Before stepping into the room, Luo Chen had been informed about Li Weiyoung's intention to fabricate evidence against Mei Ting.
He wasn't surprised when he was told that she had skipped dinner with the excuse of waiting for him.
When he stepped into the room, he spotted Mei Ting standing in front of the window.
She wore a nightgown; her hands were wrapped around her, and she had not noticed his entrance.
The room was lit by a warm yellow light. Taking careful steps, Luo Chen walked towards her; he could tell from behind that she had a loss in thought; when he drew closer to her, he threw his hands around her waist and drew her closer to his chest.
Mei Ting flinched, almost jumping away from his hold causing him to pull his hand away from her waist.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," he said.
Mei Ting turned to him.
"It's fine; I was just shocked; I didn't know it was you." Looking behind him, she asked, "When did you come? I didn't hear you enter."
Luo Chen's lips pulled upwards slowly, and he picked her hand, leading her to the bed, which was laid with white bed sheets.
"You were preoccupied by your thoughts." He paused as they took a seat on the bed, "I just arrived." His hand moved to hold her face, and he moved it from left to right, inspecting it.
Jiao Runchu had told him earlier that Mei Ting wasn't hurt, but he wanted to confirm for himself.
"I should have gone with you; I'm sorry you have to go through that," Luo Chen moved his hold to her arms, inspecting it, "Are you okay?" He asked.
Mei Ting's eyes were pinned on his, on his brows, which were pulled together; her heart melted at the concern laced in his voice.
Not getting any response from her, Luo Chen shifted his face to hers, "I'll be fine." She pulled her hands from his hold and settled it on her lap, "Thank you for coming to my aid," her voice was low.
Luo Chen smoothened her hair which was a bit ruffled by the wind a while ago, "there is no thanks between us. You are my wife, it's my duty to protect you."
Something turned within her, she had accepted her new reality. She was no longer the Mei Ting everyone knew, not the Mei Ting Yang Zichen had broken up with either. Now, she was someone's wife.
She had always imagined what it would be like to start a life with Yang Zichen. How it would feel to be called someone's wife.
And now here she was. But what caught her now was the fact that what she felt right now was a feeling she had never imagined.
Suddenly, Luo Chen didn't feel like a stranger anymore.
"Mr. Luo, you are too kind." She found herself saying.
"Not Mr. Luo, especially not to you." Luo Chen said, rising to his feet. "To you, I should bear something else, something more romantic, or don't you think Wifey?" Mei Ting's face grew warm immediately.
"Well I… I" Her eyes moved from left to right as she struggled to form a coherent word.
Luo Chen was relieved seeing her like this; her mood seemed to have improved.
"You can think of that later, for now, let's go have dinner. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting." he extended a palm to her.
"Dinner?" Mei Ting asked, her eyes finally returning her gaze to his face before she moved it to the hand in front of her.
She had almost forgotten about her excuse.
The truth was that she didn't want to eat here; she doesn't eat home-cooked food and had used Luo Chen as an excuse.
She placed her hand on his. His big, warm hand covered hers as she stood.
Together they stepped out of the room.
When they got to the dining room, it had already been set up by the maids. There were various varieties of food. The dining was secluded from the sitting room but had a door connecting it to the kitchen.
Luo Chen took her to the head of the table and pulled out the first chair on the right for her to sit before sitting on his chair.
The head chef stepped out when both had settled.
"Welcome, sir and madam." She bowed slightly, and her hands were placed in front of her, an apron tied securely over her neck. Facing Mei Ting, she said, "I didn't know what you'd like, so I made a little of everything I could think of."
Mei Ting's eyes looked over the food, "thank you."
When the chef left, Luo Chen asked her what she preferred, "anything," she said placing one hand over the other on her lap
She would have to eat something. She took a deep breath.
Luo Chen placed some food on her plate before placing it on his.
Mei Ting took hold of the chopstick. She began digging into the food, opening and opening each part as if she were searching for something.
Noticing that she wasn't eating, Luo Chen spoke, "Is the food not to your liking?"
"It is," her lips shook as she tried to smile.
"But you haven't tasted it."
She inhaled a scent of breath.
"I can ask her to make something else for you if this is not to your liking," He made to stand but she quickly held him down.
Holding his gaze she shook her head. "That won't be necessary." She dropped the chopstick beside the plate.
"The truth is," she paused trying to read his expression as she was about to open part of herself to him. If they were going to spend the rest of their life together, he needed to know.
Luo Chen nodded slowly, a sign for her to continue, "I don't eat home-cooked food." She confessed.
Mei Ting continued, "When I was younger, I was poisoned at home." She closed her eyes as memories of her eating and then throwing up after feeling a sharp pain in her stomach hit her.
"Someone at home poisoned me. I barely made it out alive. I've been scared since then; what if it repeats itself, and I don't make it out alive?" The hair on her arms all stood as cold ran through her.
Watching her speak, Luo Chen's knuckles turned white as he clenched his fist together. But for now, he knew he had to listen to her and put his anger aside.
"Since then, I don't eat home-cooked food."
"How did you eat?"
"I bought food from convenience stores."
How could someone rely on convenience food to survive? Luo Chen clenched his teeth as anger burned through him. They had deprived her of enjoyment.
"Who poisoned you? Did you ever find the person?"
"The cook was blamed and fired, but the mastermind in all these was Li Weiyoung."
Li Weiyoung had done so much harm to her and Mei Ting has vowed never to forgive her after their discussion today.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that."
"Thank you." They both held each other's gaze till Mei Ting said, "I know this isn't poisonous, but I'm sorry, I can't eat it."
"You don't have to." He stood, "Come, let's get you something to eat." He took hold of her hand.
"What about these? I feel bad, she must have spent a lot of time in the kitchen."
"You don't have to feel bad, it's completely fine."
They both stepped into the kitchen.
Opening one of the cabinets to expose a variety of convenience food, he spoke, "What should we eat? Ramen? Rice?"
Mei Ting felt her eyes begin to water.
"Ramen."
Ten minutes later, they were in the dining. Mei Ting was surprised to see that the food had been removed.
Luo Chen ate with her, "you don't need to eat this,"
"I want to."
After eating, Mei Ting returned to the room.
Luo Chen had excused himself. He had been called by Jiao Runchu who claimed to have important news for him.
"What did you find out?" He had given him the task of finding out all about Li Weiyoung's plan to frame Mei Ting.
"Mei Ting was indeed the last person to visit Madam Li before her death, but from what I found out, she was there to give a report and had barely spent ten minutes. Madam Li died at about 9 pm yesterday. The cause of her death is unknown and Li Weiyoung has refused to carry out an autopsy."
Luo Chen nodded.
"Li Weiyoung had also visited Madam Li that day before Mei Ting did."
Luo Chen took all these in, the jars in his head spinning.
"What do you think about this?" He wanted to get Jiao Runchu's opinion.
"Li Weiyoung is suspicious. Especially the fact that she wants to hold a small gathering tomorrow and have Madam Li's Will read. She's eager to be the chairwoman. You have been invited to the gathering." Jiao Runchu informed him.
Luo Chen heard the unvoiced question, "Could she be responsible for her mother's death?"
Luo Chen had one hand on his jaw. Over thirty seconds passed before he said, "Let's give Li Weiyoung a small surprise."