Lin Mei was surprised. She hadn't told Xing Zheng her intentions, yet he had not only guessed her thoughts but also acted on them. She hadn't intended to let Chen Jing off the hook; she wanted to return every blow she had received.
However, vengeance was contrary to the upbringing Lin Mei had received. Expressing such a thought was not easy for her. Now that Xing Zheng had spoken, she no longer needed to feel ashamed of her dark thoughts. She remained silent, and Xing Zheng asked her, "Don't you like my solution?"
He took out his phone, opened it, and showed her a video. Lin Mei looked closely. The video showed Chen Jing, bound with handcuffs and shackles, in a state similar to when Lin Mei was locked in the basement. The difference was that many people, men and women, stood around Chen Jing, each taking turns slapping her, none holding back.
The crisp sound of slaps followed one after another, accompanied by Chen Jing's screams and whimpers. Her nose was bleeding, and her clothes were stained red. Lin Mei watched the three-minute video without blinking.
After watching such a cruel and bloody video, she felt an immense sense of relief. This, she supposed, was the pleasure of revenge.
Xing Zheng took back his phone and asked her, "How do you feel?"
"Thank you," Lin Mei told Xing Zheng what was on her mind. "I feel very relieved."
"Oh?" Her answer seemed to surprise Xing Zheng. "I thought you would ask me to let her go." After all, she had been very lenient with Chen Jing before.
Xing Zheng's words made Lin Mei scoff at herself. "It's precisely because I've let her off too many times that she thinks I'm easy to bully. She keeps provoking me again and again. Do you know, when she hit me, I was thinking that if she ever fell into my hands, I would repay her twofold."
"The little rabbit is showing her claws." Xing Zheng rarely saw her display such a fierce expression, finding it quite novel. Even when fierce, she didn't seem rude or shrewish, but rather possessed a certain resilience. Xing Zheng pushed the osmanthus balls towards her and said with a smile, "Eat something to cool down, little rabbit."
Considering Xing Zheng had rescued her, Lin Mei didn't argue with him about the nickname "little rabbit." She tasted the osmanthus balls and found they tasted exactly like those from a shop she frequented in Xiangxi. Lin Mei became even more curious about this shop. "Where is this shop located? How have I never heard of it?"
"Because I opened it, just for you to eat." Xing Zheng said, half-jokingly. Lin Mei didn't believe him, thinking he was teasing her, and focused on enjoying the food. Later, Xing Zheng didn't bring up the topic again. "Chen Jing, what do you plan to do with her?"
Lin Mei slowed down her eating. She bit into a soft, sticky ball and seriously considered the question. "Can I go see her?"
"Yes, but you'll have to wait until your injuries heal a bit more," Xing Zheng said. "You don't need to go to work for the rest of the weekdays this week; I've already requested leave for you."
Lin Mei had no objections. With her current appearance, it was indeed unsuitable for her to return to work at the bank. If she did, who knew what rumors would spread. Since Xing Zheng had resolved the issue for her, she was content to stay in the hospital. However...
"Can you do me a favor?" Lin Mei asked.
Xing Zheng raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
Lin Mei: "Can you get my work computer for me? I want to create the template for the quarterly report."
Xing Zheng laughed, teasing her. "You are truly dedicated to your job. I should have Director Sun issue you a commendation banner."
Lin Mei: "..."
The scoundrel found amusement in teasing her every day. She didn't want to engage with him, lest he tease her further.
Xing Zheng called Zhuang Wan and assigned this task to him. Zhuang Wan immediately went to handle it, and that evening, Lin Mei received her computer.
Lan Lan and Feng Feng, upon learning of Lin Mei's accident, rushed to the hospital to visit her after finishing their work. Seeing Lin Mei's swollen face, Lan Lan's temper flared. She fiercely cursed Chen Jing, "Damn that bitch! She's gotten too bold. If she falls into my hands, I'll slap her mouth until it's unrecognizable!"
Even the usually calm Feng Feng couldn't remain composed upon seeing Lin Mei's injuries. She told Lin Mei, "We absolutely cannot let her get away with this easily this time."
"Where is that little bitch now?" Lan Lan's fists clenched, wishing she could go and beat Chen Jing right away. Xing Zheng chimed in, picking up Lan Lan's question. "She's with Gu Song. Someone is watching her. Once the injuries on her face heal a bit, you can go see her together."
Xing Zheng's interjection reminded Lan Lan that Lin Mei had been rescued by Xing Zheng this time. Judging by Xing Zheng's words, he was even going to help Lin Mei deal with Chen Jing. Lan Lan was very pleased. When Xing Zheng wasn't acting up, he was quite a reliable person.
Lan Lan said to Xing Zheng, "Thank you, Mr. Xing, for saving our Lin Mei this time. If you ever need any help in the future, feel free to ask me."
Xing Zheng teased, "There's nothing I particularly need help with. Next time she throws a tantrum with me, help me persuade her."
His words made it sound as if Lin Mei were his legitimate girlfriend. Lan Lan brushed it off with a laugh. She wasn't so easily bought. Men were just for fun; there was no need to take them seriously.
After visiting Lin Mei, Lan Lan and Feng Feng felt somewhat relieved. They still had work to do, so they left.
As they left the hospital room, Lan Lan and Feng Feng chatted, "Why do I have this feeling today that Xing Zheng seems to really like our Mei Mei?"
Feng Feng glanced at her. "Are you smitten with love recently?"
Lan Lan: "Who's in love? I just slept with a man, isn't that my usual routine?"
Feng Feng: "If you weren't smitten, you wouldn't say something like that."
Lan Lan: "I also said it was a feeling, not necessarily true. Putting aside everything else, he was really decent this time."
Feng Feng nodded, agreeing with that point. However, she wouldn't let her guard down against Xing Zheng because of this. Setting aside Xing Zheng's illness, the mere fact that he had been monitoring Lin Mei's life for years was terrifying enough. Until she understood his motives, Feng Feng wouldn't support Lin Mei developing any real relationship with him.
Lin Mei stayed in the hospital for two days, taking her medication on time. The wounds on her face healed quickly. After a dressing change on Friday afternoon, Xing Zheng took her home from the hospital.
Lin Mei had intended to return to her apartment, but Xing Zheng refused to let her go and insisted on taking her back to Zhuhua Villa. Lin Mei settled in there. She had arranged with Lan Lan and Feng Feng to meet Chen Jing at Rufeng Club on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon, Xing Zheng personally drove her to the club.
Lin Mei, along with Lan Lan and Feng Feng, went to find Chen Jing, while Xing Zheng sat down for tea with Shen Su and Gu Song.
Chen Jing had been confined there for more than three days. Her boyfriend hadn't come to find her, and she had been suffering torment daily, her mental state on the verge of collapse.
When Lin Mei entered, Chen Jing was groggy. She opened her eyes, and her unfocused gaze suddenly sharpened upon seeing Lin Mei.
As if seeing the murderer of her father, she snarled hoarsely, "You bitch, bitch, I won't let you go!"
Lin Mei watched her impassively, completely unfazed by her "warning."