"Where is this?"
Meng Jingwei propped herself up on the bed, supporting herself with one hand and holding her forehead with the other.
"Awake?"
A familiar voice suddenly sounded by her ear. Before Meng Jingwei could turn her head to look, she was pulled into an embrace.
The familiar scent washed over her. Meng Jingwei looked up to see Qing Muyye sitting on the edge of the bed, holding her.
Seeing him, a sense of security she couldn't explain flooded her heart.
Meng Jingwei's lips curved into a faint smile. "Why am I here with you?"
She clearly remembered being at home. How had she ended up here the moment she opened her eyes?
"You drank so much alone at home and got a high fever. And you still have the nerve to ask me."
Qing Muyye released Meng Jingwei, his sharp brows furrowed slightly. "What's really going on?"
That night, after finishing his work at the company, Qing Muyye had tried to contact Meng Jingwei, but her phone was always out of reach. Qing Muyye, considering the circumstances, feared that visiting Meng Jingwei's home would only cause her trouble.
After all, his news had gone viral online. Even after work, paparazzi would still be following him. If he went to Meng Jingwei's house, the paparazzi would likely follow him there too.
Qing Muyye initially thought she had simply fallen asleep. However, when he still couldn't reach her the next day, he started to worry.
Upon arriving at Meng Jingwei's home, he found her body burning with fever.
"I... have a high fever?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. I don't remember. By the way, how are you?"
"I'm fine."
Qing Muyye's way of handling problems was through cold treatment.
Regardless of the widespread public discussion, he boldly posted a kissing photo of himself and Meng Jingwei, who was disguised as a man, with no accompanying text.
He allowed public opinion to escalate.
"Why did you post a photo on Weibo? Aren't you afraid of being cursed to death?"
"If one photo can sever the thoughts of countless women about me, wouldn't that be even better?"
With one photograph, he had acknowledged his relationship with the 'man' in the picture. From then on, no woman would actively throw herself at him.
Meng Jingwei curved her lips into a smile, suddenly unsure of what to say.
Leaning in Qing Muyye's embrace, images of the photo she had seen on Xiao Cheng's phone that night involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
Qing Muyye knew what had happened between her and Xiao Cheng, yet he didn't despise her. Instead, he had deliberately concealed the truth.
For a man of his stature, who could have had a better woman, he had chosen her from among thousands.
Meng Jingwei was moved.
Moreover, as she came to understand him better, she felt increasingly guilty and self-reproachful, feeling more and more unworthy of such an excellent man as Qing Muyye.
In a daze, a sense of inferiority bloomed in Meng Jingwei's heart.
After being defiled, she felt unworthy of the noble and proud him!
"What happened that day? Why did you drink so much?" Qing Muyye noticed Meng Jingwei's displeased expression and asked.
Meng Jingwei shook her head and moved out of his embrace. "This is your private villa, right? Can you show me around?"
Meng Jingwei had been to this villa, which resembled a European castle, once before.
The last time Qing Muyye brought her here, he had told her he had reserved a room for her and asked her to come and rest every day, a request she had directly refused.
Unexpectedly, after many days, she had returned.
"Okay."
The man helped Meng Jingwei up, handed her a jacket, and then helped her wrap a scarf around her. "It's cold outside."
Meng Jingwei stood there, her eyes, filled with complex emotions, fixed on the man standing close by. She watched him meticulously put the scarf on her and adjust her hair.
Her heart felt warm.
She felt a sense of happiness enveloped by love.
At the same time, the feeling of inferiority in Meng Jingwei's heart grew wildly like a vine.
Such an excellent man, gentle and considerate, responsible, trustworthy, handsome, and wealthy.
In contrast, Meng Jingwei couldn't find any outstanding qualities within herself.
"Silly girl, what are you spacing out about?"
The man leaned down, kissed her lips, and then took her hand, his large palm warming her slightly cool hand as they walked outside.
The villa was vast, with opulent decorations that exuded an unthinkably luxurious brilliance.
However, Meng Jingwei had no intention of appreciating the grandeur of the European castle villa. Instead, she was preoccupied with thoughts of Xiao Cheng.
It was cold outside, overcast, with a biting wind howling fiercely.
Qing Muyye noticed Meng Jingwei's hands were cold and directly put her hand into his pocket.
Suddenly, he paused and stopped.
Meng Jingwei, who was still looking down and walking forward, stopped because Qing Muyye was holding her hand and pulling her.
Facing the woman lost in her thoughts, Qing Muyye knew she had something on her mind.
"I hope that when two people are together, they are honest with each other," he said.
His words made Meng Jingwei understand his meaning.
Her eyes, which once sparkled, now appeared dim and lusterless.
"What?" Meng Jingwei feigned ignorance.
Qing Muyye pulled her waist and brought her into his embrace. "What is it that you're hiding and not telling me?"
She forced a smile. "It's nothing. My head just feels a bit dizzy, I don't know why."
"Let's go back. I'll have the family doctor examine you."
Saying that, he pulled Meng Jingwei back into the bedroom without her consent, making her lie on the bed. Qing Muyye called for the family doctor to examine Meng Jingwei.
The doctor finally stated that she was physically weak, suffered from anemia and iron deficiency, and also had insomnia, leading to extremely poor sleep quality. This had severely caused her physical condition to deteriorate, and she needed proper recuperation.
After the family doctor left, Qing Muyye gazed at her with concern, his chiseled face etched with melancholy.
"I'll go instruct the kitchen to prepare lunch for you."
He turned to leave, but Meng Jingwei pulled him back. "Don't go. I want a hug."
Meng Jingwei looked at him with eyes full of sadness, which tugged at Qing Muyye's heart, making him feel a pang of sympathy.
"Okay."
He nodded in agreement.
Then he watched as Meng Jingwei shifted slightly, indicating for Qing Muyye to lie down with her.
The man mistook it as Meng Jingwei being in a bad mood. He took off his coat, lifted the duvet, and lay down beside her.
His long fingers brushed away the stray strands of hair from her cheeks. "Tell me, why are you unhappy?"
"It's nothing," Meng Jingwei pursed her lips and smiled, then hugged Qing Muyye and kissed him proactively.
Her sudden boldness surprised and confused Qing Muyye.
But as she ignited a fire within him, the man dared not move.
Only when Meng Jingwei realized Qing Muyye couldn't reciprocate did she stop, frowning unhappily. "What are you doing? I'm being so forward, what do you mean?"
Qing Muyye's exquisitely carved handsome face was tinged with a roguish smile. "I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself and devour you later."
Meng Jingwei wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her head to look at him, her gaze filled with deep affection.
Then she leaned closer to him. "I just want it."