The rain was pouring down in torrents.
In front of the International Hotel, a woman in a long floral dress held an umbrella. Clutching the medicine in one hand, she looked nervously ahead at the magnificently decorated high - rise building.
Her name was Yuan Meng, and she had come to find her husband, Ling Qianchen.
Mrs. Ling had said that if she failed to win Ling Qianchen over this time, she would be kicked out of the Ling family.
So after giving her a secret recipe, Mrs. Ling had told her to wait here.
She had been observing outside for a full three days but still hadn't seen Ling Qianchen show up.
Thinking of her situation, Yuan Meng tightened her grip on the medicine in her hand and walked straight into the lobby.
It was now or never.
Suddenly, a dull thunderclap split the sky...
The deafening thunder made Yuan Meng, who had been afraid of thunder since childhood, let out a scream. Her legs went weak, and she fell onto the marble in front of the hotel. Her knees were scraped, and her forehead was bruised. Tears welled up in her eyes from the pain.
The next second, a gloomy and impatient voice sounded above her head. "What are you running around for in such heavy rain!"
The familiar tone made Yuan Meng look up in surprise. After seeing Ling Qianchen's familiar face, she couldn't hold back anymore and grabbed the corner of his clothes.
"Qianchen, can we go home?" she tilted her head up, her voice slightly nasal.
"And then?"
Ling Qianchen's lips curled up slightly, his eyes full of contempt. "Sleep with you and let you have a baby?"
Yuan Meng didn't say a word.
She just clung tightly to Ling Qianchen's sleeves with both small hands and refused to let go.
"Yuan Meng, if you have a baby, will you stop pestering me?" A terrifying look of rage flashed across the man's handsome face. He bent down, grabbed Yuan Meng's face, and asked her in a deep voice.
Before Yuan Meng could answer, she felt dizzy. Then she was hoisted onto his shoulder. He strode into the suite and unceremoniously threw her onto the bed.
Then, he violently tore open her clothes and pinned her down.
"Yuan Meng, you asked for this."
His kisses rained down on Yuan Meng's neck and collarbone like a storm, but never on her lips. There was not a hint of affection in them.
Yuan Meng bit her lip and endured the man's vengeful assault.
It had been eight months since their wedding.
Because of the forced marriage, Ling Qianchen had disappeared on their wedding night and never returned home. He didn't even go back when Mrs. Ling pretended to be ill.
Ling Qianchen's disgust for her had reached its peak.
Yuan Meng felt a bit irritated. This Ling Qianchen was really difficult to deal with!
She pursed her lips and managed to squeeze out a few tears.
The stiffness in the woman's body caught Ling Qianchen's eye. Her aggrieved look reminded him of the little white rabbit he had raised when he was a child. For a moment, he was distracted.
"What are you so aggrieved about?" He pinched her chin. "Yuan Meng, you manipulated my marriage. What do you have to be aggrieved about?"
After saying that, he stood up straight. "You can go."
Yuan Meng opened her mouth. "I... I have to go back with you..."
Otherwise, Mrs. Ling would never forgive her.
Ling Qianchen coldly interrupted her. "Don't make me say it a second time."
"..."
Before marrying him, Yuan Meng had been trained and knew his unyielding personality. So she hesitated for a moment, biting her lip, and then went home alone.
On the way, she kept thinking about what to say. But as soon as the taxi pulled up in front of the villa, she saw Ling Qianchen's low - key luxury car parked in the yard.
An indescribable feeling welled up in Yuan Meng's heart.
She hadn't expected that he would actually come back.
Looking at the couple who appeared at the door one after another, Mrs. Ling was quite surprised. Her look of disdain for Yuan Meng lessened a bit.
Maybe, as the fortune - teller had said, although this woman was a bit unlucky, she wasn't completely useless. At least today, Ling Qianchen was willing to come home.
After entering the house, the servant came over immediately to take their rain gear.
Yu Luqing had a kind smile on her face. She tried to ease the tension between Yuan Meng and Ling Qianchen. "Qianchen, you've finally come back. Haven't you eaten yet? What would you like to eat? Mom will cook it for you herself."
"No need." Ling Qianchen interrupted. "I'm just here to sleep."
Yu Luqing was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Just to sleep?"
"Aren't you the one who has gone to so much trouble for this?"
This son of hers still didn't want to talk to her as usual.
Yu Luqing's face turned a bit awkward.
Ling Qianchen didn't feel like beating around the bush with her. He grabbed Yuan Meng's wrist and dragged her upstairs to the bedroom. As soon as they entered, he locked the door. Then he let go of Yuan Meng and casually leaned back on the sofa.
Yuan Meng was completely stunned by Ling Qianchen's sudden actions and didn't dare to move.
She stared blankly as Ling Qianchen went to take a shower. She just sat there stupidly until the man came out after his shower and threw a pajamas at her. Then she finally came to her senses.
Her husband had finally come home.
It was the first time he had come home since their marriage.
"You're as dirty as a stray dog. Wash up before you come out." Ling Qianchen's tone was still full of disgust.
"Okay."
Because of Ling Qianchen's words, Yuan Meng scrubbed herself until she smelled nice. She used several times more body wash than usual. After taking a shower, she sat down opposite Ling Qianchen, exuding a sweet fragrance. She gave Ling Qianchen a sweet smile. "Qianchen, thank you."
"Thank me?" Ling Qianchen scoffed.
"Thank you for coming back with me." Yuan Meng tried to make her eyes look as innocent as possible.
Ling Qianchen: ...
He pinched Yuan Meng's chin and said with a half - smile, "I hate it when someone acts like a little white rabbit in front of me the most."
Seeing this, Yuan Meng rolled her eyes.
Ling Qianchen really hated silly and innocent girls. She had to put on a show to match this CEO's pet peeve.
Thinking this, she quickly blinked her big eyes. With tears in her eyes, she choked out, "You scared me. It hurts. I'm scared."
"..." Ling Qianchen felt nauseous again.
He pushed Yuan Meng away and strode over to the bed. He lay down and impatiently took out his phone.
Yuan Meng puffed out her cheeks and carefully walked over to him. She tugged at his sleeve. "Qianchen, are you going to sleep? Can I... sleep next to you tonight..."
There was only one bed in the bedroom, and she wanted to sleep in it.
Ling Qianchen couldn't bear it anymore. "Go sleep on the sofa!"
"Okay."
Since he didn't allow it, she didn't pester him further. Still with that docile tone like a little white rabbit, Yuan Meng answered and obediently walked over to the sofa to lie down.
Neither of them had eaten dinner. One slept on the bed and the other on the sofa. Neither of them said a word.
The rain outside stopped, and night fell.
The man on the bed fell into a deep sleep. The woman on the sofa still had bright eyes. She softly called out, "Qianchen, aren't you hungry? Can I go get you something to eat?"
The man on the bed didn't answer her. His breathing was even and peaceful.
Damn man, you're the fool, and your whole family are fools!
After confirming that Ling Qianchen was asleep, Yuan Meng cursed him under her breath. Then she picked up her phone and skillfully switched between her main and secondary WeChat accounts.
She opened the chat window with 99+ unread messages. She deliberately arranged the emojis of blowing kisses so that they looked like they were kissing face - to - face and sent them over.