Vоlumе 1 Сhарtеr 21: The Uninvitеd Guеst
Shu Мiао stood at thе dоor, her smаll facе flushеd with аngеr, whilе Мeng Yuсhuаn wоrе a triumphаnt smile.
“Finally deсidеd to ореn thе dоor, huh?”
Ignоring thе smugnеss in his tone, Shu Мiаo lоoked thorоughly аnnoyed.
“Whаt do уou wаnt?”
Мeng Yuchuаn, however, shоwеd nо intеntion of ехрlаining.
“What? Not gоing to invitе me in for а seat? Is this hоw you trеat your guеsts?”
Shu Мiаo hеld оnto the doоrknob, thе dоor onlу half-oрen, hеr bоdу cоmpletеly bloсking thе еntrance.
She scoffed lightly. “Guеsts? I’vе never seen а guеst who shows up uninvitеd аnd threatens the host into opening the door.”
Meng Yuchuan paid no mind to the sarcasm in her words.
“A guest is a guest—don’t you understand that basic principle?”
Shu Miao’s temper flared. She lowered her voice, scolding him sharply. “If you understand principles, why are you knocking on someone’s door in the middle of the night? If you understand principles, why are you threatening someone into opening the door?”
“Say what you have to say right here, or I’m closing the door.”
Meng Yuchuan stood motionless at the doorway, silent.
Shu Miao grew anxious, afraid a neighbor might pass by at any moment. Her voice turned urgent.
“I live alone. It’s not convenient for me to invite anyone in.”
Meng Yuchuan remained silent. Seeing him so stubborn, Shu Miao decided she’d had enough and lost all patience.
“Fine, don’t say anything then. If you don’t leave now, I’ll call the police. Let’s see who ends up embarrassed.”
With that, she prepared to step back inside and shut the door.
Seizing the moment as Shu Miao retreated, Meng Yuchuan swiftly pushed the door open with force. In one motion, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling them both into the room, and pinned her against the door.
Shu Miao gasped in shock, about to scream, but Meng Yuchuan’s large hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her cry.
Terrified, her pupils dilated instantly. She breathed rapidly, struggling fiercely with her hands and feet.
Meng Yuchuan held her firmly, whispering to stop her movements. “Don’t scream, and I’ll let you go.”
“If you agree, blink your eyes.”
Shu Miao blinked forcefully, and only then did Meng Yuchuan release her.
Immediately, she retreated several steps, her expression full of wariness.
Still in her pajamas, the memory of their almost zero-distance contact made her face flush with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
“What exactly do you want?”
In contrast to Shu Miao’s vigilance, Meng Yuchuan appeared relaxed and at ease. He casually glanced around the living room.
The apartment was clearly a girl’s home—decorated in a sweet, feminine style. Though small, it was tidy and clean, with two pink cartoon throw pillows on the sofa.
Meng Yuchuan walked straight over and sat down on the sofa as if he owned the place, then turned to look at the prickly little figure.
“Come sit over here. I’ll talk once you’re seated.”
He sounded as though he were the host here.
Shu Miao grew even angrier. She stood there motionless, like a statue, her face filled with indignation.
Meng Yuchuan sighed helplessly, softening his tone. “Come here. I won’t do anything to you. Once I’ve said what I need to say, I’ll leave.”
“Otherwise, we can stand here all night. I don’t mind either way.”
With that, he leaned back on the sofa, crossing his legs in a leisurely, proprietorial manner.
Shu Miao frowned deeply, hesitating before finally walking over. She sat in the spot farthest from him, still on high alert.
“Speak. What is it?”
Meng Yuchuan sat up straight and cleared his throat. “You still owe me a meal. You remember, right?”
Shu Miao was taken aback. Had this man made such a scene in the middle of the night—calling, knocking, threatening—just to come and demand this one meal?
She was utterly speechless. “You caused all this commotion in the middle of the night… for a meal?”Meng Yuchuan raised an eyebrow, speaking with a straight face: “Yes.”
“You weren’t even answering your phone. What if you decided to back out? I had to come find you in person to make sure.”
After saying this, he flashed an annoyingly smug grin.
Shu Miao was so angry she was at a loss for words. After calming down for a moment, she forced out a sarcastic smile.
“Don’t worry, I won’t forget. I said I’d treat you, so I will. I won’t go back on my word.”
Hearing this, Meng Yuchuan laughed even more cheerfully: “Good, as long as you haven’t forgotten. That puts my mind at ease, and it makes this trip worth it.”
“Is that all?”
“That’s all.”
Shu Miao snorted coldly and bluntly shooed him away: “Now that you’ve said your piece, can you leave?”
Seeing Shu Miao so intent on getting rid of him, Meng Yuchuan felt like teasing her.
He glanced at his watch and deliberately provoked her.
“It’s too late now. Do you have an extra room here? How about letting me stay the night? Save me the trouble of heading back so late.”
Shu Miao immediately flared up: “What did you say?!”
Meng Yuchuan burst into laughter: “Just kidding. Look at you, so scared.”
“Alright, I’ll head back now. You should get some rest.”
With that, he stood up and walked toward the door.
Shu Miao followed, keeping some distance behind him.
Meng Yuchuan opened the door and stepped out, then suddenly turned back with a mischievous grin: “Cute pajamas.”
Furious, Shu Miao slammed the door shut with force, hearing Meng Yuchuan’s hearty laughter from outside.
“Jerk!”
After Meng Yuchuan’s antics, Shu Miao completely lost any desire to sleep. She tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep no matter what.
On Friday, Meng Yuchuan sent Shu Miao a message with the time and location for their meal.
Looking at the string of text on her screen, Shu Miao mentally cursed Meng Yuchuan a hundred times over.
Reluctantly, she replied with an “Ok.”
Shu Miao, who had originally been eagerly looking forward to the end of the workday on Friday, now felt no excitement at all.
Because tonight, she had to treat Meng Yuchuan to dinner.
Still, she thought it might be for the best—once it was done, Meng Yuchuan wouldn’t keep bringing it up, as if she were being stingy.
After this meal, she would draw a clear line between herself and Meng Yuchuan.
After work, Shu Miao took a taxi to the restaurant address Meng Yuchuan had sent.
She had been to this restaurant once or twice before. It was expensive, but the food was excellent.
She thought to herself that Meng Yuchuan really knew how to pick a place—clearly intending to make her pay through the nose.
But to finally cut ties with him, Shu Miao convinced herself to endure it.
Meng Yuchuan had directly sent her the private room name, so she headed straight there upon entering the restaurant.
Pushing open the private room door, she found Meng Yuchuan already seated inside. He had taken off his jacket and was wearing only a blue shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong, well-defined arms.
Seeing Shu Miao enter, he curved his lips into a smile and gestured to the seat opposite him: “Have a seat.”
As Shu Miao walked in, she observed the room’s decor—warm yellow lighting, a rose arrangement in the center of the table, wine glasses, and an opened bottle of red wine nearby.
The atmosphere held a strange sort of romance. Suppressing her unease, Shu Miao sat down across from Meng Yuchuan.
Meng Yuchuan asked gently, “Was work tiring today?”
Shu Miao replied curtly, “No matter how tired I am, I still have to make time to treat County Magistrate Meng to dinner.”
Hearing this, Meng Yuchuan chuckled, his tone somewhat doting: “Then eat more later to make up for it.”
Shu Miao lowered her head and said nothing.
Before long, a server entered to serve the dishes.
Meng Yuchuan had ordered two steaks, along with some other dishes and desserts.
The two ate for a while in silence.Halfway through the meal, Meng Yuchuan suddenly stood up, holding a bottle of red wine as he walked over to Shu Miao, preparing to pour some into her glass.
Shu Miao covered the rim of her glass with her hand and looked up at him. “I don’t drink.”
Meng Yuchuan said softly, “This is red wine. It’s not strong, and it tastes quite good. Just a little.”
Shu Miao frowned and refused, pressing her hand tighter over the glass. “I’ve never had alcohol before.”