Xia Siyue had to cross Chaotian Bridge every time she drove from the Xia family residence to school. Her relationship with Mu Chengfeng was completely over. She had someone ruin Mu Chengfeng’s woman, Mu Si, and Mu Chengfeng was still figuring out how to settle the score with her. Bored out of her mind, she stared ahead at the long line of cars stuck in traffic, her face instantly darkening. She was in a hurry to get back to school. According to her roommate, Mu Chengfeng was still with Mu Si and hadn’t even rejected her—something Xia Siyue found utterly unexpected.
The cars ahead finally started moving. Xia Siyue stomped on the accelerator, and her car suddenly slammed into the red QQ car in front of her. The force of the collision was so strong that even with her seatbelt on, her body lurched forward uncontrollably.
“Knock, knock…”
Xia Siyue heard a tap on her window and slowly came to her senses. She looked up at the person standing outside, squinted, and rolled down the window. “What do you want?”
“Hey, miss, you hit my car with yours, you know that? Looks like you’re aware you crashed, so get out here and deal with it.”
“So what if I hit it? I’ll just pay for it, no big deal. Why are you making such a fuss?”
“Pay up? Fine, but you still need to get out and negotiate the terms with me.”
Xia Siyue impatiently glanced at the car owner, angrily opened the door, and stormed out. She sneered at the car, then at the owner. “Isn’t it just a piece of junk? You think I can’t afford to pay for it?”
“No, I think you can.”
When the traffic cop arrived, he saw Xia Siyue’s face flushed red with anger and assumed she was the one who’d been hit. He immediately barked at Zhan Meng, “So you think you’re in the right for hitting someone’s car?”
Zhan Meng, hands on her hips, shot a glance at the late-arriving cop and laughed. “Are you blind? Or are all cops these days as useless as you?”
“Watch your mouth!”
“I’ll talk however I want. What are you going to do about it?”
“You—”
“Everyone here saw it—I’m the one who got hit. And you showed up late. On top of that, with that look on your face like you want to eat me alive, I could totally sue you for intimidating a citizen!”
“You—”
“What about me? Point your finger at me again, and I’ll report you for bad attitude.”
“You, you—name! Register.”
“Tch, can’t you speak nicely? Zhan Meng.”
Zhan Meng picked up her buzzing phone, saw the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, then answered. A roar came through the line. “Zhan Meng! Do you know what time it is? Do you even want this job anymore? You’ve been late half the days this month. I swear I’ll fire you right now!”
“Boss, I got into a car accident. I’m still dealing with it.”
“A car accident? You used that excuse last time. Can’t you come up with something more convincing?”
“I’m serious! I’m on Chaotian Bridge—”
“Zhan Meng, I’m giving you half an hour. Get in front of me now, or pack your stuff and get out.”
“No, boss, I’m coming right now!”
Zhan Meng hung up, glanced at the cop still working, thought it over, and walked over. “Buddy, can I go now?”
“Not yet.”
“I have an emergency. I have to go.”
“Hey, Zhan Meng, stop right there!”
Zhan Meng stared intently at the cop blocking her way and shouted, “Move aside! I really have an emergency. I’ll let this slide and consider it my bad luck. I’m dropping it.”
On the other side, Xia Siyue heard Zhan Meng and rushed over to block her path. “What do you mean, ‘let it slide’? Who are you calling petty? With your pathetic look, I’m offering to pay you out of charity, you know that?”
“Are you stupid? ‘Petty’ means you, obviously. Who else would it be? Charity? Do you even know what that word means before throwing it around?”
“Are you crazy or what?” Xia Siyue glared at the incoherent Zhan Meng and yelled.
“You’re using ‘crazy’ wrong.” Zhan Meng corrected her seriously. The cop caught between them was completely baffled, watching their mouths flap nonstop.
Xia Siyue fumed, “Then how do you use it?”
“You’re asking me? I don’t know either.” Zhan Meng saw Xia Siyue’s furious expression and couldn’t help but laugh. “You look hilarious when you’re angry, you know that?”
“…”
Their collision escalated into a verbal sparring match. Zhan Meng checked the time—half of the boss’s deadline was already gone. Seeing Xia Siyue fuming, she felt a surge of glee. To make her escape, Zhan Meng decisively called Ning Xi and asked him to come handle things. Ning Xi happened to be nearby on business. When he strolled over and saw Xia Siyue there, he frowned. Zhan Meng sprinted toward him, not saying a word, and started patting him down.
“Ning Xi, where’s your car key? Hurry up and lend it to me. I need to get to the magazine office right now.”
“Beg me.”
“Lend it or not?”
“No.”
“Ning Xi, are you seriously picking a fight with me right now?” Zhan Meng planted her hands on her hips, furious. “Fine, forget it. I’ll take a cab. I don’t need to see your sour face.”
“Come back. I changed my mind.”
“Lend it or not? If not, I’m leaving.”
Ning Xi raised an eyebrow at Zhan Meng, taking in her cocky demeanor. He couldn’t help but smile wryly as he tossed the key in an arc. Zhan Meng caught it, rolled her eyes at him, and then, under everyone’s gaze, walked straight to Ning Xi’s car. She drove like a maniac, and the car shot off like the wind. The stunned cop snapped out of it and grabbed his radio. “Attention, attention, a vehicle with plate Jiang A—”
Hearing this, Ning Xi pursed his lips, reached out to stop the cop, and said calmly, “I’ll handle the rest.”
“You’ll handle it? What’s your relationship with the person involved?” The cop eyed Ning Xi suspiciously, then leaned in and lowered his voice. “You’re her boyfriend, right? Man, tough break, having such a weird girlfriend.”
At the cop’s words, Ning Xi felt an instant kinship, his gaze toward the cop almost warm. Xia Siyue, left out, turned pale the second she saw Ning Xi. She hadn’t forgotten how he’d slapped her in front of everyone before. More importantly, Ning Xi was on Xia Yan’s side, and anyone connected to Xia Yan was unwelcome in her eyes.
Xia Siyue had called her insurance company earlier. Now that they’d finally arrived, she couldn’t be bothered to scold them. She just wanted to leave—not just because of Ning Xi’s presence, but because Mu Chengfeng and Mu Si’s situation was still waiting for her.
*****
Lu Corporation.
Xia Yan got a call from Lin Xujia, who said she was waiting in the lobby downstairs. She hurried through her work, then went to Lu Zhengting’s office to deliver the files and documents he’d requested before rushing to the elevator and heading to the lobby.
There weren’t many people sitting or waiting in the lobby. As soon as Xia Yan stepped out of the elevator, she spotted Lin Xujia in the waiting area. When she got closer, she noticed Lin Xujia’s face was deathly pale, almost bloodless. She took a big step forward and touched her forehead.
“Xujia, you’ve got a fever. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“No need, Xia Yan. Just sit with me for a bit.” Lin Xujia leaned on Xia Yan’s shoulder and closed her eyes. She’d spent the whole night alone by the river, leaving only when dawn broke. After driving home, showering, and lying in bed without a wink of sleep, she’d driven back to find Xia Yan.
Xia Yan tilted her head to look at Lin Xujia, who was dozing with her eyes shut. She was silent for a moment, then was about to speak when she thought she heard someone call her name.
She turned around and sure enough, saw Li Ru coming out of the elevator with her bag. Xia Yan smiled slightly. Li Ru checked her phone—she still had about ten minutes before Yang Qi was supposed to pick her up. She figured waiting outside was the same as waiting in the lobby, so she might as well sit in the waiting area.
Li Ru was the office gossip queen; no piece of news escaped her. She eyed the woman leaning on Xia Yan’s shoulder, frowning. She felt like she’d seen her somewhere before, but no matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn’t place it.
Xia Yan winked and pressed her index finger to her lips. “Shh…”
Li Ru gave an OK sign and quietly sat on the sofa next to Xia Yan. Pointing at the dozing Lin Xujia, she whispered, “She looks really familiar. Who is she?”
“Lin Xujia, my college classmate and best friend. You might recognize her because she’s come to the office to see me before.” Xia Yan blinked. “Isn’t it work hours now? Looks like you’re skipping out?”
“Would a model employee like me skip work? I’m on leave for a prenatal checkup.”
“Prenatal checkup? You’re pregnant?”
“Yeah, almost three months now. Hey, Xia Yan, let me ask you—are you living with Boss Lu now? I’ve heard all the office gossip. Why did you turn down his proposal? Are you out of your mind? Do you know how much guts and confidence it takes to reject a proposal from Boss Lu? I swear, I’m in awe of you.”
Xia Yan gave a helpless smile and glanced at Lin Xujia, still with her eyes closed. “That wasn’t even a proper proposal, okay? Have you ever seen someone propose by just asking, ‘Want to have a baby with me?’ Picture that—it’s terrifying, trust me.”