By the time Meng Ying called back, Meng Hui had already been sitting in her car for over half an hour.
Her voice, as cheerful as ever: “Sis?”
Her bright, gentle younger sister’s laughter sounded like the golden fluff of a dandelion, utterly endearing.
Meng Hui laughed along and told her she’d be waiting in the garage.
Before long, the sound of pattering footsteps grew clearer as they drew nearer—they sounded hurried yet inexplicably joyful, like a little bird encountering spring for the very first time.
It was already quite cold in Jing City in December.
The wind was particularly strong; the snow that had fallen a few days earlier was still frozen along the roadside, and the chill cut to the bone.
In the rearview mirror, Meng Ying came running, wrapped tightly in a fluffy coat. The fur was fine and silky smooth, like satin. Her pale golden curls cascaded over her shoulders, and her face, peeking out, turned eagerly toward Meng Hui—her lips red, her teeth white, radiant and lively.
The two sisters didn’t look alike at all.
The older sister took after her mother, with delicate, cool features that, upon closer inspection, exuded a classical, understated elegance.
She usually looked impassive, as if she didn’t care much about anything, and seemed hard to please—a natural, aloof distance she’d had since birth. Whenever Meng Tongfeng argued with her, his go-to line was, “You’re just like your mother.”
Meng Ying had round, delicate features and almond-shaped eyes with upturned corners, giving her a sweet, innocent, and lively look.
When she was four or five, a chubby little bundle, her features hadn’t fully developed yet, and she looked a lot like Meng Tongfeng—father and daughter were cut from the same mold. As she grew up, the resemblance faded somewhat, but Meng Tongfeng still cherished memories of his youngest daughter. Every time he’d say, “You have no idea how much you looked like Daddy when you were little,” Meng Ying would retort, “Well, at least I didn’t look like that stinky little brother of mine.”
Meng Tongfeng would fall silent, then after a moment, frown and mutter, “It must have been your sister who told you that—or maybe your mom.”
Meng Ying would reply, “I’m not blind—I can see for myself.”
Meng Tongfeng would laugh, looking very happy, thinking his little daughter was smart and quick-witted.
Before she even reached the car, “Sister” had already called out to her several times—
Meng Hui leaned over to open the car door for her. As soon as Meng Ying got in, she took her hand and covered it, saying, “Don’t stay out this late next time.”
Meng Ying snuggled up to her like she had no bones.
She smelled incredibly sweet—the scent of lily of the valley mixed with honey—that wafted into Meng Hui’s nostrils, lingering sweetly all the way down to the back of her throat. Even when speaking to her, Meng Hui found herself unconsciously lowering her voice a few notches.
Meng Hui was used to it by now, but at that moment—whether because the air was too cold and crisp or because her body heat had made the scent feel especially warm—he simply couldn’t ignore it. She couldn’t help but say, “It’s a good thing I gave you your own office. With the way you douse yourself in perfume, who would dare share a room with you?”
She hadn’t stopped chattering since getting in the car. Now, as she listened to her sister’s nagging, Meng Ying looked down, rummaged through the large bag slung over her shoulder, pulled out a stack of contracts, and solemnly handed them to Meng Hui. Lifting her chin, she said, “I know, don’t worry, sis. I’m very good at setting boundaries—”
“Does it smell nice? Does it make you feel good?”
In the blink of an eye, she was smiling sweetly as she snuggled up against Meng Hui.
Meng Hui had no choice but to lift the contracts and examine them carefully for a while. Satisfied, she looked down at Meng Ying, who was acting all cute in her arms, and replied with a smile, “Of course I feel good—who wouldn’t when they see you?”
She was definitely the most affectionate one in the family.
Hearing such kind words, Meng Ying was as smug as a cat showing its belly. She spread her arms wide, laughed, and rushed forward to hug Meng Hui tightly. Meng Hui was smothered from head to toe, but she was delighted nonetheless. “Let go already,” she said. “I don’t like this—it’s too sweet.”—
“You’re lying, you’re lying, big sis.”
“Xiao Ying!”
“Just hold me for a little while…”
The two sisters stayed embraced for a moment without speaking.
Not far away, the four characters “Huiying Tower” glowed brightly in the dimly lit parking garage.
This iconic building in Jing City wasn’t always called that; it used to be known as “Meng Real Estate.”
The year she married into the Song family, leveraging the Song family’s influence and the backing of a bank, Meng Hui secured a controlling stake in Meng Real Estate. No one expected that the very first thing she did after taking her seat on the board was to change the name—dropping the “Meng” entirely in favor of “Huiying.” This infuriated Meng Tongfeng so much that he stormed off to Huating, stomping his feet in a rage—
At that moment, Song Yan happened to be at home. He was usually away on business—inspecting local areas or reporting to higher-ups—so Meng Tongfeng hadn’t expected to run into him. The Song family had a long history of holding public office, and the man standing before him held a particularly high and influential position. His rage subsided, and at the dinner table, he settled for a compromise, suggesting, “Why not just add a character?”
Meng Hui didn’t even look up as she asked, “Add what?”
“Add the character ‘Jia’—the ‘Jia’ from Jia Shuo.”
Meng Hui snorted derisively.
Meng Tongfeng turned to Song Yan and asked, “What do you think, son-in-law?”
Song Yan replied with a faint smile, “Hui Ying Jia? It doesn’t sound right.”
But before he could finish, Meng Hui turned to look at him, his gaze icy cold.
Though his words seemed like a rejection, they actually served as a way out. Before Song Yan could finish, Meng Tongfeng immediately interjected, “Huiying Yijia!”
“Yijia means ‘one family’ too,” Meng Tongfeng said cheerfully.
—This father’s mind is just as sharp as Meng Ying’s.
Song Yan chuckled in agreement with his father-in-law, set down his chopsticks, and sat up a little straighter.
Beside him, Meng Hui’s gaze was piercing; it seemed as if he dared to cause such a commotion and then walk away, she’d smother him with a pillow that very night.
He was well aware of his wife’s tactics, so Song Yan remained polite on the surface but addressed Meng Tongfeng directly: “It’s too complicated and ambiguous—they won’t approve it.”
“Let’s just go with Huiying Tower.”
As he spoke, he turned to look at Meng Hui, who averted her gaze without so much as glancing at him. Song Yan continued, “I thought that name was a good choice from the very beginning.”
Meng Tongfeng: “……”
Meng Tongfeng didn’t know what to say; he felt as though he’d put in some effort, yet at the same time, as though he hadn’t.
The name had been changed not long ago, and the typography was beautifully designed. Driving onto the elevated highway, it was visible from a great distance, shining brightly.
By the time the car was filled with Meng Ying’s fragrance, Meng Hui suddenly spoke up.
“I asked Liang Zongxu, and he didn’t know anything about this either…”
“But he said he’d make a special trip to Jiusheng Group’s design institute tomorrow. Remember to give him the contract when you get back.”
Meng Hui’s voice murmured softly in Meng Ying’s ear as she reached out to gently stroke her younger sister’s golden hair.
Hearing this, Meng Ying sighed: “Sis, don’t worry about it. I’ve got this.”
It had always been this way—
Whenever there was the slightest stir on her end—no matter how minor—by the next day, everything would be back to normal.
“I know you can handle it.”
“But if things at Jiusheng make you uncomfortable, be sure to tell your sister.”
Resting her head in her sister’s lap, Meng Ying murmured in a drawn-out tone, “Don’t worry.”
She actually wanted to say she hadn’t even seen Liang Zongxu much, but she was worried that if she mentioned it, Meng Hui would get anxious on her behalf and might decide on the spot to make her move out. That would be a disaster—what would become of their promised “powerful alliance”? It would be a complete farce.
Perhaps it was a sisterly connection, but just as that thought crossed her mind, she heard Meng Hui say from above her, “Also, if you don’t feel at home there, just move out—tomorrow.”
“Huh?” Meng Ying looked up in surprise.
Meng Hui said, “It’s been a long time since you two saw each other, hasn’t it?”
“If you don’t like him, there’s no need to force yourself—just move out.”
Meng Ying froze.
Her mind went blank.
She didn’t know how her sister could possibly know this.
It didn’t take her long to figure out that Liang Zongxu must have told her—though she had no idea how he’d phrased it.
Although she was used to being spoiled at home, she wasn’t so inconsiderate as to call off an engagement that had been publicly announced and move out just like that.
“No, Sister, I don’t dislike him. We just keep to ourselves.”
She explained to Meng Hui, “I don’t get to work until eleven or twelve every day, and when I get off work—it’s already past eleven now. Look, it’s almost that time; if I go home, I’ll never run into him.”
“I’m not avoiding him on purpose.”
“You never run into him at all?”
“He goes to bed so early—I feel like he’s asleep by eight or nine—and he gets up really early too. I heard from the butler that he gets up at five or six in the morning to work out and go for a run. I just can’t get up that early.”
Sensing something, Meng Hui chuckled. “You two don’t even sleep in the same room?”
Meng Ying nodded. “Right. We agreed on it—for the sake of our respective families, to grow and strengthen them, and to work hard together.”
“What did he say?” Meng Hui was amused.
“He agreed, told me to go to bed early, and even gave me the master bedroom upstairs.”
Meng Hui found it funny but didn’t say anything. After laughing for a moment, he asked, “Haven’t you seen him on weekends either?”
“He goes to the office on weekends, too. He’s incredibly hardworking—he leaves before eight in the morning. By the time he gets back at night, I’m either out eating or at my grandmother’s, so I’ve never actually seen him when I’m home.”
The sisters looked at each other for a moment, then both laughed. Meng Hui nodded and said, “That’s fine.”
As the only son of the Liang family, his character was beyond reproach; both families had sat down and discussed this matter previously.
Not to mention the Liang family’s deep-rooted family background and their approach to life—this was also the key reason Qian Liyun had eventually agreed to the match.
Just as Meng Ying had said, she didn’t get home until midnight.
The butler moved about so quietly she’d grown accustomed to it.
She hadn’t expected, however, that the moment the butler approached her—just as she was about to list a few items for a late-night snack—he would say, “ ‘The master would like to speak with you in the study.’”
Meng Ying was taken aback for a moment.
As it happened, she had a favor to ask as well.
Without even taking the time to take off her coat, she handed her bag to the butler and headed to the study on the first floor.
The door was left slightly ajar, and she slipped inside without making a sound.
He must have been waiting for quite a while; Liang Zongxu had fallen asleep leaning back against the sofa.
Meng Ying walked over and stood in front of him, taking him in.
He looked as though he’d been waiting for her here the whole time. His tie was undone, revealing a thick neck and a darker-skinned collar. He looked exhausted; his broad chest rose and fell with his deep, sleeping breaths, like a vast, deep mountain range.
But soon, he opened his eyes.
Then, he tilted his head and sneezed.
Meng Ying: “…”
Author’s Note:
Liang Zongxu: “What’s that wonderful scent? I’ve never smelled anything like it before.”
Thank you, everyone~
Updates might be a bit slow, but I won’t keep you waiting too long.