Xing Zheng took his phone and saw Lin Mei's probing message. Lin Mei didn't know Gu Song well, so he casually imitated Gu Song's tone, "What is it?"
A long string of text came back, "It's like this, I have a friend named Xu Ying, who is a race car driver. He's run into some trouble due to a drug test. I heard it has something to do with Lingsheng Capital. I don't know if you've heard about this matter?"
The tone was very tactful and polite, but the words revealed concern for another man. Xing Zheng looked at the screen with a dark expression, and after a long while, he replied, "What is your relationship with him?"
Upon seeing Gu Song's questioning, Lin Mei had an illusion, thinking she was chatting with Xing Zheng. This arrogant tone was too similar to his, no wonder they could be friends.
When asking for a favor, one must be humble. Lin Mei explained to Gu Song, "He's my good friend, so I wanted to see if I could trouble you to help him."
When this message was replied to, Xing Zheng, holding the phone, let out a cold laugh.
Gu Song leaned in to look at the chat records and understood why Xing Zheng was angry. He had added Lin Mei on WeChat some time ago, but they had never spoken. Gu Song and Lin Mei had no private interactions. If anyone was closer, it might be Shen Su.
Lin Mei was likely not the type to ask for favors. Now, willing to approach him, someone she barely knew, for Xu Ying, it showed Xu Ying's special place. Xing Zheng's jealousy must have been boiling at this moment.
Xing Zheng remained still for a long time. Gu Song asked him, "Are you okay? Should I reply for you?"
Xing Zheng ignored him and typed out a message, "Oh? As far as I know, he seems to be pursuing you."
Gu Song: "..." That was too direct. Fortunately, Lin Mei didn't know him well, otherwise, Xing Zheng's identity would be exposed now.
The other side kept showing "The other party is typing," but no new messages came for a long time.
After nearly six minutes, there was finally a response, "Well, currently we are just friends."
This implied that they might develop into lovers in the future. Xing Zheng chuckled; her words were flawless.
He had forgotten, she was a bank manager. If needed, she could utter any smooth-talking phrases.
"What about Xing Zheng? Aren't you two together?"
Gu Song and Shen Su both saw the message Xing Zheng had sent. Shen Su was used to it, and Gu Song should have been too, but since the words were sent through his WeChat, he couldn't help but care. "My image in Lin Mei's heart will probably be that of a gossipy busybody from now on."
"Lin Mei," Xing Zheng said coldly, without even looking up, correcting Gu Song's address for Lin Mei.
Gu Song: "..."
Earlier, when Gu Song had asked Lin Mei about Xu Ying pursuing her, Lin Mei had vaguely felt that Gu Song was trying to make things difficult for her. Now, he brought up Xing Zheng again, and Lin Mei was even more certain that Gu Song was doing it on purpose. With how close he was to Xing Zheng, how could he not know that Xing Zheng had broken up with her?
Lin Mei replied, "Xing Zong and I are no longer together. Xing Zong and Miss Jiang are a perfect match."
After a long while, the other side said, "I have something to attend to. I'm busy. You can come to Lingsheng to chat when you have time."
The topic thus ended. Lin Mei and Gu Song were not really familiar with each other. Since the other party was busy and suggested talking in person, she decided not to bother him further.
After ending the chat, Xing Zheng returned the phone to Gu Song. Gu Song read through their chat history from beginning to end. "Are you coming to my place tomorrow?"
Xing Zheng did not answer, but the answer was obvious. He did not linger. After chatting with Lin Mei, he left, "I'm going to the hospital."
Xing Sha was still hospitalized. Shen Su and Gu Song watched him leave. Gu Song said, "I haven't seen him this childish since high school."
Xing Zheng arrived at the hospital. Xing Sha was alone in the ward. He dismissed the caregiver and housekeeper, not allowing anyone to disturb him. Xing Zheng entered and asked him, "Can you manage by yourself?"
Xing Sha said, "My head is injured, not my legs and feet. It's rare to have some quiet time alone. You're tired from work, so you don't need to make a special trip to see me. The doctor said it's nothing serious."
Xing Zheng replied with an "Mm." He was already accustomed to Xing Sha's behavior of shouldering everything alone. "The doctor examined her yesterday."
Mentioning this, Xing Sha recalled what he had heard during his phone call with Xu Shang that morning. "Was she injured?"
Xu Shang had said that Xie Qin Jia had thrown an entire pot of soup at him, but he hadn't dodged.
"The doctor said that her condition would be best treated in America. Try to take her there after you're discharged," Xing Zheng replied, avoiding Xing Sha's question.
Xing Sha asked him again, "When were you diagnosed?"
Fearing Xing Zheng would not answer, as he had done before, Xing Sha added, "The doctor told me this illness is hereditary. Don't change the subject with me."
Xing Zheng was silent for nearly a minute. Xing Sha couldn't tell what he was thinking, only hearing him say in a calm tone, "Perhaps seven or eight years ago."
When he was first diagnosed, his condition was already very serious, and the doctors couldn't estimate how long he had been ill.
Xing Sha's expression grew much graver, and his voice became somewhat strained, "Was it... when I sent you abroad?"
Xing Zheng faintly replied, "Mm." The more nonchalant he appeared, the more guilty Xing Sha felt towards him. He was filled with regret, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have indulged her willfulness."
His decision back then was merely to get Xie Qin Jia's illness under control sooner. Little did he know that Xie Qin Jia had not recovered and had caused Xing Zheng so much suffering. As both a husband and a father, he felt like a failure.
Xing Zheng did not continue this topic with Xing Sha. He had come to ask a more important question, "Before she was with you, did she date anyone?"
Xing Sha's gaze paused. "No, she only dated me."
Xing Zheng said, "Oh, 'is that so.'" Then what about the photos Jiang Chu Bi saw at Zhao Jiang He's place?
The next afternoon, Lin Mei happened to be out on business. When she finished, it was not yet four o'clock, so she went to Lingsheng on her way.
Before going, she messaged Gu Song to ask if it was convenient. Gu Song was very accommodating and told her that he had already notified the front desk, and someone would escort her up upon arrival.
Gu Song's attitude was very good; there should be room for negotiation. Before coming, Lin Mei had also brought Gu Song a cup of coffee. Gu Song had previously mentioned that he liked espresso, and she happened to know a coffee shop with excellent espresso.
Upon arriving at Lingsheng, she was smoothly taken upstairs. Lin Mei was led into Gu Song's office by an assistant. The assistant told her that Gu Song was in a meeting and asked her to wait.
About twenty minutes later, she heard the sound of a door opening. Lin Mei quickly picked up the coffee and stood up, "Mr. Gu, I remember you like espresso, so I specially..."
Upon seeing who it was, the rest of her words got stuck in her throat, and she almost dropped the coffee in her hand.
The man closed the door and approached her with long strides, like an eagle that had spotted its prey.