Volume 1, Chapter 27: Are You Dating Someone?

Page 1 of 3

That was right.

She had said that she was nowhere near good enough to be his woman.

He had said that, to people like them, romantic love was the easiest, basest, and least significant of all desires.

He had called her kisses tasteless.

He had said that the body she offered up like a sacrifice felt no different from stroking a cat or a dog.

He had warned her that if she kept making scenes, he would never look after her again...

Shu Wan straightened in the saddle, her back rigid as she stared directly at the intimidating man before her. Hurt and stubbornness were written plainly across her face, and for the first time, she openly and sharply defied him.

“Then don’t. I came of age last year. Director Meng, you don’t need to look after me anymore, and you don’t need to be my guardian either.”

The moment she finished speaking, the girl clamped her legs against the horse’s belly. The steed shot forward like a streak of wind, her long hair flying behind her, her slender figure vibrant and resolute beneath the sunlight.

“For God’s sake... Has Miss Shu been chased by a ghost? She’s going so fast—something’s bound to happen!” Meng Chuan vaulted onto his horse and prepared to follow. When he glanced back at his elder brother, he was startled.

He knew that expression on Meng Huaijin’s face all too well. It was exactly the expression their father had worn back when Meng Chuan had grown bold enough to spread his wings and openly defy him.

That look had said: What a wretched son.

But the remaining forty percent was dark and ominous, and Meng Chuan could not quite decipher it.

“Brother, I’m going after her. She’s riding too fast—it’s dangerous. If she falls, she’s finished,” Meng Chuan said again.

Meng Huaijin fixed him with a look. His face stern, he said nothing. He simply raised the riding crop in his hand and struck Meng Chuan’s horse on the rump.

Meng Chuan shot forward at once. “Damn it! What did my horse ever do to deserve this...”

* * *

The fine horses raced around the track, the wind howling past Shu Wan’s ears. At that moment, she had only one thought:

She would never like Meng Huaijin again.

If he wanted her gone, then she would leave. Once her scores were released and she had submitted her university applications, she would make sure to disappear as far away as possible after the new term began. She would never appear before him again and obstruct his view.

Not only would she stay far away from him, she would also wish him a happy engagement, a harmonious marriage, and, ideally, a lifetime of respectful distance between husband and wife!

Hearing hoofbeats catching up behind her, Shu Wan skillfully slowed her horse.

When she looked back and saw that it was Meng Chuan, disappointment instantly spread through her again. The resolve she had only just made in her heart was thrown to the dogs, dissolving into boundless bitterness.

“My young lady, are you racing horses? Do you realize how dangerous that is?” Meng Chuan scolded anxiously.

“I’m not. I know what I’m doing. I’d never gamble with my own safety.” She had ridden too hard, and sweat had dampened the hair at her temples. The corners of her eyes were red as well.

“Good. But your riding really is excellent. You must have practiced a lot before, right?” Meng Chuan praised her.

The girl nodded and said softly, “My father taught me.”

Meng Chuan paused. He brought his horse alongside hers and reached over to rub her fluffy head.

“What are you sulking about with your Brother Jin?”

A sharp ache went through her heart. Shu Wan shook her head and said nothing.

“Is it still because of that man?” Meng Chuan sighed. “Do you really like him that much? If you truly like him so much that you can’t free yourself from it, and he’s the only one you want, arrange for me to meet him. I’ll size him up for you. As long as he passes my inspection, I’ll risk my life to put in a good word for you.”

Shu Wan’s nose stung, and she wanted to cry.

“I don’t like him anymore. From now on, I’ll never like him again.”

“...”

Meng Chuan sighed inwardly. She might as well have shouted, I like him so much, I’m so miserable, and I can’t let him go.

Ah, youth. It was truly a bittersweet contest and struggle.

After a moment of silence, Shu Wan made up her mind.

“Uncle Meng Chuan, when are you going back? Can I ride in your car?”

“What, you don’t want to ride with my Brother Jin anymore?” Meng Chuan laughed. “You really are holding a grudge against him.”

“No,” she said. “I just don’t want to disturb their efforts to build a married couple’s affection.”

Page 2 of 3

“Married couple’s affection...” Meng Chuan gave a snort of amusement. “As it happens, I have some business at the company too. All right, then. Let’s give the two of them some space and leave now.”

“...”

When Meng Chuan said they were leaving, he really did take the horses back to the stable. A man had to follow through on his own words, even if he had to crawl on his knees to do it, so Shu Wan had no choice but to go back with him.

Meanwhile, Guan Yulin saw them return so quickly and was hobbling over to join the excitement when Jiang Jie called out to her.

“What is it, Sister Jiang Jie?” she asked.

Jiang Jie smiled warmly. “Linlin, you and Shu Wan haven’t known each other for very long, have you? You seem to get along quite well.”

Guan Yulin leaned on her crutches. “We haven’t known each other long, but we have plenty to talk about.”

Jiang Jie moved closer and asked in a low voice, “I heard Meng Chuan say that she’s fallen for someone. Is the girl dating?”

This aunt-by-marriage was clearly trying to stir things up. Adults asking children about such matters was obviously something one could never reveal.

Guan Yulin shook her head repeatedly. “How could she be? She isn’t dating anyone, and she probably doesn’t have anyone she likes either.”

Jiang Jie caught the telltale hesitation in her expression and narrowed her eyes. “Is that so? Judging by your face, she does have someone she likes, doesn’t she?”

“I really don’t know.” The girl denied it. “I’ve never heard her mention anything.”

“Then how did she hurt her lips?” the woman continued questioning.

“She ate too much spicy food.”

Spicy food again... How very convenient.

Jiang Jie’s expression darkened further and further. Only after a long while did she say, “All right. Go and play.”

* * *

When Shu Wan had tied up her horse and walked out of the stable, she saw Meng Huaijin some distance away. He was not looking at her and seemed to be discussing something with Jiang Jie. The woman was smiling brightly.

“Brother, we’re heading back first,” Meng Chuan called, waving in that direction.

When Meng Huaijin looked over, Shu Wan quickly turned her eyes away. She linked arms with Guan Yulin and turned to leave.

Yet she could feel two icy gazes on her back, sharp as blades, as though they might carve the words Serve the country loyally into her skin.

By the time they were nearly out of the equestrian grounds, Shu Wan finally heard Meng Huaijin respond with a mild “Mm.” He asked no further questions, least of all where she intended to go.

Good.

And so Shu Wan left the equestrian grounds with Meng Chuan and Dr. Zhou, who had once again been called away for an emergency operation.

But the moment she got into the car, she began to regret it. She grew restless, unable to sit still, as though countless ants were crawling through her heart, tormenting and troubling her.

Why had she withdrawn?

Why had she given them an opportunity to be alone?

What would the two of them do at the equestrian grounds? Would they kiss?

Ah...

Thus, Shu Wan and Guan Yulin followed Meng Chuan to his company. She toured the place absentmindedly for an hour, then went to Wangfujing to eat and shop. By the time they returned to the Meng residence, it was already afternoon.

Meng Huaijin still had not returned.

The girl watched the tightly closed front door until she was nearly beside herself. In the end, she could only say to Guan Yulin, who was watching cartoons on the sofa, “I’m going back to my apartment, Yulin.”

The other girl let out a startled “Ah” and asked, “Why so suddenly? Are you unhappy staying here?”

Shu Wan pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Guan Yulin caught her by the arm, trying to keep her there. “Stay a few more days, Shu Wan. Consider it keeping me company, all right? I’m so bored by myself, and I can barely move with my foot like this.”

Just then, the front door opened with a click. Meng Huaijin entered in elegant fashion, handed his coat to the butler, and began undoing his cuffs. He cast a light glance in their direction before naturally looking away again.

“Let me go back. I feel rather unwelcome here.” From the instant she saw that familiar figure, Shu Wan’s heart began pounding uncontrollably. She watched him from the corner of her eye as she spoke, raising her voice slightly.

Page 3 of 3

“Who doesn’t welcome you?” Guan Yulin glared with wide eyes and righteous indignation. “My cousin, your person in charge, is right here. Who would dare not welcome you? Right, Cousin?”

Meng Huaijin was drinking water beside the kitchen island. He lifted his eyes toward them but did not answer.

“...Well, his opinion doesn’t matter. You’ve been with him for a year, so you should know that’s simply his temperament—the soul of a soldier, the style of an old cadre, and the persona of a cold, ruthless, domineering corporate tyrant. In short... he’s terribly boring.” Guan Yulin’s assessment struck directly at the heart of the matter.

Shu Wan gave a crooked smile and raised a thumb toward her. “That’s a very accurate summary. Emotionless, loveless, cold, and ruthless!”

The instant she finished speaking, Shu Wan looked up and met the gaze that had once again fallen upon her. It was deep and lingering, devoid of warmth.

The girl neither flinched nor looked away. She held his gaze for several seconds, then withdrew her eyes and hardened her heart.

“I’m leaving. Your foot isn’t convenient, so be very careful on the stairs.”

“No, no, no, you can’t leave.” Guan Yulin clung tightly to her. “I still haven’t learned the pieces you taught me. I’m going to keep learning piano from you tomorrow. Cousin, say something. Tell Shu Wan to stay and play with me for a few more days.”

What a little actress.

Before going upstairs, Meng Huaijin did not even look over. He merely tossed out a cool, “Stay.”

Hmph. Did he think she would leave when he told her to and stay when he told her to? Everything had to be decided by him.

Shu Wan glared angrily at the man’s retreating back.

Fine. It was indeed all up to him. Since he had told her to stay, then she would stay.

He was the one asking her to remain, after all. Hmph.

In truth, she had already regretted leaving the moment she departed the equestrian grounds.

Why should she go back?

She absolutely would not. She refused to diminish herself while boosting someone else’s pride.

Shu Wan was nearly driven mad by the two conflicting selves inside her head. She tossed and turned on the bed in her room until she heard someone open the door of the room opposite. Only then did she get up and go downstairs as though nothing had happened.

At dinner, the elder Mr. and Mrs. Meng were attending a gathering and were not home to eat, while Guan Yulin had no appetite and did not come downstairs.

Thus, only Meng Huaijin and Shu Wan sat at the dining table, and the atmosphere was exceedingly strange.

During the past year, they had never truly eaten in silence. Even though Meng Huaijin had repeatedly decreed that no one was to speak during meals, Shu Wan had always had endless questions.

This time, after their confrontation during the day, she had not said a single word to him for most of the afternoon. It was practically a new record.

Dinner was light: four dishes and a soup. Two plates of vegetables, one plate of chicken, and a dish of steamed shrimp. Shu Wan still could not quite accept meat, though she could eat some seafood.

Throughout the meal, Meng Huaijin kept his eyes lowered as he ate, quiet as if he did not exist. Shu Wan refused to be outdone. She avoided his eyes and did not speak to him.

Whenever she could no longer resist the urge to say something, she shoveled large mouthfuls of rice into her mouth, leaving him no opportunity to mock her.

Unfortunately, she misjudged herself and accidentally tugged at the wound on her lip. The pain made her hiss, and tears nearly sprang into her eyes.

Even without looking at her, Meng Huaijin knew all about her little movements. Her cheeks were puffed out, making her look like a pufferfish.

He pushed a glass of warm water toward her. The man merely tapped the tabletop with his knuckles and said nothing.

Shu Wan said nothing either. She gave an inward snort of disdain, but in the end, she obediently drank the water.

After dinner, Shu Wan went into the courtyard to walk off her meal for half an hour. As she passed the study on her way upstairs, she saw someone leaning against the window, smoking while rubbing his temples.

The evening light outlined the man’s features, making him look like a powerful hero who had crossed over from the Republican era: tall and elegant, proud and aloof.

He had probably gone to a social engagement during the latter half of the day. When he returned, Shu Wan had smelled alcohol on him, which was why he was now rubbing his temples with such evident discomfort.

Grumbling under her breath, Shu Wan went downstairs to the kitchen and prepared a bowl of hangover soup. Without a word, she carried it into the study and placed it in front of him.

Then, under the man’s inscrutable gaze, she snatched away the cigarette from the corner of his mouth—it was impossible to tell how many he had smoked that evening—stubbed it out in the ashtray, and turned to leave with effortless swagger.

“Stop.”