Lin Mei bit her lip, shaking her head repeatedly, refusing to call out. Their relationship was not recognized, so the words wouldn't come. He wasn't in a hurry either, patiently waiting for her.
Later, Lin Mei started crying and bit his shoulder. Her ears, nestled on top of her head, rested against his chin. He kissed her ear, "Will you call me, or not? Hmm?"
"Husband," Lin Mei whispered, barely audible.
"Call me again," he wasn't satisfied with the tone.
Lin Mei called him a few more times, each time louder, "Husband, husband."
...Deleted.
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Mei heard him command in her ear, "Say you love me."
Her mind was no longer under her control. "I love you."
Once wasn't enough; he made her say it many more times before he was grudgingly satisfied. Before letting go, he asked, "Do you know who I am? Say my name."
"Xing Zheng..." she mouthed the words, but he could see them clearly. He smiled and held her tighter.
After that day, Lin Mei was on edge for a few days. However, Xing Zheng never mentioned Xu Ying again, and there was no news from Xu Ying's end for the time being. It seemed the matter had passed, making her efforts to "pacify" him that night worthwhile.
Recently, her life with Xing Zheng could be described as a nightly revelry. She was almost constantly sore, sometimes so worn out from his advances that she couldn't concentrate in class the next day. Yet, this seemed to affect only her; he remained energetic, even going for morning runs.
With no acquaintances in the capital, Lin Mei felt much less burdened when going out with Xing Zheng compared to when they were in Nanjiang.
Xing Zheng's mood had also been very stable lately, no different from a normal person. After living together for over a month, Xing Zheng returned to Nanjiang. The day he left, Lin Mei was in class. When she received his WeChat message, she simply told him "Have a safe trip," but her heart felt hollow, as if a piece had been carved out.
Indulging in sensual pleasures was like a quagmire; once you stepped in, you sank deeper and deeper. She felt herself being dragged down by a gentle illusion, falling step by step, yet she couldn't save herself.
After class, she returned to the apartment and sat on the sofa, lost in thought. Images flashed before her eyes of their recent interactions in this very place...
He cooked for her, washed fruit for her, helped her with case analyses, and held her while they slept at night, among other things.
However, this was not a good sign. Lin Mei distracted herself and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Without Xing Zheng, she casually made something for herself.
Just as her fried rice was ready, she saw the latest news pushed to her app: "Xing Zheng Returns from Business Trip, Jiang Chubbi Personally Greets Him at the Airport, Couple Displays Affection."
The title alone was enough to kill her appetite. Lin Mei hesitated for a long time before finally succumbing to her curiosity and opening the push notification. She saw the photos.
In the pictures, Xing Zheng and Jiang Chubbi were embracing, whispering to each other intimately. One photo even looked like they were kissing. Jiang Chubbi's hand was gripping the knot of Xing Zheng's tie – the same tie Lin Mei had knotted for him that morning, now held by Jiang Chubbi...
Lin Mei closed the app and buried her head, mechanically shoveling fried rice into her mouth. She couldn't taste anything anymore. She couldn't finish the fried rice.
She took a shower but didn't even dry her hair before lying down on the bed. The sheets seemed to still carry his scent, invasively assaulting her senses. Closing her eyes, she saw those intimate scenes again. Tonight, would he be the same with Jiang Chubbi?
With these thoughts swirling in her mind, she couldn't sleep well. The next morning, looking in the mirror, Lin Mei was startled by her haggard appearance. She looked at herself in the mirror and a self-mocking smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
She thought that after Chen Qi's lesson, she would have learned her lesson, at least not fall for someone so easily again. She already knew what a dangerous person Xing Zheng was, yet she still uncontrollably developed feelings for him. Knowing it was wrong, she was still deeply entrenched. She needed to find a way to sober up.
Today, she had two classes. Lin Mei left school, still dazed. At the school gate, she ran into Xu Ying, who had been waiting for her. As soon as Xu Ying saw her, he walked over, "Are you alright?"
He had seen the news about Xing Zheng and Jiang Chubbi at the airport yesterday. Afterward, he had inquired about it from Lu Xiao, who then told him that Xing Zheng was behind the incident with his drug test during the last competition. Learning this, Xu Ying was filled with self-reproach. If not for him, Lin Mei wouldn't have had to compromise herself so much. "I know you were forced by him. The matter with my drug test last time, that was him!"
Lin Mei frowned, "Who told you?"
Xu Ying: "It doesn't matter who told me. I won't let him bully you anymore! Lin Mei, come with me to Florence. My team's headquarters are there. They've invited me several times. If you come with me, you can find a job in Milan."
After learning the truth, Xu Ying had made plans. Although young, he didn't fight unprepared battles. No matter how powerful Xing Zheng was, his influence didn't extend to the Apennines. Xing Zheng made his fortune on Wall Street. As long as they didn't go to North America and stayed away from Nanjiang, Xing Zheng couldn't do anything to them.
Lin Mei hadn't fully processed the fact that Xu Ying knew the truth, and she didn't hear the rest of his words. Xu Ying must have been too emotional and frightened her, so he put his arm around her shoulder, "I'm sorry, I was just too angry. Don't be scared. Let's go have dinner first."
"I want to drink," Lin Mei told him, "Accompany me for a drink."
She had been in a bad mood since last night. When she was under pressure, she liked to relieve it with alcohol. Xu Ying immediately agreed. He couldn't let her go drinking alone; it wasn't safe.
They chose a bar three kilometers away and took a taxi. As soon as they sat down, Lin Mei started drinking heavily. Xu Ying watched without stopping her. He could tell she was unhappy and needed an outlet. All he could do was quietly accompany her.
Lin Mei had a good tolerance for alcohol. By the time she finished her second bottle, she started showing signs of intoxication. Xu Ying helped her to the restroom. After she came out, she started speaking drunkenly, "Am I a fool? Forgetting the pain once the wound heals..."
"Xu Ying, stay away from me. That scumbag, he'll target you."
She hiccuped ungracefully, her cheeks flushed. Her voice was soft, and when she cursed, she didn't sound fierce, but rather very endearing. Xu Ying had never seen this side of her before and was charmed by her cuteness. He couldn't help but touch her face, "Don't worry, I'm not afraid of him."
"Wuwu, but I am," she suddenly became aggrieved, crying and hugging Xu Ying, slurring her words as she accused Xing Zheng of his wicked deeds.
Listening, Xu Ying's brow furrowed deeper. Was Xing Zheng even human? Using his power to force a woman like this!
Lin Mei was drunk. Xu Ying asked her where she lived, but she couldn't answer. So, he had to take her to a nearby hotel to stay for the night.