"You haven't contacted me in two months, and you didn't even bother to call?" Xiao Cheng teased Meng Jingwei.
In reality, during these past two months, he had also been learning to manage the Xiao family's business.
The Junlin company he had previously started was just a small venture, barely enough to support him. But now, the burdens and responsibilities on him had grown heavier.
Even if Xiao Cheng didn't want to be involved with the Xiao family business, he had to shoulder the pressure and, with a grim determination, continue.
Because...
He needed to become strong.
He desperately needed to become powerful in a short period.
"I heard you've been busy with company matters with your elder brother. I didn't want to bother you, so I didn't call."
She didn't even believe her own polite words.
The last time she had injured Xiao Cheng, Meng Jingwei had simply thought she had hurt them both. She hadn't expected to then shoot Xiao Meiyan's knee meniscus, leaving her bedridden.
Although she had received the best treatment, there would still be aftereffects.
Meng Jingwei didn't feel any guilt towards Xiao Meiyan for this matter. However, she felt she couldn't face Xiao Cheng with the same ease as before.
"Are you free tomorrow? Want to go skiing together?" he invited warmly.
"Skiing? That sounds like fun, but I don't know how."
She genuinely didn't know how to ski.
"With me here, that's not something you need to worry about." After saying that, Xiao Cheng immediately added, "Tomorrow morning at nine, I'll call you. It's settled, get some rest, bye."
"Ah, I... hello?"
Meng Jingwei wanted to refuse, but Xiao Cheng gave her no opportunity to do so and hung up the phone.
This abruptness truly left Meng Jingwei feeling a bit awkward.
She sighed, "Skiing? That's good. I can consider it a way to relax."
She hadn't had a single day off in two months.
Now, Chaoyun Esports was operating normally, and Xièhuì Weddings was gradually reaching a stable state, with a future destined to develop in the best direction.
She might as well give herself a chance to rest properly.
However...
The thought of being alone with Xiao Cheng tomorrow made Meng Jingwei uncomfortable, so she called Shu Yao.
"What is it? Calling me so late?"
Shu Yao grumbled into the phone.
"Do you want to go skiing tomorrow?" Meng Jingwei asked directly.
"Sure. Where are we going?"
Shu Yao's question completely stumped Meng Jingwei; she hadn't actually asked Xiao Cheng where they were going.
"Probably... at the ski resort in Lancheng. Where else would it be?"
"Who are you going with?"
"Xiao Cheng."
"That's it?"
"And you, of course."
"You... are you using me as a third wheel?" Shu Yao spat, feeling Meng Jingwei was being unfair.
"I was thinking you haven't been out in a while and wanted to take you out to relax. How about you invite someone too?"
"Alright then."
They chatted for a few more minutes, confirmed the time, and then hung up.
Meng Jingwei lay tiredly on her bed, browsing livestreams, watching the minutes tick by. It was already three or four in the morning, and she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Even though she was very tired, her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, yet she just couldn't sleep.
Helplessly, she took a sleeping pill to aid her rest.
The next day, she woke up precisely at six.
After her morning run and breakfast, she went home, tidied herself up, and waited for Xiao Cheng's call.
At nine o'clock, they agreed to meet at the Xièhuì Weddings company.
When she arrived, the first person she saw was Xiao Cheng. Then, a car stopped, and Shu Yao got out.
Following behind her was... Qing Si Huai!
"Hi, good morning Weiwei, Young Master Xiao."
Shu Yao was wearing a black velvet down jacket, cute earmuffs, wrapped in a grey knitted scarf, with her hair tied up in a bun. She looked playful and adorable.
Qing Si Huai, behind her, wore a military-green trench coat with a black mock-neck sweater underneath. His attire was casual yet exuded a mature and sexy charm.
Especially with his beard, he looked incredibly captivating when he smiled.
Meng Jingwei couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, looking somewhat surprised. "Good morning."
"Sister Yao Yao is dressed very cutely today."
Xiao Cheng complimented her generously, then looked at Qing Si Huai behind her. "Seventh Master Qing is usually very busy with work, and it's hard to get him to agree to plans. It seems Sister Yao Yao has amazing charm."
He said this with a double meaning.
Shu Yao's fair cheeks flushed at his words. She pursed her lips and smiled, "I originally invited Ivan to come, but she had to go on a business trip at the last minute, so I shamelessly dragged Master Qing along."
"That's right. Yao Yao told me that Little Miss Jingwei would be with you, so I came along." He raised his hand to smooth his windblown bangs, a sexy curve forming on his lips. "I've been back in Lancheng for a while and haven't had a chance to relax. It's just right to go out and have some fun with you all."
"Alright, let's talk in the car then," Meng Jingwei said.
After the group discussed it, they eventually left in Qing Si Huai's Jeep Wrangler.
Qing Si Huai and Xiao Cheng sat in the front, while Meng Jingwei and Shu Yao sat in the back.
Upbeat music played loudly in the car, creating a good atmosphere inside the cabin.
Meng Jingwei lowered her voice, leaned towards Shu Yao, and whispered, "Are you trying to get us killed? I asked you to bring someone, but why did you bring him?"
Shu Yao rolled her eyes at Meng Jingwei. "Who else could I find? Ivan wasn't available. If I found someone you didn't know, wouldn't that be awkward?"
"You..."
Meng Jingwei, left speechless and angered, slowly let out a sigh. She glanced at the two sitting in the front and said in an even softer voice, "You know what happened at the wedding banquet last time, aren't you afraid they'll start glaring at each other when they meet?"
Although the incident at the last wedding banquet was masterminded by Xiao Meiyan, regardless, Xiao Cheng was inextricably involved.
And Qing Si Huai was Qing Mu Ye's seventh uncle, meaning he was ultimately part of the Qing family.
The matter had caused dissatisfaction between the Qing and Xiao families, creating a rift between them.
Now, Shu Yao had actually invited Qing Si Huai, wasn't she trying to stir up trouble?
Meng Jingwei's words served as a wake-up call.
Shu Yao stared for a long time, then awkwardly touched her head, covered her face, and said with an innocent expression, "I... can I say I forgot about that?"
Last night, thinking about going out, Shu Yao had contacted Ivan first.
After all, Ivan was quite familiar with Meng Jingwei and could get along well with her.
But Ivan had a business trip, so in her helplessness, she contacted Qing Si Huai, and surprisingly, Qing Si Huai had actually agreed.
Shu Yao then brought Qing Si Huai along.
She had truly completely forgotten about the matters between Qing Si Huai and Xiao Cheng.
"I'm truly speechless!"
Meng Jingwei raised her hand to her forehead, unsure of what situations she might encounter later, only hoping that Xiao Cheng and Qing Si Huai could coexist peacefully.