"This isn't a request you'd usually make," Xing Zheng didn't answer directly.
Lin Mei, however, heard the unspoken meaning in his words. She laughed mockingly and questioned, "Then what do you think I *would* ask for? Because I'm sensible and considerate, I should understand you unconditionally, even if you abandon me time and time again, and not have any complaints, is that it?"
"No," he couldn't possibly think that. "I can't make the choice you've given me. I thought you understood me."
"I thought I did before, but now, I'm not sure," Lin Mei told him. "I don't understand why you're so fixated on something almost impossible. Why can't you let go of the past and look forward? We'll have a home, and you'll have someone to love. Why does it have to be Auntie Xie?"
She understood his longing for love; no one in this world didn't crave it. But love wasn't something one could beg for. Xie Qin Jia didn't love him even after the surgery. Why was he tormenting himself like this?
"You ask me why," Xing Zheng laughed. "I'd like to know that too."
If he had known the reason, he would have let go long ago. Why would he be like this now? "I also want to know, why does she hate me so much when I'm her child?"
Xing Zheng's words brought back many memories for Lin Mei of Xie Qin Jia speaking harshly to Xing Zheng and even hurting him. She remembered his bloodshot eyes, the wound on his forehead, and how he'd deliberately provoked her to get her attention by calling out "Mom." Her chest ached, and she suddenly felt that what she had just said was too much.
"I'm not in a good mood today," Lin Mei told Xing Zheng. "My expression might not have been appropriate just now. I'll calm down first, and we can talk when I'm more composed."
Xing Zheng said, "Mm." He remained in the living room, unwilling to leave. Just as Lin Mei was about to ask, she heard him say, "I'll stay tonight."
They didn't communicate much afterward. Despite the unpleasantness, Lin Mei didn't deliberately ignore him. Upon learning he hadn't eaten dinner, she ordered takeout for him. They slept in the same bed that night.
Xing Zheng habitually held Lin Mei in his arms. Lin Mei didn't struggle and fell asleep with her eyes closed. When she woke up, it was the next morning.
The man beside her was no longer there. As Lin Mei went out to wash up, she saw him busy in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. After washing up, Lin Mei saw the glutinous rice balls in sweet fermented rice and pan-fried dumplings with egg on the table.
Xing Zheng washed his hands and sat down. "Let's eat breakfast."
A night had passed, and both their moods had calmed considerably. Lin Mei picked up her spoon and began eating the glutinous rice balls. Xing Zheng watched her from across the table and said, "I'm sorry about yesterday. Next time something like this happens, I'll call you first to let you know."
He said "next time," and Lin Mei slowed her movements. It seemed he believed there would be a next time. As if guessing her thoughts, Xing Zheng added, "I promise I won't go looking for her anymore."
"I was worried yesterday, and I received a message unexpectedly, so I went to see her," Xing Zheng explained. "I went to the airport and followed them home. I only left after seeing that she was fine."
"Did you not meet?" Lin Mei was curious.
"No," Xing Zheng shook his head, his tone calm and even. "She doesn't want to see me."
Even if he appeared before her, it would only be to embarrass himself. He just wanted to confirm the effectiveness of the surgery.
While he was away, Xie Qin Jia and Xing Sha got along very well; they were very affectionate. After disembarking, Xie Qin Jia had been holding Xing Sha's arm, talking to him. Even from a distance, one could see her reliance on Xing Sha. As for Xing Sha, he had always doted on and indulged Xie Qin Jia. In a way, they had achieved their happily ever after.
"She's doing quite well now," Xing Zheng said. "He's always been very good to her and will take good care of her."
Lin Mei said, "Mm." She had long witnessed Xing Sha's love for Xie Qin Jia, unwavering for decades. That kind of passion was entirely different from the quiet, steady affection between her own parents.
Photos of Xie Qin Jia and Xing Sha at the airport were delivered to Zhao Rong the next day. Zhao Rong saw the intimate couple in the photos, and his gaze twisted.
Xie Qin Jia, leaning on Xing Sha's arm, so dependent on him. Did such a man deserve her?
Xie Qin Jia was supposed to be his. At that time, she had clearly shown him favor. He had found her first, but Xing Sha had intercepted him again!
The Xing family deserved to die. Whether it was Xing Sha or his two sons, none of them were worthy of being her family. All her suffering was caused by Xing Sha!
As the end of the year approached, the bank held its annual party. Lin Mei drank quite a bit at the party. Xing Zheng came to pick her up, which was seen by many colleagues. There had already been rumors about them at the bank, and Xing Zheng coming to pick her up was tantamount to an admission. Even colleagues who disliked Lin Mei couldn't say anything.
Lin Mei, feeling tipsy, was helped out of the club by Xing Zheng. The wind outside was cold, and she shivered, leaning into Xing Zheng's embrace. She smiled and said, "You're so warm."
Xing Zheng held her tighter. "Then shall we sleep like this tonight? Hmm?"
Lin Mei mumbled, "Mm," drowsily. "Okay..."
Taking advantage of her drunken state, Xing Zheng successfully brought her back to Zhuhua Villa. Lin Mei didn't pay much attention on the way. When she got out of the car, she realized she had been tricked. She playfully hit Xing Zheng's arm with a soft force that felt like a tickle. "Why did you bring me back here?"
He lifted her up and carried her upstairs. They went from the bathroom to the bed, entangled.
Her head was hot from the alcohol, and her movements were much bolder than usual. In the heat of the moment, she even flipped over and pressed down on him, sitting on his lap with her back to him.
Xing Zheng looked at her heaving, trembling shoulders, his eyes reddening. He pulled her arms back behind her. She tilted her head up and looked back at him.
In the latter half of the night, Nanjiang City welcomed its first snowfall of winter. January was the coldest month in Nanjiang City. After several hours of snowfall, the outside was covered in white by morning.
After the annual party, Lin Mei was on holiday. Early in the morning, she received a call from home. Xiao Yue asked, "Are you on holiday? What day are you coming back this year? Your father and I will pick you up."
"I haven't bought my plane ticket yet," Lin Mei looked at the man beside her. "I'll let you know once it's booked."
"Okay, I see it's snowing in Nanjiang. Wear more clothes," Xiao Yue instructed.
Lin Mei chatted with Xiao Yue for a few minutes. After hanging up, she saw Xing Zheng staring intently at her. Lin Mei asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Xing Zheng lifted the covers and turned his back to her. "I'll go make breakfast."
Breakfast was beef noodles, steaming hot. Lin Mei ate her noodles while browsing her social media feed. She saw many people out playing in the snow, and the scenery was beautiful. If she weren't afraid of the cold, she would have gone out to play too.
Lost in thought, she heard Xing Zheng ask, "When are you going back to Xiangxi?"
"This week," Lin Mei replied. "I'll buy some things for my parents before I go."
After saying that, she remembered something. "Are you also... going back to Xiangxi for the Spring Festival?"