Chapter 56 Bait "My husband would like to invite you over."...
Ruan Jingwei eventually got into the car and sat down properly.
After experiencing coldness, harshness, and all sorts of humiliation, this place was simply a safe haven for her to escape reality, and she had absolutely no reason to refuse it.
The air inside the carriage was clean and fresh, but the air conditioning was a bit too cold. Having just been caught in the rain, her clothes were sticky and clinging to her body, making her shiver. In the midst of the earlier commotion, she had somehow lost one shoe, and now, barefoot on the carpet, she felt inexplicably embarrassed and could only awkwardly hide it behind her.
Meng Cenjun didn't say anything, but only instructed the driver: "Bring the things from the trunk."
The driver responded, and a moment later he came over carrying two white shopping bags, opened the car door and nodded to her: "Miss."
Ruan Jingwei took it blankly and looked at Meng Cenjun with a puzzled expression.
“You’ll need it now,” he said.
Having received confirmation from his words, she carefully took out the contents of the paper bag: a cashmere shawl, beige in color, handwoven with a very high density. Having studied design and understanding fabrics, she knew it was expensive from the light, smooth feel of it.
The other bag contained a shoebox, which I opened as well. Inside was a pair of silk satin flats, misty blue, with a simple design and understated sheen. I glanced at the size without making a sound, and they fit her perfectly.
"Are these Lan Jia's?" She hesitated to make a move and asked tentatively.
I've never heard of him having a girlfriend; the only possible source of these women's products is his sister.
When Meng Cenjun thought about how she was with other people, chatting and laughing, her expression inevitably became a little melancholy, but she hid it well so that no one could see it.
"Go ahead and use it," he said politely but distantly.
Ruan Jingwei lowered her eyes and thanked him softly.
She closed the shoebox again, not intending to change it. Silk is delicate, and she was afraid that getting wet would ruin another pair of shoes. The shawl was piled loosely on her legs, like a warm kitten nestled there, and it warmed her heart as well. She wrapped it tightly around herself, feeling as if a pair of strong hands were embracing her.
The driver turned up the interior temperature and then restarted the car.
She was safe and stable; the torrential rain outside had nothing to do with her anymore.
Ruan Jingwei lowered her head even further, only then belatedly realizing the immense injustice she had suffered. Her nose suddenly stung with tears, and large tears streamed down her face, soaked up by the cashmere and unseen.
Even though it was someone else's territory, she held back her tears. Her shoulders trembled, but she didn't make a sound, afraid of disturbing the peace that she had finally gained.
It was like a light rain was falling on her side, dripping and pattering. She had planned to vent her frustrations quietly by herself and then be done with it, but unexpectedly someone handed her a handkerchief halfway through.
That hand was long, clean, and had a strong bone structure. Even though there were no signs of labor, it still had a kind of primal, burgeoning power. Two fingers held a soft cashmere handkerchief, like holding a cake. You had to use light force so as not to break it. There was a kind of restrained tension in it.
She didn't know what she was thinking, but suddenly felt ashamed. She didn't dare to look at him, stammered a thank you, and accepted it anyway.
Clutching it in her hand, she gently wiped away her tears. The handkerchief was clean, odorless, like plain water and air, sharing the same space, as did he. This inexplicably reminded her of Lan Jia, who never used perfume or applied anything with a strong fragrance, always keeping a clean and simple look.
In some ways, they taste the same.
They really are siblings.
She sniffed, wiped away her tears, and her breathing gradually calmed down.
The lights were off inside the carriage, it was very quiet, and it drove smoothly toward her home, that cold cave.
The person next to me stopped looking at the tablet and turned their head to look out the car window, seemingly lost in thought.
Ruan Jingwei sat down next to him, and although there was an armrest between them, it was the first time she had been so close to him.
She used to think he was cold and she was afraid of him, but now, riding with him, talking to him, and breathing the same air as him, she felt a sense of security she had never felt before.
Humans are greedy like this. Once they've experienced being protected, they want more. Desire takes root and sprouts, stubbornly climbing upwards, determined to find every possible way to get involved with that person.
Her eyes were red, and she looked at him timidly, yet with a determined air.
The car stopped at this moment, arriving at the entrance of the villa area where the Ruan family lived.
"Zhuang Ping, see her off," Meng Cenjun said to the driver, without turning around.
"No need to trouble yourself, just lend me an umbrella." This was the first time she had spoken at a normal volume since getting on the bus.
He glanced at his watch; he had indeed been delayed quite a bit. Anxious to see Lan Jia, Meng Cenjun didn't insist and gestured for the driver to go.
As I opened the car door, the driver, named Zhuang Ping, was already waiting outside with an umbrella.
Ruan Jingwei thought for a moment, then turned her face away and said, "Mr. Meng."
She rummaged in her canvas bag and pulled out a pink plush keychain, handing it to her.
He finally looked at her, his eyes like black jade, scrutinizing her.
Ruan Jingwei's heart skipped a beat, and she explained, "This was lost by Lan Jia."
Meng Cenjun admitted that she was overly suspicious, but those around her had to be extremely cautious about Lan Jia's matter.
But given her protective nature towards her friends, she knew that his interference would only lead to unpleasantness, so she decided to keep him around for a while and observe.
He remained calm, reached out and took it, saying only, "I will pass it on to her."
Ruan Jingwei nodded, got out of the car, and held up a black umbrella with a silver handle all by herself.
The car sped away in the rain. She stared at the conspicuous license plate and thought to herself: How wonderful it would be to have power. If she had it, she wouldn't have to suffer such humiliation today. What she couldn't do, and even Yi Lanjia couldn't do, he could easily solve.
But she also felt hatred, hatred for her own loneliness and helplessness, for her only way out being to rely on the power of others. She hated how unfair the world was, for what others had from birth, she desperately sought but could never obtain.
Ruan Jingwei turned around, still barefoot on one foot. Afraid of getting wet in the rain, she carefully held the shopping bag in her arms and waded through the puddles, walking forward with one foot deep and the other shallow.
The hospital was shrouded in twilight.
While Xu Xinwen was still in good spirits, Lan Jia talked with her for quite a while.
When Xu's mother heard about Lan Jia's help on the day of the delivery, she thanked her repeatedly and praised the little girl for being beautiful and kind-hearted. Lan Jia's cheeks flushed, and she waved her hands repeatedly.
Song Qingqu, who was peeling an apple nearby, smiled and said, "Aunt Xu, please don't be so polite. The hospital floor is hard and you can't crawl through the cracks."
Xu Xinwen, lying in her hospital bed, smiled with her lips pursed. Perhaps it was because she had become a mother, but she was much gentler than before.
Lan Jia paused, then realized the sarcasm in his words, and glared at him irritably. But she was also secretly delighted, her tail wagging in her hand, so she naturally didn't take this harmless little joke seriously.
In front of his elders, Song Qingqu was sweet-talking and clever, with a whole bunch of funny stories to tell. After a few jokes, the ward became cheerful again.
After sitting for a while, it was almost time, so Lan Jia and Song Qingqu got up to say goodbye, not wanting to disturb the patient's rest.
Xu's mother warmly escorted them to the elevator, handing each of them a glass jar and saying with a smile, "This is local honey that I brought from my hometown. It's good for nourishing the body and moisturizing dryness. It's best used to make lemon and flower tea. It's also good for you young ladies, for beauty and skin care."
Lan Jia was flattered and embarrassed. She hesitated for a while, but finally accepted it.
The two stood in the elevator. Lan Jia held the glass jar in her hand, looking at it from different angles in the light. It was golden in color and as thick as pear syrup. Seeing it warmed her heart and made her feel sweet.
She carefully put the jar into her bag and put it away. When she looked up, she noticed that Song Qingqu was unusually silent.
"What's wrong?" She was perfectly fine in the ward just now, wasn't she? Lan Jia was completely confused.
"It's nothing," Song Qingqu smiled. "I'm just a little tired."
Lan Jia didn't think much of it and just told him to go back and rest early.
The elevator doors opened with a ding, and the two walked into the lobby one after the other.
Song Qingqu walked slowly, looking around, thinking to himself, "Is it still just bad luck? I came twice alone and didn't run into her. This time I even brought her along, but I still didn't get anything."
Such a big bait and it still won't bite? That elusive old fox.
We can't delay any longer. Once he goes abroad to his own territory, there will be no chance to make a move.
The more he thought about it, the more gloomy his face became.
Lan Jia, oblivious to everything, walked briskly to the center before realizing that there was no one beside her. She turned around and asked, "What are you daydreaming about again? Hurry up and catch up."
Song Qingqu had no choice but to compose himself and catch up in a few steps.
As they approached the hospital entrance, just as they were about to part ways, a burly man in a black suit with a long scar on his eyebrow walked towards them and addressed her by name: "Miss Yi, my husband would like to invite you over."
Lan Jia was a little confused and asked him, "Who is your husband?"
The big man remained silent, but still made a gesture of invitation.
She looked in that direction and, through the rain, saw a strangely styled vintage car parked by the roadside. It looked like a collectible that you would only see at an auction. She wondered if it was just a waste of money to drive around in the rain.
The car window appeared to have rolled down, revealing a human face.
The distance was too great, so she squinted and strained to make out the details.
How could Lan Jia possibly go with a stranger? She immediately refused and was about to take out her phone to call Zuo Tai.
The burly man stepped forward, exuding an air of dominance, but his tone softened as he said, "Sir, I just want to say a few words to you. It will be quick. Besides, he returned your wallet last time, so I don't think this request is unreasonable."
It turned out to be him. Lan Jia felt a little scared for some reason, but then she thought that she owed him a favor, so she couldn't not go.
"Just a few words?" she asked.
The big guy nodded.
"Then it's not unreasonable for me to ask to bring my own bodyguards, is it?"
“Of course.” He opened a black umbrella and stepped aside to let her pass.
Lan Jia looked at Song Qingqu and said, "Why don't you go back first?"
Song Qingqu kept his face tense, still staring at the car, but he still nodded.
Now is not the best time.
The two parted ways, and Lan Jia made a phone call before being led forward.
Once in the car, the person beside her stared straight at her, revealing a gentle and refined smile: "Miss Yi, it's been a long time."
A linen suit with a notched lapel, matching trousers, and a dark purple handkerchief in the breast pocket.
It was none other than the strange Mr. Meng from before, Meng Shiyuan.
My eyes are my ruler. [Milk Tea]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com