Lin Mei was unaware of how Xing Zheng had spent his Chinese New Year in previous years. All she knew was that he wouldn't have been able to return to the Xing family for the Spring Festival that year. Xie Qin Jia had said she didn't want to see him, and if she returned to Xiangxi, he would be left alone to celebrate the New Year. Thinking of this, Lin Mei felt a slight discomfort. Holidays for family reunions, spending them alone, seemed rather poignant.
"I'm not going back," Xing Zheng replied calmly.
"Hmm? Aren't you celebrating the New Year with Grandma Xu?" she thought he had a traditional habit of spending the Spring Festival with Xu Shang and Xie Jun Yao. The elders should be the ones who doted on him the most in the family.
"She just had surgery. This year, they are coming to Nanjiang," Xing Zheng said.
The elders would definitely be celebrating the New Year with Xie Qin Jia and Xing Sha. Xing Zheng wouldn't be able to go back, which would truly leave him alone. Lin Mei pondered this for a long time before asking, "Then do you want to come back with me?"
Xing Zheng feigned ignorance, "Go back for what?"
Xiao Yue and Lin Zheng De didn't know much about Lin Mei and Xing Zheng's affairs. They had inquired about the previous news, and Lin Mei had only said she was trying, giving a vague answer. Xing Zheng had been married before. Xiao Yue and Lin Zheng De were more traditional in their thinking. Despite their childhood friendship, they didn't want Lin Mei to marry someone who had been married before. Lin Mei also hadn't figured out how to confess her entanglement with Xing Zheng to her parents, so she couldn't rashly bring him home to meet them.
"Like last time," Lin Mei told Xing Zheng, "You stay at a hotel, and I'll find you when I have time."
Although it wasn't constant companionship, it was better than him staying alone in Nanjiang. "My parents don't know about me and you yet. Once I explain it to them, I'll bring you back to meet them."
Xing Zheng had no particular desire to meet Xiao Yue and Lin Zheng De, having seen them many times before. He wasn't in a hurry. However, "Why can Xu Ying go back to see them after a few months, but I can't?"
"Are you bringing up old scores?" Lin Mei stopped eating her noodles. "You're so childish."
"I'm asking you," he said calmly, insisting on getting an answer from her. "Tell me the reason."
"Between me and Xu Ying, it's quite simple," Lin Mei said. "At that time, life wasn't going well, and I was in a bad mood. If he hadn't accompanied me, I might not have been able to get through it."
What was meant as an explanation made Xing Zheng's expression even more displeased. This statement sounded like praise for Xu Ying. Seeing this, Lin Mei said, "Don't bring up old scores. Yours are thicker than mine."
If she were to talk about the women around him, she could list many: Ruan Yu Fei, Jiang Chu Bi, and even some she had only met a few times. His temper wasn't great, but his romantic life was quite vibrant!
Xing Zheng was well aware of this, which was why he was bringing up old scores so restrainedly.
After some discussion, Xing Zheng booked flights for himself and Lin Mei to return to Xiangxi together. Before leaving, they bought many things for the elders in their families.
On the day they returned to Xiangxi, while waiting for their flight, Lin Mei received several calls from Xiao Yue. After boarding the plane, Xiao Yue called again, "Your dad made beef sauce today and also bought the sticky rice cakes you loved since you were little. Come home for dinner tonight!"
"Okay," Lin Mei replied. "Don't bother yourselves too much; you won't be able to eat that much."
"Alright, alright, alright. Then be careful on your way. Your dad and I will wait for you at the airport."
Although she said that, how could Xiao Yue not prepare? Every year when Lin Mei returned for the Spring Festival, she would gain a few pounds.
After finishing the call with Xiao Yue, Lin Mei met Xing Zheng's gaze. He had been staring at her, with complex emotions swirling in his eyes. Lin Mei detected a hint of envy, and her heart ached. She took his hand, her slender fingers weaving through his, holding them tightly.
There was no need for comforting words; language was the most powerless. It wouldn't comfort him but would touch deeper wounds. An action was more significant, and he understood. He squeezed her hand back, his dry, warm palm enclosing hers, not letting go for a long time.
Lin Mei hadn't mentioned Xing Zheng's return to Xiao Yue and Lin Zheng De. After they landed, they didn't walk together. Lin Mei dragged her suitcase to find her parents and got into the car with them. Xing Zheng was picked up by Li Xun's people.
After getting into the car, Lin Mei sent Xing Zheng a WeChat message: [Let me know when you get to the hotel.]
During dinner at home that evening, Lin Mei was asked about her relationship by her parents. When this topic came up, Xing Zheng was inevitably mentioned. Xiao Yue asked, "Are you still developing your relationship with Xing Zheng? How is it going?"
"Mom and Dad, what do you think of him?" Lin Mei asked, not answering directly, trying to gauge their opinions first.
"He's a good person, but he's been married, and his background is too good. It's not a suitable match. Mom is worried you'll be wronged," Xiao Yue commented on Xing Zheng, generally finding him acceptable.
Xing Zheng had provided considerable help when Lin Zheng De was undergoing surgery. Afterwards, he had been very polite to them, so the couple had a good impression of him. Apart from the fact that he had been married before, there were no other dissatisfactions. They were more concerned that Xing Zheng's excellent conditions might cause Lin Mei to be wronged. The elders were traditional and favored relationships with equal social standing.
Lin Zheng De's thoughts were similar to Xiao Yue's. Lin Mei felt relieved after hearing this and didn't explain the remarriage. The next day, Lin Mei went out and visited Xing Zheng at his hotel.
She brought him some pastries made by Xiao Yue. "Try them."
Xing Zheng sat on the sofa, unmoving. Lin Mei opened the box and brought a mung bean cake to his lips, coaxing him, "Try it."
The man, who had been indifferent, finally opened his mouth. He ate it, and some mung bean cake stuck to his lips. He licked it clean with his tongue, and Lin Mei suddenly smiled.
Xing Zheng asked, "What are you laughing at?"
"You look like Jiaozi," Lin Mei blurted out what she was thinking without much thought.
Xing Zheng showed a look of disdain. "Why are you still thinking about it?" This feeling of being a substitute for a dog wasn't very good.
Lin Mei smiled. She had raised Jiaozi, so how could she not think of him? If it weren't for the inconvenience of transporting him, she would have wanted to bring Jiaozi back for the New Year. "Remember to ask Auntie to take good care of Jiaozi. It's time to take him for vaccinations when we get back."
Before she could finish speaking, her lips were sealed by him. He sucked on them as if to punish her, skillfully and lightly lifting her onto his lap. Once the kiss began, it was unstoppable. Xing Zheng bit her ear, his breath hot, "Remember how we used to play in the hotel?"
Lin Mei trembled. Past scenes flashed before her eyes. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. She would never forget that experience – the dazzling array of props, the heavenly, cloud-like sensations. Only he could provide such experiences.
She couldn't speak, so he smiled and asked, "Want to do it again? Dare you?"
It was a challenge, a provocative tone, as if he was certain she wouldn't dare. Lin Mei's mind raced, and she easily fell for it. "What is there that I don't dare to do?"
"Is that so?" he said triumphantly, smiling wickedly, pinching her earlobe with his fingers. "Don't you dare cry to me then."