My Arranged Marriage Partner Is Always Pretending to Be Straight [Transmigrated into a Book] - Chapter 8

The only way Qiao Mengdi could explain this chance encounter was “fated protagonist luck.”

In a world with so many people, she certainly wasn’t the only reader of The Blood-Tear Alliance, yet she was the one who had transmigrated. After transmigrating, she happened to end up in Luzhou.

The probability of this was the same as the odds of her stepping out for a meal in a metropolis of nearly ten million people and running straight into Yao Chiyue.

She led Sandun, her Corgi, past the Luzhou Securities building. Under the sunlight, her figure was bright and radiant, like a walking white peony.

As she reached a small, splashing fountain, Qiao Mengdi looked back subconsciously, as if pulled by an invisible string. Her gaze passed through the row of flagpoles behind the fountain, and a tall figure in front of the building caught her eye.

As if sensing Qiao Mengdi’s gaze, Yao Chiyue turned slowly. As she looked toward the fountain, she elegantly tucked a strand of hair behind her left ear.

For a few seconds, the two of them stared at each other from a distance, separated by the fountain, the flagpoles, the small plaza, and the potted plants on the steps.

Qiao Mengdi stopped in her tracks, but Sandun kept pulling forward, creating a tug-of-war. She hadn’t decided whether she should go over and say hello when Yao Chiyue tilted her head to say a few words to the person beside her, then stepped out from the shadows of the building’s porch into the brilliant sunlight.

Her expression was calm, her attire impeccable, and her gait composed.

Watching Yao Chiyue walk briskly toward her, Qiao Mengdi felt the “deer” in her heart crash and die a few hundred more times from nervousness.

Meanwhile, Sandun struggled forward again.

Qiao Mengdi’s right hand, wrapped in the pale pink leash, stung from the dog’s pulling, but her body remained motionless, as if she had been hit by a freezing spell, waiting for someone to rescue her.

As Yao Chiyue drew closer, Qiao Mengdi felt like she was about to have a nosebleed.

At that moment, a light autumn breeze blew. Suddenly, she had the beautiful sensation that “a great hero was coming to marry her on seven-colored clouds…”

“Nosebleed.”

“Huh?”

Hearing Yao Chiyue’s voice, Qiao Mengdi could finally move again.

There was indeed a wet sensation in her nasal cavity. She raised her left hand and lightly wiped under her nostril; a streak of blood immediately smeared across her face.

It wasn’t just a premonition—getting a nosebleed because her betrothed was too beautiful? Wasn’t that a bit too surreal?!

Under Yao Chiyue’s calm gaze, Qiao Mengdi’s fair face gradually turned a deep crimson. She lowered her head, her movements frantic as she fumbled with her small satchel. When she finally got it open, she realized there were no tissues inside.

“The sun is just… too fierce,” she said, standing up and looking at Yao Chiyue piteously.

With her face burning as if on fire and that straight, bright red bloodstain, she possessed a peculiar, startling kind of beauty.

Several passersby couldn’t help but stop, watching the two beauties facing each other and the cute Corgi sitting half-way on the ground with its tongue out.

The late October sun was indeed still a bit hot. Qiao Mengdi’s explanation was plausible enough.

“Use this,” Yao Chiyue said, handing her a snow-white handkerchief.

My God, a woman who carries a white handkerchief is way too sexy!

Qiao Mengdi felt the heat in her face was about to break a record. She stared blankly at Yao Chiyue, her heart drumming so hard she forgot to take the handkerchief.

Three girls passing by couldn’t contain themselves:

“This scene is literally like an idol drama, oh my god!”

“Right? That woman in the long black dress… heavens, she’s so ‘Alpha.’ I want to ship them!”

“The girl with the dog, did you guys notice—”

Hearing this, their friends followed their gaze. Like they had discovered something incredible, one started squealing while the other stomped her feet in excitement.

Seeing that Qiao Mengdi wasn’t taking the handkerchief, Yao Chiyue took a step forward and gently wiped the blood for her.

If she hadn’t wiped it, it might have been better; the moment she touched her, Qiao Mengdi’s nosebleed seemed to flow even faster.

“Ahhh! My god! A real-life idol drama script!”

“Even idol dramas wouldn’t dare film it like this! This is too sweet!”

“Truly a ‘see-it-once-in-a-lifetime’ moment. I want them to get married right now!”

“Yeah, with that much blood, they have to get married to settle this!”

“Follow me. Let’s go inside the building and wash it with cold water,” Yao Chiyue decided instantly, taking the leash from Qiao Mengdi.

Qiao Mengdi covered her nose with the handkerchief, tilting her head slightly to let the blood drain, and followed Yao Chiyue toward the building.

The onlookers didn’t move until the two figures disappeared into the lobby.

At the entrance, Yao Chiyue handed the leash to the security guard. Sandun wasn’t shy at all, obediently staying with the guard and watching his owner walk inside.

Qiao Mengdi couldn’t explain this situation. If she had to, it was still that “fated protagonist luck.”

Once in the restroom, she looked in the mirror. While the blood hadn’t completely ruined her face, she looked quite a mess.

“Do you need help?”

Qiao Mengdi knew Yao Chiyue meant holding her hair back.

She shook her head quickly. Even with the nosebleed, she could still smell the fragrance on the other woman when she had wiped her face earlier. She didn’t dare indulge in any more distractions right now.

The head shake made her feel a bit dizzy. She wasn’t sure if the headache was from the stress of her past life being erased or from losing too much blood.

“True. Help would probably just make your nose bleed more.”

Hearing Yao Chiyue’s teasing, Qiao Mengdi’s sense of shame nearly hit the ceiling. This sister is clearly picking on me, but does she have to sound so serious about it?

After wetting the handkerchief and wringing it out, she glanced in the mirror. Yao Chiyue was standing to the side, arms crossed casually, her expression unreadable.

The bleeding had stopped. Qiao Mengdi wiped away the remaining stains. Then, she held her hair back with her left hand, lowered her head to wash her nostrils, and splashed some cold water on the back of her neck before drying off.

The blood was gone, but the faint stains on Yao Chiyue’s soft white handkerchief wouldn’t come out.

Qiao Mengdi smiled awkwardly. “Thank you for the handkerchief.” She showed Yao Chiyue the faint marks. “How about I take it home, wash it, and return it to you once it’s dry?”

“Throw it away,” Yao Chiyue said, turning to leave.

Qiao Mengdi hesitated but didn’t throw it out.

“Are you alright?” Yao Chiyue asked again as they left the restroom. Her tone was very businesslike, but because her voice was so pleasant, even professional concern made Qiao Mengdi feel happy.

“I’m fine,” she replied.

Yao Chiyue was walking a bit fast, so Qiao Mengdi had to quicken her pace.

“I have a little time. Want to grab a coffee?”

“Is that okay?” Qiao Mengdi was a bit flattered by the invitation from such a beauty. She almost started brainwashing herself into thinking Yao Chiyue’s claim that she didn’t like women was a lie.

Yao Chiyue didn’t give a definitive answer.

They exited through a different door. In a corner of the small garden surrounded by several office buildings, there was a coffee shop. Since it was the lunch hour, the shop was quite crowded with white-collar workers.

Yao Chiyue was the type to be the center of attention regardless of the setting. Her presence carried the aura of a supermodel, and with Qiao Mengdi—who looked like a peony blooming in the morning dew—beside her, they drew everyone’s eyes the moment they entered.

“Wow, look—” a woman in professional attire whispered to her companion. “Is that Yao Chiyue?”

“Heavens, I think it is!” The other woman looked up, her jaw dropping. “The legendary top investor of Luzhou… she’s even prettier than in the magazines! That aura is incredible!”

“I wonder who the girl next to her is? Her figure is amazing too!”

Yao Chiyue ignored the stares and whispers. While Qiao Mengdi was used to being the center of attention, she wasn’t used to this level of scrutiny.

The reason everyone was staring was Yao Chiyue’s massive reputation in the financial world. There was a saying in the industry: any field Yao Chiyue invested in was a guaranteed profit. She was like a walking lucky charm for wealth; whatever she touched went up.

This area was a hub for financial companies, so her appearance naturally caused a stir.

However, Qiao Mengdi didn’t know Yao Chiyue’s original profession was an investor. On the alliance profile she had seen, her title was Acting CEO of Blue Heron Biopharmaceuticals.

“What are you drinking?” Yao Chiyue’s voice snapped her back to reality.

“Watermelon juice.” Qiao Mengdi didn’t particularly like coffee.

“Sit over there and wait for me.” Yao Chiyue gestured toward a window seat with her chin and walked to the counter.

Qiao Mengdi, like everyone else, followed Yao Chiyue’s back with her eyes until she stopped at the bar, then turned to find the seat.

She had only been sitting for a moment when Yao Chiyue returned carrying two paper bags. Her efficiency was startling.

“Let’s go,” she said.

“Didn’t you say you had time?” Qiao Mengdi was confused. So “grabbing coffee” was strictly take-out?

“I did. I originally had thirty minutes, but now I only have five.”

Qiao Mengdi, whose seat wasn’t even warm yet, had to stand up. Well, a CEO’s time is probably measured in minutes. How pitiful.

“Oh, it’s all because of me.”

The two of them came and went quickly, but they left the shop with enough gossip to last a week.

At the main entrance, Qiao Mengdi took Sandun back from the guard. Just as they stepped out, Yao Chiyue’s car pulled up.

“Lifelong partner?”

Qiao Mengdi blanked for a second, then remembered that was the note she had used when adding her on WeChat.

The heat had just left her face, but being asked that by Yao Chiyue—even if the other woman’s tone wasn’t teasing—the sheer seriousness of it made Qiao Mengdi feel even more embarrassed.

“We are getting married, aren’t we?”

“You really do like blushing.”

She’s just stating a fact! Why do you keep blushing?! Qiao Mengdi screamed at herself internally, feeling utterly hopeless.

“Then… goodbye, Sister Yao.” She took the take-out drink from Yao Chiyue.

“Wait a minute.”

Yao Chiyue walked to the car, opened the door, and took out a bag. She pulled something out and walked back.

“This is the business card of a wedding dress designer. I intended to give it to you last night, but I forgot when your grandmother returned.”

“This—” Qiao Mengdi was speechless. She realized Yao Chiyue was actually very serious about the marriage.

“She’s a friend of mine. I’ve already spoken to her. You can go take a look when you have time, and we’ll get in touch later.”

“O-okay.” Qiao Mengdi took the card blankly, staring at Yao Chiyue.

“Head back on your own.”

“Bye, Sister.”

Qiao Mengdi didn’t look away until Yao Chiyue’s car turned the corner.

Wedding dress designer: Lian Tongwei.

Heavens, it’s her! Qiao Mengdi’s mouth dropped open in shock.