Chapter 5 Waiting: "To make sure she has less of this kind of waiting in the future"...
05
Assistant Chen left, and the heavy front door was gently closed, leaving Meng Yao alone in this overly spacious space.
There are two floors in total. The bedroom is on the second floor. Apart from a few large pieces of furniture, there are almost no other furnishings in the room. The main color scheme is understated white and gray.
The air is filled with the cool, sophisticated scent of a high-end fragrance. Outside the floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall, the dazzling night view of Beijing unfolds, with cars flowing like rivers and neon lights flashing, outlining a bustling skyline.
She sat in the living room, reflecting on Chen Jie's words.
Newlywed standards...
Therefore, in the eyes of everyone, including Fang Huaixu's personal assistant, their marriage naturally includes sharing a bed and fulfilling marital obligations.
She was unsure of her current feelings, nor whether Chen Jie knew about the arranged marriage, or whether the arrangement of the master bedroom was at Fang Huaixu's behest.
After all, Fang Huaixu only said he wouldn't talk about feelings, and knew nothing else. For someone like him, this matter might not be a big deal at all, just an insignificant right attached to the intention of marriage.
“Miss Meng?” a gentle voice rang out.
Meng Yao was startled. A well-dressed elderly man appeared in the direction of the door, smiling as he looked in her direction: "I'm sorry, I startled you. I am Young Master Fang's butler, surnamed Zhou. You can call me Old Zhou or Uncle Zhou. Assistant Chen told me that you will be moving in today. Is there anything else you need?"
"Hello, Uncle Zhou." Meng Yao quickly composed herself. "It's fine here, there's nothing I need."
Uncle Zhou looked her up and down with a kind gaze and smiled, "You look so young, are you still in school?"
Meng Yao nodded: "I'll be graduating soon."
Uncle Zhou understood and made an inviting gesture, stepping aside: "Let me show you around first."
Over the next few days, Uncle Zhou took Meng Yao around to explore the place that would soon become her "home".
The apartment is larger than I imagined. Apart from the brightly colored, newlywed feel deliberately created in the master bedroom, the overall decoration style continues the simple luxury style I just mentioned.
The study here is particularly spacious, with a neat desk and almost nothing else besides a computer and a few open books.
A wall-to-wall bookshelf was packed full. Meng Yao walked around it curiously. Apart from a few Chinese books on finance and biomedicine, most of them were difficult-to-understand foreign language books.
While preparing for her French graduate entrance exam, she managed to discern a French book title from a pile of academic titles: Drug Development and Biostatistics.
Meng Yao remembered that the Lin family was a pharmaceutical family, and she seemed to have heard Lin Tianhai mention that Fang Huaixu's company was also developing products related to special drugs.
Several glass display cases were hung in a staggered arrangement next to the bookshelf.
Uncle Zhou, who had been silent for a long time, followed her gaze and looked up with a proud expression: "These are all the awards that the young master won before. Don't be fooled by his current career change and open business ventures; he was originally a top medical student in China."
Meng Yao walked closer and looked more closely.
The display window was filled with a dazzling array of awards, neatly arranged, with one English certificate standing out in particular: Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Summa Cum Laude, the highest honor in the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, awarded by a world-renowned Ivy League university.
The other photo frame next to him is a picture of Fang Huaixu wearing his doctoral gown, holding an award, standing with two elderly men who presented the award.
His face was more youthful than it is now, but his eyes were still the same—sharp and focused.
Uncle Zhou couldn't help but feel gratified whenever he saw this shop window, his tone full of admiration as he recounted the stories with great familiarity: "I watched the master's three children grow up. The eldest son was unruly, the second son was more honest than quick-witted, but lacked a bit of intelligence. Although Young Master Fang was the youngest, he was the most reliable and steady. If the master hadn't been so muddle-headed, the future successor of the Fang family should have been the young master..."
Meng Yao couldn't get a word in edgewise; she had no idea that Fang Huaixu had so many glittering labels behind him.
It's no wonder Lin Tianhai was willing to let her return to her hometown to secure this marriage. The gap between them went far beyond wealth; it was a vast chasm in terms of social status and life achievements.
For a moment, she felt a genuine, indescribable awe for that taciturn man.
But what followed was a deeper sense of unease: would such a man really need this marriage in name only?
She murmured thoughtfully, "Mr. Fang... is indeed a very capable person."
“Yes,” Uncle Zhou was even happier to hear the agreement. “It’s a pity he’s always so busy. He only graduated two years ago and then threw himself into new drug research and development. His study is practically his second home. It’s good that you’re here. I’ll have to trouble you to be more understanding in the future. He’s not very talkative and doesn’t express himself well, but he’s a gentle and soft-hearted person… However, since you’ve already chosen to marry the young master, you must know his temperament better than I do.”
Meng Yao was speechless: Uncle Zhou seemed to be completely unaware of the marriage between the two.
In fact, she, his new wife, only learned about Fang Huaixu's profession, family background, and social connections today. Apart from that, she knew absolutely nothing about her new husband.
She didn't know whether, according to Fang Huaixu's classification, Uncle Zhou should know the truth about the arranged marriage.
Her heart was in her throat. She decided to wait and see what Fang Huaixu's attitude would be, and subtly changed the subject: "Uncle Zhou, I'll just look around and pack my things first. You go ahead and do your work, don't worry about me."
Uncle Zhou was understanding: "No problem, I'll go and get some daily necessities. Just call me anytime if you need anything, especially the master bedroom, which was arranged in a bit of a rush. Just follow your usual routine and let me know if you need anything."
It's the master bedroom again.
Meng Yao gave a perfunctory reply until she was the only one left in the huge space, where the silence was suffocating.
She tried to watch a few movies to pass the time, but the voices of men and women couldn't penetrate her ears at all; her mind was still preoccupied with marital obligations.
She sat in the living room like a prisoner awaiting trial.
If Fang Huaixu really wanted to do it, it seemed she had no other choice.
Although she had accepted the marriage proposal before even meeting him, and although Fang Huaixu seemed to be a gentleman who paid attention to boundaries, and although in a business marriage, she was just a pawn being pushed out, her request didn't seem excessive.
But psychological persuasion and actual occurrence are two completely different things.
She does have a calmness and adaptability far beyond her peers, but at the end of the day, she's just a girl in her early twenties.
She naturally felt uneasy and nervous about the unknown that was about to happen, especially since the other party was a man she had only met a few times.
She anxiously switched between different movies, trying to lighten her mood. However, time ticked by, and even Uncle Zhou returned, but there was still no news from Fang Huaixu.
Just as the clock on the wall was about to strike twelve, the faint sound of the electronic lock unlocking finally came from the entryway.
Meng Yao jolted awake, instantly snapping to attention. She practically jumped up from the sofa and nervously looked towards the door.
The door was pushed open, and Fang Huaixu walked in, his face showing obvious fatigue.
Uncle Zhou went to greet him first. Fang Huaixu handed him his coat familiarly, loosened his tie and changed his shoes, revealing his clearly defined Adam's apple. He glanced casually at the living room, but his eyes met those of Meng Yao, who was standing awkwardly in the living room.
His expression faltered, a clear look of surprise flashing across his deep eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, as if he were also adjusting to the fact that there was another person in the house.
"Still not resting?"
He spoke, casually grabbing a wet wipe from the doorway to wipe his hands. His voice was lower and hoarse than usual, perhaps due to work fatigue.
Meng Yao stared straight at him, her voice hoarse: "I'm waiting for you."
Fang Huaixu frowned slightly: "Wait for me?" According to the agreement, they would not interfere with each other, so she had no reason to wait for him.
Perhaps it's because I'm not used to the new environment.
He guessed the reason without thinking too much about it: "Okay, it's getting late, let's go back to our rooms and rest."
What does "go back to the room" mean?
Meng Yao didn't move. Fang Huaixu was still talking to Uncle Zhou. After turning around to pour himself a glass of water at the bar, he noticed that Meng Yao was still standing there. He asked in confusion, "Is there anything else?"
"It's nothing," Meng Yao subconsciously denied, her brain racing to figure out what to say. In her haste, she tried to stall for time and change the subject: "Have you... had dinner?"
Fang Huaixu, still puzzled, hesitated before answering, "Yes."
"Oh..." She felt her breathing become even more stiff: "Do you always work so late and then come home?"
Fang Huaixu failed to answer immediately this time, his confusion evident to the naked eye. This sudden show of concern seemed unreasonable within the context of their cold agreement.
Seeing her somewhat unnatural smile, he interpreted it as perhaps a form of politeness, or simply the girl's natural courtesy.
He nodded slightly and replied briefly, "It's alright, it's a critical period for the project, I'm used to it."
The brief silence made the atmosphere even more awkward. Meng Yao's heart was beating faster, and even Fang Huaixu, who was watching her motionless, began to have some unexplained suspicions: "Aren't you... going back to your room?"
Which room should I go back to?
Meng Yao's eyes flickered. Uncle Zhou was still there, so she couldn't bring herself to say it. Instead, she asked indirectly, "What I mean is, do you often come back this late, and... how often do you come back?"
As Fang Huaixu watched her cheeks gradually flush as she rambled on, a stark contrast to her composed and cunning demeanor at the Civil Affairs Bureau during the day, his sense of unease intensified.
Is she concerned about his schedule, or...?
Are you waiting for him to come home?
Once this thought came to him, he felt a strange pressure and unease. He had never considered that this marriage would require him to report his whereabouts or provide companionship.
He was very busy and indifferent to relationships and marriage, but he always felt guilty for wasting the prime of a young girl's life.
If the other party still has higher expectations for this marriage.
He paused for a few seconds, trying to state the facts in a calm tone: "From now on, I will be spending most of my time at the company, so I won't have much time to take care of you."
Meng Yao misinterpreted the words: "I don't have much time to spare" meant that she still had plans to "take care" of them.
Regardless, having found the answer in her heart, she breathed a sigh of relief: on the bright side, at least he didn't come home very often.
So she nodded calmly: "Okay, I'm going back to my room."
Fang Huaixu subconsciously felt that something was still not quite right, but it was too late now, and he didn't want to think about it too much. He went about his usual washing and exercising.
When he returned to his room an hour later and was caught off guard by the ambiguous atmosphere of pink and red throughout the room, and Meng Yao sitting on the edge of the bed with a slightly pale face, he was completely bewildered.
Meng Yao nervously intertwined her hands, hesitated for a long time, and finally decided to confirm the specific time and frequency: "Approximately... how many times a week will you come back?"
Her sudden waiting, awkward concern, and strange questions were finally explained after this scene.
Fang Huaixu looked at the desperate look on her young face, and the emotions in his eyes gradually became complicated. He couldn't tell whether she was forcing herself or she really expected his company.
“I can’t give you an exact frequency… but I think you might have some misunderstanding.”
He rubbed his temples, thinking about how to bring up the matter tactfully, when Uncle Zhou came out of the study and handed him several organized documents.
Fang Huaixu took the initiative and turned to Uncle Zhou, instructing him, "Uncle Zhou, prepare a guest room."
Uncle Zhou was visibly taken aback: "This... Young Master, how can this be? You've only just gotten married, how can you let Madam..."
"I sleep in the guest room."
Fang Huaixu sighed and offered a plausible excuse: "I leave early and come home late. My wife is a light sleeper and easily woken up. Remember to move my usual things to the guest room tomorrow. Next time I come home this late, don't make my wife wait."
Uncle Zhou looked at him hesitantly, then at Meng Yao.
Fang Huaixu walked inside: "I still have some private matters to discuss with my wife. Leave the documents in the guest room; I'll come and look at them when I have time."
Uncle Zhou understood and said no more: "Okay, you two talk."
Fang Huaixu closed the door. Meng Yao was unaware of the situation. The room was completely silent, and every second felt like an eternity.
Fang Huaixu approached, and Meng Yao stood up as well. Her initiative made Fang Huaixu feel even more powerless. After a long while, he slowly spoke: "Miss Meng."
He chose this somewhat careless way of addressing it: "I'm sorry if my previous statement was not clear enough and caused you to misunderstand."
He looked at her with a frank and calm gaze, his expression businesslike and clear: "Our marriage is essentially just a partnership, and it will not involve any emotional or...physical obligations."
Meng Yao opened her eyes slightly and looked at him. Fang Huaixu looked away and carefully chose his words: "You don't need to wait for me. As I said before, I am very busy with work and working overtime is the norm. I can't guarantee when I will come home, let alone... provide companionship and care like an ordinary husband. I hope you can understand and get used to it."
Meng Yao's heart, which had been hanging in suspense all night, suddenly settled back down. A huge, indescribable sense of relief instantly washed over her, making her almost unable to control her facial expressions.
She quickly lowered her head, afraid that the smile on her lips would be too obvious, and tried her best to keep her voice steady: "I understand, thank you for your honesty, Mr. Fang."
Her reaction was quick, and Fang Huaixu also needed such an answer, so he immediately added, "No need to thank me, this is just basic goodwill for cooperation. Now that things are clear, you can stay here with peace of mind..."
“I’ll just sleep in the guest room!” Meng Yao immediately replied, “You can stay in the master bedroom, I’m more used to staying in the guest room.”
Seeing that she had already made up her mind, Fang Huaixu nodded after a moment of silence: "Okay, you can go and tell Uncle Zhou later."
"Okay." With the problem solved, she didn't want to stay a moment longer: "It's getting late, Mr. Fang, you should get some rest."
After saying that, she walked briskly toward the guest room, as if afraid that if she was a step too slow, Fang Huaixu would change his mind.
Fang Huaixu was once again taken aback by her quick reaction. He watched as the guest room door closed gently, cutting off his view.
He was left alone in the master bedroom. A faint, fresh scent, different from the one in the house, seemed to linger in the air. After being stirred by the guilt in his heart, that strange feeling became even stronger as Meng Yao behaved in a sensible manner.
Perhaps he can't give her what a marriage should have, but at least he can do something to make this partnership less cold.
At least it will allow her to feel a little more comfortable in the relationship and avoid waiting like tonight.
He raised his hand and pressed his temples, feeling exhausted again, but the inexplicable sense of stagnation in his heart lingered.
He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looked at the now silent city outside, turned around and took out his phone to contact Chen Jie.
A note from the author:
Don't rush, don't rush [dog head holding a rose] I've always preferred to wait until feelings develop before getting on board.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
