Xing Sha saw Lin Mei and nodded to her, "You're here."
Lin Mei also nodded and proactively asked about Xing Sha's wound. Xing Sha said it was nothing serious, so Lin Mei didn't press further. Seeing the thick bandages, she knew it was severe and figured he didn't want to talk about it.
Xu Shang and Xie Junyao also introduced Lin Mei's identity to Xing Sha. Upon hearing it, Xing Sha seemed slightly surprised, "So it's you."
Lin Mei: "Hmm?" This implied he had heard of her before.
Xing Sha's next words confirmed her guess, "A Yan mentioned you."
Lin Mei: "Did he?"
Not only had he mentioned her, but Xing Sha also knew that Xing Yan had always refused to date, all because he was still thinking about the little girl he played with as a child. He didn't want anyone to interfere. The jade pendant specially custom-made by Xie Qin Jia with his name engraved on it had even been given to that little girl.
"Did A Yan give you a Hetian jade pendant?"
"He did," Lin Mei remembered the pendant. Xing Zheng had broken it earlier, and she hadn't found a place to get it repaired yet. "The pendant is still here."
Xing Sha smiled, "It's good that you kept it."
"You knew long ago that A Yan had someone he liked in his heart, why didn't you tell me?" Xie Qin Jia questioned Xing Sha unhappily. If he hadn't brought it up today, she wouldn't have known that Xing Yan had liked Lin Mei for so long! If she had known earlier, she would have brought Lin Mei to Nanjiang to study with Xing Yan!
"That was A Yan's privacy," Xing Sha immediately understood Xie Qin Jia's concern. "He intended to bring her back for you to see." Unfortunately, before that day arrived, an accident happened.
Xing Sha hadn't expected that the person Xing Yan mentioned would be Lin Mei. It seemed everything was destined. No wonder Xie Qin Jia liked Lin Mei so much the first time she met her, constantly saying she was a good match for Xing Yan. Their mother-son judgment had always been consistent.
"Heh, what do you mean bring her back for me to see? My A Yan was killed by that murderer long ago," Xie Qin Jia said to Xing Sha. "Since you want to stand by his side, then sign the divorce agreement quickly. I don't want to see either of you again in this lifetime!"
"Aunt Xie, please don't be angry!" Xie Qin Jia's emotions flared up, and her breathing became rapid. Lin Mei, fearing something might happen, quickly tried to calm her down, "It's rare for me to visit. Please don't argue with Uncle, okay?"
No one expected that Lin Mei could calm Xie Qin Jia down with just a sentence. Xing Sha had already prepared for another argument, but Xie Qin Jia actually quieted down. Although she didn't speak to him again, she didn't argue as fiercely as before.
Not only Xing Sha, but Xu Shang and Xie Junyao were also surprised by this turn of events. Xing Sha gazed at Lin Mei, who was sitting beside Xie Qin Jia and chatting with her, his eyes flickering with an unfathomable depth.
Because Lin Mei was present, the dinner, which should have been somewhat tense, turned out to be much more relaxed than expected. Lin Mei thoughtfully took care of Xie Qin Jia, and Xie Qin Jia kept chatting with Lin Mei. During their conversation, they talked about her relationship with Zhao Jiang He. Upon learning that Lin Mei had no romantic interest in Zhao Jiang He, Xie Qin Jia no longer pressured her.
Before Lin Mei left the Xing family villa, Xing Sha personally saw her off. As they walked to the parking spot, Lin Mei smiled and asked Xing Sha, "You have something you want to tell me, don't you?"
Xing Sha: "You are very intelligent."
Lin Mei: "Please speak directly. I will help if I can."
Xing Sha told Lin Mei about Xie Qin Jia's condition and the entire story behind the divorce. Lin Mei already knew all of this.
After finishing, Xing Sha said to Lin Mei, "I've made a fool of myself." His tone carried a hint of self-mockery.
Lin Mei: "Not at all. I also noticed today that Aunt Xie's eyes are not as bright as before. Has it been very serious lately?" It seemed her mental state wasn't very good either. She was very agitated tonight, talking a lot, which was more than just being in a good mood.
Xing Sha sighed, "Ever since I handed the company over to A Zheng, she's been like this."
Lin Mei: "Has she sought treatment?"
Xing Sha: "She's been taking medication, but there's been no significant effect, which is why I need to find you."
Lin Mei became confused, "Hmm?" Find her? Was she perhaps more capable than a professional psychologist?
Xing Sha said, "She needs to go abroad for treatment, but she only listens to you. So, I hope you can spend more time with her when you have the chance and try to persuade her."
Lin Mei readily agreed, "Of course, please don't worry."
Xing Sha: "Thank you. As for compensation, I'll have A Zheng..."
"You're too kind. Aunt Xie treats me very well. This is what I should do." It was a small favor; how could Lin Mei accept payment?
Xing Sha looked at Lin Mei and said with emotion, "It's a shame. In my lifetime, I won't find such a good daughter-in-law as you."
Xing Sha's sudden, exaggerated remark stunned Lin Mei for a moment. She then smiled and replied, "Miss Jiang is also not bad. She is very well-matched with President Xing."
Xing Sha gave a wry smile, "That's what outsiders say. If he doesn't like her himself, no matter how well-matched they are, they won't be happy."
Lin Mei: "..." From Xing Sha's words, it seemed he wasn't very optimistic about Xing Zheng marrying Jiang Chu Bi?
"This alliance was initiated by him with the Jiang family. He and Chu Bi have no feelings for each other privately."
On the way back, Lin Mei kept thinking about Xing Sha's words. So, Xing Zheng had actively pursued the alliance with Jiang Chu Bi, and the Xing family didn't need the Jiang family's influence; rather, the Jiang family needed to rely on the Xing family... If it wasn't for benefits, then why was Xing Zheng so insistent on marrying Jiang Chu Bi? It couldn't be because he liked her, to the point of cheating on each other.
Unable to figure this out, the next day during afternoon tea with Lan Lan and Feng Feng, Lin Mei shared this news with them. Lan Lan was also quite puzzled, "Not a union for benefits? Then what are they after?"
Lin Mei shook her head; she couldn't figure it out either. Feng Feng checked the available financial news. Indeed, before Xing Zheng returned to the country, he had provided considerable assistance to the Jiang Corporation. The Jiang Corporation was now far from its former glory. If it weren't for Xing Zheng's support, it would have likely declined long ago.
"Xing Zheng has given so many investments to the Jiang Corporation?" Lan Lan exclaimed, astonished. "Could he actually like Jiang Chu Bi?!" Indeed, for such a shrewd person to invest so many resources, this seemed to be the only plausible reason. But... if he liked her, why were they each playing their own games?
"Damn, is Xing Zheng a cuckold, does he like change-partners!" Lan Lan exclaimed, as if discovering a shocking secret.
Lin Mei frowned, "Are there such people?"
"Yes, some people just like that feeling of being cuckolded. As for changing partners, I've seen many people do it. And they're all from the financial circle. Damn it, now I feel like the three of us are just a clear stream in this circle..."
Lin Mei: "..." She had never truly heard of such things before.
"Ms. Feng, what do you think?" Lan Lan's thoughts were too jumpy; it was better to ask the rational Feng Feng.
Feng Feng: "It's simple. Jiang Chu Bi has other value that he needs to exploit. Have you forgotten how you and Chen Qi broke up?"