After the Bankrupt Heiress Married into a Rich Family - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Forehead Kiss

Such soft lips, such a gentle touch.

Mingzhu had been sitting for too long, and her muscles were aching again. She wanted to stand up and run toward Rong Zhao, but she was so stiff she couldn’t move. She remained seated, looking up at Rong Zhao from where she was.

Rong Zhao walked over and placed the vase on the coffee table. She glanced at He Chan—who hadn’t left and was currently wide-eyed—and answered Mingzhu: “A gift from an elderly client.”

Mingzhu’s eyes lit up: “Beautiful. It just so happens I love roses.”

“Is that so?” Rong Zhao replied, as if she hadn’t known. “Then it’s perfect.”

Mingzhu added: “I do. I’ve loved roses since I was a child. Jasmine and cherry blossoms too—I really love the cherry blossoms in the courtyard.”

Rong Zhao: “I see. Did you take photos of them?”

Mingzhu seized the opportunity: “Not yet. I don’t have the equipment.”

Rong Zhao: “Your phone can’t take photos?”

Mingzhu immediately put on a “poor” face: “Phone photos aren’t as pretty as those taken with professional equipment.”

Rong Zhao: “Is that so? Then just use your eyes for now.”

Mingzhu: “…”

Mingzhu glared at her.

He Chan looked as if she’d been struck by lightning. She had never seen the two of them interact so amicably; it was so natural they seemed like a real couple. There was an atmosphere she couldn’t break into—Mingzhu seemed to be acting spoiled with Rong Zhao, and Rong Zhao seemed to be teasing her. He Chan stammered: “You two… you two…”

Rong Zhao finally looked at her as if realizing another living person was in the room. Her eyes calmly read: Oh, you’re still here? “What?”

He Chan was at a loss for words: “You two… you two…”

Rong Zhao: “Are you a parrot?”

He Chan: “…”

Finally snapping out of it, He Chan waved her hand in front of her face. They must be faking it, she thought. What’s there to be surprised about? She spoke plainly: “By the way, CEO Rong, I see Mingzhu is pretty bored at home by herself. I’ll take her to stay at my place for a few days. I’ll eat with her and play with her. That way, she’ll be in a better mood and you’ll have some peace and quiet. I won’t bother you anymore.”

“I won’t bother you anymore.”

As if Mingzhu and He Chan were closer.

Rong Zhao glanced at Mingzhu, who was looking innocent and gave no sign of whether she wanted to leave or not. Rong Zhao sat down on the single sofa and picked up a damp towel from the table to wipe her hands: “It’s not convenient.”

He Chan: “What’s inconvenient about it?”

Rong Zhao gave her a side-eye: “We are married.”

Mingzhu, who actually did want to go with He Chan, understood. Rong Zhao needed her to continue the act.

“Right,” Mingzhu finally dragged her aching body up, scuttling sideways like a crab to sit on the arm of the sofa. She hugged Rong Zhao’s arm and complained: “Rongrong, I spent all day telling her, but Hehe won’t believe me. She acts like we have some kind of improper transaction going on.”

He Chan: “…”

No normal person would believe this, okay?

One was like a burning sun, the other like a cold winter moon. Even with a genuine marriage certificate, it was hard for He Chan to imagine them falling for each other. It would be more normal for them to look down on each other—like Mingzhu finding Rong Zhao too disciplined, or Rong Zhao finding Mingzhu too lazy.

He Chan tilted her head, unconsciously entering “interrogation mode”: “Do you two have any selfies together?”

Mingzhu immediately asked Rong Zhao: “Do you have the horse-riding photos on your phone? Show her.”

Rong Zhao cooperated, taking out her phone to show He Chan the photo they took right after changing into their riding gear in the locker room. She allowed only one look before pulling the phone back.

It wasn’t a selfie, but it was a photo of them together.

He Chan still found it hard to believe. How could these two have fallen in love right under her nose?

He Chan looked at their fingers: “Where are the rings? Where are your wedding rings?”

Mingzhu was stumped.

Rong Zhao said indifferently: “The registration was rushed. They are being designed. We can’t just settle for something ordinary.”

Mingzhu nodded in agreement: “Right.”

He Chan suddenly slapped her forehead. She was being silly—the two were right in front of her, what more proof did she need? “Then you two kiss. Not a simple peck—a French kiss. Then I’ll believe it.”

Mingzhu: “…”

She hadn’t expected the “kiss” demand to come from He Chan before it ever came from Rong Zhao’s elders.

Sitting on the sofa arm, Mingzhu was taller than Rong Zhao. She looked down at Rong Zhao, who was looking up at her.

Their eyes met. Mingzhu saw Rong Zhao lightly arch an eyebrow.

Rong Zhao had willow-leaf eyebrows—not very arched, but smooth and gentle. They were unlike Mingzhu’s crescent eyebrows, which had a higher peak. At this moment, Rong Zhao’s raised brow felt like a provocation.

Mingzhu could never stand Rong Zhao provoking her. From the past until now.

Gritting her teeth, Mingzhu reached out and tilted Rong Zhao’s chin up.

Rong Zhao had a classic oval face with a rounded, soft chin. It was different from Mingzhu’s heart-shaped face with its sharper chin. As she held Rong Zhao’s chin with her middle three fingers, her thoughts suddenly took a turn.

Rong Zhao’s chin is so soft.

Mingzhu’s gaze landed on Rong Zhao’s lips. They looked soft and gentle too.

Mingzhu had originally intended to give her a forceful, “bold” kiss, but she found herself unconsciously holding her breath.

But… her first kiss couldn’t happen like this.

Rong Zhao waited quietly for the kiss. When it didn’t come, she understood that Mingzhu didn’t want to.

“Alright, stop acting, you two,” He Chan interrupted with a laugh.

Mingzhu flinched, embarrassed. she pulled back and scratched her own chin as if it were itchy.

He Chan laughed: “Can’t go through with it, right? I knew you two must have some kind of agreement. Alright Mingzhu, come with me. Stay at my place for a few days. You don’t even need to pack; I have everything—even clothes. You can wear mine.”

In He Chan’s eyes, Rong Zhao wasn’t great at taking care of people. For instance, He Chan had been here all day and Rong Zhao hadn’t even asked the housekeeper to make her a coffee. She was afraid Mingzhu would feel uncomfortable at Rong Zhao’s place or that Rong Zhao wouldn’t look after her properly.

Mingzhu looked at Rong Zhao cautiously, her face screaming that she wanted to go.

Rong Zhao stood up. Mingzhu followed suit.

Rong Zhao looked at He Chan and suddenly instructed: “Eat on time these next few days. Sleep on time.”

He Chan: “…Are you telling me or Mingzhu?”

Rong Zhao had to add: “Both of you.”

He Chan: “Fine.”

Rong Zhao added a few more reminders about eating vegetables and drinking less alcohol. Seeing that neither He Chan nor Mingzhu were taking her seriously, she sighed inwardly and gave He Chan a cool glance: “Go wait outside. I have a few words for Mingzhu.”

“Okay, CEO Rong.”

He Chan quickly swept the board games into her bag and left. She then stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, peeking back inside.

Rong Zhao lowered her eyes to the flowers she had specifically chosen from the florist.

Following her gaze and looking for something to say, Mingzhu pointed at the red berries: “Are these ‘lovesickness seeds’ (Abrus precatorius)?”

Rong Zhao: “Yes.”

Mingzhu: “Can you eat them?”

Rong Zhao frowned: “No. They are highly toxic.”

Mingzhu: “Oh. Lovesickness and highly toxic. That’s interesting.”

Just like love, she thought aimlessly.

“Go to my family’s house on Saturday at 11:00 AM. Lunch is at 12:00,” Rong Zhao said slowly, looking at Mingzhu, whose heart had likely already flown to the bar.

Mingzhu snapped back to reality: “Should I prepare a gift for your parents?”

“No, I will have it ready.”

Mingzhu nodded: “Got it. I’ll come back Saturday morning.”

Two hours for hair, makeup, and choosing an outfit should be enough.

Rong Zhao glanced at He Chan outside: “I’ll have someone pack your essentials and clothes and send them to He Chan’s. It’s inconvenient to wear her clothes all the time.”

“I’ll also have some fruit and gifts sent to her place over the next few days. Since we are married and you’re staying there, I should thank her for looking after you.”

Mingzhu didn’t realize what kind of signal this would send to He Chan; she just thought Rong Zhao was being a very thorough “wife.”

Mingzhu beamed and hugged Rong Zhao’s arm clingily: “Rongrong, you’re so good.”

Rong Zhao was about to nod.

Mingzhu smiled and bent over, pressing her cheek against Rong Zhao’s arm: “Just like my own big sister.”

“…”

Mingzhu: “In the future, whoever you marry for your second wedding will be so lucky. Really.”

“…………”

He Chan, watching from outside, was surprised that the two seemed to be having a “newlywed parting” moment. She tapped on the window, signaling them to stop acting.

Mingzhu finally let go of Rong Zhao: “I’m leaving then.”

“Okay.”

Mingzhu grabbed her phone and turned to walk out. Suddenly, her wrist was caught by Rong Zhao. She turned around in surprise. Rong Zhao used the momentum to wrap an arm around her slender waist. Mingzhu’s belly bumped forward against Rong Zhao, and she instinctively placed her hands on Rong Zhao’s shoulders.

Then, a soft kiss fell quickly but firmly onto Mingzhu’s forehead.

Mingzhu was stunned, her mind going blank.

Such soft lips, such a gentle touch.

Rong Zhao actually kissed her forehead.

Rong Zhao pulled away instantly. Her gaze swept over Mingzhu’s forehead as she seemingly affectionately tucked a stray hair behind Mingzhu’s ear: “He Chan is my friend; her parents and mine are close. You don’t need to tell her the truth. Jiang Jiang is your friend; you can tell her. Understood?”

“…Understood. See you Saturday.”

“See you Saturday… Since you like the roses, do you want to take them?”

“No. You keep them. The old lady gave them to you.”

Mingzhu had been gone for three days.

The housekeepers at the villa were the first to lose their spirit.

When Mingzhu was home, she was always darting around upstairs and downstairs, indoors and out. Her red hair was as striking and beautiful as a butterfly. Her energy made the housekeepers feel like it was a festive holiday—it was busy, but interesting.

If the villa had never been lively, it would have been fine. But now that it had been, returning to silence made the place feel exceptionally cold.

As the end of the month approached, Guan Tong calculated the budget for April. This month was different; she had added potential expenses for the “Young Madam” being at home. she needed to find a time to report this to Rong Zhao.

Among themselves, the housekeepers had started calling Mingzhu “Young Madam.”

Seeing Rong Zhao come downstairs, Guan Tong walked up quickly and asked with concern: “Does Miss need anything?”