Seeing this, Xia Yan looked at Lu Zhengting's serious expression with a mix of amusement and exasperation, feeling she couldn't even say it wasn't warm without fearing a beating. Her eyes curved like crescent moons as she gazed intently at him, speaking softly, "You're the warmest, like a winter quilt so cozy you never want to get up once you're under it."
"..."
After saying that, Xia Yan burst into giggles, reaching out her arms toward Lu Zhengting. "Hug me."
Lu Zhengting pulled her into his embrace with a straight face, his sexy voice drifting above her head. "Do you still remember what he looked like?"
"I probably remember, or maybe I've forgotten." Xia Yan wrapped her arms around his waist. "That was over ten years ago. Why are you so hung up on it? Lu Zhengting, tell me—how did I never realize you were such a hidden jealous type? One who gets around, too."
Lu Zhengting raised an eyebrow at the smirking Xia Yan, choosing to stay silent about her words. This bright smile was what should be on the little girl's face now, not that deep, sorrowful expression from before.
Xia Yan sniffled. "Lu Zhengting, you know I only have you by my side now. So you absolutely can't leave me or betray me. If I find out, I'll never forgive you."
"You think I'd give you that chance?"
"With how domineering you are, I believe you won't give me that chance."
"Mm, you can rest assured."
They didn't stay long in Beicheng, since Jiangcheng had a mountain of things waiting for Lu Zhengting to handle. As they left Beicheng, Ningxi shot Lu Zhengting a meaningful glance, but Xia Yan seemed not to notice.
"Ningxi, you're not coming to Jiangcheng with us?"
"I'll find you after the New Year. The mess with the second one isn't sorted yet." Ningxi looked at Xia Yan as he spoke. In truth, compared to Ke Yaru, he had a much better impression of Xia Yan.
Boarding the plane, as it took off, the scene of that snowy day still lingered in Xia Yan's mind. Through the small window, she watched the sky ablaze with sunset hues and let out a soft sigh. The departed would never return, and she had to live on well.
Ningxi hadn't even left the airport when he got a call from Zhan Meng. This woman never contacted him for no reason; when she did, it was rarely good.
"Ningxi, where are you? I'm hungry."
Sure enough, Ningxi knew Zhan Meng well. He could easily picture her holding the phone, lying in bed or curled up on the sofa, one hand on her stomach, the TV playing some random drama, the room a mess.
He sighed but said calmly into the phone, "If you're hungry, order takeout."
The thought of Zhan Meng cooking never crossed his mind—she'd destroy the kitchen.
Zhan Meng was exactly as Ningxi imagined: curled on the sofa, hugging a pillow to her stomach, occasionally shifting, with a rerun of a variety show on TV. Her eyes were half-closed, sleepy, but compared to sleep, she was hungrier.
"Meow..."
Hearing the cat, Zhan Meng moved the pillow aside and glanced at the little yellow cat sitting on the carpet. She pouted, picked it up, and placed it on her stomach, speaking either to the person on the phone or the cat, "Mengmeng, your owner abandoned you. Look how skinny you are from hunger. Tsk... so pitiful."
Ningxi's face darkened. Was this woman threatening him? He hadn't forgotten that this little yellow cat staying with Zhan Meng was Xia Yan's beloved Mengmeng. If it got skinny, Xia Yan would surely come after him.
After much thought, Ningxi hung up and, on a whim, had someone book him a ticket to Jiangcheng. Even as he boarded the plane, he couldn't figure out what had driven this chain of actions.
Mm, because Mengmeng was in Zhan Meng's hands, he had no choice.
Ningxi went straight to Zhan Meng's place after landing. She didn't seem surprised to see him, glancing over and saying flatly, "I want boiled fish in chili sauce."
"Miss, can I catch my breath?" Ningxi collapsed onto the sofa like a dead weight, scooping up Mengmeng. "Little one, when will your owner come to take you back?"
"I haven't eaten in twenty-four hours." Zhan Meng blinked at him.
"Zhan Meng, are you really a woman?"
"I'm a genuine woman. Don't believe me?" Her expression was dead serious. If Ningxi nodded in doubt, she might just have him verify it on the spot.
Ningxi was startled by her wild behavior. He squinted, sizing up the woman who always wore loose T-shirts and jeans—a flat figure, utterly uninteresting.
Zhan Meng rolled her eyes at Ningxi, tugging at the shirt slipping off her shoulder. "Hurry up and cook. Do you want to starve me to death?"
"..."
Ningxi gave the cat a stroke, resigned, and got up to head to the kitchen. But his peripheral vision caught the data on Zhan Meng's glowing laptop screen, and his face turned sour. This woman had hacked into the airline system to track his movements. He rubbed his chin, turning to see her lounging on the sofa, legs crossed on the coffee table, happily watching TV.
Zhan Meng's skills were indeed impressive, second only to his own—that was Ningxi's verdict on her. Too bad she was a complete idiot in daily life. He went to the kitchen, found an apron, and started his routine. The kitchen was open, but Zhan Meng's eyes were glued to the TV, not sparing him a glance.
"Miss, dinner's ready."
"Great. Oh, don't forget to feed Mengmeng. It's been hungry all day too."
Ningxi set out the bowls and chopsticks, a few lines of frustration appearing on his forehead as he silently shook his head. Whoever married Zhan Meng would be asking for trouble.
"Ningxi, why are you setting out two sets? Are you eating too?" Zhan Meng asked, puzzled, looking at his actions and the table settings.
Hearing this, Ningxi's face turned as dark as a judge's. "You called me, and I flew straight from Beicheng to Jiangcheng, dodged acquaintances at the airport, took a cab here through traffic—and you think I'm not hungry?"
"Fine, fine, no need to yell. Who's louder anyway?" Zhan Meng raised her voice, glaring back defiantly as she plopped into a chair and started eating. She could do loud too.
"Was I yelling? Zhan Meng, you're a total weirdo."
"You're a weirdo too."
"What?"
"There's a saying: like attracts like. If you call me a weirdo, you're calling yourself one." Zhan Meng stuffed her mouth with food, savoring it, then looked up at Ningxi with a smile and added, "Ningxi's cooking is really good. Or maybe I'm just too hungry."
"Zhan Meng, shut up and eat."
"Why?"
"Because you talk and drive people crazy." Ningxi said coldly, then watched in shock as Zhan Meng devoured everything, leaving only a pile of vegetables.
"So full."
"You ate for two people. Of course you're full." Ningxi raised an eyebrow, mocking her.
"Pfft, I could eat more, but you wouldn't believe me." Zhan Meng shot him a smug look, pushed herself up from the table, and waddled to the sofa, flopping down in a new position.
At Dongshan Villa.
Xia Yan's stomach had been acting up on the plane again. After landing, Lu Zhengting had the driver head straight to the Lu residence. Xia Yan leaned weakly against his shoulder, pale-faced. Thankfully, Jiangcheng was warmer than Beicheng, so it wasn't as cold.
The driver opened the door, and a gust of cold wind hit them. Xia Yan couldn't help pulling her coat tighter—the wind was biting, making her lips tremble. Lu Zhengting got out, walked over, and scooped her up in a princess carry, his thick coat covering her small frame. Xia Yan naturally soaked up his warmth.
Back in the room, Xia Yan lay still on the bed, afraid that moving would make things worse. Lu Zhengting had asked Chen Ma to prepare brown sugar water on the way back. When it was brought up, Xia Yan's face fell at the sight, with no desire to drink it.
Lu Zhengting took off his coat and stood by the bed, signaling Chen Ma to leave. Alone in the spacious room, Xia Yan looked at the stern-faced man with a pout. "Do I have to drink that?"
"Of course. Yes."
"But I really don't want to." Xia Yan eyed the dark, murky liquid with disgust. Even before drinking, she felt her insides churning, making her even more uncomfortable.
Seeing this, Lu Zhengting's expression tightened. "I'll call the doctor."
"No, that's too embarrassing. I'll drink." Xia Yan squinted, bracing herself. This was just her usual period pain—a few days of misery every month she'd been used to since childhood.
She glanced at the dark liquid, then suddenly looked up at Lu Zhengting. "Lu Zhengting, feed me."
Without a second thought, Lu Zhengting sat on the edge of the bed, took a sip, held it in his mouth, and with one hand supporting her head and the other lifting her chin, pressed his lips to hers before she could react, transferring the liquid into her mouth.
"Cough, cough..."
Xia Yan stared at him, frowning. The taste was awful.
"I meant for you to feed me, not with your mouth!"
"I like this method." Lu Zhengting licked the residue from his lips, a wicked smile spreading across his face as Xia Yan's cheeks flushed bright red.