Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 52

Meng Tang smiled at the front desk, took Wei Chuan’s ID, and stuffed it into his hand before pulling him to a more secluded corner to demand,

“What are you doing?”

Wei Chuan looked innocent. “Checking in.”

Meng Tang: “…Can you stop causing trouble?”

“I’m not causing trouble,” Wei Chuan said seriously. “Christmas is my birthday, and I’m checking out the hotel. Might throw a party here.”

Meng Tang was speechless. What a perfectly legitimate excuse.

Li Hanjin came down from upstairs to the hotel lobby, intending to pick up Meng Tang, but his steps faltered when he spotted the two of them pulling at each other in the corner.

He walked up to the front desk and tapped the counter. “What’s going on over there?”

The receptionist, who had witnessed Wei Chuan and Meng Tang’s “argument” complete with all their little expressions and tugs, smiled knowingly. “Looks like a lovers’ quarrel.”

Li Hanjin froze. “What did you say?”

Realizing she might have spoken out of turn, the receptionist gave Li Hanjin a polite, ingratiating smile.

Clenching his jaw, Li Hanjin scoffed softly and strode over. Before he even reached them, he called out, “Meng Tang.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Meng Tang and Wei Chuan both turned around.

Meng Tang looked up. “What are you doing here?”

Li Hanjin replied, “Came down to get you.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Wei Chuan with unconcealed disdain, an expression Wei Chuan mirrored before turning back to Meng Tang. “I’ll go check in first. What floor are you on?”

Meng Tang: “…17.”

Wei Chuan brushed past Li Hanjin, “accidentally” bumping his shoulder.

Li Hanjin, less physically imposing, staggered back a couple of steps.

Meng Tang could tell Wei Chuan had done it on purpose and gave Li Hanjin an awkward smile.

Li Hanjin asked casually, “Why is he here?”

Meng Tang: “…”

To keep an eye on you.

“The receptionist just said the two of you were a couple, checking in together.”

Meng Tang was too exhausted to explain. She waved her ID and said,

“I’m going to check in. Do whatever you want.”

Li Hanjin was taken aback, not expecting her to skip the explanation.

He stood there for a long moment, only following after Wei Chuan and Meng Tang had gotten their room keys.

At the elevator, Wei Chuan leaned in slightly, nudging Meng Tang with his shoulder as he teased, “I’m on the 17th floor too.”

“I know. Can you stand properly? You’re pushing me into the trash can,” Meng Tang said, exasperated.

Wei Chuan rubbed his nose and quietly shifted away.

Li Hanjin watched everything, his eyes darkening.

When the elevator arrived, he stepped in, sandwiching Meng Tang between himself and Wei Chuan.

Meng Tang inched forward, nearly pressing against the door.

Luckily, the 17th floor arrived in the blink of an eye, and Meng Tang was the first to step out.

Li Hanjin moved to follow, but Wei Chuan, using his height advantage, blocked the elevator door and said,

“Dr. Li, you must be busy. I’ll walk Meng Tang to her room.”

Li Hanjin sneered. “What’s your game? Making the front desk think you two are together? Isn’t that a little too obvious?”

Wei Chuan didn’t take the bait, smiling mysteriously instead. “Just fulfilling a promise.”

With that, he stepped out of the elevator and caught up to Meng Tang.

“It’s still early before 7:30. Want to order some food?” Wei Chuan followed closely.

Meng Tang patted her bag. “I need to shower and get ready first.”

Even though it was a private gathering, she couldn’t show up dressed as casually as she did in the woodcarving studio.

Wei Chuan shamelessly said, “You go ahead and shower. I’ll head back to my room to order some food. Once you’re done, I’ll bring it over, and we can eat together.”

It was almost five o’clock now, and Meng Tang was indeed a little hungry. She swiped her card to enter the room and replied,

“Then go ahead and order first. We’ll split the bill later.”

Wei Chuan didn’t argue with her. If he didn’t agree to split the bill, she probably wouldn’t eat anything he bought.

“Alright, I’ll head back to my room too.”

As he walked, he opened the food delivery app and started browsing carefully.

Meanwhile, the driver drove the car back to the Wei family home.

The old lady, who hadn’t seen her grandson in a while, personally came to the door to greet him, only to find the car empty except for the driver.

“Where’s Xiao Chuan?”

The driver bowed respectfully. “The young master said he won’t be coming back tonight.”

Wei Chuan’s mother, Chu Yin, frowned. “What do you mean he’s not coming back? The whole family is waiting for him, and he stands us all up? Where the hell did that little brat go?”

Unable to hide the truth, the driver replied, “The young master went to the Wanhe Hotel with a friend.”

“What’s he doing there?” Chu Yin was stunned. “Is he with that kid from the Qin family?”

The driver shook his head.

Chu Yin grew anxious. “Then who is he with?”

Driver: “With his female classmate.”

Chu Yin gasped. “Since when did he start picking up bad habits? No, I have to call him.”

“Madam,” the driver quickly stopped her. “It’s probably not what you’re thinking. The girl doesn’t seem to like the young master much, he practically dragged her into the car.”

“A simp?” Chu Yin stared at the driver in disbelief. “Uncle Yan, you’re not pulling my leg, are you? My son? Tall, long legs, eight-pack abs, handsome, rich, virtuous, and well-mannered, and he’s out here simping? What kind of celestial beauty is this?”

Uncle Yan just chuckled awkwardly.

“No, I have to go check this out.”

Chu Yin was about to storm off when the old lady stopped her.

“Xiao Chuan is already 20. It’s about time he starts dating. Don’t you know his personality? If you dare go, he’ll throw a tantrum.”

Chu Yin choked back her words. Wei Chuan hated anyone interfering in his business, family included.

Reluctantly, she compromised. If she couldn’t go, then at least she could find out who this “celestial beauty” was. That wasn’t too much to ask, right?

…

About ten minutes after Meng Tang finished showering, Wei Chuan called to say the food had arrived and that he was waiting outside her door.

Her hair still damp, Meng Tang rubbed her scalp, turned off the hairdryer, and went to open the door.

The air carried a faint sweetness as Wei Chuan instinctively held his breath.

The girl before him had jet-black hair cascading like a waterfall. When she looked up at him, her lips parted slightly, revealing a glimpse of white teeth. Her long, thick lashes cast delicate shadows under her eyes, and her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, as if lightly touched by makeup.

Wei Chuan’s feet felt glued to the floor, he didn’t dare take another step forward.

Meng Tang stepped aside. “Come in.”

Wei Chuan handed her the takeout bags, his voice tense. “I… I probably shouldn’t come in.”

Meng Tang glanced down and counted, six bags of food. She was speechless for a moment. “…Do you think I can finish all this?”

“Then…” Wei Chuan peeked into her room. “C-Can I come in?”

Damn it, Wei Chuan, why are you so nervous? Your voice is shaking, how embarrassing.

Meng Tang couldn’t help but laugh. “Didn’t I just invite you in?”

She stood under the cylindrical light by the door, the glow spilling over her like a gentle embrace.

Wei Chuan took an involuntary step forward, when suddenly a voice interrupted.

“Junior Sister.”

Wei Chuan’s smile vanished as he turned to see Li Hanjin, also carrying food, standing nearby.

Meng Tang stepped out the door, slightly surprised. “What brings you here?”

Li Hanjin replied with a pointed tone, “I brought you some food, light dishes. Eating greasy food at night isn’t good for digestion.”

Wei Chuan shot him a sidelong glance. “Who are you referring to?”

Li Hanjin genuinely hadn’t expected Wei Chuan to confront him directly, yet he still smiled gently. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Would you like to join us?”

“Sorry,” Wei Chuan enunciated each word, his tone arrogant. “I don’t like eating with people I’m not familiar with.”

Li Hanjin curled his lips and raised an eyebrow, even making a “please” gesture. “If that’s the case, you’re welcome to go back to your room and eat alone. I still have some things to discuss with Junior Sister, about wood carving. I doubt you’d understand anyway.”

Wei Chuan choked on his words, then turned and tossed the ball straight to Meng Tang. “Who do you choose?”

Meng Tang: “…”

Why on earth was she stuck between these two?

As if reading her mind, Wei Chuan struck first. “You have to pick one.”

Meng Tang: “…”