Meng Jingwei walked ahead, and she followed behind, the two of them leaving.
For a moment, only Qing Muye and Xiao Cheng were left, and the atmosphere at the dining table suddenly became tense and oppressive.
"They all say that President Qing is not close to women, but I think he's always looking for more."
Xiao Cheng let out a light sneer, scoffing at Qing Muye without any reservation, while looking down and cutting the Wellington beef on his plate.
Qing Muye, with his bone-like jade fingers, picked up the wine glass, swirled the crimson liquid within, raised it, and took a small sip, saying nonchalantly, "Young Master Xiao still has the leisure to pay attention to others' affairs, which means... you are not busy enough."
In one sentence, full of deterrent power.
"Bring out any insidious tricks you have, and I, Xiao Cheng, will not flinch." With that, he put down his knife and fork, turned his head, and said to Qing Muye with a serious expression, "Including Meng Jingwei!"
He was issuing a challenge.
Even if Meng Jingwei was oblivious and didn't know how much Qing Muye liked her, Xiao Cheng saw it clearly.
Despite Qing Muye appearing with Chu Xue often, the way he looked at Chu Xue was too indifferent, completely different from the passionate gaze he cast upon Meng Jingwei.
Qing Muye lightly tapped the surface of his wine glass with his index finger, and through the mirror-like glass, Xiao Cheng's face was reflected.
He appeared calm, gracefully sipping his red wine, "That depends on whether you have the qualification."
"Heh."
As Qing Muye finished speaking, Xiao Cheng laughed, "The fact that I can still sit here and eat with her is my qualification."
Provocation.
A complete provocation.
But Qing Muye was not annoyed. For someone who posed no challenge, getting angry would be beneath him.
Because Qing Muye knew that Meng Jingwei did not like Xiao Cheng.
The two were competing on the surface.
Meanwhile, in the restroom.
After using the restroom, Meng Jingwei went to the public washbasin to wash her hands.
Standing in front of the mirror, she took a look at herself, then reached out to smooth her windblown hair. Just then, she saw Chu Xue walk up to her, cross her arms, and stare at her intently.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Anyone who didn't know would think you have a problem with your sexual orientation," she teased unceremoniously.
"Didn't you say you didn't like him? If you don't like him, why don't you stay away from him?"
Leaning against the wall, her arrogant posture was very unpleasant.
Meng Jingwei turned on the faucet and washed her hands again, retorting, "So many people who can't think straight have committed suicide. Since you can't think straight, why don't you go die?"
If you didn't have twenty years of cerebral thrombosis, you wouldn't ask such an idiotic question.
"You..."
Faced with Meng Jingwei's crude attitude, Chu Xue was helpless against her. She sighed and said, "People should have self-awareness. You said this before."
That day, at the charity gala, she had said this to Chen Xi.
"Someone without 'self-awareness' brings up 'awareness' to me. Are you qualified?"
Meng Jingwei finished washing her hands, took out a tissue to dry her fingers, and slowly turned back, "Since you're his girlfriend, hold on tight. If someone else intervenes one day, it's either you who has a problem, or he does. Flies don't land on spotless eggs."
With that, a faint smile curved her red lips, "But you can rest assured, no matter how low my standards go, Meng Jingwei, I won't be interested in rotten eggs like him."
She threw the used tissue into the trash can, bypassed Chu Xue, and walked away directly.
Chu Xue leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, her cold eyes lowered.
After a moment, a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
It seemed Meng Jingwei truly thought she was Qing Muye's girlfriend.
The two returned to their seats to continue their meal, the atmosphere as before, seemingly relaxed, but with undercurrents of turmoil.
After the meal, Meng Jingwei went to the front desk to pay the bill. Xiao Cheng and Meng Jingwei left first, while Qing Muye and Chu Xue went their separate ways.
However, just a few steps after Chu Xue reached the parking lot, she suddenly stopped, "Brother Muye?"
She called out.
Qing Muye stopped and looked back, "What is it?"
Chu Xue pursed her lips, adjusted the fox fur shawl on her shoulders, and walked towards him in high heels, "You've done so much, but it seems to have had no effect."
The man's obsidian-like eyes remained calm, and his thin lips parted, "Just do what you're supposed to do."
He said coldly and left.
"Qing Muye, give up. If she really liked you, how could she accept you being with another woman? You should know very well that she doesn't love you at all; it's all self-deception."
From the day she appeared at the Wansheng Ski Resort, Chu Xue's identity was that of an 'actress,' pretending to be Qing Muye's girlfriend.
He really thought this method could stimulate Meng Jingwei and make her realize that the person she truly liked was him.
Unfortunately, after several days, there was no effect.
Qing Muye hadn't considered Chu Xue's words, but rather... he was unwilling to think about them.
Hearing Chu Xue's words, he stopped, looked straight ahead, and seemed lost.
Chu Xue walked slowly closer to him, took out her phone, turned on the recorder, and played back the words she had just recorded in the restroom...
"...Since you're his girlfriend, hold on tight. If someone else intervenes one day, it's either you who has a problem, or he does. Flies don't land on spotless eggs."
"But you can rest assured, no matter how low my standards go, Meng Jingwei, I won't be interested in rotten eggs like him."
These two sentences alone plunged Qing Muye's heart into an abyss.
He didn't look back, his expression remaining calm and unruffled.
Only the fingers of his hands hanging by his sides slightly clenched, revealing his uneasy heart.
"She never loved you. All your persistence will only earn you her disgust," Chu Xue's words pierced like a knife.
Qing Muye still did not reply, but simply walked towards his car and slammed the door shut.
On this day, a speeding car joined the road, hurtling along, like a flash of lightning on level ground.
Qing Muye, his mind in disarray, was extremely anxious. Meng Jingwei's words kept replaying in his mind, but ultimately, it ended in tragedy.
That is... he was in a car accident.
Meng Jingwei, however, was completely unaware of this.
In the afternoon, she was buried in work at the company.
In the evening, at half past five.
Shu Yao waited quietly for Qing Sihuai in a private room at the Hilton Western Restaurant.
As expected, the man arrived precisely at half past five.
"Sorry, thank you for waiting."
The man was gentlemanly and refined, greeting her with a smile as he entered the private room.
His handsome and charming face truly captivated Shu Yao's heart.
Her heart pounded uncontrollably, and her small face flushed, "Not at all, I just arrived too. Is it very cold outside?" She tried to find a topic to chat about.
"It's alright."
Qing Sihuai took off his scarf and hung it on the coat rack, then walked to the booth opposite her and sat down, "Have you ordered yet?"
"Not yet. I was waiting for you."
Shu Yao pushed the menu towards Qing Sihuai, "I don't know what you like to eat."