Because Ruan Yi and Meng Qitang had both encountered accidents in succession, and the situation in the mountains was complicated, He Muchen was worried that more tricky situations might arise, so he decided to return to the KM Research Center ahead of schedule.
On the bus ride back this time, Ruan Yi sat next to him.
That day when Ruan Yi was trapped in the cave, she had seen He Muchen braving the howling wind and pouring rain to find her first.
She was instantly moved to tears, casting aside all the embarrassment He Muchen had caused her.
Happily, she buzzed around him once again.
What surprised Ruan Yi even more was that He Muchen’s attitude toward her had warmed considerably—no longer as indifferent and dismissive as before.
Listening to sweet little love songs through her earbuds, Ruan Yi glanced triumphantly in Meng Qitang’s direction.
But to her surprise, Meng Qitang couldn’t have cared less—she had already fallen asleep leaning against Lin Linlin’s shoulder.
Lin Linlin couldn’t help but laugh inwardly, knowing Ruan Yi must be absolutely fuming inside.
This was her moment of glory, and Meng Qitang hadn’t even seen it.
…
By the time they arrived at the research center, it was already dark. The moment Meng Qitang got off the bus, she received a message from her grandfather asking her to come home for dinner that evening.
Meng Qitang recalled the last time she’d gone home for a meal. That wasn’t a family reunion dinner by any stretch—
It was a full-blown blind date banquet!
Just thinking about it gave her a headache, but she decided to make one last attempt to resist.
[Meng Qitang: Grandpa, I’m busy with work. No time to come back.]
Old Master Meng replied quickly—with a voice message.
“Tangtang, this one your grandmother likes, and your grandfather thinks she’s not bad either. We’re sincere this time.”
[Meng Qitang: That’s exactly what you two said last time. Anyway, I’m not in a hurry.]
[Grandpa: You’re not in a hurry, but I am. I’m in a hurry hurry hurry hurry baby baby baby]
[Meng Qitang: Keep this up and I’m calling the police_]
Old Master Meng simply sent a “please please” sticker in response.
[Meng Qitang: …]
“Good granddaughter, this time it really isn’t a blind date dinner. Trust your grandfather just this once.” Unable to withstand the bombardment of phone calls from the elderly, Meng Qitang went home after all.
She had been raised by her grandparents since childhood. Both her parents were diplomats, usually busy with work.
Tragically, the two had died in a plane crash during an overseas assignment.
Meng Qitang came from a wealthy family and had been raised in comfort and luxury.
Her grandfather, Meng Qiusheng, was an antique connoisseur whose cabinets were always filled with all sorts of rare treasures.
This time when she returned, two more porcelain vases from the Tang and Song dynasties had appeared in Old Master Meng’s cabinet.
“Well, well, if it isn’t my eldest granddaughter!” Meng Qiusheng took off the glass lenses from his nose and pulled Meng Qitang over to appreciate the antiques.
But in the blink of an eye, she was whisked away by her grandmother, Lu Chunjing. “Good granddaughter, don’t mind your grandfather. Grandma has found a fine man for you…”
Meng Qitang gave a wry smile. “Grandma, I really am still young.”
She was only twenty-five.
Lu Chunjing looked at her with a face full of tenderness and gently patted her hand. “Good granddaughter, there are plenty of men in this world—if one doesn’t work, we’ll find another.”
The elderly couple wasn’t actually forcing Meng Qitang to marry early. They only wished for someone to protect their precious darling at all times.
They were getting old and couldn’t be by Meng Qitang’s side forever.
They always wanted to do something for her while they still could.
Meng Qitang’s smile was radiant, and her voice was gentle. “Grandma, your views on romance are way ahead of your time for your generation.”
Lu Chunjing looked a little proud. “Grandma may be old, but that doesn’t mean I’m behind the times!”
The two of them settled onto the sofa, and a servant brought over freshly stewed milk and bird’s nest soup. “Miss, the old lady specifically instructed us to prepare this.”
Meng Qitang nodded and obediently picked it up to drink.
“Tangtang, careful, it’s hot.” Lu Chunjing’s face was full of affection as she reached up to tuck away the stray strands of hair that had fallen over Meng Qitang’s face, revealing the conspicuous butterfly mark.
While she was eating the bird’s nest, Lu Chunjing slowly began, “My dear granddaughter, you’ve worked so hard coming back from Mist City. Rest at home tomorrow…”
“Grandma, the man I’ve picked out for you this time is a big boss! Take some time tomorrow to go meet him…”
As she spoke, Lu Chunjing pulled out her phone and showed a photo of Li Heyi.
Meng Qitang knew this man all too well—wasn’t he the CEO of Quexing Entertainment?
The boss of the entertainment company Yun Xubai was signed under.
Lin Linlin would bring him up every now and then.
“Grandma,” Meng Qitang set down what she was holding and, on a whim, pulled up a photo of Yun Xubai on her phone, “Do you still follow celebrities?”
Lu Chunjing waved her hand. “Grandma’s too old for that now.”
But when she saw the photo on Meng Qitang’s phone, her demeanor changed completely. She even dug out her reading glasses from her pocket and put them on. “Grandma thinks she can still give it a try. Oh my, this handsome young man—he’s truly gorgeous! Why haven’t I ever seen him on TV before?”
Meng Qitang was caught between laughter and tears. “He keeps a low profile.”
“Perfect! I approve!” Lu Chunjing immediately made her decision, unable to hide the joy on her face.
Meng Qitang: ? That won’t do at all.
“No, Grandma, let me finish—”
Meng Qiusheng came out of the study and overheard Lu Chunjing saying that Meng Qitang’s boyfriend was a big celebrity.
The old man was shocked. “My dear granddaughter, Grandpa doesn’t approve~”
“Celebrities have to hide and sneak around when they date, and they have to worry about their fans’ feelings. Grandpa doesn’t want Tangtang to suffer through that.”
“Ah,” Meng Qitang responded lightly, “Just to clarify, he’s not my boyfriend.”
Meng Qiusheng happily slapped his thigh. “Exactly! It’s still more reliable to go meet that CEO tomorrow.”
It was still snowing over in Gangzhou. When Meng Qitang woke up, she saw the courtyard covered in a blanket of white.
There was a glass tea house in the courtyard—a perfect spot to enjoy the snow.
Meng Qiusheng was practicing tai chi inside the glass tea house, while Lu Chunjing lay on a soft lounge chair nearby, eyes half-closed, listening to opera.
The two elders looked up and could see Meng Qitang standing on the balcony watching them.
Lu Chunjing gestured a few times, signaling that the balcony was cold with the snow falling and that she should go back inside.
Meng Qitang changed her clothes and went downstairs. She had two days off, and she’d slept until nine before waking, then lingered in bed a while longer before finally getting up.
The servant brought her breakfast to the tea house. Meng Qitang bit into a bag of milk and sat down beside Lu Chunjing to send a message to Lin Linlin.
Lin Linlin had gotten much busier since returning from Mist City. She’d originally only gone to Mist City to keep Meng Qitang company, but unexpectedly, she’d made a real breakthrough in her biological research.
When two friends have spent that much time together, some brainwaves can connect across dozens of kilometers.
[00: Hey, beautiful, want to grab dinner tonight? A new hotpot place opened near Chongming Kou—heard it’s really good!]
Meng Qitang blinked, then decided to tell her about the blind date with Li Heyi that evening.
[00: My dad, my grandpa, my great-aunt and second uncle—this Li Heyi, is he the big boss of Quexing Entertainment?]
[Tangtang: Yes. Do you want to go?]
At the research center, Lin Linlin leaned against the wall, staring at the message Meng Qitang had sent, pondering for a long time.
[00: I can go, but I have no plans of getting married, ha.]
[00: Can I ask him to get me a photo of my White Bro’s abs?]
[00: Horny as hell jpg.]
At the “Snow-Clad Plum Blossom” place, Yun Xubai sneezed for no apparent reason.
Yun Xubai: Damn, she’s after my abs photo.