Chapter 46

Listening to Bei Luonan concoct another bizarre story for him, Meng Xingzhe felt an overwhelming urge to strangle him.

Sensing the murderous intent, Bei Luonan quickly tried to smooth things over. “I meant to say, Xingxing, he—”

Meng Xingzhe cut him off. “What did you just call me? Say it again!”

Bei Luonan corrected himself, “I meant to say, Meng Xingzhe’s family, his cousin went through a similar situation as this young lady here. He witnessed the whole thing and gained some firsthand experience, so he knows how to handle it.” Feeling proud of his quick thinking, Bei Luonan even gave Meng Xingzhe a playful wink.

“…” Meng Xingzhe restrained the urge to gouge out his eyes.

Cousin? What cousin? The Old Meng family had been passing down the lineage from grandfather to grandson, with him being the sole heir, precious and unique, without even a distant relative to share the spotlight.

But to maintain his cover, he had no choice but to go along with it for now.

As he turned his head, he met Yao Jia’s gaze.

Yao Jia’s eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions: surprise, disbelief, and a hint of… pity, as if she were wondering what kind of family he had grown up in.

“Your life seems quite complicated, with real estate lawsuits and divorce cases,” Yao Jia remarked, looking at Meng Xingzhe.

Meng Xingzhe was speechless. It was all too accurate.

“No wonder,” Yao Jia added, “with a personality as unlikable as yours, it’s clear nothing good happened in your upbringing.”

Meng Xingzhe was at a loss for words.

What was wrong with his upbringing? Born with a silver spoon, the sole heir of his family, both precious and handsome, how did he end up being pitied like this?

“Who are you calling unlikable, you little brat?” Meng Xingzhe glared at Yao Jia.

“You,” Yao Jia replied fearlessly.

“What makes me unlikable?” Meng Xingzhe pressed on, more persistent than the kid he was arguing with.

Yao Jia rattled off a list of criticisms Tian Huasheng once summarized: “You: whiny, picky, indulgent, a straight-laced man, not very warm, not helpful, sharp-tongued, pretentious, poor but pretending to be rich, lazy.”

With each word, Meng Xingzhe’s face darkened, while Bei Luonan’s expression of agreement grew stronger.

When she finished, Bei Luonan almost stood up to applaud. “That summary is spot on! So precise! It’s genius!”

Meng Xingzhe nearly flipped the table. “I’m lazy? Then who washed the dishes for you tonight, a ghost?”

Just a moment ago, Bei Luonan was cheering for the summary, but now he turned to Meng Xingzhe in disbelief. “Really? You’ve started doing chores?”

He had thought Meng Xingzhe’s greatest progress was learning to cook rice. He never imagined Meng Xingzhe would wash dishes, and for someone else, no less! It was beyond his imagination.

At this point, Bei Luonan had to admit that Meng Xingzhe’s transformation during his time at Kunyu Electric was significant.

He thought if the patriarch of the Meng family knew about these changes, he would be thrilled and dance the tango with the Meng family matriarch for two hours straight.

Meng Xingzhe couldn’t be bothered with Bei Luonan; he was focused on his argument with Yao Jia. “You saying I’m unlikable doesn’t count; it’s a personal attack.” After a pause, he retaliated, “Then I can say you’re unlikable too.”

Yao Jia laughed, “So tell me, how am I unlikable?”

Meng Xingzhe launched into his own list: “You always: go against people, argue, retort, bicker, meddle; and besides that, you’re rough, not gentle.”

Yao Jia scoffed, “The first part is whatever, but why do you care if I’m not gentle? You’re not my boyfriend!”

Meng Xingzhe’s expression shifted.

Yao Jia continued, “Anyway, you’re more unlikable than I am.”

Just moments ago, Meng Xingzhe was confidently advising Hao Lidan with a commanding presence, but in front of Yao Jia, he instantly reverted to a schoolboy.

They bickered energetically, oblivious to the audience watching their free show.

“No, you’re more unlikable,” Meng Xingzhe retorted succinctly.

“It’s you!” Yao Jia shot back.

“You, definitely you,” Meng Xingzhe countered again.

Yao Jia slapped the table. “Let’s have everyone vote and see who they like more!”

Meng Xingzhe chuckled coldly. “Go ahead, I’ve never lost in a popularity contest.”

Yao Jia couldn’t believe his shameless confidence.

She slapped the table and asked everyone to raise their hands if they liked Yao Jia.

Everyone, except Meng Xingzhe and Yao Jia, raised their hands.

Yao Jia turned to Meng Xingzhe with a cold smile. “See? Everyone likes me! You’ve lost!”

Meng Xingzhe chuckled, “How have I lost? We haven’t even voted for me yet. Maybe everyone likes me too.”

He immediately asked everyone to raise their hands if they liked Meng Xingzhe.

Bei Luonan couldn’t take it anymore. “Meng Xingzhe, are you a school kid? Competing with a girl!”

Meng Xingzhe glared at him fiercely. “Stop talking nonsense. Why aren’t you raising your arm?”

Bei Luonan shrugged, looking sheepish. “I can’t help it. Look, Xiaoxin is watching me! Who would choose a buddy over a girl?”

Meng Xingzhe turned his head and saw Ling Xiaoxin indeed giving Bei Luonan a look. But Ling Xiaoxin had her own hand raised.

Meng Xingzhe felt he couldn’t understand today’s young women anymore.

“You won’t let him vote for me, but you’re voting for me yourself?” he questioned Ling Xiaoxin.

Ling Xiaoxin replied softly but logically, “Teacher Meng, you guided me on handling cases. I have to vote for you, otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair. But I also want Jia Jia to win… Anyway, Abei is your childhood friend, so he won’t offend you by not voting for you!”

Meng Xingzhe was speechless. Her logic was impeccable.

Yao Jia laughed heartily on the side. “Meng Xingzhe, you’re short one vote, you lost!” She paused deliberately to tease him. “Oh, what a pity. If Tong Yumo were here, you might have tied with me.”

She swayed her head smugly, teasing him.

Alcohol had painted a faint blush on her face, and her eyes sparkled like wet, polished black gems.

Meng Xingzhe looked at her, and after a moment, he suddenly grabbed her arm and lifted it high.

“Alright, now you’re choosing me. You like me. I didn’t lose.”

“What???” Yao Jia was stunned by this unexpected move, as if she’d seen a ghost. “Pfft! What do you mean I like you? I like your uncle!”

“Sorry to disappoint, I don’t have an uncle.”

“Even if you don’t have an uncle, I still won’t like you!”

The two of them started bickering energetically again.

Tian Huasheng hurried to the kitchen, sliced up a watermelon, and brought it out for everyone to eat, hoping to stop the endless arguing.

True to form, as soon as Yao Jia saw the watermelon, she forgot about arguing with Meng Xingzhe. One moment she was saying, “Meng Xingzhe, you’re so thick-skinned,” and the next she seamlessly transitioned to, “Wow, this watermelon is so sweet! Who bought it? I love them!”

Yao Jia said this while looking at Tian Huasheng, who she considered her gender-neutral best friend.

Then a voice ghosted into her ear.

“I bought it,” Meng Xingzhe said quietly. “See, I told you you like me.”

Yao Jia whipped her head around to look at him, nearly choking on her watermelon.

She quickly corrected herself, “I like you? Dream on! You still owe me twenty bucks, so this watermelon counts as mine. So you see, I love myself!!”

Her urgency to retract her previous statement, “Whoever bought the watermelon, I love them,” amused everyone.

Hao Lidan looked around at the group, drinking beer, eating crayfish, and munching on watermelon, chatting and laughing. It was truly harmonious and lively.

Suddenly, she felt that walking away from a failed marriage was no big deal. Looking at these people, who among them wasn’t living a vibrant and happy life through their own efforts?

“Today, I thank you all!” Hao Lidan suddenly felt revitalized and thanked everyone. “When I walked through that door, I was a dead person. But thanks to all of you, I’ve come back to life!”

She turned to Yao Jia, her eyes full of apology. “Yao Jia, I sincerely apologize for all the things I’ve done to you in the past!”

As she spoke, she even stood up and bowed to Yao Jia. Yao Jia, never having received such a grand gesture, quickly discarded her watermelon rind and stood up. “We can talk this out, no need for such formalities. I can’t handle this!”

Hao Lidan grasped Yao Jia’s hand tightly. “Yao Jia, thank you so much!”

She then turned to thank each person individually. When she got to Ling Xiaoxin, she also bowed. “Little Lawyer Ling, I’m counting on you for my case against that scumbag!”

Ling Xiaoxin quickly stood up, blushing slightly, and said softly, “No need for such formalities! Sister, as long as you don’t mind my inexperience, I’ll do my best to help you with this case!”

Hao Lidan shook her head. “I don’t mind! I’ve thought it through. If I go out and hire a good lawyer, it would cost a lot, and a good lawyer might not devote much energy to my case. Even though you’re inexperienced, you’ll put your heart and soul into it. So I don’t want anyone else; I want you as my attorney!”

She raised a can of beer to toast Ling Xiaoxin, and everyone followed suit. They all clinked glasses, filling the room with noise and laughter.

The autumn night in the city was gradually cooling, but the young people in the room, striving in the city, used their passion and sincerity to melt each other’s pain and troubles, warming the night.

******

After a while, Lu Fangfei came over from next door to pick someone up. Hearing there were guests, she stayed at the door without coming in, not wanting to disturb them.

When Hao Lidan came out, Lu Fangfei looked surprised.

“Yao Jia, what kind of pep talk did you give Sister Hao? She came in here drained, barely hanging on, and now she’s full of energy!”

Yao Jia smiled and said, “Sister Hao figured it out herself.”

Lu Fangfei took her across the hall. It was getting late, and the gathering here was wrapping up. Everyone began tidying up, preparing for bed.

Yao Jia had just finished cleaning up the crayfish shells on the table when a sharp pain twisted in her stomach. She thought to herself, “Oh no, it must be the crayfish, beer, and watermelon. Eating such a mix is making my intestines rebel.”

She rushed to the bathroom to relieve the pressure in her gut, only to find the door locked when she tried to open it.

A voice came from inside: “Someone’s in here!”

It was Tian Huasheng.

Yao Jia figured that both she and Tian Huasheng had eaten too much watermelon, leading to this shared misery.

From inside the bathroom, Tian Huasheng lamented, “Jia, I can’t take it. My stomach hurts! I need to squat for a while!”

Hearing “squat for a while,” Yao Jia felt a shiver run down her spine.

“How long is ‘a while’?” she asked, rubbing her stomach.

Tian Huasheng’s voice was filled with the same twisting pain as his intestines: “At least… twenty minutes… oh my god…”

Yao Jia almost despaired. Twenty minutes was long enough for her intestines to twist her to death several times over.

In her desperation, she suddenly saw a glimmer of hope—Meng Xingzhe’s room had a bathroom!

Clutching her stomach, she dashed to the kitchen.

Meng Xingzhe was in the kitchen with Bei Luonan, cleaning up. When Yao Jia entered, Bei Luonan was washing cups, the faucet running loudly.

Meng Xingzhe was leaning against the counter by the window, engrossed in replying to a message on his phone—Meng Yutang had messaged him again about going on a blind date over the weekend.

At that moment, Yao Jia approached him and said, “Meng Xingzhe, can I borrow your bathroom?”

The noise from the running water drowned out part of her words.

Meng Xingzhe was busy battling with his father on his phone: [How can you expect me to go on a blind date without any money? Send me some money, and I’ll go; otherwise, I won’t.]

Without looking up, he just grunted in acknowledgment. Yao Jia, feeling as if she had been granted a pardon, ran off to his room.

Meng Xingzhe had just sent his message when he received a reply from Meng Yutang: [No worries, I’ll talk to an old friend. His daughter can treat you this time.]

Meng Xingzhe thought, “Can it really work like this?!”

He continued texting: [But isn’t that just freeloading? Wouldn’t that embarrass you and Mom?]

His father’s reply was quick and crafty: [Your identity still has some room for maneuver. For example, I won’t say you’re my son; I’ll say you’re my nephew. That way, you won’t embarrass me or your mom.]

… In short, no money would be given.

Meng Xingzhe almost choked, put away his phone, and decided not to continue battling with his stingy father.

His father was too cunning and bold. He couldn’t compete; he admitted defeat!

Putting away his phone, he thought for a moment and asked Bei Luonan, who was at the sink, “Did Yao Jia come in just now looking for me?”

Bei Luonan, over the sound of running water, loudly replied, “Huh? What did you say? I couldn’t hear you.”

Meng Xingzhe: “…”

He found it strange how suddenly it seemed difficult to communicate with anyone.

Bei Luonan quickly finished washing the cups. Ling Xiaoxin had already gone into Yao Jia’s room, saying she felt dizzy and wanted to lie down. Bei Luonan didn’t force the opportunity to stay with her and followed Meng Xingzhe back to his room.

As soon as Meng Xingzhe entered, he collapsed into the massage chair, enjoying the comfort and bliss brought by the smart machine.

Bei Luonan pulled out a chair in front of the table, sat down with his legs spread, and started chatting with Meng Xingzhe.

“Xingxing, to be honest, every time I come here, I’m surprised! You’ve really changed. You actually help others now when you see injustice. In the past, you wouldn’t even help a girl who fell in front of you; you could even step over her.”

He exclaimed, “You’ve changed! You’ve really changed! You’ve become helpful!”

Meng Xingzhe, lounging in the massage chair, scoffed, “Don’t just say you’re surprised; even I’m surprised at myself for being helpful. Damn, is this really me?!”

Bei Luonan stretched out his legs, accidentally kicking Meng Xingzhe’s foot.

After kicking Meng Xingzhe’s foot, his voice took on a teasing tone, “Hey, I’m not kidding, but I really think there’s a spark between you and Yao Jia!”

Meng Xingzhe suddenly sat up straight in the massage chair, “That’s absolutely impossible! Only top-tier rich and beautiful women are worthy of me. Yao Jia is just a customer service rep; she’s not good enough for me!”

Bei Luonan immediately retorted, “Meng Xingxing, your classist attitude is seriously outdated! You look down on her for being a customer service rep, but in her eyes, aren’t you just a customer service rep too, my friend?”

Meng Xingzhe didn’t respond to that. He was lost in his own thoughts.

He frowned and said, “But I actually don’t mind spending time with her.”

Bei Luonan: “…”

Meng Xingzhe continued thinking aloud, “She’s interesting. Also enthusiastic. Very just. Sometimes, what she does can activate something in me from the past, and in those moments, she really heals me.”

He frowned deeply, shook his head, and said with utmost seriousness, “But still, it’s not possible. After all, I’m too outstanding and exceptional. She’s just a customer service rep; she ultimately isn’t worthy of me.”

Bei Luonan almost died of disbelief at his shamelessness.

“Why don’t you just go die?” Bei Luonan scoffed at Meng Xingzhe, “Go die! I’ll tell everyone you died because you were too exceptional!”

But Meng Xingzhe still didn’t retort. He remained lost in his own thoughts.

“And…”

“What?” Bei Luonan felt like hitting someone. “And what? Spit it out! When did you start leaving things half-said?” His irritation made him coarse.

“Nothing.” Meng Xingzhe wasn’t swayed by his impatience, stubbornly keeping the rest to himself.

Besides, she has a boyfriend.

He leaned back into the massage chair, swallowing the latter half of his sentence.

Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open.

Yao Jia emerged from inside.

Both Meng Xingzhe and Bei Luonan were startled, as if they’d seen a ghost.

Meng Xingzhe sat up abruptly from the massage chair, his eyes wide with shock.

“What are you doing here?!” he asked the suddenly appearing Yao Jia.

“I told you I needed to use your bathroom, and you agreed,” Yao Jia replied.

Then, her tone and volume suddenly shifted: “Meng Xingzhe, let me tell you, even if I go crazy or jump off a building, I would never give you the chance to pair up with me!”

With that, her anger surged to the surface.

Breathing heavily, she glared at Meng Xingzhe and said, “What, so what if I’m just a customer service rep? Aren’t you one too? Do you look down on people so much that you even disregard yourself? Meng Xingzhe, I’m telling you, don’t even dream about it! My boyfriend is handsome, gentle, not arrogant, and not sharp-tongued. He leaves you in the dust by eight hundred streets, with two hundred shops to spare!”

With that, she stormed to the door, pushed it open, and left.

The room fell into a dead silence for two seconds.

After two seconds, Meng Xingzhe jumped out of the massage chair and rushed over to grab Bei Luonan by the neck.

“Who the hell told you to talk about this, huh? Who the hell told you to bring it up?!”