Although they had only met once, she clearly remembered her appearance.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Meng Jingwei's eyes darted away, unwilling to directly answer Qing Muye's question.
"Her name is Shanshan, and she's a friend of mine and Tang Si's," Qing Muye stood before her, explaining.
Explain?
It had been years since he had patiently explained himself to anyone.
"You're angry because you care about me, right?"
Qing Muye sensed Meng Jingwei's unease. Before he had even returned, he had received a call from Tang Si.
On the phone, Tang Si had explained the situation at the hospital that day to Qing Muye.
He suddenly realized that the reason Meng Jingwei had suddenly stopped answering his calls was this.
"Who cares about you?"
Meng Jingwei's willow-leaf brows furrowed into a knot. "So confident, are you using Rejoice shampoo?"
The man couldn't help but chuckle. "Your expression says it all."
"Nonsense."
Meng Jingwei poked the firewood on the ground with the fire tongs towards Qing Muye's heels, snorting unhappily. "I simply feel that we're not suitable for each other. That's all."
Qing Muye looked at the dry grass leaves on his black leather shoes, a faint smile curving his lips. "Let's talk about suitability after three months. Also, let me explain again, Shanshan and I are just friends, and only friends."
Although he was displeased that Meng Jingwei hadn't spoken to him for several days, he then thought that the little woman's jealousy was also because she cared about him.
His mood instantly improved.
It was worth coming back from the major project in Country C.
Meng Jingwei lowered her head, gripping the fire tongs and poking the dry grass leaves on the ground, saying nothing.
Were they really just friends?
If so, why had Qing Muye lied that day?
"When you called me that day, I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would misunderstand," Qing Muye added. "You should know that if I were truly a person with a chaotic private life, surrounded by women, I could flirt with anyone anytime. Why would I need to go to Country C to flirt with women?"
This statement was very convincing.
Meng Jingwei had to admit that there were many women who liked Qing Muye, as numerous as cow hair.
If he truly wanted to fool around with other women, he indeed wouldn't need to go to Country C.
But…
"Who knows, what if that woman is the one you care about the most?" she muttered softly.
The thoughtless words slipped out, and Meng Jingwei immediately paused, awkwardly turning her head aside, covering her face with her hand.
Idiot.
How could she say her inner thoughts out loud?
Her embarrassed expression was playful and cute. Qing Muye gazed at her, unable to look away, and couldn't help but step forward to gently smooth her dark, glossy hair, saying softly, "A'wei, I, Qing Muye, never make promises to anyone easily. But listen to me. If one day, I truly don't like you anymore, I will tell you directly, not find someone else behind your back!"
"Does that mean you might stop liking me someday?"
Meng Jingwei suddenly turned around, her cold eyes glaring at him, her face filled with grievance and anger.
Qing Muye: "..."
He shook his head. "I just want to express that I'm not the type of person who would cheat during a relationship or marriage."
*Pfft—*
As they were talking, the pot that had been covered began to boil, and the boiling water overflowed.
Meng Jingwei glanced at the stove. "Oh no, it's overflowing."
She immediately dropped the fire tongs, got up, walked around Qing Muye to the stove, and lifted the lid. "Hiss..."
Because the water had been boiling for a while, the handle on the lid had become scalding hot.
Meng Jingwei reached out and burned her hand, unable to suppress a sharp intake of breath.
The man immediately stepped forward, took her scalded right hand, and blew on it. "Silly girl, why are you so clumsy even doing simple things?"
He mumbled, blowing on Meng Jingwei's reddened hand, and then lifted the pot lid, stirring the dumplings inside with a spoon.
Then he released Meng Jingwei, took a ladle of cold water, poured it into the pot, and covered it again.
Meng Jingwei put her scalded finger to her lips, biting it gently, and asked incredulously, "You know how to cook dumplings?"
"This is basic life knowledge."
The man corrected her, then placed another ladle of cold water on the stove and put Meng Jingwei's scalded finger in the water. "It'll cool down."
"Oh."
She said "Oh" with a touch of petty fussiness after the misunderstanding was cleared.
This scene was precisely what Du Juan, standing at the doorway, saw.
She had come to check on the dumplings, worried they would overcook, and found them showing affection.
Although she had heard Meng Jingwei say last night that Qing Muye was wealthy and powerful, and they were not a good match in terms of family background, seeing the two of them so loving and sweet made her heart feel uneasy and out of sorts.
"Tell me, how can I be at ease if you can't even take care of yourself?"
Qing Muye held Meng Jingwei's hand, took out a limited edition handkerchief from his trench coat pocket, and wiped the cold water from her fingers.
"Who asked you to worry? You should go and spend time with your female best friend in Country C," Meng Jingwei teased him sarcastically and withdrew her hand from Qing Muye's.
Qing Muye stood there and sniffed. "Wow, why does it smell so sour? Did your vinegar bottle tip over?"
"Ah? Did the vinegar bottle tip over?"
Meng Jingwei immediately looked up and sniffed the air. "I didn't smell anything."
As she spoke, she walked to the side and looked at the neatly arranged seasonings. "The vinegar bottle isn't..."
Before she could finish the word "over," she suddenly realized.
Both ashamed and angry, she turned back, her bright, star-like eyes filled with indignation, and said reproachfully, "Qing Muye, get out!"
She pointed at him, a blush coloring her fair, creamy cheeks.
The man followed her hand, pulling her into his embrace, his right arm around her waist. "It was hard enough to find my silly girl, how could I bear to leave?"
Meng Jingwei hammered his chest a few times with her small fists. "You lied to me."
"I swear, I really didn't intend to lie to you."
"But you still lied to me."
"Yes, I lied, my fault. I'm willing to accept any punishment," the man said, admitting his mistake with sincere remorse.
"Then I'll have to think about how to punish you." A bright smile spread across Meng Jingwei's face.
As they were affectionately exchanging words, a "cough, cough..." sound suddenly came from behind them.
They turned to look and saw Han Yu and Tang Si standing there.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... In the morning, why are we still eating dumplings? We're already full of dog food," Tang Si said, with his arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe, looking at the couple with great interest and teasing them.
Han Yu smiled without speaking.
Qing Muye shot him a cold glare, clearly displeased at having their affectionate moment interrupted. He said in a deep voice, "You, a perennial single dog, are only fit to eat dog food."
"Heh. Yes, Second Brother is right," Han Yu, dressed in leather clothes and pants, nodded in agreement.