Meng Jingwei felt suspicious and immediately called back Old Chen's number, but there was no answer.
Just as she was about to call Shi Ran to report the situation, Shi Ran called her.
"Shi Ran, did you see Old Chen?"
"Mm-hmm, I did. Perhaps I didn't look carefully just now and we missed each other," Shi Ran explained.
On the phone, Meng Jingwei heard Shi Ran say to Old Chen, "Grandpa Chen, do you like the crispy cakes I brought you?"
"Heh heh, it's rare for you, little girl, to still remember me. The taste is good, very good."
Old Chen chuckled as he spoke, and Meng Jingwei heard him clearly.
She couldn't help but frown. Was she being too sensitive?
Meng Jingwei shook her head, thinking she was overthinking due to recent stress, and hung up the phone.
That afternoon, Han Junyan called. His matters were finally settled, and he had already landed and returned to Lancheng. He invited Meng Jingwei to dinner.
After settling Old Chen, Meng Jingwei went to meet him.
However, she was surprised to see Han Junyan sitting with Chu Xue in the hot pot restaurant they had agreed to meet at.
Why was she here?
Meng Jingwei walked over, quite puzzled, her gaze fixed on Chu Xue as she pondered.
However, Chu Xue smiled slightly, "Don't look at me like that. I know Han Junyan invited you to dinner, and I insisted on coming."
Meng Jingwei suddenly remembered that after returning to the country, Han Junyan had taken up a position at a branch company of the Chu Corporation.
So, it was understandable that Chu Xue and Han Junyan had a good relationship.
"Mm."
Meng Jingwei said nothing and sat down opposite them. Before she could speak, she heard Chu Xue say, "I'm here to apologize to you today."
"Apologize?"
What was this about? Meng Jingwei couldn't understand.
"Heh, I always treated you as a hypothetical enemy and thought of you as a competitor. Who knew that in the end, Qing Muye liked men? I feel like a joke."
She picked up the glass of plain water in front of her and took a sip, smiling bitterly and helplessly.
Meng Jingwei's expression stiffened, and she guiltily turned her head to look elsewhere.
She had never expected Chu Xue to be here to apologize to her, and moreover, to apologize because she knew Qing Muye liked 'men.'
While somewhat surprised, she did admit her actions.
However, if one day Qing Muye announced to the public that the 'man' was her, would Chu Xue hate her to death?
"There's no need for that at all."
Meng Jingwei gave an awkward smile and wiggled her fingers.
"To be honest, I admire you. Back then, I thought that if it weren't for Qing Muye, perhaps we could have become friends. Now that I'm over Qing Muye, I came to find you and apologize. What I did before was wrong."
Chu Xue's attitude was sincere.
If the meeting place hadn't been a hot pot restaurant, Chu Xue might have stood up and bowed in apology to Meng Jingwei.
Han Junyan, standing beside them, smiled gently, "Weiwei and Chu Xue have very similar personalities. Becoming friends would be a good choice."
"Yes, that's exactly what I thought."
Chu Xue seized the opportunity, immediately picked up a glass of water from the table, and raised it. "Meng Jingwei, I'm treating you to this meal today. I hope we can put our past behind us and be friends?"
Meng Jingwei: "..."
Was this really okay?
It felt like they were colluding to deceive Chu Xue.
She was truly afraid that Chu Xue would kill her if she ever found out the truth.
The two of them stared intently at Meng Jingwei, their gazes making her spine go cold, but she still braced herself and picked up her glass, using tea as a substitute for wine, and clinked it with Chu Xue.
As the saying goes, 'one doesn't hit a smiling person.'
Chu Xue, as the eldest princess of the Chu Corporation, had lowered herself to apologize to her and offered friendship. How could she refuse?
"Although there have been many reports in the news, I am the god-granddaughter of Old Mrs. Qing, and I will have a lot of contact with Qing Muye in the future. Miss Chu, are you sure you want to be friends with me?"
Meng Jingwei leaned back in the booth, holding her cup, sipping water, and observing Chu Xue's facial expression.
"Sigh, I'm heartbroken over Qing Muye now. None of that matters, as long as you don't mention him in front of me anymore."
Chu Xue waved her hand, a hint of sadness appearing on her delicate, sophisticated face. "He truly disgusted me."
That day at the department store counter, Chu Xue had personally witnessed a 'man' embracing and kissing Qing Muye. She had been hit hard by the scene and had almost slapped Qing Muye.
Qing Muye had always been the person she admired the most, like a belief.
When her belief collapsed, she was in low spirits for several days before gradually emerging from the shadow.
At that time, she felt that everything she had done to Meng Jingwei was very wrong, but she couldn't bring herself to initiate a conversation.
Fortunately, Han Junyan was back now, and she took this opportunity to find Meng Jingwei.
"Hehehehe, yes."
Meng Jingwei rested her left elbow on the table, her fingers quietly covering her forehead, appearing contemplative. Unbeknownst to others, her slightly lowered face held an expression of mingled amusement and helplessness.
But Meng Jingwei had to admit that Chu Xue was forthright and brave, a personality not easily found in ordinary people.
"I am happy to see you two reconcile," Han Junyan said, maintaining his usual elegant demeanor. He raised his cup. "Come, let's toast with tea as a substitute for wine."
"Yes, let's toast."
"Heh heh, okay."
The three of them clinked their glasses and drank half a cup of warm water.
The waiter brought over the hot pot base and side dishes one by one. The three of them sat together, eating and chatting.
When the conversation reached a lively point, Chu Xue looked at Meng Jingwei and asked, "Your Encounter Wedding Company has closed down. What are you planning to do next?"
Meng Jingwei thought for a moment. Although she had previously signed a contract with Qing Muye to open a wedding company together, and the contract was still valid, many incidents had occurred at her wedding company. If she continued to stay there, she didn't know what trouble would arise.
It would be better to think about doing something else first, to divert her attention.
"I don't know. I plan to look for a job first."
Having experienced so much, Meng Jingwei was clear on one thing: to restrain her sharpness and, secondly, to act with discretion.
If she were to start another company, it must not be known to the outside world.
This way, she could ensure her company ran smoothly.
Otherwise, she didn't know what kind of chaos would ensue.
"What was your major before? Have you considered working at my company?" Chu Xue asked with a bright smile. "My company is lacking talent like you."
"I... perhaps not. I'd rather deliver food."
She felt that delivering food would give her more free time, and if something urgent came up, she could handle it immediately. It would also be more convenient for her to manage other businesses privately.
Once she started working, she wouldn't have so much leisure time.
"Oh, how much can you earn delivering food? By the way, your catwalk show that day truly amazed me. I have a company that needs models. The working hours are short each day, and the pay is quite good. Would you consider it?" Chu Xue suggested.