Chapter 36 We Are Dating

Chapter 36 We're Seeing Each Other

The sudden transformation of the Guan family's only daughter made waves in Hong Kong's elite circles. A gentle and refined girl abruptly changing her image inevitably sparked all sorts of speculation. Within a day, rumors spread that Guan Yingtang was changing her look to win over her fiancé.

It was said that the eldest son of the Meng family wasn’t into prim-and-proper types—his recent girlfriend in Spain was the glamorous type—and Guan Yingtang was merely changing to suit her fiancé’s family.

Overnight, Guan Zhiheng’s phone blew up with calls. He was annoyed by the intrusive media but even more frustrated that his daughter hadn’t returned home, like she was dead set on defying him.

Huo Ling had been dining with friends the previous night and only learned of the conflict after the father and daughter had already clashed. She scolded her husband for acting impulsively, knowing full well that Guan Yingtang had just returned home over the marriage issue and might now disappear again.

"Why worry about her? She’s living it up!" Guan Zhiheng snapped. "Last night, she was out partying in Lan Kwai Fong with Mandy and the others until midnight!"

Huo Ling was stunned. "How do you know?"

Though furious yesterday, Guan Zhiheng still recognized that his daughter’s return wasn’t easy to secure, and he couldn’t let her slip away again unnoticed. So despite his anger, he had immediately sent the family driver to follow her after she left, tracking her every move.

"Where is she now?" Huo Ling asked, having failed to reach their daughter by phone.

"Old Cheng went to the restroom at one point and didn’t see A Tang when the party ended. I assume she left with Mandy—maybe through another exit."

Huo Ling eased up a little. After a long silence, she sat on the sofa and said, "You know very well that both A Tang and I have felt trapped in this house. In the past, I was controlled by your father, and now our daughter is controlled by you. For years, we’ve walked on eggshells, scared to slip up. Times have changed—can’t you get with the times?"

"So you’re saying you think that red hair and those stripper heels look good on her?" Guan Zhiheng waved his hand dismissively. "Ridiculous!"

What Guan Zhiheng didn’t realize was that on social media, the critics of Guan Yingtang’s new look were mostly middle-aged people over 40, slamming her for breaking tradition and claiming she had strayed from the scholarly elegance of the Guan family legacy. Meanwhile, her peers were praising her, finding her more genuine and charismatic now that she had let her guard down.

With their disagreement unresolved, Huo Ling refused to let Guan Zhiheng back into their bedroom that night. Stubborn as ever, he slept alone in the guest room.

Yet he couldn’t sleep at all.

Middle-aged and kicked out of his bedroom for the first time, he felt downright lonely. Lying in bed, he reflected on Huo Ling’s words—she wasn’t entirely wrong.

Compared to now, Guan Yingtang’s grandfather had been far more conservative.

Guan Zhiheng remembered clearly how harsh the Hong Kong media had been when he and Huo Ling vacationed abroad in their youth and she was photographed in a bikini. Headlines like "Guan Family’s Young Madam Shows Off Her Assets" and "Huo Ling’s Bikini Shocks the Public" dominated the tabloids, infuriating the old man to the point of hospitalization. Huo Ling had clammed up for good ever since.

It wasn’t just Guan Yingtang who had been trapped by labels.

When Guan Yingtang was born, she became the only girl of her generation in the entire family. Guan Zhiheng was overjoyed yet fearful—afraid that one day, like Huo Ling, she might make a minor misstep and be dragged into public scrutiny.

So he had strived to raise her as the perfect high-society lady. Over the years, Guan Yingtang had lived up to his expectations, and he had looked forward to arranging the best marriage for her, securing a good husband, and finally putting his worries to rest.

Yet at this critical moment, Guan Yingtang had decided to push back.

In the quiet of the night, Guan Zhiheng sighed heavily, rolling over out of habit to embrace the person beside him—only to find nobody there.

Grumbling inwardly, he muttered, "That brat got me booted from my room."

Tossing and turning, he hardly slept a wink. Descending the stairs as if nothing had happened, he hoped to see if Huo Ling was up—only to be informed by the butler, "Madam said she’s meeting friends today and won’t be home for dinner."

Guan Zhiheng frowned. "Who is she meeting?"

"...She didn’t say."

Irritated, he waved his hand dismissively.

He called Huo Ling—no answer. After a pause, he dialed Guan Yingtang, expecting her to ignore him as well. To his surprise, after seven or eight rings, just as he was about to hang up, she answered.

"Morning, Dad," she said calmly, still perfectly polite.

Guan Zhiheng's anger cooled a little, "Where are you?"

When Guan Zhiheng called, Guan Yingtang and Meng Qinghuai were still asleep. The phone vibrated, and she immediately got out of bed, shut the door behind her, and took her father's call in the hallway.

"At a friend's," she said.

Guan Zhiheng snorted knowingly—in Hong Kong, aside from He Zi, where else could she be?

"Are you planning to defy me completely and not come back?"

"I want to come home. It's you who won't agree."

"How can I agree when you're like this? Forget about me—that marriage arrangement with the Meng family was based on your poise, your refined demeanor. Now you pull something like this—how am I supposed to explain it to them?"

Guan Zhiheng had thought about it all night, and this was the only thing that truly embarrassed him. A promised aristocratic lady had turned into a red-haired bombshell overnight—how is this not fraud?

Guan Yingtang didn’t know what to do either. She barely knew Meng Songnian or Zhuang Jiayi. Meng Qinghuai accepting her like this didn’t mean his family would.

Just then, the bedroom door opened from the inside, and Meng Qinghuai suddenly emerged. "What—"

Guan Yingtang quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.

Only then did Meng Qinghuai notice she was holding her phone. He nodded, signaling her to continue.

Guan Yingtang took a breath and replied to Guan Zhiheng, "Anyway, I won’t go back to how I was before, Daddy. I want to be a little freer, but that doesn’t mean I’ve gone off the rails or given up. I hope you can understand that."

"I’ll call you again once you’ve calmed down."

Guan Zhiheng said nothing until his daughter hung up.

He narrowed his eyes, slowly recalling the voice he’d heard on the call.

Though it was just a split second and he hadn’t even caught what was said, he was certain—it was a man’s voice.

In that instant, Guan Zhiheng felt like everything clicked into place.

No wonder his daughter had bolted the moment the arranged marriage was brought up. No wonder she’d come back a completely different person after just a few months away.

He should’ve guessed it sooner.

His precious daughter was seeing someone.

-

When Guan Yingtang returned to the bedroom after the call, Meng Qinghuai was getting dressed. She hugged him from behind. "Morning."

Meng Qinghuai turned around and pulled her into his arms. "Who called so early?"

A few buttons on his shirt were still undone, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone and chest—unconsciously sexy.

Guan Yingtang automatically reached out to button them for him. "My dad."

As she worked, she let her hands roam freely. "Babe, you're so nice to touch."

Meng Qinghuai: "..." What a unique compliment.

Meng Qinghuai glanced down at the woman before him, then suddenly said in a serious yet ambiguous tone, "So do you."

Guan Yingtang froze, clearly not expecting to be teased back by Meng Qinghuai. She opened her mouth, her cheeks growing hot.

After all, compared to her own childish touches on Meng Qinghuai, his hands were the ones that truly "attended" to every inch of her body.

Her newly awakened mind was unusually clear, involuntarily replaying scenes of low moans and ragged breaths. Guan Yingtang suddenly felt her entire body grow hot.

She let go and turned away, ignoring Meng Qinghuai. "Ugh, you're the worst." He knew she was on her period and still teased her.

Meng Qinghuai: "..."

Guan Yingtang went to change as well. She put on the other black pleated mini dress she had bought the day before, its pattern vintage, paired with her tousled raspberry-red curls. Under the morning sunlight, she looked fresh and radiant.

"Are you going to be busy with work later?" Guan Yingtang asked after changing.

Meng Qinghuai shook his head. "Today, I want to take you on a date."

Guan Yingtang froze, as if caught off guard. "What?"

Meng Qinghuai took her hand with gentlemanly grace. "Would Miss Guan do me the honor of a date today?"

"..." Guan Yingtang hadn’t expected this. It took her a moment to process his meaning, her heartbeat quickening involuntarily. Receiving a date invitation for the first time, she felt both flustered and unable to suppress the corners of her lips from curling up. "Hmm," she agreed softly, "Only for you."

Since the Guan family’s young miss was gracious enough to accept the date, Meng Qinghuai naturally played along. "Thank you."

Their playful banter left Guan Yingtang grinning ear to ear. She returned to the mirror to apply makeup, making sure she looked perfect for her first date.

Half an hour later, they held hands and got into the car together.

Meng Qinghuai had no experience with romance—it had never been part of his life plan. Arranged marriage was his duty, and he had never considered derailing someone else’s path. So after seeing Guan Yingtang’s wish list, he spent a long time pondering: How does one even date?

Given their status, dates should probably be luxurious—fine dining, art exhibitions, concerts... venues that showcased their social standing and refinement.

But Meng Qinghuai also felt that Guan Yingtang would rather visit the places she had once been restricted from, to see and experience them for herself.

They drove to Mong Kok for dim sum. The old teahouse hummed with energy, and among the local elderly patrons, Guan Yingtang and Meng Qinghuai were the only young couple there.

The translucent shrimp dumplings’ juices burst with the first bite, tender and springy. An old lady next to them taught Guan Yingtang to dip them in red vinegar for extra flavor. Curious, Guan Yingtang tried it, and upon finding it delicious, chatted like old friends with the lady.

Meng Qinghuai watched her quietly, occasionally smiling as he placed more food into her bowl.

After dim sum, they acted like ordinary tourists—taking photos on the pedestrian overpass in Mong Kok, strolling hand in hand through Goldfish Street, listening to street performers sing old Cantonese songs... Places Guan Yingtang had known of since childhood but had never visited. Guan Zhiheng always said those areas were too crowded, dirty, and chaotic, with even the air being stale.

But to Guan Yingtang, it was here that she felt the real Hong Kong—not just the gleaming skyscrapers, but also the lively, chaotic alleys that held their own charm.

The world’s sense of order was never singular.

They queued for two hours to ride the Ferris wheel in Central, bought a Richman’s Ice Cream on the Star Ferry, pored over trinkets in a record and magazine shop, and walked hand in hand through the city’s bustling streets, sharing a single cup of bubble tea.

At a street corner, they saw students emerging from a uniform shop. Guan Yingtang blinked and asked Meng Qinghuai, "If we had met in university years ago, would we be together now?"

Meng Qinghuai lowered his head in thought. "I don’t know."

No one could turn back time, and back then, he had no idea the girl he’d spotted in passing years ago would one day be his arranged marriage partner.

Guan Yingtang pushed him, "Did you ever like anyone when you were in school?"

Holding her hand, Meng Qinghuai walked slowly along Victoria Harbour before finally recalling, "In my fourth year, a friend borrowed my car for a party."

Guan Yingtang listened, puzzled—*(A party... in a car?)*

"I arrived very late, almost at the end, and saw a younger student." He paused, his gaze settling on Guan Yingtang. "She was adorable."

After a pause, Guan Yingtang kept a straight face. "Oh."

Meng Qinghuai, "Oh?"

"You want to see me get jealous, don't you?" Guan Yingtang concluded. After all, his story was full of holes—the only vehicles that could host a party in this world were probably Hong Kong Island's double-decker trams.

Meng Qinghuai chuckled quietly at her logic and nodded in agreement.

"I'm very open-minded," Guan Yingtang pressed her lips together, holding Meng Qinghuai's hand. "But you can't praise other girls from now on, or I'll get jealous."

Meng Qinghuai had never been one to be easily swayed by emotions. But now, he truly couldn't help softening at Guan Yingtang's words. How could she be so understanding, making him unable to resist loving her?

Meng Qinghuai pulled Guan Yingtang into his arms. "There is no one else."

But Guan Yingtang missed the deeper meaning in his words. As the evening sea breeze blew gently, she quietly leaned against Meng Qinghuai's shoulder, gazing at the skyscrapers across Victoria Harbour. Suddenly, she remembered something and said, "I heard from Daddy that decades ago, your father put on a fireworks display for your mother over Victoria Harbour."

Meng Qinghuai: "If you like, I can do the same for you."

Guan Yingtang shook her head. "I've seen them since I was little. I don't like them."

Trapped in a gilded cage, she had seen too much extravagance. All she wanted was a heart that would stay with her and understand her.

"Meng Qinghuai," Guan Yingtang suddenly turned to face him. "Let's kiss."

Her request was direct and sincere.

Meng Qinghuai hesitated for just a moment before cupping her cheeks and kissing her without hesitation.

Their breaths mingled at their noses as he traced her soft lips.

Before nightfall, the sky over Victoria Harbour was painted in shades of blue, and the lights on the opposite shore gradually came to life. The harbour breeze swayed as they kissed amidst the neon reflections of the towering buildings, their hair dancing in the wind—so perfect it seemed unreal.

"It feels like we're dating," Guan Yingtang said with a quiet laugh after a while.

Guan Yingtang had forgotten her list in North City, but she had always remembered the unfulfilled wishes in her heart. On this day, Meng Qinghuai had perfectly realized them for her.

Meng Qinghuai murmured in agreement. "If you like, we can do this every day."

Their lips brushed again and again, lingering in endless kisses amidst the bustling harbour.

-

The two had planned to watch a movie that evening, but at six, Meng Qinghuai received a call from a senior executive at HSBC asking to meet.

Meng Qinghuai was about to decline, but Guan Yingtang didn’t want him to put work aside because of her. So, right in front of him, she called He Zi to arrange dinner.

"You've spent the whole day with me. We can always watch the movie at home tonight," Guan Yingtang said sweetly. "We can even have some wine then."

The villa had a home theater, so Meng Qinghuai agreed to her request. The two parted ways at Victoria Harbour, with Guan Yingtang heading straight to meet He Zi. After dinner in Central, she took a taxi back to the Deep Water Bay villa alone.

Unbeknownst to her, Guan Zhiheng had instructed their family driver to monitor He Zi's movements early on, just to locate Guan Yingtang's residence. The driver had been tailing her all day and was about to give up when he finally saw the two girls meet.

Now, the driver, Lao Cheng, followed them all the way to the entrance of the Deep Water Bay villa and called Guan Zhiheng to report:

"Sir, Miss just entered a villa in Deep Water Bay. Twenty minutes later, a man went in too."

Guan Zhiheng: "..."

Guan Zhiheng had waited all day, only to hear the news he least wanted to hear.

He closed his eyes. "Get the address."

After hanging up the phone, Guan Zhiheng felt an indescribable mix of emotions. You can't keep a grown daughter at home forever—even if you keep her person, you can't keep her heart. He couldn't very well lock Guan Yingtang up.

But he couldn't help wondering—just who was this good-for-nothing who had so thoroughly bewitched his daughter and turned her head?

Guan Zhiheng sighed deeply in his heart—

The marriage alliance with the Meng family would likely have to be scrapped.

At the same time, in Beicheng, the Meng family was gathered for dinner at Meng Manor.

-

Meng Wennuo, finally home for break from university, was looking forward to hanging out with her two older brothers, only to find that her eldest brother, Meng Qinghuai, had unexpectedly gone on a business trip.

"Dad, why did you assign him so much work?" Meng Wennuo complained. "You knew I was coming home, yet you still sent him to inspect the Hong Kong branch."

Meng Songnian was taken aback. "I didn't assign him anything. He went on his own."

"Huh?"

"That brother of yours said he was going to propose to that Guan girl."

Meng Wennuo, unaware of the events of the past few months, still only remembered Meng Qinghuai’s engagement in terms of seeing Guan Yingtang’s photo. She perked up excitedly. "Wow, has big brother fallen for Miss Guan?"

After all, with arranged matches, no one ever mentioned proposals.

As soon as she said this, the three family members gave each other looks, as if unsure how to respond.

In the end, it was Meng Songnian who answered with a grim look. "Who knows with him? One moment he loves this one, the next he loves that one."

Meng Wennuo: "??"

Truthfully, Meng Songnian had no idea what his usually composed and steady eldest son was up to lately. At this point, he had stopped trying to understand. Though things had taken an odd turn, they were still moving in the direction he had hoped for.

Just then, his phone rang. Meng Songnian picked it up, glanced at the screen, and immediately set down his chopsticks to say to Zhuang Jiayi, "It's Guan Zhiheng."

Zhuang Jiayi's face brightened at the news. "Did Qinghuai's proposal succeed?"

Meng Wennuo immediately leaned in beside Meng Songnian, and even Meng Fanchuan, who usually paid no attention to such matters, looked up.

The whole family held their breath in anticipation, waiting for good news.

Meng Songnian answered the call. "Good evening, Brother Guan. Have you eaten?"

His face carried a courteous half-smile, but soon, that smile slowly faded. His expression froze, as if caught off guard by the conversation, and even after hanging up, he still looked stunned.

"What is it, Dad?" Meng Wennuo asked impatiently. "Did big brother's proposal succeed?"

"Proposal?" Meng Songnian put away his phone, paused, then sneered. "Your brother has clearly lost his mind. They're breaking off the engagement."

The whole family sat in stunned silence.

This wayward son could no longer be ignored.

Meng Songnian stood up with grim determination, hands behind his back as he left the table. "Notify the airport and the crew. We're flying to Hong Kong tomorrow."