Hu Mingmei's unexpected move stunned the three women present, especially Zhang Jingwen, who was on the verge of tears. She bit her lip, swayed precariously, and leaned on her maid, heartbroken.

"Young Master Hu!" Zhang Jingwen was heartbroken and couldn't utter a word, but her maid was quick to speak up. Seeing her mistress being bullied, she immediately reprimanded her, "This is a gift from our young lady, specially made for you. Do you know how much time our young lady wasted for this bowl of chicken soup? She got up before dawn this morning. Why are you giving it to someone else?"

Those reprimands made it seem as if Hu Mingmei was a heartless person who had betrayed Zhang Jingwen.

"Xiangming, stop talking!" Zhang Jingwen grabbed the maid named Xiangming and said with a sob in her voice, "Young Master Hu can give it to whomever he wants!"

Why does that sound so unpleasant?

Bai Nuo casually pushed the chicken soup in front of her back, "Miss Zhang specially brought it for you to drink, so you should drink it. I'm allergic to ginseng!"

"I have no right to dispose of what I've been given, so what am I supposed to do with it?" Hu Mingmei snorted and pushed the chicken soup forward. The lid clattered onto the table, spilling the soup with a crisp sound.

“No!” Zhang Jingwen’s willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her slightly red eyes seemed to be misty with tears. If she were in someone else’s eyes, they would have been heartbroken long ago. But Nian Hu Mingmei didn’t even look at her. He stared straight ahead—or rather, he was still looking at Bai Nuo.

Zhang Jingwen bit her lip, enduring the excruciating pain in her heart, and said, "Since it has been given to you, young master, it is naturally up to you to decide what to do with it!"

Xiangming couldn't help but exclaim, "Miss!" This was made with great effort by Miss, how could she let others ruin it so easily? But Zhang Jingwen was only looking at Hu Mingmei and ignored her, so Xiangming could only glare at Bai Nuo.

It's all that country girl's fault! If it weren't for her, Miss wouldn't be so heartbroken!

Bai Nuo, sensing Xiang Ming's malice, looked at her innocently. It was a matter of mutual consent; she hadn't ruined anyone's relationship, so what business was it of hers?

If anyone is to blame, it's Zhang Jingwen for meeting Hu Mingmei later than she did. Asking her to give up Hu Mingmei to make way for Zhang Jingwen is simply impossible.

"No, thank you!" Hu Mingmei didn't push the chicken soup in front of Bai Nuo for her to drink. Instead, she said calmly, "Miss Zhang is of noble status and comes from a good family, while I am just an idle person. I am not worthy of Miss Zhang. Please don't come again. I also have someone I love. Your coming will cause her to misunderstand, and I don't want to make her unhappy!"

When Hu Mingmei said this, he was looking at Bai Nuo. Looking into those deep eyes, Bai Nuo couldn't help but feel a sweet warmth in her heart.

Hu Mingmei didn't give Zhang Jingwen a chance to speak. After she finished speaking, she called Xia Donglai in and said, "Send Miss Zhang out!"

"Yes!" Xia Donglai nodded, took the chicken soup from the table, stood next to Zhang Jingwen, and said in an unquestionable tone, "Miss Zhang, please!"

“Young Master Hu…” Zhang Jingwen wanted to speak to Hu Mingmei, but Hu Mingmei only said indifferently, “Miss Zhang, your brother didn’t know you were here, did he?”

Hu Mingmei's meaning was quite clear: if Zhang Jingwen bothered him again, he would tell Zhang Wu. In any case, he was a man, and he wouldn't suffer any loss in terms of reputation.

Zhang Jingwen remained silent, but Xiangming spoke first, "Young Master Hu, what do you mean by this? Our young lady's presence here is an honor she bestows upon you! You..."

Xiangming was about to continue cursing Hu Mingmei when she suddenly received a cold look from Hu Mingmei. With just a glance, Xiangming dared not continue speaking.

Zhang Jingwen had been watching Hu Mingmei the whole time, and she naturally saw how Hu Mingmei looked at Xiangming. This realization made her even more heartbroken—the way Hu Mingmei looked at her was exactly the same as how he looked at Xiangming. Did this mean that in Hu Mingmei's heart, she and Xiangming were no different?

“I can leave…” A tear finally slid down Zhang Jingwen’s cheek. “I only have one question for you, young master. Once you ask, I’ll leave.”

Hu Mingmei still ignored her.

With tears in her eyes, Zhang Jingwen asked, "I just want to know why you accepted my clothes, young master?"

Doesn't accepting her clothes mean he's interested in her?

Why keep insulting her?

Xia Donglai could then give Zhang Jingwen the answer to this question: "Miss Zhang, our young master did not accept your clothes. I have disposed of the clothes. If you want them back, I will give them to you now!"

“No need…” Zhang Jingwen grabbed Xiangming’s hand, her nails digging into Xiangming’s flesh, and staggered toward the door.

Xia Donglai, carrying the chicken soup, followed them out.

Bai Nuo and Hu Mingmei were left speechless for a moment.

"Are you angry?" Hu Mingmei looked at her.

Bai Nuo shook her head. She was angry at first, but after seeing how Hu Mingmei treated Zhang Jingwen, she stopped being angry.

“I didn’t call her here, and I have no feelings for her!” Even though Bai Nuo said she wasn’t angry, Hu Mingmei still explained, “I didn’t know she was downstairs. I only saw her standing downstairs waiting for me when I heard your voice. I don’t want any chicken soup for the soul.”

"I know!" Bai Nuo nodded. "I'm really not angry. I know how you are!" As she spoke, Bai Nuo walked over to Hu Mingmei and pulled her down to sit. "I came to you because I wanted to ask for your help!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!