Dawn.
Meng Xiyue, as always, got up early for her exercise routine, breathing in and out, everything following her rhythm. Just as she was enjoying the mind-clearing effects of her run, she was suddenly bumped into.
If it weren’t for her instinctively stepping back to stabilize herself, she would have definitely been knocked over. The person who bumped into her was clearly just as startled, clutching tightly at her clothes, dazed in her arms for a long while before Meng Xiyue pushed them away and took a step back, finally getting a clear look at the person’s face.
A delicate face, with eyes that were normally bright but now filled with confusion. The female lead? Out of politeness, Meng Xiyue spoke up, “Are you okay?” Ding Yaoyao, hearing this familiar voice, snapped back to reality. Seeing Meng Xiyue’s familiar, cold face, she quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, Miss Meng, are you alright?”
Meng Xiyue stepped aside, avoiding the other’s frantic hands reaching out to check on her: “I’m fine.”
Her gaze inadvertently caught sight of the bright red hickey on the other’s neck, understanding the situation. At this moment, the already sensitive Ding Yaoyao immediately covered her neck, her face blushing furiously: “Miss Meng, I’ll be going first.”
After saying that, she hurriedly ran off. This incident didn’t affect Meng Xiyue, who continued her run.
“President Meng, the meeting time with Xia Corporation has been set for tomorrow afternoon at three.” Hearing this, Meng Xiyue’s expression remained unchanged, her eyes not leaving the documents in front of her, simply responding, “I know.”
After the secretary left, Meng Xiyue put down her work, her mind unconsciously drifting to Xia Yuan’s pretentious arrogance last night, and the awkward ‘thank you’ before getting out of the car. Hard on the outside but soft on the inside? Xia Corporation, being one of the three major families in City S, isn’t something just any company can connect with.
NS is practically invisible in the eyes of Xia Corporation, so them setting up a meeting so quickly was honestly beyond Meng Xiyue’s expectations. After mulling it over, Meng Xiyue returned to her work, truly busy.
Xia Yuan finally managed to get out of bed, only to find it was already ten o’clock. Rubbing her messy hair, with a defeated look, she staggered out of bed and started her day in a daze.
When she came downstairs, her face was already adorned with a delicate makeup. The aunt downstairs saw her coming down and hurriedly served the food she had prepared.
By the time Xia Yuan took her seat, her favorite dishes were already laid out in front of her.
Just as she was about to enjoy her meal, her phone rang. It was a call from a friend she usually got along with well.
“Yu An, let me tell you, last night I saw your Li Ting actually with another woman.”
Xia Yuan couldn’t even bother to drink her milk, her eyes flashing fiercely: “Did you see clearly who it was?”
“No, but, Yu An, you really should ask him. Li Ting treated that woman differently.”
“Thanks, I know. Let’s go shopping and have a meal together when we have time.” After hanging up the phone, Xia Yuan gulped down a glass of milk, intending to go out and confront the woman who seduced Brother Li. However, she realized that her outfit lacked presence. She stomped back upstairs, changed into another outfit, and before leaving, she noticed her makeup wasn’t perfect, so she sat down again to meticulously redo it.
11:40
Xia Yuan, in her high heels, stormed out of the house.
＊
11:55
“Knock, knock…”
Assistant Li entered, looking at Meng Xiyue who was still working, and reminded, “President Meng, it’s time for lunch. Would you like to order takeout or eat in the cafeteria?”
Meng Xiyue stopped typing on the keyboard, her office chair rotating half a circle, her gaze falling on the skyscrapers outside the floor-to-ceiling window. After pondering for a while, she said, “I’ll go out to eat.”
Assistant Li was startled: “Do you need me to drive?”
Meng Xiyue stood up, picking up the phone on the desk, “No need. It’s getting late, you go have lunch.”
Assistant Li could only respond in a daze: “Oh, okay.” After Meng Xiyue left, Assistant Li hurried to share this shocking gossip with Secretary Gao.
After all, Meng Xiyue’s social circle was very simple. Apart from seeing necessary business partners, she spent the rest of her time either working or staying at home.
What Meng Xiyue was up to by going out alone piqued Assistant Li’s curiosity to no end.
In fact, the reason Meng Xiyue went out alone was quite simple; she just wanted to have some sweets, take a walk by herself, and stretch her legs.
She casually walked into a cake shop, which was doing good business. There was a line, not too long, with seven people ahead of her, a wait time she found acceptable.
More people gradually lined up behind her, the sound of heels clicking on the floor incessantly.
Until…
“Click, click…”
The familiar rhythm of footsteps made Meng Xiyue, who was checking messages on her phone, subconsciously checking the time.
12:13
Then she heard a suppressed, lowered tone of anger: “Ding Yaoyao, were you with Li Gege yesterday?”
It was unmistakably Xia Yuan’s voice.
Meng Xiyue looked over, only to see a slender figure, while Ding Yaoyao was completely out of sight from her angle.
“Hello, what would you like?”
Meng Xiyue instantly shifted her attention, ordered a not-too-sweet pastry, paid, and was about to leave when a fragrant scent wafted over. The scent was not strong, but as prominent as the person it came from.
Xia Yuan naturally saw Meng Xiyue too, still looking down on people with her chin up, “What are you doing here?”
Meng Xiyue then noticed Xia Yuan’s slightly red eyes. Although she tried hard to hide it, her feigned strength was obvious.
Meng Xiyue’s gaze fell on Ding Yaoyao behind Xia Yuan, who was quietly eating a dessert. She could only see the top of Ding Yaoyao’s head.
Was she attacked until she cried by the heroine?
Meng Xiyue thought for a moment, considering Xia Yuan had helped her before, so she extended the pastry in her hand towards Xia Yuan: “Want some?”
Xia Yuan, who was always ready to argue with Meng Xiyue, unconsciously widened her eyes, looking at her face.
There wasn’t a specific expression on her face, still that cool and indifferent look, but she stood there quietly, her dark eyes misty and beautiful.
Xia Yuan suddenly lost the desire to confront her coldly, snorted, and still found this woman annoying.
She almost snatched the bag from Meng Xiyue’s hand, “Don’t think this will make me like you.” Then she left, huffing angrily.
Meng Xiyue wasn’t displeased and queued up to buy another portion.
Sitting in the corner, Ding Yaoyao breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Xia Yuan leave. She had thought about going over to help when she saw Xia Yuan bump into Meng Xiyue, but remembering the awkward encounter with Meng Xiyue earlier today, she still felt embarrassed and thus didn’t approach.
She wondered if Miss Meng would think of her as someone who was vain and greedy for vanity.
With that thought, Ding Yaoyao started to eat her food again, feeling dejected.
＊
21:35
Meng Xiyue was returning home from work, just about to enter her house, when she heard a sound resembling a venting howl.
The sound wasn’t loud, but in such a quiet environment, it was very clear.
Moreover, the owner of the voice was very familiar.
Sure enough, a familiar figure came around the corner after a short while.
Xia Yuan.
Meng Xiyue clearly didn’t want to see Xia Yuan; seeing her meant trouble.
At this private time, all she wanted was to comfortably take a bath.
However, it was too late to enter her house now.
The other party had seen her.
“Why are you here?”
