The MPV pulled up steadily in front of Wanbao Hall.
Su Liya couldn’t wait to jump out of the car; Mei Xiang was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing Su Liya’s uncontrollable smile, she immediately greeted her.
"How did it go? Seeing that look of spring in your step, I can tell things went smoothly!" Mei Xiang, holding Su Liya’s hand, asked with a gossipy grin.
Su Liya blushed, "Um..."
The two didn’t go into the store but sat down under the now leafless willow tree. There, Su Liya recounted everything that had happened just now in the hotel, sparing no detail.
Of course, she skipped some excessively private details.
"Wow! That sounds so romantic!"
Mei Xiang listened with sparkling eyes, full of envy, "Rose petals, heart-shaped pancakes, and... hehe, I won’t ask about what happened after. How did it feel?"
Su Liya’s cheeks reddened further, but her eyes were filled with sweetness, "It felt... very warm, very safe, like... like...."
She paused, then added: "Uncle is really gentle, totally different from what I imagined."
Mei Xiang gave Su Liya’s arm a playful squeeze, teasing, "Looks like you’ve completely fallen for him!"
The usually extroverted Li Ya covered her face, too shy to speak further.
Mei Xiang pulled away those delicate hands, "But be careful, after all, the thing between you two can’t be known by others."
Su Liya’s smile faltered slightly.
In the hotel, Chen Cheng had indeed made her feel like a girlfriend or even a partner.
But once she left that room, she could only be herself, and Chen Cheng was still that Chen Cheng.
Su Liya held Mei Xiang’s hand, "Mei Xiang sister, you and him... how do you usually manage to..."
"Psyche yourself up?" Mei Xiang uttered the words Su Liya couldn’t.
Mei Xiang responded indifferently, "Well, as you’ve seen. Brother Cheng has a lot of women around him, they come and go like swallows and orioles, constantly changing. I once thought like you, that I could be the special one."
She smiled, "Of course, that’s what he always told me. But I know in my heart, no one is special."
Mei Xiang paused, "In my view, in Brother Cheng’s world, women are like flowing water, always coming and going, no one can truly stay."
"Except for her." Mei Xiang pointed at Wanbao Hall.
Su Liya nodded in understanding, "Then... why do you still stay by his side?"
"Because I like him, I love him." Mei Xiang confessed sincerely, "I know it sounds stupid, naive, even a bit demeaning. But when it comes to feelings, who can control them?"
She laughed at herself, "It’s like a moth to flame, knowing it will get hurt, but still can’t help but draw close."
Su Liya fell silent; she understood Mei Xiang’s feelings.
Falling in love with someone you shouldn’t, knowing there’s no future, yet still diving in headfirst without looking back.
"Don’t you... feel sad?" Su Liya quietly asked.
Mei Xiang took a deep breath, a trace of melancholy flashed in her eyes, "Of course, I’m sad. Every time I see a new woman by his side, it hurts like a needle in my heart. But I tell myself, as long as I can be by his side, even if it’s just a little while, I’m satisfied."
She looked at Su Liya seriously, "Li Ya, your situation is different from mine. Remember to be very careful."
Su Liya pursed her lips, and after half a second, she smiled brightly again, "Mei Xiang sister, thank you for telling me all this. I’ll be careful, and I will... enjoy the moment."
"And who knows, maybe I’ll be the exception?" she said with confidence.
Mei Xiang couldn’t help but smile, "Let’s go inside. Are you hungry? I remember, after my first time with Brother Cheng, I got so hungry. But I was too embarrassed to say anything."
Su Liya then realized that in order to show her best side in front of Chen Cheng, she had only drunk a cup of coffee until now.
Hearing Mei Xiang say this, her stomach also growled.
"Mmm, I really want to eat something!"
The two entered the store and, after greeting Xiao Meier, chose the corner table to sit down.
They ordered a few dishes, and Mei Xiang, who had been worried for the past two days, started attending to her business.
She took out her phone, searching for suitable housing.
Although Chen Cheng and Xiao Meier had not asked her to move out of the Siheyuan, like in the last few days, Mei Xiang felt it was inconvenient to stay there.
Moreover, considering the current situation, she felt even less free than Li Ya.
Li Ya also leaned in, looking at the phone screen, "Mei Xiang sister, are you looking for a place to live?"
"Yeah, I want to move out." Mei Xiang scrolled through the screen, "He’s so busy I’ll just have to pick a few now and have him take me to see them later."
"Move out?" Su Liya looked at Mei Xiang seriously, "Why do you want to move out? The Siheyuan is so nice, quiet and convenient."
Mei Xiang laughed helplessly, "It’s convenient but... it’s just not that comfortable."
She paused, finding it difficult to broach the subject, "You know, my relationship with Brother Cheng is quite special now; staying there doesn’t feel quite right."
Su Liya instantly understood what Mei Xiang meant.
Mei Xiang’s relationship with Chen Cheng was indeed not suitable for living under the same roof, especially with Xiao Meier there.
"Then... have you decided where to move to?" Su Liya asked.
Mei Xiang shook her head, "Not yet, still looking."
Su Liya thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up, "Mei Xiang sister, why don’t you... come live with me!"
Mei Xiang was taken aback, then smiled, shaking her head, "No, how could I impose on your household. Besides, it must not be convenient at your place either."