When the Male Lead Finds Out I’m the Transmigrator Trying to Win Him Over - Chapter 38

Yun Ruo didn’t know that a day later Meng Tingmo would be provoked again.
Right now, she was accompanying Meng Feihan for dinner – a kids’ meal from a fast-food chain. Meng Feihan had never eaten it before and was enjoying it with relish.

Yun Ruo herself had also never eaten it when she was young, but only because there was no money.
Meng Feihan, on the other hand, had never eaten it because there was too much money.

The driver sat at another table, sighing inwardly. Hopefully, the kid wouldn’t get an upset stomach tonight, otherwise, he’d get scolded too.

“If there’s a problem, let them come to me,” Yun Ruo said lightly. “Just tell them I was putting on airs as Mrs. Meng and forced you to agree.”

In truth, she didn’t think there was any need to be so worried. Meng Tingmo’s parents were open-minded people. What’s the big deal about an upset stomach? As long as it didn’t land them in the hospital, it was all fine.
Meng Tingmo himself, when in university, had eaten at street stalls more times than she could count.

Unless, of course, someone deliberately wanted to find fault with her.

Meng Feihan had passed by this restaurant before and had looked in longingly, seeing all the kids eating happily with their parents. How could she not indulge him just this once?

“Mom, will you come home with me later?” he asked only after swallowing the food in his mouth.

Yun Ruo shook her head. She’d send him home, but then she’d leave.

“Oh.”
Meng Feihan looked a little disappointed. But then again, disappointment was something he was already used to.

“Then you have to remember to come see me again next time.”

“Alright.” Yun Ruo patted his little head, not knowing how many more times she’d get to do that.

After dinner, she sent Meng Feihan back home. Madam Meng personally came out and invited her to stay a few days, but she refused. Madam Meng couldn’t press the matter.

Meng Tingmo had been the one in the wrong first; Madam Meng couldn’t very well accuse Yun Ruo of being “ungrateful.”

After leaving the Meng residence, Yun Ruo called Han Qi. When she left at noon, Han Qi had still been upset. She didn’t know if he’d cooled down by now.

“What if you make yourself sick from anger, President Han?” Yun Ruo said in a casual, unhurried tone. “Why not come out and relax a bit?”

Han Qi was still at the office working. A glance at the time told him it was almost 7 p.m.
“Miss Yun isn’t with Feihan anymore?”

“I’ve already spent time with him.”

“Now it’s my turn?”

“President Han is also an important person.”

“Important in what sense?”

“Miss Yun is treating me?”

“Within a budget of 500 yuan.”

Han Qi chuckled. It had been years since anyone put a spending cap on him. He really did want to go. But…
Glancing at the pile of work in front of him, he sighed helplessly. “Sorry, I really can’t make it today.”

“Okay, I understand.” Yun Ruo didn’t press him. After all, her salary depended on Han Qi.

Still, working this late and with her, his life assistant, absent from the office…

Yun Ruo went to Ruwei Pavilion to pack him a dinner.

Since Zhang Ji had resigned, all of Han Qi’s daily needs now fell on her. Strictly speaking, she wasn’t exactly a competent subordinate. If she let her boss go hungry, that really wouldn’t do.

She knocked and entered his office, catching Han Qi’s surprised look. Yun Ruo shook the takeout box in her hand.

“You’re already off work, Miss Yun.” Han Qi accepted the meal, his tone holding another meaning, and if one looked closely, there was even a trace of a smile in his eyes.

Yun Ruo didn’t miss it—he was clearly pleased to see her.
“When Miss Yun is off work, Yun Ruo isn’t.”

At work, she was “Assistant Yun” or “Miss Yun.” After hours, she was simply “Yun Ruo.”
They kept the line drawn very clear.

Han Qi truly hadn’t eaten dinner yet. While he dug in, Yun Ruo stood by the window, admiring the night view.

Ever since their last business trip—or more precisely, since that kiss—his favorability had risen to 75%. Clearly, possessiveness and physical intimacy could close the distance.

No, that wasn’t quite it. The kiss was the effect. The real reason was that, in Han Qi’s mind, intimacy meant their relationship had taken a step forward.

And yet, no one had torn through the thin paper barrier between them.

Suddenly, Yun Ruo felt that the two of them were like a pair of scumbag man and woman playing at love games—flirting, pushing, holding back. No one wanted to make it clear. No one wanted to take responsibility.

“Yun Ruo.”
Han Qi suddenly called out, his gaze on her by the window. He didn’t know what thought had crossed his mind, but she had smiled just now.
“I have a question.”

“Ask,” she replied crisply.

“On the phone earlier, you said I was an important person. What kind of important person?”

Yun Ruo’s brows knit, then relaxed. He wasn’t asking whether she had been lying or not—he wanted the real meaning.

“Not the kind of important where I gain something from you.”

Han Qi waited silently for her answer.

“It’s the kind… where whether as a friend, or in another kind of relationship, you’re very important.”

“Another kind of relationship?” Han Qi’s gaze deepened. This Yun Ruo was sly indeed.

Still fishing for him.

Yun Ruo didn’t clarify. “Yes, another kind of relationship.”

If Han Qi asked her to spell it out, she’d just throw it back: What kind of relationship do you think it is?
But of course, Han Qi was clever too. He never asked.

The more you looked at it, the more it resembled two scumbags playing ambiguous games.

After eating, Han Qi went back to work. In his own words:
“After being angered today, I was filled with deep anxiety. If I don’t work harder, the company will go bankrupt and I won’t be able to pay my employees’ wages.”
At least he was putting employees first. Yun Ruo was more than willing to keep him company working overtime.

And so, once again, she couldn’t leave work on time.

Around 6 p.m., Yun Ruo received a call from Meng Tingmo. Her first instinct was to hang up. But what if it was about Meng Feihan? So she answered.

“You and Han Qi—”

Click. She hung up.

If it wasn’t about Meng Feihan, then she and Meng Tingmo had nothing to talk about.

She tucked her phone away and went to get Han Qi his dinner. He’d finish when he finished; she’d follow his schedule.

But work dragged on until 8 p.m. Han Qi was hammering furiously at his keyboard, clearly in a foul mood. Outside, several assistants sat like quails at their desks, not daring even to sip water too loudly.

Just then, He Xitong texted:
“What’s going on between you and Meng Tingmo? I just got home and saw his car parked downstairs.”

Yun Ruo replied with a question mark.

It wasn’t a secret that she lived with He Xitong. Yun Jia always found excuses to drop by—“just passing by,” “business nearby,” “car broke down”… But Meng Tingmo had never come.

Usually, he’d avoid her like the plague. Especially since she’d been pushing for divorce, he’d want to steer clear. Why show up now?

He Xitong: “Heard a rumor that you’ve got someone new, forgotten the old flame. They even say the new guy is more handsome, dashing, and capable than Meng Tingmo.”

Yun Ruo: … So that’s how rumors evolve.

“Don’t mind him.”

If it was about romance, she had even less desire to talk. Nothing could change, only more trouble.

He Xitong: “You sure? It’s about to rain.”

Yun Ruo: “He’s not an idiot. If it rains, he knows to go home.”

He Xitong sent back a “hahaha.”

“Something wrong?” Han Qi asked, catching a break. Yun Ruo had been messaging for a while. “If there’s something, you can leave first.”

“No problem.” Yun Ruo set the coffee on his desk, noting his frown was so tight it could squash a mosquito. Looked like tomorrow’s meeting would be another day of fear for someone.

At 9 p.m., they finally clocked out. Yun Ruo drove Han Qi home before heading to her own place. One perk of being a life assistant: a company car. A luxury ride, free of charge.

Not that Yun Ruo made much “personal use” of it.

With the rain, she drove slowly. No way she’d risk crashing before completing her mission. She was already at 75% favorability—victory in sight.

According to He Xitong, Meng Tingmo was still waiting downstairs. Yun Ruo slipped around the building’s entrance, umbrella practically hiding her whole body.

What madness was Meng Tingmo on about?

Once inside, she checked her phone: 12 missed calls, all from him.

He’d called up until 9, but stopped once it started raining. Yet he hadn’t left.

Standing by the window, He Xitong pointed down: “President Meng is dead set on camping out there tonight.”

Yun Ruo bit back her irritation. “Does he think this is a TV drama?”

The hero begging forgiveness in the rain, refusing an umbrella so the heroine would feel sorry for him…

Too bad she’d already stepped down from that heroine role.

She texted Meng Tingmo:
Don’t wait. There’s nothing to talk about. And don’t expect me to feel sorry for you. My resolve to leave you is as firm as my resolve once was to pursue you.

Not only stabbing him, but twisting the knife.
Reading her words, Meng Tingmo felt nothing but bitterness.

He’d been hit again and again: the birthday cake, the business trip, and now today’s rumor. Each one hammered home the same truth—Yun Ruo and Han Qi were growing closer.

At this rate, he and Yun Ruo had no future.

But he had sworn he’d win her back.

“Then let me chase you. My determination to pursue you is as firm as yours once was.”

Yun Ruo saw the message and immediately tossed her phone aside.

Fine. Let’s see who’s harder-hearted.

It was late summer. The rain poured fiercely. Yun Ruo shut her windows, washed up, and went to bed without sparing a glance downstairs.

The next morning, her alarm rang at 6:30.

Ever since becoming Han Qi’s life assistant, she’d kicked her phone habit. If she played on her phone, she’d lose sleep. Without sleep, she’d collapse sooner or later.

Han Qi must sleep even less than her. How was he still so healthy?

Grumbling in her heart, she dressed and put on makeup quickly. At 7 a.m. sharp, she stepped out, running into He Xitong who was just returning from a jog.

“He’s gone. Guess you were right—when it rains, he knew enough to go home.”

Yun Ruo let out a breath of relief. She’d honestly been afraid he’d camp out all night.

At 7:30 she arrived at Han Qi’s place. After breakfast, they headed to the office by 8. Han Qi had two meetings that morning, and Yun Ruo had all the materials prepared.

She was so busy she didn’t even get a sip of water. Only after lunch did she finally check her phone.

Three messages from He Xitong at 10 a.m.:

“Oh my god, Meng Tingmo really did stay all night. Left only after 5 a.m.”
“He’s in the hospital now. Apparently collapsed.”
“Seems pretty serious. Ah Ruo, are you going to see him?”

Hospital. Coma.

Yun Ruo’s heart skipped a beat.

Half a year wasn’t enough to erase eight years of feelings. Her first instinct on seeing the news was genuine worry.

She hated Meng Tingmo, but she didn’t want him dead.

Then she thought—if she didn’t go see him, maybe this time things could end completely.

She sighed, closed her eyes.

When she opened them, Han Qi was standing right in front of her. He must have heard the news too.

Seeing her open her eyes, he asked gently:
“Worried about Meng Tingmo?”

“If you want to go, I’ll give you the afternoon off.”

As for him, he wouldn’t go. Too risky—Meng Tingmo might literally be angered to death.

Yun Ruo shook her head. “I’m not going.”

“Of course. An assistant has to stick with her boss.”

Han Qi didn’t respond. He just looked at her for a long moment, then reached out to pat her head.

Yun Ruo: …

She glanced around. Assistant Liu was typing furiously, hopefully not live-blogging the boss’s private gossip.

The afternoon was filled with more meetings, but Yun Ruo’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. All of Meng Tingmo’s friends were calling her.

Feng You pleaded: “Sister-in-law—no, Yun Ruo—please, come see him. He just woke up, still burning with fever, and already wants to start working.”

Yun Ruo thought: If he’s got the strength to work, he’s fine.
“I’m working too. Can’t come.”

Another friend: “He passed out again! Little Han is crying his eyes out. Yun Ruo, please just come.”

Yun Ruo: The hell.

Another friend: “You’re really this heartless? He’s like this because of you!”

Yun Ruo: “And when he divorced me, left me alone in the hospital to give birth—where were you then?”

“I did speak up for you!”

“And then?”

“He didn’t listen—what could I do?”

“Exactly. And now I’m not listening either.”

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