That year, Xing Zheng, like Lin Mei, was thirteen years old and in the sixth grade. Due to his parents' busy work schedules, he and Xing Yan were sent to study in Xiangxi. He was naturally taciturn and not good at interacting with people, unable to compare with Xing Yan.
Xie Qin Jia and his maternal grandparents both favored Xing Yan. As the youngest son, Xing Zheng had always lacked a sense of presence at home.
After transferring to study in Xiangxi, this was even more so. Not only did he keep to himself at school, but he was also the same when he returned home, capable of not speaking for an entire day.
But Xing Yan was different from him. He was like a sun, shining wherever he went. Not long after arriving in Xiangxi, he made many friends at school, and the neighbors spoke highly of him whenever they mentioned him.
Xing Zheng often saw him chatting with neighbors and often heard their praise for him. Compared to Xing Yan, he had almost no presence. It was he who met Lin Mei first, yet Lin Mei didn't remember him and only played with Xing Yan.
They read books together and rode bikes together. Xing Zheng often heard Lin Mei call Xing Yan "Gege" (older brother). The thirteen-year-old girl's voice was so sweet. The first time he heard it, he imagined how wonderful it would be if she could call him that too.
Unfortunately, her eyes only saw Ah Yan. Even when he went downstairs with Ah Yan, she would excitedly rush towards Ah Yan, not even glancing at him.
He wanted to approach her countless times, only to retract his hand countless times, having to secretly follow her, hiding in the shadows to spy on her. He could never receive the same treatment from her as Ah Yan did.
After the sixth-grade entrance examination results came out, Xing Zheng secretly overheard her parents chatting with the neighbors and learned which middle school she would attend. For the first time, he made a request to his maternal grandparents, and went to the same school as her.
Their classrooms were opposite each other. During breaks, he would stand outside and steal glances at her. She was cheerful and lively, very popular in class, and always surrounded by people during every break.
Like Xing Yan, she was a shining sun, hot and bright, dazzling. He was not worthy of approaching her, only able to watch from afar. .oΓg
Recalling the past, Xing Zheng smirked self-mockingly. He put down the photo in his hand and picked up the bookmark to read. He was familiar with the handwriting on the bookmark; he could recognize it as Xing Yan's. Xing Yan had excellent calligraphy from a young age, and Xie Qin Jia often praised him.
The bookmarks Xing Yan wrote for Lin Mei were all excerpts from books. Only on the last bookmark was there a sentence: "Come to Nanjiang to study university in the future, I'll wait for you."
At the bottom of this bookmark, a small but conspicuous red heart was drawn.
Looking at the heart, Xing Zheng seemed to be able to imagine the girl's nervous and shy expression when she saw this "promise." Her words from that night echoed in his ears.
Although she hadn't admitted that she liked that "Gege," the words already indicated that her coming to Nanjiang to study and live was influenced by that person.
If Xing Yan hadn't had an accident, it was likely that as soon as she came to study at university, Xing Yan would have found her, and their experiences would have become a beautiful story. As for him, he would never have had a chance to touch her in this lifetime.
Xing Zheng put the bookmark and photo back into the book, and then returned the book to its original place. He turned to look at the sleeping woman on the bed, his eyes filled with possessiveness. The night amplified one's desires, just like him at this moment.
—
Exhausted from Xing Zheng's torment last night, Lin Mei woke up feeling weak all over. Lin Mei instinctively reached out to find Xing Zheng's figure, only to discover that he had left at some point.
Lin Mei smirked mockingly. It was nothing. Xing Zheng had only come to find her for sex. After doing what he wanted, he naturally had to leave.
Between the two of them, it was never meant to be a relationship where they slept in the same bed overnight.
Lin Mei did not forget that Lin Zhengde had a consultation today. She did not have much time to consider these trivial matters. After getting up, Lin Mei went to the hospital.
Lin Mei and Chen Qi met at the hospital room door. Lin Mei did not speak to Chen Qi, merely giving him a cold glance. Chen Qi took Lin Mei's hand, "How long are you going to hold a grudge against me?"
He spoke as if to an unreasonable girlfriend, condescendingly and impatiently. Lin Mei said to him, "There is no room for negotiation regarding the breakup."
Chen Qi: "Do you think your parents will let us break up? Don't dream!"
Chen Qi seemed to have been struck at his sore spot, "They will never agree to you being with Ming Zhou. Ming Zhou is a third party."
"What are you two doing?" Chen Qi was yelling at Lin Mei when the hospital room door suddenly opened. Xiao Yue stood behind the door. Seeing Chen Qi holding Lin Mei's hand and his somewhat ferocious expression, she frowned.
Chen Qi heard Xiao Yue's voice and quickly let go of Lin Mei, changing his previous unpleasant attitude. "Teacher Xiao, it's nothing, nothing. Hua Mei and I are both under a lot of stress, and we had a little conflict."
Xiao Yue did not scold Lin Mei as she usually did. She brought Lin Mei inside and barely spoke to Chen Qi.
Chen Qi had noticed the elders' attitudes towards him had significantly changed since yesterday. He couldn't help but wonder what Lin Mei had said to them.
A moment later, Zhang Yue brought five or six experts into Lin Zhengde's hospital room. The names of these experts were all renowned. Lin Mei had read the profiles of several of them; they held extremely high positions not only domestically but also internationally.
Seeing them, Lin Mei felt a little more at ease. She handed the examination reports from Lin Zhengde's previous hospital to the experts. The experts discussed the reports together.
Xiao Yue was a little nervous. Lin Mei held her hand. Lin Zhengde, the person involved, appeared calm. He sat to the side, not disturbing the doctors.
After deliberation, the experts told them, "The latest purchased valve material has arrived and the surgery will be arranged for the patient as soon as possible."
Lin Mei: "Thank you, you've worked hard."
Xiao Yue also thanked them. Zhang Yue stayed to say a few words before leaving with the doctors.
After the expert consultation ended, Chen Qi wanted to stay to take care of Lin Zhengde, but Lin Zhengde refused, "Work is important. You have work tomorrow, so go back early and don't delay important matters."
Lin Mei did not leave with Chen Qi. After Chen Qi left, Lin Zhengde called Lin Mei over and had her sit opposite him. "Hua Mei, Dad apologizes to you."
Lin Mei was surprised, "Dad?"
Lin Zhengde: "I heard about Chen Qi. It was my and your mother's fault before, believing Chen Qi's one-sided story and causing you to suffer."
Lin Mei shook her head, "How could that be!"
Xiao Yue asked, "When did you find out?"
"It's been almost two months," Lin Mei calculated the time, realizing it had been so long.
Xiao Yue frowned, "Then why didn't you tell your father and me earlier?"
Lin Mei didn't answer, but Lin Zhengde had already guessed. He said to Lin Mei, "Your mother and I will no longer stop you. Break up when you've thought it through, don't waste your time on someone unworthy."