Chapter 3

Setting up a flag too early is not a good thing.

Xu Yuan had been calm and collected until she saw Meng Zhengrong’s face, but then she completely fell apart.

To put it bluntly, in this world Xu Yuan could disregard anyone, except for her master. In the eyes of many, servants were just servants, even if they held some power. However, Xu Yuan truly didn’t care about titles like Empress or Crown Prince. In her heart, there was only one master.

She dared to guarantee that after the emperor’s passing, she would be one of the few who genuinely mourned. Even though she respected and revered the emperor deeply, his actual death was still a shocking event. Xu Yuan couldn’t help feeling emotional as she looked at the face identical to her master.

“Emperor, have you also crossed over?” Xu Yuan asked hesitantly.

Meng Zhengrong, confused by her words, was at a loss. What was she talking about? What was she calling him?

He stared at her with a perplexed expression, “What are you saying? What did you call me?”

Xu Yuan hesitated. She had mistakenly assumed that Meng Zhengrong was her master, and now she was trapped in this role. Her brain had been in a frenzy, trying to adapt to this absurd situation. Trying to think on her feet, she stammered, “Emperor, you… you just crossed over too?”

Meng Zhengrong, still utterly perplexed, knelt down and helped her to her feet. “What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?”

Although their relationship lacked emotional depth, they were married now, and their families were connected through this union. Meng Zhengrong was willing to try to treat Xu Yuan as part of his family.

Xu Yuan was regretful deep down. In this world, the situation was so perfect that she wished the emperor was truly alive. She looked at Meng Zhengrong, and even though he wasn’t her emperor, the emotions stirred by seeing that face were overwhelming.

“I’m fine,” Xu Yuan said in a lowered respectful tone, unable to meet his eyes.

Meng Zhengrong, still puzzled, asked, “What were you doing just now?”

Kneeling before him, calling him emperor, what was all that about?

Xu Yuan struggled to find an explanation for her peculiar behaviour. She thought back to the original owner’s best friend, who had been talking to her on the phone recently. The friend had mentioned something about auditions for television roles. She tried to piece it together from the snippets of conversation she’d overheard.

“Yuyu mentioned that I should go for an audition…”

That was all she said, hoping that Meng Zhengrong could understand her implication.

Meng Zhengrong may not have been good at dealing with women, but he knew who Xu Yuan’s best friend was. He understood the implication of her words, even though he wasn’t entirely sure what was going on with her.

“You want to become an actress?” he asked, even though he wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea. He didn’t want his wife to enter the entertainment industry, even as a casual pursuit.

Although it was a question, it carried a tone of disapproval.

Xu Yuan picked up on his disapproval, but she couldn’t bring herself to say more. She merely shook her head firmly, indicating that she didn’t want to pursue an acting career.

Meng Zhengrong’s expression softened a bit. He was relieved to hear that Xu Yuan didn’t want to pursue acting. He had always had reservations about the entertainment industry, not because he looked down on the profession, but because he believed it was a chaotic and unpredictable environment, and he didn’t want his wife to get involved in it.

“These past few days must have been tough on you. Don’t worry; I won’t have to go on business trips for a long time,” Meng Zhengrong said, attempting to reassure her.

Xu Yuan nodded, her expression still respectful. She was relieved to hear that Meng Zhengrong wouldn’t be traveling for work, but there were other things she was anxious to discuss.

“Have you had dinner?” she asked, concerned.

Meng Zhengrong was puzzled by her choice of words. “Have you?”

“Already eaten,” Xu Yuan replied.

“Then do you want me to prepare some hot water for your bath, or would you like me to make some of your… uh, your favourite dishes as a midnight snack?” Xu Yuan’s choice of words was peculiar, and she was clearly trying to be considerate.

“No need for a midnight snack. I’d like to take a bath first,” Meng Zhengrong replied. After spending over ten hours on a plane, he felt tired and in need of a bath.

Xu Yuan said, “Alright, I’ll go prepare some hot water.”

Meng Zhengrong noticed her strange behaviour but didn’t press further. Instead, he handed her a gift bag and said with a somewhat embarrassed face, “I had a tight schedule during this business trip, so I couldn’t bring back a proper gift. I just got you a bag.”

Xu Yuan received the gift bag, and her legs felt weak once again. She maintained her composure, taking the gift with reverence as though she were receiving a sacred offering.

Meng Zhengrong was satisfied with her reaction, as he had heard that women loved bags. He thought this would be a good gift, although it was the first time he had given her something like this. His expression remained serious as he said, “I had a very busy work schedule this time, so I couldn’t bring back a better gift. I hope you like it.”

Xu Yuan, her legs trembling, expressed her appreciation with great respect, nearly bowing down before him. It was as if she was ready to burn incense and bathe in his glory.

Seeing her like this, Meng Zhengrong couldn’t help but feel puzzled. While he didn’t know much about her, he found her behaviour unusual. He wondered if something had happened during his absence.