But the two women across from them didn’t notice this side.
The girl with the twin braids, Wen Yiyue, was anxiously waiting.
“It’s all my fault! I knew my third uncle’s family was coming—I should’ve placed the violin higher! Then it wouldn’t have been smashed by them! I still have a performance in a few days, but now the violin is broken… I’m going crazy!”
Wen Yiyue became more and more agitated, tears welling up in her eyes.
For her, this was nothing short of a disaster.
Ning Weihong patted her friend’s back to comfort her.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. We’ll definitely figure something out. After we finish eating, we’ll go find—”
“Fix a violin?”
“A violin?”
A sudden voice interrupted them.
Both Wen Yiyue and Ning Weihong couldn’t help but look up.
It was the young couple who had been sharing their table earlier.
Meng Yu tilted her head and looked at Wen Yiyue, continuing:
“How badly is it damaged?”
“What are you asking that for?”
Ning Weihong immediately became guarded.
Meng Yu’s big eyes gave off an innocent impression at first glance. She tilted her head at Ning Weihong but didn’t answer, instead shifting her gaze back to Wen Yiyue.
The violin belonged to the girl with the braids—she had no interest in anyone else.
Being ignored made Ning Weihong unhappy. She tugged Wen Yiyue’s sleeve and whispered:
“Don’t pay attention to her. Who knows what bad intentions she has.”
After hearing this, Zhou Sinian gave Ning Weihong a cold glance, then looked back at Meng Yu.
“You want to help?”
Meng Yu nodded.
In this era, seeing a violin in a small town was extremely rare. Even after coming to town and visiting the propaganda team, she hadn’t expected to see one.
Yet here it was, right at a meal.
Although it sounded like the violin was broken, it didn’t matter—she was a violinist, and even better at repairing violins.
Zhou Sinian didn’t stop her.
After spending so much time with her, he understood her personality well enough.
Most things she couldn’t be bothered with—but when it came to something she liked or was stubborn about, she simply would not let go.
He turned to Wen Yiyue.
“Comrade, my wife happens to be skilled with the violin and also knows how to repair it. If you trust her, she can take a look.”
As soon as he said this, Wen Yiyue’s eyes lit up.
But the next second, a spoilsport voice rang out.
“You say she can fix it, so she can? A violin is precious! If you break it even more, can you afford to pay for it?”
Ning Weihong rolled her eyes dramatically.
Zhou Sinian looked at her, then at Meng Yu, and wisely chose not to intervene further.
Because from his perspective, this woman had already provoked Meng Yu—and he could only silently hope she wouldn’t end up crying later.
As expected.
Meng Yu’s gaze shifted to Ning Weihong again.
Her big eyes were filled with confusion.
“Who are you?”
“I—”
“Is the violin yours?”
“Of course—”
“Then why are you talking so much?”
“You!”
“Or… are you actually happy that the violin is broken?”
“Shut up!”
Ning Weihong finally managed to squeeze out a full sentence, shouting loudly!
The entire state-owned restaurant fell silent in an instant.
Everyone turned to look, frowning in disapproval.
Ning Weihong quickly shut her mouth in embarrassment, but still glared fiercely at Meng Yu.
Meng Yu, however, just sneered lightly.
She turned to Wen Yiyue and sincerely advised:
“She’s not a good person. You should stop hanging out with her.”
Zhou Sinian: …
Well… this is awkward.
He knew she was a troublemaker, but did she really not fear getting beaten for saying that so directly?
Even Wen Yiyue was stunned.
She looked between her friend and the unfamiliar woman.
“You… why would you say that? Although what Weihong said earlier wasn’t pleasant, she was just thinking of me.”
“Oh.”
Meng Yu responded flatly.
That indifferent tone only made Wen Yiyue feel even more awkward.
Ning Weihong shot Meng Yu another sharp glare.
“Mind your own business!”
Meng Yu looked at her.
Normally, she didn’t interfere with other people’s lives—but if someone didn’t appreciate her restraint, then she had no reason to hold back.
She lifted her chin slightly and focused her firepower on Ning Weihong.
“Her violin is broken, and she’s already stressed. As her good friend, instead of immediately taking her to find a repair shop, you brought her here to eat at a state-owned restaurant. Were you just hungry?”
That single sentence made Ning Weihong’s face turn bright red.
Being exposed like that left her extremely embarrassed.
“I’m not talking nonsense! Yiyue didn’t eat all morning. I was just worried about her!”
“Oh? Then as her good friend, did you ever figure out the real reason she didn’t eat all morning?”
Just then, the waiter served the food.
Braised pork and stewed fish—today’s specials.
Meng Yu glanced at the dishes placed in front of them.
“Braised pork, stewed fish… these are the only two specials today, and you ordered both. May I ask—who is paying?”
Ning Weihong’s face went from red to pale instantly.
Wen Yiyue also pressed her lips together.
“Re… Weihong said she would help me find someone to fix the violin. So today’s meal is of course my treat…”
At this point, even a fool could see something was wrong.
Wen Yiyue turned to her friend.
They had grown up together—she really didn’t want to suspect her.
Meng Yu raised an eyebrow and snorted slightly.
Nice.
A few words, and she shattered a so-called friendship.
Ning Weihong’s heart was racing.
“Yiyue, don’t listen to her nonsense! We don’t even know who she is—you can’t trust her!”
Meng Yu couldn’t even be bothered to respond anymore.
“Then pay for today’s meal.”
“Why should I!”
Ning Weihong immediately exploded.
Meng Yu shrugged.
One small move—and their perfect friendship collapsed.
Ning Weihong finally realized the situation. She panicked and turned to Wen Yiyue.
“Yiyue, that’s not what I meant! I just—I…”
Wen Yiyue looked at her calmly.
“Mm. Go on. I’m listening.”
Ning Weihong couldn’t say a single word.
What could she explain?
There was nothing to explain.
She had come here intending to freeload a meal.
Now that it had been exposed, how could she stay?
Finally, unwillingly glancing at the oily, fragrant braised pork, she swallowed hard, then glared at Meng Yu and stormed off.