Chapter 2: Living Together as Legally Married Couples  

The world spun around her, and Tao Wanxing was startled. Panicked, she wrapped her arms around the man’s neck, burying her face against his chest and closing her eyes.  

Her heart pounded wildly.  

The overwhelming sensation crashed over her.  

Hot breath brushed past her, and a low, husky whisper reached her ears.  

Her face flushed crimson.  

Only then did Tao Wanxing vaguely remember—she and Meng Chu were legally married.  

Meng Chu watched as her fair skin reddened at the slightest touch, the darkness in his eyes deepening.  

His breathing grew ragged.  

Tao Wanxing felt like a withered leaf, tossed and turned by the wind and waves.  

The storm has passed.  

Meng Chu carried her to the bathroom.  

When he saw the large red marks and rashes on her body, his brows furrowed tightly. He was certain—this wasn’t his doing.  

“What’s going on?” His voice was low and rough.  

Exhausted, Tao Wanxing lay limply in the bathtub, barely mustering the energy to reply, “Allergic reaction.”  

Meng Chu’s frown deepened as he mentally reviewed what she had eaten or used. After a moment, he asked, “The fish I served you?”  

Tao Wanxing nodded weakly.  

Meng Chu fell silent for a beat. “Why didn’t you say you were allergic? Why eat it anyway?”  

“I didn’t know,” Tao Wanxing lied.  

She didn’t want to admit that it was because it was the first time he had ever served her food—and perhaps the last.  

Meng Chu washed her carefully, dressed her, then carried her to bed. Just then, the delivery arrived with the anti-allergy medication.  

He brought her warm water to take the medicine, but Tao Wanxing was already asleep.  

Gazing at her flushed lips and rosy cheeks, he couldn’t resist pinching them lightly. Hearing her soft whimper, the desire that had just subsided stirred again.  

Meng Chu had never considered himself a man driven by lust. Over the years, many had tried to win his favor by offering him women—none had succeeded.  

Yet, with her, he had broken his own restraint.  

“Take the medicine first,” he said hoarsely. “Then you can sleep.”  

Still drowsy, she parted her lips obediently, swallowing the pill and drinking the water like a well-behaved child.  

Satisfied, Meng Chu pressed a light kiss to the corner of her mouth—then couldn’t resist deepening it.  

He pulled back just before things escalated, content to hold Tao Wanxing as they slept.  

The next morning, the alarm rang promptly at seven.  

Tao Wanxing dragged her sore, exhausted body upright, reaching to turn it off—  

Only for a large hand to do it for her.  

The warmth of his touch jolted her awake, her eyes flying open.  

Meng Chu stood by the bed in light gray loungewear, his expression indifferent, the apron around his waist standing out starkly.  

“Since you’re awake, come eat breakfast.”  

Tao Wanxing stared at him, flustered. “You’re not going to work today?”  

“No.”  

Tao Wanxing: “…”  

Now how was she supposed to bring it up?  

She admitted she was a coward—too afraid to say it to his face. She had planned to wait until he was out, then slam the divorce papers on his desk and curse him out.  

What kind of lousy Governor was he? Worthless in her eyes.  

Meng Chu watched her silently, his sharp gaze making her inexplicably nervous.  

“W-why are you staring at me?”  

Her face remained composed, but the unease in her eyes betrayed her.

Meng Chu suppressed the turmoil in his eyes, his expression as calm as ever, his gaze cool and detached: “I’ll have Gao Ming pick you up after work this afternoon.”

The reason for picking her up went without saying.

Tao Wanxing lost all appetite for breakfast.

Summoning her courage, she whispered, “Um… can I not move in?”

Meng Chu: “?”

His gaze darkened slightly as he looked at her.

Sensing Meng Chu’s displeasure, she kept her head down and explained, “My colleagues don’t know I’m married. I don’t know how to explain it to them.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Tao Wanxing wanted to bury her head in the soup bowl before her. What a lame excuse she’d just come up with.

Meng Chu observed the girl who seemed terrified of him, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

“Living together is a legitimate marital obligation.”

Tao Wanxing lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze, just wanting to end this conversation quickly.

What kind of marriage did their relationship even count as?

“Okay, alright, I understand.”

Then, with a steamed bun clenched between her teeth, she fled in a hurry.

Meng Chu watched as the door slammed shut and withdrew his gaze.

He leisurely finished the porridge in his bowl.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window for a while, he lit a cigarette, the white smoke dissipating quickly into the air.

Why was she so afraid of him?

He frowned slightly—was it just fear, or perhaps a trace of resentment too?

At the hospital, Tao Wanxing didn’t have time to dwell on it. She had just changed into her scrubs when the call bell rang, and she rushed over immediately.

The work pressure was immense, leaving no time for proper meals, and overtime shifts had become her norm.

Finally, her shift ended. Dragging her weary feet out of the on-call room after changing, she spotted Gao Ming waiting at the entrance.

Her heart sank slightly as she quickened her pace toward him. “How long have you been here?”

Gao Ming smiled politely. “Since you were in the middle of resuscitating a patient.”

Tao Wanxing checked her watch—it was already 7:30 PM. He had been waiting for an hour and a half.

She exhaled deeply. “Sorry to keep you waiting so long.”

“It’s pretty late today, maybe—”

Before she could finish, Gao Ming interrupted.

“Madam, please don’t make this difficult for me.” He seemed to know exactly what she was about to say.

In public, he addressed her as Miss Tao; in private, it was always Madam.

Tao Wanxing fell silent.

She knew Meng Chu’s temper well—working under him couldn’t be easy.

They were all just cogs in the machine.

Colleagues passing by on their way out cast curious glances at Gao Ming, making the situation all the more awkward.

Afraid of raising suspicions, Tao Wanxing hurriedly led Gao Ming out of the hospital.

“Let’s go. I don’t have much stuff—you can wait for me outside the dorm.”

Just a few large nylon bags and a suitcase.

To avoid gossip, she didn’t let Gao Ming help her upstairs, carrying everything down herself.

As soon as she stepped outside, Meng Chu called.

Hesitating for a few seconds, she answered.

His deep voice came through the line. “Why aren’t you back yet?”

It was already 8:30 PM.

“I had to work late today,” she murmured.

A brief silence followed before Meng Chu spoke again. “Hmm. I thought you were avoiding me, not wanting to come back.”

Tao Wanxing’s chest tightened as she glanced at Gao Ming in his black jacket outside. She might have wanted to, but he hadn’t given her the chance.

His words were too direct—she had no idea when he’d seen through her.

She let out a soft sigh. “Who would dare disobey Governor Meng’s orders?”

There was another pause on the other end. “Tao Wanxing, are you planning to keep calling me Governor Meng forever?”

“What should I call you then?” Tao Wanxing couldn’t hold back and questioned sharply.

Husband?

What right did she have?

Because of that marriage certificate?

But their statuses were as different as the stars in the sky and the rivers on the ground.

Their relationship couldn’t see the light of day.

She should be calling him Second Brother.