Chapter 20

At this point, Xu Yuan could see that Meng Zhengrong was a person with good character. 

He looked at her and said, “Let’s continue eating.”

If it weren’t for the expression on Meng Zhengrong’s face, Xu Yuan would not have felt so uneasy. The current circumstances were different, and seeing Meng Zhengrong’s face like this made her very anxious.

Xu Yuan picked up her knife and fork and continued to cut her steak, trying to appear calm. However, her emotions were far from calm at this moment. She realized that taking on the responsibilities of the original owner’s life also meant dealing with her past. Whether her relationship with Meng Zhengrong was good or bad, she shouldn’t have any involvement with the original owner’s ex-boyfriend. And at the moment, it seemed that the original owner’s ex-boyfriend was not ready to let go.

After finishing dinner, Meng Zhengrong and Xu Yuan didn’t linger in the restaurant. They got into the car, and Meng Zhengrong suddenly made a U-turn, heading in the opposite direction.

Xu Yuan instinctively held onto her handbag, feeling nervous but not overly so. She wasn’t so much nervous about the person next to her, but rather about the person she saw through him.

She also had some faith in Meng Zhengrong’s character and intelligence. As long as he didn’t change suddenly, he shouldn’t make a big deal out of this situation.

Xu Yuan was mentally prepared. If Meng Zhengrong wanted to bring up the issue of the original owner’s ex-boyfriend, she wouldn’t back down. If they really wanted to dig into the past, Meng Zhengrong’s past relationships might be even more complicated than the original owner. It would be an endless mess, and if he insisted on holding her accountable for her past, she would face it head-on.

Meng Zhengrong, on the other hand, was not thinking about settling scores. He didn’t really care about Xu Yuan’s past. He believed that everyone had a past, and he wasn’t so insecure as to let it affect his marriage. He cared about the present, about how Xu Yuan would handle this situation and their relationship.

He turned the car and stopped in front of a park. It was already late, and except for a few people jogging, the park was quiet.

Meng Zhengrong said, “I won’t beat around the bush. Before we got married, I knew about your ex-boyfriend. You also know that my relationship with your brother is good. I’ve heard about him a few times, and I’ve even seen you with Chen Hao. Xu Yuan, I don’t know how you view our marriage, but I cherish it a lot. I have no intention of getting a divorce. Of course, if you ever want to, you can let me know. But I don’t want our marriage to have any stains. Do you understand?”

Even in marriages between two families, there’s always a possibility of things going awry. In this world, even blood relatives can turn against each other, let alone married couples.

Meng Zhengrong was a person with high standards for himself, and he also had high expectations for the people around him. He wouldn’t allow his marriage to become a laughingstock for others.

If Xu Yuan wanted a divorce, okay, that could be discussed. But if she wanted to pursue so-called true love or an affair, he made it clear that he wouldn’t tolerate it. He had his pride, and he wouldn’t let himself be cuckolded. 

Xu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Meng Zhengrong’s words. It was a stroke of luck that their thoughts aligned once again.

In her eyes, love and like were just fleeting clouds in the sky. What mattered most to her now was not the emotional aspect, but rather her practical partnership, or marriage, with Meng Zhengrong.

“I understand,” Xu Yuan replied seriously, nodding. “I also don’t know why he called me today… After the accident that day, he didn’t contact me until this afternoon, and I hadn’t contacted him either. Even if I had a past with him, I’m married now. Honestly, even if my husband was someone else, I would say the same thing. I don’t want to do anything immoral and become an immoral person. What you’re worried about, what you mind, is something I strongly oppose.”

Perhaps she wasn’t a saint, and if someone had seriously wronged her in her past life, she would seek revenge discreetly. But her actions had always been measured and didn’t cross certain lines. In her eyes, this was not about whether she was a good person or not, but rather about principles.

I don’t know if it was because of this sense of propriety that the emperor turned a blind eye to some of her actions, all in all she really hasn’t done anything harmful to nature.

If she had any emotional entanglements with other men while she was still Mrs. Meng, wouldn’t this be smearing the original owner and the original owner’s family? To a certain extent, this is not far from being harmful to nature.

Besides, she feels that she is living quite comfortably now. Except for the physical discomfort caused by seeing Meng Zhengrong’s face from time to time, everything is fine. Can she really make things difficult for herself? It’s not like her brain is caught in the door.

These words of Xu Yuan were very serious and sincere.

Meng Zhengrong didn’t need to second-guess her thoughts. He believed her assurances.

“Alright, then I don’t need to worry,” Meng Zhengrong said after a moment of silence. “I won’t interfere in your affairs. Even though I still see you as quite young, you’re an adult now. I believe you can handle these conflicts on your own. If there’s ever a need for my help, don’t hesitate to ask. No need to be polite.”

After seeing Chen Hao’s expressions today and the subsequent phone call, Meng Zhengrong knew that this matter might have follow-up issues. Chen Hao was likely to cause trouble. While he was willing to help resolve these issues, he also believed that Xu Yuan would prefer to handle them herself.

Xu Yuan felt relieved after hearing Meng Zhengrong’s words. She nodded and said, “I understand.”

She was well aware that this matter was far from over. Chen Hao’s actions had indicated that there would be more to come. However, she found him rather annoying. If he truly had feelings for the original owner, why did he wait until now to reach out? On the other hand, if the original owner was already married, they should both avoid any further contact to avoid suspicion.

With the matter settled, Meng Zhengrong had initially expected some time for them to adjust. However, he was surprised by Xu Yuan’s understanding. Instead of immediately driving away, he noticed a convenience store near the park. Glancing at Xu Yuan’s face, he asked, as if on a whim, “Do you want ice cream?”

Xu Yuan was momentarily taken aback but nodded in agreement. “Sure.”

Xu Yuan had indeed tasted ice cream before, and the first time she tried it, she couldn’t believe such a delicious treat existed. She had a sweet tooth and always loved sweets. Ice cream was cold and sweet, and even though there was ice cream in her family’s fridge, she had to resist her cravings. The older lady in her family had advised her not to eat too much because it wasn’t good for her health. So, when Meng Zhengrong had spontaneously suggested getting ice cream today, she was overjoyed.

Meng Zhengrong got out of the car, crossed the road, and entered the convenience store. He didn’t pay much attention to the brand of ice cream. In fact, he had a somewhat frugal mindset: he believed that the more expensive an ice cream was, the more it might lose its appeal after the first bite due to its pure taste.

Meng Zhengrong first picked three ice creams for Xu Yuan, and then, as if it were the most natural thing, he grabbed a cheap popsicle from the freezer and added it to the bill.

After paying, Meng Zhengrong didn’t immediately return to the car. Instead, he quietly moved to a spot where Xu Yuan couldn’t see him, unwrapped the popsicle, and quickly began to eat it. The sensation of biting into it was filled with ice shards, and even though it had a hint of cheap sugary syrup, he loved it.

In his teenage years, Meng Zhengrong, who loved to act cool, couldn’t tolerate this particular indulgence. He had even placed cheap ice cream popsicles and ice lollies on his blacklist. Whenever he passed by a convenience store and the freezers were displayed outside, he couldn’t control his gaze, longing to indulge himself.

As he approached his early twenties, he no longer rejected this preference, but he still didn’t let anyone know about it. He had a certain image to maintain.

He only bought a few when he was sure that no one he knew would see him doing so.

After a few quick bites, Meng Zhengrong finished the popsicle, then walked calmly back towards the car and handed the ice creams to Xu Yuan.

However, when Xu Yuan saw that he had bought three ice creams, she picked one and handed it to him.

Meng Zhengrong shook his head. “I don’t eat this. It’s something that girls and kids like.”

Xu Yuan understood, and she was perfectly content with three ice creams all to herself. She enjoyed the treat as Meng Zhengrong slowly drove back home.

Upon arriving home, the butler and housekeeper noticed their return and went to their respective rooms to rest.

Meng Zhengrong followed Xu Yuan upstairs. When they were close to the study room, he stopped and told her, “You go ahead and take a shower. I have a few things to attend to, so you don’t need to wait for me.”

Xu Yuan knew that he was usually very busy. Although he finished work on time every day, after dinner, he would return to his study and work until late at night. In fact, considering his work hours, he worked much harder than his employees.

This arrangement suited her just fine. As long as Meng Zhengrong wasn’t a terrible person, she was satisfied. Besides, he was exceptionally capable in his work.

Xu Yuan nodded and returned to her room. She sat cross-legged on the thick carpet and looked at the things she had bought today, feeling an unusually good mood. She imagined that she would be able to wear beautiful clothes and shoes to her heart’s content in the future. She felt like her fortune was turning around, and she was more carefree than she had been before.

As she thought about it, she thought of the original owner. So far, she has not figured out why the original owner disappeared for no reason. If it was really related to the car accident but had not been checked later, the original owner would have had a slight concussion at most. There is no need to be hospitalized for observation. Could it be that she was so stimulated by her ex-boyfriend that she became discouraged?

I just hope that the original owner is not dead. It would be great if she could continue to live in this way like her.

As she was lost in thought, her phone suddenly rang. Thanks to Chen Hao, she now had an apprehensive feeling about the incoming call. She picked up her phone and saw that it was a call from Yuyu, the best friend of the original host.

Yuyu was a famous actress in the entertainment industry, and Xu Yuan had seen her on TV several times. She had starred in several popular dramas and even appeared in some advertisements.

She answered hesitantly: “Hello?”

The two had been close friends since high school, and their relationship had always been good. Yuyu came from a well-off family, though not as wealthy as the Xu family, but they were still considered affluent. They had known each other since high school and remained good friends to this day. Yuyu would often call Xu Yuan for a chat every now and then.

“Xiao Yuan, I’m so tired!” Listening to Yuyu’s complaints, Xu Yuan tried her best to mimic the original owner’s style and replied, “If you’re tired, then don’t do it.”

In the chat records of the original host’s past conversations, she had seen Yuyu say many times how exhausting this industry was. They would work long hours and sleep less than four hours a day when busy. The original host had responded with a similar sentiment, “If you’re tired, then don’t do it. It’s not like you don’t have money.”

“Even if you don’t have money, you still have me,” the original host had added.

Yuyu fell silent for a moment and said, “I know it sounds cliché to talk about dreams, but I really think that way. If I give up now because it’s tiring, maybe I’ll miss my chance to succeed.”

Xu Yuan actually agreed with what Yuyu was saying. Who wouldn’t want an easy life? But aside from comfort, there were other things that pushed people to take a more challenging path, like dreams.

Just like herself, she could easily live a life without working, just sitting at home as a rich lady of a wealthy family, buying whatever she wanted and enjoying a carefree life. However, once you have ambition deep inside, it’s challenging to accept mediocrity. She was a classic example of this. In her past life, she could have chosen to live comfortably in the palace, but she wanted to climb higher and secure a stable position.

Although she ultimately fell from grace, her ambition never disappeared.

Seeing that Xu Yuan remained silent, Yuyu continued, “Xiao Yuan, how are you getting along with President Meng? Are you comfortable working in the company?”

Xu Yuan snapped out of her thoughts. Since Yuyu was the original host’s best friend, there was no need for polite formalities. “We get along well, nothing too bad. I’m slowly getting used to things at the company, but there’s still a lot I don’t understand, so it feels a bit challenging.”

“Not too bad? Well, I think President Meng is better than Chen Hao in many ways. You’re already married, so why not try to build a stronger emotional connection with President Meng?” Yuyu ignored the part about the company. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about Xu Yuan; she simply believed that Xu Yuan wouldn’t stay at the company for long. She would probably resign in less than two months.

Cultivate their relationship?

That was easier said than done. Xu Yuan had never been in a romantic relationship in her previous life. Her mind had always been occupied with trying to please the emperor or climb higher. She had never cared about personal matters. Moreover, her social status had never allowed her to be involved in romantic relationships.

Well, let’s just take things as they come.

Xu Yuan pushed aside her thoughts about this matter and smoothly changed the subject. After chatting with Yuyu for a few more minutes, she ended the call.

After a day of shopping, Xu Yuan was exhausted. She lay in the bathtub, the faint scent of roses filling the air, and closed her eyes to relax.

Meanwhile, in his study, Meng Zhengrong had just finished replying to an international email when he remembered what happened today. He was now curious about Xu Yuan’s past. He had only heard bits and pieces from Xu Nuo before but had never really paid attention. After marrying Xu Yuan, he had thought her past was irrelevant. However, with Chen Hao suddenly appearing in their lives and even having the audacity to call her…

It was irritating to think about it.

After struggling internally for a while, Meng Zhengrong picked up his phone and dialed his friend Song Yu’s number.

“What’s up?” Song Yu, who was currently playing a game, answered the call with a slightly annoyed tone. As a single guy, he didn’t like being interrupted while gaming, but he couldn’t ignore a call from his boss.

Meng Zhengrong didn’t want to get straight to the point. Instead, he intended to start with some small talk before broaching the main topic. “Are you at home?”

“Yeah, I’m playing a game. What’s going on?” Although Song Yu and Meng Zhengrong were close friends, they rarely talked on the phone. They would only call each other a few times a month, and each call was usually under a minute. So, when Meng Zhengrong suddenly called late at night and hesitated to speak, Song Yu knew something was bothering him.

“Have you eaten?” Meng Zhengrong asked, trying to buy himself some time.

Song Yu replied, “Yes, I have.”

The conversation between these two grown men was becoming increasingly awkward. But Meng Zhengrong needed a bit more time to gather his thoughts before diving into the main topic.

“What did you eat?” he asked, desperately trying to keep the conversation going.

“Food,” came Song Yu’s deadpan reply.

Meng Zhengrong was trying to delay the inevitable, and Song Yu could see right through it. He decided to play along for now, curious about what Meng Zhengrong was up to.

“I went out shopping with my wife today,” Meng Zhengrong said, after a moment of contemplation. “We had dinner together as well. The taste at Pengyu’s Western restaurant isn’t as good as it used to be.”

Meng Zhengrong was never the type to engage in idle phone conversations with friends, so Song Yu knew something was on his mind. He patiently listened to Meng Zhengrong’s words, thinking that since he had mentioned Xu Yuan, the conversation must be related to her.

“You should spend more time going out with her. Don’t think that getting married means smooth sailing. You two didn’t get married out of love,” Song Yu commented, finally sensing that the conversation was heading in the direction he expected.

Meng Zhengrong found these conversations incredibly dull. But, given the circumstances, he had no choice. He needed some time to lead into the real topic.

After a pause, Meng Zhengrong continued, “It’s a bit coincidental, though. When we were shopping today and buying clothes for her, we happened to run into Chen Hao. I remember your cousin used to have a good relationship with Chen Hao, right?”

In this social circle, there were often indirect connections between people. For example, Meng Zhengrong’s former neighbor during his overseas studies happened to be his dad’s friend’s nephew.

Upon hearing this, Song Yu finally understood what Meng Zhengrong wanted to know. He realized that his friend was indirectly inquiring about Xu Yuan’s past relationship with Chen Hao.

“Yeah, it seems so,” Song Yu replied nonchalantly, taking a playful tone. He enjoyed teasing Meng Zhengrong, who seemed hesitant to get to the point.

Meng Zhengrong thought that by bringing up this topic, Song Yu would understand his intentions and provide the information he wanted without further prodding.

Little did Meng Zhengrong expect that Song Yu would respond like this, and he waited nervously for a while. Seeing that Song Yu remained silent, he reluctantly continued, “Chen Hao and my wife seemed to have a good relationship in the past. Today, they met but she didn’t even greet him. I have no idea what happened…”

Listening to Meng Zhengrong’s words, Song Yu felt like his awkwardness was reaching unbearable levels. He decided to give in before Meng Zhengrong said something even more awkward.

“They used to be together, as you know,” Song Yu replied straightforwardly. “After a breakup, most people choose to treat each other as strangers when they meet again. There’s nothing strange about it.”

Meng Zhengrong was momentarily speechless. He didn’t expect Song Yu to be so blunt about Xu Yuan’s past relationship with Chen Hao. Song Yu was known for his straightforwardness, but if it were someone else, he might have already lost an arm or a leg for such a response.

However, now that the topic was out in the open, there was no point in beating around the bush. Meng Zhengrong decided to get to the point and asked, “So, do you know anything about their past?”

He only had a vague idea that Chen Hao might have cheated, but he didn’t know the specifics. Now, he had to rely on Song Yu for more information.

Song Yu paused for a moment and then said, “Promise me one thing, and I’ll tell you everything about the situation.”

Meng Zhengrong sighed inwardly but remained composed. “Go ahead, what’s your condition?”

“I can’t recall everything right now. Can I save it for next time?”

Meng Zhengrong agreed reluctantly, “Alright, as long as it doesn’t harm the company’s reputation and interests.”

“Rest assured.”

Song Yu sat on the sofa and sighed, “Actually, your wife is quite pitiful.”

With such an opening, it felt like he was about to tell a story. Meng Zhengrong furrowed his brow but didn’t interrupt.

“They were classmates, and they had an ambiguous relationship for several years but didn’t take it further. They only officially started dating last year, and it didn’t last long before Chen Hao, that scumbag, cheated on her.”

Meng Zhengrong clicked his tongue in disapproval. He had already found the situation distasteful, but now it seemed even worse.

Xu Yuan was still young, only twenty-three years old. If she had been in an ambiguous relationship with Chen Hao for years, did that mean Chen Hao was her first love? Meng Zhengrong couldn’t remember what his own first love had been like, but he knew that women tended to remember their first loves more vividly.

“Cheating is cheating, but Chen Hao is a scumbag to another level. He cheated on her with one of her best friends. You may not know, but many people in our circle know about this, and everyone is disgusted with Chen Hao.”

It seemed that scumbags came in different levels.

Chen Hao, who cheated on his girlfriend with her best friend, belonged to a particularly despicable category of scumbags.

Meng Zhengrong was taken aback by this revelation. He knew about Chen Hao’s infidelity, but he didn’t know the details.

What did it feel like to be betrayed by both your boyfriend and your best friend? Meng Zhengrong couldn’t fathom it. However, just thinking about it made him realize that Xu Yuan had gone through something unimaginable. Given these circumstances, he wondered why Xu Yuan had agreed to marry him back then.

Chen Hao’s actions were something that even Song Yu, as a man, couldn’t condone. “I have to say, my cousin has a sense of propriety. He hasn’t had much contact with Chen Hao recently. Sometimes, even though he’s terrible in relationships, just think about it. If he treats his own girlfriend like this, how could he possibly treat others well? This kind of person can’t be trusted in any meaningful way.”

Meng Zhengrong finally responded with a low “hm.”

To be honest, he felt quite conflicted after hearing all this. He didn’t know how to respond immediately.

Song Yu noticed Meng Zhengrong’s silence and couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy. “You wouldn’t…”

The two of them had a strong mutual understanding. Although Song Yu didn’t finish his sentence, Meng Zhengrong knew what he was about to say. He interrupted, furrowing his brow, “Do you take me for that kind of person?”

Even if an outsider like Song Yu could sympathize with Xu Yuan’s situation, it was natural that Meng Zhengrong, her husband, would feel even more strongly about it.

“Well, of course not. You’re definitely not like Chen Hao,” Song Yu paused, then continued, “Xu Yuan is actually a good person. Her personal life is quite clean, she doesn’t mess around, she’s beautiful, and her family is stable. She doesn’t bring troubles into her life. Zhengrong, she’s like a little girl in front of you. If you can be more understanding, that would be great. After all, we’re all men.”

Meng Zhengrong chuckled and shook his head. “It’s quite a coincidence. Her brother, Xu Nuo, also told me something similar.”

The implication was clear: he was suggesting that others were meddling in their affairs. The way they emphasized their advice made it seem like Song Yu was Xu Yuan’s actual brother rather than a friend.

Song Yu laughed. “Haha, forget what I said. It’s not my business anyway. You know better than anyone else. She’s not my wife.”

Having learned what he wanted to know and having had a brief conversation with Song Yu, Meng Zhengrong ended the call.

Standing in front of the study window, he couldn’t help but wonder how shameless a person could be to actively contact his ex-girlfriend in such circumstances.

Holding his phone, Meng Zhengrong walked back to the bedroom. He had initially intended to say something to Xu Yuan, although he didn’t know what to say. Anything would do, really.

To his surprise, when he entered the bedroom and looked around, Xu Yuan wasn’t in bed.

He checked the time on his phone and noticed that the bathroom door was closed. He wondered if she had fallen asleep in the bathtub.

With this suspicion in mind, Meng Zhengrong approached the bathroom door, knocked, and called out, “Xiao Yuan?”

He called twice, but Xu Yuan didn’t respond. Meng Zhengrong then did something rather sneaky: he pressed his ear against the bathroom door and listened for a while. Hearing no sound of water, he became more convinced that Xu Yuan was asleep in the bathtub. Although it was almost June, the nights were still somewhat cool, and he worried that she might catch a cold if the water had cooled down. With this concern in mind, Meng Zhengrong decided not to hesitate any longer and opened the bathroom door.

As he entered, he could smell a faint scent of roses, which made him somewhat uneasy. Yes, uneasy. It had been so long since he’d felt this way that he had forgotten what it was like to have such emotions for a woman.

He slowly approached the bathtub, keeping his gaze fixed on Xu Yuan’s peaceful slumber. Her fair shoulders were exposed, but Meng Zhengrong didn’t dare to look too closely. Despite being his legal wife, he couldn’t explain why he had developed a deep respect for her during these past few days, refraining from any inappropriate thoughts.

Although he wanted to look longer, he couldn’t bring himself to do so.

At this moment, Meng Zhengrong felt like a complete coward. He didn’t dare to look below her neck and kept his focus on her face. To be honest, he had seen countless beautiful women throughout his thirty-one years of life, and Xu Yuan’s appearance easily ranked among the top. However, he was no longer easily captivated by a woman’s external beauty as he had been in his youth.

Throughout his life, Meng Zhengrong had never truly loved a woman. Even now, he didn’t understand what it felt like to love someone. When he saw his friends entangled in love, he couldn’t help but wonder why they would stubbornly cling to a relationship when they could just let it go. After all, in this world, there was no one without whom someone couldn’t survive.

He looked at Xu Yuan and wondered why a woman like her, who had everything she could want, would fall for a man like that.

After considering various possibilities, Meng Zhengrong came to one conclusion: Xu Yuan had poor taste in man.

At this moment, Xu Yuan, possibly because the water was cooling down, shifted in her sleep. Meng Zhengrong finally came back to his senses. He reached for her bathrobe on the shelf and gently pushed her shoulder, covering his own eyes to avoid looking around.

“Xiao Yuan, wake up. If you keep sleeping, you might catch a cold.”

Xu Yuan slowly opened her eyes, an unusual confusion in her gaze. Her eyes gradually focused as she looked at Meng Zhengrong in front of her, and even in her momentary confusion, she glanced at herself and surveyed her surroundings. In just a few seconds, it seemed like she regained her composure, and her eyes widened.

Meng Zhengrong, pretending to be very composed, placed the bathrobe aside. “I thought something might have happened since you didn’t come out for a while. I came in to check on you. You should dry off quickly; you might catch a cold.”

Equally composed, Xu Yuan nodded with no hint of awkwardness in her tone. “Alright, I understand.”

Meng Zhengrong turned and left the bathroom, maintaining his composure, and closed the bathroom door behind him.

As soon as he stepped outside, Meng Zhengrong couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. He quickly moved to the side, picked up a glass of water from the table, and drank it in one go, even though he wasn’t thirsty. His throat inexplicably felt dry. This didn’t make any sense!

He was a 31-year-old mature man. Why was he acting as if he were an inexperienced teenager?

Meanwhile, Xu Yuan wasn’t faring any better. She was maintaining her composure, but she was equally flustered. While she could handle most situations, being seen while taking a bath…

Aaaahhh!!!

Xu Yuan lowered her head and looked at the bathtub. Even though there were still some bubbles, they were insufficient to conceal the most important areas!

Despite having reached such a high position in her previous life and facing criticism and intrigue from ministers, nobody knew that Xu gonggong, who was cunning and devious, was actually a woman. She had no romantic history, hadn’t experienced relationships with men, and had never been hurt by anyone. She hadn’t seen through the vanity of the world, so the inherent shyness of a woman had never completely disappeared; it had just been temporarily suppressed.

In her previous life, if someone had seen her body, she would have surely gouged out their eyes!

But now…

Xu Yuan let out a low wail, her body gradually sinking down into the water. She remained submerged for a few seconds before resurfacing. Her hair was now wet, and her face was covered in water.

She clenched her small fists, struggling to hide her frustration.

Aaaahhh, she wanted to die. No, wait, why should she die? It was Meng Zhengrong who should die, die, die!!!