Contract Marriage: The Tycoon's Pampered Wife
Chapter 41 - 041: A bit old in age

Chapter 41: 041: A bit old in age

Their gazes met, and for a long moment, neither spoke.

The silence was charged with an unusual tension. She couldn’t pinpoint why, but perhaps the act of ’hiding him’ made me feel guilty.

The standoff ended when Lai Yang knocked on the door. "Xiaowan, are you done yet?"

Then came the sound of the doorknob turning. It didn’t open. Lai Yang knocked again. "Why is the door still locked? Are you hiding a man in there?"

Ning Guiwan’s face stiffened.

Quan Yu, however, seemed to be in a good mood. A faint smile touched his lips as his tall frame leaned even more relaxedly against the wardrobe doorframe.

Outside the door, Madame Quan overheard Lai Yang’s unguarded comment and scolded her sternly, "You mustn’t say such things recklessly! If someone else heard that, how could Xiaowan possibly live it down?"

Lai Yang chuckled awkwardly, sticking out the tip of her tongue. "I was just joking..."

Hearing this, Ning Guiwan suddenly felt that the man before her was a hot potato. If he’s discovered now, it’ll be even harder to explain. What would Grandma Quan think of me?

Outside, Madame Quan added, "Call your second uncle and ask if he wants to join us for lunch."

"Oh!" Lai Yang replied.

Ning Guiwan was speechless. When it rains, it pours.

"Phone," she mouthed to Quan Yu, making no sound.

Quan Yu just looked at her, silent.

Ning Guiwan’s brows furrowed slightly. She didn’t think Quan Yu had misunderstood.

Time was pressing; there was no room for hesitation. She walked towards the man, her slightly quickened pace betraying her inner impatience.

"Phone..." Ning Guiwan kept her voice to the barest whisper.

Under the light, the girl lifted her face. Her skin was fair and seemed almost translucent, the delicate contours of her face bathed in a soft glow. Quan Yu looked down at her for a moment before leisurely reaching into his trouser pocket to pull out his phone.

But before either of them could do anything, Lai Yang’s call came through.

The mechanical vibration of the phone was jarringly loud in the quiet, enclosed space. Ning Guiwan’s heart began to race, like a criminal caught red-handed.

Just as she was wondering if those outside could hear it, Quan Yu had already swiped to answer the call.

Ning Guiwan couldn’t hear the voice on the phone, but she could hear Lai Yang speaking from outside. Quan Yu listened intently, looking as if he was ready to respond at any moment.

In a panic, she clapped her hand over his mouth.

His voice was deep and resonant; if he spoke, the people outside would surely hear. How would I explain this situation then?

If it had been any other man, Ning Guiwan wouldn’t have been so nervous. But this man was Grandma Quan’s biological son. Grandma Quan doted on her as if she were her own granddaughter. Even when others believed she had done terrible things, Grandma Quan had never treated her differently and, like many indulgent parents, had even made excuses for her.

If even Grandma Quan became disappointed in me... Ning Guiwan didn’t dare to dwell on that thought.

Meeting Quan Yu’s downward gaze, she slowly shook her head, her eyes pleading.

Quan Yu seemed to study her for a moment, then grasped her slender wrist and, with a slight tug, pulled her hand away from his mouth and behind him.

Ning Guiwan was pulled forward by the force, stumbling into his firm embrace.

Even in high heels, Quan Yu was still a full head taller than her. He lowered his head, his firm jaw resting against the crown of her head. Being so close, Ning Guiwan faintly heard Lai Yang’s voice from the phone: "...Second Uncle? Are you listening?"

Combined with the voices from outside the door, Ning Guiwan was utterly terrified.

Pursing her lips, Ning Guiwan raised the arm that held her red dress and clasped her hands around his waist, her fingers brushing against his belt.

With her face buried in the crook of Quan Yu’s neck, from his perspective, the girl appeared soft and docile, almost like she was sweetly seeking comfort.

Then, Ning Guiwan heard Lai Yang’s voice from outside, "Huh? He hung up..."

"What did Ayu say?" Madame Quan asked. "Is he coming or not?"

"I don’t know," Lai Yang replied. "It connected, but he didn’t say anything."

"Call again."

"Oh..."

This time, the call didn’t go through.

"It’s off," Lai Yang said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Is Second Uncle in a meeting, maybe...?"

"Possibly," Fang Derong chimed in.

Madame Quan said, "Forget it. Let’s not bother him for now; he won’t starve anyway. Xiaowan, are you still not changed?"

In the lounge, Ning Guiwan watched Quan Yu power off his phone, and the knot in her chest loosened. But in the next instant, she realized she had celebrated too soon.

Just as she was wondering how to speak, Quan Yu suddenly leaned in.

In that brief instant, a flurry of thoughts raced through her mind.

A sense of triumph welled up inside her.

A hint of smugness flickered across her face. Ning Guiwan froze, startled by the sudden thumping of her own heart.

The man’s gaze was deep and cool; he had clearly seen through her little trick.

Time seemed to freeze. All Ning Guiwan could hear was the frantic pounding of her own heart.

"Xiaowan, are you done yet?" Lai Yang knocked on the door again.

An enigmatic smile suddenly touched the corners of Quan Yu’s lips. He raised his hand and pinched Ning Guiwan’s delicate chin.

"..." Ning Guiwan felt uneasy and instinctively tried to pull away.

Quan Yu smoothly took a step back, his expression impassive, and bent down to pick up the red dress that had fallen to the floor.

"Xiaowan, are you alright?" Lai Yang called out, her voice laced with concern after not getting a response for so long.

"Oh, yes! I’m just about ready," Ning Guiwan quickly replied.

Quan Yu handed her the dress. He didn’t say anything further and considerately turned his back to her, facing the wardrobe.

Ning Guiwan pursed her lips, staring at his back for a moment.

Yet, the man before her acted as if nothing had happened, his back appearing perfectly composed.

Staring at him for another moment to ensure he wouldn’t turn around, she walked over to the sofa, draped the dress over its armrest, and then also turned her back to Quan Yu.

His gaze averted, Quan Yu pulled out a cigarette case. He took out a cigarette as if to place it between his lips, but then seemed to recall something and put it back. His free hand returned to his trouser pocket, while the hand holding the cigarette case dropped to his side. His fingers idly flicked the case open and shut, again and again, as if in utter boredom.

Ning Guiwan finished changing. Glancing at Quan Yu’s back, she called out, "This dress is a bit complicated; I’ll be out in a minute!"

Her words were directed at those outside, but they were also a subtle reminder for Quan Yu.

As she spoke, she walked to the door. She glanced back at Quan Yu again; the man stood there, showing no sign of turning around. Ning Guiwan said nothing more, opened the door, stepped out, and pulled it shut behind her.

"What took you so long?" Lai Yang grumbled, but then her eyes lit up. "The moment I saw this dress, I thought of you! It’s a perfect fit."

Madame Quan smiled lovingly. "Our Xiaowan looks good in anything."

Ning Guiwan curved her red lips, her expression a blend of demureness and shy charm.

"Let’s eat before the food gets cold." The household staff had already delivered lunch, and Fang Derong began arranging the dishes on the table as she spoke.

Ning Guiwan went over to help.

Lai Yang asked, "Aren’t you going to change back into your own clothes?"

Ning Guiwan smiled. "It’s a gift from you. Of course, I’ll wear it."

Lai Yang giggled, not thinking much of it.

During the meal, Ning Guiwan’s thoughts kept drifting to the man hidden in the lounge, making her somewhat distracted.

After the meal, Fang Derong took the dishes to the adjoining washroom to clean them. Lai Yang chattered away, amusing Madame Quan, while Ning Guiwan sat quietly to one side, peeling an apple.

She racked her brains, trying to figure out how to get everyone to leave. I can’t keep him hidden in there forever.

However, before she could devise a plan, Wei Chaolian arrived, and she brought good news.

She had found an absolutely outstanding young man for Ning Guiwan. "You know the fifth son of the Qiao family, don’t you?" she asked Madame Quan.

Madame Quan had been overcome with anger the previous night and had struggled to catch her breath, but otherwise, there was nothing seriously wrong. She was feeling much better now.

Hearing this, she nodded. "Yishen, yes, I know him. He and Ayu get along quite well."

"Early this year, Old Madame Qiao asked me to find a match for Yishen. In the past six months, I must have introduced him to at least fifty young women, if not a hundred, but none of them worked out. Old Madame Qiao was so anxious it was making her ill; she was calling me three times a day! So, I mentioned your Xiaowan to her, and surprisingly, she didn’t have any objections..."

"Isn’t Yishen about the same age as Ayu?" Madame Quan hesitated, clearly reluctant. "Might he be a bit too old?" My Xiaowan is such a sweet, vibrant young girl; does she really need to be with someone in his thirties?

"Older men know how to cherish someone. Besides, they’re mature and reliable. That’s something these young lads can’t compare to..." Wei Chaolian, having arranged countless matches, was a smooth talker when it came to praising people.

Swayed by her words, Madame Quan turned to Ning Guiwan. "What do you think?"

Ning Guiwan finished arranging the fruit platter, inserted small forks, and offered it to the two elders. She smiled gently and replied, "The age difference is indeed unsuitable."