The car ride home was quiet, but the silence wasn't heavy anymore. It was the kind of silence where thoughts are racing, where decisions were being made.
Meiying looked down at the promise ring on her finger, the light from the dashboard catching the small stone. Sophie's words were still echoing in her head: You don't belong here… You're just passing through… He'll leave you sooner or later.
She hated that Sophie said it, but a tiny, ugly part of her was scared that maybe… just maybe… there was some truth to it.
Yuhan parked the car in front of her house, but neither of them made a move to get out. He turned to her, his face serious in the dim light.
"Don't let her words get to you, Meiying," he said softly. "Sophie has always been like that. She thinks she's better than everyone else just because she was born rich. She's insecure, that's all. She's scared that someone real, someone genuine, might actually be better than her."
Meiying looked at him. "But she's right about one thing, Yuhan. I don't know anything about your world. I don't know business etiquette, I don't know how to dress for fancy parties, I don't even know how to hold a conversation about stocks or art or anything else that people in your circle talk about."
She took a deep breath. "I don't want to be the girl who just stands behind you looking pretty and saying nothing. I want to be your partner. I want to be someone you can be proud to take anywhere without worrying that I'll embarrass you."
"You could never embarrass me," Yuhan said immediately.
"I know you believe that," Meiying said, reaching out to touch his face. "But I want to do this for me. I want to feel confident. I want to prove to Sophie and to everyone else that I'm not just here for the ride. I'm here to stay."
Yuhan looked at her, and a slow smile spread across his face. Pride was shining in his eyes.
"So what do you want to do?" he asked.
"I want to learn," Meiying said firmly. "I want to read books, I want to take classes. I want to learn how to speak properly and how to carry myself. And… and I want to help with the business too. Not just the land, but Yue Hua Group too, if you'll let me. I'm smart, Yuhan. I just never had the chance to show it."
Yuhan caught her hand and kissed her palm.
"I would love that," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I always knew there was more to you than anyone could see. And I would be honored to help you grow. But remember you are already perfect exactly as you are. This is just… adding colors to an already beautiful painting."
The next morning, Meiying woke up with a fire in her belly she hadn't felt before.
She didn't just do the housework and cook breakfast. After Yutang went to school, she sat down at the table with a notebook and a pen.
Yuhan kept his promise. He brought over stacks of books some about business management, some about history and culture, and even some books on etiquette and communication.
"Start with whatever interests you," he said, sitting beside her. "And if you don't understand a word, ask me. I'll explain it until you get it."
Meiying worked hard. So hard. Sometimes her eyes would get tired, and her brain would feel full, but she never stopped. She remembered Sophie's cold smile, and it gave her the strength to keep going.
I will not be just a pretty face. I will be worthy of him.
A few days later, Yuhan had an idea.
"How about this?" he said one evening. "I have a meeting with some investors next week. It's not super formal, but it's important. Why don't you come with me? Not as my girlfriend, but as my assistant, or just as someone observing. You can see how we talk and how we negotiate. It's the best way to learn."
Meiying's heart skipped a beat. "Really? You'd let me come?"
"Of course," Yuhan grinned. "My future wife should know what I do all day, right?"
The day of the meeting arrived. Meiying wore a simple white blouse and a black skirt neat, professional, and elegant. Yuhan had helped her style her hair in a neat bun, making her look older and more mature.
They walked into the conference room at Yue Hua Group. There were five men sitting around the table, all dressed in expensive suits. One of them was… Sophie.
She was there representing one of the partner companies. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw Meiying walk in beside Yuhan, but she quickly recovered her cold expression.
"Good afternoon," Yuhan said confidently, leading Meiying to the table. "Let me introduce you to Lin Meiying. She is… working closely with me on some projects. She will be sitting in today."
Meiying saw the looks on the men's faces surprise, curiosity, maybe a little amusement. She saw Sophie smirking slightly, clearly thinking What does she know about business?
But Meiying didn't shrink back. She remembered everything she had studied. She remembered Yuhan's lessons. She sat up straight, lifted her chin, and sat down calmly beside Yuhan.
The meeting started. They talked about numbers, about expansion plans, about risks and profits.
At first, Meiying just listened, her pen moving quickly over the paper, taking notes just like she'd seen Yuhan do. She realized that a lot of what they were saying wasn't magic it was just logic. It was just common sense applied to big numbers.
agree
Then, one of the men presented a plan to build new warehouses in ⁶the northern area. Everyone seemed toe it was a good idea. It sounded perfect on paper.
But Meiying's hand stopped writing. She knew that area. She knew the land there.
She hesitated for a second. Everyone was talking, and she was just a girl who wasn't supposed to speak. But then she thought: Yuhan trusts me. I have to say this.
She cleared her throat softly.
"Excuse me," she said.
The room went instantly silent. All heads turned towards her. Sophie looked like she was about to laugh.
"Yes, Meiying?" Yuhan said, encouraging her with his eyes. "What do you think?"
Meiying took a deep breath.
"I don't think the northern area is a good choice," she said clearly. "The soil there is soft, isn't it? It's near the old river bed. If you build heavy warehouses there, the foundation might sink after a few years. And also… the road access is narrow. Trucks will have a hard time passing during rainy season. It might be cheap now, but it will cost you more in repairs and delays later on."
The room was dead silent.
The men looked at each other, then at the maps on the table.
"Is… is that true?" one of them asked.
"I know that land well," Meiying said calmly. "My father used to take me there. It's beautiful, but it's not stable for heavy construction."
Yuhan looked at her with pure amazement. He turned to his managers.
"Check the geological reports for that area immediately," he ordered. "See if what Meiying says is correct."
Ten minutes later, one of the managers came back, looking shocked.
"Sir… she's right. The reports show high water table and soft soil composition. We almost made a very expensive mistake."
Everyone turned to look at Meiying again. But this time, their eyes weren't amused or judgmental. They were impressed.
"Very sharp observation, Miss Lin," the main investor said, nodding respectfully. "You saved us a lot of trouble today."
Sophie was sitting there, her face pale, her mouth closed tight. She couldn't say a word. She looked at Meiying like she was seeing her for the first time not as a country girl, but as someone who actually knew what she was talking about.
Yuhan smiled, reaching under the table to squeeze Meiying's hand tightly.
"I told you," he said loudly, for everyone to hear. "Meiying has excellent instincts. And she knows things that books can't teach you."
After the meeting, as they walked out of the building, Meiying felt like she was walking on air.
"You were amazing," Yuhan said, pulling her into a hug right there in the hallway. "Absolutely brilliant. I knew you could do it."
"I was so scared," Meiying admitted, laughing happily. "But once I started talking, it just came out."
"That's because you know your stuff," Yuhan said proudly. "And see? You didn't just belong there. You shined there."
He looked down at her, his eyes full of love.
"Sophie thought she could break you. But she didn't know who she was dealing with. You're not just My Other Fiancée, Meiying. You're my equal. And soon… everyone will know it."