Volume 1, Chapter 29: How Did That Scar on Your Lip Split Open Again, and Again, and Again?

"How on earth did the scar on your lip break open again? And it’s even larger than the one from the other day!"

After Meng Huaijin left, Shu Wan went to Guan Yulin’s room, and the two girls lay on the bed whispering.

Although both marks were caused by Meng Huaijin’s teeth, the one from that night had been a bump, but this one was truly the result of him biting down.

Recalling his expression when he left—there was no trace of his usual anger, nor did he issue any harsh threats. In short, he seemed to be in a surprisingly good mood, even reminding her to rest and avoid cold water.

"Really?" Shu Wan touched her lip lightly, asking a question to which she already knew the answer.

"Really, really, truer than real gold. Did your period make your temper flare up that much?" Guan Yulin asked, looking baffled. "What were you doing locking yourself in the room earlier? Didn't you say you were going to explain things to me?"

"..." She had been kissing that man, but she didn't say so. "Sorry, it's that time of the month, my temper isn't very stable. Please bear with me."

Guan Yulin was skeptical. "You seem like you have something on your mind."

"I do, a little." Shu Wan stared blankly and said, "Yulin, let me ask you something. If you like a man, and the first time you force a kiss on him, he resists and gets very angry; but the second time you force a kiss on him, he neither resists nor responds, yet he doesn't get angry like before, and when he leaves, he even reminds you to take care of yourself... what do you think he means? Does he like you or not? Or is it possible that... we can tacitly move into a dating phase from now on?"

Guan Yulin’s eyelashes flickered as she quickly processed the information. "My god, are you actually dating someone?"

"...What do you mean 'actually dating someone'?"

"Sister Jiang Jie, your future aunt, asked me about this yesterday, but I told her you weren't."

Shu Wan frowned. "She asked about me?"

"Yeah, maybe since she's about to marry my cousin, she's starting to warm up to the role of being your aunt and is concerned about you."

Concerned... Shu Wan smiled without much emotion and returned to the topic. "Tell me quickly, does that man like me or not? Or does this mean he’s tacitly agreeing to date?"

Guan Yulin pulled a pillow under her legs, looking thoughtful. "Based on my years of devouring romance novels, if a man neither resists nor responds, he might just be at a loss for what to do with the woman and is currently plotting his next move."

Shu Wan: "..." I appreciate that.

"But it’s also possible he’s playing hard to get! Pretending to resist while actually wanting it, just to take advantage of you!"

"...That’s not it." Shu Wan offered a wry smile; he had no intention of taking advantage of her. The one wanting to take advantage was her.

"Then it’s possible he’s already fallen in love, but for some reason or constraint, he can't put that love into words." Guan Yulin continued to let her imagination run wild, clapping her hands. "Wow, if that’s the case, it’s so exciting! Your story is quite something."

Is that really the case?

Shu Wan fell into deep thought, her heart racing as much from the pain of the scar on her lip as from the hope it stirred.

Thanks to the heating pad Guan Yulin gave her, her stomach felt much better. After chatting about this and that, the two finally went downstairs for lunch.

***

Scanning the lobby, Shu Wan didn't see Meng Huaijin. He was nowhere to be found, but someone else had arrived.

Meng Tingzhou, the eldest son of the Meng family as described by Meng Chuan. His business empire spanned all of Asia and he was wealthier than many nations, yet he had declared he would never marry, shattering the high-society dreams of countless people.

Shu Wan had only seen him once during the Lunar New Year. He had barely spoken, only handing her a red envelope when others were giving out New Year money. When she opened it later, she was stunned—her grandfather had given her a bank card, but this eldest uncle had given her a check, the kind where she could fill in any amount!

She had been too scared to accept it and wanted to return it, but Meng Huaijin had said nonchalantly, "Keep it if he gives it to you. He has plenty of money; if you don't take it, who will?"

What kind of reason was that? That check was still sitting safely in the drawer of Shu Wan's room; she didn't dare fill in any numbers.

Regaining her composure, Shu Wan met his gaze and smiled. "Big Uncle."

Meng Tingzhou looked at her for a dozen seconds and nodded slightly. "I heard from Meng Chuan that your grades are good. Where do you want to apply?"

As everyone knew, this eldest son was seventeen years older than his brother, Meng Huaijin, but Shu Wan couldn't see him as a forty-six-year-old man. Whether it was his temperament, his skin condition, or his appearance, he looked as if he had been preserved in preservatives—he looked far too young.

If Meng Huaijin was sharp and wild, like a beautiful, honed blade, then Meng Tingzhou’s handsomeness was imbued with an effortless, gentlemanly elegance rooted in his very bones.

Moreover, he was almost the same age as her mother. Logically, they should have been close, but why had her mother never mentioned him?

"Hmm?"

Shu Wan was pulled back to reality by the sound of his voice. She replied, "The results aren't out yet, but if everything goes as planned, I will likely stay in North City."

Meng Tingzhou smiled gently and took a sip of the juice in front of him. "I wish you success in your examinations."

Shu Wan also took a sip of juice. "I'll take your kind words."

After breakfast, she was swinging in the garden when she unintentionally overheard Mrs. Meng’s incessant voice:

"Tingzhou, your brother is getting engaged. Do you really have no thoughts on this?"

"Congratulations to Mother for getting your wish." It was a very calm reply.

"You... after all these years, can't you just let it go?"

"It doesn't matter whether I let it go or not. I told you long ago, Mother, I am the master of my own life. I’m leaving now. I’ll come back to see you and Father next time."

"Tingzhou, she’s already married, and now she’s passed away. Why are you still so obsessed..."

Meng Tingzhou acted as if he hadn't heard. He paced toward the gate, and as he passed the garden, he glanced in her direction.

***

"Is Big Uncle leaving?" Shu Wan asked, her eyes bright.

In a trance, it was as if an old friend had returned. Meng Tingzhou paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. Listen to your Uncle Huaijin."

"I will."

Watching the man disappear at the end of the garden, a strong sense of doubt arose in Shu Wan’s heart.

Who was the "she" Mrs. Meng referred to?

Married and then passed away... it didn't seem hard to guess.

She stared blankly at the sky and asked herself: *Mother, are the things you sealed away and refused to mention hidden in this mansion? Was it... him?*

***

That evening, Meng Huaijin returned, and he wasn't alone—Jiang Jie was with him.

Jiang Jie knew how to liven up a room, and the atmosphere at the dinner table was lively; the elderly couple of the Meng family were charmed and beaming.

The only one who wasn't having a good time was Shu Wan.

"Xiao Jie, how many engagement dresses did you pick out today?" Mrs. Meng asked.

Jiang Jie smiled. "Huaijin helped me pick five."

Shu Wan glanced at Meng Huaijin. He was eating in silence, neither responding nor denying it.

"Five isn't enough. Tomorrow, Auntie will help you pick another five." Mrs. Meng served Jiang Jie some food.

Jiang Jie’s voice was sweet and coquettish, not at all like her usual professional demeanor. "Auntie, it's just an engagement, not a wedding. I don't need that many."

"Ten for the engagement, fifteen for the wedding. Our Xiao Jie is so outstanding and beautiful, you must be the most stunning bride in all of North City."

Shu Wan listened silently, her expression unchanged as she stood up. She nodded slightly to the people at the table. "I’m finished. I’ll head upstairs. Please enjoy your meal, elders."

Old Master Meng asked if the food wasn't to her liking.

Shu Wan shook her head and turned away on her own.

She had only taken a few steps when she heard Meng Huaijin, who had been silent the whole time, announce in a flat, indifferent tone: "The engagement date has been moved up to this month."