"Let go of me!" Meng Nianyao sidestepped the question.
But Gu Wencheng didn't release his grip; instead, he repeated, "Crying?"
"Gu Wencheng!" Meng Nianyao growled.
"Mrs. Gu, why are you crying?" Gu Wencheng chuckled.
Meng Nianyao turned her head and glared at Gu Wencheng. "I'm not crying!"
Gu Wencheng gazed at Meng Nianyao's lips. They were tinged with a fiery red, almost bloodshot. He grinned, a hint of pride in his eyes. "It's my fault. I didn't know how to be serious and made Mrs. Gu cry."
Meng Nianyao understood why Gu Wencheng was upset. She spoke, "Let go of me. Not only do you dislike the smell on my body, but I also find it quite repulsive."
The anger in Gu Wencheng's heart suddenly dissipated. He reached out to touch Meng Nianyao's lips. "I'm sorry for making you cry." With that, he released her hand.
Gu Wencheng's words and actions remained ambiguous. Meng Nianyao blushed. After he let go, she promptly rose and headed to the bathroom.
After taking a refreshing shower and changing into clean clothes, Meng Nianyao emerged from the bathroom. Gu Wencheng was still seated on the living room sofa, engaged in a phone conversation. As he heard the bathroom door open, he briefly spoke to the person on the other end of the line before hanging up. He gestured to Meng Nianyao. "Come here."
Meng Nianyao's heart skipped a beat when she saw his smile. "What's going on?"
Gu Wencheng reclined on the sofa, phone in one hand, the other resting on the armrest. He looked up at Meng Nianyao and inquired, "How do you intend to deal with Meng Haotian?"
This marked the first time Gu Wencheng had asked her about her plan after she had revealed her desire to see Meng Haotian's downfall.
"If Meng Haotian wishes to elevate himself, then I'll craft the ladder for him to ascend the pyramid," Meng Nianyao replied.
"Details?" Gu Wencheng probed.
Meng Nianyao glanced at Gu Wencheng. During the ride back, she had contemplated how to ask for his assistance. They had an agreement that he would help her exact revenge, and she would marry him. Yet, somehow, when the moment was upon her, she felt a tinge of embarrassment.
"I hope you can provide me with all the connections Meng Haotian desires," Meng Nianyao began. "I hope you can coax him into cooperation without harming your own interests."
"Of course," Gu Wencheng smiled. He glanced at Meng Nianyao's countenance and then queried, "And what about us? Your actions that night made Meng Haotian believe that you still love him and haven't let him go. He'll employ you as a tool to rise to my level, believing that your lingering affections make you the perfect pawn. So...
Are you acting as if you love him?"
"Yes, that's why I need your cooperation," Meng Nianyao affirmed. "Don't let Meng Haotian discover that we're married. I'll inform him that I'm your secretary."
"Haha..." Gu Wencheng chuckled. "Don't you think it's more exhilarating to let Meng Haotian know you're my wife?"
Meng Nianyao hadn't anticipated Gu Wencheng's response. She met his gaze, detecting a certain detachment in his eyes.
Meng Nianyao clenched her fists. "No, I know Meng Haotian well. He's self-centered. If he learns I'm married to you, he'll only question why I found someone superior. He'll doubt the authenticity of my love for him."
Gu Wencheng laughed again, though a hint of displeasure lingered in his eyes.
Meng Nianyao refrained from further discussion. She turned and proceeded to the dining room. Her stomach was acting up. Her early life had been a tough one, and her stomach often suffered after extreme shifts in diet. She needed to be cautious with her meals. Dining on hotel cuisine for the past few days had begun to take a toll.
She perused the contents of the refrigerator, and as expected in a presidential suite, everything was meticulously prepared. Her stomach was protesting, and she wasn't in the mood to cook. A simple porridge was all she desired.
After a while, the sound of the door locking echoed from outside. Meng Nianyao's hand halted, and she peered out. Gu Wencheng was no longer in the living room. She stood there for a moment before returning to the kitchen, continuing her preparations for the porridge's side dishes.