Why Do You Despise Me So Much.

"Uncle Red, why are you grumpy?" a voice chirped inquisitively, belonging to Liling.

"Aww, little girl, I must ask as to why you refer to him as Uncle Red," Zhou Lumei's voice resonated with curiosity.

"I call him that 'cause this morning...," Xuejian swiftly placed his hand over Liling's mouth, attempting to silence her.

"Miss Zhou, I kindly request that you disregard my presence for the remainder of the day," Xuejian said, carrying Liling away from her.

He proceeded towards the director who was observing Meiying and Yifan advancing towards a door, and he gently knocked upon it. Hongzong emerged from behind the door, while Yifan posed inquiries, then motioned for Meiying to ask her questions. However, she began to stutter, abruptly concealing her mouth.

The director had to call for a cut as he approached them. Xuejian couldn't comprehend why Meiying suddenly felt nervous, given that she had never before experienced such apprehension while acting, unless...

He glanced at Liling, who was in his hands, as she stifled a laugh. Then he realized that something was amiss. He secluded Liling away from anyone who could overhear their conversation.

"Has something occurred between Meiying and Hongzong?" Xuejian asked, his tone serious yet caring.

Liling appeared surprised by the question, but she shook her head, refraining from speaking.

"Whatever your heart desires, dear Liling, Uncle Red shall fulfill," he assured her with a playful wink.

Liling pondered for a moment, "Please, don't tell my mum what I'm gonna say."

"Lips, firmly sealed," he assured her.

"Uncle Zong saw Aunty Ying without clothes at my house," Liling confessed, casting furtive glances around to ensure her mother was not within earshot.

A dark expression clouded Xuejian's face momentarily, but as Liling turned back to him, he replaced it with a warm smile and inquired about her desired gift.

"A telescope," she disclosed, unable to contain her delight.

"Tomorrow, it shall be delivered to your residence," he promised her.

Xuejian then escorted Liling back to her mother, only to discover her engaging in a conversation with Jingyi. He interrupted them and returned Liling to her mother's embrace.

As he exited the building, the persistent presence of reporters swarming around caught his attention, but he disregarded their intrusive gazes, focusing solely on reaching his car. He drove to his company and ascended to his office, relishing the solitude it provided.

Removing his jacket, he neatly hung it on the back of his chair before settling into his seat. Xuejian yearned for a distraction, something to temporarily divert his thoughts from the unsettling revelation he had just heard. And so, he turned to his work, pouring himself into tasks and projects with fervor. The hours slipped away unnoticed, until Xiaojin's arrival summoned him back to reality.

"Sir, is something amiss?" Xiaojin asked, a touch of concern lingering in his voice. He had noticed Xuejian's unexpected presence in the office, given that he had previously mentioned spending the day with his wife.

Xuejian surveyed Xiaojin's worried expression and let out a sigh. Xiaojin had always been a loyal friend who understood him better than most. He knew that his facade had been shattered, but he still tried to hide his inner turmoil.

"There is no need for worry, Xiaojin. I assure you, I am fine," Xuejian reassured him, grateful for the unwavering support and understanding he received.

Xiaojin hesitated, uncertain whether to pry further, but eventually bid Xuejian goodnight and left the office. Alone once again, Xuejian rose from his chair and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the expansive view beyond.

"Have I made the correct decision?" he pondered aloud, his voice filled with uncertainty.

The door swung open once again, and Xuejian's frustration was evident as he began, "Xiaojin, I said that I'm alr--" His words trailed off as he realized that it wasn't Xiaojin who had entered.

Meiying's grin widened as she observed his surprise. Making her way to the glass table that adorned his office, she carefully placed the containers in her hands and arranged them neatly.

"Xiaojin told me that you hadn't had your dinner. Let's eat," she proposed, but Xuejian remained motionless.

"Come on, I didn't add extra salt or pepper this time." Meiying tried to coax him.

Reluctantly, Xuejian walked over to the glass table and took a seat on the couch. Meiying joined him, offering him a pair of chopsticks. She watched as he picked up the food and began to eat, his expression unreadable.

Meiying's pouted at his expression before she joined him. Once they finished, she tidied up the containers.

"You should go home now; it is already late," Xuejian stated, rising from his seat and heading towards his working table.

"What? You're not going home with me?" Meiying's voice was filled with surprise.

"No, I still have a lot of work to do."

"Bullshit! You don't want to follow me because you're angry!"

"That's even more reason for you to go back home by yourself."

Meiying scoffed indignantly, then walked toward him but passed him and halted in front of his seat, where his jacket hung. She retrieved a small device from her pocket and crushed it beneath her boot.

Xuejian gazed at her, his eyes wide with shock, while Meiying met his gaze steadily. "You see, because of your so-called anger, you didn't even know that Zhou Lumei dropped this in your pocket."

"So that's why you came here."

"No, I came here to clear up a misunderstanding. Zhang Hongzong didn't have any intention of that happening. It was my fault for not closing the door, and your beautiful Liling was the one who caused all of that to happen. She tugged the towel off my body. I wasn't...fully naked. I was wearing a tank top and pants," she explained.

"As a married woman, even that is considered naked," Xuejian responded.

"Zhang Hongzong apologized," Meiying continued.

"Not my problem. Why are you wasting your time explaining it to me?" Xuejian's voice held a hint of indifference, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity.

"Because I care about what you think. We've been enemies for years, and I never liked it. But when we entered into this contract marriage, I thought maybe we could be friends, or even more. You've shattered my hopes time and time again. Why do you despise me so much?" Meiying asked, her voice tinged with tears.

She had done a lot of pondering before coming here. Even though their contract would end in eleven months, she wanted to salvage a truce, at the very least.

Xuejian sank down into his chair, resting his head on his interlaced hands. Meiying perched herself on the edge of his table, waiting for his response.

"I don't despise you," Xuejian finally answered, his voice softer.

"Then why did you treat me that way back at school?" Meiying asked, her disbelief evident.

"You made it clear that we were enemies, that we could never be friends," Xuejian replied, glancing up at her.

"There must be a misunderstanding somewhere," Meiying insisted, her voice filled with hope.

"You know what frustrates me the most? I'm the only one who remembers everything," he confessed, standing up and donning his jacket.

"What?" Meiying's confusion grew.

"Let's go home," Xuejian said, heading towards the door.

"But I won't understand unless you tell me what happened," Meiying pressed.

"Even if I tell you, will you remember?" Xuejian asked, his question hanging in the air. Meiying fell silent, realizing that Xuejian had a point. Would she even remember?

Gathering the containers, Meiying followed him out of the office. During the drive home, she stole glances at him, searching for any hints of the memories he held tightly to.

Once they arrived home, Xuejian, completely focused, made a direct beeline towards his study.

However, Meiying held him back with a gentle grip on his hand. Confusion clouded his face as Xuejian stared at her, perplexed, when she impulsively placed a soft kiss on his left cheek.

"Goodnight," she beamed with genuine affection, her voice melodious, but Xuejian recoiled, his expression a blend of confusion and disbelief.

"There's no one here for you to display such act," he retorted, a hint of irritation tinting his voice.

"I did it because I wanted to," Meiying said as she gracefully withdrew, leaving Xuejian rooted in bewilderment, his gaze fixed on her diminishing figure before he reluctantly made his way back to his secluded study.

Alone in her sanctuary, Meiying retrieved her phone from her pocket. Determination gleamed in her eyes as she embarked on a thorough search for a phone number, a number that had remained elusive in her previous life. Just as she had suspected, her rebirth was irrevocably intertwined with Xuejian, her mission being to make right the past.

A wide grin of satisfaction spread across her face as she spotted the number, a sign that the perfect opportunity had arrived to confront an old adversary, a confrontation that was overdue.