When the Male Lead Finds Out I’m the Transmigrator Trying to Win Him Over - Chapter 14

Yun Ruo was preparing to look for a place to live.

A one-bedroom or a two-bedroom would do, though these days a one-bedroom might even cost more than a two-bedroom. All things considered, the two-bedroom seemed more cost-effective.

“Where can you find a place with good value for money?” The auntie who was picking vegetables almost thought she’d misheard. Yun Ruo was actually asking her about renting. “Is it Xiao Jia who wants to move out? But even if he leaves school, he’d rent somewhere around campus, right?”

“It’s not Xiao Jia.” Yun Ruo said it was for a friend. “She’s looking to rent, but the last time I rented was years ago. I don’t know much about the current market.”

“Oh, oh.” The auntie didn’t doubt her. In her eyes, since Meng Tingmo was so rich, Yun Ruo certainly wouldn’t be lacking in property. At least the house on Liuli Road was already under Yun Ruo’s name. “I don’t know much either. The ones that are nicely decorated and cheap are usually all outside the third ring road.”

“That’s fine.” Yun Ruo had only asked casually, not expecting real answers. “I’ll tell her to find an agent. Agents are professionals.”

“Yes, agents handle that sort of thing. If they’re efficient, you can even find something in a single day.”

One day? Yun Ruo thought about it. That was indeed fast.

Her phone buzzed twice with a new message. She opened it to see it was from a young second-generation rich kid she knew.

Since marrying Meng Tingmo, Yun Ruo occasionally attended social gatherings, and her phone had added many people from that circle. But she rarely chatted with them—just exchanged likes on Moments.

This particular rich kid was a bit like Feng You: both enjoyed food, drink, and fun. But Feng You had limits—there were things he’d never touch. This one, though, didn’t care whether something was risky or not, as long as he was entertained.

“Yun Ruo, how come Meng Tingmo is with Jiang Yufei again? Are you two having relationship issues?”

Attached was a photo taken at a private club: Meng Tingmo and Jiang Yufei sitting face-to-face, chatting with smiles.

Yun Ruo enlarged the photo, her gaze fixed on Meng Tingmo.

This month, they’d barely seen each other, and whenever they did, it ended badly. It had been a long time since she’d seen him smile.

Her fingers traced the outline of his face. What she loved most were his brows and eyes—refined, clean-cut, elegant. She had only ever dated Meng Tingmo. When he first drew close to her, she hadn’t dared look him in the eye.

Meng Tingmo was never satisfied with that, always tilting her head up, forcing her to meet his gaze. The closer he leaned in, the redder her face turned.

That was when he’d laugh endlessly, clearly pleased with her reaction. And when she was about to break, he’d pull her tightly into his arms, her face pressed close to his chest, where she could feel the vibration of his heartbeat—mixed with his laughter.

Now, Meng Tingmo still smiled. Only, the person in front of him was no longer her.

Meng Tingmo loved her.

Meng Tingmo once loved her.

And because of that, it was harder to accept. To have and then lose hurt more than never having had at all.

She muttered something aloud.

“Huh?” The auntie, busy with the vegetables, hadn’t heard clearly. “What did you just say?”

“I said… Meng Tingmo really is handsome.”

The auntie laughed heartily. “He is indeed very handsome. Especially when he’s with you, the two of you look perfect together.”

She was just trying to cheer Yun Ruo up.

Yun Ruo lifted the corners of her lips into a faint smile.

She exited the photo and returned to the chat box, replying with just one sentence: “If you’re so curious, why not ask Meng Tingmo directly?”

That person wasn’t really concerned about her marriage—just gloating.

Setting her phone aside, Yun Ruo had already made up her mind about where to go that afternoon.

She didn’t know that rumors about Meng Tingmo and Jiang Yufei had already begun spreading quietly online.

As the next successor of the Meng family and now the company’s president, Meng Tingmo drew heavy attention from the outside world.

He was handsome, capable, and admired by the public. No matter what event he attended, there were always crowds of people around.

After marriage, the rumors of him being deeply in love with his wife gave him an even better reputation.

Netizens said that men like him—rich, powerful, and lovesick—were one in a million. Most people would never encounter such a person in their lifetime. His wife must be so happy.

Because of this, whenever he appeared, reporters always asked questions about his wife.

He would openly admit: “Yes, I truly love my wife. I can’t live without her.”

And yet, though he said so, he’d protected Yun Ruo very carefully. Few pictures of her ever appeared online; he didn’t want her living under the public eye.

There was even a group of netizens shipping them as a CP.

But now, the wind was changing.

“Meng Tingmo’s marriage in crisis.”

The sun was out today. Yun Ruo searched a location on her map, grabbed her bag, and left home.

She didn’t call the driver. The driver was Meng family’s staff, and if he found out, Meng’s mother would definitely come after her.

So she hailed a cab and went to a real estate agency. She explained her needs, but the agent, looking at her pregnant belly, hesitated. “Are you looking at apartments by yourself?”

Yun Ruo nodded.

“In that case, most listings can be viewed in VR first. Let’s pick out a few online. Once you see something you like, we can go check it in person.”

Yun Ruo agreed, sitting on the sofa while the agent pulled up listings. Since the Spring Festival was near, there weren’t many renters, and she was the only customer in the store.

After ten minutes, the agent had a list. Yun Ruo went through them one by one. Either the location wasn’t right, or the environment wasn’t good, or the price was too high.

Aside from what Meng Tingmo provided and her original parents’ inheritance, she only had the savings from her old job.

She couldn’t predict her future life, so she dared not spend recklessly.

“I’ll keep searching,” the agent said. He’d been about to suggest raising the budget, but one glance at her belly made him swallow the words.

Yun Ruo thanked him and left the store. The weather was lovely, and she wanted to bask in the sun for a while.

It was a workday, so the streets weren’t crowded. Leaning against a wall in a daze, she suddenly remembered that He Xitong’s birthday was coming up.

Because it was close to her due date, He Xitong had once said she must be fated with the baby—destined to be the godmother.

“When you go into labor, I’ll be waiting right outside the delivery room. I’ll be the first one to hold the baby.”

Yun Jia had been there too and joked that He Xitong would never beat Meng Tingmo to it. “If you want to be first, that’s only possible if brother-in-law isn’t there.”

“Don’t be silly,” He Xitong had said, her eyes soft on the thought of a child. “Meng Tingmo will rush in to see Ruo first. Until he sees her, he won’t even be thinking about the baby.”

Yun Jia nodded, realizing that was true.

At the time, Yun Ruo had laughed so much, before telling them regretfully that Meng Tingmo had promised to be there for her labor—not only to see her first, but to be the first to hold the baby as well.

Recalling He Xitong’s expression then, Yun Ruo couldn’t help smiling.

But the smile faded as quickly as it came. She remembered a saying: when you’re always reminiscing about the past, it means you’re unhappy in the present.

“Yun Ruo?”

Her thoughts were interrupted. Turning her head, she saw Han Qi.

She’d been running into him quite a lot lately. Straightening up, she asked, “Why are you here?”

“Just driving by.” Han Qi pointed to his car parked on the roadside. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking why you’re here, standing alone?”

His gaze shifted to the real estate office behind her, surprise flickering in his eyes.

Just then, the agent stepped out. “Miss Yun, I’ve expanded the search range and found a few more listings. Would you like to come take a look?”

Before Yun Ruo could stop him, she and Han Qi were caught in an awkward moment.

Flustered, she touched her nose. “Um, I was… helping a friend. Not really familiar with the market these days.”

She wished the ground would swallow her whole.

Han Qi was sharp. The more you explained, the more mistakes you made.

And truthfully, he was already suspicious.

He gave her a long, deep look but didn’t call her out, only said he could help.

“I rented plenty of places back when I was starting my business. I’ve got time—let me have a look.”

So, before she knew it, Yun Ruo found herself sitting with him in the agency, watching as he dismissed every single option the agent presented. Finally, when the agent said they probably wouldn’t find anything suitable today, she simply nodded, added the agent on WeChat, and left.

Back outside, Yun Ruo still felt a little dazed.

That was it?

“About that ‘friend’ of yours.” Han Qi said as he led her along. “What kind of friend asks you to look for a place when you’re in your condition?”

Yun Ruo pressed her lips together and gave a vague hum in response.

“This can wait,” Han Qi said as they crossed a street, keeping her shielded behind him. “Don’t rush. Wait until things settle down first.”

Yun Ruo glanced at his back. Somehow, it felt like those words were meant for her.

When they reached his car, Han Qi opened the door. “Where to? I’ll take you.”

She wanted to refuse, but his calm, steady gaze made her uneasy. It wasn’t fear exactly, but more like a warning: if she disobeyed, he might turn into a different Han Qi altogether.

She sniffled. Maybe she was being paranoid, jumpy, imagining things that didn’t exist.

Han Qi wasn’t going to “transform” into anyone else.

“Where to?” he asked again once seated in the driver’s seat.

Yun Ruo gave him an address—a shopping mall. “I need to pick something up.”

It was He Xitong’s birthday present. It was ready, and she had to collect it.

“Alright.” Han Qi started the car and drove off.

Winter days were short. By the time they reached the mall, the sun had already disappeared. Luckily, she hadn’t dressed too lightly just because it had been sunny earlier.

The shop she was headed to was on the fourth floor. Han Qi accompanied her up the elevator. Her eyes lingered briefly on the panel—on the top floor was the dining area. Should she maybe treat him to a meal?

After all, this wasn’t the first time Han Qi had helped her.

The elevator opened on the fourth floor. He walked a step behind her. Yun Ruo felt oddly uncomfortable. Maybe because she was used to being the one walking behind?

She always trailed half a step behind Meng Tingmo. Sometimes he would correct her, pulling her to his side with an arm around her shoulders. Later, seeing she couldn’t change, he’d let her be.

At the shop, Yun Ruo gave her reservation details. While the clerk went to fetch the order, she sat on the sofa to wait.

Han Qi scanned the store. The only empty seat was right beside her, but sitting there together would invite gossip at such a delicate time.

“Just saw a friend on the way up. Wait here a moment—I’ll go say hi.”

Yun Ruo nodded, not thinking much of it.

A few minutes later, the clerk handed her the package: a custom photo album. Each page had a theme. She’d submitted the photos long ago, and now they were perfectly arranged, proof of the thought she’d put in.

The left page held photos; the right was left blank. She flipped through page after page carefully.

“If everything looks fine, please sign here.”

She signed, packed the album, and left the shop.

Looking around the hallway, she didn’t see Han Qi. She was just about to call when she turned and spotted Jiang Yufei stepping out of the neighboring store with a gift bag.

“You? What are you doing here?” Jiang Yufei’s eyes lit with recognition. Then something occurred to her, and she waved the bag with a sly smile. “Looking for Tingmo? How’d you manage to track him down here?”

Yun Ruo froze. Jiang Yufei’s words implied… Meng Tingmo was here too?

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