“Why didn’t you agree when you had such a good opportunity just now?”
A cold, heavy voice rang out in a corner of the garden.
Meng Zhenhua had gone to great lengths to obtain an invitation to this private banquet. “We still have to rely on Allen to open up the overseas market. If you can take your relationship with him a step further, the cooperation will naturally fall into place.”
Meng Shuyao felt a suffocating tightness in her chest, her voice turning hoarse. “Dad, I don’t like him.”
Meng Zhenhua was full of disdain. “How much is liking someone worth? Allen’s family background, looks, and abilities are all impeccable. The fact that he’s interested in you is your good fortune.”
Meng Shuyao dug her nails into her palm. “But he’s fifteen years older than me.”
She was only twenty-one and had never been in love. A man like Allen had extensive experience and a rich romantic history, moving with ease through circles of wealth and fame. Getting close to such a man would not end well.
“So what if he’s fifteen years older? Your mother and I are more than ten years apart too.” Meng Zhenhua lectured in a deep voice. “In the face of profit, feelings aren’t worth mentioning.”
The “mother” he spoke of was only one in name.
Meng Shuyao’s biological mother had died of illness when she was ten.
“Which piece of designer clothing you’re wearing wasn’t given to you by me?” Meng Zhenhua’s expression darkened. “Your tuition for studying abroad, your food, clothing, housing, transportation—every cent you spend comes from me.”
“And your sister’s medical expenses.” He reminded her once more. “If you still want to see her, you’d better be obedient.”
Meng Shuyao’s fingertips trembled, her nails leaving deep marks in her palm.
Meng Zhenhua left her behind and turned back toward the hall.
Meng Shuyao leaned weakly against a stone pillar beside her.
A quarter of an hour earlier.
Inside the hall, guests mingled over wine, the crisp clink of glasses ringing out.
Meng Zhenhua brought her over to greet the host of tonight’s banquet. “Allen, long time no see. This is my daughter, Elara. You two met once before. I wonder if you still remember.”
Meng Shuyao spoke obediently and politely. “Hello, Mr. Allen.”
The other party curled his lips into a smile, his gaze falling on her as he appraised her. “Of course I remember. Miss Elara is far too beautiful. It would be hard to forget even if I wanted to.”
It was no exaggeration. After meeting her once last time, he had remembered this face. She was indeed more beautiful than female celebrities in the entertainment industry—pure, captivating, and dignified in bearing.
Meng Shuyao pressed her lips together lightly and replied courteously, “You flatter me.”
Allen took the initiative to ask, “I heard Miss Elara is still in university. What’s your major?”
“Fine arts.”
“Painting?”
“Yes, oil painting.”
“What a coincidence. I also enjoy collecting oil paintings in my spare time. I wonder if I might have the chance to admire Miss Elara’s works next time.”
The unspoken rules of social circles clearly meant that his words were not as simple as they appeared on the surface.
Meng Shuyao naturally understood and declined tactfully. “My paintings probably wouldn’t be worthy of your appreciation.”
“Miss Elara is too modest.” Allen did not press her, maintaining a gentlemanly air as he ended the topic. “I still have other guests to attend to, so I won’t keep the two of you company.”
-
Her thoughts returned.
Meng Shuyao was keenly aware that she was nothing more than a pawn raised by the Meng family, a tool to exchange for profit.
Today, they could make her curry favor with a man for the sake of a business partnership. Tomorrow, they could force her to marry a complete stranger for an alliance.
If she had a choice, she would not want to be born into the Meng family, would not want to study abroad, and would want even less to become a sacrifice for the family’s interests.
In Chicago’s February weather, the wind carried a chill that seeped into her body, freezing the tip of her nose red.
The sky had not yet darkened. Meng Shuyao did not want to go back, so she walked alone toward the lakeside in the distance.
This was the wealthy district of the northern suburbs. The private estate occupied an expansive area, surrounded by vast stretches of green lawn.
Her high heels stepped silently on the soft grass. All around her was only the rustling sound of leaves brushing against one another.
Even in winter, the vegetation remained lush and verdant, requiring a great deal of manpower and maintenance costs.
Passing through a hedge over a meter tall, Meng Shuyao spotted people ahead and immediately stopped.
Beneath a vine-covered trellis, two men sat beside a stone table, conversing.
Allen’s voice drifted over faintly. “Mr. Kerwin, it is my honor that you were able to come today.”
The man sitting across from him lounged lazily in a sofa chair, his long legs crossed, one elbow resting on the armrest as the pad of his finger slowly rubbed the pinky ring on his hand.
His voice was much like the man himself—carefree and languid. “Let’s get straight to business.”
Meng Shuyao heard them discussing some AI chip project. She did not understand much of it, only felt surprised. Just what kind of identity did this man have, to make someone as arrogant as Allen lower his posture and fawn over him?
Was he the honored guest the Johnson family had invited today?
Meng Shuyao was standing behind a thick oak tree and could not see the man’s face clearly.
But she could tell that he had a deep, mellow, magnetic voice, with a standard American accent—lazy and indifferent.
He hardly spoke. It was Allen who talked the entire time.
Meng Shuyao was completely drawn to attractive voices and could not help wanting to listen a little longer. Unfortunately, the other party was sparing with his words.
A few minutes later, he finally parted his lips again. “The scenery here is quite nice.”
Allen froze for a moment, not understanding why the conversation had suddenly turned to scenery in the middle of business, but he could only follow along. “You must be joking. How could this place compare to your home?”
The man gave no comment. He drew a cigar from a cigar box, his tone unhurried. “Let’s discuss the cooperation another day. You should still be busy with the banquet.”
The smile on Allen’s face stiffened slightly.
No one knew what day “another day” meant. Perhaps it was only an excuse.
After all, Kerwin did things entirely according to his mood.
He did not dare say more. “Then I won’t disturb you. If you need anything at all, please let me know at any time. I will do everything in my power.”
The man nodded lightly.
Allen rose and left along the small path on the right.
Meng Shuyao did not dare linger here for too long and was also preparing to go back.
Unexpectedly, just as she turned around, a voice sounded without warning. “Come out.”
She stopped in her tracks, her heartbeat soaring in an instant.
Was he calling her?
She had clearly been careful enough. How had he discovered her?
As she hesitated, she heard him say again, “Do you want my people to go over and invite you?”
His tone was neither cold nor warm, yet a gloomy sense of pressure descended over her.
Meng Shuyao nervously clenched the hem of her dress and walked out from behind the tree in unease.
With her head lowered, every step she took was filled with trepidation. She did not even dare look directly at him, her face full of apology. “I’m sorry, sir. I was only passing by. I didn’t mean to…”
He couldn’t have misunderstood and thought she had been eavesdropping on business secrets, could he?
This person looked difficult to provoke at first glance. She might have gotten herself into serious trouble today.
Pei Yuzhou held a lit cigar between his fingers and swept his gaze over her carelessly. “Chinese?”
He switched from English to Chinese without the slightest accent.
Meng Shuyao was astonished. “You’re Chinese too?”
The instant she lifted her eyes, the man’s appearance crashed into her sight.
He had a very distinctive pair of eyes. His pupils were not pure black; the outer rings carried a faint, hazy dark green. His brows and eyes were deep-set, his nose bridge high, and the bone structure of his entire face was exceptionally superior. There was not the slightest flaw to be found in his features. He looked more like someone of mixed blood.
He looked at her calmly like that. Even though he was seated, he still gave off the impression of looking down on her from above. “Standing that far away, could you hear clearly?”
P.S.: New book reporting in. Welcome, everyone, to jump in and follow along. As usual, I have a few things to say at the beginning, so please read patiently.
1. All times, locations, and backgrounds in the book are fictional. There are many personal settings and liberties taken, so please don’t scrutinize them too closely. Reading is for relaxation and entertainment; overanalyzing it takes the fun out of it.
2. The protagonists are not perfect and each has flaws. The male lead is not a good person, and this is not a strong-female-lead story, so please don’t be too harsh on the heroine.
3. Friendly discussion is welcome. Please don’t use extreme language. Kind words create kind connections. Reasonable opinions will be accepted humbly. If there are bugs or typos, feel free to point them out.
4. One very important point: there are many books where the heroine deliberately approaches the male lead. It is a common trope. Please don’t be tactless, and don’t mention other books or authors in my book. Mutual respect, thank you.
5. I often polish and revise the text, so please refer to the official version when reading.