Study.
After Meng Jiaran entered, he casually closed the door behind him.
A sense of unease prickled at him, but then he reasoned that tomorrow he was heading to the group to report in. Maybe his brother wanted to give him some last-minute instructions.
Once the door was shut, he didn't look around. He stood dutifully in front of the desk.
"Sit."
Meng Xianwen had his hands clasped on the desk. Seeing his brother standing frozen, he tilted his chin, motioning for Jiaran to take the couch.
Meng Jiaran followed his line of sight.
It was a two-seater sofa.
He really didn't think of himself as having a dirty mind, but what had happened that night had left too deep an impression. It was fine as long as he didn't step into this study, but the moment he did, he felt utterly uncomfortable.
It was at this moment that Meng Jiaran finally understood why his parents hadn't set foot in this study again since that night.
"I'll stand," Meng Jiaran said with a straight face. "I ate too much at lunch. Standing helps with digestion. Bro, what do you need me for?"
"I asked you about something today. Don't mention it to Mom and Dad." Meng Xianwen paused, then added, "And don't let Zhenzhen know either. She's been a bit emotional these past few days."
"Sure, sure."
Meng Jiaran's mind worked fast. He immediately realized this wasn't about work. He stepped closer. "Bro, go ahead. If I know, I'll tell you."
"I remember Mom and Dad saying that three months ago, on that night, everyone in the family was home. You were there too, right?"
At these words, a flicker of discomfort crossed Meng Jiaran's eyes. He didn't really want to recall it either. He even realized that the awkwardness he'd felt these past three months was partly because of what he'd lost.
Those two people—one was the brother he respected and relied on, the other was a friend of many years. When had they gotten together? And why had they kept it from him?
His gaze wandered, and his voice turned a little unsteady. "Yes, I was there. But I drank too much that day. Dad's shouting woke me up."
"Tell me everything that happened that night."
Meng Xianwen looked thoughtful.
It wasn't that he wanted to overturn what he'd said or decided three months ago. That was exactly why he'd never thought to use any other methods to investigate. But he was very interested in the part Ning Zhen had kept hidden.
She must have concealed something.
"Huh?"
Meng Jiaran was a little reluctant, but meeting his brother's stern gaze, he shivered and started spilling everything like beans from a bamboo tube. "That night, I was half-asleep when I heard Dad shouting. There was a lot of noise. Plus, I'd had too much to drink and felt awful—wanted to throw up, and I was thirsty. So I got up to open the door. And then..." He hesitated and glanced at Meng Xianwen. "Then I heard you say to Dad..."
Meng Jiaran cleared his throat, imitating Meng Xianwen's tone and expression: "Dad, since you've already seen it, I won't bother hiding it anymore..." I sobered up instantly and saw you holding Zhenzhen in your arms while she was crying.
Meng Xianwen's hands tightened. His face stiffened, and the usual calm in his expression hardened.
The study fell silent.
Meng Jiaran fixed his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, wishing he could bolt out the door. Why did he have to be asked about this kind of thing?
The silence stretched on.
Just when Meng Jiaran thought his brother had turned into a statue, Meng Xianwen spoke again. "What was she crying about?"
Meng Jiaran shook his head. "No idea."
But he had a guess. Even though it hadn't been officially confirmed, he suspected that Zhenzhen's crying that night had something to do with something he'd let slip with his big mouth. Hesitation flickered across his face.
"Tell me what you know."
Meng Xianwen's tone turned sharp when he saw his brother's conflicted, cowardly expression.
"Well..." Meng Jiaran sighed. "I didn't know you two were together back then. One day, I was chatting with Zhenzhen and casually mentioned that you and Song Yuqing might end up in a marriage alliance. She probably fought with you about it. Later, when I saw you two had made up, I thought it was better to leave it alone. I didn't ask or bring it up again."
"What?"
Meng Xianwen whipped his head toward his brother, frowning, his voice harsh. "Me and Song Yuqing?"
"Hey, hey, hey—"
Meng Jiaran was stunned too. "Bro, so you also forgot that Mom and Dad were planning a marriage alliance with the Song family?"
While he was still flabbergasted, Meng Xianwen sank into thought. The Meng and Song families had been close for generations. Even the project he valued so much had the Song family's support. From the perspective of both sets of parents, wanting to strengthen ties through marriage seemed reasonable enough.
But he and Song Yuqing were impossible.
If everyone was in favor and only he was opposed, whether he was firm or tactful, it would damage the relationship in the end. The answer to how to resolve this perfectly was obvious.
Meng Xianwen thought that maybe he'd found the reason he and Ning Zhen had gotten together.
"Bro, this has nothing to do with Song Yuqing." Meng Jiaran interrupted his thoughts, barely able to contain his urgency. "You know her. She always follows her family's arrangements. She really didn't know about you and Zhenzhen. You should understand her. If she had known, she would have stopped Uncle Song and Aunt Zhao."
"You were drinking that night?"
Meng Xianwen didn't respond to him. His mind was on something else, his expression serious. "Did you see Zhenzhen before that?"
"No... oh, wait—yes, I did!"
Meng Jiaran struggled to remember. Luckily, it was only three months ago, and that night had been explosive enough that some details were still stuck in his mind. "I drank too much at Shen Xuan's bar. Zhenzhen came to pick me up."
"So, she was with you from the beginning?"
"Yes—no, how did this drag me into it?" Meng Jiaran was getting dizzy from being led in circles. "She happened to be shopping with Mom that day and stayed over at the house. It was perfectly normal for her to pick me up."
"What else do you remember?"
Meng Jiaran had been heartbroken that day and drank too much—almost blacked out. After racking his brains, he finally recalled one thing. "I remember Zhenzhen saying something to me. She said, 'If you dare throw up on me, I'll take your dog life.'"
"..." Meng Xianwen was silent.
So, it came full circle again.
It seemed that only he and Ning Zhen knew what really happened that night.
He wasn't going to waste his time asking her. She rarely told the truth anyway.
-
Small Buddhist Shrine.
After Xiao Xuezhen had devoutly bowed to the bodhisattva, Ning Zhen took three sticks of incense from the attendant and pressed her palms together. The air was thick with sandalwood, which calmed her mood. She bowed three times with solemn respect.
"You've worked hard this time."
Coming out of the shrine, Xiao Xuezhen patted the back of Ning Zhen's hand and asked, "While we were away, how did Xianwen treat you? Were you two getting along okay?"
Ning Zhen forced a smile. "He's always been good to me."
Xiao Xuezhen was sure she had been wronged. Children were a parent's debt. Since her son wasn't treating Zhenzhen well, the mother had to make up for it double. After all, it was their family's fault. She said, "I remember your parents bought you a car, right? Is it still running smoothly?"
Ning Zhen's heart stirred at the words. "It's fine. But the road near my work is always congested, Aunt Xiao. You don't know how many people have no manners these days. I don't drive to work now. I either take the subway or call a ride-hailing service."
"I see."
Xiao Xuezhen thought for a moment, a warm smile on her face. "What does Xianwen say?"
"He said I'm young, so I should get some training and experience hardship—it'll do me good."
"Nonsense!" Xiao Xuezhen said, clearly disapproving. "What's the point of suffering for nothing?"
Ning Zhen smiled shyly.
Xiao Xuezhen made up her mind and settled the matter with finality: "In a few days, when I have time, I'll take you to pick out a car you like, and I'll arrange a driver for you. How about this—Monday through Friday, he'll drive you to and from work?"
Oh, thank heavens!
After wishing for it day and night, it was finally happening. Ning Zhen could barely suppress the smile tugging at her lips, though her voice still feigned hesitation. "But Xianwen..."
"Forget about him—doesn't he have a driver too?" Xiao Xuezhen genuinely worried about her son's injury and memory loss, but in front of Ning Zhen, who had been wronged, she also had to save face—that was the way of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. "Why doesn't he train himself and suffer a bit by taking the subway? Zhenzhen, let's just settle this. Alright?"
Ning Zhen hesitated another moment, then nodded gently. "Aunt Xiao, I'll follow your lead."
Thank goodness!
She was finally getting her own personal driver! Wait, no—she would also have a luxury car!
Life was truly looking up now.
...
Ning Zhen's fantastic mood lasted all the way through dinner.
She was practically a regular at the Meng family home, and the butler and kitchen staff knew her tastes well. That's how relationships worked—before, Xiao Xuezhen or Meng Jiaran had to remind them, but now no special instructions were needed; whenever she came, the kitchen would prepare several of her favorite dishes.
Good moods were contagious.
Ning Zhen glanced around the table. Everyone except Meng Xianwen wore cheerful expressions.
Even Meng Jingshan, who had been cold toward her for months, now seemed pleasant. "Everyone's finally here."
Ning Zhen loved hearing that.
Joyfully, she picked up a hot towel to wipe her hands, eagerly eyeing the table full of exquisite dishes.
With good fortune lifting her spirits, and the thought of soon having a driver, her appetite soared.
"Not quite everyone," Meng Jingshan said, his gaze sweeping past his eldest son to settle on his younger one. "Tell me, you loaf around all day—almost twenty-four, wasting time with a bunch of troublemakers. When will you settle down, do something real, and find a girlfriend?"
Ning Zhen silently added in her mind: He already wants to, desperately. He's just pining away for someone.
Meng Jiaran hadn't expected that, without a wrong word or deed, he'd still get caught in the crossfire.
He groaned inwardly, afraid his parents might suddenly decide to pair him up, too. In times like this, sacrifice your brother before yourself.
He stood up and ladled a bowl of soup for Meng Xianwen. "I'm still young, so there's no rush. But my brother's turning thirty next year—shouldn't he and Zhenzhen at least consider getting engaged first?"
Ning Zhen: "..."
Her mouth twitched.
Dammit. He should just keep pining forever!
"We're in no hurry." Meng Xianwen took the porcelain bowl, turned it, and set it beside Ning Zhen's hand, offering a gentle smile. "You didn't eat much on the plane. Have this soup to warm your stomach first."
It was a hearty, nourishing soup.
Ning Zhen glanced at the ingredients and suspected that after finishing this bowl, she'd have enough energy to march all the way to Turpan.
"Thanks, Xianwen~"
"Hey." The topic had been successfully derailed by Meng Jiaran and landed back on Meng Xianwen. Xiao Xuezhen spoke up, her expression worried. "I wonder when Xianwen will fully recover." She paused, then added, "Oh yes, Xianwen, why don't you stay at home for a while? That way, your father and I can rest easy."
Meng Jingshan nodded in agreement.
Ning Zhen sipped her soup in small mouthfuls, her mind solely occupied with one thing: she was about to get a new car.
What kind of car should she pick? Hehehe.
She heard Maybach was the go-to for bosses, but she noticed Meng Xianwen rarely rode in his. His driver mostly used a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley.
"It's too far from the company—not convenient." Meng Xianwen refused. Staying at the old mansion wasn't realistic. First, with his early departure and late return schedule, his parents would surely nag him. Second, the mansion was far from the city center; even without traffic, a round trip to Hengxing took nearly three hours.
He had lost his memory, but not his mind—there was no way he'd waste time at this critical juncture.
Meng Jingshan understood his situation. His gaze shifted to Ning Zhen, his words directed at his son. "I remember the apartment you're living in now is decent. But with your condition, your mother and I can't allow you to be without someone nearby who knows your situation."
Ning Zhen snapped back to attention.
Hearing this, she knew exactly what Uncle Meng meant.
He wanted her to move into Meng Xianwen's penthouse?
That wasn't a bad idea. The location was great, and that bastard knew how to live well. If she remembered correctly, his current penthouse had two live-in housekeepers and a driver—all three were long-time employees of the Meng family.
Given Meng Xianwen's cautious nature, he wouldn't hire people he didn't fully trust.
"That's not convenient either."
Before Meng Jingshan could ask Ning Zhen's opinion, Meng Xianwen flatly refused. "As I said, I don't want to stir up unnecessary trouble for now."
Meng Jingshan caught his implication and found it baffling. "Are you really going to guard yourself against the housekeeper who's taken care of you for years?"
Just like that old man—same illness, same stubbornness.
Both of them had become incredibly suspicious after losing their memory, wary of everyone.
Was that really necessary?
Ning Zhen sneered inwardly.
What a piece of work. Before he lost his memory, he said her wanting to live in his penthouse was a dream. Now, even after losing it, he was the same.
Whatever. She didn't care anymore, and he couldn't ruin her good mood. All she knew was that she'd soon have a driver—that was the real cause for celebration.
Regarding his father's "accusation," Meng Xianwen remained silent.
He leaned slightly forward, picked up a piece of evenly glazed spare rib, and placed it in Ning Zhen's bowl. "I know the project two months from now is important, but I also want to recover my memory as soon as possible."
Then he looked at her, his gaze warm. "Zhenzhen, how about I stay at your place for a while? Just like you said—we can rebuild our relationship. Would you mind?"
Ning Zhen blinked in bewilderment and confusion: "???"
