The next morning felt different.
The small apartment was unusually quiet.
Mengmeng sat on the couch, reading through some business reports on her laptop. But her mind wasn't focused on the numbers.
It was focused on one thing.
Gu Feng.
Now that she knew his real identity, everything made sense.
His calm confidence.His sharp instincts.His intelligence in business.
He wasn't just a man running a small company.
He was the CEO of Gu Corporation.
Her biggest rival.
And worse—
A few months ago, Gu Corporation had taken one of her most important clients. A client she had spent years building trust with.
At that time she had been furious.
Now she knew who was behind it.
Mengmeng slowly closed the laptop.
Her expression turned colder.
Across the room, Feng was watching her quietly.
Something had changed.
Since yesterday, Mengmeng had been… different.
Before, she was soft.
Gentle.
Sweet.
Now she felt distant.
Colder.
Feng finally spoke.
"Mengmeng."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
"My grandmother wants to see you again."
Mengmeng raised an eyebrow.
"So soon?"
"She asked us to visit the family house tonight."
Mengmeng leaned back.
"The family house?"
Feng nodded.
"…The mansion."
Mengmeng stayed silent for a moment.
Then she stood up.
"Fine."
That evening…
A long black car stopped in front of the Gu family mansion.
The huge iron gates slowly opened.
Mengmeng stepped out of the car and looked at the place.
The mansion was enormous.
Large gardens.
Tall white pillars.
Golden lights glowing through the windows.
It looked like something out of a movie.
But Mengmeng's expression didn't change.
She had seen far bigger places before.
Even owned some.
Feng glanced at her.
"Too much?"
Mengmeng shrugged.
"It's nice."
Feng chuckled slightly
Inside the mansion, several people were already waiting.
Feng's parents.
His sister.
And his grandparents.
The moment they saw Mengmeng, Feng's grandmother smiled warmly.
"There you are."
Mengmeng bowed politely.
"Good evening."
Feng's sister rushed over immediately.
"I missed you!"
Mengmeng blinked in surprise.
"You did?"
"Of course! Life here is boring. Finally someone interesting came."
Feng sighed.
"You met her once."
"That was enough," the sister replied.
Everyone laughed.
The atmosphere quickly became warm and lively.
Dinner was prepared in the large dining hall.
The table was filled with expensive dishes.
Everyone talked and laughed.
Feng's father asked about Mengmeng's work.
His mother kept placing more food on her plate.
His sister kept telling embarrassing childhood stories about Feng.
"Did you know he cried when he lost a chess game at ten?"
Feng groaned.
"…Please stop."
Mengmeng almost smiled.
Almost.
But deep inside, the anger still lingered.
He stole my biggest client.
Every time she looked at him, that thought returned.
Later that night…
The servants prepared the guest rooms.
Feng walked beside Mengmeng down the hallway.
"There's something I should mention," he said carefully.
Mengmeng looked at him.
"What?"
"…There's only one room prepared."
She stopped walking.
"One room?"
Feng nodded awkwardly.
"My grandmother insisted."
Mengmeng stared at him.
"At the apartment we slept separately."
"I know."
"So why now?"
Feng scratched the back of his neck.
"It's the family house."
Mengmeng sighed quietly.
"…Fine."
Inside the large bedroom of the Gu mansion, the atmosphere felt strange.
Mengmeng stood near the window, looking outside at the enormous garden.
The mansion lights glowed softly in the night.
Behind her, Feng loosened his tie and sat on the edge of the bed.
He glanced at her.
"You've been quiet all evening."
Mengmeng didn't turn around.
"…I'm just tired."
Feng watched her for a moment.
Something about her felt different tonight.
Less gentle.
Less soft.
Almost… distant.
He sighed lightly.
"You don't need to feel uncomfortable here."
Mengmeng finally turned to face him.
"This place is huge."
Feng laughed softly.
"You'll get used to it."
She looked at him calmly.
"I doubt that."
Feng tilted his head.
"Why?"
Mengmeng answered carefully.
"Because people like me don't belong in places like this."
Feng frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm just a small employee in a company," she said quietly."And you're the CEO of one of the biggest corporations in the city."
Feng stood up and walked a little closer.
"That doesn't matter."
Mengmeng raised an eyebrow.
"Doesn't it?"
Feng shook his head.
"You're my wife."
The words sounded simple.
But something about them made the room quiet.
Mengmeng looked at him for a moment.
Then she looked away again.
If only you knew the truth, she thought.
The man standing in front of her had no idea.
The "small employee" he was talking to…
Was actually the CEO of the company he competed against the most.
And beyond that—
She was also the mysterious Dark Queen that controlled the entire underworld.
Her power was something Feng couldn't even imagine.
Yet right now…
She was pretending to be someone small.
Someone ordinary.
Feng sat back down on the bed.
"You seem colder than before," he said quietly.
Mengmeng paused.
"Do I?"
"Yes."
"Maybe I'm just not used to rich people's houses."
Feng smiled faintly.
"You're not scared of me, are you?"
Mengmeng almost laughed.
Scared?
If Feng knew who she really was, that question would sound ridiculous.
But instead she simply said,
"No."
Then she walked to the other side of the room.
"I'm sleeping on the couch."
Feng frowned.
"The bed is big enough."
Mengmeng shook her head.
"It's fine."
Before he could argue, she had already taken a pillow and blanket.
Feng watched her quietly.
He didn't understand why.
But seeing her distance herself like that made his chest feel strangely heavy.
Meanwhile, Mengmeng lay down on the couch calmly.
Her mind was already far away.
Thinking about business.
Thinking about power.
Thinking about the man sleeping only a few meters away—
The man who unknowingly stood below her in every world.
Business.
Power.
And the underworld.
Yet somehow…
He was the one person who made her life complicated.