Chapter 36, Section 36: "A Resentful Husband Who Lacks a Sense of Security."
Meng Ran followed Chen Sulin to a nearby shopping mall to buy clothes.
After walking a few steps, Meng Ran suddenly snapped out of her daze and tried to pull her hand away from the man's grasp.
Chen Sulin glanced at her and didn't insist any further.
The two entered a women's clothing store on the first floor of the mall.
There were few people at noon, and the store was expensive. At this time, apart from the sales assistant, there were only the two customers in the huge store.
Perhaps it was because Chen Sulin looked like a wealthy person at first glance, the sales assistant greeted them enthusiastically and asked what they wanted to buy.
Chen Sulin looked at Meng Ran.
Meng Ran didn't look at him, and said to the sales assistant, "Do you have any basic shirts? Something similar to the one I'm wearing would be fine."
Sales assistant: "Yes, yes, I'll get it for you. Would you like to get a matching bottom as well?"
Meng Ran looked down and saw that her pants were slightly damp, but it wasn't noticeable.
She said, "Then could you get me a pair of pants? The simplest style will do, thank you."
The sales assistant agreed and quickly brought over a white shirt and a pair of casual pants, asking Meng Ran if that was acceptable.
Seeing that Meng Ran's clothes were dirty, the sales assistant thoughtfully handed her a pack of water wipes so she could clean them before changing.
Meng Ran thanked her and went to the fitting room.
Chen Sulin: "I'll wait for you outside."
Meng Ran: "Okay."
Entering the fitting room, surrounded by white walls, I felt isolated from my surroundings.
Meng Ran put down the clothes but didn't rush to try them on.
Looking up at the cold white light on the ceiling, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
The image of Zhao Yanzhou appeared in my mind.
She wasn't that strong; even if she saw through Zhao Yanzhou's true nature, how could she not be sad at all?
And those accusations he made against Chen Sulin...
After a moment of calm, Meng Ran opened her eyes again.
After changing her pants and shirt, Meng Ran walked out of the fitting room and met the gaze of the man sitting on the sofa waiting for her.
She paused for a moment, then quickly looked away.
This was the first time the two of them had ever bought clothes together.
When they were dating, Zhao Yanzhou accompanied her shopping several times, and each time he insisted on paying for her.
Meng Ran wasn't originally here to buy clothes. After what happened before, she wasn't in the mood to spend too much time browsing.
After checking in the mirror to make sure the outfit looked okay, Meng Ran said to the sales assistant, "I'll take these two."
Salesperson: "Okay, I'll wrap it up for you. How will you pay?"
Just as Meng Ran was about to speak, Chen Sulin stood up: "I'll do it."
The sales assistant could tell from the moment the two customers entered that the atmosphere between them was somewhat awkward, as if they had just had an argument.
More accurately, the female customer was in a bad mood and intentionally reduced her interaction with the male customer.
Offering to pay proactively is an effective way to ease the tension, and the sales assistant tactfully replied, "Okay, sir, will you be paying by card or..."
Chen Sulin: "Swipe the card."
Salesperson: "Okay, please follow me."
Meng Ran: "..."
Fine, let him pay if he wants to.
Two staff members worked together: one led Chen Sulin to pay, while the other helped Meng Ran remove the magnetic clasp and tag from her new clothes, then folded her old clothes and put them in a paper bag.
As they left the shop, Chen Sulin asked, "Shall we have lunch outside before going back?"
Meng Ran hesitated slightly, then shook her head: "Let's eat at home."
She had originally planned to eat out, but after seeing Zhao Yanzhou, she lost her appetite.
Chen Sulin didn't ask any further questions and agreed: "Okay."
He called the housekeeper and told him they would be going home for lunch.
After getting into the car, Meng Ran discovered that Chen Sulin had driven himself and hadn't called a driver.
After fastening her seatbelt, Meng Ran glanced at the driver's seat beside her.
She had ridden in Chen Sulin's car many times, and most of the time, he didn't like to talk while driving.
The same thing happened when Chen Miaoying was there; most of the time, the mother and daughter would chat in the back seat while Chen Sulin drove quietly in the front.
This reminded Meng Ran of two weeks ago when Chen Sulin took her to the mall to meet Jiang Yuqing.
That time, contrary to his usual behavior, he asked her while driving why she always went to a shopping mall that was so far away.
She had initially thought Chen Sulin was just finding the place too far to take her there, but now she realized he must have known all along that the mall was owned by Zhao Yanzhou.
Perhaps his insistence on personally escorting her that day stemmed from the same reason.
That night, she and Chen Miaoying went to Chen Sulin's office. When he heard from his daughter that she was in a bad mood, his first question was whether she had seen anyone.
She found it strange at the time, but didn't think much of it afterward.
Now all the strange things she had previously overlooked have come together.
Chen Sulin had always known that Mengzhao Tiandi was owned by Zhao Yanzhou, and he probably also knew the meaning behind the name.
Thinking of this, Meng Ran's fingertips unconsciously dug into her palm.
The car stopped at a red light that was a little over a minute away.
Chen Sulin turned his head, as if asking her if she had something to say.
Meng Ran: "..."
I didn't originally intend to ask Chen Sulin anything in the car—
In the TV dramas and movies Meng Ran had watched before, 80% of the time the main characters got into car accidents because they talked while driving and didn't look at the road. She didn't want to experience that herself.
But after figuring out certain things, something kept churning in my chest, and I just had to get it off my chest.
Meng Ran: "Did you always know that Mengzhao Tiandi was owned by Zhao Yanzhou?"
Chen Sulin's eyes flickered slightly: "Hmm."
really.
Meng Ran's heart was not even stirred. The various abnormalities he had shown when mentioning that shopping mall were now too obvious in his mind.
She wasn't perceptive enough to notice it in time.
Meng Ran then asked, "So you've always known the meaning of the name 'Meng Zhao'?"
Chen Sulin: "I know."
Meng Ran: "Then why—"
She paused, trying to sound less agitated: "Why didn't you tell me?"
Chen Sulin remained silent and did not answer immediately.
Meng Ran: "Is it because you think I don't need to know? Or... are you trying to verify something?"
Chen Sulin: "What do you mean?"
Meng Ran pursed her lips.
She wasn't used to questioning him, and she didn't want to argue with him in the car.
But now, there are some things she just can't hold back anymore.
Meng Ran: "From the first day after I lost my memory, you had the housekeeper and others keep the truth about our marriage a secret from me."
"It wasn't until the day I accidentally found that Polaroid photo in your office that you finally couldn't hide it anymore and confessed to me."
“In your heart,” Meng Ran’s voice was dry, “you’ve always been bothered by my past with Zhao Yanzhou, worried that we’ll rekindle our old feelings, haven’t you?”
Chen Sulin: "..."
Seeing that he did not deny it, Meng Ran twitched the corner of her mouth and looked down at the ring on her hand.
She doesn't usually wear her wedding ring; she only wore it once, when she attended someone else's birthday party.
Today, thinking about going to pick out a wedding ring with Chen Sulin this afternoon, she deliberately wore her old one to make it easier to check the size.
"Chen Sulin," Meng Ran smiled, "what kind of person am I in your heart?"
Chen Sulin frowned: "Meng Ran, I—"
A few beeps followed by a loud horn blaring from behind.
Meng Ran looked up and saw that the red light ahead had turned green.
Chen Sulin stepped on the gas, wanting to say something more.
Meng Ran stopped him: "Stop talking, just focus on driving."
Chen Sulin remained silent for two seconds.
"We'll talk about it when we get home."
They remained silent the entire way.
Back at the villa, Meng Ran bent down to change into slippers.
The cook came running over, saying that lunch wouldn't be ready for a while.
The aunt was a little nervous as she spoke. She rarely encountered this situation. Usually, her husband and wife would tell her a day in advance whether they would be home for lunch or not, and they would inform her of any changes in the morning.
We were only notified half an hour in advance today, so we were inevitably a bit flustered.
Meng Ran smiled and said, "It's alright. It's our fault for not telling you sooner. You can go ahead and do your work."
“Okay, okay,” the aunt said. “Then, Madam, Sir, I’ll call you when the food is ready.”
After saying that, the aunt quickly went back to the kitchen.
Meng Ran wanted to go upstairs directly, but after hesitating, she looked at Chen Sulin.
"After lunch... I want to rest at home," she said. "I'm too tired today, let's pick out a ring another day."
While speaking, she didn't look at him the whole time, and deliberately made her tone sound casual.
After a moment, Chen Sulin replied, "Okay."
Meng Ran didn't know whether she felt relieved or disappointed.
"Okay," she said. "I'll go upstairs and rest for a while, then come down when lunch is ready."
After she finished speaking, she turned around, but Chen Sulin called out to her: "Meng Ran."
Meng Ran stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around.
Chen Sulin's voice came from behind: "You were so angry with me in the car just now, why are you going back without asking anything now?"
Meng Ran: "...Would you tell me if I asked?"
Chen Sulin: "Yes."
The unexpectedly straightforward answer left Meng Ran stunned.
She slowly turned around, looking at the man in front of her with a complicated expression.
Even now, she still feels that she doesn't understand him at all.
Many times, his kindness can be terrifying.
She didn't even know if that crisp "yes" was meant to keep her grounds in her story.
Chen Sulin: "I'll go upstairs with you, to your room, the master bedroom, or the study, it's fine."
Meng Ran: "...Let's go to the study."
Chen Sulin: "Okay."
Upon entering the study, Chen Sulin first drew back the curtains of the French windows, letting sunlight stream into the room.
Meng Ran's gaze involuntarily followed him, landing on several potted succulents on the windowsill.
Then Chen Sulin turned back.
He looked at her and slowly said, "You asked me in the car if I minded Zhao Yanzhou."
Chen Sulin's eyes darkened: "I do mind his presence."
Meng Ran's breath hitched.
Chen Sulin: "But that has nothing to do with what kind of person you are in my eyes."
"It's not that I don't trust you," he said, his voice sounding like a sigh, "it's that I don't trust myself."
Meng Ran stared at him blankly, her heart skipping a beat.
Chen Sulin: "I didn't intend to verify anything. I didn't directly stop you from going to that mall because you told me before that you didn't want me to interfere with your freedom to go wherever you wanted."
Meng Ran opened his mouth, then belatedly realized that he had taken the lead in their conversation again.
“But you could have told me…” Meng Ran said, “that the shopping mall was invested in by Zhao Yanzhou, and even the name…”
Chen Sulin's voice regained its composure: "The Zhao family has many businesses in Beicheng, covering catering, retail, and entertainment. Some of them have already been handed over to Zhao Yanzhou for management by Chairman Zhao. We can't expect you to avoid them all."
"As for the name of the shopping mall," Chen Sulin said, "he's just being silly, I don't think you need to care."
Meng Ran: "..."
Who is more concerned?
Meng Ran let out a breath and sought confirmation on another matter: "Zhao Yanzhou also told me that when you married me, besides wanting to be married, you also wanted to have a child as soon as possible."
Chen Sulin: "This is completely fabricated."
Meng Ran: "But he said you..."
She hesitated, unsure whether she should utter the words "illegitimate child".
In the end, she said, "He said your father has other children, so in order to keep the rest of the family supporting your rule, you must have a child as soon as possible."
Chen Sulin: "Those are all his speculations. Hengyue's situation back then was indeed very complicated, but in any case, I will not use our children as bargaining chips."
Meng Ran remained silent.
She had to admit that she was willing to believe that Chen Sulin had no intention of using Chen Miaoying, and that she asked the question simply to get his confirmation.
Perhaps it was because she could genuinely feel Chen Sulin's love for his daughter, something that couldn't be faked.
During the five years she was gone, he didn't need to pretend.
Perhaps when Zhao Yanzhou said those words, she subconsciously never believed him, which is why she felt genuine disgust and resistance upon hearing them.
A knock came at the door.
The housekeeper said through the door, "Sir, Madam, lunch is ready."
Chen Sulin: "Let's go downstairs for dinner."
Meng Ran: "...Okay."
The two walked out of the study one after the other.
Looking at the man's retreating figure, Meng Ran couldn't help but recall what he had just said.
"It's not that I don't trust you, it's that I don't trust myself."
Meng Ran felt that she seemed to understand Chen Sulin's meaning, but at the same time, she didn't seem to fully understand it.
Or perhaps, she dared not think about it, much less believe it.
That answer was so unlike something Chen Sulin would say.
He was a prodigy, standing at the pinnacle of power and wealth at the age of thirty-one, unmatched by any of his peers.
How could someone like that possibly...
...
A private room in a high-end restaurant in the northern part of the city.
Today is Zhao Yanzhou's 31st birthday, and a few friends in the industry specially planned a simple dinner party to celebrate for him.
The group arrived at the private room around 5 p.m., but the person in question never showed up.
It was nearly seven o'clock when Zhao Yanzhou finally arrived, albeit late.
Several people went up to greet him, and one of them said, "Hey Yanzhou, today is your birthday, why aren't you being enthusiastic?"
Another person chimed in, "That's right. Although it's not as grand as your thirtieth birthday last year, it's still a once-a-year special occasion."
Several men in their thirties chattered amongst themselves, making jokes and pouring drinks.
Their bond was different from that of ordinary people; they had been playing together since they were teenagers and had done a lot of rebellious things.
Deng Sui and Zhao Yanzhou have known each other since they were toddlers, a friendship spanning nearly thirty years.
Seeing Zhao Yanzhou's lack of enthusiasm, someone said, "Yanzhou, cheer up! Brother Liang even left his newlywed wife at home to celebrate your birthday with us brothers."
The other person laughed and said, "He doesn't understand what you're talking about. Yan Zhou has been focused on making money lately, and he's secured several projects. He doesn't care about women at all."
The men who were speaking to Deng Suichao exchanged glances.
After all, we're all in our thirties now. No matter how close we were when we were young, we're all busy with our own careers or families now, and we see each other much less throughout the year.
Zhao Yanzhou recently met with Meng Ran, and he was the only one who knew about it.
Deng Sui: "Don't blame Yan Zhou for not being enthusiastic. The atmosphere hasn't warmed up yet, has it? Let's drink first!"
The crowd echoed.
After a few drinks, Zhao Yanzhou's expression finally softened considerably.
The other two people in the private room exchanged a glance, and one of them took out his phone to send a message.
Another person said, "Yanzhou, I have two good friends nearby who would like to come and celebrate your birthday. They're both stunning beauties, how about it, would you do me the honor?"
Zhao Yanzhou glanced at the man and sneered, "So you're using my place to pick up girls? Come on, come on, it doesn't matter to me whether there are a few more or a few less people."
The man laughed and patted Zhao Yanzhou on the shoulder.
Ten minutes later, the door to the private room opened, and two girls wearing skirts walked in.
Upon recognizing one of the girls, Deng Sui's pupils constricted, and he grabbed the girl who had previously suggested bringing others along.
"What's going on? Why did you call Shang Yue here? Don't you know Yan Zhou and she have a grudge? Bringing her here on Yan Zhou's birthday is just asking for trouble, isn't it?"
The man replied quietly, "It was Shang Yue who asked for the address and insisted on coming. She's Chairman Shang's most precious youngest daughter, how could I dare refuse? Besides, that happened six or seven years ago, it should be fine, right?"
Deng Sui: "..."
He glanced at Zhao Yanzhou, who was drinking alone, and then at Shang Yue, who was cautiously approaching him.
“I hope everything is alright,” Deng Sui sighed, “but I feel it’s probably unlikely…”
A month ago, Zhao Yanzhou might have been in a better mood and given Shang Yue some face.
But ever since Mrs. Chen appeared, Zhao Yanzhou's heart has been unable to accept anyone else.
...
From the moment the two girls entered, cheers and jeers could be heard from inside the private room.
Two women suddenly appeared in a private room that was all men, and naturally they became the focus of everyone's attention.
Only Zhao Yanzhou didn't look in that direction, continuing to drink his wine.
Zhao Yanzhou only lazily raised his eyes when one of the girls in the yellow dress walked over.
The next moment, Zhao Yanzhou's gaze sharpened, and he threw the wine glass back onto the table: "Who sent you? Get out."
Shang Yue said softly, "Brother Yanzhou, today is your birthday. Can't I even stay a little longer and just wish you a happy birthday?"
Zhao Yanzhou stood up: "You're not going out, right? Fine, then I'll go."
"Brother Yanzhou!" Shang Yue exclaimed anxiously, "So many years have passed, why are you still angry with me? I was only twenty years old that year, Brother Yanzhou, you were even more rebellious than me when you were twenty! Besides, I already know I was wrong and have apologized to you countless times!"
Zhao Yanzhou said coldly, "I'll say it again, I don't accept your apology, and the person you've wronged the most has never been me."
Shang Yue's eyes reddened: "So what if I do that? So what if I—"
Zhao Yanzhou interrupted her, pointing to the door: "The door to the private room is over there. Go by yourself, don't force me to take action."
Shang Yue pursed her lips tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.
Finally, she stomped her foot, turned around, and ran out of the private room.
...
On Sunday, Meng Ran and Jiang Yuqing arranged to have lunch at a shopping mall.
In order to be able to say goodnight to Chen Miaoying on time every night, Meng Ran now tries to schedule her outings during the day unless it is absolutely unavoidable.
After hearing this, Jiang Yuqing sighed that she was indeed a mother, and that the days when they suddenly had the idea to go for a stroll in Houhai in the middle of the night were gone forever.
Jiang Yuqing originally wanted to go to Mengzhao Tiandi again when she went out to eat. It has a wide variety of brands and restaurants, and it's much better to shop there than the old shopping centers in the city center of Beicheng that have been built for many years.
Meng Ran refused.
Reason told her that it was indeed impossible to avoid all of the Zhao family's businesses.
But she really didn't want to go near that shopping mall again anytime soon.
After hearing Meng Ran's explanation, Jiang Yuqing was amazed and went to check the owner of Mengzhao Tiandi, only to find that it really was Zhao Yanzhou.
"Wow, I didn't expect Zhao Yanzhou... to be quite resourceful. It's just that his ideas are a bit too subtle. Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, most people wouldn't be able to tell..."
On Sunday noon, after the two ordered a set meal at the restaurant, Jiang Yuqing asked curiously about what had happened that day.
"So, Zhao Yanzhou tricked you into meeting him at the dessert shop, rambled on about his deep affection, and then babbled a bunch of bad things about Chen Sulin, all to get you to divorce your husband and get back together with him?"
Meng Ran was amused by Jiang Yuqing's ability to summarize: "Pretty much."
Two days later, Meng Ran had mostly processed the shock of meeting Zhao Yanzhou and was able to calmly talk to Jiang Yuqing about what happened that day.
Jiang Yuqing: "Then you went home and had a fight with Chen Sulin. After a lot of talking, you finally made up?"
Meng Ran: "..."
She honestly said, "I don't know if it counts as making up."
Chen Sulin explained everything she asked.
But somehow, deep down, there was still a faint sense of confusion.
And in the end, they didn't go out to buy a new wedding ring.
Jiang Yuqing blinked: "Speaking of which, what's the situation between you and Chen Sulin now?"
Seeing that Meng Ran didn't answer, Jiang Yuqing lowered her voice and asked, "Have you slept yet?"
When the two chatted while reading, Jiang Yuqing became accustomed to eating both meat and vegetables without any particular aversion.
Meng Ran felt slightly awkward, but didn't hesitate too much, and replied, "Not yet."
Jiang Yuqing pondered: "'Not yet,' which means they've already made progress in that direction, just haven't reached that stage yet... So, you've kissed?"
Meng Ran paused for a second, then nodded.
Jiang Yuqing: "Hmm, that's about what I thought."
Meng Ran: "What do you mean, 'almost'?"
Jiang Yuqing: "I guess you two are progressing at roughly the same rate."
Curiosity overcame her shyness, and Meng Ran asked, "Why?"
Jiang Yuqing: "I think there must have been some physical attraction between you and Chen Sulin. Otherwise, how could you have gotten pregnant just six months after getting married?"
Meng Ran: "Half a year...is that fast?"
Jiang Yuqing: "I've never been married and tried to conceive, how would I know? But at least it shows that you went from having absolutely no feelings for each other when you got married to being able to do *that*, it only took a few months at most, right?"
Meng Ran had no way to refute it.
Jiang Yuqing: "Now you two are essentially reliving the progress from back then, but only you have amnesia, Chen Sulin hasn't, so the progress should be faster..."
"So I've done some calculations," Jiang Yuqing said, rubbing her thumb and forefinger together, "you two will be able to have a baby again in three months at most."
Meng Ran chuckled, "I have one daughter, Miao Ying, and that's enough. I don't plan on having a second child."
Jiang Yuqing: "I know, that's how it's described. You told me before that after you found out you were pregnant, you and Chen Sulin discussed it and agreed that whether it was a boy or a girl, you only wanted this one child."
Meng Ran was taken aback.
Jiang Yuqing: "I didn't mention it to you? Then I probably forgot..."
Just as Meng Ran was about to say something, her phone vibrated.
Jiang Yuqing: "Who is it? Your husband?"
Meng Ran replied to the message as she spoke: "Mm."
Jiang Yuqing: "We've only just met, we haven't even had a meal together, and we didn't even go to the mall owned by your old flame, so why is your husband still in such a hurry to ask you?"
Meng Ran rolled her eyes at Jiang Yuqing and said with a laugh, "What old flame? Don't disgust me."
Jiang Yuqing chuckled: "Just kidding, just kidding. By the way, what did your husband say?"
Meng Ran: "She asked me if I had seen you, how long I planned to stay outside, and when I would come to pick you up."
Jiang Yuqing: "..."
After replying to the message, Meng Ran looked up and saw Jiang Yuqing's subtle expression.
"Hmm?" Meng Ran asked, "What's wrong?"
“Don’t you think your husband is like this now…” Jiang Yuqing gestured towards Meng Ran’s phone, “…like a… uh, how to describe it…”
Jiang Yuqing racked her brains, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "That's it, like a resentful husband who lacks a sense of security!"
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