TSDT - 41

Meng Jingshu, who was far from being a lone wolf, and Wei Zhanfeng, who was not a lone wolf, ultimately attended the banquet alone.

Their task was to coordinate with the bride’s friends to lure Jiaran to the pre-arranged location. Then, they and their group of brothers would emerge one by one, each carrying out their assigned role, presenting Jiaran with a rose and a carefully prepared gift, guiding her to the top floor.

Now, their mission was complete, and they were waiting for the groom to make his appearance.

Wei Zhanfeng stood with his arms crossed, looking ahead, quite smug. “Old Meng, you said early on that you were bringing someone, but now? Nothing.”

His curator friend, Ke Nian, had encountered a minor accident recently and sought his help. After going back and forth, they were now quite close, so he no longer felt envious of Meng Jingshu. His words carried more weight.

Meng Jingshu shot him a cold glance. “Go check the group chat yourself. Who’s the elementary schooler showing off their dates every day? And now, isn’t your date not here either?”

“Ke Nian has to work. You don’t know how busy an excellent exhibition is on a weekend.”

“My girlfriend also has to work. You don’t know, an excellent lawyer doesn’t have weekends.”

Lawyer Jiang sneezed online.

Wei Zhanfeng chuckled.

In front, A-Qing slowly emerged from the flowers, holding a large bouquet of air-freighted, vibrant roses. He confessed his love to Jiaran deeply.

“I’ve never loved someone like this before... It’s my fault for making you sad... We’ve been through so much over the years, you’ve long been the most important part of my life...”

A-Qing choked up towards the end. “Before, I always complained about you telling me what to do, but... during this time when you’ve been indifferent to me, I’ve felt like a kite with a broken string... I only just realized that with someone to guide you, a person has a sense of belonging... Jiaran, will you be willing to guide me from now on?”

“A-Qing is right about that,” Meng Jingshu suddenly said in a low voice.

With someone willing to guide you, you find your way home.

He used to be emotionally detached, free, and reckless, just like a kite drifting aimlessly. But now, his string was held in someone’s hand, and he hoped she would never let go.

“What did you say?” Wei Zhanfeng was busy operating and didn’t hear clearly.

“Step back, you’re going to hit Jiaran’s head.”

“Oh, got it!”

As their voices fell, a drone adorned with roses slowly descended from the sky, stopping in front of Jiaran. On it was an open ring box, a large pigeon-egg diamond shimmering brilliantly.

Jiaran was moved to tears.

A-Qing put the ring on her finger, and they hugged and kissed. The guests were all moved and applauded.

________________________________________

The banquet began.

Several ladies who were interested in Meng Jingshu came to strike up a conversation, but they were all deterred by his cold attitude and Wei Zhanfeng’s tactless whispering.

Wei Zhanfeng, whose recent passion had been reciprocated, was as energized as if he’d had a shot of adrenaline, extremely enthusiastic about things that pleased people. He was inspired by this proposal today and was brainstorming.

“Look at Jiaran, she was so touched she cried her eyes out. All her unhappiness was coaxed away. That’s why women love these things. Look at that necklace, that ring, A-Qing specifically flew abroad to order them for her, they really sparkle and look good when worn. I plan to get Ke Nian a necklace too, mm... and couple rings, so people know she’s taken and other men won’t covet her. Sigh, do you want to join in?”

“Couple rings?” That sounded pretty good.

“Yeah. Aren’t we going to B City for a business trip? There’s an auction coincidentally those few days. I thought, we’ll just buy a few stones, and then find someone to set them on a necklace. Tsk, that’ll really sparkle.” Wei Zhanfeng painted a vivid picture.

Meng Jingshu nodded. “Get me a ticket too.”

“Alright. But custom-made might not be so fast. Christmas and New Year’s Day aren’t far away, what do you think we should give?”

Meng Jingshu asked seriously, “Do you have any ideas?”

Wei Zhanfeng: “?”

“Didn’t you used to love giving gifts the most? How many things did that guy named Fu get from you? And your grandma... which of her bags and jewelry did she buy herself... now you’re asking me?”

Meng Jingshu’s expression was blank.

In truth, men didn’t have so many thoughts; if women didn’t implicitly hint at wanting things, they wouldn’t always actively think of giving this and that.

He didn’t have much knowledge about women’s items; he always had others buy them for him.

“No way, Old Meng... you haven’t even given your girlfriend anything, have you? Are you that stingy now?”

“...”

A mobile phone... not given.

A projector... negligible.

Wei Zhanfeng mentioned it, and only then did he realize he was being miserly.

Jiang Ying had never mentioned such things. Her clothes were mostly simple in style, and she rarely wore jewelry. Most of the time, she only carried the briefcase given by the law firm to and from work.

But even so, she looked very beautiful.

Meng Jingshu said, “She’s just a little girl; she doesn’t seem interested in these things.”

Even after doing all the intimate things, when he talked about her to others, he still felt she was just an innocent little girl.

Wei Zhanfeng’s acting bug bit him. “No way, you! Playing with minors is illegal! Is she too young, which is why you’re hiding her from everyone? I knew it, I saw her wearing a student uniform from afar last time! Honestly, how old is she? How young must a girl be to not love bags and jewelry?”

Meng Jingshu gave him a cold sidelong glance. “Do you think everyone is like you, vulgar from head to toe?”

Wei Zhanfeng tutted, “Old Meng, you’re finished. ‘Little girl’ and ‘not vulgar,’ do you think she truly feels like a fairy? You’ve really fallen! Who on earth is so formidable?”

Meng Jingshu didn’t deny it, only saying, “You’ve met her. Next time I bring her out, don’t talk nonsense.”

“Also, when you figure out the Christmas and New Year’s gifts, make a list for me,” he added.

Wei Zhanfeng was shocked. But no matter how much he pestered, he couldn’t get a clear answer, and Meng Jingshu wore a mysterious expression, leaving him unable to guess. In the end, his curiosity was piqued, and he cursed a few times resentfully.

________________________________________

The banquet was filled with constant socializing, which they were accustomed to handling with ease after so many years.

A banquet was also a hunting ground, and there were many who sought to flirt. Although Meng Jingshu disdained lingering among flowers, he usually put on a good front, even when refusing, he wouldn’t overtly offend anyone.

But now, facing those with obvious intentions, he was directly indifferent, abandoning his usual demeanor. When he was cold-faced, he appeared quite fierce, and those rejected, even if desperate, dared not say more.

Wei Zhanfeng watched from the side with infinite wistfulness and began to feel sour again. “So ruthless... the beauties must be heartbroken.”

Meng Jingshu stated frankly, “She would mind.”

Last time, just discussing their boss’s matter, she was already so indignant. He couldn’t risk it. She gets angry silently, and if he wasn’t careful, she might block him or drive him away again someday. He had to minimize or even eliminate such possibilities to the greatest extent.

Thinking this way, couple rings might indeed prevent some trouble, making them absolutely essential.

Life was endless, and curiosity never ceased. Wei Zhanfeng, still unconvinced, asked, “This time it’s completely different from before, brother. Do you really like her that much? What’s so good about that girl?”

Meng Jingshu actually thought seriously for a moment and said, “Everything about her is good.”

It wasn’t perfunctory, nor was it bragging; he genuinely felt that way.

“Hiss... that’s the highest praise... The last time I heard you say that about a girl was many years ago, wasn’t it?”

“Was it? When?”

“Back in college, there was a high school classmate of yours who brought you medicine a few times and liked you a lot... What was her name again, I forgot.”

“...”

“You two never broke through that barrier. I asked you what was wrong with her, and you said, ‘Everything about her is good.’ And then you wouldn’t date her. Don’t you think you have a screw loose? If you think a woman is good in every way, how could you not like her?”

He used himself as an example. “Like me, I’m feeling this way for the first time, thinking Ke Nian is good in every way, so even though I hit a wall before, I didn’t give up. And look, ‘what you dwell on comes true’...”

Meng Jingshu stopped speaking.

Yes, how could it be?

He had been so foolish.

________________________________________

At the high-speed rail station, three people in business attire emerged from the gate one after another.

The middle-aged man leading them was stout, his thinning hair styled with hair gel and pomade, and the subtly gleaming platinum watch on his wrist symbolized his accumulated wealth.

The advisory unit placed great importance on this acquisition case, so Hu Guowei, the head director of Weihe Law Firm, came to oversee it. With the director present, things proceeded smoothly, but Jiang Ying suffered greatly.

Apart from “Boss Lady” Director Xiao He, no other woman in the law firm was willing to work with Director Hu.

He liked all kinds of women; almost as long as they weren’t cross-eyed or crooked-mouthed, he would flirt with them, especially young girls. It wasn’t that he necessarily intended to gain any substantial advantage; a few suggestive and greasy remarks to tease them were enough to make him feel smug.

Sure enough, upon returning to Zebian, Director Hu enthusiastically invited Jiang Ying to ride in his car, offering to take her home.

“As leaders, the most important thing is to care for young people, right? It’s getting late, and it’s not safe for you, Xiao Jiang, to go back alone as a girl. Let the director take you home!”

Jiang Ying smiled, showing eight teeth. “No need to trouble you, Director. The subway hasn’t stopped running yet, it’s quite convenient for me to go back.”

“No trouble at all. Taking care of beautiful ladies is our duty as men.”

Jiang Ying was at a loss for words.

At this moment, Zheng Yifeng, who had been completely unnoticed, suddenly said, “Then I’ll go too.”

Director Hu, Jiang Ying: “Ah?”

“Didn’t I leave something at your place? I’ll pick it up today,” Zheng Yifeng, usually quiet and honest, said with sincere earnestness.

Jiang Ying instantly understood. She shot him a grateful look, then turned to politely tell Director Hu, “Then I’ll trouble you, Director!”

“Oh... no trouble at all, no trouble. You young people should interact more. Hehe.”

This annoying errand finally came to an end with Zheng Yifeng’s help.

Hu Guowei’s car briefly stopped by the road, dropping off Jiang Ying and Zheng Yifeng. To make their act convincing, they thanked the director repeatedly before walking into the building together, pretending to go upstairs and waiting for the elevator.

Seeing the car drive away, both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thank you so much! You saved me from a lot of torment.” Jiang Ying’s gratitude was sincere. She pulled out her phone. “Where do you live? I’ll call you a car to go back.”

“No need to be so polite. The subway hasn’t stopped running; I’ll just take the subway.”

“No, I couldn’t live with myself if I did that.”

“Uh... actually,” Zheng Yifeng hesitated for a few seconds, as if he had made up his mind, “actually, there’s something I want to tell you...”

“What is it?”

________________________________________

Meng Jingshu had originally told Jiang Ying he would pick her up, but she declined, saying it was convenient to take the subway with her colleagues.

He didn’t insist. When the high-speed rail arrived, Jiang Ying notified him, and he was already home then. He estimated the time and went out to the subway station exit to pick her up.

After waiting for about twenty minutes without seeing her, he sent her a message asking, and she replied that she was already downstairs.

Didn’t she take the subway?

Meng Jingshu walked back with a slight疑问, stopping before reaching the entrance.

Across the green belt, through the apartment lobby’s showcase window, he saw Jiang Ying talking to a young man. They were near a corner, avoiding people going up and down, discussing something unknown. Jiang Ying occasionally smiled knowingly at the man, and Meng Jingshu could tell it wasn’t a feigned smile; it came from genuine happiness.