Chapter 2

Local person

The elevator's lighting was glaring, and Li Jinyu seemed to have grown tired of waiting. He slightly tugged at his hat to shield his eyes from the light, and the sharp, refined outline of his Adam's apple was particularly pronounced under the illumination, revealing a cold gaze that exuded a notably low sense of morality. "Oh, I see. Is there anything else?"

"Haven't taken the driving test, what else is there?"

The gazes of the two individuals unexpectedly brushed against each other in the air, and in the dimly lit hospital room, their eyes were filled with a sense of serendipity

Ye Meng sometimes feels that there is a gentle little deer hidden in this man's eyes, and within the deer's eyes, there are also stars. He should clearly be very docile. However, that little deer hides the stars, and its eyes convey a message that says, I have no morals, do not attempt to kidnap me

The man chuckled casually and said to the chubby boy who was playing games in the corner, "Keep an eye on grandma and make sure she doesn't borrow cigarettes from the neighbor's sister."

Lemon Leaf: This man is so eager to have his WeChat scanned that he might as well hang it on his face; I won't add him.

Lemon Leaf: Do you have a girlfriend? Even worse. Then why are you still recommending it to me

"You were already so out of touch, and now you're looking for someone younger than you. Are you two planning to get married or are you preparing to break up?" The old lady snatched the remote control and turned it off.

Lemon Leaf: You possess a mysterious confidence regarding the younger brothers in town

Fang Ya'en hurriedly said thank you, and with a wink at the dazed Ye Meng, introduced, "This is the grandson of the grandmother in the next bed"

No one in town knows that Jiang Luzhi has gotten married; I estimate that even her mother is unaware of this matter. If Aunt Jiang finds out, she might fly to Beijing and break her legs. After all, Aunt Jiang has always wanted her to find someone local

Fang: Nowadays, the younger brothers are all more handsome than the last. Based on my many years of experience in raising children, when looking for a husband, one should definitely choose someone with good-looking eyes. If the eyes are not attractive, it can easily affect the genes of the next generation. Just look at Old Wang's child next door, who is now constantly clamoring at home to get double eyelids.

The man did not look at Ye Meng and thoughtfully handed Fang Ya'en a business card, saying, "This is the volunteer's phone number. If you need assistance when no one is available to accompany you, you can contact them"

Having a driver's license, yet not driving much

The chubby boy is a typical obedient child favored by Ye Meng, who honestly recounts everything in detail: "He does everything to make money, helping people watch their shops, or assisting with video editing. Occasionally, he also sings at bars. It seems that apart from not being able to drive, he knows a little about everything else."

It is not just a matter of recognition; it is, in fact, a nightmare from Ye Meng's ten years of hard study. Undeniably, Jiang Luzhi has indeed thrived in Beijing, doing exceptionally well. Although both belong to the same hometown group and rarely meet, Ye Meng often hears about this sister's remarkable achievements. An annual income of one million is true, and she is indeed very beautiful

Ye Meng rolled her eyes, knowing that this trick was tried and true. Well, it seems there will be no sleep tonight

Your brother is not a local, is he? He doesn't look like one.

Fang Ya'en then noticed that there was a little chubby boy in the corner

Would Li Jinyu go mad if he knew he had become the third party?

What are you doing, do you want to smoke

The man looked up from his phone in confusion, glanced around, and then lowered his head, saying, "I can't afford it"

In fact, Li Jinyu did not go mad. The two were at the elevator entrance; he was preparing to go downstairs to pay the hospitalization fee in advance, and Ye Meng happened to be returning home. Thus, she informed him of this matter, but did not receive the expected reaction, not even a glance from him.

What do you mean by this? I have found each one for you, yet you are not satisfied with any of them

Before Ye Meng arrived home, he received a WeChat message from Fang Ya'en

The two individuals almost simultaneously ventured to speak: "It wouldn't be Jiang Luzhi, would it?"

Fang: I just remembered that the entire street of Xiangzi Street is undergoing demolition. You mentioned that the crab restaurant is not doing very well and has rented a small shop. I will help you find out where they are moving to tomorrow

Ye Meng was almost on her knees, sincerely apologizing to Fang Ya'en and swearing never to use her safety as an excuse again. Fang Ya'en feigned a cold expression and demanded ten servings of crab. Ye Meng bargained for five. As the two were stubbornly arguing, a hand suddenly reached across, and a deep yet clear voice came from above, "Your takeout."

The man lowered his head and sent a message on WeChat, mocking with a smile: "I have only met her twice, and she directly asks for a birthday gift. Do you think that is appropriate?"

Ye Meng silently rolled her eyes, her gaze directed sideways at the two men who remained silent. The old man and her father were both quiet, fully demonstrating the ability of the Ye family men to act as mere ornaments.

The sister-in-law quietly stood behind her: "I quite support Mengmeng in finding someone younger."

"Perhaps Li Jinyu is aware of it? What if he is willingly playing the role of a third party, after all, Jiang Luzhi is a wealthy woman"

"Aren't you two a couple?" The old lady quietly leaned in and suggested in his ear, "Aren't you going to have a birthday soon? Have her buy you a birthday gift."

Ding dong, ding dong

The elder aunt has always been prudent and avoids getting involved in murky waters; she casually asked, "So, are you looking for someone a few years younger?"

Because that girl is mute, Fang Ya'en added in her heart

The old lady, with a face resembling the green moss of a thousand-year plant, said expressionlessly: "This reason has already been used."

This pair of grandparents and grandchildren is truly ruthless, as every word they speak pierces the other's heart.

"How about this, you can sell me, and as for the price, it's entirely up to you. You can take the money and enjoy yourself, traveling the world, while I go serve as a son-in-law, taking care of the whole family. What do you think, are you satisfied?" the man said, leaning against the wall

That is his nickname. When my brother was just born, his mother once abandoned him, and it was my great-aunt who braved the heavy snow to bring him back. Despite my brother looking so fair now, my great-aunt said he was thin and dark when he was young, just like a little black bean, and that's how he has been called for so many years. His real name is Li Jingyu. "Jing" as in the character for "革" and "yu" as in the character for "岛屿". We are cousins.

The old lady threw a pillow and shouted, "Get out!"

The elderly lady closed her eyes and fell straight back against the sofa.

She sat in the Didi ride, the scenery outside fleeting by, the flowing car lights mingling with the night, casting a shadowy and indistinct reflection on her face

"It's nothing, my grandmother has a heavy smoking habit," the handsome man said without much expression, reminding me, "You'd better not smoke in front of her"

Mother

Fang Ya'en was shocked by this old lady, who was so wasteful. Such a handsome man, and the name was chosen so hastily.

What right does she have to buy it

The old lady's eyes were fixed on him, unyielding: "Let Xiao Jiang buy it, Xiao Jiang can afford it"

The two immediately stopped and looked up along the thin arm. Ye Meng's eyes went dark, as if struck by a blow; was this not the handsome guy who had actively asked for her WeChat by the lake just a few hours ago

After they added each other on WeChat, Fang Ya'en took the opportunity to send her a message on WeChat

"How is it possible? If he knew, would the little chubby boy announce their affair to the whole world so loudly?"

The chubby boy was taken aback and immediately put down his phone: "Do you know each other?"

"I told you, no smoking." Just as the old lady in the next bed reached out her hand, the handsome young man ruthlessly slapped it back. The old lady, feeling the pain, immediately reported the smirking Fang Ya'en.

Ye Meng, feeling helpless, had no choice but to move over. As soon as she approached, she was predictably seized by the arm. The old lady had an astonishing amount of strength and caught her in one swift motion: "You sit down!"

Fang: Where did you get that misunderstanding? They already have a girlfriend

"Old partner!"

Ye Meng wished he could slap himself to death; truly, good things do not work while bad things do.

She specifically called for her most capable and elite-minded aunt to stand by her side

Ye Meng only felt a faint pain in his brain

Ten tons of crabs, handsome guy, WeChat.

The hour hand points to eleven o'clock, and the corridor is dim. The ward is brightly lit, tranquil and silent, with the IV drip slowly dripping down.

The man's hands are very attractive, long, slender, and straight, with clearly defined joints, and they are pale. Upon closer inspection, one can notice that the tips of his index and middle fingers have a slightly wheat-colored hue. At such a young age, without a history of smoking heavily for a few years, it would not be like this.

Fang: Where are you now? You aren't already caught up in a romantic encounter, are you

Where is his girlfriend

Being a lawyer in Beijing, one can be quite beautiful. It is said that the annual income can reach seven figures

"Do you not like Xiao Jiang?" the old lady said angrily, "If you don't like her, just say so. I can have someone introduce you to another one. How about Old Liu's granddaughter? She said you don't need to buy a house or a car, and no bride price is required. She will even give you three hundred thousand as a dowry."

As Ye Meng entered the door, the family was neatly arranged on the sofa. At first glance, it felt like stepping into an eagle's nest, with five or six pairs of eyes staring at her like hawks. She had long been accustomed to this and, ignoring them, went upstairs to her bedroom: "Are the young ladies and young masters staying up late again? Don't sneakily use my eye cream tomorrow if you end up with dark circles, Grandma"

"Alright," Ye Mengling had a sudden inspiration and immediately fabricated another reason, "I am going out to find my boyfriend. In fact, I have been seeing someone recently, and I just didn't want to raise any suspicions. Once my relationship with him is confirmed, I will bring him back for you to see, is that alright?"

The handsome man's brow furrowed slightly, and Fang Ya'en was taken aback, immediately waving her hand in the air to disperse the lingering smoke. "No, I haven't had the surgery yet; I'm just having a cigarette to relieve the pain. Sorry about that."

The relationship between Ye Meng and Jiang Luzhi, in Fang Ya'en's words, is that in terms of appearance, Ye Meng might outshine her by a mile, but in terms of tactics, Jiang Luzhi could surpass her by eighteen miles. Still, as the saying goes, Ye Meng is too lazy to compete. During their school days, the two may have experienced a fierce rivalry akin to a dragon fighting a tiger, unable to coexist peacefully. Ye Meng spent five years in high school just to get into a better institution than Jiang Luzhi, but unfortunately, despite her cleverness, her grades showed no improvement, and in the end, she only managed to enroll in a regular university. After the death of her mother, Ye Meng began to adopt a more laid-back attitude towards life.

Everyone was terrified and rushed forward one after another. Only Ye Meng remained motionless. However, she could not withstand her aunt's furious scolding: "What are you standing there for? Hurry over and take a look! Your grandmother has always cared for you the most since you were little!"

Fang Ya'en heard this and turned her gaze to the bed next to her. The occupant of the adjacent bed was an elderly lady who, it was said, had slipped on soap while bathing and fractured her hip, requiring three pins. The family member accompanying her was her grandson, who was very handsome, the kind of rare beauty that was both lean and well-defined.

Ye Meng was too lazy to respond, her stomach growling with hunger. The two quickly finished three buckets of spicy chicken. Fang Ya'en, with some free time on her hands, chatted with the chubby boy beside her, "Is his name really Li Ba Dou?"

Mother

Fang Ya'en was overwhelmed with gratitude and handed over her business card, saying, "I make suits; feel free to contact me if you need anything. How about adding each other on WeChat? I might reach out to you in the next half month."

"You shut your mouth, you only know how to unconditionally side with her," the old lady retorted, turning to her eldest aunt, "You speak."

The handsome young man has his zipper tightly closed, his collar standing upright, and the black headphone wire is still worn outside the collar

Fang Ya'en and Ye Meng instinctively exchanged glances with each other.

What does your brother do

Grandma, there is an urgent matter. Fang Ya'en has broken her leg while taking care of the child at home

"Do you not smoke?" Fang Ya'en asked curiously, staring at his hand.

When Ye Meng arrived at the ward, the clock's hands pointed to 11:15, and the chubby boy had not yet finished a game.

If there is indeed a local person working as a lawyer in Beijing, who is exceptionally beautiful and has the surname Jiang, then there can only be one person.

However, there is one thing that Ye Meng must mention—on the day before her return, Jiang Luzhi had clearly obtained a marriage certificate with her boyfriend of ten years from Beijing.

The handsome guy was not as surprised as her, hardly pausing at her side. The other party, Ya'en, said: "Deliveries cannot be sent to the ward after 10 o'clock; they are all placed at the express station on the first floor. Family members need to go downstairs to pick them up. I happened to run into it, so I brought it up for you. Next time, please pay attention to the time."

The elderly lady held onto her tightly, possessing immense strength. Ye Meng sighed, noting that there are hardly a few seventy-year-old women in the entire country who can eat three bowls of rice in one sitting

She likes well-behaved boys

"On the first day you met me, you might not have known, but I am quite a terrible person," he said in a nonchalant manner

My brother came here four years ago. My cousin passed away, and my aunt remarried, so he has been relying on my great-aunt ever since

Just two seconds after the ward fell silent, the elderly lady became restless again, pointing at the expensive red wine of the powerful male lead on the television, and said to her grandson, "Li Badou, I want to drink this wine"

"I won't smoke," he said

In fact, she was not very certain about his appearance. Her first reaction was that the man was handsome, followed closely by a sense of familiarity as if she had seen him somewhere before, until she noticed the shiny earring by his ear, which suddenly brought the scene by the lake crashing into her mind

She just smoked, look, the curtain is still emitting smoke

The old lady would not easily let her go, saying, "No, where are you going at this late hour?"

Fang: Who said I would give it to you, just tricking you with ten servings of crab.

Fang Ya'en silently repeated, while Ye Meng had no interest in listening at all, sitting beside her scrolling through her social media feed and replying to comments. A friend asked her when she would return to Beijing

I have already told you," Ye Meng simply gave up struggling, grabbed the remote control beside him, and said in a self-abandoned manner, "I prefer those younger than me.

"Where is the standard in this? One year or two years is not considered too few, and seven years or eight years is not considered too small," Ye Meng said with a smile, "I am quite easy to talk to"

The elderly lady nearly fainted again. Just as she was about to scold, Ye Meng received a WeChat message, and her expression changed. Without considering the consequences, she stood up hurriedly and said, "I can't stay and mess around with you all; I have to go out for a while"

Ye Meng looked at this conversation, and for some reason, the eyes of the man by the lake suddenly popped into her mind. He had slightly elongated phoenix eyes, with the corners gently slanting downwards. When he was silent and not gloomy, his gaze should have conveyed tenderness, yet it was precisely this kind of light-hearted arrogance that she disliked the most.

Yes, Ning Sui people