Volume 1, Chapter 18: Su Mei’s Jealousy and the Bitter Ruse

Su Wan had not returned home all night. It was not until morning that Meng Yanli called her to say that her sister was in the hospital and asked her to inform her parents.

Su Mei rushed over as soon as she received the call. She was not the least bit concerned about Su Wan’s condition; she only wanted to know why Meng Yanli was by her side and if he had stayed with her all night.

To her shock, he actually had! Upon entering the room, she saw Su Wan touching her fiancé, clearly trying to seduce him.

Her shrill scream jolted Meng Yanli awake. Turning to see Su Mei, he frowned, his tone slightly displeased. "This is a hospital. Can you keep your voice down?"

Su Mei wanted nothing more than to slap Su Wan across the face, but with Meng Yanli standing right there, she lacked the nerve. A sense of intense crisis washed over her. The fact that this man had stayed with Su Wan all night suggested that their relationship was no longer simple. She was consumed by jealousy, yet she had to suppress it.

"Brother Yanli," she explained, "I was just so worried about my sister that I couldn't help but raise my voice. How did she end up in the hospital? Is she ill? Is it serious?" She expertly played the part of a devoted sister, her face filled with anxiety.

Su Wan curled her lips slightly, not bothering to expose her.

Meng Yanli patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry, your sister is fine now." He found it strange that Su Wan had been out all night without anyone calling her. He had been so focused on monitoring her health that he hadn't thought to inform her family until morning. Not having her parents' number, he had called Su Mei. Seeing her rush over, he assumed she truly cared for her sister.

Taking the opportunity, he said to Su Wan, "See, your sister is very concerned about you. You shouldn't be so stubborn in the future." In his eyes, the girl likely harbored prejudices against her stepmother and stepsister because she disliked her father's remarriage. At the very least, he thought, this stepsister seemed kind to Su Wan.

Hearing this, Su Mei cast a triumphant, sidelong glance at Su Wan. It seemed her performance was convincing enough to fool even someone as shrewd as Meng Yanli.

Su Wan did not argue, merely nodding slightly. "Very well, Mr. Meng." It was a family matter, after all; there was no need to trouble him with the details. Furthermore, since Su Mei was his fiancée, she did not want to embarrass him by revealing her true colors. Or perhaps, she mused, he wouldn't believe her anyway, making her look like the villain.

Su Mei walked over and took Su Wan’s hand, asking with feigned concern, "Sister, what exactly happened to you? Do you feel alright now?"

Under the table, she pinched Su Wan’s hand hard, her eyes filled with rage. With her back to Meng Yanli, he could not see her petty actions.

Believing in their sisterly bond, Meng Yanli smiled with relief. "You two talk; I’m going out for a smoke." He wasn't a heavy smoker, but after being up all night, he needed to clear his head.

Outside the door, he instructed his aide, "Go buy some food—something light and suitable for a patient." He then lit a cigarette and blew a few elegant rings of smoke. As he watched the wisps drift away, he couldn't help but think of his own lapse in judgment the previous night. He was grateful he had pulled back in time, stopping before anything inappropriate happened. If he hadn't, how could he have faced these two sisters?

He couldn't fathom why he had been so impulsive. In the past, even when people had tried to curry favor with him by sending beauties to his bed, he had never been tempted. Was he truly falling for this girl? No, it must have been the alcohol. He took a deep drag, hoping to quell the frustration and unease in his heart.

Inside the room, the moment the door closed, Su Wan pulled her hand away. "Alright, he's gone. You don't need to act anymore. I find it exhausting just watching you..."

Before she could finish, Su Mei slapped her across the face, catching her completely off guard!

"Su Mei, have you lost your mind again?" Su Wan’s face flushed with anger. She tried to strike back, but her body was still weak, and she lacked the strength.

Su Mei sneered. "Don't think I didn't see you touching Brother Yanli! Didn't you say you weren't trying to seduce him? Now that I've caught you red-handed, what else do you have to say?"

"Mr. Meng was having a nightmare, that’s why I..." Su Wan tried to explain.

Su Mei cut her off immediately. "Don't try to lie your way out of this. A nightmare? I think you're just trying to seduce him! And what illness do you even have? You look perfectly fine to me! You probably faked this whole thing just to get close to him..."

Su Wan was too weak to bicker. "Since the sisterly act is over, shouldn't you be leaving?"

Su Mei wouldn't let it go, gripping her wrist. "You haven't explained why Brother Yanli is here or why he stayed the night for you!" The thought made her burn with jealousy. A man as noble as Brother Yanli had actually sat by Su Wan’s bedside all night! Even she, his fiancée, might not receive such treatment if she were ill.

The more she thought, the angrier she became. She began to speculate wildly, "Tell me, have you already told him about the rescue?" This was her greatest fear; if he knew, her chances of marrying into a wealthy family would vanish.

Su Wan laughed coldly. "If you remember that, how dare you be so arrogant? Aren't you afraid that if you push me too far, I'll take us both down with me?"

Su Mei was indeed frightened by the threat. Her mother had warned her not to corner Su Wan before she was officially married to Meng Yanli, as revealing the truth about the rescue would be catastrophic. In her haste, she had forgotten and even resorted to physical violence!

Seeing the panic in Su Mei’s eyes, Su Wan knew her words had struck home. She curled her lips. As expected, only this matter could keep her in check.

"I'm sorry, sister. I was just too impulsive. I shouldn't have hit you..." Su Mei began, "I just love Brother Yanli so much, and I was worried you would take him away..."

Su Wan felt a wave of amusement. How long had this girl even known Meng Yanli? She might believe there was some attraction, but love? It was more likely she loved his money.

Clearing her throat, Su Wan said calmly, "I can forgive you, but you must slap yourself."

"What? You?" Su Mei’s eyebrows arched in indignation.

Su Wan shrugged lightly. "Oh, you don't want to? Very well, I'll just tell Mr. Meng..."

"Fine, I'll do it!" Su Mei hissed. *Su Wan, just you wait. Once I’m the mistress of the Meng family, I’ll show you who’s in charge!*

"Go ahead," Su Wan smiled faintly. Seeing Su Mei so infuriated was quite satisfying.

Footsteps approached outside. The moment the door began to open, Su Mei slapped herself hard across the face. With teary eyes, she sobbed, "Sister, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have said those things to upset you. Please, can you forgive me just this once?"

From behind her came Meng Yanli’s cold voice. "Su Wan, how did Su Mei provoke you this time? Why must you always reprimand her?" He walked over, took Su Mei’s hand, and said in a gentle tone, "There, there, don't be sad..."

Su Mei wrapped her arms around his waist, looking wronged. "Brother Yanli, don't blame my sister. It was my fault for upsetting her. Being punished is only right." As she spoke, she snuck a glance at Su Wan, wearing a look of triumph.