When the Male Lead Finds Out I’m the Transmigrator Trying to Win Him Over - Chapter 39

Meng Tingmo had been hospitalized for three days, and Yun Ruo truly hadn’t visited him even once.

The social circle was full of gossip, everyone saying Yun Ruo was really heartless. No matter what, Meng Tingmo had once been her husband; now that his life hung in the balance, she still refused to see him even once. Wasn’t that too cold-blooded?

“Putting the past aside, hasn’t Yun Ruo gone too far this time?”

That made He Xitong so angry she nearly exploded. “What do you mean ‘putting the past aside’? That’s exactly what can’t be put aside!”

If it weren’t for the system’s help, Yun Ruo might have died on the operating table the night she gave birth. How could these people be crying for Meng Tingmo now, like a bunch of idiots.

“What the hell, someone even posted it online?” He Xitong frowned, scrolling through the trending topics.

Yun Ruo was slipping on her shoes to head out. She was annoyed by all the gossip too, but just like He Xitong said—who in this circle hasn’t been gossiped about? If she really got upset every time, it wouldn’t be her turn.

Her mindset had already been hardened during those five years of chasing Meng Tingmo.

“All this talk is just trying to force me to see him.” She reassured He Xitong. She refused to go.

Meng Tingmo had only given himself pneumonia; compared to what she had once suffered, this was nothing.

Still, about that trending topic… After dropping Han Qi off at his company, Yun Ruo finally had time to check online. She scrolled through the list of hot searches three times but didn’t see anything.

She searched for her own name, Meng Tingmo’s, and Meng Corporation’s—aside from the official account, there was no discussion about this incident.

“Did Xitong see it wrong?” Since she couldn’t find it, Yun Ruo let it go. Maybe Meng Corporation had pulled the trending topic.

Meng Tingmo had always hated being in the spotlight anyway.

At noon, the front desk called to say someone was waiting downstairs—“a distinguished lady.” Yun Ruo scratched her head.

What society lady could she possibly know well? Just a handful, really.

She took the elevator down, and when she reached the lobby, the receptionist pointed: “Over there, on that sofa.”

Yun Ruo looked over, and sure enough—it was Meng’s mother.

She knew there was no avoiding this now.

Meng’s mother had her own business empire. She was a powerful, commanding woman. The first time Yun Ruo met her, she had been full of admiration, thinking: If only I could be like Meng Tingmo’s mother—strong, determined, successful at everything. But alongside admiration was fear; her instinct told her such a woman would never approve of her.

…And indeed, Meng’s mother hadn’t.

Back then, Yun Ruo had already chased Meng Tingmo for three years. Not only Meng’s mother, even his friends had looked down on her.

It was only after marriage, living together, that Yun Ruo realized Meng’s mother was actually very gentle and protective toward family.

Though Yun Ruo came from an unimpressive background and often heard people sneer behind her back, every time Meng’s mother caught wind of it, she would immediately put those people in their place. After a while, no one dared gossip about Yun Ruo in public.

Even when Meng Tingmo and Jiang Yufei got back together, Meng’s mother had stood firmly on Yun Ruo’s side.

“Tingmo’s current situation is his own doing. I can’t excuse him,” Meng’s mother said, holding Yun Ruo’s hand. “I just ask you this once—go to the hospital, talk to him, persuade him to take care of himself.”

“Xiaohan is still young. The weight of the Meng family still rests on his shoulders.”

Her words carried both sorrow and pragmatism.

“This will be the only time I ask you. After this, I’ll never interfere in your affairs again.”

Yun Ruo sat quietly, listening. After a long moment, she nodded.

She remembered the kindness Meng’s parents had shown her. She might not get the chance to repay it later. If this was what Meng’s mother wanted, she was willing to agree.

After Meng’s mother left, Yun Ruo reluctantly went to Han Qi to ask for leave.

Just three days ago she had stubbornly declared she wouldn’t go. And now here she was asking for time off—truly a slap in the face.

The General Office was in chaos. She caught Liu Assistant, who had just come out of Han Qi’s office. “How’s his mood?”

Liu Assistant glanced nervously at the office door, then pulled Yun Ruo aside. “Not great. You missed it—Vice President Liu came in earlier and had a shouting match with him. Then he slammed down his resignation. Han Qi just told him to go straight to HR and process it.”

In truth, Vice President Liu had only wanted to posture.

“By now, the job posting is probably already up on the official site.”

Yun Ruo gasped. “It got that bad?”

Liu Assistant nodded furiously. “You’ve got something to do?”

“I… need leave.”

Smack. Liu Assistant patted her shoulder. “Good luck.”

Yun Ruo floated into Han Qi’s office.

“What is it?” Han Qi didn’t even look up, pen moving swiftly, his strokes heavy and decisive.

Yun Ruo hesitated for a few seconds. “Han Zong, I’d like to ask for two hours off.”

She had originally intended to take the whole afternoon, but the tense atmosphere made her only dare to ask for two hours.

This time Han Qi looked up.

He understood Yun Ruo well enough. The only thing that could make her ask for leave right now was—“To see Meng Tingmo?”

“Yes.”

Han Qi didn’t answer immediately. He leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on her.

Yun Ruo squirmed under his gaze, almost blurting that she wouldn’t go after all—but she had promised Meng’s mother. She held up her hand, thumb and forefinger making a small gap. “Just a little while. Two hours. It’s two o’clock now—I’ll be back by four.”

Finally, Han Qi moved. Rising from behind his desk, he closed the distance in just a few strides, his tall frame pressing down on her with quiet intensity, forcing Yun Ruo to retreat step by step.

“Han Zong, if it’s too busy this afternoon, I can go tonight… or tomorrow morning? Afternoon?”

“Ha-ha, why aren’t you saying anything?” His silence made her keep backing up.

Yun Ruo’s cheeks puffed up in indignation, then instinctively deflated again. She was soon backed against the end of the desk, any further retreat would push her against the wall—and that felt even more dangerous.

Perhaps realizing this couldn’t go on, Han Qi suddenly reached out, hooked her waist, and pulled her onto the desk.

“Han Zong!” Yun Ruo jumped in shock, the next moment finding herself perched on the desk.

His long legs trapped hers, one arm braced beside her, the other lifting her chin.

“Sorry, this might seem like something out of a TV drama. But—may I kiss you?”

Yun Ruo and Liu Assistant had often mocked the overbearing tactics of TV-drama CEOs, and Han Qi had overheard them more than once.

“I want to kiss you.” He repeated softly.

Yun Ruo’s breath caught, her whole body tensing. The last time they had kissed was at the resort.

She glanced at him—his presence overwhelming, but beneath the loosened collar there was also a dangerous allure.

Her lips parted, closed, then opened again. “Okay.”

You may kiss me.

The next second, Han Qi pressed his lips to hers. His hand tilted her chin higher, gently prying her lips apart for a deeper kiss.

With nothing behind her for support, she had to lean back, straining her waist. After a few minutes she couldn’t hold on anymore and wrapped her arms around his neck—finally, a little relief.

But Han Qi misread her action as desire for more.

The kiss grew fiercer, swallowing even the faintest sound. His arm circled her waist, pulling her flush against him.

Yun Ruo nearly thought she wouldn’t make it out of the office alive that afternoon.

At last, when he let go, she gasped for breath. His fingers brushed her swollen lips, then pressed lightly against the center again. Meeting his gaze, Yun Ruo shrank back nervously.

Her lips burned; she didn’t need a mirror to know they were swollen.

“I approve your leave,” Han Qi said, his tone laced with unspoken meaning. “Go just like this.”

It wasn’t until she left the office that Yun Ruo realized his intent.

He was sending her to Meng Tingmo looking freshly kissed—so Meng Tingmo would know he had no chance.

Han Qi truly wasn’t afraid of Meng Tingmo dragging himself out of bed to fight him.

With her two hours, Yun Ruo rushed to the hospital and happened to bump into Feng You. At first sight of her, Feng You slipped out of the room and closed the door, standing guard to ensure they wouldn’t be disturbed.

Yun Ruo felt awkward. With outsiders present, Meng Tingmo wouldn’t dare say cruel words. But alone, things were riskier…

“Ah Ruo.” The man on the bed called softly. He was gaunt from illness, lips pale.

Yun Ruo pulled over a chair. “I only have two hours’ leave. I need to get back soon. If you have something to say, say it quickly.”

Meng Tingmo gave a bitter smile. “Have we really come to this point?”

Yun Ruo didn’t reply. To her, it was meaningless.

“Ah Ruo, come back.” Meng Tingmo suddenly said. That night waiting downstairs at her apartment, he had realized something: if Yun Ruo didn’t turn back, there was nothing he could do.

What use were status and power? Yun Ruo could leave this world—and he could never hold her back.

“As long as you come back, I don’t care about Han Qi.”

He had mulled over it for days. Finally, he could say it out loud: “Even if you must complete Han Qi’s task… I can overlook it.”

At first Yun Ruo listened blankly, but at his last words, her eyes widened in shock.

“Are you insane?”

Meng Tingmo stared at her stubbornly. He wasn’t insane. “I mean it.”

Yun Ruo shot to her feet.

“You’re saying that even if I hug, kiss, even sleep with Han Qi—as long as I return to you, you don’t mind?”

Beneath the blanket, Meng Tingmo’s hand clenched tight. But he nodded.

“Ha.” Yun Ruo laughed bitterly. “What is this, some reversed harem novel? You really are mad.”

“And if it’s not just Han Qi? After him, another man’s task comes along. Would you keep watching me chase man after man?”

She didn’t believe it.

Meng Tingmo would never allow such a thing.

“It’s nothing but a temporary compromise, Meng Tingmo.”

He wanted to deny it—he truly thought he could accept it—but under her piercing gaze, the words died in his throat.

She was right. He might persuade himself to accept Han Qi, but not one man after another.

“I love you, Ah Ruo,” was all he could say. “As long as you come back, I’ll do anything.”

Yun Ruo shook her head.

“I told you—don’t waste breath on meaningless words. Once I decide something, I never change my mind.”

“Instead of focusing on me, think more about Feihan. He relies on you the most… Unless you want to hand him over to me?”

Her tone carried deliberate threat, making him believe she really could take Meng Feihan away. And Meng Feihan was his only child. Moreover—though it sounded conceited—Meng Feihan was proof that Yun Ruo had once loved him. There was no way Meng Tingmo would give him up.

“You want custody of Xiaohan?” Sure enough, his voice trembled with urgency.

“If you can’t care for him, then let me.” Yun Ruo felt she had said all she needed. She walked to the door, but before opening it, she hesitated. “Meng Tingmo…”

“Take care of yourself. I won’t come again. At least… don’t ruin the last few good memories I still have of you.”

She opened the door. This time, she never looked back.

Support