She wiped the water from her face and walked unsteadily out of the bathroom. Seeing Mengqi sitting in her room's chair, she asked impatiently, "What do you want to tell me?"
Mengqi took her hands out of her pockets, but didn't take out the letter. She wanted to ask her some things before giving her the letter for Song Jiaping.
"You went drinking with Hong Jiaxi, why are you drunk and he's fine? Do you really plan to reconcile with him and be his girlfriend again?"
Mengyao mumbled, "I drank more than him, and my tolerance isn't as good as his."
"So, did you reconcile or not? Or did he take advantage of you when you were drunk?" Mengqi asked her with an elder sister's demeanor.
Mengyao impatiently nodded and said, "Why are you asking me these things? It's just like that between him and me. Reconciling with him and giving him another chance isn't impossible."
"So you were sober when you agreed to reconcile with him?" Mengqi asked again to confirm.
"Yes, I was very clear-headed. Jiaxi is the only one who truly treats me well. Everyone else is just a passing cloud," Mengyao said stubbornly.
"I understand." Mengqi decided not to give Song Jiaping's letter to her. "Drinking too much is bad for your health. You should rest well."
As she was about to leave Mengyao's room, Mengyao suddenly asked her, "Were you sober before you married your brother-in-law, and were you sober after you got married?"
Mengqi turned around and asked, "What do you want to say? What do you mean?"
"I mean you're not satisfied with what you have and are always looking for more," Mengyao said coldly and directly. "Song Jiaping likes you and is with you only because you're a strong woman and can give him opportunities for promotion in the group..."
"Wait, what did you say? Song Jiaping likes me?" Mengqi laughed helplessly and said, "I think you've misunderstood. He and I have a bit more than a working relationship, we're not even friends."
"You can say whatever you want. Don't worry, I won't tell my brother-in-law. After all, you're my sister, and I don't want your family to be unhappy. You should take care of yourself." Mengyao pushed her out without wanting to say more and closed the door.
She leaned against the door, feeling particularly uncomfortable in her heart after sobering up.
But remembering Hong Jiaxi kissing her lips when she was drunk, she couldn't help but touch her own lips.
When she was lost, she had indeed agreed to be Hong Jiaxi's girlfriend again. She was drunk at the time, but in her drunken state, she only thought about why she didn't choose an easier relationship. Being with Hong Jiaxi would make everything simple and happy, and she wouldn't have those painful troubles anymore.
Even if she no longer loved Hong Jiaxi in her heart, what was wrong with choosing someone who loved her and opting for a simple, easy life that wasn't too tiring!
She comforted herself like this and lay on the bed, numbly thinking about from now on... from now on, she would forget Song Jiaping...
...
Mengqi returned to her room, not understanding why Mengyao had such a misunderstanding about her, thinking that Song Jiaping liked her!
If Song Jiaping had liked her even a little back then, she wouldn't have agreed to marry Yao Feili. With her personality, she would have gone all out to be with Song Jiaping.
It was just that in Song Jiaping's heart, there would never be a place for her. Her good feelings towards Song Jiaping were just her own one-sided affection.
She had made the painful decision to agree to marry Yao Feili precisely because she didn't want to get too deeply involved in this hopeless affection.
Now, looking back, her choice was not wrong from the perspective of family interests and rationality; it was the right decision. Therefore, she was satisfied with her marriage, although it lacked the so-called excitement and passion.
She knew that what she felt when facing Song Jiaping was true love, but she could also handle it rationally and would not let those feelings of infatuation affect her current marriage.
Mengqi sat on the bed, feeling a bit down. She took out the letter Song Jiaping had asked her to give to Mengyao. She saw that the seal was just folded and not glued.
Curiosity made her want to take it out and have a look, to see what Song Jiaping would write to Mengyao.
But as her hand reached into the envelope, she pulled it back. She found it amusing, thinking what could be written, probably some sweet words expressing his feelings.
She didn't want to read it either. She casually put the letter into the bedside drawer, tilted her head back, and sighed.
Since Mengyao was back with Hong Jiaxi, she didn't want to give Mengyao the letter now, as she didn't want to disrupt Mengyao's newly confirmed relationship.
She had watched Mengyao and Hong Jiaxi grow up together, being childhood sweethearts and deeply in love.
Back then, they were a couple envied by everyone. But why they broke up later, she didn't know the specifics, but she had felt regret.
For them to be able to get back together now was also their destiny, so why should she interfere.
Hong Jiaxi was now busy taking care of his sick mother and didn't have the energy to be dragged into this love triangle. It would be better to let him completely give up on Mengyao, which would be good for both of them.
Shaohua had already met an irreversible tragedy, and she couldn't let anything happen to Mengqi.
In her opinion, it was more suitable for people with wealthy backgrounds like them to find partners of similar social standing.
For marriage, the passion of love was only temporary; suitability was the most important thing.
...
The next day, Mengyao woke up with a slight headache but still insisted on going to work at the research institute.
She had taken a long leave of absence earlier due to the family's funeral, and a lot of work had piled up.
She was busy at the institute all day, with no time to think about anything else.
As it was nearing the end of the workday, her mother, Wu Xiufang, called her and asked her to come home for dinner.
She was a bit tired and wanted to stay at the company's dormitory for a change, but since her mother had called, she had to agree.
With her second brother gone, her mother now contacted her frequently, caring about her situation and fearing that something might happen to her again.
She could understand her mother's feelings, so she would always keep her mother updated on her situation to avoid worrying her.
Mengyao had to postpone the work she had intended to do overtime until tomorrow. She packed her bag and left on time to go home.
As she walked out of the office, she heard some colleagues who had just come in discussing something.
A female colleague sat down and said, "That car full of flowers outside is so romantic, isn't it?"
"You girls only see flowers. That car is a limited edition luxury car, with less than ten in the whole world," a male colleague said with envy.
The female colleague said in disbelief, "Ah, absolutely a rich and handsome guy! Who in our institute is so charming? It's so enviable and makes people jealous!"
Other colleagues also gathered around, joining the conversation.
Mengyao, listening from the side, felt increasingly uneasy. Could the person they were talking about be Hong Jiaxi?
She immediately slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out, hoping it wasn't him.
Since Mengyao started working at the research institute, she had never told her colleagues about her family background or shown off anything. She tried her best to be like everyone else, with nothing special.
She reached the entrance and secretly peeked outside at the luxury car parked there. It was indeed Hong Jiaxi's car.