TSDT - 21

The world was quiet for two minutes, then the elevator chimed, and the doors opened.

Meng Jingshu turned his head to look, and just one glance made the corners of his mouth curve upwards, the previous sternness completely gone.

Jiang Ying stared into his eyes, “What are you smiling at? Do I look strange? If you dare say ugly, you’re not coming upstairs tonight.”

Meng Jingshu smiled again, said nothing, and led her to the parking spot.

As he opened the car door for her, he whispered, “Beautiful.”

Jiang Ying immediately felt delighted. When he walked around the car and got in, she leaned over and deliberately asked, “Are you lying to me, just to come upstairs? You were talking all sorts of nonsense on the phone.”

He slowly leaned in closer. She instinctively recoiled as if pressured, pressing herself against the seat back, and pursed her lips.

Their noses were barely a finger-width apart.

Meng Jingshu paused for a moment, then quickly moved back a bit. He reached out to buckle her seatbelt, tightening it, and slowly said, “It was nonsense,” his large hand squeezed her thigh, “looking at you makes my heart restless.”

The car lights weren’t on, only the white light from the parking lot illuminated his handsome features and deep shadows. He was half-smiling, his gaze sweeping over her, an intoxicating charm effortlessly present.

Jiang Ying unconsciously swallowed.

To run into him like this by chance...

Tonight was really not a joke.

________________________________________

They were kissing pressed against the door, Jiang Ying’s hands clasped above her head, Meng Jingshu’s chest pressed against her. Her Japanese-style short skirt and long socks gave the man many ideas. Even when she shot him a glare, he felt like he was going crazy.

Just as she was feeling agitated, a thin object was placed in her hand.

“You do it.”

He was backlit, his features exuding a hint of devilry.

Her breathing and hands were a mess. She accidentally tugged, and he let out a low gasp, gritting his teeth as he turned her around, “The last time we were here, a few days ago at my place, and this time, that’s three scores.”

On one side of the wall by the door was a full-length mirror. She was pressed against the door, head turned to the side, forced to take in the entire scene in the mirror.

For a long time afterward, whenever she saw that mirror, a strange tremor would surge in her heart.

Meng Jingshu’s hand rested below her collar, gently tugging at the swaying bow. He watched in the mirror as her eyes grew increasingly moist.

He whispered, “Jiang Ying, you really are a bad girl.”

Her face was burning.

________________________________________

Since she was five or six, Jiang Ying hadn’t thought about needing someone to help her bathe.

She lay blankly on the bed for a long time, the instinctive sobs never stopping. When she finally came to her senses, the thought of what had just happened made her eyes red with anger again.

Meng Jingshu thought she was about to cry again and quickly coaxed her with sweet words. Full and satisfied, he was so eager to please that Jiang Ying couldn’t even kick him away.

He carried her to the bathroom, clumsily helping her with facial cleanser, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, as if it was his first time bathing in his life, finding it all new and exciting.

In truth, Jiang Ying had almost fully recovered her strength, but Meng Jingshu shamelessly insisted on bathing together. The shower area was only about two square meters, and with two people squeezed in, the steam made the air feel insufficient.

He took her cold glares as affection, his smile never fading, and his kisses never stopping.

Like two slippery little fish, the two of them, covered in body wash, embraced as warm water cascaded from the showerhead. They turned bathing into a kissing practice.

He kissed her so deeply that Jiang Ying suspected she would suffocate, yet she held him even tighter. She could no longer tell if it was the water flowing over her or if she herself had melted.

________________________________________

That night, Meng Jingshu coldly sent Wei Zhanfeng away, but he still couldn’t guard against his lewd curiosity, which allowed him to see Jiang Ying from a distance and then widely publicize it in their group chat.

Wei Zhanfeng actually knew Jiang Ying. During their university years, a few times when Jiang Ying went to find Meng Jingshu, the two had met. Back then, he had even teased Meng Jingshu, saying that the young girl was so devoted and advised him to be kind and accept her.

How did he respond back then? He couldn’t remember... At that time, he didn’t feel much, didn’t have many thoughts about her. Since she didn’t ask, he naturally didn’t need to make it clear. When he encountered Wei Zhanfeng’s sour remarks, he certainly didn’t hold back on mocking him. This time, he was too far away to see her clearly, otherwise, who knew how triumphant Wei Zhanfeng would have been.

The men’s group chat was full of crude jokes. With Wei Zhanfeng starting it off, it became very lively.

“What? Did I see that right? Meng Zong has a woman?”

“I knew it! No wonder he left early last night, so he had a beauty in his arms~”

“If I remember correctly, this is the third one, right? Last time at Tong Hao’s place, I thought he had something urgent to deal with, but didn’t he go snatch someone from Director Hong? But that last one had amazing legs! Understandable!”

“Oh... and that one called Sandy, right? She smiled very sweetly... What style is this one?”

“Tsk tsk tsk, so Meng is busy lately, changing women until his hands are sore.”

...

These guys really had too much time on their hands.

Meng Jingshu retorted sarcastically, “My hands aren’t sore. Only those without women have sore hands.”

The “shot” crowd: “Damn it... Who the hell are you targeting???”

He added, “There’s no Sandy. Don’t talk nonsense.”

________________________________________

No matter how much they indulged at night, they still had to go to work normally during the day. Jiang Ying arrived at the office and greeted her colleagues as usual. When she said hi to Zheng Yifeng, Jiang Ying noticed a momentary awkwardness in his expression, but there was nothing unusual after that.

Jiang Ying scratched her chin, feeling like it wasn’t a big deal.

The workday ended, and it was Friday afternoon again.

Jiang Ying left the law firm after work and saw a flash of pink, her heart skipped a beat, almost thinking time had gone backward. She tensed up, ready for battle.

This time, Hu Ruochen seemed quite normal. Seeing Jiang Ying, she shuffled over in her fluffy flat shoes.

Jiang Ying straightened her back, eyeing her warily, “What do you want?”

Hu Ruochen bowed her head slightly, looking a little timid, “Um... I came to apologize to you.”

“Okay, I accept your apology. You can leave now.”

“Let me treat you to a meal.”

Jiang Ying said coldly, “No need, I can’t afford it.”

Jiang Ying walked a few steps towards the subway station, and Hu Ruochen followed her in small steps.

Her voice was soft but persistent, “Eat... You can afford it!”

Jiang Ying “tsk-ed” and turned around, crossing her arms, frowning and scrutinizing her, “What exactly do you want?”

Hu Ruochen was wearing flat shoes today, making her a little shorter than Jiang Ying. Her droopy puppy eyes were watery as she carefully tugged at Jiang Ying’s sleeve, truly looking pitiful.

To be honest, Jiang Ying could understand why Chen Tianjing had liked her back then. Few men could resist such a delicate and lovely girl. And because of her charming and unthreatening appearance, she wasn’t likely to provoke dislike from women either; she was practically universally appealing.

Hu Ruochen pitifully pursed her small lips, “Please help me... Sister.”

Jiang Ying suddenly pulled her hand away, her delicate eyebrows raised, “Who’s your sister, shameless! We graduated in the same year.”

Hu Ruochen innocently said, “I skipped three grades when I was little, I’m twenty-one this year...”

“...” Jiang Ying snorted, “Help you with what? What can I help you with?”

Hu Ruochen’s eyes reddened, “Help me get over the pain of heartbreak.”

“?”

“Weren’t we abandoned by the same person...?”

“??”

“I think you must have a way.”

Jiang Ying found it utterly unbelievable. How could she, who had been cheated on by this very person, so calmly make such a request?

“Why should I help you?”

Hu Ruochen looked utterly pitiful, “Please, sister... I have no other choice, this past while I... I’m suffering every day,” she was almost crying as she spoke, “I’ve traveled with friends, talked with my parents... but I’m still so sad...”

“...” Jiang Ying ran a hand through her hair, still looking quite displeased, “How do I help? I’m not a therapist.”

Hu Ruochen whispered, “I don’t know... Let me treat you to dinner first... I think you’re especially confident; even after a breakup, you can adjust quickly. Maybe just talking to you will make me feel better.”

Although the logic was a bit roundabout, it wasn’t completely unacceptable.

Jiang Ying cleared her throat, “What are you treating me to?”

Her watery, droopy eyes immediately lit up, “Spanish food! I know a place, their seafood paella is especially good!”

Jiang Ying nodded, “Let’s go.”