Transmigrated as the Disabled Alpha Wife of the Black Moonlight and She Said She Loves Me - Chapter 40
The next morning at breakfast, Huo Jianan came downstairs late, finding the dining table empty.
“Where’s Grandmother?” she asked Housekeeper He.
“Madam went to the company already. Knowing you and Miss Meng attended the banquet last night, she assumed you might sleep in and didn’t wait for you both.”
Huo Jianan nodded. “What about Sister Meng?”
“Miss Meng hasn’t gotten up yet.”
“Don’t wake her,” Huo Jianan said, nibbling on a piece of fried dough stick, her eyes sparkling with delight, as if she had finally defeated a perpetually top-ranked scholar. “It’s rare for me to wake up before Sister Meng.”
“Getting up before me just once makes you this happy?” A cool voice, tinged with playful teasing, came from the stairs. Meng Xien descended, dressed in professional attire—a high-collared blouse and crisply pressed trousers that accentuated her slender figure.
Huo Jianan gazed at her, drooling inwardly, wishing she could have such long, straight legs when she stood up.
“Sister Meng, why not sleep in a little longer?”
“I’ve already slept an hour later than usual. That’s plenty of extra sleep.”
Unlike Huo Jianan, who loved traditional Chinese breakfast foods like steamed buns, fried dough sticks, flatbreads, and savory pancakes, Meng Xien clearly preferred Western-style fare. She took a slice of toast and slowly spread homemade jam on it. The jam was freshly made by the household chef, typically used the day it was prepared and discarded after two days.
Watching Meng Xien spread the jam, Huo Jianan suddenly remembered that Ruan Nianning had once praised it for being less sweet. She decided to bring two jars to Ruan Wolfie when she visited the film set on Christmas Day.
“How did you sleep?” Meng Xien asked.
“Pretty well. I fell asleep right away,” Huo Jianan replied. Her alcohol tolerance was average, and after drinking about two glasses of red wine with Meng Xien the previous night, the effects had quickly sent her to bed.
“Aren’t you visiting your wife for Christmas? Have you decided on a gift yet?”
“A gift?!”
Huo Jianan startled, nearly burned by the hot broth spilling from a steamed bun.
She’d completely forgotten about getting a gift!
Meng Xien shot her a knowing glance, mercilessly exposing her oversight. “You haven’t prepared a gift, have you?”
Huo Jianan: “……”
“This isn’t like you. Nianning has always been your cherished treasure.”
Huo Jianan: “I-I’ve prepared something. It’s Christmas, of course I got Nianning a gift!”
When Huo Jianan arrived at the company, she noticed Assistant Min looked unwell. Her eyes were slightly swollen and bloodshot, and her foundation seemed thicker than usual, as if she was trying to cover something up.
“Assistant Min, what’s wrong? Didn’t you sleep well? Did a mosquito bite you?”
Just a couple of days ago, Huo Jianan had been woken up by a mosquito in the middle of the night, leaving two red bites on her face the next day. Who could have imagined mosquitoes in December?!
Fortunately, Housekeeper He had fumigated the entire house again, allowing her to sleep soundly again.
Min Jiru paused, then mumbled, “Yes… there were mosquitoes.”
The morning wasn’t particularly busy, with only one meeting scheduled. Huo Jianan sat at her computer, deep in thought, searching online for the perfect Christmas gift.
Clothes, bags, necklaces, and watches all seemed too cliché. A beautiful, high-quality cake? But Wolfie was an actress and couldn’t afford to eat such high-sugar, high-calorie treats. A rare gaming accessory? No, she wasn’t a gamer.
Sigh… Huo Jianan felt a headache coming on. Picking a gift was proving more stressful than deciding on a merger.
Assistant Min entered to replace the fresh flowers on the coffee table. Seeing her, Huo Jianan’s eyes lit up with an idea. “Assistant Min,” she asked with a smile, “Christmas is coming soon. Has your boyfriend prepared you a gift? Do you know what it is?”
Assistant Min placed the flowers down, her expression slightly uneasy. Her already weary eyes dimmed further. “N-no, I don’t know.”
Right, it’s not Christmas yet. She hasn’t opened the gift, so how would she know?
Huo Jianan changed her approach. “Then what would you like him to give you?”
“I don’t expect anything. It doesn’t matter whether he gives me a gift or not.”
Huo Jianan: “……”
How cold! Either her relationship with her boyfriend is strained, or they’ve had a fight.
Noticing her boss’s troubled expression, Assistant Min ventured to ask, “President Huo, is there anything I can help you with?”
Having worked together for some time, Min Jiru found her boss to be kind, gentle, and courteous, without any airs of authority.
“My wife is filming out of town, and I’m planning to visit her for Christmas. I want to bring her a gift, but I haven’t decided what yet.”
Min Jiru observed the tender affection that softened Huo Jianan’s features. It seems the Huo Family Young Miss has a very close relationship with her Madam.
Regardless of the circumstances, that’s still a fortunate thing.
“Wouldn’t you know what your wife likes?” Min Jiru asked.
When it came to what Wolfie liked, there were only two things: first, to seduce me, and second, to succeed in her revenge. Of course, since she had the wrong target, I couldn’t let her have her way with the second.
“Hmm, I’ve already given her just about everything I could,” Huo Jianan said, flipping through the chat history between her original self and Ruan Nianning. She had given practically everything, not just bags and jewelry, but even several luxury cars and mansions.
“If you were in my shoes, what kind of gift do you think would be best?”
Min Jiru took a soft breath, her gaze drifting past Huo Jianan’s shoulder through the glass window behind her, to the meticulously manicured lawn before the Huo Corporation headquarters under the blue sky.
“Actually, it doesn’t have to be a physical gift. Just having her by my side, being able to cuddle with the one I love, walking together through the lawn bathed in sunlight, or attending a soothing and beautiful concert—those would be the most cherished gifts.”
When Meng Xien pushed open the half-closed door and entered, she found the young woman staring out the window, her face slightly wan, her eyes filled with an unhidden regret. Yet, beneath that regret, a faint light of longing burned so brightly it seared Meng Xien’s eyes.
“Sister Meng?”
“I have a meeting coming up, so I’ll just say a few words now. And about what you mentioned last time, let’s talk more about it.”
Huo Jianan nodded and said to Min Jiru, “Assistant Min, could you bring us two cups of coffee?”
Meng Xien followed Huo Jianan’s gaze to Min Jiru, her eyes sweeping over her hair, forehead, eyebrows, and eyes, before finally settling on her pale, blue-tinged eye sockets.
The fair-skinned girl, sensing her gaze, lowered her head to avoid eye contact. Meng Xien couldn’t see her expression, only the tight press of her lips, as if she were suppressing emotion.
“You can go ahead. I’ll grind the coffee myself,” Meng Xien said, her usually cool voice softening with an involuntary gentleness.
Min Jiru murmured a quiet acknowledgment, still keeping her head down, and left the room.
As Meng Xien passed by, she caught a fleeting glimpse out of the corner of her eye: beneath trembling lashes, the redness at the corners of the girl’s eyes betrayed her hurt.
Meng Xien stood frozen for several seconds before regaining her composure, calmly grinding two cups of coffee for herself and Huo Jianan with practiced ease.
After discussing the agenda for the upcoming meeting, Meng Xien asked, “Have you decided?”
“Hmm, I’ve been thinking about this for a few days, and I still think it’s best to fly to Country F before Christmas. I want to meet with Soul’s CEO in person again.”
“Alright, I’ll accompany you.”
Huo Jianan studied Meng Xien’s expression, cautiously asking, “Sister Meng, if I decide not to proceed with the acquisition this time, would you… be upset?”
After all, Meng Xien had conducted extensive research and even personally flown to Country F for inspections. Industry media had also reported, without naming names, that an international conglomerate was interested in acquiring Soul.
Without any unforeseen circumstances, the Huo Corporation’s acquisition of Soul seemed like a foregone conclusion.
By voicing her opposition now, Jianan would undoubtedly render Meng Xien’s previous efforts futile. Professionally and personally, she deeply respected Sister Meng and didn’t want this matter to create a rift between them.
“No,” Meng Xien replied without hesitation. “You’re leading this acquisition. Whether we proceed or not is entirely your decision.” She smiled warmly, her voice gentle. “Trust yourself and follow your instincts. Aunt Xu and I support you completely.”
Huo Jianan couldn’t quite put her feelings into words, but shame dominated her thoughts. She had repeatedly tested Meng Xien’s trust, scrutinizing every document she signed and even secretly verifying some details.
As Meng Xien left, Huo Jianan stared at her retreating figure, her heart swirling with conflicting emotions.
Last night, Sister Meng had been so vulnerable, even confiding her heartbreak over being dumped—a deeply personal pain. Despite drinking so much, she had worried more about Jianan overindulging.
Her genuine care, treating Jianan like a younger sister, moved her deeply. Yet, Huo Jianan couldn’t forget that this same woman had conspired with Ruan Nianning to destroy the Huo Corporation. She had no choice but to remain wary.
Feeling ashamed, Huo Jianan turned away. Her Sister Meng trusted her completely, but she dared not reciprocate that trust.
Wang Baobao, who came to pick up Huo Jianan, seemed in high spirits. His entire being radiated cheerfulness, his steps light and buoyant. Even when a delivery person nearly bumped into him, he smiled and said, “No problem, no problem.”
Huo Jianan teased, “In such a good mood? Looks like you’re getting closer to your goddess by the day.”
Wang Baobao chuckled happily. “Exactly! Doctor Jiang and I have been running together for several nights now. Yesterday, she agreed to sign up for a marathon with me next spring.”
A marathon?
Huo Jianan, who had never even passed the 800-meter run, could only exclaim, “Impressive!”
Throughout the ride, Wang Baobao buzzed with energy like an overenthusiastic Siberian husky.
“Christmas is coming up soon, and I’m planning to buy Doctor Jiang a limited-edition running shoe collaboration as a gift.”
Huo Jianan: “But didn’t she give you running shoes just a few days ago when I picked you up?”
“It’s different! Last time was to thank her for running with me at night. This time it’s a Christmas gift—a limited-edition collaboration that’s really hard to get!”
Wang Baobao’s eyes lit up as he spoke, clearly eager for Christmas to arrive. “Don’t forget, the three of us are supposed to drink together on Christmas Eve.”
Ah?! Huo Jianan startled, having completely forgotten. If Wang Baobao hadn’t mentioned it, she would have completely erased the drinking plans from her mind.
“Holy crap! You didn’t forget, did you?”
“Not really,” Huo Jianan said with an apologetic smile. “I was busy with work at the time. Sister Meng and I had to fly abroad for a business matter involving billions of yuan.”
Hearing the mention of such a large sum, Wang Baobao immediately dropped the small talk. “Well, making money is important after all.” Then, after a moment’s thought, he added, “But you could still fly back the day before Christmas. Don’t foreigners celebrate Christmas too?”
Huo Jianan replied bluntly, “I’m flying to City D to visit the film set.”
Wang Baobao chuckled knowingly. “Oh, so you’re going to see your sister-in-law! You should definitely go, definitely go.”
“By the way, Baobao, what kind of gift do you think I should get for Nianning?”
“What? You still haven’t prepared a gift this late?”
“Well, that’s why I’m asking for your advice!”
Wang Baobao quickly offered a suggestion. “How about a collaborative baseball cap from Glory Mission? I got one myself, and it’s really cool!”
Huo Jianan rolled her eyes at Wang Baobao and turned away, Ji Minru’s words echoing in her mind once more: As long as she’s by my side, as long as I can cuddle with the one I love, walking hand in hand through the sunlit grass or listening to soothing music at a concert—that’s the most wonderful gift I could ever receive.
Huo Jianan sighed. She longed to stroll leisurely through a beautiful garden with Ruan Nianning, basking in the sunlight. She imagined turning her head slightly to see Nianning leaning against her shoulder, smelling her soft, fragrant hair, and gazing at the gentle curve of her lips beneath her straight nose.
But Huo Jianan’s gaze lowered, and her fingers curled to squeeze her stiff, paralyzed legs.
How could a crippled woman who couldn’t even stand walk romantically side by side with Ruan Nianning?
During a break in her rehabilitation training, Huo Jianan rested in her chair while Wang Baobao chatted with Doctor Jiang. “There’s a movie coming out this weekend. Are you free? Want to go to the premiere?” After a few night runs, Baobao had grown bolder and was less restrained around Doctor Jiang.
Huo Jianan wiped her sweat, instinctively tucking the used tissue she’d wiped her neck with into her small pouch.
Used tissues carried the scent of an Alpha’s pheromones, but Huo Jianan had secretly sniffed several times and never detected any distinctive floral, fruity, milky, or tea-like aroma.
Taking advantage of the break, Huo Jianan picked up her phone.
Sister Meng posted in the family group chat: “Tonight’s social engagement is canceled. I’m coming home for dinner.”
The group members included Grandmother, Sister Meng, Huo Jianan, her wife Ruan Nianning, and Housekeeper He.
Huo Jianan licked her lips and sent a message: “Housekeeper He, I’d like braised beef brisket for dinner.”
Shortly after, Grandmother Xu Weiyi replied: “Then we’ll have a plate of sliced braised beef brisket as an appetizer.”
Huo Jianan sent a happy emoji.
Housekeeper He: “Understood. Dinner will be arranged accordingly.”
Huo Jianan opened her Moments feed, quickly scrolled through, and paused at a new post.
It was Ruan Nianning’s, posted that morning, likely taken on the film set.
Who could resist such a cute Corgi?
The photo showed Ruan Nianning holding a Corgi. The small dog was cradled in her arms, its bright, clear eyes gazing up at her, its tongue playfully hanging out as it nestled affectionately against her arm. Ruan Nianning’s smile was radiant, her delicate skin glowing with a luminous radiance.
Seeing Wolfie, usually fierce and unapproachable, smiling so genuinely and beautifully, Huo Jianan’s heart softened as she met the dog’s gaze. She couldn’t help but want to stroke Ruan Nianning’s equally adorable, snow-white face.
On the film set, the director gave Ruan Nianning an “OK” gesture.
A beautiful and charming Corgi had wandered onto the set today, its fur impeccably groomed and adorned with a collar and leash, clearly a well-cared-for pet. Its owner must be quite wealthy; the collar alone was undoubtedly expensive.
Ruan Nianning immediately took a liking to the little fellow, scooping it up and cuddling it despite the risk of getting her clothes dirty.
The production team, spotting this heartwarming scene, quickly grabbed their cameras to capture it for promotional material.
After finishing the shoot, Ruan Nianning settled down with the puppy, indulging in a vigorous petting session. The Corgi, far from resisting, seemed to revel in the attention, rolling onto its back and exposing its belly, clearly enjoying the playful interaction. It was likely this silly, affectionate behavior was how it acted with its owner at home.
“What’s your name? How did you end up on the set?” a familiar, clear voice asked from behind.
“It’s Mooncake,” replied the voice. “We adopted him on Mid-Autumn Festival day. He’s two years old now, a boy.”
Ruan Nianning turned around. “Sister Song, it’s your dog!”
She also noticed another person accompanying Song Shiyu—a fair-skinned girl of striking beauty, the kind of mixed-race elegance that radiated sophistication. Her shy, genuine smile carried a scholarly air, and her bright, clear eyes held a sharp intelligence. It was immediately apparent she wasn’t someone from the entertainment industry.
“She’s Luo Bufei,” Song Shiyu said.
The girl exchanged only a few words with them, greeting Ruan Nianning before leaving. As she departed, she cast a casual yet strangely familiar glance at Film Empress Song, her gaze restrained, quickly withdrawing after a single look.
“I won’t keep you from your work. Goodbye, Sister Song, Sister Ning.”
Though Ruan Nianning’s acting skills couldn’t quite match Film Empress Song’s, she was still quite good. With a single glance, she could tell that the young girl had a special relationship with Film Empress Song. Smiling, she asked, “What a pretty and innocent girl. Who is she?”
Film Empress Song pursed her lips. “A friend’s child. They asked me to look after her.”
Her phone vibrated with a new message. Ruan Nianning picked it up. It was from Huo Jianan: “Is the dog you’re holding for sale? If I buy the dog, will you throw in the beauty?”
Ruan Nianning chuckled softly, her laughter making her tremble slightly. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and the tips of her delicate, pale ears flushed pink, creating a striking contrast against her snow-white neck, like blush-tinted snow.
That mischievous Huo Jianan always managed to make her laugh so easily.
[Not selling the dog. But I’ll throw in the beauty.]
Throw in the beauty?
Huo Jianan smirked. Suddenly, she couldn’t wait for Christmas to arrive.