Her tone was calm, her gaze indifferent, not feigned, but genuinely unconcerned. This was why Lan Lan remained worried. Lin Mei might have let go, but Xing Zheng was mentally unstable. Who knew what outrageous things he might do? Xu Ying said to Lan Lan, "Then we'll stay here. It's fine."
The three continued eating. Lin Mei’s expression was normal, chatting with Lan Lan about work, her gaze not once falling on Xing Zheng. Xing Zheng and Liang Yufeng also sat down, both looking towards that table, though their focus was different.
After dozens of days apart, Lin Mei’s complexion had improved significantly. Even from a distance, he could feel the joy radiating from her. Was she this happy with Xu Ying?
Lin Mei, Xu Ying, and Lan Lan finished their meal. The trio intended to go for a walk, but Lan Lan’s phone rang. Liang Yufeng was calling. Lan Lan answered at the restaurant entrance and heard the dog man’s command, “Come find me. I have work for you.”
He used work as an excuse. Lan Lan was already on this business trip with him, so she couldn’t refuse. Lin Mei said to her, “Then you go ahead and be busy. Xu Ying and I won’t bother you.”
Lan Lan replied with an “Mm,” and “Let’s meet again when we have time.”
The original plan was disrupted, and Lan Lan was in a bad mood. When she returned to the restaurant to find Liang Yufeng, her face was stern. She stopped at the dining table and asked in a business-like manner, “Mr. Liang, do you have any work arrangements for me?”
Liang Yufeng pulled out the chair beside him and said to her, “Sit.” Though it was a single word, it was an undeniable command.
This was a business trip, and opposing Liang Yufeng would yield no benefits. Even though she was unwilling, Lan Lan had to sit down. However, after sitting, Liang Yufeng began discussing stocks with Xing Zheng, showing no intention of arranging work for her. Lan Lan could only sip her water and listen to their conversation.
Despite his scummy nature, Xing Zheng had a keen sense for the stock market. Every casual remark he made held immense value. If he hadn’t hurt Lin Mei, Lan Lan would have praised him.
After their discussion, Liang Yufeng finally remembered to speak to Lan Lan. “Who was the man you were eating with just now?” His tone held a hint of displeasure.
Liang Yufeng was always like this, wishing she were born in a nunnery, seeing only women within his sight. “There were two people eating with me. Is Mr. Liang’s eyesight bad?”
Liang Yufeng: “I’m asking who the man is. Don’t you understand?”
Based on her understanding of him, speaking like this was a precursor to anger. Angering him would bring no good. These dog men, they themselves were not decent, yet they were so controlling. Lan Lan replied sarcastically, “The man? He’s my best friend’s boyfriend. Don’t worry, they’re deeply in love and wouldn’t be interested in me.”
A brief silence followed this statement. Lan Lan’s gaze swept over Xing Zheng, and seeing his displeasure, she smiled again. Birds of a feather flock together; Xing Zheng and Liang Yufeng were truly cut from the same cloth, their double standards identical!
Xing Zheng’s expression clearly showed his displeasure with Lin Mei and Xu Ying’s relationship. Even though he was married, he still considered Lin Mei his possession. Those dog men would never realize how shameless they were!
Liang Yufeng said, “Oh. I have a video conference tonight. You can take meeting minutes.” He actually started arranging work.
Lan Lan agreed. During this time, Xing Zheng had remained silent. After dinner, Lan Lan learned that Xing Zheng was staying at the same hotel as them. As she went upstairs, Lan Lan received a voice message from Lin Mei.
The elevator was very quiet. Xing Zheng also heard her words, “Xu Ying and I are home. You get off work early and rest, don’t stay up late.”
Xing Zheng’s already solemn face became even more somber. Lin Mei said, “Xu Ying and I are home.” She and Xu Ying, home…
Did this mean they were already living together?
Xing Zheng had not sent anyone to follow Lin Mei when she left Nanjiang, unlike last time, and he didn’t know where she was staying or with whom. If she was truly living with Xu Ying…
Xing Zheng heard Lan Lan say, “Next time, Feng Feng and I will come over for dinner at your place,” which further solidified his suspicion. Upon returning to his suite, Xing Zheng walked to the floor-to-ceiling window to smoke.
Nicotine couldn’t numb his nerves. The swirling smoke rose, obscuring his vision. He held the cigarette in his mouth, the smoke stinging his eyes until they watered. Finally, struggling, he took out his phone. “Investigate something for me.”
The night she coincidentally met Xing Zheng, Lin Mei had a nightmare. In her dream, the child she had personally killed was crying and chasing her, asking, “Why did you kill me?”
She ran with all her might but couldn’t escape. The child grabbed her trouser leg. When she turned back, she saw a bloody mass clinging to her leg. She tried to shake it off but couldn’t. Then, she saw Xing Zheng’s face. Just as she was about to ask him for help, he grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the wall. Trapped between them, her breathing grew thinner and thinner…
The dream ended abruptly. Lin Mei sat up in bed, her hair damp, her body sticky, cold sweat on her forehead. The scenes from the dream were so vivid. She gasped, her chest heaving.
When she met him last night, she had acted “cool” enough, not giving him too much attention. But her subconscious couldn’t lie. They hadn’t been separated for long, and the harm he had caused her was still subtly affecting her, especially during her dreams.
Because of the nightmare, Lin Mei had little appetite for breakfast. Xu Ying showed concern, “Why are you eating so little? You don’t look well today either. Didn’t you sleep well?”
Lin Mei replied with an “Mm,” and said to him, “I had a nightmare.”
“What did you dream about?” Xu Ying asked her, “Tonight, I’ll be your cuddle pillow, will that help?”
After saying that, he felt it was inappropriate. “I didn’t mean anything else, don’t misunderstand.”
“I dreamt about that child,” Lin Mei said in a low voice, blaming herself. “It must resent me too. I hurt it.”
“It won’t resent you. You just didn’t have enough destiny together,” Xu Ying comforted Lin Mei. “It just wasn’t the right time for it to come.”
“Yes, it wasn’t the right time.” Lin Mei smiled, but her mood remained complex.
After breakfast, Xu Ying drove Lin Mei to school. As they parted at the school gate, Xing Zheng happened to see them from his car.
Last night, he had learned about Lin Mei and Xu Ying living together and obtained their apartment address. This morning, he had waited downstairs and witnessed Xu Ying walking Lin Mei to school.
He held Lin Mei, and she leaned quietly in his arms. The scene was very heartwarming.
After encountering Xing Zheng that day, Lin Mei began having frequent nightmares. The content was almost identical to that night: a bloody, unformed child, and Xing Zheng, who desperately wanted to strangle her.
Even with Xu Ying beside her as a cuddle pillow, it had no effect.
In less than half a month, Lin Mei was physically and mentally exhausted. Xu Ying hesitated for a long time before saying, “Why don’t we go to the hospital?”