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Chapter 12 Leaning Closer, Locking Eyes with Her…

Lin Keying was determined to return to the mainland, but she also thought that in this golden era full of opportunities, developing some business in Hong Kong wouldn’t be a bad idea. Especially now that she was already here in the city, it wouldn’t hurt to learn a bit of Cantonese.

The only problem was that Uncle Zhong and Aunt Hua in the villa spoke Mandarin that was clumsy and heavily accented, and their literacy level wasn’t great either. Sister He and her family were busy making a living, so for the moment, Lin Keying couldn’t find a suitable “teacher” to guide her.

It wasn’t until she went to visit Tingting again at Mary Hospital that the topic came up during their conversation, and it just so happened that Doctor Xiao Huo overheard.

A foreign-educated university graduate fluent in several languages, Doctor Xiao Huo enthusiastically volunteered: “I can teach you.”

Doctor Xiao Huo had a gentle temperament, and when he taught, he was patient and humorous, carefully correcting Lin Keying’s pronunciation bit by bit without a trace of impatience.

Lin Keying decisively changed their Sunday meal appointment into her treat: “Since you’re teaching me Cantonese, of course this meal should be on me.”

On Sunday, the two of them enjoyed afternoon tea at Lee Kee Restaurant. But when Lin Keying got ready to pay the bill, she found that Doctor Xiao Huo had already quietly settled it.

He handled it with such calm confidence that she couldn’t even fault him: “You can treat me next time.”

Looking at the young man in front of her, Lin Keying couldn’t help but sigh inwardly — these Hong Kong men really knew how to charm; they had an entire toolkit of tricks.

Unfortunately, she was destined to leave.

Accepting the meal graciously, Lin Keying took a taxi back to the Mid-Levels villa, unaware that a black luxury car was following behind.

Inside the car, Secretary Yang stared at the taxi ahead for a moment. He thought back to the scene he’d witnessed earlier when he passed Lee Kee Restaurant with the young master. Now, glancing at the young master’s expressionless face, he cautiously spoke up: “Young master, I heard Miss Lin has been learning Cantonese with Doctor Xiao Huo from Mary Hospital these past few days. They’ve been meeting every day… she even calls him Teacher Xiao Huo.”

“Who asked you?” Cheng Wanting responded coldly.

Secretary Yang: “…”

—

Lin Keying’s Cantonese had improved — she had picked up most of the basics. Although her accent was still obvious, at least she was doing better than being mute before.

Every day she practiced a few sentences with Aunt Hua and the others at the villa. During her free time, she’d visit the stock exchange, buying shares that she knew from future knowledge would be safe and grow steadily in the long run. Just like that, she had already made a few hundred Hong Kong dollars, and her little nest egg had grown past a thousand.

At the same time, Lin Keying had chosen seven or eight types of clothing at the wholesale market, based on her understanding of mainland aesthetic preferences. She carefully made detailed charts and simple sketches of how to match each piece, and handed them over to Sister He and her husband.

“Sister He, when I’m in the mainland and you and Brother Sheng are in Hong Kong, we’ll build something big together.”

Sister He was amused by her ambition. She herself didn’t have such lofty aspirations, but she trusted Lin Keying: “We’ll follow your lead.”

Tingting was successfully discharged from the hospital. Before, due to her heart condition, she couldn’t run around much and often just watched others during gym class. Now, she could jog in small steps, light and graceful like a butterfly.

Her parents and brother kept reminding her from behind: “Don’t run… okay fine, just run slower!”

Sister He’s family warmly invited Lin Keying over for hotpot, preparing a full table of ingredients in advance. Large chicken and pork bones simmered at the bottom of the clay pot, bubbling away. Beef, pork, and fish were all cleaned and ready to dip into the broth, with fresh and crunchy vegetables to balance the richness.

Lin Keying squeezed into the cramped and narrow public housing apartment with the He family. The four of them shared less than 20 square meters of space, bumping into each other at every turn, but everyone ate with great enjoyment.

After dinner, Lin Keying curiously toured the apartment and listened as Sister He explained the process of applying for public housing. It wasn’t easy.

With Hong Kong’s dense population and limited land, housing prices were especially high. Most ordinary people couldn’t afford their own homes in a lifetime, so getting access to low-rent public housing was considered lucky.

“Sister Lin, after we qualified, we applied and waited for three whole years before we got this place,” Tingting said dramatically, holding up three fingers like she was telling a ghost story.

“There are that many applicants?” Lin Keying exclaimed.

“Oh yes,” Sister He replied contentedly. “We’re already considered lucky.”

Tingting lifted her chin proudly: “When I graduate, I’ll work hard and make money. Then we’ll live in Repulse Bay or Deep Water Bay! Dad, Mom, Brother, we’ll have a big house!”

Lin Keying patted the little girl’s head, praising her ambition.

When Lin Keying finished her meal and took a taxi back to the Mid-Levels villa, she found that Cheng Wanting, who had been returning every night recently, was not there.

Ah Mei slowly told her in Cantonese, trying to make sure she understood: “Aunt Hua said the young master went back to the Cheng family home tonight. The young master and the old master don’t get along very well… not sure if he’ll come back tonight.”

—

At that moment, Cheng Wanting had been bombarded with phone calls and summoned back to the Cheng family villa because it was Cheng Guanjie’s (his father’s) 50th birthday.

Turning 50, Cheng Guanjie didn’t like grand celebrations; it was just a simple family meal.

Cheng Guanjie sat at the head of the table. On his left were the second wife, Fu Yuehong, and the third wife, Zhong Qianlian. The first wife of the Cheng family had already passed away. Behind them sat the eldest son Cheng Wanting and his younger sister Cheng Min, along with the second wife’s children Cheng Zhihao and Cheng Huiling, and the third wife’s son Cheng Jiajun.

As the eldest son who now controlled most of the family business, Cheng Wanting was treated with considerable respect by Fu Yuehong.

“Wanting, you should move back home. How can you have a home but not live here? Your father always talks about you.”

Just as she finished speaking, Cheng Guanjie scolded with a stern face: “Who says I talk about him all the time?!”

Fu Yuehong’s son, Cheng Zhihao, grinned cheekily: “Dad, when big brother doesn’t come home, aren’t you always staring at the front door?”

But when their father shot him a fierce glare, Cheng Zhihao instantly wilted.

During the meal, Cheng Guanjie, in a rare good mood today, once again brought up his eldest son’s marriage: “How is Director Li’s daughter not a match for you? You’re meeting her for dinner this Saturday — young people should go on more dates.”

“I said I’m not going,” Cheng Wanting replied, having barely touched his food.

“What kind of attitude is that?!” Cheng Guanjie slammed the table, startling the third wife Zhong Qianlian, who hurried to calm him gently.

“Master, don’t get angry.”

Fu Yuehong then spoke to Cheng Wanting: “Wanting, how can you speak to your father like that? He’s doing it for your own good. Director Li’s daughter is young and beautiful, comes from a good family, is well educated, and studied finance — she’ll only be an asset to you after marriage… you…”

“I’m done eating. You all enjoy,” Cheng Wanting ignored the various angry and persuading voices, decisively getting up and leaving.

The birthday feast ended with the celebrant nearly exploding from anger. He was helped upstairs to rest by Fu Yuehong, while Cheng Min followed her brother out.

“Brother, are you going back to the Mid-Levels villa?”

Cheng Wanting paused for his sister, turned around and said, “If you need anything, talk to Aunt Wu or Uncle Yang, or just call me. Go home and rest. Don’t overwork your studies — take care of your health.”

“I know,” Cheng Min nodded obediently, then cautiously asked with bright eyes, “Brother, are you really not marrying Director Li’s daughter?”

“I’m not,” Cheng Wanting answered firmly.

Cheng Min carefully pried further, her eyes sparkling: “Then when are you going to get me a sister-in-law?”

Cheng Wanting tugged at the corner of his mouth: “You little girl, stop meddling.”

Cheng Min: “…”

He drove a Bentley out of the Cheng family garage and headed up the long winding mountain road. As he held the steering wheel, Fu Yuehong’s words still echoed in his ears. Director Li’s daughter had outstanding qualifications in every respect, but somehow, another figure kept flashing through his mind — one who, in many ways, seemed to surpass the Li family girl.

The Bentley arrived at the Mid-Levels villa.

Cheng Wanting instructed the bodyguards not to alert anyone and made his way alone to the main house — only to freeze when he caught sight of a brightly lit room.

He was used to arriving to total darkness, so the bright light still surprised him a little.

In the living room, dazzling light spilled from the chandelier overhead, illuminating the entire space. On the sofa, a woman lay half-reclined in a doze.

Her jet-black hair fell loosely, mostly draped over the armrest of the sofa. The strands were soft and silky like smooth satin, shimmering brilliantly under the crystal chandelier.

Half of her porcelain-white face was hidden behind her hair. Her lips were closed in sleep, making her look unexpectedly docile — at least for now, she wouldn’t be saying anything that could shake someone’s heart.

The next moment, Cheng Wanting leaned down and pinched the woman’s chin with his defined fingers, just as she slowly woke and opened her hazy eyes.

After eating at Sister He’s house, Lin Keying had come back intending to continue studying Cantonese. She’d been poring over the daily newspaper in the living room, but drowsiness after dinner made her fall asleep mid-reading, her head tilting onto the sofa.

When she felt a light touch, she opened her eyes, her gaze still clouded with sleep and confusion.

What’s this…

She saw the man tall and upright like a pine tree, his broad suit jacket tossed aside on the sofa. He wore a white shirt and a dark gray tie, exuding a heavy aura.

As he leaned over her, his gaze burned with something like fire. His hand on her chin applied slight pressure, forcing her to tilt her chin up and meet his eyes.

“Reading the newspaper?”

Still dazed, Lin Keying couldn’t tell what madness her fiancé was on about so late at night. She just remembered her role and blinked before replying casually, “Mm, I’m studying.”

Usually speaking Mandarin to her, Cheng Wanting suddenly rattled off the headlines from the gossip section in rapid Cantonese:

“Casino King’s Secrets, Parts Two and Three?”

“Real Estate Tycoon and Fast-Flirting Starlet?”

“Late Rubber Tycoon’s Ex-Wife and Three Male Models?”

Lin Keying: “…”

Studying is so boring — what’s wrong with learning while reading gossip?

But why did you have to read it out loud? So embarrassing!

Awkwardly tugging at the corner of her mouth, she then heard her fiancé point to the last headline and ask, “What’s this one?”

Lin Keying had specially practiced the pronunciation of that page. In her still not-so-fluent Cantonese, she read: “High-Society Gathering Turns Romantic — Department Store Heir Confesses to Real Estate Mooncake Heiress, Says ‘I Don’t Like You.’”

Cheng Wanting’s lips curled into a faint smirk: “Just any random guy can be your teacher? Aren’t you afraid of learning wrong?”

Lin Keying: “…?”
What did poor Doctor Xiao Huo do to deserve this?

Cheng Wanting released her chin but still maintained his leaning posture over her. “Hm? Ask me then?”

It took Lin Keying a few seconds to realize — her always-busy fiancé was actually offering to help her with her studies?

When she didn’t speak immediately, Cheng Wanting’s voice turned cold: “What, you meet others every day to ask questions, but when it comes to me, you’ve got nothing?”

Lin Keying: ?
Who was it that said he never had time?!

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