan’s expression didn’t change much. His eyes were fixed straight ahead on the windshield, his lips pressed tightly together.
After a while, Meng Yuchuan spoke, his tone neither light nor heavy: “Is that the only reason?”
Shu Miao was stunned, not expecting him to ask that.
She secretly rolled her eyes: If not this reason, should I say I don’t think much of you?
Feeling exasperated inside, she could only patiently reply: “Yes.”
Meng Yuchuan’s expression turned serious: “None of that matters. I’m only asking about your own true feelings.”
Shu Miao fell silent, not uttering a word, but her silence was a form of refusal.
The air in the car instantly grew quiet, and Shu Miao began to feel nervous.
Suddenly, Meng Yuchuan chuckled, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere: “Since you haven’t made up your mind yet, take some more time to think about it. I’m in no hurry.”
Shu Miao was inwardly speechless: Wasn’t that rejection clear enough?!
After saying this, his gaze shifted to Shu Miao. A faint smile played on his lips, but it sent a chill down Shu Miao’s spine.
Meng Yuchuan turned around, reached into the back seat, and took out an exquisitely packaged gift box, handing it to Shu Miao: “I brought you some pastries from my business trip.”
Shu Miao waved her hands a few times, instinctively refusing: “County Magistrate Meng, thank you, but there’s no need for this.”
Meng Yuchuan ignored her and simply stuffed the gift box into her hands.
Shu Miao held it and tried to return it, but Meng Yuchuan spoke calmly: “They’re just some small pastries. No need to feel pressured.”
“If you accept it, you can go upstairs and go home right now. If you don’t, we’ll just stay here.”
His tone was firm and brooked no refusal.
It was clearly a shameless thing to say, but Meng Yuchuan said it with utter confidence.
Shu Miao was furious, but to get home quickly, she had no choice but to give in.
She immediately put on a smile: “Since County Magistrate Meng is so kind, how could I refuse? I’ll accept it then, thank you.”
Without waiting for Meng Yuchuan’s response, Shu Miao hurriedly said goodbye, opened the car door, and rushed into the building as if fleeing.
Watching the “fleeing” figure, a smile appeared on Meng Yuchuan’s face.
Back home, Shu Miao’s chest was still heaving. She gently patted it.
After setting down the gift box, she returned to her room and called Pei Ran.
Pei Ran exclaimed in surprise: “County Magistrate Meng waited for you at your home?”
Shu Miao helplessly replied, “Yes.”
Pei Ran took a deep breath and couldn’t help but sigh: “Miaomiao, it seems County Magistrate Meng is determined to win you over.”
She then teased: “I told you my Miaomiao is so beautiful and attractive, even the lofty County Magistrate Meng has fallen for you.”
“If you ask me, County Magistrate Meng is talented, handsome, rich, and powerful. Why don’t you just give in to him?”
Shu Miao’s face flushed instantly, and she scolded: “You’re still making sarcastic remarks. I called you to help me think of a solution.”Seeing that Shu Miao was genuinely anxious, Pei Ran stopped teasing her. “Alright, alright, I won’t joke anymore.”
Shu Miao was troubled. “So what should I do now?”
Pei Ran comforted her. “Don’t worry, let me think.”
After a moment, Pei Ran had a sudden idea. “Miaomiao, I’ve thought of a way.”
Shu Miao’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly pressed for details. “What way?”
Pei Ran spoke thoughtfully. “Think about it. The reason County Magistrate Meng is pursuing you is because you told him you were single before.”
“But what if you already had a boyfriend?”
“Even if County Magistrate Meng is persistent, he wouldn’t go so far as to bother someone who already has a boyfriend, right?”
“What do you think?”
Shu Miao was hesitant. “But I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Pei Ran reminded her. “Isn’t there one ready-made?”
Shu Miao was puzzled. “Ready-made?”
“Right. Didn’t your aunt say she introduced someone to you? You haven’t met him yet, have you?” Pei Ran said calmly.
Only then did Shu Miao realize Pei Ran was referring to Hu Weijie.
She hesitated. “What do you mean?”
Pei Ran got straight to the point. “Go meet him and see how you feel.”
“Maybe this person is excellent in every way and meets all your requirements.”
“If you find out he’s not suitable after getting to know him, just treat it as making a friend. It won’t waste anyone’s time.”
“Besides, he works at the court. There’s no harm in getting to know him. What if you need help someday?”
“You’re both young, so just be straightforward.”
“But at the very least, you’ll have a legitimate reason to reject County Magistrate Meng now.”
Shu Miao struggled internally for a moment. For now, she couldn’t think of a better solution.
In the end, she decided to accept Pei Ran’s suggestion. “Alright.”
“When should I tell County Magistrate Meng?”
Pei Ran thought for a moment. “Just bring it up naturally when he asks you again.”
“He probably won’t wait too long. He might contact you again in a couple of days.”
Shu Miao thought that was the only way.
After hanging up, Shu Miao noticed that Hu Weijie had sent her a message.
It had been sent a while ago, back when she was in Meng Yuchuan’s car. After returning, she had been in a hurry to call Pei Ran and hadn’t had a chance to check it.
Hu Weijie: “What are you up to? Are you resting? 😊”
Shu Miao replied with a few words: “Not yet, I was just on a call.”
The other person replied almost instantly: “I see. I’ve been on a business trip out of town these past few days and only got back this afternoon.”
As Shu Miao was thinking about how to reply, Hu Weijie sent another message: “Tomorrow is Saturday. Are you free? I’d like to invite you to dinner. 😊”
Shu Miao thought for a moment and replied: “I’m free.”
Hu Weijie immediately responded: “Great, great. Should I pick you up tomorrow? Or should we meet somewhere?”
Shu Miao felt it would be too much trouble to have him pick her up, so she declined. The two agreed to meet directly at a restaurant.
After finishing the conversation, Shu Miao put down her phone, lay on the bed, and stared blankly at the ceiling.
She didn’t want to follow Meng Yuchuan without any title, as a secret lover.
Proper matchmaking, followed by a proper relationship and marriage if suitable, was the best choice.
She wanted to find someone who matched her in every way and live a down-to-earth life.
Meng Yuchuan and she were from completely different worlds. She wouldn’t fantasize about that kind of elusive life.
No matter what, Meng Yuchuan wouldn’t harass someone who already had a boyfriend.With his status, he wouldn’t stoop to doing such things.
If she remained single, Meng Yuchuan might keep bothering her, which would be troublesome.
His power was too great; with just a casual order, she might end up having to accompany him on work trips every day, unable to avoid it.
The next day, Shu Miao wore an apricot-colored knitted dress with a trench coat over it, her hair flowing down her back. Checking the time, she headed out when it was about right.
She took a taxi to the agreed-upon restaurant, found the private room, and pushed the door open to find a young man already seated inside.
Upon seeing her enter, Hu Weijie immediately stood up, a flicker of admiration flashing in his eyes as he walked toward her with a smile.
“Hello, are you Shu Miao?”
Shu Miao smiled and nodded. “Yes, I am.”
Hu Weijie hurriedly invited her to sit down and poured her a cup of tea.
Shu Miao took off her trench coat and, after sitting down, observed him. He had a fair and refined appearance, wore a pair of glasses, looked gentle and scholarly, and was dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt.