The Empty Bridal Chamber - Chapter 17
Chapter 17: I Miss Her
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The company was gradually getting on the right track, and Lin Wanmeng was used to the life of traveling only either to the company or villa.
Occasionally, she would bring the unfinished work back to the villa to continue her research. However, most of the time, she would sit quietly by the side and draw the design drafts.
Ye Lingxiao was also busy with work, so after the companies officially started working together, the two of them talked less.
Sometimes, when Lin Wanmeng saw Ye Lingxiao, she would recall how that person looked at her that day. For a moment, her heart palpitated, but calmness quickly overcame it.
As her imagination ran wild, her design drafts gradually turned from dignified to romantic.
The elements of love are roses and rings… Lin Wanmeng’s pen stopped at the waist of the figure in the sketch, thinking about what kind of stroke to add.
“The ring.”
Lin Wanmeng was startled by the voice next to her and realized that Ye Lingxiao was standing beside her.
“Isn’t it better to use roses as a belt?” Lin Wanmeng realized that Ye Lingxiao was giving her a suggestion.
“Flowers will wither one day. Isn’t it a little immature for it to be a symbol of love?”
“Rings are still the best. Even if it’s old, it can still be polished and shined. However, after the flowers wilt, you can’t possibly buy a new one?”
This time, Lin Wanmeng really side-eyed Ye Lingxiao. They had been together for so long, but she had never heard a story about love from this man.
In Lin Wanmeng’s heart, Ye Lingxiao should be the kind of person who did not care about love. She did not expect him to have such a deep understanding.
“Alright, let’s use the ring.”
However, when it came to rings, Lin Wanmeng had a headache. There were only a few variations of roses, but there were so many different ring variations.
Lin Wanmeng held the pen and racked her brains. After half a day, she drew a rough sketch.
Ye Lingxiao immediately spotted the problem with the drawing. Without thinking, he grabbed Lin Wanmeng’s hand and added a stroke on the top right corner.
“If it’s done like this, this person wearing the gown will feel uncomfortable. It’ll be better if it’s rounder.”
The two of them suddenly leaned very close to each other. Lin Wanmeng could feel the other party’s breath on the back of her neck, bringing with it an ambiguous numbness.
She froze and let Ye Lingxiao do whatever he wanted.
It was too close, a little too close.
Lin Wanmeng’s face slowly turned red. The man beside her was so focused on his work that he did not notice the change in the woman in his arms.
Lin Wanmeng also realized this and pinched her palm to clear her mind.
By the time the other party left Lin Wanmeng’s pen, a perfect design draft had already appeared.
The fiery red pattern extended from the left shoulder to the waist like a blooming rose. A perfect ring was decorated with silver at the waist, and there was a ruby in the center.
A long white veil was faintly discernible along her slender calves, and a large number of white roses bloomed from the back of her waist on both sides of her skirt.
This was a clash of strength and beauty, as well as a contest of red and white.
Lin Wanmeng was originally distracted, but when she looked at the design draft, her entire line of sight was captured.
It had to be said that Ye Lingxiao had his own talent in this aspect, and he was also very good at grasping those contradictions and conflicts.
“You’re really good for the design industry.”
Lin Wanmeng could not help but sigh. Ye Lingxiao relaxed his shoulders and did not say anything. However, before he went upstairs, he seemed to have suddenly thought of something.
“There’s a banquet tomorrow night. Come with me.”
Was he inviting her?
This was the first time.
Lin Wanmeng nodded, feeling flattered.
As soon as they reached the second floor, Old Madam Ye called to ask Ye Lingxiao, “Did you tell Mengmeng about the banquet tomorrow? Let me tell you, you have to bring her there tomorrow, do you hear me?”
Ye Lingxiao rubbed his forehead with a headache.
He had never brought a female companion, and he didn’t want Lin Wanmeng to appear in public with this identity. It was just that he couldn’t refuse Old Madam Ye’s order.
‘Still…’
Recalling the gown he had just completed with Lin Wanmeng, he was suddenly curious about how stunning Lin Wanmeng would look in this gown.
It was just an ordinary business banquet, so Ye Lingxiao did not take it to heart.
“Lingxiao, why are you wearing this?” Old Madam Ye frowned. She suddenly looked at Lin Wanmeng. “Mengmeng, help him pick out a set of clothes.”
In front of Old Madam Ye, the two of them had always pretended to be a loving couple. Lin Wanmeng had no objections and went upstairs to Ye Lingxiao’s room.
She opened the wardrobe. When she reached the last suit, there was actually a sizable box at the bottom of the wardrobe.
Lin Wanmeng was glad that the box was not locked. When she pushed open the lid, she realized that there were more than ten pieces of jewelry that were packaged and a diary inside.
“It’s her birthday today. This is my birthday present for her. I hope she likes it.”
That page had today’s date written on it. Lin Wanmeng flipped the diary to the first page.
“That little girl didn’t come today. I miss her.”
This was definitely not Ye Lingxiao’s personality. At the very least, it was not the current Ye Lingxiao.
However, the handwriting clearly showed that this was written by the usually cold man.
These pages were filled with words of love and longing. If anyone else saw them, they would definitely be extremely touched. However, Lin Wanmeng felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
The most recent date was today, which meant that this person was still with Ye Lingxiao.
Lin Wanmeng forced a smile, as if she was mocking herself.
She mocked himself for being moved and thought that the other party’s casual care was a sign of concern.
No wonder Ye Lingxiao was unwilling to let anyone become Mrs, Ye. It turned out that he already had an elusive love in his heart. Why would he look away?
Lin Wanmeng closed the diary and looked at the jewelry in the box.
It was as if he carefully picked something out every year just to celebrate that person’s birthday. A few of which are pieces that Lin Wanmeng had never seen on the market.
It was a pity that these gifts had never been given, but Ye Lingxiao still could not forget them and had always been preparing them.
As expected, one could tell whether he cared or not through comparison. As Lin Wanmeng flipped through it, something in her eyes seemed to shatter.
Her heart ached for a moment, but what right did she have?
They had made it very clear from the beginning that this marriage did not originate from love. It was just a simple transaction.
As a party to the deal, even if some accidents happened, they should not go back on the contract.
Lin Wanmeng closed the box and put everything back in its original place.
She pretended to be calm as she picked out a suit and went downstairs. Ye Lingxiao had been waiting downstairs for a long time, and a trace of impatience flashed across his eyes.
The two of them took a car to the banquet together. However, when they reached, Old Madam Ye secretly pulled Lin Wanmeng to the side.
“Ling Xiao, you go in first. Mengmeng and I will be there soon.”
Looking at Old Madam Ye’s smiling eyes, Lin Wanmeng was not interested in responding.
She was pulled into the changing room by Old Madam Ye like a puppet. The other party even took out a gown and urged her to change into it.