Chapter 84 - His Background

Long Mei exhaled a breath once the car dropped her off in front of Jin Qing's house. 

She held a small carry-on since movers had already settled the rest of her things in his home during the previous days. 

She was about to knock on the door when the man standing before her opened it suddenly. His presence stunned her since she half-expected the help to answer if he had any. 

Was he waiting for her?

Jin Qing wore casual black clothing that brought out his golden hair—so bright compared to his half-siblings. 

His expression was neutral and handsome as he looked at her, stepped aside, allowing her in. 

As Long Mei stepped in, he took her carry-on from her hands and said, "I will show you the house." 

Long Mei looked around in awe at the beautiful architecture and interior of his home.. It was Eastern European-style, and the first time she had stepped in his domain. He never invited family or friends to his house to her knowledge, so this had been her genuine reaction. 

He first took her to her room, which had all the things she brought from the Long Estate, but it had large windows with a view of the land and a small garden. There were also plants in her room, which made her new bedroom come alive. 

He set her carry-on over the bed and said, "My room is down the hall if you ever need anything." 

Long Mei flushed, thinking of something dirty. Jin Qing only rolled his eyes. "I meant if you ever get sick in the middle of the night or if you need something urgently." 

She laughed. She liked teasing him. 

Long Mei and Jin Qing were on friendlier terms now. Some part of her hated lying to him. But because he thinks she does not remember anything from the last two years, she could speak to him more freely without the past hanging over them. It was like a blank start. But she was also not entirely sure if she should trust him. 

If she did trust him, she would have immediately told him that she was faking her memory loss. She would not pretend to begin with. 

But even with her fake memory loss, Jin Qing did not pursue her. He did not make any moves to be with her. So, it may have been just as she thought. He only wanted her when his brother was alive because it would hurt him. Some part of her felt betrayed. 

But she was here with a purpose. To find out who did this to her. And he might know the answer. 

Jin Qing then stepped into the hallway, and she followed him. He showed her the bathroom, the kitchen, the theatre room, the garden, and then the living and dining room. His living room was decorated with woven floor rugs and velvet drapes. Much of the décor were embroidered pieces and antiques. His house looked traditional but with a modern touch.

She stared at a beautiful antique duck piece, nearly touching it and asked curiously, "What is that?" 

"Kuznetsov porcelain," he answered. 

"It's pretty," she replied. "Where did you get it?"

"Moscow," he answered. 

"You've been to Russia?"

He gave her a nod. 

His entire house was Eastern-European style. "You seem to like their décor and furnishings," she added.

Jin Qing grinned. "My mother was my influence," he began. "Since she is Russian." 

Long Mei looked at him eye-wide. She did not know that part of him, and part of her wondered why she never bothered to learn. He was supposed to be her brother-in-law if she had married Jin Hu.

She has known about Jin Qing for two years. He flirted with her, albeit to piss off his brother, and they had moments alone here and there that no one else knew about but still, after all the time, she did not know many things about him, and she was beginning to realize it now. 

"You're half Russian?" she questioned. 

He nodded. 

She could see it in his hair, his face. His eyes were angular, like hers, but all his other features seemed to have taken after his mother. 

"Do you have a picture of her?"

Jin Qing went to pick up a picture frame. He gave it to her, and Long Mei looked at the beautiful blonde and blue-eyed woman. She was smiling as she wrapped her arms around a young boy who looked like her—equally smiley. "She looks lovely." 

"She was," he replied, a bit gloomy. 

He then took the picture frame from her hand to place it back gently in its spot. 

Silence stretched between them until Jin Qing said, "I hope to make your stay here comfortable. Should you need anything, please do not be afraid to request it." 

He was about to turn to leave when she asked, "Wait. What are you doing now?"

"I'm going to do some work," he responded. 

"Can I accompany you?" she asked. "I have nothing planned for today." 

He gave her a look, almost as if he was trying to understand her but could not figure it out. "You're allowed to be anywhere in the house," he began. "That includes my office. So if you feel like being there, for whatever reason, then, by all means, come." 

Long Mei wore a sheepish grin as she walked up to him. "Then I will join you." 

Jin Qing grasped her wrist before she walked ahead, turning to face him closely. "I know what you're doing," he said. 

Her heart nearly leapt from her chest. Did he figure it out that fast?

She kept her expression neutral, trying not to give anything away. 

"You are my fiancé. You live in my home now. But I am not going to be your friend. I am not going to fall in love with you. So while we will be acquaintances sharing a house, do not have any expectations of me. You will only be disappointed." 

Long Mei stepped closer. "I do not expect anything from you, Mr. Jin. If I am going to have to pretend to be engaged to you, then I, at least, do not want to be bored. So, I will follow you if I want to. I will step back and stay in my room if I want to. I will go out with friends if I want to because that is my choice." 

He almost smiled. "Glad to know we have a mutual understanding." 

"Likewise," she said. 

He looked her face up and down. Desire flashed for a moment before he pulled away to walk away. Long Mei caught her breath before she followed him.