Outside the door stood Ruan Yufei and her son Yang Shuo. When the door opened, Lin Mei met their eyes. Yang Shuo's previously happy smile vanished almost instantly, and the insulated food container in Ruan Yufei's hand almost fell to the ground. Ruan Yufei's face turned pale, her eyes already red. Anyone who didn't know better would think Lin Mei had bullied her.
"I'm sorry, did we interrupt you?" Ruan Yufei pulled Yang Shuo and apologized to Lin Mei. "Yang Shuo said he missed A Zheng, so I brought him to see him. We didn't mean to disturb you. Miss Lin, please don't mind..."
"Where is my dad?" Ruan Yufei tried to pull Yang Shuo away, but Yang Shuo refused. He wouldn't leave without seeing Xing Zheng. In Yang Shuo's eyes, Lin Mei was the bad woman who had stolen his father and wouldn't let him see him!
Lin Mei looked at Ruan Yufei. She seemed accustomed to Yang Shuo calling Xing Zheng "Dad" and had never corrected him. It was likely that Xing Zheng had been playing the role of father all these years.
After Xie Qin Jia's birthday party, Lin Mei learned that Yang Shuo was Xing Zheng's biological son. Ruan Yufei was likely Xing Zheng's nominal cousin-in-law. However, Ruan Yufei's feelings for Xing Zheng were not like those of a sister-in-law for a brother-in-law. The entanglement between them was likely known only to the parties involved.
Lin Mei made way for the mother and son and went to the dining room to inform Xing Zheng. "Miss Ruan is here with your son."
She deliberately said "your son" to tease Xing Zheng. Xing Zheng said nothing and went to the living room. As soon as Yang Shuo saw Xing Zheng, he ran up smiling. "Dad!"
Xing Zheng responded with an "Mm" and then asked Ruan Yufei, "Why didn't you say anything before coming?"
"I'm sorry... I didn't know Miss Lin was here," Ruan Yufei apologized to Xing Zheng and added, "I wanted to discuss Yang Shuo's math competition with you. I didn't expect to disturb you."
"Dad, Mom brought you corn and pork rib soup!" Yang Shuo took the insulated food container from Ruan Yufei and presented it to Xing Zheng as if it were a treasure. "Dad, have you eaten? Let's eat together."
Ruan Yufei quickly stepped forward to stop Yang Shuo. "Yang Shuo, Dad is busy with other things. Don't bother him!"
"Dad, don't you want to eat with me?" Yang Shuo was reprimanded by Ruan Yufei and felt wronged. He sought comfort from Xing Zheng. Xing Zheng wiped Yang Shuo's tears and said to Ruan Yufei, "Come to the kitchen, let's eat together."
Ruan Yufei hesitated. "But Miss Lin..."
"Let's go," Xing Zheng patted Yang Shuo's shoulder. Ruan Yufei followed them, and they all went to the dining room.
After the three of them entered, Lin Mei looked over. The child Yang Shuo looked very much like Xing Zheng. It was normal for Yang Shuo to consider Xing Zheng his father.
When Ruan Yufei arrived at the dining room, she apologized to Lin Mei again. "Miss Lin, I'm really sorry for disturbing you."
Lin Mei knew very well that Ruan Yufei was putting on a show for Xing Zheng. They were all treating her as an enemy. Lin Mei disliked such dramatic displays. She gave a generous smile and said to Ruan Yufei, "Miss Ruan, you're too kind. You and Mr. Xing are family. It's I who should apologize for disturbing you."
Ruan Yufei hadn't expected Lin Mei to say that. She flusteredly explained, "Miss Lin, you've misunderstood. Ah Zheng and I are not..."
"I know, you're his cousin-in-law," Lin Mei interrupted Ruan Yufei. "Aren't a sister-in-law and a brother-in-law family?"
Ruan Yufei's face turned red, and she was speechless, cornered by Lin Mei. Lin Mei felt no guilt. Ruan Yufei had provoked her first, and if she didn't teach her a lesson, Ruan Yufei would come to her again to cause trouble.
Ruan Yufei and Yang Shuo stayed for lunch. During the meal, Ruan Yufei praised Lin Mei's cooking, feigning sincerity. Lin Mei reciprocated with feigned politeness.
Every time she spoke with Ruan Yufei, Lin Mei felt a mocking gaze upon her. The scoundrel was constantly chatting with Yang Shuo, while also watching the "show" she and Ruan Yufei were putting on. He seemed to enjoy the attention of several women vying for him, smiling as if basking in the spring breeze.
After lunch, Ruan Yufei volunteered to clean the kitchen, wanting to play the role of a virtuous wife and mother. Lin Mei indulged her, as she disliked doing chores anyway. Lin Mei went to the living room and saw Xing Zheng chatting with Yang Shuo. Yang Shuo mentioned a New Year's event at school that required parents to attend together, and Xing Zheng readily agreed.
Lin Mei was not particularly concerned. She sat aside and played on her phone. Shortly after, Ruan Yufei finished cleaning the kitchen and came out. After discussing Yang Shuo's math competition with Xing Zheng, she prepared to leave with Yang Shuo. Yang Shuo was reluctant, but Xing Zheng did not try to keep him. In the end, he was taken away by Ruan Yufei. Lin Mei didn't even have the energy to play along with Ruan Yufei; she continued playing on her phone and did not see them off.
Xing Zheng saw the mother and son off to their car. Upon returning, he sat down beside Lin Mei. Lin Mei put down her phone and met his gaze. Xing Zheng cupped her chin. "Don't you have anything to ask me?"
"I already have the answers to the questions I wanted to ask." Yang Shuo was not his biological son, and knowing that was enough. Given their relationship, it wouldn't matter even if he were.
Lin Mei didn't expect Xing Zheng to talk much about family matters. Unexpectedly, he initiated the conversation about Yang Shuo's background today. "Yang Shuo is my cousin's son. When my cousin had his accident, Ruan Yufei was two months pregnant, but he didn't know it at the time."
"Ruan Yufei's social circle is small, and she hasn't met many people. After giving birth, she's been raising the child alone, only staying in frequent contact with me. Yang Shuo has always called me Dad."
Xing Zheng used "had his accident" instead of "car accident," but Lin Mei still knew what it referred to. "Then... what about Xing Yan?"
Lin Mei almost habitually called him "Ming Zhe Ge Ge" but changed her address at the last moment.
Xing Zheng chuckled and asked knowingly, "What about him?"
Lin Mei: "Does he have a girlfriend?"
He probably does. He was twenty-one when the accident happened, and he had completed three years of university. For someone as outstanding as him, how could he not have a girlfriend?
Xing Zheng: "What do you think?"
Lin Mei: "Probably."
"Congratulations, you guessed wrong." Xing Zheng moved closer to her, his fingers tracing her cheek, examining her as if appraising a commodity, his gaze naked. "He's been waiting for you to come to Nanjiang. How could he have the time to date anyone else?"
His rough fingers roamed her delicate face, and he said, half-truthfully, half-jokingly, "He prepared a love letter to give to you. Aren't you touched?"
"...What?" The lake in Lin Mei's heart seemed to be stirred. She urgently grabbed Xing Zheng's hand. "What love letter? Where is it?"
She was impatient and full of anticipation, as if asking for something she had longed for. The light in her eyes was like a bullet piercing his heart. Xing Zheng looked at her and smiled, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Are you in such a hurry to see it?"
"Tell me where it is!"
The more anxious Lin Mei became, the harsher he grew. "What will you do after you read it? Will you die with him?"