Meng Yao couldn't ask any more questions and said, "If you need any help, just say the word. Even if we're not husband and wife anymore, we're still friends."
She emphasized the word "friends" as she spoke.
"I don't need anything. Don't concern yourself with my affairs anymore. Let's just pretend we never met," Song Jiaping said heartlessly.
Meng Yao looked at him and said, "I already know about your family situation. Do you see me as a snob? I consider you a friend and wouldn't care about your family background. As for my family, they aren't me and can't represent my thoughts..."
Song Jiaping interrupted her with a cold laugh. "My family's situation has nothing to do with you. Don't keep your mind on me."
"We were friends..."
"That research team you're part of abroad, isn't there a project that's not finished yet? Don't give it up because of me. Continue your research abroad. Don't stay in Lancheng, and don't keep staring at me," Song Jiaping's anger was evident.
Meng Yao felt that her past experiences with him were like an unreal dream. Was the person in front of her still the Song Jiaping she knew?
She said indignantly, "Where I choose to stay and where I go is none of your business. I'm not as capable as my elder sister. You go ahead and try to climb her high branches. You don't need to bother with my affairs!"
With that, she stood up angrily, wanting to completely forget the man in front of her!
Song Jiaping felt a pang of pain in his heart and called out to her, "Don't forget my reminder. Hong Jiaxi is not someone worth entrusting your life to."
Meng Yao looked at him, amused and annoyed, and said, "Sir, are we that familiar? Do we know each other? What right do you have to worry about this?"
Song Jiaping was rendered speechless by her words.
Meng Yao turned and left resolutely. It seemed Hong Jiaxi had been right.
To get ahead and make a lot of money, he was going to attach himself to a richer young lady than her!
She probably had become a stumbling block in his eyes, someone to be cleared away.
When Meng Yao returned home, Wu Xiufang had also returned.
As soon as her mother saw her, she asked, "What's going on between you and Jiaxi? Didn't you say you were just friends? Why did you two leave together, making everyone else say you've been a couple all along and were just there to get acquainted at the party? Your mother and I don't know how to act."
"Mom, it was clearly a matchmaking event. You didn't tell me beforehand," Meng Yao said, in a bad mood. "I had no psychological preparation, so I left. Jiaxi was just seeing me off."
"Just seeing you off?" Wu Xiufang didn't believe her. "You two left the earliest. You said you were seeing her home, but you should have arrived home long ago. How come you got back later than me?"
Meng Yao just wanted some peace and quiet and replied perfunctorily, "There was a little trouble on the way."
"My dear child, just tell me the truth. You both told your families the other was a friend, but when you met, you seemed more intimate than anyone else. If you're already a couple, just tell us. Jiaxi's family and I wouldn't object; we'd be overjoyed..."
"Mom, it's not what you think," Meng Yao said, annoyed. "He and I are just friends. From now on, just arrange blind dates for me, and I'll meet them. I'll seriously consider my marriage."
Wu Xiufang, hearing her say this, was left speechless. She stared at her, wondering if she had suddenly changed her mind.
Meng Yao seized the moment her mother was stunned and quickly returned to her room.
Wu Xiufang shouted after her retreating figure, "You said it yourself. Then I'll start arranging them for you. Once they're arranged, you're not allowed to refuse or make excuses!"
Meng Yao returned to her room and sat down dejectedly. Since she had to forget Song Jiaping, she would listen to her mother and go on more blind dates.
The best way to forget someone was to start a new relationship. She only hoped she could do it.
...
It wasn't until eleven o'clock at night that Meng Qi staggered home in high heels.
In the afternoon, she had gone to Mrs. Lu's group to discuss a research report, and both sides found the project feasible.
When they were chatting happily, Mrs. Lu invited her to attend a banquet.
At the banquet, she met several more seasoned investors and, feeling happy, had a few too many drinks and got a little drunk.
As soon as she got home, she kicked off her high heels and was looking for slippers when her father appeared from somewhere.
"Where were you socializing that you're back so late?" Huangfu Sisong asked with a stern face.
Meng Qi smiled and said, "I had dinner with Mrs. Lu."
"Mrs. Lu? The one from the Lu Group?"
"Yes," Meng Qi nodded.
Huangfu Sisong asked, "Did you finalize any projects with her?"
"A project is showing some promise."
Huangfu Sisong grunted and said, "Accompany me to a dinner party tomorrow noon."
"Okay." Meng Qi was about to ask what kind of dinner party it was when she saw her father turn and leave.
Her drunkenness vanished instantly, leaving her feeling a little lost.
She had even started discussing projects with Mrs. Lu, and Huangfu Sisong hadn't offered a single word of praise. It was as if what she had done was nothing special, something anyone could achieve.
However, Huangfu Sisong had always been like this towards her, so she didn't dwell on it, thinking that her father's willingness to personally take her to an important dinner party was the best acknowledgment of her efforts, and that excessive words weren't necessary.
...
The next day at noon, Meng Qi accompanied her father to the hotel.
In the car, she asked, "Dad, what kind of dinner party is it, and who will be there?"
"The CEO of Xicheng Group, who is currently cooperating with us, has invited me for a meal. You can come along to gain some experience and learn," Huangfu Sisong said, his usually stern face turning kind.
She secretly rejoiced. Her father had acknowledged her efforts and was looking at her with new eyes.
Upon arriving at the VIP room of the hotel, Meng Qi saw a man in his forties, ordinary-looking, dressed in a formal suit.
Huangfu Sisong greeted the man and introduced Meng Qi to him.
Meng Qi smiled at him and said, "Manager Yao, hello."
Manager Yao gallantly pulled out a chair for her and smiled, "Young lady, hello. It's true that seeing is believing. You are indeed as beautiful and capable as they say."
Meng Qi smiled in response.
Manager Yao, however, continued to look her over, his eyes roaming over her.
She felt something was amiss and tried to avoid his gaze.
Huangfu Sisong and Manager Yao discussed project matters. She heard Manager Yao mention that Aoxiang Group also wanted to invest in this project, and their proposed funding ratio and marketing channels were more favorable than those of their Huangfu Group.
Huangfu Sisong, meanwhile, was emphasizing his group's advantages, leaving her no room to interject.
She was only responsible for ordering dishes, doing the job that Huangfu Sisong's assistant should have been doing.
They casually discussed project cooperation without reaching any conclusion.
Once all the dishes were served, Manager Yao stopped discussing business with Huangfu Sisong and instead kept trying to talk to her, asking personal questions.
Huangfu Sisong then excused himself to go to the restroom.
Manager Yao's tone towards Meng Qi became very direct. He asked, "Young lady, have you dated before? How old are you?"