Chapter 3 Chapter 3: A Master of Pretending

Ari lay face down on the bed, hiding her face, still feeling the heat burning in her cheeks.

She felt utterly humiliated.

Compared to the elegant and dignified Mengwan Liu, she was not even fit to be a stand-in.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Ari knew it was the man coming in—probably to talk about divorce.

But he said nothing after entering. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed, his slender fingertips pinching the hem of her slip dress, twirling it idly—a touch of insolence in his gesture.

A cool draft brushed across her legs, making Ari immediately push herself up in surprise. “Uncle?”

The next moment, she was pressed back onto the bed.

“Going out dressed like this—aren’t you afraid other men might see you?”

Ari blinked, innocence in her eyes. “I thought you were the only one coming home.”

“Don’t ever go out like this again.”

“Alright,” Ari nodded obediently.

Then, the man leaned over her. Ari was startled, her hands pushing against his chest. “Uncle!”

“What is it?” he asked, his eyes dark with desire, his gaze so intense it felt as if it would burn her to ashes.

Ari glanced at the doorway. “Didn’t Miss Liu stay the night?”

She had thought that with his first love back, they would talk until dawn. She couldn’t quite make sense of this turn of events.

“So what?” he replied, his voice hoarse, his hand slipping under her dress, igniting sparks wherever it touched.

Ari was sensitive to his touch and soon found herself breathless.

If he didn’t care about his ex hearing their intimacy, why should she be so hung up on it? Her hands softened, surrendering, and she was thoroughly devoured.

—

This time, the man tormented her for a long while.

When Ari finally woke, it was already late morning. There was no sign of Lu Jinyan by the bed; instead, she heard the elegant melody of a piano drifting through the house.

She dressed and walked to the music room, where she found Mengwan Liu alone at the piano bench, her fingers dancing over the keys.

Ari had heard that Mengwan was an internationally renowned pianist, making a single performance a rare treat.

How wonderful.

Setting aside the awkwardness of their relationships, Ari genuinely admired a woman like Mengwan, who could chase her dreams.

A woman shouldn’t be like a dodder vine, clinging to another for survival.

How could Ari not understand that? But as someone with no roots, she had no right to pursue dreams of her own. Simply holding on to this place of shelter was already draining all her strength.

“Good morning, Ari.”

As the piece ended, Mengwan turned and smiled at her.

“You play beautifully, Miss Liu,” Ari said sincerely.

“Thank you.” Mengwan rose and walked over, winking at Ari. “I know Grandma must have told you a lot about me, so you’re probably a little wary. But don’t worry—when I came back, I told Jinyan I would never get back together with him.”

Ari was taken aback.

Mengwan continued, “My family situation is complicated. Before I returned, I learned my parents planned to have me forcibly married as soon as I was back. So I changed my travel plans to avoid them. Jinyan let me stay here to protect me. I hope you don’t mind.”

Ari hadn’t expected Mengwan’s family background to be so turbulent.

But whether Mengwan stayed or not was not for her to decide.

Uncle cherished her and kept her here. Who was Ari to ask her to leave?

“Miss Liu, there’s no need to explain. Since Uncle wants you to stay, please make yourself at home. I won’t be hostile to you.”

“Thank you, Ari.” Mengwan took her hand warmly. “But calling me Miss Liu sounds too distant. I’m older than you—call me Sister Mengwan.”

Ari didn’t care about titles. “Sister Mengwan.”

—

A few of Mengwan’s friends, upon learning she’d returned, wanted to invite her out for a gathering.

“Ari, Jinyan will be there later. Why don’t you come too?” Mengwan invited.

“I…” Ari hesitated. She didn’t really want to go.

Uncle’s friends never liked her. They thought she was a vain woman, unworthy of him.

Now that Mengwan was back, with the ex and the current girlfriend side by side, Ari could only imagine how she would be mocked.

Just then, she got a call from Lu Jinyan.

“Hello, Uncle…”

“Come with Mengwan later.”