"Do you care that much?" His hand rested on her hair, stroking it with a soothing gesture. "My marriage to her is a matter of mutual benefit. She won't interfere with you and me, and with me around, no one will dare mock you."
"Oh." Her single word instantly extinguished any desire she had to communicate with him. These were his usual excuses. Even a young woman in her early twenties could see through them, so how could she not?
Lin Mei got off him and returned to eating opposite him. She ate so quickly that she choked, coughing violently. Xing Zheng wiped her tears and mouth. "Slow down, what's the rush?"
After that day, Lin Mei didn't see Jiang Chubbi again. The next news she saw of her was three days later. Jiang Chubbi had returned to Nanjiang, and the media had captured her buying men's suits at a department store, using the opportunity to praise her deep affection with Xing Zheng.
As for Xing Zheng, he had been staying at the apartment these past few days. When Lin Mei returned home from class, she would see him. They interacted like any ordinary couple, but Lin Mei had lost the desire to communicate with him. Apart from a few hours of intimacy in bed each night, they barely exchanged any words.
One night, Lin Mei took a bath and lay in bed. Soon after, Xing Zheng returned from the living room. He embraced her shoulders, and a cascade of kisses fell upon her. His strong fingers expertly unfastened her pajamas, slipping inside and igniting a fire within her.
He was passionate about doing this to her, and Lin Mei no longer resisted. She suppressed her own urges, lying still like a dead fish, unmoving.
She normally wouldn't offer much response, but her involuntary reactions were the most captivating. However, these past few days, she hadn't even offered that. While she didn't resist, her passive acceptance was like a splash of cold water. Xing Zheng kissed her ear, her collarbone, and moved downwards, his lips landing on her smooth thigh. She still showed no reaction.
He sat up and stared into her eyes. "Are you sulking with me, hmm?"
"I've already sent Jiang Chubbi away. She doesn't like me, and I'm not interested in her," he explained. "I haven't touched Jiang Chubbi. Only you."
He was telling the truth, but how could Lin Mei believe him? When he first appeared in her life, he had a reputation for being a dissolute and flirtatious man. His skills at seduction were so adept; how could he possibly have no experience?
"I'm not an idiot." Such an explanation was an insult to her intelligence.
"I was wrong about this matter. Please don't be angry anymore, okay?" He was extremely patient. "From now on, I won't let her appear before you."
Lin Mei laughed. "Mr. Xing, is this how you solve problems?"
"What do you want?" Xing Zheng asked.
"Either I leave, or she leaves," she finally said. "Can you not marry Jiang Chubbi?"
Lin Mei's words were like a bombshell. Xing Zheng released her and sat aside, remaining silent for a long time. He had never expected Lin Mei to say such a thing to him. She had always been indifferent to his closeness with Jiang Chubbi; had she finally started to care?
After a long silence, he asked her, "Why don't you want me to marry Jiang Chubbi?"
"You can't do it," she already knew his answer. "If you can't, then let me go."
Her statement plunged the surroundings back into silence for several minutes. The phone on the bedside table vibrated with a "buzz." It was Xing Zheng's phone. Lin Mei glanced at it; the screen clearly displayed "Jiang Chubbi." Xing Zheng picked up the phone without hesitation and went outside to answer it, leaving Lin Mei alone on the edge of the bed, mocking her own naivety.
Jiang Chubbi wouldn't call for no reason. Their plan was at a crucial stage. Xing Zheng went to the balcony. Jiang Chubbi spoke on the phone, "Zhao Jianghe has decided to compete with you for the artificial intelligence laboratory investment project. I overheard him talking to his assistant earlier. Can you come back these days?"
Xing Zheng replied, "Mm. I know. I'll be back as soon as possible."
Jiang Chubbi continued, "When you come back this time, let's have a wedding first. Whether we register the marriage or not is up to you, otherwise, he won't believe it."
Mentioning "wedding," Xing Zheng unconsciously glanced towards the bedroom, her words from earlier echoing in his mind. Jiang Chubbi, as if sensing his hesitation, sternly reminded him, "My cooperation with you is to bring down the Zhao family. We've come this far. If you disregard everything for a woman, I'll be the first to look down on you!"
Xing Zheng hung up the phone and stood on the balcony, smoking.
After an unknown amount of time, he returned to the bedroom, reeking of smoke, and changed into a suit. Under Lin Mei's gaze, he left.
He left after receiving Jiang Chubbi's call. Lin Mei knew his choice in her heart. She packed her belongings overnight and moved out of the apartment back to the accommodation arranged by Xing.
Xing Zheng had not contacted her since he left. Lin Mei's days became a routine of school and the hotel, a two-point line. She was in low spirits and had no interest in shopping on weekends, preferring to stay alone in her room reading.
She had blocked all entertainment news but never expected to see Xing Zheng again until it was on the financial news.
The news reported that Rongshi intended to invest in the artificial intelligence laboratory, and the plans were all completed. However, the laboratory had a last-minute change of heart and chose to cooperate with the Zhao Corporation. Zhao Corporation made a high-profile investment in the laboratory, while Rongshi became the defeated party.
During the interview, Xing Zheng's face was as dark as coal, while Zhao Jianghe appeared radiant, wearing his signature smile. He humbly told the media, "This time, it's all thanks to Mr. Xing. If it weren't for Rongshi's painful concession, Zhao Corporation wouldn't have had such a great opportunity."
Although Zhao Jianghe was outwardly polite, Lin Mei found him incredibly hypocritical.
Perhaps it was because she had previously stumbled upon his "affair" with Jiang Chubbi. At that time, he had expressed his disgust for Xing Zheng. Now that he had defeated Xing Zheng, he must have been overjoyed. Saying these words in front of the media was not gratitude but rather a true provocation and mockery.
But why did Xing Zheng lose to Zhao Jianghe? Shuangmu, coupled with Rongshi, how could they lose to a mere Zhao Corporation?
Indeed, someone had already begun a conspiracy theory. In the EMBA training group, this matter was also being discussed. One person said he had heard a rumor that there was an insider among Xing Zheng's staff who leaked his investment plans to the Zhao Corporation. As soon as this was said, people began to speculate about who this insider could be.
However, Lin Mei had no interest in reading the chat records. Who among Xing Zheng's staff could access the investment plans and had a close relationship with Zhao Jianghe, other than Jiang Chubbi?
But why would Jiang Chubbi leak Xing Zheng's plans to Zhao Jianghe? And why would Xing Zheng, knowing the unusual relationship between Jiang Chubbi and Zhao Jianghe, give her such an opportunity?
There must be some hidden circumstances that others did not know.
Who did Jiang Chubbi belong to? What was her relationship with Xing Zheng? Lin Mei racked her brain but couldn't find an answer.
The very next day, Xing Zheng publicly announced his marriage to Jiang Chubbi to the media.