My Arranged Marriage Partner Is Always Pretending to Be Straight [Transmigrated into a Book] - Chapter 4

Is her voice made of pure sexiness?

Qiao Mengdi had many close friends, but the changes in her parents and sister had already killed any desire to see them. The fact that all traces of her existence had been thoroughly erased from her family’s life was enough to make her give up hope.

Was this a case of “transmigrating into a book,” or a novel becoming reality? Why had everything from her past lost its trace?

These questions bubbled up uncontrollably in her mind time and again, but she was already too tired and powerless to keep verifying them.

On the car ride home, she remembered promising the original owner of this body yesterday morning that she would take care of everything else.

The most important matter—the original owner’s hope that her father would soften his heart out of paternal love and cancel the engagement—was something Qiao Mengdi now planned to handle herself by speaking directly to Yao Chiyue.

Therefore, she didn’t mention her scheduled meeting with Yao Chiyue to anyone.

“I’ve transferred the money for the wedding dress to you.”

Yesterday, hearing that Qiao Mengdi had actually eaten three meals, Qiao Chengrong was very pleased. He sent her a message along with a transfer of funds.

“Received.” Qiao Mengdi took it with a clear conscience, not even bothering to say thank you.

The original owner had always been very polite, at least before this whole business of the arranged marriage. Qiao Chengrong assumed she was still angry and didn’t take his daughter’s subtle change in attitude to heart.

Qiao Mengdi planned to lay her cards on the table the moment she saw Yao Chiyue. Whether the other woman agreed to break the engagement or not, Qiao Mengdi intended to leave.

Back at home, the house was silent.

Checking the time, Sister Song had already finished her morning shift; as for Lin Linfeng, she was likely out at another flashy social gathering.

Crossing the living room and heading up to the second floor, Qiao Mengdi entered her room and immediately unfastened her bra, which felt a size too small and as constricting as a chest binder. The moment her chest was freed, she felt she could breathe much smoother.

Pulling the bra out with her left hand while tugging her neckline down with her right, she looked down. Sure enough, there were red marks chafed into her skin.

She understood instantly: the original owner must have been very troubled by her own fullness. No wonder her bras were all a size too small.

Self-rejection is a terrible thing. To not accept oneself—no matter how Qiao Mengdi looked at it, it seemed tragic. Thinking about those undersized bras made her particularly angry.

Before returning home, Qiao Mengdi’s mind had been filled with thoughts of her family who had lost all memory of her, leaving her grief-stricken. She had endured it in the taxi, but now that she was home and the environment allowed it, she didn’t want to cry anymore.

To Qiao Mengdi, crying was a losing move. She didn’t want to waste any more emotion on things she had no power to change.

Because she had woken up early to find her parents, she was exhausted. Ultimately, she fell asleep without even eating lunch.

When she woke up, she saw a message from Yao Chiyue with the time and location for their meeting.

Woken by hunger, Qiao Mengdi found something in the kitchen to eat and then took a shower.

When changing clothes, she was once again annoyed by the original owner’s aesthetic. In the entire walk-in closet, there wasn’t a single outfit that complemented the figure she took such pride in. Everything was in muted Morandi tones; the original owner clearly wanted to pursue a so-called “cold and sophisticated” look.

But Qiao Mengdi felt these ascetic colors didn’t suit her at all. She was satisfied with her bust, and with her face and personality, she wasn’t the “cold” type. Her curvaceous figure was meant for rich, vibrant colors. Her favorites—pomegranate red, bright yellow, midnight black, bright blue—were nowhere to be found on the racks.

Eventually, she settled for an aqua-green sleeveless dress. Though it was still part of that “restrained” style, the dress was cinched at the waist. Even with the small bra, it emphasized her curves, leaving her satisfied.

Seeing the original owner’s travel bag gathering dust in a corner, Qiao Mengdi thought for a moment, then decisively pulled it out. She quickly packed a few outfits and pairs of shoes.

Once finished, she noticed her face was still a bit pale from her long sleep. She sat at the dressing table and meticulously applied a bold makeup look.

Before leaving, she confirmed her ID was in her small purse. After a thought, she also packed a bottle of loofah water, a jar of face cream, and a lipstick.

She planned to make a run for it immediately after seeing Yao Chiyue.

As the time approached, Qiao Mengdi saw on her phone that her ride was about to arrive. She picked up her luggage and headed downstairs.

“Xiaodi, where are you going—”

It was Sister Song, her eyes filled with concern.

Qiao Mengdi felt that she had sensed something, but decided it was better to lie for now. “I’m going to my grandmother’s house. I probably won’t be home tonight.”

“Xiaodi!”

“Sister Song, goodbye.” Sister Song’s pained expression made Qiao Mengdi feel guilty. After this goodbye, she hoped the woman wouldn’t worry about her anymore.

The meeting place was a French restaurant.

Appearing with a travel bag, Qiao Mengdi looked out of place in the elegant environment, drawing many stares.

“Hello, do you have a reservation?” the polite greeter asked with a smile, reaching out to take her bag.

“Table 7,” Qiao Mengdi said, following the info Yao Chiyue had sent. She did not hand the travel bag to the greeter.

On the way in, many eyes followed her. Men mostly looked up; women mostly looked at the white quilted travel bag with the black logo in her hand.

Qiao Mengdi didn’t care about the scrutiny.

There were still ten minutes until the appointment, and she thought Yao Chiyue might not have arrived yet. To her surprise, as she turned the corner, she saw a figure in a white suit.

Just as Qiao Mengdi was admiring how solitary and proud the women back looked, the figure turned her head from the window. Her face was cold and indifferent.

Meeting Yao Chiyue’s pair of emotionless phoenix eyes, Qiao Mengdi found herself stopping in her tracks.

The woman sitting by the window seemed surrounded by an aura of royalty. She held her head slightly high, looking as if she were above everything.

Qiao Mengdi, who never knew the meaning of stage fright, suddenly felt a bit weak.

“Please.” The greeter had already reached the opposite side of Yao Chiyue’s table. He pulled out the chair and turned back, smiling at Qiao Mengdi who was standing a few meters away.

Regaining her composure, Qiao Mengdi walked over. Reaching the table, she felt a bit flustered, not knowing how to start.

Yao Chiyue’s gaze dropped, landing on the travel bag in her right hand. She spoke with typical brevity: “Sit.”

Qiao Mengdi placed the bag on the floor and sat down. When she looked up, Yao Chiyue happened to be looking at her again. Their gazes collided unexpectedly.

The other woman’s gaze clearly lacked any warmth, yet Qiao Mengdi felt that everywhere Yao Chiyue’s eyes touched became scorched in an instant. Instinctively, she raised her left hand to touch her cheek.

Yao Chiyue was ten thousand times more beautiful than the memories of the original owner suggested. She looked noble and proud, like a deep-black specialized rose kept in a high-placed glass display. She was so meticulous, so orderly; her features were so perfect it was breathtaking.

Qiao Mengdi began to regret the words she had said to the original owner yesterday just to motivate herself to eat. If she had no reservations, she would want to marry Yao Chiyue right this second! Wedding night now! Have kids now!

Ahhhhhh!! Heavens, Earth, and Buddha, why are there so many trials in life?!

Qiao Mengdi forced herself to stay calm, but her heart was screaming: How can there be such a beautiful woman in this world?! Her outfit is impeccable, her temperament is explosive… whoever marries her wins at life!!

“What are you thinking about?”

Oh, God! Was her voice made of sexiness? Qiao Mengdi felt her whole body go weak. It was the same emotionless voice from the phone yesterday, so why did it become so lethal when the person was right in front of her?

“I was thinking,” Qiao Mengdi involuntarily swallowed, “I was thinking… Sister, your beauty is practically cheating!”

Qiao Mengdi, wake up! She slapped herself mentally and issued a stern warning. You are here to break off the engagement, now is not the time to be a fangirl!

“You aren’t bad yourself.” Yao Chiyue had no obvious expression. Her gaze drifted to Qiao Mengdi’s chest.

“Are you talking about here?” Qiao Mengdi pointed to her chest, feigning ignorance.

A trace of an almost imperceptible smile flashed across Yao Chiyue’s face.

“I don’t like women,” she said, before turning her head back to look out the window.

Qiao Mengdi was left in her own awkwardness.

As darkness fell, the floor-to-ceiling window reflected the elegant silhouettes of the two women.