As Xing Zheng had promised to pick her up after work, he had driven Lin Mei to the bank that morning. Since she hadn't driven herself, she waited for him outside the bank. Usually, he would arrive early to pick her up, but today, he was nowhere to be seen. A subtle unease began to creep into Lin Mei's heart. She took out her phone and called him, but there was no answer. This only solidified her feeling that something was amiss.
Without calling him again, Lin Mei contacted Zhuang Wan. "Do you know where Xing Zheng is?"
Zhuang Wan hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "Mr. Xing took a call in the afternoon and left. It seemed like he went home."
Lin Mei understood immediately. Xing Zheng had learned of Xie Qin Jia's return beforehand and had gone to her without hesitation. This wasn't surprising; even though Xie Qin Jia had previously stated she didn't want to see him, he still couldn't let go. He would rush to her side, even if it meant being disliked.
Lin Mei didn't know how to describe her feelings. It seemed that in matters of the heart, people could rarely be completely rational. Despite having prepared herself mentally, she still wished to be the one he prioritized.
If he were to leave her waiting without a word, for someone or something else, she would inevitably feel disappointed and sad. Even if that someone was Xie Qin Jia, she would still feel uncomfortable. To call it jealousy might be an exaggeration, but the imbalance that arose from within – what else could it be but jealousy?
After her call with Zhuang Wan, Lin Mei tried calling Xing Zheng again, but he still didn't answer.
Her colleagues at the bank had gradually left, leaving her alone. The winter wind was cold, making Lin Mei shiver. Knowing she wouldn't be able to wait for him any longer, she decided to call for a taxi.
Just then, an SUV pulled up in front of her. The window rolled down, and Lin Mei saw Xu Ying's face. "Why are you standing here alone? Aren't you cold?"
When people are emotionally vulnerable, a simple word of concern can bring them to the verge of tears. Lin Mei's eyes welled up, and they immediately turned red. Seeing her distressed state, Xu Ying invited her into the car.
The heater in the car was strong, and she felt much warmer after getting in. Xu Ying asked, "Do you have time to have dinner together?"
Lin Mei replied with a simple "Mm." She had been stood up, so of course, she had time.
"How about an izakaya?" Xu Ying asked again.
Lin Mei had no objections. Xu Ying drove them to an izakaya, and they were led to a private room on the second floor. Lin Mei sat down cross-legged. The room had underfloor heating, and she began to sweat as soon as she entered. She took off her coat and placed it aside. As she sat down, she unconsciously picked up her phone to check it. There were no new messages and no missed calls.
Xu Ying, being quite astute, had already guessed some of what was going on. After ordering their food, he asked, "Did you and Xing Zheng have a fight?"
"We didn't fight," Lin Mei denied. "It's probably just me being overly sensitive."
Her tone was self-deprecating. Xu Ying's expression became more serious. "What happened? Are you comfortable telling me?"
Although Xu Ying was younger, he was exceptionally mature when discussing issues. Lin Mei had already built a sense of trust in him. With her heart feeling heavy, she told him about Xie Qin Jia. Xu Ying was an excellent listener. As Lin Mei spoke, he listened attentively. Sensing her choked sobs, he thoughtfully handed her a tissue.
After Lin Mei finished speaking, he told her, "This isn't your fault, and you're not being overly sensitive."
"You don't think so?" Lin Mei lowered her head, her voice filled with dejection. "I don't know what I'm upset about. Sometimes I feel it's completely unnecessary. I know very well how difficult his life has been all these years."
It was understandable for someone who had never been loved by their own mother to crave her affection and attention. Lin Mei, who had grown up in a loving family with devoted parents, couldn't fully empathize with him. The maternal love she had so easily received was something he had spent nearly thirty years desperately seeking, yet never obtaining.
Two forces pulled at her. One side told her that she should be angry that he had abandoned her without a word. The other side said that since she loved him, she should understand him; he was so persistent, so in need of attention.
"Isn't that normal?" Xu Ying said to Lin Mei. "When you like someone, you want to be the most important person in their heart, to be their top priority no matter what happens. That's human nature. Why should you condemn yourself for it?"
"He could have explained things to you, but he said nothing. That's his problem. You don't have to blame yourself for his wrong decision," Xu Ying analyzed calmly. His words, though blunt, were spot on.
Although Lin Mei had deep feelings for Xing Zheng, she wasn't blindly devoted. Xu Ying's words were very objective; Xing Zheng had indeed acted inappropriately. "I just feel that he's had a very difficult time all these years."
"I think you've had a difficult time too," Xu Ying said, pouring her some juice. "Actually, you don't have to be so sensible. You can tell him your feelings clearly and not keep them bottled up."
Lin Mei drank her juice, falling into silence. Xu Ying saw the worry in her eyes. "What are you afraid of? That he'll think you're being unreasonable, immature, or inconsiderate?"
Lin Mei couldn't refute him. Xu Ying always hit the nail on the head. He continued, "If he really thinks that way, then I don't think he's worthy of being with you."
"You've already sacrificed a lot to be with him. If even the right to express your emotions is taken away, frankly, there's no point in you being with him anymore."
When Xu Ying analyzed things rationally, he displayed a maturity and steadiness beyond his years. It had always been this way, and now, after being called back to manage the company and spending a year or two in the business world, this quality had only intensified.
"You need to listen to your heart now. Tell him what you want most. If he can't do it, you can negotiate," Xu Ying advised.
During the dinner, Lin Mei felt her gloomy mood significantly improve as Xu Ying continued to comfort her. As they left the izakaya, Lin Mei's phone rang. It was Xing Zheng calling, but she didn't feel like answering.
Xu Ying saw it and said, "If you don't want to answer, don't. Want to watch a movie?"
Lin Mei replied with a "Mm." She silenced her phone and put it in her bag, then went to watch a movie with Xu Ying.
By the time the movie ended, it was late at night. Lin Mei was feeling sleepy, so Xu Ying drove her home. On the way, Lin Mei took out her phone and saw dozens of missed calls, all from Xing Zheng.
In that moment, she had a strong urge to call him back, but she suppressed it.
As it neared midnight, Xu Ying parked the car downstairs from her apartment building, and they got out together. It was cold, and Lin Mei was dressed thinly. A gust of wind made her shiver. Seeing this, Xu Ying took a windbreaker from the car and draped it over her shoulders. She felt much warmer.
"Thank you," Lin Mei said to Xu Ying.
"Get some rest. I won't come up. I'll contact you tomorrow." After helping Lin Mei with the jacket, Xu Ying turned to leave. As he turned, he saw Xing Zheng across the street.