Chapter 7, The Joy of Reunion

You are tired as well, go up and rest, we will talk again tomorrow Zhao Shuyuan made a gesture to stop her husband and smiled at her daughter

Shh! Is he nearby? Zhao Shuyuan was very cautious

Mei Shi's heart skipped a beat at the word "before"... This ordinary term, when spoken from his lips, carried an inexplicable significance. She quickly ordered a few dishes, and Mei Shi no longer had the courage to look at him directly; instead, she turned her teacup, seeking mundane topics to discuss, much like making small talk with a stranger. "What are your plans for the future? Will you continue your studies or look for a job?" She was certain that her tone sounded perfectly normal

Mei Guohua frowned slightly and spoke at the right moment, "If President Ruan does not like you, then we will have to accept it; it is simply not in our fate to have this windfall, nor do we have such luck. However, it is clear that he is at least more interested in you than in Old He’s daughter. In any case, we must make an effort. If we succeed, it would be a significant turning point for Guoyuan, for you... and for Xiao Yi as well.

The waiter approached with the menu, interrupting the slight awkwardness between them. Xue Qin smiled and said, "You should order, I'm even less knowledgeable than before."

Mei Guohua and Zhao Shuyuan had not exchanged such a tacit glance for many years. "It seems that you two get along quite well," Zhao Shuyuan smiled, and Mei Shi felt as if she had let out a long sigh of relief.

"Shishi, come, sit down." Mei Guohua rarely called his daughter over with such affection; usually, at this time, he would absolutely not be at home

On the way back, both of them agreed on where to have dinner, but Mei Shi received a call from Ruan Tingjian. Xue Qin helped her put on the headset and smiled gently at her, which made her feel a strong aversion to the call. She was unwilling to say much in front of Xue Qin, responding with vague sounds of agreement.

"That's good," Zhao Shuyuan sighed with relief, "You don't need to worry. I have everything prepared; you just need to bring President Ruan back. Moreover..." Zhao Shuyuan almost pleaded, "We happen to have some important matters to discuss with him tonight, and we hope he can help us secure the project for the bid on the 23rd. Just listen and don't interrupt, do you understand? For Mom and Dad, this is practically a turning point. Shishi, you must help us no matter what at this time."

"No." She said coldly

Mei Shi smiled and nodded, indeed, in the past he only knew about studying, and whenever asked where he wanted to go for fun, he would say he had no interest

Mei Shi smiled at him, finally feeling her emotions calm down. The dishes were served one after another, and Xue Qin shared some amusing stories from his studies while eating. In the past, he was not very talkative, and Mei Shi was pleasantly surprised to find that he actually had a good sense of humor; at least, she found what he said interesting

Your father seems to think that I went with you, and asked me to drop by your house for dinner in the evening

It was only a little past three in the afternoon when she returned home, and she believed this time frame to be quite safe, as her father would definitely not be at home. However, it turned out she was mistaken; Ruan Tingjian's allure to her parents far exceeded her expectations. Mei Shi looked at Mei Guohua, who was sitting in the living room with a beaming smile, and felt a deep sense of regret. If only her father could transform into a youthful maiden, it would be a joyous occasion for everyone, as he could personally marry the coveted General Ruan.

Mei Shi was taken aback. She asked that question simply to express that there was no need for them to be entangled with Ruan Tingjian, but she never expected her mother to give such a definite answer, and without the slightest hesitation, she blurted it out. Her mother, who had always been strong-willed and unwilling to show weakness, saying such words left Mei Shi at a loss for words.

In order to avoid her parents' incessant questioning and urging, Mei deliberately stayed in bed until after 10 o'clock before getting up, skipping breakfast and heading straight out to shop. In truth, she had nothing in particular to buy, but upon entering the department store, she made a beeline for the sports section. It was only after exiting the elevator that she felt somewhat perplexed; did she really care so much about the trip to Mingyue Mountain? Perhaps it was a woman's instinct to present her best self in front of an ex-boyfriend. She reassured herself with this thought and, feeling justified, purchased a brand new set of casual wear, the subtle colors making her suitable for both movement and stillness.

Um... Ah? Mei Shi's hand trembled, causing the car to sway slightly, which startled Xue Qin into exclaiming, "Be careful." Mei Shi took a deep breath to steady herself and said, "It must be a misunderstanding; I will call him right away to explain."

Mei Shi was suddenly drained of strength by the two of them, feeling unexpectedly exhausted. She lazily said her goodbyes and hurried upstairs. Not forgetting to take a look at Mei Yi's room, she found that Young Master Mei was not at home again. Leaning against her brother's door, Mei Shi let out a long sigh, yet her heart still felt heavy.

Mei Shi felt fortunate that at least her mother was not present. Compared to her father's "encouragement and instigation," her mother's expression of difficulty and her hopeful look, as if expecting her to endure humiliation and bear the burden together, was even more unbearable for her. "Hmm," she replied perfunctorily and quickly walked upstairs

"Let's find a job." Xue Qin frowned slightly, his tone somewhat hesitant, as if he did not want to discuss it further yet felt a bit disappointed. "I plan to have some fun first; I've never had the time or the mood to travel and enjoy the scenery. Now that I'm back, I realize I haven't even been to Mingyue Mountain." Xue Qin smiled wryly

Sitting face to face on either side of the table, Mei Shi and Xue Qin silently gazed at each other. Suddenly, Mei Shi realized that this direct eye contact was strange and impolite. As she averted her gaze, a similar expression of apology and shyness appeared on Xue Qin's face.

I... Mei Shi immediately planned to refuse, but ultimately could not keep up with the speed at which Ruan Tingjian hung up the phone. Mei Shi felt very frustrated; this feeling of being ordered around was extremely unpleasant. Ever since she met Ruan Tingjian, no, ever since the moment she heard about him, the proud Miss Mei had fallen into a very tragic situation. Now, a sense of humiliation as a maid was driving her nearly insane

No need. "Ruan Tingjian's voice seemed even more somber than before, "I have already promised him."

There was no sound from the microphone for a long time, Mei Shi frowned, had he disconnected? Had he walked away? "Hello? Hello? Are you still there?" she raised her voice.

Upon returning home, Mei Shi was not surprised to see her parents sitting in the living room. Regardless of what they pretended to be doing, their sole purpose was to inquire about her progress with Ruan Tingjian

Has he scheduled the next meeting with you? Mei Guohua could hardly conceal his eagerness, and Mei Shi could no longer tolerate his increasingly blatant flattery

Hmm. Mei Shi is a bit puzzled about how he knows.

When they reached the top of the mountain, Xue Qin stopped a tourist to take a group photo for them. Mei Shi thought he would take the opportunity to put his arm around her shoulder or something similar, but he did not. Instead, he politely leaned against her arm, maintaining a closeness that was both intimate and respectful. This small yet deliberate gesture pleased her greatly. If one were to say that old feelings had rekindled, that would be absolutely inaccurate; it could only be said that their reunion was pleasant, and at least they were no longer entangled in the pain of their breakup. This distance made her feel at ease and comfortable, while also allowing her to sense his thoughtfulness in subtle ways. She deeply felt that Xue Qin was no longer that proud and aloof boy, but had transformed into a steady and attentive man.

"When is it approximately?" Mei Guohua persistently inquired.

It is indeed very difficult Zhao Shuyuan replied calmly

"Have you gone to Mingyue Mountain?" This time, Ruan Tingjian did not go through his secretary, yet his tone remained very formal

"Shishi... can you accompany me to Mingyue Mountain?" Xue Qin's abrupt invitation made Mei Shi shiver slightly; he could still so easily call her Shishi. "Um..." Her silence made Xue Qin feel a bit embarrassed. "If you are busy, then forget it. I was just saying it casually, because our friends have either gone out of town or have already started working..."

Mei Shi fell silent again, using that tone of voice; it was simply her mother's trump card against her. Every time her mother said, "Shi Shi, lend me a hand," she was basically doomed to defeat.

Mei Shilian expressed that she had lost the ability to be surprised, driving the car in a daze

Recently, there was a ... ... "Mei Guohua wanted to continue speaking, but was pushed by Zhao Shuyuan and reluctantly fell silent

Mei Shi pouted and looked at him speechlessly; in her eyes, Ruan Tingjian was nothing more than a windfall. She was deeply stung by the word "we" in her father's words, striving to make Ruan Tingjian see her as part of "us," and even brought up Xiao Yi.

Xue Qin was momentarily taken aback before smiling, "Alright, then let's set it for the day after tomorrow"

She eagerly dialed her mother's number to clarify the misunderstanding of this tragedy, not even noticing Xue Qin's curious expression beside her. As soon as the call connected, she heard her mother's approving voice: "Well done, Shishi"

"Mom." She bit her lip, words welling up at the tip of her tongue, "Is it really that difficult for Guoyuan?!" Her tone involuntarily rose, carrying a hint of questioning.

Mom! Tonight ... ...

Sichuan cuisine. She never had the desire to confide in her parents, especially when her father suddenly discovered that she had some value, revealing a look of surprise as if he had turned waste into treasure, she felt even less inclined to say anything.

The first dish is Fish-Flavored Shredded Pork. Xue Qin rarely shows a childlike expression, raising her eyebrows in apology as she picks up the bamboo shoots from the dish to eat, saying, "This is the first time I've had Sichuan cuisine since returning to the country, and just smelling the aroma makes me crave it"

No," Mei Shi said expressionlessly

Mei Shi also smiled, and this was exactly what she wanted to say. Indeed, she also wanted to see clearly what kind of person he had become after two years had passed. Because they had agreed to meet at a Sichuan restaurant, he wore a casual suit, his features were refined, and he exuded a scholarly air that was more pronounced than the men she usually encountered. ... After taking a sip of tea, Mei Shi suppressed the smile at the corner of her mouth, unable to discern its flavor, captivated by his ...? ... It must be this solitary scholarly aura. ? In her family, there were no cultured individuals, so this quality made her feel both fresh and at ease. After taking a sip of tea, Mei Shi suppressed the smile at the corner of her mouth, unable to discern its flavor, captivated by his ...? ... It must be this solitary scholarly aura. ? In her family, there were no cultured individuals, so this quality made her feel both fresh and at ease. After all, the belief that scholars possess integrity and loyalty has been passed down for thousands of years, and Mei Shi also felt that such people were far more reliable than her father's slick and shrewd demeanor.

Tomorrow! Mei Shi was almost about to scream. In the past, he did not pay attention to her, and she felt a sense of loss. Little did she expect that being the focus of attention could be such a painful experience!

"What are you all buying?" Mei Guohua, filled with a gossipy demeanor, slightly raised his buttocks to glance around and asked, "Buying sportswear? Are you going on an outing?"

"What are we eating today?" Mei Guohua laughed so heartily that his eyes squinted, appearing particularly slick. Mei Shi glanced over and, being considerate, averted her gaze.

Mei Shi glanced at him calmly and sat stiffly on the sofa opposite him

I apologize. Xue Qin smiled and said, "I just haven't seen you for too long... I wanted to see you clearly"

You will come to my company to pick me up at 5 o'clock " The boss's tone returned, " President Ruan " ordered coldly

"Well, alright then," Mei sighed, feeling frustrated as she wondered if Dingyi's office building was near Hualin Square

Mei Shi and Xue Qin agreed to meet at the square near his home at 6:00 AM. The roads were sparsely populated, and the green trees were faintly adorned with the glistening dew, which unexpectedly lifted Mei Shi's spirits. Xue Qin had prepared a large bag of snacks and fruits, which surprised Mei Shi; in the past, he would never have been this thoughtful. She couldn't help but tease him a bit, saying that he had become more fussy since going abroad. Xue Qin simply smiled, appearing very happy. The drive to Mingyue Mountain took just about an hour on the highway, and their laughter made the time feel particularly short. It wasn't a holiday, so there weren't many tourists, and the two enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Xue Qin thoughtfully took many beautiful photos of her, reviewing each one carefully, deleting any that were not satisfactory. As Mei Shi watched his serious demeanor, a smile gradually filled her eyes; this version of Xue Qin... was simply the idealized version of him she had envisioned in the past.

When parting ways, both individuals felt quite satisfied, reverting to the identity of "friends" allowed them to feel at ease and joyful, without the need to relentlessly pursue the emotions they had missed in the past. After all, they had once been so close, and the familiarity could be easily rekindled with just a slight reminder.

His eagerness to explain made Mei Shi feel somewhat sad, and she quickly interrupted him: "The day after tomorrow, right? The weather should be nice. I haven't been there for a long time, and I heard they have installed a cable car and developed many tourism projects. I am quite interested in going."