Zhan Meng heard a unique beep from her phone. She glanced down, put down her chopsticks, and quickly grabbed her phone, her fingers tapping rapidly across the screen.
That Ning Xi actually dared to crack the password she'd set—she wouldn't let him get away with it.
Xia Yan looked at Zhan Meng in confusion, not understanding why someone who was eating just fine had suddenly become glued to their phone. She watched as Zhan Meng's brows furrowed and relaxed by turns, then boredly ladled herself a bowl of chicken soup, taking occasional sips.
"Xia Yan, what are you doing here?"
Hearing her name, Xia Yan snapped her gaze to Xia Siyue, who had called out to her. Even with her eyes closed, she'd recognize Xia Siyue's voice—it was the only one she found this irritating. Xia Siyue stared at Xia Yan with a contemptuous sneer. "Where's Lu Zhengting? Didn't you say he treats you well?"
"What business is that of yours?"
"It's none of my business, sure, but aren't you my sister? As your younger sister, isn't it only right for me to care about your love life? What's the matter? With that heartbroken look on your face, did you see the photo I sent you?"
"Heartbroken look? Xia Siyue, where do you see me being heartbroken? I saw that photo. Your photography skills aren't bad—the scene looks warm and beautiful. But it doesn't mean anything to me."
"Oh, really?" Xia Siyue narrowed her eyes, asking coldly.
"Of course. If I were going to doubt that Lu Zhengting loves me just because of one photo, then what about you?" Xia Yan curled her lips into a cold smile. "I heard Mu Chengfeng is still with that woman. I think you'd know more about that than I would?"
"What's it to you?"
"Aren't I just looking out for my little sister's life?"
Xia Siyue, of course, knew about Mu Chengfeng and Mu Si. Few people at school knew what she'd done to Mu Si, but Mu Chengfeng did—and he still stayed with Mu Si despite knowing. To Xia Siyue, Mu Chengfeng had trampled her pride into the dirt. How could she, Xia Siyue, be inferior to that bitch Mu Si?
Xia Yan knew Xia Siyue's weak spots and knew she valued face above all else, so every word she said was designed to push Xia Siyue's buttons.
Zhan Meng successfully blocked Ning Xi's intrusion and finally deigned to look at the woman facing off with Xia Yan. It was fine until she did—then she slammed her hand on the table with a *smack*, shot up from her chair, and glared at Xia Siyue. "What are you doing here? Looking for trouble?"
Xia Siyue's face turned sour the moment she saw Zhan Meng. Why did everyone she hated always end up connected to Xia Yan? She shot Zhan Meng a disgusted look, then, as if remembering something, took a step back, glaring at both Zhan Meng and Xia Yan. "Xia Yan, you and her—I hate you both!"
Zhan Meng found it amusing and cut in, "I never asked you to like me. How strange—don't you know I hate you too? I'd love to punch you every time I see you."
"You—"
"What about me? Seeing me leave you speechless? Or did last time not teach you a lesson?" Zhan Meng said casually to Xia Siyue, then paused. "You know, every time I see you, I think of those images. Disgusting."
"You're ruthless! Xia Yan, just you wait."
Xia Siyue stormed off in her high heels. Xia Yan looked at Zhan Meng, confused. "You know her?"
"Know her? We've got a history. What a piece of work!"
"A history?"
"Yeah. Earlier today, when I said my car was in the shop—she's the one who hit it. And she acted like her money made her queen of the world. I can't stand that type—thinking money means you can look down on everyone." Zhan Meng tore off a chicken leg, took a bite, and blinked. "I'm rich too, but we're worlds apart. Makes you think—people really are different. Idiots are everywhere."
"Pfft—" Xia Yan had just taken a sip of chicken soup when Zhan Meng's last sentence caught her off guard, and she sprayed it out. Catching the undisguised disgust in Zhan Meng's eyes, she gave an embarrassed smile. She couldn't help it—Zhan Meng was just too funny.
"Good thing it didn't hit the food."
"..." Xia Yan blushed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
"I know. If you had, I'd probably dump all this on your head. Nothing matters more to me than food."
Xia Yan nodded and said softly, "Yeah, I can tell."
"Mm. So Ning Xi starved me for a whole day—he's not finding me now. Hey, want to know what Xia Siyue and I were hinting at?"
"Would you tell me?" Xia Yan asked tentatively.
Zhan Meng smiled, set down her chopsticks after eating her fill, and said, "Not yet. Let's just say it's an R-rated scene. Tsk, I bet you can't imagine how wild she gets with her clothes off."
Hearing this, Xia Yan looked at Zhan Meng's lecherous expression and shuddered.
"Come on, I've said that much—you must get it. If you don't, you're really dumb, and I'd wonder how you got into Jiangda with the third-highest score in Jiangcheng."
Xia Yan was startled. "How do you know I graduated from Jiangda?"
"Finding out about you is a piece of cake. Don't look so shocked. I also know Lu Zhengting's looking for you."
"Huh?"
"Don't believe me? I know he's furious right now, his face all stern, like he's about to eat someone. I'd say you're on your own." Zhan Meng clasped her hands together in a prayer gesture, staring at Xia Yan.
Xia Yan felt completely lost trying to follow Zhan Meng's train of thought. She frowned, sensing a chill in the air. "How do you know? And don't you feel cold?"
"Want to know how I know? Just turn around. Cold? I don't feel it. Isn't winter always like this?"
At that, Xia Yan slowly turned and found herself staring straight into Lu Zhengting's clear, dark eyes. They were filled with gloom, and his expression was exactly as Zhan Meng had described—stern and icy, like he was ready to devour her.
"Lu, Lu, Lu—"
Hearing Xia Yan stammer, Zhan Meng rolled her eyes and finished for her. "Hey, Lu Zhengting, what are you doing here?" Then she looked at Xia Yan. "That's what you were going to say, right?"
Xia Yan's mouth twitched. Ignoring Zhan Meng, she turned to flee. Lu Zhengting's gaze was terrifying—it made her heart quake. He clearly saw what she was thinking and doing, calmly reached out, grabbed her by the collar, and lifted her slightly.
"Where do you think you're going?" Lu Zhengting's voice was deep, laced with cold anger, but Xia Yan had no mood to admire it. She kicked her legs and glanced sideways at his expressionless face.
"Lu Zhengting, let go of me!"
"Getting bold, are you? Ignoring my calls? Trying to run when you see me?"
"Which eye of yours saw me running? I just thought my butt was sore from sitting too long and wanted to stretch. And I had my back to you—I don't have eyes on the back of my head. How was I supposed to know you were here?"
"Excuses."
"I'm defending myself." Xia Yan glanced at his hand still gripping her collar and wanted to cry. Why had she listened to Zhan Meng rambling?
Seeing this, Zhan Meng slapped the table and burst out laughing. "Xia Yan, now I get what people mean by a height difference. So cute, so adorable!"
Xia Yan wished she could call the waiter over and order more food to shut Zhan Meng up. Every time she opened her mouth, it was ridiculous—couldn't she see Xia Yan was suffering? Lu Zhengting, still holding her with one hand, used the other to pull out his phone and dial Ning Xi, just saying an address without drawing Zhan Meng's attention.
By the time Ning Xi rushed over, Zhan Meng had no chance to escape—Lu Zhengting had the restaurant staff block the exits. Ning Xi's arrival was like catching a turtle in a jar. Zhan Meng shook her head—she wasn't a turtle!
"Your person's here. Pay the bill while you're at it," Lu Zhengting said to Ning Xi, then took Xia Yan's hand and headed out of the restaurant. But Xia Yan resisted, glaring at him and refusing to move. Just when she thought he'd be stumped, he always surprised her.
Expressionless, Lu Zhengting scooped her up and slung her over his shoulder, walking past everyone with a straight face. Xia Yan struggled for a long time to no avail, then angrily covered her face. Her dignity was ruined! Her cool, aloof image was gone.
"Lu Zhengting, put me down. I'll walk on my own."
"Too late."
"It's not too late! I want to walk now."
"No."
"Lu Zhengting!" Xia Yan roared, flailing her arms wildly. Lu Zhengting's steps were steady, unaffected. Once in the elevator, he smacked her on the butt and said lowly, "Behave, or you'll regret it."
"Lu Zhengting, you've embarrassed me enough! Are you still going to torment me? You're too much—put me down!" Xia Yan was thin to begin with, and his shoulder was digging into her stomach painfully. She frowned, breathing deeply. She'd eaten too much, and the jostling made her stomach churn like a storm. It was awful.
"Ugh..."
"Lu Zhengting, I really don't feel well..." Xia Yan said weakly, not even caring about the spanking anymore.
Seeing this, Lu Zhengting finally set her down, grabbing her arm. Noticing her pale face, he forgot about her ignoring his calls. "Xia Yan?"