Bonus Chapter 1 [Tonight & New Year's Greetings]
"Sister Xi, here you go."
Assistant Xiaojie handed over a cup of hot danshen and jujube tea. I didn't want to drink it tonight, mainly because I was tired of it. Whenever I was on set, I would have a cup every day without fail.
She pushed it over, saying, "Let it fall over."
"That won't do." Xiao Jie wasn't too principled. "President Meng instructed me to keep a close eye on you."
Tonight, glancing at her, I asked, "Which side are you on?"
Xiao Jie smiled ingratiatingly, "It's on your side."
After a two-second pause, she weakly added, "But my salary is paid by President Meng, and everything President Meng asks me to do is for your own good, so I have no reason not to listen."
Jinxi pouted, "I don't want him to do this for my own good."
These words were spoken in a defiant tone, but Xiao Jie took them literally. "Have you had a fight with President Meng recently? Sister Xi, President Meng can be a bit serious sometimes, but think about it, he's worried about your health. If you say you're not feeling well, he gets really anxious. Apart from your uncle and aunt, President Meng is the best person I've ever met who treats you the best."
Silence has fallen tonight.
Yes, Meng Henian was very good to her, but she didn't want that kind of kindness; she wanted his affection.
The attraction between men and women.
But he never responds.
"Sister Xi." Xiao Jie brought the jujube tea to her again. "It's warm, drink it quickly."
Just smelling the aroma was enough to make me want to drink it, so I turned my head away and said, "I won't drink it."
Xiao Jie had gotten used to it and would often bring up President Meng, threatening, "Then shall I call President Meng?"
"Go ahead and call him. Tell him I miss him and ask him to come to the set tonight for dinner."
"……OK."
When the call connected, Xiaojie relayed Xijie's words. As before, President Meng showed no impatience and said gently, "If you don't want to drink it, just leave it there. Don't let Xixi drink coffee. Arrive around six o'clock."
The phone was on silent, and the clear, melodious voice entered her ears without missing a single word. Jinxi unconsciously curved her lips into a smile, reached out and took the cup of tea that Xiaoxi had poured earlier, took a small sip, and thought, "Hmm, it tastes awful."
Wait until Meng Henian coaxes her to drink.
As evening fell and the sunset was at its most beautiful, Meng Henian appeared in sight carrying a food box. He was backlit by the afterglow, and the orange-yellow glow bathed him, making him look warm and charming.
Tonight, I can't help but think of the first time I met Meng Henian many years ago, it seems like it was also under such a beautiful sky.
She was 9 years old that year, and he was 13. The sunset was warm that day, but his gaze was filled with a coldness that kept people at a distance.
My first impression was that it was cold.
Second impression: fierce.
Therefore, unwilling to call him "brother," he rolled his eyes and went to the front yard to look for his mother.
Under the pavilion, Mom was chatting with Aunt.
As I approached, I heard my aunt say, "If it weren't for a comrade-in-arms telling Lao Meng, I wouldn't have known how hard He Nian was living. Not only did he not have decent clothes, but he also didn't have enough to eat. I wonder what Lao Meng was doing when he found him?"
He sighed, "They help wash dishes in the restaurant kitchen; if they don't wash dishes, they won't get any food."
Xiao Jinxi was stunned. At that age, she didn't understand the hardships of life. She only knew what she didn't want to eat, not what she couldn't eat.
Aunt's words had an effect; she lost her initial hostility towards Meng Henian, and gradually discovered that he was only indifferent on the surface.
But she never called him "brother" because the girl's feelings changed later.
A tall, slender figure approached, completely blocking the sunset's glow. Jinxi, a beat late, looked up and the man tapped her forehead with his fingertip. "What are you thinking about?"
She raised an eyebrow and gave him a flirtatious look, "I missed you."
He got another tap on the forehead. "I think you want to get beaten up."
There was an empty chair nearby, so Meng Henian hooked his long leg over her shoulder and sat down next to her. "You can get Xiao Jie to complain about something as simple as drinking tea. Tell me, don't you deserve a beating?"
"But you can't bear to part with it."
He chuckled, "If you don't behave, things might change."
She pouted, "I'm afraid if I behave well, you'll ignore me."
Meng Henian paused in his action of unpacking the food box. "No."
Upon hearing this, Jinxi lifted her eyelids slightly, her gaze fixed directly on him. From this angle, she could only see his sharply defined profile. So, she turned his head slightly, using the setting sun to stare into those deep eyes, and said, "You don't know anything?"
Meng Henian paused for half a second, then said, "I won't abandon you."
She pressed further, "How long will this protection last?"
As soon as the words were spoken, the area within a radius of the two people seemed to be paused, and for a moment, silence enveloped them.
Their eyes met, and emotions were palpable in their gazes.
One who doesn't care about anything.
A person who is patient and restrained.
Just then, a voice broke in, "Sister Xi—"
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Xiaojie quickly swallowed the rest of her words, saying, "Excuse me, please continue!"
Run away quickly.
Tonight, of course, we must continue. "Meng Henian, speak to me."
Meng Henian removed her hand, turned to the side and opened the remaining food box lids one by one, "Eat."
No response.
He couldn't help but look at her again. Her eyes were full of stubbornness and obstinacy. After a few seconds of eye contact, he sighed in relentless compromise, "If you're willing, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life."
Tonight, I'll still ask: "What's the relationship?"
Meng Henian pressed his knuckles without making a sound. "Xixi, be good."
Tonight felt like punching cotton. I needed to vent my emotions, so I grabbed a chicken leg from my plate and took a big bite. After chewing a couple of times, I pulled my mouth out and muttered, "Coward!"
Meng Henian remained silent, not because he didn't want to argue, but because Xi Xi had hit the nail on the head: when it came to relationships, he was definitely a coward.
Xi Xi can be willful, but he can't.
The setting sun had sunk a bit lower on the horizon, almost disappearing into the outline of the distant mountains. By the time we finished eating, it was nearly dark.
A breeze stirred. In this season of transition from late summer to early autumn, the wind carried the chill of autumn. Most people would find it comfortable, but not tonight.
Before she could even complain of the cold, a blanket was draped over her shoulders. She didn't look up, but stared at the ground. It was getting dark, and the streetlights blurred his figure, just like their relationship.
Her shadow flickered on the ground, and she quickly reached out to grab it. "Are you leaving?"
Meng Henian: "I'm not leaving, let me pour you a glass of water."
Jinxi pointed to the thermos next to her, "There's water in it."
The man raised an eyebrow. "It's not that I don't want to drink."
She replied, "I'll drink it if you coax me."
Meng Henian lowered his eyelids. "Do I have to feed you next?"
Jinxi curled her lips slightly, a smile rippling across her throat, "I can give you that chance."
She's the epitome of someone who takes an inch and then a mile.
Meng Henian moved to the other end of the table, poured a cup of water from his thermos and handed it to her, but she didn't take it. "You promised to feed me."
"...Who told you that?"
Tonight, a gentle curve appeared at the corner of her eye. "You."
Meng Henian: "......"
It seems he has no choice but to compromise.
I brought the cup to my lips and drank most of it tonight, pressing down on the rim. For the first time in days, I found the jujube tea delicious.
After he put the water glass back, she grasped his hand and asked, "Are you leaving?"
Meng Henian sat down again. "I'll stay with you a little longer."
Okay~
There was a gap in the middle of the seats, so I moved over to sit next to him. When I got tired, I rested my head on his shoulder. He was hard, and I felt uncomfortable after only a few seconds. I changed positions and tossed and turned on him for a while, but in the end, I felt most comfortable lying in his arms.
Satisfied, she closed her eyes and said, "Meng Henian, I'm going to sleep for a while."
As he spoke, he yawned in a cooperative manner.
He tucked the blanket around her. "Go to sleep. I'm not leaving."
At another rest stop a few meters away, Xiao Jie took in Xi Jie's clingy behavior. Then she looked at President Meng, whose face showed helplessness, but whose actions were full of doting. Only President Meng was deceiving himself. She could see it clearly: President Meng liked Xi Jie, really liked her. And then there was the romantic attraction between a man and a woman.
"Hey, Xiaojie." The female lead of the show called out to her, gesturing towards Sister Xi, "What's going on between Xixi and President Meng?"
This wasn't the first time someone had asked her about it, and her answer remained the same: "How would I, a mere laborer, know so much?"
The female lead then asked, "Don't you think it's too intimate?"
She smiled and said, "I didn't notice."
"Xiao Jie, Xiao Jie!"
The assistant director came over and patted her on the shoulder, "Tell your mistress to get ready, it's her turn to film her scene soon."
Xiao Jie used a gesture instead, poking Xi Jie with her finger, seemingly unsure whether she was truly asleep or just pretending.
The assistant director glanced over and asked, "Why don't you go and wake him up?"
Xiao Jie shook her head, "I dare not."
It's not that she's afraid; she just doesn't want to bother anyone.
He asked symbolically, "Why don't you go and call them?"
The assistant shook her head, telling her not to do it too quickly. "I wouldn't dare either."
Leaving aside the Meng family behind Meng Jinxi, the fact that Meng Henian is the producer of this drama is enough to make her arrogant.
Being pragmatic, they said, "Let Sister Xi rest well, and schedule the other people's scenes first."
She couldn't sleep tonight; she just wanted to hug him more, but she couldn't keep clinging to him without a legitimate excuse.
She's very shy.
I estimated the time in my mind, and after about twenty minutes, I pretended to get up from him, and asked with sleepy eyes, "How long have I been asleep?"
Meng Henian raised his wrist to check his watch. "Less than half an hour."
His outstretched arm landed on her head, and he smoothed her hair. "I have to go. I have an overseas video conference tonight."
With a soft warmth in her arms, Xi Xi hugged him and rubbed her face against his shirt, saying, "Miss me."
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly without making a sound.
"I'm done for tonight!" she said petulantly. "Meng Henian, say something!"
He said it, but it was only a single syllable, "Mmm."
"No, you're not allowed to say 'hmm'."
She tilted her head back and looked at him intently. "You have to say yes."
The man fell silent again.
So she gripped his hand tightly with all ten fingers, saying, "You can't leave until you tell me."
The man sighed softly, "Alright."
She smiled with satisfaction, "Meng Henian, you're so good."
Meng Henian: "...He's gone."
The next second after turning her back, a faint curve appeared at the corner of her eye.
Tonight, I can't hide my emotions; my eyes and brows are full of bright smiles.
Meng Henian, actually... you like me, right?
A figure approached, and she turned her head. It was Tan You, who sat down in the spot where Meng Henian had been sitting.
Because they were too close, she dragged her chair to create some distance, which seemed to annoy him. He clicked his tongue in displeasure, "What do you mean? You don't like me?"
She squinted and gave a fake smile, "I'm afraid of getting too close and having rumors, after all, I'm just a nobody."
She is indeed a nobody, but others fade into obscurity because their backgrounds don't allow it. Jinxi, on the other hand, is entirely self-demanding. She never takes on lead roles, but only accepts supporting roles based on the script. She usually only takes on silly, sweet, or stupid and toxic roles with little emotional fluctuation.
Others may not know the reason, but Tan You knows very well: she has a heart condition and can only act in these kinds of roles.
He glanced at her, "Aren't you afraid of getting so close to Brother He Nian?"
"I'm not afraid."
Tonight, the double standards are on full display: "He can."
Tan You: "...At least try to pretend!"
Meng Jinxi suddenly turned her head, stared at him for two seconds, and asked, "You...do you know?"
Tan You nodded.
Faced with Tan You's accusation, Jin Xi remained quite calm. She slowly picked up the jujube tea from the table, took a sip to moisten her throat, and asked, "When did you find out?"
Tan You frankly admitted, "It's been a while. If it weren't for Zao Yi and Brother Zhao Jing, I wouldn't have thought about it in that way."
Mentioning Zaoyi, Jinxi felt like crying, but took a sip of tea to suppress the bitterness. "I wonder if she's doing well in Zurich, or if she's being bullied."
"I won't bully you."
Tan You said, "You have several bodyguards. But I'm really afraid you'll follow in Zao Yi's footsteps."
"No," Jinxi told him with absolute certainty.
Tan You wanted to know where her confidence came from, "Would your parents agree?"
"able."
Tonight, touching her heart, she thought, "They'll agree to anything I want."
Tan Youxin believed it, and for no reason, a touch of sadness welled up inside him. He smiled faintly and said, "Brother He Nian is really unlucky. He's going to be tormented by you, this witch, for the rest of his life."
Jinxi chuckled and playfully kicked his toe, "Who said that? Meng Henian is clearly enjoying it."
"What are you talking about?" someone interjected.
Looking towards the sound, I saw the female lead of the show walking towards me. She said casually, "I just heard you talking about President Meng. Jinxi, you and President Meng seem to have a really good relationship."
They appear to be chatting, but are actually trying to gather information.
Tonight, a half-hearted smile spread across her face. "He's my man, how could he not be good?"
As expected, the other party was shocked, their mouth agape, "You...
Tan Youxian chimed in, "You don't think they're siblings, do you? Here's some inside information: no, and they're not related by blood at all."
The other party paused for a few seconds in surprise, then asked, "Since there isn't one, then let's talk about Mr. Meng's name tonight..."
Regarding this, Tan You was also curious, "Yeah, did Brother He Nian change his name?"
Jin Xi shook her head, "No."
She described it in one sentence: "It can only be described as fate."
On the day her uncle brought Meng Henian home, they joked about her and his names. Coincidentally, Meng Henian's father's surname was Meng.
Therefore, people who are not familiar with them assume they are siblings.
...
In the following days, both of them were busy to varying degrees.
On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Mrs. Meng appeared at the film crew to pick up her daughter and take her home for the holiday.
Having not seen her for a while, she hugged her mother and acted very affectionately tonight.
The clingy little thing amused Madam Meng. "How old are you?"
Tonight, mimicking a baby's unclear speech, I uttered "yi xu".
Madam Meng slapped her daughter's bottom lightly, saying, "Stand still, let me see if you've lost weight."
"He hasn't lost weight." Jinxi hugged her mother tightly. "Meng Henian orders meals delivered five times a day, how could he possibly lose weight?"
Madam Meng felt relieved. He Nian was a truly wonderful child. She led her daughter to the car, saying, "We can't trouble He Nian like this anymore."
Hearing something keenly tonight, he frowned slightly and said, "Hmm."
Mom said, "Your aunt has found a girl for He Nian. Once she gets married, she definitely won't be able to take care of you like before."
Even though she had guessed correctly, Jinxi was still shocked by those words. Her heart ached so much that it spasmed, and it took her a long time to respond, "Oh."
The car started, and the city was ablaze with lights, but tonight all I see is desolation and bleakness.
Emotions can manifest, and Madam Meng quickly noticed that something was wrong with her daughter. She pondered for a moment, "Are you worried that He Nian won't love you anymore now that he has a wife?"
She smiled and said, "It will still hurt, but it won't be like before."
"But..."
Jinxi moved her lips, swallowing a bitter taste, "But I don't want Meng Henian to get married."
Madam Meng's expression hardened, and the corners of her lips, which had been turned up in a smile, slowly flattened. "Xi Xi, you..."
Jin Xi nodded slowly and heavily. "Mom, I like Meng Henian."
I really like it.
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