Jiang Wenyan had no intention of paying attention to Meng Shining and continued to focus on the materials in his hands.
Meng Shining pouted slightly and, feeling a bit embarrassed, put her phone away and sat properly.
Her gaze furtively drifted toward Jiang Wenyan, who wore a cold, indifferent expression.
The lights outside the car window illuminated the side of Jiang Wenyan’s face, casting shadows that accentuated the contours of his profile. The shadows of his lowered eyelashes fell beneath his eyes, his gaze dark and distant, carrying a natural sharpness.
Meng Shining’s eyes slowly traveled down from his face, tracing the elegant line of his long neck, the delicate collarbones just barely visible.
Her gaze moved further down to his hands holding the materials. His hands were beautiful, slender and long-fingered, with clearly defined knuckles, rounded and clean nails, and pale skin under which faint bluish veins were visible.
Meng Shining swallowed hard. Those hands were incredibly attractive. Just those hands alone could be the protagonist in her novel.
She seemed to have a sudden idea for the character design in her BL novel.
Jiang Wenyan’s attention was originally on the materials, but a faint buzzing sound reached his ears. Closing the folder, he silently shifted his gaze to the top of Meng Shining’s head.
The familiar screen appeared again, flickering slightly, the environment resembling a hospital examination room.
Slightly puzzled, Jiang Wenyan wondered how she could associate the contact with a hospital. Was she planning to force him into a hospital?
As he pondered, the screen showed a man lying on the hospital bed.
The camera zoomed in on the man’s face—none other than Meng Ci’an, who had just been chasing Meng Shining.
Jiang Wenyan continued to observe without showing any emotion.
The scene shifted again. The curtain beside the bed was pulled back by a hand with defined knuckles, revealing the face of the hand’s owner—his own.
Jiang Wenyan on the screen said coldly, “Meng Ci’an, this time, let’s see how you escape.”
On the screen, he held a scalpel, moving toward Meng Ci’an.
Meng Ci’an suddenly awoke, eyes wide with fear. “Jiang Wenyan, what are you doing? Don’t act recklessly.”
Jiang Wenyan sneered, “What do you think I’m doing? Of course, I want to harm you.”
Meng Ci’an protested, “Jiang Wenyan, don’t! Let me go. I’ll hate you if you—”
Meng Shining’s lips curled into a meaningful smile as she watched.
Jiang Wenyan’s gaze fell on Meng Shining, frowning slightly.
The screen continued.
Jiang Wenyan’s face on the screen was almost frenzied, the scalpel pressed against Meng Ci’an’s abdomen. He lifted his victim’s shirt, undoing the buttons one by one. “Hate me if you must, it’s better than forgetting me.”
He then dramatically threw Meng Ci’an’s shirt aside. “Meng Ci’an, you’ll never escape me in this life.”
He leaned down to kiss Meng Ci’an.
Jiang Wenyan’s temple throbbed. He could hardly watch the next scene. “Meng Shining!”
“What!” Meng Shining snapped, turning toward him, slightly annoyed. This was an important plot, and he had just interrupted her.
Seeing the screen vanish suddenly, Jiang Wenyan exhaled in relief. Interrupting her thoughts had worked; he did not want to see what else the screen might have shown.
He pulled out his phone and held the QR code toward Meng Shining. “You wanted to add me on WeChat? Scan it.”
Meng Shining’s annoyance softened. She happily took her phone and scanned Jiang Wenyan’s QR code. “I sent the request. Approve it.”
Jiang Wenyan’s face returned to its usual coldness.
He opened the friend request. His eyes flickered slightly, but he hesitated before approving.
Seeing her request unapproved for a while, Meng Shining leaned closer. “Why haven’t you approved it yet?”
Noticing her carefully chosen profile picture, she hurriedly said, “It’s this one! This sexy charming big frog is me. Approve it quickly.”
Jiang Wenyan twitched his lips but said nothing, pausing briefly before approving.
Meng Shining looked at Jiang Wenyan’s profile picture after he accepted. Nothing special, just a brilliant starry sky.
After seeing so many avatars, hers was still the most beautiful and tasteful.
“Jiang Wenyan, we’ll be married next year. By then—”
“Meng Shining!” Jiang Wenyan interrupted coldly.
“Hm?”
“There are some things I want to clarify first. This marriage is something both our families arranged. Nothing more.” Jiang Wenyan’s voice was cold, showing no other emotion.
“I have no interest in you and hope you won’t develop feelings for me either. After the marriage, as long as you don’t harm our family’s interests or reputation, you may do as you please.”
“Meng Shining, I hope after marriage, we can keep to ourselves.” He glanced at her; she lowered her head, a bit downcast.
Jiang Wenyan looked away, wondering if he had been too harsh.
His words were icy and emotionless, but Meng Shining didn’t care. She was merely going through the motions, finishing her task before going home.
An idea struck her. She looked up at Jiang Wenyan calmly. “What you said is fine. Don’t worry. I won’t bring other men into our shared home, and I hope you won’t bring other women or men either.”
“The marriage is in my house. Civility is on everyone. What can be handled outside should stay outside.”
“Oh, by the way, marriage means dealing with your family during holidays and daily life.” Meng Shining paused, extending her hand. “Give me a bottle of water, I’m thirsty.”
Jiang Wenyan glanced briefly, taking a bottle from the small fridge in the middle of the back seat and handing it to her.
Meng Shining drank two big gulps.
Continuing where she left off, she said, “About dealing with your family, that’s not included in the requirements you just mentioned, so that’s a separate fee.”
“Should Jiang Wenyan consider paying me a salary?” Meng Shining rubbed her hands, looking like a little money-lover.
Bao Linglong couldn’t help but comment, “Host, please, don’t break your character too much!”
Meng Shining snapped at Bao Linglong, “Noisy!”
“Separate fee? Salary?”
“Mm-hmm!”
“Fine, how much do you want?” Jiang Wenyan asked calmly.
“Whatever Jiang Wenyan gives!” As long as she got something, the amount didn’t matter.