It was now certain that this woman was the one from the airport, the one who had returned with him from New York. Lin Mei had never spoken to her, but a woman's intuition was always accurate. The intimacy of last night was still vivid in her memory, and this phone call felt like a slap in the face.
Perhaps because she had been silent for too long, the person on the other end asked again, "Are you listening? I'm cooking tonight, didn't you say last time..."
*Click.* Before the person on the other end could finish, the bedroom door was pushed open, and Xing Zheng walked in. The scene of Lin Mei answering his phone was, of course, seen. Xing Zheng stared at Lin Mei, and she saw a hint of displeasure in his eyes, likely angered by her taking the initiative. In a few short seconds, he snatched the phone away.
"What is it?" Xing Zheng asked Wen Ke.
"Is your signal bad?" Wen Ke asked, "I'm cooking tonight, are you coming?"
Xing Zheng looked at Lin Mei on the bed. "I'm busy tonight."
"You went to find her?" Wen Ke seemed to understand something. "She wasn't the one who answered the phone just now, was she?"
If that were the case, wouldn't it lead to a misunderstanding? Just as Wen Ke was about to ask Xing Zheng if he wanted to explain, Xing Zheng had already hung up the phone.
He tossed the phone back onto the bed, where it landed near Lin Mei's legs, as if demanding an explanation.
Lin Mei knew she was in the wrong. After hesitating, she explained to him, "I picked it up by accident. I'm sorry, I caused you to be misunderstood."
Xing Zheng immediately understood that she had misunderstood his relationship with Wen Ke, but he didn't explain. He simply asked her, "Can you walk?"
Lin Mei's cheeks burned, and she couldn't answer such a question. She supported herself on the bed and stood up, wanting to leave. After only a few steps, Xing Zheng picked her up again. He carried her to the bathroom and placed her in front of the sink to brush her teeth. Xing Zheng stood behind her, their eyes always meeting in the mirror. Each time their gazes met, Lin Mei would quickly look away. After washing up, he carried her to the dining room downstairs.
Breakfast was already prepared in the dining room: lean meat porridge and vegetables. Xing Zheng placed Lin Mei in a chair, and they ate breakfast together. During this time, he hadn't said a word, and Lin Mei couldn't guess his thoughts from his expression or gaze. She didn't have much appetite in the morning and stopped eating after a few bites. "I should go back now."
"Did I say you could leave?" He put down his spoon, his tone becoming dangerous.
Lin Mei didn't answer. What else was there? They had slept together last night, and he had gotten everything he wanted. What was the point of her staying? "Was last night not enough?"
"A year ago, you said you wouldn't disturb my life again," Lin Mei repeated his words from the past, feeling wronged again.
It was he who had left without a word over this statement, treating her as a stranger and cutting off contact. Now he was going back on his word, asking her to continue sleeping with him. What right did he have? In their relationship, he always held the initiative. She didn't want this, to be led around by him. She could be emotional and awkward too.
"I've changed my mind," he gazed at her, his tone casual. "So you have to come back."
This was clearly an unreasonable, tyrannical demand, yet he said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Lin Mei felt her grievances pile up, and a fire of anger burned fiercely in her chest. She threw down her spoon. "Who do you think you are? Do you get to decide everything?"
"Your temper is getting worse," he commented.
When Lin Mei left the Zhuhua Villa, she was trembling with anger. Not long after getting into the taxi, Lin Mei received a call from Xiao Shu, who naturally asked about last night's events.
Xiao Shu asked Lin Mei to confirm her relationship with Xing Zheng. Lin Mei denied it, "No, he and I have no relationship." Xiao Shu asked with concern, "Did he force you?"
"No," Lin Mei wouldn't admit that, at least not last night. It was she who had been so flustered by him that they had engaged in one absurd act after another. "Mr. Xiao, thank you for your concern. Regarding my private life, I don't wish to discuss it for now."
"Alright, as long as you're safe," Xiao Shu was very gentlemanly and didn't ask further. "Then I won't disturb you. If you need help, feel free to come to me anytime."
Lin Mei returned to her apartment, her mind still in a mess. She called Lan Lan and Feng Feng over and confessed last night's events to them. Both of them looked serious upon hearing it.
Feng Feng fell into thought, while Lan Lan, impatient, was both disappointed and unwilling to blame Lin Mei. She cursed Xing Zheng, "That scoundrel, he leaves when he wants, and comes back when he wants. Who does he think he is?"
"And he brought another woman back?" If Xing Zheng were to appear now, Lan Lan's fiery temper would likely lead her to hit him. "You answered the phone, and he didn't explain anything to you?"
Lin Mei shook her head. People like him were never willing to explain.
"What about you, how have you considered it?" Feng Feng didn't scold Xing Zheng but asked about Lin Mei's thoughts.
Lin Mei hesitated for a long time. "I don't want to be in an ambiguous situation like before." Without a single explanation, with Jiang Chubi by his side, and then that mysterious woman, what was she?
"Mmm, I think so too," Feng Feng said to Lin Mei. "Don't contact him for now. If he truly has intentions, he will handle the matters around him properly."
If he didn't take the initiative to handle them, then Lin Mei wouldn't waste any more time and energy on him; it wasn't worth it.
Although Feng Feng didn't say the latter half of this sentence, Lin Mei knew it clearly. "Okay."
"That's right, hold your head high," Lan Lan said. "We're not going to be unable to find a man. Aren't there many people pursuing you? I thought the one you went on a blind date with last time was quite good. Teacher Lin and Teacher Xiao also liked him."
Lin Mei smiled. It was useless if they liked him; she didn't feel anything.
Lan Lan saw her meaning. "You've met too few men. Next time I'll take you out to broaden your horizons!"
Lin Mei agreed. "Okay."
Xing Zheng had maintained contact with Xing Sha throughout his more than a year of treatment in New York. Xing Sha felt guilty and was concerned about Xing Zheng's treatment progress, always calling Xing Zheng behind Xie Qin Jia's back.
After Xing Zheng left, Xie Qin Jia's condition also improved, and their relationship was no longer as tense as before. Xie Qin Jia was unaware of Xing Zheng's return this time, and Xing Sha had not mentioned it to her. After returning to the country, the father and son met outside.
After sitting down, Xing Sha asked Xing Zheng, "How do you feel after the surgery? Are you adapting?"
Xing Zheng replied, "Mmm," "I haven't found any problems so far." If there were any issues, the doctors wouldn't have allowed him to return.
Xing Sha hesitated, thinking of something, and his expression became serious. Xing Zheng asked him, "What's wrong?"
"I want her to try surgical treatment," Xing Sha was worried about Xie Qin Jia's condition. Although she was normal now, her illness recurred. The news of Xing Zheng's return could not be hidden forever. If she found out, a relapse was inevitable. "This matter, I'm afraid we'll have to ask Lin Mei to persuade her."