The Second Fall - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Do You Like Rong Yushu That Much?

“A real marriage?” Tan Xiangming didn’t quite grasp it for a moment. Her thumb pressed against the phone screen while her other arm was held fast by Hao Liuhua, leaving her unable to move.

So close.

Tan Xiangming’s fingertips happened to hook onto that bow tie. The accessory that had previously made Hao Liuhua look like a refined, gentle swan was now loose and messy, brushing against a stranger’s finger. The texture of the fabric felt strange and distinct.

Tan Xiangming could already feel the faint warmth radiating from Hao Liuhua’s skin. It hovered at her fingertips, carrying a trace of fragrance. It was as if she were applying a fragrant balm—except the balm was actively pressing itself against her.

“Aren’t we supposed to register the marriage and hold a wedding?” Did she mean that an alliance only requires a ceremony and a pretense of being together?

Tan Xiangming’s eyes darted around. If that were the case, she definitely couldn’t agree to Hao Liuhua’s “real marriage.” In a business alliance, isn’t it more fun for both parties to play the field?

She had no feelings for this fiancée who had suddenly popped up. It wasn’t as if Hao Liuhua actually liked her. Besides, she hadn’t even truly touched Hao Liuhua yet. Moreover, it was clearly Hao Liuhua who had initiated the provocation; Tan Xiangming considered herself generous for not demanding compensation.

Seeing that Tan Xiangming hadn’t been dazed by the atmosphere, Hao Liuhua’s heart sank slightly. She keenly captured the slight tremble in Tan Xiangming’s wrist and gripped it tighter. She had to prevent the person who had finally come to her side from running away.

“Let’s not ‘play the field.'” Hao Liuhua took the opportunity to slide her hand into Tan Xiangming’s palm, interlacing their fingers.

It was a test. Tan Xiangming didn’t refuse; she instinctively responded, gripping back.

“I want to slowly nurture feelings with you. What do you think?” Fearing her words sounded too strange or her actions too intimate, Hao Liuhua added a pragmatic follow-up: “After all, if a scandal breaks out, it would be difficult for both families to handle.”

Tan Xiangming arched an eyebrow at this. In her straightforward mind, she felt Hao Liuhua was talking a bit too much. But because the voice was so pleasant, she didn’t immediately notice what was off.

“Are you worried I’ll mess around and cause a scandal?” That was the only meaning she gathered.

Hao Liuhua, who had nearly confessed, fell silent.

“Don’t worry about that. I know what I’m doing. It’s an alliance; I’ll give you plenty of face. If you want to play around, I won’t stop you either.” Tan Xiangming winked at Hao Liuhua. She hadn’t said she would cheat. She just wanted to eat and drink with pretty ladies. Her heart wouldn’t stray; what was the harm in letting her eyes enjoy some beauty?

“…” Hao Liuhua said nothing, the strength in her grip slowly fading.

Tan Xiangming pulled her hand back naturally, giving Hao Liuhua’s hand a little squeeze in the process. “Relax, I have a sense of propriety.”

Then, she leaned against Hao Liuhua’s shoulder as if they were close, and opened her phone. It was just the casual intimacy of friends to her—no romantic tension at all. Hao Liuhua, unsure of how to react and afraid her eyes would betray her, closed them to steady her emotions. It’s fine. She knew Tan Xiangming loved to talk big, but in reality, her life was clean and conservative. Just as she said, she could wait.

“Little sister, did I just hear you two talking about playing the field after marriage?” The voice of Tan Xiangming’s sister, Shang Lin’an, came through the speaker.

Tan Xiangming immediately switched to her “good girl” persona. “Sister, you misheard! We were saying that we want to nurture our feelings after the wedding! We’re striving to become a model loving couple!”

She lied effortlessly, not even feeling like it was a lie. Hao Liuhua opened her eyes, her gaze dark and deep. Behind her back, she dug her nails into her palm.

“Oh, then you’ll have to work hard. After all, you have no romantic experience. Remember when that senior confessed to you? You thought she was challenging you to a fight.” Shang Lin’an had no mercy when it came to exposing her sister’s past.

To prove she and Hao Liuhua were “getting along intimately,” Tan Xiangming had the phone on speaker, and the camera framed them both together. Every word reached Hao Liuhua’s ears. She covered her mouth and cleared her throat, looking away under Tan Xiangming’s frantic gaze, cooperatively pretending she hadn’t heard.

“Shang Lin’an! I… I never challenged anyone to a fight…” Tan Xiangming used her sister’s full name, and Shang Lin’an didn’t bat an eye.

“Then was it cheating on an exam? Copying homework? Or bribing her to draw the Cultural Festival poster for you?” Being seven years older and raised as an heir, Shang Lin’an knew many “dirty” tactics. Usually, Tan Xiangming couldn’t outtalk her and had to resort to being a brat.

“Oh, Sister~ I really talked things through with Hao Liuhua today. We’ve settled everything.” Tan Xiangming didn’t want to lose face in front of her fiancée anymore and tried to stop her sister.

“Is that so? Then when are you registering? When is the wedding? Are you having a honeymoon? And after the wedding… cough… do you want children?” Shang Lin’an switched to a more “civilized” inquiry.

Tan Xiangming’s face crumpled like tree bark. She stopped pretending and glared at her sister. She had been busy trying to make money and checking if Hao Liuhua was a “good fit” all afternoon; she hadn’t thought about anything else. Only now did she realize she was getting married, not starting a business venture.

“Sister,” Hao Liuhua cut in, seeing Tan Xiangming’s distress. “We think it’s better for both families to sit down and discuss these matters together. As for the honeymoon and children, it won’t be too late to discuss those with Jasmine after we register.”

“True. My family is free this Sunday at 2:00 PM. We invite your family over as guests. How does that sound?” Shang Lin’an’s expression softened. Tan Xiangming was 25 and still so immature; it was a headache for the whole family. At least Hao Liuhua seemed sensible. It wouldn’t be bad for her to manage the lawless Tan Xiangming and help her grow up.

“I need to confirm if my family is available. I’ll get back to you later.” As Hao Liuhua spoke, she pulled the scowling Tan Xiangming closer, rapidly closing the distance between them. “Don’t worry, Sister. We talked very well today. Jasmine is very satisfied with me.”

Tan Xiangming was momentarily speechless at her thick skin. She rolled her eyes but didn’t push her away. She did need to pretend to Shang Lin’an that their relationship was great.

A full minute of silence followed. Tan Xiangming felt uncomfortable, so before the silence became too heavy, she switched to hugging Hao Liuhua instead. For that minute, Hao Liuhua stayed obediently in her arms.

Close and warm. It was as if she weren’t a decisive Chairman or an elegant heir, but just Tan Xiangming’s pampered girlfriend.

Tan Xiangming felt a bit awkward. Although she loved to brag, this was the first time she had such intimate physical contact with someone outside her family—especially in such an ambiguous situation. She was even a bit of a germaphobe while acting, always looking for camera angles to avoid real contact; her famous roles weren’t in idol dramas, so she didn’t have many intimate scenes.

Having someone pressed against her chest was a very novel experience. Especially when the person leaning so submissively against her was her future wife. They were going to decide on a wedding date this weekend. From now on, moments like this would only increase. She should get used to it.

Tan Xiangming took a deep breath, summoned her acting skills, and tightened her hug. Her fingers rested on the shirt, the pressure forming the shape of her fingertips against the white fabric. Soft and warm. Tan Xiangming just felt it was comfortable, nothing more.

Hao Liuhua, however, felt her ears turn red in a place hidden from view. The sensation was fleeting.

“That’s enough. Let her go. You’ve only known each other for a few hours, you aren’t even close. Stop putting on a show for me,” Shang Lin’an’s voice drifted from the phone.

Tan Xiangming immediately withdrew her hand. Hao Liuhua tensed her core to avoid falling over. What a nuisance. Hao Liuhua gripped the edge of her shirt, her wrist unconsciously brushing against the spot where Tan Xiangming had held her.

“Sister, I’m acting for you for free. Aren’t you happy? People outside have to pay to see me act,” Tan Xiangming chirped, leaning to one side. Her acting task for the day was over; she didn’t need to force intimacy with an unfamiliar fiancée anymore.

“Stop being cheeky. About that small company I gave you before…” Shang Lin’an began discussing family business. Tan Xiangming listened reluctantly. Leaving the entertainment industry meant returning to manage the family estate. Even though Shang Lin’an had run the massive group for years, she occasionally felt overwhelmed. It was best to share some of that pressure with her sister.

“Sister, why didn’t you go for an alliance?” Tan Xiangming didn’t want to talk work. She rolled over and held the phone up.

“I don’t have time.” More accurately, heirs rarely go for alliances. When there are two children, it’s usually the one not involved in management who marries off—it’s safer. Shang Lin’an wasn’t sure why the Hao family had Hao Liuhua step forward, nor why she was willing to wait five years for Jasmine. Perhaps there was a secret, or perhaps there was affection.

Shang Lin’an would worry about that later; the most urgent thing was getting them to register. Only after the certificate was issued and the share transfer was signed could the families rest easy. It would prevent the troublesome Tan Xiangming from running away again.

“It’s not that serious. It’s just a business alliance. Hao Liuhua seems very busy too,” Tan Xiangming muttered, not noticing the dark, gloomy expression on Hao Liuhua’s face beside her.

“I don’t even have time to hold a wedding, let alone finish an alliance. And after that, I have to…” Shang Lin’an tsked. She would have to wait until she was 35—ten years after officially taking office—to find time to be herself, fall in love, marry, and have an heir.

“You’re just making excuses. You don’t want an alliance. Well, neither do I,” Tan Xiangming said, finally speaking her true thoughts now that she had “caught” her sister.

“Didn’t you say you were satisfied with her? I saw you two hugging just now. What’s wrong with Hao Liuhua? She’s pretty, has a nice voice, is more considerate than me, and is rich. Aside from looking a bit cold, she has no flaws.” Shang Lin’an didn’t know her sister was on speakerphone.

Tan Xiangming’s reaction didn’t suggest she realized the person being discussed was sitting right there either. Every word hit Hao Liuhua. Every time Tan Xiangming said she “didn’t want it,” Hao Liuhua’s heart felt a sharp sting.

It throbbed with a bitter ache, so much so that she lowered her head and clutched her chest. Tan Xiangming was still bargaining with Shang Lin’an. She actually just wanted to squeeze more money out of her sister. Of course, when she married, her three family members (including her grandmothers) would give her money for her married life or for her to spend. Tan Xiangming wasn’t satisfied with that; she wanted to squeeze a little from everyone separately, so they wouldn’t all get angry and stop giving at once.

If Hao Liuhua had spent more time with Tan Xiangming, she would have seen through the plan. But at this moment, bitterness clouded her heart, and her breathing grew heavy.

“Besides, she waited for you for five years—” Shang Lin’an started.

Tan Xiangming’s phone slipped. Before it could hit her face, Hao Liuhua caught it.

“Sister, Jasmine and I need to communicate our feelings. Let’s stop here for today.” Her voice was suppressed and inevitably trembling as she ended the call.

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