“Even if they agree, it doesn’t mean I will,” Lin Mei pushed him away. “It’s not like I can’t live without you.”
Xing Zheng pressed close again. “Mm, it’s me who can’t live without you.”
It wasn’t an overly mushy statement, but coming from him, it was rare. Lin Mei actually got goosebumps. It was probably because he had never expressed his inner feelings with such seriousness. In the past, he would only say such things in bed.
Had the separation of a few months made him feel a sense of crisis?
After returning to Xiangxi, Lin Mei had been reflecting on the question Lin Zhengde had asked her. For Xing Zheng, she had sacrificed too much of her pride and had indeed become unlike her former self. Consequently, during this period, she had never proactively contacted him. WeChat messages were always initiated by Xing Zheng, and she would reply in a business-like manner upon seeing them.
Lan Lan had once said that human nature was inherently cheap; once a sense of loss of control set in, one would become proactive. Xing Zheng’s current behavior perfectly proved how correct her words were. As Lan Lan had said, she had spoiled Xing Zheng too much in the past, which was why he had been so “unscrupulous,” making her fight for a simple “I love you” as if she were begging for his affection. How much more satisfying was the current situation?
It turned out that sometimes, one didn't need to express themselves directly. For someone like Xing Zheng, retreating to advance and defending to attack was the superior strategy. Therefore, Lin Mei chose to respond to his statement with silence.
He waited for a long time and then asked, “Did you hear what I said?”
“Oh,” she replied with a cool expression, her heart as calm as still water. “I heard.”
“Don’t you have anything to say to me?” Xing Zheng asked, a hint of disappointment in his tone, as the response he expected did not come.
“The child’s father is you, and I indeed have no right to stop you from being present for the birth,” Lin Mei continued in a business-like manner. “If you want to stay, then stay.”
“Is it only because I’m the child’s father? What about you?” he asked, unwilling to accept it. “Do you want me to stay?”
“I have no thoughts on the matter,” Lin Mei said calmly and composedly. “We’ve broken up. Whether you stay or not doesn’t affect me much.”
Xing Zheng subconsciously glanced towards the kitchen, but no one emerged. He had thought Lin Mei was “acting” because she saw Lin Zhengde coming out…
His expression turned serious. Gazing into her calm eyes, he felt a flutter of panic. “I don’t affect you much anymore?”
“After being with you, I truly became unlike my former self,” Lin Mei told him. “From now on, I want to live more clearly.” This implied that she would no longer be “crazy” for him as she had been before.
The light in Xing Zheng’s eyes dimmed further. Lin Mei, however, remained unhurried. “If you can’t accept it, you can find a better option.”
“No,” he replied without hesitation. “You are my only choice.”
Just then, Xiao Yue happened to walk out. Lin Mei broke free from Xing Zheng and did not continue their conversation. Although she had let go in time, Xiao Yue still noticed their intimacy. “Dinner is almost ready, let’s eat together.”
Regardless, Xing Zheng had helped Lin Mei out today.
Xing Zheng shamelessly stayed for dinner. He acted as if nothing had happened, chatting with Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue. Xiao Yue would still exchange a few words with him, but Lin Zhengde did not respond at all, continuing to talk with Lin Mei. Lin Mei was also not warm towards Xing Zheng, which greatly pleased Lin Zhengde.
As soon as dinner was over, Lin Zhengde politely asked Xing Zheng to leave. Xing Zheng subconsciously looked for Lin Mei, their eyes meeting. Lin Mei said the same thing, “You should go.”
Xing Zheng had no choice but to leave first. Lin Zhengde was very pleased with Lin Mei’s behavior and said to her after Xing Zheng left, “Now this is like my daughter.”
Lin Mei smiled without speaking. Before going to sleep, she recounted the evening’s events in the group chat, which immediately drew out Lan Lan and Feng Feng.
Lan Lan: [Good job, you defended me against your weird cousin. Your parents must have felt quite relieved, right?]
Feng Feng: [Chose the timing very well.]
Lan Lan: [For these past few months, his people must have been watching Mei Mei every day, just waiting for this moment to appear. He’s playing the long game to catch a big fish, truly remarkable.]
Xing Zheng’s strategy was well-executed. Lan Lan and Feng Feng were more concerned about Lin Mei’s attitude. Not wanting Lin Mei to be manipulated by Xing Zheng again, Lan Lan asked, [What about you? You’re not going to be moved by him and fall into his arms again, are you?]
Lin Mei: [No.]
Feng Feng: [Oh?]
Lin Mei: [Lan Zong is right, you shouldn’t spoil men too much. I plan to keep him at a distance for a while.]
Lin Mei had said similar things many times before, but she could hardly stick to them for long. In fact, without Xing Zheng even showing weakness, she would surrender on her own. Therefore, this time, Lan Lan was skeptical. [You better be.]
Lan Lan’s words made Lin Mei realize how much she had “indulged” Xing Zheng in the past. She assured Lan Lan: [This time, I definitely will.]
Feng Feng: [We’ll see.]
The third day of Xing Zheng’s arrival in Xiangxi was Lin Mei’s third-to-last prenatal check-up. Early in the morning, he went to pick her up and personally accompanied her.
Lin Mei, wearing a mask and a black dress, sat quietly in the passenger seat, not saying a word. Xing Zheng had to initiate the conversation. “I’ve booked a brunch at a restaurant. Shall we go after the check-up?”
“Oh.” Although she didn’t refuse, her tone was far from enthusiastic. One word, and the conversation was over.
Xing Zheng had to ask again, “Is Western food okay, or do you want noodles?”
“Either is fine.” Three words, and the conversation ended again.
Xing Zheng finally had nothing more to say. He was a man of few words and not good at chatting. When the other person was cold, he would speak even less. After two encounters with Lin Mei, he seemed to have lost his ability to speak.
Lin Mei glanced at his frustrated expression and secretly chuckled. She had often been at a disadvantage with him, being rendered speechless by his teasing remarks, which was a common occurrence. Seeing him flustered now made her exceptionally happy.
The routine prenatal check-up items were very familiar to Lin Mei. Xing Zheng went to get her examination reports. While waiting, Lin Mei ran into a former classmate.
Her classmate worked at this hospital. Lin Mei’s relationship with her was not close, and her classmate had often made veiled insults towards her.
“You’re here for a prenatal check-up? Aren’t your parents accompanying you today?” the classmate asked solicitously. “Oh dear, your belly is so big, and you’re here for a check-up alone. The father of this child is too irresponsible.”
Lin Mei ignored her. The classmate continued to advise her, “Nowadays, when a man’s heart changes, giving him a child won’t tie him down. You need to…”
“I have them all,” the classmate said, but before she could finish, she saw a tall, distinguished man stop beside Lin Mei, holding a stack of examination reports. When he looked at Lin Mei, his sharp features softened slightly.
While still surprised, the man glanced at her and asked Lin Mei, “An acquaintance?”
“A classmate,” Lin Mei replied.
“Then it must be a classmate you haven’t contacted in years, to the point of not even knowing about our relationship,” Xing Zheng said, putting his arm around her. “Let’s go for the blood test first.”