"Feeling hungry, come eat."
Chen Cheng playfully teased Meng Wanning.
Meng Wanning was momentarily stunned, then realized that Chen Cheng was joking. Her cheeks reddened slightly, and she lowered her head and whispered, "No, I mean... why did you come to Kaiyang?"
Meng Wanning was surprised for a second, and Chen Cheng asked again, "Did you think I came here for you?"
Her head dropped even lower, her fingers twiddling with her clothes.
But when Chen Cheng remained silent, Meng Wanning lifted her head and saw the smile lingering at the corner of his mouth, realizing she had been teased by Chen Cheng again.
"I did come here for business," Chen Cheng said soothingly, "I just didn’t expect to run into you here."
Meng Wanning’s heartbeat quickened slightly. Chen Cheng’s words left her feeling somewhat confused.
Was he really in Kaiyang for business?
But in such a large place like Qianzhou, why would he appear in Kaiyang, a small place, and also in the same farmhouse?
Why was he so special to her?
Could it be... he really had a bit of... a liking for her?
Meng Wanning dared not to think further; she feared it was all just her misconception.
She lightly responded, unable to bring herself to meet Chen Cheng’s eyes again.
"By the way, how long will you stay here?" Chen Cheng asked.
Chen Cheng smiled and pointed at the logo on her chest. Meng Wanning came back to herself, "It’s over, so we came out to eat today. Tomorrow morning, we’ll head to the city’s high-speed train station and then back to our respective cities."
She also curiously asked, "And you?"
"I’ll probably stay for another two or three days," Chen Cheng replied.
"Did you come here alone?"
"I’m with Xiao Hai, and just now that Xu Qiu, Manager Xu, and her team, about a dozen people in total."
Meng Wanning asked again, "I mean without them, just you?"
Chen Cheng was momentarily lost, then smiled, "Alone, no one else."
A knock interrupted the two in the room.
Chen Cheng looked up to see a girl wearing the same jacket as Meng Wanning.
"Meng Meng, I’ve been looking for you, you’re here!"
"What’s up? Zhang Zhang."
"Time for a group photo."
Meng Wanning then stood up and said to Chen Cheng, "Brother Cheng, I’ll come back later..."
Chen Cheng nodded, "Go ahead with your tasks."
Meng Wanning left the room, and shortly after, Chen Donghai and Xu Qiu came back.
Clearly, they had waited for the room to clear before entering.
"Mr. Chen, the additional dishes will be served soon."
Xu Qiu opened the Moutai, poured out two measures and placed them on the table.
The liquor was good, and the dishes were tasty.
But the appearance of Meng Wanning, like a pebble thrown into Chen Cheng’s supposed calm sea of heart, sank, yet the ripples it stirred had not yet dissipated.
Xu Qiu, sitting beside him, noticed the shift in Chen Cheng’s demeanor. Although Chen Cheng didn’t say it outright, it was clear to any observant person that there was something special between them.
"Mr. Chen, this drink, I toast to you."
Chen Cheng also raised his glass, "You’ve worked hard these days."
"It’s all part of the job," Xu Qiu said, drinking up.
"After the deal is done, I’ll give you and your ladies each a big red envelope; can’t let you run this trip for nothing."
"Mr. Chen, you’re too polite. It was all Chairman Wen..."
Chen Cheng raised his hand to stop her, "Business must be met with reward. Besides, you’ve done well, so the red envelope is deserved."
Seeing Chen Cheng put it that way, Xu Qiu didn’t say more, merely poured another drink and toasted Chen Cheng.
About twenty minutes later, Meng Wanning reappeared at the doorway.
She knocked and entered.
The seat next to Chen Cheng had been vacated, and an already slightly tipsy Xu Qiu seeing someone arrive, said, "Mr. Chen, I’ll go rush the additional dishes."
Meng Wanning sat down next to Chen Cheng, who asked, "Done with the photo?"
Meng Wanning took out her phone, opened the group chat for their team, found the photo they just took, and handed it to Chen Cheng.
Chen Cheng glanced at the photo, where a group of young people stood before a round table, their faces brimming with youthful smiles.
Meng Wanning stood on the side, not posing deliberately, just lightly smiling, yet appeared more pure and charming than anyone.
"Not bad, very pretty."
Chen Cheng handed the phone back and asked, "What time is the high-speed train tomorrow?"
"11:30 in the morning."
Chen Cheng calculated for a moment, "It takes 2 hours from here to the high-speed train station. Do you need me to take you?"
Hearing Chen Cheng offer to take her to the train station, Meng Wanning shook her head, "No need, Brother Cheng, our group chartered a vehicle, you don’t have to make a special trip."
After saying that, she lowered her head again, muttering, "Why don’t you ask me..."
"What?" Chen Cheng purposely asked.
"Don’t you want me to stay?" Meng Wanning looked up, gathering her courage to ask.
A flicker of surprise crossed Chen Cheng’s eyes; he hadn’t expected Meng Wanning to be so direct.
The room fell silent for a few seconds. Chen Cheng looked into Meng Wanning’s eyes seriously, "Do you want to stay?"
Meng Wanning bit her lip, struggling internally.
What did staying mean?
Was it like in the TV dramas, something happening between them?
Or just simply spending more time with him?
Seeing Meng Wanning’s conflicted expression, Chen Cheng’s lips curved into a smile, knowing that this naive girl was probably overthinking.
"Don’t get ahead of yourself."
Chen Cheng spoke gently, "I’m just asking what you think. If you want to go back, I naturally respect your decision."