After a busy day, even by five in the afternoon, the person who had come to buy the painting still had not appeared.
Most of the visitors had left. Meng Shuyao took advantage of the lull to drink some water, easing the dryness in her throat.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Meng Zhenhua.
Though she did not want to answer, after a moment’s hesitation, she compromised and took her phone out into the corridor to pick up.
“Has there been any progress with Allen?” The moment he opened his mouth, it was a question devoid of any warmth.
Meng Shuyao did not dare say that she had never contacted Allen at all.
“I… my classes have been too full lately.”
“How busy can you be with painting?” Meng Zhenhua was not so easy to fool. “I don’t have high requirements for your studies. As long as you can graduate smoothly, that’s enough.”
He only needed her to have a presentable academic degree, one that would not disgrace the Meng family.
How could Meng Shuyao not know that?
From the day she returned to the Meng family, she had already been reduced to a chess piece.
She had thought that once she went to university, she could work part-time and earn money herself, slowly breaking away from the Meng family. Who could have known that her elder sister would meet with an accident and need a huge sum for medical expenses? She had no choice but to continue being the obedient daughter of the Meng family.
Meng Zhenhua said, “The hospital called yesterday and said her mental state hasn’t been very good lately.”
Meng Shuyao snapped back to herself and hurriedly asked, “What happened to my sister?”
“She’s fine for now.” Meng Zhenhua’s patience was exhausted. “But if you still want her to be well, then be obedient.”
Be obedient, be obedient, be obedient. Those two repeated words had run through almost her entire adolescence. The moment she resisted, the moment she had thoughts of her own, she would be locked in her room to face the wall and reflect until she admitted her mistake.
The call ended.
Meng Shuyao’s hand holding the phone dropped to her side, and she stood rooted in place, dazed.
Who knew how long had passed before a passing colleague called out to her, “Elara, why haven’t you left yet? Everyone’s gone. You can head home.”
Meng Shuyao blinked. Her voice was a little hoarse. “Okay.”
Absentmindedly, she walked toward the elevator.
As she passed the corner, she failed to notice someone walking toward her and ran straight into him.
A cool, woody fragrance rushed into her nose. Her forehead hit a solid wall of flesh, and she stepped back in pain. Her high heel twisted accidentally, and she lost her balance, falling onto the carpet.
Before her eyes was a pair of black men’s Oxford shoes, spotless. The suit trousers above them were long, crisp, and neatly pressed.
Her gaze moved upward—
The other party stood there looking at her, with not the slightest intention of reaching out to help.
After seeing his face clearly, Meng Shuyao froze.
It was the man she had met at the banquet that day.
That face was far too recognizable, especially his eyes.
While she was still distracted, a cold, detached voice sounded. “Can you get up?”
Meng Shuyao moved her aching ankle. Supporting herself on the floor with her elbow, she still had not recovered.
When she said nothing, the man parted his lips again. “Do you need me to call an ambulance for you?”
“…No, I’m fine.” Meng Shuyao knew she could not afford to offend him, so she endured the pain and stood up from the floor. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention just now and bumped into you.”
Pei Yuzhou swept a glance over the work badge on her chest.
Meng Shuyao pressed her lips together nervously. She did not know whether he had recognized her. She had a cold and was wearing a mask, and the name on her work badge was also her English name. He probably would not recognize her.
“Where is your gallery director?” the man asked.
“Are you here to buy the painting?”
He gave his tacit confirmation.
So the buyer of that painting was him.
Meng Shuyao did not dare delay. “Please wait a moment. I’ll call the director.”
-
Very soon, the gallery director hurried down from upstairs and invited the man into the reception room. Then he turned and instructed, “Elara, bring in a cup of coffee.”
Meng Shuyao nodded. “All right.”
She turned and went to the pantry, made two cups of Americano, and carried them back to the reception room.
They were already signing the contract.
Meng Shuyao walked closer to the table and caught a glimpse of the signature line. The black fountain-pen strokes were vigorous and powerful.
—Kerwin Hers
He was actually a member of the Hers family.
The most powerful old-money family in America, with wealth accumulated over several centuries, a firmly established status, and an industrial chain spread like stars across the globe.
A wild thought suddenly sprang into Meng Shuyao’s mind.
If she had to attach herself to a man, then why couldn’t it be him?
Whether it was power, status, looks, or bearing, he was far above the rest.
Allen could not compare to him at all.
Rather than live under the Meng family’s control for the rest of her life, it would be better to find another path.
In the midst of her daze, she was frightened by her own thoughts.
A man like the one before her—was he truly someone she could approach?
Once she provoked him, what the consequences would be, everything was unknown.
“I’ll have someone deliver the painting to your car,” the gallery director said with a smile.
The man gave a faint “Mm.” “I have other matters. I’ll take my leave.”
The gallery director rose. “I’ll see you out.”
He refused directly. “No need.”
The coffee had not been touched. Perhaps he did not like Americanos, or perhaps he simply did not drink this sort of cheap coffee from outside.
After Pei Yuzhou left, the gallery director looked at Meng Shuyao. “If there’s nothing else, you can get off work. You worked hard today.”
“It’s what I should do. Then I’ll head back first.”
After saying goodbye, Meng Shuyao left the reception room and quickly chased in the direction of the elevator.
She had no time to think too much. There was only one chance. If she missed it, there might never be another.
No matter what, she ought to try.
Fortunately, he had not gone far.
He was standing by the elevator, answering a call, one hand tucked into his trouser pocket. The suit vest on his body outlined a broad back, his shoulder line straight and level, fitting his figure perfectly. Everywhere about him exuded masculine charm.
Meng Shuyao did not dare get too close.
Pei Yuzhou had his back to her. After briefly giving a few instructions to the person on the other end of the phone, in the next instant, his voice sank a few degrees. “Does Miss Meng have some peculiar hobby?”
Chinese carried even more pressure than English.
Meng Shuyao’s body trembled abruptly.
He remembered her.
They had only met once, and she had been wearing a mask, yet he had recognized her. His powers of observation were almost terrifying.
The man hung up the call, turned slightly, and watched her with a deep, quiet gaze.
“I’m sorry…” Meng Shuyao hastily opened her mouth to apologize. “I wasn’t eavesdropping.”
She shifted her feet and slowly walked over.
Pei Yuzhou noticed that she was not walking quite naturally on her right foot. “Do you need me to pay your medical expenses?”
Meng Shuyao shook her head repeatedly. “No, that’s not what I meant.”
How would she dare ask him for medical expenses?
Pei Yuzhou raised his brow slightly, waiting for her to continue.
Meng Shuyao had only focused on chasing after him and had not thought at all about how to begin.
She had never pursued anyone before, let alone a man she knew absolutely nothing about.
What if he had a girlfriend?
Her moral bottom line did not allow her to do anything that would destroy another person’s relationship.
After a moment of thought, she decided to probe indirectly. “You bought the painting… Is it for someone?”
The man asked flatly in return, “What does that have to do with you?”
“I’m sorry. I was just a little curious.” Meng Shuyao paused. “Because I also especially like that painting…”
Pei Yuzhou remained without the slightest extra emotion from beginning to end. “I don’t believe I have any obligation to satisfy your curiosity.”
In the end, Meng Shuyao was thin-skinned. Met with such coldness, the courage she had finally mustered leaked away completely. “I’m sorry. I was being presumptuous.”
P.S. The setting is overseas, so many scenes are assumed to be in English and won’t be repeatedly emphasized in the book. However, when the male and female leads communicate privately, they basically use Chinese.