Zhao Xiyin was stunned for a moment, and after realizing what was happening, she didn't say anything.
Meng Weixi looked up and saw her smiling, with two shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth.
Zhao Xiyin reached out and shoved his face to the left, saying, "Don't look at me."
Meng Weixi turned back, his peach blossom eyes tilting upwards, filled with deep affection, handsome and charming. Zhao Xiyin simply covered his eyes, "Don't look at me."
In that instant, he remembered how much happiness shone on her face.
Zhao Xiyin and Meng Weixi had been dating for over a year, but she never inquired about his family background. She only knew that he was better off than the average guy, and they had even argued about his extravagant spending. The first gift Meng Weixi gave her was a bracelet. Zhao Xiyin knew it was a luxury brand, but couldn't identify the specific brand. Later, Li Ran told her that the diamond bracelet was custom-made and cost at least seven figures.
Zhao Xiyin returned the items, which upset Meng Weixi, who felt that she didn't treat him like a boyfriend.
That was their first argument. It wasn't intense, but it was incredibly upsetting. Meng Weixi became arrogant and lost his temper. Zhao Xiyin eventually fell silent, her eyes lowered, and with the slightest movement, tears streamed down her face.
Meng Weixi panicked and reached out to hug her, but she dodged away, retreating to a distance, tears streaming down her face. Meng Weixi was both angry and frustrated. She picked up the bracelet and snapped it in two quick movements, then threw it into the trash can, cursing, "You culprit!"
Zhao Xiyin was caught off guard by his actions and was momentarily at a loss for whether to cry or laugh.
Meng Weixi hugged him and kept apologizing: "I won't buy things recklessly anymore. You can manage the money and cards. I was wrong."
It was only later that Zhao Xiyin learned about Meng Weixi's family—his mother, his father, and the Meng family's extensive and unfathomable network of connections throughout the capital. Little did she know that Meng's mother had already had several dealings with Meng Weixi.
The details are unknown, but Meng Weixi was in a very low mood during that period.
Zhao Xiyin was a smart girl; she saw through things but never said anything. He was busy during that time, having gone on a business trip to the south with the vice president. They hadn't seen each other for over a month. Meng Weixi called her, sounding like a vulnerable child, saying, "Yinyin, I miss you. It's the weekend tomorrow; could you come to Shenzhen to see me?"
Zhao Xiyin said, "I have to rehearse these few days, so I really can't get away."
That day, Meng Weixi had been drinking at a social event and was prone to losing control when her emotions were running high. "Couldn't you have asked for leave?"
Zhao Xiyin hesitated for a long time before whispering, "It's inconvenient. I can't make so many people wait for me."
Meng Weixi's spoiled brat temper was instantly ignited by the alcohol. "Don't you miss me? I miss you terribly every day. If I had even half a day, I would immediately go back to Beijing. Is dancing that important? Am I more important than dancing? Can't you think about me for once?!"
By the end, he was so angry that he could no longer contain his pent-up frustration, perhaps due to the alcohol.
Zhao Xiyin ultimately did not come.
Meng Weixi was angry with her, and their cold war continued until he returned to Beijing.
Meng Weixi was such an arrogant person back then, stubbornly clinging to his pride to the end, even when his heart was burning like it was being stabbed with a knife in the dead of night.
My childhood friend advised me: "I know you shouldn't do that. Xiao Zhao isn't the kind of girl who acts recklessly. If she really doesn't want you anymore, you'll regret it."
Meng Weixi, losing face, yelled, "Who doesn't want whom? What nonsense are you spouting!" Then she ran her fingers through her hair, looking defeated and dejected. "My mom is too stubborn. Besides dealing with all those old hands in the company, I also have to outwit her. She doesn't agree to me having a girlfriend, so I'll keep at it. I refuse to believe I won't outlast her until she agrees to see Yinyin."
My childhood friend understands perfectly well that she's exhausted and carrying all the pressure on herself.
He didn't say anything harsh, but everyone knew how deeply Meng Weixi loved Zhao Xiyin.
Zhao Xiyin didn't mean it that way. She was indeed busy with a dance competition, rehearsing and training day and night. A week after returning from Qingdao, she took the initiative to make peace and called Meng Weixi. Meng Weixi answered almost instantly, but her attitude was rude and unpleasant.
Zhao Xiyin coaxed him, "Young Master, are you calm now?"
Meng Weixin said coldly, "You've been back in Beijing for six days, and you only just remembered me. Do you still care?"
Before west Yin could answer, he interrupted, saying, "I don't care anymore, that's fine."
Hanging up the phone didn't bring the relief he'd expected. Meng Weixi was clearly reluctant, yet her words, though spoken in anger, were still sharp and cold-blooded. He almost instantly regretted it, but pride prevented him from lowering himself. He thought to himself, "Tomorrow."
I'm going to buy the prettiest roses to pick her up from get out of class tomorrow.
That evening, he went to a KTV with his friends. Several of his classmates who were abroad had returned, and they had a blast. The music was loud, the lights were dazzling and intoxicating, and Meng Weixi played drinking games with others, creating a lively and intense atmosphere.
His phone kept ringing and ringing.
His friend reminded him, "Weixi, it's your phone."
Meng Weixi glanced at the screen; the word "wife" was both tender and jarring.
He was still angry, and with so many people watching and waiting, he hung up the phone.
They all laughed at him, saying, "Alright, alright, such a good guy like Xiao Zhao, don't let the girl really feel heartbroken."
Meng Weixi had just come from a social gathering. This was his second round of drinking, and he was already quite drunk and slurring his words. He was so agitated that he could only ramble on, saying, "Outsiders shouldn't interfere in our family matters."
Arrogant, indeed, truly arrogant.
Zhao Xiyin's phone rang again and again until it finally stopped ringing.
That night, Beijing experienced an unusually heavy downpour, and the water on Tianshuiyuan Street was overflowing above the shoes. Zhao Xiyin held her phone, looking around anxiously, tears streaming down her face. Ten minutes earlier, the hospital had called to say that her grandmother had suffered a cardiac arrest and was not doing well.
Unable to hail a taxi, Zhao Xiyin's last hope was dashed. Heartbroken and hopeless, she ran frantically through the torrential rain, crying. She ran for an unknown amount of time until a large black truck flashed its headlights at her.
Zhou Qishen pulled over to the side of the road, quickly got out of the driver's seat, took an umbrella from the back seat, held it over Zhao Xiyin's head, and asked with a surprised look, "What's wrong?"
Zhao Xiyin couldn't stop her tears and instinctively grabbed Zhou Qishen's hand tightly, as if it were a lifeline.
Zhou Qishen drove her to the hospital, speeding through the rain without regard for the danger.
But he still couldn't see his grandmother one last time.
The wailing of family members in the ward was deafening. Zhao Xiyin stood in the corridor, leaning against the wall, her clothes soaked and still dripping wet. Her expression was numb and empty. Suddenly, she felt a weight on her shoulder as a camel-colored cashmere scarf was placed on her shoulder.
Zhou Qishen's voice was deep yet warm as he said, "If you keep acting like this, Grandma won't be able to leave in peace."
Zhao Xiyin's eyes filled with tears, and after just one glance at him, tears streamed down her face.