Vоlumе 1 Сhарtеr 24 Girlfriеnd
Since sоft tасtiсs didn’t wоrk, there was оnlу one оption lеft: tо gеt tоugh.
Меng Yuchuаn lеаnеd back lаzily against the sоfа, crоssing his lеgs.
“In thаt саse, I’ll hаvе tо recоnsidеr yоur work arrangеments.”
Shu Мiao’s eуes fliсkerеd with сonfusion. Shе stared at him susрiсiоuslу, not understаnding whаt hе mеant.
Mеng Yuchuаn glancеd at her аnd continuеd, “You’ve just graduаtеd аnd arе still уoung. Staying in thе offiсе all daу won’t do.”
“Нow аbоut trаnsferring уou to а lower-lеvеl рosition for a few years оf еxperienсе? You can bе rеassigned later. What do you think?”
As he spoke, a smug smile spread across his face. He raised an eyebrow slightly, watching her reaction.
Shu Miao could no longer sit still. She sprang up from the sofa, her face flushed with anger.
Her brows were tightly furrowed, her eyes blazing with fury. Her nostrils flared, her chest heaved rapidly, and her clenched fists trembled as her entire body shook.
She glared at Meng Yuchuan, who remained calm and composed, as if her gaze were a sharp blade.
Her voice trembled with rage, stumbling over her words. “You! You’re abusing your power for personal revenge!”
“How can you do this? Using your authority to bully the weak, manipulating others as you please.”
Meng Yuchuan patted his knee lightly, speaking in a casual tone. “So what?”
“I’ve never claimed to be a good person, so when it comes to you, I don’t mind resorting to extreme measures.”
“Besides, this is a reasonable work transfer. What’s wrong with it?”
“Well? Will you agree now?”
“Either be with me, or go work in a remote area.”
“It won’t be like here—close to home, convenient for daily life…”
“If your performance isn’t up to par, you might end up staying there for ten or twenty years.”
He even sighed sympathetically for her.
Shu Miao listened, biting her lip tightly. She lowered her gaze and clenched her clothes in her hands.
Yes, Meng Yuchuan could decide her career path with just a word.
He had countless plausible excuses, and she was utterly powerless against him.
Suddenly feeling drained of all strength, she slumped back onto the sofa.
A flicker of pain flashed in Meng Yuchuan’s eyes. He stood up and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
Shu Miao trembled slightly but didn’t struggle.
Meng Yuchuan sighed softly, his tone tinged with helplessness. “Would it really be so bad to be with me? I’d treat you well.”
“You haven’t even tried. How do you know I’m not good enough?”
“You’ve already sentenced me without even giving me a chance.”
Shu Miao remained silent, still biting her lip, her head bowed. Large teardrops rolled down her cheeks.
Meng Yuchuan heard a soft sob and felt a pang of anxiety.
He immediately lifted Shu Miao’s head and saw her tear-streaked face, her eyes brimming with tears. His heart ached instantly.
He whispered soothingly, “Alright, alright, don’t cry. It hurts me to see you like this.”
As he spoke, he gently wiped away her tears and kissed her damp eyelids.
“I don’t want to be a secret lover.”
Shu Miao suddenly spoke, her head still lowered. Her voice was choked with sobs, but her tone was unusually firm.
Meng Yuchuan was taken aback for a moment before he understood what she meant.
The gloom in his heart gradually began to lift.
So that was it.
He lifted Shu Miao’s chin, making her meet his gaze.
His expression turned serious. “Shu Miao, I’m not married.”Now it was Shu Miao’s turn to freeze. She blinked her eyes, her damp lashes fluttering up and down, the tip of her nose red, looking exactly like an innocent little kitten.
It made Meng Yuchuan’s heart itch as if lightly scratched by a cat’s paw.
Meng Yuchuan’s words surprised Shu Miao. She hadn’t expected that Meng Yuchuan was still unmarried.
But then she immediately remembered Pei Ran’s earlier warning: someone like him, even if not married, must have a fiancée from a suitable background.
In that case, she would still be the other woman. No, no.
Instantly feeling it was inappropriate, she said, “So what? I don’t want to be the third party in other people’s mouths. How awful it would sound if word got out.”
Meng Yuchuan was both angry and helpless in an instant. What was this little girl thinking about all day?
She thought he was already married or engaged.
When had he ever said he was married? Who knew where she had picked up such gossip?
He shook his head helplessly, rubbing his forehead.
The next second, he straightened Shu Miao’s body, looking directly into her eyes with a firm gaze.
“Comrade Shu Miao, listen carefully. I am not married, not engaged, and I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Whether legally or socially, I am single.”
“Do you understand?”
Word by word, exceptionally clear, ensuring Shu Miao heard every syllable distinctly.
Shu Miao was stunned for a moment, carefully scrutinizing Meng Yuchuan’s expression to confirm the truth of his words.
Meng Yuchuan’s gaze was firm, without the slightest hint of retreat.
Shu Miao felt he didn’t seem to be lying.
Her hands kept fidgeting on her legs. “You… you’re really not married?”
Meng Yuchuan nodded firmly. “Yes.”
“And no girlfriend?”
“Yes.”
Shu Miao lowered her head again, biting her lip.
Even if Meng Yuchuan wasn’t married, if he could approach her so casually, he must have others too.
Men like him were never short of women throwing themselves at them; they were the type who moved through a sea of flowers.
She was just one of them.
Right now, he was only interested because she had rejected him. Once he got tired of playing, he would kick her aside.
Her little face turned serious again, her brows tightly furrowed. She raised her head and blurted out bluntly, “I have a cleanliness complex. I don’t want a man who’s been used by others.”
“…”
Meng Yuchuan stared at Shu Miao’s round, wide eyes, his blood pressure nearly spiking in anger. He rubbed his temples.
Seeing him silent, Shu Miao became even more certain of her suspicions.
Sure enough, he was a playboy who wandered among women. Her eyes showed undisguised disdain.
Meng Yuchuan pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and suddenly, his anger vanished.
Instead, a suggestive smile appeared on his face. His handsome features slowly leaned in, and Shu Miao instinctively retreated.
Meng Yuchuan teased, “What? Are you jealous?”
Shu Miao’s face flushed instantly. “What nonsense are you talking about? I’m not.”
“If not, why do you care so much about this?”
Shu Miao tried to argue. “I just… I just…”
“Just what?” Meng Yuchuan stared straight at her, a mischievous smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Shu Miao’s mind went blank, and the words slipped out directly: “I just think it’s dirty.”
After saying it, she glanced at Meng Yuchuan, expecting him to be angry, but instead, his expression remained calm as usual.
He just curved his lips into a smile. “What a coincidence, so do I.”
“It seems we’re truly a match made in heaven.”
Listening to his narcissistic words, Shu Miao’s face grew warm, and she unconsciously averted her gaze.By now, Meng Yuchuan had completely understood why Shu Miao was so resistant to being with him.
He had always been straightforward, addressing the root of the problem and tackling the key issues head-on.
With one arm wrapped around Shu Miao’s shoulder, he said, “Shu Miao, let me tell you once again: when I ask you to be with me, I mean for you to be my legitimate girlfriend.”
“Not a mistress, not a lover, and certainly not just one among many women. You would be my one and only proper girlfriend.”
Seeing the determination in his eyes, Shu Miao felt a sudden wave of panic.
She wanted to speak but didn’t know what to say.
Meng Yuchuan then asked solemnly, “Shu Miao, are you willing to be my girlfriend?”
Shu Miao replied softly, “What if I refuse?”
A glint flashed in Meng Yuchuan’s eyes, and a mischievous smile spread across his face as he pulled her closer. “Then do you want to be transferred?”
Shu Miao immediately grew anxious, her face flushing with anger. “You—!”
Meng Yuchuan laughed heartily. “Alright, don’t be stubborn with me. Are my conditions really not good enough for you?”