Chapter 10 Direction: "Standing Beside Him"
10
After Fang Huaixu uttered those crystal-clear words, "My wife," the air seemed to freeze for a moment. The gazes of those around her gradually shifted from curiosity to surprise, then quickly transformed into a deeper form of flattery, with everyone greeting her: "Hello, President Meng! Hello, President Meng..."
Everyone present looked dignified and respected, and most of them were in their thirties or forties. Based on their seniority, Meng Yao couldn't possibly accept being addressed as "President Meng" so often.
But right now, she couldn't refuse Fang Huaixu's request, so Meng Yao bowed gracefully and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I've just arrived, and everyone is being so polite. I'm getting nervous."
The atmosphere among everyone was relaxed. Someone next to Fang Huaixu seemed to want to start a conversation: "President Meng seems so approachable and young. I wonder what you do for a living? Is there any chance we could collaborate in the future?"
However, these words unexpectedly touched on Meng Yao's sore spot. Her smile froze for a moment, and her heart tightened slightly.
Although no profession is inherently superior or inferior, the term "black-and-red streamer" seems particularly difficult to utter in such a refined setting.
She opened her mouth, but felt as if something was blocking her throat, and for a moment she couldn't make a sound.
But after she froze for a few seconds, Fang Huaixu naturally took half a step forward, casually straightened her clothes, and said nonchalantly, "She's young and still studying, preparing for graduate school."
Another silence followed.
The sudden closeness made Meng Yao hold her breath and look up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Fang Huaixu was also looking at her. The moment their eyes met, he nodded slightly, as if to suggest that she didn't need to be nervous, and quickly withdrew his hand.
She quickly realized that Fang Huaixu had noticed her embarrassment and was helping her out, so she followed suit, her smile returning to normal: "Yes, I'm graduating this year."
Fang Huaixu was slightly pleased with Meng Yao's quick reaction and turned to instruct, "Chen Jie, take President Meng to my office first and order some tea and snacks. We'll be up in about ten minutes."
Chen Jie understood: "Okay, Mr. Fang."
The conversation surrounding Meng Yao quickly ended, and everyone dispersed to prepare.
Before leaving, Fang Huaixu said to Meng Yao, "Don't be nervous. You can say or do anything here without any problems."
The tone was informative, but not offensive.
Meng Yao seemed touched and nodded, "Yes, you're busy."
After Fang Huaixu left, Chen Jie led Meng Yao into the elevator and headed straight to the top floor, which was Fang Huaixu's office area.
Meng Yao looked around the excessively luxurious office. Apart from the desks, chairs, and piles of documents, the furnishings were almost like a home, complete with all the necessities for daily life and washing.
She finally believed what Uncle Zhou had said: Fang Huaixu truly treated the company as his second home.
As she sat down, the elevator opened with a "ding," and along with the tea and snacks Chen Jie had ordered, three girls carrying large and small bags came up.
Chen Jie explained, "We didn't know your taste, so we just ordered some random items for you to try first. They will take care of your makeup while we're at it, and the wedding dress will be delivered in a little while."
The stylists had already opened their makeup bags at the table with practiced ease. Meng Yao looked at Chen Jie in surprise: "Are we just trying it on here?"
Chen Jie didn't think there was anything wrong: "The styles you see in the car will be worn by someone who will help you put them on, so don't worry."
A warm sensation ran through Meng Yao's ears, and she took a deep breath, somewhat awkwardly responding to the makeup artists' gentle touch.
Although she had spent some time in the Lin family before and had some preconceived notions about the family's extravagant daily life, Meng Yao still felt a strong sense of unreality and unease when she actually experienced such a life.
It would be a lie to say I'm not envious of this kind of life where I'm taken care of from head to toe and flattered at every turn.
The world created by "Fang Huaixu's wife" is too deceptive, far removed from her familiar daily life, and it is also clear that such a life is a height that people like her can only pursue their whole lives and never reach.
She was embarrassed and at a loss for what to do for the first time.
When Fang Huaixu returned from the meeting, the makeup artist had already finished her makeup and hair. The wedding dresses were neatly arranged in an open space, and several young girls stood in front of the curtain, ready to go: "Mr. Fang, Ms. Meng, shall we start by trying on the ones on the left? Is that alright?"
Fang Huaixu nodded in her direction and turned to indicate, "Let's begin."
Meng Yao nodded and, with the girl's help, put on her first heavy lace trailing wedding dress.
The heavy weight made it almost impossible for her to breathe, but the girls next to her kept praising her: "Miss Meng has such a great temperament! She's a natural clothes hanger."
Fang Huaixu seemed unconcerned by the praise around him, frowning slightly as he discussed with Meng Yao, "It's too complicated; I feel it's overwhelming for you. What do you think of the satin one?"
Meng Yao was surprised that she had to participate in choosing the wedding dress. After a moment of surprise, she tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, "I like that one too."
After she tried on the next few items, Fang Huaixu would carefully give her opinions and ask for her thoughts after she came out. Meng Yao was still immersed in the shock from just now and didn't know what to say. Fortunately, Fang Huaixu's opinions were pertinent and professional, so she went along with his suggestions.
It wasn't until he tried on a sleek, off-the-shoulder satin dress with a defined waistline that Fang Huaixu's eyes finally revealed clear approval: "It suits you very well. What do you think?"
Looking at herself in the mirror, Meng Yao saw that although the wedding dress was not overly decorated, it was understated and serene. Her neckline was beautiful, and the smooth cut perfectly accentuated her slender waist. The flowing luster of the satin made her radiate a pearl-like glow.
Instead of overshadowing her, it made her appear like an elegant and serene swan.
A complex emotion flashed in Meng Yao's eyes, and she chuckled, "As expected of Mr. Fang's discerning eye."
Fang Huaixu watched her quietly for a long time, then suddenly called the others away and went into the fitting room himself.
After everyone had finished packing and left, he came out wearing a white suit that matched hers. He stopped a step away from her and gestured for her to look in the mirror.
In the mirror, her height was just up to his shoulder; one was gentle and serene, the other radiant and bright—it was quite a heartwarming scene.
“Straighten your back a little more,” his voice suddenly rang out, and he slightly raised his hand, making a vague gesture toward her shoulders: “Open your shoulders.”
Meng Yao adjusted the mirror as instructed. He looked at her in the mirror with focused eyes: "That's it, very good."
His gaze was warm, enough to make Meng Yao hold her breath even through the mirror, let alone the fact that he was standing right behind her.
A subtle tension filled the air. He maintained the boundaries of gentlemanly conduct, but suddenly lowered his head, raised his lips, and said in a hoarse voice, "So it was just a paper tiger."
Varied……
Meng Yao was stunned, unable to believe that the playful joke she had just made had come from Fang Huaixu's mouth.
"Why are you so nervous? We've known each other for so long, and I never knew you were so shy."
Fang Huaixu's smile became even more pronounced as he gently looked at the stiff-looking girl in the mirror: "You are very good, and you deserve to present your best. Don't be shy."
His laughter undoubtedly acknowledged the joke he had just made. This time, Meng Yao was certain that he knew exactly how embarrassed he was, feeling both ashamed and unwilling to accept that his awkwardness had been exposed.
But this unexpected incident unexpectedly dispelled her previous negative emotions. After a brief silence, she decided to win back her composure and changed the subject, looking at him again: "I was quite surprised, just now downstairs... how did you know I was preparing for an exam?"
“I’m in the study every day, and I accidentally saw your study materials,” he said, sitting up again. “Besides, you don’t seem like the kind of person who would be content with the status quo.”
"Looks like? I look like a bookworm?" Meng Yao joked back, a hint of self-deprecation in her upturned lips: "Yeah, in my situation, I can only fantasize about changing my fate through studying."
Fang Huaixu paused, remained silent for a while, and then shook his head: "Having dreams is a good thing."
dream.
She lowered her eyelashes and sighed inwardly: someone like her, struggling to survive in such a predicament, has no time to care about dreams; it's simply an inappropriate joke.
But Fang Huaixu interrupted her thoughts, his voice flat and resolute as he continued, "If failure is considered a dereliction of duty, then all attempts in life are a disgrace."
He firmly refuted the previous statement: "Effort is not a shameful thing."
After he finished speaking, the look in his eyes gradually softened: "I know you are under a lot of pressure at work. At your age, it is already remarkable that you can balance your studies and work at the same time and have a clear plan for your future."
Meng Yao fell silent again, never expecting that what she considered to be her most pathetic and embarrassing side would be described in this way by others.
A surge of bittersweet emotion rushed uncontrollably to her nose and eyes. She quickly looked away to suppress the emotion, using the excuse of tidying up non-existent wrinkles to cover up her momentary loss of composure, afraid that if she opened her mouth, she would reveal the sob in her throat.
She never expected that the first person to inspire her to continue down this uncertain path after persevering for so long would be her arranged marriage husband with whom she had only had brief contact.
In any case, moving upwards is never a bad thing.
She seemed to suddenly understand, and smiled knowingly.
As she tried to calm her breathing, a gentle touch came from behind her head. A pair of warm hands suddenly and softly rubbed the back of her head, almost causing her emotions, which she had just managed to control, to surge back. However, when she looked up again, the person behind the mirror had already politely turned around and was pretending to tidy up the accessories on the table.
Her gaze brightened and hardened again, confirming that she wouldn't have any more mishaps. She straightened her back and walked to his side, revealing a genuinely relieved smile: "Thank you, let's continue trying the rest."
Fang Huaixu readily agreed: "Okay."
The rest of the process went exceptionally smoothly. Meng Yao was no longer just passively accepting things; she began to actively offer her own ideas. She also had a brief discussion with Fang Huaixu about the wedding arrangements, and her eyes showed more composure and confidence.
Fang Huaixu remained as taciturn as ever, but he always managed to pinpoint the key points precisely.
The two worked together very smoothly, and for the first time, Meng Yao felt that this marriage was not entirely a bad thing; at least it allowed her to glimpse a higher and broader world.
It also brought her into contact with... a refined and elegant gentleman she had never met before, whose manners radiated from the depths of his being.
She still wanted to escape her current life and one day gain a foothold on her own. But another new idea gradually grew in her daily interactions with Fang Huaixu.
Perhaps one day in the future, through hard work, she will be able to stand on equal footing in this world that she dares not even dream of now, and become a person who shines like Fang Huaixu.
She didn't know why, but when the thought came to her, her heart skipped a beat for a moment.
Perhaps it wasn't just because of the man beside her, but also because she seemed to see her own direction ahead in the fog.
A note from the author:
Sending out the [lop-eared rabbit head] in advance.
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