Knowing that there was no longer any possibility with Mengyao, he had also considered accepting her liking someone else, finding someone of good character who would treat her well and accompany her through life.
But Hong Jiaxi would not do. Hong Jiaxi seemed to like Mengyao a lot, but he couldn't withstand the temptations and storms of the outside world. He didn't want Mengyao to suffer in the future.
He found the exact location of the live broadcast online. After settling the bill, he went straight there to wait for Mengyao.
After the live broadcast and charity event, no one had left yet.
Mengyao realized that the real party was just beginning. They had all gotten acquainted while making cakes earlier.
The young people kicked off the party mode, gathering in twos and threes to continue making pastries with the leftover ingredients, or chatting and drinking on the side.
Her mother and the wealthy wives had all gone to a lounge in the baking studio, drinking tea and discussing whose cake had sold for the highest price.
Mengyao saw her chance and, not wanting to socialize with the other young people, prepared to slip away.
Spotting a moment when no one was paying attention to her, she clutched her bag and walked out quickly.
"You're leaving already? The handsome guys who came today were quite good, their backgrounds and looks match you. Aren't you going to get to know them?"
Mengyao heard Hong Jiaxi's voice and quickly turned to him, making a shushing gesture. She said, "I'm not interested in blind dates, and I still need to prepare materials for my interview."
As she spoke, she intended to walk to the roadside to hail a taxi herself. Hong Jiaxi followed her and said, "I don't want to stay any longer either. Why don't I give you a ride back?"
"No need. Several beautiful ladies are interested in you. They'll be disappointed if you leave," Mengyao said, waving her hand to refuse.
Actually, she didn't want to go home yet; she wanted to go to that coffee shop.
Song Jiaping had texted saying he would wait for her. She wondered if he would keep waiting.
Although she thought he wasn't that foolish, she wanted to see for herself to be at peace.
But Hong Jiaxi was very insistent, grabbing her arm and saying, "Why are you still being polite with me? There's no need to take a taxi."
Mengyao couldn't find another reason to refuse him, so she got into his car.
However, she didn't let him drive all the way into the Huangfu family mansion, only asking him to park the car at the main entrance.
She got out of the car and said, "Just drop me off here. I can call the butler to bring an electric cart to pick me up."
"Alright, then I won't come in and disturb you while you prepare for your interview." Hong Jiaxi asked caringly, "Where are you planning to interview?"
"I just received an interview invitation from a research institution today. I don't know if it will work out," Mengyao said without much confidence.
"I have faith in you," Hong Jiaxi said some encouraging words and then drove away.
Mengyao watched Hong Jiaxi's car leave and then breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn't plan to ring the doorbell to call the butler. She intended to walk for a while and then hail a taxi on the road to go to the coffee shop.
She walked for more than ten minutes. As the sky gradually darkened, she couldn't help but quicken her pace.
The Huangfu family's mansion was located in a scenic, open area of Lancheng. Because it was a private residence, external transportation was not available; access was entirely by the family's vehicles.
She didn't want anyone to know she was still in contact with Song Jiaping. To see Song Jiaping, she had to flag down a car on the nearby road.
As she walked faster, she suddenly noticed car headlights shining from behind her.
She was startled and turned to look, realizing that a car had followed her at some point.
At that moment, a tall, slender figure got out of the car and walked towards her against the light.
She hurriedly took steps back. By the time the person got closer, she saw clearly that it was Song Jiaping.
"Jiaping, why are you following me?"
Song Jiaping waited outside the private baking room for three hours before seeing her come out.
Just as he was about to get out of the car to find her, he saw Hong Jiaxi following her.
What's more, she got into Hong Jiaxi's car, which made him even angrier. He followed Hong Jiaxi's car all the way to the vicinity of the Huangfu family mansion and quietly stopped by the roadside.
After Hong Jiaxi left, he slowly drove after her for a while. Seeing that it was getting dark, he finally turned on the headlights.
Song Jiaping didn't answer her, only saying, "Get in the car."
Mengyao saw that his expression was not quite right and asked, "Why must you see me today? Is it because Auntie is in trouble again?"
"We'll talk in the car," Song Jiaping repeated, staring at her.
Mengyao sensed that he was angry and wanted to explain, but it was really inconvenient to stand there talking.
If someone from home drove back, they would definitely pass by here and see them.
She walked over, opened the car door, and sat inside. She said to Song Jiaping, "Let's still go to that coffee shop."
Song Jiaping got into the driver's seat, closed the car door heavily, and drove away from there.
They arrived at the coffee shop where they had agreed to meet and found a corner seat.
As soon as they sat down, Mengyao immediately explained, "I didn't mean anything else, I just wanted to visit Auntie. I didn't expect her to mistake me for someone else and become agitated..."
"How did you know my mother was in the nursing home?" Song Jiaping only wanted to know why she had investigated him.
Mengyao avoided his gaze, thinking that the information was found by Meng Qi, and she couldn't reveal Meng Qi's name.
"The last time we met, you said I didn't understand you, which suddenly enlightened me," Mengyao said, only stating her thoughts. "Since we met, you've helped me and saved me several times. I also know you treat me very well, and in my heart, I've long liked you... I consider you a friend. But I never understood your family situation, nor have I met your family, so I had someone investigate."
"So you know everything now?" Song Jiaping thought that if she knew about the feud between the Huangfu family and his family, his plan would be ruined.
Mengyao nodded and said, "Yes, I heard you mention before that your father passed away early, but I didn't expect your mother's health to be so poor. You don't have many other family members, so it must be very difficult to work and strive alone outside. I'm sorry, I paid too little attention to you before and always took your care for granted."
Seeing her expression, Song Jiaping knew she wasn't lying. It seemed she didn't know why his family had fallen into such a state.
He thought that perhaps his worries were unnecessary. His family was originally from the countryside. Besides his grandfather and father who knew some traditional Chinese medicine, they were just an ordinary family.
Even if Mengyao hired someone to investigate, they wouldn't find out about what happened to his family many years ago, and no one would pay attention to or care about his family.
"Don't go to see my mother again in the future," Song Jiaping warned her sternly.
"Okay," Mengyao asked, "Did Auntie have a close friend named Ah Xing when she was young? What did Ah Xing look like? Do you know why Auntie mistook me for her?"
"What Ah Xing? I haven't heard of her," Song Jiaping said coldly.
But Mengyao always felt there must be a reason for this. She asked again, "Didn't Auntie ever mention this person to you? Is it because I resemble her?"
"Since my mother got this illness, she often mistakes people. Sometimes she mistakes the nursing home staff for me. It has nothing to do with appearances."
Actually, Song Jiaping didn't remember what Aunt Ah Xing looked like either.
He was still young when those things happened. He only remembered that his mother had a close friend who often visited their home. The adults told him to call her that, so he only remembered the name.