Chapter 13: An Unexpected New Neighbor (1)

Meng Yi'er opened the door and stepped inside.

She glanced around—the apartment was on the top floor, a duplex, and incredibly spacious, at least four or five hundred square meters by her estimation. The décor was minimalist and stylish, exactly the kind of aesthetic she adored. The details revealed touches that would appeal to any young woman: romantic yet tasteful, never gaudy. Every piece of furniture and appliance was in place, the entire space spotless as if it had just been meticulously cleaned.

Setting down her luggage, Meng Yi'er excitedly began to explore each room in turn. She noticed that through the glass staircase, she could see a large rooftop terrace on the second floor, lush with flowers and greenery—a vibrant display of life.

Meng Yi'er had always loved plants and flowers. Thrilled, she hurried up the stairs and arrived at the terrace. The view was expansive; beneath the beds of blossoms stood a hanging chair. She settled into it, gently swaying, and, looking down, saw the Huangpu River stretching out below. “Wow—” she couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Her spirits soared, and for a moment she forgot the unpleasantness at the airport. She sat in the chair, basking in the warm sun, taking in the cityscape. After the long, arduous journey by plane, now that she was finally at rest, fatigue began to weigh on her.

“I’ll take a good nap first, then slowly enjoy the beauty of the city,” she thought. Rising from the chair, she returned indoors and found two rooms on the second floor. She pushed open the one closest to the staircase.

What greeted her left Meng Yi'er stunned. Eyes wide, she stared in disbelief—the room was an exact replica of her bedroom in America.

The same white wooden bed, white and green embroidered curtains, the spacious walk-in closet, even the bedding and the photograph on the nightstand were identical: a childhood picture of her with her parents.

Meng Yi'er gazed at the photo, momentarily lost. The brightness in her eyes faded as her excitement ebbed away.

A gentle melody from her phone interrupted her thoughts.

Meng Yi'er took her phone from her bag, glanced at the screen, steadied her mood, and answered the call.

“Brother—” she called, feigning cheerfulness.

“Have you arrived in the city?” Gu Yunchen’s deep, magnetic voice came from the other end.

“Yes, I’m here. Uncle and Aunt can rest easy—I’ve reached the address you sent me.”

There was a faint, “Mm,” from the other side, and then silence.

Meng Yi'er was accustomed to Gu Yunchen’s reticence. He had always been a man of few words; whenever they were together, she was the one who spoke while he listened, sometimes offering her a gentle smile.

Whenever he did speak, it was always in a commanding tone. Meng Yi'er disliked being ordered about, so she preferred Gu Yunchen’s silence.

“Brother, you’re always so cold with people. You neither talk nor smile. When you get married, how will your future sister-in-law ever bear it?” Meng Yi'er had often teased him like that.

Each time she said this, Gu Yunchen’s expression would darken and he’d grow even more silent—sometimes refusing to speak to her for days.

It always fell to Meng Yi'er to coax him out of his mood, which she found rather petty of him.

After a moment’s silence, Meng Yi'er spoke again, “Brother, did you arrange this room for me?”

“Mm—” Gu Yunchen answered in his deep voice.

“Brother, why are you so good to me?” Meng Yi'er felt touched. Though Gu Yunchen had opposed her return to China, seeing her determination, he had quietly prepared everything for her.

“Silly girl—”

“You’re the silly one! I’m clever. Just off the plane, at the airport, I gave a lesson to some lecher.” As soon as she finished, Meng Yi'er regretted saying it.

“What—lecher?” Gu Yunchen’s tone changed at once, urgency and anger evident in his voice.

He knew he shouldn’t have let her return alone. Even when she was by his side, he was always anxious about her; now separated by thousands of miles, his worries only grew.

“It’s nothing, really, Brother. You know I’m not someone who takes things lying down. Who would dare bully me? Don’t worry.” Meng Yi'er’s voice grew flustered; she regretted telling him. She had known exactly how Gu Yunchen would react.