"I will fulfill your wish to spend money."
Xiao Cheng didn't say much and actually stood up.
Meng Jingwei put on her red scarf, pulled on her windbreaker, and with her bag, walked out of the private room. "Let's go."
Although she said that, she had already left the room and gone to the front desk to settle the bill.
Inside the private room, Xiao Cheng's gaze swept over the seat where Meng Jingwei had been sitting, and the food on the table that had barely been touched. His brow furrowed slightly, and a hint of sadness surfaced between his brows.
By the time he went downstairs to the lobby's front desk, Meng Jingwei had already paid.
The two of them left the private kitchen restaurant together.
Standing by the roadside outside the restaurant, Xiao Cheng said to Meng Jingwei, "I have some things to attend to, so I can't drive you back."
Meng Jingwei pulled her coat tighter and tugged at her scarf to cover her cheeks, not wanting the biting cold wind to sting her face, which felt uncomfortably sharp.
She put her hands in her windbreaker pockets and looked up, meeting Xiao Cheng's eyes. "...Take care."
A thousand words converged into two.
Or perhaps, she was unaccustomed to goodbyes.
Saying hello was easy; saying goodbye was hard.
Xiao Cheng wore a black leather jacket paired with greyish-white jeans, a cigarette held between his fingers, exuding a cool cowboy style.
It was a pity that his face lacked the carefree demeanor of a "cowboy." Instead, his eyes were dark and deep, like a bottomless abyss, unfathomable.
He simply nodded, shifted his gaze, and happened to spot a taxi approaching from behind. He waved his hand and hailed it.
The taxi stopped in front of them, and Xiao Cheng thoughtfully stepped forward to open the rear door. "It's cold, hurry and get back."
Meng Jingwei held her bag, walked to the car door, and looked up at Xiao Cheng before her.
The two stood face to face, only thirty centimeters apart.
At such close range, Meng Jingwei seemed to see her own reflection in Xiao Cheng's dark pupils, and she clearly perceived the hidden sadness in the depths of his eyes.
It was the reluctance, sadness, and loneliness of parting, and of course, there was also a desolate emotion that Meng Jingwei couldn't comprehend.
This time, Meng Jingwei also said nothing, lowered her head, and got into the car.
Xiao Cheng watched her get in, then closed the door and took two steps back.
The taxi driver started the car and drove away quickly.
Hoo, hoo—
The cold wind howled, its sound like the wails of wronged souls, expressing endless sorrow and desolation.
Xiao Cheng stood in place, watching the taxi speed away, gradually merging into the traffic, and disappearing into a sea of red taillights.
He placed the cigarette he was holding to his lips, took a few deep drags, then dropped the butt on the ground. He ground it out with his toe before turning back into the private kitchen restaurant.
On the second floor, in the private room adjacent to the one where he had dined with Meng Jingwei, he reached out and pushed the door open.
The room was empty, with only untouched delicacies remaining on the table.
Xiao Cheng paused, and a server happened to pass by. He immediately asked, "Hello, excuse me, where are the people who were in this private room just now?"
"Oh, you mean the lady from before? She just left, maybe a few minutes ago."
The server walked away after speaking.
Xiao Cheng immediately turned and went downstairs. As he walked, he found it too slow and even started to run.
By the time he reached the parking lot at the entrance, a Lamborghini sped past him. Xiao Cheng saw the sports car and shouted, "Antina? Antina?!"
Vroom, vroom—!!
The sports car roared with an ear-piercing sound, like an outburst of emotion or a growl of displeasure.
The Lamborghini didn't stop and drove directly onto the road, speeding away.