“I’m not feeling very well so I think I’ll head back…” I then apologized to him. “I’m really sorry for just now.”
“You really don’t look too well.”
Despite saying that thoughtlessly, he had believed me and even sounded concerned. My expression must have been worse than I thought.
Finally, Chen ErXin stopped pestering me.
“Give me your number.”
I shook my head. “I don’t have a cell phone.”
After leaving He Li that day, I had thrown it in the bin and still hadn’t bought a new one to replace it.
He frowned. “Then tell me where you live.”
” Right now, I don’t have any fixed living accommodations. I’m staying at someone else’s house.”
Chen ErXin inhaled sharply, “How did you get to this point?”
I gave him a bitter smile and shook my head silently.
He murmured, “I have something on today so I’ll contact you in the future.”
He then stuffed his cell phone into my hand. “Keep it, I’ll call you later.”
I didn’t want it so I pushed it back to him.
“Take it!” His voice suddenly raised, as if he was really angry. “Don’t be so stubborn.”
Unable to find an excuse, I ended up accepting it.
I then took the elevator down and sat outside Meng SiQi’s office for almost half a day before managing to get myself together.
The sky was gradually darkening. There were only so many hours of daylight during winter. It made the darkness seem endless.
Meng SiQi finally opened the door and came out. He walked towards me and softly called out my name. “JiYu.”
I looked up. His face was covered by the faint white glow of the corridor lights and he was dressed in a fitted black suit. Looking very tall and confident, a coat was also in his hand
“Why did you dress so handsomely today?” I praised him, “I feel too ashamed to stand next to you with you looking like this.”
“It’s because I’m attending a dinner today.” He lowered his head to look at me. “Why did you dress so casually?”
“Isn’t this enough for attending a small doctor’s dinner?”
I stood up and smiled at him.
Although the clothes were not brand-new, they had in fact cost quite a lot at that time that it was bought.
Back then, I had found it strange when I received these clothes from Meng SiQi. It didn’t seem reasonable for an ordinary doctor to buy such expensive clothes.
He smiled and nodded his head, “Yes, if it’s you, you’ll be able to make it work”
It was not until I reached the dinner venue that I realized I couldn’t deal with this.
On the top floor of the city’s famous TianBao Grand Hotel, the dinner was in full swing. The room was filled with people all dressed in their finest wear and making toasts with each other. Everyone was happily chatting away in a calm and unhurried fashion.
As soon as we had entered, an attendant came forward to take our coats before bowing and retreating.
For a moment, I looked blankly at the majestic splendor before turning my head towards Meng SiQi, “Are you sure this is enough to handle this?”
He laughed and nodded to me, “Yes, it’s enough.”
Despite noticing that the people there were obviously rich and of the upper class, I didn’t ask him why he was invited. Everyone has their own little secrets and I’ll wait for him to tell me when he’s ready.
As soon as I entered, I gloomily looked for the nearest corner to hide myself in .
Meng SiQi picked out some food and handed me the plate.
Unable to resist himself when seeing me like this, he said to me, “You can relax a little, there is no need to be so overly cautious.”
I stuffed a mouthful of food into my mouth and glared at him, blaming him for not properly telling me what I’d be walking into. I just had to be self-opinionated and land myself in such an awkward situation.
“I’m afraid they’ll mistake me for an attendant.”
“Wasn’t it just a few minutes ago that someone was totally unconcerned, even telling me what they wore was sufficient?” He looked mischievously at me.
For a moment, I choked.
“You don’t have to worry about me. The food and alcohol will loosen me up eventually.” Acting as if I was giving him a cold shoulder, I drove him away, “You should go and do what you’re here for.”
Meng SiQi gave a clear laugh that seemed to see through my ruse making me even more miserable.
“You can go wild. The women here are busy losing weight while the men are busy conversing with others so all the food here is for appearances only. There’s no need for you to help the organizers save money.”
Huh, Dr. Meng apparently knew how to tease others.
Meng SiQi’s figure was soon swallowed up by the sea of leather shoes and fine clothing.
I, on the other hand, sat in my corner and continued to eat.
I was no stranger to such events. When I was a child, banquets would be held at home and the servants would dress me up. My mother would then lead me downstairs and let a group of strangers pinch my cheek and tell me what an “adorable child” I was.
However, after Mother’s death, there was no more laughter at home.
As I thought of the past, my heart felt heavy and I monetarily lost my appetite.
Subconsciously, my eyes searched the crowd for him. He was the only one who could make me feel at ease.
However, I unexpectedly came across another face.
Thinking that it was an illusion, I closed my eyes before opening them again.
It was still that very face.
It was the little youth I saw in my dream.
For a moment, I was stuck in that memory and couldn’t move.
The merriment around me seemed to be separated by a waterfall as the sound of gurgling water resounded in my ears. However under that, there was also a voice in the deepest part of my mind shouting at me: Run quickly, run quickly, run quickly!
But, I just couldn’t move.
He was talking to a woman in a red dress, with a glass of wine in his hand and a polite smile on his face. As an attendant passed by him, he gently leaned over and put the tall glass onto the tray.
Then he raised his eyes slightly and coincidentally swept his gaze in my direction.
Those black eyes were as sharp and bright as an eagle.
He saw me!
At that moment, I recovered my senses and stood up quickly.
He pushed aside the crowd and moved towards me. His actions were impatient and were beginning to draw attention. With a pale face, I stood in the corner panicking like a little street mouse, my fingers trembling slightly.
For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why I was so afraid of him.
What is he coming over here for? Is it to tell me again, “Pei JiYu, I don’t want you anymore?”
Filled with apprehension, I said to myself, “Pei JiYu, escape quickly. Don’t give him the chance to hurt you again.”
Despite that, my two feet remained stuck to the floor.
“JiYu?” A soft voice said.
As if I was waking up from a dream, I turned my head and saw Meng SiQi’s deeply concerned face.
At that moment he seemed like a godsend. I grabbed his cuff tightly and said, “Let’s go.” At that point, I was practically begging.
Meng SiQi was in a daze.
Leo was already just a short distance away.
“If you’re not coming, then I would be leaving first.”
Unable to wait for him to answer, I turned around. Just then, Meng SiQi grabbed me and said, “Let’s leave together.”
Heaving a sigh of relief, I left with him hurriedly.
In the distance, I could hear someone yelling behind me, “Pei!”
I didn’t look back.
If I did, I would have to face my past, and bear all the bloodshed and overwhelming sorrow that came with it.