6

She pulled out her keys and opened the door. Just as she was about to close it behind her, Xiao Qi’s tall figure suddenly appeared, blocking the doorway with one hand on the frame.

“Can I come in?”

She hadn’t expected him to follow her all the way here.

But no—she couldn’t let this happen again. She had already been through the pain once. It had taken everything she had to climb out of that hole, and she couldn’t afford to fall back in. Xiao Qi was simply too dangerous for her heart. She couldn’t let him get close.

“Xiao Qi, go home,” she said firmly.

But he didn’t listen. He pushed the door open and walked right in.

He looked around the room, taking in the half-finished snacks on the sofa and the food scraps that had fallen to the floor. Without saying a word, he began cleaning up.

He tossed the wrappers into the trash, grabbed a dustpan and broom, and swept the floor.

Watching him bustle around, Meng Yu said, “You don’t have to do this.”

But he just kept going. Once he had cleaned around the sofa, he asked, “Are you hungry?”

He clearly hadn’t heard—or didn’t care about—what she had just said. He opened the fridge, frowned at the leftover takeout inside, and muttered, “Living alone and still not taking care of yourself. Wait here—I’ll go buy some groceries.”

“Xiao Qi!”

He ignored her and turned to leave. But just before stepping out, as if something suddenly occurred to him, he doubled back, grabbed the house key from the coffee table—

Meng Yu: “……”

—and walked out the door with it before she could say a word.

She sat there on the couch, stunned.

The floor at her feet had already been swept clean. The dirty cushion from the sofa was gone too—he’d taken it to the laundry room and thrown it into the washer.

He was someone who really knew how to live—how to take care of things. Even though he never loved her, when they were together, he still looked after her with care.

Meng Yu quickly shook her head. No, no—she couldn’t think like that. She couldn’t let herself be swayed again. She had worked so hard to escape his cage—was she really going to let herself be locked inside all over again?

She took the freshly washed sofa cushion and set it out to dry. Not long after, she heard the front door open. Xiao Qi had returned, carrying bags of groceries.

He walked straight into the kitchen and started washing the vegetables. Meng Yu followed him in and said, “Xiao Qi, you don’t have to do this. I told you—we’re not getting back together.”

“You know I don’t like being interrupted when I’m cooking,” he replied without looking at her.

Frustrated, Meng Yu snapped, “Xiao Qi, get out of my house!”

He paused, turning to look at her. For a few seconds, his expression went blank—he wasn’t used to hearing her speak to him that way. His eyes dimmed slightly, and he said, “And if I don’t? You going to call the police?”

“……”

“Wait outside. I’ll let you know when dinner’s ready.”

Meng Yu couldn’t believe how shameless he was being. What was she supposed to do—actually call the cops on him?

Yelling clearly wasn’t going to work. She decided she needed to sit down and talk to him calmly.

Taking a deep breath, she forced her voice to stay steady. “Xiao Qi… have you forgotten? We already broke up.”

He didn’t even look up as he continued chopping vegetables. “Can’t we get back together just because we broke up?”

Get back together? Meng Yu let out a bitter laugh.

After a pause, she looked at him and said directly, “I’m getting married.”

That finally made him stop. He turned to her and asked, “With who?”

“It doesn’t matter who—it’s happening. I’m getting married,” Meng Yu said flatly.

Xiao Qi turned back to the cutting board and resumed chopping vegetables. “You’re still just as childish, even after all this time.”

Clearly, he didn’t believe her. He probably thought she was saying it just to provoke him.

Meng Yu was thoroughly fed up. Her voice rose with frustration. “What’s the point of all this, Xiao Qi? What are you even trying to do?”

“Whether it’s worth it or not—I’ll be the judge of that,” he replied calmly.

It was no use. No matter what she said, he wouldn’t listen. Meng Yu suddenly felt exhausted. Fine. Let him do whatever he wants. She gave up trying to argue and went to the couch to watch TV.

A little while later, he called her over for dinner. When she walked over, she saw the table was full of her favorite dishes. He handed her a bowl of rice and neatly arranged her chopsticks for her.

“Try it,” he said.

Meng Yu picked up a piece and took a bite. His cooking never disappointed.

Xiao Qi’s life hadn’t been easy either. His father died from a serious illness when he was in middle school, leaving just him and his mother. Then, just before he graduated high school, his mother passed away too. He only made it to university thanks to financial help from the neighbors. Because of all that, he learned to take care of himself from a very young age. Even after becoming a wealthy AI mogul worth hundreds of millions, he never shied away from housework.

She used to think that she and Xiao Qi could be kindred spirits—two lonely souls finding comfort in each other. But later, she realized he had long since learned to stand on his own. He didn’t need anyone to share his burdens.

Neither of them spoke as they ate. Xiao Qi had never been much of a talker. But tonight felt different from the cold, distant way they used to coexist. He didn’t say much, but he kept placing food into her bowl, and even ladled out a bowl of pork rib soup just for her.

It was obvious he truly wanted to make amends.

He had just placed a tofu meatball in her bowl when his phone rang.

Xiao Qi pulled out his phone, and Meng Yu caught a glimpse of the caller ID: “Sister Ai Qing.” She kept her expression blank, pretending not to notice, and focused on eating.

Xiao Qi hesitated, his expression tightening, before finally answering the call.

Whatever was said on the other end made his face grow even more serious. He nodded slowly. “Okay. I understand. I’ll be there right away.”

Meng Yu nudged the meatball he had given her to the side of the bowl and lowered her head with a cold smile.

After ending the call, Xiao Qi stayed silent for a moment before turning to her. “Ai Qing is sick. Seriously ill. She’s in Shen City alone—no family with her. I have to go check on her.”

Meng Yu said nothing.

He walked over and crouched beside her, looking up at her from where he knelt. “I’ll be back in a few days. I can’t just leave her like that.”

Maybe Ai Qing really was sick. But it didn’t matter—what mattered was how powerful she was in his world. One phone call, and he was at her side immediately.

Meng Yu’s expression was cold. She didn’t even glance his way. “You don’t need to explain anything to me. Do what you want.”

Xiao Qi stood up, leaned in, and gently kissed her forehead. “The debts I owe—I’ll repay them, one by one. Wait for me.”

It was the first time Xiao Qi had ever kissed her of his own accord. A kiss meant to comfort—soft, gentle, and full of emotion.

Then he let go and strode toward the door.

For a brief moment, Meng Yu wanted to run after him. She wanted to stop him. Her heart, which had only just started to calm, was once again in turmoil—stirred up by his sudden warmth.

But all it took was a phone call from another woman to pull him away.

She wanted to scream after him: Why do you keep doing this to me?

But in the end, she held herself back—only to watch that door slowly close in front of her.

Meng Yu suddenly found it laughable. Just moments ago, she’d actually allowed herself to hope.

She had thought, If Xiao Qi could win me back, maybe… maybe I wouldn’t have to marry a man I’ve never even met.

She admitted it: deep down, she was enjoying being pursued by him. The way he cared for her, the way he tried to make up for the past, his gentleness, his concern—all of it was new to her. She had never experienced this side of him before. And despite everything, there was still a lingering resentment in her heart. After chasing him for so many years, she had wanted to know what it felt like to be the one chased.

But at that very moment, clarity struck.

Yes, the Xia family might be a pit of fire—but wasn’t Xiao Qi one, too?

At least if she married Chu Xiujin, she would become a wealthy, well-connected heiress. But if she stayed with Xiao Qi? Who knew when he would vanish again? Who knew how many more times her heart would be thrown into chaos by him? Even if they did manage to get back together, Ai Qing would always be there. She would always have to endure Xiao Qi leaving her again and again to repay debts of gratitude.

No, she couldn’t live like that.

The Xia family might be a fire pit—but it wouldn’t burn her the way Xiao Qi did.

He told her to wait for him.

But she wouldn’t. She had her own life now, and she wasn’t going to wait for him anymore.

She had only agreed to marry Chu Xiujin because the Wang family was pressuring her with favors she couldn’t refuse. She had said yes, but her heart had resisted every step of the way.

Now, though—she realized she wasn’t so resistant anymore.

In fact, she was even thinking of taking the initiative… to meet this Mr. Chu.

After graduating from university, Meng Yu had been living on her own, renting an apartment and rarely returning to the Wang family home. This time, she’d come back because she needed Wang Weiguo’s help. She wanted to meet that Mr. Chu—but she had no way to contact Chu Xiujin directly. Someone like her didn’t exactly have access to a man like him, and it wasn’t appropriate to ask Xia Han either. Her only option was to go through Wang Weiguo.

The Wang family lived in an old-style villa neighborhood, though the place had been renovated a few years ago and didn’t look outdated. She followed the housekeeper inside, where the entire family was gathered. They were sitting on the sofa, laughing and chatting. Wang Shuyuan was seated beside Qi Mei, showing her something on her phone. Qi Mei’s smiling face was filled with approval.

Sometimes, Meng Yu felt like Wang Shuyuan and Qi Mei were the real mother and daughter.

Clearly, her agreement to marry Chu Xiujin on behalf of Wang Shuyuan had solved a major headache for the family—otherwise, they wouldn’t be sitting around looking this relaxed and cheerful.

“Meng Yu is here,” the housekeeper announced.

All three turned their heads at once. Meng Yu stepped forward and greeted them politely.

Wang Shuyuan gave her a warm, almost insincere smile. “You’ve been out and about for a while—feeling better now?”

As a well-known jewelry designer, Wang Shuyuan had an impeccable sense of fashion. Her sleek, shoulder-length hair was tucked behind one ear to show off a pair of metallic statement earrings. She wore a fitted knit top paired with high-waisted wide-leg trousers that elongated her silhouette. Her accessories were carefully chosen, adding a touch of flair to an otherwise sharp and sophisticated look—polished, confident, with a hint of seduction.

Meng Yu replied calmly, “Much better, thank you.”

“If you’re feeling better, then it’s time to pull yourself together and focus on the life ahead. You’re not a child anymore—you need to build a foundation for yourself. You can’t keep living like before, just eating, drinking, and playing around. You need to settle down and work hard. Otherwise, if you end up achieving nothing, people will just say the Wang family failed to raise you properly. Understand?”

It sounded like a big sister giving earnest advice to her younger sibling.

Wang Shuyuan always said things like this. On the surface, it seemed like she cared, but in reality, it was just another way to crush Meng Yu’s confidence—telling her she was worthless, lazy, and a disgrace to the Wang family.

Meng Yu was used to hearing it. Inside, she felt perfectly calm. She even playfully flipped her hair, fully revealing her stunning beauty, then smiled sweetly at her. “You know, sister, you’re not unaware that I’ve been making a living with this face. I remember winning first place in the university beauty pageant and even boosting sales at Uncle Wang’s 4S dealership for a while. Maybe I haven’t achieved much else, but no matter how you look at it, I’m not exactly a disgrace to the Wang family, right?”

Wang Shuyuan said nothing.

Meng Yu knew exactly what she was thinking. What Wang Shuyuan hated most was someone like her—someone who didn’t work hard but could still easily get things others struggled for, simply because of her looks. That’s why she attacked her in every other way, trying to break her down, to remind her she was just a pretty face with nothing else to offer.

When Meng Yu was ten, Qi Mei brought her to marry into the Wang family. She and Wang Shuyuan had practically grown up together, knowing each other for so many years—and everyone was well aware of each other’s little tricks and schemes.

Wang Shuyuan knew exactly what annoyed Meng Yu, and Meng Yu knew just what grated on Wang Shuyuan. They had never really gotten along since childhood. Of course, they always picked on the things the other hated most. Now that they were older, they were more subtle about it, but back then, their clashes were fierce—sometimes even turning physical.

So whatever Wang Shuyuan couldn’t stand about Meng Yu, Meng Yu would deliberately do just to irritate her back. Wang Shuyuan was like a sharp needle; Meng Yu was the prickly wheat awn. Neither belonged to the other, so why should one give way?

But just when things got heated, their clearly biased mother would always step in.

“Your sister only says these things for your own good. You should be thanking her instead of complaining so much.”

Meng Yu was used to Qi Mei’s favoritism. She obediently kept quiet and said nothing.

The atmosphere grew tense, but Wang Weiguo stepped in just in time. “Meng Yu’s only back once in a while. Let’s keep things happy. Your sister means well; her tone might be harsh sometimes, but don’t take it to heart.”

Meng Yu naturally replied politely, “I understand.”

She thought to herself how lucky Wang Shuyuan was—to have parents who loved her so much, who would always speak up for her.

After a simple meal at the Wang household, Meng Yu heard Wang Shuyuan casually talk about her recent achievements—her designs had won awards, and her work was going to be exhibited soon. Wang Weiguo and Qi Mei were proud of her, and the family was full of warmth. Occasionally, they glanced Meng Yu’s way, reminding her to learn from her sister and stop wasting time.

On the surface, Meng Yu nodded along, but in her heart, she thought, “No way am I going to learn from her.”

Of course, Meng Yu hadn’t forgotten the real reason for this visit. When Wang Weiguo heard her request, he frowned slightly, looking a bit uneasy. “You want to meet Mr. Chu?”

Meng Yu replied, “I don’t know if you can get in touch with him, Uncle Wang, but before the wedding, I want to meet him. Otherwise, I won’t even know what my own husband looks like.”

Wang Weiguo said, “To be honest, I haven’t even met Mr. Chu myself. He’s very low-key. I mostly deal with the sales department in Northern Vietnam. As for the Xia family and the marriage…” He glanced at Meng Yu, seeming a bit guilty and hesitant. “All the arrangements came through intermediaries from the Xia family. The only contacts I have are with those middlemen—it depends on whether they can reach him.”

Maybe because Meng Yu was taking the fall for Wang Shuyuan by marrying into the Xia family, Wang Weiguo felt somewhat guilty. He didn’t say no to her wish to meet Chu Xiujin. Though it was a bit difficult, he tried his best to make the connection. After several calls, he finally got a reply.

“Mr. Chu agreed,” Wang Weiguo said with a surprised expression. “Someone will come to pick you up shortly.”

Meeting Mr. Chu wasn’t going to be easy, but since he was sending someone to fetch her, it seemed this man was considerate and thorough.

Since Chu Xiujin had arranged for someone to come, Meng Yu obediently waited at the Wang residence. Before long, the person arrived—along with the Xia family’s intermediary for the marriage proposal, there was also a young man in a suit. The intermediary introduced him as Mr. Chu’s assistant.

He was an executive assistant—someone who usually only accompanied Mr. Chu for official business. The fact that Chu Xiujin had sent him personally to pick up Meng Yu showed just how seriously he was taking her. It came as a surprise to everyone. Wang Weiguo, on the other hand, let out a quiet sigh of relief. It seemed Mr. Chu hadn’t taken offense at their last-minute switch of the bride after all.

Since this was Mr. Chu’s assistant, Wang Weiguo hurried forward to exchange pleasantries and flatter him a little. But the assistant responded with little more than polite indifference. He turned to Meng Yu and said calmly, “Miss Meng, please come with me.”

Compared to his cool attitude toward Wang Weiguo, he was notably more respectful toward Meng Yu.

The assistant brought Meng Yu to the headquarters of Beiyue Group. She had been here before with Xia Han, but now that the chairman had changed, the atmosphere in the building felt much more austere.

Chu Xiujin’s office was at the top floor. The assistant led her to the door. It wasn’t closed.

“The chairman is resting,” he said, pulling the door open for her. “Miss Meng, you can go in directly.”

He was resting? Would it really be appropriate for her to just walk in?

And…

Meng Yu glanced into the room and saw that the blackout curtains were fully drawn. Outside, the sunlight was dazzling, but inside it was pitch black—giving off an eerie, almost ominous feeling.

The assistant, noticing her hesitation, gently urged her again, “Miss Meng, please go ahead.”

Meng Yu took a deep breath and stepped inside. The assistant closed the door behind her. The last sliver of light disappeared, and she was swallowed by total darkness.

In that moment, Meng Yu felt as if she’d just been swallowed whole by some enormous beast—its gaping jaws deep, dark, and endless.

She truly couldn’t see a thing. The room was utterly silent—no movement, no sound. And yet, Meng Yu knew she wasn’t alone. Someone else was in there, hidden somewhere in the shadows, quietly watching her.

It felt exactly like being prey, stalked by a predator lying in wait. A chill crawled up her spine, and goosebumps erupted across her skin.

Instinctively, fear crept in.

“Mr… Mr. Chu…” Her voice trembled despite her best efforts to steady it.

Swish!

The sudden sound of curtains being pulled open cut through the silence. Blinding sunlight streamed in from the right side of the room. Having grown accustomed to the darkness, Meng Yu instinctively turned her head away from the piercing light.

“Hello, Miss Meng.”

A deep, composed voice greeted her.

=^_^=

Author has something to say: It took six whole chapters for my man Jinjin to finally say a line?
Don’t be scared by his dramatic entrance—he absolutely spoils his wife rotten.Top of Form

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