Chapter 15: This Plot Doesn’t Feel Right

“Ah! That’s more like it!”

Seeing his goal accomplished, Xiong Daichuan grinned from ear to ear as he leaned back on the sofa.

She had accepted the red envelope, but the atmosphere in the living room plunged into an even stranger awkwardness.

The three of them sat there stiffly. Feng Miwan clutched the red envelope like a hot potato, at a complete loss;

Xiong Yibai pushed up her glasses;

Xiong Daichuan eyed Feng Miwan with a beaming smile.

Just as the silence was about to become suffocating, the butler, Lao Chen, timed it perfectly and walked back in, reminding them:

“Sir, it’s about time. You have an international video conference starting in ten minutes, and the other side is already online waiting.”

Xiong Daichuan slapped his thigh as if he’d only just remembered.

“Oh, oh, oh! Right, right, right! Look at me, I got so caught up in the excitement that I nearly forgot about the important stuff!”

He hurriedly stood up.

“Well, Little Wan, make yourself right at home—treat this place like your own! Little Bai, take good care of Little Wan! Uncle will take his leave first.”

Feng Miwan quickly stood as well.

“Uncle, go ahead with your work! Take care!”

Xiong Yibai merely stood up too, nodded, and said nothing more.

Xiong Daichuan gave Feng Miwan another smiling nod before striding out of Xiong Yibai’s home, accompanied by the butler.

Once the door closed, Feng Miwan and Xiong Yibai both let out a sigh of relief.

But before she could fully exhale, Feng Miwan looked at the red envelope in her hand and took another deep breath, realizing it was too early to relax.

She quickly held it out to Xiong Yibai.

“Doctor Xiong, here… take this back.”

Xiong Yibai glanced at the red envelope but didn’t take it, saying flatly:

“My dad gave it to you himself. It wouldn’t be right for me to take it back. Just hold onto it for now.”

“Ah? This…”

Feng Miwan was utterly dumbfounded. What kind of logic was that?

Xiong Yibai saw the blank look on her face that practically screamed This plot doesn’t feel right and found it a little amusing, so she explained further:

“I got off work tonight and came home knowing you were coming over, so I tidied up a room for you in advance.”

Her tone turned helpless as she continued,

“I didn’t expect my dad to show up out of nowhere, bringing a butler he’d supposedly hired just to help me manage the household.

“I refused, but he happened to catch me cleaning the room, and he went off on his own tangent…

“Um… he got some wild idea and became convinced I was preparing the room for his future son-in-law.

“Then, ignoring all my protests, he had someone prepare this meeting gift. That’s… pretty much how it happened.”

Feng Miwan listened in a daze.

“So… that’s how it is…”

She paused, then suddenly snapped to her senses, thinking:

Wait, no!

This was meant for his future son-in-law!

Which means I really shouldn’t accept it!

She was just about to shove the red envelope back at Xiong Yibai when the other woman stood up and changed the subject:

“Come on, let me show you your room first so you can get familiar with the place.”

Feng Miwan’s words caught in her throat, so she stuffed the red envelope haphazardly into her jacket pocket and followed.

Xiong Yibai led her through the living room and down the hallway inside.

“This is the bedroom area. My room is the master at the very end.”

She pointed to the door at the far end of the hall, then stopped at the guest room right next to it.

“This is the guest room. No one usually stays here, but it’s fully equipped.”

“You’re staying here, so it’ll be convenient if you need anything and have to call me.”

She pushed open the door and turned on the light.

The room was spacious, with a large double bed covered in what looked like incredibly soft gray bedding.

It had a wardrobe, desk, bedside table—everything one could need, all in a modern minimalist style, impeccably clean and tidy.

The window offered a view of the city’s nightscape, lights twinkling in the distance.

Xiong Yibai pointed to a frosted glass door inside the room.

“The bathroom’s in there—it’s a dry-wet separation setup.

“Towels and new toiletries are in the bathroom cabinet; help yourself.

“There’s a clean bathrobe and extra pillows and blankets in the wardrobe.”

She walked to the desk and switched on the table lamp.

“The lighting here’s pretty good. If you need to write or draw with your left hand or handle some work, you can use this spot.

“Wi-Fi password is on the back of the router.”

Then she pointed to the bedside.

“Controls are here; this one handles the main room light and reading lamp. AC remote’s in the drawer.”

Her introduction was thorough and detailed, like a landlord showing a tenant around.

Feng Miwan followed her into the room, taking in how meticulously everything had been arranged. The initial unease of arriving somewhere new gradually gave way to a warm feeling.

She hadn’t expected Xiong Yibai to prepare everything so thoughtfully.

She said softly,

“Doctor Xiong… thank you. You even tidied the room for me—it must’ve been such a hassle.”

“No trouble.”

Xiong Yibai went to the wardrobe, opened the door, and checked inside to confirm.

“Let me know if anything’s missing or if you’re not comfortable with something.”

Feng Miwan shook her head vigorously.

“No, no! It’s perfect! Thank you so much!”

Xiong Yibai nodded. “Mm.”

“Get settled and rest up then. Bathroom has 24-hour hot water.

“I’m right next door. Knock or message me on WeChat if you need anything.”

With that, she turned and left the room, gently closing the door behind her.

Feng Miwan stood alone in the room, listening to the footsteps fade away outside before finally letting out a long sigh.

She flopped onto the big bed and stared up at the ceiling chandelier.

Just then, her phone rang from her pocket.

She pulled it out and saw the caller ID: “Shu Tong the Great.”

Oh, it was Shu Tong… wait…

“Shu Tong?!”

Feng Miwan jolted as if electrocuted and shot up from the bed.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no!!!!”

She suddenly remembered how she’d sworn up and down that she was moving in with Zhao Shutong!

And yet?

Not only had she stood up her best friend, but she’d already settled into someone else’s home!

The phone kept ringing relentlessly, like the tolling of Zhao Shutong’s wrath.

Feng Miwan paced the room in panic, too scared to answer.

“What do I do, what do I do… If I tell her straight up, she’ll kill me… But I can’t not say anything… She’ll find out eventually…”

The ringing finally stopped.

Feng Miwan had just caught her breath when the phone rang again!

It had the vibe of “I’m calling until you pick up.”

No escaping this.

Feng Miwan pressed the answer button with the resolve of someone facing execution, held the phone gingerly to her ear, and probed in her most obedient voice:

“Hello… Shu Tong?”

An obviously displeased voice came from the other end:

“Moneybags! When exactly are you gracing my humble abode, Your Highness?!

“It’s past ten already! I even bought late-night snacks to welcome you, and where are you?!”