After Meng Luobai hung up the phone, she was about to leave when she heard someone call her, "Class monitor, Luobai."
Meng Luobai turned around and saw that it was Ding Yongcheng, who was talking to someone. She walked forward a couple of steps and saw a male classmate, along with Jie Xu.
Seeing her approach, Jie Xu's dark eyes flickered slightly, and he stubbed out the cigarette in his hand.
"We were just talking, saying you've also come back to Longcheng to develop your career." Ding Yongcheng also stubbed out his cigarette.
Meng Luobai smiled. "I realized home is still the best."
The male classmate looked back and forth between the two of them. "This is Huangshan Tiandu, though. I can't bear to put it out. I'll go to the smoking room upstairs."
Seeing the male classmate about to leave, Ding Yongcheng draped one arm over his shoulder and said as they walked, "Jie Xu's cigarettes are expensive, sure, but they're too mild and soft. How about trying mine?"
"What do you smoke?"
The two walked off chatting, and Meng Luobai glanced at Jie Xu across from her. "Did you just arrive today?"
"Afternoon flight, it was delayed." Jie Xu walked toward her. "Why did you come back to Longcheng? Wasn't your job in Jingzhou going well too?"
Meng Luobai blinked. "I realized Longcheng is better. I like being in Longcheng."
Jie Xu was silent for a moment upon hearing this. "I know Longcheng is good… but the opportunity in Jingzhou was something you worked so hard for over so many years. Coming back just like that—it's a real shame."
"Nothing to be ashamed of." Meng Luobai said with a smile. "It was my own choice."
Jie Xu said nothing more, only looked at her and quietly said, "Okay."
Meng Luobai returned to the private room and saw the three bridesmaids talking among themselves as she walked in. Seeing her enter, they all fell silent at once.
She went back to her original seat and continued chatting with her former classmates.
Because she was having such a good time talking with her classmates, she hadn't looked at her phone for a long while. When she occasionally glanced at it, she found that Ling Sui had sent her a bunch of new messages.
All of them were updates on Tizi.
One of them was a photo. Tizi was stepping on Ling Sui's collarbone, licking her little paw, while Ling Sui's entire face was in the frame, his eyelids slightly drooping, exuding a cold, world-weary air.
The cat photos Ling Sui sent her always managed to include himself.
[Ling Sui: She's doing a bit better.]
Just as Meng Luobai was about to reply, a female classmate beside her happened to catch a glimpse of her phone screen and said, "That's Ling Sui, isn't it? Where did you get that photo? When did he get a cat?"
Meng Luobai answered offhandedly, "Last week."
"Huh? Last week? Did he post about it?"
Meng Luobai: "…"
She only then realized the female classmate was just asking out of fan curiosity, not actually asking her directly.
Just as she was wondering whether to tell the truth, the female classmate continued, "Class monitor, I've been meaning to ask you for a while. This Ling Sui looks a lot like your old neighbor. But he didn't go by that name. Still, he looks so much like him—is it really him or not?"
Meng Luobai: "…It's him."
The female classmate, whose name was Lin Xinyu, said in surprise, "I really like him now. Can you get me his autograph?"
Gu Jia asked from the side, "What neighbor? Who's Ling Sui?"
Lin Xinyu showed her phone's home screen. "He's a mixed martial arts fighter, and also the heir to the Empirl Group."
Gu Jia didn't have much of an impression of Ling Sui. "That guy is way too good-looking."
Lin Xinyu immediately said, "Of course, the new champion with thirty-one consecutive wins."
Mixed martial arts is a niche sport to begin with, and Meng Luobai hadn't expected that any of his classmates would follow it, let alone happen to be a fan of Ling Sui.
Lin Xinyu: "Class monitor, could you help me get an autographed photo?"
Just as Meng Luobai was about to agree, Tang Lingyu cut in from the side, "Why don't you just ask Luojing directly? No one has better connections in the entertainment industry than her."
Gu Jia was a bit annoyed by Tang Lingyu's way of speaking, and also found her sudden interruption inexplicable. "Didn't you hear Luobai say it? Luobai and Ling Sui are neighbors."
Tang Lingyu glanced at Meng Luobai. "Ling Sui? Isn't he French? How could he be neighbors with Meng Luobai?"
Gu Jia: "Oh, so you didn't know about this. I thought you knew everything."
Tang Lingyu sensed that Gu Jia was mocking her. She edged closer to the bridesmaid group and shot back, "I was just being nice. Besides, only people who actually know each other count as neighbors, right? Lots of people live in the same compound as celebrities. Right, Wu Xuan?"
Wu Xuan didn't respond to her, and neither did anyone in the bridesmaid group. They just said, "We still have a busy day tomorrow, let's head back first."
"Let's hang out a little longer." Tang Lingyu continued with them, "I attended the Empirl runway show last month. Ling Sui comes across as very proud. He doesn't seem like the kind of person who's easy to talk to. I doubt being neighbors would earn you any points with him."
"Comes across? Seems?" Meng Luobai looked down at her. "Are you a fortune teller?"
The moment he finished speaking, before Tang Lingyu could say anything, a voice came from behind them. "Are you… talking about me?"
Everyone turned at the sound and looked over—a tall, robust figure was standing behind them. Ling Sui had both hands in his pockets, looking down at them from above with a cold tone. "I heard my name."
Tang Lingyu froze in place instantly. A twisted awkwardness spread across her face, and she couldn't get a word out. "…"
Meng Luobai blinked, not understanding why Ling Sui had suddenly appeared here. She walked over to him. "Why are you here?"
Ling Sui's gaze landed on her. "To pick you up. I sent you a message and you didn't reply."
Ling Sui was wearing a fitted black short-sleeved shirt tonight, with nothing but a simple logo—not a trace of any other color. The fabric clung to his shoulders, back, and arms, unapologetically outlining his full deltoids and the smooth lines of his biceps. Every inch of muscle carried the sense of power honed from years of combat training.
His lower half was clad in black wide-leg suit pants with a strong drape, the waist cinched tightly by a wide black leather belt. The cold gleam of the belt buckle clashed with the metal chains hanging from the sides of the pants, making his inverted-triangle silhouette of broad shoulders and narrow waist even more pronounced.
He seemed to have had his hair styled today—his long black hair tucked behind his ears, chin slightly raised, adding a sharp, restrained allure.
Had he just finished a magazine shoot?
Meng Luobai: "I was chatting just now and didn't check my phone."
His tall, sturdy frame carried muscles brimming with power, and the cold-toned black-and-silver outfit pushed that wild yet aloof aura to its absolute peak. Ling Sui said, as if no one else were there, "Then when are you done? I'll wait for you outside."
Meng Luobai was a little puzzled by Ling Sui's appearance. She asked, "Is something wrong with Tizi?"
Ling Sui said, "He's already much better."
Meng Luobai was about to say something else when Lin Xinyu, having recovered from the shock of such striking beauty, gently nudged her and shot her a meaningful look.
Meng Luobai blinked, catching on. "Um, could you… sign an autograph for my classmate?"
Ling Sui's gaze shifted to Lin Xinyu behind her, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile. "Sure."
Hearing Ling Sui agree, Lin Xinyu happily went off to find a pen from the waiter.
Seeing a photo was different from seeing someone in person. Gu Jia whispered very quietly beside her, "So this is the Ling Sui you mentioned. Damn, how is he this handsome?"
Meng Luobai smiled. She looked up at Ling Sui, who was sitting perfectly at ease in the seat next to hers, showing absolutely no sign of awkwardness or embarrassment about having barged into someone else's gathering.
Though many of the classmates in the private room had resumed their conversations, their probing gazes were unmistakable. Meng Luobai mentally calculated whether she should leave together with Ling Sui once he finished signing.
She glanced around the room, about to say something to Ding Yongcheng, when Ding Yongcheng and Jie Xu happened to walk in from outside. A classmate by the door said something to him, and he strode directly over—then spotted Ling Sui sitting beside her.
Ding Yongcheng: "And this gentleman is?"
Meng Luobai was about to speak when Ling Sui answered first, "I'm her family. I'm here to pick her up."
What is this guy saying?! Meng Luobai immediately looked at him. Ling Sui met her gaze, leaning in to whisper, "Aren't you treating me like a little brother? Isn't a little brother family?"
That's true, but the way he said it…
"Luobai." Jie Xu stepped forward from behind Ding Yongcheng at that moment, his gaze cool and clear. Perhaps no one expected Jie Xu to speak, so everyone turned to look at him simultaneously. Jie Xu continued, "Are you leaving?"
"…Yeah." Meng Luobai shifted her gaze to Jie Xu. "It's getting late."
Jie Xu said, "We haven't taken a group photo yet."
Meng Luobai smiled. "We'll definitely take one."
Jie Xu looked at Ling Sui. "Will Mr. Ling be joining us too?"
"Why would I?" Ling Sui leaned lazily back in his chair, propping his chin on one hand, the corner of his eye lifting slightly as he swept a cool glance at the person across from him. "I'm family. I'm not a classmate of yours."
Jie Xu smiled. "In China, neighbors don't count as family."
Ling Sui: "A distant relative is worse than a near neighbor. Haven't you heard that saying?"
Though the people around them didn't know what was going on, they could clearly sense that the two knew each other and harbored hostility. Meng Luobai explained to Ding Yongcheng, "He's just here to pick me up. I didn't check my phone, which is why I came up."
Ding Yongcheng laughed. "Anyone who comes is a guest—why distinguish between classmates and friends? You should have brought him up with you from the start."
Ling Sui looked at Meng Luobai. "Exactly. You should have called me up earlier."
Meng Luobai: "…" You really don't consider yourself an outsider, do you.
Just then, Lin Xinyu walked in with paper and pen, looking a bit puzzled at why everyone was gathered over here. "You all want autographs too?" She handed the paper and pen to Ling Sui. "Thank you, Ling Sui. I was in Korea last year and even watched one of your live matches."
"I should be the one thanking you for your support." Ling Sui's smile was generously given as he reached out to take the paper and pen, his gaze happening to land on Lin Xinyu's dress. "This is Empirl's spring new arrival. I'm even more grateful to you now."
Lin Xinyu smiled with her lips pressed together, looking a little shy.
Someone asked Gu Jia what she meant. Gu Jia said, "Just now Xinyu said he's the heir of the Empirl Group."
"Which Empirl?"
Gu Jia: "Which Empirl else? The one you thought of the moment you heard it."
Meng Luobai overheard the whispers and slightly averted her gaze, her eyes meeting Jie Xu's. He watched her quietly, a hint of coldness in his eyes. Meng Luobai lowered her eyelids and looked away.
After all, there was a wedding to be held tomorrow, so no matter how much fun everyone was having, it was time to disperse. Ding Yongcheng said, "Everything you eat, drink, and stay in at the hotel today is on me. I'll head back to get ready first—see you all tomorrow."
"Getting to be the groom, huh." One of the male classmates teased. After the words died down, someone reminded, "Let's take a group photo first."
Hearing this, Ling Sui picked up Meng Luobai's bag and said, "I'll wait for you over there."
Meng Luobai: "Okay."
Everyone had already cleared out an open space to take the group photo. Meng Luobai stood among the female classmates, and for the last shot, she cupped her face with both hands, smiling brightly.
After the photo, everyone dispersed. As Meng Luobai walked toward Ling Sui, he was also just finishing taking photos, flipping through his album.
Meng Luobai walked over. "Did you just take a picture of me?"
Ling Sui: "Mm."
Meng Luobai: "You didn't make me look ugly, did you?"
Ling Sui handed her his phone. "See for yourself."
Meng Luobai looked at it and found that he had actually managed to capture her quite well amid the crowd. "Your photography skills have improved." It wasn't this good before.
Ling Sui's gaze fell on the top of her head, his lowered eyes gentle. "After being criticized by you for so long, I've made progress too."
Meng Luobai chatted with Ling Sui while saying goodbye to her classmates.
Some of the other classmates were still chatting, while others had other plans. Meng Luobai and Ling Sui were the first to reach the elevator. Just as Ling Sui pressed the elevator button, Jie Xu's voice came from behind. "Luobai."
Meng Luobai froze slightly, then slowly turned around. Jie Xu strode quickly to her. "You're leaving now?"
Meng Luobai nodded. "Mm, it's getting late."
Jie Xu lowered his eyelids slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing, as if he wanted to say something.
Ling Sui stepped forward two paces, the corners of his eyes slightly narrowed, his movements carrying an imposing force. Though there was still a distance between them, it was as if he had enveloped Meng Luobai within his presence.
The elevator had already arrived. In the end, Jie Xu said, "Be safe on the road."
Meng Luobai said gently, "You too."
Ling Sui's gaze fell softly, his eyes seeming insulated from the outside world, wrapping only around Meng Luobai. "We're off."
Meng Luobai had drunk alcohol tonight, so she rode back in Ling Sui's car.
Ling Sui had driven a Lamborghini Revuelto today—sharp lines running along the body, pitch-black paint, low and hugging the ground, like a crouching beast.
The angular, wedge-shaped body with scissor doors opening upward—Meng Luobai sat into the passenger seat. "Just bought a new car?"
Ling Sui: "No, it's been sitting in the garage for a long time."
Listen to that. That's not even human talk. Meng Luobai sighed. "What a waste—such a nice car just sitting in the garage."
The engine started, and the sharp Y-shaped headlights instantly lit up. Ling Sui looked at her with a cool face, raising an eyebrow. "I'm rich."
Meng Luobai: "…"
Why is she showing off her wealth in front of me? She let out a light snort. "Rich? Aren't you called Lior? Changed your English name too?"
Ling Sui glanced at her with a lowered gaze and a faint smile, then stepped on the gas and drove the car out.
Meng Luobai was genuinely tired today, leaning back fully in the passenger seat. She asked casually, "Did you come up with the name Ling Sui yourself?"
Ling Sui kept his eyes on the road ahead. "Mm."
"It sounds nice." Meng Luobai suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "I recall you used to mix up 'sui' and 'ju' when reading. Is it because you were afraid you'd forget?" That was during the winter break of her college years. Not long after the break began, her counselor had asked her to come in—there was a promotional display board that still needed writing.
That day, Ling Sui had accompanied her. Ling Sui had beautiful handwriting, and after Meng Luobai finished the title, she asked him to write part of the content. Among the characters was that "sui."
Ling Sui's strokes were tall and graceful, each one especially elegant—except he wrote "sui" as "ju."
She stood beside him and reminded him, "'Sui' has the 'eye' radical, not the 'moreover' radical."
Ling Sui paused his pen. "Isn't it a polyphonic character?"
"They're not even the same character." Meng Luobai couldn't help but laugh, reaching out for the chalk. "Give me the chalk." After taking it, she lightly wrote beside it as she spoke, "This is 'sui,' and this is 'ju.'"
Ling Sui had excellent grades—always first in class, and he'd even skipped a grade. Misreading or misspelling a character was a rare thing for him. Ling Sui looked at the characters Meng Luobai had written and let out an "Oh."
For some reason, even though Ling Sui had voluntarily accompanied her back to school that day, he was clearly distracted and not in high spirits. Meng Luobai deliberately teased him. "It's fine. From now on, we'll just recite 'guan guan sui jiu'—it's a polyphonic character, right?"
Ling Sui quietly lowered his gaze at her, then reached out to take the chalk back.
Meng Luobai: "Are you mad?"
"No." Back then, Ling Sui was still a real cool, proud little thing. He said coldly, "I'll finish writing the rest."
Meng Luobai handed him the chalk, thinking that Ling Sui had come to school with her in such cold weather, and she'd been "making fun" of him over a wrong character. She silently and seriously considered whether her behavior had been a bit too much. Then she said, "A Jin. How about we go eat hotpot on the back street tonight?"
The knuckles of the fingers gripping the chalk were faintly red. Ling Sui paused. "Aren't you going on a date tonight?"
Meng Luobai: "Not anymore. Let's go eat something good ourselves. You up for it?"
Ling Sui's lashes trembled slightly as he continued writing. "Fine."
Her memory pulled back, that cool, proud, pretty face from before overlapping with his now cold, sharp features. Ling Sui's gaze glinted coldly. "No. It's because you mocked me for mispronouncing it."
Meng Luobai thought to herself, kids are no fun once they grow up—better when they were little and all cool and proud, so adorable.
"If I mocked you for misreading the word 'dog,' would you have named yourself Ling Dog?"
Ling Sui: "I wouldn't misread that character either."
Meng Luobai: "…" That was true.
Ling Sui drove onto a side road, and just as Meng Luobai was about to say he'd taken the wrong turn, Ling Sui spoke up. "To take Tizi to the vet, I didn't eat dinner tonight."
Meng Luobai: "How's Tizi doing now?"
Ling Sui: "When I left the hospital, it was full of energy again."
"That's good." Meng Luobai said with a smile. "I happen to want to eat something too. I didn't eat much tonight."
Ling Sui knew about Meng Luobai's habit—she never ate much at gatherings and would always have a second meal at home. But he cast a light glance at her and asked, "Had too much fun catching up with your high school classmates?"
"It was pretty fun." Though they hadn't seen each other in years and there was some awkwardness at first, once they started talking, it was quite enjoyable.
Ling Sui said nothing. The car soon pulled up in front of a hotpot restaurant.
As Meng Luobai got out of the car, she glanced at her phone, which had been buzzing nonstop. A stream of messages popped up instantly. What was going on tonight? Everyone was so active.
[Zhi Qian: I heard from Xinyu and the others that Ling Sui went too.]
[Zhi Qian: They said he came as your family, to pick you up.]
[Zhi Qian: Since when did you two become family?]
[Zhi Qian: Is it what I think it means?]
[Zhi Qian: Did he take you away?]
[Zhi Qian: Hello, hello, where are you?]
[Meng Luobai: They misheard. I said my brother, family.]
[Zhi Qian: Ling Sui actually came to pick you up? You asked him to?]
[Zhi Qian: I remember he used to pick you up before too.]
[Meng Luobai: No. He hadn't eaten dinner tonight, so we're going to have hotpot together.]
[Zhi Qian: He came to pick up someone who just finished a gathering to go eat hotpot?]
[Meng Luobai: I usually eat very little at gatherings.]
[Zhi Qian: He really knows you well.]
Then came a screenshot—a conversation between Zhi Qian and a few female classmates.
[Gu Jia: The tension with Jie Xu was too thick, and they even knew each other before.]
[Lin Xinyu: I think so too!]
Meng Luobai: "…" What a load of nonsense. In her mind, Ling Sui was no different from Sang Shu—a brother from a different mother and father. Besides, Ling Sui had someone he liked.
She was just about to tell them not to make such an inappropriate joke when her wrist was suddenly grabbed. Ling Sui pulled her close to his side. "Watch where you're going."
As he said this, a car drove past her. "…Thanks."
Ling Sui glanced at her phone. "Who are you chatting with so happily? Jie Xu?"
Meng Luobai looked at Ling Sui, blinking involuntarily. "Why do you ask?"
Ling Sui's eyes lowered indifferently, his thin lips pressed together, his expression cold. "I don't like him."