Chapter 23 (1/2): What Is She Waiting For?

Meng Chu looked up blankly at him.

She and Cheng Jinyu, their eyes met.

With their simultaneous silence, the entire room grew so still it seemed even the air stopped flowing; only the occasional clear chirping of birds outside reminded her that the world was still turning, that she was still alive.

But Meng Chu felt that although she was alive, she might as well have been dead.

I can only sleep with you.

Only. With. You.

Sleep. Together.

A single sentence completely summed up her drunken, forced, and atrocious behavior.

What a thoroughly shameless drunken rampage.

Meng Chu felt her face instantly and uncontrollably flush.

Luckily, the room was still dimly lit; even though the curtains weren’t very effective at blocking light, at least the change in her complexion was luckily concealed in the gloom.

After a while, Meng Chu calmly said, “That… I was drunk last night.”

Cheng Jinyu let out a faint, breathy laugh. He nodded slightly. “I understand. Things done while drunk can be treated as if they never happened.”

Meng Chu: “……”

“You… you can’t just say that,” her voice faltered a bit. After a dry laugh, she still tried to make amends: “Actually, I didn’t do anything wrong, right?”

But as soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt uneasy.

Sure enough, Cheng Jinyu’s expression was a half-smile, half-smirk. His voice was light as he asked, “So, what else did you do?”

His tone was filled with the understanding of someone thinking, “I knew you were up to something behind my back.”

Previously, Meng Chu could still be self-righteous.

But now, lying together in the same bed — and based on his description, it was she who had taken the initiative — this time, she truly couldn’t claim to be innocent. No guilt whatsoever.

Although Meng Chu had already fallen into the trap, she still wanted to struggle a little.

So she tried hard to calm her heart and recall what happened last night.

She thought for a long time and barely managed to piece together some fragments.

She remembered that when she got home, she ran into Cheng Jinyu.

Oh, and she took a shower by herself.

After recalling that, her expression calmed a bit.

At least she didn’t do anything too outrageous, just took a shower.

The weather was quite hot now, and she had drunk quite a lot; it was completely reasonable.

Then she went back to her room.

Cheng Jinyu even blew dry her hair for her.

At that moment, Meng Chu froze. She sat dumbly on the bed as the fading memories of last night slowly resurfaced.

She sat on the edge of the bed, and he held the hairdryer, gently drying her hair.

In the fragments of memory, she sat quietly, with the loud roar of the hairdryer in her ears.

And his fingers running through her hair, the pads of his fingers brushing the top of her head.

After a long while, Meng Chu suddenly whispered, “Thank you for last night.”

Cheng Jinyu, who had been leaning on his arms, suddenly adjusted his posture and looked at her, asking, “Thank you for what?”

“Thank you for coming to my house to take care of me last night,” Meng Chu couldn’t help but press her lips together. “And for drying my hair.”

“If it’s just those two things, you don’t need to thank me,” Cheng Jinyu said calmly.

Meng Chu stared at him blankly until Cheng Jinyu sighed softly: “Meng Chu, although it’s a bit strange that I keep reminding you about this, don’t forget—”

“We are legally married.”

Meng Chu whispered, “I haven’t forgotten.”

“So taking you home and drying your hair,” Cheng Jinyu said slowly, looking at her, “are all things a husband should do.”

Meng Chu opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

After saying this, Cheng Jinyu got up from the bed. “I’ll get you a glass of water; you’ll probably be very thirsty after a hangover.”

Meng Chu was about to say thank you again, but in the end, she just responded with a hum.

After Cheng Jinyu opened the door and left, Meng Chu sat on the bed.

She increasingly felt that dragging someone to sleep with her because she was drunk was utterly ridiculous.

Isn’t it usually that a drunk person is either completely unconscious or acting deliberately?

Would Cheng Jinyu think that she took advantage of being drunk on purpose?

Ah!!

Meng Chu couldn’t help but flop down on the bed, pounding the mattress furiously with both hands.

It seemed that venting like this was the only way to release the emotions deep inside her.

Just as she was venting, the door suddenly opened again.

The person standing at the door met Meng Chu’s furious gaze.

Cheng Jinyu calmly asked, “Is there an unused toothbrush at home?”

Originally venting, Meng Chu blinked at him, then forced herself to calm down, putting her hands down.

She said coolly, “Yes, I’ll get it for you now.”

“No rush, you ‘play a bit’ first.”

Saying this, he thoughtfully closed the door behind Meng Chu.

Curling up inside the room, she couldn’t make a sound but tightly clenched her palms.

It’s okay.

Living is just one more day.

Almost dead is just one more day.

It was just that, having met Cheng Jinyu,

it felt like every ounce of dignity she had was lost in front of him.

It’s okay.

Meng Chu, it’s just a small matter.

She forced herself to cheer up as she got up and walked to the wardrobe.

But as she opened the wardrobe door, a fragment of memory suddenly popped up again.

Last night, she stood in front of the wardrobe, took out her pajamas and underwear, ready to take a shower.

Cheng Jinyu was standing right behind her.

Meng Chu looked down at the drawer holding her underwear and took a deep breath.

But in the end, she couldn’t help but rest her forehead against the wardrobe door.

After changing clothes, Meng Chu hurried to the bathroom to find a toothbrush.

Cheng Jinyu seemed to still be in the living room.

She took the opportunity to brush her teeth quickly.

When she finished washing up, she held the new toothbrush and towel and walked to the living room.

At this moment, Cheng Jinyu was coming out of the kitchen holding a transparent glass filled with milk.

Seeing her approach, Cheng Jinyu placed the milk on the table.

This scene made Meng Chu feel a little dazed.

Perhaps the morning light was too confusing, or maybe this scene was just too homely.

So much so that it made her feel as if Cheng Jinyu had always lived here,

living a normal life with her.

“I warmed up a bottle of milk from the fridge; drinking it cold in the morning would hurt your stomach,” Cheng Jinyu said.

Meng Chu nodded and reached out to hand him the items she was holding. “Toothbrush and towel.”

Cheng Jinyu took them and went to wash up.

Meng Chu sat on a chair beside the dining table and picked up the glass of milk on the table.

After taking a sip, the warm liquid slid down her throat and into her stomach.

The stomach pain and burning discomfort she had felt after waking suddenly eased as if smoothed out.

She drank the warm milk little by little.

After a while, Meng Chu lowered her head and stared at the glass, a strange feeling rising in her heart.

Why does it feel like I’ve already drunk so much milk today?

*

After Cheng Jinyu finished washing up and came out, Meng Chu hadn’t yet finished her milk.

She looked at Cheng Jinyu and asked, “Are you going to eat something?”

“You cook?” Cheng Jinyu asked back.

Meng Chu laughed on the spot. “Don’t look down on me; I’m pretty good at home-style cooking.”

Her mood hadn’t fully recovered yet, and she was determined to forget all about last night.

Of course, she still knew how to be a good hostess.

After all, no matter what, Cheng Jinyu had been busy taking care of her all night, so she should at least prepare breakfast.

In the end, Cheng Jinyu nodded slightly. “Depends on what you have in your fridge.”

Meng Chu got up and walked to the fridge. “Okay.”

But when she opened the fridge, looking at the milk, yogurt, mineral water, and a half bag of whole wheat bread left over from before — there wasn’t even a single vegetable leaf.

Meng Chu sighed.

She hadn’t restocked the fridge for half a month.

Or rather, ever since she realized she hardly cooked at home and most of the vegetables she bought ended up thrown away,

she rarely bought groceries to keep in the fridge.

Because buying them was a waste, she might as well not buy them at all.

So her fridge contained only milk and such, and every morning she just took a bottle as breakfast.

“A clever housewife can’t cook without rice,” Cheng Jinyu said lightly, seeing her standing in front of the fridge without moving.

Meng Chu: “…”

No need to be so blunt.

Finally, Meng Chu found a bag of wontons in the freezer.

She checked the expiration date. Still good to eat.

“Wontons okay?” Meng Chu smiled and asked.

Cheng Jinyu nodded. “Okay.”

So Meng Chu filled half a pot with water and prepared to boil it.

Cheng Jinyu had somehow walked behind her and suddenly asked, “Anyone else coming?”

“Huh?” Meng Chu was surprised and said instinctively, “No.”

Cheng Jinyu raised his chin and nodded toward the pot of water. “Are you sure this is only for the two of us?”

Meng Chu suddenly understood and laughed softly. “This is my mom’s secret wonton recipe.”

“Not everyone can eat it,” Meng Chu said as she already lit the stove.

Cheng Jinyu chuckled quietly behind her, seemingly quite pleased with her words.

While waiting for the water to boil, Meng Chu took out two slightly larger bowls and poured soy sauce, salt, a bit of white pepper, and sesame oil into the bottoms.

She also found a pack of unopened seaweed she had bought before.

Sometimes she made small wonton meals for herself, so she always kept a bit of seaweed on hand.

Soon after the wontons cooked, she scooped them into the bowls and ladled some broth over them.

Immediately, the originally plain broth stirred up the seasoning at the bottom of the bowls.

The piping hot soup filled the air with a rich aroma.

Just as Meng Chu reached out to pick up a bowl, Cheng Jinyu said, “Let me.”

But she quickly grabbed his hand.

Cheng Jinyu looked up and met her gaze.

“I mean, don’t pick it up just yet, it’s a bit hot,” Meng Chu explained.

Cheng Jinyu raised an eyebrow. “You just touched it yourself.”

Meng Chu felt a bit embarrassed. “I was anxious and forgot.”

“Oh,” Cheng Jinyu responded in a dragged tone, then lowered his eyes, looking back at the hand he was still holding.

Just now, in her flustered state, Meng Chu had grabbed his hand directly.

“Ah, I—” Meng Chu immediately let go.

Cheng Jinyu looked at her and slowly enunciated, “Thanks for the reminder.”

He particularly emphasized “reminder,” as if implying Meng Chu deliberately grabbed his hand, pretending it was to warn him.

Meng Chu hurried over and took down the thick oven mitt hanging on the wall.

“Put this on before you pick up the bowl; that way, it won’t be hot.”

Cheng Jinyu took it and brought both bowls to the table.

After sitting down, Meng Chu lowered her head and ate the wontons with a spoon.

They really were delicious.

“Was last night another company event?” Cheng Jinyu suddenly asked.

Meng Chu nodded.

Cheng Jinyu asked, “Doesn’t anyone at your company help you avoid drinking?”

Seeing his slightly furrowed brow, Meng Chu explained, “They did, but I didn’t avoid it well.”

Also, Qian Wei seemed to be subtly testing her last night. Maybe because he wanted to put his arm around Meng Chu, but she dodged him.

Or maybe because Meng Chu had kicked over the bathroom trash can, he didn’t suspect her.

After all, she was in the bathroom then.

So he asked those questions and deliberately put his arm around her shoulder.

He guessed she would dodge, which gave him an excuse to force her to drink.

“What company are you negotiating with?” Cheng Jinyu suddenly asked.

Meng Chu looked up but didn’t answer immediately.

Cheng Jinyu laughed suddenly, looking at her. “What, afraid I’ll pry company secrets from you?”

“That’s not allowed,” Meng Chu slowly stirred the wontons with her spoon and said quietly, “You invested in Gather Innovation Technology, right?”

This company also specialized in robotics, considered a competitor of Xingyuan Technology.