Xing Zheng remained silent. He knew that Lin Mei had once approached Zhao Jianghe, wanting to help him seek a "breakthrough." At that time, it was precisely because he worried that Zhao Jianghe would deal with her if he found out that he had done something that damaged her reputation.
He had originally thought that after that incident, she would no longer interfere. Unexpectedly, she still remembered to tell Xing Sha about it, and her protection just now...
From childhood until now, no one had ever protected him like this in front of Xie Qin Jia. Even Xing Sha, his father, to accommodate Xie Qin Jia's emotions, would not have been as open and honest, and clearly on his side, as Lin Mei.
"I'm not a good father," Xing Sha said to Xing Zheng. "She has suffered too much. I can't bear to let her recall those past events. The risks and costs of surgery, I don't want to bear them. I've wronged you."
If one cannot bear the cost of surgery, then the best way is to prevent Xing Zheng from appearing in front of Xie Qin Jia. As long as she doesn't see Xing Zheng, all problems will be easily solved.
Xing Zheng naturally understood Xing Sha's meaning. "I understand."
His prompt agreement made Xing Sha feel even more guilty. "You and Lin Mei be good together. I'll handle her work on her end."
Xing Zheng did not respond to Xing Sha. After the father and son returned to the ward, Xing Zheng left with Lin Mei. Although Lin Mei was worried about Xie Qin Jia, she was more concerned about Xing Zheng's condition. His complexion had been poor, and it worsened after talking with Xing Sha.
On the way back to Zhuhua Villa, he said nothing. In the confined space of the car, silence spread, and the oppressive atmosphere made one's chest tight. Upon returning home, Lin Mei stopped in front of Xing Zheng. "What did Uncle Xing say to you?"
Whatever could make him so dejected must be very serious. Xie Qin Jia didn't want him to be with her, and he loved Xie Qin Jia so much. If he gave up for her, it wouldn't be unusual.
Thinking of this, Lin Mei felt increasingly bitter. For Xie Qin Jia, he had already given up too much.
Xing Zheng looked at her in silence. The concern in her eyes could not be faked. Never before had he been so sure that he held a place in her heart. He took her shoulders and pulled her into his arms, encircling her tightly with his arms.
Lin Mei did not dodge. She also raised her arms and wrapped them around him in response. She said to him, "Aunt Xie doesn't know the truth. Forget what she said."
"Everything has nothing to do with you. You are very good," her voice was gentle, carrying a calming power. "You don't owe anyone anything."
"Why did you say those things to her?" His voice was hoarse, as if he had a severe cold, with a strong nasal tone. As he asked, he held her even tighter.
"I've wanted to say it for a long time," Lin Mei told Xing Zheng her thoughts. "Uncle Xing concealed past events to protect her, but the truth doesn't change. Paper can't wrap fire, and no secret can be hidden forever."
Lin Mei knew Xing Sha's good intentions towards Xie Qin Jia, but she could not agree with his concealment, especially when such concealment required Xing Zheng to pay such a heavy price.
"Are you pitying me?" Xing Zheng asked.
"How could you... mmm." Before Lin Mei could finish her sentence, Xing Zheng leaned down and kissed her.
He was like a coward, anticipating her answer but not daring to hear it.
The next day, Lin Mei returned to work at Xingli. Upon arrival, she learned that Nanjiang Bank had terminated its cooperation with Xiao Shu Company. From now on, they should have no opportunity to meet. This was likely Xing Zheng's doing. Regardless, this troublesome matter was resolved. Lin Mei devoted herself to her work, and her enthusiasm for work soared after a period of rest.
As for Xie Qin Jia, she was still in the hospital. After a night, she had woken up, but her emotions remained unstable. As soon as she woke up, she clamored to see Lin Mei. "Where is Lin Mei? I want to see her. How could she be so thoughtless as to be with that scoundrel? He's not worthy of her at all."
"Lin Mei is an adult. Who she is with is her freedom. Even her biological parents can only offer advice and cannot interfere with her decisions," Xing Sha reasoned with Xie Qin Jia. "You have no right to control her like this."
"Then do I have the right to control that scoundrel?" Xie Qin Jia retorted. "Don't you always remind me that he is my son? Since he is my son, he should listen to me. I told him to stay away from Lin Mei, why didn't he listen? Isn't this deliberately going against me?"
Xing Sha knew that reasoning with Xie Qin Jia was futile. "Breakfast has been made in the kitchen and will be served soon."
"Don't try to change the subject," Xie Qin Jia said unhappily. "If you don't say it, I'll figure it out myself." Then, Xie Qin Jia stopped talking to Xing Sha.
When the aunt from home brought breakfast, the attending physician happened to be looking for the family members. Xing Sha handed Xie Qin Jia over to the aunt and went to see the doctor. After eating breakfast, Xie Qin Jia asked to go downstairs for a walk.
She sat alone in the pavilion, thinking. Suddenly, a man of similar age approached and sat opposite her. They shared a table. Xie Qin Jia looked at the man, and their eyes met. He smiled at her.
Xie Qin Jia asked, "Do we know each other?"
"Probably not," the man said with a smile. "I saw you seemed a bit down."
Xie Qin Jia did not respond. She didn't have the habit of talking to strangers, but the other party didn't mind at all. He started talking to her about trivial matters. Even though she remained silent, he spoke with great enthusiasm.
Xie Qin Jia had to suspect again, "Do you know me?"
"No," the other party's answer remained the same.
Xie Qin Jia didn't believe it. "If you don't know me, why are you talking so much to me?" The other party's expression turned sad. After a long while, he sighed and said, "You look very much like my late wife."
"My wife and son died in an accident, leaving me alone."
When he said his son had died, Xie Qin Jia immediately empathized. "My son... also passed away unexpectedly."
The other person asked again, "How many children do you have?"
Xie Qin Jia answered without thinking, "Only one."
The man said, "Yes, we are the same. Our only child... alas!"
Perhaps because they found common ground in losing a child, Xie Qin Jia ended up chatting with the man for nearly half an hour. Later, the man left in a hurry.
Not long after, Xing Sha walked over. Xie Qin Jia's relaxed expression immediately disappeared upon seeing Xing Sha, and she reverted to her previous cold demeanor.
"You've been down here for a while. It's cold outside, let's go up." Xing Sha had always been patient with Xie Qin Jia.
Xie Qin Jia was angry at the moment and ignored him. She got up from the bench, walked past Xing Sha, and went forward on her own. Xing Sha followed closely behind, afraid she might have an accident.
After the two of them left, a middle-aged man hiding behind a thick tree trunk emerged, a sarcastic smile on his lips. Xing Sha, the Xing family, would be destroyed by him sooner or later.