There were quite a few restaurants near the hotel.
Ning Zhen and Meng Xianwen entered the most romantic one, sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window. Though she wasn’t very hungry, she still ordered a few of her favorite dishes.
Seeing him idle, a thought occurred to her, and she handed the knife and fork beside her to him. “I’ve decided to slowly help you regain your memory. Cut my steak for me—you used to do this before.”
“Is that so?”
Meng Xianwen didn’t take them right away. He was drinking water from a glass and cast her a glance.
Even though he hadn’t dated anyone before this, he didn’t think he would ever have this kind of relationship.
So far, every single thing had been dictated by her. But in this world, the person who knew him best was himself.
Hold his girlfriend’s hand everywhere they went?
Have his girlfriend change her phone password to his birthday?
Cut steak for his girlfriend?
Was he in a relationship, or had he lost his mind?
Ning Zhen frowned, shooting him a displeased look. Meng Xianwen stared at her, and just a second before she might erupt into a tearful accusation of him being a jerk, he reached out, took the knife and fork, and silently began cutting the steak.
Knew how to read the room, at least.
Ning Zhen’s mood cleared instantly. “See? That’s why you’re the best,” she said, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes carrying a wistful smile. “You were like this before too. I was young, and it was my first time dating you. You were so much older than me… I was always insecure, so I wanted you to do lots of things to prove your feelings. Most of the time, even if you didn’t understand, you still did it—just like now.”
Meng Xianwen acted as if he hadn’t heard a word.
It was as if he weren’t the one involved, but an outsider.
Do things he didn’t understand anyway? That kind of thing couldn’t exist.
Meng Xianwen finished cutting the steak quickly, slid it over to her, and smiled warmly as he watched her—until the look made her scalp tingle. Then he spoke slowly, “Zhenzhen.”
Hearing that familiar tone, Ning Zhen paused, instinctively gripping the knife and fork tighter. “Hmm?”
“When we get back to Beicheng, come with me to Lu Yuan’s place. I want to remember what I’ve forgotten as soon as possible.” He paused a few seconds, observing her expression. “Are you willing?”
Ning Zhen: “…”
She didn’t dare hesitate. Even half a second of hesitation, she feared, would be caught by him. Without blinking, she nodded immediately. “Of course I’m willing! Don’t worry, I’ll definitely be right there with you!”
What was there to be nervous about?
Even if Meng Xianwen didn’t want to go to the hospital, Aunt Xiao and Uncle Meng surely wouldn’t just sit back and do nothing. This was something that had to be done, and there was no getting out of it. But even so, she decided to gamble.
If he regained his memory, tough luck for her. If he didn’t, she’d come out ahead.
She lifted her gaze lightly, landing on Meng Xianwen’s face across the table. He was looking at his phone, chatting with someone.
“Who are you chatting with?” Ning Zhen set down her glass and asked casually.
Meng Xianwen didn’t even raise an eyebrow. After unhurriedly editing and sending his message, he finally looked at her. “Chang Yi.”
“He must be really worried about you.”
“Are you two close?” he asked, his tone casual.
At this, Ning Zhen’s smile grew even brighter. “I’m moderately close with him—very close with his dog, Qiansui.”
Among Meng Xianwen’s few friends, only Chang Yi owned a dog. Before it was neutered, it was called Fugui; afterward, it was renamed Qiansui, a mix of mockery and a wish for it to live as long as possible.
“But, did you tell Chang Yi about your situation?”
Meng Xianwen flipped his phone over and covered the screen, his expression calm. "There's no need to say anything."
He asked pointedly, "Don't you think so?"
Just as she expected. Ning Zhen wasn't surprised by his answer at all. She nodded in agreement and added, "Don't worry. I know how much effort you've put into this project. I won't tell anyone, not even my parents."
She would never drag her parents or friends into this mess.
Even if he didn't mind, she wouldn't say a word.
"That's best." He was equally satisfied with her tactfulness.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Just as they were talking, Meng Xianwen's phone vibrated. He picked it up and saw a message from Chang Yi: "But seriously, Zhenzhen's a good kid despite her age. Gotta give credit where it's due—she even let us know she's safe."
Meng Xianwen glanced at it and replied, "Got things to do. Catch up later."
Chang Yi: "Alright, alright, won't bother your date. Lovebirds."
Meng Xianwen frowned slightly.
He scrolled casually through his chat history with Chang Yi. It seemed they hadn't mentioned Ning Zhen even once today.
Then, acting on a vague sense of unease, he exited the chat and opened her Moments feed. Ten minutes ago, she had posted two photos: one of two shadows cast on the ground, and another—blurry but still recognizable—of two pairs of shoes walking closely together.
His leather shoes.
Her white sneakers.
The caption read: "Night, breeze, stroll, you and me."
Meng Xianwen felt a dull throb at his temples.
What kind of drama was she acting in?
When did she even take those photos?
He had been busy all afternoon and hadn't looked closely at her Moments. Now, as he casually scrolled further, he grew increasingly silent, his eyes stung by the dense flood of posts—all about him.
He glanced up at her. Didn't she have anything else to do all day?
After scanning a few more, he decided ignorance was bliss and locked his phone, setting it aside.
"Excuse me, sorry to interrupt."
Ning Zhen was happily enjoying her dessert. The lemon sorbet at this restaurant was excellent, and she was just considering ordering another serving when a waiter approached their table, holding a bouquet of pink roses. He stopped with a warm smile on his face.
"Madam, I wish you a wonderful evening."
With that, the waiter handed the bouquet to Ning Zhen.
Ning Zhen took it blankly, clutching it in her arms with a stunned look. She glanced at the waiter, then at Meng Xianwen, lowering her voice. "Why didn't you tell me?"
She had no preparation at all.
So that was why he had been fiddling with his phone earlier—ordering flowers, planning a surprise for her?
This had never happened before.
Oh my god, had he finally decided to turn over a new leaf?
The waiter paused for a moment, smiled, stepped back two paces, and left without explaining anything.
Once they were alone at the table, Meng Xianwen cut through Ning Zhen's reverie. He gave a slight chin lift, signaling her to look elsewhere in the restaurant, as if her surprised, delighted, wide-eyed reaction amused him. He let out a short laugh.
When he laughed, it was never good news.
Ning Zhen's heart tightened.
Still holding the pink roses, she turned to follow his gaze—and was instantly dumbfounded.
The night was deep. Only a few tables were still occupied at this hour, and every woman at those tables held the same pink roses in their hands. Some looked surprised, some delighted. Ning Zhen scanned them one table at a time, observing closely. She noticed that one young woman's bouquet was different.
Everyone else's was pink roses.
The young woman was holding a copy of Freud.
The other person looked at the young man across from her in stunned surprise. Soon, the other diners in the restaurant were also drawn by the unusual bouquet of roses, turning their heads to look.
The young man seemed very nervous, constantly adjusting his glasses, making a thousand fidgety movements in a minute.
In that atmosphere, he finally gathered his courage. His voice trembled, but every word came from the heart: “LuLu, I like you. I really like you. I like you so, so much.”
Ning Zhen’s breath caught. “...?”
She watched for a moment, blood rushing to her head, then turned back angrily, glaring at Meng Xianwen.
What kind of supporting character was she?
Why did she have to be a prop when someone else was confessing their feelings?!
“Look at him!” she snapped, annoyed.
Meng Xianwen remained unfazed. “Done eating?” he countered instead.
“No!” Actually, Ning Zhen’s porcelain cheeks were still burning from her earlier embarrassment at jumping to conclusions, but she refused to admit it easily, so she took it out on him instead.
“Fine.” He seemed completely unbothered by her sudden outburst, calmly getting up. “Take your time. I’m going to the restroom.”
Once he had left for the moment, Ning Zhen couldn’t help herself. She honestly turned to look back at the other table.
The young man had taken this confession seriously. Not only had he arranged for the flower delivery to feel natural, but he’d also prepared a gift. Red-faced, he stood behind the woman, stooping with great solemnity to fasten a sparkling necklace around her neck.
Ning Zhen watched the happy smiles on their faces and unconsciously curved her own lips. She turned back, looked down at the bouquet in front of her, and felt a bit more at ease. To be forced into being an audience for a drama she hadn’t even wanted to watch—those two lovebirds owed her this bouquet as an apology!
She set the flowers aside casually and was about to dig into her meal again when her eyes swept over the paper napkin on the table. An idea, a thought, popped into her head.
…
A few minutes later.
Meng Xianwen returned. Ning Zhen was holding her phone, trying to get a good angle for a selfie, and waved at him. “You’re back!”
He nodded, then noticed with surprise that the bouquet of pink roses had been placed on his chair. He glanced at her, and under her barely suppressed, teasing gaze, he picked up the flowers and suspiciously pulled out a folded paper napkin tucked among them.
Written on it were the words:
【For my boyfriend OvO】
Meng Xianwen read the note, then looked at her. Meeting her smiling eyes, he slowly folded the napkin and tucked it away, a silent smile spreading across his face.
Ning Zhen rested her chin on her hand, studying his reaction. From the subtle shift in his expression, she could tell that, thanks to her, he was in a pretty good mood now.
This was what they called “borrowing flowers to offer to the Buddha”—no, borrowing flowers to “offer to the dog,” she thought slyly, proud of her clever idea. “Even if you didn’t prepare a surprise for me,” she said, “I can still prepare one for you.”
On the way back to the hotel, Ning Zhen deliberately took a detour, claiming she’d eaten too much.
Meng Xianwen stayed silent, offering no objection.
Ning Zhen was feeling triumphant. Right now, even if she suggested walking all the way to the Potala Palace, he’d have to go along with it.
Holding his hand, she pulled him along through the night, crossing overpasses and pedestrian crossings. Maybe it was because she kept chattering in his ear, rambling about everything under the sun,
that Meng Xianwen’s ears were filled with nothing but her voice. The mind that had been running nonstop all day finally found a rare moment of rest, letting go—pleasantly so.
Ning Zhen’s cheerful mood wasn’t affected by him at all. Even if he didn’t respond with a single word, she kept talking nonstop, her entire focus on the confession during dinner. She gave a light hum and commented with a teasing, sour tone: “It barely counts as a little bit of sincerity—way better than those confessions sent via text message!”
Even though she’d never given any of the men chasing her a second glance, comparing people was useless. Could someone like her be moved by a love letter copied from who knows where? Could she be swayed by a confession message that didn’t even cost a cent?
They didn’t know her at all and had zero sincerity, yet they dared to bother her—she should’ve called the police.
When they reached the hotel and entered the elevator, she finally tugged at his hand, her eyes full of anticipation. “Actually, more than flowers, I prefer waves. You promised me that after the project launches, you’ll take me out on the yacht to watch the sunrise.”
Meng Xianwen pretended not to hear, unwilling to respond.
But Ning Zhen was the type who never gave up until she got what she wanted. She pulled his hand, and when he refused to look at her, she deliberately stood on tiptoe to get closer, waving her hand right in front of his eyes. Annoyed beyond measure, he endured it until the elevator went from the first floor to the top floor, then finally gave in and let out an “Mm.”
Having secured his promise, Ning Zhen was overjoyed. She once again felt relieved she’d decided not to leave the airport when she had the chance. If she’d gone, it would only have deepened his suspicion, and she could forget about the yacht and everything else. As the saying went, the bold live and the timid starve.
Her elation was written all over her face.
She dragged him quickly into the room and noticed the bulging paper bag. “What’s this? Did you bring it back?”
“The driver asked me to give it to you. His girlfriend sent some local specialties.”
Ning Zhen’s face lit up with surprise. “Really?”
“You gave him a necklace?”
“Yeah,” Ning Zhen said as she opened the paper bag, curious about what the specialties were. “He spent the whole day shopping with me yesterday, and I felt bad about it.”
“Didn’t you say you don’t like shopping?” He loosened his tie and asked.
Ning Zhen, her back to him, rolled her eyes silently.
Every single day—could he do anything besides seize every chance to test her?
“You’re the one who insisted on sending me to the mall,” she said. “It’s not like I was going to stare at the driver blankly the whole time. Oh, by the way, did that set of pajamas I bought you yesterday feel comfortable to wear?”
“It was okay.”
“She bought so much,” Ning Zhen muttered. “My parents can’t have anything too sweet, and Aunt Xiao and Uncle Meng also need to watch their sugar intake. Maybe I’ll just take it to the office and share it with my colleagues—it’d be a waste not to, since it’s someone else’s kindness.”
“It’s getting late.”
Meng Xianwen raised his wrist to check his watch. “Get some rest. We’re heading back to Beicheng tomorrow.”
Ning Zhen immediately turned around, spreading her arms to block his path. “You didn’t call me today, but tomorrow you have to call me for breakfast.”
They stared at each other in the dim light of the hallway.
Meng Xianwen’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment. Her lips curled up, and there was a smug look on her face, as if she was certain he would agree. He didn’t know where her confidence came from, or who gave her the gumption to keep acting so boldly in front of him.
He paused, then nodded. “Fine.”
