Five minutes until Xing Sha arrived? Lin Mei grew alert and immediately put down her chopsticks. Xing Zheng, having finished his call with Xing Sha, noticed Lin Mei’s anxious expression. He looked at her leisurely, "What's wrong?"
"You tell me, what's wrong?" He was clearly asking what he already knew. "Your father is coming, I need to leave."
Her relationship with Xing Zheng was something Xing Sha better not know about. Jiang Chu Bi was Xing Zheng's fiancée, and therefore someone Xing Sha approved of. Her appearance now would undoubtedly be seen as that of a third party.
Despite Lin Mei's haste, Xing Zheng remained unhurried. He took a slow sip of his coffee and said to her, "Five minutes. The most likely scenario is that he arrives just as you're leaving."
Lin Mei: "..."
"Go upstairs and hide. He won't stay long," Xing Zheng gestured to Lin Mei's plate. "Eat first."
Lin Mei couldn't remain as still as Xing Zheng. She had lost her appetite. After telling Xing Zheng to clear her plate, she hurried upstairs. Her panicked escape made Xing Zheng laugh, calling her a timid little rabbit, which was indeed fitting.
Xing Sha arrived soon after. Xing Zheng went to open the door for him. The father and son met. As Xing Sha walked in and bent down to change his slippers, he saw a ball of white fluff appear at his feet.
Even Xing Sha, who usually had excellent composure, was startled by the sudden appearance of the small creature. The next moment, he saw Xing Zheng bend down and pick up the object.
Xing Sha looked closely and saw it was a plump white rabbit.
At that moment, Xing Sha's expression became indescribable. He asked Xing Zheng, "What is this?"
"A rabbit," Xing Zheng replied with a look that said, "Can't you see?"
Xing Sha knew it was a rabbit, of course. He was just surprised. "You're keeping it?"
"Is that not allowed?" Xing Zheng stroked the rabbit's fur lazily, his movements very gentle, like a child with a precious toy. Seeing Xing Zheng like this reminded Xing Sha of his childhood...
The last time he had seen him wear such an expression was when he was in kindergarten. He had given him a gift then, and he had been so happy. It only lasted a few years. After elementary school, he rarely smiled, spoke less and less, sometimes not saying a word all day, becoming very withdrawn.
Now, seeing Xing Zheng keeping a pet, Xing Sha found it very unusual. He sat down and began to discuss business with Xing Zheng. Xing Zheng still held the rabbit, petting it and occasionally tugging its ear.
Xing Sha told Xing Zheng, "The equity change should be completed next week. Afterwards, I'll take you to Rong Shi for a meeting with the executives to get acquainted."
Xing Zheng replied, "Mm. You can just tell me this over the phone."
Xing Sha could tell Xing Zheng was implying he didn't need to make the trip. "You haven't visited since you returned to the country. Come over and sit for a while."
Xing Zheng asked, "Aren't you staying with her?" The "her" naturally referred to Xie Qin Jia.
Xing Sha recalled the argument from yesterday and Xie Qin Jia's actions of packing her bags. He smiled even more helplessly, "Let her have some space to herself. It's for the best."
This meant they had argued. There was no need to ask the reason. Xie Qin Jia and Xing Sha had always had a good relationship. Although she was willful, she wasn't someone who would argue with Xing Sha over trivial matters. Over the years, the only conflict between them had been Xing Zheng.
Xing Sha didn't want Xing Zheng to overthink things, so he asked, "What do you usually do on weekends? I hope I'm not disturbing you by coming over."
Xing Sha touched his stomach and said, "I didn't eat breakfast before leaving. Is there anything to eat at home?"
Xing Zheng, holding the rabbit, led Xing Sha to the dining room. Xing Sha said on the way, "Chu Bi mentioned that you learned many signature dishes while you were abroad. When you have time, make some for me to try..."
Before he could finish the word "try," Xing Sha saw the two servings of breakfast on the table. Only a small piece of food was cut on the plate, but the person at the table had disappeared. "Is someone else here?"
Xing Zheng took out a bag of bread from the refrigerator and gave it to Xing Sha. "This is all there is."
Xing Sha had no appetite now. He took the bread casually, not even unwrapping it. His attention was entirely captured by the two-person breakfast on the table. Eating breakfast together implied they had spent the night together. It definitely wasn't Jiang Chu Bi, otherwise, he wouldn't be hiding it like this. "You have a girlfriend?"
No wonder there was a rabbit in the house. It probably wasn't his idea, but for Xing Zheng to be so accommodating, this woman must have some influence. Xing Sha couldn't help but become curious. "Where is she? Why don't you call her over for me to meet?"
"Shy." Saying this was an admission of the previous statement.
Xing Sha asked again, "Is she really your girlfriend? When did you find her? Are you serious? Then your engagement with Chu Bi..."
"Not a girlfriend, just keeping it for fun," Xing Zheng said to Xing Sha, holding the rabbit. "About the same as it."
"If you and Chu Bi have no intentions, you can put the engagement on hold for now." Xing Sha had never intended for Xing Zheng to enter into an arranged marriage; the engagement with Jiang Chu Bi was his own decision.
Although Xing Sha was on good terms with the Jiang family, he had no intention of arranging a marriage for his juniors. The Xing family did not need to consolidate their status through such means. "If you meet someone you like, don't wrong her. Give her a legitimate status."
Xing Zheng smiled. A legitimate status, he wanted to give it, but would she accept it?
Lin Mei hid in the bedroom upstairs, feeling uneasy and constantly on edge. She couldn't even concentrate on her phone to pass the time. After an unknown period, the bedroom door was pushed open. Lin Mei, feeling guilty, was so startled she dropped her phone. Seeing that it was Xing Zheng, she finally relaxed. "Is your dad gone?"
She felt as if she had been granted a great pardon. Xing Zheng stared at her delicate face, his expression inscrutable. "You're that afraid of him seeing you?"
"What else?" Lin Mei picked up her phone. "You have a fiancée. What kind of clandestine identity do I have?"
"If you're willing, you can change your identity too." As she got up, he pinched her chin.
Lin Mei met the man's deep, fathomless eyes. "Change? How?"
Did this scoundrel think the identity of a lover wasn't exciting enough and he wanted to devise new ways to torment her?
His rough fingers brushed across her lips, stroking them slowly as if a hunter stalking prey. "It wouldn't be bad if you became my fiancée instead."
Surprise flashed in Lin Mei's eyes. She pushed his hand away. "Don't talk nonsense."
Xing Zheng grabbed her. "You don't want to?"
"I don't want to," Lin Mei was very clear-headed. Xing Zheng was saying these things to tease her. To him, she was merely a symbol of victory, while Jiang Chu Bi was a strategic alliance. "Let's just maintain this transactional relationship. You don't need to test me. I won't covet what doesn't belong to me."
The man opposite her frowned, his gaze darkening, almost crushing her wrist. "Oh? And what if Xing Yan said this to you?"