A Firm Nip.

Mr. Wang pondered for a moment, deliberating his decision, and ultimately consented. Not only did he agree, but he also instructed her to visit his office first thing the following morning! Meiying's her eyes widening with excitement at the prospect.

"Father, I cannot support this. Shouldn't you have consulted with me about my thoughts on this matter?" Xuejian finally spoke up.

Meiying scoffed, her tone laced with defiance as she retorted, "Says the man who never comes home and prefers to sleep at the office!"

Xuejian glared at her, struggling to comprehend her statement. "What are you insinuating?" he questioned, his voice tinged with a hint of annoyance.

"You suddenly want to offer opinions on how I should live my life when you never cared about me in the first place!"

He retorted sharply, "What are you talking about? I have provided you with everything—a home, wealth, clothes, accessories, maids at your beck and call. I even gave you credit cards!"

She countered, her voice shaking with suppressed emotions, "But you never gave me a real home."

"You have no understanding of what having a home truly means, so why bother?" she said as she stood up and went out of the hall.

Seeking solace amidst the tranquil beauty of the garden, Meiying settled onto a bench, allowing her tears to flow freely. She couldn't believe she had let her vulnerability show in front of Xuejian and her in-laws. All she yearned for was a genuine home, and it was only Chenwei who had provided her with that sense of belonging.

After regaining her composure, Meiying rose from the bench, only to be startled by a pair of piercing grey eyes and a fiery red mane peering at her from behind the bushes. Instinctively, she let out a scream of fear, "Ahh, A beast."

Stepping out from his concealed spot, the figure revealed himself to be Zhang Hongzong. Meiying couldn't believe she had forgotten that he was the only person she knew with such distinct features. But what was he doing there?

"First, you called me ugly, and now I'm a beast," he stated calmly.

Curiosity getting the better of her, she asked, "What were you doing lurking behind the bushes?"

"I was trying to catch a butterf— why do you want to know?" he replied defensively.

"Excuse me, but I live here, and I would like to know what a weirdo like you is doing in this area," Meiying said with a blink.

"Now, weirdo! Listen here, I apologize if I have done something to upset you. It seems that you maintain a composed demeanor when around others, but when it comes to me, you unleash your immaturity," Hongzong responded calmly.

Meiying's eyes twitched in annoyance. "You were observing me," she retorted.

"Of course! When a beautiful and charming girl approaches you, yanks you by the collar, and calls you ugly, wouldn't you be curious? I initially thought you were a hater, but it seems like you're intentionally trying to provoke a reaction from me. Allow me to inform you that I am not like that," he stated.

Meiying couldn't help but burst into laughter. She stood up, walking confidently towards him. "Well, I'll certainly expose your true nature, because you are nothing more than a clumsy fool!" she declared.

Hongzong closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "There's only one way to avoid this," he remarked.

"What is it?" she asked, her amusement growing. But before she could get an answer, Hongzong suddenly darted away from her, as if she were a predator and he the prey.

Meiying laughed, delighted by how their roles had changed. She was now the hunter, not him—no, scratch that, she was the huntress.

As Meiying returned to the party, she discovered that it had come to an end, and people were beginning to leave. Xuejian was nowhere to be found and once the house was empty, her in-laws bid her goodbye, and she made her way to her bedroom after giving instructions to the maids.

Entering her bedroom, Meiying began to undress, removing her dress until she was left in her undergarments. Just as she was about to hang her dress in the walk-in closet, she was taken aback as the bathroom door swung open.

In walked Xuejian, wearing only a towel around his waist, using another towel to dry his hair. Water dripped from his hair, trailing down his body. Meiying felt a surge of shock and horror, causing her to scream in surprise. Xuejian glanced at her, utterly amazed, and then proceeded towards the walk-in closet.

Meiying glanced around the room, ensuring that she hadn't entered the master's bedroom by mistake. Relieved, she realised it was her own room. It seemed that Xuejian was the one who had lost his way. She followed him to the walk-in closet and kindly informed him that he had come to the wrong room.

However, Xuejian seemed to be completely distracted, ignoring her words as he grabbed a large t-shirt and joggers from a single wardrobe. Curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn't help but ask, "How did those even end up there?" But her inquiry fell on deaf ears, and Xuejian simply proceeded to put on the t-shirt. He gestured towards the joggers, but Meiying struggled to understand his message until he motioned to remove the towel from around his waist. In response, she sprinted out of the room, feeling a mix of surprise and embarrassment.

"That guy is crazy," Meiying muttered to herself as she dropped her dress on the bed. It was then that she realised she was standing in her undies and had been conversing with Xuejian in her current state. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly made her way to the bathroom before Xuejian could return to the room. After freshening up and changing into a bathrobe, she saw that Xuejian was already lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

Meiying let out a sigh as she went to the walk-in closet and noticed that her dress, which she had removed earlier, was now hanging neatly. She picked out a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of fitted trousers, determined not to lose her virginity to Xuejian. That was a privilege she had solely reserved for Chenwei. The realization of her not losing her virginity in both lives only added to her embarrassment.

Putting on the outfit, Meiying curled up on the bed next to Xuejian and pulled the bed sheet over herself for modesty. However, she suddenly had a thought and turned toward him, wondering if he was still awake. Regardless, she decided to ask the question she had in mind.

"Xuejian?"

"Go to sleep," he grumbled.

A smile graced Meiying's lips, knowing that he was awake. "I just wanted to ask something."

"Go ahead and ask," he replied sleepily.

"Why do you despise me?" Meiying inquired, her words delicately laced with curiosity, causing Xuejian to stir from his slumber and direct his gaze towards her.

"Why do you assume that I harbor such hatred towards you?" he replied, his voice tinged with perplexity.

"It was so apparent, you know! Ever since our elementary school days, you always displayed animosity to me. We even engaged in countless fights and arguments over trivial matters," she explained .

"Perhaps I do have some animosity towards you." he replied.

"You stayed behind today because of what I mentioned earlier, didn't you?" she queried.

"A good home starts with a good husband," he responded.

"Did your mother impart that wisdom to you?" Meiying inquired curiously.

"Just go to bed," he commanded, his authoritative tone laced with a hint of tenderness.

"Yes, sir," she dutifully replied, closing her eyes in compliance.

But after some time he broke the silence, "Where did you go this morning?" Xuejian asked, his brow furrowing inquisitively. Meiying flinched at his question, her mind racing as she contemplated if he knew.

"I went to your office," she answered nervously.

"And before that?" he probed further, his curiosity unyielding.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she deflected, turning away from him in an attempt to divert the conversation.

Xuejian studied her figure, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes. Closing the gap between them, he slowly approached, causing both the hairs on Meiying's neck and her own senses to stand upright in anticipation.

With a delicate touch, he brushed aside a strand of hair that concealed her ear and whispered, "I detest dishonesty." As he said this, his mouth ventured towards her neck, nipping it firmly, causing Meiying to emit a soft whimper.

Pulling away, a satisfied smile graced Xuejian's lips as he gazed upon his handiwork, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes. He couldn't resist the temptation to lick the place he nipped, sending a shiver through Meiying's body.

As her mind processed the unexpected sensation, Meiying cursed her own careless utterance. Why did she let slip that she yearned for a true home?