Chapter 16: “Thrown Onto the Bed, pinned Down…”

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Lin Keying could clearly feel the hand around her waist tightening, as if the person was clenching with fierce intent. The fingers, well-defined and strong, seemed to sink into her skin, broad and dominant—allowing no resistance.

The man in front of her now showed a side she had never seen before. His dark pupils burned with fire, slowly devouring reason, like a demonic entity, his predatory gaze lingering inch by inch over her face.

From her eyes, to the tip of her nose, then down to her red lips…

Lin Keying’s heart clenched. She could sense an ambiguous, dangerous aura. Under his scorching stare, she lightly pressed her lips together.

“What did you just call me?” the man asked, raising a hand to pinch her chin and forcing her to lift her head. His thumb brushed over her fiery red lips.

The rough pad of his finger scraped against her skin—it felt like it scraped against her heart. A shudder ran through her involuntarily.

Struggling to stay calm, she carefully responded, “Songxian-ge.”

That should be correct. She hadn’t inherited the original body’s memories, only managed to catch snippets—she vaguely recalled that the original called her fiancé “young master,” or occasionally “Songxian-ge.”

Sure enough, when the man heard those three words, the corner of his lips lifted slightly in a smile. Lin Keying relaxed a little. Looks like she hadn’t said anything wrong.

Still, she couldn’t help wondering what had gotten into her fiancé tonight. What had triggered him? He had always been cold but polite, elegant and noble. But right now, there was something dangerously unsettling about him.

It made her instinctively want to retreat.

And so she tried to do just that.

But the moment she moved back even a little, the hand at her waist tightened even more. The smile on his lips turned cold, even mocking, and his voice was equally icy:
“So you came here because of the engagement. You’re devoted to… your fiancé. You adore him.”

“Mhm.” That was the persona she was supposed to have. But coming from him, those words gave her a chill.

His deep, magnetic voice, which normally would have sounded pleasant, now struck her like a ghostly wind.

He leaned in, closing the already thin distance between them. His breath mingled with hers. His intense gaze locked onto hers, and every word he uttered rang in her ears:

“How much do you love me? How devoted are you? Tell me.”

Lin Keying’s lashes fluttered. She couldn’t make sense of his emotions—why did he look so grim while demanding a love confession?

But she was nothing if not adaptable. She was leaving tomorrow. Getting through tonight peacefully was top priority.

“From the moment our engagement was arranged in childhood—no, even before that—I liked you. After we were engaged, and I became your child bride, I was very happy. Even during the ten-plus years we were apart, I always remembered our engagement. I’ve only ever liked you. I only want to marry you…”

As her confession unfolded, the surrounding air seemed to grow thinner, making it hard to breathe.

Cheng Wanting listened to the woman in front of him pouring her love out for her fiancé. Her tone was sincere, and her eyes—clear and bright—were full of affection. A fire ignited within him, burning from his chest to his limbs, threatening to consume all reason.

“You remember things from childhood?” he asked, observing her closely, his breath icy.

“N-no… not much. I was only five or six when you left. And later on, things were chaotic. I even hit my head once. So I don’t remember much from when I was young. But I remember I was engaged to Songxian-ge. I remember you were kind to me. I came looking for you because I want to marry you.” Realizing the topic was dangerous and might expose her, she quickly tried to shift it.

Trying to steer the conversation while still playing the role of a thoughtful, considerate bride, she added, “But I know I’m not worthy of you, Songxian-ge. You’re a noble young master in Hong Kong. I’m just a nobody with nothing. Don’t worry—I’ll keep my feelings to myself. I won’t bother you or cling to you—ah!”

Before she could finish her sentence, the world spun. She let out a startled cry.

Her fiancé had suddenly picked her up and tossed her onto the luxurious bed in the yacht’s lounge. The soft mattress cushioned her, so it didn’t hurt, but in the next second, he was on top of her, pressing her down.

His heavy breathing filled the space. Lin Keying’s eyes widened in disbelief. What was this man—who in the novel was supposed to loathe his child bride—doing?!

“Songxian-ge…”

“If you like me this much, then let me fulfill your wish, okay?” His voice was hoarse with restraint. His eyes burned with a wildfire-like intensity. His sharp jawline looked like a blade, ready to cut deep.

Lin Keying couldn’t believe what she heard. How could her fiancé say such things? And how could he be in this position with her…?

Just as she was panicking and saw him lowering his head toward her lips, a sharp knocking on the door interrupted the moment of passion.

“Young Master, the Master is looking for you. He insists you come right away!” Secretary Yang had no choice. The Master was furious that his son had ignored Miss Li, and was about to blow up.

Lin Keying finally exhaled in relief as she watched the man on top of her rise and calmly straighten his collar and cuffs. He was back to looking like the elegant and noble heir. He glanced down at her with a piercing gaze.

“I’ll ask one last time,” he said solemnly. His chest heaved slightly, and his breath was still heavy, revealing the turmoil beneath his icy exterior. “Do you… like me?”

Lying on the bed, Lin Keying looked up at him and nodded lightly, playing along. “Yes.”

“Remember what you said tonight,” he said, eyes deep with meaning.

With that, he turned and left—leaving Lin Keying in stunned silence.

---

Secretary Yang personally escorted Miss Lin back to the mid-levels villa. The Young Master had to spend the night navigating between colonial officials and powerful businessmen, all while being watched closely by Old Master Cheng. He couldn’t break away.

But before leaving, Secretary Yang had received one puzzling order from the Young Master:

“Erase all records of Miss Lin entering Hong Kong or her activities here. And from now on, don’t mention anything related to Chen Songxian, the engagement, or the Chen family in front of her. Also, the name ‘Chen Songxian’ is to be scrubbed from every newspaper, magazine, and TV channel in Hong Kong.”
Secretary Yang still remembered the fierce glint in the Young Master’s eyes.
“Not a single word. Got it?”

Even though he didn’t understand why, Secretary Yang followed the command to the letter.

In the car, Lin Keying asked, “Secretary Yang, weren’t you saying I’d be taking the boat back to the mainland tomorrow?”

She was beginning to doubt reality—was everything that just happened a dream?

She must have imagined it. She must have misheard or misunderstood.

How could 800,000 Hong Kong dollars just vanish? She was supposed to return with that money!

Secretary Yang’s eyelids twitched. He quickly reassured her: “Miss Lin, you must be joking. How could the Young Master possibly bear to let you leave now?”

Lin Keying: “…”

The word “bear” used on the Young Master—was that really appropriate?

She stumbled back into the villa, dazed. Lying on the bed, she tried to make sense of everything.

Her plan to retire rich on the mainland with a fortune had completely changed!

She couldn’t understand why her fiancé had changed his mind. He used to hate his child bride. And now he wanted her to stay?

Feeling troubled, sad, and confused, Lin Keying only managed to sip some bird’s nest soup brought by the housekeeper. She really didn’t have an appetite.

---

Though upset, Lin Keying slept soundly—only sleep could offer her an escape from her worries.

No matter how big the problem, you still need energy to face it.

She should’ve woken up by now, had breakfast, packed, and left for the port.

But now? Everything had changed!

Voices drifted from the living room. Unwilling to give up, Lin Keying gathered herself for one last push. Brimming with determination, she marched out of her room, ready to confront her fiancé.

Are you even a man?!

How can you go back on your word?!

In the living room, Cheng Wanting had just finished breakfast. Wearing a crisp white shirt, he looked effortlessly handsome. Just as he was about to fasten his tie, his hand froze when he saw the woman charging out of the guest room in a frilly white nightgown.

---

“You may go,” Cheng Wanting said, turning to Yang Minghui.

Secretary Yang didn’t dare get involved in matters between the young master and the young master Chen’s child bride. He promptly left.

As soon as he departed, the spacious living room was left with only a man and a woman, staring at each other from a distance.

“Come help me with my tie,” Cheng Wanting said flatly, loosening the tie he had just draped around his neck.

Lin Keying cursed silently in her heart. Was he treating her like some old-fashioned little servant girl?

Still, remembering the benefits she hadn’t yet secured and not wanting to fall out with him too early, she walked over slowly.

Having tied a tie for her fiancé once before, Lin Keying was now quite adept at it. Especially with the man leaning down to match her height, she performed the task with ease.

Perhaps it was because of the intimacy from the previous night, but as they stood so close—him bending over slightly, her focusing on tying the knot—Lin Keying felt the air around them grow thinner.

Thankfully, the awkward moment didn’t last long. After neatly tying a Windsor knot and watching him don his charcoal suit and adjust his cufflinks, the man said softly, “I’ll be home for dinner tonight.”

“Oh,” Lin Keying replied, not sure what prompted this declaration, her mind still racing with how to get the money and return to the mainland.

“You may go out, but you are not allowed to see that intern doctor again,” Cheng Wanting added as he smoothed out his clothes. His tone was authoritative, as if issuing a command. “Wait for me to have dinner together.”

“Huh?” Lin Keying blinked. Her long curled lashes fluttered like little brushes. She looked utterly stunned.

What was her fiancé doing?

Was this really a conversation they were having?

Then the man said again, “The villas developed by Hongji Industries are about to go on sale. In a few days, Minghui will accompany you to pick one. Choose whichever you like.”

“Huh?” Lin Keying’s almond-shaped eyes widened again.

Cheng Wanting was in a hurry for a meeting. Glancing at his watch, he said, “Didn’t you want to buy a unit at Hongji before? Those 50-square-meter flats are too small and noisy. A villa is more suitable.”

It wasn’t until after he had left that Lin Keying finally processed what he meant—he wanted to give her a villa?!

——

Yang Minghui had already obtained internal information on the newly developed villas by Hongji Industries before they went on sale. Among the elite in Hong Kong, favors between conglomerates were common. Since the boss of Huanyu Group wanted a villa, Hongji gladly allowed them to choose early.

“Miss Lin, this villa cluster is in a new development zone, not far from where you currently live. It’s only about a 20-minute drive,” Yang Minghui introduced enthusiastically, eager to carry out his young master’s orders well. “The new zone has better location, open views, and exceptional mountain scenery.”

This was Lin Keying’s first time experiencing the privilege of accessing internal property information and getting first pick. She looked over the model of the villas—surrounded by mountains, shaded with lush trees, with elegant white mansions nestled in between—exquisite and breathtaking.

The villas were grand and beautiful, with smooth lines, trendy designs, garages, open-air swimming pools, gardens—everything you could want.

Concerned she might not know how to choose, Yang Minghui was about to explain the pros and cons of the various locations and layouts. But to his surprise, Lin Keying fluently analyzed the lighting, orientation, layout, location, and supporting facilities of each option…

By the end of her analysis, she had narrowed it down to three villas and ultimately chose Villa No. 8 in Phase II of the Half-Mountain Villas for its ideal bedroom view.

Yang Minghui took one look at the specs of Villa 8 and thought: Excellent choice!

“Secretary Yang,” Lin Keying asked, still anxious since this was her first time selecting a villa, “this villa… is really something the young master wants me to have?”

Yang Minghui nodded. “Of course. If you’ve made your decision, the ownership can be transferred to your name in the next couple of days. Oh, and since you’ll be staying in Hong Kong long-term, you’ll need to register for a local household permit.”

Lin Keying was dazed. Pointing at the model, she asked, “How much does this villa cost?”

“The Half-Mountain Villas go for between three million and three and a half million HKD.”

Gasp!

Lin Keying was stunned. What was going on with her fiancé? Instead of giving her just one million to send her back to the mainland, he wanted to give her a three million villa?!

Was he insane?!

Yang Minghui was efficient and handled everything on her behalf, including registering her as a Hong Kong resident.

In recent years, Hong Kong had adopted a “shore landing” policy, meaning if one made it to Hong Kong, they could line up to get a household registration. Many had risked their lives for the dream of a Hong Kong identity.

Of course, Lin Keying didn’t have to queue. Within a short time, she had both her household registration and the property ownership certificate for the Half-Mountain Villa in hand.

Holding both documents, she still felt like she was dreaming. How had she not only landed in Hong Kong but also ended up owning a luxury villa worth three million?

These past few days, her fiancé had only returned on the second night after the yacht trip for dinner. The rest of the time, he had disappeared. Yang Minghui mentioned briefly that he’d been summoned by the old master.

But the day she received the villa ownership certificate, her fiancé returned.

Aunt Hua cooked a grand meal to welcome the hardworking young master home.

At the dinner table, Lin Keying sat face-to-face with Cheng Wanting, troubled and confused by recent events. She found herself alternating between deep thoughts and stealing glances at him, completely forgetting to eat.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?” Cheng Wanting asked, placing a piece of roast goose in her bowl.

Watching him serve her food, Lin Keying’s heart beat faster. She took small bites of the crispy, juicy goose, savoring the rich flavor.

After swallowing, she carefully licked her lips and nervously asked, “Young Master… what exactly is our relationship now?”

“What do you think?” Cheng Wanting’s gaze lingered on her lips. Her face was naturally beautiful even without makeup, and her lips were a soft pink—unlike the bold red from that night, yet just as alluring. “That night, you kept saying I was your what? Forgotten already?”

Even though it was just dinner, her lips glistened slightly from the food, and when her tongue lightly brushed over them, it added a touch of sensuality.

Lin Keying was confused. Sure, you’re my fiancé… but haven’t you always wanted to break off the engagement?

Could it be… he actually wanted to go through with it now?

Oh no. The original plot was going off the rails!

“What?” Cheng Wanting noticed her sudden shift in expression and frowned. “You’re unwilling? Were all your words that night lies?”

“Of course not!” Lin Keying didn’t dare admit her heartfelt confession that night was fake!

“You don’t look very happy,” Cheng Wanting said, ladling some Seven-Treasure Soup into her bowl.

“No, I… I’m very happy. Just overwhelmed. I can’t believe it.” She forced a smile.

After all, dating a handsome, wealthy man like him could hardly be a loss. It was just happening so fast, she felt unprepared.

But given the persona she had carefully built over the past month, she couldn’t afford to appear unhappy now!

Cheng Wanting looked at her deeply and said meaningfully, “Hmm. Just remember—it was you who said you liked me.”

That night, Lin Keying was summoned once again to the study—for more lessons.

In just a few short days, everything had changed. Her fiancé now accepted the engagement.

Other couples went on romantic dates with candlelit dinners; her dates were tutoring sessions?

Who studied during dates!?

Sitting on the sofa, Lin Keying was lost in thought. How does dating even work?

In her past life, Lin Keying had focused on her career after university. The men around her were ordinary yet confident. She once broke up with a guy just after confirming their relationship because he was too eager.

Later, once her career stabilized, friends and colleagues introduced her to a string of blind dates—but most were disastrous.

Back then, she even joked with friends that she might as well make money and get herself a hot young boyfriend later.

In her ten years of career success, she had zero dating experience, even though she was the go-to love advisor for all her friends. She could analyze anyone’s love life with precision.

She could drool over actors on TV and admire hot guys on her phone—but when it came to actual experience? Zilch.

She sneaked a glance at the man beside her. He was outrageously handsome, his features noble, his presence overpowering from years in high society and business—he was more captivating than any celebrity or influencer.

Surely, someone like him would be extremely skilled… right?

As she daydreamed, her gaze locked with Cheng Wanting’s. He sighed, “What are you thinking about now?”

“Were you in a lot of relationships before?” The words slipped out before she could stop herself.

She immediately regretted it. Too bold!

But the man didn’t get angry. Nor did he react like a typical playboy. He calmly said, “This is my first.”

So sincere it was almost absurd.

“…” Lin Keying stared at him suspiciously. Based on online rumors and his elite status, could it be that he had some… secret health issue?

And just like that—she figured it out!

The aloof tycoon must have a hidden illness and didn’t want it exposed. So he was using her, the mainland child bride, as cover. That villa might even be hush money!

Well, she could totally play that role!

She snapped out of her thoughts, only to realize Cheng Wanting was knocking the table, asking, “Thinking again?”

“No, no!” she jumped. She couldn’t dare say anything that would hurt his masculine pride. She nervously took two big gulps of tea.

Only then did she realize—something was off.

She glanced down at the cup. The flying dragon pattern revealed the truth—it was his tea cup!

As if she had touched something scalding, she quickly put it down and stared at the floor, too embarrassed to look at him again.

“Focus,” Cheng Wanting said, watching her try to bury herself in the couch. He picked up the cup, noticed the faint pink lip print on the edge, and drank calmly.

——

Lately, the young master had been returning to the Half-Mountain Villa every day. Before, it was just overnight stays. Now, he often came back for dinner too.

Uncle Zhong and Aunt Hua were overjoyed.

The servants of Villa No. 5 were also thrilled—they finally had work to do again! Their salaries were well-earned.

But soon, they realized something unusual.

At the dinner table, the young master served food to Miss Lin and ladled soup. Every morning, he let her tie his tie. The staff could barely believe their eyes.

Uncle Zhong and Aunt Hua whispered, “Could the young master be… in love?”

Their suspicions were confirmed when he announced that household decisions no longer needed his approval—just ask Miss Lin and let her decide.

There wasn’t much to manage, as the staff took care of everything. But small changes still needed the master’s consent.

Now, that responsibility fell on Lin Keying.

“Miss Lin, the weather’s getting hot—should we change the curtains? Something lighter for summer?”

“Miss Lin, here’s next week’s food supply—abalone from Dingxian, shark fin, beef, goose and pigeon from Li’s Restaurant, herbs and dried seafood from Yang’s Grocery…”

“Miss Lin, here’s last month’s total expenses and detailed accounts: 7,856 HKD.”

Lin Keying stared at the stream of requests coming her way. Uncle Zhong and Aunt Hua were reporting every little detail, waiting for her to make the decisions.

---

Her fiancé was simply too busy—always either in meetings or discussing business deals—so Lin Keying had no choice but to take on the tasks herself.

After all, she had accepted a luxurious three-million-dollar villa from him. Helping out was only right.

Lin Keying wrote on a sheet of paper:
“All the curtains should be changed. In summer, it’s better to choose fresh colors. My room should have a sheer white curtain and a sky-blue one… As for the young master’s room, maybe go with green… The dishes can follow the usual ones, and add a few extra dishes…”

After writing everything, Lin Keying tried explaining it in her not-so-fluent Cantonese. Fortunately, Uncle Ah Zhong and Aunt Wah were both kind and never mocked her pronunciation—sometimes they even patiently corrected her.

Once everything was handled, Lin Keying couldn’t help but sigh. Owning a villa was just the beginning—hiring servants and managing daily maintenance was no easy task.

Not to mention the costs were astonishing.

When Cheng Wanting returned home from the conglomerate, he noticed during dinner that the woman across from him had a noticeably better appetite today. She had nearly finished a whole plate of Typhoon Shelter-style crab and still seemed unsatisfied.

“Uncle Ah Zhong said you were busy all afternoon. You must be tired?” As he spoke, he served her another bowl of soup.

It was Aunt Wah’s specialty: a fresh and delicious poria and lotus root soup.

“Yes, there’s a lot to do in the villa. Every decision needs someone to make the call. It’s tough being that person~” Lin Keying figured she’d already done the work, so she should take credit for it.

Having worked for ten years, she knew the number one taboo in the workplace: doing things quietly with no one noticing.

Cheng Wanting was amused by her half-complaining, half-boasting tone. The corners of his lips lifted slightly. “You’ve worked hard.”

Since he had already handed over decision-making for the villa to her, Cheng Wanting didn’t forget to give his girlfriend an allowance:
“Keep this card. A hundred thousand per month for pocket money. Let me know if it’s not enough.”

Lin Keying: “…”

Fiancé, aren’t you being too generous?!

In great spirits, Lin Keying was thoroughly clear-minded now. When her fiancé no longer needed her as a “shield,” she could just sell the three-million-dollar villa. Add in the pocket money she’d save monthly, and she could easily return to the mainland with several million in hand.

Let’s just call this a job in Hong Kong!
And such an easy one, too!

Smiling like a flower, Lin Keying sincerely thanked her fiancé and even scooted a bit closer.
“Brother Song Hin, you’re so sweet~”

Calling him “Young Master” all the time felt distant. Now and then, pushing her luck by calling him “Brother Song Hin” made them seem closer.

But the moment those words left her lips, the man across from her suddenly changed expression. The atmosphere instantly froze, as if even the summer heat couldn’t melt the sudden chill.

“The name ‘Song Hin’ is no longer used. Call me Wanting,” Cheng Wanting’s gaze turned cold. “Don’t mention that name again.”

Lin Keying blinked, half-understanding. She figured maybe his wealthy family had fled to Hong Kong and changed names? After all, in a new place, it wasn’t unusual to adopt a new identity.

She nodded and softly rolled the new name off her tongue: “Wanting.”

++++

Lin Keying didn’t take her fiancé’s name matter to heart. Whether he was Song Hin or Wanting, what did it matter to her? After all, she was just a “fake child bride.”

After settling in Hong Kong, handling the household registration, villa, and staffing matters took several days.

On a free day, she finally left the mid-levels villa and headed to Sister He’s dessert stall.

The stall was bustling with customers, business was booming. Sister He was overjoyed to see her.

“Keying, I went to the pier that day to see you off but didn’t see you. I thought I missed your departure. So you haven’t left yet?”

Lin Keying hadn’t expected the change in plans either. She explained she originally came to Hong Kong looking for relatives, but now that she had a fiancé, she’d be staying for the time being. The future could wait.

When Tingting and her brother Ah Qiang came home for lunch and saw Lin Keying, they were even more excited.

“Sis Keying, I’m so glad you’re staying! I’ll treat you to egg waffles!” Tingting pulled out her own pocket money and spent 50 cents to buy her a portion.

Fresh off the griddle, the egg waffles were crispy on the outside and soft inside, baked in a honeycomb iron plate until golden and fragrant. The egg aroma mixed perfectly with the sweet cream—absolutely delicious.

The warm egg waffle melted in Lin Keying’s mouth and warmed her heart. She had come out prepared to spend generously.

Last time, she had seen properties being sold by Hongji Industrial—down payments were only 10%, and with rental income to cover the mortgage, it was a guaranteed win.

She boldly spent 50,000 yuan to buy two 500 sq. ft. units—around 50 square meters each—with a down payment of 25,000 per unit and a monthly mortgage of 2,000.

The Hongji sales team were so enthusiastic they almost tripped over themselves offering tea and service to Miss Lin.

Lin Keying had even considered lending money to Sister He’s family to help them buy a place, but they declined. They didn’t want to owe money or favors and were intimidated by the high monthly payments.

“We’ll work hard the next few years and try to save enough for that 10% down payment.”

It was hard not to be tempted seeing others own homes in their own names.

Sister He calculated that if business improved at her dessert stall, she might really be able to save up enough.

In the past, Tingting’s illness had drained the family finances. Now, things were looking up.

Lin Keying then suggested:
“How about expanding the stall? Turn He’s Dessert Stall into He’s Dessert Shop.”

Since she planned to stay in Hong Kong and had plenty of spare money, Lin Keying wanted to invest. She’d rent out the apartments to cover the loans and wait for prices to rise. The dessert stall was another great investment opportunity.

Sister He was skilled, and her dessert rivaled that of fancy restaurants—the only thing missing was location and storefront. With Hong Kong’s rapid development and people increasingly willing to spend on food, investing in a dessert shop was promising!

Upon hearing the plan, Sister He felt a mix of anxiety and excitement.

She was used to being cautious. Losing her own money was one thing—but she didn’t want to lose Lin Keying’s. Yet imagining her little shabby stall turning into a clean, beautiful shop filled her with uncontrollable excitement.

“Sister He, what are you worried about? Investing is all about vision. If it fails, it just means my vision was off—it’s not your fault.” Lin Keying comforted her. “Besides, I know your skills are top-tier in all of Hong Kong. We’ll definitely make it big!”

When Ho Wah Chun heard the news and rushed over to the dessert stall, he happened to see Lin Keying and Sister He deep in discussion about opening the shop.

Location selection, shop renovation, target demographics, signature desserts…

Ho Wah Chun was thrilled she hadn’t left Hong Kong, but when she brought up her fiancé again, he grew glum—though in the end, he was captivated by how confidently she discussed business.

“Keying, you really have a head for business.” Ignoring the fiancé bit, Ho Wah Chun offered enthusiastically, “If you’re looking for a location for the dessert shop, I have a recommendation.”

There were plenty of dessert shops in Hong Kong. As a beloved part of the city’s food culture, the dessert scene had deep roots and would remain popular for decades to come.

---

Lin Keying had her sights set on the high-salaried office workers of today.

Hong Kong Island, in the broader Hong Kong City area, was a rapidly developing district. Office buildings stood tall everywhere, and high-rise towers were filled with corporate elites and urban beauties.

This group of office workers was the perfect target demographic for Lin Keying: high-income, willing to spend, particular about taste and dining environments, and prepared to pay a premium for it.

Huo Huachen came from a family of doctors. Like lawyers, doctors were a well-paid and high-status profession in Hong Kong City. They had wide social circles and commanded respect.

Along Queen’s Road Central, one of the street-facing shops belonged to someone he knew—a proper landlord renting out properties.

“Pretty lady, this street has the best location. Around here it’s all tea houses and dessert or afternoon tea places—plenty of customers! 300 square feet for two thousand a month isn’t expensive at all.”

The shop owner, a sharply dressed man in his early forties, had slicked-back hair and was talking a mile a minute as he pitched the place to Lin Keying.

“You’re a friend of Doctor Huo, so I’ll knock off another hundred bucks for you.”

Lin Keying looked around. The foot traffic on this street was indeed heavy—well-dressed professionals with briefcases going back and forth. It fit her location criteria perfectly. But after comparing a few places, she still thought the rent was a bit high and decided to consider it further.

As she was leaving, the owner gave her a look like she didn’t know what she was missing: “Pretty lady, you go and look around, but you won’t find anywhere better or cheaper than this.”

Seeing Lin Keying deep in thought, Huo Huachen asked, “You don’t like it here?”

She shook her head. “The place is good, but I want to check out more options. Dr. Huo, thank you for your help.”

Choosing a location wasn’t that simple—especially not when foot traffic and consumer behavior of the target demographic were at play. Lin Keying assigned two high schoolers a task for after school: “Ten dollars each for pocket money every day. Eat, drink, and observe which places office workers go to eat nearby. Write it all down and report back to me.”

Tingting and Aqiang were thrilled to get such an easy gig and nearly jumped for joy, only calming down when Auntie He shot them a glance.

After giving them the task, Lin Keying took a taxi back to the Mid-Levels villa but made a stop at the Phase II villa cluster first. As a homeowner with early purchase rights, she got a chance to feast her eyes on her future home.

Seeing the model home had been one thing, but seeing the real house brought on a deeper feeling. The pure white walls looked elegant and tasteful, the lawn was lush, and even the pool water sparkled a vivid blue.

This house actually belonged to her!

Her fiancé was truly a good man! She even had the passing thought—maybe she could stay with him for life!

As a worker, of course!

Reluctantly leaving the villa, she awaited next month’s official handover upon completion.

Phase II of the Mid-Levels villa complex wasn’t far from Phase I—just a little over twenty minutes by car. Soon she arrived at the door of No. 5.

Getting out of the taxi and paying the fare, she caught sight of a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur parked at the entrance. Her eyelids twitched—why was her fiancé back so early?

The dinner on the table was already cold. When Cheng Wanting saw the woman in a breezy polka-dot top and denim shorts step into the villa bathed in sunset light, he withdrew his gaze and instructed the servant, “Reheat the food.”

Passing by Auntie Ah Mei, Lin Keying felt guilty and her mind started racing—was her fiancé actually waiting for her to have dinner together?

She had been so wrapped up in looking at storefronts today that she ended up treating everyone to a meal at a nearby restaurant and completely forgot about returning home for dinner.

Now, seeing her fiancé’s blank expression, she started to panic inside.

“Young Master,” Lin Keying peeked up at him and then quickly looked away, staring at the floor nervously. “If you were hungry, why didn’t you eat first? You didn’t have to wait for me.”

Cheng Wanting’s voice was cold: “You seemed to be enjoying your freedom outside—especially getting quite close with that intern doctor.”

Warning bells went off in Lin Keying’s head. She was surprised and a bit confused. She had her suspicions, but something felt off.

Her fiancé didn’t particularly dislike her anymore, but he definitely didn’t love her either. Why did he sound jealous?

Was this appropriate?

Could this be one of those rich CEO-type possessive streaks—even if they don’t love you?

That’s how it went in the novels. The domineering male leads were always possessive—even without love, they wouldn’t tolerate “flirting” outside. That’s what made them so “dominant”!

Not to mention, she was his fiancée in name.

Thinking this over, Lin Keying softened her tone and smiled sweetly: “Young Master, did you misunderstand something? Dr. Huo and I are just friends. You’re my fiancé. The way you’re acting now makes it seem like I was the one fooling around and made you jealous. I don’t even know how to make it up to you~ Songxian ge~”

A string of sweet words and playful teasing—usually the kind that would make a straight-laced man feel awkward, maybe even get goosebumps.

But it worked perfectly for her—a cute girl trying to weasel her way out of trouble. After all, if she was acting all soft and coy, how could a mature, calm man like her fiancé stay mad?

Especially with that last part—calling him Songxian ge to close the distance between them.

That name was something from their little-known past. He had since changed his name, so wasn’t Songxian now a private, intimate nickname? Maybe she was the only one who ever called him that.

Cheng Wanting’s expression didn’t change, but he observed the woman in front of him carefully. When she looked up with soft, smiling eyes and acted all playful, he had just been about to relax and sit down for dinner.

But the moment those three words (Songxian ge) slipped out, his expression froze.

Suddenly, he stood up and pulled her into his arms with force, one arm circling her waist. His eyes carried a sharp intensity: “You sure sound sweet calling me that… So if I really were jealous, how exactly do you plan to make it up to me?”

Soft Lin Keying crashed into a solid chest, instinctively grabbing onto his arms just to stay upright.

The hand on her waist was burning hot. The skin of his chest was burning hot. His gaze was just as intense—and when he said “make it up,” he stared at her with such heat that—

Their bodies were tightly pressed together, standing so close.

Lin Keying could feel a subtle but dangerous tension in the air—especially in that meaningful look in his eyes.

Her fiancé’s mood changes were as fast as flipping pages. She was shocked and a little shaken deep down.

The man’s handsome face was right in front of her, and Lin Keying thought—well, in the end, she wasn’t really losing anything, so she tiptoed up, placed her hands on his firm arms…

And leaned in to kiss him…

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