When the Male Lead Finds Out I’m the Transmigrator Trying to Win Him Over - Chapter 4

Yun Ruo carried the freshly brewed tea to Yun Jia, then took a cup of plain water for herself and sat on the sofa. It was just the start of October, the weather hadn’t cooled down yet, and she was only wearing a long-sleeved dress.

Yun Jia was teasing the goldfish in the tank. He was two years younger than Yun Ruo and currently in graduate school. He had deliberately set aside the weekend to visit her.

“How’s brother-in-law now? No health problems, right?” He had only learned later about Meng Tingmo’s car accident. He had wanted to visit the hospital but was tied up by his project and couldn’t get away. Since Yun Ruo had said it wasn’t serious, he felt reassured.

“Mhm, he’s fine now.” Yun Ruo took a sip of water, looking a little unnatural.

“Isn’t it the weekend? Why isn’t he home with you?” Yun Jia left the fish and came back to sit. In the past, whenever he visited Yun Ruo on weekends, Meng Tingmo was usually around.

The young couple would take turns showing off their affection in front of him, stuffing him full of “dog food” until he couldn’t take any more.

Yun Ruo’s hand froze mid-drink. The next second, she put her cup down as if nothing had happened. “Work’s been busy at the company lately.”

She didn’t dare say that Meng Tingmo hadn’t been home for days. She had sent him countless messages, but his replies were always “busy”—if he replied at all.

There wasn’t even a chance to talk to him face-to-face.

Yun Jia was under heavy academic pressure himself. He had lost weight from his project and was shedding hair in clumps. Yun Ruo didn’t want to add to his worries.

“Then you should hang out with Sister Xitong. You can’t just stay cooped up at home all day. Get some sun.” Yun Jia suggested. He would have liked to keep her company himself, but he didn’t have much free time.

At the mention of He Xitong, Yun Ruo’s expression turned even more awkward.

If it were only Meng Tingmo acting strange, she could have managed. But she hadn’t expected even He Xitong to start behaving oddly.

She had tried to arrange outings with He Xitong these past two days, but at first, He Xitong said she was busy, and later, she simply stopped replying altogether—just like Meng Tingmo.

Yun Ruo had gone over it in her head a thousand times but couldn’t figure out the reason.

Yun Jia didn’t notice her abnormal mood. Smiling warmly, he looked at her belly. “I wonder if it’ll be a boy or a girl. Either way, it’s great—we’ll have another family member.”

There was nostalgia in his voice. Since their parents had passed away, their relatives had grown distant. The only person he truly cared about, and who cared for him, was his big sister Yun Ruo.

Hearing this made Yun Ruo feel a pang of sorrow.

When she had first opened her eyes in the ICU, the first face she saw was Yun Jia’s. He had been crying like a child. Later, when visitation was allowed, he had told her how glad he was that she had survived.

“If I lost you too, then I’d really be all alone… Thank you for holding on.”

Looking at his bloodshot eyes, Yun Ruo hadn’t had the heart to tell him the truth: that his real sister hadn’t made it. The car accident had been too severe; their parents and his sister had all died.

Since she was now living in Yun Ruo’s body, she felt it was her responsibility to take care of Yun Jia. Her decision to stay wasn’t only for Meng Tingmo’s sake but also for Yun Jia’s.

If she went back to her original world, Meng Tingmo would lose his girlfriend, Yun Jia would lose his last family member…

And then there was Xitong. Xitong would surely be devastated. In her original world, she had never had a friend who was so deeply bonded with her.

Yun Jia didn’t stay long before heading back to school. After the housekeeper tidied the living room, she hesitated before asking how many people Yun Ruo wanted lunch prepared for.

“Just the two of us,” Yun Ruo replied, glancing at her phone. Still no messages from either Meng Tingmo or He Xitong.

That evening, there would be a family dinner at the Meng family’s old residence. Mother Meng had invited them both. Yun Ruo still hadn’t told her about her and Meng Tingmo’s situation.

What could she say, when she didn’t even know the reason herself?

She texted Meng Tingmo: “Mom asked us to go back for dinner tonight. Are you coming with me?”

No reply.

Yun Ruo put her phone away, figuring she’d probably have to go alone.

At the company, inside the president’s office.

Meng Tingmo stared at the computer screen without blinking. Even when new messages came in on his phone, he ignored them. The assistant reporting beside him sighed quietly.

In the past, the president would check his phone immediately, afraid of missing a message from Yun Ruo.

Now… he hadn’t been home in two days.

“Finished?”

The sudden question made the assistant jolt, quickly nodding. “Yes. Also, President Lin is here to visit—he’s waiting outside.”

Meng Tingmo said nothing at first, still staring at the screen. After a few seconds, he finally stood. “Take him to the meeting room.”

His phone lay forgotten on the desk.

The assistant glanced at it once before hurrying after him.

When they returned two hours later, Meng Tingmo sat back in his chair and casually opened his phone. A message from Yun Ruo popped up. He gave it a glance, then closed the chat window.

No intention of replying.

At six o’clock, he left work.

“President Meng, you’re leaving already?” the assistant asked in surprise. “Don’t you have dinner with President Lin?”

“Cancel it,” Meng Tingmo said, grabbing his coat. “I’m going back to the old residence for dinner.”

The assistant complied, relieved that Meng Tingmo was finally going home. It had been nerve-wracking with him staying at the office day and night.

—

At five o’clock, Yun Ruo arrived at the old residence. She couldn’t possibly show up right at dinner time. Meng Tingmo’s uncles and aunts would all be there; she didn’t want them to think she was putting on airs.

His aunt, Meng Wei, was a thoughtful woman. As soon as she saw Yun Ruo, she pulled her aside to chat about pregnancy and even gave her many gifts.

Yun Ruo’s background wasn’t particularly distinguished, but after three years of marriage and with a baby on the way, the Meng family wasn’t the kind to be harsh.

“No matter what, your health comes first. If there’s ever anything wrong, you must speak up,” Meng Wei told her, patting her shoulder. “This child is cherished because of you, not just for its own sake.”

She didn’t want Yun Ruo to feel that the family’s kindness was only for the baby.

Yun Ruo smiled and shook her head. “I know.”

Meng Tingmo had said the same thing before—that in his heart, she always came first.

Thinking of this made her smile falter. Then Meng Wei asked, “Didn’t Tingmo come with you?”

Feigning nonchalance, Yun Ruo leaned on the railing and looked off into the distance. “The company’s been busy lately.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to tell the truth. There simply wasn’t anything to say—she didn’t even know the source of their conflict.

As an experienced woman, Meng Wei naturally sensed Yun Ruo’s evasiveness. “Did you two fight?”

“…” Yun Ruo searched for words.

Before Meng Wei could press further, a car pulled up in the distance. It was Meng Tingmo.

“This boy, at least he knows to come home,” Meng Wei muttered.

Yun Ruo, however, was stunned. She hadn’t received any reply from him and had thought he wouldn’t come.

Dinner began. As the younger generation, Yun Ruo and Meng Tingmo sat in the back row.

Among the Meng juniors, only Tingmo was present. He was the eldest; the rest were still in school. Naturally, the conversation centered around him.

Sitting by his side, Yun Ruo realized that even though he had come, he hadn’t said a single word to her. Right now, the presence of elders kept things from looking too obvious, but soon enough, people might notice something was wrong.

She sneaked a glance at him. He was as tall and striking as ever, an undeniable presence. His left hand rested lightly on his wineglass as he spoke eloquently with Father Meng, confident and composed.

She hadn’t heard his voice in days.

His voice was deep and rich, carrying the mature charm of a man. Whenever he spoke close to her, he would soften it deliberately.

Yun Ruo quickly looked away, not wanting to seem like some love-struck fool—as if she might never see him or hear him again.

Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to calm down. No, things would be resolved.

“Tingmo, don’t just eat by yourself. Take care of your wife too,” Aunt Meng Wei called out, gesturing at Yun Ruo. “She’s heavily pregnant now, it’s inconvenient for her.”

Her words were half-joking, half a reminder.

Whatever was going on between them, they couldn’t disregard Yun Ruo’s health.

Meng Tingmo’s fingers tightened slightly. For the first time since returning, he looked straight at Yun Ruo.

She seemed more haggard than before, less meticulous about herself. A strand of hair had slipped loose behind her ear. His hand instinctively moved to tuck it back…

But he stopped halfway and instead picked up the serving chopsticks to place some food on her plate.

“Thank you,” Yun Ruo murmured.

He grunted softly, then looked away again.

Meng Wei exchanged a glance with Mother Meng.

After dinner, the elders began to disperse. When it was Tingmo’s turn to leave, Mother Meng stopped him. “You’ve been drinking—you can’t drive. And it’s late. Abu’s body can’t handle the strain. You two should stay here tonight and go home in the morning.”

The old residence had a room prepared for them, as they had often stayed before.

Meng Tingmo could guess what his mother was implying, and it irritated him, but he couldn’t explain the real situation.

In the end, he agreed—otherwise, there would only be an argument.

Now it was Yun Ruo who grew nervous.

She had been waiting for a chance to talk to him, but he hadn’t been home. Now, finally, the opportunity was here.

But he clearly wasn’t cooperative.

As soon as they entered the room, before she could speak, he pointed at the bathroom. “You first, or me?”

Her mouth opened, then closed. Already heading to wash up? Feeling a bit defeated, she said, “I’ll go first.”

She was afraid that if he went first, he’d come out and say he was going to sleep.

But before going in, she turned back to look at him sitting on the sofa. “I’m going in.”

“Mm,” he responded without looking up.

Biting her lip, she remembered how he used to insist on joining her in the bathroom, afraid she might slip or bump into something. At first, she had been embarrassed and refused, but he had pestered her until she gave in.

Now he let her go in alone. Did he not care about her anymore?

Shaking her head, Yun Ruo tapped her temples. She had always been pessimistic because of her childhood, always expecting the worst. Chasing after Meng Tingmo had been the only bold and determined thing she’d ever done.

Maybe there was just some problem now.

But it didn’t matter. Looking into the mirror, she told herself firmly: It’s fine. She could be brave a second time. She had to resolve this.

The sound of running water filled the bathroom. Outside, Meng Tingmo’s eyes lingered on the door, his expression unreadable.

Half an hour later, Yun Ruo came out. He was still on the sofa in the same position, only now with a laptop on his lap, working relentlessly.

She hesitated, then walked over. “I want to talk to you.”

Without looking up, he said, “I’m busy.”

So she simply closed his laptop shut. “Not busy anymore.”

Her stubborn act made a fleeting smile tug at his lips. Years ago, Yun Ruo had been cautious and timid. After their marriage, she had changed. He had told her she could do anything she wanted, no matter the consequences—because he would always be there to back her up.

He had spoiled her into this.

That smile vanished instantly.

A dull ache spread through his chest as he suddenly looked up, his eyes glacial. “What do you want to talk about?”

Intimidated by his gaze, Yun Ruo still forced herself to speak. “About your attitude these past few days. I don’t know what went wrong—you suddenly just stopped talking to me.”

“Before this, we were fine.”

“Heh, before,” he sneered, tossing the laptop aside and standing up. Once again, he towered over her, voice laced with mockery. “Since you brought up the past, I have a question too.”

“You once said you pursued me because you fell in love at first sight when we met at the start of college. That ‘love at first sight’ must’ve been pretty weighty, to keep you chasing me for five years no matter how much I pushed you away.”

“Doesn’t sound like love at first sight to me. Sounds more like you had something to gain.”

“What do you think?”

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