His expression didn't escape Meng Junyao's notice. A hint of resentment flashed in her eyes. Subtly shielding Meng Wan behind her, she stepped forward to stand in front of Huangfu Qian, her face gentle: "Third Prince, were you alright yesterday? Are you feeling better?"
Huangfu Qianfang came to his senses: "I'm much better now, thank you for your concern, Second Miss."
After talking for quite a while, Meng Junheng came over and invited everyone to sit down. The four of them then sat down around the table by the window.
"I never expected that the one who fell in love with my second sister would be the third prince. Isn't that great, second sister?" After they sat down, the atmosphere became a little stiff, as if everyone was unsure what to say and lost in their own thoughts.
Meng Wan wouldn't let the atmosphere continue, so she chuckled and started teasing.
Exposing the Identity (Part 3)
Meng Junyao blushed again, glared at Meng Wan, and whispered, "Why are you making fun of me today, sister! Your knowledge is far superior to mine. You only missed the chance to discuss scholarship with the Third Prince yesterday because you were buying rose cakes. Otherwise, if we were to be considered kindred spirits, I wouldn't be the one to talk about it!"
This is Meng Junyao, always gentle and tender, making people want to hold her in their hands and cherish her. Meng Wan looked at her and wanted to slap her, but she held back. Not only did she hold back, but she even turned to Huangfu Qian with a smile: "My second sister is just shy, Third Prince, please don't mind. Actually, she is overjoyed."
Meng Wan was indeed unusually talkative. Even Meng Junheng noticed something was off, but he didn't say much from beginning to end. He just looked at the group of people with a deep gaze.
Huangfu Qian became somewhat anxious upon hearing Meng Wan's words.
All he ever wanted was Meng Wan, and although Meng Junyao was very talented and beautiful, he didn't care about her.
After all, her status as an illegitimate child offered him no protection.
So at this moment, she hurriedly tried to distance herself: "Miss, you misunderstand. Although I have talked with the Second Miss quite a bit, we have not reached the point of being of one mind."
Meng Junyao's smile froze, and her expression instantly turned ugly.
They had clearly had a pleasant conversation yesterday, so why was he so eager to distance himself now? Seeing his gaze drift towards Meng Wan beside him, she frowned. Was it because of Meng Wan?
--
After that, because of Huangfu Qian's words, Meng Junyao remained sullen and silent all the way back.
Only after Meng Junheng left, leaving only her and Meng Wan, did she call out to Meng Wan: "Sister, I have something I want to ask you."
Meng Wan had been waiting for her to say this, and immediately turned around: "What is it?"
Meng Junyao hesitated for a moment, carefully considering how to phrase her words so as not to lose face while still expressing her meaning. After a long while, she finally said, "Did what the Third Prince said just now mean that he dislikes me?"
Meng Wan raised an eyebrow, then smiled: "How could that be? He's just as embarrassed as you are!"
"Really?" Meng Junyao was clearly somewhat skeptical, but Meng Wan nodded firmly: "Think about it, he originally intended not to reveal his identity, but I brought my elder brother along, so it's bound to be a bit awkward! Besides, if he disliked you, why would he agree to give you Wang Xizhi's 'Timely Clearing After Snowfall'?"
That makes sense, and Meng Junyao visibly breathed a sigh of relief: "I'm relieved to hear that, sister. I thought the Third Prince favored you! After all, you have a better background than me, and your looks and demeanor are superior..."
"Silly girl, how could that be? You are so much prettier than me. If you don't believe me, go ask your father and aunt."
Meng Wan chuckled, displaying the magnanimity of an elder sister, but her smile vanished instantly after Meng Junyao left.
Yes, perhaps Huangfu Qian is not indifferent to Meng Junyao, but at this moment, he has no time for romance. What he wants to do is to achieve his ambitions. So even if he is interested in Meng Junyao, he will not take any action.
This is precisely what Meng Wan wants to use to humiliate Meng Junyao.
A Late-Night Visit (Part 1)
In the following days, Meng Junyao couldn't resist leaving the mansion again. Whether she ran into Huangfu Qian or not was another matter, but her eagerness was certainly commendable.
However, this suited Meng Wan's wishes perfectly. The more Meng Junyao cared about Huangfu Qian, the more heartbroken she would be when she was abandoned in the future, and Meng Wan would feel relieved when she was heartbroken.
The weather was quite chilly, and it was only warm inside the house. After lunch, Meng Wan lay down on the bed for a short rest.
The sparse sunlight streamed in through the window, spreading a golden hue across the floor and scattering brilliance throughout the area.
On the exquisitely carved pear wood bed, golden auspicious curtains drew back the layers of drapery. Meng Wan lay there quietly, yet her sleep was extremely restless. Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her fair forehead, and her delicate brows were tightly furrowed.
The figure in her dream drew closer and closer. She tried to escape, but was held firmly in place. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free. She knelt there, watching helplessly as he kicked her hard in the stomach: "Ah!"
I was suddenly jolted awake from my dream, my dark eyes still lingering with the fear from the nightmare. I stared blankly at the canopy embroidered with lotus flowers, knowing full well it was just a dream, yet the suffocating, unbearable pain in my chest was just as vivid as it had been.
Her child... her child...
"What did you dream about? Why are you so scared?" In the midst of the daze, a cold voice suddenly rang out from outside the tent, sounding even more eerie in the silent room.
Meng Wan was taken aback.
Through a veil, it was impossible to see who it was, but one could vaguely make out a pair of unfathomable eyes staring intently at her.
She was startled and instinctively reached under her pillow to pull out a dagger, gripping it tightly. She pointed it at the figure and shouted sharply, "Who's there?"
A tall figure descended, effortlessly passing through the gauze curtain to stand before her. He grasped her wrist with one hand and pulled her into his arms with the other: "It's only been two days, how could you forget me so quickly? It's truly heartbreaking."
That sound...
Meng Wan gave him a hard shove, and when she saw who it was, she froze: "How is it you?" It was the lecherous scoundrel she had met at Dongbai Tower that day!
"Who else could it be but me?" He seemed unfazed by her shock, his lips still curled into a carefree smile.
Meng Wan frowned slightly in disgust, and made as if to get out of bed and leave him, but he tightened his long arm and pulled her back into his embrace: "Where are you going?"
He placed his hand on her waist, sat on the edge of the bed, a section of his robe pressing down on her, and chuckled softly.
Only now could one clearly see his face. He had thin lips, bright eyes, and shimmering pupils. His long eyebrows reached his temples, making him so handsome that it was impossible to look away. Especially his smile at this moment, which was like a red spider lily blooming on the banks of the River of Oblivion, possessing a bewitching magic.
Meng Wan, who considered herself to have seen countless people, was still taken aback. She couldn't believe there was such a handsome man in the world.
But the thought only lasted a moment before it was replaced by disgust. She stared at him coldly, her eyes blazing with fury: "What exactly do you want? How did you end up in my house?"
"Hmm?" The man raised an eyebrow, then feigned realization: "I was at the East Department Store yesterday too!"