After work on Friday, Ning Zhen rushed to the high-speed railway station like there was no tomorrow. She hurriedly checked the ticket and got on the train, then sat at the window seat, gasping for breath.
The short-haired woman in the next seat took out a tissue and handed it to her. "I almost thought you'd miss the train. You're still the same as before, always taking such risks. I'm really impressed with you."
This was Xie Sifan, Ning Zhen's college roommate.
Both of them were from Beicheng. After graduation, they didn't go to other cities. Their jobs were both quite busy, and they rarely met up, maybe only once or twice a year.
Xie Sifan's workplace was closer to the high-speed railway station.
She could take a taxi here at a leisurely pace after work.
Ning Zhen's workplace was far away, and the train's departure time was early. If there was any unexpected incident, she would miss this train. However, when buying the tickets, she insisted on taking this one. Her reason was quite valid – they would arrive at their destination before nine o'clock and could have a late-night snack.
"I said I could make it, and I definitely can!"
After catching her breath, Ning Zhen took the glass of iced cola that Xie Sifan bought for her. After taking two sips, she felt alive again. Then she boasted smugly, "I'm just lucky."
"Why don't you bring your boyfriend to the wedding?" Xie Sifan asked.
Ning Zhen was about to take a big bite of the hamburger. Hearing this, she stopped and replied half - seriously, "As you said, he's just my boyfriend, not my family member yet."
In fact, she didn't even invite Meng Xianwen.
He was busy with work and had no time. Even if he had time, with his quiet - loving nature, he probably wouldn't be willing to attend a wedding full of strangers.
"Everyone wants to see which lucky guy has managed to win you over."
"Can't you see him on my WeChat Moments every day?"
"Who knows if you've retouched the pictures!"
Ning Zhen burst into laughter, and the two of them started fooling around.
They talked and laughed all the way. They arrived at nine o'clock in the evening. The bride - to - be, Geng Yuchen, and another roommate who had arrived in the afternoon came to pick them up by car. The four of them had spent their college years under the same roof. Although they rarely saw each other after graduation, when they got together, there were still endless things to talk about.
When the four of them got out of the car and walked into the bustling barbecue restaurant, Ning Zhen was extremely surprised to run into Xu Lai who was coming back to his seat from the restroom.
Didn't he say he was too busy and asked her to bring the gift money on his behalf?
Under her surprised and puzzled gaze, Xu Lai looked helpless.
After the late - night snack was over, he finally found a chance to explain to her: "Guan Hao called me and said that if I didn't come, he'd come to Beicheng to pick me up," he lowered his voice at this point, "You know he's a bit of an extrovert."
Ning Zhen couldn't help laughing. She rummaged through her bag and took out the red envelope and returned it to him. "It's good that you came. After all, everyone is so busy now. Who knows when we'll meet again next time."
Xu Lai took it and thanked her again.
It was approaching midnight, and it was the bride and groom's big day tomorrow. The group didn't waste any more time and drove back to the hotel to rest.
...
"Xu Lai, aren't you going to sleep yet?"
A young man who shared the room with Xu Lai got up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night. When he saw that the single bed next to him was empty and then scanned the room, he saw Xu Lai sitting on the sofa, staring blankly at the computer screen.
"I have some work left unfinished." Xu Lai gave an apologetic smile. "Am I disturbing you?"
"No, I'm so sleepy that I could sleep through anything."
The man shuffled into the toilet in his slippers. When he came out, he fell onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep soon, snoring softly.
Xu Lai shifted his gaze from the computer screen and looked down, clutching his phone. He was both in deep thought and hesitant. But the development of things had reached this point, and it was also within his expectation. Unless Mr. Meng never regained his memory, this day would come sooner or later.
He was silent for a long time and then turned on his phone in the dim light.
He posted a WeChat Moment with a location tag in the early morning: [Drove four hundred kilometers to witness your happiness. Wish you a happy marriage and a harmonious union for a hundred years.]
-
In the morning.
The room was noisy. After changing into the bridesmaid dress, Ning Zhen stood in front of the floor - to - ceiling window, looking for the right angle to take selfies. She finally managed to pick out two satisfactory photos from more than a dozen and sent them to Meng Xianwen, who also got up early: [If you don't reply in a minute, it means I got up earlier than you. 😎]
In less than half a minute, Meng Xianwen sent a photo of breakfast. She wasn't there, but her portion was also on the table.
Ning Zhen pursed her lips and smiled secretly. Was this an expression of missing her?
Regardless of whether he meant it or not, she'd assume he did!
Being a bridesmaid meant there were a lot of things to do. She really didn't have time to chat with him, and he was even busier. After breakfast, he had to go to the company to work overtime.
After a busy day with the wedding over, Ning Zhen was so tired that her eyelids were drooping. She didn't participate in the afternoon card - playing activity and went back to her room to catch up on sleep.
She woke up in the evening. Naturally, the newly - weds had also prepared a sumptuous dinner for them in a nearby restaurant. All the classmates from Beicheng University on both sides were arranged in a large private room. Although most of them didn't know each other, they were all alumni, and the atmosphere was pleasant and lively.
In the middle of the meal, the newly - weds came in to toast them again to express their gratitude.
Xu Lai took a couple of sips and looked visibly more relaxed.
He glanced at Ning Zhen, who was sitting opposite, chatting animatedly with her classmates. He felt relieved secretly. It seemed that he had been over - thinking.
Ning Zhen clinked glasses with the classmates around her, looking radiant. Someone joked, "Is it going to be your turn to get married next? I've been following your WeChat Moments every day. It's like watching a TV series, and I haven't missed a single episode!"
"Get married?" Ning Zhen responded quickly. "That's the content that requires a VIP to watch!"
"Is twenty yuan enough?"
"Transfer it to me now." She agreed. "When the blockbuster of my wedding is released, you'll be the first to watch, and I'll even send you the Easter eggs."
"Sure, I'll transfer it."
A few other classmates had drunk a few glasses of wine and were flushed. Hearing this, they all took out their phones and wanted to transfer money to her to become VIPs. Ning Zhen accepted them all. She leaned over to take out her phone from her bag and opened WeChat. Suddenly, she was stunned.
Twenty minutes ago, Meng Xianwen had sent her a message: [Where are you?]
This question was so strange.
Didn't he know that she had gone to another city to attend a wedding?
Ning Zhen's eyebrows twitched. She quickly clicked on the location, and her heart skipped a beat. Her breathing slowed down for a moment. The location showed that he was less than one kilometer away from her.
After confirming that she wasn't seeing things, she suddenly stood up.
Everyone in the large private room looked at her in unison.
Someone who had heard of her name at school raised their glass and joked, "Is the junior sister going to toast us on behalf of the bride's family? Okay, I'll finish my drink, and you can drink as you like!"
Ning Zhen didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Her alumni were all very humorous. She suppressed the urge to run out immediately, picked up the glass in her hand and took a couple of sips in a hurry. Although she was drinking juice, her cheeks and neck blushed. She leaned over and whispered to Xie Sifan beside her, "I'm going out. I don't know if I'll come back. Please tell Yuchen for me."
Xie Sifan grabbed her and questioned, "Where are you going to have fun? Why don't you take me with you!"
Ning Zhen's eyes sparkled. "You know."
Seeing her smiling sweetly, Xie Sifan paused for a few seconds and said incredulously, "Your boyfriend is here?" After a short pause, she immediately added, "Then call him over. Hey, you've got a boyfriend, but we've never even seen him in person. Aren't you ashamed? And what about him, is he being reasonable?"
"..." Ning Zhen thought for a moment and said, "Okay."
She thought that Meng Xianwen shouldn't let her down too much.
Not to mention anything else, during the four years of college, except for her, all three of her roommates had been in relationships. She had often mooched off the meals treated by their boyfriends and ex - boyfriends.
Xie Sifan immediately let go of her hand and said, "Go quickly!"
Ning Zhen grabbed her bag and ran out of the restaurant, brimming with excitement all over.
Xu Lai had a bad feeling when she got up in a hurry. After she left the private room briskly, all the noise, the clinking of glasses and toasting sounds disappeared. He even keenly caught the conversation between her roommate and someone else, saying that Ning Zhen's boyfriend was coming.
There was a brief blank look on his face.
Meanwhile, Ning Zhen ran out of the restaurant at full speed. They had each other's location on their phones, so it was very easy for him to find her. Soon, a comfortable commercial vehicle with a Beicheng license plate drove smoothly over and stopped a few steps away from her.
She stopped in her tracks.
The next second, the car door opened automatically. Meng Xianwen, who was still on the phone, got out of the car. He gave her a look. Even though she was extremely surprised, she covered her mouth and didn't make a sound to interrupt his business call. In the busy parking lot, he pulled her in front of him, and she rested her forehead on his shoulder, chuckling silently.
The call didn't last long, only about two minutes.
"How did you come here?" As soon as the call ended, Ning Zhen couldn't wait to ask.
She glanced at the inside of the commercial vehicle. There was a laptop and a stack of documents on the seat, indicating that he had been dealing with business on the way from Beicheng.
Meng Xianwen also asked himself this question.
At his age, was it really necessary to be so impulsive?
The rational part of him told him that no matter whether Xu Lai had feelings for Ning Zhen or not, he hadn't taken the initiative to pursue her when he had the advantage in college, and he was even less likely to do so now. In fact, he didn't have to focus on the little bit of affection Xu Lai might have hidden for her.
But the fact that he was here now meant that his reason and calmness were being eroded.
"Have you finished eating?" Meng Xianwen took advantage of the fact that no one around knew him and gave her a peck on the forehead.
"Not yet!"
Ning Zhen curiously peeked inside and saw a familiar person sitting in the passenger seat, Xiao Ding.
Xiao Ding smiled at her.
Suddenly, she understood. The 400 - kilometer drive was neither too short nor too long. Arranging two drivers to take turns driving was really in line with Meng Xianwen's way of doing things.
"Then do you want to eat here?" Meng Xianwen casually looked up at the entrance of the restaurant. "Or go somewhere else?"
Xu Lai had been by his side for several years.
He knew Xu Lai quite well. Xu Lai was not only smart but also very cautious. It was common for others to change their minds in just a few days after being unable to attend the wedding and asking Ning Zhen to bring the gift money a few days ago.
But Xu Lai was a very planned person.
So what had changed his plan?
Meng Xianwen could probably guess that Xu Lai might be testing something.
What he was testing was self - evident.
If it had been the former Meng Xianwen, he wouldn't have cared. When he saw Xu Lai's WeChat Moments, he was indeed irritated for a moment, but it was just a moment.
"Let's eat here," Ning Zhen looked up at him. "My roommates want to see if you look the same as in the photos. I think you have to go in and clear my suspicion of photo - editing!"
After saying that, she stared at him, not wanting to miss any slightest change in his expression.
"Okay," he nodded in agreement. Seeing her looking at him without blinking, he reached out and pinched her face. "If you want me to come, just say so."
"I didn't. You came here on your own," Ning Zhen shifted her gaze to Xiao Ding, who was playing with his phone in the passenger seat. "Xiao Ding, tell me, am I right?"
Xiao Ding smiled pleadingly. "Miss Ning, I don't know."
Meng Xianwen put down his arm and took her hand.
"Let's go. Don't keep your friends waiting."
"Okay."
On the way from the parking lot to the private room in the restaurant, even though Meng Xianwen didn't approve of her walking while playing on her phone, she was still fearless. She casually informed her roommates in the group chat: [I'm bringing someone. If you don't mind, just breathe. If you do, transfer me 200 yuan.]
The other three replied in unison: [No money. I've breathed.]
Ning Zhen beamed with joy.
When she brought Meng Xianwen into the private room, the atmosphere fell silent for a few seconds. Then, her roommates and classmates on her side, as if they had discussed it beforehand, cheered enthusiastically. "Oh my god, I finally get to see the real - life hero of the soap opera!"
Ning Zhen wrapped her arm around Meng Xianwen's and pulled him to sit down.
Xu Lai across the table was in a complete mess. His mind was in a daze. When he subconsciously wanted to stand up and call out "Mr. Meng", he unexpectedly met Meng Xianwen's gaze. Meng Xianwen was smiling and shook his head. After getting along as superior and subordinate for several years, he knew what that meant and sat back down.
A little while later, the phone in his hand lit up with two new messages.
Mr. Meng: [You're on vacation. I'm accompanying someone.]
Mr. Meng: [Relax.]
Xu Lai's eyes flickered.
He was sure that Mr. Meng had probably regained his memory. If he hadn't, Mr. Meng wouldn't have shown a subtle hostility towards him.
Yes, hostility.
This was exactly what he thought was wrong.
Mr. Meng was kind to his subordinates and would even crack a few jokes with them. Recently, Mr. Meng seemed to be the same as before in terms of words and expressions, but he could sense the hostility and scrutiny.
He lowered his eyes and replied: [Okay.]
Ning Zhen's roommates and classmates roughly knew who Meng Xianwen was, but they all tacitly didn't mention it at the dinner table. Firstly, it was Geng Yuchen's wedding day, and it was inappropriate to steal the limelight. Secondly, since they were neither employees of Hengxing nor shareholders of Hengxing, to them, he was just Ning Zhen's boyfriend.
This dinner lasted for nearly another forty minutes before it was coming to an end.
Meng Xianwen put his arm around Ning Zhen and whispered a few words in her ear.
She looked at him with a smile, barely satisfied with his performance today. She nodded and got up briskly. After getting something from Xiao Ding outside the private room, she found Geng Yuchen and quietly handed it to her. "The gift money is the gift money. This is the bottle of red wine that my boyfriend and I gave you together."
Geng Yuchen beamed with joy. "How polite you are!"
"Then I won't give it," Ning Zhen pretended to take it back.
Geng Yuchen hugged it tightly and said, "Look at you!"
After chatting for a few words, Ning Zhen returned to the private room and pulled Xie Sifan aside to ask, "He drove here. We should set off back to Beicheng tomorrow afternoon. Do you want to—"
Before she could finish her question, Xie Sifan interrupted her with a look of refusal. "I'm not a third - wheel. I won't be the light for you anymore."
"Let's meet up again when we're back in Beicheng!"
"Better be!"
The dinner was over, and the group went their separate ways. Some went back to the hotel to play cards, some went to sing, and some caught flights. They all said goodbye at the restaurant entrance.
Meng Xianwen casually scanned the crowd.
Xu Lai was standing not far away, holding a bottle of mineral water. When he caught Mr. Meng's eye, he composed himself and walked forward. But before he could utter "Mr. Meng", Meng Xianwen asked with a hint of concern in his calm tone, "Did you drive here alone?"
"Yes."
"Since you're still on vacation, don't drive back at night in a rush. It's not safe."
Xu Lai responded with mixed feelings.
...
Ning Zhen hurriedly returned to the hotel to pack her few belongings. While it was still not too late, she went to the famous scenic spot in this city with Meng Xianwen and strolled around there with great interest.
The spring water was clear, reflecting the ancient buildings with the lights on after nightfall.
Both of them looked relaxed and carefree.
"You still haven't answered my question!" When they reached a less crowded place, Ning Zhen slowed down and finally stopped, tugging at his sleeve.
Someone pretended not to know and asked, "What question?"
"Why did you come here?"
During this period, their relationship had gradually entered a better stage, and Ning Zhen had also seen the side of him that he usually hid.
Meng Xianwen was a contradictory person.
He was cautious and self - restrained, yet also bold and unbridled.
He was still the same person as before, who regarded Hengxing more important than anything else. However, out of the twenty - four hours a day, he also spent the time outside of work with her.
"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?" He stared at her intently.
Ning Zhen twitched the corner of her mouth. Did he think she was easy to deceive?
"Can you just tell me what's true and what's false at will? You don't need to tell me which is true and which is false. Just tell me everything, and I'll judge for myself!"
Meng Xianwen was silent for a few seconds.
A smile appeared in his eyes. He stretched out his arm and pulled her into his arms.
Ning Zhen was surrounded by his scent.
She still thought of him as a cactus, but its thorns wouldn't hurt her anymore.
"Passing by."
She was so angry that she took a bite of his shoulder.
"I wanted to pick you up and go home earlier." He gave two ambiguous answers, "Judge for yourself."
