Arrivals and departures are everyday occurrences at the airport.
There are always people leaving and others returning.
At the terminal gate, a gracefully striking figure stands tall.
A beige trench coat, nude high heels, and a bouquet of daisies in her arms, her casual charm undeniable, yet it can’t overshadow the tender gaze she directs towards the gate.
Mei Xiang, arm in arm with Chen Cheng, walked out like a couple deep in love.
Wen Shulin watched this scene from afar, jealousy slightly evident in her brows, but she still strode forward with her long legs.
"Mei Xiang," Wen Shulin greeted with a smile, "It must have been a tough journey."
Mei Xiang quickly withdrew her hand, surprised and smiling, "Aunt Wen, what brings you here?"
"Am I not welcome?" Wen Shulin flicked her long hair back, revealing her large, round pearl earrings, though her gaze involuntarily shifted to Chen Cheng.
"Why would that be?" Mei Xiang quickly took the flowers Wen Shulin handed over, "I’m just too surprised! Thank you!"
"You’re still so polite, child," Wen Shulin said with a smile.
She shifted her gaze towards Chen Cheng, "Mr. Chen."
Chen Cheng nodded, "Thank you for your effort."
"It’s not me who should be thanked, but Xiao Er," Wen Shulin continued, "She’s been busy all morning since she knew you were coming back."
She turned around gracefully, "Let’s go, the car is outside."
The three of them left the airport terminal and got into Wen Shulin’s MPV.
Once seated, Wen Shulin still habitually crossed her legs and asked Mei Xiang, "How did it go? Did you manage everything at the company?"
Mei Xiang nodded repeatedly, "I really owe Aunt Wen this time,"
Her hand instinctively reached for Chen Cheng’s, "and Brother Cheng. Without you both, I wouldn’t know what to do!"
Hearing Mei Xiang affectionately address "Brother Cheng," Wen Shulin felt a slight soreness in her heart, and her fingers on her lap unconsciously tightened.
She subtly adjusted her sitting posture, keeping a graceful and appropriate smile on her face, but her eyes involuntarily drifted towards Chen Cheng.
She knew very well what those two words meant to Chen Cheng.
Tong Jialu, Liu Zhiya, or perhaps other unknown individuals, all referred to him that way.
And Mei Xiang’s gaze was just like those young girls, exactly the same.
"Good to know it’s all handled," Wen Shulin still smiled, "How long do you plan to stay this time? I’ll make time to accompany you."
Mei Xiang shook her head happily, her eyes on Chen Cheng’s profile, "I’m not leaving."
Wen Shulin’s tone carried a hint of surprise, and an almost imperceptible tremor.
She struggled to maintain the smile on her face, but her expression was complicated and hard to read.
"Yes," Mei Xiang sweetly smiled, gently resting her head on Chen Cheng’s shoulder, "I’ll be living here from now on."
Wen Shulin’s gaze lingered on their clasped hands for a moment, then slowly drifted to the window.
The trees along the airport highway rapidly receded, much like her turbulent thoughts.
Wen Shulin’s voice sounded somewhat hoarse; she cleared her throat, "Come by our house often, Li Ya often asks about you."
Mei Xiang didn’t think much about it and asked, "How has Li Ya been lately? Has she started school?"
Wen Shulin nodded, "She’s auditing classes, I’ll see how to arrange things after a while."
"Yeah! I haven’t seen Li Ya in a long time," Mei Xiang continued, "She’s lucky to have an aunt like you."
A wave of bitterness swept through Wen Shulin; her relationship with Li Ya was similar to her circumstances with Chen Cheng, unable to be made public.
"By the way, have you booked a hotel?" Wen Shulin asked again, "Stay first and then find a house, right?"
Chen Cheng, who had been silent, spoke up, "Xiao Er suggested that Mei Xiang stay at our house."
This situation took Wen Shulin by surprise again.
One Meng Wanning had just left the courtyard house, and now Mei Xiang was moving in, seemingly for good.
"Mei Xiang once sent Xiao Er rice, and Xiao Er said she wanted to properly thank Mei Xiang," Chen Cheng observed the frozen smile on her face.
"Aunt Wen, I brought some for you too! You must try it, it’s rice I grew myself! Brother Cheng even helped tie the scarecrow!"
Wen Shulin felt an acute sourness, "Alright, I’ll try it. But staying at Xiao Er’s, isn’t that a bit...?"
Chen Cheng replied, "Let her stay for now, we’ll see how things go."
Mei Xiang seemed unconcerned, "As long as I can be by Brother Cheng’s side, it’s all good."
Finished speaking, she hugged Chen Cheng’s arm tighter, savoring the last moments before reaching Wanbao Hall.
This time, Wen Shulin said nothing more, only managing a forced smile and turning her gaze back to the window.
The deep autumn sky over Beijing, unusually blue today, no longer seemed as joyful.
Chen Cheng observed all this; he was well aware that although he had brought back a person, problems had also followed.
They arrived at Wanbao Hall at exactly six-thirty.
When Mei Xiang appeared at the entrance, Xiao Meier spotted her instantly.
"Mei Xiang?!" She hurried over.
Mei Xiang bowed deeply, "Xiao Er sister, I’m here."
"Come in quickly," Xiao Meier warmly welcomed her, "Tired, aren’t you?"
"Not tired, I slept on the way," Mei Xiang replied.
"Eh?" Xiao Meier glanced at the entrance, not seeing Chen Cheng, "Where’s Xiao Cheng?"
"Oh! Aunt Wen and Mr. Chen are finalizing a contract, they’ll be here soon," Mei Xiang replied, pointing towards the MPV in the parking lot, "There are some documents that need to be sent back to CGG right away."
Xiao Meier shrugged, murmuring, "So busy as soon as he returns."
But soon, she reverted to her usual warm demeanor, pulling Mei Xiang’s hand, "Come in and have some tea first; we’re having hotpot today."