Volume 1, Chapter 28: Audacious and Reckless, Court Death

With a low, resonant voice, he commanded her to stop. Shu Wan merely paused for a brief moment, but ignored his instruction and walked straight to her bedroom.

If she were to stop just because he told her to, wouldn't that be a loss of face? Besides, she was still angry; she simply refused to listen. If he had the ability, he could come find her in her room.

Shu Wan secretly resolved that from now on, she would face Meng Huaijin’s authoritarian suppression head-on.

Of course, the idea of him coming to find her in her room was impossible.

Shu Wan kept her eyes open until the man’s footsteps echoed outside her door.

However... without the slightest hesitation, he entered his own room.

Well, the one who falls in love first is the one who deserves to suffer.

Shu Wan offered a bitter smile. After tossing and turning for a long time, she finally managed to drift off to sleep, only to be awakened by waves of cramping in her lower abdomen.

Having run wild at the stables yesterday, her retribution arrived today. The menstrual pain was so severe she was drenched in a cold sweat, feeling as if she were dying.

***

Meng Huaijin had no pressing matters today, so he asked the gardener to cut down the trees behind the house that had grown past the windowsill, which left Mrs. Meng heartbroken.

"Those trees were rare varieties that I’ve nurtured for years. Director Meng is certainly impressive—saying 'cut' and just having them cut," Mrs. Meng complained at the dining table.

Meng Huaijin replied calmly, "Summer brings lightning; it’s unsafe."

"That room isn't even occupied often..." Mrs. Meng recalled that the girl had been staying there recently and let out a scoff. "My son’s sense of responsibility is truly beyond reproach. You treat your niece so well, though one wonders if you’ll be just as kind to the children you have with Xiao Jie in the future."

Meng Huaijin ate in silence, offering no response.

"Don't think I'm nagging. I only have you and your brother as sons, and your brother insists he’ll never marry—I can’t persuade him anymore. Now I only have you. If you can have a successful career and a happy family, I could die content. Just don’t be like your eldest brother or Meng Xian, doing things that are..."

"I will fulfill your wishes regarding marriage and settling down," Meng Huaijin interrupted her calmly, his voice dropping a notch. "Please, do not bring up my brother and eldest sister again."

"You... fine. As long as you agree to marry, I’ll ask for nothing else." With that, Mrs. Meng set down her cutlery and left.

Meng Huaijin glanced upstairs and asked Aunt Lin, who was cooking, "Did the young ladies come down this morning?"

Aunt Lin paused, confused. "Young Master, there are two young ladies upstairs. Which one do you mean?"

"Miss Yulin came down; Miss Shu Wan has not," Aunt Lin realized, unsure which one the young master was asking about, so she simply mentioned both.

Meng Huaijin frowned slightly and told her to go check.

The housekeeper returned shortly after, stammering before she finally said, "Miss Shu Wan, it’s... just that girl trouble. A stomachache. It’s really hurting her; her face is pale as a sheet, and cold sweat has soaked her hair. Logically, at her age, it shouldn't be this painful, but I fear it’s because of the excessive exercise from horseback riding yesterday..."

***

When the door was opened, Shu Wan was still curled into a ball, facing away from the entrance.

Hearing the sound of a bowl being placed on the nightstand, she assumed it was the housekeeper returning and said weakly, "Thank you, Auntie."

Hearing no response, the girl turned her head and met Meng Huaijin’s impassive gaze.

From the stables yesterday until now, she hadn't spoken a word to him for twenty-four hours, and he hadn't acknowledged her either. Furthermore, it was the housekeeper who had checked on her this morning.

She had truly believed he had given up on her.

"Drink the brown sugar water," Meng Huaijin commanded.

Shu Wan’s eyelashes fluttered as she shook her head. "I can't get up."

The man narrowed his eyes. "Shu Wan, what game are you playing now?"

Shu Wan looked away, curling back up like a cat, her voice even weaker. "Then just consider it a game."

Meng Huaijin stared at her half-dead state, his expression dark as the sea.

Finally, he pulled back the quilt, seeing her curled up in her pajamas, her brow furrowed and her forehead beaded with cold sweat.

The man’s expression tightened in shock. He turned, grabbed a blanket from the wardrobe, wrapped her tightly, and then bent down to scoop her up in a princess carry, placing her on the armchair.

Wrapped like a silkworm, Shu Wan pulled at her parched lips, feeling a mix of misery and amusement. "No hands free, how am I supposed to drink?"

Meng Huaijin picked up the bowl of brown sugar water and held it to her lips with a cold face.

The girl stared at him blankly for a long moment before lowering her head to gulp down the warm liquid.

But it didn't help much; Shu Wan’s brows remained tightly locked in pain.

After setting the bowl down, Meng Huaijin turned back to see the girl had already struggled out of the blanket, clutching her stomach and hunched over in agonizing pain.

"We’re going to the hospital," he stated.

"No."

Shu Wan tremblingly reached out to grab his hand, feeling the searing heat of his palm. She placed his large hand against her lower abdomen, staring at him unblinkingly, waiting for his thunderous rage.

"Your warmth... is more effective than anything else." She lowered her eyes, saying this with a shameless, reckless intensity.

The man’s calloused palm, separated from her skin only by a thin layer of fabric, trembled as it rested against her abdomen, which had not an ounce of fat.

Meng Huaijin leaned over her, warning in a low voice, "Shu Wan."

"Talking about not liking you anymore—if only I could actually do that," Shu Wan placed her hand over his, where the veins were prominent. When she lifted her gaze to look at him, the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye was as red as cinnabar, like a blooming plum blossom. "But after a night, I found that I like you even more. I love you more. What am I supposed to do?"

Meng Huaijin’s chest heaved twice. His resolute, handsome face was immensely stern; he opened his mouth several times but could not speak.

He had said so many harsh, final words, yet none of them had the slightest effect.

*"I don't want you to end up like your eldest brother and Meng Xian..."*

Mrs. Meng's words echoed in his ears, and the tragedies of the past played out before his eyes... secrets of the elite that few dared to speak of.

***

"We are absolutely impossible. I am getting engaged next month. You know this, Shu Wan; it cannot be changed..."

The girl wedged her fingers between his, interlocking them, and tilted her head back to press a trembling kiss to his lips once more.

"Shu Wan, I heard you have a stomachache..." When Guan Yulin’s voice sounded, she had already turned the doorknob.

She had barely opened it a crack when—*bang*—the door was forcefully slammed shut from the inside.

Guan Yulin: "..."

Do people with menstrual cramps have that much strength?

"Shu Wan, what’s wrong? Why did you lock the door? Are you alright? You’re scaring me!" Guan Yulin tried the handle again; it was indeed locked.

It was Meng Huaijin who had shut and locked the door; the armchair was positioned right behind it, within his reach.

After kissing him two nights ago, Shu Wan had gained a great deal of insight and boldness.

She hooked her arms around Meng Huaijin and kissed him. At first, it was just a tentative taste, and seeing he didn't resist, she dared to deepen the kiss with clumsy passion.

The girl had forced a kiss on him again, regardless of time or place.

This time, Meng Huaijin didn't choke her or push her away, but he didn't respond, nor did he close his eyes.

He witnessed how the girl behaved recklessly toward him—the person who was usually gentle and coquettish dared to do this again and again, clumsy, bold, and pushing her luck.

Over this past year, she had become spoiled, acting lawless because of his indulgence.

The man closed his eyes deeply, opened them, and bit her in punishment.

"Mmph..."

Shu Wan had to stop. She touched her lip with her fingertip—it came away bright red. The scar that hadn't yet healed had started bleeding again.

"Shu Wan, I’m going to call for help!" Outside, Guan Yulin was still frantic.

"I’m fine, Yulin. Don't call anyone. I... I’ll explain to you in a bit."

Behind the door, Shu Wan didn't care about the scolding or lessons she would receive for her shocking actions.

She gazed greedily at Meng Huaijin, who was crouched beside her with no joy, no sorrow, and no expression, and tried to lean her head against him.

The man didn't stop her, so she pushed her luck, looping her arms around his neck and burying her head in the crook of his shoulder, whispering:

"Since you aren't happy, why don't you call off the engagement with the Jiang family? From now on, Wanwan will make you happy."