Saturday arrived faster than Lin Meiying expected. She packed a small suitcase with the nicest dress she owned a simple navy blue silk number she had bought years ago for a cousin's wedding and a few other essentials. She told Weiliang she would be gone for two days, just long enough to handle whatever business Li Yuhan needed to discuss. He had hugged her tightly at the bus station, reminding her again to call him as soon as she arrived, and watching his worried face fade into the distance made her stomach twist with guilt. But it was too late to turn back now.
The journey to Shanghai felt shorter this time, maybe because her mind was already there, racing with questions and possibilities. When she stepped off the train and into the bustling station, the familiar noise and energy of the city hit her like a wave. It felt different now, though less intimidating, but charged with a new kind of tension. She wasn't just a girl from the countryside coming to beg for her home; she was a guest, invited by the man who had turned her world upside down.
A driver was waiting for her at the exit, holding a sign with her name on it. He took her bag and led her to a sleek black car that looked like it cost more than her entire house. The ride to the Grand Hyatt Hotel was silent, Meiying staring out the window at the skyline, watching as the familiar buildings passed by, eventually giving way to the gleaming towers of Pudong.
When the car pulled up in front of the hotel, a doorman opened the door for her. She stepped out, feeling suddenly very small and very underdressed compared to the people milling around the entrance men in sharp tuxedos and women in glittering gowns, laughing and chatting as they made their way inside.
"Ms. Lin?" A voice pulled her attention away. It was Ms. Zhang, Li Yuhan's assistant, looking immaculate in a tailored black suit. She was standing just inside the lobby, a warm but professional smile on her face. "Mr. Li is already upstairs getting ready, but he asked me to take you to your room first. You'll have time to freshen up before the gala starts."
Meiying nodded, following Ms. Zhang to the elevator. "Thank you," she said softly. "You didn't have to come down yourself."
"It's no trouble at all," Ms. Zhang replied as the elevator doors slid shut. "Mr. Li wanted to make sure you were well taken care of."
The room they took her to was on a high floor, spacious and luxurious, with a king-sized bed, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, and a bathroom that looked like it belonged in a spa. A garment bag was hanging on the rack near the window.
"What's this?" Meiying asked, turning to Ms. Zhang.
"Mr. Li thought you might like to have something new for the evening," Ms. Zhang said, gesturing to the bag. "He asked me to arrange it. He said you should feel comfortable. Please, take your time. I'll come back in an hour to escort you down to the ballroom."
With that, Ms. Zhang left, closing the door softly behind her.
Meiying walked over to the garment bag and unzipped it slowly. Inside was a dress stunning, in a deep shade of emerald green that shimmered like water. It was elegant, not overly flashy, but it looked expensive. It looked like something a woman who belonged to this world would wear.
She stood there for a long moment, staring at it. Why had he done this? Was he trying to make her feel more at ease, or was he trying to remake her into something she wasn't? Part of her wanted to refuse it, to stick with her own simple dress. But another part was the part that wanted to stand on equal ground with him, wanted to see if she could fit into his world won out.
She took the dress out and went into the bathroom to change. It fit her perfectly, as if it had been made just for her. It hugged her figure in all the right places, the fabric soft against her skin. She looked in the mirror and barely recognized herself. The girl from Qingyun Township was still there, but she looked… different. More polished. More confident. She pulled her hair up into a simple but elegant bun, leaving a few tendrils framing her face, and applied a little more makeup than she usually wore.
When she was done, she took a deep breath. This is just a business meeting, she told herself. It's just a party. Nothing is going to happen.
Exactly an hour later, there was a knock on the door. Ms. Zhang was back, and her eyes lit up when she saw Meiying. "You look beautiful, Ms. Lin," she said sincerely. "Mr. Li is already waiting downstairs."
They took the elevator down to the ballroom. As the doors opened, the sound of music and conversation washed over them. The room was breathtaking chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling, casting a warm glow over tables covered in white linen and silverware. Waiters weaved through the crowd with trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Everyone looked so sophisticated, so polished.
Meiying's heart began to race again. She followed Ms. Zhang through the crowd, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on a figure standing near the large windows at the far end of the room.
Li Yuhan was there.
He was wearing a black tuxedo that fit him like a glove, a white dress shirt, and a black tie. He looked even more handsome than she remembered, his dark hair neatly styled, his profile sharp and distinct as he spoke to a group of people. Even in a room full of wealthy and powerful people, he stood out. He exuded an aura of quiet authority of someone who was used to being in control.
As if sensing her presence, he turned his head. His eyes found hers across the room, and Meiying felt that familiar jolt, that electric current that seemed to pass between them whenever they looked at each other. He excused himself from the group he was talking to and walked toward her, his gaze never leaving hers.
He stopped in front of her, and for a moment, he just looked at her, his dark eyes scanning her face, then drifting down to the dress. A flicker of something approval, maybe, or appreciation passed through his expression, gone so quickly she might have imagined it.
"You look beautiful, Meiying," he said. His voice was low, meant only for her ears. It sent a shiver down her spine.
"Thank you," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. "For the dress. And for the invitation."
"I told you I wanted to discuss the agreement in person," he said, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing at the corner of his lips. "But I also thought you might enjoy seeing a bit of Shanghai's nightlife. Have you eaten? Would you like something to drink?"
"Just water, please," she said. She was too nervous to eat or drink anything else.
Yuhan gestured to a passing waiter, who handed them two glasses of water. He led her to a quieter corner of the room near the windows, where they could talk without being overheard. The view behind them was spectacular the entire city spread out like a carpet of lights, the Huangpu River, a ribbon of silver cutting through it.
"So," Meiying said, clutching her glass tightly with both hands. "What did you want to discuss? Is there something wrong with the agreement?"
Yuhan took a sip of his water, looking out the window for a moment before turning his gaze back to her. "No, nothing is wrong. The agreement is fine. The payments are fine."
Meiying blinked. "Then… why did you ask me to come?"
He looked at her, his eyes intense and unreadable. "Because I wanted to see you."
The words hung in the air between them, simple but devastating. Meiying felt her breath catch in her throat. She had expected business talk, legal terms, and excuses. She hadn't expected honesty. She hadn't expected him to just say it.
"I wanted to see you," he repeated, his voice lower now. "I've been thinking about that day in my office. About the kiss. About you. I couldn't just let it go. I couldn't just let you disappear back into your life without seeing you one more time."
Meiying stared at him, her mind reeling. "But… I'm engaged, Yuhan. You know that. I have a life back home. I have Weiliang."
"I know," Yuhan said, his expression serious. "I know all of that. But I also know what I felt. And I think… I think you felt it too."
He took a step closer to her, closing the distance between them. Meiying could feel the heat radiating from him, could smell that familiar scent of sandalwood and soap. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it.
"Did you?" he asked softly. "Did you feel it, Meiying?"
She wanted to say no. She wanted to turn around and walk away, to go back to her hotel room and catch the first train home tomorrow morning. But she couldn't. Because he was right. She had felt it. She had felt it the moment he kissed her, and she had felt it every day since, in the quiet moments when she thought about him.
"I don't know," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know what I feel anymore. You're confusing me, Yuhan. You're making everything so complicated."
"I know," he said again. He reached out, his hand hovering near hers, not quite touching, but close enough that she could feel the warmth. "I'm sorry if I'm confusing you. I didn't mean to. But I couldn't lie to you. And I couldn't lie to myself. I wanted to see you. That's the truth."
Before Meiying could respond, a voice called out from behind them. "Yuhan! There you are!"
They both turned. A woman was walking toward them stunning, with long, dark hair, wearing a red dress that turned heads wherever she went. She looked sophisticated, wealthy, and familiar. She walked right up to Yuhan and linked her arm through his, smiling up at him.
"I've been looking for you everywhere," she said, then turned her gaze to Meiying, her eyes assessing, curious. "Who is your friend?"
Yuhan looked at the woman, then back at Meiying. His expression had closed off again, becoming unreadable.
"Meiying, this is Su Lina," he said, his voice formal again. "Lina, this is Lin Meiying. A… business associate."
Su Lina smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "A business associate? How interesting. It's nice to meet you, Lin Meiying."
Meiying stood there, feeling suddenly like an outsider. The moment between her and Yuhan was broken, shattered by the arrival of this beautiful woman who clearly knew him well, maybe better than she did. Who was she? A friend? A colleague? Something more?
Yuhan looked at Meiying, and for a split second, she saw a flash of something in his eyes regret? Or maybe an apology? But then it was gone.
"Lina is right. There are people I need to speak with," Yuhan said, pulling his arm free from Su Lina's grasp but still standing close to her. "Meiying, please… enjoy the party. If you need anything, Ms. Zhang will take care of you. I'll find you later."
He gave her one last look, then turned and walked away, Su Lina falling into step beside him, laughing at something he said.
Meiying stood there alone in the corner, the music and laughter of the gala fading into a dull roar in her ears. She looked at Yuhan's back as he disappeared into the crowd, and she felt a strange ache in her chest. She had come here looking for answers, but all she had found were more questions. Who was Su Lina? And what exactly was she doing here, in this glittering world that didn't belong to her, with a man who seemed to keep so many secrets?