In Meng Lina’s eyes, Zhong Yi’s words were nothing more than the product of jealousy. She was jealous that Liang Feng had risked his life to save her and that she had won his love, while Meng Lina herself had devoted so many years to him without receiving anything in return.
Therefore, she had no desire to say another word. She picked up her handbag and left. Naturally, she hadn’t even taken a sip of the tea Zhong Yi had prepared for her.
Watching her walk away, Zhong Yi could only shrug helplessly.
You can’t reason with someone determined to walk straight into trouble.
She had already said everything she should and shouldn’t have said, and she had only done so because they were both women.
Since Meng Lina refused to believe her, there was nothing more she could do.
As for Liang Feng, the more Zhong Yi thought about him, the more frightening she found him. Every step he took seemed carefully calculated, revealing just how deep and sinister his schemes were.
Fortunately, the compensation had now been fully paid, and her family would have no further dealings with the Liang family.
Still, Zhong Yi didn’t dare let her guard down. When Zhong Huilan returned, she told her mother about her suspicions.
After listening, Zhong Huilan remained silent for a long time.
“I think your suspicions are correct. So many coincidences don’t happen out of nowhere. This man will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Looking at it that way, being able to cut ties with him is actually a good thing for our family.”
Zhong Yi thought so, too.
As for the Meng family, she had already issued a warning. If Meng Lina had any doubts, then given the Meng family’s capabilities, a thorough investigation should be enough to uncover the truth. It all depended on whether Meng Lina was willing to look into it.
There were some matters Zhong Yi simply didn’t want to get involved in too deeply.
Meanwhile, Meng Lina returned to the county hospital and went straight to Liang Feng’s ward.
Liang Feng had been assigned a private room. Because of his heroic act of risking his life to save someone, the hospital had even commended him publicly.
His colleagues had come to visit him one after another, and the cabinet beside his bed was piled high with fruit and various canned goods.
Liang Feng was resting with his eyes closed. Having lost a considerable amount of blood, his face looked especially pale.
Meng Lina’s heart ached at the sight. She cursed the robber who had injured him before walking over and sitting beside his bed.
Just then, Liang Feng opened his eyes.
Meng Lina looked both pleasantly surprised and guilty.
“Did I wake you up?”
Liang Feng’s expression was gentle as he shook his head. “No. I wasn’t asleep anyway. Where did you go?”
Meng Lina initially didn’t want to tell him. She nervously twisted her fingers, glanced at Liang Feng, and finally answered, “I went to your family’s home in the countryside.”
Liang Feng’s expression changed slightly as he stared at her.
“What did you go there for?”
Meng Lina pouted. “Oh, don’t get upset just yet. When you were rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, I put away the clothes you were wearing. I accidentally found a promissory note in them. Later, I asked your mother about it and learned that the Zhong family had demanded that you repay 1,500 yuan. You’ve already paid back 500 yuan, so there was still another 1,000 yuan left…”
“Lina, this is my business. I’ll handle it myself. You don’t need to worry about it,” Liang Feng said righteously.
Meng Lina was even more moved by his words. She quickly took his hand.
“Don’t overthink it. It’s not as though I’m short of money. You know how much my parents and brothers dote on me, and I earn my own salary, too. Besides, you nearly lost your life saving me. What’s wrong with me helping you repay a little money? Anyway, I’ve already paid Zhong Yi back. From now on, you won’t owe her anything.”
Liang Feng fell silent, looking at Meng Lina with a helpless yet somewhat indulgent expression.
Meng Lina shook his hand a few times.
“I know I acted without asking you first, but I genuinely wanted to help. Besides, why wouldn’t you let me repay the money? Is it because you’re still thinking about that Zhong Yi?”
“How could that be? I’d rather repay such a large sum than have anything more to do with the Zhong family. Can’t you see how I feel about you?” Liang Feng replied smoothly.
Deep in his eyes, however, an unusual glint flickered.
Hearing his words, Meng Lina felt sweetness spread through her heart.
She had already been fond of Liang Feng. Now, he had nearly sacrificed his life to save her and had even abandoned the woman he had been involved with in the countryside for eight years.
All of this gave her vanity a sense of satisfaction unlike anything she had ever experienced.
Really, was there any other woman in the world as fortunate as she was?
“Of course I understand. I know you treat me the best, which is why I helped you pay off the debt. And from now on, you’re not allowed to meet Zhong Yi again. You belong to me.”
As a city girl who had grown up pampered by her family, Meng Lina had a romantic and rather straightforward personality. When she wanted something, she wanted to have it.
“Do you really still have any doubts about how I feel about you?” Liang Feng asked with a smile, clasping her hand in his and gently rubbing her fingers with his thumb.
Although they were in a hospital, it was a private room, so no one came in to disturb them. Even if someone had seen them, Meng Lina wouldn’t have thought there was anything wrong with it.
After all, everyone in the hospital now knew that Liang Feng was willing to risk his life to save her.
So many women were envious of her!
Meng Lina loved these little gestures of affection. Holding Liang Feng’s hand, she wore a shy smile, looking every bit like a woman basking in the happiness of being in love.
“Of course I don’t doubt you. It’s just that Zhong Yi is such a heartless woman. She actually tried to hint, both directly and indirectly, that your rescue of me was nothing but an act. She even claimed that you used the same trick to get close to her back then, making the Zhong family spend money supporting your family.”
Her attention was entirely focused on Liang Feng’s fingers.
Naturally, she failed to notice that the moment she finished speaking, Liang Feng’s handsome face darkened. His eyes narrowed slightly.
Suppressing the panic and viciousness churning inside him, he asked, “And what did you say to her?”
When Meng Lina looked up, Liang Feng immediately concealed the coldness in his eyes and returned to his usual gentle, refined demeanor.
Meng Lina pouted.
“Of course I didn’t believe her! I think she’s just bitter because she couldn’t keep you and has become twisted with jealousy. She can’t stand that I’ve won your love. I know women like her all too well. She has no education or worldly experience, and once she gets hold of a man, she refuses to let go. When she can’t have him, she resorts to slandering him.
“If I believed what she said, how would I be any different from her? I’m an educated, cultured, modern woman with knowledge and experience. How could she possibly compare to me?”
In Meng Lina’s eyes, Zhong Yi wasn’t even worthy of comparison with the tip of her little toe.
Knowing her temperament, Liang Feng smiled and humored her.
“Of course. How could she ever compare to you?”
Pleased by his words, Meng Lina couldn’t help leaning her head against his chest.
“Anyway, you’re not allowed to think about her anymore.”
Liang Feng rested his hand on the back of her head and gently stroked her long hair, but his thoughts had already drifted far beyond the hospital room, out through the window.
Truthfully, compared with Meng Lina, Zhong Yi was prettier. Her skin was especially fair, almost as though it were glowing. Her personality was also gentler.
A woman like Zhong Yi would have been the most suitable wife to bring home.
Unfortunately, the Zhong family merely made a living selling tofu. They could offer him very little help with his future prospects.
Still, Zhong Yi had actually seen through his schemes.
Had she become smarter, or had she simply been hiding her true abilities all along?
Or perhaps she just couldn’t let him go?
Maybe she couldn’t stand seeing him with a new woman and had deliberately slandered him in front of Meng Lina out of jealousy.
Having dealt with the immediate trouble, Liang Feng felt his confidence swelling once again.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered the possibility that Grandpa Zhou had arranged Zhong Yi’s marriage to Zhou Shu.
But he quickly dismissed the concern.
Although Zhou Shu was a soldier, military service was dangerous work. Besides, Zhong Yi hadn’t even managed to get into university. Who knew how Zhou Shu’s parents would view a daughter-in-law like her? They might not approve of her at all.
Furthermore, Liang Feng had no idea what rank Zhou Shu actually held in the military. If he was merely a company commander or something similar, he might not be assigned a particularly good position if he transferred out of the military into civilian employment.