Zhao Xiyin opened her lips, but her mind went blank, and she couldn't utter a single coherent word. Yan Pinlan didn't give her a chance to refuse and said directly, "Little Zhao, how about you meet Auntie? I'm downstairs."
The luxury car parked in this old neighborhood was really conspicuous. Yan Pinlan wore sunglasses and kept looking out the car window.
When Zhao Xiyin saw her, she stopped halfway, not taking another step. Yan Pinlan got out of the car happily, but seeing that Zhao Xiyin didn't speak, the atmosphere became awkward. There were many acquaintances in the neighborhood, and passersby couldn't help but glance at her. Not wanting to cause any trouble, Zhao Xiyin said calmly, "This way, please."
By the sparsely populated flower bed, Yan Pinlan could no longer hold back and pleaded anxiously, "Xiao Zhao, please call Wei Xi. Auntie doesn't dare to hope that you will go to see him. Just one call, please?"
Zhao Xiyin stared at her, motionless.
Yan Pinlan was elegant and graceful, seemingly ageless over the years. Dressed in fine clothes, she was dignified and elegant, her skin so well-maintained that deep wrinkles were hard to see. However, the scene before her was far removed from the domineering woman she remembered. Now, only vulnerability and pleading remained, her eyes and brows filled with a mother's worry for her beloved son.
She spoke at length, using gentle words and adopting a humble tone.
“After Meng Weixi went abroad, he was in a very bad state. I was afraid something would happen to him, so I asked someone to keep an eye on him. You know…” Yan Pinlan’s eyes welled up with tears as she spoke. “He saw a psychologist in the United States for a year and became a completely different person, gloomy and withdrawn. He cut off contact with his family, and his father was so angry that he wanted to sever ties with him. He was the only child in the Meng family, and he was almost ruined.”
Zhao Xiyin felt grounded, yet the words seemed to make her feel weightless, her consciousness lightheaded, and she didn't even hear many of the words clearly. It wasn't until Yan Pinlan suddenly grasped her hand that she understood. "Little Zhao, Auntie apologizes for my past actions. Just think of me as an old woman who hasn't quite grasped things, and I've misled you and Weixi. Actually, I've always wanted to talk to you, but since you're married, it wasn't convenient for Auntie to bother you. Now, now..."
Yan Pinlan spoke earnestly and emotionally, "Weixi's feelings for you have never changed, this child is simply obsessed. Xiao Zhao, please have pity on him, could you..."
Zhao Xiyin interrupted, "Auntie, what you're saying is truly an insult to your son."
Yan Pinlan's last straw snapped, and tears streamed down her face. Zhao Xiyin gently pushed her hand away and turned to leave.
"Zhao Xiyin." Yan Pinlan called her by her full name, giving her one last sentence as if she were going all out.
The midday sun of early autumn still carried the lingering warmth of summer, its rays partially obscured by the sycamore trees, leaving only dappled shadows drifting down. Zhao Xiyin was mesmerized, a buzzing sound surrounding her ears, as if the world had fallen silent.
After Yan Pinlan left and she had recovered from the shock, Zhao Xiyin sent Meng Weixi a text message: "Where are you?"
——
This suburban residence, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, is an ecologically themed place perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation. The buildings are spaced far apart, with dense clusters of purple bamboo roots surrounding the house in a serene and elegant manner. The design incorporates elements of square and round shapes, heaven and earth, demonstrating a feng shui principle in its integration.
When Zhao Xiyin arrived, Meng Weixi had a slight stubble, was still wearing his pajamas, and his back was wrinkled from sleeping. He seemed to have lost weight. When he saw her, his emotions were completely hidden. He pointed to the sofa and said, "Sit down."
Zhao Xiyin didn't bother with any formalities. "Meng Weixi, extend your hand."
Meng Weixi visibly stiffened. "What are you doing?"
Zhao Xiyin didn't waste any words with him. She rushed over, grabbed his arm, and twisted it outwards. The movement was too fast and too sudden. Meng Weixi was already in poor spirits and caught off guard, so she succeeded.
She turned his right hand over, revealing a Jaeger-LeCoultre white gold watch on his well-proportioned and strong wrist. The dial of this series was exquisite, but the strap was slightly wide, fitting snugly against his skin.
A fleeting look of panic crossed Meng Weixi's eyes as he struggled desperately to break free. Zhao Xiyin, however, grew stronger with each challenge, her nails digging into his flesh as she pulled and tugged, refusing to let go.
The clasp came undone and slipped off, revealing the skin of Meng Weixi's wrist.
In that instant, time stood still, and neither of them moved.
Three or five dark red scars, though faded, still looked ugly and frightening with their narrow, folded appearance. Zhao Xiyin stared at them, staring intently, while Meng Weixi's eyes were deep and serene, his entire being strangely still.
"Xiao west," Meng Weixi called to her.
Zhao Xiyin remained motionless, like a statue. After a long while, she said in a hoarse voice, "Meng Weixi, it's not worth it."
Meng Weixi smiled, the lines at the corners of her eyes curving upwards, two shallow lines intersecting like the forked tail of a swallow flying on the eaves.
He said, "You deserve it."
She stood up. "Meng Weixi, can't we just live our lives properly? Can't we look forward?! You shouldn't be like this, you shouldn't be like this!"
Tears clung to the corners of her eyes. After repeating the same pattern over and over again, her voice grew weaker. Guilt weighed heavily on her heart, and she felt completely lost.
Meng Weixi remained silent for a long time, then suddenly hugged the person. The kiss, which had been suppressed for so long, was like a torrential rain after thunder and lightning, the last force tearing through the clouds to block out the storm, and it poured down.
Zhao Xiyin struggled fiercely, pushing his shoulder and kicking his legs. Meng Weixi, losing control, his eyes reddened. He bent his knee and pressed it down, simultaneously pinning her hands above her head. He carried the dry, crisp scent of his bath, and the slight stubble around his lips scratched against the girl's fair skin. He pinched Zhao Xiyin's chin, but his tongue couldn't break through her tightly closed lips.
With all her might, Zhao Xiyin pushed Meng Weixi across the face with a desperate scream.
Meng Weixi seemed to wake from a dream, his eyes red and his expression blank. Zhao Xiyin was pinned to the sofa by him, looking at him with a mixture of shock and fear. Meng Weixi was panting heavily, his head lowered, and then he buried his face in her neck.
A few seconds later, a few hot drops fell.
Meng Weixi stood up dejectedly, looking at everyone with a slumped expression, probably realizing how terrible he had been. He apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry, Xiaoxi, I'm so sorry."
The calm after the storm.
As Zhao Xiyin left, she glanced at Meng Weixi and said the same thing again, "Meng Weixi, it's all in the past between us. What's past is past, and we can never go back to the way things were. Do you understand? Live your life well and don't let your mother worry."
Meng Weixi suddenly looked up, his mouth stained with a small, bloody gash from the chaos. His eyes were even redder than the bloodstain. "Have my family members been looking for you?"
Zhao Xiyin said, "Does it matter? What matters is that I am no longer the twenty-year-old Zhao Xiyin, and you are no longer the twenty-three-year-old Meng Weixi, but the road ahead is long, and life must go on. Do you understand what I mean?"
Their eyes met, like a tug-of-war.
After a long silence, Meng Weixi suddenly laughed, his handsome face radiating confidence once again. He said, "Xiao west, I'll give you my attitude."
——
A few days later, in the evening.
The teahouse was busiest at that time of day. Old Cheng usually didn't stay open until late, but today was different. He dared not neglect his customers; they were all Zhao Zhao's friends. Zhao Zhao was a very nice person, and had always been well-liked since childhood. The men and women, of similar age, were all vibrant and youthful.
Gu Heping was just there for a stroll, but he'd been dragged into working as a waiter. He didn't mind at all, he was quite at ease, and he frequently made the young people laugh.
"Cheng Ji, are you nervous?" Gu Heping rushed back to him and suddenly realized the truth.
Old Cheng added some orange peels to the small stove. "Why am I nervous?"