Lin Mei: "..."
Before she could refuse, Xu Shang smiled and said, "Then let Azheng take you. It's good that you're familiar with each other privately." She had originally intended for Ruan Yufei to take Lin Mei, but the two were not well-acquainted.
Forced into a corner, any further refusal would arouse suspicion. Lin Mei had no choice but to follow Xing Zheng towards the washroom. Ruan Yufei and Yang Shuo's mother and son watched them intently. Ruan Yufei's face was as pale as paper, and Xing Zheng's special attention towards Lin Mei seemed even more pronounced than she had imagined.
Xing Zheng led Lin Mei to the washroom, gentlemanly opened the door for her, and looked at her with a playful expression, showing no intention of leaving. Lin Mei glanced back towards the living room and politely said to him, "Thank you, you can..."
Before she could finish, her wrist was seized by the man in front of her. He pulled her into the washroom and swiftly closed the door. In a flash, Lin Mei was pressed against the door, the man's solid body leaning down.
Lin Mei raised her hand to block him and warned in a low voice, "Are you sick? My parents and your grandmother and grandfather are all outside!"
There was also a sister-in-law who secretly admired him, and a son who regarded her as a vixen. He was so bold here, wasn't he afraid of being discovered?
"Get out quickly!" Lin Mei was anxious and stopped being polite when speaking to him.
"Your temper has been getting worse lately, rabbit." He easily neutralized her resistance, pinning her hands behind her back. His chest pressed against hers, and with a slight tilt of his head, their lips were about to touch.
Lin Mei stiffened her neck and turned her head away. He then cupped her chin and turned it back. "Count it yourself, how many times have you told me to 'get out' in these two days? Am I being too good to you?"
"If you don't provoke me, why should I scold you," Lin Mei frowned. "Who told you to bite first." You dog, you dog!
"I bit you?" He smiled, and Lin Mei knew something was wrong. He must have thought of something lewd again. Indeed, he placed his thumb on her lower lip. "As if you didn't bite me last night."
Lin Mei's face flushed and paled. Angered, she wanted to hit him, but her hands were immobilized. She then tried to kick him. The man in front of her anticipated her move but did not dodge, willingly taking her kicks. Lin Mei intended to continue kicking, but since he stopped moving, it was no longer convenient to do so.
Xing Zheng saw her blushing face, her expression shifting from shame and anger to hesitation, and teased her again. "Why aren't you kicking anymore? Are you feeling sorry for me?"
Lin Mei: "One doesn't argue with a dog."
"Your mouth has indeed gotten sharper. Let me feel it again." As soon as he finished speaking, he lowered his head and kissed her, easily lifting her up and carrying her to the washbasin.
Lin Mei was trapped by him at the washbasin, his body pressing against her from behind. She could see him burying his head and kissing her neck in the mirror. Lin Mei's fingers gripped the washbasin, trembling. Fortunately, he stopped. "Didn't you want to wash your hands? I'll wash them for you."
"I'm not..."
Before she could finish, he rolled up his sleeves, took her hand, and turned on the faucet. Lin Mei could no longer remember the last time someone had helped her wash her hands; it must have been in kindergarten.
After this Spring Festival, she would be twenty-seven. At this age, having someone help wash her hands...
His handwashing was like flirting. At this moment, both their hands were covered in foam. His fingers intertwined with hers, rubbing. Each touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, the tingling sensation spreading to her chest. She stared fixedly into the mirror, watching the man behind her encircling her body, his head bowed as he meticulously washed her hands, as if they were a deeply affectionate couple.
*Click.* The washroom door was suddenly pushed open, and both of them looked towards the entrance.
Ruan Yufei stood at the doorway, her face pale. Her dry lips moved with difficulty. "Yes, I'm sorry... I didn't know you were... Grandma asked me to check on Miss Lin."
As soon as Ruan Yufei spoke, Lin Mei immediately snapped out of her imagined reality. She felt incredibly embarrassed, pulled her hand away, rinsed off the foam, and Xing Zheng also let go of her. Lin Mei didn't even dry her hands before running out of the washroom.
Ruan Yufei remained standing at the washroom door, looking at Xing Zheng. Xing Zheng calmly dried his hands and, as he was leaving, stopped and said to Ruan Yufei, "Don't speak carelessly."
These simple words were enough for Ruan Yufei to obey. "I, I understand, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I thought you..."
"It's fine," Xing Zheng said. "I'll go check on the kitchen."
After Lin Mei returned to the living room, she still felt a deep sense of shame. Fortunately, the elders didn't ask too many questions. Not long after she sat down, Xing Zheng and Ruan Yufei also came out. Xing Zheng mentioned the kitchen, and everyone thought he had been there. He lied with a straight face and a steady heart. If he could do this to his closest relatives, he would certainly not be telling her the truth. Lin Mei thought to herself that she could never believe anything the dog said to her from now on.
Lunch was served. As soon as they entered the dining room, Yang Shuo pulled Ruan Yufei and said to Xing Zheng, "Dad, I want to sit with Mom."
Xu Shang also arranged, "Azheng, you, Yufei, and Yang Shuo sit over there!"
Yang Shuo got his wish and sat with Xing Zheng. Lin Mei sat between Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue. She was directly opposite Xing Zheng, which was better than sitting next to him.
Yang Shuo held a grudge in his heart. After they started eating, he used his own methods to assert his claim over Lin Mei, for example: "Dad, Mom loves meatballs the most. I'm not good with chopsticks, can you help Mom pick one up?"
Ruan Yufei immediately said, "No need, I can do it myself. Yang Shuo, don't talk while eating."
The mother and son exchanged glances. Xu Shang couldn't bear to see her great-grandson wronged, so she said to Xing Zheng, "You take care of Yufei."
Xing Zheng replied with an "Mm," and picked up a meatball for Ruan Yufei. Ruan Yufei's eyes welled up, and she said "Thank you" to Xing Zheng.
Lin Mei watched, feeling inexplicably annoyed. She picked up a few meatballs and ate them all in one go. Apart from Xing Zheng, no one else noticed her small action. Xing Zheng saw it and suddenly laughed.
Lin Mei glanced at him again. What a heartwarming scene of a happy family of three. Ruan Yufei harbored fantasies about him precisely because the dog had given her room for those fantasies. One hand cannot clap.
After lunch, they chatted for a while, and then started playing mahjong. Xing Zheng, however, accompanied Ruan Yufei and Yang Shuo out to shop. Lin Mei watched the mahjong game for a bit, felt bored, and went for a walk outside.
The villa area had a good environment and was very quiet. Lin Mei walked with her hands in her pockets. Before long, she saw Xing Zheng and Ruan Yufei in a pavilion around the corner. Yang Shuo was nowhere in sight.
Lin Mei intended to change her route before they noticed her. As she turned, she heard Ruan Yufei's voice, "Azheng, you know my feelings. I've been waiting for you all these years, and Yang Shuo only recognizes you as his father. I don't need a title, just let me stay by your side."