Chapter 15: Trapped in His Arms

“Secretary Qiu, I’m grateful for your recommendation to the Secretary. I, Meng Yuanbin, won’t forget this favor. You can rest assured, I may not be good at other things, but when it comes to wielding this pen, I won’t let you or the Secretary down…”

“Xiao Meng, you’re too humble. That article you published in the newspaper, the Secretary himself reviewed it and praised it highly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to vouch for you in front of him, haha!”

Hearing the fading voices, Jiang Ning snapped out of her reverie. A sudden realization struck her.

In the script, the male lead, Meng Zhiqing, due to family issues, was unable to return to the city after being sent down to the countryside. Even if he did, he wouldn’t be assigned a good job. So he simply hid in the village, buried himself in his studies and writing, staying for several years.

He was truly handsome, with an elegant and distinguished aura, and a mind brimming with talent, unlike the rough and rustic young men in the village. Many of the village girls harbored secret affections for him.

Like the original character, Jiang Yanyan, she was infatuated with him. He never explicitly rejected her, and she was afraid he would be snatched away by someone else, so she devised a plan to climb into his bed.

Of course, she didn’t succeed. Instead, the female supporting character by Meng Zhiqing’s side turned the tables and tricked her into climbing into the bed of another unsuspecting man.

Yes, that unsuspecting man was none other than Lu Dingquan.

In short, the male lead, Meng Yuanbin, initially struggled in the village for several years, living a poor and desolate life, secretly nurturing his talents. Later, through his abilities, he caught the eye of a certain Secretary and was assigned to be his recorder.

From there, he gradually rose through the ranks, encountering benefactors at crucial moments, riding the wave of opportunity, thriving like a fish in water, and ultimately becoming a powerful figure in both politics and business.

It seemed that today, Jiang Ning had witnessed this pivotal moment.

Meng Yuanbin’s breakthrough, the first step on his path to success.

She slowly walked out of the guesthouse, a sense of contemplation washing over her.

Regarding Meng Yuanbin, she only hoped for a peaceful coexistence. As the male lead, he was destined for greatness, and his future success would likely align with the script’s depiction of his triumphant ending.

She wasn’t envious or jealous, nor did she harbor any other intentions. As a mere observer, anticipating the events to unfold, like a spectator in a movie, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of awe.

Not far away, under the shade of the trees, Lu Dingquan was strolling along, chatting with a few people.

The conference itself was uneventful, but he had encountered someone he hadn’t expected.

In reality, they had no connection, and Lu Dingquan wouldn’t easily take notice of anyone.

But…

Under the dappled sunlight, his eyes flickered as he saw the woman emerging from the guesthouse door.

Her delicate brows were slightly lowered, lost in thought, her demeanor slightly absent-minded.

A hint of indifference gradually appeared in Lu Dingquan’s eyes, and his thin lips tightened slightly beneath his sharp features.

Jiang Ning had only taken a few steps when she looked up and saw her “dear husband.”

He was with some unfamiliar people, perhaps discussing business. She hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to approach.

However, his gaze landed directly on her, without a word, clearly indicating that he wanted her to come over.

Jiang Ning slightly raised her lips and walked towards him.

In front of the others, Lu Dingquan’s actions seemed natural as he extended his hand, gently placing it on her waist.

He was tall and imposing, and this slightly affectionate gesture made her feel as if she were trapped in his arms, a little bewildered.

Yet, he was utterly calm and composed as he introduced her, “Commissioner Pei, this is my wife, Jiang Ning.”

“Ning,” his gaze fell upon her, his angular face serene, “This is my old commissioner. Back when we got married, he even went through the trouble of sending wedding gifts through someone. Do you remember?”

Jiang Ning felt a tremor in her ears. He leaned down to speak to her, his deep voice seeming to resonate directly in her eardrums.

However, she quickly understood. In front of important people, they needed to put on a show of being a loving couple, a basic courtesy.

She curved her lips, her smile polite and graceful, “Of course I remember. Commissioner Pei, hello. It’s an honor to meet you today. Dingquan often mentions you to me.”

The commissioner chuckled and greeted her warmly, even praising her, “Dingquan, you’ve found yourself a good wife. I’m relieved.”

“You got married last year and held a banquet, but I was too busy to attend. But when you two have a little Lu sooner rather than later, I’ll definitely be there to celebrate! Hahaha!”

Lu Dingquan’s lips curved into a smile, his sharp brows gleaming under the sunlight.

For a split second, Jiang Ning was stunned. She realized that she hadn’t seen Lu Dingquan smile like this since she came to this world.

But when she met his gentle gaze, she also lowered her head and smiled, a shy smile that was quite fitting for a young wife.

After Lu Dingquan sent the commissioner off in his car and turned back, Jiang Ning finally relaxed.

She waited in place, watching as he walked towards her with a steady stride and deep eyes. For some reason, she felt strangely uncomfortable.

When he reached her, she subtly averted her gaze and blurted out the first thing that came to mind, “I… I’m hungry! I’ve been waiting for you for ages. Didn’t you say there was food?”

Lu Dingquan seemed to look at her deeply before adjusting his neat collar. His voice returned to its usual calm tone, “There’s food. Plenty of it.”

He then asked, “Are you done with your business?”

Jiang Ning quickly replied, “Yes, I’m done.”

They walked side by side down the street, a step apart, neither mentioning the scene that had just transpired.

Jiang Ning thought he would take her to the dining hall on the side of the conference hall. Today, there was lunch provided, and she had seen him holding two meal tickets in his hand, only to put them back in his pocket a moment later.

Along the way, he occasionally glanced at the shops on the side of the road, as if looking for something.

Jiang Ning couldn’t help but ask, “We’re not going to the dining hall? Then what are we eating?”

Lu Dingquan’s gaze, which had been fixed on the sky, landed on her. Seeing her expectant expression, he changed his mind, “Eating.”

Jiang Ning: …

But she quickly brightened up.

Lu Dingquan had actually brought her to a mutton restaurant.

The restaurant was small, but luckily there was one empty table. It was quite small, and they sat facing each other, their knees almost touching.

She shifted her legs to the side, her eyes fixed on the steaming mutton on the other tables, and the smile that had been on her lips never faded.

Lu Dingquan looked at her with a hint of amusement in his eyes. She boldly picked up her chopsticks and swirled them in the water, “What are you looking at me for? You should have said we were eating mutton earlier. Then I could have been even more cooperative.”

The man gave a noncommittal hum, his gaze falling on the menu that the proprietress had given him, and he affirmed, “You’ve been quite cooperative. Next time, strive for even better performance.”

Jiang Ning: …

She instantly recalled the scene earlier, how he had so naturally and effortlessly half-embraced her, how his gaze had softened as he looked down at her, his usually sharp and indifferent eyes becoming warm and tender, as if they were truly a very loving and understanding couple.

…This man, he’s quite the actor.

She realized that they were two of a kind. She was an actress, quick to adapt and immerse herself in roles, but what about him?

What was this all about?