Mengmeng-jie, I Miss You

The Su family's old mansion had been built seventy years ago by Old Madam Su at great expense.

They said the estate covered more than two hundred hectares. Every brick and tile had been laid in an antique style; even the great vats in the outer courtyard, used for growing water lilies, were antiques of unknown age.

This old mansion, steeped in artistry, clearly had nothing in common with modern luxury homes. Even now, few across all Jing City had the means to build such a residence.

Old Madam Su had only one precious granddaughter, Su Yutang, and doted on her like the apple of her eye.

Two years ago, Old Madam Su fell gravely ill. After she recovered, she seemed to suddenly have an epiphany and spent a fortune renovating a temple on the outskirts of Jing City.

Once the temple was completed, she stayed there, devoted to Buddhist practice, and never concerned herself with worldly matters again.

Old Madam Su had been overly indulgent with Su Yutang, and Su Yutang's mother, Su Yurong, had been unable to control her. During the years Old Madam Su still lived in the old mansion, Su Yutang was in her rebellious phase, and she grew even more unrestrained.

Now that the old madam had left, Su Yurong could finally exercise her maternal authority and properly discipline her rebellious daughter.

Except that over the years, Old Madam Su had given Su Yutang too much power. Though still young, Su Yutang was already a giant in Jing City's emerging production industries. If other heirs her age pulled half the stunts she did, their black cards would have been frozen and they'd have been locked up in confinement long ago.

Though Madam Su bore the title of mother, the most she could do was restrict Su Yutang's freedom—and Su Yutang was not afraid of such threats at all.

The moment Yun Huaizhu stepped through the old mansion's gates, a suffocating sensation settled over her.

Just as she entered the inner courtyard, someone dressed impeccably—clearly a steward—bowed to her. “Hello, Miss Yun. My name is Ji Quanying. I am Madam's personal steward. Madam is waiting for you in the tea room. Please follow me.”

Yun Huaizhu gave a slight nod and walked with heavy steps toward the courtyard—as luxurious and suffocating as thousand-year-old sandalwood.

The Yun family truly had only one breath left. If Su Yutang kept targeting her like this, the Yun family would not survive past this year before going bankrupt. Since Su Yutang already regarded her as an enemy, she could not go begging that person for a shred of protection.

After all, even if she knelt and begged Su Yutang, Su Yutang would not give her a kind look.

Better to work directly from Su Yurong's side; after all, Su Yurong had been quite displeased with her rebellious daughter lately.

All the furniture in the tea room was made of small-leaf red sandalwood. The moment Yun Huaizhu entered, she caught a faint yet lingering scent of agarwood.

A woman in a black qipao, her hair pinned up neatly with a jadeite hairpin, was rinsing tea as she waited.

The woman was impeccably maintained, not a single wrinkle on her face. Whatever her actual age, her complexion made her look barely over thirty.

From that first encounter alone, Yun Huaizhu could sense a worldly, elegant bearing about her. She carefully sat down across from the woman.

The woman unhurriedly poured the steeped tea into a Ru kiln cup, then gently pushed it to the center of the tea table. She did not raise her head to look at Yun Huaizhu, but continued brewing her own cup.

Seeing this, Yun Huaizhu sat still across from her for a moment. Then, as if taking the hint, she reached for the cup Su Yurong had poured for her. She took a small sip, then raised her head with a smile. “Madam, is this Pre-Qingming Longjing? It must be newly picked tea.”

Only then did Su Yurong slowly raise her head to look at the woman seated across from her—a woman who looked as young and fresh as a flower just blooming at dawn. “I didn't expect Miss Yun to know something about tea.”

Yun Huaizhu set the cup down on the table. “My mother used to love tea. I used to sit beside her and watch, so I only know a little.”

Su Yurong sighed softly. “I heard Yutang has done some very excessive things to you recently. She's been like this since she was little—fierce-tempered toward everyone and everything. It's my fault for not disciplining her properly.”

At that, Yun Huaizhu internally rolled her eyes so hard they nearly flew out of her head.

Su Yutang turning out the way she had today certainly had everything to do with Su Yurong.

Su Yurong's current act—belittling Su Yutang outwardly while praising her inwardly—was a warning: don't do anything unnecessary. No matter how excessive Su Yutang's actions, she was still the Su family heir, and the Su family had the means to clean up everything for her.

Yun Huaizhu suppressed the fury in her heart and put on her most innocent smile. “Madam jests. Yutang is... very good. She hasn't done anything excessive to me. I know her temper is poor, so sometimes, when I'm by her side, I try to counsel her.”

A trace of a smile finally appeared on Su Yurong's face—mockery, almost. “That child Yutang... I spoiled her rotten since she was little. Ah... she truly breaks my heart. She doesn't even listen to me anymore; how would she listen to you? You're a good child, putting up with so much by her side. If she's done anything to wrong you, just tell me—I'll do my best to make it up to you.”

With a few light words, she swept away all of Su Yutang's misdeeds.

Looking into Su Yurong's eyes—so identical to Su Yutang's—Yun Huaizhu truly wanted to tear them apart. But she had come here today to humble herself. What Su Yutang wouldn't give her, she would get from Madam Su.

Hearing Su Yurong's words, Yun Huaizhu lowered her head as if in thought. A moment later, as if she had made a decision, she looked at Su Yurong. “Madam, please have everyone else leave this tea room. I have something very important to tell you alone.”

Seeing her solemn expression, Su Yurong let out a light laugh, then called Steward Ji in from outside. “Take everyone outside and leave this place.”

At that, Steward Ji's impassive, machine-like face showed a hint of hesitation. “But, Madam...”

Su Yurong looked at Yun Huaizhu with a kindly expression. “It's fine. I trust that the clever Miss Yun won't do anything to me on Su family territory.”

At that, Steward Ji quickly assented. “Yes, Madam. I'll see to it at once.”

About two minutes after Ji Quanying left, Su Yurong finally looked at Yun Huaizhu the way one might look at a plaything. “Very well, Miss Yun. Now that everyone else has left, you may speak plainly.”

At that, Yun Huaizhu wore a hesitant expression, as if struggling internally for a long time before finally lifting her head with resolve to look at Su Yurong.

In that instant, a rich evening jade-orchid pheromone intertwined with the tea and agarwood scents in the room, forming a strange fragrance—bitter, yet sweet with floral notes.

Su Yurong, who had been sizing Yun Huaizhu up like a plaything just moments ago, instantly lost her composure. Her pupils contracted in shock; she didn't even notice the tea overflowing beside her hand.

Su Yurong immediately pulled the brocade handkerchief pinned at her collar over her nose and mouth, while Yun Huaizhu withdrew her pheromones the very next moment.

Though it was only a tiny amount, she had never encountered an omega pheromone of such intensity in her entire life. She had only ever met three S-rank alphas—one of them her own daughter.

When Su Yutang had differentiated, she could emit high-tier pheromones powerful enough to suppress all alphas. And now this woman before her, emitting such powerful pheromones, could actually rival the Su Yutang of back then. Su Yutang had been tested as an S-rank alpha—which meant the woman sitting before her was an S-rank omega!

Seeing the panicked expression on Su Yurong's face, Yun Huaizhu's lips curved in a fleeting smile.

This time, she had gambled correctly.

She had long known that Su Yurong had been searching for a suitable match for Su Yutang all these years. But to marry into the Su family required not only comparable family standing, but also an omega of A-rank or above.

Such individuals could practically be counted on one hand in Jing City. Su Yurong had searched through every prestigious family with business ties to the Su family across the entire country.

But who knew what madness possessed Su Yutang day in and day out—she tore up every matchmaking invitation Su Yurong sent her.

That lunatic loved toying with people, yet she didn't like omegas at all. Madam Su was completely out of options.

Yun Huaizhu knew that with her declining family, she could not contend with the Su family. So she might as well seek cooperation with Madam Su directly.

As long as she revealed her identity as an S-rank omega to Su Yurong, Su Yurong would spare no effort to push her toward Su Yutang, and would even order Su Yutang to stop targeting the Yun family.

Su Yurong took a long while to recover after smelling Yun Huaizhu's pheromones. The expression on her face shifted from earlier mockery to seriousness. “You came to me specifically to reveal your identity—what exactly do you want?”

Seeing her adopt a proper negotiating attitude, Yun Huaizhu got straight to the point. “I want Madam to help me recover the Yun family's scattered shares and inject capital into the Yun family's new energy industries.”

Hearing this, Su Yurong's brows knitted tightly. “I have no objection to injecting capital. But I recall that after your mother passed, you inherited her fifty-one percent of the shares. You are now the Yun family's largest shareholder—so why do you need to recover scattered shares?”

The Yun family's stock had been declining for years; those shares were worth next to nothing anyway.

Yun Huaizhu narrowed her eyes into a gentle smile. “Because there are far too many parasites in my family. When my mother was alive, they only knew how to leech off her. Now that she's gone, they want to wave a feather around like a warrant, trying to threaten me with the tiny bit of power in their hands. I absolutely will not allow my mother's life's work to be divided up by a nest of parasites. So even if my mother's legacy ends up worthless, I will take it all back.”

Hearing this impassioned speech, Su Yurong couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. “What a filial child. If only Yutang were half as good as you, I wouldn't have to worry so much. But you should know that asking the Su family for something requires paying a corresponding price.”

Yun Huaizhu looked at her with utmost seriousness. “Naturally. So my sincerity is the identity I just revealed to you. I am willing to be Su Yutang's secret mistress, hidden from the world, until I bear you an excellent heir. By then you can find a suitable heiress for a marriage alliance and also have a powerful successor; I will get what I want as well. Wouldn't that be mutually beneficial?”

At that, Su Yurong smiled with satisfaction.

When Yun Huaizhu first stated her conditions, Su Yurong had been internally uneasy. Too many people wanted to climb into Su Yutang's bed and become Madam Su. Though Yun Huaizhu was a high-rank omega, her family background truly did not match the Su family's. If she had asked to marry Su Yutang, Su Yurong would have had to seriously consider it.

Su Yurong smiled at Yun Huaizhu. “You know how to read the room.”

Yun Huaizhu smiled in return. “Everything in this world has a price from the very beginning. A person's value lies in self-awareness. What isn't mine, I won't take; but what is mine, I will find a way to seize back.”

At that, a trace of appreciation entered Su Yurong's eyes. Honestly, Yun Huaizhu was reasonably good-looking on closer inspection, and her bearing was comparable to Su Yurong's own in her youth. If Yun Huaizhu's family background were a little better, perhaps she would have truly agreed to let her be with Su Yutang.

Su Yurong rose and looked at Yun Huaizhu. “I'm tired today; you may go back first. I'll have the steward deliver a contract to your residence shortly.”

Yun Huaizhu also stood. “Yes... thank you, Madam. But there is one more thing I'd like to ask of you.”

Su Yurong paused. “What else?”

Yun Huaizhu continued, “I've heard that Yutang has some unpleasant memories involving an omega, which is why she despises omegas now. So I hope you will keep my being an omega a secret for the time being. Once our relationship improves a bit, I'd like to tell her myself.”

When Yun Huaizhu mentioned that omega, Su Yurong's expression darkened for a moment. “Fine.”

...

Ever since word spread through the company about staff optimization, Lin Meng had been working in constant anxiety. She was more careful than ever—checking every document multiple times before uploading it. She was terrified that one careless move would get her cut.

Beyond that, Lin Meng was counting down the days. When would the plot point arrive where Su Yutang and Yun Huaizhu's first misunderstanding led them to bed?

By her current reckoning, only a week remained, but there was no guarantee nothing would change within that week.

She had to go to work every day now and couldn't keep an eye on Su Yutang at all times. If Su Yutang did something while she wasn't watching—something beyond even a crematorium-level redemption—what then?

Lin Meng's proposal went through several forced revisions. Finally, through her unrelenting efforts, the client agreed to adopt it. Now that the company had just completed the handover with the client, she had little on her plate and was quite free.

Lin Meng stretched lazily, then took her cup, tucked her phone into her pocket, and headed to the break room to slack off.

As luck would have it, the moment she arrived, a message from Yun Huaizhu popped up: [Mengmeng-jie, are you free tonight? I miss you.]

The message was followed by a pitiful crying cat sticker.

Lin Meng quickly set her cup on the counter: [emmm... I don't know yet if I have to work overtime today. If I get off on time, I'll let you know.]

Yun Huaizhu: [QAQ, what kind of awful company exploits people like this. If Mengmeng-jie isn't free today, then you must be free on Saturday and Sunday, right? Can I come pick you up at your office Friday night? I've prepared your favorite food at home.]

Image [please please].

But tomorrow was Friday...

Seeing the string of messages from Yun Huaizhu, Lin Meng ultimately couldn't bear to refuse: [Alright, I'll message you then.]

Yun Huaizhu quickly sent another obedient cat sticker: [Yay!]

[But I really miss you so much. I want to see you right now. After you get off work, can we video call?]

Lin Meng thought about it. Her hand unconsciously pressed the hot water button—just for an instant, but the water still splashed onto the back of her hand.

A stinging, itchy pain exploded across her hand. Lin Meng quickly covered it and ran to the restroom to rinse it under cold water. After rinsing, her hand felt a little better but still hurt.

She frowned pitifully, then remembered she needed to reply to Yun Huaizhu. But Yun Huaizhu, having seen no response for a long time, had already sent several more messages.

[Mengmeng-jie, are you still busy?]

[Alright then, I'll wait until you're done and come chat with you.]

[Love you.]

Only after seeing the conversation end there did Lin Meng breathe a sigh of relief. Ever since her hand got scalded, she had lost all desire to slack off.

Lin Meng looked at her gradually reddening hand and heaved a deep sigh, then turned and headed back toward her office.

Yun Huaizhu stared at the message thread where Lin Meng had stopped replying, sinking into deep gloom.

Today she had sparred with that old fox Su Yurong for so long, even disgustingly and affectionately calling Su Yutang's name... She admired herself for managing not to vomit on the spot.

She really, really wanted to see Lin Meng. She wanted to watch Lin Meng through the phone screen, then coax her into stripping off all her clothes...

Yun Huaizhu didn't know why, but when she thought of this, a strange excitement surfaced on her gloomy face.

...

The moment Lin Meng returned, the colleague across from her said, “Lin Meng, Team Leader Liu came looking for you earlier. I told her you went to the restroom. She said to come to her office as soon as you got back—she has something important to tell you.”

Hearing this, Lin Meng froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

Had this day finally come?

All Lin Meng could think about was being cut, being unemployed.

Right now she felt as if all strength had been drained from her body, her head buzzing. She didn't even know how she walked to Liu Yun's office door, but before she got there, it seemed several other people were in Liu Yun's office.

Lin Meng couldn't hear what they were saying; her mood was simply terrible.

She had clearly worked so hard, yet she still couldn't escape the fate of unemployment. Truly, life was unpredictable—to live was to be beaten down.

But she had signed a contract when she joined, and she had never made any major mistakes at work. If the company wanted to dismiss her, they would at least have to pay her N+1 compensation.

The company seemed nice to its employees on the surface, but if they played dumb about something like this, what then? She couldn't afford to drag out a lawsuit against the company.

As Lin Meng was thinking this, the people in Liu Yun's office came out, all wearing beaming smiles.

One of them nearly bumped into the despondent Lin Meng. She frowned with concern. “Lin Meng, what's wrong? You look awful—are you feeling unwell?”

Lin Meng lifted her somewhat pale face and managed a weak smile. “N-no... nothing.”

The person nodded. “That's good then. Sister Yun has been waiting for you inside for a while—go in quickly.”

Lin Meng wished she could just faint on the spot, but she still replied weakly, “Mm, okay.”

Either way, whether she stretched her neck out or pulled it back, the blade would fall. Better to get it over with!

Lin Meng took a deep breath and pushed the door open as if facing death with equanimity.

When she reached Liu Yun's desk, Liu Yun seemed to be staring at her computer screen. Lin Meng said in a small, uncertain voice, “Team Leader... I heard you were looking for me. What is it?”

Liu Yun looked up at the sound, but when she saw Lin Meng's pale face, she nearly jumped. “Are you sick? Why do you look so terrible?”

So her doomed expression was that obvious?

Lin Meng raised her head and deflected, “No, no. I probably just didn't rest well last night.”

Ah... once she got laid off, she could rest all she wanted.

Liu Yun still looked at her with some suspicion. “Really?”

Lin Meng nodded quickly. “Mm, really.”

Seeing this, Liu Yun didn't press further. She continued, “I might not be here next month; there are some things I need to hand over to you.”

Huh? What?

Was even Liu Yun getting cut?

Lin Meng hadn't expected the company to be in such dire straits.

Well, if the company was going under anyway, letting employees go now was for their own good. At least this company was better than those shameless capitalists who withheld wages.

Lin Meng nodded while pricking up her ears. “Mm, please go on.”

Liu Yun said, “Next month I'll be promoted to deputy director and transferred out of here. I've already handed over my work to Lu Ping; she'll be your new team leader from now on.”

Lin Meng: “?”

Liu Yun continued, “Also, the client was very satisfied with the proposal you made this time. Our collaborative sales rose five percent compared to last quarter. Your bonus this time will be deposited into your card along with this month's salary. And our planning team is a bit large, so the company has decided to make you deputy team leader. But don't worry—your work will be no different from before. If you have any questions, just ask Lu Ping.”

Lin Meng: “???”

Lin Meng felt as if she'd been struck senseless by sudden happiness. Her feet felt light, but she still forced herself to stay calm. “So Team Leader, you called me here not to cut me, but to tell me all this?”

Hearing this, Liu Yun was stunned for a moment, then covered her mouth and burst out laughing. “Hahaha... Mengmeng, you're too cute. If the company really wanted to cut you, they'd call you to HR. Don't sell yourself short—your work ability is truly excellent.”

Only after hearing Liu Yun's words did Lin Meng finally put her heart back where it belonged. She lowered her head, somewhat embarrassed, and asked shyly, “Team Leader, can I ask how much my bonus is this time?”

Liu Yun held up two fingers. Lin Meng's eyes widened in delight. “Two thousand?”

Hearing this, Liu Yun smiled helplessly again. “Silly girl, if your bonus were only two thousand, our company might as well close down.”

Lin Meng felt her heart start pounding with excitement. “Then it's...”

“Twenty thousand.”

Lin Meng could no longer hide the smile on her face. She wanted to run out and bang her head against a wall to confirm she wasn't dreaming.

Seeing her expression, Liu Yun smiled. “The others in your team also got bonuses, but you contributed the most, so it's only right you get this much.”

Lin Meng was no longer listening to what Liu Yun was saying at all; she just kept nodding and saying yes.

After finishing, Liu Yun nodded. “Alright, it's almost time to get off work. You can go back now.”

Lin Meng nodded with a dazed grin. “Mm, okay.”

Just as she turned to leave, Liu Yun seemed to remember something and suddenly called her back. “Oh, and one more thing...”

Lin Meng quickly turned around. “Yes? Is there something else?”

Liu Yun paused, then looked at the black-framed glasses Lin Meng was wearing and voiced the question in her mind. “A few days ago I saw you take off your glasses. Why are you wearing them again today?”

Lin Meng reached up and pushed the glasses up. “Mm... I still think these are more convenient.”

Liu Yun actually wanted to say that Lin Meng without glasses looked like a sealed beauty finally unbound. But when she saw how cute Lin Meng still looked in black-framed glasses, the words reached her lips and she swallowed them back.

“Nothing. Go on back.”

“Mm, goodbye, Team Leader!”

After saying this, Lin Meng practically skipped out like a little bird.

...

The greatest surprise in life is nothing other than—never expecting such good fortune to fall on your own head.

When Lin Meng got off work, her steps were lighter than usual. She began planning in her head what to do with that hefty bonus.

But her good mood lasted only until the moment she left the company.

Because she saw an orange Maserati parked not far away—identical to the one she had seen in Su Yutang's garage not long ago.