Xing Zheng naturally refused, "I've already booked the room, it's not safe for you to stay alone."
"Why wouldn't it be safe? Jiaozi can keep me company," Lin Mei remained unyielding, and the two found themselves at a stalemate at the front desk. Lin Mei was over seven months pregnant, her belly already very prominent.
The receptionist, recognizing Xing Zheng, naturally sided with him. "Madam, with your belly so big, staying alone is too risky. It's safer to have your husband accompany you."
The receptionist's attitude was excellent and polite, making it difficult for Lin Mei to refuse. After the stalemate, she eventually followed Xing Zheng back to the suite. The suite had only one bedroom with a double bed. This meant she might have to share a bed with Xing Zheng that night. Although she had prepared herself mentally, Lin Mei didn't want to "reward" him so easily. Her plan was not yet complete, and Xing Zheng had only recently become proactive.
Xing Zheng brought the luggage into the bedroom. Lin Mei sat on the bed. Jiaozi leaped nimbly onto it, occupying half the bed and constantly nudging into Lin Mei's embrace, even resting its head on her lap to listen to the movements in her belly. Xing Zheng looked displeased and scolded it, "Jiaozi, stay away from her belly."
Jiaozi whined, a large creature whose cries sounded like an infant's. It seemed aggrieved, as if complaining to its mother. Lin Mei immediately felt sympathetic. "Why are you scolding it? It just came closer to listen, it didn't do anything."
"You need to be careful at all times. Its brain isn't good, it's clumsy." It was clear Xing Zheng had little regard for Jiaozi's intelligence, but Lin Mei was unfazed. She even pulled Jiaozi closer. Xing Zheng couldn't say anything more and could only watch. Jiaozi, sensing the situation, was petted by Lin Mei and looked provocatively at Xing Zheng, its eyes full of challenge, as if competing for favor. Xing Zheng suddenly regretted bringing it along.
After unpacking and resting for a little over an hour, Xing Zheng took Lin Mei out. Since Lin Mei was pregnant, the task of walking the dog fell to Xing Zheng.
Jiaozi had been disciplined well. Although excited, it didn't run off and followed them, leashed by Xing Zheng, without charging ahead. Xing Zheng had booked out the resort, so apart from the staff, no one else disturbed them. Upon reaching the lake, Xing Zheng loosened Jiaozi's leash and sat down with Lin Mei. Jiaozi ran onto the grass.
Lin Mei removed her mask, breathing in the fresh air, feeling much more relaxed. Xing Zheng, while she took a deep breath, lay down and rested his head against her swollen abdomen.
As he leaned, the baby inside seemed to sense his presence, kicking its legs and touching him through her belly with considerable force. Lin Mei, however, winced from the kicks.
"Does it hurt?" Xing Zheng touched her belly and spoke to the baby inside, "Don't move so much."
His serious and earnest demeanor made Lin Mei smile. She explained to him, "It's communicating with you."
"Does it usually do this?" Xing Zheng asked curiously.
Lin Mei nodded, "Yes. When someone touches my belly, it does this. The doctor said it might have a lively personality."
Lin Mei's mind conjured an image of a lively child. The baby's gender was still unknown. She wondered if it would resemble her or him after birth. If it were a boy and took after him, he would likely be a charmer, attracting countless young girls who would fall head over heels for him.
Xing Zheng said, "When the baby is born, let's get married." He mentioned marriage again. Lin Mei reminded him, "We're broken up right now."
His tone was so confident, as if he was certain they would eventually get married, no matter what. This displeased her greatly. "I might get married, but it certainly won't be to you."
"I'll get your parents to agree," Xing Zheng confirmed with her. "Once they relent, will you still be willing to give me a chance?"
His question was very candid. For someone not good at expressing himself, asking like this meant he had put aside his pride. Lin Mei could indeed see his "progress," but she only gave a vague answer, "We'll see when that time comes."
The first day of their resort trip concluded quickly. After dinner, they returned to the suite. Lin Mei took a shower and lay down on the bed. Shortly after, Xing Zheng also returned from outside. As he was about to get into bed, Lin Mei stopped him.
"What's wrong?" he asked, adjusting his bathrobe, his chest muscles faintly visible. Lin Mei averted her gaze, not wanting to be swayed by his good looks. "You should sleep outside tonight. I can't sleep well with someone lying next to me."
"Then I'll sleep on the floor." He took a sheet from the closet and spread it on the carpet, making his decision without hesitation. "It's not safe for you alone."
Lin Mei simply said, "Oh, whatever you say."
She picked up her phone to play with it. Soon, Jiaozi rushed in, jumped onto the bed, and lay down beside Lin Mei. Before Lin Mei could say anything, Xing Zheng scolded, "Jiaozi, get down!"
Jiaozi immediately turned to Lin Mei for help. It whimpered and cried. Although Lin Mei couldn't understand what it was saying, she knew it was complaining to her. Xing Zheng warned it, "Complaining won't help, get down."
"Stop scolding it," Lin Mei explained to Xing Zheng, "It's been sleeping with me at night during this period."
Jiaozi was very considerate. It must have known she was pregnant, so it never touched her belly. When sleeping at night, it would quietly guard her. During her time back in Xiangxi, if not for Jiaozi's company, her state wouldn't have been so stable.
Xing Zheng was displeased, but since Lin Mei wouldn't let Jiaozi leave, he could only watch as it occupied the spot that should have been his.
The four-day, three-night resort trip ended quickly. Xing Zheng drove Lin Mei and Jiaozi back, only to be met with Lin Zhengde's cold glare. Xiao Yue's attitude was slightly better than Lin Zhengde's, but not overly warm.
On the way back to the hotel, Xing Zheng received a call from Li Xun. He learned that during the few days he had taken Lin Mei to the resort, Ning Rui had completely fallen out with Li Xun, and divorce negotiations had already begun. Xing Zheng did not return to the hotel but went to Li Xun's home.
The large villa was now occupied only by Li Xun, along with the cat and dog he had raised with Ning Rui.
When Xing Zheng arrived, Li Xun was sitting on the sofa, smoking, in a state of extreme dejection. Xing Zheng asked, "Ning Rui moved out?"
Li Xun nodded, "I was careless and she played a trick on me. Heh heh."
"Does she have anything on her?" Xing Zheng's gaze sharpened. Since Ning Rui had openly fallen out with Li Xun, she must have obtained solid evidence. "Where is she now?"
"She pried open the safe and took the contents." That safe contained Li Xun's company's gray accounts. If handed over to the police, he would be in serious trouble. Li Xun told Xing Zheng, "Lin Mei is Ning Rui's only friend. I suspect she'll give the ledger to Lin Mei. Could you keep an eye out for me these few days?"