So, he wasn’t really married.
Meng Xici realized this, and his feelings were complicated.
He was already in his teens, just a few years away from adulthood, and he didn’t actually mind if his father remarried.
But hearing him say that, a strange sense of relief welled up inside him.
Then he quickly reflected was it really appropriate to feel this way?
Since he was only being treated as a guest, he didn’t need to worry about how to interact with others.
A weight lifted from his heart.
Throughout his life, he had encountered plenty of people who tried to use him as a way to get close to his father.
It had happened so often that it became a source of frustration.
The ideal situation was one where they kept out of each other’s way, where no one would use the excuse of being an elder to interfere in his life or do anything unnecessary.
Everyone could simply coexist peacefully.
Lately, schoolwork had been overwhelming, and final exams were approaching.
He didn’t want to be distracted by these matters.
Before moving in, Sang Miao accompanied Meng Peisheng to meet one of his elders.
His parents still lived in Hong Kong, so she didn’t get the chance to meet them this time.
His mother, Gu Shutong, came from a prestigious family and was the well-known eldest daughter of the Gu family.
His father was the current chairman of the Meng Group, managing its business in Hong Kong and overseas for years while living there.
As for the domestic headquarters, Meng Peisheng had gradually taken over and gained full control of it after graduating college at twenty.
From what she knew, he had also lived in Hong Kong with his parents before adulthood.
Among the many heirs of powerful families, he had an impeccable record both academically and in business.
It was no wonder he was the father of the novel’s protagonist.
Sang Miao could only call him the overachiever of overachievers…
The elder she went to meet was his grandmother, the Meng family’s matriarch.
The elderly lady was staying at a private hospital for health reasons.
She was warm and friendly, only asking Sang Miao a few simple questions about herself in casual conversation.
Sang Miao answered smoothly, following the responses she had prepared in advance.
At one point, she excused herself briefly.
Upon returning, as she walked past the door, she overheard their conversation.
The matriarch’s voice came first.
“If you’re willing to get married, then I can rest assured.”
Meng Peisheng didn’t immediately respond.
The old lady sighed and continued in a heartfelt tone.
“I watched Xici grow up.
To me, he has always been like my own grandchild.”
“It has been so many years since the past events.
I only hope that he never learns about it, that he can live his life smoothly and happily.”
“But if you refuse to date or marry just because of him, staying alone all these years… I won’t be at peace even after I’m gone.”
After a few seconds of silence, Meng Peisheng finally spoke.
“Grandma, I’ve told you before whether I marry or not has nothing to do with him.”
“Just focus on your health, and don’t keep talking about things like leaving.”
The old lady’s voice noticeably softened.
“Alright, alright.
I don’t care if you’re just humoring me or if you’re finally listening for real.
Since you’re getting married, just live well.”
Sang Miao swore she wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose.
It was just that her hearing was too good she had caught it by accident.
She didn’t know the exact details of the novel’s plot.
All she knew were bits and pieces that the voice in her dreams had vaguely conveyed.
It had spoken roughly, and she had only half-listened.
But from what she just heard, the male lead was not the biological child of the Meng family.
There seemed to be some hidden truth about his origins.
And apparently, Meng Peisheng himself didn’t know the truth.
Could it be that the reason he had remained single all these years… was to avoid giving this child a stepmother?
Sang Miao pondered this.
By the end of this year, he would be turning thirty-five, while Meng Xici should be sixteen.
Which meant that when he was twenty, the child had already been born…
That explained it.
She had wondered why someone like Meng Peisheng would have a son at such a young age.
No wonder there had always been speculation.
From the limited interactions she had with him, Sang Miao found him difficult to read.
His emotions were never visible.
His upbringing made him polite but never warm.
Should she say he was too responsible?
Or too self-sacrificing?
Or perhaps he simply had no interest in romance and marriage?
After all, once people moved past their twenties, love often became an optional part of life.
For someone like him, work was life.
No wonder he had reached the top of the pyramid.
The day after meeting the Meng matriarch, she heard that Meng Peisheng had gone on a business trip.
It was the perfect timing.
Since Meng Xici was also at school, neither of them would be home.
She could move in peacefully and get used to the new environment.
Sang Miao didn’t have much to pack just a few large suitcases.
Once she finished, she notified Lin Yanzhou to avoid making him wait.
Sang Rui hadn’t gone out that day.
Knowing that her sister was about to move, she couldn’t help but recall the past.
Lately, she had been dreaming about it often.
The relationship between Meng Peisheng and Meng Xici had always been cold.
Rumor had it that they had never lived together while growing up.
Both were rarely home, so she had few chances to interact with them.
But whenever she did, she made sure to seize the opportunity.
Yet Meng Peisheng was indifferent, and even a teenager like Meng Xici treated her as if she were invisible.
He had loathed her simply because she was the “stepmother.”
Naturally, he resented her presence, and she saw no need to please a boy who barely acknowledged his own father.
Then, by chance, she discovered the truth
Meng Xici was not actually Meng Peisheng’s biological son.
If he wasn’t really his son, then she wasn’t a “stepmother” at all.
She was the first wife there was no ex-wife, no child.
He was just an adopted son.
What right did he have to look down on her?
Thinking back now, her only mistake was investigating his origins.
That was what got her used, nearly dragging her into disaster.
No this wasn’t her fault.
She had only wanted to uncover the truth.
It was the plot that had forced her into this role, leading her down that path.
After all, as the protagonist of the novel, Meng Xici’s hidden lineage was bound to be revealed.
She had just been unlucky enough to play that part in the story.
But now… that person was no longer her.
For a long time, she had worried about unexpected changes, afraid she wouldn’t be able to escape her original fate and would still end up in the Meng family.
But now, with her sister following the same sequence of events getting married, moving in she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
From now on, the plot had nothing to do with her.
She just had to focus on what she knew.
This time, she would get everything she wanted.
So, her sister had no ambitions.
She had always just wanted a simple life.
But why was she luckier than her?
If she hadn’t been cast as the vicious supporting character in the novel, how could she have ended up in such a miserable situation?
The sisters’ rooms were on the same floor.
Now that her sister was leaving, she couldn’t just ignore it.
Sang Rui walked to Sang Miao’s room and knocked on the door.
Sang Miao had already heard her footsteps the moment she stepped out of her room.
So she wasn’t surprised when she opened the door.
“Jiejie, you only have a few suitcases?”
Sang Miao replied casually,
“I don’t have much to bring.”
The two of them had vastly different personalities and interests.
They had never been particularly close or shared everything with each other.
Even if she hadn’t been away for seven years and had lived a normal life with her sister, they would have still had their own separate circles and friends.
Their worlds simply didn’t overlap.
Even if the plot changed with different choices, Sang Rui’s sudden reversal completely flipping the storyline 180 degrees and switching their roles
Sang Miao thought, Maybe it wasn’t just as simple as having a change of heart and regretting her decision, as she claimed.
Even if she did regret it, the shift was far too abrupt.
But she had no interest in knowing the real reason.
It was a personal choice, after all.
Just like how she had chosen to accept the marriage agreement with Meng Peisheng.
Whether it was about following a script or not, life was shaped by one’s own decisions.
Normally, Lin Yanzhou would accompany Meng Peisheng on business trips.
But this time, he had stayed behind specifically to handle matters regarding Sang Miao.
After the luggage was loaded into the car, Lin Yanzhou saw her carrying a very large cat and chuckled.
“There’s already a dog at the villa.
Now there’ll be company.”
The cat, having never heard of what a “dog” was, simply flicked its ears lazily.
Sang Miao introduced it.
“This is Youyou.”
The three-year-old Maine Coon had already reached full size.
Its fur was a mix of silver and gray, and its long, fluffy tail swayed elegantly.
It was both gorgeous and majestic.
When standing upright, this breed could grow to about a meter in length its tail almost as long as its body.
Many cats would get stressed in new environments, but Maine Coons loved the outdoors.
They could even be walked on a leash like dogs.
So now, as it was placed in the car, it remained calm and unbothered.
Before leaving, Sang Miao had bid farewell to her uncle.
Now, she was ready to go.
The Meng family’s villa was in the opposite direction from the Sang family’s home.
The drive took over an hour.
By the time they arrived, the sun was beginning to set.
Once they passed the security gate, they were officially on private property.
The car continued along the road, lined with tall trees.
They drove past a man-made lake, and soon, a few irregularly shaped buildings appeared.
At the center of the marble-paved entrance stood a grand fountain, flanked by meticulously designed gardens that still retained a touch of untamed beauty.
The car circled around the fountain before stopping in front of the main building.
A few people were already waiting outside to receive her.
Uncle Zhou opened the car door for her, and the staff immediately stepped forward to carry her luggage inside.
Everything was carried out in an orderly fashion.
“This is the villa’s housekeeper, Shao Ying.”
Uncle Zhou introduced the woman standing at the front.
Shao Ying looked to be in her thirties efficient, composed, and exuding both elegance and intelligence.
After introducing herself, she led the way inside.
As they walked, she spoke in a steady and measured tone.
“We’ve prepared a bedroom for you in advance.
However, Mr. Meng mentioned that if you’d like to switch, there are plenty of other rooms available in the villa.”
Sang Miao had no objections and politely replied,
“I’ll stay in the one you’ve prepared.”
The room was on the second floor.
As they walked, Shao Ying briefly described the villa’s layout.
“Mr. Meng’s room is on this floor as well.
The young master’s room is on the third floor.”
After leading her to the bedroom, Shao Ying didn’t linger.
“Both Mr. Meng and the young master are away for a few days.
Dinner is already being prepared, so you can rest first.
There is staff on duty 24/7.
If you need anything, just let us know.”
Sang Miao nodded.
“Alright, thank you.”
The level of attentiveness was just right thoughtful without being too intrusive.
The housekeeper knew her boundaries well.
Sang Miao appreciated that.
Now alone with her cat, she walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and stepped onto the balcony.
Youyou followed her instinctively.
The view was filled with greenery, sprawling lawns, and a serene lake.
Even in the winter, the place brimmed with life.
The villa’s two official residents were away.
For now, she and her cat had the entire mansion and entire garden to themselves.
Nice!
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