Chapter 40: Heartbeats forty times "Sister-in-law orders male models at the bar!"...
Starting the engine, the black G-Class drove out of the garage, and the overwhelming rain covered the exit like a curtain.
The moment the car drove out, the front windshield was instantly blocked by rain, making it difficult to see.
Xu Youjing glanced at the time, stepped on the accelerator to the mechanical sound of the navigation, and drove towards North City.
-
Inside the North City Villa.
After Qiao Wanzhen finished speaking, she sat down on the sofa leisurely, picked up the coffee in front of her and began to taste it.
"Actually, I didn't come to see you today for any other reason. I know that even if you two get married, you still don't have any feelings for each other. As someone who's been through this, I don't want you to follow our path. There's nothing else to it."
"Even though I've been abroad all year and don't love my son, I certainly wouldn't harm my niece. I wouldn't come if I didn't have solid evidence that they liked each other."
She took out a sealed bag containing a thick stack of documents.
"You can take a look and decide if I'm right." She took the limited edition handbag and stood up. "As your elder, let me give you another piece of advice. Even if you're moved, he might treat you differently these days, but how unforgettable a man's first love is? Do you dare to bet on it?"
"Even if you're head over heels in love, you have to think carefully about what you're risking. Your happiness for the next few decades? Or that little bit of love and expectation? Or perhaps, the man's ridiculous guilt and apology?"
Seeing Wen Huai's trembling eyelashes, Qiao Wanzhen smiled on her well-maintained face.
"It's ten o'clock in the evening now. Tomorrow at noon, I have an appointment with Mianmian for lunch at Xianqing Western Restaurant. Whether he knows about it or not, and whether he goes or not, is up to you."
“…”
The footsteps gradually faded away until the sound of a door closing was heard. The person sitting upright on the sofa finally collapsed with his straight back unable to bear the strain.
Wen Huai stared at the sealed bag in front of her for a long time without moving. It was not until Aunt Ping came over that she was brought back to her senses.
"Xiao Ai, you don't look well. What did you two talk about?"
"......without."
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Facing Aunt Ping's worried look, she pursed her lips and said, "I didn't say anything. I just stopped by to see you. I left when Ah Jing wasn't around."
Aunt Ping was skeptical and her eyes fell on the sealed bag.
Wen Huai explained: "This is what she gave to Ajing. I'll give it to him when Ajing comes back. It's okay, Aunt Ping. You should take a day off tomorrow. Don't worry about me."
"Okay, I'll tell Xiao Chen everything."
Aunt Ping's monthly vacation is arranged in advance. She goes home during the day and comes back that night. Xiao Chen takes turns every month to help prepare the ingredients or tidy up the yard. Since Xu Youjing is not often at home, she saves the effort of cooking.
It’s just that this is Xiao Chen’s first time here after marriage.
We have to wait for Xu Youjing to come back before making any adjustments. Let’s leave it like this for tomorrow.
Wen Huai nodded: "If it still rains tomorrow, I'll take you there."
"No need, Xiao Chen will pick me up." She still felt that she looked bad, "Are you really okay?"
"It's really okay, Aunt Ping. Maybe my period is coming soon, and my stomach hurts a little."
"Then go back to your room quickly. I'll make you a cup of brown sugar water later."
"Don't bother me, Aunt Ping. I'll go to bed after I wash up. I won't drink any more." She picked up the sealed bag and went upstairs. "You should rest too. Have a good vacation."
"Okay, have fun. Call me if you need anything."
"Well, good night, Aunt Ping."
"good evening."
The night was quiet, and the time to return to the room was particularly long. The corridor was brightly lit, and the warm light made the walls full of warmth.
But when I turned around, I saw that the floor-to-ceiling windows on the other side were covered with raindrops, which blurred the night sky but could not hide the darkness unique to the middle of the night.
Wen Huai stood there, looking at her own reflection in the glass, and only then did she see the fatigue in his eyes.
He pulled the corners of his lips slightly, but it was too ugly, so he restrained his expression and stood there.
She had always known that Xu Youjing had a crush on Qiao Mian in high school, and that he had written her love letters. So, during that blind date, she hadn't thought anything would happen between them, and even on the day they got their marriage certificate, she hadn't asked the question in her heart.
Wen Huai knew that Xu Youjing took pity on her and was looking after her out of respect for his mentor. Even after getting married and getting a marriage certificate, she had a clear understanding of herself and never expected him to like her.
I dare not think about it.
She has always been sober after marriage, but she doesn't know when it started, she actually felt that Xu Youjing had a good impression of her... So much so that before Qiao Wanzhen arrived today, she had such an unrealistic fantasy.
But they forgot that their original marriage was an unequal one without any protection of love.
That's all.
Before marriage, she had no right to pry into his privacy, and after marriage, she didn't have the courage to ask about his feelings.
His eyes fell on the sealed bag in his hand.
Now, what position does she have to take to spy on him and others?
Wen Huai returned to his room without turning on the light. He walked to the desk in the light of the rain curtain, pulled out a chair and sat down.
In the large yet quiet room, only the desk lamp was working hard.
Looking around, she found that the spacious room was even bigger than her original home, but apart from the things she brought with her, nothing belonged to her.
Originally, she didn't belong here.
Perhaps, leaving early would save her from being too embarrassed.
Her gaze returned to the table and she brought the photo frame closer.
He lowered his eyes and saw her lonely face in front of the transparent glass of the photo frame. His eyes flickered and under the transparent glass was Wen Huai, whose face was young but full of smiles.
This photo was taken during the May Day holiday in junior high school when she, as a family member, accompanied her father, the homeroom teacher, on the high school spring outing.
In the photo, the father's gentle face was covered with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes because of laughing. The girl he was hugging from behind had some resemblance to him in her eyebrows and eyes. They looked especially alike when they smiled.
As his fingertips stroked the long-lost friendly face, Wen Huai's nose felt sore, and the suppressed emotions finally broke through the lid, moistening his eyes.
She held the photo frame, and inadvertently looked at the lower left corner of the photo, which was blocked by the puppy inlaid in the frame.
There is a secret here that only she knows.
No one knew that the position blocked by the puppy was exactly Xu Youjing, who was accidentally framed in the camera when she was taking a photo with her father.
After the photos were developed, even my father didn't notice.
Wen Huai remembered that it was the first time she met him.
At that time, everyone was very tired after climbing to the top of the mountain. The girls were sitting in the shade and chatting. Wen Huai was shy, so he followed his father and listened to him chatting with the students.
She took a small branch and scratched the stone casually. At this moment, someone shouted "Xu Youjing", which attracted everyone's attention and also attracted her.
She then realized that the first handsome boy who reached the top was named Xu Youjing.
At that moment, the second boy who had climbed up pushed him under the shoulder and said to him, "You climbed very fast, today's sun belongs to you."
After hearing this, Xu Youjing just smiled and left Wen Huai with a profile that was uniquely youthful.
She heard him say, "Well, to everyone who reaches the summit."
That carefree face, that confidence and boldness, illuminated by the sunlight, was full of vigor and vitality. Like those words, they were deeply imprinted in the mind of fourteen-year-old Wen Huai, and became the most unforgettable person in her youth.
At that time, she was standing behind her father, in the shade away from the strong sunlight, panting and sweating profusely.
Like a little mouse, spying on a big tree growing wildly in the sun, greedy and cautious.
It was also at this time that she realized that "sunshine" can also describe a person.
So she tried to loosen the hem of her father's shirt, and slowly, step by step, she moved away from the shade of the tree, away from her father's broad back, and stepped on the sunlit stone.
She still remembers that it felt great and the sunshine that day was very dazzling.
“…”
His fingertips were blocked by the grooves of the puppy in the photo frame. Wen Huai frowned and looked at it, silently curling his lips.
But when he met the bitter corners of lips reflected in the glass, his smile froze.
The sound of rain outside the window showed no sign of stopping, and it was getting louder and louder. Wen Huai stopped looking at his phone and opened a blank document on his computer and typed a few words.
...
After a sleepless night, Wen Huai wrote the divorce agreement, packed his suitcase, and sat on a chair looking at the rain outside the window.
People are greedy.
In the past, she just wanted to be by his side, but now she can no longer maintain such a simple wish.
At eight o'clock, she watched the car that picked up Aunt Ping leave. The bright red taillights were soon obscured in the thick fog.
It was still dark outside the window, and the thick clouds in the sky were so heavy that they seemed to be about to fall down and press on Wen Huai's heart in the next second.
She got up and went into the bathroom to wash and change her clothes.
At half past ten, she was ready to go, with exquisite makeup, looking refreshed, and no dark circles under her eyes were seen.
But those eyes were like the sky outside the window, low and dark.
...
When we arrived at the bar, it was exactly eleven o'clock.
Maybe because it was the weekend and a rainy day, there were almost no people in the lively bar. Wen Huai thought so too. No one would be crazy enough to go out in the rain to get drunk.
She asked the front desk for a private room upstairs. After the drinks were served, the waiter did not leave immediately. Instead, he walked up to Wen Huai and asked her in a low voice, "Madam, do you need any other service?"
Wen Huai has only been to the bar a few times. The only time he came was a few years ago when he accompanied Lu Miaomiao.
After not seeing the bar for a few years, although it was still open, the layout and decoration were very different from what they were back then. Wen Huai didn't know what other services he was referring to.
She didn't want others to see that she didn't come here often, so she nodded and said, "Yes."
The waiter's eyes lit up, thinking that today's sales were good, and asked again: "How many do you want?"
Wen Huai looked around, unsure: "One."
The waiter was a little disappointed, but as if nothing had happened, he quickly regained his enthusiasm and said, "Okay, please wait a moment, I'll get it for you right away!"
As he spoke, the waiter did not forget to close the door before leaving. At this moment, Wen Huai's phone vibrated.
She originally thought it was the alarm clock at twelve o'clock, but when she picked it up, she saw Xu Youjing's WeChat message.
She paused, took a deep breath, and then clicked it.
J: [Are you awake?]
She typed: [Um, when will you be back?]
After a while, Xu Youjing replied: [Soon.]
Wen Huai had already typed the address and time, and after receiving this message, she pressed send directly.
She thought Xu Youjing and Jiang Han had returned by plane and were on their way home. After receiving the news, he could just turn directly to the Western restaurant.
If Xu Youjing left not long after staying, she could pretend that nothing happened. It also meant that she was not being too sentimental, and perhaps Xu Youjing really had some feelings for her.
If... She looked at the ring on her ring finger, hesitated for a long time, and finally couldn't bear to take it off.
Wen Huai unlocked her black screen phone and sent the bar's location again. She nervously stared at the time in the upper left corner. When "16" turned to "17", she long-pressed the location to withdraw it.
Then, without caring what Xu Youjing sent, he turned on the Do Not Disturb mode, threw his phone aside, and started drinking beer in big gulps.
If he went to the western restaurant and saw Qiao Mian, he would definitely come to this bar to look for her. She had already left her name at the front desk, so as long as he came, he would definitely find her.
But, if another situation occurs, she will not be so persistent and keep pestering him.
That would be the best.
She took off her ring and placed it on the table, then drank the can of beer in one gulp.
-
The car that had just entered the northern suburbs slowed down.
Because of the heavy rain along the way, the shiny body of the car that had been driving all night became dull. The mud on the wheels and the splashing mud and water made the whole car look messy, which was the only difference when driving in the city.
Xu Youjing sent a message to Wen Huai while waiting for the traffic light.
She hadn't replied to last night's message, so he thought she was still asleep. Just to give it a try, he received a reply from Wen Huai right after he sent it, but he only had a few seconds left before the green light came on.
As the car crossed the line, he saw the phone light up on the center console. Fortunately, the next intersection was very close. He calculated the time and stopped at the intersection to pick up his phone. He saw the restaurant and time she sent, as well as a withdrawn message.
She said come here.
Xu Youjing didn't ask what was withdrawn, thinking it wouldn't be too late to ask when they met. He turned the car around and headed towards the restaurant.
Fifteen minutes later, the rain stopped completely.
Xu Youjing simply tidied up her clothes before opening the car door, and was led by the restaurant staff to open the door.
"Do you have a reservation?"
Xu Youjing didn't see Wen Huairen on the first floor of the restaurant. "Miss Wen made the reservation."
The waiter looked up and asked, "Is this Mr. Xu?"
"Um."
"Okay, please follow me."
Being led through the first floor lobby and taking the elevator to the second floor, Xu Youjing was led forward. He also saw the back of the person sitting by the window, recognized the person, and frowned.
The waiter stopped in front of the only occupied table on the second floor and raised his hand to signal, "Ms. Qiao, the person you're waiting for has arrived."
Qiao Mian was also taken aback when he saw Xu Youjing standing there impatiently: "I'm not waiting for him."
-
bar.
Wen Huai had just opened the third bottle of beer when there was a knock on the door.
Her slightly dazed eyes flashed with light, she put down her drink and looked, "Come in."
The door was pushed open, and it was the waiter who had just asked her if she needed any special service. Behind him stood a tall man with scantily clad clothes and abdominal muscles that were almost overflowing.
"Miss Wen, this is the male model you just ordered. Please—"
Wen Huai's mind buzzed, "Wait, I just..."
She suddenly realized.
So the special service is to order a male model?
"I don't want it anymore. Please help me return it." She met the handsome man's pitiful gaze, her throat choked, and she said softly, "Or you can think of it as my money spent, so I don't have to come here anymore, okay?"
It was the first time for the waiter and the male model to encounter such a generous person. They were both stunned. "Then how long does this cost..."
Wen Huai had a headache: "Let's follow the basics."
"Okay! Take your time drinking. If you need anything, call me and I won't bother you anymore!"
“…”
After his ears were cleared, Wen Huai finished the third can and stopped drinking.
Before leaving the hospital, she asked the doctor how much alcohol she could drink without irritating her stomach, and the doctor said not to drink at all. Perhaps because her expression was so pitiful, the doctor reluctantly told her not to drink too much, but only one-tenth of her usual alcohol intake.
She was in a bad mood today, so she had two more drinks. She was so understanding, it was unacceptable for her to have a stomachache again.
She grabbed the pillow and found a comfortable position to lie down. The slight discomfort in her stomach and the drowsiness from not sleeping all night made her breathing quickly steady and she lost consciousness.
Downstairs in the lobby, the waiter asked the male model to leave first. Seeing this, another receptionist asked, "Is this a refund?"
"No, I ordered it."
The man was puzzled: "Why is he here when I ordered him?"
The waiter tutted his words, and when he saw that no one was around, he said to him, "He's a rich man, spending money on a ring. You didn't see that woman, she was driving an ordinary Audi, but I didn't expect her to be so generous."
The man the day before yesterday straightened his expression when he saw the person coming in from the door, and frantically winked at the person who was still chattering, but no one saw it.
"I've discovered that you can't judge a customer's wealth based on the car they drive. What if they rent the car? You have to consider the actual situation. She looks like a wealthy person, so it's a bit stingy to just order a male model, but—"
"Hello, Mr. Xi!" The person at the front desk greeted and then turned to the other side.
The waiter's face turned pale and he turned around mechanically. "Xi... Mr. Xi, I was just chatting."
"You're just chatting and gossiping? Do you think I'm deaf? How many times have I told you to stop talking? Can't you hear me?" Xi Guan waved to the manager who rushed over with a cold expression. "Open it now."
Manager: “Okay.”
Xi Guan looked around the empty first floor, and remembering what he had just said, he added, "You just said there were guests upstairs, and you even ordered someone?"
The man immediately said, "Yes, yes, she is the only one."
Xi Guan nodded, and the man wanted to plead for mercy but was taken away.
He took today's registration record and looked at it. When he saw the name in the first column of the new page, his pupils trembled.
-
Western restaurant.
Xu Youjing sat opposite with a gloomy face, not saying a word.
Qiao Mian hung up the phone and said, "My aunt said it was arranged by Wen Huai, she didn't know."
He seemed to be laughing out of anger, and he obviously didn't believe it: "She didn't know why she let you come?"
Qiao Mian shrugged, leaned lazily in the chair, and touched the pimple on her cheek: "Then I don't know. I said that my aunt asked me out for dinner on a rainy day and asked me to put on makeup to look pretty. The feeling is that we are having dinner together. But why would she lie to me about having dinner together with you?"
She suddenly covered her bare face with her hands and exclaimed, "She came home a few days ago and asked my mom if you wrote me a love letter in high school... Do you think my aunt misunderstood us?"
Xu Youjing glared at her. Qiao Mian felt weak and quickly clasped her hands together: "I'm sorry, I didn't know that anyone still remembered what happened back then, and I admitted at the time that I wrote it to you..."
After receiving a glare, Qiao Mian immediately expressed his determination, "But don't worry, I remember your kindness! If I had been found out that I was deliberately pissing off Xie Songbai by having someone write a love letter to pretend to be a suitor, and that person couldn't bear the pressure and confessed everything, my mother would have killed me. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to help me. The love letter was written by you to me... No, I wrote it to you. You also helped me keep it a secret for so many years. I am really grateful."
"Leave this matter to me. I will find out what happened and give you and Wen Huai an explanation!"
“…”
His forehead twitched, and Xu Youjing had never felt so speechless.
I wanted to say something, but swallowed it back.
The most urgent thing is to know where Wen Huai is now.
When he found out that the person he was waiting for was not her, he called Wen Huai, but no one answered. He asked Aunt Ping, but she said she had gone out a long time ago and was not at home.
Then where would she be?
Is it related to the withdrawn message?
At this moment, the phone in his palm vibrated. It was Xi Guan calling.
Xu Youjing thought he was about to say something nonsense and had no time to answer the call. The next second after he hung up, the call came in again.
He answered the call unhappily: "Speak."
"Brother Jing is in trouble!" Xi Guan felt his scalp tingle as he looked at the elegant handwriting. "My sister-in-law ordered a male model in my bar!"
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