After he carried Meng Yao down, she turned to face him and said, "Is that so? I wish he were a real liar, that he would at least deceive me with sweet talk. But he can't even be bothered to lie to me, nor does he love me."
As she spoke, her voice filled with sorrow, and she began to cry again.
Song Jiaping not only was unwilling to lie to her, but he had never truly touched her.
Hong Jiaxi held her, feeling her pain, and his emotions became agitated as he said, "Why is he treating you like this, yet your heart is still only for him? Can't you look at anyone else around you?"
Meng Yao's eyes were tear-filled, and her vision blurred as she looked at the man before her, asking, "Others? Others are not him!"
Hong Jiaxi cupped her face, and his long-suppressed emotions erupted. He said, "Yao Yao, look at me properly. I have always loved you, and I will treat you very well."
Meng Yao's heart trembled. Drunk as she was, she smiled and asked him, "You, you like me... I know, but won't you betray me again?"
"I have never betrayed you!" Hong Jiaxi held her face tightly, preventing her from looking away, and said, "I swear my heart has never betrayed you, never!"
Every word he spoke was resonant, like pebbles striking Meng Yao's heart, making her feel even more dizzy with her intoxication.
Hong Jiaxi forcefully lifted her face and kissed her lips.
When his lips touched hers, she was completely stunned.
Meng Yao was familiar with his breath, yet it felt foreign.
She instinctively tried to push him away, but his kiss grew more and more passionate.
Meng Yao reached out and slapped his face hard, forcing him to let go. She turned to flee.
Hong Jiaxi pulled her back and confessed loudly, "Meng Yao, I love you! Stop being sad and hurt for someone who only deceives your feelings. Give me another chance. We will love each other happily as before."
Meng Yao asked somewhat confusedly, "Can we still be as carefree as before..."
"Yes. Our families are of comparable status, we grew up together, and we know each other very well. We are the most compatible couple! What is Song Jiaping? He's just a clown. Don't think about him anymore, he's not worth your sadness."
As he spoke, he kissed Meng Yao again. This time, the kiss was much gentler, no longer aggressive, but tender, as if he couldn't bear to hurt her.
Meng Yao didn't know how to respond. She was truly tired.
Her platonic, pseudo-love affair with Song Jiaping had left her utterly exhausted, unable to endure any longer.
...
After dinner, Meng Qi and Song Jiaping returned to the Huangfu family's mansion.
She told Yao Feili that her mother, Wu Xiufang, was feeling very low again, and she wanted to stay home to accompany her mother for the night, so she wouldn't be returning.
Yao Feili didn't say much and agreed. When she returned to the mansion, she found that Meng Yao had not yet returned, so she sat on the sofa in the living room waiting for her.
Since Shaohua's death, Meng Yao had been returning home punctually every day after work and no longer stayed in the dormitory.
But Meng Yao had not returned tonight. Meng Qi thought she must be working overtime.
The butler surveyed the hall, preparing to turn off the lights and go to bed, when he noticed that the eldest daughter, Meng Qi, was still sitting on the sofa, not yet in her room.
"Miss, are you waiting for someone? Is the young master coming tonight?"
Meng Qi said, "I'm waiting for Meng Yao. You go rest. I'll turn off the lights later."
"Alright." The butler remembered something and said respectfully, "The third young lady returned earlier, but suddenly went out at dinner time. It seems she called the young master of the Hong family."
"She returned earlier and went out again tonight?" Meng Qi understood why she hadn't returned yet.
"Yes."
"I see."
As soon as the butler withdrew, car headlights flashed outside.
Meng Qi walked to the floor-to-ceiling window facing the main door and saw Meng Yao getting out of a brand-new sports luxury car.
Immediately after, Hong Jiaxi also got out of the car, helped her, and escorted her inside.
Meng Qi was a little surprised. Had Meng Yao gotten back together with Hong Jiaxi? What about the letter Song Jiaping had asked her to deliver?
As the two entered, Meng Qi stepped forward, took Meng Yao from Hong Jiaxi's arms, and smelled alcohol on Meng Yao.
"Jiaxi, has she been drinking? Quite a lot?"
"Go buy me more wine, quickly." Meng Yao was so drunk she could barely stand, leaning entirely on Meng Qi, her eyes closed as she spoke drunkenly.
"You're home now, you can't drink anymore." Hong Jiaxi gently soothed Meng Yao, then looked at Meng Qi and said, "She drank a lot of beer. I couldn't persuade her to stop. By the way, Meng Qi, why are you home tonight? I heard Yao Feili bought a mansion in Lancheng and said he would live in Lancheng with you."
"Oh, my mother is still very down, and I want to spend more time with her." Meng Qi felt that Hong Jiaxi's gaze towards her was a little strange. "Thank you for bringing Meng Yao back. I'll take her to her room to help her sober up."
"You're welcome. It's my duty to take my girlfriend home." Hong Jiaxi said, in a good mood.
Meng Qi asked in surprise, "Are you two back together? When did that happen?"
Hong Jiaxi nodded and said, "Just recently. Meng Yao agreed to be my girlfriend again. Actually, after so many years, neither of us has let go of each other."
Meng Qi forced a smile and said, "That's great. You have a childhood sweetheart's destiny..."
Before she could finish speaking, Meng Yao, leaning on her, began to fuss impatiently, demanding more drinks.
Meng Qi quickly said to Hong Jiaxi, "I'm sorry, I won't see you out. I need to take her to her room first."
"Sister Meng Qi, do you need my help?" Hong Jiaxi also wanted to reach out and embrace Meng Yao.
Meng Qi quickly blocked him and said, "No, it's getting late. You should go back. I can handle her myself."
Without waiting for Hong Jiaxi to say anything else, she placed one of Meng Yao's arms over her shoulder, smiled, asked him to leave, and closed the door, supporting her as they walked inside.
Hong Jiaxi stood at the door, remaining there awkwardly for a few seconds before heading home.
Meng Qi painstakingly helped Meng Yao to her room and made her drink a lot of water, hoping she would sober up.
Meng Qi wondered if Hong Jiaxi had taken advantage of Meng Yao while she was drunk.
She had spoken with Meng Yao earlier and knew that Meng Yao had no feelings for Hong Jiaxi anymore.
She helped Meng Yao, who had collapsed on the bed and was about to fall into a deep sleep, to sit up and then gave her a cup of sobering tea, saying, "Third sister, wake up! Wake up."
Meng Yao opened her eyes and saw Meng Qi beside her. Before she could get angry, her stomach burned as if with heartburn. She pushed Meng Qi away and rushed to the bathroom.
As soon as she entered the bathroom, she immediately squatted by the toilet and vomited until her stomach was empty. Only then did she feel a little better and somewhat clearer-headed.
Meng Qi, who had followed her into the bathroom, handed her a towel and said, "Wash your face. I'll wait for you outside. I have something to tell you."
Meng Yao took the towel, stood up painfully, and went to wash her face.
After she sobered up, she wondered why Meng Qi was home tonight.
But then she thought, Meng Qi must not have been able to return to her own home after her date with Song Jiaping. If her brother-in-law found out, wouldn't their affair be exposed?