Chapter 133 The Tour Guide

She stared at Meng Zhiyuan's face, as if trying to find the answer in every expression.

"no!"

Meng Zhiyuan quickly denied it, but seemed guilty, and even his ears turned red.

Qiao Wanyin put down her chopsticks, her expression suddenly becoming serious.

"Zishu, listen to me, Fang Xiaolin is not a simple person."

"He could lie to me before, but now that he's getting close to you, it can't be that simple!"

Meng Zhiyuan frowned slightly, his eyes filled with confusion and hesitation: "Sister Wanyin, aren't you being too extreme? Mr. Lin has been very sincere towards me lately, and he acts with discretion, not like he has ulterior motives."

People change.

Qiao Wanyin's tone was firm.

"Mr. Lin is a legitimate businessman now, and he even says he wants to contribute to the country's military development. Such words are obviously just a facade!"

"What?"

Qiao Wanyin stared wide-eyed at Meng Zhiyuan in disbelief. "He told you this? Zishu, you're too trusting! He's just saying what you want to hear! He knows you've admired soldiers and loved national defense since you were little, so he deliberately brought it up to win your favor!"

Meng Zhiyuan felt uneasy, as if something was pressing down on his chest.

"Are you saying that I can't even judge people properly? I don't even have that much judgment?"

That's not what I meant...

Qiao Wanyin hurriedly explained, her voice softening.

"I'm just worried about you, afraid that you'll repeat my mistakes."

"Wanyin, I know you're doing this for my own good."

Meng Zhiyuan interrupted her, his tone turning cold: "But I'm not a child anymore. I can judge right from wrong and take responsibility for my choices."

"Mr. Lin may have wronged you in the past, but that doesn't mean he's still a bad person now."

Meng Zhiyuan's gaze was firm. "People grow and repent for their past mistakes. If we keep dwelling on the past, who will have the chance to start over?"

Qiao Wanyin was stunned.

She stared blankly at Meng Zhiyuan, her lips trembling slightly, unable to utter a word for a moment.

Even Meng Zhiyuan, who is usually rational and calm and never acts on emotion, was deceived by Fang Xiaolin's gentle and refined mask.

That man has always been good at disguising himself and adept at manipulating people's hearts.

That's how it started, gradually eroding her defenses until she was completely devastated.

That guy must have planned this all along; he came specifically for Zishu.

No, she absolutely couldn't let that liar hurt anyone else!

We must not let Meng Zhiyuan repeat her tragedy!

"Zishu, promise me you'll be more careful, okay?"

Qiao Wanyin reached out and grasped her wrist, her tone earnest and heavy, "Don't easily believe every word he says, especially those promises that sound too good to be true."

Meng Zhiyuan nodded and gently withdrew his hand. "I understand, Sister Wanyin. I will be careful."

But in her heart, she felt that Qiao Wanyin's reaction was a bit excessive.

Looking at her friend's tense face, she felt a sense of helplessness.

The trauma from the past left a deep shadow in Qiao Wanyin's heart.

But Fang Xiaolin is different; he is different.

After the meal, she walked slowly back to her office alone.

But she couldn't help but recall the man who had just spoken.

"I knew it, you definitely wouldn't let me down."

When he said this, his eyes shone with appreciation and trust.

Meng Zhiyuan felt a little embarrassed.

She subconsciously touched her earlobe and muttered softly, "I was just... taking a look around, seeing what Hong Kong looks like. It's not like I came here specifically for you."

"Then I'll show you around."

Fang Xiaolin smiled and extended her hand to her, her tone gentle, "I know a lot, from morning tea to night markets, from time-honored brands to newly opened cultural and creative streets, I guarantee you'll have a great time. Let's start with the food, how about it? Do you prefer sweet or savory?"

For the next two hours, Meng Zhiyuan felt as if he had opened the door to a new world.

She followed behind Fang Xiaolin, walking through the bustling streets and alleys of the port city.

He also took out a bunch of product catalogs that she had never seen before and patiently explained them to her.

"This is a new radar module that our team has recently developed. It has low power consumption and strong anti-interference capabilities, making it particularly suitable for use in complex environments. I have always wanted to promote the transformation of civilian technology into military applications, but resources are limited and no one understands this."

Meng Zhiyuan listened, somewhat lost in thought.

She never expected that this seemingly dashing man would have such profound ideals.

He even pulled her into a small dance in a spacious open-air square.

His hand rested firmly on her waist, his palm warm and his pressure just right.

His breath brushed against her ear, making her heart pound.

Are you tired?

Fang Xiaolin asked softly, her tone carrying just the right amount of concern.

"There's a rest area upstairs. Shall we go get something to drink and relax for a bit?"

He pointed towards the stairs, as if he had already anticipated her exhaustion.

Fang Xiaolin pulled out the chair for her, her movements gentle and meticulous.

"What kind of tea does Miss Meng usually like to drink?"

His voice was gentle, like a mountain stream, soothing and refreshing.

Meng Zhiyuan looked around, his gaze finally settling on the mahogany chair.

She sat down somewhat awkwardly and replied in a low voice, "I... I don't really drink tea, and I don't know much about it."

"It doesn't matter."

Fang Xiaolin smiled slightly, the smile spreading from the corner of her eyes, "I'll tell you slowly, no rush."

"The most important thing about drinking tea is to have a calm mind."

"Just like a person's life, one must withstand scorching trials in order to reveal their true fragrance."

He spoke in a calm tone, as if he were recounting a well-thought-out philosophy of life.

Meng Zhiyuan listened intently, his breathing becoming noticeably softer.

He skillfully warmed the cup, washed it, added tea leaves, poured in water, covered it, steeped it, and poured out the tea, all in one smooth motion.

The movements were fluid and elegant, without a single superfluous element.

The aroma of tea slowly spread throughout the room, refreshing yet profound, bringing a sense of tranquility.

"This is Da Hong Pao from Wuyi Mountain."

Fang Xiaolin gently pushed a small white porcelain cup in front of her.

"Try a bite."

Meng Zhiyuan carefully picked up the cup, feeling the warmth emanating from the cup's walls with his fingertips.

She blew on it gently and took a small sip.

"How about it?"

Fang Xiaolin looked at her with eyes as gentle as a spring breeze.

She nodded: "Yes, it's fine."

"Tea, like life, must be savored slowly."

As he spoke, he poured her a second cup.

"Miss Meng is like this freshly picked spring tea, clean and clear, making people want to get closer."

His voice remained gentle, but his words were like a pebble dropped into a lake, creating ripples.

Her heart skipped a few beats, and her breath hitched slightly.

She suddenly realized that Fang Xiaolin wasn't actually as bad as Qiao Wanyin had described.

He is knowledgeable, patient, knows how to live, and is both affectionate and interesting.

He was like a scholar who had stepped out of an ancient painting, gentle and refined.

She said sincerely, "Mr. Lin, you know so much. I've never heard of so many intricate details about tea ceremony before. Just the part about smelling the aroma and discerning the flavor has been very enlightening."