It was already past midnight when Meng Luobai left Ling Sui's house.
When she came upstairs, Meng Luoyu, the goddess of staying up late, heard the sound and poked her head out of her room. "Sis? Why are you back?"
"I went to Chen Luojing's housewarming party tonight."
"Oh, right." Meng Luoyu came out of her room holding her phone and followed her into her room. She frowned. "Why so late? Did Chen Luojing make you do chores?"
Meng Luobai: "No. We just played late. Why aren't you asleep yet at this hour?"
"I was just about to sleep."
Meng Luobai gave a light snort. She changed out of her outerwear. "It's late. I'm going to take a shower. You get back to your room and go to sleep right now." She turned to grab a change of clothes from the wardrobe when the phone on her bed vibrated twice, the screen lighting up.
Meng Luoyu lay on the bed, glanced over, and caught sight of the name on the screen. A subtle glint of interest flickered in her eyes. "Sis, did Brother Jie Xu go tonight too?"
Meng Luobai paused mid-motion, then turned around holding her clothes. "Why do you ask?"
Meng Luoyu handed her the phone. "He's asking if you got home safe."
Meng Luobai took the phone. The top message was from Jie Xu: [Did you get home?]
Meng Luoyu's eyes sparkled. "He even came to Chen Luojing's wedding?"
Meng Luobai tapped lightly on the keyboard, [Yeah, I'm home.] Then she turned off the phone and set it aside on the nightstand. "Chen Luojing's husband was also our high school classmate. He's good friends with Jie Xu."
"That's it?" Meng Luoyu dragged out her words, clearly unconvinced. "A big star like him comes to a classmate's wedding?"
"Stars are people too. And it's not just an ordinary classmate relationship—I heard they're planning to start a company together."
"I just think it's a hassle for them to go out," Meng Luoyu said. "Anyway, he seems pretty concerned about you—asking if you got home safe."
Meng Luobai picked out her clothes and glanced back at her. "Isn't that just a normal question?"
Meng Luoyu crawled forward a bit on the bed, tilted her face up, and asked, "Sis, I've always felt that Brother Jie Xu pays a lot of attention to you. Every time I post on Moments and you're in the photo, he likes it and leaves a comment."
"I was going to talk to you about that. You post like eight hundred Moments a week. Now that you're in a government position, you shouldn't post so much anymore."
"I've blocked all my leaders and coworkers. Don't worry."
Meng Luobai: "Still, post less."
Meng Luoyu said, "I'm trying to talk to you about Brother Jie Xu. Back when you had that car accident, Brother Jie Xu stayed by your side through it all. So why did you break up afterward? Why did you two break up?"
"Why do you have so many whys? That was seven or eight years ago. I've long forgotten." Meng Luobai hugged her clothes. "Go back to your room and sleep. I'm taking a shower."
Meng Luoyu stared at her silently for two seconds, then flopped down onto the bed. "Go take your shower. I'm not crashing in here."
Meng Luobai let out a helpless sigh and walked straight into the bathroom.
The warm water cascaded down from the tips of her hair, instantly washing away the fatigue of the evening. She let the hot water run over her skin until her gaze landed on the scar on her hand, and her consciousness drifted away like a film playing in reverse, unable to stop itself.
Before she and Jie Xu started dating, they had already been close friends. She was the top-ranked class monitor in the science track, and he was the campus heartthrob of the arts class—the two of them were always seen together. Even after college split them between Longcheng and Jingzhou, the distance never stopped them from being together.
It wasn't until their senior year that the drama Jie Xu starred in premiered across all platforms. With his good looks and a character that won people over, even his raw acting couldn't stop him from carving out a place in the campus drama. He began to rise to fame starting from the summer he graduated.
Naturally, she—his official girlfriend—was dug up by netizens, and her social media accounts came under attack from countless people for a long stretch of time.
The malice online was disheartening enough, but on top of that, the crushing pressure of her hospital internship, the anxiety of graduation, and the weight of grad school applications and her thesis nearly suffocated her.
By the time her internship finally ended, she had to work an extra hour and a half overtime that day—and that was when she got into the car accident that rewrote her life.
The accident left severe damage to her arm, cost her the graduate school recommendation spot she'd earned, and completely destroyed her lifelong dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.
Meng Luobai had always excelled at everything she did, with a clear and confident plan for her future. But during the six months of recovery, she was completely lost.
Jie Xu, who came to visit her regularly, signed with a well-known entertainment agency, received new film and TV offers, attended various events, and appeared on screen more and more frequently—gaining more and more fans.
—Could they really make it to the end?
One night, that thought surfaced in her mind and refused to leave.
—Was she the one holding Jie Xu back?
—If she weren't around, would more people come to love him?
It was also around those days that Jie Xu's new company's PR team publicly denied her existence.
The online attacks grew even more vicious. Some fans, too irrational to think clearly, learned about her car accident and gloated in the comment sections, mocking her relentlessly.
—She's a burden.
—She's dead weight.
She was in a terrible place during that time.
She thought of Chen Wei, who said with his own mouth that Daddy loved Luolu the most, yet honestly took her younger brother away.
And Ling Sui—the birthday party she was late to on the day of the accident, the one who said he wanted to celebrate her birthday, then vanished without a word ever since.
During that period, Meng Luobai became irritable, sensitive, and quick to anger, doubting her own life and worth. She didn't want the same thing to happen to her again…
She was the one who initiated the breakup, and Jie Xu didn't try to stop her.
The split came down to considerations of their respective futures and differences in their lives, not any emotional conflict between them. While she was recovering, a doctor who had been at the accident scene told her, "Your boyfriend went crazy trying to get to you at the scene. No one could pull him away—he looked like he wanted to die with you."
Because of that, they'd stayed in touch over the years and even returned to being friends. But with both of them busy with work, and Jie Xu's status as a celebrity, they gradually built separate lives and, like other friends in life, drifted further and further apart.
The next day, Meng Luobai woke up, reached for her phone, and saw that it was a little past eight.
After washing up, she went downstairs and had something to eat. Remembering Ling Sui's injuries from last night, she returned to her room and reached out to a few orthopedic doctors she knew well and who were highly skilled. She gave them a general description of Ling Sui's condition, sent over some of the examination reports, and asked for rehabilitation advice.
Before she knew it, Meng Luobai had spent several hours consulting and researching. By the time she snapped back to reality, it was almost noon.
A message came in from Ling Sui: [Leaving soon?]
[Meng Luobai: Give me a moment, I'll come find you.]
[Ling Sui: Okay.]
Meng Luobai tidied herself up and put on a simple full face of makeup. Once she was ready, she stepped out of the house. The sun was especially bright today, and the temperature had risen a bit compared to the past few days.
Meng Luobai wore a short, cinched-waist tweed jacket in a Chanel style, with crisp, structured shoulders that perfectly accentuated her slender waist. She paired it with a floor-length skirt in the same color that draped elegantly, the hem brushing lightly against her shoes as she walked—gentle and refined.
Her long hair was loosely gathered at the back of her head, with a few stray strands falling against her neck, highlighting the delicate, fair line of her throat.
She walked toward Ling Sui's place next door while sending a message: [I'm on my way.]
At that moment, Ling Sui stepped out of his room, and his phone chimed just in time. He glanced down at the screen, and when he looked up again, Meng Luobai's figure came into view.
Sunlight fell on the tips of her hair, casting a soft, pale glow. The breeze brushed past the hem of her skirt and lifted the loose strands at her neck. Ling Sui's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly, his gaze fixed like a nail, unblinking as he watched her approach.
"Ling Sui." Meng Luobai walked up to him. "Did you sleep well last night?"
Ling Sui stepped down from the porch, his gaze lowering briefly before meeting hers again. His Adam's apple rolled slightly, and his voice carried a hint of barely perceptible hoarseness. "Very well."
Last night's Lamborghini Revuelto sat in the corner of the garage. The rich Ling Sui pressed the car key, and a faint, deep "beep" sounded, like metal being gently tapped. Then, the even richer Koenigsegg in the center of the garage awakened.
The LED daytime running lights at the front lit up one by one. Ling Sui held the edge of the car door and tilted his chin at her. "Get in."
Meng Luobai: "…" Rich beyond all humanity.
The two settled into the car. The seats were wrapped in top-tier carbon fiber and leather, and as soon as they sat down, their limbs stretched out, enveloped by the comfortable curves. Meng Luobai asked, "I didn't see this car last night."
Ling Sui pressed the start button.
The first second was silence. The next, the engine roared to life.
Ling Sui glanced at her sideways, his voice cold and sharp, carrying a hint of careless wildness. "Last night's car wasn't worthy of you."
Meng Luobai blinked slowly, the corners of her mouth curving up involuntarily. It was a bit showy, but sitting here in the car, she had to admit it sounded pretty good. "Then drive, rich bro."
Ling Sui let out a small laugh and pulled the car out.
Although the drive to the hotel was fairly smooth, since Wanxiang Hotel was surrounded by various other hotels, and today was an auspicious day on the calendar, there were many weddings and even more people dining out. No matter how rich the car was, arriving at the parking lot meant facing the punishment of no available spots.
Ling Sui looked at the cars queuing ahead, enduring the stares of passersby while having to stop repeatedly. "Isn't there a valet?"
"Young master, look at all these cars. Are you trying to exhaust the valet?"
Just then, a security guard came up to them, gesturing for Ling Sui to roll down the window. He pointed them toward a route leading to the parking garage below.
They glanced outside—cars were all moving at a crawl. Just then, Zhi Qian called. Meng Luobai answered and heard Zhi Qian's cheerful voice, "I'm at the hotel entrance. Where are you? How long until you get here?"
Meng Luobai glanced toward the hotel entrance—sure enough, Zhi Qian was there, looking around. "We're looking for a parking spot."
Ling Sui turned his head toward her. "Go on in first. I'll find you after I park."
Meng Luobai glanced at Zhi Qian outside the car and nodded. "Alright. I'll wait for you in the lobby on the first floor."
After getting out of the car, Meng Luobai hurried over to Zhi Qian, and the two embraced instantly. Zhi Qian's gaze swept over the Koenigsegg she'd just stepped out of. "Is the economy really that bad now? Even Koenigseggs are being used for rideshare?"
Meng Luobai: "That's Ling Sui's car."
Zhi Qian's eyes lit up instantly. "Ling Sui?! He's here too?"
"Mm." Meng Luobai said. "He's here to crash the banquet."
Zhi Qian looked at her, the corners of her mouth curving inexplicably into a smile that she held, without saying a word.
Meng Luobai felt uncomfortable under her gaze. "What are you doing? Let's go—head inside first."
Zhi Qian: "The young master of Empirl, crashing your relative's wedding banquet—do you honestly believe that when you say it out loud?"
Meng Luobai pulled her toward the hotel. "That's just how it is. With someone by my side, Chen Luojing's family will have less room to get under my skin."
As the two walked into the hotel lobby, Zhi Qian had just finished saying "Do you think I believe that?" when she spotted Chen Luojing and Ding Yongcheng in formal attire standing at the registration desk greeting guests, with a striking figure in front of them. Zhi Qian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Jian Yi?!"
Zhi Qian whispered to Meng Luobai, "Why is she here too?"
Meng Luobai smiled. "This is exactly the 'getting under my skin' I told you about." When she'd heard from Zhi Qian that Jian Yi had commented under Chen Luojing's Moments post, she'd already figured it out.
Jian Yi not showing up to last night's housewarming party had already surprised her; her coming to the wedding today was completely expected.
After Jian Yi finished talking with Chen Luojing and left, Meng Luobai and Zhi Qian stepped forward. "Congratulations, congratulations. Happy newlywed bliss."
Zhi Qian nodded along. "Wishing you a hundred years of harmony and everlasting happiness."
Ding Yongcheng smiled and acknowledged them both. "Zhi Qian, you didn't come last night—make sure you stay and have some fun today." Chen Luojing, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up. "Cousin, Jian Yi just arrived too."
Ding Yongcheng's expression cooled slightly as he looked at Chen Luojing. Meng Luobai blinked, a smile curling at the corners of her mouth as she asked, "Who's that?"
Chen Luojing's expression was visibly taken aback.
Meng Luobai smiled at her. "Cousin, you're so thoughtful. You're even introducing your own friends to me."
Zhi Qian chimed in with a laugh as well. "Luojing really knows how to be gracious."
Chen Luojing hadn't expected the two of them to call her out so bluntly at that moment. Her expression turned sour, but before she could say anything, Ding Yongcheng beside her spoke up. "Everyone's here now—let's head inside and chat."
"Sure." As the two walked away smiling, Meng Luobai spotted Liu Xiuyu and Chen Feng nearby. Liu Xiuyu was as falsely polite as ever. "Luobai's here."
Meng Luobai didn't say much, only nodding politely.
Behind them was the gift registration area, where a few guests were still registering their monetary gifts. Zhi Qian quietly asked her, "How much did you give her?"
"My mom gave five thousand." Thinking about what had just happened, Meng Luobai replied in a low voice, "But I want to take my five thousand back."
Zhi Qian: "I'll block for you, hurry and take it."
Meng Luobai had only said that; it wouldn't be appropriate to take it back now.
Zhi Qian: "Auntie Meng is really kind, she even gave five thousand."
"After all, my mom is considered an elder to Chen Luojing." Moreover, the Chen family favored boys over girls, and Chen Luojing soon had a younger brother. Liu Xiuyu often left Chen Luojing with Meng Wenjian to look after together. Back then, Meng Luobai and Chen Luojing had a pretty good relationship, and Meng Wenjian also had some affection for Chen Luojing.
But when Chen Luosong got married, Meng Luobai was busy with work and didn't come at all—neither she nor her mom had given any gift.
As they were talking, Jian Yi, who had finished registering his gift, suddenly turned around and saw them. Jian Yi seemed to want to come over and greet them, but both Meng Luobai and Zhi Qian pretended not to see her, so she left somewhat awkwardly with her friends.
Zhi Qian: "Ugh, seeing a ghost in broad daylight."
After the guests ahead left, Meng Luobai and Zhi Qian stepped forward. Zhi Qian handed over her red envelope and said, "I'm a classmate of both of them."
The person in charge of gifts counted the money and noted down the amount.
Meng Luobai also handed over her red envelope and said softly, "The bride's cousin." Just as she finished speaking, before the red envelope even reached the other person's hand, a hand suddenly cut in from the side and forcibly snatched the red envelope from her grasp.
Chen Luosong weighed the red envelope in his hand, let out a sneer, and said in a tone dripping with sarcasm, "As the cousin, you have the nerve to give this little?"
The red envelope being snatched away suddenly stirred a flicker of irritation in Meng Luobai's heart. She looked up at Chen Luosong. "That's plenty. When you got married, I didn't give a single cent."
Chen Luosong hadn't expected her to snap back so directly. His face darkened. "Whether you gave anything when I married doesn't matter to me."
"Exactly, it doesn't matter." Meng Luobai was about to reach out and snatch it back, but Chen Luosong dodged to the side and tried to say something harsh. "But as the cousin, you—"
Before Chen Luosong could finish, a searing, piercing pain suddenly shot through the hand holding the red envelope. His wrist felt like it was being crushed, and his arm bent forward uncontrollably, the pain making his voice twist. "Ahh…!"
Ling Sui stood behind Chen Luosong without anyone noticing. His large hand with distinct knuckles easily clamped down on Chen Luosong's wrist, the force of his fingers like iron pliers. Ling Sui's eyes were slightly lowered as he looked down at Chen Luosong from above, his cold voice like ice, instantly silencing all the noise around them. "What—are—you—doing!"