Ruan Yufei’s voice was soft and gentle, and with her adorable face, any man should have found it irresistible. However, her words were truly humble. Was this scoundrel so charming that she would stay by his side regardless of her own status?
As Lin Mei was curious, Xing Zheng replied, “Do you know what you are saying?” His tone was cold, making him seem utterly heartless compared to Ruan Yufei. Scoundrels had no hearts.
Ruan Yufei’s eyes welled up with tears. “I know, I know better than anyone. A Zheng, I just want to stay by your side. You can come find me occasionally, I…”
“You are my sister-in-law,” Xing Zheng cut off her remaining words. “I’ve made it very clear before. I have no interest in you. I’m taking care of Yangshuo because he is my nephew.”
“Why? Lin Mei can, why can’t I?” Rejected again, Ruan Yufei’s voice was clearly laced with tears. Even from a distance, Lin Mei could hear it.
However, Ruan Yufei’s question left Lin Mei speechless. She hadn’t expected that by merely eavesdropping, she would hear herself being discussed. It seemed Ruan Yufei’s dissatisfaction with her had been brewing for a long time. No wonder Yangshuo was like that; mother and son truly thought alike.
Lin Mei didn’t understand what was so enviable about being Xing Zheng’s plaything on his bed. Both Ruan Yufei and Jiang Chubai were strange. Ruan Yufei got along well with Xing Zheng’s fiancée, and Jiang Chubai was also very caring towards Ruan Yufei, her sister-in-law who coveted her fiancé. How did it end up that she, Lin Mei, became the target of their collective animosity?
As a woman herself, Lin Mei felt she couldn’t understand the minds of women.
Xing Zheng did not answer the question. Ruan Yufei asked unwillingly, “Where am I worse than her? What do you like about her? I can learn it too…”
Lin Mei saw Ruan Yufei step forward, embrace Xing Zheng, and stand on her tiptoes to kiss him. The scene was quite pleasing to the eye; if a camera were set up nearby, it could be used to film a television drama.
Just as Ruan Yufei’s lips were about to touch his, Xing Zheng pushed her away. Ruan Yufei was pushed back several steps by his forceful shove, looking utterly dishevelled. Her expression was as if she had suffered immense humiliation, and tears streamed down her face.
Lin Mei frowned. She hadn’t expected Xing Zheng to push Ruan Yufei away. He was clearly a player, yet now he acted like a chaste husband, completely contrary to his usual demeanor.
“If you continue like this, I won’t visit Yangshuo anymore,” Xing Zheng told Ruan Yufei. “I’m looking after you because you are Yangshuo’s mother and Xie Jin’s woman. If you want to remarry with Yangshuo, no one will stop you. Don’t say such things to me again.”
Such a rejection was extremely impolite. Ruan Yufei was likely provoked, and her voice suddenly became very loud. Lin Mei saw her grab Xing Zheng’s arm and, crying, question him, “But Xie Jin had an accident because of you, so isn’t it your responsibility to take care of me and Yangshuo? If you don’t want me to bother you, then give him back to me… Can you bring him back to life?”
Xing Zheng couldn’t answer. His face was tense, and he stood rooted to the spot. Lin Mei guessed that his expression must have been extremely gloomy at that moment. Car accidents were his sensitive spot; anyone who touched upon them would not end well.
Ruan Yufei saw the gloomy look in Xing Zheng’s eyes and instantly sobered up. Recalling what she had just said, Ruan Yufei’s body began to tremble. What was wrong with her? How could she be so impulsive? Knowing full well that he least wanted to mention the car accident, she had instead provoked him like this. Would he, in his anger, do something to her…
“I… I’m sorry.” Due to nervousness, Ruan Yufei even stammered. She explained to Xing Zheng almost incoherently, “I was too emotional just now and spoke without thinking. I don’t think you are the instigator, I’m truly sorry…”
“I will give you an explanation regarding Xie Jin’s matter,” Xing Zheng did not lose his temper with Jiang Chubai. “Go find Yangshuo. I want to be alone for a while.”
How could Ruan Yufei be at ease? She wanted to say more, but as soon as her lips moved, she was interrupted. “Hurry up and go.”
With a commanding tone and a stern expression, Ruan Yufei dared not say anything more and left in a hurry.
Lin Mei hid behind a tree. After Ruan Yufei left, she also walked away from another direction.
While strolling in the villa area, Lin Mei couldn’t help but ponder Ruan Yufei’s feelings for Xing Zheng. Her earlier statement, “Xie Jin had an accident because of you,” was enough to show that she harbored resentment towards that car accident. Yet, she had developed feelings for Xing Zheng… Was it a form of transference?
She couldn’t figure it out. The relationships within this family were too messy. Few ordinary people could understand them.
Lin Mei walked with her head down. After walking for a while, she suddenly saw a pair of leather shoes. She looked up, and the person in front of her was Xing Zheng. Running into him like this, Lin Mei was caught off guard and didn’t know how to compose her expression. She couldn’t tell if she had met him by chance or if Xing Zheng had already discovered her while she was eavesdropping earlier.
Looking at him up close, she could see bloodshot veins in his eyes. It was likely that Ruan Yufei’s words had greatly affected him.
“Why are you out here?” Xing Zheng asked. His tone suggested he didn’t know she had been eavesdropping.
Lin Mei replied, “I couldn’t understand the mahjong game, so I came out for a walk.”
“Since you have nothing to do, do me a favour,” Xing Zheng said to her. “Go buy me a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.”
Lin Mei said, “Oh,” and, “Wait for me.” He must be in a bad mood now, so wanting to smoke was normal.
There was a supermarket within the villa area, and Lin Mei quickly bought the cigarettes. Xing Zheng took them, put one in his mouth, and gestured with his chin to Lin Mei, “Light it.”
His sharp and smooth jawline was revealed, looking unruly and like a rake, but this handsome face was addictive, making it impossible to look away.
Lin Mei took the lighter. He leaned down, and as she lit the lighter, he cupped his large hand over the flame, successfully lighting a cigarette. He took a puff, not saying another word. It wasn’t the first time Lin Mei had seen him smoke, but her gaze was still uncontrollably drawn to him.
The man suddenly walked closer to her, lowered his head, and placed his hand holding the cigarette on her shoulder. He turned his head, exhaled a smoke ring, and asked teasingly, “Staring at me like that, what, have you realized you’ve fallen for me?”
A scoundrel couldn’t utter anything decent. Lin Mei denied it without thinking, “Where do you get your confidence from?”
“You were the one staring at me first. You gave me the confidence,” he replied fluently.
Lin Mei: “You should ask Miss Jiang or Miss Ruan about this. They will give you a satisfactory answer.”
“But I don’t like them. I only like you.” He suddenly became serious, gazing into her eyes, and said this.
Lin Mei’s heart skipped a beat, and she then pushed him away. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“I haven’t finished,” his eyes drifted downwards. “I like your… this.”