"Sold?!" Xiao Meier lowered her voice, "Why on earth did you sell it?"
Chen Cheng explained the whole situation to Xiao Meier, who was so frightened by it that she didn’t even dare to take a deep breath.
Chen Cheng shrugged, "Isn’t it. Fortunately, my sister-in-law helped out this time, otherwise, I really couldn’t have made it back."
Xiao Meier tenderly cradled Chen Cheng’s cheeks, "Are you alright then?"
"Am I not fine?" Chen Cheng smiled and took Xiao Meier’s hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it, "But you, you must have been so frightened?"
Xiao Meier nodded vigorously, "Doing business and it leading to someone losing their life, that’s just too..."
She paused to think, "Do you mean, since Mei Xiang’s father is gone and her stepmother, too, she is all alone in this world now?"
Chen Cheng nodded, "That’s the situation."
"Isn’t that so pitiful?"
"Well, she’s quite strong," Chen Cheng continued, "She wants to start a new life, so she came back with me."
Xiao Meier thoughtfully said, "Then... should we get Mei Xiang to help out at Wanbao Hall? Or maybe do something at Camellia?"
She spoke earnestly, "To start anew, she’ll need to find a job, that way she can integrate into our environment more quickly."
Chen Cheng listened, a bit dumbfounded, "Find her a job?"
"Yes! Didn’t you say she sold her company? She needs to find a job to make a living!"
Chen Cheng looked at Xiao Meier’s serious face and burst out laughing, "Oh my Sister Meier~ My dear Sister Meier! How did your mind wander there?"
"Is there a problem?"
"Look, Mei Xiang sold her company, doesn’t that mean she has money? Does she still need to work?" Chen Cheng retorted.
Xiao Meier then realized, slapping her forehead, "Oh! Look at me, I was so busy feeling sorry for her that I completely forgot about that!"
Chen Cheng smiled and put his arm around Xiao Meier’s shoulder, "My silly Sister Meier, you’re just too kind."
Xiao Meier leaned into Chen Cheng’s chest and sighed, "I just feel sorry for her, a young girl all alone, it’s so pitiful."
"Besides, she can’t just sit there and eat up her fortune, can she?" Xiao Meier thought for a moment.
Chen Cheng smiled and said, "I’m afraid she would never be able to finish eating this mountain even if she put all her effort into it."
"What... what does that mean?"
"Do you know how much she sold it for?"
Xiao Meier shook her head.
Chen Cheng held up two fingers, Xiao Meier guessed bravely, "20 million?"
"How much?!" Xiao Meier’s mouth hung open in disbelief.
"All added up, it’s about 20 billion," Chen Cheng replied, "And that’s not even counting the mines in Brazil, she’s quite the rich young lady."
Xiao Meier was completely dumbstruck, "20... 20 billion?! My goodness! That’s not a rich young lady, that’s a super-rich lady!"
Chen Cheng nodded, smiling, "You could say that."
Xiao Meier took a long time to digest the shocking figure before she regained her senses, "So didn’t I make a fool of myself just now?"
"Lose face?" Chen Cheng was puzzled.
"I thought Mei Xiang came back to the country because she had no other choice; I freely introduced... showed her around here and there..."
"And even said she was my sister..."
"And I even contemplated introducing her to a job... thank goodness I didn’t say it in front of her..."
Chen Cheng couldn’t help but laugh heartily at Xiao Meier’s embarrassed look, "Sister Meier, you’re just too cute! What’s there to be ashamed of?"
Xiao Meier still felt embarrassed, "Ah, wasn’t I carrying myself with too much presumption just now?"
"Not at all, you just honestly introduced the house, it’s nothing."
Xiao Meier still felt a bit awkward, but Chen Cheng embraced her shoulders, "Mei Xiang wouldn’t think that way."
"She knows you mean well for her. So, Sister Meier, don’t worry, just act as if you knew nothing and behave as usual."
Xiao Meier finally relaxed, "Alright, alright."
She turned to look at Chen Cheng, "Xiao Cheng, you think that getting too big in business isn’t good either, huh? All the scheming and backstabbing, and losing one’s home in the process. What’s the use of having money?"
"Yes, the business world is like a battlefield, and a moment’s carelessness can lead to disaster. Mei Xiang also benefitted from a misfortune in a way, withdrawing just in time."
Xiao Meier nodded, saying thoughtfully, "Indeed, money is an external possession, safety is the real blessing."
She once again cradled Chen Cheng’s cheeks, "Be careful, our good days have just begun, don’t..."
"Don’t worry, we are in our own country, safe and sound."
"True!" Xiao Meier changed the subject, "I got all confused by that 20 billion."
"Alright, go wash up." Chen Cheng yawned, "I’m also tired."
"Just go and I’ll run the bath for you, soak in it." Xiao Meier stood up, "The week you weren’t here, I’ve replaced our old tub with a massage bathtub."
Chen Cheng gave a faint smile, "Not bad, finally learning to enjoy the finer things."
"It was all to prepare for you. You attend so many social gatherings every day, coming home to a bath must be more comfortable."
Xiao Meier glanced at him coquettishly, "Hurry up~"
Chen Cheng watched Xiao Meier’s retreating figure, smiled, took off his shoes, and went inside.
The new massage bathtub was bigger and deeper than the previous one, the warm water continuously surged out, striking the walls of the tub and producing a gentle burbling sound.
Xiao Meier had already prepared the bath, adjusted the temperature, and also thoughtfully sprinkled some rose petals on the water surface.
Seeing Chen Cheng come in, she smiled and said, "The water temperature is just right, try it."
Chen Cheng stripped off his clothes and sat down, comfortably leaning against the edge of the bathtub, closing his eyes and enjoying the caress of the hot water.
Xiao Meier came up behind him and began to massage his shoulders, "Does it feel good?"
"Uh-huh." Chen Cheng let out a contented sigh, "Very nice."
While she massaged, she said, "It’s good you’re back; my eyelids have been twitching these past few days."
Chen Cheng opened his eyes and looked up, "Twitching for wealth?"
"Uh-huh!" Xiao Meier lied, "It must be for wealth."
Chen Cheng took her hand, "You’ve worked hard, looking after Wanbao Hall and managing Camellia."
"With Shu Biao and the others, it’s not too hard." Xiao Meier leaned down and hugged Chen Cheng, "It’s just that I feel anxious when you’re not around."
"Anxious? Let me listen."
Xiao Meier playfully pounded Chen Cheng’s chest, "And you, when you’re away, you hardly ever take my video calls."
"Busy." Chen Cheng held her fist gently, "I just want to finish my work quickly and come back to see you sooner."
"Hmph~" Xiao Meier hummed twice, "It’s a good thing you’re back, otherwise..."
"I would have flown over to find you!"
"You’ve never been abroad." Chen Cheng teased.
Xiao Meier affirmed, "Then I’ll bring Sister Lin, she speaks Japanese and has much experience!"
Chen Cheng laughed heartily, "Alright, I’m back aren’t I? It’s all over now."
Xiao Meier pouted, "I just missed you..."
Chen Cheng cupped her cheeks, "If you’ve missed me so much, why aren’t you getting in?"
"It’s not that I want to..."
"Really? Then I won’t soak anymore."
"Don’t, don’t..." Xiao Meier quickly untied the sash around her waist and slipped into the new bathtub.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Mei Xiang sat on the bed, looking at the unfamiliar room, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
She got up, walked to the window, and pushed it open.
The night breeze was gentle, carrying a hint of the coolness of late autumn.
The courtyard was silent, with only the chirping of crickets echoing through the night sky.
Mei Xiang took a deep breath, feeling the tranquility and peace of this foreign land.
After all the turmoil, she had finally found a place to stay, a place that made her feel safe and warm.
In this world, she no longer had any relatives.
Only Chen Cheng was her rock.
Mei Xiang closed her eyes, and two trails of tears slid down her cheeks.
She didn’t know what her future held, but she did know that here, she was no longer alone.
The night grew deeper, the chill more intense.
Mei Xiang glanced in the direction of the main house, where a soft light was still shining.
"Brother Cheng... is he still awake? He can’t listen to my stories tonight..."
She sighed deeply, closed the window, walked to the bed and lay down.
Covering herself with the soft blanket, she closed her eyes.
Mei Xiang knew she was destined for a sleepless night, but she also knew that here, she truly could have a new beginning...